Friday 18 February 2011

Wee Suzi

Here is my first card made with the cute and adorable Suzi from Wee Stamps. I've coloured her with Copics, but as the colours were mostly pale they don't show up too well with my new camera, especially the subtle shading I've used. For example, that little ladybird is coloured with R85 and R81 so should be darker, and I've inked the edges of the white leaves and the butterfly with Victorian Velvet DI and that doesn't show up either. Any thoughts on how to fix it? My camera is a Fujifilm Finepix 14 mega pixel, and I'm using all those to take the pictures. Or do I need to change my style and start using darker colours with more contrast - I hope not as I do like the pastels.

The rest of the Copic colours I used were:
skin tones with E000, 00, 21 and R00 - hair with E30, 31, 55
flower pot and gift with E40, 41 and 42
bows on gift and trim on dress with RV91, 93 and 95
roses with R81, 83 and 85
leaves with YG91 and 93
dress with E0000, R0000 and R81
the shadow beneath her feet is done with E40 and 41,
and I've used Y0000 all around her to give a soft golden glow.

For the card layout I've used the Cutie Sunday challenge sketch with Cottage Rose digi papers from Cuddly Buddly and a strip of Martha Stewart deep edge infinity punched lace added to the horizontal layer. I've inked the edges of the papers with Victorian Velvet DI before adding Stardust Stickles, and I've also inked and stickled the edge of the image that I've cut out with a circular Nestie and matted with a plain scallop Nestie circle edged with the DI. I've made the pearls with my Waco cream pearl maker pen, die cut the Joy butterfly, punched leaves and fronds, then added snips of pearl string to the flowery embellishments.

Paper Sundaes have a list of toppings to use this week, I've got the flowers, distressing and pink, and if you count the infinity punched border I have the lace too! The Digital Tuesday challenge is to use a die cut and a digi this week - I have diecut my digi image, the mat and the little butterfly.

Thanks for the enquiries about my health, it's not great but I'm upright! I am getting tired very easily and it seems that my kidneys may have been damaged when I had the bad attack of gout 15 months ago so now they aren't getting rid of some of the things they should be .. .. more tests in the offing but things are better than they were the last time I had the tests. Unfortunately I'd put on a stone in weight since I stopped dieting last summer so I'm back on the diet and have done remarkably well this week with a 5lb loss! I am not expecting to keep that up but at least it's a good start and I'm almost back to the weight I was this time last year, another stone off and I'll be happy, still overweight according to the doctor but at least not obese! I've given up any hope of the hot flashes ever going away, I've tried everything and they are obviously not menopausal as that happened years ago - according to the doc I'm just one of the unlucky small percentage that will get them for life!!!!

24 comments:

  1. Lovely card, Annie, such soft colours! Good luck on the diet. 5lbs in a week is stunning! Everyone will want to know what it is you are doing - me included! Hugs, Lesley

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  2. Such a sweet card. I am glad to hear that you are doing a little better. Hope it continues to improve. Hugs, Carissa

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  3. Beautiful card Annie,I love the stamp and the colours.
    So gorgeous papers and the details.

    Hugs Riet.x

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  4. As to the camera, I find I need to take the photos under my daylight lamp & not in natural light - in natural light they get all washed out. Do you have a Macro setting? Try with that. Please don't change your colouring methods - the soft colours are what I love about your work - change the camera instead, maybe if your husband won't be upset - you can take it back to the shop & change it or ask advice. I'm a self-taught novice with the camera myself so not much help. Secondly - do take care of yourself, health is a pain as is the menopause & I've seen how horrid the hot flushes can make you feel, someone close to me has them daily & for a couple of hours he just withdraws into thorough unwellness. Much love to you.
    Paula (PEP)

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  5. Awwww... what a sweet image & I love your colours.

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  6. what a cute card - that image is adorable!

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  7. This is lovely Annie, I think i may have a little play with this one over the weekend. Go you 5lb well done, its not easy is it?
    Hugs Sonia xx

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  8. what a cute little card ... delightful soft pastel colours
    Lisa ;)

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  9. Hi Annie,
    Gorgeous card and a super little image. I love that MS deep edge punch. So classy.
    I don't know what to suggest with your camera but I think you may have to play with your settings a bit.
    Well done you for losing 5lb.
    Are you going KB tomorrow, if you are I'll see you there.
    hugs
    Marion

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  10. really sweet card Annie,the image is really sweet haven't coloured mine yet too busy, I think shes going to be popular
    hugs

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  11. such a sweet card...cute image too!! Thanks for joining us at Paper sundaes this week.

    fi

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  12. Aww she's gorgeous, as is your card. I love the soft colours, so pretty.
    If you are using a flash that can bleach out your colours, best to take your pics in natural day light but not too strong sunlight. The other way may be to adjust the pics in Micros soft office picture manager.
    Hope this helps.
    Kaz xx

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  13. Such a beautiful, soft delicate card Annie! It's just a gorgeous image and the flowers are beautiful.

    I'm sorry to hear about the kidneys but well done on the weight loss, keep up the good work.

    Sarah xx :0)

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  14. Hello Annie, thank you for sharing your card with me:) It's so girly pretty with its subtle shading, which is still visible on this photo. Do not change your style - I love pastels. Just make your cards as you like, not the camera - because all of them are beautiful.
    All the best,
    Sylvia Zet

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  15. Hi
    It's wonderful card and so cute image. Your colouring is perfect.

    Thanks for joining Cutie Sunday this week.

    Hugs
    Marushy

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  16. Take care of you! hugs!

    Very sweet and adorable card!

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  17. gorgeous card, sweetie, such a fab take on the sketch, and I love the image you have used…..
    Thanks for joining Cutie Sunday this week


    Hugs
    Bella

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  18. What a wonderful card.

    Thanks for joining Cutie Sunday

    hugs
    Andrea

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  19. Hi

    wow,m what a beautiful card. That image is so cute.
    Thank you for playing Cutie Sunday.

    Hugs Nadine

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  20. Oh wow Annie!! This is so so gorgeous my friend!! You've done such a beautiful job with this sweet image!! Sorry I've not been around lately...I've been a bit sick, but feeling a bit better today!HUGS

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  21. That is such a sweet little image Annie, I love the pastel shades you use. Hope you manage to get to grips with either your camera or your picture manipulation software to get the colours more realistic rather than using darker shades!
    hugs
    wynneth
    x

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  22. What a nice card!
    Thanks for your participation in the Digital Tuesday Challenge...
    xxx Anne-Marije

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  23. This is beautiful! Thank you for joining us at Paper Sundaes - we hope to see you again this week!

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