Thursday 14 March 2024

Gorgeous Gus!


Hi everyone, today I would like to share my husband’s birthday card. He loves nature generally and birds in particular, and I love to make him a card which is on the “cute” spectrum. I previously made a cute owl card I was very pleased with here using the Lavinia owl Gus, so I decided to make a bigger and extended version of the same design for this one.


I cut a 7 1/4” square of stamping card, stamped Gus in Nocturne Versafine Clair then masked him and stamped the bough for him to sit on in Pinecone. I then masked the bough as well and stamped some extra branches. I added a large circle mask then blended Blue Atoll and Dark Denim Elements inks around the circle and the edges of the card to form a moon and sky; then I used the outer circle mask to blend some Stormy Sky Distress Oxide inside the moon to add depth. I stamped my background owl wording in grey, then stamped some branches in the top left and added a birdie on the branch, an owl in flight and a hedgehog in the bottom corner.

I removed the owl mask and coloured Gus and the branches using my Zig pens (I didn’t have them when I made the original card), used black fineliner to make his eyes and beak blacker, and added white gel pen highlights. I also added white gel pen highlights to the bird, owl and hedgie, and some shading using my new Stabilo All white pencil (thanks very much to Sarn for making aware of this .. I’m very pleased with it).

At this point I felt it needed something more to fill the extra space as it is a bigger card, so I added two background fairy castles in 1st and 2nd generation Morning Mist. I grounded them by adding some landscaping with my Mini Hill masks and Distress Oxide, and coloured the windows with Sakura Stardust pens which I also used to highlight the scene.  I stamped the sentiments onto separate card, cut out, edged with blue Promarker and attached, then matted the finished panel onto a blue pearlescent card border and an 8” square card blank. Finally I added some sparkle to the moon with my Spectrum Noir sparkle pen, and Glossy Accents to make Gus’s eyes shine … I was a bit anxious about this as my recently purchased bottle was a dud and I’ve not had chance to replace it yet, but I found an old gunged up mini bottle in my cupboard and managed to get it flowing! (phew!!).

Here's a closeup angled pic to show Gus's shiny eyes and the sparkle on the moon.


Stamps: Lavinia Gus, Vine Branch, Far World Castle, Brodwin and Maylin, Wallace Family, Bird Collection, Words From the Heart; Pink Frog Typewriter Sentiments;
Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Blue Atoll, Dark Denim); Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Stormy Sky, Hickory Smoke); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Pinecone, Morning Mist, Twilight, Tulip Red); Kuretake Zig Clean Colour watercolour brush pens; gel pen (white); Sakura Stardust pens (yellow, clear); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Stabilo All pencil (white); Glossy Accents;
Tools: Lavinia circle acetate masks, Mini Hill masks.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Allsorts #771 - Use Yellow/Anything Goes (2nd entry)
(I have used some yellow on my owl and the castle windows, but it’s mostly anything goes!)
Creative Moments #256 - Flora and Fauna (2nd entry)
Lavinia Creative Challenge (March) - Animal Magic (version without sentiment)
Unicorn Challenge #96 - For the Boys / Men

I really do love Gus and am very pleased with how this project turned out, so I’m hoping he will like it too! Take care, and thanks for visiting.
Hugs,

Monday 11 March 2024

Daffy Duckling


Hi everyone, I’m still in the groove with springtime images and colours, and I see that this week’s challenge at Allsorts is to use yellow, so I decided to make an Easter card with this adorable Penny Black duckling stamp …  I’ve had him forever and he still has an outing most years! Sadly the weather here today is anything but spring-like - it is really dark and miserable, so please excuse the rather dull picture! 


I cut a small square of stamping card, stamped my duckling and coloured him with Zig pens, then added some soft cloud stencilling using Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide ink. I cut a stitched square frame and applied soft yellow stencilling using my Lavinia Leaf Trails stencil and Sundance Elements ink. I attached my image panel behind the aperture and attached the whole frame to a 6” square card blank, then added some die cut flowers and foliage and a stamped and cut out greeting.

Stamps: Penny Black Duckling (3347H), Happy Easter (2855D);
Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Tumbled Glass); Lavinia Elements ink (Sundance); Versafine Clair (Nocturne); Kuretake Zig Clean Colour watercolour brush pens;
Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched Squares dies; Joy! Crafts flower die 6003/0024; unbranded foliage die; Lavinia Leaf Trails stencil; home made cloud stencil.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Allsorts #771 - Use Yellow
Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (March) - Use Stencils with option Easter/Spring
Creative Moments #256 - Flora and Fauna
Cutie Pie #192 - Easter/Mother's Day
Double D - First Signs of Spring (2nd entry)


FarmQuest Country Store #14 - Anything Farm or Country Goes
Make My Monday #221 - Spring - Flowers, Weather, Young Animals etc.
Paper Funday #63 - Anything Goes with option The Dies Have It
Penny Black Saturday Challenge (March) - Anything Goes with option Easter
Simon Says (Monday) - Bright and Cheerful (2nd entry)
Simon Says (Wednesday) - Add a Sentiment (2nd entry)
Stamping Sensations (March) - Spring (2nd entry)
Word Art Wednesday #637/638 - Anything Goes (7th entry)
Worldwide Crafters and Colourists #14 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Here’s hoping the weather will soon pick up to match the spring vibes! Take care, and thanks for visiting.
Hugs,

Friday 8 March 2024

Golden Daffodils


Hi everyone, I love daffodils in spring, and this year I made my first daffodil card on St. David’s Day. A mere week later and here I am again with another one … they are so bright and cheerful they really make me smile! I also felt encouraged to have another go with my new circular gel press as my first attempt last week worked out much better than I have ever managed to achieve with my old square one.


I brayered two colours of Elements ink onto my gel plate, spattered with water and took a print on a 5 1/2” square of stamping card. I stamped the focal daffodil then stamped it again onto separate card along with two smaller flower heads, coloured with Zig markers then fussy cut and added Wink of Stella to the flower heads. I masked the inked circle and added some background circle stamping using Versamark heat embossed with ultra fine white embossing powder, then attached the flowers. I stamped and heat embossed the Easter sentiment on black card, cut out and attached, then added some doodling round the circle with a black fine liner. Finally I matted the finished panel onto aqua pearlescent linen card stock and a 6” card blank.

Here is an angled shot to try to capture the sparkle on the flowers.


Stamps: Visible Image Golden Daffodils, The Butterfly Effect; Penny Black Happy Easter (2855D);
Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Blue Lagoon, Bermuda); Versafine Clair (Nocturne); Versamark; WOW white ultra fine embossing powder; Kuretake Zig watercolour brush pens; Wink of Stella;
Tools: Lavinia Roland gel press.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Allsorts #770 - Spring
As You Like It - Favourite Monochrome or Colourful (and why)
(I love colourful makes as they make me feel cheerful!)
Beautiful Blossoms #14 - Anything Floral Goes (6th entry)
Country View Crafts FB Challenge (March) - Mad March Hare (hares, rabbits or Easter)
C.R.A.F.T. #711 - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz #667 - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers #273 - Anything Goes
Double D - First Signs of Spring

Dream Valley #311 - Add Some Sparkle
Simon Says (Monday) - Bright and Cheerful
Simon Says (Wednesday) - Add a Sentiment

On that cheerful note I’ll wish everyone a happy weekend.  Take care and thanks for visiting.
Hugs,

Sunday 3 March 2024

Triple B - March GDT


Hi everyone, I was really thrilled to be asked recently by Diane to be this month’s Guest Designer on the Triple B Challenge


Of course I said yes straight away, as I am always a keen entrant into the challenge due to the fact that I absolutely love the theme which is always

*** Birds, Butterflies and/or Blooms *** 

with the option to be inspired by a mood board, which this month is the incredibly pretty picture below.


Remember you do NOT have to follow the board ... it's there for inspiration, but you DO have to use 1, 2 or 3 of the B's ... Birds, Butterflies and/or Blooms.

I hope you will pop over to the Triple B blog to see the superb inspiration from the Design Team and to link up your entries. Here is my effort - I was inspired by the pink and blue butterfly on a mottled pink background.


