Lilacs and a Friend

We were awakened by rolling thunder last night, but no storms today.  In fact, it was a lovely day with sun & clouds.  Perfect for meeting up with my dear friend, Rosemary.  

We both love lilacs & enjoyed talking while we admired the lilacs and other flowers in a Woodland, Washington garden.

Wish we could all meet in person, but I know that's not possible.  Thankfully, we have our blogs & I do so appreciate your friendship.  I'll be back with cards soon.  Thanks for stopping by.

So Excited!

Finally, after 3 or 4 years, the lilac that began as a start from a coworker is blooming for the first time!  Never crossed my mind that it needed to be fed, but finally after no blooms again last year I asked the experts advice.

Yesterday a couple opened enough to see the 2 tone--it's going to be spectacular I think!  No fragrance yet, but I'm hoping it will be lovely.  My mom always sent me back to college after Spring Break with a big bouquet of lilacs--she would have loved this one.
I have a couple cards to share today.  First is my entry for PTI MIM Stenciled Watercolor backgrounds.  

I used MFT's Fishnet stencil designed by my blogging friend, Mona, with PTI's The Sweet Life.  The inks are Lovely Lady, Scarlet Jewel, New Leaf & Green Parakeet.  Not sure they're still in, but I like the silver thread nest.  

The stenciled panel was die cut with Mat Stack 3 & the sentiment is from the matching stamp set.  The rose was heavily spritzed with Perfect Pearls--just can't get enough of that shimmer!  I'm also entering HLS Anything Goes with Dies, SSS Wednesday, SSS Work it Wednesday & Word Art Wednesday.

Next is a Christmas card--my favorite cards to make!  Even turned out to be 1 layer & think I'll make a couple more to send overseas.  I used the Penny Black holly tree stamp which was given to me quite awhile ago.  

To be honest, the picture on the cling stamp is not very appealing--too busy, I think until the leaves are somehow defined.  As most of you know, I'm not much of a colorer, so that's why I never opened the stamp. However, it was the size & type of image I wanted to use for CCCB Birthday Case #4: Marina.  I love how she stamped the cake off the side of the card & used a color combo of brown, white & gold.  I white embossed the tree, colored the stem with a brown marker & the leaves with my white Prismacolor pencil.  Seldom use the gold Pico Embellisher I "had" to have--worked perfect for the berries.  PB has the best sentiment stamps--love this one from 2012 which I stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia. Decided to add "snow" by splattering some white ink which dries quite muted--just the look I wanted.  Fun to have discovered a way to use one of my stamps to get a card I really love.  I'm also entering Merry Monday, Christmas Card Challenges, Rudolph Days, SSS Wednesday & Word Art Wednesday. Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.