Saturday 5 February 2011

Monochrome image

Morning all :) Hope everyone is bright and breezy today and having a good weekend.

This is my latest card: I wanted to do an image in monochrome after I saw it on a blog challenge a few weeks ago, it's something I'd never done and as I want to improve my colouring I thought I'd bite the bullet and have a go. It made me nervous, but I'm quite pleased with the results, and in the end I found it easier than using many colours.  I used pencils again on this card, 2 shades of warm grey plus black, and aged and distressed the background and added some handstitching, lace and flowers. I used off-cuts of papers as I felt that suited the style of the image: she has patches on her apron of a circle pattern and a stripe, so that's mirrored in the paper scraps I chose.

The image was donated, so if anyone knows the make and name of it, let me know what it is, she was lovely to 'colour' and I wouldn't mind using it again.




Image: unknown
DPs: base: DCWV; burgundy circles: unknown; stripes: K&Co
Colouring: Polychromo pencils, Warm Grey II, Warm Grey V, Black
Flowers: Prima, Wild Orchid plus others from stash
Other: TH Brushed Corduroy & Tattered Rose Distress Inks

I'm entering this card in these challenges:
Cupcake Craft: Old MacDonald Had A Farm (the little chicken)
City Crafter: All You Need is Love (the word 'love' appears in the tag, and the heart is nestled in the flowers)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes + Flowers
Totally Papercrafts - Friendship


Enjoy your weekend, and Happy Crafting!
Carole x

31 comments:

Doreen said...

This is quite stunning Carol,The image is gorgeous.It has a lovely vintage feel.Well done.xxx

Renkata said...

Wow Carol,
I am so happy that you give it a try.
You have done an amazing job!
Bravo!!!
The card look so much more precious in monochrome.
Fantastic layout dear.
Have a magical weekend.

Stamps and Paper said...

Hi Carole - I just love the effect of the monochrome on your card and with your lovely backing papers it's made a stunning card.

Anne

Valerie-Jael said...

Another gorgeous card, Carole!

Flutterby Trina said...

Beautiful, love the image. Thanks for joining us at papertake Weekly!

Good Luck

Hugs

xx

chrissieann said...

Hi Carole
The monochrome against the layout of gorgeous backing papers look truly wonderful, Well done you. Have a good weekend
Chrissieann

McCrafty's Cards said...

Beautiful card has a really vintage feel, I like those papers.
Kevin xx

Janette said...

Hi Carole, WOW, THIS IS FAB...I love it and would also love to know that image, so pretty,I think your colouring is brilliant on all your work, you always do gorgeous cards...hope your well.xxx

Elaine aka Quixotic said...

Hey Carole, thanks for stopping by my blog! :)Glad you found me in the end!

Gorgeous card, you've captured the vintage feel so well.

The image is an old Sugar Nellie stamp illustrated by Elisabeth Bell - she's no longer available unfortunately, so I think you'd have to look for her on eBay. There are lots of Elisabeth Bell stamps out there from SCACD Stamps, Belles 'n Whistles and Whiff of Joy though, so if you like her illustration style you're bound to find some other stamps you like! :)

chrissy xx said...

Oh! Carole this is Stunning. Your colouring is Brilliant. LOve it.
Chrissyxx

Ros said...

This is so beautiful ... I love the monochrome ... thanks for playing along at CCCB

Vicky said...

One word BEAUTIFUL! love the monochrome look and your colouring is just perfection :o)

Thanks hun for joining us at totally papercrafts and good luck!!

hugs Vicky xx

jeanie g said...

This has such a wonderful olde worlde feel to it and the stitching really frames it well. They have reduced the mini sewing machines to £12.50 at Melbicks today, Carole, if you're interested. They're on the top shelf of the little corner by the desk. I've bought one to use on my cards and LO's. Did you get my email btw? Love your blog, so chatty and thanks for the comment on mine. xx

jeanie g said...

I've just re-sent the email Carole, fingers crossed this time xx

Joan Ervin said...

You did a beautiful job with the coloring on this adorable image, Carole....the warm grays just add to the vintage feel and I love the combo of papers you used!!!!! The flowers and other details are sooo pretty....you do such gorgeous work!!!!!

Kerry said...

Hi, I've just found your blog and I love it. Beautiful card, I love the vintage look. I'm a new Follower. Kerry x

Gibmiss said...

HI CAROLE
Love the card image ...flowers ....stunning
hugs
sylvie
xx

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

So pretty, thanks for playing along with us at CCCB!

Anonymous said...

Wow Carole this is gorgeous, love the colouring. Thank you for your lovely comment on my LOTV card. Sue x

Faye said...

Wow, cute card. Thanks for playing at Cupcake this week. x

Stressed Stamper said...

Beautiful - love the colouring and sewing
Thanks for joining us at TPC this week.
Good Luck
Sarah - Stressed Stamper

Mina said...

wow Carole, perfect monochrome colouring, stunning piece of work
Mina xxx

cnelson said...

so lovely! love that little heart pin!!
thank you so much for joining us at CCCB!

Suzilou said...

Beautifull card, I love monochrome and you have done a fab job and love your layout. Your name caught my eye on someone elses blog and guess what i'm from brum as well hehe so thought I would pop over and say hi :)

FaerieMeadowCrafts said...

Stunning! I love this monochrome vintage look! You have coloured the image beautifully & it works well with your backing papers. Beautiful card :)

Unknown said...

This is such a cute card.. Your image is wonderful. Thanks so much for joining us over at CCCB!

Made by Mandy said...

Well done Carole for getting Top 5 over at Cupcake Craft Challenges with this gorgeous card xxx

Sharon Traynor Designs said...

Bravo! You've mastered the monochrome image first time around. I think you are one VERY talented lady. (I love seeing people try new stuff).
Hugs,
Sharon xx

Jackie said...

Oh wow Carole, you certainly did monochrome colouring proud, this is superb. Great card :o)
Jackie xx

China said...

Love the monochrome affect - it's perfect and that image is lovely. Your shading is very professionally done.
hugs
china
xxx

Cathy said...

Hi Carole, I love this card. I too love the image that you have used. I wanted to let you know about the lace that you liked on my card. My sister repairs antique dolls and she gave me some scraps of antique lace to use. It had been laying in my craft room for several years so I finally decided that I would use it. I love your sweet comments. Cathy