Gel Plate Technique Fun and More

 Hello! Summer is here with the heat and humidity so I thought you might like a glass of something refreshing to start before diving into this photo heavy post:) The image is from one of last year's calendars. I only added the decorative paper and magazine clipping at the top and washi tape along the bottom of my journal page. Cheers to the T Stands For Tuesday gang! Also linking to Art Journal Journey for the theme of "Inspired By".

 Finch nest update:

 here they are from a pic I got last Friday, and as of this posting today:

 The feathers are coming in fast so it won't be much longer til they are gone. I've had such fun watching them:) However, this next sighting right OUTSIDE MY BACKYARD had me a bit shaken:

 Do you see that bear thru the fence????That blue edge and taillight are my hubby's car! My neighbor texted me and said she heard there was a bear sighting at Moravian College. I thought it was a joke cuz I had just 10 min. earlier been out back and saw the deer again. Never in the 35 years we've lived here has there ever been a deer, let alone a bear in our area!! He was much closer than he looks so as soon as I got the pic (while shaking) I ran inside. Within an hour he was tranquilized. They were moving him from the ground when I went to see what all the flashing sirens and cars were about just a few houses up from me. I almost started to cry but the warden assured me he would get a health check, get tagged and then be taken to a forested area. This bear was a baby at only 88 lbs. Oh my gosh, my adrenaline is going just thinking about it! Makes me wonder what I'll see next...

 This card is meant for the Simon Wednesday Challenge "Bright and Cheerful":

 Products: Neena Classic coat 110# Solar White cardstock; pink patterned paper; Altenew Build a Flower Camelia stamp and die set, Painted Greetings stamp set; Versafine Onyx Black ink; Archival leaf green ink; Staz On Forest green ink; Distress Inks- Mowed Lawn, Fired Brick, Festive Berries, Worn Lipstick; Moonshine Sequins (Simon Says Stamp).

 And last but not least- I finally pulled out my smaller (5 x 7") Gelli Arts Gel Plate to play! Here is my tutorial on what I am calling the "foil technique". As far as I know it hasn't been done by anyone -at least not that I know of. First here's a look at some of the finished background prints:

 And if you have a plate give it a go- it really is a no fail and easy peasy! Ready?

Step 1 . Grab a sheet of foil wrap and scrunch it into a ball- not too tightly. Choose several paint colors , dab some dots around the plate (go lightly) and brayer over it to meld the colors together.

Step2:  Use your ball of foil to gently pick up ink off the plate here and there. Move or replace the ball of foil as needed. I think you can see on the plate where the paint has been lifted.

Step 3: Place your desired paper (I also used envelopes-not shown) on the plate; place a scrap paper over top of that and press the papers to transfer the paint.

Step 4: Peel off your scrap paper (save for another use), then your print- et voila! This red was the first one I tried and then I went all out mixing colors and printing without cleaning the plate. Here are my favorites up close:

 So what do you think?  Please let me know if you give it a try and share your prints won't you?Edited In: I had some ? about the foil damaging the plate-no, I've had no problems at all but to reiterate- use a gentle hand when pressing the foil around the painted plate. HTH.

 In my next post I will share more Gel Plate inspiration!  Linking to Paint Party Friday.
Thanks for staying with me, and I'll see you soon!

" I define creativity as the person-centered process of imagining possibilities and taking expressive action to bring ideas to life."     Marta Davidovich Ockuly

Summer Is Here!

 How is everyone? The official Summer Solstice begins Thursday in the Northern Hemisphere and y'all know I will be celebrating it big time:):)  Of course, with temps in the 90's the last two days - 95 F today- 35C (Mon.) with a feel like temp of 103 F (39 C) degrees summer is in full force already!

 Update on the second finch nest:

This past Saturday AM there were two that hatched, and on Sunday afternoon...

all five were out though you can only see the three hungriest:):) So far they are thriving.

 We also got a real surprise from nature right outside our back yard!

 First time ever in the 35 years we've lived here! There is an alley and then this hill at the back of our place. Behind the fencing are Moravian College dorms. Moravian has decided the last two years to spray the hill with chemicals rather than have it cut back a few times a year. It makes me sick seeing this and of course I don't go outside for a day or so afterwards. And we aren't getting anywhere in trying to stop it. This poor thing was trying to reach in at the bottom of the fence to get something green. There is some wooded area and a creek nearby but we also are surrounded by streets and traffic so I hope this one does OK.

 For T Stands for Tuesday I will share a breakfast I enjoyed at a favorite place in Cape May:

 A breakfast veggie wrap, with lots of coffee on the side:) I can only ever eat half at one sitting because it is a very generous portion with lots of veggies, scrambled eggs and a bit of feta cheese. I couldn't eat the home fries that come with it so hubby volunteered to eat half of them in addition to his own:):)

 Here is a journal page meant for the Simon Monday Challenge (Transport It), and Art Journal Journey hosted by Gill this month with the theme of "Inspired By":

 My inspiration is not only from my love of France and my French family there but also it has been so much on my mind as I just sent my Mom off to see the family for a month. She flew overnight Sunday arriving in Paris mid morning Monday, had a driver take her to the Paris- Austerlitz train station for a 2 1/2 hr ride south to Chateauroux where my cousin picked her up to take her by car to my aunt's (her sister's) apt. Talk about planes, trains and automobiles! I did talk with her briefly and all went well but she is exhausted. Since I couldn't go with her I had her take a poupée (paper doll) of me:)
 The background is a calendar page from last year that I sanded and aged a bit. Vintage image is Design Originals. I also used the edge of an old airmail envelope, paper doily, washi tape and French ribbon bit.

 I will also join in at Paint Party Friday.

 That's all I have for this round. I'll be seeing you!

       " Summertime is always the best of what might be."  Charles Bowder

Fun Times

 Hello peeps! Hope everyone is doing well. I've got lots to share again so let's get to it. First up- update on my first nest of finches. This was over the weekend:

 Only two of the four survived :( and we won't know what that one brown egg was all about. But as of this posting these two babes have flown the coop. The other nest still has the 5 eggs. And I have lots of other creatures visiting like these two:

These two have made themselves quite comfy and are so close to where I was sitting when I got these pics. They are most welcome since they are behaving and not eating my flowers:)

 On Saturday we hosted a little "Vinyl Party".  Todd and friends now have record players and think it's a novel thing to play records. So, we all got talking and a party was planned for sharing some of our records. I sent out the two invites:

                                                   envie and card

 And we had a blast- with such a variety of music too! I was banned from playing ABBA so I fixed them and brought out these albums for my turns:

 Does anyone remember these lads? I was in love with them back in the day!!

 Besides these snacks I made roast beef sliders and chocolate chip cookie bars.

                                           Andrew and my hubby

                                                son Todd

       and me with the two daughters I never had- I love these girls!! Kyra, Todd's gf on left and Lynn- Andrew's wife on the right. Cheers to the T Stands For Tuesday gang!

 This tag is meant for Tag Tuesday (theme is "A Night At The Movies"):

              Black glossy tag and movie ephemera (DMD Papers)

 Another tag which is for the Simon Monday Challenge (anything but a card) and Moo Mania and More (die cuts):

 I used a large manila tag for the base but chose not to punch the hole or crop the corners. The top piece of Tim Holtz Worn Wallpaper was a remnant from a tag I cut from it. I am determined not to let one bit of these awesome papers go to waste:):) Other products: manila tag, Stickles Diamond Glitter glue- Ranger;Tim Holtz- Worn wallpaper; Botanical; Paper Dolls; Small Talk Occasions stickers; Thinlits dies- 6602220; Distress Oxide inks- Frayed Burlap, Faded Jeans; Distress Worn Lipstick; heart button - Blumenthal Lansing Co.; Moonshine Sequins- Simon Says Stamp.

Edited in: I am also linking to a new to me challenge at the Crop Stop.com Blog thanks to an invite from Esther-thank you! It's always  "anything goes" so long as you use one or more products from one of the companies carried in the store. And yes, there are prizes:)

 And for Art Journal Journey (theme is "Inspired By") and Paint Party Friday I have this journal page:

 I was inspired by this card sent by my dear friend Patty a little while ago:

 I knew I wanted to try to do an acrylic painting of it. Here is my version:

 and a few close ups:

 Several paints were sponged onto the gessoed page. A few flower stamps were repeatedly stamped on the dried background using Aquamarine Archival ink. I first drew in the flowers etc. with a white Stabilo pencil then kept painting on layers of paint diluted with matte medium for more translucency. Golden Glazes were added and then Pearl Medium was applied to the flower petals. I finished the painting with doodled touches here and there using a gold glitter gel pen.

 Busy, busy week ahead as I am helping my Mom pack, plan and get everything in order for her month long stay with our family in France. She's leaving on Sunday. Wish me luck because she does have anxiety issues but I really wanted HER to go and spend as much time with them as she wanted. I will miss them so but did not wish to leave Bill for a month. I will be taking care of her home along with bills, watering flowers, papers, mail, etc.  So I will be around to visit as I have time. Wishing you all a wonderful week!

  " Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun."   Randy Pausch

Hey Girlfriend(s)!

How are you? Hope you're enjoying good weather wherever you are.  Have a cup of tea with me won't you?

 Relaxation blend of loose tea. Quite nice with a hint of raspberry-not too much.  The blue dish is antique Buffalo Pottery that was my great grandmother's. I think they were meant for serving individual salt portions at the dinner table. I have 8 of these. The tea cup is also vintage and purchased at an estate sale. The only marking  is "Germany" under the 5 cups I have. And that darling little teapot loose tea holder...

 I bought it in England many years ago and it is made in England too. I just love it! Sharing with Elizabeth and friends for T Stands For Tuesday.

 Updates on my birds! This is how they look as of now:

 and...I got a happy surprise with a new nest in my second hanging basket of geraniums!

  My May calendar spreads:

 For the Simon Wednesday Challenge of Anything Goes  and Moo Mania and More Challenge to use die cuts I have this card to share:

 Products: white notecard; pink, white cardstock; PTI Mega Mixed Messages clear stamp set; Altenew Peony Bouquet stamp and die set; brick wall stencil (Simon Says Stamp); heart die (Sizzix/Thin Lits Tim Holtz; Inks- Versafine Onyx Black; Archival- Leaf Green, Buttercup, Sunflower; Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink - Gray Whale; Distress ink- Mowed Lawn; Moonshine Sequins - Simon Says Stamp.

 The title of my post comes from this journal page:

 Background stamps are from Magenta, bird girl stamp from Lost Coast Designs (the face is a vintage image from my stash), words (Art Gone Wild).
 Linking this to Try It On Tuesday  (She's Got The Look).

 And one more journal page:

 This page was inspired by my love of poppies and the photo I took of one last year.  Sharing with Art Journal Journey with the new month's theme of "Inspired By" chosen by guest host Gill.

Of course I am also joining Paint Party Friday! Also, I have missed some blogging friends who haven't been blogging lately and I am happy to be finding them on Instagram now that I finally signed up:)   Have a super week ahead!

" Everyone should carefully observe the way his heart draws him, and then follow that way with all his heart."         Hasidic Saying