Party Animal

 It's Saturday so it is time for the Less is More Challenge, which is stripes and spots on a one layer card. For once, I knew what I was going to do straight away, but I have been out all day and couldn't get to the craft room until now.  I love the Technique Tuesday zebras and the sentiment that goes with them.  Stripes, sorted.  And one of my most useful stamps ever is from the Dotty range by Stamp Addicts.  I didn't mount the stamp onto a block, I just hold it folded lightly in half and use it at random, makes a fabulous grounding, sky, hills, anything really.  This took maybe 5 minutes from start to finish but I really like it, what do you think?

 I'm continuing with my decoupage deluge, here is a Faye Whitaker with some Memory Box buckle diecuts on ribbon and a House Mouse card that uses my new Die-namics ribbon die.  Back later to enter the decoupage into some challenges...

PS Rebecca has a fab giveaway here

TGI Friday!

 Whew, that was a long week!  I'm happy to say that it is now the weekend and I also have next week off work.  Hooray!  I have some more decoupage to show you today, I haven't been very productive this week but I did manage to finish up these three Faye Whitaker cards.  First up uses a brilliant new die that I got from Die-namic Dies, it has two 3 piece bows on it and this is the larger of the two.  Makes a fab bow with just a dab of glue.  I put Glossy Accents on the centre of the bow - because I got a bit of glue on it that looked messy :).
I am entering this card for:
4 Crafty Chicks - dies to die for
Craft us Crazy - anything goes
Simon Says - a bit of green

 Second card uses one of my favourite punches, which is an EK Success one that I bought some years back.  Sentiment is Hobby Art and there is a little card candy added.
I am entering this card for:
Totally Papercrafts - punch it
Cute Card Thursday - spring fever
Crafting for all Seasons - spring into spring
Shopping our Stash - border punches
Craft Your Passion - that is odd (odd number of embellies)

Last card is my card for Mum for this Sunday, nothing other than the sentiment provided added to the card.  Mum loves poppies and I think she'll love this card, hope so anyway.
I am entering this card for -
Stamp'n'Doodle - mother's day
Bearly Mine - mothers day
Creative Craft Challenges 2 - mothering sunday
Creative Creations - just for mum
Songbird Challenges - mama I love you

Monday Morning...

and another helping of decoupage :).  First up is a Faye Whitaker card, no embellies, just a stripy Papermania DP.  I'm entering this card for:
Here Come the Boys - no stamp allowed
Divas by Design - anything goes

This is followed by a House Mouse card with some raffia ribbon over Prima DP, love the sentiment on this card.  I'm entering this card for:
Craft Us Crazy - anything goes
Simon Says - anything goes

Finally another of those gorgeous Josephine Wall decoupage sheets, Craftworks Cards sentiment, Elusive Images DP from the packs they used to send out, MS pansy border added and some lace.
This card is entered for:
Sugar Creek Hollow - lovely lace
Sparkles - lace it up
Card Crafters Circle - it's only make believe
Stampin' for the Weekend - use lace
Allsorts Challenge - for a lady

Another day, another decoupage

 Yet more decoupage to show you today:).  Both are Joanna Sheen, but very different.  The first is a Faye Whitaker with some old DP by Crate Paper and twine added.  This card is for:
Penny Black Allsorts - one for the boys
The Ribbon Girl - add ribbon or twine
Simon Says - anything goes

Next up is a magical Josephine Wall image, with some Elusive Images DP added and an EK Success border punched into the card.  This card is for:
Joanna Sheen - layer it up
Pile it On - happy birthday
Sentimental Sundays - fairies with wings
The Squirrel and the Fox - fairytale or fantasy
2 Sisters - fairy tale or fantasy

Less is More Colour Challenge

Hmm I'm not sure why today's Less Is More Colour Challenge was such a, well, challenge.  But challenge it was and I have been staring at cardstock and papers for ages! 

Eventually I found a lovely piece of textured card that I had used with shaving foam to make a background.  I diecut some squares from it, matted and layered them and added a diecut butterfly from Craftwork Cards, which has a sentiment on it.  I wanted to add some more butterflies but then they dominated the card, so I cut 2 tiny ones from the waste card that the diecuts were on and added them.  Couple of lines of scoring above and below the squares and it is complete.
My card is also for:
Card & Scrap - pastel colours
House of Gilli - anything goes + pastels
QKR Stampede - 3 of something


 I lapsed with my resolution not to buy more DP and fell for this My Minds Eye 12x12 DP, which is a perfect match for some more Joanna Sheen decoupage.  The DP is double sided and I showed off the lovely dotty side by folding back corners and securing with brads.
My card is for:
Dutch Dare - for the boys
Simon Says - anything goes
Whimsy Stamps - add some metal (brads)

Playing with a new toy

 
Good Morning!  I bought myself a new toy with some birthday money from my kind father-in-law and have spent lots of time playing with it on scrap paper, but here is the first card I'm happy to show off using it.  The toy is by Inkadinkado, it's called Stamping Gear and it's a sort of stamper's spirograph, a terrible time waster and great fun to play with.

I've used it to make another paper piercing card for the Less is More Challenge, stamping my circles off the page in Memento Bahama Blue ink and adding a Joanna Sheen sentiment, some gems and paper piercing. 
My card is for:
Less is More - paper piercing
Charisma Cardz - one layer creations
Cute Card Thursday - simplify
Lexi's Creations - monochromatic

I've also been stashbusting and finished up a couple more Joanna Sheen decoupage cards, in total contrast to my c&s card!  First up is a Faye Whitaker vintage seaside scene, with some elderly K&K paper and twine added.
My card is for:
Love to Create - wrap it up (twine)
Melonhead Friends - for a child/child image
Use Your Stash - summer - both decoupage cards fit this theme!
Robyn's Fetish - use ribbon or twine

Third card is one of my favourite House Mouse images, love this one!  Border uses a Martha Stewart punch and again I've used the K&K paper stash..
My card is for:
Joanna Sheen - layer it up
Created with Love - bright and cheery
Kenny K - layer it up

Dogs are not our whole life...

but they make our life whole.  What a brilliant sentiment, this is a freebie from the lovely Raindrop Echo Designs  The card has been made by request for a friend who bought another card with this sentiment and liked it so much that she asked for more!  The stamp is by Inkadinkado, the layout is from Sketch Saturday and I've reached for the 6x6 Basic Grey Out of Print pad again that I'm using up.

No more cards to show off today, I had a very indulgent Saturday, lit the fire in the afternoon and watched the racing followed by some Create and Craft, then an evening at a very good performance of Fiddler on the Roof by Hungerford Dramatic Society.  It's snowing and bitterly cold again today, I think it's a perfect day for crafting :).

My card is for:
Sketch Saturday - sketch
Allsorts - animals

Paper Piercing and more Frugal February

 This week's challenge at Less is More is to use paper piercing on a c&s card.  I used some of the 6x6 pad that is sitting on my desk to be used up, this is now the 7th card (plus 6 ATCs) I've made from it, I've made a good dent in it but there's still a way to go before it's used up!  You may need to click on the photo to see the paper piercing, I've made stems and leaves for my flowers which were cut from the DP, Basic Grey Out of Print.  Sentiment is WOW.I'm also entering my card for Fab 'n' Funky's Flower Power challenge.

Next up is some more Joanna Sheen decoupage, I have cut out all my Faye Whitaker decoupage and moved on to Gruffy Bears!  First card is matted and a ribbon added, it really doesn't need much more I think.  I'm entering the Blogger's Challenge for the first time today, the theme is Friendship.
 
It is just a wicked rumour that this decoupage resembles the DP stacks in my craft room - honest!   A HM Gruffy Bears decoupage with some gems and a Craftwork Cards sentiment added, isn't he a cutie.  I'm entering this card for Card Crafter's Circle - teddy bears on parade challenge as well as Little Red Wagon's totally teddies challenge.

More Decoupage Diversions

 Today I've some more decoupage to show you, all by Joanna Sheen.  To stick with my frugal February theme I have now cut out all of the Faye Whitaker decoupage (though it hasn't all made it on to a card yet!) and I've taken on the Shopping Our Stash Challenge of using my oldest designer paper.  I may not have found the very oldest from my stash and I did have a clear out a few weeks back of some early mistakes which went to the local primary school, but it's safe to say these papers may all have their bus passes!

First up is an 8x8 card with a charming House Mouse image, I've added some Glossy Accents drops to the leaves to look like water.  I've stitched a border round the card and across the lacy ribbon.  Sentiment was a freebie with a magazine.  The DP is, I think, 4 years old, it is from a large box of K&K papers that was a bargain buy when I visited the Elusive Images shop at Barnard Castle when we were on holiday in the Lake District - quite a trek!  This is a lesson in something only being a bargain if you wanted it in the first place, most of the box remains unused...
This card is also for House Mouse & Friends Challenge - I love you Sew much and the ABC Challenge All Stitched Up.

 Next card up is, annoyingly, missing its sentiment.  I cut out a kept the brilliant "for a grape friend" sentiment that went with this, ages ago, and I had it safe - until yesterday - now it is missing somewhere in the black hole also known as my craft room.  I've left this unadorned but if it doesn't turn up I'll computer generate the words...  This card has probably the most recent DP. a My Mind's Eye DP from my local craft shop,Stamp Attic, probably about 3 years old.  I'm entering this card for Incy Wincy's Pop it Up challenge.

 The third card uses some Gruffy Bears from House Mouse, this card is made for a request.  The DP is from when I first discovered Stamp Attic, which I think must be around 5 years ago now...  It has a texture and this is the "plain" side of a double sided paper, my tastes have changed since I bought this one!  I'm entering this card for Little Red Wagon's Totally Teddy Bears Challenge, I think these are teddy bears, what do you think?  Corners punched with a MS bubbles punch and some dew drops added to look like water drops.

 The DP here is Papermania, from a pad I bought in Staples, maybe three years back.  Not really my sort of thing but I was shopping for school stuff with the kids and needed a craft fix!  Red ribbon coloured with a Copic.  I'm entering this card for Addicted to Stamps and More's vintage theme.

Last card, if you're still with me, is another Faye Whitaker, love the sentiment on this one!  This is more of the textured DP from Stamp Attic though you can't see much of it.  I tried to make my knot in the baker's twine look a bit nautical!  This card is entered for Let's Hear it for the Boys Lots of Layers challenge.

a mixed bunch for a Monday

 Today I have some ATCS to show you, which were paper pieced using my Basic Grey Out of Print pad that I'm trying to use up.  I used to make a lot of ATCs but this is the first batch I've made for ages, they are for a Winter swap and are called Rain, rain and more rain, which is pretty much how winter 2012 went!  Stampinbella stamp and I've drawn in a puddle and some raindrops and added Stickles to them.

 Next up is some more decoupage that has been waiting to be made up.  It's Joanna Sheen House Mouse, I've used Glossy Accents to stick down and seal some birdseed in the bowl.  I'd like to enter my card for Incy Wincy's Pop it Up Challenge, Cute Card Thursday's An Eye for Detail  and Forever Friends Animals and/or butterflies and/or birds Challenge.

I cut this decoupage out so long ago that I don't remember it at all, but it's from the first pack I ever bought! I've followed the layout at Deconstructed Sketch and I've added some pastel card punched with a MS punch and a couple of gemstones. I'm also entering the Cutie Pie Pretty Pastels Challenge and Digi Darla's Food for Thought..

Up in the Air

 

This week's Less is More theme sounds a bit like life at the moment - Up in the Air.   At first I couldn't think of a stamp to use and opted to make a simple Christmas card using an Inkylicious stamp.  Unfortunately the stamp has disintegrated (it's a couple of years old) and this is the last card I'll be able to make with it...  Adirondack Denim ink and Versafine Majestic Blue.

Second card follows this week's CASE(E) this Sketch and the colour theme at Just Add Ink as well as being up in the air.  Sentiment is by Little Claire.  The balloon is a Clarity stamp and I've coloured with Koh-i-Nor pencils which have bled a bit on the linen texture paper.
 
Third card follows CAS(E) this sketch layout again and continues my quest to use up a 6x6 paper pad (even if it's only a little bit!).  Sentiment is Little Claire again.

Frugal February

 Today I'm detouring from my 6x6 pad into some more stash busting, this time I have made up some decoupage cards for an order.  When I was doing a lot of quilting, there was a lovely shop in the US that made homely, plaid quilts, it was called Country Threads.  They published a whole book of quilts and projects based around:

Use it up, wear it out,

Make it do or go without.

I'm pleased that these cards are in the same spirit:  the decoupage has been cut out for ages and ages and sitting in plastic bags waiting to be glued.  All DP is from my stash and I finished up several sheets.  The purple ribbon on the first and last cards came from some flowers that I was given ages ago, I've made it do and used it up!  All decoupage is Joanna Sheen, three Faye Whitaker and a House Mouse.  First card uses Papermania DP and the florist ribbon.

 Second card used up a scrap of seam binding and some My Minds Eye DP.

 Third card is more Faye Whitaker, there is some of the DP left...  This one has a little bling added.

Last card has, I think, MME DP again and some tiny buttons from my stash.

Today I plan to get back to my 6x6 pad but the sun is shining, a rare event this winter, I may just go AWOL from the craft room and get out before it snows/rains/sleets again!

Charisma Cardz has an Anything Goes challenge starting today; I'm entering my cards for this.

Using up the DP pad continues...

Today the snow is coming down thick and fast, a perfect day for crafting!  I'm continuing with my quest to use up the gorgeous Basic Grey Out of Print pad that is on my desk and I have made another couple of cards. 

The first one uses a super layout from Sketch Saturday along with a topper from the Hobby House, by Sylvia Zet I think.  Some ribbons and pearls finish it off.  Please note this is a topper and NOT coloured by me - if only!  I'm also entering Paperminute's Challenge of butterflies in springtime - the butterflies are small but they are there on the topper!  Also Anything Goes vintage/shabby chic.



 My next card is a real stash buster, I found this cute Whiff of Joy image in my box, already coloured.  I coloured this so long ago that I'm pretty sure it uses Promarkers not Copics!  The sketch comes from this week's Cupcake Crafts Challenge .  Every other challenge at present seems to be about hearts, or lurve or red.  The patches on this little girl's overalls are hearts so I am entering this card for a few hearts and flowers challenges, sorry no Valentine from me this year:(.
My card is for:
Cupcake Crafts - sketch
Flourishes Timesless Tuesday - put your heart on it
Papertake Weekly - hearts and flowers
Corrosive Challenges - hearts and flowers
Great Impressions - have a heart
Catch the Bug - affairs of the heart
2 Sisters - hearts

More from my Out of Print 6x6

Today I've a couple more cards to show you that come from the Basic Grey Out of Print 6x6 which is sitting on my desk, I'm trying hard to use up some of my paper mountain, pad by pad lol!  The first card uses a big Woodware stamp that looks very useful for Mothering Sunday or for birthdays.  I've stamped it twice and popped the middle text up on Pinflair and added some brown pearls to the corners.  The sketch is from Little Miss Muffet Challenge .


The second card looks quite busy for such a lovely C&S sketch, which is from Seize the Birthday and is for a feminine birthday.  The image is from Phindy's Place and is called Bountiful Boy, what a cutie! The sentiment came on a freebie sheet with a magazine recently, not sure which one!  I'm also entering the Shopping our Stash Challenge which is a birthday one.

Just a Note

The theme for Less is More this week is Music.  My stamp is a large Imag-e-nation stamp which I hadn't thought of for a CAS card.  However when I got it out to use the sentiment (which is included with the stamp) I decided that, unadorned, it works fine as a one layer card.  What do you think?  I've put it on a tent-folded card and coloured with Koh-i-Nor pencils, blended with Sansodor.
My card is also for:
Delicious Doodles - no designer papers
Delightful Challenges - think spring (pastel colours)

My next card to show stems from an addiction.  My name is Anne and I am addicted to 6x6 paper pads!  I have decided that I must buy NO MORE PADS until I have used some up totally.  So I took a nearly full pad from the drawer and it will stay upon my craft desk until I have used it all up.

My card is for CAS(E) this Sketch and uses a Stampin' Bella  sentiment and stamp.  I've used silicon glue to give the figure dimension, she is paper pieced and coloured with Copics.  The "ribbon" is also from the DP.  I hope to blog some more cards from my Out of Print paper pad this week...
This card is also for:
Marker POP Challenge - texturising
Eclectic Ellapu - anything girly
One Stitch at a Time - anything goes
Basic Grey - your favourite...  technique (paper piecing), DPs - Basic Grey of course!

A Clutch of Cards

I wanted to have another go at this week's Less is More Challenge of using kraft and creme and pulled this stunning brown and cream stripy grosgrain from my ribbon drawer, it's a Stampin' Up ribbon that I would have in all the colours if I could :).  However this is the only one I have and I think it works perfectly for this card.  The sentiment is from Pink Petticoat, this month's sponsor.  I love it and it is very true.  I used it for Mum's card last year so I'll have to think up something else this year!  The buttons are made with a Woodware punch.
This card is also for:

Anything Goes - monochrome
Word Art Wednesday - anything goes
Papertake - anything goes

 

The sentiments print out 3 to a page in varying shapes so I decided to make a couple more cards.  I'm very keen on the idea of taking part in Paulina's 10 minute craft dash so I gathered my Nesties, bowmaker, buttons and perfect layers tool and came up with this card in just over 6 minutes.  Then I re-read the challenge, which I had thought of as love (I think it's a loving sentiment anyway!) and realised that it is a Hearts challenge.  Oops!

Instead of 10 minute dash, this card is for:

Penny's Paper Crafty - ribbons and bows

Fussy & Fancy - circles

Catch the Bug - anything goes

Creative Moments - buttons and bows

So for my 10 minute craft dash I went back to the kraft and cream colourscheme.  This time I added some tiny craft buttons and used a sizzlits die to cut some hearts.  It's matted onto coffee brown card and I used some more of that yummy wide ribbon.  Without the bow this was a quicker card at 6 minutes and 23 seconds.  What a good thing I didn't have to include the time spent searching for inspiration into turning it into a card with hearts!
This card is for:
10 minute card dash - hearts
Simon Says - have a heart
Digital Tuesday - hearts
Charisma Cardz - love
Crazy Amigos - hearts


This card was made by request, it used the Joanna Sheen Viva la Divas CD and some Craftwork Cards glossy dotty DP, as well as some ribbon roses on a tulle ribbon, a generous sprinkling of gems finished it off.
This card is for:
CD Sunday - showtime
Ruby's Rainbow - roses
Bearly Mine - anything goes

Here's another by request card, this uses an image from a La Pashe CD, with a simple stamped sentiment and some Basic Grey DP added.  I am entering this card for C.R.A.F.T.'s Get Well challenge.

 

And last but not least, I have a decoupaged Joanna Sheen card to show, with no stamping, just lots of layers and then matting.  I am entering this card for Crafting when we Can's cards for boys challenge.

Phew, I think that's me caught up now,  if you're still with me thanks for reading this far lol!

Happy 2nd Birthday Less is More!

Here is a card for the Less is More challenge, which is kraft and cream, to celebrate their second birthday.  I have added a teeny touch of red, the hearts just looked wrong when I stamped them in brown :).  I cut the chevrons all at once, with square Nesties taped together, a technique from the current Online Card Class Clean & Simple Cards 2 (highly recommend this).  They are popped up on foam tape. The sentiment is from Wow and the heart is an Inkadinkado stamp.  Cream linen texture card matted onto kraft.
My card is also for:
Craftroom Challenges - make your own embellishments
Loves Rubberstamps - anything goes
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Try it On Tuesday - get ready to celebrate Valentine's Day