Hearts and flowers

Alongside the Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge is a random challenge, and the current one is hearts (but not red ones).

This is a card I came up with for a session with the craft group I run - a collaged heart.

I drew a heart on a double-sided sticky sheet. Cut that out, then peeled one covering off and started to stick paper shapes onto it - not worrying about any overhangs at this point - leaving gaps between all the pieces. Once the heart shape is covered I sprinkled some gold embossing on the still sticky gaps and heated it. I then trimmed all the overhangs, peeled off the back covering, and stuck it onto the card. I outlined the edge with a black pen.

Another version is to use micro beads in the gaps.

Had a fab day out yeterday at Kew Gardens, specifically to see the Orchids Festival, which this year celebrates Brazil. Perfect day, brilliant blue sky and sunshine - very cold, but I had my thermal socks and furry boots on!

Got some great photos to use as references for my watercolour practice.

Here are a few -

The orchids were spectacular ...

And the colours ,,,

The columns of orchids were stunning ...

Carnival ...

These were my favourites ...

Then we spent another couple of hours walking round the rest of Kew, and I got some more potential painting subjects. Including the Japanese garden.

And finally - seagulls sunbathing on the ice!