Card fest & less is more challenge

Hello to you all. Today I have more cards to share with you and I'd like to show you a new technique I've used which is really easy but very effective.

First of all two cards I made for my lovely MiL's recent birthday



From us



From the boys

Let's zoom in on that sentiment...



Happy Birthday

This is the card that I tried my new technique on. All credit must go to Vicky for this one, she likes to use this technique alot and after seeing one of her latest creations I was inspired to have a go.

For a 96 year old lady - My Nan!

I think you can see the sponging a little better and the stamped image on this zoom in shot.

It involves lightly sponging ink (from an ink pad) very subtley onto the card to form the basis of a background, in this case the foreground of grass and the sky overhead. Then when you're happy with this, simply stamp floral images over the top to achieve a hedgrow type of effect. I finished by adding a sentiment to the sky (try to align it a little more carefully than I have done here) and tiny cut-out butterflies - on dimensionals to make them stand up from the card. Hey presto! Very simple to do but a lovely effect. I had such fun playing with this idea and as is usual once you try something you start to imagine all sorts of possibilities. Let me share a few of Vickys inspiring creations with you, which use this technique.Here , here and here

Finally, I saw this sketch on the Less is More challenge this week and couldn't resist having a go.

                                            

I made two cards but I'm only entering one as I'm not sure my floral card fits their strict guidelines, but I'll show you both.

The first definitely has a Cath Kidston flavour to it. I punched out three flowers, layered them and curled in the edges. I then very lightly sponged the edges in a rich red colour to give them more definition, once again something I picked up from Vicky.



Ooops a missed birthday



Pretty flower



A card for a young man who has just turned 14

I really like this one. It's so hard to make a card with a masculine feel so when you get one that hits the spot it feels so good. This is my entry for the challenge and the eagle eyed amongst you will see I've been busy with my sizzlet die again. Look at the colours aren't they great, so earthy and apt for this time of year.



A monogrammed card - very masculine!

Well it's my Cinderella morning so I'm off to do horrid things with a duster and a vacuum cleaner, then a coffee and some sewing.

See you soon.