Paper Smooches SPARKS (28 Jan – 3 Feb), Less is More #104 (Sketch)

Earlier this week, I was so on top of things I fleetingly mused about looking around for another challenge to play along with … and then the same day, the postie brought me a crafty parcel … yay!  Well, we all know what that means … nothing else exists whilst said package is opened … and then it gets even more complicated.  That ‘wonder if’ moment arrives and before you know it, life has ground to a complete halt … just until there’s been some stamping done … and maybe some colouring … and a touch of paper piecing … and p’raps a little embossing … and on it goes.  Been there?  Done that?   Is it just me?

Anyway, the upshot is that now, having spent far too many days playing, I’m running around like a headless chicken (mmm is that an idea for a card I wonder), catching up with almost everything!  So, here’s a catch up card for two challenges … Less is More, where it’s sketch week (with rules … we can’t change the orientation and the band can’t take up more than 1/3 of the card), and Paper Smooches SPARKS (my first time), where it’s ‘Picture Perfect’ week … we get a picture for inspiration to follow closely or loosely … and because I am now the proud owner of a few Paper Smooches stamps, I can take part!

                   

                   

I followed the LIM sketch as it is, scoring the panel (partly to ‘ground’ the image and partly to define the space) and adding a touch of twine at the top.  Those of you who are already long familiar with Paper Smooches (it could be I’m the only person in the blogosphere that recently discovered them) will already know there are lots of different elements to their stamp sets.  This peacock is made up of a ‘naked’ long necked bird, the same feather masked and stamped lots of times for the tail and then little bits from other sets (I got more than one!) for his crown and the sentiment.  He’s coloured with Promarkers, inspired by the photo above.

I bet you’re thinking to yourself ‘peacock … poppycock … he’s not the right colour’ … well actually he is a peacock … he’s just off colour at the moment and when he’s recovered and is well again, his plumage will return to it’s usual fantastic blue/green.  What?  You didn’t know peacocks changed colour when they were sick … course they do … we do, why shouldn’t they?

On a completely different subject, I found yesterday that a whole load of photo’s of cards I’ve posted over the last four months have disappeared, leaving only a small blank square in their place.  I started re-adding them yesterday … and discovered (thanks for your help Ardyth!) that when you do that, followers via email, WordPress, or Google Reader get the post as though it was a new one.  So to all you lovely Froggers, I apologise in advance … there’s more to come … please just ignore the old stuff.  As for me, I can’t … my nature (read need for order) means it’s all got to be there!  Bear with me and I’ll get it done and dusted asap.

Finally, I’m delighted to warmly welcome a new follower to the ranks of the Froggers … Kristie at kreativekristies … a new player in blogworld and an amazing talent … you’ll see when you drop in to see her … you’ll be inspired!  Thank you, Kristie 🙂

On that note, I’m off to bed as it’s very very late … or very very early depending on how you look at things.  I’ll be admiring all the inspiring work across blogland tomorrow … thanks so much for coming by … Anita 🙂

Supplies:  Cardstock: Crafter’s Companion,  Stamps: Paper Smooches,  Ink: Memento,  Colours: Promarkers,  Twine: Stash