Less is More Challenge #406

Good morning!

At Less is More starting today we are back with a Colour challenge.  Here is the cue card with the all important details...

Bright or pastel rainbow colours are welcome for this challenge.

Our generous sponsor for October is the fabulous Uniko and the lovely Bev is joining in as our super talented Guest Designer for this challenge so please do pop over and say hi.

I have two cards to share with you for this challenge, both of them using products by Uniko.

Here's the first...

I used stamps from three different Uniko sets for this one.  I used a double chevron stamp and used my MISTI to line up the stamping in rainbow coloours.  I then simply stamped the sentiment and heart in black ink, die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle and popped it up on fun foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Background Builders: Chevrons, Flower Power #3 (heart), Big & Bold Hugs (sentiment)
• Ink: Altenew - Crimson, Orange Cream, Warm Sunshine, Forest Glades, Caribbean Sky, Lavender Fields, Puffy Heart; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles

For my second card I used a fabulous Uniko stencil...

This was a pretty simple make.  I blended through the stencil using Distress Oxide inks in rainbow colours.  The image is quite large so I chose to cut this down with a stitched die cut to maintain white space on my card.  The panel was popped up on 3D foam and I added a small black sentiment strip, with the sentiment embossed in white.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum
• Stamp: Uniko - Just Because
• Ink: Distress Oxide - Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, Salty Ocean, Cracked Pistachio; VersaMark
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #362 - Make Your Mark

Dream Valley - Challenge #211 - Clean and Simple

The Flower Challenge - Challenge #37 - CAS

STAMPlorations - October Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

As always, you have two weeks to play along before the linky will close.  And don't forget, this is a colour challenge, not a rainbow challenge, so lots of options for you, just remember to keep your creations clean and simple.

Less is More Challenge #405

Good morning

I'm back to introduce the next challenge starting right now over at Less is More and this time we are back with a Recipe challenge.  Here is the cue card with the all important details...

so all cards have sparkle plus another from this list

sparkle + gloss

sparkle + matte

sparkle + pearl

sparkle + chalky

Our generous sponsor for this month is Visible Image and just by playing along puts you in the running for our monthly prize!

Ok, I have two sample cards for you, here's the first using the Sparkle + Gloss option...

I used a stitched die to add some background detail to the card base.  I then used a cocktail glass die and cut it out twice, once using white sparkle glitter cardstock and again using a glossy cardstock...boy, was this difficult to photograph!  The glossy cardstock is white with a pink/purple oil on water effect.  I used the glitter cardstock for the glass and inlaid the 'liquid' using the gloss card.  To finish I stamped a simple sentiment in black ink.

Materials used:

• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Strip; Xcut - Cocktail Glass
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Tiny Type
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Cardstock from stash

Next up I chose the Sparkle + Pearl option...

I die cut two squares using a pierced square die from pearlescent cardstock.  On the smaller panel I stamped and heat embossed the diamond ring in using sparkly silver embossing powder. the die cuts were adhered, the upper one on 3D foam and the sentiment was stamped and heat embossed in silver.  I added more sparkle to the diamond using a sparkle pen but was unable to catch this on camera.

Materials used:

• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax
• Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Happy Wedding
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Silver, Metallic Silver Sparkle
• Cardstock from stash

Thanks so much for joining me today.  This challenge is a great chance to have a rummage in your stash to mix and match your products, I can't wait to see what you create.

Perfectly CAS - September 2019 Challenge

Hi there

I'm super thrilled to be a member of the Design Team of a brand new challenge that is starting right now.  The 'Perfectly CAS' challenge is exactly that, all about creating perfectly CAS (clean and simple) cards by following the rule of one third. 

Our first monthly challenge is an easy one...

Here's my sample card...

I chose a lovely icy blue/lilac shade of textured cardstock for my upper panel.  I then used floral images from a stamp layering set, stamped and embossed the outline image in silver, then stamped the second layer in a blue tone to co-ordinate with the background.  After adhering the panel flat to the base, the sentiment was then stamped in the same blue ink onto a white strip and popped up on 3D foam.  I love this simple sentiment, it could be used for lots of different occasions.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Golden Garden, Leaf Canopy
• Ink: VersaMark; Versa Color - Smoke Blue
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Silver
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

The Flower Challenge - Challenge #36 - Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations - September Challenge - Anything Goes with Flowers

Please do pop over to the main challenge blog, here, and check out what the rest of my fabulous teamies are sharing, they have some gorgeous examples for you.  And as this is a monthly challenge there's plenty of time to link up.  Even if you find CAS cards a little daunting, why not give it a go :)

Skull and Cross Buns - Hochanda Showcase Selection 3

Hi guys

I'm back today to share a few more of the samples I've made for Skull and Cross Buns ahead of the show on Hochanda here in the UK tomorrow, Thursday 5 September at 4pm.

I'll get straight to it.  Here's the first...

On a die cut panel of kraft cardstock I used the Hundreds and Thousands Confetti Large Stencil and created the shadow effects, first by inking through with Distress Inks and then by shifting the stencil slightly and inking a second time with white pigment ink. The panel was popped up onto the card base using fun foam.  I then die cut one circle from vellum and another from pink cardstock and heat embossed the sentiment in white and silver from the Retro Sweeties clear stamp set.  A couple of the cute acrylic sweets from the Retro Sweets Embellish! set were added to finish.  Love the detailed etching on these.

Materials used:

• Dies: Create a Smile - Double Stitched Rectangles; Hero Arts - Infinity Circles
• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Hundreds and Thousands Confetti Large Stencil
• Ink: Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Mermaid Lagoon; Versa Magic - White Cloud; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White, Metallic Silver

Challenge entry:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #357 - Make Your Mark




Next up is a card which may look familiar as I made a very similar one in a different colourway, here...

Instead of the standard natural colours of leapard print I used the Leopard Animal Print Large Stencil here blended with pink in onto pink cardstock.  I die cut the cardstock with a large balloon die and adhered this on 3D foam to the corner of the card and tied some pink twine around the base.  Directly on the card base I stamped the 'happy birthday' from the Quirky Sentiments set, 'party' from the Tropical Party set and the individually coloured letters from the Lightbox Love set.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Leopard Animal Print Large Stencil
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Blueprints 26
• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Quirky Sentiments, Tropical Party, Lightbox Love
• Ink: Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick; Versa Color - Orchid, Opera Pink, Pink; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Twine: Hemptique - Ruby mix

Challenge entry:

AAA Birthday - Game #5 - Use a Stencil

Last up is a really simple make...

I die cut a panel of lilac cardstock using a stitched rectangle die and inked through the Cloud Rainbow Pattern Stencil using white pigment ink.  Once dry I adhered the two closed eye eyelashes from the I Believe In Unicorns Embellish set.  I stamped the cloud from the Planner Banners set and within it stamped 'dream' from the I Believe In Unicorns set, fussy cut this out and then stamped two of the thought bubbles from the I Believe in Unicorns set and coloured these in with a white pigment pen.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Cloud Rainbow Pattern Large Stencil
• Ink: Versa Magic - Cloud White; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: Create a Smile - Double Stitched Rectangles
• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - I Believe in Unicorns, Planner Banners
• Accents: Skull and Cross Buns - I Believe in Unicorns Embellish! set

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a look, I'll be back with my final selection later.

(AD - some products kindly gifted for design team purposes)

Skull and Cross Buns - Hochanda Showcase Selection 2

Hi guys

Apologies for the timing of this post, I'm off work this week so rather than schedule it I thought I'd just publish it right away when I finished typing it up.

Another batch of makes for you where I've used products from the Skull and Cross Buns ranges which will be showcased on Hochanda here in the UK this Thursday, 5 September, at 4pm (Sky 673, Freesat 817, Freeview 85).


This first card uses a mix of products; one of the stencils, two of the clear stamp sets and an acrylic embellishment...

One of the stamp sets in the range is called Days and Months.  Although great for lots of crafting products and of course, scrapbooking, journalling, calendars, etc. I wanted to come up with an idea of how to use the stamps on a card.  So this idea came into my head...love you every day!  I started by using the Decreasing Circles Stencil to create the rainbow of dots in the background, just by blending one colour, then cleaning off the stencil, shifting over and re-blending in the next colour, and so on.  And it worked out perfectly that there are seven colours of the rainbow and seven days of the week!  I stamped the days in black and also the 'love you' from the Brush Hearts clear stamp set, but I chose to emboss this with clear embossing powder to add a little gloss.  The panel was die cut with a stitched rectangle and adhered to the card base on fun foam.  I finished with a pink acrylic heart from the Brush Hearts Embellish! set.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Decreasing Circles Large Stencil
• Ink: Distress Ink - Spun Sugar, Shaded Lilac, Tumbled Glass, Cracked Pistachio, Squeezed Lemonade, Dried Marigold, Candied Apple; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Days and Months, Brush Hearts
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Clear Gloss
• Die: Create a Smile - Double Stitched Rectangles
• Accent: Skull and Cross Buns - Brush Hearts Embellish! set

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #356 - Anything Goes

Time Out - Challenge #143 - Inspired by Words

Next up is a card using another stamp set which you wouldn't initially think of using for cards...

The stamp set I used for this bubbly background is called Planner Banners, and is perfect for crafting, scrapbooking and of course bullet journalling, and works so well with the Days and Months set I used on the first card.  I chose to use the three circles of varying sizes and stamped and heat embossed them in white on some watercolour cardstock, before watercolouring the 'bubbles' with Distress Inks.  I mounted the panel onto black cardstock and then flat to the base.  To finish I cut another piece of black cardstock in a diagonal strip and adhered this, topped with a clear acrylic embellishment from the I Believe In Unicorns Embellish! set.  I think the cloud works well with the bubbles theme.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Planner Banners
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Ink - Worn Lipstick, Shaded Lilac, Salty Ocean, Cracked Pistachio
• Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White
• Accent: Skull and Cross Buns - I Believe In Unicorns Embellish! set

Next up, I've used the Planner Banners set, combined with two other sets in the range...

