Did you miss me? I've been away from my blog this week simply because, well, life got in the way! I've been busy preparing for a big team training event that I'm hosting the weekend after next and I've had preparation for next week's classes to take care of, so whilst I've content prepared for both that I will share in due course, I seem to have struggled to find the time to write any posts.

Anyways, I'm here a little earlier this evening and thought I would share with you one of the makes from one of last month's technique classes, featuring the Window Box Thinlits dies. In addition to using them to make an Easter basket and a pretty box, we also made a simple card that featured the co-ordinating Window Shopping stamp set and one of the decorative pieces. Here it is:

The card features the bright colours that are a feature of the candle-printed designer series paper from the Party Animal Suite: Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, Emerald Envy, Crushed Curry. A bold happy birthday sentiment, along with a Stitched Framelit square that w as run through the Big Shot for a second time with the candle die from the Window Box thinlit set form the basis of the central panel. Wondering how I coloured my candles? I used Party Animal Washi Tape, just running a few strips across the base before adding the diecut popped up on dimensionals. You can see the detail more closely here:

This is one of those 'go to' cards - quick and easy to put together and in this colour combination pretty much suitable for anyone. A great standby card or one to make if you're short on time and need a card in a hurry!

I'm so glad that the Window Shopping stamp set and Window Box Thinlits are carrying over into the new annual catalogue - they are so useful. The current discounted bundle price won't carry over though, so if you would like get the 10% bundle discount for purchasing before products, be sure to purchase before the end of May.

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'll be back tomorrow with one of the other projects from last month's technique class featuring the Window Box Thinlits. If you live in or around Northampton, I would love to see you at one of my classes. You can see the current list here but do check back regularly for updates as new classes are added from time to time. Until tomorrow, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Window Shopping Clear-Mount Bundle	Party Animal Designer Series Paper	Party Animal Designer Washi Tape	Tangerine Tango A4 Cardstock	Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad
Pacific Point A4 Cardstock	Whisper White A4 Cardstock	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

It's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! The awesomely talented Sandy is the hostess this week and she has a great sketch for us to work with:

I took the opportunity to use up some of my retiring designer series paper and create a fun birthday card using products from the Party Animal Suite - take a look:

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

Be A Party Animal - I chose to feature the paper covered in a quirky animal print, complete with party hats, on my central panel. This is such a fun design with unisex appeal. Such fun for a birthday card, and even better value now that it's reduced in price to only £7 a pack!

Add A Party Hat - I added a fun party hat embellishment, tied with an Emerald Envy Taffeta bow, above my sentiment banner for my focal point. I backed it with a plain stitched square in Crushed Curry for an added pop of colour. 

A Party Bright Colour Combo - The Party Animal Suite is full of bright, bold colours for wild adventures and birthday celebrations and my card today features four of the main ones:

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. 

This sketch is a real keeper - I can think of so many ways to use it! Thanks Sandy for the inspiration.

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

I am looking forward to spending time pottering in the garden today, making the most of the lovely weekend weather. I can't wait to see what you create with our sketch this week. Enjoy the rest of your weekend as it will be over all too quickly; I'm looking forward to I'll be back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Party Animal Designer Series Paper	Balloon Adventures Photopolymer Stamp Set	Party Animal Embellishments	Ribbon Taffeta 1/8" (3.2 Mm) Emerald Envy	Party Animal A4 Cardstock Pack
Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies	Pacific Point A4 Cardstock	Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad	White Stampin' Emboss Powder

I had a busy day yesterday, part of which was spent kicking off a new project that I will be sharing with you soon, but alas no time to blog. I'm back nice and early today though to share a card inspired by the sketch over at TGIF Challenges:

 The moment I saw the sketch I saw a present! Can you see it too? I rotated the sketch anti-clockwise and this is what I came up with:

Fun, right? This is a card with a surprise though - read on to find out more!

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

Be A Party Animal - My card today was inspired by the bright colours and patterns of the Party Animal Suite of products - bright and fun, just perfect for a birthday celebration.

A Hidden Message - I added an 'open me already!' tag to my parcel as there is more to my gift than meets the eye: I used the tag topper pieces of the Balloon Pop-Up Thinlits Dies to create a parcel-shaped tag that fits inside a gift sleeve and reveals a hidden birthday greeting - take a look:

Here's my greeting tag, stamped with a sentiment from the 'Big On Birthdays' stamp set, completely removed:

Adventures On The Inside - I also added a little birthday fun to the inside of my card too:

I love this kind of card - a truly universal birthday greeting that can't fail to raise a smile!

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:

Balloon Adventures Photopolymer Bundle	Party Animal Designer Series Paper	Big On Birthdays Photopolymer Stamp Set	Emerald Envy Classic Stampin' Pad	Pacific Point A4 Cardstock
Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad	Tangerine Tango A4 Cardstock	Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin' Pad	Crushed Curry A4 Cardstock

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

So I have a slight confession: if you read my blog post on Friday you may have been expecting something else today! I had a moment of inspiration for a sentiment-based card on Friday and was so pleased with myself when it was finished. All was well until I came to load it up onto the Paper Players blog and I remembered this week was 'clean and simple' week and my card definitely wasn't! So I will share that card with you another day and in the meantime I took the opportunity to make another card using one of the great sentiment-based sets in the current Spring-Summer catalogue - take a look:

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

Cake Crazy - The Cake Crazy stamp set is a fun cake-building stamp set with lots of words. I made my cake stack entirely out of words, coloured to co-ordinate with my side strips of designer series paper for a fun, unisex birthday card.

Party With Balloons - I used some balloon-patterned Party Animal Designer Series Paper to border the edges of my central panel and tie in with my Emerald Envy baker's twine and fun balloon embellishment. After all, what's a party without balloons?

Add A Banner - I added a little stepped banner in Pacific Point to my card to top off my cake - whilst not designed to co-ordinate, the photopolymer stamp sits perfectly into the banner shape for easy co-ordination. 

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:

I look forward to seeing your clean and simple creations in the gallery this week. Enjoy the rest of your weekend as it will be over all too quickly; we have basketball this morning (riding high on last week's regional-qualifying tournament win!) and then a social lunch with the swim squad - should be fun. I'll be back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Cake Crazy Photopolymer Stamp Set	Party Animal Designer Series Paper	Party Animal Embellishments	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock	Emerald Envy Solid Baker's Twine
Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad	Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad	Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin' Pad	Emerald Envy Classic Stampin' Pad	Pacific Point A4 Cardstock
Duet Banner Punch	White Stampin' Emboss Powder	Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad