Simply Less is More Challenge ........

Happy Thursday! .......

We're fast approaching the weekend again, and we've got a busy few days coming up.

I have been back in the craft room, I'm trying to get some more Christmas cards done before we go off on our adventure in the motorhome next week.  It's proving to be a rather slow process but, I think I'm getting there, with a little help from Blog Challenges  and Pnterest!

One such Blog challenge is ....... Simply Less is More. 

Their latest challenge is ........ Anything Goes (keeping it CAS of course)

Now I do love a CAS design, they're great when you're batch making for Christmas.

I used a brand new stamp set (the only Christmas one I've bought this year, so far!).  It's called Mod & Merry and it's from MFT (My Favourite Things). It's a lovely set with lots of stamps, floral designs, pine branches, stars and snowflakes but, what sold it for me were these cute little baubles.

I stamped them using Distress Oxide inks ...... Kitsch Flamingo, Tumbled Glass and Spun Sugar.  I did use my MISTI, and stamped each one a few times to make sure I got full ink coverage.

I then added a few ink splatters to the background, a touch of glitter to highlight the baubles and finished off with a few dots of white Enamel Accents and a simple sentiment.

I do have a confession to make ...... this card was actually made for the last LIM challenge (the Colour challenge .... use Blue, Pink and White) but, I was too slow and missed the deadline ..... ooops!

When I saw the new challenge theme was Anything Goes ..... I though bingo!  I hope this still fits the bill.   At least I'm in time for this one!

I've also finished decorating the first of our Christmas trees.   Well, when I say 'finished', it's done for now.  All the baubles are on but, there's definitely room for more.

Maybe a little something from the Christmas markets next week will find its way home with me.

We're off out this evening.   It's Beaujolais Nouveau Day! THE international event in the month of November .... apparently! 

 

Every year, on the 3rd Thursday in November the new Beaujolais Nouveau is released.  

I'm quite partial to a nice glass of Beaujolais, and as it doesn't stay around too long I don't want to miss out.  So, we're off to Wine Down this evening to try this years release ..... you never know, we may just bring a bottle or two home with us if it's nice ....... Cheers! or should I say Sante!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day

Cheerio until next time .......

There's still time to play along with the CAS Stencil challenge .....

Happy Wednesday .......

It's time for our mid-month reminder for the CAS Stencil challenge.  Have you played along yet?  Don't worry, there's still time if you fancy joining in.

Julia is our host this month with a really fun technique challenge theme ........ it's all about using Baby Wipes with your stencils.
Check out the CAS Stencil Blog for links to a couple of fab videos showing this technique.

I used baby wipes with a Waves stencil to create the ocean background for my little fishes.

First I masked off a section on my card front, and then applied blue Distress Inks onto the open panel

I then placed my stencil over the top and used a baby wipe to gently remove some of the Distress Inks, leaving the wave design behind.

I stamped the fishes onto a seperate piece of card, coloured them using ZIG markers and then used the matching dies to cut them out.

These were then attached onto my card using foam pads.
A few dots of Crystal Glaze to create the look of bubbles .....

And a sentiment from the stamp set to finish off.

You can find more inspiration for this months challenge on the CAS Stencil Blog, along with a fab  project from Sarah (Funky Fossil Designs), who is joining us as our Guest Designer this month.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.
We're off to the Gaiety Theatre again this evening, to see The Legends of Disco - The Three Degrees and Odyssey ...... that's going to bring back some memories.
I was a mere teenager when Native New Yorker (Odyssey) was in the charts ..... and only 12 (oh dear! was it that long ago!!) when the 3 Degrees released When Will I See You Again.
Funny thing is, many years later, probably around 1990/91 (ish), hubby and I bought a new car .... a white Ford Mondeo, our first 'family' car. 
It was only 3 months old and had had one careful lady owner.   That lady owner was ....... Sheila Ferguson, the lead singer, at that time, with the 3 Degrees!!!!  It's a small world.

Now where did I put my dancing shoes?!

Cheerio until next time ......

Products used:
Stamps: Gill Friends (My Favourite Things)
Stencil: Waves stencil (Sugar Pea Designs)
Inks: Distress inks - Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire 
Other: Gill Friends matching Dies (MFT); Crystal Glaze (Nuvo); White Gel Pen

Looking forward to the weekend ......

Happy Friday .......

I hope you've had a great week.
The sun is shining, we have the weekend to look forward to, and Easter is just around the corner.  And .......... the countdown is on, for the premier of the final season of Game of Thrones!!!!!
Not a fan? ...... I know there are a few out there that have never watched a single episode (why!!!)  We, on the other hand have watched it many times and cannot wait for the final series.  We've spent the last few evenings watching the last series (again!)   The whole family are GoT fans here.
The Sky box is set to record ..... twice! ..... and series linked.  That's  2am on the Sunday night/Monday morning when it actually premiers in the US, and then again at 9pm on Monday evening, just in case anything goes wrong with the first one!  In fact, the kids are thinking of staying up to watch it as it airs ....... hmmm, can I stay awake I wonder. We'll see.

Today though, I have a little reminder for this month's Craft Stamper Blog Challenge.
As always the theme is Anything Goes, just remember to include some actual rubber stamping on your project.
You can find all the challenge details on the Craft Stamper Blog along with some great inspiration from the rest of the Design Team, and the guidelines you need to follow, to be in with a chance of winning either of the monthly prizes.

How about a nice, easy, fun CAS card .......

I love this image from Stamping Bella ...... and I do enjoy a nice glass of wine!

She's been coloured using ZIG markers and a water brush, and I added a few ink splatteres onto the background

This fab sentiment is from My Favourite Things ......

The only trouble with our wines is they're never in the wine rack long enough to be classed as old!!!

You have until midnight on April 24th to get your entries in so come on .... get those stamps out!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day and have a great weekend.
I'm off to finish prepping a workshop for tomorrow.  It's the first one this year ...... I've missed our little get togethers.
Inspired by the fabulous Eileen Godwin, we're going to be starting on calendars for next year.
Here's sneaky peeks at some of the pages .......

It's going to be a work in progress ........ using inks and blending techniques which can all be used on cards too, along with some rubber stamping and stenciling.  It should be fun.
Time for a quick coffee first though!

Cheerio until next time .....

Products used:
Stamps: uptown girl Wilma Loves Wine (Stamping Bella); Uncorked (MFT)
Ink: Versafine Clair - Nocturne
Others: ZIG Clean Color Brush Markers; Waterbrush; Clear Stardust Gel Pen

CAS Stencil Challenge ......

Happy Monday evening ........

I hope your week has got off to a good start.  It's going to be a busy one here .... lots going on in the craft room.  At least it's nice and cosy in there ....... although it's not as cold here in this part of the world as it is in some.  Stay safe and warm if you're in the artic blast!!

We're at the beginning of a new month so, that means new Blog Challenges.
Thank you to everyone that played along with the first CAS Stencil Challenge in January.  We had some amazing entries.  It was great to see you all having fun with your stencils.
Check out the January's Top Picks post if you played along ..... you might just be on there!

OK ..... time for February's CAS Stencil Challenge
This month the challenge is hosted by the lovely Nancy, and the theme is ...... Powdered Inks.

Now these can be things like ..... Brushos, Color Bursts, Infusions.  Magicals, Bisters, or Pixie Powders.  Little pots of magic as I like to call them.  Just add water and watch the magic appear.
They're great to use with stencils too.
If you've never used powdered inks before don't worry ...... check out this month's CAS Stencil Challenge post and follow the links to some great videos ....... and have fun!

Now for a little inspiration from me ...... and as it's February, it's time for Valentine's

I used Brusho's as my powdered inks, and a Tim Holtz stencil to create my background.
I sprinkled a tiny amount of the powders directly onto my stencil, spritzed with a little water to activate the colours and then laid the stencil on top of a piece of watercolour cardstock.
A quick press down with a paper towel and voila! ..... when I lifted off the stencil I had this pretty piece of cardstock .....

So easy to do, but so effective .... and you'll never get two backgrounds the same .....

A nice large sentiment stamped on the top .....

And I used a Stardust Gel Pen to highlight some of the hearts ..... just a little shimmer here and there when the light catches

And of course that all important Valentine's greeting

Another way of doing it is to simply place your stencil over your cardstock as you would normally, sprinkle a tiny amount of powdered ink through the design and spritz with a little water.  Quickly, and carefully lift off the stencil to reveal your design ........

You may not always get a nice crisp finish to your designs.  If you spritz with too much water then it  can sometimes bleed underneath the stencil, but I quite like that ..... it looks a bit arty I think

When I took the stencil off this one there was quite a bit of water/ink sat in places.  Now you know me,  I don't like to waste any of my precious colour so, I took a piece of scrap card that was on my desk and placed it over the top of the design ....... and look .... I got a background to use on another  project .....

A little Brusho goes a long way .......

Now it's your turn ..... time to have for some inky fun with your stencils.  I'm looking forward to seeing the results.
You'll find more fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team on the CAS Stencil Challenge Blog

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time .....

Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge ......

Happy Saturday evening ......

I hope you're enjoying your weekend.

It's time to get February's Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge underway.
We've got a great theme for you this month .... Friends

We were out with a bunch of friends last night ...... great food, nice wine, good times.  The perfect way to start the weekend.
I think my card says it all ........

I've used the new Squishy Cats stamp from Stamping Bella, coloured with ZIG markers and a waterbrush

The sentiment is from Polar Bear Pals by My Favourite Things stamped in a gold metallic ink

And I added a few dots of Liquid Pearls to finish off ...... very CAS!

Happy stamping!

Thanks for popping by ...... enjoy the rest of your day.
We're having a cosy night in tonight.  A delicious steak dinner, followed by an evening curled up in front of the TV I think ...... there's been too many late nights recently!

Cheerio until next time ......

On the second day of December ....... it's time for a Blog Challenge

Happy Sunday evening .......

I hope you've enjoyed the weekend.
Yeah!!! The Christmas tree is done ....... finally!  Or rather, it will be when I put the last of the baubles on that I got today.  Hopefully there'll be enough on there now.  I'll take some pictures later and you can let me know what you think.

The Christmas presents are nearly all bought too ...... they just need wrapping now.  I think I've got everything, I was out shopping this afternoon with the kids ...... they may be easier to buy for now they're older ...... just more expensive! 
We met up with hubby ..... he managed to avoid the actual shopping bit, clever that!  We had a lovely family lunch out which was nice .... it's not often its just the four of us.

OK .... back to business.  It's time to get the final Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge of 2018 underway .......

As you can see, December's theme is ..... Emboss.  What's your favourite way of adding embossing to your cards?
Me .... I like the simplicity of embossing folders.  A quick pass through your favourite die cutting machine and you're done. 
I'm still making Christmas cards I'm afraid, and I might just be making a few more of this design.
One of my current favourite embossing folders, and perfect for this time of year is from Stampin Up! ...... it's called Softly Falling

I do love the look of white cardstock when it's been embossed ...... it always looks clean and crisp.

And I think white on white, with just a hint of colour looks fab for festive designs.

A simple die cut sentiment, layered up and inlaid into the embossed cardstock, and I added just a touch of sparkle on the bottom ...... well, you have to have glitter at Christmas!

And to finish off I added this cute little guy ......

As with all the Happy Little Stampers challenges there's a prize for the winner ..... a $20 Gift Certificate to spend in the store.  Which by the way, will be doubled if the winner has used HLS stamps on their project!
And, just in case you haven't heard, there's a huge sale on at the moment ...... why not pop over and grab a bargain

I know it says Closing Down but, don't panic it's only the store side of things.  The blog and all the monthly challenges will still be up and running.

Happy stamping!

Thanks for popping by ...... enjoy what's left of the weekend.
I'm off to hang those baubles, and then it's time to put my feet up and catch up on some TV ...... we might even watch a Christmas movie ...... Ho! Ho! Ho!

I'll see you all again tomorrow ........ I have some news to share!

Cheerio until next time .......

Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge .....

Hello again ......

Yes I'm back with another challenge for you this evening. This time it's the Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge.
We've got a great theme for you this month, it's ...... Fantasy.  

That could mean absolutely anything ......... mystical and magical fairies perhaps, mermaids, monsters or aliens, fairy stories, super heroes maybe.  Where will your imagination take you?

I thought I'd have a break from all the Christmas cards .... although, I suppose Santa and his elves, flying reindeer, they're not real ........ or are they?

I think this little guy is perfect ...... dragons they're fantasy, right

I've had this stamp set from My Favourite Things for ages ..... it was one of those that I just had to have, then never got around to using it (there's a box full of those!!)
He's been stamped, coloured using ZIG markers and then fussy cut.  There is a matching set of dies, I just haven't added them to my stash ...... yet!

The fluffy clouds behind were done using a simple hand cut mask and Distress ink

I added a sentiment underneath with some sparkly sequins

And then attached my little dragon with a piece of folded acetate so that he really stands off the card

Look at his sparkly wings ......  so cute!!

As with all the HLS Challenges, there's a Gift Card to spend in the store for the challenge winner
Happy stamping!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy your Friday evening.  It's the weekend!!  What have you got planned? 
I'm off for a crafty get together tomorrow with the usual bunch of lovely ladies.  Let's hope I can make a good start on all those Christmas cards I need to get done.
I'd better go and pack my craft bag ....... now what am I going to need? You can guarantee I'll forget something!!

Cheerio until next time ......