Tall Dark Handsome and British...

This post is completely frivolous, so if you come here for serious stuff, better skip this one. If you're all in, read on!

I'm happy to report that I'm starting to feel better for the first time in almost a week. I guess that 12 hours of sleep last night did some good. I'm still a bit wobbly and woozy (I took a short walk this morning that did me in!) but I can feel my energy returning, and I'm grateful. I even got some work done this afternoon (including the sympathy card I mentioned in the earlier post from today) instead of swooning over Richard Armitage in Sparkhouse all afternoon in a sickness-induced stupor. (ha!)

I became acquainted with his work in the BBC series Robin Hood, and loved him in it, and have spent some time scrounging up all the other things he has been in, which is difficult given many have British-only releases! I was so glad when he was cast in series seven of Spooks, which I love. I admit it, I'm a sucker for British television series. And tall dark handsome British blokes. :) Oh, and if you are tempted to try out Spooks (also known as MI:5), start with series one, which stars Matthew MacFadyen of Pride and Prejudice fame. The later series have Rupert Penry-Jones (also lovely) and a wonderful cast of supporting actors and actresses. You can stream it on Netflix.

So, on to the card stuff. I haven't participated in a blog challenge in ages, and when I noticed Mary Jo's challenge this week was to use Nature's Walk, and realized I had several cards in the hopper that used that fabulous set, I had to post them right away! I also realized while in the process of trying to find and edit said cards, I didn't photograph a few of the cards I've made with this set. In my own defense, one of them was a swap that I was literally finishing as I ran out the door and I didn't have any left when I got home! I'll try to recreate it as a full card sometime soon and share it with you.


The first card is CASEd from a splitcoast stamper, and I can't find the original card on splitcoast to provide a link, so if this looks like your card, please leave a comment with a link to your card so I can give proper credit! I've been through the Nature Walk gallery twice looking for it and just can't find it now! I made it as one of my swaps for Spring Fling. Sadly, it didn't win any of the swap contest awards. (sniff, sniff) I really like this card, though. I did have to simplify the ribbon treatment, however, since I had to make 12 of these! The sponging and coloring was quite enough, thank you. :)



The second card is adapted from a swap I received from Sue Astheimer, another Philly Inker, a few months ago. The original idea came from a Stampin' Success article last fall. First, ink up your clear block with Crumb Cake or something light, and stamp it directly on your cardstock to create a background, then stamp over it with another stamp. I rather like the effect! I think Sue's card used masking and sponging instead of the clear block stamping, but I thought that would make for a nice adaptation of her design. I made 10 of these for a silent auction that I was asked to donate to.