Author: lavenderhousecreations

lavenderhousecreations

Golf Ball Snowman

As a male friend shares his birthday with Christmas day, I was planning to make him a card soon. Then the current challenge at Seize the Birthday #338-Masculine arrived and I thought ‘do it now’ and join in the challenge at the same time.

One of my stamping friends sent me a bunch of images a couple of years ago when I asked for help, but didn’t want to buy a stamp set just for a specific project. This is one of the images she sent to me and I have dressed it up to make a winter card.

I masked off the image first but because this is the only one I have left I took a photo copy and used that for my mask. Then I proceeded to add some shading with ink to give the idea of snowbanks at the bottom. I also used a stamp from a set by GKD and added my trees which I heat embossed clear. Once that was dry I added a wash of colour for the sky and sprayed some shimmer along with some spatter at the same time. When it was dry I removed the mask and added colour to the snowman using Sakura glitter pens. My friend had also included some related sentiments so I tried to adapt one but messed it up. In the end I used the idea and did it on my computer changing the last word to birthday. It came out a lot bigger than I expected so I cut it up and added it as you see at the bottom. (I forgot to put my glasses on otherwise I would have realized the font was a bit too big.)

My final step was to sponge a darker blue along the edges before I attached it to the card front. I’m not displeased with the end result in spite of some small mistakes as I went along.

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

lavenderhousecreations

Patchwork

The latest challenge at The Card Concept #231 {Merry Christmas} and red and plaid was probably my main inspiration for this card. I had that small piece of plaid leftover and I also had quite a few scraps.

Firstly I added the plaid piece and edged it with some silver strips I had sitting around. The silver square was a negative from a die cut and I filled the space with different odd pieces not trying to be specific in a pattern and nothing was cut into measured pieces. I carried on until the space was filled. Using a sparkle Sakura pen I outlined the shape where stitching would be from the actual die. Then I added the twine bow leaving the ends long. The sentiment is cut from a set by Spellbinders.

This is a very simple card and I believe fits into the clean and layered style and even the Freestyle collage descriptions.

Life is a bit chaotic at the moment as we are having our kitchen and family room painted. It is challenging to do meals when the kitchen is unavailable although I’ve managed some simple things. This job was supposed to have been done last month, but the flu season started early and illness meant the contractor had to delay a few jobs. I’m hoping the job will be finished by mid week as it is time to begin preparation for Christmas decor and I can’t do anything when the contractor is in and out. On the up side, he had to wait for a wall to dry and was bored so he helped me to bring down boxes from the storage upstairs. That is a job that normally takes us a full 3 days to complete and with hubby struggling with back pain, he can’t help much right now. Our garden helper brought all the outside decorations down from their storage as well so hubby didn’t have to do much except direct. My girlfriend is coming next weekend to help put it all together, but I’m not sure how long we’ll be able to do this as aging and aches and pains are beginning to limit all of us more and more.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look, I appreciate you and your time.

lavenderhousecreations

Word Power

Welcome to our latest challenge here at cardz4galz, and this one is asking that the sentiment become the star of the card.

Just recently, I was fortunate to acquire some StampinUP products from a demonstrator, who was selling off some items. She gave me a good deal on various sets and I’ve used one of them for this card.

I decided to make it an aperture card, but before I cut anything I sponged some CS with Twisted Citron Distress Oxide ink and then added a spatter of Lindy Magicals. When it was dry I cut the aperture. With a separate piece of CS, the sentiment was stamped in Peeled Paint D.O. ink and heat embossed clear. Using dies from the set that matched the leaves around the sentiment I die cut the leaves and glued them on top of the inked panel cutting off any excess at the edges. I wanted the texture without actually using a folder to create it. Backing the layer with foam tape, I added the sentiment layer and added everything to the card front.

