Just the one layer

Hi folks,
Wasn't sure where to start this morning, no urgent items on the 'To Do' list, nothing that needs to go in the post as soon as, and no rushing around like a headless chicken - absolute bliss! 
So it was breakfast in bed, followed by a second cup of coffee, a good old catch up with emails and stuff, my morning chat with Lauren, and now I'm ready to start the day (a little later than usual)
  
Yesterday afternoon was spent catching up with Blog challenges - well making a start at least.  I did manage to get one finished though .....
It's everybody's favourite week over at Less is More.
Yes, it's the
                        ONE LAYER CARD
with the focus this week being on
                              FOLIAGE

In some cases a One Layer card can be harder to do than one that's mat and layered to the hilt, and embellished with everything you can think of.  It can take a bit of planning before you start - how to create the 'layered' look, and add a bit of depth (masks/stencils come in handy here, and use of inks)  What needs to be done first to get the right look. And of course no embellies! (Oh no!)  On the other hand, this style can be so quick and easy to do, but still have that Wow! factor.

This weeks effort is somewhere in between.  It took me a little while to decide on the design, mainly because I couldn't find a stamp I was happy with.  Then of course, what colours to use.  I think I'm still a little bit in my pink phase - a least one shade seems to sneak into whatever I'm doing.

This time it was Spun Sugar, teamed with Tumbled Glass and a little bit of Milled Lavender.  The Distress Inks were brushed onto the card through a mask/stencil I'd made using a Nestabilities die.
My foliage stamp is from a Hero Arts clear set called Delicate Leaf Clusters (one of my favourites), and the sentiment is from Share Laughter (also by Hero Arts).  Both were just stamped in black Versafine ink - simples! 
Obviously you could choose any colour combinations for the inked panel, I always tend to use three.  And your panel could also be any shape you like.

I must admit I quite like the one layer weeks, they make a refreshing change.   The CAS designs are always elegant and make great cards for any occasion.  Why not pop over the LIM site and take a look at the inspiration from Chrissie and Mandi and the fabulous entries that are already on there - make a cuppa first though, there's quite a few!

Thanks for popping by.  I'll be back tomorrow with a card that's definitely NOT one layer - it's one of those rare offerings from me - one for the guys!

Have a great day, and ooh ..... don't forget the girls from Stamp Addicts, Sarah and Vicky, are back on C& C this afternoon - 4pm and 6pm - with their Birthday Bonanza show.

See you later

Linda

x 

Less is More Challenge

Hi everyone,

First off I'd like to say Hello and Welcome my new followers who have joined me this week.  I love getting new visitors and I can't wait to repay the compliment and visit you too.

I've finally managed to spend some time in the craft room and actually make something.  It's my entry for this weeks Less is More challenge.
It's a special one this week - Lucky Dip and we have a Guest Designer, Kim.
The challenge is .....
           to use the LIM header as our inspiration.

 Check out what Chrissie, Mandi and Kim have already come up with here

And this is mine .......

The layout is similar, nearly the same colour scheme, and I've tried to use all the elements - music, flourishes, roses and a frame.
The stamps I used for the background were from Hero Arts - the Music Background along with the Fabulous Flourish.  Both just stamped in Onyx Black Versafine.  I decided to make the frame look like it was a picture hanging off the flourish.  The word 'Dream' is from a Kaisercraft clear set of stamps called Life Sentiments, again just stamped in black. The edges were inked with a little bit of Tea Dye Distress Ink and then mat and layered on black and brown cardstock.  I've used a  piece of embroidery thread  to 'hang' it with.
The little side panel is stamped with part of a Tim Holtz stamp called 'Tattoo You', then distressed around the edges.
I added some paper roses from my stash, and a few punched leaves just to finish it all off.
Not sure if I'm 100% happy with it.  You know how it is, it's not turned out exactly as I imagined but hey, time's running out so it will have to do.  Let me know what you think.

I've been rummaging through my stash this afternoon trying to get things together to do Tim's Tag for July.  As per usual I haven't got all the stuff, especially the can of compressed air!?!  Oh well, guess I'd better get the straws out and be prepared to huff and puff a little.  It could take a while!!  I'll keep you posted on that one.

It's been raining most of the day but it finally looks as if it may be brightening up a little. Skies are clearing which is good news.  It's the start of our long Bank Holiday weekend here on the Isle of Man, so a little bit of sunshine would be most welcome.  Hope it's nice where you are.  Enjoy your evening.

Bye for now

Linda

x

Flamin' June!?!

Hi everyone,
An unusual evening post from me today.
As the weather's been absolutely dreadful here all day, the natural light in my craft room has gone early and I can't really do much now. Summer didn't last long did it.  So, anyway, I thought I'd Blog.
It's been a busy old couple of days, lots to do this week, and I've made a decent start.  Sneaky peeks late in the week.  
I must say I'm feeling very patriotic at the moment what with the Jubilee celebrations, which were absolutely fantastic might I add.  The concert on Monday evening was awesome.  I only wish I could have been there, but it was really nice watching it at home with family.  We did have a few drinks and nibbles along the way!  I had a bad head this morning, which didn't help the old craft mojo I can tell you, but I think it was more to do with lack of sleep than what I had to drink.  That's my excuse anyway!!
Keeping in with the Jubilee, the challenge this week over at Less is More is a Colour one, and what else could it be but .....

RED WHITE AND BLUE

My offering this week is definitely LIM . In fact, when Stephen came home from work there was no need to tell him what this card was for, he guessed.

It took me a while this week to come up with something.  What! I hear you shout - there's nothing to this. Keeping it clean and simple (CAS), with plenty of white space is not always easy.  This week though I've even kept to one layer, not like me.
I used one of the Hero Arts Clear stamp sets, Congrats (CLL488).  It's a handy little set, there's 3 different styled labels and you also get 4 seperate sentiments that will fit in any of them.
I stamped the label in Paris Dusk Memento ink and the sentiment in Lady Bug.  Because it's a clear set you can see exactly where you're putting the sentiment, nice and simple.  I added a few gemstones for a bit of sparkle and Voila! - challenge done.  At least this is one I can cross off my list now.  I've too many things on the go this week, lets hope I can get them all finished on time.
I'll be back later in the week to let you know how I get on.

Bye for now

Linda

x

It's all turning green

Good afternoon,
And a lovely afternoon it's turned into here on the Isle of Man.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and I've finally got blossom coming on the trees in the garden.  Everything is turning green again.
Funnily enough, that's the recipe for this weeks challenge over at Less is More. http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/  Oh no!! I can hear you all groaning at my link there - it wasn't brilliant I admit but, it got me there.
Week 62's Colour challenge is 'Three Shades of Green'  Now I don't use a lot of green,  never mind 3 shades all together, so it took me a while with this one.  In the end I used inspiration from my good friend and SU demonstrator Sally-Jo, who has posted a video on her blog this week on how to make backgrounds using ink markers and an acrylic block.  I decided to give it go and the result was not bad at all. Check out her blog to see the demo. Sally's video

Wk 62  LIM Challenge entry

I'm quite pleased with how this turned out, and it only took 3 attempts to get one background I was happy with.
I used my Tim Holtz Distress Markers  and coloured directly onto the acrylic block with them.  The shades I chose were Bundled Sage, Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint. (I love the names of these inks).  I then spritzed the whole thing with a little water before stamping it onto a piece of card.
The leaves are from a Hero Arts clear stamp set and they were stamped onto the background using the matching Distress Ink pad, in the darkest shade of green - Peeled Paint. I inked around the edges using Bundled Sage (ink pad) to soften the look.  It was then mat onto a piece of  Stampin Up! Old Olive cardstock before attaching it to my base card. I think the Old Olive cardstock co-ordinates quite well with the distress inks, don't you.
The sentiment is from an old Penny Black clear set of stamps.  I added some gemstones and a fancy punched border, again in Old Olive, just to finish the card off.
Simples!  Green is definitely growing on me.

Thanks for looking

Linda

x

LIM Blog Challenge

Good afternoon and a Happy Easter,
Just a quick post this Good Friday afternoon.
As usual I'm on the last minute with my Blog challenge entry.  I just haven't had time to settle down with it this week, I've been so busy working on other things.  I'm not going into detail at the moment, you'll just have to watch this space.  Hopefully, all will be revealed soon (Hmmm!?)

Over at Less is More it's Week 61 and it's Lucky Dip week. http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/
This week we have a Picture Inspiration to work from.  I love this colour combination, but then I always been a bit of a pink girl.
                                                   


This is what I've come up with this week

I've used a Hero Arts Cling stamp from the Wildflower Garden set and stamped it in the SU inks, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery.  These are such pretty colours and look really nice together, very spring and summer. After using the Pretty in Pink ink to soften around the edge of the white card, it's been mat and layerd onto matching cardstock (SU again). I've punched a fancy edge to the bottom of the pink card (not very clear in the picture) and added a pretty ribbon and bow.  The sentiment was from a retired SU stamp set which I stamped using black ink, but as I didn't want it to look so harsh I did, in true Barbara Gray fashion, the ink, blot, plot technique. I then made it into a small tag, inked the edges and attached it to the ribbon.
It's quite a simple card for me (I hadn't got a lot of time), but I think it's quite pretty, and it's one of those that could be used for any occasion.
Sorry about the picture quality, number one job for this weekend is to get to grips with my new camera.  We've taken loads of pictures with it, need to get them onto the computer now.  By Monday I will have it sorted!

Hope you have a lovely bank holiday weekend, whatever it is you're doing.
Thanks for popping by.

Linda

x