Less is More Challenge 268

WHAT'S OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW?

The challenge from the Less is More team is to create a card using your imagination or dreams of the scene outside your window.  

Here's my card:

We have a cheeky little robin who spends most of the day flitting in and out of our garden, chasing off any other little birds that dare come onto his patch.  And as spring is now officially here I thought I could get away with a bit of blossom on the branch (my Magnolia is just about to burst open - can't wait).

I used the following:
Branch die - Kimono range from Crafter's Companion
Bird - Memory Box
Nestabilities Small Labels
Stampin Up Word Window Punch
Paula Pascual sentiment stamp
Promarkers

I also used a cloud stencil cut out on my Cameo and Adirondack Winter Sky inkpad.

Thank you for dropping by.

Sue.x

Simply Less is More - Week 261 - Down Under

G'day folks.

This week's Less is More challenge is sponsored by Happy Little Stampers and the theme is 'Down Under'.  A perfect opportunity to use my Stamping Bella Surfafella stamp.

Here's my card:

For the background I used watercolour pencils after printing my sentiment onto the card.

Surfacfella was stamped and cut out on my Cameo and then coloured with watercolour pencils (I think he looks like he's been in the sun a bit too long).  Instead of matting with card I used a Promarker around the edge - it kind of bleed into the watercolour card but I like the effect.  

Thank you for dropping by.

Sue.x

Less is More Week 240 - Colour Challenge

This is what the challenge is this week:

It's time for another colour challenge and we have chosen

Green & Gold

 We would like you to keep any additional colours to neutral tones and make it obvious which two colours are this week's chosen shades.

There doesn't have to be a lot of each colour... just remember to keep your design 

Clean and Simple 

with lots of white space!

And here's my entry:

Gold card is sooo difficult to photograph - it took umpteen times to get a reasonable photo.

The Noel was cut out using my Cameo
The trees were cut out with a Sizzix Paddlepunch, before that the card was run through a holly embossing folder which was coloured with green ink - I then coloured the holly leaves and berries with a gold pen.
A few sequins finished the card.

Thanks for dropping by

Sue.x

CASology - Week 161

Anyone who has visited my blog over the years know that CAS is my favourite kind of card and I've had a little time to create something for the CASology challenge this week which calls for Plaid.  The Design Team have come up with lots of lovely inspiration if you care to pop over and take a look.

Here's my card:

The cute elephant is from the Silhouette store and I used the fill pattern function for the plaid ear which I printed twice and decoupaged for a bit of dimension.  I also added a sequin to the heart.

The sentiment is a Paula Pasqual stamp.

Thanks for dropping by.

Sue.x

Less Is More sketch - Take 2

Ooooh! I like this sketch so much I made another:

I used the Print and Cut option on my Cameo to colour the heart border.  The sentiment is from Paula Pascual and a few Hotfix crystals.  

Thanks for visiting.

Sue.x

Less Is More - Sketch

Just blown the cobwebs of me blog to post a card for the Less is More challenge:

This is it - a great little sketch I just had to have a go at.

And here's my card:

This is what I used:

Heart - cut on Silhouette

Love sentiment - cut on Silhouette

Crafts Too Hearts embossing folder

Waltzing Mouse Gingham stamp

Worn Lipstick Distress Ink

Button from stash

Thanks for stopping by.

Sue.x

Less is More - White on White

This week's lessismore challenge is a white on white theme.  As much as I love white on white, it is a mare to photograph.  I think this is a little dark, but otherwise you wouldn't be able to see the detail in the tree.

The tree was cut from my Cameo using a download from the Silhouette store.  I covered it in Versamark ink and then added Detail Clear embossing powder to give it a little sheen and then used silicone glue to mount it onto the card giving it a bit of dimension.

The sentiment stamp is from Paula Pascual 'Large Christmas' stamp set.  It has proved my most useful Christmas stamp so far this year.

While I'm at it here's a couple more Christmas cards I've made this week:

Using IndigoBlu stamps, my Cameo to cut out the bauble aperture and Adirondack inks (and that Paula Pascual sentiment again).

Using Penny Black Leaping Deer, Hampton Arts Snowflake and my Cameo to cut out the banner (and that Paula Pascual sentiment yet again)

Have a good weekend everyone.

And finally, I resurrected a card from last year and added another banner cut on my Cameo:

Sue.x

Four cards in a day - wow!

I've a few cards to share with you today! Each a different style.  I find that C&S is my usual favourite but now and again I do like a play.

My first card is definitely C&S and was made using some fab new stamps I bought from the Great British Craft Festival on Saturday.  You can find them here.  I haven't seen them before but loved the style straight away. I'm sure more of their stamps will find their way into my stash at some point.

For this card I used stamps from two different sets:

Ornamental Frames and Dressed to Kill.  The frames are fabulous and will have endless use I'm sure.

I just used Prismas to add a bit of colour and a ribbon and that's it for a very C&S card.

Next, also from the GBCF I saw Ali Reeve demonstrating and loved to see her cards in the flesh, so much better than on screen when I've watched her on Create and Craft.  I decided to have a go at the card sample she had on display (and on her blog). I enjoyed doing it but not sure it will be my Christmas card to family and friends this year (probably a bit to grungy for non crafters).

You can't see from the photo but the holly frame is embossed in black and gold.

Next:

I love the new Twill Stripe papers from Pink Petticoat so decided to use them for my niece's birthday card, the modern look is perfect for her.  I made a version of the card Liz made which you can see here on her blog - I always admire her style.

The doily and butterfly were cut out with my Cameo.  The sentiment ribbon is also from Pink Petticoat and the other scallops are Spellbinders Edgeabilities and Stampin Up Scallop Border punch which I punched on both sides to create my own border.

Finally, a bit of CD crafting.  A simple Forever Friends image with a sentiment done in Digital Designer, some background paper, flower embellishment and a few pearls.

  

There you go, lots of different ways of crafting - it's never dull is it! Have a great day and thanks for dropping by.

Sue.x

Less is more - Hexagons

This is my entry for this weeks challenge:

The challenge is to use hexagons on your card.  For mine I've used:

Silhouette Cameo 

Cutting file by Bird

Paper Smooches free digis

Promarkers

Ribbon and crystals from stash

Thaniks for dropping by.

Sue.x

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!  I hope you all have a lovely holiday weekend, despite the weather!

Here's a couple of cards I've made over the last couple of days:

This one is for my BIL - the dreaded male card:

I love this clock stamp by Kaisercraft.  I stamped and embossed it with Black Soot distress ink and then used Inkylicious blending brushes to add some colour -I used Pumice Stone and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.

The 'Birthday' was cut out with my Cameo and the rest of the sentiment is from Stick n Stamp.  I had a bunch of bottle caps in my stash for ages so thought I'd add one for a bit of interest.  Here it is close up:

I punched a piece of the clock stamp and then put an epoxy sticker over the top.  I really like it.

A bit of string just finished it off.

The next one is for my little niece:

I'm still loving my Tatty Teddy cd - I don't usually do decoupage but I thought I'd give it a go for this one.

The background paper and sentiment is also from the cd.  He's just so cute!

Sue.x

My second Less is More - One Layer Card

 

 

Here's my second card for the Less is More challenge for this week - a one layer card with little or no embellishments and should feature music.

 

I've used the same Kaisercraft and Paula Pascqual stamps from my previous post and added some Tea Die and Vintage Photo ink.  The musical note was cut out with my Cameo.

 

Sue.x

 



Less is More week 106 One Layer

Hi everyone! Hope you're well!

 

Whoa! Where did those two months go?  It's been a long time since I last posted and tbh I haven't really missed it - it does makes you realise how much time is taken up by the whole blog thing and how much more time could be used doing other things. 

 

Anyways,I've gotten a new laptop and connected my little Epson printer to it so I've been able to get crafty again this weekend using the dining table in the lounge - not ideal really but better than nothing. (My daughter is still hogging my desk, computer and craft area to study - bless).

 

Here's a couple of cards I've managed to do today.

 

First my Less is More entry:

 

(I hope my flower is acceptable as a minimal embellishment.)

 

The musical script is a Kaisercraft stamp and the sentiment is from Paula Pascual.  The rose is cut from felt using a My Favourite Things die and the leaves are a Sizzix die.

 

Next:

 

I really liked the Fashion Divas cds Debbi Moore brought to Create and Craft as a Pick of the Week and actually ordered them - never bought from them before as I've seen so many bad comments about them on forums, but to give them their due - the price was good and it took just over a week to arrive so I'm very happy bunny.

 

Here's my first quick card:

 

 

  

And I made a box too:

 

 

Finally, a little card I made following a tutorial from Liz Armstrong at Pink Petticoat:

 

 

 

 

I used Pink Petticoat plain paper and cut the butterflies out on my Cameo.  I did the sentiment on the computer and my Sew Easy machine to do the stitching and added a bit of twine to finish.

 

I hope you like them as much as I enjoyed making them.  It's so nice to get creative again.

 

Have a nice weekend and I hope the snow keeps away for you.

 

Sue.x

Home for Christmas

My version of a Nordic Christmas card.

I used these fabulous Papermania Urban Stamps 'Home for Christmas'. They really are lovely stamps to use - a beautiful, crisp impression and lots of small stamps to create your own background.

I masked off the bottom of the card and used Old Paper Distress Ink to create a border.  The stamps are all from the set and I used some red crystals in the centre of the small snowflakes.

I did the strip at the top of the card when I was just messing with the stamps    and decided I quite liked how it turned out so just stuck it onto the card.  The bauble shapes were cut out on my Silhouette (I scanned the stamped image into my computer to get the exact shape but made them slightly larger than the bauble stamp to give an edge around them. I then stamped the bauble onto the cut out shapes). 

Sorry the picture is a bit dark, it's a really gloomy here today.  Just as well Barbara Grey is on Create and Craft today - it gives me a good excuse to sit in front of the TV.

Sue.x

Black & White Plus One

I came across the CAS-UAL FRIDAYS Challenge blog today whilst doing a bit of blog hopping, and if you have visited my blog before you will know that CAS is my favourite kind of card. 

So, here's my very first entry into CAS-UAL FRIDAYS challenge:

And this is what I used:

Poppystamps Nestled Bird die

Memory Box Woven Circle die

Sizzix Hello Friend Diagonal Frame embossing folder

Silhouette Cameo to cut out the branch

Clare Curd sentiment stamp

I cut the woven circle twice - one in black and one in white card and layered them on top of each other. Oh, and in case it's not obvious, my Plus One colour is the brown branch.

Hope you like it.

Sue.x

The Cameo Spotlight #1

UPDATE:  I decided to make a bit of a change to my original card, I've just added a sun (another free Bird cutting file) and remove my sentiment. I think I like this one better:

At last a challenge blog dedicated to making items using a Silhouette or cameo machine.  You can find it here.

You all know how much I love my machine so have been eagerly awaiting the first challenge.

And here's my card:

I've used the following cutting files:

Crab - Silhouette download

Clouds Border - Silhouette download

Waves - http://www.birdscards.com/ (Free)

Sentiment - http://svgcuts.com/blog/free-designs/ (Free)

I did the background clouds by cutting the border with my Cameo and then using it as a template to sponge blue ink onto the background card.

The sand is a piece of Kraft card which has been run through a ribbler and a piece of garden twine finishes it off.

Hope you like it as much as I enjoyed making it.

Thanks for visiting.

Sue.x

Silhouette Cameo Flowers

Hi all. Hope you're well and enjoying the weekend. Nice to see some sun for a change.

The flowers on the card I have to show today were made using my Cameo machine.

This is how it started off life:

I added colour using the Silhouette Studio software to create a Print and Cut project.  I just added an offset border around the edge and cut the blossoms out with the Cameo.  Here we have the finished result:

Other items I used:

Hero Arts Woodgrain Stamp

Clarity Sentiment Stamp

Memory Box Woven Circle die

Leaves cut out with the Cameo

Hope you like it and thanks for dropping by.

Sue.x

First Christmas Card of 2012

I used my Grand Madison Window with the Special Touch Mask brick wall that I used in a previous post (told you it would keep cropping up). I used 3d foam squares to add the depth to the scene.

The image is from my Joanna Sheen Enchanted Christmas cd.  

The branches were cut on my Cameo and I used a Fiskars small flower punch and added some silver Sparkles to the centres.

I think I might batch make a few of these, I'm really happy with the way it's turned out.

Sue.x

A happy accident.............

.......... that's the story with this card.

It started off as a 5 x 61/2" card (American size, sort of equivalent to our C6 - not a size I'm fond of, so I like this slightly larger version).  The accident came when I made the box to put it in.  It was a too small - aaaargh.  I just couldn't get the motivation to make another so decided to make the card smaller.  Chopped it in half and then realised that I would loose the mat and would have to mount it onto another card blank and be back to square one.  What to do?  Then I had one of those 'Eureka' moments 'why not make a stand for it. So that's why this ended up not quite as planned.

I used my Cameo to cut out the stand, the leaves,butterflies and flourish.  The frame is a Nestie and the sentiment was done on the computer using a font called English.

 I just used some roses, ribbon and tiny beads from my stash to finish.

I quite like how it turned out, so may do some more like this.

Sue.x

Grand Madison Window

I'm not sure about this card - I think it looks better IRL than in the photo - not sure why, probably my lack of photographic skills.

Anyway, I love this Grand Madison Window die from Poppystamps (the company that makes Memory Box dies). It's so versatile and can be used in lots of different way, so expect to see it used a lot over the coming months.  Can't wait to do some Christmas scenes with it!

For the brick wall background I used a 'That Special Touch' mask.  The paper for the curtains was just some scrap I had in my stash and I put it through my paper crimper to give the look of folds.  The flowers and branches are a variety of punches I have gathered over the years and not used much so I've been pleased to put them to some use at last.  I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment (HOTP) onto an oval Nestie and mounted that onto a scalloped oval.  

Hope you have a great evening and thanks for stopping by.

Sue.x

White on white butterflies

I made this some time ago and forgot to post it.

Butterfly stamp is from Hero Arts Antique Engravings set coloured with Promarkers

Nestabilities die

Clarity Stamps sentiment

Flourish cut out on my Cameo

A few crystals from stash

I managed to do a watermark on my card for the first time thanks to a post by Viv on the Do Crafts forum. So easy to do. I'm not sure I'll be bothered to put it on all my cards, I was just curious to see if I could do it and always enjoy having a play on the computer.  If you're interested in creating your own watermark here is the link to the post.

Sue.x