2020-22 In Color Pinata-Style Birthday Card

by Joanne James30. June 2020 12:06

Today I'm sharing another card for the current challenge over at Fab Friday to use some/all of Stampin' Up!'s new in-colors, as I finally got over my 'use all 5 colours' mental block when I saw the current inspiration over at Time Out:

      

I saw that frilly cake and cute pinata cake topper and realised that frills would be a great way to use all five colours so I grabbed my fringe scissors and set about creating a rainbow of in-colors just like the frills on that fabulous cake - take a look:

 

I paired my frills with a simple birthday sentiment, a sprinkling of in-color enamel dots and a co-ordinating Magenta Madness ribbon and bow to complete my quick and colourful birthday 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. 

One final reminder that today is the last day you can take advantage of additional hostess rewards on orders over £200 or this month's great joining offer - if you need a reminder you can find the full details here

That's all from me today - lots to do! 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.

Movie-Inspired In-Color Hello Card for AYSI 227

by Joanne James5. June 2020 12:00

No blog yesterday as I was still super busy with new catalogue launch day activities and making sure that all the bundles were ordered for my online  'Blossoms in Bloom' class on June 15th - there's still time to sign up if you'd like to join me! 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:

 

Like many of the team this week I procrastinated for ages over this card! I love movies and I could think of so many different cards, I struggled to narrow down my ideas. In the end I went with an iconic movie quote from my most favourite movie of all time - take a look:

 

Do you recognise it? Yes, it's Renee Zellweger's classic line when her husband, the handsome Tom Cruise, returns from his road trip in the movie 'Jerry Maguire'. This is a movie packed with famous quotes: "Show me the money!" and "Did you know bees and dogs can smell fear?" to name just two. 

I decided to make a bold statement using diecut letters in black for the first part of the quote adhered directly to my card mat, then switched for 'hello' by diecutting this out of the mat itself and then adding snippets of each of the new Stampin' Up! 2020-22 in-colours directly to the cardbase below, and popping the mat up on dimensionals: 

 

I added a little Magenta Madness pink heart to the centre of the 'o', courtesy of the dog builder punch (such a useful little heart!) to complete my card.

I used the retired Little Letters Thinlits Dies to create my card today, but it's a good opportunity to point out that the new Stampin' Up! catalogue has at last a new set of alphabet dies to purchase - something that many of you have missed from the last one, judging by the number of enquiries I get! The new set is called 'Playful Alphabet' (page 178) and is very similar in size and style to the thinlits I used on my card although there are a couple of great additions: duplicate letters for commonly used characters, such as vowels, as well as numbers and a set of characters, including a question mark, accents and a hashtag - and all for a very reasonable price of £32. As such, this is the set I've linked to below should you wish to purchase from my online store and re-create my card.

I don't have a photo of the inside of my card, as I wrote a personal message in it as soon as my card was made. I know my husband will totally 'get' this card as he knows how much I love this card, but I will confirm I did begin my message with another memorable quote from the movie: "You complete me" - it just had to be done! If you haven't seen this movie and have no idea what I'm talking about today, I can highly recommend it; grab your tissues and watch this little  clip, courtesy of movies.com, to whet your appetite: 

 And on that beautiful note - 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. What is your favourite movie? Do leave me a comment below or better still, make a card to illustrate it and play along with us this week!

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

  • Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D project or packaging   project that fits the challenge.
  • Fill in the blanks with the words that are right for you and then create your project with those words in mind. Tell us, in your blog or on your site, what words you used.
  • 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.

We look forward to seeing your creations in the AYSI gallery.

I am spending this morning in my office, whilst young Master James basks in the glory of CE exam completion and enjoys a 'day of rest', otherwise known as chatting and playing online with his friends, along with virtual pizza night this evening to celebrate. He is back on it next week as he begins what is usually a month of post CE exam fun, not with a week of outward bound activities in the Lake District with his class mates as planned, but instead video production to enable the Year 8 fashion show that they've been busy creating outfits for to happen online. I am off to school this afternoon to collect the 8 foot-high tree that I declined to bring home on the final day of school before lockdown because I couldn't fit it in my car along with all of the school books, files and sports kit and I couldn't believe it would be essential. Clearly I was wrong!!

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.

Stampin' Up UK 2020-22 In Color Club Now Open - Book Your Space!

by Joanne James30. May 2020 09:00

With a new Stampin' Up! catalogue, new in-colours always feature on a new wish list - why wouldn't they? The new 2020-22 In Colors will be with us for the next 2 years and this year's in-colours are very on-trend and co-ordinate beautifully with each other and the other colours in the Stampin' Up! colour families:

 

To help you spread the cost and gradually grow your new in-colour collection, I am offering an in-colour club (UK customers only). It begins this month and runs for the next 5 months, up to and including October. Each month, you will receive a collection of  products for one of the colours, with each month featuring a different colour. You will be sent a reminder on the 15th of the month, and your in-color club invoice will need to be paid by the 29th of the month in order that items can be ordered in good time.

