I Spy With My Little Eye #26 🦋

Hi everyone, it’s the third Wednesday in the month again, which means that it’s time for another 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. 

Ellie chose the challenge theme this month, and it is

I Spy With My Little Eye 

*** At Least One Butterfly ***

A lovely theme as we move towards summer - can’t wait to see what you make! 

Please don’t forget to pop over to Ellie's blog to see her fab creation and link up your entries here. 

This month we are also delighted to again welcome two guest designers - Helen and  Silke - so please click on their names to visit their blogs and see their fabulous creations.

Here’s my card for the challenge. This was a relatively simple card but it still took me about half a dozen attempts before I was even vaguely happy with the background!

I die cut a stitched square of stamping card, and added colour by dragging three different pink and yellow Distress Oxide ink pads lightly across the surface. I embossed the coloured panel with a floral embossing folder, then lightly rubbed copper gilding polish across the raised areas. I die cut a stitched circle of white pearlescent card, stamped the greeting and heat embossed with detail copper EP., and attached to the embossed panel. I then die cut and embossed two large butterflies using rose gold metallic card, attached and bent up their wings for dimension. I attached the panel to a card blank and finished off with a few teeny heart gems.

Stamps: Woodware Happy Anniversary;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Squeezed Lemonade, Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo); Cosmic Shimmer Copper gilding polish; Versamark; detail copper embossing powder;

Tools: Hunky Dory Moonstone Duo-Stitched Square and Circle dies; Embossalicious embossing folder; Provocraft Butterflies Cut ‘n’ Emboss folder.

Challenges I would like to enter:

2 Sisters On the Blog #97 - Wedding/Anniversary

613 Avenue Create (May) - Anything Goes with option Floral Delight (3rd entry)

A Cut Above (May) - Anything Goes With a Die Cut

Can You Handle the Pressure - Use an Embossing Folder - TOP 3

Cardz 4 Galz #250 - Things With Wings (2nd entry)

C.R.A.F.T. #755 - Anything Goes (2nd entry) 

Crafty Catz #694 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Creative Crafters #88 - Anything Goes

Do Al(l) Kreatives #101 - Anything Goes with option Flowers (3rd entry)

Double Trouble #191 (7th Anniversary Event) - Anniversary (yellow ticket) (2nd entry) 

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #5 2025 - Anniversaries (3rd entry)

My Time To Craft #560 - Square Shaped Cards (2nd entry) 

Neglected Stuff (May) - Use One or More Neglected Supplies (2nd entry)

(My Cut ‘n’ Emboss Butterflies and gilding paste were both sadly neglected)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Things With Wings (2nd entry) 

Triple B (May) - Birds, Butterflies and/or Blooms (3rd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #700/701 - Anything Goes

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 June 15th, and the next challenge will begin on Wednesday June 18th.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Craft Club

Hi everyone, yesterday I had a great day out at a craft club which takes place monthly in Warrington, about 15 miles from where I live. I found out about it from Tracy Evans’ FB group, as this month Jacqui, one of the members, was due to demo (with permission) some cards based on design inspiration and techniques from Tracy’s videos. All attendees were provided with a small pack of pre-cut stamping card, card blanks and a list of preferred materials to make something similar to the demos. As I have quite a few Tracy stamps and loved the “look” of the sample cards I thought I’d give it a go … and here’s what I made.

 Both cards used the same colours and similar techniques, but with different stamps. First of all I created a smooshed background by layering Distress Oxide inks dabbed onto acetate and spritzed with water: I’m completely familiar with this technique but had never considered this colour combo before. The demo instructions suggested using Vintage Photo, Hickory Smoke and a touch of Black Soot - I also added in a little Frayed Burlap for added gradation of shading.  

I then stamped the focal stamps using VFC Nocturne - for the floral card I masked part of what is a very large stamp; and for the second card Jacqui very kindly allowed me to borrow her stamp which I love so much I now need to buy it! Parts of the stamped images (vase and some clock faces) were then coloured with watered down Distress Oxides, and the flowers and a couple of clock faces were painted with white acrylic paint. Again this is something I hadn’t previously considered, but it really makes the images pop against the dark background. I kept the designs very similar to the demo samples, just adding a couple of little personal touches. Primarily these were extra text stamping and a little stencilling on the floral card, adding a second fussy cut and coloured butterfly to add dimension, white Posca pen accents, adding sparkle to the butterfly and flowers, and Glossy Accents on the vase which I did when I got home so I wouldn’t smudge it! I also didn’t add sentiments as I will decide on them as required.

Here are a couple of angled pictures.

Stamps: AALL & Create #266 Daisy Elegance, #733 Temporal, TE32 Alpha Florals;

Media: TimmHoltz Distress Oxides inks (Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot); Versafine Clair (Nocturne);  acrylic paint (white); Posca pen (white); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Glossy Accents;

Tools: Darkroom Door stencil - Diamonds.

As these designs are so closely based on Jacqui’s samples I won’t be entering them into any challenges. I just wanted to share them as I was really thrilled with how they turned out - my painting with white acrylic paint definitely needs some practice but I will certainly be using this technique again to create cards with a grungy vintage look!

Overall I had a great day with a lovely group of crafty ladies. They are looking to expand their numbers for anyone who lives within striking distance of north Warrington. 

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

I’m Dreaming of a Purple Christmas

Hi everyone, yes I know it’s another purple card for Tracy Evans’ challenge The Colour Purple  … I can’t seem to stop myself! This time however I decided to ring the changes and make a Christmas card, as this year so far they are as rare on my blog as hens’ teeth!! This card is quite similar to one I made last Christmas but of course in a different colour scheme. 

I created the background by blending Distress Oxide inks around Tracy’s stencil bauble, then spattering with water. I used torn paper to created some blended ink snowdrifts and a pale moon in the sky, then used a paper mask to stamp various trees and the penguin inside the bauble. I added some background stamping around the bauble, and snowfall to the trees with white Posca pen, then added some depth by shading around one side of the bauble with Inkense pencil and blending out with water. I added a bit of sparkle by outlining the other side of the bauble and the moon with Sakura Stardust pen, then created snowfall spatters by flicking a white Posca pen (I’m never very successful with this!) When dry I attached  the stamped and heat embossed sentiment, then matted the finished piece onto a purple border and a 6” square card blank.

Here’s an angled picture to show the sparkle.

Stamps: Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE18 Decorations, TE22 Christmas Wishes, TE23 Winter Delights;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Monarch, Lilac Bloom, Very Peri); Versamark, WOW white ultra fine embossing powder; Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Tracy Evans Snippet Stencil SS06 Bauble.

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #122 - Anything Goes Christmas

Addicted to Stamps & More #492 - Christmas

Cardz 4 Galz #250 - Things With Wings

Crafty Catz #694 - Anything Goes

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (May) - Use a Stencil (3rd entry)

FarmQuest Country Christmas #20 - Anything Country Christmas Goes

Merry Little Christmas #62 - Anything Christmas Goes

My Time to Craft #560 - Square Shaped Card

Outlawz Festive Friday (May) - Christmas (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Monday) - Things With Wings (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Things With Wings (2nd entry)

Tracy Evans FB Challenge (April/May) - The Colour Purple (3rd entry)

Word Art Wednesday  #698/699 - Anything Goes (5th entry)

I don’t think I’ll be suddenly getting on a roll with my Christmas cards as the weather is so summery here right now, but at least I’ve now got double the amount I had before 🥰

I’ve just got back from my first visit to a monthly all day craft club things a few miles away from where I live, where I made a couple of of cards closely based on a demo by one of the members, using (with permission) inspiration and techniques from Tracy’s workshops. I’ll be back before too long sati share what I made, what I learned and some more info about the club. 😀

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Believe In Magic 🧚

Hi everyone, time seems to be flying by at the moment and I am trying to enjoy the beautiful weather we’re having here in the UK, but I have managed to have a little crafty playtime, and here’s the result.

I cut a piece of stamping card 6.5” x 4.5” and created a background with blended Elements inks. I stamped a variety of Lavinia flowers using Versafine Clair in Nocturne, interspersed with Summertime and Sand Dune to add dimension. I stamped the hovering fairies and coloured their wings with Sakura Stardust pen, then added white Posca and Stardust pen highlights to the whole scene. I added a little more depth by blending some Elements with torn paper to form wispy clouds, then I stamped, cut out and attached my sentiment before matting the finished piece onto a black border and card blank. This is another very sparkly card which unfortunately I just can’t capture on camera!

