Saturday 3 March 2012

In Neutral at "Less is More"

I'm staggered at how quickly the weeks seem to roll by. It's  March already and time for another colour challenge at "Less is More". This time around we chose NEUTRALS which range from off white to black with all the shades of beige, brown and grey in between.
We are sponsored this month by WOW Embossing Powders and the the lucky winner will receive a caddy containing 12 different powders. What a fab prize!
A few weeks ago I was inspired by one of our LIMettes Birgit, to buy this set of stamps Available at Blockheads which is from an A4 sheet of floral images. It has tulips, poppies and I think calendulas and is simply stunning.
This time I decided to use a darker background and to use bleach to colour or rather take colour from the images. To add a little depth, once the image was dry, I did use an Inktense pencil from Derwent, which I blended with a water brush. The frame, made from a piece of packaging was cut with a Nestie rectangle, extending the length of the aperture slightly, to accommodate the size of the image. The whole thing was mounted on a Sahara Sand card base.




Here are another couple of bleached images, this time using black embossing powder on black paper. I tried using black card but the bleach made little difference. I had such fun doing these. This stamp is really rather large and makes leaving any white space somewhat problematic, but by using only plain paper and cardstock, with no patterned paper the simple style is maintained.




Different effects can be achieved by the amount of bleach and the areas of the stamp which are concentrated upon. I really love the colour that this one turned out... a perfect match for the SU Sahara Sand card.
I inked the dry embossed panel with a little Sahara Sand and Black Soot inks to emulate the shading on the flowers.
The tag is from Cuttlebug and the sentiment from Wild Rose Studios.






This simple little number includes some home made washi tape. I stuck a sheet of double sided adhesive paper onto a sheet of tissue paper and then stamped the tissue using various wheels on my Rollagraph  handle. I then sliced it into strips and simply peeled back the backing paper to apply it to the card, tearing the end rather than cutting it. The birds on a wire punch is from Martha Stewart... isn't it cute! The sentiment is from Stampin' Up.






My husband got a new toy on Thursday... also a neutral colour, we took it for a drive to our daughter's yesterday, there are quite a few things to master on it as they have updated lots of features compared to our last car. It looks quite mean doesn't it!
Our daughter and her family have suddenly decided to come for the weekend, so I've a few beds to prepare this morning and the cot to get down from the loft... busy, busy!
Do join in with our challenge again this week, we love to see so many inspiring contributions.

59 comments:

  1. Wow! The bleaching technique looks amazing on the fabulous tulips. You make our jaws drop every week with your variety of techniques, Chrissie! Had to look twice at the birds because I thought it might be the new stamps you bought.

    Love the new car - bet you're both really happy with it.
    Hugs,
    Sharon xx

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  2. Your tulip cards are absolutely stunning! I love the second card with the pretty punched border!

    Nice car!!! Have fun!

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  3. FANTASTIC cards as ever my friend.
    Your card is fabulous, love shiny new cars!

    x

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  4. Lovely set of cards this week, hard to choose a favourite. I can't trust myself with bleach yet!! LOL!!. PS Love the Car.
    Maureen.......x

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  5. Great cards, enjoy your weekend xx Jan

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  6. Lovely cards and the car is nice to , have a nice family wkend .
    Nicky

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  7. A beautiful use of bleach and pencils! Each flower simply glows with life!

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  8. Love your examples Chrissie - especially the bleach technique! Unfortunately, I've got the bleach marks on my jeans to show for the last time I tried it so perhaps not for me this time LOL. I'll still be having a go at the challenge though - thanks so much for your inspiration.

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  9. those stamps are gorgeous Chrissie, loving that bleasched effect

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  10. Fabulous examples as usual but especially loving the bleached ones.
    Have fun with the family

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  11. I do like the bleaching technique but I hate the smell! Your tulip cards are lovely but I'm fascinated by the birds and washi tape card - it's gorgeous! Enjoy the Mean Machine and having your daughter and her family to stay. Vicky x

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  12. Oh I cant decide on a favourite they are all lovely, Super new car too, I love cars. Hope you have a great family weekend, Hazelxo

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  13. Beautiful cards Chrissie ~ I'm intrigued by the bleaching techniques, I've never tried that but your results are amazing! Love the homemade washi tape!!
    Sarah x

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  14. Your cards are stunning - love the tulips on both cards and the third card is simply and perfectly CAS! Thanks for a great challenge!

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  15. Beautiful work on the cards. I have never tried the bleaching technique. It sounds very interesting.

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  16. I love the card with the tulips, but not the black one - I can't describe it in a better way ;)

    this card looks elegant and like an artwork

    thanks for inspire

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  17. Love that stamp and your cards are stunning.

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  18. (First, spiffy car!) I hate to repeat myself, but I have to comment to you what I commented to Mandi, your cards are absolute works of art that should be framed! I am seriously in awe.

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  19. Fabulous cards Chrissie
    Beryl x

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  20. Hi hun
    gorgeous cards as always, luv the bleach affect, lovely new toy, car has 4 wheels n steering wheel so wasted on me! lol, sue,x

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  21. I've never tried to use bleach...but that's a really great look!! Love all three cards!! Not sure I could pic a favorite...they're all fab! Nice wheels too!

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  22. The tulip stamp is definitely very versatile, bleaching as well, haven't tried that for ages! I adore the colouring on the flower heads on your first card and the frame is just perfect.
    Washi tape is fun to make, great that you can customise it however you want!
    Great challenge...can't forget the neutrals :0)
    Jenny x

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  23. I've always been scared to try bleaching on cards. I mean, it's, well, bleach - dangerous stuff! But yours are so effective. Maybe I need to watch some videos LOL.

    Enjoy your new toy!
    Rosey x

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  24. I love your cards, Chrissie! What a fabulous set of Blockhead stamps. I especially like the border treatment on the second card. You've inspired me to give bleaching a try.

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  25. Beautiful cards Chrissie and your new car looks fab, hugs x x

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  26. Tulips, just beautiful. Every card is a little work of art. And, a new car, congrats :)

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  27. Your tulips are stunning and I love the birds. I am being invaded today so must go and get sorted.

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  28. Love your cards Chrissie so elegant and classy! Thanks for another fab challenge. :)x

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  29. Lots of inspiration here. Off to have a go at making my own washi tape!
    Linbyx

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  30. Beautiful cards Chrissie - love the effect you've got with the bleach!
    Helen x

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  31. That bleaching looks terrific! Enjoy your family weekend
    Anne
    x

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  32. your cards are always so lovely, chrissie! this week is no exception... my favorite is the first one, though.

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  33. Love the cards Chrissie, the bleaching effect is amazing!

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  34. One stamps and so different cards. This is wonderful. The second one is realy with bleach? Wow. Never tried this before.

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  35. One stamps and so different cards. This is wonderful. The second one is realy with bleach? Wow. Never tried this before.

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  36. Hi Chrissie

    These are just stunning and so elegant, I love them all, thanks for another week of inspiration.

    Love the new motor.

    K xx

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  37. Hi Chrissie

    These are just stunning and so elegant, I love them all, thanks for another week of inspiration.

    Love the new motor.

    K xx

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  38. Love the bleached tulips, haven't tried that yet. Been a bit scared too because I'm so clumsy! Your first card is my fav, love the way it's framed. x

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  39. I love the effect you got from bleaching - I've never been brave enough to try it. It looks almost gold on your photos - just lovely as always.
    Tara x

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  40. As usual very inspiring and beautiful cards.thanks for your sweet comment on my blog post

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  41. Gorgeous works of art, Chrissie! Love the dynamic car too. ;)

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  42. Chrissie
    all your cards are stunning. I haven't tried bleach for ages - think I might pop off now & see what some of my card will turn like.
    x

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  43. I love your bleached tulips. But i also like your little birdie card. so cute. And, you made your own washie paper. How cool is that! Congrats on the new car!!

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  44. These are all stunning but I have a soft spot for the birdies!

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  45. Framing your tulips really highlights their beauty! I love a neutral palette and your cards are beautiful!

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  46. Fab cards and absolutely love the birdie card, that tissue tape worked out well, what a great idea to use large sheets of double sided, much easier than using the double sided tape....thanks for the tip.
    Diane

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  47. Chrissie, just love the bleaching. I have had the same problem trying to bleach black card. Thanks for the tip on using paper instead.

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  48. Chrissie, Your tulip cards are amazing. My Favorite is the framed one. Such a piece of art! Thanks for all you do to keep LIM going. It's such wonderful inspiration for me!

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  49. Fabulous effects with the bleaching technique, Chrissie. I have seen this before but never tried it...I must, as your cards look amazing! x

    Super new car! I bet it smells wonderful inside! x

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  50. So beautiful and the bleaching effect is so stunning:)Sandra H

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  51. Love your bleaching technique. I have to try that. Just fantastic creations Chrissie. I really love those birds on a wire and how you have perched them!

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  52. Can't pick a fav again as all just super Chrissie :) Viv xx

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  53. Three great cards, love the tulip one in the frame but my favorite is the cute birds.

    Kath x

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  54. I probably should not be allowed to handle bleach, so I won't be trying it soon. But... your cards are fantastic. Birdies are probably my favorite.
    The car is also very pretty, but I suspect the steering wheel is on the wrong side.

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  55. Chrissie, these tulips are amazing! LOVE the bleach effect, so lovely! The new car is beautiful, too! Enjoy!

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  56. Chrissie, thank you SO MUCH for playing with the Blockheads for our bleaching technique challenge! I too love that Flower set, and your tulips turned out beautifully with the bleach.

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  57. Great cards, but I must say bleaching scares me hehe... dont ask me why, I guess I should give it another go.

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  58. Chrissie, what beautiful cards! I love the "bleaching" technique. It's been a while since I've tried that. Thanks for the wonderful inspiration, and for the fun "Neutrals" challenge.

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Thank you so much for popping by, I appreciate your comments!
Thanks,
Chrissie