A Sneaky Peak

Thought I'd take the opportunity to give you a 

Lavinia Stamps

sneaky peak ! 

 Being lucky enough to be part of the Lavinia design team means that I get to play with the new stamps prior to the release date which will be on the 22nd August.

I just teamed them up with some of my other 

Lavinia stamps.

The last two cards here are both tiny pieces of artwork made using up snippets of card left overs, I just couldn't resist it!

I'm using these cards for the following challenges:-

 Pinspirational 245, photograph,

Incy Wincy, Fantasy,

Stamping sensations, Things with wings.

Thanks for stopping by, 

Julie.

Bright And Beautiful Lavinia Challenge

The first day of the month and a new challenge theme at Lavinia 

Bright and beautiful so I broke open my new Oxide shade

Squeezed Lemonade, using  to create some sunshine and again to stamp my oh so favourite Background Script, I don't think I will ever fall out of love with this stamp! It is perfect for absolutely any occasion in fact sometimes I have to challenge myself NOT to use it!  I stamped Josie using black Versafine adding the seed "fairies" that come with her, to the sky.

It doesn't show up too well in the photo but I stamped her wings again and shaped them before placing them to add extra dimension.  

For my second card I had a little play creating a little scene which I then created a little stamped frame.  Here's a list of the stamps I used.

Whimsical Hares,

Fairy Fir tree,

Forest Spruce,

Lavendar.

I'm using this card, for the following challenges:-

Stamping Sensations, One for the girls,

Kitti Bee 117, Forest Friends,

Patties 145, Bunnies or ducks,

Art Impression, Winged things.

If you fancy being it with a chance of winning a

 £40 Lavinia voucher,

 just ink up your Lavinia Stamps and join us in the challenge theme!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Lavinia At The Nec

If you're lucky enough to be visiting the NEC this weekend, be sure to check out the Lavinia Stamps stand, there are some new releases especially for you! 

I have to say that I have a new favourite Fairy

"Josie"

Isn't she gorgeous, I just love the way this stamp conjures up the illusion of movement, it even comes complete with some seeds to catch the wind! With all that blowing Josie managed to blow away the storm clouds that I created using Oxide ink.

On my first card I stamped Josie and "Whimsical Whisps" onto a "SceneScape"

 For my last card I again used a SceneScape stamping 

Small Celestial Tree twice with each inking. I then inked a little mound and stamped "Jaylar" I just love the delicate wing tendrils on these new fairies! 

If, like me, you're unable to visit the NEC, grab yourself a coffee and watch Hochanda  on Saturday 17th March at 2pm where you will be in for a treat, Amanda Branston will be doing a few Demos!

I'm using these card for the following challenges:-

Stemplegarten 71, Fantasy,

Get Creative, Mythological.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x   

Add Some Stamping

I'm a bit behind with my dt post, sorry Team Lou! 

The theme for challenge 166 is

Add Some Stamping!

The sponsor for this one is 

Krafter's Cart

For my card I stamped Bella's House, masked it and stamped my stone wall , I coloured using Copics and Polychromos. I added glimmer and doodling and mounted it onto my Background Script stamped and distressed using Oxide ink.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

FSC126, Use your inks,

SS August, Anything goes.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Back To Nature.

It's time for a new challenge at Southern Girls and this time the theme is

 Nature.

For my dt card I have used the rather gorgeous digi 

Beautiful Birdhouse 3

by Polka doodles, one of the sponsors this time, please check out the challenge blog for full details of the sponsors this time and to read the challenge rules. 

I coloured the image using copics, stamped and inked my background and used a selection of die cuts and punches to decorate my card.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

SRC363, Dies,

W2BC38, Celebrations,

CCCB 350, Stitches,

Ikes World 82, twist, nature,

UCB18, Butterflies or hearts.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Fancy A Jaffa Cake? (Other cakes are available)

The new challenge starts at     

  Lavinia Stamps, the theme this time is

"Full Moon"

 hence the reason for the title of this post, I'm sure that many people can remember the advert where the lady teaches the children about the the phases of the moon with the aid of the fore mentioned sweet treat, saying with each bite:- "Full moon, half moon, total eclipse" as she polishes it off! If you've never seen it I apologise, it just tickles me.

For my first card I used the following images:-

The oh so lovely Mooch, 
The Moon, was masked as I added a little ink to the sky I adapted its size by stamping through an aperture. I stamped the slender mushrooms beneath the tree..

For my second card I used one of the new cutting files, Bliss, cutting it on my ScanNcut, the cutting files are something new to Lavinia, there are so many to choose from. I love being able to size them perfectly for my needs, I also used the ScanNcut to cut my octagonal card blank and the frame which I inked and stamped using my favourite Background script stamp
I used foam pads to lift the cut image from the stamped background.

I'm using these cards for the following challenges:-
Kitty Bee 87, something new, (cutting file),
Purple Haze 117, Fantasy.
If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning a £40 voucher to spend at Lavinia, ink up you Lavinia stamps and join us in the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by,
Julie.x

Autumn Colours At Lavinia

It's time for a new Lavinia challenge and this month the theme is 

Autumn Colours

For my first card I used Hill border thin lines for my fence, and stamped a selection of Trees onto my inked background.I then balanced the cats Mimsy and Mooch onto my wall to watch the ducks flying overhead.

For my second card I masked the oval and used my favourite and oh so useful Background Script, I used trees and Mooch as with my first card and hung Willow to frame the scene.

We hope that you will join us for the challenge this time,it's really worth inking up your Lavinia stamps to be in with a chance of winning a £40 voucher to spend in the shop. No blog is necessary! 

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-
CBD, Anything goes,
LRW357, Get inky,
MM&M, Natures beauty.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Razzle Dazzle Em!

It's time for the new challenge theme at Lavinia today,

"Glitter and Gems"

For my first card I rubbed over my white card base with glycerin before sponging over red, yellow and pink inks, I don't know if you've ever tried it but it gets the inks moving a treat, the colours blend together beautifully. I used  the background script, ivy border was stamped onto the inked card that backs the sentiment and I finished the card off with the stunning Zen butterfly. I added stickles to the edges of my card and the butterfly wings and tiny crystals to the centres of my punched flowers.

For my second card I used the gorgeous Celtic Dreams butterfly die, cutting it 3 times to create the inlays of the wings which I stamped with the background script, the glittered green background and the white outlines, I added some gems to the body of the butterfly.

I'm using these cards for the following challenges:-
CFAS 111, Autumnal Hues,
CM78, Autumnal colours,
MSCB, Wings,
SAM246,Birthday,
CIO, Glitter,
DCD235, Die cuts.

If you fancy joining in with the challenge you could end up with a £40 voucher to spend on more Lavinia stamps to add to your collection. All you need to do is get creative using Lavinia stamps or dies, you don't even have to have a blog to enter as we accept email entries.

Thanks for stopping by,
Julie.x

Is This Mixed Media?

Hi there, I've been a bit busy so haven't had time to post lately, thought it was about time I shared a card that I made a few weeks ago for my lovely Sister-in-law's special birthday. Something a bit different from my normal card style but oh how I enjoyed using paints, gesso, stamping and inking,adding some brushos and generally loosing myself .

I used a selection of Lavinia stamps, cutting the wings from a butterfly and adding them to my hand cut heart. I even used a doiley, I thought I was allergic to them lol, they've been sat in a box for ages. Have to say I was rather pleased with the results. Chapter 50 was cut from a damaged book that I've had in my craft drawer for ages, it's been a while since I snipped from the damaged pages. 

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

Fantastic Tues., Anything goes with lace,

Papertake, Don't be square,

TT253 Tic,tac,toe, (stamp.twine,sequins),

DVC110, Distressing,

The Craft Place, Mixed media,

We Love to create, Mixed media.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Come Hop With Me!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!!!!

 We are totally excited that you’ve joined us this weekend for this extra special blog hop. 
SpiegelMom Scraps and the Southern Girls Challenge Blog owners and Design Teams have united and are hoping to inspire YOU!

We would love it if you joined us today!

You should have arrived here from the 
lovely Dawn's blog 
where I am sure you have seen something
 amazingly gorgeous !

If you found me by accident and would like to join us in our hop you need to start from here, 
with the owner of Spiegel Mom Scraps,
 the very talented Jody.

I haven't made a layout for several years and have just realised how much I've missed it!

I really enjoyed playing around, adding texture, stamping with my lovely Lavinia stamps and sprinkling my brushos.

I did some clever cutting with my ScanNcut too

I hope you've enjoyed taking a look at my layout, 
the next stop on the hop is the talented Karen.
 I can't wait to see what beauty 
she has in store for us to see!
I'm using this layout for the following challenges:-
2CCC26, no cards,
Scrap it May, Stitching or sewing,
Sketchabilities 138, Sketch,

Thanks for stopping by,
Julie.x

Sketchy Cards For A Challenge!

Yes it's me back again for another challenge to get you ready for tomorrow's National Scrapbooking Day blog hop with

Spielgel Mom Scraps and Southern Girls

 this time you are challenged to make cards using either or both sketches.

Here's the first sketch.



and the card I told you about at 8am this morning.

 I used my gorgeous Lavinia stamps for this card,

 I rather like this card!.

And here is the second of the sketches.

Again I used my lovely new script stamps, 

I LOVE THIS STAMP!

We would love it if you joined in with the fun!

I'm using these cards for the following challenges:-
Kitty Bee 46, Girly cards,
Craft 309, Add a charm, use metal,
Allsorts 309, April showers bring May flowers.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Lemon And Lime

It's time for April's Challenge at Lavinia and the theme for this month is

"Lemon and Lime"

I made two items using the theme this time using a selection of Lavinia stamps on my card.

I trimmed into my "Alura" die cut to create my tag adding some stamping to the background, in my head I envisaged that the gorgeous fairy is collecting dew drops falling from the branches above her, I do love this die!

I would like to enter the following challenges:-

CFAS99, Animals,

LRW283, Animals,

Simon Says, Happy Birthday,

TSOC, Fly with me,

Cards and more, Tag,

TIOT, wings.

If you fancy joining in with the challenge this month, all you need to do is follow the theme and break out those Lavinia Stamps or Dies, you could find yourself winning a

£40 voucher!

There's no need to have a blog to enter as 

email entries are accepted!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Over The Edge!

I love the way this Lavinia Fairy stands with her arm held up, I know it's supposed to be as if she's about to sprinkle fairy dust but I think it's the perfect height to dangle things from. I've hung a star from her hand before but today I stamped a heart and doodled a string to dangle it by. It doesn't show in the photo but the heart is sparkly and filled in with glossy accents. I used a white pen to add dots to the stamping.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

Simply less is more, One layer, off the edge,

ICB58, CAS, 

OMCC12, Wings.

thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Ink Up Your Lavinia Stamps!

A bit of masking, sponging and stamping yesterday to create this card using a selection of Lavinia stamps. If you get a move on and ink up your Lavinias, there is just about time to enter this months Spring Colours challenge, it's so worth the effort, the winner receives a £40 voucher!

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

LIM169, Sketch,

PCC8, No patterned paper,

Sweet Stampin, No DP,

Sweet Pea Stampers, Birthday.

Thanks for stopping b,

Julie.x

Dandelion Clocks.

I love this Lavinia image, it takes me back to my childhood,gently blowing away the seeds and making wishes.

A relatively quick make with a bit of shadow stamping.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

LIM167, One layer shadowing,

CAS36, Far away.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Where's Bambi?

Not quite the look I was after.

I was looking more at creating a scene from Bambi.

But the sunshine across the meadow look didn't quite happen lol!

Still like it though.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

JFFCB, Anything goes,

Scrap it girl, Birthday,
MIM, Anything goes,
FFC18, for men,
CCC March, Animals,
PCJ, Manly.

Thanks for stopping by,
Julie.x

Oops!

I've just realised that I didn't post my mid way reminder card for the Lavinia challenge.

 oops, it's a bit late now so instead I will say be sure to join us for a new challenge tomorrow!

I love how the strip across the bottom turned out, I just  used post it notes to mask off the card sponging into the space and used the tiny flower stamp. I dotted liquid pearls onto the centres and sprinkled generously with glamour dust.

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-
 Stampin For The Weekend, Sparkle,
TSB6, Use glitter,
Kaboodle Doodles, Use ribbon,
MIM180, Anything goes.

Thanks for stopping by,
Julie.x

The Promise Of Sunshine

Such a bright and sunny ink sat on my desk today, just had to be used to brighten up the day!

I'm using this card for the following challenges:-

C4C222, Glitter,

LIM158, One layer.

Before you go, please check out my

 previous post today!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x