Matching Pair 🦢🦢❤️❤️

Hi everyone, my oldest school friend and her husband are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary today, so I made them a card to celebrate. I was inspired by the card I made for my husband  for our 40th anniversary two years ago (here), based on the idea that swans mate for life! 

I cut a square of stamping card, and blended a mixture of inks through a centrally positioned heart stencil, also using a small circle mask and paper mask to create the horizon, sky and water. I then blended ink using paper masks and my Mini Hills mask to create the background hills and their reflection in the water. I stamped the two swans, and various bulrushes around the edges of the scene. I added white Posca stars and ripples in the water, and also added ripples with my Sakura Stardust pen which I also used to outline the moon. I added some sparkle to the moon with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen, then stamped the hearts. I matted the finished panel onto a border of dark blue card stock and a 7” square card blank, then finished with the stamped sentiment and die cut numbers in silver mirror card.

As it was for a special anniversary I also decorated the envelope.

Stamps: Lavinia Swans, Bulrushes, Silhouette Foliage set; Woodware Happy Anniversary;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Pink Elephant, Dark Denim, Graphite); Memento ink (Paris Dusk); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Twilight, Strawberry); Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Crafts Too heart stencil; Lavinia Mini Hills masks; Provocraft Hippie Chick number dies.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps and More #524 - Any Occasion

Classic Design Challenge #08 2026 - Anything Goes with option Use Die Cuts (2nd entry)

Crafts Galore Encore #150 - Anything Goes

Crafty Animals #108 - Include an Animal

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

Creative Aunts #116 - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations (August) - Anything Goes

A Cut Above (August) - Anything Goes with a Die Cut (2nd entry)

Daisy Chain #110 - Animals

Girlz & the Art of Letters #34 - H is for …

(hearts)

Heart’s Quest #87 - Anything Goes with a Heart with option red hearts

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #31 - Anniversary (2nd entry)

Just Us Girls #838 - Stencil Week

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes

Tic Tac Toe #300 - Tic Tac Toe

(Letters/numbers/sentiment/die cut)

Triple B (August) - Birds, Butterflies and/or Blooms (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #766/767 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Hope everyone is enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK, whatever you’re doing.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

I Spy With My Little Eye #40 🌻🌻

Hi everyone, it’s the third Wednesday in August so it’s time already for a new I Spy With My Little Eye... challenge 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. 

This month it was Ellie’s turn to choose the theme, which is

I Spy With My Little Eye 

*** Sunflowers or Something Yellow ***

A lovely summery theme I’m sure you’ll agree!  Please don’t forget to pop over to Ellie's blog to see her fab creation and link up your entries here.

Here’s my card for the challenge. I love sunflowers and own several sunflower stamps, but I think this Visible Image one is my favourite. I decided to CASE a previous card I made three years ago - more details further down this post.

I cut a 13cm square piece of stamping card, and created a vibrant smooshed background using Lavinia Elements inks. I stamped the focal sunflower then added background script stamping in Twilight VFC, and stencilling using both Brilliance Moonlight White pigment ink, and Rainforest VFC. 

I stamped the sunflower again onto a separate snippet of card and coloured with Zig pens with white Posca accents, then fussy cut and attached to the smooshed panel on top of the original image. I die cut an aperture frame into a piece of white card then cut down the piece to 16cm square. I attached the flower panel behind the aperture, then matted onto a teal border and a 7” square card blank. I stamped a bee onto separate card, coloured with Zig pens and Spectrum Noir sparkle pen on the wings, then cut out with the matching die. To finish I stamped my sentiments onto the white frame, attached the die cut bee and added Glossy Accents to the centre of the sunflower.

Stamps: Visible Image Sunflower Grunge, Sketched Tulips, Bee Happy;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Blue Lagoon, Green Parrot, Sundance); Versafine Clair (Noctune, Twilight, Rainforest); Brilliance pigment ink (Moonlight White); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Posca pen (white); Glossy Accents;

Tools: Visible Image Bee Happy die; Craft Addiction UK Stitch Craft Fusion Frames; Visible Image Off the Grid stencil.

Challenges I would like to enter:

AAA Birthday #88 - Flowers

Addicted to Stamps and More! #524 - Any Occasion

Aud Sentiments #340 - Summer + a Sentiment

Beautiful Blossoms #44 - Anything Floral Goes (2nd entry)

Classic Design Challenge #08 2026 - Anything Goes with option Use Die Cuts

Crafty Gals’ Corner - Anything Goes with option Summer Vibes

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

Creative Artiste #129 - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Creative Color Girlz #7 - Summer (2nd entry)

Cupcake Inspirations #640 - In the Garden

A Cut Above (August) - Anything Goes with a Die Cut

Ellibelle’s Garden Party #18 - Anything In or From a Garden 

Four Seasons (August) - Summer (2nd entry)

Hand Stamped Sentiments #495 - Inspiration Photo

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #31 - Birthday

Heidi the Yorkshire Crafter (August) - Flowers

Inkspirational #374 - Garden (2nd entry)

Inspiration Station #88 - Inspiration Photo

Passion for Markers #851 - Floral Vibes - TOP 5

Sweet Stampin’ - Summer Fun

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

Unicorn Challenge #123 - Layer It Up

We Love 2 Create #8 2026 - Anything Mixed Media/Papercrafting Goes

Word Art Wednesday #766/767 - Anything Goes

As I mentioned at the start of this post, my card today was inspired by CASEing a card a made three years ago - here’s the original, and here is a link to the original post with info about how I made it.

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 September 13th, and the next challenge will begin on Wednesday September 16th.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Summertime Blues

Hi everyone, still not been finding much time for crafting, and I’ve also been rather put off by all the hot weather we’ve been having, but I thought I’d just pop by today with a very simple one layer card inspired by the current Simon Says (Wednesday) challenge ‘Summertime Blues’.

I took a 7” x 5” card blank and stamped a scribble background directly onto the front using various shades of Distress Oxide inks, which I then lightly spritzed with water. I stamped the flower and sentiment using Twilight VFC, then added a small scattering of dewdrop gems - that‘s it!

Stamps: Unity Stamps Insightful Meadows; Crafter’s Companion Positive Thoughts ‘Sharing the Love’; unbranded scribble stamp; 

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Speckled Egg, Stormy Sky, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch); Versafine Clair (Twilight);

Other: Crafter’s Companion Dew Drops.

Challenges I would like to enter:

AAA Colourful #31 - Colour Board

Beautiful Blossoms #44 - Anything Floral Goes

Creative Crafters #103 - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations (August) - Anything Goes

Inkspirational #374 - Garden

Neglected Stuff (August) - Use Your Neglected Stuff

(all the stamps on this card)

Papercraft #133 - Back to Basics

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Summertime Blues

Simply Clean & Simple (August) - Anything CAS Goes

Word Art Wednesday #764/765 - Anything Goes

That’s all for today. I’ll be back tomorrow with my make for Ellie’s ‘I Spy With My Littke Eye’ challenge.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Sunflower Meadow

Hi everyone, I’ve been missing in action for a couple of weeks as I’ve had a week’s holiday in Weymouth, where we had a fantastic time in a charming olde worlde cottage in the old harbour quarter with great sightseeing and wonderful hot sunny weather. Not really had any time for crafting, but I had to get busy over the past couple of days as my August calendar page was due! Inspired by the illustration of Bumble and Hum on the calendar page plus the summery weather we have been having, I created a sunflower meadow scene. It’s not my best as I felt a bit rushed, but at least I can turn the calendar page over now!!

I cut a piece of white stamping card 19.5cm x 14.5cm and stamped the focal sunflowers and bees. I masked them with masking sheet then created the background by blending Elements inks. I removed the masks and coloured the sunflowers and bees with Zig pens, adding some white Posca accents, plus some gold Wink of Stella. I stamped some additional meadow flowers and grasses, which I also accented with white Posca. Finally I added Glossy Accents to the sunflower centres and added a sticker sentiment.

Stamps: Lavinia Open Sunflower, Bumble and Hum, Summer Flowers, Field Grass, Winter Foliage;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Blue Lagoon, Blue Toll, Green Parrot, Pine); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Avocado,Shady Lane, Sand Dune); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Wink of Stella (gold); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Posca pen (white); Glossy Accents;

Other: Lavinia sentiment stickers 6.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Beautiful Blossoms #43 - Anything Floral Goes (5th entry)

Creative Color Girlz #7 - Summer

Everybody Art #603 - Summertime (2nd entry)

Four Seasons (August) - Summer

Girlz & the Art of Letters #32 - F is for .. - TOP 3

(Flowers)

Outlawz Anything but a Card (August) - Anything but a Card

Paper Funday (July) - Anything Goes

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Crafters (July) - Flowers (2nd entry)

Try It on Tuesday - Summer Blooms

Word Art Wednesday #762/763 - Anything Goes

Here are a few photos from my recent holiday …. Some lovely scenery and great places to visit in that part of the world.

