Sunday 2 June 2013

The Lady of Shalott



Good Morning to all you crafty Peeps, it's the first Sunday of June so time to tell you about our new challenges and at Stamping Sensations it's my turn to choose the theme which is Summer Blooms..........I know I am so transparent and most of you could have predicted that one.........and at Penny Black and More we would like to see CAS creations.

Warning in advance this is a picture heavy post but the top creation was a difficult shape to get a decent photo so I have also done one of each section. I had a vague idea of what I wanted to create for Stamping Sensations which was to use Alfred Lord Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott is some way........I absolutely adore the poem, but with nineteen long verses there was no way I could use it all so I picked out four which I felt matched the photos I had. I also wanted to use my Heartfelt Creations window die as they are our sponsors this month.

Now I know you are probably thinking what on earth does this have to do with Summer Blossoms, well quite a lot actually as there are references to flowers, barley, leaves and so on throughout the poem. For  instance in the first verse which is on the first panel of my card refers to lilies and verse eight in my second panel makes reference to water lilies. 

So I copied and printed out each photo, they are not brilliant copies but I think the slightly hazy finish blends with the tones I have used and placed each behind one of the Heartfelt windows and inked the edges with distress ink Rusty Hinge. Next I printed off the verses onto cream card stock and threw some gold embossing powder on before the ink dried and heated, the gold onto the black ink gave a nice deep gold colour. I cut an arch shape for each section and then randomly stamped with Inkylicious paint background with the same distress ink. Finally I joined the panels with lace, mounted the window panels and decorated with some Spellbinder leaves and lilies made from Ruth's punch and stamp peruvian lily set (links for products in the thumbnails at the bottom on post).

Phew..........it was a labour of love but I really enjoyed making it and I intend keeping it until July for history teacher daughters birthday, so apt as like she she is a lover of poetry.

I would like to enter this card into:

The Hobby House - Anything goes
Bloggers - To die for
Hels challenge - I dreamed a dream


Now for my Penny Black and More DT piece which takes far less explanation. It is one of the samples I made last year for Stampington magazine and have never blogged any of them until now because of exclusivity and so on.

I masked the top and bottom of the reverse side (matt side) of a piece of centura pearl and inked the background with distress inks mowed grass and salty ocean, then stamped with the Penny Black grasses using the same inks, which I also used for the butterflies. 


Here is another one from the same set of four cards using the same ink pads and masking, but this time I stamped and embossed the butterflies with clear powder to give a resist finish before adding the inks.

I would like to enter this card into:

Crafty Calendar - Things with wings

Have a lovely Sunday and I do hope you will join in our challenges this month.

80 comments:

Crafting Queen said...

Wow these are all amazing cards. Have a great Sunday.

Jacqui's little piece of England said...

Wow what a creation Brenda love the shape of your creation and those flowers well!
jacqui x

Von said...

Oh Brenda those butterfly stamps are just so beautiful ! as are the cards you've made :) really would like those !
Von ♥

Jaya Raghuvanshi said...

I am so awestruck!! Beautiful creations!! What beautiful cards!! The way you have used the 'Lady of Shalott'' in your creation is awesome...beautiful cards!! Love them all..

Rossella said...

Good morning Brenda,
Fabulous creations as always. Your First one is absolutely breathtaking,
Rosie x

Victoria said...

So much beautiful inspiration in your post! Your daughter is going to adore the poetic creation - what a marvellous idea! and I lvoe the cards you've posted as well. Simply delightful inkiness!

gwen70 said...

Well I am speechless the Lady of Shallot card Is totally stunning, I could'nt praise it more. The teacher who receives this will treasure it for ever. The butterfly cards are beautiful too especially the first one

Jackie said...

What a stunning selection. The first card is a total work of art and well worth the effort. The other two cards are gorgeous and in my favourite blue/green colour combination :o)
Jackie xx

Ruth said...

A lot of work has gone into the cards form this post, but well worth the effort. They are a credit to you, beautiful as always, Ruth x

rachel said...

gorgeous cards Brenda - the first is a real masterpiece - - and I love the colour choices in the penny black ones - beautiful xx

Julie said...

So much work but well worth it,the result is stunning, I'm sure your daughters teacher will be thrilled. Keep meaning to try embossing in white/clear I treated myself ages ago but never get round to fishing out my heat gun. Happy Sunday! X

pinky said...

