Less is More Week #322

Hi there

After taking a break for a couple of weeks I'm back playing along with my teamies at Less is More today and as we're at the beginning of another month it's the turn of our Colour challenge.  And this time we want to see...

And for the month of April we have a fab new sponsor which is

Lili of the Valley

I have three cards to share with you this week and for my first card I chose pastel yellow, green and blue...

On a panel of white cardstock I stamped a background using VersaMark, applied some white embossing powder but then brushed off around the edge before heating so there were no hard edges.  I then watercoloured within the pattern using three colours of Distress Inks.  A simple Happy die cut and a white embossed sentiment strip finished the design which was popped up on fun foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Kaiserkraft - Morocco; Clearly Besotted - Sentimental Type
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Cracked Pistachio and Tumbled Glass
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Die: Wplus9 - Happy Trio

Challenge entries:

Fab Friday - Challenge #109 - Sketch (turned from portrait to landscape)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

For my second card I used a stamp by our April sponsor, Lili of the Valley...

I kept this one really simple by stamping the image onto a panel of Strathmore Bristol smooth cardstock and then watercoloured using Zig markers.  A sentiment was stamped alongside in black and the panel was popped up onto a card base made with the same cardstock so there was no variation in colour.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Lili of the Valley - Flower Arranging; Woodware - Salutations
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Watercoloured with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

Challenge entries:

Just Add Ink - Challenge #353 - Just Add Critters

Alphabet Challenge Blog - B is for Bunnies

And I went for a one layer card for my third design, using pastel pink, lilac and mint shades...

I stamped the abstract images, all from the same stamp set, to create a horizontal strip background.  I then overstamped with the bold sentiment in black, and re-inked using the MISTI to create a bold, sharp impression.  That was it, super simple.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Inkadinkado - Circles and Dots; MFT - Brushstroke Birthday
• Ink: Altenew - Mountain Mist, Soft Lilac, Rose Quartz; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entry:

CAS-ual Fridays - Challenge #170 - No Dies Allowed

Thanks so much for visiting today.  If you have time please do take a moment to check out my teamies' personal blogs as there will be lots more inspiration there too.

We're Kissing at Less is More

Good morning, crafters!

So, there's a new challenge for this coming week just kicking off at Less is More and we have an interesting one for you.  Our theme for this week is a technique, which is...

Stamp Kissing!

This involves inking up a solid stamp and a detailed stamp and then 'kissing' them together before stamping onto your project.  There is a more detailed description over at Less is More or you can find lots of tutorials over on YouTube.

I've got two examples for you today.  I won't lie, I dragged LOTS of stamps out of my stash before I found some which worked together.  And a little tip for you, I find this technique works best with pigment ink, the sticky consistency seems to help in keeping hold of the detail of the images.

So, here's my first...

For this one I chose leaves as my solid images and a distressed grid image for my detail.  For each leaf I inked it up with the lightest ink, then inked up the grid stamp with a darker shade, 'kissed' them together then stamped on my card base.  I stamped a few leaves in different shade combos directly on my base.  I embossed the sentiment in white on a black strip of textured card, adhered this flat and then added some enamel dots.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Paper Smooches - Leafy Greens; Kaidercraft - Grid; Sentiment from Hero Arts set (unknown name)
• Ink: Versa Color - Green Tea, Evergreen, Bamboo, Olive, Umber; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Accents: Doodlebug Sprinkles - Limeade

Challenge entry:

Daring Cardmakers - Leaf it Alone!

I decided to go with a fun feel for my second card...

Again, I stamped the solid images, this time the balloons, with the lightest shades and then inked up a circles background stamp with the darker co-ordinating shades.  These were kissed together, stamped, and then die cut with the co-ordinating balloon die.  I stamped the balloon strings on a white cardstock panel and adhered the balloons flat to this.  I added the fun style sentiment and then popped the panel up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Wplus9 - Whole Lotta Happy; Uniko - Balloon Bash (strings); Pink Cat Studio - Background Stamps
• Ink: Versa Color - Cyan/Royal Blue, Heliotrope/Violet, Pink/Opera Pink; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: Wplus9 - Whole Lotta Happy

Challenge entries:

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #408 - A Bit of Fun

Seize The Birthday - Clean and Simple

Simply Create Too - Challenge #100 - It's Party Time

Stamping Sensations - January Challenge - Anything Goes with a Die(s)

Time Out Challenges - Challenge #47 - Birthdays with Optional Twist (I didn't twist for this one)

If you are new to this technique why not have a go, I've only done it once before so this was also a challenge for me this week.  I hope you'll join us.

'Out of My Comfort Zone' Grunge!

Hi guys

I woke up super early this morning so decided to get up and do a bit of crafting.

I've been wanting to have a go at the latest challenge at Addicted to CAS which is 'Grunge'.  I have a few grungy style stamps but have never made a card in that style.  So I gathered some stamps together and put my thinking cap on.

I also had a look through some other current challenges and decided to use the colours from the May Colour Challenge at Daring Cardmakers as I thought this palette would work quite well for this style of card.

For my first attempt at grunge I kept my card to one layer...

This was so easy! Six different stamps in six different inks!  I'm a bit disappointed in myself that I lined up the 'Thank You' along the horizonal lines but being a 'liner-upper' this obviously came naturally to me!  :D

Materials used:

• Stamps: Kaisercraft - Grid; Stampin' Up - Gorgeous Grunge; Inkadinkado - Circle and Dots; BoBunny - Sentiments
• Ink: Versa Color - Bisque, Umber, Topaz, Cyan, Lapislazuli; Memento - New Sprout

Here is the colour palette, I chose inks as close as possible from my stash.

I hope to be back with more to share later today or tomorrow.  I am going to Cornwall for a few days later in the week so want to share a bit more before I go.

Have a lovely Sunday whatever you're up to today.

Masculine Best Wishes

Hi guys

Just popping by with a very quick post as its late and I should be in bed by now!

I always find cards for guys very difficult to make but I wanted to have a go as there are a couple of masculine challenges this week.  This is not a favourite card of mine by any means but a challenge is a challenge so I thought I would share.

Here's my attempt...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Need for Speed; Kaisercraft - Bubble Wrap; Woodware - Salutations
• Ink: Versa Color - Neptune and Khaki; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Classic Ovals Large; Clearly Besotted Stamps - Tag Along
• Twine and cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

Less is More - Week 159 - Masculine

CAS on Sunday - Challenge #27 - Masculine

Sketch Saturday - Week #297

That's all folks, I'm off for a date with my duvet!

Thinking of You

Hi guys

Well, this morning we seem to have a gap in the stormy weather down here in Devon and at the moment the sun is shiny! A very welcome sight :)

Today, I've had a go at recreating a one-layer card very similar to a fab card made a while ago by Rebecca at Melly moo, you can see Rebecca's post here.  For my card I used chalks to create the shadow.  It doesn't jump off the page as well as Rebecca's card.  I really need to invest in some ink/sponging products!  That said, I do like it and I think the subtle feel is fitting for the sentiment.  See what you think...

I was lucky enough to get my order in for the Dandelion Dreams stamp set at Clearly Besotted before it sold out...and I adore it.  The note pad stamp was released a while ago but I only just purchased it with this month's order so wanted to give that a whirl too.

I started by stamping the 'decorative tape' and then masked this off before stamping the note pad.  Then, lots of post-it notes were used as masks to create an edge to the pad and a gap to chalk the shadow.  I then masked off the shadow before stamping the dandelions.

I'm fairly happy with the result but I don't think I managed to accomplish exactly what I set out to do.  Oh well, its all good practice!

Materials used:

• Stamps: Kaisercraft - Decorative Tape Pieces; Clearly Besotted Stamps -Just A Note, Dandelion Dreams, Many Messages
• Ink: Memento - London Fog; Versa Color - Seafoam and Petal Pink; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Chalk: Craf-T Products - Decorating Chalks

Challenge Entries:

Less is More - Week 158 - One Layer Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #81 - Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Sentiments

Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 222 - Sentiment as Main Focus

Dynamic Duos - #89 Subtly Yours - Light Green and Soft Pink

Apart from the sentiment set, all of these stamp sets are new to my collection and I love them.  No doubt you'll be seeing a lot more of these in the future.  

There are a few chores I need to do today but you never know, I'll more than likely get distracted and have another card to share later ;)

See you soon

One Layer Thank You

Good morning guys

I made this card last night as I wanted to have a go at the latest Muse Challenge as its their 1st Anniversary.  But then my internet decided to throw a wobbly so I couldn't get a connection!  So, this will be a very quick post this morning otherwise I'll be going to work with no make-up and wet hair!

I'm not crazy about this card in the slightest, I was fiddling around for ages trying to figure out what to do and this isn't what I intended at all but I thought I'd share it with you anyway...

I was inspired by the grey gridded background and the trio of colours.  I stamped the distressed grid and then I went in search of some red, green and blue card and some dies.  Nothing was really working and this ended up as a one layer stamped card!  Oh well, another to add to my stash anyway! :)

Materials used:

• Stamps: Kaisercraft - Grid; Marion Emberson Designs - Just Because; Clearly Besotted Stamps - Many Messages
• Ink: Versa Color - Rose Red, Green, Royal Blue, Polar Blue; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Gems from stash

This is Jackie Rockwell's card we were to use as inspiration...

Phew, right I'm off to get ready for what Monday has to throw at me.  Have a great day whatever you're up to.

En'twine'd Hearts

Hiya

Yesterday evening I made my first card of 2014.

I've been wanting to take part in the latest challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch ever since it was launched before Christmas but never seemed to find enough time.

I also won a challenge last month at Creative Inspirations and was able to purchase some goodies from Bunny Zoe's Crafts, and the package arrived a few days ago so I wanted to have a play :)

Here is my card...

The distressed grid was stamped in white on the card base.  I then stamped and embossed the hearts before cutting them out with their co-ordinating dies.  I placed some glue dots behind where I wanted the hearts and randomly spiraled some jute twine, using the glue dots to hold it in place.  Before adhering the hearts on 3D foam I stamped the sentiments, and then finished off with some gems.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Kaisercraft - Grid; Clearly Besotted Stamps - Love Hearts (with matching dies) and Happy Days
• Ink: Versa Color - White; Versafine - Onyx Black; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Stampin' Up - White; Rubber Stampede - Gold
• Gems: Papermania - from Capsule Sunshine set
• Jute twine from stash

Challenge entries:

CAS(E) this Sketch #58

And as there are a few hours left I decided to add this as another entry at:

Less is More Week 151 - Choose any previous challenge - I chose Week 143 'Stringing Along' (use string/twine)

While I'm here I'd like to say thank you for all the wonderful comments on my 'Year in Review' post.  I had a great first year and hope to continue for many more.

That's all for now.  Have a great weekend and I hope to see you soon.