Saturday 28 April 2012

Spring blooms



Well it's still raining here in the Fens and construction of the Ark is well under way. According to my in house weather man who records the rainfall religiously, we've had 7.6" so far this month and it's rained 20 days out of the last 28. Do you get the impression I'm getting paranoid about the weather ? Well probably I am and April will certainly be a memorable month if only for the volume of water that's fallen.

I've been scooter shopping again this week, the mobility kind that is and not getting on too well so far. As we live well out of the village we need to drive to get anywhere, so what they call a boot scooter which break down into 4/5 pieces for transportation is required. All fit into hubby's car OK, but my boot is another matter, the new style MX5 has a more contoured boot and although the inside is just about big enough, the actual aperture is smaller. But I've not given up on the idea and have a man coming out next week to show me a US made one which folds rather than dissembles which may fit my boot, I did say may, I don't want to get my hopes up too much. I'll keep you posted.

Now about my card which is for this weeks  Allsorts challenge, I don't remember the last time I made a shaker card, so it was a nice surprise when Nicole chose that as here theme this week.

Our sponsor this week is A Passion for Stamps so this is a double DT piece really using one of Ruth's new pieces of artwork the beautiful Alstromeria which I have coloured with watercolours in soft lemons on watercolour card. The DP is from one of the pretty new Teresa Collins pads onto which I stamped the Penny Black sentiment.............think it's still my all time favourite sentiment stamp. I cut an aperture in the card blank and placed acetate behind, punched some tiny butterflies from the same DP for the 'shakers' and used double sided foam tape to create the space between the acetate and sentiment. Thumbnail pictures and links to all products below.

Some die cut swirls and border cut from the same DP and finally I threaded some coordinating beads onto a couple of pins.

Hope you all have a good weekend and thanks for visiting, I always appreciate your comments.


49 comments:

Unknown said...

Beautiful card!
Hope you get better weather soon! Got sunny days here in Switzerland!

Stamps and Paper said...

'Bloomin' lovely card Brenda.....I like your colour combinations....it's still raining down here in Somerset although yesterday we did have some sunshine...
Have a good week end

Anne

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

Brenda what beautiful. The flowers grow and will spring from the card. Lovely. Such a nice soft colors and a marvelous combination. Love it.
lovely greet and nice weekend
Marja

Marie-Louise said...

Beautiful card. Hope you get you scooter problem sorted out.

Jackie said...

What a beautiful card, I love the style and layout :o)
Good luck with your scooter hunt, I've got everything crossed for you...hugs
Jackie xx

Jules said...

Hi Brenda

A gorgeous card .. .. very careful cutting out of your beautiful flowers there!!

Loving the ribbon and beadwork too.

Hope you manage to sort out your scooter soon .. .. a folding one sounds good. Will keep my fingers crossed that it will fit in your boot!

Love Jules xx

Gerrina said...

Abeautifull cad! And a wonderfull stamp! Great to see that you take such an effort in taking such beatifull photo's of your cards! Have a nice weekend! Greetings, Gerrina

Marianne said...

Isn't it amazing how much stuff we use on just one card? No wonder we're always "neeeding" more...
Love the soft colours on your card Brenda and I can see why the sentiment belongs to your favourites.
Good luck on the scooter hunt. I hope the folding scooter will fit your boot. Sounds easier to use, too.
Marianne x

Vicky said...

Lovely card Brenda, great design and fantastic colours. I hope you get your scooter sorted soon, sounds like you need and estate car!!!

hugs Vicky x x x

ps can I join you on your ark? I'll have to swim from Warwickshire!!

Beryl said...

I hadn't realised it was a shaker card until I read your post and looked a little closer. I love - and very springlike - unlike the weather. I bet they're still complaining about the water levels in the reservoirs though.
Hope you get the scooter conundrum fixed soon and you can be out and about in the spring sunshine. Ha ha.
Beryl xx

Mummylade said...

I really like the dimensions of the card!
And good luck with the ark =)

nnalorac said...

Gorgeous card Brenda. Love the design and colour combo. Hope all goes well on the scooter demo.It's been back to Winter again these past few days, so cold. Speaking of a good weekend here, hope they're right for a change! Have a lovely weekend. Carolxx

Sarah said...

This is absolutely beautiful Brenda, love the flowers and sentiment. I too am bored of this rain, my eldest is in a rugby tornament tomorrow and I am so not looking forward to standing at the side of the pitch getting absolutely soaked :-( Hope you are able to sort a different scooter soon xxx

Crafting Queen said...

Such a beautiful card, love it. Good luck with finding a scooter. :)

Paula (PEP) said...

Wet here in the Beacons too - I'm just waiting for our underground spring to start exiting through the garage again - anything that needs to be is on stilts (bricks) in the eventuality. All the best with your scooter search. The idea of shaker butterflies is delightful & I do love that combination of yellow & grey. The decorated pin with the bow I a gorgous touch & I just love the whole way that the flowers curve about the aperture.
Take good care of yourself.
Much love
Paula (PEP)

Helen said...

Stunning card, as always!! I love the sentiment too, it is lovely. Hope you get some success with a scooter, so that you can be more mobile again. I will think of you when I listen to the footie updates on the radio this afternoon!

Shazza said...

stunning card x

Zoechaos said...

Lovely card you are making the most of the yellow and gray combination. So glad you are finding a method of mobility just so frustrating that it is not easy or straight forward. Stay dry XOXO Zoe

MA-MI said...

Lovely colours for a lovely card!

Merry said...

So lovely Brenda, really like how you coloured the flower. Sounds like you have had your fair share of April showers.

Wendy said...

This is absolutely gorgeous Brenda, you have coloured Ruth's Alstromeria so beautifully and love the colour combo.
Wendy xx

Emma (metalicbutterfly) said...

Great card hun Love the shaker element looks fab

have a great weekend!

Emma xxx

Tanya said...

This is gorgeous. I love the colours, and I love that inspiring message too. The flower stamp is really pretty and the border is perfect.

Tags xx

cheryl said...

oh wow Hun this is fantastic,love the colours,and that really amazing sentiment just brilliant hugs Cherylxxxx

mckinkle said...

Hi Brenda

Best not bring your Ark down to Southampton for her maiden voyage!? I fear there are many being built across the country this month!

Hope you get to enjoy some shopping trips once your modes of transport are compatible!

Lovely card, gorgeous papers and their colours are quite beautiful and soft and I love the concept of Shaker cards but am too nervous to try them!

Keryn x

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Gorgeous card Brenda ! I love the colours and design, very effective. I hope your weather improves. Have a great weekend, Shirley x

Brittany said...

Gorgeous.. lovely colours.. Hugs, Brittany, xoxo
http://www.mymagnoliacardsbybrittany.blogspot.co.uk/

chillin with Quillin said...

beautiful, love the cloring, nice work!!!
Paula

Lindsay Craftymonster81 said...

Hi Brenda, This beautiful, I love the pretty floral image and the bow and pins look fantastic. I hope that you manage to get your scooter sorted out so that you can get out and about a bit more. It's still raining here too, and it's been almost non stop. If you haven't already you should pop by the PanPastel challenge blog when you get a chance
Lindsay xx

PatR said...

Beautiful card Brenda, very uplifting even if the weather is not. Hope you manage to sort out a scooter. xx

May said...

Adore the colours Brenda.. simply beautiful card! love the coloured flowers just perfect, Wish you luck with your scooter shopping... Hugs May x x x

Vicky said...

So gorgeous Brenda...love the image and fabulous layout too hun :o)

hope you are having a lovely weekend...big hugs Vicky xx

Lisa Jane said...

oh wow Brenda .. i just love this. Gorgeous colours and i love the image
Lisa x

coldwaters2 said...

Hi Brenda this is beautiful the colours are truly gorgeous so is the sentiment, flower and bow, superb creation.
hugs
Lorraine x

Nikbee said...

A beautiful card. I love the image.
I hope you find a suitable scooter soon.
Nikki x

Fleur said...

Gorgeous card B. love the colours
HUGZ Fleur xXx

Wendy Fraser said...

Sooo beautiful, great use of Ruth's image and I love the colours xx

Ruth said...

So fresh and beautiful! A very striking colour scheme, Thanks so much, Ruth x

Crafty Loops said...

Brenda as always your comments on my blog are so refreshing. Did you find your Italian hunk yet? lol. I hope you get the mobility shooter sorted out soon. This card is incredibly beautiful Brenda. And NO.....I did not know there are new Timmy inks out!! But now I want them! Whose enable who now eh? heehee. They really are beautiful colours,I saw them on an American craft site. I'll have to go searching for them in the UK but I bet they are a daft price like the last ones! One thing I was a bit puzzled over.....if they are limited addition colours like the last ones....does that mean once your ink pad dries up you can't get replacement reinkers? And if you can't buy reinkers and the ink pads aren't made any more....is that it? Hmmmmm, maybe I should email Timmy, lol. Lee x

Anonymous said...

love how the sentiment is frames by those beautiful flowers!

I love the way you added the pins and ribbon!!!

Good Luck scooter shopping! :-)

Mandy G said...

Hi Terminator,
I am spending the day knitting curled up on the sofa with wellies to hand just in case !!
I am sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the new tildas so I can get crafting again!
Feeling very inspired after seeing your creation its just lovely the colours are just brilliant.
I hope it all works out with the scooter, as I feel a potential new nick name coming on:)
Big Hugs
Mandy

Lau W said...

Oh wonderful ! ove the fresh solors !
xxx

Lau W said...

oops, colors !

Natka said...

It's a beautiful idea with the frame and the flowers!

Emily H said...

This card is lovely! I love the detail! Thanks for sharing!

Linby said...

oooh this is just breathtaking, I love that colour combo so much.
Lynn x

Louise said...

Hi Brenda we already have a pond in the back garden now and the kids think it is great to run around in it lol.
Love your card very pretty.
Hugs Louise xx

Elizabeth Allan said...

Brenda the elevated window beautifully showcases the sentiment. Gorgeous flowers too!

Sally H said...

beautiful card, Brenda!