Less is More #365

Hi there friends, it's time to announce our second BIRTHDAY challenge over at Less is More to celebrate our 7th Birthay and we've got more delightful designs from some of our past Design Team members. 

We're also delighted to have Seven Hills Crafts kindly sponsoring the challenge and Tara (owner) is joining us as a Guest Designer too.
So let's get down to the latest Clean and Simple challenge for the next fortnight and here's the cue card  
There's often lots of debate in Blogland around the use of dry-embossing and how it can be used as a Clean and Simple element of a card so I can't wait to see what you come up with and I've 3 ideas to share with you today.
You'll find our guidelines and requirements for this technique over on the main Less is More blog HERE along with some superb ideas and inspiration from my talented teamies.

First up I've used a faux letterpress technique, as featured in an older video by Jennifer McGuire HERE which uses a detailed Tilda Flower die from Memory Box with a little ink to the edges then run through my Big Shot to 'emboss' the image onto watercolour card. 

Other Supplies Used:

Dies: Lil'Inkers: HI word die / Stamps: Avery Elle: Sentimental / Ink: Altenew

There's 2 challenges I'd like to pop this one into ... Addicted to Stamps and More, where they are looking for Clean and Simple Cards and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the requirement is to add a die-cut.

This card features a very subtle linear embossing technique where regular score lines have been marked using a folding board. I started out by inking up a beautiful stencil, which I received as a gift from my buddy and ex-DT member at Less is More, Sarah G of Funky Fossil Designs. Since stepping down from our challenge blog she's certainly not been sitting around but has set to work making various stencils, laser-cut MDF shapes and home decor/gifts. The stencil here, called Beautiful Mandala is available to purchase in Sarah's Folksy store HERE and she's also kindly offered 2 stencils as a gift to one of our birthday winners at Less is More this month. Why not head over HERE and look at what else is in store!

Other Supplies Used:

Dies: The Works: Stitched Square & Waffle Flower: Sentiment Strips

Stamps: Avery Elle: Sentimental / Ink: Distress Inks in Blueprint Sketch, Peacock Feathers and Cracked Pistachio 

 

Last but not least an underwater little scene using a circular die-cut piece of brusho-coloured card, which I then ran through a 'wave-effect' embossing folder from We R Memory Keepers. I've also used my 3 circular dies to create a de-bossed element to frame my focal image.

Other Supplies Used:

Dies: The Works: Stitched Squares & Sizzix Framelit Circles

Stamps: Paper Smooches: Briny Blue plus coordinating die & Create a Smile: Underwater Love

I'd like to pop this card in at Timeout Challenges where the theme is 'Hobbies' - Fishing is a popular hobby I believe although not one of mine!!! Hope it counts - sadly it's not twisted with a one layer.

I hope you've enjoyed my inspiration for this challenge and don't forget we've extra prizes this month with it being our Birthday. Our sponsor for the challenge is Seven Hills Crafts as well as a random mystery prize and Sarah's kind stencil for this month only so do play along for a chance, and we'll announce our winners at the start of next month. 


I hope you'll play along in our birthday challenges this month and have some fun with us.


Thanks for calling by today!

Less is More #358

Morning friends!
Oh my goodness we really are getting extremely close to Christmas and I feel so disorganised and lacking in handmade Christmas cards that I feel a shop bought pack may be required this year to bolster my stock! 
It's time to announce the latest challenge from Less is More and in true festive style we've a challenge that could be 'twisted' towards that Christmas theme if, like me, you're struggling with cards.
Sadly I've only the one today as there's one more stamp release from Uniko to sneak in before Christmas so that has also kept me out of mischief and away from my Christmas card production line! I feel my hand delivered ones will be still wet with glue when I deliver them on Christmas Eve!!!
Anyway here's this week's CUE CARD and it's that dreaded ONE layer week too!

... and here's my card using a cheap and cheerful stamp I picked up from The Works (UK book / stationary / craft shop). It's a little living room scene in itself featuring a roaring toasty fire and lights on a Christmas Tree so as soon as I saw it I knew which challenge it would be heading towards!

I stamped the image in black then heat embossed with clear embossing powder over the top before colouring the images with Promarkers. There's a little wink of stella and glossy accents on those stockings and a sentiment from Uniko to finish. Oh and I hand drew the border to frame the image. 

It's an Anything Goes week over at Addicted to Stamps and More so I'd like to pop this one in there, plus over at Timeout Challenges there's a photo inspiration and I couldn't resist not joining in when I saw the cute little stockings against the wood background. 

As always there'll be loads of fabulous designs from my fellow teamies over on the main blog HERE and no doubt a few extras on their own blogs so do pay them a visit this week.
Our fantastic sponsor for this month is Happy Little Stampers and if you want to be in with a chance of a prize, then do play along each week, We'll announce our monthly winner at the start of next month.


Hope you'll play along and have some fun and thanks for calling by.