CELEBRATIONS ... NO. 200

WOWZERS! Can you believe we will be in DECEMBER next week! For today though we have a new challenge at  Less is More This week we are celebrating 200 challenges! So have some fun with our CELEBRATIONS themed week 200 challenges to think up, write up, select winners, create, comment, challenge others ... that's one colossal task and my first card is in  honour of our fabulous leader at Less is More ... Congratulations and heartfelt thanks Cheers and a toast to  CHRISSIE who literally is 'Simply One of a Kind' ... from day one at Less is More and  she's still as keen, kind and encouraging as ever.

This used: 

My Favorite Things: Diagonal Background Stamp

which I've inked with chalk ink in sea breeze then covered with clear

embossing powder and heat set. Another Jennifer McGuire tone on tone tip.

Clearly Besotted: Congrats Word Die & You're A Star stamp set

Memory Box: Mini star dies

MFT Die-namics: Blueprints 15 & Fishtail Flag dies

I'm also linking this up at the Color Throwdown Challenge

and although I've skipped the Christmas photo inspiration I thought

the colour combination was stunning and a bit different.

More good news this week ... I'm going to be an Auntie for the 6th time! My 3 year old niece has been asking for a 'boy-sister' for so long and her wish should be granted on Tuesday when mum has a c-section! Here's the card I've made for them and I'm sure I'll be safe posting this as they'll be far too busy to check out my blog this week!

Mama Elephant: Just Hatched sentiments Uniko Studio: Sweet Baby vest image Doodlebug: design papers & sprinkles Mama Elephant: Trio landscape dies (so versatile) gems and twine from my stash

I'm still short on Christmas cards so went for some more to add to 

my collection - I mean Christmas is a celebration after all isn't it ;-)

This one uses distress inks for this sky line with a spritzing of 

water mixed with perfect pearls

Paper Smooches: City Scape die & Metropolis 

stamps heat-embossed with Hero Arts white EP 

Clearly Besotted: sentiments from Rockin' Robin & It's Your Birthday

I'd like to link it up at Addicted to Stamps where the theme is 

HOLIDAYS

This card is to link up at the Merry Monday Challenge too

where the colour theme is Red, Green & White

A quick edit here as Kylie at Addicted to CAS pointed me

In the direction of their latest challenge (dots) so heading 

across there too with this card.

. 

Card recipe:

Pink Petticoat: Background DP

MFT Die-namics: Blueprints 15

Mama Elephant: Landscape trio dies

Uniko Studio: 'celebrate' sentiment - Flower Power 1

Clearly Besotted: 'the season' sentiment - Rockin' Robin

Winnie & Walter: It's a Wonderful Pennant stamps Stampin' up: Candy Dots Over to you now and thank you so much for  another bumper week of entries with the 'JINGLE' theme. It really makes for an exciting and satisfying week just seeing how popular the LIM challenges are. Well done all of you and thanks for your continued support. Here's to the next 200 challenges.

OH LITTLE STAR ....

Happy Saturday Morning Crafty Pals

All I can say is Wow! Wow! Wow!

You certainly 'smashed' last week's Less Is More challenge!

What fantastic inspiration - can't thank you all enough.

I think it may be a record week of entries since I joined the little team!

So what's in store for you this week ....

It's a One Layer Card week with the theme

Starry, Starry Night

We are so kind to you all don't you think?

Giving you the chance to concentrate on Christmas cards

and entering a challenge too!

So here's my offerings

Having masked off a circle on my card base I've used

stamps from the Paper Smooches 'A Blessed Christmas' set; 

the silhouettes with black memento ink first then embossed with clear EP.

The base of the landscape is coloured with a 'matching' 

black memento marker which doesn't seem to match!

I used distress inks to create a skyline then gently spritzed with water and perfect pearls.

To finish the sentiment is from Clearly Besotted: Joy to The World

and a little gem from my stash for added sparkle to the star.

Distress inked again to create my skyline this time stars and snowflakes

stamped and embossed with WOW metallic silver sparkle EP after masking

the top of the card with post-it tape and the base with a Memory Box

Landscape die. The sentiment is Clearly Besotted: Sweet Little Sentiments

and to finish a wrap around of navy and white twine.

And one last one for you which I'm also going to enter over at Color Throwdown

Think I've gone a bit mad with my distress inks this week but couldn't resist

when I saw the adorable colour requirements at Color Throwdown.

The cluster of trees is one of my favourite stamps and it's been in my stash forever ...

It says Arts Impressions 1996 on the side and it's one of my few wooden ones. 

