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Wednesday 31 January 2018

Less is More Challenge #363 - OLC Cute

First of all, it appears that Blogger has been fixed and embedded comments (the default setting) is working fine again without those long delays. I've reverted back to that rather than the pop up box which I didn't find as good in some ways - mainly embedded comments gives me, as well as others, the option to reply to comments within the comment facility. I've done this because I often find follow-on comments and don't want to stop that happening but will keep an eye on things just in case I need to flip back to a pop-up.

How happy I am that Less is More has switched to being a fortnightly challenge - I really do need thinking time for challenges, plus I generally only post on here a couple of times a week (possibly three if necessary) and of course one of those is always taken up with the Snippets Playground.

So, this fortnight's theme over at Less is More is the dreaded one layer plus 'Cute'. And this is my entry:
I used:

- 4" x 5.5" card blank, made using Strathmore Mixed Media Vellum Surface 300gsm paper (which of course gives you a nice sturdy card to work on)

- the Misti and a little penguin from the Jane's Doodles 'Winter Wishes' stamp set plus a sentiment from the Inkylicious 'Seasons Greetings' stamp set

- I measured out the card area using the Misti graph paper to get exactly the placement I wanted and then put the stamps in place and picked them up on the Misti lid

- did a practice run on the graph paper then put the card blank in place and stamped the image and sentiment at the same time. I was lucky that both stamps are exactly the same thickness despite being different brands - mostly it does work out OK but now and then the stamps will differ in thickness (ask me how I know this!)

- I used Ranger 'Black Archival' ink to stamp BTW - it's perfect for water based colouring mediums (I hear there's now a 'hybrid' ink pad made by MFT so that's something I aim to add into an on line order sometimes soon)

- so now I had one card with the outline penguin and sentiment - all ready to roll - so removed the card from the Misti

- the next step was to pop a Post-It note over the penguin which was stamped on the grid paper and then stamp the penguin again (there's a bit about the Post-It notes below this 'I used' bit of my blog post

- then fussy cut around the penguin and placed it on top of the penguin on the card as a mask

- out came the Ziggies and I did a very rough background using a couple of shades of blue and a water brush - somehow, the shape evolved into a bit of a domed shaker, not that I set out to do that!

- added a touch of grey/blue shadow underneath the penguin and quickly dried it using the heat gun

- then coloured the little penguin, again using my Ziggies

- final touch is 'White Opal' Liquid Pearls, dotted hither and thither to depict snow

One thing I learned whilst making this card is to do the 'flick to flatten' technique to get rid of any 'Hershey pointed tips' on the white dots of Liquid Pearls.

Another thing is those Post-It notes I mentioned. They're sticky all over the back (apart from a strip which is left clear at one edge with rounded corners to make removal and separating them easier). Jennifer McGuire uses them a LOT for masking and I'd been hunting on line for them in the UK for ages. I finally found some on Amazon UK a few weeks ago - hooray! They're known as 'Super Sticky Full Adhesive' and I bought the 50.8mm size. I instantly lost a few pads to my 'in-house critic'as for normal use they're much better than the single stripe of sticky style. Then, when working on this card, I found that 2" x 2" or so size could be cutting it a bit fine for bigger images - so I've just ordered more in 76mm x76mm size which is approx. 3" x 3" of course - link to Amazon UK is HERE. I've used various ways of masking images and this seems to be the cheapest and (for me) most accurate. My attempts at using masking fluid weren't as successful for small chaps like this penguin :)

But, a little word of slight warning. I almost came a cropper when doing the blue Ziggie background using a waterbrush! The colour from the bright pink Post-It made a bid for freedom - I had to make sure I worked towards the mask rather than away from it and Little Master Penguin does have a faint pink 'halo' in parts! Having said that, I was sloshing a fair amount of water around and, for the most part, will be using the Post-Its to create layers of stamped images. I do have some masking film which I'm sooo mean with as it cost a lot of money at the time!

And finally, just to finish off this marathon post, I was working away in the craft room ready to add the little white Liquid Pearls dots and Len glanced in on his way to the bathroom. There was a shout of 'Good grief, that's like a whole chemist's shop you've got there on your desk. And I dread to think what else is hidden in those cupboards!' Oooopsie:
I really can't imagine what he means, a girl needs choices, snigger 😀






46 comments:

  1. Really cute! :) And love the texture on the back!
    Thanks for sharing the tip and link for the post-it
    Hugs!

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  2. It was interesting reading what you said about the blogger commenting problem seeming to have gone away. I noticed it too yesterday, so changed my settings back to 'embedded' for the same reason as you - I like to be able to leave a reply sometimes.