Your daughter will adore that card, as will anyone who sees this post today Brenda, its a real piece of work!! Your PB ones are just so delicately beautiful!! Have a lovely day mrs.

Andreja said...

Wau, what a simple and very beautiful cards you made! I like the colour you use :-))
Hugs, Andreja

Beryl said...

Beautiful inky cards Brenda - and lovely soft colours too. The top tag book really is a work of art and I'm sure your daughter will treasure it when she finally gets it.

Marianne's Craftroom said...

I too adore that poem and your card is stunning, gorgeous window shapes. Also love the bottom one, CAS is so difficult I find fussy so much easier.

Sue said...

Absolutely stunning creations Brenda.
The Lady of Shalott card is amazing, such a wonderful design and gorgeous detailing.
Your butterfly cards are stunning, the colours and designs are so beautiful.
Thank you for the inspiration, I hope you have a good Sunday
Sue xx

Marianne said...

Oh Brenda, these are all gorgeous! As soon as a saw the title of your post, I started humming the song by Loreena McKennitt, who adapted the poem to music, and in a brilliant way I might add. If you don't know it, you really need to check it out on YouTube. There's a live recording featuring the last part of her song. Some friends added it to the repertoire of the small folk group I was part of before I moved to Crete. We would get together a few times per month to sing and make music. That's one of the very few things I miss here. But a year ago, I joined several of my musical friends on a short trip to Scotland (near Glasgow) and that was so much fun!
As for your other two cards, I love the delicate green and blue.
Marianne x

Sally H said...

Wow, Brenda! Three stunning creations! I Love the Lady of Shalott, and the way you have presented it is so wonderful! Your CAS creations are also very beautiful, and I do love that colour combo. Gorgeous work!

zub momi said...

These are gorgeous! Love the masking and color combination of blue and green.

Kelly Lloyd said...

Stunning cards Brenda,
Hugs Kelly

Merry said...

Oh wow Brenda, what amazing creations. So much work in you first amazing project and love the colours of the last two cards. Hope your Sunday is a hood one. Mine was a nice slow day, nice to catch a breath. :-)

Lisa Jane said...

ooh la la ..c'est tres magnifique... ( thats for the Parisienne lady in you lol) - that top card is a masterpeace... and the history teacher will be bowled over by it. I have never heard of the poem but will google it .
The last 2 cards are also gorgeous .. i just love the colours and the dragonflies
Lisa x

McCrafty's Cards said...

The Lady of Shalott is stunning Brenda I love everything about it! I like the other two the colours and the butterflies are beautiful
Kevin xx

Lynne K said...

Well, your SS piece is just stunning, Brenda! The other cards are gorgeous too, but I keep going back to look at the Lady of Shalott. I love it! x

Stamps and Paper said...

Lovely cards Brenda..just love your shaped card your finished effect is stunning...pretty butterfly cards also....
Anne

Whisper said...

A simply stunning set of card and thank you so much for asking me to be your PB at Allsorts GD this month, it's an honour to be part of the team for a month, Luv Sam x

AnyOldCraft said...

OMG Brenda WOW !!!!!!!
You have put so much love into the first one and it really does show.
It is amazing. There is so much to look at, way to go you :)
Love the other 2 as well of course. Second one I adore as it has butterflies :)

Paula (PEP) said...

That is absolutely striking & I'm sure your daughter will love it. The touches of lace with the Pre-Raphaelite images coupled with the woodgrain effect of those arches is super. Definitely fits the theme in my head's dictionary.
Your colours for the other two cards are delightful together & I particularly like that second one with the way you reversed the role of the white in the various sections. The overlapping of your dimensional butterfly's wings with the inkied panel ties it beautifully together. The green gems & antennae are a lovely touch.
Paula (PEP)

Lau W said...

Oh wow, gorgeous creations again ! Super work for the first wow !
And the cards with butterflies are so fresh, love them very much !
Have a nice day, here the sun begins to come, ouffff !
xxx

Kat said...

Wow Brenda, these are just stunning! The first one is certainly a labour of love and your daughter will love it. And I just love the vibrant colour you've used for the other two. Just so fresh and bright and the butterflies are gorgeous.

Lovely day here, hope it is where you are too.

Take care,

Kat xx

slimwitch said...

I love the window card on the top. It's soooooo inspiring.. very creative and brilliant work!

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Brenda these are fantastic pieces, all of them. You're very creative :)

chillin with Quillin said...

your cards are really gorgeous specially the first one ,love it !!!!
Paula

Gail said...

