CFC #110 + Adventure Pics

Wow, it was wonderful to see so many polka dot entries from last week! This week's challenge proves to be just as fun ... using numbers in your CAS creation. And the winner will receive a free stamp set from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps!

I wanted to use the number word strip from the CAS-ual Fridays Countdown set to count down to the sentiment. But I was SO unhappy with the result. It was just so. not. right. Bleah!

So I slept on it and crossed my fingers that something better would hit me in the morning. 

My idea was to stamp on paper that matched the fiery grades of color in the word "blast," draw a box around the numbers, and cut them out. Now they tie in much better to the card, especially since they lead right to the word "blast." Whew, no longer embarrassed to post this card!

Also thought I'd share pictures from our city adventure this week.

The night before I happened to catch a "top twenty" list of things to do in Chicago, and was interested in #7, the Osaka Garden. Never been there, never even heard of it. So we decided to go check it out. 

One of the things I love best about our adventures is finding new things in surprising places. I've gone to the Museum of Science and Industry since I was a kid, and had absolutely NO IDEA that it's on a pretty big lake. The entrance is on the north, and the building is so wide that it completely obstructs a huge lake on the south side. I'm sure this feature was used in the 1893 World's Fair that Chicago hosted since there were many canals between the buildings.

Side note: The Science and Industry is the only building left from the 1893 World's Fair since all the other 200 buildings were built of stucco, intending to be temporary. This one has a brick base since it was used to house the priceless art exhibits.

Anyway, we were all blown away when we came upon the Garden. For the most part, we were the only ones there for two hours. What a gem!!

Our activities centered around two main things. The first was following this green heron (on the rock), who let the kids get insanely close to it. 

Love this shot!!

The young heron lives on this tiny island in the middle of the garden. If you look closely, you can see it eating the catfish we watched it catch. If you look even closer, on the middle rock you can see a speck of white. That's her egg, just lying out in the open like that!

 The second activity was fishing. Old school fishing. Macgyver-style fishing. We started out wrapping string that Jackson found around some blades of grass. When the catfish started nibbling at it, we got a little hopeful and put some more effort into trying to catch one. 

 My friend had the great idea to bend her key chain in the shape of a hook, and put some berries from a tree nearby on for bait. (which of you moms are just focused on the detergent-commercial-worthy berry juice all over Logan's hands?!?)

Would you know, it actually worked!!

 

We caught the huge momma catfish! There was so much noise and commotion from our sheer disbelief that it actually worked, that the creepy guy never once moved from his spot on the bridge for all my fish pictures of Logan. Bummer.

Then they all wanted a turn to fish and made a line behind Logan. Who knew three bodies could fit on that tiny rock?

Being patient. So sweet.

 

The kids are needing some beach time in this heat. But first we walk to Promontory Point and check out the sculptures ("talk, talk, smile" is this triangular mesh sculpture).

     

And the view, holy smokes!!

(Much as it may look like we have no concern for our children's safety, there is a sizable ledge that extends to the water below this ridge!)

 

 It was designed by the same Alfred Caldwell that designed the Lily Pool from last week's adventure.

The South Side of Chicago is typically thought of as blue-collar and often a bit scary, but man, the skyline views simply cannot be beat.

 

 No self respecting adventurer would be stopped by a little rain. Luckily, especially since we hadn't gotten to the beach yet, it only lasted 10 minutes.

To 57th St beach!

Lake Michigan never warms up until August, at the earliest! But once you get over the initial shock it's quite refreshing : )

 The only picture of me ... in the long shadows of late afternoon. So in love with the glowing sun and the crazy clouds.

 How refreshing when your kids are interested in doing something you did as a child! Make a wish, and make it a good one.

Dinner is at Medici (blue sign on the building) where I had been earlier during a tour of Hyde Park. It's one of Obama's favorite places to go when he comes back to Chicago. My turkey/cranberry/nut/brie sandwich is wonderful!

We only let them sit together when they're being good : )

They even have a fresh bakery and ice cream shop next door. We saw them making bread for the next day in the back. And ordered ice cream. Dark chocolate is perfect for imitation facial hair, you know.

Just because it's 10:00 pm doesn't mean it's time to go home, especially when there's a fountain across the street on a 90 degree evening. It will be another half hour before we pack them up and head back home. 

Well you made it, tour's over! Thanks for stopping by and sharing in our weekly adventure!

-Kelly

Ribbons and Bombs

Hi all! It's my turn to showcase some cards made with CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. These two cards are rejects from a publication call where the challenge was to make a flower from non flower stamps.

My first idea was to use the ribbon from Calm and Gentle.



At first I stamped the ribbon evenly around in a circle, but it didn't look that interesting. So my next idea was to stamp in two layers of petals, alternating the heights. And then using a different color for each layer. Better!



The sentiment from that set makes a stem, and I used one ribbon for a leaf. Finally, I turned the ribbon upside down and just stamped the ends to make some grass. Definitely got a lot of mileage out of that ribbon stamp.

The other idea was to make a flower out of a bomb from Ka-Boom.

Just like with the ribbon, stamping it around in a circle does most of the work.

Both bomb stamps are used here. the solid one in different shades of red/pink, and the chevron one. Best part is the explosion makes for a nice flower center.

The white border is a set of words from the Truth Is set. A little chunk is taken out of the panel with pinking shears where the ribbon tabs are.

