Saturday 7 November 2020

Vibrant Roses and Echoes of Italy


Morning Peeps, it's Saturday and time for a new challenge at Allsorts, our host this week is Lynn who would like to see 'Lace real of faux' with an A/G option. Our prize this week come from Chocolate Baroque and as it happens I also have a post over at the Chocolate Baroque Blog today, below is one of my samples from there, also a card for the current Butterfly Challenge.

My card is a Hochanda sample for tomorrows TV shows at 10am and 2pm, there will be different stamps available in each show, some old favourites and new goodies. The one I have used here is Floral Perfumery, stamped onto a Gelli Plate background, the Roses stamped a second time onto an offcut, masked with torn post-it notes and inked with Crackling Campfire and Twisted Citron, cut out and paper pieced. 

A few worker stamps stamped randomly to carry the colour of the Roses and a CB sentiment stamped onto black card and heat embossed with detail white EP. I cut the sentiment into two strips and layered over some cotton lace.


The Butterfly Challenge has arrived at the letter F and the elements are: Fabric, Flag Fold, French Pink, Forest Green, Flaxen and of course a Butterfly. After scoring the inner section with the folds I added Oxides as close as I could find to the three colours. Using rather a lot of Lavinia stamps I built up a scene, I guess I might have gone a bit OTT but I had a fun hour or two. The 'flags' come in the form of a Butterfly and Fairy which I stamped onto some fine Aida fabric and cut out, I'm not sure these shapes fit the 'flag' brief and you will have to take my work for it they are fabric. There's a closer photo below to try and show how the Butterfly and Fairy are over the edge but I'm not sure it's any more apparent.


These lovely Italian stamps are on one of tomorrows Chocolate Baroque Hochanda shows, I've had these sets for years going way back to Elusive Images/Gaphicus days, but still firm favourites. Most years we go to Italy, sadly not this year so this card using several of the images from the two sets is my take on CDSA Santa Maria, the road where my friend Lucian lives. We have been friends since I was three, although she was raised in the UK she still married an Italian boy and when their children were in their teens they returned to the family town of Compabasso, but Pino her eldest son married an English girl and still lives in the UK.

She lives in a beautiful three story villa with gardens running down in terraces where she grows vegetables which she bottles in true Italian style and her cellar has shelves decked with them......as well as Grappa which hubby Toni distills down there........my hubby could tell you a story or two about nights testing the variants he makes.


Have a good weekend all, not that in the UK we can do much even if we wanted to. Hubby and I have still not ventured further than the chemist and won't even be doing that for the next couple of weeks as youngest son is having knee surgery the week after next and we have been told we need to self isolate as a family prior to his op. He's having it at the Cambridge Nuffield Spire (on the NHS) so we are hopeful it will all go ahead as planned as Cambridgeshire as a whole is fairly low on the COVID scale.
 
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30 comments:

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Three stunning cards Brenda, but I have to say that I love the Echos of Italy one the best. Like you I've had these stamps since the launch back in the Graphicus Days.

Sue xx

Stamps and Paper said...

Beautiful cards Brenda..I love the scene you create and the colours of the backgrounds.....

Anne

Babs said...

Such beautiful cards Brenda , just love the Lavinia stamps and your card, I have bought a couple but not done anything with them yet, the Italian scenery is beautiful too .
Have a good weekend
Babs x

Crafting Queen said...

Wow, stunning cards Brenda. I adore the second one , the images and colours are just perfect. Hugs Anesha

cuilliesocks said...

Such gorgeous cards Brenda, beautifully designed and coloured.
Hope all goes well with your son's knee operation, surgery is always scary, even without covid, the hospitals are doing well though, keep safe Kate x

Lynne said...

Beautiful cards Brenda and all so different. The colour of those flowers is amazing and they stand out so well against the green. I do hope your son's operation isn't cancelled and that it goes well x

Mrs A. said...

Three fantastic cards. Your butterfly entry is gorgeous and I love your take on the little flags. Works for me. Your last card made me very nostalgic and a little sad as have been unable to get to my beloved Italy this year (should have been there celebrating a milestone birthday) and unlikely to get there any time soon or near future seems unlikely as well. My dental surgery is planned for next Thursday but is now going to be a lot more complicated. Gone into panic mode already just thinking about it. Hugs Mrs A.


pinky said...

Oh wow Brenda that is so so gorgeous! I love the whole inside especially. Brilliant card!

Ellibelle said...

Such beautiful cards Brenda, each one really amazing. Was going to say my favorite is the Lavinia card, but then saw the Italian theme card and love that one just the same or more. Those stamps are simply amazing! And how wonderful to have such a long time friend!

