Saturday 27 June 2015

Blue as the Ocean



Good morning, time for another challenge at Allsorts and this week Helene has chosen the them of 'Blue as the Ocean' which can be interpreted through the colours, water and I am sure you will think of lots of other ways of using the theme. Our sponsors are Stamp Addicts

One of our son's is a keen surfer, in fact when I wrote this up and scheduled a few weeks ago...............nothing like getting ahead.......... he was surfing the waves in Costa Rica, so when I saw these new stamps from Sheena I had to buy them as I am fast running our of idea for his Birthday cards with the only other 'grown up' surf board stamp I have. 

I inked the stamps with archival sepia and heat embossed with details clear then coloured in with Spectrum Noir pencils. I cut out the larger surf board and placed it at the front of the card along with some shells and netting. Then matter the whole piece onto an embossed panel.


My second card is using some of the new 2015 Christmas stamps from this weeks sponsor Stamp Addicts and is one of several DT pieces I have made for them using this and some of the other new stamps. As the stamps are all Christmas ones I have gone with the colour of this weeks theme and started with stamping several of the snowflakes and stars from the Stars of Wonder set using versamak and heat embossing with detail clear powder. Next I spritzed with two shades of blue Dylusions and pearl mica spray which gives a resist finish over the embossing. The Poinsettia is stamped six times on a piece of card sprayed with the same inks, cut out and decopaged, and fixed into the card with some ribbons and a Stamp Addicts sentiment cut in half to make two pieces.

It's my Birthday today and although I am a bit past wanting to celebrate them and would be quite happy with a quiet glass or two of something with bubbles, that's not an option as later today we have a Birthday party for our Grandson with whom I share this special day. About 40 family are coming and a 'grown up' bouncy castle is booked so I will sneak on there at some point...................and I can assure you..............are you listening Zoe................this time there will be no repeats of last years party when unbeknown to me some photos of my bouncy castle adventure somehow made their way to Facebook.

 Happy weekend all.

60 comments:

Stamping Bubbles said...

Hello Brenda
Many happy returns. I hope you have a lovely day with your family. A bouncy castle - how wonderful - enjoy. I look forward to the pictorial evidence!!!
Great cards today. Men are always so tricky to make for and your first card is brilliant for most males. I love the Christmas card too - blue is so elegant for Christmas and a good alternative to traditional red and green.
Have a great day - I hope the sun shines.
Lesley

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Brenda! Gorgeous cards! I love especially the netting and the sea shells in your sea card. :)

Hugs,
Hanne

KandA said...

Happy Birthday Brenda. So glad the weather has changed for the better and I hope you have a really wonderful day xx

Zuzanna Magdalena said...

Great interpretation of the ocean:) i like it very much.

coldwaters2 said...

Love that beach scene Brenda it looks very inviting, the blue Christmas card is quite spectacular the colour of blue is gorgeous, love them both.
hugs
lorraine x

Marianne said...

Happy Birthday, Brenda. I sense you are quite relieved that the party is for your grandson rather than you. I do hope that Zoe is willing to abide by your wishes this year and I hope you'll have a wonderful day.
Your beach scene is very pretty. I bought the full collection of SN pencils last year, and although I haven'te played with them nearly enough, I'm finding they give me more control than other colouring mediums. I also love your blue Christmas card. Who would have thought that poinsettias would look so lovely in blue?
Marianne x

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness I love the beach card! Those shells and netting look brilliant!
Your blue floral card is so stunning too!
Oh yea Brenda on penny B & more challenge do the things with wings have to be stamped as my last card is stamped but the butterflies are punched?
Lucy xx

Joan said...

Two lovely cards Brenda, love the blue Christmas one. Don't be a spoilsport, let's all see you on the bouncy castle! I'd love to have a go on one but I'd need my Tena pants on LOL

Joan x

Pamellia said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Beautiful cards Brenda, love seeing the hot summer beach sitting beside the cool frosty winter card, what a contrast!! Love em both! Hope you have a laughter and love filled day today! hugs :)

Sharon said...

Happy Birthday! Enjoy the bouncy castle!!
Sharon x

walchowDesign said...

First of all, Happy Birthday to you and wishing you a wonderful day, Brenda! A great inspiration from your son with this making of the water theme card, Brenda! Lovely element with the shells and the fish net! I am sure he will love it.

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Hi Brenda, Happy Birthday, I hope you are enjoying the joint celebration. Your designs are beautiful, love the blue Christmas ! Cheers, Shirleyxx

AnyOldCraft said...

Happy Birthday Brenda.
I hope you have oodles of fun especially with the bouncy castle.
Happy Birthday also to your grandson :)
Beautiful cards as always.
How do you find the Spectrum Noir pencils for blending and colouring ?
I am looking to get some new coloured pencils and am leaning towards the Spectrums at the moment.

Fikreta said...

dear Brenda first I want to wish you best birthday!
I hope that you will have a great time on party.
your cards ae amazing
very nice coloring
big hugs

Jane said...

Happy birthday dear Brenda...have fun celebrating with your grandson. Its a perfect day. Love both these cards but especially the surf scene x

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

I haven't understand all your words, but I have read that today is your Birthday, so I wish you a Happy Happy Birthday, Brenda!
The first card for your son is wonderful, it seems to feel the perfume of the sea! Love the seashells and netting details! The second one is so vibrant with these blue tones, just amazing!!! Love the hot embossed snowfalkes and the poinsettias with the gorgous bow!
Have a great day!
Alice

Wendy L said...

Gorgeous cards Brenda, great stamp on the first one, xxx

aussie aNNie said...

Two beautiful cards Brenda and love the poppy one below.xx

Craftyfield said...

Happy Birthday Brenda! Hope you have a great time celebrating with the family.
Love your scenic surf card, the finishing touches are great and the stamps are lovely. Blue is a great choice of colour for Christmas cards, I am so bored by the red and green!
xx

ALI said...

Beautiful stamping, love the scene and the flowers.

Mervi said...

Stunning cards! Have a happy party.
Thanks for the card I received, it's lovely;-))m

Sandma's Handmade Cards said...

A very 'Happy Birthday' to you Brenda. I hope that you've had a wonderful day shared with your family and friends. I'm really pleased that the weather's been kind to you on your special day. As always, your card are beautiful and a joy to look at. x

Sarah said...

These are fabulous cards and your son is going to be mighty impressed I shouldn't wonder!! Happy Birthday to you and I hope you have a fabulous time on the bouncy castle!! xx

rachel said...

Happy Birthday Brenda - hope you've had a wonderful day - and a few bounces on the castle lol! Love your makes - both fabulous - hugs Rachel x

Glennis F said...

Have a very happy birthday Brenda - it is also my eldest grandson's birthday too.
The surfing card is a brilliant one, just perfect, and I love the Christmas one too. A very pretty colour

Kathleen said...

A very Happy Birthday to you Brenda, although it may be a tad late by the time you view this. Hope you have had a lovely day.

Two gorgeous cards and what a great card for your son, perfect in every way.
The blues and the flowers are gorgeous on the second card, fabulous background too.

Kath x

Sue said...

Happy Birthday Brenda, I hope you are having a lovely day and enjoying your celebrations.
Your cards are gorgeous. The image on your first card is fabulous and your blue card is so beautifully designed.
Sue xx

KT Fit Kitty said...

Very pretty cards, Brenda! I particularly like the beach one - your shells are such a nice detail. The blue Christmas card is lovely too! Happy Birthday and have fun in the bouncy castle LOL!

McCrafty's Cards said...

Two wonderful cards Brenda, I love the summer scene on the first card and the beautiful blue poinsettia on the second
Kevin xx

Robin said...

Such a lovely beach scene and that Christmas card is gorgeous! Hugs, Robin

Rhonda Miller said...

I love the beach scene on the first card. Those flowers are beautiful and such a pretty color of blue.

Jackie said...

Two very different but equally wonderful cards Brenda.
Have a lovely birthday :o)
Jackie xx

Astrid Maclean said...

Stunning cards like always Brenda, beautifully done, both of them!!

Pat said...

Two beautiful cards Brenda, love the surfing one and the second has lovely colours. Belated Happy Birthday, hope you had a wonderful time with your family and friends.

Pat xx

Unknown said...


thank you

سعودي اوتو

Paper Profusion said...

Wishing you a most happy birthday Brenda and a wonderful year ahead. I'm sure your son will love your first card - perfect stamp! I've started into Christmas too - your second card is gorgeous. Nicola x

Unknown said...

Hallo liebe Brenda,
deine beiden Karten könnten unterschiedlicher nicht sein,die eine sommerlich frisch und die andere ganz im Zeichen von Weihnachten,ich mag beide sehr,hab noch einen schönen restlichen Sonntag,
glg ulrike

Mrs.B said...

Happy Birthday Brenda, hope you had a wonderful day - I would love to see photos of you on the Bouncy Castle!
Love the 2 cards, - I'm sure your son will love his and the Christmas card is gorgeous.
Avril xx

mags said...

Gorgeous cards Brenda. Happy Birthday too and hope you had a wonderful day celebrating with family and friends.
Mags
x

cebelica said...

Happy, happy birthday Brenda (I'm being fashionably late with my wish lol). I hope you had a wonderful day with your family! The bouncy castle sounds awesome! Quite a shame there won't be any pics of your "adventure" on it. ;) He he.

Your cards are wonderful. I'm sure your son loved the surf one. You were really lucky to get those stamps.

Way to go for already making Christmas cards. I keep saying I will start making them, but then my mojo always wanders at completly different direction.

Have a wonderful day!
Hugs! xx

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Happy Birthday Brenda! I hope you have the most fabulous day and enjoy your bouncy birthday treat too.
Two fabulous cards also today, both equally lovely in their own right but so very different from each other too.
Lorraine

MaryH said...

Brenda, Happy Birthday! (We seem to share a birthday...mine is the 29th as well...and I'd just as soon skip the number of years as well). I'm loving both of these very different cards. The netting and shells on #1 really complimented that ocean theme, and adding the extra surfboard over the gauze net created so much dimension to an already pretty scene. #2 is just lovely, and of course you know I appreciate the sprays. Really such a pretty effect with the embossed stars and lovely poinsettias. The distressed brown mat worked so nicely with the shades of blue, and loved how the silvery stars on the ribbon worked with the embossing of the stars on the background. Wonderful cards. Hope your day is just happy & all you want it to be. Hugs & TFS

Berina RGA said...

Belated birthday wishes Brenda 😊 Hope you had a good time in the bouncy castle 😊 both the cards are beautiful!!! Love the second one.. The snow flakes are gorgeous

Jacee said...

First things first Brenda, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, even if a little late! so onto your cards, and as ever your designs are lovely, I'm loving the surfboard one, a fab design!
hugs Jacee
Simply Paper Card Design

Tracy said...

Love the surfing card it's fab. Two very lovely cards Brenda.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Merry said...

Happy belated birthday Brenda. I hope you had a fantastic day and what fun an adult jumping castle….hope you had your fair share of jumps. Thanks for visiting over my way. Life is just so busy. Love both of your cards especially the first card with the bit of fabric behind the surf board….just a lovely layout.

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Happy belated birthday wishes :)
Your newest creations are beautiful as always. I'm sorry that I'm not around very often these days, weeks, months ...

Gerrina said...

I saw these stamp aswell, but no surfer arround so I had to leave this one in the shop :) But it is such a great one and coloured like this it looks beautiful! Hugs, Gerrina

Judith said...

Hi Brenda - i'm on catch up mission here! - my month away has totally interrupted my crafty life its taken another 2 weeks to catch up with myself!! - I just love that Sheena Douglas stamp - a really fab image I just got them myself - think i'm still in holiday mode lol - the colours you have chosen are perfect hugs Judith x

Jennifer Scull said...

sorry I am late to your birthday post, but hope you had a good time at the party! Happy Birthday, a bit belated!
wonderful cards, as always!

Ellibelle said...

Such amazing creations! Love the ocean scene. And beautiful Christmas blues on the second card!
I remember your birthday post from last year where you mentioned the photos :-) , glad you got the bounce castle back again this year, sounds like you had a wonderful day, and how fun that you got to share it with your grandson!

Karen Petitt said...

Stunning and that first stamp is on the wish list as I never get bored of creating and colouring scenes. Perfect for you too with your DS loving to surf - I am sure that will be used very often in future. Now you Christmas card - love that one too and the colour of the blue and the shimmer - just fabulous as always. Hope you enjoyed your bouncy castle, lol, I spent my birthday crashed on the sofa because I did something on Saturday lol! Belated birthday wishes Brenda - I hope you had an awesome day and lots of fun Karen xx

Desire Fourie said...

Belated Birthday wishes Brenda. Hope you had an awesome celebration with your family and friends and that no unsensored photos made it to FB this time lol. Just adore your beautiful creativity as always.
Hugs
Desíre
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

Babs said...

Two Beautiful cards one as adorable as the other, just love the sea view reminds me of Portugal...Happy belated birthday hope you had a lovely day...babs x

Gail said...

Oh Brenda, please let us know how the bouncy castle went!!
Happy Belated Birthday!
Lovely cards!
Hope you're well!
Thanks for popping by!

terriavidreader (IN-USA) said...

Have some fun today and enjoy it to the fullest!!

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Oh, had to smile B. at your mention of the bouncy castle images . just the sort of thing my family would do, too..

I pray your birthday is very special indeed for you... and also a God blessed year of good health ahead, thanks for popping over, dear friend.
Shaz in Oz.x

{Shaz in Oz – Calligraphy Cards}

Linby said...

Love the first card, been debating over getting that stamp as it is Laguna Beach which we went to when in CA the other year. Love the blues of your second card too - different for Christmas.
Lynn x

Jo Channon said...

I am loving both of these gorgeous projects but I think the beach scene has the edge for me! love the way that you have done it. Love it x Jo x

Dora said...

both cards are beautiful!
I hope that you have had a perfect birthday. nice to hear that you have received the card.
kind regards, dora