*Less is More #296*

It's time for an anything goes challenge with the team at Less is More.  This is a wonderful theme as we see so many different ideas from the creatives that play along with us!

I'm in full-on Christmas card mode, so of course, I made a Christmas card!  I saw a card on Pinterest that had embossed vellum to look like snow, so I decided to play with the idea myself.  

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Handsome Hunter, Crumb Cake;  Spellbinders gold foil; unknown vellum

*Images:  The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Ink:  Versamark

*Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug Swiss Dots

*Dies:  Waffle Flower Circles; Penny Black Reindeer Leaps; The Ton Easy Expressions Holiday

*Etc:  Stampin' Up! gold embossing powder; foam adhesive

*Challenge:  Less is More #296

*Less is More #495*

It's a colour combo challenge at Less is More this week....

I know I say these words a lot with these challenges, but I really struggled with this one.  When I saw the colours, all I could think of was a baby card...and honestly, I was trying to create this card while the mojo was running VERY low.  This is not my best work and I'm almost embarrassed to share it!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Balmy Blue, Bubble Bath

*Dies:  Pink Fresh Studio Slim Strips; Pretty Pink Post Congrats Script

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Less is More #495

*Less is More #494*

It's time for a new challenge at Less is More...  we want to see your one layer card with the theme of "Hello Sunshine"

I played with a sun rays stencil and some ink to create my card... and added a little stamping too.  To create my sun, I applied more ink on the sun as well as the start of each of the rays... and then let the colour fade out.  I then turned my stencil to create more rays and used only the ink left on the blending brush to leave a very light amount of ink behind.

Card Info

*Images:  Concord & 9th Hello Sunshine

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Cataching Rays; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Stencil:  Picket Fence Studio Sunburst

*Challenges:  Less is More #494

*Less is More #492*

We are back with an alphabet theme challenge at Less is More!  This is an easy one.  C is for Celebrate! What do you celebrate??

I decided to play with my favourite word die and some pretty paper to create my card.  I layered the cut out patterned paper on to two layers of cardstock to give it some dimension.  I really like this slightly muted rainbow paper.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Taken With Teal

*Paper: MFT Party Time

*Images:  Honey Bee Inside Birthday

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Celebrate

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Less is More #492

*Less is More #491*

It's time for an anything goes challenge at Less is More... just remember to keep it clean and simple!

I know it's September but I am not yet ready to get rid of my capris, my sandals, nor my summery colours.  I decided to add some sparkle to my card for today by using some great Stampin' Up! glitter paper in some gorgeous summery colours.  I layered them on to a piece of paper cut smaller than my front panel, then placed the negative piece over top to allow the pretty colours to shine through.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! In Color 2022-23 glitter paper

*Images: The Ton Easy Expressions

*Ink:  Versfine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  A Jillian Vance Design Daisy; The Ton Easy Expressions; Pink Fresh Studio Slim Strips

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Less is More #491

*Less is More #490*

 Hey all...  I spilled a drink on my laptop the other day so I am trying my best to do some posting from another computer... but it's not being super helpful!  

It's time for a new challenge at Less Is More.... our challenge is the colour orange.  Now if you know me, you know that orange is not in my list of go-to colours... but I did it all the same!  Sometimes it's good to stretch yourself.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Tangerine Tango

*Images:  Honey Bee Stamps:  Inside Birthday Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Around the Bend

*Challenges:  Less is More $490

*Less is More #489*

We have a photo inspiration one layer card challenge at Less is More.  For challenges at Less is More, one layer means only your card base... no matted layers, no die cuts unless they are inlaid.  Think ink and paper.  For this one layer challenge we also have a beautiful photo that we want you to use as your inspiration.

I love this image...  even if it does feel more like late August or early September with the orange in the background.  

I was inspired by a few things... the orange in the background, the white flowers with the yellow-orange centres... the word "hello"... and the flowers set off to the left side of the image.  What will inspire you?

Card Info

*Images:  Altenew Wonder Bloom

*Dies:  Altenew Wonder Blooms

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Spiced Marmalade; Tombow Markers

*Challenges:  Less is More #489

*Less is More #488*

I don't know whether I want to sing a song from The Little Mermaid or the theme from Jaws with the Under the Sea theme at Less is More....  I can't wait to see what you create with this theme!

I do have a mermaid stamp, but I was too intimidated to try colouring it... so I went with the Jaws theme instead....

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stamin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Images:  Catherine Pooler Hook Line & Sinker; Poppy Stamps Whittle Sealife Sentiments

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Salty Ocean

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Less is More #488

*Less is More #486*

It's an anything goes theme at Less is More... as long as you keep clean and simple!

I had a scrap of patterned paper sitting on my desk and had an idea... and I just love how these diagonal strips of diagonal colours turned out!

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Black

*Paper:  MFT

*Images:  Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Ink:  Verafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Twisted Citron Distress Ink

*Dies:  A Jillian Vance Design Daisy

*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Challenges:  Less is More #486

*Less is More #485*

The team at Simply Less is More is back with a colour challenge... and this time we are using one of my favourite colours!!  We can't wait to see your clean and simple creations!

I am absolutely in love with how this card turned out.  We all know how much I dislike colouring... I find it stressful because I feel like it should look perfect like so many others can create... I'm trying very hard to give myself permission to be creative with my colouring.  Even artists aren't colouring things to make them look real all of the time!  In fact, some artists take the regular and make them irregular!  I stamped a bunch of black elements on my white card panel, popped up a partially coloured flower that I coloured with an ink blending pen and Catherine Pooler ink.  I matted it all with a layer that I swiped the same ink on to create my purple border.

Card Info

*Images:  Altenew Hennah Elements; Studio Katia Birthday Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Catherine Pooler Serenade

*Dies:  Altenew Hennah Elements

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Less is More #485

*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

*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

*Less is More #482*

We have a new style of clean and simple challenge debuting today on the Less is More blog... we are going to starting using the alphabet as our prompt... and where else would you start than with the letter A?  We want to see your clean and simple cards with A is for Automobile!

I borrowed a stamp from my good friend and coloured it up with some bright colours to create my card.  I like the black and white strip accent... makes me think of racing stripes!

Card Info

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Images:  Stampin' Up! Driving By

*Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Onyx Black, Copics

*Embellishments:  Studio Katia Sugar Glitz Discs

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Challenges:  Less is More #482

*Less is More #480*

There's a new clean and simple challenge over at the Less is More blog... and for the next two weeks, we want to see your cards created using the colours black and aquamarine.

I really wasn't sure what I wanted to do for my card with these colours.  My first thought was a black card with aquamarine on it (because I really thought that it would POP!) but I just couldn't wrap my head around a black card when the sun was shining so brightly through the window of my craft space.  

And I'm glad I kept thinking because I am very pleased with this card...

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stmapin' Up! Bermuda Bay

*Paper:  MFT Black & White Stripes

*Images:  Gina K Crazy Daisy

*Ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Stampin' Up! Pierced Blooms; Waffle Flower Additional Circles

*Embellishments:  Picket Fence Studio Day & Night Gem Mix

*Challenges:  Less Is More #480

*Less Is More #479*

We are back!  It's felt like forever since I was creating a card for a Less is More Challenge... and I am so happy we are back!  Our last challenge was in November which feels like forever ago!

We are back with an "anything goes" one layer card challenge.  

I decided to play with some ink and stamps, something I don't honestly do a lot of lately.  More often than not I am using dies for my cards instead of stamps.

The one thing I have learned in recently years about stamping with coloured inks is that your cardstock matters.  While I LOVE my Neenah Classic Crest cardstock, it doesn't take stamped ink very well... so I switched things up for my card today and used Hammermill Premium Color Copy Cover stock.  The colours are so vibrant on this cardstock! 

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Hammermill Premium Color Copy Cover 100lb

*Images:  Unknown stripes; Right at Home Script Greetings
*Ink:  Stampin' Up! Poppy Parade, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Pacific Point; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Misti

*Challenges:  Less Is More #479

*Less is More #478*

It's time for the last challenge of 2022 with Less is More... we will be back in March 2023 with some more wonderful clean and simple challenges for you!

But for now, we have an awesome challenge... we want to see your outdoors inspired cards!  Be sure to check out what the design team has done with this challenge... We look forward to seeing your interpretation!

I cheated with my card... well not really... but I let the paper be my "outdoors".  I had some ideas for other cards but they all required colouring and I just wasn't it feeling the colouring the day I was making this card.  This is some super old paper from Stampin' Up! with some beautiful winter scenes.  I love the look of the snow and hoar frost on a pine tree.  I added a little Stitckles to create some sparkle to that snow.

Card Info

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

*Paper:  Stampin' Up! Feels Like Frost

*Images:  Mma Elephant Merry Greetings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Tools:  Perfect Layers

*Embellishments:  Frosted Lace Stickles

*Challenges:  Less is More #478

*Less is More #477*

We've got a colour challenge at Less is More...  we want you to use at least two colours from the colour wheel!

I chose purple and blue and created a snowflake!  You know I love snowflakes, right?

Card Info

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Tim Holtz Wilted Violet and Salty Ocean

*Stencils:  Gina K Stellar Snowflake

*Embellishments:  Picket Fence Studios Day & Night Gem Mix

*Challenge:  Less is More #477

*Less is More #476*

It's time for a new challenge at Less is More...  for the next two weeks we want to see your creations using stencils!!  

I created a card a few weeks ago after doing the full Create in Quads stencils from Taylored Expressions and had three panels still waiting to be made in to cards.... so I picked the least "busy" of the three and created a card to share today.

Card Info

*Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! Sweet Sorbet

*Images:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Black Jack, Skylight, Samba; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

*Stencil:  Taylored Expressions Create in Quads Snowflake Layering Stencil

*Embellishments:  Nuvo Glimmer Paste Moonstone

*Tools:  Perfect Layers
*Etc:  foam adhesive

*Challenges:  Less is More #476, Falling for the Holidays Linky Party

*Less Is More #475*

It's time for a new challenge at Less is More... we are playing with a one layer card which means we want ONLY ink on paper... no added die cuts, no layers.  The twist for this challenge is to draw your own frame.  Please share your creations with us HERE!

I shared my first creation for this challenge a few days ago... but then realized that I couldn't use the die cut butterfly.  I was so disappointed because I was truly in love with that card!  I created a very similar frame for this card and did a little stamping to create a fun birthday card.

Card Info

*Images:  MFT All Smiles

*Ink:  Catherine Pooler Rockin' Red, Limoncello, Something Borrowed; Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Challenges:  Less is More #475

*Less is More #474*

 October 1st is World Cardmaking Day and here at Less is More, we are celebrating a little early with a friendship themed challenge!  We think making a card for a friend is a great way to celebrate World Cardmaking Day!  We hope you'll play along!

I've got a couple of very good friends who are always there for me... to listen, to provide support, to make me laugh, to distract me, to do social things with... so I thought I'd make a card that I could give to one of them.  I don't have a lot of close friends but I am very lucky to have two very good friends that I know are always in my corner (and I am always in theirs too!)

Card Info

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

*Images:  MFT Anything But Basic Friendship

*Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne

*Dies:  MFT Friend; Scrapbook.com Nested Hexagons; Pink Fresh Studio Rainbow Floral

*Etc:  Pink Fresh Studio Rainbow Floral Washi Tape

*Challenges:  Less Is More #474