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Che meraviglie, Brenda! Il Gelli Plate background che hai usato per gli splendidi fiori li fa davvero risaltare, hai sempre un grande talento con i colori!!
Ho appena ammirato la tua interpretazione della tenuta di Luciana sul blog di CB e mi piace tantissimo! Non sapevo che facessero anche la grappa, ma sono sicura che tuo marito l'ha apprezzata!! LOL :D
La card con i timbri di Lavinia è dolcissima e delicata, sai che amo rosa e verde e Zamira è da tempo sulla mia wishlist, prima o poi la ordinerò! Le pieghe a bandiera rendono la card ancora più interessante!
I miei migliori auguri per l'operazione al ginocchio di Alex, spero che tutto fili liscio ed abbia una veloce convalescenza!!
Abbracci!

Pat said...

Fabulous cards Brenda but I especially love your Butterfly Challenge one the beautiful pastel colours and so many lovely images in your scene.

Pat xx

crafty-stamper said...

Beautiful cards and stamps love the flag fold card -and hope sons knee surgery goes well
Carol x

Carole Pollard said...

Wonderful card and lovely post loved your Italian story The card must bring back such happy memories Fab sample for the show Stay safe Love and hugs Carole x

Sarah said...

Beautiful cards Brenda and it was lovely to hear about your friend from childhood, her italian garden and her Hubby's Grappa!! Fingers crossed for your Son's operation xx

HilaryJane said...

Three beautiful and very different cards. The gelli plate background with the red contrast on your first card is beautiful, your second card with the fold and clever use of fabric is simply stunning. So much to see in that scene and your final Italian landscape makes me wish I was there. That is a really great sky. Hope the surgery goes well xx

Kathleen said...

Really gorgeous colour of those lovely flowers(right up my street) and a great placement of the lace, brilliant card.
The fairy card is superb, stunning background and some wonderful images. Also a fabulous scene on your third card.

Kath x

Marianne's Craftroom said...

What a fabulous collection of cards as always.

Marlies said...

Three gorgeous cards Brenda. A lovely design with the first one with the lace on. Lovely colours on the second, you have created a wonderful fairy scene with the stamps and a great effect with the folding. The Italian eone does realy make me think of long warm Summer days in Italy. Hopefully you can go there again next year. Hope your sons operation goed well. Take care and stay safw. Marlies x

Donna Ellis said...

Glad to hear your son can have his needed surgery, Brenda. I hope the procedure is entirely successful, and without any problems. Your colorful cards are lovely! I especially like the sentiment "may all your dreams come true". Wishing you an enjoyable week. love, de

Mervi said...

Stunning and beautiful cards.
I moved my store back to city today, lol, hard day;-))m

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Stunning cards as always Brenda. I especially love the pastel colours of the second and third cards, which is unusual as I normally lean towards the bolder colours, but these two cards really appeal.
Hope your son's op goes to plan and his recovery is swift too.
Take care,
Lorraine

Vicky Hayes said...

Your cards are all so unique Brenda! I love the colours you used on your floral and the fantasy card is just amazing - like a child's pop-up book. But the third card made me gasp aloud - I think I might have to go and have a hunt for these stamps as the scene you have made with them is absolutely stunning! How lovely to hear about your Italian friend too. You brought back a memory about Grappa - in my dim and distant past, my boyfriend of the time and I decided in our youthful 'wisdom' to have a bit of a Grappa tasting session one evening; needless to say I haven't touched it since and still wince at the memory of that headache! Best wishes to your youngest son for his knee surgery and good on all of you for self isolating as a family for him. Take care, Vicky x

ALI said...

More stunning creations Brenda x

Greta said...

Hope Poppy is getting better & that your son's knee surgery goes well. So scary the virus keeps increasing. I just started physical therapy for a shoulder problem, but I'm seriously thinking about not going back. Everyone has masks, but no way to stay 6 ft apart from the therapist. Anyway--your cards are beautifully creative & artistic, Brenda! Stay safe!

Linby said...

a beautiful card and love the touch of lace. The Lavinia card is just out of this world - love the colours. the Italian scene is amazing, love the clouds.

KandA said...

As always an amazing collection of cards Brenda. Wonderful flowers on the first, a stunning fairy scene on the second, and your 'echoes or Italy' is beautiful xx

KarinsArtScrap said...

these are gorgeous cards Brenda I love the second one.
Gr Karin

Fikreta said...

Oh Brenda these are gorgeous!
hugs

Fikreta said...

so very beautiful cards Brenda!
hugs

Mrs.B said...

Stunning cards Brenda, those roses look fabulous against the citrus background. Love the little fairy scene, a lot of work, but worth the effort. Fabulous Italian scene - fingers crossed for next year.
Avril xx