Christmas cards for 2023

 Hi, 

Yes, it's me. It's been a while hasn't it?

I thought I'd share my Christmas cards for this year that I gave to friends and family.

It's been a strange year and a very busy one. I lost my dad in January so with the funeral to arrange and all the official stuff that goes with a death and then clearing out his house, I didn't have a lot of mojo or time. I did manage to fulfil most of my LIM DT posts and the odd birthday card but that was about it.

Then in May we moved house. I thought I was really organised and we did manage quite well until we started doing the renovations we'd planned. I'm far too old for all that upheaval but eventually the work was finished and the house feels like a home again.

So, when it came to Christmas cards I didn't really have much idea where I was going with them. I started with one design, liked it so much I used the same design but in different colours then went on from there. You'll see there's a running theme to them all but it turned out so much easier and quicker and I have had some great feedback so I'm pleased with the outcome.

Hopefully 2024 will be a little bit more relaxed.

This one turned out so well I made another,

Both the blue and the green card has a lovely sheen to it. The gold on the green looks very classy I think.

This one is on white linen card and the trees are cut from pearlised pastel card.

For this one I chose card in the brightest colours for a different affect.

I think my little tree dies have more than earned their keep this year don't you.

Less is More # 497

 

Hi there!

Todays challenge at Less is More is a goody, it's also a saddy as it's our last challenge of the year.

It's alphabet fortnight and we are up to the letter D for Deck the halls.

My card is exactly what it says on the tin, a Deck the halls card,

White card from Papermill Direct

Square dies for frame from Die-namics

Holly die from Alexandra Renke

Sentiment by Sugar Pea designs

Banner die from Catherine Pooler

I also added a tiny scrap of paper that was left from a sheet printed from a CD by Artilicious designs and some tiny red gems for berries from my stash

All thats left is for me to say,

 

Merry Christmas

& A happy New Year

from us all

 

Less is More # 496

 Hi there, 

I'm here today to share my Less is More DT card for our latest challenge.

A nice easy one this fortnight, Anything Goes as long as it's CAS

As you can see I've gone with a Christmas card.

CaS Christmas cards are great for those last minute, just remembered someone cards. Even better if you find the main componant already cut out in your odds and ends box.

I made a frame for this one just to take away the blandness but still leave it CAS.

Tree Die...Simply Graphic

Star, rectangle  & banner die...Die-namics

Sentiment...Mama Elephant

Thank you for visiting my blog, please check out the LIM blog for some super inspiration

Feel better soon.

 Hello there,

I've popped in today to share a card I made for my sister in law who has just had an operation for breast cancer.

She is the most positive person I know and is  dealing with it wonderfully. 

It's a nice simple card as she doesn't do fussy.

I used an embossing folder from Spellbinders. It's a 3D one so some lovely depth to it.

The flower is made using a die from Alexander Renke using a scrap of smooshed paper and the leaves are part of another flower set from AR.

The sentiment is PC generated.

Thank you for coming to my blog today.

Less is More #494 Hello Sunshine

 Hello There,

I'm back with my DT card for this fortnights Less is More challenge,

It's a one layer card challenge too so don't forget lots of clean space and so layers.

As it's mid October and getting cooler and rainier by the day in UK it didn't seem right to have an actual sunshiney card

so I compromised with a gorgeous Sunflower or two.

The stamp is from Globeland, bought through Amazon. I used a part of it for this card.

Coloured with a mix of Promarkers and Spectrum Noir pens.

The sentiment is from a set by Flourishes, now retired.

Please check out the rest of the DT on the Less is More blog for lots of inspiration.

Thanks for popping in

Birthday card

 Hello there,

It's ages since I posted anything other than a challenge card. This card is for my daughter in law Sabine.

I used this gorgeous rich green pearlised card from Papermill Direct. The flowers are Altenew Pen Sketched Flowers simply stamped in clear ink and embossed in gold EP.

I added a strip of gold mirror card along the right side and a sentiment by Mama Elephant.

I finished off with some jewels from Pink Fresh Studio.

Thanks for popping in, I'll try not to leave it so long next time x

Less is More # 492

 

Hi there LIMettes,

We're back with another fabulous challenge at Less is More, it's Alphabet fortnight and we're on the letter 'C' for celebrate.

We could be celebrating anything you want from passing a driving test to a milestone birthday. A birth, a Christening or a marriage, the choice is yours.

We look forward to seeing your creations.

My card was a quick and simple make.

I used candle stamps from Sugar Pea designs stamped in 3 different pinks from Versacolour and embossed in clear EP.

I cut them out with the matching dies used lemon yellow glitter card for the flames.

The sentiment is from Sugar Pea designs Birthday Wishes set stamped in Magenta Versacolour ink and cut out with banner die.

Thank you for popping in

Less is More # 491

 

Hello there,

We have a super new challenge for you at Less is More this fortnight.

Any goes is always a thrill to see when you have free reign. Just remember to keep it CAS. Lots of white space and few embellishments.

