Saturday, July 2, 2011

A Quick View of My Garden

Here is a picture of a sunflower that I have some artistic effects to in PhotoShop
I just love the beauty of the sunflower, an amazing gorgeous flower.
A little garden fairy that I bought at Joann's in Florida at 60% off.....so sweet and I have placed here in my herb bed.
The photo has been artistically altered in Photoshop.
I have several garden fairies located throughout my garden.

Here is the front of my new garden shed, that Bruce has built me and I designed, it is so cute and just a wonderful
enjoyment to my garden. Now all my tools and garden supplies have a special house. Not to mention I have had fun decorating this year, most items I have had in my studio because they have been meant for this DREAM garden shed I have wanted forrrreeeevvvverrrrr. I just adore it!!

The garden beds are all raised and have been since 2004, when we first put in the beds, when we moved in Dec. 2008 he moved the beds and even the dirt, so I have been using the raised beds for quite sometime and do enjoy the convience of them. It is whole lot easier for me to take care of since I am really the lone gardener in my house, although I do get help from the boys in the beginning.  

Here are some of the pumpkin plant, and gourds. They do travel, the may pea bed is beside it and of course they have been put in my freezer and I have replanted in their place. I have many birdhouse gourds already larger than my hands.

The greenhouse where I start all my seeds every year and have since 1999, I ordered from FingerHut in 1997 and it took like forever to pay for LOL! I am so amazed how well it has maintained and keeps on working year after year. I have bags of dirt stored in their now for my potting table which is on the other side of the new shed.


Plenty of Butterfly Bushes which all flying creature LOVE my entire yard is full of my favorite little flying dragonflies.
I kid you not I have watched them for many years now and they actually pose for you when shooting them, it is just astounding. I will get so close to them and they just start posing.

I plant sunflowers all throughout the garden, they provide some shade  and beauty to the garden, this one here is I know 15ft high.....AMAZING!
A beautiful butterfly that we get to enjoy day after day.

Here is a little garden cart I have had since 2003 it put my hand tools in while in the garden.
See the pampas grass sticking out I planted that from seeds....AMAZING! It has taken since March to get that high.
Squash plants, zucchini, and bell peppers...which they all have been plentiful.....we have been grilling them just about every night.
Another view we have birds in the houses, it is such a pleasure to see them frolic around. They will drink water from the wine barrel pond. The dutch statues I painted in 1995 and still adorn the garden for eye candy. See how tall my tomato plants are which have been producing a plenty.



Well I hope you enjoyed a quick visiting through my garden. Here are some gnomes I bought at Dollar General
this year, at one time they were taller than the plants but now it is the other way around. Here are the carrots
behind the gnomes.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Stuck On You Sketches "Discover" A Layout Using the Slice Elite

Discover a Stuck On You Sketches  for the Challenge this week.
The Sketch by Liz Qualman
I have done a sketch similar before by Liz for a challenge over at Imaginisce
and won a wonderful prize package. Well I thought it was the same one...maybe I shouldn't of thought that..that is why I had three picture....LOL!
While searching for the layout I did for the sketch over at Imaginisce, I found out I was in the I Spy and did not even know it until just now!! WOW!!
Look HERE
AWESOME!!!



Sketch by Liz Qualman


I just finished the layout in the nick of time. I had another crazy accident in my family last night, Cody jumped in the pool and some how busted Colten's head open, so we took him to the emergency room here in Florida and he received 4 staples. Bazaar......crazy bad luck here lately!!???! I was determined nothing was stopping me from getting this layout done for the team. I made it!! YEAH! Such a wonderful sketch. I brought one bag with me on vacation and was able to pull off this cute layout of Dusty back in March of 2011.  Every year when gardening/bugging/spring toys come out I could just go crazy having fun with it, and thank goodness the boys love them too!! They have so much fun just looking thru the magnify glass, finding bugs just a BONUS!! They even try to put ants in the cage.....funny funny! I was gonna name the layout Spring fever but when I found the title on the Slice Discover....perfect!!! It is on the Jungle card. All the cuts were made from the Slice. Whenever I go some where I always carry the Slice perfect for travel....stores in one bag. The papers are My Little Shoebox, always my fav! I also used Jillibean Soup always adorable! The cardstock is Bazzill. The inks are Fabrico Craft Inks, the paints are Golden fluid paints, the twine is MME. While I was making this I felt a little old school, I didn't have a paper trimmer, popdots, circle cutter large enough to cut the circle out.......I used bubblewrap for the popdots, and a saucer, and a course plain ole' scissors.....so funny how we get so dependent on out tools and trust me it makes things better to have them...LOL!!! Again sorry for the delay and absences.....it has been a crazy year. I miss you all and wish I could be just keeping in touch and just be able to be inspired by all your wonderful talents and ideas. Have a wonderful weekend and can't wait to see your takes on the sketch. Cyber Hugs, Dawn Gallop

Friday, June 3, 2011

Stuck On You Sketches Tutorial Making a Wrought Iron Fence "Rusty" Using the Cricut Ornamental Iron Cartridge

Hello everyone it was my turn to make a tutorial for SOUS this week and I am bringing you a fabulous easy way to get RUST!!! Gather your supplies I have used the Cricut Cartridge Ornamental Iron but this technique can be used for just about anything.  Using the Triangle Crafts Sophisticated Finishes there are several brands like Modern Options (I also have this) so be on the look out for several manufactures that sell these type finish products. Here we are using the Triangle Crafts Sophisticated Finishes sold at Michael's Arts and Crafts and other art suppliers. At Michael's I have seen them in the wooden section. You will need the Iron Metallic Surfacer and the Rust Antiquing Solution. Two paint brushes any type, size depending on your project. Craft mat or wax paper. Thin chipboard I used the back of a paper pack. Masking tape and of course whatever you are gonna RUST!

Here is a photo of the supplies you will need.
and then:
First insert the cartridge, I have used the deep cut blade and housing but if using cardstock you will not need the deep cut blade. Tape the thin chipboard (a cereal box will work), to the mat securely. Insert mat setting the depth to max and multicut. Remove from mat once cut. 

                       Once on the craft mat plaint a thick coat of the Iron Metallic Surfacer on the fence

Now before the Iron Metallic Surfacer is dry begin painting with the Rust Antiquing Solution this will help to get a more RUSTY look. You can let dry completely and only have spots of rust, but I like rust so I put it on before it dries. Just a hint but the directions are on the back of the bottle, this is just what I like to do.

Allow to dry completely, I use a fan with the technique I have not used a heat gun to speed the process??? I always just make it in a step an allow to dry on its own
.
Now you have this amazing rusty gate that looks old and so real. If you need to for your project you can seal this with an acrylic sealer. Spray it outside in a well ventilated area if you choose to seal this. I will not for my use. Thank You and I hope you can use this super cool technique using a awesome product!! Enjoy! Dawn Gallop

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Stuck On You Sketches "Life is Tweet Live it" Using the Tim Holtz Bird Cage Die



This layout made for the Stuck On You Sketches
Using the wonderful Sketch by Ness
The flowers are Petaloo and Prima
The ATC card was given to me by Cheryl Carroway she had made for one of her Tim Holtz crusies
it just fit perfect with this theme, thanks Cheryl Love ya!!
The bird cage is from the Tim Holtz die, I cut from this chipboard and painted, I added bells to the holes.
Stickles used, cuts are from the Slice, Cricut and Silhouette.
The cartridge used is the Straight From The Nest
Paper is DCWV and Bazzill cardstock

 
Close up the ATC

Just love these pictures of Colten and Colby from 2007, we had gone to Busch Gardens on Father's Day and the boys loved the bird avery.
Just lovely sketch by the talented Ness.


Hello once again, today we were a 100 degrees on my back porch in the shade.....I have been working in the garden non stop and still have so much to do. I am proud to say I have huge green tomoatoes and squash just a plenty.  I was in Florida all last week and came home to a ton of work....it always seems that way....like the old saying I need a vacation from my vacation. I had this layout done and ready to post and the two littlest boys came down with a yucky sickness, then Colby also shared the love...he missed several days of school. We spent all day at the river yesterday in the boat still got to load this pictures...we had too much fun!! LOL!!! Anyway I have post all the info on the layout under the pictures. Hope you have a great week!! Dawn

Friday, May 13, 2011

Stuck On You Sketches "Enjoy" Using Webster's Pages and the Slice Elite

Stuck On You Sketches
The flowers are Prima, Webster's Pages, Pink Paislee, used my Slice Elite to cut everything.
Sketch By Crafty-Ness
Hello everyone this week over at Stuck On You Sketches  we had this amazing sketch by Crafty-Ness, I am currently at the Downey Downey Inspired  where I have also taught me,  Dawn Gallop my copper bracelet class which I am now on my way to teach Suzi Blu and Elena from Charity Wings as a fun teacher get together.....so I need to make it quick. I could not get into blogger last night and this morning to make my post because it was down so sorry for the delay. I have had such a blast and just hanging out with the girls and doing artsy things has been so fun fun!! Please go check out SOUS for this weeks challenge.  I will post pics asap of this wonderful event. Funny thing is I did this whole layout on the hotel bed here even using the Slice on the bed...LOL!!! I was sooooo limited on what I brought and only remembered the picture like five minutes before we left...printed a picture and bam the darn ink ran out.....I am soooo thinking WHY??? Found this adorable picture of Colby Shane when he was just a little over a year old in my first year of raised bed gardening. LOVE IT!! Goes to show one that YOU can make something anywhere and anytime!! Until next time always be creating!!! Cyber Hugs, Dawn Gallop
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