I am late again this week with my Less Is More attempt. I don't know where all the time is going - does the clock go faster as you get older? Or is it just because what took you ten minutes to do twenty years ago now takes you an hour????

So back to the card - this week we were allowed to 'Take 3' - that is choose three previously posted challenges and make something.... There was not a cat in hell's chance that I would choose acetate!
So I chose

Masculine - week 7
Embossing - week 15
Something with Legs - Week 23 (!!!!!!!!!!!)

I was tempted to also add  week 29 - 'Things that Move' - but looking at him prostrate on the bed there doesn't seem to be a lot of movement does there.... !!!!

I dedicate this card to all those long suffering women who put up with interrupted sleep patterns due to their partners snoring!

Challenges -
Less Is More - Take 3
Tuesday Throwdown - Punny Sentiment

Wedding

How the days (cold and wet ones) have flown by this week! Have made a couple of cards and one of them I didn't photograph before I gave it to the person who ordered it so can't share it!

This one is another order and I remembered to charge the camera and attempt to take a pic before I pop it into it's box ready to go.

I used some very pale lilac pearlised card for the background then embossed and layered two further pieces of white pearlised card. 

The cute LOTV image was suitably dusted with lots of white and pinky Stickles for a bit of sparkle and bling, then mounted onto a frame cut out with one of my newer nestie sets, in the same white pearlised card and stuck onto the card using 3d pads. The sentiment was PC generated and mounted onto one of the smaller nestie frames.

Some white hand made roses, a couple of pearls, organza bow finished with silver heart charm completed the front of the card.

The base of the easel was decorated in the same embossed card and I added a couple more pearls and a pearly heart.
As always with these deeply embellished easel cards I have made a co-ordinating box to protect it.
Sorry the photos are dark - once again it's like a November day here - cloud, cold and occasional rain!
Challenges -
Paper Creators - Easel Card
Kaboodle - Easel Card
Heart Song Inspirations - Anything Goes
Ellephantastic - Layers
Deep Ocean Challenge - Hearts

Watch the Birdie! (Inspired by a Blogger!)

I spend hours trawling through other peoples blogs looking at their creations, particularly when I am completely devoid of inspiration. This card is a product of one of those happy hours some time back - I saw something similar and decided to give it a try. 
Unhappily, I didn't save the link to the blog so I cannot share  - so if it was you that inspired me then I thank you. (And your creation was stunningly beautiful and much better than mine!).

I very rarely use distress ink for stamping but thought it was worth a go - and the card I saw had been made using Tim Holtz Artful Flight stamps (which I don't have!)

So the second card from me today is one I made with a birdcage stamp borrowed from my personal craft hire shop otherwise known as Maureen !!!!!!!!!!!
I stamped in Victorian Velvet Distress Ink and then sponged the edges with Spun Sugar before cutting out with a nestie.

The birdie is also stamped with Victorian Velvet (he's an Elusive Images stamp) and I gave him a tiny pearl eye!

The background paper is from the V and A Hanoverian collection and I love the linen texture - they also distress beautifully! I stitched onto pink cardstock and also used some paper from the Madeleine collection by K and Co again distressed and stitched and then used a 'textile' embossing folder on some pink cardstock and swiped the distress ink over the embossing.

Two shades of pink organza ribbon made into a double bow, pearls, roses, hatpins and a PC generated sentiment printed out in an exact a colour match as possible cut out with a nestie finished the front of the card.

The base was done using the same papers and I made a decorated box with the papers and some of the ribbon for the card to sit in.

Challenges -

Glitterfairies - Pink
Shopping Our Stash - Weakest Link (and mine is definitley papers- buy them, can't bear to use them, look at them and stroke 'em!!)

Incy Wincy - 3 embellishments, 2 papers, 1 image

Dream Valley - Distressing

Pollycraft - Distressing

Pink Elephant - Stitching

Cupcake Craftroom - Soft and Sweet
Papertake Weekly - Pearls and Ribbon

Shire

I received a request to make a card for a 12 year old girl who's absoluely mad about horses so I used this lovely image called 'Shire' by Mo Manning. Isn't it just lovely?! She's gone to the field, apple in pocket to feed her best friend and have a big hug!  
After commiting the cardinal sin of colouring then trying to match up with papers, I discarded the first effort - after wasting several hours with all my papers out of the drawers and boxes!

