Simon Says (Monday) - Fun With Foil!

Hi everyone,

January is flying by, and I’m here again for my third week as Guest Designer for the  

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

This week’s theme is

Fun With Foil

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $25 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz  on the challenge blog post!  You can enter 5 times so that's 5 possible chances to win! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance - good luck everyone!

Here's my card for this week - everything used on this card is new  (links to my supplies are below the description). 

This was an interesting challenge for me, as I have only used foil once before in a very simplistic way and have no equipment for hot foiling, so I decided to try a simple cold foiling technique. I used Therm O Web Transfer Gel Duo, which is a gel paste for use with deco foil that can be set either with heat via a laminator, or with pressure via a die cutting machine. I cut a 6” square of white stamping card and applied the gel through a Simon Says Stamp Geo Leaves stencil, and allowed it to dry. I then rubbed over a sheet of Therm O Web Rainbow Deco Foil and ran through my die cutting machine, then peeled off the foil sheet to reveal the foiled panel. The key to this technique is to ensure you let the paste dry until it is clear before foiling, otherwise you don’t get a crisp result - I found it’s best to leave it for a couple of hours. 

I stamped a sentiment from the Therm O Web OH HELLO  stamp and die set using Versamark and heat embossed white, then die cut with the matching die. I attached the sentiment to a blank portion of the foiled panel then matted onto black and gold mirror card stock and a 7” card blank.

Here are links to what I used:

Stamps/dies: Therm O Web OH HELLO stamp and die set;

Media: Therm O Web Transfer Gel Duo, Therm O Web Rainbow Deco Foil Transfer Sheets; Versamark; WOW Opaque Bright White Super Fine embossing powder;

Tools: Simon Says Stamp Geo Leaves stencil.

Don’t forget to visit the challenge blog to see the amazing inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

You have until Monday 8am Ohio time (EST), 1pm UK time (GMT), 2 pm CET to join in.

Challenges I would like to enter: 

Cardz 4 Galz #241 - Use Stencils (2nd entry) - TOP 3

Colourful Options (January) - Rainbow Inspired

Crafty Catz #685 - Anything Goes

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (January) - Use a Stencil (2nd entry)

Daisy Chain #92 - No Designer Paper (2nd entry)

Die Cut Divas (January) - Use Something New  (3rd entry)

Dream Valley #328 - Something New (2nd entry)

Fab ‘n’ Funky #608 - All Things Bright and Beautiful

Love to Craft #84 - Anything Goes

Love To Scrap #171 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

My Time to Craft #551 - Use a Sentiment (2nd entry)

NBUS #70 - Use Your Never-Before-Used-Schtuff

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Clean and Simple

We Love 2 Create #1 2025 - Anything Mixed Media/Papercrafting Goes (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #683/684 - Anything Goes (2nd entry) 

Word Power (January) - Focal Sentiment

Quite a different card today from my usual style, but it’s good to get outside our comfort zone sometimes! 😀 I found the rainbow coloured foil particularly suited to lend a wow factor to a simple design, so am pretty pleased with how it turned out. 

Take care, and thanks for visiting my blog today.

Hugs,

I Spy With My Little Eye #22

Hi everyone, it’s the third Wednesday in the month, so following from our month off over Christmas it’s time for the first I Spy With My Little Eye... challenge of 2025 over at Ellibelle's Corner.  Thanks so much to everyone who joined in last time - please do check over on Ellie’s blog to see if you are one of our top picks. 

Ellie chose the challenge theme this month, and it is

I Spy With My Little Eye 

*** Something With Feathers or Fur ***

So think animals and birds - realistic, cute or whimsical! Please do pop over to Ellie's blog to see her fab creation and link up your entries here.

This month we are delighted to welcome  Amy as our guest designer, so please click on her name to visit her blog and see her fabulous feathered creation.

Here’s my card for the challenge.

I have owned the lovely AALL & Create stamp set “Robin and Nuthatch” for quite some time, but I have always used the robin stamp and never the nuthatch so I thought it time to remedy that.

I cut a 13.5cm square of stamping card and created a circle by blending Elements ink through a circle mask. I stamped the nuthatch inside the circle then masked him and stamped the large branch from Tracy Evans’ set Branched Heart. I coloured the nuthatch with watered down Elements inks and added a few white Signo highlights, and added some background text stamping using Stormy Sky Distress Oxide. I stamped the Lavinia sentiment in Twilight VFC then  matted the piece onto blue card stock and a card blank. I still felt it needed something else, so added a couple of stamped dangling hearts and a few random pieces of torn script washi tape.

Stamps: AALL & Create #690 Robin & Nuthatch, #457 Background Voices; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE6 Branched Heart; Lavinia Let Your Spirit Take Flight;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Russet Orange, Della Blue, Graphite); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Portobello, Twilight); Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Stormy Sky); Signo pen (white);

Tools: Lavinia acetate circle masks;

Other: washi tape from The Range.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps and More! #484 - Any Occasion

C.R.A.F.T. #746 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Crafts Galore Encore #131 - Anything Goes

Crafty Animals #90 - Include an Animal

Inspiration Station #69 - Inspiration Photo

(I was inspired by the colours of the bird)

Let’s Craft and Create #215 - Anything Goes with option Use a Sentiment
My Time to Craft #551 - Use a Sentiment 

Path of Positivity #127 - Anything Goes Positive (2nd entry)
Triple B (January) - Birds, Blooms and/or Butterflies (3rd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #683/684 - Anything Goes

The I Spy Challenge will end on the Sunday before the next challenge starts at 23:59 US Central Time - so this time that is Sunday February 16th, and the next challenge will begin on Wednesday February 19th.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Simon Says (Monday) - Add Some Texture

Hi everyone,

The past week has flown by, and it's time already for my second week as Guest Designer for the  

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.

This week’s theme is

Add Some Texture

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $25 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz  on the challenge blog post!  You can enter 5 times so that's 5 possible chances to win! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance - good luck everyone!

Here's my card for this week (links to my supplies are below the description).

I needed to get my thinking cap on for this one, as I don’t usually include a lot of texture on my projects. I had selected a beautiful Sizzix and 49 and Market stamp and die set “Floral Mix Cluster” for my focus which I bought from Simon Says Stamp before Christmas, and had the brainwave of adding some background stamping using a Lavinia stamp called “Texture 2” (did you see what I did there)?? I then felt emboldened to also reach for my neglected Tim Holtz Distress texture paste, having identified a stencil that I felt coordinated with the overall look of the card, and finally I used some scrunched thread, making 3 textural elements in all.

I cut a square of white stamping card, and created the background by lightly dragging Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo, Shaded Lilac and Stormy Sky Distress Oxide ink pads in straight lines across the card. I stamped the focal flower using Morning Mist Versafine Clair, then stamped again onto separate card using Nocturne VFC, coloured it with watered down Distress Watercolor pencils topped with Wink of Stella, and cut out with the matching die. I added background 2nd generation stamping in the corners using the Lavinia texture stamp with Hawthorn Rose and Very Peri VFC, then stamped a couple of random background numbers from retired AALL & Create set #455 “Seasons”, and added some grey pencil shading around the stamped flower.

 I used Distress texture paste with AALL & Create stencil “Lotza Dotz” to add some random textured stencilling and allowed to dry, then covered the stencilling while I added some silver Posca spatters to the piece. I matted the inked panel onto dark blue and pink borders and a 6” square card blank, then attached the die cut flower with scrunched holographic silver thread behind it. To finish I added a Tim Holtz Small Talk sticker as a sentiment.

Here are links to what I used: 

Stamps: Sizzix and 49 and Market Stamp and die set - Floral Mix Cluster; Lavinia Texture 2; 

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo, Shaded Lilac, Stormy Sky); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist, Very Peri, Hawthorne Rose); Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor pencils set 1 ( Picked Raspberry Peeled Paint); Tim Holtz Distress Texture Paste (Opaque); Posca pens (silver, white); Wink of Stella (clear); 

Tools: AALL & Create stencil #124 Lotza Diamondz;

Other: Tim Holtz Idea-ology Small Talk Stickers.

Don’t forget to visit the challenge blog to see the amazing inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

You have until Monday 8am Ohio time (EST), 1pm UK time (GMT), 2 pm CET to join in.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Cardz 4 Galz #241 - Use a Stencil/s 

C.R.A.F.T. #746 - Anything Goes

Craft Rocket #121 - Something New (2nd entry)

(floral stamp and die set)

Crafty Calendar (January) - Add a Die Cut (3rd entry)

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (January) - Use a Stencil

Creative Inspirations (January) - Something Old/Something New (2nd entry)

(new floral stamp and die set, old background stamps and sentiment sticker)

Cut It Up #321 - Something New + Use a Die 

Die Cut Divas (January) - Use Something New (2nd entry) 

Dream Valley #328 - Something New

Festive Friday (January) - Something New (2nd entry)

Outlawz (January) - Project submitted to an Outlawz challenge (Festive Friday)

Path of Positivity #127 - Anything Goes Positive

Pearly Sparkles #103 - Something Old, Something New (2nd entry)

Sweet Stampin’ - New! (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #681/682 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting my blog today.

Hugs,

Snippets Blogoversary

Hi everyone, this fortnight the Snippets Playground is celebrating a special Blogoversary - 13 years since Miss Di took over the reins and the thankless task of keeping us all on the straight and narrow … aided latterly by her partner in crime craft Sarn, whose legendary Treehouse parties will still be talked about by future generations! So in honour of this auspicious occasion I decided to make a card entirely inspired by the need to use up snippets! 

Before Christmas I purchased a popular new AALL & Create die set as part of some challenge winnings over at Simon says Stamp - but hadn’t used it until now as I wasn’t sure what to do with it. However it was clear that it was perfect for using up some of my mountain of white card snippets - I even took a picture for once!

Here’s the resulting card - I decided to make my first Christmas card of 2025 using a variety of Lavinia stamps. 

I die cut all the pieces from the die set, and edged all the inner pieces with blended Distress Oxide ink in Mowed Lawn. I stamped tree branch  onto the largest rectangle using Pinecone VFC then perched Bobby on top with Sand Dune VFC and Mini Mistletoe using  a mixture of Avocado and Shady Lane. I stamped Holly and Mini Holly onto the 2 smaller rectangles using Rainforest VFC, and the word “Joy” from Seasonal Words onto the small square surrounded by mini stars stamped with Brilliance ink.

 I coloured Bobby with Zig pens and Signo white pen, the holly berries with red Signo pen topped with Sakura Stardust pen, and the mistletoe berries with white Signo pen topped with clear Sakura Stardust pen. I added highlights to Bobby, the holly and mistletoe with white Signo pen, and outlined the greeting with clear Stardust pen to add sparkle. I added white Posca snowflakes and snowfall on the branch of the largest panel, then attached all the pieces to the outer frame and matted onto a piece cut from a large snippet of dark green linen card stock which I had distressed with my distressing tool. 

Stamps: Lavinia Bobby, Holly, Mini Holly, Mini Mistletoe, Seasonal Words, Mini Stars 1;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Mowed Lawn); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Sand Dune, Pinecone, Rainforest, Shady Lane, Avocado); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Signo pens (red, white); Sakura Stardust pens (red, clear); Posca pen (white);

Tools: AALL & Create #57 Parallel Rectangles dies.

