You’ll Always Be a Classic

Hi everyone, today I’d like to share the birthday card I made for my darling husband’s 65th birthday. This is actually an enlarged and expanded version of a card I made last year, and as I really liked it the first time and always had in mind I wanted to make something along similar lines for him. My mojo is still on an extended holiday and this is my first make for 2 weeks, so it was good to have an idea to get me started!

I die cut a grungy square, and created a grungy inky background by smooshing Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap, Hickory Smoke and Black Soot Distress Oxides using acetate and spritzed water. I then stamped the focal car in Nocturne VFC and coloured the highlights with a white Posca pen. I added various stencilling of diamonds, cogs and dots using more DOX, and background stamped numbers and spatters using Portobello and Nocturne VFC. I stamped the sentiments and numbers, highlighted with white Posca, then matted the panel onto a die cut black border. 

I then cut a larger piece of tan striped DP from an 8” x 8” sheet, lightly stencilled cogs all the way round and added stamped spatters, before matting onto a black border. I matted the image panel onto the paper, a black border and ann8” square card blank. To finish off I added Glossy Accents to the car windows and headlights, and some small metal Tim Holtz cogs.

Stamps: Visible Image You’re a Classic, Sunflower Grunge (spatters); AALL & Create #455 Seasons (numbers);

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxides inks (Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap, Scorched Timber, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Portobello); Posca pen (white); Glossy Accents;

Papers: LotV ‘Country Gentleman):

Tools: AALL & Create die #42 Papyrus Essence; Darkroom Door stencil - Diamonds; Visible Image stencil - Halftone; craft magazine cogs stencil;

Other: Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Gears.

Challenges I would like to enter:

AAA Birthday #83 - Use Die Cuts

As You Like It - Favourite Person to craft for (and why)

(Mine is my husband, of course! ❤️)

Cardz 4 Guyz #383 - Monochrome Colour Palette

Crafts Galore Encore #145 - Anything Goes

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

Creative Artiste #124 - Anything Mixed Media Goes

Cut It Up #351 - Happy Birthday

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #3 2026 - Birthdays 

Little Red Wagon #849 - Boy Inside the Man

Love to Craft #91 - Anything Goes

Love to Scrap #178 - Anything Goes

Mix It Up #84 - Anything Goes

Shopping Our Stash #569 - I’m Counting on You

Sparkles #197 - Vintage/Mixed Media - TOP 3

Tic Tac Toe #288 - Tic Tac Toe

(Stencils / Ink blending / Spatter/smooshing)

Unicorn #118 - Transportation - WINNER

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

Word Art Wednesday #742/743 - Anything Goes

Hope you’re having a great weekend, whatever you’re doing.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Dream Factory #140 - Guest Designer

Hi everyone, I was delighted to be asked again to be a guest designer for this month’s Dream Factory Challenge, where every month the challenge theme is based on a film. This month the chosen film is

So the challenge theme is 

***Anything Goes With a Wheel ***

There’s plenty of fabulous inspiration on the challenge blog from the Design Team, where you can also link up your creations here.

Here’s my card for the challenge.

I decided to create a vintage style card using this great car stamp from Visible Image where the wheel is really prominent! I created a smooshed panel using the same colour scheme I first used for my recent craft club cards - Vintage Photo, Hickory Smoke, Frayed Burlap and a touch of Black Soot Distress Oxides, then die cut it into a grungy square. I stamped the focal image and added colour with a white Posca pen. I then added some cog  and diamond stencilling using the same DOX inks, and some random 2nd generation background stamping of numbers. I stamped the sentiments over the top and highlighted with white Posca, then added a few stamped spatters to add more depth. I die cut a black border, assembled the card, and to finish added Glossy Accents to the car windows and headlights, and some Tim Holtz Idea-ology cogs.

Stamps: Visible Image You’re a Classic, Sunflower Grunge (spatters);

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxides inks (Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Portobello); Posca pen (white); Glossy Accents;

Tools: AALL & Create die #42 Papyrus Essence; Darkroom Door stencil - Diamonds; craft magazine cogs stencil;

Other: Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Gears.

Challenges I would like to enter:

613 Avenue Create (June) - Anything Goes with option For the Guys

As You Like It - Favourite: To Add a Sentiment or Not (and why)

(I prefer to add a sentiment to make the card specific to the occasion I’m sending it for)

Country View Crafts FB (June) - Travel

Crafter’s Cafe #320 - Anything Goes with option Masculine

Crafty Calendar (June) - Add a Sentiment

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (June) - Use a Stencil (2nd entry)

Creative Artiste #116 - Anything Mixed Media Goes (2nd entry)

Creative Inspirations (June) - One for the Boys!

Creative Moments #271 - For a Man or Boy

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

Cut it Up #332 - Masculine - TOP 3

Daisy Chain #97 - Birthday

Ellibelle’s Crafty Wednesday (June/July) - Anything Goes - TOP PICK

Fab ‘n’ Funky #618 - Use Your Die Cuts (2nd entry) - TOP 3

Girlz & the Art of Letters #3 - C is for … 

(Car, cogs)

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #6 2025 - Masculine

Just us Girls #779 - Include a Number/Numbers

Moving Along With the Times #179 - Birthday

Outlawz Festive Fridays (June) - One for the Boys (2nd entry)

Outlawz Monthly (June) - Project entered into an Outlawz Challenge

Outlawz Twisted Thursday (June) - Quite a Guy

Pearly Sparkles #108 - Masculine

Simon Says (Monday) - Monochrome (2nd entry)

Tic Tac Toe #272 - Tic Tac Toe

(I used Ink blending/ Free / Die Cuts)

We Love 2 Create #6 2025 - Anything Papercrafting/Mixed Media Goes

Word Art Wednesday #702/703 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

I’d like to say a big thanks to Rosi for inviting me to be Guest Designer at the Dream Factory this time.

Hope you’re having a great weekend whatever you’re doing. Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

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,

In the Spring Garden

Hi everyone, my husband loves gardening, so it was a bit of a no-brainer for me to make his birthday card a spring gardening scene with using some of Lavinia’s latest stamps. I’m also planning on making my April calendar page along similar lines but I needed to get this done first, so here it is. 

I cut a 7” square of stamping card and created the central heart by blending Elements and Distress inks through a heart stencil mask, using my mini hill and circle masks. I stamped the focal Herbalum (pixie) and wheelbarrow, then filled the wheelbarrow with stamped herb pots using various masking. I added some trees in the background including a couple in blossom, then stamped a group of pots in the bottom left corner and cute bunnies bottom right. I stamped a wreath of variegated foliage around the heart, then coloured the pots with Zig pens which I also used to “ground” the pots and bunnies. I stamped the sentiment and coloured it with a Zig pen, then highlighted everything with white Posca pen and Stabilo pencil before matting onto 2 shades of green card stock and an 8” card blank.

I also decorated the envelope to match. 

Stamps: Lavinia Herbalum Bob, Wheelbarrow, Rosemary and Thyme Pots, Flower Pots, Dill, Thyme, Skeleton Tree Scene, Tree Scene, Spring Trees, Leaf 1 Mini, Wild Hares (large), Birds;  Woodware sentiment - Made For You;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Pine, Sundance); Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Portobello, Avocado, Shady Lane, Rainforest, Blue Belle, Lilac Bloom); Kuretake Zig Clean Color watercolour pens; Posca pen (white); Stabilo pencil (white);

Tools: Press To Impress heart mask; Lavinia Mini Hill and Circle masks.

Challenges I would like to enter:

AAA Birthday #71 - Masculine

Addicted to Stamps and More #488 - Birthdays

Crafty Catz #689 - Anything Goes with option Add a Sentiment

Creatalicious #286 - Anything Goes with option Use Green (2nd entry)

Creative Aunts #99 - Fantasy

Double D - Going Green - TOP 3

Dragonfly Dreams (March) - Gardening - TOP 3

Ellibelle’s Garden Party #1 - Anything In or From a Garden

Everybody Art #574 - For a Boy

Four Seasons (March) - Spring (2nd entry)

Heart’s Quest Celebrations of Love #3 2025 - Birthday

Heart’s Quest Fantasy #3 2025 - Anything Goes Fantasy - TOP 3

Inspiration Station #71 - Inspiration Photo

Lavinia Creative Challenge (March) - Animal Magic (version without sentiment)
Male Room #196 - Mixed Media 

Outlawz Monday Greetings (March) - Happy Birthday

Simon Says (Monday) - A Bit O’ Green

Simon Says (Wednesday) - A Bit O’ Green

Unicorn #107 - Boys/Men

Word Art Wednesday #691/692 - Anything Goes

It actually took me several attempts to make this card as I had a couple of mishaps, including masking part of a pot stamp with low tack tape for inking, then forgetting to remove the tape before stamping - oops! In truth I also managed to make a black smudge on this one near the bunnies, but I think (hope!) I managed to disguise it with the foliage! Also the shading on the “grounding” isn’t as good on the envelope as my Zig pen didn’t blend as well on the paper of the envelope. Never mind - it’s done now and overall I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out. 

I also wanted particularly to mention a brand new challenge - Ellibelle’s Garden Party -  which started yesterday over on my bloggy friend Ellie’s blog. It gives us opportunity to share anything garden related such as cards, garden photos etc … perfect for this or any time of year! 

I’m hoping the weather will be kind so that Graham and I can spend some quality time going out somewhere together over his birthday weekend. 

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

I Spy With My Little Eye #15

Hi everyone, the last month has absolutely flown by, 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 has chosen the challenge theme this month, and it is

I Spy With My Little Eye 

*** Something For Boys or Men ***

I know that many of us struggle to make cards for the men in our lives, so here’s a golden opportunity to get inspired and see what you can come up with. Please do pop over to Ellie's blog to see her fab creation and link up your entries here.

Once again we have two guest designers joining us this month - Gundi and  Fiona - so please click on their names to visit their blogs and see their fabulous masculine creations. 

Here’s my card for the challenge - I decided to go for a vintage monochrome theme. Usually I tend to make vintage style cards in sepia tones, so I thought I would try something a bit different, not least because I’ve run out of cream stamping card and the brand I use (Lavinia multifarious card - I will only pay out that much for card as it is a non-standard colour) is no longer available.

I die cut a stitched square of white stamping card slightly smaller than a 6” card blank, and stamped the Visible Image vintage car in the centre. I coloured all the trims with watered down silver Posca pen paint, and the highlight areas with my clear Sakura Stardust pen. I then stencilled all around the car using Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide, and stamped a variety of Lavinia cogs in two corners. I blended Black Soot DOX round the edges of the panel and matted it onto a black border and my card blank, then added my sentiments which I stamped onto separate card, cut out and coloured with blended Lost Shadow DOX to remove the stark whiteness. Finally I applied some Glossy Accents to the car windows and headlights to add a bit of dimension.

Here is an angled pic to show the metallic shine on the wheels and bumper.

Stamps: Visible Image You’re a Classic, Lavinia Cog Set 2, Cog Set 3;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Lost Shadow); Versafine Clair (Nocturne); Posca pen (silver); Sakura Stardust pen (clear); Glossy Accents;

Tools: Hunkydory Duo-Stitched Squares die; Lavinia stencil - Divine.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps and More #468 - Birthdays

Alphabet Challenge - C is for Cars - SPOTLIGHT WINNER

Country View Crafts FB Challenge (May) - Make Me Smile (2nd entry)

