Sunday 5 October 2014

Flowers all the way



Time for our monthly challenges at Stamping Sensations and Penny Black and More where our themes are 'Warm Autumn Colours' and 'Get Ahead for Christmas'. Plus don't miss the news further down about a great Penny Black candy giveaway next week.

So onto my cards and this post is very much reflective on my Dad who always grew the most amazing Chrysanthemums and won many prizes with them. Gardening was his escape from daily farming and a whole section of the garden was dedicated to Chrysanthemums, as the blooms developed he lovingly covered each in a white bag to protect them from both early frost and rain. As an onlooker it must have been a strange sight but to us all totally normal. The blooms were always at their best in September and October so I always think of them as the Autum months arrive.

Although this Penny Black stamp 4237K Awakening is not actually Chrysanthemums it always reminds me of them.......call it artistic licence, I have used distress inks sage, tea dye and barn door to sponge the background through a honeycomb mask and used the same colour distress markers to repeat stamp the flowers.


And now for the lovely Penny Black Poinsettia stamp Christmas Star 4104K which I stamped and embossed in gold onto a background of Dylusions which I then bleached out and painted with Twinkling H2'0's. The sentiment randomly stamped is from the clear PB set called Christmas Cheer 30-140 and also in the background is some stenciling although I am far from impressed by the stencil. It's a music script stencil from Tando but to my mind it's back to front...........what I mean is the negative and positive elements should have been reversed as the notes just don't show up clearly, I even tried it on a full page and sprayed through it but all you really see are lines, so not convinced of it's usefulness as music !


I also have a second Autumnal card, this one a Chrysanthemum stencil from Imagination Crafts. The background has been randomly stamped with script and corners distressed, then copper paste added through the mask and after removing the mask I flicked gold perfect pearls over the wet paste and heat embossed. The paste resists the heat and makes it bubble and if you dab it lightly with your finger whilst still wet it gives a lovely mottled effect, when totally dry brush off the excess mica and gently buff up.


And just the one more for Penny Black and More using two Penny Black Twirls 40-282 and A Wonderful Christmas 4116H and a Nicecrane Robin for the Victorian Birds collection to which I added some glossy accents to the wing and his red breast ad corners cut on the Cricut. I just wanted to show how these pre coloured images will work alongside favourite stamps for a really quick and easy card.


Finally and at the risk of you all getting bored to tears I would like to very quickly tell you that later this month we are having a great candy giveaway over at Penny Black and More with prizes from Penny Black as well as other goodies to be won. Here is the logo and I would be so happy if you would share it on your own blogs to help us spread the word. And of course join in our challenges this month !

Happy Sunday all.

38 comments:

Mervi said...

Fabulous set of cards, beautiful colours.
Had a lovely crafting meet yesterday, now back to own desk;-))m

susiestacey said...

Gorgeous cards today Brenda you have been so busy. Love the poinsettia one l think it is my fav - the allotment next to mine has half of it growing Dahlia's and they look amazing at this time of year - he also has chrysanthemums in big pots and has moved them into his greenhouses and they are full of tiny buds. I have taken some dahlia tubers from his compost bin so will hopefull have some nice ones next year as l only have half a dozen at the mo, Enjoy the rest of the weekend x Susan x

Sarah said...

What a fabulous selection today Brenda. The autumnal sentiment is so true xx

Stamps and Paper said...

Beautiful cards Brenda lovely autumn colours and great stamping...love your little robin Christmas card

Anne

debby4000 said...

What fabulous cards, hard to choose a favourite they're all so good.
luv
Debby

ellyscard creatief said...

Beautiful cards again.
Blessings,Elly

ALI said...

Breda what a fab selection of cards, I really like the Chrysanthemum one.

aussie aNNie said...

Fantastic creations, Brenda love these most gorgeous images, brilliant design and colours.xx


The Journey is the Start

Whisper said...

Oooo what an amazing collection of cards, and all so different too, Luv Sam x

Sue said...

Such a beautiful selection of cards Brenda. The are all gorgeous, I especially love the poinsettias.
Sue xx

KT Fit Kitty said...

Such beautiful designs, Brenda! I love all of them! The glossy accents really makes the robin come to life! I wanted to pick a favourite card but I couldn't! My goodness, you do lovely work! Wishing you a good day today!

Kelly Lloyd said...

Stunning selection of cards as always Brenda x

Bad Kitty said...

gorgeous cards

Kari said...

Great cards,Brenda! I love all of them!Thank you for having me as GDT!
Have a wonderful sunday and enjoy the autumn days!
Hugs,Kari :)

Fliss said...

Absolutely gorgeous cards Brenda. Really love the Autumn ones as they're my favourite colours and the robin card is so eye catching.
Fliss xx

Sally H said...

four absolutely stunning cards, Brenda! I love them all. I too bought the Chrysanthemum stencil (great minds...) and I LOVE what you have done with it here! Absolutely gorgeous!

Ellibelle said...

These are all beautiful Brenda, pretty colors on each and I love your use of dylusions. Neglected mine for some time, but played with them yesterday and had so much fun!
Hope you enjoy some more sunny autumn days. It's been cloudy and windy here, so unlike our usual sunny autumn days...hope it gets better soon, hate getting out my winter coat in early October.

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh Brenda, your cards are always so inspirational, I love all the different techniques you have used! I am also amazed by the colour combination in the top one, not one I would ever have chosen, but it really works, beautiful!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Brenda all of your cards are wonderful. Cannot decide for a favorite. Love them all.

Jacee said...

What beautiful work Brenda, not got a fave as I love them all!
Hugs Jacee
Simply Paper Card Design

Lorraine said...

A beautiful selection of cards Brenda.
Lorraine x

UTs Hobby Time said...

Stunning work as always. The embossing on the Chrysanthemum card looks fantastic.

Kathleen said...

You never cease to amaize me with your wonderful creations, the images, the colours and the layouts are all fabulous the only thing I am worried about is the sentiment as December can include snow and the scene's it creates can raise a smile or two.

Kath x

Tracy said...

A wonderful selection of cards today Brenda, I love what you did with the nicecrane robin he's worked perfectly with stamps. Lots of inky delight.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Berina RGA said...

fabulous cards!! love the chrysanthemums! very nice...
-Berina
Moxie Craftie

Becca Cruger said...

The impeccability of your work blows me away. Scrolling down, it was just one gasp after another. I especially love the bright colors you've used in the Christmas. It almost gives it this eerie quality. Thanks for sharing!

Jackie said...

What a superb selection of cards Brenda, I certainly would not like to choose a favourite :O)
Jackie xx

Eret said...

Stunning cards, Brenda. Love them all. First card is my favorite. Your multicolor stamping is fantastic and the big bow is so pretty.
Hugs,
Eret

McCrafty's Cards said...

These are all beautiful Brenda I love love love that robin
Kevin xx

MaryH said...

Wow to all these gorgeous cards. I'm especially intrigued with the poinsettia card where you've got the Dylusions background bleached & added to with H20's. It's stunning and wonderful with this poinsettia stamp. The autumn flowers are rich & captivating, and such a good use of that stamped image. Just love 'em all. TFS

MaryH said...

Forgot to mention that I love Nice Crane images...and I like the way you have embellished this already lovely robin.

Gerrina said...

Wow, so great to see how red can be used in so many ways! You gave each card such a own feeling; beautiful! The paste-gold embossed and the first flowercard are my favo's! What a lot of different techniques on your cards! Hugs, Gerrina

pinky said...

What an amazing showcase of stamping mrs B, I am loving those bows and the beautiful colours in the bird.

mags said...

These are all gorgeous Brenda. A lovely selection of cards.
Mags
x

Shirley said...

All these makes are gorgeous Brenda but | especially love Mr Robin.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

Michelle J M said...

Another fabulous selection Brenda, love them all but I think my favourite is the first one. Michelle x

Merry said...

What a variety of cards and lovely memories of your Dads flowers. It must have been a sight seeing a garden of white bags on stems. :-) Love your robin he does work very well with that stamp and I like how you added the Glossy accents.

Anonymous said...

A fantastic range of cards Brenda, I really couldn't choose a favourite! June :)