Less is More - Challenge #443

Hi guys

At Less is More we thought it was about time we did another Sketch challenge so here are the details for the next fortnight's challenge...

Sketch challenges are my least favourite, I just find them more difficult than any other, but I actually embraced this one and made it a one layer too!

I stamped the coffee cup image first then created a mask over it, as well as masking off the rectangle.  I lightly blended the background then, with a slightly different shade, inked through a splatters stencil.  I then stamped the coffee words and beans in brown shades, removed all the masks and finished by stamping the sentiment and the steam from the cup in black.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Warm Wishes; Sugar Pea Designs - Espresso Yourself
• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Splatters
• Ink: Distress Ink - Ground Espresso, Frayed Burlap; Altenew - Espresso, Mocha; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries

Alphabet Challenge - C is for Coffee or Chocolate

STAMPlorations - May CAS Challenge - Anything CAS Goes

As always, there's two weeks to play along so why not join us for this sketch challenge.  My teamies are sharing lots more inspiration over at the main challenge blog.

Perfectly CAS May 2021 Challenge

Hi there

The May challenge at Perfectly CAS is just starting and we have a fun theme for you this time.  Just remember that the aim of the challenge is to use just one third of your card area or less for your design.  Here is the cue card this time...

I used a little masking with my repeat stamping to create a stacked up a Neopolitan ice cream using some very old, retired stamps by Clearly Besotted...

I began by die cutting a panel with a scalloped rectangle die.  I then started by stamping the vanilla ice cream, masked it before stamping the strawberry, masked it again to stamp the chocolate and then masked a final time to stamp the cone.   The sentiment was stamped below in black but I felt the card looked a little unfinished so, what does every ice cream need...sprinkles!  I added some little dabs of liquid glue to the ice cream and sprinkled over some sparkly stars confetti.

Materials used:

• Die: Create a Smile - Scalloped Rectangles
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - So Sweet, So Sweet II
• Ink: Altenew - Buttercream, Cotton Candy, Dark Chocolate, Sunkissed; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Accents: Little Things From Lucy's Cards - Sprinkles: Starlight

Challenge entries:

Simple Create Too - Challenge #170 - Use Glitter

Dream Valley - Challenge #247 - Embellish It

Fab 'n' Funky - Challenge #523 - Embellish It

CAS on Friday - Challenge #205 - Food

Thanks as always for taking a look. I'll be back in the morning with details of the next Less is More challenge.

Happy Little Stampers May 2021 CAS Challenge

Good evening

Tonight I'm here to announce the new CAS challenge for May over at Happy Little Stampers.  Here's the theme we want to see on your clean and simple cards this month...

I'll admit, I had very little in my stash that I could use for this challenge....note to self, stop buying floral stamp sets!  Anyhow, this cute little bears stamp was one I purchased some time ago, when Lili of the Valley were selling off all their rubber stamps.  I believe they only sell digi images now.

This was pretty easy to create.  I stamped the image and then coloured it with Copics.  I'm still learning with my markers but getting there slowly and I'm quite pleased with how this one turned out.  I added a strip of patterned paper to the bottom of my card base then trimmed the image panel down and adhered it flat.  Then to finish I stamped the sentiment, this one from a very old Clearly Besotted set.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Lili of the Valley - Football Bears; Clearly Besotted - Going Places
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with Copics
• Patterned paper from stash

Challenge entries:

Seize the Birthday - Challenge #213 - Furry Friends

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #404 - Any Occasion

STAMPlorations - May CAS Challenge

NBUS - Challenge #26 - first inking of these bears

Thanks for taking a look.  As with all the HLS challenges, the links will remain open until the end of the month so there's plenty of time to join us.

Less is More Challenge #442

Good morning

I'm feeling very chilled this morning as it's the start of my first week off work this year.  Not much planned as we're still in partial lockdown here in the UK but some restrictions have been lifted so I should be able to get out and about, and no alarms are required so that's good enough for me.

Ok, this morning I'm introducing the new Theme challenge over at Less is More which will run for the next fortnight.  Here's the theme...

I decided to give one of my stamp sets it's first inking and chose this cute little crab...

I began by stamping the crab and then inking up another to use as a mask.  With him covered up I then masked a slim strip and inked this up to create the sand of the seabed, then shifted the masking to enable me to then ink up the water, before inking heavier over the top through a sun rays stencil.  I removed all the masks then coloured the crab with Copics.  Next I stamped the sentiment before die cutting the panel with a scalloped rectangle die.

I have been after this set of dies from Create a Smile for sooooo long.  It is so difficult to find rectangular dies which are designed in the correct ratio for UK/European A6 cards.  Most are American brands which are made to work with A2 notecards so you're left with an uneven border.  Create a Smile have really reasonable shipping charges and I received my parcel from Germany within two days!  Certainly worth checking out for those of you who use A6 card bases.

Next I made some dots on the seabed with a Quickie Glue pen before sprinkling with glitter and then used a white gel pen to add some subtle twinkles to the water.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Water Plushies
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Ink - Pumice Stone, Tea Dye, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon
• Stencil: Clearly Besotted - Sunny Day
• Coloured with Copics: R20, R22, R14
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Scalloped Rectangles
• Accents: Nuvo Pure Sheen Glitter - Rose Gold; Sakura White Gelly Roll 08 pen

Thanks so much for visiting today.  I hope you all enjoy your weekend and to those in the UK, happy Bank Holiday!