Hello crafting friends!
Every May, when the bluebells come out, I spend most of the month taking Eva for walks in ancient woodland a short drive away from my home. Whole fields of bluebells appear under the trees there, giving of a heady scent that nearly knocks you out. This year, thanks to lockdown, I feel it's not right to go there, but this is my tribute to one of my favourite flowers:
I started by sponging white card with distress inks, flicking water over it and allowing it to dry. A card panel was cut from it, using a Heffy Doodles stitched rectangle die, and I stamped the bluebell from Clearly Besotted's Fresh Flowers onto it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.
I enjoyed colouring the flower with alcohol markers, using blues and lilacs to get that purple-blue that I love about bluebells. The gold dots were added with a gold pen through Clearly Besotted's Snowy Day stencil - don't you just love using Christmas craft stash the whole year round?! The panel was mounted onto gold mirror card and attached to a card base.
The sentiment was stamped onto an off cut of card stock which had stitching on one side. I threaded a needle with metallic gold thread and sewed through the stitched marks, tying the thread into a double bow to finish and trimming the ends. I finished the tag by trimming the other end into a fish tail and attaching it to the card front with dimensionals.
EDITED TO ADD AN AWARD
This card turned out to be the Fab Fave at Fab Friday! So pleased :)
CHALLENGES
I used the gorgeous sketch at Fab Friday for this card so I'm linking up there; I'm also joining in at Addicted to Stamps and More, where the code word is Flower and Watercooler Wednesday, where Anything Goes with A Feminine Twist.
AND IN OTHER NEWS
My youngest son, who is staying with us, has been taking Eva with him when he goes out for his exercise. I may have mentioned that she was a very anxious pup, terrified of everything, and we have worked very hard socialising her. When they returned yesterday, my son told me that a plastic bag had been blowing about on one field and that Eva had been upset by it. My son's response to this was to run full pelt at the bag, like a fierce warrior, and Eva, presumably feeling that her own hunting skills were being called into question, overtook him and pounced on the bag!
She came back prancing proudly and VERY pleased with herself!
Take care and be safe,
Every May, when the bluebells come out, I spend most of the month taking Eva for walks in ancient woodland a short drive away from my home. Whole fields of bluebells appear under the trees there, giving of a heady scent that nearly knocks you out. This year, thanks to lockdown, I feel it's not right to go there, but this is my tribute to one of my favourite flowers:
I started by sponging white card with distress inks, flicking water over it and allowing it to dry. A card panel was cut from it, using a Heffy Doodles stitched rectangle die, and I stamped the bluebell from Clearly Besotted's Fresh Flowers onto it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.
I enjoyed colouring the flower with alcohol markers, using blues and lilacs to get that purple-blue that I love about bluebells. The gold dots were added with a gold pen through Clearly Besotted's Snowy Day stencil - don't you just love using Christmas craft stash the whole year round?! The panel was mounted onto gold mirror card and attached to a card base.
The sentiment was stamped onto an off cut of card stock which had stitching on one side. I threaded a needle with metallic gold thread and sewed through the stitched marks, tying the thread into a double bow to finish and trimming the ends. I finished the tag by trimming the other end into a fish tail and attaching it to the card front with dimensionals.
EDITED TO ADD AN AWARD
This card turned out to be the Fab Fave at Fab Friday! So pleased :)
CHALLENGES
I used the gorgeous sketch at Fab Friday for this card so I'm linking up there; I'm also joining in at Addicted to Stamps and More, where the code word is Flower and Watercooler Wednesday, where Anything Goes with A Feminine Twist.
AND IN OTHER NEWS
My youngest son, who is staying with us, has been taking Eva with him when he goes out for his exercise. I may have mentioned that she was a very anxious pup, terrified of everything, and we have worked very hard socialising her. When they returned yesterday, my son told me that a plastic bag had been blowing about on one field and that Eva had been upset by it. My son's response to this was to run full pelt at the bag, like a fierce warrior, and Eva, presumably feeling that her own hunting skills were being called into question, overtook him and pounced on the bag!
 |
| Defeated - The Bad Bag! |
Take care and be safe,
Just beautiful Vicky. We used to have Bluebells goring along the edges of one of our dykes but over time they seem to have dies out, such a shame.
ReplyDeleteB x
What a shame Brenda. I find plants have a very clear idea of where they want to live. I planted cowslips in a little area of my garden and they've all disappeared from there but seeded themselves at the base of a fence nearby! Fair enough I thought! x
DeleteStunning bluebells Vicky. Your story about Eva made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteHugs Diane
LOL, everything she does makes me laugh. She is the best companion :)
DeleteSorry you can't go and see your bluebells in person (although might be for the best given how aggressive they are - knocking you out with their scent and such!). These are gorgeous though and I love the subtle sponging and hint of gold.
ReplyDeleteI love your son's reaction to the evil bag how it inspired courage in Eva. So brilliant and hilarious!
It's funny what worries them isn't it? We adopted our last dog, Tex, when he was 11 years old. We suspect he didn't see much of the world during his life (pretty sure he was chained in a backyard for most of it). One of the first days we went out for a walk we came across an orange safety cone. He froze and stared at it for ages. I finally convinced him to check it out which he did very hesitantly. Once he gave it a good sniffing he snorted, threw his tail up in the air and trotted off like he'd shown it who was boss!
LOL, those aggressive bluebells! Thanks for making me laugh Jen :D
DeleteMy son is so good with Eva and, being the youngest, was able to bond with her for longer before leaving home - and she adores him. I can really relate to your story about Tex. Eva would have done the same - at EVERYTHING! I spent hours going up to things and showing her that they were fine and gradually, over a long period of time, she learned that it was all going to be ok. She's still a bit flighty but behaves pretty normally all things considered.
What gorgeous bluebells - there was a field of them growing next to use where I lived as a kid - it was always so magical to go play in those woods! Love your pretty and nostalgic card - such good times! Thanks so much for playing at Fab Friday!
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely that it brought back happy memories of playing in the bluebell woods. Thanks for sharing that :)
DeleteOh what a lovely card . . . with beautifully coloured bluebells.
ReplyDeleteGood old Eva and your son for sorting out ferocious plastic bags.
Did you see the sad news about Monty Don's retriever Nigel?
Big Hugs, Sarn xxx
My pair of hunters!
DeleteI did see the news. So, so sad as it was clear Nigel meant the world to Monty Don. He was such a special dog.
xxx
Lovely card Vicky. Great colouring and I like the shading and splatters. Thanks for joining us this week at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge. Tristan DT.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fun challenge Tristan!
DeleteYour bluebells are perfectly colored with that bit of purple and the soft inked background and gold stenciled dots show off the flowers beautifully!
ReplyDeleteThanks Bonnie! I'll keep practising!
DeleteI wish I could see (and smell) those bluebells...I am all about flowers that SMELL good! Right now I have two little stalks of lilies of the valley and I can't wait until I can stick my nose in them!!! I love this card, it's a perfect tribute to your lovely flowers! And Eva....well, she just makes me smile no matter what she does! Bad bag, good Eva!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm with you on Lily of the Valley LeAnne - such a beautiful perfume. Eva didn't make me smile when she was black with foul smelling mud the other day but I can't be cross for long :)
DeleteBeautiful card. Wild flowers are being encouraged to grow along our sidewalks here, and saw some there when I last went up to the post office. Headed that way in a bit, so hopefully will see them again later xoxo
ReplyDeleteOh that's lovely Em! It really lifts your spirits to see them doesn't it :)
DeleteOH! Bluebells, gorgeous gorgeous flowers and yes that heady scent! Mmmm beautiful. Seems I'm too strong for it to knock me over! A really Beautiful card Vicky and love your story of your son and Eve. I got our dog, most of the time, used to fireworks taking her out and talking to her during November.
ReplyDeleteKeep safe and well
Faith x
It might not have been the scent that knocked me over...!!!
DeleteEva was fine with fireworks for a while - we made a huge effort to do the same as you did, taking her out while the fireworks were going off and just not reacting in any way. But somewhere along the line she has decided she's not risking it :/
Beautiful design and image! I love the gold flecks and the subtle texture/color of the background. Thanks for sharing at Fab Friday!
ReplyDeleteThanks Amanda. And thanks for that beautiful sketch :)
DeleteThis is so beautiful Vicky and those bluebells are perfectly coloured. How brave of Eva to take on that bag xx
ReplyDeleteWell she wasn't going to let my son have all the fun was she? Lol! xx
DeleteJust beautiful! Love your clean design, perfectly colored images! Thanks for joining us at Fab Friday, hope to see you again soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks for that beautiful sketch challenge Amy!
DeleteThese bluebells are just gorgeous Vicky - I love the subtle sponging and gold speckles too. What a beautiful CAS card!
ReplyDeleteThanks Joanne!
DeleteBeautiful card ~ your coloring turned out gorgeous. I hope you can find the bluebells now that the quarantine is lifted some. I'm glad Eva faced her fears head on! :)
ReplyDeleteI went up there today and saw them before they went over. It really lifted my spirits! Bless Eva, she does so well :)
DeleteHow lovely that must be to walk through a field of bluebells, Vicky. Thanks for creating your own lovely version of it on your card and sharing it at Addicted to CAS.
ReplyDeleteYou can feel your shoulders go down as you walk Bobby!
DeleteSo pretty! I love your card. I love that the bluebells are offset to the right. I love the great sentiment banner - so awesome that you stitched with gold thread and ended with the perfect bow. Thanks for joining us at Addicted to CAS.
ReplyDeletesue n.
Hi Vicky, I'm adding my admiration a year after you posted this! It is bluebell time again and I am lucky to have a woods nearby with such a crop, they have a "bluebell trail" walk. Your card is really beautiful and inspiring. One day, I hope to have a golden retriever companion. It's my dream.
ReplyDelete