I Spy With My Little Eye #34

Hi everyone, it’s the third Wednesday of February, so it’s time once again for the  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 You Love ***

The possibilities are almost endless with this theme - craft supplies, technique or tool that you love to use … or maybe your favourite colour, animal or even season! We 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.

We are also delighted to have Chris joining us as guest designer this month - please do click on her name to visit her blog and take a look at her fantastic creation.

Here’s my card for the challenge. There are many things I love in crafting, though my lack of mojo recently has made me struggle a bit to connect with them. I decided to go with my love of Tracy Evans stamps, inky backgrounds, random background stamping and my favourite stitched dies.

I cut a large piece of white stamping card, and created an inky background by first blending patches of various shades of pink and orange Distress Oxide, then lightly brayering the same shades on top, then spattering with water. Finally I brayered some white acrylic paint on top to soften the overall look. I randomly stamped various background stamps using 2nd generation Summertime and Charming Pink VFC, and added some further stamping using Versamark hear embossed with white embossing powder. I completed the background by adding some stencilling using Hickory Smoke DOX, then die cut a large stitched rectangle.

I then die cut a smaller stitched rectangle, and stamped the focal flower using Summertime and Charming Pink VFC. I added a little pencil shading to give depth, then added white Posca accents. I added a little background stamping and stencilling, then attached to the background panel. I stamped the sentiment onto separate card, cut out and attached, then added a teeny stamped mouse. Finally I edged the finished panel with blended Hickory Smoke DOX to add depth, then matted onto a 7” x 5” card blank.

Stamps: Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE32 Alpha Florals, TE11 Background Elements; AALL & Create #756 Miniatures, #906 Art Notes; Uniko Simply Said Blocks II;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Persimmon, Hickory Smoke); Versafine Clair (Summertime, Charming Pink, Nocturne); Versamark; WOW. Opaque White ultra fine detail embossing powder; Posca pen (white); acrylic paint (white);

Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched Rectangle dies; AALL & Create stencil #110 Digits Checked.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Ally’s Angels #103 - Anything Goes

Cardz 4 Galz #269 - Hugs and Kisses (3rd entry)

Craft Rocket #133 - Flowers

Crafts Galore Encore #144 - Anything Goes 

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils are our Game (February) - Use a Stencil with option Create Your Own Background

Creative Artiste #123 - Anything Mixed Media Goes 

DL.Art (February) - Anything Goes

Double D (February) - Signs of Love (Hugs)

Girlz Creative Splash It With Colour #15 - Orange and/or Pink

Moving Along with the Times #186 - Floral

Papercraft #127 - Hearts and Hugs

Sisterhood of Crafters (February) - Stitching

Sparkles #197 - Vintage / Mixed Media 

We Love 2 Create #1 2026 - Anything Mixed Media / Papercrafting Goes

Word Art Wednesday #740/741 - 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 March 15th, and the next challenge will begin on Wednesday March 18th.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,