Saturday, 18 February 2012

WMS Blog Party




Hi all, I'm back!! We returned from The Gambia at 2.00 am this morning, so I'm slightly bleary eyed!

Fashionably late to this month's blog party at Waltzingmouse Stamps, when I went away last week I didn't have time to create a card so I had resigned myself to not joining in this month :-( However, I was delighted to find we can link up until 6.30 pm GMT tonight, so I pulled out a few bits and pieces!

This month's theme is 'Spring', my favourite time of year.




Being short on time (two suitcase won't wash themselves!), I used the little floral image from Spring Baskets that was already coloured, attached this to the little basket which had already been stamped and cut with a nestie oval, just had to do a quick bit of shading with my Promarkers.



Used a pre-cut fancy tag, and stamped the sentiment in Paris Dusk, added a few blue gems...



Attached the basket oval and sentiment to a polka dot piece of Kanban card, which I had already cut to size for a different project but didn't work out.
Finally I stamped the butterflies in Paris Dusk onto a white Linen card base and voila! All in all, it took me around 20 mins! That is a record for me!

I'm also entering this into CES Challenge for Spots and Dots, and I Love Promarkers Challenge which is looking for Nature.

Well, The Gambia was gorgeous, but as you can imagine, we saw such grinding poverty that a lot of the population have to live with. The education has to be paid for there, and quite literally, they have nothing to work with. A couple of the residents in our hotel had been to The Gambia many times before, and always bring paper pads and pens to distribute to the local village schools. 25% of the children there can't afford to be sent to school, and they desperately want to learn. It really made me appreciate the quality of life we have here, and the fabulous chances our children receive, we are so lucky.

We are going to collect the kids at lunchtime today, they were staying with their grandparents in Southampton, I can't wait to get some cuddles with them!

I'll be round to blog hop tomorrow, as I really must have a bath, get the washing on, do some shopping, and get my babies!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

46 comments:

Deirdre said...

Beautiful card - sounds like your trip was amazing. Safe travels today.

Kelly S. said...

LOVE how you colored those flowers, Pauline! The shade of purple is so springy on your card. What a sweet butterfly background! So glad you got back safely from your trip and still had time to join the party :)

Cassie_lu said...

great color choice for your card and flowers

Ruby said...

Ah it's good to see you back. I look forward to catching up and hearing all about it! Lovely card, great that you had time to link up, such a fresh and pretty card!

Karen M said...

Pretty card, Pauline! Love your colouring and glad you got into the party in time Kx

Anonymous said...

Great to see you back Pauline - what a sweet card you made for the hop, even though you are just back from your trip! Love that pretty basket ;)
Would love to hear more about Gambia, and maybe you took some photos to share? Fascinating!
Rx

Kary said...

Hi Pauline! This is such a gorgeous card!! Love the sweet colours and the flowers look so pretty. Love your colouring.

Sasha said...

Hi Pauline,
OMG! I can't believe that your back and already blogging - LOL!

Your card is very pretty, I love your sweet coloured image and papers...Welcome home!

Ann said...

So pretty! Love that lavender colour - it was my grandmother's favourite and she always wore it. Love all those perfect layers too.

The Gambia! How exciting! I absolutely agree about the schooling in those African countries - seeing children so desperate to get an education is very humbling when you think about all the kids in this country that have to be dragged to school.

Lynn Mercurio said...

Oh Pauline - this is a beautiful card...outstanding design (love your base design and how it really makes your focal image POP). Gorgeous springtime colors just make me smile all over!

Genevieve said...

Gorgeous card, love the colours & your butterfly Bg is very pretty :)

Genevieve

Meredith MacRitchie said...

When we went to Jamaica, we were struck by the same thing: We were enjoying this luxurious vacation, while the majority of people who live there stayed in pieced together shacks and lived in poverty. We almost felt guilty about being able to afford our holiday, but then we thought about how our staying at the resort is what kept so many people employed!!

Your card is awesome, especially considering you managed to put together all kinds of leftovers to create it!! I love the flowers in the picnic basket, what a perfect idea!!

JJ Bolton said...

Such a sweet card Pauline!

Looking forward to hearing more about your trip! Traveling really puts everything in perspective doesn't it? Hope your on your way to your babies:)

Joyce said...

You really pulled together a fantastic card. Very pretty.

Super Jen said...

Such a pretty shade of blue to have used. Love this card!

Unknown said...

Very lovely, can't believe you just thew it together in 20 mins!! wow!! and wow!! that was quite a trip!!! sure hope you took some pics???? Hugs to you for playing along even tho you were just home and most likely shattered!!

Sue Lelli said...

Welcome HOME! 20 minutes! Call the Guiness Book of World Records! PRETTY card! LOVE the popped flowers in the basket and the flitting butterflies!

Marie said...

Fantastic study in blue card. The layered flowers look great on that wonderfully colored basket. Love the monochromatic colors.

Renee said...

Beautiful!!
Love the colors...
so bright and vivid!!
And your coloring...
spectacular! :)
And I forget to mention that adorable stamped bee background...
makes me smile! :)

Julia Aston said...

Welcome back Pauline! glad to hear you had a good time away!

Your card is lovely with the pretty dots paper and beautiful basket of posies! so glad you found the time to join us!!

Stamps and Paper said...

Great card Pauline...hope you had a fab time

Anne

Sarn said...

Very pretty x

Anne said...

This is completely and utterly adorable! Lovely spring colours
Anne
x

Deborah Frings said...

I am mega impressed that you managed to get a card made for the Blog Party! Love it! I adore purple and lilac and this is just so sweet.

Sounds like you had a wonderful break! Not quite as warm here!

Maria said...

Glad you are back, Pauline! Hope you enjoyed your trip to Gambia! A lovely soft card you created. So pretty that it reminds me of spring! You take care and have a wonderful week, hugs!!:-))

Charmaine Stack said...

Pauline, you are a champ! I thought you would miss out due to your vacation but so glad you made it to the party. This is a great card and to be done so quickly is amazing. Love how you colored the flowers.

Marybeth said...

Beautiful spring card, love the basket and flowers! Purple is a great spring color! Sounds like a wonderful trip and one that makes you also count your blessings .

rudlis said...

This is absolutely fabulous!
It's a beautiful colours combination. I love basket and flowers. Thanks for visiting my blog and your kind words.

Karin Ã…kesdotter said...

Super sweet Spring card Pauline, love how you created the bg and your coloring is fabulous!

Have a great day, hugs, Karin

Jeanne J. said...

So glad you're back safe and everything went well on your trip! I can't believe you got this done in time! Amazing! I love the colors and the coloring and the pretty purple color!

Anonymous said...

Pauline, this is so pretty. I love the butterfly background with the polka dots layered behind that beautiful basket of flowers.

Mona Pendleton said...

Darling card Pauline! Cute little baskets of flowers and love the framed sentiment! Thanks for joining along with WMS :)

LaurieJ said...

Such a beautiful card, Pauline! Your little basket of flowers is lovely. And I especially love the butterfly background paper that you created.

Sharron said...

Beautiful card, Pauline--it doesn't look at all like a quick, last minute creation! Love the stamped background behind the wonderful polka dot layer and your lovely basket of flowers! Perfect for Spring!!

Helen Berry said...

Pauline - Welcome Back!! this is just adorable - i'm just in love with those little butterflies you stamped on your card base and love those beautifully coloured flowers in the basket! WOW!! Really glad you were able to make it to the party in the end - always look forward to seeing your creations :)

Cassi said...

i love your stamped butterfly background!

~ Ali Robertson ~ said...

Fabulous creation Pauline delish colours and design

ali x

xxxtglxxx said...

Lovely, fresh and springlike card :)

hugs

xxalisonxx

xxxtglxxx said...

Lovely, fresh and springlike card :)

hugs

xxalisonxx

xxxtglxxx said...

Gorgeous card, I utterly love this! :) Beautiful colours and great design hun!

hugs

xxalisonxx

Jenny said...

Oh I missed this post...I thought you were still on your hols!!! Sounds like you had a good culture soaking time...we take so much for granted dont we :0) Glad you enjoyed your time there and I assume you haven't whisked this cute little card up since you got home! Love the basket of flowers :0)
Jenny x

Colleen Dietrich said...

This doesn't look like a 20 minute card, Pauline! It's CAS, but oh so lovely.

I never heard of The Gambia before. Is it a town/country?

karen said...

Beautiful card, lovely and fresh! thanks for going spotty and dotty with us at CES this week, Karenx

Robin said...

A bit late going around after the WMS Blog Party but still really enjoying all the fab inspiration... your card is darling!!!!
Robin

Jen Cuthbertson said...

What a stunner, Pauline! I love that gorgeous purple and your butterfly background is adorable!!

Purrfect Paper Creations said...

This is just beautiful! I love your colors, purple is one of my favorite colors!

Chris L.