Hello stampers and happy Wednesday to you. Today’s card uses Seaside Notions and is created by Chris Margrie. Can you believe that I do not own this stamp set I reallly do love both the set and Chris’ card. European cards are slightly narrower and longer than ours in North America. Their cardstock is A4 which is 8 1/4″ by 11 3/4″. Just a small difference but it makes a big difference in the look of a card. Thanks so much for this very pretty card Chris! Now I really want this stamp set for my collection.
Barnstaple, United Kingdom
Chris Margrie comes from Barnstaple in the United Kingdom. Now I am not sure, but I think the UK refers to England, Scotland and Ireland as a whole. Would it then be proper to say that Chris comes from Barnstaple, England. I am hoping to hear from my British readers as to what is proper. Either way, Barnstaple is the main town in Devon and possibly the oldest borough in the UK. It became wealthy through the wool trade but has since diversified into many different industries. Barnstaple dates back to at least 917!! Here are a few pictures.
Chris’ Seaside Notions Card
Here is Chris’ beautiful card. She used a soft palette of mint macaron, whisper white and just jade. The background piece was first stamped around the top with the coral image and then embossed with the Subtles embossing folder. What makes this card so very pretty in my opinion is the way Chris fussy cut some of the shells and placed them at the bottom of the centre panel. She also did a watercolour wash over the seahorse and added some wink of Stella for some glitz. Thanks so much for sending me this lovely card!!
If you want to check out some more nautical creations, check out this blog post. I am thrilled to say that I have ordered extra supplies so that I can do a class on this sampler if you want, or even make kits to go!
A few Photos from Holland
This past weekend we were in Zwolle a beautiful old “Hanzestad”. This is what I found online: The goal of the Hanseatic League, which was founded when Amsterdam was still a tiny settlement, was to expand commerce and spread knowledge. Dutch cities like Zwolle, Kampen, Hattem and Deventer were members of this league, and this chapter in their history is still clearly visible in the many 14th and 15th-century monuments. Most of these are found by the water’s edge, as waterways represented crucial transport routes, and possess a rich history and unique façades. In other words, when in Holland, a visit to at least one Hansa town is almost compulsory.
“Hanse” is an old High German word for band or troop. Bands of merchants traveled between the Hanseatic cities for trade. The Hanseatic League existed between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries. Can you tell that I love history?
Waanders in de Broeren
One of the attributes of a history lover is also a love for books. This book store in an old church was at the top of my list of things to see and I found a stunning book there for the grandkids. It is a huge hardcover book with beautiful paintings and stories about all the highlights of the Netherlands. I am trying to use the proper word for this country. Tourists call it “Holland” but actually Holland is just the name of two of the provinces, Zuid-Holland and Noord-Holland.
“Terrasjes”
This is the name that Dutch people give to their outdoor patios and they are so very charming! Every town and city has myriads of them and they are complete with cozy couches, low tables and pretty lights. It is like a giant outdoor, communal living room with a great vibe. The tables and couches are set up so that you have a view of the street and can people watch. There is a combination of all ages and that is what makes it so special.
What I did notice, especiallly in the evening is that Dutch people usually just enjoy beverages and not a lot of food to go with it. The servers are very low key and do not bother you unless you summon them. There is no pressure to keep ordering or to pay the bill and leave. They also don’t offer you a menu, they just assume that you know what you want to drink and that is that.
Zwolle and Canada
Zwolle was first mentioned in literature in 1040, a very long time ago! I found it delightful to see remnants of the old city wall. Zwolle was liberated by Canadians during the Second World War and one Canadian in particular, Leo Major was instrumental in the surrender of the Germans. Every time I read about what Canadians have done here, I get goosebumps. It really is no wonder that Dutch people love Canadians so much!
Bicycles
We rented bikes for the weekend and that was so, so nice. Even when it was super hot it was a pleasure to bike because then you could catch a breeze. My pictures aren’t the best because it was a bright sunny day and that is not ideal for good photographs. I noticed later when we were biking by this wall that there were steps going up and I would have loved to get a picture of that too, but at some point you just stop getting off you bike to take pictures. Maybe I can find a photo online!!
Free Paper Sampler
Don’t forget that if you live in Canada and place an online order with me in August you will get a free paper sampler from the Holiday catalog. You will also get a free 16 project pdf tutorial! To qualify you must use the current host code: AGR97TCJ.
Thanks for joining me today, I am looking forward to sharing more Happy Mail in Canada contest. A special thanks to Chris Margrie from the UK for this beautiful card using Seaside Notions.
Product List
