card-making

lavenderhousecreations

Red and Kraft

Seize the Birthday #298-Kraft and Red is the latest challenge and this is my 2nd attempt at a card. For the first time in long while, I actually ditched the 1st try. Although this is certainly better, I’m not sure I like it that much.

The MFT die used is a new one that I got on sale at our local craft store last week. The central portion is a background die, called floating hearts from SSS, that I cut and glued inside. Before I glued anything I used Barn Door ink and sponged over the birthday section and then the background piece. Using clear embossing I heat set it all. The inside section was created with a bit of fiddling and finessing. When satisfied I added the entire piece to the card front. The red border at the bottom is from ribbon strip dies and these pieces were gifted it to me by a stamping buddy. She sent a lot (a long time ago already) and I’m slowly using them up. Gems are from my stash. My reds match better under normal light although they are slightly different in tone.

I am not a person who likes browns and beiges so although I admire cards done on Kraft CS, I don’t use it very often myself. That is probably why I’m not sure I like this card.

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

lavenderhousecreations

anything but square

Our current challenge at https://cardz4galz.blogspot.com/ has been chosen by Helen and we’d like to see anything but square creations. She will also be choosing the winners.

I chose to make a shaped card using Hero Arts Oval infinity dies and I carefully placed the biggest die so that I could keep the folded edge. The other layers were cut in the usual manner. The florals are from an unbranded stamp and die set. For the longest time these were in a box on my desk as I wasn’t sure I liked them after I had made them. Recently, I had the idea of layering some of them together which gave a nicer flower. I used some shimmer on top of the layer stamping so there is a subtle shine to them.

For now there is a generic sentiment inside the card, which I think will be all I shall use. Adding a sentiment to the front seems to me unnecessary. I also cut a small straight section at the bottom of the card so it will stand up nicely.

We look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery and hope you have fun with your designs. Thanks for stopping by, your time is appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

glitter butterfly

SOS539 – Glitter Me Happy is the current challenge at Shopping our Stash and then Seize the Birthday wants us to use something new. Reminder #297-Use Something New.

I’ve just received some new EF’s and dies from StampinUP so this card works for both challenges. I chose the butterfly 3D folder and the dies that go with it. After embossing the panel I sprayed some sparkle spray and set it to dry. Then I die cut the the butterfly base and embossed it and cut 2 of the top layer, one in white CS and one in the purple glitter paper. I glued these 2 together so there was more stability for the top layer. Using a silver Nuvo glitter pen I went over the bottom layer to get it glittery. I did this twice to ensure good coverage. When it was fully dry I added the purple top layer attaching only under the body section, then I added the black body on top. I stamped the sentiment using an MFT set, but used the die from StampinUP to cut it. Using 2 tiny heart stamps from a YNS set, I stamped them at the end. Initially I tried stamping directly to this strip, but messed it up so I stamped again on scrap and fussy cut one to cover it. I also went around the sentiment strip with the silver glitter pen. It is very subtle so hard to see on the photo. After backing the layers to a silver piece it was all added to a white card front.

My hubby really likes this card and I hope that you do too. Thanks for stopping by, your time is always appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

Seeds and Acorns

Challenge #336 – The Seeds of A Corny Theme

The past couple of weeks have been hectic and I haven’t been very motivated from a creative standpoint. I’ve been trying to do Christmas cards, sort of successfully, but I’m still very behind. I didn’t want to miss the challenge at As You See It because my goal is to enter each one this year and it would be a shame to fail now.

I pulled out a scrap piece of Kraft CS and two stamps from a YNS set along with one from Lavinia Stamps and a sentiment from GKD. I stamped the acorns and then randomly added the seed head here and there. Using some shimmer watercolour paints I added colour to the acorns and outlined some things with a sparkly gold Sakura pen. With a small sponge I added some gold ink to the seed heads. Then I used a die from StampinUP to cut the Kraft piece down slightly and a gold background piece as well. These were angled as you see in the photo. In my scrap file I found my last piece of CTMH hound’s-tooth paper and used it as the background. In retrospect it may have been better to use a Kraft piece for the sentiment as the white seems a bit stark. I may tone it down a bit, but too late for my post.

Thanks for spending time with me today, and thanks too, for any comments you may leave.

lavenderhousecreations

Vortex

Seize The Birthday #293-Dots as the current challenge. Having just received this new unbranded stamp set, it couldn’t have been more timely. The stamps include various patterns and I chose 2 of them for this card. The background reminds me of a vortex, hence the title. I used Faded Jeans ink and repeat stamped the design until I was happy. On a scrap piece, using the 2nd stamp, I stamped the compass and heat set it clear. The sentiment stamp is from Joy Clair and this was also heat embossed after which I added it to the background giving it a small border.

The compass was coloured using various pencils and some water. I added some silver sparkle as well as some gold and then using a Hero Arts Infinity die I cut it out. After adding a smaller foam circle to the back I adhered it to the background layer. I cut this layer down a little before adding it to the navy card front. Hubby loves this card. His comment was, ‘simple but effective’. I’m quite happy with the end result and one of our boating friends will receive it for his birthday when the time comes.

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