Saturday 7 May 2022

Allsorts Challenge #675


Hi everyone,

I'm here again with another weekly Allsorts Challenge. This week Lorraine has chosen the theme and it is

*** Favourite Stamps and/or Dies ***

This week we have 2 great prizes on offer: Oakwood Archer has kindly donated a surprise craft bundle for one lucky winner, and a stencil for a second winner.



Here's my card for this week.


This theme gave me a dilemma in the nicest possible way, as I have lots of favourite stamps, which have changed over time and even day to day. My first loves were Penny Black, then I graduated onto Lili of the Valley ... and more recently I have gravitated towards Lavinia stamps and also love some of the AALl & Create and Visible Image ones too (oh for a bank balance to accommodate them all!!). However I decided to use this old wooden Stampendous stamp "Agapanthus Cluster" - as it is a perennial favourite I return to again and again and suits so many occasions and styles of card (I even have this stamp decorating my bookmark!!).

I decided this time that instead of inking the stamp in the usual way, I would use it as a "brushstroke" stamp. I coloured it with Marvey watercolour markers and spritzed with water before stamping, then repeated to make two overlapping images. I then die cut it out using my stitched fancy rectangle dies, spattered the panel with 2 colours of DO and also sponged round the edges. I don't really have favourite dies and don't even use them all that much any more; but I bought these recently from Amazon and I really love the look they create. I softly stencilled a square background panel using a Lavinia stencil and Distress Oxide ink, attached lace and mesh ribbon, then matted onto a large snippet of pearlescent linen cardstock I found in my box. I also cut a matching stitched rectangle from a second snippet and matted my flower panel onto it,  then attached to the card with foam tape. lastly I stamped and attached my sentiment, and attached a small bow with the edges frayed and 3 lilac heart gems.

Stamps: Stampendous "Agapanthus Cluster"; sentiment - Uniko - Simply Said Blocks II";
Media: Marvey watercolour markers; Tim Holtz Distress oxide ink (Tumbled Glass, Wilted Violet); Versafine Clair (Nocturne);
Tools: Lavinia "Leaf Trail" stencil; stitched rectangle dies from Amazon;
Ribbon, lace and gems from my stash.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Crafts Galore Encore #99 - Anything Goes
Dragonfly Dreams (May) - Butterflies and/or Flowers
Happy Little Stampers : Watercolour (May) - Anything Goes with Watercolouring
Pearly Sparkles #73 - Let’s Layer It Up
Snippets Playground #427 -  Use Snippets
(Pearlescent lilac linen card stock)
Stamping Sensations (May) - Anything Stamped with option of Floral and Fauna

Hope you can join us again this week, and I look forward to seeing your entries. Don't forget to visit the challenge blog to see more fab inspiration from the rest of the team. Thanks for visiting.
Hugs,

22 comments:

Sarn said...

That’s a lovely soft and feminine card in gorgeous colours. The agapanthus stamp is a fave of mine too as are the colours you’ve used. Really like the look of that die too! Great card.

When you reach the Snippets Playground please feel free to put in a flower garland, grab a Maypole ribbon and dance. The Maypole will stay up until the Challenge ends! Xxx

Bernadet said...

What a great card Pauline.
Love the flowers and the background.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Wow! Your agapanthus look amazing, the stamp with water is fabulous and just love the design with that purple frame, the soft background and the lace. Also the heart gems look great. A very feminine and delicate feel!
Thanks so much for joining us at We Love Stamping May challenge!

brenda said...

What can I say Pauline, Stampendous P107, my all time favourite stamp, would you believe way back I bought a second just in case it was discontinued and they came out time and again for classes.

Love your treatment of it here and the soft delicate feel achieved.

B x

brenda said...

Me again, forgot to thank you for linking up to SS and WLS, thank you.

B x

Ellibelle said...

As easy as this theme may sound it really is hard to choose a favorite, isn't it!! But you've picked a beauty here and I love how you used it in a watercolor look! The pretty stenciling on the background looks so nice with the stamp!

Dena J said...

This is gorgeous!! I love the colors and design so much.

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Such a beautiful card and the colours are gorgeous together.
Lorraine

Mrs.B said...

A gorgeous card Pauline, I have this stamp and it comes out every year, love the soft feel you've achieved with the watercolour stamping.
Thanks for sharing at Stamping Sensations.
Avril x

Wendy L said...

Really pretty and wonderful shades too, xxx

Linby said...

I love the ethereal effect you've achieved with this stamp and the colours are so pretty too.

Mervi said...

Fabulous and beautiful card.

Francesca said...

Fabulous card, love the design and the colours used! Thank you for playing at Dragonfly Dreams Challenge!

Wendy Ann Batchen said...

Beautiful project Pauline. Thank you for sharing with us over here at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.
Wendy DT Member for https://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/

Di said...

Such a lovely card Pauline! Like Sarn this too is one of my much loved stamps - suitable for so many occasions and surely will never go out of fashion?! So very pretty!

Hugs

Di xx

crafty-stamper said...

Gorgeous card and love the beautiful agapanthus flowers and the watercolour effect,love the stencilled background too
Carol x

Tammy L said...

Really pretty. I love the layers and the mixed media aspects. Thanks for joining us at Dragonfly Dreams and hope to see you again soon.
Tammy DT

Crafting Queen said...

Great card. Thanks for joining Stamping Sensations and We Love Stamping. Anesha

Billie A said...

Very pretty card. Great colors and so glad you shared over at Happy Little Stamper wc.

Mona said...

Another lover of this beautiful stamp. Thanks for the reminder to use it, you made a beautiful, two-toned card.

Koyel Saha Chatterjee said...

Lovely background work.. wonderful project.. thank you so much for your participation in CRAFTS GALORE ENCORE challenge. ❤️ DT KOYEL..

Larelyn said...

Oh, this is so pretty. Thanks for sharing at Pearly Sparkles.