Less is More wk 39 Stars.

Happy Sunday Everyone!
I hope I find you all well. This week is Lucky Dip week at Less is More with the theme to use Stars.
Mmmm, I struggled a bit this week mainly because my inspiration was sadly lacking. I made my first card but I`m not entirely happy with it so I made another with one eye on X factor. Which probably explains the fact that there`s nothing paricularly exciting about either of them lol.

The stars are by Anita`s and the sentiment is Waltzing Mouse, all stamped in Memento Bahama Blue.
I`ve added some gems to the stars to give them a bit of bling and a sheer ribbon to finish.
It`s not quite what was in my head so I made this one aswell,

I really didn`t want to use a tree stamp as both Mandi and Chrissie have in their examples but I was fast running out of idea`s. I am quite pleased with the look of this one though.
The tree is Chocolate Baroque (Elusive Images) stamped and embossed in detail silver EP.
Then I`ve simply added some star shaped gems to the tree with a larger one at the top. Cut out the image and matted onto some pink card.
The sentiment is  Papermania Silent Night set stamped in Versafine Onyx black.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Traditional Christmas Trio

Good Afternoon All!
As promised, here are another three cards that I`ve CASED from Sharon Johnson at No time to stamp?
This time using more traditional papers.

All the papers are from a Dovecraft Pack that I`ve had for a couple of years and not really used until now.
This time I`ve matted onto silver mirror card. The sentiment is by Rubbadubbado Winter Church set, stamped in clear ink and embossed in detail silver EP then cut out with a rectangle nestie.
Do follow the link and check out Sharons blog, you`ll be in for a treat.

Thanks for popping in ...Lynne xxx

Classy Christmas Trio

Good Evening All!  
I`ve been stalking  catching up with Sharon Johnson on her blog No Time To Stamp? for a very long time, long before I ever had my own blog. I love her simple style and her use of papers and ribbons. In fact I`m convinced that it is because of Sharon that I started using ribbons on my own cards. If you think my bows are good, you really want to see hers...oh and the ribbons she uses are devine. Sharon has her own ribbon store too with a fabulous selection.
Anyway, the point I`m trying to get to  is that Sharon and some of her blogging friends have been having a " 12 days of Christmas" blog feast this last week or so. On monday (24th) Sharon showed a trio off beautiful CaS cards that I asked if I could CASE. Here is my take on Sharons cards,

Now I know when CASing that you are supposed to change the look of the card, and I have, obviously, used different papers and a different text stamp but these are so simple that, that is all that can be altered really. Apart from that, it was the layout of the cards that appealed to me.

This one uses a beautiful gold foiled paper with cranberry stripes. I`ve matted it onto gold mirror card, leaving a border along the edge. The sentiment is by Anita`s, stamped in Cranberry ink and embossed in clear EP then cut out with a nestie rectangle.

This one uses paper from the same pack ( Papermania SilentNight Collection) in cranberry and muted green. Also matted onto gold mirror card.

Finally, from the same pack is this stylised poinsettia which is raised and slightly glittered, again matted onto gold.
All of these cards are perfect for mass producing and are very quick and easy to make. I think these are the one`s I`ll be sending out to the neighbours this year.
I`ll be back tomorrow with some of the same but made with very different papers.

Thanks forpopping in...Lynne xxx
           

Jules crafty snippets wk 42

Good evening all!
I had intended to post these cards in last weeks Snippets challenge but things got in the way (read previous post for details).
I started off making one card then realised that I had naughtily cut into at least 2 of each of these sheets giving me some quite large snippets so I got carried away and made 6.

The stamp is one I`ve had for years and is from Anita`s. I`ve simply coloured with Promarkers and added some Art Glitter to the baubles and stars.
The DP is Dovecraft that I`ve also had for along time. I`ve just done variations with different EF and paper placements. Really quick and easy for mass producing.
The sentiment is another Anita`s set, Magical Christmas.

On Jules blog she has come up with a really good idea. She wants us to check our stats and see our most popular post, then, if we want to, show that post again. Well here is mine. It was quite a surprise really, I never dreamed it would be this card that had the most views. To find yours all you have to do is go to stats, look at the posts column and click on `all time`. The most viewed will be at the top of the list.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Less is More wk #38 Polka Dots

Good afternoon all!.
Well my plan to change my hours at work to give me more free time seems to have backfired on me. All was going so well until thursday when my son, who is still off work with his bad leg and bored silly, decided that seeing as I had a free afternoon,would visit me. All very nice and I love to see him but then he wanted his old pc tower bringing down from the loft so he could put all his music from there onto disc. Ofcourse that meant he had to borrow my screen and speakers which meant me taking it all apart and carrying it down because he can`t get up the ladders with his leg brace on. This also meant that I couldn`t get onto my PC to download piccies. On top of that he brought a bag load of washing for me to do because his in laws was out of action. It`s a good job I love him to bits.
Then on friday one of the afternoon staff rang in sick so I was asked to work a double shift.I must admit the money will come in very handy but, golly was I tired? Eight hours of standing in the same position is not good for my back lol.
So, after a slow start and the rebuilding of my PC I finally got around to making a card for this weeks
Less is More Challenge which is to use Polka Dots.
I love polkadots so it wasn`t really a challenge for me. I did finish it last night but then wasn`t happy with my flower so I`ve had to change it this morning which is why I`m so late posting.

Really simple card. 5x5 white card base. The dotty DP is Pinkpetticoat matted onto bright pink card and punched along the bottom.
The leaf die is by Marrianne designs in black card.
The flower is bright pink card, cut out with nestie scallop circle die then run through the corrugater a few times to weaken it and seperated into 2 pieces, then embossed with the swiss dots folder. All held together with a brad. I didn`t have a black brad so I coloured a pink one with a permanant marker.
The sentiment is by Layers of Colour stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
And there you have it.
It`s flippin` freezing in the loft today so I`m off for a coffee and a warm up. Catch up with you all soon.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Jules Crafty Snippets wk 41

Good Afternoon All!
Another quick post today so I can share a card I made for Jules Crafty Snippets wk 41.

 The main DP is a bit left over from a Forever Friends decoupage kit, matted onto pink card.
The strip is one of many pieces I still have in the box form a Papermania pack ( I think) also matted onto pink card.
The image is one of only two Penny Black stamps I own and really must rectify. I love this stamp, it`s so versatile and I just love the way his (her) spikes are sticking through the hammock lol. Coloured in Promarkers with a tiny bit of Glamour Dust on the Bee`s wings. The image is cut out with a circle nestie and matted onto a pink Lacey Circle.
The sentiment is by Anita`s, stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
I`ve added a ribbon too and was going to put a bow onto it but then discovered there wasn`t enough room Doh!

I`ve changed my hours at work this week, so instead of doing afternoons, I`m now doing mornings starting at 9. I`m still trying to get into a routine but hopefully once I`m sorted I`ll have more time to myself and that means more time for crafting. Fingers crossed!

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

CR84FN #40

Hello Everyone.
I hope you`re enjoying your sunday. It`s certainly got a bit nippier in my neck of the woods but still a lovely bright day. Don`t think it`s going to last much longer though(sigh).
I thought I`d share my entry for this fortnights cr84fn Challenge with you today.

This is the inspiration we have been given and a colour pallette of Red, Kraft and Brown.

I`ve used a brown base card (5x5) and matted a script paper from Pink Petticoat onto it.
My Poinsettia is from Creative Stamping and is a Mandalla stamp. I stamped the image 4 times in Cranberry ink onto red card and cut it out, decreasing the petals each time then built it up using foam pads.

This pic shows the depth of the flower afterwards. I gently curled the petals with my fingers beforehand. Some yellow flatback pearls have been added to the centre.
I cut a strip of Kraft card, stamped my sentiment from Anita`s in Versafine Onyx Black, matted onto some brown card and cut it leaving a slim border.
I`m rather pleased with this one. Quite a simple card but with a bit of POP.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Less is More wk 37...Cocktails

Good afternoon all!
By heck, what a challenge the Diva`s have set for us this week at Less is More. 
                                                                Cocktails.


Since I`ve been playing along regularly with this challenge I`ve begun to realise some things about myself and Chrissie and Mandi have given us a link to a site that tells us about our personalities by our name. Well I clicked on it 3 times and it said different things each time and non of it relates to me, I`ll explain why...
When I first saw this weeks challenge I wasn`t sure I had a cocktail glass stamp or not so I thought I`d google cocktail names and recipes to see if I did have anything I could use as a play on words. Now I already know that I am the most UNsophisticated person in blogland and probably the most unworldly,apart from the odd gin sling or martini and lemonade, I just don`t do cocktails. Having said that, we once went back back to a friends house after a night out and she showed us her cocktail making skills. Trouble was I drank so many of them I can`t remember what they were, can`t really remember getting home either lol. Anyway, I digress, there I am reading through the names of cocktails and I have to admit to being shocked at some of the names. I mean, how do you go up to a cocktail waiter and ask for a...no, sorry, might get chucked off blogger.Lol.
So I`ve made my own version of the little quiz thingy,

 1 part unsophisticated
2 parts unworldly
3 parts prude

Put your slippers on and enjoy a cup of coffee instead.

All joking aside some of them really did make me blush. So I decided I`d go with the Little Black Dress look and made this card.

After all that slack jawed shock and blushing,I found I did have a cocktail stamp afterall. It`s by Papermania and is from the Joyeux Noel collection.
Stamped in Versafine Onyx Black, I added a sentiment from Papermania Chatsworth set and cut out with a nestie oval die.
I cut a strip of white card the same width as my base card, matted it onto some black paper and added a ribbon and bow.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

St Lukes Mid Month Memory Jogger

Good Morning All!
I`m back with a quick reminder that the challenge at St Lukes Charity Card Challenge is " Lets Hear It For The Boys". We want you to make masculine cards this month, any design, any occasion and for any male.

 I`ve gone with a really simple card today. The DP, I think is by Dovecraft and is perfect for this type of card as the patterns loook like cogs.
The Stamp is by Hero Arts, stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and embossed in clear EP.
No sentiment so it can be used for anyone and any occasion.
Don`t forget we have a fabulous prize to award our winner this month, and if you could spare your card or any other you may have, you can donate them to the St Lukes Charity for sale to raise much needed funds.
The address is on the sidebar on the main blog

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Less is More # 36 Hearts x 2

Good morning all!
I found a card that I made for Less is More  " In the Frame" quite a few weeks ago that I didn`t post at the time. Somehow it didn`t seem quite right for that particular challenge but it fits quite nicely into this weeks `Hearts` theme.

 The stamp is from Chocolate Baroque ( Elusive Images) Mother`s Day set, stamped and embossed in detail silver EP and coloured with Promarkers.
The sentiment is by Flourishes (ofcourse)
Sorry it`s not the best photo and I`ve tried editing it but it`s still not quite sharp enough.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #32

Good Evening All!
It`s a late post from me today, I just coudn`t seem to get going.Not a lot of mojo in the loft this morning but I was determined to make a card as Sunday is the only full day I have to craft. It`s going to be Alan`s sister Christines birthday in a couple of weeks so I thought I`d get that done nice and early but didn`t have a clue what to do. I couldn`t decide on a layout, colour scheme or even which stamps to use, so I went challenge hopping.
And found Chupa`s Sketchbook Saturday Challenge over on Random Acts of Creativity.
Here is the sketch she provided for us,

And here is my take on it.

Both DP`s are Papermania but from 2 different sets, the orange one is Capsule Collection Sunshine pack and I`m not sure about the mocha one. Both are matted onto brown card.
The scalloped circle (nestie) is also cut out of brown card. The stamp is Flourishes Orchid set, coloured with Promarkers and cut out ( with scissors lol).
The sentiment is computer generated onto pale cream card and cut out with a nestie Labels 4 die.
I`ve added a pale golden yellow ribbon and I managed to find a matching brad in my stash. A piece of string, tied in a bow to finish.
I`m also going to enter this one into Jules Crafty Snippets Challenge wk 40 as all the DP and most of the card are from my snippet boxes

.Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Less is More #36 ...One Layer Hearts

Good Afternoon All!
It`s LiMday once again, how the weeks are flying, and as it`s the second saturday of the month it has to be One Layer Day. This week at Less is More we are asked to make a one layer card using a heart or hearts with little or no embellishment.
I hadn`t realised how many heart stamps I had, must be getting sloppy in my old age lol. So I`ve gone mad and made 3. ( actually I made 4 but one is in the bin). I thought I`d put them all in one post to save your poor fingers.

First up is made with stamps from Chocolate Baroque With Love From Me To You set. I stamped and embossed the first heart in detail silver EP, then masked it and stamped and embossed the second. Did the same with the sentiment. Added a red heart gem to finish.

Second is a stamp from Papermania Confetti collection.Stamped in Versacolor Burgundy. The sentiment is from the same set. This was my second attempt with this stamp as it left a small gap in the middle but it did the same on this one so I`ve hidden it with a clear heart gem.

And last but not least is this very CaS one. Also from the Chocolate Baroque With Love set simply stamped in Memento Lady Bug. The sentiment is by Flourishes, stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.
I might have another go during the week but I`m having my hours changed at work (hopefully) so might not have time. We`ll see.

Thanksfor popping in...Lynne xxx

Playdate Cafe #102

Hi All!
 Brrr it`s a bit chilly here today. Bright and sunny but definitely Autumn. I have a quick post again today to show a card I`ve made for this weeks challenge at The Playdate Cafe where we have been given this spooky colour scheme.

Slime Green.....Frightful Fuschia...

Putrid Purple...Black as Night
  We don`t really celebrate Halloween here and personally I don`t know of anyone that does. Having said that, the amount of Halloween stuff we`re selling in the shop tells me that alot of people do.
Anyway I used the colours and came up with this un-spooky creation.

The main DP is by Dovecraft and I`ve had it for ages and not really used it until now. I`ve matted that onto some purple card.
The green strip of DP is by Papermania, also matted onto purple card.
The sentiment is by Layers of Colour stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and cut out witha nestie labels 4 die.
I`ve added a cerise ribbon and bow and some purple gems to the flower middles.
That`s it for today, see you over the weekend.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Picture Perfect Creations #74

Hello All!
A quick post from me today as I`m running late as usual.

This is the colour inspiration for this weeks challenge at Picture Perfect Creations. I love green and I haven`t played along with this challenge for ages so I thought I`d rectify that.
Here is my card,

I`ve been raiding the snippet boxes again so all the DP and card, apart from the base card are scraps.
The DP is by Kameo Cards and I`ve cut it into 4 pieces, 2 long and 2 short, matted them onto lime green card and raised them with foam pads.
The image is Stampendous Agapanthus stamped in Versa colour Evergreen and also matted onto lime green card and raised with foam pads. The sentiment is Papertrey stamped in Versafine onyx black.
As it`s a snippet make,I`d also like to enter it into Jules crafty snippet challenge.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Jules crafty snippets #39

Hi all!
I hope your week is going well. It seems Autumn is back after our mini indian summer. Not too bad here today though, just a bit cloudy but definitely cooler than last week.
I had to go to the doctors yesterday for some blood tests which meant a full fast from 10`o`clock the night before. Golly I always knew I liked my coffee but having to go without was terrible. Having the bloods done was no problem, although I do have a decent bruise to show off with, but the caffeine withdrawal was awful lol. It is now confirmed that I do not function without coffee.
Anyway, enough of the waffle. We are on week 39 at Jules Crafty Snippets Challenge and I`m still in Christmas mode. Here is my snippet make,

I had to use a full sheet of card, trimmed down to 15cm x 15cm for the base card but all the punched fern leaves are from my card snippet box.
It was so easy to make, I don`t know why I haven`t done this before and, at last, one that I`m really pleased with. The hardest part is all the punching lol.
Once the wreath was made I just finished it off with a gold bow ( another snippet) and some tiny red gems.
The sentiment is from Papermanias Silent Night Collection stamped in clear embossing and embossed in red EP. And thats it. I might make another of these but put a sentiment in the centre of the wreath next time. What do you think?

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Playdate Cafe #101

Hi All!
I`ve had a bit of time over the weekend to play so I thought I`d join in again at the Playdate Cafe Challenge. They have given us this fabulous inspirational pic,

Once again, the colours were just too good NOT to play along. I have,however, taken lots of liberties with my design,

the main one being the wine Poinsettia with grey leaves.I think it`s called `artistic license` lol.
I`ve used a dark tan coloured base card.
Both DP are from Papermania Silent Night Collection. Gorgeous papers,the stripey one has a touch of sparkle in it matted onto grey card.
The Poinsettia is a medallion stamp from Creative Expressions but I`ve left off the largest section as it`s huge.I stamped 4 of the layers and turned them slightly aswell. They are raised using foam pads.
The leaves are embossed from a Glitter Girls Embossing board and cut out. I`ve glittered the edges of the Poinsettia and leaves but now I`m not sure I should have but ..hey ho it`s done now.
The sentiment is from Chocolate Baroque Deck the Halls set stamped in Versacolor Onyx  black onto parchment coloured paper and matted onto tan card.
I`ve added a cream/parchment ribbon and double looped bow and some cream coloured flatbacked pearls to the centre of the flower.
All in all I`m quite pleased with it but can`t help thinking there`s something missing...

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Eye, Eye...It`s time for another Less is More Challenge.

Hello All!
 I`m a bit late with my entry for this weeks Less is More Challenge. As it`s the first week of the month we have a colour challenge...with a difference,

THE COLOUR OF YOUR EYES

My eyes are brown. Plain old muddy looking brown. I got out the 5x magnifying mirror to try to find anything unusual in there, little glints of gold or even amber but apart from some mucky looking bits around the edges that would terrify an iridologist I`ve come to the conclusion that they`re nothing special. Having said that, I wouldn`t be without them for the world lol..
My creative imagination has dried up in the mini heatwave too, so after several failed attempts at producing a world class work of art, I gave up and made this one ROFL.

I used cream hammered card for the base.
I had some scraps of kraft that had already been run through the Bug with a Woodgrain  EF (Craft Concepts) on my desk from my St Lukes DT card so I cut them into squares with a nestie die before matting them onto dark tan card.
The leaf stamp is from Chocolate Baroque Autumn Hedgerow stamp set, stamped in Versafine Onyx Black onto dark tan card and cut out. I`ve placed them at different angles and both they and the mats are raised with foam pads.
The sentiment is Papertrey Inc also stamped in Versafine Black.

I would like to say a very big welcome to my two new followers Susan and Doreen. Thank you for choosing to follow my little blog :)

Considering yesterday was World Card Making Day, I didn`t get a great deal done in the loft but my garden is looking a treat at the moment. I just couldn`t pass up on what had to be the best 1st October in years. Sadly it`s back to the cardigan tomorrow me thinks lol.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

St Lukes Charity Card Challenge... October

Good Morning All!
Well the calendar says it`s the 1st of October but looking out the window this morning I think we could all have mistaken it for July. Yet another glorious day ahead, make the most of it peeps `cos it sure won`t last lol.
As it`s the 1st of October it also means a brand new month for St Lukes Charity Card Challenge.
This month it`s...Lets Hear It For The Boys.
Uh oh I can hear you all groaning from here lol. Actually it`s a nice easy one, any image for any boy of any age or any occasion- just make it masculine.
There`s another amazing prize for our October winner too from Craftie Charlie. Just look at all this,

My Mind's Eye Limited Edition 6x6 Double Sided Paper Pad - Dwell

East of India Pale Pink Ric Rac

Inkadinkado Mini Stamp - Thanks

Tsukineko Memento Dew Drop - New Sprout

Ranger Liquid Pearls - White Opal

K&Co Glitter Chipboard Alphabet - Smitten

K&Co Amy Butler Lotus Embellishment Jars

Creative Expressions Decorative Pins - Cream Pearl


Wowsers! Such a pity I can`t enter :(

Something a bit different from my usual style.
I started with a pale blue A5 base card.
Ran some Kraft card through the Bug using a Craft Concepts Woodgrain EF.
The image is by Rubbadubbadoo and is from a set called Men at Work, coloured with Promarkers and watercolour pencils.
I cut the image out with a nestie circle and matted that onto a rectangle in dark blue that was cut with a nestie rectangle die, placed at an angle.
No sentiment so it can be used for anyone or any occasion.
I love this image as it reminds me so much of my OH. The countless hours he`s spent tinkering with engines and trying to get old bangers to even start let alone move. His dad was just the same and they were never happier than when they were covered in oil and muck. Usually while wearing a decent, clean tee shirt (sigh).
Alan still mourns the day car engines became computerised.

So that`s the challenge for this month and I just know you are going to astound us with your creativity. Don`t forget you can also donate your cards ( and others you may have) to the St Lukes Hospice. The address to send them to is on the sidebar of the main blog. And please check out the other DT members designs too.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx