LIM_054 - CAS OLW Valentine's

I've made a valentine's card AND submitting to both LIM Challenge 54 (stripes) and OLW 78 (circles).

3 "stripes" have been embossed on;  very subtle, I know!  I had to a closeup photo to show 'em.

Circles are more obvious: punched out and the dots on the DSP.  The hole is actually Susan's idea and I quote:

you CAN punch/die-cut a circle out of the front of your card. That's not adding a layer. 

So punch I did! and it's still one layer.

I sponged around the hole on my first attempt and it just looked 'dirty'.  I'm sticking to the simplicity of this one.  For good measure, I added a little bow - Stampin Up's Baja Breeze seam binding to match the sentiment; gotta love SU coordination. :)

Hubby will love this one.  He better!

LIM_053 - Birthday Card

It's been a while since I last joined a Simply Less is More Challenge.  Since I had to make a birthday card for my hubby, I thought I'd scour the net for inspiration.  LIM Challenge 53 is perfect - aqua is one of my favourite colours and would pass for a masculine card.

As an aside, Happy Birthday to LIM, too. woohoo.

Here's the card:

Stampin up products used.

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red
Stamps: A to Z, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Punch: Full Heart
Embossing folder: Square Lattice
Others: Cherry Cobbler Baker's twine

This sketch is practically the same as LIM Challenge 52 which I almost did but ran out of time (haha).  The strip of aqua card was embossed and then more aqua ink was sponged on to highlight the texture (I love aqua).   I stamped AtoZ on white card, punched and sponged the edges as well.  This was stuck on with dimensionals for extra height.  The Happy birthday was stamped on white card as well.

I think the twine picks up the red to highlight the teeny sentiment without looking too girly.  I'm really quite happy with how this turned out.

CFC #21 + LIM #34 - CAS thinking of you

It's been a while since my last entry into CAS-ual Fridays and even longer for Simply Less is More.  It's been soooo busy around here and I have been busy with my other blog - on education.  Apologies to my followers. ;-/

This week I'm doing a joint one inspired by the sketch for LIMmettes (challenge 34) and the colour inspiration over at CAS-ual Fridays (challenge 21).

The card is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 " square.

All products from Stampin Up

Cardstock: white, baja breeze, chocolate chip

ink: Marina Mist, not quite navy, chocolate chip

stamps: Artistic Etchings, Teeny  Tiny Sentiments (best sentiment set ever)

I think I've lost my touch in terms of crafting and craft-blogging. ha ha.  Feeling rather awkward!

I hope you like this.

cheers,

Malyn

simply Less is More #22 - Shades of Blue

Simply Less is More challenge #22 is SHADES of BLUE.  Cool blues!

I needed to make a birthday card for a boy urgently so took this opportunity to do a challenge as well.  As it happens, I'm giving him an iTunes card so my design was constrained accordingly.   Here it is:

The pocket did start out as a white piece of card.  Emboss-resist is one of my favourite techniques. What's new here (for me, at least) is using a brayer!  That was a challenge as I built up the colours.  The gradient was supposed to be vertical but, as you can see, it ended up horizontal.  No matter, I've got my shades of blue.

All products except ribbon and floss from Stampin Up

inks: Versamark, Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Tempting Turquoise, Not Quite Navy
stamps: French Foliage, Playful Pieces, Bring on the Cake

I had visions of using scallop punches and all that but being a card for a boy, I restrained myself. ;)  The Baja Breeze cardstock looked a bit plain hence the raindrops (Marina Mist) and sponging of the edges.

I need more practice with the brayer methinks.

cheers,
Malyn

simply Less is More #21 - Sketch challenge

Simply Less is More Challenge #21 is to use a very elegant sketch - simple but, if executed well, really good and pleasing to the eye.  Question now is did I execute the sketch well? See for yourself.

The deets:

stamps: Stampin Up Very vintage (roller), Sweet Sentiments
inks: SU Crumb Cake, Soft Suede
others: Cuttlebug embossing folders, rustic twine, SU perals, 1 3/8" circle punch

I wanted to try a new technique I learned, brayer ink over embossing.  I'm really quite happy with the effect. By the time Crumb Cake was layered on, it looked rather dark hence the decision to go with Soft Suede for the sentiment.  I had trouble deciding where to put the sentiment - bottom centre or bottom right.  I'm still not sure, it is where it should be but there it is. I'm declaring it done.

cheers.

simply Less is More #20 - Monogram

Beautiful challenge #20 at Simply Less Is More using monograms.  Mandi and Chrissie keep coming up with interesting challenges and divine inspiration cards.  Mandi's (see pic at the end of post) really blew me away - so CAS, so elegant with a touch of cheek.  Perfect.

My first instinct was to do something similar but in the end, opted to match my entry to The Summer of Colour - green.  I made a gift box in green - my friend's favourite colour it seems - so perfect for the challenge.  I decided the card will have the same elements and colour but with a monogram, of course.  Here they both are:

My friend's name starts with a C and that card is full of meaning. C in my heart. x (stitched) as in xoxo. A pearl (tiny one on the flower on happy birthday) because this friend is precious to me.  I wonder if she'll pick up all of these little hints? The C, certainly.

A few other tiny design decisions: rounding the edges on the 2 strips using scallop scissors. Rounding the edges on the card using a punch. Use 2 shades of green ink both from Stampin Up: Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive.  Emboss-resist the C, instead of die-cut (I love how white paper can be transformed so much).

Mandi's inspirational card

The quality and quantity of entries at Simply Less is More are growing steadily. I'm beginning to feel out of my depth, as in out of my league.  Having played in the last 16 weeks though (missed first 4), it's really a habit now so maybe I'll keep playing anyway.

simply Less is More #19 - OLC Framed

Finally got around to making my Simply Less is More #19 entry - OLC framed.  Been away over the long weekend and have been catching up ever since.

Right, quick post so I can have some time to go visiting the undoubtedly great work of the other LIMettes.

Here's mine:

I've said it before and I'll say it again - making OLCs is hard work!!! There's no room to hide 'mistakes'.  This is my second attempt and I can tell you, "aargh" and "gah" were constantly uttered.  Still, I'm smiling now because I've left it well enough alone, i.e. I've declared it done.

I do like layering inks on and nothing like an OLC to to get that going.  You wouldn't think there's so much product on this but so it is. Here are the deets:

inks: 
TH Distress inks - Old Paper, Shabby Shutters, Broken China; Stampin Up Soft Suede, Versamark
stamps all from SU: 
SAB Bliss (butterfly), Teeny Tiny Sentiments, French Foliage (so faint you can hardly see the script but the raindrops are fab, don't you think?)
others: 
Perfect Pearls (sprayed on from a mini mister to echo the raindrops), gorgeous gorgeous DMC metallic floss, 1/8" circle punch


The floss would not stay still and was so hard to knot (slippery stuff) so I used a technique I learned from Jennifer McGuire. Punch a small hole through which the 2 ends go through and get knotted - after you wrap the floss around, that is. This works really well with ribbons and especially on a scrapbooking layout. That string will not move.

Cheers all.

simply Less is More #18 - Monochrome

Do you view your blog stats? Well, I do and it comes as no surprise that my biggest traffic comes from Simply Less is More - that's solid proof of what a wonderful community the LIMettes really are.  So even though you don't leave a comment, you count as one of my visitors. Of course, when you do leave a comment, you leave a smile behind as well and that's just fantastic!

On to this week's LIMette challenge - monochrome.

I seem to have lost my mojo and struggled with this one. This is my 2nd attempt and the other one was complete unsalvageable.  Mandi is so right about how easy it is to coordinate with Stampin Up. Here's mine using all SU products.

inks: Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive
stamps: Medallion background (love!), Upsy Daisy (sentiment)
punches: modern Label, 1 3/4" and 3/4" circles
other: Pear Pizzazz ribbon, pearls

I really like the effect of the Old Olive on Pear Pizzazz cardstock. This tone-on-tone technique really brings this medallion image to life.

A quick tip I've learned from Michelle Dyson is to seal the ends of ribbon with a lighter; finishes it off nicely and guaranteed not to fray.

Thank you in advance for leaving a comment. :-)

simply Less is More #17 - Pick a square

Simply Less is More has a new fun challenge - Pick a Square.  Lots of white space this week. I was much inspired by Chrissie's thumping technique. With new techniques, I usually think "I'd better try that some time". Well, this time, I decided, "I better try it right NOW!"


So here's my entry - completely and unashamedly fashioned after Chrissie's - including the Baja Breeze colour (best form of flattery right?). I went for a more subtle contrast using Marina Mist and it still looks mottled.  This thumping thing is going to be part of my regular repertoire methinks (so thanks Chrissie).

Still on the subtle side, I used a clear Spica pen to add just a hint of sparkle to echo the silver embossing. I had to edge this Stampin Up Upsy Daisy stamp a bit to the left so as not to go over the square too much....needs a bit more height I think.


There is so much white space here I feel like I need to add something but that would break the guidelines. I'm leaving it as is.


Maybe I should have another go.


Thanks again to all those who leave comments and tips. 


cheers, 
Malyn

Chrissie's inspirational card

simply Less is More #16 - Butterflies

It took me a while to get my head around what to do with the Simply Less is More Challenge # 16 - Butterflies. And even when I did get an idea, it didn't quite translate as well on paper  (again, I know).

Anyway, here's my second attempt. Design's slightly different than originally planned but it does incorporate all the techniques I wanted to include.

It's almost an OLC with all images stamped directly on the card. However, I thought the main butterfly needed a bit more focus so I popped on a frame.

Much as I'd like to share all the details, I don't have them all - lost details for sentiment and the focal butterfly. The background one is from the Stampin Up Cottage Garden set.  What I can share fully are the techniques:

1. Wet emboss (all the butterflies including main one + the frame in Dazzling Diamonds)
2. Emboss-resist using Distress Inks (Tumbled Glass). I stamped the sentiment on first in black and then the butterflies using Versamark with clear embossing powder
3. Dry emboss (I know you can barely see the line but it's there)....and, wait for it.....
4. Acetate!!!! I thought I really had to give it another go (Mandi and Chris have a lot to answer for, haven't they?). It made the frame look real.

So while I didn't combine challenges this time, I combined techniques instead. Fun!!

In my last post (with stitching and bling), I asked for tips on taking photos and Valerie (CraftAttack) very kindly pointed me to Susan Goetter's tutorial. Thank you both. Unfortunately, I don't have a lamp like Susan's so my photo is still very yellow. I will try again tomorrow during daytime here.

updated photo: taken during daytime. makes a difference methinks. :-)

Finally, I love all your comments and wish I could visit all of you back. There is the time issue, of course. HOWEVER, perhaps you can make it a little quicker and easier for me (and all others you visit), if you please put in a quick link to your blog in the comment so I don't have to go via your Blogger profile. My IT tips page has a quick tutorial on how to do just that.

Cheers all!

CAS challenge - You're a Gem

I've been busy around the house and scrapping so haven't had much chance to do my favourite challenges. So, I thought I'd be a little clever and combine them.  Fortunately, Less is More #15 has the same challenge as Jac-Inks, i.e. embossing - ok LIMettes have options other than heat embossing, but similar enough. CAS-ual Fridays has the buttons and twine challenge. Now, I'm not sure this is strictly OLC as the buttons are embellishments??? Chris and Mandi - you can tell me off gently.

without further ado....

Yes, it is white-on-white! I'm so excited about it.

The original plan was to have the buttons in a symmetrical square arrangement with the dazzling one (embossed with Dazzling Diamonds) right in the middle.  As you can see, I challenged myself out of my comfort zone and went for the 'random' arrangement - I can tell you, a square would have been much easier! Also, I used different dimensionals to get some height variations....you probably can't tell from the photos.

A gem stands out in the crowd so I do like the double-meaning here.

The deets:

inks: Stampin Up Craft White (sentiment), Versamark (button)
stamp: SU You're a Gem set
others: SU/Sizzix Buttons #5, Dazzling Diamonds, baker's twine

I had lots of fun with this one!

Cheers all.

simply Less is More #14 - White on White

There's a problem with Blogger at the moment with the new post editor never successfully loading. I thought my blog was broken but luckily switching to the old editor worked for me so here I am posting about the new LIM challenge - white on white (it had to happen eventually).

Actually, I'm rather pleased it's on as I've been attempting to do this for a while, as recent as the previous LIM challenge....to no avail....This time, no choice but to really go white on white.

There are lots of things happening here and it's probably pushing the CAS boundaries but when it's white on white, there's plenty of white "space". :-)

The deets:

stamp: Bring on the cake

Ink: Versamark

others: Tim Holtz Sewing Room die, Cuttlebug cut and emboss die (wings), Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds

I pressed the dress top on Versamark and poured a 50/50 mix of Heat & Stick Powder and Dazzling Diamonds and voila a super-shimmery top. The skirt was made from 2 layers of scrunched up white tissue paper and sprayed on with Perfect Pearls mist to balance out the top which was very shimmery. I wrapped a skinny ribbon and added some tiny pearls - I love pearl buttons on real dresses. Actually, the initial skirt I made used embossed cardstock but it looked too heavy against the top hence the switch to tissue paper. The wings are also an after-thought and I think the card looks better with them than without them (open to suggestion here!)

The joke - this card will be given to a girl turning (sweet) 16 in August. It is so highly unlikely that this girl will ever wear a dress such as this. I do love that her sense of humour is steeped towards sarcasm, especially subtle ones - very British (I love British humour). If she ever gets a dress like this, it'll be sent off back where it came from, for sure!...hence the wings. :-)

I'm rather disappointed with this as it was much better in my head but so it is till the next card.

I've said it before but I'll say it again, thanks all for visiting and a special thanks to all those who bother to comment - it takes time and effort, I know.

simply Less is More #13 - Lucky Dip

I always feel better after I've completed a LIMette challenge as it's a must-do nowadays. Challenge 13 is to do a thank you or congratulations card.  Just the excuse I needed to make a card I've been procrastinating on, i.e. to congratulate a young colleague on purchasing and moving to their new home. I'm also entering it in the Just Add Ink Challenge to just add a flower.

Here it is:

 I had the initial idea of white-on-white and stamping on a paper flower. As you can see, I've veered off a bit.

The sketch is an old one from Mojo Monday that I've been wanting to do.  It just wouldn't look right with everything in white. The off-centre LIMette challenge last week helped me get over my affinity for symmetry...notice the slightly off-centre flower to make room for the slit; that's intentional!

As with last week, all products used are from Stampin Up

cardstock: Whisper White, Old Olive DSP

stamps: Artistic Etchings, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

inks: Old Olive, Tempting Turqoise

punches: 1 3/4 and 2 3/4 scallop circles

other: Old Olive ribbon, Square Lattice Textured Impressions

I did stamp over paper flowers but punched ones - snip the scallops to make petals. I can't remember where I saw this technique - sorry can't attribute. In the spirit of honesty, I admit that I intended to sponge around with Old Olive but picked up a sponge still wet with Tempting Turquoise. Well, I do like these combination anyway so went with it and even stamped the centre and sentiment in the accent colour. 

Finally, look at these rounded corners. One is from a corner rounder - the DSP. The others are from a scallop scissors. This time, I do remember where I got the technique (see corner of sentiment), Susan at Simplicity by LateBlossom.  My "innovation" is cutting a bit more for a more decorative effect.

There are plenty of layers and texture but is this still CAS?

simply Less is More #12 - off centre

I love symmetry - to my detriment sometimes - so this week's Simply Less is More challenge was a fun challenge. For what is creativity but edging out of the norm? Well, that's one form of creativity anyway.

Here's my entry which happens to be a birthday card for a friend. It's got a few elements but I think it's still fairly CAS.

This time, all products are from Stampin Up

cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pear Pizazz, Cajun Craze, Rich Razzleberry
Stamps: French Foliage, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Inks: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Cajun Craze, Old Olive

While the Northern Hemisphere is finally enjoying spring, we're well into Autumn so this card is appropriate. The raindrops image is just adorable and so had to use them, too - well, actually, it's been rather wet here in Sydney and so even those are appropriate.  Truth be told, those raindrops convinced me to get this new SU set.

I've got a ton of things to do but I'd go visiting the LIM community first. See you around! And if you do happen to stop by here, I'd love to hear from you...please leave a comment.

cheers,
Malyn

SLM 11- Acetate

I missed last week's SLiM challenge, and papercrafting, in general; shouldn't complain as we went for a fabulous family holiday in Eden - a spectacular part of NSW, Australia.  I did manage to read heaps, pick up knitting AND spend quality time with my husband and 2 girls.

Not even back 48 hrs, I feel a bit rusty and not altogether happy with my entry to this week's challenge using acetate.  Still, here it is.  While there are several embellishments, I think there's still enough whitespace for this to be CAS.  Please let me know if not.

I had lots of misses with using Stazon on the acetate -  too black, smudged, missed bits, etc. In the end I settled for just a small panel with the biggest 'clear' space AND stamped the lamp stand in burnished gold. The colour seeping through is from underneath, i.e. I didn't colour the acetate itself - so not quite the stained glass replica but near enough.

The lamp shade is lifted up with dimensionals and I applied glossy accents on the 'lead' bits.

The lamp stamp is from My Minds Eye and the sentiment is from an Inkadinkadoo set I think.

If I get inspired, I might have another go but I think I'd rather go visiting everyone else's work.

simply Less is More #9 - a touch of Red

Head over to simply Less is More this week for the "A Touch of Red Challenge". Mandi and Chrissie have created inspiring samples plus a few tips. Been busy this week but this challenge is in my to-do list; sounds tragic, I know!


Ok, here's my creation this week:

It's a tri-fold card with the heart (Stampin Up Always) in the middle, with just a touch of red (surrounds, and focus flower), I was going to put the sentiment on the front but it just didn't look right - yes, I had to re-do the front heart.  The Happy Anniversary sentiment (SU Teeny Tiny Sentiments) seems better inside (directly behind the front heart); I masked that area when I stamped the heart first. After stamping the sentiment, I sponged it a little with red to highlight it a bit more as it was rather teeny tiny and the background a bit busy.


inks: SU Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler (really love this deep red)


Anniversary's not till October so call me super-organised. :-)


Now to go visiting the others. I honestly don't know how Mandi and Chrissie get around to everyone. I'm happy if I can do 10.  

So Mandi, Chrissie and all you wonderful ladies who make wonderfully CAS cards, go visiting and leave comments, all I can say is:

You are amazing and Thank you.

simply Less is More #8 - sketch challenge

Sketch challenge over at Simply Less is More. This challenge blog by Mandi and Chrissie has grown from strength to strength. There is always a tutorial, lots of inspirational cards and a very talented and comment-happy community supporting it. This is definitely one of my favourite challenge blogs.

I'm not used to the DL card so keeping the "balance" was a challenge, even with the sketch already provided which happily follows the rule of thirds. Because it has to be clean and simple, there's the challenge to fight the urge to fill all that space.

I initially wanted the bottom to be embossed for texture; a white-on-white effect - which I might still do. In the meantime, here's what I've got:

stamp: Stampin Up Just Believe
ink: SU Pear Pizzazz, Versamark
punches: 1 3/4" scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle
others: SU Pear Pizzazz ribbon and pearls

Using just one stamp set is rare for me but I set that as a personal challenge this time. The teeny-weeny pearls, the littlest of embellishments, were a last-minute addition which I think add a sweet and elegant touch. Don't you think?

Right, off to go visiting the lovely creations of this Less is More community.

sLiM week 7 - Masculine

I'm totally enjoying the Simply Less is More challenges by Chrissie and Mandi. The blog itself is worth visiting because (1) these ladies always have a tutorial (who can resist learning something new?) and (2) there are plenty of inspirational cards. Moreover, this has got to be the friendliest community ever. Many visit others AND leave comments as well. My stats definitely prove that the biggest traffic come from the Simply Less is More blog (thank you ladies).

Week 7 is on masculine cards. Here's my take on it. Though I had fun making it, I'm not really happy with the final product - doesn't seem quite right. So, any constructive feedback would be welcome. How would you do it differently? Maybe I'll have another go. Father's day is not for a while yet but at least this is done. It's the earliest masculine one I have to do.

All products are from Stampin Up.

stamps: Punch Bunch, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

ink: black, Cherry Cobbler (sponged on + Stampin Write)

paper: Jolly Holiday DSP

punch: 1 3/4" circle (used as template around the owl), Owl, Word Window

If you look closely, the tie is actually an origami one, mounted on with dimensionals and a glue dot. It started off as a 1"x1" (or 2.5cm square). It was so tiny! Folded up, it's even tinier. :-) The owl was stamped directly on the card. The sentiment was stamped (with the feet), punched out then adhered to the card.

It is clean and simple and almost OLC. Too CAS?

OLC week 6 - Off the edge

Week 6 Challenge over at Simply Less is More is "Off the edge".  My first thought was to use SU's medallion stamp - it just lends itself to this.

BUT... with these inspiration cards from the talented duo at SLiM, I changed my mind.

I was tempted to use the dress stamp from Inkadinkadoo but I've done that for a challenge before, not OLC, but a challenge anyway..

Here are what I came up instead. I still had the dress thing going but I "made" it myself. :-)

stamps: SU Bliss, Just Believe
inks: SU Baja Breeze, Marina Mist (marker)
bling: Dazzling Diamonds

I thought the sentiment was so appropriate - I had to believe there is a dress in the Bliss set and so there was ( a couple even)!

I started with this (left).  I only used the bottom half of the butterfly. I thought the angle of the  dress was a bit "severe". That is, I intended to have the dress a little bit more upright.  So, I started on another card (right). For a bit of a change, I decided to use the whole butterfly stamp. Position of the sentiment is relatively the same for both cards. I stamped the half-butterfly on the 2nd card first. With the more symmetrical 1st card, I thought I had to do a whole butterfly. Then, I decided to stamp a few more...off the edge as well.

While the 1st one was initially a "mistake", I think I like it more. My daughter can't choose between the two and is asking me to show her how I did it (not hard really, with the help of post-it note masks and a stamp-a-ma-jig)...and perhaps some imagination...

some things have to be believed to be seen.

Here are a few more photos of the details.

Enjoy!

Feel free to copy and improve. :-)

update:

Jo asked about the stamp-a-ma-jig. It's a stamp positioner. Mine is from Stampin Up. There are other brands out there. I've seen one made out of Lego bricks even. I like my SU one so happily recommend it.

Lots of tutorials out there on how to use it. Here's a link to a  really quick one.