Saturday, July 04, 2020

Don't Worry, Bee Happy

Hello there... 
Happy 4th July to all my friends in the USA and to all my friends here because today marks the start of relaxed rules following the lockdown in the UK... 

From now a lot of businesses are allowed to open including pubs and bars which, believe it or not, opened at 6am. I can't imagine anyone wanting to drink alcohol at that hour but there we are. Even before the bars and pubs opened there have been some awful scenes in my city. 
Crowds gathering to celebrate the football championship, crowds gathering just to drink and party, fireworks going off late at night, beaches and villages left full of litter. There's been a lot of damage, a lot of vile attacks on animals and it saddens me to the core how some people behave. I'm dreading the second spike which I think is now inevitable.
But enough of that, it's too depressing.

Today I have a few cards to share, first up one for



It's been dull and wet all week and this card has a lovely shine but so difficult to capture that on a photograph.
I started by stenciling the circles with Distress Oxide blueprint and used a fineliner pen to trace them.
Then I stamped and embossed  flowers here and there together with the little bee. I used gold paint on the bee, parts of the flowers and to dot the circles.


The next 2 cards I made a while ago to send to blog friends


This one went off to Canada
 

And this one to  California


 
Well, I'm going to do some baking now - I made a batch of rock cakes a few days ago and last night I just fancied one but when I looked there was only 2 there. DH swears he didn't eat them, Mikey doesn't eat cakes of any description so I guess the fairies came. Funny how they left crumbs all over DHs chair?
 
Have a wonderful day
Be safe

~ Ros ~

25 comments:

Viv said...

All gorgeous Ros!
Stencil tacing is really effective and I like the colours you chose.
And you know i simply love your watercolours!
(PS We're not actually that far from each other but a ramp would not help - (thank you for the offer) it is a communal set of steps that service 8 flats - 10 steps in all on a dog leg that lead outside so she would not be allowed to leave it down and she certainly couldn't put it down herself. Feel very sorry for her as she has gone from being fiercely independent to virtually housebound) xx

bolletjelucky.blogspot.com said...

That are all beautiful cards Ros but the first card is stunning (I think). Beautiful vibrant colors and I love the gold you've added.
Greetings Miranda

Pat said...

I love the look of the circles and flowers Ros and so striking with the outlines and the pretty gold paint on the flowers and the sweet bee, and for the little dots on the circles. x

Pat said...

Sorry Ros I was so excited about the first one I hit the publish button and realised I didn't say how pretty the other two cards are. When you said Canada and California I think I know who they were for and I'm sure they will have been so excited to get these beauties! x

Robyn Oliver said...

Your traced stencil card is amazing Ros, what a fabulous design and loving the bright freshness of the colours. I am so honoured to have one of your gorgeous handpainted cards hanging above my desk... thank you Ros and I know the friends you've sent these two lovely cards off to will appreciate then as much as I do, hugs and stay safe Robyn

nancy littrell said...

Wow..Gorgeous blue, gold and white color combo for your stenciled and traced bright blue circles, Ros. So beautiful and cheerful and the Perfect sentiment. Did you freehand the sentiment? Love it! TFS my friend and joining us at CAS Mix Up (stencil tracing). Stay safe..so many crazies out there...world wide:-( We are staying safe too. BTW...what are rock cakes? I LOVE to bake and I am picking blueberries and Loganberries (a tart blackberry) everyday. Done with the strawberries. Do you share recipes? Love and Hugs...Nancy

Zoechaos said...

Love your style the offset topper with some little detail in the "blank" space all 3 cards are wonderful. Reading your post and looking at the Bee card I'm guess you are from that city where the Bee is a special elmbem? so sad how some people see the easing of restrictions as an excuse to run wild. Stay safe, keep well & HAVE FUN x

Diane said...

Well hello my friend, your cards are stunning as always and each one as unique as the other. The stenciled card is so pretty with the gold accents and the softness of the watercolors are beautiful on the other two. I can first hand attest they will LOVE them! Okay, I also need to know what a rock cake is, sounds yummy and intriguing!!

Bonnie said...

LOL, so those elves go to your house too? I share in your distress about our times. The same things are happening here. Our state opened a few weeks ago and people are going way too far in getting together. Our positive cases and hospitalizations are so high that I fear another complete lock down. At first it brought out the best in people. Now it seems to be bringing out the worst. I keep reminding myself that God has a plan in all this and it will be for good. Off my soapbox now. Love, love, love your outlined stenciled circles with the stamped and colored flowers and sweet little bee! Your watercolor cards are so delightful with the fairy swing and little birds! I know the recipients will treasure them! XOXO

I Card Everyone said...

Fabulous tracing, Ros... at first I thought 'she can't have traced those flowers!' Not that I don't think you ARE that good! lol
Two more darling hand-painted treats for friends - I know they'll love them - I sure do!
=]

Darlene said...

Oh Ros I'm so sorry to hear that there is craziness going on in your country just as it is here in the US! What is wrong with people??? And I agree so depressing ... that's another reason I came here to view your BEAUTIFUL designs ... ALWAYS make me happy! What a cool technique on your first card ... never heard of it but sounds like fun and might give it a go since I'm hiding in my cave today, avoiding the high heat & humidity outdoors. And how sweet of you to send some of your beautiful art work onto friends ... I'm sure they will be treasured! They are both just amazing ... you have SO much talent! Lovely works today my friend ... thanks for bringing joy into my life today!

Mac Mable said...

Wonderful use of the stencil and stamping Ros on your beautiful and creative card x. Gorgeous cards for your friends across the pond x. Had a little chuckle about the biscuits. We are lucky up in Scotland as we are behind you with unlocking etc and that suits us just fine x. Very wet, cold and windy up here too x...

Marina said...

Your beautiful paintings look like a fabulous fairyland - maybe the fairies from there stole your cakes! The bee card has a great design and wonderful colours and I can see some shine I think.

Marcia Hill said...

Humanity sure has surprised us lately, hasn't it?!! Makes my heart so sad how people are behaving, and here I thought it was just here in America! Think I'm just going to stay in my craft room and bury my head! But on to happier thought...your cards are ALL beautiful Ros!! LOVE how you did all the outlining of those stenciled circles...they match so perfectly with the flowers and bee! Lovely, lovely card! And of course your two painted cards are lovely as always...I never get tired of seeing them! Hang in there my friend...I have to trust that God has a plan in all of this!! Hugs. :0)

Maria said...

Such a wonderful bee card with the lovely flowers and circles! And, love the water colored cards! Amazing talent showing all the delicate details, so pretty! Your friends will be very pleased, I’m sure...true treasures! Take care and stay safe, hugs!!

Christine Alexander said...

great stencil tracing and love your little bee.
Your friends will be so thrilled to receive your hand painted cards and I'm sure they will be framed :)

My Paper Epiphany said...

Your stencil card is so stunning! I love the colours and the cartsy design. Thanks for joining in at CAS Mix Up. Your 2 fairy cards are so gorgeous and whimsical! You are so talented! Australia had opened up a few weeks ago, but we now have a surge of new cases in Melbourne and we're now going back in to lockdown for 6 weeks:) Looks like I'll be staying in my craft room:)

Loll said...

Hi Ros. Your stenciled card is awesome! Isn't it amazing the difference with just outlining the stenciled images?? Love it. So bright and fun. I know have that song in my head! :)

Your two hand painted cards are STUNNING! I just love your work and each time there is something new and different. That swing is so sweet with the vines curling around the ropes. And your birds are so sweet and happy!

No surprise as to where those rock cakes went. :) xx

Pauline said...

Sorry I'm falling behind again. Started a new role at work, this is my second week into it, so, so busy, working very long hours each day(13-15hrs/day), so when I'm done I'm basically done for the night. Love your stenciled card, what a great idea! Love your colours that gold just adds that extra doesn't it! And I love the sentiment, so pefect! Yes I heard about your country, what is wrong with people! It's pretty good in my city, but Toronto is a different story. I still don't go out much, just for groceries and meds, but I do have to go into work every morning but only for a bit and no one is around as we are all still working from home.As for your painted cards, well you know I received mine and it is sitting in front of me up on my shelf, I look at it many times a day and smile! Thank you Ros!!

Greta said...

Oh funny--you found crumbs in his chair! They're all kids, I guess--haha! Too depressing is right! Some days it really gets to me. How can so many people be so stupid & selfish--& that includes our leaders! Oregon was doing so well, but today we had the highest number of cases sinces the pandemic began. We've gotta be super careful for a long time. On a happier note--LOVE your stenciled entry, Ros! Brilliant to use the circles & add the stamped flowers! The gold paint puts it over the top! I know your friends treasure the darling little paintings--love your style for foliage!

Jo said...

This card is delightful Ros, the dry embossed stitched frame behind the off the edge mix of stenciled and stamped panel. The sentiment speaks clearly with what you're experiencing right now. Beautiful colours and I love the crispness of this card.
The watercolour cards are a breath of fresh air.
Take care, life happens ....love helps xx

Papercraft Boutique said...

Gorgeous stencil tracing card, Ros! I can imaging the beautiful shine from the gold paint and I love the color combo.
The nature scene watercolor cards are so lovely! Your friends will sure love them.
Indoor dining and activities are closed again last week in Los Angeles County after the rapid increase of the COVID-19 cases. I'm wondering when this will end...
Stay safe!
Hideko xx

Sue Lelli said...

LOVE them ALL but that swing just makes my heart Happy!

Leslie Miller said...

I'm late to visit because we've been away camping. I was behind before we left, so you can imagine. Reading about your crowds carrying on sounds so much like here, which has upset and disappointed me in the extreme. If I had heard anything about cruelty to animals I would freak out. I really needed to get away so we had a relaxing, totally contactless vacation in our motorhome. Now I'm loving the dickens out of your cards. The first is very clever, as I would totally expect your take on the challenge to be. The rest of them are just as sweet and pretty as can be. You rock, Ros!

Barbara said...

This very moment I'm mainly in shock at how long I haven't come by to see what and how you've been doing... July and early August were months filled with visitors and I am only now starting to catch my breath. Love all your wonderful cards, the golden shine does show on the bee card! And by now I think that fairie is not around your place anymore, I'm afraid it has moved here and is all too fond of chocolate...