Thursday 1 July 2010

Ultimate Floral Fantasy

My first post in almost a week, don't think it's ever been that long but I just have not been up to blogging, crafting or anything much at all since last week. Probably predictably due to my lack of immune system I had problems after my mouth op last week and despite antibiotics the infection went rampant. Weekend in hospital and the result is that I am utterly shattered and feel less than human......whatever human may be.

And on top of all that, Bernie had to have an emergency op Monday for an ulcerated eye. St Bernard's are prone to eye problems, but this all happened so quickly and he was sent to the Animal Health Trust at Newmarket........that is one amazing place with some of the top guys in the veterinary world. One of the Labs and Dobies were treated there a few years ago and they did a fantastic job on them both, I can't praise them enough. Bernie came home yesterday.......can you visualise a St Bernard size buster collar ?

So a dilemma deciding how to deal with today's postings as being the first of the month it's a new challenge at Stampalot and also the launch day of our Penny Black at Allsorts challenge. So please forgive me everyone, but it's all loaded into this post which might even make it easier for all you peeps to read what is going on. Here is what we have lined up this month:

Stampalot Challenge: Lazy Hazy Summer Days

Penny Black at Allsorts Challenge:
A Burst of Summer Colour

Writing this up I realise the themes are a bit repetitive with me stamped over them........oh dear what a pun, but there are so many ways you can interpret both themes. So please do click on the links and pop over to the challenge blogs and check out the fabulous prizes to be won this month and see all the wonderfully inspirational work the Design Teams have created.

And don't forget to visit both of the fabulous sponsors, Sir Stampalot and Penny Black where you can check out all the latest and best in all things crafty.

I realise that I have gone Penny Black nearly all the way and both cards could fit either challenge, but my first is for Stampalot Challenge using Penny Black 3815J love blush, quite an old stamp but one I use time and again. Roses epitomise a Summers day for me and I think this goes back to my childhood and the wonderful perfume that came from the Albertine climbers my Dad had over arched trellises coming up the front garden pathway.

He used to graft many of his own plants and a few years after I married he grafted a couple of Albertine roses for me and they are still growing in my garden today, a wonderful reminder that Dad is still close to me.

I stamped simply with versafine black onto linen cardstock, embossed with detail clear and coloured with Prismacolor pens and covered with Diamond Glaze. The mat is punched with Martha Stewart round the page 3 dot scallop. The background is repeat stamped and embossed with detail clear with Hero CG179 rose background and coloured with the same pens. Three handmade roses, punched leaves and butterflies and some pearls to embellish.

This card is also my entry for this weeks Ooh la la challenge who's theme is Simply Summer and Secret Crafter who have Strawberries and Cream as their theme.

My second card is for Penny Black at Allsorts and uses another one I adore Penny Black 4036K poppy poem. Poppies being another flower that I adore with their fresh vibrant colours, such a pity that each flowers lasts only a day or so.
I stamped a background using Tim Holtz fired brick and spritzed with water, before stamping the poppy and embossing with detail clear again. I coloured with the same TH ink and bundled sage and peeled paint for the leaves. I stamped the flower heads a few more times, colouring the same way, spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl to shape before decoupaging them. The easel card was cur using Cricut Storybook, welding the shapes in Design Studio. The DP is one of the new Nitwit designs, the swirls are Magenta chipboard spritzed with Glimmer Mist red velvet. Buttons and punched butterflies to finish.

I am entering this card into this weeks Creative Card Crew challenge who would like to see Easel cards and Rosie D's and Everybody Art Challenges who have Summer Birthdays.

As soon as I feel up to it I will be doing my blog rounds, but in the meantime my apologies for being so tardy and sitting on my butt feeling a bit sorry for myself.

36 comments:

Sadilla said...

Hi dear
it really sounds you had a bad few days... I wish you to get better quickly...
your card are both so beautiful...
a big big hug
sadia

Helen said...

Congrats on getting this far then!! Hope you soon feel more "human" to use your words. Love both cards, but the easel card especially (it's the poppy, I love them too).

PinksyDoodles said...

Hi Brenda,
I hope you are starting to feel better. These cards are beautiful!
Hugs, Clare x

pinky said...

Hope you are a bit better today Brenda. Two gorgeous creations, how you do it when you feel so bad I just don't know. Take it easy.
Pinky

Zoechaos said...

Sorry to hear you have had such a miserable time, had just thought you were resting up and of course getting prepped up for today. Being so very popular and busy is great but you do need to look after your health (((hugs))) & poor little Barnie cannot for the life of me imagine how big that coller is but can he get through doors in it? LOL

Beautiful cards as always xx Zoe

Kat said...

Two stunning cards Brenda, I love them both. I love the edging on the roses on the first card - beautiful. My Dad used to have lots of roses in his garden too. And I love poppies too. We have some yellow ones in our garden which just appeared lol! Two great challenges and I really want to enter both.

Kat x

Diane said...

Hope you feel better soon, lovely items shown today.

Babs said...

sorry to hear you have not been to good, Brenda, i know what you must be going through with your mouth, i had something removed from the back of my throat last year, not a nice place to have a opp, hope you soon recover.

Your cards are gorgeous.i dont know where you get your inspiration from, feeling like you must do at the mo
Well done
Babs x

Fleur said...

Hi B. I do hope your on the mend. Two very gorgeous cards. Stunning
Hugz Fleur xXx

chris said...

Hi Brenda, I think you have got every right to sit on your backside, hope you are feeling a little better but it really doesnt sound like it.
your cards are both a picture of gorgeousness.
hugs chris xx

craftymum said...

Gorgeous cards Brenda and i LOVE your roses
Sarah XXX

Lisa Jane said...

Hope you feel better soon Brenda - lovely cards as usual despite all that.
Love the roses
Lisa ;)

Spyder said...

very pretty cards, love your glittery flowers
(Lyn)

Nannieflash said...

Hi Brenda, two beautiful cards, love the flowers on them and the colouring. With love and hugs Shirleyxxxxxx

Claire Phillips said...

Your cards are fabulous Brenda. Big hugs though as you sound like you need them - please take care of yourself! Cheers Claire x

Lou said...

Hi! B so hope you are feeling a bit better, what a poorly time you have had and thinking of you.
Very pretty cards,take care.hugs Lou.xx

Hannapanna said...

Beautiful cards! Love the design papers. Miss you on the design team. Hope you are feeling better. Hugs Hanna

SYLVIA-ANNE said...

Hi Brenda - these are two beautiful cards - love your hand-made roses, and the easel card is gorgeous. I do hope you are feeling much better now - you've certainly had a rough time by the sound of it.
Hugs, Sylvia xxxx

PatR said...

Dear Brenda I just knew something was wrong as it's just not like you to be missing for a week. So sorry to hear you haven't been feeling too good, just hope you get back to your usual upbeat self ASAP.
Love these gorgeous cards but must admit the poppy one is my favorite because like you I love Poppies.
Love, Pat xx

Merry said...

Oh what stunning cards Brenda. I hope you are starting to feel a little better. Sorry to hear that you have been unwell. Also hope the your St Bernard is on the mend. My life is starting to get a bit of normality about it and I am trying to catch up on everyone. Take care.

Anonymous said...

These are both fabulous, how amazing you are!!!

Maarit at Violets Corner said...

Oh, so sorry to hear that you've not been feeling good. I so hope that you you'll get a fast recovery and won't need to go through any more mouth ops.

Love your cards, they are just gorgeous!

Take good care,
warm hugs
Maarit

Tracy said...

I'm hoping now your starting to feel some improvment. Hugs to Bernie!
Fabulous creations and love them both entirely. Loving the shape of the easel card, nice and different.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Sandra said...

Hi Brenda,
sorry, that you're ill, hope you will be feeling better soon.
But even with lack of "inspiration" these cards are absolutely gorgeous.
Hugs Sandra

Sarah xx said...

Oh Brenda, don't apologise for not visiting I hadn't realised that you were so poorly - I hope that you feel better soon? And poor old Bernie, in the wars again, give him a huge huggle from me please?
Your cards are, as usual, stunning. Those handmade roses are so beautiful and I love the overall effect and colours you have chosen. Poorly or no - you are a very clever girl! xxx

lisa said...

Ohhh Brenda. You have been in the wars again. I hope you're feeling much better very soon. The heat doesn't help does it, it makes everyone so tired and lethargic.
Poor Bernie too!!
I love your cards. Those roses are beautiful. The roses this year in the garden are fantastic aren't they. I don't think I've ever seen them so full of flower and I love the fragrant ones. I'm with you on the poppies too.
Have a relaxing weekend and take care of yourself.
Hugs Lisax

Juls said...

2 incredibly gorgeous projects!! Love the colours on the first card, and of course, your gorgeous roses!!!

Love the 2nd card, its so elegant and stylish, and I just Love the dimension you have created on the poppy!!!...

such inspirational work as always!! Hugs Juls

Lynne K said...

Sorry to hear you've been so unwell, Brenda, I really do hope you are much better very soon. How you manage to come up with such beautiful cards under the circumstances I have no idea, but they are both gorgeous. Look after yourself. Big cyberhug coming your way! xx

Mel said...

Hi Brenda, this is yummy, Melx

Nikbee said...

Gorgeous cards Brenda. I'm sorry you've not been feeling well, I do hope you feel better soon.

Nikki x

Lesley Edmonds said...

Oh Brenda poor you and poor Bernie. I really hope that you are both on the mend now.

These cards are just gorgeous!

I love all my poppies coming up but as you say their life is so brief - such a shame.

Unknown said...

two stunning cards, i especially love the second easel card, gorgeous gorgeous flower
Thank you for joining us for a Creative card crew challenge, hope you will join us again next week

love emma xxx

KraftyKoolKat said...

Both are fantastic cards Brenda. Very summery.

Cathy
xxxxx

Liz Corrigan said...

Oh Brenda these are another two amazing cards. The delicate roses and colours of the first one are just so summery. Your second is a great easel card, and like how you have made it using a different shape rather than a square.
Hope Bernie is ok now.
Rosie x

Mervi said...

Hi Brenda! So beautiful flowers! Fabulous cards as always!
Thanks for taking part on my birthday challenge at Rosie D's,
good luck;-))Mervi

Anne said...

Both fantastic summer cards, thanks for joining in at OLL. Hugs x