This is my second post for today - scroll down or click here for my earlier creative post featuring today's card. Blendabilites may now be discontinued, but today Stampin' Up! has announced a number of additional catalogue products that you can earn for free with each £45 spend until the end of March while supplies last. Here are the details of each of the products that will form part of the offer:

Don't forget if you're ordering online to include the hostess code for March - 4AHTZQVW - and to ensure that your contact settings on the page tab headed up 'My Demonstrator' are set to 'YES', so that I can keep you informed on the progress of your order and send you a little thank you in the post.

That's all from me today; back tomorrow with a new set of Wednesday Weekly Deals and another project. Until then, happy shopping!

Today I'm sharing a card that I designed for my class next week using the Butterfly Basics stamp set and the co-ordinating Butterfly Thinlit Dies and this week's Freshly Made Sketch as my inspiration:

I created my card in the vertical mirror image as I wanted my ferns to lean into the centre of my card - take a look:

I used Naturals Ivory for my card today - I love the natural feel of this cardstock and it works so well when used in conjunction with nature images. I inked the fern stamp in Baked Brown Sugar and stamped it three times, without re-inking in between to create a graduated effect and some depth to the background. I layered my stamped sentiment banner on a piece of Baked Brown Sugar that I edged with the Large Scallop Edgelit and used the rope stamp for the horizontal element, then added a butterfly, stamped in Bermuda Bay, cut out with the smallest of the butterfly thinlits and finished with a small gold button and a strand of burlap tied in a bow. For the final element of the sketch I added the post mark stamp in Crisp Cantaloupe. 

I hope you like today's card, especially the ladies who are coming to class on Monday and for whom this constitutes a 'sneak peek'! Back tomorrow with our new challenge over at The Paper Players; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Butterfly Basics Photopolymer Bundle	Naturals Ivory A4 Card Stock	Baked Brown Sugar Classic Stampin' Pad	Card Stock A4 Baked Brown Sugar	Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad
Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad	Gold Basic Metal Buttons	Large Scallop Edgelits Die	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon

It's Wednesday so that means a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! This week's deals are included below - they will be available for one week only, before a new collection of deals is announced.

As always, if you want to take advantage of any of the deals on offer, you can support my business by placing your order online by clicking here or using the link to my store on the right hand side of my blog page where it says 'Shop Online' or with me in person. Don't forget to add the Hostess Code for December (you can find this under the 'Shop Online' section on the right) and be sure to make sure that you don't check the 'no contact' box if you'd like to be kept updated with the progress of you order and receive a little thank you in the post from me. 

Here's a summary of this week's one-week only Wednesday deals - click on each item to go to the online store to purchase:

Chocolate Chip 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Essentials Hardware Clips	Festive Paper-Piercing Pack	Fun Flower Punch
Hearts A Flutter Framelits Dies	Large Scallop Edgelits Die	Marina Mist 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Top 10 Photobook Template - Digital Download

Another great mix of offers this week - some chevron ribbon if you need to restock following all your Christmas gift wrapping, along with two of the most useful framelit sets.

Back with another creative post tomorrow; until then, happy shopping!

I've had another busy week and whilst it's great that it's Friday, boy do I have a busy weekend ahead of me! But before I get into my weekend, check out this card I made today for this week's Mojo Monday challenge; I haven't participated in this challenge for a while, but I really liked this week's sketch so thought I would use it for today's card. Here is the sketch:

 And here's my card, featuring some of the scrummy new paper in the All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack:

I followed the sketch but I have been a little liberal with the relative dimensions of the various elements, as I wanted to use this particular sentiment from the 'Feel Goods' set and show off as much of the bold paper pattern as possible. Taking the inspiration for my colour scheme from the DSP, I matted a piece of Mossy Meadow onto a Daffodil Delight card base, then positioned the DSP on the left and bordered the right hand side with a strip of Strawberry Slush edged in Pistachio Pudding, cut with the large scallop edgelit. I stamped my sentiment in Mossy Meadow and matted it on a piece of the same colour cardstock, with a small partial mat of Pistachio Pudding as I didn't want to obscure too much of the pattern. I finished with a simple circular flower, to echo those in the paper design, punched out with a couple of circle punches and finished with a candy dot.

I made this card with a friend of mine in mind and I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Above all, I'm loving this new paper stack - the patterns in it are lovely and I can guarantee you'll be seeing lots more of this!

So that's me for today. And so to the weekend: tomorrow Rebecca has an extra ballet lesson before her exam on Sunday, we are holding Ben's birthday party for his school classmates tomorrow afternoon (more on that tomorrow!) and we are also hoping to squeeze in a visit to our local fire station open day and drop in on a church fete that a friend of mine has been working very hard to prepare for to show our support. That is all in addition to the usual homework and swim squad sessions - wish me luck!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack	Feel Goods Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Large Scallop Edgelits Die	1-1/4 Inch Circle Punch	Daffodil Delight A4 Card Stock
Mossy Meadow A4 Cardstock	Card Stock A4 Strawberry Slush	Card Stock A4 Pistachio Pudding	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad	Brights Candy Dots
Whisper White A4 Card Stock

As if there wasn't enough Stampin' Up! goodness to tempt us all this week, today is Wednesday so that means a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals too! This week's deals are included below - they will be available for one week only, before a new collection of deals is announced.

As always, if you want to take advantage of any of the deals on offer, you can support my business by placing your order online by clicking here or using the link to my store on the right hand side of my blog page where it says 'Shop Online' or with me in person. Don't forget to add the Hostess Code for July (you can find this under the 'Shop Online' section on the right). 

Here's a summary of this week's one-week only Wednesday deals - click on each item to go to the online store to purchase:

Angled Tag Topper Punch	Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon	Gold Sequin Trim	Large Scallop Edgelits Die
Mosaic Punch	Neutrals Designer Buttons	Silver Fancy Foil Designer Vellum	Summer Home Digital Kit - Digital Download

 Sequins, buttons and best of all punches included this week - race you to the shop! Back later with today's creative post; until then, happy shopping!

Another early post from me today - I must be organised, or at least more organised than usual! Today's card uses the sketch over at Create with Connie and Mary for the 2014 Spring Collection Challenge. Here is the sketch:

Having enjoyed the 'reveal' aspect of the hidden message tag card I made for the Paper Players yesterday, I thought I would do something similar with this card - the cut-away and the scalloped edge layer seemed to be calling for a pull-out. So here is my card:

This is the first time I've used the new Retro Fresh Designer Series paper and I love it - the colours are, well retro and fresh!! I made the pattern a feature of my card and embellished with another of the Just Sayin' word bubbles, this time layered and mounted on a base cut with the co-ordinating Word Bubbles framelits - don't you just love a matching framelit?! (and you save 15% if you buy them together) I also created a joining piece from the new Retro Fresh washi tape which I stuck on some Very Vanilla cardstock (I love how the little arrows draw your eye to the speech bubble).

I chose to make a pocket from the top layer so that the scalloped edge section could be pulled out to reveal another of the 'See Ya Later' Sale-A-Bration stamps, that I coloured with my Tangerine Tango, Coastal Cabana and Baked Brown Sugar Stampin' Write markers:

I made this card for a friend of mine who is celebrating a 'significant birthday' this week; I'll spare her modesty by not revealing her age, but let's just say the sentiment on this card just seemed very appropriate! I'm also going to link this card up with Create With Connie and Mary's colour challenge this week, which I didn't see until after I made my card but is featuring the colour palette that I've used this week:

I am loving these colours - might have to try and do another card or two now I've opened that new paper pack!

EDIT: By popular request, here are the dimensions for the above card:

• Tangerine Tango Card Base: 14.9cm x 18.5cm (scored at 8cm)
• Retro Fresh DSP: 10cm x 8cm
• Extra Tangerine Tango Bottom Front Section: 4.9cm x 8cm
• Attach the DSP to the bottom orange front section using the Retro Fresh washi tape
• Attach this panel front to the front card base on 3 sides only with Tombo (the section measuring 8cm x 14.9cm as opposed to the larger section measuring 10.5cm x 14.9cm) - this creates the pocket
• Very Vanilla Insert: 12.5cm x 8cm, edged with the Large Scallop Edgelit
• Adhere a strip of Coastal Cabana cardstock measuring 3cm x 14.9cm to the inside edge of the back panel of the card base

I'm off to watch Rebecca play in a netball match this afternoon - pray for fine weather for me, or at least that the match gets moved onto the indoor court! Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'! 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

See Ya Later Wood-Mount Stamp Set	Just Sayin'	Word Bubbles Framelits Dies	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock
Tangerine Tango A4 Card Stock	Card Stock A4 Coastal Cabana	Retro Fresh This And That Designer Washi Tape	Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper	Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad
2013-2015 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	Brights Stampin' Write Markers	Subtles Candy Dots	Large Scallop Edgelits Die	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine
Magnetic Platform	3/4 Inch Circle Punch

Well it's the weekend and in our house that can only mean one thing - even more Lego on the living room floor than during the week! This morning we even paid a visit to the Lego store to spend some of the money that James' juniors received at Christmas, so we've further added to the total brick count. I would share a picture of the living room floor, but to be honest I'm embarrassed at the state of it; at least I'm out at team training all day tomorrow, so I can pretend it's neat and tidy whilst I'm gone :-)

Anyway, today's card is my entry for this week's Pals Paper Arts challenge. This week it's a sketch by the very talented Margaret Moody:

This is something of a classic sketch, as it's a layout that can be used for all kinds of occasions. I decided I was in need of a bright card today, so went with this bold and cheerful birthday card:

I let the bold and bright 'Birthday Basics' DSP pattern take centre stage with its colourful party hats. Instead of leaving my vertical band straight, I decided to echo the scallop trim seen on some of the hats and create a layered strip that I cut with the Large Scallop Edgelit - it reminded me of party streamers too (I know, I have a vivid imagination!) I finished off with a sentiment from the 'Label Love' set stamped in Raspberry Ripple and punched with the Artisan Label Punch, then layered on another two pieces of punched cardstock in co-ordinating colours.

