Less is More # 396

Hello there,

It's time for another challenge over at Simply Less is More and this time it's,

So many different ways to emboss your cards and I think I've used quite a few of them on my entry

I used a stencil for the background.
I cut a circle using a die from a scrap of copy paper and placed it over the stencil, then used texture paste to cover it. Once the stencil was removed and the paste was still wet I sprinkled some white embossing powder over it and left it to dry. Once dry I heated it with my heat gun until I had a lovely shine.
The large leaf was cut from some sponged card that I made ages ago. I used a dark green Versa colour ink pad just along the edges of the leaves and sprinkled some clear EP on and heated it.
The rubber Plant leaf is cut from some smooshed card from my stash and I dry embossed the veins using an embossing tool.
The other leaf was cut from plain white card. I ran a lighter green Versa colour pad over the die cut until well covered, then sprinkled clear EP over and heated it. Once the EP had melted I sprinkled some more EP over and reheated it. I did this 3 times altogether until I finished with almost an enameled finish
I added a simple sentiment to finish.

A closer look at the finish

Leaf dies from the Works
Stencil is Memory Box Zippy Dots
Sentiment by Flourishes

Thanks 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 #395

Hello there,

Time for another challenge at Simply Less is More which is,

A nice easy challenge, except...
I trawled through all my stash, stamps, dies and papers...nothing. I know I had some wine glasses that were part of a set but I'm sure I donated them to a craft charity last year. I also know I have cups & saucers and at least one tea pot as digital images but they're on my old PC and it's broken. So I resigned myself to not being able to join in this time.
But yesterday I just happened to pop into The Works, just for a look around, honest and I found these.

As a self confessed caffeine addict these stamps are perfect for me and the challenge and look at the price, a quid, bonus.

And this is what I've done with them,

I stamped the cup and coffee beans in Memento black ink and also made a mask.
I stamped the splodges (Kaisercraft) in Versa Colour, Orchid, Heliotrope and Cyan.
I used Promarkers to colour the images. The sentiment is stamped in Versa Mark Onyx.

So a nice easy card that took me about 10 minutes to put together. Sometimes it's the little things that make me happy.

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

Less is More # 393 Take 2

Hello there,

I'm back with a second (and 3rd) card for the challenge at Less is More which is,

Although I was very pleased with my card yesterday for this challenge, I got to thinking what I could do for a change. I've been looking at cards using texture paste and, although I do have some stencils, they are all quite basic and I fancied something a bit fancier.
I'm always banging on about crafting on a budget and I do have to be careful how much I spend on crafting goodies so I tend not to jump in and buy things on a whim. 
So I experimented. This is probably something lots of you have already done but it was a first for me and I'm quite chuffed.
As I said, I do have some stencils.I also have a few brass stencils to use on a light box. They've been put away in drawer for years and I just wondered if they'd work as good as the plastic stencils. It turns out they do.

I used quite a small simple stencil.
I had some homemade texture paste that I made a couple of months ago and coloured some of it with Distress Inks in blue, green and pink.
I'm really pleased with the result and will probably bore you all to death with my ramblings and experiments for weeks ( I'm joking, honest)

Thanks for popping in x

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

The Colour Purple

hello there,

It was my eldest grand daughter's 23rd birthday yesterday. How on earth did that happen? It's not possible seeing as in my head I'm still 35 :)
Anyway it seems I'm deluding myself as Charlotte is all grown up now so I made her a grown up card.

She's always loved the colour purple so that's what she got.
Hand painted ( smooshed) using Cosmic Shimmer paints in purple with a touch of blue here and there..
The die cut topper is by Sweet Dixie with a sentiment by Flourishes
The scrolls are by Papertrey stamped and embossed in gold EP. Some gold thread to tie it all together.

With hindsight I think I maybe should have made a wider border but I'm pleased with the result.

Thanks for popping in.