Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - August Challenge

Hello and welcome to Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - August challenge taking place right here on my blog! I'm so glad you decided to stop by and I would LOVE it if you joined in too! As always, you can scroll down to see last month's Top Picks with a Twist. There were some fabulous entries, thank you all for sharing your creativity!

As a reminder, the themes now are always....................

Anything Goes

and instead is replaced by a "Top Pick Twist".

So feel free to link up all your new or recently made crafty things for a chance to be featured next month. As mentioned, the Top Pick features now will follow a theme/twist but nobody knows what that will be until the end of the month (not even me) and will be inspired by YOUR creations. Will it be something you incorporated on your card? As always, the  linky tool is at the end of the post.

Here is my card share:

My card was inspired by the current challenge at Inspiration Station with this fabulous photo:

The Zebra stood out to me the most  as I remembered this stamp I found for just $0.25 at a thrift store a few years ago and have never used it. It's by Coronado Stamps, not really a company I am familiar with and I am thinking it may no longer be in business. I do love the realistic style and glad I finally inked it up!

I created a sunset (or sunrise) scene with Distress inks (Antique Linen, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick) with a circle die cut mask in place for a moon. I removed the mask then stamped the Zebra. A white Posca pen was then used on the Zebra's white stripes. The pen worked ok but you can still see some orange and if I had to do this again I would definitely start out by stamping the Zebra first and masking it before inking the sky. Wish I had thought of that when I first started with the card!!

Related Products:

The tree is Lavinia's Celestial Tree stamp, it was the only one big enough to sort of fit with the size of the Zebra.

The birds are from an older Hero Arts monthly kit and I added a quote from Tim Holtz's metallic sticker quotation set.

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I plan on linking up  here:

Inspiration Station - Animal Kingdom // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges - AG // The Paper Funday - AG opt. Friendship

Always AG and Link Parties:

A Place To Start - AG // Taylor Made Cards 4 U // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Creative Moments // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends 

Link Parties:

Dare to Share //  Sunday Showcase - First Sunday with Ada and Mireille  //  Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun //  Travel Tuesday. // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Spread the Kindness Linkup @ Shelbee on the Edge //  Wonderful Wednesday // My Corner Of The World //Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life //  Funtastic Friday //   Link Up On The Edge

 July  Top Pick with a Twist

As mentioned previously, there is now a Top Pick Twist when it comes to my selection of Top Picks. Nobody knows what the twist will be - not even me - until the end of the month as the twist will be totally inspired by YOUR creations. This means the top picks will all have something in common. 

The Top Pick Twist from the July entries is ............Summer Colors Galore! Meaning all my July Top Picks will feature lots of beautiful summer colors. 

No. 30 Diane H.

No. 31 Gale K.

No. 44 Sparkling Pink

Congratulations!! Well deserved recognition! Your Top Pick logo is below. Feel free to post it to your own blogs.

I will continue to pin the top picks to the dedicated Pinterest board, but will also include photo and link back to the original blogs/sites here. These will be removed at the start of the new challenge to stay in compliance with GDPR.

To join in this month please use the linky tool below. You have until Wednesday August 31st 11:59pm CST to link up! 

A few things to remember:

• You may combine with any other challenges.

• You may use any brand of stamps/digis/products (no company restriction).
• No more than 3 entries per person please so I can manage to visit each entry.
• Please do include a link back here to my blog in your blog post.
• Backlinking to a recent post IS allowed.
• Digital products are allowed and very welcome but the final piece has to be a physical handmade creation, not just digital.

A Masculine Card with Valko, the Howling Wolf

Hello and welcome! 

I would like to start off by wishing all my blog followers and visitors a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Since today is a Saturday, it's time for my weekly Allsorts challenge post. This week  Brenda is hosting and she picked the theme of "Black and White plus One Other Color". I hope you will join us!! What other color will you choose?? We do have a fabulous prize too, A4 Rare Earth stamp set that will go to one lucky winner!

And here is my card:

I had mentioned in a recent post that I ordered some Lavinia animal stamps (and a few other Lavinia stamps), this wolf was one that made it into my shopping cart along with the other wolf stamp. Not that I am a huge wolf fan, but they work so well for fantastic masculine cards and I think they were a much needed addition to my stamp collection! So here I made a masculine card using Lavinia Stamps with an old Whimsy Stamp birthday sentiment. 

The Lavinia stamps used are: Valko, Seasonal Tree, Lunar Buds and Stone Texture (this must have been retired as I can't find it for purchase any longer and it was part of my very first Lavinia order a few years ago).

I used a copy paper mask and two green shades of Distress Oxide inks - Twisted Citron and Shabby Shutters to ink up the card. A circle mask was in place for a moon. After inking, I removed the mask, stamped the wolf, stone texture and tree branches using Versafine Onyx ink. I turned the tree stamp around to stamp some branches on the opposite side of the card. The lunar buds were stamped using Shabby Shutters Distress Oxide ink. And finally the sentiment was stamped using Versafine Onyx ink. 

I used some green Stampin Up card stock for matting, and then a white card base to complete. 

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

A closeup below:

By the way, did you get a chance yet to visit the "Year in Review" mini hop where a group of 6 paper crafters are sharing some of our favorite creations of 2021?  Some of the co-hosts are also giving away "blog candy" to lucky commenter on the hop. Oh, and anyone is welcome to create their own "year in review" post and then link up with us too. You can find the hop linky tool HERE or simply click the image panel below. Would love for you to join in!

Thanks so much for visiting!

I'm sharing my card with these challenges:

Creative Moment - AG // Mod Squad - Include Something New (New Stamps - wolf and tree), Paper Shelter - AG // Simon Says Stamp - Time to Party // Crafty Sentiment Designs - AG // Ike's World - Fur/Feathers // Double Trouble Challenges - Up to You (I chose Masculine Birthday) // We Love 2 Create - AG // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - AG // Crafty Animals - Animals // 

Always AG and Link Parties:

Taylor Made Cards 4 U // Crafter's Castle // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // 

Dare to Share // Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now  Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

Lavinia Fairy Boy "Pan" and Bunny "Pipin" for a Scenic Winter Card

Hello and Happy Saturday! 

I'm sharing two cards today but I decided to write up two posts so they aren't getting too long, and first up is my reminder card for this month's Stamping Sensations challenge. This month the challenge is to choose our own themes, I went with masculine for my first December DT card and while this one is another masculine make, I'm naming this theme "Create a Scene" because it sounds like more fun :0)

I've had a long list of Lavinia animal stamps I wanted to purchase and I finally was able to narrow down my list. Not saying I don't want them all (because who doesn't) but had to decide on just a few to keep the cost of the order at around $100. I also ordered this boy fairy, two sentiments, two trees and some mushrooms along with a Posca pen to try. 

I wasn't sure if my order would arrive on time for me to make my cards, but Del Bellos Designs did ship so quickly and I received my order in just a few days. By the way for US costumers, I was given a referral code, and if you order through the link, new costumers should receive $5 off their first order. Otherwise, you may also find Lavinia Stamps on Amazon from private US sellers including Del Bellos Designs, but the New Costumer discount will only work on their website. 

I started with a small die cut circle for a moon mask and some torn copy paper for my hill then inked the sky using Distress Oxide inks (Antique Linen, Victorian Velvet, Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch and Chipped Sapphire). The sky is darker in real life, more like a night sky, but I used an OTT light for photographing and it made the card a bit brighter. 

I recently purchased this blending brush set from Amazon and they work really well for a light application but I did find that I had to blend a little longer than with my usual blending foams. 

Next, using more torn paper I added a few snow banks (I used Chipped Sapphire ink here and with one of my new blending brushes I was able to get a very light shadow for the snowbanks.)  Then I stamped the fairy boy (Pan) and rabbit (Pipin) using Versafine Onyx ink. I got a little black ink on an area where it shouldn't have been and - although a tiny mark - it bothered me so I decided to stamp some "grass" coming up here and there behind the snowbanks (using Lavinia Fern Leaf) to hide the imperfection. I used the same stamp around the edges. 

