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!

Uniko - 6th Birthday Treasure Hunt!

Hi there, we're having a Treasure Hunt Hop over at Uniko to celebrate the 6th birthday of this wonderful, UK-based little stamp company. Over the 6 years Uniko has produced 104 clear stamp sets between 2012-2017. 
As well as providing some exciting inspiration using some of those 104 sets the aim of our Treasure Hunt Hop is to add a little extra fun to your day by asking you to hunt out the NAMES and YEARS of RELEASE of the 12 featured stamp sets in the blog hop. 
Joining Bev and the Design Team in the HOP are some awesome Special Guests, with each person having been assigned a particular stamp set to feature in their post. Easy-peasy eh ... just jot down the stamps and year of release for all 12 sets and email the list to Bev! You could be one of our lucky winners.
So let's get started as I've 6 cards to share (1 for each birthday year ... and because I got carried away with the birthday fun!) I'm showcasing a set from May last year called: Background Blocks: Doodle Flower
     These first 2 were heat-embossed in white onto coloured cardstock, with the flower centres coloured using coloured pencils. I've also added some little dots on all my cards for some extra detail. 

Next up the Background Block was heat-embossed in gold before colouring the flowers with Promarkers, with a couple of flower heads fuzzy-cut to use as embellishments around the frame.

The next 2 have the Background Block heat-embossed in white onto vellum then adhered onto water-coloured panels. The vellum softens the colour of the watercolours and adds a little elegance I think!

This time I've added some colour-coordinated pearls, from my stash, to the flower heads

Last but not least ... let's get this party going with a nice and easy panel created by stamping the Background Block twice then colouring some of the detail in brightly coloured Promarkers with a

wide sentiment flag popped up on 3d foam for dimension and to hide the join between the 2 blocks.

Additional items used on my cards are: 

Waffle Flower: 'celebrate' word die

STAMPlorations: 'Happy' word die 

MFT Die-Namics: Insta-Frame Die & Fishtail Flags Stax

Uniko Sentiments: 'Let's Party' / 'Your Day' / 'Birthday' - from a soon to be released set of birthday sentiments 

I hope you've enjoyed my inspiration with this set and here's the Blog Hop list to follow. Details of prizes can be found on the main Uniko blog HERE so head on over there for the information.  

Bev
Carol 

Deborah 
Izzy 

Jane 
Julie
Lindsey

Rahmat
Sarah G

Sarah P - That's Me!
Wiebke

Enjoy the party and have some fun!

Catch up again soon.

 

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

Uniko Challenge #41 - Reminder

Hi there, I'm back with a little reminder about our current challenge over at Uniko. It's an easy one and as we're fast approaching Father's Day here in the UK it's a perfect opportunity to create a masculine card for that very occasion. It's Masculine with a twist on Father's Day and I've created 2 cards using some of the Background Builders sets by Uniko which I think always come in handy for those guys!

This one uses the Round in Circles BG Builder, with the second one using BG Builder - Triangulate. I've inked all the images with Altenew Inks and added a 'Father's Day' sentiment from the Simply Said II set. The die-cut Celebrate above is by Waffle Flower and the 'Cheers' one, below is by Lawn Fawn. Both of these are mounted on 3 pieces of cardstock to create some added dimension.

I hope you feel inspired to play along and as always there's plenty of fantastic creations by my fellow teamies, so why not head over to the Uniko blog HERE to check out the links and pay them a visit! I'm sure they'd appreciate it!

Once again we are joined by the wonderful Hannelie AKA Desert Diva, one of our previous Uniko Challenge winners and guest designing for us this month. Do pop along and visit her blog and leave a friendly word and some love.

You have until Friday, 23rd June 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 with us!

Less is More #294

Morning LIMettes are we happy it's Saturday again?
I'm hoping Mr Blogger is going to play fair this weekend as this is a scheduled post!  Our baby daughter has all grown up and we're taking her to start her first year  at university today - not too far away thankfully! So while you are reading this  I'm either on the road to Liverpool or running late frantically trying to cram all  of her 'essential' belongings into the car! 
Ok! Let's get to the task in hand which is to introduce our challenge for the week  at Less is More and it's Theme week - we've chosen Diamonds! WOW!
I've excelled myself this week and have 3 cards to share with you

Recipe:

Stamps: Lil'Inkers set 'Girl's Best Friend'

Dies: MFT Die-Namics Basic Stitched Border and Stitched Square dies

plus Waffle Flower sentiment strips.

Distress Inks: Shaded Lilac & Blueprint Sketch

WOW Metallic Silver Sparkle embossing powder

I'm heading over to Addicted to Stamps and More with this one

to enter their Anything Goes Challenge!

Recipe:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn 'Happy Wedding'

Dies: Lawn Fawn Scripty Congrats & WPlus9 Heart stax

WOW Metallic Silver Sparkle Embossing powder

I'd like to enter this card over at Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge

where it's Clean and Simple this week!

 

Recipe:

Sparkly Design paper from my stash

Hand made diamond shapes

Stamps: Lil Inker 'Girls Best Friend' & 

Clearly Besotted It's Your Time

I hope you feel inspired to play along with us and I can't wait to 

see lots of sparkle, glitz, glamour and shine on your cards this week.

There's plenty of stunning examples by my fellow teamies over on 

the LIM blog HERE so please pay them a visit if you have time.

As always thanks for visiting my blog today and I'll catch up again soon!