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

This will be fun! Retired and discontinued products that I've kept - well, far too many for sure!! I used both the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Sketch for my layout and the pretty colour palette over at Colour Inkspiration as both were perfect for me to highlight not just one, but a number of items that I could use to fill in our blank this week - take a look:

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

Now you could be forgiven for thinking that I took my inspiration from the sketch and colour inspiration picture quite literally, but the truth is it was a complete coincidence that today's card features a bunny! I tend to make my Easter cards a year in advance (I rarely make them early enough to send if I make them the same year), so having sent out all of this year's cards, I needed to start replenishing my stock. My retired Bunny Builder Punch is just perfect for the job and it is definitely a punch I wouldn't part with (I kept the co-ordinating stamp set too, although I haven't used it on today's card). There are a few other retired favourites on today's card too: the Itty Bitty Punches I used for the flowers that decorate my cute bunny (I can't tell you how many offers I've had from people to buy these, but they are so useful - I will keep them forever!), the 'Happy Easter' greeting (this comes from the 'Welcome Easter' stamp set) and the scalloped panel (cut using the retired Scalloped Contours Dies). With the exception of the colours and cardstock, the only thing current on today's card is the Country Lace designer paper that I used for my background. It's the retired bunny though that is the scene-stealer here:

Isn't she just the cutest?! So nice to give some retired favourites some love for this challenge - I can't wait to see the things that have made it into your 'keep' collection too.

There's no visual summary of the key products used on today's project today, since they are pretty much all retired - I've added shop links for any product that is current below.

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

• Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D or packaging project that fits the challenge.
• For a Fill in The Blank Challenge complete the sentence and show how you achieved this in your project.
• Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your post.
• Make sure you link the specific post and not the whole blog to the Linky. Use AYSI#(insert challenge number) when uploading to a public gallery
• Please turn off word verification so that we can send you lots of feedback.
• You can combine our challenge with up to 3 other compatible challenges. 
• We do reserve the right to delete, or not consider for Top Pick and Featured Artist, entries that do not comply with these guidelines.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's my turn to host this week I've a theme challenge for us to work with:

We are still some weeks away, but it's always good to be prepared so I thought we could get a start on our Easter cards. I used Karren's super-versatile layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week and set to work. I ended up making two cards - take a look at the first one:

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

Country Lane and a Punched Easter Bunny - I haven't used these papers for a while, but I knew that this pretty floral from the Country Lane designer series paper pack would be the perfect pattern to form the basis of the colour scheme for today's card. I wanted a clean white bunny as my focal point and the darker background sets it off perfectly:

I added a little punched flower to my bunny for a little extra decoration.

A Step Up - Having made my initial card, I decided to create a second one with an extra layer and some tied baker's twine - just a small extra detail but it does add a little something extra:

 The sentiment is from a retired set called 'Welcome Easter' - obviously, any of the current Easter sets could be substituted. Here's a photo of both cards together so that you can compare:

A Little Interior Decoration - Another sentiment and a border of leftover paper decorates the inside of my card:

That's all there is to it - nice and straightforward! I love the Easter Bunny Punch but wasn't so keen on the drawings in the coordinating stamp set but I think this card shows that it works without 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 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:

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

EASTER BUNNY PUNCH (18.00)	COUNTRY FLORAL LANE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	LAYERING CIRCLES DIES (33.00)	BAKER'S TWINE ESSENTIALS PACK (10.25)	MOSSY MEADOW CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	MOSSY MEADOW A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)
MINT MACARON A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	PETAL PINK A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.75)	PEARL BASIC JEWELS (5.75)

Happy Monday everyone! I need to have a productive week this week - my to-do list is long! - this week's post maybe a little short and sweet - so let's go!

I still had the 'Welcome Easter' stamp set out on my desk having made this card last week, so decided to use the colours over at Just Add Ink where I haven't managed to play along in a while (hello lovely JAI ladies!) and this week's CAS(E) This Sketch layout from the lovely Brian King and an altogether different look to create a sweet baby card - take a look:

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

I grabbed a piece of Pleased As Punch DSP for the pink check layer and added a horizontal piece with a stitched diecut border detail before anchoring with my bunny. I stamped him on Shimmery White cardstock in Smoky Slate, then used my aquapainter to colour him in, keeping the colours soft and muted and layered on a scalloped circle.

Now whilst I used the CAS(E) This Sketch layout, I may well get thrown out with this card as I broke my own clean and simple rule here - not only did I add a sprinkle of adhesive-backed sequins, but I also tied the Soft Sea Foam panel with a piece of Whisper White crinkle seam binding ribbon! In my defence, this ribbon is so soft and lightweight, it squishes to nothing (good for cards that need to be mailed!) and I kind of figured since it was a new baby card, a little embellishment makes it special. Not much of a defence to Brian and the CTS design team - if it helps, I used this sketch for another card that I'm going to share later in the week that is perfectly CAS in everyway, as Mary Poppins would say. 

So what do you think - is that little guy sweet or what?! He reminds me of Thumper from the Disney classic 'Bambi', (another Disney reference - not that I'm counting down to a special vacation to the happiest place on earth or anything...) but I digress...! 

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 tomorrow with some exciting Sale-A-Bration news so do come back to find out more. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Welcome Easter Cling Stamp Set (English) (£19.00)	Pleased As Punch Designer Series Paper (£10.75)	Petal Pink A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Soft Sea Foam A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Whisper White A4 Cardstock (£9.00)
Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Layering Circles Dies (£33.00)	Stitched Be Mine Dies (£33.00)	Shimmery White A4 Cardstock (£9.25)
Aqua Painters (£16.00)	Whisper White 1/4" (6.4 Mm) Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon (£7.00)	Basic Adhesive-Backed Sequins (£6.50)

As I type my post it's miserable and raining outside so I'm glad to have something bright and cheery to share with you! Today I'm sharing my design team card for our new challenge over at As you See It where it's time for a cheery colour challenge from the lovely LeAnne:

I used Jen B's current sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches for my layout and decided LeAnne's colours would be perfect for a sweet Easter chick - take a look:

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

A Colour Confession - I feel I need to confess upfront as the eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted I used Daffodil Delight in place of the Mango Melody that LeAnne chose on today's card. This was a genuine oversight on my part (lots on at the moment and having designed my card on the move just grabbed for the wrong supplies!) I didn't have time to remake, which is a shame as I'm sure my cute chick would look equally warm and fluffy in Mango Melody, but I'm hoping you will all forgive me. It does give me an opportunity to point out though that if you are ever put off participating in colour challenges because you don't have the 'correct' colour to hand, most of them - and certainly those for As You See It and The Paper Players which I design for - are perfectly ok for you to substitute with the nearest colour in your stash, whatever the brand. I actually used only the smallest drop of Grapefruit Grove - for my chick's beak and legs - and the same for Poppy Parade - for his comb and also to accent my banner with some gorgeous (retired) Poppy Parade mini striped ribbon. 

Welcome Easter - The star of my card today is the super-cute Easter chick. He features in the 'Welcome Easter' stamp set in the Spring mini catalogue and is perfect for some quick colouring. The set also features a sweet lamb and cute bunny (keep an eye out for him in another post over the next few days, as he will be making an appearance!) along with some Easter/baby sentiments and a few smaller stamps, a couple of which I used to add a little decoration to the inside of my card:

How cute is that?!

Gingham Gorgeousness - Lastly, I embossed my cardfront with my Subtle Embossing Folder for some light texture and interest and used a piece of gingham to make a quick banner using my Triple Banner Punch (so useful!) out of the now retired Gingham Gala DSP. This paper was a deliberate choice, as I wanted to incorporate a little more white into my card. I've linked to the Brights DSP pack below though as the gingham pattern it contains is a good match that is readily available. There is definitely something about colourful gingham that makes me feel like Spring - does it give you that feeling 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 put your creative thinking caps on, why not check out the blogs of the other As You See It team members:

Amy Jasper

Heather Cooper

Jan Clothier

Jane Knudsen

LeAnne Pugliese

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 colour challenge, black or other neutral can be used in outlines and sentiments but no other colours should be included. Stampin’ Up colours are used for reference but colours that are a close match are welcome.

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:

Welcome Easter Cling Stamp Set (English) (£19.00)	Subtle 3D Embossing Folder (£9.25)	Brights 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper (£10.75)	Daffodil Delight A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Whisper White A4 Cardstock (£9.00)	Stitched Shapes Dies (£28.00)
Poppy Parade Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)	Pumpkin Pie Light Stampin' Blends Marker (£4.25)	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad (£5.50)	Banner Triple Punch (£22.00)