The stars are from Paper Smooches Blessed Christmas & Metropolitan;

these are all heat-embossed in black before inking over the top.

To finish the sentiment is Clearly Besotted: Christmas Sparkle.

Ok over to you talented people and I'm sure you'll come up with some

more fabulous inspiration for me as I think my mojo is still on holiday in York!

Thanks for stopping by today and have a fun week.

                                                             

CRAFTY SUNDAY

Hello All

Hope you are having a lovely Sunday and enjoying some sunshine although a little chilly.

I'm just quickly zipping by to share a couple of cards for some challenges before my tea!

This one is for my cute 3 year old niece - she's so cheeky and I imagine she'll

 love all the silly faces on this card.

Card Recipe:

The Alley Way Stamps: Face It

Clearly Besotted Sentiments: Happy Days & For Everyone

Sizzix Framelit - Circle Dies

Challenges I'd like to enter:

CAS(E) this Sketch

Color Throwdown

Pixies Snippet Challenge

Addicted to Stamps: Anything Goes

    

And here's the next one ...

Card Recipe:

MFT: Hearts Stencil

MFT: Pierced Rectangle Dies

Clearly Besotted: Love Hearts Stamps & Dies

Clearly Besotted: Scalloped Border Dies

WPlus9: Basic Sentiment Banners

Echo Park: Design Paper

Gems from my Stash

Challenges I'd like to enter:

Freshly Made Sketches

Colour Q

Addicted to CAS - Stencil

    

Ok that's all for me today ... need to catch up on some TV this evening.

Yes ... have to admit I like Strictly Come Dancing 

then Homeland starts again this week!

Catch up with you all again soon and thanks for stopping by.

                                                             

OLC FINGER PRINT

Morning All

It's that time again ... how quickly has this week gone?!?!?

So the Less is More challenge this week is a ONE LAYER card

with a twist 'Adapt a Fingerprint'

Now can I offer a word of advice before you eagerly launch into this challenge ...

If you have an important event to go to this evening or tomorrow 

then leave this challenge for a couple of days!

My fingers were literally smothered in ink and it took about 2 days to go completely!

To make matters worse I'd already made my cards last weekend

and feeling pleased with myself at being so organised I sat back with inky fingers!

Yesterday I had the shock of my life ... DT Anne blogged her cards and 

ARRRRRGHHHHH! It was a one layer week! Grrrrr!

So I've had to get all inked up again!

I'm not that thrilled with what I've come up with but there's a 
couple of pictures at the bottom of my earlier 
(non OLC) cards which I'm much happier with.

Ok first up I've masked off an odd looking 'V' panel and set to 
with some distress inks. 
I decided the easiest option was to put a different colour on three fingers but 
it took a lot of concentration to make sure I dipped the right finger in the right ink!!!
The sentiments are Clearly Besotted - In The Frame set

and to finish off I've added a couple of enamel dots from Doodlebug.

I've used the colours from this week's ColourQ Challenge so I'll be heading that way.




Next up, I've followed the sketch from this week's CAS(E) This Sketch challenge 
and the colour scheme from ColourQ again

I've stamped the outline images using Uniko Studio Flower Power#2
then coloured the petals with my fingerprint using Distress Inks.
The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted and I've added some Doodlebug 
sequins then pearls from my stash.

   


This one is another following the CAS(E) This Sketch layout and 
I've tried out the colour scheme from Color Throwdown.

The image is Uniko Studio Background Builders Circles with a fingerprint 
in the centre. Finished off with a sentiment from Clearly Besotted, 
sprinkles and sequins from Doodlebug

   


Here's a couple of my NON-OLC ones

Right ... now it's your turn.

It's actually quite good fun getting messy and creative

so looking forward to seeing your creations.

Good luck and thanks for stopping by

                                                                

AFTERNOON TEA LADIES

Once again I've got a manic week going on so just zipping in to hopefully catch a couple of challenges before they close.

My Australian friends left on Wednesday then it's been workmen since and probably up to Tuesday when I can 'fingers crossed' cut the ribbon to my new bedroom (so to speak). Simply can't wait.

So this is to combine three challenges; Simon Says Stamp (anything goes), Color Throwdown and Sketch Saturday and it's for a colleague at work who is retiring. She's a very elegant lady and I'm hoping she'll get to do plenty of Afternoon Teas soon.

Sadly and somewhat amazingly I didn't have the correct purple shade for Color Throwdown so I'm hoping I can sneak in with this one ... apologies ladies.

   

Card Recipe:

Image: LOTV
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted
Sizzix: Swiss Dots Embossing folder (de-bossed)
Pretty Pink Pearls: sent over from my American Auntie
Wink of Stella - couldn't resist adding some extra sparkle

Ok more crafting needed so thanks for stopping by and back tomorrow.

DOLLY MIXTURE SHOWDOWN

Hello All

Bit late in the day for posting so going to be quick.

I've NOT been watching football (basically I'd rather watch paint dry) and I'm happily sat in a room with no TV! I can just about hear the shouting and jeering from the other room where hubby and daughter are glued to the box!

So enough of that ...

Here's my card for the latest CASology Challenge where the theme is Anniversary

                                    

I've used a 'dancing couple' die-cut which must be a freebie as I don't own the die but I thought it fit perfect. It's mounted on an embossed Rounded Tag die from Clearly Besotted with sentiment and hearts also Clearly Besotted 'Paired Up' set then finished with some metallic cord from my stash.




Next up is for the following challenges:
CAS Colours & Sketches
Color Throwdown
Clearly Besotted: Anything Goes
Addicted to CAS: Theme Transport
Pixies Crafty Snippet Playground

This Used:

Clearly Besotted: Going Places Stamp & Die Set, Sweet Little Sentiments, Landscape Die

MFT Die-namics: Snow Drift and Pierced Rectangle Stax

Promarkers, Gems from my stash

      

Last but not least is my entry to this week's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge and as Football is so 'popular' right now I couldn't resist giving the card a 'footie' twist. Another gents card for the depleted box of handy to have in cards.

Card Recipe:
Card & Papers from my stash
Sizzix: Retro Circles embossing folder
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted - In the Frame set
Stars and Circles Nail heads - Josy Rose



Ok that's me done for tonight ... a quick tidy up and off to bed.

Thanks for stopping by and see you all soon.

A QUADRUPLE POST

Hello Blog Pals

Hope you've had a fun and crafty day.

My OH has been decorating today and from past experience I've realised it's best to stay out of the way so I took the opportunity to make a couple of cards this afternoon.

First up is a card I made for Mr Dazzle ... it was his birthday last week and he's my AMAZING blog photographer hence the image on the card which was sent over the pond from my fun-loving and trendy American Auntie. The colours just so happen to be in line with the current challenge at The Card Concept so I'll be hopping over there shortly with what is a 'free-style collage' creation plus Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday challenge where the theme is Father's Day or Masculine this week.

                             

Materials Used:
Sizzix Framelits - Star Dies
Clearly Besotted - Superstar & Geometric I stamp sets & 'Happy' word die
Papers: Echo Park
Sprinkles: Stampin Up & Doodlebug

                                                      


Next up is a funky floral card using the colour selection from this week's ColourQ Challenge and I'm combining it with the 'Summer' theme at TIME OUT challenge with an option of flowers.

I've used the leaf dies from Clearly Besotted 'Fancy Florals' set to make the petals with stems from MFT Die-namics 'Lily'. The sentiment is also Clearly Besotted and I've mounted the image onto a pierced rectangle from MFT Die-namics 'Rectangle Stax'. To finish there's buttons and gems from my stash.

                                                               

I think I've gone mad for colour challenges today as I've just noticed these are all colour related challenges!

So this one is for CAS Colours & Sketches and I lurve these colours together so simply had to have a do at it. I'm quite impressed with how it's turned out too. The coloured, striped background is made by colouring stripes with promarkers.


                               

I received my latest release order from Clearly Besotted yesterday and I've been waiting (quite patiently) for the 'birthday' word die to come back into stock so this is its first outing for me. The 'birthday' word was die cut in black and in the striped paper then inlaid in black. I think it looks pretty striking and would be great for a masculine card as I'm always short of them. The other sentiments are also Clearly Besotted and I've finished off with a couple of Doodlebug Sprinkles from Craft Mojo.

                                                     


Last but not least is my card to enter this week's Color Throwdown challenge and it's another Clearly Besotted heavy card. I took inspiration for my layout from the challenge photo using the dies from the Bridal Bouquet set which are stamped with versamark ink but it doesn't seem to be showing too well in the photo but I assure you it's there.  Perhaps it's the glossy-type card I've used for the roses.

The sentiment is a brand newbie just released by Clearly Besotted 'Sweet Little Sentiments' which flew off the shelves so I was very lucky to leave the checkout with my basket in tact.

That's one mammoth post and I don't think I've ever posted one with 4 cards so huge thanks for stopping by and if you've read to the end you deserve an extra special hug and thanks. It's much appreciated.