Saturday 4 June 2016

The great outdoors and a few more garden flowers


Good morning to you all, can I first start by apologising for my lack of blog activity this week, we have had internet issues and limited connectivity and e.mail and as a result my visits have been somewhat hampered. Hopefully all will be sorted within the next few days and normal service resumed.


It's time for our new challenge at Allsorts where Tracy has chosen the theme of  The Great Outdoors. Our sponsor is Scrappers Delight and Sizzix.

No secret I enjoy making scenes, especially with Pan Pastels so am in my element with this theme and have two shares. The one at the top had a rather large masked sun and a background created with Pan Pastels and a piece of torn paper to create the hills. I then stamped the bunnies which come from two different Chocolate Baroque stamp sets and Penny Black birdies which I stamped three times and extended the wires with a fine line pen. I added a few stamped CB leaves and coloured them with Spectrum Pencils.


For this one I used a mixture of Sheena, Clarity and Art Impression stamps, stamping the all with black archival and the adding colour with a mixture of Pan Pastels and Spectrum pencils. I'm not actually over happy with the colours, the green is a tad too bright I feel and did intend making another but time got the better of me.

I hope you will join in this weeks challenge and do have a look at the inspiration from my teamies.

And as this weeks theme it all about the Great Outdoors it seemed only appropriate that I share a few more photos of the gardens as everything looks so lovely at the moment, amazing given how cold it's been this last week.

We bought this digitalis from a specialist garden center in Suffolk, such an unusual colour

A bit of allsorts in this bed including some very early cornflowers and Sweet Williams which always remind me of my Granny's garden which was full of traditional cottage garden flowers

I love Phenstemons, these came fro the same Suffolk garden center as the Digitalis above, you don't seem to see them that often but I do hope they make a comeback into the cottage garden

OK, that's about it for now, hopefully the Albertine Roses over the pergola's will be in bloom very shortly and I will share some photos. One of the ladies who visited my last garden photos said the gardens must keep me very busy..............so I had better say it's hubby they keep busy at weekends. I used to love gardening but now am unable to do the bending and the best I can offer by way of help is an hour or two on the tractor cutting the grass - but I do enjoy that, especially on a sunny day, usually followed by a few Wagtails who seem to love hopping around on the freshly cut lawns. 

Happy weekend.

48 comments:

Crafting Queen said...

Wonderful cards and I love the photos of your flowers. We got a great behind the scene tour of the animal hospital yesterday, it was amazing. Have a great weekend.

aussie aNNie said...

Stunning and refreshing flowers, the colours are just beautiful. Fabulous creations and love the scenes for the Great Outdoors.xx
{aNNie}

Mervi said...

Fabulous scenerery cards Brenda!
I have a lot of Sweet Williams here at the cottage, they are from my old home yard.
Not yet blooming, we have our garden lilacs on their bests now. We had a truly hot week, waiting for some rain;-))m

Stamping Bubbles said...

Good morning Brenda. Two beautiful cards today, I love the background of the first one. Your garden looks stunning. How I wish I had a garden big enough to drive a tractor around!!
Enjoy your weekend
Lesley

Tracy said...

These are fabulous, and so perfect for my theme, thank you. The scenes are brilliant. Love your garden shows, your garden looks to be truly blooming.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Glennis F said...

Very clever scenic cards, The results are great.

Fikreta said...

love all photos
so pretty flowers
and very beautiful card
Bad Kitty's Craftroom

Helen said...

Morning Brenda! the garden is looking fabulous - and you had some sun!! I went to Kew yesterday where the flowers were also looking fab - but no sun... did take over 250 photos though! The card is gorgeous.

Wendy L said...

Gorgeous cards and gorgeous plants Brenda. xxx

Pamellia said...

Beautiful cards Brenda, you sure do work magic withe stamps! I am just loving your garden photos! I don't have any plants outside yet, so it's nice to see such a stunning variety! You have a lovely yard. hugs :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful flowers and cards!!!
Hugsss, Gaby

Desire Fourie said...

Woooow Brenda your garden is a wonderful colour explosion and your photos gorgeous. Off course your creations are once again a feast for the senses xxx
Hugs Desíre {Doing Life}

Craftyfield said...

Bless the hubby for his garden efforts! What a fabulous garden, must be lovely when hot and sunny... soon maybe!
Both your scenes are lovely, not sure the green trees are problematic. Enjoy your weekend!xx

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Big congrats to your hubby for this corner of paradise, he is really a magician!! Your photos always stunning me with all these magnificient plants!! I'm in love with your garden!!! It's a great inspiration!!
Lovely scenery cards, your makes with pan pastels are always a joy for the eyes!
OOOps... Ho scritto in inglese! Scusami, ormai ci sono abituata :D
Abbi una felice giornata, nel tuo splendido paradiso! Abbracci!

Lau W said...

Love your cards, always super scenes !
Your garden is magical, so nice flowers and colors !
Have a fab week-end, here it's grey again but no rain oufff !
xx

jackiescrafts said...

Your garden looks a delight Brenda and your cards are lovely too.
Sorry not to have visited for a while but our daughter is visiting from Canada so crafting and blogging has very much taken a back seat.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend
Jackie x

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Lovely outdoors all around B. Can't believe how gorgeous your flowers are, I used so see some of these down south but not here, Tis too warm and humid for them, but thank you for sharing wonderful creations too boot!
Shaz in Oz.x

Theresa's Studio said...

