Less Is More- Week 21 Challenge

I look forward to waking up every Saturday morning and heading to my computer to see what this week's LIM challenge is going to be.  This week's challenge is a sketch as follows:

As long as the basic sketch was the same, our creativity is free to run wild.  Here is what I came up with:

I used a white 5x5 card adding matted layers.  I used three different types of patterned paper for the flowers which is a Cuttlebug die.  I then used a stamp that I got in the $1 bin at Michael's.  I haven't made a single card since last week's challenge so it was good to sit back at my craft desk again and I have a feeling I'll be making some more cards today.

Less Is More- Week 20 Challenge

This week's challenge at Less is More is a Monogram.  I couldn't come up with any ideas for this one right away but once I started working, it just started to flow.

The "S" I printed from the computer.  The embossing is Swiss Dots from a Cuttlebug folder and finally the swirls are from Sizzix.  The "S" is for my mom, Sheila.

Less is More- Week 19 Challenge

This week's challenge at Less is More is In The Frame.  It also has to be a one layer card.  Plain and simple, I like the way my card turned out and I'm proud of myself in my infant stages of card making.  This is the first time I've used a card of this size, which is 5 x 5 inches. I used Tim Holtz stamps for the frame and butterflies and the sentiment was a stamp I picked up at Michael's in their $1 bin.  I colored the stamp with Le Plume II markers.  Now if I can just figure out a better way to photograph my cards with just a digital camera.  I can't get enough light without a flash or shadow.

***Update*** I edited the card with Picasa as some of you have suggested on your blog.  Thanks!

Bike Ride

My boyfriend participates in a bike ride every year which raises money for Multiple Sclerosis, or MS.  The bike ride is 150 miles or 241 km for my metric peeps. :)  I've never participated in the ride myself, however I'm his cheerleader on the sidelines.  I usually give him a good luck card before the ride and of course this year, I decided to make it.

I wanted to buy a bicycle stamp but I didn't have time so I tried using a digi stamp for my first time.  While it's easy to download and resize, I still haven't gotten the hang of how to actually print the digi stamp on your card in the correct place so I printed it on card stock and cut it out.  It was hard for me to make this card because I'm used to making more feminine cards but I wanted it to have a masculine or at least unisex feel.  I have to admit I had a difficult time with any creativity and I ended up making it odd in my opinion.  I purposely chose patterns and colors that don't necessary match and the end result?  I think it turned out really good!  This was also the first time that I've used a 5 x 7 card. (I usually use A2 sized cards-5.5 x 4.25 in) Because I am so new to card making, I haven't invested in any type of markers/pens to color the stamp so it's just the way it printed off however I used some distressed ink to make some grass and sky.  The bike ride is tomorrow so I will be giving him this card later tonight or maybe tomorrow morning.  I also created a poem on the inside of the card, which is supposed to be serious and funny at the same time and stamped "Enjoy the Journey".  I know he'll love it.

Less Is More Challenge Week 18

This week's challenge at Less is More is Monochrome. The definition for Monochrome provided is as follows:

adjective

Definition:

1. in shades of one color: using or displaying only shades of one color or black and white.

I made two cards because I couldn't decide on just one.  My cards are so simple this week.  I used a floral stamp from Tim Holtz and different colors of Tim Holtz Distressed Inks (all within the same color scheme) on the beige card stock and then the same stamp in black on white card stock.  I'll let you be the judge of which one you like best!



Jamie's Birthday

For my sister's birthday, I made her two things.  One, her birthday card and two, a shadow box with butterflies in it.  I picked pink and black because those are the colors of my sister's room.  I embossed each butterfly and put a flat backed pearl on each one. I bent up the wings of the butterflies just enough where they don't hit the glass.  She loved it and she is going to hang it in her bathroom, which is off of her bedroom.  She has been looking for something to hang in her bathroom and she said this will be perfect.  While I didn't envision it in a bathroom when I made it, I think it will be perfect in there.

Wedding Card

My friends Brenna and Darnel recently got married and unfortunately I was unable to make it to their wedding due to being out of town.  I did make them a card though and instead of it being traditionally formal, I decided to mix it up a little and do something a little more contemporary.  I embossed both layers of the card and used Provo Craft Cuttlebug die cuts for the letters.  I then added flat back pearls to the first letter of their names.  The XOXO on the envelope is from a Martha Stewart punch.