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! 

I've been a busy bee this week with not much opportunity for blogging, but never fear! Today I'm sharing my design team card for our new challenge over at As you See It where it's time for a recipe challenge:

I went around the houses on this one for a while before I managed to come up with an idea that incorporated each of the elements, however I got there eventually with the help of the troubled giraffe from the 'Back On Your Feet' set - take a look:

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

Back On Your Feet - I decided to feature the knotty giraffe from the 'Back On Your Feet' set on my card today. Perfect for a get well card, or even someone who's having a rough time of it, this comical giraffe and punny sentiment is sure to raise a smile. A simple stamp and colour with my Stampin' Blends and he was complete. The one thing that I was struggling to incorporate on this week's card was a diecut then I had a lightbulb moment (yes, sometimes it does happen!!) I used one of the dies from the Animal Friends Thinlits to create a giraffe-patterned background to tie in with my tag. Sorted!  

A Delightful Tag - I used the new Delightful Tag Topper Punch to create the tag that features my giraffe today. My trusty Scalloped Tag Topper Punch is one of my most-used punches - great for gift wrapping, customer bag tags and cards alike. Don't worry, this punch hasn't been replaced - I just added to it with another, slightly more fancy-topped one. If you don't have a tag punch, you should really consider investing in one - they will make creating your Christmas tags super quick and easy.

And The Rest Makes Three - Some stamped and punched leaves, Crumb Cake Nature's Twine and my punny sentiment (one the inside of my card it says "Hope things get better soon.") cropped with a rectangle stitched shape finish off this week's recipe board - and 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. 

I do love giraffes and learned lots about them when I visited South Africa on safari many years ago. Did you know you can tell whether they are a girl or a boy by the amount of hair on the end of their horns? Females usually still have hair, whereas males' horns are usually bare from wrestling with each other for the affections of said females. I wonder if this is also the reason for premature balding in males?! 

On that quizzical note I look forward to seeing what you make with this week's recipe challenge when I visit your blogs. Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Back On Your Feet Cling Stamp Set (£20.00)	Animal Friends Dies (£27.00)	Delightful Tag Topper Punch (£22.00)	Nature's Twine (£8.25)	Daffodil Delight A4 Cardstock (£8.25)
Soft Suede A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Whisper White A4 Cardstock (£9.00)	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad (£5.50)	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)	Soft Suede Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)
Smoky Slate Light Stampin' Blends Marker (£4.25)	Crumb Cake Light Stampin' Blends Marker (£4.25)	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Pear Pizzazz A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Leaf Punch (£15.00)
Painted Harvest Photopolymer Stamp Set (£20.00)	Stitched Rectangle Dies (£33.00)

It's Friday - hurrah! Who else is ready for the weekend? Today before I share my card with you, I have an exciting announcement: I am joining the As You See It Challenge Team as one of their new designers! Those of you who follow my blog will know how much I enjoy playing along with the AYSI fortnightly challenges, so I was delighted when the lovely Heather Cooper asked me to join their team, especially as it includes a number of my fellow blogger friends, including Jan Clothier of Thinking Stamping and my faithful team mate over at The Paper Players, the lovely LeAnne Pugliese of WeeInklings fame. So today's card is my first for the AYSI team and we have a great theme for you this week - check it out here:

This one was a really easy one for me - my most-used tool in my craft room (after my die-cutting machine) is my set of Stitched Shapes Dies, specifically my Stitched Circles Dies; I use them all of the time! I love the way they add just the right amount of detail to a sentiment shape and that is how I used it today on my card, based on the current Global Design Project #GDP206 sketch (included at the bottom of today's post). Here's my card:

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

Grandma's House - Whilst lots of the team created Christmas cards this week, not me: September is the month of birthdays in my family with many of us, myself included, who are celebrating. This does mean it is a super-busy time for cardmaking and keeps me working on non-Christmassy things too at this time of year! Yesterday it was the turn of my Mother-In-Law, who is also the much-loved Granny to my James Juniors and has another 2 grandchildren to boot. As soon as I saw the 'Grandma's House' stamp set in the annual catalogue, I knew that I would have to get it - so many of the sentiments in this set apply to our very own Grandma!  

