Less is More #302

Morning LIMettes it's time for another challenge over at Less is More and it's the dreaded one layer one! I'm sure you'll be up for the challenge though as you always manage to WOW us with your designs.
Our theme for this one is Books / Literature  so you can choose a title of book as inspiration or pictures of books;  basically play however the theme takes you - I can't wait to see what you do!

This card didn't end up anything like I intended as I was going to use a 

naughty inlaid rainbow die ... I felt sure there must be a book about rainbows

so having done a little research I found 'The Rainbow' by DH Lawrence.

Once I'd got that in my head and the fact that I love rainbow colours I couldn't 

let it go! After numerous non-starters this is what I ended up with!

Recipe:

My Favourite Things: Concentric Circle Grid stencil

Clearly Besotted: Bookworm stamp set

Distress Inks and Doodlebug Sprinkles

It's Clean and Simple over at Addicted to Stamps and More

so I'm heading over there with this one!

Next up I couldn't resist this cute little digi from Digistamp Boutique

which I've had for ages. It's coloured with Promarkers and I've

added a vertical sentiment from the same CBS set used in the first card.

As always there's loads more creative fun by my fellow teamies

over on the Less is More blog HERE 

As always thanks for calling by and I hope you have

a fun and crafty weekend!

JINGLE ALL THE WAY

Morning all - there goes another week and here comes the start of another with this week's challenge at Less is More and it's a recipe week  'Jingle All The Way' Another excuse to tick off more Christmas cards I've got the 'builders' in at the moment re-vamping my main bathroom as it was put to shame after the ensuite was done earlier this year. There may not be much time for blogging this week and I need to catch  up on some challenges so there's a couple of link ups here. Maybe you'd like to join them too. Ok onto my examples and I've got to hold my hand up and admit I stuggled!  Amongst my stash of goodies I could NOT find  a bell, sleigh or jingle stamp anywhere!!! So off to the digi shops for me .... This one uses a pre-coloured digi-stamp from Digistamp Boutique which is embellished with glossy accents. The scalloped edge border is from Clearly Besotted and the ribbon from my stash. I've used the sketch from this week's Freshly Made Sketches but rotated clockwise so hope that'll be allowed. Fingers-crossed I'm not too late to pop my card in at  Pixies Snippet Playground before the gates swing in my face... I've dredged the snippets for this card with ribbon too that fit just perfect. For these next 2 I've used a technique by the AMAZING  Jennifer McGuire which you can find here I'm sure you'll admit that Jennifer makes everything look so  quick and easy but for these cards they really did need to be done in stages and left to dry in between. Not a great plan when I'm so impatient!

The digi-stamps for both of these are from Pink Petticoat

and after printing the images onto Neena White Cardstock

I've coloured them with Derwent Coloursoft pencils,

drizzled with Wink of Stella, generously coated with glossy accents

then left to dry overnight.

Next day ... distress inking to the background before 

spritzing with water and Perfect Pearls.

For the Jingle Bells card I've used textured embossing paste 

on the panel behind the circle, Mama Elephant: Index card dies, 

sentiment from Uniko Studio with some gems and twine to finish

I've tried to stick loosely to this weeks sketch challenge at

Addicted to CAS so I'll be heading over there.

Last but not least another digi-stamp from Pink Petticoat using

the same technique as above then to finish I've used

Mama Elephant: Landscape Trio dies

Clearly Besotted: Rockin Robin sentiment

and twine from Hobbycraft.

I'd like to link this card to the challenge at 

Addicted to Stamps where it's a 'Make Your Mark' week.

MAKE YOUR MARK

Before I sign off for today I wonder if you've noticed a few 

changes to my blog ... if you have well-spotted and if not then 

please check out my Blog header, signature and watermarks.

They've all been designed by the wonderful and talented Kylie Purtell

Ok time for you happy crafters to have some fun now.

A fabulous array of trees last week and such 

superb inspiration so looking forward to 

what's in store from you this week.

Thanks for stopping by and catch up with you soon.

CRAFT TURN-AROUND

Hi All

Happy Sunday - this is a scheduled post as the in-laws are up today and not sure when I'll get a minute to blog!

My first card is / was a disaster and somehow I managed to turn it round in about 5 minutes! Quite pleased with myself. It was initially a combined entry to CAS(E) This Sketch and Colour Throwdown. I decided to have a go at re-inserting die-cut bits into my Memory Box Piestra Tile die having seen this technique around on a few blogs ... BIG mistake. This particular die is far too fiddly and it took forever trying to pick up the teeny little snippety bits, aching back and eyes etched with concentration! It was heading for the garbage until I picked up a new little 6x6 pack of design papers from Doodlebug (as recommended by Michelle Short at The Card Grotto) and it all came together.

Now I did mention snippety bits and I've realised this card would certainly deserve a trip to the playground (Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground) and I'm feeling a bit guilty as I've not been there for a week or so. Simply ran out of time so today I'll go and check out the playmates.

                                    


Card Recipe:

Image & Sentiment: Clearly Besotted - Butterfly Wishes Additions & Dandelion Dreams, In the Frame dies
Papers: Papermania & Doodlebug
From my Stash: Doodlebug pearls
Other Tools: MFT Die-namics - Fishtail Flag Stax & Sizzix Circles

   


My next card is another commission - this rugby-mad teenager is certainly keeping me busy and this time his sister asked for a card - specifically with a white teddy and tartan scarf! Unfortunately the tartan clad teddy was too difficult to manage but I did find Snoozing Louie from Digistamp Boutique and I've fussy cut the armchair onto some tartan paper from my stash. It has made the card look a little Christmassy but it's definitely a birthday.

I've followed this week's Sketch Saturday Sketch so I'm heading over there with it and as it's a Digistamp Boutique image I can enter it in their monthly challenge here.

Card Recipe:

Image: Digistamp Boutique - Snoozing Louie
Sentiments: Clearly Besotted - Geometric Style, For Everyone & Basic Numbers
Tools: Retro Circle embossing folder, X-cut Corner Punch, Clearly Besotted Balloon dies, Promarkers
Papers: From my stash

 


Ok that's all for me today - hope you all enjoy whatever you are doing today especially if it's crafty work.

See you soon

WINTER GARDENING

Sorry friends I've been a useless blog pal this week and I do hope to catch up with you all but please bear with me. My guests left yesterday and we've had a wonderful time. We hadn't seen them for 3 years but it was great to just chill and catch up like they'd never been away and it was quite sad to see them head off and back to Australia. They're already planning to return next year for an extended stay and tour of Europe so that'll be great fun.

Anyway I really don't know how to get my head back to crafting ... any suggestions!!! I've looked everywhere for my mojo and it's disappeared - maybe down-under with my friends!

So I decided to kick-start my blog activity with a card I made a couple of weeks ago and enter it into the Paper Players Challenge where the theme is 'Masculine Birthday Cards' and I've used a Digistamp Boutique image so I'm going to drop in on their monthly challenge too. Those wellies are going to come in handy for tidying up the garden for Winter though the bees and bugs won't be hanging about in this cold!

Hopefully I'll get down to some crafting this afternoon as the weather is pretty glum here so perfect excuse to hide away in my crafty space. Just not sure how the photos will pan out later but here goes with the first one...

Card Recipe:

Image: Digistamp Boutique coloured with Promarkers
Leaf Embossing Folder from Crafts-Too
Paper: TK Maxx
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted
Twine from my stash

CRISP AND SPARKLING CONGRATS

Happy Sunday crafty pals

I'm late today but I have been crafting away so may have more to post later. In fact the weather is so disgusting today that there's simply nothing better to do than sneak off to the craft cupboard!

Just taking a breather from the cutting and sticking though to post my entry to this week's Colour Throwdown Challenge. Although the colour scheme is Autumnal I decided not to use leaves on this one and went for one of my new sets from Uniko Studio instead.

Hope you are all keeping warm and dry indoors - I don't envy those doing the Great North Run today...brrrrrr!

Card Recipe:

Image: Beautiful Blooms 1 & Natural Treasure 1 both from Uniko Studio
Sentiment: Digistamp Boutique
Ribbon and Pearls from my stash plus I've drizzled a little glamour dust on the flowers to make them 'pop'

A SMILE FOR BABY LAUNDRY

First of all I need to thank everyone who has offered advice on photography in the 'dark' - it's much appreciated and I'm going to be trying a few 'tricks' in the hope that my posts are still worth posting through Autumn and Winter! :-)

So on to today's post and I'm hoping this will pass for the CAS(E) this sketch challenge. I love making baby cards - a bit like Christmas time with all that love and excitement. I'm helping with a local fund-raising event next month and need some 'occasion' cards for the box to sell and as it's a Digistamp image I've used I'm going to pop this in to their monthly challenge too.

I made a few of these including the girlie ones but I always prefer the 'blues'...think it must be imagining the cute, little chubby knees in the romper suit! LOL!

Card Recipe:

Image: Digistamp Boutique
Papers: Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Button and Gems from my stash plus a sprinkling of glamour dust to baby's socks

POST NUMBER 100!!!

I cannot believe that I've managed 100 blog posts since I joined blogland at the end of April this year. Whoosh have I really made 100 blog-worthy cards??? It's a good job I love making them!

Anyway hope you are all enjoying this Sunny Sunday weather.  Mr Dazzle managed to get out and cut the lawn as it was 'shin deep' following our holidays. He's complaining that it was a long job as he had to go over it 3 times. At least it's done now.

So onto my card for today and if you read my blog yesterday you may have noticed that a family friend had a miracle baby just over a week ago and this is the congratulations card I'm going to send to the happy parents.

Oh I'm trying a few different things with the photography as I was getting bored of the 'white only' look but not sure if I'm entirely happy yet so you may get a bit dizzy while I trial and error a few different styles! Feedback welcome.

I'm going to enter this card into a few challenges first and foremost on a Sunday is Pixies Snippets Challenge, a must when you manage to raid the scrap box and make a little 'dent' in the contents. Secondly, over at A Gem of a Challenge the theme this week is anything with a 'B' so I've gone for 'Blue for a BOY'! Thirdly Freshly Made Sketches and the sketch I've followed is below if you want to have a stab at it and last but by no means least The Digistamp Boutique Monthly Challenge, this being one of my favourite Digistamp images as I love making baby cards.

Hope to catch up with you all soon and enjoy the rest of your Sunday

Sarah
x




Card Recipe:

Image: Digistamp Boutique
Papers: Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Brad and buttons from my stash
Plus a drizzle of glamour dust for that added bit of sparkle.

BOBBI BEAR IN THE SNOW NO.2

As promised here's the second card I made which the Dazzles preferred as my 2nd entry to the Digistamp Boutique Monthly Challenge and this time I've loosely based the layout on the Deconstructing Jen sketch #112 which I enjoyed using a few weeks ago.

Card Recipe:

Image: Digistamp Boutique - Bobbi snow day
Papers: Freebie from Quick Cards Made Easy
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Brad, gems and ribbon from my stash
Dies used: Marianne Creatables Christmas Tree and Snowflake, Nestabilities label dies with a hand cut border and Sizzix Framelits Circles plus my beloved x-cut corner punch

CHEEKY CHRISTMAS TEDDY BEAR

Into the second week of my holiday now and if Mr Schedule has done his job then I'll be sad to go home but excited to get my hands inked and glittered up and catch up on all the blogs and challenges I've missed.

This is my entry to The Digistamp Boutique Monthly Challenge and I couldn't resist this cute little teddy bear when he was on offer last month. I ended up making 2 cards at the same time and can't decide which I like best. So as I've been missing for a couple of weeks on blog and craftland I'm going to enter both to the Digistamp challenge. AND, because it includes a teddy and lots of dies, cuts and punches I'll pop him in at Ready Teddy Go as a 2nd entry. I've used lots of Christmas snippety bits too so I'm hopping over to the Snippets Playground with my entry for this week.

I ran both cards past Mr Dazzle and Mr Dazzle Jnr and they chose the second one I'm going to post.  I'm torn that's why both are going in!

The background layout is loosely based on a previous sketch from Sketch Saturday #269.

Card Recipe:

Image: Digistamp Boutique - Bobbi Snow Day
Papers: Freebie from Quick Cards Made Easy
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Christmas Tree die was another lovely freebie from Dies to Die for
Snowflake: Marianne Creatables Die, Nestabilities Labels Die with hand cut border, X-cut corner punch
and last but not least MFT Die-namics Party Banners Die
Button, Twine and Gem from my stash

SWEET & LOVING BIRTHDAY WISHES

Oh my goodness I have been such a BAD blogger!  I'm going to have no friends in blogland and I'm basically having withdrawal symptoms from crafting.  On Friday I got a little time but my mojo was in the garden I think.

Had a busy week finishing off my last working week before the school holidays and had guests staying. Despite the crazy time I always love having guests and so sad when they depart.  My Crafty American Auntie was with me at the start of the week and we had an amazing time, giggling, chatting, shopping, lunching, more giggling and a teeny bit of crafting too. My parents made an impromptu stop over too as we had HRH Elizabeth II visiting our little town on Wednesday. We did our bit dressed in red, white and blue, madly waving flags.  My Auntie insisted on a stars & stripes one but she has lived in the US half of her life so we'll let her off.

Then I've had my sister, brother-in-law and gorgeous 2 year old niece staying and we babysat Gracie all yesterday while Mum and Dad were working. Certainly no glue and glitter out then just keeping cool and playing in the garden - perhaps when she's a bit bigger.  Then the in-laws are here later today.

Sooo after all that I've only one card to show but hoping to get some yummy crafting time in tomorrow.

I was very lucky to win the Pixies Snippet Playground Challenge last week and received a beautiful 'tied together' embossing folder which I couldn't wait to use.  It was my son's girlfriend's birthday yesterday so this is what I made for him to send her.  She has a cute kitten who has deposited little friends under her pillow before so thought this image from The Paper Shelter was quite apt.

Card Recipe:

Image: The Paper Shelter - unusual friends
Papers: Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Digistamp Boutique
Button and pearls from my stash and a touch of glossy accents

Challenges:

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge
The Paper Shelter Challenge - Clean & Simple
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
Freshly Made Sketches:

HAPPY LITTLE BIRTHDAY PANDA

Hi there, another scheduled post from me today.

It's my entry to the Digistamp Boutique and Sketch Saturday challenges.  This panda image is sooooo cute and I've seen him popping up on quite a few of the blogs I follow so had to dash over to Digistamp Boutique and guess what he's a freebie this month!  Superb!  So here's my first little play with him.

I'm using another lovely freebie from Dies to Die for which is the purple oval die cut which kind of dictated the colour scheme.  I used to make loads of lilac cards but it seems to have taken a back seat recently.

Card Recipe:

Image: Digistamp Boutique
Papers: Lakeland Limited - very old pack of papers
Sentiment: Digistamp Boutique
Gems and cord from my stash and the flowers are new from my Crafty Auntie
Martha Stewart Butterfly punch used

IT'S A GIRL THING AT THE SWEET STOP

Just passing by with a really quick post as I'm off out with the girls tonight to celebrate a birthday.

My card is to enter into the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge where the 'spin' is 'it's a girl thing'.  I've been asked to make some kiddies cards recently so if you notice a surplus of these on my blog that's why.

Have a good evening.

So here's the card with the sketch beneath in case you want to have a go too:

Card Recipe:

Image: LOTV - pre-coloured image which I've fussy cut
Papers: The gorgeous Pink Petticoat Ombre 'again!' plus some Lily Bimble freebies
Sentiment: Digistamp Boutique simple tags
Pearls, ribbon and glittery flowers from my stash to add a bit of girly sparkly

TWEET BIRDIE WISHES

Hiya

Well I think this card will have to go down as the quickest card I've ever made and I kinda like it.

I'm going to combine it with a couple of challenges and as the weather is a bit iffy here I'll try and get another make in before teatime!  If not catch you all soon.

Card Recipe:

Image: Digistamp Boutique - Valentine Tree but I've coloured the red bits green
Papers: Pink Petticoat
Sentiment: Computer generated
Bit of bling with gems from my stash and some glossy accents to the bird and leaves

Challenges:

Dynamic Duos
The Paper Players
Seize the Birthday

                        

FOOTBALL'IN ALF

Afternoon all ...

Just a quick post to enter over at Pixie's Snippets Playground.  I've had the footballer image coloured for a while in a plastic packet with the papers I wanted to use but not got round to putting it together.  I was torn between this one and the soccer nut (last week's Sketch Saturday card) for Mr Dazzle's birthday.  On this occasion Alf didn't win!

You wouldn't believe the tiny scraps of snippets I've used on this card - I'm going to be rooting through the rubbish shortly to make sure I've not thrown anything usable away.  I'm no doubt going to get a 'cheap skate' badge handed to me!!!

So here's my card:

Card Recipe:

Image: Football Alf - Digistamp Boutique
Papers: Studio Calico - have I told you I love these??? It's a 12x12 paper pad a size I wouldn't normally buy and haven't even cut into some of the papers!  Think you may be seeing these for a while!
Sentiment: Pink Petticoat
Football and gems from my stash

SKETCH SATURDAY TAKES TO THE VEG PATCH

Hello All ... hope you are enjoying your Saturday.

I have to tell you I'm fit to burst today! Why? Well I won the Sketch Saturday Challenge from last week!!!  I keep having to pinch myself ... I mean the talent competing in the challenges is out of this world and I honestly didn't think I'd have a chance of producing anything fit to enter let alone win.  I'm very pleased and I'll be looking forward to spending some time on the Simon Says Stamp online store to spend my winnings.

So without further ado I'm off with another Sketch Saturday Challenge entry.  We all know Fathers' Day is around the corner so here's one for the Grandads too.  He'll certainly need his welly boots on today...if anyone knows when summer is arriving please can you let me know!!!

And here's the sketch if you fancy having a go at it

Card Recipe:

Image: In the Garden - veggies from Digistamp Boutique
Papers: Pink Petticoat - Swiss Dots printed on Kraft Card Original plus
A little bit from my amazing Studio Callico range from TK Maxx
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Buttons from my stash and I can't resist a dash of dazzle with 3D high gloss and glamour dust

Tools:

• Sizzix Framelits - Banners
• Promarkers

ALLSORTS CHALLENGE - ANY SPORT

Oh no it's me again ... obviously got too much crafty time!  Just a quick post though.

Here goes for another new challenge for me at Allsorts and their theme this week is Any Sport so I'm hoping my little Funtime Dan the footballer from the Digistamp Boutique will fit in well.

Card Recipe:

Image: Funtime Dan from The Digistamp Boutique
Papers: Calico Studio from TKMaxx and the sport ones could be Dovecraft
Sentiment: The Digistamp Boutique
Tools:

• Banner die from LaLaLand
• Sizzix Circle dies
• Promarkers

Ribbon from TKMaxx
Josy Rose Nailheads

READY TEDDY GO ... DIGISTAMP BOUTIQUE ... SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

Well I don't know about you but I certainly wish Spring had Sprung.  It looks the business today but it's rather chilly out there.

I'm dipping my toe into another new challenge for me today over at Ready Teddy Go.  It's a monthly challenge so plenty of time to join in.  The theme is 'Spring has Sprung' and what better evidence than the daffodils popping their heads out.  I just happened to have some daffodil papers in my stash and there was my inspiration.

The Digistamp Boutique also have a monthly challenge so I'm going to pop my card over there too.  Anything goes providing one of Digistamp Boutique's images has been used and there's plenty of lovely ones to choose from.

Card Recipe:

Image: Bella on a Swing from The Digistamp Boutique
Papers: KandCompany - these are a Tim Coffey illustrated design.  I've had them a long time.
Sentiment: Computer Generated using Great Vibes and Gingersnaps
Tools: Nestabilities, Cricut and Promarkers
Plus a sprinkling of DAZZLE with glamour dust and pearls from my stash

PIXIE'S CRAFTY PLAYGROUND SNIPPETS

Hello Ladies

Another week has gone by and I'm here again.  I promise to be good and take turns on the swings!

I saw your card during the week Di where you'd up-cycled (I think that's the term) so I decided to have a go.  I was having a clearout in the old crafty cupboard when I came across some, would you believe it, beauty product packaging.  I think it should definitely count for snippets.

I have to own up to buying the new Simple Tags & Sentiments from The Digistamp Boutique as shown by Jules, always the professional, at Always with a Heart.  The download took a bit of finding but I should have known it would be one of the new releases and I should have just followed the link in Jules blog! Anyway you can find it here.  Here's my first experiment with them.

So here's my entry to Pixie's Crafty Snippets Playground and I took inspiration from a colour challenge I stumbled upon the other week.  Too late to enter unfortunately but I thought the colour combination was gorgeous.

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend and enjoy the rest of the evening.  See you again next week.

SKETCH SATURDAY WITH SNOOZING LOUIE

Hello Crafty People

I'm a bit late for posting my entry to the Sketch Saturday Challenge ... on a Sunday but I assure you I did make the card yesterday and just had to finish it off today.  My inspiration has to be Mr Dazzle yesterday with  back to back sport on TV - Rugby League then the Football but my guess is a Snoozing Louie pose from The Digistamp Boutique would be more appropriate and you can find Louie here!

I have realised there is a slight drawback to all this blogging ... I keep seeing lovely crafty bits and pieces on your blogs and simply have to go out looking for them BUT it's only a small drawback!  I mean shopping for gorgeous, beautiful accessories for cards you just can't beat it.  I must at this point thank Liz at Buttons for Brains who tipped us off about lovely papers at TK Maxx.  I'd never have thought of looking in there for crafts but she wasn't wrong.  I came away with a beautiful book of papers and matching ribbons too.  I couldn't wait to get started with them so here's my make for this week.

And this is the sketch I was following

Card Recipe:

Image: Snoozing Louie from The Digistamp Boutique
Papers & Ribbons: Studio Calico from TK Maxx and The Papermill Shop
Sentiment: Computer generated
Buttons from my stash

TIME FOR SOME GARDEN-TIME

Evening All

While catching up on blogging today I noticed a lovely sketch challenge over at Creative Inspirations and I set to and made a little Fathers' Day Card.  I don't know about you but I'm never sure whether to add flowers to male cards... I guess those guys who toil away the hours in the garden wouldn't mind a few flowers to show their hard work wasn't for nothing; but I used buttons instead today so hope that's ok.

Card Recipe:

Image: LOTV
Papers: Pink Petticoat and Lakeland Limited (quite old ones that I've re-discovered)
Sentiment: Digistamp Boutique
Buttons and Twine from my stash