CAS with Designer Paper

Hi guys

We've whizzed around to another Saturday morning so it's new challenge time at Less is More.  As there are five Saturdays in April that means this month we have a Lucky Dip challenge for you and our theme is...

Use Designer Paper in a CAS Way

With every Lucky Dip challenge comes a Guest Designer and this week we have one of our fabulous LIMettes, the lovely Esther of The Carnelian Wood.  Esther participates every week and shows so much support by visiting so many of our entries!  It's a pleasure to have you as our Guestie this week, Esther xx


So, this week I have three cards to share with you.  Here's the first...

I wanted to create the look of a wrapped present for this card.  I took some red gingham patterned paper and cut two strips.  I also used a die set to create the bow.  As the bow had a stitched edge detail I used a straight stitched detail die to die cut along both edges of my two strips.  On a white cardstock panel I adhered the two strips and topped with the bow before stamping my sentiment.  The panel was then adhered on 3D foam.  I was really pleased with how this one turned out, it looks so much like gingham ribbon!

Materials used:

• Patterned Paper: Pebbles - Sunny Side
• Dies: Frantic Stamper - Small Solid Bow; Paper Smooches - Stitched
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Celebrating You
• Ink; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #173 - Anything Goes

Time Out - Challenge #55 - Celebrations with optional twist of die cutting/fussy cutting

I used some digi paper for this next card...

I started by printing the designer paper.  I then cut two strips of white cardstock, and a strip of the paper the same length.  I adhered the paper flat to the cardbase and the two white panels on 3D foam.  I then cut the scribble die cut from some pink cardstock and on a strip of green cardstock heat embossed the sentiment in white.  These were then adhered across the aperture.

Materials used:

• Digi Paper: Pink Petticoat - Perfect Papers
• Stamp: Personal Impressions - Mix & Match
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embosssing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Scribble

Challenge entry:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

And a super simple design for my third card...

I die cut the balloon three times from polka dot papers.  I temporarily placed them where I wanted them and stamped the sentiment and strings, then adhered the balloons on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Die: Clearly Besotted - Make a Wish
• Patterned Paper: Lawn Fawn - Let's Polka
• Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Scripty Sayings
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entry:

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

I don't use designer paper nearly enough and I have a fair amount piled up in my stash.  But I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed creating these this week.  Why not have a rummage and join in the fun this week!

Less is More Week #273

Hi there

Happy Saturday and Happy St George's Day!  There's a new Recipe challenge just starting over at Less is More this morning and to celebrate St George's Day we have a very fitting theme for you this week which is...

Saints and Dragons or Heroes

Wow, this was a complete toughie for me this week!  I had very little in my stash that was leaping out at me.  I do have a digi which I was possibly going to use but my printer decided to throw a wobbly and not work for some reason so it was back to my stash to see what I could muster.  All I can say is 'Hallelujah' for Clearly Besotted! haha

So, just one card for you this week and I went down the cutie path...

I started by stamping the little dragon and then masking him apart from his right hand (paw, claw?!).  As a nod to St George's Day I decided to create him holding a red rose, as wearing a red rose is one of the old traditions to celebrate today.  I then completely masked him and the rose before stencilling the burst design to appear behind him (one of my new purchases from the Sincerely Yours papercraft show last weekend!).  I then watercoloured him with some Distress Inks.  This actually started out as a one layer card but I wasn't happy as the dragon and stencil were off centre so I die cut with a stitched rectangle before stamping the sentiment (with my Mini MISTI of course so as not to mess it up!) and then mounted the panel on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Hot Stuff, Je T'aime and Petite Plushies
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Ink - Scattered Straw, Cracked Pistachio, Shaded Lilac; Memento - Cottage Ivy, Lady Bug
• Stencil: The Crafters Workshop - Mini Burst
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rectangles

A tough challenge this week but knowing you fabulous LIMettes, you'll smash it and come up with some fabulous creations.  There is more inspiration from my teamies over at the main challenge page.  I hope to see you over in the gallery.

Addicted to Stamps and More #190

Hi there

Addicted to Stamps and More has a wonderful new challenge for you, starting right now.  This week we are back with a fabulous photo inspiration challenge.  Here it is...

Our sponsor this week is the fantastic Happy Little Stampers and
the prize for one lucky winner is a $15 gift certificate. 

As Mother's Day has already passed in the UK I chose to take my inspiration from the multiple words, the colours, the white space around the edge and the butterfly.

For this card I used a really old wooden stamp from my stash that I bought second hand on eBay years ago and have never used.  I stamped the words image in VersaMark ink and heat embossed with white powder.  I then blended over the embossing with two shades of Distress Ink before die cutting with a stitched rectangle die.  The die cut panel was then mounted onto my card base using 3D foam and then I simply added a die cut butterfly and some smooth gems to finish.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Elzybells - It's a Girl Thing
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry, Dusty Concord
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rectangles; Clearly Besotted - Butterfly Duo Die Collection
• Accents: Papermania - Glazed Gems (Iridescent)

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Butterfly Beauty
Stamping Sensations - April Challenge - One for the Girls
The Paper Players - Challenge #291 - CAS Butterflies

My teamies at ATSM have created a lovely and diverse collection of makes this week so why not pop over there and take a look.  We would love to see where this week's photo inspiration takes you.

On Your Wedding Day

Me again!

Another card to share with you today which was made for my brother and Sarah for their wedding day earlier this month.

I chose to use the same layout as I did recently for my card at Muse, here.  I loved how it turned out and it got a great response from you guys so I used it again and I'm sure I'll return to this design many times.

So, on a panel of white cardstock I masked a horizontal strip towards the top before blending upwards and downwards with Distress Inks.  With the mask still in place I stamped various small flowers, leaves and flourishes above and below it.  I then removed the mask and stamped the sentiment in the clear area.  The panel was then adhered on 3D foam to the card base.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Shaded Lilac and Spun Sugar; Versa Color - Heliotrope, Lavender, Lilac, Amethyst, Celadon and Laurel Leaf; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Love Blossoms; Uniko - Natures Treasures II

Challenge entries:

The Crafter's Cafe - Challenge #147 - What Season are you In (Spring - Blossom)

Moving Along with the Times - Challenge #18 - Spring Flowers

Creative Inspirations - Challenge #249 - Favourite Things (Two favourite stamp brands and my current favourite layout)

Dream Valley - Challenge #129 - Anything Goes

The Card Concept - Challenge #53 - Bright and Fresh (Clean and Simple style - inspired by floral pattern with white border)

AAA Cards - Challenge #62 - Anything Goes

Phew, that's all for today.  Thanks so much for visiting as always.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow as I'm off to the Sincerely Yours Papercraft Show in Taunton.  It's worth the hour and a half drive each way to get my hands on some goodies.  There are no decent stores near me in the South West so I have to order most of my stash online, so it will be nice to actually have a good rummage around and properly see things before I buy.  Let's hope I manage to stick to my budget! Hmmmm

Mr & Mrs

Hi there

Back again with another recent make, this time it's the card I made for my brother and Sarah for their wedding earlier this month.

I used a Clearly Besotted set I hadn't used before, loving the design of these leaves.

I started by stamping the leaves and sentiment onto a piece of white cardstock in VersaMark ink before heat embossing with platinum embossing powder.  I separately stamped the magnolia, also heat embossed, coloured with ProMarkers and fussy cut it out.  I die cut the stamped panel with a diagonal stitched rectangle and also die cut a piece of pale blue cardstock with a stitched die and matted them together before adhering flat to my card base.  The magnolia was popped up on 3D foam and then I coloured the empty spaces in the leaves with a pale blue ProMarker.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Magnolia Blooms
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Platinum
• Dies: MFT - Inside and Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangles and Stitched Rectangles
• Coloured with ProMarkers

Challenge entries:

Simply Create Too - Challenge #107 - Use Stitching (real or faux)

Crafty Creations - Challenge #313 - Stitching (real or fake)

The Crafter's Cafe - Challenge #147 - What Season are you In (Spring in the UK - Magnolia trees in full bloom)

Moving Along with the Times - Challenge #18 - Spring Flowers

Dream Valley - Challenge #129 - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew - Challenge #110 - Die Cut

Passion for ProMarkers - Challenge #341 - Bingo Board (I chose embossing / image / die cuts)

Uniko - Challenge #31 - Use Metallics (sorry, no Uniko products on this one)

AAA Cards - Game #62 - Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers - April CASE the Designer Challenge (I used the pink bloom and central stitched panel as my inspiration)

Phew, that was a lot of challenge link ups!  I've checked and I think I meet the criteria of all of these.

Another card to share shortly!  Thanks if you're still with me :D

Birthday Boy

Hi there

Back with another card I've not yet shared with you.

This one was made for my Godson for his 10th birthday.  It uses the same stencil as the card in my last post, but this time I used it to create the look of tyre tracks.

I started by masking and blending ink through sections of the stencil.  Next I die cut a stitched rectangle before stamping the car image and sentiment below.  This was popped up on 3D foam as was the dark red double stitched circle and numbers.

Materials used:

• Stencil: MFT - Diagonal Bars
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rectangles and Double Stitched Circles; PTI - Modern Numbers
• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Need for Speed; Clearly Besotted - In The Frame (discontinued)
• Ink: Distress Ink - Black Soot; Versa Color - Cardinal; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Simply Create Too - Challenge #107 - Use Stitching (real or faux)

Crafty Creations - Challenge #313 - Stitching (real or fake)

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #171 - Anything Goes (optional twist - Masculine card)

Back soon with another make...

Take It Easy

Hi there

I thought I would share a few cards with you this afternoon which I've made fairly recently but haven't yet shared.

Here's the first which I made for my friend's father as he was recovering from an operation.

I started by blending ink through part of a stencil at the base of my card to create my 'carpet'.  I then stamped the sofa onto some patterned paper and heat embossed in white before die cutting with its co-ordinating die.  This was then popped up on 3D foam and the sentiment was stamped directly onto the card base.

Material used:

• Stencil: MFT - Diagonal Bars
• Ink: Distress Ink - Pumice Stone; VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Time to Relax (discontinued)
• Patterned Paper: Avery Elle - Brights Collection
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

Challenge entries:

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #171 - Anything goes (optional twist - Masculine)

AAA Cards - Game #62 - Anything Goes

Thanks for popping by, I'll be back shortly with another card.

Less is More Week #272

Hi there

At Less is More this week it's the turn of a Theme challenge.  I thought this one would be simple but I did have to think and plan a little before I started on my DT cards this week.  We would like you to...

Use 3 Stamps

Don't forget to keep your creations clean and simple and

link to no more than 5 challenges, including ours.

I have three cards to share this week, here's the first...

For this one I decided to stamp everything in black, keeping the colour to the background.  On a panel of white cardstock I inked three Distress Inks through a dotted stencil.  I then simply stamped the leaf, butterfly and sentiment all in black before adhering the panel to my card base using 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Dot Fade
• Ink: Distress Ink: Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves and Chipped Sapphire; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Stamps: Marion Emberson - Just Because; Clearly Besotted - Brushed Greetings II

Challenge entries:

Dream Valley - Challenge #129 - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #171 - Anything Goes

For card two I tried a little masking with clear embossing powder...

Using my Mini MISTI (yes, I'm absolutely loving it!) I started by stamping the butterflies in two sunny shades before stamping the co-ordinating top layer in black.  I then went back, positioned the original stamp in the same position before inking with VersaMark and heat embossing with clear powder.  This would then act as a barrier for the next step.  I tore the edge of two large post-it notes and masked to leave a diagonal strip which I then ink blended with two shades of blue Distress Ink.  Once the masks were removed I flicked and blotted with some water and then added some ink splatters using the same inks.  The sentiment was added to finish.

Material used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - A Better You; Altenew - Painted Greetings
• Ink: Memento - Cantaloupe, Tangelo, Tuxedo Black; Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean; Versafine - Onyx Black; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede - Clear

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - Game #62 - Anything Goes

One Layer Simplicity - Challenge #26 - As You Wish

STAMPlorations - April Challenge - Theme & Sketch

I did a little more emboss resisting on my final card...

On a panel of white cardstock I stamped the leaves in VersaMark and heat embossed in white.  I then blended over with green Distress Ink. I then filled in the gaps by stamping the triple dots in black.  I adhered the panel to my card base and adhered black strips above and below the panel.  A teeny sentiment was then stamped before a few smooth gemstones were adhered to finish.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Natures Treasures II, Balloon Bash (dots); Altenew - Hennah Elements
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Ink- Bundled Sage; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Accents: Smooth gems from stash

Thanks so much for stopping by.  My teamies have created some lovely examples for you this week and we'd love for you to join in with the challenge this week.

Muse #161 - Sending Hugs

Hi there

I'm proud to be your designer once again this week over at Muse where this week's challenge is just starting.

I hope you can gain some inspiration from my card this week and join in with the challenge.

I purchased a new flower die recently so wanted to put it to use on this card.  I love the inlaid die technique but this die was REALLY fiddly!  I persevered and got there in the end!

I started by using two shades of Brushos, sprinkled them onto some card and spritzed with water.  When dry I die cut a section using a pierced square die.  Next I die cut the flower branch once in deep red cardstock, and again through my die cut panel.  I covered a second die cut square in adhesive and began piecing the design back together, inlaying the red flowers through the square.  This was then adhered flat to my card base and the sentiment stamped below in black.

