Less is More - Week 68 Theme 'Baby'

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!!! I'm so honoured to have been ShowCASed by Mandi and Chrissie on Less is More this week for my One Layer Three Stamps entry!! It's lovely when your family and friends compliment your cards, but when two talented crafters choose your card out of 193 entries it's like being awarded an Oscar!! I will display my ShowCASe banner with pride on my blog.

Anyway, my entry for this week's challenge is v late.  I had another steroid injection in the sole of my foot this week so haven't been able to do much crafting. Did this card tonight in between cooking the dinner and doing the Brownies run - lol. Not my best work but it's my personal challenge to submit an entry every week!

Dies: Die-namics Simply Scallop Medium,

Spellbinders Circle, Sizziz Bigz Die Stars

Stamp: Paula Pascual 'Double Sayings'

Punch: Stampin Up! Word Window punch

Other: Ribbon. button, thread

60th Birthday Summer Bloom card

I love Papermania's 'Summer Bloom' decoupage card pack; particularly this butterfly design. I've teamed it up here with some free papers from two different card mags. The pretty punch is a Tonic Studio Geared one - 'Dotty Border' and a computer generated sentiment.

Less is More - Week 67 3 Stamps

It's one layer week at Less is More and the ladies have challenged us to use three stamps on our cards, not four, not two.... but 3!! I think I've produced one of my simplest 'clean and simple' cards yet with lots of white space to keep Chrissie and Mandi happy! I used two different stamps from the Penny Black - T for Transparent - 'Allegro' set and a Craftwork Cards sentiment stamp.

Stamps: Penny Black 'Allegro', Craftwork Cards 'Sentiments'

Ink: Memento dew drops in 'Cottage Ivy' and 'Grape Jelly'

Less is More - Week 66 Yellow No.2

Two entries from me for Less is More's challenge this week - get me!
This one is probably more in line with the CAS terms than the first. I stamped a flower stamp from the lovely Craftwork Cards set repeatedly in a line then coloured with Promarkers. I pinched one of Chrissie's techniques using an embossed line edge to mount the stamped strip onto in yellow pearl card. I didn't have any yellow ribbon so experimented colouring some ivory stain ribbon from my stash.

Cardstock: White linen, yellow pearl

Stamps: Craftwork Cards 'Graceful Grasses and Birds',

Paula Pascual by Personal Impressions sentiment

Ribbon: Ivory satin ribbon coloured with chalk

My first attempt at colouring with Promarkers worked well, but once it had dried the ribbon went as stiff as a board! My second attempt, using a dye-based ink, again worked but I couldn't get the ribbon to adhere no matter what adhesive I tried!! Third time lucky - I applied chalk with a cotton wool ball; a bit messier but achieved the required result - try, try try again and all that!!

Retrosketches #10/Less is More - Week 66 Yellow

Hi Bloggers! I came across the Retrosketches challenge blog thanks to Chrissie from Less is More.  A very late entry from me but hopefully this is the first of many more to come!
We've been invited to 4 functions between us over the Diamond Jubilee weekend (typical!), so this card is to decline one of the four kind invitations.
I'd also like to submit this for the Less is More challenge which for this week is yellow. Not a colour I'd normally use to craft with but I have managed to do 2 challenge entries for Chrissie and Mandi this week. Entry no.2 to follow!

Kraft card base,
'Buzzy Little Bees' digital image stamp and 'Honeycomb paper' downloads from Pink Petticoat,
computer generated sentiment,

Stampin' Up twine, buttons and ribbon from stash.

Less is More - Week 65 Sketch

                                 

The challenge at Less is More this week is a sketch challenge. There is a choice of two simple sketches of which I opted for the circular one above. I enjoy using sketches; I used to find them really useful when I used to scrapbook. My card uses the beautiful 'Poppy Background' stamp that I bought at a bargain price from here: http://www.misi.co.uk/ (which stands for Make it Sell it). They sell all sorts of handmade goods from food to fashion and they also sell various supplies; it's worth a look as I saved nearly £4.00 on this beautiful Hero Arts stamp.

Stamps: Hero Arts 'Poppy Background', Woodware 'Jane's Script'

Promarkers: Hot Pink

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stazon Jet Black

Other: Nestabilities Circle Large, Anita's 3D clear gloss liquid

I stamped the image in black Stazon, then again in black Memento ink. (This was so I could colour the flowers on the second image with Promarkers.) I then cut out the coloured petals, dotted some 3D clear gloss liquid in the centres and raised them onto the first image using foam squares; I think it really makes the images 'pop'. (Can see me recreating this card in different colourways.)

CAS-ual CFC50 - Flowers or Trees

I came upon the CAS-ual Friday challenge blog site via Less is More. Today's blog post is my first ever entry for this US challenge blog! This week's challenge is Flowers or Trees - soooooo many possibilities!  I ended up plumping for one of my favourite stamp sets 'Ashley's Blossoms' by My Cute Stamps.

                              

Stamps: My Cute Stamps 'Ashley's Blossoms',

Craftwork Cards 'Springtime and Sentiments

Inks: Versamark, Heat it Up Copper Embossing Powder

Embellishemnts: Adhesive stones