It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at TicTacToe! It's the turn of Team X to host this week and the lovely Vicky is our featured designer this week. This is the fun board that we are playing along with for our 200th (yes, 200th!) challenge: 

I went on the diagonal from bottom left to top right with stencil, flower, sentiment and took the opportunity to have another play with my Loveliest Layers Decorative Masks, this time using both the flower and background stencil and a little fussy cutting - take a look:

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

Double Decorative Masks - I wanted to play along with this month's challenge over at The Flower Challenge where they are using floral diecuts or stencils, so stencilled a flower and leaves using the floral stencil, but instead of stencilling directly onto my card base as I have previously, I fussy cut it and set it to one side whilst I created a background using the other stencil in the set. I created an ombre background using the same shade of pink and purple that I used for my flower using my blending brushes, then used my background stencil to apply shimmery white embossing paste over the top. This adds both a touch of sparkle and some textural interest; be sure to clean your stencil quickly though once you've used is with paste, to avoid it drying onto it and proving difficult to remove. You can see the detail of both stencils more clearly below:

Best Family Ever - The sentiment on my card comes from a stamp set called 'Best Family Ever' - so useful for customisable greetings and great value too. I stamped it in Highland Heather onto a white circle punched with my 1 3/4" circle punch.

Online Exclusives - Before you wonder where the word 'retired' was in front of the reference above to my 1 3/4" circle punch, fear not - it's not there because circle punches are back! Well a 1 3/4" and a 2" version at least, as part of the Online Exclusives range that launched at the start of the month. As you would expect, these items can be found under the 'Online Exclusives' section of my online store - they can be ordered online directly or by placing your order with me, but the important thing to note is that just like our range of craft and card kits, they will not appear in any catalogue publications. Purchase your circle punch and see the rest of the current Online Exclusives range in my online store here. 

I finished my card with some sparkly ribbon, twine and a collection of pearls, gems and enamel dots to compliment my colour scheme.

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. 

A tictactoe board offers so many creative possibilities - how does this week's board inspire you? Why not have a go? We would love to see you in the gallery and who knows - you might be selected for Designer's Choice and be eligible to be a guest designer on a future challenge. 

Enjoy your day; my day has been a busy one, but since I have a Parents' School Exchange Meeting at school this evening, I am being rewarded with dinner out with the youngest of the James Juniors in order that we can fit everything in - what a treat! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

LOVELIEST LAYERS DECORATIVE MASKS (10.00)	BLENDING BRUSHES (11.75)	BEST FAMILY EVER PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (23.00)	1-3/4" (4.4 CM) CIRCLE PUNCH (21.00)	WHITE 3/8'' (1 CM) GLITTERED ORGANDY RIBBON (8.00)	PASTEL PEARLS (6.25)
OPAL ROUNDS (7.00)	ENAMEL DOT ESSENTIALS (7.50)	SHIMMERY WHITE EMBOSSING PASTE (8.50)	PALETTE KNIVES (4.75)	BLUSHING BRIDE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	BLUSHING BRIDE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)
HIGHLAND HEATHER CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	PEAR PIZZAZZ CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.75)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and I've designed a sketch with a split horizontal panel that offers lots of possibilities:

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card. For my card today I wanted to try out an idea I've had brewing for a while - take a look:

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

You know how much I love these 'Love Cats' and here I've used the lounging feline again; this time not on a ledge of designer paper though - I though the the background stencil in the Loveliest Layers Decorative Masks could be made to look like a quilted bedspread; I'm sure there are plenty of cat-lovers out there who allow their pets to lounge on their beds, so this card is for them! I stamped my cat in Basic Grey, masking the hearts and stamping separately in pink, then masked the whole cat with masking paper and added my stencil detail, using Tahitian Tide first, then rotating the stencil and filling in the gaps with Starry Sky to create my quilted effect. I added a scrap of stitched white cardstock to one end to suggest a folded sheet and my sentiment to finish my card. Here's a closer look at the stencilling:

So the question is - did you see what I saw with these stencils? I'm wondering if I should have added a scallop-edged 'pillow' with my sentiment to further add to the effect - maybe next time! I am thoroughly enjoying exploring with stencils - I'm also linking up for a second entry over at Inkspirational where they are focusing on stencils for their current challenge. If like me you are discovering the delights of stencils, do check out their design team cards and gallery too - lots of lovely stencil inspiration. 

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

LOVE CATS CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (20.00)	LOVELIEST LAYERS DECORATIVE MASKS (10.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)	BLENDING BRUSHES (11.75)	BASIC GRAY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	TAHITIAN TIDE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)
STARRY SKY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	POLISHED PINK CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (5.75)

It's half term week so with the kiddos around, I haven't had much time for crafting or blogging, but I am popping by today I'm sharing a card that I made for a couple of challenges that are allowing me the opportunity to indulge my new-found love of stencils:

The team at AAA Birthday are asking for birthday cards featuring stencils and the team at Inkspirational are also using stencils - with an optional addition of splatter. I went all-in and used both on my card - take a look:

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

Nothing too complicated here: I stencilled my flower using the Loveliest Layers Decorative Masks in Petal Pink and Calypso Coral, with leaves in Soft Succulent, then added splatters both with a Soft Succulent marker and a mix of adhesive and water, that I then sprinkled with gold and heat embossed. You can see that detail more closely below:

I finished my card with a fussy cut gold heat-embossed sentiment that continues inside my card with 'and wishing you a happy birthday' and a trio of enamel dots. I don't usually add splatters to my clean and simple cards, but I quite like the effect for a change. 

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

LOVELIEST LAYERS DECORATIVE MASKS (10.00)	SIMPLY FABULOUS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (17.00)	VERSAMARK PAD (9.00)	METALLICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (17.00)	BLENDING BRUSHES (11.75)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)
PETAL PINK CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	CALYPSO CORAL CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	SOFT SUCCULENT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	MULTIPURPOSE LIQUID GLUE (4.50)

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

Isn't that such a great palette of colours?! They are right in my wheelhouse and I couldn't wait to get to started. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with these colours - take a look:

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

Loveliest Layers - The highlight of today's card is the flower that is stencilled onto the central panel of my card. I used the Loveliest Layers Decorative Masks that you can find on page 62 of the mini catalogue. They contain a background stencil and this layered flower and I think with so many great new stamps, dies and papers, these masks are easily overlooked, yet they are so easy to use and make great designs. Using my blending brushes, I first inked the base flower in Highland Heather, then added the definition in Orchid Oasis. For the leaves I used Parakeet Party for both layers, inking the second one more heavily to give the contrast.

Love For You - I decided to add a thank you sentiment comprising a tiny heat-embossed stamped 'thanks' with a die cut 'so much' courtesy of the 'Love For You' bundle. I only used two of the three layers of the dies, and adhered them flat to my panel whilst adding my stamped element with dimensionals to help it standout:

I am a big fan of the 'Love For You' bundle and the versatility it offers in terms of how to layer the dies and the way various elements combine to create a wide variety of sentiments.

Even More Layers - Whilst my card layout is quite simple, it does contain lots of layers - 7 in fact. Each of them serves a purpose though, from the in-color DSP that frames my central focal point, to the thin borders to highlight the central panel and the double-layering of the sentiment and the use of white is also key here to give definition to the overall design.

So what do you think of today's card? I love it and can't wait to create more with these stencils.

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; we are having a quiet one as we are part way through GCSE mock examinations for the youngest of the James Juniors, so revision reigns! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

LOVE FOR YOU BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (44.00)	LOVELIEST LAYERS DECORATIVE MASKS (10.00)	2022–2024 IN COLOR™ 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	BLENDING BRUSHES (11.75)	ORCHID OASIS A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	ORCHID OASIS CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)
HIGHLAND HEATHER A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	HIGHLAND HEATHER CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	PARAKEET PARTY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)	VERSAMARK PAD (9.00)	BASICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (17.00)