Simply Less is More # 249

Hello There !

Horrible, miserable weather here again, I`ve forgotten what the sunshine looks like. Perfect excuse for crafting though.

It`s colour week at Simply Less is More and this time we are asked to create a clean and simple card using the colours of FIRE.
I`ve been making batches of Christmas cards this week so these colours threw me a bit. However, seeing as they are my favourite colours it didn`t take too long to change tack.

 Apologies for the fuzzy picture, I would have retaken it but the light is terrible now.
I started by inking up a rectangle of white card with various inks.
I then cut out the ` Celebrate` die , by Die-versions once in white card and again in gold mirror card and adhered them together. ( I use double sided tape on the back of the top die cut when cutting )
The stars are by Sizzix and cut out of gold mirror card and gold glitter card .

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx 

Simply Less is More # 248

Hello there !
First of all I would like to say how chuffed I was to be showcased for my masculine card at Simply Less is More 
It made my day, thank you girls x
This weeks challenge is Paper Piecing. Not my favourite technique I must say, far too fiddly for me but I`ve had a go.

This little santa was one of the first stamps I bought almost 10 years ago. It`s a Creative Expressions stamp and is really easy to piece.
I`ve used some red DP with tiny white dots on, I think it`s a Papermania paper but I`m not sure.
I`ve finished him off with some white glitter on his hat, beard and coat.
The sentiment is from a Penny Black set.

This one uses an Anita`s stamp. Another easy to piece one, pieced with some green spotty DP from Papermania. The red ornaments are the same DP as santa`s suit above finished with a touch of red glitter
Sentiment is by Crafters Companion

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More

Hello There !

Well autumn is certainly in full swing now. We have dull, miserable, damp weather at the moment but when the sun does decide to show it`s face...WOW, the trees around our house glow like fire.I`ll try to take a photo if the sun shines again before the leaves fall.

We have a sketch to follow for this weeks challenge at Simply Less is More,

I do love a sketch but it took a while to come up with a design I was happy with. This is what I made,

I cut a strip of striped card and made a fishtail using the corner of a square nestie die
I then made a mask from a postit the same size so I could stamp my design in the correct place.
I used stamps from Artemio and Kaisercraft stamped in Versacolor Orange and Versafine black.
Then I put my die cut banner in place.
I cut out the Celebrate with a Die-versions die 3 times in orange card and placed one atop the other for some depth.

Every tuesday I visit my dad . He`s 83 now and although still fit as a fiddle ( besides the creaky knees and the stiff back) I `do` for him. We sit for an hour putting the world to rights and then he goes off to visit mum in the home and do some shopping while I get on with cleaning a still clean from last week house. He usually gets back just as I`m finishing and we complain about the state of the world for a few more minutes.
A few weeks ago as he came in he asked me if I wanted a Holly bush for the garden because he`d just pulled one up from his. Never one to say no to a freebie I went to find this `bush` and this is what I found

if you look very carefully you might just about see it, I was expecting something at least 2 feet high lol. I put it in a pot for a couple of days but it`s planted in the garden now and seems to be doing well. At least I haven`t killed it lol.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 246

Hello There !
I`ve been MiA for a couple of weeks and missed the last two Simply Less is More Challenge. It`s been rather hectic on the domestic front. Nothing serious but a lot of upheaval so I was determined to join in with this weeks challenge which has the theme of MASCULINE.

 

I needed a card for son`s birthday so the challenge was a bonus for me, especially as I was struggling for an idea.
I CaSED THIS 
card from Debbie and turned it into a birthday card with a nod to Hull City football club
I used black card for my base and amber for the panel.
The hexagons are from Spellbinders and I`ve used white and black card.
I stamped a small football from a Stampman set.
The sentiment is PC generated.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 243

Hello There,
I am still here, I`ve just been very quiet lately, busy beavering away. I did find some time though to make a card for this weeks Simply Less is More Challenge which has the title,

                                                Something Shiney

I tried to come up with something other than a bauble but couldn`t think of anything so a sparkley bauble it is.
I found a tiny scrap of silver holographic card that I`ve been hoarding for years, it has stars on that I thought were suitable for Christmas, and used it for the solid bauble. The overlay is plain white card. The dies are Elizabeth Craft Designs.
The fir tree branch is Marianne Designs and I`ve  turned some of the needles up to give it some texture.
The sentiment is Creative Expressions embossed in detail silver EP.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 242

Hello There,
I think we are catching the last of the decent weather this weekend before the rains come again on monday so I`m hoping to finish sorting the garden out today. Before that though I had to get into the craftroom to make my card for this weeks Simply Less is More Challenge. 
The title of the challenge is TECHNOLOGY.
 Arrrgh, I don`t do technology, I am a technophobe, I can just about manage my blog.
After lots of mulling and deep thought it dawned on me that seeing as I seem to spend half my life on Facebook I could use that for inspiration. This is what I came up with.

This has to be the easiest, quickest card I`ve ever made. Admittedly not a lot of skill involved but I do have a plan for a second, more creative card now that I`ve got my brain in gear.
I downloaded the thumbs up image straight from Google Images and cut it out using a nestie square die.
I cut another slightly larger square and mounted them one onto the other before placing them on my card base.
The sentiment is a Valentine set from Avery Elle, stamped in Versafine Black
I think this sentiment is perfect for the image.

Yesterday morning hubby and I visited Ruby`s school to watch her being presented with a merit badge. She managed 3 full days in the first week back at school and has put in full days all this week apart from wednesday when she had to go to LGI for a check up.
Considering she only had 12% attendance in the whole of last year ( and still passsed all her SATS) she`s doing remarkably well.
Her blood count is stable so her Chemo has been increased to 75%, her antifungal meds have finally finished and things are certainly looking up.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 241

Hello there!

Well it`s a lovely bright sunny day here today, although there is more than a touch of autumn in the air. Perfect for a days crafting !!!

It`s one layer week yet again over at the Simply Less is More challenge and the key word this week is
                                                                   WISHING

Such a simple card and yet it took me ages to do.
I started by embossing the star using a X cut nesting die and then made a mask using lots of postit notes ( to make sure I had enough sticky to hold it down)
Sponging with decorative chalks was a task as there were so many edges and corners but I got there in the end lol.
The sentiment is from Layers of Color stamped in Versafine black and embossed in clear EP.
I`m not over the moon with it and have an idea for another card if I get the time.

Thanks for popping in ...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 240

Hello There !

A nice relaxed weekend for me this week, I hope yours is the same.

It`s colour week over at the Simply Less is More Challenge 
and this time we have a fab combination of GREEN & GOLD
I got a bit carried away and made 3 cards

This one I`m more pleased with than the others.
I started by sponging 3 different green inks onto white card and cutting out the circles with a Nestie die.
The leaf is Poppystamps Lorelai Leaf cut from gold mirror card
The Smile word is from Penny Black also cut from gold card

This one is made from 2 shades of green and some gold paper with fern leaves punched out
The sentiment is Waltzing Mouse stamped in clear ink and embossed in gold EP

This one is my least favourite
The stamp is from Penny Black stamped and embossed in gold EP onto dark green card.
I made a panel for the front of my card and cut a circle into it with a nestie die.
The sentiment is by Creative Expressions also embossed in gold EP

My craft room needs some serious reorganisation. At the moment I`m at the sitting and looking at it stage. When I work out where to start I`ll let you know .

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Baby Book Card

Hello There !
I have another book card to share today, this time for a baby.

I`ve taken inspiration for this one from This card especially for the little book.
The original card uses a Marianne designs die for the book but as I didn`t have one I used a Glitter girls scoring board, Bookatrix. I think it worked quite well. I have since bought the book die so will probably have another go very soon.

Other dies used are Spellbinders Romantic rectangles and Floral Ovals.
The image on the front is a Lili of the Valley stamp coloured with Promarkers.
All flowers are from Wild Orchid crafts except the large roseswhich are from the Range.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Male birthday

Hello There !
It was my son in laws birthday a couple of weeks ago so ofcourse I made a card. I do like to make cards that fit with some aspect of the recipients life, although sometimes quite vaguely. I struggle with male cards anyway so hit Pinterest for some much needed inspiration and found a card from Pink Petticoat that I`ve CASED.

SiL is a mad Hull fc (rugby) fan. They play in black and white hoops so I`ve used black and white striped paper from Pink Petticoat for the background star and some black glitter paper for the smaller star.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne

Simply Less is More # 239

Hello There!
Well it`s a very wet and miserable day here today.As it`s a bank holiday in England it was only to be expected really but still Mother Nature could have made an exeption. Never mind, at least I got in the craft room.
It`s a Lucky Dip week at the Simply Less is More Challenge and we`ve been asked to use Sprays / Mists on our creations.
I`ve taken a teeny, tiny liberty with my card. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month and, as the ribbon colour is Gold, the Facebook page for cancer awareness has asked that we wear/ use something gold for our profile pics. I`ve gone with this in my card design and will be changing, not only my FB profile but my blog profile pic too, just for september.

I used a flourish stamp from Papertrey inc for my butterfly trail, stamped in clear ink and embossed in gold EP.
The butterfly is made from 2 Memory Box dies in gold mirror card and stuck back to back.
The sentiment is computer generated
I`ve finished with a good spray of gold spritzing ink from Docrafts

The card below shows the sheen from the spritzing better.

We had a lovely day yesterday.
Our immediate family seems to have altered and grown in the last few months.My daughter has moved in with her new partner Karina and her daughter Ava and my son seperated from his wife a while ago and now has a new girlfriend with two children.
I thought it would be a good idea to have a little get together so that all the different members could finally meet up and get to know each other. Although I`d forgotten what hard work it is organising food for a multitude and how tiring toddlers are we had a brilliant day. Everyone hit it off and got on really well, most of the food disappeared ( although I squirrelled some away for us today to save cooking ) and the little ones were a treat.
I have to admit age is catching up fast though, I was tucked up in bed by 9. 30 last night.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 238

Hello there !

We have a sketch this week on the Simply Less is More challenge.

Considering we are having one of the hottest days for a long while and I`m sweating cobs in the loft, for some reason I have Christmas on my mind. So I went with it...

The DP is from an Artylicious CD, Seasons Greetings that I`ve had forever.
Snowflakes are from a Die-sire die
Sentiment is by Papermania stamped and embossed in silver ep

Funnily enough I made a card yesterday that might have fit this challenge but I don`t think it`s quite CaS enough.I`m sharing it anyway.

 I`ve had the DP for about 2 years and now and  again I get it out just to look at it. How sad is that?
So I thought it was about time to put it to good use and make a card with it.
I also made the pink and blue flowers but the purple ones are from Wild Orchid crafts.
No sentiment because I`m not quite sure who to give it to yet

Enjoy the rest of your week end and I hope your weather is as good as ours.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Happy Birthday Card

Hello There,

I`ve been quiet again this week but I have been busy.
It was my friend George`s birthday at the beginning of the week so I dropped in to see her and to take her a card. I haven`t seen her for a few months and during that time she`s joined Slimming World. What a difference, she`s gone from a size 22 to a 16 and looks fabulous for it. Well done George.

Here is the card I made for her,

The background papers are from Pink Petticoat ( Swiss Dots )
The die is one I`ve had for ages and never used. It`s a Marianne Designs and it`s so pretty I don`t know why I haven`t used it before.
The flowers are from Wild Orchid crafts and the sentiment is PC generated.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 236

Hello There

I`m flying in today to share my entry for this weeks Simply Less is More Challenge.
It`s one layer week again and this week the title is
                                       THE EYE`S HAVE IT
so our creations must include eyes somewhere on the design.

Having missed last weeks challenge because of an absolute total lack of mojo I was determined to join in this week. Unfortunately I don`t have many stamps with `eyes` or at least not obvious eyes. I did find this digi image stored away on the PC. This little cutie is called Rex and he`s from Digistamp Boutique.

Nice and easy, I printed the digi and added a pc generated sentiment then coloured the image with Promarkers

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Another wedding book card

Hello there !

I still seem to be neglecting my blog lately. It`s nothing personal, honest, I just keep running out of time.
I do have a card to share today though. I was asked to make another book card for a couple due to get married this month, the colour is gold and pale green and this is what I came up with.

Appologies for the rubbish pics. I had to photograph it quickly on friday morning before delivery and didn`t realise how bad they were until it was gone.

The card is A5 size but because of the depth I had trouble making a box to fit as I only have A4 card. I eventually came up with a design that meant that one side was made seperately and had to decorate the box to hide the join. I was quite pleased as it involved measuring and calculating and believe me, maths is so not my strong point.

Backing papers by Pink Petticoat, Brocade, in gold faded on PC
Dies by Spellbinders, Romantic Rectangle and Floral Oval.
Flowers mainly from Wild Orchid crafts but the smaller ones are handmade by me

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Ruby`s 7th Birthday card

Hello There!
It was Ruby`s 7th birthday yesterday so ofcourse I made her a card. She is such a little star, apart from being our very own Super Hero, I just had to go with those in mind. Luckily for me the latest challenge at In the Pink is titled Starry, Starry Pink and we are to use stars on our creations.
Here is my entry,

Lots of pink card and pink glitter paper stars on this one.
The DP is Pink Petticoat.
The image is a digi by Hand made Harbour.
The sentiment is computer generated and I`ve made a Gold Ribbon which is the Childhood Cancer awareness ribbon with a small ruby added.
The flowers are from Wild Orchid

Ruby was back in clinic on wednesday for tests and chemo. Her blood levels have stayed up which means her bonemarrow has recovered from the nasty infection she had over Christmas. The Dr decided that she was strong enough to have the strong chemo upped to 35% from 20% and she also had another round of Steroids.
When we went to see her yesterday for her birthday she was very drowsy and not showing much interest in anything but after 30 minutes or so the excitment got the better of her and she pulled herself round enough to open her presents.
The chemo and steroids combined really knock her for six and she was a bit weepy, which is so not Ruby but it`ll only be a few days before she`s back to her old self.

Thanks for popping in ...Lynne xxx 

Simply Less is More # 234

Hello There,
WOW, it`s still saturday and here I am. Not only have I made my card, I`m posting it too. Now that`s something that doesn`t happen very often !!!

First though I`d like to welcome my latest follower, Sandma. Thank you for choosing my little blog, I really do appreciate it x

So, this weekend over on Simply Less is More it`s the boss`s 70th birthday, Happy Birthday Chrissie. We also have a guest designer, Di from Pixie`s Crafty Workshop. 
Di also runs the snippet challenge on her blog and the remit is to use snippets on our cards this week, while keeping them CaS with lots of white space.
I used to join in with the snippets challenge regularly but this past year I`ve been a bit negligent, something I must put right.
So, onto my card,

I started with these scraps of card and DP

and came up with this.

I`m not sure if Shabby Chic is supposed to go with CaS but I like it.
Really quick and simple design.
I made a tent fold white card base and a panel slightly smaller.
I cut the snippets into various widths and lengths and used a nestie square die to cut the fish tails.
The sentiment is by Wplus9 stamped and embossed in silver EP, then cut to size and fish tailed.
I`ve finished off with some tiny clear gems and there you have it.

Nice quiet weekend planned this week so hopefully more crafting will occur. Ruby and her parents have taken themselves off to Cumbria for a few days to stay with friends. I just hope they are having better weather than us :)

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 233

Hello There!
Just flying in with my extremely late entry for this weeks challenge at Simply Less is More.
It`s theme week and the title for our creations is...LIFE`S A BEACH

This is my 5th attempt at this card, I just couldn`t get the background right. This is the best of a really bad bunch but I so wanted to join in this week.
I`ve used two stamps from this set by Inkadinkado. I started by stamping the shells and grass, then after masking off the shells I stamped the beach sign and more grass.
I lightly coloured the shells with Promarkers, the sand is water colour pencil and the sky is decorative chalks.
I cut 2 ovals, one slightly larger than the other and stacked them using foam pads
The sentiment is pc generated.

We`ve had lots of things going on this week, non of it very exciting but very time consuming, hence the lateness of my entry. I hope things might settle down from now but I won`t hold my breath lol.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 232

Hello there!
A really quick post from me today, family things going on.

It`s one layer week again at Simply Less is More 
and the theme this week is   MASCULINE

Not one of my favourite subjects but I`ve had a go, 

A really simple card. I used a circle die to emboss the front of the card and, leaving the die in place and masking around it, I inked up circle with 3 shades of green.
I used a stamp the I got from a craft fair ages ago with no name on but could possibly be Clarity stamps, inked in Versafine Black .
Thr sentiment is from Personal Impressions.
I think it took me longer to find and decide on the sentiment than it took to make the card :)

Time permitting I might be back with another card but don`t hold your breath.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 231

Hello There!

A really quick post from me today I`m afraid.
As it`s the first saturday of the month, it`s a colour challenge over at Simply Less is More and as it`s also the 4th July the colours are RED, WHITE and BLUE.

I think Mr Mojo must have been scared off by the thunder storms we had during the night but I managed to come up with this card,

Papers are Pink Petticoat Stars from the Vintage Rose collection and Pinstripes.
The Tag die is Die-namics
Star die is Sizzix
Celebrate Die is Die-versions cut out 3 times and stacked.
I`ve added a tiny piece of ribbon to the tag ( cut from the shoulder of a blouse)

The thunder woke me up at 3:30 this morning so now I`m off for a nanna nap :D

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

90th birthday book card

Hello there !

As promised after my first attempt at a book card, I`m back to share the one I`ve made for my Mum in laws 90th birthday.
I had so much fun making this and it really isn`t as difficult as it looks.

I`m entering this one into this weeks In The Pink Challenge # 72 
which has Shabby / Vintage as it`s theme.

Front cover.

Side view.

Inside.

A closer look at the main panel

I used Pink Petticoat Brocade papers in Pretty Pink that I faded slightly on the PC.
Most of the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts except the roses which are from the Range.
The leaf die is Poppy Stamps Lorelai Leaf.
The Spellbinders Dies are Romantic Rectangles and Floral Oval.
The scallop border on the main panel is Martha Stewart.
The gem stone numbers are from the Range.
All wording is PC generated.

The tutorial for making a book box card is on Beccy`s blog HERE

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 230

Hello There !

I`ve been seriously neglecting my blog lately, I am really sorry but family life is interfering with craft time at the moment. I missed another challenge at Simply Less is More last week, which I hate to do, but I`m here now for this weeks challenge which is a sketch. A lovely simple one which I`ve taken liberties with,

It will be Ruby`s 7th birthday at the end of July and as she`s my very own personal `Super Hero` I wanted a stamp that would fit the bill. I found this, which is one of a set of 14, on Etsy Digital Bake Shop The set is called Super Kids and I love it. I thought this challenge was a great opportunity to try out the stamps before I make a much fussier card for Roo.
I`ve simply coloured the image with Promarkers, cut out the panel and rounded two of the corners.
The sentiment shape is part of the set and I`ve done the sentiment on the PC then cut it out by hand.

Ruby is home from the hospital now. She`s still on oral anti biotics but they seem to be doing the job and her chest is much better.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Wedding keepsake card

                                       Warning...Picture heavy post

Hello There !

I was asked to make a wedding card for a friend to send to a couple in Finland. The only instructions I had were that the wedding colours were cream, pink & gold. I also have my mother in laws 90th birthday coming up and wanted to make her something really special.  I`ve seen book cards before on blogs and Pinterest but they seemed a bit complicated and fiddly. Apart from that I didn`t have a clue were to start.
So I googled book cards and in among the business card holders and reference cards I found a tutorial on
Beccy`s blog. Nice and simple and really easy to follow.
I did a quick practice one with some cheap card just to make sure I wasn`t biting off more than I could chew and it was great, although a little smaller than I would have liked. Now maths and engineering are not my thing at all so I`m rather proud of myself for managing to adapt this tutorial to suit my needs.
The original measures approx 20cm x 13cm and mine is 20cm x 16cm. Now I know that sounds really simple but I also had to alter all the bits that make up the inside. Anyway, enough rambling, here is the finished book.

This is the front of the book. It looks like a standard card.

This is the side view.

And the open book.

And this is the main part of the book, decorated to within an inch of it`s life lol
The lacey border also helps to hide the joints.


I`m so pleased with it, especially as it was my first real attempt.
I`m now getting well on with one for Alan`s mum.

Dies from Spellbinders, Romatic Rectangles and Classic Oval
Punch for lace border is by XCut
Backing Papers are Pink Petticoat Brocade
Flowers by Wild Orchid Crafts
Leaf dies are Memory Box

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 228

Hello There !
Well after missing a week and then being late with last weeks challenge I thought I`d get my skates on and get in early with my entry for the Simply Less is More Challenge.

It`s one layer week with the theme of;
                                                             HOME
It doesn`t have to be a house/home although it can be. It could be what home means to you.

Well I can`t imagine a home without my dogs, although a few less doghairs would be nice, and dogs sometimes need a home of their own too,

I found this fabby digistamp by Wendy Massey on Handmade Harbour.
I printed a sentiment along with the image and simply coloured it in with Promarkers, job done!

Ruby is back in LGI again. After having her strong chemo last week she struggled to get over the after effects, more so than usual. On wednesday she had a slight temperature and was advised to take her to our local hospital just for a check up.
She has had quite a nasty cough for a few weeks now and every time she has treatment the doctors panic and order scans or x rays but nothing shows up. Anyway after yet another x ray and numerous tests it showed that there was the beginnings of an infection somewhere and Ruby was put on a course of anti biotics.
I went to see her on thursday and she was very chatty and busy making `Speckled frogs` with the play worker and we were making plans, hoping she would be home today. Yesterday ( friday) morning further tests showed that Ruby`s oxygen levels were low and also her platelettes so she was transferred to Leeds.
More tests followed and late last night the results showed that Ruby now has Pneumonia.
It is in the early stages and the anti biotics she was prescribed in Hull are the right ones for this infection so they will already be working. Ruby herself is fine. Still very chatty and she`s eating well which is a bonus. She is on oxygen to boost her levels but it isn`t bothering her at all so all in all things are looking positive.
I just can`t help wondering what else this disease is going to chuck at her, poor kid has really been through the mill this time.

Just as an afterthought, although I make alot of CaS cards, I am leaning a bit more towards layers again. I posted a card yesterday that I made for my sister in law and tomorrow I have a project that I`m really proud of. Pop in and check it out, let me know what you think.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Sunshine Yellow Birthday

Hello There!!!
Well the weather man said it was going to be the hottest day this year today (hence the title of this post) Huh!
not in Hull it isn`t, low cloud very cool and slightly damp. Hopefully it`ll pick up this afternoon because we have rain forecast for tomorrow and sunday. I really need some warm sunshine.

Anyway, whatever the weather it`s my husbands youngest sister`s birthday on sunday and this is the card I made for her,

Backing papers are both from Pink Petticoat.
Diecut is Spellbinders Lace Doily Motifs
Flowers from  Wild Orchid Crafts
Leaf Die Poppystamps Lorelai Leaf
Sentiment is computer generated.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 227

Hello There !!!

I`m flying in this evening with my entry for this weeks Simply Less is More Challenge. It`s a colour week and this time we`re to create a card with our interpretation of the word   SUNSET.

I`m quite late this week and I missed last weeks altogether. I`ve been really busy in the garden now that the better weather is visiting and I`ve also had quite a few birthday cards to make, either for family or commisioned. I really must get around to posting them on the blog though.
Anyway, onto my card for today,

It`s a really quick card from me, and I`ve simply gone with the colours of the super sunsets we`ve had recently.
I used decorative chalks to colour my panel in yellow, orange and pink.
The tree is from Inkadinado Delicate Branches set, stamped in Versafine black.
The panel is raised on foam pads.
The sentiment is from Flourishes Tag Lines also stamped in Versafine.

