Friday 16 September 2011

Birthday Card for a Wonderful Friend (& it fits in with my buddy's friendly challenge)

'Morning Everyone,

Yay, it's Friday!  I hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend even if you're not doing anything special.  We're planning a weekend of re-organising 2 of our bedrooms.  They're becoming a bit of a dumping ground for stuff that needs to go back in the loft (like the big pedestal fan that I doubt we'll need again before next summer, lol) and stuff that has nowhere special to live so they need sorting out before it gets out of hand and we end up with nowhere for our Daughter and her family to sleep when they visit, lol!

Anyway, enough waffling and onto the crafting.  This week has seen the birthday of a friend who has become especially dear to me.  Elaine is one of my Craft Stamping Quartet buddies as many of my visitors already know and along with Jo and Judith she has become one of the main 'constants' in my life so making a card incorporating things she likes was such a pleasure to do.  Elaine loves nature and has a huge wild garden with lots of mature trees and I know she loves it in whatever coat it happens to be wearing.  As it's September, I decided to go with an Autumnal look both with the colours I used and also with the leaf embellishments.  Elaine knows one of my favourite things to do is blending inks over masks and as Chocolate Baroque have just started stocking some exceptionally pretty Prima ones which I couldn't resist buying I thought that's where I would start my design.  I followed this with some light overstamping using a stamp from an Inkadinkado set called Autumn Fall which I must have had for at least 2 years and never inked up.  Shame on me because the stamps are really dainty with lovely leafy swirls.


I then blended inks over a sheet of card and cut out the leaves I wanted using a Shapeabilities die set (again in my stash for ages and never used) using the same dies to emboss and then adding some ink highlights.  Another neglected die from my quite substantial collection is the Marianne Creatable doily die,  It's really pretty and I've now managed to use it twice in one week :).  I cut the doily from the same ink blended card and then spritzed this and the leaves with gold Glimmer Mist before stamping the sentiment in the centre of the doily.


 Finally I used a lovely new Crealies die (again from Chocolate Baroque) which consists of separate multi sized petals that you build up to make a flower the size you want.  I used all four petal sizes and cut it from Glassine paper, stamped with the same Inkadinkado stamp but this time in Encore Gold ink and then heated it gently for a few seconds to 'set' the ink into the Glassine.  I shaped all the petals and joined them together with a pearl brad.  I attached the doily with 3D foam pads and the flower and leaves with Pinflair glue.


Now, it just so happens that as I have used a much neglected stamp and two dies to make my card, it fits in with my buddy Judith's friendly weekly challenge called Forgotten Friday so I'm popping over to her lovely blog in a minute to add a link.  I haven't seen her post yet today but there's always something lovely to see so do pay her a visit.  I have to say thanks to Elaine too because I was in such a hurry to get her card in the post (it still ended up being late :( ) I completely forgot to take any pics, lol!  Elaine very kindly emailed some photos over to me first thing so I could do my post.  Thanks Buddy!!!

Well enjoy your weekend everyone whatever you are doing and come visit again soon.

Hugs
Lesley  Xx



18 comments:

judith@poppy cottage said...

Wow Lesley, what a beautiful card. The colours are simply beautiful, and the elements go together so well, particularly the mask and doily. I haven't used my newest Crealies yet, but seeing your flower, I need to get them out!
The sentiment is lovely, and fits how we feel about each other perfectly.
I am sure that Elaine must have loved this card. Thank you so much for oining in my Forgotten friday post this week, Judith xx

PinksyDoodles said...

This is absolutely stunning Lesley!
Hugs, Clare x

Paula Whittaker said...

Lucky Elaine - thats one heck of a card.Beautifully inked and stamped (but then you and the quartet always do amazing work)
Have a super weekend!

Aquarius said...

Lucky Elaine receiving such a beautiful card and I really like the autumnal colour scheme. Great sentiment too and there are things you've used which I might NEED in the near future (I'll never be rich at this rate but I'm happy).

Miranda said...

Wow Lesley, stunning card and my fav colours and theme! Elaine is a lucky lady.......like these masks, must have a search here! nice weekend, Mirandaxx

Christine B. said...

Hi Lesley a real stunning card love the Autumn colours. I bet Elaine was thrilled to bits. Have a great weekend. Hugs x ChrisB

lisa said...

Hi Lesley. This is just stunning. I wish I was Elaine, she is one lucky lady to have such talented friends. The Prima masks are lovely aren't they. I treated myself to one of the large ones for scrapbooking.
Glassine paper is a new one on me. It certainly makes beautiful flowers. I shall have to look out for it.
Thanks for taking the time to give me some much needed ideas. I love the idea of some text. You're a star.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs Lisax

Suzanne C said...

Oh so beautiful! Love the stencil in the background. Gorgeous embellishments.

Elaine said...

Well Lesley, you already know how special this card is to me. You three other quartet girls are all such treasures - I am so lucky to have found such talented friends and this card was a treat to open. I love the colours, I adore masking as you know and leaves are one of my favourite motifs. The added soft sparkle of the sprays was a bonus. I know life has been very hectic for you lately and that makes receiving this card even more special. I am glad the pics were OK and allowed you to take part in Judith's Forgotten Friday. One day I will make it and do a FF post too, I certainly have enough neglected stash. Much love Elaine xxxx

Glenda Waterworth said...

Gorgeous card Lesley, and how funny that we both did a Forgotten Friday this week! I must go and wish the birthday girl my best,

love Glenda

Astrid Maclean said...

Lesley this is one of the most beautiful cards I have seen in ages! Love everything about it, those leaves are amazing (must check out that die) and I love the colours you have used. Stunning!!!

InkyArtitude said...

What a stunning card Lesley! The colours you've chosen are lush and the leaves and doily dies are fab, must keep my eyes open for those. I'm sure this card is going to be kept for a very long time and cherished by Elaine.
Lynn x

Marja's Stamp Addiction en Marja's Creativity said...

Lesley what a beauty. love the very warm and beautiful colours and the mask. Fabulous arrangement.
have a nice weekend and greet
Marja

snazzyoriginal said...

Beautiful colours and wonderful layers, such a lovely card

Gillian .... said...

What a stunning card Lesley, love the autumnal colours and those leaves look fab. x

Jules said...

Hi Lesley

What a fantastic birthday card.. .. I am sure your friend was over the moon to receive it.

I love everything about it!!! A definite "keep it forever" card!!

Love Jules xx

Sheila said...

Beautiful card Lesley.
Thanks for your lovely message about Smudge.
I'm thinking of you.
Hugs
Sheila-x-

Val said...

Fabulous card Lesley. So pleased to see you blogging again.
Hugs
Valxx