    Really cute card, love that adorable little penguin! Thanks for sharing all the tips. x

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  3. Cute card, Di. Good thing you have a cupboard. A chemist shop could be really big.......[Bunny]

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  4. adorable, love the little snow globe effect with your masking

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  5. A lovely cute card - thanks for the masking tip too.
    Kath x

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  6. So adorable, Di--love it! You did make me laugh with Len's comment & your thoughts! We sure do need choices! My hubby recently told the puppy dog that I've made the spare room into a warehouse--haha! Have to admit it does look like that!

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  7. Aww, Di, this is so sweet!
    I've gone back to the embedded comments box too, I find I tend to lose my place when I'm commenting in a pop up box or even on a new page.
    I'll look out for those post its - not just for crafting. My older daughter is well known at work for being "The queen of the post it note" so a pad of those would make a fun addition to her next birthday present

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  8. What a cutie Di - and of course a girl needs choices!!! My DH would always say "What a mess, don't know how you can work in that!", and walk away - probably just as well!
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  9. Ha! I know what you mean by having choices...!! MY husband always is wondering where I need 'all these stuff' for...
    Your card is lovely.
    Lia xx

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  10. Very cute and not nearly as bad as toy were making out. Thanks for all the tips you've learnt by trial and error! I think it's important to keep stash hidden from people who don't understand. X

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  11. Glad it's not just me who hides stash! X

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  12. A fantastic card Di, such a cute little penguin. A girl has got to have choices!!.

    Sue xx

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  13. Yes Di ...blogger commenting has been so much easier the past few days...those spotting the sign posts and cars had been making my blog commenting such a pain.
    Love your card...so sweet and hehe you have a nice collection of cutie bottles...somehow I never could get the hang of the nuvo drops and liquid pearls so they languish on my desk!!!

    Cheers
    Dr Sonia

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  14. A super cute card and thank you for the post it tip - I might go for some of those x

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  15. The penguin card is adorable and a great choice for a one layer card. Yep, if you're going to buy a new product, might as well get it in all colors! Just don't open the cupboard if he is around. No sense in putting him in a coma!

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  16. The penguin is a real cutie and your detailed hints tips much appreciated as always - so helpful.

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  17. Your card is fabulous Di! Beautiful watercolouring in the background, a cute penguin (who doesn't love those) and some texture from the snow. Love it. Really enjoyed reading all those things you learnt. and boy did I laugh about your husband's comment. I bet they would all have a fit if they saw what was in our cupboards. Anyway, glad you're happy with our fortnightly challenge schedule. Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Less is More xx

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    1. I actually have one or two of my friends who I've said can raid my craft room if I pop my clogs. On the very strict understanding that they do NOT scream 'Oh my word, do you KNOW how much this lot will have cost'!! x

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  18. Gorgeous OLC Di and that penguin is so sweet. Poor Len, doesn't he understand that we need a varied supply of all our crafty goods so we can function properly - and it's a good job he doesn't know just how many colours there are to tempt us xx

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    1. Snigger - so right, I reckon I only scraped the surface with those Stickles for example. He should be very grateful! :) xx

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  19. I love your sweet penguin and the pretty blue circle with the little drops of liquid pearls make great snow, and you have coloured and grounded him so well Di. I have also returned to the embedded version for commenting as I think it's better too. x

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  20. Cute indeed! I thought playing at LIM would be easier with the new fortnightly schedule but I still haven't entered the current challenge. Probably will sneak in at the very last minute as per my usual...
    I can safely say I only have a few pearl pens, but other than that I have enough supplies to start my own shop. I am also a huge hoarder who is having a hard time to let go. So one of my crafty goals for this year is to use more of my NBUS and/or neglected/underused supplies, especially stamps and dies.
    Marianne x

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  21. Well that's so not fair you've got 7 more than me!! Your ickle penguin is oh so cute. hugs Mrs A.

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  22. A fabulous OLC Di, the little penguin looks so cute.
    Thanks for the tips about the post-it notes, they are my prefered option for masking too and it would be very handy to have them with a bigger sticky area.
    Jean x

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  23. Awww that's just the cutest penquin and your snow looks fab!
    Thanks for the link to the post its, didn't know you could get them all sticky instead of just the wee strip.
    Oh and thank you also for the sweet little card accompanying the shammy - which is AMAZING! (evidence posted on my blog) hahaha

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  24. A really lovely card, super image and while I became a tad lost regarding certain items it seems to have worked to create a lovely card.
    Chemist shop made me smile. Do you remember the saying "if you have a good Husband, blind him in one eye, if you have a bad Husband, blind him in both"

    Kath x

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    1. Is that a bit like 'How do you make a Roman blind?' Answer 'Poke his eyes out'? Don't worry about getting lost over a few items in the blog post - you really don't need to have Ziggies (Zig Water colour brushes) etc. to creat your lovely cards Kath! x

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  25. Oh Di, you and Len are such a delighted and gave me quite the chuckle tonight! Sounds like something Dwayne would have said to me as well. And I loved your response about a gal needing choices, couldn't agree with you more! I love, love, love your one layer card. I struggle with one layer cards as I love layers. lol But you rose up to this challenge and did it very well! Your little penguin is certainly cute, love your water color background behind him as well. I had to go back to look for any pink that escaped the post it note but couldn't see any. I never really thought about them bleeding! I need to order some of the full sticky back ones as well, just been putting it off. I'm sure it makes a huge difference when making a mask. Your snow looks great, another great use for the pearls! Hugs, Brenda

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    1. Aw, thank you Brenda! Such kind words.

      Hugs

      Di xx

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  26. Love reading your post, Di, especially the story with Len. I think we crafters can relate. 😉
    Your card is so cute. I have this JD set and have yet to ink it up. Your watercolouring is beautiful and love the snowy texture. So glad the fortnightly timeline works better for you. I love it too. Thank you for joining us at Less is More.

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  27. That sweet little penguin is adorable and I feel your pain about making a one-layer card. It always makes me nervous with the thought that I can't layer and cover up any mistakes...eeek! By the way, the penguin kind of has that lost, blank look that I often get on my face when I've forgotten where I parked my car. I want to take him by the hand and buy him a hot cocoa!

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  28. Hi Di,
    what a very super card and such a super design too.
    Love that very cute penguin.
    Your work is always so excellently created.
    I love how you impart your ideas and troubles creating.
    Oh my those sticles are to die for you have such a lot.
    I have a great trouble getting these as there is nowhere around here to buy them, and am not sure where to buy online or just forget with my memory. LOL.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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    1. Hi Jenny!

      Joanna Sheen has a huge selection of colours on line here: https://www.joannasheen.com/craft-supplies/glues-and-sticky-things/stickles-glitter-glue/

      xx

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  29. That sweet little penguin is adorable and I feel your pain about making a one-layer card. It always makes me nervous with the thought that I can't layer and cover up any mistakes...eeek! By the way, the penguin kind of has that lost, blank look that I often get on my face when I've forgotten where I parked my car. I want to take him by the hand and buy him a hot cocoa!

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    1. Aw Karen - how sweet. Come to think of it he does look a bit lost and bewildered! x

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  30. I love that cute penguin and I had good laugh reading your post. I am completely on your side for the girls need choice :)

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  31. Oh, yes, I know what you mean with the dreaded one layer card. You did an excellent job of meeting the challenge. Cute card! You do have quite an assortment of liquid pearls. I have 3 bottles...lol.

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    1. Oh Karen, I have this 'Gimme, gimme' thing where I find it hard to buy one of anything! Sigh, I need help! x

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  32. A lovely small collection there, my friend, hee hee!! Your penguin card is so, so cute! I love your pretty blue background - I thought at first he was in a snowglobe! Wouldn't that be a fun snowglobe?! Great tip on the colored post-it notes ~ I learned that the hard way!! Hugs, Darnell

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  33. Smashing make for the LIM challenge - I struggle once challenges go fortnightly, to remember to enter then on alternate weeks ... as you've probably noticed with your own which I always tried to join when it was weekly.

    I've been using those full cover adhesive post its for a while - invaluable!

    Happy Friday

    Kathyk

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  34. Soooo cute! I love it I've had those post it's for ages they ate cheaper in Sainsburys.I got the run of colour too the other day!

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  35. He's such a cute little guy Di and I like the spots of 'snow'. A really sweet card. Thanks for the link, The post it's sound a great idea and I've noted the pink warning! Barbxx

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