Tuesday, May 14, 2013

MFP Blog Hop Day 1 - Marsh Birds

May Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

 Featured May 14thMarsh Birds
Featured May 15th - In Tents
Featured May 16th - Space Fun
Featured May 17th - Now Showing

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the blogs listed below (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on May 18, 2013 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11 PM EST on Friday. May 17, 2013.



 The special stamp set we have for you this month is:

"Marsh Silhouettes"


 The mini stamp set we have for you this month is

"Lily of the Valley"
                                                      


I'm starting off this month's Blog Hop with a CAS card -- just one layer.  MFP's Premium Heavy White cardstock is 140-pound stock and makes a great one-layer card.  I embossed a border around the edge, just stamped the bird (which may be an ibis, I'm not sure) and greeting -- and I was done.


I got the inspiration for my second card while I was taking my morning walk.  The townhouse development in which I have lived for 28 years is located on Lake Triplet, one of a series of three lakes connected by canals.  We have a multitude of birds congregating in and around the lakes.  One bird in particular, a huge blue heron, often perches on our boat dock.  As I was walking around the lake the other day, I thought how lucky I was to be able to enjoy this scene every day.  When I got home, I was going to take a photo of the lake to use on my card.  Then I decided it was easier to Google "Lake Triplet" and find one.  So that is what I did.  Here is our lake:



I wanted to share a funny story about something that often happens on my walks.  Part of the walk goes through a park on the other side of the lake, and it happened again this morning.  As I was walking past the ball field, I heard the distinctive sound of a woodpecker.  I'm assuming that it's the same woodpecker each time because he does exactly the same thing every time.  I watched as he climbed up the "telephone pole" that holds the floodlights for the ball field.  He did not "peck" during his trip up the wooden pole.  But, when he got to the top, he climbed up onto the floodlight and THEN started to peck.  I'm not sure what he thought he was going to get out of that metal casing on the light.  Maybe he just liked the sound.  Could be that he's a Jamaican woodpecker, and it sounds like a steel drum!

The extra set this month is called Marsh Silhouettes, which coordinates very nicely with today's set.  Here is a card I made using that set.



I invite you to check out the cards made by the rest of the design team and comment, comment, comment.  Remember, the more you comment, the more chances you have to win a free stamp set.

Pam 
Toni 

Card 1
Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers Marsh Birds
Paper - MFP Premium Heavy White
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories - Tulip Border embossing folder

Card 2
Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers Marsh Birds, Gullible
Paper - MFP Premium Heavy White, Licorice Whips, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories - Copic markers, photo from the internet

Card 3
Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers Marsh Silhouettes
Paper - MFP Licorice Whips, Snow Storm Smooth, Watercolor paper; DCWV patterned paper
Ink - Versafine Onyx Black; Tim Holtz Distress Broken China, Chipped Sapphire
Accessories - Circle nesties, Polka Dot embossing folder, Pearls, Pop dots

29 comments:

Ravengirl said...

It sounds glorious, where you live! Wonderful cards Lois!

loulou said...

Your cards are gorgeous. Such different techniques but they all look wonderful.

Lagene said...

Fantastic cards! My favorite is the black & white!

Janine said...

Love your cards, the details of your home and your funny story. We saw the heavy metal woodpeckers too when we were in the USA - what a noise!

Vicky Gould said...

Wonderful cards, Lois. I love using photos as backgrounds and it certainly enhanced our Great Blue! Your woodpecker sounds like he might be a little "off"...kinda like the cartoon character Woody Woodpecker! Lucky you to have such a wonderful place to walk.

Sue D said...

Great variety of cards and I like your woodpecker story.

wannabcre8tive said...

All of the cards are beautiful. I like the CAS one with the black and white. The second one is great with the picture and the third one, I love the layout.

stampingbowd said...

Lois, Love your story of the woodpecker! Kind of like my Peacock story! It's so fun to watch nature at work, isn't it???! Your cards are lovely! I agree with you MFP 140 lb paper makes gorgeous one layer and CAS cards! Super cool idea to use a photo of your lake!!! Love that card! I like the circles on your last card! Gorgeous art!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work Lois! Thanks for sharing your stories and what a beautiful lake! I think you need to name your woodpecker! Great card showcasing the extra set.

Karen (TLgirl353) said...

Super samples, Lois! Our lake looks just like this!

kReN said...

Oh my! Three beautiful cards! I can tell you really like this set and can't wait to see what you do with it in the future. TFS!

kren@
http://afourthlife.blogspot.com

Michelle N. said...

Aren't you lucky to live there! Wonderful cards, I especially like the CAS.

MariLynn said...

I love how your card with the photo looks. Great job.

Jane said...

Beautiful Cards as always Lois! You do such lovely work... I loved your stories too.
TFS with us.

Golda said...

All three of these cards are wonderful! Love the bird "in" the picture.

Winnie and Patty said...

Oh, Lois, I loved the story of the crazy woodpecker!!!! I love to watch the birds, and we have several woodpecker species in our neighborhood, even though we are very close to the city. Your cards are wonderful, and I love the first, CAS one! All are wonderful! TFS

Pat said...

3 great cards, Lovely picture of the lake.

SiskiyouSue said...

Your cards are all beautiful, but I especially love the combination of the photo with the digi. Very beautiful!

Karenladd said...

what beautiful cards! I love the simple elegance of the first one and the third card with those circular elements is wonderful!

Kathy Bradley said...

Lois,
What a lovely area in which you live and it's wonderful you an enjoy your surroundings! I like all of your beautiful cards and I especially like the pretty heron in front of the lake!

Luanna said...

Wonderful cards. I really liked how you used the bird on a photo background.

Kim B said...

Fabulous cards! The white is my favorite. What a neat place to live :)

SHartl said...

What beautiful cards! I love the one with the lake scene.

An'Jenic G. said...

Wow I love the all. I love the clean and simple look of your 1st one. Love the picture behind the 2nd one. And the 3rd one in circles is so cute. TFS AJ-

Unknown said...

Beautiful cards! I love the last one with circles!

Jean Bullock said...

Love how you showed your versatility on the cards.

ABK Enterprises said...

Love the picture card what a great idea.

Cathy Dineen said...

Just lovely!

marg0006 said...

Like the layering and embossing on you card.