Author: lavenderhousecreations

lavenderhousecreations

country cottage

Welcome to the first challenge of the year here at Cardz4galz. It is my turn to choose the theme and I chose Country scapes figuring most crafters would have a few stamps and dies that would work for the theme.

I still have some decoupage pieces that came in a card kit from Crafters Companion and this is one of them. It is nice that the kit has all the pieces as punch out’s, as in the past, I’ve had to fussy cut things like this. In fact I still have a few sheets that I purchased in the Netherlands, but I’m a bit lazy in wanting to cut them.

Once I had all the pieces in place using foam dimensionals I used a frame die cut using a PaperRose die and backed it with some paper that looked like a sky. After which I added the scene piece. In my scrap box of CS, I found a photo piece and die cut it using an unbranded die. I adhered the scene frame on top of this piece then added a few sage gems from Altenew. I can’t remember which stamp set the sentiment came from but believe it to a Kokorosa set.

I quite like decoupage cards but they do have substantial dimension which is problematic with mailing these days. I guess I’ll be giving this one in person when I decide to use it. Thanks for stopping by, you, your time and any comments are appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

foxy fun

Happy New Year to all and here is the first challenge of 2026 for Double Trouble. Our recipe is to use: 3 colours, 2 shapes and one sentiment with the theme of cool, wild or crazy.

In my case I’ve chosen cool and wild as represented by the music background, it reminds me of cool jazz bands, and the Lawn Fawn wild animal fox. My shapes are the background panel, a circle die cut as well as the fox himself. The EF is from Spellbinders and I used a linen CS. I used a sanding block to take off some of the colour on the raised sections as I liked the look and it showed off the embossing more. My fox was built using scrap die cutting and then gluing the pieces together. The circle die cut is done with infinity dies by Hero Arts, the sentiment is from Spellbinders and the embellishments are from my stash. They pick up whatever colour they are close to, in this case yellow. My colours are Yellow, orange and pink, but if brown is considered a colour rather than a neutral I guess it would be four colours.

The idea for this card came from Pinterest, but it isn’t a CASE, just a general similar look. Remember that you can join in with the TSOT sketch challenge if you wish, but ensure that you aren’t back linking before you do so.

Thanks for joining me today, I appreciate your time. I wish you joy in your crafting and look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery.

lavenderhousecreations

standing fun fold

Having seen a card done in this style on YouTube, I wanted to try for myself. If you are interested in making one you can go here and see how. I followed the measurements but my card is using a napkin design that I had transferred to some thin card stock a while back. The only stamps I used are on the back piece and come from Marianne Designs and Kitchen Sink. I had to get a bit creative in laying mine out which took some fussy cutting but I’m pleased with the end result. The card stands beautifully, but folds flat for mailing and isn’t too bulky when folded. I’ve already got a smaller base ready for a second one and an image from a tissue box to use on a third.

Figuring out the fussy cutting took a bit of time, and I also did a bit of decoupage on the figure and bicycle. I used an old paper pad (when I say old, I mean really old) that is all sky and cut it to the size I required. After stamping the windmill I coloured it using Inktense pencils and a small amount of water. The ones I plan to do soon, will be much easier as I now have a good idea what they will look like when finished.

This was fun to make and my hubby was quite impressed with it. I am adding it to the challenge at Triple B January 2026 TB Challenge. Considering the weather and the dreary days, doing a card that denotes springtime was a nice project.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you and any comments you may leave.

lavenderhousecreations

snow happy

This card is inspired by two challenges, one at As You See It, and the other at Double D. One is a colour challenge and the other is about Santa’s and or Snowmen. A fellow stamper suggested I add this card to the following challenge: Neglected Stuff (12/25) Challenge.

Using a very old die set acquired via Hunky Dory many years ago, and a tree die set almost as old by Crafters
Companion, I proceeded to cut the pieces I needed. I used a Kokorosa die to create the snow hills. Sentiment is from Colorado Craft Company and heat set in black. My background was created by initially spraying Distress Ink and then sponging some extra over the top, after which I splattered it with Picket Fence paper splatter. When dry I added the rest playing with placement before gluing. I used a sparkle pen on the snow hills and lost shadow ink on the snowman for some additional definition.

Not a difficult card to make although I managed to get ink everywhere. I quite like that my sky looks as if a blizzard is happening. So another card for my 2026 stash, as I’m basically done for this year. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you and any comments you may leave.

lavenderhousecreations

Christmas Sparkle

Our last cardz4galz challenge of 2025, as chosen by Dawn, is Christmas sparkle. Although the photo doesn’t show it clearly, my card is full of sparkle as I used sparkle pens by Sakura as well as a shimmer spray over the entire card.

To make this card I die cut, using Hero Arts infinity dies, a circle in a piece that could be used as a stencil. Following an idea seen on Pinterest, I used some fine tip brush pens by Sakura and flicked colour through the stencil. I added the hanging cord by hand using a glitter pen and other glitter pens over the brush strokes. The sentiment is from a set from Woodware.

I kept this design CAS as I felt the glitter was enough. Now it’s your turn and we hope you find the time to add your own designs to our gallery. We know the season is a busy one for everyone and hope that you have the Merriest of Christmases and a Happy New Year too.

lavenderhousecreations

pet wagon

Sketch #566

Well here I am again being sidetracked by making another card, which came about because I wanted to use the dies before I put them away.

CAS Colours & Sketches are encouraging us to take either a colour challenge or a sketch challenge from 2025 and turn it into a seasonal card. My card is using Sketch #566 and I followed the orientation and shape of the sketch while changing what needed to be changed to give it a more seasonal look. The plaid paper is from the inside of a store bought envelope, the background oval (cut using Hero Arts infinity dies) is using a scrap piece from my stash. I jazzed it up slightly by adding dots of sparkle gold, but it doesn’t show much on the photo. It looks far better in real life. My little wagon and animals are all Gummiapan dies and my sentiment comes from a set by Crafters Companion. I love the font in this set and have used another of the stamps on the inside of the card. I used both alcohol markers and glitter pens to colour in the animals and wagon.

Although I don’t need any more Christmas cards now, I have several already completed for 2026 and this one will go into that stash. Thanks for joining me today, I appreciate you and any comments you leave.

lavenderhousecreations

just for you

I’m supposed to be cleaning up my craft room and cataloguing my new stuff, but in the process I’ve gotten a bit sidetracked. The latest challenge, AAA Card Challenge #305: Anything CAS Goes, optional twist: white on white and I do enjoy making white on white cards.

The die I’ve used is new and is from Crafters Companion. It comes in two halves with two stamps. I cut it using some scrap water colour CS. The popped up background piece was cut using an unbranded set, also fairly new to me. Using my smaller Misti I stamped the words and when the ink was dry I added the top and bottom parts of the heart. My embellishments are from Trinity Stamps and are clear, but they are designed to pick up colour from anywhere. In this case it is from the overhead light and on the photo they are reflecting the light and look more golden. In front of my computer screen it is all white so they look shiny white.

I guess now I’ve actually used this new die, I can put it away properly haha. As I have several new ones not even opened, I’m pretty sure I shall get sidetracked again. Hubby just came into my craft room, picked up the card and said how he liked it. Then he asked me if I could add the cuts to a coloured background, which was another idea I already had in my head.

I’m off to put away a bit more stuff before I stop for the day. I did all my embossing folders yesterday. They are now all labeled and numbered so I can find them more easily.

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

lavenderhousecreations

Christmas stocking

Well here we are with the last challenge of the season for Double Trouble and the recipe this time is: 3 -Something from your stash, 2 – Anything from your stash and 1 – everything from your stash. Twisted Sister says add a ribbon, twine or cord to your project but it is optional and Thing 2 says follow the TSOT #685 sketch and get additional entries to win. However you do need to be careful not to backlink when you join the challenge.

My card has 3 layers including the stocking but not including the actual note card, 2 tiny gems on the sentiment although there are more on the PP and my one is the sentiment, but could also be the stocking. I did add a twine bow to my stocking. I didn’t really interpret the sketch in my opinion, but others may think differently.

The stocking die comes from The Netherlands and is by Marianne Design. The twine is from my stash and is a challenge to use as the threads unravel too easily. The glitter CS and PP are from Michaels and I added Stickles to the stocking to define the toe, heal and top a bit more. Sentiment is from an MFT set and I used another one on the inside from the same set. While making this card I also made another stocking which is ready to use on another project.

Thanks for stopping by, you are appreciated. We look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery and above all have fun in your craft room.

lavenderhousecreations

So sorry

This is the second sympathy card I’ve made recently and came about because someone passed away in our close knit community and two of our neighbours are affected. It is a sad loss and of course harder somehow because of the time of year.

I’ve never contributed to this website: Challenge #836 – Sad Songs (Say So Much) but the challenge is about sympathy so I am adding it there.

To make it, I used an unbranded die set and cut the layers and on the topmost layer I used an old Tim Holtz set. I backed this with a scrap piece of shimmery lavender paper. Then I used another unbranded poppy die cut once in white and a second time in the lavender. I cut some of the flowers so I could add the colour over the white base.

The ribbon is so old I have no idea where I got it from and the sentiment is from an MFT set I think. Embellishments from my stash.

Normally I share Christmas cards with these two families, but now I’m not sure that I should do so. They are struggling to come to terms with their loss and it feels intrusive to give them a seasonal card.

Thanks for stopping by, your time is appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

flurries

My second card for today and this one is intended for the challenge at https://aaacards.blogspot.com/ which is a sketch CAS design.

I wanted to use a new folder by Catherine Pooler/Sizzix so I cut a piece of CS from some shimmer white and embossed it. I then added this layer to the card front using the same CS. The bigger snowflake is from Hero Arts and the other two are from GKD cut from silver CS. I added them as you see and placed some Trinity Stamps silver embellishments into their centers. I heat embossed the sentiment in silver and this came from a Crafters Companion set.

A truly simple card to make and for a change even the die cutting was quick and easy to get out of the dies. It does look a lot prettier in reality than in the photo.

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