Playing Around

 Hello! Hope all is well with everyone. Warning: this is a fun filled post but it's also going to be photo heavy. Enjoy!

 First up is some alcohol ink play. I was inspired to break out those inks again after seeing some beautiful alcohol ink backgrounds on glossy paper on Jennifer's blog and Carole Dion's blog. I felt like experimenting with vellum:

 I cut down 2 different patterned vellum sheets and began applying inks on the back side using a foam applicator. I used Adirondak alcohol inks in Sailboat Blue and Sunshine Yellow, and Distress ink in Worn Lipstick (which is NOT an alcohol ink). I then began tapping over the paper and got this surprising very cool effect.

 These are the dry backs:

 
 And these are the front sides:

I quite like the vibrant backs as well as the softer patterned fronts. What do you think?

 Here they are backed with dark card stock:

and with light card stock:

And I did make a card using the vellum on the left:

 The thank you die is from Our Daily Bread Designs. Joining the Simon Wednesday Challenge for the theme of 'Make Your Own Background'.

 Next I have some fun photos (and a short video or two if it works:) to share from the birthday celebration dinner for hubby at the Aladdin Middle Eastern restaurant:

                                         Love the decor!

 We went with friends Andrew (hidden) and Lynn and our son Todd and his GF Kyra. Wine on the table to share with T Stands For Tuesday :)

  We all shared 4 appetizers to start: hummus, vegetarian grape leaves (shown), spinach pie and Arnabit (fried cauliflower). Then came the entrees:

                      Shrimp kabobs-my choice

                steak and shrimp kabobs (hubby said the steak was perfection)

                  chicken and shrimp kabobs

                                   a falafel platter

                       and lamb stew. We all agreed our meals were excellent!

 And then came the belly dancing:

 There were two dancers who came around to the tables offering special skirts for anyone that wanted to come up to the front and join them. Well of course we made Bill go , and Andrew went along:

 It was hysterical- and boy, does Bill have a new career ahead of him?? :):):)  Just look:

  A springtime card:

  Products: white note card; white, leaf green cardstock, Choose Joy, Showers and Flowers clear stamp sets (Simon Says March Card Kit- Simon Says Stamp); alcohol markers; colored pencils; Archival Jet Black ink, Buttercup, Leaf Green; Tim Holtz Rays stencil; foam dots; Stickles glitter glue; Moonshine Sequins (Simon Says Stamp).

 Joining the Simon Monday Challenge (In My Garden), and Moo Mania and More (Think Of Spring).

 One last entry for the theme of 'Animals A - Z' this month at Art Journal Journey (thank you Rike!):

 Products: Tim Holtz Thinlits Wildflowers dies, Scribbles and Splats dies; Cover a Card stamp - Graph Paper (Impression Obsession); Tangerine Fluid Chalk ink; Archival Turquoise ink; various collage sheet ephemera; washi tape (Recollections)

 Linking to Paint Party Friday too! Thanks for getting thru this long post. I hope you leave with a smile or two.

" Hope and faith flower from the cheerful seeds of the old year to the sprouting garden of the new year's dawn."        Terri Guillemets