Saturday 31 March 2018

Less is More Challenge #368

Hi there

And a very Happy Easter to you!

It's new challenge day over at Less is More and this time we're back with a Lucky Dip challenge.  And a great one it is too.  We've invited our fabulous January Winner, Aileen of Colour & Sparkle, to create a card for you to CASE.


And here is Aileen's gorgeous card...


Our sponsor for April is Happy Little Stampers and the fantastic Kylie is also joining us as a Guest Designer for this challenge so please do pop over to her blog and say hi.
Picture


I have two cards to share with you, both following the floral theme of Aileen's beautiful card.

Here's the first...


Magnolias are one of my absolute favourite blooms to see this time of year and they are just starting to bloom here in the UK.  A little artistic licence here with the colour, but wouldn't they look awesome in blue!  I simply stamped this multi-layered set onto a panel of white cardstock, die cut the word fabulous from some silver glitter cardstock and adhered this above the word friend stamped in black.  The panel was then popped up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

  • Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Magnolia Moments, A Little Sentimental
  • Ink: Memento - Bahama Blue, London Fog; Altenew - Ocean Waves, Mountain Mist; Versafine - Onyx Black
  • Die: Reverse Confetti - You're so
  • Accents: Pink Frog Crafts - Non shed silver glitter card

Challenge entries:

Just Us Girls - Challenge #434 - CAS (Clean and Simple)
CAS-ual Fridays - Challenge #196 - Spring Fever




My second card follows a similar theme...



I stamped the linear image and sentiment in black and then added the coloured stamping using the watercolour style filler images from the same set.  The word beautiful was die cut from silver glitter card and the panel then adhered flat to a linen card base.

Materials used:

  • Stamps: Concord & 9th - Hello Lovely; Clearly Besotted - A Little Sentimental
  • Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Bahama Blue, London Fog; Altenew - Ocean Waves, Mountain Mist, Buttercream; Versafine - Onyx Black
  • Die: Reverse Confetti - You're So
  • Accents: Pink Frog Crafts - Non shed silver glitter card


Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #285 - Photo Inspiration
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes




Thanks so much for visiting today, and I hope you manage to play along with this challenge.  The DT cards alone look so pretty, I know the gallery is going to look fabulous for the next fortnight :)

Sunday 18 March 2018

Skull and Cross Buns - New Stencils and Embellishments!

Hi guys

Today marks the launch of some new products over at Skull and Cross Buns

Emily has been super busy behind the scenes recently, creating some fabulous stencils, and acrylic and wooden embellishments, all of which co-ordinate with stamp designs already available in the store.

You can find all the new stencils by following this link, here.  And the embellishment packs and jumbo embellishments are included within this link, here.  Emily also did a run through of the new products in a Facebook video earlier today, here.

So, here are some cards I've created using some of the new products mixed with existing Skull and Cross Buns stamps.  Quite a few pics, so here goes.


First up, a real mixture of products for this tropical scene...


On a panel of white cardstock I die cut a circle and marked on the card base where the aperture would be.  I then masked the top half and stencilled the chevrons in two different shades, purposely mis-aligning slightly to leave some white areas of the 'waves' (there is a new Nautical stencil which includes waves but I didn't have it, so improvised!).  I then masked the waves and ink blended the sunset before adhering the palm trees embellishment.  To finish I stamped the sentiment and flower, and then mounted the panel on fun foam for dimension.


Materials used:

  • Die: Hero Arts - Infinity Circle Dies
  • Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Hexagon/Chevron Pattern
  • Ink: Distress Ink - Salty Ocean, Mermaid Lagoon, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Opera Pink
  • Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Quirky Sentiments, Tropical Party
  • Embellishment: Skull and Cross Buns - palm trees from Tropical Party Embellish Set 1


Next up, two new embellishments with stencil blending and embossed stamping..


I initially ink blended through the geometric stencil before die cutting the stitched window from the front panel of the card base.  On the inside of the card I repeatedly stamped and heat embossed the stars in silver, before adhering the star and sentiment embellishments.


Materials used:
  • Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Geometric Pattern
  • Ink: Distress Ink - Cracked Pistachio; VersaMark
  • Die: MFT Die-namics - Peek-a-boo window
  • Stamp: Skull and Cross Buns - Starburst
  • Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Silver
  • Embellishments: Skull and Cross Buns - star from Geometric Heart and Star Jumbo Embellish! Set, Shining Star Jumbo Embellish!



Card three uses products from the new Knitting theme range...


I started by stencilling the background knitting panel using two shades or purple/lilac.  I die cut the tag and ran it through my Big Shot with a knit pattern embossing folder.  I punched the hole and added some twine before adhering it to the card base and adhering the embellishment on top.


Materials used:
  • Stencil - Skull and Cross Buns - Knitting Pattern
  • Ink: Distress Ink - Shaded Lilac, Dusty Concord
  • Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Traditional Tag Stax
  • Embossing Folder: X-cut - Cable Knit
  • Twine: Hemptique - from Spring Bloom 2 set
  • Embellishment: Skull and Cross Buns - Knit Happens Jumbo Embellish!



My next card uses a stencil and embellishment that co-ordinates with the existing Brush Hearts stamp set...


On a linen card base I stencilled the hearts in shades of pink.  I then flipped the stencil over so the pattern was reversed and spread through the stencil with some glimmer paste.  I adhered the 'kiss' acrylic embellishment and stamped 'me' and the lips alongside.

Inside the card I continued the sentiment..


Materials used:
  • Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Brush Heart Pattern
  • Ink: Distress Ink - Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries; Versa Color - Rose Red, Charcoal
  • Accents: Nuvo Glimmer Paste - Moonstone
  • Embellishment: Skull and Cross Buns - Kiss Jumbo Embellish!



And for my fifth and final card, I created a shaker...


I stencilled the hearts in pink on my card base, these to be the backing for my shaker window.  I then adhered the geometric heart embellishment so that it would be within the window, therefore not making the finished card any thicker.  A heart was die cut from the top panel, the sentiment stamped in black and some acetate and 3D foam added to the reverse.  I then sprinkled some red heart confetti and trapped it within the window by adhering the top panel over it.  This didn't turn out as I imagined, I think there's too much going on in that window...as a CAS designer busy designs scare me! lol  Hopefully it will appeal to some of you :D


Materials used:
  • Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Brush Heart Pattern
  • Ink: Distress Ink - Spun Sugar; Versafine - Onyx Black
  • Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Heart Stax
  • Embellishment: Skull and Cross Buns - heart from Geometric Heart and Star Jumbo Embellish! Set
  • Accents: Nuvo Pure Sheen Confetti - Scarlet Red Hearts



Phew, if you've made it to the end, thanks so much for reading.  I hope you love these new products, and I'm sure Emily has lots more in the pipeline to add to her store soon.


On a different subject, I may manage some more crafting tomorrow as the South West of England has been hit with a mammoth amount of snow and it's set to continue tomorrow.  There's a weather warning not to travel so that's a snow day for me then!  This was earlier today, and it's still snowing...



Probably be back tomorrow!

Saturday 17 March 2018

Less is More Challenge #367

Good morning!

At Less is More it's new challenge day and we're back with a One Layer challenge for the next fortnight.  I'll get straight to it with the details...




Our March sponsor is STAMPlorations and the fabulous Shery is joining in the fun as our Guest Designer for this challenge, so please do pop over and say hi!



I have two sample cards for you, here is the first...


For this one I used watercolour card as my card base.  I laid the stencil over it and very gently sprinkled some Brusho pigment crystals over the apertures of the stencil.  I then spritzed with a mist of water and immediately removed the stencil to stop the water running underneath.  Once dry I stamped the sentiment alongside in black ink.

Materials used:

  • Stencil: Hydrangea - free with Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine
  • Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Brushed Greetings II
  • Ink: Brusho - Purple, Leaf Green; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Color Throwdown - Challenge #484 - Green, Eggplant and White




I chose a coloured card base for my second card...


I placed a daisy stencil along the base of the card base and inked through with white pigment ink.  Then just on the flower centres I inked over with an orange/yellow ink.  After removing the stencil the sentiment was then overstamped in black.

Materials used:

  • Stencil: Imagination Crafts - Butterfy and Daisy
  • Ink: Hero Arts - Unicorn; Versa Color - Marigold; Versafine - Onyx Black
  • Stamps: Concord & 9th - Hello Lovely

Challenge entries:

Cards in Envy - Green Things Card Challenge
CAS-ual Fridays - Challenge #195 - Going Green
The Flower Challenge - Challenge #18 - Anything Goes




Over on the main challenge blog my teamies are sharing some great projects and there may also be more inspiration if you follow the links to their blogs too.  I hope you play along with us.

Tuesday 13 March 2018

Bold Florals in Aqua

Hi guys

Just a quick share tonight of a card I made for my sister-in-law whose birthday it was last week.

This was super simple to make and I love the result so I think I'll make lots more of these in different colourways. 

Here it is...


I masked all four edges of the card base with tape and then blended two shades of Distress Ink through a floral stencil.  The sentiment was then simply stamped in black....easy peasy!

Materials used:

  • Stencil: STAMPlorations - Bold Florals
  • Ink: Distress Ink - Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers; Versafine - Onyx Black
  • Stamps: Altenew - Extra Special

Challenge entries:

Time Out - Challenge #104 - Bold
The Flower Challenge - Challenge #18 - Anything Goes




Thanks so much visiting.

