Lavinia Stamps November 2019 Monthly Challenge "Winter Wonderland"

Every month Lavinia Stamps has a new challenge theme.  For November 2019, the challenge theme is "Winter Wonderland".  If you enter and your name is randomly drawn, you will win £40 of vouchers to spend on lovely Lavinia Goodies.  You will find all the details you need to enter here.

I started by stamping the figure "Zemira" and the wolf "Maka" using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist grey coloured ink.

Using the torn edge of a piece of copy paper, I created the landscape using two shades of Distress Oxide Inks:  Tumbled Glass and Weathered Wood.

I stamped the Lavinia Small Fairy Fir Tree and the Small Fairy Fir Tree 2 stamped in Distress Oxide "Weathered Wood" along the landscape lines.

Using Distress Oxide inks, I created the sky colour.  First using Distress Oxide ink "Milled Lavender" and then "Stormy Sky", edging the card with Distress Oxide Ink "Black Soot"

I then stamped the Lavinia "Tree Scene", "Birds" and the "Once Upon A Dream" sentiment in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" ink.

Using the Distress Oxide Ink "Milled Lavender" I stamped the "Lunar Buds".

I stamped the Lavinia "Snowflakes" using a Memento ink called "London Fog".  I added some clear gems to the landscape and white highlights and dots of snow using a Signo Pen.

Design Team Project for "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog" #409 No square or rectangle cards

There is a new challenge prompt on the "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog".  Challenge #409 is "No Square of Rectangle Cards".  If you have a minute to spare, please do pop over and take a look at the fab makes by my Design Team colleagues.

I used a cream card for the base of this card, using "Seedless Grapes" Distress Oxide Ink through a Funky Fossil Designs "Floral Beauty" stencil.

I die cut the image using two dies from the Julie Hickey "Hexagon JHD-CUT-1005" die set.

I then stamped the Spellbinders "shine" sentiment (STP-004, using a Brilliance "Galaxy Gold" ink.

Lavinia Stamps Design Team make for November 2019 challenge (Winter Wonderland)

The first of the month means that there is a new challenge theme on the Lavinia Stamps site.  The theme for November 2019 is "Winter Wonderland".

If you enter this challenge, your name could be randomly picked to win £40 of vouchers to spend on lovely Lavinia goodies!  

For this card, I used Distress Oxide Inks for everything but the sentiment, where I used a Versafine Clair "Nocturne" shade of ink.

Using the Oxides, I started by using a wash of Tumbled Glass and Weathered Wood to create the sky and just shades of Weathered Wood for the ground area.

I used two shade of Oxides to stamp the trees, Weathered Wood and Iced Spruce, using two Lavinia Stamps "Fairy Fir Tree Small" and "Fairy Fir Tree 2 Small".

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" to stamp the "Forest So Green" sentiment.  Finally, I used some Stickles called "Frosted Lace" to add a little sparkle to areas of the snow in the foreground.

Funky Fossil Antler and Stripes - Male Birthday Card

While I had my inks and stencils out, I decided to make another card, but step the stencil process up a little by layering two over each other.

Like the other card, I started with a base of "Shabby Shutters" Distress Oxide inks.  I then "Brushed Corduroy" Distress Oxide Inks through the Funky Fossil "Simply Stripes" stencil.

I then overlayed the Funky Fossil "Antler Background" stencil, using "Ground Espresso" Distress Oxide Inks through the stencil to create the whole design.

I stamped the Papertrey Ink "Happy Birthday" sentiment using Versafine Clair "Pinecone" brown ink and then die cut the sentiment.

Lavinia Stamp New Stamp Preview, Fern Branch, Winter Berries and Silence Sentiment

Tracey Dutton of Lavinia Stamps has created thirteen fabulous new stamps to compliment the existing collection.  The new stamps will be available to purchase from 31st October 2019.

for this card, I used the "Tumbled Glass" Distress Oxide Ink with a paint brush to create a pale blue background wash.

Using Versafine Clair "Rain Forest" dark green ink, I stamped the new "Fern Branch" and the new "Winter Berries".

Using Versafine Clair 'Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the crow from the Lavinia "Crow Set" to perch on the branch.

I used Arteza Brush pens to colour the berries red and a white Signo pen to add highlights and snowflakes on the pale background.  

I then die cut the image into a circle.  I used an embossing folder with dots to replicate snow falling to emboss a piece of card.  At the base of the card I stamped the new "Silence" sentiment in Versafine Clair "Rain Forest" green ink.  I then adhered the circle image on top of the embossed background.

Funky Fossil Butterfly Heart Anniversary Card

Another anniversary card.  I've used "Shaded Lilac" Distress Oxide Ink through the Funky Fossil "Butterfly Heart" stencil. Using the same ink to edge a border for the background card for the main image to be layered on top of.

I used my Sizzix Big Shot to die cut the Memorybox "Pippi butterfly - style 98508" in white card and also the "love" sentiment which is part of the Stampin' Up "Sunshine Wishes" thinlit die set.  I added some sticky pearls to finish the card.

Lavinia Stamps New Stamp Preview - Zuri and Berry Leaves

Lavinia Stamps will be releasing thirteen fabulous new stamps at the end of October, all of which will be a fabulous addition to the existing range of stamps.

For this card, I used a gelli plate print I had made a couple of months back using Colorbox Inks brayered onto the gelli plate with diluted Brusho paint sprinkled on to the gelli plate itself creating this mottled peach/orange pull.

I used "Dusty Concord" Distress Oxide Ink with a blender to colour from the edge of the gelli print to the edge of the card.

I used Versafine Clair "Monarch" purple ink to stamp "Zuri" one of the new unicorns.

For the hedghog, which is part of "The Wallace Family" I used Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink.

Using Versafine Clair "Monarch" purple coloured ink, I stamped the sentiment "Every Dream" and "Berry Leaves" which are also a brand new release stamps.

I used a white Signo Pen to highlight areas of the unicorn and the hedgehog along with a gold shimmer Sakura Gelly Roll Pen.

Lavinia Stamps New Stamp Preview - Red Leaves Sentiment

Lavinia Stamps have created some fabuous new stamps.  I've used a new sentiment called "Red Leaves for this card.

I started with a circular gelli plate background of shades of yellow, mustard and greens.  I used Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" green ink to stamp the "Red Leaves" sentiment.

I stamped the Lavinia "Mini Leaf 5" in Versafine Clair "Chianti" shade of dark red ink and Versafine Clair "Summertime" which is an orange shade of ink.

I stamped the Lavinia "Mini Snail" in Versafine Clair "Acorn" positioned on the right hand edge of the circle to balance the sentiment protruding from the left hand side.

I returned to stamping the foliage by stamping the new "Mini Winter Berry" in Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" ink.  I stamped the red Lavinia "Mini Berry" in a Memento ink in the shade of "Lady Bug".  I stamped the Lavinia "Mini Holly" in Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" ink.

I used a Distress Oxide Ink called "Peeled Paint' to colour from the edge of the circle to the edge of the card.  I used a white Signo Pen to highlight areas and used a gold Sakura Gelly Roll Pen to add some subtle gold shimmer to areas of the card.

Week 44 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

The prompt for Week 44 is "Spooktastic"!

For my tag, I started by filling in a circle area as the moon using "Scattered Straw" Distress Oxide Inks.

I created a mask of the Zombie/Mummy shape and the moon and then coloured the background using several shades of Distress Oxide Inks:  Carved Pumpkin, Wilted Violet, Peeled Paint and Black Soot

Removing the masks, I then used a low tack tape to hold the "Funky Fossil Creepy Characters Stencil" in position.  Through the stencil, I used the "Forest Moss" shade of Distress Oxide Inks.

I used a Faber-Castell Black Matt 8B pencil in a cross hatch way to cover the Mummy figure and also to create the ground that he stands on.

Using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" ink, I stamped the Stampin' Up tombstone, which is part of their "Spooky Fun" stamp set.  I also stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Bats".

Finally, using a Brother label maker, I printed off the "Spooktastic" label and adhered it at the base of the tag.

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Click here for more information about this challenge and also a list of the previous prompts.

Click here to go to the challenge Facebook Group.

Lavinia Stamps New Stamp Preview - Druids Inn

Tracey Dutton of Lavinia Stamps have created thirteen fabulous new stamps that work fantastically well with their exitisting collection.  

The new collection of stamps will launch live at the NEC, Birmingham (Stand A19) on Thursday 31st October 2019 and will also be available to purchase on thier web site too.

The tree trunk inn/house on the right hand side of this picture is a new release and is called "Druids Inn".

I made the background some months ago, I liked it and just couldn't bring myself to use it on earlier projects.  I'm glad I took the leap of faith for this one as I love the finished card.

The background of soft green, pinks and yellow Distress Oxide Inks are just daubed onto the card and squidged around a bit.

I stamped "Sirlus" the Pegasus in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist".  Using the same ink, a finger dabber and the torn edge of a piece of copy paper i created the landscape lines.

I then stamped the tree called "Druids Inn" using Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink.  I used a selection of shades of Distress Oxide Ink (Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain and Ground Espresso) applied with a paint brush to create the bark and the steps.  I used a gold metallic pen to colour in the the creeper stem that wraps around the tree trunk.

I masked off a circle shape around the Pegasus head and coloured it with a yellow colour Distress Oxide Ink called "Mustard Seed".  I used a blue Distress Oxide ink called "Stormy Sky to edge the card to draw the eye to the image itself and then added a fine black edge too.

Using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist", I stamped the trees along the landscape by the Pegasus using the Lavinia "Skeleton Tree Scene".

Using Black Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink I stamped the "Mini Meadow Mushrooms" and the fairy, which is part of the "Fairy Foragers" set.  I used the same ink to stamp Rory, the little male figure from the "Rory & Darcy Set".  I also stamped the "Mini Slender Mushrooms" in the  Nocturne ink.

I used a white Signo pen to highlight various areas along with an orange and red Posca Pens for the flowers and a silver glitter Signo Pen for the fairy wings

Funky Fossil Butterfly Heart Stencil - Anniversary Card

I've made this anniversary card using the Distress Oxide Ink "Peacock Feathers" through the "Funky Fossil Designs Butterfly Heart stencil".

The "Love" sentiment was die cut using the Stampin' Up "Sunshine Wishes Thinlet Die Set".

Finally, I added some sequins to soften the look.

Week 43 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2019

The prompt for Week 43 of the challenge is "Emphemera", so this is a chance for you to use all those little odds and ends that you've been saving "just in case"!

I started by tearing a page out of an old Welsh hymn book and sticking it on to a tag base.  I then used  the "Aged Mahogany" Distress Oxide Ink to add a bit more colour to the tag.

I have a box of "bits and bobs" so selected a few pieces which I thought would work for this tag.

I tore some patterned paper and layered it onto some green and red check print paper.  I stamped a Crafty Individuals (CI-022) ticket onto an off-cut of card and then cut it out.  

I layered the items up, adhering them to the tag as I went.  Finally, I added some dull gold sequins and a Tim Holtz sentiment across the top of the tag.

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Click Here for more information about the challenge, including a list of the previous prompts.

Click Here to be taken to the Facebook Tag Challenge group.

DesignTeam make for the "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog" #408 Halloween or Cats

There is a new challenge theme on the "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog".  Challenge #408 has a theme of "Halloween or Cats".  If you have a minute to spare, please do pop over and take a look at the fab makes by my Design Team colleagues.

For my card, I used a selection of Distress Oxide Inks and Lavinia Stamps to create this image.

I started by masking off a circle and filling it with a blend of Antique Linen and Scattered Straw Distress Oxide inks.  I then covered the circle with a mask and used a mix of the following shades of Distress Oxide Inks to create the sky colours:  Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch, Worn Lipstick and Chipped Sapphire.

For the landscape I used Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Crushed Olive and Forest Moss Distress Oxide Inks.

I used two shades of Versafine Clair ink throughout this card:  Nocturne (Black and Morning Mist a grey shade).

I multiple stamped the "Lavinia Stamps Tree Branch".  I then added one of the crows from the "Lavinia Stamps Crow Set", the "Lavinia Stamps Bats" and then the "Lavinia Stamps Seasonal Tree".

I then moved on to the lower section of the card by stamping "Lavinia Stamps Mooch The Cat", "Lavinia Stamps Meadow Mushroom", the "Mini Slender Mushroom" and "Lavinia Stamps Meadow Grass".

Finally, I added some tufts of grass using a black fine liner pen and also high-lighted areas using a white Signo Pen.

Funky Fossil Designs New Stamp Preview - October 2019 (Plant A Garden Clear Stamp Set)

Funky Fossil Designs have some fabulous new clear stamps that will be available to purchase from 9am on the 19th October 2019.

