Less is More #439 - CAS Inking

Welcome to our new challenge!

I had a heap of ideas for this one - especially using distress inks. There are many ways to keep a card clean and simple while using distress inks. I paired my inking with stencils, masking, and emboss resist.

Card #1

I simply inked through a stencil (ARTplorations - Just Flow) then added a large sentiment.

Card #2

This card took a little more time. I embossed the images in white powder then used distress ink over the top (emboss resist). I added a die cut plus embossed sentiment.

Card #3

By tearing some paper, I created a mask for my distressed sand. I stamped my images, die cut them, then popped them up with foam tape.

The design team have fabulous inspiration over at the challenge blog. Hope to see you there.

I would like to enter my cards over at the following challenges -

Card #1 - Make My Monday (Clean and Simple), Happy Little Stampers Stencils (Anything Goes), STAMPlorations Stencil Challenge (Anything Goes), Try it on Tuesday (Use a Stencil)

Card #2 - Simply Create Too (Wet or Dry Embossing), Watercooler Wednesdays (Feminine), Unicorn Challenge (Feminine), Daisy Chain Challenges (Flowers)

Card #3 - Cut it Up (Just for Kids), Creative Craft Cottage (Clean and Simple), Krafty Chicks (CAS)

Cloudy Backgrounds

 Hello! I have two Christmas cards to share with you today :)

I have once again used my new cloudy stencil from Lawn Fawn. I created with two completely different colours and just loved the effect!

Card #1

I wanted to create a night time sky which wasn't too dark. I used London Fog ink which worked really well. 

I stamped then coloured the images (Lawn Fawn Ho-Ho-Holidays and Tiny Christmas) with my polychromos. I arranged them slightly off the edges to create 'movement'.

Card #2

I decided a slimline card was in order. This time I created a soft pink background using the cloudy stencil. These gorgeous mice are from Lawn Fawn Mice on Ice and the trees are from Winter Village. I originally had green trees but swapped them out for these pink ones :)

I would like to enter my cards over at the following challenges

Card #1 - ABC Christmas Challenge (V is for Vixen - Reindeer), STAMPlorations Stencil Challenge (Anything Goes), Christmas Crafts all year round - No Tricks, Just Treats), Crimbo Crackers (Anything Christmas Goes)

Card #2 - Merry Little Christmas Challenge (Anything Goes), Creations in Pink (Anything Goes), Crafter's Cafe (Use some Pink), Jingle Belles (Not a creature was stirring)

Thanks for popping in today xx

HLS September Watercolour Challenge

Hi everyone! Woah, September already?? It's a big month for me - Father's Day on the 2nd and my dad's 60th birthday on the 11th. I am also starting to plan my grandson's 1st birthday party which is in November - can you believe he is nearly 1????

Over at Happy Little Stampers we kick off a new month with our Watercolour Challenge.

Anything Goes but you may like to play along with our twist and use a butterfly or two or three...

Here are my cards (yes I made two lol) -

For my first card I placed a stencil on watercolour card, sprinkled turquoise brusho, misted with water, then lifted the stencil. I used my heat gun to speed up the drying process.

I stamped and die cut my butterfly from some left over card that I flipped the stencil over and pressed the ink on to it. 

I rounded off the edges of this card for a bit of interest.

I would like to enter this card over at -

My second card was created in the same manner but I used orange and yellow brushos.

Supplies Used

HLS Butterfly Birthday

HLS Smile!

HLS Perfectly Succulent

MISTI

Brushos

Here is a video tutorial that I created a while back to show you how to use your watercolours with stencils.

I hope to see you over at the challenge blog!

HLS December CAS Challenge

Goodness me! December and time for another HLS Challenge. Where does the time go!

Did you know that I am already planning my next retreat in the UK? If you are thinking you would like to join us in November 2017, please check out all the details HERE and register your interest. There will be TWO retreat locations in 2017! Manchester and Swindon. Plenty of ladies have already secured their spots so make sure you don't miss out!

Onto our CAS challenge -

Over the last 11 months we have had wonderful techniques and product challenges (with heaps of video tutorials to help you along)! For our December challenge we want you to choose one of our past challenges for your entry.

SMOOSHING | EMBOSSING FOLDER STAMPING | FAUX MOTHER OF PEARL

STENCIL MONOPRINT | INLAID DIE-CUTS | GHOSTING | KISSING | MASKING | WATERCOLOUR SPRITZ | EMBOSSING ON VELLUM | METAL/FAUX METAL

I went with Stencil Monoprint. At the HLS Craft Retreat last July, we had fun with Brushos and Darnell had a LOT of fun with stencils. When I got home I tried a heap of stencil techniques. In my video tutorial below, you will see how I use a stencil to begin with and then flip it over to create my stencil monoprint. It's heaps of fun!!

Firstly, here is my card

And here is my video tutoria -

There are HEAPS of video tutorials listed over at the HLS Blog. All 11 months worth of them!

Thanks so much for popping in today.

Stencils and Sparkle Medium + Video Tutorial

Happy Sunday everyone. I had a 'moment' to spend in my craft room this weekend and made the most of my time by also creating another video tutorial.

Mum and I went to the Craft and Quilt Expo in Brisbane earlier this month. We picked up a few tubs of sparkle medium to share between us (among other things...) and I decided to create a couple of Christmas cards.

I used a stencil from STAMPlorations, the sparkle medium, and a sentiment from Happy Little Stampers 'Mixed Christmas Sentiments'. 

This is a Memory Box stencil, sparkle medium, and another sentiment from the HLS Mixed Christmas Sentiments set.

My video tutorial also shows you how to create a one layer card using this technique but adding a slight bit of masking as well.

I would like to enter my cards into the following challenges -

Just Add Ink #333 - Add G (my 'G' is glitter)

Fab n Funky Challenges #322 - Shades of Grey or Lots of Sparkle

Sweet Stampin' Christmas - Glitter and Sparkle

Card Mania - Let it Shine

Last but not least - here is my video tutorial

Thanks for popping by!

The Perfect Backgrounds

Hi everyone and happy Friday! Ready for the weekend?

I wanted to share with you the cards that I made from my brusho backgrounds. I created a video tutorial for you to share this fun and easy technique. You will find the link at the end of my post.

Today I received my dies and stencils from STAMPlorations. It felt like they took forever to get here from the US but that was because I was at the mail box everyday waiting.... So! I had to break them out and have a play as I knew they would be perfect to add to my backgrounds.

Here are my cards - no stamping today. Just watercoloured backgrounds and dies :)

I would like to enter this card into

Cut it up - Watercolour (must use a die as well)

STAMPlorations - Anything Goes using their products

I would like to enter this card over at

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Clean and Simple

STAMPlorations - Anything CAS Goes (no option used for me)

I would like to enter this card over at

CCEE Stampers - No stamping, just die cuts

If you would like to try making these backgrounds using Brushos and Stencils please check out my video tutorial -

Don't forget that the current CAS challenge at Happy Little Stampers is -

and this technique would be perfect for you to try and then enter.

Thanks for popping by!