On a die cut panel I drew a pencil line in a curve and then stamped the flags from the Planner Banners set.  I then joined them up with a fineliner pen and erased the pencil lines.  I used one of the circles from the set to create the balloon and curved one of the straight lines in the set to create a balloon string.  Next I stamped the letters from the Lightbox Love set and the word 'time' from the Tropical Party set.  I coloured the flags and balloon with ProMarkers and then stamped some of the smaller elements from the Planner Banners set to finish.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Planner Banners, Lightbox Love, Tropical Party
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versa Color - Silver; Altenew - Olive
• Coloured with ProMarkers

And the last for this post is another using the Planner Banners set...

I simply stamped lots of the images from this set in different directions and colours.  I stamped the 'happy birthday' from the Quirky Sentiments stamp set and finished the card off with a few different enamel dots.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Planner Banners, Quirky Sentiments
• Ink: Altenew - Lagoon, Olive, Starlight, Ultraviolet; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Accents: Enamel dots and stars from stash

Thanks for taking a look.  I'll be back soon with more of my samples ahead of the show on Thursday.

(AD - some products kindly gifted for design team purposes)

Less is More Challenge #403

Hi there

Apologies for the lack of posts lately, I have been crafting away behind the scenes but haven't been able to share those makes yet.  Lots to come over the next few days though so stay tuned :)

Back to the purpose of today's post, and of course it's new challenge day over at Less is More.  And as August has an extra Satuday we have a Lucky Dip challenge for you this time.  Here is the cue card...

Funky Fossil Designs continues as our sponsor for this challenge so please do play along for a chance to win our monthly prize!

I only have one card to share with you this time but I'm excited to say...I have my first 2019 Christmas card in the bag! 

Here it is...

This was very simple to make.  I started with a stitched circle die cut and heat embossed the sentiment in copper.  This was then popped up on fun foam.  I then die cut the pine needles from green cardstock, the bells from silver mirri card and the bow from gold mirri card, and layered and adhered these in a cluster.

Materials used:

• Stamp: Happy Little Stampers - Mixed Christmas Sentiments
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Copper
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Double Stitched Circles; Clearly Besotted - Tag Along Die Collection (bow); Marianne Design Creatables - Petra's Larix Larch; Xcut - Jingle Bells
• Cardstock from stash

I really appreciate your visits, thanks so much for stopping by.  Please do pop over to the main Less is More challenge post for more inspiration from my teamies and to see how they've incorporated metallics into their CAS creations.  And the challenge, as always, is open for a fortnight so there's plenty of time to link up in our gallery.  Hope to see you there :)

Designing for Honey Doo Crafts - Peony Crest, Hello Sunshine and Paint Splodges

Good morning

I have more Honey Doo Crafts goodness for you this morning.

For these cards I've paired floral sets, Peony Crest and Hello Sunshine with one of the larger sets, Paint Splodges, and used the solid paint splodge images as my colouring medium.

Here's Peony Crest...

I was clearly in the mood for rainbow colours when I made this one!  As I still had some linen cardstock out on my desk I thought paint splodges would work great to give the effect of a painter's canvas.  First I stamped the floral crest image and the sentiment in black ink.  I then worked my way from one end of the image to the other, stamping some of the different paint splodge images in colours of the rainbow.  I felt that nothing more was needed so the panel was popped up on fun foam onto the card base for dimension.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Peony Crest, Paint Splodges
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Altenew - Puffy Heart, Lavender Fields, Turquoise, Forest Glades, Warm Sunshine, Orange Cream, Crimson
• Linen cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #349 - CAS

Try It On Tuesday - Colours of the Rainbow

Stamping Sensations - July Challenge - The Earth Laughs in Flowers

STAMPlorations - Summer CAS Card Challenge - AG CAS

{PIN}spirational - Challenge #242 - Photo inspiration (below)

And Hello Sunshine...

I had the same idea for this card, but this time I stamped the floral image directly onto the card base.  I used various images from the paint splodges set to replicate the colours of sunflowers, but giving it a very abstract look.  The sentiment was heat embossed in white onto a black strip and was then adhered on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Hello Sunshine, Paint Splodges
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Altenew - Honey Drizzle, Dark Chocolate, Moss; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

Challenge entries:

Penny Black and More - July Challenge - Summer Colours

Time Out - Challenge #139 - Inspired by Words

STAMPlorations - Summer Theme and Sketch Challenge - Stamps and Anything Goes

Inkspirational - Challenge #190 - 3 or 5 of something (3 flowers/3 colours)

And don't forget, if you are able please tune in to Hochanda tomorrow, Friday 12 July, at 10am and 3pm when Amanda of Honey Doo will be showing the products in detail and doing some demos (Sky 673 / Freeview 85).

I'll be back this evening to share my final two sample cards, I hope you can pop back and take a look.  Happy Thursday!