Simply Less is More # 400

Hello there,

I hope the weather where ever you are is being kind to you. It's a bit too hot for me here this week,30 degrees and rising so nothing very energetic getting done by me. I did however find a slightly cooler spot in the craft room for the latest challenge from Simply Less is More.
This time we have been asked to use our smaller images, less than 2 inches.

After a bit of oohing and aahing I decided on this cute little image from Penny Black

I coloured the flower in a hot pink with a Spectrum Noir pen to give it a pop of colour.
The rest is coloured with Promarkers and the image is cut out with a Spellbinders circle nestie.
The leaf stems are by Simply Graphic.
The sentiment is by Papertrey stamped in Versafine Onyx.

Thanks for popping in X

Color throwdown 529

Hello There,

Another challenge that I haven't joined in with for a very long time is The Color Throwdown so I thought it was time to put myself out there, so to speak. The colours for this challenge are fabulous, just we need for the cold, wet, miserable weather we're getting here at the moment.

Here is my card,

The rectangle is made using the Tissue Paper method, inked with Freshly Squeezed Lemon & Mustard Seed, lightly embossed in gold EP.
The leaves are from a piece of smooshed card from my stash. Unfortunately I can't remember which colours I used or even which inks.
The word die is another smooshed piece of card in Spiced Marmalade with a little bit of Fired Brick
Dies are from Simply Graphic, leaves and Penny Black, word.
The rectangle is from Spellbinders

I'm having serious computer problems at the moment so might be a bit quiet. I apologise in advance.

Thanks for popping in x

Less is More # 385

Hello there,

I'm a bit late with my entry for the latest challenge at Less is More.
It's one layer time again and this time it's holiday cards.
Quite honestly I'm a bit fed up of holiday/ christmas cards at the moment. It seems to be all I've done for months, hopefully this will be my last one for this year. Yes...I know I'm a miserable git :D.

I won this stamp in a challenge at Pixies snippets playground ages and ages ago and to my shame this is the first time it's seen ink. So easy to colour and I think I'll be using it more next year.

Coloured with Promarkers- Leaf, pine, berry red and gold
Stamp by Penny Black
Sentiment PC generated

Thanks for popping in 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

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 # 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

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 # 222

Hello There !
Just popping in to share my card for this weeks Simply Less is More Challenge
It`s colour week and this time we are asked to create a card using opposite sides of the colour wheel,

I spent part of yesterday and quite a bit of today, stamping, embossing, masking and sponging and finished up with such a rubbish card it went in the bin. Then I was at a loss to know what to do.
 A bit of raking about and umming and arring and this appeared,

I think I`m pleased with it.
Obviously I`ve gone with pink and lime green.
I started by cutting a panel for my card front and rounding the corners.
I used Kaisercraft Stains stamp with Lime Green Versacolour ink for the background
 The feather is from Wplus9 Fanciful Feathers die set cut from a small piece of white linen card and sponged with Spun Sugar DI. I then went along the edges with Versacolor Orchid.
Smile is from a Penny Black die set also cut from a scrap of card.
I finished off with some small drops of Dovecraft 3D Pearl Effects.

Not a lot to tell you this week really although I did get a lesson in grammar from Ruby last thursday.
She had some clear plastic shapes that she`d coloured with glass pens to look like stained glass and said I could have one or two. After I`d chosen mine Ruby was left with a cat and a fish which she placed one on top of the other and asked her mum what would you call it. Mum said it could be a catfish and I said it could be a cat that had eaten a fish.
Ruby gave me a look of absolute despair and said " Grandma, that`s a sentence not a name"
That`s me told then.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 185

Hi there I`m back.
I haven`t felt much like crafting for the past few weeks but decided I needed to get back in the saddle so to speak and what better time than for this weeks Simply Less is More Challenge.
The theme this week is ANIMAL. Anything from the animal kingdom will do with plenty of whitespace.

Not alot of `white` space but still CaS enough I hope.
I`ve used this cute little mouse from a Penny Black set, coloured with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens.
The bright pink of the balloon is almost identical to the pink card irl but looks much brighter on here.
I`ve cut the white panel at an angle then staggered the bottom piece with the sentiment, also from the same set and mounted it with foam pads.
Hopefully now I`ve started I will get back into it and join in more often again.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 177

Hi there!
I`m popping in today to share my cards for this weeks Simply Less is More challenge which is to
                                                             USE WATERCOLOUR
I had a bit of a moment when I saw this challenge. Anyone who knows me, knows that I cannot paint to save my life. Skirtingboards, door jamb or even a door at a pinch and I`m fine but pictures...no chance. My fingers refuse to do what my brain is telling them so I just don`t do it.
However...after careful consideration, I realised that even I can do a colour wash, so that`s what I did. Not earth shattering or even remotely artistic but it kept me out of mischief for a while. Naturally once I got started I couldn`t stop at one , so I have three cards to share.

I used Luninart Shimmer paints, which leave a lovely sheen, on Papermill Linen card. Although it did curl a bit, it was quite easy to straighten afterwards.
On this one I used a blue in various strengths then picked up a tiny bit of pink here and there. Once dry I spritzed with some blue shimmer mist but it`s difficult to see on the pic.
I stamped my image ( Inkadinkado) in black Versafine and cut out the sentiment in purple card using a Die-namics die.

This one is made the same as above but using different shades and strengths of pink shimmer paints.
Once dry I stamped the text stamp ( IndigoBlu) in Memento Rose bud ink.
Once that was dry I stamed the leaf (Hero Arts) in clear ink and embossed in detail gold EP.
The sentiment is by Flourishes.

This one is done in green shimmer paint with a little yellow added in parts. Over stamped with the text stamp again in Memento Olive grove. Once dry I stamped and embossed the Leaf ( Papertrey inc) in gold EP.
The sentiment ( Penny Black) is cut out in gold card.

Since I`ve made these I thought of loads of other designs and if I get time I might indulge myself. Got quite a busy week ahead getting everything ready for our summer fayre fundraising event ( a great opportunity to get rid of some junk on the bric a brac stall)

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 175 take 2

Hi There!
A quick post from me today with another card for this weeks Simply Less is More 
challenge which is to use the Colours in your Bedroom.

I`ve used a duvet cover as my inspiration again for this one which is a faux patchwork pattern.
The papers are all snippets but I haven`t a clue who designed them. I`ve cut them out using a Spellbinders Hexagon die.
The `Smile` die is Penny Black and I`ve added a few tiny pink gems to finish.
I`m also entering this into Di`s Pixies Crafty Snippets 
wk 128.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 174

Hi There!
It`s a Lucky Dip week at Simply Less is More as it`s the fifth saturday of the month and this weeks challenge calls for us to use                    MORE THAN ONE STAMP

I`ve been treating myself this week and bought some stamps and dies so I`ve put them to use today.

I`ve tried to be cool and trendy but I`m not at all sure if I`ve pulled it off or not, or whether it`s CaS enough lol.
I`ve used Kaisercraft Triangles stamped in Memento Bahama Blue and Stains in Memento Tangelo and Pear tart.
I`ve used a couple of yellow snippets for the banners and cut out ENJOY from Penny Black dies in bright blue card.

I`ve had hubby home all week so this is the first chance I`ve had to get in the craft room all week and now I`m up here Mr Mojo has gone on strike.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Less is More # 125

Good evening all!

I`m running late again but I wanted to pop in to post my card for this weeks Simply Less is More challenge, which is to make a card suitable for Jen who`se birthday it was yesterday. Lucky girl Jen is sunning herself in Istanbul at the moment so she wont know I`m a day late lol.

I`ve used Pink Petticoat
DP because I know how much Jen loves PP.
A Penny Black image stamped in Memento Tuxedo black ink and coloured with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens.
The sentiment is computer generated.

I think I`m going to be MIA this week. I`ve got two weeks off work but I`m hoping to decorate the kitchen this week and then we`re away for a few days next week. With a bit of luck I might get some crafting time in inbetween.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 118

Good afternoon all.
Wow, we are finally having some lovely weather, and for a bank holiday too. Now that`s almost unheard of here in the UK.
The challenge this week at Simply Less is More is a colour challenge.

We are to choose two opposite colours from the colour wheel. Not usually a problem for me with my penchant for vibrant colours but I have to admit I struggled a bit. I`ve made 3 cards but I`m not overly impressed with any of them.

 For my first card I went with yellow green and violet red.
The base card is pearlised lime green.
I used a new ( to me) Penny Black slap stick stamp called dreamy stamped in Versacolor Burgundy.
I`ve added a bit of Glamour Dust to the flower head.
The sentiment is Layers of Color stamped in Versafine Onyx.

 My second is a paler version of yellow green and violet red, more like light green and lilac really. This was actually the last card I made and I was beginning to lose the will to live lol.
I stamped Papertrey Turning a new Leaf in Fresh Green Versacolor of the edge of my base card.
Punched some butterflys from purple card and added some gems.
The sentiment is a mix of Layers of Color and Waltzing Mouse.

And finally, I used another new to me stamp, Chevrons by Lawn Fawn stamped in Versacolor Orange and Cyan.
I cut out circles with a nestie die in orange and bright blue card.
The sentiment is by Flourishes stamped onto white card and cut out with a nestie circle die.
Really not sure about this one, I think it needs something more.

Right then. Less than a week after Ruby was declared cancer free, she is back in the wars.
One of the side effects of the chemo she was on is what the doctors call, Wobbly Leg syndrome. Apparently it affects the calf muscles and the ankles and makes the kids walk a bit stiff and are prone to falling over. It`s a temporary condition but Ruby`s mum and dad decided to get her a trampoline for the garden to help build up the muscles and also to teach her to jump because she does a funny little bunny hop at the moment :)
Anyway tuesday afternoon after nattering for weeks to be able to play outside she finally got to go on the trampoline with big sister Charlotte.
And promptly fell awkwardly and broke her collar bone.
I know...you couldn`t make it up could you?
She now has her arm in a sling but is absolutely fine and turning mum and dad into nervous wrecks while she carries on as if nothing is wrong. The only downside, from Ruby`s point of view, is that she can`t have a tantrum because it hurts when she stamps her feet. Lol.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Another man card...

...but a bit different this time.

Morning all. I`m on a bit of a roll this week aren`t I ?
I have another man card to share but this time I`ve gone cute.

I think I`m pretty safe in thinking that this little Hedgie is genderless ( without being too personal) and that, although we mostly make feminine cards with him/her, it`s ok to use him/her for a man card.
I`m sure you get my drift.
I think he looks fab all in blue for a change and perfectly relaxed.
This is another card from Cheryls friends order and another quick and easy card to make.
Papers from Papermania Capsule Collection.
Sky Blue card from Papermill Direct.
Stamp by Penny Black
Sentiment PC generated
Spellbinders Nested circles and Lacey Circles

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

Penny Black Saturday Challenge wk 103

Good Morning and a Happy 1st June.

Well I`m back from my weekend away. It could have been a better weekend but still we`ve had a rest and I must admit Alan needed it much more than me. He had to work friday evening so we didn`t get away until saturday and it rained. My goodness did it rain! Much as I like to hear the sound of gentle raindrops on the caravan roof, I prefer sunshine streaming through the windows lol. And it was really cold aswell, couldn`t believe it after the weekend before when it was too hot. The weather forecast was for sunshine and showers on sunday with a bit of a breeze along the coast. Well we weren`t on the coast and we got black clouds and gales. Breezy...pah! It was so strong at least 2 awnings on the site were ruined and I feel for the people in tents. Usually if we go for a weekend we leave mid afternoon but we were asked to leave at 11 o` clock on monday as the site was really busy. Guess what? ...Brilliant sunshine!
It did, however, give me a chance to do some crafting which is always a good thing and we did still enjoy ourselves, so much so that we are going again in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed for the weather!

On to my card for today then. I started making this card last week but ran out of time to finish it. Luckily for me the theme for this week at Penny Black Saturday Challenge is in the garden so I just adapted it slightly.

  The stamp is PB Nap Time and I love it because it`s so versatile. I`ve coloured with watercolour pencils and cut out with a circle nestie.
The pink spotty paper is  Pink Petticoat`s Dots and the green is Pink Petticoat Spring collection.
I`ve added some bright pink dotty ribbon from the Range.
The dark pink flowers are Prima and the white ones are punched out of plain white copy paper. I`ve added some yellow flat backed pearls to match the  daisy in the image which I`ve glittered.

Thanks for popping in, enjoy the rest of your day
Lynne xxx

A Cutie

Happy bank holiday Sunday every one.

I hope the weather isn`t too bad where you are, it`s just starting to cloud over here, typical.

Wow I can`t believe it`s been a whole week since my last post. I have just been sooo busy. The decorating is all finished now ( til I start on the next room ) The house has been cleaned to within an inch of it`s life. You know the story, if it stands still it gets scrubbed lol. I tried telling anyone that was interested that it wasn`t muck, it was volcanic dust but I have a feeling they didn`t believe me for some reason.

Any way I have one card to show you today. It`s not often I do cute cards but I fell in love with this little chap and thought he could be useful for all sorts of different occasions. So much for cutting down on stamp buying lol.
I`m calling him a he but I`ve decided for this occasion he is a she.

The stamp is by Penny Black and I`ve coloured the image with watercolour pencils.
The back ground paper is some from my computer and for the life of me I can`t remember where they are from.
I`ve glittered the centres of the flowers with some Glamour dust.
The sentiment is computer generated.and the flowers are from my stash.

Tomorrow Alan and son Alan are going to Wigan to watch the footie so I plan to have a whole day crafting.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Lynne xxx