Holy Moly Brenda!
Great projects!

Nicecrane Designs said...

You are really talented,,,,,OMG I am falling in love with your Gothic arches,,,,,,creation,,,,,,,,,do you like to join in my DT?,,,,,,,,,,,,,think it........my friend,Thanks for your comments at May ' s blog .She wa working with my colorful Birds,, feel free to visit my store and choose your favorite product for free,,,, e-mail me to nicecrane@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

OMG BRENDA, I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE your Lady of Shalott card!!! Its totally one of my favourite poems too, and I can read off quite a bit of it by heart! A complete masterpiece! I hope you display it somewhere special, or send it on to someone who'll appreaciate it!

I've been a lover of poetry since Kindergarten really. I distinctly remember my Kindergarten teacher reading us "The highwayman"... Looking back possibly an odd choice for ones so young, but I definitely credit her enthusiasm to start me onto such wonderful works!

Back to your cards, Loving the beautifully bright green and blue dragonflies and butterflies! So effective with the white!

Hope you have a great weekend xoxo

walchowDesign said...

stunning piece of work, Brenda! You have brought Lady Shalott to the limelight with all your exclusive creations! We have blue sky today and hope yours too!

May said...

My Word Brenda... You have been busy...A labour of love on the first card... AmAzing your daughter will love this... & the other two are so fresh looking... Love the butterflies... Happy Sunday! Hugs May x x x

SYLVIA-ANNE said...

OMWord Brenda - LOVE LOVE LOVE the Lady of Shalott project. It truly is a labour of love, but so worth the time and effort. The images are beautiful, and what amazing detail too.
The butterfly cards are so pretty - CAS at it's best!
Hugs, Sylvia xx

Ellibelle said...

What amazing creations Brenda. So many beautiful details on the first one, and the whole design is simply stunning. And of course I absolutely love your Penny Black pieces, beautiful color choices and perfect CAS designs.

Anonymous said...

A gorgeous creation and thank you so much for joining us at the Hobby House Challenge
Hugs Kate xx

Pat said...

Two lovely creations Brenda, but the first is absolutely fantastic love all the elements and I am sure it will be appreciated by your daughter.

Pat xx

Vivi Morais said...

Really wonderful these cards!! Congrats!!

Linby said...

wow the first piece really looks like a labour of love, must have taken ages, but worth it as it is so effective.
Beautiful CAS for the PB challenge.
Lynn x

jackiescrafts said...

Love these cards they are so pretty

Jackie x

Words and Pictures said...

What a wonderful make the Lady of Shalott piece is - beautifully done, Brenda! And I love the fresh pretty look of the other cards too...
Alison x

Lorraine said...

Stunning cards Brenda. The top one is amazing. The shape, images and design...just fab!! the butterfly cards are so pretty and I love the colour scheme.
Lorraine x

Mummylade said...

absolutely gorgeous creations!

Marianne said...

Well I think there is not much to say anymore. Everything has been said LOL. I too love your Lady of Shalott creation. It's sooooo gorgeous. And the two cas cards are awesome with great colouring!!
xxx Marianne

Mervi said...

Great project the first one, wow!
Love the butterfly card, so stylish.
We have enjoyed nearly hot wheather and it goes on this week - only negative thing is that all the insects have come, I have several nasty bites - and on my face and neck!
Warm greetings;-))m

Dora said...

beautiful three cards to see! the first one is a stunning creation. wow!
and the others have you made also very well. stamping and colouring!
greetings

Mickymunchkin's little space said...

Wow, how beautiful is that!!! I also had to think of Loreena McKennit straight away, very haunting song that my daughter and I have sung together already, too... What I find really great is that I haven't seen anything like your piece of work yet, it's a wonderful idea and very well done.
Hugs,
Mickymunchkin

Claire said...

Wow Brenda, what gorgeous cards. You never fail to inspire with your beautiful projects. Those butterflies are stunning and I love your Lady of Shalott project, so much detail, it has a really dreamy quality
Claire xx

susiestacey said...

Gorgeous cards Brenda, love the one with the PB flowers in the background - never thought of using it like that. Hope you have had a good weekend, take care x Susan x

nnalorac said...

Beautiful creations Brenda, I so love the second, the colours, butterflies and beautiful flower scene is so delightfu. Carolxx

catherine said...

