Two Week Recipe Challenge - Weeks 286 & 287

This  time we have a recipe challenge for you which is lasting for two weeks!

Anita, Sarah P and Chrissie will be in Swindon next weekend for the retreat run by Kylie over from Australia) and is to be attended by ex DT Anne and many LIMettes ...  even one from the US... the indomitable Darnell!

So as we will be kinda busy next weekend... (there may even be some crafting done) we thought that we would spread the challenge over two weeks.

SO here's what it is!

Recipe: Use something Tactile 

We would like to see see something that is interesting to the touch!
Sarah G

Sarah P

Sharon

Susan

Anita

Chrissie

Esther

As always, please remember to leave that all important white space and keep your design Clean and Simple!

We would love it if you could visit the blogs of the individual members of the DT and leave them a little word or two, it's where you can also find out about the cards shown here!

Do Have fun!

An InLinkz Link-up

Week 30 - Recipe

We loved looking at your entries again last week. You were so inventive and came up with some fabulous ideas!

So this week we are back to Sketch or Recipe

We have chosen a Recipe this time

Take 3 Challenges

We want you to choose 3 from any of our previous 29 and combine them in your design.
There is a list of our previous challenges under the tab heading at the top of our blog and you can also see the previous sketches under a separate tab.

Please state which 3 you have chosen.
NB There is no need to adhere to the One Layer if that is on the week you choose.

You may wish to go for your favourites or maybe your least...acetate springs to mind!

Most of all, be creative, have fun, remember our white space and the all important

"Less is More"

Mandi

Chrissie and I adore white on white, so we were bound to both choose it as one of our three!
[Hers is a total knockout, I'm in awe!]
For my first the card base is 6" square, the Decorative Accent swirl is Sizzix, then X Cut punches for the flowers. Sentiment done on computer, Nuptial font
Week 6 Off the Edge
 Week 13 Congratulations or Thank you
Week 14 White on White
[also Week 15 Embossing]

 

 For my second card, I took  inspiration from a vase of articifical flowers Mum has.
My card is combining challenges

Week 4 3 Squares
Week 15 Embossing
Week 9 Touch of Red
I cut 3 squares 3.5,3 and 2.5cm and embossed them with Swiss dots folder. Once I knew where they were to go I stamped the branch from a retuiresd Stampin Up set 'For All you Do' The flower heads are from the same set, stamped in SU Real Red and cut out. I have used glossy accents on the larger flower head. The other leaves are from one of my favourite dies from Crealies. The sentiment is Penny Black to finish off. I placed it to fit the 'vase' step.







                                                        Chrissie

For my 3 challenges I chose ...
Week 14 - White on White,
Week 15 - Embossing and
Week 16 - Butterflies.
After I had done it I realised that it also fitted with
Week 13 - Congratulations,
Week 23 - Something with Legs and
Week 29 - Things that Move.
It has three kinds of embossing... regular dry embossing, heat embossing with Silver Pearl EP and Letterpress embossing which is achieved by cutting a shape with a Nestie (a rectangle in this case), which was then placed  (still in the die) on top of an Impressability template and embossed using my tan mat.
Not much stamping but lots of die-cutting and layering, yet retaining lots of white space.
Marianne Creatables  spray, SU tiny butterflies, Cuttlebug large butterfly. Nesties.

This card combines the challenges from
 Week 4 Three Squares,
Week 18 - Monochrome &
Week 25 Button or Ribbon.
Incidentally it also fits with
Week 15 Embossing
Week 16 - Butterflies
Week 23 - Things with Legs
Week 28 - Use Ink &
Week 29 Things that move
Quite a bumper bundle, with lots of emboss resist stamping and ink sponging, using my fab Katzelkraft stamps which were part of my birthday present from lovely buddy Mandi, I just love them!

So now it's your turn, we'd love to see how you combine our challenges... and do have fun!

Week 29 - Theme

 Goodness, what a fabulous response to our INKY challenge!

There were so many truly stunning entries and the range of techniques was so extensive and varied.

Wonderful, wonderful work, thank you all SO much!

Choosing our showcase this time will certainly be a tricky task!

 Now onto this week's challenge which is a 'Theme' and we would like to see

Things that Move

This could be interpreted in a variety of ways...an actual moving component on your card, so a pop up, a shaker, a spinner, a charm, a tag... we could go on... 

On the other hand your card could have an image of something capable of movement, so the scope for that is almost infinitesimal!

Whatever you do, we're sure that all you LIMettes will be totally creative!

Chrissie

This card, using the SU Joie stamp set has several butterflies on it... all capable of movement, and the cut-out one is only attached through the body section and so the wings can be raised.

It was made with a mixture of emboss resist and overstamping plus a little inking too.

This one, for a newborn, has Pink Petticoat paper and an SU image embossed in silver and coloured with Copics. The ribbon holds a small silver coloured charm, which can waggle from side to side (the moving element) and the name has been added using Cuttlebug's Baby Face Alphabet.

A quick tip when adding small bits and pieces like these letters, is to add Double Sided Tape to the back of the card before running it through the'bug, so all you have to do is peel and stick once they are cut.

The baby carriages in the image (IRL) are also capable of movement.
I had intended making a spinner card this week, but we have had our grandchildren staying and so craft time was zilch... however you may like to see a few spinner and slider cards I made in true Blue Peter style... earlier!
SPINNER CARDS (Please click)
SLIDER CARDS


Mandi

My card base is Stampin up Crumb Cake, The plant Stamp is Stampabilities   I thought the leaves matched the scrap of Stamping Up Speciality DP 'Sweet & Sour' The butterfly [my something that moves] is Papermania. I guess you could say the plant moves too! I stamped using Versamark Ultrafine, 'Onyx Black' which I thank Vicky for, as she recommend it last week for its proper blackness, I love it!
For Stampin up supplies please contact me here

Week 28 - One Layer

We were delighted to see so many nations represented in our 'Colours of your Flag' challenge last week, how wonderful that the love of crafting links so many of us worldwide.

Once more we are back to the second week of the month and so our challenge is for a 

ONE LAYER CARD

If you are not sure of the principles of this genre, do check out our Guidelines at the top of our blog.

The special feature we would like to see this week is for you to 

USE INK
** This does include ink pads **

...hopefully in a way you haven't tried before.... or using a favourite technique.

If you can avoid using the computer this week, that would be great, but we wouldn't want to to miss a week if the computer is your only method of card making.

Mandi

This week is very Chrissie, not very Mandi lol

I hate getting my fingers inky and don't do inky backgrounds ever! But, I had a bash.

This technique is in various forms around blog world, but, I kinda adapted in my own way!

I took an acryllic block and with my water brush added a few drops of water to LuminArte H2o's Persimmon and Pink Azalea, so I had puddles of colour. Using the water brush to pick up the colour I then dabbed a few areas onto the block. I knew roughly where I wanted them to be. You need to pay particular attention to how close the drops are as they spread lots and merge together. Great if that's what you want! I did and didn't as you can see. 

 [Also keep away from the edges of the block as it creates a line]

If your blobs look a little too wet it's best to take the excess off with the edge of a tissue, let it soak it up, rather than dab.

 Turn the block over and press onto your card. Hold for a few moments, lift off. Voila!

Once dry I stamped with the Flamingo [Stampabilities] added ribbon and gems.

You can use numerous different inks for this technique, watercolour crayons, and if you prefer you can also spritz with water for a different look. It's all about experimenting really and although I'm a complete novice at anything like this, I do have to admit I quite enjoyed it AND have clean fingers!

Chrissie

I went shopping for a mustard inkpad, but ended up buying the inks you see here instead... and I am delighted with them.

They are from Adirondack and the colours are Pebble, Lake Mist and Pesto.

I masked the card with Post Its and sponged the colours into the gap with some cut 'n' dry foam. (I have run out of spare Sponge Daubers, so I must order some more from Mandi!)

The stamps I used are from Indigo Blu, with just a few additional leaves from Inkylicious to fill in some gaps at the bottom.

The umbrella (umbellate) plant stamp was added after the upper masks had been removed. I find building up a scene in this way is really satisfying. If you haven't tried it, give it a go... you may enjoy it!

I find this one rather serene.

Week 27- Colour

Some luscious entries were made in our challenge this last week and our mouths were watering looking at some of the fabulous creations.

Our Sponsor this month is Ruth from A Passion For Stamps, who is generously donating 8 digi images to August's winner.
There is a little information from Ruth on our sidebar, do visit her site and check out her fabulous images.

This week it's time for another colour challenge and for your delectation this week, we have decided to ask you make a card  using the 

COLOURS 

of 

YOUR NATION'S FLAG!

We should be able to see quite a variety of colours this week as we are fortunate enough to have crafters from all around the world sharing in our challenges. If you could describe the colours of your flag or include an image of it, that would be great.

We (Mandi & Chrissie) have the option of our English, St. George's flag or the  Union Jack, of the United Kingdom
 We decided to do one to represent each!



Chrissie

My 'English' card consists of a SU heart from the retired Mon Ami set, mounted on a length of rescued ribbon and some Pink Petticoat Harlequin paper. The latter two being placed on a sections of card with the sides embossed to form a finished edge.

The sentiment from Personal Impressions was cut by a large rectangular Nestie, passed twice through the Cuttlebug to scale down the size.

