Split Brusho Background

Hi guys

So sorry it's been so long since I shared a card which wasn't made for one of my DT roles.  Today, I thought I'd finally share one of the cards I made whilst attending the Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat in Swindon last month.

At the retreat we all received a box of Brusho colours and for much of the weekend we were all getting messy and inky trying different techniques.  I already own some Brushos but haven't really experimented fully with them so it was great to learn some new techiques.  Kylie, my lovely 'boss' at Happy Little Stampers was a fantastic teacher and showed us how to create some awesome backgrounds.  We also all received a Happy Little Stampers apron, very much needed when using these little pots of colour pigment!!!

So, this card was made using a section of the background I created with the laundry starch and cling film technique...

So this background was created by spraying laundry starch onto some watercolour card, sprinkling on some Brusho colours (I think I used Turquoise and Emerald here), spraying again and then covering with some crumpled up cling film and then leaving to dry.  I stamped the flower and leaves image numerous times with VersaMark before heat embossing in white.  I then cut the panel down and split it using a dotted border die.  I stamped the sentiment directly onto my card base and then popped up the panels either side on 3D foam.  For a final touch I added some clear Wink of Stella to the flowers.

The image here was from a stamp set I bought on route to the retreat, from Snazzys Stamping and Scrapbooking Store in Swindon.  I met a few of my fellow retreat attendees in here where we might have spent a few pennies! Well, for me it landed right on pay day! Woohoo :)

Materials used:

• Cardstock: Daler Rowney - Aquafine Watercolour
• Ink: Brusho - Turquoise and Emerald; VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Dina Wakley Media - Scribbly Flowers; MFT - Beary Special Birthday
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Accents: Wink of Stella - Clear
• Other Materials: Laundry Starch, Cling Film

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - Game #72 - New To You Technique (although not much white space I would still see this as CAS - please disregard if you think it's too busy)

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - No Designer Paper

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

Stamping Sensations - August Challenge - Anything Goes

Penny Black and More - August Challenge - Anything Goes with a Stamp

Thanks so much for popping by, I'll be back with another post shortly.

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.

Less is More Week #290

Hi there

Apologies that it's been a whole week since my last post.  Work has been mega busy for me this week so I've been a little exhausted in the evenings!

But I'm back today to introduce the next challenge at Less is More.  We have a Theme challenge for you this week which is...

Something Exotic

Just one card for you this week.  When I think of exotic I think of tropical locations so what better than a tropical beach scene...

On a panel of cardstock I stamped the palm tree and then masked it.  I then created two curved masks to cover the majority of my panel and then blended the sky, sea and sand with Distress Inks.  I couldn't find a border die with the right curvature I was after so I rummaged around my flat and found the lid of a casserole dish and drew around this to create the curves on two Post-It notes! lol  I then coloured the palm tree with ProMarkers and added the sentiment in black before mounting the panel on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Hero Arts - Let's Chill; Clearly Besotted - Say It In Style
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distres Ink - Tumbled Glass, Mermaid Lagoon, Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge

Challenge entries:

Moving Along with the Times - Challenge #27 - Clean & Simple
Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #207 - Make Your Mark
CASology - Week 211 - Dream
AAA Cards - Game #71 - Blending
Fantasy Stampers - Challenge #69 - At the Beach
Penny Black and More - August Challenge - Anything Goes with a Stamp
Stamping Sensations - August Challenge - Anything Goes
STAMPlorations - August Challenge - Theme Stamps and Markers/Pencils
Creative Inspirations - Challenge #255 - Seaside, Sunshine and Summer Holidays
ETA - Also going to link up at Uniko - Challenge #35 - Inspired by a Song (I'm going for Kokomo by the Beach Boys!) - Thanks for the reminder of this one, Sarah! x





And just for fun I'm going to link up at Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge which this month is 'Masking'.  Not an entry as I'm on the DT and not allowed! lol


Thanks so much for visiting, and I'm sure the gallery this week will make me feel like I'm well overdue a holiday!

Hopefully I'll find more crafty time this week and be able to share more with you.

Less is More Week 289

Hi guys

It's that dreaded time again....time for a One Layer challenge at Less is More!  We know you love 'em really!  So, this week we would like to see...

Something French

I did struggle a bit this week as I have a serious lack of French themed stash but I managed to cobble together a couple of samples for you.


There are many French phrases used in the English language so for my first card I chose a 'Bon Voyage' theme...

I started by using a die to create the debossed square frame, created by using a rubber mat with my Big Shot instead of the cutting plate.  Next I used a chevron stamp to create the waves, using mini pigment ink cubes to ink up the three stripes.  I masked this and then stamped the ship.  I liked it left uncoloured so I just added some clear Wink of Stella to the steam/smoke clouds and the portholes.  A simple black sentiment was stamped to finish.

Materials used:

• Die: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax
• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Work of Art; Clearly Besotted - Going Places
• Ink: Versa Color - Turquoise, Lagoon Blue, Lapislazuli, Indigo; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Accents: Wink of Stella - Clear

Masking is a popular technique for one layer cards which I used on my second card...

I used a heart die to cut an aperture in a masking sheet and placed this over my card base.  I then blended three pink shades of Distress Ink.  With the mask still in place I stamped over the blending with a French script stamp in a co-ordinating shade to create a subtle background.  This was my second attempt at this card, the first one turned out perfectly until I realised I'd stamped the French text upside down....again!  Because of the swirly font it's really difficult to tell which way up it is and on my first card it was a little bolder so very noticeable that I'd made a boob! lol  After removing the mask I stamped the Eiffel Tower and the sentiment in black before adding some Wink of Stella to the little heart which was then covered with Glossy Accents.

Materials used:

• Die: MFT Die-namics - Double Stitched Hearts
• Ink: Distress Ink - Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry; Versa Color - Amethyst; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Stampin' Up - En Francais; Clearly Besotted - Je T'aime
• Accents: Wink of Stella - Clear; Glossy Accents

Challenge entry:

CASology - Week 210 - Dizzy (falling in love makes you dizzy, and I imagine you might feel like that standing at the top of the Eiffel Tower too! lol)

My teamies have created some great cards this week so why not pop over if you need some inspiration.  Not an easy challenge this week so I can't wait to see what you create.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Less is More Week #288

Hi there

I hope you had fun being spoilt by having two weeks for the last Less is More challenge!  While you had your thinking caps on I had a great time at the Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat last weekend where I finally got to meet some of my wonderful teamies - the lovely Chrissie, Sarah and former designer, Anne.  It was fantastic to spend the weekend with a wonderful group of ladies who share the same hobby.

So, now that you're finished with creating with tactile elements we have a fresh new challenge for you this week and as it's the first challenge of the month we are back with a Colour theme which is...

Brown and Blue

We also have a new sponsor for the month of August...

This is a great little online store that stocks those crafty brands that are hard to get hold of here in the UK.  So why not play along throughout this month for a chance to win a prize :)

Now onto my cards.  For much of the craft retreat we were experimenting with Brushos.  The die cuts on my first card were cut from a piece of cardstock that I had smooshed into some Brusho colour crystals spritzed with water...

I masked a circle on a panel of white cardstock and blended within it with some blue Distress Inks.  I then flicked on some clean water and blotted with a paper towel to remove some of the colour.  The sentiment was stamped in dark brown, the panel popped up on 3D foam and the die cuts adhered overhanging the edge.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky; Versa Color - Pinecone; Brusho - Dark Brown
• Stamp: Altenew - Beautiful Lady
• Dies: Tim Holtz Sizzix - Wildflowers

Challenge entries:

Freshly Made Sketches - Challenge #248
Color Throwdown - Challenge #404

I'm also going to link up for fun at Happy Little Stampers August CAS Challenge where our theme is 'masking'.

For my second card I made a card using this cute stamp set by MFT...

I used watercolour cardstock for my image and card base.  I stamped the bear image in waterproof black ink and then watercoloured with some Distress Inks.  This was then die cut with a pierced square die.  On some brown cardstock I stamped the sentiment in VersaMark, heat embossed in white and then die cut using a fishtail flag die.  The sentiment strip was adhered flat and the image panel popped up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: MFT - Beary Special Birthday
• Ink: Archival - Jet Black; Distress Ink - Chipped Sapphire, Broken China, Vintage Photo and Tea Dye; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Dies: MFT - Pierced Square Stax, Fishtail Flag Stax
• Cardstock: Daler Rowney - Aquafine Watercolour

My teamies have some wonderful inspiration for you this week, and no doubt more super creations on their personal blogs too so if you have the time please do pop by.

That's all for now.

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!

CASology Guest Designer!

Hi guys

Today I'm thrilled to be Guest Designer over at CASology for this week's challenge!

I was delighted and stunned to win the 'Rough' challenge recently so I'm honoured to have been invited to join the team this week. Here's this week's cue word...

For my card I did some watercolouring with my Zig markers.  I was away at the Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat this weekend so without letting on I stamped and embossed this lovely magnolia (thanks for the loan of the set, Sarah, and for the loan of the embossing powder, Carol!) and then watercoloured it when I was back home yesterday morning!

On some watercolour cardstock I stamped the flower in VersaMark ink and heat embossed in white.  This was then masked while I stamped the leaves and the bud, which were also then heat embossed.  I then used the wet on wet technique to colour the image, gradually building up the colour from the marker.  I also added some blue around the edge and blended this out.  The image was then die cut using a double stitched circle die before adhering on 3D foam and stamping the image onto the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Altenew - Magnolias for Her and Beautiful Lady
• Ink: VersaMark, Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Double Stitched Circle Stax
• Cardstock: Daler Rowney - Aquafine Watercolour
• Coloured with Zig Clean Colour Real Brush Markers - Light Violet, Deep Green, Light Blue

Challenge entries:

Altenew - August Inspiration Challenge
The Crafter's Cafe - Challenge #154 - Flowers
AAA Cards - Challenge #70 - Stitching
Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #204 - CAS
Uniko - Challenge #34 - Flowers




Thanks so much for visiting today.  I'll be back later this evening to announce this month's CAS challenge at Happy Little Stampers.