Less is More Weeks 99-100 - Recipe

Hello everyone - hope you all had an amazing Christmas and received lots of crafting goodies.  Sorry I've been missing for these last couple of weeks but still in the process of moving to my new craft room.  It's nearly finished but I've got stuff in both rooms now which makes life a bit difficult.  We also have half of Tony's garage (tools) as he was getting fed up going up and down the stairs all the time.  So, as soon as he's moved out, I can actually get organising - can't wait and will post some photos.

I'm so glad that the challenge over at Less is More lasts for two weeks otherwise I would have missed it again!  This challenge is:

This challenge will last for two weeks over the festivities and we have decided to start our Christmas celebrations with a whizz and have chosen

DRINKS 

as our recipe.

You can choose tea, coffee, water, sodas, alcohol of course if you wish, in fact any drink at all... but all of us...Chrissie, Mandi and Jen would like to wish all of you a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year.

Cheers!

 

As soon as I saw it I remembered I had seen a stamp buried under other "stuff" recently and thought it would do.  It's called "Party Girl" by Strawberry Kisses.  I stamped the image twice with black Memento ink and coloured the first one with Flexmarkers.  I then cut out the umbrella and the two cherries and lemon slice.  These were also coloured with Flexmarkers.  I then used Diamond Glaze on the cherries and the bowl of the glass and popped the cherries and umbrella up on pop dots to give dimension.

I used nesties to cut the image and the mat and used a circle punch for each end of the sentiment.  I've added two pieces of lace joined in the middle as an embellishment.

I'd like to wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year - see you on the other side!

Happy Christmas everyone....

Hi everyone - yes, I know I know......sorry I haven't been around much for the last couple of weeks, but it's been pretty full on here.  Apart from getting my magazine article ready for publishing, we're still in the throws of moving my craft room.  It's very nearly ready with the last of the electrics going in as we speak.  So we are aiming to move the computer and all the peripherals sometime tomorrow......so I thought it an ideal time to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful New Year.  I promise to be back in the new year with photos of my new room.......hopefully!  Don't forget our new challenge over at Addicted to CAS which will be on 12th January and is going to be hosted by me.....so on your toes please;  I'm really looking forward to seeing all your entries.

Again, I hope you all have an amazing Christmas and that Santa fulfills all your wishes.

Karen xxx

Secret Project - REVEALED!!!!

Morning all - have you ever had a song that goes round and round in your head???  Well, that's happened to me this morning and it's..............

"I'm so excited and I just can't hide it
I'm about to lose control and I think I like it
I'm so excited and I just can't hide it
And I know I know I know I know I know I want you" ......... to know all about it!!!

The last words are mine and it's a good job you can't hear me singing it............!!!  lol

Well, my exciting news is that I was approached by Laura Boetto who is the Editor-in-Chief of the extremely popular online magazine Paper and Pixels and asked to do a biography and tutorial for their December issue.  ME!!!!  Are you sure??????  Well, for some reason the answer was an astounding YES PLEASE.  They also wanted to know about our new blog Addicted to CAS and so I asked if our esteemed leader, Kylie Purtell, could also join in the fun - and they were delighted with the idea. 

The December issue of Paper and Pixels came out today and it costs $1.50 which is an amazing price because you get a PDF file containing 103 pages full of crafting inspiration, freebies, discount coupons and much, much more.  I was lucky enough to get Serif to offer one lucky reader their amazing CraftArtist 2 Professional software.  All you need to do is to pop over to the Paper and Pixels blog and follow the instructions.  The lovely Netta at Creative Victorian Designs has also offered a 25% discount off any items ordered in her store. 

So, what are you waiting for????  Pop on over and grab yourself a copy - you wont regret it!  My feature is on Pages 26 to 32.

Thanks for dropping by and hope you have a wonderful weekend.

ADDICTED TO CAS - Challenge #3

Happy Saturday everyone - hope you are all keeping well.  It's that time of the week again and a brand new challenge over at Addicted to CAS.  The code word is:

This week our fantastic sponsor and Guest Designer is

JOANNA MUNSTER FROM INSPIRED BY STAMPING

Joanna is offering this prize to the winner of this challenge -

$20 GIFT VOUCHER

Now as some of you may know I'm in a right state trying to move my craftroom (lock, stock and barrel.....glitter, stamps, punches et al!!!) so mayhem abounds.  As I'm still trying to get the last few Christmas cards made, adding the fact that I still know where my computer and printer are, I decided to use a digi from the wonderfully creative Sue at grands9creations who has some lovely freebies on her blog.  Pop over to have a look.  Now this code word is sweet and I know some of the girls have gone, literally, for sweets; but I decided to go mushy and get the votes from the "ahhh, ain't it sweet" crowd!  I've done little apart from mat and layer and added frosting to the word cold and underneath the snow couple.  Made an easel card, added a few glitter snowflakes and a wooden snowman as the stopper.  On looking at it I realise it's not quite as CAS as I would like so hope you'll forgive me just this once..........


Please pop on over to the A2CAS blog to see what the girls in the DT have got for your inspiration.

Thanks so much for dropping by.  We're looking forward to seeing all your fabulous creations and visiting your blogs.

Christmas projects

Hi Everyone from a very wet and windy Somerset!  Can't win can we?  Never mind, it gives me a good excuse to stay in and carry on with my new workroom.

So a really quick post today to show you a couple of things I've been working on for the Christmas Grotto on Sunday.

The first one is a simple calendar easel card.  These are 4.25" square.  I've added some patterned paper to the front of the top fold card and then die cut a nestie oval on the front of the card.  I then cut a frame using the same oval nestie and the next size scalloped oval die.  This was placed around the aperture and the piece of card left over from the aperture has been glued onto the back panel and then I've stamped the year and punched it out with my SU scalloped oval.  I've then added the calendar and added the concertina piece so it stands up nicely.  I've made box envelopes to go with these.

The next project is a chocolate bar wallets totally inspired by the lovely Pam over at Pamscrafts.  Do pop over and have a look at the tutorial.  The rudolph on the front came from a garland of rudolphs, wire and beads which came from Lidl a couple of weeks ago - for the princely sum of 99p!!!  They are really cute painted wooden pieces and I also got Santas, Christmas trees and snowflakes.  I made a heap of these a couple of weeks ago for the craft fair I did and they flew out - so hopefully the same will happen on Sunday!




Right, that's me signing off for today.  I'll be back tomorrow with the latest challenge at Addicted to CAS.  See you then.


 

WOYWW - 184

Hi everyone - sorry that I've been missing in action and also missing from a few blog challenges but it's been mad hectic here and although I had spent time working on a secret project (to be announced next week) I am also in the throws of totally moving my craftroom!!!  So take time for a cuppa and sit down as this post is rather picture heavy and there is a finished project right at the bottom of the post.

You can imagine what it's like at the moment - can't find a thing (well, nothing strictly unusual in that......... lol).  It's been a bit of a long job as the room I'm taking over is a bedroom that had to be divested of all it's furniture, decorated and then a new wood floor laid.  At the moment half of my actual workroom has been demolished to utilise the worktop and cupboards - so half my stuff is on the floor in bags, boxes and any other handy recepticle!  I promised my very good blogging buddy Darnell that I'd post some photos today for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday and although they are before and after we are further along in that most of the units and worktops are already fitted BUT most of hy DH's tools are scattered all over the floor and any space he can put them.  I will post photos of the finished room which, hopefully won't be very far away now.

 So firstly the terrible state of my room: 

 As you can see I've just about run out of available space!!  But I do actually know where everything is and things like my punches are all neat and tidy on their rails (see left), all my card/papers are in polyboxes on the shelves (right).

Another problem is that I am Parish Clerk for my village and a lot of files need to be stored which is most of the items in the picture on the left.

 And then the bliss of a totally empty room:

When I took these photos we were waiting for the skirting boards
to be delivered and also for the radiator to be put back.  This is a
much brighter room as it faces West and has a larger window.  The main reason for moving was that not only had I run out of space but because I had started off in a very small way, we just kept adding on and adding on as I got more and more stuff!  At least starting from scratch we can do it in a logical way (hopefully) and now I will have a separate space for my sewing machine, embellisher, fabrics etc with the rest given over to crafting, computer, printers etc.

Well, after that I think it's time for a cuppa but before I go I just wanted to share with you a project that I've just finished which I made on my embellishing machine.  It's been mounted onto a canvas and the centre of the flower (well that's what it looked like to me anyway) is a whole heap of tiny beads covered in Diamond Glaze.

 

Thanks for dropping by.  See you soon.

Less is More - Week 96 - Colour Challenge

Hello everyone - hope you're having a good weekend.  This week's challenge over at Less is More is a colour challenge and Chrissie & Jen have some gorgeous samples for everyone.

You knew it would be a colour challenge, we wonder if anyone guessed correctly!

We won't keep you in suspense any longer... it's

RED & GREEN

Very seasonal, very traditional...  what novel ideas will emerge this week?

My card is a fairly simple one starting with an 8"x8" scalloped card.  I wanted to use my new Stampin Up "Blissful Bird" stamp which matches their bird and branch punch.  I love the negative image with the wording.  I stamped and clear embossed the images twice using Always Artichoke ink and then punched them out.  I die cut a red and white bauble using my Spellbinders 2011 Heirloom Ornaments dies and added a gold and red top to the white diecut.  The bird has been popped up on some d/s foam to give dimension as has one of the branches. 

 

I then added some red Liquid Pearls for berries.  I'm not sure if you can see it but I've stamped SU Flowering Flourishes using VersaMark Dazzle "Champagne" on the left side of the white bauble.  I embossed a piece of white card using a 8" Embossalicious e/f.  The sentiment is Penny Black Christmas Flourish stamped in SU Cherry Cobbler.  The holly in the corner is from an All Night Media punch.

Thanks for dropping by.

Addicted to CAS - Challenge #2

Happy Saturday everyone.  Well, what a fantastic response we got to our first ever challenge at ATCAS - thank you all for joining us and posting your wonderful creations.  Now, are you all going to step up to the plate again this time?  Here is our challenge:

 

We are delighted that Joanna Munster from Inspired by Stamping is sponsoring this first challenge and has offered a $20 voucher to her store.  Please hop over to her blog at http://www.inspiredbystampin.com/inspired-by-stampin/ and start dreaming what goodies you can buy!!!  lol

For my card I have used my Heartfelt Creations HCPC 3417 - Poinsettia Ornament and the matching Spellbinder dies.  I stamped and heat embossed in silver e/p four of the largest baubles.  I then die cut them, scored each one in half and then glued them together.  I added a little bit of Stickles to the centres of the poinsettias and glued down onto an A5 card.  The sentiment, also heat embossed in silver, is Penny Black Christmas Flourish.  The addition of some silver ribbon finished the card.  I don't think you can see but I glittered each edge of the bauble but the camera didn't seem to pick it up.

Please pop on over to the Addicted to CAS blog and have a look at all the gorgeous creations the DT have come up with.

Thanks for popping by.  I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs to see your lovely cards.

Less is More - Challenge 95 - Recipe

Hi everyone - no I haven't disappeared off the planet but have been really busy getting ready for a craft fair last weekend, plus we are still decorating and things are in a state of chaos to say the least!!!  I've also been working on a very hush, hush project which will be unveiled mid-December.  Haha, got you thinking now haven't I?  lol  I missed joining in the fun at Less is More last week but was determined to make a card for the current challenge which is:
 

Challenge 95 

For the recipe this week, we'd like you to include 

Glamour and Glitz

By that we mean something to include glitter or bling, something that twinkles, sparkles or shines.

Hmmm, now what shall I do...... get out the glitter, use my Stickles; what a choice.  In the end I did none of that.  Instead I decided to use my Shimmer Sheetz which have a wonderful metallic oil on water look, in conjunction with my latest Stampin Up punch called Elegant Butterfly.  I made up a DL card blank from some Anna-Marie pearl card and scored some diagonal lines using my Stampin Up Simply Scored board.  I punched the butterflies out of five different but co-ordinating pieces of Shimmer Sheetz and added them on the diagonal lines.  I've added gems to all of them and as a finishing touch got out my Liquid Pearls to add a trail between each of them.

Thanks for visiting - don't forget to stop by tomorrow for the latest Addicted to CAS challenge.

ADDICTED TO CAS - FIRST EVER CHALLENGE!!!

Hi Folks - we're all so excited today as it's the very first challenge over at our new blog Addicted to CAS.  And what is our first challenge????????  Here we go:

 

Please remember that this challenge is CLEAN AND SIMPLE. We all know the rules? Minimal embellishments, clean lines and lots of white space.  With the codes words, they are really open to interpretation. You need to decide what that code word means to you personally.   To some it will definitely mean Christmas. To others it may mean a trip to the snow fields (like in Australia), snow fights, snowman or snowflakes. Could it inspire you to think of snow cones (ice drinks) which we have here right now because it's hot? What about Snow White? What about skiing? The possibilities are endless, let your imagination go WILD!!!!!

We are delighted that Joanna Munster from Inspired by Stamping is sponsoring this first challenge and has offered a $20 voucher to her store.  Please hop over to her blog at http://www.inspiredbystampin.com/inspired-by-stampin/ and start dreaming what goodies you can buy!!!  lol 

My card is very simple.  At the moment I just love white on white and for this card I have embossed a piece of white card with my Crafts Too "Dotty Frame", I've then die cut another piece of card using my Poppy Stamps Pine Tree Border, popped it up on d/s foam across the centre of the embossed frame.  The sentiment is from a new Anna-Marie Designs stamp set "Reindeer".  The only other addition has been four pearls.

We're really looking forward to seeing all your fantastic cards.  Please pop on over to the A2CAS blog and have a look at the amazing DT cards.

Less is More - Week 93 - One Layer - Houses

Afternoon everyone - hope you're all well.  This week the lovely Chrissie has been joined by "first to the post" Jen!!!  lol  I'm sure she will be great at supporting Chrissie whilst Mandi is busy beavering away at her new business - and if Jen's card samples are anything to go by we're in for a treat.  Pop over and see them on the Less is More blog.

I think this is the first time I've ever posted a LIM card on the first day but I'm trying to get things clear as we're decorating again so need to supervise...........! 

So this week's challenge is the dreaded ONE LAYER and the theme is HOUSES.

I've used a Chocolate Baroque set called Home Sweet Home.  Stamped directly on a 5" square card using Memento ink and then masked, using a cut out of Spellbinders Exquisite Circles, and sponged around the edge with Distress Inks. 

The image has been coloured using Flexmarkers and a little Spica Atyou glitter used on the windows of the house.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Have a great weekend.  Thanks for dropping by to visit.

Addicted to CAS - PRIZE GIVEAWAY

Prize Giveaway!

Addicted to CAS is a new challenge blog with the first challenge going live on Nov. 17.  Challenges will be running every other Saturday, thereafter.  If that isn't exciting enough .... there is a pre-launch prize package to be given away.  Here's the details from the Addicted to CAS Blog ...

____________________

How about a little giveaway even before we start??

We are getting very excited here at Addicted to CAS. Have you noticed the countdown on the blog? Maybe that doesn't help because to me the hours are dragging along!! LOL.

There are more ways than one to get yourself into the draw. Take advantage of all your options to increase your chances of winning!

Here are ways you can enter -

• Add the Addicted to CAS badge to your blog (1 entry)
• Follow our blog (1 entry)
• Follow us on Facebook (1 entry)
• Refer a friend (1 entry)
• Leave us a comment on this post telling us how excited you are (1 entry)

Once you have added the badge to your blog you must link up to your blog using the link tool below.

If you have referred a friend AND they follow us, make sure your friend leaves on their comment who actually referred them! The easiest way to tell your friends would be to create an actual post on your blog telling everyone about this!

Want to know what you can win??

Approximately $150 worth!!!!

Here's what you could win -

Stampin' Up - 1 x Stampin' Around Standard Handle

Stampin' Up - 1 x Sweet Swirls standard wheel

Cricut Cartridge - 1 x Give a Hoot

Marvy - 24 x brushmarkers

Jo Sonja - Crackle medium

Inspired by Stamping - Halloween Tags stamp set

Assorted stickers and embellishments

The competition will go for the rest of this month 

____________________

So, what are you waiting for!!  Head on over to the Addicted to CAS challenge blog and enter to win.  Good luck everyone!!

LIM Week 92 - Colour Challenge

Afternoon everyone - hope you are all keeping well and are not snowbound...............we had a freak snowstorm on Sunday morning after very heavy rain; I looked out and there was literally a white-out.  I have never seen such huge snowflakes and within about half an hour had about 2 1/2" on the car.  We were due to go over to Taunton for a craft fair which, as crafters, you know we would brave hell and high water........not so sure about snow though!!!  lol  We took it very easy but as we approached Taunton all we could see were blue skies and sunshine.........we got some very odd looks I can tell you as we still had rather a lot of snow on the car!

 Anyway, back to business.  This week's theme over at LIM Towers is a colour challenge and Chrissie, in her wisdom (!), has chosen the colour.......... da da de de de de deeeeeeeee.........

P I N K

It seems a lot of Limettes don't like, or use,  the colour pink vary often; and I am one of these but hopefully I've managed to dip my toe into the pink hue enough to fulfill the challenge.

A very simple card - I've used one of my new goodies bought at Taunton - Spellbinders Delicate Asters, a piece of white and pink bakers' twine, a couple of pink brads and the sentiment is SU Silhouette Sentiments punched out with an EK Success label punch.  The whole thing was cut slightly narrower than the base card and popped up on foam.

Thanks for dropping by.

Addicted to Stamps & More! Bingo Challenge #4

Morning everyone.......... well it's a new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps & More! and this week it is a Bingo challenge.  All you have to do is choose a line either horizontally, vertically or diagonally and make your card from the three elements you've chosen.  Here is the bingo card:

I've chosen diagonally with Orange, Free and White and have taken a little bit of artistic license by using gilding flakes "Sunset" which is mostly coppers.    So orange is the gilding flakes, free are my stamps and white is the base card.  I've inked my Clarity Stamps Hummingbird stamp with FlitterGlu and stamped onto a white pearl cardstock panel.  I then added the gilding flakes, rubbed over and then used a scoochy pad (like a soft Brillo pad!) to buff up.  I put some red liner tape around the edges of the cardstock and used the same method to add the gilding.  The sentiment is from Penny Black and is popped up on foam pads.  This was then layered on a DL card.

Thanks for dropping by - please pop over to the ATS&M blog to see all the wonderful creations made for you by the DT.

Less is More - Week 91 - Sketch 7

Afternoon folks - well, it's a pretty grey day now after sunshine earlier but it's quite mild so that's good.

The Less is More challenge this week is:

We haven't had many sketches since beginning "Less is More". It's difficult to think of original designs which can be interpreted in a variety of ways, yet keeping to the Clean and Simple ethos.

We have one for you this week which consists of  band down the card which in turn is sub-divided into three sections. 

You may add a sentiment if you wish and the sketch can be rotated if that orientation inspires you.

We must be able to spot the original, simple sketch however.

As Mandi is still working really hard on her new business Chrissie is hosting solo again this week.

For my card I've taken a Michael Powell stamp - don't you just love them - and stamped onto card.  I've then used Distress Inks, both pads and markers, to colour in the image.  I cut out the image and split it into 3 and mounted onto matching card.  I then took an A5 pearlised card, scored two lines and added another strip of card across, then popped up the three images on top.  The sentiment is a favourite from Hobby Arts stamped in DI Peacock Feathers.

Thanks for dropping by.

Roll up, Roll up, Read all about it!!!!

Happy Friday everyone.  Exciting news for you all.  Our fantastic challenge blog Addicted to Stamps & More! has a new addition to the family..............yes, it's Addicted to CAS.  Pop on over to have a look and get a heads up about the challenges and our sponsors.  Yep, you heard right - we will also have a prize for our CAS PERFECTIONIST!!  Our great leader Kylie has been working very hard on lining up some fantastic sponsors for the challenges - you won't want to miss the chance of winning some brilliant prizes.


The first ever challenge at Addicted to CAS will be on the 17th November 2012!!

Keep an eye out for our Code Word that will inspire you to create something amazingly beautiful while keeping it CAS.  Challenges are based on a fortnightly basis so hopefully won't overtax your crafty brains!  We are really excited about this new challenge blog and hope you will all join us in the fun.

We look forward to seeing all your amazing CAS creations - don't forget it all kicks off on Saturday, 17th November.

WOYWW #177

Hi there everyone......well I'm a little bit trepidatious  today posting this but I've been egged on by my super blogging friend Darnell to have a go at WOYWW.

My hesitation is that my workspace is ALWAYS messy.  No sooner than I have a tidy up and pat myself on the back it is back to square one as soon as I start crafting again!!!  lol  Anyway here's a photo of my workspace this morning..........big table, not much room to craft (usually ends up with a 6" square.........!) some recent cards I've posted and some boxes of dreaded peel-offs.  Do you remember when we used to use these all the time?  Well, I have so many and really don't use them any longer but at the craft group my friend Anne and I run we are going to do a Zentangle project with them next month and one idea is to use large, open spaced peel-offs as the shape they can then fill with pattern.  Hopefully I can get rid of some!!!  lol  So can I apologise now for all of you neat freaks out there............but here's my photo!

Thanks for dropping by.  I'm really intrigued to see what comments I get!

Addicted to Stamps & More! Make your mark #4

Hi Gang - welcome to Wednesday and another challenge over at Addicted to Stamps & More!  This week the challenge is Make your Mark - so anything goes as long as you colour using your markers.

Here's my DT sample and I've used a gorgeous image called "Beneath the Waves" by Sureya at Deviantart.  Please take a minute to pop on over and see the wonderful images both line art and coloured that are offered free - you have to become a member but it doesn't cost you anything and there's some amazing inspiration over there.

I've coloured her using Flexmarkers and then added Diamond Glaze to her hair so it looks wet and glitter to her fish tail and wings.  I've die cut the image using Docrafts Xcut Nesting Dies Leaves 2 and mounted onto card from my stash.  The first mat has been put through my Joy in a Sizzix e/f as I thought it looked a bit like waves.  The backing paper was a digi freebie.  I've added a border across the card and then die cut a piece of glitter paper using my Memory Box Riviera Corner.  I've sponged around the edges with Peacock Feathers DI and used a flourish stamp around the edges using Versamark Dazzle Frost inkpad.  The sentiment is computer generated and punched out with SU punches.  As a finishing touch I've added pearls in various colours and a bit of waste from the corner die cut.

Thanks for dropping by - please go and have a look at the wonderful DT cards over at ATS&M!  We're looking forward to seeing all your wonderful entries.