My 'British' card is for my niece who is about to move into a new house. I saw these stamps yesterday and although rather pricey in the venue where I saw them, I just couldn't resist them. They are from Dylusions by Dyan Reavley. The blue is a tad darker than it really should be, but I hope we can put that down to artistic licence! The spotty section is from a Waltzing mouse stamp and the sentiment from Stampin' Up.

I'm sorry the photographs are dreadful, even with Picasa's help... I may try to improve on them later.

Mandi
'English Rose' was in my head and it wasn't going anywhere!! lol

I decided to take the top right segment of the flag for my design.
Supplies used
15cm [6"] square card base
All from Stampin Up
'Real Read' ink, 'Real Red' card, 'Little Leaves' Sizzlit die, Growing Green stamp set, 'Silver Glass Glitter' for the centres of the flowers, 'Boho Blossoms' punch and a tiny punch I had free on a magazine years ago.

For my second card, again 15cm [6"] square card base. I firstly cut 2 blue and 2 red 4.5 cm squares and stamped the Rubber Stampede 'Etched Rose Background' stamp in Versamark. I then heat embossed with white embossing powder. I particularly cut the squares first, so whilst it was more fiddly, it meant the embossing wouldn't crack and come off if I cut them afterwards. I stuck to the card as shown, then made a rolled 'English' rose, die by Marianne. The leaves are Crealies, as the leaves that came with the rose die were a little large.

For Stampin Up supplies  please feel free to contact me via here

We shall look forward to seeing your cards maybe your flags too!


Have a good week.

Week 26 - Lucky Dip

Good morning LIMettes and a happy half birthday to us!

Can you believe it's been 6 months since our first challenge? We can't!

We've said it before but our success is down to your support and we thank each and every one of you!

One little bit of housekeeping before we tell you about the challenge.
As from this week we have decided to delete any entries that don't comply with our rules.
No offence meant.

Ok, so we have our 'Lucky Dip' week as it's the fifth Saturday of July.

The challenge is 

FEELING FRUITY

We would like to see fruit on your cards or fruit colours...easy peasy 'lemon' squeezy!

We have great pleasure in welcoming the wonderful Ali as our guest designer for this week, she has been a dedicated LIMette since the very beginning has been so supportive of us and our challenges. She has created the most fabulous card for us. Thank you Ali.

Mandi

The only fruit stamps are from Stampin Up Cheers to You! This is a great little set and extremely popular, I'm sure you've seen it lots!

 I stamped the 2 cocktails, coloured as you can see, particularly picking out the fruit on each! Glittered the 'drink' for the large slice of lemon I punched a 1 3/4" circle and used one section from the Build a Blossom punch, both Stampin Up. I think it's quite good for a lemon slice! The cherry is a 3/4" circle punch, I made a small hole and added the cord for the stalk. The sentiment is computer generated. 'Happy' is Century Gothic and the' Birthday' is Cocktail Bubbly here

For Stampin' Up supplies please contact me here

Chrissie

This is a simple card using a rather old freebie digi image from Whimsie Doodles, which I coloured with Copics and highlighted the strawberry by covering it with a liberal amount of Glossy Accents. I cut it out and mounted it on the yellow circle.

The sentiment was computer generated using Asha Outline and Amaretto fonts.

This is a card suitable for a chap!

An image from Stampin' Up's Studio Sketches, paired with a DP from Pink Petticoat which I lightly distressed with ink and added a few stamps from SU's French Foliage set.

Who would believe that we have been in existence for six glorious months. Here's to the next six... with your continued support!

Week 25 - Recipe

Last week saw lots of you going round in circles and what super circles some of them were... thank you so much!

However we are now onto the fourth week in our rotation of challenges, so once more it's the turn for a recipe and this week it's a 

BUTTON OR RIBBON 

(or plurals thereof)

Chrissie

I'm quite fond of using ribbons on cards... even  CAS cards can still be embellished, as long as it is done sensitively and without too much ostentatiousness.

Here is my friend the teddy again from Indigo Blu. This time I have combined him with a sentiment from Studio G.

Today I thought I would share with you how I tied and attached the ribbon. 

Here you see the bowmaker and the instructions for tying a bow.

• I began by attaching a straight piece of ribbon on the backing paper and sticking it down at the back.

I then began to tie the bow as per the diagram.

• The tricky bit comes when the flat piece of ribbon on the card has to be incorporated into the knot.
• When the short end is brought from behind and up and over to the front,(manoeuvre D) I tilt to bowmaker towards me so that that end of the ribbon can come all the way forwards and around underneath the flat piece on the backing paper, going from front to back.
• It is then slipped through the last piece of the bow loop (manoeuvre F) and both ends are pulled tight.

It's fiendishly difficult to explain but a whole lot easier to do.

The basic instructions came with my bowmaker when I bought it quite some time ago on eBay, but I worked out how to add it to a straight piece of ribbon by trial and error!

