Happy Mothering Sunday

This card is for my Mum, who has been staying with me since January and helping to hold things together.  The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat, stripy ribbon is Stampin' Up, I've stitched around the edge and added buttons and twine.
I'm entering my card into;
Papertake - for the girls - or Mum
My Mum's Craft Shop - mum's the word
Delightful Challenges - someone special
Glitter Geeks - mother's day
DRS Designs - clean & simple
Ditzy Craftyness - buttons

More masking

I've a different method of masking for a second Less is More card:   This has masking fluid flicked across an area of the card to give the impression of snow falling, then Bashful Blue was brayerd across the sky, with the snow masked off with a Post-It.  Then I added Stampin' Up Lovely as a Tree stamps, a clear sentiment from Kaiser (in real life this is straight, not curvy) and a few gems on top of my trees.

One Layer Wednesday - two by two plus masking

This week' OneLayerWednesday Challenge is to use 2 colours of ink (Versafine Black, Adirondack Denim), two image stamps (Inkylicious tree and Santa sleigh) as well as masking.  My card is an all-out CASE of a card by Heather Telford, you can see the original here.  I'm not even going to say "inspired by", it is almost the same if not as good lol!
I masked off areas with Post-It notes and then flicked masking fluid across the middle, using an old paint brush.  Then I brayered denim ink and stamped the trees.  The sentiment is also stamped in Denim, it's Stampin' Up.

Simple Scene

 

Here's a very simple Christmas card, using a non-UK Stampin' Up stamp belonging to my friend Val.  I inked the sentiment part of the stamp with gold Versamark ink and the rest with plain black, stamping it onto some paper that I'd brushed with Distress Inks.  The gold cord and mirri card mat echo the sentiment.

My card is for:

Bearly Mine - Christmas, no red or green - hope Donna is feeling better

Deep Ocean - let it snow

Paper and Such - clean and simple Christmas

Paper Minutes - clean and simple

Karen's Doodles - clean and simple

Gingerloft Challenges - Christmas/winter

Paper Sundaes - anything Christmas

Less is More - red & orange

 Woo hoo, for the first time in I don't know how long we have a weekend at home to catch up on things and I can play for the LIM Challenge straight away.  The first card uses new stash from the trip that Chrissie, Lady Limette herself and I made to the NEC, I have long drooled over the Stampscapes stamps, but they are even more enticing now you can buy them as unmounted, not just on woodblock.  By the time I returned to the stand I had spent, umm, a lot and I just bought the two stamps I used here.  They are stunning and this is my third inking of it, one I messed up by not being patient while the black ink dried on the glossy card.  Background is brayered with Kaleidoscope spices and I have added and Adirondack Currant Red ink sun.  Sentiment is Stampin' Up, using a bit of the one I messed up.
I restrained myself from grilling Chrissie about this week's theme during our shopping foray, had I done successfully I would have bought some orange embossing powder from WOW for the next card which I admit is a rather brownish orange...   This is my first set of Darkroom Door stamps, the detail on these is stunning and like the Stampscapes, it stamped perfectly.  This is a one layer card, embossed with Apple Red and Nutmeg, sentiment is Stampin' Up.  It's hard to see but I embossed two parallel lines beneath the leaves, they seemed to need something to stop them drifting!


And lastly a photo of two happy shoppers:)

Less Is More - seeing double

 

This week's Less Is More Challenge is "Seeing Double" which is a great theme and I have lots of ideas for this one.  I wanted to have a go at a reflection card however and this is what I came up with.  The stamp is from Stamp Addicts' Rural Scenery Set and I inked it randomly with watercolour markers, stamping it out a second time below.  I used brushes for the background and just hope I've left enough white space for the Lady Limettes!  The sentiment is a Stampin' Up one from a gorgeous set that came yesterday via Mandi, I have some Seeing Double ideas for this set too:)

I'm also entering my card for:

Polkadoodles - setting the scene

Craft Us Crazy - Autumn Colours

Paper Play - 2 or more stamped images

Fresh Brewed Challenges - something new (ahem, both my stamps are new, don't tell DH!)

Phindy's Place Challenge #70 - make your own embellishments

Thank goodness it's Friday - and a long weekend too, can't wait!  Fridays are Phindy's Place Challenge days, and this week we are challenging you to make your own embellishments.  I've made my own flowers, using two different methods.  The image I used is called Summer Blossom, isn't she adorable?  Does anyone remember Holly Hobbie?  This little cutie reminds me of her...  The stamped flowers are a Stampin' Up stamp inked with two shades of Distress Ink, with punched suns added for centres and I tried something new and glued some tiny seed beads into the centres as well.  What do you think?  The other flowers use a Little Claire die, then they are rolled up.  I used 2 shades of blue but they look very similar in the photo.  DP is Memory Box Minuet, I paper pieced her little romper suit from one of the papers. 

My card is for the following challenges:
Digistamps4Joy - add a handmade flower
The Papershelter - diecuts and punches
Sisterhood of Crafters - flower power
Creative Card Crew - hand made flowers
Digital Tuesday - cute and girly
Papertake Weekly - dies to die for
Karen's Doodles - punch it out
Paper Creations Ink - show us your flowers
Victorine Originals - summer
Woodware USA - try something new (adding beads)
Corrosive Challenges - girly

Inky

 

I've unpacked from the Quilt Show, bought a new washing machine (sigh) which arrived at 7.15 this morning and am making an attempt at resuming normal service with my Less is More cards for this week.  We're using ink and making one layer cards.  I may try and do something new later in the week but for now I've two cards using a favourite technique of making backgrounds with my duster brushes and inks.

First card uses Distress and Adirondack inks with a mask for the sun and torn paper for the hills.  Stamps are Stampin' Up.  Second card is almost the same as some I made last Christmas, a great quick easy card that is light to post.  Edges of card masked off before inking, then Tim Holtz trees added and given some Stickles baubles.  I put a Stickles dot on the "i" of the sentiment, looks better irl than on the picture.

My cards are entered for:
Less is More - one layer inky
Cute Card Thursday - clean and simple
Cards for Men - anything goes - pheasant card

Patriotic Less is More

I'm getting quite hooked on Less is More, where the challenge this week is to use the colours of your nation's flag.  I've opted for good old red, white and blue rather than the English red and white and I've used my Hero Arts clear flower  set.  There are second layers on all the flowers and I've added some contrast colour with Pigma permanent fine marker pens.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up and I've additionally challenged myself by making this a one layer card.


My card is for:
Less is More - your nations' colours
Craft Your Days Away - birthday celebrations (Happy 1st Birthday to CYDA!)

New Stamp

I went to the Craft Barn yesterday, had fun at a Jenny Mayes class.  While I was in the shop I had to buy this HUGE Impression Obsession background stamp, I've made a couple of quick cards with it already, isn't it brilliant!  This is a fairly simple card, the sentiment is from a Jenny Mayes Scene-It set and the main image is Stampin' Up, coloured with Copics.  The embossing folder is Tim Holtz and ribbon from stash.  I used a technique I'd forgotten all about for the sentiment:  I cut two sides with the Nestie then moved it along and cut again to cut a long thin shape.
My card is for the following challenges:
Simon Says - use newspaper
Creative Stamp Friends - monochrome
The Crafty Pad - embossing
Paper Sundaes - beachy or summer
Craft Your Days Away - summertime
Fairy Fun Fridays - on holiday
Mami Doodles - at the beach
Off the Wall Craftiness - beachy
CASE Study - backgrounds

Clean & Simple Christmas

Today I return to work after a lovely two weeks off.  I just have a simple card to show you that is a Stampin' Up Make and Take from Newbury Stamp show a few weeks back.  This was shown to us by some lovely ladies and is a great idea for turning out a few effective but easy cards.  The demo used a pretty border punch but, ever the rebel, I chose to tear my layers:).  The bauble is stamped three times and folded and glued.  This is a nice 3D effect however it folds flat for posting - brilliant!
Enjoy your week, the sun is shining and maybe summer has arrived...

My card is for the following challenges:
Class Act Insider - Christmas
Delightful Challenges - Christmas in July
Digistamp4Joy - Christmas in July
Creative Inspirations - Christmas in July
Creative Inspirations Paint - inspired by Christmas

Crop Circles?

 

This card solves a dilemma: I was dying to play with some lovely new stamps that arrived when I was away on holiday and I also wanted to enter this week's Less Is More, which has a circles theme.  The stamp set is Stampin' Up and came from the Lady LIM herself, Mandi, gorgeous stamps Mandi, thanks!  I made a circly background for my card by using masking tape to punch out circles and also to mask off the top and bottom.  I've been using Post-Its but decided to get my masking tape out and give it a go.  Even on the glossy cardstock it worked fine, will definitely keep it out now!  I punched the circles into tape stuck onto paper, it glues the punch up otherwise.  Ask me how I know this...  :).  Sentiment is a Sheena Douglass stamp, inks are Spiced Marmalade and an Adirondack Lemonade. images use Sepia Versafine.

My card is for the following challenges:

Less is More - Circles

Shopping our Stash - turnback technique (masking tape)

Allsorts Challenge - free and easy July

Cute Card Thursday - going round in circles

Jac-inks Papercraft - monotone

A bit more less is more

This is a second entry for the Less Is More Monochrome Challenge.  I've seen some lovely cards using Kraft lately, this is slightly darker than Kraft, I bought some card blanks in recycled card which will have to do for now!  I've used one of a much-loved discontinued Stampin' Up set, added some white highlights with Koh-i-Noor pencil and a Hobby Art quote which fits the card to perfection I think.  I know it's Less Is More but I hope I'll be forgiven the twine which finishes off this masculine card:)

Challenges for my card:
Less is More - monochrome
Art Impressions Stamps - monochrome
Craft us Crazy - father's day/ masculine
Digi Doodles - no backing papers
Paper Play - father's day/man's card

A Cheerful bunch of hearts

Here are some of the cards from the Stampin' Up workshop that I enjoyed on my birthday, all using a heart shaped treat cup.  This gave me a few problems as each time I tried to make the one filled with water and glitter, my card leaked!  With help from Zoe and Natalie, who were running the day, it was established that it was the cups that were faulty, not me - phew!  With a new batch of cups I was able to complete the set.
First card has water and glitter inside it, second card is a birthday card filled with sweeties.  Happily there were some left over so we got a sugar boost while making this one ;-).  Last card has some glitter confettin inside.  All stamps, DP and embellies are Stampin' Up.  While the cups don't really do much for me and can only be used for hand-delivered cards, I do like the birght cheerful papers, of which we had plenty left over.
I'm entering my cards for the following challenges:
Creative Craft World - love 
Penny's Paper Crafty - hearts a flutter
Simon Says -  love is in the air
A Spoonful of Sugar - photo inspiration - perfect colour match for these!
Craft Your Passion - bling and hearts
Paper Sundaes - Valentine

One Layer Wednesday - and a stash diet

I hope I've just crept in under the wire with my card for One Layer Wednesday, using the sketch.  I've been stalking this set of discontinued Stampin' Up stamps for some time now on Ebay and managed to get hold of them last month.  They finally arrived yesterday, unfortunately with the sting in the tail of customs charges due to the postage being added to the value of the stamps.  Oh well, you win some, you lose some and I am delighted to have this set at last.  The sentiment is from a Joanna Sheen House Mouse set.  Sentiment and image are stamped in Memento London Fog, the background has Distress Inks brushed on and the image is coloured with Copics.  Usually my OLW cards involve silhouettes not colouring, I'm quite pleased with this one.

I've been lucky enough to get some lovely goodies for Christmas and for my birthday.  I've had a few more things come in the post that I've ordered and decided that February is to be the month of no new stash - well almost!  We have a weekend away near the end of the month that is close to two big craft shops and I'm sure my resoloution doesn't count when I'm away from home :-).  So today is the first day of my stash diet...

DT Posting - Corrosive Challenges - #77 - Faux techniques

Oops this is a late posting - sorry!  This week's Corrosive Challenge is to use a faux technique.  I've taken the easy route here and opted for a little faux stitching.  The punch of the bird and branch is Stampin' Up, the sentiment is Whiff of Joy.  The colours are navy and white, doesn't show up too well in the photo.

DT Posting - Corrosive Challenges - #65 - Clean & Simple

The Corrosive Challenge this week is Clean & Simple, something I have trouble with, it's hard not to keep adding extra embellies and add-ons:). I really like the card I've made for this week, I used the punch that I bought at my first Stampin' Up workshop, the bird on a branch. The wing has some faux stitching and is popped onto a black foam pad, the bird has silicon glue behind it. Sentiment stamp is Whiff of Joy, ribbons are from stash.

What do you think? Clean & simple or just too minimal...

Wishing Domi & Uli Happiness

Having made the first wedding card of the year it's been quickly followed by another:).

Domi is one of the Simon Says Challenge Team and she is getting married on Saturday. The Simon Says girls have challenged us by asking those who would like to send Domi & Uli a card to do so to enter a luscious looking candy. I felt a bit odd at first sending a card to a couple I've never met. But hey, the Simon Says Challenge has been very good to me, I was lucky enough to win their challenge last summer and it's a really nice idea. So here, with my best wishes for the happy couple, is my card.

Again I've used the Stampin' Up image and sentiment, colouring with Distress Inks. The DP is Basic Grey Scarlett's Letter, with lovely blotchy stripes that seem made for the Distress Ink colours. The border is made with a Martha Stewart punch, ribbon is from stash.

DT Posting - Corrosive Challenges - sketchtime - Wishing You Happiness

It's sketchtime at Corrosive Challenges this week and I used the sketch to make a wedding card for friends of ours. They had a very low-key registry office and just immediate family do and then went to Australia for a couple of weeks. The colours of this aren't conventional wedding colours but they seemed to fit the occasion to me and I certainly do wish them happiness.

Image and sentiment are Stampin' Up, coloured with Distress Inks and watercolour pencils. Flowers are called Prima Sprites, don't know where they're from, they were a present from DH. DP is K&K.

There are a couple of wedding card challenges around that I'm entering my card for: One Stop Craft Challenge has the theme Wedding Wishes and Charisma Cardz Challenges has It's all About Weddings.

First Foray into Stampin' Up

I went to my first Stampin' Up workshop/evening last night. Stampin' Up's not nearly as big in the UK as it is in the US, I've seen the catalogues and like the names they give colours:), but never been to a sales evening before. I was lucky enough to win some of their DPs and a set of stamps on a challenge blog, but that's been the full extent of it so far. I made this card as a Make & Take, the demonstrator was very good, and of course I ordered some things LOL!

All DP, stamps, brads are Stampin' Up, the card is a nice Z-shape that is an easel on its side, the little scalloped circle to the right it stuck down with foam tape and holds the fold in place pefectly.
I'm entering the cards for Charisma Cards' Monochrome Challenge, hoping I'll get away with a tiny bit of green text and the 2 leaves:). I'm also entering it into Paper Sundae's "No People" challenge.