Each month, you will receive: 

  • 1/2 pack of A4 cardstock (12 sheets)
  • 1/2 roll of 1/4" (6.4mm) In Color Ribbon
  • 1 ink pad
  • 1 ink refill
  • 1 Stampin' Write Marker
  • 20 Enamel Dots
  • Eight 6”X6” In-Color DSP sheets
  • A hand stamped card featuring your in-colour of the month

Since all of the colours except Bumble Bee are also available as Stampin' Blends, there is the option to add on a Stampin' Up! Blends Marker Combo Pack each month for an additional £8.50. 

For the month you receive the BumbleBee colour kit, you will receive 1/2 pack of Flowers For Every Season Memories and More Cards & Envelopes and 1/2 pack of Flowers For Every Season Memories and More Card Pack in place of the Blends. Both of these products also feature all five in-colours.  

Details:

Basic Pack Cost: £24 plus postage and packaging (Royal Mail 2nd Class Signed For) every month June through October. If you are local, you can avoid the cost of shipping and arrange to collect. 

Enhanced Pack Cost: £32.50 plus postage and packaging (Royal Mail 2nd Class Signed For) every month June through October. If you are local, you can avoid the cost of shipping and arrange to collect. 

Payment can be made by Paypal or bank transfer (or cash/cheque for local customers).

If you would like to join my new colour club this month, then you can email me to sign up here.

The 2019-20 Retiring Lists Explained

by Joanne James23. April 2020 12:00

 

Following the announcement of the 2019-20 Annual Catalogue and 2020 Spring-Summer catalogue retiring lists, I just thought I would pop by with a quick post to highlight some of the key points of note and some of the things that I will miss the most. The lists are so long (and tiny!) that it can be easy to miss some key points. So here goes: 

  • Stampin' Blends are NOT RETIRING! They will still be available in teh new catalogue (and with more colours too!) but they will be unavailable as singles, only as a Light & Dark Combo pack. They are on the retiring list because of this and the new combo packs will have a different number to the one they have currently.
  • Some of the bundles are retiring but only as a BUNDLED ITEM. Each item will still be available individually, but no longer at the 10% bundled price. This primarily impacts Annual catalogue bundles; for the first time, a number of the seasonal catalogue bundles are carrying forward into the new catalogue as a bundle, retaining their discount. 
  • Some dies are NOT RETIRING! The old packaging and product numbers are retiring. Due to a change in supplier/manufacturer, these dies will still be available but will have new product numbers. 

There are a number of items on the retiring lists that are key items/tools in a crafter's arsenal or that you may be surprised to see depart that I want to make sure you are aware of that are leaving that might get lost amongst the stamp sets, and they are:

  • Embossing Buddy
  • Circle punches - various
  • Glimmer paper
  • Copper embossing powder
  • Stamparatus metric plates pack
  • 12"x12" Memories and more album and page protectors

There are also some amazing bargains, especially on kits: one of my favourites is the 'Notes of Kindness' card kit that at 60% off is just £13.20 - bargain!!

Retiring products are only available WHILE STOCKS LAST, so if you've still items on your wish list from this year's annual or spring-summer seasonal catalogues, you need to check the retiring lists and if they're on it put an order in pronto! Don't forget to add this month's online hostess code: WG4Q4WQV

Hop online to get the latest on stock availability and place your orders. Some retiring items are discounted by up to 60% so these may well be snapped up quickly. 

I will be back tomorrow with a creative post; until then, happy shopping!

Last Chance - The List of 2020 Retiring Products Has Been Announced!

by Joanne James22. April 2020 20:00

 

It's here - the list of products that will be retiring from this year's annual and Spring-Summer seasonal catalogues has been announced!

You can see and download the full list of items retiring from the current Spring-Summer catalogue by CLICKING HERE.

You can see and download the full list of items retiring from the current Annual catalogue by CLICKING HERE.

Retiring products are only available WHILE STOCKS LAST, so if you've still items on your wish list from this year's annual or spring-summer seasonal catalogues, you need to check the retiring lists and if they're on it put an order in pronto! Don't forget to add this month's online hostess code: WG4Q4WQV

If you want to stock up on any of the retiring in-colour items and you haven't already done so, especially re-inkers, I would urge you to do that sooner rather than later as they are always the first things to sell out - please see my earlier post here for full details and direct links for these products to the online store. 

