Falling Leaves 🍁🍂

Hi everyone, the weather has been dropping colder here and the leaves are starting to fall - autumn is upon us, so I felt motivated to make a seasonal card. I have had this set of leaf dies since last year and only used them once before, but I really like them so foresee bringing them out on an annual basis! 

I gathered a couple of snippets of white stamping card and made smooshed backgrounds with various autumnal shades of Elements inks, then sprayed the card with a home made gold mica spray. When dry I die cut a variety of leaves and set aside.   I cut a piece of white card 6.75” x 4.75” and masked a border round the edges, then blended Elements and Distress inks to create a lightly coloured panel. I randomly stamped some background script by partially inking a very large old woodblock script stamp I found in my drawer, then stamped the word “autumn”. I arranged and stuck down the cascade of falling leaves then stamped the bird in the corner, stamped again onto separate card, cut out and attached the body on top of the original image. I added the “falling leaves” stamped sentiment then matted the finished piece onto a dark brown border and a 7” x 5” card blank.

Here’s an angled shot to show the gold sheen - I’ve also noticed that I left a couple of the teeny cut outs in the leaves, but I think they’re glued down solid now!

Stamps: AALL & Create #455 Seasons; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE4 New Beginnings; Penny Black Letter Background (1999L); Visible Image Erika’s Maple; 

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Sahara, Russet Orange, Paprika, Olive, Soft Cygnet); Tim Holtz Distress inks (Antique Linen, Vintage Photo); Versafine Clair (Portobello, Sand Dune);

Tools: Unbranded leaf dies from Amazon.

Challenges I would like to enter:

613 Avenue Create (September) - Anything Goes with option Lots of Leaves - TOP ROCKER

As You Like It - Favourite Die (and why)

(Although I’ve only used it a couple of times I love this leaf die set as the leaves are so intricate and work so well with fabulous autumn colours)

Cardz 4 Galz #259 - Dies/Punches

Classic Design Challenge #9 2025 - Anything Goes with option Trees and/or Leaves

Crafty Catz #701 - Anything Goes with option Autumn Colours

Crafty Gals’ Corner #270 - Fill in the Blank - Fall ___

(…ing Leaves)

Creative Artiste #119 - Anything Mixed Media Goes - TOP 3

Cut It Up #339 - It Looks Like Fall

Die Cut Divas (September) - Anything Goes with a Die Cut (2nd entry)

Dream Valley #345 - Autumn Colours

Inspiration Station #77 - Inspiration Photo (2nd entry)

Make My Monday #261 - Autumn Festival/Autumnal Fall

Outlawz Festive Friday (September) - Colours of the Season

Papercraft #122 - Amazing Autumn

Paper Funday #80 - Anything Goes with option Changing Seasons

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

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers #266 - Finally Fall

We Love 2 Create #9 2025 - Anything Mixed Media/Papercrafting Goes (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #718/719 - Anything Goes

I’ve got a small number of additional photos from our holiday in Pula (most photos were on my previous post here). 

Me at Pula amphitheatre

Graham and I at Rovinj

Wedding anniversary dinner by the Temple of Augustus 

Fish and butterflies at Pula aquarium

That’s all for today. Take care, and thanks for visiting,

Hugs,

I Spy With My Little Eye #20

Hi everyone, it’s the third Wednesday in the month again, so it’s time for a new 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 

*** Colours of the Season ***

The gorgeous colours of autumn are all around us to give you inspiration! Don’t forget if you live in the southern hemisphere, you are welcome to use spring colours … just let us know! Please do 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 recently made a few straightforward autumn cards so decided to go in a slightly different direction with a magical Lavinia scene. 

