One Last Washi Design

This is one last card I did using washi tape.  In this case I covered a piece of cardstock with coordinating tape and then cut it apart and separated the two pieces with a band of plain cardstock.  The scalloped borders are punched and the text is a die cut.  I thought it looked better to flip the bottom panel but it could have been placed so the tape ran the same top and bottom.  There sure is a lot of pretty washi tape available.

Washi Flags

This is another card I made when playing with washi tape.  In this case I folded the tape with sticky sides together over the baker's twine and then cut the notch to shape it.  The text is a die cut but the basic design could be used for a lot of different occasions.  It went together pretty quickly.

"She" Journal Page

This art journal page is multi-media.  The background is part of a paper towel that I used to clean up after several spraying/painting sessions.  Sometimes those papers are the best material.  Pattern was added with stencils and paint.  The girl is a Prima stamp that I layered with patterned paper for the clothing.  She was cut out and adhered on top.  The text was computer generated and the flowers were die cut.   It's just fun to play sometimes.

Journal Page

This is a page from my older art journal which is done mostly with stenciling.  Stencils make things pretty easy and definitely fun.  Hard to go wrong.

Clinging On

This lichen was another thing that caught my attention on our hike.  That's a really skinny branch, yet the lichen is clinging on and trying to survive.  It will probably do fine as long as conditions remain favorable.  I think the light on the branch and the dark background made for a pretty good photo.  Sometimes you're just lucky.

The Progression of Nature

There are many natural elements to see as one hikes 8.47 miles and this little pine tree caught my eye.  It's growing in the stump of what looked to have been a very old tree, now gone.  And there was a little pine cone there, too, which was perhaps emptying more seeds into the stump.  It was a reminder that life goes on and what is gone still supports the new.  I think it's true not only in the plant kingdom but in the animal kingdom as well.

Another View

After viewing Tumalo Falls, I turned and saw this rustic fence with the little pine trees beside it and tall pines in the background and thought it made a nice composition.  I think I was right and now you get to see it, too.  Another little bonus of our hike.

Tumalo Falls

Tumalo Falls cascades 97' and is pretty awesome.  We were so pleased to reach the viewpoint and see it.  It certainly was a nice reward for sticking with it.  Then we had to be concerned about getting back to the start of the trail.  Again, one foot in front of the other and keep going.  As is always the case, the way back always seems a little shorter and that was the case with this hike.  Different joints ached at different times but nothing too unpleasant, just a reminder that we aren't as young and nimble as we once were.  We made it--all 8.47 miles of it!  We might not do that long a hike ever again but it was good to know that we still could, given the right circumstances and motivation.  But next time -- we hope to drive to the viewpoint.

Perfect Weather Calls For A Hike

On June 6 my husband and I went on an outing as part of his birthday celebration (which was actually the following day but it was supposed to be warmer on the "real" day).  It should have been a simple drive to view Tumalo Falls and then an optional hike to see a few other falls.  First of all we went to the small town of Tumalo and then to Tumalo State Park, neither of which are even close to the falls.  But we muddled along and actually found the right place--but the road was closed.  "Oh, look.  There's a trail to the viewpoint for Tumalo Falls.  Oh, wait--it's 3.5 miles one way.  Let's just start and see how far we get."  It was a pretty hike, no really steep areas, mostly among tall pine trees with a good amount of shade.  There were sounds from and views of Tumalo River and lots of other friendly hikers and bikers were on the trail.  We kept putting one foot in front of the other, stopping to take an occasional photo (or rest!) and it got to the point where we had put in so much time and energy it seemed foolish not to get to the end.  And we did.  I'm going to make you wait for the view of Tumalo Falls so come back tomorrow.  Be sure to wear sunscreen and bring water.

A Big Job DONE

It has been a two-month project but the refinishing of an antique Hoosier cabinet, dating back to the 1920's, is complete.  The top photo shows what I started with on the exterior.  On the interior were at least two coats of white paint that covered a lot of nice stuff.  I stripped, sanded, stained and finished with three coats of urethane and think it's much improved.  One of my objectives was to keep it as authentic as I could so none of the hardware was replaced.  I did leave out a pine shelf that had been added to the tall section because it wasn't original nor well done.  One piece of glass for the windows had to be replaced due to breakage and I wasn't able to salvage a watercolor that was behind the window on the left (but I didn't care for it anyway).  Some features I like are the metal band around the shelf in the roll top section, the spice bins that hang on the right upper door, the wire rack on the lower door and largest section and, of course, that roll top door.  I was fearful I would ruin it so it wouldn't open after stripping, etc. but it came through beautifully.  And I think it unique that it opens from the top down rather than vice versa.  I should mention that the typical metal counter between the two sections was missing so we replaced that with wood that I painted.  We aren't sure that's a permanent solution but it is working for now.  Was it worth all that mess, time, tedious scraping?  Absolutely.  I like it much better and will enjoy having it in the house filled with a variety of antiques from a similar period of time.

Fun Die Cut

I thought the parallel lines in the die cut for this card was something different.  It's a little tricky to get them aligned just right but it helped to keep the center piece in place until it was adhered.  You still have to be careful that the center piece doesn't adhere.  Just added a flower and some narrow satin ribbon  and the washi tape did the rest.

Stripes Before My Eyes

The tape went directly on the background for this design and then I added a leaf and heart.  That's pretty easy.

Use It All

The label for yesterday's card?  It came from this piece.  I like to use both the negative and positive when I can.  I popped up the taped piece and added a multi-layer die cut flower to the center.

Neon everywhere

This is a bright one!  It's full of fun neon colors with an embossed background.  Tape was applied to white cardstock and then die cut and matted on a slightly larger label.  Flower was also die cut.

Layers

There's both plain and patterned washi tape in this design.  And there's both muted and neon colors for more contrast.  The butterfly is layered for dimension.

I'm being treated for skin cancer.  It's more complicated than I thought and I don't even have the bad kind.  A sample from the carcinoma went to the lab last Friday.  Will keep you posted.  And meanwhile wear your sunscreen and hat!  Funny thing is, I was never one that liked the sunshine.  Never sunbathed and never was in a tanning bed.  We'll blame the genes.

Washi Flower

Washi tape not only created the background for this card, the embellishment is also made of washi.  I folded the tape back on itself so the adhesive was to the inside, cut it to length and gathered one edge.  I roundeded the corners of the other end to create the flower.  The leaves are die cuts.  What do you think--does it need a butterfly?  ;-)

Daisy, Daisy

I'm not sure that's a daisy but that's what I'm calling it.  It was die cut and popped up on the card.  The frame was created with washi tape.  Aren't you glad I took a break from the butterflies?!  They are all lovely embellishment.  Use what you have -- that's what I say.

Yellow Fellows

No red.  But more butterflies and washi.  All of the background is washi tape but I also added narrow satin ribbon and a bow.  The yellow butterflies are die cut and punched.

A Variation

 More washi tape.  More butterflies.  More red.  This design started with washi tape on white cardstock.  I layered red and white cardstock and die cut a butterfly window as I did previously.  Again I put a punched butterfly inside the window and added a couple of punched butterflies.

Another Washi

Apparently I was not only in a washi tape mode, but also a "red" and "butterfly" mode.  For this design I added washi tape to a small piece of cardstock and then die cut a butterfly from the center.  I punched a separate butterfly and popped it up in the window.  Another stamped work and some background panels and the card was complete.

In Flight

I recently made a series of cards that featured washi tape.  Gotta love all the colors and patterns the tape provides and it's so easy to use.  This design is simply strips of the tape with a die cut butterfly and a one-word stamp.  It doesn't get much easier than that.

Another Survivor

This is another little tree trying to survive some trying conditions.  It is obviously doing better as it has more height and more branches.  Right now it's getting plenty of moisture from the snow.  It will never be anyone's Christmas tree but lots of people can admire it during the warm months.  Grow, little tree, grow!

Surviving, Barely

I have no idea how old this little pine "tree" is but is was struggling to survive amongst all the rock.  I thought it was amazing and there were quite a number of other trees trying to survive.  Makes me see that I have it pretty easy.

View Higher Up

 This was a typical view of the obsidian as we hiked higher on the trail.  The obsidian was sometimes huge, shiny black boulders and sometimes small pieces amongst other lava.  But it covered a big area.  It was the latest of the volcanic activity in the area, dating back 1300 years.

Obsidian Flow

And then we headed further south to see the obsidian flow.  This photo shows the depth of the flow and we were able to climb right up into it and take a circle hike through it.  Although there was still snow on the ground, it was a beautiful day.

Green-Haired Wizards

I thought the lichen (or is it moss?) on these old tree limbs make them look like green-haired wizards.  Maybe I had an overdose of fresh air and exercise which affected my brain.  Or maybe it's just a vivid imagination.

Striving To Thrive

This a view of the volcanic peaks from the ghost forest area and here you get to see four peaks, Mt. Bachelor being the largest one to the left.  And you can see how plants are trying to survive in the limited environment of the lava.  It's high desert area so there's not a lot of rain to give them a boost.  They really have to be the hardiest of the hardy.

Lots of Lava

There's different types and colors of lava, depending how it was formed and from how deep in the earth it originated.  The type shown here was blown out of a cone rather quickly.  Plants strive to grow but the lava is widespread and not the best growing environment.  And it covers miles and miles and miles.

Ghost Forest

Further south in Lassen Volcanic National Monument is an area where the flowing lava overtook an old growth forest.  When the trees died, there remained these holes.  Most her vertical but there were also some horizontal voids.  Poor trees.

Things To Be Happy About

dedicated pollinators

patriotic holidays

flying flags

parades

unique individuals

jokes

cupcakes

investigating journalists

honesty

vaccines