Featured lavenderhousecreations

Celebrating Twins

Made for the ModSquad challenge to use patterned paper and also for a friend whose daughter has had twins. I cut out a large heart for the background and then using a Spellbinder die called Layered Happy Birthday, I cut out some balloons from other PP and added them to the heart. Using an unbranded double stitch rectangular die I cut the main panel and added a small scrap of marbled paper on top. I fussy cut two matching little bears from another small piece of PP, after stamping them and colouring in certain parts. I popped them up onto this and added a small fussy cut fairy above. Stamped the sentiment which I also fussy cut out. Added a few small gems here and there. Stamps and card stock all from Gina K. Designs my main go to place for ideas and purchases.

Featured lavenderhousecreations

Heart Bloom – My sentiments Exactly challenge.

Used another of my gifted stencils to create this one. First brushed colour in circles using distress oxides. Sprinkled a bit of water and let dry. Using Mowed lawn I sponged through stencil to get design. When dry I added nuvo glimmer paste through stencil. I used a versamark pen and ruler to draw a line around edge of card stock and then added an old glitter embossing powder on top. heat embossed to give the shine at edge. Added sentiment to a piece of vellum and heat embossed in black. Two black gems added to each end. added entire piece to turquoise sea card stock.

Featured lavenderhousecreations

A new beginning

I’ve been thinking about creating a blog for over a year now and am finally getting around to actually doing it. In order to showcase some of my cards I needed a place to upload them and display them for others to see so here is my first card for the year.

This card has been created for the monthly challenge at Gina K. Designs. We have to showcase a sentiment and cannot use others stamps on the card.

I stenciled Distress Oxides in several pinks using a lovely hand made heart stencil given to me by a great on line friend. I first masked off the area where the sentiment heart is. I stenciled the butterflies using another stencil from the same friend. I stamped the sentiment onto the die cut heart and traced over it with a gelly roll pen to add a bit of sparkle. I popped it up slightly offset over a black heart which I then glued in the masked off space. Added a few tiny bling gems in places. I added main panel to a black piece of card stock and then adhered it to the card front.

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Challenge #217 – 8th Anniversary

Welcome to our 3-2-1 recipe challenge and in this case you are to choose your Celebratory Raffle ticket and create a card using the theme that is part of your ticket. Thing 1 – choose your ticket colour, Yellow -anniversary/wedding, pink – birthday, Blue – masculine/ fathers day and green – graduation. Thing 3 is the option to use Kraft paper or like Thing 2. Thing 2 is a double dare to play along in the TSOT sketch #696. Take care not to back link when adding to TSOT.

As I need a card for a little girl who loves cats, I chose a PINK raffle – birthday theme and made the one shown here. The little cat is cut from some Kraft paper using a Kokorosa die set and I enhanced it with a bit of shading using ink. I added colour for the eyes, ears and nose using pencils. The rabbit was stamped using a Penny Black set, coloured with pencils and then fussy cut. The heart piece is from a store bought card that I received and saved. The blind uses another Kokorosa die and was cut from some scrap blue CS. The die didn’t cut well so I had to use a knife in a few places which meant it isn’t as clean cut as it should be. It is disappointing when a die doesn’t cut well and I tried on several pieces of paper and all had the same problem so it wasn’t the card stock I was using nor the pressure on the machine.

I added a lighter blue gray card layer to hold the blind and then added the cat as you see. The rabbit was added with some foam tape as was the heart. To hide the rough edges at the side of the piece I added some StampinUP embellishments. This was then added to the card base.

Now it is your turn and we look forward to seeing what you do. Above all have fun creating. Thanks for taking a look and also for any comments you may leave.

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Speedy Tulips

8 min 45 seconds

At first I wasn’t sure if I had any tulip stamps, although I do have a pretty die in my stash. Anyway I went searching and found a Penny Black stamp set called blooms and this little bouquet and butterfly was part of the set. I confess to not using this set very much, but probably will now.

I decided to do some heat embossing so I stamped in VersaMark ink and heat set in gold. I forgot to use my embossing buddy before stamping so there are a few gold sprinkles in places, sigh. Using watercolour pencils I added the colour and then added the layer to a die cut frame that was left over from something else. This was then added to the card front. A gold foiled sentiment from Open Studio and 3 little gems from Waffle flower completed the card.

For a change, an easy card doing a Speed challenge and completed in 8 minutes 45 seconds. No real mishaps thankfully.

I have a night off in the kitchen tonight as my hubby is making pizza from scratch. They are always good to eat and a friend is joining us too.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you and your time.

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Splatter

In many ways I had no idea what I might do for the latest Double D challenge which is a SPLATTER Challenge. I looked at a lot of different card ideas, but nothing really spoke to me. In the end I decided to just fool around a bit and this card is the result of playing.

I used several stamps from my Crafters Companion set that is still on my desk. Choosing the floral silhouette image, I decided to ink it half way in green, stamped along the bottom of the panel, then I cleaned the stamp and using a purple ink I stamped the top part of the flowers. This looked okay to me so I chose another of the small stamps in this set and stamped the butterfly twice. Using a splatter image stamp which I tested on a piece of paper first, I then stamped in various places above the flowers. While doing this I remembered an incentive set from GKD that was also about paint splotches and splatter and I pulled out the splatter one testing it first on a separate scrap piece to make sure the yellow was the right tone. In my head I was thinking it might look a bit like sunshine. The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed clear. I added a little Distress spray and some shimmer on top. I also used a sponge around the edges of the layer before adding it to the card base.

This ended up being better than I expected considering I had no clear plan in my head when I started. It’s a lot like a mixed media card and I quite like the look that occurred. Easy to mail as well because there are no dimensional pieces to it.

We had a crew of people here earlier as they were scheduled to pressure wash the outside of the house and then do the windows inside and out. The back of our home is all windows and mostly they are 10 feet tall. Makes the house beautiful but too much for me to clean myself and I detest cleaning glass anyway. We also have 3 ceiling fans and the blades on those were quite dusty, so they kindly cleaned them for me. Not really their job, but they did it anyway as a favour. I’m now trying to catch up on other chores like laundry which was delayed due to the pressure washing. Being on a well, means we have to ensure that the pump can handle the load. Next year I shall try to schedule for a day that isn’t a laundry one. It is quite amazing to see clearly outside now the windows are sparkling.

Thanks for spending time with me today, it is appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

Upcycled Store Bought Card

Our lovely neighbors gave us a card at Christmas and I simply couldn’t throw it away. Instead I upcycled it to what you see here. I had seen Frenchie Stamps do a tutorial on making a card like this so I searched and followed the instructions.

Initially I had an issue as I couldn’t seem to get things to fit. I set it aside partially complete. Over time I have discovered that sometimes my brain needs to percolate, without my being aware of the thinking. A week later I took another look, realized what was wrong and hey presto my card was done. The foiled sentiment strip is from a package by Open Studio.

The last of the folds isn’t quite right as I glued it a bit too tight, but only I, and now you, know this. The recipient won’t realize unless I point it out. It folds flat and my hope is that the postage won’t be more than the usual fees. There is a line of sparkle in the snow so I didn’t have to add anything more to it.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you and your time. I also appreciate any comments you may leave for me.

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Seeing Double

A while back, one of my Dragonboat paddling friends arrived at practice with a box of pre assembled craft items as a thank you gift to me. Until today I hadn’t tried to use any of them, but the flowers you see here work well on the latest challenge from Sunday Stamps.

The background PP is from a new paper pad I simply couldn’t resist buying and is by Crafter’s Companion. The lattice look die cuts are from a Spellbinders set that makes plaid if all 3 dies are used and the background for these was cut using a set from StampinUP. The oval sentiment die is from YNS I think and the sentiment is from Spellbinders which I heat set, and added foam dimension before adhering. The little hearts were leftovers and these are from an unbranded die set.

My original intention was to use another product purchased recently, but I can’t find it at the moment. I’ve been trying to tidy up a few things, but I’ve not managed to complete the task and I’m sure what I was looking for is buried temporarily. And the mess isn’t helped by a new kit from Spellbinders for their upcoming Weekender sessions. Its an early birthday gift from my hubby and I’ve unboxed the kit but haven’t put it in any order yet.

I’m grateful to complete a card this afternoon as my eyes are not focussing well after an eye check earlier today. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you and your time.

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Worm Wishes

It was hard to resist this particular challenge at Color Hues Color Challenge #133 – Lime Green and Violet, because purple is my favourite colour. As well, in a DT job I do, it was my turn to pick the challenge and I had chosen circles. I guess I still had them on my brain – LOL.

I’m sure that a card I had seen on Pinterest with an inchworm was an actual die but I figured I didn’t need a die and finding scraps, built my own using die cut circles from a set by Hero Arts. The oval die cuts are from Craft Addiction and the background layers are done with an unbranded set. The paper was from my stash and seemed as if it had been waiting for this specific post.

The sentiment was created on my computer and I added some bling underneath it.

We did a Costco run earlier and my hubby took me out for lunch. Then we walked the dog on the way home so we were both pretty tired on return. Hubby went for a nap, and I decided to make a card. For me this is as good as a nap any day. I guess we’ll be vegging with the TV later as I know my hubby is still a bit fatigued.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you and your time. Have a great weekend everyone.

lavenderhousecreations

Seize the Birthday #326-Feature an Animal

I sure hope my sheep image is front and center enough for this challenge. The image and sentiment came from Art Impressions and I used watercolour pencils after heat embossing it. I did stamp the image on water colour paper in order to be able to use water colour pencils.

The oval aperture was cut using a CraftAddictions die set and I added some watercolour to the die cut oval, but then decided to add a rub on transfer from 49 and Market on top. All the leaves came from an older Hero Arts kit and were water coloured as well. I couldn’t find the die set I originally planned on using, which would have been more in keeping with the transfer, but in the end I quite like the quirkiness of having jungle leaves with a sheep and pine branch image. Its ridiculous but amuses me. And the sheep image is in itself quirky and fun.

Foam tape was used on the top layer to lift it from the oval shape below and to allow room for adding the jungle leaves. The stitched oval was added flat, but I did add dimension behind the sheep so the card has a 3D look and feel.

The card will be added to Seize the Birthday for their current challenge. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you, your time and any comments you may leave for me. Hope you all have a great weekend. It is Victoria Day here in Canada, with many families enjoying an additional day with family.

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Beside the Sea Vacation Time

It seems a couple of challenge blogs have a water or beach type scene as their challenges at the moment. When I first created my post for the As You See It challenge, my original intention was to do something similar to this post, but my brain went in a totally different direction that day. In the meantime the Card Concept came up with a new challenge that was nautical in nature and my brain went back to this idea. I think my card fits into their Clean and Layered definition. And because I used a stamp set from GKD that I’ve had forever and not used in recent years, I dragged it out to use here and that qualifies the card for the challenge at The Neglected Stuff. Believe it or not, the sentiment stamp had never seen ink until today.

The small gold squares were leftover pieces from a post I did a while ago and my new Memory Box nested squares arrived the other day, so I chose one slightly smaller than these and using some scraps I die cut the next layer. I added them together and set aside while I did the next few steps. Taking a wave folder from StampinUp I embossed the white layer and cut it down so it was slightly smaller than the card front. Then I carefully added the squares doing my best to keep them centered and straight. Once ready I added it to the card front. Then using a few stamps from the set, I stamped the fish and star fish using Black Soot ink and heat embossed clear, doing the same with the sentiment. I coloured these images with Prisma pencils using an alcohol blending pen to smooth out the colours. Once fussy cut I added them as you see. I felt the fish needed a bit extra so I die cut some seaweed using another Memory Box die set. I matched the sentiment piece to the others using a scrap piece of the same gold CS. The tiny embellishments were added and the card was complete.

When taking the photograph I had some issues with how the light was on the card and I can see here that the embossing isn’t as visible in the picture as it is in reality. This 3D folder has quite a visual impact usually.

Thanks for spending time with me today, I appreciate that you take the time to look and comment.

lavenderhousecreations

Happy Circles

Welcome to our latest challenge at Cardz 4 Galz, and the challenge theme has been chosen by me. I will also choose the winners when the time comes. The theme is anything with circles.

I’ve always loved purple and gold/yellow together and as I also wanted a feminine style card these are the colours I chose. Starting with Hero Arts infinity circle dies and a silver patterned scrap piece of Purple CS I die cut 5 circles. With another slightly smaller die and gold scrap I cut another 5. My Scrapbook.com alphabet dies were located and I die cut the letters from some silver CS.

I went on the hunt for an old die that had the tailors dummy outline with the corset piece in the middle. I don’t know which company, but based on how long I’ve had it, I’m sure it is one of three, Spellbinders, Sizzix or Memory Box. The birthday word is from another ancient set by Sizzix. As you can see I used some yellow CS to cut these pieces. The tailors dummy piece was a bit too large for my purpose so I cut it down and used only a portion of the stand, adding the corset on top. I also dry embossed the corset piece so it has dimension and interest. I lost the point for the i in the word so I used a small StampinUP enamel heart instead. I used a ruler to ensure the larger circles were properly aligned as I glued them down and deliberately offset the gold ones on top just a bit.

Not a difficult card to make thankfully and now it is your turn. We look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery and above all, hope you have fun making them. Many thanks for stopping by, you are appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

“It’s a Wheelie Cool Day”

Welcome to challenge #216 here at Double Trouble and the recipe this time is as follows: Thing 1, 3-layers, 2 shapes and 1 image. Thing 3 is to include at least one wheel, Cam and/or gears. Thing 2 is a double dare to use the sketch at TSOT and to enter your card there. If you are entering into the TSOT challenge be careful not to back link.

To make my card, I pulled out a Spellbinders set that came in the Weekender kit last year and using various coloured bits of scrap card stock I die cut everything. Once the pieces were cut I assembled my sun. To give my sun some eyelids I cut the image twice and turned the other piece upside down and glued it behind. Then I added all the other pieces. It is fiddly work and needs tweezers but is fun nevertheless. I set my sun to the side and stenciled my background using an older stencil (can’t remember the brand) using 3 different inks. Initially I wasn’t sure what to pair it all with and then I remembered that I had some golfing images shared with me, from a stamping buddy. The golf cart and the sentiment seemed to fit the bill so these are the ones I chose. The sun is big and detailed so I didn’t want to add anything too much as I felt it would be way too busy to look at. The sentiment appeals to my weird sense of humour.

Due to the timing of our challenge my card cannot be entered at TSOT. We look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery and trust you have fun creating. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate that you do as I know how busy people can get.