Stamps: Lavinia Wild Poppies, Garden Poppy, Dandelions, Fairy Foragers, Believe In Magic;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Lemon Drop, Sundance, Russet Orange, Paprika, Truffle, Graphite); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Summertime, Sand Dune); Posca pen (white); Sakura Stardust pens (orange, yellow, clear);

Tools: Lavinia acetate circle masks.

Challenges I would like to enter:

613 Avenue Create (May) - Anything Goes with option Floral Delight (2nd entry)

Beautiful Blossoms #29 - Anything Floral Goes

C.R.A.F.T. #755 - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore #135 - Anything Goes

Do Al(l) Kreatives #101 - Anything Goes with option Flowers (2nd entry)

Dream Valley #336 - Things With Wings

Ellibelle’s Garden Party #3 - Anything In or From a Garden

Heart’s Quest Fantasy Challenge #5 2025 - Anything Goes Fantasy (2nd entry)

Inkspirational #341 - Hot  

Lavinia Creative Challenge (May) - Secret Garden (2nd entry)

Path of Positivity #131 - Anything Goes Positive

Simon Says (Monday) - Things With Wings

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Things With Wings

Sisterhood of Crafters - Flowers

Word Art Wednesday  #698/699 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Try It On Tuesday Guest Designer 🎈

Hi everyone, I was thrilled to be asked to be a guest designer for Try It On Tuesdays challenge, a brilliant challenge I enter as often as I can.  

This fortnight the challenge theme is

*** Keep It Simple ***

A lovely easy theme, so I hope you will all consider joining in.

As regular visitors will know, my projects don't usually tend to be CAS, but for this one I really did manage to keep it about as simple as it gets. This design was inspired by some cards I saw when I recently visited a small artisan craft fair in Bakewell, Derbyshire, and met a lovely lady called Sharon who had a stall selling her handmade cards. We had a really lovely chat about designs, techniques, and the knack of making cards for sale where you need a striking design but which is relatively quick to make. Sharon had some lovely balloon cards, and I said I would have a go at something along the same lines and would mention her inspiration on my blog! 

I scored a 30cm x 15cm piece of Pink Frog super-smooth card to make a one layer card, and created the balloons by blending Distress Oxide inks through a Uniko stencil which I remembered I had in my stash, and added white Posca highlights. I added balloon strings with a black fine liner, then stamped a sentiment using two colours of ink. I added some stamped silver grungy stars to give a bit more interest, and finished off with a teeny pink heart gem on the sentiment - job done!

Stamps: Visible Image Birthday Wishes;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress oxide inks (Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Broken China); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Hawthorn Rose); Brilliance Pigment ink (Platinum Planet); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Uniko stencil - Balloon Bash.

Challenges I would like to enter:

AAA Birthday #73 - Anything Birthday Goes (2nd entry)

AAA CAS #290 - Anything Birthday Goes

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

Double Trouble #91 (7th Anniversary Event) - Birthday (pink ticket)
Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #5 2025 - Birthdays (2nd entry)

Let's Craft and Create #219 - Anything Goes with option No Patterned Paper (2nd entry)

Love to Craft #86 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Love to Scrap #173 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Mix It Up #77 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Neglected Stuff (May) - Use one or more old neglected supplies

(my stencil - I had completely forgotten I even had it!)

Word Art Wednesday  #698/699 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

I look forward to seeing your CAS makes over at Try it On Tuesdays - thanks so much for the GDT invite.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Purplicious! 💜

Hi everyone, I am still feeling inspired by Tracy Evans’ current FB challenge The Colour Purple, so I thought I’d make another project for it. I wanted to use this particular floral stamp as I bought it during AALL & Create’s mega clearance sale, but I’ve never inked it up until now. I have also recently seen several paper pieced projects on other people’s blogs and I think this flower is very suitable for that, so here’s how these various sources of inspiration came together.

I cut a piece of white stamping card 20cm x 10 cm and created a smooshed background using Della Blue and Violet Chalk Elements inks spattered with water. I also created a smaller smooshed panel using an offcut with Flying Fig and Dark Denim Elements. I stamped the focal flower onto the main panel, then again onto the smaller panel where I fussy cut the flower head, added a coat of Spectrum Noir sparkle pen, and added some white Posca accents. I added a little purple background stencilling using A&C ‘Digits Checked’, then some white stencilling on the edges using TimmHoltz ‘Dot Fade’ stencil. I coloured the flower leaves with Inktense pencils and attached the paper pieced flower head. I stamped the little birdies and added some white Posca spatters then, when dry, matted onto a black border and DL card blank. Finally I added a stamped sentiment, Glossy Accents to the number circles, and a couple of pieces of torn washi tape.

Here’s an angled picture to show the gloss and sparkle.

Stamps: AALL & Create #539 Gem of a Plant; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE 30 Garden Elements; sentiment brand unknown;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Violet Chalk, Della Blue, Flying Fig, Dark Denim); Spectrum Noir Harmony dye ink (Pale Fig); Versafine Clair (Nocturne); Versamark; WOW Ultra fine white embossing powder; Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Posca pen (white); Inktense pencils; Glossy Accents;

Tools: AAL L & Create stencil - Digits Checked; Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz stencil - Dot Fade;

Other: AALL & Create washi tape #45 Night Shade.

Challenges I would like to enter:

613 Avenue Create (May) - Anything Goes with option Floral Delight

As You Like It - Favourite Soft or Bold Colours (and why)

(I tend to prefer soft colours as they are more gentle and atmospheric, but also like bold colours occasionally - I think this card has a bit of both!)

Beautiful Blossoms #28 - Anything Floral Goes (4th entry)

Cardz 4 Galz - Flowers (2nd entry)

Craft Rocket #125 - Flowers (2nd entry)

Crafty Catz #693 - Anything Goes with option May Flowers (2nd entry)

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

Do Al(l) Kreatives #101 - Anything Goes with option Flowers

Dream Factory #138 - Magnolia (Use Flowers) (2nd entry) - WINNER

Girlz Rebel Challenge #40 - Anything Goes with an Image

Let's Craft and Create #219 - Anything Goes with option No Patterned Paper

Outlawz Festive Fridays (May) - Say It With Flowers

Simon Says (Monday) - Stencil Fun

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Beautiful Blooms (2nd entry)

Tracy Evans FB Challenge (April/May) - The Colour Purple (2nd entry)

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

We Love 2 Create #5 2025 - Anything Mixed Media/Papercrafting Goes (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday  #698/699 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Talking of Purplicious …. I went with my husband on Friday to see Torvill and Dean’s farewell tour ‘Our Last Dance’. 

We first saw them in 1985 on their first world tour after winning Olympic gold, in their home town of Nottingham - an event which still rates right up there in terms of excitement after all these years! This performance brought back a lot of memories … here’s a little clip of them skating an updated version of their iconic Olympic gold medal routine ‘Bolero’.

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

Hugs,

Secret Garden

Hi everyone, this month’s Lavinia Creative Challenge is Secret Garden; and as I needed to make a male birthday card for a friend I couldn’t resist bringing Herbalum Bob out to play again, watering his pots! This one is not dissimilar to some previous makes, but this time I also took the opportunity to create my first card with both of my new-ish large tree stamps framing the scene - they were part of what I chose with some previous winnings, but I had only inked up one of them until now. I decided to make a 7” square card which is a bit bigger than my usual, as these tree images are quite big. 

Firstly I created the background landscape by blending Elements inks using acetate Mini Hill and Circle masks, then I stamped the 2 trees. I stamped the wheelbarrow and used masks to fill it with pots and foliage, then stamped Herbalum Bob at the right height so he could water the plants! I coloured the tree trunks with Zig pens, then stamped leaves in 2 shades of green. I added bluebells in the bottom right corner, then stamped the sign and stamped again onto separate card, shaded with a Zig pen then fussy cut and attached on top of the stamped image. I stamped some ducks flying across the sun and a little birdie sitting on the sign. I added white shading and Posca accents to the silhouettes, then created the greeting panel by stamping the secret garden sign onto separate card with the text masked, colouring with Zig pen, then stamping the birthday greeting. I fussy cut the greeting and attached, then matted the finished piece onto brown card stock and a 7” square card blank.

Here is an angled picture to show the sparkle of the watering can spray!

Stamps: Lavinia Tree of Courage, Tree of Hope, Herbalum Bob, Wheelbarrow, Flower Pots, Dill, Bluebells, Field Grass, Grass, Wild Foliage, Ducks, Bird Collection, Secret Garden Sign, Heartfelt Verses;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Pine, Olive, Blue Lagoon, Lemon Drop; Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Pinecone, Morning Mist, Avocado, Shady Lane, Hawthorne Rose, Lilac Bloom, Blue Belle, Very Peri; Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Posca pen (white); Stabilo pencil (white);

Tools: Lavinia acetate Mini Hill and Circle masks.

Challenges I would like to enter:

AAA Birthday #73 - Anything Birthday Goes

C.R.A.F.T. - Birthday (16th Birthday Challenge)

Crafty Catz #693 - Anything Goes with option May Flowers

Creative Inspirations (May) - The Great Outdoors

Ellibelle’s Garden Party #3 - Anything In or From a Garden

FarmQuest General Store #28 - Anything Farm or Country Goes

Four Seasons (May) - Spring

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #5 2025 - Birthdays

Heart’s Quest Fantasy Challenge #5 2025 - Anything Goes Fantasy

Lavinia Creative Challenge (May) - Secret Garden

Love to Craft #86 - Anything Goes

Love to Scrap #173 - Anything Goes

Mix It Up #77 - Anything Goes

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Beautiful Blooms

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

Try It On Tuesday - Deep In the Forest - TOP 5

Word Art Wednesday  #698/699 - Anything Goes

I think I’ve been a little inspired by the nice weather we’ve been having, and the lovely spring flowers I’ve seen on a couple of recent country walks.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Creative Artiste #115 Guest Designer

Hi everyone, I was really thrilled and excited to be asked to be a guest designer for this month’s Creative Artiste Challenge, where the theme is always

*** Anything Mixed Media Goes ***

There’s lots of inspiration on the challenge blog from the talented design team, so please do pop over to have a look.

I really wouldn’t describe myself as a mixed media crafter as my efforts are mostly confined to cardmaking and ATC’s, I don’t do any journaling, altered art etc., plus I’m not massively adventurous when it comes to using different colouring media. That is mainly because I know that each time you start to dabble with a new medium it becomes the new favourite and opens up a whole new money pit, plus I’m already running out of space to store my current stash! Anyway, I have done my best to use multiple media on this card, and here it is.

The original inspiration for this card came from the current challenge in the Tracy Evans FB group, which is to flood the group with projects featuring the colour purple to support the sister of a group member who is going through some very difficult medical treatment. 💜

I stamped the focal flower onto a snippet of white stamping card using Wilted Violet and Villainous Potion Distress Oxides, then lightly blended out the colour using a fine paintbrush and water. I added definition to the flowers by shading with watercolour pencils and a white Stabilo pencil, then added a little depth by outlining some of the petals with a grey Inktense pencil and blending out. I die cut using a stitched rectangle and set aside.

I then die cut a a larger stitched rectangle from a larger snippet and created a smooshed background with Distress Oxides. I added some 2nd generation background letter stamping using Lilac Bloom and Very Peri VFC, and some random script text using Versamark heat embossed white. I placed the flower panel so I could stamp the bird across it and the background, then added a little background stamping to the flower panel along with a li’l insect coloured with my gold Wink of Stella pen, added white Posca accents  and blended more DOX round the edges. Finally I assembled the card, added a white heat embossed sentiment stamped onto a snippet of black card, and added some teeny heart gems to the flower centres.

Stamps: AALL & Create #985 Flower Smudge, #831 Sent With Love, #756 Miniatures; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE4 New Beginnings, TE11 Background Elements, TE16 Artsy Alphas/Numbers;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxides inks (Villainous Potion, Wilted Violet, Shaded Lilac, Blueprint Sketch; Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Lilac Bloom, Very Peri); watercolour pencils; Inktense pencil (grey);  Stabilo pencil (white);  Posca pen (white); Wink of Stella (gold);

Tools: Hunky Dory Moonstone Duo-Stitched rectangle dies;

Other: silver heart gems from my stash.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Beautiful Blossoms #28 - Anything Floral Goes (3rd entry)

Cardz 4 Galz - Flowers

Craft Rocket #125 - Flowers

Die Cut Divas (May) - Watercolour

Make My Monday #250 - Things With Wings

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Snippets Playground #505 - Use Snippets - TOP PICK

Tracy Evans FB Challenge (April/May) - The Colour Purple

We Love 2 Create #5 2025 - Anything Mixed Media/Papercrafting Goes

Word Art Wednesday #696/697 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

I’d like to say a big thanks to Andree for inviting me to be a guest designer at Creative Artiste Challenge this month.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,