It's Wednesday and time for this week's new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! There are changes afoot as far as Weekly Deals are concerned - due to improvements in stock control, this week and next are the last weeks that they will be offered. They will however be replaced with less frequent but better 'Specials' promotions on an adhoc basis - please make sure you're checking my blog regularly for details. So for the final two weeks, there really are some great deals - as always, these offers are valid for one week only. 

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 new Hostess Code for April UD3KDWM4 if your order is under £150 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. If you are local, then give me a call to place your order if you'd like to save on P&P.

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:

Bermuda Bay Thick Baker’s Twine	Endless Thanks Photopolymer Stamp Set	Flurry Of Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set	Gold 1/8" Ribbon	Christmas Greetings Thinlits Dies
Leaflets Framelits Dies	Metal Rimmed Pearls	Confetti Hearts Border Punch	Greatest Greetings Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Metallics Sequin Assortment
Sonnengruß Clear-Mount Stamp Set (German)	Souhaits Rayonnants Clear-Mount Stamp Set (French)	Sunburst Sayings Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Wild About Flowers Photopolymer Stamp Set

If you're tempted to place an order, do check out the clearance rack online too - additional items have been added this week and there are some good bargains to be had!

It just so happens that I've used two of the products on this week's deals on my card today - check it out here!

That's all from me; back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy shopping!

Today I have a card that I made with this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge in mind and uses the colours over at Fab Friday and just so happens to suit the theme over at TGIF Challenges too:

As soon as I saw the sketch I knew that I wanted to create something with my Lighthearted Leaves set and Leaflets Framelits and I wanted to create something bold with bright colours and contrast, so the colours were a perfect choice. Here's my card:

I used a base of extra thick Whisper White and a mat of Basic Black, then stamped my leaf in Memento Black onto a piece of Tangelo Twist, then coloured certain areas of the leaf in white with my chalk marker. I cut the co-ordinating leaf shape out of my Bermuda Bay layer then popped this on top using dimensionals. I used the Greetings Thinlits and my Big Shot for the 'thanks', cutting it out twice, once in white and once in black than layering them, one slightly offset against the other, beneath my leaf, with a candy dot for a pop of orange (it's Pumpkin Pie, but you can't tell it's not an exact match so far away from the base layer - I won;t tell if you won't ;-)!)

Rather simple, yet the layers and graphic nature of this card, combined with the bold, bright colours and one of my favourite stamp sets make this one of those cards that I would love to receive.

That's all from me today; I'm off to make some Halloween crafts at my friends coffee morning to raise funds for the Outspan School in Uganda. Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Lighthearted Leaves Photopolymer Stamp Set	Leaflets Framelits Dies	Greetings Thinlits Dies	Big Shot	Magnetic Platform
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock	Basic Black A4 Cardstock	Bermuda Bay A4 Cardstock	Tangelo Twist A4 Cardstock
Brights Candy Dots	White Stampin' Chalk Marker

I've had a busy day today with my 'Shake It Up!' Children's Craft Class making the shaker cards featured in the 'To You And Yours Shaker Cards Project Kit'. We all had tremendous fun and made lots of great cards. I'll share a picture from our class at the end of today's post, however in the meantime my blog project to share with you today is the one that my Facebook followers had a sneak peek of last week that I made with a lovely group of ladies - our Autumn leaf wreaths. We based our design on this one created by Stampin' Up! Artisan Designer Alison Okamitsu; I made a large wreath like Alison's to hang on my front door and the ladies liked it so much they wanted to create a similar, smaller version - here is ours:

We used a selection of muted colours and the wonderful Vintage Leaves stamp set and cut out the leaves using our Big Shot and co-ordinating Leaflets Framelits (one of the catalogue 15% off bundles if you are a bargain-hunter!), some pinecones, a few leaves punched with the bird builder punch and a burlap bow to finish. Isn't that pretty? The ladies were all so very pleased with their wreaths and their stamping as this is something of a first for them! 

This was a private class that I held for a group of like-minded friends who often invite me to run a class just for them. If you have a group of friends that you would like to arrange a crafty get-together with, or would simply like to join in with one of my existing scheduled classes, then do get in touch - I would love to hear from you! Don't forget the offer of additional Stampin' rewards is also still valid until the 9th November - party sales of £200 or more will earn an extra 3% of Stampin' Rewards (formerly known as Hostess Credits) so if you have a long wish list, I've still a few slots left so contact me to book your party today!

Before I go, let me share a photo of the James Juniors proudly displaying their handiwork from this morning's class:

Like mother, like daughter (and son!) as the saying goes - what else can I possibly add?!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Vintage Leaves Photopolymer Bundle	Big Shot	Hello Honey A4 Cardstock	So Saffron A4 Cardstock	Pear Pizzazz A4 Cardstock
Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad	Smoky Slate A4 Cardstock	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad	Tip Top Taupe A4 Cardstock	Typeset Specialty Designer Series Paper
Bird Builder Punch	1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon

It's Sunday and time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players! This week it is the turn of the multi-talented Nance, who not only produces fabulous cards but also designs all our challenge badges and does so much to keep our challenge blog running smoothly - thank you Nance! This week we have a clean and simple challenge for you:

I considered going with something autumnal for my card today, but in truth I've had this idea for a card in my head for a while and decided that since it fits today's brief it was about time I got it down on paper - and it's a Christmas card! Take a look:

I've been using my Vintage Leaves set a lot this week and I'm not sure whether it is meant to be or not, but the large spiky leaf definitely reminds me of holly, so I decided to use it on a Christmas card. I used Mossy Meadow for my card base and adhered a strip of the gingham patterned paper from the Merry Moments DSP stack down the left hand side. My raised panel is extra thick Whisper White cardstock, out of which I cut the spiky leaf shape using the co-ordinating Leaflets Framelits Dies - another one of the great 15% off bundles when you purchase both items together from the current catalogue - and stamped the leaf in Mossy Meadow directly onto the Mossy Meadow panel below, so that it could be seen through the aperture. I then stamped another leaf on a separate piece of Mossy Meadow and cut this out with the same framelit too, positioning it at an angle over the first one and overhanging the edge of the white panel. My 'Joy' sentiment is from the Holly Jolly Greetings set and stamped in Real Red. To finish, I added a trio of Cherry Cobbler Home For Christmas enamel dots for my berries - I love these, they add the perfect finishing touch to my card. So what do you think - do these leaves work as holly? Either way, I am pleased with the finished result.

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

I look forward to seeing your CAS creations this week.

I'm having a change of sport today as Rebecca is playing in her first club hockey tournament of the season, so I'm off to cheer her team on and then we'll be home for a late lunch. Fortunately for us this weekend marks the start of our school half-term holiday, so we have a lovely two week break from our routine of homework and early mornings to look forward to, which is especially welcome given how cold and dark it has been this week  - far from jumping out of bed in the morning I am more inclined to snuggle under the duvet and hibernate! Enjoy your Sunday however you are choosing to spend it.

I'll be back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Vintage Leaves Photopolymer Bundle	Big Shot	Holly Jolly Greetings Wood-Mount Stamp Set	Home For Christmas Enamel Dots	Merry Moments Designer Series Paper Stack
Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad	Mossy Meadow A4 Cardstock	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

It's Sunday and you know what that means: time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players! As you may well have already read on our home page, the lovely and so talented Ann Schach, one of our longest serving members, is stepping down; we will all miss her dreadfully but at the same time we wish her well for the future she both wants and deserves. Love you Ann!!

I am therefore hosting this week and I would like to share Ann's last great colour challenge with you:

I am loving the Lighthearted Leaves set and given the lovely comments I received on the card I made last week (if you missed it you can see it here), and inspired by the leaves on our badge this week, I thought I would use this set again for today's card:

I also used the sketch over at The Challenge (welcome back ladies!) for my layout. I used Tangelo Twist for my card base, and partially covered this with a piece of Into The Woods DSP with a bold leaf pattern - I've been longing to use this paper with the Lighthearted Leaves, the two seem made for each other, don't you think? I decided to use So Saffron for my main panel on a mat of Lost Lagoon. I stamped my sentiment in Lost Lagoon and stamped a zentangle-like border, also in Lost Lagoon, around the edge using one of the border stamps from the Tin Of Cards stamp set. I then stamped two if the leaf shapes in Versamark and heat embossed in white, onto one each of Lost Lagoon and Tangelo twist cardstock and using my Stampin' Write markers, I coloured in some of the pattern just to add a little more depth of colour before cutting them out with my Leaflets framelits. The orange leaf I adhered directly onto the top panel, and for my larger Lost Lagoon leaf I popped it up onto a double height of dimesionals, having tied a bow with some of the retired SAB thick baker's twine in Tangelo Twist and highlighting the spots with pearls (that's my nod to the lovely Ann this week :-))

This card took longer to come together in reality than it did in my head (does that ever happen to you?!) but now that it's finished I really rather like it. What do you think? 

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

I have a morning of sport to look forward to today followed by a family lunch in honour of my mother-in-law, who is celebrating her birthday this weekend. I look forward to seeing how you use my chosen challenge colours on your cards in the gallery this week.  

