Lavinia Stamps

... Hello!! I had such a fun day yesterday. My hubby took me to Ruthin, a market town in the neighbouring county of Denbighshire. It's also the home to Lavinia Stamps, a local craft company. I think it was last year they opened their new store - The Dreamatorium in the town centre. I've been wanting to visit for ages. 

It's wonderful - a magical place, full of all types of gifts for the home. And it also has a super craft supply section. Here are some of the photos I took:

Obviously, I couldn't leave without buying something (or several somethings). I'll be going back again soon. If you're ever in the area of Ruthin -it's well worth a visit.

Monochromatic Birthday

..... Hello again!! This is a quick post sharing a black and white birthday card:

Stamps: Uniko -  Background Block Swiss Dots; Gina K - Mr Fix-It, The Great Outdoors

Inks: Gina K - Stormy Sky;  Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Mr Fix-It

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#701, and to Seize the Birthday - STB#312 - using the colour option this time.

This is a 5" square white card. I stamped the dotty background in grey ink directly on the card. I stamped the tool images onto white card, added some subtle colour, restamped with Versafine black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I used the matching dies to cut out the images, along with some plain white diecuts which I layered up for depth. I finished the front with a simple birthday greeting. Inside the card, I stamped a birthday message and added some small images for fun.

This post has taken me longer than normal as I normally edit my photos in Lightroom. However, yesterday it appears that Lightroom did an update and now it's not working on my PC. I hate technology sometimes. 

 

That really is all for today. I'm off to try and work out why Lightroom isn't working properly. And if that doesn't work, what I'm going to use instead!! Bye for now.

Graphic Birthday

.... Morning!! Somehow, it's September already - I swear as I get older, the months go by so much faster. Heyho!! I have a graphic, quite masculine, card to share with you this morning:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks  MOD Circle Builder, Mid Century Modern Wreath Builder, Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments

Inks: Versafine Claire - Nocturne; C&9 - Blueberry, Oceanside, Seaglass; Gina K - Blue Sky

Accessories: Uniko Stencil - MOD Background Builder Circles; White & Green Card; Copic Marker

As this is a birthday card, I'm submitting it to Seize the Birthday - STB#312 - Anything Goes.

I started this card at the Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop. I totally ignored the suggested card and made this. I used the stencil (which is the same shape, but bigger than the stamp) to add some colour to the corners of a piece of white card. I blended blue and green inks for an ombre effect. I stamped the image in black ink overlapping the colours. I added the panel to a green note card. When I got home I finished the card by adding a bold birthday greeting in black ink. I cut a panel of white card for the inside, onto which I stamped the MOD Circle Builder image in a soft blue ink and added a bold greeting over the top. I edged the card with a green marker and that it done.

I really like the stencil and stamp images I've used here. I can see so many possibilities. That's all for now. Hope you have a good day. See you soon.

Grateful for You

.... Hello! In my Friday post, I mentioned that I attended the Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop earlier this month. Bev and Tracey put on a brilliant workshop with lots of opportunity to make cards (and shop too!!). I started work on several cards and brought them home to complete. This is the first of the completed cards:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Swiss Dots; C&9 - So Many Sayings

Inks: C&9 - Briar Rose, Wildberry, Eucalyptus, Juniper; VFC - Nocturne, Twilight 

Dies: Pinkfresh Studio - Petal Perfection; C&9 - So Many Sayings

Accessories: Pinkfresh Studio - Petal Perfection Layering Stencils; White Card; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Time Out Challenges - TOC#296 where the theme is support/friends/encouragement, and to Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#500 to use diecuts and/or stencils.

We did have instructions for suggested cards, but I went rogue!! I stamped the dotty background in soft grey directly onto a white note card (it was going to be one layer). I took the opportunity to try out Pinkfresh Studios dies and matching layering stencils and made this lovely flower. I stamped C&9 So Many Saying in black ink and used the co-ordinating die to cut them out (I have lots still to use). I used dimensional pads to add the greeting. When I got home I found I'd made the card upside down, so I simply cut the completed panel off, trimmed it to fit on the front of an A2 (US size) card, edged it with a green Copic markers and added it to the card base. Inside the card, I cut another piece of white, edged it with the green marker and glued to the inside of the card. I had more die cut flowers, so I simply added a flower to finish the inside.

The workshop that I attended was held in Warrington and hopefully, Bev and Tracey will be back there again soon. However, if you fancy attending a Uniko/Dies to Die For Workshop, the ladies are holding another retreat on Sunday 12 October in Worsall Village Hall, Yarm. It's only £60 and well worth it.

Jonathan and I went to the cinema yesterday to see The Roses - it's a remake(ish) of The War of the Roses. It stars Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch in the main roles. The script is brilliant - witty, sharp, bitchy, sweary (very) and so black. It was a joy to watch them both, and the rest of the cast were brilliant. I recommend it.  That's all for today. See you soon.

Birthday Flowers

... Morning!! I was on a bit of a roll yesterday, it's so nice to be back making cards. I've another birthday card to share this morning:

Stamps: Uniko - Birthday Sentiments, Birthday Wishes

Inks: Gina K - Sunkissed Coral, Sea Glass, Emerald Sea; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Accessories: Uniko Stencil - Fun Flowers Spray Mask; White Card; Copic Marker; Simon Says - Moonshine Confetti

I used colours from CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#567 (so nice to be playing along again), and I'm also playing with Seize the Birthday -STB#312 - I've gone with the Anything Goes birthday theme.

I used another stencil that's been in my stash for a while. It's a two-piece stencil and mask. I placed the stencil on white card, lightly inked the leaves and flowers, added the mask and inked details in the flowers and leaves. I used post-it notes to mask off some of the flowers - it worked fairly well. I finished the front by stamping a bold birthday greeting in black ink. I trimmed the panel to be slightly smaller than an A2 (US size) card, edged the panel with a black Copic and adhered to the card. I completed the card by adding some sparkle with confetti bits. Inside the card, I cut another piece of white card, lightly stencilled the flowers at the bottom of the panel and added a greeting. That's it. Another card for my stash!

It's good to be back. Thank you for visiting and leaving comments - they are always much appreciated.

Birthday Wishes

.... Hello!! It's been a while since I've been here. I was lucky enough to go to a Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop at the beginning of August and my creative mojo started to come back. So, here I am with a much needed birthday card for my stash:

Stamps: Uniko - Simply Said Blocks 3; Birthday Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Applemint, Lucky Clover, Christmas Pine; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Accessories: Uniko Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks; White Card; Copic Marker

I'm submitting this card to AAA Cards - AAA#297 where it's Anything CAS Goes with the option of all green, and I love all shades of green. I'm also playing along Just Us Girls - JUGS#790 where it's Stencil week. And, as this is the first time I've used this stencil, I'm also submitting to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#77.

I had such a good time at the Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop, that I was inspired to get out some of my Uniko stencils. I'm embarrassed to say that I've had this stencil for ages, but not used it. The design is made of three layering stencils, and I simply used three shades of green from light to dark. I trimmed the panel to be slightly smaller than 5" square, edged it with dark green Copic and adhered it to the card base. I didn't want to hide the image, so I stamped a small birthday greeting in black ink, cut it out and added to the card. For the inside, I cut a piece of white card to 4¾" square and I added the centre strip of the stencil to the card (I turned it sideways), and added a fun greeting.

It's been fun getting back to making cards. I needs lots!!

The reason I've been absent, is that Mum's cancer came back early last year, and I spent as much time as I could with her. Sadly, mum died in January, I've been coming to terms with no having mum here. It's been a tough, but my mojo seems to be back, and mum would be so pleased to see me making cards again. I worked my way through all my stash, and I so need more cards. So, I'm back. See you again soon.