Ruby is a bit poorly at the moment. She had a dose of her strong chemo last week and she seems to be worse reaction to it than usual.Mum & Dad have taken her to the local hospital to have her checked out and make sure it`s nothing serious and I`m popping to see her tomorrow. Fingers crossed she`ll start to pick up soon.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 225

Hello There!

The challenge this week at Simply Less is More is to USE SOME METAL.
Mmm not something I use much of on my cards but I do have a few charms so that`s what I went with. This is my 3rd attempt at this card, I think Mr Mojo wants to play in the garden rather than the craft room. More about that later.

I started by masking off my chevron stencil  ( Penny Black) and sponging clear embossing ink on, then embossing with metalic silver ep.
I used scraps of DP for my banners and circle and also the swirl ( Die - Namics)
The sentiment is Flourishes Tag Lines stamped in Versamark Black
The butterfly is my metalic element bought from a craft fair a couple of years ago.
Apologies for the rubbish pic, we have a dull cloudy day here today.

I love growing my own seeds for the garden and we have 2 plastic green houses, a 3 tier and a 4 tier. The garden is very small and there is no room for a proper glass house. At the beginning of april I spent all one thursday sowing seeds into trays, all chosen especially for certain areas of the garden. I set both greenhouses up and filled them with the trays, watered them that day and again on the friday and saturday morning. Just before lunch on the saturday a huge gust of wind blew the 4 tier house over. I managed to save about 3 trays but the rest was just a heap of potting compost and empty trays.
After I`d dried my eyes and composed myself I bought a couple more packets of seed and squeezed them all into the smaller greenhouse and they`ve come on a treat, well most of them.
I`ve been in the garden on and off all week planting out Night scented stock, Livingston daisies and asters as well as weeding and dead heading established plants.
So yesterday was a beautiful day and I decided to use what was left in hanging baskets. A quick trip to the garden centre for some ivy and begonias and I was set up. By the time I`d finished I had 3 hanging baskets, 3 wall mounted halfmoon pots, 2 troughs and a tub filled. I`m really looking forward to this years show but, golly am I feeling it now. Hopefully we`ll get some decent weather after today and I can just sit back and enjoy it.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 224

Hello there,
I`ll start by welcoming my two new followers, thank you so much for choosing my little blog to follow.

Right, at 4`o`clock on thursday morning I woke up convinced that it was Simply Less is More Challenge day
and that the title of the challenge was Arctic Swimmers. I laid and worried for half an hour, wondering what it really meant and when I`d decided that it could be seals and penguins I panicked that I didn`t have any stamps that fit.
Then I realised it was a dream and I`d wasted half an hour worrying over nothing. Sad or what???

So, with that in mind I was quite pleased to see that this weeks challenge has the title,
                                                      HELLO SUNSHINE

I`ve used a scrap of blue chevron patterned card ( Pink Petticoat) to make the tag using a Die- namics die.
I made a mask using a circle die to make the halo around the sun, using decorative chalks then cut another circle from bright yellow card for the sun.
The cloud is a Memory Box die.
The sentiment is computer generated.

Ruby has been back to school this week. She is doing afternoons only at the moment but has managed a full week, the first for almost nine months and she`s loving it.The other kids have been really kind and welcoming so that`s been a great help.
At the beginning of the week she had her reading and maths SATs tests and got full marks for both. We are all so proud of her, especially considering how much schooling she has lost in the past couple of years.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 223

Hello there,
Just popping in with my entry for this weeks Simply Less is More Challenge were the focus is
                                                                      Water
I must admit I struggled a bit with this one, I think it shows with both the cards I made.

I tried to come up with something arty with this one
I embossed a rectangle with a SB die on the front of my card before masking the area with post its.
I used decorative chalks and a sponge for the background.
The grasses are stamps I bought at a craft fair some time ago but they have no makers name. They are stamped using Versacolor Evergreen.
The sentiment is Papertrey.

For this one I used a LOTV stamp, Gone Fishing, coloured with Promarkers.
The sky and water are sponged on using decorative chalks.
The sentiment is part of a set from Crafty Individuals.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx