Happy Little Stampers September 2021 CAS Challenge

Hi there

This month's CAS challenge at Happy Little Stampers is now live.  Here's the cue card...

Here's my DT card for this one...

I began by lightly blending some Distress Oxide on my card base and then blending some more through a wildflowers stencil.  I adhered three die cuts to continue the wild flower theme.  Next I used the two dragonfly dies and cut these from textured metallic card, layered them up and adhered the body only.  The card was finished with a sentiment stamped in black.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Oxide - Salvaged Patina, Spun Sugar; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stencil: Tim Holtz - from Mini Stencil Set 10
• Dies: Simply Graphic - various stem dies; Clearly Besotted - Dragonfly Dies
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Mini Messages

Thanks so much stopping by, as always the challenge link will remain open until the end of the month.

Less is More - Challenge #443

Hi guys

At Less is More we thought it was about time we did another Sketch challenge so here are the details for the next fortnight's challenge...

Sketch challenges are my least favourite, I just find them more difficult than any other, but I actually embraced this one and made it a one layer too!

I stamped the coffee cup image first then created a mask over it, as well as masking off the rectangle.  I lightly blended the background then, with a slightly different shade, inked through a splatters stencil.  I then stamped the coffee words and beans in brown shades, removed all the masks and finished by stamping the sentiment and the steam from the cup in black.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Warm Wishes; Sugar Pea Designs - Espresso Yourself
• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Splatters
• Ink: Distress Ink - Ground Espresso, Frayed Burlap; Altenew - Espresso, Mocha; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries

Alphabet Challenge - C is for Coffee or Chocolate

STAMPlorations - May CAS Challenge - Anything CAS Goes

As always, there's two weeks to play along so why not join us for this sketch challenge.  My teamies are sharing lots more inspiration over at the main challenge blog.

Festive Foliage

Good evening

Back with another of this year's makes and this time it's one with a nice classic and traditional feel.

I'll get straight to it...

For a change I chose to make a square card here and cut a square panel which was slightly smaller than the base.  I masked off the sides of the panel and began by lightly blending a background with Iced Spruce Distress Ink.  I used a lighter hand towards the centre, the blend didn't have to be perfect as I was going to stencil over the top.  I added the foliage stencil over the top and blended with red, brown and two shades of green ink.  I then cut a wide strip of vellum and stamped and heat embossed a bold sentiment in gold before wrapping this around the panel and securing on the reverse.  To finish I matted the panel onto a larger red panel and then adhered flat to the card base.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Festive
• Ink: Distress Ink - Iced Spruce, Pine Needles, Candied Apple, Gathered Twigs; VersaMark
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Merry Calligraphy
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich
• Vellum and cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Challenge #522 - Anything Goes

Dream Valley - Challenge #238 - Christmas

Just Add Ink - Challenge #536 - Inspiration Pic

STAMPlorations - December Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

STAMPlorations - December Theme & Photo Prompt Challenge - I chose the photo

Still a couple more to share with you so I'll be back again soon.

Less is More Challenge #387 - Sketch

Good morning

It's new challenge time over at Less is More and, as we haven't had one for a while, we have a Sketch challenge for you...

Skull and Cross Buns continues as our fantastic sponsor for the month of January, so don't forget, by playing along you're in with a chance of winning our monthly prize!

I have two sample cards for you today, the first uses a stencil and sentiment stamp from our sponsor...

I used masking tape to depict the shape of the sketch and blended with one shade of Distress Ink, before placing the hexagon stencil over the top and blending with the darker shade, adding more ink in some areas.  The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed in white onto yellow cardstock and die cut with a sentiment strip die.  This was then matted onto black cardstock and trimmed before adhering to the card base.  The bees were then stamped, colour added using coloured pencils and some shimmer added to their wings using a sparkle pen.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Hexagon/Chevron Pattern
• Ink: Distress Ink - Scattered Straw, Wild Honey; Versafine - Onxy Black; VersaMark
• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Retro Sweeties (sentiment); Craft Sensations - unknown name of stamp set (bees)
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Sentiment Strips
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Bees coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos
• Accent: Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Clear

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #324 - Clean and Simple

And my second card...

I inked the background through a stencil, but stayed away from the masks to avoid any harsh lines.  The images were stamped and die cut using their co-ordinating dies.  The flower was adhered flat to the base and the vase was popped up on 3D foam.  I finished by stamping the sentiment, nestled under the leaf.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Mini Stencil Set 14
• Ink: Distress Ink - Shaded Lilac; Altenew - Lavender Fields, Evergreen; Versa Color - Neptune; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Just Fabulous (and co-ordinating dies)

You can find more inspiration over at the main challenge post, where my fellow teamies are sharing their creations.  There, you can also reach their blogs where they may be sharing even more great projects.

As usual, the challenge will run for two weeks, so there's plenty of time to play along and link up.

Thanks so much for visiting :)

Less is More Challenge #385

Good morning, folks

It's time for another new challenge over at Less is More.


Before I share the challenge details I just want to take a moment to say farewell to our fabulous teamie and leader, my lovely friend, Sarah who has decided to step down from the team.  Sarah, you've been amazing since taking over the running of the challenge, working so hard behind the scenes, and I, as well as the rest of the DT are going to miss you enormously.  I know you'll stay in touch and may also join us from time to time at Less is More, but if you don't, just remember, I know where you live!!! :)  Missing you already, buddy xx


The challenge starting today will also be the last one of 2018 (booo!) but on a cheery note, along with this challenge we are also holding a Design Team call (yay!).  You can find full details over on the main challenge blog, here.


Ok, on to the challenge details and, yes, it's the 'Marmite' challenge, you either love or hate it.  It's One Layer time but to take the pain away we've made the theme really easy for you...

Continuing as our November sponsor is Happy Little Stampers, so please do play along to be in with a chance of winning the monthly prize

We have a Guest Designer joining us for this challenge too, Katrina Bufton, who was our Lucky Dip winner back in September.  If you have time, please do stop by her blog to say hi and take a look at her fabulous holiday card.


I have two cards for you this time, here's the first...

I began by debossing the card base using a bauble die, then die cut a post-it note with the same die to create a mask before colour blending with Distress Inks.  Once dry I stamped the snowflake onto the bauble with VersaMark ink and heat embossed in white.  I then stamped the sentiment above it in black ink and hand drew the string and bow with a silver pen.  The debossed detail can be seen more clearly in the photo below...

Materials used:

• Die: Clearly Besotted - Signature Christmas Die Collection
• Ink: Distress Ink - Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet; VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Let It Snow and Merry Kissmas
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Accents: Signo Uniball pen - Silver

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #319 - Clean and Simple

Fab 'n' Funky - Challenge #417 - Christmas

Stamping Sensations - November Challenge - Get Ready for Christmas

Happy Little Stampers - November Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes (CAS)

I wasn't going to share this card as I wasn't happy with the ink blending, I think an odd piece of rogue cardstock found it's way into my stash and the blend was really grainy!  But I do like the card overall so here it is...

I masked around the edges of the card base with post-it notes, leaving a rectangle in the centre.  I then used a landscape die to die cut a mask from some spare cardstock and then blended the sky with Distress Inks.  I removed the landscape mask so I could add some blue to the snow at the base to highlight the rectangle.  I stamped the sentiment before placing the mask back in position. To finish I spread some embossing paste through a splatter stencil to create the snow.

Materials used:

• Die: Clearly Besotted - Tree Landscape Die
• Ink: Distress Ink - Spun Sugar, Tumbled Glass; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Speckles
• Embossing Paste: Dreamweaver

Challenge entries:

Just Add Ink - Challenge #435 - Photo Inspiration

I do hope you'll play along in our last challenge of the year, and it's a great reason to get some more Christmas/Holiday cards done, if like me you're way behind with them!  And I hope some of you will also apply to be on the DT, our participants are so talented.

Bye for now.

Less is More Challenge #371

Hi guys

Another two week challenge is just starting over at Less is More, and this time we're back with a Colour challenge for you.  Here's the cue card...

And for May we have a great new sponsor, Winnie & Walter, so do play along to be in with a chance of winning the monthly prize!

We have a fabulous Guest Designer joining us for this challenge, JoJo who was our March winner.  She has a great card she's sharing with us so please do pop by her blog and show your appreciation :)

Ok, onto my cards, and I have two I'm sharing with you this time.  Both using new stamps.

First up, using a gorgeous stamp set which was a pressie from my OH for my birthday, just had to ink it up...

I started with a white cardstock panel and inked through a dot stencil with yellow Distress Ink to create a little background interest.  Next I stamped the sentiment to ensure I had enough room before creating the rest of the elements.  I then stamped the layered bloom and leaves and die cut with the co-ordinating dies.  The panel was popped up on the card base using 3D foam, as was the flower, and the leaves were then tucked in and adhered behind.  Although the leaves should be green I've seen many designs where the leaves are stamped in grey shades and I realy like the look so it fitted this challenge perfectly.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Build-a-Flower: Anemone (and co-ordinating dies); Winnie & Walter - Big, Bold and Party
• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Dot Fade
• Ink: Distress Ink - Mustard Seed; Versafine - Onyx Black; Altenew - Arctic, Caribbean Sky, Persian Blue, Mango Smoothie, Limestone, Silver Stone

Challenge entries:

Time Out - Challenge #109 - Inspired by Words
Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #291 - Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations - May Challenge - Close to Nature






Next up is a card using another new stamp set, this one was free with a recent publication...

I started by adhered some gingham paper to the card base.  Then, on a white cardstock panel I stamped the washing line with the pegs, the images and the sentiment in grey pigment ink.  The pegs were masked slightly before stamping the other images.  I then coloured the teddy bear, booties and bib with coloured pencils before adhering the panel flat onto the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Bright and Breezy - Free with Creative Stamper magazine
• Ink: Versa Color - Sky Gray
• Coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos
• Patterned paper from stash

Challenge entries:

Penny Black and More - May Challenge - Anything Goes
CAS on Friday - Challenge #132 - Cute
Creative Inspirations - May Challenge - Clean & Simple or Fussy & Fancy (CAS option)

Thanks so much for visiting today.  This is a lovely colour combo, please do pop over to the main challenge blog to see the creations posted by my teamies, they won't disappoint.  And why not play along?  The challenge will run for the next two weeks.

Less is More Week #335

Hi there

Back with my second post of the morning, which of course is to announce this week's new challenge at Less is More.  It's week one of the month which means it's the turn of our Colour challenge, and this is what we want to see this week...

We have a fresh new sponsor for the month of July too, Happy Little Stampers, so be sure to play along throughout July for a chance to win our monthly prize!

Ok, onto the challenge.  I'm from the UK so obviously our flag, the Union Jack is red, white and blue.  But I really do struggle with this combo and so had a different idea, and that was to use the flag of England.  The red cross of St George on a white background also makes up the central cross of the Union Jack.

I've got two red and white CAS cards to share with you this week.  Here's the first...

I started by blending some red Distress Ink onto some cardstock before using the ghosting technique to create the faded pattern with a stencil.  The stencil is laid over the blended cardstock then spritzed with water before blotting with a paper towel.  Once dry I die cut with a stitched rectangle die.  I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment in white before adhering a die cut flower onto the panel.  This was covered with some clear Wink of Stella and a single glitter dot added before the panel was popped up on fun foam.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Candied Apple; VersaMark
• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Mini Stencil Set 10
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Merci Beaucoup
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rectangles; Creative Expressions - Scribble Flower
• Accents: Doodlebug Sprinkles - Silver; Wink of Stella - clear

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Stencil It

The Card Concept - Challenge #76 (Style: Clean and Simple)
CAS on Friday - Challenge #111 - Flowers

And for my second sample this week I got all festive with a Christmas card...

This was super easy to make but I messed about for ages trying to figure out the placement.  I started out with a portrait card base but it worked so much better on a landscape design.  I simply die cut two holly leaves from white cardstock and adhered these directly to the base, then added enamel dots for the 'berries'.  A bold sentiment in red ink finished the card.

Materials used:

• Die: Tonic - Holly Leaf
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Brushed Greetings
• Ink: Altenew - Velvet
• Accent: Doodlebug Sprinkles - Ladybug

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Addicted to CAS - Challenge #114 - White on White

For more inspiration of our theme this week please do pop over to the main challenge blog and take a look at my super talented teamies' creations this week.  You won't be disappointed.

I hope you all have a great weekend.  I'll be back tomorrow evening with details of this month's CAS challenge over at Happy Little Stampers.

Less is More Week #334

Good morning

Wow, what a hot week it's been here in the UK!  I love the sun but this heat has been taking it out of me.  Thankfully, since Thursday it's been a little cooler so it's much more bearable now.

So, let's get to the reason for today's post.  At Less is More this week we have a Sketch challenge for you.  It's been a while since we've had a sketch challenge so here it is...

We continue to have STAMPlorations as our fab sponsor this month so please do play along for a chance to win the monthly prize.

I find sketch challenges the most difficult but I've managed three cards for you this week (it might have something to do with the fact that I designed this week's sketch! haha Hope you like it!)

So let's get to it with my first card...

I used a curved die to create some masks and then blended in between with Distress Inks in sunset colours.  After removing the masks I stamped the flowers in waterproof black ink.  I then 'painted' the petals with clean water and blotted with a paper towel to remove the colour.  I went over the petals a couple of times to achieve the faded look a little more.  I finished by stamping the flourishes and sentiment.

Materials used:

• Die: Avery Elle - Dotted Borders Dies (to create the masks)
• Ink: Distress Ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple; Archival - Jet Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Flowers for Design; Clearly Besotted - Message Me

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #247 - Make Your Mark (sponge blending)

Penny Black and More - June Challenge - Anything Goes

The Flower Challenge - Challenge #9 - Anything Goes

I chose a kraft and lace theme for my second card...

On a panel of kraft cardstock slightly smaller than my card base I used some thin paper cut from a curved die to mask the wavy section.  I then stamped the lace design in VersaMark and heat embossed in white.  I chose thin paper for my masks as I wanted to achieve the best impression from my stamp.  With thicker masks you usually get a narrow margin that doesn't stamp properly.  I also heat embossed the sentiment and die cut around it with a stitched heart die.  The main panel was mounted on fun foam to the card base, and then I adhered the heart and added a single white pearl.

Materials used:

• Kraft cardstock: Neenah - Desert Storm
• Dies: Mama Elephant - Landscape Trio Dies; MFT Die-namics - Stitched Heart Stax
• Stamps: Wow! - Lace; Clearly Besotted - On Your Day
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Accents: Hobbycraft - 3mm white pearl

Challenge entries:

CAS(E) this Sketch - Challenge #227

Alphabet Challenge - 'H' for Hearts

I reached for some patterned paper for card three...

This patterned paper pack has been in my stash for about ten years!!!  So it was nice to create with it again.  I adhered a strip to my card base and then cut a panel of white cardstock, split using a curved die.  I stamped the sentiment in grey before adhering both white panels on 3D foam.  I used a die which co-ordinated well with the design of the paper and used this to cut a flower from some bright pink cardstock, adhered over the panels to finish.

Materials used:

• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Snowdrifts; Tim Holtz - Wildflowers
• Patterned Paper: Dovecraft - A Hint of Pink
• Stamp: Wplus9 - Fresh Cut Florals
• Ink: Versa Color - Sky Gray

Challenge entries:

Happy Little Stampers - June Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use Patterned Paper

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Please do pop over to the LIM challenge blog and check out my teamies' creations this week, they've really shown how versatile this sketch is, and no doubt will have more inspiration for you over on their personal blogs too.

Have a lovely weekend :)