Happy Birthday, Chrissie!

Hi there

At Less is More this week we have a very special challenge.  Our lovely 'boss', Chrissie, is celebrating her birthday this weekend and will be 70 years young tomorrow!

So our challenge this week is dedicated to her and our theme is...

Snippets for Chrissie!

We want you to use bits and pieces, leftovers on your cards this week.  We all have those sitting on our craft desk or popped in a box somewhere so here's a great opportunity to put them to good use.

We also have a fabulous Guest Designer joining us this week, and who better for this challenge than the wonderful Di of Pixie's Crafty Workshop.  Over at Pixie's Crafty Workshop Di runs a regular challenge called Pixie's Snippets Playground where the idea is exactly this, to create something by using up any little bits from your stash.


So onto my card...

I matted and layered a white cardstock panel onto some bright pink to create a frame.  I also stamped a banner in pink on a snippet of white cardstock and die cut this using it's co-ordinating die.  The 'flower' actually started its life as a butterfly die!  I saw this die at a craft show last month and loved how intricate it was.  I've die cut the butterfly four times from snippets of silver mirri card I've had in my stash for as long as I can remember.  The lower wings were then snipped off and arranged before being adhered together to create the flower petals.

This is what the two part die cut looked like before I trimmed it up...

This took quite some time to figure out the best layout but I'm really happy with the final result.  Each set of two lower wings were then adhered to the card base to create the flower and the banner was popped up on 3D foam over the top.

Materials used:

• Dies: Britannia Dies - Large Elvendene Butterfly; Clearly Besotted - Mini Basic Banners Die
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Mini Banners
• Ink: Versa Color - Raspberry

I'd like to link up at the following challenges:

CAS(E) this Sketch - Challenge #133

A Gem of a Challenge - Challenge #149 - Birthday Wishes
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Edit:
Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 186 (I wasn't sure on the timings of Di's challenge but I can just about sneak in the door before this week's linky closes. Phew!)


I hope you'll join us this week to celebrate Chrissie's special day and I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow, Chrissie xx

Uniko Challenge - Guest Designer! Have you joined us yet?

Good morning

I'm super lucky to be back for a second week as Guest Designer at Uniko and to bring you a mid-challenge reminder about the current challenge they have running.

There is still another week to enter as the challenge runs until the end of the month and the theme we have for you is...

Black and White with the optional twist of a Splash of Colour

The Design Team have lots more inspiration for you over at Uniko and I've also had some more fun playing along.  Here's my card...

I adhered some black cardstock to my card base and then cut a white panel at an angle.  I then built up the vine pattern by stamping in black and turquoise along the edge of the panel and added the sentiment.  The white panel was adhered flat.  Super simple :)

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko Studio - Background Builders Vines and Pure Florals Gerbera (sentiment)
• Ink: Versafine - Onxy Black; Versa Color - Turquoise

I've used Uniko stamps on my card but you don't have to if you want to play along.  There are some great prizes so why not join us...

The Prizes

The DT will choose a winner who will get a £10 gift voucher.

The DT will choose a top 3 who will get 50 Loyalty Reward Points added to their customer account.

There will be a random draw for those who used a Uniko stamp and this winner will get 150 Loyalty Reward Points added to their customer account.

There will be a random draw for those who twist with us (splash of colour) and they will receive 100 Loyalty Reward Points added to their customer account.

I'm also going to link my card up at the following challenge:

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - No Designer Paper

Have a wonderful day whatever you're up too.  I'm off to work but I can see the weekend from here (if I stand on tippy toes!) 

Addicted to Stamps and More #154

It's time for my fortnightly midnight post which means there's a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More.  We follow a regular rota for our challenge themes so this week brings us to my favourite of our challenges which is...

Addicted to CAS

(clean and simple)

We have two sponsors this week:

Deedee's Digis - a $15 coupon is up for grabs

Rosey Hearts - the prize is for 5 free digis

Here's my DT card...

