Less is More wk26 - feeling fruity

Well, I haven't missed a week yet, so although this week's Less is More challenge threw me completely I still had to come up with something!  Chrissie and Mandi would like to see 'fruity' creations this week...

I couldn't think of anything I could use at first, but then I remembered a pack of food/ baking related die cuts that came free with a magazine - hurrah!  Embossed a scrap of red card with a Stampin Up embossing folder, attached a square of card under the die cut image, set an eyelet with my poor neglected cropadile and added some gingham ribbon. Sentiment is from Pink Petticoat, cut out with the Stampin Up word window punch.  It's not very inspired I know, but at least I've managed to make something lol :o)

Apologies for being such a rubbish blogger this weekend, I've just been so busy!  I'll catch up with you all soon I promise!

Stamp Something - summer fun!

This week at Stamp Something we'd like to see your 'summer fun somethings', and we're sponsored by Simon Says Stamp who are providing our winner with a $20 gift certificate to spend in their fab online store :o)

I'm not sure what's going on with my photos!  I've tried sooo many times to take a decent pic of this card and they're all a bit rubbish - you can hardly see my sky and there's a weird orange glow on the surfboard that isn't there in real life... no idea why!

I've used one of the fab images from the July offer of the month at DigiStamp Boutique - Molly and Tom summer fun (this one is Tom obviously!).  I've coloured the image with promarkers and added glossy accents on the fish, glasses and surfboard... the surfboard was a mistake though, I should have left it alone!  The papers are from the gorgeous Echo Park 'walk in the park' pad, with coredinations cardstock.  The sentiment is made up from 2 Elzybells stamps, tag was cut on the Cricut, the ribbon, button and twine are from my stash  and I added some orange card candy.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Paper Sundaes - beachy or summer
• Craft Your Days Away - summertime
• Do It With Digis - summer fun
• My Mum's Craft Shop - fab n funky
• Divas By Design - summer is here
• For Fun - sand/ beach
• Fab n Funky - clash of the colours
• I Love Promarkers - anything goes
• Mojo Monday - sketch

I don't seem to have enough time to get everything done at the moment... the boys have actually been quite good today, not too much squabbling anyway, but we've spent the afternoon at the park which obviously means I've not made any cards today.  Tomorrow I'm going to a Busy Bees dabble day with a crafty friend - I'm not demoing at this one, but it's not often we get the chance to craft together so we thought we'd go along and have a fun day.  So really I should be in the craft room right now getting something made, but I want to do some commenting too... oh wouldn't it be nice to gain a few extra hours when you need them?!

LOTV snippets card

I've used a LOTV die cut square on this card, so no colouring involved... so you'd think it would've been a quick one, but for some reason it's been hanging around my craft room half finished for days!

The card itself isn't very impressive, but I'm pleased because I've managed to mix snippets of different brands of papers (no idea what make!), something I usually struggle to do, I've used up one of the LOTV die cut squares which I never seem to get round to using, used a swirl die that I've only used once or twice before, and some flowers that I've got a box full of - it never seems to get any less full!  The photos have an odd pink tinge for some reason, and the cardstock is actually dark brown although it looks black in the pic.

I'm entering my card for Jules Craft Snippets Challenge, my second entry for this week.

I still feel tired from yesterday - must be getting old!  And I've managed to end up sunburnt, even though it didn't seem all that hot.  I had a halter neck top on so I've got strap marks around my neck - very attractive I'm sure!

Yawn!

No cards today... we've been to Filey for the day.  We met up with my mum and her hubby Andrew, and his daughter, her partner and their baby.  We've had yummy fish and chips by the sea, spent hours on the beach and finished the day with ice cream :o)  Filey's a couple of hours away from us, so it's been a loooong day and I'm as tired as a big tired thing from Tired Land, so even though I've got a couple of cards ready I can't be bothered to take photos of them lol!  Will be round to catch up with you all this evening though, as I've not been here to see what you've all made today.  Back tomorrow with a card hopefully!

