Challenge #13 - How does your Garden grow?

There is something so magical about watching the seasons change - one minute the trees and grass are this faint springtime shade of green and then WHOOSH - everything turns lush and full with growth. Fields are just starting to see the efforts of plowing and planting with the first shoots of new crops growing. Farmers' markets full of delicious, healthy food to enjoy!

So this week's theme is all about the growing. Do you like to visit a farmers' market, grow herbs in containers, have raised flower beds, or just like to live vicariously through gardening magazines and catalogs? Whatever you enjoy, let's try to capture it in a crafty manner. Just make whatever sings to you on this challenge and link it to us here. Try to capture something representing GROWTH (leaves, flowers, trees, etc.)

Now, that shouldn't be too hard to do, right?

Remember your entry can be ANYTHING - photo, ATC, blog entry, journaling, layout, card, mini, moo, inchie, twinchie, postcard, etc. WE LOVE EVERYTHING CRAFTY!!!

Rosemary here (Jana - don't faint at my color choices) and I made a card for this week's challenge. It is using the quote "Friendship is a sheltering tree" from the Youth and Age poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. I used colors that are outside my comfort zone but for the person it is intended for they are MOST appropriate. I used the QuicKutz Reuse kit (spring special edition kit) and a scrap of BG Lime Rickey and SEI Mimosa papers, the ribbon is from le extensive stash du Rosemarie (very exclusive too - smirk). I like the radiant quality of the leaves motif here like friendship radiating warmth, love, and acceptance.

Jana here - I have had this quilt block kit forever. I decided to break it out and get my garden going. Of course this will be a project that takes longer than a week. I still have to work and these kids say they are hungry like every day. Geesh. But here is the progress I have made so far. I am really liking these blocks. Not quite sure that I want to make a quilt though.

Maybe they should be placemats.

Or perhaps a wall hanging.

Or pillows. (Rosemary here - why Jana these are GORGEOUS and heck, why not make something lovely and send it to a friend - HINT HINT HINT)(smirkedy smirk again)

Now show us how your garden grows.

Last week we had several great contributions - love love love all the different takes on the theme! This is Rosemary here and I was supposed to upload an image for last week and would have done so (even on vacation, why not), but then a family emergency kind of skewed things and well, I've been a bad Rosemary for being crafty. I need to be, I want to be, and perhaps I'll simply post my entry for last week's great theme later.

Phinny made a beautiful card using a vintage image (I love anything with a vintage or retro theme!) - So cute and perfect for the challenge!

Kristen brought her sense of humor to this challenge with her card and its sentiment (that's SOME SPF there, Kristen)

Chat Noir made a wonderful card with a real sense of texture and mood - love the real shells and those flip flops on the sand - and for a moment you forgot it was cool in your hemisphere (hopefully)

Casii, the most patient Opus-Gluei follower in the world (;-D, sayeth the Rosemary), made a fun layout that absolutely captures the mood of fun and action!

All of these are wonderful. It's never too late to make a project for any of our challenges. Just let us know and we'll go check it out.

Challenge #12 - Sand and shells

Use sand and/or shells to inspire your creation this month. Here in the US it is hot and beach weather. Bring a bit of the outdoors inside. Into the air conditioned rooms. If you are in the southern hemisphere, bring some of the warmth of the hot beach inside with you. Use the real thing, or a picture. Use the sand and shells for inspiration. The patterns on the shells, the texture of the sand, the memories of a distant or not too distant trip...


The above album was made using some envelopes I got from the Dollar Store, Basic Grey papers, Quickutz dies, my bind it all and the covers (front and back) are up-cycled packing from a paper pack. Stamps are known, but not at the moment. I used Stazon ink.

This album was made using Quickutz dies, I don't remember the papers, 3/4 inch binder rings and assorted ribbons. I made some of the pictures the whole pages.

Rosemary is on vacation, but will post her project soon.

Have fun Rosemary.

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Now check out the projects from those who contributed to our Challenge #11 Theme - Sun/Sunshine

First up is Fia who made a beautiful and contemplative layout of a gorgeous sunset over the Pacific Ocean!

Our next beautiful project is a card from our new friend Fran, with such a cheerful sunny card that it can't help but put a smile on your face!

If it's an Opus-Gluei challenge you KNOW Kristen is going to have a witty take on it and this card is NO exception! Really makes me chuckle with that expression on her face! (I'm still chuckling because I often think that expression in the office!)

Ivolina brings us a bright and happy ATC with a burst of the sun!

Bobbi interpreted our theme with this wonderful Sunflower card. I just love that she took the theme and made it her own.


Now show us your creations using Sand and/or Shells for inspiration.