Simply Less is More # 401

Hello there,

The weeks seem to be flying by this summer and it's time for another challenge at Less is More,
and it's a colour challenge this time.

I love a colour challenge and with this one having Tangerine as one of the colours I was in my element. Teamed with Aqua was a bonus too.

I'd found some Christmas card idea's on Pinterest using a stamp similar to the circle one so already had them out to give it a try. Now I've practised on this one I'm all ready to go .

The circle stamp is by Inkadinkado Stamped in Versa color Orange
 The butterfly is from a freebie set, stamped in clear ink and embossed with Sky Blue EP onto a scrap of parchment.
I simply fussy cut the butterfly and used a slither of foam pad to adhere to the card.
Sentiment is by There She Goes

I do like to send thank you cards, I think it means more than just a spoken thanks. So if I don't have an occasion to make a CaS card but still want to join in with the challenge, I tend to make them thank you cards so I always have  a stock of them to go to.


Thank you for popping in x

New Stencil.

Hello there

I recently treat myself to a new stencil from Alexandre Renke. I couldn't wait to start playing with it.

I belong to a support group for Grandparents of children with cancer. The lady who started the group is called Pat and as today is her birthday, this one is for her. She really is a super lady and works tirelessly to raise awareness of children's cancer, side effects of treatments and long term after effects. Some of the stories that have been shared are horrendous.
Pat has had meetings with the Leader and members of the Scottish Parliament and this last week was at Westminster Palace to meet with English MP's to discuss awareness and treatment.

Luckily Ruby is doing really well and, as yet, is showing no signs of long lasting damage

I used my handmade texture paste coloured with some blue acrylic paints. Because the paste is made using talcum powder, ( I use baby powder) it smells gorgeous too.
I sprinkled some Creative Expressions glitter over it while still wet. The glitter has slightly holographic properties so gives a deeper shade depending on the light.
I've finished off with some irridescent gems and a sentiment from There she Goes.

I've just received a thank you on Facebook and  Pat is really pleased with it.

Thanks for popping in x

Less is More # 394

Hello there,

It's time for another challenge at Less is More and this fortnight it's the dreaded one layer card.

I'm actually quite comfortable with the OLC now depending on the theme and this one seemed a nice easy one for me. Or so I thought.
My first attempt looked a bit too twee, my second card turned out well enough but I wasn't happy with the colouring, so this, I hope,is third time lucky.

The I've used is from Flourishes. I've had it for years and it's still my favourite floral stamp. It's so versatile and I think it's beautiful.
For this card I've stamped off the edge in Versamark Onyx and embossed with clear EP
I've coloured with a mix of Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens
The sentiment is by There She Goes.

I have a friend, Vanessa, who, although suffering some quite nasty health issues, spends all her spare time making things to either donate to or raise money for various charities. She a lovely lady and one of the most caring people I know. This card is going to her to show her some love and appreciation.

Thank you for popping in x

Simply Less is More # 219

Hello there, a quick post from me today to share my card for this weeks Simply Less is More Challenge.
It`s One Layer week again and this time it`s to use splatters on our creations.

For my card I`ve used Kaisercraft Stains stamp set using 3 different shades of blue.
I then stamped a Marion Emberson designs image over that in black before giving it a quick squirt of Aqua Lagoon Shimmer Magic by Caroles crafts.
The sentiment is from TSG.

I`m in the process of moving my craft room again so it`s a very short post for me this time.

Thank 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 # 217

Hello there,
Well what a week this has been. Our continuous battle of the leaky bathroom has finally been sorted out (yippee) but golly it was hard work. Every time you think you`ve solved the problem, somewhere else starts dripping. So...I haven`t had a great deal of time to get into the craft room and I apologise for my lack of commenting. Being a plumbers mate is hard work and I found myself falling into bed before ten most nights.

Anyway that`s over now so I grabbed the chance today to get crafty with this weeks Simply Less is More challenge which is to   COMBINE 3 PREVIOUS LIM CHALLENGES INTO ONE CREATION

 Oooh so many to chose from,

I apoligise for the rubbish pic. The weather is very gloomy here today no amount of editing is improving this.

The challenges I have used are, wk 3   Spring
                                                wk55  Punches/ Die cuts
and                                          wk 172 Flowers

I sponged some white linen card with yellow, orange and a touch of pink versacolour inks then spritzed it with some Docrafts gold Spritzing ink.
Cut out with a SB circle die and mounted it onto another, larger circle.
The flower is Memory box Dancing Tulips. I cut 2, one green and one red and cut the heads off to swap them. Then mounted it onto the circle using foam pads.
I`ve also added some Do Crafts Pearl Effects along the stem.
The sentiment is from TSG.
IRL the background is brighter with more yellow but, as I say the weather isn`t being kind.


Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 193

Hello There !

I`d first like to say a very big thank you for all your lovely comments and the support and prayers you`ve sent for Ruby. It means such a lot to us all. More later.

This week it`s the dreaded One Layer Card at Simply Less is More and we are asked to include,
                                                        2 of Something

A pretty basic card really. I`ve used 2 leaves.
A simple panel chalked with yellow, orange and a touch of red to keep with the autumnal theme.
I stamped 2 leaves from Hero Arts, in clear ink and embossed them in detail gold EP.
The sentiment is There She Goes stamped in Black Versafine ink.

Ruby gave us quite a scare last monday when she went to theatre.The doctors were hoping to do a biopsy, a lumber puncture and fit a port in one operation but she stopped breathing under the anaesthetic. My daughter rang in a mad panic because they`d been told Ruby might have to go into intensive care. They`d managed to do the biopsy but had to bring her round quickly because the tumour was blocking her airways.After a couple of very worrying  hours Mum rang back to say that Ruby was back on the ward and chatting away after eating her way through a plate full of fish fingers and chips. Phew!
Doctors decided to give a few days rest and after scanning on friday she was taken back to theatre for the rest of her procedure. She has a T-Cell Lymphoma which I think is a form of Leukemia but we are still waiting for the results from her spinal fluid to see which type it is. Apart from that she is fine. Mum and dad are being as honest as they can with her, answering her questions and she seems to be taking it all on board for now. I think the worse thing for Ruby will be when her hair falls out again but we`ll deal with that when it happens.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 192

Hello there, it`s a thoroughly miserable day today over most of the UK so not a day for getting out and about. What better excuse to stay put and craft.
The challenge over on Simply Less is More this week is a colour one and perfect for this month as it`s title is,
                                                                AUTUMN BOUNTY

I used decorative chalks in red, orange, yellow and green on Papermill White Linen card before cutting it out with a Spellbinders Hexagon die.
I cut a larger hexagon in white and mounted them, one on top the other using foam pads.
The leaf is cut from a X Cut die in dark yellow card and I`ve chalked the edges with orange.
Finished off with a sentiment from There She Goes.

We had some really devastating news over the weekend...Ruby has cancer again. After being cancer free for over a year the evil disease has come back to have another go.I can`t begin to tell you how we`re all feeling but especially her mum & dad who are, understandably, devastated.
Ruby had a really bad, chesty cough for about 3 weeks which didn`t respond to antibiotics or an inhaler so on friday her GP referred her to Hull Royal for an X ray. HRI liased with Leeds General where all her treatment will take place and they admitted her immediately.
It was thought to be a secondary wilms tumour that had settled in her lungs but apparently it`s a new cancer altogether, thought to be caused by the radiation she had for her last treatment, and is in her upper airway and pushing against her lungs but is easily treatable. It just means she has go through all the chemo and the side effects that go with it all over again.
That`s about all I know for now exept they have put her on steroids to control her breathing so they can do a biopsy and a lumber puncture and also to fit a port, which is left in to admit any medication she needs.
Because Ruby was only 3 last time her treatment started she just got on with it and accepted everything that needed doing but now she`s 6 and can remember things she`s a very frightened little girl. I`m sure the staff at LGI will deal with that as they are wonderful there.
So... not a very happy post today, sorry about that.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 151

Happy New Year Everyone and I hope you all had a lovely Christmas.

I know I`ve been a terrible blogger these past few weeks and my determination to post more regularly didn`t come to much. I really don`t know where the time goes. I should make it my New Year resolution to spend much more time on the blog but I simply can`t promise I will keep to it. I will promise to do my best though.
I thought I`d start with my favourite Challenge, Simply Less is More, which has a two week window and a theme of choosing any of the past challenges.
I`ve chosen wk 151 Punches or Diecuts.

It`s the perfect time of year for Thank You cards and this design is great at any time of the year.
I made an A5 top fold card and cutout a panel slightly smaller than the base.
After rounding the corners off I ran it through the CB with a Darice EF and placed it on the card using foam pads.
The leaf is made with a Poppy stamps Lorelai die.
The daisies are made with a punch and the yellow middles by using a two hole paper punch ( just the right size).
The sentiment is by There She Goes, stamped in Versafine black ink.
A bit of tweaking of the flowers to give it some texture and there you have it.

I can`t wait til next week when everything is back to normal and I can get into some sort of routine again.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

A delicate, pastel thank you

Morning all!

In complete contrast to yesterdays bright and bold offering, I`ve made a much more delicate, springlike thank you card. I`ve had a quite creative week this week. Mr mojo has been very attentive.

Another very quick and simple card using snippets.
I cut 3 pieces of card into strips and rounded the bottoms using a nestie circle die.
Punched the daisies out of the same card and added a clear gem to the centres.
The sentiment is TSG.

The fundraising box is getting rather full now. We just need a date and a venue for the main fundraising event and we`re off. Can`t wait.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Simply Less is More # 114

Good Morning All!

I hope you are all well and enjoying the weekend.

Ruby is home from hospital and is doing very well. Her ear infection has cleared up now but not before it spread to her other ear and perforated her ear drum. She was very very poorly for a while because her platelette count was on zero so she had nothing at all to fight the infection with. Thank goodness for antibiotics. Once they kicked in she was soon on her feet and causing havoc in the hospital hee hee.
Me and my other daughter, Angie went to see her on wednesday and when we were leaving Cheryl came down to see us off leaving Ruby alone in the bed. This is what she came back to...

Ruby`s favourite member of staff, Nurse Nicki thought it would be a great idea to let Ruby paint a picture. She had splashed the walls, the bed needed stripping and the frame had to have a wash down. But Ruby was happy so who cares? Lol.
Anyway the point I was getting to is that now Ruby`s treatment is coming to an end ( fingers crossed) Cheryl  needs some thank you cards to give to the many people that have supported them all over the past year and a bit. I thought I might as well make a stash and she can choose any she needs.

The challenge this week at Simply Less is More is a colour challenge, USE LIME AND BLACK,
Here is my Lime and black thank you card,

I made another frame card using a rectangle nestie and stamped some script by Indigo Blu using Versafine Onyx Black.
I`ve added a torn piece of card over some of the script and a Lime ( looks much more lime IRL) die cut from Marianne Designs.
The sentiment is by TSG.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Less is More # 111

Good Afternoon All!

I`ve got a really busy day today so this will have to be short and sweet I`m afraid. I do have time to welcome my new follower Sue though. Welcome to my little blog Sue.

The theme for this weeks Simply Less is More challenge is to  FRAME IT.
Right up my street as this is the style I use most often lately.

As spring will soon be here ( hopefully) I thought I`d use this stamp and some lovely fresh colours.
I bought the stamp at a craft fair earlier this year but there`s no name on it, sorry. Coloured with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens. The sentiment is by TSG.

I already had this stamp, from Papermania, out for a commisioned card so thought it would look good in a frame too. I`ve lightly chalked the background in a very pale green before colouring the image with Promarkers and Spectrum Noir Pens. I`ve added some Glamour Dust to the image and some Glossy  Accents to the cherry.
The sentiment is a mix of Waltzing Mouse and Layers of Color.

This is a card I made last night for someone at Alan`s work and then realised that it was a frame of sorts so I`m adding it to the challenge.
The stamp is by Funstamps and I`ve had it forever, coloured with markers.
I used cream card this time and made a panel which I embossed with a woodgrain pattern using a Crafts Concepts EF.
I cut the image out and placed it using foam pads, the sentiment is again from TSG.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Happy Birthday Less is More

Hello there, happy sunday to you all.

It`s two whole years since Mandi and Chrissie began the Simply Less is More challenge and, although I have missed 2 or 3 weeks I always try to join in. It is my `go to` challenge and I`d like to wish Chrissie, Mandie and ofcourse Jen, a very happy anniversary and may there be many more.

It`s colour week this week and the chosen colours are;

                                                     Kraft and Cream.

I`ve used a fine ribbed cream base card and used a piece of the same card to cut out the Chloe Stem from Memory Box.
I made a panel using Kraft card and cut another Chloe stem, then inlaid the cream stem into the space left in the Kraft using another piece of kraft to back the panel.
I added a sentiment from TSG and some Waco Pearl Maker to the flower, finishing off with some plain string.

I have a confession to make...
Now promise you won`t fall out with me...
I don`t like Kraft!
There, I`ve said it.
I`ve seen some marvelous creations done with kraft card and I know alot of you absolutely love it but I just cannot take to it at all. It reminds me of all the millions of cardboard boxes I`ve had to unpack at work over the years and those boring parcels wrapped neatly in brown paper and string when I was a kid. Sorry!
Anyway, it`s out now and feel so much better for confessing hee hee.

Back to work tomorrow :-(
Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Thank you

Morning All!

My posts this week are going to be very short and sweet I`m afraid. Lots to do and no time to do it, story of my life ;-)

Alan`s eldest sister was a manager for the company that he works for and when she died a couple of weeks ago we received some lovely cards and letters from various departments, one even from the managing director. Alan asked me to make thank you cards for everyone so I made a batch, all the same to send.

I seem to be using this frame style rather a lot lately but I do love it.
I used the small sunflower from Flourishes, made a mask and inked the background in Memento Bahama Blue .
Then I coloured the flower with Promarkers.
The sentiment is from There she goes.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Autumnal Butterflies

Good Morning All!

It`s One Layer week again over at Simply Less is More and this time the theme is WINGS.

I`ve taken the easy option and gone with butterflies.

I`ve used white linen card and embossed a rectangle using a nestie.
I stamped the butterflies (Elusive Images) onto the rectangle then masked off the butterflies and around the rectangle before inking with Versacolor Sand all over then Versacolor  Brown around the edges.
The image is coloured with Promarkers in autumn colours.
The sentiment is from There She Goes which was a gift from my lovely blog friend Tara ( Thanks Tara)

Although one layer cards don`t hold the fear they once did for me, I`ve come to the conclusion that mine are getting much of a muchness so I might have another go with something a bit different.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Less is More #62 Colour Challenge

Good Afternoon All!
Yes it`s still saturday and I`m here already with my card for Less is More which, being the first saturday of the month is a colour challenge. This week the challenge is to make a clean and simple card using Three Shades Of Green.
Not too difficult but not as easy as I`d hoped lol.

  I started with an A5 white tent fold card. I cut a circle with a nestie into a post it and stamped my leaf (Papertrey Turning a New Leaf) through it to get the sizing right.Leaf stamped with Versacolor Lime green.
I then used the same circle nestie and one size larger to make my hoop with some bright green card and placed it using foam pads.
The sentiment is There She Goes stamped in Versacolor Evergreen.
And there you have it, quick, clean and simple.

Not much to report on Ruby. She has her op this week so I`ll update you as soon as I know anything.

I`d like to say a very big welcome to my new followers, thank you for choosing my little blog to follow, it`s very much appreciated.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Resistance is futile...

in more ways than one.

Hi All, I`m back with my second entry for this weeks Less is More Challenge. I just couldn`t resist having another go and this time I just had to use my Flourishes Gerbera daisy stamp.

I used the resist embossing technique on this one for a change.
I started out with a 6x6 card base.
Cut out a square with a nestie and stamped the image in clear embossing ink but used white EP.
Then I simply inked over the image and surrounding card with versacolor Orchid and Mint Green inks.
I stuck the square onto the card base because I didn`t want to risk making a mess with masking.
The sentiment is another from the set Tara sent me from There She Goes. It`s the first time I`ve used this brand of stamp but they are fabulous to use, I`ll have to check them out I think.

Right gotta go, I`m supposed to be cooking the sunday roast lol.
Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx

Less is More # 61...Lucky Dip

Good Morning All and a Happy Sunday to you!

As yesterday was the 5th saturday in the month, we have a Lucky Dip at Less is More. This time it`s a fabulous inspiration piccy,

My first reaction was to go literal and use my Gerbera daisy stamps but I seem to have used them such a lot just lately. Then I thought, seeing as Easter is only next week I`d use the Lenten Rose set from Flourishes.
This is what I`vecome up with;

I started with a sheet of A4 white card and downloaded a Pink Petticoat Quatrofoil DP in Smoke on the PC.
After cropping the DP and choosing the position of it onto my card I printed it off then cut it to make an A5 tent fold card.
I stamped my image onto another piece of white card and coloured it with markers then cut it out.
The image is raised with foam pads.
The sentiment is a new one for me that I recieved from my lovely friend and blog buddy Tara  
to celebrate our 1st anniversary at St Lukes Charity Card Challenge. It`s from a sentiment set from There She Goes, stamped in versafine Onyx

We have finally set a date for daughter Angie to have her head shaved, 14th April, so only a couple of weeks.
She isn`t going completely bald ha ha, but is having a very short buzz cut ( no 2).
Photographs will be posted before, during and after.
Ruby continues to do well although she had a triple dose of chemo on Monday and was a bit off colour on tuesday. Next week she has another dose of chemo on monday followed by a scan on wedneday so we all have everything crossed in anticipation. And then the following week is her operation to remove the kidney and tumour.
We are all still feeling very positive about the outcome but ofcourse there`s always that element of doubt at the back of your mind. Thank you all once again for the lovely comments, Ruby`s mum and dad read them all and take great comfort from them.

Thanks for popping in...Lynne xxx