Less is more - not a square

This week at less is more the challenge is Not a Square

So being IT literate, I've been trying to make templates using Corel Draw (because although I have a newer copy of photshop, I couldn't make photoshop do what I wanted with vector graphics and shapes).  Anyway to cut a long story short, earlier in the week, I'd been playing with rounded squares.  But what I'd really wanted to try was a star.  I tried a 5 pointed star, and it didn't sit very well, so the next step was a 6 pointed star!

After a lot of scrap sheets of paper then card, and lots of cutting out...then some stamping and clear embossing followed by some sponging (2 blues and a beige), and done!

The words are inkadinkado, my daughter's head teacher uses them for motivational speaches - to encourage the kids to take opportunities and to take that leap of faith and try, and if you do, you will find that you can fly like an eagle.  In today's corporate speak we are encouraged to be 'fearless'!

This picture is to demonstrate that it works as a card, but may be I should stick to the day job (or use a better camera).

One layer Fathers day card

I was trying some bew techniques, and used my computer to print out a card blank with some text, and then I decorated it, to make a Father's day card (just over a week away).

Once I had my card blank, my recipe was:

• using distress inks add a frame to the card in straw and sage
• stamp a few leaves using SU French Foliage in a variety of greens

I thought I'd enter this in to LIM week 69 - not a square - it is almost a square with the corners cut-off (hopefully enough not a square for Mandi and Chrissie).
Now I know what I'm doing - think I'm back to the drawing board (been trying to work out making a star card) - as my daughter has just passed her driving test. Thanks for looking.

Punchy!

This week over at CAS-ual Friday the challenge is Punchy - to use punches, dies etc

Last week, I nipped into my local craft shop (Art of Craft in North Camp), I was looking for a specific memory box die, and they didn't quite have what I was looking for, but I managed to buy some Crafters Workshop templates instead. They were only £2, so worth experimenting with.

I sponged the Crafters Workshop template in shades of blue to make some patterned backgrounds, which I have combined with a punch, an embosslit and a quickcutz die and these are what I came up with:



As I was playing with strips of left over card, it influenced my directions. And yes, the two strips were sponged with one more pastel than the other - not my bad photography, honest. I also have a 6 x 6 sheet of numbers in sponged in yellow and sand which will turn in to a card for my nephew, so maybe I'll post that in the future. I quite like the effect, but maybe want to do something more interesting, with it. However, the weekend's come and gone and I guess that will now have to wait, as its back to work for me tomorrow :-(

CAS-ual Fridays - Birds

Over at CAS-ual Fridays the challenge for this week is birds.

I dusted off my bird punch, and this was my entry:

The bird is cut from DSP using the SU 2 step bird punch, and I have sponged the edges in SU Early Espresso, to add definition.  The swirl is a sizzlit. The sentiment is inkadinkado and the rectangle is Hero arts stamped in Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue.  In reality the blue is a lovely sparkly blue, but the photo doesn't really show that, so you'll just have to take my word for it!

My desk is now covered with lots of cut out birds, as I was experimenting with different colours.

Just for fun, I thought I'd show you this one as well. Instead of using DSP, in this one I used some scrap card which was stamped with some text, just to add interest and texture.  The sentiment is a Sizzix phrases medium die.

and finally, thanks for looking and commenting. 

LIM 67 - One layer - take 3 stamps

This week  LIM week 67 is to take 3 stamps.  Using just 3 was hard - two stamps, was easy -but each time I added a third...

My aim was to use the worn rectangular stamp (from Hero Arts) to give the effect of blue skies and come up with something a bit more spring like, but couldn't quite get the right blue - its such much easier to brayer or sponge - but then it wouldn't be three stamps!   And right now I have a card with a gorgeous blue rectangle ready for some other stamping... so maybe later in the week it will fall into place!

However, after using a lot of scrap paper, I came up with something I was reasonable happy with:

The flower and the sentiment are Penny Black - my photo does not do the sentiment justice - it is:


Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners who make our soul blossom.
Marcel Proust

We spent yesterday in Somerset with friends, it was such a lovely day, the sun shone and we wandered round Wells and along the river.  This time of year is lovely with such promise.

And an appeal...

I'm a fan of Vicky (aka Crafting Clare) and both Vicky and   Margaret (making papercrafts)  this week mentioned a post by Jo Street To quote Vicky:
I always like to feel that our crafting can help others. I was reading  this post by Jo Street of Dinky Daisy Designs yesterday - she has been devastated by the plight of a little girl at a playgroup her son attends. Jo wants to do something to help so she's holding a sale of cards to raise money for Candlelighters, the organisation which will be caring for the little girl and supporting her stricken family. It seems to me that it's easy to make two cards if you're making one and I think lots of us could spare some from our stash, so do pop over to Jo's blog and offer your services.

So this card, is one of a number I'm sending to Jo, for her card sale, to raise money for Candlelighters.

LIM - Yellow

This week the LIM challenge is yellow - a colour I hardly ever use, and then only as an accent - so it is a challenge.  This is what I came up with:

The sentiment is:
   Keep your faith in beautiful things:  in the sun when its hidden; in Spring when its gone.
Which seemed apt.  The sentiment is SU from Trees Three.  The flower is Stampendous Agapanthus, and was stamped and embossed in white embossing powder.

Have a lovely weekend.

CAS-ual Friday - Baby Blossoms

Today, I've a day off and thought I'd try the CAS-ual Friday challenge - Week 51 - Happy Birthday (http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.co.uk/).

Last week I started playing with SU Baby Blossoms, and was aiming for the pink/blue effect that I used in the centre of this card.  The blue and pink is such a nice colour combination - reminiscent of a summer day.

The flowers in the centre, are actually on the inside of the card, and were embossed in clear EP, and the blue was sponged on top.   The border, was cut from two layered nesties using the same coloured card with a bit more texture, which was sponged in blue and green.

This weekend is a long weekend, with a bank holiday monday, have a lovely weekend.