I've had a busy day today with a netball match, hockey match and a choir competition but just have time to share a quick card for this week's challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches:

The minute I saw Jacqui's sketch I knew what I was going to do with it; I love it when that happens! I decided to make a card in readiness for World Autism Awareness Day that is coming up in a couple of week's time on April 2nd:

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

I used the Puzzle Pieces Thinlits to create my jigsaw using the nine elements of the image, adapting two of the outer pieces slightly to create a perfect 3 x 3 square (the thinlits cut a 4 x 4 square). I used the colours that are associated with the World Autism Awareness Day Ribbon and logo. I was curious as to the origins of the puzzle piece as a symbol for autism, so I looked it up (what did we do before Google?!) Apparently it's use goes back to 1963, when a parent and board member for the National Autistic Society in London, Gerald Gasson, created it. The board believed autistic people suffered from a 'puzzling' condition and so the use of the puzzle as a symbol was adopted for their cause. A simple heat-embossed sentiment that fitted the theme and a punched red heart, courtesy of the Dog builder Punch, complete 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. 

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Love You To Pieces Clear-Mount Bundle (£36.75)	Blueberry Bushel A4 Cardstock (£8.00)	Pineapple Punch A4 Cardstock (£8.00)	Real Red A4 Cardstock (£8.00)	Balmy Blue A4 Cardstock (£8.00)	Versamark Pad (£8.25)
Embossing Buddy (£5.50)	White Stampin' Emboss Powder (£4.75)	Whisper White A4 Cardstock (£9.00)	Dog Builder Punch (£17.00)

I have a class today and am still full up with cold so have a feeling this is going to be a long week! Today I'm sharing a card for this week's challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches that also uses the colour palette over at CAS Colours and Sketches: 

I love this week's FMS sketch from Jen Brum, which is all the more surprising given her phobia of circles! The FMS team have done a fabulous job with their creations this week and I couldn't resist having a go too, although what to do with those circles? I settled for puzzle pieces - take a look:

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

A Fun Sketch - So Jen Brum's sketch comprises lots of circles, something she normally avoids; in visiting the blog of Jen Mitchell, one of the other FMS designers, I discovered there was a word for someone who has a fear of circles, it's called trypophobia. So I wondered if there was also a word for a fear of puzzles too and there is - logiphobia. Who knew?! So if you have it, you should probably look away now!! 

Love You To Pieces - I used a Powder Pink card base and stamped outline jigsaw pieces from the 'Love You to Pieces' stamp set in Grey Granite and Lovely Lipstick down the outer edge of my panel, adding in a few clusters of pink hearts to mimic the varying sizes of the images as per the sketch. There are some great sentiments in this set - I used one of my favourites on the inside:

Coloured Embossing - I used two diecut jigsaw pieces for my sentiment and used Lovely Lipstick embossing powder on one and stamped the other in Grey Granite and heat embossed that with clear powder for a similar effect. I love the glossy texture and added detail this gives - it really makes these sentiment pieces stand out from the background.

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 You To Pieces Clear-Mount Bundle (£36.75)	Embossing Buddy (£5.50)	Versamark Pad (£8.25)	In Color 2018–2020 Stampin' Emboss Powder (£23.25)	Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder (£4.75)
Powder Pink A4 Cardstock (£8.00)	Lovely Lipstick A4 Cardstock (£8.00)	Lovely Lipstick Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Gray Granite Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)