Sunday, January 29, 2012

LIM52 - It's a Bit Sketchy

With just another day or two to go, you still have time to leave a comment for the drawing on January 31st.  Just pop over to this post and leave a comment.  I'll be giving one lucky person a nice gift card in celebration of my 4th anniversary as a blogger.  Come on, now...you know you'd like to have a gift card to buy a few more craft goodies!


This week marks one year of the Less is More challenges.  Chrissie and Mandi have challenged us (and I do mean challenged me!)  for a full year to create cards that are clean and simple.  I had some favorite weeks (loved the silhouettes, something with legs, red and orange, and leaves) and I've had some weeks that I almost gave up (snow, acrylics, and one word)...but I hung in there and always gave it my best.  I think I only missed one week of the challenge.  I can honestly say that I believe that playing along with this challenge has made me try things I might never have tried and I feel like my cards are much more CAS than they were a year ago.  In fact, I'm so used to the CAS style, I have a great deal of difficulty making anything else now! LOL!  Thanks so much, Chrissie and Mandi, for the challenges!

Okay...on to the challenge.  Here's our sketch this week.  We were given specific rules for this week and they are as follows:
We would like the card to be
  • rectangular
  • in landscape orientation
  • with the band remaining in a vertical position 
As it's a very simple sketch,  we would like it to remain as is without any rotation of either the card or the vertical band.


I've made three cards this week. The first one looked good in my head, but didn't transfer to paper very well.


This card is a 4 x 8 inch card.  I used PTI stamps for the vases and flowers.  The background piece was made with TH glimmer mists - two shades of blue and a touch of pearl.  The shelf under the vases was an afterthought...and it looked much better before I added the doodling with the white pen.  I also doodled on the vases after coloring them with Copics.  The "shelf" was made by punching an edge and trimming it down.  Sentiment is also PTI.


This card is a 5.50 x 4.25 inch card.  I cut a red strip, punched out part of a circle, then backed the red with the black card stock.  The hearts were punched with two different EK Success punches.  I punched out several of each of the hearts and then glued them together to make 3 thicker hearts.  Added a bit of twine and hung the hearts with a bow.  The sentiment was generated on the computer...so...no stamping on this one.  I also added a small piece of bling to each heart.


I like how this card turned out.  Images are from Flourishes.  I stamped the stems on the green card stock, then trimmed it down to the width I wanted, leaving the stems hanging off the edge.  I stamped the blooms on a piece of white card stock, then colored them with Copics.  I cut out each bloom and added them to the card....some are pop-dotted and some are flat to the card.  The sentiment is an old stamp...not sure who makes it. I backed the green strip with a pink strip to make the flowers "pop".

I thought I'd share a layout I finished last weekend too.


These photos of my darling little granddaughter, Maggie, were taken in April 2011. I used Echo Park Summer Days collection for this layout. I used my Cameo for a lot of the cutting for this layout. The swimsuits, the sun, the title work, and the "little miss sunshine" image. The clothes line is a QK die. Swimsuits are pop-dotted. I cut the sun to fit in the corner of the layout, popped it up with pop dots and coated it with yellow stickles. The little banner tags down the side of the photos were made from scraps of paper, then attached with multi-colored brads. LOTS of doodled stitching on this layout. I generated the photo collage in Picnik (which sadly is closing down on April 19). I guess I'll have to find another free program to create my photo collages! The little miss sunshine girl is a cutting file in the Silhouette library, but I used the print and cut feature of the Cameo...cool stuff! Journaling is tucked behind the photo mat. It's difficult to tell here, but I cut some 1/4 inch strips to put at the top of the green tab. I stacked about 3 strips on the tab to keep the journaling from slipping behind the photos...and as it worked out, the pink strips I added makes it "look" like the green journaling tag is behind the big pink background...pretty cool, huh?! (The black border is not on the layout, it was added in photoshop to keep the edges from fading.)  Journaling reads: 


Maggie, you're our little ray of sunshine! You brighten up a room just by walking in. You look so precious in your little bathing suit and wearing your sister's sunglasses. You're all decked out and ready to head out to the pool. Photos April 14, 2011 

Whew! That's all for today.  I'll be back in a couple of days to announce the winner of the drawing for the gift card.  Don't forget to pop over to this post and leave me a comment, if you haven't already done so! Everybody loves free stuff...Right?!
Thanks so much for stopping in! I always appreciate your sweet comments!! Until next time...

Hugs!

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48 comments:

Chrissie said...

Susan, thanks so much for your kind words about our challenges... I have to say that it's been wonderful to get to know so many wonderful crafters... and see such wonderful work.
These are spectacular, I must admit that the second two are my faves and I may well case the idea of the scooped out section of the panel with the hearts suspended in it. It looks fab!
Great stuff and thanks for all your support.
Chrissie
"Less is More"

Jenny said...

Love how you make a selection of cards for LIM each week Susan...a real showcase of your talent :)
Love these three but my quirky side loves the second card...those swinging hearts are just fab!
Cute scrapbook page, little Maggie is growing fast!
Jenny x

laurie said...

Those hearts are so cute...love how you did this!

Deborah Frings said...

What a super selection of cards for LIM. I absolutely love the last one - so pretty and delicate. The hearts on the second are super fun.

Your layout is just fabulous!

Gibmiss said...

Hi Susan
Fabulous cards ....love the second one ...stunning work....
Hugs sylvie
xx

Carol said...

OMGOSH! Susan! All your cards are fabulous! I especially LOVE the valentine card. Just gorgeous!

Bonnie said...

While your lilies are beautiful and I love, love, love those swinging hearts, Maggie steals the show here!

Mynn xx said...

These are absolutely amazing--and I ADORE that Valentine card! LOVE the cut out with the hearts hanging down--love it! :)

Judy1223 said...

Susan, I love that you make several cards for the challenges...and all show your creativity and talents! I like all three but I think the swinging hearts is so classy...LOVE red and black against white. Beautiful layout for Maggie, too...so sweet!

Suze Bain said...

Super cards Susan, love the pink and green colour combo and yes, those swinging hearts are fab! xx

Victoria said...

Thanks for visiting my blog! These are fabulous cards, but my favourite has to be the second. The hearts in the punched section look amazing!

Mandi said...

Susan, thank you so much for your lvoely words about our challenge. We love every minute, even when the submissins come through thick and fast!
your cards are fabulous, as ever
The heart one is truly inspirational

Thank you very much
mandi
"Less is More"

Beryl K said...

Three fabulous cards Susan, good job I haven't got to pick a favourite. Love the scrap page as well
Beryl x

debby4000 said...

Stunning cards and equally stunning layout Susan.
luv
Debby

Tara Cardwell said...

I LOVE the hearts - that's a stroke of genius!
What did we all do before LIM??? I still get excited to see what each challenge is first thing on Saturday morning :-)
Tara x

Aileen said...

Beautiful cards Susan, really love the hearts. Fabby scrapbook page too. x

Meggymay said...

A wonderful selection of cards, each beautiful in their own way.
Yvonne x

cnelson said...

Seriously it doesn't get CUTER than that lo!!! LOVE your gorgeous cards!! I particularly love that shelf with the vases! !

Sandra H said...

Hi Susan, Wow all your creations are fabulous and brilliant for the challenge:) Sandra H

Crafting Belle said...

Gorgeous cards Susan. Time is limited so first I always comment on the cards that stand out to me and your heart one sure did. I just love the cute little dingle dangle hearts. xxx

Zoe Tant said...

Wow you've been busy and I like them all, but love the hearts.

~ Ali Robertson ~ said...

Fabulous creations susan and a spectacular LO as always

Ali x

Canonbury creations said...

Love it when you make a selection of cards Susan and these certainly don't disappoint! I love the middle one with it's cut out and hearts, the flowers are beautiful as well:)
Val x

G Peplow said...

Hi Susan, Wonderful cards, you make the most gorgeous and different submissions. I love all of these and of course your lovely LO fabulous colours! Maggie is growing so fast she looks so full of fun:0), xx

Emma said...

Hi Susan

These are great cards! The hanging hearts is my favourite it is great to see a different twist on the challenge. Love the idea!

Thanks for you comment on my blog. I hope you have fun with your inks!

Emma

GinaA said...

Great cards, and I love the part circle on your heart card. Stunning.

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

WOW WOW and more WOW, these cards are FABULOUS

kingstonmama said...

You always wow me with your cards, Susan. Love them all. The dangly hearts are really fun, and I love how your flowers extend off the panel on the third card. Ann Y.

Vicky said...

Beautiful cards Susan - love them all! :)

Jenni's Jems said...

Great cards all three but the heart one stole my heart absolutely gorgeous x

Anonymous said...

Beautiful cards, all of them but I'm particularly drawn to the heart one too! It caught my eye as I browsed the list, just a beautiful idea.

Hugs
Brenda

Stephanie Lanzalotto said...

Susan, I love your cards, especially the red and white one with the dangling hearts. Love, Love, Love the hearts hanging inside that semicircle. Genius! The layout your did with that adorable little grandaughter is just too cute. Love the clothesline, and pretty much everything else. xo

Anonymous said...

love love love your creations. I spotted those hanging hearts in amongst all of the other LIM creations and just had to pop in and say hi. Will be trying these hearts myself. OBTW - I adore your scrap page. Too cute!

Fiona said...

Great cards - I also think the Valentine one is my favourite but they are all fabulous!
xxx

Carol said...

Your cards are fabulous Susan, especially the hearts one. Love seeing your layouts too. Carol x

A Consuming Passion said...

Oh wow!!! glad I don't have to pick a favourite from your cars .....I love them all.....Though I love the hanging hearts!!!! Great work Susan!

Stempelomi said...

absolutly great cards! My favourite is the red one with hearts....the whole is a great idea!!

Squirrel said...

Ooh that heart card is superb! I love the LO too - so bright and cheerful and the babe is just precious. Those little swimsuits are the cutest!
Happy LIMing!
Rosey x

Karen Petitt said...

Such beautiful cards Susan, for me the second card is my favourite. Love the punched out semi circle with those gorgeous little hearts suspended there - stunning hugs Karen x

Rosemary said...

week after week you blow me away wiith not one, but several gorgeous cards, susan!! and once again... i love all of them, but the 2nd one stands a bit above the other two for me!!! super fabby!

Sarn said...

These cards are just fantastic Susan. Very creative and fresh.

Hugs, Sandra View my card HERE!

Lynne said...

I so look forward to your LiM cards each week Susan and you never fail to please. I love them all but the second one is my favourite by a whisker.
Lynne xxx

Jose said...

'WOW' really love the card with the hearts, brilliant

SYLVIA-ANNE said...

Susan - your LIM cards are stunning - the red semi-circle design with the dangling hearts is awesome and inspirational. Love the scrapbook layout too - your little Granddaughter is a real cutie!
I do appreciate the comment you left for me today - I think it's wonderful that your hubby pops into your craft room to make a card for you - that is true love indeed! I hope you both have a perfect Valentine's Day.
Hugs, Sylvia xx

Angela said...

Heart card - genius layout.

Anonymous said...

all your creations are great and I love them all but I really think the love card is the best,your design and execution is perfect.

Unknown said...

Beautiful cards Susan; but especially loved the red and black - gorgeous.

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Congratulations on being showcased on LIM for your heart card, just wonderful

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