Passion For Promarkers - animal crackers

Oops, I forgot to schedule my Passion For Promarkers card last night!  See, told you the kids were driving me doolalley!  This week our challenge is 'animal crackers' so we'd like to see all your animal themed projects.  We're sponsored by Letraset who are providing a fab stamping kit for our lucky winner.

I've used an image from the super cute Wallace Collection from DigiStamp Boutique, coloured with promarkers with a bit of glow and shadow using koh-i-noor pencils.  The papers are First Edition with dark brown cardstock from Papermill Direct.  Added some green pearls and that's about it, nice and simple :o)

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Die Cut Dreams - animal antics
• Creative Card Crew - animal antics
• Fab n Funky - animal magic
• Cute Card Thursday - for his eyes only
• Totally Papercrafts - one for the boys
• Stampin' For The Weekend - paws for thought
• Allsorts Challenge - free & easy July

I think we're off to the park in a bit, although Dex is being awkward and says he doesn't want to go... he's at that lovely stage where everything creates a tantrum.  We've been lucky to get away with it for so long I suppose!  He's 3.5yrs old and unlike our older son he didn't do the terrible twos... until now!  I'd really like my sweet little boy back please - the screaming, shouting, throwing things and hitting his brother is getting a little wearing now.  Oh well, I'd better stop waffling and get this posted!

Crafty Cardmakers - butterflies

Our challenge for this fortnight at Crafty Cardmakers is 'butterflies', so a nice easy one that everyone can join in with :o)

I'm not really sure about my card though!  I wanted to try making a background with a die cut mask, so I cut a go kreate frame and then used the waste piece to sponge distress inks through - using 'broken china', 'faded jeans' and 'black soot' inks.  The butterfly and dragonfly stamps are from the Penny Black 'salutations' set and the sentiment is Stampin' Up.  Added a pale blue pearl to the butterfly.

I think it needs something else to finish it off, but I'm not sure what.  I'm struggling to make anything particularly interesting at the moment, as I just can't concentrate with the boys off school... there's so much noise and always someone who needs something.  Hubby's off this week too, so we're planning some day trips and I doubt I'll get much crafty time.  Off to catch up with lots of commenting now as that's another thing that's a bit tricky to fit in with everyone at home!

Less is More wk25 - button or ribbon

This week's challenge at Less is More is 'button or ribbon' or plurals thereof.  I really did think this was going to be easy - I love using buttons, although I don't use my enormous ribbon stash often enough.  Mrs Mojo heard about the boys being on the LONG school holiday though, and she's done a runner... can't say I blame her really, the noise in my house is fairly unbearable.  I did manage to make a couple of cards though...

Not much to say about this one really!  White linen cardstock is from Papermill Direct, the pink probably is too.  The green gingham is a digi one from Pink Petticoat, flower buttons and ribbon from my stash.  The 'friend' sentiment is Stampin' Up.

Kraft cardstock is Stampin' Up, with dark brown card from Papermill Direct.  The circle stamp is from an Inkadinkado set, sentiment is CC Designs and the grid stamp is Kaisercraft - all stamped in memento 'rhubarb' ink.  Button and bakers twine from my stash.

I'm also entering my cards for Jules Crafty Snippets Challenge, as everything apart from the card bases have come from my scraps.

Stamp Something - embellished!

This week at Stamp Something our challenge is 'something embellished', and we'd like to see you use your favourite embellishments.  Our sponsor is the fabulous Sugar Nellie, who are providing 4 lovely stamps for our lucky winner.

I've used a fab Sugar Nellie stamp called Upside Down, coloured with promarkers.  I've had a go at making the sky and grass background with promarkers too - need to work on this a bit though!  The papers are First Edition, with black cardstock from Papermill Direct.  Flowers were cut with my favourite MFT die, and I added some black pearls from my stash.  Sentiment is computer generated.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Sugar Bowl - sketch + optional lace (sorry, I tried but lace wasn't working out for me!)
• Charisma Cardz - sunshine colours
• Dream Valley - summer
• My Mum's Craft Shop - card for a teenager
• Fussy & Fancy - summer

Anniversary tree...

