Less is More Challenge #427

Good morning

As there are three Saturdays in August today we have a Lucky Dip challenge for you over at Less is More.  Here is the cue card...

If you're unfamiliar with this technique there are a couple of video links included over on the main Less is More challenge post to help you.

I have two sample cards for you today, here's the first...

I die cut a piece of black cardstock using a stitched rectangle.  There are a few different ways to create a chalkboard effect.  I started by dabbing a paper towel into a white ink pad and then swiping it across the panel, then to smooth the ink out a little I swiped across it with a baby wipe.  Once dry I then stamped and heat embossed my sentiment and images in white.  I added a little shading to the holly leaves with a white pencil and finished with some red glitter enamel dot accents.  The panel was then layered up onto a white panel cut with a larger die from the same set.

Materials used:

• Ink: Hero Arts - Unicorn; VersaMark
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Hang Around; 12 Days of Christmas (holly) - free set with Creative Stamping Magazine
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Accents: Enamel dots from stash

I thought that this technique would also work well with a Halloween theme, here's my second card...

This card was created in the same way.  The panel was then simply offset on an orange panel and adhered onto a purple card base.

Materials used:

• Ink: Hero Arts - Unicorn; VersaMark
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Sweet Little Sentiments; Autumnal Treasures - free set with Creative Stamping Magazine
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

As always, the challenge linky will remain open for two weeks so there's plenty of time to play along.  And you can find lots more inspiration from my teamies over on the main Less is More blog too.

Clearly Besotted May Release - Mr and Mrs Hoot and A Class Act (Guest Designer!)

Hi there

Today's the last day of the Clearly Besotted teasers before these fantastic new stamp sets go on sale at the Clearly Besotted store at 10pm tonight!  If you've got your eye on some of these then don't delay as every month there are sell-outs...and fast!

I want to say a MASSIVE thank you to Stephanie for inviting me to Guest Design once again, it's such an honour, and to the rest of the amazing Design Team for their lovely comments.


Ok, let's get to it.  Today I'm sharing the final two sets of this release - Mr and Mrs Hoot and A Class Act.


Mr & Mrs Hoot
This mini set has an adorable image of a bride and groom owl together with a swing and some lovely marriage themed sentiments.

I stamped the owls and then masked them before stamping the swing.  These were then coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers.  I masked the whole design and cut some clouds from post-it notes to also used as masks, before blending the background to create the sky.  I wanted the scene to appear that they were swinging from a branch high in the sky.  I then adhered this behind a white cardstock panel which I had die cut to create a heart shaped aperture.  The panel was mounted on 3D foam and I then added some Wink of Stella to Mrs Hoot's veil and Glossy Accents on their eyes.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Mr & Mrs Hoot
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Cloud Trio; X-cut - Nested Hearts
• Coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers
• Accents: Wink of Stella - Clear; Glossy Accents

Challenge entry:

Daring Cardmakers - Wedding / Anniversary

A Class Act

This set features cute little animals with a school theme and sentiments for back to school and for teacher thanks.

Lots of masking involved for this card.  The cat, desk, chalkboard, owl teacher and even the little piece of paper are all separate stamps.  I masked these and then stamped the hardwood image across the scene to create the wooden floor.  Then I used the chalkboard technique on the teeny chalkboard!  I clear embossed the chalkboard onto black cardstock.  The 'abc' was handwritten with an embossing pen which I heat embossed in white and then gently swiped across it with white pigment ink before fussy cutting and adhering to the scene.  I used stitched rectangle dies to cut the scene and the kraft border before adhering to the base on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - A Class Act; Stampin' Up - Hardwood
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa; Versa Color - White; Whispers - Embossing Marker
• Coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rectangles
• Kraft Cardstock: Neenah - Desert Storm
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

Challenge entry:

Penny Black and More - May Challenge - Anything Goes with Stamping

Thanks as always for visiting, I appreciate each and every one of you.

Addicted to Stamps and More #124

Hi there

It's new challenge time at Addicted to Stamps and More and we've whizzed around to one of the favourites this week, and my favourite also...

CAS (Clean and Simple)

You can make anything you like but please keep it clean and simple

The challenge rules can be found here.

This week's challenge is sponsored by StampArt Design who are offering 5 free digis to the challenge winner!

Here's my card.  I decided to use a technique I've only tried once before, the chalkboard technique...

If you're not familiar with this technique here's how it's done...

I die cut a piece of black cardstock and initially wiped it over with my dust buddy as I didn't want any embossing powder to stick where it wasn't wanted.  I stamped the sentiment with VersaMark ink (this sentiment is all one stamp) and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.  Next I used some tissue to randomly wipe some white pigment ink over the black card.  A baby wipe was then used to wipe away the ink until I got the effect I wanted.  This panel was then matted onto some red cardstock and adhered flat to the card base.  I stamped the holly leaves and berries and fussy cut these out.  These were then adhered with 3D foam pads and I added some Glossy Accents to the berries for some shine.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Most Wonderful and Holiday Sentiments
• Ink: VersaMark; Versa Color - White, Evergreen and Scarlet
• Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Classic Rectangles
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Glossy Accents

Challenge entries:

Let's Craft and Create - Challenge #99 - Christmas

Oh La La Creations - Challenge #170 - Christmas

Crafty Creations - Challenge #277 - Embossing

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #100 - Anything Goes

Brown Sugar - Challenge #122 - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

So, if you've got some time on your hands this week, probably in between putting up your Christmas decorations, why not have a go at the challenge at ATSM.  The Design Team have created some wonderful cards, and they are all very different if you need some inspiration.  It would be great to see you there.  

Thanks as always for stopping by.

Chalkboard Thank You

Hi there

Last night I decided to have a go at the chalkboard technique as I wanted to enter the current challenge at Muse.  I had absolutely no idea how to go about this so I found a link to a video where Marion Vagg, this week's fabulous muse, shares how to create this effect.  You can find her video here. 

So here's my card, I waited until this morning so I could photograph it in daylight.  I have kept the layout and the colours almost the same as Marion's card, just changing up the stamps.  Not bad for a first attempt, eh!

 

 

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Leafy Accents and Many Thanks
• Ink: VersaMark; Versa Color - White
• Embossing Powder: Stampin' Up - White
• Punch: Craft Creatives - Mini Paper Punches
• Gems and cardstock from stash

 

Here is Marion's card...

 

I'm also entering my card for the following Challenges:

2 Sisters Challenge - 171 Thank You
Card Crafter's Circle - 102 Thankful - Thank You
Creative Inspirations - 241 Thanksgiving/Thank You
Papertake Weekly - Giving Thanks


Thanks for dropping by.  I've got a few things to get done today but may be back later this evening if I find some crafty time.  I hope you have a lovely Sunday whatever you're up to.

Take care