Less is More 31 .....

.... hello fellow LIMettes - the challenge that Chrissie and Mandi have set us this week is a colour theme:

METALLIC

The ladies said "We'd like to see CLEAN & SIMPLE cards with something that has a METALLIC finish to it... ink, embossing, card, charms, actual metal... come on people let's get creative!"
Well I did have a go at triple embossing - a technique that I adore and don't use often enough, but the image I wanted to use just didn't work very well.  So I decided to stick with metallic embossing - not original, but lovely nonetheless. 

I started off with a plain piece of chipboard from my stash.  I inked my stamp with lots of Versamark to make sure that the embossing powders really adhered to the chipboard.  I used a mixture of powders in gold, silver and copper (only a bit of copper it turned out).  I love to watch embossing powders melt - it was one of the things that got me really hooked!!  Once the image had cooled down I used my nestie to get a proper square, I ended up with a small border of plain chipboard left which I really like.  Next I cut an ornate mat using copper mirri card to pick up the copper powder in the image.  I think the hardest part of this card was to find a sentiment in my stash that matched the focal image - I think this one works really well.  It's been embossed with my copper powder - sadly it's not a detail powder so the text isn't quite as clear as I'd have liked.  It is bad for me to say that I'm really pleased with this one?

Stamps:  Papermania - Holly Leaves (PMA10023), Merry Christmas stamps (can't remember name of set)
Ink:  Versamark
Spellbinders:  Fleur de Lis Squares (S4-318) #3, Standard Squares Lg (S4-126) #4
Accessories:  Stampendous embossing powders - detail gold, detail silver, copper penny and card from stash

I've taken a close-up shot of the holly leaves - I think it looks fabulous.  I rather like this card and think it would work with the ornate mat in other metallic colours - gold, silver, red, green - I think this might be one of a series!!!

We had a super time at Craft class yesterday - mostly catching up on gossip from the summer holidays, but also looking at what we've all made or bought.  My friend Kath has made the most gorgeous birthday card/scrapbook for her grandson's first birthday - I think Jack's parents will treasure it.  I was able to make some reference sheets of my new stamps for my stamp catalogue - a task I tend to ignore at home!!  Kathryn really enjoyed being back at school and has handed out her invitations - she's getting quite excited!! 

I'd like to say hello and welcome to some new Blog Friends - Irina, Theresa, Edel and Craftland - so glad you joined me.  And before I go - if you've not signed up for a chance to win the Anniversary Candy - please do so - only 3 days to go before the link closes and Mr Random picks a winner!!

We're back to normal routine here now - Jonathan's back in the office (finished with the working at home bit), Kathryn is in school and I'm at home on my own.  And today I've got lots to do - ironing, tidying, general housework stuff - but during the holidays I tend to do only what's ABSOLUTELY necessary as I'd rather spend my time with the family!  No excuses now.  And it helps that the weather is really not nice today - grey, windy, cold - autumn has SO arrived!

That's all for now - hopefully I'll get chance to post again later this evening.  Have a good day.