Lovely garden ....what beautiful flowers! Love the cards too.

Unknown said...

Just stunning scenic cards and your garden is just so beautiful!!
Lucy x

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Two lovely inked and stamped scenes Brenda which you do so well. Lovely pictures of your glorious and colourful garden too. Such an inspiration to you I'm sure when you are crafting to look out at such a beautiful scene.
Lorraine

Mummylade said...

You are so lucky to have the garden in such bloom already. Have a lovely weekend.

D K Crafts said...

Hi Brenda, two very beautiful cards and your garden looks amazing. Donna

CdeBaca Crafts Gallery said...

Beautiful flowers and cards as well..thank you for sharing!

Sarah said...

Beautiful scenic cards Brenda, particularly the rabbits as we have many visitors sunning themselves on our lawns at the moment, even with Suzybdog wandering about!! xx

Sandma's Handmade Cards said...

Two lovely cards Brenda and your garden is looking stunning. Isn't it lovely when everything starts to bloom. Take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend. Crafty hugs, Sandra x

KarinsArtScrap said...

wow gorgeous card and flowers Brenda.
Gr Karin

cuilliesocks said...

Hello Brenda, I'm loving your post with your gorgeous photos of your garden, what colours and your two cards are marvellous, lovely scenes and your compositions are brilliant, fabulous colouring too,,Kate x

Lorraine said...

Two gorgeous scenic cards Brenda, and your garden looks fabulous.
Lorraine x

Fliss said...

Really gorgeous scenic cards Brenda and great use of the Pan Pastels. Stunning flowers too and not many to be seen down here yet apart from roses whih are just beginning to bloom.
Hope you're enjoying the weekend.
Fliss xx

Joan said...

Fabulous flowers Brenda, ours are nowhere near as advanced as yours, foxgloves are just starting to show a bit of colours ( I love that one of yours , the specialist one I bought last year has disappeared} I have quite a few Penstemons, one of my favourite flowers, not even showing buds yet, its our cold North Yorkshire! Back to your cards, i love them both, you do the most amazing scenes.
Joan x

Kathleen said...

Two totally gorgeous cards Brenda, the scenes are superb and I do so love the black on the beautiful coloured backgrounds.
A fabulous array of flowers too.
Enjoy what's left of the weekend.

Kath x

crafty-stamper said...

You have a beautiful garden and I love the foxgloves used to have quite a few-love both the cards great silhouette stamps and love the pan pastel colouring -hope your internet gets better we have had a couple of days with it on and off too
Carol x

rachel said...

two stunningly beautiful cards Brenda - and wow - those foxgloves look amazing! Really beautiful! A certain parcel is sitting looking at me but still I sit on my hands!!!! Roll on Tuesday! Big hugs rachel xx

Barb said...

Two beautiful scenes Brenda and both very different. Lovely photos of your garden. Those digitalis look very special. Barbxx

McCrafty's Cards said...

Both cards are beautiful Brenda, you always create such beautiful scenes, and those flowers are all beautiful your Garden must look a picture
Kevin xx

Donna Ellis said...

Your magic extends to your magnificent Gardens. Such vivid colors and beautiful petals shapes. We don't have anything that even remotely resembles your incredible flowers Thanks for sharing your photos . Brenda, your card designs are beautiful scenes and lovely Silhouettes. Thanks for the inspiration! Xxoo 😀

Ellibelle said...

Such wonderful scenes you created! I've only used my pan pastels set twice - and I agree, they are so much fun for scenic cards. I still need lots of practice and they aren't mixing as nicely as I had hoped, so I will probably end up buying a few of the tints and shades to make it easier. Might have been better after all to get the landscape set...
Your flowers are so pretty!

Robin said...

Both beautiful cards! I love those birds! Your flowers are so gorgeous!!!! What a wonderful garden you have! Hugs, Robin

scrappymo! said...

Two more great cards. I must tell you that the second one looks so much like a scene fromthe Okanagan. That is our semi arrid area of BC. IT is where all the soft fruits are grown and is also our wine country. Your scene looks like looking across Okanagan lake from Peachland. I lived din that area for about 10 years and think it is one of the most beautiful areas of BC

Your second card is such a sweet scene. You excel at creating scenes!

Sally H said...

Wonderful cards and beautiful photos! Your foxgloves are so beautiful! Only the most common variety in my garden. I love to see the bumblebees visiting them

Shirley said...

Two gorgeous scenery cards Brenda and the flower photos from your garden are stunning. Sadly I am like youself no gardening for me nowadays and yet once upon a time it was my passion.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

Greta said...

What a gorgeous garden you have, Brenda--cheers to hubby! 2 fabulous cards, but being a bunny lover I'll choose the first as my favorite! Love how you do scenes!

Tinka's paper wonderlland said...

Wow, what amazing flowers!!
Great card to!!
♥Hugs Valentina♥

Berina RGA said...

Beautiful cards!! I love seeing your scenery cards with pan pastels. The flowers in your garden are beautiful!!
-Berina
Moxie Craftie

SewPaperPaint said...

Oh Brenda, I love these gorgeous scenes, both in your garden and on paper! <3

Chiara said...

Che fiori meravigliosi! E anche i tuoi lavori! La card che preferisco è la seconda. Davvero bellissima.
Chiara

ALI said...

Beautiful cards and gorgeous flowers.

Merry said...

More terrific photos of all the flowers in your garden. Thanks for sharing as I love seeing all the different colours. As always some wonderful scenes on your cards.