Dancer

This week's challenge at Scrapping the Music is up! It's the song Tiny Dancer by Elton John. My layout features my friend Karen's daughter in a dance performance.

Patterned papers are from Webster's Pages.

Some subtle misting with a Tim Holtz mask and handstitching. Doiley and pearls. And some handmade felt flowers (tutorial found in this post). Leaves are from Prima. Letter stickers are from Adorn It.

P/s: If you have time this weekend, come play along with my guest Amy's challenge! :)

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Sending happy thoughts...and a tutorial on handstitching on paper

I'm sending happy thoughts out to you! And myself! :) Having been in hardware twilight zone for the last few days, I'm slowly catching up. Missing one day online is like a gazillion light years, huh? I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that my google reader will always hover at the 200 + unread items range on a good day. :)

This card is based on Card Patterns sketch # 71 . The polka-dotted paper is from The Girls' Paperie and the cute dogs are from Basic Grey. SRM sticker sentiment and buttons! :) I did some handstitching for some added texture.

Here's a short tutorial on handstitching on paper..

These are the supplies you need for handstitching on paper...a foam backing/sponge, a paper piercer (mine is actually the tool that came with my quilling kit!), needle and thread.

Place the patterned paper on the foam backing and poke holes along the edges you want to handstitch. I usually just eyeball and poke holes but you can use a pencil to outline the area if you wish. Then just start stitching like you do on fabric....

Here it is all done! :)

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Beautiful

Just a quick card to share today...Beautiful...based on the sketch at 2 sketches 4 you.

Chipboard and rub-ons are from American Crafts, MS edge punch, ribbon, button and ZVA pearls.

Have a beautiful day! :)

*Edited* This card was featured in the Create blog featuring pearls.

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Today & always

Today & always. Stay true to yourself.

Hi friends, today I'm sharing a digital layout I did for my friend Marit's boy Nout who turned 18 yesterday. Marit compiled a cool book for her boy with  some creative contributions from her blogging friends (including me!:). 

P/s: I've gotten a few entries for my guest blogger Amy's challenge. Hope to see more of you participate! :)

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Man & boy

Man & boy. Walking in the park. 

 I love this photo of my friend Sherry's grandson Micah with his daddy...I printed this photo (5 x 7) on white cardstock instead of photo paper (for a really nice texture on the photo)...and kept the rest of the elements neutral to showcase the beautiful photo. I even did some stamping! :) 

 

Patterned paper is from Jillibean, stamps are from Fontwerks, foam letters and chipboard bird are from American Crafts, letter stickers from Toga, handsttiching, tag, brads and buttons. 

This layout was inspired by the latest challenge at Scrapping The Music which is the song Home by Daughtry.

P/s: I've been having some hardware issues so I may be slow in returning blog visits. I promise to catch up soon! :) 

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Hola...and how I edit my card photos...

Hola Friday! :) 

Here's my take on my guest blogger Amy's challenge to use at least three different patterned papers on a card...I used four! :) They were from a pile of scraps...I just went with a circular theme..I think it works??!!...*LOL*

The chipboard butterfly is from American Crafts, the pins from Heidi Grace, crochet doiley and handmade felt flowers. If you missed the tutorial on how to make these flowers, go to this post.

The winner of the last challenge - the stamping challenge is Smita who created her first ever layout! Congrats!

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Today I want to share with you how I edit my card photos taken in natural light.

I like to take photos by the window where there's nice natural indirect light (morning/evening). You need indirect light because direct light casts very harsh shadows on your card. I usually take a few shots without flash at different angles. This photo was taken at 8am.

I crop my photo in a photo-editing software (if you don't own one, use Picnik, it's free!) so that there are less distracting elements in the background. In my A Tea Party post, I used a piece of white fabric for my backdrop at this same window!

I brighten up the photo using the Curves/ Levels function. It's like flash on your camera but you have more control over where you want your light to be...

I use the hue/saturation function to get the colours close to my actual card. Then use the brightness/contrast function to add a little depth to the photo.  Add a drop shadow and you're done! :)

 So this is the process I go through for my projects. I do love the fancy props that others use to photograph their projects with but that takes a lot more time to set up. For a while, I wanted to build myself a collapsible lightbox but gave up when I realised how big it had to be to take shots of 12 x 12 layouts..*LOL* I guess this works for me because where I live, there's an abundance of sunlight! :)

How do you photograph your projects?

*Edited* This card was featured in the Create gallery under cards featuring handmade flowers...:)

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Sew lovely to meet Amy...and a challenge!

I'm so excited to be introducing my good friend Amy of Tsuruta Designs to you! I "met" Amy through Card Patterns last year and she's the sweetest bloggy friend to have! Seriously! I'm sure many people can attest to that! :) If you are a cardmaker, you've probably seen Amy's amazing work...especially her skills with mixing and matching patterned paper...She's here to share her Material Girl Sew Lovely card and issue us a challenge.... with an amazing prize for one lucky person! You have to read on to find out more...;)

 First, let's admire some of Amy's lovely creations!

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Hey there!

My name is Amy and the fabbie Yvonne has asked me to be her Guest Blogger here on 'Do More with Less'.  I couldn't be more thrilled that Yvonne took the time to ask me...I truly am continuously inspired by her work!

A little bit about me...I work full time in Finance, have 2 beautiful kids and I'm blissfully engaged to thee most wonderful man! 

 

I would describe my style as fresh & fun.  I love color and patterns!!!  I'm a huge fan of paper pads...preferrably the 6x6 version {perfect for card making}.  They make mixing and matching colors and patterns a slam dunk!

I made this "Material Girl Sew Lovely" card especially for today's post which is inspired by the 2s4y sketch #55.  It incorporates a total of 5 different patterned papers.  The Cosmo Cricket Material Girl 6x6 paper pad made it so easy...3 of those patterns are from that pad!  I used the 12x12 Material Girl tape measure paper and the Lawn Fawn dressfrom image has been paper pieced with a monochromatic heart pattern paper by Pink Paislee. 

Are you up for a challenge??!!! 

How about you create a card that uses at least 3 different patterned papers....link your card to this post and I'll have Yvonne draw a random entry using random.org.  Want a little more motivation?!!!  How about I send that winner a $15 Two Peas in a Bucket gift certificate??!!!!! 

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to read about me:)  I hope that you'll join me in my challenge....I can't wait to see what you design!

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 Ahhh...isn't she sweet? So link up your creations in the comment section of this post. Is two weeks enough to get you to make something?? ;) July 15 11.59 pm PDT is the deadline!

As always, please leave a little love for my guest! :)

P/s: I'll add a tab on my blog for this challenge so that it will be easier to find it when you need to link up...:)

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Water & sand fun

Hello friends! Glad you enjoyed the spiral felt flower tutorial...I would love to see what you create! :) Today, I'm sharing a little water & sand fun...with little Micah...I really love his rosy cheeks...my friend Sherry is his lucky grandma! :)

A simple layout really. I liked both sides of the Webster's Pages patterned paper so I just folded the paper and added a strip of white cardstock ..the boats were cut from another sheet of Webster's Pages paper ...Some colourful buttons to add some textured interest on a relatively flat layout...the title was cut from a Studio Calico patterned paper...The stickers bordering the photo is from SRM stickers...I also added cute sea creature stickers swimming in the sea...can you spot them?

Are you having some water & sand fun?

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A day out...and a spiral felt flower tutorial

Check out little Micah on a day out! This little cutie is my friend Sherry's grandkid and my latest muse! :) Just a little fun with Bo Bunny papers which I also used in my A Tea Party post! :)  Love the swirl chipboards...which were misted in orange! "Bee Happy" sticker by SRM stickers, crepe paper, handstitching...and a little flip flop charm! :) And a swirly felt flower to represent the sun! :)

A lot of you asked about how to make these spiral felt flowers so here's a short tutorial...:)

First you need to cut some felt circles. Big or small. Then use fabric scissors to cut your spirals. They don't have to be even...or perfect...

Take the inner end of the spiral and start twirling...

You can keep the swirls loose or tight...

 When you're done, just add a little glue to secure the flower.

Here they are, all done! :)

*Edited* If you've used the tutorial I shared to create something, leave me a link so that I can come see your project! :)

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You are some kind of wonderful

Hi there! Just wanted to say to you...You are some kind of wonderful, my friends! Thanks for stopping by to check out my creations and leaving me sweet comments...it really means a lot to me! :)

Today I want to share my card for this week's sketch at Card Patterns. This week's sponsor is Gina K Designs and the prize is a beautiful stamp set called Beautiful Furnishings. I really like the stamps at Gina K Designs...the stamped images/words always come out perfect!

I've kept my card really simple...used an MS border punch on the edges and some Cosmo Cricket scraps, ribbon and buttons. I just love this sentiment! :)

This is the last card I'll be sharing as a DT member over at Card Patterns....:( I had an amazing time in the last 6 months...and had the pleasure of working alongside some incredible cardmakers...each with their own charming style...Debbie, Lizaveta, Iwona, Tracey and Julia ...and  I am extremely thankful to Michelle, Tracy and Nina for giving me this opportunity to be part of this incredible team.

Have a beautiful week! :)

 
*Edited* This card was featured on the Cards blog featuring cards using border punches.

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A tea party

Hello friends! I see you've received an invitation to my little tea party! I would love to thank Vanessa from A Fanciful Twist for hosting this wonderful event! :)

Come on in...oh you're all dressed up! Love what you're wearing! :)

What's a party without some sweet treats? There are plenty to go around! :)

And there are fun games to play too! :) Let's celebrate!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I know you have other parties to get to...Goodbye and have a great weekend! :)

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A few good men

Hello friends! This week's challenge at Scrapping the Music is up! It's the song "Feelin good" by Nina Simone. My layout, A few good men, features my father's entourage on his wedding day....

Some handstitching around the photo...

Some masking and misting...I took some photos during the process so I made a short tutorial to share...:)

What you require is a box/container for your cardstock (so that the mist doesn't go all over the place), a mask and mists... (I prefer Maya Mists because the colours are intense and dry almost instantly)

 Adhere the mask to the cardstock and start misting! I used a light blue first...

Then added yellow...

Remove the mask and you have a lovely design on your base cardstock. Try it out! :)

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