Good morning, lovelies! It's a beautiful day in my neighborhood - how about yours? As I was taking my bub to school this morning, I spied the first shoots of daffodils beginning to poke out of the ground, which is always a good sign. It won't be long before the redbuds are in bloom. Do you have redbuds in your region? They only bloom for about 3 weeks a year, but during that short period they are glorious and make it worth putting up with the rather scraggily trees they are for the other 49 weeks of the year. Here's a photo I took in a previous spring of one of the redbuds in our backyard (ignore the mess of hose inside the pool fencing, please...):
Isn't the color on that tree extraordinary? Thinking about redbuds gets me sentimental: I vividly recall sitting in a chair, looking out the window at the redbuds while rocking Truman (then a toddler) as he napped, and thinking, "I wonder how big he'll be and what he'll be doing the next time the redbuds bloom?" In the blink of an eye, it seems, that sweet toddler has transformed into a 16 year old boy with a driver's license who's worried about tomorrow's chemistry exam. Thus, blooming redbuds are always a reminder to me of how quickly time flies, to take note of how my boys have changed over the past year, to appreciate the stage they're in at this fleeting moment, and to document that as best I can with my camera.
Speaking of cameras, there's lots of photo fabulousness to love with Taylored Expressions March release, now available! Take, for example, the new MOKA MEREDITH image - perfect for all of us shutterbugs:
I used the super-versatile new BANNER STACKLETS 2 dies to frame Meredith and the image, and the new FILM STRIP BORDER die as a theme-consistent horizontal embellishment. Here's Miss Meredith (one of my nieces is named 'Meredith' - I love that name :) ), close up and personal:
Isn't she a cutie full of charm? Wish I had ginger hair like her (or like my cutie-pie teammate, Charmaine, whom I affectionately refer to as 'Shortcake' due to her sweet strawberry tresses).
Speaking of Charmaine (yes, I've used that segue twice in one post; what a lazy blogger am I!), why don't you go visit her and the rest of my Baker's Dozen teammates to see what clever and creative projects they've made with this month's release? I guarantee you'll see lots of goodness that will make you want to get crafty!
Supplies available from Taylored Expressions:
- Stamps: Moka Meredith
- Dies: Banner Stacklets 2, Film Strip Border
- Paper: Choice Snow White cardstock
- Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
- Copic Markers
Other supplies:
- Paper: Copic X-Press Blending card stock (IHP), Bamboo (CTMH), True Black (PTI), patterned paper from Echo Park's This & That: Charming 6x6 pad
- Accessories: General's Pastel Chalks (for ground shading), twine & button (PTI), sewing machine, Jody Morrow's foam boosters
This is wonderful! I love the way you used the Stacklets and the fantastic background paper... it's perfect! We have red bud here and they are so pretty! They aren't blooming yet but when they do it's wonderful!
Posted by: Jen Shults | March 07, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Adorable card, Carole! Love the patterned paper and the film strip behind her!
Your tree is gorgeous! And what a sweet story - thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Stephanie Kraft | March 07, 2013 at 12:25 PM
Darling card adn that three is GORGEOUS!!!
Posted by: Marisa | March 07, 2013 at 02:39 PM
Such a sweet story Carole...and what a nice thing to think as you look at your beautiful tree! Love your card for today - snaps!!! XO
Posted by: Wanda G (stampcat) | March 07, 2013 at 07:54 PM
Darling card, love the camera theme. Great coloring love the soft look.
Posted by: Billie A | March 07, 2013 at 09:08 PM
Awesome use of Meredith and the dies! How perfectly she fits, and I love that camera paper! Our redbuds have already bloomed and the daffodils are poking out here as well. I'm so ready for the winter to be gone!!
Posted by: Broni | March 10, 2013 at 06:09 PM
Aww, I Love Moka Meredith as a strawberry blonde Carole!! Soo Cute! Super layout too and I love the perfect dp's too! 8-)
Hugs
Shannon
Posted by: Shannon White | March 11, 2013 at 05:20 AM
Oh how sweet! Moka Meredith is so perfectly colored!!
Posted by: Charmaine Ikach | March 12, 2013 at 11:31 AM