Gelli Plate papers

Good Morning bloggers. I haven't created anything in a long time, and this morning as I was reading my emails I spied my gelli plate. So, I decided to drag out a few paints, deli wrap, copy paper and my brayers.

I wasn't thinking when I created the paper below. I painted the gelli plate and then wrote on it. Note to self..next time you need to write the letters backwards so they will print the correct way. Duh!!! (you would have thought I would I would have remembered that from years ago when I did my first  eraser carved words.)  I used 3 different greens and then some iridescent green paint in a tube. I wanted to eventually use this page for a beach themed project. (Life is beautiful under the sea)

 

I found this on the Gelli Arts site  click to watch the video. Informative video on using words with your Gelli Plate

Below are the few papers that I worked on. I need to find a good source for some fun stencils.

  pinks and purple iridescent paints sprayed with white dylusions

  painted gelli plate with stencil and doilies covered with deli paper

finished deli paper using the stencil and doily above

a few different gold paints then sprayed with orange dylusions spray mist. I then used a removable Recollections brayer with dots to run over the surface of the gelli plate

black paint with yellow dylusions spray mist

gold paints then I used a jar cover to make the circles. I wish I hadn't then used this deli paper to clean off the plate,

cleaning off the plate of excess paints

iridescent blues background..cleaning off the gelli plate

 cleaning off the plate

I like these better than my first attempts using my gelli plate.

Last week was so very hot and humid, I didn't feel like doing much of anything, but staying indoors near the air conditioning. Last Wednesday I had to go and do grocery shopping for my parents, and so I picked up my granddaughter, Bella and we went for a quick visit to Plymouth Correctional facility. No, I wasn't carting her off to jail.  There is a area that plants are sold and they have farm animals that you can buy bags of feed for 50 cents to feed and pet the animals. Bella loved it there but we couldn't stay long as it was so hot and humid. There were goats, cows, mini ponies, rabbits, chickens, pigs with babies, sheep with a baby lamb.

all set to feed the animals

here chickie chickie

loved the ponies

looking at the sheep, and the baby lamb ran away

  Resting in the shade after feeding the animals

  out of the hot sun and into the air conditioned car to cool off.

Sunday, July 14, 2013 baptism at Sacred Heart Church, Middleboro

Sammi wearing sunglasses. 2  1/2 months old

 

I have a few Butterfly bushes in my back yard. The blooms are so pretty.

Off to do some errands and then weight watcher's tonight. Wish me luck.

Elaine

P.S...do any of you use picture trail? Do you still maintain it or have you deleted your account? Long before I started my blog I started a picture trail site to store art photos and projects and photos that I've taken. I haven't used it  lately I am thinking of deleting my account, but first I'd need to copy all of the photos that are in my albums to CD that are stored on my picture trail. Still debating on what to do....keep it or delete it.      www.picturetrail.com/elaine_akers

Another Birthday has come and gone

My younger brother and I celebrated our birthdays last month. Yes, we are July birthday twins, but born 11 years apart. Fifty four years ago when Richard was born on my 11th birthday.
This was a milestone birthday for me as I became a genuine senior citizen. My  brother, who is 11 months older than me told me, on the upside..now  you can take advantage of senior discounts. (LOL) Age is but a number and I don't feel any different.

My 94 year old dad called first thing in the  morning on my birthday to wish me a happy birthday. Dad made me laugh when he mentioned that not many parents live to see 2 of their children become senior citizens. 

I had a lovely birthday. My friend took me out to lunch, we then did a bit of shopping. When I got home there was a package that came in the mail from Renee who was my birthday swap partner in the Yahoo group AAWA.
birthday goodies that arrived from California.

I also received lots of birthday wishes by phone, in emails and on facebook along with gifts of money and gift cards. I also received a box of deli papers that I had been trying to find to use with my Gelli plate. Now to find time to create some art.

I didn't feel like going out to dinner that night so Tom brought home takeout. A couple days later we went out my youngest son and his family to celebrate my birthday. We did go out and I decided I wanted a lobster roll. It was so good. I only ate a few fries as I was trying to stay on my diet. Since the middle of April when I started WW's I have lost 18 pounds and dropped a size.

