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!

STAMPlorations Birthday Celebrations ...

 This month we are celebrating STAMPlorations 8th birthday - 3 days of projects by the design team and 3 ways for you to get involved and win some incredible prizes.

Today is the first day of the celebrations and I have three projects to share with you - all created using the '8th Birthday Bundle #1'

One bundle - three different looks.

Remember to check out all of the design team projects and get involved with the celebrations and you might just win.

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!

STAMPlorations ... June Theme and Photo Reminder

 Well here we are half way through June and you still have time left to join in with the STAMPlorations Theme and Photo challenge - if you haven't joined in yet then get out your supplies and create.

For the launch I chose Blue and Yellow and for the reminder I've kept the yellow and replaced the blue with green.

Another mixed media piece, this time a journal page.  Lots of paint, die cuts and layers!

I used:

STAMPlorations - Feathery Coordinating Dies

                           - Trendy Leaves Coordinating Dies

                           - For the Birds Dies

                           - Trendy Spring Blooms Coordinating Dies

                           - Stitched Tags Nesting Dies

                           - Art Marks Stamp Set

                              - Clear Stickers Inspirational #2

(This post contains affiliate links when you click on them and place an order I will recieve a small commission at no extra cost to you)

I hope you have time to join in with the challenge and look forward to seeing your projects.

Keep Crafting!

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!

UNIKO ... Guest Designer, Take Two!

Have you joined in with the current challenge at UNIKO?  If not I'm here to remind you that you still have time to get creating and join in - so what are you waiting for?

Hopefully my card will help to inspire you to get out your supplies and get creating!

I stamped and het embossed the images and then coloured them with distress ink before using a selection of dies to cut partial images.  I've adhered some to the card base with foam tape and some flat to add interest and dimension.

I used:

UNIKO You Are, Yes You Stamp set

Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry

Cosmic Shimmer Gold Embossing Powder.

I've enjoyed being part of the UNIKO team.  I hope you will join in with the challenge and look forward to seeing your creations.

Stay Safe!

STAMPlorations ... June Theme and Photo

 It is time for a new Theme and Photo Challenge at STAMPlorations - I hope you are ready to get creating!!  This months challenge is:

Which colours will you choose?  I've chosen Blue and Yellow:

The background is created using tissue paper that I printed using a gelli plate, acrylic paints and stencils.  The tissue was then adhered to a die cut tag before I stitched around the edge to pull the whole design in.  I added some texture paste through a stencil for added dimension.  All of the layers were die cut from oddments of card printed on a gelli plate with the addition of some stamping.

I used:

STAMPlorations:

Stitched Tags Nesting Dies

Basic A2 Nesting Dies

Flutter Zen 1 Layering Dies

Art Marks Stamp Set

Clear Stickers Inspirational #2

(This post contains affiliate links when you click on them and place an order I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you)

I hope you will be inspired to join in with the challenge and remember to check out the other amazing designs from 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!

UNIKO ... Guest Designer!

Welcome to this exciting post - I am guest designer for the new UNIKO challenge and I can't tell you how delighted I am.  I love UNIKO stamps - Bev's designs are just beautiful especially her Pure Florals range that simply capture the beauty of flowers.  I was lucky enough to be chosen as a winner earlier this year and part of the prize was to guest design for a challenge - so here I am to inspire and encourage you to join in with the new challenge:

I stamped the peony on a book page before water colouring with distress inks.  I fussy cut the image and adhered it to a die cut circle before adhering it to the card base with foam tape to add dimension.  I finished by stamping the sentiment.

I used:

UNIKO Pure Florals: Peony

             Simply Said Stamp set

Distress Inks - Picked Raspberry and Peeled Paint.

Dienamics Stitched Circles.

I hope that you can find the time to join in with the challenge - you just might win!

This is the card that I won the challenge with:

Stay Safe!

STAMPlorations ... May Reminder

 This month seems to be whizzing by much like most of the year ... it is time to remind you that you still have time to join in with this month's STAMPlorations Theme and Photo challenge:

This month I seem to be on a bit of a mixed media kick and I have an art journal page to inspire you to join in with the challenge:

I created the background using a gelli plate acrylic paints and a selection of stencils. I added some torn book pages and washi tape to give a foundation for the birds and the sentiment. 

I used:

STAMPlorations - Lowercase Alpha Plate

                             Uppercase Alpha Plate

                             Leaves 1 Stencil

                             Leaf Prints Stencil

                            Trendy Birds 2 Stamp set

                             For the Birds Die set

This post contains affiliate links when you click on them and place an order I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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

Stay Safe!

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!