Make sure you check back on the 19th October, when I will be sharing information about a fabulous give away.

One of the new designs is this gardening set called "Plant A Garden".  The images stamp a beautiful crisp image and are lovely to work with.

For this tag, I decided I wanted shades of pastel colours for the background.  I used three shades of Distress Oxide Inks (Old Paper, Tumbled Glass and Milled Lavender) with a blending tool.

I used the Picked Raspberry shade of Distress Oxide through the Funky Fossil stencil called "Micro Dots" to created the over lay pattern.

I covered a plain white off-cut of card in the "Picked Raspberry" Distress Oxide Ink, then stamped the sentiment "To Plant A Garden Is To Believe In Tomorrow" in Versafine Clair "Monarch" shade of purple ink.  I then cut the sentiment into sections for use towards the end of the project.

On a white off-cut of card, I stamped the flower pot using the Wilted Violet shade of Distress Oxide ink.  I then filled in the colour using a paint brush and the same ink and then cut out the shape.

Using a Versafine Clair green ink called "Shady Lane", I stamped the flowers.  I adhered the painted flower pot over the flowers.  I coloured the flower heads using a purple Sakura Gelly Roll pen.

Finally, I stuck the words into position and inked the edges of the tag using the Versafine Clair, Purple "Monarch" ink and added some butterflies in the same ink.

If you have a moment to spare, please do pop over and check out the gorgeous makes by my fellow Design Team colleagues:

Cornelia:  https://fun-stamping.blogspot.com
Jane:  https://purplejetlovescrafts.blogspot.com
Natalie:  https://www.instagram.com/momma_sedds/
Sarah:  http://funkyfossildesigns.blogspot.com/
Shona:  https://www.instagram.com/shona.chambers/

Thanks for looking.  Sam x

Funky Fossil Designs New Stamp Preview - October 2019 (Plant A Garden)

I am so excited to share with you a fabulous new clear stamp set by Funky Fossil Designs.  It is called "Plant a Garden" and will be available to purchase on their site from 19th October 2019.

Make sure you check back on the 19th October, when I will be sharing information about a fabulous give away.

I've made this card using Distress Oxide Ink, in the green colour called "Shabby Shutters" through  their "Round In Dots" stencil.

Using stamps from the "Plant A Garden" set, I stamped the sentiment below the round coloured disc using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" shade of ink.  

Using the same ink, I stamped the garden tools and the flower pot on to an off cut of white card.  I coloured the tools using Sakura Gelly Roll pens, cut out the images and adhered onto the card.

Using a Distress Oxide ink called "Peeled Paint" I lightly stamped the flowers.  I coloured the heads of the flowers with a lilac coloured Sakura Gelly Roll pen, then adhered the cut out flower pot shape over the stalks of the flowers using a foam pad which added a nice bit of dimension.

If you have a spare moment, please do pop over and take a look at the gorgeous creations by my fellow Design Team colleagues:

Cornelia:  https://fun-stamping.blogspot.com
Jane:  https://purplejetlovescrafts.blogspot.com
Natalie:  https://www.instagram.com/momma_sedds/
Sarah:  http://funkyfossildesigns.blogspot.com/
Shona: https://www.instagram.com/shona.chambers/

Funky Fossil Designs New Stamp Preview - October 2019 (Sew Lovely)

I like to sew, but don't do too much of it lately, so I was thrilled to receive this brand new set of stamps to play with from Funky Fossil Designs called "Sew Lovely".  These stamps will be available to purchase on the Funky Fossil site from 9am on 19th October 2019.

Make sure you check back on the 19th October, when I will be sharing information about a fabulous give away.

If you have a moment to spare, please do pop over to see the gorgeous work by my fellow Design Team colleagues:

Cornelia:  https://fun-stamping.blogspot.com
Jane:  https://purplejetlovescrafts.blogspot.com
Natalie: https://www.instagram.com/momma_sedds/
Sarah:  http://funkyfossildesigns.blogspot.com/
Shona:  https://www.instagram.com/shona.chambers/

The stamping of the sewing machine, the stitching around the edge and the sentiment are all in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" a lovely shade of grey ink.

I painted the colours onto the card using various shades of Distress Oxide inks: Spun Sugar, Twisted Citron, Picked Raspberry and Vintage Photo.

Funky Fossil Designs New Stamp Preview - October 2019 (Festive Penguins)

I was thrilled to have a play with some brand new stamps from Funky Fossil Designs which will be available to purchase on their site from 19th October 2019.  

Make sure you check back on this blog on the 19th October when I'll be sharing information about a fabulous give away!

I made this card using their new stamp set called "Festive Penguins".

If you have a moment to spare, please do pop over and see the fabulous makes by my Design Team colleagues:

Cornelia:  https://fun-stamping.blogspot.com

Jane:  https://purplejetlovescrafts.blogspot.com

Natalie:  https://www.instagram.com/momma_sedds/

Sarah:  http://funkyfossildesigns.blogspot.com/

Shona: https://www.instagram.com/shona.chambers/

For this card, I started by using Distress Oxide Inks in two blue shades: Chipped Sapphire and Blueprint Sketch through the Funky Fossil "Birch Forest" stencil.

I trimmed the image down then adhered a curved piece of card over the lower section to create a snowscape.  I stamped the "Let It Snow" sentiment using Versafine Clair "Twilight" which is a very dark blue ink.  I added a pale blue area to the left of the sentiment, using Distress Oxide "Tumbled Glass" ink, that the penguin will stand on.

On a separate piece of card, I stamped two images of the penguin.  I coloured the penguin by painting Distress Oxide inks on the hat area of both penguin images.  For the body on one of them I used my Arteza Brush Pens.

I cut out the full image of the coloured penguin and adhered into position over the blue paint washed area on the snow.

I then cut the had around the hat on the second penquin image and adhered it over the hat on the card to give dimension to it.  I added touches of glitter to the hat using a Sakura gelly roll pen.

Week 42 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

The prompt for Week 42 is "Activity".

For my tag, I took inspiration from the old Cadbury's "Milk Tray" advert where there was always a James Bond, suited/silhouette type character delivering a box of chocolates to his special lady.

There was a lot of blending of colours to create the blue/green sea background, using Distress Oxide Inks in the following shades:  Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon, Blue Print Sketch and Chipped Sapphire.

For the image, I used a Funky Fossil Designs stencil called "Surfer Stencil and Mask set".  For the wave area I used a Stampin' Up ink called "Whisper White".  For the surfer I used a Versafine Clair black ink called "Nocturne".

The white of the wave area looked a little solid, so I added dots to imitate spray using a white Posca Pen and a silver Signo Pen.  I added the Clarity word sentiment of "Never say never" to complete the tag.

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Click here for more information about this challenge, including the previous prompts.

Click here for the challenge Facebook Group

Funky Fossil - Butterfly Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon Stencil Card

Funky Fossil Designs are doing their bit to raise vital funds for research and awareness of Breast Cancer.

This fabulous "Butterfly Breast Cancer Ribbon Stencil" only costs £3.75  Through October, Sarah, owner of Funky Fossil is donating £1.50 of the stencil cost to help fund further research.  Hope you help just a tiny bit by purchasing this stencil - you know it makes sense!

For my card, I have used two Funky Fossil stencils.  The first was the "Crackle Background", where I used a Distress Oxide called "Milled Lavender", the second was the "Butterfly Breast Cancer Ribbon" where I used a Distress Oxide ink called 'Picked Raspberry".  I used a Clarity word sticker for the sentiment.

Don't forget that in buying the ribbon stencil you will be donating to a very fabulous and well needed cause!

Design Team make for "My Time To Craft Challenge" #407 - Inside Out

The theme for the "My Time To Craft Challenge" #407 is "Inside Out (make it as pretty inside as it is out).  If you have a moment to spare, please do pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at the fab makes by my Design Team colleagues.

This is the card that I made for the challenge.  I have used two shades of Distress Oxide Inks (Worn Lipstick and Wilted Violet) through the Funky Fossil Designs "Circle Burst" stencil, on both the front and on the inside right hand corner of the card.

Using Versafine Clair "Monarch", a purple shade of ink, I stamped the Visible Image sentiment "Wake Up Awesome" to the front of the card.  I used the same ink to stamp the Stampin' Up sentiment from thier "Part of my story" stamp set for the internal sentiment.  Finally, I added some purple sequins to the front of the card.