Less is More #244

Another whoosh-by-week from where I'm standing and I'm zipping in with this post as I'll be heading out soon!
Anyway back to the job in hand and it's a new challenge at  Less is More
This week is Colour week and we are looking for  Jewel colours and I'll warn you I've gone a bit mad this  week, especially with Clearly Besotted goodies. Quite by chance Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge are featuring CBS! So I'll be jet-setting over there with this little bundle!
For some jewel colour inspiration I popped onto Pinterest and  here's the image that caught my eye and sent me into butterfly mania ...

... and it looks like my fellow Teamie, Anita had the same idea as we've both  used the CBS butterfly duo die! Then again we are both self-confessed  completely BESOTTED CBS addicts so it was going to happen sooner or later!
I think my favourite of my bunch of cards is this one

I'm calling it 'Amethyst' and as well as the CBS die, the sentiment is from their Say it in Style set and I've used the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circle die with a Darice honeycomb embossing folder and some gems of course for a bit of glitz and glam!

This one's 'Ruby' of course and another CBS sentiment from Say it in Style with a Distress ink-splattered background panel die-cut using MFT die-namics pierced rectangle dies and a Sizzix embossing folder with a few more gems and nail heads to coordinate.

You'll never guess this one!!! Yep! 'Emerald' Using a Brushos-created background  (my first attempt at this medium and likely my last based on the horrendous mess I got myself in! And the desk and the floor!) Oh! another sentiment from the same CBS set

This is what started it off as I tried to combine multiple jewel colours on one card 

by die-cutting butterflies in different coloured foil card to then inlay the little 

bits and bobs from the wings! I die-cut another outline to sit on top for added 

dimension with an inlaid circle die from Simon Says Stamp: Stitched Circle dies 

For detail to the sides of the panel Paper Smooches: Dots and Dashes. 

The sentiment is another CBS one but this time from the Sweet Little Sentiments set.

I think all these intricate little bits should warrant a trip over to 

Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground for this one!

I hope you are still with me as this one doesn't feature a

butterfly! In fact I've gone all Christmassy and used those

jewel coloured gems as the decorations on my Christmas wreath.

Another CBS frenzy though using the 'Joy to the World' stamp set

and dies and the Geometric I die set to hopefully create a 'door'!

The sentiment is from Uniko: Rustic Christmas and I tried to pick out

some 'rainbow' coloured jewels so that I could drop this in at 

Merry Monday for this week's challenge.

Ok that's all from me for today and if you've stayed with me to the end 

of this then you deserve a medal! I truly appreciate your time and visit.

Have a fun week and I'll catch up with you again soon.

Less is More #239

 Morning friends ... it's that time again!

Less is More Challenge

and this week we'd like you to use sprays and / or mists

... so roll your sleeves up, have fun and get messy!

Here's my first card and I literally did get messy!

I've watched all these videos where crafters use a box for spraying

but I just flew straight into it and ended up with pink dots 

absolutely EVERYWHERE! - I've found a box now!!!

I started out by embossing my 'sprayed' panel with a honeycomb embossing folder before spritzing with a mix of Distress Ink re-inker in Picked Raspberry and Perfect Pearls which adds a great shimmer. The black frame is die-cut using MFT Die-namics Pierced Rectangles and the horizontal strip with Mama Elephant Landscape Trio dies. The flower head and sentiment are from a new (to me) set from Uniko:  Pure Florals - Chrysanthemum. The flower is heat embossed then water-coloured using Zig Clear Brush pens and to finish a few pink shimmery sequins.
I've used the sketch from this week's Freshly Made Sketches so I'm heading  over there with my card plus Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge where it's an Anything Goes week! 
   

So you might like to see what I created with the pebble-dashing of pink spray  dots that were all over my desk and craft mat! Oh and up the walls!!!!  I decided to make use of this precious spritzer by collecting it on some acetate  and smooshing it onto a piece of water-colour card to create this card ...


