Less is More #393

Hello there,

Well the past 2 weeks have flown by and it's time for another challenge at Less is More and this time it's a colour challenge.

I made a quick (ha) and simple card today. When I say quick I really mean a good 2 hours faffing about choosing my colour scheme,dies and design and about 5 minutes putting it all together.

I had a good rake about in my handmade background bits box and came up with 2 pieces that I thought were subtle enough. Most of it is bright,vivid colours.
For the frame I used  a piece that I'd smooshed using Cosmic Shimmer paints in blue with a touch of lilac and pink.
I cut the frame using 2 square dies from Spellbinders and Die-namics.
The leaf is an unnamed die from Amazon cut from some green and yellow smooshed card.
The sentiment is also unnamed from Amazon and cut from the same card as the frame.
I've added some very pale blue/grey pearls to finish.


Thanks for popping in

Inkspirational # 180

Hello there,

There is a new challenge at Inkspirational this week and it's to use text.

This my take on it,

I used some ready made smooshed card from  my stash.
The background is smooshed in Shabby Shutters, Spun Sugar & Tumbled Glass DI with a little bit of Viva Gold.
The script is from Indigo Blue, 'Script Background', stamped in clear EI & embossed in gold EP.
The Dragonfly die is an unnamed one from Amazon cut out of another piece of card smooshed in Cosmic Shimmer Paints.
The sentiment is from a set by Lily of the Valley.
The window on the front panel is cut from a rectangle die from Die-namics.

Thanks for popping in

Less is More #382

Hello there,

I'm back today to share my card for the latest challenge at Less is More.
It's theme time and the theme is Tags. We can make just a tag or incorporate a tag onto a card.
This is my entry,

I started by gluing a scrap of background paper onto some card to give it some strength, then, when dry, cutting it with a tag die.
I made the circular eyelet thingy using the middle of a flower die and a spring loaded punch.
The Christmas tree is cut from Green Glitter Card.
The sentiment is stamped in clear ink and heat embossed in white powder.
Finished off with a bit of Bakers Twine.

Dies,
Tag- Die-namics, Tree- Simply Graphic.
BG Paper- Papermania, Little Red Robin pad.
Sentiment Stamp-Waltzing Mouse


Thanks for popping in x

One of those cards...

Hello there,
Earlier this week my friends partner died after being very poorly for quite a while. He was only 59 and my friend Georgina is understandably devastated. Luckily she has a good, close family unit and some great friends.
So this is one of those cards. The one's we don't really want to make but can, sometimes, be the most important one's.

I've kept it light and colourful but not too gaudy, with just a touch of black.

I used a mix of die cut flowers to get the effect I wanted
Dies; Memory Box, Tulips and Poppies. Circle and rectangle, Die- namics.
Cuttlebug embossing Folder Swiss Dots.
Sentiment, Flourishes
Small butterfly punch.


Thank you for visiting x

Less is more # 377

Hello there,

Well it's Saturday so that means another challenge at Less is More and this time the theme is...

Mmm I have two dogs but I do not have one single dog stamp in my collection. I have dog digi stamps on my PC but unfortunately my PC died on me a few months ago and I can't get at them. So after a bit of thinking and some browsing I took inspiration from Anita's 
post. I too had pet mice as a kid but we also have field mice visit the garden, usually to pinch the bird food, and I can spend hours watching them. For tiny, little chaps they can't half climb, they fascinate me. So they are my inspiration for today's entry

I used a stamp from a set by Penny Black, stamped onto white card and masked to sponge the back ground with decorative chalks.
I then coloured the image with a mix of Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens.
I used a tag die from Die- namics to cut out the image and again with some gingham printed card  from The Lovely Studio.
I used a foam pad to mount both tags onto white card base and finished off with some yellow Bakers Twine.
The sentiment is from Sunflowers set by Flourishes

Thank you for popping in x

Less is More # 375

Hello there,

I'm so chuffed and honoured to have been chosen as the May winner for Less is More and along with that, the Guest Designer for the colour challenge. The colours this time are

which just happen to be my two favourite colours.

I've been trawling the internet and mainly Pinterest for ideas for background techniques and then remembered that Loll of Stamping with Loll has some fabulous tutorials on her blog.

I made this card using the water colour tissue paper technique. Check out Lolls blog for info as it's so easy to do but so very effective and there are lots of to chose from.

I used TH Distress ink in Spiced Marmalade for the background.

I made a window in the card panel with a square die from Spellbinders and the frame was made using two Stitched Square dies from Die-namics.

I used the colour chart from The Lovely Studio to get the right shade for Olive and made it by sponging TH Shabby shutters distress ink and Memento New Sprout onto a scrap piece of card, gave it a quick squirt of gold shimmer mist before cutting the leaf with Memory Box Flutter Vine die.

The 'Smile' is cut from the same piece of card using a die from Penny Black.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today X

Pink, yellow and blue

Hello there

It's my sister in laws birthday tomorrow (thursday) so I'm popping in to share the card I made for her.

I'm back to layers and flowers this time, elegant chic I prefer to call it

I've used papers from The Lovely Studio, Brocade and Ticking, again my 'go to' papers.
Frame is made using 2 square dies from Die- namics
Flowers are, as usual, from Wild Orchid Crafts.
Leaf dies are from The Works and Amazon
Sentiment is computer generated.
I've finished off with a few small clear gemstones

Thank you for looking today X

Simply Less is More # 265

 Hi there,
A quick post from me today to share my card for this weeks Simply Less is more 
challenge which is to use WIRE on our creations.
I tried really hard to come up with something interesting and unique but to no avail and so this
little card evolved. I'll call it " Spring has Sprung" in more ways than one.

I cut 2 squares of different sizes from a Die-namics die set and embossed the smaller one with an EF from
Craft Concepts ( Woodgrain)
The leaves are from a Memory Box die, trimmed down.
The flowers are made with a punch and pastel paper.
I've added some flat back pearls for the centres.
The sentiment is from Flourishes.
I made a spring by coiling some wire on a scewer and stretching it slightly and slotting it into a butterfly bead.
So, I have a butterfly with a spring sticking out of it's bum. Not my finest moment :-)

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

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 # 221

Hello There,

Well I`m a bit earlier this week for the Simply Less is More Challenge thank goodness. The craftroom move is done, most of the sorting out is finished but I`ve put the rest on hold so I can get back to some crafting.

I`m also entering this into  Pixies Snippet Playground,

The challenge this week is to INCLUDE A TAG
Well anyone who has been following me recently will know of my almost obsessive use of tags on cards so this was right up my street.

I made two cards, this is the girly one.
Using the CB Swiss Dots EF I made a panel for the front of my card.
I used a left over scrap of Pink Petticoat Swiss Dots printed card for the tag, cut out with a Die- namics tag die.
The heart is also cut from a scrap of white card with a Sizzix heart die.
The butterfly is from a Memory Box die and, again from a scrap of pink paper.
The twine is white crochet thread that I coloured with a Spectrum Noir pen.
The sentiment is Flourishes Tag Lines made into a banner.
I`ve finished off with some irridescent sequins and some tiny clear gems.

I also made a male one, just because.
Again mostly from scraps and snippets.
The panel on the front is another from CB because it reminded me a little bit of the sea.
The tag is another from Pink Petticoat swiss dots.
The Anchor and Wheel dies are from Die- namics
The sentiment is computer generated.

My daughter ( Rubys Mum) made me cry on friday. Now this is not unusual as I cry at the drop of a hat but I still fill up everytime I think of this.
One of the kids at the oncology clinic in Leeds wanted to go to see the new Cinderella movie so her dad rang the local cinema to see when the quietest time was to take her. He explained to the lady on the phone that because his daughter had cancer, her immune system was very delicate and they couldn`t risk taking her when there would be lots of other people around and also the air conditioning can cause problems. The lady on the phone said she fully understood as she had been poorly too and to leave it with her and she`d get back to him.
A couple of hours later the lady rang back to tell him that she`d been intouch with Disney and they had agreed to let them put on a special screening of the film.
Thinking that there would be maybe a few dozen other special children there off the family went to the cinema. When they arrived the little girl was greeted by two real life Disney Princesses ( Cinderella and Frozen) and they had the whole cinema to themselves. The little girl was sat with the Princesses at either side holding her hands, she had a huge box of chocolates and the time of her life.
How wonderful is that?
I`m off now before I start myself off again.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 218

HAPPY EASTER ALL!