 

This is the first outing for me, for this die set from Alexandra Renke called Artist Leaves curly. I teamed it up with a leafy stem from the Magnolium die set, also from AR.

The pink solid leaves are cut from a piece of card I'd smooshed ages ago.

The sentiment is by Avery Elle.
 

My second card is using an aperture die from Pink Fresh Studio.

I cut and aperture in the card panel very slightly smaller than the die then adhered the die cut carefully.

I used another piece of smooshed card, this time in greens and probably made using Twinkling H2 O's behind the aperture.

The sentiment is, again from Avery Elle, stamped in clear ink and embossed in white powder on black card.

Please visit the Less is More blog for some super inspiration from the rest of the DT

Thanks for popping in

Less is More # 490

 

Hello there,

We have another fabulous challenge at Less is More starting today. We have a colour challenge and that colour is ORANGE.

Anyone who knows me knows very well my favourite colour is orange so I might just have got a bit carried away with this challenge.

I love messing about with paints and inks aswell so I had a little dabble with the shaving foam and some acrylic paints for my background.

I made a frame using two rectangle dies and after a rummage in my snippetts box I found a small piece of this spotty paper and used it to cut two butterflies with a Memory Box die.

I thought this one made a good thank you card so used a sentiment from Visible Image.

For my second card a I reached for the alcohol inks and Yupo paper.

I'm still like a child when it comes to playing around with inks and get really excited when they turn out just how I want them to.

I made another frame and used a leaf die from The Stamp Market.

The sentiment is computer generated.

My final card is using the tissue paper method, Loll Thompson has some fantastic videos showing this technique Here. It'll be easier than me trying to explain it.

I added a bird silhouette from a die from Amazon.

I can't remember who made the sentiment stamp.

Please go to the LIM blog and check out the inspiration from the rest of the DT.

Thanks for popping in

Less is More #489

 Hello there,

We have a fabulous new challenge for you at Less is More,

Use this gorgeous photograph for your inspiration, we can't wait to see your entries.

For my first card I used Gerbera Daisy stamp by Flourishes (no longer trading) stamped across the top corner and coloured with marker pens.

The sentiment is from Visible Image.

My second card is a Popcorn the Bear stamp from Crafters Companion also coloured with marker pens.

The sentiment is by Papertrey Ink

Please check out the inspiration on the blog from the design team.

Thanks for popping in

Less is More # 488

 Hello there,

It's time for another great challenge at Less is More and this time the theme is Under the Sea.

We are really looking forward to seeing your creations.

Apologies for the rotten photograph, I just couldn't find a place with good light.

I began this card by rummaging about once again in my inky bit box. I had been playing around with some alcohol inks and this was the result, it reminded me of water.

I cut a rectangle of the paper with a die and then made a frame for it using 2 dies.

The sea horse and shell are unbranded and cut from snippets of smooshed card.

I used the circles die and white card to represent bubbles and placed them behind the frame.

I finished off with a scattering of Mother of Pearl sequins.

The sentiment is by Avery Elle stamped in Versamark Onyx

Please pop over to the blog and check out the DT inspiration.

Thanks for popping in

Birthday Card

 Hello there,

I'm popping in today to share a card I made for my amazing mum in law who was 98 last Saturday. The care home she lives in had a summer fayre on the same day so it was made into a bit of a party for her. 

I used part of an Alexandra Renke stencil and some Nuvo embellishing mousse in pale green for the background.

The butterflies are made with a Memory Box die and 3 colours of tissue paper. I folded the tissue paper so ther were 4 layers and cut two of each colour making each one 8 layers thick. After sticking each layer together I fanned out the wings to look as if they're in flight.

The sentiment is PC generated.

Thanks for popping in

Less is More # 487

 

Hello there,

We have a lovely new challenge for you at Less is More this fortnight. It's Alphabet time and we are using the letter B for Beach.

I made a very quick and simple card for my post,

I started with a 5cmx 5cm card base. I made a mask by using a circle die to make an aperture. I used a post it note across the middle of the circle and used Versa colour, sand beige ink for the beach. I then reversed the post it note and used sky blue for sea/sky.

I used a stamp by Inkadinkado and Versamark black ink

The word die is by Penny Black and I used a snippet of cream card.

Please check out the blog and enjoy the inspiration from the rest of the DT.

Less is More # 486

 

Hello there,

It's time for our latest challenge at Less is More. We are giving you free reign with your designs with our Anything Goes challenges but please remember to keep them CaS, not too many layers and lots of clean space.

I started with a piece of card I'd smooched with Twinkling H2O'S ages ago and saved in my little box of bits. I like the colour and the way the paints have moved around reminded me of a pond.

I cut it out with a circle die and adhered it to my card with foam pads,

I then cut two dragon flies from gold mirror card and a Memory Box die and placed them on the circle.

The sentiment is by Visible Image, stamped in Versamark Onyx.

I finished off with a few irridescent gems from Pink Fresh Studio which luckily were almost the same shade as the card.

Please check out the inspiration from the DT on the blog and join in with us. Please don't forget to keep it CaS. We have some super entries that, unfortunately can't be showcased because they are not clean and simple enough.

Thanks for popping in

Less is More #485

 

Hello there,

It's time for another new challenge at  Less is More and it's a colour challenge.

I started by cutting out my 'stars on sticks' ( Amazon) from plain white card, then cut out just the stars from 3 different shades of light purple card. I adhered the coloured stars over the top of the white ones and when the glue was dry I placed each die cut with a foam pad.

The sentiment is PC generated. I cut a strip of sticky back foam and place it under the sticks so could be sure of getting them straight and placed the sentiment strip over the top.

I finished off with some light purple gems from Pink Fresh Studio.

Please pop over to the Less is More blog and see what the other DT has to show, you won't be disappointed.

Less is More #484

 

Morning all!

It's Saturday, it's a new challenge at Less is More and it's a One Layer Card day. What more can you want?

It is a lovely theme for the OLC challenge though, being flowers. Everyone loves flowers don't they?

Just remember to keep it CAS and no extra layers.

I've gone for a really simple design for my card. I used a digi stamp from Alex Syberia Designs, coloured with marker pens.

The sentiment is PC generated.

As always we are really looking forward to seeing your creations in our gallery. Please check out the inspiration posts from the DT too.

Thanks for popping in

Less is More #483

 

Hello there,

It's time for another new challenge on the Less is More blog today and this time we want to see your take on our Spring themed challenge.

Ofcourse I went with flowers. I love these stylised crocus's from Simply Graphic. 

I started by making an embossed frame with a die without a name, sorry. 

I diecut the flowers from watercolour card and painted them with Artway Shimmer watercolour paints.

The sentiment is by Sugar Pea designs, stamped in clear ink and heat embossed in gold EP before being cut out with a banner die from Catherine Pooler.

Please head over to the LIM blog and see what the DT have to share. We look forward to seeing your creations too.

Thanks for popping in...

Less is More # 482

 

Hello there,

We have a new catagory on Less is More for you from today, introducing our Alphabet challenge.

We'd love to see your creations featuring Automobiles/Cars

For my card I used this really old stamp from Hero Arts, stamped 3 times using my stamping platform.

I coloured the images with markers in bright fun colours.

The sentiment is PC generated

We can't wait to see what you share with us. Don't forget to check out the main  LIM blog and get inspired by some beautiful designs from the DT.

Thank you for popping in...

Less is More #481 Anything goes

 Hello there,

 We're back with another wonderful challenge for you at Less is More,

It can sometimes be a bit of a risk giving me an open brief like "anything goes but keep it CAS"

I hope I haven't got too carried away.

I think I've managed to leave enough 'Clean Space'

I started with an A4 sheet of mid grey card from Papermill Direct, cut to 15cm square.

I then cut another smaller square with quite a good size border around.

I then used the blank cutting die from Alexandre Renke Arabian Motif die set to cut the shape in the centre of the smaller square.

I used a scrap of dark purple card for the back of the small square.

I used some double sided adhesive sheet on the back of some more grey card and cut out 4 of the top die, stacking them to give it some depth.

Before placing the stack in place I used some gold cord to tie a purple pom pom onto the centre of the motif.

The sentiment is from Sugar Pea designs, stamped in clear ink and embossed in gold EP.

Don't forget to check out the othe DT posts for some fabulous inspiration

Thanks for popping in

Less is More #480

 Hey Limettes,

It's time for our latest challenge at Less is More

 

 I have two cards to share with you this time,

My first card is a reminder that we all need to relax and unwind sometimes especially in these uncertain times.

I used Pink Fresh Studio's Ocean Breeze ink to sponge a piece of card.

The grass stamp is one I bought from a craft fair years ago and never had a brand name. I stamped it with VersaMark black ink.

The sentiment is PC generated.

My second card is a design I've used before but I've played around with it a bit.

I used the Pink Fresh Studio ink again to stamp some textured stamps from Papertrey Ink, before cutting them out with triangle dies.

I placed the triangles at different angles making sure the leaf die fit correctly.

I used the Memory Box leaf die and some black glitter card.

No sentiment yet because I'm not sure when and who will get it

I think the last time I used this design but using circles instead of triangles, was for a LIM challenge and I won a GD place.

Please check out the blogs of the other teamies for some great inspiration.

Thanks for popping in

Less is More # 479

 

 Hello there,

It's been a while but here we are...WE'RE BACK with the new challenge from Less is More

I can't speak for anyone else but I've missed you all and your fabulous creativity. With that in mind our first challenge of the year is the dreaded One Layer Card but for this one it's anything goes. Just choose any image you want to and enjoy.

I treat myself to some newly released stamps from Lili of the Valley so just had to use one for this card. Isn't that little bunny the cutest?

I coloured the image with a mix of marker pens.

The sentiment is from Trinity Stamps, Simply sentimental-Happy.

We have some very talented new teamies too so don't forget to check out the main challenge blog for some fabulous inspiration.

Thanks for popping in.