Less is More Challenge #427

Good morning

As there are three Saturdays in August today we have a Lucky Dip challenge for you over at Less is More.  Here is the cue card...

If you're unfamiliar with this technique there are a couple of video links included over on the main Less is More challenge post to help you.

I have two sample cards for you today, here's the first...

I die cut a piece of black cardstock using a stitched rectangle.  There are a few different ways to create a chalkboard effect.  I started by dabbing a paper towel into a white ink pad and then swiping it across the panel, then to smooth the ink out a little I swiped across it with a baby wipe.  Once dry I then stamped and heat embossed my sentiment and images in white.  I added a little shading to the holly leaves with a white pencil and finished with some red glitter enamel dot accents.  The panel was then layered up onto a white panel cut with a larger die from the same set.

Materials used:

• Ink: Hero Arts - Unicorn; VersaMark
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Hang Around; 12 Days of Christmas (holly) - free set with Creative Stamping Magazine
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Accents: Enamel dots from stash

I thought that this technique would also work well with a Halloween theme, here's my second card...

This card was created in the same way.  The panel was then simply offset on an orange panel and adhered onto a purple card base.

Materials used:

• Ink: Hero Arts - Unicorn; VersaMark
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Sweet Little Sentiments; Autumnal Treasures - free set with Creative Stamping Magazine
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

As always, the challenge linky will remain open for two weeks so there's plenty of time to play along.  And you can find lots more inspiration from my teamies over on the main Less is More blog too.

Less is More Challenge #426

Good morning

At Less is More our new challenge is all about...

I never feel confident enough to hand draw anything directly onto my card but I had a go here and after practicing a few times on some scrap paper I'm quite pleased with the result.

Here's what I did...

A simple one layer card this time where I've used a stencil to create the background pattern with ombre inking.  I then used a black fineliner pen to hand draw the botanicals.  A simple sentiment stamped in black and it was finished.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Clearly Besotted - Pretty Petals
• Ink: Distress Oxide - Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Mini Messages

Challenge entries:

CAS on Friday - Challenge #186 - Nature

NBUS - Challenge #17 (new stencil)

Make My Monday - Challenge #128 - Clean and Simple

This challenge is open for a fortnight so why not join us, grab those pens and add some hand drawn detailing to your projects!

Less is More Challenge #425

Good morning

Happy Saturday and welcome to August!

And with another Saturday morning comes a brand new challenge over at Less is More.  This time it's the turn of our Theme challenge which is...

Joining us for this fortnight's challenge as our Guest Designer is the fabulous Meghan who was our June winner.  Please do stop by her blog to check out her lovely card and to say hi.

Ok, I have two sample makes for you this time, here's the first...

Apart from the inks, everything I used here from Clearly Besotted was being given it's first outing on my craft desk!  I began by stamping and die cutting this lovely hibiscus set with layered stamping, and did some spotlight inking where you see the dark pink areas.  I ink blended the background flag through a stencil and stamped the sentiment in black.  The die cuts were then adhered in a cluster, some flat and some on glue dots.

Materials used:

• Stamped: Clearly Besotted - Aloha Too (and co-ordinating dies), Mini Messages
• Stencil: Clearly Besotted - Flagged Down
• Ink: Altenew - Buttercream, Warm Sunshine, Ruby Red, Hunter Green, Evergreen; Distress Ink - Worn Lipstick; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Alphabet Challenge - I is for Island Fun (Anything Tropical)

CAS on Friday - Challenge #185 - Summer

STAMPlorations - Summer Challenge

 

There is a hydrangea in my front garden which is in full bloom so that was the ideal choice for my second card...

I ink blended Distress Inks through a stencil then die cut the panel with a faux stitched curve.  Before adhering this panel to the card base I manipulated the sentiment stamp to follow the curve of the leaf and stamped in black.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Hydrangea (free with a set from Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine)
• Ink: Distress Ink - Spun Sugar, Shaded Lilac, Mowed Lawn; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Mini Messages
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Basic Edges

Challenge entries

Always Fun Challenges - Challenge #173 - Use Stencils

Uniko - Challenge #60 - In My Garden

Thanks so much for visiting.  If you need more inspiration please do pop on over to the main Less is More challenge page where you will see some lovely projects from my teamies and links to their personal blogs.  I hope you can join us and I'm looking forward to seeing lots of summer flowers in the gallery this month :)