I started by creating a background on a square of white stamping card by blending progressively  deeper shades of dye ink outwards from the centre. I then stamped Luna using Nocturne Versafine Clair, then added Mooch looking up at her, and various foliage and mushrooms in Pinecone. I added some silhouette leaves on and falling from Luna’s branch using Elements inks, then coloured the mushrooms and leaves using my Zig pens and Luna’s wings with Stardust pens and Wink of Stella. I added some landscaping using Vintage Photo Distress ink and Mini Hill Masks and stamped some trees in the background and an owl in flight. I added some background wording using Sand Dune VFC and highlights with white Posca pen. Finally I matted the panel onto a black border and my card blank, and added a sentiment which I  stamped onto cream card and cut out.

Here’s an angled picture to give a hint of the sparkle on Luna’s wings.

Stamps: Lavinia Tree Goddess Luna, Mooch, Brodwin & Maylin, Oak Leaf Flourish, Oak Leaves, Small Trees, Elfin Cap Cluster, Slender Mushrooms Mini, Leaf 1 Mini, Mini Maple, Winter Spice; sentiment - Visible Image Erika’s Maple;

Media: Lavinia Elements ink(Sundance, Sahara, Russet Orange, Paprika); Spectrum Noir Harmony Dye ink (Bordeaux); Tim Holtz Distress ink (Vintage Photo); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Pinecone, Sand Dune); Kuretake Zig Clean Colour watercolour pens; Sakura Stardust pens (red, orange, yellow); Wink of Stella; Posca pen (white);

Tools: Lavinia Mini Hill Masks.

Challenges I would like to enter:

613 Avenue Create (October) - Anything Goes with option Lots of Leaves (3rd entry) - TOP ROCKER

Allsorts #802 - Magical, Myths and/or Legend

Crafter’s Cafe #313 - Fantasy

Crafty Catz #680 - Anything Goes with option Autumn Colours

Creative Inspirations (October) - The Season of Autumn (3rd entry)

Double Trouble #177 - Fall Bat Colour Challenge (2nd entry)

( I have used yellow, orange, red, brown)

Festive Friday (October) - Fall Colours (2nd entry)

Heart’s Quest Fantasy Challenge #10 - Anything Goes Fantasy

Moving Along With the Times #171 - Autumnal Colours (3rd entry)
My Time to Craft #544 - Autumn Season Colours (3rd entry)

Paper Funday #70 - Anything Goes with option Colours of Autumn (3rd entry)

Simon Says (Monday) - Fall Mood Board

Sparkles #181 - Toadstools/Mushrooms

Stamping Sensations (October) - Autumn Colours (3rd entry)

We Love Stamping (October) - Autumn (3rd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #669/670 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

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 November 17th, and the next challenge will begin on Wednesday November 20th.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Blowing In the Wind (2)

Hi everyone, this month’s theme for Tracy Evans FB ATC swap is silhouettes, and I decided that for once I would pull my finger out and get them done in good time. I started out with a particular idea in my mind, but when I started getting my supplies together I realised it wouldn’t work as I hoped so I decided to go in a different direction. Whilst riffling through my stamp drawer I found a silhouette stamp that not only had I forgotten about, I’d never inked it up!! It spoke to me as being perfect for this theme as it enabled me to make some specific “October” autumnal ATC’s. 

I cut 4 pieces of white card each 3.25” x 2.25” and created the backgrounds by smooshing Elements inks then spattering with water. I stamped onto each one in Pinecone VFC - my A7 stamp was more or less the perfect size for an ATC to form both the focal point and background.  I then stamped again onto separate pieces of cream card, fussy cut  the leaf and attached to each ATC, then cut out the sentiment “Blowing In the Wind” and attached that too after stamping a teeny bird to sit on it. I stamped the word “Oct” (October) onto separate snippets of card, fussy cut and attached, then edged each panel with brown ink and matted onto brown linen card stock cut to standard ATC size.

Here is a closeup of one of them.

Stamps: AALL & Create #982 Windy Willows, #455 Seasons; Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE30 Garden Elements;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Sahara, Russet Orange, Paprika); Versafine Clair (Pinecone).

