*Less is More #484*

We have a one layer challenge at Less Is More... with flowers!  For a one layer card, there is *nothing* else for layers of paper or cardstock than the card base.  Maybe you could even call it a "no layer" card.  That means no die cuts (unless they are inlaid) and no mats.  

All of this is difficult for me!!  I like adding a simple mat to most of my cards.  And I LOVE die cuts!  One must become a little creative in how to create dimension without layers!  I chose to do some very light ink blending through a brick pattern stencil to start my card... added a stamped flower and sentiment and walked away.  This photo doesn't do the card justice... I think it looks better in your hand!

Card Info

*Images:  Altenew Fabulous Florets, Celebrate Today

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Twilight, Flirty Fuchsia, Glitz; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Stencils:  Lawn Fawn Brick

*Challengs:  Less is More #484

*Time Out Challenges #239*

It's time for a photo inspiration challenge at Time Out Challenges!  We'd love to see what inspires you from the photo below.  It can be ANY element (or all of them) from the photo, but please be sure to tell us what inspired you!  For this challenge, we have a generous prize from Picket Fence Studios up for grabs!

I looked and looked and looked at this photo, trying to get inspiration.  I had a few ideas pop in to my head but nothing was really working when I tried to put it down on paper.  What finally worked for me was writing down some of the things I saw and going from there...  I took the metallic round shelves of the cart and a floral element, as well as the idea of words (from the hint of the poster in the corner).

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Spellbinders gold foil

*Washi:  Pink Fresh Studio Rainbow Daisies

*Dies:  Pink Fresh Studio Rainbow Daisies; Essentials by Ellen circle; Spellbinders Yana's Layered Script Sentiments

*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Time Out Challenges #239

*Christmas Craft Creations May 2023*

There is still time to play along with the May theme at Christmas Craft Creations...  this one was a lot of fun for me because I really LOVE die cut cards... and this challenge has us using no stamping at all!  The hardest part was to shift through all the ideas in my head to settle on just one!

There are lots of things you could do for your project other than stamping...  die cuts (like I did), embossing, quilling, ink blending, stencils... or a combination of any of those!

Card Info
*Cardstock: Spellbinders gold foil; Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler, Sage Shadow, Evening Evergreen

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Joy; Spellbinders Christmas Blooms

*Challenges:  Christmas Craft Creations May 2023

*CAS on Friday #257*

 I'm playing along with the stripes challenge at CAS on Friday.  There's some striped paper on my card but also some stripes of sentiments!  I cut the strips first and then stamped on them using my Misti.... and then coloured them with some ink blending.  Some are on foam adhesive, others are not.

Card Info

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Images:  MFT Bitty Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne:  Twisted Citron and Salty Ocean Tim Holtz Distress Inks

*Embellishments:  Honey Bee Prism Gems

*Challenges:  CAS on Friday

*Two For One*

I don't often combine challenges, but I did for my card today.  I am using the sketch at Paper Craft Crew and the colours at Colour Throwdown.  I did a bunch of ink blending, added a stamped sentiment and some bling and called it done.

Card Info

*Images:  Picket Fence Studio Fancy Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Spun Sugar and Twisted Citron Distress Ink

*Stencils:  Gina K

*Dies:  Gina K A Little Hello

*Challenges:  PaperCraftCrew #518; Color Throwdown #743

*Create It 3 Ways Instagram Hop*

I am excited to be joining a brand new Instagram Hop that starts today...  this is a monthly hop that will run on the 3rd Saturday of each month.  The overall theme is a fun one....  it's a create it 3 ways theme!  Each month we will have a different theme to play with... and each member of the team will create three projects in that theme using something from their craft rooms in three ways.  A team member could use the same stamp, the same layout, the same technique, the same colour combination (or anything else you think of).... but use it for three different projects following the monthly theme.

For May, our theme is Father's Day or Celebrating a male figure in your life.

If you head to my Intstagram Profile you'll be able to find more information about this hop and see all of the other links!

I decided to play with the same Patterned Paper for my cards... and in that, I guess I also have three cards in the same colour palette.

Can you see the idea of the hop now?  Three cards celebrating Dad.... all using the same colour palette/patterned paper.  I based my cards using that striped paper.

This was the first card I came up with...  pretty simple, just showcasing that paper.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Basic Grey

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Well Suited

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Photoplay Mom & Dad Sentiments
*Tools:  Perfect Layers

This was my second card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Grey, Night of Navy

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Well Suited

*Images:  Photoplay Mom & Dad Sentiments

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alphabet

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

And finally, my third card....  I always think of a tie my Dad wore when I see this paper...  I did a fun z-fold card for this one.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Night of Navy

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Well Suited

*Images:  Stampin' Up! Handsomely Suited

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Suit & Tie, Tasteful Labels

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Addicted to CAS #238*

There's a new challenge over at Addicted to CAS... I hope you'll play along

When I first saw the prompt, all I could think of was the 4th of July and Independence Day... but since I'm Canadian, I had no interest in creating a card for that holiday.  I had to think a little bit on this one... birds?  a motorcycle?  And then it hit me...  there is no better freedom than graduation!!!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  silver mirror; Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Images:  Altenew Bundle of Joy; Taylored Expressions The Tassel

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Impact Alpha

*Tools:  scissors (yup, I fussy cut that hat!); Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS 238

*{BYSHC} Sketch #33 take 2

I'm back with another card using the Build Your Stash Holiday Card Makers sketch for May... I just love how this sketch can be made relatively clean and simple!  One of my favourite things about this sketch challenge is that there is no guess-work.  Crystal always provides measurements for you!

I have decided to try to do one of my cards each month using my favourite holiday papers by Stampin' Up!  Of course, this is a discontinued pattern but I have quite a bit of it at the moment.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Tidings of Christmas

*Images:  Kaisercraft Yuletide

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  {BYSHC}Makers #33

*Colourful Birthday*

I have been really terrible about sharing my creations lately.  I am crafting, but not nearly as much as I did last year.  I have a few cards to share but never feel like sitting down to write a blog post.  I need to get myself back on a schedule!  I have an extra day off this weekend and I hope to get a lot of crafting done!

I really love these super bright flowers on this card... some great pops of colour and fun!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay

*Paper:  unknown

*Images:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms

*Embellishments:  Spellbinders Opal Gems

*CAS Colours & Sketches #511*

 It's sketch week at CAS Colours and Sketches... I can't wait to see what others come up with!

I bought a new embossing folder and die combination a few weeks ago and thought it would work for this sketch... and while it does, it's a little too much to truly be considered clean and simple... but I went with it anyway...

Card Info

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; tim Holtz Shaded Lilac, Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean Distress Inks

*Embossing Folder:  Lisa Horton Crafts Balloon High

*Dies: Lisa Horton Crafts Balloon High; Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthday

*Challenges:  CC&S #511; AAABirhday #49

*Less is More #483*

The team at Less is More is celebrating spring with the current challenge... and here in Calgary it is truly feeling like spring!  We've had some rain, the temperature is pretty good most days, the grass is getting green, the leaves are coming and the flowers will be here soon (I hope).  I can't wait to see what all you create!

I have a simple and pretty card to share with you for this challenge.  I did a little ink blending to add some interest in a white panel, layered up some flowers and added a sentiment and a bit of bling.  This card truly makes me think of a spring afternoon.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  unknown scraps

*Images:  Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Salty Ocean Distress Ink

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia

*Challenges:  Less is More #483

*Time Out #238*

There's a new inspired by words challenge at Time Out Challenges!  This week we have a wonderful prize from Varda Sharma for TWO of you who play along!  Make sure you follow the challenge guidelines found on the right side of the Time Out blog (under How To Play) to be eligible!

I was inspired by both the rainbow and the idea of loving yourself for my card... and it's one of those sentiments that has a die so to me it kind of resembles a cloud (or even that pot of gold).

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Pear Pizzaz, Pool Party, Highland Heather' Spellbinders gold foil

*Images:  Pink Fresh Studio Circle Florals

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Pink Fresh Studio Circle Florals

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Time Out Challenges #238

*Big Wish*

 My apologies for not posting in so many days...  I was working, then a day trip for a bowling tournament (which we won!), then home exhausted and now back to work this afternoon. 

I saw a card made with this super bold alphabet stamp set and I wanted the stamps... and then I thought to myself "why did I buy this?"  I need to be less impulsive in my purchases because sometimes I see something and love it but once I get it in my hands I realize how limited I feel by the set.  This letters are SO big that there's no way to fit more than four on a standard card front.  I will have to put my thinking cap on to make more cards with these letters...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Bermuda Bay

*Images:  Kerri Bradford Studio Max Alpha; Pink Fresh Studio Happy Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo, Granny Apple Green, Bermuda Bay, Gorgeous Grape

*Tools:  Perfect Layers; Misti

*Sending Birthday Wishes*

I am absolutely in love with the sentiments in this floral stamp set by Spellbinders... I just wish that there were dies for the florals (and the sentiments of course!).  I looked and didn't see them but will probably go have another look just in case.  I love the mix of fonts on these sentiments... especially the more scripty one.

I don't have card info for this as I created this card at a crop I was at a few weeks ago.  I can tell you that the stamp set is Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes and that I used Copics to colour the image.

*Addicted to CAS #237*

It's time for a new challenge at Addicted to CAS... we want to see your monochrome cards!

I went a little outside of my box for my card and have used only shades of black and grey rather than shades of another colour.  I truly love how this card turned out....  I used only one shade of grey ink, however to get a lighter tone of it, I stamped it off on scrap paper before stamping on to my floral image.   

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Color Copy 100lb

*Images:  Altenew Fabulous Florets; Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Twilight; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Altenew Fabulous Florets; MFT Stitched Circles

*Challenges:  Addicted to CAS #237