Less is More and One-Layer Wednesday

I'm sharing two one-layer cards this morning.  I made the first for Less is More 93, where the theme is houses.  I stamped this lovely Northwoods winter scenery stamp and added some very soft color with Prismacolor pencils.  After masking the image, I sponged some soft blue ink on the hillsides and in the sky.  A Sakura pen added some sparkle to finish it off. 

My second card is for One-Layer Wednesday 113 where the challenge is to use dark red, green, and yellow/gold on a one-layer card.  I used Paper Smooches gently seasoned.  This is my first Paper Smooches set and I love the tree combined with the polka dots.  So fun!

It's been lovely this long weekend to find some crafty time.  I hope that wherever you are in the world, you are finding some time to create, too!

Ann

One-Layer Wednesday 108

The one-layer Wednesday challenge at Simplicity is to use one stamp to make two cards, attempting to get a different look on each card.  I used a beautiful Penny Black stamp called day-dreams that I've had and have never used.  I rarely color, but I pulled out my Prismacolor pencils that I've had for about seventeen years and gave it a go. 

My first card didn't photograph well.  I used bright, cheerful colors on white cardstock.  Normally I would have placed a strip of patterned paper along the bottom, but since this is a one-layer card I masked and sponged.  I felt it needed that color at the bottom to ground the image and balance the color in the flowers.   I'm thinking of adding a bit of black and white twine along the top edge of the masked area.

For my second card I tried to achieve a softer look.  I stamped the image in brown on kraft, colored the flowers, and sponged a little white ink around the edges.  This card is most definitely a simplified CASE of this beautiful card by Sylvia B.  

I decided to go for a third look and masked a rectangle in the center before sponging distress ink.  I flicked some water on the sponged area, and if I were to remake this card I probably wouldn't do it again.  I colored the image with my pencils and added a sentiment below. 

I was glad to get some card-making in last night and stayed up much too late, but I sure had fun.  I also made several cards in silver for Less is More, which I'll be posting later.

Thanks for visiting!

Ann

One-Layer Wednesday 106

The One-Layer Wednesday challenge this week, hosted by Heather Telford, is to make a one-layer card using sponging.  I love sponging and inking, but have never used masking to create snowdrifts as Heather does on so many of her cards.  Using her tutorial and CASEing any number of her cards, I gave it a whirl.

My fifth attempt (yes, fifth!) was decent, but I didn't like the sentiment I chose.  I cut it down and mounted it on a white card base.  Not thrilled with the second sentiment, either, but I'm calling it good!

Thanks for visiting.

Ann

LIM 84 & OLW 105

Just popping in with a quick card for Less is More 84 and One Layer Wednesday 105.  The challenge at Less is More is to make a one layer card with foliage.  The OLW challenge has a theme of autumn.  The two fit perfectly together and this is the card I came up with.

I think the stamp is Inkadinkado.  Paper is PTI kraft and inks are Memento rhubarb and VersaMagic jumbo java and pumpkin spice.  Sentiment is Studio G.

Thanks for your visit. :)

Ann

OLW 104

I'm playing along with One-Layer Wednesday 104 today.  We're asked to make a one-layer card that expresses gratitude.

My entry uses a cheap Studio112 stamp.  I really love the images on this grid stamp and have found that it stamps wonderfully with chalk inks.  I used VersaMagic pumpkin spice, jumbo java, eggplant, and .  Sentiment is from PTI lovely layers.

I first stamped the card on scrap cardstock to experiment  with inks.  It stamped so well I decided to cut it down and use it for a card, too.  I like to experiment with different layouts and I thought two were worth posting.  The sentiment strip is just a narrow strip of cardstock that I stuck straight down into my corner rounder. 

Thanks for visiting.

Ann

One Layer Wednesday 100

I've missed a lot of One Layer Wednesday challenges due to being gone this summer, but I didn't to miss this 100th challenge.  It's all about transportation and I used PTI fly away.   Since it's a square card, I'll also enter it into CAS-ual Fridays 65.

Thanks for visiting.

Ann

Three butterflies

The challenge at Less is More is to use the number three - three stamps, three images, three somethings. . . .  I'm sure I'm not the only one to combine this challenge with sketch 199 at Clean and Simple stamping.

I took the sketch literally and used butterfly stamps.  I started out with Hero Arts designer butterflies.  I was trying out different color combinations when my favorite butterfly broke while cleaning it!  Has this ever happened to anyone before?  It was so sad.  I love that butterfly and I wasn't cleaning it that vigorously, merely wiping some ink off!

At any rate, I switched over to Martha Stewart doily lacy butterflies and used just one color, Brilliance Mediterranean blue, for a classic blue and white card.  I cut my card narrower than usual and combined one larger butterfly with two smaller.  I added a PTI sentiment from damask designs and some bling to each butterfly, making this card also fit the One-Layer Wednesday challenge to create a one-layer birthday card with bling.

I've just returned home again from another short trip, this time to the beautiful Oregon Coast with my two daughters, my mom, and my mother-in-law.  It's a lovely tradition for my girls to have these memories with their grandmas.  And so lovely for me to come home to such friendly comments on my blog.  Thank you for your visits and your kind words.

