Altenew Ultimate Challenge Blog Hop

Hi guys

Today I'm excited, on behalf of the team at Less is More, to be part of the Ultimate Challenge Blog Hop hosted by Altenew.

You can find full details and begin the start of the hop here.

Here are the projects I made for the hop, the first one using the gorgeous Flower Vine stamp set...

On some blush cardstock I stamped one of the vines in a pale ink first before colouring with Copics in blush and soft green shades, and then re-stamped using my MISTI and heat embossed it in white.  I die cut the panel with a scalloped rectangle and then stamped the sentiment in co-ordinating ink.  I love this set!  As well as the vines it has lots of tiny sentiments, great for so many occasions.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Flower Vine
• Ink: Distress Ink - Antique Linen (first image before colouring); VersaMark; Altenew - Mountain Mist
• Embossing Powder: Brutus Monroe - Alabaster White
• Die: Create a Smile - Scalloped Rectangles
• Coloured with Copics
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

NBUS - Challenge #29 - these new stamp sets were kindly gifted by Altenew to take part in the hop

Stamping Sensations - August Challenge - Any Celebration

And for my second card I used the Ditsy Print stamp set...

On some pale yellow cardstock I used the various layering stamps from the set to create the image, using inks from Altenew.  I then die cut using a pierced square and cut another slightly larger to frame it, popping the smaller one up on 3D foam.  The sentiment was stamped below in black.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Ditsy Print, Flower Vine (sentiment)
• Ink: Altenew - Peach Perfect, Orange Cream, Autumn Blaze, Frayed Leaf, Sweet Leaf, Forest Glades; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax

Challenge entries:

Just Add Ink - Challenge #566 - Just Add a Frame

Thanks for visiting.  Please do join in the blog hop, there are prizes to be won and you could have one of your creations on the Altenew Blog!

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.

Happy Little Stampers

Kylie

Anita - that's me!

Heidi

Jane

Michelle

Linda

Stephanie
Helen Liu

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)

Happy Little Stampers New Release Blog Hop!

Hi there

Today I'd like to welcome you to the Happy Little Stampers blog hop to celebrate the release of six new fabulous stamp sets.

My fellow Design Teamies will be sharing their projects using these new stamp sets and to be in with a chance of winning a fabulous prize of a $50 gift certificate to the HLS Shop all you have to do is join in the hop and comment along the way.  A winner will be chosen at random from all the comments left.  The hop will run for one week, finishing at 12pm AEST on 28 November.

A full list of the designers taking part is shown below, so if you've joined mid-hop you can pop to the beginning following the link.

My first card uses a lovely new Christmas set called Christmas Joy, a great mix of festive sentiments and images...

I started by die cutting a stitched oval from some Strathmore Bristol cardstock and stamped the sentiment in black ink.  I then stamped and heat embossed the poinsettias and holly in white surrounding the sentiment.  I then coloured the images with Zig markers and blended with water.  I added a little shading around the images in a blue/grey colour just to add some interest.  I then popped the oval up on some 3D foam onto a card base which had been scored horizonally across the centre.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Christmas Joy
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Coloured with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers
• Die: Lil' Inkers - Stitched Oval 

I'd like to link this card up at the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #452 - Christmas/Holidays
Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #220 - Photo Inspiration
Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge #177 - Embossing Heat or Dry
Stamping Sensations - November Challenge - Christmas Greetings
Penny Black and More - November Challenge - Anything Christmas
Happy Little Stampers - November Christmas Challenge - Watercolour

I went a bit crazy with my second card, well, crazy for me as I usually create with clean lines but I wanted to give these balloons the Brusho treatment...and Brushos like to do their own thing!  This card uses the new Simply Said set which is full of great sentiments, a balloon and a heart...

On some Derwent watercolour cardstock I stamped the balloons and heat embossed in white.  I then brushed some water over and around each balloon before sprinkling some Brusho crystals over each one.  A little more water was required to activate the crystals so I spritzed a little and that's when it got a little out of control.  But I think the design suits the fabulous bold sentiment which was heat embossed in white onto some black cardstock.  The panel was adhered over some red cardstock and adhered flat to the cardbase before the strip was popped up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Simply Said
• Ink: VersaMark; Brusho - Brilliant Red, Purple, Turquoise
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Cardstock from stash

I'd like to link this one up at the following challenge:

AAA Cards - Game #78 - Circles (may not be CAS enough, please disregard if it's not)

And finally, a one layer card uses a great new set called Wish You Were Here which has sentiments in a great font, together with some world famous images, and the female silhouette which I've used here...

I masked off a vertical panel and blended three colours of Distress Ink.  I then used the Ghosting Technique of spritzing water through a stencil and blotting away some of the colour.  I stamped the silhouette and sentiment in black ink before adding some gentle splatters using the same colours of Distress Ink mixed with a little water.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Wish You Were Here
• Ink: Distress Ink - Cracked Pistachio, Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint Sketch; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Dot Fade

I'd like to link this card up at the following challenges:

Addicted to CAS - Challenge #101 - Ombre
My Time to Craft - Challenge #334 - No layers
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Happy Birthday

Here is the order of the hop, and be sure to comment along the way to be in with a chance of winning that fabulous prize!

Happy Little Stampers 

Kylie Purtell

Michelle Dees

Anita Bowden (that's me!)

Linda Walmsley

Julie Beech

Jane Taylor

Laurie Schmidt

Valentyna Komisarenko

Carol Steedman

Susan Renshaw

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Neha Parab
Amy Seigler

Thanks so much for popping by, and good luck!

STAMPlorations Giving Thanks Blog Hop

Hi there

Today, as part of the Design Team at Less is More, I'm delighted to be joining my teamies to take part in the Giving Thanks Blog Hop with STAMPlorations!

The lovely Shery has invited us to take part in this fabulous Blog Hop and Linky Party and is offering some wonderful prizes for commenting along the hop and participating in the linky party.

Clicking HERE will take you to the beginning of the hop.

For my thank you card I used the ARTplorations Christmas Reindeer stencil by STAMPlorations...

I adhered a strip of plaid patterned paper down one side of my card base.  Then on a panel of white cardstock I blended Distress Inks in co-ordinating colours through the deer stencil.  The sentiment was then stamped in black and the panel adhered flat over the card base and paper.

Materials used:

• Patterned paper from stash
• Stencil: ARTplorations by STAMPlorations - Christmas Reindeer
• Ink: Distress Ink - Pumice Stone, Gathered Twigs, Evergreen Bough, Peacock Feathers, Faded Jeans; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Many thanks

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - CAS Game #77 - Thanks / Thanksgiving
Virginia's View - Challenge #25 - Stripes and Plaid
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Thanks / Thanksgiving
Addicted to CAS - Challenge #101 - Ombre

So, click here to join the hop and comment along the way for a chance to win prizes, and why not join in the linky party too.  Have fun!

Altenew Mega Challenge Blog Hop - Muse Card Club

Hello again!

If you missed my earlier post, today is all about this...

Altenew is teaming up with 18 challenge blogs for a MEGA Challenge Blog Hop to celebrate our wonderful crafting and cardmaking community, ahead of World Cardmaking Day on 1 October.

I'm lucky enough to be a member of the Muse Design Team and have been creating along with my teamies to take part in this hop, alongside all these fantastic challenge blogs...

You can find the start of this Mega Hop along with all the details, including prizes to be won, here.  Links to all the wonderful challenge blogs can also be found throughout the hop.

So all you need to do is grab any of your Altenew products, start creating and link up for a chance to win.

I used two of my favourite Altenew stamp sets on this card, Hennah Elements and Label Love...

I started by stamping with black ink and embossing with clear powder, then masking each image before repeating the process.  I then used coloured pencils to colour the flowers and leaves.  The label sentiment was then stamped and that finished this one layer card.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Hennah Elements and Label Love
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with Derwent Coloursoft Pencils

So, what are you waiting for?  Enjoy the hop and along the way you may discover some challenge blogs you've not visited before.

Get inspired and have fun!

Altenew Mega Challenge Blog Hop - Less is More

Hi there

There's something exciting just starting in blogland...

Altenew is teaming up with 18 challenge blogs for a MEGA Challenge Blog Hop to celebrate our wonderful crafting and cardmaking community, ahead of World Cardmaking Day on 1 October.

As part of the Less is More team I'm thrilled to be part of this fabulous hop with my fellow LIMette teamies, alongside the Design Teams of these awesome challenge blogs...

You can find the start of this Mega Hop along with all the details, including prizes to be won, here.  Links to all the wonderful challenge blogs can also be found throughout the hop.

So all you need to do is grab any of your Altenew products, start creating and link up for a chance to win.

I decided to have a play with my Painted Flowers stamp set and created this card, in true Less is More style of course...

I die cut a pierced square and stamped the flowers and leaves using lots of the individual elements in this fantastic layering set.  The sentiment was taken from another of Altenew's lovely sets, Beautiful Lady.  I also used Altenew Crisp Inks for the flowers.  A little yellow frame cut from another of the pierced squares and the card was finished.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Painted Flowers, Beautiful Lady
• Ink: Altenew - Warm Sunshines, Mango Smoothie, Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Pieced Square Stax
• Coloured Cardstock: Papermania

You may have noticed that another of the challenges taking part in the hop is Muse.  My teamies over there have also had some fun creating with Altenew, and I'll be back in just a moment with my second card.

Be right back :) 

Happy Little Stampers Second Release Blog Hop!

Hi guys

As a member of the Design Team at Happy Little Stampers I'm thrilled to be taking part in this blog hop to celebrate the second stamp release....6 new stamp sets are now in the HLS store!

Here are the details of the hop...

This hop will run until next weekend and you'll need to visit each of the HLS designers and leave a comment for a chance to win a prize.

You should have reached me from the lovely Chrissie's blog.  If you've got lost along the way, don't worry, there's a complete list of all the hop stops at the bottom of this post.


I'm sharing two cards today, made using two of the new stamp sets, Whimsical Friends and Mix Mash...

I used both sets on this first card.  On a white cardstock panel I stamped the chevron, twice alongside each other, to create a longer chevron.  I then stamped the cute bird perched on this and coloured him in with my Zig pens.  I stamped the sentiment below in black, I think the 'miss you' works well with the bird looking into the distance.  I mounted the panel onto some bright orange cardstock to co-ordinate with the bird and then adhered this flat to the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Whimsical Friends and Mix Mash
• Ink: Versa Color - Turquoise; Archival - Jet Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens

Challenge entries for this card:

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #396 - Anything Goes

Brown Sugar - Challenge #169 - ~Anything Goes

And my second card...

I used a combination of stamps from Mix Mash on this card.  I started by drawing a pencil line diagonally across the card to use as a guide.  I then stamped the starburst and circles in a repetitive pattern to fill in the lower half of the card.  I carefully erased the pencil line and then stamped the sentiment and chevrons to create a kind of border.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Mix Mash
• Ink: Versa Color - Opera Pink, Cyan, Mint; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - Challenge #332 - Anything Goes

I hope you're having fun visiting all the designers and that you've gained lots of inspiration for using these sets.  The next stop on the hop is the wonderful Carol. 

Here is the complete lists of participants for the hop, if you've not started from the beginning you might want to get yourself a brew, it's a long list!...

Happy Little Stampers 

Kylie Purtell

Loll Thompson

Joyce Mehrberg

Gloria Lee

Tanja Kabel

Susan Bridgman

LesLee

Gail Townsend

Carol Steedman

Melissa Lane

Linda Walmsley

Birgit Norton

Kim Heggins

Valentyna

Sue T.

Bonnie Klass

Toni

Chrissie

Anita - that's me!

Carol Dunham

Ingrid Blackburn

I hope you're enjoying this hop.  Thanks so much for popping by and I wish you lots of luck with the prizes!