Less is More Challenge #418

Good morning

I do believe it's Saturday!  Although I'm working from home at the moment I keep completely losing track of my days, I'm sure you're all the same.

If it is indeed Saturday then it's time for the new challenge at Less is More.  We have a Recipe challenge for you this time, and here is the cue card...

We also have some wonderful news....we have not one, not two, but THREE NEW DESIGN TEAMIES!  So please pop on over to the main Less is More page, here, to see who they are.  Welcome to the team, folks!


Ok, on to my sample card, and this is a bit different for me...

This was my second attempt at making this, there was a bit of trial and error involved!  I wanted to use one of my new Clearly Besotted stencils to create the drips of an ice cream topping.  I'm clearly thinking about food far too much while in lockdown, eh!  To create the chocolate waffle cone I used brown cardstock and an embossing folder then trimmed it into a cone shape.  The ice cream was a little trickier...I ended up using pearlescent pale pink cardstock which I partially cut with a cloud die and then partially cut the rest with a round balloon die.  It's far from perfect but I think it worked out ok.  I then used part of a splat in the stencil which I blended through first with pink ink before topping with embossing paste and then sprinkling with glitter.  Once dry, all that was left to do was mount it on a panel, trim off the bottom of the cone, stamp the sentiment and pop the panel up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; MFT Die-namics - Cloud Trio and Blueprints 26 (partial dies used)
• Embossing Folder: Darice - Wire Fence
• Stencil: Clearly Besotted - Splat It
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Sweet Plushies
• Ink: Distress Ink - Festive Berries; Versa Color - Camelia
• Embossing Paste: Sweet Poppy - Stencil Dimensions Translucent
• Accents: Super Fine Satin Glitter in Crystalina Rainbow
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #386 - Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers - April Anything Goes with Dies Challenge






Hopefully this theme will give you lots of options for themes and techniques you can use.  Looking forward to seeing your creations in our gallery.  And if you need some more inspiration, there's plenty over at the LIM challenge blog, just follow my teamies' links for more info on each of their cards.

Perfectly CAS - April 2020 Challenge

Hi there

It's time for the April challenge over at Perfectly CAS.  Here's the cue card...

I decided to do a one layer card this time...

I began by stamping the floral flourish image off the edge of the card base.  This is a stamp I've had in my stash for years, although quite large you can still use it for CAS cards by stamping off the edge like this.  I then re-stamped the flowers onto post-it notes and cut these out to use as masks.  Once in place over the image I then masked slim borders on the left and bottom edges using masking tape.  Using blending brushes I gently blended Distress Inks in purple and pink, fading it out.  A stamped sentiment in black finished the card.

Quick tip: I used Memento ink for my image as it's fast drying, I would usually use Versafine for a crisper image but for this technique you risk smudging it when blending unless left to dry first.  For the sentiment I used Versafine.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Fancy Flowers; Clearly Besotted - Message Me
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Distress Ink - Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Tools: Taylored Expressions - Blender Brushes; low tack masking/stencil tape

Challenge entries:

Allsorts Challenge - Challenge #566/7 - Something Old, Something New (old stamp, new blender brushes)
Penny Black and More - April Challenge - Anything Goes
Always Fun Challenges - Challenge #158 - CAS



You have almost a month to play along with this challenge, the linky will close a few days before the next challenge begins.

Less is More Challenge #417

Good morning

It's new challenge day at Less is More and we're back with a theme challenge.  Here's our cue card...

We have a super talented Guest Designer joining us for this challenge, Helen of Helen's Craft Haven, who was our lucky February winner.  I do hope you'll can take a minute to pop on over to her blog to see her take on this challenge theme and say hi.


I have two sample cards for you this time, both with a wild flowers/foliage kinda theme for some reason, and also a bonus card as my second card turned into a twofer!

Here's card one, using a technique that I love, the ghosting technique, as this creates a delicate version of the image and generally out of focus...

On a piece of white cardstock I made a sunset blend of inks using Distress Oxides.  I then used the ghosting technique which involves laying a stencil over the top, spritzing with water and then blotting away the colour.  Once dry I die cut a section of it and popped it up onto another panel using a larger die from the same set.  After adhering to the card base I finished with a small black sentiment.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Oxide - Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, Abandoned Coral; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stencil: STAMPlorations - ARTlorations Bloom Silhouettes
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Wonky Stitched Rectangle Stax
• Stamp: Altenew - Thinking of You

Challenge entries:

STAMPlorations - April Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

Next up I used a stencil again, but this time grabbed my Brushos...

I've only tried this technique once or twice but it has lovely results.  I laid a stencil onto some watercolour paper and very gently sprinkled a mix of Brusho powders, very sparingly, into the gaps in the stencil.  Without moving the stencil I then spritzed a mist of water over it, which activates the pigment powders.  I then carefully removed the stencil and left the image to dry completely.  I trimmed a section of it down and mounted it onto some teal cardstock. Before adhering to the card base I stamped a sentiment flag vertically to look like a tag when the panel was adhered along its edge.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Imagination Crafts - Bay Leaf
• Ink: Brushos - Emerald Green, Turquoise, Leaf Green; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Flag It
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #384 - CAS

And my 'twofer' is made from the remaining part of the Brusho panel.  This one doesn't follow the Less is More guidelines as there isn't really enough white space but I thought I'd share it with you anyway in this post.  Materials used here are as the card above, with the addition of a stitched die by Create a Smile.

Challenge entries:

Fab 'n' Funky - Challenge #476 - Birthday



Thanks so much for visiting, I hope you'll join us for this 'out of focus' challenge.

And in the meantime, please do stay safe :) xx

40 Sensational Years

Hi there and Happy Good Friday, everyone!

Today I'm sharing a commission card I was asked to make by an old work colleague, for him to give to his wife on their Ruby Wedding Anniversary last weekend.

This card is A5, so larger than the normal A6 cards that I make.

I began by embossing a piece of white cardstock with the hearts design which was then matted onto some deep red cardstock.  I then heat embossed the Happy Anniversary in silver onto a strip of vellum and wrapped this around the panel before securing on the reverse and adhering to the card base.  Two hearts were then die cut from white and red card, and one stamped and also heat embossed in silver.  These were adhered offset and I added a ribbon bow and some clear gems to finish.

Materials used:

• Embossing Folder: Creative Expressions - Heart Strings
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Happy Anniversary; Uniko - Classic Numbers
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Silver
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Heart Stax

That's all from me today, I'll be back tomorrow morning to share details of the next Less is More challenge.

Happy Little Stampers April 2020 CAS Challenge

Hi guys

I'm back this evening to introduce the April CAS challenge over at Happy Little Stampers.  Here's the cue word...

I used a stamp set I asked for and received at Christmas, I just love it...

I began with a stitched die cut panel and stamped the chicken and the 'hey' first.  After creating the sentiment strip, which I wanted the chicken to stand on, I realised his feet didn't look right so I stamped him again, coloured him with ProMarkers and fussy cut him out so I could then perch him on top, popped up on 3D foam.  I'm calling the chicken a he, I suppose it could be a she, who knows? :)

Materials used:

• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; MFT Die-namics - Fishtail Flag Stax
• Stamps: Gerda Steiner - Chicken Scratch
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Coloured with ProMarkers

As always, and with all the Happy Little Stampers challenges, the linky will be open until the end of the month so plenty of time to play along.

Magnolias for Mother's Day

Hi guys

Just popping by to share the card I made for my lovely mum for Mother's Day last weekend.

Some patterned paper was die cut at an angle and adhered to the card base.  I then stamped the layered magnolia flowers and leaves and cut them out with their co-ordinating dies and adhered in place.  The card was simply finished with a sentiment stamped in black.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Magnolia Moments (and co-ordinating dies), Love You Tons
• Ink: Altenew - Frosty Pink, Coral Berry, Velvet, Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: MFT - Stitched Basic Edges
• Avery Elle - The Sorbet Collection

Challenge entries:

Use Your Stuff - Challenge #394 - Spring
Stamping Sensations - March Challenge - Spring Florals
Penny Black and More - March Challenge - Spring Flowers



Thank you for taking the time to visit :)

More Honey Doo Makes

Good morning

I'm back today to share some more sample cards I've made for Honey Doo Crafts, ahead of their next shows on Create & Craft TV this Friday, 27 March 2020.

Amanda will be sharing her products and also doing demos in shows at 11.15am and 3.45pm.

All of my cards in this post were made using existing products, some of which will feature in the shows, and there will be a few new stamp sets on the shows too.  You can see previews of these over on the Honey Doo Facebook page, here.  Yesterday evening, Amanda held a Facebook Live giving you a preview of the stamps and samples.


First up I've used the Stars and Stripes set, Feathered Flourishes and Ribbons dies, and a sentiment from the Just in Case set...

I die cut a piece of kraft cardstock and then die cut some white cardstock with the Ribbons die and trimmed out just a section of it and adhered across the panel.  I then stamped and heat embossed the flowers in white pearl embossing powder and fussy cut them out.  I also die cut the flourish from some green vellum.  I curled the petals with a paint brush handle before adhering these with the flourish.  The sentiment was stamped in black and I added a pearl to the flower centre to finish before adhering the whole panel to the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Stars & Stripes, Just in Case
• Dies: Honey Doo Crafts - Ribbons, Feathered Flourish; Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Wow - White Pearl
• Kraft Cardstock: Neenah Classic Crest - Dessert Storm
• Vellum and pearl from stash

For this next card I've used Stars and Stripes again, Mesh stencil and sentiment from Just in Case...

On a piece of cardstock I blended through the Mesh stencil using a rainbow of Distress Inks, which I then die cut with a stitched border die and adhered down the edge of the card base.  I then stamped the flowers in black and heat embossed in clear.  These were popped up on glue dots and I finished with a stamped sentiment.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Honey Doo Crafts - Mesh
• Ink: Distress Ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Broken China, Lucky Glover; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Stars and Stripes, Just in Case
• Die: Poppy Stamps - Stitched Landscapes

This one uses the Stitch in Time set and a sentiment also from Just in Case...

I used my MISTI to stamp the repeated flower background with just the one flower stamp in the set, these were then coloured with teal toned ProMarkers, the darkest flower in the centre then fading out to paler flowers around the edge.  The panel was then adhered flat before adding a popped up embossed sentiment.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Stitch in Time, Just in Case
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Embossing Powder: Wow - Opaque Bright White

A very simple card next, using the Starry Eye and Just in Case stamp sets...

I die cut two pierced squares, one in white and one from patterned paper.  I then stamped the flower onto the same patterned paper and heat embossed in white.  I popped up the white square over the patterned one, and then fussy cut the flower.  The pieces were adhered to the card base, the sentiment stamped below and a purple pearl enamel dot added to the centre of the flower.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Starry Eye, Just in Case
• Die: MFT - Pierced Square Stax
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow - Opaque Bright White

Starry Eye was used again for this next one, along with the Tartan stencil and Cheers sentiment set...

Here, firstly I stamped the flowers and then masked them before creating the background with the Tartan stencil.  I coloured the flowers and die cut the panel.  To finish I stamped the sentiment onto a vellum strip, heat embossed in white and then wrapped this around the panel.  The panel was adhered on fun foam and some gems added to complete the card.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Starry Eye, Cheers
• Stencil: Honey Doo Crafts - Tartan
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark; Distress Ink - Victoria Velvet, Tattered Rose
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Vellum and gems from stash

My final card uses the leaves from the Stitch in Time set and sentiment from Daffodils...

I wasn't sure about this card, and I'm still not, but I wanted to use just the leaves from the Stitch in Time set.  I added masking tape to the card base about half way down and blended upwards with a little green ink and then used blue ink to create the clouds using a stencil.  I then stamped the leaves multiple times in a row, masking a few, and then coloured with ProMarkers.  The sentiment was heat embossed in white onto a die cut sentiment strip.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Stitch in Time, Daffodils
• Stencil: MFT - Cloud
• Ink: Distress Ink - Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass; Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Embossing Powder: Wow - Opaque Bright White
• Die: Clearly Besotted - Stripped Die Collection

Thanks so much for visiting.  I hope, with so many people having to stay at home, you can tune in to the two shows of Friday and support Amanda.  At the moment Honey Doo and Create and Craft TV have measures in place for the show to still go ahead despite the COVID-19 issues.  

Take care of yourselves during this uncertain time, I'm sending lots of love to you all xx

(AD - some products kindly gifted for design team purposes)