More than a Grain of Sand

And for every child on the beach that day
Stands a castle tall and proud
And the warm wind crawls through the castle walls
And the night folk wake as the warm wind calls
~ David Hess Lyrics    Sandcastle sung by Elvis Presley

Week # 31 LIFE'S Simple Pleasures - summer time

 

We officially passed the halfway mark of Summer, can you believe it's the last week of July!   However, some think summer is only Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Ha! That's too short of a time.... I like June 21 - September 21.... the actually 4 months of the season.

 

You wouldn't think it's summer with the cooler temperatures we are having in the Chicago suburbs.  But there has been nothing 'normal' about our summer temperatures.  Per usual, it gives the locals something to talk about, the weather.

 

If you are new to my blog, WELCOME!

 

For the last 31 weeks I have been exploring LIFE'S simple pleasures 2013.   Thus my tag line, whimsical paper crafts with a twist on LIFE.  I try to incorporate an experience, with my interest in telling a story, combining it with pictures I've taken and enhanced with photo shop and bring in a little whimsy with some of the creative greeting cards I hand make.... to add a little more SHINE to the corner of my world and Brighten Someone's Day.

 

I've been trying to incorporate every day things by:

 

L-learning more about them    

I-inspiring others to explore around them 

F-feeling with all my senses

E-evolving and gradually developing new interests

S-shining, realizing the impact of little things

 

trying to find FREE or inexpensive things in and around my LIFE.

 

Well, this week I'm going to explore a few things  that come to mind when I think of summer.

What comes to mind when you think of summer?  Obviously, the first thing I thought of was the beach and sandcastles: A castle like structure built of wet sand, as by children at a beach!

 

You can shake the sand from your shoes, but it will never leave your soul.

Inspiration Garden

I'm really liking having to take 365 photos... it gives me material... to dream, think and doodle. I think these little perennials are called pinks... they are in the front yard and the right height for Tucker to pee on... sorry if that's too graphic a visual. But they are beautiful and add a pop of color to the green front yard!

I went back to taking pictures of my completed cards off a little easel as opposed to just snapping away with lamp lighting on my desk top. Here, I'm using natural light from a north facing window.

The top picture is another version of the thumb print... really finger tip print inked and doodle around flower card. I must say, although I got the idea to do this... I guess this card would be totally original... with layout and design. Wow! As you can tell, I have a problem... I'm addicted to copying and feel guilty about. So, I have to justify my thievery. But in all honesty... this card you will not find anywhere else!!

Peony? Poppy? Hollyhock? Fun doodle flowers. I believe this is a SU! image... but it makes for a simple, yet elegant note card. I can not have a day without some sort of doodle. It would be incomplete!!

Beautiful morning already today. Suppose to get up to 90. I love typing this with my laptop on my kitchen table and as I look out to my lush green backyard... with the pop of color from annual plantings. Life is good.... everyone except dad.. is home for the summer! And I have to sick puppies with stomach viruses..... Happy Day

Slide Show

Slide Show

Frogs and Flowers

A fun and useless fact:

Certain frogs can be frozen solid then thawed, and continue living

These are two fun cards I made this week. I was trying to copy the SU! stamp on the left, I don't know what it's called, they look like bunches of dandelions. Both cards have checked background paper. Used stickles for the flower centers on the frog card, both in the watering can and the flowers around the edges of the Nestabilities scalloped circles.