Challenges I would like to enter:

613 Avenue Create (October) - Anything Goes with option Lots of Leaves (2nd entry)

Allsorts #801 - Falling Leaves (3rd entry)

Creative Inspirations (October) - The Season of Autumn (2nd entry)

Daisy Chain #90 - Autumn and/or Hallowe’en (2nd entry)

Dragonfly Dreams (October) - Anything but a Card

Four Seasons (October) - Anything Goes Fall (2nd entry)

Incy Wincy (October) - Autumn (2nd entry)

Moving Along With the Times #171 - Autumnal Colours (2nd entry)
My Time to Craft #544 - Autumn Season Colours (2nd entry)

Outlawz (October) - Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone with option Name Game

(I used P for Pinecone VFC ink)

Paper Funday #70 - Anything Goes with option Colours of Autumn (2nd entry)

Stamping Sensations (October) - Autumn Colours (2nd entry)

Stamps & Fun = Creativity #461 - Orange and/or Brown

Try It On Tuesday - Autumn Magic (2nd entry)

Unicorn #103 - Autumn and/or Hallowe’en (2nd entry)

We Love Stamping (October) - Autumn (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #669/670 - Anything Goes

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Falling Leaves

Hi everyone, autumn is definitely upon us and there are many challenges around with autumnal themes. I felt inspired to rest my Christmas card making and use a set of leaf dies I’ve had for ages but not used until now, to make a “falling leaves” card for this week’s Allsorts Challenge plus various other autumn challenges. After the struggles I had with yesterday’s card I’m pleased to report that everything just seemed to flow with this one … don’t you just love it when that happens?

I created a panel of autumnal coloured inks by smooshing various Elements and Spectrum Noir inks onto white card, spritzed with water and set aside to dry. I then die cut a variety of leaves and spritzed with a home made gold mica spray, and set aside to dry again. I die cut a large stitched square from cream card and background stamped using some of the newest Tracy Evans stamps in Sand Dune VFC, with autumn season words over stamped using Portobello. I arranged the leaves and attached, then blended Scorched Timber Distress Oxide around the edges of the panel and added gold Posca spatters. I stamped the word “autumn” onto a separate snippet of kraft card, cut out and attached with 2 small birdies stamped to sit on top, then matted the finished panel onto a kraft card blank.

Here’s an angled pic to show the gold mica and spatters a bit better.

Stamps: Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE30 Garden Elements, TE27 Insect; AALL & Create #455 Seasons;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Sahara, Russet Orange, Paprika, Olive); Spectrum Noir Harmony Dye Ink (Bordeaux); Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Scorched Timber); Versafine Clair (Sand Dune, Portobello); Posca pen (gold); 

Tools: Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched Square Die, unbranded leaf dies from Amazon.

Challenges I would like to enter:

613 Avenue Create (October) - Anything Goes with option Lots of Leaves - FRONT PORCH WINNER & TOP ROCKER

Allsorts #801 - Falling Leaves (2nd entry)

Craft Rocket #119 - Autumn and/or Hallowe’en

Creative Inspirations (October) - The Season of Autumn

Cut It Up #314 - Inspired by a Song

(“Autumn Leaves” by Ed Sheeran)

Daisy Chain #90 - Autumn and/or Hallowe’en

Die Cut Divas (October) - Use a Die Cut (celebrating World Cardmaking Day)

Double Trouble #177 - Fall Bat Colour Challenge - TOP 3

( I have used green, orange, red, brown)

Four Seasons (October) - Anything Goes Fall

Incy Wincy (October) - Autumn

Inspiration Station #66 - Inspiration Prompt

(I have chosen the autumnal leaves)

Moving Along With the Times #171 - Autumnal Colours

My Time to Craft #544 - Autumn Season Colours

Paper Funday #70 - Anything Goes with option Colours of Autumn

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Things With Wings (4th entry)

Sparkles #180 - Autumn/Fall (2nd entry)

Stamping Sensations (October) - Autumn Colours

Try It On Tuesday - Autumn Magic

Unicorn #103 - Autumn and/or Hallowe’en

We Love Stamping (October) - Autumn

Word Art Wednesday #667/668 - Anything Goes (6th entry)

Feeling mellowed out now, though I dare say that will soon pass as the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” gives way to cold and wet weather!

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Sending Hugs … and Holiday Photos ❤️

Hi everyone, today I would like to share my first crafty project for a couple of weeks, due to the fact that I just got back from a holiday with my darling husband to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary which fell last Sunday (I posted the card that I made for him here). I’d also like to share a few holiday photos, so grab a cuppa for a long post! 

As I mentioned on my anniversary post our favourite romantic holiday destination is the Greek island of Santorini … so that’s where we have just spent 9 days relaxing for our special anniversary. It was a very last minute booking due to me losing a lot of confidence following the disaster I had in Dubrovnik (for anyone who doesn’t know what I’m talking about there’s more info here), but eventually I concluded that special anniversaries only come along once so I should crack on!  In the end we had a lovely time even though we had a day of rain and a couple of very windy days … the hotel was lovely, we had some great meals, and of course we saw some gorgeous scenery and fabulous sunsets! Photos are at the end of this post.

So, on to today’s card. I wanted to get another entry in for this month’s Lavinia Creative challenge plus a few other autumnal challenges. Here is what I made.

I stamped Lavinia Forest Leaf onto a piece of cream stamping card using Pinecone VFC, and heat embossed then coloured the leaves with Cosmic Shimmer iridescent watercolour paints … I haven’t used these for a long time but they give a lovely sheen. I die cut the image using a stitched rectangle die, then cut a larger piece of cream card to cover a 7” x 5” card front, and stencilled it with a Lavinia stencil and Elements inks before adding some background text stamping. I edged my image panel with blended Distress Ink, then added gold Posca spatters. When dry I assembled the card and added a stamped Uniko sentiment.

Here is an angled picture to show the shine of the Cosmic Shimmer paints.

Stamps: Lavinia Forest Leaf, Winter Spice; Uniko Simply Said Blocks II;

Media: Versafine Clair (Pinecone, Sand Dune); Cosmic Shimmer Iridescent watercolour paints; Lavinia Elements inks (Paprika, Russet Orange, Sahara); Tim Holtz Distress ink (Walnut Stain); Posca pen (gold);

Tools: Lavinia stencil - Leaf Trails; Hunkydory Moonstone Duo-Stitched Rectangle dies.

Challenges I would like to enter: 

Allsorts #799 - Get Well/Anything Goes - TOP 5

Country View Challenges (September) - Autumn Richness (3rd entry)

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (September) - Use a Stencil with option Fall Frenzy

Cut It Up #313 - Colours of Fall/Autumn

Daring Cardmakers - Leafy Lushness

Double D - Fall Leaves

Festive Fridays (September) - Fall Is Coming (3rd entry)

Four Seasons (September) - Fall (2nd entry)

Hand Stamped Sentiments #447 - Inspiration Mood Board

Lavinia Creative Challenge (September) - Autumn Hues (version without sentiment) (3rd entry)

Little Red Wagon #774 - Sew What?

Make My Monday #235 - Create Your Own Background

Papercraft Challenges #110 - Fabulous Fall

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Make Your Own Background

Simply Create Too #204 - Autumn (2nd entry)

Sparkles #180 - Autumn

We Love Stamping (September) - Hand Coloured Image (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #665/666 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Here are a few photos from our holiday …

Picturesque Scenery

Oia

Oia

Church in Oia

Church in Firestofani with view of caldera (and cruise ships in the bay!)

Wall sculpture of Santorini in Firestofani

Fira 

Bronze Age city archaeological site at Akrotiri

View from the hotel

More glorious sunsets over the caldera

Relaxing nights out

Our anniversary dinner

So now it’s back to normality (sigh!) but the special sights and atmosphere of Santorini will linger in our memories.

Take care and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,