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #118 - Anything Goes Christmas

ABC Christmas (January) - A is for Anything Christmas

Crafty Calendar (January) - Add a Die Cut (2nd entry)

FarmQuest Country Christmas #16 - Anything Outdoorsy Christmas

Jingle Belles - Something Old, Something New

(New die set, old Christmas sentiment and mini holly stamps) 

Krafty Chicks #750 - Christmas - TOP PICK

Merry Little Christmas #60 - Anything Christmas Goes

Peace On Earth #79 - Anything Christmas Goes

Snippets Playground #497 - Use Snippets

Word Art Wednesday #681/682 - Anything Goes (3rd entry) 

I’m just about sick and tired now of staying indoors due to the snow and ice - it has lain in our side road all week now, making going out completely treacherous either on foot or in the car.  It’s supposed to be starting to thaw today … fingers crossed, so long as it doesn’t cause more flooding! Hope everyone is staying safe. Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

.

January Blues

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all keeping safe and warm given the freezing cold and snowy weather we’ve been having this week in the UK … Christmas already seems pretty distant now and it’s still a while before we can look forward to lighter nights and warmer days! 

Today I’d like to share a simple card on the theme of January Blues .. but one which also incorporates the concepts of optimism and new life, as it is an image of snowdrops which I absolutely love at this time of year! 

I cut a 5” square of stamping card and daubed on some Della Blue Elements ink which I had dabbed onto a square of acetate and spritzed with water. When dry I stamped the Lavinia Fairy Bell flowers in Sand Dune VFC, which I then coloured as snowdrops by painting the flower heads with white gouache and the stems with a Zig pen. This was an experiment as I haven’t painted with gouache before … I think I need to do another one using white acrylic paint to see which I prefer!

I stamped a flock of birds in Morning Mist VFC and some background words in 2nd generation Very Peri, then I “grounded” the flowers by blending more Elements with torn paper. I added some sparkle to the snowy ground with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen and Stickles, and some tufts of grass peeking through with my Zig pen.  I created some bokeh effect circles by blending Brilliance Moonlight White ink through my White Orbs stencil and outlined the flower heads and highlighted the circles with Sakura Stardust pen. To finish I added some white Posca snowflakes, outlined the inked panel with a dark blue marker pen and matted onto blue glitter card and a card blank.

Stamps: Lavinia Fairy Bell Set, Winter Magic, Birds;

Media: Lavinia Elements ink (Della Blue); Versafine Clair (Sand Dune, Morning Mist, Very Peri); Brilliance Pearlescent ink (Moonlight White); Windsor and Newton gouache (white); Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Lavinia White Orbs stencil.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Ally’s Angels #89 - Anything Goes

Beautiful Blossoms #24 - Anything Floral Goes

Country View Crafts FB Challenge (January) - Wintry Scenes

Creative Crafters #83 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Daisy Chain #92 - No Designer Paper

Everybody Art #570 - Letter W (Winter) (2nd entry)

Four Seasons (January) - Winter

Lavinia Creative Challenge (January) - Blue Hues

Mix It Up #75 - Anything Goes

Outlawz Tuesday Colour Challenge (January)  - Colour Board with option Add Snowflakes

Triple B (January) - Birds, Blooms and/or Butterflies with optional Mood Board (2nd entry)

Try It On Tuesday - Feeling Blue

We Love 2 Create #1 2025 - Anything Mixed Media/Papercrafting Goes

Word Art Wednesday #681/682 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

That’s all from me for today. Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Simon Says (Monday) - Something New with AALL & Create

Hi everyone, welcome to 2025 and here’s hoping it will be healthy, peaceful and creative for everyone! 

I'm feeling really excited today, as I can finally share what I have been bursting to tell everyone since the summer - having been in the Designer Spotlight a few times during 2024 on the wonderful  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, I have been asked to be the Guest Designer again for January. I was previously a Guest Designer back in March 2023 so am  absolutely thrilled to be asked back, and to have the opportunity to showcase some cards for the next 4 weeks alongside the immensely talented regular members of the Design Team.

This week the theme is

Something New

As it’s the first Monday of the month we are showcasing a brand/company, and this week it is the fabulous AALL & Create. You don’t have to use them to join in with the challenge but if you have them we would love to see them on your creation.

The lovely folks over at Simon Says Stamp are generously giving away a FABULOUS $25 voucher to shop at the  Simon Says Stamp Store! All you have to do is take out your crafty supplies, make something following this week’s prompt, and add a link in the Inlinkz  on the challenge blog post!  You can enter 5 times so that's 5 possible chances to win! All winners are chosen randomly, so everyone has an equal chance - good luck everyone!

Here's my first Guest Designer card, using a “new to me” butterfly stamp set and die sets by AALL & Create, as well as a couple of their older stamps  (links to my supplies are below the description).

I die cut a piece of cream stamping card using AALL & Create die set #42 Papyrus Essence, then created a smooshed background using Antique Linen, Speckled Egg and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide inks applied with acetate. When dry I stamped the A&C butterfly  #1171 Floral Flyer using Portobello  Versafine Clair for a nice vintage look, and heat embossed with clear powder. I then stamped and heat embossed it again onto separate card and coloured it with Tim Holtz Distress watercolor pencils in Speckled Egg, Mermaid Lagoon and Vintage Photo. 

I added some background stamping in 2 corners of the main panel using #906 Art Notes and 2nd generation Very Peri Versafine Clair, then added some stencilling using Tim Holtz Dot Fade layering stencil and Scorched Timber DOX, and blended more Scorched Timber DOX round the edges. I fussy cut the coloured butterfly and attached to the panel by its body only. I die cut a small piece of cream card using a small die from set #57 Parallel Rectangle, stamped the sentiment from set #1171 in Portobello and heat embossed, then blended Speckled Egg DOX around the edges and attached below the butterfly. 

I stamped the pen nib from #908 Quill Ends in the top right corner and heat embossed, stamped and heat embossed again onto separate cream card, and coloured with Vintage Photo Distress Watercolor pencil then fussy cut and attached.

I die cut a piece of brown linen card stock using the largest die from set #42, matted the stamped panel onto it and then matted onto a 6” square kraft card blank. To finish I added Ranger Glossy accents to the stamped pen nib, and attached a vintage style pen nib from my stash to the butterfly body. 

Here are links to what I used: 

,'

Stamps: AALL & Create #1171 Floral Flyer, #906 Art Notes, #908 Quill Ends;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Antique Linen, Speckled Egg, Vintage Photo, Scorched Timber); Versafine Clair (Portobello, Very Peri); Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor pencils set 1 (Speckled Egg), Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor pencils set 2 (Mermaid Lagoon, Vintage Photo); WOW Clear Gloss Regular embossing powder; Ranger Glossy Accents;

Tools: AALL & Create #42 Papyrus Essence dies, #57 Parallel Rectangle dies; Tim Holtz layering stencil - Dot Fade;

Other: vintage style pen nib from my stash (a similar one is available in Tim Holtz Idea-ology Odds and Ends Embellishments).

Don’t forget to visit the challenge blog to see the amazing inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

You have until Monday 8am Ohio time (EST), 1pm UK time (GMT), 2 pm CET to join in.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Craft Rocket #121 - Something New

Crafty Calendar (January) - Add a Die Cut

Creative Inspirations (January) - Something Old/Something New

(new A&C butterfly stamp set and die sets)

Die Cut Divas (January) - Use Something New

Festive Friday (January) - Something New

Make My Monday #242 - Favourite Challenge Theme from 2024

(#227 - B is for … Butterfly)

My Time to Craft #550 - New

Pearly Sparkles #103 - Something Old, Something New

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Something New

Sweet Stampin’ - New!

Triple B (January) - Birds, Blooms and/or Butterflies

Word Art Wednesday #681/682 - Anything Goes

Take care, and thanks for visiting my blog today.

Hugs,