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Monday 25 January 2021

Hearts and flowers

Hello, crafting friends!

I think I'm preaching to the converted here when I suggest that an hour or two of crafting a day keeps the head doctor away! Card challenges are particularly fun because it's great to have a few rules and boundaries to keep us on your toes. And they often lead us down paths we may not have taken left to ourselves.


When I came up for air after making this card I was quite astonished at how it turned out! I wouldn't necessarily have chosen red and purple together but I love it - they were colours in the inspiration photo. It wouldn't have come naturally to me to place the flowers there but the sketch suggested it. Silver sequins? A nod to the silver heart in the inspiration photo. 


The background was made by positioning Stampin' Up's retired Hardwood stamp on the card base in my stamping platform. I inked the stamp up and then sponged away the ink where I didn't want it, which is what has given this fade-out look. I still don't have any heart dies (!) so I just drew a heart, cut it out and stamped it with Gingham by Kaisercraft.


The flowers were cut with small flower punches then coloured with alcohol markers. I paired them with a die cut from the Holiday Foliage die set by Flora and Fauna. The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted's Blossoms in Bloom.

CHALLENGES
I just can't resist the inspiration at Inspired By these days - thank you ladies! - so I'm joining in there. I used Heather's intriguing sketch at As You See It to arrange all my elements so I'm linking up there too.

AND IN OTHER NEWS
It snowed at the weekend, much to Eva's delight. Golden Retrievers were bred as gun dogs in the highlands of Scotland. They have double coats to insulate them and webbed feet for swimming, and think nothing of being out for a day, splashing in and out of the freezing rivers and streams to retrieve birds (or sticks in Eva's case!) 


Sadly Eva has a very silly owner who would rather not be out in the snow for the day, and is inclined to set off home after only an hour or two...!
 
Sending hugs,

21 comments:

  1. Gorgeous design Vicky. Yes I find the only way to stay sane in this continual lock down is to do yard work or craft.

    Hugs Diane

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  2. I love everything about this card...red and purple and the way you did the background. It snowed here last night in Yorktown Virginia USA but it was all gone this morning. We are expecting more on Thursday. I still have all my snowmen out and will not take them down until we get a good snow!

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  3. I wouldn't automatically reach for red and purple either, yet you show it can work well. I really love the way you've done the background stamping and the colouring of the tiny flowers is pretty. Thanks so much for joining in with us As You See It Challenge.

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  4. Poor Eva,she must have been having a wonderful time in the snow,love your card Vicky,the layout and colours are beautiful

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  5. Beautiful inspired card...the design and the sketch work so perfectly together! Thank you for playing!

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  6. Really lovely card, with a great design.

    Kath x

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  7. Super looking card. Love that gingham stamp you've been using.

    Brrr, today's Eva photo is making me feel chilly. Xxx

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  8. I love the out of doors, but when it snows on the Oregon coast it is a cold wet snow and I am ready to head back inside by our warm fire in minutes, not hours!
    Oh...BTW, your Valentine is beautiful. I thought you had die cut your heart out of a gingham pretty paper...yours looks great and love how you followed the sketch challenge. Wonderful fade out stamped Hardwood background (which I have). You are always inspiring me, my friend. TFS and stay dry and warm. Love and Hugs..Nancy

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  9. What a sweet card for both our challenges! I LOVE the gingham...you had me there....and the faded woodgrain and lovely florals are a perfect addition! Love to see your snow too! We are due to get a wee bit today but so far it's just gray, gray, gray! Thanks for playing with us at AYSI and IB this week!

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  10. I loved reading your creative thought process on this one - it's so interesting how a card comes into being sometimes and I'm delighted you used our sketch over at AYSI for your layout this week! Eva certainly looks like she is on a mission!

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  11. OH! this is such a gorgeous card Vicky, I really love all the elements and admire how you cut out your heart. Our snow is being washed away by the rain now, definitely not so pretty.
    Faith x

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  12. Such a sweet design, Vicky! I love that gingham heart with the little purple flowers! You did good to last and hour or two!

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  13. This is so gorgeous, Vicky. Those purple flowers are so wonderful and the gingham against the woodgrain is fantastic. Lovely design for a wonderful combination of challenges!!!

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  14. I really love the faded out hardwood as a background, Vicky! Great way of doing that! And that gingham heart looks perfect on the background! Thanks for using our sketch and playing along at As You See It Challenges!

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  15. Vicky..here is the answer to your splatter ? that you asked on your comment to my blog. I do not seem to have your email address. Can you send me an email? Thanks

    I saw that our very talented Karen Dunbrook (Snippets) using either Posca Black or White Acrylic Pens for her splatters. I have always admired her splatters. She uses a metal ruler to tap the end of her pen to get the splatters. I used my bone folder, which works great. I practiced a little bit on scratch paper when I 1st used my pens and after that no problem. You can get a set of the 2 pens or buy separately. I got mine from Amazon. Hugs...Nancy

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  16. You had me at gingham heart! so sweet! Thanks for joining us at IB this week, Vicky!
    =]

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  17. An hour or two out in the snow is impressive I think, and so is this sweet valentine. I like the wood background, and as you say the colors do come together for a sweet country card.

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  18. I adore your creativity and style! Your card is so beautiful, you always have an eye for details and it’s so inspiring to visit and see your gorgeous cards. I thought the gingham was patterned paper, beautiful stamping! Thank you for inspiring us @IB this week!

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  19. I like the sprig of flowers you added to that darling heart! Thanks for joining us at IB!

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I'd love to know what you think. Do leave me a comment - it always makes my day! Vicky x


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