Hi everyone! Wednesday already? Oh my! I've had a busy start to my week with online card classes which are really starting to take off as we get used to the technology. I had my main class on Monday using 'Beautiful Friendship' one of my most favourite sets (cards to follow). In order to stave off boredom for a lot of my regular crafty ladies, I've been following up each class with a couple of shorter 30 minute sessions that use the same set we used in our class but using different techniques. This is more like a Facebook live but we still use Zoom so that we are in a classroom format and can all see and talk to each other as I'm demonstrating. I don't do many Facebook lives and must confess I much prefer the classroom format. If anyone is reading this and thinking they would like to know more about online classes or these little demo sessions, then do check out my Facebook page or leave me a comment below and I can add you to my group.

Anyway - time for a blog post! I've had a few server issues with my hosting company earlier this week, so if you popped by and couldn't reach my blog, please accept my apologies - things should all be sorted now I'm told! So today I'm sharing another couple of cards using the #ShareSunshine product giveback download that Stampin' Up! has released to raise funds for Covid-19 related charities - you can read all about it and purchase the download if you are interested in my previous post here. For the first one I used the current Fusion sketch for my layout (great sketch!):

I used the fun loo roll image and once printed die cut it with a stitched circle, and paired it with some retired Bubbles & Fizz Sale-A-Bration papers - take a look:

I added some striped Bermuda Bay ribbon and another of the print out sentiments to the inside of my card:

That's pretty much all we can do right?!

One of my lovely customers, Jane, shared some fabulous cards using this download over on my Facebook page and I noticed that she had used some of these papers and they actually match quite a lot of the sentiments and images, so I got to use up some paper too. If you would like to see Jane's cards, you can see them here - thanks for the inspiration Jane!

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 also managed a quick second card this afternoon, using this week's CAS(E) This Sketch:

I used another or the retired Bubble and Fizz papers and paired it with the martini glass that I coloured with Blends and this fun sentiment:

It finishes inside the card like this:

Enjoy your evening. I spent my day editing and uploading some online class videos and enabling my oven repair man to do his job whilst social distancing - why do these things always break down at the most inconvenient times?! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

#ShareSunshine Digital Download: get yours here

An extra post for you with news of a product giveback that has been announced today! Stampin’ Up! is committed to making a difference in our global communities and caring about people first. As part of the company's 'Making a Difference' programme they are offering a product giveback opportunity to support organisations that are helping COVID-19 frontline responders and communities vulnerable to the pandemic.

The Share Sunshine PDF Download is a digital stamp set that’s packed with both light-hearted and heartfelt sentiments and imagery relevant to the unique COVID-19 and social distancing situation we’re currently experiencing – including many ideas that came from Stampin' Up! demonstrators and customers! The download can be used in your cardmaking and papercrafting projects. Simply print the imagery on cardstock and cut it out using our Paper Trimmer, punches, or dies. Since we are physically distanced from each other, now is a perfect time to share sunshine with our friends and family by sending cards!

When you purchase the Share Sunshine PDF Download Stampin' Up! will donate 100% of the proceeds to COVID-19 efforts. Stampin’ Up! will donate all proceeds to the following global organizations to help vulnerable communities and frontline responders:

So why not download the PDF with no need to wait for shipping and start creating right away! Buying this set is a great way to #MakeADifference and #ShareSunshine - if you use it in your makes be sure to share your creations over on my Facebook page - I would love to see them!

Good evening blog readers! Well, what a lovely day - today it was so mild and warm it almost felt like summer! I used my washing line for the first time this year and had a lovely couple of hours out riding my bicycle with the rest of the James family this afternoon, then came home and finished carving my first set of Undefined stamps. More on that later in the week; today I have an entry for this week's Colour Q challenge, where this is the inspiration:

When I saw the colour scheme and clover leaf-type flowers, I immediately thought of St Patrick's Day; whilst not Irish myself (I'm not even wanting to admit my Welsh heritage following the Five Nations rugby results today!) this is the month when the Irish also celebrate their patron saint day, so having made daffodils for St David's Day last week, today it's the turn of the shamrock. I turned to My Digital Studio and created this Lucky Frameable, which could be used either on a card or framed as a piece of home décor:

