Ruby Wedding ❤️🌅🦢

Hi everyone, today I would like to share a very special card that I made recently for my darling husband - a card for our ruby wedding anniversary (40 years). ❤️

Earlier in the year I bought the Lavinia swan stamps with a view to using them for this occasion - I thought they would be particularly appropriate as they do say swans mate for life! However I spent quite a while racking my brain as all my ideas for romantic layouts involving hearts seemed to be very similar to previous cards I have made (he has in the past received several romantic moonlit scenes!!). Then suddenly, and quite rarely for me, I had a burst of inspiration … our favourite romantic holiday destination is Santorini which is famous for its sunsets, so I decided to make a water scene with the sun setting behind the hills. 🌅 It also gave me opportunity to incorporate the colour red in a natural way, as that is a colour my husband normally hates! I have called this one “Sunset over the Caldera”…. I’m aware that this scene is really a lake rather than the ocean, but in the magical world of Lavinia anything is possible!! 

I cut a 16.5cm square of stamping card and masked off a square using masking sheet. I used a paper mask to create a horizon and a circle mask for the setting sun, then blended Sundance, Russet Orange and Paprika Elements inks and Bordeaux Spectrum Noir ink to form my sky. I then removed the masks and blended the same colours on the bottom half of the image panel for the lake, but without the circle mask so the reflection of the sun was not defined. I defined the horizon with the straight edge of a hill mask and Nocturne Versafine Clair, then added hills and their reflections using my Mini Hill masks and blended VFC. 

I stamped the bulrushes in the bottom corners then stamped my two swans and a cascade of red hearts. I added some leafy foliage in the top corners, then added some depth to the scene by blending Graphite Elements around the edges. I removed the masking sheet and highlighted the scene with Sakura Stardust pens and white Posca pen; I also added ripples to the water and highlighted them with Wink of Stella. 

I matted the finished scene onto a black border and then an 8” square card, and to finish added stamped sentiments and die cut numbers to show it is our 40th anniversary, plus a teeny “ruby” heart gem. 

Here is angled picture to show the sparkle.

As this is a special card I also added a bit of decoration to the inside of the card and the envelope too.

Stamps: Lavinia Swans, Bulrushes, Silhouette Foliage Set, Vine Flourish, Group of Hearts Mini; Woodware Happy Anniversary; Me to You (husband wording);

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Sundance, Russet Orange, Paprika, Graphite); Spectrum Noir Harmony ink (Bordeaux); Versafine Clair (Nocturne);  Sakura Stardust pens (Orange, clear); Posca pen (white); Wink of Stella;

Tools: Provocraft Hippie Chick number dies; Lavinia Hill, Mini Hill and Circle acetate masks.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Allsorts #798 - Anything Goes

Alphabet Challenge - L is for Landscape (2nd entry)

Colourful Options (September) - Be Bold

Country View Challenges (September) - Autumn Richness (2nd entry)

Crafts Galore Encore (September) - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz #678 - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations (September) - Anything Goes

A Cut Above (September) - Use a Die Cut

Ellibelle’s Crafty Wednesday (September) - Anything Goes

Fab ‘n’ Funky #600 - Anniversaries

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #9 - Anniversary

Love to Craft #82 - Anything Goes

Mix It Up #73 - Anything Goes

NBUS #66 - Use Your Never Before Used Schtuff

(Swan and bulrushes stamps)

Stamping Sensations (September) - Anything Goes with option Animal Magic (2nd entry)

Paper Funday #69 - Anything Goes with option Create Your Own Background

Simon Says (Monday) - Stamp It

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

Try It On Tuesday - Make It Colourful

We Love 2 Create #8 - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday #665/666 - Anything Goes

Here is the original image panel without sentiments, which I am entering into Lavinia Creative Challenge (September) - Autumn Hues (2nd entry)

I must say that for once I’m very pleased with how this turned out - indeed it was a labour of love! ❤️❤️🦢

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Blowing in the Wind

Hi everyone, now that we are into September I have noticed a few autumn-themed challenges are starting to appear - there are some wonderful prizes on after from Allsorts, Lavinia and Country View Challenges. I thus felt motivated to make my first autumn-themed card of the year - a scene of falling leaves in autumnal colours blowing in the wind.

I blended Russet Orange and Sahara Elements inks around the edges of a cut square of stamping card and blended around a small circle mask to create the sun, then created grounding using blended Distress inks and a Mini Hills mask. I stamped the Lavinia seasonal tree to the right of the scene and pheasant to the left, then added falling leaves in a variety of autumnal colours, with darker brown leaves on the ground. I added some stamped mini mushrooms and field grass and a flock of geese flying away, then coloured the tree using Zig pens and added highlights with white Posca pen and gold dots around the leaves. I matted the finished piece onto a dark brown border and a 6” square card blank.

Stamps: Lavinia Seasonal Tree, Pheasant, Field Grass, Ducks, Mini Maple Leaf, Mini Slender Mushrooms, Let Your Spirit Take Flight;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Russet Orange, Sahara, Paprika, Olive); Spectrum Noir Harmony ink (Bordeaux); Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo); Versafine Clair (Pinecone, Acorn, Golden Meadow); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Posca pens (white, gold); Stabilo pencil (white);

Tools: Lavinia Mini Hills masks.

Challenges I would like to enter: 

Addicted to Stamps and More #476 - Make Your Mark (2nd entry)

Alphabet Challenge - L is for Landscape

Allsorts #797 - Autumn Colours - TOP 5

Cards 4 Galz #233 - It’s Hip to be Square (2nd entry)

Country View Challenges (September) - Autumn Richness

Day of the Month Card Club #67 - Autumn Stroll Day

FarmQuest General Store #20 - Anything Country Goes

Festive Fridays (September) - Fall Is Coming

Four Seasons (September) - Fall

Inkspirational #324 - Make Your Mark

Krafty Chicks #732 - Stamps (2nd entry) - TOP PICK

Lavinia Creative Challenge (September) - Autumn Hues

Path of Positivity #123 - Anything Positive Goes

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Stamp It (2nd entry)

Stamping Sensations (September) - Anything Goes with option Animal Magic

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

Word Art Wednesday #663/664 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

 

Agapanthus Clusters

Hi everyone, I’ve been a bit busy this past week, so today’s card is a fairly quick and simple one using one of my favourite old wooden stamps - Stampendous “Agapanthus Cluster”. Over August Bank holiday weekend I paid a little visit to the Crafter’s Companion shop as I was in the area, and I bought a couple of Spectrum Noir dye ink pads as I particularly liked the colours, so I wanted to have a play with them and thought they would coordinate well with this stamp.

I cut a 5” square of stamping card and blended dye ink up from the bottom left corner, then spattered with water. I repeat stamped the agapanthus cluster using Versafine Clair in Very Peri, and coloured the outline flower heads with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen. I added a stamped sentiment and some silver Posca spatters, then when dry matted onto a pink border and a 6” square card blank.

Here is an angled pic to show the silver and sparkle.

Stamps: Stampendous Agapanthus Cluster; Crafter’s Companion Magical Sentiments;

Media: Spectrum Noir Harmony die inks (Pale Fig, Pink Tulip); Versafine Clair (Very Peri, Medieval Blue); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Posca pen (silver).

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps and More #476 - Make Your Mark

Allsorts #796 - Getting Sentimental (2nd entry)

Beautiful Blossoms #20 - Anything Floral Goes (4th entry)

Cards 4 Galz #233 - It’s Hip to be Square

Dragonfly Dreams (September) - Happy Birthday

Dream Valley #321 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Krafty Chicks #732 - Stamps

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies #2435 - Anything Goes

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Stamp It

Word Art Wednesday #663/664 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,