Hi you all, hope you are enjoying a restful Sunday. I have been enjoying getting messy and inky again, playing with stamps and colours. My hands are a lot less shaky than they were, but I still have difficulties, and I think it is important that I get plenty of practice.
The first piece is a card made for 2 challenges; the birds and or bees challenge at Out of a Hat Creations, and a second entry for the Fashionable stamping challenge 'Birds'. I was happy that I was chosen to be in the 'Saturday Spotlight' at FSC for my share some love entry which you can see here if you want to.
I stamped a background using my much loved script stamp in vintage photo DI, and the nest and bird - both from Catherine Moore - have been stamped with Adirondack espresso, fussy cut, and popped up with foam squares. I gave them a glint in their eyes with a drop of glossy accents. I used various scraps to cut the background matting, and threaded a ribbon through some slits between the punched paper lace. The little wooden bird is from Crafty emblies. I love doing monochrome stamping, as it reminds me of the prints in old books.
The second piece is also for 2 challenges; 'Eyes' at Try it on Tuesday, and 'Colour technique' at Artful Times.
I masked the middle of the card, and stamped the script, flourishes and leopard with archival black. Then I removed the masking, and added the 'Eyes' stamp in the middle. I used DI in wild honey, forest moss and tumbled glass for the background, and added some highlights with white, yellow and turquoise jelly pens. The eye stamp is from Paper Artsy, the others all from LaBlanche. If you look carefully, you will find more eyes hidden in the picture - can you find them? This is really a bit crazy, definitely not CAS!
I have used this piece to make my April calendar page.
All in all a fun Sunday for me, but I still haven't tidied up my kitchen: Perhaps next week!
Have a great day, whatever you are up to, stay creative, and thanks a lot for visiting!
Both cards are gorgeous, Val, love them both for different reasons! Your calendar is great, how lovely to have a piece of art work every month! Hugs, Sarah
ReplyDeleteLove all the hidden eyes!
ReplyDeleteBig congratulations on the Saturday Spotlight, you deserve to be in the spotlight with all of your beautiful work! These are all beautiful Valerie, love all the eyes in your calendar too, so unique the way you hid them, love the butterfly wing eyes best! Have a beautiful day! ~Diane
ReplyDeleteThey're both great cards, Valerie! Pretty intense cutting of the birds and nest.
ReplyDeleteYou'd never know that your hands are still shaky - that's some mighty fine fussy cutting you've done there, Valerie! I LOVE the bird and nest stamps, they have such wonderful detail and they look lovely on your card.
ReplyDeletex
Wonderful work on both of these Valerie. The eye is vibrant with the colour you have chosen.
ReplyDeleteThe bird card is adorable with beautiful ideas and wonderful choice of plants. The little wooden bird just finishes it all perfectly. So pleased that you joined us at Out of Hat for the Butterflies and or birds challenge.
Love Chrissie xxxx
Someone's thinking of Spring! Lovely pieces!
ReplyDeleteWell done on your win Valerie! Your card is beautiful and what an amazing calendar page. Glad you are managing to stamp again. x
ReplyDeleteBoth cards are amazing creations, love the birds and the calendar page is amazing too.
ReplyDeletehugs Anja
These are both gorgeous Valerie, I love your birds, but these eyes are wonderful! xx
ReplyDeleteGorgeous creative pieces, love them both. The colours are wonderful x
ReplyDeleteFabulous eyes Valerie, love how the leopard is looking 'eye to eye' with the big eye. Lovely birdies too and congrats on your valentine spotlight. Hugs, Suze xx
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cards and calendar. Love the birds, I agree with you about the mono stamping.
ReplyDeleteYvonne x
Hi Val.
ReplyDeleteLove both of these projects but the first is a favourite. I love it !!!!
Think its the layers that does it.
Gorgeous stamped images on your second project, brilliant colours too
TFS
Annie x
Gorgeous cards Valerie I love the Birds so beautiful and those eyes very vibrant. Your work is always stunning. Love
ReplyDeleteY to have you join us at Out of a Hat. Hugs Sandra X
Wonderful card and calendar page Valerie :)
ReplyDeleteVon ♥
So thrilled that you were spotlighted! Congrats! Valerie these are both gorgeous! Love the elegant bird card and that totally cool set of eyes! Thank you for playing along with us at FSC! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteOK, found 3 pairs of eyes and 2 individual, how did I do? lol Great piece, I love them when they draw you in like that! Thanks so much for playing along with s over at TIOT, All about the Eyes challenge, waving hi from the hills of North Carolina ♥
ReplyDeleteLove the mix of images you have used, so different. Yes, I found several eyes and remembered I have the tiny one below the word "everything". Now where did I put it?
ReplyDeleteThanks for this super entry to our current challenge.
Hugs, Neet xx
Oh Valerie! I'm in love with your bird cards. Totally agree that the stamping makes them look like old book illustrations which I adore. Your other work is bright and cheery - I always adore when you use your eye stamp in such creative ways. hugs, Donna
ReplyDeleteGreat cards! love that eye and the leopard. :)
ReplyDeleteOooh,wow, ich bin ja voll von den Socken. Was für wunder-wunderschöne Werke hast Du hier gezeigt. Ganz große Klasse, Valerie.
ReplyDeleteIch wünsche Dir eine schöne Woche
Love the stamps and colours on your bird piece
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being Spotlighted over at FSC!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful use of Catherine Moore's stamps (I love her stamps but at the moment it is only DT stamps I reach for). Gorgeous colours.
A wonderful post bursting with creativity.
Wishes
Lynne
Gorgeous work again, Val, love what you have made! Hugs, Barb
ReplyDeleteGreat stamping for your 'eyes' project -love that vibrant turquoise! Thank you for joining us at TioT Cindy (and the kitchen will still be there next week.....)
ReplyDeleteZwei wunderschöne Werke hast du gestaltet. Beide gefallen mir super gut. Vielen Dank für deine Teilnahme bei FSC.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a little late ... but just seen you fabolous eyes on the challege side. Wonderful love them a lot. I may need to follow you to not miss anything :-)
ReplyDeleteTake care
XOXO
SanDee
Hi Valerie. Love your birds, but can't resist a cat. that's got to be my favourite. Great stamping!!! xxx
ReplyDeleteKitchens can wait! Love these creations, especially the one with the eyes. (That's one of my fave stamps and I love how you used it!)
ReplyDeleteHi Valerie your card is stunning I love the bird & nest stamp.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us at Out of a Hat
Janet x
Really love your colour technique entry, the eyes are amazing and the colours are wonderful. Anne x
ReplyDeleteWonderful pieces! Great colors and images.
ReplyDeleteMore fabulous creations Valerie. Love all the beautiful colour and texture.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see another entry in our FSC birds challenge too.
Good luck!
Hugs, Fliss xx
Two fabulous cards, love all the eyes!
ReplyDeleteSylv xx