Weymouth Harbour

Portland Castle

Chesil Beach

Portland Bill

Cerne Abbey

Cerne Abbas Giant

Gold Hill in Shaftesbury

Stonehenge

Salisbury Cathedral

Hope everyone is having a great weekend, whatever you’re doing. Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Let Your Dreams Be Your Wings

Hi everyone, today I would like to share the birthday card I made for a good crafty friend who recently confided that she loves dragonflies. I love them too, and a few weeks ago felt particularly inspired after watching the UK TV series ‘Springwatch’ which featured some fabulous closeup footage of these delicate creatures.

I actually made a couple of dragonfly cards in this iridescent blue colour scheme (the other one is here), then decided that this one was most appropriate for the recipient - she has told me she loved it so fingers crossed it was the correct choice!

I die cut a wavy stitched square as I thought the wavy lines reminded me of an insect flight path, and created a central coloured square background by masking part of a larger square gel plate which I then brayered with blue and green Elements ink and spattered with water before applying to the stitched panel. I masked around the coloured section then over stamped it first with an old Penny Black script stamp, then with part of a Tracy Evans stamp from the set ‘The Great Outdoors’. I stamped a dragonfly from an Indigo Blu magazine cover gift onto a separate snippet of card using Twilight Versafine Clair and heat embossed, then painted with iridescent metallic watercolour paints topped off with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen, and fussy cut out. I removed the masking and stamped the sentiments, then matted the panel onto a card blank. Finally I attached the fussy cut dragonfly to the stamped panel. 

Here’s a closeup of the iridescent dragonfly.

I also decorated the inside a little …

Stamps: dragonfly and “let your dreams” sentiment both by Indigo Blu (cover gift with different craft magazines); AALL & Create #370 The Great Outdoors; Penny Black Letter Background (1999L); Pink Frog Typewriter Sentiments; Visible Image Birthday Wishes (inside);

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Blue Atoll, Pine); Versafine Clair (Twilight, Morning Mist); Cosmic Shimmer watercolour paints (Jade Mint, Sapphire Sparkle); Luminarte watercolour paint (Bolivian Blue); Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen (clear); clear embossing powder;

Tools: Craft Addiction UK Double Wavy Stitched Squares die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Alphabet Challenge - F is for Festivities

 (birthday)

Crafty Calendar (July) - Happy Birthday (2nd entry)

Crafty Catz #718 - Anything Goes

Creative Crafters #102 - Anything Goes

Creative Inspiration #40 - Anything Goes (2nd entry) - TOP 3

Creative Moments #284 - Shimmer and Shine

A Cut Above (July) - Anything Goes with a Die Cut (3rd entry)

Cut It Up #360 - Create Your Own Background + a Die Cut (2nd entry)

Daisy Chain #109 - Birthday (2nd entry)

Ellibelle’s Garden Party #17 - Anything In or From a Garden  (3rd entry)

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love  #30 - Birthday (4th entry)

Heart’s Quest Lovable Quotables #5 - Use a Quote (2nd entry) - WINNER

(anonymous motivational quote)

Seize the Birthday #330 - One or More Numbers

Simon Says (Monday) - Fun With Paint

Unicorn #122 - No Design Paper

Word Art Wednesday  #760/761 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

I Spy With My Little Eye #39

Hi everyone, it’s the third Wednesday in July so it’s time for a new I Spy With My Little Eye... challenge 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. 

This month it was my turn to choose the theme, which is

I Spy With My Little Eye 

*** Something With Wings ***

So think birds, butterflies, bees, fairies, angels … even aeroplanes - the list is almost endless! Please don’t forget to pop over to Ellie's blog to see her fab creation and link up your entries here

We are also delighted to welcome Maria  and alice k as guest designers - so please do click on their names to visit their blogs and view their beautiful winged creations.

Here’s my card for the challenge. I make quite a lot of cards that feature winged creatures - butterflies, dragonflies, fairies … I love them all! However I really do love bees - I think they are beautiful and endlessly fascinating creatures, so I decided to let a bee take centre stage with this gorgeous matching stamp and die set by Visible Image.

I cut a square of stamping card, and lightly blended Sundance Elements ink through a hexagon  stencil I placed centrally. With this stencil still in place I then overlaid it with a honeycomb stencil and blended Sundance, Sahara and Russet Orange Elements through both stencils, going darker towards the edges. I removed the stencils and stamped some grungy AALL & Create hexagons in 2 corners.  I stamped the largest VI bee onto separate card, coloured with Zig Pens, Wink of Stella gold on the body and Spectrum Noir sparkle pen on the wings, then cut out with the matching die. I stamped my sentiment onto the main panel, matted it onto black cardstock and copper glitter card then attached the die cut bee. The bee is actually quite sparkly but the photo doesn’t capture that! 

Stamps: Visible Image Bee Happy; AALL & Create #383 Scripted Hexagons; 

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Sundance, Sahara, Russet Orange); Versafine Clair (Nocturne);  Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Wink of Stella (gold); Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen (clear);

Tools: Visible Image Bee Happy die; Crafts Too hexagon stencil; Darkroom Door honeycomb stencil.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps & More #521 - Make Your Mark (2nd entry) - TOP ADDICT

Ally’s Angels #108 - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz #717 - Anything Goes - TOP 3

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (July) - Use a Stencil (2nd entry) - TOP 3

A Cut Above (July) - Anything Goes with a Die Cut (2nd entry)

Cut It Up #360 - Create Your Own Background + a Die Cut

Dream Factory #152 - Beekeeper - TOP 3

Ellibelle’s Garden Party #17 - Anything In or From a Garden  (2nd entry)

Four Seasons (July) - Summer (2nd entry)

(Inspired by the bee)

 

Girlz Rebel #54 - Glitter - TOP 3

Love to Craft #93 - Anything Goes  

Love to Scrap #180 - Anything Goes 

Mix It Up #84 - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday  #760/761 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

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 August 16th, and the next challenge will begin on Wednesday August 19th.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Vintage Daisies

Hi everyone, I’m back again with another card I made using the Francoise Read for Woodware stamp set, which came with this month’s ’Creative Stamping’ magazine. (In case you missed the first one due to Blogger playing silly beggars, it’s here). I’m really loving the vintage vibe of these stamps, and so once again I used a variety of Distress colouring media. 

I die cut a grungy rectangle from a snippet of white card using the AALL & Create ‘Film Drip’ die set, and created a smooshed background using Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet and Antique Linen Distressed inks. I stamped the large focal image, then stamped again onto a separate snippet where I coloured the daisy heads with Distressed watercolour pencils and the butterfly with Elements ink, then fussy cut. I created a separate smooshed background on an offcut of card using Antique Linen and Tea Dye DI’s, then stamped the tag section of the main stamp onto it, fussy cut out and coloured the flower. I added some background stamping round the edges of the main image using small images from the magazine stamp set, inked round the edges to add depth, then attached the fussy cut tag, flower heads and butterfly. I die cut a grungy frame from a snippet of kraft card using the ‘Film Drip’ dies and matted the stamped panel onto it, then attached to a custom sized card blank. To finish I added a Tim Holtz ‘Small Talk’ sticker sentiment, a teeny fussy cut tag stamped onto a separate teeny snippet, and Glossy Accents to the flower centres.

Stamps: Woodware Fabulous Francoise;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress inks (Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet); Distress watercolour pencils (Kitsch Flamingo, Fossilized Amber, Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint); Lavinia Elements ink (Sundance); Versafine Clair (Portobello);

Tools: AALL & Create Film Drip dies;

Other: Tim Holtz Small Talk Stickers.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps & More #521 - Make Your Mark

Beautiful Blossoms #42 - Anything Floral Goes (4th entry)

Creative Artiste #128 - Anything Mixed Media Goes

A Cut Above (July) - Anything Goes with a Die Cut

DL.Art (July) - Anything Goes

Ellibelle’s Garden Party #17 - Anything In or From a Garden

Moving Along with the Times #191 - Use a Colouring Medium (2nd entry)

Sisterhood of Crafters (July) - Flowers

Snippets Playground #536 - Use Snippets - TOP PICK

Word Art Wednesday  #760/761 - Anything Goes

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,