A gift

I've used a bit of random inking with yellows and oranges to stamp these sunflowers. I think it was a penny black stamp but I borrowed it from my mum and forgot to check! I drew in the stems and added the label attached to a cocktail stick which I coloured the same. The ladybird is one of those items you acquire from somewhere and couldn't bare to part with!

I'm probably pushing the boundaries of less is more here as there's not much white space but hopefully the one layer minimal embellishments will help!
This is my entry for this week's addicted to cas 'gift' theme. I'm also linking in to Simon says stamp a 'touch of green' theme and stamping sensations flower power.

Little Claire's love and marriage

The theme over at Little Claire's this month is love and marriage. Although I've already made one card for the challenge I wanted to have a go using some of their own stamps.

I used basic grey papers layered together with a bit of mounting on 3D foam pads. The stamps are the love birds, bird house and sentiment from the butterfly tree set. I finished the card with some glossy accents, although it's not terribly clear from this picture.

As I've used four different stamps on this card if also like to link it to the craft stamper anything goes with a stamp challenge.

Double distress!

This is my second 'distress' entry for the Casology challenge this week!
I've made it using a mixture of distress inks and a penny black stamp silhouette on top. The edges are torn to add to the distressed look and then it is simply mounted on to white cardstock to keep it nice and cas.

Distressed!

I couldn't miss the opportunity to take part in Casology's 'distress' challenge this week with the fabulous lawn fawn as their sponsors. Here's the first card I made on the theme of distress

I started by stamping hobby art's cracked paint background in châteaux grey versa ink, then stamped crafty individuals floral postage stamp in DI using second generation stamping for a more faded look. I inked both images with different coloured distress inks and tore round the edges. They are mounted using 3d foam mount squares and the sentiment is another from crafty individuals. As well as Casology, I would like to enter this in to the craft barn's less is more challenge with flowers as there are flowers on the stamps :)

Hearts, not red

The craft barn challenge of 'hearts, not red' presented me with quite a problem this time. Apparently I'm more stereotypical than I knew! I've gone for an ultra subtle colour palette for this one made with card-io stamps and a freebie heart stamp and sentiment. I drew on the bunting ribbons and the border. I'm not sure what occasion this is for but hopefully it is quite open.

L is for...

I don't know whether anyone else has ever googled 'French lavender fields' but I did exactly that the other day and was quite blown away by the beautiful images that came up. Purple haze's beneath golden skies, often with classic French castles or stunning mountain ranges in the background. I can't say I could even come close to replicating these photos but I did select 'lavender' to be my L word in this fortnight's craft barn challenge.

For the first time since the challenge started I painted a wash over the pages before inking so that the text nestles quite quietly in the background.I stamped the mountain range from a card-io set and inked using distress and versa colour inks. The lavender stamp at the front is by Lavinia stamps. I added the text with Hero Art alphabet stamps and finished with a doodled fine liner border.
I'd like to enter this in to the craft barn dictionary challenge and craft stamper's text me challenge.

Shake it, Less is more style

 I've been having quite a think about something for this week's less is more challenge - add texture. Initially I was thinking of an embossing folder but, inspired by Anne's use of textured twine and the Simon Says Stamp shaker challenge, I had a change of heart. Last time I attempted a shaker card it was disastrous. Sticky things went in places there shouldn't be sticky things, beads went in places there shouldn't be beads. Glitter went in all the places. Needless to say, the card did not go on the blog. May it rest in pieces.

Anyway, today was the day to right that wrong. I found this lovely textured white ribbon in my ribbon box and like Anne, started there, fixing it in place with red brads. I created the shaker panel with die cuts and a piece of printed vellum. I chose lots of different textures for the shaker and surrounding 'scatter' including foam and sequin stars, diamante's and fabric hearts, This card is for my Auntie and Uncles Ruby wedding anniversary so I finished with the big 4-0.