Lynda of Lakeland

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Christmas Joy Tag

Bonjour Peeps!

Everyone seems to be decorating for fall. I decided to jump right over to Christmas. Perhaps if I ignore the pumpkins and scare crows I'll have Christmas done in time.

So ....I decided Saturday to go through my Pinterest Board "Christmas Tags". So many wonderful ideas....time to be inspired by one and go with it!

Inspiration came from Felicity over at Stamperschef.blogspot.com post from 12/9/2011 regarding Tim's Tags Day Five. I just couldn't get those flowers on red paper out of my head.....

Gather your supplies:

I used one snowflake stamp, a small joy stamp

Stampabilities Faded Text Background

Martha Stewart 3 pedal flower punch

White craft pad from Stampin' Up

Close to Cocoa stamp pad from Stampin' up

Red, white, and cream card stock

Patterned paper in contrast (I used a golden yellow patterned paper)

White brads for flowers

Star paper clip in gold and gold brad to fasten.

White ribbon for bow and top of tag

Red tag is 2 1/2" X 5"

Cut one tag and stamp snowflake pattern sparingly

Stamp brown faded text background on white and cream

card stock. Punch flowers and assemble. THIS TAKES THE LONGEST TIME

DON'T GIVE UP ON THIS STEP.....it is very tedious and takes TIME!!!!!!

Arrange flowers in a circle and attach with brads.

Tie bow with ribbon and attach with brad.

Stamp red Joy on white card stock and cut ends for banner. Attach

to the center of the flower wreath

Add gold star paper clip with brad.

Use glue stick to attach red tag to golden pattern paper cut 3 1/2" X 5 3/4" This covers up all the brads used to attach the flowers to the red card stock.

Use on the top of a journal, as an embelishment for a present, or hang from the Christmas Tree!

Have you decorated for fall?

What is your favorite Christmas item to decorate your home?

~Lynda~

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Artist Park-Montemarte, Paris

Bonjour Peeps! This post will be a continuation of our trip to Paris in June, 2013. I took so many photos it is impossible to share all of them with you.

After a breakfast on the Rue Cler.....stroll past the rose shop for more pics.....like I needed more.

Ride the Metro and exit Anvers. Look for the funicular which is a side car that goes up a track on the side of the hill. It takes you to the top where the church Sacre Coeur views all of Paris.

I have cropped all the peeps out.....summer is a busy time here!

At this point, we noticed new tents. I thought they had placed an area to protect the artist from the summer rains. It is really a summer dining area right in the middle of the artist park-and the artist are set up around the outskirts.

My niece decided to have a portrait done. It took a while so I snapped a few progress shots. The activity drew a crowd of young students. They were so polite, and requested permission to stand and watch, they didn't want to be in the way of my picture taking!

Above: students watching....below, I took a picture with one of my favorite artist I have never made a purchase from, until this year. She builds layers of paint on her flowers. Quite pricey, but since the watercolor artist I usually buy from did not have any small paintings available this year...... I decided to try something new.

I purchased one with reds and greens. You can see the restaurant behind us. I was somewhat annoyed with the whole thing until I realized this extra space would seat more of the summer crowd so we would be more likely to get a seat at our favorite restaurant at the end of the street.

I was right, it did not take long to be seated at Le Consulat.......

Looking through the window by our table you can see this:

Le Poulbot is one of the most photographed restaurants in Montemarte.

Le Consulat is well recommended. Best American hamburgers and fries in Paris that we've tasted.

Directly across the street from Le Consulat is the Galerie D'Art a pottery store that my sister loves.

I let the girls go in and held all the shopping bags so they could shop. I amused myself by taking tons of photos of the outside. It is an amazing shop and they wrap the pottery well for transport in your carry-on luggage.

After shopping here, we returned to the Artist Park to finish the day. More artwork was purchased.

There is nothing like buying directly from the artist. It is usually a better price than buying from a gallery. I was just so disappointed that JM Lambert had only huge, 300+ euro watercolors for sale....perhaps it is all he had left. I needed one more 8X10 to complete the master bathroom.

On to Plan B.....

Have you been blessed with a trip to Paris? Don't forget to visit the hill, Montemarte is a fabulous area for shops, cafes, and people watching!

Bonne Nuit!

~Lynda~

Monday, August 19, 2013

Summer's End 2013

School Days are here again....

The end of summer for us is the beginning of school. Oddly enough our last weekend of freedom before the children return to school was spent at the beach with my sisters.....we spent the first weekend of summer vaca in Paris together.

Looks like a bird convention......

Not great pics.....still practicing with my iphone.

Nice Hobie......great colors against the blue sky......

It was fun to visit Paris.....glad the youngest is organized, and a great event planner.....

While shopping in Daytona, we noticed this cute taxi bag by Betsy Johnson.......is a trip to NYC in the future???? Nah, but the bag is darling! It would hold a round trip ticket and credit card....

I have been crafting full swing to get ready for the Fancy Flea, Plant City, Fl in November.

Inspiration came from a YOUTUBE video....Vicky Papaioannou, Art Journal Page:Reading

A preview of the canvas I am still working on:

The books are made with strips of scrapbook paper rolled to look like books.(use a pencil) I covered a flat canvas with embossed paper then attached the books with foam dots. I need a globe or something else teachery....is that a word? I watched the artist on a You Tube video, but now I can't find it to give her credit....she was amazing. I'll have to search my pinterest boards.....I think I pinned it somewhere....

I am hoping a teacher/librarian will find this attractive and make a purchase! How is your fall shaping up? Back to school? Quiet moments with the children busy with homework? Be blessed and enjoy each and every moment with those precious darlings in your care!

~Lynda

Join the parties below and meet someone new!

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Changes in Altitude

We enjoyed our vaca in the Smoky Mountains. Changes in altitude can also cause a change in attitude.

We rented online from Great Cabins in the Smokies/Wears Valley Road (1-866-409-7066) The staff was friendly and helpful. This was our first experience at renting a cabin. We have camped for years....when the children were young....but a cabin is certainly an upgrade!

An early morning arrival to Cades Cove provided several photo opportunities. We took full advantage.....some 700+ photos.....I picked the best ones to save time....

The fog provided cover for the two deer feeding in the graveyard by this church.

Several doe grazing in the fields nearby.

Fencing mostly to keep unruly visitors from encroaching on their territory.....but deer freely jump from pasture to pasture....

Three buck were filmed that day. This is the best photo I took without a zoom lens. He is carrying some grass on his antlers.......

The grist mill still works. Stone ground meal and other goodies for sale on the property.

We were taking pics of 4-5 turkeys in a field when a bear crossed the road in front of our car. By the time we switched our focus he was scampering into the woods along the creek.

The best way to see wild life is by bicycle early in the A.M. It does pay not to sleep late on the day you want to visit Cades Cove. From early May until late Sept. the 11 mile one way loop is closed to vehicle traffic until 10:00. Nothing like a loud Harley-Davidson to scare the wild life away.....You can rent bicycles from the Cades Cove Campground Store (865-448-9034 for more info)Sometimes you just have to drive your vehicle, but go early on a Thursday or any day other than Wed. or Sat.

This beats zoo time any day! Have you visited the Great Smoky Mountains lately? What is your favorite site?

~Lynda~

Thursday, July 18, 2013

ASCP Three Drawer Dresser

The back wall of our family room needed some "sprucing up". I had painted an old dresser purchased at an estate sale. The dresser was brown and I did not take before pics....at the time I had 3 days to paint 10 pieces of furniture for the Fancy Flea. I was in panic mode, not blog mode....it was as brown as the school desk chair on the marble top....just use your imagination.

The suitcase is another project completed in March. I used a bag of cancelled postage stamps purchased along the Seine River in Paris, France. The tag says "luggage, $30, stamps $35, 8 hrs. of Modge Podge $10, trip to Paris=PRICELESS! Yes, I am selling it for $75. It will be available at the Fancy Flea, Plant City, Florida-the first Sat. in Nov. 2013. ($5 admission fee to craft fair)

Rag Ann has the perfect happy face. I had a collection in my daughter's room when she was small. She is a red-head also.

The old school chair and painted oil can came from a craft fair in Gatlinburg, TN years ago.

I threw in the mailbox to see if you are paying attention....Mrs. Johnson's mailbox was painted years ago......she is returning the box for recycle....I will need to remove her name unless another Mrs. Johnson wants to claim it......

I perfected the apple years ago when I painted so many teacher gifts....now back to the dresser.....

Two coats of ASCP in Paris grey followed by clear wax. I wanted the dark wax, but my daughter talked me into leaving it alone, and frankly I was too tired to do otherwise. I have grown to like it. Love the oak/acorn drawer pulls....the marble top is stained in a few places.....it has true grit and real character!