Saturday 6 August 2011

Playtime ....

.... for me!!  I've been playing in my craft room all afternoon - and it's been great fun.  First thing on Saturday mornings I check two of my favourite challenges - Less is More and Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - to see what they have in store for us this week.  I've got the WMSC sketch in my notebook and I'm going to have a think about that one. 

The Less is More  challenge is a colour theme - and this week Chrissie and Mandi have come up with a doozy!!  They want us to use the "Colours of YOUR Nation's Flag" - and as there are people taking part from all over the world this should give quite a colourful selection of cards - well maybe!  There are lots of flags around the world with Red, White and Blue - just like Great Britain!!

I've made two cards - so far - that use the colours of my nation's flags.  The first card is based on the flag of Great Britain - the Union Flag - the good old red, white and blue.


I've gone for a really clean and simple design - so simple, in fact, that I  don't have any sentiment on the card as yet.  I can't make up my mind what I'd like to use it for - perhaps a birthday, perhaps an anniversary or simply a celebration card.


England is famous for its roses and as I'm half English - I thought I'd make a rose the central image.  I stamped the image onto some watercolour paper - the outline was heat embossed with clear powder to make sure that it didn't run.  Then I sprayed on some water and added dabs of ink into the water and allowed the ink to spread.  The result is this really pretty variegated red rose.  I found some lovely textured mirri card and used my nesties to cut out an ornate backing square.  I'll add a sentiment later!


Stamp:  Stampin' Up! - Fifth Avenue Florals
Ink:  Stampin' Up! - Real Red
Spellbinders:  Fleur de lis Squares (S4-318) #3
Accessories:  Card, mirri card and embossing powder from my stash



Now, you might have noticed the comment above that I'm half English - well the other half is Welsh and, as I'm living in Wales, I thought I'd make a card based on the colours of the Welsh Flag too.




I think the Welsh flag is fabulous - I love dragons!!!  One of my favourite series of books is about dragons and their riders - the Pern series by Anne McCaffrey.  Anyway, I remembered that I have a sweet dragon stamp in my collection - just perfect for a card from Wales!!  I stamped the image and coloured it with Promarkers and added some glitter to the spots!!  You can't see it very clearly, but I've glittered the snooze clouds too!  Finally, I added a simple sentiment - in welsh - that says Happy Birthday!



Stamps:  Funstamps - Sleeping Dragon; Local stamp - welsh sentiment
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Real Red
Promarkers: Grass, Lush Green, Emerald
Accessories:  Card, glitter from stash

That's all for now - there are already 36 entries on the Less is More site - I'll try to get around later to have a look, but it's now time for tea.  See you later!!

32 comments:

Pauline said...

Fabulous cards Deborah! I love the snoozing dragon and the beautiful English Rose - saw a lot of these in York last week! Great stuff!

Chrissie said...

Brilliant Deborah, you have certainly achieved a super effect on the rose and I'm so pleased to see Wales represented too! That's such a cute card!
Thanks so much
Chrissie
Lady LIM
"Less is More"

Kim S said...

Your mirrored cardstock really makes that rose stand out...gorgeous!

Maureen said...

Two lovely cards, well done. You can view my card here.
Maureen.......x

Mandi said...

Superb cards DEborah, fantastic rose and that dragon is super cute
Thanks so much, good to see you
mandi
Diva LIM
"Less is More"

Maribel said...

Precious the rose and the dragon is very cute

Canonbury creations said...

Fab cards Deborah, the dragon is cute but the rose is stunning!!
Val x

Hazel said...

Both lovely cards. Hazel x

Suze Bain said...

That rose is fantastic Deborah and the dragon great fun. Two super cards. xx

Paula (PEP) said...

Two very different but equally apt card - love that watercolour technique effect. This challenge is definitely your forte.
Paula (PEP)

Tara Cardwell said...

Brilliant entries Deborah. The rose is stunning and I love the dragon - great to know how to write happy birthday in welsh too so thanks for telling us :-)

Linby said...

I love the effect you have achieved on the rose. What a lovely welsh card too, and with a welsh sentiment, how fab.
Linbyx

StampingStace said...

Loved your cards Deborah, the rose one is stunning!
Stacex (48)

A Consuming Passion said...

FABULOUS!!!! Love them both your 'Red, White and blue' is very clever and I LOVE your Welsh dragon!!!!!!

Rosemary said...

the card with the rose is so pretty and the one with the dragon is too cute. (i LOVE the Dragon Riders of Pern series, too!!!)

GinaA said...

Very regal rose Deborah and the dragon is so cute.

Jenny said...

A fabulous English rose Deborah, great shading!
Cute dragon...I think of Ivor the Engine if you mention welsh dragons to me! Lol
Jenny x

Ang C said...

Two fab cards - love that rose!

Taru Jehkonen said...

Both cards is great - Rose is beautiful, great and lovely. Dragon is funny and lovely!

Jehko xxx

Maja said...

Fabolous cards, both of them, though the second is my fav.

Sarah said...

Two fabulous cards!

Zoechaos said...

Wonderful! Been looking for someone to fly the Welsh flag and your tribute to it and the dragon is magical XOXO Zoe

Beryl K said...

Beautiful cards, am loving your Welsh dragon
Beryl x

Keep It Sweet and Simple said...

Wow! Stunning rose and what a brilliant way to colour it.
Cute dragon :-)
Caroline xxx

Anne said...

Oh wow! The dragon is fun and cute, but I LOVE that English rose, the coluoring is fabulous and it is so effective on the blue mat
Anne
x

Rachelxx said...

Love them both!

The rose is so simply stylish & that dragon is so cute!!

Lynne said...

Terrific cards Deborah. Your rose is gorgeous against the mirri card but it`s the Dragon for me. He is just so cute.
Lynne xxx

Aileen said...

Love the rose and the effect you've created. The dragon is such a fun card. x

kingstonmama said...

I love your rose. It looks really beautiful. The dragon is cute, too! :) Ann

Susan said...

Two fab cards, Deborah! LOVE the little dragon...and aren't you lucky to have TWO flags to chose from!! Love the lacy die on the first card. You really rocked the challenge this week!

Sasha said...

Super cards! Deborah. I love your English Rose on the Nestie frame, and your dragon looks so cute!

Karen Petitt said...

The dragon is a lovely fun card, but that rose - wow - love it, the technique you've used to colour it is fab! lol Karen

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