It`s Colour week at Simply Less is More Challenge and this time it`s, PREDOMINANTLY BLACK.
Your whole card doesn't have to be all black and you may use a little of another colour, but whatever you add to your design, even if it's minimal, should be mainly black.
So think silhouettes, monochrome, ombre, chalkboard technique... there doesn't have to be a lot of black... if your design is minimal, it just needs to be the predominant colour.

I got carried away and made 3,

This one I think is my favourite.
I made a 6x6 square base card from Papermill White Linen card.
I used Black card to cut a smaller square, found the middle and cut out the circle using a SB die and rounded the corners before embossing it with a Darice EF.
I stamped the dotty circle with Versamark Onyx Black. I`m sorry but I can`t remember who made the stamp.
The sentiment is from an old The Stampman Football set, the font was just what I wanted for this card.

For this card I`ve used some snippets for the banners.
The Label is from Waltzing Mouse Vintage Labels, the sentiment is a mix of Layers of Color and Flourishes stamps, stamped in black and embossed in clear EP before cutting out with a SB labels 4 die.
I spent half an hour searching for my WM labels stamps before realising that I`d already got them out, Doh!

This one I`m not sure about. It`s a CaSE of a card I found on Pinterest which is fab but I don`t think the black and white do it justice.
6x6 black card base.
White linen card cut into a smaller square.
I stamped the diagonal stripe from Paper Smooches in Versacolour Black before mounting it using foam pads.
The sentiment is TSG stamped onto a Die-namics tag.
I`ve added a tiny bit of yellow with the twine

Enjoy the rest of your Easter weekend, try not to eat all your eggs in one go lol

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 212

Hi there
I`m quite late with my card for this weeks Simply Less is More Challenge which is titled WINGS
I made two cards over the weekend but have only found time to post them.

For my first card I used Kaisercraft stains stamp set using Versacolor Mint, Orchid and Heliotrope.
The leaf stem is from Papertrey Turning a new Leaf stamp set stamped in Memento London Fog
I made the butterfly with Memory Box dies and purple and white vellum.
The sentiment is Flourishes Tag Line stamped and embossed in silver ep.
I added some gems to finish.

My second card also features a butterfly ( I`m so predictable).
I started with a scrap of paper printed with yellow hexagons from Pink Petticoat and given a fishtail.
I added a tiny strip of bright orange paper to give it some zing.
The tag is cut with a die from Die- namics and embossed with a Cuttlebug Birds & Swirls EF.
The sentiment is also from Flourishes.
I cut a circle from yellow card and embossed that with a Craft Concepts Woodgrain EF.
The leaf is part of a Memory Box Lorelai Stem die.
The butterfly is a stamp from Docrafts stamped in Versa mark Black and embossed in clear EP then coloured using Promarkers.

Not a great deal to tell you this week. Ruby continues to improve and although she`s still having terrible trouble with her calf and ankle muscles, she`s finding her own way around which is all good.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 209

Hi there,
Long post warning!!!

Well I missed the last two challenges at Simply Less is More. Although I started cards for both weeks, life just got in the way and they didn`t get posted. So I was determined to join in ths week no matter what.
As it`s a 5 saturday month we have a Lucky Dip with the title LITTLE ONES. This could mean babies, children, small animals or tiny elements on our cards.
I`ve chosen to make a baby card.

I used a Memory Box Stencil and some homemade embossing paste for the background ( I`ll give you the recipe at the end of this post)
I cut out two tags using a Die- namics die from patterned paper and white vellum and tied them with some pink twine.
The BABY die is from Die- Versions cut from pink paper. I used Chrissie`s tip of backing the paper with double sided tape before cutting, sooo much easier for sticking down.
To finish I added two tiny butterflies with teeny gems.

Well, call me cheapskate all you like but I do like a cheaper version of some things .Embossing Paste is so expensive but I love the effect and have tried in the past to make my own from an online recipe but wasn`t too impressed. The other day while browsing Pinterest I found another recipe and this one is fabulous. It uses talc so is much whiter and is so easy to make.
All you need is...
1/4 cup of talc ( I used baby talc)
1 tbsp craft glue ( cheap PVA works great)
1 tbsp white Acrylic paint
A little water
Plastic spoon or similar for stirring.

Just mix the ingrediants together then add a tiny bit of water until you get the consistancy of toothpaste.
The best thing is, it smells gorgeous even when dry.
Once I`d tried it I thought about colouring it so bought some more paint, thinking that if it didn`t work, I`d probably use the paints anyway.
I started with 3 main colours.

 
I chose these colours because from them I can mix, Green, Orange and possibly purple/ lilac and ofcourse they can all be mixed with varying amounts of white for different shades.
The baby card I made today is white with a tiny amount of Rose Madder.
Just need some more stencils now and there`ll be no stopping me.

Really quick Ruby update;
The bacterial infection has all gone now although there is still some fungal infection on Ruby`s liver and spleen but the anti fungal meds are dealing with that. She was hoping to come home on wednesday but had a sudden tiny spike in her temperature, 38.1%, and if it goes above 38% it means more bloods and cultures have to be taken. It is such a pain but then it`s not worth risking so hopefully she will be home either today or tomorrow. Then we can have Christmas Yippee!

Thanks for sticking with me, I know it was a long one today...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 205

Hello there,
I`m back on my poor neglected blogwith my entry for this weeks Simply Less is More Challenge
which is a colour challenge.                BLACK, METALIC + ONE

I`ve gone for Black, gold and red,

I used a black base card and a white panel. I tried other combinations, white on white and plain black but prefer this one.
The tag is made using a Die-namics die and a Pink Petticoat Chevrons download printed onto card.
The heart is cut from red glitter card using a sizzix die and the small hearts are punched out.
The `love` die is from Memory Box cut from gold card.

Well I hope you all had a super Christmas and new year. Ours was...well... different. Ruby has been in LGI for 3 weeks now and has been extremely ill. The infection in her portacath was a lot more serious than first thought and even after an operation to remove it she didn`t improve at all. After a scan to investigate it was discovered that she had a `pocket` of infection, simiar to an abcess I think, quite deep seated in her chest. The doctor was hoping to take her to theatre to clean the infection site in the hope that the antibiotics would start to take effect but Rubys platelette count was extremely low and it was thought that she may not be strong enough to cope with another operation. Ruby had not eaten since being admitted so that was a major worry. She had a feed tube fitted to give her some nutrients with the hope of building her up enough to help the fight. She also developed a rash which was a worry, especially when they tested her for meningitis but that came back negative. The biggest concern was that the infection had spread throughout her body and that she had developed septicaemia. Ruby was seriously ill and quite unresponsive, sleeping most of the time. On sunday the decision was made to clean out the infected area. Almost as soon as she was back on the ward Ruby was showing signs of being more alert but by monday she was sleepy and a bit poorly again.
On tuesday morning she woke up wanting snuggles with her daddy and during the afternoon she was given a CT scan and the infection site was still clear. By late afternoon, a small miracle occured and Ruby ate for the first time in 17 days. You cannot imagine the relief we all felt, I can`t find the words to describe it. She sat in bed chattering away to the play worker and the nurses were queueing up outside the door to speak to her.
The rash is thought to be a reaction to the antibiotics so thats a huge relief. There is still along way to go, Ruby had some fluid around her lungs and her heart rate was quite high but she`s been back to theatre this afternoon to have her lungs flushed out and she`s breathing better already so fingers crossed. I know how worried I was but really can`t imagine what my daughter and son in law must have been going through. They have both shown such strength and they have supported each other which is  wonderful.
We can`t wait to get all the family home now so we can celebrate christmas together, a bit late but it will be special.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 199

                                                         MISSING
                                     Craft Mojo

                                                 not seen for about 3/4 weeks
                                                 If found please return to this blog


Hi there,
            Well I`m here but my mojo certainly isn`t. I seem to have lost the ability to make a half decent card.
I have tried, I made cards for last week and the week before at Simply Less is More
but they were so pants I didn`t post them. I do wish it would come back. I miss my card making.
I have managed a card for this weeks challenge at Simply Less is More which is titled
                                                       JINGLE ALL THE WAY.
not 100% pleased with this one but this is what I`ve made,

I`ve used a Pink Petticoat 
Tiny Treasures for Christmas image, coloured with Promarkers and cut out with a Tag die from Die-namics.
The papers are from Do Crafts cut and fish tailed with a square nestie.
I`ve added a jingle bell from my stash and some tiny coloured gems here and there.
I`m going to have another go at this one and try to get my placement a bit better. Seems like a good design for batch making if I can get it right.

Ruby was sent home from LGI last week now the chemo is into her system and she has been weaned off the steroids.It`s unbelievable the difference the steroids have made. She gained almost 4 kgs in 5 weeks and it was such a shock to see her. She didn`t look like my Ruby anymore. They have told us that the weight will go almost as quick as it came but the chemo is effecting her leg muscles again which makes it difficult to walk and on friday she developed a high temperature so at the moment she`s in isolation at Hull Royal. Hopefully the blood cultures will come back tomorrow and Ruby can go home and have antibiotics there. She`s having a pretty rough time at the moment but is coping well and, as ever, is cheerful and giving the staff plenty to laugh about.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx
                             

Simply Less is More # 190

Hello There,                                                                

We went away for a few days early in the week and I didn`t have time to join in last weeks Simply Less is More Challenge so I was more than ready for this weeks. It`s theme week and this time the title is,

                                                     FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE

After a lot of thought I came up with this,

The ballet shoes are an image I found on Pinterest, coloured with Promarkers and I`ve sprinkled a tiny bit of Glamour dust on them.
The music is a stamp from Hobbycraft, stamped in Versafine Black.
I`ve cut both images out with a tag die from Die- Namics and added a pinkbow.
The sentiment is PC generated with a touch of Lady Ga Ga.

I have two birthdays this week so I`m hoping my mojo holds out long enough to make cards. It`s a bit hit and miss at the moment.
 Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 188

Hello there,
First let say a very warm welcome to my latest follower Jane. Thank you for choosing my little blog to follow.

It`s a colour challenge over at Simply Less is More and this weeks colours are;

                          

CHOCOLATE MINT

                         
Mmmm lovely colours but how to use them on a card was a tad baffling. So...when you run out of ideas, make a Christmas card.

I`ve also got a bit greedy and have plain and milk chocolate.
I used dark chocolate card for the base, made a panel from white linen card and rounded one corner.
The tag is made from an offcut of white linen card using a Die-Namics tag die.
I made the banner from Pink Petticoat 
Swiss Dots DP in milk chocolate using the corner of a square nestie to make the fishtail.
I stamped the sentiment, Papermania`s Joyeaux Noel set, in Versacolour Brown ink onto pale green vellum and embossed with clear EP before wrapping it around the tag.
I punched a snowflake from pale green glitter card ( think it should`ve been a bit bigger now) punched a hole in the top of the tag and tied some green twine to it and there you have it.
Definitely a non traditional Christmas card is ever there was one.

There is mention on more than one of the design teams blogs of chocolate goodies like Aero and After Eights which is far too tempting for a chocoholic like me so I`m off to see what I can find in the treat tin.

Edited to add; I got so carried away thinking about chocolate that I forgot to thank the girls for showcasing my sketch week card. So sorry, I`m chuffed to bits.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 174 take 3

Hi There,
Considering I`ve spent the majority of my cardmaking life making twee flowery or cute and lacy baby cards, nobody can be more surprised than me at how much I`m enjoying playing with my grunge stamps. Having said that, I hope I`m not coming across as some old bird trying to be young and trendy . My daughter was impressed though...or she could have just been shocked that I even knew what grunge was lol.

I woke up the other morning with an idea running through my head ( now that doesn`t happen very often) so I just went with it and this is the result, `His & Hers Grunge`,

I`ve used the same stamps on both cards although they are not identical.
I used Kaisercraft Stains and Artemio circles stamped in a variety of colours. Made the alpha`s from scrap bits of card  using Die-Namics dies and placed them with foam pads.
The sentiment is computer generated.

Right...I might get my hair dyed green and have some piercings done, get down with the kids and...maybe not.

This is my third entry in this weeks Simply Less is More challenge which is to use more than one stamp, I`ve used 4.
I`m also entering  Pixies Snippets Playground
as I`ve used a tiny bit of my mountain of snippets.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx