Addicted to Stamps & More! CAS #3

Welcome fellow bloggers to a brand new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps & More!  This week the challenge is Clean & Simple (CAS) and there is a huge amount of inspiration over on the blog by our fantastic DT.  Please pop over and have a looky see...........

I've just got some lovely embossing folders that are 6x6" - yippee - and you can get 8x8" ones in the same range.........what a bonus to have something that we can do straight on a base card rather than on a separate piece of card eh?  Anyway these are by Die'Sire  and are called Embossalicious and the one I've used is EF6 Regal Frame.  I think they are being distributed by Crafters Companion but I actually bought mine on eBay........

So I've started with a cream 6x6 base and run it through my Joy with the embossing folder.  I've then die cut some Prim Poppies from Memory Box and slightly decoupaged the flowers and bud.  The two fern leafs are also MB dies called Gentle Leaf.  I die cut them all out of cream card and sponged DI to colour them.  The sentiment is from the Stampin Up Oval All set and has been die cut using a Marianne label die (CR1212) part of a set of three dies.  I've added a couple of brads and used Pinflair Glue Gel to add to the card.

Thanks for popping by to have a look.  Please don't forget to visit the ATS&M! site to see all the lovely cards made by the DT.  We're really looking forward to seeing all your creations     and choosing our Top Addict for the week!

Happy crafting.

Less is More Week 88 - Colour

Hello Everyone - hope you've had a great weekend.  We've been busy with visitors and had a great time, made even better by the weather on Saturday which was glorious and meant we could take them to Stourhead which they loved.

The new challenge over at Less is More is a Colour challenge:

The first week of the month is time for another colour challenge and for your delectation this time we have chosen

Silver

It could be ink, paper, card, embossing powder, metal, a charm, whatever you can dream up as long as there's a touch of silver somewhere.

Part of my new goodies that I got from Westpoint the other week were some templates and sparkle medium from Imagination Crafts.  I've used the Leaf Swirl on a 6x6 card base and used the silver sparkle medium.  I let it dry overnight but it only takes a couple of hours or you could give it a blast with your heat gun.  This morning I stamped the sentiment (Penny Black Dreams come True) with Versamark and silver embossed it.  It was die cut using my Spellbinder ovals and a mat cut using the scalloped ovals.  Very simple but very twinkly!!!

Thanks for dropping by.

Less is More - Week 87 - Lucky Dip

This week's challenge over at Less is More is a Lucky Dip and the lovely ladies have come up with:

For our 5 week months we have a 'Lucky Dip' challenge and a special guest.

this month we have asked Susan Goetter to join us. You will all know and love her as she is such an inspiration, entering multiple challenges every week.....what a star!

Our challenge this week is

Love & Marriage

For my card I have gone with a silver and white theme and I have used my Spellbinders Majestic Elements which consist of six dies but you can mix and match them to create 20+ designs.  For this I have literally just die cut white pearl card and decoupaged the elements up using silicone.  The backing card has been embossed with my Cheery Lynn XL embossing plate Foliage.  The sentiment is Waltzingmouse Stamps and stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with silver detail e/p.  The flowers are from my stash and I've punched the leaves using my Nellie Snellen punch & emboss duo set.  I've added some Liquid Pearls as a finishing touch.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by.

ADDICTED TO STAMPS and MORE! - Halloween

Morning Everyone - well today sees our newest challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More! and this week the theme is HALLOWEEN..............

