Sunday 23 March 2014

Snippet Sunday Card ... and in my garden today

Hello Everyone

Good morning to you all. I hope you are having a very happy weekend.

As you can see I've given my blog a bit of a makeover. The header, created using Serif Craft Artist, is a collage of some of my favourite things, including a photo of The Boss, and it's in shades of purple ... it's the colour associated with my zodiac sign so seemed a good choice. I see now I've forgotten to create shadows around the butterflies and title so more practice needed there! Do you like it? Do tell me what you think ... even if you hate it!

Today's share is yet another card I made earlier ... this time for a friend, Cass, whose favourite colours are pink and blue. This one gave me the opportunity to play with some recently acquired goodies and still use up a snippet or two ... this time it's the blue pearlescent card used for matting and layering.
The topper was created on white card using the Seed Head stencil, from Clarity Stamp, and Pinflair products that I brought back from the craft show in Glasgow a couple of weeks ago ... you can see a photo on this post here.

To make it I followed Pinflair's Antony's instructions for combining two shades of Buff-it paste, in this case Dark Green and Dark Blue, and sponged the mix through the stencil and then buffed it up - the resulting pattern has a lovely sheen. There's a series of demonstrations on how to use the paste on YouTube - click here for the first.

After applying the Buff-it the next step was to sponge on the Gentle Blends - colours used were Denim and Hot Magenta. Note: the pots of colour look quite a lot richer/darker than the actual soft shades once they are sponged on to card/paper! And they blend beautifully when using the sponge applicators.

That done, I trimmed the card down and matted it on to the pale blue pearlescent card and tied blue organza ribbon round it ready to attach it to the front of the card.

The front of the base card has been sponged with the same two shades of Gentle Blends too.

To finish the front I attached the topper, added a gem swirl cut from Merryweather Swirl Adhesive Gems from K & Company and some purple card candi ... from Craftworks Vintage Berries mix. This mix includes deep shades of blue, red, green, grey and the purple and has to be one of the most useful in my collection of card candi ... I'll be sad when it's done.

The trimmings from the topper were matted on to some strips of blue pearlescent card and used to finish off the inside and back of the card.

As it is Sunday, it's the start of a new week over at Pixie's Snippets Playground where, as usual, Di has posted a fabulous showcase of the snippeteers beautiful projects ... their ingenuity in finding ways of using up snippets and leftover scraps of paper and card never ceases to amaze and delight.

It's a bright and sunny day here with just a bit of a breeze keeping the temperature down and stopping me from doing too much in the garden. However, I recently nipped out with the camera and took this photo.
Not much to see you might think, just a lovely blue sky through bare branches! Not so!! This is one of the two flowering cherry trees (Prunus) that form an arch over our front gate. Ever since we moved in I've been looking forward to seeing them in bloom. So when I spotted the tiny flower buds appearing I just had to take a photo - just for the record.

The EM is very much better today and my shoulder is responding well to the anti-inflammatory medication so all-in-all we're doing just fine. Hope you are too :)

Take care and happy crafting,

18 comments:

Bobbie Lynn said...

Good Morning Elizabeth,
So good to hear that your shoulder is feeling better. Their times we need a little help and that goodness for good meds.
I like your new header. Love the photo of Ms. Bonnie.

A great layering of color on your card. I have the video on my list to see this week. Thanks for the youtube. I enjoy watching what is out there and how to use it.
It's always a good day when we see blue skies and the first showing of the first blooms on a tree. I enjoying see that too.
Have a wonderful Sunday.
Blessings,
Bobbie Lynn

Krisha said...

Your card is so stunning I HAD to watch the video. I had not heard of Buff-it before. I love the ease of using it with a stencil, and not having any bleeding under the stencil.

I think I will be looking for some of this to play with....grin!
Thanks for sharing.

Rita said...

Beautiful card Elizabeth. Like you I love seeing the buds come into view on the shrubs and the blossoms. Glad your feeling better. I'm still very tired and just can't shrug it off. Hugs Rita xxx

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

If you like that seed head stencil, Elizabeth, just wait till you see the new Chinese Lantern one. It is just stunning. Mine is on order as we speak. We did have a lot of discussion on which way up it should be but here is a sneaky peak at Jo Rice's ideas http://www.pinterest.com/pin/473300242061313181/?fb_action_ids=665381586861603&fb_action_types=pinterestapp%3Apin&fb_ref=473300379497405502%3A4e10dbe04c91402da4e9&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=[625959517488313]&action_type_map=[%22pinterestapp%3Apin%22]&action_ref_map=[%22473300379497405502%3A4e10dbe04c91402da4e9%22]&fb_collection_id=10151306687677165&ref=profile Didn't realise how long this address was going to be. Can't wait for mine to arrive. xx Maggie

Sandra H said...

Hi Elizabeth, So nice to hear your anti-inflammatory medication is reducing the pain in your shoulder and the EM is getter better too! it's nice to see the trees blossoming we have lots of trees in our new property and there are some buds on them not sure what they are at the moment your card is really lovely its so creative and the colour and ribbon is lovely too and the added gems and card candy finish it of perfectly xx

Cass said...

I like the revamp, always nice to have a change. I still have all my birthday cards up, interesting to learn how you made mine. Glad to hear that the shoulder is on the mend.

Cassidy xx

Sue said...

Love the new header on your blog Elizabeth:) and your card is lovely. Our trees are in bud too can't wait for the blossoms to finally come out huggles Sue xx

Marie-Louise said...

Beautiful card Elizabeth and equally marvellous Header - I wish I had the know how to change mine. Glad both your shoulder and the EM are feeling better.

Jackie said...

A fabulous card, a lovely photograph and yes, I love your new blog header :o)
So pleased the anti inflammatory meds are working, I can't take them so mine continue to hurt a lot :o(
Thank you for asking about Stephen, he continues to do very well with his walking, not using his stick now. He still cannot talk very well and his arm is still paralysed, but there is a glimmer of hope there now as he is feeling tiny flutterings in his hand and a little bit in his arm now :o)
Jackie xx

Di said...

Love your new header Elizabeth! And such a lovely card too. Good to hear the shoulder is improving as well, yay!

Hugs

Di
xx

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

ah Elizabeth love the new blog look funny was just thinking of updating mine too but still not must do.. one day.. my fav. pickie is the puss shot.. love it it makes you smile!

and your card.. wow how effective it that!! well done, Shaz in Oz.x

Hettie said...

Oooo Elizabeth. I am liking the purple look. I likes purple I do! Just in case you didn't know.
Love your card. It kinda goes with your new blog look too with the colours. That stencil looks great.
It is lovely to see spring coming back again doesn't it.
Hugs
xx

MaryH said...

Absolutely LOVE your new header. I'm envious that you have the skill & knowledge to do your own! WTGo! Now you can change it out as you desire, which I think would be lots of fun. Enjoyed your picture share as always. So nice that in your new home, you have so many new things to look forward to enjoying. Also loved your beautiful card. Thanks for providing the video links for the how-to. Will be checking those out, as the products you mention are new to me. Glad to hear all are healing at your house. Take care, have a marvelous week. TFS & Hugs

Jean said...

A beautiful card Elizabeth,I love the super stencil and gorgeous colours.
Your cherry trees will be beautiful when the buds open. There was one in front of my first house and I loved it, it was in full bloom when we bought the house. It has an added bonus in the colour of the leaves in autumn.
Jean x

Mrs A. said...

Glad to hear that your shoulder is improving. Love this card . Colours are beautiful together. Off to look at the links you have provided. Hugs Mrs A.

Sarn said...

Hi Elizabeth - FAB card - thanks for sharing the technique. Good to hear you and the EM are recovering well.

Gentle hugs from Sarn xxx

Sarn said...

I like your new look blog space too. xxx

scrappymo! said...

Your new blog look is lovely as are the wee buds poking through on your flowering cherryl how you will show us when it is full on in bloom.
My neighbour has some and we love the look of it from our kitchen windows...the petals blow over to ours and look like pink snow...so pretty.

Lovely card Elizabeth. I will pop back up there and watch the video as the technique sounds great!