I hope you're managing to keep warm and safe in this horrible freezing weather. We and our neighbours have spent the weekend shovelling snow and chopping out ice to try and make our cul-de-sac accessible so that those of us who have to go to work could get out this morning. I'm not one of those thank goodness but my Hubby is. With great trepidation I took the dog to the park for the first time in a week today and came back having made my mind up that for once I'm going to be making a strong complaint with the high ups on our local council. Apart from the main bus routes, hardly any roads and no pavements at all have seen a snowplough or a handful of grit! The 5 inch thick ice is lethal to try and walk on and having injured a tendon slipping on ice at the beginning of the year I was petrified of doing a repeat performance. Okay, sorry about the little rant but now I've got that off my chest I'll get down to more important matters like crafting, Lol!
My first make today uses one of the latest Crafty Individuals stamps which combines two of my favourite types of image - trees and swirls! The card is made using simple stamping and matting and layering with just a couple of swirls cut with a Marianne Creatable die.
I stamped the main image and the single swallow on the background using Coffee Archival ink and just added Sakura Sparkle pen to the swirls and the swallows on the main image.
This next card uses an image from the Elusive Images Damask Reindeer set (UA4SP0263). I stamped the image with Onyx Black Versafine and then colours with Copics. I added some ultrafine glitter which was very difficult to show on the photo and then layered it onto a piece of green mirri card run through my Big Shot in a Tim Holtz/Sizzix embossing folder.
It's very rare I use mirri card or glitter but the mirri does show off embossing really well.
This final card (3 in one post!!!!!!) was one I made recently for the Elusive Images Design Team using their lovely new stamp set called Family Christmas. I kept almost to a monochrome colour theme using black, white and gold.
I stamped a holly sprig with Versamark and clear embossed on the black card layer and then stamped the main image using Onyx Black Versafine and touched in certain areas with a very fine paintbrush and Ecoline Gold. That waterbased ink is absolutely gorgeous and looks like real molten gold in the bottle. I was really pleased with the classy look of this card (even though I say so myself, Lol) so I decided to make it again this weekend as my Christmas card for my Mum.
Details of any of the Elusive Images stamps can be found by clicking on the Design Team logo in my sidebar and the Crafty Individuals stamps and the swirl die (which is from a set) and any of the inks used are also available at Graphicus.
As always, thank you for your visit and any comments you have time to leave so that I know you have stopped by and I can visit you back. I've had a lovely time this past few days catching up with all the lovely creations my blogging friends have been posting recently.
Warm hugs to you all,
Lesley Xx
PS I keep forgetting to remind everyone that the photos are clickable if you wish to see a closeup.
15 comments:
Beautififul cards Lesley. I especially like the reindeer one and love the swirls... great die. Be careful (as if you need telling) in the ice.
Sue x
Hi Lesley
Three beautiful cards .. .. you are spoiling us now!!!
Your culd-de-sac sounds horrendous .. I wouldn't dare venture out onto it.
Please be careful .. we don't want you gaining any more injuries!!
Love Jules xx
Beautiful cards Lesley, I liked that Crafty Individuals card when I first saw it so much, for the colouring. The swirl compliments the stamp perfectly, and your swallow background is lovely. Your reindeer card is delightful, I love reindeer anyway, the embossing folder goes really well with that stamp! Might have to pinch that idea....Your classy black and white card with a hint of gold card will thrill your Mum as it is so elegant, especially with that lovely big bow.
Be careful on that ice my friend, your weather is frightful, we are getting off so lightly in comparison. I'm so sad we won't see each other this week :( but better to be safe than sorry. Judith xx
Lesley, it's a miracle you can think of crafting at all with the weather you have been coping with. I love that CI card, the swrils work really well. I am looking for a delicate swirl die and this looks great. The reindeer card with the mirri works really well. I am like you, if I use mirri, it is normally just for matting, but this looks really good. The monochrome Family Christmas card is really classy - as your work always is.
Well done - keep up the muse and try and forget that ice outside for a while.
Elaine xx
Gorgeous cards Lesley - I always love monochrome cards, and your two are really lovely - the reindeer is lovely too! We haven't had anything like your weather, but the estate roads are like skating rinks, and the footpaths are even worse,we are fortunate in that we don't have to skate too far to get to a main road, which is gritted and beautifully clear. Do look after yourself, am sure Snoopy won't mind staying home for a while!
Seeing the news and hearing about your 5 inch thick has made me realise just hnow lucky we have been here.I( hope their predictions that it could go on for a good while yet are wrong.
Three fabulous cards. Those Marianne die swirls are gorgeous.
The colour of the mirri card on the 2nd card is fab and the image looks great aains it and the last card - so elegant - I'm sure your mum will be thrilled with it.
Beryl xx
Hi Lesley three really beautiful cards. I love the reindeer one, the embossing works so well with it. I also like how you've used the CI image . Take care on the ice, we've only had a sprinkling of snow above a week ago, but the pavements are aweful with the ice. We don't have a car and I'm nervous walking as I fell twice last christmas. Hugs x ChrisB
hi there lesley. All 3 are just so beautiful.Hope you are keeping warm
love debbie xxx
You have been busy, Lesley! I like all three of them and I agree that the embossing shows up so much more with mirri card. Keep safe on that ice (we have been snowed in for several days at a time here but not much ice)
Janet xx
Hi you lovely lady! All these cards are beautiful but the monochrome ones just do it for me. Soooo classy Lesley. Thanks so much for your lovely comments lately, they so cheer me up and I love that you take the time to chat - we are going to have to get together to have a proper natter, maybe we can meet up in Harrogate in the new year?
I know what you mean about being scared about your legs. I went down a rabbit hole a few years ago and snapped the achilles completely, I am so wary now. Havn't been out of the house much lately cos of the ice. Theres a big thaw on here tho' tonight. Hope it lasts
Much Love
x Michelle
Gorgeous cards! So sorry that you are snowed under. Be careful! don't want to have you slip again. Love the embossing on the metal background to go with your beautiful deer. The first card is so elegant and love the birds in the background and the coppery colors. The gold, black and white combo is beautiful.
Hi Lesley, some time for blogging so pay you a visit and love the CI card. Very beautiful! Stay warm and take care, greetz Mirandaxx
Merry Christmas Lesley.
Look forward to seeing you in 2011.
Beryl xx
Dearest Lesley
Thank you so much for your lovely comments, encourgement and support - I value it so much. Your work has been a real inspiration to me. I really do hope that we manage to meet in 2011. The GG event was defintely going to be on my list this year, and we were planning to find a cottage for a week to stay! C'est la Vie.
I do know that there are going to be some Artsy Crafts events though, and may well make one of those in addition to my Tim class. I have just discovered he is doing some classes in Harrogate as well ...
Take care, keep well, and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
Love
Valxx
OMGosh! They are all just beautiful!!
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