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

Freshly made Sketch #420

Hello and happy Monday to you!

I've been playing around with the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches using the colours from Colour Throwdown:

I've used Waltzingmouse's Simple Sprig for the main image and stamped the same image on the background panel using Grout Grey Ink on Grout Grey card stock.  I love using matching inks and card stock as it looks subtle and doesn't overpower the card.  The sentiment is from Altenew and the stamped red circle around the die cut was a freebie I received recently from Winnie and Walter. I'd won a gift voucher and they threw in another stamp set for free as they were closing down - how nice is that!

Hope you get the time to get inky this week!

Claire x

One Layer MFT

Hello again,

It's a dreaded one layer challenge both at AAA Cards and Less is More this week. There's an optional twist at AAA to use polar animals so I used one of Stacey Yacula's Sweet Holiday Penguins from MFT and coloured him using the hues from colour challenge #134. Addicted to CAS also have a Wintry theme of 'frosty':

I'm also popping this one over to Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday challenge where 'anything goes!'

Happy stamping!

Claire x

Weathering and Rocking

Hello, hope you are having a great Australia Day!

I've got a couple of cards today. The first is for the latest MFT Sketch Challenge and the second for Paper Smooches which has an 'anything goes' challenge:

 I used BB Rain or Shine with some patterned paper from the Sweet Celebration pack.  I stamped the puddle and raindrops and filled them in with some Glossy Accents to make it look like water.

For the PS card I used Beboppin with the colours from Colour Throwdown. I showed it to my two boys and asked them if they knew what the picture is - my 11 year old suggested a video tape so at least he was on the right track. My 13 year old had absolutely no idea! Sometimes I feel really old....

Enjoy your day!

Claire x

Pretty in Pink

Hello fellow ink addicts,

It's been a while between cards as we've just had a week away on Australia's beautiful East Coast. The fires have well and truly burnt out and much of the week was spent in torrential rain - it seems to go from one extreme to the other at the moment! 

Anyway, here's a little card I whipped up using the pretty colours from My Favourite Things:

I used Adorable Elephants, set in a Stitched Rectangle Frame against a white embossed Garden Flourish background. The sentiment's from Essential Sentiments. I used the latest sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch and I'm also popping it into Time Out's latest challenge to base your card on something in your wardrobe. I used to own a pair of PJ's very similar to the colours above - long gone unfortunately.  I've also done the optional twist which is to use embossing.

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

MFT Sketch #470

Hello folks!

It's almost too hot for card making here in Sydney - it reached a whopping 48.5C in the west of the city today, an all time record. It feels like the whole of Australia's burning - we've really never seen anything like it,  with mass evacuations and army reserves brought in to help the fire service who are doing an absolutely amazing job.

 So it almost feels a bit trite to be posting a card but hopefully it puts a smile on someone's face:

I found the MFT sketch quite a difficult one this week - it took a while to work out which of my (many) MFT stamps would work. In the end I opted for Birthday Chicks within a couple of Stitched Rectangle Frames and set against a cloudy stencilled background.

Here's hoping the heat goes down a few notches tonight - happy stamping!

Claire x