C.R.A.F.T. #719 - Birthday

Crazy Is Our Fame, Stencils Are Our Game (May) - Use a Stencil - TOP 3

Daisy Chain #85 - Boys/Men - TOP 3

Dragonfly Dreams (May) - Use a Stencil (2nd entry) - TOP 3

Dream Valley #116 - Man or Boy

The Male Room #186 - Planes, Trains and Automobiles - HONOURABLE MENTION

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Use Die Cuts (2nd entry)

We Love Stamping (May) - Vintage

Word Art Wednesday #647/648 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

This month the I Spy challenge will end a day earlier than usual, on Saturday June 15th at 23:59 US Central Time. That’s because in June we will have a surprise for you, but you won’t need to wait  too long, as the next challenge will also begin earlier than usual on Monday June 17th.

Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Typographic Birthday

Hi everyone,  today I would like to share a very simple card I made with the cover gift stamp set with this month’s “Creative Stamping” magazine. I never normally buy craft magazines, in fact I haven’t bought one for years, but I do glance at them if I’m passing a magazine stockist. I was really taken with the stamp set this month which consists of typewriters, various sentiments in typewriter font, and other co-ordinating decorative elements. There is also a small double stencil set which I also really like so overall the magazine was a great buy.  Here’s my first make with them … very straightforward and quick, but the stamps stamped beautifully so I’m very pleased with how it turned out.

I cut a 5” square of white stamping card and stamped the typewriter and sentiment, then stamped background text in opposite corners. I stencilled the jumbled letters in red then matted onto black and red card stock and a card blank - that’s it! It usually takes me hours to make a card as I’m a slow crafter, so this was a refreshing change as I fitted it in whilst I was supposedly clearing the table! This stamp set has the potential to make much more intricate cards too, so hopefully there will be more to come.

Stamps: Text{ures} by Lou Collins “Typography”;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Barn Door); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Tulip Red);

Tools: stencil - Text{ures} by Lou Collins “Typography”.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Crafts Galore Encore #122 - Anything Goes

Creative Knockouts #518 - Birthday Wishes!

If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #191 - Happy Birthday - TOP 5

Krafty Chicks #710 - Stamps

Love to Craft #79 - Anything Goes (4th entry) - WINNER

Mix It Up #70 - Anything Goes (5th entry)

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies #2413 - Anything Goes

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Happy Birthday!

Simply Clean & Simple (April) - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday #641/642 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Take care and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Gorgeous Gus!

Hi everyone, today I would like to share my husband’s birthday card. He loves nature generally and birds in particular, and I love to make him a card which is on the “cute” spectrum. I previously made a cute owl card I was very pleased with here using the Lavinia owl Gus, so I decided to make a bigger and extended version of the same design for this one.

I cut a 7 1/4” square of stamping card, stamped Gus in Nocturne Versafine Clair then masked him and stamped the bough for him to sit on in Pinecone. I then masked the bough as well and stamped some extra branches. I added a large circle mask then blended Blue Atoll and Dark Denim Elements inks around the circle and the edges of the card to form a moon and sky; then I used the outer circle mask to blend some Stormy Sky Distress Oxide inside the moon to add depth. I stamped my background owl wording in grey, then stamped some branches in the top left and added a birdie on the branch, an owl in flight and a hedgehog in the bottom corner.

I removed the owl mask and coloured Gus and the branches using my Zig pens (I didn’t have them when I made the original card), used black fineliner to make his eyes and beak blacker, and added white gel pen highlights. I also added white gel pen highlights to the bird, owl and hedgie, and some shading using my new Stabilo All white pencil (thanks very much to Sarn for making aware of this .. I’m very pleased with it).

At this point I felt it needed something more to fill the extra space as it is a bigger card, so I added two background fairy castles in 1st and 2nd generation Morning Mist. I grounded them by adding some landscaping with my Mini Hill masks and Distress Oxide, and coloured the windows with Sakura Stardust pens which I also used to highlight the scene.  I stamped the sentiments onto separate card, cut out, edged with blue Promarker and attached, then matted the finished panel onto a blue pearlescent card border and an 8” square card blank. Finally I added some sparkle to the moon with my Spectrum Noir sparkle pen, and Glossy Accents to make Gus’s eyes shine … I was a bit anxious about this as my recently purchased bottle was a dud and I’ve not had chance to replace it yet, but I found an old gunged up mini bottle in my cupboard and managed to get it flowing! (phew!!).

Here's a closeup angled pic to show Gus's shiny eyes and the sparkle on the moon.

Stamps: Lavinia Gus, Vine Branch, Far World Castle, Brodwin and Maylin, Wallace Family, Bird Collection, Words From the Heart; Pink Frog Typewriter Sentiments;

Media: Lavinia Elements inks (Blue Atoll, Dark Denim); Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Stormy Sky, Hickory Smoke); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Pinecone, Morning Mist, Twilight, Tulip Red); Kuretake Zig Clean Colour watercolour brush pens; gel pen (white); Sakura Stardust pens (yellow, clear); Spectrum Noir sparkle pen (clear); Stabilo All pencil (white); Glossy Accents;

Tools: Lavinia circle acetate masks, Mini Hill masks.

Challenges I would like to enter:

A Gem of a Challenge #5 2024 - Anything Goes

Allsorts #771 - Use Yellow/Anything Goes (2nd entry)

(I have used some yellow on my owl and the castle windows, but it’s mostly anything goes!)

Addicted to Stamps and More #463 - Birthdays

Creative Inspirations (March) - Anything Goes

Creative Moments #256 - Flora and Fauna (2nd entry)

Incy Wincy (March) - Birthday

Lavinia Creative Challenge (March) - Animal Magic (version without sentiment)

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies #2410 - Anything Goes

Unicorn Challenge #96 - For the Boys / Men

Word Art Wednesday #639/640 - Anything Goes

I really do love Gus and am very pleased with how this project turned out, so I’m hoping he will like it too! Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Hi everyone, today I’m delighted to tell you that I was asked to be the Guest Designer for January at Dragonfly Dreams challenge.

 Of course I said yes, so I set to work to make a card for this month’s theme which is

*** Planes, Trains and Automobiles ***

Here’s my GDT card - please do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the rest of the design team and to link up your entries.

For me this theme immediately brought to mind this fab Visible Image line drawing stamp of a vintage car, and also gave me opportunity to play with a new VI stencil which I selected when I was the lucky winner of a £50 VI store voucher in their FB Christmas card competition.

I started by stamping the car onto cream stamping card using Acorn Versafine Clair, and cut out the image using deckle blade scissors and added Distress ink blended round the edges. I cut a 14.5cm square of cream card and deckled the edges, then created my background by dragging various shades of Distress Oxide and Distress inks over the card, then stencilled with Distress ink and added some stamped spatters. I matted the image panel onto the background then added a stamped sentiment which I cut out with deckle scissors and distressed. Finally I matted the whole panel onto a 6” card blank and added a Tim Holtz tiny metallic gear to one corner.

Stamps: Visible Image You’re a Classic, Sunflower Grunge (spatters), Christmas Robin (spatters);

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Stormy Sky, Antique Linen); Distress inks (Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain); Versafine Clair (Acorn);

Tools: Visible Image stencil - Off the Grid;

Other: Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Gears.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Aud Sentiments #309 - Make Your Own Background and/or Birthday + a Sentiment

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

Double D - Anything Birthday/Anniversary with optional Bronze Moodboard (2nd entry)

Kraftin’ Kimmie Saturday Challenge #676 - Birthday

Little Red Wagon #737 - What’s New?

(New background stencil)

Lost Coast Portal to Creativity #181 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Paper Players #671 - Cheers to the Years (Birthday card)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Something New

Sweet Stampin’ - What’s New With You? - TOP 3

Unicorn Challenge #94 - Birthday (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #629/630 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,