Thursday 6 September 2012

Bright white & shabby chic?!

Hi all,
Before I start I'd like to remind you about the word search (If anyone has missed it and doesn't know what I am on about you can catch up in Tuesdays post).  Well you don't have to search for any words today because I am giving you them FREE!
There are three words today and they are:- THE, BE, FIVE

I hope you have managed to find the other words I have slipped into my posts so far.  Don't forget, playing along brings an extra prize for the Candy pot and there may even be another surprise for the winner too!  Our first winner was the lovely Sue P. who chose a rubber stamp from Lili of the Valley for the Candy and also, won the first surprise which was a rubber stamp for herself too!!  Sue chose one of the new LOTV Christmas stamps called Fur Cones.

Well it's a busy day at the homestead (hey doesn't that sound grand... just wishing....lol!)  Jake had his first trial day at 'big boy' nursery today.  He thought it was 'exciting',  he told me when my daughter in law dropped him off and later he said 'I like Mrs Adams'.  So I think, from those comments, that his first day went very well.  I know the teachers were impressed, they have said he will finish a little later tomorrow because he settled so well.  He has a breaking in period of a few days and then starts properly next week, finishing everyday at 2.30pm.  Jake will then stay with me till mum or dad collect him after they finish work.
I have looked after my grandson since he was a few months old and it is really quiet when he isn't here and I miss him a great deal.  However, as my health problems progress I find myself needing the rest more, so I take advantage of his time in nursery to get myself sorted at a slower pace and then I have lots more energy to share my time with him when he finishes for the day.

Now to my card (I seem to natter about Jake alot these days, I do hope I am not boring you),
For todays card I have gone back to my newer papers.  I fell in love with these Graphic 45 papers the moment I saw them for the first time and just had to treat myself.   They are all in tones of blacks and peachy oranges.  There are more coloured patterned papers to coordinate too, but I wanted to keep the colours to a minimum for this card.
I used black chalk board type card for the matting/layereing as the dull surface went perfectly with the overall finish I was after.


At first I wasn't sure it the crisp white would work with the shabby effect of these gorgeous papers, but as I continued layering the papers and other elements I just fell in love with it.  The stamp I used was from an Anna Griffin set of border stamps.  Isn't this a most stunning 'border' stamp.  It's so much more than just a border and it's so beautifully drawn you don't even have to colour it to get a stunning effect.  All I did was drag alittle of the dye ink into a few areas with a water brush.
The black lace doily is one of the gift items from Linda W. (I do so love to use the wonderful items Linda sent to me as they always add something special to my cards).  The ivory lace is one my own crochet patterns (I 'will' put these up on the blog soon, it's just that I am still having trouble writing the patterns.  I can design them easily, but writing it down is something I have never done before). 


I had to decorate the inside as it always gives such a beautiful overall finish and it seems to take the card to luxury status I think.  Do you agree?


This is how it looks from the side, giving you the overall effect.  I will be honest I did the ear to ear grin for this one.  I just love how it turned out, I hope you do too.
To finish the card off I used some black gemstones along the border strip and then shaped a few more to make a flourish.  Nothing too swirly,  the flourish I was after had to be simple not flamboyant.  The little flower was a free gift in a parcel I received a few months back, the colour matched perfectly, so I just had to use it.
Well that's it.  So what do you think, did it work for you?  I must dash now as Jake has woken up and is in need of my attention.   I thank you all for your wonderful comments yesterday, I was so pleased you like the colours as much as I did.
Hope you are having a good day.  It's glorious here so Jake and I are off out into the garden for a while.
Have a great evening.  Hugs Linda xx

(PS.  I'll add the recipe as soon as Jake has gone home and I have five minutes.)

13 comments:

  1. Blimey Linda - I was just going to comment on your teal and lilac card then I saw this one pop up. Where on earth do you get your ideas from - this is simply superb. Those colours together - wow. I do love this - hope you don't mind if I use it as a sketch sometime but put my own interpretation on it. I will of course say that you inspired me! I was reading yesterday's blog and suddenly an odd word popped up - funny I thought, Linda is normally faultless - then I read the post before that and ... the penny plummeted lol!! I love this extra bit to your challenge - brilliant.

    Anyway now going back to the teal and lilac - which looks gorgeous ..... again!

    Hugs to you my blog friend

    Sue P xx

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    1. I would be honoured Sue, that is such a compliment, thank you. Hugs Linda xx

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  2. Hi Linda, you should indeed give yourself a big smile for this card, it's beautiful. I really like the layout and the colours you have used and I think the crisp white works exceptionally well, Carole Z X

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  3. Hi Linda,

    I hope you are well. I can see from your latest creations that you have been very busy. Your cards are beautiful and so detailed. I love them all. I am sorry I haven't been around to comment lately I am having a few problems, one being my back is playing me up and two being Charlie has decided sleep is for babies and he no longer needs to sleep at night. These two things added together means that I really have no energy or drive to craft. I hope to get back to crafting soon and back to blogging. I see you have a challenge running and I will try my hardest to enter. You are such a kind person and it is the least I can do to show my support. Anyway I am off to have some dinner now. I look forward to seeing your next creation.
    Hugs
    Kelly
    x

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  4. WOW! I'm not at all surprised that you are happy with this card Linda - it is truly stunning. The colours, shapes and textures all work perfectly together. Your attention to detail is just wonderful.
    I hope you have had a good day.
    Take care
    Hugs Sue

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  5. Hi Linda,
    what a stunning and truly amazing, lovely, card. I love those papers, I can see why you fell in love with them. The whole card screams class. If you know what I mean.
    No wonder you were smiling I would have had a grin from ear to ear if I had made this.
    Thank you for the freebie words.
    I'm glad Jake enjoyed the nursery school. My youngest granddaughter started infant
    school today. She sounded so grown up on the phone this morning.
    I used to look after her every Monday and pick her up from nursery on Thursday after lunch, but not had to do this for the last six months as her mum was given a six month sabbatical from her work, to spend time with her before she started school.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  6. Oh Linda, wow, double wow and triple wow, this is just something else. All your creations are stunning but this one is superb. Everything about it just co-ordinates perfectly the colours are fantastic, the design brilliant, and that border stamp is gorgeous. Love, love your lace. Just pure class. Love Christine H xx

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  7. Wow Linda,this card is amazingly wonderful:)
    You are very talented:)
    Big hug,
    Sonia

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  8. What a fantastic card you are one talented lady wish I HAD YOUR TALENT ,my grand daughter went for her induction at pre school group yesterday, I was sent a pick her going in and coming out holding daddy`s hand , well her ruck sack was nearly as big as she is ,but my daughter said she wanted it on her back ,it realy brought a big smile on my face Bless her ,Just take it easy with Jake .Hugs Melanie

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  9. Hi Linda

    Another lovely card again today-the peach and black a great combination and a super layout.
    Another lovely day today.

    Take Care
    Eileen x

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  10. It works for me, your cards never cease to stun me with their beauty. So very elegant, glad my doily had a place on it. I have a great deal of trouble writing patterns too...I think it's partly because I rarely ever follow one...just make it up as I go along...even if that means having to undo and start again lol. I made a panda for my grandson last year....his head was made and unmade 19times before I finally got it finished lol. I don't tire of hearing about Jake, reminds me of our time taking care of our Jack, we cared for him a couple of days a week from 4mths to three years...it was our health that put an end to it. Hugs lin

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  11. Hey sweetie, I just totally love this creation, fabulous sweetie, huggles Pops x x x

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  12. Another very beautiful card Linda! As Sue sai, it would be a good for a sketch challenge. The colours are really good too. Love hearing about Jake - don't stop talking about him!! Enjoy the rest of teh weekend - in the sun!!! Love and hugs from Christine x

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