For the Graduate

I love this time of the year...spring...sports...the new green surrounding us...the feel of the sun on my face...and the new promise that I always feel with weddings, graduations, and new (or old) love! 
I have several projects...ready to celebrate all of these wonderful events...beginning with a fun pillow box crafted specifically for someone special and who just happens to be fun, too!

This Cosmo Cricket paper has long been a favorite of mine...I've paired it with a PTI sentiment and some sweet embellishments (including twine)...all added to this kraft pillow box sent to me by Michelle Phillipi from her Etsy Shoppe.  Perfect size for a gift card or the always appreciated cash!
Are you ready for the spring fun?
Thanks for visiting, and have a great day!! 

Mother's Day

Good Monday morning!  So much to do...asparagus and rhurbarb to cut...eggs to collect...cleaning and laundry...and sharing some sweet memories of yesterday's wonderful Mother's Day.
Cards for our Mothers...beautiful new Crate Paper and American Crafts ribbon...so simple and lovely.

Their gifts...salad bowls!!  Hubby and I put together these beautiful "bowls" filled with buttercrunch and red leaf lettuces, arugula, swiss chard and garlic chives...with proper harvesting our moms should have fresh salad greens at their fingertips for almost the entire summer. 

 

 A pinwheel...for a touch of fun!

Some family shots...my beautiful daughter and her husband...

my son and his sweet family...

and the best for last...Timothy...enjoying his dessert!   

I hope that your Mother's Day was as simply wonderful as mine...great food, fun and family!

Thanks so much for visiting, and have a great day!!

Post'n'Go - New Beginnings

Stopping by with a Friday Post'n'Go. 

Thanks for visiting, and Happy Friday!!

You Rock!

Today's To-Do:
Chicken and cattle morning chores
Egg washing
Chicken coop clean out
Freeze spinach
Plan next week's menu
Grocery shopping
Dinner and dishes

I'd better get cracking...but first, a card!

This is a totally-out-of-my-comfort-zone kind of card, but I'm pretty happy with it.  Kraft base...Crate Paper...Papertrey Ink dies and stamps...SU! ink...embossing powder. 
Thanks for visiting, and have a rockin' day!

Welcome to the Neighborhood

Spring is arriving in Northern Illinois...ever so slowly...but it IS on its way...and with spring comes the return to the farm of many sweet neighbors...neighbors that I so miss during the cold winter months.  Please, let me introduce to you...
The Tulips by the Shed...my sweet husband knows that I'm not crazy about the rickety metal shed...but fill the front with my favorite...the tulip...and it somehow makes everything right.

The Tulips in the Yard...Tulips on the east on on the south...they're great neighbors!

The Daylilies and the Daffodils...

The Funky Flower by the Well...

and The Pear and Apple Blooms...on their way to becoming pear applesauce in just a few short months.

I can't forget the lovely friends that have weathered the cold winter with us...

Belle...( my lovely Belle...so beautiful!)...

Bully...he looks intimidating (and he can be a bully)...but he's just a softy who loves his daily scratch...

and Berger...my baby...so ready for his spring cleaning!

If you've hung in for this spring around the farm I also have a card to share!

I couldn't wait to get my hands on the new Crate Paper designs...isn't this paper fun...so woodsy and Bohemian?  I paired it with a kraft base and embossed sentiment tag and added a a pop of color using Papertrey Ink's Simple Circles stamp set and border die (also embossed), Pure Poppy cardstock, Beautiful Blooms #3 dies and Dark Chocolate Vintage Buttons.  I love it!

Thanks for visiting, and have a fabulous day!







So Simple - Kraft Boxes #1

Good morning!  I have a super sweet So Simple to share today...Kraft Boxes! 
I love kraft boxes...I can't get enough of them, and I love being able to use my own dies to make them.  I think they are about the most versatile packaging item available.  There is just something earthy and wonderful about them...and a kraft box goes with anything!
I was drawn to this Morning Glory Muffin recipe after reading Melissa Phillips' post...they just sounded so yummy...and I thought they would be a perfect little treat to make and give in a kraft box.

I used this Accucut die for this box, stamped it on all sides with my absolutely favorite sentiment from PTI's Handwritten Notes stamp set and embellished it with hot pink bakery twine and a PTI Raspberry Fizz Vintage Button.  (And BTW, how absolutely adorable do those muffins look in these hot pink baking cups from Bake-It Pretty?)

I wrapped the muffin with waxed paper and more bakery twine and paired it with a tiny, just-the-right-size container of cinnamon honey butter for extra yumminess!

It was a perfect fit! 

And here it is...Simple...fun...and oh so yummy! 

Thanks so much for visiting...have a wonderful day!