Addicted to Stamps and More #164

Hi there

There's a new challenge just starting at Addicted to Stamps and More.  This is my absolute favourite regular challenge as it is the style I love.  This week were are talking...

Clean and Simple

(clean and crisp lines, minimal or no embellishments and lots of lovely white space)

Our sponsor this week is Sweet Pea Stamps who are offering the prize of 4 digis from the store!

So,  here's my little CAS offering for you this week...

I started by die cutting the stitched rectangular panel.  Sometimes I find it easier to die cut first and then stamp.  I then stamped all the separate elements to make up the flower stem.  The panel was popped up on 3D foam and the sentiment added below in black. Super simple.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Pretty Petals Plus, Say It In Style
• Ink: Versa Color - Olive, Amethyst, Lilac; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: MFT Die-namics - In and Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangles

We would love to see your creations in the gallery this week.  My teamies at ATSM have created some wonderful CAS projects this week so please pop by and leave them some love.

Thanks for visiting today, I hope to see you again soon.

Muse News!

Good morning lovelies!

Muse Card Club has just clocked up a fabulous 400 likes on Facebook so there will be a prize for one randomly selected entry over at this week's challenge.

I'm your muse for the challenge and you can find the current challenge here.

The challenge is open for a couple more days so get creating and join in, you could be our lucky winner.  As a reminder, here is my inspiration card for you once again, you can find the details here...

Thanks for popping by.

Shiny Saturday!

Hi there

It's new challenge time and at Less is More this week we have a fun Recipe challenge for you.  On your creations we would like you to include...

Something Shiny

Please remember to keep you projects clean and simple

How you interpret this is entirely up to you, there are plenty of crafty products/techniques that create shine so we'd love to see where this takes you.  I had fun creating my samples this week, the tricky part was getting photographs to show the shine so I've included quite a few pics this week!


Here's my first...

I started by applying translucent embossing paste through a stencil onto some textured pink cardstock.  It goes on white but dries to a clear shine.  I cut a white cardstock panel slightly smaller than the card base and used a curved dotted die to create the split.  I stamped the sentiment and then cut the embossed pink panel to the same width as the panel and adhered it behind, and then cut the entire panel to size before adhering with 3D foam strips.

Materials used:

• Stencil: MFT - Spring Flowers
• Embossing Paste: Dreamweaver - Translucent
• Die: Avery Elle - Dotted Border Dies
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Sugar & Spice
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entry:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - No Designer Paper



My second sample for you...

I started by blending Distress Inks onto a scrap of white cardstock.  I used a 'happy' word die to cut out the ombre word, and then die cut a few more in plain white.  After a little organisation I adhered the word dies to a white panel, trimmed off the edges and then stamped the birthday sentiment in the gap created between the die cuts.  The panel was adhered on 3D foam and the coloured 'happy' was given the Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents treatment for shimmer and shine.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Inks - Mermaid Lagoon, Peacock Feathers, Evergreen Bough, Mustard Seed; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: Wplus9 - Happy Trio
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Sentimental Type
• Accents: Wink of Stella - Clear; Glossy Accents

Challenge entry:

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes with option of Border Punches or Die Cuts



And finally...

This card is super simple.  On a white cardstock panel I die cut the Loopy Leaf from Paper Smooches, leaving all the cuts in place.  I then stamped the sentiment from Clearly Besotted's Many Mini Messages set.  I then adhered some copper coloured mirri card to the reverse and adhered the small cuts before removing the main leaf die cut, which made it easier to position then correctly.  The panel was then popped up on 3D foam strips.

Materials used:

• Die: Paper Smooches - Loopy Leaf
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Many Mini Messages
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Mirri card from stash

I had great fun making these this week and my teamies have some fab inspiration for you so please, if you have the time, pop along and visit their personal blogs too.

Thanks so much for visiting today :)

Muse #134 - Pastel Bubbles

Hi guys

We've whizzed around to another Monday which means it's time for a new challenge at Muse and I'm delighted to be your muse for this week.

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.  You can find out more about the challenge guidelines here.

After Michelle's fabulous bold design last week I decided to give you a pretty pastel creation for this week's challenge.

I started by stamping the bubble background in VersaMark onto some mixed media paper and heat embossed in white.  I then squished three Distress Inks onto my craft mat and diluted with water before watercolouring them, one at time onto my paper.  When each colour was almost dry I then went back in to add more depth of colour to some of the bubbles.  I cut the panel down and mounted it onto some black cardstock before adhering flat to my card base.  I swirled some fine silver metallic thread into a messy circle and then adhered the die cut 'hello' over it to hold it in place.

Materials used:

• Stamp: Marion Emberson Designs - Bubble Background
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Inks: Salty Ocean, Cracked Pistachio and Spun Sugar
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Cardstock: Daler-Rowney - Mixed Media; Papermania - Premium Textured Cardstock
• Die: Clearly Besotted - Hello Word Die
• Accents: Fine Metallic Silver Thread

Challenge entries:

Crazy 4 Challenges - Challenge #300 - Something that relies on the wind (bubbles)

Sweet Stampin' - Emboss It

Thanks so much for joining me today, and I hope you will play along.

Happy Little Stampers First Release Blog Hop!

Hi there

I'm so lucky to be on the Design Team for Happy Little Stampers and I'm pleased to share the news that they are celebrating the first release of their stamps with a blog hop!


Here's the all important info for you...

You'll need to comment on the HLS blog, and then continue on to each Designer.  You must comment on all the blogs in the hop to be eligible for prizes.

You should have come to me from the lovely Sue's blog.  If you've lost your way, don't worry, just pop back to the Happy Little Stampers blog and continue through the hop from there.

The hop will run for one week, which should give you enough time to visit each of the Designers, discover their creations and leave comments for a chance of winning some fantastic prizes.

THE PRIZES!

GRAND PRIZE

One lucky commenter (selected at random) will win the whole release!  That's four sets of stamps with a value of AUD$69.

MINOR PRIZES

Four lucky commenters (selected at random) will win a gift certificate to the HLS store!

The first card I'm sharing was created using the Mixed Christmas Sentiments set...

I die cut a square from some white cardstock and arranged lots of the different sentiments in varying directions on the die cut.  I then adhered all of these to an acrylic block to hold their positions.  I stamped the holly leaves and berries from a set in my stash in the corner and then removed the static from the surface using a powder tool.  I then stamped two of the images in Versamark and heat embossed in platinum EP, then stamped two more of the images and heat embossed in silver EP, and then finished off with the three remaining sentiments and heat embossed in gold EP.  I adhered the square to a card front on 3D foam and then added some clear Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents to the berries.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Mixed Christmas Sentiments; Clearly Besotted - Holiday Sentiments
• Ink: Versa Color - Evergreen and Cardinal; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Platinum, Metallic Silver and Metallic Gold Rich
• Accents: Wink of Stella - Clear; Glossy Accents

I'd like to enter this card at the following challenges:

Happy Little Stampers - September Christmas Challenge - Holly
Sweet Stampin' - Emboss It
Creative Inspirations - Challenge #327 - Your Favourite Occasion

Just Add Ink - Challenge #280 - Glimmer
Crafty Catz - Challenge #293 - Special Occasion
Simply Create Too - Challenge #94 - Early Holiday Wishes

My second card uses the Bold Birthday Sentiments set...

I removed the static from my cardstock panel with a powder tool and then stamped the 'Happy Birthday' sentiments and a selection of the stars from the same set in VersaMark before heat embossing with white EP.  I then did some ink smooshing with some Distress Inks and water, drying in between each colour.  I then flicked some water droplets over the surface and removed a little of the colour with a paper towel.  The panel was popped up on 3D foam onto the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Bold Birthday Sentiments
• Ink: Versamark; Distress Inks - Picked Raspberry, Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

I'd like to enter this card at the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

I hope you're enjoying the hop and that my cards have given you some inspiration.  This is a great first release with lots of essentials. All the Designers have loved creating with them and I hope we have been able to show you the versatility of all these sets.

The next stop on the hop is the lovely Carol, here.

Here is the full list of Designers in case you get lost along the way...

Happy Little Stampers 
Kylie Purtell

Loll Thompson

Linda Walmsley

LesLee Stone-Rasmus

Gail Townsend

Gloria Lee
Ingrid Blackburn
Birgit Norton
Melissa Lane

Sue Trembeth
Anita Bowden (that's me!)
Carol Steedman
Carol Dunham
Susan Bridgman

Bonnie Klass

Valentyna Komisarenko

Thanks so much for popping by.  I hope you are having fun along the hop and good luck with the prizes!

Let's Get Technical!

Good morning

It's Less is More new challenge time and this week we have a theme challenge for you.  And the theme for this week is...

Technology

Please remember to keep you creations clean and simple.

Not only did I struggle with the theme this week, my creative mojo decided to go for a wander to who knows where!  I did manage to create three cards to share with you though, so here they are...

I stamped the phone in pink and die cut with the co-ordinating die.  The rest of the images were stamped separately in various inks and the headphones onto a white cardstock panel.  I rounded the bottom corners of the card base and the panel to echo the shape of the phone, adhered the phone flat to the panel, and the panel was popped up on 3D foam

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Text Me (and co-ordinating die set)
• Ink: Versa Color - Opera Pink, Canary, Heliotrope, Turquoise, Sky Gray; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Tools: Tonic Corner Rounder

Challenge entries:

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
CAS-ual Fridays - Challenge #143 - Musical



I had the idea for this next card in my mind for a while after I saw the challenge theme.  It took three attempts for me to be able to actually translate it onto a card!

I masked off the V shape with post-its and the curves of the Wi-Fi logo were created using a straight stripe stamp which I manipulated into a curve. The three curves were embossed in platinum embossing powder.  Because I used a textured cardstock the embossing was a little uneven but I actually like the effect it created.  Instead of the usual dot at the bottom of the logo I changed this for a heart and this was also heat embossed.  The coloured cardstock was cut with a stitched rectangle and the computer generated sentiment (font - Frosting for Breakfast) was cut with a tag die.  As I changed the dot for a heart I thought this sentiment could perhaps be used for a Valentine's card, maybe?  A few glazed gems were added to accent.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Basic Stripes; Stampin' Up - Work of Art
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rectangles; Clearly Besotted - Tag Along
• Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
• Accents: Papermania - Glazed Gems

Challenge entries:

Just Add Ink - Challenge #280 - Glimmer


And my third card this week...

I found this cute digi image at Sliekje's Digi Stamps.  The images created by Angelique are gorgeous and have a sketchy feel so I printed this one off and coloured it in, very sketchy, using my Derwent Coloursoft Pencils.  I added a sentiment stamped in black and then cut the image down and framed it on two sides with black cardstock.  I then layered this up with some patterned paper which was cut using some fishtail dies.

Materials used:

• Digi Stamp: Sliekje's Digi Stamps
• Stamp: BoBunny - Sentiments
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with Derwent Coloursoft Pencils
• Patterned Paper: Lawn Fawn - Let's Polka
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Fishtail Flag Stax

Challenge entry:

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Animal Magic



Technology is all around us these days so there should be plenty of ideas to give you some inspiration.  And my LIMette teamies also have some great inspiration for you so if you have the time, please pop by their personal blogs.

That's all from me at the moment, have a fab weekend.

Addicted to Stamps and More #162

Hi there

I'm here to introduce you to this week's new challenge just starting over at Addicted to Stamps and More.  This week we are back with one of our regular themes which is...

Make Your Mark

Your entry must contain the use of anything that can make a mark such as markers, painting, chalks, watercollours, sponges, etc.

Our Sponsor for this week's challenge is QKR Stampede who are offering a prize of 3 digis for one lucky winner.

Here's my DT card...

I cut a white cardstock panel slightly smaller than the card base and used a circular die to cut an aperture.  I knew I wanted to use markers and although my card base is good quality alcohol markers tend to bleed on it so on a piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock I drew around the die to indicate the area in which I was going to stamp my scene.  I recently purchased the Woodland Kisses set from Clearly Besotted and the images are sooooo cute so I couldn't wait to ink it up.  I stamped one image at a time then cut a mask of each before stamping the next so I could make my images appear to be behind each other.  With all the masks still in place I used my ink dusters with Memento inks to create the sky and the grass.  I cut the stamped piece down a little to sit behind my panel and adhered to the card base.  I then stamped the sentiment on the top panel before adhering flat over the top.

Materials used:

• Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Nested Circles
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Woodland Kisses and For Everyone
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Summer Sky, Cottage Ivy; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers

Challenge entries:

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Make a Scene

Time Out - Challenge #39 - Make your Mark

Moving Along with the Times - Challenge #3 - Cute Animal

D J Kard Kreations - NBUS Challenge #5 (new CBS stamp set)

My teamies at ATSM are sharing some wonderful creations this week so there's plenty of inspiration for you.

Thanks so much for popping by.

Have You Joined Us Yet?

Hi guys

I'm here to bring you a little mid-challenge reminder for this month's CAS challenge at Happy Little Stampers where our theme is 'Colouring'.

The challenge will run until the end of the month so there's still a couple of week's to find some crafty time and get your entries in.

I recently purchased just a few Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens so I had another little play with them on this card.

I stamped the floral image onto some watercolour paper with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I then coloured the image in using my Zig pens, blending the colour out with water and a small brush.  I manipulated the sentiment stamp to follow the line of the image and stamped this in green pigment ink.  The panel was mounted onto some dark purple cardstock and then adhered flat to the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Fresh Flowers; Uniko - Flower Power #1 (sentiment)
• Ink: VersaMark; Versa Color - Olive
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Coloured with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens - Deep Green and Violet
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

Daring Cardmakers - Wonderful Watercolours

Time Out - Challenge #39 - Make your Mark

Full details of the challenge can be found over at Happy Little Stampers here and not only are there some example tutorials to link to, there is also a stamp set up for grabs.  We would love to see you in the gallery this month.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Wishing

Morning fellow crafters

I'm so sorry it's been a whole week since my last post, this week has just flown by and apart from the cards in this post I've not managed to find any crafty time :(  That's just how it goes sometimes, I work full-time and some evenings just seem to disappear completely.  Oh well, I'm back now so I hope you won't be too hard on me! ;)

So, on with this post, and 8am on a Saturday can only mean one thing....new challenge time at Less is More.  'Yippee' I hear you cry, but when I tell you we're back to our regular One Layer Challenge you may not be so excited! Haha  And, our one layer challenge theme this week is...

Wishing

Please check out our guidelines here if you are unsure of our rules

So, let's get to it.  Here's my first card to whet your appetite...

I absolutely love these dandelions by Clearly Besotted, they are so dreamy and I always remember blowing dandelions in the wind and making a wish when I was a child.  I simply stamped the images in bright Versa Color pigment inks and then stamped the brushstroke sentiment in black.  Super simple! :) 

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Dandelion Dreams; MFT - Brushstroke Birthday
• Ink: Versa Color - Olive, Magenta, Orange, Violet; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entry:

Crazy 4 Challenges - Challenge #300 - Something that relies on the wind

Now for my second card...

I stamped and masked the images from a very recently purchased stamp set using a waterproof ink and then coloured the images with some Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens and water.  I recently bought just a few of these pens and this was my first time using them, I really like them but a bit more practice is required to get used to them.  I then stamped the sentiment, from the same set, and finished off with a sprinkling of sequins.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Love Quotes II
• Ink: Archival - Jet Black
• Coloured with Zig Clean Color Brush Pens
• Accents: Doodlebug sequins

Challenge entries:

Time Out - Challenge #39 - Make Your Mark
D J Kard Creations - NBUS Challenge #5 - Anything Goes (stamp set and Zig pens are both NBUS!)

And finally, card three...

I used a stitched rectangle die to create my de-bossed frame on my card base.  Within the frame I stamped the cake image and as the image was a sketchy style I decided to colour it in with coloured pencils, then covered in a layer of clear Wink of Stella.  The sentiment was stamped vertically and a few smooth silver gems added to accent.

Materials used:

• Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rectangles
• Stamps: Hero Arts - unknown set; Clearly Besotted - A Little Sentimental
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with Derwent Coloursoft pencils
• Accents: Wink of Stella - Clear; Gems from stash

Challenge entries:

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #140 - Anything Goes

Please drop by and visit my teamies at Less is More as they have lots more to inspire you, and we would love for you to play along this week.

I will definitely be back with more posts this week, let's hope my mojo is helpful too.  Happy Saturday everyone!

Less is More - Week 240 - Colour Challenge

Hi guys

Where on earth did that last week go?  Can you believe it's Less is More new challenge time again?!  And this week we're back with a Colour challenge for you which is...

Green and Gold

I had a hectic week so left making my samples a bit late this week but I have two for you.  Here they are...

On some white cardstock I stamped all the elements separately, first using two green inks and then once dry I stamped the rest in VersaMark and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  I then stamped the sentiment in green pigment ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I die cut the images using a stitched rectangle die.  I then used a straight stitched die three times to create the stitched rows on the card base and then popped the image panel up on 3D foam in the centre.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders Vines Winter Additions, Simply Said Christmas
• Ink: Versa Color - Evergreen and Olive; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich; Rubber Stampede - Clear
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rounded Rectangles; Paper Smooches - Stitched

Challenge entries:

Happy Little Stampers - September Christmas Challenge - Holly
Creative Card Crew - Challenge #95 - Christmas
House of Cards - September Challenge - Stitch it Up
Merry Monday - Challenge #170 - Use Holly



And here's my second sample...

