Lavinia Stamps "Rufus" the fox card

Today, I received a delivery of my order from Lavinia Stamps, 14 fabulous new stamps and 12 new inks!  Obviously, I had to have a play!

I started by creating the background scene with a selection of Distress Oxide Inks some were applied with a blending tool and some with a paint brush.  I then set aside to dry.

Once dry, I started stamping the "Tree Root", then "Rufus" the fox, followed by "Brodwin" the owl and then the "Skeleton Tree Scene" In Versafine Clair inks.

I built up the foreground, using the "Mini Mushrooms"and "Willow".  Using Posca and Signo Pens for added detail. Finally, I added the "Let your spirit take flight" sentiment, stamped in Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" green ink.

Lavinia Stamps "Don't Let Life Dull Your Sparkle"

I am aware that some of my friends and no doubt lots of other people are struggling with the present "Lockdown", becoming stressed and emotional about the whole situation.

I've made this card for nobody specifically, but really for anybody who is in need at the moment.  I think the sentiment says it all "Don't let life dull your sparkle".

I used a Funky Fossil stencil called "Light Bulb Aperture/Mask", coloured with three shades of yellow Distress Oxide inks.

For the stamping I used a selection of Lavinia Stamps.  I started by stamping the "Single Skeleton Tree" stamped in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.

I used fairies from two Lavinia stamp sets "Fairy Foragers" and "Three Dancing Fairies", stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.  I used the "Sparkle" sentiment, also stamped in Nocturne.

I gave the fairies some added sparkle using a Sakura gelli roll pen.

Lavinia Stamps October 2019 New Release - Zanor

Lavinia Stamps have created some wonderful new stamps that will be available to purchase on their web site from 4th October.  The pegasus, in this card is one of the new release stamps and is called "Zanor".

I started this card using a background of Dylusion Spray Inks in three shades:  Pure Sunshine, Squeezed Orange and a very light spray of Melted Chocolate.

I started by stamping the female figure, Zemira and then Zanor the pegasus, both in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" shade of black ink.  I then masked of a round shape for the moon and covered the area with a very light coating of Distress Oxide Ink in a shade of "Milled Lavender" just to lighten the area.  I went around the edge of the moon with another shade of Distress Oxide Ink called "Black Soot".  I used the same ink to create the base that Zemira stands on.

I used the Lavinia Stamps "Spring Trees", "Skeleton Trees" and the "Skeleton Trees Scene" to create the tree lined background, stamped in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" ink.

Using the "Black Soot" Distress Oxide Ink, I created the landscape to tie it all in together using a torn edge of a piece of paper.

I stamped the "Ducks" and the "Meadow Grass" in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

Finally, I used an assortment of colours of Sakura Gelli Roll Pen to add some floral detail to the landscape.  I used a gold Sakura pen to add highlights across the card and a white Signo Pen to add highlights to the hair, mane and tail areas.

Lavinia Stamps "Midnight Meandering" rabbits Birthday Card

I made this card for a special lady who has two house rabbits, so the Lavinia Stamps "Midnight Meandering" rabbits seemed to be the ideal choice for her card.

I started by creating the background using various shades of Distress Oxide Inks:  Antique Linen, Bundled Sage, Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass, Peeled Paint and Twisted Citron.  I apply the ink starting with swooshing the card through the ink and then applying additional inks with a paint brush.

I stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Skeleton Trees" in two shades of Versafine Clair ink:  "Misty Morning" for the distant trees and "Nocturne" for those in the foreground.  I also stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Midnight Meandering" rabbits and the "Flutterbies" in the darker ink.

I created the dark landscape at the base of the card, by using the torn edge of a piece of paper to create the undulations, by dragging "Black Soot" Distress Oxide ink on a blending tool across the torn edge.

Finally, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Meadow Grass", "Silhouette Thistle" and "Mini Slender Mushrooms".

Finally, I used a white Signo pen to add highlight areas and a gold shimmer Sakura Gelly Roll pen to add some interest to the thistles in the foreground.

Lavinia Stamps August 2019 New Release Sneak Peeks (Bat Colony)

On the 22nd August Lavinia Stamps will be featured on Hochanda TV, some of the stamps available on the show will be brand new releases.  All ten new release designs will be available to purchase from the Lavinia Stamps web site on that day too.

For this card, all stamping was in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, with the exception of the background Skeleton Trees which were stamped in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" shade of ink.

I have used a background of Brusho paints in shades of greens and blues.  I stamped the "Willow the Witch' and the cauldron, the the "Colony of Bats".

I then stamped the "Skeleton Trees" in the background using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" ink.

I created the background landscape by using a torn sheet of card and Distress Oxide Ink.

I added the "Mini Slender Mushrooms" and the leaves on the top right using the "Mini Leaf 5".

I added highlighted areas using a white Posca Pen and a gold shimmer Sakura Gelly Roll pen.

Lavinia Stamps August 2019 Monthly Challenge - Create Your Own Dream #2

On the first of each month, Lavinia Stamps announce a new monthly challenge theme.  The theme for August 2019 is "Create Your Own Dream".  If you enter and your name is drawn, after the 25th you could win £40 of vouchers to spend on Lavinia goodies.

This is a card that I have made as part of the Lavinia Stamps Design Team.

I used Distress Oxide Sprays to create the background, using Fossilised Amber, Spiced Marmalade and Faded Jeans shades.

Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink,  I stamped the wolves Maka (the seated wolf) and Valko (the standing wolf).

I then masked off a circle for the sun and edged it with Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" ink.  Using the same ink, I created the landscape, by tearing a piece of paper and dragging the ink from the paper downwards, which I repeated several times with the paper in different positions. Using the same ink, I stamped the "Skeleton Tree".

Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink again, I stamped the "Birds" and part of the "Embrace Your Dreams" sentiment.  Finally, I inked the edge of the card and then added some white high-lights to the wolves using a white Signo Pen.

Lavinia Stamps Design Team Sample for Hochanda TV on Tuesday 23rd April 2019

Lavinia Stamps will be featured on Hochanda TV on Tuesday 23rd April 2019 at 11am and 3pm.  This is a Design Team sample I have made for the show.

For the background I used a Gelli Plate press.  The brick work detail was made by pressing an embossing folder pattern on to the Gelli Plate.

I decided to use tones of blues, so I stamped "Harrieta's House", "Path" and the "Single Skeleton Tree"in Versafine Clair Warm Breeze and Twilight shades of ink.  I used two shades of Distress Ink (Stormy Sky and Faded Jean), to create the landscape.  Finally I coloured in areas using Signo Glitter pens.

St. David's Day Artist Trading Coin (Lavinia Stamps)

The 1st of March is Saint David's Day (the Patron Saint for Wales).  So I made an Artist Trading Coin to commemorate the day.

I've used Distress Oxide Inks for the background (Tumbled Glass for the sky and Mowed Lawn and Lucky Clover for the grass.

Using Versafine "Smokey Grey" shade of ink, I stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Skeleton Tree Scene".  I then stamped the "Small Dragon" in Versafin Clair "Tulip Red" ink.  

I then created the landscape at the base of the coin, using a mask and Distress Ink in the shade of "Peeled Paint".  Finally I added letters for the word "Cymru" which is the Welsh work for Wales and I inked the edges of the coin.

A recovery project (when crafting goes wrong) #Laviniastamps

I have been a paper crafter for many years and sometimes things go wrong.  Usually due to my carelessness.  This is one of those projects that went wrong and was then recovered.

It started a couple of days ago, when I was making a batch of alcohol ink backgrounds on Yupo paper.  Having made a very special background (using Mermaid and Citrus shades), I foolishly stamped the seahorse in the wrong ink.  I don't mean the wrong shade, I mean the wrong type of ink.  I used a Versafine Clair ink instead of a StazOn.  

The difference between the two is that StazOn is quick drying and works well on non-porous surface (Yupo is like a plastic coated paper).  Where as the Versafine Clain needs something to grip to.  The result of this error was that in 24 hours time, the ink was still very wet.  I decided to wipe it off and see if I could salvage the beautiful background - and it worked!

The wet wipe did remove some of the alcohol ink background, but at least I was able to use it.

I started by stamping the Lavinia Stamps "Seahorse" in a StazOn ink in a "Teal Blue" shade.  I then stamped the "Skeleton Tree" in StazOn "Midnight Blue" shade of ink to replicate seaweed.  I used the Lavinia "Seaweed" stamped in StazOn "Forest Green" shade of ink.

Finally, I added highlights of silver glitter using a Signo Pen and added sequins and sticky gems to replicate air bubbles in the water.

Valentine Card using Lavinia Stamps

Here's a little Valentine card I made using Lavinia Stamps.

The background is a combination of several Distress Oxide colours.  I then applied Distress Inks through a heart stencil.

I stamped the rabbits, trees and sentiment in two shades of Versafine inks (Black Onyx and Stormy grey).  Finally, I added some white areas to the rabbits using a white Signo pen.

Here are the links to the stamps that I used:

Rabbits (Midnight Meandering)

Sentiment

Skeleton Tree

Lavinia Stamps Moonlight Dance Card

This evening I have been playing with Lavinia Stamps, creating a card for their monthly challenge.  The prompt for the November challenge is "While you were sleeping".

I've used various shades of Distress Inks for the background.  I've used the following Lavinia Stamps:  Fairy Chain, Forest So Green and Single Skeleton Tree, all stamped in Versafine Ink.  

As a finishing touch, I added a few sequins, Perfect Pearls and a little shimmer using a Sakura Jelly Roll pen.