This is an outstanding project you have done Brenda. Just so beautifully put together and embellished. I'm sure the teacher will be so pleased with it. Your card is beautiful too and the colours are gorgeous
x catherine

Phi said...

Wow, love your Penny Black and more piece. Those dragonflies are beautiful.

Unknown said...

Hallo,
was fĂ¼r eine märchenhafte Karte hast du da gestaltet,ich bin total begeistert, und auch die anderen sehen sehr schön aus,
liebe GrĂ¼ĂŸe Ulrike

Tracy said...

I adore your Lady of shalott creation, a spectacular piece.
I love your CAS pieces too, I love butterflies and these are so gorgeous Brenda.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

joolaa said...

Lady of Shalott - so wonderfull!!! brakuje mi sÅ‚Ă³w, żeby opisać mĂ³j zachwyt, naprawdÄ™ przepiÄ™knÄ… rzecz stworzyÅ‚aÅ›!!! niedawno myÅ›laÅ‚am, jak oprawić kilka zdjęć, chyba bÄ™dziesz dla mnie inspiracjÄ… :)) Hugs from Poland

Rhonda Miller said...

Wow, these are so pretty. I love the butterflies and the colors.

jem (jane elizabeth middleton) said...

Brenda both your creations are beautiful . I adore pre raphaelite art and have it hanging all over my house (not the real ones alas) , the first time I heart the poem , the lady of Shalott, was in a poetry class at my all girls school. A lovely old and gentile teacher read it and even at the age of 11 it moved me , thankyou for shaping your wonderful work and the kind words about our friends death.
janex

Tedz said...

The Lady of Shalott is beautiful Brenda, I love the way you did the panels and background. The PB ones are very pretty - I like blue and green together even though they should never be seen!! Have a lovely day, Pauline xx

My name is Erika. said...

Love all 3 of your cards. They are all gorgeous and I love the blues and greens on dragonfly and butterfly cards. But I especially love the Lady of Shallot. A great way to tell a story, and one of my favorite poems. Thanks for sharing.

Chantal said...

Love the butterfly cards.
Hugs, Chantal S

Kay Carley said...

I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the middle card - it is just soooooooooooooooooo delicate, pretty and fresh looking. xx

Paper Profusion said...

OMG The Lady of Shalott is totally STUNNING Brenda. Brilliantly designed and crafted. Nicola x

Cathy said...

Beautiful cards Brenda, I love the colours and the masking on the butterfly/ dragonfly cards :) Cathy x

Juls said...

So Love Your lady of shallot project!! It reminds me of anne of green gables, she quoted that all the time. I only know the poem through that book ... and adaptation, so your project really made me smile, thank you for sharing. Hugs Juls

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Oh B. these are both so very very lovely, adore the colours and stamps as you say that first one is labour of love indeedy!

... but love the way you did the second card and have that PB stamp it is fab!! thanks for sharing and popping over, Shaz in Oz.x

Lindsay Craftymonster81 said...

These are all so pretty Brenda, I love the shape and the images on the first one and the colours and dragonflies on the other two are just so gorgeous
Lindsay xx

Michelle J M said...

WOW! The arched card is an absolute work of art Brenda. It is exquisite, a labour of love as you say, but so worth the amazing result. The butterfly cards too are fabulous. I so love the colours, so fresh and clean. Michelle x

Sanna Saksija said...

Wow, the booklet in GA-shape looks fantastic!

ionabunny said...

Love the butterfly cards. So fresh

Shylaashree said...

gorgeous card and colours

SusanLotus said...

This "Lady of Schalott" is so beautifully done! Love it!
Also the beautiful Birdcage-card in the post of 4th june.

Now I have to scroll your posts to see what you have been up to
since I was here last time.

A warm summerhug to you Brenda!
Sussie

scrappymo! said...

The Lady of Shallot is so fantastic! Gorgeous scenes and design...what a delight!

The other cards have such lovely backgrounds...I am just starting to try to make this style...mine are not as lovely as yours I'm afraid! Haven't tried masking yet but love the look of it.

Tirpuunen said...

These are all so beautiful I´m left sppecless. Love the summer feeling of your butterflies, the colours and the lay-out and... well, everything!

Claudia N. said...

BEAUTIFUL! A stunning creation! LOVE it!

die amelie x

Jenny said...

Wow both so Beautiful!. Thank you so much for joining us at the Hobby house. Jen xxx