Old School Tilda

What a bad picture! Taken on my iPhone because my camera appears to be hiding from me. This is one of my first Magnolias. Honestly don't think that I could ever part with any Tildas, but some of my first ones are so dear to me. Stamps - Tilda (Magnolia) Papers - older papers (MME?)and SU Ink - Memento and Copics Misc. - Stickles/PTI twine & ribbon/jingle bells/pop-up dots/Martha Stewart border punch

Merry Christmas

This is for Tilda's Town Challenge Merry Christmas Last week I was able to visit Ashville, NC. Such a beautiful city & enjoyed my time there. If you are ever in the area be sure to make time to tour Biltmore Estates. One day while my husband was in meetings, I made several Christmas cards. Love Tilda's hair on this image & Rudolph is a cutie. Image - Tilda with reindeer - Magnolia; Paper - My Mind's Eye & SU; Misc. - Poinsettia

October birthday

For the past few years I have been sending my sister Halloween birthday gifts. Her birthday isn't on Halloween, it's just a fun way to celebrate the two occasions. This witch having a party is one of my favorite digi images & it might have been used last year too (can't remember). I picked up a really cute haunted house candle holder & candle, cute witch hat pin, and candy corn anti-bacterial soap.

Cooler temps

The temperatures here are finally cooler - so I was in the mood for fall decorating. Every season my mantle gets decorated & there are a few new items added this year. ALWAYS sale/clearance items are added. My husband won a gift certificate to a furniture store here at a golf tournament, so we picked out 2 lanterns that have the pottery barn look I love so much. The smaller one is covered up mostly by a scarecrow who has seen better days. He has been here for at least 6 yrs., and was on a stand, but it fell apart, and when this happens, I repurpose and don't toss them out. He is propped up against the 2 lanterns. Also added the wire mesh and sunflower picks to the largest lantern.

Here is a closer pic - ugh looks like my orange pumpkin needs to be turned a bit. oops! It still has a few yrs., left in it. ;) Every year I look for trees to do an owl/tree mantle for Oct., but the trees are either too glittery or kiddy looking.

Waiting for inspiration...

The heat here in my part of the world is dreadful! It's 101 today & even though I took today off, there is no creativity coming to me. The heat just takes all your energy away. Went to get my oil changed and walking outside it just smacks you in the face. So while I wait for cooler temps & inspiration, today I'm posting another picture from the wedding. My daughter and SIL did a "first look" photo session. Only the happy couple and photographer were there. The weather that day was perfect and how we could use a day like that again.

Centerpieces recycle

So what do you do at 11:30 PM after the guests have gone & your husband doesn't want to deal with the centerpieces from the wedding? LOL Well several things actually. The centerpieces were large glass vases filled with blue gel beads (these things are awesome & inexpensive) and lights placed inside. Flowers were simply placed on top & it worked so well because guests could still see each other and talk! Gotta love that!!! I said let's give some away - but it's almost midnight! My niece found a mother/daughter coming in to the hotel & gave them one. So I grabbed 3 & my niece grabbed 2. We gave them to the front check-in staff & I left one with the wedding coordinator to be placed in her office. Then we gave 2 to the clean up staff. I took 2 home and put them on the white candlesticks in the dining room. PERFECT!!! The flowers are white mums, spidermums, carnations, billy buttons (HUGE in the south right now for weddings) and ornamental grass. I just loved these centerpieces because they were fun & unexpected. We received so many compliments are how unique they were. :) My SIL is a police officer & there happened to be a FOP convention the same weekend - can you believe that? LOL Some people were walking by as we were finishing the tables and said "Oh how clever - they made the vases look like police lights". LOL I didn't even realize it until they said something. LOL

I Do

My daughter's wedding was this past Saturday & I wanted to share a picture with you. The weather was absolutely perfect! My daughter will say it's because they did a southern tradition of "bury the bourbon". One month exactly from your wedding day, you bury a bottle where the ceremony is held. It was mid 80's, slight breeze and gorgeous! One thing that was too funny is that everyone kept saying "don't cry Debbie, it will mess up your make-up". I did shed tears, but it was her dad that totally lost it. The minute he saw me begin the walk, he started bawling and cried the entire ceremony. When it was time for the toast, he lost it again. Hahaha to everyone who thought I would be the basket case. The photographer was incredible & I'm looking forward to posting more pictures soon. Now back to STAMPING! :) Paul Rowland Photography