Less is More - Week 82 - Recipe

Hi Everyone - well, what an awful day........ we've had torrential rainstorms down here in Somerset and I got absolutely soaked this morning!  Still, all dried off now and ready to post my card for the weekly Less is More Challenge.  This week it's:

Our challenge this week is a
RECIPE

3 - 2 - 1

This week we have a simple idea for you to use as the focus of your cards.

All that you need to do is to incorporate 3 of something, 2 of something and 1 of something else!

For my card I've decided to use a lovely House-Mouse image "Together under the Moon", coloured with Flexmarkers and Distress Ink Faded Jeans and added Atyou glitter pens.  Cut out using nesties.  A ribbon added and the sentiment is computer generated and die cut with Spellbinders Fancy Tags.  So my three is nestie layers, two is meeces and one is sentiment or ribbon  Do you remember a chap named Ted something or other who compered a game show with Dusty Bin????  I feel like him with his 3, 2, 1............think I'd better stop here as I'm showing my age!!!  lol

Thanks for dropping by.  I'm hoping the weather is better tomorrow for all of us and especially those wonderful Paralympians.

Happy crafting.

ADDICTED TO STAMPS - CAS #2

Hello everyone - today we're up with our latest challenge over at Addicted to Stamps which, this week, is CLEAN AND SIMPLE.   I think people aren't quite as frightened by this type of challenge as they used to be so here goes with my DT entry.

I've used an embossing folder from Creative Expressions EF-004 Floral for the whole of my card.  I've embossed two panels of card in pink and purple and cut to size.  With the offcuts of the pink card I cut out four of the flowers to make up my rose and then I added some Cosmic Twinkles.  The two panels have been placed onto a square card blank and I've added the rose with Pinflair Glue Gel.  The sentiment is from SU Wonderful Words stamped in SU Perfect Plum onto a spare piece of pink card.

Please pop over to the ATS blog and have a look at all the inspirational cards made by the Design Team.  We look forward to seeing all your cards and visiting your blogs.

BLOG CANDY GALORE OVER AT THE CRAFT BARN!!!!!

Hi Everyone on this wet, windy and very miserable August Bank Holiday............it's a good excuse to stay up in my craft room but I do feel sorry for those on holiday or trying to get a day out.

The Craft Barn have got some absolutely amazing blog candy up for grabs over on their blog so pop over and have a look and join in the fun - all you've got to do is post a photo and link on your blog and then go and prod the little blue frog!!!  lol

Here's what they're offering to one lucky blogger:

I'm not going to list every thing in there, but I'm sure you can spot a lot of yummy products.... 

die cuts (I see Tim Holtz's phone there), inks (including Dylusions), glitter, a Crafty Secrets CD, embossing folders, goodies to alter, embellishments, a "stamp and die" set, gilding flakes and more...

 

Thanks for dropping by.

 

 

Less is More - Week 81 - Theme

Well, looky here...........I might not have got my first card posted very early for this week's Less is More challenge but here I am again with another one!!!  lol

Just to remind you, this week's challenge set by the lovely ladies is TEARING ........ and it can be as easy or complicated as we wish.  So yesterdays card was pretty simple so I thought I'd have a go at tearing my paper for masks and also tearing some backing card as well.

Now a really strange thing happened to me - I decided to use my Pan Pastels on a piece of Clarity coated cardstock, so I tore my paper masks and started off using blue for the sky - beautiful, then I used an ochre shade for the furthest hills - again no problem.  BUT........ when I went to use a green for the nearest hills nothing happened!  So I tried again, and again, and again..........still nothing.  It sponges very well onto normal paper but where the other colours came out really well on the coated cardstock the green absolutely refused to even minutely colour the card!!!  Now if anyone out in Blogland can help me with this I would be really interested to know why this happened.  So determined to carry on I had to use Distress Inks to finish off the background.  Then I have used a mixture of stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque (Eastern Grasses and Tall Trees).  For the trees in the distance I just masked and stamped the top of the trees in the foreground after taking off some ink so it appeared to be further away.

I used a silver edge marker pen around the scene and matted it onto some ribbed black cardstock which was torn on two sides.  I've mounted this onto an 8" square card blank and added the ribbon.  The sentiment is from Heartfelt Expressions (HCPC 3474) and stamped directly onto the base card.  The final addition was some matching pearls.

Thanks for dropping by.  I love reading all your comments and popping over to your blogs to reciprocate.

Less is More - Week 81 - Theme

Well, my efficiency last week didn't last very long...........I am again late in posting my entry to the latest Less is More challenge which is:

Tearing
This can be in any form, but, as subtle or as bold as you like!

For my card I have taken three pieces of backing paper from my stash and torn them; each a little larger than the other.  I then inked the edges with Distress Inks.  These were glued to a square card.  My main image is Hero Arts "Real Dill" and I inked it up with Distress Inks and spritzed it with water before stamping to give it a watercolour look.  This was then matted and added over the torn bp.  The sentiment is from Waltzingmouse.  Finishing touches are matching pearls and a piece of ribbon.

Thanks for dropping by.

Happy crafting.

Addicted to Stamps - Addicted to (GOLD) Challenge #2

Hello fellow bloggers.  Yep it's that time of week again and our new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps is Addicted to GOLD.  There is no theme so subject matter is totally up to your imaginations!!!  lol 

Now I've been having a huge clear out of my craft room and lots of unwanted goodies have gone to a good home BUT........ you know what it's like when you have a tidy up etc?  Yes, you've got it - I JUST CAN'T FIND ANYTHING!!!!  What I wanted to do for my DT card was to use FlitterGlu but I can't find it anywhere - so I've had to use the next best thing (not really in my mind but heyho...) which is detail gold embossing powder.

I've used my IndigoBlu stamp "Frosted Baubles" which is lovely and stamped in VersaMark and gold embossed onto red card.  The sentiment is part of a clear stamp set which doesn't have a manufacturer's name on it.  This has also been embossed.  I've then cut out the design and mounted onto gold mirri and more red card.  I've used a 5" x 7" card blank and put another piece of gold mirri through my Joy machine in my new and much coveted and loved Tied Together embossing folder by Couture Creations.........this is the e/f that was made as a limited edition but by the time most people found out about it everywhere had sold out!  It's made in Australia and they aren't making any more...........  I know you can't fully enjoy it's deliciousness but believe me it's absolutely gorgeous!  I've tied some gold ribbon around the card ending up with a bow.  The finishing touch was to add quite a few teeny tiny gold balls to each of the elements - but I'm not sure the photo actually shows them too well.

Please go over to the Addicted to Stamps challenge blog to look at all the wonderful creations made by the rest of the Design Team.  We really look forward to all your entries and popping over to your blogs for a "chat".

Happy crafting.

Less is More - Week 80 - One Layer

Well will you look at this!!!!  Two cards for the same LIM challenge in a matter of days - something must be wrong...... what have I forgotten to do!!!  lol  I was sorting out some stamps yesterday afternoon and came across this virgin (and I use that word wisely.....) stamp from the Joanna Sheen stable - Giordano Studio Stamps "How are You?".  The challenge, just to remind those who haven't popped over to this fabulous blog, is:

ONE LAYER CARD

and this time the subject of your creations should feature

FUR or FEATHERS

(This should give you plenty of scope.)

As ever, please don't forget that white space and keep any embellishments to a minimum.

 

I stamped the main image and coloured with Prismacolour pencils which I had to dust off as I haven't used them for a long time.  This image is just too cute for words and fits in well for the challenge.  The sentiment is from the same set.

Thanks for dropping by - not sure what your weather is like but we have had gale force winds and torrential rain and the roads have been flooding.  Fingers crossed that somewhere some of you are having a bit of sunshine.......if so can you send some down to Somerset please!  lol

Addicted to Stamps - Theme Challenge #2 - Cards for boys

Hi again everyone.  It's that time of week again for a brand new challenge at Addicted to Stamps.  The theme this week is Cards for Boys...........yep those tricky critters!!!!  lol

For my card I have chosen to use stamps from the docrafts Wellington 8"x8" set.  He's such a gorgeous creature and I think much more male oriented than a "cute" teddy you might use for a card for a female.  I've taken a blank 8" square card and have used a variety of Coredinations card stock added mats and layers which have been embossed with my Cuttlebug Wicker Weave embossing folders and then sanded back.  A couple of pieces I've just sanded.  The main image has been stamped onto watercolour paper and coloured using Aquamarkers with an added touch of atyou Spica glitters.  I then die cut the image with nesties and then added a layer of acetate over the top.  Holes punched and brown gingham ribbon added.  The sentiment No 1 Nephew is matted onto a Spellbinders Fancy Labels die cut and the other (which I think is so true) has just been layered onto matching Coredinations.  I had a bit of ribbon left so added it to the top left with a brad.  It's my eldest nephew (hence the No 1 - my other, younger, nephew is No 2!!!) Dominic's birthday in a few days time and I thought this would be good for him (although he's all grown up......) as Wellington is sitting on a very adult leather armchair in possibly a library - and as he's an author what better?  lol

Please pop over to Addicted to Stamps and look at the amazing inspirational pieces the DT have made for your delectation this week.  We look forward to your entries and popping over to your blogs.

Happy crafting.

Less is More - Week 80 - One Layer

Happy Sunday everyone - hope you're all having a good weekend.  Well, I'm definitely improving on last week and decided everything else could wait whilst I made my challenge card for the lovelies over at Less is More whose challenge this week is:

ONE LAYER CARD

and this time the subject of your creations should feature

FUR or FEATHERS

(This should give you plenty of scope.)

As ever, please don't forget that white space and keep any embellishments to a minimum.

I think we are all getting used to what used to be the dreaded "one layer" cards and it doesn't panic us quite as much as it did!!!  lol  I've used an A5 card and turned it to landscape orientation.  and used my lovely stamp BAZOO - Just for You by Helz Cuppleditch - it's such a cute image (and I'm hoping these giraffes will come under the Fur category).  Stamped in Memento Bamboo Leaves and Rich Cocoa (giraffes inked up first and then used the Bamboo Leaves on the frame).  Coloured entirely with Flexmarkers.  The sentiment is from the same set and the same inks etc used.

BTW - and this is mainly for Mandi & Chrissie......... - my photographic skills seem to have deserted me today and I couldn't manage to get a photograph that showed the right colours - so I'm afraid I resorted to my trusty scanner!  SORRY...............

Thanks for dropping by and leaving comments and will love to pop over to your blogs to see your fantastic creations.

Less is More - Week 79 - Colour

Phew........ didn't think I was going to make it this week!!!  With a few hours to go this week's challenge over at Less is More is

As it is the first of the month and colour we have chosen

Blue & Green

There is an old saying

Blue & Green should not be seen, Unless there's a colour inbetween!

In this day and age no colour combo is taboo, in some cases the wilder the better.

You may wish to go natural, with summer blue skies and green foliage or quirky, snazzy,

navy and lime. It's completely up to you, we cannot wait to see what you come up with.

 

I've done a very simple card using Memory dies Delicate Fern and Honeyblossom Sprig and Gentle Leaf from Poppystamps. All cut out of cardstock in my stash with a strip of card across with some gingham ribbon.  The sentiment is SU Heard from the Heart with Ballet Blue ink.  I've added some matching pearls to finish off.

These last two weeks have been pretty hectic as we've been having our kitchen decorated etc - worst room in the house to do anything as it's all got to be moved out!!!  Still, it's all done now and is looking lovely.  We've also had our monthly craft club night this week and so was very busy working on samples for the girls.  We always do two projects and this week it was paper piecing (some of them thought it was paper piercing!!!  lol) and triple embossing on Stampbord.  These photos show the cards I made for the two projects - although I attached one of the Stampbord samples to a canvas for hanging on the wall just to give the girls a different slant on using it.

Thanks so much for dropping by - it's lovely to have you visit.  Hopefully things will be a bit more relaxed next week so I can take a deep breath ready for tomorrow's one layer challenge at LIM!!  lol

Addicted to Stamps - Bingo Addict Challenge #2

Morning everyone.  Hope you're all well and enjoying the summer.........hmmm!  Right, onto this week's challenge over at Addicted to Stamps.  We would like you to choose a line, any line vertically, horizontally or diagonally, on the bingo card and make your card up from those three elements.

For my card I've gone for the centre vertical line - Die Cuts, Free and Pearls.  I just had to do this one as I've been waiting an age for my new Marianne LR0242 Anja's Squares dies to arrive - I was really excited when they popped through the letterbox as I think they are one of the prettiest sets I have seen for ages.  My second choice was FREE and I've chosen the colour BLUE which, co-incidentally is the colour of the card we set our craft club ladies to produce a card from for tonight's club night!!!!  The last element is PEARLS and I have used Liquid Pearls in the corners of the card.   As you can see this is a quick card but looks really nice - I've used a textured white card base and two different coloured BLUE cardstocks for the main die cuts (four layers) with the central layer of the flower cut out of mirri to give it a little lift.

Please pop over to the Addicted to Stamps Blog and have a look at all the inspiration provided for you by the rest of the DT members.  We look forward to seeing your entry this week.

Thanks for dropping by.

Less is More - Week 78 - Sketch

This week's challenge set by those luscious lovelies at Less is More is a sketch challenge:

"Simplicity itself" is how they describe it......... hmmm I wonder!

I have actually come up with two cards for this challenge; the first one is especially for Kate over at Downright Crafty who wanted to see what I was doing with my little stash of Bella Christmas stamps!!!  lol  So the first one is using a Wild Rose Studio stamp called Starry Night.  I've stamped the image in London Fog Memento ink and coloured with Flexmarkers.  I've then added Glamour Dust for that extra bit of sparkle and die cut with a nestie.  The backing paper is from the matching WRS Christmas pack and it's been matted onto a piece of silver mirri where I've scored two lines at the top and the border is a Martha Stewart punch.  The sentiment is from Stampin Up Beautiful Season and I've added some Liquid Pearls.

My second card  was "simplicity itself".......... I've used my pine tree border die from Poppy Stamps on a piece of green Bazzill cardstock.  The backing paper is actually dark purple (although I think it looks black in the photo) and I have put it through my Joy in an embossing folder to get a faux snow effect.  A piece of matching ribbon at the bottom and the border punch is Stampin Up.  Again I've added Liquid Pearly and the sentiment is from "Here Comes Santa" by IndigoBlu.

So, two more Christmas cards to add to my stash!!!  lol

Thanks for dropping by.

Addicted to Stamps - Make Your Mark Challenge 2

Hello everyone.  Well, it's that time of the week again and it's our second Make your Mark challenge over at Addicted to Stamps.  So the world's your oyster........... as long as you use markers of some form or other!!!  lol

My card is actually for a friend who has recently had a hip replacement (hence the corny sentiment!!!).  I've used a House-Mouse stamp from Joanna Sheen's Get Well Soon set and coloured using Flexmarkers.  I've also used Atyou Spica pens to add a bit of glitter.  I then cut out the image using Spellbinders book pages die and made it into an easel card.  Backing paper is from the JS House-Mouse inserts CD.  I added some flower soft on the bunch of flowers the mouse is offering up, some ribbon and pearls.  The sentiment was computer generated.

Please pop on over to the Addicted to Stamps blog to have a look at the great inspiration the Design Team have provided.  We look forward to seeing all your amazing projects.

Thanks for dropping by.