Tuesday 17 April 2012

Fairy Wings.......

The card I have today was a result of experimenting with different inks and stamps along with my Spellbinder dies.
I also chose different colours to which I usually reach for.


It took me while to put this card together, but I am pleased with the result.  (My photography skills still in need to be improved on, apologies.)
I have a few challenges that I am entering my card into:

Monday 16 April 2012

'Pysanky' - Ukrainian hand painted eggs

Something different to share today. Quite a long post with lots of photos!
A pysanka is a Ukrainian Easter egg, decorated using a wax-resist (batik) method. The designs are not painted on, but are written with beeswax and then dyes are applied in layers, from light to dark.
This year I have done a few and so have my children. Each egg can take several hours to complete, so they have kept me busy. I also held a workshop recently, where all who came enjoyed the afternoon and went home with a beautifully decorated 'pysanka'.


These are the tools that we use, along with white eggs.  On my egg, I have drawn the design out in pencil and then applied the wax.



Some photos of my daughter (she is nearly 6) applying wax to her egg.  

 

Next, the egg is placed in a dye.  The first colour is yellow, as we work from light to dark.  We continue this process until all the chosen colours have been applied.  At the end, the wax is melted to reveal the colours.
 

The above, are two of the finished eggs before they have been varnished.
The photos below are when they have been varnished, they look so much shinier and prettier now.(Mine and the children's)

 



 (Pysanky are one Ukrainian tradition that we enjoy to do at Easter).
 At this time of year, we prepare a basket of food for the Easter Basket Blessing, which takes place at the church on Holy Saturday.  The blessed food is then eaten on Ukrainian Easter Sunday morning for breakfast.  Home baked paska (sweet bread), cooked hams, eggs, horseradish, butter and then the pysanky are added for decoration.  This is our basket below which we all enjoyed for breakfast yesterday morning. (Ukrainian Easter Sunday)

  I have still a few eggs to varnish and will show them on here when they are finished.





Thursday 12 April 2012

Anniversary Card

I have an Anniversary card to show today.  This card was made for a request by a friend.  I have tried to keep it focused around the sentiment for which I have used my Spellbinder Fancy Tag Dies.  I love this set, as they are so pretty and can add that finishing touch to a card.



I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Spring Creations Using pastel Colours


Wednesday 4 April 2012

Spring Engagement..........

Today's card was made some time ago for an engagement.  The image is stamped and coloured in using my promarkers and then die cut. The scalloped edge was die cut from some pink glitter card to brighten it up.  I just love the simpleness of the card, with the fresh pastel colours. 


Tuesday 3 April 2012

Another Butterfly Card...

Hi All! Well, another simple butterfly card today.  I'm trying to use up all those bits and pieces on my desk and this is what I came up with. After the lovely weather last week and seeing butterflies in the garden, I have been using them on my cards also.


Also liking all those fresh, pastel, spring colours!
Entering this card into the Spring Challenge on:

Monday 2 April 2012

Butterfly Birthday Card.........

On today's card I have used my new Marianne butterfly die, which is beautiful and so elegant.  I can see myself using this alot!  I also wanted to try something different with my ribbon along the card - what do you think?  So easy to do also!


 

Going to enter my card into the Sir Stampalot Challenge Birthday:
My first challenge entry, so I hope that I do it correctly.

Sunday 1 April 2012

A Floral Card and some tags.......

As I have been away from blogging for a week, I thought I would share two types of projects today, a floral card and some tags!  The card is simply made using my embossing folders and Dawn Bibby's Daisy stamp - one of my all time favourite stamps!  I stamped and cut out the flowers and then embossed them, added card candi with a glitter sticker in the centre.


For my tags I have used many different inks and stamps.  In particular my distress and adirondack inks and my Cosmic Shimmer sprays.  My favourite is the 'Thanks' tag and it was made using bits and pieces I had on my desk, so very pleased with the result!