Keep Moving Forward

Hi everyone, today I would like to share my July Lavinia calendar page. The illustration for July is a gaggle of geese, and I actually bought the stamp before Christmas so that I could use it for this! I was struggling to think what to create, and I was inspired by Jo Rice’s idea of using the geese with a sunset, though my page turned out very differently from her example.

I cut a piece of stamping card 19.5cm x 14.5cm and created the background by blending Sundance, Russet Orange and Paprika Elements inks, starting in the centre. I created a horizon and hill line by placing hill masks and blending Graphite Elements, then created a reflected hill line in the water by reversing the mask and blending ink more gently, to give a softer finish. I stamped the geese, then created a riverbank in the foreground by blending more Elements with a hill mask, and stamped some bulrushes and meadow flowers. 

I masked the hill line and stamped a line of trees, then stamped their reflections in the water using 2nd generation Morning Mist. I have to confess that I didn’t bother “mirroring” the trees with the exception of the row on the left, as they were too asymmetrical. I then created my sunset by blending  Paprika Elements round a circle mask. To finish I coloured the flower heads with white Posca, highlighted the scene with yellow and orange Stardust pens, white Posca and white Stabilo pencil, then attached a sentiment sticker which I outlined in black. 

Stamps: Lavinia Gaggle of Geese, Tree Scene, Forest Scene, Trees, Bulrushes, Wild Summer Flower, Ducks;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Sundance, Russet Orange, Paprika, Graphite); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist); Sakura Stardust pens (yellow, orange, clear); Posca pen (white); Stabilo pencil (white);

Tools: Lavinia acetate hill masks and circle masks;

Other: Lavinia Sentiment Stickers 6.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Craft Rocket #126 - No Designer Paper (2nd entry)

Crafts Galore Encore #136 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Crafty Catz #696 - Anything Goes with option Use Hot Colours

Creative Crafters #89 - Anything Goes

Creative Crafting Uncles #66 - Summer

Four Seasons (June) - Anything Goes Summer

Lavinia Creative Challenge (June) - Flower Festival (3rd entry)

Let’s Craft and Create #220 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Outlawz Anything Goes In a Card Free Zone (June) - Anything but a Card

Papercraft Challenges #119  - Summer Vibes

Path of Positivity #132 - Anything Goes Positive (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Going Round In Circles (3rd entry)

Sweet Stampin’ - You Are My Sunshine

Word Art Wednesday #704/705 - Anything Goes (5th entry)

I’m nearly there with my calendar now … only 2 pages left to complete! 

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Forest Flowers

Hi everyone, this month’s Lavinia Creative Challenge is Flower Festival, and what’s not to like about making floral creations? I seem to have found a bit more crafting time than usual, so here is my second entry for the challenge.

I cut a 5 1/2 inch square of stamping card, and stamped and heat embossed the focal flowers. I then blended Elements inks from the centre outwards, then spattered with water. I coloured the flowers with coloured Wink of Stella pens and added white Posca accents. I| then stamped the two fairies and coloured their wings with Sakura Stardust pen, and added stamped foliage in various shades of Versafine Clair. I stamped Pipin gazing up at the flowers, then added highlights to the scene with white Posca and Stardust pens., and gold Posca spatters. Finally I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment onto separate card, cut out and attached with a teeny heart gem, then matted the finished piece onto black card stock and a card blank.

It's another very sparkly one, so here's an angled picture.

Stamps: Lavinia Forest Flower, Leaf Creeper, Vine Flourish, Fairy Foragers, Tree of Courage, Pipin, Heartfelt Verses;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Lemon Drop, Pink Elephant, Flying Fig); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Hawthorn Rose, Lilac Bloom, Blue Belle); Wink of Stella (pink, blue, gold); Sakura Stardust pens (pink, purple, yellow, clear); Inktense pencil (grey); Posca pens (white, gold).

Challenges I would like to enter:

Alphabet Challenge - E is for Embossing

Beautiful Blossoms #30 - Anything Floral Goes (4th entry)

Crafts From the Fairy Den (June) - Anything Fantasy Goes with option Fairies

Daisy Chain #97 - Birthday (4th entry)

Heart’s Quest Fantasy Challenge #6 2025 - Anything Fantasy Goes with option Fairy

I.D.E.A.S. Calendar - A = Anything Goes

Lavinia Creative Challenge (June) - Flower Festival (2nd entry)

Little Red Wagon #812 - E is for Embossing

Moving Along With the Times #179. - Birthday (4th entry)

Paper Funday #77 - Anything Goes with option Embossing (heat or dry) (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Monday) - Spritz and/or Spatter (3rd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #704/705 - Anything Goes (4th entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Dream, Hope, Believe

Hi everyone, after my recent run of cards in soft and/or vintage colours, I felt like making something bright and vibrant! Today’s card was supposed to be a quick and simple playtime, but for some reason it just kept going wrong so this is my 5th attempt! Having said that, I’m pleased with how it turned out in the end, so never mind! This card was inspired by several challenges, primarily Tracy Evans FB Challenge (black & white with a pop of purple) and the two Simon Says challenges. 

