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Wednesday 18 May 2011

Less is More

I hate packing - I find it so stressful - do I take this /have I got enough to wear?

So I had to have a little break and managed to make my card for the LIM challenge which is 'One Layer with some Embossing'  I had thought about it since Saturday, but my original idea which seemed a good one, didn't turn out that good.   So thinking caps on and came up with this. I have stamped the Hobby Art Lady of  Fashion in black and coloured her skin with Blush Promarkers. I added red glitter on her necklace and to tie in with that I stamped and heat embossed the Hero Arts sentiment in red.

Well, must get back to the packing.  I hope the weather improves here and we can all enjoy some sunshine.

I have made a post holiday resolution - Get control of my life! I feel as if I have been on a roller coaster lately
time is just flying by and I never have a minute - and I don't think I am the only one in blogland saying this!!
It will be hard - DD will be home for the summer a couple of days after we get back and her bofriend is staying for a week before going to see his family, but the resolution stands.

I would just like to say 'hello' to a couple of new followers - I am absolutely thrilled that people want to follow me!  I will pop by to say hello when I return from holiday as we are off tomorrow morning.

A couple of challenges for my card:
Crafty Cardmakers - Embossing
 Divas by Design - One for the Girls

Thanks for looking,

Avril xx

Sunday 15 May 2011

House Mouse Challenge.


It was a great experience being a  Guest Designer with the House Mouse team for the month of April, but now its back to making and entering their challenges.
This fortnights challenge is flowers, and I have had this image coloured up for a couple of weeks just waiting to be used. The image is from one of the unmounted sets which I bought a few months ago. I have used some papers which were a freebie with a card magazine. My flowers, as I didn't have any poppies, started out as pink cherry blossom from Wild Orchid crafts, were coloured with Promarkers The sentiment came with the unmounted stamps. I used a MS pop up butterfly punch and added a few 'flying' butterflies.

 I did set myself the target of entering all the HM challenges this year, but I will probably miss the next one due to holidays (these things can sometimes get in the ways of blogging).

I would like to say 'hello' to my new followers, its great to see you!

I hope to be back with one more card - but if not, I hope the weather improves and we can all have some sunshine!

I am entering this card in : House Mouse & Friends Challenge - Flowers
One Stitch at a Time  - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
The StampMan - Poppies

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Avril xx

Wednesday 11 May 2011

This really is LESS!!

The challenge over at Less is More this week is White on White, something I have done a few times, but you know, as well as me, when it is for this challenge its a different 'ball game' so to speak.  I did a card at Christmas - White on White, with an aperture and a snowflake and have thought about doing something similar for a Wedding, so that was the plan - the snowflake card was a tent card - wasn't sure if that was OK for LIM - so just a folded card. Everything went to plan until I thought about embellishments, made flowers - made roses - cut swirls - looked at pearls - but nothing seemed right, so this card really is LESS is More!
I used white hammer card, aperture cut with Nellie Snellen die, then white vellum and used the smaller die for the die cut. I embossed Swiss Dots on the back of the card, so used the 'cut out' from the front for a  greetings label on the back. I embossed CB With Love on the front. The hearts are cut in white pearlised card with a Mariann die and the larger one has another die cut heart attached to the back to hide the silver thread and tape (whoops - said silver - but it is so fine).
I am also entering this card into Tuesday Throwdown- Die cuts
Papertake Weekly - Die cuts/punches

Thats it for now - have a load of ironing to do.

Avril x

Wednesday 4 May 2011

Messy Play!





After doing my card for Less is More I wanted to enter The Stamp Man Challenge which is 'Resist'. I haven't done this technique for ages and I needed to play with my new stamps and ones I bought at Harrogate that hadn't been inked up!
When I 'play' I usually do a few extra pieces which I will use up in a couple of weeks, but this is the only one I finished today so that I can enter the challenge - just!
I have used Hobby Art stamps and embossed in white, then 'shadow' stamped the image again with DI Dusty Concord, which I then used on the white card. The sentiment is computer generated and again I distressed with the Dusty Concord. The background was mauve card stock which I stamped  with a smaller flower using the same ink. I added Glamour Dust and some vellum butterflies after colouring the vellum with the ink, these are also glittered.
I am also entering this card in the Lets Ink It Up challenge - Embellish it - No Digis
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
By the Cute & Girly Monthly challenge - Anything Goes

That's it for now - a glass of wine awaits!
Will do some catching up with you lovely bloggers tomorrow.

Avril x


Less is More - And Not Last Minute!!

I know I haven't been a good blogger again!! but at least I have been busy (well some of the time).
I hope everyone had a good Bank Holiday - again.  I did, but didn't get to do much crafting, but I did manage to buy a couple of things on Sunday at the  '1st SincerelYours  Papercrafts show in the N.E.' held at Gateshead International Stadium which isn't too far away. I went with my friend Diane and no doubt Thursday when Diane comes over,will be a 'play with each others goodies' night . I bought a couple of new stamps, coloured embossing powders (which I couldn't get locally and NEEDED to finish off some projects) and some Nesties.
Back to normal now and after catching up with housework & washing yesterday, I have had a crafting day today.
I made my card for the Less is More challenge (I am hooked). The theme is Congratulations or Thank You.
Well!!! I did Thank You last week, so it had to be Congratulations (I took the easy option and did a remake of a card I did for my Son & DIL's Wedding Anniversary last week (theirs had 'Wedding Anniversary' and more pearls and had different coloured hearts)
I used 'Pearl' pearlised card - 'Textile CB folder - and the text computer generated - Marianne dies.

I am also entering this card in Crafty Creations - Anniversary challenge
Die Cut Dreams - Wedding

That's it for now, will be back with another show of today's play.

Avril x