Rhubarb and cards

Lots of rhubarb to tend to.  No, we don't have it in our garden (what is a garden??) but I bought a bunch from the produce co-op a couple weeks ago and am finally getting around to using some.  I put 4 cups of it in the freezer and used 4 cups to make Dee's Bars.  The recipe came from my sister who got it from her friend, Dee.  They are very good (too good - I have eaten too many!)

Later I plan to make some rhubarb salsa.  That should be good with some chicken tamales and homemade tortilla chips.

This morning was spent in the craft room preparing some cards for the New Catalog Open House next Saturday  (Oh my! I better get busy)  Had to use some of my new toys to show off ideas I have seen from other demonstrators.  So many good ideas showing versatility with the products and tools.    Come see them in person!   Lots of freebies too - and some snacks. 

These cards were made using the new Wildflower Meadow background stamp and coordinating embossing folder. I was not going to preorder this set but am so glad I did!  I found lots of cute ideas from other demonstrators and just stamped away then made my cards.  I still have a lot more to play with but wanted to post a few.  The card on the left is stamped with the new IN Color, Pistachio Pudding.  The card base and small scallop circle are another new IN Color, Strawberry Slush.  The Natural trim and Natural Designers Buttons were introduced in the mini-catalog but are in the new big catalog too.  (That's good - I haven't had a chance to play with mine yet). 
The card on the right was done by coloring the stamp with Marina Mist, Old Olive and Calypso Coral.   The Old Olive 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon adds some accent.

This angle shows off the embossing but really doesn't do it justice.   You just have to come to the open house to see this in person.

These cards were also done by coloring the stamp.  The card on the left was done with the same colors as the card above but I only colored one of the flower stems and attached blooms.  I used Old Olive as mats and Calypso Coral as the card base.  You can see the little touch I did on the inside of that card below.
The card on the right was done in Pumpkin Pie and Pear Pizzazz.  The designer series paper is the new Gingham Garden (love it!) and I laid half of one of the paper doilies on top before adding the floral circle.  So quick and easy!

This is the inside of the card above.  I never get this sentiment straight so stamp it on another piece of card stock and punch it out.  The flowers are from some waste from another card (you can see it below) . I punched out the flowers using the smallest oval punch and added it to the large oval.

These three cards all use flowers cut out from one color and stamped on the background or embossing. The card on the left and the center card have the flowers stamped in Marina Mist.  I stamped the center one first then without reinking stamped again to get the washed out affect for the card on the left.  I reinked and stamped a third flower which I cut out and put on the washed out image.  I used a scallop circle from Bermuda Bay and a piece of Crushed Curry that was embossed with the polka dot folder to add some pop to the card.   The sentiment is from the new stamp set Label Love and goes perfectly with the new Artisan Label punch. I stamped the image and then trimmed it down along one of the lines in the border so I could mount it on a label punched from Bermuda Bay.
The middle card has a flower stamped in Daffodil Delight and some Daffodil Delight 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon added. 
The card on the right was embossed with the embossing folder.  Aftercoloring and stamping once, I spritzed some water on the stamp and stamped a second image.  From the second image I cut out a single flower and added it to the embossed background. 

 

This shows more detail and how I curled the flower petals using a stylus.  I used a single mini glue dot in the center to adhere the flower.

For these I tried to do a gradient color.  I saw a sample of that from another demonstrator.  These did not come up how I wanted but they are still cute.  The one on the left has Sahara Sand inked on the bottom portion of the stamp.  I then used the new Crisp Cantaloupe IN Color to ink up the rest of the stamp.  The new foam ink pad do such a great job of inking with just a light touch that it did not give the gradient but just a sudden change of color. 
The card on the right was done using older stamp pads of Sahara Sand, Marina Mist and Night of Navy.  Still not as gradiant as I wanted but it is okay.

Now, back to the craft room to use some more of my new goodies.  Haven't used the Coastal Cabana and Baked Brown Sugar IN Colors yet and the new colors Soft Sky (returning from past IN Colors) and Smoky Slate. 

Hope everyone here in the USA is enjoying their Memorial Weekend. Take time to remember all those who have served to protect and defend us. Their families too.  I am also mindful of family members who are no longer here with us and all those who lived in the past, creating the heritage we enjoy.