On some white cardstock I blended Distress Ink in Abandoned Coral to create an ombre panel fading from dark to light, and then used this to die cut my poppies.  On my card base I applied some white embossing paste through a dotty stencil and was very patient and left it to dry!  I then simply stamped the sentiment in the same ink, adhered the die cut over the paste and added some glossy gems to finish.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Abandoned Coral
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Miniature Floral Collection
• Die: Poppy Stamps - Arched Poppy
• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Dot Fade
• Embossing Paste: Dreamweaver - white

Challenge entries:

Dream Valley - Challenge #111 - Embossing Wet or Dry

CAS-ual Fridays - Challenge #141 - Embossing

Crazy for Challenges - Challenge #293 - Monochromatic

Happy Little Stampers - July Sketch Challenge

There are some stunning projects in our DT gallery this week, my teamies have done some wonderful work with their CAS creations. I'd love for you to pop by and leave them some love.

Thanks for visiting as always.

CASology Guest Designer!

Hi there

I was absolutely delighted to win a recent challenge at CASology and thrilled when I received Melissa's email inviting me to guest design at CASology once again.  I love CAS designs so this challenge is right up my street and I love to join in when I can.

So, this week's challenge has just gone live and this is the cue word this week...

I had a few ideas flying around in my brain, some of which were better in theory than in practice.  I did end up making two cards to share with you though.  Here's the first one...

I blended three Distress Inks across my card base, one of which is my new fave shade, Abandoned Coral.  I then took a panel of white cardstock and die cut the pierced border to split it into two parts.  I placed them back together to stamp the flower, to ensure the stem was straight, and then stamped the sentiment.  I adhered the panels flat to the card base, leaving a gap for the 'line' of blended ink to show through.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Abandoned Coral, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Flower Arrangement
• Die: Avery Elle - Dotted Borders Die

Challenge entry:

Sketch Saturday - Week #370

Here's my second card using the word 'line' as my inspiration...

I used a stamp by Lawn Fawn which is one line which forms a curvy line and sentiment.  I thought it looked like the wire for a string of lights so I stamped little bulbs along it.  The bulb and screw fixing is one stamp so I used my ink cubes to first stamp the thread part in silver, and then the main bulb in blue, green and red.  I then added Glossy Accents to each bulb for some shine.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Scripty Sayings; Card-io Majestix - Deck the Hall
• Ink: Versa Color - Silver, Camelia, Green, Royal Blue; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Accents: Glossy Accents

Challenge entry:

One Layer Simplicity - Challenge #18 - Sparkle and Shine

Thanks for visiting today.  I'm sure if you pop over to CASology there is lots more inspiration for you, those DT ladies are super talented.  Thanks again to Melissa for inviting me :) x

Muse #125 - Fabulous Friend

Hi there

You may recall I recently shared the wonderful news that I am a happy new member of the Design Team at Muse.  Well today, it's my first time at being your Muse for the week!

I'm so excited at joining this team as Muse holds a very dear place in my heart.  Back in March 2013 it was on this challenge that I gained my very first recognition since I started blogging, for this card!  I also love this challenge as it's voted for by your fellow participants, so everyone gets their say :)

The idea at Muse is to use the Designer's card as the inspiration for your creation.  You can interpret it as you wish; using the colours, layout, techniques, etc.

Here's my card...

I stamped the dots on my card base and then masked this off to stamp the elements to create the doodle flowers.  I've seen lots of these quirky doodle flowers being used and I love them, these are from a stamp set by Woodware that I picked up at a craft show last month.  I then created the die cut sentiment strip.  This was actually a rectangle die but I used it to create a panel by just die cutting the edges.  I stamped the simple sentiment and adhered this flat to the card.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Woodware - Doodle a Flower; Clearly Besotted - Background Builder and A Little Sentimental
• Ink: Versa Color - Lauren Leaf, Celadon, Raspberry, Heliotrope; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: MFT Die-namics - In and Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangles

I'm linking up at these challenges:

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - No Designer Paper

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #133 - Anything Goes

I'd love to see how you interpret my design.  Lots of options here: colours, scribbly images, dotted panel, diagonal stitching...

