A Jar For All Seasons - Summer AYSI 226

by Joanne James22. May 2020 12:00

Today I'm sharing my design team card for our new challenge over at As you See It where it's time for a colour challenge:

 Paper Craft Crew Horizontal Sketch Challenge PCC377

We are saying goodbye to a couple of in-colours  this week, however I used the current sketch layout over at The Paper Craft Crew (welcome back Pam and the team!) and having had my preorder unboxing with some of my excited customers this week I was inspired to crack open the contents and pair these colours with some new goodies - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

Jar Of Flowers - First new item on today's card: the Jar of Flowers Bundle. Well, technically that's two items, as the bundle contains both a stamp set and a jar punch; yes, you heard correctly - a jar punch!! The stamps in the set include a flower collection for each season of the year and today I chose to feature the sunflowers on my card; this might well be meant for autumn, but the colours give my card a distinctly summery feel so that's what I'm going with. I stamped and punched my jar twice, the second time on vellum to give the opaque look of glass and fussy cut my flowers to allow them to pop against the yellow background:

 

Lovely Labels Pick A Punch - The second new and exciting item on my card is the Lovely Labels Pick a Punch that I used to make my Lovely Lipstick sentiment label. This punch is a winner - it cuts 6 different sizes and shapes of labels, but the layering combinations go way beyond this. I predict this punch will be as much of a staple as the Scallop Tag Topper or Triple Banner Punches - super useful.

Ornate Thanks - I paired my card with the 'Ornate Thanks' stamp set from the Ornate Garden Suite, also a stamp set that is new to the annual catalogue but already available to customers to order early this month. I finished the heat-embossed sentiment on the front of my card with a big bold thank you inside:

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

If you like my card, do check out the other Design Team members cards over on the challenge page - you will notice something of a distinct theme that stretches beyond our colour palette this week! Likewise, if you are not already a customer of mine but would like to receive a copy of the new annual 2020-21 Stampin' Up! catalogue when it launches on 3rd June, do click here to email me and request a copy.

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

  • Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D project or packaging project that fits the challenge.
  • Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we can leave you lots of lovely comments. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSIXXX when uploading to a public gallery.
  • If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines tab on the As You See It Challenge homepage.
  • In a colour challenge, black or other neutral can be used in outlines and sentiments but no other colours should be included. Stampin’ Up colours are used for reference but colours that are a close match are welcome. 

We look forward to seeing your creations in the AYSI gallery.

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Strong and Beautiful Delightfully Detailed Watercolour

by Joanne James21. May 2020 08:00

 

Today I'm sharing a card that was inspired by the current Fusion Challenge that also meets the watercolour brief over at TGIF Challenges this week:

   

I went all-in with the Fusion sketch and photo inspiration and even created a watercolour background for my piece of Delightfully Detailed laser-cut paper -  take a look:

 

I generally avoid watercolour backgrounds like this as they always seem to end up a sludgy mess, but I was quite pleased to have created this one on my second attempt. I paired it with a sentiment from the 'Strong and Beautiful' stamp set which works for the Fusion theme of 'You are Enough' and split the sentiment into two parts, heat embossing the first part in white on the front of my card. This is the only thing I wish I'd done differently, as it's quite difficult to see on the photo against the pale pink background. This photo shows it a little clearer: 

 

I added a sprinkling of sequins and then finished my sentiment inside my card, adding another offcut of lasercut paper:

 

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

We have the last of CE exams part one today with History first thing, followed by an online unboxing of my pre-order with my online class ladies late morning - I'm not sure who is looking forward to that more, them or me! I then have a rather boring afternoon of housework lined up - I can put it off no more! Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Best Dressed Fabulous Birthday Card

by Joanne James20. May 2020 09:00

 

Today I'm sharing a card for the current challenge over at Fab Friday where they have a great sketch:

You all know how much I love a good sketch, although if truth be told I almost didn't make it to using this one; all that open space I was spoilt for choice as to how to interpret it. In the end, as I was sorting out my retiring supplies inspiration struck and this is what I came up with:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

A Fabulous Sentiment - A sI was clearing the shelves, it occurred to me that the sentiment on today's card, from the retiring 'Stitched All Around' stamp set, would compliment the Best Dressed designer series papers perfectly. So I stamped it on a banner flagged with that most useful of punches, the Triple Banner Punch, and off I went!

Best Dressed - I love the 'Best Dressed' papers; whilst the stamp set and dies in the Best Dressed Suite are on carryover, the other items, including these papers aren't, so if you love them too you need to stock up now.

Finishing Touches - A card for a fabulous person needs a rather fabulous bow to finish I think, so made a double bow combining some Lovely Lipstick ribbon with some white polka dot tulle ribbon. I also fussy cut a couple of perfume bottles from the leftover scraps of DSP to decorate the inside of my card - waste not, want not and all that:

 

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Today sees the last of the Common Entrance exams for Master James this week. We then have another week of half-term revision before the final week of back to back exams the week after. Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Socially Distanced Giraffes For #ShareSunshine

by Joanne James19. May 2020 09:00

 

Today I'm sharing a card for this week's challenge over at Just Add Ink where they are having a challenge inspired by our current circumstances of lockdown and social restrictions and are encouraging us to send a card to say 'hi' and remind someone we are thinking of them:

I decided to pair one of the sentiments from my #ShareSunshine digital download with a couple of giraffes with a knotty problem to create my fun card - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

A Knotty Problem - My cute giraffes on today's card come from the 'Back on Your Feet' stamp set. A great card for get well soon messages, the images also work well paired with the #ShareSunshine download. 

Mirror, Mirror - If you have the 'Back On Your Feet' stamp set or have seen it in the catalogue, you may well be reading this and saying to yourself 'but there's only one giraffe in this set, not two?' And you'd be right of course. To create my socially distanced giraffes, I used my Stamparatus and a silicone mat to enable me to 'mirror' my second giraffe. I have been running a series of free short online demonstrations each week with my online class ladies in between our paid classes and last week we spent our sessions revisiting tools, tips and tricks that you could achieve with your Stamparatus and stamping mirror images was one of the things we covered. 

A Punched Heart - My tiny punched heart is courtesy of my Dog Builder Punch - super useful! and lastly a quick peek inside my card to see how my sentiment finishes up:

 

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any.

spThat's all from me today; I am off to invigilate master James' second Common Entrance exam this week - Religion, Philosophy and Ethics - and then will be hopping online with my class ladies slightly later as a result. We are looking at 'Embossing with Dies' this morning! Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

A Bright Puzzle Thank You Card For Mental Health Awareness Week

by Joanne James18. May 2020 11:00

Today I'm sharing a card that I made using this week's CAS Colours and Sketches layout and the bright colour palette over at Just Us Girls this week:

    

Did you know that today marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week and since I'm always partial to a bright colour (or 4!) this combination was perfect for a bright and cheery card to recognise this event - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

Love You To Pieces - The stamping on today's card comes from the retiring 'Love You To Pieces' stamp set. The idea of a jigsaw and puzzles seemed the perfect set and as the theme of this year's Mental Health Awareness Week is 'kindness' the sentiment is an ideal way to recognise someone who has been there to help and support through tough times. I love this set and the co-ordinating Puzzle Pieces Dies and for me they will be a 'keeper' as they really are so useful and versatile.

Spot The Starburst - I punched my sentiment with a 1 3/4" punch and layered it with a starburst for a pop of pink. The starburst punch is retiring at the end of the month, along with all but three of the standard circle punches (the 1 3/4" punch retired last year). The starburst punch is already out of stock but if you still have circle punches on your wishlist, be sure to pick them up now before it's too late.

So Long White Twine - Yes, you read it correctly - there is no Whisper White baker's twine in the new annual catalogue! I'm not sure how I am going to manage without this crafting storecupboard staple, so I have stocked up - take this as your call for last orders if you would like to do the same!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

 

In the spirit of Mental Health Awareness week, please take a moment to think about someone who may be struggling, particularly in the current environment, and who perhaps hasn't overtly made a fuss or asked for help. Check in with them and make sure they know you are there and generally let's all try and show each other a little more kindness this week!

I hope this sunny Monday finds you well. This is going to be a busy week for me: I have a few online demonstrations planned, I have to get my class kits for next week's Birthday Jubilee class into the post and the end of the month sees a whole host of birthdays, so I need to lots of cards written and in the mail. I have also started the major craft room clear out of retiring stock to get ready for my catalogue launch 'By One, Get One Free' sale and make way for the new. We also start Common Entrance exams this week, with our first one, Geography, already completed this morning. I had to chuckle when I put on my stern invigilator voice to read young Master James the instructions and he said "Oo Mum, you make a mean invigilator; are you getting paid for this?" Such is the mind of an enterprising almost-teenager - I wish! 

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Delightfully Detailed Forever Wedding Card

by Joanne James18. May 2020 07:00

 

Monday already - where does the week go?! I meant to blog this card last Friday and the end of the week simply ran away from me. Anyway, today I'm sharing a card that I made for this week's Less Is More Challenge and the current challenge over at Addicted to CAS:

    

Yes, LIM wanted cards in cream and white and Addicted to CAS have the code word of flower. I have done all-white type cards before and these are always a challenge. I haven't managed to play along over at Less Is More in a while so thought this would be a good time to remedy that - take a look at what I created:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

A Laser Cut Cheat - I used some retired Delightfully Detailed Lasercut Specialty Paper for my showcase floral flourish on today's card. It's white on one side and vanilla on the other. For today's card, I used the white side against a vanilla card base and snipped a piece to the size I wanted from a larger 12" x 12" sheet. This paper is still available on the Clearance Rack (just click on the link below) if you would like to recreate my card.

It's All About Texture - When using only shades of cream and white, I find texture plays an important role in creating interest, whilst maintaining a clean and simple feel. So in addition to my laser-cut floral flourish, I embossed my card base with the Subtles Embossing Folder and added a simple diecut sentiment from white sparkle glimmer paper for added interest. 

Inside Reversal - I added another piece of laser-cut paper inside my card, this showing the reversed side so that the vanilla shows up against the white lining. I stamped my sentiment in Sahara Sand to maintain the neutral feel: 

 

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

I do have another card to share today so I'll be back with that later! Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

A Clean And Simple Good Man For PP491

by Joanne James17. May 2020 09:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Ann to host this week and she has a great clean and simple challenge for you to work with:

    

I was intrigued by Kim's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches this week and armed with this and one of my personal favourite stamp sets for masculine cards I created my card - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

I had already decided that I would use the 'A Good Man' stamp set for my card this week as it really lends itself to clean and simple cards. I stamped and coloured my image and created my woven cardstock trim as per Kim's sketch, having stamped my sentiment on the horizontal strip and I was done - minimal layers (virtually one layer), no embellishments and plenty of white space - yep, I met the clean and simple brief!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

 

Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN!

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your day; I spent yesterday finishing the last of my big garden cleaning jobs, with patios cleaned and garden furniture ready now for waxing. I'll be taking it easier today with some cooking and last-minute revision with the youngest James Junior in readiness for the first of this week's Common Entrance exam papers tomorrow - Geography and maybe a leisurely family bike ride too. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

A Rare Dad For TTT64

by Joanne James14. May 2020 09:00

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at TicTacToe! It's the turn of Team X to host this week and I am the featured designer this week. This is the fun board that we are playing along with: 

       

I had another crack at Brian's CAS(E) This Sketch layout today and my card also uses the colours over at The Card Concept, and whilst I have stripes they aren't of the patriotic kind - take a look:

 

I chose the right-hand column of Punny Sentiment - Masculine - Punched Shape for my card today and this is how I achieved it:

Punny Sentiment - I love a punny sentiment and the 'Outdoor Barbeque' set in the current Spring-Summer catalogue has a few of them! I especially love this one with the picture of a steak - I mean, who puts a steak on a card, right?! This is perfect for the Dad of the James household - this is exactly how he likes his steak cooked and he is a rare breed indeed (read into that what you may!) I finished the sentiment inside my card with this stamp from the 'A Wish For Everything' set:

Masculine - I'm not sure many females would relish a juicy streak on the front of a card - I'm more a hearts and flowers girl myself! - so that definitely puts this card into male territory. Besides, our Dad is most definitely the king of the BBQ - a very masculine domain! That's where my blue striped paper comes in too; it's from the now retired Come Sail Away DSP but on my card serves as a nod to my husband's navy and white butcher-striped BBQ apron.

Punched Shape - Lastly, I used the Classic Label Punch to punch out the sentiment on the front of my card and pop it up on dimensionals; I cut a long thin strip of cardstock to stamp my sentiment on then fed it into each end of my punch in turn, as the punch was too short to get it in one go. 

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

A tictactoe board offers so many creative possibilities - how does this week's board inspire you? Why not have a go? We would love to see you in the gallery and who knows - you might be selected for Designer's Choice and be eligible to be a guest designer on a future challenge. 

Enjoy your day; my day today revolves around laundry, craft, CE revision - the usual! I am also expecting visit number 2 from the oven repair man (my oven is actually in bits on the kitchen floor as we speak - it seems no other Neff oven has experienced the same fault as mine, go figure!!) and a socially distanced interaction with one of my friends and neighbours, who excitedly called me yesterday to say she had managed to get her hands on some plain four and would be bringing some round for me - sometimes the little things are so exciting and this will undoubtedly be the highlight of my day today! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Grace's Garden For A True Friend

by Joanne James13. May 2020 20:00

Today I'm sharing a card inspired by both the photo and the sketch over at Inspired By and the colours over at Hand Stamped Sentiments, which compliment the Inspired By photo perfectly:

      

As soon as I saw the Inspired By photo, I thought of the 'Grace's Garden' stamp set which is all about country garden florals. Here's the low-down on today's card:

This card was fairly quick for me to create as I had a selection of flowers stamped and diecut in my snippets box that were leftover from a recent class, so I simply got them out and coloured them with my Stampin' Blends, and added them to my Subtles-embossed card base. I heat embossed my sentiment in white, from the 'Strong and Beautiful' stamp set, such a great set for female-related sentiments. This one is a lovely way to let that special friend know how much they mean to you - I think I will pair this one with a surprise treat for one of my besties who I haven't seen in ages just to let her know I'm thinking of her. On that note I'm also linking today's card up with the ladies over at SUO Challenges too where they are 'Celebrating Women' - something that is always worthwhile as far as I'm concerned.

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your evening and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Layered With Kindness Birthday Card

by Joanne James12. May 2020 10:00

Today I'm sharing a card using this week's soft colour combo over at Just Add Ink this week:

I thought these muted colours would make for a clean and simple(ish) birthday card using the retiring Layered With Kindness stamp set  - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

Layered With Kindness - The Layered With Kindness stamp set is one of those that is great for quick cards, both one layer cards and used in conjunction with the co-ordinating punches as I have here to create something with a little more interest and dimension. The images are distinctive stamps so have the illusion of dimension which is great for adding depth. I layered the leaf stems and a few flowers in the challenge colours, before adding my labels. 

Label Me Lovely - and Fancy - Label punches are always useful and both the Label Me Lovely and the Label Me Fancy punches are great with this set which has sentiments designed to fit and can be layered, but also with a variety of other sets too. They are also great for tags for gift packaging, the Label Me Fancy punch in particular, which has a handy slit and hole on either side of the punch to enable you to add thread or ribbon easily. Whilst the stamp set will be leaving us at the end of the month, the punches are here to stay - great news for Christmas packaging! 

Finishing Touches - I added a sprinking of pink sequins, some split ribbon and used my Stampin' Write Rococo Rose marker to add a fine mist of pink splatters across my card front for a trio of finishing touches to my otherwise simple card. 

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

I am hoping to get some more crafting and class prep done today, including getting ready for tomorrow's demonstration session. We are revisiting Stamparatus techniques this week; yesterday was great and resulted in an afternoon of fabulous creations by the ladies on the call who left fired up and inspired - our group was a hive of activity all afternoon, which left me feeling thrilled that they enjoyed the session so much. I also have some ironing to finish and continue my hunt for an earring I lost on Sunday; I didn't leave the house all day so I know it's here somewhere, but so far no luck! Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

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About Me

Hi I'm Joanne and live in Northampton and when I'm not looking after my husband and two beautiful children, am an avid crafter with a passion for all things Stampin' Up!

I must confess that I have never been a big rubber stamper - until I discovered Stampin' Up! that is. I love the fact that I can get such great results with co-ordinating stamps, inks, papers and punches - the possibilities are endless! Join me on my stamping journey as I share the things I love and be inspired to create amazing things yourself!

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This is my personal blog and is not endorsed by Stampin’ Up! I hope you find it a plentiful source of ideas and personal inspiration but please don't copy my designs for contest submission or use for classes, publication or sale without express permission.