cards

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

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.

lavenderhousecreations

Snow Globe

Recently I’ve seen several ideas on using a snow globe die to make a card and they reminded me that I had this die from Precious Marieke and while not new it has rarely been used. It took me some thinking to decide how to create what I wanted and this is the result. It is by no means perfect as I couldn’t quite get the mechanism to fold properly but even with that I’m okay with the end result.

First I die cut the main globe frame using some silver CS and some scrap to add on the back of the front piece to give it some strength. I also cut a silver one for the back. Then I cut a piece of plastic for my center section. On this I added some snowy slopes and the small die cut houses and trees. For these I used a set from Kokorosa. The snow man is my own creation but I did use an MFT die for his arms. On the background piece I added a die cut circle from some PP that had a pretty seasonal design. The sentiment was cut using a 2 part die from Scrapbook.com and I used a sparkle pen on the snowy dots in the letters.

This photo shows the background a little better than the original one.

To get the effect I was after I cut and scored a panel that could be folded into a box, which as I mentioned, isn’t folding exactly flat but it still works. As I shall probably be giving this card in person having it fit into an envelope isn’t really necessary. Once my two piece box was done I added a couple of silver bits on each side so it wouldn’t be too obtrusive for the globe base. If I do another similar card I will cut my box so it is the shape of the globe base. I played with the center section to ensure it wouldn’t be too low down before gluing it in place and then the front and the back were added. The back piece has a white circle to which I can add my own words.

Thanks for stopping by, you, your comments and your time are appreciated.

Challenges entered: Peace on Earth Challenge #122. ABC Christmas Challenge – U & V are for? (although the die isn’t completely unused I still feel it fits the challenge and lastly October Technique Challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.


lavenderhousecreations

Christmas Birthday

As I have a couple of friends who celebrate birthdays on Christmas day I decided to make a card that works for both events. With the latest challenge at Seize the Birthday #337-Geometric and Word Dies, I made my card to work with this too.

All the products used are from Spellbinders except for the little yoga Santa who is from Gummiapan. I started by stamping the geometric diamond stamp in barn door red which took several tries due to my not being able to press hard enough on the stamp. Once I was happy I then used clear heat embossing. I cut the layer down a little more and then added it to the red layer.

Using the Gummiapan die for my Santa I added colour with pencils and with a sparkly Sakura pen enhanced a few details. He was backed with some foam tape and set aside while I carried on with the rest. Having a glitter piece of gold CS I used two of the word dies from a set designed so one can build ones own wishes. Stamped the birthday words onto a small strip which also was heat set clear. I cut this piece narrower and then played around with placement of the words and the Santa before attaching everything permanently. Decided on keeping it somewhat CAS so no additional embellishments were added. I’m quite happy with the result and realized that this stamp set would work for other Christmas designs, so it’s staying on my desk to remind me. Although I do yoga classes regularly, this is one pose I cannot manage without a great deal of effort, so I’m envious that Santa does it with ease, lol.

Thanks for stopping by, you and your time are appreciated.

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

Orange and Black

In general I make very few Halloween cards, but the challenge at Color Hues #143 – Orange and Black seems to lend itself to Halloween. As my card fits into the challenge at https://twooldbatshalloweenchallenge.blogspot.com/, I’m adding it there as well.

Why the colour changes when I do a photograph is beyond me, as here is looks more yellow than orange, although in reality is is a very bright orange.

My card is a CASE from something viewed on Pinterest. I used 2 different EF’s, one from Craft Concepts and one from Lifestyle Crafts. Both are ancient and not 3D. After embossing the background piece, I figured out the head section for my owl cut it and then embossed that piece too. We recently received a box of handmade chocolates as a gift and the box had this amazing orange belly band so I cut it into pieces to be used. A couple of the pieces had a silvery pattern on them. Fortunately I also had some card stock that was close in colour, which I used as the card base.

Using Hero Arts infinity circle dies I cut circles in different sizes to make the eyes. Once they were glued together I added them as you see and then added the head/beak section on top. I also added an orange piece to make the beak stand out. The layers were then added to the card base. An old Halloween set had the sentiment from GKD and I stamped in Versamark and then heat set black. A few gems were added on this piece after I had adhered it to the black layer.

I’m happy with how this turned out which is always a bonus for me, as so often I don’t like a card immediately it is finished. Thanks for spending time with me today, it is appreciated.

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

Cozy Cabin Days

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to purchase some 49th and Market products and this card features some of my purchase. With the seasons obviously changing many of us are starting to think of cozy things especially with the cooler mornings and early evenings. The challenge at Double D Windows Challenge 2026 is all about windows so I used one of the laser cut rustic images along with some transfers for my card.

I backed my window image with foam tape to lift it up from the page and in behind it I used a transfer depicting a fall bouquet. I added a few pinecones and berries to the top of the window. Taking the plaid transfer I added it to the bottom of the cream layer. And then added the sentiment transfer on top. After adhering the window where I wanted it to be, I then adhered the layer to the metallic copper note card. Some Nuvo Crystal dots finished the card. Although the dots look okay, I wish now that I hadn’t added them along the sides but I can pretend it is fall wallpaper I guess.

It is Thanksgiving for us in Canada, and I am looking forward to getting together with some much loved friends tomorrow. Since moving to the island we don’t see them so often these days. For those celebrating in Canada have a lovely Thanksgiving and for everyone else have a great weekend.

Thanks for stopping by, 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.