Paper Hugs

Entering this card into the Less is More Challenge #376 - a one layer card with the theme of Stripes. Some succulent plants coloured with Copics and a diagonal stripe background stamp masked along one edge.  Simple and fresh I think:)

My card today is for the Less is More one layer challenge, with the theme of vehicle.  One layer means that images must be stamped directly to the card - hence no extra layers, so that meant all my lovely dies relating to vehicles were not to be used. However, I do have a cute steam train which has dies, but fortunately also stamps, by Clearly Besotted - it is called Full Steam Ahead and is perfect for a little boy's birthday card. I have used Stampin' Up! inks - boyish colours of Bermuda Bay, Lemon Lime Twist, Smoky Slate and Dapper Denim, but for a little zing, I used my Quickie Glue Pen to write over the clouds and numeral then sprinkled over white glitter. Now to find a little imp to pass this on to....

Challenge #332 at Less is More this week is a one-layer card with the theme of 'Sweet Things'.  For my card I found a recently retired Stampin' Up! set which I have yet to use!  Today was the day! I stamped directly onto a SU notecard (I love to use these) with the sentiment in Versafine Onyx black, and the macaroons and candle in oxide inks, then clear embossed them all at the same time.  Terribly simple, and I thought briefly of smoothing ink in the background, but actually I like it the way it is - that BIG and bold sentiment doesn't really need anything else, does it?  I don't know now why I haven't used this stamp set before - but that's me - always behind lol.

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

This week it is a one-layer challenge at Less is More with the criteria TWO.  There were some beautiful examples by the DTs as usual, but I didn't have much time to search for that special image I thought was needed.  Instead, I chose to do a stencil image, and here is my card. I saw Jennifer McGuire demonstrate this technique on youtube - do check it out here as her result is stunning!  Sadly, I don't own a stencil as interesting as hers, so I used the chevron one I did have, made a star stencil from a punch, and stamped the sentiment by Stampin Up! and the snow flakes from Gorgeous Grunge.  I am thinking now that I should have added decorations, but my first thought was that they are in the snow, so who would be decorating trees out there?  Goodness knows why I thought I had to be realistic - this is card-making isn't it :)  This is a great technique, however, and well worth trying with various shapes. I have been alerted to the current challeng...

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.