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

 

Tri-fold shutter card for Creative Creases

Good Morning to you all.

I have 2 posts today and both very different so be sure to check them both out...or hop over here

Im honoured to be guest DT over at Creative Creases Challenge once again

This time I decided to use an old tattered lace die set to make an A4 tri fold shutter card.  Its years old and was preloved when I bought it so it must be over 10yrs old and been gathering dust!

I also wanted to use some old paperartsy flower stamps so have gone for a full on summer vibe.

A4 white die cut card base.  I then made my own blue sky background which you can see at the end of the post, this i then die cut with the matt layer dies from the set.

I stamped the flowers with dark blue ink so a bit softer than black and coloured with alcohol markers. I then fussy cut the flowers and got arranging, adhering some flat and some with pinflair glue gel for dimension.  I added them in 2 different bunches so that depending on what angle the card is stood at you mostly see different flowers.

I stamped 2 butterflies in purple, added soft colour, cut out and added to the panels along with 2 flower heads.

The quote was stamped in blue and added to the middle.  Touches of diamond stickles glitter glue added to the flower centres and butterfly wings for a little bit of sparkle to finish. 

The quote 'There are always flowers for those who want to see them' - it was originally a vertical stamp but wouldn't fit the middle panel so by cutting the words up I made it fit😁.

I coloured these flowers more like red poppies.  The foliage was such a fine stamp I didn't fancy fussy cutting so i stamped it in green ink and coloured completely over the top with green alcohol marker and then cut out.  To make my arrangements i cut the heads and stems off some so that i could stick at different angles and make more realistic, the foliage i cut into small pieces and tucked in among the flowers.  

and onto my background below

My background.  I started with a sheet of white A4 and added turquoise and ultramarine brusho powders.  Once completely dry and to soften the vibrancy a little i used an A4 shell stencil with matt lilac acrylic paint.  I then added lots of stamping with various inks and stamps using 1st,2nd&3rd generation stamping - basically just stamping until no ink left on the stamp.  The main text reads 'spread a little happiness wherever you go' this is an aall&create stamp set.

To finish the background i took this sun swirly stencil and used gold acrylic paint, sadly photos don't pick up how shiny it it, but when the light hits it, it adds a subtle bling to the background

Items Used:

Tattered lace A4 shutter die set (very old)

Paperartsy stamps 'JOFY 11' 'JOFY14' 'EKC03'

aall&create stamps #851 'rise&shine #628 'spread a little happiness'

Shell and swirl stencils (?brand?)

Decoart gold paint

Folkart matt paint

Alcohol markers

Brusho powders 'turquoise, ultramarine'

Versafine Clair inks 'medieval blue' 'green oasis''monarch''purple delight'

Ranger stickles 'diamond'

 

Hop over to Creative Creases to see what the talented DT created and to join in with your fancy folds.

When I made this a few weeks ago it was wild, wet & windy so I was thinking of sunnier days, since then my mojo has gone on holiday...hopefully it returns soon as I do have birthdays to make for!  Its been beautiful weather last couple of weeks in Cornwall - windy but that is ideal for drying the washing as long as you add plenty of pegs😁 And hat it definitely needed for my walks but it was beautifully and sunny so you can forgive the wind.  I hope you all have a wonderful month of May. Emma

 

Id love to also enter the following:

https://www.simplyellibelle.com/2026/04/ellibelles-garden-party-no-14-anything.html

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https://do-allkreatives.blogspot.com/2026/05/113-blumen-als-blickfang.html

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https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/05/miucb-83-anything-goes-optional-stamp.html - stamped background

 

WLS April #2 - Spring

Good Morning everyone

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

SPRING

Or we always have the anything goes option as long as you use stamping

This is the 2nd outing for this beautiful carabelle sparrow stamp this month, very seasonal with the cherry blossom I think.  

7x7" scalloped card blank

I first stamped the sparrow stamp onto white card with dark blue ink & watercoloured with derwent inktense pencils and cut out - it is one stamp but by stamping the floral part several times its given me more scope and creativity. 

I took a piece of 12x12" spring paper and matted onto pink mirri card and then  the card front.  I die cut a frame from white card and adhered to the front with 2mm foam tape....before adhering i worked out where to stamp the sparrow words and stamped these direct onto the paper and then adhered the frame.

I had previously die cut snippets of inked backgrounds into foliage which has mica onto it so shimmers in the light and arranged these along with the sparrow and cherry blossoms.

Just a close up.  It wasn't until after it was made I realised I didn't make too good a choice with my placement on the backing paper - that line down through the wording is part of a woodplank print....all Id concentrated on was avoiding the areas with lots of print 😦  

I added the sparrow and blossoms with pinflair glue gel for dimension and shape.  

 

Items Used:

Carabelle studio stamp SA60534E 'Field bird #3'

13@rts 12x12 paper pad 'pastel spring'

Foliage dies

Derwent inktense pencils

Craft consortium pink mirror card

Cosmic shimmer airless misters pearl green & yellow

We have these lovely stamps from lavinia for the lucky winner this month so hop over to We Love Stamping to join in with your stamped creations.

Id love to enter the following:

 

https://inspirationstationchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/04/inspiration-station-challenge-april.html - inspired by the colours and flowers

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https://lovethoseprettypapers.blogspot.com/2026/04/love-those-pretty-papers-april-2026.html - 13@rts paper pad 'pastel spring'

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https://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.com/2026/04/challenge-135-layer-it-up.html

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https://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com/2026/04/challenge-276-anything-goes-woptional.html

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https://www.simplyellibelle.com/2026/04/ellibelles-garden-party-no-14-anything.html

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https://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2026/04/challenge-188-anything-spring.html

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WLS Jan #1 - something new

Good Morning everyone and welcome to 2026

I hope you all had a good Christmas and wishing you all a Happy & Healthy New Year.   All those months of build up to Christmas and its over in a flash

Its time for the first challenge of the year over at We Love Stamping and the theme is fairly simple 

SOMETHING NEW

So could be new baby card, happy new year or in my case a new stamp set

I bought this stamp set purposely as the girl looks exactly like my oldest niece Sophie, she is super tall and legs like bean poles with long flowing hair so I thought the image would be perfect for her birthday card.  She was 14 in December.

Card size 6x5"     I found a funky paper pad in my stash that is perfect for a teenager and predominately Sophie's fav colour of greeny blue.  To make the most of the papers I decided to do a fancy fold.   

Black card base - I simply folded the front of the card in half back on itself. I cut the papers to size for each panel, edged with a black pen, matted onto solid teal paper and then the black card base. I added border strips of the paper across the front to break it up a bit.

 I stamped the girl onto white card, one of the pink papers and one green paper and paper pieced the top and skirt onto the white version.  I coloured her hair with alcohol markers and used a satin alcohol marker for her skin - Sophie has very very pale skin - like me - they used to say Id been moon bathing!😁. I then cut around the image leaving a white edge, which I don't normally do but in this case felt it would help the image stand out a bit against the busy patterns.

Die cut the sentiment from pink paper and added a drop shadow die cut from the black, this i matted onto a vellum circle.  Gel heart stickers added to the corners to finish.

Here she is...Sophie is expressive with her hands also so loved that the image had attitude with her hands

I used a vellum circle to add the sentiment as it just softens the busy pattern enough to help the sentiment stand out but doesn't actually hide any of the paper.  Sophie likes writing affirmations so the paper is ideal for her....I knew Id kept this paper pad 10+yrs for a reason....eventually the perfect occasion comes along😁

And the back of the card a place to write, I took a piece of solid pale pink paper and stamped the sentiment and added off cuts of papers used on the front to the bottom to tie it all together.

Items Used:

 Jane Davenport stamps CEJDCS003 'Dreamy days'

woodware birthday sentiment stamp

Birthday sentiment die

Circle dies

6x6 Paper pad My Minds eye 'Jubilee - wild berry' (very old!)

Vellum

Black cardstock

gel heart gems

We have these fabulous prizes for the lucky winner

Various dies from Tonic - may vary to picture

A voucher for overseas winners

So hop over to We Love Stamping to join in with your stamped creations and be in with a chance of winning.

Thank you for stopping by. Emmax

Id love to enter the following:

https://girlzcreativefunartofscrap.blogspot.com/2025/12/challenge-17.html

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https://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.com/2026/01/challenge-132-something-new.html - my stamp is new

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https://kraftychickschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/01/krafty-chicks-challenge-801-birthday.html

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https://lovethoseprettypapers.blogspot.com/2026/01/atg-using-pretty-patterned-paper.html

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Deck the halls

Good Morning everyone

Today im sharing my last Christmas design of the year, a couple of cards made using this beautiful stamp i was given a couple of birthdays ago, Ive gone with a different colour combo for Christmas of teal and purple - just because I can😁

I stamped onto white linen card which has been a nightmare to photograph without it going all funny so i apologise for the dodgy photos!

A6 white linen card base.  I stamped the image onto white linen card with versafine clair ink 'warm breeze' I watercoloured the bird and berries with Derwent inktense pencils and added a touch of colour to the leaves.  I die cut into a rectangle with X-stitched edged die.  I stamped the image again, just inking the sentiment banner and stamped into it with one of the sentiments on the stamp set with 'purple delight' ink, cut out and decoupaged onto the main image.

I found a printed snowflake paper in teal and purple pearl cardstock die cut both with nested X-stitch dies, added across the middle of my card front and then adhered the topper panel with foam tape for a little dimension

To finish I added glitter glue to the poinsettia and the birds hat for a bit of festive sparkle and glossy accents to the berries.

Version 2, the same but different, this time another sentiment in the set and snowfall paper

You can see it a bit clearer at this angle without the linen going all weird!  

For the patterned strip across the middle, its not actually a full strip as the dies weren't long enough as they actually nest into the one i used for the topper, so i just cut the panel in half and glued into place, with the topper on top no one knows any different - it also means only need small scraps of paper too.

Items Used:

Lil inker stamp 'Tis the season'

MFT Xstitch rectangle die set

versafine clair inks 'warm breeze' & 'Purple delight' 

Derwent inktense pencils

CraftUK ltd white linen card

Purple card

Teal snowflake papers - old pad from 'The Works'

So I had a phone call end of last week from the eye infirmary and a cancellation spot for my eye laser treatment so that was very last minute and the best Christmas gift...didn't quite go to plan so have to leave my eyes 3 months to heal and have it done again but it worked enough to relieve the pressure so they are no longer close to rupture and the pain and sight loss should improve so fingers crossed....early days but hopefully day by day they improve.  Back to hospital for my next MS treatment today so hopefully thats all the hospital visits for the year.

Thank you for all your support and comments on my blog this year, especially when i haven't been the best blog buddy keeping up with you all. Wishing you all a Happy Christmas & A Healthy & Peaceful new year.  Big hugs Emmaxxx

Id love to enter the first card in the following:

https://creativeknockouts.blogspot.com/2025/12/561-december-18-tis-season-polkadoodles.html

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https://kraftychickschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/12/krafty-chicks-challenge-799-cas.html

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https://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/2025/12/christmas-card-838.html

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https://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/2025/12/121025-anything-christmas.html

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https://dd-tripleb.blogspot.com/2025/12/december-2025-challenge.html

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https://peaceonearthchristmas.blogspot.com/2025/12/peace-on-earth-challenge-102.html

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