The pine tree is Lavinia's Fairy Fir tree small, stamped using Iced Spruce Distress Oxide ink. The verse at the top of the card is Lavinia's Snow Fall, stamped using Blueprint Sketch ink. A  Wink of Stella brush was used on the fairy wings for some sparkle. 

These stamps should all be available in the US at Del Bello's Designs and most probably also through Amazon. Remember, if you are a new Del Bellos costumer and would like to save $5 on your order, you can shop through this referral link. 

There was some chatter about what to use for snowflakes on our DT blog recently, and while I usually use masking fluid, a white Posca pen was mentioned and I thought I'd give it a try as they were also available from Del Bellos. I do like how these flakes (or stars) turned out and it's definitely less time consuming than masking fluid! 

Related Products:

If you would like to see my second card for today using 2 more new to me Lavinia stamps simply click here.

Thanks so much for visiting!

You can read my second post for today by clicking on the image below.

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Linking up here:

Challenges:

Challenge Up Your Life - Magical Christmas // Crafter's Castle - AG // Taylor Made Cards 4 U - AG or Most Beautiful Time of Year // We Love 2 Create - AG Creative Goes // Critter Crazy Challenges - Critter // The Four Seasons Challenge - Winter // Christmas Craft Creations - Scenes // Paper Shelter - AG // Crafty Sentiment Designs - AG // Double Trouble Challenges - Up to You (I chose Winter) // 

Always AG and Link Parties:

Taylor Made Cards 4 U // Crafter's Castle // 613 Avenue Create opt. twist watercolor // Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // 

Dare to Share // Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now  Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

November Cardchain Challenge - Reveal Day

Hello and welcome!

As some of you know, in October I discovered a new kind of a challenge, the card chain challenge which is sort of a world wide card exchange and I had so much fun the playing along the first time, I decided to join in for November as well. And today is reveal day where we find out who sent what to whom :)

We were given several challenge options to choose from - Colors, a sketch, theme options of snowflakes, friendship or polar animals and technique options.

This time I chose the theme options of polar animals and snowflakes.

This month my card went to Lia in the Netherlands. And this is what I made:

I've had this Penny Black stamp set (Spread Cheer, also on Amazon) since its release a few years ago, but this was my first time using the penguins. 

I started out by flicking masking fluid onto the card. When this was dry, I used a handmade paper mask to ink up the sky and hills using Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide ink. Then carefully rubbed off the dry masking fluid using a paper towel. 

There are two penguins in the set, one slightly taller than the other one. I stamped a total of 5 penguins to create the scene using Versafine Onyx ink. The branch is also from the same set as is the sentiment "Spread Cheer" and the small snowflakes. 

Above is a little peek inside the card. I stamped just two penguins inside to leave enough room for writing. 

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The die cut trees were done with Penny Black's die set Tall Trees and I added Stickles glitter to make them sparkle. Thought the card needed something else so I used a die cut snowflake (also glittered) to the card to finish off.

I was so happy to receive this adorable card from Jo in UK, in perfect timing to share a photo of it on my blog. Love these cute polar bears!!

By the way, the linky tool is still open for the this month's Card Chain Challenge  for just a few more days if you'd like to join in the fun. It is a card exchange, so you do need to be sure to get a card made and mailed to be (hopefully) received by December 31st. 

Thanks so much for visiting!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I'm linking up here:

Dare to Share // Inspire Me Monday //  Link Up Potpourri //  Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now  Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life // Sunday Showcase (First Sunday)

Beach Themed Masculine Card with Summer by the Sea from Stampin Up

Hello and welcome! 

It's Saturday already and I'm am back today with a new card to share for the new theme at Allsorts challenge! Lorraine (Lolo) is hosting this week and she picked the theme of "Masculine". Our prize comes from Helping Hands Craft and hope you can join us for your chance to win!

I shared a Christmas card on Wednesday but my brain is definitely in Summer mode and I made a beach themed card today using an oldie from Stampin Up as my focal point and I build up the scene using stamps from more recent years by Hero Arts.

 

I started by stamping the boy on Bristol Vellum paper, then stamped again on a post it note, fussy cut this to use a a mask. As mentioned this set is long retired from Stampin Up, but it's usually found on eBay or Etsy, it's called Summer by the Sea.

