Friday, February 24, 2012

Cake, Anyone?

Yet again I've fallen into "Bad Blogger" mode.  Just can't seem to settle to doing anything much atm, but hopefully this malaise will go away soon.  I miss my blogging buddies!
Thank goodness the Daring Cardmakers gives me a bit of routine and forces me (ever so gently) to do a bit of crafting each week.   This week it was a real challenge too and more than one piece of card went into the bin.  Sharon really gave us all something to think about with this one - but it wouldn't be a "challenge" if it was too easy, would it?
She says:
I want to see your Vintage Parisian/Palace of Versailles creations 
as this week's theme is
Marie Antoinette
There are lots of possibilities with this theme - your card doesn't necessarily have to feature the Queen herself, but can be in a Baroque/Palace of Versailles style, or something inspired by the fantastic gowns and wigs she wore. Or, you could even opt for a 'let them eat cake' inspired card (even though she apparently never actually said that!)
Can't wait to see what you all come up with!
Fortunately my Craft Robo seems to be working atm - maybe it just needed a rest (don't we all?). but I suspect it will need to go away for a bit of a spa treatment (service) even though it's working atm - I've not had the guts to try it out with more complicated images yet! 
Right, I've just cut out all the rambling waffle about what went wrong and how many versions went in the bin, and how many things I couldn't find that I wanted to use, so you can just know that there was a long list!
Here's what I ended up with
 
Materials:
Turquoise "Stardream" card for base
mix of Bo Bunny and MME papers 
Gold card is part of something that went into the bin
Black Bazzill card
Seam Binding, Lace, Flat backed pearls (part of a Prima set of swirls and butterflies) all from Creative Treasures
White Organza circles for flower, Crystal Ice Stickles, turquoise pearl brad, Ranger Gold Metallic Paint Dabber
Tools 
Cuttlebug Embossing folder "Textile Texture"
EK Success border punch
Spellbinders plain circle and Doily Accents dies
Craft Robo
Notes:
The white flower is made from layered circles on white organza which were each held over a tea-light till the edges curled up a little
The seam binding was used to make a rosette and also to make the bow - I used some spray on starch on it (actually used the iron, shock, horror), then crumpled it up tightly and used clips to keep the crumples till I was ready to make the bow.

There are some fabulous ideas and "takes" on the challenge this week - you can tell it gave us all food for thought.  Please pop over and visit the DCM BLOG and see what the team have come up with.
Building Update:
We're at the end of week 7 of the building work and things are really taking shape now.  This week the tilers finished in the cloakroom and the plumber was then able to fit the washstand and loo which have been sitting in the lounge and a corner of the hall respectively - so we've managed to reclaim most of the lounge now!
The new hallway/dressing area has a pew in it now - but the cupboards are still to be built around it and we're now toying with the idea of adding an extra little radiator in that area (I'm sure the idea of making fresh holes in the lovely, newly plastered and painted walls didn't please Keith, our builder one bit, but he coped admirably when I told him hehe)
The Corian worktops that have been holding everyone up by being late arriving have been installed over the last couple of days and look FAB!  
We're still waiting for a few doors and drawer fronts to arrive, somehow they didn't arrive with the rest of the stuff.  
Now that the Corian is in, they've templated for the glass splashback which goes all along the long wall, next week the last plumbing jobs can be done, the last bits of wood can be added, the funky pop-up  socket can be put in and all sorts of other jobs done.  
The glass takes another couple of weeks though so the electrician can't finish 2nd fix till that's installed. 
Now I can't wait for the glass to come and for the oak breakfast bar to be fitted.  It's all so tantalisingly and frustratingly close!
I completely forgot to add photos last week, but I will try really hard to get some up on here this weekend!

Thanks for visiting, please come back soon

6 comments:

Lythan said...

I love the way you have done the background of the card Kathy. The technical description "part of something that went in the bin" made me giggle as well!

Miri said...

I think your card looks just perfect for a "Marie Antoinette" challenge ... and I'm also a bit curious how your first attempts looked like =)

Karen said...

Oh this is just gorgeous Kathy, it really shows the era well, love it! xxx

Rika said...

Fabulous card Kathy!

Jo said...

lol at 'actually used the iron' and 'Gold card is part of something that went into the bin'! Love your card, the background is scrummy and I love how your flower/rosette turned out - gorgeous!

Sharon (glitterangel) said...

I just love your card, that background is just lovely, the turquoise and gold are just so right for the theme, and I think the image and flower are perfect too. I did laugh at you getting the iron out - I think I'd also be more likely to get the iron out for something craft relating than to do any ironing!