This week at Less Is More the required element is Off Centre. I have used a Crafty Individuals stamp, stamped onto 3 x 1" squares - inchies- then coloured with several Distress Inks. I added Thinking of you for I think this card lends itself to being a subdued card. I am so pleased Mandi and Chrissie are having such a huge success with their challenge blog.
At the beginning of every month, over at Try It On Tuesdays, we announce the challenge theme of the Altered Art piece for the 4th Tuesday in the month. This month it is Pat's suggestion to Alter a tin. Do pop over to check out everyone's tins, as usual the team have some wonderful samples. Being honest this is not a fresh idea of mine, but my tins were in need of being re-juvernated so two of them have been re-freshed. My grandchildren love having baked beans, so I always have enough supply of tins. Firstly, with my spotless clean tin, I cut a piece of cloth, any spare old cotton, e.g. a torn pillowcase is ideal, cut a piece to go around the tin, and about 1.5" wide, with PVA glue adhere this around the top of the tin, this provides a protective soft edge to the top of the tin. I then measured and cut a piece of masterboard card from my stocks to wrap around the tin, gluing it securely all the way around the tin. (If you want to know more about the masterboard card go to my tutorial blog - here ). I then wrapped some mataching ribbon around the top of the tin, madea bow and secured to the tin. Once again I have nice clean and fresh tins to hold my watercolour pencils and brushes. P.S. If your wondering what the mass of blue hairs are at the back of the yellow tin, it is my computer and keyboard brush which makes the greatest brush to get rid of glitter and EP which seems to get everywhere. I got it at Poundland. I look forward to seeing your altered tins, most of all have fun. Don't forget The Craft Barn sponsor our altered art week so there is a good prize available, but you do need to give them a mention.
Currently in Blogland I am using a lot of squares, mostly for a forthcoming challenge, I spotted over on 
Crafty Individuals Poppy stamp
Crafty Cardmakers new challenge is to celebrate the forthcoming Royal Wedding, we are given a choice, to either make a red, white and blue card, or a wedding card with red white and blue or simply a wedding card of colours of your own choice. 
We have a great sponsor for the challenge in Stamping Scrapping who are very kindly offering a set of the stamps for their custom Spellbinders dies to the winner. You can check out the fabulous online store HERE Challenge 13 (Team B) over at Let's Ink It Up for the next two weeks is STITCHING - real or faux. . I used to do a lot of sewing, but the little old fingers aren't quite as good as they used to be. Equally nor is the eyesight, threading a needle, even with those magic pull through loops, is a task on it's own. My heart went into overdrive with the challenge of sewing, but I do love these challenges, so I took this one in steps and stages, and had a great time making it, so please don't be put off, it's more fun than sewing on a button or taking up a hem. I made an 8" x 8" card. Most of the sewing is faux, using a selection of stamps. I did however, sew the lace flower on the lower right and upper left. I made the 3 small flowers on the lower right. The ladies face and head and shoulders were stamped onto tissue paper to give the see through effect. Background paper used is from an 8" x 8" pad of Victorian Rose paper, sorry I can't find the front page. Stamps used are La Blanche Swirl, Bavura corset, two ladies faces from Across the Miles by The Stampman. The faux stitches stamps from Tandastamps. My team mates have come up with some beautiful inspiring work for this challenge, so if you have time, stop by their blogs (links above their entries) and check out their work! I greatly look forward to visiting your blogs to see your stitching, have fun, but please remember we do not allow Digi Stamps. I am also entering this card intto a few other relevant challenges. Sir Stampalot monthly challenge Ladies and Fashion The Secret Crafter Stitching The ABC Challenge S -Sugar and Spice Simon Says Stamp and Show Distressing Frosted Designs Handmade Embellishment Truly Scrumptious Vintage
Over at Try It On Tuesdays Emma has chosen for our tag this week, a colour palette of Red, Black and Cream. It is her birthday this week so she is kindly offering a super prize for the chosen winner. Pop over to see the terrific samples from the team and read the message from Emma. I have recently made two bookmarks for my grandsons, using the dragon stamp, like most crafters it was still lying on my desk, which directed me to the design of my tag. I stamped onto cream card, added Creative Expressions EP Tropic Red Blaze, the background is a clear stamp with Japanese writing. I look forward to visiting your blogs to see your tags. Thanks for popping in to my blog. 
Over at Crafty Cardmaker's in the Spotlight this week is to make a card for a teenage boy. Out sponsor this week is "Stamping Scrapping is owned by Kevin and Cindy Echtinaw. We ship every in stock order within 24 hours and LOVE our customers.We pride ourselves on our customer service, speedy shipping and great prices on the newest products.We are offering one of our CUSTOM Spellbinders matching stamp sets to the winner! Value of $19.99. You will have your choice of one of three sets. " To be in with a chance of winning please remember to check the new rules before entering. The main one being there is a limit on the number of overall challenges, though you can enter this challenge as many times as you like. Good luck and have fun. Speed's the thing! I decided in making a card to suit a young teenager, dirt and mess wouldn't be out of place. I made an easel card, the section holding it up, made to look like a road, even with the stones to light the way. Neither are road bikes but if you don't tell, I won't either. The background is of course torn corrugated card, from a box, messed up with TH Distress Walnut Stain ink. Both the decoupaged bikes could be from Kanban, I'm not sure, I bought the sheet ages ago. I had fun making this card, something different to tackle. 
This week over at Try it onTuesdays we are asking for you to take inspiration from within your own home. This being the first week in the month we would like you to make a card. Once again we are being sponsored by One Stop Card Craft their logo and direct access is on my side bar. I decided to go to the tidiest room in the house, my guest room, some may recognise the altered mirror with inchies adorning it, for I made this at the first Skipton retreat. I have made an Oriental card for the colours of red, black and gold seem to be just right for them. The poppy stamp is one from La Blanche stamps, which I have painted with H2O's and watercolours. I am looking forward to peeking into your homes (oops! I mean looking at what inspired you). Have fun and good luck to all who take part for the fabulous prize on offer from our sponsors. 
The challenge this week at Crafty Cardmaker's is a recipe, kindly set by Dee. The recipe is Mainly yellow - ebellishments - ribbon - rhinestones/gems and some faux or real stitching. 