Next I build the ocean scene (with the post it mask in place) using Color Layering Waves from Hero Arts. 

Next I stamped the boat silhouette from the Hero Arts set Color Layering Sea and Sky also from Hero Arts using Versafine Onyx ink, placed a small die cut circle over the boat and inked up the sky portion using Tumbled Glass Distress ink. 

The silhouette birds are also part of Hero Arts Color Layering Sea and Sky, and the "sandy feet" sentiment is part of the Color Layering Waves set. 

I stamped the boy once again, this time on some tropical themed patterned paper to paper piece his shirt. 

I also used a stamp from Stampin Up's set Itty Bitty Backgrounds (this is another oldie) on the sand for a sandy texture. 

Hero Arts Color Layering Waves

Color Layering Sea and Sky

A closer view below...

I colored the rest of the boy using Zig Clean Color markers with my Zig Detailer brush and a couple of Faber Castell Polychromos pencils for the hair. 

Thanks so much for visiting!!

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

You may also like:

• Summer Scene
• Summer by the Sea
• Season's - What's Your Favorite?

I'm linking up here:

Inspiration Station No.9 - Sun, Sea, Sand // A Gem of a Challenge  - AG // Catch The Bug - AG // Challenge Up Your Life - Beach Time // Crafter's Castle - AG // Crafty Calendar - AG // Craft Rocket Challenges - Summer // Cute Card Thursday - AG // Crafty Gals Corner  - For the Boys // Creative Moments - AG // Fab n Funky - AG // The Paper Funday - Summer Fun // Beyond The Blue - AG // Crafty Catz - AG // 

Always Anything Goes and Link Parties:

Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // 

Dare to Share //   Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Welcome Wednesdays // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

A Lavinia Stamps Monochromatic Fairy Scene

Hello and welcome! It's time already for a new theme at Allsorts challenge. This week it's Lynn's turn to host and she wants to see a "Landscape or Scene". We're having a wonderful stamp set to give away this week by Rare Earth so why not join us for a chance to win!

I love Lavinia stamps and have collected quite a few of them but unfortunately I seem to be neglecting them. However, they were my first choice for today's challenge and I created a monochromatic scene. 

Although I usually struggle when I begin with these types of cards (which is the reason why I don't make them more often) they are usually quite easy once I get going. I think my problem is overthinking, something I really need to work on. And maybe watching a few Lavinia Stamps videos on YouTube would help too!!

On this card I used the Lavinia Fairy Josie along with the Lavinia stamps Moon Pods, Fern Leaf and Creeping Vine.

I started out with some torn printer paper and a circle die cut used as masks, then simply inked up the areas with the masks in place using Victorian Velvet Distress ink. After removing the masks I stamped the beautiful fairy and the sentiment (from the Penny Black set Happy Wishes - also on Amazon) using Versafine Onyx ink. I do need to use a stamp platform when stamping Lavinia (or any other solid stamps) as I never get a full impression the first time. 

To add to the scene I selected a few botanical stamps from my Lavinia stamp box (all linked above), all stamped using the same ink. If you look closely you may also notice my Stampin Up French Script on parts of the background.

Exact sentiment set used:

Finally, to complete the card I thought it needed something else black in the top left corner to tie it all together, so I stamped the tiny hearts from the Penny Black set Posted with Love and at the same time used the postage and cancellation mark from the same Penny Black set in that corner. Before adhering to a white card base I ran my Victorian Velvet ink pad along the edges to darken them just a little bit. 

Thanks so much for visiting!!

Please note this post may include some affilate links meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, but as always at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting this blog.

Recent posts you may have missed:

• What I Wore Walking in Indianapolis and Some Pictures
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday: May Challenge - Blooming Beautiful
• Spring Greeting Card with Magnolia Blossom and Distress Inks

I'm linking up here:

Themes:

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes this week // Krafty Chicks - Stamp Act // Stinkin' Inkers - Girls just Wanna have Fun // Simon Says Stamp - Feminine // 

Always Anything Goes and Link Parties:

Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // 

Dare to Share //   Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Welcome Wednesdays // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things // Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life // Link-up On The Edge