Lavinia Stamps "Small Robins" at Christmas

I apologise for my absence.  I've been away on holiday to America to see the colours of the leaves in "New England in the fall".  I've had a fabulous time but I am equally glad to be home to see Rosie our dog and to do some crafting.

For this card, I used the new Lavinia Stamps "Snowflakes" stencil with blue and grey Archival ink left on my blending brushes from previous projects.

I have used the Lavina "Circle Mask" for the central stamped area, sying blue ink round the edge of the circle.  I then used Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink to stamp the Lavinia "Mystic Swirls" on the right hand side of the circle.

I used the fence post from the Lavinia "Pheasant" stamp with Versafine Clair "Portobello" brown ink, I used the same ink to stamp the two robins which are part of the Lavinia "Small Robins" stamp set.

I used a white Signo Pen and some Dr Ph. Martin's white bleed proof ink on a very thin paint brush to create the look of snow on the fence and ground.  I added colour to the robins using Derwent Inktense pencils, finally adding a touch of "Crystal" Stickles to my fingertip and smudging it on the snow areas for a little bit of sparkle, (sadly this doesn't really show up on the photo).

Finally, using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink, I stamped the sentiment, which is part of the Lavinia "Christmas Greetings" stamp set, adding some touches of "White Opal" Liquid Pearls round the edge of the circle.

52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2025 - Week 41

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2025:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The prompt for Week 41 "Teens"

For my Week 41 "Teens Tag" i've opted for a skate board dude.  Starting with a white tag and three shades of Distress Oxide Inks. Using Stormy Sky at the top, Chipped Sapphire in the middle and Unchartered Mariner on the lower third.  I then used a fan shaped paint brush, dipped in water to splatter water droplets over the surface of the tag, blotting it with kitchen paper to take up the excess then running the heat gun over the surface.  Once dry, I edged the tag in "Prize Ribbon" Distress Oxide Ink.

I moved on to stamping.  I had three sets of Sarah Davis "Just for men" stamp sets.  From the "Urban Graffiti set" I stamped the splatters, stars and circles using three shades of Versafine Clair Inks:  Warm Breeze, Paradise and Medieval Blue.

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the skateboard figure, which is part of the "Street Wise" stamp set and the sentimetn which is part of the "Rock Star" stamp set.  

I inked the edges of the tag using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink and then added splatters of pink and white Posca Pen.  I used a white gel pen to outline the skate boarding figure, adding a "Wink of Stella" to the middle of the stars too.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2025 - Week 40

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2025:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The prompt for Week 40 "Dogs"

I covered a white tag with "Wilted Violet" Distress Oxide Ink and then lay the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Shifter Layering Stencil - THS127" over the tag and applied "Villainous Potion" Distress Oxide Ink through the stencil.

Next, I lay the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Sparkle Layering Stencil" over the tag and applied white texture paste through the stencil.  The texture paste absorbed some of the background colour making the stars a lovely lilac colour.

On a plain white piece of card, I stamped the dog and bowl, both are part of the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Crazy Dogs - CMS271" stamp set using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.  I then coloured them using Derwent Inktense pencils applied with a paint brush, fussy cutting them and sticking them on to the tag.

I used "Platinum Pearl" Liquids to dot some of the middle of the stars.

Visible Image `'Calm over chaos" Card

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the female figure which is part of the Visible Image stamp set called "Calm over chaos".

In the background, I used "Pink Peony" Ranger Archival ink through the Visible Image stencil called "Frosty".

I used Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to stamp the multi circles, which are part of the Visible Image stamp set called "Faerie Magic". Finally adding dots to the circles using an "Aqua Green" Posca Pen.

Lavinia Stamps "Mystic Swirl" Vine Card using Sizzix Stamp and Spin Tool

About a year ago, I bought the Sizzix Stamp and Spin tool, however, because we were moving house, it got packed away and has not been used till today.  It was winking at me from the shelf.  So as I didn't have a project on my desk, I decided today was the day to try the tool out.

I was a little nervous at first, but soon got the hang of it, thanks to You Tube.  I couldn't grasp the instructions that came with the set - I guess now I'm getting older a visual demonstration is easier for me to grasp!

I used two shades of Versafine Clair inks.  I used Avocado green for the foliage and Lilac Bloom for the flowers and sentiment.  The Lavinia Stamps I used are Mystic Swirl, Vine Set, Mini Flutter and Mini Dots.

The central sentiment is by Hobby Art Stamps and is part of their "Greetings for friends - CS158D" stamp set.  I also used a yellow Posca Pen and a white gel pen for extra detail.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2025 - Week 39

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2025:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The prompt for Week 39 "Buttons, Buckles and Sliders"

For my Week 39 Tag, I used white texture paste through the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous THS032 - Flourish Layering Stencil and set aside to dry.

I had some embellishments left over from a wedding project in my stash so used a coule of gem set and pearl buttons and a gem set ribbon slider. Typing and printing a sentiment saying "To have and tol hold" on the computer, finally adding some sticky flat back pearls to some of the flourishes.

Sweet Poppy Stencils "Duo Birds" Anniversary Card

This morning i've played with a couple of Sweet Poppy Stencils and a Stampscapes stamp to create this card.

I started by using Verasfine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink to multi stamp the Stampscapes "Curvy Branch" along the bottom of the card and part way up the sides.

I then used "Sky Blue" Archival Ink through the Sweet Poppy "Symphony Backplate Stencil", using the remaining ink on the blending brush around the edges of the card.

Next, I used "Poppy" Archival Ink through the Sweet Poppy "Duo Birds Stencil", but instead of having them one on top of the other, decided to have them looking at each other.  

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink to stamp the "Have a great day" sentiment, which is part of the Sweet Poppy "Hugs & Kisses" stamp set. Finally adding some gold dots to the branches, round the edge of the birds and the card itself with a gel pen.