Hop online to get the latest on stock availability and place your orders. Some retiring items are discounted by up to 60% so these may well be snapped up quickly. 

I hope to be back tomorrow with a creative post and an update on the retiring list; until then, happy shopping!

Free As A Bird CAS Friendship Card

by Joanne James20. April 2020 09:00

 

Today I'm sharing a card using the current sketch over at CAS Colours and Sketches:

I thought I'd tackling the tilted panel on this card and use up another piece of old patterned paper (non SU) that I found in my recent clear out that I thought would work with my Free As A Bird stamp set - take a look:

 

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

I did keep things simple for today's card. I paired my patterned paper with a Seaside Spray cardstock base and added an edging with some Seaside Spray ribbon, split lengthways, then added some linnen thread tied in a bow before placing my stamped panel on top. Again, I stamped my image in Seaside Spray onto Very Vanilla and added a little extra colour using my blender pen, but for the most part used the image 'as stamped'. A simple tone-on-tone sentiment onto my cardbase completes the look.

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. 

Today is officially the last day of the Easter holidays for the James Juniors and both are 'back to school', if only in the virtual sense, tomorrow. I chuckled when Ben's timetable arrived with the accompanying note to parents that went to great lengths to point out that we are 'distance learning' not 'home schooling' - if I'm not mistaken, there is more than a suggestion that the children should be getting on with it under their own steam. I'm not sure that Ben would even get to his desk for 9am under his own steam without the rush to join our daily commute, but I am encouraged that once I've managed to at least get him seated at his PC I might be able to crack on with some tasks of my own - maybe even a little crafting, so watch this space! 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.

Important Stampin' Up! News: Purple Posy Ink Pad Discontinued With Immediate Effect

by Joanne James5. November 2019 22:00

 

Today I have an update from you regarding Purple Posy ink from Stampin' Up, which I have pretty much copied for the news release, as follows:

Despite Stampin' Up!'s efforts to resolve issues with Purple Posy ink, we have learned that the ink colour is still shifting over time. This means that the colour is coordinating more loosely than we typically allow with our colours. Due to these ongoing challenges, we have decided to discontinue Purple Posy classic ink. As of 5 November 2019, the following items will no longer be available to purchase:

  • Purple Posy Classic Stampin’ Pad (item 150084)
  • Purple Posy Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill (item 150091)
  • 2019–2021 In Color Classic Stampin’ Pad Assortment (item 150087)

We are unable to replace Purple Posy ink pads for customers who have already received them. However, anyone with concerns regarding the colour shifting properties of their Purple Posy ink pads should contact Demonstrator Support directly to arrange for a £7.00 coupon code as compensation. 

All other Purple Posy products (such as Purple Posy Stampin’ Write Marker, Purple Posy Cardstock, Purple Posy Stampin’ Blends, etc.) will remain available for purchase.

All of Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive ink colours are run through a vigorous series of tests to get ahead of challenges like this, and to ensure colours are accurate and meet our standards of coordination. Purple Posy did pass regular testing standards in time-simulating ovens, but we have now identified that it fell short when it came to actual time passing. The colour begins to shift once the ink has rested in the ink pad for about six weeks.

It is rare for Stampin’ Up! or our ink manufacturer to have such persistent issues with ink; Purple Posy has certainly been an anomaly. We completed full testing on 11 distinct batches of Purple Posy Classic Stampin’ Ink before releasing the current version. We are now confident that no additional efforts would uphold our coordination needs over time. 

So there it is - Purple Posy ink and ink refills are no more. If anyone has any issues with an existing ink pad that they would like to report, please get in touch. Fortunately for us, the other non-ink products in the range will still be available until June 2021, so there will be lots more opportunity to enjoy this lovely colour. 

This seems like a good opportunity to share the latest set of cards that the ladies in my in-colour club received, which were in fact a CASE  of a card made by my dear friend and AYSI teamie Jan Clothier of Thinking Stamping, who made this lovely card a while ago and I liked it so much I cased it for my ladies with her permission - you can see Jan's original card here and you can find a close up of my Purple Posy version below:

I hadn't used the 'Love What You Do' set for a while so it was good to ink it up again. Here's a shot showing all of the cards in the 2019-21 In-Color set:

So pretty - thank you Jan for the inspiration!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project that you can still buy for you to pin for easy reference:

 

Apologies that this is in Purple Posy, but I'd made and photographed these cards before the Stampin' Up! announcement was made. Whilst I did use Purple Posy ink for the blooms on my card, you could colour these with Stampin' Write markers and achieve a pretty similar effect. Such creativity will still be required if we are to enjoy colour coordination with this delicate soft purple from now on. 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:

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

Last Chance to Buy 3 Get 1 Free on Designer Series Paper and Purple Posy Is Here!

by Joanne James29. September 2019 20:15

 

Good evening! I'm here with an extra post today (you can see my earlier creative post for The Paper Players here if you missed it) with both some good news and a reminder that this month's fabulous 'buy 3, get one free' DSP offer ends tomorrow (10.55pm GMT).

