Walk with me

Guess what? Gauche Alchemy's the sponsor for the October Guest Design Team Challenge at Sketchy Thursdays! And the prize is the awesome Nature Calls Mixed Media Paper Craft Kit!!! :) My layout, Walk with Me, features my two nephews out on walk. I used the BabyKiddoCutie Paper Craft Kit.

Some distressing on the edges, a little light misting on the background, some stamping (yay!), scraps from My Little Shoebox and Basic Grey. Foam tags and Alphas are from American Crafts. Journaling was printed on a strip of kraft paper. Hinge from the hardware store.
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A big thank you to those who entered into the drawing for my happy box! It was really nice to get to know a little more about you! :) The winner who was picked randomly is....(drumroll please)...

#3 Julie Tucker-Wolek!


Congrats Julie! I'll be contacting shortly for your mailing address! :)

P/s: I'll be having another giveaway later this week! :)

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Hey!

Hey there! Just a really quick card using the CPS sketch and Tiny Tia from Some Odd Girl! :) Colouring with Copics...a little misting on textured cardstock, some washi tape and some pom pom trim and glitter stickers! :)

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Show & tell

My oldest nephew, S, has recently taken to bugs, insects and all the creepy crawly stuff...He's always in the garden looking for something he can use for a little "show and tell"...;) Yep, grasshoppers, spiders...we've seen them all.:) I love that he's not squeamish about touching them with his bare hands (so like me!!! :)...

This layout was inspired by this week's challenge over at Scrapping The Music which is the song We're Gonna Be Friends from the movie Napoleon Dynamite. There's a $20 gift certificate to the Ormulu store for the winner so do play along! :)

Some misting (pink, blue and green) on the right side of the white cardstock, Cosmo Cricket patterned paper was punched with MS edge punch, Prima packaging, string, brads and stickers & ribbon by American Crafts. I used a white pen to write the journaling on the photo.

P/s: Wanna win a whole year's subscription to Scrap n' Art magazine? Go leave a comment here.

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The Stylista and a little flashback circa January 2009

So I was invited by KCK (a local stationery/craft supplies manufacturer) to guest design over at their blog Krafers' Paradise. This was the layout I created using their Glittering Glamour line. It features my mother back in 1972...The Stylista (Okay, so I was watching this show on tv the other day..*LOL*..)

I used Distress Ink in Tea Dye to "age" the glittered paper a little...a little misting (Maya Road mist in Grapefruit Pink) on the white textured cardstock..crochet and paper doilies to "frame" the photo and lots of paper flowers, handmade felt flowers, Prima leaves and buttons. I also added some bits from Gauche Alchemy's Pink Parts Mixed Media Color Kit and pom pom trim! :) All chipboard and glitter stickers are from KCK.

P/s: If you live in Singapore, go leave a comment here and you may win for yourself a $10 gift certificate...:)

And now for a little flashback circa January 2009...

This was the first layout I posted on my blog...featuring nephew #2 at the Botanic Gardens. Holy smokes! I was using my stamps back then! I think the paper is from Scenic Route...:) My friend Amy Tsuruta challenged her friends to post their latest and first layouts. I was praying as I scrolled through my archives ...please let it be something re-post worthy...*LOL*

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Pure spirit

It was Theme Day last Friday at the Gauche Alchemy blog and the Design Team made ATCs (aka Artists Trading Cards). I did a little masking/inking (Tim Holtz mask & distress inks) on canvas paper for the background of my ATC, Pure Spirit, and embellished with bits from the various Gauche Alchemy Mixed Media Color Kits (my go-to add-ons for projects! :) 

This is my second ATC ever (I made 1 last year!) and it was definitely challenging for me. You have to create "art" on such a small space (2.5" x 3.5")...my cards are always 6" X 6"! *LOL*

Psst!!!! Have you entered into the drawing for my little Happy Box giveaway?

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Adore

Hi friends! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! I really enjoyed reading the comments you left me on this post. This card, Adore, features the grid stamping technique my guest blogger Karen Baker shared in this tutorial...

I first misted the textured cardstock with Maya mist, then stamped with Brilliance ink in a similar hue..I didn't use a pencil or ruler though...just eyeballed and prayed for the best...* LOL*! I never really measure stuff...too much work! ;)

Crochet doiley, tulle and paper roses. I added some distress stickles in rock candy for some glass glitter effect!

I love that my guests always challenge me to use stuff I already have! :)What do you think Karen?

P/s: My friend Sherry has an awesome giveaway here!

*Edited* This card was featured at the Create blog - cards with single word sentiments! :)

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Saturday memories

Hello friend! Just wanted to share a layout I did for the challenge over at TAAFOMFT...fave day of the week...mine is Saturday...that's the day I get to spend time with my nephews (all 3 of them!)...creating our happy Saturday memories...:)  I used the sketch at PageMaps.

Patterned papers are a mix of Cosmo Cricket, Prima and Teresa Collins. Letter stickers are from Studio Calico. Banner Stickers are from Jenni Bowlin. Some brads, buttons, googly eyes, string and Prima pom pom trim.

Have a fabulous weekend! :)

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Celebrate with the girls...and a happy box (giveaway! )

The new challenge at Some Odd Girl is up! This time it's a sketch challenge! :) Here's my card ...Celebrate with the girls featuring Balloon Kaylee. Come play along! :)

I also want to announce the winner of my guest blogger Sparkle's challenge. Congratulations to..

Margo!

And now for my happy box (giveaway!)

So what's in the box? :)

6x6 Prima Annalee Paper Stack (48 sheets)
Paper Craft Journal (1)
American Crafts elements ribbon  (3 rolls)
Craft Affair glitter brads (2 packs)
Pebbles printed diecuts (1 pack)
Prima clear stamps (2 packs)
Basic Grey Opaline pearls (1 pack)
Maya Road scallop album (1)
7Gypsies texture rubbings (1 sheet)
Doodlebug cardstock stickers (2 sheets)
Pink Paislee Glitter Stix in silver (1)

All housed in this upcycled tin box which I spent hours on! It's really sparkly!:) Do you like it?

The box was first spray-painted with Krylon's Make It Suede. The base paper from Prima (from the same set I'm giving away) was painted with crackle paint in rock candy for subtle cracks and then the edges were inked with distress inks. Then I added some paper flowers, handmade felt flowers, crochet doiley and bits from Gauche Alchemy's Pink Parts Mixed Media Kit. The 'happy' text is from Teresa Collins patterned paper...just inked and glittered with stickles in rock candy. Heart pins from Heidi Grace and tulle.

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So, leave me a comment telling me a little something about you by Friday September 3. I will draw a winner the next day! :)

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Life on a farm

So I have this grand idea to write a little story book for my nephews about Life on a Farm. Quite challenging since I've never lived on a farm or been to a farm. The whole country I live in is one big city! :) My experiences with farms are mostly cartoon-based...*LOL*. The inspiration for the farm idea came from My Little Shoebox...who just had to come up with these cute sheep...and barn...you know...the farm-related stuff. ;) Anyway, my nephews love it when I tell them stories with them as the main characters so this would be fun...;)

It's not complete yet...I'll just show you the box I decorated for the book first. This was a tin-box with a clear window so there are two decorated layers.(Actually, I couldn't stand the glue-marks when I opened the box so I added another layer..;)

P/s: I'll be back tomorrow with a Some Odd Girl card and a giveaway! Yay! ;)

Keep those entries to my guest blogger Karen's challenge coming! :)

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Some like it hot!

Hi there! Welcome to the Gauche Alchemy/Bombshell stamps Some like it hot! blog hop. The design team members will be showcasing their creations inspired by summer!:)

My project was done on a piece of canvas board.....I used some orange mist, added the really cool metallic orange punchinella and parts from the Gauche Alchemy Scarlet Red Fever Mixed Media Color Kit. I used some bronze stickles around the mirror.

A really simple and quick project! I'm planning to put it in the entryway...so that I can check myself out before I leave the house...mirror mirror on the wall...how do I look? HOT! ;) Haha...I need the self-esteem booster to start my day...What do you think?

And what's a blog hop without prizes?

All you have to do it visit and comment on all the blogs in the list and you'll be in the running to win either THREE color kits from Gauche Alchemy or a really cool Bombshell stamp! :) Or maybe both? You could be that lucky! :)

 Kas Gauche Alchemy Kelli

Maggi

Katie

Cheryl

Angela Erika Kathi Pam

Sy

Meredith

Laura

Merdrey Chew

Angie

Yvonne --> That's me!

Steph

Carmen Terra Alaine

Alison

P/s: We all live in different parts of the world so check back later if some of the team members' posts are not up yet! Good luck! :)

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Clean and simple with Karen Baker

Hello friends! My guest today is the talented Karen Baker. She really epitomizes what clean and simple means when it comes to cardmaking. Her cards have such character and style and almost always involve some ingenious way to use stamps. I definitely have loads to learn from her! Today she shares with us a technique that is totally simple in concept but oh so very well-executed...She will also be issuing a challenge and a sweet prize! Yay! Read on to find out more! :)

But first, let's take a look at her lovely creations...

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Hi there! I'm so very honored that Yvonne has asked me to join her as a guest designer here on Do More With Less. I am so inspired by her creativity, especially her use of bold and bright colors and have learned so much from Yvonne. I started scrapbooking long ago and started to dabble in card making and blogging last October. My style can mostly be interpreted as clean and simple, although I like to try out new styles, techniques and just have fun! I work full time and am a mother to two boys, so my crafting time is limited to the evening hours and beyond so I've learned to maximize my crafting time. 

Here's a quick tutorial on how I create stamped background paper with a grid design. 

Start with the basic tools and your favorite stamp that you'd like to use for a background. For this technique, I try to use one that it a bit smaller and not so busy as to be distracting. This card uses the cute Thanks Stamp included with a purchase from Lawn Fawn! 

Measure your stamp. Transfer the width and height to the paper by creating a grid with light pencil lines. My spaces ended up being 1 1/4" x 3/4" 

Stamp your image repeatedly within the squares. 

Trim and adhere your card. 

This technique works especially well with a circular image and a single stamp color as well..as seen in this card here.

I would love to see what you come up using my stamped grid background technique with and to sweeten the deal, I will offer up a $10 gift certificate Limelight Papercrafts to one random player.

Many Thanks to Yvonne for having me as a guest designer on her blog today!

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Isn't this stamped grid background technique just fabulous? So, get cracking on your projects now! You have until September 10 to link up your  *NEWLY* created projects in the comments section of this post. That's a little more than  two weeks to play! :) 

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

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Thanks a bunch

I have a really quick card to share with you today - "Thanks a bunch" - using some paper scraps from Basic Grey and My Little Shoebox, American Crafts foam tag and brad, SRM sentiment sticker, upcycled a disposable chopstick and some string. This was inspired by Get Sketchy....haven't played there in a really long time! :)

Hope you had a fabulous weekend...I was running on adrenaline and managed to get AHEAD in DT work but seriously suffering the consequences right now...I'm soooo tired! [insert super sad face] 

Anyway, a couple of interesting things happening this week including a new guest (with a cool tutorial), a new challenge (with a fabulous prize), a blog hop and a giveaway (fresh from the store)! :) So, for those of you who are working on my guest Sparkle's challenge, you need to send it in soon either through the comment section or via email (if you don't have a blog or gallery). The deadline's 24 August....that's like tomorrow! [insert dramatic music] ;)

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Special delivery

Hi there! Happy Friday! I have a Special Delivery for you! :) This is Tiny Tobie and his dog...this month's digital freebie at Some Odd Girl. Isn't he cute? :) I used this week's CPS sketch and coloured him with Copics.

Hope that you can find time to play along with my guest blogger Sparkle's challenge! :)

Have a great weekend! :)

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The wedding dress

Just a quick layout using the sketch from Sketchy Thursdays...featuring my mother in her wedding dress...Some misting on the doiley, patterned paper is from K & Co and Sassafras, Martha Stewart edge punch, Craft Affair letter brads, paper roses and buttons.

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With all of my love and kisses!

From me to you...With all of my love and kisses! :) 

Can you tell that I'm in love???? :) I've been spending a lot of time with my Copics lately...*LOL* ...all 18 of them...[I hope to add to the family...] And these cute little images from Some Odd Girl are just so fun to colour! I used the sketch from Card Patterns and this image, Tiny Tia, was a freebie on Digi Day! :) I added some Stickles in Rock Candy to her eyes for that glass glitter effect...

Check out the September 21 Tinies release...

Too cute right? I'm thinking of making a story book with these Tinies! :)

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