Tuesday 1 August 2017

Less is More #339 - Pierce Your Project

Happy August folks!

Another great challenge over at Less is More this week - 'Pierce Your Project'. You can do this in a variety of ways such as paper piercing, brads, eyelets, sewing and a whole host of other things. I opted to use pierced 'faux stitched' dies to frame a fun frog:
I used:

- 4.25" x 5.5" white card blank, tent style

- then used the largest die in the Lil' Inkers 'Stitched Rectangles' set to add a frame of 'pierced stitches' to the front of the card. I actually did this before trimming the card down to size but using low tack tape it could just as easily be done to a card already cut to size

- then die cut a smaller panel using a die from the same set and the same shade of white card

- stamped the frog and the sentiment onto the panel using the Misti and a Misti magnetic Creative Corner to make stamping in the corner easier. In truth, I could have stamped with the card panel over to the top right of the Misti and skipped the use of the additional Misti Creative Corner - but am a creature of habit and I always stamp in the bottom left corner of the Misti :)

- for the stamping I used a piece of clear acetate with grid lines on to position the frog and the sentiment - just to make sure the sentiment was straight. I find this an invaluable help and the NBUS stamp set I used is by Joy Clair, called 'Hoppy Birthday', such a fun set as well!

- used a Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink pad and then coloured the image using Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils - blending using Sansodor blending fluid

- backed the image panel with white fun foam and glued it onto the card front

- final touch, added Glossy Accents to the eyes

A couple of little tips about using Sansodor blending fluid:

I popped a small piece of foam (from a make-up sponge - or a small piece of white felt would work either) into a little plastic jar and sprinkled a few drops of Sansodor on to moisten the sponge - absolutely ages ago. It rarely needs more drops adding and also ensures that you don't flood your work with blending fluid as you only need the tiniest amount on your blending stump.

I have a variety of different sized blending stumps but, again ages ago, I was given a great tip by Irene who was a UK bloggy friend. She sent me some really dinky pointed 'blending tips' that I believe are supposed to be used in a holder and changed when necessary. I know I have a spare packet of them with the brand name on, somewhere in here, but can't find it right now. Such a shame as I much prefer them for small areas and they seem to be almost made of a plastic like material which doesn't go at all 'blunt' like traditional cotton or paper stumps or tortillions. Yet they are slightly absorbent - if anyone knows what I'm talking about I'd love to know who makes them please! Sadly, Irene has given up blogging and I don't have her email address to ask her, sigh.

Edit: HOORAY, first Chris S and then Cara got in touch and the 'nibs' are from the Ranger 'Cut 'n Dry' range - try Amazon HERE if you're in the UK. IMHO you get more control using the wee little things without a holder! Thank you so much ladies! :)




29 comments:

  1. I just love your cute funny frog! Would a stamp a ma jig have helped positioning? Just wondered. Love all your tips xxx

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    1. Yes Lesley. I still rate my stamp a ma jig for positioning, but not when you need to ink and restamp due to the first impression being patchy. And of course, the Misti isn't usable with wood mounted stamps, so the stamp a ma jig wins hands down there! x

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  2. I would never think for a balloon tied to a frog tongue, it's crazy and I loved it!

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  3. That is one fun frog, beautifully positioned

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  4. A great fun card Di, I love those eyes.

    Sue xx

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  5. What a wonderful card - I do love that frog image
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  6. such a cute card :) that playful frog really made me smile :)
    hugs
    preeti

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  7. Love the cute frog and your colouring is fabulous! My husband bought me the Misti corners as part of my birthday pressi months ago. I have less than three weeks to wait and I will have them, can't wait to use them! xxx

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    1. You'll love them Chris! I don't know how you've been able to wait for them for so long - I bet you take ages opening your Christmas presents too? :)

      Hugs

      Di xx

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  8. A fantastic CAS design Di, love that cute little frog with his funny facial expression. Great use of the faux stitched dies and a gorgeous fun card for our challenge. Thanks for playing along with us at Less is More x

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  9. I adore your cute frog Di with its amazing eyes and your tips about the sansodor. I don't use it all that much but a great idea to put the piece of sponge in a small jar with the sansodor on it instead of using from the bottle. I did have a bit of an accident with mine and spilt some so this is a great idea and one sadly I didn't think of so thanks for that. x

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  10. This is such a fun card and perfectly designed and executed. Thanks fior the tip about the jar. All I can think of that you might be referring to are cut n dry nibs x

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  11. Fab groovy frog . (You wouldn't believe the rewording predictive texting just put on those 3 words. Sometimes I just wish we were back to using a board and chalks.) Having a little rest between doing the ironing. Can't stand on my feet for too long. Hugs Mrs A.

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  12. So adorable, Di. That froggie image is priceless. The glossy accents on the eyes is a fun touch. Love the faux stitched details. Thank you for playing along with us this week at Less is More. 😊 Trina xx

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  13. Hi Di,
    what a wonderful card, and your floggy image is so sweet.
    Lovely design.
    Blogging friends are always so helpful arn't they.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  14. Sorry Di typo error should have read froggy

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  15. A cute card Di - love the frog's eyes!
    Kath x

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  16. That is one CUTE frog and balloon card Di (I'm playing catch up). YAY!

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  17. Why does a "Froggie goes a wooing" come into my head, seem to think it was a song, way back.
    Superb LIM card, love the design and the different size eyes and I saw a brown frog in my garden last week, didn't half make me jump but not quite as high as the frog did.

    Kath x

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  18. This card makes me smile from ear to ear Di! I LOVE that frog! Can he get any cuter?!!! Well done with the blending. I haven't used solution to blend colored pencils in a long time. Need to do it again. Hugs, Brenda

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  19. So cute...love this little guy! Thanks for sharing at Less is More!

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  20. This is so flippin cute Di! it's gorgeous huggles Sue xx

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  21. Super duper cute, Di--perfect CAS card!

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  22. Aww your card Di is super cute! xx

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