New Challenge at Less Is More!

Hi guys!

We have a new challenge for you at Less Is More: Sketch! 

I'm a bit on a hurry when writing this so let's keep it short and sweet and jump right into my cards!

Card 1 Green Birthday Card

In my first card I used tiny Paper Smooches tags dies to represent the squares in the sketch. The tiny flower stamps come from Clearly Besotted stamps and the minimalistic coloring needed was done with Copics. The sentiment is from an old set, sorry don't know the maker of that. The tags are popped up for dimension and the sentiment is simply stamped to the green card base. I try to use up my colored card and save some white!

With my green card I'd like to join:

  CAS-ual Fridays Challenge: Inspiration photo. I'm inspired by the banners in the photo. 

Card 2 Thanks

I'm literally stretching the sketch in my second card... And am afraid the CASness of this card could be better... What do you guys think? I had this pre-made black and white card base ready and I colored in 4 of the circle images to represent the sketch. The border stamp is from the same set tham the sentiment in my first card. I die cut a Winnie and Walter sentiment 3 times and adhered the pieces together to make a thick sentiment embellishment but it didn't pop from the busy background. :( I adhered the extra black strip behind it which does help but I do not like it! 

These were my two cards for you this time. I hope you like them! Our August sponsor is STAMPlorations so do play along for a chance to be invited as guest designer or winning the sponsor prize! Lot of fabulous DT inspiration in our blog and in the personal blogs of our designers. Don't miss any of the fun, do join us! 

New Challenge at Inkspirational!

Hi friends!

We have a new challenge for you at Inkspirational: 

Our guest designer this time is Jen from The Other Fickle Pixie. Her blog is truly fun, do pay her a visit if you haven't already! As always our regular DT members have also made amazing samples for you. Don't miss any of the fun all challenge details, click HERE!

In my card I've used a flower stamp and die + frame/aperture die from Paper Smooches and sentiment stamp by Verve stamps. The frame/aperture die is quite fun -you can use just the frame as it is or re-attach the rectangle it cuts out. I used just the frame now to show the opening witch is my aperture for the challenge. :) The frame is cut from watercolor card I had "colored" with Brushos. The flowers are colored in with Copics. To be honest this is my third attempt with this card -my first one had blue card base, orange rectangle in the opening + white frame... This made my eyes hurt. :) I then moved into white card base, blue rectangle + orange frame... My eyes hurt a bit less... But then I ended up even removing the blue rectangle. I think this is colorful enough as it is now! :) Or should I have saved the blue rectangle... Hmmm... Hmmm.... Too late! 

I hope to see you joining us! Happy crafting! 

I'd like to join:

CAS on Friday: Dies

Stamping Sensations February Challenge: Anything With Flowers

New Challenge at Less Is More!

Hi friends!

We are back with a new challenge at Less Is More and this time it will run for two weeks so you'll have lots of time to join in! It is a color challenge "fireworks" but you'll see from the DT cards that most of us have actually been inspired by the look of fireworks too, not only colors... Let's see how you'll be inspired!

New month brings in a new sponsor and in November it is Dies to Die for. Play along often for a chance to be our monthly winner and to be chosen as a guest designer too! This time our GD is Biggan, one of our regulars. She is a fantastically artistic card maker, her cards are often like small paintings... Love them and only wish I had such skills with water color! 

Välkommen till Less Is More, Biggan! (I try to practice my Swedish whenever I can!) 

Card 1 (above) Let's Celebrate

My first card is quite good for New Year's I think! The half-tone circle stamps by Altenew represent my fireworks and all the black stamping is made with stamps by Paper Smooches. I used Hero Arts neon inks for stamping the fireworks colors -I think these were the most bright and vibrant inks in my collection! The glittery card base was a last minute idea -I have lots of glitter card I don't use that much and I've recently tried to save white card and use other card stock that I have. Looks rather festive! A couple of silver sequins finish off the card.

I'd like to join:

Paper Smooches December Guest Designer Search

Card 2 (below) Thanks

Here are the Altenew half-tone circles again and this time the sentiment is from the same set. Very quick and basic CAS card with plain stamping! The card base is dry embossed with a stripy embossing folder for extra texture and interest but it's very hard to see in the photo -maybe you'll have some luck if you enlarge the pic. I embellished the card with clear sequins around the sentiment. 

Thanks for popping by and I hope to see you playing along at Less Is More!

New Challenge at Less Is More!

Hi friends!

We have a new challenge for you at Less Is More, a fun theme challenge "Monsters"!

The challenge blog is filled with DT inspiration, click HERE for admiring the cards and learning all the challenge details! Uniko is our sponsor in the month of October.  

The monster die cut in my card comes from Paper Smooches. After die cutting him I've sponged him with DI:s and splattered some water for texture. I gave him googly eyes just for fun. :) The banner die and sentiment stamp come from MFT. I embellished the card with clear sequins. Super simple! 

I hope you'll now head on over to the challenge blog and have a look what my inspiring team mates have made. Then it's your turn to make monster cards! Happy crafting! :)

I'm entering:

Paper Smooches October Challenge: Pink

Guest Designing at Paper Smooches

Hi guys! 

I'm here with my final guest designer card for Paper Smooches: I've had the pleasure and honor to be their guest for the month of September and play with their newest release. My last GD card is a wintry thank you-card -very CAS and very quick to make using some basic distress ink techniques, stamping, coloring and die cutting. Check out all the information about the new products from Paper Smooches blog HERE. Thank you so much Paper Smooches for having me as guest designer! 

I'd like to join:

CAS on Friday: Dies

Guest Designing at Paper Smooches!

Hi guys!

I'm here with a quick post featuring my third guest designer post for Paper Smooches. I've used the most adorable monster die from their laters release along with other dies and sentiment stamp... Click HERE for more details in Paper Smooches blog! 

I've used some basic distress ink sponging and splotching techniques in my card. I couldn't resist adding googly eyes to my monster too. :) The black frame is also sponged with DI and I've added glitter to it with Wink of Stella. Hope you like and thanks for popping by!

Guest Designing at Paper Smooches!

Hi friends!

I was the lucky winner of Paper Smooches September Guest Designer Search and here I am sharing my first card with their wonderful new goodies! Here's the stamps and dies I created this card with:

The stamps are great for planner crafting which is very popular at the moment. However, I don't have a planner/journal (yet!!) so my plan is to make cute, fun (hopefully!) CAS cards with these new stamps. These dies can be used for example for creating cute Halloween monsters but I decided to make my own background with the geometric shapes. Below is a photo of the "faux dry embossed background" I created with the shapes -my stamped card front is attached on top of this background that adds quite a lot of dimension and interest to the CAS design! I've popped up the stamped card front with fun foam for even more dimension. 

Thanks for popping by and don't forget to visit Paper Smooches for more info and inspiration! 

New Challenge at Less Is More!

Hi friends!

I hope you are ready for the monthly one layer challenge at Less Is More... This time we want to see some vehicles in your projects! Our design team has lots of fun samples for you HERE and we also have a fantastic guest designer, Marge... I'm totally in love with her cards and especially her coloring skills! 

In my card I used a fun boyish stamp set by Paper Smooches combined with a cool sentiment stamp by The Ton. I stamped this card when visiting my friend Sandie in June and did the copic coloring and decorative die cutting back home. I think this turned out so fun! 

Our sponsor for the month of August is the fabulous UK based online craft supplies store Seven Hills Crafts. Play along and you could win a coupon to their store! 

I'd like to join in:

Paper Smooches September GD search

Addicted to CAS: One Layer card

Thanks for popping by and I hope to see you joining us! 

TIME OUT Challenge Reminder

Hi friends!

I'm here to remind you of the fabulous birthday party we are celebrating at TIME OUT: We are turning 3 and are partying big time! We have 6 prizes for grabs from wonderful sponsors. Don't miss any of the fun, click HERE for all the details for what you could win and how! The theme of the challenge is 

Love and/or Friendship with the optional twist of 'spotlight stamping' where you add colour only to one raised area of your image

As you can see, I opted to twist! I die cut a Pretty Pink Posh storybook die from white card and stamped a Paper Smooches flower stamp on it with black Memento ink. I colored all the areas of the stamp that where on the "tall window" of the storybook die and left other areas uncolored. In my final card I've raised the colored area up with fun foam and added a heat embossed sentiment. The card base is covered with polka dot patterned paper. My only embellishment is a yellow enamel dot. I think this turned out pretty fun! 

I'd like to enter:

Mod Squad Challenge: Inspired by song

My song is The Rembrandts: "I'll be there for you". We all remember this from the wonderful tv-show "Friends" don't we... Sing along folks:

I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)
I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)

Paper Smooches April Guest Designer Search

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: For a Special Lady/Girl

Stamping Sensations: Close to Nature

The Flower Challenge: Anything Goes

Thanks for popping by and if you have not played along yet, don't hesitate to take some TIME OUT to craft and join us! 

A Thank You Card for Challenges

Hi guys!

Here's a card I made for a very good friend of mine who has been very supportive over the last months when I've been absolutely stressed with my work situation (all worked out super well in the end by the way!). I know she has received this card by now so time for posting!

I made this card using a Paper Smooches stamp and some fun techniques. After stamping the flower banner I masked it and also used large posts its for masking the strip behind the image. I sponged the strip with some DI:s and after that I stenciled the fish tail patterns with white pigment ink. I love how it looks! I then removed the masks, colored in the image with Copics and heat embossed the sentiment with white powder. I added some Stickles to spark up the flowers and leaves. The card I used is not normal marker paper but textured card that has little "bumbs" and it was actually very easy to color on. The texture looks lovely IRL but was hard to photograph. The color of the card is sort of off-white, creamy, looks fun too. :)

I'd like to enter the GD search for November at Paper Smooches

...Along with the monthly challenge of November at Paper Smooches: Giving Thanks 

This will also be my second entry for CAS Mix Up November Challenge:

(stamping, masking, sponging, stenciling, heat embossing, coloring in with Copics, using glitter glue)

and last but not least, AAA cards: Thanks

Thanks for popping by! 

Paper Smooches August GD Search Card #2

Hi guys!

Here's my second entry to Paper Smooches August Guest Designer Search. I've used a fun, fun set called Woofers and Tweeters and created a little "gift giving scene" with a storybook die my friend Marina cut for me with her Silhouette.  I also have to thank Milla for the beautiful sentiment die cuts! 

All the coloring is done with Copics, also for the sentiment die cut. Love the way that turned out! In addition to the stamps, storybook and sentiment dies I've also used patterned paper, SSS curved edges dies + a grass die (manufacturer forgotten, maybe Marianne Designs, maybe not!) + a tiny bow die that once came with a crafting magazine. This miniature die is really one of my faves, I use it very often! The sky is sponged with light blue ink and I've added texture to it with a Prima background stamp -maybe if you enlarge the photo, you'll see it better.

I've used the Woofers and Tweeters set before also and below is my favorite card I've made with it -well, this far -I think today's card is my new favorite!  Click here for the info of the card below with mirror stamping. 

Thanks for popping by and good luck to us all applying as GD for Paper Smooches! 

Paper Smooches August Guest Designer Search

Hi guys! 

Paper Smooches is searching for a guest designer for the month of August (click here for details) and I thought I want to give it a try. Above is the new card I made for the competition and below are two older cards I've made with this same stamp set. Below the pics you'll find links to the original blog posts. I absolutely love this happy flower set, the images are so fun to color in and it's easy to create different card layouts with them. 

Click here for details of the Blossoming Buds stamp set I used. 

In my new card I've used both flower clusters of this stamp set. The bigger one is die cut and colored in with Copics and the smaller one is used in creating the background strip. I masked the strip, applied 3 shades of inks and then stamped the outline flowers with the same ink colors for subtle look. I attached the flower panel to a black card base that I had dry embossed with a "zebra" embossing folder. The same folder is actually used in the card base of the pink card below. 

Hope you like and thank you Paper Smooches people for checking out my cards and for this opportunity to apply to be a guest designer! 

The original post with the pink card is here .

The original post with the yellow card is here.

New Challenge at TIME OUT!

Hi everyone!

The next fortnight at TIME OUT we are CASEing a fabulous card artist, Therese Calvrid from Lost in Paper. Above you'll see the beautiful card she made for us to CASE. Aren't those water color stripes, vellum, white heat embossed sentiment and flowers just amazing? All those things inspired my card. As always we allow "own twists" at TIME OUT so my twist is a completely different color palette. I just love the bright, happy look of my card and I hope Therese will like it too! The flower stamp comes from Paper Smooches and I used Copics for coloring. The water color stripes I made with a yellow Zig marker and water using also washi tape as masks creating the pattern. 

I hope to see you playing along. Our DT and guest designer Brigit have made very inspiring cards for you, don't miss them. click here !

A Wedding Card With Cute Doggies!

Hi everyone!

My friends got married last Sunday and this is the card I made for them. They own a dachshund and I thought this cute dog stamp by Paper Smooches would be perfect to make a sweet card. I used the mirror stamping technique for getting two opposite images and it worked wonders -Jennifer McQuire showed very good tips in her video here, she even used this same stamp! I used a black thin marker pen for strengthening all the black lines after fussy cutting the doggies. The happy couple and the hydrant (it serves as an altar here!) are colored with Copics. The blue bg is created with Distress Inks and water and the ground is sponged with DI as well. 

I'd like to enter:

http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.fi Feature a Creature

http://craftingmusketeers.blogspot.fi Weddings

http://pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.fi Love and Romance

http://papersmooches.blogspot.fi/2016/06/june-challenge-layers.html Layers I hope this card qualifies -it has a lot of dimension created with layering inks and stamping... The dogs are also popped up with 3d stickers!