May 9, 2014 | Wildlife |
It’s time to watch for babies again. I don’t think I have done a recent update here on my blog. So I thought I would catch you up. My bluebirds have laid 6 eggs for their second clutch. This picture was from April 30th.
I estimated that the last egg was probably laid on April 28th. I checked the nest again yesterday – I had to wait on mom to go out and get some food. In case you wondered she does roll the eggs around. Here they are on May 8th.
I like how they were in a circle before and now they are in rows. She incubates for about 12-14 days and this would be day 11 – so any day now….maybe they will be Mother’s Day babies!
I found a Blueberry Camera in a house at Berry College which is in north Georgia. You can find it here if you would like to have an inside view. Their bluebird laid 4 eggs but only 1 hatched – one of the professors checked the remaining eggs yesterday and removed them from the nest since they weren’t viable. The baby in that nest box hatched last Friday morning – so it is 1 week old.
Here are a couple of other pictures – mom peeking out of the house as she incubates the eggs –
And this one is dad at one of the feeders with a baby from the first clutch – the baby is hungry and dad is still feeding it. I’m not sure how long after they fledge that the dad continues to feed. This could be the runt – remember the one that was having trouble flying. I’ll to see if I can learn some more about that.
Enjoy!
May 7, 2014 | Big Shot, Mini Scrapbook, Retired List |
We made this adorable mini scrapbook in my May Stampers Club. I love how it turned out. We used the Bright Blossoms stamp set that is on the retired list – it’s a cute little set that you can make various combinations of flowers with.
I like the fact that this one will stand up by itself. It’s perfect for adding photos and journaling and then setting out on a table or desk as a display item. It would make a sweet gift. 
Here is some more on how I made it:
- I used 4 of the Crumb Cake note card envelopes (on the retired list), I tucked the flaps into the inside but you could choose to leave them out or even cut them off. Tucking them in gives some added stability. Inside each envelope I would slide a photo or journal a story or note that you might want to stay hidden instead of having it on the page.
- Place two envelopes end to end and connect them with Washi Tape – I used the Gingham Garden Washi tape which is also on the Retired List. Then add another envelope on either side – connecting with Washi tape. So you end up with a “book” of envelopes.
- I added another piece of Washi tape around the outside spine and then the extra flower piece as a decoration on the front.
- Then decorate the front and the pages of the mini scrapbook. For the front I added a frame from the On Film framelits cut from Island Indigo card stock – with a piece of Island Indigo Baker’s Twine (on the retired list). Attach it with bits of dimensionals at the top and bottom and then you can slide in a photo from the side later. Stamp a vase of flowers and punch with the Decorative Label punch. Punch a second one from Melon Mambo card stock – cut it in half and layer it behind the stamped one. Add to the front with dimensionals. Finish with a little designer button.
- For pages 1 & 2 – I used Daffodil Delight and the On Film Framelits – cut a frame and a camera. Add a Rhinestone to the camera. Stamp a flower – cut with the oval punch and then layer with the scallop oval punch.
- For pages 3 & 4 – This page has a Pear Pizzazz frame, Island Indigo Baker’s Twine and another stamped flower punched with the Oval punch and a scalloped oval punch frame.
- For pages 5 & 6 – For the last two pages there are frames in Island Indigo and Daffodil Delight. A Melon Mambo Camera. Another flower punched with the 1-1/4 ” circle punch and a 1-3/8″ Melon Mambo punch. Finish with some twine and Rhinestones.
On each page I added the frames with Dimensionals only along the top and bottom so I could go back and slide some photos underneath. On the blank pages I’ll plan to add journaling. Inside the pockets – larger photos. You could also use the pockets to hold a ticket stub or something else that goes along with the photos.
A really pretty project. I hope you like it!
May 6, 2014 | Cards, Designer Series Paper, Occasions Catalog 2014, Retired List |
I made a second version of this card that is perfect for Mother’s Day.
For this one I wanted to use the Watercolor Wonder Designer Paper. I switched my neutral to Whisper White to coordinate with the paper and changed the card base to Smoky Slate.
For the Baker’s Twine – I actually decided there were several options –
- use Whisper White – as is
- use Whisper White – dye it Gumball Green – use a Stampin’ Sponge to hold the twine in the ink pad as you pull it across, repeat until the twine is the color you want it. Let dry.
- use the Island Indigo Baker’s Twine.
Don’t need a Mother’s Day card – then switch out the greeting to be a birthday card or thank you or whatever you might need. Remember these items are on the retiring list or going away at the end of the Occasions catalog at the end of May –
- Watercolor Wonder Designer Paper
- Island Indigo Baker’s Twine
- Itty Bitty Punch pack – that’s the center of the flowers
- Gumball Green in-color
May 3, 2014 | Project Life, Uncategorized |
My Project Life by Stampin’ Up! products arrived late yesterday (Friday). I had stamp club and briefly pulled them out to show everyone. Today (Saturday) is actually National Scrapbook Day and I am spending some time this afternoon thinking about where to start. I’ve looked at Project Life from a distance – knowing that it wasn’t Stampin’ Up! Products not our colors, etc. I didn’t want to buy any of it. But now….that’s not the case. And I can dive right in!
First I pulled out all my new stuff to take a look at what I got….
Now what pictures should I start with. The concept of Project Life is documenting your life – your everyday life – the stories and happenings that I think we actually missed before we had digital cameras. Used to it cost money to take a photo and I think we were very careful about what we took a picture of – we (or at least I did) stuck to holidays, birthdays, significant life events but not really some of the everyday stuff. But when I think about the stories that I tell they are often the very things I didn’t ever take a picture of. I have lots of funny stories about my boys but really no pictures to go with them. Kyle disassembled the high chair when he was about 3, Tyler fell asleep in a bowl of spaghetti, Ryan when he broke his tooth. These were before we had the digital cameras and I don’t have pictures! But I wish I did now.
So I need to jump right in. All in I think is the way to do it. And I think my life is boring and I wouldn’t have much to write about from week to week. But I sat down and looked at my week. There really were a bunch of note worthy things and when I look at my iPhone I have many pictures from this week and even have some on my big camera too. That’s it. I’m in!!
I have a Walgreen’s app on my phone that lets me send the pictures right from there to them to print in about 1 hour! I selected 18 photos and they are printing NOW!. We are going to dinner and I’ll pick them up on the way home. And when I get back I plan to document this week! I’m so excited!
May 1, 2014 | Big Shot, Cards, Designer Series Paper, Masculine, Occasions Catalog 2014 |
I think the Just Sayin’ Stamp set and the Word Bubble Framelits are a fun combination from the Occasions catalog. This Pinterest inspired card is one that the girls made at my team meeting this past weekend. Literally something I threw together at the last minute (they laugh at me for that).
This is how I made it –
- The card base is Bermuda Bay.
- For the Whisper White layer place it on the cutting mat on top of the Magnetic Platform and then add the word bubble framelits – I used 3 different ones. Run it through the Big Shot to cut. Set the cut pieces aside and use on another project – for this one we are using the negative piece.
- I cut pieces of the Kaleidoscope Designer paper – I think mine were 2″ x 3″ pieces. glue them to the back behind each of the cut holes. Where the paper extends out beyond the edge of the white – trim – these will be the pieces that get layered on the front – and I did not worry about them being straight or perfect at all. They were what they were.
- Layer the White on a piece of Basic Black and add to the card base.
- I hand drew the lines/dots around the cut outs.
- Add the leftover strips to the front – I used the opposite sides from what I used in the word bubbles.
- I stamped the Hey There on another piece of White and cut it. Alternately you could use one of the shapes that you cut out and try to line the stamp up – or stamp it before you cut and that would save paper – unless you want a different shape. Add to front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
- Add some coordinating Candy Dots – for this one I used Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo.
Thanks for stopping by today!
I like how they were in a circle before and now they are in rows. She incubates for about 12-14 days and this would be day 11 – so any day now….maybe they will be Mother’s Day babies!
