Guest Designer Post - Inkspirational

Hi Friends,

I'm thrilled to be joining the ladies over at Inkspirational Challenges as Guest Designer for the latest challenge, Cue Card below!

I have to admit I racked my brains for ages trying to come up with something unique to use from my stash. I couldn't find any play-related stamp sets although, following some online research / window shopping, there's now plenty on my wish list! 

In the end I decided to go with a musical theme and some rather inky and not in my usual 'Clean and Simple' style backgrounds. Uniko recently released some music related stamps and I'd also purchased a few Visible Image sets at Christmas, which I was keen to ink up again so here goes:

Both cards use the 'Music Speaks' set by Visible Image with a 'You Rock' sentiment and musical notes from Uniko. The background on the first card is created by 'smooshing' Distress Inks, whereas the second one is a Brusho based creation! 

I hope you like what I've created for the challenge and you'll feel inspired to play along too. I don't doubt that there'll be some spectacular ideas from the regular design team HERE and I'd like to thank them for inviting me to join them today! 

Happy Crafting and thanks for your visit today!

Uniko Challenge #45

Hey there, it's time to announce our latest challenge over at Uniko; here's the cue card showing what we're looking for.

I was drawn to the rose and heart in the photo but skipped the heart in the end for this card! You'll have to pop back when we showcase our reminder posts, on 2nd February for that addition! I've used an 'old' sentiment (or 2) from the All Occasions Sentiments #3 with the newly released Pure Florals Rose set. I've tried to colour this using a 'no-line colouring' technique by stamping the images with Memento inks then colouring with Promarkers. 

I think the sentiment on my card is pretty appropriate too as our Guest Designer for this challenge is  one of my best craft buddies EVER and fellow teamie at Less is More! It's Anita of Neet & Crafty who won the last challenge with none other than the Christmas card she sent me; to say I was thrilled is an understatement! Do pop along and visit her blog and leave a friendly word and some love. She won't admit to owning loads of yummy stash but believe me she does and creates such beauties with it all! 

There's a couple of challenges I'd like to pop my card into, first up Simon Says Stamp: Wednesday Challenge is to 'Add a Sentiment' and I've done just that! Timeout Challenges is inspired by words "Each day is a gift, open it, celebrate it, enjoy it!" so my take is that fabulous friends are true gifts and it's great open up, celebrate and enjoy special times with them!

Also it's a photo inspiration week at Inkspirational and I couldn't resist adding this card there as I was drawn to those stunning flowers and leaves in the picture and my stitched border works well with the string of pearls and strings on the violin - hope it counts! 

You have until Friday, 23rd February to link up to the challenge and all the details you need about prizes and how to play can be found over at Uniko HERE

As always thanks for calling by my blog today and I hope you feel inspired and will play along

Less is More #334

Hi there, can you believe another week has just zipped by and it's time to announce our latest weekly challenge at Less is More - these weeks need to slow down as I can't keep up!!!
So on to the challenge and it's time for a sketch this week, I've got a few examples for you and I've got to admit I was pretty pleased with myself having made a Christmas card during the hottest week so far this year! I was desperate to use the CBS landscape die but having photographed my card and popped it on the Less is More blog I'm not sure it adheres to our sketch quite as much as it should so here's a few more examples .... but first up the sketch!

Using Distress inks in Blueprint Sketch, Mermaid Lagoon and Faded Jeans I've created a loose watercolour effect in the shape of the sketch - a little tricky when the ink wants to run beyond the 'lines'! Once dry I splattered some water on top for extra interest then stamped the magnolia blooms by Altenew, added a die-cut sentiment from Impression Obsessions. 
I was inspired by the photo challenge over at Inkspirational this week so I'd like to pop this card in there as well as Addicted to Stamps and More, where they're celebrating a massive 5 years worth of challenges with a 'Make Your Mark' challenge and lastly, another entry to this month's Flower Challenge where it's 'Anything Goes'





Next up and using some striking and vibrant design papers from Doodlebug plus their sprinkles too I've created 2 cards, as close as possible to the sketch, but flipped on the second one. 

This one uses another 'on the line' die-cut sentiment from Impression Obsessions and I'd like to pop this one in at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where it's 'Use Design Paper' and they are featuring products by Doodlebug! Pretty fortunate seen as I love their papers and accessories. 

Another set of papers from Doodlebug and this time accessorised with a die-cut sentiment by Waffle Flower and the 'your birthday' from Uniko: Simply Said

... and last but not least my 'dubious' make from the Less is More blog with a distress inky blended skyline, white gel pen snow drops plus some added glitter sparkles to the sky too and to finish a festive sentiment from Uniko: Most Wonderful.

As always thanks for calling by my blog today and I hope you feel inspired to join in with our sketch challenge this week. There's loads of fab makes from by fellow teamies at Less is More so don't forget to pay them a visit and the links to their blogs can be found HERE

Less is More #324

Morning friends, are you ready for this week's challenge at Less is More

You can really let you imagination run away with you here. 
I've gone with a traditional Spring like image using a digi-stamp from our sponsor LOTV. Having said that I'm not sure I've ever seen a rabbit on a swing out in the countryside but there's a first time for everything!

The image is coloured with Promarkers then adhered to a die-cut panel by MFT Blueprints 15 with a 'Hoppy Easter' sentiment from Uniko.

The theme over at Inkspirational this week is 'Spring' so I'm heading overthere with this card too as well as the Make Your Mark challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More

It was going to be just the one from me for this week and then I discovered a little stash of arty sketchbooks also by LOTV and these are pre-coloured so a really quick and easy card. Cropped the image, matted onto a deep purple then onto the card base. A quick Anniversary sentiment by Avery Elle and done!

There's plenty more ideas over on the main blog HERE as my fellow teamies have been working their magic again this week and we are joined by our Week 3 Birthday Winner; Wendy of Pink & Dotty. I do hope you'll pop along and visit her too this week.

Hope you'll play along and have some fun. Thanks for calling by and I'll be back soon!

Inkspirational #115

Hello friends, I've a card to share today using some designer paper by Echo Park! I have lots and lots of fancy papers that are just too gorgeous to use so they sit in a drawer! Anyone else do that?
So when I saw the challenge at Inkspirational I decided I could spare a teeny bit although I've not twisted with stamping on it!

This uses:

WOW: Metallic Brass Sparkle EP

Altenew: Inks and Painted Butterfly Stamp set

Avery Elle: Sentimental

Mama Elephant: Landscape Trio dies

Hope you are having a fun and crafty weekend and thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Less is More #284

Hi again friends. I don't know about you but our dreaded ONE Layer card weeks at Less is More seem to come around awfully fast from where I'm standing  and here we are again with one of THOSE challenges. The theme is 
Time / Clockwork
Just two from me for this week as I was a bit short on time and inspiration but I'm sure if you pop across to my fellow teamies' blogs there'll be plenty more magical, fun and unique designs to inspire you!

This one uses a clockwork stencil from Tim Holtz which is inked with

Distress Inks in Blueprint Sketch and Broken China. The sentiment 'thanks'

is from Winnie and Walter with the 'For a lovely time' from Clearly Besotted.

There's a hand-drawn black line to divide the 2 sections of the card and 

a few Doodlebug Sprinkles which cover a little smudge quite nicely. 

It's an Anything Goes week over at Addicted to Stamps and More

so I'd like to pop this one in there.

This one uses the Party Animal set from Avery Elle, with hand-drawn strings, 

the 'celebrate' sentiment is also Avery Elle and the 'Time To' from Clearly Besotted.

Over at Inkspirational they'd like to see Anything Goes with 'Red'

so as I've used pink and red inks for the balloons I'd like to pop this one in there.

That's all from me but hope you have a lot of fun with this one and please

remember to keep it clean and simple plus on ONE layer only.

Thanks for stopping by and catch up again soon.

Just an Ink and a Muse Combo!

Hello friends I've a quick post today to share my card that I'd like to link up at Inkspirational; where it's pink and grey. Plus my buddy, Anita is the Muse this week and I simply couldn't resist 'casing / musing' her card!

