Challenging times

Well I can't understand where the last week has gone! Am I the only one who takes time off work only to discover it's time to go back again and I've done nothing?

My crafty mojo went on holiday without as much as a By Your Leave! So rude.

Tomorrow is the last day to book a class for August, so don't miss out! If you haven't been before I don't bite (unless it's chocolate or cake), it would be lovely to see some new faces and the progress on the studio is tremendous so I would love to show you!

In search of my mojo I decided to try something I've not done for a long time and visit some challenge sites. Today is a card I created for the Less is More challenge of "Snippets". I wasn't entirely sure what they were looking for, so I just stuck to the general ethos of 'Less is More'.

Real Red and Bermuda Bay are a stunning combination and I combined Gorgeous Grunge with the Tin of Cards stamp set, punched the flower using the Itty Bitty Accent flower and die cut the butterfly with the Bold Butterfly framelits.

Notice anything unusual about the Butterfly (and the flower)? Well there's more to come soon!

I'll be back tomorrow with another challenge so pop back and see what I'll have for you then.

P xxx

Less is More - Dynamic Duo double challenge entry

Hey baby! The theme at Less is More this week is a baby card - and I have two lovely friends due in February and both are having girls, so when I saw the Dynamic Duo this week was Pink Pirouette and Pool Party, I thought it was about time I got on with those cards!

The first is one where I have utilised my alphabet sets - a rare occurrence - it is the Sketched Alphabet, framed by the Outline Alphabet. Punched out with the 3/4" circle. The Pool Party scallop was punched with the 7/8" scallop punch. The little banners were so quick and easy with my new Banner Framelits, available to order from the 28th of January. The ribbon is the Chevron ribbon from the annual catalogue and the flowers are from the new Petite Petals set - punched out with the coordinating punch.

This second card is another stunner... I have layered two tags made with the new Tag Top punch - the spots and stripes are from the new Perfect Pennants stamp set.

I used Pool Party embossing powder for the sentiment, this was from Label Love and punched out with the coordinating punch.

I hope you have enjoyed my posts this week and I hope you'll come back for more soon!

Paula xxx

Double challenge entry! I'm Back!

Well you will have noticed I haven't been doing much creating as my business has been so busy since convention.

This week I was determined to get to grips with a couple of challenges and Dynamic Duos and Less is More Challenge blogs gave me a combination that I could work with.

Dynamic Duo's Here wanted you to use Midnight Muse and any other colour - I hope silver counts!

Less is More Here wanted some sparkle - well heck, we 'do' sparkle!

So here is my entry, combining the two challenges I used my Festive Flurry stamp set, coordinating Framelits, a sentiment from Greetings of the Season.

I used Versamark to stamp the images, added Heat and Stick powder, heated then sprinkled on Silver Glitter, then heated again to set it.

I couldn't resist adding some rhinestones for a bit of extra sparkle and hope the design teams love the simplicity of the overall effect.

I'll be back soon - in the meantime - keep safe out there in these dreadful weather conditions.

Pxxx

Less is More Challenge.

OK - So I didn't post on Sunday, but hopefully you'll let me off! I had a frantic weekend travelling all over the South of England and with visitors yesterday. The problem is I have been doing lots of crafting and have LOADS of things to show you.

Today is a challenge entry for the Less is More Blog. HERE

This weeks challenge was to use Washi Tape... now I am a complete Washi virgin... in fact until I saw it in the latest SU catalogues I had never even heard of it. And in all honesty I'm still not sure I know what I am supposed to be doing with it!

The new Seasonal Catalogue out on the 29th (yes watch this space!) contains a lovely set of Washi Tape as part of the Season of Style family of products.

They are seasonal themed products and I have also used the Season of Style DSP (Designer Series Paper) for the ornament, I cut it out using my Big Shot and the carryover Ornament Framelits. I have also added a piece of DSP punched using my Mosaic punch and the tiny silver ornament was punched from Glimmer Paper using the carried over punch from the Merry Minis punch pack.

The Noel sentiment is another carry over item from the set Greetings of the Season using the new silver metallic ink.

Lastly that pretty scallop at the bottom was cut using the Large Scallop edgelit and embossed with the co-ordinating Delicate Designs embossing folder.

I'm not sure if it is a step too far but I had great fun making it - so who cares?

I have a few parties booked to correspond with the seasonal catalogue launch - but I still have dates available if you would like to book - just give me a call. xxx

Less is More Challenge

Well I'm still flying high after the regional training. I've been trying out all the techniques we learned and playing with my new stamp set...gutted I can't show it to you yet!

I thought I would get back into the challenges this week. so this card is for the Less is More challenge. This week it's a single layer card using a coloured card blank.

I love purple and pink, so I chose Perfect Plum for my base and Melon Mambo embossing powder as embossing gives better colour on coloured card.

I used Just Believe and Curly Cute stamp sets and scored the card using my Simply Scored to give it more dimension.

I had it in my head I could sponge a shadow to add depth... I'm in two minds whether it worked - what do you think? Do leave a comment and let me know... I cut an aperture in scrap card using my Ovals Framelits, positioned it on my card blank using a couple of sticky notes. I sponged with Perfect Plum - then stamped the image with Versamark. Before adding embossing powder I removed the scrap card so I wouldn't get embossing powder trapped in the cut out.

Why not join in yourself? Just click here to visit the Simply Less is More Blog.

Pxxx

Two Challenge Tuesday!

Well I don't know about you but I'm feeling a lot more positive having had a couple of days of half decent weather! The sunshine really cheers me up.

Yesterdays news was so exciting! Even more freebies to be earned whether you join my team and the Pink Ladies or if you just want to earn lots of FREE goodies with your party orders.

Today I am sharing with you a card I have entered in two challenges. Simply Less is More is a one layer challenge - visit the blog here. Secondly it is the Dynamic Duos challenge here.

My card uses the Elegant Butterfly punch, I punched out the image from a scrap piece of card, then pressed a Sponge Dauber in my Tangerine Tango ink pad, using the cut out as a stencil I sponged the image on the Bashful Blue card base. I started at the bottom moving up, without re-inking, to get a graduated colour intensity. The sentiment is from Bring on the Cake and I added a few gems. You'll notice the card stock has a lovely embossed border running up each side - these were created using my Borders Scoring Plate for my Simply Scored. 

Such a simple but effective card I hope you'll have a play with this technique!

Hope to be back with something for you tomorrow! Have a great day and hope you are feeling inspired!

Paula xxx

Lime & Black

I was going to post something else today but it can wait until tomorrow. Why? Well I saw the Less is More challenge to use Lime and Black and couldn't resist!

You can visit the challenge page here.

My card used Lucky Limeade and Basic Black... my last challenge entry lacked any 'space', so I hope this meets the brief a little more accurately!

I used the Love & Sympathy stamp set and the two butterfly punches. I used the technique I mentioned the other day of adhering the two butterflies with Tombow and running them through the Big Shot.

Well back tomorrow - Thank goodness it's the weekend!

Pxx

Less is More Colour Challenge

Blimey - what a week almost every challenge I have made a card for this week is a colour challenge! Today's was slightly tricky as Stampin' Up! seem to be missing a couple of the colours. I had to root around in some old and abandoned card stock to meet the challenge.

Not much Stamping on this one! But I do love it!

I used my 1" Square Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, Curly Cute Stamp Set and some Clear Embossing Powder for the sentiment. A quick and simple card. I'm thinking of using this as the project for my next party - book yourself if you would like to! Though obviously we would use all Stampin' Up! products.

Have a look at some of the other entries at Less is More.

Here was the colour combo... Food - typical! People keep pinning food on Pinterest and my figure is definitely suffering already!

See you tomorrow! xxx

Less is More Challenge 107

Today I am making two entries into the Less is More challenge for this week. Mainly because I had to try out both of the ideas I had!

If you want to find out more about the challenges you can click on the picture below...

 

The brief was 'Up in the Air'.

So I only have one stamp set with an aircraft, have none of the balloon sets and wondered how I could meet the brief. I momentarily contemplated butterflies but thought I had done enough of those... when I first started using Stampin' Up! products I swore blind I wasn't interested in Stamping I just wanted punches. That soon changed but my love of the punches hasn't.

So I thought I would use two of my favourites for my challenge entries!

The first is the Owl punch.

I also used the Decorative and Curly Label Punches. My trusty Bakers Twine and the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Sentiments.

The owls wings were made from a Scallop Circle punch.

I just love this it is soooo cute!


My second card is made using the Bird punch.

More Bakers Twine and the banner this time was cut using my Big Shot and the great dies from the Summer Catalogue, Hearts a Flutter, it has a corresponding stamp set and can be purchased as a bundle saving 15%! I sponged a little Marina Mist to match the birds and help give the banner definition.

I'm off to take one of the dogs and the cat for their annual boosters. Then I am going to spend the evening chilling! A glass of red calls me!

Paula xxx