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.

Happy Little Stampers April 2016 CAS Challenge

Good evening, crafters

This is a scheduled post as it's my brother's wedding day today and no doubt I'll still be partying and will have had far too much wine to even think about writing this post! lol

It's time to announce this month's CAS Challenge at Happy Little Stampers and we have another great technique for you this time...

If you are unsure of this technique there are some tutorial links included over on the main challenge post.

This challenge is sponsored by Happy Little Stampers and as we are having a month long birthday celebration of Happy Little Stampers, each of the challenges this month has the following prizes:

$30 gift certificate to the winner

£10 gift certificate to each of our Favourites

Joining us as a Guestie this month is my fabulous blog buddy and Less is More teamie, Sarah of Sazzle Dazzle Crafts.  Her creations are wonderful so please drop by her blog and leave her some love.


So, on to my DT card.  This card kind of evolved as I went along, I had no clue where I was going with it when I started my stencilled piece.

I began by randomly inking up my stentil with three Distress Inks, spritzed with water and then placed it onto some white cardstock where I left it for a short while, blotted and pressed gently with a paper towel before lifting it off.  When this was dry I die cut a section using a double stitched circle die.  I decided to adhere the circle in the corner of my card base, trimming off the excess.  Next I stamped the flower and leaves, and coloured with some ProMarkers before fussy cutting them out and adhering over the edge of the die cut.  The sentiment was then stamped, and some Wink of Stella and a glittery enamel dot added to the centre of the flower.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Harlequin
• Ink: Distress Ink- Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint Sketch; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Double Stitched Circles
• Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Doodled Flowers
• Accents: Wink of Stella - Clear; Doodlebug Sprinkles - Silver

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - Challenge #248 - Anything Goes

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes (option: Water) - My stencil was spritzed with water after inking

AAA Cards - Game #61 - Stencilling

All the challenges at Happy Little Stampers run until the end of the month (some yet to be announced) so there's plenty of time to join in.

Thanks so much for visiting today.

White Space But Not White

Hi there

We've got a great new challenge for you this week over at Less is More.  As it's the beginning of a new month we're back with our regular Colour challenge and our theme for you this week is...

White Space But Not White

We have another great LIMette as our Guest Designer this week, the lovely Liz of Crafty Sunflower.  If you have the time I'm sure she would love a visit from you.

I only have one sample card for you this week.  It's been one of those hectic weeks where my evenings have been full of things to do and not enough hours to do them in!

Here's my card, I chose kraft as my 'white' space.  My daylight lamp made this one look a little washed out, the colours are a little richer and warmer in real life.

I decided to do a little shadow stamping here, so the floral images were first stamped in white pigment ink then once dry, overstamped with coloured pigment ink.  The sentiment was stamped in VersaMark and then heat embossed in white.  I adhered the panel flat to my card base and added a few smooth gems to the smallest white flowers.

Materials used:

• Cardstock: Neenah - Desert Storm
• Stamps: Wplus9 - Happy Wishes; Clearly Besotted - Sunshine and Smiles
• Ink: Hero Arts - Unicorn; Versa Color - Raspberry, Boysenberry, Green and Evergreen; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - Challenge #248 - Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #169 - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew - Challenge #109 - CAS

My teamies have created some lovely cards this week so please do pop over the the main challenge blog and follow the links to each of them for more inspiration.

Right, I'm currently in the middle of getting myself ready for my brother's wedding, really looking forward to a wonderful day :)

Happy Saturday whatever you're up to.