Less is More Challenge no. 306

Happy Saturday. Yippie, I've had  time to play two weeks in a row at Less Is More. This week it's with their one layer challenge. And, (doing the happy dance), my mojo is working two weeks in a row. This could have something to do with also creating 15 Christmas gift tags this week. Don't you just love it when your creativity is flowing? I was inspired by the pop of color on Susan's card who is one of the LIM divas.

This image is a practically ancient Magenta woodblock stamp. I doubt this company exists any longer. When I purchased it I had none of the tricks up my sleeve for stamping in different colors. I used it then by stamping the image in black and painstakingly coloring each of the flower petals in various colors. It never had much of a wow factor for me. Now, with the world-famous MISTI tool, and a little post-it tape strategically placed, stamping each flower, though on one block, proved much easier. I also un-mounted the stamp so I could use it in the MISTI. I am slowly doing this with all of my woodblocks, but I must confess, it often proves a bit tough in terms of letting the wood go. Like some others in this necessary part of a stamping journey, I don't know what to do with the wood. I've racked my brain and can't come up with a thing. I try to re-purpose as much as possible. Any ideas? Please share.

I used an A2 white card base and stamped in Catherine Pooler colors, grass skirt, orange twist and fiesta blue inkpads. These were included in her Foundations Box which is available in her store. I believe she will ship worldwide too.

I hope at this busy time of year, you will take time for some creative therapy other than decorating the house and baking. That's important too and you likely won't see me here next week, however, card therapy keeps me sane.

Blessings,

Erica

Incy Wincy Challenge, Christmas Tic tac toe

Well, here is the weekend and now the holidays are upon us, I've plenty to do. But you can bet I'm going to squeeze as much card, tag, and baking creations as I my fingers can bare. I've got lots of plans. I do every year, so let's see how far I get.

I'm joining Incy Wincy Designs challenge. I love the concept of bingo for creating cards. It gives my mojo a boast almost every time. Here's my card using candy cane in an ornament and using a sentiment with the word "Christmas" in it. Nothing new on this card. Wait for that. It's coming soon.

So I hope you will have time to visit Incy Wincy Designs or the challenge of your choice this weekend. Have a great one.,

Blessings,
Erica

Less is More Challenge no. 305

It's been awhile since I did an LIM challenge. I check them out every week, and then the day followed by the weekend slips away from me. I made up my mind to get it done this time and here we have it. My card uses the stamps from Catherine Poolers' Foundation kit. Catherine Pooler included 3 basic stamp sets and 5 ink pads...just right for someone starting out who isn't sure what to buy after  they've bought the basic  tools.

I used the circle stamps from one of the sets and used the primary colors LIM challenged us with.

I used a basic white A2 card base and stamped in rocket red, one of the CP colors, then a brilliant blue (retired) from SU and yellow from A Muse Studios (they just went out of business).  The sentiment is from a set by Poppy Stamps.

Head on over to Less Is More and accept the challenge and have a blessed week.

Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge no. 122, Turkeys

Good afternoon, how's the day treating you and hopefully you'll have a blessed weekend. Over at Simply Create Too we are checking out turkeys, not the human-kind..tee hee.

So here's my card, made with a Sizzix die set and matching  stamps, glitter paper and leaf punches. The itty bitty pie and sheaf of wheat is from a set by the Sassy Club, which is an on-line .com that produces calendar goodies. I did this card using a piece of transparency in the easel style. The base and mats are SU cs. I colored the turkey body with watercolor brushes. I hope my turkey will make someone smile. I'm headed over the challenge to see some creativity.

Hope you will have a chance to play along with us in the next two weeks.

Blessings,

Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge no. 122, Turkeys

Good afternoon, how's the day treating you and hopefully you're have a blessed weekend. Over at Simply Create Too we are checking out turkeys, not the human-kind..tee hee.

So here's my card, made done with a Sizzix dies and stamps, some glittering papers and leaf punches.

Hope you will have a chance to play along with us in the next two weeks.

Blessings,

EricA

Simply Create Too challenge, No, 120

I know...it's been a while. And I have no excuse that makes sense to anyone except me.
Suffice it to say that life can be busy.
At Simply Create Too for our latest challenge, we celebrate  Halloween as I'm sure many challenge blogs are. Many people enjoy this prelude to the plethora of end of the year holidays.

I have all the Tim Holtz Bird Crazy stamps and I get a kick out of the accessories that go along with them. So here's my card for our challenge. I hope you'll get some time to join in on the fun soon.

The witche hat has loads of sparkle from  a clear Wink of Stella. I used watercolor paper and Ranger distress inkpads to sponge color on. Some sequins in silver rounded out the card.

I hope you'll get some time to join in on the fun soon. Our challenge ends on the 28th.

Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge no. 116, Use Feathers

Hi Stampers,

I hope you're having a fab weekend. We have clouds here in AZ, which is good, since it means rain...eventually. We certainly need it.

At Simply Create Too, we're tasked to make a card using feathers. I found this beautiful fall/leaf embossing folder at Tuesday Morning and it's 5x7, from Crafters Companion. The embossing is quite deep. I used SU old olive cs and a newly purchased die from Simon Says, by Impressions Obsession,  that I diecut with a coppery glittery paper. I attached it onto a piece of dsp from my stash, matted by black cs with a zigzag piece of black cs for interest, then placed the diecut feathers from heavy weight vellum  and tied a twine bow and placed it in the corner.

I'm also entering this card at the Linky Party #19 at Crop Stop Challenge,  I'm not using any of their products, but that's easily rectified. :D. A little on-line shopping tomorrow maybe.

For good measure...i.e., more comments. Shameless, I know. 4 Crafty Chicks challenge using leaves. These embossed leaves almost appear stenciled to me.

I hope you can find some time to play. At Simply Create Too, we always have two full weeks to join in.

Blessings,
EricaSimply Create Too

Simply Create Too Challenge no. 114, Lots of Sparkle

Hi Stampers,

I'm a bit late writing my blogpost for my card which is at Simply Create Too. But you, on the other hand have more than 10 days to post something with lots of sparkle.

I took the easy sparkly way out, but to be honest I do find shaker cards to be a bit of a bother. It's a good thing they have lots of WOW power, or I'd never be bothered with them. I will post a second one later in the week. For now, I hope you enjoy this birthday card made for a friend. It has already arrived at her home to liven up a 60ish birthday.

Blessings,
Erica

Less Is More challenge week 285 Theme Repeat, Repeat, Repeat

Hi friends,

I'm heading to the Less Is More challenge. The divas are asking us to repeat, repeat and repeat some more. My family would rather I stop repeating myself, but that's another story for another day. So, I got busy and created this. I own many pairs of glasses, so that I can always have a pair at hand, so I thought the theme quite appropriate.

I got out several  stamp sets that had eyeglasses in them and the little Kawai smiley face for the images. I sponged a home-made stencil with some distress inks and stamped the sentiment in Memento sky blue. I used watercolor paper and stamped in Simon Says Stamp hybrid black ink. Then I used a black base.

And then because this was such a fun challenge, I made this one too. This card is specifically for Time Out Challenges No. 61, Inspired by Words. I had this block stamp of a single crayon and then I added a sentiment, I was fortunate to find that's a perfect match for it. The MISTI tool was invaluable to stamping the individual colored crayons onto a one-layer card.

There are a few days to play along with this challenge, so get a move on it.

Blessings,
Erica

Crazy Bird for Cut It Up challenge

Hi friends,

I'm in love with the Tim Holtz Crazy Bird stamps and accompanying add-ons. The fact that they can also be diecut just adds to the fun.

This card was made for the Less Is More challenge of last week -- or was it the week before? Any who, these birds are so much fun to color and find the appropriate sentiments for. I'm certain that I will get my money's worth from them. And that doesn't often happen when, "I just have to have that set."

Since I missed the LIM challenge, I'm linking my card up in the Cut It Up challenge, where they are celebrating their 100th anniverary with Anything Goes and that's the same challenge they started with

I stamped in Memento ink and colored in copics. The speech bubble diecut is from Stampin' Up and the sentiment is from Maymay Made It.  

Blessings,

Erica

Less Is More, Color Challenge no. 283

Hi Friends,

I hope you've had a fun and safe weekend. Three days in a row is always a good time for my family. We ate too much, got too much sun and oohed and ahhed at fireworks and the grands are wrinkled from swimming. Nothin' but FUN.

I did manage to squeeze in a card for Less Is More. It's colored rather in a boorish way, but this is the colors of the kitchen in my home. I live with my daughter's family and though they accommodated me with two lovely rooms...one of which is my craft room, we don't share the same taste in decor. They are quite tame with their colors opting for lots of browns. It doesn't bother me even when I'm cooking. I should note, I'm the chief chef. I have lots of space, light and a double oven.

I've made a 6x6 card with a brown base covered by a creme card 6x6 embossed piece from We R Memories. The image and sentiment are from a set by Art Impressions. I colored with copics and a bit of wink of stella. I used a dotted diecut to stamp on. The size of the card helped me to make certain I had enough "white space."

The week is almost past, but head over to join the divas is you've a chance to.

Blessings,
Erica

Snow Much for Challenge no. 112, Christmas in July

Hi Friends,

I gotta admit, I'm not much of a fan for Christmas in July cards. I'm not a Christmas fan in the first place and I actually have fewer and fewer cards to send-off as I've become older. I recognize that it's normal, but it isn't fun. I'd like to know if Hallmark even turns a profit on Christmas cards these days, since young people rely more and more on social media.  I may just look it up.

Well, I didn't want to let my team down at Simply Create Too so here's my card.

I have quite a few snowflake dies from different companies. I suppose I like snow. How that could be, I'm not certain, as I vowed to never be around the stuff in person again, after leaving New York and moving to sunny hot Arizona.

This is not my original design, having found it on YouTube. For further details, should you want to CAS this card, leave me a comment.

I hope you have some time to play along with us in our challenge.

Blessings,
Erica

What...no post in June?

Hi Friends,

I'm not sure what I've been doing to keep me so busy that I haven't posted this month. I have been making cards, and I have been taking a few photos, but the time to actually sit down in front of my laptop and not just check email, or watch YouTube, has eluded me.

So, let me see if I can fix that with this Father's Day card that my grandson who is going to college asked me to make. This is for his step-dad, whom he has grown closer to the older he gets. My grandson actually commissioned me to make this and asked my opinion on what he should get his dad. I happily made the card and gave some ideas. He chose the safe way -- a gift card.

A short sentiment and Happy Father's Day is on the inside.

We're having a heatwave here in AZ. I can stay inside most of the time and stamp away as I just made a small haul from Simon Says Stamp and my hands are itching to use it.

Blessings,
Erica

Let the Crazy Birds Sing

Hi Stampers,

It's our #110 challenge at Simply Create Too and we are using red, white and blue to commemorate Memorial Day. I purchased the Crazy Bird stamps by Tim Holtz and I love water coloring them and adding sentiments.  The dies are amazing on point and there are lots of sentiments made especially for the stamps. This saying which I have no idea why it is fuzzy -- is from a long retired Stampin' Up set. Hope you enjoy my card and have time to join our challenge this long weekend.

Mother's Day Daughter card

Hi Stampers,

I can't believe I've let May slip through my hands and haven't [posted one card. I've been a crafty girl,..graduation, birthday and Mother's Day as well as a swap of pocket letters. I just have a difficult time being bothered with taking photos. I've finally purchased a tripod...a cheapie, but I can now do an occasional video. Sadly, my editor is off to college in August, so videos will not be polished versions.

Here, I tried my hand at vintage or is it shabby chic. I can't tell the difference, but I do like the way the card turned out. Have a look and I'll see you in June.

Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge #108, Ladies Only

Hi friends,

I can't believe I've not posted but one time this last month. So lazy of me, as I've been creating quite a bit. I've entered a pocket letter swap, made several cards and just finished a flower box card. I promise to post that by Monday.

In the meantime, Simply Create Too is having their challenge, Ladies Only and it runs until the 13th of May.

I pulled some old stuff out to make this card...papers, stamps I've had forever and embellishments. My die hugs sentiment is new. I just love the font..wish I could write like it. And the sequins aren't exactly old.

I hope you enjoy my card and find some time to play here. The challenge is a broad one, that you should be able to enjoy.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge no. 106, Use Purple and Green

Hi friends, At Simply Create Too, the challenge no. 106 is to create something with the colors purple and green. I confess. I'm not much of a purply stamper. I know plenty of people who adore purple and there are indeed many shades of purple. So here's my card for the team challenge. Green definitely took center stage. I think a bit lighter hue might be preferred.  It's also quite blurry,

I used a creme base and the green mat is stamped with a Hero Arts BG stamp in versa mark. The flowers are a die and stamp set by Hero Arts. I stamped in versa mark, then used Ranger's distress green embossing powder. I colored the flowers with watercolor pencils and added some tickles for a bit of zing. The petals got a bit of zing with my Spectrum Noir glitter pen in clear. The sentiment thanks die is from Savvy Dies. The words, "You're the Sweetest," well, I've recently taken to purchasing only stamp sets with words, and for the life of me, couldn't find this one. It's stamped in SU craft white and embossed with white embossing powder. Some flat-back lilac pearls and round the card out. Now why don't you go and have some card-making fun, especially if you like purple and green.

 Blessings, Erica

A Fun Easter Card

Hi Friends,

I usually do not create fun cards for Easter, choosing to create faith-based cards instead. But the Simon Says Stamps kit for March included a bunny die and I'm a sucker for dies, so I got it and proceeded to make some cute cards. Then I had to decide who of my snail mail friends would enjoy them. I ended up creating four altogether and here is one of them.

Aren't the bunny peeps just adorable? The die set included a little bow and three sizes of bunnies. I had fun coloring with pastel watercolors and adding Wink of Stella for sparkle. The sentiment is not from the SSS kit, but from Maymay Made It Stamp of the month. I'm finding I enjoy having stamps come to me in the mail. My big box craft stores do not update their selections often enough for my taste.

I will share one more peeps card with you tomorrow.

Blessings,
Erica

Less Is More...Let's get citrusy

Hi friends,

I'm blessed to have been able to have citrus of some kind for the past 17 years. Ever since moving from New York to Arizona, I've had citrus trees myself, or neighbors and/or relatives who have had an abundance to share with me. Often native Arizonians don't even harvest from their trees because they're sick of lemons, grapefruits, and several varieties of oranges. That hasn't happened to me yet. I eat them, juice them, bake with them and decorate with them. And, don't even ask me how much I love the scent of orange blossoms. 

Ha Ha. I'll bet you were certain you'd be seeing fruits, Well, I haven't got a one citrus fruit in my stash...I plan to rectify that. Instead, I had these cute little fishes. Tropical fish can be of many colors, so I took advantage of that. I was eager to use my newest die set, from Just Rite Dies, called, Three in a Row. I colored with watercolor pencils and watercolor brushes from SAI.

The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp kit set. The fish images are from a set called, Perfectly Clear Stamps. I've had them for years and never got around to them, as I'm not much of a cutsie stamper. But they fit into these boxes perfectly and I loved that I the fish face each other.  

Head over to LIM and play with the divas. They are having a fun time.

Blessings,

Erica

Simply Create Too Challenge no. 104...It's Green

Hi friends,

Do you love green? OK, if not, who doesn't love St. Patrick's Day? And doesn't just about half the world have a wee bit of Irish in them?

At Simply Create Too we are challenged to use green as much as possible. The nice thing about green is that it goes beautifully with any shade of white or creme/beige. So for challenge, here's my DT submission. The base is white and there is a bit of border using dsp. I used ribbon and lace from my stash. I decided to make a round tag from a seldom used die set and then mat it on a circle. The image is a Studio G stamp that I love because it has the sentiment on the pot of gold itself. So I don't have to put it somewhere else on the card. I punched a couple of shamrocks using the dsp and mounted it onto a claddagh embossing folder by Cuttlebug.

There's two full weeks to play along with us and I'd love to see your entry as I do my round of comments.

And just for the heck of it, I thought I'd enter here too. Craft for the Craic. You've got an entire month to play along with them.

Irish Blessings,
Erica

Hang In There, LIM Challenge

Hey Stampers,

Hope you're doing well as the week draws to a close. Hang in there...it's almost over for those of you who have the weekend off.

Less Is More is having a wire challenge. OK, I'm so old that the very first thing I thought of was using a telephone....SERIOUSLY, I did. Not to worry, I am a cell carrying owner as in Apple 6. So, the second thing I thought of was my teeny clothing hangers, compliments of Tim Holtz. That man loves doodads. It has taken me four days to find the itty bitty things. The upshot of that is that I've been gently reminded of all the doodads I actually own, most un-used.

I had the perfect stamp image to go with it, a Studio "G" $1.50 cutie. I bought this some time ago, because of the price. When I saw the challenge, I knew what I'd do. I just needed to find those hangers.

Easy CAS one layer, white card, stamped with Black Memento tuxedo black. I considered coloring in the little gift box, but decided this card really is best as CAS.

Go on over to the challenge and play or just welcome the newest Diva designers.

Blessings,
Erica

Love You Bunches

Hi Friends,

My second post of the day...rare for me indeed. Three day weekends help a lot. I feel like I can get it all done if you know what I mean.

For some reason I created quite a few Valentine's Day cards this year. Perhaps I am missing my husband whom I lost three years ago. He truly blessed me in so many ways. I have sweet memories including Valentine's Day.

Here's a card that I made using new and current Stampin' Up dsp. I am absolutely over the moon with their dsp collections this year. That rarely happens for me. Did you know there is a smart way to take advantage of getting a sample of all their papers? Several of their demos do product shares when the new catalogs become available.  They invite anyone to join in whether or not you are their customer. You get a 6x6 sample of each dsp paper usually for around $30.00
I've seen ribbon shares as well. If anyone visiting would like a link to the demo I use, just leave your request in the comments section and I will be happy to give you a link to the one I am most familiar with.

Thought I'd give this a go at Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog.

The heart is a stamp and die  from Michael Strong that I embossed with platinum embossing powder from Rangetr and the punch is Martha Stewart. Ribbon is from my stash. The sentiment is from Jillibean Soup, "Handwritten Sentiments." A few sequins round it out. This is a standard A2 card base with some pink used for a base for the dsp.

I have one more card to share that's a bit more whimsical...gotta get a pic.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Blessings,
Erica

I'm Late to My Own Party

Hi Friends,

At Simply Create Too, we have our challenge 102 mid-post entries going on right now. Oddly, I forgot that I am now in group #1, so my inspiration entry was posted on our challenge blog, bot not here. So, hence, my blog title.

So no need to go on and on, we all err now and then right. The key is not to do the exact same thing again.

Here's a close-up of my card. This is a bit fussy for me, but I enjoyed making it.

Hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day. I've already begun to be good to myself with a bit of on-line shopping. And, you do still have until the 19th to post a card for our challenge. Be good to yourself and do some crafting this weekend.

Blessings,
Erica

Less Is More...Kissing Technique, No. 259

Hi Friends,

Wow! I'm off to a great start...actually submitting more than two cards for challenges and one of them is my fave, Less Is More. The divas pulled open the technique drawer and took out an oldie but goodie, the kissing technique. I remember creating more than my share of cards using this technique.

Here, I used an SU set called Flower Patch for the flower and leaves. The butterfly is a stamp from Hero Arts/Sizzix. The sentiment is from Fiskars and I stamped it side of the panel for some interest.
It was already formed in this undulating shape. I stamped with Memento inks for the colors and Versafine for the sentiment. I added a few sequins on as it looked rather empty since I had chosen to put the flower in the corner. The base is a white 5x5 card.

I hope you enjoy my card. There's bit more time to play at LIM. I hope you have a chance to do so.

Blessings,
Erica

A Double Challenge

Hi Friends,

Less is More wants us to use a flourish on a one layer card.

Well, Downton Abbey ends with this last season and I hope it ends with a flourish and lots of love, hence my card. How I am going to miss that show.

The base is quite white and the ink is black versafine. The gem is embossed silver. I just couldn't get a crisp photo. Our weather has been a bit unusual for us...very cloudy and quite wet.  I have used a stamp which is part of a set of flourishes I've owned for many years. It's moved from one kind of storage container to another and has lost it's cover and details. The gem is from a planner set by Starsinpalm, available through YouTube.

I am also submitting for the challenge at Stamplorations CAS/Silver where a bit of silver is the order of the day.

Blessings,
Erica

Red and White Sorta' Day

Good Day friends,

Here are two cards that I made in a nice and simplistic way using dies I've had forever. I felt like red and white today, so the thank you card was perfect. It uses a spellbinder die that's been its storage pocket for quite a while and the second is a Marianne Designs die and the sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp's kit a few months back. I love their kits. The stamps are great. I love the little extra stamps they include with the set. I often find myself using them interchangeably with other stamps for that little extra something. But today, it was all about the font used for this birthday sentiment.
Into my stash these go. I know they'll come in handy soon.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Simply Create Too Dt Challenge no. 100

Happy New Year to everyone who stops by. We're well into the century and I'm feeling super blessed to have experienced 50 yrs. of the previous century and now 16 years of this one. Oh my, the changes I've seen.

Here is my card for the SCT DT with a theme of "Celebrate." Won't you join us in celebration of anything that suits your fancy and post your card in our challenge. My card celebrates one of the February birthdays in my life. I used my new Kureake watercolor pens. A banner from IO and some sequins enhance the celebratory mood. There's a lot more sparkle IRL, but you get the picture.

I also found a "new to me" challenge Seize the Birthday I know I make far more birthday cards than other occasion, so this challenge will be a good for me to find new inspiration as well as to post my cards.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica