Sunday 22 July 2018

In the secret garden


Hello everyone, just sharing my post today over at the Chocolate Baroque blog. 

The top card was inspired by our own Secret Garden within our grounds, we created it many years ago and although it has seen changes over the years still hosts an abundance of Cottage Garden flowers and shrubs and recently moved into the twenty first century with the addition of a hot tub. The beautiful flowers on the new Blossom and Grow stamp set are to my mind Hollyhocks which I stamped onto a soft Distress Ink background after first stamping a window from Echoes of Italy Using a stencil I added some brickwork with texture paste which I coloured with acylic paint to soften the whiteness and added a sentiment from the same stamp set.

As most know I don't enter challenges other than the Snippets and Butterfly ones, mainly because my eyes struggle with all the linking, but as I've been invited by blogging buggy Gail I am going to enter the above piece into the current theme of 'Nodoby There' at Lost Coast Designs.


For this one I used black gloss cardstock for the base panels and stamped the images from Captivating Cacti and Scrumptious Succulents using Versamark and brushing over with gold mic powders, leaving to settle for a few moments before brushing off, the assembling the panels along with a bow.


And one from a few months ago that I found lurking unused in my folder. The stamped sets used are Medici Flower in the centre and to the sides Floral Delight and Wish Flower, all were stamped onto Distress Oxide backgrounds, the images bleached out and the glittered.......unfortunately this doesn't show up very well at all in the photo.


There's a new challenge today over at the Snippets Playground so I tought I would get ahead of the game and enter now as chances are I will forget as the week takes over, we still have one of our son's and DIL staying ahead of leaving for their year travelling so crafting time is limited.

This is one of several cards I made for John and Rosie of Limetree Crafts, they are regulars at many of the craft shows selling good quality and value cardstock, card blanks and so on, all the basics we need. Recetly Rosie has launched her own range of stamps and I made some samples for her show boards and new web site. The web site is very new and sells many of the products available at the shows, so do pop over and take a look.

Have a good Sunday all.
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36 comments:

KarinsArtScrap said...

these are gorgeous Brenda like the second one it's so different.

Stamps and Paper said...

Three stunning cards Brenda your black and gold one is very eye catching

Anne

Craftyfield said...

Gorgeous illustration of a secret garden! The black card and mica powder technique gives a striking result, I have meant to try but haven't got around yet! xx

Crafting Queen said...

These are wonderful. I love the textured background on the first card!Have a great week. Hugs anesha

kiwimeskreations said...

Beautiful cards Brenda - love the texture of the brick wall in the 'Secret Garden' card, and the drama of the gold (mica) on black is amazing. Love he triptych style card, and the final floral one is fabulous.
Blessings
Maxine

Gerrina said...

Again you spoil us with a serie beautiful cards! Favorite is the first card for me, although the last came so close (love the bright and bold colours!) Keep cool and as healty as you can! Hugs, Gerrina

aussie aNNie said...

Love them all, but my fav is the last one, fabulous bright and cheery post.x

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

A fantastic collection of cards Brenda. Secret Garden and Hot Tub, sounds like a perfect combination to me.

Sue xx

Fikreta said...

Wonderful cards!
have a nice day
hugs

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Such fabulous array of garden in so different styles, by the delicate and romantic to the elegant vintage and then to the sunny and vibrant one! Love so much all, but especially the last two! The bleach technique is one that I have to try and your card is very inspiring with that unusual shape! The sunny and vivid colours of the last one make me smile and love that fabulous background!
Have a fabulous Sunday!

Donna Ellis said...

Hi, Brenda! Your Secret Garden is amazing! (I think that is one of my all-time favorite stories). Each corner of your garden reveals an entirely new and fantastic take of Mother Nature's inspiration! I especially love your golden night-time corner - the sketch is beautiful, and the gold embossing powder, so elegant! Beautiful! Wishing you a great week ahead. hugs, de

Sarah said...

A hot tub is the perfect addition to a secret garden, no prying eyes and all that, just make sure your fur babies don't take a dip!! This is another fabulous inspirational post. The gold and black is stunning and I am a sucker for pink and green xx

Kathleen said...

Four fabulous cards, all with gorgeous images and designs, each one has special qualities.

Kath x

Liz said...

Beautiful cards, Brenda. I especially love the one in three sections, the curved shape is so effective. xx

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Such gorgeousness here again today Brenda, I particularly love the colours in the last one, I'm sure Rosie was super pleased with it.
Lorraine

Carole Pollard said...

Fabulous designs I've loved looking at them all Sorry I've missed so many of your fabulous cards recently but life just got in the way Love and hugs Carole x

ALI said...

Fabulous cards Brenda, how do you find the time, i'm
such a slow crafter..lol

rachel said...

Stunning makes one and all brenda...i love the idea of a hot tub in your secret garden. Wow...how wonderful. I shall enjoy that thought all evening!!!

Greta said...

So many lovely images which you've made into gorgeous cards, Brenda!

Pat said...

Four gorgeous cards Brenda, love the shape of the third one and the fabulous colours on the last.

Pat xx

Di said...

Fabulous cards Brenda and I adore your snippets one. Such vibrant colours too. Delighted to hear about Limetree having got a website - Mrs A nad I always head to see John at Craft Shows as the quality is excellent and the range is great - not to mention the brilliant prices of course. Must hop over and see what's going on with Rosie's stamps as well.

AND you have a hot tub?! Wahoo - I'll just wrap me cossie in a towel and will be there later this evening - no doubt with a whining little white bear trailing along as well.

Gotta laugh really, I saw Len spending ages making a new hole for a garden parasol earlier on. Looked out of an upstairs window later and it's only shading the bird bath!! He claims it's so prevent any algae from building up - I reckon it's to keep the water at a nice temperature for the birdies drinking and bathing sessions!

Hugs

Di xx

Tracy Welham said...

Beautiful Brenda, the gold and black is so elegant. Creative Blessings, Tracy x

CdeBaca Crafts Gallery said...

Such a lovely collection of cards! Very nice

Diane said...

These are beauitiful Brenda, the black and gold one is so striking and the others are so pretty.

hugs Diane xx

Jennifer Scull said...

So many beautiful cards! There is no way to choose a favorite because they are all special in their own way. :)

Sue said...

These are so pretty Brenda, fabulous use of colour. Thank you so much for joining in with our challenge at Lost Coast Designs, and have a very happy week. Sue xx

Caro´s kreative Welt said...

Hi Brenda, while I was on vacation, you made beautiful cards. I like them all very much.
Big hugs Carola

Laurie said...

really beautiful cards you have made. such attention to detail and such variety in techniques. i love the soft and pretty color palette of your "Let Love Blossom? card! Thanks for joining the Lost Coast Design challenge!

crafty-stamper said...

All gorgeous cards Brenda but really love the fabulous black and gold one
Carol x

Lori said...

Lots of pretty cards, Brenda! Thank you for joining this week's challenge over on the Lost Coast Design's Portal to Creativity.

susiestacey said...

Lots more lovely florals Brenda, the gold on black looks very striking. x Susan x

Dr Sonia S V said...

It is always a pleasure visiting you Brenda..such a beautiful variety of creations ...a feast for the eyes!
Cheers
Dr Sonia

Leanne Harris said...

A super collection here Brenda, all so different to each other with some super backgrounds too, lots of love xxx

Cathy said...

Thanks for joining the Lost Coast Challenge. Lovely flower cards.

ionabunny said...

Beautiful cards Brenda. Love that dreamy secret garden. Thanks for joining the fun at the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity. Hugz

scrappymo! said...

Gorgeous!
Having a wee catch up on your blog.