Thanks so much for looking!
-Kelly

CFC #109 - Polka Dots + Adventure Pics

 Loved seeing all the different kinds of material used in the gallery creations this week! Such great ideas and inspiration. This week the challenge is to use polka dots. We're sponsored by Simon Says Stamp, who so generously is offering a $25 gift card for the winner of this week's challenge!

You may be thinking, "did she even read the challenge before posting this card?"

Upon closer inspection of my Die-namics Skyline die, I realized the windows are actually round ... and polka-dotted! I used glossy cardstock for the background, which allows a smooth blending of inks, especially the intense HA neon inks. The moon mask is from two circle punches. The cityscape is cut up and rearranged in back.

For those who may not know, Ramadan started on Wednesday. This card is for my friend Saira who goes on the city adventures with me. So the cityscape is also symbolic of our trips together. I wasn't quite sure how to make a Ramadan card, or what one even looks like, so I checked out a few on-line. Hopefully I got the idea right, and it's not off in any way!

Here are some pics from our adventure last week ...

Butterfly garden at Peggy Notebaert Museum

 

A true hidden gem of Chicago, the Caldwell Lily Pond is right outside Lincoln Park Zoo. Originally from the Victorian times, it was re-done in 1936 in the Prairie-style architecture that Frank Lloyd Wright is so famous for.

Creatures from the Lily Pond.

 Monkeys on the waterfall.

At the end of the day we always ask "favorites." This was Logan's favorite part. Perfect jumping rocks.

This is my favorite. Saira picked out a great Ethiopian restaurant for dinner (The Ethiopian Diamond in Edgewater). I had never eaten this cuisine before, so I was excited to learn that your food comes out family style on a huge platter. The fun part is that you use the tart "pancakes" as silverware to grab your meats and vegetables. 

I would not want to be a bus boy in a place with no silverware, especially when kids sit down!

 Jackson's favorite. The best frozen yogurt shop EVER! Lickety Split.

 It was late on a Monday night, and it was still packed with about 50 satisfied customers. I ordered a creation that started with red velvet cake, then added marshmallow fluff, raspberries, frozen yogurt, whip cream, and a cherry. Um, yes, we will be back!

  
How can this not make you happy?!?

Thanks so much for looking!

-Kelly

First Birthday ... Card + Best Present Ever!

Seriously, could she be any sweeter? Cousin Macy is rockin' her first birthday party attire before she gets any purple icing on it in the name of good eats.

Here's her first birthday card. I used more of my lifetime supply of practically free lace tablecloth from this card and die cut a marquee shape out of it. Cut in half, it's a book end for the glittered sentiment. You'll notice there are no cutesy animals, clowns, etc. I figured since she's only one, she's not even going to see the card. It's more for her mom, who's elegant and classy. So I'll save the cute kitty for when she's four. 

For the non-card part of this post, I thought I'd share what I always give for a first birthday present (in addition to a toy or something the birthday girl or boy would like immediately). It's Your Birthday Book by Amy Krause Rosenthal. It picks up where a baby book leaves off and asks really fun questions on each birthday through age 18. 

What are your thoughts on God?

Do you like your name?

What's the last thing you were sad about?

If you got $20 to spend what would you buy?

I have one for each of my kids and LOVE it! There's room for a few photos, and an envelope for keepsakes, like a piece of yarn as long as you are tall, a tracing of your hand, sample art work, etc. 

They sell it at Pottery Barn Kids for $20, but I found it on Amazon for only $10 + free shipping! Such a bargain. I've bought almost 20 of them over the last 5 years. I seriously love this book, and how it's an actual birthday book on a child's very first birthday!

 I also put a little inscription on the inside. Of course I was in a huge hurry doing this last minute so my handwriting is not the best. I cut two flowers out of the table cloth and used those under the pinked circle. Writing directly on the inside of the book ends up in smears : ( as I've found out first hand.

I know not everyone is going to fill it out, but for $10 I figure it's worth a chance that they'll end up with something to treasure. I'd love to have something like that from my childhood!

Macy, her wonderful parents, and my son Logan

Anyway, thanks for sticking with my not-so-card-based post.

ETA: yikes! I forgot to link this up to bloggy friend Stacey's super-fun birthday party with tons 'o prizes. If you haven't already, stop by and check it out!

 

-Kelly

CFC #108 - Material Girl

 Hi folks! The CAS-ual Fridays Challenge this week is to use material, cork, lace, felt, etc in your CAS project.  We're sponsored by Ellen Hutson, so you know what kind of fun prize is waiting for the winner : )
 

Huge props to my mom for this one. She's a big garage sale fan, and has been going to sales every Thursday/Friday/Saturday for probably close to 40 years now. She got me started on them, way before it was trendy to thrift or upcycle anything. And now that things are often made so cheaply, I generally prefer to buy antique/vintage furniture.

 
Anyway, last week she spotted a lace tablecloth with a stain right in the middle of it. Only 50 cents. Good for her, she bought it and asked if I would be interested. Heck yeah! I couldn't buy a yard of lace trim for a dollar, let alone 3 yards of actual material. So now I have a lifetime supply of lace. Even cutting the lace flowers out would make for great accents. And there are probably a billion flowers in there.

How easy to put this card together. I punched flowers out of different shades of pink, layered them behind the lace, stamped a sentiment from Dear Lizzy's rubber stamp wheel (check it out at Target, you get about 8 sentiments for $4), trimmed the edges of the flowers, and wrapped the lace around the gray panel before adhering to the white base. And I could make about a hundred more of them if I wanted!

Thanks so much for looking!

-Kelly