Lavinia Stamps Creative Challenge - Buds and Blossoms

Each month, Lavinia Stamps runs a Creative Challenge, with a different theme, and the chance to win £40 worth of their stamps.  The winner is chosen entirely at random using Python Random Generator, and you don't need a blog to enter, just click on the link here to find out what to do.

This month's challenge theme of  'Buds and Blossoms' was a perfect excuse to crack open this new stamp image from Lavinia Stamps - Star Burst.

I was shown this technique by Tracey a number of years ago and still love it - gelli printing with inks.  It's what persuaded me to buy my first gelli plate!   I brayered Colorbox Mustard and Artichoke onto a small, 5x7 gelli plate, and stamped Star Burst onto the inked plate first without any ink (which lifts it), then inked with Colorbox Plum.  These Colorbox inks react with water so I splashed the card with water droplets and lifted the ink off with a paper towel.  I finished the card with Star Burst stamped with Versafine 'Clair' Nocturne.

For my second card I created a Distress Oxide background before stamping Seed Heads using Versafine 'Clair' Glamourous and then Nocturne.  I stamped Aurora onto white paper too so I could paint up the blossom and glitter up her wings before fussy cutting and adding hem to the card.

Stamps Used:

Star Burst

Seed Heads

Aurora

Crafty Individuals on Hochanda

Crafty Individuals released some stunning new stamps by Maria Kitano today on Hochanda, including this exquisite Kingfisher.

The show also included some papers on special offer, which I used for some of the pages in this passport journal by Eileen Hull.

I stamped Baroque Splatter Script and Vintage Postcard onto tissue paper and tore this up to collage the inside cover of the journal with.

Glossy ATC papers are also included on special offer and I punched circles from them to collage with along with creating some ATCs tucked inside.

One of my favourite, favourite images to collage with is a postmark and Vintage Postcard features one which can be cut out, but today's show also included a free postmark stamp. 

Lavinia Stamps Creative Challenge - Pink, Purple and Blue

I just love how challenges get me out of my comfort zone so it really is a privilege to be on the Lavinia Stamps design team where I am challenged monthly :)

Each month, Lavinia Stamps runs a Creative Challenge, with a different theme, and the chance to win £40 worth of their stamps.  The winner is chosen entirely at random using Python Random Generator, and you don't need a blog to enter, just click on the link here to find out what to do.

For this month's theme of 'Pink, Purple and Blue' I had a play with my gelli plate and alcohol inks after seeing Birgit Koopsen's video.   

I tapped purple and blue alcohol inks onto the gelli plate using a felt pad.  I love how you get the little dots of colour as it dries.  Once dry I brayered a thin layer of acrylic white paint to lift the ink off the gelli plate. The pink, for the challenge, came from the Distress Oxide 'Picked Raspberry'.

I used the same technique on some stickers.  I love making stickers!

I use my stickers in my diary

Stamps Used:

Single Fairy Thistle

See a Fairy, Make a Wish

Fairy Foragers

Stars 2

Crafty Individuals on Hochanda

Crafty Individuals are over on Hochanda on Monday 4th February at 4pm  and Tuesday 5th February at 10am with a lovely bird theme that brings a mixture of favourite stamps and new designs.

I had a wonderful time playing with alcohol ink in a variety of ways for these two cards.  I particularly liked using the alcohol lift ink for the Four Little Songbirds.  The bold stamps really lend themselves to this technique so I'll be having a go with Venezia Bird in the same way!

Four Little Songbirds

Venezia Bird

Four Postmarks

French Script

Vintage Postmarks Background

Lavina Stamps Creative Challenge - A Place to Escape to

For the past few years I have been writing Step by Step projects for Lavinia Stamps but you'll now find me posting more regularly as a member of the design team, something I'm really thrilled about.

Each month, Lavinia Stamps runs a Creative Challenge, with a different theme, and the chance to win £40 worth of their stamps.  The winner is chosen entirely at random using Python Random Generator, and you don't need a blog to enter, just click on the link here to find out what to do.

For this month's theme of 'A Place to Rest' I had a play with Tracey's technique of using Colorbox inkpads and Brusho inks on the gelli plate.  If you've not seen the videos, you'll find one here, but I warn you, it's addictive!!  I also played with White Brusho ink for the first time (on her wings) and the Brusho Sprinkle Its, which add a touch of sparkle.

Colorbox Dye Ink - Plum

Colorbox Dye Ink - Storm

Brusho Ink - Turquoise

Brusho Ink - White

Brusho Sprinkle It - Iridescent Gold

Versafine - Onyx Black (currently on sale)

Seeing is Believing

Sacred Spells

Somewhere I find rest is playing with paper, inks and stamps so I also made a little matchbook for this challenge. 

Again I used a gelliprint created with Colorbox ink and Brushos.  You can just see a smidge of the previous project's gelli print in there too.

Inside I stacked a variety of inked, stamped mini pages, secured with a staple.  these are around 4.5cm square + so are teeny, tiny.  I love working small.

Sacred Spells

Zen Thistle (this is one of my faves but is being discontinued; grab it while you can!!)

Fern Heads - Singles

Seed Heads

Make a Dandelion

Dandelions 2

Fairy Words

Zen Angelic Words

Use it up, Fill it up Instagram Challenge

I love a good challenge to get me making things so over on Instagram I've been taking part in Tiffany Goff Smith's Use it up, fill it up 2 challenge.  It's been great to use favourite gelli prints in my Salvaged journal, and in particular, to use this ornate coffee pot stamp that I've had forever and had never used!

I'm loving these little dies by Simply Graphic.  I was very happy that google translate worked as they are a French company, with a French website!

My gelli prints are results from Birgit Koopsen's '31 days of gel printing' Instagram challenge from last Summer.  Putting them in a book means I get to stroke them ...lots!!