MIDSUMMER NIGHT, A BIRTHDAY, AND A MORNING AT A&E!

Hello lovely friends and bloggers - I intended this card to be included with my FYI Design Team post, which was scheduled for 7.00am this morning, (and can be found if you scroll down to the previous post), but last night was a bit of a disaster as Malc (my hubby) had a fall at home, resulting in a rather nasty head injury, so all crafting was out of bounds after 10.pm last night, at which point my card was only partly made.  

We spent this morning at Leeds General Infirmary, whilst Malc had the wound dressed, and various tests carried out.  Fortunately he is OK, thank goodness, though somewhat bloody and bruised.

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We are going away tomorrow for a few days, whilst 101 year old FIL is in respite care for a while, and boy do we need it!  It's also a birthday treat as I am 21 (again) on Sunday!!

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Soooooooooo - onto my card! (If you are still with me)lol !
PS: it looks so much better in Wide-Screen - just click the pic!!

I particularly wanted to enter this into the challenge at Make My Monday  because I love fairies!, and the theme is "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and that just happens to be my Birthday (24th June)!!

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Recipe:-

Fairy - LOTV, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black. 

The main background created with Distress Inks - Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Weathered Wood and Faded Jeans, and a touch of  SU Night of Navy.

Grasses - Indigo Blu.

Image coloured with Copics.

The Fairy words and the stars, are from Lavinia Stamps.

Backing paper - Prima Madeline.

Machine stitching.

Lace from stash.

Glitter - SU Dazzling Diamonds.

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I would also like to enter my card into the following challenge ~

Try it on Tuesday - Anything Goes.

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I will see you all next week - in the meantime, have a wonderful weekend,.

Update - June 27th - awarded a Top 3 Badge from Make My Monday - thank you ladies!

Lots of love ~ 

A WINTERS DAY AT FYI !

Hello lovely bloggers, thanks for popping by, and a warm welcome to my new followers.
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I know it's only June, but the inspiration picture at FOR YOUR INSPIRATION made me think "CHRISTMAS" as soon as I saw it.  For my DT card, I have taken inspiration from the trees, which look white at first glance, yet seem to have a slight hint of pale pinky-mauve - does anyone else see that, or is it just me??!!   

Full challenge details and some fab. work from the DT can be found on the FYI blog.
Look forward to seeing  more of your wonderful work - this is a fortnightly challenge so you have plenty of time to create your project (no excuses)!
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My Recipe:

Black base card, with a layer of white which I embossed on a Score Board.

The image is  from Layers of Color, stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento, and is designed to work with the Nestabilities Labels 18.

Image softly coloured with Copics Pale Lilac.

Memory Box die - Madera Corner.

SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the wings and Holly leaves - difficult to see on the photo unless you click the pic!
I would like to enter the following challenge ~
HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS - Die Cuts and/or Punches.

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Have a fab weekend - 

Love to all ~

A SWIRLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

Hello my lovely blogging friends - I do hope you are all safe and well, and escaping the heavy rainfall.

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Just popping by with a card for  this week's challenge at  LESS IS MORE. Chrissie and Mandi would like to see swirls on our projects, and it's also everyone's favourite - ONE LAYER ONLY week!  Have to admit, I quite enjoy the challenge of using only one layer - it keeps my brain cell moving!

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(The stamping detail is much clearer when you click the pic.)

I love this looooooong Happy Birthday sentiment from Hot Off The Press, (had it for years) and it combines swirls and sentiment all in one beautiful image. 

I stamped the little Crafty Secrets swirly heart to add a finishing touch, then attached a tiny silver brad at the top of the heart. 

The cardstock is SU Pink Pirouette, cut to a DL size.  
Ink - Black Archival.

Lines dry embossed above and below the sentiment.

Love to all ~ 

FOR YOUR INSPIRATION - WOW!

Hi there my lovely blogging friends - I hope you are all having a happy week.

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This is my second Post in two days - (otherwise known as something of a miracle in my crafty world)!!

This fortnight at FYI we have another amazing picture for you to work with - you can interpret it in any way you desire - I have taken inspiration from the rich shades of blue, orange and green. My "Recipe" is further down the page.

We also have an amazingly generous Sponsor this fortnight - Bugaboo Digi Stamps who are giving SEVEN digis to the challenge winner.  

The Design Team have also been offered some of their fabulous images to work with - do pop over to FYI to see what the talented DT have created.

  I chose the beautiful "Love Conquers All" image from the Silhouette "love blocks" range. 

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 Recipe ~
Black base card, 6" x 6".
White cardstock brayered with Kaleidacolor "Creole Spice" ink pad, then machine-stitched to the base card.
The Bugaboo digi was printed onto a separate piece of white cardstock, and lightly brayered with the same ink pad.  Butterflies coloured with Copics.
Corners were rounded with an X-cut punch, and a sprinkling of Glamour Dust added to the butterfly trail. The Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes die was used for the black diecut swirl, before attaching the panel to the card with 3-d foam pads.
A butterfly was cut out from a second print-out of the image, coloured with Copics and attached to the card.
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And here is the stunning inspiration photo:-

I would like to enter the following Challenges ~
Come And Get It - Flowers and Butterflies.
Stampin Sisters In Christ - Elements of Heaven.
Update - 12th June - My card won a Shining Star Top 3 badge from Stampin Sisters in Christ. 
Thank you ladies!

Lots of love ~

RED WHITE AND BLUE!

Good morning from a rather wet and dreary West Yorkshire - a perfect day for crafting! 

Hope you all enjoyed the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations?  Going along with the Jubilee theme is the current challenge at LESS IS MORE where the lovely Chrissie and Mandi would like to see RED WHITE and  BLUE on our projects.

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I decided to do something with bling on my card, after being inspired by a handbag I saw in a shop window a couple of days ago. 

The red and blue sequins came from a local craft store, and the pearls are from my stash.

Sentiment - Hero Arts, inked with Versafine Majestic Blue, Princess Crown from stash (sorry I didn't have a Queen one)!  Some gems added to the crown, and a dry-embossed border around the "flag".

It took tons of glue and patience, but it was great fun to make!!
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I would also like to enter my card into the following challenges:-
CCC - Red. White and Blue.
Top Tip Tuesday - Sparkles Galore for the Jubilee.
One Stop Crafts - Crowns or Diamonds plus Red White and Blue.
Scrapbook Sisters - Red. White and Blue.

Lots of love to all ~
Update - June 13th - My card won the Challenge at Scrapbook Sisters! Whoo-hoo!

A BOOK CARD FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL, AND A BABY CARD FOR LESS IS MORE!

Hello lovely bloggers - it seems Summer has finally arrived in the UK - yaaay!! I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine wherever you are.

I have TWO projects to share today - the first is a very simple little card for LESS IS MORE.  (Better late than never)! 
Chrissie and Mandi's theme this week is a BABY card, or CHILD'S card.
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Please be warned - this is a "photo-heavy" post - sorry! 
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For my LIM card, I used some leftover gingham snippets (Craft Creations), trimmed with a Fiskars border punch. 
The vintage pram stamp is from Anna Griffin, the sentiment is from a New Baby set by Kars, both inked with Jet Black Archival. (The image is much clearer when you click on the pic.)!
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I am popping over to  Di's Playground to share this card with the playmates!

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My second project is a Book Card. This is for my DIL's birthday next week - I've been intending to have a go at making one of these for ages, and my DIL's birthday has spurred me on - she loves all things vintage, shabby-chic, fairies etc., and I know she will appreciate it.
 If you would like to make one of these, there is a fab. tutorial on Sandie's wonderful blog http://delightfullycrazytoo.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/vintage-book-card-tutorial.htm
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I would also like to enter this Book Card into the ALLSORTS 3rd Birthday Blog Hop Challenge,
and OCC - Shabby Chic Theme.

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Update - June 2nd - My Book Card was awarded a Top 5 Badge by the ladies at Allsorts. Many thanks!

Front cover:-

Inside:-

The Nestie oval will be personalised before giving the card to

my DIL. 

This was rather difficult to photo - the punched border on the shadow box looks more like pale blue than the real-life shade of pale cream, and the "hinges" on the back cover are dark grey IRL, not blue! 
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Items used:-
Papers from Prima (but I think the back cover is Basic Grey)
Tiny flower punches - SU Boho Blossoms and EK Success Retro Flower.
Pearls and ribbon from stash.
Tons of Glamour Dust!
Martha Stewart border punch - Floral Vine.
Tonic Studios Butterfly punch.

DI Inks used - Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Faded Jeans.
Memento London Fog.
Nesties dies -  Ovals and Fancy Tags Two.
Cuttlebug fancy corner die.
Stamps -  Layers of Color (Birthday Wishes), Indigo Blu Wild Meadow (Swirl).
. Crafty Individuals (Dream a Little Dream). Kaisercraft Botanical.
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Many thanks if you are still with me!  Have a wonderful weekend.
Love to all ~

SUNSHINE AT "FOR YOUR INSPIRATION" , AND 3 YEARS OF BLOGGING!

Hello my wonderful bloggers - I hope you are all having a happy week, and some warm  sunshine.
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At the FYI CHALLENGE we have loads of  sunshine to share with you - just take a look at this  fortnight's inspiration picture!  (SUNGLASSES ALERT)!!

You can interpret the picture in any way you wish, and we would love you to join in the fun.  My talented Teamies have created some fabulous cards, so why not pop over to take a peek!

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The card is SU Pumpkin Pie.

Large flowers and grasses -  Cuttlebug Poppies die. 

Dark brown felt was used for the large flowers - one of the flower heads has been double-layered for dimension.

The grasses are cut from brown velvet paper, which I've had for years, and I couldn't resist adding just a tiny bit of magenta velvet paper to give the card a "lift".
Sentiment - WeRMemory Keepers.

Ribbon from stash.

Circle punch for flower centres. 

X-cut corner punch.
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Wow - tomorrow, May 18th, it will be 3 years to the day since I set up my Blog, and those three years seem to have flown by.
I have been blown away by the crafting talent I have discovered in blogland, the kind-hearted people, the feeling of community, inspiration and enjoyment. 
 I would like to send a huge Thank You to my Fabulous Followers, and to everyone who has ever taken the time to leave a much-appreciated comment during those 3 years. 


~ THANK YOU ~
(and love to all)

THREE STAMPS AT LESS IS MORE, AND HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY DEBBIE!!

Good evening lovely bloggers - life has got in the way of blogging this last week or two, so I'm happy to be back in crafting mode again, and sharing my LESS IS MOREcard for this week's challenge., which is ................. the one we all love - A ONE LAYER CARD!!!  The fabulous Chrissie and Mandi would also like us to use THREE  stamps (not 2, not 4, but THREE)!!

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I would also like to wish my lovely "For Your Inspiration" teamie Debbie  a very Happy 60th Birthday!

Yes - you can't keep it a secret Debbie - the whole world now knows that you are 60 years young on May 13th!!  So peeps, please pop over to Debbie's lovely blog and leave her some lurve, and wish her a Happy day!

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Update - June 6th - my card was included in the Winners list at St. Lukes Charity Cards.
Thank you ladies!

I have used THREE stamps from the "Wild Meadow" Indigo Blu set. - the sentiment, the Dandelion Clocks, and the Grasses border stamp, inked with Archival Coffee. 

Brayered Distress Inks -  Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed.
I would also like to enter my card into the following Challenges:-
PILE IT ON - "Clean and Simple".
ST LUKES CHARITY CARDS - "One Layer Month".

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A huge welcome to my new Followers.

Love to all - have a very happy week ~

FRESH BREWED AT FYI, AND A CRAFT STAMPER SNIPPET!

Hi there my lovely blogging friends - I hope you are all having an enjoyable week?
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It's time for another Challenge at FYI, and as always, Steph has provided us with a beautiful inspirational photo. 

This one is quite dark and brooding, with wonderful shades of green and orange, but you can interpret the picture any way you wish.

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As it's the first challenge of the month, there will be a prize for the winner of the Challenge, of three digi images from our generous sponsor - Fresh Brewed Designs. 

The DT have also been given some of their fab. images to work with.

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I have used the "Ladybug Teapot" digi, coloured with Copics, cut out and

slightly curved, then attached with silicone glue onto two oval Nestie layers. 

A sprinkling of Glamour Dust on the flowers.

The gingham is a Wendy Vecchi rubber stamp from the Nature's Art set (love this stamp).

All cardstock from Stampin' Up.

The tiny "party" stamp is from the Papermania Chatsworth set.

"You're Invited" stamp from K andCo.

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Finally, here is a little snippet from my project published in the June issue of 

~ Craft Stamper ~

sending love to all ~ 

TIME FOR SUMMER ............

Hello peeps - I'm sure you are all looking forward to some hot Summer weather - I know I am!  But in the meantime,  I am joining in the  Crafty Individuals Challenge - TIME FOR SUMMER. 

You might like to click the pic. to see the detail!
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Recipe ~

Backing paper from the Crafty Individuals "Book 7" - Shades of Summer.

Stamped images - CI -309, CI- 320, CI- 302, and CI - 234.

Distress Inks used - Weathered Wood, Antique Linen, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Brushed Corduroy.  

Victorian Velvet, Worn Lipstick and Tattered Rose for the flowers.

Other inks used - Coffee Archival and Memento London Fog.

Memory Box die - Wrought Iron Fence.

Machine stitching. 
"Summer" stamp - Layers of Color Art Stamps.

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Love to all ~

A WONDERFUL DAY AT WHITBY !

Hi lovely blogging friends - I hope you are enjoying your weekend, whatever you are doing.

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I recently had the pleasure of spending a whole day with the oh-so-talented  Jean Hardy  of Crafty Individuals fame, at her craft class which was held in a beautiful cottage in Whitby on the East Yorkshire coast. Crafting doesn't get much better than this - believe me.  

It was a wonderful day, with awesome views across Whitby bay - the sun was shining, the home-made lunch was fantastic (not to mention the wine and the never-ending supply of chocolates!). Malcolm and Kay were there too, of course, and I met some lovely crafters on the day.

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My "shabby-chic" clock project is pictured below - something quite new for me, but as my regular visitors will know - I do not have a particular "style" - I just love crafting!! 

So here it is (must admit - I didn't finish it at the class - spent too much time talking and eating!), but it is now complete, and all of the  images are Crafty Individuals - either stamps or papers - some of them decoupaged, which doesn't show up very well on the photo.  A few embellishments are from my own stash. 

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I would like to enter my project into the following challenges:

The Stamp Man - Shabby Chic.
Anything Goes - Tick Tock Goes the Clock.

Love to all ~

ANOTHER FABULOUS PICTURE AT "FOR YOUR INSPIRATION"

Hi lovely bloggers,  how about this for a WOW colour combination!!  
Here is the fabulous inspiration photo which Steph has provided for this fortnight's 
FYI challenge - so put on your sunglasses, and get out those inks and papers ! 
Don't forget - you have a fortnight to create your project, and you can interpret the picture in any way you wish.

If you pop over to FYI you will find all the challenge details, and some awesome inspiration from the talented Design Team .
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My DT offering is a clean and simple design, and here it is ~

I just LOVE  this Memory Box "Madera Corner" die - cut twice from 
SU Pumpkin Pie cardstock.
Base card - Stampin' Up (possibly Lavender Lace - had it for ages)!
The diecuts were attached behind orange satin ribbon and a top layer of purple satin ribbon.
Sentiment and oval punch from Stampin' Up.
Corner rounder - X-cut.
And that's it - short and sweet!
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Love to all ~

DOODLING AT LESS IS MORE!

Hello lovely bloggers and doodlers everywhere!  

I guess some of us love doodling and some of us don't - I'm one of those rubbish "doodlers" who doodles when I'm on the 'phone, and it can be quite therapeutic (hands up those who agree)!

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So, when I   saw what the talented Chrissie and Mandi had in store for us this week at LESS IS MORE, my right hand began twitching,  and once I picked up my pen I was like a thing possessed!

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I was going to throw this in the bin (OK - who said "you should have")? but  just for fun I decided to share it - sorry!! 

This was the one and only attempt - I had no idea what I was going to draw, but somehow ended up with 3 flowers on stems - everything hand drawn with my extra-fine

Pilot pen, finished off with a little Copic colouring.

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Whatever you do in life - enjoy it and have fun!!

Love to all ~ 

THREE GREEN SHADES AT LESS IS MORE!

Hello crafty bloggers - thank you for popping by - it's always a pleasure to "see" you!

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Have you ever had one of those light-bulb moments as you waken from your slumbers - you've suddenly thought of an idea for the LESS IS MORE CHALLENGE, and hey-presto three LAMP SHADES spring to mind!  (Or is that just me I wonder - mmm, probably....).

Anyhoo - here are those Three Green Lampshades, or was it Three Shades of Green that Mandi and Chrissie asked for??  (Of course it was).

Anyway - here are the Shades peeps ........

All three shades are Distress Inks - from the left -  Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint and Crushed Olive ,  applied with a foam applicator through an old Fiskars cutting template (one of those orange acrylic sheets which partnered the circular cutting tool - does anyone else remember those?!!

From the left, the lampshades were stamped with  - Memento London Fog, Versafine Smokey Gray, Versafine Onyx Black.  I was aiming for a "dull to bright" effect across the three panels.

Handwritten sentiment (well, you wouldn't buy a stamp like that would you)!

The beautiful lampshade stamp is  from the Papermania Chatsworth set.

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Lots of love ~

STORMY SKY AT FYI !

Good morning lovely crafters - thank you so much for popping by. 
Here's wishing you all a very Happy Easter, no matter what the weather is like!

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It's time for another challenge at FOR YOUR INSPIRATION and as this is our first
challenge of the month, there will be a prize for the winner. Our generous sponsor is Regina , the owner of The Cutting Cafe - she is offering 3 digi stamp sets of the winner's choice. 



As always, we have a picture inspiration for you to work with.

Here is this week's beautiful and atmospheric photo -  you can interpret it in any way your heart desires, so please get thinking and inking - can't wait to see what you create!

.......... and here is my interpretation .............

Recipe:-

Backing paper - SU Beau Chateau collection.

Machine stitching.

Layers - SU Night of Navy, and Not Quite Navy.

Lighthouse digi image from Sweet 'n Sassy.

Distress Inks used - Weathered Wood, Faded Jeans, Wild Honey.

Swirl - Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes

Sentiment - The Cutting Cafe.

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I am entering my card into the following Challenges:-
Paper Pretties- Monochromatic.
Crazy4Challenges- Blue, White and one other colour.
Digi Doodles- Something New (Lighthouse image).
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Lots of love to all ~

LESS IS MORE LUCKY DIP!

Hello my lovely bloggerettes - hope everyone is happy and bathed in sunshine!

It seems like only 3 days ago that I was posting a card for the Less is More challenge - 

oh yes - it was three days ago - I was late!!

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So, onto the current week's challenge at LESS IS MORE, which is  "Lucky Dip" and Chrissie and Mandi have given us a Picture Inspiration to work with,  and here it is ~

Love these colours!

My take on the theme is a small, plain, and simple little thing, but I hope you like it!

Recipe:-

Base card - Certain Celery from SU

Pink layer - Pink Pirouette also from SU

Sentiment - Penny Black

Pearl, gingham ribbon, and gingham  paper - from my craft box.

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The Flower/Rosette is not from a die, but hand-made. 

I'm sure lots of you know how to make these, but if anyone would like the details, please e-mail me. 

Other items used - 

Corner rounder from X-Cut, SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

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Also entering the challenge at Whimsy Stamps

Have a very happy week ~ love to all ~

THREE CHOICES AT LESS IS MORE!

Hi peeps - I'm a bit late, but just managed to get my card finished for this week's LESS IS MORE CHALLENGE. 

The lovely Mandi and Chrissie have given us a super choice this week - to incorporate 3 previous

themes into one card.  I have chosen Week 1 - Pink, Black and White, Week 25 - Button or Ribbon, and Week 56 - Don't Scrap it.

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I hope there is enough white space to qualify - it really is a very easy and simple design

which just involved cutting 3 triangles from scrap card, and randomly stamping the La Blanche Roses

with Black Archival ink, adding a little Spun Sugar DI around triangle edges and on some of

the petals (though the colour doesn't show up very well in the pic.).

Sentiment - Layers of Color Art Stamps

Pink ribbon, and a large pink glass button, both from my craft box.

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Enjoy the sunshine ~ Love to all ~

MASKING THIS WEEK AT LESS IS MORE ..........

Hello lovely bloggers everywhere - hope your week is going well?
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Just popping by to share my make for this week's challenge at LESS IS MORE. Our lovely LIMette Leaders, Chrissie and Mandi, would like us to do some Masking, so I decided to use a technique which involves three stamps.
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 I am sure lots of you will know how to do masking with three stamps, but for those of you who would like the details, I will pop them below.
Update - March 30th - My card has been ShowCASed - whoo-hoo! 
Thank-you Chrissie and Mandi !

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 1. Stamp the Torn Aperture onto a piece of cardstock.

2.Stamp again onto a piece of paper (larger than the cardstock).

3. Cut out the aperture centre only. (mask #1).

4. Place mask over the image you stamped onto the cardstock.

5. Stamp a suitable image over the mask (I used Hero Arts Gracious Lady). 

6. Remove mask. 

7. Stamp aperture once more onto paper, then cut around the image. Do not cut out the centre.(mask #2).

8. Place  mask #2 over the entire image which you stamped onto cardstock.

9. Stamp a background image (I used Inkadinkado Lace 90355).  Remove mask. 

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I would love to know if anyone else has used this Artifacts "Torn Aperture" stamp in the past?

Here it is (looks a bit strange doesn't it)!  I bought mine several years ago, but I've checked and it is still available from The Stamp Bug online shop.

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On my card I also used Versafine ink pads -  Crimson Red and Smokey Gray.  Copics here and there to give some shading.

Red Bazzil cardstock.

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The Anna Griffin sentiment stamp was also masked - the full wording is Forever and Always, so some cellotape over the unwanted bits before inking does the trick! (Remove cellotape before stamping - but I'm sure you know that)!!!

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Apologies for the looooooong Post!
Enjoy the rest of your week ~ love to all  ~