Our Christmas Challenge for December - Let It Snow

Well I hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas. It's been a bit manic for Dave and I with an elderly relative being in hospital for a week and coming out very late on Christmas Eve. 

This months card is one that I made at my Mum in Laws request for my Step Son and his Girlfriend. I didn't think I would find the time but managed to squeeze it in, albeit at 12:30 Christmas Eve morning. It was worth the effort though as she really liked it. 

The card was made on the reverse side of Centura Pearl as it's really nice to work with when using Distress Inks. The sky was done using DI's and stencil brushes as I wanted it to be subtle,  the snowy mounds were done using the same colours and blending tools. The trees were put in using first and second generation stamping for depth and the stag and his family were stamped using Versafine Onyx Black. Finally to frame it I stamps some ivy along the top.

The card was matted and layered onto white and black card and mounted onto an white 8" x 8" card blank. The last step was to add a bit of bling using Cosmic Shimmer Sparkle Pearl (although it doesn't show up in the photos very well).

I hope you like it, why not visit Lavinia Stamps website and have a go at this fabulous challenge you never know you may be a winner. For more details follow the link:

http://laviniastamps.com/blog/our-christmas-challenge-for-december/

Lavinia Stamps Blog Challenge 11 - Christmas

Just a quick blog, way past my bedtime on a work night I got carried away playing. 

These cards have been stamped with the Lavinia Stamps 'stag' and 'fir trees' in Onyx Black Versafine using my new gizmo the 'MISTI'. I then created the backgrounds using a mixture of Distress Inks and Adirondack Inks, finally I matted them up into linen cards and added a bit of Cosmic Shimmer Sparkle Pearl.

I hope you like it, why not visit Lavinia Stamps website and have a go at this fabulous challenge you never know you may be a winner. For more details follow the link:

http://laviniastamps.com/blog/lavinia-stamps-challenge-11/

Stencils

Hi everyone

This is my submission for this months Clarity Stamp Blog Challenge 32 which is based on 'Stencils'

I  love the season of autumn with all the beautiful trees and their colourful pallet of greens, browns, oranges, reds and purples and the many hues in between, it's just nature at its best.

This card has been made using the Clarity Stamps trees stencil, adding colour with Distress Inks using a stencil brush rather thank ink pads. It has then been spritzed with a little bit of water. The trees were then lightly brushed over with Antique Linen so as not to look stark. Finally, a bit of matting and layering and an Autumn sentiment. 

I hope you like the card and any comments/feedback would be much appreciated. 

Good luck in the challenge everyone. 

Shaped Cards

Hi everyone

This is my submission for this months Clarity Stamp Blog Challenge 31 which is called 'Shaped Cards'

I decided to do a hexagonal shaped card which was die cut from a piece of linen card. Next, I die cut two smaller hexagons out of Centura Pearl card and created the larger background using Distress Inks splashed with water and the smaller one coloured with an Adirondack 'Pool' ink pad which was then stamped using the small 'Leafy Swirl' stamp. 

I stamped two small butterflies and coloured them in with Distress Markers, once cut out I added antennae made out small stamens normally used with paper flowers and added a little bit of stickles. The butterfly wings were curled and mounted on foam pads to give added definition.

I hope you like the card and any comments/feedback would be much appreciated. 

Good luck in the challenge everyone. 

Lavinia Stamps Blog Challenge 9 - Hot Bright Colours

Just a quick post, late again as ever but I have a lot going on at the moment. For this challenge I have made a card using mainly Adirondack Brights dye based ink pads. 

The background hills are done with the different dye inks pads and then the silhouette stamps were made using a mixture of Onyx Black Versafine and Cobalt Archival Ink pad. Once dry a few highlights were added using a Sharpie fine point white pen.

I hope you like it, why not visit Lavinia Stamps website and have a go at this fabulous challenge you never know you may be a winner. For more details follow the link:

http://laviniastamps.com/blog/lavinia-stamps-challenge-9/

Lavinia Stamps Blog Challenge 8 - Anything But A Card

Last month I spent a wonderful evening crafting with my Bezzie Mate Amanda Branston and made a canvas using stamps designed by Tracey Dutton of Lavinia Stamps.  Well I was going to submit it for the July Challeng but got my times mixed up and missed the deadline. Not to worry this months new challenge is 'Anything but a card' so I was sorted.

We had a great evening and I enjoyed making the canvas and love the vibrancy of the Dylusion paints.

The background was painted using Lemon Zest, Squeezed Orange, Bubblegum Pink, Crushed Grape and White Linen. Next I stamped a scene using Versafine Black Onyx and Archival Cobalt ink pads, multiple flower stamps and a fairy from Lavinia Stamps. Finally, I put in the highlights using Gold and Silver Uni Paint Marker pens.

I hope you like it, why not visit Lavinia Stamps website and have a go at this fabulous challenge you never know you may be a winner. For more details follow the link:

http://laviniastamps.com/blog/lavinia-stamps-challenge-8/

Here are a couple of photos showing detail.

Tim Holtz - Happy Post

Well I got home today to find that I'd received happy post.  I ordered the Tim Holtz Layered Butterfly last week after using it at a workshop and because I just had to have it (you know how it is).

It's a great set because not only do you get the die but also the embossing folder which adds such great detail. 

For the two cards below I have used the die cut waste as a stencil, the other bits and pieces are from playing with Neocolor II's and spritzing generously with water.

I hope you like them and thanks for dropping by.

Crafty hugs

Jules

Dad's Birthday Card

My Dad has owned some fantastic cars over the years and as soon as I saw the car on Paper Artsy Hot Picks HP1206EZ I knew that it would be just right for making his birthday card.

The card was made on Galeria Acrylic Canvas Textured Paper 300gsm because I like the texture and it is quite forgiving. First I stamped the car and men using a Black Onyx Versafine ink pad, then I made rough masks to cover them. Next I got to stamping the background using Archival Potting Soil, second and third generation stamps.

My next step was to add some colour using Neocolor II water-soluble wax pastels followed by a thin coating of Dylusions White Linen Paint. The last step on the main card was to distress the edges using Tim Holtz Distress Inks.

This was mounted onto white card that was stamped with various background images, some newly acquired that I couldn't wait to have a play with. I liked this so much it was a shame to cover it up.

Last step was to mat and layer onto black card and a white base card.

Ingredients 

Various Paper Artsy Hot Pick Stamps

I really enjoyed making this and know that he will like it. 

I hope you like it and any comments/feedback would be much appreciated.

Crafts hugs 

Julie 😃

Lavinia Stamps Challenge 7 - 'Add a Flower or Flowers

Dylusions Delights, well tonight my Bezzie Amanda Branston came round for a crafty evening so that we could have some fun with the Dylusions paints that I had for my birthday. 

I decided to do a canvas board and created the background using Lemon Zest, Squeezed Orange, Bubblegum Pink, Crushed Grape and White Linen. Next I stamped a scene using Versafine Black Onyx and Archival Cobalt ink pads, multiple flower stamps and a fairy from Lavinia Stamps. Finally, I put in the highlights using Gold and Silver Uni Paint Marker pens.

 

I am submitting this canvas for the July Lavinia Stamp Blog Challenge which is called 'Add a Flower or Flowers' and I must say I really enjoyed making it.

I hope you like it, why not visit Lavinia Stamps website and have a go at this fabulous challenge you never know you may be a winner. For more details follow the link:

http://laviniastamps.com/blog/lavinia-stamps-challenge-7/

Here are a couple of photos showing detail.

Lavinia Stamps Challenge 6 - 'Any Colours You Like'

Well here we are again, I can't believe that it's the end of June and I'm only just in time to blog for this months entry. I really must try to put my entries in earlier but old habits seem to die hard.

This months challenge really appealed to me because I could use lots of really bright colours all at once.  Also, I've tried something new and had my first play with Stampbord, what a fantastic surface to work with, I shall certainly be playing with that again and real soon.

I created this by inking up with different Distress Inks and Adirondack Inks the brighter the better. I then stamped all the images using the lovely Lavinia Stamps in Versafine Onyx Black. Once dry I scratched in the highlights and added some gold with a Uni Paint Marker. 

Finally, I mounted the tiles onto black card and a red pearlescent base card.

I hope you like it, why not visit Lavinia Stamps website and have a go at this fabulous challenge yourself, you never know you may be a winner. For more details follow the link:

http://laviniastamps.com/blog/lavinia-stamps-challenge-6/

Boys, Boys, Boys

Hi everyone

This is my submission for this months Clarity Stamp Blog Challenge 28 which is called 'Boys, Boys, Boys'

I decided to do a canvas this month and have painted the background with acrylic paints and used Archival & Versafine inks for stamping. 

