Let it SNOW

Stamps: Tag Its #8(PTI)

Ink: Espresso Truffle (Memento)

Die: Framelits Instant (Sizzix)

Hurray! Less is More are doing a festive challenge today, so I can start to share some of my cards for this year. It also works for the upcoming Papertrey Bloghop on 25th of the month, which has a snow theme.

Less is More ~ Use 2

Stamps: Be Jolly, Jolly Wishes (Technique Tuesday)

Ink: Soft Pool (HA); Golden Glitz (Delicata)

Hi there.  Long time no blog.  No reason, just doin' other stuff. But today the planets are all in alignment, the sun is shining & the mojo is back.

Less is More want 2 of something on a card this week, but only one layer. I've got 2 baubles, 2 colours & used 2 stamp sets.  Tried for a long time to get red on here as well, before realising that gold & aqua get along just fine together without a third party interfering!

Wedding card

Stamps: Hello Sunshine (Lawn Fawn); Free Spirits (PS); Fanciful Flowers (Elzybells)

Ink: Lulu Lavender, Angel Pink (Memento); Sea Glass (Avery Elle)

Dies: Die-namics Ampersand (MFT), Stitched Mats (LI)

Font: Goudy Bookletter 1911



It's 'Anything Goes' at Less is More this week, in honour of Chrissie's birthday.  Here is the card I made for my nephew's upcoming nuptials. 

The ampersand is stacked with 3 layers of lavender cardstock to co-ordinate with the stamping.  I used a whole host of the tiny stamps from a variety of sets for the confetti around the names.

Enjoy your day

Stamps: Free Spirits, Scripty Sayings (PS); Basic Borders (ME); It's Your Day (HA)
Ink: Soft Pool (HA); Rose Bud, Tangelo, Espresso Truffle (Memento)
Dies: Free Spirits (PS)
Other: Rock Candy Stickles (Ranger)

Hello there.  I've finally manage to make something worth blogging.  Bit of a no-show mojo situation goin' on around here.  Lots of messing about, with only a full scrap pile to show for it.

 

This is for Less is More this week.  Love playing with dies, especially inlaying.  Have a foolproof method at last.  The secret is Post It tape to hold each item in place while you cut the next one & always work from back to front.  Still doesn't stop me messing up the stamping tho'. 

Smile...

Stamps: Lovely Layers (PTI); Abstract Art (MFT); Scripty Sayings (PS); Geometrics 2 (CB)

Ink: Tangelo (Memento); Soft Pool, Lime Green (HA)

Dies: Stitched Mat Squares (Lil' Inkers)

This card has been persistently cocking a snook at me for a number of days now.  Twice I have walked away, my scrap bin overflowing, but today I became its master!

 

Top tip for masking - use tracing paper, then you can see exactly where you are placing your mask, to make sure the stamped image has an even border all round.

Linking to:

Less is More: Week 170 ~ 3 colours

Birdhouse hi

Stamps: Tweet Talk (Newton's Nook); Scripty Sayings (PS)

Ink: Soft Pool (HA); Tangelo, Morocco (Memento)

This stamp set was an impulse purchase last week from Make The Day Special.  I thought the birdhouses were too cute to ignore.  

Linking to:

Less is More: Week 170 ~ 3 colours
CAS-ual Fridays: CFC131 ~Three Thirds
Make the Day Special: Challenge 2 ~ Colour choice 2 (sorry, can't seem to copy the picture, whatever I try)

3 colours for Less is More

Stamps: Basic Borders (ME); Scripty Sayings (PS)

Ink: Soft Pool (HA); Tangelo (Memento)

Dies: Borders 1 (PS); Stars (MFT); Tag-a-long (Clearly Besotted)

Inspired by this week’s CAS(E) This Sketch & the colour challenge at Less is More, I came up with this card for one of my son’s teachers.  

Can you tell I’ve got a new toy? Yup, have finally succumbed to the temptation the is Wink of Stella.

Edit: have just realised 3 colours in the top third also make it eligible for CFC31.

Linking to:

Less is More: Week 170 ~ 3 colours

CAS(E) This Sketch#74
CAS-ual Fridays: CFC131 ~Three Thirds

Get your party on & manage your scraps



Stamps: Headline Alphabet (PTI)

Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine)

Dies: Balloons (PS); Headline Alpha (PTI)

Other: Diamond Stickles (Ranger); Anita's 3D Gloss

Pheww.  This has required some patience!  The PARTY is 5 layers thick & after cutting I had to adhere them all very carefully.  Then applied gloss.  Waited for gloss to dry.  When dry, realised had applied gloss too thick & it was as wrinkly as... a wrinkly thing.  Applied Diamond Stickles to hide the wrinkles (wish that worked on me!).  Waited for stickles to dry.  Not quite long enough.  Smudged stickles, had to re-apply.  When stickles dry, put on more gloss.  Back in the airing cupboard.  Finally finish the card & take a picture, you can barely see the glitter, & the gloss is invisible.  But it looks great IRL, pinkie promise!

