MFT Summer School, Day 5

Hay girl, hay! Today was the last day of summer school and it's been a fun-filled five days. The lesson for today is Symmetry. Basically, it's all about balance, dividing your space into even segments and adding your elements in an imaginary line. Which you probably do without even thinking about it. Here's my symmetrical card for today's project.

Watch the My Favorite Things blog for the next Summer School session and join the fun. Prices are involved, just sayin'. Hope you've enjoyed my creations this week.

Happy Summer, crafty friends

Product List:
My Favorite Things, Llama love stamps and dies
My Favorite Things, Sweet Succulents stamps and dies
My Favorite Things, Fringe scallop border die
My Favorite Things, Sweet Tooth cardstock
My Favorite Things, Extreme Black hybrid ink
My Favorite Things, Party Patterns 6x6 paper pad
Misti stamping tool, copic markers

MFT Summer School, Day 4

Just one day left of this session of summer school. Today we're working with complementary colors. That is, colors opposite each other on the color wheel. Here's my card for this challenge.

I'm not really sure what a flamingo has to do with watermelon, except that it is the same color, so there you go. And I thought he looked cute here. LOL I don't have a watermelon stamp or die (I know, right? I couldn't believe it either!!) so I used the MFT Dome STAX dies and colored them with copics to create my watermelons. I dare say they turned out pretty cute. Also, I don't have an MFT flamingo either (really?!) but I have this one from Simon Says.

Hope you enjoyed today's card. Go forth and color complementarily! (I think I just made up that word as it is underlined in red, thank you grammar check. LOL)

My Favorite Things, Summer School

Product List:
My Favorite Things, Stitched Dome STAX
My Favorite Things, Sweet Tooth cardstock
My Favorite Things, Black Licorice ink
My Creative Time, Stripey background stamp
Simon Says Stamp, One Cool Pineapple
Simon Says Stamp, flamingo die
Copic markers, enamel dots

MFT Summer School, Day 3

Today's lesson is Repetition. Using multiples is a great way to enforce a message or theme in a simple way. On my card, I repeated the sentiment.

Also, I continued the pineapple theme from the background by using larger pineapples behind the focal point of the message.

 

My Favorite Things, Summer School

Product List:
My Favorite Things, Polynesian Paradise stamps and dies
My Favorite Things, Script Sunshine die
My Favorite Things, Pineapple background stamp (retired)
My Favorite Things, Sweet Tooth cardstock
My Favorite Things, Black Licorice cardstock
My Favorite Things, Black Licorice ink
My Favorite Things, Peach Bellini ink
Copic markers, glue pen

MFT Summer School, Day 2

Hello and happy Monday. Today's class focuses on the Primary Colors. I have to admit, the primary colors are my least favorite - don't judge. LOL I don't know why, but I tend to use bright colors the least all my crafting. But not today. Today I used these three bright colors, all together no less! on my card. I like it. :) Hope the birthday girl does too.

I used the adorable You Gnome Me set by Birdie Brown.

Inside message:

My Favorite Things, Summer School 

Product List:
My Favorite Things, You Gnome Me stamps and dies
My Favorite Things, Party die
My Favorite Things, Merry Everything (gift die) (retired)
My Favorite Things, Balloon number dies
My Favorite Things, Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX - no stitching (retired)
My Favorite Things, Stitched Scallop Basic Edges 2
My Favorite Things, Sweet Tooth cardstock
My Favorite Things, Black Licorice cardstock
My Favorite Things, Black Licorice hybrid ink
Avery Elle, No Way sentiment stamps (shut the front door)
Paper Smooches, We Totally Click stamp set (oh snap)
Carta Bella, Circus Party 6x6 paper pad
Copic markers, foam tape, black twine, glossy accents, white gel pen

Cruisin' - heading home

The people of the islands are so friendly, and eager and proud to show off their beautiful homeland. The atmosphere is relaxing and comfortable. But, by the time the end of our cruise was only a few days away, we were pretty much excursioned-out. We did have a planned excursion for this day, but it was mainly a bus tour so we decided to forego the trip and just stay aboard and relax. And Yahtzee. And drink.

Antigua from our cabin balcony.

St. Maarten
As with Antigua, we did have a scheduled excursion in St. Maarten, but again, mainly a bus tour which we skipped. We did get off the boat in port, but just a quick walk on the dock, a few pics, and back to boat for more Yahtzee and relaxation. And by relaxation I do mean cocktails.

We had a neighbor anchored next to us in St. Maarten. The Disney cruise ship, Fantasy, was fun to see. At the top level of the ship there is sort of a tube ride of some kind. We watched several of the "cars" traveling through and wondered if it would really be that much fun to cruise with kids. At our age, we decided we'll stick with less family and more adult cruises. I have to say, the music alone (blasted ALL DAY) would have made me insane before the first day was over. It was truly obnoxious. LOL

It's a beautiful day at sea, sir!
Well, our last day of cruising is upon us and now we are at sea heading back to Port Everglades. We had such a good time and can't wait to cruise again! It was such a wonderful experience not only to take my first cruise, my first trip out of the U.S., but to enjoy it with my sister was extra special.

Our last room service of the cruise. Mimosas, of course! (What did you expect....rum punch?)

Seriously, I highly recommend cruising if you haven't done so. It was the best vacation I could ever ask for. The most relaxed I have been in years, and truly the highlight of my life, thus far. (Ok, aside from the birth of my kids, but I think that goes without saying. LOL)

MFT Summer School, Day 1

Greetings from the studio!! I'm happy to be back and getting in the groove once more, and what better way to get back to crafting than with the awesome peeps at My Favorite Things. Today is the first of five days of Summer School and we are working with white space. Do NOT be afraid!! White space is your friend! :) In conversations with other cardmakers and scrapbookers, I often hear people say they can't leave so much empty space on their cards or layouts. I'm here to tell you that sometimes the empty space makes the rest of the area really pop and gives a project the impact you want. Don't feel like you have to put something in that corner every time, leave it empty more often and you'll start to realize how much punch that empty space can give your project. Focus on the important parts and let the white space frame it for you.

Now on to my card for today's class. I'm using my newest MFT acquisition, Sushi Date, for my project. The pandas are adorable and the accessories (sushi, hat, bamboo and lots more come in the set) are the perfect touch.

Project list:
My Favorite Things, Sushi Date stamps (retired)
My Favorite Things, Sushi Date dies (retired)
My Favorite Things, Sweet Tooth cardstock
My Favorite Things, Black Licorice cardstock
My Favorite Things, Black Licorice hybrid ink pad
Copic markers

Cruisin' - Installment 4, St. Lucia

Our excursion on this day was a bus tour through residential areas up the mountain, views of The Pitons and more, lunch at the beautiful mountaintop Ladera Resort, then a catamaran cruise around Marigot Bay. It was a long day, but wonderful!

Our first stop, though merely for picture taking (we didn't exit the bus), was the historic Victorian mansion, Government House. The current government house was completed in 1895 after being destroyed in 1817, then abandoned in 1865. Since the island gained independence in 1979, Government House is the residence of the Governor-General. As you can see by the massive gates, you can't just waltz right in. Visitors must make reservations and only during set days and times. And pay admission.

Later, we stopped at the top above the fishing village of Soufriere, Montserrat with the twin peaks of The Pitons in the background. Pictures don't do it justice. The greens are so vivid, the water is so sparklingly gorgeous and the all buildings are painted such fun and vibrant colors.

Fresh fruits, coconuts, and handmade jewelry and other handmade items were available for purchase, along with water and the local Piton beer, which was good.

The Ladera Resort sits high on a cliff 1000 feet above the sea with a view between The Pitons. Beautiful!! Check out their website for more pictures of the actual suites, the restaurant, pools, and gorgeous grounds.

We were treated to lunch at the resort restaurant, Dasheene (I'm sure a selling opportunity for them; I heard more than one person say how much they would love to stay there sometime so it apparently worked).  Also, they are very proud to have hosted Oprah, Harrison Ford and Denzel Washington as guests of the resort. The food was very good. I had the Cajun Poulet with Chocolate Cake and their made-on-site coconut ice cream for dessert.

The grounds around the resort are beautiful. The gazebo was a neat little spot to sit and enjoy the beauty all around, which, ironically, you can't see from this shot of the gazebo. LOL

From the koi pond; you can see the roof of the gazebo and more of the lovely grounds.

Bird of Paradise

Allamanda Flower

I believe this is a Calabash tree, the national tree of St. Lucia. The fruit is not edible on these trees, however, there is also a Black Calabash tree with similar fruit that IS edible. Don't get them confused!

Spider Lily. Isn't it interesting? 

 Lily pads in the Koi pond

 Koi fish

 Gorgeous centerpiece with anthurium, red ginger and greenery

After the resort tour and lunch, we got back on the buses and headed to the Soufriere docks to board the catamaran for the second half of our excursion.

Marigot Bay Coastal Cruise, one of the crewmen on the catamaran

Kath

Lots more cats and other boats on the bay.

Crewmen anchoring us at the beach for some snorkeling, swimming, or just enjoying the gorgeous weather. While others got off the boat for some water sports, we didn't venture off this time. Instead, we stayed aboard and enjoyed (can you guess?) rum punch (of course!).

Living cliff side in the Caribbean would be so hard to take, wouldn't it?

After a long day of excursions, we were ready for more cocktails and another game of Yahtzee to relax and unwind.

While we enjoyed our game, we watched the lifeboat drills. Cool.

So another day of cruising in the books. We're on the back end of our vacation now with just a couple of days left in the gorgeous Caribbean. Final installment coming soon!