White Rabbit.

It's the first day of March and time for a new challenge theme at Lavinia Stamps. This time the theme is

Pink, Purple and Blue

For my first card I created my background using distress Oxide inks, spraying with water to create an almost chalky effect background. After leaving this to dry I stamped Dream Catchers  I'm sorry that I didn't keep a record of which inks I used, I did add some highlights though using a white gel pen.  

For my second card I again used oxide inks to create my backround but this time I sprinkled the card with Emerald green Brushos before drying it with my heat tool.  I then stamped Indra using Versafine  then painted it with Ultra Marine Brushos  which I sprinkled onto my mat picking up the colour using a damp brush. I then stamped the 

Wild vines using Versafine Clair around the edges of my card.  I wish the gorgeous sparkle showed up in my photo, I used the Violet from the Brushos SprinkleIt collection by adding a small amount into a pot, adding water then painting it onto the wings, it truly does create a beautiful glittery shimmer to the wings.

If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning a £40 voucher to spend at Lavinia, just ink up your Lavinia stamps and follow this month's theme.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Hochanda Samples

Did you watch the show today? If you did you may have caught a glimpse of these among the  samples.

I stamped Sebastian onto some cotton fabric using versafine ink then added a touch of colour using fabric paints.

I stamped the sentiment then made the notebook cover with the help of my sewing machine.

For this card I created the background using distress Oxides and a sprinkling of Brusho powders. After die cutting the frame I used the Mini Leaf to stamp around the frame then stamped the focal area using Faith and  Luna Buds.

I couldn't quite squeeze the sentiment onto the heart so decided that shrink plastic was the way to go. After painting the heart I stamped Winifred before framing her with Stars. I added sparkle to her wings with Wink of stella.

I had lots of fun with my oxide inks and brushos again to create this backround. I used a piece of ripped paper to mask the sky then brushed on the grass. I randomly stamped the sentiment using second generation stamping before stamping the lovely trees with versafine.  When I had finished I decided that I wanted to echo the sentiment by going around the pinky cloud areas using a gel pen, adding a silvery sparkle edge.

I'm entering the following challenges:-
Craft challenge 502, Fantasy,
Paper Shelter 371, Things that fly.

I Hope you join Hochanda again at 4pm today where you can pick up more hints and tips from Amanda!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

To Tickle The Taste Buds!

It's not long to go until the lovely Amanda does her stuff and shows off a selection of the beautiful 

Lavinia stamps live on Hochanda

So thought I'd try to tempt the taste buds and give a little preview of  a few of my sample for tomorrow's show.

Four very different examples each using 

different techniques.

Stamping onto fabric as well as card!
These were all made using the
stamps featured in the show!

I will add more details on how I created these samples tomorrow.

Join Lavinia stamps tomorrow,

 Thursday 21st February at Noon and again at 4pm on Hochanda.

Hope I've tempted you enough to come and join us, Thanks for stopping by, 

Julie.x

Free Motion Card Making

I've always sewn  but just over a year ago I learnt a new skill, free motion machine embroidery, one that I've been able to use in my card making. I don't think I've ever blogged any of my sewing before but thought I'd share a card that I was asked to make for a friend to give her daughter. I used free motion machine embroidery to create this Disney themed card, I only stitched the felt ears where they met the number allowing for some nice dimension to the piece. Initially I hadn't thought about blogging this card so it's not my usual white background look. I might share more of my free motion embroidery, although they too might not be with the best background.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

A Place To Escape To

Once upon a time, long long ago there was a fairy by the name of  Rue . Rue liked nothing more than to escape to the edge of the forest where she knew that the Spanish vines hung low enough for her to reach and she would while away the hours swinging from them, trying to pluck a Mini Leaf  from high above her as she breathed in the smell of the sweet Meadow Grass  brushed by her toes. She loved this spot and as she gazed into the distance at the Trees in the distance  she would loose herself in her magical world!

Moments like these stick with us forever, scents that remind us of places, come back to us like Birds on the wing

I lost myself there for the moment, escaped to my happy place, playing with the

 Oxide Inks and my Lavinia Stamps.

If you'd like to conjure up

 A Place To Escape To,

 come and join us in this month's challenge at

 Lavinia stamps, you could be in with the a chance to win a £40 voucher to spend! Just ink up your Lavinia Stamps, you've nothing to loose!

I'm using these cards to enter the following challenges:-
Always fun challenges, 95, Monsters or fairies,
Alphabet challenge, W is for wings,
Fab n funky, Fantasy figures.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

A Story to Be Told

It's been such a long time since I blogged, or made a card even, I was beginning to feel like I had lost the knack and if it wasn't for the fact that I had drawers full of beautiful Lavinia stamps, it might have been easy to decide not to get inky. Anyway, I got out the vacuum cleaner, had a bit of a tidy and had a little play and ended up making dt cards for the  January Challenge.

The theme this time is:-

"A Story To Tell"

For my first card I used the following stamps:-

 One of the Whimsical Hares,

Background Script,

 Aerial

The pearlescent card that I used for my second card has made it a tricky one to photograph, it comes out looking a bit misty.

For this card I used the following stamps:-

Midnight Meandering,

Wild Vines,

Forest Spruce.

If you fancy joining us in the challenge, all you need to do is to ink up your Lavinia Stamps and follow this month's theme, you could find yourself with a £40  voucher to spend on more beautiful stamps!

Happy New Year!

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x

Childhood Dreams

It's time for the new challenge with Lavinia stamps, the theme for July is

Childhood Dreams.

I'm sure that many of you must have dreamed about Fairies as a child, I know I did, especially at times when I found myself with a wobbly tooth!

For my first card I used one of the gorgeous Scenescapes, these are so brilliant to have by you for times when you find yourself with a special card to make but not much time to get creative!

I also used the following stamps and my trusty 

Versafine Ink 

Seeing is believing,

Witches cat,

Snow shrub,

Sacred spells,

Lavender,

I also used a Dandelion stamp to hint at a reflection in the water.

for my second card I created the background using 

Oxide inks 

then used the following stamps:-

Fairy House,

Willow leaf,

Snow shrub,

Forest spruce.

If you'd lke to be in with the chance of winning a £40 voucher, just ink up those Lavinia stamps and join us with this month's theme!

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

Sweet Stampers, Animals,

Penny Black and More, Wings,

Stamping Sensations, In my garden,

Crafty Friends, Fairy.

Thanks for stopping by,

Julie.x