Less is More ... One Layer Card

How time flies!  We are back round to the One Layer card challenge at Less is More. I know we have all become experts at the One Layer Card but in case you are new to this term the key requirement is that you only use the card base itself with no additional layers.  It is a challenge where masking certainly is your friend to create the illusion of layers.

I've used a combination of masking and over stamping to create shape and layers:

I began the process by masking off where the butterflies were going before stamping with a selection of dotty background stamps. 

I added some light ink blending around the edge of the butterflies to increase the definition of the shapes especially the central butterfly.  In all honesty this is the second card that I made as I forgot the one layer aspect on my first!!!  A common mistake that I make when preparing my design team projects!

I used:

Visible Image - Grunge Tones stamp set

UNIKO - English Country Garden Butterflies stamps and coordinating dies (the dies were for the masks)

Distress Inks

The last Less is More challenge was Shades of Blue - I said at the time that blue is my favourite colour!!

This will be my last post as a member of the design team.  I am standing down through necessity as I need to concentrate on my immediate family’s needs. 

Take Care!

Less is More ... Colour Challenge

 Welcome to the first challenge for August at Less is More ... the challenge is all about colour and we would like to see you use 'shades of blue'.

I feel lucky with this challenge as blue is my most favourite colour (closely followed by orange)! I have a simply card with stamping and diecutting to share:

I used:

UNIKO - English Country Garden Butterflies stamp set and coordinating dies.

UNIKO - Today, Tomorrow and Always: Time

Distress Inks

I hope you will be inspired and have the time to create and enter the challenge.  I have loved seeing all the beautiful entries into the last challenge CASE-ing one of my designs.

Take Care!

Less is More ... Recipe Challenge

 Good Morning!  It's my birthday today and it is a Less is More tradition that if the birthday of a member of the design team falls on a new challenge day the challenge is to CASe (Copy and Share Everything) one of their designs!  So this challenge is for you to CASe my design.

This is the card for you to CASe:

I stamped and heat embossed the flowers before water colouring using distress inks.  I then chopped the image up into tiles before adhering them to the card base with foam tape to add interest and dimension.  I finished the card by adding a simple clean sentiment.

I hope you will find the time to join in with the challenge.  I cannot wait to see your take on my card - what inspires you is just going to be very interesting.

Enjoy!

Less is More ... Theme Challenge

Good Morning!! New month and time for a new challenge at Less is More this time we have a Recipe for you - Christmas in July.  Every year I plan to start creating my Christmas cards early to get ahead of the time and every year I fail - at least this challenge has encouraged me to make a start.  How about you? Have you started on your Christmas cards yet?  If not, why not use this challenge to kickstart your creating.

I have a couple of simple designs to share:

A simple card created with a gelli print for the die cut tree and leaf dies to create a simple tree.  A few very thin strips of black card to anchor the tree to the base plus a final simple sentiment.  The hardest part was lining up the black strips!

My second card is also quite simple:

For this one I stamped and heat embossed the image before water colouring with distress inks. I added the stamped panel to the card base with some foam tape to add a little dimension and added interest.

Check out the blog for more inspiring cards from the Design Team. I look forward to seeing your cards.

Stay Safe and Keep Crafting!

Less is More ... One Layer Challenge

 It is hard to believe that we are now half way through the year and it is time for a new challenge at Less is More and it is everybody's favourite - One Layer Challenge!  Remember this is to use just the card base and no additional layers - in the past I wasn't very keen on creating one layer cards but now I quite enjoy the challenge.

I have to be honest with you all - I found this theme a real challenge.  I couldn't see beyond using die cut letters but eventually I used die cut masks to create the illusion of layers.

I masked the heart and letters and then ink blended the heart yellow, once dry I put a mask over the heart and used lots of small stamps to add colour and interest to the card as well as creating the edge of the heart.  Finally I added the sentiment across the middle.

I used:

UNIKO - Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum, Originally Organics Additions, You are, Yes You

Distress Inks - Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, Crushed Olive

Tim Holtz Alphanumeric Script

Sizzix Hearts #2

I hope you will be inspired to have a go and remember to check out the blog for more inspiration.

Enjoy!

Less is More ... Colour challenge

 Morning all!!  Time for a new challenge at Less is More and this time we have a colour challenge:

The possibilities seem endless for this challenge - I sometimes find it difficult to know where to start with colour challenges.  But after some thought I came up with this card:

I stamped and heat embossed the circles and use Inktense pencils and a water brush to colour each one.  I stamped and heat embossed the words.  A simple card with a simple design which could have been a one layer card but actually I created the design on a separate piece of card!

I used:

Simon Says Stamp Lots of Dots stamp set.

Kaisercraft Pretty Little Things

Inktense Pencils.

Remember to check out the blog and see the amazing designs from the rest of the design team.

Keep  Crafting!

Less is More ... Favourite Technique

 Good Morning! It is hard to believe that we are already at the end of May and it is time for a new challenge at Less is More - it is time for our Lucky Dip challenge and this time we would like to see you use your favourite technique.

So get your thinking caps on - what is you go to technique? Die cutting, stamping, heat embossing, stencilling - the list is endless.  My favourite technique (at the moment!) is water colouring.  I have two cards to share both using the same stamp - to me they show the versatility of water colouring as they both use the same two distress inks but they look very different.  The variation is created by varying the amount of water used to blend the ink.

This one has a soft and gentle appearance whereas the second card is far more vibrant.

This time, more than ever, I am looking forward to finding out what your favourite technique is - I'm always looking for new ideas and inspiration from my fellow bloggers.  Remember to check out the Less is More blog to see what the rest of the Design Team have created.

Keep well!

Less is More ... Sketch

 Good Morning!  It is time for a new challenge at Less is More - this time we have a sketch challenge for you.

I have two cards to share with you - both follow the sketch in detail but you can change the shape of the elements or flip the layout if you wish.

The second card is a 'welcome to your new home'.

I hope you will be inspired to join in with the challenge and I look forward to seeing your creations.

Stay safe!

Less is More ... Sea Creatures

Wow, May already!  I hope you are all keeping well and ready for the new Less is More Challenge - it is time for a Theme challenge:

I can not wait to pay a visit to the seaside - I love a day at the seaside!  How about you?  

My project to inspire you:

I began by stamping the whales onto a gelli print before fussy cutting them.  I stamped the 'happy birthday' sentiment to (hopefully) resemble waves!  I attached the whales with some foam adhesive to add dimesion.

I used:

Funky Fossil - Whale of a Time stamp set

UNIKO - Simply Said

Distress Oxide - Blue Print Sketch

I look forward to seeing your creations.

Stay Safe!

Less is More ... One Layer Challenge

 It is amazing how quickly we get back to One Layer challenges at Less is More and that is exactly what we have for you this week.

I have a couple of cards to get you thinking.

I created this card using a stencil and Inktense pencils - a simple design and layout using very few resources.

My second card was even more simple as it was just two stamps and a sentiment, although I did heat emboss both elements.

Please remember this is a one layer challenge - this literally means just the card base and no additional layers.

I hope you will find time to join in with the challenge and look forward to seeing your designs. 

Stay Safe

Less is More ... Colour Challenge

 It is time for April showers and Spring flowers and it is also time for a new challenge at Less is More today's challenge is a colour challenge:

I have a simple, almost one layer card, design to hopefully to inspire you to join in.

Grey is not a colour that I use very often and I was concerned about grey leaves but I am quite happy with the effect that it gives.  I also decided to add a few splatters - something I always hesitate to include.

I used:

Rubber Dance Sketchy Flowers #1

Kaisercraft Mini Clear stamp sentiment

Distress Inks Picked Raspberry, Weathered Wood and Pumice Stone

Cosmic Shimmer embossing Powder

Versafine Onyx Black ink

Remember to check out the website for more inspiration.  I look forward to seeing your creations.

Stay Safe!

Less is More ... CAS Inking

 Good morning! Time for a new challenge at Less is More ... it is time for a recipe challenge -

We are looking for an inked area of your card - maybe a die cut or masked area.

I masked an area off and ink blended the whole area first and then used a stencil to add some interest to the background.

I hope you are inspired to join in with the challenge and remember to check out the blog for more inspiration from the other design team members.

Stay safe!

Less is More ... Theme Baby

Good Morning, it is time for a new challenge at Less is More it is time for the Theme challenge and the theme is Baby.

With Spring on the way in the UK it is time to think of babies - human, animals, monsters or even robots!  So get out your supplies and get creating.  I've taken the traditional route and have created a welcome baby card:

I used:

For the Love of Stamps - Another Year Taller Stamp set

Simon Says Stamp - Handwritten Borders

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

I look forward to seeing your creations.

Stay safe and keep crafting!

Less is More ... One Layer

Good morning!  It is time for a new challenge at Less is More and it is everyone's 'favourite' one layer!

I hope the more we create one layer cards the easier they are!  I have two cards to share one using stamps and the other a stencil.

I stamped the rose and then masked it before stamping the background.  I water coloured the rose with distress inks and stamped the sentiment. I scored the frame around the image to make it pop and to hold it together.

I used:

UNIKO - Pure Florals: Rose

               Simply Said

Indigo Blu - Honeycomb Background

Distress Inks - Twisted Citron, Candied Apple, Carved Pumpkin and Peeled Paint.

My second card:

I used inktense pencils and a water brush through the stencil to create the flower - I never have much success with paint or ink blending through a stencil.  The image actually goes around back of the card.

I used:

UNIKO Stencil

Inktense pencils

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

I hope you will be able to find time to join in with the challenge and I look forward to seeing your cards.

Stay Safe and Keep Crafting!