simply Less is More #12 - off centre

I love symmetry - to my detriment sometimes - so this week's Simply Less is More challenge was a fun challenge. For what is creativity but edging out of the norm? Well, that's one form of creativity anyway.

Here's my entry which happens to be a birthday card for a friend. It's got a few elements but I think it's still fairly CAS.

This time, all products are from Stampin Up

cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pear Pizazz, Cajun Craze, Rich Razzleberry
Stamps: French Foliage, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Inks: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Cajun Craze, Old Olive

While the Northern Hemisphere is finally enjoying spring, we're well into Autumn so this card is appropriate. The raindrops image is just adorable and so had to use them, too - well, actually, it's been rather wet here in Sydney and so even those are appropriate.  Truth be told, those raindrops convinced me to get this new SU set.

I've got a ton of things to do but I'd go visiting the LIM community first. See you around! And if you do happen to stop by here, I'd love to hear from you...please leave a comment.

cheers,
Malyn

OLW 50 - old stamps

I have a lot of old stamps so OLW 50 hosted by Susan was a good excuse to dig them out.  But why stop with old stamps when I've got other stuff that needed to be dug out as well, e.g. Perfect Pearls.

Here's my first attempt which I'm not altogether happy with, hence more attempts. Regardless, I like the 'idea' of this and so even if it's a 'reject', it's up here anyway.


This is an old feather stamp I haven't used for about a year. I thought it would look good with different coloured Perfect Pearls and maybe in the hands of a much better crafter, it would have.  :-) The Thanks stamp is another oldie from Heidi Swapp - well, actually, it's a much bigger clear stamp of which I just inked the thanks bit.

Here's a close up of the feather.

The bottom corner was coloured using coordinating Tim Holtz distress inks in my fave colours: Shabby Shutters and Broken China, and then sprayed with perfect pearls (from a mini mister).

Here are a couple of other attempts using Perfect Pearls and this time, using a retired Stampin Up set - Good Things Grow; well, just one from the set. Sentiment is also from another SU set.

The problem with glimmery effects is that it's so hard to take a photo of. A close-up shows the glimmer but the details of the dandelion are practically invisible.

The last photo is of a card using the rock-and-roll technique (SU Baja Breeze and Marina Mist) - no Perfect Pearls but a touch of embossing for a bit of texture.

That's all from me for OLW. Thanks for stopping by and have a glimmery day!

cheers,
Malyn

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone.

Here's a one-layer Easter card I just made. It's dual purpose: it serves both as a Scrapbook Boutique challenge entry as well as a card to give to my daughter.

I had a lot of fun making this as the image is really rather cute. I also had a few simple techniques going including masking and sponging.

stamp: Clear Dollar Stamps Critter Log set

Stampin Up inks: Black (great for being waterproof), Baja Breeze, Choc Chip

Stampin Up Wonder Crayons: Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Espresso, Wild Wasabi

Cuttlebug embossing folder

There you have it. Real quick, simple and OLC.

Happy Easter!

SLM 11- Acetate

I missed last week's SLiM challenge, and papercrafting, in general; shouldn't complain as we went for a fabulous family holiday in Eden - a spectacular part of NSW, Australia.  I did manage to read heaps, pick up knitting AND spend quality time with my husband and 2 girls.

Not even back 48 hrs, I feel a bit rusty and not altogether happy with my entry to this week's challenge using acetate.  Still, here it is.  While there are several embellishments, I think there's still enough whitespace for this to be CAS.  Please let me know if not.

I had lots of misses with using Stazon on the acetate -  too black, smudged, missed bits, etc. In the end I settled for just a small panel with the biggest 'clear' space AND stamped the lamp stand in burnished gold. The colour seeping through is from underneath, i.e. I didn't colour the acetate itself - so not quite the stained glass replica but near enough.

The lamp shade is lifted up with dimensionals and I applied glossy accents on the 'lead' bits.

The lamp stamp is from My Minds Eye and the sentiment is from an Inkadinkadoo set I think.

If I get inspired, I might have another go but I think I'd rather go visiting everyone else's work.

OLW 48 - a sympathetic challenge

Susan is hosting OLW 48 with a theme of sympathy cards. No flowers or trees and one-layer only.

I struggled to find a suitable image actually. Here's what I settled for and after the first attempt, decided it was to 'chirpy', pardon the visual pun. So, I had another go and muted it a bit by masking and sponging over the stamped image. Now, I'm not quite sure which one I prefer.

First attempt

Second attempt

stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Sing a Song (?), Stampin Up Teeny Tiny Sentiments
inks: (1) Versafine Sepia (a bit mottled but better this way I think), Colorbox chalk ink in black
         (2) SU Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Which one's better or are they both bad?

simply Less is More #9 - a touch of Red

Head over to simply Less is More this week for the "A Touch of Red Challenge". Mandi and Chrissie have created inspiring samples plus a few tips. Been busy this week but this challenge is in my to-do list; sounds tragic, I know!


Ok, here's my creation this week:

It's a tri-fold card with the heart (Stampin Up Always) in the middle, with just a touch of red (surrounds, and focus flower), I was going to put the sentiment on the front but it just didn't look right - yes, I had to re-do the front heart.  The Happy Anniversary sentiment (SU Teeny Tiny Sentiments) seems better inside (directly behind the front heart); I masked that area when I stamped the heart first. After stamping the sentiment, I sponged it a little with red to highlight it a bit more as it was rather teeny tiny and the background a bit busy.


inks: SU Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler (really love this deep red)


Anniversary's not till October so call me super-organised. :-)


Now to go visiting the others. I honestly don't know how Mandi and Chrissie get around to everyone. I'm happy if I can do 10.  

So Mandi, Chrissie and all you wonderful ladies who make wonderfully CAS cards, go visiting and leave comments, all I can say is:

You are amazing and Thank you.