Butterflies

I've made several larger and more ornate butterfly cards during this spring, so with the challenge being Butterflies at The Rainbow Lady, I decided on small, soft and subtle for a change. I coloured the edge of the main card with Peeled Paint and stamped the agapanthus stamp (Stampendous) with the same ink. The ferns, were stamped with Crushed Olive.The butterflies from Lyndsay Mason, where stamped onto coloured card. the small Just for you is from a Crafter's Companions set which I find very useful for many cards.

The Great Outdoors

Cards for Men last Monday challenged us with The Great Outdoors, I recently made this card, for a demo and thought it would be suitable for this challenge. I used a brayer and the Waterfall Big n Juicy pad for the background. I used stamps from Stampscape, the birds are from Inkylicious. Thanks for this challenge.

Week 13 - Turkey Postcard Challenge

Here we are at Week 13 in Darcy's Postcard Challenge, which brings us to Turkey. I have needed to rely on a few search programmes to find out more of this country. Before I start on the pictorial side of my postcard, I think maybe after our first 3 months maybe it is time for me to refresh the story of Hermione and her parents, from the clues previously given. Sorry it is a long post.
The story so far .....................
If you are one of the few people in the world who know nothing about Harry Potter books, you may find this difficult to follow, or hopefully at least interesting. Hermione is a 11 year old girl who begins her witchery education at Hogwart's School. We know early in the book, Harry is an orphan, Ron his friend, has a large family and we frequently meet his parents Mr. Mrs. Weasley, however,  Hermione, the main girl in the story, her parents, as far as I recall are not mentioned in any of the books, so I wanted to create a family for her. It seems her parents are travelling the world, for they send her a postcard every fortnight from wherever they are. In turn Hermione, who of course, most of the time is in her boarding school, can not travel, but her Father sent her a huge bag of foreign postcards for her to use, with a packet of foreign envelopes to use as was needed.  In one post Hermione commented, 'No one will ever find me here.' Since the early days, they now use the Owl Post, but they still need to use the appropriate country's stamps in case they are intercepted.  Herminione's parents are Muggles, in other words, non witch/wizard, ordinary people without the gift. In another post Hermione commented how she found it hard sharing with a large class of pupils, so different to having a tutor.  Mrs. Grainger commented in Belguim how her wedding dress had been made with Bruges lace. (very expensive). Hermione has expressed curious interest into why her parents are travelling the world, she suspects it has something to do with her magical powers. Her mother has said she will explain all later.
Her father has spoken to the Annual Conference Meeting of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Switzerland and a local committee in Israel. The postcard from Canada gave a huge hint, "We learnt so much in Wales, to help us in our search, to secure your future, we can stay another week in Canada. Hermione and her grandmother in half term popped over to Amsterdam to visit some old family friends. ....................................the story continues.
Turkey, is an ancient country with some amazing and surprising facts, if you want to know more go here.
My postcard is a collage of some of the information I found.
The background is of a Turkish carpet. The Turks, introduced coffee and cherries to Europe, they gave the Dutch tulips. St. Nicholas, Santa Claus was born in Patara, Turkey, 70% of the world's hazelnuts are grown in Turkey, The Orient Express exclusive train ran from Paris to Constantinople (now Istanbul) from 1833 - 1977. Istanbul is the only capital in the world which stands between two continents- Europe and Asia.

Thanks to everyone who visits my postcard challenge, I hope you enjoy reading of Turkey, as much as I have.I always read and appreciate your comments. I again look forward to our next destination where no doubt I will learn even more of another country. I continue to enjoy visiting you all, but I'm sorry if I don't leave a comment, mostly it is because I can't cope with the verification which thinks I'm a robot.

Spring has Sprung at CD Sunday

Perfect timing for Spring has Sprung over at CD Sunday Challenges, isn't the weather just amazing. We in the North of England, actually missed a winter as we know it, so this could even be our summer. I haven't as yet spotted any butterflies but they surely will be out and about soon. The background of the card is a distressed sheet form Paint Fusion by Sheena Douglass. The main topper panel of butterflies is from Maria G. Designs which were bought on Ebay. The 3 additional butterflies and the sentiment are from Lyndsay Mason Tattered Butterflies, I hope these are allowed as embellishments. I struggled for a while for this one, not having the right CD's, but I dug deep and found a few old ones, I'd almost forgotten about. Thanks ladies for the challenge, I enjoyed it.

Another Moonlight Card

I have already submitted one card to the Moonlight challenge at Craft a Scene but I thought of another card I wanted to play with so here it is, my second entry. I love Lavinia Stamps, I don't have many but am trying to slowly build up my collection. I think you can make some wonderful scenic cards with them. I started by blending TH Distress Inks, Dusty Concorde, top and sides, Worn Lipstick more in the central area and Broken china at the lower end. The toadstools, bridge and all of above are from Lavinia, the foliage at the front is a mixture of various stamp makers, Elusive Images and Paperartsy. The moon has glitter on one side and the pixies are collecting moon dust to sprinkle around before the full light of day. thanks for looking and for your comments, which are always appreciated.

New Life/New Beginnings

This being our last week of our Spring theme at Make My Monday, our challenge is for New Life or New Beginning,. this leaves many options open for a spring card. Please do take a look at the blog for the DT have made some super cards to inspire you. I decided on a New Beginnings, with a wedding congratulations card. I thought maybe a new beginning for either a second marriage or it could be even suitable for a civil partnership wedding. My touch of spring are the new branches bearing fruit and the small white flowers.
The heart stamp is from Chloe Stamps. The sentiment is one from my stash, identity unknown. Your Spring, Spring cards last week were fantastic, I greatly look forward to seeing your last interpretation of our Spring Theme, which has given us all a fresh outlook leading into a beautiful beginning of spring over the last month.

Spring Is In The Air - FSC

It is Spring is in the Air time over at the Fashionable Stamping Challenges for two weeks. Please pop over to see the amazing talented work of the DT. We do have a regular sponsor, who provides us with a prize each challenge for the winner, we also have a Top 3 chosen by the DT. I decided to make my card a little distressed looking, a little worn and ready for a new season - Spring. I coloured my main card with Worn Lipstick Distress ink. Stamped all over with a leaf background stamp, using Peeled Paint D.I. A torn and crumpled sheet of copy paper, coloured with Old Paper and Antique Linen DI. Various stamps used, the main one from Dimensions. From my prepared stash of papers with Moonglow painted onto them, to give some bling, placed behind a piece of mesh, which has been tied with twine. a few flowers and leaves added. I also add a few feathers, from my stash. If you want feathers like these the best place to get them at a fairly cheap price is to go to a fishing tackle shop. I had a great time looking at your Bingo cards, and am of course looking forward to checking out your Spring cards. Most of all have fun.