STAMPlorations Theme and Photo Reminder ...

Half way through the month ... have you joined in with the Theme and Photo challenge at STAMPlorations ... do you need more inspiration?  In case you do I've created another card to try and tempt you into joining in!

I began by using a gelli plate. acrylic paints and a stencil to create a patterned panel of random squares.  I added some stamping using distress inks to create more interest and detail. sections were die cut from the panel and the edges inked up to provide definition.  The panels were adhered to the card base using foam tape before adding the die cut sentiment.

I used:

STAMPlorations: Artsy Tribal Doodles

ARTplorations: Square Dance Stencil

CUTplorations: Birthday Wishes

                            Basic A2 Panels Nesting Dies

Distress Inks - Festive berries, Carved pumpkin, Mermaid lagoon

I do hope that you will visit the blog and check out the amazing projects from the other designers.

Take care1

Less is More ... on the Border

The months seems to be passing by quite quickly ... in a strange kind of way ... here we are already in June of this very different/strange year. The easing of the lockdown in the UK  brings with it a different set of anxieties for me - I'm excited about the prospect of being able to visit family but equally nervous about doing it!  Oh well we are all in the same sea trying to work out the new 'normal'.

At least throughout we have had the regular craft challenges to provide us with healthy distractions ... which leads me to the reason for this post ... a new challenge begins at Less is More today.  

This theme is ideal for CAS cards.  My card is almost a one layer card if only I had masked the sentiment rather than adding it afterwards.

I used:

STAMPlorations: Bloomful

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

WOW Clear Embossing Powder

Zig Reall Brush Clean Color Markers

Having decided that this design could have been one layer I thought I would have a go to see if it would work ... here is the result and you can decide if it works:

I stamped and masked the sentiment before stamping the rainbow images around.  I debossed and embossed a pair of lines to pull the design together.  I am quite pleased with it but I think it might look better with a stronger sentiment.

I used:
UNIKO: Today, Tomorrow and Always TIME
Simon Says Stamp: Lots of Dots

I hope you will join with the challenge ... if you need more inspiration then check out the other designers over on the Less is More blog.

Stay safe and keep crafting!

STAMPlorations June Challenge ...

June today ... I'm not sure where the year has gone but the last three months have certainly been very different and a challenge for us all.  Personally I have found crafting an essential activity to help maintain my mental health ... to be honest it hasn't worked all of the time but I keep going.  

I hope to inspire you to join in with this month's Theme and Photo Challenge at STAMPlorations:

When I read the theme for this challenge I immediately thought about weddings and confetti throwing ... we should be at the height of wedding season in the UK but Covid19 seems to have other ideas and after months and possibly years of planning many weddings have been postponed.

I stamped and heat embossed the image before using Inktense pencils to water colour it.  I splatted the card base and then adhered the die cut panel using foam adhesive for added dimension.  Finishing the card with the die cut 'congrats'.

I used:

STAMPlorations - In Bloom: Perfect Petunias

CUTplorations - Congrats

                           - Crazy Double Running Stitch  Rectangle Nesting Dies

Inktense Pencils

Versamark Ink

WOW White Embossing Powder

I hope that I have inspired you to join in with the challenge!

Take care and Stay Safe.

Encouraging rainbow ...

Good morning all ... another day and another rainbow coloured card:

I inked up the background stamp with rainbow shades of distress ink and spritzed it water and then stamped it onto a panel of water colour card stock.  I stamped some of the sentiments with versafine ink and the others are from clear stickers.  I like to create cards that can be sent to friends and family when they need a bit of a boost.

I used:

Distress Inks: Candied Apple, Carved Pumpkin, Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves and Wilted Violet

Memento: Dandelion Ink

Versafine: Onyx Black

UNIKO: Background Blocks Horizontal Stripes

STAMPlorations: Shine Bright Clear Stickers

Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle Nesting Dies

This is the first outing for the horizontal stripes stamp ... this was a must have stamp when I bought it and yet it has taken me absolutely ages to break it out of the packaging ... it's not on it's own I have quite a few stamps sets that have yet to be inked!!!

I'm linking this card up to the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge #14

Addicted to CAS #185

Keep well and stay safe!

Less is More ... Let's go dotty ...

Good morning, are you all set for the new challenge at Less is More?  This time it is everyone's favourite ... One Layer Card!!

Anything with dots e.g. images, sentiments, backgrounds

For this card I die cut the letters out of a sheet of masking paper and then stamped lots of individual dots through the negative space ... I wish I had a spotty background stamp as it would have been so much easier!!!  I then outlined the letters by piercing dots along one edge to add some additional dimension.  Then stamped 'birthday' to complete the sentiment.

As I had already die cut the letters I thought I would create a second card by using the letters as a mask:

I used the same small stamps and the same inks to create the panel of colour around the letters.  This time I pierced the inside of the letters to add a little more definition to them.

I used:

Simon Says Stamp:  Lots of Dots Stamp set

Visible Image:  Go To Words

Distress Inks - Festive Berries, Carved Pumpkin, Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Wilted Violet.

Memento Ink - Dandelion

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

I hope you will join in with the challenge ... I would love to see your creations.

Stay Safe.

STAMPlorations Spring Fling Blog Hop and Linky Party Reminder ...

Exciting news ... you still have time to join in with the blog hop and linky party at STAMPlorations ... join in with the fun and you could win a prize!!

My project to inspire you is very clean and simple - a design that is versatile and could be used for many different occasions:

I used distress inks to create a water colour panel and added the clear sticker straight on top - a simple but effective technique.  I love these stickers because if I've gone to the trouble of creating a lovely water colour panel I don't want to ruin it by not stamping a clean sentiment!!

I used:

STAMPlorations April Showers Clear Stickers

CUTplorations Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

Check out the STAMPlorations blog to see some amazing projects from the design team and join in with the hop you could win:

Prizes:

- THREE (3) winners of $10 gift code drawn from comments left on the main blog and designers' blogs

- TWO (2) winners of her choice of STAMPlorations product with a value of up to $10 drawn from comments left on the main blog and designers' blogs

- TWO (2) winners of her choice of STAMPlorations product with a value of up to $15 drawn from entries in the linky party

- ONE (1) winner of $25 gift code drawn from entries in the linky party

Commenting and linking up end on Sunday, May 31, with winners announced on June 10 in the May winners post.

Enjoy!

STAMPlorations May challenge reminder ...

Here we are half way through another month ... have you joined in with the STAMPlorations Theme and Photo challenge ... if not you still have time ...

As in previous months my reminder post is tag:

I used:

STAMPlorations:  Art Marks

                                Born to Roam

CUTplorations:  Hello Sunshine

                             Manilla Tags Nesting Dies

ARTplorations:  Dots all Over Stencil

Stampin Up:  Not Quite Navy Ink

Versafine Onyx Black

Pop along to the blog and check out the other projects from the design team - you will not be disappointed.

Stay Safe!