Today I'm sharing a card I made for this week's Mojo Monday challenge using a stamp I've yet to use even though it is about to retire (oops!) Here is this week's sketch:

This week is 'tall and skinny' week so my card is taller than usual - my actual dimensions are 7" x 4" - and has a distinctly nautical theme:

I am continuing my quest to use more DSP on my cards and this one features the retiring Maritime papers, one of my favourites. I used a base of Real Red and a mat of Night of Navy, then covered the front of the card with a piece of DSP. I cut a banner out of a co-ordinating piece of Maritime DSP and a double-ended one from Coastal Cabana cardstock, both of which were made using my new Triple Banner Punch. I then added a piece of Night of Navy cardstock, slightly wider than my card, and tied with a sailor's knot in Coastal Cabana thick baker's twine. The main focal point of my card is the round sailor stamp from the stamp set 'Adventure Awaits', which I stamped twice, once in Night of Navy on Whisper White and once in Real Red, and fussy cut the words from the centre of the red one and overlaid them onto the navy one. My friend LeAnne did this on a card a while ago and I loved the effect, so was keen to include it here. You can see LeAnne's original card here. I can't believe we are three days before the Spring-Summer seasonal catalogue ends and I'm only just using this stamp! 

This card is so fresh and fun and would be great to send to a friend who needed a little motivation and encouragement. That's all from me today; back tomorrow with my card for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Adventure Awaits Photopolymer Stamp Set	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad
Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Circles Collection Framelits Dies	Big Shot Magnetic Platform	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine

I've had a lovely day today; I spent the morning doing housework followed by a pleasant afternoon at the park enjoying the sunshine and catching up with friends. Following dinner I got the the bottom of the ironing basket so much has been accomplished! Added to which, today is another two-card day, this time both using the sketch over at As You See It this week: 

I'm also linking up again with the lovely Di over at Pixie's Snippets Playground as both of today's cards were made using offcuts lying around from other projects - always nice to use these up rather than store them for the sake of it! I thought this layout would work really well with some snippets of 'Stacked With Love' DSP and my Pictogram Punches stamp set and quickly set to work and came up with this:

I used a base of Basic Black and added my 'xoxo' DSP in a split vertical strip, then stamped the sentiment in White Kraft ink and heat embossed it in white, adding a little red glimmer paper heart popped up on a dimensional over the stamped one. A further snippet of DSP with a heart punched out and an offcut of red ribbon finished my card. This would make a nice CAS anniversary card for your nearest and dearest or a great Valentine's card - my I am getting organised early for 2016!

Having made this card in next to no time, I then decided to see if I could use the same layout with the other sentiment stamp in this set and create a congratulations card - here is my 'take two': 

A little more layering here and a greater expanse of DSP this time; I used a base of Night of Navy and a mat of Whisper White, then a piece of Maritime DSP with a star pattern. This time I used a piece of Night of Navy punched with the Confetti Stars Border Punch for my vertical strip, infilled randomly with some silver glimmer stars punched from a piece of silver glimmer paper. I stamped my sentiment in night of Navy on Whisper White and popped the whole thing up on dimensionals above the vertical strip, adding a larger silver glimmer star in place of the stamped one. A snippet of left over SAB Coastal Cabana ribbon and a flag of silver glimmer paper stapled to the top complete this card. 

Having made both cards, I think my favourite is the second one; I just love the colour combo and the combination of stars which is so perfect to congratulate someone on a job well done. Which one do you prefer? I'd love you to leave me a comment below and let me know which one gets your vote!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used (Card 1):

Pictogram Punches Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack	Stacked With Love Designer Series Paper Stack	Basic Black A4 Card Stock	Embossing Buddy
White Stampin' Emboss Powder	Heat Tool - Uk Plug	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad	Red Glimmer Paper

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used (Card 2):

Pictogram Punches Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack	Confetti Stars Punch	Silver Glimmer Paper	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad
Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock

So today I'm sharing a card that I made for this week's Pals Paper Arts challenge, where they have a great sketch for us this week:

The minute I saw this sketch, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. In my quest to use up some of my retiring DSP, I knew that the anchor stamp in the 'Guy Greetings' stamp set would work perfectly with some of the papers in the Maritime DSP set, specifically the navy rope and red anchor paper. I decided upon a 5 1/2" square card and I set to work, although my card didn't quite work out as I initially planned. Let me show you my card and then I'll share the story:

My initial intention had been to use the rope paper as you see above, but flip it for the second section and use the red anchor pattern on the reverse. But after much flipping, trimming and trading of circle mounts for my anchor, I ended up unable to make the patterns work together. They just didn't look right to me and the sentiment banner I had cut interfered with my anchor too much, so I decided to ditch the red and use a plain panel of Night of Navy and heat emboss my sentiment onto it directly in white, leaving my embossed anchor uncluttered and the rope pattern beautifully showcased. As I stood back to admire my handiwork and did a check back to the sketch, I realised that my card is a virtual case of Brian King's Design Team card for the challenge which you can see here - oh dear! This wasn't conscious, although I've shared my love of Brian's work on my blog here before and I am so drawn to his clean and uncluttered style. So I'm hoping he will take it as a compliment and the Pals will allow my linkup as an example of a card truly inspired by a member of their DT this week!

Back tomorrow with a new set of Wednesday Weekly Deals and another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Guy Greetings Photopolymer Stamp Set	Versamark Pad	Embossing Buddy	Heat Tool - Uk Plug	White Stampin' Emboss Powder
Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Big Shot Magnetic Platform	Circles Collection Framelits Dies

It's Thursday and time for another challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary, where this week we have a new sketch challenge for you:

I took quite an unusual approach with this card and decided to try out a new technique that was highlighted on a recent Splitcoast Stampers newsletter - paper tole, where you cut elements of your one layer card using a craft knife to create a raised almost 3D effect. Take a look at my card and then I'll share with you some tips:

I decided to use a sheet of highly patterned Maritime Designer Series Paper for my card front; I haven't used this paper in a while and it is one of my favourites, so thought it opportune to give it some love again for a change! It also has lots of great co-ordinating patterns that made it easy to add my angled layers on the left hand side. 

I decided to use the octopus as the focal point for my card, and based my cutting line around that. To create the paper tole effect, I cut some of the upper 'layers' of his legs and rubbed the reverse side with the rounded end of my pokey tool to create a raised cardfront, that is accentuated by placing dimensional behind the cut pieces. You can see that better in the photo below:

I wasn't sure this would work with DSP as the technique suits a thicker cardstock or watercolour paper, but it actually worked quite well and I'm pleased with the overall result. I included some minimal stamping, in the little banner that the octopus is holding, but otherwise, this card is all about the paper! 

I was having an interesting discussion with one of my customers yesterday about sketch challenges and I thought I would just take the opportunity in my post to just mention a few of the things that we were talking about - if you've ever considered having a go at one, but were holding back because you weren't sure, you may find the following useful:

• The sketch is for inspiration - it should be used as a guide.
• You don't have to interpret the sketch literally, but your challenge card should bear a resemblance to it and share key elements. So for example, with the sketch above, I would expect to see a focal image, but it can usually be any shape and doesn't have to be exactly the same as the one in the sketch (I used the octopus) some form of flag/embellisment/sentiment banner (I used my Hi! banner garland) and some form of treatment on the left (I layered my DSP).
• The number of mats and layers isn't prescriptive; I did choose to go edge-to-edge with my DSP for this card, largely to fit everything in and because I didn't want a border to distract, however had I been using a punched image for my focal point, I might have created a bordered mat - that would have been ok too.
• You should take note of the challenge rules; all challenges are different, e.g. the Create With Connie and Mary Challenge requires you to use Stampin' Up! products only, others may restrict the number of challenge entries you can combine or have other guidelines to be adhered to.

You will notice that all of the design team have interpreted this week's sketch challenge differently, yet all of them bear a resemblance to the sketch - hence you get lots of additional creative inspiration on how to interpret the sketch and use your SU! products. So enough from me - go get your inks, stamps and paper and see what you can make of this week's sketch  - we look forward to seeing your creations in the gallery. 

That's all from me - back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Happy Monday everyone! I have a desk-based week this week and I'm looking forward to getting a headstart on preparation for my next set of classes and getting some projects prepared, following the flurry of classes and parties last week. Today's card is one I made with my Valentine in mind - very masculine and not a heart in sight! - but with a sentiment that I just know will strike a chord - take a look:

Now if you are of a similar age to me (forty-something - I'm saying no more!!) you may well have lived through the era of the American sitcom 'Friends'. My husband and I have watched every episode more times than I can count and still laugh occasionally at the things we say or do that are inspired from this classic television series. One of my favourite episodes is the one where amidst the ongoing drama of the on-off relationship between Ross and Rachel, Phoebe announces that they will get back together again because just like lobsters, who are known to fall in love and stay together for life, Rachel is Ross's lobster. After some drama, it takes a viewing of Rachel and Monica's old prom video tape for Rachel to realise that she does indeed want to be with Ross and Phoebe triumphantly declares "He's her lobster!" I've made lots of cards featuring both the crab and lobster from the Sea Street set and I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a play on words with this one. I chose a simple layout featuring some of the co-ordinating Maritime DSP and used a simple font in Word for my bespoke sentiment. Whilst there's not a heart in sight, mu husband for one will appreciate the romantic gesture of this card!