I love this fragrant lily that blooms in the yard every July. So many blooms on the one plant.

this is the life. Princess one of my rescued strays enjoying a peaceful afternoon on the cat tree.

Fabric panels to share..giveaway

 
I was given a long piece of fabric of 7, large, Christmas- Manger scene panels. Obviously, I don't need all of them. Let me know if you could use one and would like a panel. I have 6 to share/giveaway. Leave a comment and an email address so I can get in touch with you for your mailing info.If signing in anonymously leave your name too. Thanks!
It is another hot and humid day. The past several days have been brutal with no breeze. Don't feel like doing anything
Elaine

2 ingredient...Lemon squares

Happy 4th of July! Wow, it is July already and the heat and humidity have been unbearable. It is stifling outside. What a day to put the oven on and bake.

Two Ingredient Lemon Squares.....
Yes, this cake only uses  2 ingredients.
1 box angel food cake mix( I used Betty Crocker)
2 cans lemon pie filling..I used two - 21 oz cans of Lucky Leaf pie filling ( total of 42 oz) , because I couldn't find Comstock lemon pie filling.
Mix dry cake mix and the 2 cans of lemon pie filling together in a large bowl.
I just mixed it by hand with a rubber spatula. The batter will be heavy but fluffy
Pour mix into a greased 9 x 13″ baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until top is starting to brown.
NOTE...Because I used a 3 quart Pyrex baking dish mine took longer than 25 minutes to bake.  When baking in glass you need to lower the baking temperature by 25 degrees. I did turn up the oven to 350 degrees after 35 minutes, because the center of the pan of mix when tested with a toothpick for doneness still came out wet. I lost track of time, and maybe let them brown a little too much baking at  35o degrees.
Cool cake in the pan/dish on a wire rack. Then sprinkle with powered sugar when cake is cool. The cake has a melt in your mouth spongy texture.
I found this recipe on several sites on the internet. So, I thought I would give it a try.
I took step by step photos while making these squares.
cake mix and 2 cans of lemon filling in a large bowl
   
mixing the 2 ingredients together
done mixing and you can see that the combined ingredients are quite puffy
in a greased dish and ready to put into the oven
baking in the oven the cake rose high  over the sides of the baking dish
top of cake just after taking out of the oven
cooling on rack
after cooling for awhile the cake's height dropped. Will add the confectioner's sugar when cool.
Finished..

P.S..this isn't a cheap dessert to make. I usually bake everything from scratch, but I love lemon desserts and wanted to give this recipe a try. The cans of lemon were about $3.69 each and the cake mix was just under $3.00.
What did I think of this dessert now that I've tried it....it's okay. I took a plate to my son's house and my son loved these squares. I guess I just prefer a slice of homemade lemon meringue pie or yellow cupcakes with lemon filling in the middle. To be truthful I didn't really care for these squares. I didn't like the texture..very spongy. I won't make this recipe again, but my youngest son loved them.
  my youngest granddaughters all decked out in red, white and blue. Bella 3 and Sammi 2 months. Below..I gave Bella a flag and she carried it around with her all afternoon.

Have a happy but safe 4th of July.
Elaine

Backyard flowers in bloom and niece Kelly's wedding

  Hydrangea's are along  the side yard property line. I started all of them from cuttings several years ago.
my rock garden has been taken over with bee balm and brown eyed Susan's. Hydrangea's in the background


The flowers have been so beautiful this year. Could it have something to do with all the snow and really cold weather we had last winter?
Last Saturday night my niece, Kelly got married. We all prayed for a nice sunny day, because for over a week we had heavy rains and thunderstorms. We got our wish and Kelly and Geno were able to be married outside. They had such a fun wedding, and I didn't get home until after 2 a.m. I enjoyed  dancing.

best man and Kelly's twin nephews..Kyle and Cody as ring bearers

    Mr. and Mrs. Geno Busa
Kelly and her maid of honor, her sister Trish
 
Trying to hold back tears during father daughter dance. Her dad is my younger brother
Elaine