less is more, week 154 : one layer hearts

I find it very hard to resist the one layer weeks at less is more so here's my quick card using PaperArtsy stamps.

Just simple stamping and colouring with Derwent colour soft pencils. The hearts are colour with red, edged with black and then the colours blended with a derwent blender pencil.

Stealing an idea!

Today I needed to make a fiftieth card for a male..... I know! complete lack of inspiration.

And then I just happened to look at today's ShowCASe on Less is more and I saw this card (click on the link to see it) And that was it. I was inspired, so I immediatley tootled off and made my version of this card.

The numbers are banana frog stamps stamped with nougat fresco paint from PaperArtsy. I also used the script from PaperArtsy, again with the nougat paint, in a masked strip. I don't know who made the happy birthday but I use it alot.

While I was at it I also needed a 12th birthday card for a boy, and used similar techniques to create a totally different card.

PaperArtsy Blog: CAS corner

After all the fun of my guest designer stint at PaperArtsy, I was thrilled to be asked back to contribute a regular monthly spot- What I like to think of as my clean and simple corner on the PaperArtsy blog.

My first contribution is a CAS valentine card, which you can see here in full. I haven't used any inks at all to make this card, all of the stamping is done using PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Paints. I love the effect they give with stamping.

You can also enter the challenge, taking inspiration from any of this week's posts : including mine.
I hope you like my card, I'll be back next month with more from CAS Corner.

mug cosy and coaster all-in-one

I saw this idea on pinterest here and immediatley knew that I had to do my own version of it.
I chose to crochet as it's so much easier to custom fit things using crochet rather than knitting.

Instructions.

create a "magic ring" and dc(british -sc american) 5 into ring and tighten.
next round 2dc into each stitch (i do not turn, or join in round but crochet in a spiral (either method would work)
next round *2dc into next stitch, dc in next st, rpt from* all round
next round *2dc into next stitch, dc in next 2 st, rpt from *all round
next round *2dc into next stitch,  dc in next 3 stitch, rpt from * all round

continue in this way until you have a circle the same size or just larger than base of your mug.

next round dc into back loop only of each stitch.
next round dc into each stitch.
continue last row to base of handle (I didn't repeat this row at all.

turn and dc every row until reach top of the handle.
at end of last row do not turn but chain 1 and join to top of other edge.
next round dc all round.
repeat this row if need to reach near top of cup.

finish top with one round of reverse dc (crab stitch, rope stitch).
fasten off

attach yarn to row where you only crocheted into back loop, and reverse dc into front loop all round and fasten off.