Sorry you’re leaving

23 Jun 2016 Comments Off on Sorry you’re leaving

by Helen in Cards, CAS, Leaving, Masculine Tags: ,

I need a leaving card for a chap at work.  Tried one yesterday and you know how sometimes the muse just doesn’t come? I ended up with something that looked like a 5 year old had done it. In fact most five year olds could do a lot better. Just didn’t work!

So today I had another go and came up with three. Here’s my favourite.  Watercoloured with post-it masking and Heidi Swapp clock stamps.  I’ve been wanting to try the grey and yellow combination for a while.

Where you’re going to:
Not greener on the other side
but don’t be blue

Fire butterflies

19 Jun 2016 5 Comments

by Helen in Cards, Ladies Tags:

A second post in a day!

fire butterflies

Water-coloured medieval manuscript pattern paper cut out using two stencils and a punch. The background is clear embossed Autumn Leaves Rhonna Farrer swirls stamp.

This one is inspired by a few challenges which I am entering. Including CAS on Sunday: Butterflies

and Muse #170 from Anita Bowden with the butterflies and a fiery colour palette.

My words, blown out, sent
into the cold world, setting
fire to the debate.

Let’s just say I’ve been thinking about the EU debate and that I believe in people collaborating and working for change from the inside.

Agapanthus thank you

19 Jun 2016 3 Comments

by Helen in Cards, CAS, floral, Thank you Tags: , , ,

I have been trying to use up my stash rather than buy more, but needing more Herma I caved in and made an order, and of course more than just glue fell into my cart.  I have a new flower stamp, the Agapanthus Thank You from Stampendous, to play with.

Here is the first card with that stamp. The background is watercoloured – it’s an attempt to reproduce the Pantone Colour of the Year 2016, rose quartz and serenity (yes they picked two colours this year). I don’t think I got them right, especially the blue, but it’s a pretty combination anyway.

I’m entering this in

CAS-ual Fridays challenge: thanks with twine

and Penny Black and More: June challenge – Flower Power

One thing about not being a carer any more is that I get more time to craft. It’s a bitter-sweet opportunity.

Caring no longer
Time to play and make things, but
chance is bittersweet.

 

Sympathy – sketch and colour challenge

12 Jun 2016 3 Comments

by Helen in Cards

I started on challenges and got interrupted by losing someone dear to me. So I’ve made virtually nothing but funeral service cards for the past few weeks.

I realise now that all those sympathy cards actually help a lot, so now I will be sending a lot more.

Here is my first:

And the haiku that goes with it, in memoriam.

Teacher’s epitaph:
The lesson is ended but
the learning goes on

I’m entering this in TWO challenges (very daring!)

Freshly made Sketches #240

and Colour Q #345

Hearts mew

11 Jun 2016 Comments Off on Hearts mew

by Helen in Cards, Love, Masculine

I went to a communication workshop at work and they got us to pair up and then try to sell something – a skill or item of our own – to the other person. I sold my card making skills 🙂  I was so successful that my colleague actually did commission and pay for the card (the fee was donated to charity). A card for her cat loving husband: created with hand drawing and fussy cutting, black paint and chalk, and a few glitter stars.

Harvest moon rises
Creeps cat-like through quiet sky
I think you’re purr-fect