Less is More 274 - Lucky Dip!

A very good morning to you!

 

Wowzers! This last week has passed by in a flash hasn't it? 

Can you believe that it will be May tomorrow? 

 

As it is Saturday, it is time for our latest Less is More challenge which this week is lucky dip week.... and the lucky dip is:

Use designer paper in a CAS way.

 

I know this will shock you all, but when we made the move from the UK to Portugal I had to ditch hundreds of packs of designer papers (yes, I did cry!....a lot!) as there was no room for them in the items we were shipping over.

 

Then when I arrived here I found that you just can't seem to buy any designer paper over here!  YIKES!!!!

So after a brief panic when we were given today's theme, I remembered that I did squirrel away a 3 packs of 6 x 6 papers, thank goodness.

They may be very, very old packs, but I hope what I have done with them will inspire you to do something similar with your newer packs!

 

Today's we have a guest designer.....the fabulous Esther from The Carnelian Wood blog. You probably all know her because she is a fantastic commenter on our challenge. I hope you will all visit her to leave her a comment on the fantastic card she made as our GDT.

 

Okay.....best get to my cards.

This first one uses Basic Grey Euphoria pack where I simply cut 3 banners (I do use this design layout a lot!) and attached them with 3d foam pads. The sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps birthday sentiments set. and 3 sequins were used as a finishing touch.













Next up is a thank you card. The paper is from Basic Grey Granola pad. A plain panel was cut and raised on 3d pads after attaching a ribbion with hand made bow around it. The sentiment is Marianne Creatables #LR0224.











Finally, a really delicate paper from Basic Grey Euphoria has been placed behind a die cut panel that was raised on 3d foam pads. The die is Wild Rose Studio Woodland Posy. The sentiment is Whimsy Stamps birthday sentiments. The finishing touch is pearls added to the centre of the flowers.

 

This photo shows the designer paper a little better.

Thank you for stopping by. Please hop over to our challenge to see what the rest of my teamies have made (some amazing inspiration over there!)

 

Please leave me a comment to let me know that you have popped in and I will come over to see you soon.

Hugs,

Sharon xx

Spring Flowers Framed Picture

Good morning everyone.

 

I'm back today with a little item that I made just for the fun of it.

 

 This is the very first framed picture that I have made and I'm pretty pleased with it.

 

I made this for a couple of challenges:

Country View Crafts - April challenge of SPRING

Craft Stamper Magazine - April challenge SPRING FLOWERS

 

Here is a brief step-by step.

First, stencil through the Imaginations Crafts leaf swirl stencil using Sweet Poppy dimensions paste in pearlescent. Let it dry completely.








Blend a background using Spun Sugar, Tumbled Glass and Bundled Sage distress ink.








Darken the blended background through the Prima mask. (I can't find the name of the mask but the item number is 554620).




Take 3 stamps from the Clarity Stamps Journaling clear stamp set (text, leafy frond and the swallow). Ink the text   in bundled sage distress ink and stamp into place. Ink the leafy frond in the same ink and stamp several times.
The swallow was inked in jet black archival ink and coloured with distress markers.



 Wild Rose Studio dies in woodland posy and winter bouquet were die cut and coloured with distress pens and a pearlmaker pen used to make the flower centres (then left to dry)













Finally, the picture was assembled with the flowers overlapping the mount and inserted into the frame.

Here's a photo of the items used.

 

So, this type of thing is a change for me on this new blog but it is always good to show a bit of variety, isn't it? For the first ever framed picture that I have made it's not too shabby an effort, is it?

 

 

Let me know what you think.

Hugs,
Sharon xx

Less Is More 273 - Beware of the Dragons

Hello to you.

 

Beware, beware because here be dragons!

 

It is St George's day today and over at the Less is More challenge we have the perfect theme for you. This week we'd like to see

Saints & Dragons or Heroes. 

 

I've definitely gone with a theme of dragons for my DT cards! One for Harry Potter fans, one oriental themed, one masculine themed and one cute one too.
 

First for the oriental one which was amazingly quick to make.

The image from the Tanda Stamps 'Dragon and Fantasy Set 1' was stamped in archival black ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

I cut around the image and added it to a layered panel.
Simples!

Entering this into:
 Fab 'n' Funky challenge - Winged things
Cards und More challenge - Fantasy





Next I have my Saint George and the dragon image. This image is perfect for masculine cards and I use it a lot.

The Tanda Stamps image from the 'Medieval Knight Set 1' was inked up and coloured with watercolour pencils.

I added a wink of stella to St George's armour then inked the panel up in clear versamark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder a couple of times to create a tile.

This was added to a couple of paper layers, and the sentiment was computer generated.

Entering this into:
Inky Impressions challenge - All about the boys
Get Creative Challenge - Gothic of Medieval

Now here is my cutie-pie image.

The Lisa Victoria 'Bubbles' stamp was inked in cobalt blue archival ink and coloured with water colour pencils which I went over with a water brush. 

Glossy accents were added to the bubbles.

A wink of stella was added to the dragon.

The sentiment is from hobbycraft.

Entering this into DoubleClickSkittles Challenge - Welcome Baby


Finally the Harry Potter themed card.  The quote
'Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus'
 comes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone (or Sorcerer's stone depending on which country the book was published in). 
That means...Never tickle a sleeping dragon. Pretty apt for this little image from Funstamps called sleeping dragon. 

It was simply coloured in Promarkers in Apple, Grass, Emerald, Lush Green, Cool Grey 1. 3 & 5. The image was raised on 3d pads and the sentiment was handwritten because my printer conked out (bet you never would have guessed!

Well my fellow teamies have created some amazing inspiration for this one so do hop over to our challenge blog and take a peek. You never know, if you visit their personal blogs you may find even more samples to ogle over.

 

I can't wait to see what you all create this week.

Thanks for visiting and please leave me a comment to let me know you have been.

 

Hugs,

Sharon xx

Less is More #272 - Use 3 stamps

Good Morning!

How are we all doing? Feeling good?

 

It's Saturday again and that means it is time for another Less is More challenge.

This week we'd like to see you all Use 3 Stamps, no more; just 3 ;-)

 

The rest of my teamies have worked their usual magic and provided some amazing inspiration on the challenge site with even more on their personal blogs. Please do go over for a visit.

 

 Here are my pieces of DT inspiration.  I thought for my first card I would do some repeat stamping and a bit of brayering.



Stamps: Clarity Stamp Lone Spruce
              Clarity Stamp Pine Forest
              PapertreyInk Sentiment

The sky was brayered in Broken China, Stormy Sky & Hickory smoke DIs with a moon mask in place. The Pine Forest stamp was repeat stamped in Lettuce, Meadow and Bottle Adirondack. The Lone Spruce was stamped in Bottle Adirondack with the panel in place then the sentiment added underneath.
An Inkssentials opaque white pen was used to create stars, and what I thought would be moonlight highlights (but actually look a bit like snow now it's finished!) then the panel was raised on 3d foam pads

Entering this one into:
Addicted to Stamps and More! - Clean and Simple

The next card uses a stamp set I picked up in the UK on my trip over at Easter.

 

Stamps Used: Craft Asylum - Into the woods. The bare branch, the large owl & the sentiment

 

First, the owl was stamped into position In Rust Adirondak. A wink of Stella was added for a little shimmer.Then the tiny bare branch was repeat stamped multiple times in Mushroom Adirondack to provide a perch. The sentiment was stamped in Ginger Adirondak.  On the repeat stamped branches I added random drops of Liquid Pearls in Mint and Cosmic Shimmer Vintage Pink Pearlescent PVA glue to represent leaves and blossom. Entering this into C.R.A.F.T Challenge - Clean and Simple. Also entering it into AAA Cards - Anything Goes

 

Another spring card has been created for my third piece of inspiration.

 

Stamps used: Penny Black Allegro (two different flowers), and See D's Springtime Swirls Kit #50501 for the sentiment.

