Monday 13 May 2013

Time Together

Hello dear blog friends. First I would like to say thank you to everybody who left a comment on my post yesterday about my lovely parents. You are all very kind - although I knew that already!! Since I started blogging I cannot believe how many good friends and blog buddies I have made. It truly is a fantastic world and I am so glad that I managed to find my way here. Bloggers are all so helpful and so keen to share and pass on their own knowledge!!

Yesterday we checked the weather forecast, which wasn't good, but was said to be dry until around 1pm. We decided that we really ought to get out and have a good bike ride because the last week had just been impossible. We left around 8 am and planned a route that would be about 36 miles. The first 20 miles we rode into a head wind, which was very hard work - and tiring. In the end we cut it short by 2 miles because as we approached Stratford upon Avon we could see that there were huge black clouds, and it was also two miles on an extremely busy road, so we looped back. We much prefer country roads, because some car drivers just show no respect for cyclists and it can be quite hair raising.  I managed to get up all the hills this time but I must confess that by the time we got to the two finals ones, only about 1½ miles from home, I was very tired and really struggled. But I made it! Hurray! We had been home about half an hour when the heavens opened, so that was great timing. And for once the forecast was just about right.

My Card


Click on image to enlarge picture

This is my usual 6x6 card, matted with grey pearl and a grey striped card that I bought a couple of months ago at an Excalibur craft fair at the National Motorcycle Museum. These fairs are held every couple of months and are great if you live reasonably close. ( Free parking, only £2 entry (as a "senior) and not too busy so it is easy to get close to stall and see the demonstrations.) I used a Kanban stamp, "Florals", stamped in Versamark  onto grey pearl card and heat embossed with WOW opaque bright white embossing powder. I then die cut it with SB Labels 10. I cannot remember the last time I used this die. I think we get so focused on the new dies and we forget that the old ones still have their place. The sentiment is from a Dreamees set and again stamped, embossed and die cut as before. I just added some Craftwork Card Candi and some ribbon from my stash. I didn't have any grey, black and white were both too stark, and so I coloured it with Promarkers. Nice and easy.

Well that's it from me in a very wet Oxfordshire.

Love and hugs from Christine xx

21 comments:

Rita said...

This is a really stunning card Christine, the colours look so classy and rich. I'm exhausted just reading about your cycle ride in all that wind. I take my hat off to you both. Hugs Rita xx

Doreen said...

This is beautiful,love the image...fab colours.xxx

melanie said...

This is one stunning card love the flower , I take my hat off to you for that long ride ,I could never do that .Melanie

janieworkum said...

Dit is een mooi kaart met een prachtige tekst.
groetjes Janie

Karen Petitt said...

Beautiful card Christine. Never thought of colouring the ribbon - thanks for the tip Karen x

Lorraine said...

Fabulous card Christine. I love the design and colour scheme and such a lovely sentiment too.
Lorraine x

May said...

WOW... What a ride Christine, you must be so tired.. thank goodness you both made it home safe & dry... Gorgeous card, Love the colours & beautiful sentiment & embossing... Hugs May x x

Brawny x said...

What a great card. I think grey is a much under used colour. I love it on your card. I'm surprised you've got the energy to craft!
Best wishes
Lea

Jacqui's little piece of England said...

Love your card Christine very classy.
Well done on your bike ride
jacqui x

Sue said...

Such a stylish and elegant card Christine. I love the image and fabulous design.
Glad you got your bike ride in just in time yesterday.
Sue xx

Stamps and Paper said...

Lovely card like the monochrome look...congrats on your bike ride

Anne

Anne said...

Oh Christine I couldn't even think about cycling all those miles, well done you! Love your card, the colours are very striking. Hugs x

Carol said...

A stunning card Christine, so elegant. Well done on the bike ride too. Carol x

Patricia said...

Good sunny morning Christine,
I love this simple but oh! so elegant card. Given me an idea for John`s birthday card.

Well done with your bike ride I will need a lie down just reading about it. Did get my bike out but by the time I decided to get on it the rain came down so back in it went.
Have a Great Day

Patricia xxx

Christine Hussey said...

Hello Christine from a very wet Somerset. I too take my hat off to you and John on your bike ride well done and you beat the rain too. Love the grey colours of your card not a colour used very often. Love the stamp you have used and your design.
Love & hugs Christine H xx

scrappymo! said...

This is a fabulous monochrome card. That image is so pretty and love that you embossed it in white ink!
Grey is very popular over here. It is often used in the decorating of show homes!
I think the grey looks very elegant on your card.

Sue said...

Fabulous card Christine image is so lovely huggles hun Sue xxxxxxxxx

Unknown said...

Gorgeous card and love the grey and white...xxxx

Jenny L said...

Hi Christine,
fabulous card. Love all the stamping and embossing it looks so fab.
You make me tired just reading about your bike rides.lol. You are indeed a very fit lady.
I have changed my email address and tried to email you my new one but it came back to me so I must have typed something wrong. If you email me on my old one, with your email address I will send you my new one. I can still receive them on the old one for a while, but can't send any out on that one.
Have a wonderful crafty day.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

coldwaters2 said...

Hi Christine I love this gorgeous card, that sentiment is so lovely, the colours and design look very pretty a super card.
hugs
lorraine x

Carole Z said...

A very stylish and classy card Christine, love it! Carole Z X