Today I'm sharing a card that I made yesterday for the new challenge over at As you See It using this week's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches, that also works for the challenge over at Just Add Ink this week:

Whilst I didn't set out to combine all three of these challenges this week, with the challenge over at As You See It being speed stamping, today's card was definitely no accident - take a look:

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

It's All In The Preparation - I'll be honest: I rarely make a card in under 10 minutes! For me the fun is in the planning and designing and I often make multiple bits and pieces and 'tinker' with my cards until I'm happy with them. That said, it can be done - the key is in the preparation. Fortunately for me, the AYSI speed stamping challenge requires you to complete a card in under 10 minutes and the clock starts as soon as you put ink to paper; you can decide on your design and gather your supplies in advance. So I grabbed Jen B's FMS sketch (a great go-to design) my co-ordinating shades of purple (Gorgeous Grape and Highland Heather) in cardstock, ink and markers, a Whisper White card base, stamps, dies, Big Shot and got ready to start my timer!

'C' Is For Craft - I decided to base my card around the stamps and dies in the 'Follow your Art' suite. I stamped my ink bottle and clip (and a couple of sentiments to diecut, although I didn't then use these as I stamped directly onto my card base) then ran them through my Big Shot with the purple die cut pieces, making two runs to get the duplicates. I added a quick dash of colour to my stamped diecut pieces, then set about constructing. It was only when I had finished my card that I realised it would be perfect for Just Add Ink this week too; it will a least spare the girls another of my Christmas cards, which I seem to have made for their last few challenges!!

Speedy Indeed - So I did work at fever pace and my desk looked like a bomb had gone off once I'd finished, but I managed to finish my card in 9 minutes and 46 seconds - hurrah! It was helped by the fact that my card base and mat layers were already cut to size - I keep a box of sizes that I use a lot ready prepared so that I can just 'grab and go' - the most time-consuming aspects were poking out the paper clips from the dies without tearing and tying the twine bow. Purple is one of my favourite colours, so this was a fun speed challenge indeed! Lastly, a disclaimer: I decorated a co-ordinating envelope too, but completed this outside of the speed stamping time - I couldn't quite manage this in the time constraints as well!

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 like my finished card so much I think I'm going to create a few more of these and send them to the ladies who are booked to attend my Creative Escapes Craft Retreat in October - this is the perfect time to stay up late and craft together!! I still have a couple of spaces left if you would like to join us for a fun weekend; you can get the full details here.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

It Starts With Art Bundle (£44.00)	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock (£7.75)	Highland Heather A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Gorgeous Grape A4 Cardstock (£8.25)
Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Whisper White Solid Baker's Twine (£3.25)

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous LeAnne to host this week and she has my favourite, a sketch challenge, for you to work with:

I sometimes struggle with making when we are in transition between an old and new Stampin' Up! catalogue - just too much to choose from! - so I was glad of a sketch this week to help things along. I decided to get creative with one of my favourite new suites from the upcoming catalogue called Follow Your Art - take a look:

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

Follow Your Art - The Follow Your Art Suite is perfect for creatives and crafty types. With stamps, co-ordinating dies and papers featuring stamps, ink, reinkers, glue guns, buttons, ribbons and more, there are so many ways to follow your own art with this set. My card features a background piece of Follow Your Art Designer Series Paper and a fun reel of ribbon with heart detail that I coloured with my Stampin' Blends to anchor my sentiment.

A Great Little Gift - One of the other fun items in this suite is the Follow your Art Embellishment kit. With pretty coloured clips, embellishments, twine and four sheets of pretty stitched felt shapes, there are lots of great embellishments for your handcrafted projects. They come in this gorgeous little box too, which you could use to store or gift cards in or give the kit to someone as a gift in itself. Check it out:

I used a felt border beneath my sentiment and added some twine to the centre of a couple of my diecut buttons for a fun touch.

Buttons, Buttons and More Buttons - Buttons feature in this set in more ways than one: I added some diecut paper ones and for the vertical panel I embossed a panel using the new Button Button Embossing folder for additional texture and dimension.

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:

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; we have a long Spring Bank holiday weekend to look forward to so I'm hoping the sun will be shining and allow me some gardening time. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

It Starts With Art Bundle (£44.00)	Follow Your Art Designer Series Paper (£10.75)	Button Button Embossing Folder (£7.00)	Follow Your Art Embellishment Kit (£10.25)	Coastal Cabana A4 Cardstock (£8.00)
Whisper White A4 Cardstock (£9.00)	Pacific Point A4 Cardstock (£8.00)	Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Crushed Curry A4 Cardstock (£8.00)	Calypso Coral A4 Cardstock (£8.00)
Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Calypso Coral Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)	Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)