Tuesday 20 October 2009

Birthday topiary

Happy Tuesday from a wet and cold corner of England! Autumn is truly here isn't it? I adore summer but I couldn't live in a country that didn't have seasons like this - the leaves on the trees are such beautiful hues of red and yellow, there's an intense aroma of ripening autumn fruit, the days are getting noticeably shorter (I walked the dogs in the dark this morning!) and there's a real nip in the air.

We have literally hundreds of apples to use so this week I'm going to try to get around to making some apple jam, it's a shame that I can't stand cider or I'd make that! (I know - a Somerset girl not liking cider?!!)

Today's card was a commission from my mum for a friend - she specified topiary and amazingly I actually had a topiary stamp (that I'd never used! See all these unloved stamps come in useful eventually!)

The topiary was coloured with Copics and Prismacolor Pencils - the background stamp is En Francais from Stampin Up.


Recipe:
Stamps - Rose Topiary (Stampington)/Vintage Picnic (PTI)/En Francais (Stampin Up)

Ink - Elegant Eggplant/Memento Black

Card - Kraft (PTI)/Elegant Eggplant (SU)
Other - Elegant Eggplant ribbon/sewing machine/buttons (PTI)/Copic Markers/Prismacolour Pencils/Oval nestabilities


Today we've set a new challenge on A Passion for Papertrey so if you have any PTI products we'd love you to play along - this fortnight it's all about polka dots!

For my sample I used the polka dot tree from PTI's Tree Trimming Trio in three colourways, nice and simple design that will be easy to mass produce :)



Enchanted Evening:


Sweet Blush:


..and my beloved Aqua Mist and Kraft:


Recipe:
Stamps - Tree Trimming Trio

Ink - Versamark/Enchanted Evening/Aqua Mist/Sweet Blush
Card - White/Kraft/Enchanted Evening/Aqua Mist/Sweet Blush

Ribbon - Swiss dot - Enchanted Evening/Aqua Mist/Sweet Blush

Other - Epoxy clear stickers/corner rounder punch/white embossing powder


Thanks for visiting today!

Kate x

17 comments:

Emma said...

Woooo - lots of yummy things today :D I love, love, love the kraft with the elegant eggplant - super duper and also the enchanted evening is so dreamy - swoon, swoon.

Hope you are well and good luck with your apple jam- scrumptious ;D

Unknown said...

Its definitely autumn here too - cold and damp. The trees have been glorious and I could just use a sunny day to go and take pictures of them!

I love the topiary card - such scrummy colours and beautiful lay out. And as for the Christmas Trees delicious and I have to agree on colour choice!

Look forward to more of your creations

Bx

Mandy said...

These are beautiful designs Kate and I loved your topiary card.

Mandy
x

Stephanie said...

Oooooh - love those PTI Xmas cards - would have been perfect for Make & Take lol Don't know about all that poetic autumn lark - I'm not sold cause all I know is that I'm bl**dy freezing haha xxx

PinksyDoodles said...

Gorgeous cards Kate, the birthday card is truly beautiful and I love the different colour ways of the Christmas cards.
Clare x

AuroraDawn said...

Fabulous cards Kate, I couldn't choose a favourite out of them, they are all soooo gorgeous ...

Hmm polka dots, not sure what I've got in my stash that will work, going to have to have a real think about that one ...

Vicki said...

Wow Wee Kate these are just stunning, I love each and every colour!

Hugs
Vicki x

KimB said...

Kate,

your topiary card turned out very elegant - great colour choices. I love the Tree trimmings set - I plan on that being in my second PTI order - yes the first is on its way!! Loved the stylish apparent simplicity of how you used it. You are convincing me to use Kraft more too.

Love Kim

Lol said...

You are not alone in not liking Cider and coming from Somerset, A very bad experience with it as a teenager and have never touched it since!

Love your Christmas cards, lovely simple design very stylish.

Hugs Lol xxx

Aimes said...

So it's soggy at your end too!?
I'm glad you used your unloved topiary stamp because your card is fabby! Love the layout and really love those ickle green buttons, they really work with the topiary!
Also lovin' your PTI creations - enchanted evening would be the one that makes me swoon slightly! Great layout and fab for mass production!
Love,
Aimes
x

Jennie said...

Love the Christmas cards Kate. you've managed to merge traditional with contemporary successfully when they usually jar. They look fun to make too actually which is all the better for en masse cards.
I too am a fan of the changing seasons. I love the smell of Autumn, warm jumpers and nursery puddings (though nursery puddings are an all year round tradition for me!).

Wendy said...

Your topiary card is just beautiful, and I love all of the tree cards! Love the colors you chose and they are just so clever!

Have a great day!
Wendy
SBS26

P.S. It is a cold, dreary, rainy day here in the US.....so I know exactly what you are talking about!

Alex said...

Beautiful cards Kate, just love what you've done with the PTI goodies and the different colour versions.

Have a good week.

Alex x

simplyfairies said...

Stunning Kate as always.....

~T~ said...

Lovely cards!

Tina Spohn said...

So many lovely cards, simply wonderful. :)

Hugs, Tina

Sue McGettigan said...

Your topiary card is fab, I bet your Mum AND her friend loved it!