Less is More ... Recipe ...

 Back again for the second challenge of the month at Less is More this time it is a recipe challenge:

I've used stamps from UNIKO (this month's sponsor) to create a couple of cards to inspire you to get out your supplies and join i with the challenge.

First up I went Christmas:

I used the following:

UNIKO - Jingle Bells, Winter Foliage and Festive Sentiments Stamp Sets

Stampin up - Granny Apple Green and Shaded Spruce Ink

Distress Inks - Crushed Olive, Pine Needles and Festive Berries

Second card is a general one which I seem to need more and more.

I used quite a few stamps sets for this project but only selected stamps from each one - these are the supplies:

UNIKO - Big and Bold Hello, Nature Treasures I, Originally Organic, Fun Flowers,  Beautiful Blooms II and Flower Power #6

Distress oxides and inks - Spiced Marmalade, Festive Berries, Candied Apple and Carved Pumpkin

Memento - Dandelion ink

So there we have it two projects using more than one foliage - the first one using recognisable leaves and the second using primarily stylised leaves.

If you need more inspiration check out the blog for more beautiful projects from the rest of the design team.  I look forward to seeing your projects.

Take care!

Less is More ... One Layer ... Cheers

 Saturday morning and time for a new challenge at Less is More ... this time it is everyone's favourite 'One layer challenge'.

When I create 'one layer cards' it feels like I am cheating as so little seems to be involved in creating the card ... then I wonder why it takes me so long! But this type of card still needs lots of decisions ... which stamp. where will you position the image, how will you colour it, does it need anything else?  All these decisions take time and thought ... at least I was lucky this time and stamped a perfect image and finished the card without a stray spot of ink where it shouldn't be!

I used:

STAMPlorations - Sweet Kindness; The Birds and Blooms

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

Faber Castell Polychromo Crayons

Check out the blog for more inspiration.

I've just popped back to enter this into the current challenge at TIME OUT challenge #171

Stay Safe!

Autumnal thanks ...

I'm still trying to keep busy and distracted ... sometimes you just need to switch off from the world ... 

There is a new challenge on the Uniko Studio blog ... I love Bev's designs ....so I thought I would join in ...

I used:

UNIKO - Background Blocks, Halftone

             - Natures Treasures I

             - Flower Power #5

Distress Inks - Candied Apple, Ripe Persimmon, Abandoned Coral, Carved Pumpkin, Scattered Straw

Versafine Onyx Black

The challenge details:

Uniko Challenge #61

Stay safe and keep well!

Yellow and Green ...

 I really am on a bit of a roll at the moment ... I blame Darnell at djkardkreations for this creation ... if you don't know Darnell please pop across and check out her blog she makes some amazing cards and writes such wonderful blog posts.  I popped over to check out a recent card of hers and found out about a new challenge in the blogging world called: Color Hues: the color challenge.  So I thought I would give it a go ... well it would be rude not to!!

It is quite a simple card just die cutting and a simple stamped an heat embossed sentiment.

The details of the challenge are:

Color Hues: the color challenge #1

There are some awesome designers involved with the challenge so if you don't have time to take part it is worth checking out.

Stay Safe!

Less is More ... Purple

 I just cannot believe how quick the days and weeks are passing this year and all without a great deal going on!  Today is the start of a new challenge at Less is More and this one is all about 'shades of purple'.

So grab your purples, have fun and join in with the challenge ... just remember we are looking for Clean and Simple (CAS) designs.

I stamped and coloured the image and then trimmed the edge of the card around the image before stamping the sentiment on the inside following the shape of the top layer.

I used:

STAMPlorations:  Sweet Kindness Stamp set

Distress Inks - Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron and Mowed Lawn.

Stampin Up - Gorgeous Grape

You're in for a treat this week as I've managed to create a second card:

I created a panel with yupo and alcohol ink and then die cut the wildflowers before adding them to a panel of card.  The focal image has been adhered to the card base with foam tape just to add a little dimension.  I pricked some detail into the card base as well as the focal image to tie the two together before stamping a sentiment. And that, as they say, was that!

I hope that you are all keeping well and are inspired to join in with the challenge ... need more inspiration? check out the other designers over on the blog.

Stay Safe!

Another use for bleach ...

It seems that part of my lockdown routine is to create a card ... first find a challenge that inspires and then get creating ... sometimes it is not as easy as I would like, in fact sometimes I think my mojo is on lockdown somewhere else!!!

Today's card:

I began by stamping and heat embossing the flower on coloured card, I then used bleach to remove some of the colour from the petals before using polychromos pencils to add some detail and depth into the image.  I used bleach to stamp the leaves onto the green card stock - I was delighted with the resulting images and the fact that they were yellow and not pure white (I did wash the bleach from the stamp as soon as I had finished stamping).  It is interesting the way coloured card reacts to the bleach.

I used:
UNIKO Pure Florals: Chrysanthemum
Visible Image: Go to Words
Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils
Versamark
WOW Clear Embossing Powder

The challenge that inspired this creation:

CAS MIx Up April Challenge
- as well as bleach my project includes die cutting, heat embossing, colouring with polychromos.



Stay Safe!

Happy Christmas ...

It's getting close now!!!  Have you completed all of your cards? ... I have I just need to post them!  This is the final Christmas design and it is as simple as it could possibly be:

There is not really a lot to say about the card - I simple image coloured with a Zig Real Brush Clean Colour marker plus a couple of sentiment stamps.  A design that was very easy to mass produce - important if time is short!

I am going to enter the following (new to me)challenge:

Perfectly CAS


This is likely to be my last post of the year - thank you all for visiting my blog over 2019 - I've not always posted as regularly as I would like but sometimes life just takes over!!

Happy Christmas.

Enjoy!

Time for a challenge ...

It has been sometime since I was able to enter any challenges ... I've been busy creating for my daughter's wedding ... everything is now in place for the big day so I had time to create without purpose!!

I had a quick look around the challenge blogs to see which one took my fancy ... actually there were a couple but I'll begin with the AAA Cards - the challenge is to create leaving maximum 'white' space with the optional twist of geometric.  This is what I came up with:

A simple design using die cuts with a stamped sentiment.

I used:
UNIKO sentiment
Cut and Make Mini Botanical die
Memory Box Honeycomb Square

Hopefully I will soon get back to regular blogging.

Enjoy!

AAA Cards #152


Addicted to Stamps and More #364

Positive thoughts ...

After the searing heat of the last few days today has been cool and wet ... so no chance of getting in the garden but a good excuse to spend time creating.  Inspired by a couple of challenges I made a couple of cards ... both simple in design:

The stamped image was coloured with Inktense pencils and the fussy cut before adhering to the card base with foam tape for added dimension.  The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed.

I used:
STAMPlorations: Bloomful Stamp set
Inktense Pencils

I'm entering the current challenge at AAA Cards

My second card is a one layer card, again a very simple design:

Apologies for the wonky photograph!

The image was a free stamp on a magazine which I stamped and heat embossed before colouring with inktense pencils.

I'm entering the current challenge at "Less is More"

Enjoy!

AAA Cards ... Use one corner

Good Morning ... time for the start of a new challenge at AAACards and I'm here to inspire you to get out your crafty supplies and join in.

Keeping your design in one corner is a great way to keep your card Clean and Simple (CAS).  This is my take on the theme without the optional twist.

I used a corner die to cut a section out of the front panel and added a scrap of gelli printed card behind the opening.  I added the panel to the card base using foam tape for added dimension.  Stamped and heat embossed the sentiment before adding it to the card using some more foam adhesive.

I used:

Tim Holtz Mixed Media #2 die (661185)

Acrylic paints and stencils for the gelli print

Wow Gold Embossing powder.

I hope I have inspired you to join in with the challenge - if you need more inspiration then check out the blog and see the amazing designs from the rest of the Design Team.  Please remember to keep your design Clean and Simple (CAS).

Enjoy!

A special card for a special lady ...

So who is the special lady ... my mum!  It's her birthday on Tuesday (it's safe to show this card here as she doesn't 'do' the internet) and this is the card I made:

My mum is a wonderful lady and my best friend ... for me, she is the best mum in the world!  She is also a card maker but our styles are very different although she always wants to learn how I make my cards.  I do share my design secrets with her as she did teach me to knit and sew!

I stamped and heat embossed the peony before water colouring the image.  I added the sentiment with foam adhesive for added dimension and a few enamel dots for added interest (and because my mum would have added them!!).

I used:
UNIKO - Pure Florals:Peony
Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry
Versafine - Onyx Black ink
WOW Clear embossing powder

I'm entering the following challenges:

UNIKO Challenge  - my card was made with love but I'm not sure it fits the optional twist!


Addicted to Stamps and More #324


Enjoy!

Wreath twofer ...

Good evening!! I hope you are well and keeping warm ... it has been bitterly cold in Oxfordshire today a sure sign that winter is on the way.  I've popped by to share a couple of cards that have taken me ages to make - you'll wonder why when you see them!! Unfortunately procrastination seems to be my enemy at the moment!! 

I stamped and heat embossed a panel with a background poinsettia stamp which I then water coloured using zig real brush markers.  The panel looked lovely as it was but I was determined to try and "think outside of the box" to create a design that looked a little different so I took the wreath die and cut up the panel!! The above is the result ... not quite a traditional wreath but it pleases me!

For my second card I used the same wreath die set, a butterfly die and a scrap of gelli printed card.  I think it's clear how it came together to create a minimalist, clean and simple design.

I'm entering the following challenges:

Twofer Card Challenge #11 - both cards


UNIKO Challenge #50 - the Christmas card


Enjoy!