Pastel phase

Good morning all,
I apologise for my absence but I have been so very busy that crafting of any kind has been almost impossible.  Today I decided I had to take some time out to craft and this is the fruit of my labour.

A delicate, pastel card with an image I have had for ages now, a freebie from somewhere or other (think it may have been in a magazine).  It was in a set of 4 or 5 pre-stamped bird images; they are all beautiful and quite easy to colour (or tint) too.   I do hope you like it.

Here's a close up showing the soft highlights of ivory and tea green Promarkers that I used to tint the image.  I didn't want a coloured image, just a hint of a colour here and there.  I think it worked out quite well in the end.

The second close up shows the ribbon which I coloured to coordinate using soft green Promarker. The greeting was stamped using VersaMagic chalk ink in Sea Breeze with clear embossing powder.
(Note:-  I buried the end of the Decorative Pin behind the bordered matt not only to protect fingers, but also to keep the pin stable.)

I used some Centura pearl in Ice white from Crafters Companion for the base card & duck egg blue leather effect card for matting (this was from my stash).  The pin is one of my own creations with a beautiful pearly button (shank cut off) from The Hobby House adorning the ribbon bow.  A Martha Stewart bubble punch was used for the border, with lace from Ebay and a sentiment from a Creative Expressions stamp plate.  The half pearls are 8mm in ivory and can be found here at  Perfect Tables on Ebay (I managed to buy up to size 14mm in both white and ivory).  Finally the paper I used is called 'Checks' and is a Pink Petticoat printable and can be found HERE.  These papers and a few others I own from Pink Petticoat are really unmissable.  They are only £1.99 per download and that is for 52 colours!  (some even come in positive and negative in the 52 colours for the same price!!!)  It is hard not to find a colour you need that's for sure.  I personally, have several different designs including Swirls and Curls Elegance, several Dots, Stripes and Grannie's Wallpaper to name but a few and they are all beautiful and definitely worth every penny. The beauty of having several designs is that they all come in the same 52 colours so mixing and matching is easy. 

Ok, I must leave it there for today as I have so much still to do, but thank you so much for your visit, I truly appreciate it.  Thank you too to everyone that showed their support on Christine Harrop's new blog, you are just the most kind and considerate blog friends and I know she really appreciated you taking the time to say Hi. 
Big Hugs Linda x

PS:- I am pleased to announce that both winners of the BIG 100 claimed their prizes and have taken delivery too (even Sonia in Italy).   I haven't forgotten about the challenge for the new Candy, I am still working on that and will try to get it up on the blog this coming week.  Thank you all for your patience. x

Two Communion cards

Good morning all,
Today I have something a little different again.  Two cards that were not created by me but by my niece and her son.  My niece asked if they could come over and make cards for her daughters Communion on Sunday and so I spent all yesterday evening teaching them the basics including using the Grand Caliber.  Do they realise how priviledged they were I wonder: my GC is my pride and joy and is used so often now, I am close to having conversation with her...lol!  Yes, she is female, she is a thing of beauty afterall :)
Anyway, Mum got into the colouring and card making and my great nephew sat happily with the GC diecutting the items for the cards and also some butterflies and flower petals for the cake topper.  He did really well bless him and thoroughly enjoyed himself (my great nephew has some learning difficulties and so it was wonderful to see him creating so happily).   Here are the cards;  I think you will be impressed with them as they are, afterall, a first ever attempt.  I just wish I had been this good when I first started.

A vellum butterfly was placed underneath the paper butterly to give it more dimension and movement.

Recipe:-
Pink Petticoat papers, Spellbinders dies:- Labels 20, Tags 1&2 and Fanciful Flight.  Wild Orchid Crafts Flowers

I am still working on the cake topper, infact I think I will be working on it all day today, but I will do my best to complete it in time to photograph it for tomorrows post.  I have been quite nervous about doing all this as I am not a Catholic and, therefore, know nothing about First Communion.  All I know is that my great niece is very excited and it must be right for her and her family.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing something from a 'newbie'.  Take care and have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you to those who have entered their Bookmarks into the challenge already, they look absolutely fabulous (no pun intended!)   Hugs Linda