Today I'm sharing my design team card for our new challenge over at As you See It where it's time for a theme challenge chosen by Heather C:

I was really tight on time to create a card for today's challenge so decided to share one that I made earlier in the year that features the retired Horizon Dies that I didn't get around to sharing at the time that sums up the perfect vacation activity - take a look:

 Here's the low-down on today's card:

Watching the sunset - for me there's nothing nicer after a long day relaxing than sitting out on a warm summer evening watching the sun go down over the horizon. My colourful scene is evocative of this and was created by simply layering some of the dies to create my scene, adding some blended ink behind the sun and a simple sentiment to finish:

Isn't that a relaxing scene? I can almost feel the holiday warmth of that setting sun, a ball of fire reflecting on the lake and turning it red. The sentiment of today's card just about sums up my week - and breathe ...

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. 

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

• Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D project or packaging project that fits the challenge.
• Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we can leave you lots of lovely comments. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSIXXX when uploading to a public gallery.
• If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines tab on the As You See It Challenge homepage.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

PALE PAPAYA CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	PUMPKIN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	BLENDING BRUSHES (11.75)	PUMPKIN PIE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	POPPY PARADE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	GORGEOUS GRAPE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)
HIGHLAND HEATHER A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	BASIC BLACK A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.75)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (5.75)

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

I needed a couple of new home cards so I used Amy's fab sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches this week for my layout and set to work. This is what I came up with:

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

On The Horizon - I have been making samples for my next class so had the Horizon Dies out on my desk and thought the trio of houses would be perfect for today's card. I combined them with a piece of green New Horizons designer paper for the horizontal element (I stacked three of the diecut house pieces for extra thickness). I diecut a circle from the same sheet of New Horizons paper and stamped the trees onto it directly in Garden Green to sit behind the houses and give depth to my simple scene.

Stitched Detail -  The stitched detail on my circle and banner are courtesy of the new Stylish Shapes Dies - I just love the subtle extra detail:

I also added a pink enamel heart to accent one of the houses to complete the front of my card.

New Home - The sentiment on the front of my card is also from the 'On the Horizon' stamp set and I thought it would work for a 'new home' card. I added another sentiment to the inside of my card to continue the theme, this time from the retired 'Home life' set

I think this trio of house dies are perfect for a clean and simple new home card - how about you? Leave me a comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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; the James Juniors both start end of year exams at school next week so we will be interspersing revision with a trip to the poultry centre to see the new delivery of hens that has just arrived (although the children have been warned we will not be bringing some home with us!) I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

ON THE HORIZON BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (£47.50)	NEW HORIZONS 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£10.75)	STYLISH SHAPES DIES (£28.00)	CALYPSO CORAL CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	GARDEN GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.75)
SO SAFFRON A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)

Happy Friday everyone - the weekend will soon be here! Today I have my card for the new challenge over at Festive Friday. The challenge that we are celebrating this week is 'International Wetland Day' which is on 2nd February and here's our inspiration board:

Remember the fun thing is that at Festive Friday you do not need to actually celebrate the occasion; your goal is to simply use three or more items from the inspiration list on your project. This week I used grasses, green, brown, water and blue from the inspo list along with this week's sketch layout over at Inspire.Create - but my card is more coastal than wetlands, with a distinctly Caribbean influence - take a look: 

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

An Ocean Scene - I decided to break open my new 'Oceanfront' stamp set and create a tranquil coastal scene for my card. This set is so fun with endless creative possibilities! I inked my stamps then brushed additional colour onto them with a blending brush to even the tones and stamped straight onto my panel of white cardstock, beginning with the sky and working downwards until my scene was complete.  

Relax On The Horizon - Oceanfront is a sentiment-free set, so I made my banner sentiments from the 'On The Horizon' stamp set, stamping the 'Relax enjoy your day!' wording twice, once in Early Espresso for the bottom banner and once in Granny Apple Green, so that I could fussy-cut the word detail, which I then backed with a scrap of green and white gingham check from my bits box:

I played around with the banner lengths in relation to the sketch to make them work for my design and added some linen twine and a simple bow to add to the beachy feel of my card.

Another stamp from within the same set was used to finish the inside, with some added grasses:

Pick A Pebble - Finally, I added a trio of shiny brown enamel pebbles to the base of my scene for added interest - these make a great added detail for the seaside theme.

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 just love this card; it reminds me of many vacations in the Caribbean where I used to enjoy deserted beaches, warm waters and sunshine and escape the worst of the British winter each February 'BC' (before children, that is!)

How does our board inspire you? I can’t wait to see what YOU create! For more inspiration, be sure to visit the rest of the  Festive Friday Challenge Design team:

Ann Schach
Beth McCullough
Sharon Hashimoto Burkert
Melanie Hungerford
Helen Jennings
Stephanie Lanzalotto
Melva Peters
Jaydee
Diane Evans
Joanne James

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

OCEANFRONT PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (£21.00)	ON THE HORIZON CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£22.00)	PEBBLES ENAMEL SHAPES (£7.00)	TASTEFUL TEXTILE 3D EMBOSSING FOLDER (£8.25)	LINEN THREAD (£4.75)	GRANNY APPLE GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)
COASTAL CABANA CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	PACIFIC POINT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	SAHARA SAND CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	CRUMB CAKE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	EARLY ESPRESSO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	BALMY BLUE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)
SAHARA SAND A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£7.75)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.00)