Life Through a Lens

I was really pleased to see this weeks challenge from Scrap the Art as I needed to make a card for some neighbours who are moving this week. They have lived just along the road for 14 years and my husband Steve particularly will miss them as he and Dean share an interest in scooters and spend hours out in the garage working on them (actually they are usually just gassing!). Gives me time to craft uninterrupted though! ;0)

The stimulus for the challenge this time is a picture by M.C. Esher called Hand with Reflecting Sphere from around 1935. My sister Jenni has made a card with a beautiful flowery take on it over here.

As soon as I saw it I thought of looking into a crystal ball to see the future, which connected with the idea of moving house. I also wanted a chance to use a Zentangle on a card and this really graphic picture with all the different reflections seemed like the ideal opportunity. If you are not sure what a Zentangle is have a look at this blog, it is really relaxing and fun to do. Basically it is just doodling, something anyone can do but I love the effects you can create.

I am also entering these challenges

Polka Doodles - Monochromatic

Saturday Challenge - Distressing

PaperPlay Challenges - No Patterned Paper

Scrap the Art Challenge

Hi just back from an emotionally draining trip to my Scottish homeland. Well actually I'm half English but as all of my childhood was spent north of the border I feel Scottish. It wasn't the happiest trip I've had as my Mum is not well and is starting to need lots of help. It is hard to come home and carry on as normal knowing that my sisters are having to do my share. It means I will be spending all my school holidays going north to help out but at least I will get to spend more time with my sisters who I usually only see a couple of times a year.

The card I have made (mainly to cheer myself up) is for the challenge over at Scrap the Art. My sister Jenni is on the design team and she has made a beautiful card which you can check out on her blog. This time the artist Paul Klee is the inspiration, specifically his 1922 work entitled Secenio.

One of my favourite colours is orange so it wasn't hard to be inspired. The sort of eyebrow in the painting reminded me of flower petals and recently I found a tutorial on You Tube for making this style of flower which I wanted to try out. I used my deckle edge scissors to cut out all the squares to make them more petal like and drew on the stamens with a Jelly Roll pen. I found a button in my box which looked like the eyes so I was really pleased with that. The lace I have had for years, the flourish is part of a larger one by Tim Holtz and I topped the metallic flowers with half pearls.

I am also entering the following challenges

Divine Diva Challenge ~#26

Allsorts challenge ~ Petals and Pearls

Cute card Thursday ~ Touchy Feely

SophistiCat Challenge ~ So Distressing

Coals to Newcastle!

Today's card is one that I have made for my sister Jenni's birthday. I am hoping that it has reached her in time for her birthday today but if not ,because of the bank holiday yesterday, here is your card Jenni. Happy Birthday!

A few of the cards I have made previously have featured the same papers by Dovecraft which Jenni has commented on so I have used them again on her card. I decided to follow the challenge over at Simon Says which is 'It's so Distressing'.......which it was, as I had to make the card in record time to get it in the post! I edged to image and the papers, which I distressed with scissors, with Tim Holtz Tattered Rose Distressing ink. The flourish is also one of his made of Grungeboard which I coloured with a promarker. The butterflies are stickers I got from Lakeland years ago, the flowers are a mixture from my stash as is the lace. Both of which I think give it a vintage feel.

I am also entering the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly -open theme

Crafts and Me -wings and things

Creative Card Crew - vintage/aged