When is a sunflower a dahlia?

 Hi everyone, it's time for my next blogged design team make for Visible Image. We have been given free choice for this week so I thought I would make something summer garden inspired. I love dahlias, my granddad always grew them and there are now so many beautiful vibrant colours. I used the lovely Sunflower Grunge stamp set and transformed the sunflower into a dahlia. My granddad's dahlias were grown up against the garden wall so I also used the uber versatile Distressed Brick stencil to make this summery birthday card.

Photo 1

This is how I made it;

I taped the distressed brick stencil over a piece of square white smooth card. 

Photo 2

Using worn lipstick and frayed burlap distress inks I blended the colours randomly through the stencil using a round blending tool. 

Photo 3

I stamped the sunflower onto a scrap of white card using black Versafine Clair ink and clear heat embossed it. I then coloured the image using distress watercolour pencils. You don't need to be too precise as it is then cut out. 

Photo 4

I stamped the sentiments into the gaps between the bricks and stamped the sunflower in place ready to adhere the cut out flower on top.

Photo 5 

Below shows the cut out "dahlia" in place. For finishing touches I repeat stamped the little dots stamp and then added Stickles red glitter glue to the flower and randomly over the card.

Photo 6 

Photo 7

I'm hoping I have shown you how easy it is transform the sunflower into a dahlia. You could make this in so many different colour ways too. And if you enclosed a gardening gift voucher inside it would make the perfect personalised Birthday present for a gardening friend.

Photo 8

All the Visible Image links are listed below;

Our kind, friendly and supportive customer Facebook Group is here ...it would be lovely to see you join us. You will be warmly welcomed and see lots of inspiration from the DT and customers to inspire your own creativity.  I also organize the monthly artist trading card swap in the group. It is open to everyone worldwide. Over 170 members, worldwide, have taken part since it started over 4 years ago. It's been such fun and it's so lovely to receive a unique piece of art from your partner in the post. The details and sign up for each swap are posted in the group on the 23rd of the month. Our next swap is our 51st.  There is no "monthly" commitment, just join in when you have the time and if you live in the UK can you choose to post to the UK only if that suits you best. Do come over and join us, you will be most warmly welcomed. 

The main Visible Image Facebook business page is here

Their website is here

Visible Image also has its own You Tube channel here where you can see videos and Lives to give you lots of inspiration and ideas. 

Their Instagram page can be found here 

You will also find lots more of my own Visible Image personal makes over in my Instagram account here; @jane.tyrrell

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

The Great outdoors, my theme for our July CVC challenge

   Hi everyone for this month I am the host for our latest challenge over in the Country View Crafts Facebook group. The theme I have chosen for July is "The great outdoors" so think, seaside, gardens, parks, flowers, summer insects, picnics etc. You don't need a blog or an Instagram account, just head over to the group and join in with the fun! The link is Here and if you are not already a member just request to join and we will warmly welcome you. It is also be a place you can be the first to hear about workshops, the latest releases etc etc. We have a happy membership of nearly 400 crafters and we are growing every day. You can enter the challenges up to 5 times as you like as long as you use products from brands which are stocked on the Country View Website. 

For my first design team make I made this garden inspired thank you card.

I am IN LOVE with the Tim Holtz new A5 vault embossing folders and bought all of them. Susan has them and others in stock on the CVC website here. For this make I used the Botanical folder. 

I used a piece of distress inked card from my stash 

I swiped the inside of the folder with mowed lawn distress oxide

and ran it through my Switch.

I made lots of other backgrounds too, it's an amazing folder.

I die cut Tim's detailed butterflies using yupo coloured with alcohol inks. 

I also die cut some flowers and one of the cute notebooks.

I coloured the flowers with distress inks.

I then put my design together. The Thank you is one of Tim's label stickers. Here is my finished card again

with a couple of close ups

I have linked the products I used which are available on the website within my post. If they are not in stock just email Susan, who should be able to order them in for you. 

Remember that you can find me most days over on Instagram Here @jane.tyrrell where I share many, many more makes then I have the time to blog.

I hope I may have inspired you to give our July challenge a go. There is a  fab prize up for grabs too for one randomly selected and you can enter up to 5 times. 

Bye for now,

Jane x