Paper Hugs

I think in Australia we might use the expression:  'No worries!' to explain this sentiment, but however you say it, I think it expresses the notion that we should take it easy, not to worry about small things, and play like a kid does on the beach.  I hope I'm not wrong in this assumption, or otherwise my card won't fit this week's challenge at Less is More, which is just that:   Life's a Beach! This flamingo certainly seems to be very happy with life at the beach!  Hope you're all enjoying the summer in the Northern Hemisphere - here it is pretty cold, but you can't complain when the sun is shining (as it is today) wherever you are! Stamps:  Digi image by Bugaboo, sentiment by Gina K Designs Card:  Stampin' Up! Stencil:  Heidi Swapp Colour:  Copics

My card today has been made for the May challenge at Scrapbook Boutique , inspired by this photo: Those delicious chocolatey swirls were the starting point for me, plus the autumn colours of the leaves. Having seen Jennifer McGuire using the Radio Waves stencil by Memory Box to make this card, I immediately thought of this stencil to mimic that shiny swirly pattern!  Firstly, I clear embossed through the stencil, then stamped and embossed leaves from the Gina K designs set 'Sunkissed Autumn' in the colours from the photo, finally adding a white embossed sentiment by Paper Smooches.  The buttercup hearts are from Simon Says Stamp.  A strip of russet dp separates the two different textures of the card and picks up the colour of the cake bases.

I woke this morning to a 30C windy morning (not pleasant at all as the wind is even hotter) and checked out this week's challenge over at Less is More.   It is an anything goes, one layer challenge, so I am entering this card: I don't often make one layer cards, but with this beautiful deckle-edged platemarked card base, I felt this was the perfect occasion to do so.  I like the soft water-colour effect of colouring the stamp with markers, lightly spritzing with water and stamping.  No sentiment yet, as I will probably add that when I need to send it.  I did add some stickles for interest .... The stamp is by Gina K from the Hello Sunshine set, and the little butterfly is from the Petals and Wings set.

 Here is the fabulous sketch for this week at the Sweet Stop Sketch challenge - a great layout, but because I wanted more of the chevron embossed background to show, and I liked the natural colour for my theme, I did omit the horizontal panel behind the two rectangles and circle.  I hope that is OK! I have chosen fall colours for my project, and used one of the Nature Silhouettes from the clear stamp set, plus some leaves cut from the Small Leaves die set. Take a look at what the Sugar babies have created for you, and then load up your own projects - we love to see what you come up with! Cathy McCauley ,  Korin Sutherland ,  Ceal Pritchett ,  Marlena Peduzzi ,  Melissa Shultz ,  Robin Parker ,  Stephanie Serrano ,    Cynthia Olheiser , Debbie Owens , and  Jamie Moore .