Love and Friendship

This category includes: Valentines Day, engagement, wedding, anniversary, friends

Ikebana card

Hi there!

I’m quickly popping in with my entry for this week’s challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.

I’ll be back later to add more photos, but want to make sure I hit the challenge deadline!

ETA – I’m so relieved I managed to get my entry in this evening. This week has been busy and I really haven’t felt like crafting! I only had a couple of hours to create a card this evening and although the card came together quickly, I wasted a lot of time trying to stamp a ‘perfect’ sentiment…. and after all that,  I had huge computer issues. I really thought I wouldn’t make it.

Anyway, I used a fabulous die set by Sizzix called ‘Ikebana’. I cut the images from Craft Consortium paper and then dry embossed a piece of my precious Basic Grey paper with a favourite Simon Says Stamp embossing folder called ‘Spun Glass’. I splattered some gold paint over the background, but the splatters are rather subtle so you can’t really see them in my photos.

The sentiment ifs from a My Favorite Things set.

Thanks for stopping by!

LucieG

Sakura Celebration Day 4

Hi there!

Today I’m playing along with this fortnight’s  Color Throwdown challenge. Another pretty combo of blue, green and lime green this time.

I used a bit of artistic licence with today’s sakura card – not a drop of pink on this interpretation!

After trying MANY ideas with coloured card and patterned paper, I ended up with this super simple take by painting strips of colour and adding The Stamp Market’s Ready to Bloom die. The centres are from a small Spellbinders die set that I bought solely because I liked the little flower centres!

The sentiment is by Creative Expressions.

Thanks for stopping by!

LucieG.

Sakura Celebration Day 2

Hi there!

Today I’m playing along with this week’s challenge at Freshly Made Sketches. Lots of layers and lots of older supplies used by yours truly this week!

I started by adhering a section of Memory Box’s Grape Vine border die to my card base.

I then created the central fishtail panel using distress inks, an older Cuttlebug embossing folder and a die by Simon Says Stamp.

The focal point is an older sakura stamp from Hero Arts’ Asian Frames clear set.

Thanks for stopping by!

LucieG.

Fabulous Crane

Hi there!

Today I’m playing along with this week’s challenge at Freshly Made Sketches. Cecile has shared a fabulous arty sketch and I totally thought I would use a die cut flower as the focal image… until I sat down at my craft table!

I picked up a few products that I had just received in my last Simon Says Stamp order and flicked though them… as soon as I saw the amazing Block Print Crane die by Birch Press Designs, I pivoted as I knew it would work perfectly with the sketch. I tried to resist buying this die as my common sense told me that I wouldn’t use it… but my resolve just disappeared when I placed my Simons order – I mean it is just so unique! I’m very happy I got to use it for my take on the sketch! !

For the background I used stencils by Taylored Expressions. I was going to add splatters or stamped dots but in the end decided that a few sequins would work well plus I could play around with their placement without committing!

The sentiment is from an older Sugar Pea Designs set.

Thanks for stopping by!

LucieG.

Glittery Mod Blossoms

Hello again everyone!

Next up today is my entry for the second February Color Throwdown challenge – an interesting combo of pink, lime and teal.

Quite a challenging combo for me but I decided to use my new Waffle Flower Mod Blossoms stencil set and coordinating die with some fabulous Pinkfresh Studio Glitter card.

The sentiment is by Spellbinders and cut from some mirror card that by sheer chance coordinates perfectly with the glitter card!

Thanks for stopping by!

LucieG.

Pinkfresh Studio Create and Connect February 2025

Hi everyone!

Last weekend, I took part in the Pinkfresh Studio Create and Connect ‘Cards by Theme’ event. I signed up for this event back in November after watching the unboxing video, knowing that it would be nice to have something to look forward to after Christmas – and it was such a happy January day when the box arrived at my door!

Class One – Birthday Balloons product suite

Yana Smakula’s class was up first and her theme was happy birthday. There was only one birthday stamp in the whole kit, but I have plenty of birthday stamps already! I love the balloons and the delicate coordinating die. I thought it was very clever to include floral stamps/die cuts separately as the balloons can be used with or without flowers. I switched up my colours to make it more me.

I also used the set for my interpretation of Dawn Woleslage’s Make and Take press plate/foil card. I just used the stamp with an older daisy Pinkfresh coverplate that I’ve had for a while. but still love!

 

 

Class Two – Altenew Briar Blossoms product suite

 

Next up was Bridget Casey for the guest company, Altenew. It’s been a long while since I bought Altenew stamps and I loved using the product suite they provided, which included an embossing folder. I ‘went rogue’ with my first card! The inspiration was delicate peach/pastel tones, with these amazing gold gel pen centres. I thought they would really stand out if I used vibrant colours and a black background! For the second card, I learnt a new-to-me technique to trap ink colour on vellum using adhesive sheets – I’ve already tried it out on another card.

Class Three – Pretty Blooms product suite

 

 

The theme of the final class of the day was ‘hello’ and Heather Hoffman used a fabulous floral product suite that included washi tape! I love these products as I have the ‘quick and easy’ route with washi or I can really put my own spin on it with the stamp and stencil combo.

 

 

 

 

Class Four – Majestic Swan product suite

 

 

First up on Day 2 was one of my favourite cardmakers, Raquel Arribas. We used my favourite product suite from the event, called Majestic Swan. So versatile and easy to use! I’ve already used it on other cards. I did another Make and Take with this set using Isha Gupta’s press plate/foil card as inspiration. Isha also designed this product suite.

 

 

 

 

Class Five – Butterflies in a Cloche product suite

 

 

Lea Lawson was up next with the ‘hello’ theme using the Butterflies in a Cloche set. I love how quickly I could create with this set! Another very versatile set! Once again I used Isha Gupta’s press plate/foil card as inspiration for my Make & Take card.

 

 

 

Class Six – Mix It all up!!

 

 

Final class of the day, and always the most involved, was Jennifer Maguire who focusses on ‘stretching’ our kits. I’m not an interactive cardmaker but I could be converted after making the amazing pop up balloon card. The second card was simpler, using that wonderful Majestic Swan product suite.

I’m not sure if I will sign up for the next class which is ‘Cards for Him’ but I will definitely be hitting that ‘buy’ button when registration for the August event opens up!

Thanks for stopping by!

LucieG.