A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes

Hi everyone,

On Sunday I was fortunate enough to be able to go to one of the Lavinia Open Days they had last weekend as part of their Fairy Fest craft festival. I had a brilliant time wandering around the magical shop, dropping in on one or two demos, and meeting members of the team including Tracy and Jo Rice. I had a good old crafty spend while I was there, so naturally I wanted to have a play with some of my new supplies as soon as possible.

My favourite stamp of the new release is the lovely Wild Summer Flower, so I decided to make a 7" x 5" card where the design was based on this Jo Rice tutorial, but with some adjustments to suit my stash. Jo made her card using pan pastels but I don't have a collection of those, so I made my background with Distress Oxides. I actually watched the tutorial last week, and when I came to link it up for this post I realised I had made my card a lot busier than Jo's by introducing various other flowers as well as my birds and bee!! I also had to introduce my signature "twist" which is lots of Sakura sparkle ...  so here it is.

I created my background sky by blending Distress Oxide inks, then I used a circle mask to create my sun - blending the ink very gently to create a subtle hazy outline.  I stamped several Wild Summer Flowers using Versafine Clair Nocturne, then stamped several leaf sprays 1st and 2nd generation using my new VFC's in Golden Meadow and Verdant. I filled some gaps in the scene with my existing dandelion stamps inked with Versafine Imperial Purple, then stamped my birds and bee.   I coloured the flower heads and bee and highlighted the sun and other flowers using Sakura sparkle pens, then added some pastel pencil wispy streaks in the sky and a little white Posca pen spatter. I matted the panel simply on black linen card stock, and finished off with a Tim Holtz sticker sentiment.

As always there is more sparkle on this card than a standard picture shows, so here is an angled pic. Despite not having a collection of pan pastels, I did actually buy one on Sunday, which was the fine pearl white for making mist and moon auras. I tried it on the first attempt at this card but it didn't work very well - I think I need more practice, plus I was a tad concerned when I opened the package and spotted the warning that the dust is harmful. Whether I will continue to use it, time will tell.

Stamps: Lavinia Wild Summer Flower, Leaf Spray, Fairy Dandelions, Dandelions, Birds, Bee Miniature;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Seedless Preserves); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Golden Meadow, Verdant); Versafine (Imperial Purple); Sakura Gelly Roll (Stardust) pens (Purple, Gold, Copper, Clear); pastel pencil (white); Posca Pen (white); 

Other: Tim Holtz "small Talk" sentiment sticker.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Ally's Angels #60 - Anything Goes

As You Like It - Favourite Warm or Cool Colours (and why) (2nd entry)

(I love warm colours at this time of year as they give cards such a summery feel)

Colour Crazy #27 2022 - Anything Goes With Colouring

Craft Rocket #94 - Summertime

Creative Inspirations (July) - Summer Sun

Dream Valley #273 - All Occasions (2nd entry)

Ellibelle’s Crafty Wednesday (July) - Anything Goes

Everybody Art #518 - Sunny Greetings

Fab 'n' Funky #555 - Whatever the Weather

Make My Monday #178 - Spatters!

Shopping Our Stash #474 - Blending In

Simon Says (Monday) - Fabulous Florals

Stamping Sensations (July) - Summer Flowers (2nd entry)

Use Your Stuff #452 - Mood Board

(I saw yellow/orange/pinky purple colours, flowers and a hazy sky)

We Love Stamping (July) - Anything Stamped with option of Hot Sunny Colours

Word Art Wednesday #551/552 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

I would also like to share today a very quick ATC I made whilst at my desk.

This was prompted because I was making a card which went wrong, so I rescued and recycled a panel that I had stencilled with DO's and my new Lavinia stencil. I then stamped a little wildflower meadow and sentiment onto the background, matted onto standard ATC-sized black linen card and finished off with Sakura  sparkle highlights, a heart shaped gem and sticker sentiment - pretty quick and easy!

Stamps: unbranded, free with craft magazine;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Mowed lawn, Rustic Wilderness); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Rainforest);

Tools: Lavinia stencil - Divine;

Other: Tim Holtz "Small Talk" sticker.

Challenges I would like to enter:

A Gem Of a Challenge #14 2022 - Anything Goes

A Tiny Craft #10 - All Things Tim (3rd entry)

Crafty Catz #603 - Anything Goes

Krafty Chicks #619 - Stamp Act

Moving Along With the Times #144 - Inky Background

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Before I go, here are a few pics from my trip to Lavinia HQ on Sunday ... my first visit, but hopefully not my last!

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,