NIGHT BLOOMING CEREUS PLANT FINALLY BLOOMS!

I had just returned home from a lovely dinner with two of my dear girl friends - look what awaited me:

This is the night-blooming Cereus plant.  

I was given a cutting of this unusual guy from dear friends that have since moved down to Tennessee from Pennsylvania.  I have kept them updated on the growth of our unusual "pet", including the long   branch that grew and grew and has finally shot out a couple of new leaves.  You can see this "growth" in this photo:

Bob told me that you will know when it is going to bloom, but I really expected this to have happened last week, as the "pod" was getting bigger and bigger and I really had no idea how much bigger it was going to get!!

This morning at 11.55am, it was looking like it might be going to do something soon.  So I took another photo (just in case):

... and 9 hours later:

How big is this flower?  Here it is - in relation to Calum's head!:

Isn't mother nature wonderful?

.... unfortunately, we've been warned that the flower will only last for tonight.  The beautiful perfume, which I assume in the wild would attract night-time pollinators, will not be present by the morning. We'll just have to wait again for the next exquisite emergence.

What a difference a day makes?

Try just 10 hours!

Well, I guess I have to go to bed.  Just wanted to share my little bit of joy for the day!

'Till next time,

Shona

BIRD SONG

Hope you've enjoyed a good weekend.  We're winding down here with a stop at one more graduation party to go.  School's done for the kids and that means I don't have to get up at 5.30am tomorrow - that's a wonderful thing!  Even the cicadas are winding down.  I got landed on only once today!

Things have been really hectic for the last two weeks, with all the end-of-school activities, so I was unable to get my usual publication submissions done in time. However, I did get published in the June edition of Vamp Stamp News.  This month the article covers different techniques using pigment powders.  I had forgotten how to use these, as it's been such a while since I've played with them.  Anyway, I'd like to share one that I made, using the new Sparkle N Sprinkle set Bird Song:

I love the look that is achieved using the Perfect Pearls on the dark cardstock - and the way it shimmers as you turn it and the light hits.  I stamped the small feathers in Versamark and added Interference Perfect Pearls in Green, Violet, Red and Blue to make the background and then applied all four colors on the big feathers.  

Well that's my quick share for today.

'Till next time,

Shona

  

SOCCER THANK YOU

Finally got to play with the new soccer set from Sparkle N Sprinkle!

Stamp Set 504S - Soccer [00-504P5] $8.90

Our youngest, Calum, had his birthday more than a month ago, and I tried to get him to write his birthday thank you notes on Friday, (after just getting them made that day!) but he went with a friend (and Mom) to a soccer tournament for the weekend, so he had to write them last night when he got home.  (Much to his dismay!!)

I needed to make ten of them, so kept it simple.  A bit of Bullfrog embossing for the "thanks" background.  Then I colored the ball and player with Copics and cut out.  Full directions can be found here if needed:

Wish the set had come out before his birthday - however, at least I got to use it for his thank you notes!  On the inside, I computer generated - "Don't worry - I saved it!", as it looked to me like it was sure to be a goal!  Our Calum is a goalie! Since we live away from Scotland, most of his pressies are monetary, so it worked out well. 

'Till next time,

Shona

SPARKLE N SPRINKLE JUNE SKETCH CHALLENGE

.... and here we are -  the beginning of June!!  Can you believe it?  I know I can't!  Well I got over the night of hosting for Prom night (I have no idea how many people were at the house yesterday evening - but it was a lot).  

Here are a couple of photos, of the evening, which ended in the Limo getting a flat at the venue, and the kids not getting home until after 1am.
















.... and so with the new month comes a new creative challenge over at Sparkle N Sprinkle.  This month the challenge is based on the following sketch:

Here is what I came up with this month:

The Cicadas are still with us, so I am still in bug mode, and used a few more images from Set 156 - Bugs, which were used in my previous post. You can find full details here.

You can check here to see what the other designers did with this sketch and get all the details on how to enter and win some fun prizes.  You have the whole month of June to enter.  I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

'Till next time!

Shona