stamping

lavenderhousecreations

just to say …

Welcome back to another challenge here at Double Trouble. Your recipe is to use 3 Colours from the No 3 primary colour wheel and the neutral wheel as well, 2 images and 1 sentiment. You may choose to add the dare from Twisted Sister and add a four footed animal and if you follow the sketch you may add your card to the TSOT challenge too. Be careful not to backlink if you choose to add it at TSOT.

My card incorporates more than 3 primary colours and several of the neutrals. I made my own section of PP by randomly stamping the fish bones in black, after which I added some colour using Sakura glaze pens. The second half strip is from a paper pack by GKD that I’ve had for a long time. I backed these pieces with a black layer and added it to the kraft card front.

After stamping my cats, all from the Crazy Cats by Tim Holtz, I coloured them using Prisma pencils and Gamsol. Then they were die cut using the matching dies from the set. I set them aside so I could work on the rest. I had these die cut circles left from a different project so I sponged colour using Distress Oxides 2 colours per circle. Once they were dry and I knew I liked them, I added the cats and fitted them to the other layers. Because I had already added the layers to the card front, I used a pencil mark on the two circles that overlapped and cut them on my Fiskars unit. My sentiment comes from a note pad by Hunky Dory that has pages of pre printed sentiments intended for the inside of cards. I’ve only just purchased this and it is handy as it has 120 Essential card inserts. The inside of this one says Many Happy Returns.

I’m happy with how this turned out and it was a fun one to create. We look forward to seeing your creations in our gallery and hope you have fun with the challenge.

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

lavenderhousecreations

Beer Truck

There are some masculine birthdays coming in April so I used the sketch challenge found here, Challenge #368 – Floral Sketch Design. As the instructions said we can change the shape I chose a truck with beer barrels from a new unbranded set I’ve just gotten.

To begin, I wanted an interesting background so after sorting through some bits and pieces I found 2 inked backgrounds that I could cut up. I cut them into different size strips and glued them to some paper on the diagonal. Using a StampinUP die I cut this piece and glued it to a larger blue piece. This layer didn’t have a die that would give me the same edge as the striped layer, but I found a border die that I adapted to add the holes along the edge. The large background piece I distressed on the edges before adding to the card front. Then the other layers were added on top.

After stamping and heat embossing my truck and the barrels, I coloured them with Prisma pencils. Stamps and matching dies are from Amazon. Then I die cut my images and stacked other die cuts underneath for dimension. When they were dry I added some Nuvo Crystal drops to the windows of the truck, around the tires and to the lights. While this was drying I chose a sentiment from a Crafters Companion set, stamped and heat set it and then fussy cut. After placing the truck I chose to add the sentiment above it.

The friend for whom this is intended is a vintage car nut and he recently bought himself an amazing vintage truck. While my image is clearly not vintage, it is at least, a vehicle. He appreciates my cards and as a brilliant wood carver understands the work that goes into making them.

Thanks for joining me today. I always appreciate you and your time.

lavenderhousecreations

Birthday Fishes

I bought this stamp and die set, by Pink Ink Designs, along with other items from a sale basket at a local craft store late last year. The items were set aside and then our computer tech friend came to install my new computer and to transfer all my files from the old one. He needed a lot of desk space while using two monitors and two CPU’s so I cleared everything away. In the process I put these items somewhere and couldn’t find them until today. They were safely set inside a cupboard but until I pulled out my stencil storage I couldn’t see them. I knew I would find them eventually haha.

Anyway the challenge at Seize the Birthday #322-Green as Main Color so I went to town with different shades. After stamping the image I used Prisma pencils to colour it and using the dies I cut the fish from the frame. I also used some scrap card and cut several fish layers so I could stack them for dimension. Before I popped the fish back into their places I used a little ink on the background. After playing with it I decided I wanted to cut the frame down so I carefully went round it with scissors. Before adhering I also went around the edges with a green marker. I did the same to all the fish layers before I glued them together. Then I just popped them back into their places on the image. Initially I had a white card base ready, but decided to go with this green one instead.

My sentiment was created on my computer as I had nothing that I liked enough in my stash. I had no idea of whether this card was going to work, but now that it is done, I’m quite pleased with it. It took me most of the afternoon to make, but as the day progressed the weather also deteriorated so being inside crafting was just the ticket.

Thanks for spending time with me today, I appreciate you and your time, as well as any comments you may leave.

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

As You See It Speed challenge

7 mins 23 seconds

How appropriate that the newest challenge at As you See it is asking for purple which as many of you know is my favourite colour, and this is one of my favourite challenge sites too. Challenge #367 – Lickedy Split Lavender.

After finding all I required to make the card, I started the clock and cut two same size panels for the card front. Using a new oval from a Craft Addiction die set, I cut the floral image from a new paper pad by Hunky Dory called Duo Designs. I simple couldn’t resist that paper when I saw it. Anyway I took part of the paper and moved the die around until I found the part that looked best and cut it. With a smaller die from the set I die cut the white oval.

The hardest part of making this card was actually the sentiment. I used a stamp from a Joy Clair set, but I had to mask off each word so I could stamp it as you see rather than as a straight line. Up till that point it had only taken me about 5 minutes to do the card. Of course when doing something in a hurry Murphy’s law says it won’t work and I ended up having to do the oval twice.

So my card took me 7 mins and 23 seconds to complete. Well within the 10 minute limit, but it still made my heart race a bit.

For a card made in a speed challenge, it has turned out better than I expected and I quite like it. I am supposed to be doing bookkeeping for the end of year accounting, but it is a job I hate. I was so fed up that instead, I took a break and made this card as well as creating 2 envelopes for cards ready to be mailed, but that were not a normal size. I’ll go back to the books tomorrow I guess.

Thanks for spending time with me today, it is appreciated.

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

fly high …

This is a second CAS card that will work for the current challenge at Seize the Birthday #320- CAS with Dies. I felt like trying something that included this flourish stamp from Hot off the Press. I had used the feather and sentiment stamps but never this particular one. Once it was stamped I added the sentiment at the bottom and made my own ‘on your birthday’ strip using my computer. The two birds are from a set by the Cat’s Pajamas and I used the matching dies to cut them.

To be honest although I like the set, I find the dies very challenging because it is hard to see the placement. To solve this I die cut the birds, place the entire piece onto my stamp apparatus and add the cut pieces back into the space. It is easier to stamp the images after they are cut than to do it any other way.

After adding a few embellishments I decided it was finished. Then I added the square panel to the black layer and onto the card front. Its a simple card but very effective in black and white. The little jewels add just enough sparkle to highlight the flourish but they don’t show that well in the photo.

Thanks for spending time with me today, I appreciate you and any comments you may leave.