Now I am first to admit Halloween is not my favourite theme/night but hopefully I've come up trumps with my card.  I've used a fab digistamp from Opal Manor - worth checking out as all their digis are free!  My first thoughts when setting out to make this card was to use some of my new goodies that I got from Westpoint on Thursday.  So I have used the following dies on my project:

Heartfelt Creations Decorative Lace Border HCD 713

Poppystamps Grand Gothic Stained Glass

Poppystamps Grand Gothic Window

Memory Box Bare Branch

I took an 8" square scalloped card and cut a piece of orange card to size and then put it through my Joy with my Darice border e/f to emboss both edges.  The main b/p is from my stash.  I die cut the Gothic window and stained glass card and actually put it together with the witch behind the stained glass but you couldn't see her properly so then cut out another image and popped her in the front.  I've used DI's around the arched window frame.  The top and bottom die cuts are actually one - the Decorative Lace Border - which I have cut apart.  It was die cut from brown cardstock and then I rubbed copper paste over the top.  I die cut the branch from the same card.  The bat and sentiment are compliments of Beyond the Fringe where there are sentiments and a cut file for the bat on offer.

Please pop over to Addicted to Stamps and More! blog to have a look at all the wonderful cards our "huge" DT have made for you.  We're looking forward to seeing your take on the challenge.

It just so happens that Opal Manor also have a Halloween challenge on at the moment and I thought it would be rude not to enter as I had used their image - pop on over and have a look.  Thanks also to my DT buddy Marie she has also found another great challenge blog who have a Halloween theme this week.  Please pop over to Art with no Boundaries and have a look at the wonderfully spooky creations!! lol

Thanks for stopping by.

Exciting news at Addicted to Stamps and More!

For those eagle-eyed bloggers out there you may have noticed we have changed the name of our blog slightly to ADDICTED TO STAMPS AND MORE! which was in response to another German blog with a similar name.  Nothing else has changed except the name of the blog. Now read on for even more...........

We are very excited here today. We have some wonderful news to share with you and can't wait any longer!!

As you know we have had a DT call going for the last week or so. We had some wonderful applicants and we are very excited to introduce you to our newest recruits at 

Addicted to Stamps and More!

Please welcome to the team

CAZRO

LOLL

SUE

NONNI

SHANA

FLORENCE

DANIELLE

We can't wait for everyone to get started!! What a wonderful team and I do hope you visit all our new members to wish them well.

Don't forget we have our latest challenge going on RIGHT NOW. The theme this week is SPRING.

Addicted to Stamps - Theme Challenge #3 -SPRING

Happy Wednesday to everyone and welcome to our new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More which is:

S P R I N G

Now, you have to understand that although all of us in this hemisphere acknowledge we are now very firmly in AUTUMN............ to all those Antipodeans it is now SPRING...... topsy turvey or what!!!  lol  Anyway lets play nicely and do what the esteemed Kylie asks!!!

My card is hopefully Spring-like enough for this challenge.  I've taken a cream square card base and added a piece of cardstock in a deep yellow on top which was first embossed using a Cheery Lynn XL embossing plate called Foliage.  I then rounded the corners and die cut a lighter piece of card with my Memory Box Spring Border die.  I've used my Spellbinders Blossom dies for the main focal element of the card - again in a lighter piece of yellow card and smaller white card.  This was topped off with another circle of the yellow.  I've added roses and hatpins from my stash; the leaves have been punched using Nellie Snellen duo cutting and embossing punches.  The ribbon is from my stash but actually bought from Lidl's a while ago - it's lovely and has pearls and wooden butterflies on it and, luckily, matched the colour of the card.  The sentiment is from Stampin Up's set called Apothecary Art stamped in Mustard Seed DI.

Please pop over to the Addicted to Stamps blog and have a look at the lovely samples the DT have made for your delectation.   We look forward to seeing all your marvellous entries.

Less is More - Week 86 - Recipe

Hi again - just a quick post today with another card made for the current Less is More challenge of

 Take 3 Challenges

For this card I've used an 8" square scalloped base and Penny Black "In the Air" stamp set.  I stamped the main image in Barn Door DI and clear embossed it.  I then die cut it using my heart nesties  after first making sure the extra balloons were outside the cut area.  This was mounted on a red scalloped base.  I masked off the balloons and sponged some DI for the sky.  Popped up with silicone gel on a red and white mat with some gingham (yehaa) ribbon.  The white mat was scored diagonally using my SU Simply Scored board.  The sentiment was stamped, clear embossed and cut using my SU Modern Label punch.  It was shaped slightly and popped onto the card using silicone gel and a couple of gems added.

Thanks for visiting today - it's been lovely to see you.

PS  In my haste to post I totally forgot to tell you which  challenges this belongs to!!!!  Week 28 - Use ink, Week 29 - Things that move and Week 36 - Hearts

Less is More - Week 86 - Recipe

Well, what a change in the weather.........gorgeously sunny day yesterday and nothing but rain today!  Still, I suppose it could be worse........hmmm

This week over at Less is More the lovely ladies have more or less given us carte blanche:

Take 3 Challenges
If you look back at the list of our past challenges on the page at the top of our blog, you can choose any three to combine in your project... if you fancy the theme of a One Layer Week... you don't necessarily have to make a one layer card for this particular challenge.

In fact I think that when you're faced with 83 very different challenges to choose from how can you pick 3?  Well, after much deliberation, going off and doing something else, checking blogs etc etc I finally settled down and decided to opt for three challenges in a row - Week 14 - White on White, Week 15 - Embossing and Week 16 - Butterfly/Butterflies.  It's all pretty self explanatory and the recipe was:

Marianne Designables Cut & Emboss Folder

Couture Creations - Tied Together

Stampin Up Embosslits - Beautiful Wings

Cuttlebug Cut & Emboss Alphabet

 Thanks for taking the time and dropping by on this soggy afternoon.

 

Get Creative Sketch Challenge

Happy Saturday to all.  I thought I'd join in the Get Creative challenge this week which is:

As soon as I saw the sketch I knew exactly what I was going to do - isn't it weird how that happens sometimes?  Mind you I have been putting off the renowned LIM challenge as there is just TOO MUCH CHOICE!!!  lol  Anyway for my card I have used the Whimsy Stamp set Film Strip Sentiments and the matching film strip die.  I've used a blank DL card, top fold, and a piece of red card which I've put though my Joy in a Cuttlebug Wicker Weave embossing folder (had to match up and put through again as the size of card was bigger than the e/f).  I then cut a strip of white card and did the same.  These were adhered to the base card after inking round with a gold pen and attaching some ribbon.  I've gold embossed the centre sentiment onto red card and clear embossed the two film strips on each side stamping in Versamark Black ink.  I then stamped the heart and star onto these strips using Barn Door DI and clear embossing.  I then die cut the three elements.  These were then popped up on d/s foam and I've added four gems to the centre panel. 

Thanks for stopping by - hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

Addicted to Stamps - Monthly Scrapbook challenge

Hi Everyone

Welcome to our latest monthly scrapbook challenge over at Addicted to Stamps.  This month's challenge is entitled "Autumn".

For my scrapbook page I have used Serif CraftArtist and a mixture of digikits.  The main photo was taken by me at Stourhead in Wiltshire, a National Trust property whose gardens are a delight in any season - there is always something different to look at.  If you're ever in the area I think it's a must to go and wander round (there's a great pub in the grounds as added incentive!!! lol).

Please pop over to Addicted to Stamps to look at the scrapbook pages put together by other members of the Design Team.  We look forward to seeing your entries and popping over to visit you.

Happy crafting.

Less is More - Week 85 - Theme

Hi Guys - I know this is two posts in one day which is really unusual for me!!!  lol  but I've just managed to get my entry done for the Less is More challenge this week which is:

For our theme this week we have a really easy project for you... simply incorporate an

OVAL

into your design somewhere... what could be easier?

So there we have it - OVALS...... what could be more simpler than that eh?  Well, like all simple things they ain't always easy!  In the end I've used my Spellbinders Beaded Ovals and Fancy Tags dies.  After die cutting them I sponged Brushed Corduroy DI on the tag and stamped the sentiment with the same ink - sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps.  A little ribbon bow on each side and some Liquid Pearls finished the card.  A 5 minute job????  Heck no........ lol

Thanks for popping over to visit me and I look forward to repaying the compliment.

A quick addendum.......thanks to my blogging buddy Darnell (or Dippy as I call her!!!  lol) for suggesting I enter this into the CASology challenge this week which is WHITE.  Do pop over as there are some gorgeous creations for your delectation.

Addicted to Stamps - Bingo Addict Challenge #3

Welcome to our next Bingo Challenge over at Addicted to Stamps.  This is the bingo card you can choose from (3 squares either vertically, horizontally or diagonally):

For my card I've chosen Birthday, Square and Purple.  I've started off with a white 8" square scalloped Anna-Marie card base.  I've used my Marianne LR0242 set of dies which I think are so delicate.......can you imagine trying to cut these layers out by hand?????  lol  No, I thought not!  The base is die cut in white, the next layer in purple bazzill and the topper in white, stamped sentiment in DI brushed corduroy and clear embossed.  Sentiment is part of SU Whimsical Words set.  The butterfly is a Joy die and cut out of the same purple bazzill cardstock.  Finishing touches are some pretty pearls.

Please pop over to the ATS blog and have a look at all the wonderful inspirational pieces the DT have made.  I'm really looking forward to seeing all your creations and visiting your blogs.

Happy crafting.

St Luke's Challenge - Couples

Hello Everyone - well, it's the end of the week and I have actually had time to join in the fun over at St Luke's Challenge Blog where the challenge is COUPLES.

I decided to use this gorgeous digistamp from Mo Manning called "Kisses for my Sweet" which is just lovely - can't you imagine them twirling around in an impromptu dance????  lol  I printed the image out and die cut it using nesties.  It's been coloured with Flexmarkers.  I've embossed the border strip and mat using my Couture Creations Tied Together.  The sentiment is from A.A.Milne and I think it's wonderful; it's been mounted on my Spellbinders fancy tags.  The photo corners are an EK Success punch and I've added flowers from my stash, made some rose petals using Nellie Snellen punch & emboss duo and added ribbon and pearls.  The bp is from my stash.



Thanks for dropping by - hope you all have a wonderful weekend whatever you're doing.  I appreciate all your comments and look forward to coming to visit your blogs.

Less is More - Week 84 - One Layer

Hi Guys - the challenge over at Less is More this week is:

One Layer Card

Challenge Week

For the focus of your contributions this week we would like to see 

FOLIAGE

but PLEASE don't forget to leave that all important white space...


Things have been pretty hectic over the last few days and I've been busy getting samples ready for our club night tonight - if I get a chance I will post a photo of some of them tomorrow.

I started out with an A5 pearlised white card base and scored lines to give my "stamping area".  I then cut a mask so I wouldn't go over the lines..........so easy to do!!!  I've used a clear stamp set which doesn't have a name on it but it is just different leaves and fern fronds.  I stamped randomly in Versamark ink and clear embossed it.  I have then sponged various colours of Distress Inks over the whole area.  When I'd got it to the colour I wanted I then used a piece of kitchen towel to buff up the clear embossed areas.  The finishing touches were a sentiment (Hobby Art) and three green pearls.

Thanks for dropping by.

Addicted to Stamps - Make Your Mark Challenge #3

Welcome to our new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps.  This week's challenge is Make your Mark which gives you a free rein as long as you use your markers - Copics, Promarkers etc - to colour in your main image.

For my card I have used a digi stamp - Melissa by Sugar Nellie.  I just love these images.  She's been coloured with Flexmarkers and die cut using nesties.  I've used my Creative Expressions Floral embossing folder to partially emboss the backing which is Bazzill card.  The main card has been made up into an A5 using Anna-Marie's brushed satin card which is gorgeous.  I have made the roses using the floral e/f and the leaves are punched using Nellie Snellen two stage punch and embosser.  A dotty ribbon and some pearls finish the card off.

Please pop on over to the Addicted to Stamps challenge blog to have a look at the lovely cards made by the super talented members of the Design Team.  We look forward to seeing your entries and coming by to visit you.

Happy crafting.