 

It is almost a reverse of the Muse card - bold black letters with a splash of colour.

 

Linking to:
The Card Concept: Challenge #6 - Create a Birthday Card
Less is More: Week 164 ~ Use 3 of Something
Papertrey Ink: March 2014 Blog Hop Challenge (not until 25th)
Muse Card Club: Muse Challenge #59
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Simon Says Glitter It

No new sheets of cardstock were harmed during the production of the above card.  All the die-cuts were cut from scrap.  Tiny pieces that should perhaps have gone in the bin.  But they were saved thanks to my new scrap management system:

 



 

 A swing file box that sits neatly on my desk, made from a few old boxes, paper & bamboo skewers.  I have another one the same for all my neutral scraps.  They work a treat - my desk has never been tidier.

Mothers' Day wreath

Stamps: Flower Friend (SSS); Boxes Bags & Tags (PTI); Fanciful Flowers (Elzybells)

Ink: Pear Tart, Bamboo Leaves, Lilac Posies (Memento)

Font: Sofia, Narkism

A move slightly away from my comfort zone today, but I think my MiL would prefer this to something more minimal or graphic.

I printed the sentiment & used a Lil' Inkers die as a circle template (told you I'd get a lot of use out of them...), then stamped around it.  This wasn't dumb luck, I practised several times on scrap to make sure everything fitted.  Just for once the final piece is better than the trials!

Might be a bit too busy for LiM this week - perhaps should have used a 5" card base? - but I'll try my luck anyway.

 

Linking to:

Less is More: Week 162 One Layer Card ~ Spring Flowers

Smile a rainbow

Stamps: It's Your Day (HA)

Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko)

Dies: Parker Alphabet (Memory Box); Postage Stamp (Provocraft)

This was originally conceived for Less is More, but I suspect it may have become a little too busy to be valid.  It was inspired by Kristina Werner's card here, & I will confess that I then added the sentiment 'subway art' to enter it into the Hero Arts Birthday Challenge.

 

Linking to:

Less is More: Week 157 ~ Rainbow

Hero Arts Birthday Challenge: Use a rainbow colour scheme

CAS-ual Fridays : CFC127 ~ Over the Edge

Just a note to say hi

Stamps: Scripty Sayings (PS); Lots of Dots (SSS)

Ink: Angel Pink, Rose Bud, Bamboo Leaves, Pear Tart (Memento)

Other: Grosgrain plate (MFT); Tag-along die (Clearly Besotted)

I needed to send a note to someone I haven't seen for ages, & despite all the hours I spend making cards, had nothing in my stash that seemed appropriate.

 

I did briefly consider buying a miniature envelope die (don't you find you get carried away with dies & forget that you have hands & scissors?) but having successfully cut one freehand, I'm glad I didn't bother.  Although it doesn't show in the photo, the dark pink strip has been embossed to look like grosgrain & that, combined with the cut-out were a direct case from Ardyth's card here.

 

I added the confetti because things just looked a little too stark without it.

Linking to:
Less is More: Week 156 ~ Sketch

Fantastic Day

Fonts: Sunshine Poppy, Narkism, Cleanvertising, Trocchi

Now it's nice & quiet here, I can break out my Silhouette again.  It hasn't seen the light of day for a wee while, but I have re-furbished it with new mats & blade & it's now armed & ready to craft.

 

A very simple card inspired by CAS-ual Fridays & all the project life stuff I have seen on line lately.  I'm NOT a scrapbooker & probably never will be (in some part due to my terrible photography...), but I love the look of all the embellishments that are available.

 

 

I took a few different swatches from a book of Lidl cardstock that I have been hoarding saving for just such an occasion & cut them all out together, before layering up on the card.

I'm now looking longingly at the large pile of discarded letters, but they will have to wait for another time!

 

Linking to:
CAS-ual Fridays: CFC125 ~ In a Word
Less is More: Week 153 ~ Winter Blues
Addicted to CAS: Challenge #29 ~ Die Cuts  (thanks Kimberley for the heads up on this one!)

Less is More Week 144

 

Stamps: Be Jolly (Technique Tuesday)

Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko)

Other: Cropadile, 1/4" & 1/8" hole punches; white e.p.

I've been toying with this idea all weekend, but wasn't sure how to go about it, so I decided to make a template first.  I used a SpellBinders banner to draw a triangle, then randomly punched a variety of hole sizes.  Using this as a stencil, I then marked where the hole should go in the dark card. 

Top tip: find out how far in your hole punch can go before deciding you need a hole right there.  Ask me how I know...

 

PS I had some 'help' with this photo:

 

 

 

Linking to:

Less is More: Week 144 ~ dark with a splash of colour

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

CAS(E) this Sketch: Week #52

 

 

 

You knew it was going to happen...

Stamps: Bitty Banners (WM); Elzybells

Ink: Pear Tart, Bamboo Leaves (Memento); Wet Cement (HA)

Other: tree die (Impression Obsession)

Yup, another 4 trees card.  This was actually the very first one I made, which inspired the others (here & here).

Linking to:

Less Is More: Week 142 ~ Trees

Simon Says Stamp: Christmas / Happy Holiday

Less Is More ~ Trees

Stamps: Basic Borders (Mama Elephant)

Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento)

Other: Tiny Hearts Die (SSS); Liquid Pearls (Ranger)

Made this card a few weeks ago as an experiment.  Didn't like it at first, but it's funny how you view things differently over a few days. 

Super simple to make.  Created the sentiment with a variety of fonts (in Silhouette Studio) then just added in the final details.  Great for batch production!

fonts moving down are:
SNF Lollihop

Narkism

Sunshine Poppy

QumpellkaNo12

Zag Bold





Linking to:

Less Is More: Week 142 ~ Trees

Simon Says Stamp: Christmas / Happy Holiday

 

White on White 2 ~ too close for comfort?

Stamps: Elzybells

Ink: Soft Pool (HA)

Other: die (Impression Obsession); Swiss Dots folder (Provocraft); aqua bakers twine (Divine Twine); tiny hearts die (SSS); aqua promarker; vellum

Question: when does an idea cease to be original?  This card is quite clearly a re-make of this card here, so does it count as an original challenge entry?  I made them both, so it should be OK, but I'm not sure.

 

Anyway. To get the embossing on the trees only, I cut a second line of trees & chopped the tops off, then arranged these in the optimum place in the embossing folder & stuck them on top of the originals.  I cut out the heart from one of these extras as well, & stuck the vellum behind it before adhering to the original too.

 

Completely terrible photo, but have tried all things & can't get one that does the card justice.

 

Linking to:
Less is More: White on white, Christmas

White on white Christmas

Stamps: Folk Art Flurry (WPlus9); Elzybells

Ink: Wet Cement (HA); Versamark (Tsukineko)

Other: various circle punches; white e.p. (Wow!)

After yesterday's endeavours, I wanted a similar effect but without the fiddle factor.  The snow flake is adhered to the vellum, with a punched out circle behind & a frame in front.

Not sure if you can make out the tiny embossed snowflakes on the front & the rock candy stickles on the die-cut.  I can, but only 'cos I know they are there!  White on white a double challenge - making the card, then getting a photo that shows off your best efforts!

Linking to:
Less is More: White on white, Christmas

 

 

Banner card

Stamps: Flower Friends (SSS); Basic Borders (Mama Elephant); It's Your Day (HA)

Ink: Rose Bud (Memento); Soft Pool, Wet Cement (HA); White (W+9)

Other: Happy Die (SSS)

Firstly, I hope you can see the picture above.  I had to upload using Picasa because Blogger is messing around today, & I have had trouble with this method in the past.

This is a one-layer card for Less is More, any shape but a rectangle / square.  I promise, it is only one layer: I cut out the happy & re-fitted a grey version, then painted glossy accents across the back to make sure it stayed in place.

You may guess I have just had a delivery from Simon Says Stamp, so expect to see more from these products in the next few weeks.

 

Linking to:

Less is More: Week 128 ~ Not Square or Rectangular

Shades of grey

Stamps: none

Ink: none

Other: Silhouette SD

The inspiration for this came from a Hollister T-shirt I saw someone wearing last night, & since then I've been itching to get into the craft room.

I can't believe I've never created an ombre background on the PC before.  Doh!So simple in Silhouette Studio to fill a rectangle with graduated colour.  For the rest, I found a seabird image online & 'traced' around it, then added lines to follow on with the bird's natural curves. 

I like to think it looks as if the gull is just dipping over the waves.

 

Linking to:

Less is More: Week 127~ Shades of Grey

Addicted to CAS: ATCAS 17 ~ Water

 

What do you see?

Stamps: It's Your Day (HA)

Ink: Aqua (Ranger Adirondack); Blue Danube, Lulu Lavender, Lilac Posies, Espresso Truffle (Memento)

What pattern do you see in the above?  Stars?  Stacked boxes?  Hexagons?  Mostly I see the boxes.

 

I have made a great discovery this morning.  Tracing paper makes the best stencils.  I created an overlapping hexagon pattern with Silhouette Studio, & cut it out of tracing paper.  I then sponged over the stencil with a variety of inks.  The stencil gave nice crisp lines, no bleeding & no soggy bits - I'll be able to use this one again.  I also like the effect of the sponging on the linen textured card stock.

 

Linking to:

Less is More: Week 124 ~ Hexagons