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 #351

Hi there, where did that week go? I seriously need some time to jump off this treadmill ... so I've gone off piste and 'out of this world' today for this week's theme challenge from Less is More and here's the cue card 

It's almost Halloween so feel free to combine it with something of a spooky nature but here's my example and just the one this week but I'm sure my fellow teamies will have plenty more offerings of inspiration over on the main blog HERE

Supplies:

We R Memory Keepers: Next Level embossing folder

Neat & Tangled: Hooray word die and sentiment stamp

Clearly Besotted: Out of this World set

Stampendous: Hanging around (just for the party hats)

Promarkers

I hope you'll join in the fun with this one and don't forget if you want to be in with a chance of a prize from this month's sponsor Uniko you need to play and we'll announce our winner at the start of next month!

Thanks for calling by today and have a good weekend!

Less is More #335

Morning friends, are you ready for this week's challenge at Less is More? It's the start of a new month which means it's colour week and also time to introduce our sponsor for the month. We are delighted to welcome back Happy Little Stampers, who will be providing the prize for this month. 
Here's our cue card and I've 2 cards to share with your this week using our Union Jack colour combo 



This one uses bold blocks of coloured card stock with the bottom half dry-embossed using one of the We R Memory Keepers Next Level embossing folders. The sentiment is from My Favourite things and I've added a couple of enamel dots to add a little extra interest. 
It's an Anything Goes challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge so I'd like to head across there with this one. 

Here's one using images by our sponsor Happy Little Stampers from the Wish You Were Here and Mix Mash sets for the sentiment. 

I hope you'll play along with us this week and don't forget to check out the fabulous designs from my fellow teamies over on the main blog HERE where you'll find some fantastic inspiration.

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

Honey I Shrunk The Kit #12 - Going Up

Hey there friends, it's time for another day out with my fellow Honey Babes for another HISTK post! I can't believe how quickly the weeks passed as it doesn't seem long since we were showcasing Shona's super cute set. This time our host is the lovely Hazel, who named this kit 'Going Up' - read on for more details ...

There was so much to work with that I ran out of time before using everything but it does mean I can play some more with what's left and here's the cards I've made so far ...

For this first one I die-cut a window in a panel of black cardstock using the MFT Rectangel Peek-a-boo die and popped that up on fun foam for dimension. A piece of design paper behind with my little koala scene. The sentiment is die-cut with a snow-drift die, also MFT Die-namics and the images and sentiment are all coloured with Promarkers.

It's an Anything Goes Challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge so I'd like to link my card up there. 

Here's I've coloured the die-cut butterflies with distress inks, before placing them in an embossing folder from WeR Memory Keepers Next Level folders. Another MFT die used here to separate the black and white card stock - basic stitched border dies. The sentiment is die-cut using a Sizzix oval stax and I've added some colour-coordinated enamel dots - just because I love them and it needed a little extra 'lift' I thought!

First of all I created a frame for these lovely die-cuts using the WPlus9 Sunshine Layers dies. The images were coloured with promarkers and fuzzy cut (where necessary) before mounting my little scene on foam or directly on the cardbase for differing dimension. I couldn't resist adding those gorgeous diamond gems for extra detail and the sentiment seemed perfect for the scene.

As luck would have it when I made this card I had been using the 'Time To Party' set by Clearly Besotted and I realised the balloon die-cuts (which I don't own) were the perfect fit! Hey what a stroke of luck. Using a little more of the design paper I picked 3 colours to tone with it and stamped the balloons in Altenew Inks, adding a little water to spread the pigment on the water-colour cardstock. I coloured the 'make a wish' die-cut sentiment with the same inks and adhered everything to the card also making use of the twine as the strings for my balloons. 

Over at Time Out their having a 'celebrations' themed challenge and I'd like to play along there although sadly I've certainly not twisted with the one layer option!

It was such a joy to work with this kit Hazel and thanks so much for sending it and inspiring us with such gorgeous bits and pieces from your stash ...

Kit contents include:

Stamps: Gerda Steiner Designs - You're Koalafied/ STAMPlorations - Noteworthy 2/ Bella Stamps - Tomorrow's Dream & A Beautiful Day/ 
Dies: MFT - Brushstroke Birthday Greeting/ Clearly Besotted - Let's Party Die Collection / Spellbinders - Day Dreams (sun and clouds) / Butterflies (not sure) 
Other: Patterned paper: Stampin' Up! - Birthday Basics (retired) / Yellow twine


As always thanks for calling by my blog today and I'm off to check out what the rest of my teamies, below, have made with this fantastic bundle. 
Hazel Hodgkins: Hazel's Paper Designs Sarah Gray: Funky Fossil Designs Shona Chambers: Twine Around Anita Bowden: Neet & Crafty Sarah Platt: Sazzle Dazzle Crafts ... that's ME!

Less is More #330

Morning friends, are you ready for this week's challenge at Less is More? It's our recipe week and here's the cue card.

Here's what I've created to inspire you and it's another of those 2-fers! I just love getting extra cards out of the same items - don't you?
To begin with I blended distress inks onto a piece of card stock then brushed Perfect Pearls generously over the top to create my shimmer effect. I die-cut the panel with a circle die then ran it back through the Big Shot inside a We R Memory Keepers Next Level embossing folder. I didn't really need the complete circle for my backdrop on this first card so I sliced it in two to make my 2-fer!  This first one uses a city landscape die by Clearly Besotted along with a sentiment from their 'Time to Celebrate' set

This time the other half of the circle is upside down and I've used a 'friend' die from Paper Smooches and a 'you are awesome' sentiment from Altenew with a couple of added sequins for extra shimmer.

Don't forget to check out the fabulous designs from my fellow teamies over on the main blog HERE 
I hope you'll play along and have some fun! 
Thanks for calling by and I'll be back soon!

AAA CAS Cards Challenge #86

Hello there friends, it's time for another challenge over at 
AAA CAS Cards
The theme for this one is Die-Cuts so minimal stamping and if possible ALL die-cuts. Here's my card, in fact I've gone a little mad here as this design ended up being great for  a couple of two-fers using the positive and negative portions of the die-cut sentiment  from Impression Obsession. The first card below also uses a Next Level EF from WeR  Memory Keepers and the others use an inside out diagonal stitched rectangle die from MFT.  All the panels are mounted on 3d foam with a few sprinkles and gems for added interest. 

Here's our little photo inspiration plus  there's plenty more super CAS creations

 by my fellow teamies, with links to their blogs on the AAA Cards blog HERE

Our Guest Designer for this challenge is Judy of Judy's Card Corner. 

She has a wonderful CAS style and  I do hope you'll pop along and visit her blog.

I'm sure she'll appreciate it.

Our sponsor for this challenge is STAMPlorations with our lucky winner

receiving a product specified by Shery to the value of $15

As always thanks for calling by my blog today and I hope 

you feel inspired and will play along with us!

Less is More #316

Hi there, that's another week gone by and I'm back with the  3rd week of birthday challenges at
Less is More
This week it's our 

Here's my examples and in true birthday spirit I'm ready for a party!
It's another 'two-fer' of sorts, both made using the same letter dies from MFT die-namics: By the Letters Lowercase from some gorgeous glitter  papers by Heidi Swapp which were adhered to card for a little dimension.

This first one has a WeR Memory Keepers Next Level EF in the 

BG with the whole panel then foam mounted.

 

This second one has a 'fake' panel from acetate with the letters adhered
to the acetate then plain ones to the reverse to hide the adhesive.
The curve panel is created with a landscape die from Mama Elephant
and to add a little more interest there's a wrap-around of gold embroidery thread.
  As ever my awesome teamies have worked their magic and you can check out their designs over on the main blog HERE with links to their own blogs.
Our sponsor for this week's birthday prize is Shery of STAMPlorations and we are delighted to have her guest design with us too. Do pop along and visit Shery and the DT on their personal blogs, I'm  sure they'd appreciate the visit.
I hope you'll play along and have some fun. Thanks for calling by and I'll be back soon!

Muse Challenge #198

Hello friends, I've been nursing a flu/cold this week and feeling a bit sorry for myself! 
First day back at work on Monday and I managed until lunchtime! BUT The best medicine EVER and to add a little cheer is a mooch around blogland! 
My fellow teamie and bestie at Less is More (Anita) is this week's MUSE and I love the blend of colours she'd used with added texture to the circle on her card then WOAH! that sentiment strip pops one heck of a punch so I had to have a little play. It was a really quick card to make and I feel much better today! Thanks Neets!
Here's my card with Anita's inspirations below

I started out with a handful of Distress Inks and blended them over a piece of card stock -

 I think this part has Blueprint Sketch, Spun Sugar, Peacock Feathers and Seedless 

Preserves on it. I couldn't resist the little flick and spritz of water and perfect pearls.

Using a heart stax from WPlus9 to die-cut my shape I then ran it back through the 

big-shot using one of the WeR Memory Keepers Next Level embossing folders 

(from Santa!) To finish a bold sentiment from Lil'Inkers and a few sequins.

I hope you like how I've interpreted Anita's card and thanks so  much for calling by my blog today. 

Less is More Challenge #310

Morning friends, are you ready for this week's challenge at
Less is More
It's the first one of the month which means we're also announcing our sponsor for the month which is Happy Little Stampers and what's more the super-talented and wonderful owner, Kylie is also our Guest designer too so I hope you'll visit her blog and leave lots of love!
This week it's COLOUR week and we've chosen  OMBRE You can use any colour but with an ombre / graduated effect.
Here's mine and there's loads of fabulous designs from my fellow teamies over on the main blog HERE with links to their own blogs. Do check them out and pay them a visit if you've time - they'd love it!

I couldn't resist using one of the newly released sets from Happy Little Stampers and this one is called 'Wish you were Here' with a sentiment from 'Fun Birthday Sentiments'. I've created the ombre effect using Zig Clear brush pens, blending with a water brush then a little flicking and spritzing of a water and perfect pearl mist. The card base is dry-embossed using an embossing folder by We R Memory Keepers (2 pk set - pressie from Santa aka. my kids!) and the ombre panel is die-cut with  a pierced square die by MFT Die-namics and mounted on 3d foam.
I'd like to enter this one over at Anything Goes Using - Happy Little Stampers ... rude not to don't you think!

This time I've used Distress inks to create the ombre effect using

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

The card base had a heavy spritz of perfect pearls and water and I've

die-cut the 'smile' from Lil'inker Designs from an off-cut of the card base

before adding dimension with several layers of die-cut cardstock.

The stamped sentiments are from Avery Elle 'Sentimental' and I've

added a few coordinating sequins just for the 'bling' of it!

Although I've not gone with the 'Stencil' optional twist I would like

to link up at the Happy Little Stampers - Watercolour challenge

Last one and again using the zig clear brush pens to create an ombre

panel before dry-embossing the panel with the 2nd embossing folder from 

the We R Memory Keepers set mentioned above. The 'celebrate' word die

is by Sugar Pea Designs and is die-cut on some glitter tape from Heidi Swapp

plus several layers of white card stock to add dimension. The '70' numbers are

die-cut from the 'count on us' set by Avery elle from the same glitter tape

and adhered flat to the card base. A couple of sequins and stars finishes the design.

I'd like to link this card up at Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge

where it's 'Something New' and both my embossing folder and celebrate die

were goodies from Santa under my Christmas tree!

I hope you feel inspired to play along and I can't wait to see your ombre techniques and ideas! Thanks for calling by and I'll be back soon!

Less is More #304

Morning friends, this is my first of two posts today so I hope you'll pop back in an hour when I'll be introducing the Rustic Wreath,  soon to be released Christmas set from Uniko!
If you can't wait that long I've got a sneaky little preview here using  this very set but there will be more a little later!
BUT first of all it's time to announce this week's challenge over at 
Less is More
and we are back round to our Recipe week! We'd like to see you use an Emboss Resist technique on your card and there's lots of brilliant examples from my fellow teamies at Less is More so I hope you'll zip across  to the main blog HERE and follow the links to their individual blogs!
First up here's mine ...

As promised a preview of the Rustic Wreath set being released tomorrow by Uniko and here I've embossed the wreath and one of the sentiments in the set with Hero Arts White EP before blending various blue toned distress inks over  the top. The melted embossing powder acts as the resist here. I've also  spritzed a flicked a little water and perfect pearls mix - because I can't help myself then added a few gems from my stash for added sparkle. The base panel is subtly dry embossed with one of the We R Memory Keepers Next Level embossing folders.
I'd like to link this one up over at Timeout Challenges where the  theme is Christmas with the optional twist of glitter and shimmer. In real life my card is shimmering from the perfect pearl spritz plus I've added some mini gems which certainly shimmer and sparkle in the light!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas on my blog ... so here's another festive card

Again using stamps by Uniko: Christmas Foliage and a sentiment from the 

Rustic Wreath set. I've heat embossed the foliage with Ranger Silver Pearl

embossing powder this time and blended Cracked Pistachio, Evergreen Bough 

and Lucky Clover over them to enhance the 'resist' stamping. To finish a 

die-cut frame using MFT Die-Namics pierced rectangle dies, pine cones from

the Uniko Christmas Foliage set and some red nail heads for some glossy detail.

Thanks as always for popping by my blog and I hope you feel inspired

to play along with our challenge this week.

Have fun!

AAA Cards Challenge #71

Hi there crafters it's time to introduce the latest challenge from AAA Cards
This time we'd like to see some BLENDING on your cards but please keep the design CLEAN and SIMPLE.
In the end I've made 3 for this challenge and having made my second one first ... if  that makes sense, I decided I'd rather go bold, fun and funky and slightly WILD!
... and as that's the theme at this week's Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge I'd like to slot it in there too!

This one uses that funny silly stamp set from The Alley Way Stamps called

Face-It! I started out by inking my panel with various 'rainbow-type' coloured

Distress Inks before heat embossing my images. For added detail I dry-embossed

the card base using a 'next level' embossing folder from We R Memory Keepers.

The inky panel is die-cut using a frame die from WPlus9 Sunshine layers then

to finish a sentiment from Mama Elephant, Up, Up and Away.

Here's the first card I made!

A couple of challenges ago we had our 'Stash Favourites' and I used this same die by Neat and Tangled. Here I've created a mask with it,  adhered it to my card then blended distress inks in Spun Sugar and  Worn lipstick to create an ombre look to my card. I couldn't resist a quick spritz of Perfect Pearls and water although it's not obvious in the photo. 
The sentiments are from Avery Elle: Sentimental with the elephant from Clearly Besotted Baby Shower stamp and die set.
My cousin and his wife are about to welcome a little girl to  their home ... in fact at the time of 'typing' she could well be putting in an appearance so this card will be heading over to them ASAP!

 Last but not least and because I love getting inky ...

First of all I masked off a strip approx 3cm wide on my card base then

inked the 'un-masked' area with Distress Inks in: Cracked Pistachio, 

Evergreen Bough, Peacock Feathers and Blueprint Sketch.

My favourite little addition with inky blending, spritzing, flicking and 

drizzling water and perfect pearls onto the area, although this isn't watercolour

card therefore not too much of a dowsing! I mounted 2 pieces of white card stock

on Fun Foam before adding my die-cut elements which are both by Clearly Besotted. 

There's loads more inspiration from my fellow teamies so I do hope

you'll want to play along with this one and have some fun.
We're also joined by a super talented Guest Designer for this challenge and I do  hope you'll call in at Michelle's blog, Passionate Crafter and leave some love!

Our sponsor is Happy Little Stampers
with our lucky winner receiving a $20 gift certificate to spend in store.

Thanks as always for stopping by and catch up with you soon.