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,