Friday 19 April 2013

Stress and Sentiments!

I have not had any inclination for crafting this last week  but yesterday sat and forced myself to make 'something'- I am hoping that it doesn't look too 'thrown together' and completely lacking in imagination!
We are currently going through one of the 3 (so they say) most stressful times in a person's life - having previously experienced 2 - divorce and death - this house selling is by far the worst time in my life to date. We are still in limbo, having had to cancel the removal firm once, we are running up huge solicitors bills, and all because we are waiting (as are our buyers) for their solicitor to get his act together. This has now been going on for weeks and quite frankly I am thoroughly sick of it all.
Enough of my personal problems - am sure you all have enough of your own without listening to mine....
So back to the 'something' card!

I have had this beautiful linen textured wedgewood blue colour patterned paper since last year - and I decided it was about time I steeled myself and used it.

Not having any enthusiasm/inclination for colouring images I just distressed and stitched the paper onto a plain darker shade background.
Added two pieces of gorgeous lace which was a present from a blogging buddy and edged a bit of shabby seam binding in between the two strips.

Made a bow and had a metal filigree circle (again in my stash for years) which I stitched to the bow centre. The blue/white resin cameo flower circle brought it all together.

Sentiment stamped onto a nestie tag using Adirondack 'Stonewashed' ink and hung a metal birdcage and birdie charm from the bottom of the tag with a scrap from another tag!

Finished with some pearl pins, a couple of flat backed pearls and die cut corners.
Inside co-ordinated to match.

Thanks for sticking with me whilst my blogging is sporadic - I appreciate that you come back and love reading your comments. Have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Challenges -
Little Red Wagon - Cameo
Live & Love Crafts - Bingo (Lace, Vintage, Pearls)
Charisma Cardz - Colours of a Flag (Finland -blue and white)
Papercrafting Journey - Use a Sentiment
Craft Room - So Sentimental
Crafty sentiments - Pearls and Lace
Oldie but Goodie - Girly  (my paper and metal circle both over 6 months old)
Belli - Pastels
Totally Papercrafts - Monochromatic

42 comments:

Desire Fourie said...

Oh wow this is so beautiful. Love the monochromatic blue and white and the gorgeous distressing and textures.
Hugs
Desíre
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

Unknown said...

Viv, this is one stunning piece of work. Love the little cage trinket and your ribbon is fab...gosh the papers are gorgeous too....dad not too good but improving a little, not sure what lays ahead though..xx

Jacqui's little piece of England said...

For a something card I think it is beautiful love your paper (can you tell I'm obsessed with papers) and your corneer dies are lovely
jacqui x

Vicky Hayes said...

What a really beautiful card Viv and I hope making it eased your stress just a little. I truly sympathise - these things aren't at the top of the Most Stressful list for nothing - but it will all come together in the end. Vicky x

Monica said...

Oh Viv, I hope this phase goes smoothly... and your card is a very positive and endearing one. I LOVE this wedgewood paper. I thought it was fabric. And it looks so serene and calm. Everything is so homogeneous and charming.
Love,
M

Mervi said...

Thank you for sharing this beautiful and gorgeous card at Craft-Room's "So Sentimental" Challenge, welcome again;-))m

McCrafty's Cards said...

This is beautiful Viv,I like the soft colours the rose on the ribbon and the cage charm.
Kevin xx

Stamps and Paper said...

Oh dear VIv house moving is such a stressful time..why do solicitors drag their heels...hopefully things will be sorted soon.
Your card is gorgeous and I love your background paper, pretty bow and love the sentiment...

Anne

Cat's sCrap said...

Beautiful vintage card. Magnificent embellishments. Congratulations.

Thanks for joining us at Charisma Cardz this week !

Hugs from France.
Catherine.

Val said...

Beautiful card - love the soft colours. Valx

Unknown said...

Hi Viv, Oh stressful times, your card is not thrown together is has been designed and it is gorgeous. Hope you make some headway soon.

Wilma x x x

Meggymay said...

Beautiful card Viv, the background paper looks fantastic. Hope you have good news soon about the move.
Yvonne x

Jackie said...

Hi Viv, so sorry that you are having a rough time at the moment. I hope it all settles down for you very soon...hugs
A beautiful card, it doesn't look thrown together at all :o)
Jackie xx

Craftin Suzie (Susan Wykes) said...

This is gorgeous Viv! What gorgeous paper and love your design! So sorry to hear that you are having such a tough time of it at the moment. Life is such a bummer at times and then it totally turns around and you feel on top of it again - hope it won't be long before this happens for you! Hugs Susan x

Laine said...

Such a beautiful creation. Wonderful design and detail Viv. Thank you for joining us at Paper Crafting Journey.
Laine
xx

Pia S said...

Love the shabby chic feel of this beautifully decorated card! The background DP is so elegant, and the distressed edges works so well with this style!

Unknown said...

wow beautiful card viv ..love sassyxxx

Zippy said...

This is stunningly beautiful! Hope you manage to get all your problems sorted quickly xxx

coops said...

wow so beautiful viv.i love the blue and white and really gorgeous details :D

xx coops xx

Mrs A. said...

Well if this has been thrown together then I'm crawling back under my stone and giving up!! This is so so gorgeous.
Hope your move gets sorted out soon. We had first time buyers further down the chain that didn't realise the papers they had been sent needed to be signed and returned and their solicitor never chased them! We ended up having a bridging loan in the end to break the chain and make sure we didn't loose the house we are currently in. Such a frustrating time so I feel for you. Hugs Mrs A.

Donna Ellis said...

How lovely, Viv! Pretty stitching and distressing - do you distress after stitching? I am sorry to hear about the housing situation. Hopefully soon everything will fall into place. These upheavals in our lives often reveal things about ourselves we'd rather not see or experience LOL I hope you are soon crafting in a new craft room! Sending lots of hopeful wishes that things will soon work out. In the meantime, I am enjoying your beautiful artwork. hugs, de
{Creative Smiles}

Suze Bain said...

What a lovely card Viv, the embellishments are gorgeous. Don't know what the laws are in England but I hope it all gets resolved soon. Take care. Xx

Debs said...

Stunning card Viv - beautiful DP and such a gorgeous colour. Perfect embellies too :o)
Thanks for playing along at Charisma TPC and OBAG this week.
Good luck.
Debs xx

Tanya said...

Your card is very elegant! Thanks for joining us at Crafty Sentiments this week!

Audrey Ernst (hippieaud) said...

Beautiful creation Viv, I just love the blue and beautiful use of lace, pins, ribbon and those lovely charms. Thanks so much for playing at Crafty Sentiments this week:)

Beccy said...

Gosh Viv, this is gorgeous! I absolutely love that background paper, it's so soft and pretty. I love the lace and all the little embellishments you added as well. Wonderful!
Cheers,
Beccy

Gibmiss said...

Hi Viv
Fabulous card....
Hugs Sylvie xxx

Julia Aston said...

What a beauty! love the colors, ribbons, embellies and lovely distressed edge!

Laura Love said...

I think this is gorgeous! The colors, beautiful accents and the vintage looking ribbon and cameo are stunning together! I hear you about being stressed and life throwing loads of curve balls all at once! Sometimes it does feel like when it rains it pours! I am glad you found some time to craft and take a mini stress time out :) Thank you so much for playing along with us at Crafty Sentiments Designs this week! We hope you will play along again with us soon :)

Caz said...

This is lovely thank you for sharing with us at Crafty Sentiments. And good luck.

Caz xx CSD DT

Jules said...

Hi Viv

Your card doesn't look thrown together at all .. .. it looks amazing and I love it!!! Each and every element!!

Sorry to hear you are having such a bad time selling your house. We had a nightmare selling my late MILs house and lost loads of money through time wasters .. .. but what joy when it was when it was finally all over!!!

Hope you have a less stressful week this week.

Love Jules xx

debby4000 said...

Absolutely stunning Viv, do hope things speed up for you on the house move.
luv
Debby

My name is Cindy said...

Fingers crossed it's all sorted out soon - you have been waiting for this for a very long time!! Don't forget to pm me your new addy at some stage. Hugs Cindy x

Elena V. said...

It's so cute! I saw it at Charisma Cardz Challenges!

Mau xx said...

The card doesn't look thrown together to me Viv, if it was then teach me how to throw this good :~
Love the paper, no wonder you have stroked it for so long.
LOL...yes I guess I do need the car for the craft shops, now I feel better about paying out :)
Hope your moving gets on the way very soon, My grandson had a solicitor like that for the first house he wanted..it fell through in the end because of him. The next house went through in just over 6 weeks with a different solicitor...unbelievable, but it can be done if they try.
sending De-stressing hugs your way.
Mau xx

Doreen said...

Gorgeous card,fabulous papers and layout.xxx

SYLVIA-ANNE said...

Fabulous card Viv, and so elegant. Love the blue and white, and that bow is awesome!
Hope all goes well with the move - Hugs, Sylvia xx

Kim said...

fabulous monochrome card! Thanks for joining us at Totally Papercrafts! Kim x

Carissa said...

Oh wow! This is so pretty. The stamp is so feminine and the colour scheme is beautiful. Thanks for playing at Charisma this week.
Carissa

mixamatoasties said...

Beautiful card.

Thanks for joining with us at TPC this week.

Susan

Viv said...

Well if this card is just 'thrown together' and looks so great I might as well give up now Viv lol.So sorry you are having such horrid problems moving house. We put ours up for sale last year but no takers so giving up for now. I know we will have to move nearer our chldren as we get older though grrrr hate the idea and all the hassle too. Good luck with it all anyway Viv...just count to ten :) Viv xx

hazel said...

This is a stunning card, I love it. Thank you for joining us at Craft Room Challenge.
xxx Hazel.