Snowflakes ...

I can't believe that it is Sunday evening already ... back to work tomorrow after a week's holiday!  I was lucky enough to spend part of the week in Edinburgh visiting my son, always a treat ... I've also made time to get creative!

This is today's creation ... 

Once again I'm having trouble with my photography ... this definitely looks better in real life!  
The inspiration for my card came from this week's challenge at "Less is More" where the theme is layered stamping.  I have a number of floral stamps designed for layered stamping but I never have much success with them so instead I decided that snowflake stamps were the way to go besides I need more Christmas cards!.  I began by stamping a snowflake background stamp and then layered on some individual snowflakes.  I then stamped and heat embossed the sentiment over the top.

I used:
UNIKO - Stunning Snowflakes
            - Background Blocks: Falling Snow
            - Festive Sentiments
Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint Sketch

Challenge details:


Enjoy!

AAA Cards Ink Blending ...

Morning all, I hope you are having a great weekend and are all set to join in with the new challenge at AAA Cards - this time it is all about ink blending (one of my favourite techniques!)

I love using distress inks for this technique -

I used:

Distress Inks - Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Spiced Marmalade and Festive Berries

Sizzix - Tim Holtz Wildflowers

UNIKO - Simply Said.

I hope that you will join in with the challenge and I look forward to checking out your designs.

Enjoy!

Monster card ...

... not really a monster card rather a card featuring monsters!!

A simple design involving masking, stamping and colouring.  

I used:
Versafine Onyx Black Ink
Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers
PaperArtsy Zinis - ZN02
UNIKO - Simply Said

I'm entering this week's challenge at "Less is More"


Enjoy!

ATSM Clean and Simple ...

It is time for a new challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More - this week is one of my favourite - Clean and Simple (CAS).

I'm obsessed with creating Christmas cards at the moment as I am way behind!  I'm still looking for a design that is stylish but quick to make ... this is my most recent design:

I die cut the tree, stamped and heat embossed the design before colouring with distress ink. I wrapped the tree in some fine gold thread, stamped the sentiment and that was it.

I hope you will be drop by the challenge and check out the design teams inspiring projects. I look forward to seeing your creations.

Enjoy!

Stars, stars and more stars ...

Tuesday already ... where do the days disappear to?  I was away at the weekend so tonight is the first chance that I've had to get creative ... so my first priority is to create a card for this week's challenge at "Less is More".  It is one layer week with the theme of Stars which is very handy for me as I get an excuse to break out some new UNIKO stamps!

 

I stamped and heat embossed the words with silver embossing powder.  I then masked it with a star and lightly ink blended the edges before stamping a selection of stars with distress inks.  That was the card done!  I sometimes feel as if I've cheated when I create one layer cards as there is so little involved.

I used:
UNIKO - Background Builders: Seeing Stars and Reach for the Stars stamp sets.
Distress Inks - Broken China, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon, Blueprint Sketch.

The challenge details:

"Less is More" #350


Enjoy!

CUTplorations reminder ...

Have you joined in with this month's challenge over at STAMPlorations ... you still have time so get out your dies and start cutting!  These are the details:

My original project, here, was on the 'home' theme in this reminder post I've gone with the colours and Autumn feel:

I took one of the leaf dies and die cut a number of leaves.  I added some detail by stamping with distress ink and then heat embossing with clear powder before smooshing them in various distress inks to add colour and texture.  I then stamped and heat embossed some leaves onto the background before adhering the leaves with foam pads to add more dimension.  I added some splatters to the background.

I used:

STAMPlorations - Trendy Leaves 2 Coordinating Dies

                              - Trendy Leaves Stamp Set

Distress Inks - ripe persimmon, abandoned coral, festive berries, spiced marmalade, carved pumpkin, candied apple.

WOW White and Clear Embossing Powder

I hope you will be inspired to join in with the challenge - if you need more inspiration why not pop across to the blog and check out the other designers.  If you fancy treating yourself to some of the STAMPloration products then I have a treat for you - use this code and you will get a 20% discount ... STAMPGIRLELAINE

Fancy some more inspiration - how about this:

A simple design with just words!

Enjoy!

AAA Cards Inspired by Film ...

Good Morning!  As we start a new week it is time for a new challenge at AAA Cards and this time we want a card that is 'Inspired by a Film' the choice of film is yours but please remember to tell us in your post which film you have chosen!

I've chosen - Holiday Inn - I'm need to keep going with my Christmas cards so it seemed appropriate to go with a Christmas film.  This is the design I came up with (perhaps I should say that it is the one that didn't end up in the bin!!)

I've had real problems photographing this card - the white on white with white heat embossing does not show very clearly but in real life it looks so much better!

I hope that you will join in with the challenge and look forward to checking out your creations.

Enjoy!

Autumn Too ...

Do you find that when you remember a particular technique you then use that technique to create a lot of cards?  I certainly do ... as followers of my blog will know!!  Today is no exception, I'm into paper piecing at the moment - either stamping and die cutting images and then putting them back together on a card base or die cutting an image and then filling in the negative space with patterned paper.  So it will not be a surprise to see today's contribution to the card stash as it follows the same idea ...

This uses the left overs from my previous post 'Autumn'.  This time I've used a hexagon die and included the outline which I've adhered flat to the base and the hexagons I've adhered using foam adhesive to add dimension.

I used:
UNIKO Fun flowers stamp set (just one of the leaves)
Distress Inks - ripe persimmon, abandoned coral, festive berries, spiced marmalade, carved pumpkin and candied apple.
Sizzix - Tim Holtz Frameworks Honeycomb Die

I'm entering this into the "Less is More" Challenge.



Enjoy!

Autumn ...

Evening all ... I hope your weekend has been enjoyable ... I've been busy but found time to create some cards ... this is the first I would like to share with you ...

This week's challenge at "Less is More" is a colour challenge - 'Hot and Spicy'.  As you can see I went for the Autumnal colours.  I began by creating a panel using a stylised leaf stamp to create flowers and then die cut the bubbles from the panel.  Unfortunately I didn't think to take a photograph of the panel before I cut it up ... but this is the panel with the bit missing!!

I'm now wishing that I had tried a different design but there is enough of the panel left to create another card so I might just try something different!!!  I could be back later!

I used:
UNIKO Fun flowers stamp set (just one of the leaves)
Distress Inks - ripe persimmon, abandoned coral, festive berries, spiced marmalade, carved pumpkin and candied apple.
Sizzix - Bright Bubbles die

I'm entering these challenges:

"Less is More" #349


Stamping Sensations - October challenge - Autumn Glory

Enjoy!

STAMPlorations Words are centre stage ...

There are times when words should take centre stage and the typografia stamps from STAMPlorations are perfect for this and to showcase these new stamps we are holding a blog hop and giveaway.

It is worth checking out the amazing designs that the team have created and if you leave a comment you will have a chance of winning a prize - so the more you comment the greater the chance that you could win.  I hope my cards will inspire you to check out the stamps.

The poinsetia stamp is from STAMPlorations: Christmas Bell Medley

If you decide to buy some of the stamps you can get an extra 20% off by using the code STAMPGIRLELAINE.

I hope that you'll join in with the blog hop.

Enjoy!

ATSM Make Your Mark ...

It's new challenge time at Addicted to Stamps and More ... I hope you are all set to join in with the challenge.  This week's challenge:

The main point of this challenge is that we want to see your colouring ... markers, water colours, paints, pencils, inks ... whatever your preferred medium is we want to see it!

I used distress inks to water colour the image and brushos to colour the background.  This is the result:

Need more inspiration?  Pop over to the blog and check out the other designers cards I know you will not be disappointed.  Then get out your crafty supplies and join in with the challenge ... I would love to see your cards.

Enjoy!

Three cards, three wise men ...

Good afternoon! I'm just back from work and decided to share these cards with you before sorting out dinner!  

Three cards - one layout, two paper pieced and one just a die cut!

I love the challenge of paper piecing but it does take time ... especially when some of the pieces are so tiny!  The die is by Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions and it is part of her Festive Collection - Three Wise Men.

I've been short of inspiration recently but I'm delighted that my mojo seems to be returning (with mixed success) and was desperate to create a card that I could enter into the wonderful Darnell's NBUS challenge.  If you haven't yet met Darnell you really must visit her blog I know you will not be disappointed.  Not only does Darnell create some beautiful cards her blog posts are always eloquent and entertaining!

Enjoy!

Home Sweet Home ...

It is time for the start of a new season of CUTploration challenges over at STAMPlorations and I am excited to say I am now a permanent member of the design team!  I had such a great time being part of the Guest Design team that when I was asked to join the main team I did not hesitate.  So this is my first post that I hope will inspire you to join in with the challenge ... if you are not inspired by my project then pop across to the blog and see the awesome projects from the rest of the team.

I went with the literal interpretation and created a 'new home' card with the 'home is where your heart is...'

I used:

CUTlorations: Crazy Double Running Stitched Rectangles; Lower Case Alphabet Plate; Sweet Spring Wishes; Clustered Heart Die.

STAMPlorations: The Bee's Knees - Houses

Distress Inks - Candied Apple, Carved Pumpkin, Twisted Citron and Tumbled Glass

I hope you will be inspired to join in with the challenge!  If you fancy treating yourself to some of the STAMPloration products then I have a treat for you - use this code and you will get a 20% discount ... STAMPGIRLELAINE

Enjoy!

Sunshine flowers ...

Back again!  Just a quick post this time to share a card I've completed this afternoon ...

Another card using the inlaid die technique ... this time a word.

I used:
STAMPlorations Bloomtangled ATC #1
CUTplorations - Wonky double stitched rectangle die and 'Birthday' die
Winsor and Newton Water colours

I'm going to enter this into the following challenges:

"Less is More" #348



STAMPlorations


Enjoy!