Four New Cards and Lots Happening

Lots of photos and lots to say. If your here just for the cards scroll on down to the first photo, if you want to have a bit of a share of whats been going on then grab a coffee, and lets get started:

The new couple of cards I coloured while on holidays down the south coast with my husband a

Elysha and Jake (the dog). It was our first proper holiday in the camper van we had just inherited from John's dad. John's dad is now in a Nursing Home with emphysema and life is hard and sad for him. He offered us the camper van and though I am on preference a 5 star accommodation person I thought ok lets give it a go.

Well it poured with rain the first night and I thought we were going to get washed away but then settled down to hot hot hot for the next five days then the last two days it was torrential rain which of course meant lots of mud and packing in the mud and rain. All things considered it was a brilliant caravan park, people are extremely friendly stopping to chat, happy to help and share. People were wonderful with Elysha and that means a lot to me as we have met some terrible prejudice over the years. Jake bunged on a bit of small dog syndrome but then I found all the little dogs did this but his Guide Dog Assoc training paid off in the long run and he was a good boy with people all wanting to get to know the puppy (he is 10 years old but has a look of him that people mistake for puppy).

Fishing was a bit hit and miss; sunburn, me on my back sitting in the shade colouring in, should have moved. John got really badly burned on his feet where his thong straps go across his feet, the only white bits on his body, it was like 3rd degree burns and caused much pain for four days or so which made getting around very hard.

We ate, drank and worked on a 1000 piece puzzle with the help of total strangers and yes I will go again. I also had phone calls from dad everyday at least 15 times a day letting me know that the creek between mums cottage and where he lives was filling fast and reaching critical levels. He was very worried it was going to flood, highest levels it had been in ten years (he has only been there just over 2 months now). I kept assuring him they would get him out if it flooded but it only settled him down when I said we had a dingy and could come get him if it overflowed. Dad had his 92 birthday last week and apart from a few escapes is doing well at the new nursing home now.

On to the cards:

This beautiful card is a Penny Black Stamp, all the work is done as you stamp and the flowers are already in the vase so all you need to do is colour. I have coloured with Copics. I tried to keep the colours nice and soft and the only strong colours are the two main flowers and they are R81 R83 R85 R89 for deep shadow. I got a little heavy handed so the colours got darker than I intended. 

I have tilted this photo and really lightened to show the sparkle as I added Wink of Stella to the flowers. I added it to the centres of the flowers coming out (not the whole flower) and the lines of the vase. Really looks beautiful IRL. I have taken all these photos while babysitting so I don't have facilities to take photos to show up sparkle as well.

I added some grey copic to the base then used the '0' colourless blended to breakup the grey.

Finished off the card with some sequins and silver glitter diecut 'celebrate'

This card is so cute. I got this image given me by a crafty friend and it has been sitting there

waiting for me to colour her in for ages. I decided to go really light pink/peach. This is a

Stamping Bella stamp and I am thinking she needs to join my collection of stamps, but will have to wait, as I have just seen the latest release and ohhh boy am I going to be broke after I finish shopping there.

Anyhoo After I coloured her with Copics R000 R00 R10 R20 I also added some Wink of Stella and again you are going to have to believe she looks fabulous cause my photos didnt catch the glitter. I die cut with rounded stitched rectangle die, added fun foam behind then attached to a card I had added patterned paper to. No sentiment so it can be used for anything. 

This is another image I coloured while away but had to work out how to fix you see I stamped it at an angle then decided to add the vase and had added the sentiment which was straight across the card so I had to do a bit of fiddling around but I got there. I love this stamped image totally, its just beautiful and so easy it colour. Its from The Ton. Coloured again with Copics and very happy with how the vase has turned out.

I ended up using a stitched rectangle die on the piece then added to a yellow cardbase but attached at a distinct angle so the vase is in the right place. I added some bright coloured enamel dots then to cover up the original sentiment that was stamped and now at a weird angle I die cut a white and gold polka dot tag and added a gold cardstock diecut 'thanks'. Makes it an odd shaped card but will make a special envelope for it. I love how the colours look against the yellow cardbase.

This next card was actually inspired by the arrival of three parcels in a row with crafting goodies all ordered over a number of weeks but being in Australia we often have to wait for deliveries. In this instance some were held up, some arrived when expected and others arrived quicker than expected and then I went to a craft shop and as I was driving home I was thinking of this sweet image from Mo's Digital Pencil and thinking it would  was the perfect front for my introduction to what I have bought..........oh my goodness

In this instance you can just see the glitter on her dress. I couldn't resist giving her a bit of red in her hair to go with her yellow dress. Isn't she the cutest, in this instance as she is a digital image I manipulated her in Adobe Illustrator and just put her on the edge of the page so I only printed what I wanted and also at a tilt as though she is looking around the corner and has spotted my supplies!!!

So I can use it after I have stamped inside with this fantastic sentiment I managed to find in the shop I was in. How cool is it. It will get so much use from me as I am shocking at getting cards out on time. I do so love making cards, but getting them to people on time - never.

  

This was the craft shop items, the Distress Oxides I didnt have yet that I wanted to add, only the brights and lights as I don't use the duller or darker colours. Some extra Alcohol Inks, Transparent Yupo, blending foams and a couple of stamps. 

A lovely pile of new Mama Elephant stamps and a die.

Hero Art  only showing the Add ons to the actual kit I received in February so I am being conservative there. Also forgot to add the diecut letters of the alphabet I bought to go with the stamp.

Dies and stamps from Pretty Pink Posh. Lots to be used.

As you can see there has been quite a spending spree which is mad as

it will just add to the pile of NBUS already there but what can I 

say other than 'You know how it happened, you know you do'

'They made me do it mum'

Challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Tulips in a Vase 'Thanks'

The PaperPlayers PP383 A Theme Challenge from Jaydee

Tulips in a Vase 'Thanks'

Seize the Birthday : Anything Goes

Oh My Goodness

Belated Birthday Card

Cute Card Thursday: #519 Anything Goes

Stamping Bella Flower Girl No Sentiment

Crafting From The Heart Challenge #197 Anything Goes

Ohh My Goodness Card

Crafty Cardmakers #206 Floral Delight

Flower Vase 'Celebrate'

Allsorts Challenge Blog #457 Ladies Only

My beautiful Stamping Bella Flowergirl card

Crafty Friends Challenge Blog #78 Springtime

Tulips in a Vase 'Thanks'

Alphabet Challenge Blog 'Y' Your Choice

Penny Black Flowers in a Vase 'Celebrate'

Thank you so much for coming to visit and I hope you come again soon.