Hello crafting friends!
After the excitement of the birthday weekend I seem to have well and truly lost the old mojo :/ But today, I faffed about a bit in the Craft Square Metre and actually came out with a finished card - yay! *gives self a round of applause and a pat on the back* Come and see:
I used a couple of Funky Fossil stencils for this one layer creation. Thistle was taped off the edge of a good thick card base and I sponged into it with Stampin' Up Pear Pizzaz and Highland Heather inks. An alcohol marker was used to add a little definition to the green areas
To ground the image, I masked off the thistle and the bottom of the card with sticky notes, leaving a thin line which I sponged with the Highland Heather ink. The bottom sticky note was removed and the top one adjusted to mask off the purple line as well as the thistle. This left the bottom of the card exposed and I sponged that with the Pear Pizzaz. The Honeycomb stencil was held over this and more Pear Pizzaz ink sponged into it to give a tone-on-tone look.
Finally, I stamped a bold sentiment from MFT's All Occasion Sentiments. I would have added some gold dots or sequins but this is going to someone who abhors such things, so I restrained myself!
CHALLENGES
I'm linking up with Time Out which has an inspirational quote by Marcel Proust to get us going: 'Let us be grateful to the people that make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.' How beautiful is that?! I chose the thistle because no-one has to be perfect to be loved in the garden of life :) I shall also link this card up at NBUS, where everyone shares their Never Before Used Schtuff, as this is the Thistle stencil's first outing.
After the excitement of the birthday weekend I seem to have well and truly lost the old mojo :/ But today, I faffed about a bit in the Craft Square Metre and actually came out with a finished card - yay! *gives self a round of applause and a pat on the back* Come and see:
I used a couple of Funky Fossil stencils for this one layer creation. Thistle was taped off the edge of a good thick card base and I sponged into it with Stampin' Up Pear Pizzaz and Highland Heather inks. An alcohol marker was used to add a little definition to the green areas
To ground the image, I masked off the thistle and the bottom of the card with sticky notes, leaving a thin line which I sponged with the Highland Heather ink. The bottom sticky note was removed and the top one adjusted to mask off the purple line as well as the thistle. This left the bottom of the card exposed and I sponged that with the Pear Pizzaz. The Honeycomb stencil was held over this and more Pear Pizzaz ink sponged into it to give a tone-on-tone look.
Finally, I stamped a bold sentiment from MFT's All Occasion Sentiments. I would have added some gold dots or sequins but this is going to someone who abhors such things, so I restrained myself!
CHALLENGES
I'm linking up with Time Out which has an inspirational quote by Marcel Proust to get us going: 'Let us be grateful to the people that make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.' How beautiful is that?! I chose the thistle because no-one has to be perfect to be loved in the garden of life :) I shall also link this card up at NBUS, where everyone shares their Never Before Used Schtuff, as this is the Thistle stencil's first outing.
AND IN OTHER NEWS
I had the most wonderful birthday at the weekend. My eldest son surprised me by turning up for a visit, which was the best birthday present ever! We had a socially distanced party in the garden and my daughter and her boyfriend turned up via zoom, and we played games and sipped iced drinks and feasted in the sunshine.
Since then, the news has been increasingly hard to read and I don't know about you but it makes me feel frozen. I've not felt like crafting but have been out walking a lot though...
... just look at this poor baby girl - exhausted!
Hope you are all safe and well.
AWESOME stencilling. Gorgeous card. Fantastic Proust quote. Tired retriever. What's not to love about this post???
ReplyDeleteHug, poss Hyg with today's weather! Xxx
Lol! It's actually quite warm here despite the wind and the odd shower - no hyg required but hug gratefully received! xxx
DeleteVicky so wonderful you had such a good Birthday-I am so pleased for you. I think many of us are finding it hard to create at the moment and I too have been walking. So pleased you did get to make a card though and a gorgeous one at that! Wonderful sponging of the thistle (I have this one too) and I love how you grounded it-a super idea. Thanks for leaving us a lovely comment on our blog and joining us at Time Out
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks Sandie. I think you and I may have cleaned Funky Fossil out lol!
DeleteThis is lovely. I continually lament the fact that SU has a poor selection of stencils!! Anyway, I vicariously enjoy the ones that others use...like this one! Your colors are beautiful, as is the subject matter! Love me a good thistle! And yes, I have just turned off the news and am wandering around the house...sewing, crafting, gardening, walking. Too much to wrap my wee little brain around. God bless!
ReplyDeleteThey do have one pack of pretty ones don't they. It's hard to believe in the goodness of our planet sometimes isn't it but I keep telling myself to have faith. Bless you too LeAnne.
DeleteI LOVE the thistle Vicky, I love this colour combination, a beautiful card.
ReplyDeleteAs for the news, I watch at 10pm, but mostly turn it off. Isn't it time they brought us some good news, there must be some about.
Take care
Faith x
I'd rather not see thistles in my garden but they are amazing plants aren't they?! Yes, we really have to dig about for the good news at the moment - the media isn't interested in that! x
DeleteWell one would never know you mojo is playing hide and seek again as this is just lovely Vicky and such super vibrant colours.
ReplyDeleteBut yes I do know exactly what you mean about the news, it doesn't seem to get any better and despite doing my best to avoid it, whenever eldest son rings reality hits home again. I so worry for him burning the candle at both ends and his 'red' phone never stopping day and night.
B x
Bless you Brenda, thank you.
DeleteI know what you mean. Your poor son - we all have to be careful not to stay on red alert all the time. x
A great stencil Vicky and you have showcased it beautifully! xx
ReplyDeleteLove the stencil too - could happily have ALL FF's stencils! xx
DeleteGorgeous card, Vicky xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks Em xx
DeleteHappy belated birthday, Vicky! With this pandemic, your physical distancing birthday surprise in the garden sounds perfect. Your one layer card is so lovely. Beautiful job stencilling.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the birthday wishes Trina! Always fun to make one layer cards :)
DeletePretty thistle bloom ~ I'm glad you had a nice birthday visit. Happy Belated! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen :)
DeleteAll that lush white with the lilac and green just pop over at the NBUS gallery, Vicky ~ so delightfully CASlicious and colorful! Happy Belated Birthday! I know we used to be card pals and I've found your address so I can get you back in my book and get your birthday back on the calendar! I'm so tickled that you had the happiest celebratory weekend possible and that senior son showed up! Loved the photo of the younger with Eva, too! TFS and thanks for all your entries in NBUS! So glad it helps with your mojo and it sure helps the rest of us be inspired! Mwah! Hugs, Darnell
ReplyDeleteThanks Darnell and yes, let's be card pals again! I was SO embarrassed when I realised how much NBUS I'm using when I didn't think I had any!! Mwah!
DeleteBeautiful stenciled flowers, Vicky - just love the purple tops!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda. Thistles are amazing aren't they?!
DeleteI am so glad you persevered with this card as it turned out really well. it is a great card and one layer too xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Hillary - love a one layer card xx
Delete