I really like this card, as it's as versatile as the layout and would suit either a boy or a girl. Don't forget to check out how the design team over at the Pals interpreted this week's sketch for lots more card making inspiration.

Back tomorrow with all the latest news from training and a picture of my swaps. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Label Love	Birthday Basics Designer Series Paper	Raspberry Ripple A4 Card Stock	Summer Starfruit A4 Card Stock	Card Stock A4 Bermuda Bay
Large Scallop Edgelits Die	Artisan Label Punch	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Magnetic Platform	Raspberry Ripple Classic Stampin' Pad

Back again with the last of my teacher cards (I think!) this year - this time a pop-up card using my dress up framelits. The credit for this design goes to Fran Sabad; you can see her original card, a teacher birthday card, here. If you're looking for ways to use your Dress Up Framelits, I thoroughly recommend you check out Fran's blog - she has made some amazing cards using the Pop 'n' Cuts base and co-ordinating framelits. I thought this card would work equally well as a teacher thank you card with a few minor alterations and give me yet another opportunity to get stuck in to my Storytime DSP. So here is the outside of my card:

It's the inside that is the real star of the show though - a teacher mannequin in her classroom, in front of a traditional blackboard:

I absolutely love this card, complete with all the little details - check out the apple on the corner of the teacher's desk - how cute is that?! In case you're wondering about the glimmer paper 'brooch' pinned to the teacher's blouse, I know it looks a little out of place against the muted colours and traditional classroom feel, but Rebecca's teacher has what can only be described as a glitter obsession - she can't complete an art project without using tons of the stuff, so I know she wouldn't think this card complete without just a little bit of 'bling'. I wish I could convert her to the benefits of SU no-shed glimmer paper; well, Ben is likely to have her as his teacher the year after next, so there's still time!

The funniest thing about this card was when I showed it to Rebecca to see if it met with her approval; she said, "I love it - but why is there a blackboard? We've never had one of those in the classroom Mummy, all our classrooms have interactive whiteboards". What can I say? A sign of the times and made me feel quite old!

Back tomorrow with something different; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Word Play (retired), For My Family (retired)

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Pink Pirouette, Gumball Green, Crumb Cake, Storytime DSP

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers: Cherry Cobbler

Tools: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Large Scallop Edgelits, Dress Up Framelits, Pop 'n' Cuts Card Base

Finishing Touches: White Baker's Twine, Silver Glimmer Paper

A quick - and early! - blog post from me today as I am out this evening as Rebecca is competing in a local swimming gala and based on previous experience, they can finish quite late in the evening - it all depends on how many swimmers are entered. So today I'm sharing the thank you cards I made yesterday for Rebecca to send to friends and family to say thank you for the lovely cards and gifts she received. We stayed with the 'watery whale' theme, but this time went for something much more girly and pink. Here is our card:

It was inspired by a get well soon card I saw made by Penny Smiley (you can see her card here) a while ago and I love the girly feel of this card and its simplicity - when you've 20 or more cards to make, this is an important consideration!

'Thanks a ton!' is one of a number of themed greetings that come with the 'Oh, Whale' stamp set. This is one of the sets in the Spring-Summer Seasonal Catalogue which also retires next Monday 1st July and whilst the stamp sets in this brochure are not on the retiring list, many of them will be unavailable from 2nd July onwards. If this set appeals to you, you've only 3 days left to place an order as this set will not be carried over into the new annual catalogue.

I'm off to spend a quick half an hour in my craft studio before getting ready for this evening's swimming event. I'll be back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Oh, Whale!

Cardstock: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Marina Mist

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers: Pacific Point

Tools: Happy Whale Clearlits Die, Large Scallop Edgelit

Better late than never today, but lots going on in the James household this week: the first of this week's monthly card classes this afternoon, followed by a school field trip tomorrow and an 8th birthday to prepare for at the end of the week. So on to today's card! I've had three Golden Wedding Anniversary cards to make this month and although none of the recipients are known to each other, I made three different cards for each. I'm sharing the first of these with you today. This is the most simple of the 3 finished designs:

I used brushed gold card for the base and die cut number 50, which I popped on dimensionals so that it would stand out a little; this card has a lovely matt shimmer to it, which is somewhat lost in the photograph. I then used gold embossing powder and heat embossed the 'Happy Anniversary' either side of this. I used the Delicate Designs embossing folder and large scallop edgelits die to create a layered edge, finished with a piece of white Organza ribbon. So nothing too fussy, but classic (and post-friendly).

Back tomorrow with another of my Golden Anniversary cards I think; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Memorable Moments

Cardstock: Whisper White, Brushed Gold

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers: Versamark

Tools: Large Scallop Edgelits Die, Delicate Designs Embossing Folder, Typeset Alphabet Die, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Finishing Touches:  Gold Embossing Powder, Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon