Simple Sweet Lemons

 

I've been playing with this new to me stamp and die set from Concord and 9th called Sweet on You. So fun!

I remembered this collection from Simple Stories that would be perfect with this set. It's called Simple Vintage Lemon Twist. I think it was released some time during the 2020 pandemic, as I recall it took a looooong time to get to me.

Remember those days? Good times.

Another old + new combination.

Have you moved on to autumn crafting? Christmas in July crafting?

I am still firmly planted in summer. The weather's been lovely, the garden is lush, and the vegetables from my little patch are just starting to come in.

Life is sweet!

A Tale of Two Cobblers

 

It is peach season here in Michigan. A, what a glorious time of year! You have to enjoy peaches while they last, which is typically not long unless you are canning or freezing them.

My favorite orchard, Bennett's in Ottawa Lake, has been keeping me in a steady supply.

I used them to make a peach cobbler about two weeks ago. I used a recipe from a Pioneer Woman cookbook. The recipe put the sliced peaches on the bottom, and then a crumble coating on the top.

Well, we found that the peaches cooked down too much, the crumble baked up too much, and it felt more like a cake with a moist bottom.

I had more peaches (yes, I've been to the orchard twice. Don't judge!), so I tried a different cobbler last night. This one was from Pinterest (TidyMom.Net), and it was interesting. Melted butter at the bottom of the pan, then the flour mixture, and then the peachy spicy sugar combo on top. Do not stir together, just layer.

And let me tell you, this one was the winner!

Summer is short and life is sweet. Enjoy every last bit of it!

Old and New, Part 2

 

There were so many tempting things in the Concord and 9th Inventory Blow Out sale...so many cute products that had been on my wish list. It's easy to load up that online shopping cart with a long list of wants. But then I start to debate wants vs. needs and whittle down my list.

For example, this In the Garden turnabout stamp set was only $6. That's a $20 item, normally. And it coordinates with Friendship Garden stamps and dies. But I had other products from other companies that were very similar to those stamps and dies.

Take, for example, these stamps and dies from Lawn Fawn. The perfect size, the perfect theme...meant to be!

Here's how I typically use the Turnabout stamps. I cut a piece of card stock into a square. In this case, it measures 5 3/4 inches square. I place the stamp on the MISTI platform, ink it with a color, and stamp. Then I turn the card stock to the right once, new color, stamp. Turn the card stock to the right, stamp. These stamps come with a turnabout placement jig, but I find this method to be easiest for me.

Then, after four inks, I have a square of what looks like patterned paper. I cut this one into four diagonal sections and used it to make four cards.

I paired the turnabout panels with the Floral Vines cover plate from Concord and 9th for an extra botanical element. The sentiments are from Catherine Pooler's Something for Everyone stamps.

Bring new life to old stamps and dies is always fun!

Looking for Butterflies

 

I've been waiting for the arrival of the butterflies this summer, but I have not found many. I think I saw one monarch last week, but that's about it. I wonder, is it too soon? My butterfly bush has just begun to bloom, so maybe that will attract them.

In the meantime, I made some paper butterflies instead.

I've had this stamp and die set from Concord and 9th for a long time, and I'm not sure if I've ever used it until now. It's a lovely set, too!

Here's my pro tip: After gluing something extra delicate, you may end up with the evidence all over the card stock after it dries. I like to disguise the dried glue by spraying with some sparkly glitter spray. Works like a charm.

My butterfly garden is being overrun by milkweed, as usual. I've been inspecting for any signs of eggs or caterpillars.

I did find this sweet little ladybug who came to visit.

 

The natural world gives me all kinds of reasons to smile.

Squeeze the Day

 

I am a lemon lover. This week, I had a real summertime treat...a lemonade from Panera Bread. I rarely get any sort of sugary drink, but this one just tasted like summer in a cup.

I got this Squeeze the Day stamp and die set from the buy/sell FB forums last month. It was part of a C and 9th Summer Camp kit.

And that awesome backdrop? That's the Basket weave Cover Plate die from C and 9th. So versatile!

I'm making a point of using my new summer purchases this week. It's been a good spark for creativity.

Squeeze the Day, café friends!

Combining Old and New

 

For today's summertime treat, I combined an older Concord and 9th Turnabout stamp set/dies with a newer sentiment set that I got during their inventory blowout. These  Sweet Summer sentiments were meant to be paired with the Popsicle Party stencils ( still available) and not the retired popsicle turnabout. I knew they'd work great with this set!

And the sentiment inside is pretty funny, too!

I made this card for a friend at church who recently stepped down from her position there and will be retiring with her family to the far far up north of the UP next year. Waah! We are all so sad because this family has been so vital to the congregation.

Deanna has headed up a LOT of years of VBS and has passed out more than her fair share of popsicles. I think she will like this one!

And as long as I was making one card, I thought I'd make another as a spare.

Hope your summer is sweet!

Make Some Noise

 

My birthday stash was getting a little low. I decided to make a stack of cards yesterday using one of my newest purchases from Concord and 9th.

This stamp and die set was part of their big inventory sale in June. It was such a great price, and I really thought it could be used for so many ways.

I used bright card stock to cut out a bunch of the elements, then went to work assembling them in different ways.

Each card has the same basic elements: ink splattered background, sequins, baker's twine, and stamped sentiment.

The sentiment is a two part stamp, allowing you to get a multi-color effect if you want, or just using the same color.

Happy cards for happy occasions.

Now that I'm on a crafty roll, I think I'm going to spend some more time in the craft room today.