More Sunflowers and Fairy Festival 🌻🧚‍♂️

Hi everyone, yesterday I had a fabulous day out in Ruthin, North Wales, visiting the Lavinia Dreamatorium for their summer Fairy Festival. It was another magical experience, chatting with the staff and other customers, and watching demos by Jo Rice, Sarah Anderson, Emma Jo, Mona and Tracey Dutton. Of course I also had a good browse in the shop - I really like the latest release with the sunflowers and quirky tea pot fairy houses. The whole shop was decorated with sunflowers (as were the design team!) so everything felt summery and joyful! 

I’ve already had a play and made a couple of cards this afternoon, and as the fairy festival had an overriding sunflower theme I thought my first share should feature one. To be honest I bought all the new sunflower stamps (I didn’t need them but couldn’t resist!) and have a number of ideas, so I foresee a profusion of sunflowers in the coming days and weeks! 

I cut a square of stamping card, positioned a hexagonal stencil then stamped the focal sunflower. I masked the flower then placed my Lavinia Honeycomb stencil over the hexagon stencil, and blended Sahara and Russet Orange Elements inks. I removed the stencils and stamped the bee on the edge of the stencilled area, then coloured the sunflower and bee with Zig pens, topped with Wink of Stella. I took the opportunity to try my new Zig blending pen, which definitely moves the colour around better than water when used on non-watercolour card (I use Pink Frog super smooth). I did a little texture stamping in two corners and a white on black stamped sentiment, then added some doodling and matted onto a black border and 6” square card blank. To finish I added some Glossy Accents to the flower centre.

Stamps: Lavinia Open Sunflower, Bumble and Hum, Texture 1; Uniko Simply Said Blocks II;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Sahara, Russet Orange); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Golden Meadow); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; black fineliner pen; Wink of Stella; Glossy Accents;

Tools: Press to Impress hexagon stencil; Lavinia Honeycomb stencil.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps & More #496 - Make Your Mark

As You Like It - Favourite 2 Colour Combo (and why)

(I have a number of favourites but I do like yellow and black)

Beautiful Blossoms #30 - Anything Floral Goes (6th entry)

Cardz 4 Galz #253 - Welcome to Summer

CAS on Friday #312 - Botanical

Colourful Options (July) - Summer Picnic Moodboard

(I am showcasing yellow and orange plus the sunflowers)

Crafty Catz #697 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

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

Creative Aunts #103 - Summer 

Creative Crafting Uncles #66 - Summer (2nd entry)

Dragonfly Dreams (July) - Use Polygons

Dream Valley #340 - Anything Goes

Little Red Wagon #814 - To Boldly Go

Paper Funday #78 - Anything Goes with option Fun with Stencils

Path of Positivity #132 - Anything Goes Positive (3rd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Sending Flowers

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

Word Art Wednesday #706/707 - Anything Goes

Here’s a few photos of me and the Fairy Festival.

The Dreamatorium!

Me with the lovely Jack

Tracey and a lady in fab costume!

Jo in demo mode

Emma Jo mid demo

Me in the magical lighting room in the shop

That’s all for today, though I’ll be back soon with another make using the new release.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,