Dots before my eyes ....

... I do try to have interesting titles, but sometimes they're just silly!!!  Anyway, if you've seen this week's Less is More - LIM38 challenge you already know where this post is going.  The Ladies Chrissie and Mandi have a recipe for us this week, our card needs to be clean and simple (of course), but must feature

POLKA DOTS

I decided that this challenge would be perfect for my Swiss Dots folder (and I'm sure many of the LIMettes have thought the same) but it is just perfect.  But I wanted more polka dots - and I was surprised to find that I don't actually have much paper with polka dots.  So I surfed the net and found that you can "try before you buy" on Papertrey - so I had a hunt through their papers and found the lovely Polka Dot Parade so I printed off a sheet of the swatches.  For the card layout, I used the lovely sketch from Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge - WMSC70 - designed by Kelly Schirmer, it's basic with so many possibilities.

I have gone for a very literal interpretation of the sketch - well, it works for me so well.  I layered some white card which I'd embossed with Swiss Dots, onto turquoise card.  I stamped a pretty flower onto a polka dot swatch and then cut it out.  I used Promakers to add some colour to the stamp details and finished off with a large gem to match.  For the sentiment label I stamped a pretty doily and then the greeting.  Clean and simple, and I'm really pleased with this.

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Afternoon Tea Sentiments, Dainty Doilies 2 Small; Chocolate Baroque - Big Flowers
Inks:  Memento - Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! - Pool Party (one of the new in-colours)
Promarkers:  Moss, Soft Green
Accessories:  Polka Dot Parade - Papertrey (download); Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder, gem and card from stash

We had a very lazy day yesterday - Ben and Kathryn played on the X-box, I got into my craft room (yippee) and Jonathan went out for a photo shoot - it was lovely and relaxing.  And today I'm taking Kathryn to craft class for the morning and Ben plans to go out with his friends.  And I've got another skip being delivered today - smaller than the last one - but we still have a bit of sorting out to do - and I'm taking it a bit slower than the last couple of weeks.  No decorators today - just me slowly putting the house back together.  That's all for now.  I'm off to get read for class - see you later!