card-making

lavenderhousecreations

Through the Window

Being in need of a masculine birthday card for a special friend, I set about creating this one. First I created the die cut window, using an older Art Impressions die set. I like that the window can be folded open. To give it some strength and dimension I cut several and glued them together.

Setting the window aside I took a small piece of watercolour paper and inked it using speckled egg Distress Oxide ink. When it was fully dry I stamped the image using two stamps from an Inspired by Stamping set that I won years ago. I used weathered wood ink for this as I wanted a softer impression than black ink would have given. I placed this piece behind the window gluing it and then cutting around the edges so it fit perfectly. I wanted a weathered look to the card so I took some wood grain CS and swiped the same ink so the grain stands out. I found the striped scrap of paper in my stash and cut that to the same size adding both to the card front. Using a white scrap I added it so the join was covered, after which I added the window.

As I didn’t have the right size stamp for an anchor, I searched online and found the one I’ve used here as it was a free download. This I then fussy cut and punched a hole at the top so the cord could be pushed through. I had the piece of net in my stash so I cut it to the size I wanted and added it. Then I added the anchor and twisted the cord gluing it here and there so it would stay attached. My sentiment is from Open Studio and I used the tiny fallout heart from the window underneath it.

I quite like how this card looks and am pretty sure our sailing friend will love it. He is always fascinated with my card designs. Although I wasn’t creating this card for any specific challenge it seems to work for the one at Sunday Stamps #SSC397 and it also works for the Anything Goes at: Ally’s Angels #111 Anything Goes theme + #110 brags for 15 Oct 2026 – a first time entry into this challenge for me.

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

lavenderhousecreations

Celebrate Loud

As I needed a congratulations card for our surrogate daughter, I decided to create this pocket style card using a tutorial at Stamptastic Designs. Of course now I need the actual link I can’t find it so I apologize. I’ve been a bit tired lately and I guess I forgot to save it.

I searched my stash of StampinUP DSP and found this one that I really like both sides of and used it along with a CS from GKD that integrates the colour tones. Cutting the paper gave me some additional pieces that will be used on other designs soon. When the cutting and folding were done I added adhesive to close it properly. Using some cream lightly textured paper I stamped the sentiment from Spellbinders and heat set it clear, then the flower stamp is from Crafters Companion and this too was heat set clear. I filled in the flowers using a fine gold pen. This piece was cut so it would fit onto the precut wine coloured background and then I cut a hole for the ribbon to fit through. With the insert done I cut an oval from the same CS and a shaped piece from the cream and added them together. The shaped die cut is a very old die and I have no idea of the brand. The sentiment here was die cut from sparkle CS and uses another very old word set from Sizzix. A few small gem embellishments and the card was finished.

The card seems to fit two challenges, October 2026 – Fall Challenge at Sisterhood of Crafters and the other TB October 2026 Challenge at Triple B. The paper seems to be very fall like even if the colours are less so and the addition of the floral sprig certainly fits in the Triple B challenge.

Thanks for spending time with me, I really appreciate it and also any comments you may leave. Now it is posted here, I can mail the card so it will be waiting for our girl when she and her hubby return from there trip to Japan. She told us that she feels as if she is out of prison now that the studying is done, and yes she did pass and has her new designation for her job.

lavenderhousecreations

“Leafin’ It Up To You”

Welcome to another 3-2-1 challenge recipe. You need 3 colours using Combo Colour Wheel #3, 2 Autumn images, 1 metallic or glitter element. Thing 3 by Twisted Sister is to have the option to add pumpkins, gourds, harvest fruits, vegetables and/or Halloween images. Thing 2 is a Double Dare to use and enter the sketch challenge #706 at TSOT. One caveat here is to watch for back linking. My card cannot be entered due to that rule.

The large die cut leaf is from an unbranded die and I’ve had it on my desk since it wasn’t used in a different project. Too meet the glitter element I back it with some glitter which allows the deer image to show up. The other leaves are also left over and I believe are from an Altenew die. The sentiment is from Spellbinders and it was stamped and then heat set. As a member of the design team for Double Trouble, I’m required to use all the optional parts of the recipe and occasionally I forget. Fortunately, I remembered but only after I had completed the card. I had the pumpkins die cut and coloured as they weren’t used on a previous card to I tucked them in under the leaves in order to fulfill the recipe properly.

My card base is a textured CS to which I added a strip of glitter CS and some metallic gold bits. I then added the larger leaf using some foam tape and the smaller leaf underneath without any dimension.

Now it is your turn and we look forward to seeing your interpretation of the challenge in the gallery. Above all, have fun!

Many thanks for stopping by, you are appreciated in a big way.

lavenderhousecreations

Recipe For Fall

Once in a while I manage a card that works for more than one challenge and this card fits two. First is Challenge #383 – Recipe for Fall Ambience at As You See It and the second is at Seize the Birthday #336-Double Frame.

I decided on the die cuts first and used the tree dies from MFT adding the gingham as the shading. Then I decided on how to display them and use double framing to do so. The dies used for this are from an unbranded Amazon set and I used some scraps from my stash. These met the double frame part of Seize the Birthday. I added the trees, using foam tape, to the glitter layer and then added twine finishing it with a little bow. This was then added to the other die cut layer and in turn onto the card front. The little embellishments are something I purchased recently, when in Michaels waiting for my hubby. He was buying framing board leaving me to wander. A dangerous thing because I also bought a small wheeled cart for my craft room, but he paid without complaint, lol.

As per the recipe, I needed a pumpkin and I knew I had a perfect button so went searching, which took some time. Too many buttons to go through but I found it eventually. I cut the loop from the back so it would be flat and added it in the corner. And as per the requirement for Seize the Birthday I made sure to have a Happy Birthday sentiment.

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

lavenderhousecreations

Happy Fall

The latest 3-2-1 recipe is all about Fall here at Double Trouble. use 3 colours from Combo Wheel #3, a 2 worded sentiment, and 1 autumn image. Thing 3 – Twisted Sister has the opt of adding pumpkins, Gourds and/or other harvest fruits and vegetables. And thing 2 is a Double Dare Opt: use the TSOT sketch #705 and enter your card there as well. Be aware of the backlinking rule. My card fits the sketch but cannot be entered.

As you can see I followed the sketch using strips of colour from my scrap pile. Once these were glued I used a YNS stamp and added colour after heat embossing the edges so they wouldn’t bleed. Initially I used pencils, but I wasn’t happy so I added Spectrum Noir markers over the top. I had seen a red squirrel photo, but no matter what I did, my colouring skills couldn’t recreate it. Sentiment is from the same set and I heat embossed it in gold. The tiny leaves and acorns are also from YNS as they came from a background plate. The pumpkin is from a GKD set and I fussy cut around it and did the same with the squirrel image. I scattered the leaves and then glued them where they fell except for in front of the pumpkin and along the right edge. These were placed. Oh and by the way, an acorn is considered a fruit according to my research.

Its a shame that so many red squirrels have been lost due to the introduction of the gray ones. In the U.K. I don’t believe there are any left at all, but here we do see one or two very small ones occasionally. We also have black ones. They are so brazen and the dog has made it her mission to get them away from the bird feeder if she can.

We look forward to seeing your creations in the gallery and hope you have a lot of fun creating. Thanks for stopping by, your time is appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

Fall Birthday

My mojo is still not back 100%, but I’m managing a few cards here and there. The latest challenge at Seize the Birthday #335-Use Fall Colors and this is my initial effort. I’m not totally happy with it, however it isn’t a bad card, just one that I don’t consider inspired. The card also fits the new challenge at Allsorts, challenge #859 Anything Autumn.

