Nutcrafters Sneak Preview #5

Card Recipe

Card Blank - 14.5cm x 14.5cm.

Nutcrafters Stamp - Autumn Breeze released 1st September.

Dovecraft Design Paper - Abstract Prints.

Spellbinders Nestabilities Dies - Petite Scalloped Circles Large, Standard Circles Large.

Martha Stewart Border Punch - Vine Trim.

Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Leaves #4.

Embellishments from own stash.

This image was coloured in using Copic markers.

Hints and Tips

I didn't have the right colour of brads for this project, so the brads where heat embossed using copper embossing powder.

This card was entered into the following challenge:

Crafty Creations Challenges: Challenge #134 Dies and Punches.

Love Linda xxx

Nutcrafters Sneak Preview #4

Card Recipe

Card Blank - 14.5cm x 14.5cm.

Nutcrafters Stamp - Walk In The Park due to be released 1st September.

Echo Park Design Paper - A Walk in the Park.

Spellbinders Nestabilities Dies - Standard Circles Large, Petite Scalloped Circles Large.

Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Leaves #4.

Cricut Cartridge - Winter Woodland.

This image was coloured in using Copic markers.

Hints and Tips

The tree I made using the Winter Woodland cartridge was meant to be a winter tree but just by die cutting it out of autumnal colours it has now become a tree in Autumn. 

This card was entered into the following challenge:

Card for Men: Challenge #18 G is for... Grandad.

Love Linda xxx

Storm front

Sitting in my car, waiting out a tropical storm in Savannah this July!

After a stormy night we are relieved, no power outage, no trees down in the garden and the only problem is the significant flooding of our basement.
I could not sleep well and woke up much earlier then normal to the pounding of the rain on the roof and against the windows, but it was not as strong as we feared!
I am thinking of all the much worst hit neighborhoods and the people who lost loved ones. My heart goes out to them!


I hope you all stay safe!








Pictures by V.Zlotkowski.  Copyright 2011

Nutcrafters Sneak Preview #3

Card Recipe

Card Blank 14.5cm x 14.5cm.

Nutcrafters Stamp, Umbrella Embellishment - Huddle Together released 1st September.

DCWV Design Paper - Nana's Kids.

Spellbinders Nestabilities - Wonky Rectangles, Standard Circles Large, Petite Scalloped Circles Large.

Tim Holtz Alterations Die - Carnivale.

Martha Stewart Border Punch - Bubble Bath.

This image was coloured in using Copic markers.

Hints and Tips

If you don't have a sentiment to suit your card make your own this one was created on the computer then it was die cut.

This card was entered into the following challenge:

Papertake Weekly Challenge: Dies To Die For.

Allsorts Challenge Blog: Week 118 Back To School.

Love Linda xxx

Nutcrafters Sneak Preview #2

Card Recipe

Card Blank - 14.5cm x 14.5cm.

Nutcrafters Stamp - Falling Leaves due to be released 1st September.

Dovecraft Design Paper - Abstract Prints.

Spellbinders Nestabilities Dies - Petite Scalloped Circles Large, Standard Circles Large.

Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Leaves #4.

This image was coloured in using Copic markers.

Hints and Tips

I used mulberry paper to make the leaves, it gives a touch of realism to the leaves because of the texture of the paper.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

Here Comes The Boys: Challenge #9 Brown and Oranges.

Crazy 4 Challenges: Challenge C4C102 Male Themed Cards.

Love Linda xxx

Tag of war

The morning heat floods the ground floor - we do not have central air downstairs - and only the bedrooms sport those cooling vents which in resent years have become a life savior of sorts for me. My declining hormones must be the reason 
for it, since my rhetoric question:
Is it hot in here or is it me?  is regularly met with a shrug of the shoulders of my certainly better half.
My vain self will not admit nearing menopause since I feel the age of matronly changes will do me any good, it will push me finally over the edge and afterwards there it will be:
 I am getting old!
But it's only physically I am telling myself. My mind churns out ideas as it never has before and the days could not be long enough to let me realize all my ideas.
But I digress! Back to the heat: I discovered after 10 years of living in our house that there is a fan hidden in our steaming attic. A great big thing living in the wall to the side of the house. I had seen it, but the existence of the central air unit up there as well had me under the impression it was defunct....What a mistake. I discovered a turning knob in my husband's closet, a space where I rarely reach into and since then I go upstairs with guilty pleasure, open the latch to the trap door to the magic attic and let that fan blow. A cool breeze descends downstairs and I guess the dog enjoys it as well since he lies on the marble tile floor in the hall and lets his ears flap. I would not mind joining him there!

After a short while my husband would go up for one reason or other and suddenly the humming would stop and the fan turned off...
Well, up I'll go eventually and turn it on again and the discussion follows like this:


Me: Honey, please leave the fan running, it makes such a difference downstairs.
Him: There is no breeze downstairs. Con Edison will love you, lets turn it off.
Me: Just for a while now, ok?
Him: The children will wake up, its so loud, I know your sense of hearing is not the strongest. Let's set a time now! How about ten minutes?
Me: It's 10:30 in the morning, they certainly could wake up.....


His phone rings and he is off to his home office, and I hear the kids traipsing around upstairs. Fan or no fan: They have woken up!


So we compromise for a while. Later I go upstairs to bring in laundry up and to feel a little relief in my air conditioned bedroom and to my dismay I realize it's not nearly as cool as I expected. Looking up the thermostat I see a whooping 77 degrees. Windows open, there is no breeze whatsoever.


My husband promises the evening will bring cooler air and just leaving the windows open will cool it down enough to sleep quietly.
Enough air condition already.
At bedtime I cannot sleep, I turn, stick my legs and other body parts out, toss to the other side. It's not helping. Out I go, close all the windows at 11:45 PM and switch on the air condition. My husband apparently sleeps soundly through all the commotion.
Down to 74 degrees I feel the relaxing cool air caressing my face, cooling my raging hormones and eventually I drift off.


My husband knows little of feeling the heat, he is resistant to cold as well and proudly
proclaims himself unaffected by natures extremes.
I love on winter days to have my freezing fingers warmed by his forever warm hands.
But the summer heat is different. Nothing can make me feel so good as the cooling breeze of a fan...

Image

Until autumns walks softly on falling leaves I will be in need for it's assistance.


Final note: I explained my hormonal imbalance to my husband and my dependency on cool air for my sanity. Now he tolerates the fan use a little longer, perhaps for fear of  further female outbursts... 






Image by V.Zlotkowski and as indicated.

Fluffles Tree

The challenge for this week at Winter Wonderland was set by Kate she has chosen Trim A Tree as her theme.   So create your Christmas card or project using a tree being trimmed or already trimmed.

Our sponsor for this week is Simon Says Stamp. 

The prize is a $15 Gift Certificate to spend in their online store.

Here is my card.

Card Recipe

Card Blank - 14.5cm x 10.5cm.

Stampendous Stamp - Fluffles Tree.

Design Papers - Free Gift with the Crafts Beautiful magazine.

Embellishments from own stash.

This image was coloured using Copic markers.

Hints and Tips

The baubles were coloured in using Sakura Gel Glaze pens.  To add more dimension to the card I used stick on gems on some of the baubles.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

Divas By Design: Challenge 9 Christmas In August.

Love Linda xxx

There will be rain

Well, it looks like our weekend plans have to be postponed. The emerging hurricane is on it's way and a gray and rainy morning arose today.

Peaches, berry crumb cake and sunflowers...last weekend!

To lift my spirit I rescued the dying sun flowers, which had been on my table since last Friday's visit to the farmer's market. They had began to hang their pretty heads and finally this morning I arranged them on this footed cake stand where they bring in all the sunshine I miss today!

Today's morning latte and sunflowers sunny side up!

And while I was contemplating my day ahead I walked slowly through the garden to discover many of my Dahlias in bloom, and before the storm will wash them out, perhaps break them, I took some pictures...

I love these colors. The hydrangeas inspire a wonderful palette of muted pinks, blue greens, mauve and cream.

I do not recollect the sources from these last four images, I take no credit, but they are beautiful!


Hope you all stay safe this weekend!


xx
Victoria






All pictures by V.Zlotkowski except the last four interiors.

Did You Miss Me?

I know I missed all of you while I was away and my Blue Summer House and yes I know I am very sad but I get withdrawal symptoms if I don't make a card for a while.  I have been on holiday with my family we went to Lagos in Portugal for a weeks sunshine.  Here are some photos of my husband and children taken while we where on holiday.

Jenny and Mike.

Jenny and Peter.

Now onto business.  I don't know where to begin so I'll just get straight to the point Katie and Colette from Nutcrafters are relaunching their  Nutcrafters Challenge Blog and have asked me to join their design team as the DT Coordinator how fabulous is that I am so excited as you know I love their designs they are so beautifully drawn and easy to colour in, and I love the fact there is always a stamp or image to use for the current season.

Here is some exciting news for anyone else who would love to be a DT member for Nutcrafters.  We are looking for 2 more new members to join us on the design team simply go to the Nutcrafters Challenge Blog where you will find all the details.

Coming soon New Nutcrafters Autumn Stamps these will be available from 1st September.  I have to say the images are just perfect for autumn.  Here is a sneak preview of one of them.

Card Recipe

Card Blank - 14.5cm x 14.5cm.

Nutcrafters Stamp - Singing in the Rain due to be released 1st September.

Papermania Inspirations Design Paper - Cool Tones.

Spellbinders Nestabilities Die - Reverse Wonky Rectangles.

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Spots and Dots.

Embellishments from own stash.

This image was coloured in using Copic markers.

Hints and Tips

I chose the Cuttlebug Spots and Dots embossing folder because it looks like raindrops in puddles.  Glossy Accents where added to the splashes to give them a wet look.

This card was entered into the following challenge:

Cards For Men: Challenge 17 Anything Goes.

There will be more sneak previews of the Autumn Stamps over the next few days. 

Working on a living room

We are back from the South, with lots of ideas and great inspirations! Coming back from somewhere always leads me to do some changes in my house....But in this case it's this and the somewhat overdue paint job!
It's the absence and the distance I have put between me and our home! It makes me always see clearer and I can make decisions easier! 

Our living room has seen better days. Don't get me wrong, I love the mixed feeling, the old red leather sofas and chairs, so inviting for reading. The baby grand, tucked in the corner near the window and the blue and beige chain link patterned carpet. The artwork is mixed too and there is an ottoman with a cowhide atop. And small writing desk...
The curtains are well worn and over the hot weeks in July the shades on the front windows have strangely disintegrated... A part fell off, obviously just glued on previously! Looking at all this I am thinking of needed improvements. The paint is chipping, darkened around the often used fire place and wall sconces. 
I am thinking wallpaper. I am thinking Bloomsbury. I am thinking Farrow and Ball!
And I am thinking of the Rosslyn pattern.

Rosslyn # 1906

Rosslyn # 1908

Rosslyn # 1912

Rosslyn # 1924

Rosslyn # 1942

What do you think? What would you do?





All images via Farrow & Ball web site.

The Light Brigade DT Card

The challenge for this week at Winter Wonderland was set by Kate she has chosen Light It Up as her theme.  So create your Christmas card or project using Christmas Lights.

Our sponsor this week is Dragons Lair Designs.

The prize is 3 digi images from their store.

Here is my card.

Card Recipe

Card Blank - 14.5cm x 14.5cm.

Penny Black Stamps - The Light Brigade.

Karen Foster Design Paper - String Of Lights.

Martha Stewart Border Punch - Scallop Dot.

Embellishments from own stash.

This image was coloured using Copic markers.

Hints and Tips

I coloured the light bulbs in using Sakura glaze gel pens this gives them a glassy look like real light bulbs.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: Challenge #85 It's Christmas.

Moving Along with The Times: Challenge #111 Fantasy.

Love Linda xxx

Imaginary shopping spree

When in new places I love to go on imaginary shopping sprees. Filling my dream home with the stylish things I love and adore, I'll take you along, perhaps you might start dreaming too.
Savannah has captured my imagination fully and I have toured historic homes, museums, shops. I have found many beautiful pieces and only very few will make it home with me.
Driving home with all our luggage is enough o stop me in my tracks.

Why don't you follow me? Savannah is steeped in tradition, all the way from the first colonial settlers to plantation homes along the coast to the lovely French influenced style of the Savannah houses on countless squares and small streets.

I'd fill this beautiful house...

Let's get started at this charming place! The Paris Market Brocante! Follow the link to shop from home...Filled with treasures from all over, with a heavy French influence as the name hints, it also has a small cafe for the exhausted traveller...

The Paris Market Brocante

An antique bed with colorful linens...

Whimsical shade and a charming alarm clock...

Moroccan  tea glasses...

And wonderfully old and new hotel silver!

Stone floor and cozy seating arrangements...

Add wild cushions...

Mix French table and chairs with candle light!

And finally share a coffee with me here!

While sipping, I spot this next to me...

And these small note books across the table!

Are you tired? Not yet! Come along, I will show you a pretty store with a funny name: One Fish Two Fish! Down on Whitaker Street you'll find great design, books, happy clothing and jewelry mixed up stylish and deliciously! Everything for a house by the sea...

Pretty dresser, pretty lamps, pretty runners!!!

Classic side table with recovered books...

Do I spot Dash & Albert runners? And a darling Low Country landscape?

And right across the street? A little outlet and Circa lighting? Indeed!

Just looking into some windows!

And all that only on a short stretch on Whitaker Street!

I guess you get the idea: Savannah is gorgeous! All around!

And I haven't even told you about some restaurants and the friendly fellow blogger I met...

But that's another story!

All pictures by V.& M. Zlotkowski All rights reserved 2011.