I love these graphic frameables (here's one I did for my New year cards this year) - you can play around with them until you get the look you're after. The other bonus with using MDS for today's project is that I could use all of the suggested colours, including the retired Glorious Green.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Mds Download - Digital Download

Lucky Framable Designer Template - Digital Download

A quick blog post just to share this week's My Digital Studio downloads; I have inadvertently not been bringing these to your attention in recent weeks, so thought today was a good day to put that right, not least as it gives a 'sneak peek' of one of the DSP designs and embellishment sets that will be featuring in the new Spring-Summer seasonal catalogue that is out on the 28th January.

I've included the links to each of the items in an enlarged table below - just click on the links to go to my online store to purchase. Or if you prefer to wait for the pre-printed versions, just another 20 days to go!

Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper - Digital Download

This And That Make Note Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download

This And That Retro Fresh Embellishments - Digital Download

Back later with today's creative post; until then, happy stampin'!

As promised, I managed to get some photographs taken today and wanted to share with you a variation on yesterday's MDS card that you can see here. This is a larger card, A5 size, and something of an MDS hybrid: I printed the same panel for the central section, but also created a larger panel using another of the stamps in the set which I repeated and inverted to create an outer border panel, then mounted both layers on Midnight Muse cardstock:

I really like the addition of the layering and the border image - it reminded me of fireworks! - and gives a different look to the card I think. The interior panel was the same as the one I created for yesterday's card.

Hope you like today's variation. Back tomorrow with a card using one of my absolute favourite new stamps - the Flowerfull Heart that's available this month as part of the 'Whole lot of Love' promotion (details on the right hand side of my blog). Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Mds Download - Digital Download

Midnight Cheer Ensemble - Digital Download

Midnight Muse A4 Card Stock

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you've all had a lovely day recovering from the excesses of last night or simply enjoying what is traditionally the last day of the holiday season today. I've spent mine having a family day with the extended James clan, generally enjoying good food and catching up before we all start back to work tomorrow.

Today I have another My Digital Studio project to share with you; this is a Happy New Year card that I made using the Midnight Cheer download. Having hunted through my stamp sets, I didn't have anything that was really appropriate for New Year, so decided to browse through MDS and I found this download, which I love. I stuck with the suggested colours of Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit and Sahara Sand and created the basic layout. Here's the front of the card:

I created a really simple greeting for the inside using other stamps in the set - here it is:

I also created an A5 hybrid version of this card using additional layers and mounted on Midnight Muse, but I haven't managed to photograph it yet. Hopefully I will have another round of photographing tomorrow, so I should be able to come back and update this post with the additional photograph then. I can see me using this set in future years too, ringing the changes with an alternative colourway and also using it to create party invitations and a piece of frameable home décor. I love the flexibility that MDS gives in this regard.

That's me done for today; back tomorrow with some exciting new projects to share. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Mds Download - Digital Download

Midnight Cheer Ensemble - Digital Download

Good evening blog readers! I have spent a lovely day crafting today and putting together lots of lovely things using the current 'Whole Lot of Love' promotion products and items from the forthcoming Sale-A-Bration celebration, but today I wanted to share with you a New Year card that I created in MDS using the Year End Review infographic digital download. This set is great for creating a family Christmas card that shares important news and milestones over the year along with some fun festive facts however since I am approaching the first anniversary of the start of my blog I thought it would be a great way to take stock of everything I've achieved this year and record some of the Crafty Owl's milestones.

So here is the image that forms the basis of my card:

I'm still getting the hang of MDS and don't profess to be an expert, but it's a great way to create things that you could possibly stamp and this card is a good example of that. If you're a new MDS user or would just like to know more about what MDS has to offer, I am considering running small face-to-face classes to develop your use and understanding further in 2014 - if you live in Northampton or the surrounding area and this is something that interests you, please do contact me at joanne@thecraftyowl.co.uk for more details.

For the above project, I used lots of the elements within the Year End Review download, some of which I modified to suit my theme, along with one or two others in place of the seasonal embellishments that were more Christmas-themed. I hope you enjoy reading the fun facts I've included about my Stampin' Up! journey this year - thanks to all of you my blog readers, customers, Product Table Builder users and my wonderful downline and wider extended team members for all of your support and encouragement this year - here's to an equally successful 2014!

Back tomorrow with another project; in the meantime, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Year End Review Infographic Postcard Template - Digital Download

Mds Download - Digital Download

Today I have a quick post with the last of my Convention-related makes to share with you. One of the things we have to do for Convention is make a bag tag featuring our names. Why? Well, we are each given a Convention rucksack full of goodies and everything we will need to get us through the event. The rucksacks are great, but there's only one problem - they're all the same! So it's really important that we have a name tag that enables us to identify our bags, and each other, in the crowd. I made bag tags for each of the team members travelling with me that featured our team logo - The Crafty Owl:

Cute, eh?! I made these by printing onto shrink plastic at 250% of finished size, then cut out the shapes, punched a hole for the keyring and shrunk them in the oven. I was so pleased with the result, I made a few more for some of my good friends and members of my wider Stampin' Up! team, this time using My Digital Studio (my logo was created using alternative software when UK demos didn't have access to MDS). I used the butterfly stamp that comes as part of the Creative Elements stamp set, and coloured the sections individually using the brush tool, using various shades of greens and turquoise - here are a couple of them:

What do you think? These bag tags are really eye-catching and certainly helped my team stand out from the crowd - my friends loved theirs too, especially Michelle whose team is a called the Butterfly Belles - how appropriate! I just thought I would share to show how versatile MDS can be - it's not just for cards!

The MDS shop links are included below if you don't already have it; Creative Elements is part of the standard software version so there is no product link for this, however as today is Digital Downloads Weekly Release Day I've also included the links to all of this week's new MDS downloads - some lovely festive sets here.

Right, off to attend my son's Christingle service at school; I'm hoping for a nice photo or two for my December photo journal (another MDS project that I'll be sharing with you another day!) Back tomorrow with another project - I'm thinking we might need to get back to Christmas, it is the 3rd December after all! Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Mds Download - Digital Download	Mds Free Trial - Digital Download	Dear Santa Greeting Card Template - Digital Download	Morning Post Numbers Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download	O Holy Night Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download
Stamp A Tag Kit - Digital Download	Watercolored Winter Kit - Digital Download

So no blog posts for a couple of days due to last minute preparations getting ready for our first European Stampin' Up! Convention in Manchester - and now we're here! There's so much going on - my downline Barbara and I have just attended a 'Say yes to MDS!' class and created this beautiful Christmas card that I thought I would share with you:

This was created entirely using images in the free MDS downloads that come with the full version of the software. So what are you waiting for? Go get creating!

Back soon with more fun projects; until then, happy stampin'!

Today is Digital Download Tuesday so I'm doing a quick digital-focused post with a link to both this week's and last week's weekly digital downloads (I forgot to post last week's links with all of the Digital Scrapbooking Days offers going on):

If you look at this week's downloads, you will see a new and exciting development for those of us new to MDS - online project classes! Three have been added to the store today, with a new class to be added on every last Tuesday of the month. These classes will vary in price depending on what is included in the accompanying brushsets and they are great as a means to learn both beginner and more advanced techniques. Here's a quick look at the brushsets for the first three classes to be released - click on the images for more information:

Theses video classes are not meant as a replacement for the many technique-based videos available free of charge at MyDigitalStudio.net, rather they will supplement these. Instead of focusing on one technique only they will cover a number of different aspects through the creation of a variety of projects. To access these classes, you simply purchase via my online store then download your file and log into MDS as usual.

Lastly, follow the link from my Facebook page (it would be great if you 'liked' my page first if you haven't already!) or go directly to the My Digital Studio Facebook page here and enter the competition to win the November bonus class absolutely free!

Back shortly with today's creative post; until then, happy digital stampin'!