ink-blending

lavenderhousecreations

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

CAS has a colour challenge – Challenge #580 – Colour Challenge and this is what I came up with. I’m still learning ways to use these Craft Addiction slatted dies but am enjoying playing with them.

Having the Inkadoo stamp set still on my desk along with a new, as yet unused, stencil/die from Waffle Flower helped my process. After searching through all my paper scraps I finally found a piece large enough and in the right colour to fit behind the slatted section. At first I thought I would make a square card, but I didn’t measure the layer properly and because I didn’t want to waste the piece I’ve used it the way you see it here. I added some foam tape around the slatted piece and then added the blue background in behind it.

After stamping the tulips I coloured them with pencils and then fussy cut them even going into the crevices to take out the white bits. There is a little foam tape added behind the flower heads and I split the leaves slightly at the bottom so I could tuck everything into the slats but have the leaves drooping over the top a little. I also added a tiny amount of gold sparkle to the petals of the flowers on one side but it doesn’t show on the photo. After die cutting the word, I added the stencil and using inks I brushed in the colours. Using more foam tape I added the floral layer to the card front and then placed the word close to the bottom. Three Pop of Color dots from Scrapbook.com finished the card.

I had thought I might use a technique shown by Christine Stokes to add more dimension to the flowers, but I forgot. Hopefully I’ll remember the next time as it really makes a difference to the look. We are off to an art exhibition this afternoon, so I’m happy I’ve managed to get this posted.

In the meantime, thanks for stopping by. You and your time are appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

BOOK WORM

The mood board at Double D has some inspiring images and the challenge gives us choices. As you can see I chose books and a card design that looks like a book. Double D Books/Bookmark and/or Postal/Postage Challenge.

It took me a while to figure out which way I should go with this design. I knew I wanted a portrait orientation so after cutting a normal size card out of some Recollections CS I scored it at 3″ and again at 4.25″. Before gluing this section I went around the edges with a sponge and Vintage photo ink. I wasn’t quite sure about papers but I knew I wanted the book die cut, which I cut from an old hand painted card. I think this die is from Kokorosa, but it could be an unbranded one, I’m not sure. After searching through some paper scraps I came across this mulberry paper that I rather liked so I cut both the spine and the front cover using this. Then I remembered that I had these corner dies (not sure of brand) so I cut two from some Gold and added them as you see, using the fallouts on the spine. I also added some thin gold strips top and bottom. After playing around with the book die cut I found it was going to be more effective if I cut into sections. Once they were glued in place I used a fine gold pen around the edges and on the spines for more detail.

My original intention was to create my own sentiment/book title using the computer, but I also wanted a vertical sentiment on the spine. I used an old GKD set for this with Ground expresso ink and some clear heat embossing. In searching for this set I came across an Inkadoo set that was gifted to me and the word stamps were part of the set. Because I was stamping these as an afterthought I had to play with placement a little, but using the same ink and heat embossing I managed to get what I wanted. Fortunately the paper released the powder easily as I couldn’t prepare it as I normally would have. Having it stick only where I required was a blessing.

I’m someone who is rarely without a book in my hand, when I’m not crafting that is, so this design is right down my alley. I rather like how it turned out and it is just a little different in its design. Thanks for stopping by, you, your time and any comments are always appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

Mixed Media with Wings

For a while now, I’ve had the urge to make a mixed media card, most likely because I watched a video by Christine Stokes. She makes mostly CAS cards that are gorgeous and I like her style.

The latest challenge at Seize the Birthday is anything with wings and because I wanted to make a 2nd card for the Color Hues challenge I chose green and gold as my base colours.

First I started with a white base panel and using Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn and Pine Needles Distress Oxides I inked up the panel. An old wooden block stamp was used to add some writing in a couple of places I had some pretty tissue paper lying around so I chose a couple of sections and using ModgePodge I added them as you see. I spattered some Nuvo Drops that I had watered down to get some additional gold on the background. Then using a new slatted oval die set from CraftAddictions I cut the middle sized oval and went around it with some gold. After adding some foam tape around the back I placed it on a slight angle. Using a Scrapbook.com butterfly die I cut a backing piece from gold and the patterned section from a Xmas card I saved. After adding the two together I cut a body from a more metallic gold and glued it on and then glued the butterfly to the slatted oval. I had a few fall outs from a previous session and I used them as more embellishments in several places. The sentiment is from an unbranded stamp set and I used a gold pen around the edges before gluing it down. I did darken the panel’s edges before gluing it to the card front.

Its too late now, but in retrospect I should have gone over the entire layer with some ModgePodge as this would have given it a bit of shine. As it stands the shine is just in one area.

I quite like the end result and hope that you do too. Thanks for stopping by, you and your time is appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

hogs and kisses

Welcome to a new challenge here at Double Trouble. Our recipe this time is called ‘In with the old, out with the new.’ You need to have the following: 3 layers, the card base does not count, 2 colour choices from the #1 colour wheel and 1 image. Twisted sister says add a pig if you want to. And your double dare is to make it fit the TSOT sketch challenge and enter it there. Be careful not to backlink when you do enter this.

My card has more than 3 layers and uses patterned paper from SSS. I used a unbranded frame die negative space piece to surround my background paper and another unbranded die set to cut my other pieces. My papers actually have several of the colours from the colour wheel, but I opted to colour my image with Spectrum Noir markers in some of the colours too. My image and sentiment are from Divinity Designs and I used the matching die to cut the image out.

Foam tape was used around the frame before adding to the background which gives the card a 3D look. The sentiment piece was glued flat but I have the image piece on foam so it doesn’t sink on one side. I wasn’t sure about this card initially, but my hubby took a look as well as our artist friend and both gave their approval.

We look forward to seeing your cards in the gallery and hope you have a lot of fun creating them. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your time and any comments you leave.

lavenderhousecreations

butterflies galore

Welcome back to challenge #270 here at Cardz4galz and Helen has chosen the theme of Wings, (butterflies, fairies, birds etc. As you can see I went with butterflies and used a new StampinUP hybrid folder for my design. I went over the folder with 2 different ink colours and ran it through. I cut the panel diagonally and added them to the card front. Next time I’ll make sure the colours are more evenly spread in the folder but I still like how it looks. Using the die with the folder a second time, I ended up with the large butterfly and I used an ink cube over the raised parts to give it some colour. A gold pen for the body and some pops of color dots finished the card.

I’ve left off a sentiment for the time being as I’m not sure how I shall use the card. Its also a somewhat busy design and I’m not sure if a sentiment will look nice or be too much. I’ll cross that bridge later.

We look forward to seeing your designs in our gallery and hope you have a lot of fun creating.

Thanks for joining me today, you and your time are appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

Little friends

After some sunny, although cold days, we are back to the milder temperatures and the rain so I’m in my craft room catching up on a few things and posting this card.

It is intended for the AAA Card Challenge #306: Follow Francesca’s Lead and this is my take on her card.

To make it, I used a stamp set from Crafters Companion that came in a kit, and some Gummiapan dies. I stamped the background using Lost Shadow Ink and the sentiment in Hickory Smoke. While the ink was drying I die cut the images and coloured them with watercolour pencils and a Sakura Glaze pen.

When everything was dry I glued the die cuts as you see them. I did debate whether anything else was needed, but CAS means lots of empty space, so I left it as is. Colouring such tiny images is challenging and I need more practice at it, but all in all, I’m happy with the end result.

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

lavenderhousecreations

pink flower

Welcome back to the second challenge of the new year, here at cardz4galz, which is to add pink flowers. Challenge #268 has been chosen by Billie A and she will also choose the winners.

I wanted to keep my card simple so I chose a lacy look border die by Crafters Companion and die cut it. After attaching it to another layer I added the GKD ribbon and then attached the layer to the card front. The flower and foliage are from a Waffle Flower set. I die cut the pieces and then inked them using Distress inks and a sponge. I put the flower together and using a soft pad and a flower shaper I added some dimension to it before gluing it on top of the foliage. A few pink embellishments finished the card nicely and I’m happy with how it looks.

Thanks for spending time with me today. We look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery and hope you have fun making them.

lavenderhousecreations

have an Ice day

Welcome back to a new challenge here at Double Trouble. Our 3-2-1 recipe Waddle We Do Next, is asking for 3 colours, 2 images, 1 Sentiment, with a twisted sister dare of adding a Penguin. In addition you may enter your card into our sister challenge at TSOT, but ensure you don’t accidentally back link.

My two images are in fact the trees and the penguin who I felt needed his space to shine. My background uses part of a Christmas napkin that I added to card stock and spritzed with glitter spray. I stamped, (from GKD) the trees directly on top. The penguin is from a Crafters Companion set, as is the sentiment. When he was stamped I used clear heat embossing before proceeding to colour him. My colours are green, red, orange-his beak, pink for his cheek and pale blue for his ice boots and to add some shading to his hat. I used a copic marker on his body along with a Pitt pen here and there and I also added some stripes to his hat and scarf using a Posca pen. The background truly sparkles in reality but the photo doesn’t pick it up.

My card doesn’t follow the sketch exactly but is kind of close. It will be a good one for a winter birthday of which a few are coming up.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look. You and your comments are appreciated.

lavenderhousecreations

a gift for you

To make this card, I used a slightly textured piece of CS, some Speckled Egg ink and a folder from SSS. I inked up the flat side of the folder, added my card and ran it through the machine. This is the result and I love how it looks. I did a test piece first to ensure I had the right sandwich, so I now have another piece I can use at some point.

The current challenge at Seize the Birthday #318-Make Your Own Snowflake Background and using this folder from SSS, fits the bill beautifully to my mind. The stamps are from a Penny Black set. I stamped out the Penguin and then heat embossed it clear so I could use watercolour pencils. Once it was coloured and dry I fussy cut it and added some foam tape. Taking a scrap piece of printed vellum I cut a piece to ground the penguin and edged it with some glitter using a Sakura pen. Used the same pen around the sentiment edges. The Penguin was attached as you see and the card was complete. This card will go to a male friend whose birthday is coming up soon.

I’m really happy with how this card turned out and must remember to do this technique with folders more often. Thanks for joining me today, I appreciate you, your time and any comments you may leave.

lavenderhousecreations

celebrating 10 years

Ten years of blogging and making challenges for likeminded crafters is to be celebrated. Double D is celebrating just that. Congratulations to both of you for the hard work you put into all the challenges you support.

Before I began, I had something other than this in mind, but I couldn’t find the set of dies I was looking for. In my search I found this very old and somewhat neglected layered die set from Spellbinders. As I was getting a bit frustrated in my search, I decided to use this and go with something different than what I had in my head. In the end I’m happy to have changed direction.

I cut the pieces I required once in gold but the rest in white CS. Using the gold as my base, I added the inked balloons that I had coloured using distress inks. I used some foam tape to lift them. Using a scrap piece of yellow and an EF from Gemini I dry embossed the piece. Then I carefully cut along one curved edge. Initially I was only going to use this section, but it didn’t look quite right so on impulse I laid down the other piece, which created a gap because of the cutting. This looked much better but the white gap was too stark so I added some blue ink before gluing down the yellow layers. Once I was happy with this I glued the balloon piece on top. The sentiment section was added with additional foam tape which creates a lot of dimension. After some debate I decided against adding an additional balloon or other embellishments as it looks busy enough as is.

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