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Lighthearted Leaves Photopolymer Stamp Set	Leaflets Framelits Dies	Into The Woods Designer Series Paper	Tin Of Cards Photopolymer Stamp Set	So Saffron A4 Cardstock
Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad	Lost Lagoon A4 Cardstock	Tangelo Twist A4 Cardstock	Big Shot	Magnetic Platform
Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad	White Stampin' Emboss Powder	Heat Tool (Uk)	2014-2016 In Color Stampin' Write Markers
Pearl Basic Jewels

Today it's time for a new challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary and this week we have a great colour challenge for you:

Delightful Dijon is probably the most under-utilised of my current in-colours, so today's card was a good opportunity to redress the balance a little. I thought these colours would work well for an Autumn/Fall card, so that's where I went with this combination. Here's my card: 

I am loving the new Lighthearted Leaves set, so perfect for colouring, and a doddle to cut out with the co-ordinating Leaflets Framelits! I was inspired to create a card with a rather geometric yet zentangle feel having been browsing on Pinterest (as you do ;-). For today's card, I used a Delightful Dijon base with a mat of Night of Navy then a further layer of So Saffron. I cut a strip of Delightful Dijon lengthways at half the width, then stamped three leaves in Night of Navy and cut them out using the Leaflets framelits. I coloured a couple of these with my blender pen and Night of Navy ink, then having positioned the negative die cut on top of the So Saffron layer, I stamped three additional leaves in Navy onto the So Saffron layer in the spaces. I coloured these leaves using a blender pen and my Night of Navy and Delightful Dijon markers. 

To complete the design, I adhered the negative die cut to my card base using dimensionals, then aligned two of the cut-out leaves to the right side top and bottom, again using dimensionals, then stamped the sentiment in navy directly onto the So Saffron layer in the centre of the card. 

Do visit the other Design Team members to see how they used this week's challenge colours; there's lots of inspiration over on their blogs too!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Happy Monday everyone! Today I have a card for a couple of challenges: Freshly Made Sketches and Colour Q:

I love the Colour Q colours this week and I was inspired by the pattern in the inspiration photo and since this week's Freshly Made Sketch can be interpreted in so many ways, I decided to marry the two together with my Autumn-inspired cards. Yes, not one but two cards today - both similar but different and showcasing one of my favourite non-Christmas sets from the new seasonal catalogue - Lighthearted Leaves. Here is my first card:

So time for a confession: I have been mourning the loss of my Blendabilities for months now and as a result haven't done much colouring. However, this set made me decide I needed to snap out of it and revisit my Stampin' Write markers properly and get down to some serious colouring. I spent a pleasant few hours on Saturday just colouring in and was pleasantly reminded of just how relaxing it can be to just sit and colour.

Colouring in is a proven and recommended activity to de-stress (you can read an interesting article about the benefits of colouring as a method of relaxation here) and with our dual-tipped, refillable Stampin' Write markers, in a rainbow of 48 colours to choose from, it's not tricky to get amazing results! For the card above, I used a base of Early Espresso with a mat of Pumpkin Pie, followed by a mat of Very Vanilla which I background stamped with one of the small leaf designs from the set. The new permanent Basic Black and Basic Grey archival inks that are arriving with the seasonal catalogue are perfect for stamping images to colour in (especially if you want to watercolour - more on those another day!), however to tone in with my card I stamped the large maple leaf in Early Espresso on a separate piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and cut it out with my Big Shot and the co-ordinating Leaflets Framelits (gotta love co-ordinating framelits!) and coloured this leaf in each of the challenge colours. After adhering a panel of Early Espresso along the bottom of the panel, and my sentiment stamped onto a banner flag of Pumpkin Pie, I adhered my maple leaf with dimensionals to the front of my card.

I also created another card using the same set but with an alternative sentiment and a background created with one of the other leaves in the set:

This was actually the first card I created and is slightly more inspired by the Colour Q photo, but I decided I wanted a background that was more neutral to allow my multi-coloured leaf to stand out more.  I so enjoyed myself, I even stamped and coloured the inserts and co-ordinating Very Vanilla envelopes for both cards - how about that?! Opinion in my house is divided though as to which one is preferred, with the card above proving slightly more popular than the one I'm entering for the challenges today. So what do you think? Which one is your favourite? Do let me know today in your comments below.

I am enjoying a week of child-free mornings this week, as both James Juniors are taking part in Basketball Camp each day, so hopefully this will mean nice early blog posts and that I can get ahead of myself a little for once. I'm making the most of a few hours of me-time each day - a rare thing during the summer holiday season!

Back tomorrow with another card and a sneak-peek of some great new Christmas products. until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

* Lighthearted Leaves - available September 1st

Many Marvelous Markers	Leaflets Framelits Dies	Big Shot	Magnetic Platform	Banner Triple Punch
Very Vanilla A4 Cardstock	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad	Early Espresso A4 Cardstock	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad	Pumpkin Pie A4 Cardstock
Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Pad	Rich Razzlebberry Classic Stampin' Pad