Unicorn Sparkles

Hi there

I'm popping back today to share this card I recently made for an order, for a little girl's birthday, the niece of a work colleague.

As well as being from her auntie it needed to include pink, glitter, her name and her age too.

Here's what I came up with...

I started by stamping the unicorn and colouring it with a mix of ProMarkers and FlexMarkers.  I used a cloud die to cut some pink and white glitter cardstock which I positioned and adhered along the top of the panel.  I die cut the letters for Izzy's name from the same pink glitter card and the number 9 from the white.  I die cut the balloon from some purple glitter polka dot card and drew the balloon string with a silver pen before adhering down the die cuts.  I stamped the sentiment in black before popping the panel up on 3D foam.  To finish I added some sparkle to the unicorn's horn and and hooves.  The sparkle can be seen much clearer below...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Azeeda - Proud Unicorn; Clearly Besotted - Sweet Little Family
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers
• Dies: MFT - Bottlecap Letters; PTI - Modern Numbers; Lawn Fawn - Puffy Cloud Borders; Clearly Besotted - Let's Party Die
• Accents: Spectrum Noir - Clear Sparkle pen; Signo Uniball pen - Silver

Thanks so much for popping by, I appreciate all my followers and visitors so much :)

Less is More Challenge #375

Hi guys

The last two weeks have absolutely flown by and we are back with another new challenge for you over at Less is More.  And following the usual challenge sequence means it's time for a Colour challenge this time, here are the details...

And as we are into a brand new month we have a new sponsor, it's the fabulous craft store, Seven Hills Crafts back with us for July.  So don't forget to play along in our challenges this month for a chance to win the monthly prize.

We also have a super talented Guest Designer joining us for this colour challenge, Lynne who was our monthly winner for May!  Please do pop over to her blog to say hi and see her wonderful creative work.


OK, I was a bit on the fence with this colour combo at first and wasn't really 'feeling it' but as it happens, I have four sample cards to share with you!  It obviously kick started my creative mojo after all!

Here's the first.  This is my favourite of the four and I was going to share this one over on the main LIM post but Izzy beat me to it with a very similar stencilled project, so I'll share it here as my first one...

A pretty simple make.  I inked through a stencil with two colours of Distress Ink, blending where they met.  I then die cut the 'hugs' from some black fine glitter cardstock and twice from orange cardstock and stacked them up.  You can just about make out the orange cardstock in the pic below, as well as the glitter card...

 

I finished by adding some black Nuvo drops scattered around the sentiment.  Before I added these I felt that something was missing but I think I preferred it without.  Oh well!

Materials used:

• Stencil: Altenew - Leaf Burst
• Ink: Distress Ink - Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade
• Die: Lawn Fawn - Scripty Hugs
• Accents: Nuvo - Crystal Drops Ebony Black

Challenge entries:

STAMPlorations - Summer CAS Card Challenge
Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #299 - CAS
Just Us Girls - Challenge #448 - Citrus

Next up is the card I shared over on the main LIM post...

This is just simply stamped and a few accents added.  The stems and flower heads were stamped in Altenew inks and the sentiment in black.  I then added a couple of score lines for some interest to this one layer card.  And to finish I added some white dot details with a white pigment pen.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Pretty Petals
• Ink: Altenew - Olive, Orange Cream; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Accents: Signo Uniball pen - white pigment; Score lines

Challenge entries:

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes (no Topping option for this one)
STAMPlorations - Summer Theme & Sketch Challenge - Stamps and Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations - July Challenge - In My Garden
Alphabet Challenge - H for Happy Birthday




This one follows on from the last LIM challenge as I found this orange floral panel in my 'bits box'...

The main flower was stamped in Versamark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder, then masked before stamping the remaining flowers and leaves and then heat embossing those also.  I added a little depth of colour to the centres with a FlexMarker.  This was then trimmed and mounted onto a green card base.  I die cut the sentiment strip from the same green cardstock and heat embossed the sentiment in white.  A few green glitter enamel dots were added to complete the card.

Materials used:

• Coloured cardstock from stash
• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Flowers for Design; MFT - Adorable Elephants (sentiment)
• Ink: Versamark
• Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White
• Die: Clearly Besotted - Stripped
• Accents: FlexMarker; Enamel Dots from stash 

And I went super simple for my final card.  Although I love simple I don't love this card but thought I'd share it with you anyway...

I stamped the glass, olive and sentiment in black ink then coloured with Flexmarkers.  I made some horizonal score lines and popped the panel up on fun foam on the card base.  To finish I added a little Wink of Stella shimmer to the drink and covered with Glossy Accents.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Raise a Glass II
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Coloured with FlexMarkers
• Accents: Wink of Stella - Clear; Glossy Accents; Score lines

That's all from me, please do pop over to the main Less is More blog, here, to follow the links to view my fellow teamies' makes.  Lots of different projects to inspire you for this colour combo.  I hope to see you in our gallery.  Happy Saturday, folks! :)

Less is More Challenge #370 - Sketch 23

Good morning, crafters

Over at Less is More for the next fortnight's challenge we have a Sketch challenge for you.  It's been a while since we had a sketch so here it is...

Our sponsor for April is the wonderful Happy Little Stampers and our monthly prize winner will be eligible to purchase stamps or dies with a gift certificate.

And today we have the second of our February winners joining us as a Guest Designer, Sue of Sue's Card Craft.  So please do pop over to her blog to say hi :)


Just the one card from me this week.  Sketches are the challenge genre I find the most difficult and I've not been feeling great this last week either so apologies that I don't have more to share.

I thought I'd pick up my ProMarkers for this one as I've not used them in ages.  Oh dear, you can tell!  I started by stamping and masking and stamping some more then coloured in the balloons and clouds.  I stamped the sentiment on a cloud shaped die cut and popped this up on 3D foam.  Then the main panel was also popped up onto the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Up in the Air, Wild Thing (sentiment)
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: Clearly Besotted - Cloudy Days Die Collection
• Coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #289 - CAS
Always Fun Challenges - Challenge #55 - CAS
Creative with Stamps - Challenge #25 - CAS + Sentiment

Although I find sketches tough my teamies have had no problems creating some great projects.  There's a wonderful array of diverse designs over on the main challenge blog so please do check them out, and I hope you can play along over the next two weeks.

You Make Me Smile

Hi guys

As it's Good Friday I'm at home and found a little crafty time this afternoon.  I've been wanting to enter the Smile challenge at Addicted to CAS and it's closing in a few hours so I got a wriggle on and used a stamp I've had for years and only ever used once before.

Here it is...

I stamped the little mouse and coloured her in with FlexMarkers.  I then curved and stamped the sentiment from the same set to follow the curve of the mouse's tail.  I used a pierced square die to cut out the stamped images and mounted it using foam tape onto a panel I've embossed with a diagonal stripe embossing folder.

Materials used:

• Stamps: MFT - Millie the Mouse
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Coloured with FlexMarkers
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax
• Embossing Folder: Stampin' Up by Sizzix (name unknown)

Challenge entries:

Addicted to CAS - Challenge #108 - Smile

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #237 - Make Your Mark

Crafty Catz - Challenge #366 - Anything Goes with optional twist of Animals

Thanks so much for visiting.  I'll be back tomorrow with details of the next challenge at Less is More.  Hope to see you then.

Less is More Week #302

Hi there

Welcome to new challenge day at Less is More.  And once again it's the turn of our One Layer challenge.  And our theme for you this week is...

Books / Literature

I'll admit, this one stumped me this week, so just one sample for you this time.  And as it's a one layer challenge I decided to make a bookmark...

I started by die cutting a piece of white cardstock using a fishtail flag die.  Next I stamped the bookworm, masked him to stamp the bookshelf, and with the masks still in place I stamped the text background.  I wanted a faded look to the text so once the stamp was inked up in grey I blotted slightly with a paper towel before stamping.  I coloured the bookworm and bookshelf with ProMarkers and Flexmarkers.  The sentiment flag was stamped in turquoise flush with the edge.  I fixed an olive green eyelet to the top to co-ordinate with the worm and threaded some red ribbon through it.  For a finishing touch I added some Glossy Accents to the worm's glasses.

Materials used:

• Die: MFT Die-namics - Fishtail Flag Stax
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Bookworm, Bookworm Additions, Background Builder
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versa Color - Turquoise, Sky Gray
• Coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers
• Eyelet and ribbon from stash
• Accents: Glossy Accents

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #219 - CAS

I hope you'll play along this week.  My teamies have created some great inspiration to get you started.  Looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

Less is More Week #291

Hi guys

It's time for a new challenge over at Less is More and this week our Recipe challenge was a trip down memory lane for me.  Interpret this however you like but this week we would like you to use...

Sticky Labels / Stickers / Peel-Offs

I had a stash cull a few years ago and sold most of my peel-offs and stickers when I discovered more about stamps and dies but there were a few I didn't want to part with.  I've used some of them on my two cards today.


This first card uses a silver peel-off which has glittered translucent petals and leaves...

I started by die cutting some clear vellum with a stitched oval die.  The peel-off was adhered onto this and I coloured behind the clear glittered parts, on the vellum, with FlexMarkers.  I then adhered the vellum to some white cardstock cut from the same die so the colour would show through to the front.  I then cut a larger stitched oval from the same stack and mounted these onto the card base using 3D foam.  The sentiment was heat embossed on white onto some orange cardstock and die cut with a stitched rectangle die.

Materials used:

• Dies: Lil' Inkers - Stitched Ovals; MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rectangles
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - A Little Sentimental
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow - Opaque Bright White
• Coloured with FlexMarkers
• Vellum, orange cardstock and peel-off from stash

I also used peel-offs on my second card, this time white ones with silver accents...

On some white cardstock I blended a rainbow of Distress Inks and die cut this on the diagonal with a stitched rectangle die.  This is a lot bolder than my usual blends but I was really pleased with the results.  When completely dry, I adhered the peel-offs.  I really like these because they don't look like stickers, they look like they are embossed.  The panel was then popped up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Candied Apple, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Blueprint Sketch, Lucky Clover
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Inside and Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangles
• Peel-offs from stash

Challenge entries:

Moving Along with the Times - Challenge #27 - Clean and Simple

AAA Cards - Game #71 - Blending

I used to use peel-offs on nearly all my cards when I first began cardmaking so this challenge brought it all back.  Some of my cards back then were completely shocking but as my clean and simple style is evolved at least I now know that Less really is More!  

So, any type of sticker, can't wait to see what you come up with.

Happy Little Stampers August 2016 CAS Challenge

Hi there

It's time for the start of another CAS Challenge over at Happy Little Stampers.  This challenge will run until the end of August so plenty of time to get your entries in.  We have a great technique for you this month which is...

This challenge is sponsored by Happy Little Stampers.

There are some tutorial videos included over on the main challenge blog if you need some help and advice on how to mask.

Here's my DT card, which is actually a card I made for my brother's birthday...

I started by stamping the central monster/alien which was then masked before stamping his two friends either side so that they appeared behind him.  These were coloured with ProMarkers.  I then used a stitched edge die and did some partial die-cutting either side and then fussy cut around the top of the characters.  I wanted the blue chap to be holding the balloon so I stamped part of the string coming up from his hand and stamped the rest of the string onto some polka dot paper behind.  These were adhered together onto the card base before adding the speech bubble, the balloon which was coloured and topped with Wink of Stella and to finish I added some Glossy Accents to their eyes.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Out of this World
• Dies: Poppy Stamps - Stitched Landscapes; Clearly Besotted - Laugh Out Loud and You Said It
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Patterned Paper: Lawn Fawn - Let's Polka
• Accents: Glossy Accents; Wink of Stella - Clear

Challenge entries:

The Paper Players - Challenge #306 - Tic Tac Toe (CAS / Patterned Paper / Scene)

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #204 - CAS

Moving Along with the Times - Challenge #25 - Monsters/Aliens

Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat 2016

Before I go, I thought I'd share some photos of the first Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat which took place in Swindon, UK this past weekend.  Our wonderful host, Kylie, who is the creator of Happy Little Stampers did an awesome job in organising this wonderful weekend, and all from Australia!  She sorted everything from goody bags, crafting materials, T-shirts, aprons, hotel accommodation and meals.

Our goody bags on arrival!

Our super organised craft room before we destroyed it!

The Less is More girls....myself, Chrissie and Sarah x

With the amazing Kylie who made this happen x

With this wonderful lady, the fabulous Darnell, all the way from California x

Our cards made at the retreat!

A wonderful group of ladies...and so fantastic to have Kylie from Oz,
Darnell from California and Melissa from Germany!

Kylie already has ideas in her head for the next retreat so keep your eyes and ears open for information of the next one!

Addicted to Stamps and More #200 - And 4th Birthday Celebrations!

Hi there

Well today there's a celebration at Addicted to Stamps are More!   Not only is this the 200th Challenge, ATSM is also 4 Years Old!  The lovely Kylie has been running this challenge since before I even discovered the wonderful world of crafty blogging and I think you'll agree that ATSM is a fabulous little challenge blog.

But I'm also a little sad today as this is my last post as a member of the Design Team at ATSM.  I've been part of Kylie's fantastic gang for the last two years (yes, really that long!) and have had an absolute ball but, after a lot of thought I feel it's the right time for me to step down.  Kylie, thank you for inviting me to be part of your lovely team and I can't wait to finally meet you in exactly a month's time! :D

Right, now to introduce this week's challenge, and we're back with this super fun Photo Inspiration Challenge...

To help us celebrate ATSM's 4th Birthday we have three fantastic sponsors all offering prizes this week...

Happy Little Stampers - $30 Gift Certificate

Paper Smooches - $25 Gift Certificate

QKR Stampede - 3 Digi Images

So I think you'll agree it's well worth playing along this week!

For my DT card I took inspiration from the polka dots and stripes, the quirky lettering style and the flower and butterfly...

I started by die cutting the happy birthday from the pink polka dot paper (making sure to keep the little bits from inside the letters!) and then affixed it to a scrap of cardstock entirely covered with adhesive.  I then cut the same lettering from the teal striped paper and inlaid these inside the pink panel, along with the little tiddly bits!  Once all stuck down I die cut with a stitched oval die and adhered this to a panel of white cardstock.  I covered the card base with the same striped paper and adhered the white panel over it. I finished off by popping up a flower and butterfly which were stamped, coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers and die cut with their co-ordinating dies.

Materials used:

• Patterned Paper: Lawn Fawn - Let's Polka, Let's Polka Mon Amie
• Dies: Paper Smooches - Birthday Words; Lil' Inker - Stitched Ovals
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Woodland Kisses (and matching dies)
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Coloured with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers

Challenge entries:

I've used a few different dies on this card so I'm going to link up over at the Happy Little Stampers June Anything Goes with Dies challenge.

My teamies and I would love for you to join us this week and be in for a chance of winning one of those great prizes!  Thanks so much for popping by :)