WLS July#2 - summertime

Good Morning everyone

Time for some mid month inspiration for We Love Stamping where the theme this month is 

SUMMERTIME

Or we also have the anything goes option as long as you use stamps

Here in England we have alot of old houses and stately homes run by the national trust or English Heritage and lots of people like to visit them for a day out in the summer as they often also have very large gardens to explore as well as enjoy the historic house, some even like to take a picnic and make a day of it.  So my card today is loosely based on this summer outing.

Ive used window/door stamp set from Katzelkraft stamped in grey and die cut into an arch to give the feel of an oldie worldie home, looking at it from the garden through the flowers.  All stamped in grey with soft watercolour colouring onto cream linen card.  I think it ended up with the vibe of the end of a long hot summer when everything feels tardy and bleached out😁

Approx size 5x7"

I stamped the window onto cream linen card in grey versafine clair ink and die cut into an arch.  I added some text stamping in grey around the panel to add texture and feel of stone walls and then softly watercoloured with distress inks.  Lightly inked the edges in grey and matted onto cardbase die cut from more cream linen.

I then stamped the flowers in grey, watercoloured with distress inks, cut out and got arranging.  To make the flowers look more natural I cut the heads of some and glued back on the stems at different angles so that they weren't all facing the same way.  Stamped the quote onto more cream linen and added among the flowers.

Just a close up of the flowers, i added shape to the heads and adhered with pinflair glue gel for dimension which also made it easier to tuck the quote inbetween them.

Version 2 using a different door stamp from the set

Items Used:

Katzelkraft stamps 'les portes'

Katzelkraft stamps 'carpe diem quotes'

aall&create stamps #851 'rise & shine'

Distress Inks - cracked pistachio, evergreen bough, shaded lilac, iced spruce, dried marigold, wild honey, ripe persimmon, 

Versafine Clair Ink 'Morning mist'

Crealies XL arch dies

CraftUk Ltd cream linen card

We have this lovely prize from Lavinia for the lucky winner so hop over to We Love Stamping to join in with your stamped makes and be in with a chance of winning

I hope you are all coping ok with the heat here in the UK, just not use to it are we, my MS hates it so Im hibernating in front of the fans.  The farms are getting desperate for some rain now, I expect when it does start raining it won't know when to stop!  Keep cool everyone and carry on crafting. Emmax

Id love to enter the following:

https://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/2026/07/july-2026-flowers-challenge.html

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https://beautifulblossomschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/beautiful-blossoms-challenge-anything.html

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https://neglectedstuff.blogspot.com/2026/07/neglected-july-2026-challenge.html - haven't used all 3 sets of stamps for years

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https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/miucb-84-anything-goes-optional-shape.html

 

WLS July#1 - Summertime

Good Morning everyone

Its the first sunday of the month so time for a new challenge over at We Love Stamping and the theme this month is very apt for June

SUMMERTIME

So anything that makes you think of summer.  For my first card this month Ive gone with some lovely juicy oranges and paired this studio light stamp with full on fruity paper from carta bella

White Card size 5.5x6.5"

I first stamped the orange branch onto white card and again onto an orange and lilac paper from the pad.  On the white version I coloured the leaves and branch with alcohol markers and then cut out the oranges and flowers from the paper and paper pieced onto the main image.  I die cut this into shape and matted onto a larger die cut from dark green pearlescent card, in between the white and green layer i added a little tab of the lilac paper die cut using the smallest die in the nesting set, cut it in half and adhered behind the white layer, just to add some interest, to this i added 3 orange glitter gems.

I matted the background paper onto the green pearl card and added to the card front - as the card is 6.5" wide and the paper is 6" it was slightly too narrow so i cut it down the middle and covered the gap with a strip of the orange paper which matches the oranges.

Just a close up of the oranges, i added a little white pen highlight to the oranges and flowers.  I know that orange blossom is usually white but the palest paper in the pad was this lilac one.  It is funny, as most of you know I hate colouring in especially when its really small and fiddly like this as i just can't stay in the lines yet i can cut out using scissors no problem and find that relaxing. 

Items Used:

Studio Light stamp set #427 'lemon squeezy' 

Clearly besotted 'seasonal sentiments' stamp set

Carta Bella Paper pad 'fruit stand'

Alcohol markers

Sizzix framelits die set 658204

CraftUk Ltd smooth white card

Green pearl card

Papermania Orange glitter dots

 

We have a lovely prize from Lavinia for the lucky winner so hop over to We Love Stamping to join in and be in with a chance of winning

Id love to enter the following:

https://www.simplyellibelle.com/2026/06/ellibelles-garden-party-no-16-anything.html

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https://thefourseasonschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/summer-season-july-2026.html

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https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2026/06/sos577-youre-so-sweet.html

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https://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/crafty-catz-challenge-717-anything-goes.html

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https://creativefriday.blogspot.com/2026/07/creative-friday-415-neu.html - new - my paper pad is new and first time using

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https://lovethoseprettypapers.blogspot.com/2026/07/atg-love-those-pretty-papers-july-2026.html

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Dream, create, inspire plaque

Good Morning everyone

Its the first friday of the month so time for a new challenge over at Creative Artiste where the theme is always 

MIXED MEDIA

anything goes using at least 3 different mediums

Ive made a fun wall hanging for a craft room this month using Jane Davenport stamps and a piece of hardboard that came as packaging for a heavy item - so i snaffled them😀, 1 was snapped but 3 perfect as a substrate.

Size 8.5x4.5" (22x11cm)

See below for how i did the background.

I stamped all the elements onto watercolour paper and watercoloured with derwent inktense pencils, sticking to the same colours for all the elements.  Once dry i coated with mod podge front and back to seal and stiffen and then cut out, doing it this way easier than cutting out first and trying to varnish the tiny pieces like the pencils etc....

I rolled some pieces of torn handmade paper up to look like rolls of paper in different lengths to add a tactile soft element.  These I placed towards the bottom right corner where i wanted the quote.  The quote was stamped onto white, die cut and matted onto black, covered with mod podge and adhered into place.  I then got arranging all the stamped elements to create the scene - this very much looks like my desk after a good crafting session - I start off with good intentions to stay tidy but it never works once Im enjoying the process😄

I took 3 colours of cotton cord and loosely plaited for the hanging loop and added 3 beads each side which pick up on the colours used for the stamped elements. Choice here is to thread and tie so that the knot is at the front or back...I decided i wanted some beads for a bit of bling and to use up some of the thousand i had so have the hanging coming out the front...hope that makes sense!

When i coloured the paint pallets I deliberately added colour over the outside edges like you see in a well used pallet - more realistic 

The paint brushes i added behind the quote weren't long enough so i cut them in half so could have some poking out the bottom of the quote too - making sure i glued them in line with the tops.  I love the frayed edges of the handmade paper here as it adds a lovely soft element.

I used an old stamp set from Creative Craft (company sadly no more) called 'craftiness sentiments' for the quote.  It has lots of lovely craft sayings but i went with this 'dream, create, inspire' as i have to create a project in my head before i can make it, so i get the idea and then work out all in my head how to create it and mentally work through what products i have that can work so by the time i sit down to make anything i know exactly where im going - now that doesn't mean it works, as is so often the case with art it evolves in the creating but i can't start anything without that original idea and starting point.  Im not one that can just sit down with a product and play for me that doesn't work at all.  

I first gave a coat of black gesso to prime and then added texture paste through a swirl stencil which made me think of ink or paint splashes so perfect with the theme.  Once dry I then coated  that with more black gesso and then added black, navy and very dark brown acrylic and then touch of teal and pink to soft a little but i didn't want it too colourful.

I then dry brushed on black and silver cadence dora paints which really shimmer in the light, the silver nicely caught the edges of the swirls.  I edged the whole panel in silver.

I was going to leave it as was but when i placed my stamped images on top the splashes were lost so i added a little colour - keeping it more muted by just dabbing on with my finger - its just enough to see when finished but not to distract from the main elements.

I added some 'arty' lines and dots with black and white posca pens. Punched holes in the top with my crop o dile to thread some twine.

Items Used

(creative expressions) Jane Davenport stamp set CEJDCS023 'HeArt Supplies'

Creative Craft Products(company sadly no more) 'craftiness sentiments'

Derwent Inktense pencils

Cadence Dora paint - black, Silver

Folk Art Matt acrylic paints

Matt Mod podge

Golden texture paste

12x12 Swirl Stencil 

Spellbinders nesting dies 'labels 4' 

Handmade paper

Posca Paint pens - black, white

Hop over to Creative Artiste to see what the rest of the DT has created and to join in with your mixed media makes, everything welcome as long as you use at least 3 different mediums cards, atc's, journal pages, canvases, 3d makes etc....

Thank you all for stopping by.  

Id love to enter the following:

https://tolanythingbutacard.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-outlawz-anything-but-card-july.html

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https://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.com/2026/07/july-2026-crafts-galore-encore.html

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https://daranddiane.blogspot.com/2026/07/double-d-potpourri-challenge-2026.html - potpourri - rainbow mix of things

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https://paper-rocks-scissors.blogspot.com/2026/07/july-18-challenge.html

 

June WLS #2 - Sports and hobbies

 Good Morning everyone

Time for some mid month inspiration for We Love Stamping Where the theme is 

SPORTS & HOBBIES

Once again I've gone down the hobbies route and this time a masculine card.  The men in my family have hobbies including wood and metal work and one brother likes nothing better than tinkering with engines and building things out of metal - he's made some amazing sculptures over the years out of scrap metal, nuts, bolts, cogs and old cutlery and dad can fix pretty much anything which is very useful! This card is ideal for both my dad and brother.  The stamping is the background.

Card size 6x6"

See last photo for how i made my stamped cog background. 

I then die cut the offset scalloped edge die from the front of the card - with the spine at the top so tent fold.  I then die cut the cog background to fit and a matt of black card, adhering to the front ensuring that the scalloped edge lined up each time.

As you cut a piece off the front of the card you can see inside of the card so to this i added more black card and cog design so that when the card is closed it is part of the design - photos below show this better.

I inked up a scrap of white card with the same blue and green distress inks used for the background and then die cut my alphas to spell 'Mr Fix It' matted onto white and then black card.  Cogs die cut from snippets of silver and blue mirror card and the screwdriver and spanners die cut from dark green mirror card scraps and then all arranged in a cascade down the front of the card, some flat and some with glue gel.

Showing the card stood up open, the point at the front holds it up nicely. 

Showing it side on

And from the opposite side.  

and onto my stamped background

My stamped cog background

I started with A4 white cardstock and this cog stamp. This is an A7 (4.1x2.9") stamp so i stamped it multiple times in black rotating it as i went so they weren't all facing the same way.  Once the black was completely dry i then over stamped the same cog stamp with distress inks salty ocean and evergreen bough, this added some nice colour to the background and broke up all the black.

Items Used:

aall&create stamp set #664 'Multilayered cogs'

MFT scalloped edge die

Cheerylynn cog dies

Tool dies (?brand)

Alpha dies (?brand)

Distress Inks 'salty ocean' 'evergreen bough'

Versafine Clair black ink

Black and white cardstock

We have these stamps from Visible Image as the prize this month so do hop over to We Love Stamping to join in, we do also have the anything goes option if sports and hobbies not for you but it must include stamping.

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Id love to enter the following:

https://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/2026/06/pinspirational-challenge-338-june-blue.html

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https://craftingacutabove.blogspot.com/2026/06/june-challenge-and-july-anniversary-news.html

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https://dragonflydreamschallenges.blogspot.com/2026/06/june-challenge-masculine.html

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https://girlzandtheartofletters.blogspot.com/2026/06/challenge-29-de-letter-van-c-van.html -

  C for COGS

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https://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/06/sweet-stampin-something-for-boys.html

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https://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/06/crafty-calendar-june-challenge-all.html

 

June WLS #1 - Sports & Hobbies

Good Morning everyone

Its a new month so time for a new challenge over at We Love Stamping where the theme for June is

SPORTS & HOBBIES

Although I come from a family big into playing and watching sports and before my MS I was fairly sporty myself I have absolutely no sport themed stamps and I wasn't going to buy new just for this challenge, so Ive gone down the hobbies root,  and what better hobby to start with than arts and crafts! 

Black DL card (approx 4x8.25")  I first stamped all the art elements onto white watercolour paper, coloured with derwent inktense pencils and cut out once dry.  I worked out what size i wanted my panels and cut white linen card to size and stamped the sentiment towards the top in black.  I matted this onto rainbow printed cardstock which i tore the edges to show the white core to help lift the colour and add some 'crafty' interest!  Now i say i matted it - its actually 2 strips adhered either side and i flipped them - so the rainbow of colours runs opposite ways up and down - just for a fun element.  I then adhered this to the card front with foam tape.

I then got arranging all the art products which did take a few attempts until i was happy with them.  Some I adhered flat and others with glue gel. 

Just a close up - on the paint pallet I purposedly added some of the paint colours over the edge to make it look like a well used set - these art supplies are well loved!  I used a silver paint pen on the 'ferrule' (metal parts) of the paint brushes and added white gel pen highlights. 

Items Used:

(creative expressions) Jane Davenport stamp set CEJDCS023 'HeArt Supplies'

Creative Craft stamp set 'craftiness sentiments' (company closed)

Derwent Inktense pencils

CraftUk Ltd white linen cardstock

Black cardstock

Rainbow printed card from Lidl

White gel pen

We have this fabulous prize from Visible image for the lucky winners so hop over to We Love Stamping to join in with your stamped creations

Thank you all for stopping by once again.   I finally have my check up apt for my eyes on the 22nd June - so ive come to the conclusion, any time frame they give you you need to double!  Then after that waiting for the next round of lasers...its a bit like how long is a piece of string with the nhs these days...but good news my mojo is slowly returning, nearly 2 months with no crafting is unheard of for me so I was beginning to worry😓     I hope you all have a good month of June, not sure where the sun has gone as y/day was so windy they had to cancel the Royal Cornwall show which is sad as its the biggest date in the calendar for Cornwall and lots of farmers spend months prepping for it.  Big hugs Emma

Id Love to enter the following:

https://colorfuloptions.blogspot.com/2026/06/june-2026.html - rainbow option

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https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2026/06/june-2026-challenge-88-anything-goes.html - stripes option

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https://paper-rocks-scissors.blogspot.com/2026/06/june-17-challenge.html - used paper and scissors to cut out all the images

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https://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/2026/06/crafty-catz-challenge-715.html

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https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/06/challenge-324.html

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