Less is More challenge 4 - three squares

Have I told you how much I'm enjoying the Less is More challenges? The site promotes clean and simple (CAS) cards - definitely my favourite kind! - and the challenge this week is to make a card using three squares. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed making this:

The card base is actually Very Vanilla - the photo makes it look white! These gloomy old days are not doing much for my photographs!

Just look at this leaf image from the Growing Green stamp set - I'm in love again! I coloured it with my beloved aqua painter on water colour card stock, then cut tiles out with the 1 1/4" square punch. I love the way the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Occasional Greetings stamp set fits exactly across the two squares.

Linen thread goes so well with natural projects like this. If the thread was tied into a knot instead of a bow, this would make a great masculine card.

The darker, textured card stock makes a great frame for the Very Vanilla layer. I sometimes forget about my textured card stock because it is in a drawer, unlike my smooth card stock which I keep in magazine boxes on my desk. Hmm... I can feel a reorganisation coming on!

Here's how to make this card:

• First make the tiles: Stamp the leaf image onto water colour paper using Always Artichoke ink. Use an aqua painter to pull some of the colour into the centre of the leaves to get a faded look. Don't worry if it looks a bit muddy! Allow to dry. When completely dry brush Old Olive ink over some of the leaves with the aqua painter to get a splash of brighter colour. Allow to dry again. Once dry, cut three tiles out of the paper using the 1 1/4" square punch and sponge the edges with Sahara Sand ink.
• Cut a 5.25cm x 11.25cm piece of Very Vanilla card stock and arrange the tiles on it. Stamp the sentiment using a stamp-a-majig for accurate position, and punch a small hole in the top left hand corner. Push linen thread through the hole and tie into a small bow. Now glue the tiles onto the card stock.
• Glue the Very Vanilla panel onto a 9cm x 13.5cm piece of Sahara Sand textured card stock. Attach this, in turn, to an A5 Very Vanilla card base.

Supplies

Stamps: Growing Green, Occasional Greetings

Ink: Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Sahara Sand

Card stock: Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand textured

Other: Linen thread, water colour paper, 1 1/4" square punch

The children have gone back to school again, leaving the house very quiet. My daughter was away on a school ski trip all half term and, despite all my visions of avalanches and broken limbs, came back safe and sound but exhausted on Saturday. She will be sixteen this year and I'm only too aware that it won't be long before she'll be flying the nest, so I'm making the most of her company while I can. There are lots of wonderful things about my beautiful daughter, but the thing I treasure most is her brilliant sense of humour - when we're together I'm often helpless with laughter! 

Anyway, you haven't come here to hear me wittering on! Thank you for visiting me today and thank you to everyone who follows my blog, comments or emails me - I love hearing from you.

See you tomorrow,