Less is More -Week 17 - Pick a Square

Well first I must say sorry for not visiting more blogs this last week. I've been doing a lot of sewing (stage costumes for an amateur production of Alice in Wonderland) and I think I trapped a nerve in my back and wasn't able to to do anything for several days except just sit and I couldn't get upstairs to my PC. I even had to sit in the reclining chair to sleep at night!!!!! Not much fun at all! It's improving now and as long as I don't sit for too long without moving about then I'm sure it'll get better! The costumes are progressing rather slowly though. C'est la vie!
However I had to find time and energy to visit Less is More this morning and amidst all the sewing mess on my workbench found enough cardmaking goodies to make my card. Probably only get time to do one this week unless the sewing pixies visit at night and finish off the costumes for me!!!!
I LOVE square cards (check out my gallery) and this is a 5inch square as usual. Dotty embossed card in a turquoise colour (is it green or blue?) with diecut leaves and a flower in the bottom corner.(Marianne and Crealies) Since following the lovely Lady and Diva Chrissie and Mandi challenge blog,  I've come to appreciate single colour cards so much more.
The sentiment was designed and printed in Publisher (no change there then)in a slightly darker shade of turquoise and then I put the diecuts around it. A coloured pearl in the centre of the flower finished it off. So, squares and flowers, couldn't be better for me. Thank you ladies - you're an inspiration!

Now back to the White Rabbit's little jacket and then it's the Mad March Hare!! I'll post photos when they're finished.
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/05/week-17-recipe-pick-square.html

Less is More - week 16 - butterflies

Ok. I took on board what Mandi said and yes it does look better without the fancy punching on the sides. (Memo to self - less is definitely more!) I made this one in very pale blue pearlescent card with silver printing and embossing and the butterflies are silver vellum. I tried the blue shimmery vellum (below the card in photo) but it was just too dark against the background card. I did round the corners off (what is it with me and square corners?) So now it's off for our pub lunch but I think we're cycling along the Shropshire Union Canal towpath to get there (not going to Shrewsbury after all) - wish me luck I'll need it - I've not been on my bike since I broke my leg 6 years ago. I may be gone some time!

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/05/week-16-theme-butterflybutterflies.html

Less is More - week 16 - butterflies

......and so this week is butterflies ............ or butterfly! I went for three - two teeny punched ones and a bigger pop up punched one. I cut them all out of a lovely gold glimmery vellum that I've had forever and often take out just to look at! I made the sentiment in Publisher and I think it's the beginning of the signature tune to a tv programme that was on in the 70's (called appropriately, "Butterflies"!)  OOOOOerrrrr that shows how old I am - I remember it so well. Now I can't stop singing it. I printed on to ivory pearlescent cardstock and embossed as soon as it came out of the printer ( something I quite often do as my sentiment stamps are very limited and I love the effect of embossing) I punched out the corner and edges with  Martha Stewart punches and now I have a quandry. Should I punch out the back of the card to match. What do you think?

Ok that's it for now - I've still got lots of ideas 'flitting' (sorry couldn't resist that) around in my head so no doubt I'll be back with more. Off for a day out - probably to Shrewsbury - and maybe a pub lunch - so see you later!

Just to add, this is a cover for my pink Expression that a lovely lady on e-bay made for me. Isn't that bow cute?

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/05/week-16-theme-butterflybutterflies.html

Less is More Week 15 - embossing and OLC

Well first and foremost I must thank Chrissie and Mandi for choosing one of my 'White on white' cards to showcase. Wow!!!! I couldn't believe it, when I finally managed to get on to my PC this week (life just gets in the way sometimes doesn't it?) and there was my nestie flowery card - showcased!So, thank you, thank you thank you!!You have no idea what a boost that was.
Now at last here is this week's entry. Very CAS I'm afraid and definitely less is more.
A pale blue dotty embossed card (My sister and I found this card - in several colours - when she was over here visiting a few weeks ago and we went to the local garden centre who were selling the card off.And it would have been rude not to have taken it off their hands wouldn't it?) I stamped the top part of the dandelion clock (Hero Arts stamp) in royal blue and embossed it with clear embossing powder. I 'flicked' a blue pen to make the stem (the stem on the stamp was too long and went over the lines at the base) and then added some glitter glue to 'lift' it. A stamped sentiment (Dimension Fourth) also in royal blue and clear embossing powder between two embossed lines, finished it off.

Off to do some housework now then in to school for my voluntary work - Art with year 4 children - and this week it's canal art.

And finally .................................!

............. this really is the last one for this week! I must get on with my sewing. Why is it that when folk know you can sew they seem to think you must like doing alterations?And I'm such a softie I can never say no? It's so much easier to make something from scratch than alter it isn't it? Hey ho!!!!
Right, so this must be the last one (well for now anyway). I stuck with the pearl card for a base and the diecuts are out of the same card. Sizzix strip die for the branch and birdie and teeny tiny punched flowers for the blossom. A few gems for bling and an embossed sentiment (Provocraft I think) I put a couple of foam pads under the bird's wing to give it a bit of dimension.

Thanks again Limettes for all your lovely comments. I shall keep checking on everyone else when I need a break from the sewing machine.
 http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/05/week-14-colour-challenge-white-on-white.html

Less is more week 14 2nd effort.

Well couldn't resist having another go at this one, but this time I gave in to temptation and 'did flowers' I make so many card with flowers but I think it's because I love having flowers in the garden and hardly ever pick them for the house. They last so much longer outside don't they and it seems cruel to bring them indoors.
I suppose this could be a wedding card but as it says 'Congratulations' it could easily fit lots of occasions.
I used a white linen card for the 5" square base and a 'Nestie' to cut the apperture.  The centre circle is a smaller 'Nestie' and is held in place with the daisies. These were in a bargain pack I found in Poundland months ago and I use them a lot, sometimes colouring them with Promarkers.
The sentiment is the same Sizzlet I used on the other card. I finished the flowers with white Candi in the centre.
Thanks to all the Limettes who've left such lovely comments on my first card.

Close up of flower detail

Less is More Week 14 'White on white'

White on white. Don't suppose I could cheat and enter my last week's second attempt .................. p'raps not eh!!Brainbox is already working, so I'll just finish off my breakfast porridge and then set to work.

Well this took much longer than I thought it would. Easy peasy I thought - I did a white on white last week - no probs! How wrong can you be?
I've stuck with a wedding theme (hope you don't mind Mandi ) because weddings are uppermost in my mind at the moment. My daughter is getting married in December and I'm in charge of collecting vintage style china for the afternoon tea party they are having as their wedding reception. (Phew! what a task - who'd be the mother of the bride!) This isn't going to be their wedding card (something very spectacular planned for that) but it has a vintage feel which I like.
I used white centura pearl card - it has a lovely shimmer - and embossed with Provocraft Swiss dots on my Big Shot. Tim Holtz die for the old car and a Sizzlet die for sentiment. (I did have to 'doctor' the g so that it fit) The ribbon is a narrow white satin. I rounded the opposite diagonal corners.
Now for a day of sewing because it's finally raining and I can't garden. Not a complaint - the garden is desperate for water - and watering with the hose just isn't the same.
Thanks for all your hard work Diva Mandi and Lady Chrissie in keeping this challenge so interesting.
Thought you might like to see the state of my desk when I'd finished this card. OOps!!better tidy it before I start sewing.

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/05/week-14-colour-challenge-white-on-white.html?showComment=1304753812938#c2753559816678454767

Less is More Week 13 2nd effort

Second effort for this week's challenge. Kept it all white this time (not sure about that though) with a white pearl base card and the die cut in the same card. I used a cuttlebug embossing folder that says 'thanks' in different ways and languages and then used the same die (that I used on my other card) for the thanks in the centre which I mounted with teeny tiny foam pads. Have to say it looks more striking in real life and the embossing really stands out. Iembossed lines at the top and bottom to give it a more 'finished' look.

This second photo shows up the sheen on this lovely pearl card.
I'm off into the sunshine and to do a bit of tree pruning now that the blossom has finished.Hope everyone has enjoyed a great weekend too.
Thanks for looking.
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/04/week-13-lucky-dip-thank-you-or.html