Wonderful World Split Card Textures Birthday Card

by Joanne James18. August 2022 08:00

Today I'm sharing a card that I made a few weeks ago but haven't had time to type up until now, featuring more of the lovely Wonderful World designer series paper that can be yours free with a £90 order during the current Sale-A-Bration promotion - take a look:

 

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

Sale-A-Brate with a Wonderful World - I had fussy-cut a whole bunch of flowers from the Wonderful World paper and decided to CASE a card shared by one of Stampin' Up!'s current artisans, the talented Berdien Weideveld, that she posted a while ago on Instagram. I simply layered them along the diagonal, with a mix of white, yellow and pink flowers and an additional piece of the yellow striped DSP on the base layer.

Split Card Textures - the diagonal for the flowers is taken from the line of the Split Card Texture Die - these come as a set of two standalond dies and are great for adding detail and texture to a cardfront. 

Finishing Touches - I added some pearls, small diecut flowers and diecut leaves to my fussy cut flowers to add interest:

 

Lastly, a simple heat-embossed sentiment from hte 'Art Gallery' stamp set completes my card. It took a while to cut out all the flowers, but I must say I love the finished effect!

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'm writing this post in advance of my vacation so I hope as you are reading it that the Wonderful World papers are still available; if not, I hope you already snapped them up whilst supplies lasted and you are still excited to use them!

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

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Rings Of Love Welcome To Your New Home TTT174

by Joanne James11. August 2022 18:00

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at TicTacToe! It's the turn of Team X to host this week and I am the featured designer this week. This is the fun board that we are playing along with: 

    

I went down the middle column with house, patterned paper and tree/wood and using the sketch layout over at SUO Challenges decided to make a 'welcome to your new home' card - take a look:

 

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

I used one of the house pattern sheets from the Rings of Love designer series paper (free during Sale-A-Bration with a £45 purchase) and added a panel to my Mint Macaron cardbase, whilst fussy cutting another house to form the centre of my clustered focal point. I used the Label Me Lovely punch to punch a piece of white cardstock and added my welcome greeting, then tucked this behind a layered tree ring. You can't fully see the detail on this card, but I just love the new Tree Rings hybrid embossing folder and co-ordinated dies - so much texture and detail! I added some branches cut using other dies in this set that I watercoloured, along with some trees cut using the Tree Lot Dies which I watercoloured to mimic the loose colouring of the DSP and layered all of the elements together:

The papers in this pack are great and I think this is one of my favourite designs; it's just perfect for a 'new home' card. Oh, and did I mention it's FREE?! Gotta love Sale-A-Bration!

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. 

A tictactoe board offers so many creative possibilities - how does this week's board inspire you? Why not have a go? We would love to see you in the gallery and who knows - you might be selected for Designer's Choice and be eligible to be a guest designer on a future challenge. 

Enjoy your day; I'll be back tomorrow with another project for our new challenge over at As You See It. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

New 2022 Sale-A-Bration Items Added

by Joanne James7. August 2022 15:58

Just a quick post with additional information out this week: you all know that this year's second Sale-A-Bration promotion will end on 31st August and in addition to hosting and joining benefits (you can read about those here) you also earn a free product for every £45/90 spend - you can see the existing items here. Now there's more good news: from now until the 31st August, you will also be able to choose from a number of other items (you must use the special code as detailed as opposed to the usual item code to get one of these items free with a £45/90 spend):

 

If you would like more information or to place an order, go here to purchase from my online store (don't forget to add this month's hostess code 6SQFH49A). 

Remember as with all items offered as part of the Sale-A-Bration promotion, they are only available whilst stocks last. Currently all items are still available, however current stock levels suggest that a number of the original items will have run out before the end of the month.

Back soon with a new creative project; until then, happy shopping!

Wonderful World Birthday Card PP603

by Joanne James7. August 2022 08:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Jaydee to host this week and she has a fun theme challenge for you to work with:

    

So many ways to go with Jaydee's theme this week and so many choices! I am still busy cutting up my beautiful Wonderful World designer series papers so wanted to use Judy's great layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week to showcase one of my favourite flowers in the pack for today's challenge - take a look:

 

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

I highlighted my fussy-cut flower on a bright yellow stitched diecut circle and some diecut leaves and paired it with another of the blue-toned patterns in this pack. I experimented with different combinations of patterns for the three panels, but decided I preferred all three cut from the same paper so went with it. A few in-colour enamel dots and a fussy-cut sentiment from the 'Simply Fabulous' stamp set, stamped in Starry Sky, completes my card:

 

This card has a lovely clean feel with all that white space, despite its layers - and I love the way the layout highlights that single flower. What's more, this paper can be yours FREE, along with the 'Wonderful World' stamp set, when you place an online order of £90 or more between now and 31st August - yay for FREE!!

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:

Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN!

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

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Hippest Hippos CAS Snorkelling Shaker Card PP602

by Joanne James31. July 2022 08:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Claire to host this week and she has a fun theme challenge for you to work with:

       

Claire's board has a distinctly beachy theme this week, so I went across the middle with diecut, blue and patterned paper and yes, you've guessed it - I decided to create another shaker card featuring my favourite Sale-A-Bration stamp set, Hippest Hippos - this time a more clean and simple version than the one I shared with you a few days ago (you can see that card here if you missed it). Time to check out today's card:

 

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

For today's challenge I used up a little more of the (retired) Whale of A Time designer series paper to create an underwater paradise for my snorkelling hippo. This time I cut a partial circle for my frame and used the wave die from the Hippo dies to create the 'surface' of the sea for my hippo to swim along, placing my hippo outside my shaker element rather than inside as on my previous card. Once again I added a pair of handcut customised fins, along with snorkel and mask to my hippo - this time in bright Parakeet Party green:

 

For this card, my shaker element is a flat 'pocket' shaker - a great way to reduce bulk and a great way to introduce a shaker element to an otherwise clean and simple card. Not forgetting the inside, I used the 'Whale Done' stamp set for some co-ordinated stamping and added a strip of left over designer paper:

 

Today's hippo's underwater apparel was inspired by my own snorkel, mask and fins which are also bright green in colour - just to make sure Jason doesn't lose me as I'm floating around the Caribbean. I've not done that for a while - happy memories!

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. 

I'm also linking today's card up over at Sparkles Monthly Challenges for a second entry into their shaker cards challenge and over at Just Add Ink for another 'Under the Sea' card. Finally I'm linking up over at Addicted to CAS where the theme is 'nautical' - I'm pretty sure I've met that brief, I just hope they think my card is sufficiently clean and simple! 

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

Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN!

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

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Tree Lot Dies Christmas Home Decor And Festive Table Favour AYSI 280

by Joanne James29. July 2022 12:00

Today I'm sharing my design team card for our new challenge over at As you See It where it's time for a festive 'fill in the blank' challenge:

       

Today we are all about Christmas in July. I do like to get a start on Christmas cards at this time of year, but when it come to my favourite Christmas in July creation it has to be home decor and table favours; these always take longer to make than you think they will and in the busy run up to Christmas there is rarely time to devote large chunks of time to crafting, so I like to get a good headstart on these kinds of projects - it makes me feel organised! I have two projects for you today - a piece of home decor and a co-ordinating table favour. Both use the Tree Lot Dies, available free with a £90 purchase during the current Sale-A-Bration promotion - and I took the inspiration for my festive caravan and 'trees for sale' scene from the top right photo over at Hand Stamped Sentiments - what a great inspo board! First up - here's my home decoration piece:

 

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

I used a dome that I had in my office that I bought last year that was just waiting to be made into something, and built my little scene onto the base, having first covered the base with snowy white velvet paper (cut with a retired layering circles die). The string of lights, embellished with the pretty Festive Pearls, the trees and the 'trees for sale' sign are all one dimensional and stand with the aid of small supports behind them. The caravan is made by diecutting two of the diecut caravan pieces and adding a base (described in more detail with the table favour below) and a second curved piece of cardstock for the roof (the roof piece measures 3 1/2" x 1 1/2", scored at 1/2" on each side and 1/4" on each side respectively). I added some red ribbon to the top of my dome and red glimmer to the base of my dome for extra festive feel. Here's a close up of my little scene, with the dome removed so that you can see the detail more easily:

 

My finished dome measures 11cm wide by 19cm tall and that's not all - it lights up too! 

 

A little tricky to see since I photographed it in daylight, but a nice feature to give a cosy night time glow. In addition to my decoration, which could be used as a table centrepiece, I also created the first of a set of table favours made from the caravan die. These are quite easy to make: just cut two caravan sides, then take a piece of cardstock measuring 4 1/8" x 1 1/2", scored at 1" on each side and 1/4/" on each side respectively, to create the open box shape. They are just big enough to hold two Lindor chocolates or similar:

How cute is that?! Both of today's projects are quite easy to make, but I won't lie - there is a time-consuming element, since all of the little pieces need to be cut and glued in place. Worth it though I think - and if you start now, you will have them finished and ready to go when Christmas rolls around!

The key products used on today's project are included in the table below - no visual today. 

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.
  • In a Fill in the Blank challenge, complete the sentence in the Challenge Banner with the phrase that is true for you and create your project using the words you used. Tell us what you said in your blog or on your site.
How will you fill in the blank? What are your favourite Christmas In July projects to create? We look forward to seeing your creations in the AYSI gallery.

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

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Hippest Hippos Snorkelling Birthday Shaker Card TTT 172

by Joanne James28. July 2022 16:00

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at TicTacToe! It's the turn of Team X to host this week and the lovely Betty is our featured designer. This is the fun board that we are playing along with: 

    

I went right across the middle this week with enamel dots/sequins, free and shaker and - surprise, surprise! - another card featuring my favourite Sale-A-Bration stamp set, Hippest Hippos - take a look:

 

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

I couldn't resist another outing with Hippest Hippos and today's challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to use up some (retired) Whale of A Time designer series paper to create an underwater paradise for my snorkelling hippo. I cut my frame and background out of the same piece of paper, so that my scene extends across the whole of the front of my card. I added my stamped and diecut hippo, complete with snorkel and mask - but there is one thing missing in the Hippo Dies set: everyone knows that to scuba or snorkel effectively, you need fins, right? So I made a pair for my hippo (nothing fancy - cut by hand) - what do you think?

I filled my shaker with a collection of green, silver and clear sequins and beads and added a custom birthday sentiment, courtesy of the 'Amazing Phrasing' and 'Sending Smiles' stamp sets - thank you to the talented Melody Hyde for this great Instagram tip. 

Not forgetting the inside, I used the 'Whale Done' stamp set for some co-ordinated stamping and a fun sentiment:

So what do you think of today's hippo-tastic creation? And using free stamp sets too - yippee!

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. 

I'm also linking today's card up over at Sparkles Monthly Challenges where their theme this month is shaker cards and over at Just Add Ink where the theme is 'under the sea'.

A tictactoe board offers so many creative possibilities - how does this week's board inspire you? Why not have a go? We would love to see you in the gallery and who knows - you might be selected for Designer's Choice and be eligible to be a guest designer on a future challenge. 

Enjoy your day; nothing much to report in the James household - all told, a pretty unremarkable week! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.
 

Breaking News Graduation Card

by Joanne James28. July 2022 11:00

Today I have an extra quick post to share a card that uses the Sunday Stamps sketch layout that uses a new stamp set called 'Breaking News' from the annual catalogue:

I made for my niece who celebrated her university graduation last week - my monochromatic colour scheme was influenced by the colour of her university gown hood. Here's my card:

 

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

I added a tone-on-tone background using the scroll image to create a custom DSP (a simple way to add interest to a background and also perfect for SUO Challenges who have some great examples of how to create custom DSP too this week - do check them out), then stamped and fussy cut two newspapers with two different sentiment collections. I decided to create a mortar board using some black cardstock, twine and a brad for the additional sketch element:

 

The sentiment inside is courtesy of Amazing Phrasing - such a great Sale-A-Bration set!

 

I like this set and think it offers lots of fun options and I love the way you can tailor the newspaper with different stamps and sentiments - I think it will look better in a less monochromatic colour scheme 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. 

Enjoy your day and I'll be back later with my card for this week's TicTaToe challenge. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.
 

Hippest Hippos Cooling Off - WooHoo!

by Joanne James20. July 2022 08:00

Today I'm sharing a card inspired by the colour palette over at Colour Inkspiration that used the Try Stamping On Tuesday sketch layout:

 May be an image of furniture and text that says "COLOUR nSPIRATION SPIRATION CHALLENGES #125 Sweet Sorbet Pacific Point Starry Sky Basic Gray"   

We are hoping for slightly cooler temperatures here in the UK today, but as the weather has been hotting up, I thought it was the perfect time for one of my 'Hippest Hippos' to cool off in the tub - take a look:

 

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

Hippest Hippos - Yes I have another hippo for you - my third this week! This time my hippo is complete with snorkel and mask and ready to dive into his shiny foil bathtub to cool off! I love the cute accessories that come with the Hippo Dies - you really can have your hippo your way! 

Amazing Phrasing - Another sentiment from the 'Amazing Phrasing' stamp set; I didn't stamp the inside of my card as I'm not sure which of the sentiments in the set I'm going to use, as I haven't yet decided who will be the recipient of this card and it can be tailored to suit. This is another Sale-A-Bration stamp set (free with a £90 purchase) that is so versatile and a definite keeper - yay for free product!

Bathtub Blues - I wasn't sure about the combination of Pacific Point and Starry Sky on this colour palette, but as it turns out they were the perfect pairing for a blended background for my cute bathing hippo. I combined both colours with my blending brushes, flicked the surface with my aquapainter and then layered my diecuts on top, including some Pacific Point water splashes, which I brushed with Wink of Stella for a sparkly shine:

This hippo definitely knows how to cool down the fun way! I took a delivery yesterday that came in a large polystyrene box. I promptly filled the empty container with cold water and sat with my feet in it for a much-needed cool down - it was glorious and the perfect way to recycle my packaging 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. 

Enjoy your day; my niece has her graduation day today so will be thankful for the slightly cooler temperatures as she dons her cap and gown I'm sure. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Hippest Hippos Hey Good Lookin CC479

by Joanne James19. July 2022 12:00

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. Patricia is hosting this month and this week she has another colour challenge for us: 

For my card today I couldn't resist another of those Hippest Hippos. This time I paired this little guy with a fun sentiment from another Sale-A-Bration stamp set that can be yours free with a £90 purchase called 'Amazing Phrasing' - take a look:

 

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

'Amazing Phrasing' is one of those useful stamp sets that you can use to create lots of different sentiment combinations. I thought this hippo looked like he was definitely sweet on someone, so I chose this sentiment and paired it with one on the inside from the 'Hippest Hippos' set:

 

I went back to a grey hippo today, so with my So Saffron cardbase had to really look at ways to incorporate a little more of the other two colours. In addition to the flower he's holding, I added some pink diecut hearts and stamped part of my sentiment onto Soft Sea Foam and fussy cut it to add in a little more green too:

 

And that's all there is to it - another clean and simple hip hippo!

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. 

As a reminder, for our colour challenges, you must use all of the stated challenge colours. You may also use neutral colours; however, the challenge colours should be the most noticeable ones featured on your card. We use Stampin' Up! color names for reference, but you are welcome to use any other companies' products as long as you match the challenge colours as closely as possible.

Enjoy your day; I got up and crafted early this morning, as my craft room will be like a sauna from mid-morning in this heatwave we are experiencing here in the UK. No complaints here though - I shall be taking it easy and catching up on a good book beneath a fan, probably whilst lying on the stone tiles to keep cool! The weather is supposed to break tomorrow so the temperatures should be easing off a little. Stay safe and enjoy your day wherever you are and I'll be back tomorrow with another hippo project for you. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

New Online Exclusives

There are new products available exclusively in the online store from 5 November - check them out here.

Latest Kits!

Stampin Cut and Emboss

The Layered Landscapes Kit and Nature's Paintings Kit are the latest kits in the online store - get yours here!

Shop Online

Access my online shop 24 x 7, 365 days of the year:

Current November hostess code:

9NKXDTTR

Shop Online

Mini Catalogue

BROWSE THE CATALOGUE

'Tis The Season - the new Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue is here! For more details and to download your copy click here

Scrapbooking

Stampin' Up! has introduced a new range of 12x12" scrapbooking product and kit - the full range is now available to purchase online. To download a copy of the new digital Scrapbooking Catalogue click here.

2024-25 Annual Catalogue

BROWSE THE CATALOGUE

Click on the image to download your copy of the 2024-25 annual catalogue. For a full list of current SU! supplies, go to my online store. If you would like any help or advice, please drop me a line at joanne@thecraftyowl.co.uk or give me a call on 07773 421446 - I'd be happy to help.

Join My Team

It's always a great time to join Stampin’ Up! New team members can get £130 worth of products for only £99 + free business supplies + free shipping + all the fun being a part of Stampin’ Up! Stampin' Up! has something for everyone: join my growing team and benefit from my support to enjoy Stampin' Up! however you choose.

If you're interested, call me for a chat to understand how I can help you realise your goals. Alternatively, if you have already decided to sign up and you just can't wait, please click here for the link to the online form where you can sign up and order your starter kit right away! 

About Me

Hi I'm Joanne and live in Northampton and when I'm not looking after my husband and two beautiful children, am an avid crafter with a passion for all things Stampin' Up!

I must confess that I have never been a big rubber stamper - until I discovered Stampin' Up! that is. I love the fact that I can get such great results with co-ordinating stamps, inks, papers and punches - the possibilities are endless! Join me on my stamping journey as I share the things I love and be inspired to create amazing things yourself!

Follow Me

Monthly Newsletter

Box Builder

Click the button above to use Box Buster to create your custom box design using the Envelope Punch Board!

Kits Collection Now Available!

Stampin Cut and Emboss

The new Kits Collection from Stampin' Up! is now available!

Click here to see the current kits available and order yours online today.

I Design For

 

 

 

Stampin' Up Stuff

This is my personal blog and is not endorsed by Stampin’ Up! I hope you find it a plentiful source of ideas and personal inspiration but please don't copy my designs for contest submission or use for classes, publication or sale without express permission.