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 fun clean and simple challenge for us to work with:

I love a good clean and simple challenge and we all have 'forever friends' that we can send this kind of card to, right? I used Linda's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week (rotated through 90 degrees) and grabbed my Just Kiddin' designer series paper and my scissors and set to work. This is what I came up with:

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

Just Kiddin' - Just Kiddin' is one of my most favourite designer papers - ever! Perfect for cards, children's home decor and scrapbooking, it contains children being children, doing all kinds of things: playing, reading, baking, dressing up, painting and lots more besides. What's more, it is a showcase of diversity: there are children of every colour, wheelchair users, amputees, members of the deaf community and lots more besides - it's so inclusive. I fussy-cut my sweet pair of friends making their heart paper chain directly from one of the pages. This paper appears in the mini catalogue and during February is also available as a free Sale-A-Bration item with a £45 purchase - time to stock up before the end of the month, race you to the shop!!

Country Bouquet - I mounted my fussy cut pair onto an oval that I stamped with a sentiment from the 'Country Bouquet' stamp set that I thought suited these friends perfectly:

Are they not just sooo cute?!  A diagonal panel of the retired Country Floral Lane designer paper with a heart design to pick up on the detail of the image completed my card. I'm also linking today's card up over at Inkspirational for another play along with their 'hearts' theme. If you like this card, check out yesterday's post too that features another sweet pair from the Just Kiddin' paper.

What Is Clean And Simple (CAS) - I love a good CAS card; as a reminder, when we talk about 'clean and simple' over at The Paper Players we mean:

• Have minimal layers and embellishments
• Have plenty of open space
• Are simple and uncluttered

My card definitely fits the brief this week - designer paper, a little fussy cutting and a well-chosen sentiment - and done! 

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:

Enjoy your day; I am looking forward to a Sunday roast and a relaxing day today. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

JUST KIDDIN' 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.75)

CALYPSO CORAL A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.50)

TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (6.25)

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Anne Marie to host this week and she has a fun colour challenge for us to work with:

I decided to use red for my pop of colour and using the layout over at Sunday Stamps to create a modern 'love you' card - take a look:

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

Stamped With Love - My main 'pop of colour' comes from the vintage-style post box from the 'Stamped With Love' stamp set. I heat-embossed it in black onto Real Red cardstock and fussy cut it, then did the same again on Basic White cardstock and fussy cut the envelope before paper-piecing it in place and adding a (retired) red resin heart:

Hearts and Kisses - I paired my vintage post box with some black and white paper from the Delightfully Eclectic designer series paper pack. I added an additional layer of detail with more red resin hearts between the black 'kisses' - I love the effect and it ties the design to my postbox nicely. It also makes my card perfect for the theme of 'hearts' over at Global Design Project #GDP427 this week.

Inside Detail - The sentiment on the front of my card comes from the 'Country Bouquet' stamp set. I finished it with the other part on the inside of my card, stamping it inside some red hearts from the same set and an offcut of the designer paper I used on the front of my card

I also added some of the DSP to my envelope flap for some additional co-ordination. I really like this card - I think it will make a nice notecard for the youngest of the James Juniors, as it's modern and not too feminine. What do you think? Do leave me a comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts

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:

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

STAMPED WITH LOVE PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (19.00)	COUNTRY BOUQUET PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (22.00)	DELIGHTFULLY ECLECTIC 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (28.00)	BASIC BLACK A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	REAL RED A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	VERSAMARK PAD (9.00)
BASICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (17.00)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (6.25)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (10.00)

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Jaydee to host this week and she has a theme challenge for us to work with:

The animals came in two by two - feature two animals on your card, how fun! I actually have two cards to share with you today: I made my Paper Players card after I made the first one, so I'll share that one first so that the second one makes a bit more sense! My first card is an Easter card using Jen T's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches and the current Colour Inkspiration colour palette:

I thought the oval layout would be perfect for two bunnies and the colour palette would be just the ticket for a dark chocolate brown bunny and some floral decoration courtesy of the Dainty Delight Dies - take a look:

Whilst the layout worked beautifully for one bunny, two were definitely a squeeze, so having added some soft clouds and grass to surround my single bunny, I decided to add an Easter sentiment from the retired set 'Crazy About You'. This is such a pretty colour combo and I love the embossed detail on the Dainty Delight flowers and leaves too:

I then moved on to card two. I punched another bunny so that I had another pair and also had the country gingham oval left over from my first card that I still wanted to use up, so this time I switched to the current Sketch Saturday layout and decided to play along with the challenge over at TGIF Challenges and look at what other scraps and offcuts I had that would co-ordinate with my gingham oval.

I actually had quite a few! A strip of Country Floral designer paper leftover from a previous project, an offcut of Mint Macaron and some offcut strips of Wisper White that were just wide enough to cut a couple of borders with my Penned Flowers Dies and a scrap of Poppy Parade. This is what I came up with:

I used a Petal Pink card base and this time positioned my bunnies mirroring each other, with a punched heart between them. I really wanted a 'Some bunny loves you' sentiment but alas, I don't have one in my collection so went with this one from the retired Sale-A-Bration set 'Thanks A Bunch' instead:

I think this would make a sweet anniversary card;. It actually came together quite quickly by collecting up a bunch of leftover bits and pieces and more importantly - I managed to accommodate my two bunnies this time!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's projects 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:

Enjoy your day; I am off to an extra hockey game today and then we have the start of the Easter holidays, which for us means the start of serious revision season in the James household - not much in the way of excitement here! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

EASTER BUNNY PUNCH (18.00)	COUNTRY GINGHAM 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)	DAINTY DELIGHT DIES (34.00)	PETAL PINK A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	PETAL PINK CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)
SO SAFFRON A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	SOFT SEA FOAM A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	SOFT SEA FOAM CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	EARLY ESPRESSO A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	EARLY ESPRESSO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	COUNTRY BOUQUET PUNCH (18.00)
COUNTRY FLORAL LANE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	PENNED FLOWERS DIES (28.00)	POPPY PARADE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	MINT MACARON A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. The lovely Michal is hosting this month and her second challenge is a sketch challenge: 

Michal has asked that we use a trio of repeating shapes with a sentiment beneath. Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card.

For my card today I went super simple! I grabbed my Country Bouquet bundle and Country Floral Lane paper and this is what I came up with:

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

I punched a trio of heart-shaped flowers and leaves straight from the designer series paper, then added them to my blank white card base. I finished my card with a sentiment stamped just underneath:

And that was my card - done! #SimpleStamping at its best! The three hearts were the perfect width for my card. I didn't even finish the inside sentiment - I like the fact that I can use this card for any purpose as it is, so i will either add something when I come to send it or just leave it blank for my handwritten message. Just four items needed for today's card - and you could forgo the designer paper and just stamp your hearts and leaves to create this in different colours if you prefer.

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'm linking today's card up over at Just Us Girls where the code word is 'hearts' - might have another go with this theme tomorrow too!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

COUNTRY BOUQUET BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (36.00)

COUNTRY FLORAL LANE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)

SWEET SORBET CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)

Today I'm sharing a card showcasing more of the lovely Country Floral Lane and Country Gingham papers for a card made using this week's Try Stamping on Tuesday sketch:

Here's my card:

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

There's really not much to say about this card - it features two more designs from packs you've seen me use already; I simply diecut a number of stitched rectangles and layered them as per the sketch, adding in some (retired) white cotton ribbon for the vertical element and a simple heat-embossed sentiment from the Country Bouquet stamp set:

I just love the fresh blue and white colour scheme of this card - I am yearning for spring! - and a great quick and easy card for you to recreate if you have some crafty time this weekend. 

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 day; both of the James Juniors are playing hockey away today, so hubby and I will be dividing and conquering to ensure everyone gets to where they need to be. I'll be back tomorrow with another project for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players and will be sharing something new that I think you'll like so you you won't want to miss it. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

COUNTRY FLORAL LANE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	COUNTRY GINGHAM 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	COUNTRY BOUQUET PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (22.00)	STITCHED RECTANGLE DIES (33.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)	BALMY BLUE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)
VERSAMARK PAD (9.00)	BASICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (17.00)

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's first challenge of the new year over at The Paper Players! We have three fabulous new guest designers Suzy, Fran and Tara, and this week it's the turn of the fabulous Ann to host and she has a fun theme challenge for us to work with:

Use a tag on your project! I decided to go all-out with the Country Floral Lane Suite for today's card and use lots of different elements to create a pretty card for a friend - take a look:

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

Country Floral Lane - Today's card features both the Country Gingham and Country Floral Lane DSPs, both of which feature in this suite. Hearts, flowers and gingham in co-ordinating colours of Balmy Blue, Sweet Sorbet, Mint Macaron and Petal Pink - what's not to love?! 

Seasonal Labels - I made a bespoke tag for my project, using the Seasonal Labels Dies and cutting a straight age across the bottom so that it made a tag as opposed to a label shape. I cut my tag from one of the floral patterns and used it as the base element for the focal point of my card, using an additional (shortened) label from the same set to add my sentiment.

Finishing Touches - I decorated my tag with another heart-shaped flower (you will be seeing a lot of these in coming weeks!), this time punched directly from the Country Floral Lane designer paper and added some foliage from the Country Bouquet set that I stamped and fussy cut, along with a scattering of a few tiny hearts fussy cut from the Country Floral Lane paper:

A little (retired) ribbon tied with some in-colour baker's twine complete my tag and card. I love that this set can be used in so many ways and embraces 'love' in the broadest sense. I'm linking today's card up over at SUO Challenges where the theme is Designer's Choice - this is definitely mine!

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:

Enjoy your day; nothing special happening here today; it is officially the last day of the school holidays so with the return of the James Juniors to school this week I should see something of a return to a normal schedule. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

COUNTRY GINGHAM 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	COUNTRY FLORAL LANE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	COUNTRY BOUQUET BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (36.00)	SEASONAL LABELS DIES (36.00)	PAINTED LABELS DIES (33.00)	2022–2024 IN COLOR BAKER'S TWINE PACK (14.00)
BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)

For today's creative post I'm sharing a couple of versions of the same card. Since it's the first day of the new mini catalogue, it's the perfect time to showcase a new punch bundle - take a look at the first of today's cards:

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

Country Bouquet - Both of today's card feature a stamped and punched flower courtesy of the Country Bouquet bundle. Punch bundles are always great for quick and easy card making and I love that this bundle, whilst heart-shaped and does contain Valentine sentiments, has a much broader appeal with lots of other useful phrases and floral elements too. The heart pairs with the leaves and males a sweet flower that can be used in lots of ways. Both of the hearts are on one stamp and both of the leaves on another, and the punch punches all four elements in one go. My top tip for using this kind of stamp/punch combo is to create a punch mask using a piece of window sheet. You can then use this when stamping to position your stamps and ensure that when you come to punch out, all four stamped elements align perfectly. Better still, if you position your mask in your Stamparatus, you can easily run off lots in one go - and potentially punch your blanks before stamping.

Thanks and Hello - I paired my heart-shaped flower with an embossed panel, courtesy of the Thanks and Hello embossing folders. I love the added texture this gives - hopefully you can see it better in the photo below:

A Perfect Pair - Having made a few thank you cards to send to customers who purchased with me at the end of December, I decided to replicate my card using the 'Hello' embossing folder as the card to include with my Mini Catalogue mailing - a great way to combine products from the existing and new range too:

The texture of the embossed panel really makes it, don't you think?

Here's both cards together:

Here's another shot of lots of my cards together before they went into the mailbags:

Creating these cards is always a labour of love as mass production on this scale takes a lot of time, however it's so worth it when I get a message from a customer to say how much they liked their card - it makes it all worthwhile!

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 linking today's thank you card up over at The Alphabet Challenge where they are on 'T is for Thank you' and my Hello card over at Inspire.Create where their theme is 'New To You' - both my punch bundle and embossing folders are new to me and I you can be sure you'll be seeing plenty more of them too in future weeks! It's been fun creating with lots of new product and I can't wait to share more of it with you.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

COUNTRY BOUQUET BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (36.00)	THANKS & HELLO EMBOSSING FOLDERS (7.50)	REAL RED A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	REAL RED CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	ORCHID OASIS CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	GARDEN GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)
BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)	RHINESTONE BASIC JEWELS (5.75)