Saturday 4 February 2023

Allsorts Challenge #714


Good morning everyone, it’s Saturday so it's time for another weekly Allsorts Challenge. This week it is Lynn's turn to host and she has chosen the theme

*** Anything Goes -  option “I Love ...”  ***

If you choose to follow the option you could interpret it by using your crafty loves (stamps, equipment, techniques etc.) or by making a love occasion card such as Valentine's or anniversary. However we welcome all your makes so long as they follow our simple rules.

This month’s prizes come from WOWVOWCraft Stash, AALL and Create and Ruth Hamilton DesignPlease click on the links to visit their individual websites, and you can read more about them on our Patrons’ page.



Here's my card for this week. 


There are so many crafty things I love that it’s difficult to know where to start, but this card was inspired by the fact that I love snowdrops, and I saw the first ones of the year last weekend when we went out for a country walk with a couple of friends. Also I love Uniko stamps, particularly the spring flowers and sentiments, and I won this fabulous Spring Botanicals set a year ago but received it just a bit too late to make any snowdrop cards so it has had to wait until now! I also love distressing, Lavinia stamps and spattering, all of which I have managed to incorporate on this card. Last but not least I love motivational sentiments, and this one from the same Uniko Spring Botanicals set is a real good one!

I cut a square of kraft card and stamped the focal flower, which I coloured with Distress Watercolor Pencils and then re stamped using my stamping platform.  I grounded the flowers with blended Distress Oxide ink, stamped my background wording in sepia, and sponged around the edges with 2 colours of Distress Ink before roughing up the edges with my distressing tool. I added a little sparkle to the flower petals with my Sakura Stardust pen, added some white Posca pen spatter and when dry stamped the sentiment in green and heat embossed. Finally I matted onto green card stock which also had the edges distressed, and attached to my card blank (the matting is more of a leaf green shade than the camera shows).

I realise this card is a bit unusual for a spring card as it is in grungy vintage tones. This was largely inspired by the fact that I wanted to play with my new Distress Watercolor pencils, and stamping on kraft card gave me the opportunity to try the white pencil. Although I have watched various videos, I’m still experimenting with how they work best for me… so far I’m getting the best results if I pick up colour on a wet paint brush and paint with them.  

Stamps: Uniko Spring Botanicals - Snowdrop; Lavinia Words of Spring;
Media: Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor pencils (Picket Fence, Peeled Paint); Distress Oxide ink (Mowed Lawn); Distress Ink (Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Shady Lane); clear embossing powder; Posca pen (white); Sakura Stardust pen (clear);
Tools: Tim Holtz distressing tool.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Crafty Catz #623 - Anything Goes - TOP 3
Creative Crafters #60 - Anything Goes
NBUS #47 - Use Your Never Before Used Schtuff
(Mine is the snowdrop stamp and sentiment)
Path of Positivity #108 - Anything Positive Goes (3rd entry)
QKR Stampede #460 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday #581/582 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Hope you can join us this week, and I look forward to seeing your entries. Don't forget to visit the challenge blog to see more fab inspiration from the rest of the team. Thanks for visiting.
Hugs,

19 comments:

brenda said...

Pretty card for the theme.

B x

Linby said...

I love snowdrops too and they are all out in our garden at the moment. This card really showcases how they are a little island in the bareness of the garden at this time of year. Beautifully done.

brenda said...

Apols that was short and sweet, I suddenly realised doing it I was late for my Covid booster.

B x

Makira said...

This card is fantastic! I love all the layers. We would love you to share this on our Park Hopping My Happy Place Challenge, a theme park-inspired challenge. Your card represents the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot in Disneyworld. https://parkhoppingmyhappyplace.com/
Cheers, Makira

Lisa said...

Terrific coloring on that Kraft paper. Super image too.

Ellibelle said...

I too love snowdrops and can't wait for them to bloom. It seems that they take longer here to bloom, probably because our winters are usually so very cold!
Your card is so pretty and great idea to try the watercolor pencils on kraft paper. I wasn't too thrilled with the watercolor pencils but haven't given up on them yet. You've inspired me to try them on other than white card stock.

Darnell said...

I like the look of the snowdrops on kraft, Pauline, especially with the snowflakes you made! It's cool how you can spot snowdrops on a cloudy snowy day to remind you that spring is on its way! Thank you for inspiring everyone at NBUS! Hugs, Darnell

Rainey's Craft Room said...

The snowdrops in our garden are only just showing the first signs of white but they won't be too much longer and they make such a pretty show after the dull days of January I'm looking forward to seeing them. Your card is so lovely and with such a beautiful sentiment too.
Lorraine

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

So VERY beautiful Pauline, love the snowdrops on the darker background.
Faith x

HilaryJane said...

Your snowdrops look amazing painted onto the kraft card. I love it xx

Lorraine said...

A gorgeous card, I love the pretty snowdrops
Lorraine x

Sarn said...

Terrific snowdrop card Pauline. The grungy background really highlights the snowdrop to perfection. xxx

Sioban said...

A great card I really miss snowdrops. Love this.

Karen Letchworth said...

Hi again, Pauline:
This is absolutely delightful. Those flowers are stunning and the background is amazing. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your wonderful art with us.
It's always a BIG blessing to me and I'm SO super grateful.
Karen
Word Art Wednesday

Craftyfield said...

Gorgeous card! Thanks for playing with us at Country View Challenges!

Ilonka said...

Such a beautiful card, Thanks for sharing it with us at The Creative Crafters Challenge.
Hugs Ilonka DT

Dagmara Gorczyńska said...

Great idea! I love the craft background and how you used sentiment stamps on it!

Thank you for joining us at the Crafts Galore Encore Challenge.
~ DT Dagmara

Monika Gulyas said...

Beautiful sentiment on a beautiful card! Thank you for joining the February challenge of the Country View Challenges!

sweetpea said...

Beautiful card. Thanks for sharing it with us at the Crafty Catz Challenge Janet DT