TMR - Challenge #200

... Hello!!! I have been invited by The Male Room design team to join them and create a card for their 200th challenge. Wow, that's quite some achievement!! So, the challenge at The Male Room - TMR#200, this month is to feature Dogs and/or Cats. I made two cards - well, I had to. Here's the first

Stamps: Dylusions - Puddy Cat, Funny Bunny, Get Your Rocks On, Clearly Cat Among the Pigeons; C&9/Kristina Werner - Checking In

Inks: Dylusions; Gina K - Jelly Bean Green, In the Navy, Tangerine Twist; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Spellbinders - 5 x 7 Modern Stationery S6-013 #4 and #6

Accessories: Dylusions Stencil - Stained Glass, Court Jester; Copics; Glitter Pens

This is a large 5" x 7" card. I started by finding some readymade backgrounds from my Dylusions stash. I used a shaped die to cut out a panel for the background, added doodle details and adhered the panel to the card. I stamped the large cat on white card, coloured it with Copic markers and fussy cut it out. I added it on top of the panel and drew around with a black marker to ground the image. I finished the front of the card by stamping some orange detail down the side of the card, and added a fun sentiment. On the inside, I cut a background panel from another stash background. I used a larger shaped die to cut out the white panel and added a small black cat and bold orange sentiment.

Next, is a simple birthday card featuring a balloon dog:

Stamps: Whimsy Stamps - Birthday Balloon

Inks: Kaleidacolor - Blue Breeze; Gina K - Turquoise Sea, Blue Sky, Blue Denim; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versamark

Dies: Whimsy - Birthday Balloon

Accessories: Gina K Stencil - Crop Circles; Lawn Fawn - Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

I adore this cute balloon dog, and have used it a lot in the past. I started by masking off the top of an A2 (US size) card and added ink through the stencil. Next, I stamped the balloon dog in Kaleidacolor ink, and restamped it with Versamark ink, then added clear embossing powder, heat set it and cut it out with the matching die. I cut an additional couple of 'dogs' in white, and layered them together for dimension. I stamp the word 'birthday' in black and cut a strip which I edged with a dark blue Copic marker and adhered to the card. I added the word 'happy', adhered the 'dog' and finished with some stars. Inside the card, I cut a panel of white card slightly smaller than the base, edged with a dark blue marker, stamped a bold greeting and some stars. 

I had such fun making these cards. I'd like to thank the Design Team for inviting me to be Guest Designer for this very special challenge. The Male Room has always had a very special place in my heart, and I really enjoyed getting back to making cards. Thanks so much xx

I do hope you take time to join in the challenge - you've got until 5 August to play along. I may even make some more cards later this month. Thanks again to the team, this was fun. And now that I'm back making cards, I'll get back to joining some more challenges.

Happy Birthday Mum

.... Good morning!! Well, it's been a while - again! I'm here this morning with the card I've made for my Mum's birthday. Mum is 85 years young today. We're going into town so that Mum can have her hair done and then a quick trip to the shops. Here's Mum's card:

Stamps: Gina K - Delicate Flowers, On the Inside - Birthday

Inks: Gina K - Red Hot, Red Velvet, Stormy Sky, Jelly Bean Green; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 1, Delicate Flowers, Single Stitched Oval #2, Double Stitched Oval #2

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gina K Stencils - Delicate Flowers, Twirl-it Checks; Copic Markers; Gems

I'm submitting this card to three challenges. First to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#67 - first time of using all these items. Second to Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#479 - where it's Any Occasion. Finally to The Flower Challenge - TFC#96 - where we have to add a stencil.

 

 

Mum's favourite colour is red and so I used shades of red to make her card. I stencilled the check background with one red ink - first using a very light touch, and then, after shifting the stencil, adding a second layer of colour with a heavier hand. I used dies to cut out the stencilled panel and a mat black panet and added them to the front of an A2 white note card. I stamped the floral images on white card, used the matching stencils to add colour, and cut them out with the co-ordinating dies. I cut an oval panel in white card and layered it on black. I stamped a simple birthday greeting in black ink and added to the card. I adhered the two floral images above and below the oval, and finished the front by adding a few crystal gems. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel I stamped a birthday greeting and added a row of candles which I coloured to match the front of the card.

I had so much fun making this card - I haven't made any cards since the ones I made for Kat's birthday. I think I might be busy this weekend though - I need to make some Halloween cards for the kids, and then I must make a start on my Christmas cards!!

That's all for today. Thank you for stopping by - I appreciate all comments left. Have a super day.