I masked a horizontal panel on the card base and stamped some leaf images and heat embossed in clear.  With the masks still in place I blended some Distress Inks over the top.  I then did some second generation stamping (stamping off first) in green pigment ink using another image from the same set.  I brushed over the panel with some anti static powder and then, using my VersaMark ink pad I swept it up from the bottom edge and down from the top edge.  I then heat embossed using Wow! gold embossing powder.  A simple sentiment stamped in green finished the card.  As this is a one layer card and lots of embossing was involved, it did warp a little so it remained under a heavy book for a while to straighten it out.  Glad it did as this one took some time to create!

Materials used:

• Stamps: Card-io Combinations - Greenery 1; Clearly Besotted - Many Mini Messages
• Ink: VersaMark, Distress Ink - Evergreen Bough, Peeled Paint, Cracked Pistachio and Mowed Lawn; Versa Color - Evergreen
• Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede - Clear; Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich

Challenge entries:

Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge #146 - No Patterned Papers

Crafty Catz - Challenge #291 - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

AAA Card Challenge - Challenge #47 - Spectacular Embossing

Right, I'm off to tidy my table due to the carnage I created after making these two!  Have a fabulous weekend x

Happy Little Stampers - September 2015 CAS Challenge

Hi there

I'm here this evening to introduce this month's CAS challenge over at Happy Little Stampers.  We have a great one for you this month with lots of options for your CAS creations.  We would like you to show us some colouring!

The Happy Little Stampers shop has recently opened and HLS are also sponsoring this challenge

And one lucky winner of this challenge will win this stamp set

We also have a Guest Designer joining us this month, Riti of A Lil Piece of Heaven.  She has some wonderful colouring skills so, if you have the time, please pop over to her blog and leave her some love :) 

So, here's my DT card for this month's challenge...

This stamp set had been on my wish list for quite some time before I ordered it. But I'm so glad I did, I absolutely LOVE it!  There was lots of stamping and masking involved here - it would have been an ideal entry for last month's challenge too!  I coloured the images with my FlexMarkers and originally I had planned on creating a portrait card but I preferred the landscape orientation of the design.  I didn't want to risk messing up the panel when I stamped the sentiment so I stamped the sentiment label onto a scrap of the same white cardstock and adhered it flat to the panel, overhanging the edge, and the panel was popped up on 3D foam strips.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Hennah Elements and Label Love
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Coloured with FlexMarkers

Challenge entry:

My Time to Craft - Challenge #303 - Flowers
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make it Colourful

Thanks so much for visiting today.  And don't forget that Happy Little Stampers also run some other monthly challenges too, a Sketch Challenge (already announced), and a Christmas Challenge (to be announced on 5 September).  We'd love to see you taking part there too.

Addicted to Stamps and More #160

Hi guys

At Addicted to Stamps and More there is another challenge just starting.  Continuing with our sequence of challenges, this week we are back with a...

Photo Inspiration Challenge

You may take any element from the photo that inspires you.  It may be the colours, an image, a theme, etc.

Here's the photo...

Our Sponsor for this week's challenge is Stitchy Bear and the prize up for grabs is 3 images up to the value of $10.

I've used an image from our sponsor for my DT card this week, here it is...

I printed the digi image onto some cardstock, choosing to print it in 'draft' mode to soften the black a little.  I cut the cardstock down to the size I wanted and then stamped the sentiment in charcoal grey.  I didn't want to spend ages colouring my image only to mess up the sentiment at the end (this has happened to me before!).  I then coloured the image with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers.  Next I laid a speckles stencil over the image, masking off around the mushrooms, and then applied some white embossing paste through the stencil to add the dotty texture.  The panel was then matted onto some orange cardstock before adhering flat to the card base.

Materials used:

• Digi Image: Stitchy Bear - Mushroom Delight
• Stamp: Woodware - Salutations
• Ink: Versa Color - Charcoal
• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Speckles
• Embossing Paste: Dreamweaver
• Coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers

I hope you'll be inspired by our photo this week and hope to see you over at ATSM.  My teamies have some great projects to inspire you so why not check these out and leave them some love.

Thanks so much for visiting today.  I'll be back later this evening to tell you about the new challenge at Happy Little Stampers.