Today I have a card for the Fab Friday challenge, but first I would like to say thank you to the Fab Friday team for choosing my in-colour Christmas tree card as one of their winners for the last challenge (if you missed it, you can see that card here). I love the challenge of trying to create something to a brief, but it's even more special when my creative efforts are recognised. This week the team have a great sketch to play with:

I'm also linking up with the peeps over at Stamps Ink Paper as I went monochromatic with a couple of the gorgeous By The Shore papers and a cute coral-coloured crab from the You're Sublime stamp set:

I also used my Layered Circles framelits for my focal point and created a customised sentiment - oh how I love that Labeler Alphabet set! 

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 my post for this week's new challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	You're Sublime Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Layering Circle Framelits Dies	Labeler Alphabet Photopolymer Stamp Set	By The Shore Designer Series Paper
Calypso Coral A4 Cardstock	Very Vanilla A4 Cardstock	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad

Apologies for a lack of blog posts these last couple of days. I've plenty of projects made, I've just been away for a couple of days and then had my Crafternoon Tea Home Decor class yesterday at Bell of Northampton in Kingsthorpe. Along with everything else that makes up day-to-day life I've just not managed to find the time to write!

Anyway, today it's Sunday and time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players so I'm back to it! It's the turn of the lovely Jaydee to host our challenge this week and she has a four colour combination for you to play along with:

For my card this week I was inspired to use the flower-filled wheelbarrow from the 'You're Sublime' stamp set as the focal point (hence my rather compliment-filled blog post title today!), incorporating lots of layers as per the current sketch over at The Challenge:

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

A Barrow of Flowers - This sweet little wheelbarrow stamp is one of the images in the 'You're Sublime' set that I haven't yet used and I these Spring pastels were perfect to fill my grey barrow. I coloured them using my Stampin' Write markers and added a liberal dose of clear Wink of Stella to my blooms, which adds a lovely sparkle in real life although is, alas, difficult to see in the photo. I then punched out my circle with my 2 1/2" circle punch - I'll miss this one when it retires!

A Subtle Collection of Pastels - I don't use Subtles that often, less so exclusively on a card, unless it's a baby card. These lovely ice-cream colours (there's an idea in itself!) work really well together and this card proves when mixed with a liberal dose of Whisper White they work for flowers too.

Uniformity In Layers - I focused on one each of the challenge colours per layer and kept the pattern the same on each of the DSP layers to create a uniformity to my design. Using a borderless circle for my focal image, white matting and a white seam binding ribbon and bow trim, each element ties together without overwhelming the others.

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. We are off to basketball today and then hoping for a little more of the lovely sunshine we've been having here in the UK these past few days and an afternoon in the garden.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

You're Sublime Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack	Pear Pizzazz A4 Cardstock	Basic Gray Archival Stampin’ Pad	Whisper White A4 Cardstock
Smoky Slate Stampin' Write Marker	Subtles Stampin' Write Markers	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush	Whisper White 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon

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 January W2ZHBH2D 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 Envelope Paper	Balloon Framelits Dies	Calypso Coral Thick Baker’s Twine	I Think You're Great Clear-Mount Stamp Set
You're Sublime Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Some great bargains to be had, including the 'You're Sublime' stamp set that I used on my card for The Paper Players on Sunday - if you missed it, you can see it here. Also the Balloon Framelits Dies - a good time to purchase, balloons are very 'on trend' at the moment!

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

It's Sunday and time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players! This week it is the turn of my sweet friend Claire to host and she has a great colour palette for you to play along with:

I love this bold and bright colour palette and actually created a couple of cards with it. One is very 'me' so I saved that for another day; today's card uses this week's sketch over at Mojo Monday and has a rather different feel to it - I think it's the marbled paper! - take a look:

I paired a piece of the Tempting Turquoise Perfectly Artistic marbled patterned paper with some retired heart-patterned DSP, as a backdrop for my colourful little caravan from 'You're Sublime', which I coloured with my inks and an aquapainter (the body is paper-pieced with a piece of the marbled paper on the reverse). A punched heart, some ribbon, sequins and another pink heart topped with an epoxy sticker for added dimension finish my card. 

I love the rather subtle colouring that the marbled paper adds; I am looking forward to experimenting with this paper further. It's available free with a £45 spend until £15th February as one of the Sale-A-Bration 'limited time' offers, so if it's on your list it's one to get sooner rather than later. As for that little caravan - how cute! This card is destined for Gail, one of my team, who is often holidaying to interesting destinations in her caravan. She is about to become an official warden for The Caravan Club so this image is so appropriate and the sentiment perfect.

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. We have a day of sport today, with basketball and hockey in store as we fully get back into the new season. I'm hoping to squeeze in a little craft time too.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

You're Sublime Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock	Perfectly Artistic Designer Series Paper	Melon Mambo A4 Cardstock	Real Red A4 Cardstock
Metallics Sequin Assortment	Many Marvelous Markers	Sweetheart Punch	Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack	Itty Bitty Accents Epoxy Stickers
Aqua Painters