 

This was simply made by stamping on white card using distress markers in Mustard Seed, Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Mowed Lawn and Lucky Clover on the flower stamps.  The flowers were cut out and raised onto 3d foam pads and the sentiment was stamped directly onto the base card.  Entering this into Card Mania - Spring

 

I had to do a really quick sunshiny final card!  Stamps used: Clarity Stamps Gerberas and Papertrey Ink Sentiment

 

The sentiment and flowers were inked in Terra Cotta Adirondack and then the flowers were coloured with Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed Distress Markers and a Wink of Stella added for sparkle.

 

Card 1 - Addicted to Stamps and More! - Clean and Simple

 

 Card 2 - AAA Cards - Anything Goes

 

               C.R.A.F.T Challenge - Clean and Simple

 

Card 3 - Card Mania - Spring

 

There you have it!. I do hope you will all join in with us this week and can't wait to see what you make with 3 stamps.

 

As always, if you leave me a little comment to let me know you've been here I will come to visit you too.

 

Happy Crafting.

Hugs,

Sharon xx

Floral Bouquet Birthday

Hello to you all.  Thanks for visiting today.

 

Well, here we are at the start of another week and even though I am still playing catch-up at the moment, now that I am back home I can start to add a few more cards to my blog. 

 

Today's card is a simple birthday card that uses a vellum overlay on the base card.

 

The background on the base card was stamped with one of the small stamps from the Chocolate Baroque Floral Bouquet stamp set, using Memento grape jelly and cracked pistachio distress ink. The edges of the card were sponged with tumbled glass distress ink and a vellum overlay added to tone the whole background down a little.

 

The fantastic image was inked in Memento grape jelly and heat embossed with detail clear embossing powder.  The flowers were coloured with Promarkers in meadow green, leaf green, soft green, lush green, and green and the baby's breath flowers were coloured with cobalt blue. 

Initially I tried a wink of stella for sparkle, but as that only sparkled when the sun was directly on it, I decided to swap to a combination of crystal glamour dust on parts of the image and stardust Stickles around the outside of the image (because they sparkle all the time). I think that photo picks up some of the sparkle.

 

The sentiment is from the same stamp set, and the final touches were a small bow under the sentiment and rounding all the corners on the card and image.

 

Here are all the items that I used:

I'm entering it into
Chocolate Baroque - Challenge 21 Colour Challenge

Polkadoodles - Floral Frenzy
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Flowers (and ribbon - see my small bow?)
The stamping boutique - Flowers
Star Stampz Challenge - Flowers, Flowers, Flowers

 

Thank you so much for looking and please do leave me a comment to let me know you've been over and I'll return the favour.

 

Hugs,

Sharon xxx

Less is More 271 - One Layer Card with Geometric Pattern

Hello there! Thanks for dropping in.

 

My goodness, the last 2 weeks have completely flown by!

 

I am back from my Easter break to the UK but I'm sure that before I know what has happened I'll be back over there for my daughter's wedding.  I had a wonderful time with my girls and grandchildren. It really was fun spending so much time with them.

 

Anyhow, one of the main reasons for the trip was to track down that 'Mother of the Bride' outfit that I just could not find here in Portugal.  I found it too! Phew!  Just need to work on the suntan to go with it now. ;-)

 

Well, enough chitter chatter, let's get down to business.

 

It's time for another Less is More challenge and it's the dreaded 

One Layer Card challenge week.

This time we want to see an

OLC with a geometric pattern. 

 

This week I only have 3 DT examples for you.

 

My first card is one of my favourites. I just love how the embossing folder makes the card so tactile. This one was made by embossing the bottom of the card at an angle using the We R Memory Keepers Next Level Geometric embossing folder. It was then sponged in Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet and Picked Raspberry distress inks.  The sentiment is a line sentiment from Clarity Stamps and I added 4 tiny gems to finish it off.  I'm entering this into Stamplorations April Sketch. I've only used the sketch and not the theme on this entry (stamplorations sketch image is at the bottom of this post)

 

 

My second card is a little more delicate and has such a wonderful sheen to it. I used a mica mask from That Special Touch called Trellis. Versamark ink was applied through a masked off area of the mica mask and then Perfect Pearls Powder in Berry Twist, Interference Red, Turquoise and Forever Blue was brushed onto the versamark before the mask was removed.  The perfect pearls were sprayed with a Deler Rowney Perfix Colourless Fixative. The JustRite Sympathy Vintage Labels sentiment was inked in Versacolour 19 Cyan. I.m entering this into Everybody Art Challenge - Pastels

 

Finally, I made a really quick card with the Clarity Stamps Letterbox kits. The hexagon outlines were stamped in Butterscotch Adirondack. The hexagon infills were stamped in Sunshine Yellow Adirondack. The letters were stamped in Pitch Black Adirondack. Finally, drop shadows were added to the hexagons using Hickory Smoke and Pumice Stone Distress Markers. Entering this into Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Happy Birthday (they are 7 years old - CONGRATULATIONS!!). Double D Challenge - Yellow a happy place to be. And Little Red Wagon Challenge  - Celebrate

Well, that's my cards, and there are some amazing examples for you to look at on the challenge blog and even more on the design teams' personal blogs so I do hope that you will visit them all.

 

Thank you for stopping by.  I do hope you'll leave me a little comment so that I know you've been and I'll come over to see you too (I have more time to do that now I am back from my break!)

 

Hugs,

Sharon xx

 

Card 1

entered into Stamplorations Sketch Challenge

 

Card 2

 Everybody Art challenge - Pastels

 

Card 3

SSSWC - Happy Birthday

 

Double D Challenge - Yellow

 

Little Red Wagon - Celebrate

 

 

 

 

 

Less is More 270 - White space but not white

Good Morning everyone. I have a few DT cards to share with you today....so no waffle at all.

Saturday has come around again and this week for our Less is More challenge we want to see
White Space....but Not WHITE!

There is so much inspiration on the challenge blog so do hop over and visit the blogs of the design team for even more inspiration.
Our guest designer this week is Liz Cavell and her beautiful card can be seen here.

OK - Card 1.

This simply uses a Marianne Creatables die (Number LR0150) cut into a pale green mat.

The words are Tattered Lace (TTLD221) dies cut out in the darker green and adhered to the pale green mat.

The mat was raised onto 3d foam pads and attached to the card base.

This card is a variation on the same theme. The die cut this time is a Tattered Lace Tree of Wonder die. The words are from the same set as used in the card above.

Card 3. A cream cardstock was used as the base.  Memory Box Prim Poppies and Dancing Tulips dies have been cut out in a shiny patterned cream card and attached to a small panel of craft card embossed with Craft Concepts Diamond Shadow embossing folder. The sentiment is from DieSire.  

Card 4. I saw something like this on Pinterest and filed it away for the right time to use it. I can't remember who was the person to give credit to for this design but when I return home in a few days time I will search it out and add a link.  I also apologise for not noting the stamp set name that I used for this before I left home.

Card 5. I made this one to show that I could actually do a card with non-white white space that wasn't a monochrome! The square was created using Tumbled Glass distress ink as a base, and overstamped in Peacock Feathers Distress Ink using stamps from My Minds Eye Wild Asparagus set.  The butterfly and sentiment come from Penny Black Illuminations Transparent stamp set. The butterfly uses a combination of distress ink markers,

Finally my last card.  The base card is ClarityStamps black coated card stock. The beautiful corner flourish is from a Chocolate Baroque Lace fragments stamp set, inked up in Versamark and heat embossed in detail gold embossing powder. The sentiment is made up of words from the Waltzing Mouse Say it Loud stamp set.

Goodness! I had no idea that this theme would get me all fired up. I do hope you liked my cards.

Please leave me a comment to let me know your personal favourite and I'll pop over to see you as well.

Hugs,

Sharon xx