Saturday, August 27, 2016

Portrait of Galadrial

On August 17th, I captured the lovely Miss Gali with my iphone!  This is Lucy's stunning mother. 
It is so very hard to catch her true outstanding beauty because of her timid nature. 
I have to silence my iphone to take photos of her, otherwise she runs away. 
I had zoomed in for a closer shot; she kept looking down; and finally she looked up and I quickly snapped, which happened before the phone's camera fully focused. 
But, I loved this photo and I'm so proud to show you the ever gorgeous Galadrial............

About Galadrial:
I just LOVE Miss Gali's kitten-like face.  She is a Chocolate Seal Point Birman.  Her mane is nothing short of superior and her facial mask is perfect.  I love her small ears and the way the tufts of hair in front of them fan out so perfectly.  She is considered a perfect Birman with all of her markings being up to the standards of the CFA (Cat Fancier's Association).  Galadrial received Champion status at 5 months old. She then went on to have two litters before we adopted her and her last baby girl, I Love Lucy (better known as Lucy). No doubt that Galadrial would have moved up in the ranks to Grand Champion and beyond. Even though the breeder tried to convince me to bring her to cat shows, I felt it meant so much more to just give her a relaxing, happy, carefree life.  I definitely made the right choice!

I loved the light blues and pale yellows in Blue Fern Studios "Veranda" page from the Frolic collection. 
So, I used coordinating pale butter cream cardstock to frame the photo. 
The dainty heart lace trim was perfect for Miss Gali's layout!


I punched a portion of the layout edge with the adorable Martha Stewart Crochet Loop punches.
The corner punch was used as well on the cardstock behind the photo. 

Using all Wild Orchid Crafts flowers and two of the Tattered Lace Ornate Leaves dies, I created two arrangements.  I scanned the blue butterfly printed on the main layout page and resized it; fussy cut and used foam tape underneath each for added dimension. 




This layout is going in a frame and on the wall because it's perfectly Gali!
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Lisa : )


Products used:

Blue Fern Studios - Frolic collection - Veranda

Martha Stewart punches - Crochet Loop

Tattered Lace dies - Ornate Leaves

Wild Orchid Crafts flowers -
Champagne Pink Cherry Blossoms
Mixed Blue Lilies



Pastel Chrysanthemums-Set A
2-tone Royal Blue
Sweetheart Blossoms
Pastel Lilies



Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Basilica del San Marco - Venice, Italy

Today's layout features St. Mark's Basilica that faces the main square (Piazza San Marco) in Venice, Italy. 
This fabulous photo was taken by my daughter during our European tour in June 2000.  
The gorgeous paper I used is from the Blue Fern Studios Sanctuary collection. 

The teal, gold, dark brown and beige colors in the photograph became the color palette for the layout.

Since Venice is known for its gorgeous lace, it was fitting to use some pretty lace to frame the photo. To tone down the stark ivory of it, I touched some of the leaves with the same Chestnut color as I used on the chipboard corners. I added teal blue microbeads to a few of the flower centers, as well as some teal color Petaloo flowers.


Two corners diagonal to each other were embellished using The Dusty Attic chipboard corners from the Flourish Frame Set.  Each piece is inked in Chestnut Roan color and then accented with metallic gold acrylic paint.

I made some berry stems with pieces of grapevine and those adorable little Prills.

I printed the title and placed it in an ornate metal plate; then coated it with Glossy Accents.
  The plate has touches of the same metallic gold acrylic paint used on the chipboard pieces.


Thanks so much for visiting!
Have a great day, Lisa : )

Products used:

Blue Fern Studios - Sanctuary collection
Bountiful
Conservatory (backside)




The Dusty Attic chipboard - Flourish Frame Set (DA-1035)

Tim Holtz - Ornate Plates

Prima Flowers - Serenity

Petaloo Flowers - Mini Daisy Petites - Teal

US Artquest - mini Prills - Gilt Trip

ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan
Michael's - "Peacock" color microbeads; Metallic Royal Gold acrylic paint; dried grapevine; Glossy Accents


Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Feeding the Pigeons in Venice - June 2000

Todays layout features my daughter, Brianne, feeding pigeons in Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square). 
We were so fortunate to visit the historic & intriguing Venice, Italy during a European Tour in June 2000.
Brianne is 16 years old here and looks quite stylish with her 'John Lennon' sunglasses. 
I still can't believe how perfect the timing was to catch the pigeon just landing on her hand! 
Its colors and wings were just gorgeous!

Check out the pigeon up close!
The photo was my total inspiration for this layout....
the blue tones in the marble pillar, pigeon and Brianne's jeans; the cracks in the stone; the patched brick wall. 

Prima's Crackle stencil was a good imitation of the cracking stone wall.
Modeling paste colored with Lindy's Stamp Gang mica powder "Whale Watch Blue" in the Nantucket Pearls Magicals Set matches perfectly with the subtle touches of blue-gray found on the paper. 

I had everything needed to be successful in mimicking the patched brick wall!
I cut the shape I wanted from The Dusty Attic 'Brick Wall' chipboard. 
First I removed the bricks and colored just the mortar with gray color archival ink "Wild Hare".
After gesso prepping the bricks, I heat embossed each one individually using
Blue Fern Studios Imagine Ink color "Chili Powder" and Ranger Tim Holtz Distress EP color "Vintage Photo". 
The gray inked areas tied in nicely with the patches on the brick wall!
I'm thrilled how great this turned out!!
Last but not least, I cut a small piece from Blue Fern Studios Floral Lattice Bits chipboard.
 It is acrylic painted in white and then randomly touched with LSG Starburst color Whale Watch Blue.
A few navy blue rhinestones were added for contrast.
The flower clusters are all in the color palette of the photo - blues, ivory, white and terra cotta. 
The beautiful blue tipped magnolias were a gift from my friend Molly, who is Brianne's sweet MIL, so I don't know where they were bought, but I sure LOVE them!
Here are close ups of all of the flower clusters.





Thank you so much for visiting!  Have a wonderful week!  Lisa : )

Products used:

Blue Fern Studios - Sanctuary paper collection - Conservatory

Blue Fern Studios - Timeless paper collection - Maçonnerie (backside)

Prima Stencil - Crackle

The Dusty Attic chipboard - Brick Wall

Blue Fern Studios Imagine Ink - Chili Powder

Ranger - Tim Holtz - Distress EP - Vintage Photo

ColorBox Archival Ink - Wild Hare

Blue Fern Studios chipboard - Floral Lattice Bits

Tattered Lace dies - Ornate Leaves

Prima Mini Sachet Roses - Sunrise

Wild Orchid Crafts flowers -
Navy Blue Open Roses 20mm
White Carnations


Mini Mixed Blue
Sweetheart Blossoms
Mini White
Sweetheart Blossoms

Vintage Color Open Roses 10 mm
Ivory Tuscany Rosebuds

Mixed Blue Open Roses 20mm

White Long Stem Stamens

Lindy's Stamp Gang - mica powder Whale Watch Blue (Nantucket Pearls Magicals Set)
                                Starburst spray Whale Watch Blue
Michaels - Recollections navy blue rhinestones