Using some textured card stock I cut it to size and added it to the white note card. Then using another white CS and an unbranded stitched die I cut the top layer. I’ve always loved the skeleton leaves from an incentive set by GKD and pull them out at least once per year since I got them. To showcase them this time, I found a Taylored Expressions hexagon stencil and with Distress Oxide ink I sponged 3 shapes to the layer. Then I stamped the leaves on top of each using Walnut stain ink. The sentiment strip is from Open Studio. I felt the card was missing something and in retrospect it may have been a good idea to do some splatter here and there. However, at the time I didn’t think of it and went searching for some embellishments I could use. I found these tiny paper flowers that I’ve had for so long I’m surprised they haven’t fallen apart. I glued the two colour sections together and then used some Pops of Color for the centers. Once dry I added them as you see.

After a two days of consistent and much needed rain, today was once again dry and sunny for the most part. My hubby took me out to lunch and we also went for a nice walk with our dog. Our fall colours are quite pretty, although nothing like what the east coast will see as they move into the cooler weather.

Thanks for stopping by, you are appreciated in a big way.

lavenderhousecreations

Shake it Up!

In general, making a shaker card isn’t something I do very often as I find them difficult. However, I had some pretty digital images given to me and I wanted to find a use for them. What I did was print them onto some CS that my printer can handle and fussy cut them. The heart aperture I already had because I had die cut a stamped image for another card. The image behind the aperture is from the same gifted digital images and I cut it to a size that fit behind the aperture. To add the shaker elements I used some packaging and made it smaller so I could fill it with the rest.

I backed the layer with foam tape after I had added the shaker pouch. The fussy cut pieces were added at 2 corners, and I stamped the sentiment on an angle. I’m sorry but I’ve forgotten which stamp set it came from as I put it away after using it. The tiny hearts are from Altenew. Once the top layer was put together I added it to a white note card.

The card was made a few days ago, but I didn’t have time to post it until now. I looked at a few challenges and think it fits at The Sisterhood of Crafters – September 2026 – Frame It and also it is a 2nd entry into Double D – pretty in pink.

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

lavenderhousecreations

From me to You

Double D’s latest challenge mood board is all about pink and a stamping friend of mine mentioned a brand new challenge blog called Heart’s Quest and they too have a mostly pink challenge happening. I decided that my card fits both so I managed a twofer.

I wanted to play with my newest stamp/die set from Craft Addition UK as I had only used one of the stamps so far. I really liked the floral heart and decided to start with that and see how my thinking evolved. I chose a Distress Oxide ink Victorian Velvet and stamped it after which I used clear embossing and heat set it. When it was fully dry I used the matching die and cut it. Setting it aside I decided to use another of the Quacker stamps, stamped, heat set and die cut. Using pencils I added some colour keeping to the pink theme. It’s art, so who says a duck has to be white? I knew I would be popping up the duck so I added foam tape and set it aside for a few minutes more.

My card front is a pink from GKD and I remembered I still had some StampinUP DSP that looked marbled in different colours and this piece was one of them. I used the less marbled effect to keep the soft look as a background. The other side is lovely too but a but too busy for this card. Once I had glued the DSP to the card front I played a moment with placement before adding the other elements. It needed a sentiment and I thought this one was perfect and it helps to ground my quacker too. A few pink Pops of Color and the card was done. I guess you could say this card is an almost CAS style. I quite like how this one has turned out, although perhaps adding a bit more than just pink may have given it a little more Oomph as my hubby likes to say.

Thanks a lot for stopping by, I appreciate that you take the time to look.

lavenderhousecreations

Masculine Card

I’m not sure where my mojo is, but it definitely isn’t around at the moment. It took me forever to decide on a card for the challenge at As You See It and as many of you know, it is one of my favourite challenge sites. The current one is about colour, Challenge #381 – High Tech Handsomeness and here is my effort. And because I’ve used a folder I am entering it as a second card at CYHYP Anything Goes With A Twist of Cloudy Day . Twist not taken.

Even though I like the colours and the image that was part of the inspiration it took me some time to decide what to do. I started with the folder which is by Sizzix called Mechanics Texture Fades. I chose the slate gray CS and embossed it then went over the raised parts with a blue ink cube. My card base is basic gray so the layer was cut down to allow the darker gray to show up as a frame. I actually got this layer on straight for a change. I remembered that I had a stamp/die set that is an unbranded set. After stamping the truck I stamped the packages, heat embossed them, then die cutting after they were coloured. Prisma pencils were used to colour. These unbranded sets are useful but not fantastic and in the one I have there is a fault in the die for the parcels. As well the stamps are so soft that one has to be careful to get a decent impression.

Once I had everything coloured and put together I added foam tape behind for dimension, looked for some PP that allowed me to ground the truck and added it to the 3D layer. I wasn’t sure about a sentiment but in looking for the PP I also found some sentiment strips from Idea-ology so I chose one of those and added it at the bottom.

We had a massive and violent lightning storm right overhead a few weekends ago. It lasted 6 hours and hit one of the transformers on a pole that brought power to 5 houses. It was an almighty bang and almost made us fall out of bed with shock at the noise. Of course everything went dark and we waited for our generator to kick in. Sadly it didn’t, because the lightning also took out the control panel on the generator. Fortunately we have surge protectors on our panel and we had turned off the computers and other electronics as a precaution. We’ve been dealing with the aftermath ever since as so many little things no longer work. I have two kitchen appliances not working, our ventilation system control panel has to be replaced, a roof exhaust fan is also broken and many LED light bulbs just gave out. Now that we have quotes on most of it we’ve started an insurance claim. Just the generator alone is a $2,000 repair. We would have preferred not to claim but we are now way over the deductible and after speaking with the company the adjuster agrees that it is necessary and likely to be covered. We consider ourselves lucky as it could have been so much worse. One of our neighbors had a power bar start to smoke and burn and it freaked me out because if she hadn’t been awake to find it her house might have burned down. I guess this saga is the reason my mojo is a bit lacking. Anyone denying climate change needs to start rethinking in my humble opinion.

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

lavenderhousecreations

A Fall Retirement

Our neighbor is retiring soon and as he loves his garden and very generously shares some of his produce with us, I decided to make him a retirement card. We harvested a bunch of his apples yesterday. The Card Concept #229 {Sunflower Delight} has a delightful image to use as inspiration and I was intrigued by the mix of sunflowers and other items as part of the mantle. As my card uses an embossing folder I am also entering it into Anything Goes With A Twist of Cloudy Day at CYHTP but no twist taken.

The other day I pulled out some stencils as some of my pastes were going very hard and I thought perhaps I could use them up before throwing them away. I finished off a Brutus Munroe glitter paste using a brick wall stencil and I used some gold butter paste on another scrap card stock with the same stencil. I tried mixing some colour into an old white paste but it had gone too far to be successful so I ditched it almost right away. Anyway these pieces were sitting on my desk where I had left them to dry.

I remembered that I had an EF that was also a brick wall – this one by Tim Holtz if I remember correctly. I ran it through and used some lost Shadow ink over the raised sections so the embossing showed better. As you can see the Inspo image became my focus and I built my card to look somewhat similar. With all that has been going on for a week or so, I hadn’t felt much like creating, so having a photo to follow helped a lot in my creativity. In my stash I have some laser cut florals by 49th and Market so I took some of them to add to my fireplace. Using the glitter piece I cut it down leaving enough on each side to become a flap so when added it would stand up. I also cut the space for the fire. Then I added the black mantle top and glued it all to the embossed background. Taking the laser cuts I played until I had something I liked and then glued or added foam tape to make it stand out. The two sunflowers are from a forgotten bunch of florals I’ve had for a long time. I cut off the stems and made them as flat as possible on the back before using them here. They are a little bigger than I would have preferred but sadly, I don’t have any sunflower stamps or dies, so using something already made was the best way for me today.

The sentiment was created on my computer, cut to size and added as you see. I’m not sure of my style for this card, but after looking at the definitions on the website I believe it is a combination of Mixed Media, and Freestyle collage. Hopefully my mojo will be back properly after working on this card. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate you and your time.