Hope to see you there.

Hey There!

Hi guys

I've been busy today and I'm back with another card, this time to sneak in on the Picture Perfect challenge over at Paper Smooches Sparks before the doors close.

When I saw this challenge I knew I had just the stamps for it.  If you saw my pebble wedding card here, the birds I've used on this card are from the same set from Inkwell Stamps.  So, I've combined them with some stamps from Paper Smooches and Clearly Besotted to create this card, based on the inspiration picture shown below...

On a panel slightly smaller than my card base, all the elements were individual stamped, and the birds were then coloured with FlexMarkers.  I mounted the panel on 3D foam strips.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Paper Smooches - Shadows and Sentiment Sampler; Inkwell Stamps - Pebbles Celebrations; Clearly Besotted - Paired Up
• Ink: Versa Color - Sky Gray, Pinecone, Bamboo; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Coloured with FlexMarkers

Here's the inspiration photo...

Challenge entries:

Paper Smooches Sparks - July 12-18 Picture Perfect Challenge

Virginia's View - Challenge #16 - 100% Stamped

Time Out Challenges - Challenge #35 - Nature with optional twist of Animals

Stamping Sensations - July Challenge - Feature a Creature

Thanks for popping by.  I've got more to create over the next day or two so I'll be back soon with more to share.

Get Well Daisies

Hi there

I couldn't let this week pass by without playing along at Muse after seeing Ardyth's wonderful card this week...I just love it!

Here's my card, and Ardyth's beauty is further down in the post so you'll be able to see how I was inspired.

My first attempt at this card went in the bin.  I attempted to use distress inks to watercolour the sky and grass but it just wasn't happening so I started again.  I started with some blue and green cardstock panels and after butting up the clean edges I adhered these together on the reverse.  After removing the static with powder I then stamped the daisies in VersaMark across the two panels and heat embossed with black powder.  Of course, my daisy petals were then blue!  So, I coloured these in with a white Derwent Inktense pencil and the flower centres with yellow and orange.  The sentiment was stamped and I then trimmed down the panel and adhered it flat to my card.

Materials used:

• Cardstock: Papermania - Solid Cardstock (blue and green)
• Stamps: Inkwell Stamps - Pebbles Allsorts; Paper Smooches - Sentiment Sampler
• Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Stampin' Up - Black
• Coloured with Derwent Inktense pencils

Here's is Ardyth's great card, I don't think I need to explain how I was inspired!

Obviously, as I'm now on the Design Team at Muse I'm only playing along for fun but I'd also like to enter my card at the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - No Designer Paper

Fantasy Stampers - Challenge #41 - Pretty Petals

CAS-ual Fridays - Challenge #141 - Embossing

Thanks for looking, I'll be back shortly with another card I've made to squeeze in the door at another challenge!

Life's a Beach

Happy Saturday fellow crafters!

It's time for a brand new challenge at Less is More.  We had some wonderful entries over the last week...I think our super tough one layer masculine theme really challenged a lot of us so thanks for taking the time to enter.

So this week we're back with a theme challenge.  For many of us we are right in the middle of summer (although for the last few days the sun has been hiding a little in my part of the world), so our theme this week is...

Life's a Beach

Feel free to interpret this how you like but please remember to keep your projects clean and simple with some white space.

I've got two cards to share with you this week...

For my first card I started with some white cardstock and inked up the brush stroke stamp in rows using three different shades, stamping off first for some to create a paler impression.  I wanted to portray the sky, sea and sand.  I then stamped over this with the parent and child silhouette in black.  I die cut this with a rectangular die and matted onto some co-ordinating blue cardstock.  This was adhered on 3D foam and the sentiment simply stamped below.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Work of Art; Hero Arts - Share Laughter; Clear Impressions - Sea Breeze (free with a publication)
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Sky Blue, Cyan, Bisque
• Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Classic Rectangles

Challenge entries:

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #382 - Water

Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge #143 - Water

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes

My second card...

I squished two different Distress Inks onto my acrylic block, spritzed with water and then stamped this onto some watercolour card.  Once dry I removed any static with my EK Success Powder Tool and then stamped the starfish and sentiment in VersaMark Ink before heat embossing with gold powder.  I cut the card down to make a vertical panel and wiped my VersaMark pad along the edges before heat embossing once again with gold powder.  The panel was then simply adhered to the card base.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Mermaid Lagoon and Antique Linen; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich
• Stamps: Clear Impressions - Sea Breeze (free with a publication); Clearly Besotted - Twinkle Toes

Challenge entries:

CAS-ual Fridays - Challenge #141 - Embossing

Time Out Challenges - Challenge #35 - Nature with Optional Twist of Animals

Stamping Sensations - July Challenge - Feature a Creature

My fellow teamies also have some wonderful inspiration at Less is More and on their own blogs so please be lovely and pay them a visit.

Thanks for popping by.  I have a few posts planned over the next few days so I'd love to see you again soon.  Have a wonderful weekend :)

Uniko Challenge - Guest Designer!

Good morning lovelies

Today I'm really excited to be taking part as a Guest Designer over at Uniko Studio for their latest challenge which is going live right now!  I love Bev's stamp designs so it was an honour and a complete no-brainer when she asked if I'd like to join in with the team.

(have you seen the new logo? Isn't it fab?!)

So, without further ado, here are the details of this month's challenge...

Black and White with an optional twist of a Splash of Colour

(doesn't have to be pink - I just thought it would look pretty on my blog post! lol)

Here's my card...

On a white cardstock panel I stamped the flower heads in black, stamping off the edge.  I used my EK Success Powder Tool over the panel to remove any static and then stamped the flower centres and the sentiment in pink pigment ink, and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I matted the panel onto some bright pink cardstock and then adhered flat to the card base.  A few black gems were added to finish.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko Studio - Flower Power #5, Pure Florals - Cosmos
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versa Color - Opera Pink
• Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede - Clear
• Accents: Hobbycraft - Black Gemstones

I'm going to link up at the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes

CAS-ual Fridays - Challenge #141 - Embossing

Please pop over to the Uniko blog here where the awesome Design Team are sharing some wonderful creations and you can find out all the details of the challenge and all about the PRIZES on offer!

The challenge will run until the end of the month so there's plenty of time to enter, looking forward to seeing you there!

Less is More Week 232

Good morning crafters

We've whizzed around to Saturday morning again which means it's time for a brand new challenge at Less is More.  And this week we're back with another One Layer Challenge and our theme is...

Masculine

Please ensure you read our guidelines if you're unsure of our rules.

I used to panic at the thought of creating one layer cards but I actually love creating them now.  A lot of my cards evolve as I go but with one layer cards you need to pretty much have the finished design in your mind before you start as there's nowhere to hide!

I've got three cards to share with you today.  I have literally no masculine cards in my stock so decided to create a few while I wasn't in pretty mode! haha

I masked a horizontal panel and blended Distress Inks in three colours.  I then used the ghosting technique by laying a stencil over the panel, spritzed with water and removed the stencil then blotted with kitchen paper to remove the colour.  The sentiment was stamped in Versafine Smokey Gray.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Pumice Stone, Walnut Stain, Faded Jeans; Versafine - Smokey Gray
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Sentimental Type
• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Splatters

Challenge entries:

Crazy 4 Challenges - Challenge #290 - Masculine
Loves Rubberstamps - Challenge #159 - Anything Goes
Inkspirational - Challenge #86 - Grunge

My second card...

For this card I used a different part of the same stencil and blended through with three different Distress Inks.  The sentiment was then simply stamped over the top.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Inks: Barn Door, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Splatters
• Stamp: Stampin' Up - Sassy Salutations

Challenge entry:

CASology - Week 154 - Repeat

My third card...

I remembered a card that Jen Nelson had created from my early days in blogland where she used tone on tone colouring on kraft, here.  I think this one sticks in my mind as it was the very first time I entered a card at Less is More!  I chose some neutral coloured cardstock and stamped the plane directly onto the card base.  I added just a little colour in two co-ordinating FlexMarkers, stamped the sentiment and then added some simple score lines in opposite corners to add some interest.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Need for Speed; Clearly Besotted - Many Mini Sentiments
• Ink: Memento - Rich Cocoa
• FlexMarkers: Champagne and Sandstone

Challenge entry:

Crazy 4 Challenges - Challenge #293 - Monochromatic

I think most of us will agree that guy cards are the toughest to create so why not have a go and get a card or two in your stock.  I hope you'll join us and can't wait to see your creations in our gallery this week.

Addicted to Stamps and More #152

Hi guys

We're back with a brand new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More.  So, our sequence of challenge themes brings us to our regular challenge...

Make Your Mark

Please use anything on your project that makes a mark such as markers, paints, chalks, watercolour, etc.

Our sponsor this week is Sweet Pea Stamps and the prize on offer is 4 digis!

So, on to my DT card.  At a recent visit to the Sincerely Yours Papercraft Show I discovered a stamp company called Inkwell Stamps and they have recently launched a range of stamp sets called 'Pebbles'.  They are really different to anything I've seen...

I stamped the rocks, the bride and groom and the sentiment in grey ink and simply coloured the whole image with one FlexMarker, increasing the depth of colour on the right hand side.  I layered up the white panel onto some co-ordinating cardstock and adhered to the card base with 3D foam strips.  I adhered three tiny die cut hearts and accented these and the bride with clear Wink of Stella to add a gentle sparkle.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Inkwell Stamps - Pebbles Celebrations
• Ink: Memento - London Fog
• Coloured with FlexMarker - Sea Mist
• Die: Clearly Besotted - Recipe for Love
• Accent: Wink of Stella - Clear

Challenge entries:

Ooh La La Creations - Challenge #184 - All That Glitters
Crazy for Challenges - Challenge #293 - Monochromatic
Loves Rubberstamps - Challenge #159 - Anything Goes


We have a wonderful selection of cards to inspire you created by my fellow teamies over at ATSM so please feel free to pop over and have a look.

That's all for now, I hope to see you soon.

Wedding Acceptance

Hi there

I have another card to share with you, a very simple wedding acceptance I recently made.  The wedding invitation had a colour theme of navy and silver so I wanted to send a reply that used the same colour combo.

I stamped the flourish on a panel of white cardstock using dark blue ink.  Below this I stamped the sentiment in VersaMark ink and then heat embossed with silver powder.  I mounted the panel on some dark blue card and left a very slim frame.  This was adhered to the card base and I added a few glazed gems to the flourish.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Mr and Mrs; Uniko Studio - Flower Power #7 (sentiment)
• Ink: Versa Color - Neptune; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede - Silver
• Accents: Gems from stash

That's all for now.  If I have chance to create anything today I may be back again later.  Have a lovely Sunday whatever you're up to.

Two Step Stamping With Love

Good morning

Today I have a card for you that I made a while ago but never shared.  So, I'll get straight to it...

On a white cardstock panel I stamped the brush strokes in three different green/grey shades.  Then over this I stamped the stems, and then the flower heads which are created with two-step stamping.  In my case though, my two-step stamping actually ended up being about six-step stamping as, although I was using my Stamp-a-ma-jig I couldn't get the flaming thing to line up, very frustrating after stamping all the other elements first each time!  This was my last attempt before I was going to give up! lol  Just a simple 'with love' sentiment was added so it was a suitable card for a few different occasions.  Just card, stamps and ink, nothing else added.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Field Flowers and Work of Art
• Ink: Versa Color - Sage, Laurel Leaf, Sky Gray, Olive, Amethyst, Grape; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Crafty Catz - Challenge #286 - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations - Challenge #320 - Anything Goes
Virginia's View - Challenge #16 - 100% Stamped

Thanks for stopping by, I'll be back shortly with another card I made recently but haven't yet shared.