Materials used:

• Ink: Brushos - Orange, Brilliant Red; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Squares; Crafter's Companion (Signature Collection by Sara Davies) - Trailing Flowers
• Stamp: Happy Little Stampers - Doodled Flowers
• Coloured Cardstock: Bazzill Basics

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - Game #62 - Anything Goes
Daring Cardmakers - Oriental Theme (this die cut has the appearance of Cherry Blossom)
Creative Card Crew - Challenge #110 - Die Cut
Addicted to CAS - Challenge #85 - Inlaid Dies
CAS on Sunday - Challenge #80 - Flowers

Thanks so much for popping by today, your visits are always so appreciated :)

Geometrics at Less is More

Hi there

There's a new challenge just starting at Less is More and this week we are back with everyone's favourite (ehem!) One Layer week.  This week we are looking for a...

Geometric Pattern

I've got three samples for you this week so let's get to it.


I was going to share this first card over on the LIM challenge post but my teamie, Sarah, had used the same stencil and also paired it with a bold sentiment, funny how our minds work on these challenges!  So, here it is...

I started by masking off the two bottom corners forming triangular areas.  I then laid my stencil over the top and blended three colours of Distress Ink.  I then removed the masks and stamped the sentiment...easy peasy!

Materials used:

• Stencil: MFT - Abstract
• Ink: Distress Ink - Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Festive Berries; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamp: MFT - Brushstroke Birthday

Challenge entries:

One Layer Simplicity - Challenge #26 - As You Wish April

AAA Cards - Game #61 - Stencilling
CAS Colours & Sketches - Colour Challenge #168 

Triangles again for my second card, this time being the facets of a gemstone...

I won this lovely heart stamp over at Kimberly's blog a while ago and this is the first time I've inked it up.  I stamped it in VersaMark ink and heat embossed with clear powder, created a mask and then blended Distress Inks within the shape, so the ink resisted the embossed lines.  The sentiment was simply stamped below.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Neat & Tangled - Heart of Gold; Wplus9 - Strictly Sentiments
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Mermaid Lagoon; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede - Clear

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Try to Resist

I thought I'd go with circles for my final geometric pattern and created this unisex card...

All the circle and dot designs are from the same set, stamped randomly using inks in neutral colours.  I then chose the birthday sentiment, also with a dotted pattern, and stamped it below.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Inkadinkado - Circles and Dots; Clearly Besotted - Happy Birthday
• Ink: Versa Color - Laurel Leaf, Umber, Chateau Gray, Polar Blue, Sand Beige; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Happy Birthday

So there you have it, nothing very difficult or scary about one layer cards.  The most difficult part was the masking of the heart.  Please pop over to my teamies' personal blogs if you have time as they have some super examples for you this week.  And we would, as always, love to see your creations in our gallery this week.

Addicted to Stamps and More #188

Hi there

It's late on a Tuesday, or perhaps early on a Wednesday which can only mean it's new challenge time over at Addicted to Stamps and More.  We've moved onto the next theme in our regular sequence which is...

Holiday

(a public holiday such as Christmas or Easter, or vacation themed cards this week please)

Our sponsor this week is the fabulous A Day for Daisies who are kindly offering a $12.00 gift certificate as a prize for this week's winner.

Easter has passed and so has Mother's Day here in the UK so I decided to add another Christmas card to my 'very small' stash of 3 so far this year!  It did seem a little odd creating a Christmas card when Spring has finally sprung but it's never to early to build that collection is it?!

Here's my DT card this week...

I used my shiny new Mini MISTI for the first time to create this card.  It's so great for getting crisp images but I will say, it's not very user friendly when stamping off the edge as there's not enough free space around the card area, the original MISTI would be better for that.  But I must say it's well worth purchasing...I will certainly be using it when stamping within the card area and especially sentiments so as not to ruin my cards right at the end!

This design was pretty simple.  On a panel of cardstock I stamped the leaves.  I then stamped the poinsettias and die cut them out with their co-ordinating die, and then did the same with the sentiment banner.  I adhered the panel to the card base using 3D foam strips and then adhered the poinsettias, one on 3D foam as was the sentiment banner.  I finished by adding some dots of gold Stickles to the flower centres.

Materials used:

• Stamps and Dies: Clearly Besotted - Christmas Poinsettia, Mini Basic Banners
• Ink: Versa Color - Evergreen and Cardinal; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Accents: Stickles - Gold

Challenge entries:

Creative Card Crew - Challenge #110 - Die Cut

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #275 - Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for April 2016 - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers - April 2016 Christmas Challenge - Die Cuts

Thanks so much for visiting and please do pop over to the main blog for more inspiration from my teamies.  We'd love for you to join us this week.