Now it is your turn to display your creative skills and we look forward to seeing your creations in the gallery soon. Thanks for stopping by, your time and comments are appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

Acetate Scene

For some time I have wanted to try making a card like this one so I started doing this one on Saturday and finished it yesterday. It wasn’t easy to photograph but I think this one is okay.

I had the heavy weight acetate card from last year and created the folded white base by scoring 1″ lines across a length of CS. I didn’t really measure anything and just cut off the excess when I had enough score lines. Folded it into valley and mountain folds and set aside. I used several dies for this card, several are unbranded but the village scene is from Cottage Cutz and has been used a lot over the years. Believe it or not the hardest part of this card was adding the clouds at the top and I couldn’t hide the glue no matter what I tried. In the end I decided it didn’t matter as it kind of looks like more clouds. I did cover the front and back sections with pieces that look like snowy hills.

Putting it together was a little fiddly and my tree at the back seems to lean forward due to the fold, but I am happy with how it turned out. It was a fun project and I didn’t use any tutorials to create it. As I was typing this post I realized that I haven’t added a sentiment, but I will soon.

I’m entering it into the challenges at November 2026 Peace On Earth Challenge #123 and MLCCB #71 Anything Christmas Goes

lavenderhousecreations

‘It’s a Tall Order’

Welcome to the latest 3-2-1 recipe here at Double Trouble #229. Your challenge is to make a slimline or mini slimline using the following ingredients.

3 colours from colour wheel, 2 images, 1 slimline or mini slimline. Thing 3 from Twisted Sister has the option of using a colour, sentiment or image that starts with the letter “T” and Thing 2 is a Double Dare to use the sketch at TSOT #708 and enter for an additional chance to win. Beware the backlinking rule with this.

My card uses the colour Teal in two shades and has the word Travel in the sentiment. Additional colours used are taupe/dark green and violet. The travel die cuts (plane, globe and suitcases) are from an unbranded set from Amazon, the Eiffel tower is from Tattered Lace and the sentiment piece is from Elizabeth Crafts. I created the sentiment words on the computer. Initially I had planned something different in my head, but the card decided to head in this direction so I went with the flow. I added a touch of glitter here and there using a Sakura pen. I used the glitter card stock for the card base as it worked better than plain white.

Now it is your turn and as always we look forward to seeing what you create in our gallery. Above all have fun. For me my craft room is my safe place and helps me to settle any odd anxieties or other stuff because when creating I don’t think about them.

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

lavenderhousecreations

Speed Challenge Mess

This post is designed to amuse those of you who make a hash of their speed challenge makes. It started out okay and looked quite good until I realized I’d forgotten something. It did end up being completed within the time frame but only just – at 9 minutes and 28 seconds.

I started by stamping and die cutting some holly leaves from a StampinUP set. I was able to heat set them clear so there was some shine. I added some (supposedly) low tack tape to the center of the card and using a stencil by Vicki Boutin and 2 different green inks I added the pine needles. First mishap was that the tape didn’t come off cleanly and the edge of the card was damaged. Glued it down and with the addition of the leaves it doesn’t show. Then I added the letters and managed to get glue all over the place, (don’t ask). Cleaned this up and carried on. Cut an additional sprig of holly using a very old die from a Sizzix set and heat embossed that clear before adding it to the card along with the other holly leaves.

Now the fun really starts – I took some pops of color from Scrapbook.com and added them to give some berries. Realized that I had forgotten to add the snowflakes to the center of the O, forgot that the dots were not dry and … yes you guessed it … a hot mess. At this point I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry, give up or carry on? I chose to scrape off most of the mess, added extra dots and hope for the best. I’m hoping the smears look part of the design but until I’ve looked at it tomorrow, I’m truly not sure it will be given to anyone. I always wait at least a day before I decide whether a card is okay to mail.

All I can say is that I hope my post makes you laugh, if I were reading it I’m sure I’d be chuckling along. My card will be entered into the current challenge at As You See It. Thankfully, they don’t expect perfection with this challenge.

lavenderhousecreations

Remembrance

Sadly, I require a sympathy card so I’ve combined the need with the challenge at Double D Double D Textures Challenge 2026. Remembrance day is also coming up, which is why I thought of poppies.

To achieve the texture I used an unbranded die as a folder and an actual folder from Craft Concepts to add texture to the die cut. The poppies are from an unbranded die using red CS.

I added some thin foam tape to the flowers to bring them up slightly from the background. My sentiment is from a set by GKD called The Wetlands and I cut it into 2 pieces before attaching as you see.

A very simple and quick card to make, although the reason for the card is sad.

Thanks for stopping by, it is appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

Merry & Bright

This card is a 2nd one using some leftover embossed vellum from another project. The folder used is from Taylored Expressions and I used white pigment ink over the raised sections and then heat embossed it clear to get this shiny effect. I added it to the red layer and then to the white card front.

I had a small piece of the green glitter CS so I cut two strips one for each side and added them. A, new to me, cut and emboss sentiments folder from StampinUP was used and I picked this one. Because I had used the red CS I realized the sentiment doesn’t stand out so I went over it with a Sakura pen which helped a lot.

This card fits the latest challenge at Color Hues which is to use Red and Green, so I shall add it there. Color Hues #144-Red and Green

Thanks for spending time with me today, I appreciate you and any comments you may leave.

lavenderhousecreations

Fly High

When I’m crafting at the moment, it is mainly Christmas cards I’m making, but I took a small break to make this card. The stamp set is from Hot off the Press and is ancient, but I’ve always liked feathers so I do use it occasionally. I’ve never used the small stamps in the set until today though. The scalloped circles are from Sizzix and the smaller ones are from Gina K. Because I wasn’t sure if my idea would work, I practiced on a scrap circle first. I’m glad I did because as I worked I thought of how I could do it better.

First I stamped the border of stars all around the edge of both circles. The I stamped the feathers using 3 different inks. On the smaller circle I stamped the sentiment and then heat embossed clear. On the larger one, I added a few more stars to fill in the background a little. Inks used are all Distress Oxides in Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Dusty Concord and Seedless Preserves.

When the circles were dry I added them to the silver ones. Then I took a new to me, embossing folder from StampinUP and embossed the main layer. The two circles were added and then all was adhered to the card front.

I’m quite pleased with how this ended up and shall be adding it to the current challenge at Challenge #384 – A Feather in Your Cap and to (DD 10/26) WINGS Challenge. Strictly speaking the challenge at Double D is about wings but feathers come from wings so I figure it applies. If not, so be it.

Thanks for spending time with me today, I appreciate you and your time.

lavenderhousecreations

Autumn

Welcome to challenge #288 here at cardz4galz and Lynda has chosen the theme of Autumn Florals/Foliage. As you can see my card features foliage.

I started with a white layer and inked it using Distress Oxides along with some splattering. When it was dry enough I ran it through an EF by Sizzix and added a bit more ink over the raises sections before attaching it to the metallic copper note card. For my leaves I used a combination of scrap CS and stamp sets. Stamp sets used are by SSS and an unbranded set each with their own dies. Using Versamark I stamped most of the smaller leaves on the gold and using a dark brown I stamped onto the coloured CS then heat set it all clear. The SSS leaf was stamped with Forest Moss and heat set clear and I then coloured the leaves using water colour pencils and some glitter Sakura pens. The tiny leaves and acorns are fall outs from a YNS background plate and were leftover from another project. Sentiment comes from the same unbranded set and was heat set with gold embossing.

It took a while to get the placement to my liking and it required some moving around of various elements. I used foam tape for dimension on some of the elements and the sentiment piece was fussy cut and then popped up on a thicker foam tape. Before choosing the copper CS I played with using white or green as my card front but I liked the fall look of the copper best.

Now it is your turn to play and we look forward to seeing what you create in our gallery. Above all have fun in your crafting space. Many thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you, your time and any comments you leave.