I'm back again! Apologies for yesterday's lack of blog post; at this time of year the last few weeks of the academic year are always busy, so it sometimes means my daily blog schedule is disrupted. Do bear with me - it's often not for want of things to share and more the time to write the posts, in amongst other commitments to my family, customers and team. There will always be posts to coincide with my design team commitments; there just might be the odd day when I don't make it to the laptop! Anyway today I do have a fun share that uses this week's colours over at The Paper Players again and the sketch layout at CAS Colours and Sketches:

My fellow Paper Player LeAnne, who chose this week's colours, also chose to use this sketch for her Sunday card (you can check it out along with the other Paper Player Team cards here) and whilst I was working on my team card, I also came up with this one that would make a fun last-minute Father's Day card:

I am using a few retired products on today's card, but you could quite easily substitute these with other similar products such as the scalloped tag topper punch, layered circle thinlits and an alternative alphabet stamp set such as the new Labeler Alphabet. Here's the low-down on today's card:

My Hero Captain America - The layered circle element on my card is inspired by the shield belonging to that all-American superhero Captain America. I used my circle framelits and the challenge colours, with a circle of silver foil card, to create my shield. I decided to make this card into a Father's Day card, but the sentiment could also be adapted for a younger boy's birthday card, which given the popularity of Marvel comic book heroes with my 8 year old and his friends currently is something I definitely need to look into!

Calling All Heroes - I used the Retired 'Calling All Heroes' stamp set for my custom sentiment on my tag; this comic book script adds just the right feel for my card. For my UK readers who might be thinking 'what set?' this set was available only in the USA. I was sent a set by the lovely LeAnne (thank you again!) and I knew that I would get lots of use from it with its fun comic book and superhero images. I also used other images from the set to decorate the inside of my card. For me it's a keeper!

It's In The Stars - Lastly, I punched a white star for the centre of my shield using the medium star punch and embossed the background panel for my cardfront using the Lucky Stars embossing folder to add texture and interest and tie in with my overall theme. 

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. I'm off to bake and ice some cupcakes for a very special birthday girl who will be celebrating tomorrow. I'll be back then with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Cherry Cobbler A4 Cardstock	Dapper Denim A4 Cardstock	Dapper Denim Classic Stampin' Pad	Whisper White A4 Cardstock	Silver Foil Sheets
Lucky Stars Textured Impressions Embossing Folders

It's Sunday and time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players and this week the queen of die cuts, the lovely Laurie, has a fun CAS challenge for us:

I started out thinking of frames in the more traditional sense, but having seen some of the other Design Team cards I decided to change direction and use today's challenge to make a card for a specific purpose - here's my card:

A simple black, white and purple combo that doesn't require a huge amount of explanation. The hair for the young man that features on my card is from the 'Calling All Heroes' photopolymer set that I used earlier this week (only available to US customers - thank you LeAnne ;-)) and the sentiment is stamped in Memento Black using the 'Back to Basics' alphabet with the addition of an Elegant Eggplant candy dot and some very cook 'geek' spectacles in purple cut with my e-cutter and adhered to the front of my card. 

This card is headed to my daughter's best friend Finley; he has recently joined the ranks of spectacle wearers, but is rather reluctant to wear his glasses at school, for fear of being labelled the 'class geek'. As a fellow specs wearer for over 30 years, I can empathise. Whilst his own specs aren't purple, it is his favourite colour and we are hoping this card will help him see that with his perfectly coiffed hair and charming good looks, he should wear his specs and be proud - geek, after all, is the new chic!

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

Whether you go with frames of the spectacles or picture variety, I look forward to seeing how you interpret Laurie's fun challenge in the gallery this week.As you read this I am on my way for a well-earned rest to sunnier climes with my family for a couple of weeks; rest assured there are lots of creative posts scheduled in my absence, so do continue to stop by as there will be plenty of paper crafting inspiration for you to see. 

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Back To Basics Alphabet Photopolymer Stamp Set	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Basic Black A4 Cardstock	Elegant Eggplant A4 Cardstock	Whisper White A4 Cardstock
Regals Candy Dots

Well, it's pouring down with rain here in the UK this morning but it can't dampen my spirits: we are counting down toward the end of term and the school holidays, in addition to which I have the most fun card to share with you today! I used Linda's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches as my inspiration this week:

Now I changed the orientation for my card to landscape because I had this great idea for my new 'No Bones About It' stamp set and this sketch was perfect for trying it out - check out today's card: 

Is it a T-Rex? Is it a Stegasaurus? No, it's that all-time King of the Monsters - Godzilla! Whilst this card is quite simple in its final execution, it took several aborted attempts and absolutely ages to get right but I love it! I stamped the cityscape from the 'Calling All Heroes' stamp set in Memento Black directly onto my extra thick Whisper White card base (this set is not available in the UK but I am fortunate to own it due to the generosity of one of my American stamping buddies -thank you LeAnne!), then masked it off and stamped the sunburst stamp from the now retired 'So You' stamp set twice in Watermelon Wonder behind it. I partially inked the sentiment from the 'No Bones About It' in black and set it inside one of the action bubbles from the 'Calling All Heroes' set stamped in Crushed Curry and popped this up on a dimensional. Then for my Godzilla - I stamped the solid t-rex stamp from No Bones About It in Mossy Meadow and then inked the back plates only of the stegosaurus stamp and overlaid them along the t-rex's spine. I then fussy-cut the whole thing and added it to my city scene - simple! A simple sentiment and a black baker's twine bow and done - the perfect card for a nostalgic movie buff! What do think? I'd love to hear your views on my card today - did I successfully create a monster?

That's all from me today - I have a day of biscuit icing ahead of me - many apples in readiness for teacher's gifts this week. At least the cooler weather should prevent everything sliding into a sticky mess!

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

No Bones About It Photopolymer Stamp Set	Teeny Tiny Sentiments Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Basic Black Baker's Twine	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad	Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad