Monday 16 March 2020

Beauty of Botanicals Part 2

Here we are midway through the Path of Positivity challenge with the optional theme Beauty of Botanicals. Last time I talked about the first spring flowers and this time I am moving into summer. As the year progresses the pastel colours are replaced as the showy summer flowers take hold. Now the colours get brighter and bolder. I have used bright colours in my flowers and they remind me of Mesembryanthemums or Miserable Anthenomes as we used to call them. The variety we had in our garden is Celertum Bellidiforme or Livingstone Daisy. They come out when the sun is out but close up when it gets dark. I love the vibrant colours and the way they enjoy being in the spotlight of the sun.

Image result for Cleretum bellidiforme

So this is my card inspired by the colours of the Livingstone Daisy.


Materials used:
flower embossing folder
Express It! card
yellow card
purple card
scalloped edge rectangle die set
A6 card blank 
Copic pens:
pot - E97, E99, E39     R89, R39
flowers - RV02, RV04, RV09     V15, V17, V09     Y13, Y15, Y18
leaves - G05, G07, G28

I only use one image for the card but cut out the two layers using the dies. I wanted to highlight the flowers so cut the top layer off centre. The embossing folder was quite small, a freebie with a magazine I think, so I had to emboss the yellow mat twice. To cover the join I embossed a strip of purple card and wrapped it around the yellow card.

I hope you will join us this month and show us your projects, remember that the theme is optional but   this time of year lends itself to plenty of occasions for using flowers. All the details of how to enter and the prizes on offer from our two sponsors, SheepSki Designs and Scribbles Designs can be found on the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog here

Thanks for dropping in. 

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:

Sunday 8 March 2020

March Stamper's Delights Anime New Release

Today is release day for Stamper's Delights new Anime images and the fairy line continues.



Materials used:
nesting die set
X-Press It card
matt gold card from stash
5" x 7" card blank
Copic pens:
skin - E50, E51, E21, E11     R20
hair - Y23, Y21, Y38, YR24
eyes - G05, G17
rose - V0000, V000, V01, V12     G24, G94, G99
small flowers - Y02, Y15, Y19     E37, E35, E33
blackberries - BV20, BV23, BV25, BV29     YG61, G21, YG63, G94
dress - B21, B23, B45
wings - YR21, YR12, YR04     C0, C1D
tiny flowers - RV10, RV02 
background - W00, W0

The orange glitter paper from DDDoodles has been printed onto Ice Crystal paper so it has a very subtle matt sheen to it.

I hope that you have been enjoying the new range of fair images from Stampers Delights, do go over to the Stampers Delights store and see what other wonderful images there are. Also there are plenty of places to visit for more inspiration. I have put some useful links below.

Friday 6 March 2020

March Stamper's Delights Chibi New Release

Time for some new Chibi images at Stamper's Delights. Janice is going back to her early days with some wonderful new fairy images. This time it is the turn of the Chibi fairies to reveal themselves.


Materials used:
X-Press It card
designer paper and card from stash
Hunkydory Diamond Sparkles - Fairy Daydreams
circle die set
Copic pens:
skin - E50, E51, E21, E11     R20
hair - V01, V12, V15, V17 
eyes - C0, C3, C5
dress - Y02, Y15, Y19
boots - YG01, YG11, YG03     W5
wings - RV000, RV00, RV10     V000, V01, V12
blackberries - BV20, BV23, BV25, BV29
rose - YR00, E93, YR61, YR02     G07, G17, G28, G29
little flowers - B21, B23, B45     Y00, Y02
tiny flowers - E39
background - B0000, B00

The sentiment comes from the set and has been printed onto white card. The circle mat is is cut from a piece of designer card I found in my bits box. The bottom layer is from a mop up sheet I used to soak up left over ink from my glass mat, it was just lucky that the colours went with the image.

Do go over to the Stampers Delights store and see what other wonderful images there are. Also there are plenty of places to visit for more inspiration. I have put some useful links below.


Thank you for dropping in. Take care.

Monday 2 March 2020

Path of Positivity March Challenge: Beauty of Botanicals

March at the Path of Positivity and with the optional theme of Beauty of Botanicals a chance to get Mothering Sunday and Easter themes in along with everything else that flowers can be used for.

There is always something wonderful about the seasonal changes especially from Winter into Spring. I remember it was not so long ago that the snowdrops would be out first, so delicate looking and yet hardy enough to withstand any sting in the tale of winter. Snowdrops in the snow will always be a favourite image. After the pure white snowdrops would come the brash bright colours of the crocus mixed in with the pastel yellow shades of the primrose as spring revealed more of her colours. Then towards the end of lent the daffodils standing proud and tall, their trumpet heads reaching out to herald the sun.

One of the effects of global warming is that now the flowers bloom together and often the snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils are out at the same time. I must admit I miss the slow progression of the blooming of the different spring flowers as winter released the earth into the hands of spring.

On Sunday our vicar was inspired by a quote from a book that described lent as being between the snowdrop and the daffodil to write a poem. She has given me permission to share it with you.

Between the Snowdrop and the Daffodil

Lenten silence whispers alleluia,
gentle snowdrops wait and wonder.
Ssh.
Hear it coming.
The shoots of spring straining
in their darkened winter soil,
Knowing that bold golden trumpets
will proclaim,
loudly.
A glory of daffodils
will hold their heads high to the sky,
and praise the risen Son.
But first - pause.
And in this sooty, ashen, mysterious love,
be born again.
Between the snowdrop and the daffodil,
is Lent.


Joanna Stobart

Now after all that you would think that I would be using an image of snowdrops or daffodils but no I have chosen a primrose with a view of making a card for mum be it for Mothering Sunday or birthday or just because.


 

Materials used:
SheepSki Designs: For Mum/Mom/Mam 
X-Press It card
purple card
white A6 card blank
white candle
tissue paper
yellow heart gem
circle die set
Polychromo pencils:
flowers - 104 zinc yellow, 105 lemon cadmium, 107 lemon
               171 light green, 166 grass green, 167 sap green
letters - 119 light magenta, 125 dark magenta, 134 magenta, 194 purple

For the candle I printed out the image to the size I needed to fit the candle then covered it with tissue paper, shiny side up, and printed it again. Having coloured it in I carefully tore around the edge leaving a white border then holding the image in place on the candle with a length of baking paper I gently heated it with a heat gun. The trick is to heat it just enough to melt the surface wax so that the tissue is embedded in it and covered with a thin wax layer. If the candle starts dripping you have heated it too much. I am sure there are plenty of videos on this technique you can search for.

In comparison the card was much more straight forward. I have used the same colours for both makes and have no idea why they look so different in the photos. I guess it must be something to do with the lighting.

I hope you will join us this month and show us your projects, remember that the theme is optional but as I said this time of year lends itself to plenty of occasions for using flowers. All the details of how to enter and the prizes on offer from our two sponsors, SheepSki Designs and Scribbles Designs can be found on the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog here

Thanks for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:
PIP Challenge 2009 - Anything Goes 
613 Avenue Create #231 - Anything Goes/ Optional Twist Use Coloured Pencils 
Stamping Sensations #March - Spring Florals 
A Bit More Time To Craft #111 - Anything Goes 
A Bit More Time To Craft Extra Challenge #March - Anything Goes 

Sunday 1 March 2020

Stampers Delights Progressive Challenge for March

The start of another month and although it seems that Christmas was only yesterday we are already thinking of Easter. Mind you our local Tesco's had Easter eggs in on Boxing Day! Maybe I am getting more cynical with age but it seems to me that the two major Christian festivals have become little more than opportunities to make money.  Anyway I digress on to this month's cute image.




Materials used: 
Stampers Delights - Easter Cupcake (available on request from the Stampers Delights FB Page)
Easter designer free digi paper
Gift Bag Punch Board
white ribbon
white organza ribbon
X-Press It card
Copic pens:
skin - E000, E00, E21, E11, E04     R20
eyes - BG11, BG45, BG49
hair - E50, E42, E43, E44, Y21
bunny costume - RV11, RB32, RV34     Y00, Y11, Y13     G000, G00, BG11
tail - C1, C3 Blender
bows - R81, R83, R85
heart - R89
carrot - YR21, YR12, YR15     G21, G24, G94
cake icing - V01, V12, V15     E35, E37, E18
cake case - C0, C1, C3     V09

The little gift bag is just big enough to hold a small Easter egg, a couple of creme eggs or any other little treats you might want to pop in! Of course the image would make a cute card as well.

If you take a look at how others have used this image you may notice that mine is slightly different. I confess that I worried about her little bare behind so I gave her some frilly shorts to match her top. 

I hope you will come along and join in the fun, just head off to the Stampers Delights Facebook page to find the details of how to get the image and enter. Other places to find inspiration are here:


Thanks for visiting. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges: