New Stuff!

Hello bloggers,

I was very lucky to win a gift certificate from Papertrey Ink/Ink to Paper a few weeks ago so thought I'd have a bit of a play with the goodies I bought:

First up is AAA's one layer challenge - I stamped It's a Sign: Birthday Sentiments and used the black, yellow and orange from the graphic as inspiration. One layers are definitely not my thing but for once I'm happy how this one's turned out.

For the second card I used the sketch from Freshly Made and the colours from Colour Throwdown - the blooms have been stamped in a really dark purple from MFT but it looks navy in the pic - the frame is cut from navy card stock.  I stamped the background with Grout Grey on Grout Grey card stock, my go-to neutral for months now...I'm obsessed with it.  I'm also popping this over to Time Out's inspired by Words Challenge.  Any mention of a garden reminds me of flowers.

Enjoy what's left of your weekend!

Claire x

Less is More - Take Two

Hello inkers!

I've had another go at Less is More's White and Cream challenge:

I've white embossed PTI's Doodlie-Do flowers on cream and white card stock and the leaves are on vellum. The sentiment is from Poppy Stamps.

I've tried to keep it to a minimum of one third of the card since AAA's challenge is to use up to one third with the optional twist of using a repeating image.  (I've repeated a couple of the blooms as well as the leaves.)  I'm also throwing it over to Addicted to CAS again where the code word is 'flower' and CASology's cue card is 'plant' so I'm popping it over there too!

Happy stamping everyone!

Claire

MFT Sketch #488

Hello, hello,

Another couple of cards for you - the first is for MFT's Sketch Challenge using Flower Fairies and Radiating Rays Stencil:

The second is for Less Is More's new challenge which is to use white and cream:

I'm actually wondering if I can get away with this one being 'cream.'  I used Antique Linen distress  ink which is kind of a beigey cream but actually looks like a soft brown in the photo.  I think I'll leave it to the DT to decide if it's still eligible for the challenge and if not, I may do another take.

Have a wonderful day!

Claire

Time Out for MFT

Hello Inkers,

I've been having another play with the inspiration pic over at Time Out  but this time managed to throw a bit of Kraft on the card so that it matches the colours over at Colour Throwdown: 

 As well as the colours I've been inspired by the heavy patterns on the chair - the shape of the cushion made me think of CAS-ual Friday's Starlequin background stamp so I white embossed it and added the Mon Ami bloom. The diamond patterned flag is from PTI's Centre Style Masculine mini set.

 My second card is for MFT's colour challenge and their Birthday Project challenge which is to use circles.  I used Bubble Over with Joy (retired) with the Basic Shapes Circles Stencil. I'm also popping it over to CAS on Friday which has a Bunny theme happening. I've never entered one of their challenges before so I'm hoping it's CAS enough!

Thanks for stopping by,

Claire

Say it with Flowers

Hello again,

Quick post for a few challenges using PTI's Doodlie-Do:

 I haven't really kept up with all the changes at Papertrey Ink but it looks like they have a new challenge called Project Reach Out over at their Ink to Paper Blog. The theme is 'flowers' so I've clustered some of these pretty blooms against some bold, navy stripes as a contrast.

My inspiration came from Time Out's gorgeous inspiration photo - I love the pops of yellow and green from the flowers, the stripes on the chair and the magazine holder...so much to draw from! Simon Says Stamp also have a flower theme happening over at their Wednesday challenge blog so I'm playing along there too.

Happy stamping!

Claire

Rainbow Symmetry

Hello, hope you're having a good weekend.

I've made a CAS card for 3 different challenges today - although I'm wondering if I'm pushing the boundaries a little with one of them:

 The first one to catch my eye was the ATCAS code word of 'symmetry.' Symmetry appeals to my anally retentive nature when it comes to stamping, so I reached for Winnie and Walter's Bigger Bang Confetti and played around with the large and small diamond stamps to create a symmetrical rainbow coloured pattern.  Since I've used different sizes I'm also popping it over to Less is More for their 'big and small' challenge,  but looking at them, they look more similar in size than I realised, so Kylie might hit the delete button on this one! The last challenge I'm entering it for is CASology where the cue card is 'tall.' It's a tall pattern in comparison to the PTI sentiment...wonder if I'm pushing it with that one too?!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Stampin' Up Throwback

Hello again stampers,

AAA Cards have a one corner theme this week - with the optional twist of using older supplies. My Stampin' Up Papillon Potpourri set probably hasn't seen ink for at least a couple of years.  From memory SU released it about 7 years ago - it was one of the first clear rubber stamp sets they released:

I used some Color Bursts to create the splash of colour, added a corner honeycomb die cut and an older sentiment from PTI. It's always good to be reminded about the older sets in our stash isn't it?  Note to self: use them more!

Thanks for popping by,

Claire x

Altenew Woes

Hello folks,

Here's a CAS card using CAS(E) This Sketch as inspiration and the colours from Colour Throwdown:

I've used Floral Motifs from Altenew - yet again I despair with my colouring of my Altenew blooms...I never feel like I do them justice!

Happy stamping!

Claire x

Happy Birthday Less Is More!

Hello bloggers!

Can you believe that Less is More are celebrating their 9th birthday? Their theme is even more 'less' than usual - to use as few tiny images and sentiments as possible:

I have to admit, I found this one quite difficult.  I ended up using the smallest flower from PTI's Doodlie-Do and a tiny sentiment from Mixed Messages . I added a small sprig of leaves and placed it against 3 small, postage stamp die cuts, partially matted on orange card stock. As usual, the simplest of cards took. me forever!

Happy stamping!

Claire x

CASology Guest Designer

Hello fellow inkers!

I'm delighted to be guest designing for CASology's first challenge of 2020. The cue card is 'repeat:'

I feel like life is on repeat at the moment - get up, go to work, look after kids, sleep, repeat, particularly at this time of year when the kids are on Summer holidays for 6 weeks!

As you can see, the repetitive elements on my card are all those stamped circles from Winnie and Walter's Big Bang Confetti. Did you know they are closing? Such a shame - I've seen so many small stamping businesses close over the the years. Head over to the W & W website as they have lots of bargains in store.

How will you interpret the word 'repeat?' Head on over to the CASology blog for heaps of inspiration from the DT!

Thanks for stopping by,

Claire x

Final Christmas Card of the Year!

Hello, hello,

So many fabulous challenges out there but just not enough time to play at this time of year!  I've rustled up this one for 3 different challenges - The Card Concept, Time Out and Freshly Made Sketches:

I've been inspired by the colours over at The Card Concept to make this clean and layered card - I didn't have any black and white check paper so I used a WMS houndstooth stamp to create the strips. It's not a traditional Christmas card but I like this PTI stamp using traditional Christmas colours. I didn't like the sentiment going across the strips so I placed it up the side and inside it says 'merry and bright.'

Hope your days are looking merry and bright!

Happy stamping!

Claire x

Seeing Pink

Hello inkers,

I'm just sneaking in with a last minute entry to Addicted to CAS' challenge to use pin and purple:

Not two colours I would normally put together,  but even I like the purple with the splash of bright and pale pinks. I stamped Paper Smooches Curls and Swirls on the left side, then made a cut through the middle and matted it on pink card stock. The die cut butterfly is from Stamplorations and the sentiment's PTI.

Happy stamping!


Claire x

Copper Embossed

Hello again,

Less is More's challenge is a metallic theme this week so I reached for my copper embossing powder and had a play with a Hero Arts wooden stamp that a friend gave to me a few weeks ago:

I'm not sure if I like it, partly as I'm not too sure whether I like the stamp. It's a pretty safe bet that if you don't like the stamp you're not going to like the card much either! I find it a bit busy (and completely unforgiving when embossed),  so after embossing it on the corner of the panel, I die cut smaller panel, matted it with some black card stock and popped it up on some dimensional tape. Still not sure about it though.....

I'm entering it into Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday challenge too,  where 'anything goes!'

Hope you get some time to get inky this week!

Claire x