A reminder that for every 3 packs of designer series paper you buy from the following selection, you can choose another one absolutely FREE! The papers included in the promotion are listed below:

Don't forget to use this month's current hostess code GJFKFZ94 if you are placing an order online to receive an extra thank you from me. 

In addition, Stampin' Up! is excited to announce that Purple Posy Classic Stampin’ Pads are available to order. These were delayed on launch of the annual catalogue in June because of quality issues, however these have now been resolved and tested. You may now also purchase the 2019–2021 In Color Classic Stampin’ Pads (includes all five of the 2019–2021 In Colors). The relevant product codes are:

  • Purple Posy Classic Stampin’ Pad (item 150084)
  • 2019–2021 In Color Classic Stampin’ Pads (item 150087)

I'll be back tomorrow with more creative inspiration for you. Until then, happy shopping! 

 

Above The Clouds 2019-21 In Color Cards

by Joanne James7. August 2019 20:00

Today I'm sharing a card for this week's challenge over at CAS(E) This Sketch:

 I needed to make some cards to go out with my In Color Club monthly packs and the sketch was perfect for creating a design that would work in each of the 2019-21 In Colors - take a look:

 

 Here's the low-down on today's card:

Above The Clouds - I used balloons to represent the flowers of the sketch. They make for easy two-step stamping, are great for multiples and this set has some great sentiments too. I stamped the flags directly onto some gingham in-color DSP and added them to the largest of the balloons, along with a linen bow to compliment the base card colour and the piece of in-color scalloped linen ribbon that I used for my second flag. 

Swirls and Curls - I decided to emboss a panel of Whisper White with the Swirls and Curls embossing folder to represent swirling clouds. I love the finished effect, but in hindsight it does make this card a little less clean and simple. What do think - swirls or no swirls? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

A Parade of In-Colors - I think the Sea Spray cards are my favourite, but I made multiples in each of the in-colors with the exception of Purple Posy (still no ink availability in the UK, but the latest samples have passed tests so Stampin' Up! is at last in a position to begin packaging and preparing ink for dispatch - hurrah!) - here they are together - which one is your favourite?

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 have spent the day today having a major clear out of the toy room. Whilst this was no small task, the results speak for themselves - tidiness at last! Isn't there something so satifsying about a good old clear out? Tidy space, tidy mind as the saying goes!   

Enjoy your evening 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.

Announcing 2019-21 Stampin' Up! UK In Colour Club - Spaces Available

by Joanne James4. July 2019 08:00

With a new Stampin' Up! catalogue, new in-colours always feature on a new wish list - why wouldn't they? The new 2019-21 In Colors will be with us for the next 2 years and this year's in-colours are very on-trend and co-ordinate beautifully with each other and the other colours in the Stampin' Up! colour families:

To help you spread the cost and gradually grow your new in-colour collection, for the first time I am offering an in-colour club (UK customers only). It begins this month and runs for the next 5 months, up to and including November. Each month, you will receive a collection of  products for one of the colours, with each month featuring a different colour.

Each month, you will receive: 

  • 1/2 pack of A4 cardstock (12 sheets)
  • 1/2 roll of Scalloped Linen Ribbon
  • 1 ink pad
  • 1 ink refill
  • 1 Stampin' Write Marker
  • 18 Faceted Dots
  • Eight 6”X6” In-Color DSP sheets
  • A hand stamped card featuring your in-colour of the month

Since all of the colours except Terracotta Tile are also available as Stampin' Blends, there is the option to add on a Stampin' Up! Blends Marker Combo Pack each month for an additional £8.50. 

For the month you receive the Terracotta Tile colour kit, you will receive 1/4 pack of Woven Threads DSP and Woven Threads Sequins in place of the Blends. Both of these products also feature all five in-colours.  

 

Details:

Basic Pack Cost: £25 plus postage and packaging (Royal Mail 2nd Class Signed For) every month July through November. If you are local, you can avoid the cost of shipping and arrange to collect. 

Enhanced Pack Cost: £33.50 plus postage and packaging (Royal Mail 2nd Class Signed For) every month July through November. If you are local, you can avoid the cost of shipping and arrange to collect. 

Payment can be made by bank transfer (or cash/cheque for local customers).

If you would like to join my new colour club this month, then you can email me to sign up here.

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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! 

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2023-24 Annual Catalogue

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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!

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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.