I took a 30cm x 15cm piece of Pink Frog stamping card, and scored to create a square card blank. I blended three colours of Elements inks though a large circle mask then spritzed with water to create a dappled effect. This was my first time playing with a coupe if the new Elements colours and I just LURVE their vibrancy! I then stamped the statement flower using Nocturne VFC, and the tiny text using Monarch. I added grungy background stamping in Nocturne, then stamped the main sentiment words onto the leftovers from a previous failed attempt, cut out, edged in black and attached. To finish, I added white Posca accents to the flower, and stamped a teeny pheasant gazing up at the flower.

Stamps: Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE32 Alpha Florals; AALL & Create #370 The Great Outdoors, #756 Miniatures, #533 Bring On the Sentiments, #904 Flower Journey;

 Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Flying Fig, Pink Elephant, Della Blue); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Monarch); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Lavinia acetate hill masks.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Beautiful Blossoms #30 - Anything Floral Goes (3rd entry)

Crafts Galore Encore #136 - Anything Goes  (2nd entry)

Girlz & the Art of Letters - C is for (2nd entry)

(Circle, coneflower)

Outlawz Monday Greetings (June) - Any Greeting with a Floral Image (3rd entry)

Path of Positivity #132 - Anything Goes Positive

Simon Says (Monday) - Spritz and/or Splatter (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Going Round In Circles (2nd entry)

Tracy Evans FB Challenge (June) - Black & White with a Pop of Purple (2nd entry)

We Love 2 Create #6 2025 - Anything Papercrafting/Mixed Media Goes (3rd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #704/705 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Summer Birthday

Hi everyone, today I would like to share a birthday card I made for my husband’s aunt, whose birthday falls today.  As it is for a family member it’s A5 which is bigger than most of my makes.

I cut a piece of stamping card 18cm x 12cm, masked the edges with masking sheet, then created a blended ink rectangle using Distress Oxide which I spattered with water. When dry I removed the masking sheet and stamped the focal flower and bee in black, followed by various background stamping in 2nd generation pink and grey. I coloured the flower and bee with Zig pens topped with sparkle pen to add some sheen, then added some white Posca highlights. I edged the panel with black marker then matted onto blue and pink card stock and an A5 card blank. I stamped the typewriter sentiment onto separate card and cut out, then positioned it so I could gauge where to stamp a couple of teeny birds perched on it, stamped the birds then attached the sentiment. Finally I added some faux silver spatter to the background and Glossy Accents to the flower centre.

I also decorated the inside of the card with the same flower along with a slightly larger bird and a grungy sentiment by Visible Image.

Stamps: AALL & Create #924 Flower Trio, #531 Textured Florals, #756 Miniatures, #455 Seasons; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE6 Branched Heart, TE30 Garden Elements; Pink Frog Typewriter Sentiments; Visible Image Birthday Wishes;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Broken China); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist, Baby Pink); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Posca pens (white, silver); Glossy Accents.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Beautiful Blossoms #30 - Anything Floral Goes (2nd entry)

Craft Rocket #126 - No Designer Paper

Crafts Galore Encore #136 - Anything Goes

Daisy Chain #97 - Birthday (3rd entry)

Let’s Craft and Create #220 - Anything Goes

Moving Along With the Times #179 - Birthday (3rd entry)

Outlawz Monday Greetings (June) - Any Greeting with a Floral Image (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Monday) - Spritz and/or Splatter

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Going Round In Circles

Try It On Tuesday - In the Garden (2nd entry)

Unicorn #110 - Not Square

Word Art Wednesday #704/705 - Anything Goes  (2nd entry)

Happy summer solstice everyone! The only negative aspect is that the days are only going to get shorter from now on!

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

I Spy With My Little Eye #27

Hi everyone, the year really is flying by! It’s June already and 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. 

I chose the challenge theme this month, and it is

I Spy With My Little Eye 

*** Vintage Vibes ***

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

Here’s my card for the challenge.

I have had this pretty vintage style Woodware stamp for quite a long time but had never inked it up before, so I thought now was the time! I cut a 6” x 4” piece of white stamping card and created a smooshed background with a mixture of Distress Inks and Elements. I don’t use my Distress inks very often as they are old and not very juicy, but I think they give a softer more vintage look than the Elements, which are generally much more vibrant. 

