Home again after a month away on a fabulous holiday to California and Hawaii!
We planned this cruise quite some time ago... two weeks to Hawaii and back from Los Angeles. Going all that way, my husband thought we should profit from the fact that we had taken a long flight and extend our stay to include some additional time in California. We actually also strayed into Nevada to visit Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, followed by a week relaxing in Indio, close to Palm Springs, before returning to LA to embark on our cruise aboard the Golden Princess.
It was a wonderful holiday, but quite a time to be away from home. I tried to keep up with visiting LIMettes to comment on their contributions to Less is More, but the Internet connections were not always wonderful, particularly on board ship. SO... many apologies to all of those whose blogs I didn't manage to visit.
I DID manage to find a 'Michael's', the craft store I had read so much about in many American crafter's blogs, and managed to pick up a few bargains.
Now back to Less is More!
We have been astounded by the difference in the attitude of crafters to the One Layer Card challenges at Less is More. At the outset of our blog, they were met with fear and trepidation, but these days many people really seem to enjoy the challenge and the work produced is astounding!
We planned this cruise quite some time ago... two weeks to Hawaii and back from Los Angeles. Going all that way, my husband thought we should profit from the fact that we had taken a long flight and extend our stay to include some additional time in California. We actually also strayed into Nevada to visit Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, followed by a week relaxing in Indio, close to Palm Springs, before returning to LA to embark on our cruise aboard the Golden Princess.
Here we are in the National Park on the Big Island beside some of the steam vents near to the volcano.
It was a wonderful holiday, but quite a time to be away from home. I tried to keep up with visiting LIMettes to comment on their contributions to Less is More, but the Internet connections were not always wonderful, particularly on board ship. SO... many apologies to all of those whose blogs I didn't manage to visit.
I DID manage to find a 'Michael's', the craft store I had read so much about in many American crafter's blogs, and managed to pick up a few bargains.
Now back to Less is More!
We have been astounded by the difference in the attitude of crafters to the One Layer Card challenges at Less is More. At the outset of our blog, they were met with fear and trepidation, but these days many people really seem to enjoy the challenge and the work produced is astounding!
Here is my first sample for this week.
I love this bird stamp from The Rubber Stamp Gallery. It was stamped then masked before the oval was inked in shades of blue, then overstamped with the various birthday sentiments.
The stamps here are all from Stampin' Up. More stamping and masking again here, with the sentiment added a second time as the original was a little wonky!
To make this card, I masked off the square and then inked it with three colours of ink. When dry, I stamped the images with Versamark and then clear embossed them. The darker shades of ink were then sponged over the stamping. I really like the effect.
There we go, three different kind of wings! Job done!
Gorgeous cards, Chrissie. I really am going to have a go at the clear embossing technique some time, but straight on to a one layer card? Don't know if I'm ready for that.
ReplyDeleteAmazing cards my friend.
ReplyDeleteGlad you have you back, not because of LIM..................I just missed you
Super stash and FAB pic x
Fabulous cards Chrissie...
ReplyDeleteWoww your holiday sounds wonderful... AND you got to find Michaels... when I used to go visit my friend in upstate NY, I always had to take an empty suitcase with me to bring back my treasures from there!! hehe
Hugs
Christine x
Fabulous inspiration lovely lady, thank you :O)
ReplyDeleteand what fab goodies you got at Michaels looking forward to seeing what you create with them
ali x
Welcome back Chrissie, your trip sounded fabulous! Fab cards as usual, I do love that bird:) Great stash from Michael's, I spent a couple of hours in one in Nova Scotia and bought back a few goodies:)
ReplyDeleteVal x
What a fabulous sounding trip - nice haul from Michaels too!
ReplyDeleteLove all the cards but I do have a soft spot for that lovely bird.
You were the random winner of my WCMD blog candy draw btw - drop me an email with your address and I'll pop the die in the post to you.
Tara
x
Each is so different and so lovely! I particularly like the airplane flying out of the text!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous time you must have had with your cruise and a trip to Hawaii too. AND a trip to MICHAELS too - hope you had lots of 40% discount coupons!! I have the Stamping gear introductory set too - how do you like it?
ReplyDeleteLove the winged theme this week and will be putting my thinking cap on later
Kathyk
Quite forgot to say - love the cards
ReplyDeleteKathyk
You were only about 2 hours from me! Wasn't the Grand Canyon breathtaking? Sounds like a wonderful vacation!
ReplyDeleteFab cards and stash glad you had a good time xx Jan
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Chrissie, as always your cards are fab! And yes I don't mind admitting that I was one who found it very difficult to create a one layer card. I think I am slowly improving.
ReplyDeleteHugs ... Carole
Great cards! Fabulous coloring in your last one....
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous cards.
ReplyDeleteHugs Riet.xx
great cards. you will be needing a rest after all that travelling.
ReplyDeleteLinbyx
These are all fantastic cards! really love the emboss resist butterflies! Very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThank you for such wonderful inspiration again this week Chrissie.
ReplyDeleteLove the aeroplane card.
So pleased you enjoyed your holiday. My dad and uncle are doing this cruise in february. They are visiting Pearl Harbour while in Hawaii.
Lynne xxx
Your cards are amazing! Sounds like a fun trip!
ReplyDeletefabby set of cards, chrissie! sounds like you have a wonderful vacation!
ReplyDeleteJob very well done, Chrissie! I love all three of them! You sure had a job getting all your challenge cards done a month ahead of time. Thank you for doing that for us!!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing more photos of your vacation on your blog. It sounds like the trip of a lifetime!
oohh what a terrific holiday ! I would love to do that ! sounds wonderful :-)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cards ,, all of them are fab but I LOVE the masculine one with the plane ,, it would be perfec for my nephew ! will have to CASE it :-)
thanks for your comments on my blog ,,, tho I would never expect you to comment whilst on such a fabby holiday !! :-)
love the new goodies too :-)
luv
Lols x x x
I love all three! I do love that image in the first card....and the text behind the airplane is perfect...but I think my favorite is the third one. I love that technique and this turned out beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOoh you found Michaels! Lovely new stash!
ReplyDeleteWelcome home and what a lovely bunch of cards you have made, the butterflies are gorgeous
Anne
x
Glad you had a good holiday and welcome back. Great cards - especially like the bird on his blue background!!
ReplyDeleteThree lovely cards, Chrissie. TY for the inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards and another great challenge and wow that's some lovely crafty goodies!! x
ReplyDeleteHi Chrissie, welcome back! So pleased you had a good holiday - and can I say that commenting on everyone's blogs when you're on holiday is beyond the call of duty! I love your cards, especially the one with the plane. Such a simple technique but so effective. Vicky x
ReplyDeleteOooh look at all those goodies! It would have been rude not to go to Michaels!! Looks a lovely trip.
ReplyDeleteSuper cards as always Chrissie. Love to know how you manage to avoid the halo effect when masking. Something I need to perfect.
x
What great pics Chrissie, looks like you both had a wonderful time tfs! Super cards again too,can't pick a fav again. Yes one layer cards aren't so bad now it's true :) Viv xx
ReplyDelete