More Daisy Elegance - and a Classic Collection

Hi everyone, the craft club I attended recently (more info here) reminded me how much I love this stamp “Daisy Elegance” by Tracy Evans - until 2 weeks ago I had only inked it up once as it is a huge stamp, but the sample in the craft club demo only used part of the stamp, which is a genius idea I hadn’t considered previously! So I thought I’d use it again to make a final entry for Tracy’s current challenge The Colour Purple.

I cut a 6” x 4” piece of stamping card and created a smooshed background by layering Elements inks applied with acetate. When happy with the colour I stamped the focal flower, having masked off part of the stamp. I then stamped some additional script at the bottom from the same stamp, and coloured the flowers and vase with watered down Posca Sparkle Pens. I added a small branched heart and some background stamping using Very Peri, then added white Posca highlights to the flowers and vase, and Spectrum Noir sparkle pen to the water in the vase. I added some white Posca spatters, then stamped the sentiment onto separate card, cut out and attached. Finally I fussy cut a washi tape butterfly to add to the corner, matted the finished piece onto black and purple card stock, and a 7” x 5” card blank, and added Glossy Accents to the flower centres.

This is a very sparkly card, as they go!

Stamps: AALL & Create #266 Daisy Elegance; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE6 Branched Heart; Lou Collins Typography (sentiment);

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Violet Chalk, Della Blue, Flying Fig); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Very Peri); Posca Sparkle Pens (Purple, Light Blue, Blue); Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen (clear); Posca pen (white); Glossy Accents;

Other: AALL & Create washi tape #41 - Kaleidoscopic.

Challenges I would like to enter:

613 Avenue Create (May) - Anything Goes with option Floral Delight (4th entry)

AAA Birthday #73 - Anything Birthday Goes (3rd entry)

Addicted to Stamps & More #493 - Birthdays

Ally’s Angels #94 - Anything Goes

Beautiful Blossoms #29 - Anything Floral Goes (3rd entry)

Cardz 4 Galz #251 - Floral Frenzy

Creatalicious #289 - Anything Goes

Dream Valley #337 - Hand Coloured Image

Fab ‘n’ Funky #617 - Add a Sentiment 

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #5 2025 - Birthday (4th entry)

Inkspirational #342 - Celebrate

Krafty Chicks #770 - Anything Goes

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

Sisterhood of Crafters - Flowers (2nd entry)

Tracy Evans FB Challenge (April/May) - The Colour Purple (4th entry)

Word Art Wednesday #700/701 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

I think I truly am all purpled out now! 💜💜

In my previous post I mentioned how I went on a walk with an alpaca last bank holiday weekend 🥰… but that was not all! On the way home from that delightful experience we happened by chance across a huge classic car fair at the beautiful Cromford Mills. There really was an incredibly variety of vehicles … here’s a selection.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Love, Dream, Live 💛🤎

Hi everyone, this month’s Country View Crafts FB challenge is Aged, Distressed and More… so I made a vintage style card using mostly products stored by the CVC store. Here it is.

I cut a 5” square of stamping card and created a smooshed background using a combination of Elements and Distress inks. I stamped the focal flower using Portobello VFC then stamped again onto separate white card, heat embossed and set aside. I added background stencilling using Scorched Timber DOX and a little background script stamping which I heat embossed white. I coloured the separate flower with Distress watercolour pencils and Wink of Stella, then die cut with the matching die. I edged the panel with blended DOX then distressed the edges with my distressing tool, and added some gold Posca spatters. When dry I matted the main panel onto brown then white card stock which also had the edges distressed, and onto a kraft card blank. I attached the die cut flower with scrunched thread behind it, and finally added a sentiment.

Here’s an angled picture to show the gold spatters.

Stamps: Sizzix and 49 and Market stamp & die set - Floral Mix Cluster; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE11 Background Elements; sentiment - unknown;

Media: Lavinia Elements ink (Soft Cygnet); Tim Holtz Distress inks (Tea Dye, Vintage Photo); Distress Oxide ink (Scorched Timber); Versafine Clair (Portobello); Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor pencils (Peeled Paint, Scattered Straw); Versamark; WOW Opaque white detail embossing powder; clear embossing powder; Wink of Stella (gold); Posca pen (white, gold);

Tools: Tim Holtz distressing tool.

Challenges I would like to enter:

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

Beautiful Blossoms #29 - Anything Floral Goes (2nd entry)

Country View Crafts FB (May) - Aged, Distressed and More …

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

Die Cut Divas (May) - Watercolour (2nd entry)

Just Us Girls #776 - Use a Stencil

Let’s Craft and Create #219 - Anything Goes with option No Patterned Paper (3rd entry) - TOP 3

My Time to Craft #560 - Square Shaped Cards (3rd entry)

Path of Positivity #131 - Anything Goes Positive (2nd entry) - TOP PICK

Shopping Our Stash #548 - By the Numbers

Simon Says (Monday) - Emboss It - WINNER

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes

Sparkles #188 - Flowers - SPOTLIGHT WINNER

We Love 2 Create #5 2025 - Anything Papercrafting/Mixed Media Goes  (3rd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #700/701 - Anything Goes (2nd entry) - TOP 3

We were in Derbyshire last weekend, and I got to use a birthday present my husband bought me … a walk with an alpaca! It really was the most heartwarming experience - our group walked with young alpacas which really were beyond adorable. We also fed them carrots, and at the end got to meet and feed the rest of the adult alpacas. Here are a few pics and a video - please excuse the poor quality but my husband had to compress it to send it to me from his phone. It is exceptionally cute though!

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

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 - TOP 3

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) - TOP ROCKER

Beautiful Blossoms #29 - Anything Floral Goes - TOP 5

C.R.A.F.T. #755 - Anything Goes - TOP 3

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 - TOP PICK

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) - TOP 3

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,