A quick post from me today with a great clean and simple card for the man in your life! My card today was inspired by the inspiration photo over at Fusion and the sketch over at CAS Colours and Sketches:

I love the nautical-themed inspiration photo and knew just the thing to make it work with the sketch - take a look:

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

Blocks of Primary Colour - To keep a 'clean and simple' feel to my card, I restricted myself to a red, white and blue colour palette. These three colours also reinforce the nautical feel of my card. I popped these coloured pieces up on dimensionals to emphasise the diagonal channel. Here's my colour palette if you'd like to save it:

A Diagonal Slant - The diagonals on the sketch were perfect to showcase two rows of nautical flags from the 'Sea Street' stamp set that I still had out n my desk after making yesterday's project.

A Big, Bold Happy Birthday - I finished my card with a big 'Happy Birthday' from the retiring hostess set 'Happy Birthday Everyone'. Such a great sentiment set - I'll be sorry to see this one go!

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. 

That's all from me today; I have another busy day planned with a team meeting and networking event on the cards. back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Sea Street Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad	Night Of Navy A4 Cardstock	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Real Red A4 Cardstock
Happy Birthday, Everyone Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Stampin' Dimensionals	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock

Good evening lovely readers! I've had a super-productive day at my desk today, with meetings, phone calls and admin tasks a-plenty; I love it when I get such a productive start to my week!

Today I have another card for you that uses another of the animal stamps from the 'From Land To Sea' stamp set. This was the card that I originally made for our challenge this week over at The Paper Players, before I remembered the 'clean and simple' part of the brief :-) This card also involves some masking so I'm linking up with Just Add Ink and the colours were inspired by the colour palette over at The Color Throwdown:

I also used last week's sketch over at Mojo Monday - I'm too late to enter this challenge, but have included the sketch for reference. Lots of layers on this one - take a look:

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

A Majestic Marlin - The marlin is another 'From Land To Sea' stamp. I wasn't sure I would ever use this stamp as I couldn't visualise it on a card, but after some browsing the internet for inspiration I decided that an abstract effect with the marlin front and centre was the way to go. I stamped him on Whisper White in Archival Basic Black and again onto a post-it note. I cut the second one out and used it as a mask to cover the one on my card base, whilst I sponged in the sea behind, graduating the colour to emulate light shining through the water from above. I also added some Gorgeous Grunge splatters to the bottom of the panel in the same Pacific Point ink I used for the sponging before removing my mask and colouring my marlin with my So Saffron and Night of Navy markers, leaving the bottom portion a crisp white.

Neutrals Designer Series Paper - I love the scripted pattern that is one of the four designs in each of the Stampin' Up! 12" x 12" colour collection stacks, however I'm never quite sure how to use it on a card. Whilst you can only see a little of the paper on my card, it's enough to add interest without detracting from my focal image. It also allows me to leave my card sentiment-free on the front at least - very handy! - and co-ordinates well with the corrugated card and embossed fish in the background.

I Spy Sea Street - To complete my card, I called on an old favourite, Sea Street, and stamped two shoals of fish on opposing corners of my card base mat and heat embossed them in silver. They remind me of the shoals of fish that marlins are often photographed pursuing in the open sea and add a little texture and shimmer to the finished card.I also carried this element of the design over onto the inside of 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. 

That's all from me today - back tomorrow with a lovely clean and simple card for you, so be sure to pop by! Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

From Land To Sea Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad	Sponge Daubers	Blender Pens	Whisper White A4 Cardstock
Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad	Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder	Heat Tool (Uk)	Kraft 12" X 12" Cardstock
Kraft And White Corrugated Paper	Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad	Pacific Point A4 Cardstock	Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack	Gorgeous Grunge Clear-Mount Stamp Set
Sea Street Clear-Mount Stamp Set	White Stampin' Chalk Marker	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad

It's Wednesday and you know what that means: a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! These offers are valid for one week only. As always, a new collection of deals will be announced next Wednesday.

If you want to take advantage of any of the deals on offer, you can support my business by placing your order online by clicking here or using the link to my store on the right hand side of my blog page where it says 'Shop Online' or with me in person. Don't forget to add the new Hostess Code for October 9JGQEYWJ if your order is under £150 and be sure to make sure that you don't check the 'no contact' box if you'd like to be kept updated with the progress of you order and receive a little thank you in the post from me. 

Here's a summary of this week's one-week only Wednesday deals - click on each item to go to the online store to purchase:

2015-2017 In Color Blossom Accents

For All Things Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Sea Street Wood-Mount Stamp Set

Three more great products on offer this week: In Colour Blossom Accents add a great touch to projects and whilst Sea Street is a favourite stamp set of mine, For All Things is the perfect set to create those Autumn and fall projects that we are all making at present. What better time to pick up a bargain? 

Back later with today's creative project; until then, happy shopping!

It's Wednesday and you know what that means: a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! The same as last week there are more offers than usual, with increased reductions of up to 30% on Weekly Deals this month, although there are specific allocated quantities at the increased offer price; once they're gone, the price will revert to RRP, so don't delay in ordering if there is something on your wish list. Each week items are proving very popular and some are sold out within a couple of days of the offers being published. As always, a new collection of deals will be announced next Wednesday.

If you want to take advantage of any of the deals on offer, you can support my business by placing your order online by clicking here or using the link to my store on the right hand side of my blog page where it says 'Shop Online' or with me in person. Don't forget to add the new Hostess Code for July YMCTDF6N if your order is under £150 and be sure to make sure that you don't check the 'no contact' box if you'd like to be kept updated with the progress of you order and receive a little thank you in the post from me. 

Here's a summary of this week's one-week only Wednesday deals - click on each item to go to the online store to purchase:

Calypso Coral 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon	Eclectic Paper-Piercing Pack	Marina Mist 1/4" Cotton Ribbon	Metallic Foil Doilies
Sea Street Wood-Mount Stamp Set	Silver Sequin Trim	Smoky Slate 5/8" Chevron Ribbon	Vivid Vases Wood-Mount Stamp Set
Whisper White 5/8" Satin Ribbon	White Perfect Accents

What a great line up of deals this week! One of my favourite stamp sets of all time, Sea Street, on offer this week along with so many ribbon, trim and embellishment options - you really are spoilt for choice! The new metallic foil doilies are a favourite of mine and great for festive projects - I'll be sharing some of these in the next few weeks - and in case you missed the White Perfect Accents in the new annual catalogue fort time around (I know I did!) they are great for colouring with your retired Blendabilites or any permanent marker and creating your very own custom-coloured embellishments. 

I have a Wednesday Weekly Deal of my very own for you this week: for every customer that purchases each of the items in the table below (Calypso Coral Seam Binding Ribbon, Marina Mist Cotton Ribbon, Metallic Foil Doilies, Silver Sequin Trim, Smoky Slate Chevron Ribbon and Whisper White Satin Ribbon) online this week (and uses the current hostess code for July UPCSWX2C, I will send you a pack of White Perfect Accents for use on your projects ABSOLUTELY FREE*: 

Calypso Coral 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon	Marina Mist 1/4" Cotton Ribbon	Metallic Foil Doilies
Silver Sequin Trim	Smoky Slate 5/8" Chevron Ribbon	Whisper White 5/8" Satin Ribbon

So what are you waiting for? Get clicking over to my online store - the time to stock up on those embellishments is now!

That's all from me today; I'll be back tomorrow with this week's card for our new challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary this week.

Until then, happy shopping!

*This offer applies to orders placed in my online store between 22 July - 28 July 2015 for the above item set using the current hostess UPCSWX2C only. This offer is personal to me and is not a Stampin' Up! offer. The White Glossy Accents will be dispatched separate to your order during August.

Happy Monday everyone! I have a desk-based week this week and I'm looking forward to getting a headstart on preparation for my next set of classes and getting some projects prepared, following the flurry of classes and parties last week. Today's card is one I made with my Valentine in mind - very masculine and not a heart in sight! - but with a sentiment that I just know will strike a chord - take a look:

Now if you are of a similar age to me (forty-something - I'm saying no more!!) you may well have lived through the era of the American sitcom 'Friends'. My husband and I have watched every episode more times than I can count and still laugh occasionally at the things we say or do that are inspired from this classic television series. One of my favourite episodes is the one where amidst the ongoing drama of the on-off relationship between Ross and Rachel, Phoebe announces that they will get back together again because just like lobsters, who are known to fall in love and stay together for life, Rachel is Ross's lobster. After some drama, it takes a viewing of Rachel and Monica's old prom video tape for Rachel to realise that she does indeed want to be with Ross and Phoebe triumphantly declares "He's her lobster!" I've made lots of cards featuring both the crab and lobster from the Sea Street set and I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a play on words with this one. I chose a simple layout featuring some of the co-ordinating Maritime DSP and used a simple font in Word for my bespoke sentiment. Whilst there's not a heart in sight, mu husband for one will appreciate the romantic gesture of this card!

If you too are nostalgic for some classic TV - or just want to know what the heck I'm rambling on about today! - here is that clip in all it's glory:

On that happy note, I will love you and leave you until tomorrow, when I will be back with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Sea Street Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Maritime Designer Series Paper	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine	1-1/4" Scallop Circle Punch	1 Inch Circle Punch

It's Wednesday so time for the challenge over at Colour Me...! where this week we have a subtle palette to work with:

This week I have another Sea Street card for you! These pinky-peach tones reminded me of lobsters and I had a piece of the Lost Lagoon wavy paper from the All Abloom stack sat on my desk leftover from another project, so I decided to go with an idea that I've had floating around in my head for a while! Here's today's card:

Using a base of Lost Lagoon, I adhered a couple of strips of the wavy paper from the All Abloom DSP paper stack to give the feeling of the sea, then created a mat using Burlap ribbon - I used three pieces, removed the side stitching and frayed the edge. I then took a pieces of Naturals Ivory cardstock and using my stamp-a-ma-jig, lined up 8 lobsters stamped in Crisp Cantaloupe in a grid shape. I stamped the ninth lobster in Calypso Coral, punch him out using the small oval punch them adhered him onto my card upside down, using a dimensional. I finished the panel with the sentiment 'Be unique' and a vintage button threaded with some linen twine, in keeping with my beach/rustic feel. Again, using my Alphabet Rotary stamp, I finished this sentiment on the inside of my card, as you can see below:

I made this card with Rebecca in mind; she will be back at school shortly and as children go, she is the ultimate conformist. I sometimes need to remind her that it's ok to be different and she should be confident to step away from the crowd at times, that uniqueness is something to be celebrated. I just love the Alphabet Rotary stamp for these kinds of one-off messages - so easy! I'm finding it really useful with my Project Life documenting too.

I hope you like my fun card this week - why not visit the other Colour Me...! designers and check out their takes on this week's colour combination:

All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack	Naturals Ivory A4 Card Stock	Sea Street Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad	Lost Lagoon A4 Cardstock
Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad	Alphabet Rotary Stamp	1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon	Linen Thread
Very Vintage Designer Buttons	Small Oval Punch

Time for this week's challenge over at Colour Me...! where we have this striking colour palette to work with this week:

After much thought, I decided that a fun card was the order of the day so I got to work creating another card with a custom sentiment using my Alphabet rotary stamp - such a useful stamp. Here's the outside of my card:

I used Tempting Turquoise for my base, then cut a Tangelo Twist starburst sun and adhered this to my base. I tore a couple of strips of naturals Ivory cardstock to look like sand, then randomly stamped a row of crabs across the front in Tangelo Twist ink and added the first party of my sentiment to the sky, stamped in Tempting Turquoise. The remainder of the sentiment continues on the inside of the card:

Fun, eh?! Let's face it - we all have times when we're grumpy and maybe others are on the receiving end of our less than happy demeanour - this would be the perfect fun apology! The Alphabet Rotary stamp is so useful for this kind of thing - you can create custom sentiments in a snap (pardon the pun!)

I hope you like today's card; why not visit the other Colour Me...! designers and check out their takes on this week's colour combination:

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Sea Street Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Alphabet Rotary Stamp	Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad	Tangelo Twist Classic Stampin' Pad	Tempting Turquoise A4 Card Stock
Tangelo Twist A4 Cardstock	Naturals Ivory A4 Card Stock

It's Monday and today I have a special card for a special day - today my youngest James Junior turns 7! I can't quite believe it - some days I'm not sure where the last 7 years have gone. So today I'm sharing a birthday card I made for Ben to celebrate his special day. I used this week's sketch over at the Paper Craft Crew as my inspiration: 

My card is slightly larger than usual - A5, 21cm x 14.9cm - and features a fun shaker element along with my favourite Sea Street stamp set:

The shaker is made using the surround from the On Film framelit set and filled with fussy cut starfish, crabs, lobsters, gold sequins and some fish and anchors cut with my now retired Oh Whale! clearlit. I stamped the 'Hip Hip Hooray' onto the background before putting the shaker together and carried the sentiment on to the inside of the card:

We have a fun day planned today, including a visit to the cinema and maybe even a cycle ride on his new bicycle if the weather holds! Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Sea Street Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Bravo Photopolymer Stamp Set	Fabulous Four Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Starburst Sayings	On Film Framelits Dies
Starburst Framelits Dies	3/4 Inch Circle Punch	Small Oval Punch	Banner Punch	Medium Window Sheets
Gold Sequin Trim	Gold Baker's Twine	Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin' Pad	Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad	Pacific Point A4 Card Stock	Pumpkin Pie A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Magnetic Platform

Today's card is my entry for this week's Summer Collection challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary where they have the following colour challenge:

I love this colour combo and couldn't pass up the opportunity to make something with it. All of these colours can be found in the new Sea Street designer series paper, so I decided this would be my starting point. Here's my card:

I've been wanting to make a life-buoy on a card with this paper that would enable me to use the new thick baker's twine too and this card provided the perfect opportunity. Using a Real Red base, I then used a mat of Whisper White and a further mat for the top layer in Night of Navy. I created my life buoy by cutting two rings using my circle framelits, one in red and one in white, then cutting the white one into quarters and overlaying two of the sections onto the red one. I wound Coastal Cabana baker's twine around this and adhered it to my card using dimensionals, having first stamped my sentiment onto a circle of Whisper White and adhered that directly to the card base. I then finished the front of my card with two strips of Sea Street DSP showing multi-coloured sailor's flags and stamped the co-ordinating stamp onto the inside card panel.

As my regular blog readers will know, both James juniors are keen swimmers and whilst only Rebecca currently races competitively, Ben is improving all the time as he grows older and stronger and is gaining on her all the time. He often undertakes distance swimming badges and skills-based certifications, so I made this card with him in mind - I think it will make a lovely congratulations card for my little swimmer the next time he achieves a milestone and I like that the card has a masculine feel that would suit both young and old alike.

I'll be back tomorrow with another project and I will be posting early as I will be watching the last swimming gala of the season tomorrow evening. Wish me luck - with the warmer weather we've been having the swimming baths will be roasting, so it will be all I can do to stop myself diving into the water too! Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Maritime Designer Series Paper	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine	Sea Street Clear-Mount Stamp Set	A Dozen Thoughts	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Circles Collection Framelits Dies

Happy Monday everyone - that sure did come around again quickly! I am now officially counting down - 9 days until the launch of the new 2014-15 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue and more importantly 8 days until my official launch party!! You can read all about it here and I hope to see as many of you there as possible. Meanwhile, lots of jobs to do this week, the first of which is to share today's card.

I used this week's sketch layout over at Pals Paper Arts today along with the colour palette over at Create with Connie and Mary:

 I've had the idea for today's card in my head for a while and the combination of the sketch and colour scheme were perfect for my card - take a look:

Having bought the Hip Notes stamp set because I thought it would come in useful with my Project Life memory keeping, I have also found a few other uses for it: the 'oh snap!' stamp seemed to tie in perfectly with the little crab from the Sea Street set to make a belated birthday card. I love these bright colours and decided to let the graphic red and yellow designer papers feature here with the Bermuda Bay as the supporting accent colour. My Banner Framelits made light work of the pennants and the same for the circles around the crab motif, which were made from a variety of framelits and punches. The card is quite simple with a very clean and layered look and I expanded on the sentiment inside the card:

I stamped this sentiment with the new Alphabet Rotary Stamp that will debut in the forthcoming annual catalogue; I love how you can use it to make quick bespoke sentiments like this to add to a card. I'd like to say as a card maker that I never forget people's birthdays, but as a number of my closest friends will attest, that is sadly not the case! Maybe I should make a few of these cards to have on standby ready for the next time I have a moment of forgetfulness!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

* Sea Street - available 1st July

* Alphabet Rotary Stamp - available 1st July

Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Banners Framelits Dies
Circles Collection Framelits Dies	Magnetic Platform	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Card Stock A4 Bermuda Bay	Card Stock A4 Crushed Curry
Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad	Bermuda Bay 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon	1 Inch Circle Punch	Brights Designer Series Paper Stack