Today I'm sharing a project that I made in an all-day class last November, but didn't share at the time on my blog. Do you remember the 3D home decor piece featuring the Paisleys and Posies stamp set and co-ordinating Paisleys Framelits that featured on page 46 of the Autumn-Winter seasonal catalogue? Here's a reminder:

I thought this was a lovely and unusual piece of wall art, so decided to use it as the basis for an all-day class where the ladies attending would each make their own version of this project and also stamp a stack of cards using the remaining papers in the Petals & Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Paper pack, which they each received in their kits.

Here's my finished framed piece - I originally framed it in white, but have since had it professionally framed in a beautiful copper-coloured wood frame similar to the one in the catalogue, which has much greater impact:

I like this piece so much it is now hanging on the wall in my dining room. The photo above really doesn't do it justice - just look at the lovely shine on the foil and embossed copper against the navy: 

So very pretty! The finished piece measures 12" x 12" unmounted and unframed. The Petals and Posies stamp set and co-ordinating Paisleys Framelits were carried over and are still available, however the paper was discontinued. Good news though: I decided to share this project today because those lovely Petals and Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Papers are now available again on the Clearance Rack for only £4.70 per pack - bargain!

I ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU - A FREE PDF TUTORIAL!

For everyone who purchases the Petals and Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Papers on the Clearance Rack along with the Petals and Posies stamp set and co-ordinating Paisleys Framelits from me through my online store before the end of this month (Sunday 30th April) using the current hostess code Y2MKPTP6, I will send you a copy of my PDF tutorial for the above home decor wall art project, containing full written and photo step-by-step instructions FOR FREE, so that you can recreate it too! Instructions will be emailed separately following purchase - please ensure you include your email address and check the box that allows you to be contacted by me as your demonstrator following your purchase to send them on to you.

The links below will take you to my online store to enable you to purchase all of the supplies you need. I'll be back tomorrow with another project and more Stampin' Up! news. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Petals & Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Paper	Paisleys & Posies Photopolymer Stamp Set	Paisley Framelits Dies	Whisper White 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Cardstock	Copper Foil Sheets
Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad

Good evening everyone! I have been making some last minute samples for my Petals and Paisleys class next week and I decided to make a quick card to share with you using this week's Mojo Monday sketch:

This card is also perfect for the current colour challenge over at Fab Friday, since their trio of colours all feature in the Petals and Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Paper and the thankful challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays. Here's my card:

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

Petals and Paisleys -  I covered the lower portion of my card with a piece of patterned paper from the Petals and Paisleys DSP which features all three of the challenge colours. I used the two least dominant colours, the Rich Razzleberry and Mint Macaron, for my topper and ribbon detail for added emphasis.

Paisley Framelits - The leaf that features in the paper pattern also has a corresponding framelit, so I cut one out in Mint Macaron as the perfect co-ordinating embellishment. I backed it with a fold of purple ribbon and anchored it using a Razzleberry enamel shape. Perfect!

Stitched Thinlit Dies - My sentiment from the 'Tin of Cards' stamp set is one of my 'go to' stamps for squares, as the font and size fits perfectly. What makes this one stand out is the layering with the stitched border,cut with the new Stitched Shape Thinlits. I've been using these a lot this week and love how they add interest to an otherwise plain shape.

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. 

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

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Petals & Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Paper	Paisley Framelits Dies	Petals & Paisleys A4 Cardstock Pack	Ribbon 3/8" (1 Cm) Trio Pack	Brights Enamel Shapes
Tin Of Cards Photopolymer Stamp Set	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies	Rich Razzlebberry Classic Stampin' Pad	Mint Macaron A4 Cardstock

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

 Ultra clean and layered today (no surprise there then!) - I chose to showcase a wonderful sentiment and some fabulous paper on my card today - here it is:

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

Petals and Paisleys - I chose to use one of the 'busy' papers from the Petals and Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Paper on my card today - a bold colour scheme with lots going on, so definitely a paper that needs to be allowed to shine on its own. 

I Am Blessed - Some lovely paisley stamps in the Paisleys and Posies stamp set, however it also contains great sentiments and this one is perfect to make a statement of thankfulness. I cropped mine with the Layered Ovals Framelits and backed with a scalloped oval, and a simple folded ribbon detail to tie the whole thing together.

A Rich Autumnal Colour Combination - There are so many wonderful colours in these papers - I focused in on Delightful Dijon, Night of Navy and the addition of Rich Razzleberry to emphasise the rich colours of the season. Feel free to save this combination if it appeals to you too:

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. 

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 what you create with this week's theme. As you read this I will be travelling back from a few days away at our regional Stampin' Up! Onstage event in Telford, no doubt bursting with ideas for the Spring and Summer season. Don't worry - I won't be sharing on my blog here for a while, I still have so many Christmas projects to share!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend as it will be over all too quickly; I'll be back tomorrow with another project as my normal blogging schedule will resume; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Petals & Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Paper	Paisleys & Posies Photopolymer Stamp Set	Ribbon 3/8" (1 Cm) Trio Pack	Petals & Paisleys A4 Cardstock Pack	Rich Razzlebberry Classic Stampin' Pad	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies
Night Of Navy A4 Cardstock

Monday, Monday - the start of a new week! I have been busy moving mountains today, metaphorically speaking at least, but did manage to squeeze in a little crafting time to make a card with this week's colours over at Pals Paper Arts:

I was attracted by this bright colour palette and thought it would be perfect for an autumn card featuring the little scarecrow from the Cookie Cutter Halloween set:

Today's card really is a triumph in purple: another of the houndstooth patterns from the Petals and Paisleys Speciality Designer Series Paper pack, this time in Rich Razzleberry, along with some of the ribbon from the co-ordinating trio pack in the same colour. I used my Stampin' Write Markers to colour in the sweet scarecrow in each of the challenge colours, then punched him out using the Cookie Cutter Builder punch. Did you realise there were two stamp sets that each contained fun little figures that could be punched out with the Cookie Cutter Builder punch? I love it when you get more use out of a punch like this! I stamped a crow and fussy cut him and attached him to the scarecrow's hand and it was this that inspired my sentiment, taken from the Acorny Thank You stamp set. He looks like he is just dropping in to say 'Hi', doesn't he?

Purple is one of my favourite colours yet I don't often use it in my card making. This card is definitely making up for it today!

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. 

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Cookie Cutter Halloween Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Cookie Cutter Builder Punch	Petals & Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Paper	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Many Marvelous Markers
Ribbon 3/8" (1 Cm) Trio Pack	Petals & Paisleys A4 Cardstock Pack	Acorny Thank You Photopolymer Stamp Set

It's Sunday and time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of my good friend LeAnne to host this week and she has a great set of colours for you to work with:

I used the sketch over at TGIF Challenges for the layout of my card today. These colours screamed 'autumn' to me and I immediately reached for all my leaf sets! This is what I ended up with:  - take a look:

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

Thoughtful Branches - I decided to use the leaf from the Thoughtful Branches stamp set as the focal point for my card today, stamped in Crushed Curry and with a little Cajun Craze added with a sponge dauber to create the variegated effect. I cut these leaves out with the co-ordinating Beautiful Branches thinlits dies and also cut out a few of the double-leafed stem in Pear Pizzazz, and snipped off a single leaf from each to place behind my stamped one. I love the pop of colour this diecut leaf adds, along with the addition of texture. Each of my leaf duos was backed with a 1 3/8" punched circle. Don't forget the Thoughtful Branches bundle is still available while stocks last - snap up yours if you haven't already before it's too late!

Petals and Paisleys Houndtooth - The centre panel of my card features another of the Petals and Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Paper designs, this time a Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla houndstooth pattern. This paper exudes warmth and adds interest without detracting from the leaves as the focal point.

Sentiment-Free - Today's card is one of those few that is sentiment-free, on the outside at least. I debated whether or not to run a horizontal sentiment banner across the front of the leaves instead of adding the burlap ribbon behind, or stamping one onto the base frame of the card, but in the end decided against it. I didn't want to disturb the symmetry or form of my leaves so kept with a clean, uncluttered front. This also means that I can add a sentiment of my choice when I come to send my card.

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. 

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 what you create with this week's colours. I'm hoping for better weather today as I have some gardening jobs to see to - yesterday was so miserable, although it didn't dampen the spirits of Ben and his fellow classmates who played in their first rugby match of the season. They managed a 4-4 draw too, so were feeling rather chuffed as they strolled in to their post-match tea! Today also heralds the start of the hockey season an a return to basketball, so sporting weekends are once again about to become the James family norm!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Thoughtful Branches Photopolymer Bundle	Petals & Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Paper	Very Vanilla A4 Cardstock	5/8" (1.6 Cm) Burlap Ribbon	Cajun Craze A4 Cardstock
Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad	Pear Pizzazz A4 Cardstock	1-3/8" (3.5 Cm) Circle Punch	Sponge Daubers

Hurrah it's Friday - that was a week! Both James Juniors started at their new schools, so we are all change! New routines to get used to and we're all feeling tired and glad that we have the weekend to recharge and help us adjust to our new 'norm'. I have not had much crafting time this week, but ever since I saw this week's sketch over at Retrosketches I wanted to make a card using it and fortunately managed to squeeze in a crafty few minutes this evening to put my idea onto paper. Here's the sketch:

I'm taking a little break from Christmas cards and I knew this layout would be perfect with the new Petals and Paisleys set, in particular the designer series paper. Here's my card:

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

Petals and Paisleys - The paper is without question the star of this card. The Petals and Paisleys Specialty DSP has some amazing colours and patterns that work well for fall but are not overly autumnal. The paper I use on my card today is one of the busiest in the pack and was a great choice for this simple layout, which really allows that vibrant, colourful pattern to shine.

Blessed Indeed - I chose to use the block letter sentiment from the Paisleys and Posies stamp set, inking it in Rich Razzleberry and Night of Navy, two of the accent colours in the DSP and stamping it onto my panel of Very Vanilla. I added a couple of the circle stamps from the same set, along with an enamel shape and a retired decorated rhinestone to frame the words.

Ribbon and Twine - I added three loops of Night of Navy twine, knotted at the side as per the sketch, with a piece of the Rich Razzleberry ribbon from the new trio that accompanies this product suite beneath it to finish my card.

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! I am in the process of designing a set of stamp-a-stack cards using this product suite for an all day workshop I have planned for November and this card will definitely make the cut! 

That's all from me today. I'll be back tomorrow with another project but for now an early night is in order. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Paisleys & Posies Photopolymer Stamp Set	Petals & Paisleys Specialty Designer Series Paper	Ribbon 3/8" (1 Cm) Trio Pack	Very Vanilla A4 Cardstock	Mint Macaron A4 Cardstock
Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad	Rich Razzlebberry Classic Stampin' Pad	Night Of Navy Solid Baker's Twine