My inspiration for the canvas is the journey that a boy takes to becoming a man as depicted by the 'Wee Folk' stamps.  These have been stamped around a Clarity Tree stencil and I have called it 'Tree of Life' which has been stamped using the letterbox kit.   I have finished it off by stamping some branches in the background and flowers in the foreground. Finally it has been set off against an oak coloured box frame. 

I hope you like it any comments/feedback would be much appreciated. 

Good luck in the challenge everyone. 

Anything but a Card

Hi everyone

This is my submission for this months Clarity Stamp Blog Challenge 25 which is called 'Anything but a Card' 

I decided to do a set of coasters and started off by giving them a base coat using DIY match pots, I like the fact that you can buy a good selection of colours for not many pennies. I coloured two using B & Q's 'Water' and two using Crown's 'Lavender Cupcake' which was applied using Cut n Dry. Next I used the new funky stencil NDSC10 with the opposite colour to give a two tone effect. The backs of each have been painted with gold

Once dry I stamped each coaster with the NDC Rose using a combination of Versafine Onyx Black and Archival Cobalt and painted them using B & Q 'Fuschia' and Crowns 'So Sweet' and 'Lavender Cupcake'. 

Finally because I thought they looked a little bit bland I gave them a dotty background using Distress Ink 'Broken China' through some sequin waste (punchinella).

I hope you like them and any comments/feedback would be much appreciated. 

Good luck in the challenge everyone. 

You've got to be in it to win it. 

Floral

This is my submission for this months Clarity Stamp Blog Challenge 24 which is all things floral.  For the card I have used the freesias stamp which is one of my favourite flowers, I love their beautiful perfume and how delicate they are. 

Good luck in the challenge everyone. 

You've got to be in it to win it. 

Lavinia Stamps Challenge 2 - 'Bright and Beautiful'

Well here we are again with the second Lavinia Stamp challenge of 2015 and it seems that old habits die hard as I'm posting at the last minute again. Not to self 'Must try harder'

I have made this card for a good friend and colleagues 60th birthday. She said that she didn't mind what type of card I made for her just so long as it didn't have a big number on the front. 

The centre piece of the card has been made using the Lavinia Celtic Dream Die 'Melody' which was cut out in black and incorporated into a white linen base card and mount with a Lavinia Scene Scape. I also added some matching ribbon and Stickles to the wings.

This has then been matted and layered onto a white 8 x 8 scalloped base card and beautiful backing paper. Then, Finally I added some Sweet Lilac flowers and metal embellishment leaves to finish it off.

I hope you like it, why not visit Lavinia Stamps website and have a go at this fabulous challenge yourself, you never know you may be a winner. For more details follow the link:

http://laviniastamps.com/blog/lavinia-stamps-challenge-2-bright-and-beautiful-2/

Lavinia Stamps Challenge 1 - 'Anything Goes'

Well here we are with the first Lavinia Stamp challenge of 2015 and I'm a bit ahead of schedule this month, normally I'm posting at the last minute. 

I started this card with a Brusho background made by sprinkling sea salt on the Brusho paint whilst still wet, I love the patterns that the salt leave.

Next I embossed the Lavinia Stamp 'Fairy Pod' in white, highlighted it with a gold pen and embossed some hills in gold. Finally, I distressed the edge with Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks and matted and layered onto white card and a pearlescent aqua base card. 

I hope you like it, why not visit Lavinia Stamps website and have a go at this fabulous challenge yourself, you never know you may be a winner. For more details follow the link:

http://laviniastamps.com/blog/lavinia-stamps-challenge-1-anything-goes/

Contemporary Commission

I was asked by a colleague if I could do a birthday card for his friend, the brief was that it should be contemporary and bright. He'd seen an image on Pinterest that he liked so I knew the type of thing he was looking for.

Stage 1

First I started by by stamping up my card using a Versafine ink pad because I was going to use Brusho's for the filling in.

Stage 2

Now for the fun part, colouring in. I love how vibrant Brusho's are.

Stage 3

Matted and layered onto a scalloped base card with a bit of highlighting using white and gold.

Stage 4

Finally, personalising the card by adding small lettered tags and joining them together with black ribbon.