I cut a piece of stamping card 9cm x 20cm, and made a smooshed background of 2 colours of Distress Oxide ink which I dabbed onto my craft mat, spritzed and then applied to the card with acetate. I stamped the main image, then stamped the butterfly again onto a spare snippet of card and coloured with Distress watercolour pencils overlaid with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen. I shaded some of the circles with Distress watercolour pencils and others with my sparkle pen, then added some background stencilling in blue and background words in grey. I stamped the birdie onto another separate card snippet, fussy cut and attached to the bottom corner. I added white Posca spatters and when dry, matted the panel onto a black border and a DL card blank. I attached the coloured butterfly with silicone glue to give some dimension, scrunching black cotton behind and also adding the small number panel popped up for a bit more dimension. Finally I added the main sentiment which was stamped onto a snippet of black card with Versamark and heat embossed in white.

Here's a closeup of the butterfly.


Stamps: AALL & Create #449 Through the Meadows, #690 Robin and Nuthatch (background words), #533 Bring on the Sentiments; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE4 New Beginnings;
Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Kitsch Flamingo, Tumbled Glass, Blueprint Sketch); Distress watercolor pencils (Picked Raspberry, Prize Ribbon, Peeled Paint); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist); Versamark; detail white embossing powder; Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Posca pen (white);
Tools: Visible Image stencil - Off the Grid.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Little Red Wagon #745 - Stencil Power (2nd entry) - FEATURED PROJECT
Love to Craft #79 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)
My Time to Craft #528 - Make Your Own Background (3rd entry)
Sheepski #84 - Anything Goes
Simon Says (Monday) - Fur or Feathers (3rd entry)
Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes (4th entry)
Word Art Wednesday #637/638 - Anything Goes (5th entry)

You have until March 31st, 8pm US Eastern Time (ET) to enter.
The winners will be announced on April 2nd before the start of a new challenge. 

Looking forward to seeing your entries. Take care, and thanks for visiting.
Hugs,

Friday 1 March 2024

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus


Hi everyone, it's March already, today is St. David's Day in the UK, and after a rainy start the sun is shining ... so this afternoon I just had to make a daffodil card - it would have been rude not to!! I just managed to get it finished and photographed before the light faded, so here it is.


I die cut a stitched square of stamping card just smaller than  a 6" square card blank,  stamped the focal daffodils and heat embossed in gold, then coloured with my Zig pens. I added some soft green stencilling all around, then some background 2nd generation stamping in green to co-odinate with the daffodil background. I stamped a small daffodil bloom onto separate cardstock, heat embossed, coloured and fussy cut, then attached with silicone glue, then blended more DOX round the edges of the panel to add some depth. I matted the panel onto my card blank, then masked the edges before adding gold Posca spatters. Finally I stamped the sentiment onto separate card, heat embossed, cut out and attached.

I love the gold sheen of the heat embossed daffodils which shows up better in this picture.


Stamps: Visible Image Golden Daffodils, Where Flowers Bloom (background stamping); Uniko Spring Botanicals Daffodil (sentiment);
Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Mowed Lawn); Versafine Clair (Shady Lane); Versamark; WOW Metallic Gold embossing powder; Posca Pen (gold);
Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched Squares die; Lavinia stencil - Leaf Trails.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Day of the Month Card Club #60 - Random Acts of Kindness Day
Double Trouble #161 - Pinch Proof (Include the colour green) PLUS a Touch of Gold
Four Seasons (March) - Anything Spring Goes with optional Mood Board


Krafty Chicks #705 - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon #745 - Stencil Power
Love to Craft #79 - Anything Goes
Love to Scrap #166 - Anything Goes
Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes (3rd entry)
Word Art Wednesday #637/638 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

I'm hoping this will be the first of many bright and cheerful spring cards - not to mention bright and cheerful spring days!! 

Take care and thanks for visiting.
Hugs,

Thursday 29 February 2024

Snowflake Bauble


Hi everyone, my posts are coming along a bit like buses at the moment with 3 posts in less than 24 hours as the end of February looms! Today I’m sharing another card I made based on a tutorial - this time a Lavinia tutorial by Amanda Branston. I’ve wanted to have a go at this for a while but I couldn’t as I had lost my mid size Lavinia acetate circle masks (inner and outer)! However at the recent craft show I bit the bullet and bought another set, so here we are! 


I cut a square of stamping card, and blended Della Blue Elements ink around the circle mask, then placed the outer circle mask and blended more ink inside - due to the slight difference in size of the masks this leaves a fine white border. I drew round the circle mask with a black fine liner to form the outside of the bauble, then stamped two snowflakes on top of but offset from each other in 2 shades of blue VFC. I stamped a mini crown as the crown of the bauble which i coloured silver, then drew a “chain” with black fine liner. I stamped some mini holly in green and coloured the berries with a red Sakura Stardust pen, then added dimension to the bauble by painting fine lines with water and blotting with paper towel, then added my own touch by painting over with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen to add a bit of sparkle! 


I really enjoyed using the techniques in the tutorial to create the bauble, and completed the composition of the card by adding soft snowflake stencilling, a few mini stamped snowflakes and a stamped sentiment.

Stamps: Lavinia Snowflakes (large), Snowflakes, Mini Crown, Mini Holly; Uniko Christmas Wishes;
Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Della Blue, Violet Chalk); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Medieval Blue, Blue Belle, Rainforest); Sakura Stardust pens (red, silver); black fineliner; Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear);
Tools: Lavinia acetate circle masks; AALL & Create stencil - Snow Crystals.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Christmas Craft Creations (February) - Stencils or Embossing Folders

Christmas Kickstart #83 - Out on a Limb (something found on the Christmas tree)
The Holly and Ivy #156 - Anything Christmas Goes
Krafty Chicks #705 - Anything Goes
Rudolph Days (February) - Anything Christmas Goes
Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes (2nd entry)
Word Art Wednesday #637/638 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.
Hugs,

Wednesday 28 February 2024

Birthday Celebrations


Hi everyone, unusually for me I’m back with a second post today as I have made a card for some special birthday celebrations in blogland. If you would like to see this morning’s Tracy Evans floral card, please go here.

Bev at Uniko is celebrating the brand’s 12th birthday so has a special celebration challenge and blog hop here with some superb inspiration and fabulous prizes. I have made my card using only Uniko stamps and stencils.

It is also a 10th birthday celebration at Time Out, so this card was also made with that in mind.  Here it is.


I cut a square of white stamping card and blended Versamark through the balloon stencil (one balloon at a time!) and heat embossed with 3 colours of embossing glitter. I stamped the balloon strings in grey so they would not look too harsh, then added the stamped sentiment in blue. A few little stamped stars, edging of the panel in blue and matting onto silver mirri card, and it was job done! I love how easy it is to create CAS cards with Uniko designs. 

Here's an angled pic to show the extreme glitteriness (is that a word??).


Stamps: Uniko Balloon Bash, Birthday Sentiments;
Media: Versafine Clair (Morning Mist, Medieval Blue, Charming Pink); Versamark; WOW embossing glitter (Midnight Dream, Fruit Tingle, Silver Sparkle);
Tools: Uniko stencil - Balloon Bash.

Challenges I would like to enter:

AAA CAS #259 - Anything CAS Goes with option Birthday Card (2nd entry)


Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes
Time Out #257 - Time Out 10th Birthday


Uniko - 12th Birthday Celebration


Word Art Wednesday #637/638 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Congratulations to Bev on reaching 12 years with Uniko, and to Time Out for 12 years of challenges!!

Take care, and thanks for visiting.
Hugs,

The Beauty of Flowers


Hi everyone, I was fortunate enough to win a recent challenge on the Country View Crafts FB page, and with part of the prize voucher I decided to treat myself to a new circular gel press. Up to now I have only had a 6” square gel press, based on the premise that I could die cut shapes such as circles from my large square prints. Although this is true I have hankered after being able to print a circle straight to card and then do my stamping, plus I’ve never really got on with my first gel press. 

 Today I would like to share my first card using the new gel press and some of my favourite Tracy Evans stamps. This card is based on a tutorial by Tracy, though I have changed the colours and done a few other adjustments to the design to incorporate a bird and a different sentiment. 


I applied 3 colours of Distress Oxide ink to my gel press with a brayer, spattered watered down DOX on top and took a print .. I had only one wasted attempt before I got a print I was happy with so this is real progress!! I masked outside the circle and blended some more DOX round the inner edges to give a bit more depth, then stamped the flower three times, masking the centre flower. I removed the masks then stamped the bird, drew a partial circle with a black fineliner to extend the floral design, then stamped the bird in the corner in Nocturne, and the background wording in Morning Mist Versafine Clair. I coloured the centre flower with Zig watercolour brush pens (Tracy coloured hers with Inktense pencils, but I only have 12 of them so can’t easily create subtle shading), then added some shading around the flowers and to ground the bird, which I blended out with water.

I added sparkle to all 3 flowers with Wink of Stella, and white Posca pen highlights. I stamped the sentiment onto separate card and cut out, positioned on the card and then stamped the hearts to hang down from it. I matted the panel onto black linen card stock and a 7” card blank, then replaced the circle outer mask before applying white Posca spatters across the circle, and finally attached the sentiment and some small pieces of ripped washi tape.

Here's an angled picture which tries to capture the sparkle, though not very successfully (it is actually very sparkly!!)


Stamps: Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE4 New Beginnings, TE6 Branched Heart; AALL & Create #831 Sent With Love;
Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Kitsch Flamingo, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist, Charming Pink); Kuretake Zig Clean Colour watercolour brush pens;  Wink of Stella; Posca pen (white);
Tools: Lavinia Roland gel press;
Other: AALL & Create washi tape #33 Be a Rebel.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Allsorts #769 - Things That Fly (3rd entry)
As You Like It - Favourite Feminine or Masculine (and why)
(My favourite is feminine cards as I love flowers, butterflies, and feminine colours)
Beautiful Blossoms #14 - Anything Floral Goes with Optional Mood Board
(5th entry)
(I have followed the general pink/peach colour scheme)

My Time To Craft #528 - Create Your Own Background (2nd entry)
Simon Says (Monday) - Fur or Feathers (2nd entry)
Simon Says (Wednesday) - Beautiful Blooms (2nd entry)
Tracy Evans FB Challenge (February) - Heartfelt (4th entry)
Try it On Tuesday - Spotlight It
Worldwide Crafters and Colourists #14 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

I was always quite nervous about playing with my previous gel press, but I’m hopeful I’m going to get on a lot better with this one, so watch this space!!

Take care and thanks for visiting.
Hugs,

Monday 26 February 2024

New Beginnings


Hi everyone, as February draws to a close there’s the promise of spring around the corner, so I thought I would have a play with the gorgeous AALL & Create “Elegant Spring Florals” set which I bought in the A&C sale before Christmas. I also had an urge to make a triptych card for some reason, so I could use even more of my stamps in one hit! This card actually started out to be a vibrant coloured card with daffodils and tulips, but turned into a more tranquil creation with snowdrop and lily of the valley! Here it is …


I die cut the triptych base card and three stamping panels from white super smooth stamping card, then stamped the lily of the valley and snowdrop onto two of the panels. I blended Distress Oxide ink around the edges and spattered with water, then when dry I added some background stamping. I then decided it needed something more so I added some soft background stencilling.  The centre panel was always going to contain my main sentiment, so I blended DOX round the edges, spattered with water as before, then stamped the bird and spring sentiment (one of my favourite old woodblock Penny Black stamps). I coloured the flowers and bird with Distress watercolour pencils and Spectrum Noir sparkle pen. Finally I die cut three matting panels from co-ordinating aqua pearlescent card stock and  assembled the card.


Stamps: AALL & Create #623 Elegant Spring Florals, #986 The Good; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE4 New Beginnings, TE6 Branched Heart; Penny Black Spring Magic (2852C);
Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Tumbled Glass); Distress watercolor pencils (Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron, Picket Fence); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist, Warm Breeze); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear);
Tools: Studio Light triptych die SL253; AALL & Create stencil #110 Digits Checked.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Allsorts #769Things That Fly (2nd entry) - TOP 5
Beautiful Blossoms #14 - Anything Floral Goes (4th entry)
Creative Creases #76Anything Goes with a Fun Fold
Daisy Chain #82Flowers (3rd entry)
Double Trouble #160Fun Fold - TOP 3
Make My Monday #220Fun Folds
Simon Says (Monday) - Fur or Feathers
Simon Says (Wednesday)Beautiful Blooms
Sparkles #173Hearts and Flowers (3rd entry)
Tracy Evans FB Challenge (February) - Heartfelt (3rd entry)
Word Art Wednesday #635/636Anything Goes (6th entry)

I love spring so am really looking forward to daffodils and tulips appearing, both in the garden and on my cards! Take care, and thanks for visiting.
Hugs,