Less is More & Barbles 2

I've been absent for the past week due to a busier than normal schedule, but I'm back for the 52nd challenge at Less is More.  I love the Less is More challenge and look forward to participating every week.  Mandi and Chrissie have inspired so many of us with fabulous challenges and great feedback, and the community of stampers at Less is More is truly special.  I'm happy to be a part of it.

This week they gave us a sketch and asked us to stick to the sketch by using a rectangular card in the horizontal position with a vertical band.  It's a lovely sketch, and I immediately wanted to mask the vertical panel and sponge a background scene.  I also had the beautiful photograph from the Barbles Challenge at KinsaleCreations in my  head, so I used the yellow, orange, and purples from the sunset photo with a tree silhouette stamp. 

I wasn't thrilled with the first card.  The moon bothered me a bit and I felt it needed a dark edge.  I made a second panel which I matted with black and placed on a kraft card base.

Finally, I wanted to make a card for the sketch that did not use masking and sponging.  I ran a piece of white paper through my the Cuttlebug and used the embossed panel as the vertical element.  I stamped two Hero Arts butterflies, colored them with Prismacolor pencils, added sparkle to the wings with a Sakura sparkle pen (doesn't show in the photo), and cut them out.

Now I'm looking forward to browsing through the gallery at Less is More.  There is always so much inspiration to be found.  Thanks for visiting. 

Fabulous Inspiration: