23 February 2013

Week 108 - Paper Piercing

Our challenge last week resulted is some very inventive ideas for up in the air, but some fantastic cards emerged.  Hopefully this week's recipe is a little easier... 

PAPER PIERCING
We want to see some tiny holes dotted around on your creations this week ...  Don't forget to check out the challenge rules.. there were a few entries bending them slightly last week



My first card uses image, paper and sentiment from Pink Petticoat and I've coloured it in with Promarkers.  I used my sewing machine minus the thread to do some paper piercing around the edge of the mount.



For my second card I used a piercing tool to create the bee's buzz behind it.  The sentiment, Image and papers are also from Pink Petticoat.

I have been at my daughter's all this last week and crafting was the last thing I was able to think about..but I was back on Friday and have a couple of quick cards to show you.
This one uses two of the Framelits dies from Stampin' Up, mounted on dimensionals and with the lower shape pierced with a pokey tool. The image is from a cheap 99cents stamp set from Michael's in Palm Desert last year. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp and both are stamped in Lucky Limeade ink.


This one is a little stamp from Bloomin' Marvellous, one of SU's Salebration sets, stamped with Versamark and sprinkled with a variety of embossing powders. The lower circle was given a similar treatment, before the two circles were then pierced. The horizontal band was pierced with a little gizmo which you use in conjunction with a Scor Pal or Scor Buddy and it makes great perforations.
The sentiment is also from the Bloomin Marvellous set.

Please don't forget to try to visit some other participants in our challenge and leave them a friendly word... it means so much!

22 February 2013

Music ShowCASe Week 106

There were lots of lovely examples to choose from in week 106.
Here are our choices for our One layer Music themed cards
Great design and super pop of colour

Amazing hand-doodled music

Superb masking

A wonderful design
Jan

Superb CAS style
Thank you everyone for your contributions, we look forward to seeing them each week. 
If the the ShowCASed ladies would care to take the badge from the page at the top of the blog we would be delighted for you to display it on your blogs.
Do pop back tomorrow for our new challenge.

18 February 2013

January Winner


Hi everyone... It's my honour to announce the winner of the fab goodies from our January sponsor. Sorry it took so long... It's hard to decide!



We're sure that our choice of winner this time will be extremely popular! 

This lady has contributed to so many of our challenges and often more than once each week. Her work is fabulous and inspiring, so without further ado we have to let you know that it is 

Rebecca


If you can email us with your contact details Rebecca we can make sure you get your goodies.

Many Congratulations.
Please take the Winner's Badge from the page at the top to display on your blog!

16 February 2013

Week 107 - Up In The Air


As ever, One Layer Week caused problems for a few crafters... but there were some superb submissions.
 Mandi always used to say that Chrissie could spot upside down manuscript at 50 paces! We did have a few examples of this last week, but it must be admitted that it is very tricky sometimes to tell which is the correct way up .
For our theme this week we have chosen
Up in the air
For this we would love to see aircraft, rockets, balloons etc, although if you have none of this sort of image then we would like to see how inventive you can be with the theme.



So I only had chance to make one card this week as it's been at little bit manic at work, but I used a new set from Clearly Besotted stamps and combined this with the fabulous cloud paper from Pink Petticoat.  The sentiment is from the same set as the image. It is finished off with some faux stitching!

Chrissie


A Woodware stamp, paper pieced with scraps from the drawer. Easy Peasy!


Here is a super image from Stampin' Up, which I believe is now retired, simply stamped in Early Espresso ink then cut out and mounted slightly offset on a raised panel.



15 February 2013

ShowCASe 105 Kraft & Kreme


It's always tricky choosing cards for the ShowCASe, but so much fun choosing the winners.  Here are our choices for week 105 - Kraft & kreme




Simply Stunning



Love how the sentiment passes over the flower



Fabulous inking

We're sure that you will agree that all of these are simply superb!
Do please take the ShowCASe badge from the page at the top ladies and don't forget to check out our new challenge in the morning everyone!

09 February 2013

Week 106 One Layer

 Bad News/Good News
It seems that whenever there is bad news, there's always some good news too.
We are all so sad that Mandi has decided that she can no longer continue with Less is More, but delighted that her business is doing so well.
Our next piece of good news is that Jen has agreed to stay on as a regular designer and I for one am delighted that she has chosen to do so.
Thanks so much Jen I'm sure everyone will be delighted by your decision.

It's that certain week once more where our challenge is to make a
 One Layer Card
This time we would like you include some reference to
MUSIC
Some people are still a little confused as to just what is allowed in this category, but if you look at our Guidelines at the top of the page it may clarify things a little for you.
Please don't forget that all important 'White Space' !

Chrissie
This image stamp is from Magenta coloured with watercolour pencils and a water brush. The text stamp, a definition of music is from Darkroom Door.
Simples!
This is a mini card... merely 10 cms square which uses a tiny bird stamp from Artemio, coloured with Promarkers and with a few hand drawn notes emerging from him.

Jen


I took co-ordinations card stock to make the card base and embossed using a sizzix embossing folder and then sanded to bring through the pattern.  Finished off with a little ribbon from SU in rich razzleberry.


My second card is a really simple card using a pink petticoat sentiment printed onto card blank and then masked before the LOTV music was stamped over the top. It's tiny at 10cm square.

08 February 2013

Showcase Week 104

Jen's super sketch proved really popular and the choices for our ShowCASe this week was really tricky, but what fun choosing!
As ever we had a few people who didn't quite grasp the instructions... but what fabulous cards.

Such a bold statement.

What an amazing image!

Such a simple idea, beautifully executed!

Simply stunning...as ever!

Dedicated cutting out!

We're sure that you will agree that all of these are simply superb!
Do please take the ShowCASe badge from the page at the top ladies and don't forget to check out our new challenge in the morning everyone!

05 February 2013

An Announcement.....

Hello everyone, Mandi here...
Can you believe it was October since I joined in with Less is More.
 Where has the time gone!

It is with deep regret and a very heavy heart to say I am having to leave 
"Less is More" for good!

I can bearly imagine life before LIM. That little idea I had and then asked Chrissie,. whom I didn't know, (just admired from across the Solent) if she wanted to join me for this 'vague minimal challegne idea'...never imagining her to say yes....
But, she did!
The rest as they say is history!

Less is More would never have grown to be the sucess it is without her. I am honoured to have worked with such a talented lady. 
The best thing is I have a true friend for life, of which I am SO grateful.
Thank you for everything Chrissie, but, most of all for your friendship x
Whilst I am still holding the Oscar (te hee) I must also thank the lovely generous sponsors that supported us and gave not only the prizes, but, to Chirssie and I too. To Jen for stepping in and filling my shoes. Your cards are amazing!
Lastly I thank every one of you LIMettes, 
for also making us such a popular and successful challenge blog.
Happy 2nd Birthday to us!

"I shall miss you all very much"

So as most of you know the reason for my absence is my lovely new business.

I've been busy in the shop, would you like to see....

Aren't those old steps THE best.
 They showcase our Vintage range perfectly
They also make a superb seating plan!


Beach themed weddings are pretty popular on the Isle  of Wight. My trolley, that squeaks when I push it houses the sand and elements great I think!

 Our new opulent crowns for centrepieces. Ideal for the wonderful royal heritage we are lucky enough to have over here, with Osborne House and Albert Cottage.

The view from the doorway. We have a large round table we use to do a mock set up for our clients to envisage their tables for their big day! The colourful array of our sashes, we have over 50 different shades!

Our Valentine window

It has started to pick up and in the last 10 days I have taken 8 bookings. It si SO exciting I cannot put it into words how happy this has made me. Steve too, I have to add. He is actually in our lounge ironing sashes, bless him!

If you are still with me...

Here is my card for this weeks 
Feeble effort, but, a bit of bling for you to remember me by


 May I wish you all happy crafting and happines always.

Mandi xx


02 February 2013

Happy 2nd Birthday Less Is More

Good morning everyone...
Today is a special day at
Less Is More.

It's our second birthday and not only do we have a  fabulous new sponsor for February but we also have some amazing guests joining us.
Our February sponsor is..... Pink Petticoat.


*Prize is a £15 gift voucher*

We were delighted when Liz said yes because there are so many huge Pink Petticoat fans here at LIM...

Onto this weeks challenge...  It's a colour challenge this week and it's got to be one of our favourites ever...

Kraft & Kreme

We want to see you use only kraft and cream on your creations this week...

Now for our very special guests from our regular sponsors who are joining us for our celebrations...

Liz From Pink Petticoat



Stephanie from Clearly Besotted Stamps


Mary from Ribbon Girl


 Neil (DT) from WOW Embossing Powders

I cut a 15cm sq kraft card to shape, keeping the oval offcut from the front. I made a mix of 50:50 WOW! Primary Bark with WOW! Vanilla and triple embossed onto the oval offcut, then whilst still hot swirled it with a metal tool. I used the same mixture to emboss the sentiments (from WOW! Merry & Bright Christmas and WOW! Everyday Sentiments) and hearts (from WOW! Gratitude) - I flexed the clear stamps on the acrylic plate to follow the curve of the card. I outlined with Vintage Photo Distress Marker and shaded with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

This card uses the free stamp from Craft Stamper Magazine which I designed and which was published back in September. The sentiment is from Personal Impressions.
Jen

 I've used the brand new papers from Pink Petticoat for my card this week.. waterfall hearts printed on pearl cream card .  The sentiment is also from Petticoat.  The little hearts are the bits from the middle of a die-namics heart stacking die... the perfect size.

We hope that you enjoy this challenge and take inspiration from all our guest contributors!
Watch out in the next few days, there may well be a message from Mandi!
Have a great week everyone... and Happy Birthday to Us!





01 February 2013

Week 103 ShowCASe


Friends ShowCASe

It's always tricky choosing cards for the ShowCASe, but a joy at the same time.
Here are our choices for week 103

Rosi


such a cute image and fabulous sentiment

Lizy


Fab WOW and love the layout

Mill@n

IMG_0436_ny

great depth and love the colours

Christine



such a cute little card

Do please take the badge from the page at the top ladies and congratulations to you all!
Be sure to come back tomorrow for our next challenge! It's a very special one!!!