Thursday 16 September 2010

Home from my hols .... and one stamp, two ways


Just got back in the early hours of yesterday from a week's holiday in Crete. Sitting here today looking out of the window at the teeming rain, it's already difficult to remember the fantastic weather we had most days, but here are one or two pics both to show you and to remind me of the great time we had :-)



Our hotel - the Minos Beach in Aghios Nikolaos - really was right on the beach ....

.... but also had a lovely pool area ...


Me squinting into the camera whilst standing beside the "bottomless lake" in the centre of Aghios Nikolaos ....


... and raring to go for a night out!

Anyhoo, I have the rest of this week off both to catch up with my laundry and to get a little r&r - it is the first time for several years I have had a full 2 weeks holiday from work and I'm loving it! So today I have had a rare full on craft sesh, and having sorted out my DT work I also managed to make 2 very different cards using the same darling LotV Christmas image. Yep ... now the holidays are over the Christmas rush really does start here lol!


I made my first card using an image I actually coloured about 2 weeks ago ... it's the first time I have tried a "tatty teddy" look in shades of grey and I'm rather pleased with it so I think you will be seeing some more like this.

This card is for the following challenges:

Cupcake #108 - Sketch

Crafty Cardmakers #29 - Clean & Simple
ABC - D is for Distressing
(I have distressed the edges of my image with smokey blue and lilac ink)

... and here's a closeup. The Stickle I have used actually has both blue and purple sparkles so is pretty handy for Chrimbo tinsel.


Recipe:
Main image: LotV "James the Bear with Tinsel", coloured with Promarkers and decorated wtih "blueberry ice" Stickles;
Sentiment: Peel off from my stash;
Papers: main background is white pearlised card embossed with Cuttlebug "Snowflakes" folder; blue snowflake paper by Crafty Creations (I think):
Supplies: silver gems by Papermania;
Tools: large and small circle and large classic scalloped circle nestabilities; "decorative photo corners" shapeabilities; Martha Stewart "embossed snowflake" edge punch.
My second card is a more traditional colour scheme to give a totally different kind of look ...
I made this card to fit this week's Sketch Saturday #120

and also for the following challenges:

Fussy & Fancy #19 - Christmas Colours
Totally Gorjuss #47 - Flower


Recipe:
Main image: LotV as before - coloured with Copics & Promarkers, and decorated wtih burgundy Stickles;
Sentiment: Craftwork Cards;
Papers: Papermania "Silent Night";
Supplies: flowers and gold leaves from Prima Christmas bubble; pearl brad, gold spacer and pearls from The Hobby House; ribbon from Hobbycraft; lace from my stash;
Tools: large classic scalloped square nestabilities.


That's all for now ... hope I can manage to make something else in time for tomorrow!

15 comments:

Emma (metalicbutterfly) said...

Hi Pauline

Loving the tatty ted look both cards are stunning!

Emma xxx

Little K Smith said...

Gorgeous cards Pauline, adore this little bear and love the totally different looks you've got from him.
Fab holiday photos too!
Kelly.x

Kaz said...

Hi Pauline, Welcome home, glad you had a lovely holiday, great pics.
Oh boy, both your cards are absolute beauties!
I adore the little bear in grey so perfectly paired up with blues & lilacs and your stickles tinsel is just GORGEOUS! Love your more traditional cards too, stickles works so well with this image.
Lovely cards.
Kaz xx

Helen said...

Glad you had a fab holiday Pauline...your photos are making me jealous...it's been feeling more like Autumn here today! lol
Gorgeous cards - I love that ted...and the stickles on the tinsel looks fab in both colour combos!
Helen x

cowboydutrem said...

It seems you've had very nice holidays! Both your cards are beautiful. I prefer the first one, with it's more contemporary colors. The glitter is perfect for the scarf/tinsel!

ribenaruby said...

Welcome back to blogland Pauline, loving the pics, both cards are equally gorgeous!

Uma said...

beuatiful, love the tinsel - I'm just getting into stickles now :)

Anonymous said...

Two fabulous cards but my fave has to be the blue one! And those stickles - I've gotta get me some of those, lol. Thanks for joining us this week at Crafty Cardmakers. xx

Liza said...

Gorgeous work Pauline. Thanks for joining us at CCC.

Liza x

Riet said...

What a beautiful cards Pauline,I love the images and the colours.
So gorgeous papers.

Hugs Riet.x

Tasha said...

Hi Pauline, it looks like you had a wonderful holiday.
The cards are fabulous, i love the different colourways and the fab image, which looks totally diffeerent in each card
love tasha xx

Juanita said...

Oh my, these are gorgeous, loving the second one. Thanks for joining us at Fussy and Fancy.

fionalawlor said...

Beautiful cards ,i love the first one the most! Thanks for joining us at Crafty Cardmakers

Ali Watson said...

Simply stunning!! Thanks for playing along with the ABC challenge. Hugs Ali x

Anonymous said...

beautiful cards Pauline I know what u mean about this flipping rain and lovely holiday sun! I feel the same! love ya pictures too! I have some on my blog of our wedding now too! Hugs Samantha :0)