Sunday 11 March 2018

Happy Little Stampers - New Release Blog Hop!

Hi there

It's Blog Hop time over at Happy Little Stampers to celebrate the arrival of six new stamp sets.


You have the chance to win amazing prizes just by hopping along with us.  My fellow Designers and I have prepared a feast of inspiration with the new sets and we can't wait to show you what we have come up with.

This post has lots of info and photos so why not grab a brew and get comfy!



I've been playing with three of the new sets and here are my sample cards.

My Challenge entries are at the end of the post so as not to interfere with the blog hop details :)


First up is the gorgeous new Dandelion Wishes set...

Card 1


I masked the base and left side of the card and then blended with Distress Ink, fading it out.  I then stamped and heat embossed some of the dandelions in white and also stamped a few more in grey and the same lavender shade.  I finished by stamping the sentiment in black and adding a few score lines to the border.

Materials used:
  • Ink: Distress Ink - Milled Lavender; Altenew - Silver Stone; VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
  • Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Dandelion Wishes
  • Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White


Also using the Dandelion Wishes set...

Card 2


I embossed my card base using a stitched oval die and then made a mask from some scrap cardstock and used the negative space to just reveal the centre oval.  I blended the background with two shades of Distress Ink and then stamped the dandelions using first and second generation stamping.  I splattered with some water and lifted the droplets away with a paper towel.  I stamped the sentiment using two similar shades of pigment ink to continue the ombre theme.

Materials used:
  • Die: Lil Inkers - Stitched Ovals
  • Ink: Distress Ink - Iced Spruce, Faded Jeans; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Celadon, Smoke Blue
  • Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Dandelion Wishes


Next up is the super pretty Let It Snow stamp set.  You can never have too many snowflake stamps in my opinion!

Card 3


I embossed the card base using a pierced square die and cut a second square using the next size down from the same set.  I stamped the snowflake and heat embossed using a pearl embossing powder.  I then blended three shades of Distress Ink.  The inked square was popped up on 3D foam and the sentiment was simply stamped below in black.

Materials used:
  • Dies: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Squares Stax
  • Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Let It Snow
  • Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Ink - Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Blueprint Sketch
  • Embossing Powder: Wow! - White Pearl


Next up I made a shaker using the Let It Snow set...

Card 4


I started with a white panel slightly smaller than the card base and die cut three circles, leaving room for the sentiment which was stamped in black.  I positioned over the card base and marked through with a pencil where the circles would be.  Next I stamped the snowflakes and heat embossed in metallic shades.  I then put together my shaker in the usual way with acetate and foam tape on the reverse, and added some sparkly crystals to each window.

Materials used:
  • Die: Hero Arts - Circle Infinity Dies
  • Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Let It Snow
  • Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
  • Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich, Metallic Silver, Metallic Copper
  • Accents: Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Jewels - Iced Crystals


And the last set I've been creating with is a super fun sentiment set called Smile...

Card 5


I wanted to include a smiley shape on my card so I masked a panel to expose a curved strip.  I then blended a rainbow of ink.  I manipulated the sentiment stamp to follow the curve before stamping in black, along with the big Smile sentiment below. 

Materials used:
  • Ink: Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch, Lucky Clover, Mustard Seed; Versafine - Onyx Black
  • Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Smile


And finally, another using the Smile set...

Card 6


This took a while to create but with the help of the MISTI I managed to line up the smiles ok.  Before stamping the background I inked around the edges with some blue ink, fading it out towards the centre.  I stamped a further 'Smiles' in black ink on a vellum strip and heat embossed in clear, and embossed a further strip in white on black to complete the sentiment.

Materials used:
  • Ink: Distress Ink - Tumbed Glass; Versa Color - Amethyst, Royal Blue, Lavender; Versafine - Onyx Black; VersaMark
  • Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Smile
  • Embossing Powder: Wow! - Clear Gloss, Opaque Bright White
  • Vellum from stash


Here are the sets I used, together with the remaining three sets in the new release.  I think this is a great selection, they're all so different :)






You should have reached me from the link in Kylie's post but if not, you can start the Hop from the beginning following the links below.

Anita - that's me!



Don't forget to comment along the way for a chance to win the prizes detailed above.  The Blog Hop will for one week, ending on 19th March @ 6am AEST.

Happy Hopping! :)


Challenge entries:

Card 1:
AAA Cards - CAS Game #110 - Ombre

Card 2:
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Card 3:
Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #282 - Make Your Mark (Ink sponging/blending)

Card 5:
Time Out - Challenge #104 - Bold
Moving Along with the Times - Challenge #66 - Rainbows
CAS-ual Fridays - Challenge #194 - Beautiful Rainbows

Card 6:
Sweet Stampin' - Inspired by a Song (Smile by Nat King Cole)




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