Less is More #371

Hello my crafty friends, it's time to announce our latest challenge at Less is More and it's our COLOUR challenge for the next fortnight.
All the details are on the main challenge blog HERE so onto the challenge itself and here's our cue card followed my cards. 


I've 2 cards to share with you today, which both use the It's a Wonderful Pennant set by Winnie and Walter (our brand new sponsor for this month). I think it's supposed to be a Christmas Tree set if used as expected but I decided to 'think outside the box' and made little party/clown hats with pom-poms on top for the first one with a sentiment by Uniko. 

This one uses the same set but just one of the 'Christmas tree' images to create a geometric pattern. The sentiment is also by Winnie and Walter from the 'Big and Bold You' set. I coloured 2 strips of card with Promarkers in coordinating shades of yellow and blue for a little extra detail to the card.

As always there's loads of fabulous designs from my fellow teamies  over on the Less is More blog HERE and as mentioned above our sponsor for this challenge is Winnie and Walter so do play along for a chance of a prize, which we'll announce next month. 


I hope you'll feel inspired to play along with and have some crafty fun along the way.
If you happen to be at the Happy Stampers Festival at Port Sunlight today then do pop along to say 'Hi' as I'm helping out on the Uniko stand with a few of the Design Team. It's a great day out and I love to see all those happy crafty folks who share this hobby. 
I'll also be back with another post in an hour (Mr Blogger dependent as he's on scheduling duty today) with the BIG reveal, release and GIVEAWAY of this month's new goodies from Uniko. 


Thanks for calling by today and catch up soon!

Less is More #343

Hi there friends it's time to announce our latest challenge at Less is More and it's the turn of our recipe week. Here's the cue card and I can't wait to see what ideas you come up with for this one!

I've 2 cards for you this week but there's loads more inspiring and interesting creations by my fellow teamies over on the main blog HERE - We're also joined by our July winner; Viv of Daizy Mae's Crafty Blog as our guest designer so I hope you'll pop along and leave her some lovely comments this week. 

First up a little silly scene using 'Hang in There' by Stampendous. I bought this in a destash sale ages ago from Michelle Short and this is the first time it's been used! Just needed the right opportunity and my Brother in Law is celebrating a BIG birthday next month so I've got my mind set on sending him this one! The little rings are my 'real item' and they are recycled from some clothing. The images are coloured with Promarkers and there's a little wink of stella / glossy accents used for extra interest. 

It's an 'Anything Goes' week over at Addicted to Stamps and More this week so I'm heading over there with this Monkey card! 

So simple with this one and I never even knew I possessed a 'Sheep' shaped button until I went searching through that 'Must Keep for a Rainy Day' box. I cut the loop off the back that you'd sew through and added a 'thank' sentiment from Winnie & Walter (another destash item from the lovely Michelle). The kraft panel was die-cut with an inside out diagonal stitched rectangle die from MFT Die-Namics and to finish a little piece of hemp cord. 

I hope you'll feel inspired to play along and have some fun with this one. 
Thanks for calling by and I'll be back soon!

Less is More #321

Morning friends, are you ready for this week's challenge at
Less is More
This week it's our Recipe week and here's the Cue Card

Not too difficult??? Here's my cards and I seem to be making a lot of 'teal' cards at the moment! Hee Hee ... I obviously can't move on from the 'mainly teal' challenge so here's another

Recipe: Inks: Altenew  Stamps: Paper Smooches: Botanicals 2 & Winnie & Walter: Big and Bold YOU Dies: Paper Smooches: Stitched Frame

It's a Clean and Simple week over at Addicted to Stamps and More so I'd like to pop my card in there 

Not so teal this time and going with an Easter theme in non-traditional colours.

This one uses:

Stamps: Mama Elephant - Carnival Cupcakes and CBS Cool Chicks

Promarkers and Filmstrip Frame die by Pretty Pink Posh

Don't forget to check out the fabulous designs from my fellow teamies over on the  main blog HERE and we also have a guest designer for you this week;  Nonni of Nonni's Handmade Cards who was the winner of Week 1  of our Birthday challenges. I hope you'll pay her a visit too.
Hope you'll play along and have some fun. Thanks for calling by and I'll be back soon!

Less is More #311

Hello friends, are you ready for this week's challenge at
Less is More
It's our ONE LAYER CARD week and the theme for this one is Favourite Drink / Beverage  so whether it's flat, fizzy, hot or cold just have fun and I can't wait to see what you've got for us!
I've been under the weather this week with a dose of flu ... just typical when I've been dodging it for weeks from various sources and the first week back in work after the festive break and OH BLAST!
My mojo hasn't been in a creative mood either so just 2 very simple ones from me this week. Nothing fancy just a little outing of a brand new set from Altenew that I treated myself too with a few pennies from Santa.

My fellow teamies have had NO issues with mojo this week so do pop over to the main blog HERE with links to their personal blogs and fantastic creations. I'm sure they'd love a visit if you've time!

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

AAA CAS Cards Challenge #77

Hi Friends, time for another new challenge over at AAA CAS Cards  and our theme for this one is Thanks / Thanksgiving

This one (not in Autumnal colours) as I find them a little OTT when  I create a lot of cards at this time of year so I went for a fresher look instead!
I've used the Fanciful Feathers stamps from WPlus9, sentiments from Winnie and Walter plus a stitched basic border die from MFT die-namics

I'd like to play along at a few challenges with this one:
Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge: Thinking of You STAMPlorations - CAS Challenge: Anything Goes with Purple

and Time Out Challenges: "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart"
As always there's plenty more inspiration from my fellow teamies  over on the AAA Cards blog HERE 

Our sponsor for this challenge is Happy Little Stampers

and our lucky winner will receive a $20 Gift Certificate to spend in their online store! 
Our Guest Designer for this challenge and another or our previous AAA Cards winners is Elisabeth - I'm sure they'd love a visit!
Thanks for calling by my blog today and hope you have some fun with this challenge! Can't wait to see your creations!

Less is More #301

Hi there crafty buddies it's time to introduce our latest challenge over at  Less is More and if you haven't come from the main blog then please  head over as there's loads of news and gossip as well as it being the  start of a new month with the return of one of our superb sponsors!
Being the first challenge of the month it's 'Colour' time and we've chosen a duo of lucious Purple & Gold
I've got 3 examples for you today but one's a 'twofer' - if that makes sense  so here goes with 'twofer number 1' ...

I was so inspired by all the incredible makes with acetate and vellum a few  weeks ago that I simply had to have a go at a floating sentiment! That's  definitely a new one on me and I love the effect. I started out by die-cutting the Tilda Flower by Memory Box in both purple and gold cardstock then  replaced the positive bits in the opposite colours, Both the die-cut 'Christmas' and the 'it's' sentiments are by Clearly Besotted!
It's a Holiday theme at Addicted to Stamps and More  so I'm heading there with this one!
Which leads me onto 'twofer number 2' ...

The opposite colour-way with a heat embossed sentiment by Uniko from the Simply Said Christmas set and a couple of sequins from my stash.
... over at STAMPlorations CAS challenge it's, by coincidence, Purple so I'm zipping this one in there!

Last but not least I've gone all geometric with this superb multi-facetted stamp by 

Winnie & Walter, heat embossed with WOW pale gold EP, inlaid die-cut 'Smile' 

sentiment by Lil' inker and a heat embossed 'it's your birthday' sentiment by Clearly 

Besotted. A couple more sequins and stars for that added glitz and glam.

The theme over at Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge 

this week is Thinking of You so I'd like to pop this one in there.

As always my super talented and awesome bunch of teamies have worked

their magic to inspire you with more cards so please pay them a visit, you'll

find all the links on the main blog HERE

Our sponsor for this month is Seven Hills Crafts 

so do please play along each week to be in with a chance of a prize.

Thanks as always for calling by. I hope you have a fun weekend

and I'll be back tomorrow with the latest challenge details for

AAA CAS Cards.

Less is More #295

Hello there friends can you believe we are back to Saturday? I certainly can't believe that  one week has passed now since our daughter got all grown up as we left her at University.  I have to say I was much more upset than she was - she just couldn't wait to start on a whole new chapter in her life. I'm pleased to report she's coping brilliantly, making new friends,  getting stuck in and having fun with this exciting adventure! Our house is super quiet  and there's a whole lot more food in the fridge too! Hmmmm!  Guess that's who's been eating it all!
So back to this week and time for our RECIPE challenge over at Less is More and this week we'd like to see some THREAD on your cards.
Here's mine and first up - I've gone all festive and Christmassy!

I started out by die-cutting a frame using the MFT Die-Namics pierced

rectangle dies. I made a criss-cross pattern of gold embroidery thread along the

back of the frame, added some acetate, foam tape and sequins to create a shaker!

The die-cut Christmas is by Clearly Besotted and the 'happy' from Winnie & Walter.

To finish a couple of sparkly gold sticky dots from my stash.

I'd like to enter this one over at CASology this week where the cue word is

This one's all cutsie and Autumal!

This time using some green embroidery threads from my stash which

I've wrapped around a panel of cardstock to create an ombre background.

Then using the Clearly Besotted 'Let's Roll' set and some leaf dies by

MFT die-namics 'Lily' I put together a little Autumn scene.

That's all I've had chance to make for this one but please head over to

the Less is More blog HERE where you'll find the links to my teamies'

 blogs and as always they've created some awesome examples for you.

I hope you'll feel inspired and play along with us this week and

thanks for stopping by today!

AAA Cards CAS Challenge #73

Hi there, it's time to announce our latest challenge over at  AAA Cards CAS Challenge Our theme for this one is 'Upcycling' so you've got 2 weeks to root around in all those boxes of 'schtuff' that you daren't throw away ('cos it might be useful sometime within the next 50 years!) I hope you have some fun with this one and I'm excited to see how you play it! Ok so my 'upcycled' item is my background panel which was originally a tissue box! How easy is that! I love geometrics on cards, especially for the guys and couldn't resist hanging on to this for just the right occasion! It's teamed with a circular sentiment from Neat and Tangled with a 'birthday' greeting by Winnie & Walter. Sorry it's so faint in the photo. To finish a  couple of matching Doodlebug sprinkles. Please remember to keep your design Clean and Simple and if you need more inspiration then please check out my fellow teamies creations HERE We've also got a Guest Designer and one of our previous winners Angie of Cimbacreativefun I'm sure she'd love a friendly visit or two! Our sponsor for this one is Happy Little Stampers and if you'd like to be in with a shout of $20 gift certificate to spend in their online store then please link up your entries by 24th September

Less is More #293

Hi friends, can you believe it's Saturday again?

Whoa where has that week gone?

So it's that 'dreaded' ONE Layer card week over at Less is More

but hopefully you won't find it too bad as we've chose the theme

Your Favourite Flower and as there's so many floral images out there

to use there must be quite a few favourites. Here's mine and I just adore

lillies! Sadly I tend to restrict them to outdoors as their scent

triggers my asthma if they are in a vase inside.

First up using the Layered Lily set from Altenew and a fun 

sentiment from Winnie & Walter

The challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday this week is 

Stamp-It so I'd like to head over there with this one

Next up using a sentiment from this month's sponsor (Happy Little Stampers)

from the Fun Birthday Sentiments set. The lilies are from a Clearly Besotted

set called Forgive Me.

I hope you feel inspired to play along with us this week and don't forget to 

check out the fabulous designs by my fellow teamies at Less is More.

Thanks so much for calling by.

Happy Little Stampers Challenges August

Hi there crafty friends I'm here with a couple of 'Brusho' styled cards! Having spent a brilliant weekend in Swindon at the Happy Little Stampers retreat with a bunch of fun and talented ladies, oh and Kylie of course!!! I've come away addicted to Brushos and think I've now got enough backgrounds to see me well into next year at least!  I have to admit that I was pretty scared of these messy 'pigments' having had a timid  play with them a while ago BUT Kylie was a fantastic teacher and shared some fun and  fabulous techniques so here's the first one that I made at the retreat using a beautiful  Memory Box die (Gardenia) - thanks to the lovely Julie Beech for suggesting it and  loaning it to me, which started quite a craze with it! In fact I don't think you can  purchase this die anywhere in the UK at the moment!!!

I've also used my 'Smile' word die by Lil'Inker which is winked with Stella

and glossied to the max! I can't remember where the 'it's your day' comes from

as there was so much borrowing of each others stash that I've forgotten!

I'd like to pop this one in at the Happy Little Stampers - Anything with Dies

... it would be rude not to don't you think? I'm a little tardy in adding this

but my husband was away with work this week and disappeared with the

memory card for the camera with all my card photos on! Only just retrieved it

this evening and note to self: copy them to the PC ASAP in future!!!

 I hope you aren't bored of Brushos as here's another!

This time I heat-embossed a mass of butterflies from the Butterfly Birthday set by 

Happy Little Stampers before sprinkling 3 colours of Brusho over my watercolour card 

then spritzed with a mixture of water and perfect pearls! I luuurve the colour combo

it's created but sadly you can't see the wonderful shimmer in the photograph.

I've added a couple of gems also by Happy Little Stampers, the 'friend' die-cut is by

Paper Smooches and the 'you are awesome' is by Winnie and Walter.

I'd like to pop this one in at the Anything Goes with Happy Little Stampers challenge.

Oooh I've just found another Brusho pieced card so I'll be back in a mo with that one!

Less is More #286 & #287

Happy Saturday LIMettes, it's time to announce another new challenge over at Less is More BUT for a change this one will run for 2 Weeks! No excuses for not playing along with us this time!
It's a mini summer break for some of the Design Team, who will be attending  the Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat next weekend!!! The excitement has been brewing for some months now but at last we are almost there!
I'm hoping Mr Blogger will behave and post this on my blog as I'm 'hopefully' as you read this enjoying some Belgian Waffles, Chocolate, Beer etc  'fingers-crossed' in the warm and sunny environment of Bruges!
So onto the challenge for the next 2 weeks and it's Recipe week - we'd like you to use  something TACTILE on your cards but still maintaining a clean and simple design.
Here's mine featuring 2 very feminine birthday cards and don't forget to pop across  to my teamies blogs for more awesome inspiration and clever tactile makes! 

Here, I started out by blending Distress Inks in yellow, pinks and oranges onto a 

panel of cardstock, running it though an embossing folder by WeR Memory Keepers

 (Next Level Embossing) before dusting it with Perfect Pearls. This leaves a textured and 

shimmery surface. Next up I've heat embossed the Gerbera from Uniko onto some Vellum 

using WOW Brass Metallic sparkle EP which leaves a glittery texture. Then with the

same EP I've created a frame around the offset panel along with the 'Happy'

die-cut sentiment from Hero Arts. to finish some sequins from Lucy's Little Things.

  

Next up using a brand new die from Neat and Tangled (Punchinella). Ive had my eye

 on it since I saw Laura Bassen use it HERE. To begin with I blended more Distress Inks,

 this time in pinks and purples onto a piece of cards stock. Spritzed and flicked a mixture 

of water and perfect pearls over it ... (you know I can't resist that little trick) then mounted 

my die-cut panel on top. This is a glitter card-stock making it tactile with the circular cuts

 as well as the glitter. The 'Happy' circle is also from Neat and Tangled with the embossed 

'birthday' from Winnie & Walter. A little extra tactile-ness with the double die-cut 

butterfly from Clearly Besotted and sequins from Pretty Pink Post.

 That's all from me and I do hope you'll feel inspired to play along with us.

I'm looking forward to seeing where your crafty tricks and tips take you with 

this one and I'll catch up with you all again soon - post retreat!

Thanks as always for calling by 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.