Happy New Year!

Hi! I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets overwhelmed with all the Christmas stuff, not just the (self-imposed) pressure of making so many Christmas cards (yeah, I know, I should start in June! But I never do...), but all of it! It's been a bit of a struggle to pick myself up and get used to going back to work. But I finally got round to making a card, the first this year :)

This was inspired by the Flourish challenge over at Less Is More, this week's Muse challenge, and the One-Layer Simplicity challenge The Sky's The Limit. I masked a panel, stamped the flower image, and used ink dusters to create the background. I added small gems to the flowers.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Less is More: "One Layer - Flourish"

Muse - inspired by the curly flowers and the panel section












One-Layer Simplicity: "The Sky's The Limit" - the flower is reaching for the sky :)

Sweet Stampin': "Flowers"

Pink Gem Challenge: "Female Birthday"

Wisteria Wonder

Hi! Only a few hours left of Sunday, but time to make a few more cards :) I just made one for the Colour Me...! challenge, which uses one of my favourite colours!

I used a stamp from the SU Summer Silhouettes set, and added Stickles to the flowers. Here's what I made:

I'm also entering this in the following challenges:

One-Layer Simplicity: "Strip Down"

Happy Little Stampers: "Masking"

One-Layer Swirly Flowers

Hi! As always, I've been struggling with a one layer card. This one is for the One-Layer Simplicity challenge: "Strip Down". I had a couple of attempts at this, as when I emboss on a one layer card my card often goes wiggly. maybe I get it a bit too hot?

Anyway, here's my card:

I masked the strip down the side of the card, embossed the image with Versamark and clear embossing powder, and then coloured with markers and inks. I added little white dots with a Uni Posca pen to brighten the purple flower, and to add a bit of interest to the leaves.

I should have stamped the sentiment in purple or pink, as the yellow looks a bit light, but it shows up better on the actual card than it does on the photo.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

One-Layer Simplicity: "Strip Down"

Happy Little Stampers: "Masking"

Addicted to Stamps: "Anything Goes"

CAS-ual Fridays: "Pretty Patterns"

I'll stop making panel cards in a minute...

Hi! Here's another panel card, using my favourite petal stamp (I think it was from Crafty Notions, a long time ago) a tiny Lavinia blossom stamp, and a bucket full of tiny blue gems! The red flowers were stamped with Ranger Archival Ink (Watering Can), and then colored with a water brush and Stampin' Up 'Cherry Cobbler' ink. The little blue flowers and subtle ink dusting around the panel is using Distress Ink 'Tumbled Glass'.

It's not quite as faint as it looks in the photo - I think my camera was dazzled by all the gems!

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

One-Layer Simplicity: "Sparkle & Shine"

Less Is More: "RED, WHITE & BLUE"

Seize the Birthday: "Red, White and Blue!"

Pink Gem Challenge: "Red/White/Blue"

Favourite Flower Stamp

Hi! Here's another card I made today:

I made this one for the One-Layer Simplicity Challenge: 'Blossom' by masking the squares and stamping one of my favourite flower stamps into the squares.

I coloured it using the beautiful colour combination at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: