Paper Hugs

Just a quick post to show you a card I CASEd from Happy Little Stampers first video demonstration. I loved how Kylie created her tree, using various circle stamps from her set Mix Mash.  I just had to try the technique for myself, but of course, I didn't own that particular stamp set.  Instead, I searched around for some plain circle stamps, and decided on 3 that would fit nicely in the masked triangle.  I then chose 3 colours I like together and away I went.  I have to admit that my first effort wasn't as well-balanced as it should have been, but this is my second attempt.  I am so happy with this one! The addition of those little black spots really finishes this design.  The sentiment is from Mixed Christmas sentiments. Thanks so much Kylie for your fab video! Needless to say, I have ordered this stamp set, and it is on its way already!  Love shopping locally!

For the last challenge of the year at Less is More, we have the theme of Homespun.  So here is my card - clean and simple, with a little bit of homespun. Recipe for my card: Tag die and little hearts by Lawn Cuts, Christmas tree and Heart die by WPlus9 - Pretty Patches, sentiment by Happy Little Stampers, Tag ring topper by WP9 - Timeless Tags 2, gingham is cloth washi tape adhered to cardstock, pattern paper by Kaisercraft:  Holly and Twigs

I have been a fan of WPlus9 for some time, and today I noticed that they have a current challenge called Throwback Thursday.  It just happens that I made a card for a friend who wasn't feeling well enough to make the more than 100 cards she sends out each Christmas so together with our mutual friend, I made some pretty quick cards to help her along the way.  This is one of those cards, using the quilt die featured on their blog Stamp Away with me .  As you can see, I used traditional Christmas colours, and some fancy frames to create my card.  This is the first time I used the quilt die for a holiday card, having bought it because it reminded me of my old love - sewing! Paper:  Stampin' Up!paper pad Trim the Tree Dies:  WPlus9 Quilt Cuts 2, Cheery Lyn - sentiment, Spellbinders, Fleur de Lis, and scalloped square

LIM alert - this is not the card for the challenge - that card is below! This card was made for the challenge at Less is More - but I must have been in a fog, because the challenge is one layer - and my card is definitely not that.  However, it uses a cute stamp set by Waffle Flower, so I thought I'd post it anyway. Perhaps I'll find time to stamp it out directly onto the card, which will require quite a bit of masking, but I do like the design.  My photo does not show the embossed stitched circle around the stocking, but if I manage a 'proper' one layer card, I'll see if I can show that better. Stamp:  Waffle Flower - Stocking Ink:  Hero Arts shadow ink - Pale tomato, Memento Onyx Black, Versafine Onyx Black Colour:  Copics Stop the Press! LIM challenge card!!  I'm back, because I did just sneak in a little time today to attempt the one layer card with masking! The placement is not so good on this card, as I started my stampin...

I'd love you to pop over to Scrapbook Boutique's blog, to check out the (very) full details on the card I am showing there, using the MFT Scribble Roses overlay. Here is a little peek at the card featured  at SBB: The overlay die is a very sweet die set of 3 flowers, cutting the swirling petals of each rose.  You need to buy the base of the rose separately, but unfortunately it wasn't available when I bought the overlay.  Not to be deterred, I went ahead and made the card at SBB as well as this card, by painting the shape left by the negative of the die, to make my own 'roses'.  On this second card, I used a glitter paste by Bo Bunny to add the colour to the dot stencil and glass glitter flakes on the leaves. Die cut:  MFT Rose overlay, SSS Stitched rectangle die, Spellbinders 'Foliage' Stencil:  Tim Holtz Faded Dots Sentiment:  Stampin' Up! 'Tin of Cards' stamp set Ink:  Distress Ink: Seedless Preserve, and SU Wisteria Wo...

I have a Christmas card to share today over at Scrapbook Boutique, but as you're here, I'll give you a little peak! You'll see the whole thing at Scrapbook Boutique, so pop on over to take a look! Thanks for visiting and happy crafting! Supplies from Scrapbook Boutique: Waffle Flower Holiday Labels - Merry Hero Arts Mint Julep shadow ink HA shadow ink lime green Hero Arts shadow ink - pale tomato Ranger embossing powder clear Pro Arts glue glider tape gun DI Shabby Shutters Distress Ink Mowed Lawn Memento Luxe Dandelion InLinkz.com

Blue and green is the colour theme this week for Less is More - what a lovely colour combination - notwithstanding the old adage that 'blue and green should ne'er be seen!' I created my watercolour panel of colour by sprinkling Colour Burst Pthalo Green and Ultramarine Blue, then spritzing with water to create a beautiful blend of these rich colours.  When dry, I die cut MFT Die-namics Christmas Ornaments placing them over the most interesting combinations.  I adhered these die cuts directly to my card, added two strips of colour down the side, and some bows and stars from silver glitter.  My sentiment was by Happy Little Stampers 'Mixed Christmas Sentiments'.

The challenge this week at Less is More is FRUIT.  Now like many of us, I'm still fixed in Christmas card production mode, so naturally my thoughts turned to 'and a Partridge in a pear tree'.  Luckily, I own the Stampin' Up! stamp set 'Partridge and Pears', so this is what I created: Card Recipe: Image and sentiment:  Partridge and Pears by SU Zig Clean Colour Real Brush Watercolour pens Heat embossed with Ranger Platinum embossing powder on watercolour paper Gold glitter strip and gold sequins

The theme this week at Less is More is numbers and here is my card: I was thinking 'tea for two' then remembered that a grand-daughter of a friend of mine is a manager for the city store:  T2.  Perfect I thought! Stamp:  Tearrific by Janes Doodles Colour:  Copic Paper:  Echo Park 6 x 6" pad Sunny Days Ahead

Back with another challenge at Less is More - this time the one layer card has the theme of Santa - very appropriate as most of us are well into making Christmas cards, aren't we?  For this CAS challenge, I returned to an old favourite stamp of mine, with a little alteration. One of the birds in this little set by Lawn Fawn is wearing a beanie, so I just inked it up below the top of the hat, and added a Santa hat by hand - I'm no artist, but I think this passes (just). Stamp:  Season's Tweetings by Lawn Fawn Card:  Thick whisper white by Stampin' Up! Ink:  SU Early Espresso, Versafine Onyx Black Colour:  Inktense Pencils by Derwent

Just had a little time to enter into the  Less is More   challenge this week, with their colour challenge being Fire. I just couldn't resist trying some distress ink 'smooshing' onto watercolour paper to create my fire colour panel from which to die cut some never before used feather dies - the large one is by Hot off the Press, and the smaller one is from Simon Says Stamp.  Because I also had a matching stamp, I tried gold embossing one of the feathers, but it covered up too much of that beautiful colour, so I partially hid it behind.  Love the fire-coloured feathers - perhaps they belong to a tropical bird? Sentiment:  Annabelle Stamps 'Fanciful Flowers', linen twine by SU and enamel dots by MME, stitched panel from the Basic Set by ME.

Are you ready for another challenge and blog hop at Scrapbook Boutique ?    Today's inspiration is sure to get you in the mood to create something for Christmas, but before we check out the photo, here is the information on how to participate in the challenge. There are two ways you can participate in this challenge, and have a chance to win a prize:  you can comment on each blog, ending with the SBB blog, or you can create a project (either a card, scrapbook layout or off the page project) inspired by this photo.  Of course you can do both for a chance to win both prizes!  Please check out the rules of entry, and the prizes at the  Scrapbook Boutique Blog  and note that this challenge is only open to Australian residents. You should have arrived here from  Angela's  blog. This month's inspiration photo: and my card created with Heartfelt Creations Sparkling Poinsettia Candle: and a close up of the whimsical blue po...

It's Lucky Dip week at Less is More this week, and the challenge is to paper piece. The DTs had some fun inspiration again this week, but I have chosen to use one of my new stamps from Tim Holtz Crazy Birds. The sentiment is from another owl stamp, by Unity, and the papers were from a 6" x6'" pad from my stash.  I used Glossy Accents over his eyes and beak.  I think this will make a good masculine birthday card:)

I don't usually make more than one or two cards to the same design, but these Christmas cards using mostly Stampin' Up! supplies kept inspiring me, so I kept going!  May not make any more now, but they were fun - enough interest with the different colour combos and tree designs to keep me creating!   Supplies Stamps:  SU Festival of Trees (from last year),  SU designer paper JOY die by Wplus9 SU embossing folders

Just a sneak peak at a card I have featured over at Scrapbook Boutique today.  It's a Penny Black stamp of really lovely dogs Why don't you pop over and see the whole card at Scrapbook Boutique blog?

Masculine is the theme at Less is More this week.  It just so happens that I bought a sought-after barbecue die this week, so here is my card for this theme.  Barbecues are usually the preserve of the males aren't they?   Well, they are in our family, fortunately! Sentiment stamp:  Gina K designs - One in a Million Dies:  BBQ and fire -Taylored Expression, grass border - MFT, stitched circle - Lil' inker designs embossing folder - Stampin' Up!