December 25th

Happy Christmas everyone xx

"Less is More" Week 47

Good morning

So here we are one sleep away from the big day! Well it is for us in England, some of you are even closer than one sleep! I'm there, apart from the usual housework, that has taken second place of late. 

Goodness knows where those fairies are lol

We are out to lunch Christmas day, then friends coming back to our house for the evening. Boxing day is spent with the same friends at our local Conservative Club. I must say I am thoroughly looking forward to the break. This season is SO busy for us isn't it!

Whatever you are doing, may I wish you all a fabulous time and also tkae the opportunity to thank you for all your support of "Less is More" and for your continued visits to my personal blog.

Our challenge this week is

Just One Word

This challenge runs for 2 weeks

For my card i used a FAB set from Close to my Heart Over the Rainbow. I love the quirkiness of it!

Colours used are Stampin Up Bashful Blue, Pear Pizazz and Regal Rose.

I stamped the segmenta, then placed by using 3d foam. Once I figured out where I wanted to rainbow to go I stamped the 'Somwhere' When I was planning it I did picture it to go off the page, but, as you can see that didn't happen!

To finish I used glossy accents on the rainbow.

Crazy 4 Challenges It's Santa

My second card is, as Chrissie has done a variation on a previous design. I tend to do this, if it works, it works, so I alter slightly knowing it will be a lot less faffing for it to look right!

The letters are Sizzix Fun Serif Upper and Lowercase, sadly discontinued now, but, there are some sets around on ebay. the stamps are Hobby Art. Coloured with Promarkers and then glittered with Glamour Dust, as are the letters.

Happy Christmas once again

Thanks for stopping by

mandi xx

Couple of Other Versions

Hello everyone

Are we ready yet?

It's big fat no from me, but, only housework stuff, rather than food shopping, present buying, or wrapping. We are out to lunch Christmas day and Boxing day, so dont; need 'dinner' things, which is a real treat! We went to Marksies yesterday and it was SO quiet, just couldn't believe it!

 Felt very weird. I guess today and tomorrow will make up for it!

OK, so I am posting a couple of cards, same design as I've done before but varied slightly

 Little Jack born this week 19th...how precious!

Black tree with pink gems, more me than the previous green!

Thank you for stopping by, don't stress yourself it is only ONE day huh!!

See you tomorrow for "Less is More"

mandi xx

Something Different

Mum saw this beautiful butterfly frame in Laura Ashley and really liked it. 

It was pre-sale when she saw it.

Well I instantly thought, I can make that!! lol

Here my take on it.....
You will see the original has a subtle pattern and the butterflies are matching..beautiful!

The recessed box frame is about 16x16, then there is an ivory mount, the 12x12 I need to stick finally, but. was trying to see how it looked.

 I made it to match the colour scheme in her room, black, ivory and taupe tones.

the background striped paper is retired 12x12 paper from Stampin Up. they are gorgeous papers, such a shame they are retired. The butterflies are cut from the same range of paper, but in a flourish pattern.

I placed the largest butterflies, precisely, but, the rest are random! Oh and there are some pearl flourishes, using liquid pearls and 3 Sizzix Swirls too. To finish I added pearls and gems to the bodies of come of the butterflies.

It's really pearly IRL. I may try to photograph again, but am scheduling this as today I am over on the mainland visiting Steve's Nan and then off to Danny, Jess and our little Grandson Joe.

BIG SMILEY FACE!

Isn;t the post horrendous this time of year. Not criticising the staff, I guess there is just so much to deliver! I have 7 separate parcels I;'m waiting for. Most for Mum, so as she is on her own in the house today she has strict instructions NOT to open or fiddle with anything lol

Thanks for coming to see me and for leaving such fabulous comments

See you tomorrow

mandi xx

Baby's First Christmas

An ex client of mine had a very premature little baby boy, Stanley. He wasnt; due until 29th DEcember and has been quite poorly, but, as of last week he is home and weighs just over 4lbs...aww bless him.

So a VERY special Christmas for Stanley and his Mummy and Daddy

Wanted to send a card and a little teddy.

CraftyCaz Challenge is Santa Hat 

so thankyou it inspired me to make this

Sizzix Fun Serif letters

Hobby Art Santa Hat [also coat and boots in the set] 

Coloured with Bashful Blue SU marker pen, glossy accents on the hat, then of course GLITTER both on the 'fur' and letters!

Thanks for stopping by

mandi xx

"Less is More" Week 46

Over on "Less is More" this week, being the third of the month it's THEME week

We have chosen

MUSIC

Chrissie and I get together and set these challenges, months in advance. WE then try to get ahead and have our samples ready. Well with the silly season under way and lots of time taken commenting to our lovely LIMettes, the forward making has gone by the way side somewhat. Hence, at the last minute I realised I have NOTHING, NADA, ZILTCH in the way of music stamps! Good one Mandi lol

So this is my feeble effort. OK I love white on white and the simplicity pleases me, but, lets face it my dog probably could have done something a bit more exciting!

6x6 card base, hammer effect card I buy from here
Sentiment printed on cmputer, font is Adore
The snowflakes are Martha Stewart, jewel embellishment from Hobby House and glamour dust to finish.

I did make another version too

Suddenly remembered [this morning] I had a music EF!!! Cuttlebug Allegro
Sparkly as the previous one

Thanks so much for stopping by

Have a great week, hope you are all ready for the big day next week...I am-ish 

and it's a very big ISH! as I've had heaps of wedding stuff to do, still to do actually for a 

new year's eve wedding, how special!

mandi xx

"Less is More" Week 45

Week 45 already over at our "Less is More" and yes, second week of the month equals ONE LAYER over at our "Less is More"

Well that doesn't fill any of you with dread now right?
We have chosen
Let it Snow

Photographing this was a nightmare! I ended up trying the mirror as the reflection seemed to show the gold embossed snowflake better than without it!

I do love snowflakes, they are so light and delicate, hence why I decided to use black lol

Supplies. Inkadinkdo stamps, stamped with Versafine Black Onyx, some are inked and stamped directly, then others are inked, stamped onto paper, then onto the card, for a lighter shade, adding dimension. I  glittered the black snowflakes with a zig glue pen, then added the obligatory gems and a swirl of liquid pearls. Maybe you can see better in the close up photo.

It really is so sparkly, but, you will have to take  my word for that!

Thanks for stopping by and for all your FAB comments, as always

Have a great week, I'm off crimbo shopping this morning...the first time!

mandi xx

"Less is More" Week 44

Good morning from a blustery damp Shanklin!

It's already the 3rd of December and I've not got an advent calendar lol

Over on our

"Less is More"


it's the first of the month and Colour

this time we have chosen

GREEN

I firstly stamped the Hero Arts branch from 'Magic of Christmas' set Then stamped a bauble from an Elusive set from 2007. I've had it that long and never stamped it.....shameful!I coloured with Stampin' Up pens and one Marvy le Plume pen, then glittered, to within an inch of it's life lol and added a couple of gems.

Penny Black Pine Silhouette stamp, stamped with Forest Green Stazon

Few pearls, gems and punched snowflakes to finish. The sentiment is Stampin Up set Seasons of Joy. I hang pearl strands, snowflakes on my tree, which is where I got my inspiration.

I'd made this and..l.lost it! lol

Entering into Di's Digi Designs Challenge - All White [Hope mine ok]
Stempelsonne Christmas tree


We have to lovely sponsors this month, do check out our blog for full details

Look forward to seeing your green entries

Thanks for stopping by

mandi xx

One layer Challenge

Over on One Layer Challenge this week the spec is:

OLW72

This week's OLW expands on my strategy for making lots of Christmas cards fast without mass producing. There are three requirements in addition to the use of a single layer of card stock:

1) use ONLY a sentiment stamp on your card...no other stamps or embellishments allowed!

2) use a NON-STANDARD size for your card

3) make at least two cards using the same stamp that vary something (color, type of ink, technique, placement of the stamp, size of card)

OH Boy!!!

Here are mine. Forgive the highly reflective photo, but, I did want to capture the mirror card!

There are endless possibilities for this challenge, great fun!

The cards are small, just 9.5cm square [Just under 4"]

I do llike small cards, although I tednd not to make them too much!

The sentiment is PTI

Thanks for stopping by and for leaving such FAB comments

mandi xx