Hello … bonjour! I’m popping in to let you know there’s a squeaky clean fresh challenge starting today at Time Out … this fortnight we have a theme for you … ‘Holidays’ with the option of using no stamping (except for the sentiment!). Here’s where my imagination took me …
As you can see, I went with ‘holidays’ as in vacation rather than ‘holidays’ as in Christmas … this is the peak month in France for ‘les vacances’ … how could I not depict something dreamy, summery and relaxing?! I used Zigs to create an ombre wash on a panel of watercolour card … it looked for all the world like the ocean to me, merging seamlessly into a blue sky … so I simply added a crisp die cut sailboat and a trio of far away birds … which came in a rather wonderful happy package from my sweet friend Barb … thanks so much, Barb! The sentiment proved a smidge challenging … I toyed with a few ideas, but they all seemed to detract from the serenity of the scene … so I’ll put one inside when the time comes to use it. Anyone remember towards the end of the musical High Society? Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby … on the ‘True Love’ … take a look here, for the background clip and finale … you’ll see how I was inspired (and that Cole Porter song alone is worth a look!)
What will be your take on ‘holidays’ … and will you use our ‘no stamping’ twist? If you do use the twist, you’ll be in with a random chance of winning a £15 GC from our generous sponsor, Uniko … so why not let those creative juices just flow! All the details are over at Time Out, along with a delicious helping of inspiration from our fantastic DT and our lovely and talented Guest Designer, Aileen from Colour and Sparkle (which she does, brilliantly … just go for a visit and you’ll discover why her blog name is so perfect!).
My little yacht will be sailing into …
Addicted to Stamps and More – Inspiration picture below … yum … crisp white on blue!
CASology – Watercolour … my white space is ombre blue!
As I mentioned last week, life here is especially busy at the moment … hoping and planning for a little less crazy over the next few days … that way I can renew my neglected relationship with the computer, meander round blogland and visit all you lovely people, and get to all the happy mail (of the snail and e variety) that’s arrived! I miss you! Thanks so much for all your visits and sweet comments in the meantime … they are, as ever, always a joy! Anita 🙂
My Papercraft World 
Perfectly watercoloured background Anita – love the crisp, white sail boat…it’s such a restful scene you’ve created!
Wow Anita! Your background wash is beautiful! You have captured the serenity of being out on the water perfectly!
Your description of something dreamy, summery and relaxing was exactly what I felt when I saw your lovely card! I can almost hear those sea gulls floating over the boat. Love your card Anita!
Glad to see you found just a little time for us in your busy schedule, just when I think my world is starting to slow down things kick off again too lol. Loving the ombre watercolour background on this fab card!
Stunning card Anita and fun interpretation of the challenge! Your blending looks fantastic and I think no sentiment is needed for this scene, the dies look great!
I love that you went with the non-traditional holiday. I immediately thought Christmas…but am sitting on vacation now…looking out a beautiful lake. Your card is very fitting and stunning!
You’ve created a lovely little holiday scene here, Anita. What a wonderful take on the challenge. The colors are beautiful and I really like the pop of white, too. Gorgeous!
GORGEOUS! GORGEOUS! GORGEOUS! The pretty colors are absolutely PERFECTLY blended – love the look with the textured paper! I agree, a sentiment would have compromised the tranquil scene that you have created!
Watched some of the move…a classic!!! Grace Kelly was a beautiful woman!
I’m feeling the breath of salty ocean spray just looking at this lovely stunner. Gorgeous ombre effect!
‘I’ll give to you, and you’ll give to me … love forever more!” and OH do I truly LOve this card Anita!! Your blue ocean does go on forever more! [I watched this movie just last month on the Turner Movie Channel – which is what I listen to while crafting! Still ‘does it’ for me!] xx
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Oh, how lucky we are…I just adore this card. Such a serene scene, gorgeous and peaceful colours 😘❤️😘
Looks like this would be a lovely holiday to be on! Your blending is beautiful , so sweet of Barb to send you some happy mail! Grace and Bing ……might be a good movie to watch today ,thanks for the reminder of it.
Gorgeous Anita. LOVE your ombre watercolour wash background … those colours are SO PRETTY! xx
Oh Anita, this is sublime. What a perfectly constructed card. Those blues are beautiful and your pops of white are awesome.
Anita, this is such a clever design without the stamping involved!! Love the water color background and the sailboat is the perfect accent to add to this!! 🙂
Oh my…what an incredible background you created! Simply breath taking and so beautiful!
Yes, love the movie High Society, as well. Didn’t hurt that Grace was on her way to become Princess Grace…so glamorous. I wanted to be her…or maybe, just dress like her. She always looked perfect in all her movies. Anyway, the card is definitely evocative of the serenity of sailing…and vacations with no stress…and the blue sea of France. Think you nailed the challenge beautifully, mon amie. Wish I were there to see it in real life.
CAS perfection, adore the ombré background, just gorgeous x
You are so, very welcome, Anita! I knew you would create something gorgeous with this sailboat…and of course you’ve out-done yourself! I love your seamless watercoloring on the ocean and sky…so dreamy, and so beautiful! I missed the last deadline, but I can’t wait to play along this time…thanks so much for your lovely inspiration 🙂
Absolutely stunning Anita!!
I just love the direction you took with the holiday theme Anita – and that sea looks so dreamy – makes me wish I was on vacation 🙂
Dang, girl! This is a fantastically watercolored card! Wow! Those blues into blues….so serene. And I love that film, among a billion other oldies-but-goodies. I’m thinking you should skip the work, and head off to the US in a boat, up the St. Lawrence seaway, through the Great Lakes, and dock right at the end of my street! Oh the fun we’d have!!! Anyhoo…. Gorgeous card! Love it.
Your watercolored background looks spectacular and makes those white die cuts pop! Love your take on the cue word “holiday”!
What a lovely card Anita, so peaceful!!
Wonderful card! I love your ombre background!
your watercolor background is simply gorgeous and immediately made me think “vacation”! fabulous design!! (heading off for my vacation by the water soon… YAY!)
This looks like the perfect holiday for me, Anita! Love the ombre sea background. Thanks so much for playing along with us at CASology this week!
Oh my, yes I can see where your inspiration came from Anita! Your card is amazing! Love how the sky blends right into the water so well! Your crisp “true love” sail boat and birds look amazing on your watercolored background. No, I would not put a sentiment on the outside either, just to gorgeous and serene to have a sentiment on the front! Hugs, Brenda
Watercolor two ways! Love this gorgeous, simple scene! So glad you joined us at CASology this week!
Awesome, dreamy scene! So sorry for my lack of commenting….I thought I can catch up on vacation, but I had such a lousy internet connection, it kept throwing me out and I had to repeatedly type my comments too many times, so I simply gave up….. Now I am at the airport , waiting for my flight to board and the connection is great! So I ‘ll be going backwards, to see what I have missed…….
Anita….just beautiful!!
Love it, Anita! So very tranquil, and that crisp white boat against the watery ombre background is perfect! So glad you could join us at CASology this week!
What a gorgeous seascape you’ve created with the ombre colors. We lived in So. Fla for years, and sometimes you see it just exactly like this. The birds & white sailboat created a perfect look to the sea colors, and oh my, what texture you’ve gotten on the background. It’s just so beautiful & serene. TFS & Hugs
Such a serene blend of colours Anita, just beautiful, Cathy x
Dear Anita,
This cards is full of holiday feelings. I can hear the sea, seegulls, feel the sun and the warm sand between my toes. So beautiful.
Greetings Elisabeth
So gorgeous! Makes me feel all relaxed and happy! Glad you could join us at ATSM. All the very best. Nandini, DT
Love how you have done this scene. the watercolours look brilliant.
What a beautiful and evocative card Anita. I love the ombre background and the stylish but simple design!
Thanks for sharing with us at ATSM.
Hugs
Carol x
Anita, this is such a stunner! Your colours are so perfectly blended and I love the white sailboat and birds. And good call on the sentiment – this card is perfect as is. Thanks for playing along with CASology this week!
I love your take on the word “holidays”! Very pretty card! Love the background you created too!
Such a simple design, but it sums up the freedom I feel on vacation so great! Hugs, Gerrina
Anita, j’adore cette carte ! Normale elle est bleue ! Sans mentir, j’ai découvert ton mail alors que j’étais sur la plage et j’avais devant les yeux la même scène : une mer toute bleue avec un ciel tout bleu et des bateaux blancs ! Tout ce que j’aime quoi ! C’est exactement comme ça que je vois le mot “Holidays” ! Trop dure maintenant de faire le challenge après une telle merveille !
Your background blended so perfectly Anita! Such a fab card!
Now that’s exactly how I image the Côte d’Azur to look – calm, serene, and oh, so blue! Love your ombré washed background – I may have to try Zig pens 😉 – and the card is perfect without a sentiment. And now I’m singing True Love after my little detour to YouTube 🙂
This takes me right back to my lake. Thank you so much!!!! So lovely.
This just needs a frame… before I hang it on my wall! Awesome CAS card!