My second card is in  primitive art style using a gingham stamp from Waltzing Mouse and heart stamp from SU. The buttons were made from a Die-namics die and coated with Glossy Accents. The ribbon was rescued from a gift and the sentiment, computer generated using Fabulous 50's font. I lengthened the spellbinders die-cut for this using the technique described here. Job done!

Mandi

I have a few crafting pet hates! Two of them are ribbon stuck onto a card and trimmed at the edges or the ends trimmed with scissors that aren't sharp!

This was one of those cards that came together in a few minutes! I had a mental picture of the layout and placed a length of ribbon around the whole of the front of the card, sticking the ends with ds tape. I stuck the black panel next, then the embossed white panel. I tied a small piece of the same ribbon, pulled tight and held the lengths to be inline with the strip already in place, then trimmed to look like a bow. The flower is an old Anita's stamp I stamped in Stazon then lightly water coloured in a coral colour to match. The green gingham paper I think lifts the whole thing with a splash of colour.

My second card is pretty self  explanatory I think. The chandelier is a digi from Kaboodle Doodles.
This ribbon knot I did slightly differently. I took a length of the polka dot ribbon and did the one end over the other, as you would to make a bow. Before pulling tight I slipped a small length through the loop, then pulled tight. I think this makes for a flatter 'bow' The ends are secured underneath the embossed panel.

Remember to keep things Clean and Simple and just because you're allowed to use embellishments, don't forget the white space!!!

Week 24 - Theme

 It seems to us that things are changing somewhat in Blogland. 

Is it just us, or are there rather more Clean and Simple and One Layer Card challenges finding their way into Challenge blogs here and there?

DO we have influence?

ARE things changing? 

Very Interesting!

All we know is that we are delighted with YOUR response to our challenges and now it's time for a new one.

There were wonderful contributions last week and I'm sure that this week will prove just as popular.

We have a theme which this week is 

CIRCLES

Please note that this is in the plural... we need to see more than one circle, so not just a circular card base or the odd circle thrown in just to qualify... we need you to think circles and see what you can come up with. Whilst you're thinking of your design however, we don't want you to forget the white space element and the CAS feel for your card.

Chrissie

When I got back from my holiday on Wednesday a little package from Mandi arrived for me which included this super piece of Stampin' Up designer paper. She knows I love these colours and really spoils me by giving me treats. I think this particular piece is wonderful and I built my card design around it.

The circular stamp is from Stampin' Up, Just Believe, stamped in Crumb Cake and Bashful Blue, punched out and mounted on Nesties.

The border is punched with a Martha Stewart border punch which is part of a Punch Around the Page set.

The sentiment is computer generated using One Fell Swoop and  AL Fantasy Type.

This second card obviously uses the same paper but this time cut with a Nestie circle. I then made a border with the straight border punch, adapting it so that it would fit around edge.

The flowers are made with Marianne dies and rolled, but can be made from a circle and cut by hand into a spiral.

The leaves are from one Marianne die, cutting the die-cut into two pieces and arranging one piece in each direction.

The sentiment is from SU's Curly Cute set.

To make a straight border curved

• Punch a length of paper with the border punch matching up the design as you go.

• Cut off  a strip of the paper leaving a small border 1cm or about .5 inch.

• Snip at regular intervals, from the straight edge through to an aperture close to the patterned edge, leaving that edge intact.

• Slightly overlapping the sections, stick the strip behind the curved edge you wish to decorate.

Mandi

Circles are something I use quite often, I like them! 

 I need to apologise for my picture this week. My camera decided to run out of life [am recharging] so it isn't as vibrant as I'd have liked.

I started with a 6x6 white card base and punched 5 circles with my SU 1 3/8 circle punch. the papers  are Pink Petticoat [Harlequin and Fairy Dots]

I placed the centre one first, then the outer ones, to ensure even placement. For my flower, this isn't my design, I'm sure all of you know how to make them, but in case there is anyone that doesn't I will explain briefly.

I punched 4 scalloped circles in a coral colour. 

To give a bit of flexibility, it's best to crease them.

To do this, fold in half, crease, open out. Repeat this until you have 4 crease lines. Repeat for all 4 circles. Place them on top of each other and pierce a hole right through the centre of them all. Push a brad through and open the legs to secure the circles. Then the fun part. One by one pull the circles up into the centre brad, scrunching as you go. Repeat for all 4. Then you tweak them out slightly to the desired look. FAB aren't they! My brad is a lovely aqua colour, so I cut a daisy [Stampin Up die] and just used a small section, to tie in the aqua colour of the brad. The leaves are also die-cut with Crealies.

For any Stampin Up products please feel free to contact me here

Crealies dies can be bought from here

Do hope you will have fun this week.

That's all from LIM Towers, 

Happy crafting, we look forward to seeing your entries

Lady LIM Chrissie and Diva Mandi