I opted instead for these papers by Nitwit - so now I had a better idea of toning colours I re did the stamp. Icoloured it with promarkers and used some pastel chalks for the sky. I thought the bottom of the image was glaringly white so after using the promarkers to outline the edge of the grass I also blended in a bit of pastel chalk there too. Although it hasn't shown up very well in the photo (lots of cloud here today), I am really pleased with the effect 'in real life'!

The papers were matted onto brown cared and stitched. The cream cotton lace is lovely and I suppose I perhaps should have left a bit more on view! The sentiment was PC generated.
A promarker coloured flourish, some organza ribbon, some glittered flowers and a couple of bronze pearls to finish. I also found a small galloping horse charm in my stash so I added that under the ribbon!
Challenges -
Wags n Whiskers - Outdoor Fun
CCEE Stampers - Kiss
PaperPlay  - 3 Different embellies (pearls, flowers, ribbon), 2 patterned papers and one piece of lace
Sassy Studios - More than 1 die cut (flourish and the lacy edged frame)
I love Promarkers - Easel Card
Celebrate the Occasion - Birthday

Let them Eat Cake!

Well - I wouldn't advise eating THIS cake on the card cos it wouldn't taste very nice!

Got a phone call YESTERDAY and was asked to make a golden wedding card - "one of them stand up ones" (LOL) - and "you know - a NICE one" - Aren't ALL my cards nice???????????? LOL

Anyway, being the fool that I am, I said yes - then the bombshell - "I need it for Friday and can collect it tomorrow night from the Club" ...............
Where is the card fairy?????? Whose house is the card fairy in waving her wand and whipping up cards in double quick time? She ain't in my house but I had to don the tutu and tiara and wave me own magic wand (commonly known as the cuttlebug) and get cracking!!

To be honest, gold is another colour I'm not too keen on - (mind you wouldn't object if someone wanted to send me the REAL stuff ) - and I always steer away from using too much of the colour preferring to just use it to accent a card rather than make a card in the whole gold/yellow colour.

So here it is - Lots of white embossing (Textile, Budding Vine folders), layered onto gold card and look - I baked a Cake!!!!! Years ago when I first started card making I tended to buy ready made embellishments and just stuck them on as 'toppers' - after a while I began to buy the embellishments then take them to pieces to use them as templates! This is one of those templates - it's cut from card and then decorated in whatever way you want - wedding, birthday,anniversary!  I used some 'absolutely ancient had in my stash for years' gold and pearl sticky backed ribbon and some seed beads, then stuck on some white paper roses. The two larger gold roses I found in a drawer - I think I cut them off something- finished it off with a bit of gold string and couple of pearl hatpins (didn't have any gold ones).  I rubbed a wee bit of 'Stickles' across the two flourishes and cut out two hearts and layered them onto the gold card.

The sentiment was PC generated and after several attempts at printing out in varying shades of mucky yellow to bright orange I used grey! I made a gold card box and decorated the top using up some of the scrap from the embossing edged with a MS punch.

Challenges - 

Little Claires - Wedding Anniversary

Crazy 4 Challenges - Monochromatic

Crafty Catz - Embossing

DYSU - Emboss It

Anything Goes - Celebration 

Bad Day!!!

Looking through the stash I also noticed there were no anniversary cards - some fund raiser I am! Hardly any men cards and no anniversary ones!

So I made a couple quick and quite basic ones yesterday.

I was really pleased with the first one  - thought it was clean and simple and kinda cute. I used my favoutite swiss dots embossing folder and just matted and layered onto black card, then added a scalloped border and some red/white polka dot ribbon which matched perfectly with the little red birdie.

The birdies are from Summer Driggs, printed out twice and used 3d pads after cutting out to give them some dimension then put the cut out ones on top of the original printed ones. Matted and layered onto red and black card and put on the front of the card.

Admiring my handiwork I then came up with what I thought was a 'good' idea.Make them shiny! So out with the glossy accents and a couple of sparkly gems for the birdies eyes. Great....................... until I saw how the glossy accents had dried................... my black and white spotty birdie is now navy blue and grey and my red and white one is now dark red and pink............... I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO not impressed!
Note to self - next time the light bulb goes on and presents you with an idea, try it out on scrap first - or - turn the switch off!
OH says it looks fine and it's only because I know what the original one looked like - he thinks I'm a terrible critic of my own work, so it will go in the stash and I will do another - this time without the glossy accents!
So into the following challenges it goes -
Crafty Ann's - Fancy Borders
Just Some Lines - Embossing
Challenge Up Your Life - No patterned Papers

The second one is lacking something but have no idea what - think I'm in such a tizz about the first am not thinking straight - so - I shall share it with you now then put it to one side and try and finish it later!

I used the scrap embossed paper from the first card and some K and Co paper. Digi stamp coloured with 'pear green' promarker (how novel! LOL) and once again some glossy accents -  some polka dot ribbon and ???? No idea!

Hope I can come up with something later to tie it all together!

Inks

Less is More challenged us to use Inks this week. They also asked if possible not to use the computer. Although I have a lot of stamps and technically should have used one of them to make my card I hope I will be forgiven the use of this gorgeous digi stamp.There's also not a lot of white space - so this week no doubt the Head Girls will make me go onto the naughty step! I am in two minds about submitting it really but wanted to post it so will take my punishment and hope I am not excommunicated!
In my defence it IS one layer!!!!! If I get more time I'll probably do another with an actual stamp!

Whatever happens punishment wise, this card is destined for the 'Pink Stash' as I'm always getting asked for 'men' cards and I never have a lot 'cos I don't like doing them - so think this might be suitable?

The image is called Summer Fence from Stitchy Bear Stamps. It reminds me of the fields opposite and behind where I live - and as we're in the flight path between two fields, the pheasant (and it's family) regularly come and visit!! Thankfully the rabbits seem to stay across the road so the flowers etc are safe!
I  printed onto linen textured card then used torn up post it notes to mask. I used Shabby Shutters, Bundled Sage, Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold and Wild Honey distress inks, all applied with shaving brushes.
The sentiment is a stamp (stamped with Versamark) but have absolutely no idea which set it came from!
Challenges
The Paper Variety - green, orange and yellow
Less is More - Inks

This creation did not start off it's life as a Christmas card - and who knows it may yet not end up as one either! LOL

The image is called 'Winter's Gift' so maybe it will also be acceptable as a card for another occasion during the winter months - hence once again I have not put any sentiment on it! (Although I've left a space at the top left should it be needed!)

Have also tried the 'outside the diecut' technique  - with limited success as my cutting out is not always the neatest!

I tried to keep the design as simple as possible, opting for pale K and Co paper for the background and layered everything onto blue cardstock. The vintage lace is the last of this colour in my stash and wasn't quite enough to go across the length of the card so I had to improvise with the addition of the MS border down the left side and cut the blue lace top fit either side!

I coloured her with promarkers and added some glitter for her wings and stickles dotted around her head and finished with a big blue organza bow, some cherry blossoms which were a challenge prize from Crafty Emmas Store and a couple of pearl pins and flat backed pearls.
The inside is co ordinated with the same backing papers and a round blank scalloped circle for the greeting.  
Challenges -
MAWTT - Fantasy
Wags N Whiskers - Sparkly
Truly Scrumptious - Lace it Up
Pretty Little Ribbon - Use pretty ribbon
Delightful Challenges - Things with Wings
Little Miss Muffett - Outside the Diecut
Saturday Challenge - Christmas is Coming
Stamp Insanity - Lace and Pearls
Flutterby Wednesday - Open theme (butterfly,fairy or angel)

Any Excuse!

So today here has been windy, wet and COLD! So cold that we succumbed earlier and whilst we ate our tea put on the heating in the house!

The office even though it's outside is one hundred per cent warmer than the house (my excuse for staying out here for 10 hours a day! LOL)

Have done a couple of makes today, this one I started yesterday and am still undecided as to whether it is finished or not. I was thinking about a couple of flowers, then I thought about a shoe charm  and then I thought I wouldn't add anything else! I shall place it in the stash and think about it!

Another of Mo's newer images, this one's called 'Big Shoes' -(hands up all those who insisted on teetering  about in their Mum's high heels risking ankle injuries) - and I coloured her with promarkers. I loved the little heart on her bum!

The papers are called Bohemian Summer by Michelle Coleman and they're just scrummy! Sentiment by TLC seemed to just fit! Once again I have decorated the inside of the card to co ordinate with the outside using the same papers.


 Challenges -

Creative Card Crew - Best Foot Forward

Cupcake Craft - Sew Mad

Plethora of Pink!

I have had a rush on 40th Birthday cards recently - there must have been something in the water in 1971!!

A lady wanted another like the Forty and Fabulous one but done in pink - I have a thing about making two cards the same - so - here is what I've come up with and I hope it's OK for her! And PINK enough!

The image is from Bugaboo coloured with promarkers and some stickles used on the hat,  ankle bracelet and the earrings for a bit of bling! I edged the main image with a teeny bit of glitter for some sparkle.I colured a couple of flourishes (thanks Maureen) with a promarker to co-ordinate the colours and isn't it always the way that out of a TON of ribbon, I didn't have one that was the right shade? So out again with the trusty promarker.

I have had the 'cocktail glass' metal charm for eons and I was sitting staring at the bottom left of the card thinking it was missing something when this little light bulb appeared over my head and illuminated the charm! I actually think it looks fine - I hope!!!
Pearls, flowers etc all from my stash.
Oh, and |I made and decorated a box for it to go in!

Challenges -
Catch the Bug - Anything Goes
Passion for Promarkers - Divas with Glam and Glitter 
Bunny Zoes - Easel Card
KB - Anything goes with a Digi
Charizma Cards - Flowers, Pearls, Glitter

Patriotism

"Use the colours of your flag" -  simples........................... except the colours of  the Union Jack are also the colours (amongst others) of France! Hence the french influence here (although I bet there are not many French Chefs who would be seen waving a good old British Banger about on a fork! -LOL)

I love this little chef though - he's rotund and happy (and I have forgiven him for reminding me of that detestable man on the annoying Insurance advert......!!)

So here is my entry for this week's Less is More challenge of Your Flag Colours.

I used the Houndstooth Check embossing folder for the background and coloured the Cook (!!) with promarkers, matted and layered onto flag coloured card and added three bits of Card Candy.

The ribbon has been lying in my stash crying for lack of misuse - if I was in the USA I'd have well used it up by now - but us Brits seem to have a bit of a thing about showing Patriotism which I think is quite sad. Wherever we come from we should be proud of it!

Time for Tea

This card evokes many memories of my Mum.

For one, she would not drink tea out of anything other than a china cup and saucer (a trait I confess to have inherited - I will accept a mug but it must be bone china!) Secondly she did not like tea made in the cup either! Teapots were the thing! Thirdly she adored roses - particularly pink ones. And lastly, whenever anything went wrong in life her solution was to 'sit down and I'll make you a nice cup of tea' - tea was a magic wand it seemed - 'cos after you drank it  hey presto, your troubles did not seem as bad as you thought!

The teacup and napkin is a free image from the talented Ann Fenton which I coloured lightly with distress inks and promarkers after printing on linen paper. The rosebud backing paper is and the fabric roses, lace, pearls and organza ribbon are from my stash. I added a teapot charm to the ribbon.

I was quite sad putting this together and the sentiment stamped directly onto the doily is so true - I think of her every single day.................... and I think I now need to go and pop the kettle on, warm the teapot and get out the china cup and saucer.

Challenges - 

Digital Tuesday -    Doilies

Cupcake Craftroom - Soft and Sweet

The Ribbon Reel - Challenge 7 - Photo Inspiration
Sentimental Sundays - In the Garden

'Pear'fectly simple!

It's been such a long time since I've made a plain card. My games and travelling along with my ordered cards have kept me busy and the ladies at the Club rather seem to like 'More, More and More' on cards rather than less!

But I DID promise myself that if I could spare a short while I would try and make plainer cards as well as continuing with the easel frilly and fancy efforts - this week the challenge at Less is More was 'Feeling Fruity' and in case they were considering excommunicating me from the Limettes owing to my prolonged absence I thought maybe I should try to submit something this week! 

This digital stamp was one of the very first I downloaded. It was offered as a freebie and thus began my attachment to digital stamps as well as good old red and grey rubber ones!

The stamp had the word 'Forever' underneath the pear. I chose to alter it, using a free sentiment from TLC which I liked better!

I printed the image out twice and coloured the pear with 'Pear Green' and 'Lime Zest' promarkers. I cut out one of the pears and attached it using 3d foam pads to give it some dimension. I then gave it a liberal coating of glossy accents! And as the challenge at Ambers Crafts this week is Sparkly/Shiny I've submitted glossy pear into the challenge pot!

Matted and layered onto white and green card and I used the shaving brush to put some 'Shabby Shutter' distress ink round the edges of the large white card to soften the edges of the white background.

This card is destined for the pink stash - I think - or maybe I shall just give it to the most important thing in my life - my other half who sits in the office with me and smiles indulgently when I'm throwing glitter and glue around the place and littering the floor with off cuts of paper!