If you too are nostalgic for some classic TV - or just want to know what the heck I'm rambling on about today! - here is that clip in all it's glory:

On that happy note, I will love you and leave you until tomorrow, when I will be back with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Sea Street Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Maritime Designer Series Paper	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine	1-1/4" Scallop Circle Punch	1 Inch Circle Punch

Today's card is my entry for this week's Summer Collection challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary where they have the following colour challenge:

I love this colour combo and couldn't pass up the opportunity to make something with it. All of these colours can be found in the new Sea Street designer series paper, so I decided this would be my starting point. Here's my card:

I've been wanting to make a life-buoy on a card with this paper that would enable me to use the new thick baker's twine too and this card provided the perfect opportunity. Using a Real Red base, I then used a mat of Whisper White and a further mat for the top layer in Night of Navy. I created my life buoy by cutting two rings using my circle framelits, one in red and one in white, then cutting the white one into quarters and overlaying two of the sections onto the red one. I wound Coastal Cabana baker's twine around this and adhered it to my card using dimensionals, having first stamped my sentiment onto a circle of Whisper White and adhered that directly to the card base. I then finished the front of my card with two strips of Sea Street DSP showing multi-coloured sailor's flags and stamped the co-ordinating stamp onto the inside card panel.

As my regular blog readers will know, both James juniors are keen swimmers and whilst only Rebecca currently races competitively, Ben is improving all the time as he grows older and stronger and is gaining on her all the time. He often undertakes distance swimming badges and skills-based certifications, so I made this card with him in mind - I think it will make a lovely congratulations card for my little swimmer the next time he achieves a milestone and I like that the card has a masculine feel that would suit both young and old alike.

I'll be back tomorrow with another project and I will be posting early as I will be watching the last swimming gala of the season tomorrow evening. Wish me luck - with the warmer weather we've been having the swimming baths will be roasting, so it will be all I can do to stop myself diving into the water too! Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Maritime Designer Series Paper	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine	Sea Street Clear-Mount Stamp Set	A Dozen Thoughts	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Circles Collection Framelits Dies

Hello everyone! I can't quite believe it's Sunday already - the weekends truly go too fast these days! I've already been on a long bike ride this morning and following a BBQ lunch am actually typing today's post while sat in the garden enjoying the warm weather - bliss! Today I have another card featuring the octopus from the Sea Street stamp set, this time using this week's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches:

There is a sheet of DSP in the new Maritime set that has a really busy pattern that can be difficult to incorporate into a project but when I saw this sketch, I thought it would provide the perfect opportunity to use it. Here is my card:

I cut a piece of DSP that showed a selection of the graphics and then sectioned it as per the sketch. I wanted to create a focal sentiment but figured it needed to be big and bold in order to stand out against the background, but at the same time not overwhelm it. I decided on a fun sentiment from the 'Really Good Greetings' stamp set which I inked up with my Stampin' Write markers alongside an off-the-edge octopus in Real Red. I matted this panel onto Night of Navy and popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals to make it stand out. I love the fun print of this DSP and am really pleased that I managed to incorporate it into today's card - these are the sheets that I normally end up keeping to admire, rather than use!

I'm also going to link this card up over at SUO Challenges where the theme is summer time - this card has a definite beach feel to me!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

* Sea Street - Available 1st July

* Maritime DSP - Available 1st July

Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Real Red Stampin' Write Marker
Night Of Navy Stampin' Write Marker	Stampin' Dimensionals

I've had a great day today and spent most of it in my craft room making samples for my forthcoming Stampin' Up! New Catalogue Launch Party (you can find full details here). You will be seeing lots of 'sneak peek' cards this week ready to whet your appetite for what's coming in the new catalogue. Today I'm sharing a card I made using this week's sketch layout over at Seize the Sketch and one of my favourite new stamp sets, Sea Street. Here is the sketch layout:

 And here's my fun take on the sketch:

I used a piece of Coastal Cabana for my base, then mounted a piece of Maritime Designer Series Paper onto a Night of Navy mat and aligned this with the edge of my card.  I then stamped the octopus from the Sea Street stamp set in Night of Navy on Whisper White and fussy cut it out and adhered it to my card using Stampin' Dimensionals. I then created a little flag using one of the stamps from the Hip Notes stamp set using some Whisper White and a cocktail stick, colouring the word 'hooray' with my Coastal Cabana marker. I finished with a Night of Navy stitched grosgrain ribbon bow across the DSP section.

This stamp set is a great set for fun birthday cards and lots more besides - check back to see what else I'll be making with it this week.

That's all from me today; back tomorrow with another card. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

* Sea Street - available 1st July

* Maritime DSP - available 1st July

Hip Notes	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Card Stock A4 Coastal Cabana
Night Of Navy 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon