stampin-up

lavenderhousecreations

musical note Christmas

The Christmas challenge at Peace on Earth Challenge #90 had some lovely colours in the inspiration photos with the bottom right corner one appealing to me the most. I’ve used a few here but slightly muted.

The other day I was playing with a napkin image of musical notes and I attached a larger portion of it to some card stock for a future background. With the piece leftover I was about to set it aside when I wondered what it would look like behind an opening? On my desk was a scrap piece of CS that I had already die cut some banners from and I placed this over the top. It looked good so I cut two more banner openings from the opposite direction then attached it to the napkin piece. After trimming the edges I decided to ink around them and slightly on top to age the CS a little. I remembered that I had this MFT set of bird and die stamps so on another scrap piece I stamped two birds and some foliage. Coloured it all with pencils and water, die cut them and attached as you see here. I used the Just a Note sentiment, from the set, at the top, but as I’d decided I wanted it to be a Christmas card the wishing you and Merry sentiments came from a Divinity Designs set. I had the embossed piece leftover from a project and I added the bird piece to this. Taking some copper thread I added a few turns and tied into a bow before adding the small gem to the middle. Then I added the layers to the main card front. Not a good day for tying bows as it took me more than 10 minutes to do with a bit of swearing thrown in.

Its a Dragon Boat paddling evening, so I have to leave in a few minutes, but thanks for stopping by and for any comments you may leave.

lavenderhousecreations

bird-day greetings

Challenge #339 – Winter Frost is the latest challenge at As You See It and this one is a colour challenge. I thought about a design for a couple of days and then sawsomething in the group from GKD, by Karen Hightower, that was set out like this one and I went with that. My colours are as close as I can get with what I have using Distress inks and card stock from different sources. Card base is a darker basic gray with a slate gray background for the rest of the card. Ribbon is from my stash – no idea where I got these and I’ve had them for a long time. Stamp set is from YNS and the EF is another oldie that I have no name for but it definitely is a brand not a knock off. I did the birds and the balloon initially on some scrap CS and heat embossed them so I could add more colour. When they were dry I fussy cut each piece but took off the legs and the string. Then I added foam tape to the bodies and laid them on the top piece temporarily so I could lay out the stamps again. I re-stamped everything in Hickory Smoke and heat embossed for more definition. Then I added them fussy cut pieces on top so the birds now had their legs back as well as the balloon it’s string. I had cut the dry embossed piece to size, added foam tape and then added it to the lighter gray panel. Added the top portion the same way and left a small gap between the two. I wasn’t happy, so I had the idea of adding the ribbon which I liked much more. The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed but this stamp has a slight fault in it at one end and I tried several times to remove it. Nothing worked so in the end I angle cut the strip on both sides. It isn’t perfect, but better than the original. Too bad the company has gone as I would ask them for a replacement stamp if I could. I may try to cut the fault off, but it requires a very steady hand and I’m concerned I may ruin it completely. Overall I’m happy enough with the card that I am posting and entering it.

Thanks for stopping by, your time is appreciated as are any comments you may leave.

lavenderhousecreations

hexagon fun fold

card flat for mailing
upright showing the shape.

Another of my commissioned cards, this time with a golfing Christmas theme. I thought it would be a nice one for the challenge at Krafty Chicks challenge #746 – Christmas so am entering it there. I saw this fold on Pinterest and searched for a tutorial so I could make it my own version. I could have figured it out, but sometimes it is just easier to see how it is done and this tutorial was really easy to follow. The paper I used is from a paper pad from last year. My images are all from a stamping buddy who gifted me with an envelope full of golf related images and I am really grateful to her for them. She knows who she is. I fussy cut the Tee ball and the Santa hats using pencils to colour. Then I coloured the focal image using pencils and some glitter pens. Once it was coloured I fussy cut it strategically so it stayed together as one piece and I edged it with a black pen. Once I had the card base cut, scored and folded I added all the smaller panels and then taking the suggestion from the video I added a strip of plastic at the centre so the focal image has more stability. Except for the Tee balls everything is glued flat, although as this card is to be gifted personally not mailed, more dimension wouldn’t have been an issue.

I’m really pleased with how it turned out and I know my friend is going to be thrilled with it as will her father for whom it is intended.

I think I have two more Christmas cards to make and then I’m done for this year. I wasn’t going to bother with these two, but have learned that the mail strike may be over next week. The government stepped in and is forcing them to settle. Obviously there will be a backlog to clear, but at least people will receive the cards sometime in January, late but not so bad as to matter. I’ll confirm with my stamping buddies as soon as I am certain the strike it over.

Thanks for stopping by.

lavenderhousecreations

interactive Flap card

One of my friends commissions several cards per year for her family and I try to do something a bit different each time. I shall add this card to the challenge at Peace on Earth

This is my first try at a flap card although I’ve had the Spellbinders die for some time. I found a tutorial to follow and this is the result. One thing I realized is that keeping the pieces in the orientation in which they are cut, makes it easier to put together. The frame didn’t seem to fit until I realized the orientation was off. The die set came with daisy flowers but as it is an intended Christmas card I used poinsettias instead. Mine came from a die by Dee’s Distinctively and I only used three, so have enough left for another card. The PP is from a paper pad but I’ve mislaid the brand name. Sentiment is from a Divinity Design set and I also added a sentiment on the underside of the flaps but it’s another temporarily mislaid set. Its probably underneath the stuff on my work surfaces.

Underneath the flaps

I used a small YNS shape die to add the pull tag at the top, but couldn’t find the stamp set with the words I needed, so I hand wrote pull. The next goal, after our party this weekend, is to sort out my craft room and find the missing sets. They aren’t gone, just hidden.

Once I figured out how it works after watching the video several times, it wasn’t that difficult to do and I’m pleased with the end result.

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

lavenderhousecreations

Christmas in space

The latest challenge at CYHTP is: Anything Goes Embossing with a Twist of WINTER FUN. I guess the twist isn’t taken with this creation as although its a fun card it isn’t strictly winter fun. As some of you are aware, occasionally I do a commissioned card for a friend and this is one of those times. This is for her step dad who loves anything scientific. I thought space and robots were perfect and turning it into a Christmas theme card was fun. After my recent Colorhues pink and aqua card I wanted to do another using the same layout and style. It took a few days of thinking before I had the idea to use rockets as the side panels and I got these from an Adobe graphic and photo program. I used my computer to get the images sized correctly and then added them to a dark gray CS to give a border. The center panel was using CS and some Rub On images along with a stamp from the Robot set by Brutus Monroe. The Christmas sentiment stamp is from Hero Arts. Puffy Sticker’s are from a sheet I got at the local market. For the embossed panel I used a Sequin folder from StampinUp, on a metallic silver CS and I backed it with a dark gray for the border. I know sequins aren’t really a Christmas theme, but I don’t have a folder with stars and I thought these at least gave a space look to the background. I stamped the robots onto a scrap piece of heavy CS as fussy cutting is easier on a heavier weight. Once stamped I also heat embossed clear and then I fussy cut each one before adding a bit of sparkle to them. The bottom robot needed to look more Christmassy so I added a Rub on hand bell that I also fussy cut. Before I actually glued the panels onto the background I sprayed them with shimmer spray so they twinkle and also it has the look of snow in real life. Messed up the spacing slightly putting on the panels but I don’t think it is something that a non crafter would notice.

This was such fun to make even though fussy cutting was a challenge for my achy hands and I’m really pleased with how it turned out. I’m blowing my own trumpet, but hubby loves it and I’ve shown it to one or two friends who also think its a great card. Once in a while I think I’m truly inspired. LOL!

Thanks for spending time with me today, I really appreciate it.

lavenderhousecreations

leaf print thank you

For a while now, I have been wanting to try using a real leaf to get a print onto card stock. This morning the perfect leaf was in my driveway – damp from rain – but intact and pretty. I brought it inside and before it had a chance to dry I placed it onto a scrap piece of CS added another piece on top and ran it through my Sizzix making sure it was pressed down quite hard. The result was quite a surprise and while the piece didn’t show the entire leaf, I still liked it. Using a StampinUP die I cut it as a rectangle. At the time I wasn’t sure what my intentions were, but checking some challenges I realized that it would fit at least 3 if I used it. What I came up with is this card. I took a Kokorosa die and cut the Maple leaf. I added some ink but kept it very soft as it was a background piece. Then I found the copper sparkle CS and cut the panel before adding it to my card front. From there I added the Maple leaf and then the leaf print layer. The pumpkin is stamped with a GKD stamp and fussy cut before popping it up as you see. The sentiment is from a set for which I have lost the brand information but I suspect it is either MFT or Spellbinders. I’m not sure if the sparkle layer is a bit strong but nevertheless I like the card. You can be sure I shall be looking for other leaves to try this technique with and my hubby loved it.

Challenges I shall be entering: https://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/ fall/leaves, Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Who’s Got the Pumpkin, Challenge #327 – Seasonal

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

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.

lavenderhousecreations

sorry for your loss

One of my yoga and coffee group ladies, lost her mother last week so I made this card for her. I used a Taylored Expression tree die for the focal layer and a StampinUp EF for the background section. After cutting my trees I added some lost shadow ink and before it was dry sprinkled a little silver embossing on top so it has more texture and a little shine. After adding some foam tape I set it aside so I could emboss the background on some StampinUp PP. This was then added this to the entire card front. The die cut was added and using a small piece of scrap card along with using a transfer from some rub-ons I have, I did the little bird. Then I fussy cut before popping it up on foam tape. I cut my circle with another StampinUp set and added the sentiment in Blueprint sketch ink. I also sponged the edges with the same ink.

I’m quite happy with the end result. It has a soft and subtle look that works for a sympathy card.

I’m adding this card to the current challenge at CYHTP although the option of adding fall colours hasn’t been taken.