Ann

The Beautiful Oregon Coast:

Sketch 199:

Supplies:
Paper: PTI white
Ink: Brilliance Mediterranean blue
Stamps; Martha Stewart doily lace butterflies, PTI sentiment
Other: bling from stash

Bordered Sentiment Cards

Last night I made a couple of cards for several challenges.  Both of them use the bordered sentiment technique described at PTI's Make-It-Monday.  The first card is a simple one-layer card also inspired by Less is More (something shiny) and One-Layer Wednesday.

The One-Layer Wednesday challenge, hosted by Heather Telford this week, is to make a card inspired by something in your kitchen.  I opened the pantry door and the first thing that jumped out at me was my daughter's water bottle.  It's been at school on her desk all year, but since Wednesday was the last day of school, it's back at home now.  I was inspired by the circle designs on the bottle as well as the colors.

I added bling to some of the circle images, so it also qualifies for the Less is More challenge to use something shiny.  I don't always know what to do with bling, but I love it on this card!

I made a second card using the colors from ColourQ challenge 142.  I have to say I never would have put these colors together, but I love them.  I used the same layout as the Make-It-Monday sample card.  Stamps are PTI Mehndi Medallion, which is one of my favorite sets.  I used some white ric rac, but in the morning light it looks much creamier.  I liked this card better last night at midnight! :) 

I tried it mounted on both white and dark blue.  Which do you prefer?

ColourQ Inspiration:

Stamping on the Edge

Susan's One-Layer Wednesday challenge hurt my brain cells this week.  Stamp on the edge - the edge of the card, that is.  She asked us to stamp up to any edge without going off the edge. 

The first card is made using a Memory Box stamp called vintage peony.  I colored it with Marvy brush markers, huffed on it, and stamped as close to the edge as I could without going off.  I added a PTI sentiment. 

I don't know if my second card qualifies.  The image doesn't get as close to the edge as on the first card.  Image and sentiment are from a TPC studio set.  Ink is Memento tuxedo black.

OLW 90 - Dudes Rule

Just popping in again today to share the masculine card I made last night for Susan's One-Layer Wednesday Challenge to make a one layer card for a guy.  I used the beautiful wplus9 set guiding light to make my card. 

I was totally inspired by this tutorial I came across on Crafting the Web.  Theresa used Memento cantaloupe, tangelo, and potter's clay for her inked background and her card is absolutely stunning.  I was curious to see what those colors would look like sponged on a kraft card base.  While I do like how it turned out, I think it is missing that luminous quality achieved when inking on white and letting some of the white shine through.

I added some hemp cord and probably should have just done a knot since it's a masculine card, but I rather liked my bow and didn't want to take it off!

Supplies:
Paper: PTI kraft
Stamps: wplus9 guiding light, PTI sentiment
Ink: Memento cantaloupe, tangelo, potter's clay

OLW 89 - Something Sweet

I had fun this holiday weekend playing with One-Layer Wednesday 89, hosted this week at A Paperie Journey.  We were asked to use something sweet on a one-layer card.  I played with three sweet PTI sets. :)

For the first two cards, I used the Hero Arts large plaid background stamp to stamp a border strip along the bottom.  I finished it off with a bit of twine.  I only had red, but when I won some blog candy from Jenny at Crafting in the Country a while back, she included some other little goodies in the package.  It included the pink and white striped twine, which was a perfect match for the watermelon card!

Supplies
Paper: PTI white
Stamps: PTI fruit fusion apple, Hero Arts large plaid background
Ink: Memento ladybug and bamboo leaves
Twine: My Mind's Eye

Supplies:
Paper: PTI white
Stamps: PTI fruit fusion watermelon, Hero Arts large plaid background
Ink: Memento bamboo leaves and rosebud
Twine: unknown 

Supplies:
Paper: PTI white
Stamps: PTI sweet as can be
Ink: Colorbox chestnut roan, pink, robin's egg, lilac; Memento desert sand, rosebud; Versamagic key lime
Other: buttons from stash, Scor-Pal

OLW 88

Heather Telford is now one of the hosts of the One-Layer Wednesday Challenge, and her first challenge is to make a mini-masterpiece.  We are asked to confine our stamping to a 2" x 2" area.  Only the sentiment can be stamped outside of that area.

I made two cards for the challenge, and they most certainly have been inspired by any number of Heather's cards.  For both cards I masked a 2" x 2" area in the upper left corner, heat embossed an image, and sponged.

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts delicate leaf clusters, PTI sentiment
Ink: Distress Inks (wild honey, barn door, rusted hinge), Memento red brick
Paper: PTI rustic white

Supplies:
Stamps: Fiskars floral flair
Ink: Memento rosebud, grape jelly, Distress Ink dusty concord
Paper: PTI white

Think Outside the Box

One-Layer Wednesday 87, which closes in about thirty minutes, is to make a one-layer card that is not square or rectangular.    I used this fabulous teacup template from Paperlicious Designs, which I cut out by hand.  The inside of the handle was fussy to cut out, but worth it, I think.  The only change to the design was to cut the bottom of the card straight across instead of curved so it would stand up better.  I used Stampin' Up Baby Blossoms for the flowers.

The last seven years have seen the passing of two great aunts and both of my grandmothers.  I have a number of lovely cups and saucers from each of these women who were so important in my life.  I chose a Royal Albert moss flower teacup as the inspiration for my card.

I made one with gold edging to mirror the gold in the cup, but wasn't thrilled with it.  I'm also not thrilled with the placement or color of the sentiment.  This card definitely is not finished.  For now, though, I've given it all the time I can and must move on. :)

I thought I'd also share some baby shower invitations I made recently for a friend.  Not sure they qualify as one-layer since I did add some trim and brads.  However, they're definitely not rectangular or square!  I love how these turned out, but they were time-consuming to mass produce.  Probably not the best choice I've ever made. :)

Thanks for your visit today.

One-Layer Wednesday 86

Dinner was late tonight because I had to make a quick card, photograph it before the light completely left the sky, and link it to One-Layer Wednesday before 9 PM.  One-Layer Wednesday is the challenge that brought me into blogland; it's one of my favorites and I always try to participate.

For OLW 86, Susan has asked us to make a one-layer card that honors a woman in your life.  I used PTI round and round, which I picked up on eBay last year but have hardly used.  I experimented with different color combinations and found two that I liked well enough to photograph.

This card is for a friend of mine who has been struggling with a very serious illness.  Despite the difficulty of her life, she is always thinking about others.  Recently, she surprised me by having a bouquet of flowers delivered on my birthday.  She is such a lovely person and truly a wonderful friend.

OLW 84 & Less is More 60

Last night I made a card - what a treat that was!  :)  Having missed the last two One-Layer Wednesdays and the last Less is More, I was determined to participate this week.  The One-Layer Wednesday Challenge is to make a one layer card using pink and orange.  I chose to use my only butterfly set, Hero Arts Designer Butterflies. 

 

Placement of the butterflies along the left edge was inspired by Gayatri's Inspired by Pinterest challenge.  The Less is More challenge this week is to combine three past challenges.  The three challenges I chose are: one layer off the edge (week 6), butterflies (week 16), and things that move (week 29). 

Gayatri's Pinterest Inspiration:

One Layer Wednesday 81

I love the One-Layer Wednesday challenge at Styles Ink this week.  Make a one layer card using a cream card base, black ink, and just a hint of bling.  I think that's the perfect recipe for a beautiful card. :)

Sometimes I spend forever on one-layer cards, but this was one of those rare cards that just came together super fast.  I used a Close to My Heart set that I picked up at a friend's garage sale last summer.  The ink is Brilliance lightning black, so it has a fabulous shimmer to it that looks lovely against the cream base.  I added two little pearls for my bit of bling.

Please excuse the blurry pictures.  I'm going to have to see about setting up a light box of some kind to improve my photographs.  

Supplies:
Stamps: Close to My Heart Treasures
Paper: PTI vintage cream
Ink: Brilliance lightning black
Others: Recollections pearls

One Layer Wednesday 80

I've been avoiding One-Layer Wednesday 80, but this morning I sat down and kept at it until I was relatively happy.  Susan asked us to use two images, two colors, and masking on a one-layer card.  I chose to use two hearts as my images and for my colors I used Memento London fog and Color Box robin's egg.  I masked one of the hearts before stamping the second one.

This was a hard challenge (Susan used the word diabolical), and I still don't know if I did it right.  I used the same image twice for my two images. Was that cheating? 

I didn't get things centered correctly on this one, so I cut it down and made a square card.  

I was also inspired by FTL 179 at Clean and Simple Stamping.  I did originally place the images and sentiment in the bottom left corner, but they just wanted to be up higher and more central.  So I moved them. :)

One-Layer Wednesday 79

One-Layer Wednesday 79 is hosted by Jennifer at Styles Ink this week, and the challenge is to use as many different stamps as possible (at least three) on a one-layer card.  This was the perfect opportunity to use SU baby blossoms.  I used NINE stamps from the set to make this card.  I stamped the frame first and then masked it before stamping the floral images.  I'm looking forward to exploring different color combinations with this wonderful set.

Supplies:

Paper: PTI white

Stamps: SU baby blossoms

Ink: Memento, Versamagic, Color Box

Less is More 54

Ack!  The Less is More challenge is a toughie this week: one layer card and stripes.  I love one-layer cards, but the stripe part threw me.  Not having lots of stripes in my stash, I used a stamp from PTI Round and Round to create rainbow stripes.  I'm linking this one up to One-Layer Wednesday, as well, since it definitely has more than five circles.

The stamp consists of two rows of circles and dots.  I inked each dot separately and the Memento teardrop shape sure came in handy for that.  It also helped that I finally cleaned my gridded acrylic block.  It was so inky I could hardly see the grid lines. :) 

I also made a quick Valentine using a striped bee from the Hero Arts be happy set.  I made the sentiment on the computer.  Not much to say about this one, except that the wings are colored with a Sakura sparkle pen, so they have a nice sparkle to them.

Supplies:
Paper: PTI white
Stamps: PTI round and round, Hero Arts be happy
Ink: Memento