I stamped the image using Versafine Clair in Portobello, which I also think is an ideal shade of brown for vintage-style projects. I then die cut the panel using a stitched rectangle die, and added some soft background stencilling using Distress Oxide. I stamped the image again onto separate card and coloured the flowers, snail and butterfly using Distress Watercolor pencils, added some extra shading to the flowers with Zig pen and white Stabilo pencil, and added some sparkle with my Wink of Stella. I then fussy cut them out and set aside. I smooshed some ink onto another snippet of white card and stamped the sentiment, cut out,  rounded the edges with a punch then edged with brown ink.  

 I die cut a stitched rectangle mat from brown card stock, attached the base panel and then attached to a 7” x 5” card blank. Finally I attached the fussy cut pieces and sentiment to the base image and added a couple of pieces of washi tape and a teeny heart gem.

I couldn’t help but notice while making this card that my Gemini cutting plates are on their last legs  - they have been looking very bowed for some time - but now the die cuts themselves look quite rippled and don’t really lie flat! I’m going to have to try to straighten them out, otherwise here comes yet another crafty expense!

Stamps: Woodware Garden Snail; Lou Collins Typography (sentiment);

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet); Distress Oxide ink (Scorched Timber); Lavinia Elements ink (Soft Cygnet); Versafine Clair (Portobello); Distress Watercolor pencils (Kitsch Flamingo, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Picket Fence, Peeled Paint); Kuretake Zig Clean Color Watercolor pen; Stabilo pencil (white); Wink of Stella (clear);

Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched Rectangle dies; That’s Crafty! Dinky stencil - Reverse Honeycomb Background;

Other: washi tape from The Range.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps and More #495 - Die Cuts and/or Stencils

Beautiful Blossoms #30 - Anything Floral Goes

Crafty Calendar (June) - Add a Sentiment (2nd entry)

Creations In Pink #82 - Anything Goes In Mainly Pink

Creative Artiste #116 - Anything Mixed Media Goes (3rd entry)

Daisy Chain #97 - Birthday (2nd entry)

Die Cut Divas  (June) - Colour Challenge (use at least 3)

(I have used the pale beige, 2 shades of pink, brown and a hint of green)

Dragonfly Dreams (June) - Use One or More Butterflies (2nd entry)

Ellibelle’s Garden Party #4 - Anything In or From a Garden

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #6 2025 - Birthday (2nd entry)

Make My Monday #254 - One or More Butterflies

Moving Along With the Times #179 - Birthday (2nd entry)

Neglected Stuff (June) - Use Your Neglected Craft Supplies

Night Owls #49 - Stencil / Punches / Die Cutting

Outlawz Monday Greetings (June) - Any Greeting with a Floral Image

Shopping Our Stash #550 - A Stitch In Time

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Fur, Feather and/or Flowers

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

Try It On Tuesday - In the Garden

We Love 2 Create #6 2025 - Anything Papercrafting/Mixed Media Goes (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #704/705 - 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 July 13th, and the next challenge will begin on Wednesday July 16th.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Dream Factory #140 - Guest Designer

Hi everyone, I was delighted to be asked again to be a guest designer for this month’s Dream Factory Challenge, where every month the challenge theme is based on a film. This month the chosen film is

So the challenge theme is 

***Anything Goes With a Wheel ***

There’s plenty of fabulous inspiration on the challenge blog from the Design Team, where you can also link up your creations here.

Here’s my card for the challenge.

I decided to create a vintage style card using this great car stamp from Visible Image where the wheel is really prominent! I created a smooshed panel using the same colour scheme I first used for my recent craft club cards - Vintage Photo, Hickory Smoke, Frayed Burlap and a touch of Black Soot Distress Oxides, then die cut it into a grungy square. I stamped the focal image and added colour with a white Posca pen. I then added some cog  and diamond stencilling using the same DOX inks, and some random 2nd generation background stamping of numbers. I stamped the sentiments over the top and highlighted with white Posca, then added a few stamped spatters to add more depth. I die cut a black border, assembled the card, and to finish added Glossy Accents to the car windows and headlights, and some Tim Holtz Idea-ology cogs.

Stamps: Visible Image You’re a Classic, Sunflower Grunge (spatters);

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxides inks (Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Portobello); Posca pen (white); Glossy Accents;

Tools: AALL & Create die #42 Papyrus Essence; Darkroom Door stencil - Diamonds; craft magazine cogs stencil;

Other: Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Gears.

Challenges I would like to enter:

613 Avenue Create (June) - Anything Goes with option For the Guys

As You Like It - Favourite: To Add a Sentiment or Not (and why)

(I prefer to add a sentiment to make the card specific to the occasion I’m sending it for)

Country View Crafts FB (June) - Travel

Crafter’s Cafe #320 - Anything Goes with option Masculine

Crafty Calendar (June) - Add a Sentiment

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

Creative Artiste #116 - Anything Mixed Media Goes (2nd entry)

Creative Inspirations (June) - One for the Boys!

Creative Moments #271 - For a Man or Boy

A Cut Above (June) - Anything Goes with a Die Cut (2nd entry)

Cut it Up #332 - Masculine

Daisy Chain #97 - Birthday

Ellibelle’s Crafty Wednesday (June/July) - Anything Goes

Fab ‘n’ Funky #618 - Use Your Die Cuts (2nd entry) - TOP 3

Girlz & the Art of Letters #3 - C is for … 

(Car, cogs)

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #6 2025 - Masculine

Just us Girls #779 - Include a Number/Numbers

Moving Along With the Times #179 - Birthday

Outlawz Festive Fridays (June) - One for the Boys (2nd entry)

Outlawz Monthly (June) - Project entered into an Outlawz Challenge

Outlawz Twisted Thursday (June) - Quite a Guy

Pearly Sparkles #108 - Masculine

Simon Says (Monday) - Monochrome (2nd entry)

Tic Tac Toe #272 - Tic Tac Toe

(I used Ink blending/ Free / Die Cuts)

We Love 2 Create #6 2025 - Anything Papercrafting/Mixed Media Goes

Word Art Wednesday #702/703 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

I’d like to say a big thanks to Rosi for inviting me to be Guest Designer at the Dream Factory this time.

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

Hugs,

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait!

Hi everyone, regular visitors to my blog may recall that three weeks ago I went to a craft club where I made a couple of cards using Tracy Evans’ stamps (here). One of the stamps I didn’t have so I borrowed it from Jacqui who was leading the class, and I loved it so much I just had to have it! 

Unfortunately it is one of Tracy’s retired designs for AALL & Create and I could only find it in stock on 2 UK websites, so I ordered it from Hixxysoft  (who I had never used before) - and what a performance that turned out to be! Their order confirmation email estimated delivery within 1-2 days, but a week later nothing had arrived … that’s when I discovered their website contact form doesn’t work, and emails, phone calls and FB Messenger messages go unanswered … and a whole host of disgruntled users on Trustpilot report similar issues! Then I got a dispatch email with another delivery date 1-2 ahead (no explanation or apology!) … but another week went by and still no delivery. After more unanswered emails/phone calls/FB messages, I eventually gave up hope and raised a dispute with my credit card provider … and the next day it dropped through the letterbox!! Nearly 3 weeks late … but all’s well that ends well! Needless to say I will NOT be ordering from them again - I believe they are closing down, but that’s still no excuse for such appalling customer service! 

 Anyway, having finally got my hands on the goods I couldn’t wait to get busy, and I made a card for Tracy’s current FB challenge which is to show support for a member whose sister is going through testing medical treatment:

Black & White with a pop of Purple

Here it is …

I cut a piece of white card 6” x 4”, and stamped and heat embossed the focal image. I then masked the stopwatches, and created a smooshed background by applying Graphite Elements ink to a piece of acetate, spritzing with water then dabbing onto the card. I stamped the image again onto a separate snippet of card, coloured the largest butterfly with Zig pens topped with Spectrum Noir sparkle pen, fussy cut and set aside. I coloured the small butterflies on the base image with different shades of purple Zig pens + sparkle pen, added some background barcode stamping, added some white Posca accents to the image, then matted the panel onto a black and purple border and a 7” x 5” card blank. I stamped my sentiment words onto a snippet of card smooshed with purple inks (left over from a previous card), cut out, edged with black and attached. I applied Glossy Accents to the stopwatches, and when dry attached the coloured butterfly and bent its wings for dimension. I finished off with some faux white Posca spatter, a couple of little stamped birdies and some torn washi tape.

One thing I have noticed is that my Glossy Accents seems to have developed a yellow brown tinge, even though it’s a fairly new bottle. Can anyone advise me if this is normal?? It goes on with this tinge and then mostly clears as it dries, but on this particular card there is still a hint of colour on the top right clock. As this is a vintage style card it doesn’t really matter, but I wonder if anyone else has experienced the same thing? 

Stamps: AALL & Create #733 Temporal, #533 Bring On the Sentiments; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE30 Garden Elements;

Media: Versafine Clair (Nocturne); Lavinia Elements inks (Graphite, Violet Chalk, Della Blue); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Posca pen (white); clear embossing powder; Glossy Accents;

Other: AALL & Create washi tape #33 Be a Rebel.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Creative Artiste #116 - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Dragonfly Dreams (June) - Use One or More Butterflies

Outlawz Festive Fridays (June) - Bugs/Butterflies

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies #2523 - Anything Goes

Paper Funday #77 - Anything Goes with option Embossing (Heat or Dry)

Simon Says (Monday) - Monochrome

Snippets Playground #508 - Use Snippets

(Everything on this card is a snippet apart from the base card)

Tracy Evans FB Challenge (June) - Black & White with a Pop of Purple

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

Word Art Wednesday #702/703 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,