Lavinia World 24 - Every Wish Begins With A Dream

Greetings, friends. Sending you wishes for peace and good health.
I am so grateful you are here, and that our paths have crossed.

It is time for our new
Lavinia World Challenge!

Store -- Facebook -- Challenge -- Instagram
Play in our Anything Lavinia Facebook Challenge
and/or our Anything Goes Challenge Blog

Today's story 

Surrounded by love, Guinevere Mermaid is spending time alone, 
using the days to expand her heart, 
and to discover dreams that will make her world more 
meaningful to herself and others, especially those in need.
After all, everyone is "needy" in one way or another.

Both cards are colored with the same inks,
but different die shapes and stencils were used.

Guinevere Mermaid is stamped with Cheerful Yellow Versafine Clair and heat set with white detail embossing powder. I wish Versafine Clair came in a white!

Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink is the primary base, and is used in the foliage as well. The underwater foliage is done with the Spanish Moss Foliage set. 

A little Antique Linen Oxide provides a grounding for the rocks and sandy areas.

The glitter dots around the "wish" were done with my favorite detail adhesive - Quickie Glue Pen. It's my go-to product for certain intricate jobs, and I've used it for as long as it has been on the market.

The star brads are heated up and dipped into Cerulean Glitter EP, where the EP melts in place:

I used an Aqua Prismacolor Pencil in certain places to define shadows.
Unfortunately, I was a bit heavy-handed with the ink and stencils:

 

The Every Dream sentiment was stamped with Nocturne Versafine Clair onto vellum and heat set with clear detail EP.

Lavinia Products:

Products Used:

• Lavinia World Images: Guinevere Mermaid LAV445, Spanish Moss Foliage LAV505, Every Dream LAV573
• Dies: Sue Wilson Australian Collection - Melbourne, SB Grand Scallop Square, Punch by MS Loops Heart
• Inks: Mermaid Lagoon Distress, Peacock Feathers Distress, Cheerful Versafine Clair, Antique Linen Oxide, Broken China Oxide, Raspberry Adirondack, Nocturne Versafine Clair
• Misc: White Detail EP, Cerulean Glitter EP, Clear Detail EP, Aqua Prismacolor Pencil, White CS, Teal CS, Vellum, Star Brads, Stencils, Masks, Clear Glitter, Quickie Glue Pen

Challenges I would like to play in please:

1. World Wide Open DT Challenge #3 AG DT 4/15
2. The Fairy and The Unicorn Challenge (April 4) AG Fantasy 5/1
3. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2014 AG 4/13
4. A Bit More Time to Craft #113 Anything Goes 4/15
5. Classic Design Challenge #4 HAPPY FOURTH BIRTHDAY 5/1
6. Aud Sentiments Challenge #248 AG+ Sentiment 4/15
7. Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #468 Anything Goes 4/15

Thinking of you fondly,

I'm Resisting - Back to Basics and Beyond

Hello, blogging friends!
Wishing you all the happiest of seasonal preparations throughout the month!

It's time for a brand new Back to Basics and Beyond Challenge!

For the next two weeks, join us by uploading an "Anything-Goes" project as long as you use any resist technique on it. The team has all kinds of inspiration and a variety of styles to view, so take a look! Hope to see yours there.

My card is a magical night time dance of snowflakes using two rubber stamp sets from Sparkle N Sprinkle:

Hanging head in shame... because my planning was not satisfactory for this card. The watercolor paper should have been trimmed before stamping the images. The snowflakes were stamped with VersaMark and heat set with White Detail EP. The paper was then spritzed with water and Color Burst watercolor powders" were puffed" onto the wet paper. Both colors were very intense and made a magical night time party of snowflakes.

The edges of the watercolor paper are distressed with VersaFine Clair inks in Purple Delight and Warm Breeze Turquoise, then heat embossed with sparkling Sangria Star EP and Cerulean Star EP.

Embossed the Happy Holidays sentiment on vellum with Sangria EP (no glitter compared to Sangria Star EP)

Products Used:

Products:

• Images: SNS Rubber Stamp Sets ($9.99 each) Dancing Penguin, Crystal Snowflakes, Happy Holidays sentiment
• Embossing Powder (for resist) White Detail EP298, Sangria Star EP and Cerulean Star EP, sentiment in Sangria EP
• Coloring Medium: Color Burst in Pthalo Green and Violet
• Paper: Watercolor, Vellum, Razzelberry, White
• Inks: VersaMark, VersaFine Clair inks in Purple Delight and Warm Breeze Turquoise

Challenges I'd like to support:

1. City Craft Challenge #442 "Snowflakes" 12/18

Happiness Hugs,

Sunflower Collage - Stampendous

Hello, blogging friends! It's time to share a wonderful new stamp for the new Moving Along With The Times Challenge! I hope you can play along. Challenge #74's theme is JUNE BLOOMS - just make sure your card's focal image is a flower(s) and share your card!

We have a guest sponsor this month who will be providing a prize to one lucky player: Crafty Ribbons. My card features Yellow Ric Rac Ribbon. Challenge ends July 4 at 11PM Eastern Daylight Time. Looking forward to seeing your floral creations on the challenge blog!

Today's project contains a bit of mixed media styling, using every bit of this gorgeous 6x6 Stampendous Stamp called Sunny Sketch!

I loved the way it looked with only the color - no glitter or embellishment.


But we all know I can't NOT add glitter! (love the double negative?)

After heat setting with White Detail Embossing Powder, I used assorted Watercolor sprays, markers, and reinkers - whatever was in my stash with colors I wanted to achieve. It was fun and easy! An acrylic block was my palette and I scribbled, dabbed and sprayed whatever color onto it. Then an Aqua Flow brush made easy work of the colors. Be sure to wet your paper before applying color for more fluid blending.

  

Nuvo Aqua Flow water brush

This two-pack includes one medium brush and one fine brush.

I stamped a 2nd flower, embossed it, and spritzed with Nuvo Mica Mist in Turkish Rose and Violet Lustre. This effortlessly produced a pearly iridescent flower, resisting the White Detail Embossing Powder. The flower was spritzed with water, and each petal was crimped and shaped. Every 2nd or 3rd petal was cut off so the flower beneath could be seen:


The flower center was fun! I adhered layers of Pink Fizz MicroFine Glitter, Glass Glitter in Fuchsia and Silver, Silver Leaf Tinsel Glitter and some micro beads on top of Dimensional Glue:



Raspberry Pink Crystal Drops have been used inside the yellow flower, along the bottom border, and a few other places. Dimensional Glue with Starfire Ultrafine Glitter was also used along the border and elsewhere:

Products Used:

• SNS Stampendous Sunny Sketch 6CR004 Rubber Stamp on Cling
• SNS Hampton Art Word Layering Greetings SC0752
• SNS White Detail Embossing Powder
• SNS Nuvo Mica Mist in Nebula Blue, Turkish Rose, Violet Lustre
• SNS Silver Leaf Tinsel Glitter GT3004
• SNS Glass Glitter in Fuchsia and Silver
• SNS Pink Fizz MicroFine Glitter GM2050
• SNS Starfire Ultrafine Glitter
• SNS Raspberry Pink Crystal Drops
• SNS Dimensional Glue, Brushable Glue
• SNS Nuvo Aqua Flow water brush (has medium and fine in the pack)
• Assorted Watercolor sprays, water-based markers, water-based reinkers
• Papers: 110lb Neenah cardstock in white, turquoise, sunny yellow
• Spellbinders: Grand Nestabilities Labels One, Grand Nestabilities Decorative Labels One
• Beadies

Challenges this card is submitted to:

1. As You Like It Challenges (June 21) Wet or Dry Embossing - Which is your Favorite and Why? - I have always enjoyed wet embossing because of the richness it affords. Watching it raise up into shiny, creamy textures, and marvelous colors, I can't help but be addicted to the possibilities such as resist techniques, simple golden elegance, or making my own metallic or sparkling paper for die cuts. It's a great distressing tool, too. I love playing with my EP! 7/5
2. Cardz 4 Galz Challenge #74 Sunny Summer Days 7/5
3. Dare 2B Artzy (June 3) Bright Colors 7/1
4. Crafting from the Heart #211 Anything Goes 6/27
5. Crafty Cardmakers #214 Wet or Dry Embossing (white detail EP around all the images). 7/1 (C15)
6. Creatalicious Challenges #141 AG with flowers 6/29
7. Morgan's Art World Challenge (June 15) 7/15
8. Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges #1824 Anything Goes 6/25
9. Stamping Sensations (June 3) Anything Goes 7/1 (sep post aft)
10. The Creative Crafters #5 Anything Goes 7/12
11. We Love 2 Create (June 3) Anything Goes Mixed Media (same post) 7/1
12. World Wide Open DT Challenge #6 - AG for a DT 7/15

On a Personal Note:

My Hoya plant (commonly known as Hindu Rope) is blooming again! Each year, there will be more blooms, as long as I don't trim it, because Hoyas tend to bloom in the same spot each year. Here are 2 draped "ropes" with blooms:

In this bloom, the tiny waxy shell that contains the velvety starburst can still be seen at the bottom of the bloom. It has not burst open yet:

Like Christmas Cactus, Hoyas grow up trees in the wild and have many air roots.

Thanks for visiting today!
love,

Love is in the Air - Cardz 4 Galz

Hello, Sweet Blogging Friends!

It's time for the 40th Cardz 4 Galz challenge!

It is always a pleasure seeing your artful treasures.

Badges are awarded for the Spotlight Winner and Top Picks.

Challenge #40 theme is selected by teamie CAZ - Love is in the Air! 
You may have 3 separate submissions, and have as many cards as you like on each submission.  

so get crafting and show us your interpretation of Love - it all depends who the cards are for, right? Love is one of those gifts we give ourselves, and lavish upon others.
Challenge ends on February 15.

I love being on this team - not only because my teamies are so talented and inspiring, but because I get to use all my "stuff" that has lain neglected far-too long!

I'm using a beautiful PSX stamp in a resist technique, employing SNS White Detail Embossing Powder, 5 colors of distress inks, and lots of layers of hearts! It also makes me VERY happy to use some Recollections rhinestones to "bling things to life!"

It's such unusual designer paper, which has been in my stash for YEARS, so glad to be finding a good use for it, from a company called Pocket Full of Papers.

Although the card is an A8 (5.5 x 8 inches), it just fits the post office guidelines for a flat card, and a regular size envelope. But it might be an extra ounce LOL

Check out the detail for the rhinestone flourishes on each side of the card.

Notice a difference in the two sides? (click on the photo to enlarge)

The top left does not show up as clearly as the top right.
The right flourishes are much more defined.

By the way, the rhinestones truly are sparkly, I just couldn't capture it with my camera.

The difference close up:

The right side has been finished with Sparkle N Sprinkle Peruvian Lily Microfine Velvet Glitter.

This glitter is micro fine, and has a very small sparkle effect, but it's just enough to not detract from the rhinestones. The tape is covered up by the glitter.

Peruvian Lily Microfine Velvet Glitter is one of my favorite colors due to its versatility. It goes with just about anything - pinks, purples, greens, blues, reds, oranges, whites, blacks. I suppose it would even go with yellow and bright orange if the colors were used in other places as well LOL

Now both sides are glittered. The top left is much more defined:

Products Used:

• Sparkle N Sprinkle Peruvian Lily Microfine Velvet Glitter, White Detail Embossing Powder
• Image: PSX K1466 Heart Wisdom 
• Watercolor paper, pattern paper, SU cardstock, PFOP designer Paper
• Recollections rhinestones
• LifeStyle Nesting Heart dies

On a Personal Note:

Even in Florida we have some cold and dreary days, where there is such a chill, that our thin-blooded bodies just can't tolerate the cold. Everything is relative, right? We recently had nights descending into the 30s and 40s. On those cold days, this is what we enjoy to take the chill out of the air. The cold days make all you Northerners seem like Super Heroes to us!

Challenges I'd like to play in:

1. Classic Design Team Open Challenge Blog #11 Anything for a DT goes 3/1
2. Come and Get it Challenges (Jan 27) 3 or More Layers 2/5 (9 layers plus the base folded card and flourishes)
3. Craft Rocket Challenges #32 "It's a Love Thing" 2/14
4. Crafting from the Heart #145 Anything Goes 2/5
5. Crafts Galore Encore (Feb 1) Anything Goes! 3/1
6. Crafty Creations #334 Anything Goes 2/15
7. Die Cuttin Divas #302 Anything Goes 2/7 (heart dies used in a variety of ways)
8. heARTful Stamping Challenge (Jan29 - Feb 5) Use a Rubber Stamp + theme Anything Goes 2/5
9. Love to Craft #7 Anything Goes 3/5
10. Pile it On Challenges #125 Quotable 2/5 + other challenges
11. Word Art Wednesday (268-269) Anything Goes + Love/Wisdom 2/15 (paraphrased 1Corinthians chapter to concise words)
12. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #18 Anything for a DT goes 2/15

Stamping Hugs,

Asian Birds in Cherry Blossoms

Welcome! My Blog Candy Deadline is February 28 - click here for details.

This card was made in a No Glitter Create Zone! How did that happen? ...out of my comfort zone with this Asian theme card, created for a Swap with the Florida Stampers Yahoo Group.

It was my first attempt using clear EP resist with watercolors technique.

Everyone else's looks so pretty. I need to practice this technique to learn how to apply the shading and color intensity.

Another first: A fellow blogger explained how to crumple, dye, and adhere the seam binding ribbon in a distressed manner. It is the first time I've used seam binding (courtesy of Barbara). The ribbon is tied with thread, and an antique button from my great aunt's sewing stash from the 1950s is sewn in the middle.

New-to-me Decorative Labels 27 SB dies (4 layers).

Does anyone know if release/ejection foam will work on SB's detailed dies?

The designer papers, Hero Arts Bird stamp, antique button and seam binding are from my stash - been in my stash for at least a year, and all virginal. ~smile~

The edges of the card base, the designer paper panel, and one SB die panel have been distressed with gold detail embossing powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle. (The detail clear EP is also courtesy of SNS).

Hero Arts K4892 Decorative Birds
SNS Clear Detail & Gold Detail embossing powders
Raisin dye ink, VersaMark ink
SB Labels 27 and Decorative Labels 27
Kraft, DP, White and Burgundy cardstock

This card was submitted to the following challenges:

Artistic Inspirations - #29 Buttons and Bows (ribbon is died, tied with thread, and an antique button sewn in center of bow)

Crafty Bloggers Network - #8 Anything Goes

Crafty Boots Challenge - "Out of Your Comfort Zone" (used new-to-me techniques - Watercolor Resist, died and distressed ribbon with different style bow, sewn with a button)

Created With Love Challenges - #29 Things that Fly (birds in stamped image and butterflies in DP)

Deep Ocean Challenge - #45 Anything with Letter "B" - (Bow, Birds, Butterflies, Blossoms, Button)

Loves Rubber Stamps - #40 Lots of Layers (4 die cuts, ribbon designer panel, base card)

Make It Monday - #128 Anything Goes

Make My Monday - Ribbons and Buttons (distressed ribbon with antique button sewn in center)

Victorine Originals - #53 Stamp, Emboss, Embellish (image is clear embossed, 3 layers distressed embossed with gold EP, 1 layer is dry embossed, embellished with ribbon and antique button)

Alphabet Challenge Blog - Anything With Wings (Birds, Butterflies on DP)

Thank you for pausing to visit my blog today!

Stamping hugs,