I've gone with a subtle silvery/grey ink for my sentiment and blooms

rather than black as Anita did and I've flicked Hickory Smoke Distress Ink

and Picked Raspberry to my panel after a bit of inky blending with 

Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick and Picked Raspberry. The blooms are the new 

WPlus9 Ranuculus set and the sentiment is Clearly Besotted. To finish I 

just can't help myself with those pearls and gems!

Here's Anita's Muse card

Thanks for stopping by today and hope you feel inspired to play along at these challenges. I'm off to see what you have been creating this week and catch up on some comments! Looking forward to the final episode of  Happy Valley later although I may have to watch it from behind a pillow!!!

A Happy Mothers' Day Trio!

Hello there and I'm a bit late in the day for this but  Happy Mothers' Day to all those mums out there who are celebrating!
I've managed to dodge the kitchen (well almost) today so got a little crafty time in and I've a trio to share with you!
First up it's another one for Darnell's NBUS #6 challenge plus Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Touchy Feely!

Here I've used another NBUS set - this time from Altenew: Magnolias For Her.

I started out by blending distress inks onto the top corner of the card, fading it out 

before spritzing a little water for some added interest. The magnolias are heat-embossed

 onto vellum then coloured using my Derwent Coloursoft pencils. 

The sentiment is from Clearly Besotted: Say it In Style and to finish sparkly sequins

 from Pretty Pink Posh just because I love them!

I'm hoping the raised vellum blooms, sequins and 'feel' better sentiment will

work over at Simon Says Stamp! 

Next up I've gone all Geometric which means I'd like to add this

over at Inkspirational - in fact the last card is also on a geometric 

spectrum but I think I prefer this one - don't you?

I started out doing more inky blending in an ombre style using distress inks 

in Blueprint Sketch, Mermaid Lagoon, Salty Ocean and Broken China.

Once I was happy with the blending I used a bokeh stencil from Simon Says Stamp

and re-inked in the various colours through the circles. A little spritz of perfect pearls

with water just because I can't stop myself then I decided to slice the panel

into 3 triangles for added effect! Just another geometric shape eh!

To finish a heat-embossed sentiment from Uniko: Simply Said Birthday plus

some Doodlebug Sprinkles and silver pearls from my stash.

Last up and I can admit I've gone crazy over Faux Mother of Pearl and

I've so many bits and pieces of various colours that I'll never 

manage to use them all - BUT it's such fun playing isn't it!

So this one is heading across to Happy Little Stampers - CAS Challenge

and having created my Faux Mother of Pearl Panel with Liquid Pearls

and Distress inks I've sliced it into squares using the MFT Die-namics

stitched square dies. A bold 'thanks' sentiment which is die-cut 3 times

from WPlus9 and some sequins from Lucy Abrams to finish it off.

Ok that's all for me this weekend and it's work tomorrow so think I 

should be making a move to bed soon! 

Thanks for calling by and I'll catch up with you again soon.

Uniko Challenge #29 Reminder

Hi there it's time for a little reminder about the current challenge over at Uniko and it's a colour one this time!
I've gone a little bolder in colour with this one but still tried to  stick closely to the required combo. 

I think the Pure Florals: Gerbera has to be all time favourite Uniko bloom

so hear it is coloured using distress inks  and a 'no line' technique.

I've also blended the deeper turquoise colour along 2 sides of my card

and flicked some of the lighter shade on my 'notebook' panel.

the sentiment is made up from Simply Said and Simply Said Birthday.

I'd like to link this card up at CASology where the theme is 'Distressed' 

My card uses lots of distressed inks for colouring the image, spritzing and

ink blending to the card base. 

I'd also like to play along at INKspirational where the theme is 'POP'

I think this flower looks like it's just 'popped' open so hope that counts!

... and I've just spotted it's an Anything Goes week at 

Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge

Hopefully you'll have some time to play along and please head across to 

the main Uniko blog HERE where there's links to my teamies creations

along with our Guest Designer AJ of AJ's Creative Energy 

You'll also find all the details you need about the super challenge prizes and how you can try to win one. 
Thanks as always for stopping by my blog today and I'll be back tomorrow with the latest challenge for Less is More.