Into Grey

 Today is our 44 Wedding anniversary... I don't know how... as we are only 29 years old... LOL... but we have been holding our ages well...  to say the least...  

Anyway.. it is a fun day for us... and we are already enjoying it greatly....  I have made cookies, a wonderful Fresh tomato and bean salad from our garden!!!  and ready to share at this point...  Glenn is picking more beans, and other things...  and I played...   Today on Balzer Designs,  Julie has a fun Second Floor challenge...  and that is to use a PENCIL.... oh my goodness  I have not used a pencil to draw in years...  I always use a ball point pen... and Bic is my favorite... I love the way the ink flows... sounds silly... but you have to use something that you love to sketch with... and that is mine...  So I sketched this design above... with thoughts of 44 years ago... and all the wedding preparations... Since the reception was at my folks home, there was a buzz plus all around the place...  there were over 300 people at the reception... and it was to be very informal... a true garden reception... I remember it well... very nice... and informal... we had champagne, strawberries, and some punch for the minister and his wife...  and some little party sandwiches that my Mom insisted on having...  Glenn and I picked all the strawberries at a huge farm.. and they were huge strawberries and very sweet and juicy!!!  A really wonderful day was to be had...  Ohhhhh it seems like yesterday... but our kids are both grown... and we have a grandson and so I guess holding at 29 doesn't pass anymore... LOL... anyway... I wanted to tell you a funny thing .... when we were pulling away from the wedding... my cousin started to call after us... and we stopped... and she asked if we knew that our license plate was our wedding date... it was
MEA  626   Me Anniversary June 26..... I still have the plates and turned them into a cover for our honeymoon pictures...  what fun...  So the 6.26 in the picture stands for the date... and the 44 for the years married... and we still care and love each other... GREATLY...  So I guess it will last...  what do you think???  

 So that was my pencil sketch... then I sort of followed what Julie had done... and got out my leaf stamps that I have made... and used different colored gray ink pads to print with... okay since I don't clean stamps... the green from the last time shows... oh well... just gives a different look...  I added some curly cues and love it... I will use it for something... 

 so then I tried using only black to see what I got...  and this also came out nicely...  


To be very honest...  I don't use black and white as much as I should.. I do love it... and use to use it all the time.... not really sure why I stopped????  

 Then I went a step more..... 
Took one of the stamps and made a wreath... and then added some more leaves with a final touch of a Pretties by Bonnie 
wreath on the top... and used a few gray markers to color the leaves...  added LOVE for Glenn and Me... and moved on...   

 If you haven't made any stamps of our own... it is really very easy and a lot of fun... you can use all kinds of things to create a stamp... right down to a piece of fruit or a potato...  I have even used erasers or fun foam... to get the look I want...  Try making some of your own... and see what you come up with... I am sure you have the supplies to create a design with... and they are great on bags for gift giving too...  so much fun!!!   

 This is another stamp that I love using for background... I will play with this later... and see what I come up with...  Although today I have to work on a special card for an up coming class... so I have to do that... a MUST...  but I will play with these... believe ME... I love what I have gotten... and it has been a long time since I have used my black, white and gray...

 As I was really getting into this project, my sweet hubby came in with a couple of RED ROSES for me... he is so very sweet... he is a real keeper.   He not only picked these... but he creates these rose bushes from one single plant that is a real OLD TIMEY rose ... that really smells like a ROSE use to smell..  I love these...  and how sweet... two of them were ready to be picked today.. to show our love for each other...  

So I had my bin of Pretties by Bonnie out... and took a Large Daisy out... and colored it with gray... and then started to add some leaves and color a tag with gray... and oh what fun... I will get back to this later on...  

I have to do a few things... and then make that card for this up and coming class...  so I have to wait... but I will show it to you when I finish it... I promise...

I also took away quite a few things too Julie...  I am glad you mad a comment about that... as it is important to look at ones self and see what you have learned...  
1.  I learned that I too like quick results... but need to slow down a bit from time to time and enjoy... a meditation with the pencil was GREAT...  I always use a pen... and this was a nice change..  

2.  I loved using the greys again.. brought back an old technique to me... I love it too... 

3.  That I need to make some more rubber stamps... I have a lot of pink rubber that needs to be used!!!  Can't have stuff laying around un-used now... can I???   

4.  That when you take a 'simple' challenge like using a pencil and give it 'IT'S' own way... it will lead to better things than you thought... but you need to give freedom to your work at all times...  so very important...  

5.  To slow down and enjoy...  all the time... there is no hurry... and this has been a very delightful experience that I didn't expect today... thanks Julie... and also I thank myself for giving myself the time and energy to do this... as I do have a full plate today... my gift to ME... 
 

Have a super wonderful day... I will...  I know that... and I will hope you do...  Thanks for stopping by for a visit... and see ya'll tomorrow...  Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie