I Spy With My Little Eye #29 ☀️🌅

Hi everyone, summer is flying by, and it’s time once more 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. 

I chose the challenge theme this month, and it is

I Spy With My Little Eye 

*** Warm and Sunny Colours ***

We hope you’ll be inspired by the warm and sunny weather we’ve been having, and look forward to seeing your makes. 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 delighted to again welcome a guest designer -  Fiona - so please click on her name to visit her blog and see her fabulous creation.

Here’s my card for the challenge. I wanted to make something sunray related, but I don’t have a specific sunray stencil, though I do have a Strobes stencil by Visible Image. I decided to go with that, and a dramatic focal silhouette image by Indigo Blu to make a change from my recent floral scenes. 

I cut a square of stamping white card and softened the whiteness by smooshing with Lemon Drop Elements ink. I then applied Sundance and Russet Orange Elements through the stencil to create a sunburst effect. I stamped the focal image - Indigo Blu ‘Juliet’ - and added a few white Posca highlights, then added some background circle stamping round the edges using Cheerful and Summertime VFC. I stamped the sentiment and a couple of grungy lines, then matted the finished piece onto black and yellow card stock and a 6” square card blank. To finish I added a teeny orange heart gem.

Stamps: Indigo Blu ‘Juliet’, ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ (free with craft magazine); unbranded background circle and grungy line stamps from Amazon;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Lemon Drop, Sundance, Russet Orange); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Cheerful, Summertime); Posca pen (white); 

Tools: Visible Image Strobes stencil.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps & More #499 - Any Occasion (2nd entry)

Classic Design Challenge #8 2025 - Anything Goes  (2nd entry)

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

Daisy Chain #99 - Girls

Girlz & the Art of Letters #7 - G is for …

(Girl)

Heart’s Quest #76 - Anything Goes with Red or Orange Hearts

Shopping Our Stash #554 - Hot, Hot, Hot!

Sisterhood of Crafters - Card of Encouragement (2nd entry)

Try It On Tuesday - Going Round In Circles

Unicorn #112 - Girls

We Love 2 Create #8 - Anything Mixed Media/Papercrafting Goes (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #712/713 - Anything Goes (3rd 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 September 14th, and the next challenge will begin on Wednesday September 17th.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Positivity 🌺🌼

I mentioned in a recent post that I had bought a craft magazine in WH Smith (or whatever they now call themselves!) which turned out to be a sale bundle with more goodies inside than anticipated. It included an Altenew stamp, stencil and die set - now I really like some of the Altenew designs, but for some reason have never purchased any! Anyhoo, after I made a previous card with the set, I discovered an Altenew challenge blog so I decided to have a go. Only my focal flowers are Altenew, so I hope that’s ok!

I cut a 5 1/2” square of stamping card, and stamped two flowers. I then watercoloured around them using Elements inks in a dabbing and stippling motion (this idea was inspired by a card I saw by Anne Young in the Tracy Evans FB group). I stamped the flowers again plus two more onto separate card, and coloured with Zig pens, then fussy cut and set aside. I added some random background script stamping to the main panel which I heat embossed white, then some 2nd generation green background letter stamping. I attached the flowers to form a spray, then added a stamped and heat embossed sentiment panel. The card was matted onto a black border and 6” square card blank, and finally I added some sparkle to the flowers and faux gold spatters.

Stamps: Altenew Dynamic Duo - Always Smile; Tracy Evans TE11 Background Elements, TE16 Artsy Alpha/Numbers; AALL & Create #533 Bring On the Sentiments;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Olive, Lime Punch); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Shady Lane); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Versamark, WOW Opaque Bright White embossing powder; Spectrum Noir sparkle pen; Posca pen (gold).

Challenges I would like to enter:

Ally’s Angels #97 - Anything Goes

Altenew Inspiration Challenge (August) - Photo Inspiration

Beautiful Blossoms #32 - Anything Floral Goes

Classic Design Challenge #8 2025 - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore #138 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Creatalicious #292 - Anything Goes 

Creative Crafters #91 - Anything Goes

Creative Crafting Uncles #68 - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams (August) - Lots of Layers

Sisterhood of Crafters - Card of Encouragement

Word Art Wednesday #712/713 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Open Sunflower 🌻

Hi everyone, I thought I should make the most of using my beautiful new Lavinia sunflower stamps before summer is over, so here’s another one.

I die cut a large stitched square of white stamping card, then created a circle with blended Elements inks which I lightly spattered with water. I stamped the focal sunflower, then stamped again onto separate card, coloured with Zig pens and Spectrum Noir sparkle pen, and cut out. I stamped some second generation script background text, then added a couple of butterflies which I coloured with Sakura Stardust pens. I added some light stencilling in two corners, then attached the cut out sunflower, stamped the sentiment and assembled onto a card blank.

Stamps: Lavinia Open sunflower, Background Script, Bee Mini, Heartfelt Verses;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Blue Lagoon, Green Parrot); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Paradise);  Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Sakura Stardust pens (yellow, clear); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen; Posca pen (white);

Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo Stitched square die; Lavinia Leaf Trails stencil; Press to Impress circle mask.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps & More #499 - Any Occasion

Alphabet Challenge - I is for Ink Blending

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

Creative Artiste #118 - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Creative Inspirations (August) - Anything Goes

Double D - Bee Happy

Four Seasons (August) - Anything Goes Summer

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #8 - Birthdays

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #207 - Happy Birthday

Lavinia Creative Challenge (August) - Beautiful Blooms (2nd entry)

Love to Craft #87 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Love to Scrap #174 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Mix It Up #78 - Anything Goes with option Mixed Media (2nd entry)

Outlawz Festive Friday ( August) - It’s a Colourful World

Try It On Tuesday - Summer (2nd entry)

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

Word Art Wednesday #712/713 - Anything Goes

I must admit my crafty mojo is still very much on its travels, and I’m feeling very lethargic in this stifling hot weather! 

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Floral Spray 🌺

Hi everyone, I mentioned in a recent post that I had bought a craft magazine, which when I opened it contained some unexpected treasures that weren’t really indicated on the packaging as it was a “sale bundle”.  Well, today I have made a card using the stamp set that actually motivated me to purchase the magazine in the first place - a lovely floral spray by Crafter’s Companion.

I die cut a stitched rectangle from white stamping card, then stamped and heat embossed the flower spray in gold. I coloured the image using Zig pens and added some gold Posca spatter. When dry I matted onto a larger stitched square cut from a snippet of pearlescent pink card and onto a 7” x 5” card blank. Finally I die cut the sentiment from snippets of gold and black card, glued together and attached. A fairly straightforward traditional card, but I’m pleased with how it turned out.

Stamps: Crafter’s Companion flower (free with craft magazine);

Media: Versamark; WOW metallic gold embossing powder; Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Posca pen (gold);

Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo- Stitched rectangle dies; Simon Says Stamp Script Thanks die.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Ally’s Angels #96 - Anything Goes

Beautiful Blossoms #31 - Anything Floral Goes (2nd entry)

Crafty Catz #699 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Creative Moments #273 - Embossing

Ellibelle’s Garden Party #5 - Anything In or From a Garden (2nd entry)

NBUS #77 - Use Your Never-Before-Used Schtuff

(floral stamp)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Snippets Playground #512 - Use Snippets

Triple B (August) - Birds, Butterflies and/or Blooms with optional Mood Board

Word Art Wednesday #710/711 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Teapot Cottage 🫖

Hi everyone, I’ve not had a lot of time for crafting recently, so I’ve been working my way patiently through the new release Lavinia stamps I bought when I visited the Dreamatorium a month ago. Here’s a card which uses the remaining stamp sets I hadn’t yet opened - namely Teapot Cottage, the poppy seed heads and teeny sunflowers.

I cut a square of white stamping card, stamped the teapot then masked it and stamped the fairy path. I then masked that and created my landscape by blending Elements inks using hill and circle masks. I stamped some flowers and foliage emerging from the teapot, the little background houses and the fairies holding the teapot lid aloft (quite tricky masking there!). I removed the masks and coloured the teapot and path with Zig pens, and added some mushrooms and poppy seed heads to fill the scene. I stamped two small sunflowers onto separate card, coloured, fussy cut and attached, then added some sparkle to the windows and fairy wings, and a sticker sentiment to finish. 

I was using a brand new VFC Nocturne inkpad, and with hindsight my stamping of the teapot looks a bit heavy but hey, it’s done now! 

Stamps: Lavinia Teapot Cottage, Fairy Path, Dancing Till Dawn, Fairy Foragers, Wild Summer Flower, Dill, Thyme, Sunflower Heads, Small Dwellings, Poppy Dwellings, Mushrooms Mini, Birds;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Blue Lagoon, Sundance, Olive, Pine, Green Parrot; Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Pinecone, Morning Mist, Shady Lane, Avocado, Verdant); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Sakura Stardust pen (yellow); Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen (clear); Posca pen (white); 

Tools: Lavinia acetate Hill masks, Mini hill masks, Circle masks;

Other: Tim Holtz Small Talk sticker.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Alphabet Challenge - H is for Home - TOP 3

Country View FB Challenge (August) - Silhouettes

Crafts From the Fairy Den (July) - Anything Fairy Goes

Crafts Galore Encore #138 - Anything Goes

Girlz & the Art of Letters #6 - F is for … (2nd entry)

(Fairies, Flowers)

Heart’s Quest Fantasy Challenge #8 2025 - Anything Fantasy Goes

Krafty Chicks #779 - Anything Goes

Lavinia Creative Challenge (August) - Beautiful Blooms (version without sentiment)

Love to Craft #87 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

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

Try It On Tuesday - Make It Magical - TOP 5

Word Art Wednesday #710/711 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Sadly the sunny scene on my card doesn’t remotely reflect the weather here today - it’s absolutely pouring down! Fingers crossed it will soon improve! Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Christmas In July

Hi everyone, watching the wonderful Lionesses bringing home the Euros trophy on Sunday made the thought of sporting medals pop into my mind, and with it the colours gold, silver and bronze … which inspired me to make a Christmas card with round baubles in those colours. I have made quite a few cards with these Tracy Evans bauble stamps, but haven’t heat embossed them until now. Here it is.

I cut a piece of white stamping card, and stamped/heat embossed the baubles using gold, silver and copper metallic embossing powders. I hand drew the strings, then stamped fern branches above and some holly leaves with vintage text below. I added some sparkle to the leaves with Wink of Stella, then stamped a couple of background Christmas numbers, and a grungy Christmas sentiment before matting onto a black border and 7” x 5” card blank.

Stamps: Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE18 Decorations, TE22 Christmas Wishes; AALL & Create #806 Fallen Leaves; Visible Image Poinsettia Grunge (sentiment);

Media: Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Sand Dune); Versamark; gold, silver and copper embossing powders; Wink of Stella.

Challenges I would like to enter:

12 Months of Christmas #124 - Anything Goes Christmas (2nd entry)

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Foil/Hot Embossing - HONOURABLE MENTION

613 Avenue Create (July) - Anything Goes with option Any Holiday (2nd entry)

Christmas Kickstart #100 - Merry-Go-Round (circles)

C.R.A.F.T. #760 - Christmas

Crafter’s Cafe (July) - Anything Goes with option Christmas in July

Dream Valley #341 - Christmas In July

Girlz Creative Christmas #135 - Embossing Wet or Dry

The Holly and Ivy #188 - Anything Christmas Goes - TOP 5

Merry Little Christmas #63 - Anything Christmas Goes (2nd entry)

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

Peace On Earth #92 - Anything Christmas Goes

Rudolph Days (July) - Christmas

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday #710/711 - Anything Goes

I definitely need to start stepping up the Christmas production line now - 7 months gone already and I have made a grand total of … errrr … 4 so far! ☺️

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Layered Stencilling Fun

Hi everyone, I haven’t been around for a couple of weeks, as last week we had a little holiday in Whitby, and before we went I was both rushing around and synonymously not too well, so time has flown by! Anyhoo, I’m back now from what was a really lovely break, so I thought it was about time for a crafty session while the holiday laundry whirrs in the background!

I recently bought a craft magazine in WH Smith - the first time I have done so for quite a while - and only when I got it home did I discover it was actually a bundle of 2 old (Spring 2025) magazines and contained a stamp, die and layering stencil die set by Altenew that I hadn’t even known was in the package! I’ve never used layering stencils before so I thought I’d have a go - here’s the result.

 I stamped the flower 3 times onto snippets of white card, then coloured by blending Elements inks through the layering stencil to build up colour. I topped this with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen, cut out with the matching die and set aside. I die cut a stitched square, then stencilled two leaf sprays using the layering stencil, blended pink ink around the edges, and matted onto a 6” square card blank. I added some white Posca highlights and attached the die cut flowers, stamped the sentiment and added a few dew drop gems to finish.

Here is an angled picture to show the sparkle.

Stamps: Altenew Dynamic Duo - Always Smile; Visible Image Birthday Sentiments;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Pink Elephant, Violet Chalk, Flying Fig, Pine, Olive, Pixie Green); Versafine Clair (Nocturne); Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen (clear); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Altenew layering stencils and die - Dynamic Duo - Always Smile; Hunkydory Moonstone stitched square die;

Other: Crafter’s Companion dewdrop gems.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Beautiful Blossoms #31 - Anything Floral Goes

Crafty Catz #699 - Anything Goes

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

Creative Moments #272 - Use a Die Cut (2nd entry)

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

Die Cut Divas (July) - Birthday (2nd entry)

Girlz & the Art of Letters #6 - F is for …

(Flowers, foliage)

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #7 2025 - Birthday (3rd entry)

Inkspirational #346 - Birthday

Just Us Girls #785 - Stencil Week

Let’s Craft and Create #221 - Use a Hand Punch or Die

Outlawz Monday Greetings (July) - Happy Birthday (2nd entry)

Paper Funday #78 - Anything Goes with option Fun With Stencils (2nd entry)

Seize the Birthday #310 - use Your Favourite Colour

(Pink)

Tic Tac Toe #275 - Tic Tac Toe

(Stencil / Birthday / Square Card)

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

Word Art Wednesday #708/709 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

That’s all for today. I’m not getting a lot of time for crafting at the moment due to one thing or another, but hope to be back before too long.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

I Spy With My Little Eye #28

Hi everyone, it’s the third Wednesday in July, 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 

*** Something to Celebrate ***

A very wide-ranging theme, we hope you agree, giving everyone plenty of opportunity to join in!

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

I’ve been working my way through playing with my haul from when I visited the Lavinia Fairy Festival two weeks ago, and I desperately wanted to make something using one of the adorable new fairy teapot stamps - so what better than a whimsical “New Home” card? As luck would have it I know a lady who is due to move house soon, so I thought I’d get ahead of the game! So here’s my card for the challenge.

I cut a 6 1/4 “ square of stamping card and stamped the focal teapot, path and sunflowers, then masked them. I stamped Tilly poking her head out of the teapot, and the lid in her hand, then masked the lid. I then created the background by blending Elements inks using acetate masks, then stamped the fence and gate. I removed the masks and stamped the rest of the scene using various shades of Versafine Clair, then coloured the teapot, sunflowers and path with Zig pens. I added white Posca and Stabilo pencil highlights, Wink of Stella on the sunflower heads, then matted the piece onto a green border and 7” square card blank. To finish I stamped the sentiment onto separate card, cut out and attached, and added Glossy Accents to the teapot house window.

Stamps: Lavinia Earl Grey Lodge, Fairy Path, Tilly & Tango, Sunflower 1, Sunflower 2, Foxglove, Falling Ivy, Gate & Fence, Bench, Magical Mist, Bird Collection, Small Robins, Birds, Words From the Heart;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Pine, Green Parrot, Lime Punch, Blue Atoll, Undance); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist, Pinecone, Acorn, Shady Lane, Avocado, Medieval Blue, Blue Belle, Lilac Bloom, Hawthorn Rose, Charming Pink); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Wink of Stella (clear); Posca pen (white); Stabilo pencil (white); Glossy Accents.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Country View FB Challenge (July) - The Great Outdoors (2nd entry)

C.R.A.F.T. #759 - Anything Goes (2nd entry) - TOP 3

Crafts Galore Encore #137 - Anything Goes

Crafty Animals #96 - Include an Animal

Creative Artiste #117 - Anything Mixed Media Goes (2nd entry)

Creative Fingers #305 - Anything Goes

Dream Valley #340 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Four Seasons (July) - Summer (3rd entry)

Heart’s Quest Fantasy Challenge #7 2025 - Anything Fantasy Goes (2nd entry)

Lavinia Creative Challenge (July) - Once Upon a Time (4th entry)

Let’s Craft and Create #221 - Anything Goes

Love to Scrap #174 - Anything Goes

NBUS #76 - Use Your Never-Before-Used Schtuff

(fairy teapot, path and foxglove stamps)

Sparkles #190 - Summer Days

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

Try It On Tuesday - Summer Blooms (2nd entry)

We Love 2 Create #7 2025 - Anything Papercrafting / Mixed Media Goes

Word Art Wednesday #708/709 - Anything Goes

I have to admit this card took over 3 hours to make, but I was very pleased with how it turned out, apart from the small fact that my (fairly new) Glossy Accents turned brown again on the window … no idea why that happens!! The last release of Lavinia stamps is my favourite for quite some time, and I really had to rein myself in to stop myself buying the lot, especially as I visited the Dreamatorium … it would be very easy to fall completely under a spell!!

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 17th, and the next challenge will begin on Wednesday August 21st.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Pixie Lanterns and Faerie Spells

Hi everyone, today’s card is another mixture of old and new Lavinia stamps - I decided to have a little rest from the sunflowers (though there are more coming along soon! 🌻) as I wanted to play with the new Pixie Lanterns, so I decided to make a simple fairy card. I also determined to use up a few snippets!

I die cut a stitched square from a snippet of white card, and created a soft inky background by smooshing Green Parrot Elements ink using acetate. I stamped the fairy and hanging lanterns, and coloured them using blue and gold Wink of Stella pens. I then framed the scene by creating soft lines of blended ink using the straight edge of an acetate mask. I stamped some background text and a couple of butterflies, added some white Posca and pastel pencil highlights, then stamped the sentiment onto a separate snippet, cut out and attached.

It was only when I came to assemble the card that I realised I hadn’t used my largest stitched square die as I thought - oops! - so I had to cut a larger stitched square for matting - and I JUST managed to cut it from the only snippet I had in the colour I wanted to use! I then assembled the layers onto a 6” square card blank.

Here’s an angled picture to show the sparkle …

… and a couple of pics of my snippets.

Stamps: Lavinia Moments Like These, Pixie Lanterns, Faerie Spells, Butterflies, Deeper Than the Ocean;

Media: Lavinia Elements (Green Parrot, Lime Punch); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Blue Belle, Bali Blue); Wink of Stella (blue, gold, clear); Posca pens (white, gold); pastel pencil (white);

Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched Square dies.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Crafts from the Fairy Den (June) - Anything Goes with option Fairies (2nd entry)

Creative Moments #272 - Use a Die Cut

Heart’s Quest Fantasy Challenge #7 2025 - Anything Fantasy Goes - TOP 3

Lavinia Creative Challenge (July) - Once Upon a Time (3rd entry)

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies #2527 - Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Crafters - Stripes and/or Dots

Snippets Playground #510 - Use Snippets

Sparkles #189 - Fairy Tale or Storybook

Tic Tac Toe #274 - Tic Tac Toe

(Flowers/butterfly/any sentiment OR die-cut/free/butterfly)

Word Art Wednesday #706/707 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

That’s all from me for today. Hope everyone is coping ok with the scorching heatwave we’ve been having here in the UK. 

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,