What's on My Kitchen Counter

Hello friends!  I am back from our vacation and have some fun stuff to share. First, I have some fun drinks to share with the T-day Gang over at Elizabeth's blog . While in Louisville, Kentucky, I did the Bourbon Craft Experience at Barrels and Billets next door to the Louisville Slugger Factory (hubby went the Baseball Museum instead). The experience involves tasting their bourbons and then mixing the different types to find the best mixture for you.   I tried a bunch of mixtures and did not like any of them, BUT I learned a lot and had fun. Definely worth the money.  I also tried a new to me wine bought on our trip - 1000 Stories.  I bought it because of the buffalo and the bourbon barrel aging, and I loved it! I will try and find it somewhere around here if I can (it is a California red so I have a chance).  I also have some art to share.  I have been working on the fun fish theme at **ART*JOURNAL*JOURNEY* , but haven't had time to post and of my pages.  I finished this one

 It's T-Day over at Elizabeth's where we share something related to drinks. This week I have a fun Peanut Butter and Jelly Ale from Catawba Brewery.  It is fabulous and, of course, my grocery only had the one pack.  I may have to drive to South Carolina and get some more! I also have a  few cards to share - I made one of them a few weeks ago and can't remember if I shared or not.  The flower die on the first card is a current one from Close to My Heart.  I fell in love with it at my aunt's house and had to buy it.  The background is modeling paste added to an embossing folder and smooshed on card stock (by hand).  The butterflies are from DRS Designs - I am having fun with them.  Hope you are having a wonderful week and happy T-day! Hugz, Nancy

Fun Times! I was off half a day yesterday and my Grandsons Lewis and Hollis were over hanging out with my hubby.  Of course, Lewis said, "Let's Make a Card." The Art Piaskownica theme challenge is a Mermaid or the Kraken and Mia's theme at the **Art*Journal*Journey* challenge is fish  so these were the perfect inspiration.  I decided to do a page in my random thoughts journal about age  - mine is a 5x7 mixed media piece mounted on a 6x8 paper.  Lewis decided to do his 5x8 so it would be bigger than mine... funny how boys are.  He hasn't decided what to do with his and had to leave for baseball practice befor we could finish his.   Here is my page. The base is layers:  paper, tape, gesso, gouache paint, glitter.  The kraken tenacles are: layed paper, modeling paste, staws used for the suckers, gouache paint, metalic powder, and liquid pearls.  Here is a picture of as far as Lewis got (he had to go to baseball practice) so you can see the very base of the project.

I love when I get a really good dose of inspiration.  I have been checking out Art Piaskownica lately and their very talented DT and participants.  I got brave enough to try the Mixed Media challenge for June which is to focus on the background which needs to be glued/decopaged.  This scrapbook page is going in Allie's Paris Scrapbook.  I am 3 pages away from being done!   She loves Paris, vintage, and different things, so I know this will be on of her favorite pages in the album (even hubby liked this one).  I started by taking a piece of 6x8 kraft paper.  I glued down some paper from an old March 2017 farm journal paper gifted by my sweet friend, Teresa.  I then glued down two pieces of Close to My Heart paper cut in pieces so I could share the front and back.  To blend it all in a bit better, I added some flowers, a paint loaded butterfly, a bit of white paint, and a lightbulb border.  To build up my picture matting, I added in tea bag leaving on the string, a piece of book pape