Using my MFT Die-Namics stitched square dies I die-cut my smooshed panel then sliced the centre out to make space for the 'thanks' word die from WPlus9 with a mini sentiment along the bottom from WPlus9 Fanciful Feathers. In true Jennifer McGuire style I even die-cut some hearts with the left overs using a Wise Die (mini hearts) from Paper Smooches. I drizzled these with  Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents.
I've certainly gone to town on snippety bits for this card even down to the  teeny black strips which I cut from above and below the 'thanks' negative! So what more can I do but head over to Pixies Snippet Playground! Having followed the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch I'm also  going to link my card up there too.


And in view of Anne's terrible sad news this week  here's one for her with sincere condolences.

Using WPlus9 Sending Sunshine and Clearly Besotted April Showers stamp sets  I've created a mini scene, masking each image before stamping the next one.  Before removing the masks I've spritzed a mixture of Distress Ink re-inker in  Peacock Feathers and Perfect Pearls. Having removed the masks I decided a little silver  misting was in order too with glossy accents for added detail to some elements.
Ok it's over to you now and I hope you enjoy the messy challenge! Have loads of fun and can't wait to see your cards.
Thanks for calling by and if you check out my post with the latest challenge details  for ATCAS HERE you might even manage a challenge combo opportunity!

Less is More #234

Morning all, are we ready for a new Less is More challenge? Well we have a CELEBRATION today ... our CAS queen and leader,  Chrissie, is taking the week off! BUT that's not the reason!
 Chrissie is celebrating a very special birthday this weekend so she's putting her feet up or kicking off those heels and dancing and partying to the small hours as she'll be 70 years young!
It's recipe week and we'd like you to use Snippets (basically left overs, bits of scrap card/design paper/string)
What's more we have a guest designer for one week only the  Queen of Snippets herself ... Di of Pixie's Crafty Snippets Playground so I do hope you'll make her feel welcome and pop across to her blog with some super friendly feedback.
Here's my cards ... not only is Chrissie celebrating this year but  both my Dad and Mother-in-Law too so here's my Dad's card!

Card Recipe:

Having raided the snippets box and tipped the bin upside down

for bits of kraft card and red holographic here's what else I've used!

MFT Die-namics: Inside Out Diagonal Stitched rectangles

Avery Elle: Count on it Dies

Clearly Besotted: For Everyone sentiment

Handmade & fuzzy cut paint palate with Doodlebug sprinkles

Die-cut paintbrush has been in my stash forever.

I'd like to enter this at Inkspirational: Anything Goes with Kraft and 

Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge: Sparkle and Shine

   

Next up having stumbled across some ready-cut zig-zag strips 

in the snippets box I added a few more from scraps to make a rainbow!

I pieced them all together onto some paper then die-cut the

number 70 before replacing the centre of the zero using

Avery Elle Count on it dies.

The 'Happy' sentiment is from Uniko and stamped with Ranger dye ink.

To finish some coordinating Doodlebug sprinkles.

The last one uses more off-cuts and positive '70' from the above card

with the 'happy' sentiment from Clearly Besotted embossed with Hero Arts white EP.

This one has hopefully arrived at Chrissie's house and as you read this it 

will be sitting in 'pride of place' on the dining table of course!!!

With our wonderful Guest Designer, Di in attendance this week 

I couldn't NOT enter a card over at Pixies Crafty Snippet's playground!

So this one is heading over and if I miss sliding under the gates 

today I'll have to pop it in tomorrow.

Thanks for staying with me to the end of this lengthy post!

I do hope you'll pop over to the main blog to check out the 

creations from the rest of the DT and Di's card of course.

So I'll just finish with a huge 

CONGRATULATIONS CHRISSIE!

Have a brilliant birthday and loads of fun!

Merry Monday #148 & Muse Card Club #107

So I didn't think I'd a get minute to play along with these challenges  this week let alone post them today but I've worked quickly and following a bit of friendly inspiration from my fellow blog buddies  here's my card to share at Merry Monday and Muse Card Club
Love the simplicity of Vicki's card but the colour scheme wasn't really working for me but when mixed with the super Christmassy  Red and Green requirement at Merry Monday it went quite well and  I like how this turned out.

Card Recipe:

Various bits and pieces of card from my stash

Sentiment: Uniko Studio - Simply Said Christmas

MFT Die-Namics - Pierced rectangle dies (smallest)

Doodlebug Sprinkles - I can't do Christmas without a bit of bling and sprinkle!

    
I'd also like to drop this in at Pixies Snippet Challenge with my head bowed low as I've missed a few weeks so hope they let me through the gates!
Thanks again for calling by and I'll catch up with again soon.

Love Birds & Watercolours

Hello All and a Happy Sunday to you. I've a card to share which has taken me AGES! So long in fact that this is the 3rd attempt! I knew there was a reason I don't do shaker cards!!! Having almost given up and thrown it in the bin with the rest  I decided I ought to have something to show for my toils so here it is ...

Here's the sketch I've followed from CAS(E) This Sketch

In view of all the intricate little bits I've mustered from my

snippet bins I'm going to head over to Pixies Snippets Playground too

... I'd better take a bag of sweeties though as I've been missing for a few weeks!

I'd also like to link up at Simon Says Stamp again: Have a Heart

Supplies Used:

Doodlebug: Design Papers

Clearly Besotted: Love Birds Die Collection

Clearly Besotted: Paired Up Stamps & Dies

I've another card to share which I'd almost forgotten about 

having made it last week it didn't make it to the blog!

This one is to link up at Happy Little Stampers: CAS January Challenge

I couldn't wait to join in but water-colouring isn't something I often do

so after a little pinterest and blogland surfing I came across a 

stunning card by the amazing Kristina Werner here and 

I hope she doesn't mind me 'casing' it (of sorts)!

Supplies Used:

Distress Inks: Barn Door, Picked Raspberry & Seedless Preserves

Tim Holtz: Watercolour card

Uniko Studio: All Occasion Sentiments #3;

heat-embossed with Hero Arts white embossing powder

Doodlebug: sequins

I seem to remember seeing a challenge where the requirement

is to use the sentiment as the focal point ... and was hoping to link

up there too ... but can I remember where I saw it?!?!?!?!?

So if anyone has spotted that challenge please let me know.

That's all from me for today but thanks as always for stopping by

and see you soon.

 

Christmas is Here!

Yeah ... well almost!  Just a few hours away until midnight here in the UK.
My card today is to for all my AMAZING Blog buddies, DT buddies and wonderful followers. Here's wishing each one of you, in whatever part of the world you live,  a Fantastic Christmas and New Year
 I've met but a few of you yet feel I've known you all forever. Your comments, inspiration and friendship are hugely valued and I'm certainly looking forward to more fun and crafting with you next year!

I was going to go with a crazy, silly card but went for the 

heartfelt one instead ... and it wouldn't be a blog post 

if I didn't enter a few challenges - so here goes ...

Addicted to Stamps & More: Anything Goes 

(optional twist 'Love')

Whoops! Quick edit here - I missed the boat at 

Addicted to Stamps & More but as luck would have it

I realised this could definitely fit in at 

Pixies Snippet Challenge

CAS on Sunday: Christmas

Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes

Time Out Challenge: Word inspiration

(Christmas is Love with all the Trimmings)

   

Card Recipe:

Impression Obsession: Heart Die

Pink Petticoat: Sentiment

DP: Papermania & DCWV

So if you find yourselves a little bored and stuck for something to do 

over the next week then head off to your craft space!!!

You could join in some of these challenges too.

Thanks as always for stopping by my blog and

Happy Christmas

*******

ICY LOLLIES AND CHRISTMAS ....

Happy Saturday all and thank you for your lovely comments about the 200th celebration of LIM  and my new Auntie status! Unfortunately I'm in a tizz with days and dates at the moment  and in fact my sister is booked in for this Tuesday (9th)! What a dummy I am but your comments are much appreciated. So onto this week's challenge and ... I dread asking if you are ready for Christmas ...  as I'm still frantically cutting and sticking to make my  Christmas cards for this year and  wrapping presents - haven't even started!!! This week we have a colour challenge for you at  Less is More  ... so if you are disorganised like me you could twist  these colours around for Christmas as I've done! Here's my cards

Card Recipe

Uniko Studio: Snowflake Dies & Sentiment (heat-embossed on vellum)

Cuttlebug: Embossing folder

Gems from my stash

I'd like to enter this card at

Kylie's Christmas Card Challenge

(in case you don't know, Kylie recently did the artwork for my 

blog header, signature and water mark and she also administers

several challenges including Addicted to CAS & Addicted to Stamps

A quick edit here thanks to Sandie who reminded me the 

Uniko Studio challenge is still live so I'm going to

Head over there to enter this one.

Having received some new goodies from the latest Uniko Studio 

release I couldn't wait to try them out so this card uses the following sets:

Simply Said Christmas

Background Builders Vines - Winter Additions

Rustic Christmas 

Dies: MFT Die-namics pierced rectangles

Spellbinders nesties - labels

To add the essential Christmas bling I've added

glossy accents, wink of stella and pearls

I'd like to enter this one at Addicted to Stamps & More

where it's a Clean & Simple week

This is a really cheeky, CAS and quick one for mass production!

Using Mama Elephant: Landscape Trio dies for a 'pelmet' effect

a strip of foil card from DCWV

Uniko Studio: Simply Said & Rustic Christmas sets

Doodlebug sprinkles and gems for baubles

I'm going to pop this one in at Simon Says Stamp

where the theme is Christmas / Holiday card

I'm creating Christmas cards like a maniac now as you can tell!

This one uses some other Uniko Studio images from last year's 

Christmas set: Peace on Earth

I've used the same technique as shown a few weeks ago here

using glossy accents to resist the Distress Inks

 A little bakers twine from my stash and matted using 

MFT Die-namics pierced rectangles.

I'd like to enter this one in the Merry Monday challenge

which features birds this week.

Last but not least

I've used 'snippets' of glitter and textured cardstock to create the

diagonal striped panel, word die and sentiment from Clearly Besottted

with gems from my stash.

... and as I've used 'snippets' it would be rude not to head over

to Pixies Snippet Playground if I've time to dash in under the gates!

Well you certainly enjoyed the celebrations challenge last week 

full of AMAZING creations and superb inspiration.

Amongst your comments and blog posts there were some very special

and heartfelt words about Less is More. It made me feel quite emotional

reading them and so honoured to be part of the team despite not having 

been here from the start as a lot of you obviously have.

Thanks for your continued support and looking forward to 

this week's 'icy' creations on your blogs.

Thanks as always for stopping by

2 FOR 1 CHRISTMAS CARDS

Happy Tuesday and hope your week is going well. I'm back with another non-traditional coloured Christmas card. I was very resourceful when making this and used the snippety bits and bobs  to make a second card!
The colour combo of black, white and pink is one of my favourites  so thought I'd try it out for Christmas 

I'd like to enter the current Uniko Studio Challenge 

'Anything Goes with / without the Sketch'

I've tried to keep to the basic sketch and used a few Uniko products too.

I'm also entering this at Timeout Challenges (2nd entry)

as I've used sparkle and embossed my sentiment in white 

   

Card Recipe for both cards: 

Memory Box floral die

Uniko Studio snowflake die

MFT Die-Namics sentiment strips

Sentiment: Uniko Studio

Pink Pearlised card - Grosvenor House Papers

Glitter Card: DCWV

This card is basically the same but using all the left-overs 

from the Memory Box die so I'd like to enter this one

at Pixies Snippet Playground

and a second entry for Inkspirational

Thanks for stopping by my blog today and I'll be back soon.