Love is gone

'Love is gone' is the title of this stamp by Ching Chou Kuik - it's one I've had for quite some time and had even stamped up and coloured most of the image. Those blue violet shades do have a tendancy to fade however, so I went back over her hair and added in the icy blue background, it does mean I'm not sure of the exact colours I used. I have a coloured in chart that I refer to rather than sticking rigidly to numbers in a colour family group - sometimes I find that gives you a better contrast and helps make some areas pop, like those roses.

It's a simple card with scraps of freebie magazine papers by Nitwits, edges inked with spring pansy Versamagic chalk ink, then matted with lilac cardstock. I've added dimension by matting the image with 3d foam pads, and doing the same with the stamped text (does anyone know who has the dimension challenge - I'm sure I've not dreamt it up?). The embellishment is a couple of Marianne diecut leaves, satin ribbon tied in a bow, a pearl rose button and 3 little Nellie's Choice butterflies finished with tiny gem bodies.

I didn't dream it .. .. the Moving Along With The Times challenge is for layers so I can go and enter my card.

And, I'll enter the Paper Sundaes and Incy Wincy blog challenges as they each have a birthday theme this week.

I managed to finish shovelling the gravel onto the path yesterday - and have discovered muscles in my arms I forgot I had! Fortunately hubby had done the bulk of the work on Sunday so I didn't have too much to do - it's looking good but I'm not going out in the rain to take a picture. And talking of taking pictures, I've tried several times to snap the kitchen roman blind that is now hanging at the window - I am pleased with it, although the Laura Ashley sale fabric was a bit of a pain with the print and the warp/weft not lining up. In the end I stayed with the pattern and cut by the selvage edges rather than trying to line up with the weave across the fabric. I have quite a bit left over but can't decide whether to make oven mits or place mats .. .. .. I've also tried snapping a cross stitch flower picture I've moved into the 'green' dining area - I made it several years ago and discovered it goes quite well! Every time I try to take a picture I'm getting reflections in the glass or it's too dark to show up the delicate flowers - oh well, you'll just have to stop by for a cuppa and see it for yourselves!