Less is More Week 278

Good morning

I'm here today to tell you about the new challenge at Less is More, and this week we've got a Sketch challenge for you.  I struggle with sketch challenges more than any other but this one is fab and after seeing my teamies' samples this week, it's proving to be a really versatile design.  Here it is...

I made two very different cards this week, the first is super bright and fun...

On a panel of white cardstock I positioned a stencil and masked off the diagonal edge before blending through some red, orange and yellow Distress Inks.  I was originally going to stencil directly onto the card base but the stencil was slightly too small.  Next I die cut some balloons, these also blended with Distress Inks.  On a strip of black cardstock I stamped the sentiment (made up from a multiple word stamp set) in VersaMark and heat embossed in white before adhering to the panel with the balloons.  The panel was then adhered on 3D foam and some accents were added to the balloons with a white pen.

Materials used:

• Stencil: The Crafters Workshop - Mini Webbing
• Ink: Distress Ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Festive Berries, Seedless Preserves, Broken China, Mowed Lawn; VersaMark
• Stamps: Winnie & Walter - Big, Bold & Party
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Dies: Wplus9 - Whole Lotta Happy
• Accent: Uni-ball Signo pen - White

Challenge entries:

Just Add Ink - Challenge #313 - 'B' (bright/balloons)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
AAA Cards - Game #65 - The 2nd Big Birthday Bash




And a more subtle design for my second card...

I blended some embossing paste with two neutral shades of Distress Ink before spreading through a brick effect stencil.  I then die cut the leaves from a scrap of cardstock blended with two shades of green Distress Ink.  This was simply adhered over the paste when dry, the die-cut 'Happy Wishes' then adhered and some smooth silver gems finished off the card.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Bricked
• Embossing Paste: Dreamweaver
• Ink: Distress Ink: Pumice Stone, Tea Dye, Iced Spruce, Evergreen Bough
• Dies: Clearly Besotted - Leafy Accents; Wplus9 - Happy Wishes
• Accents: Gems from stash

Challenge entry:

Seize the Birthday - Adding Dimension

If you have the time please pop over to my teamies' blogs for more inspiration, they won't disappoint.  Thanks so much for visiting today and I hope to see your creations in the LIM gallery!

Less is More Week 277

Good morning

There's a new challenge just starting over at Less is More and this time we have a Theme for you.  We'd like you to include on your creation...

Something that Pops / Bangs

I had lots of ideas for this one but nothing much of help in my stash.  I did however manage three samples for you although not overly happy with two of them.  Once again, the last one I made is my favourite, this firework card.

Super simple to make.  I stamped the fireworks in three colours (the majority of which are actually stamps from a dandelion set!), added the sentiment in black and simply adhered the panel to the card base on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Dandelion Dreams, Window Dressing and It's a Celebration
• Ink: Versa Color - Opera Pink, Boysenberry and Mountain Lake

I'm going to link this one up over at Time Out Challenges to continue on with Sandie's birthday celebrations where the theme is CAS with the option of using purple.

I wanted to make a card featuring a Christmas cracker but was sure I didn't have any cracker images in my stash until I spotted this teeny one.  I'm not overly happy as it's not an image of it actually bursting but you get the idea!

I stamped the little cracker in VersaMark before heat embossing in gold.  I then masked it to stamp the bursting image behind in silver. I then stamped the sentiment, also embossed in gold before die cutting with a pierced square die.  The cracker was coloured with ProMarkers and I used a co-ordinating cardstock to frame the square before adhering to the card base on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Arctic Animals (cracker), Little Elves (sentiment), Dandelion Dreams
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Squares
• Coloured with ProMarkers

I loved the idea of this card but don't love the end result as it didn't translate how I saw it in my head.  Two for one on this one though, the champagne popping and someone has obviously popped the question for there to be an engagement! Go me lol!

I started by die cutting the heart from a piece of red cardstock and gently marked with a pencil where this would sit on the card base. Next I stamped the sentiment and the bottle, which I fussy cut as I didn't want the white edging left by the co-ordinating die.  I placed the bottle roughly where I wanted it and then masked a section of a stencil to create the bubbles.  The bottle was then popped up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Mr & Mrs, Je T'aime
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Silver, Atlantic
• Stencil: Dutch Doobadoo - Wavy Stripes
• Coloured Cardstock: Papermania

My teamies have made some great cards this week so please do pop over and visit their personal blogs.  I'm sure you'll come up with some great ideas which will be translated much better than my cards this week!

Addicted to Stamps and More #194

Hi there

We've whizzed around another week to the start of a new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More.  And this week we're back with one of my favourite themes...

Clean and Simple

Our fabulous sponsor this week is Happy Little Stampers and one lucky winner from this week's entries will win a $15 gift certificate!


I've used stamps by Happy Little Stampers on my DT card...

I started by stamping the butterfly in black and heat embossing with clear powder.  I then tried something new.  I coloured small areas with a teal green Inktense pencil and then blended the colour out using a Wink of Stella pen in clear.

I cut the butterfly out using a diagonal stitched rectangle die and found some co-ordinating teal cardstock to create a matching background.  I stamped the sentiment in black and mounted the image panel on 3D foam strips,

Materials used:

• Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Butterfly Birthday and Doodled Flowers 
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede - Clear
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Inside and Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangles
• Coloured with Derwent Inktense pencil in Teal Green and Wink of Stella in Clear

Challenge entries:

Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge #164 - Stitching, faux or real

Crafty Creations - Challenge #315 - Monochromatic

My teamies at ATSM are sharing some lovely CAS designs this week.  Why not take a look and play along with us this week.

Thanks so much as always for your visit today.

Happy Birthday, Sandie!

Hi there

Today, I'm taking part in a surprise linky party to wish the fabulous Sandie of London Days a very special Happy Birthday!

Sandie is just the sweetest and very well known in blogland for her gorgeous CAS style and love of purple.  So for my card in honour of Sandie that's what it had to be, CAS and purple!

I used a stamp set from my fabulous Altenew prize pack for this card.  I stamped the flower stem in VersaMark and heat embossed in white.  I then blended two shades of Distress Ink over the image and stamped the sentiment in black.  The panel was then adhered to the card base using 3D foam before adding some co-ordinating sequins.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew  - Beautiful lady
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Ink - Shaded Lilac and Wilted Violent; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Sequin: Little Things from Lucy's Cards - True Blue Shaker Selection

The linky party is being hosted by Kylie and you can find the link here.

I'm also linking my card over at Time Out Challenges as they have a special challenge dedicated to Sandie's birthday where the theme is CAS with an optional twist of purple!

So all that's left to say is Happy Birthday, Sandie!  I hope you have a wonderful day and some fabulous celebrations and I can't wait to finally meet you in July! xx

Less Is More Week 276

Hi there

It's a new challenge week over at Less is More and I can see lots of fist pumps coming up as it's One Layer week!  Or perhaps not, more like heads in hands! lol  Our theme this week is...

At Sea

Please check out the one layer guidelines if you're unsure, here.

I must admit my creative mojo floated off somewhere this week and the first two cards I made I wasn't overly happy with so I left it another day and managed to create another which I prefer.  I'll share them all with you anyhow.

Here's the last one I made which I was happier with, although the first attempt ended up in the bin as I ruined it right at the end!

There were lots of steps to create this one.  I started by masking to leave the horizontal panel and blended firstly with a light green Distress Ink.  I then blasted with my heat gun to make sure the ink was dry, brushed my powder tool over to remove any static and then stamped the ropes in VersaMark.  I then removed the masks before heating embossing with clear powder.  I then replaced the masks and repeated the process, this time with a darker green ink which the rope images resisted, letting the lighter green show though.  I then repeated by stamping the wheels and clear embossing these also.  Then came a teal colour before stamping and embossing the anchors, and then I finished off with a dark blue ink.  The main thing to remember with this technique is to make sure your ink is dry at each step and you remove any static, otherwise you'll get embossing powder over your whole panel!  A simple sentiment finished off the card.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clear Impressions - Sea Breeze (free with a magazine); Clearly Besotted - Make a Wish
• Ink: Distress Ink: Peeled Paint, Pine Needles, Mermaid Lagoon, Chipped Sapphire; VersaMark; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede - Clear

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Emboss It

Fusion - Port O' Call Polaroid (I went with the nautical theme of the photo)

This next card I was originally going to share over at the LIM post before I made the one above.  Good job I made another as teamie, Sarah G, has created a fabulous card with the exact same layout and colours!  What goes on in our minds, Sarah?! :D

More masking on this card as well!  I started by stamping the speedboat and then created a mask over it.  I also cut an oval aperture and used this as a mask to blend my sky and sea in two tones of blue Distress Ink.  I then roughly covered up the top half of the oval and used the inks mixed with water and splattered to create the spray behind the boat.  I also used a few splatters of just water which lifted some of the ink away to create the paler splatters.  I removed all the masks, stamped the sentiment, added minimal colour to the boat with some colouring pencils and then added Glossy Accents to the screen on the boat.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Need for Speed; Happy Little Stampers - Mix Mash
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean
• Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Classic Ovals
• Pencils: Derwent - Coloursoft
• Accents: Glossy Accents

Challenge entries:

Just Add Ink - Challenge #311 - Masking

The Male Room - Challenge #35 - Transport

I loved the idea I had for the next card but it didn't really translate as I wanted it to.  It's still fun and cute so I thought I'd share it anyway!

I started by stamping the turtle in waterproof ink as I knew I'd be colouring using water later.  I then masked him off and blended Distress Inks through two different stencils, shifting them slightly to create the layered waves and fill in the white areas.  The wavy dots don't really work but hey ho, I went with it anyway! I then removed the mask and replaced just a mask to cover his face, neck and left front leg before stamping the umbrella so the shade was behind him but I wanted him to be holding it (as turtles do!)  I then finished by water colouring him with my Zig pens and stamping the sentiment below.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Cool Dude; Mama Elephant - Up and Away
• Ink: Archival - Jet Black; Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Evergreen Bough, Broken China, Chipped Sapphire
• Stencils: Dutch Doobadoo - Wavy Stripes; MFT - Waves
• Coloured with Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens

Challenge entry:

Sunday Stamps - Challenge #126 - Create a Scene with a Sketch

Sorry for the long post, if you're still with me, thanks for getting through all that.  I like to explain how I make my cards and even though these look simple, one layer cards often have a lot more steps to create.

Please pop over to visit my teamies who have worked hard to create some great cards this week.  We know you lovely LIMettes won't let us down and hope to see you in the gallery!

Muse #165 - Fabulous Friend with Mica Powders

Hi there

There's a new challenge just starting over at Muse and this week it's my turn to be your designer.  I hope you can take inspiration from some elements of my card this week, e.g. coloured 'white' space, embossed images, layout, colours, shimmer, etc.

I've used the gorgeous floral image from one of the new sets from Clearly Besotted's May Release, it's a lovely image to colour/paint.

On the pink cardstock, after removing any static with my powder tool I stamped the flowers and the sentiment with VersaMark ink before heat embossing with white powder.  I then painted the flowers and leaves with a mixture of mica powder and water.  I was going to add some sequins but liked it how it was so just mounted the panel to the card base using 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Coloured Cardstock: Bazzill Basics
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - To You With Love and Say It In Style
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Mica Powder: Honey Doo Crafts - White Opal and Green Emerald

Challenge entries:

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - May Flowers

Fantasy Stampers - Challenge #62 - Flower Power

I've had a wonderful week off and for once got lots of luck with the sunny weather but it's back to work today.  I want to take this opportunity of thanking you all for your lovely birthday wishes over the weekend, I sure have been feeling the love! :)

Paste in Pastels

Hi there

Where is this year going?  Can you believe we are into May already?  And so, as it's the first Saturday of the month it means that Less is More has a Colour challenge for your this week.  And we've got a pretty one for you...

Pastels

And for the month of May we have a fab new Sponsor which is Happy Little Stampers.

I've only managed one card for you this week.  It's my birthday today (yikes...getting far too old!) and I've had the week off work and have been out and about each day so not really had much time at home for crafting.

And as I've only created one for you I tried to make it an interesting one and had a play with some embossing paste and a new stencil...

I started by squidging a small amount of three shades of Distress Ink onto my craft mat before mixing these with the white embossing paste to create three pastel shades.  On a white cardstock panel I laid down the rose stencil and applied the paste just through a selected area.  This is a small stencil but I didn't want a hard edge as I wanted the design to be soft to match the colours.  I white heat embossed the sentiment onto an aqua fishtail flag die cut (cutting off the fishtail part!) and also die cut the 'you' from a scrap of pale blue/grey cardstock.  Once the paste was dry I adhered the die cuts across the base and then mounted the whole panel to the card base on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Mini Stencil Set 14
• Embossing Paste: Dreamweaver
• Ink: Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry, Cracked Pistachio and Shaded Lilac; VersaMark
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Thank You
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Fishtail Flag Stax; Avery Elle - Simply Said You

Challenge entries:

Freshly Made Sketches - Challenge #235

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Stencil It

Seven Hills Crafts - May Challenge - Embossing

The Crafter's Cafe - Challenge #148 - Feminine

That's all from me today, thanks so much as always for visiting.  I'm off to have a lazy day ahead of a Tex-Mex meal out with friends tonight.  Enjoy your day!