Here's a simple anniversary card I've made for my auntie (and her hubby of course!), using a gorgeous image from the Valentine Bird Collection from DigiStamp Boutique.

I've printed the image onto ivory linen card from Papermill Direct, and added the text using New Garden font.  I also outlined the hearts and filled in the bird's wing using a sakura clear stardust pen, but as usual it's not really showing up in the pic.  Red textured cardstock is also from Papermill, the black is core'dinations.  Gingham ribbon from my stash.

Please scroll down if you'd like to see my daylight lamp review, and click the link at the top of my blog if you'd like to enter my candy :o)

My lovely new daylight lamp...

Do you remember me telling you about the daylight lamp I was asked to review by the Daylight Company?  I was intending to write my review days ago, but realised I couldn't possibly take photos of my desk, it was in such an appalling state... so I had to have a tidy up especially so the lamp could have its picture taken :o)

It arrived packaged really well, and took hardly any putting together at all - I didn't even need hubby to help, which is very unusual for me!

Hmm... think I should have cleared my desk completely, it still looks a mess!  Oh well, it can't be helped - I seem to work best in clutter.  Although the lamp is quite big, you can see it fits in perfectly and it's a fab modern design, and nice and sturdy.

I love the way the head can be swivelled so you actually get light exactly where you need it, and it makes my craft room lovely and bright.  It also has a magnifier... now I had one of these on my old lamp (now relegated to the kitchen) and never used it as I could never get it in the right position for a good view.  This one's really easy to position though, and I've used it quite a lot.  I used to get headaches while colouring, but with the combination of the bright natural light and the magnifier I can sit and colour for hours :o)  And of course I can colour at night too, and it's just like working in daylight.

So it has a thumbs up from me, I love my fabby new lamp - thank you Daylight Company, I feel very lucky to have been asked to do this!

CAS-ual Fridays - sweets & treats

I've been wanting to make a card for CAS-ual Fridays 'sweets & treats' challenge all week, but I couldn't decide what to make.  Then I had a bit of a tidy up in the craft room today and came across a set of Elzybells stamps I'd forgotten about....

I've stamped the girl image, and then masked her and stamped a Kaisercraft grid stamp behind her in memento 'sky blue'.  I also used a cookie image from the set and stamped that several times over the grid panel.  The sentiment is from the same set.  I coloured the image and cookies with promarkers, apart from the shadow under her feet, which I always do with koh-i-noor pencils.  The stamped panel is mounted on pieces of brown and blue cardstock from my scraps, so I'm linking my card for Jules Crafty Snippets Challenge.

I'm also entering my card for the following challenges:

• Allsorts Challenge - free & easy July
• Papertake Weekly - getting cute

We had a great time at the cinema last night :o) We saw Bridesmaids, and it was sooo funny - a good silly girly film.  Made a nice change to laugh all the way through, because usually when me and Di go to the cinema we choose weepy ones and both of us sit there sobbing and sniffing lol!

Passion For Promarkers - sketch

Time for a new challenge at Passion For Promarkers and this week we have a fab sketch from Michele... I seem to not have it saved though oops!  Pop along to the blog to see it though, it's a good one :o)  We're sponsored by Some Odd Girl and our lucky winner will be able to choose 3 digistamps.

Not the best pics, a lot of my shading isn't showing... might have to take another pic later!  I've made this one for my auntie - the one who's only 3yrs older than me... I'm an only child and she's the youngest, born years after her brothers and sister - my mum is the eldest.  So we grew up really close.  Not sure why I'm waffling on really lol!  Anyway it's Di's birthday today and we're off to the cinema tonight and leaving the hubbies at home with the kids :o)  She loves her coffee so I thought she might like this stamp...

I've used a Sugar Nellie simply sassy stamp - 'luv a latte', coloured with promarkers, with koh-i-noor pencil for the shadow and glow.  The papers are Echo Park 'walk in the park', sentiment is Penny Black, butterflies were cut with a Stampin' Up embosslits die. Ribbon and pearls are from my stash.

Oh - there's a link to my blog candy at the top of my blog if anyone would like to enter!

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Totally Papercrafts - girly girls
• Birthday Sundaes - anything goes (birthday)
• Simon Says Stamp - anything goes (2nd entry)

An inky one...

I made this one about a week ago I think, when I was having a play with my distress inks, but then for some reason I forgot to blog it...

I think I used Scattered Straw, Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick, on linen card, to create the background and then edged everything in Antique Linen, but I'm not totally sure.  The stamp is Hero Arts 'wildflower garden' stamped several times across the card, sentiment is Penny Black.  Quite a simple card really, but I find it so relaxing playing with the inks like this :o)

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• The Stamp Man Challenge - anything by T!m (just TH inks as I don't have any of his stamps - yet)
• Papertake Weekly - hot hot hot (reds, pinks, oranges etc)

I forgot to mention last week, but we finally gave into pressure from just about everyone and had Dex's hair cut... we've always liked it quite long, sort of 'surfer dude' style - his hair's very blond and a bit curly.  But honestly, the way people went on about how he looked like a girl and how 'cruel' we were keeping it long... anyway we got it cut... I hate it!  Waaaaahhhhh!!!  Morgan's hair is short and it suits him, but Dex's hair definitely looked better long... oh well, I'm going to just let it grow again and ignore everyone in future lol.

Less is More wk24 - circles

This week at Less is More Chrissie and Mandi would like to see 'circles' - and it has to be more than one circle. I've used some of the new stamps I ordered with the Simon Says Stamp voucher that I won at Papertake Weekly...

For my first card, I've used an Inkadinkadoo stamp set, and stamped various circle images from the set onto linen card, using memento inks in 'pear tart', 'paris dusk' and 'grape jelly'.  The sentiment is a CC Designs stamp.

The plane image on my second card is from a little Kaisercraft stamp set, stamped in 'tangelo' memento ink and then cut out.  I've cut a circle from a scrap of MME paper, and used the 'waste' piece rather than the actual circle.  Mounted this piece (raised up with foam pads) onto teal cardstock from Papermill Direct, added a CC Designs sentiment and my cut out plane.  I've also added a strip of orange cardstock that I've de-bossed (totally on purpose of course lol!) with the swiss dots folder.

I'm also entering my cards for the following challenges:

• Cute Card Thursday - going round in circles
• Sweet Stampin' - one for the boys
• Totally Gorjuss - all about boys

I'm feeling a bit bah humbug at the weather today - we were supposed to be going to a family BBQ tonight, but it's been called off because of the rain.  The boys are very disappointed and grumpy, especially Morgan who's been going on about it all week... think we might let him stay up and watch a film with us instead.  Off to do a huge catch up session with you all now, as I don't seem to have had much blogging time over the last couple of days!

Stamp Something - Christmas in July!

Our challenge for this week at Stamp Something is 'Christmas in July'... now I did say I was going to be more organised this year and get my Christmas cards started early, but this is only my second one... oh well, never mind!  We're sponsored by DRS Designs who are providing our lucky winner with a $15 gift voucher to spend in their fab online store.

I've used a fab new image from the Snow Peeps set from Digistamp Boutique, coloured with promarkers, and had a go at making clouds using memento 'sky blue' ink and a handcut mask.  I'm really not happy with this card, I just couldn't get into a Christmas mood... I had a much better idea when I'd nearly finished this, but didn't have time to make another one!  The paper is DCWV, black cardstock is coredinations.  The sentiment is Craftwork Cards, punched snowflakes with a button and pearls from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the 'Christmas in July' challenge at Creative Friday.

We've had a lovely day today :o)  We swapped Dex's nursery days around so that he'd be there today, and went to see the new Harry Potter film - it was fab!  We'd planned on doing something yesterday for Pav's birthday, but nursery are fully booked on Thursdays... then we realised that Harry Potter was released today, so it worked out perfectly.  And when we got back there was a package for me - I won a Simon Says Stamp voucher at Papertake Weekly, and my order (all stamps lol) has arrived... can't wait to play with them!

A hedgie card for hubby

Here's the card that I (finally) made for hubby - it's his 30th today but I've not put his age on the card... I assumed he'd get lots of '30' cards and get fed up of seeing it, but actually he hasn't got a single card with his age on!  Oh well...

I bought this Penny Black stamp from Crafty Devils Papercrafts while we were on holiday in Devon, but this is the first time I've used it.  I've stamped it in memento 'rich cocoa' and then coloured it with promarkers, with a bit of koh-i-noor pencil for the shadow.  Added a heart pearl in place of the 'o'.  Papers are cosmo cricket, with brown coredinations cardstock, ribbon is from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Truly Scrumptious - fab sketch
• Sweet Stampin' - cute & cuddly
• Simon Says Stamp - anything goes
• Crafty Creations - boyz to men

Just had to show you the cute but very silly cake that Dex chose for Pav...

I said he could pick any cake, and he was debating between this and a pink butterfly but this one won lol.  I'm not sure it was worth the £15 it cost, but it's very yummy :o)   Pav looked a bit bemused when we brought the cake in though!

Hubby's birthday card...

Well ok, this one is actually hubby's card from the boys... his birthday's tomorrow so I've got time to make one from me, right?  Late one for me tonight I think lol!

I've had these animal stamps for ages and hardly used them... actually I'd forgotten all about them, but they're quite cute aren't they?  I've no idea what make they are though.  I've coloured them with koh-i-noor pencils blended with sansador, and added glossy accents to the balloons.  The sentiment is made up from various Elzybells stamps.

There are plenty of legs on my card, so it's a second entry for Less is More, where the challenge is a one-layer card featuring something with legs.  And it's also my entry for One-Layer Wednesday's 'make it personal' challenge.

Passion For Promarkers - gingham

It was my turn to choose the challenge at Passion For Promarkers for this week, and I chose gingham, just because I love it :o)  We're sponsored by the fabulous Sally-Ann at DigiStamp Boutique and the lucky winner will get to choose 6 lovely images.

I've used the adorable Karate/ Judo Sammy for my card, and he's coloured with promarkers apart from the glow and grounding which was done with koh-i-noor pencils.  I've been playing with the promarker fine nibs again, and although I still need some practice, I REALLY like them... now I just need a fine nib for every pen lol!  The papers are Papermania, with Stampin' Up Kraft card, and a button and twine from my stash.  Sentiment is computer generated.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Allsorts Challenge - free & easy July (2nd entry)
• Here Come The Boys - sporty

Crafty Cardmakers - one layer card!

It was my turn to pick the theme for this fortnight's challenge at Crafty Cardmakers and I decided on a one-layer card!  Now I used to be absolutely terrified of making these, and I remember wailing at Chrissie and Mandi at Less is More when they had their first one-layer week... I've made quite a few of them now and I've found that I enjoy the challenge.  I'm still not convinced that my efforts are all that great, but at least they don't make me cry anymore lol!

I have of course made this card so that it also fits with Less is More, where this week's challenge is a one-layer card featuring something with legs!

I dabbed distress inks (in Broken China, Shabby Shutters & Faded Jeans) directly onto an acrylic block, sprayed the block with water, and then used this as a background stamp - an idea I've adapted from one of Vicky's fab creations a while ago.  I then used a heat gun to dry the background, and added a stamp from the  Flourishes 'kids at play' set (yes, that set again!), stamped in 'paris dusk' memento ink.  The sentiment is from the same set.  I finished with a light spray of iridescent 'spray & sparkle' over the stamped area, which gives it a subtle shimmer, but that's not showing up in the pic.

I'm also entering my card for the following challenges:

• Cupcake Craft - your favourite challenge (I've chosen 105 - blue & green, and 149 - single layer card)
• Sentimental Sundays - inky fingers

Ooh and look what arrived today...

The Daylight Company have sent me this daylight lamp to review - how lucky am I?!  It's all set up in my craft room already, and I'll be trying it out this afternoon :o)

I've got a poorly boy home from nursery today.  Dex has had a streaming cold all weekend and hasn't been sleeping very well so I thought I'd better keep him at home today.  All I've heard all morning is "I need my nose wiping mummy!", every few minutes... hopefully he'll have a sleep soon so I can get something done!

Eat cake...

Here's another card I made while I was laptop-less... it's amazing how much you can get done when you can't waste hours on the internet lol!  I'm thinking of having a couple of days each week where I'm not 'allowed' to switch the laptop on until the evening, maybe that way I'll actually get ahead for the first time ever...

No colouring involved with this one - I've used a LOTV die cut image, thought it was about time I actually used some of them.  I've mounted the die cut square on a scallop nestie, but cut the top part of the scallop off so that I could add ric rac ribbon instead - the ric rac was just plain white but I coloured it with a promarker.  Papers are Dovecraft 'back to basics' with core'dinations cardstock.  Sentiment is from Pink Petticoat, pearls from my stash.

Off to catch up with some commenting, while trying to come up with some ideas for hubby's birthday cards from me and the boys... he's going to be 30 on Thursday, my younger man lol.  Normally I find him quite easy to make for, because he's always really nice about my cards anyway, but for anyone's 'special' birthdays I always go a bit blank!

Flourishes stamps again

I've not been able to comment most of this afternoon - I'm getting an error code, so apologies if I've not managed to catch up with you yet... I'll have another go after I've posted this.  Just noticed a few summery challenges so thought I'd enter this one...

I've used stamps from my Flourishes 'kids at play' set again, I really love these stamps :o)  I kept it really simple and used up some paper scraps again, and just lightly inked all the edges.  The little buttons are Papermania, red ink is Memento 'ladybug'.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Papertake Weekly - anything goes + optional buttons
• Totally Gorjuss - summer time
• Crazy 4 Challenges - summer
• One Stop Craft - summer time
• Allsorts Challenge - free & easy July

Right, fingers crossed I'll be able to leave some comments now, hope it's nothing to do with the new laptop!

Shiny red laptop!

I'm back... but the new laptop is taking some getting used to - as some of you may have noticed I managed to publish a post with no text lol!  I'll get the hang of it I suppose!

The break from blogland seemed to do me good and I think Mrs Mojo might be on her way back, fingers crossed.  I've been trying to use up some scraps while I've been computer-less, so I thought I'd share a few of my makes...

I'm linking these up for Jules Crafty Snippets Challenge as they're all made with scraps, but as there's a few I won't list everything I've used!

Right, let's see if I can get this published properly now lol, and then I can come and catch up with you all :o)

Laptop is going to computer heaven...

The poor overworked laptop has finally given up, so it looks like I'll be missing for a few days until we can get a new one sorted... sob!  I might get a few mins here and there on hubby's computer, but he generally needs it himself, so don't think I'm ignoring you if I don't visit you for a while.  Back by the weekend, hopefully!

Passion For Promarkers - tie a yellow ribbon...

Our theme for this week at Passion For Promarkers is 'tie a yellow ribbon...'.  Have you got the song stuck in your head now lol?  We're sponsored by Joanna Sheen, and our lucky winner will receive a £10 voucher to spend in Joanna's fab online shop :o)

I've used one of my fabby new 'sherbet pip' Sugar Nellie stamps.  They're brilliant at Funky Kits - I only ordered my stamps on Friday and they arrived Saturday morning, I like not having to wait!  Isn't this little girlie just so cute?!

I've coloured her with promarkers and koh-i-noor pencils.  We were lucky enough at PFP to receive some samples of the new promarker fine nibs from Letraset, and I've played with them for the first time on the hair... I still need to practice LOTS but I think the nibs will make things like hair and grass detail so much easier.  I ordered more of them as soon as they appeared on the Letraset site yesterday anyway lol.  Papers are MME 'ooh la la for him', flowers cut with a MFT die, pearls and ribbon from my stash and a computer generated sentiment.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• The Sugar Bowl - sketch + optional make your own flowers
• My Mum's Craft Shop - something old, something new (old ribbon, new stamp)
• Allsorts Challenge - free & easy July (2nd entry)

I'm having huge problems with my laptop at the moment.  It keeps switching itself off and doesn't seem to be charging properly, so I think it probably needs a new battery.  Hopefully it'll last (in between driving me mad shutting down constantly!) at least until we can get it sorted, but if I happen to disappear at some point it's probably because I can't get the bloomin' thing to switch back on!

CAS-ual Fridays - Krafts-men

Today's card is for this week's challenge at CAS-ual Fridays, which is 'Krafts-men' - a masuline project using Kraft card.  Here's my very simple effort...

I thought it was about time I inked up this cute Elzybells bear stamp - I must have had it about 2yrs and I've never got round to using it!  The sentiment is from Elzybells too... such a shame they closed.

I've stamped the bear in Memento 'rich cocoa' onto Kraft card and again onto a scrap of gingham paper so I could paper piece his 'parachute'.  Coloured him using koh-i-noor pencils.  The blue card is actually a bit of cardboard packaging I found that happened to be the right colour lol :o)

I'm also entering my card for the 'anything goes' challenge at Oldie But a Goodie and the 'free & easy' challenge at Allsorts.

Less is More wk22 - shades of blue

I was quite pleased when I saw that this week's challenge at Less is More is 'shades of blue'... I was sure I could manage that... and I had a lovely inky session in the craft room and came up with this...

And it's really not the look I was aiming for!  I was thinking a lovely serene, peaceful scene, with a touch of shimmer.  However, all my blue inks seem to be a bit too vibrant or dark to be serene... sigh.  He looks a bit like he's fishing underwater doesn't he?!  Poor love.

Anyway, I've made the background using distress inks in 'broken china' and 'faded jeans' and added some shimmer with cosmic shimmer spray in 'aqua lagoon'.  It looks quite splodgy in the pic but it does actually have a nice shimmer.  The image is from a Flourishes set called 'kids at play', stamped in 'paris dusk' memento ink.  Sentiment stamp is from a Little Claire set.

A quick question...

Have any of you got one of these acrylic blocks?  I really want one to use with large background stamps, but want to know if it's really worth it first... cos, you know, £20 seems a LOT for an acrylic block.  So - good buy or waste of money?

**Edited to add - I should probably have mentioned that I've tried using a big shot plate, but because of my sore hands (I have some silly skin problems that seem to mainly affect my hands) I struggle to get decent pressure for a large stamp**

Stamp Something - digi

Well somehow it's July, and as it's the first Friday of the month that means it's time for our 'digi day' challenge at Stamp Something.  We have lots of fab sponsors so loads of great prizes to be won :o)

Mrs Mojo still hasn't come home so I'm muddling along without her... I promise not to moan though as I must be boring you all senseless by now!  I decided a day off from cardmaking was needed today, see if that helps - so I'm not even going to open the craft room door.  I'm watching the Wimbledon semi-finals instead lol.

I've used a cute Dilbert Dragon image from one of our sponsors, The Crafty Pad, coloured with promarkers and koh-i-noor pencils.  The papers are K&Co, with Stampin' Up Kraft cardstock.  Craftwork Cards sentiment and buttons from my stash.

I'm entering my card for the following challenges:

• Papertake Weekly - sketch
• Allsorts Challenge - lemon & lime
• DYSU Challenge - squares
• Truly Scrumptious - things with wings

Thank you everyone who left lovely comments on my previous grumpy moaning post... I'm still fairly sure those cards were rubbish lol, but it was nice of you all to say they weren't :o)  I think it's time to start thinking about some blog candy soon as an extra thank you to you all for putting up with me - and also because I'm one follower away from 600, wow!