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

Framed again for the Country View Crafts April challenge

  Hi everyone I am here today with my 2nd design team make to hopefully inspire you to join our April challenge. The theme this month is "frame it." 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 over 380 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.

I made a special card for my parents recent 70th (platinum) anniversary. Not only did I frame the flowers but I hoped it would be a worthy card for them to frame if they wanted to!

This is how I made it;

I used a background from my stash and stamped over it with my Tiny toadstools and Field notes stamp sets with Acorn Versafine Clair ink. I added some collage strips. 

I made a frame for the wildflower dies cuts using my 3D floral frame which I cut in white card and added embossing glazes. 

I then added some scraps and the wreath from Tim's vault foliage wreath set. 

These all framed my flowers 

I also used Tim's silhouette birds, some Tim Ephemera,  stacked hearts and Numbers dies, adding Foundry wax to the numbers. 

Here is my finished card again.

 I have linked to products available on the website in 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 "Frame it " challenge a go. There is a  fab prize up for grabs too for one randomly selected and you can enter up to 5 times. Enjoy the rest of the month and have a very peaceful Easter too.

Bye for now,

Jane x

Afternoon tea anyone?

 Hi everyone, and welcome to my latest design team make for Visible Image. The theme for our makes this week is "friendship". 

My favourite beverage is tea and the blacker the better. There is nothing quite like catching up with my friends over a cuppa and indulging in a slice of cake with it, is even better.  I decided make a card using  the Afternoon tea set with the  Splash stencil. This stamp set is full of fun tea and cake themed images, there is even a fork and a tea bag. The sentiments it contains are delightful too. 

This is how I made it;

I cut a piece of smooth white card to a 5 1/4" square and blended salvaged patina, squeezed lemonade and worn lipstick distress inks onto it. Then I added some drips of water, blotted and dried the background with a heat gun (or you can leave it to air dry).

Using the Splash stencil I blended the same 3 inks through the stencil onto the background. 

This is how it looked after adding the extra inks. 

Once dry I stamped my design, for placement on the background. I used Versafine clair nocturne ink and clear heat embossed everything.

I stamped the teapot and cup again onto red card and the knife onto silver and cut them out.

The cake was stamped twice onto inky mop up card and cut out.

I cut out just the cake from the top image and stuck it over the "blue" cake. I added some glitter pen to create the "jam" and "cream".

I cut out the the fork too and added some white pen detailing to the cup, teapot and plate.

I then adhered these images over those on the background. 

I stamped the sentiments onto white card, cut around them.

and stuck them in place. 

I also added some stickles glitter glue to the cake icing for some extra sparkle. 

Here it is finished;

The above friendship card, for me, is worth the effort of the extra decoupaged detailing, but I also made this non decoupaged version below which I just coloured directly with watercolour pencils. So if you would like to make a quicker version you can. Simply stamp the background with the design I have shared and colour using your favourite medium. 

This is fun card to send to a friend who you might not have seen for a while and need to catch up with...over a cuppa! And of course a slice of cake would make that date extra special. 

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. 

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 

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

A happy Visible Image new year!

Good morning everyone and a very happy new year! Here we are in 2025...25 years since the millennium celebrations which I feel were about 10 years ago! However a whole quarter of a century has flown by.  I am here today to share my first design team make of the new year for Visible Image. The theme for our makes this week is "new year resolutions/positive affirmations". I thought that the "One kind word" stamp set would work perfectly. A new year is certainly a good time to "write the next chapter" and remind those we care about how much they are loved.

 This is my card

I made it using the following products;

One kind word

plus the mesh heart stencil

And this is how I made it;

 I used a background from my stash made using wilted violet, mermaid lagoon and salty ocean distress spray stains. I cut it to 5 1/4" square. 

I stamped and clear heat embossed the typewriter twice onto white card. I used Versafine clair ink for all my stamping. I cut one out completely and just the paper on the 2nd.

I found the placement for the stencil by laying the typewrite in place. 

I then removed the image and blended lumberjack plaid distress ink through the stencil.

Next I stamped the sentiment the letters flourish 3 times as shown below. 

I stamped the words on the spare cut out typewriter paper. I glued it in place adding a foam square behind to give some dimension. 

I then repeat stamped the small hearts in the set over the background and added my signature sequins as a finishing touch. 

This could be a great card to send someone who might have had a tough year last year. It would let them know how much they are loved and that you are wishing a better 2025 for them. 

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 150 members, worldwide, have taken part since it started over 3 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. So the next swap sign up will open on 23rd January.  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

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and that 2025 is kind to you and yours. 

Bye for now,

Jane x

Christmas with Country View challenges

Hi everyone I can't believe we have reached the final challenge of 2024 over in our Country View Crafts challenges Facebook group.  The theme is of course "Christmas" and we can't wait to see all you festive entries. 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 over 350 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 or brands which are stocked on the Country View Website.

This is the first of my 2 DT Christmas makes. I made it using all Tim Holtz products

and this is how I made it.

I used the awesome Mr Frostie stamp set.

I stamped him and fussy cut him out. I also stamped the scarf onto a piece of Tim's patterned paper and cut that out too.

I added the scarf and coloured him with distress pencils. 

For the background I used an ancient Tim embossing folder on white card. I coloured it with distress inks

I then added some distress spritz for a little festive sparkle

To put the card together I matted the background onto red card with some die cut snowflakes and starts. The sentiment was stamped onto white card and distressed around the edges.

Remember 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 might have inspired you to give our "Christmas" challenge a go. There is a fab prize up for grabs too for one randomly selected and you can enter up to 5 times!

This is the prize, none less that  a free space to attend Zoe Hillman's creative workshop at CVC HQ next year.

I will be back with my 2nd festive DT make on 22nd. I hope you are enjoying the run up to the big day? 

Bye for now,

Jane x