Sunday 5 April 2015

April in Paris



Time for our monthly challenges at Stamping Sensations and Penny Black and More where our themes are Pretty in Pink and Birthday's.

The top card is my Stamping Sensations piece, it is one I recently made for a commission from our local doctors surgery for a lady who is retiring. The brief was, pink, Paris, bling, handbag, her name but no mention of the 'R' word. It also had to be quite a large card to enable all members of staff to sign it so I went for an 8" x 8" and put a insert made up of three layers.


So my Penny Black Venetian lady is on another trip to Paris ! I used a die to create the arch shaped mask and used Pan Pastels to create the scene using a Sheena stencil and with the mask still in place stamped some trailing ivy and flowers round the top and also sponged some sunrays. I stamped the lady onto white cardstock and again onto some patterned DP and paper pieced her dress, hat and handbag. Some roses, a punched border and die cut ivy and an organza bow. I also made a matching box which you can see in the photo below.


For my Penny Black card I used a real favorite wood mounted stamp 4383K First Dance. The background was created with Brushos, adding liberal helpings of water to the Fabriano card and then sprinkling the Brushos and letting them run and bleed ans I gently twisted the card.

I used distress markers to ink the stamp and spritzed with water before stamping several times and used the same colour marker to ink the sentiment which is from the new PB 30-2997 Sprinkle and Smiles sentiment set. I kept it all fairly simple and just added some ribbons before matting and layering.

I do hope you will join in our monthly challenges, as always we have some awesome prizes to be won.


52 comments:

Marianne's Craftroom said...

Both lovely, I do love the Venetian lady. Happy Easter x

Wendy L said...

Both so beautiful Brenda, xxxx

Mervi said...

Both beautiful cards, so lovely stamps.
Happy Easter to you;-))m

Astrid Maclean said...

Absolutely brilliant cards, both of them, but it's the top one that really jumped out at me.... I adore how you used the Sheena stencil with these clever sun rays above and the paper pieces lady fits perfectly.

Happy Easter, hope you'll have a wonderful time!

Sarah said...

What gorgeous pinknesses Brenda and I bet Irene was thrilled!! xx

Stamps and Paper said...

Two lovely cards Brenda...love the paper piecing on your first one

Anne

Craftyfield said...

Brenda I think you've fulfilled your commission brilliantly! Love your Venetian lady...
I don't know how you got the soft pink with your Brushos, I always get dark reds with my powders! The second card has lovely watercolour effects, superb stamping!
Craftyfield xx

Sue said...

Gorgeous cards Brenda.
The retirement card you made is stunning. I love the design and gorgeous detailing.
Your floral card is so pretty and feminine too.
Sue xx

Crafting Queen said...

Two beautiful cards!

Michelle J M said...

Beautiful cards Brenda, especially love the April in Paris, so elegant. Michelle x

Viv said...

2 beauties as always Brenda - adore the PB one - another stamp to add to the wish list - and Fabriano card I need to check out cos my attempts with Brushos never turn out like this!
(purposely staying away from sports pages, radio reports and TV channels whilst I try and forget yesterday's debacle - and try not to panic about Wednesday). x

Sharon said...

They are both beautiful Brenda. I love your venetian lady and her paper pieced dress is fabulous as are the background and embellishments.
Your second is so pretty with a gorgeous stamp,
Happy Easter to you and your family.
Hugs Sharon. x

Pamellia said...

Beautiful Brenda! I love pink so these are right up my alley! Beautiful stencil work on the paris card and the brushos on the second card! Happy Easter! :)

Sally H said...

Two beautiful cards, Brenda! I love them both. The new penny black stamps are rather gorgeous!

Bad Kitty said...

Gorgeous cards
Happy Easter

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Two lovely cards, Brenda! The backgrounds are very beautiful as always, love both the stenciled and the stamped.

Robin said...

These are so stunning! I just love the backgrounds you create! Happy Easter...Hugs, Robin

Mrs.B said...

Two beautiful cards Brenda, love how you've framed the scene for that very stylish lady. Gorgeous colours and stamping on the 2nd too.
Avril xx

Becky said...

WOW! This is stunning.
Have a Blessed Resurrection Day.

ALI said...

B these are fabulous beautiful colours on both.

Shirley said...

Fabulous Brenda I especially love the paper piecing on the lady, gorgeous. Happy Easter weekend to you and your family.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

rachel said...

two beauties Brenda - I so love that Venetian lady stamp! Both are gorgeous though. Big hugs to you and I hope you have had a fabulous Easter! Hugs rachel x

coldwaters2 said...

Stunning cards Brenda very chic and sophisticated the image and colours on both cards are superb,.
hugs
lorraine x

Gail said...

She will love it, it's gorgeous!
Love the sentiment in the second!
Hope you're well!

Whisper said...

Oooo a pair of classy cards - you have more than met your brief for the Paris card and am loving your new stamp too, Luv Sam x

Jennifer Scull said...

my goodness, these are both gorgeous, each in their own special way. :)

Happy Easter!

Bernardine Cuttino said...

Oh my, she is one beautiful lady, I am ready to leave right now to meet her. Fab composition and palette. Apologies for being MIA, I am preparing to leave for Israel in a week. Will catch up when I return at the end of April. Have a beautiful Resurrection Sunday.
Blessings
Berni

Tracy said...

Hi Brenda
Wow gorgeous designs on these cards, and elegant images, such a wonderful inspirational pieces.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Lynne K said...

Two stunning cards, Brenda, but I just love the Paris one! The stencilled background is amazing and the paper piecing is perfect! x

Kathleen said...

Goegeous cards and love the paper pieced Lady, fabulous backgrounds and a gorgeous PB stamp.

Kath x

pinky said...

Stunning cards Mrs b! I love the Paris theme, perfect for the recipient! Hope you had a lovely Easter.

Shylaashree said...

elegant card brenda, the paris bg is awesome

Jackie said...

Very pretty pair of cards Brenda :o)
Jackie xx

aussie aNNie said...

♪♪I love Paris in the springtime♪♪ and will go there one day and just adore both of your cards Brenda, but the Paris one is my fav.xxx{aNNie My Personal Blog}

Stamping Bubbles said...

Two very pretty pink cards Brenda. Loving the fancy bows. Your bow making is working very hard!
I hope you had a lovely Easter.
Take care
Lesley

Linby said...

Love the Venetian lady in Paris! Beautiful second card too x

KarenB said...

Beautiful! My favourite is the chic paper-pieced lady.

KandA said...

Gorgous elegant cards. Love your paper pieced lady but my favourite has to be the second with the amazing PB flower and super colouring xx

Paper Profusion said...

Both look wonderfully pretty in pink. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Nicola x

Patry Ro said...

Amazing cards!! I love these tones!! Regards.

Jacee said...

Two super cards Brenda.
hugs Jacee
Simply Paper Card Design

Silvia(Barnie) said...

These are amazing pieces.

Babs said...

How beautiful are your cards Brenda love them both & thanks for the inspiration...x

Gerrina said...

So late in commenting; had a long-long Easterweekend with the daughter having an extra day af today...
I love the way you used the arch-sponging-stamp combination! And the flowers on the second card are so beautifully watercoloured! (can see you are totally in making bows :) ) As allways such a great pleasure to look here and get inspired! Hugs, Gerrina

susiestacey said...

Two very pretty in pink cards, the Paris scene is stunning and the venetian lady is just perfect for paper piecing too - love it x Susan x

Ellibelle said...

These are both stunning, and gorgeous colors. I was going to say my favorite one is the second one, but had another look, and they are really both equally beautiful!

Sarn said...

Really gorgeous work. Particularly like the Paris one . xxx

Unknown said...

These are just stunning!! I adore the Paros scene!
Lucy x

Merry said...

These cards are stunning. I especially love the scene you created on the Paris card.

Merry said...

These cards are stunning. I especially love the scene you created on the Paris card.

scrappymo! said...

Two beautiful cards...my fave is the second...it has such an lovely arty feel...beautiful colours and stamped with a lovely feeling of abandon!

Shirley said...

Both stunning cards Brenda as usual. I would never have thought about putting a triple inner into a card before. What a great idea to give more people room to sign it. Thanks for that tip.

Shirley