Stitched Shapes For Everything - I used my Stitched Circle to house my sentiment at the centre of the main focal point of my card. I just love these Stitched Shapes - I use them in so many ways (just search 'Stitched Shapes Dies' on my blog and you will get a ton of inspiration!) and think that extra detail finishes off an ordinary shape perfectly.  

A Festive Flower - I decided that instead of just leaving my stitched circle as a single layer, I would use it as the centre of a flower to tie it in with my floral border that is stamped with another of the stamps in the 'Grandma's House' set and coloured with my Blends. I added a punched circle for a thin border then created a bunch of petals using ... can you tell what punch I used? It's actually the Christmas Bulb Builder punch (top marks if you spotted it!!) I punched a few then snipped through the base of each approx. 1cm and overlapped the ends and glued them in place, then added them to my centre to create a slightly dimensional flower. I added a little wooden heart from my stash that I heat embossed with (retired) Lovely Lipstick coloured embossing powder and a couple of enamel dots to finish my card front. I love these fresh colours, courtesy of the current challenge over at SUO Challenges, carried my design through to the inside of my card 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. 

So what is your 'go to' die or punch? Do leave me a comment below - I would love to know what your favourite item is and why! Why not make something with it and share with us over at As You See It too - you can check out the inspiration from the other As You See It team members whilst you're there and see if they share your favourites.  

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Grandma's House Cling Stamp Set (£20.00)	Stitched Shapes Dies (£28.00)	Stitched Labels Dies (£31.00)	Christmas Bulb Builder Punch (£17.00)	Pool Party Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)
Mango Melody Combo Pack Stampin' Blends (£8.50)	Lovely Lipstick Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad (£5.50)	Whisper White A4 Cardstock (£9.00)
Mango Melody A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Pool Party A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Happiness Blooms Enamel Dots (£6.50)

Today I'm sharing a card for the current Time Out challenge using Julie's Mojo Monday sketch:

I liked Julie's sketch this week which has lots of creative potential and was perfect for showcasing some motivational words of wisdom that feature in one of the current hostess sets that were perfect for the Time Out theme - take a look:

 Here's the low-down on today's card:

Believe You Can - The motivational statement on my card today is a famous quote by Theodore Roosevelt. No-one seems to know the circumstances for these now famous words, but there's a lot to be said for the idea that a belief in yourself gets you halfway to your goal, even before you've taken the first step. That is so true - we need to believe we can do something, in order to make success a reality. Of course as I often tell my team without a plan too you'll never reach your final goal or destination, but that's the practical side in me! For now, we are lucky to have this stamp in 'Believe You Can', one of the exclusive hostess sets in the annual catalogue. If you would like to own it, then do get in touch about hosting a Stampin' Up! party - doesn't an evening with friends for a spot of pre-Christmas crafting sound like fun?

Deconstructed Rainbows - When deciding what designer series paper to feature for the panel behind my sentiment, I came across the fun pattern in the Dinoraur DSP pack. Not a dino in sight; instead, a host of deconstructed rainbows! Only me that thought this when they saw this paper? Ah well, the creative mind work in mysterious ways! Remember during September you can benefit from 'Buy 3, Get 1 Free' on selected packs of DSP and the Dinoroar papers are included in the set so if you like it, now is a great time to snap it up!

Scenic Brights - I used the colours in my Dinoroar DSP to colour my sentiment with Blends as each of the featured colours are available (yay!) and for the base and layers of my card. Here are the colours in case you would like to save them for a future project:

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. I have another busy one - so far I've cleaned the oven, finished my ironing, put on two loads of washing and prepared dinner for this evening - it must be time for elevenses before I crack on with bathrooms and escape to my craft room! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Believe You Can Photopolymer Stamp Set (£12.00)	Dinoroar Designer Series Paper (£10.75)	Lovely Lipstick A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Pretty Peacock A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Pool Party A4 Cardstock (£8.25)
Whisper White A4 Cardstock (£9.00)	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad (£5.50)	Pretty Peacock Stampin' Blends Combo Pack (£8.50)	Lovely Lipstick Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)	Pineapple Punch Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)
Old Olive Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)	Pool Party Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)	Mango Melody Combo Pack Stampin' Blends (£8.50)	Flirty Flamingo Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack (£8.50)

Happy Monday everyone! I'm here with a Christmas card to start the week as I've a card for a new-to-me challenge called Christmas Kickstart (thank you Vicky for sharing this one!) that also uses the current Fab Friday sketch: 

The theme over at Christmas Quickstart is to create a card inspired by the challenge blog header. The moment I saw it I knew it would give me the opportunity to use some of the gorgeous designer paper in my favourite suite in the new Stampin' Up! Autumn-Winter catalogue, Let It Snow - take a look:

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

Let It Snow - The weather outside might be frightful, but crafting is so delightful with the fun 'Let It Snow' themed paper. With basic patterns on one side, the other side has collections of glittery snowmen and winter images - this paper is just too cute for words! I used a pattern of tiny snowmen and women in comical poses to cover the whole of the front of my card, along with a striped strip from the reverse of one of the other sheets offset behind my sentiment. 

Snowman Season - My sentiment is from the co-ordinating 'Snowman Season' stamp set. Sentiment aside, the only other stamping is a sentiment and stamped image inside my card and another to decorate the envelope - this card really is all about the paper! 

Marvellous Mittens - I decided that instead of the bow in the sketch, I would add a pair of felt mittens to my card as a final embellishment; whilst mittens feature elsewhere on other dsp patterns in this set, none of my tiny snowmen are wearing them - but given that the snowman in the Christmas Kiickstart header is sporting a pair in festive red, I figured if they were good enough for him they would work on my card too! I added some string to keep them together, just like the ones my children used to have when they were younger to prevent them from losing them; did you do this for your children 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; I have my first stamp class of the month and a mountain of ironing to get through today so mine will be a busy one, along with all of the extra-curricular activities that the James Juniors participating in being back on in full today. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Snowman Season Photopolymer Stamp Set (En) (£17.00)	Let It Snow Specialty Designer Series Paper (£13.00)	Let It Snow Embellishment Kit (£10.25)	Real Red A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Coastal Cabana A4 Cardstock (£8.25)
Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Whisper White A4 Cardstock (£9.00)	Whisper White Solid Baker's Twine (£3.25)

Today I'm sharing a card for this week's TGIF challenge where they have a product spotlight on embossing powder and the team at Less is More where they are all about Metallics:

Metallics and embossing powder were the perfect combination but with three metallic powders in my desk drawer, which one to choose? In the end, I decided on all of them - take a look:

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

I went long and thin with today's card and paired my embossed gold Merry Christmas sentiment with three identical pine trees, also from the new Perfectly Plaid stamp set, each of them heat embossed in a different metallic onto Thick Whisper White cardstock: silver, copper and gold respectively. I added a thin border of gold foil to the top and bottom of my panel before using dimensionals to adhere it to my cardbase. It was helpful that my metallic powders were an odd number -  odds often look better than evens on cards I think!

I have a tip for you when stamping objects in threes: always stamp the outer two first, then the central one; it's much easier to ensure they are evenly spaced that way. 

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. 

The first of the James Juniors is back to school properly today; one down, one to go! In the meantime, we have a fun girly day planned with Junior number two who has another day before she is back too. Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Perfectly Plaid Photopolymer Stamp Set (En) (£16.00)	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock (£7.75)	Embossing Buddy (£5.50)	Versamark Pad (£8.75)	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder (£5.50)	Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder (£5.50)
Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder (£5.50)	Gold Foil Sheets (£4.75)

The wait is over but the day has finally arrived! The new Autumn-Winter Seasonal Catalogue is here - you can download an electronic copy by clicking on the image below:

Physical catalogues have gone out in the post to my existing customers and anyone else who requested a copy; there will of course be a permanent link to the catalogue in the box on the right side of my blog page until 2nd January 2020 when the sales period ends. I've already shared a few sneak peeks and there is so much more to come! For today, put your feet up and browse the new catalogue in all its glory.

And there's more good news! Between now and the end of September, we have a fabulous promotion too - here is also a fabulous customer offer on during July where 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:

I will be sharing some videos during the coming weeks on my Facebook Page highlighting each of these patterns and of course you can check out the projects on my blog for lots of additional paper inspiration. If you would like to see any of these papers up close in more detail, then do get in touch and I can share a sample with you.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or queries. Don't forget to use this month's current hostess code ZFNK46PH if you are placing an order online to receive an extra thank you from me. Back soon with more creative inspiration for you. Until then, happy browsing and get writing that wish list! 

Today I'm sharing a card for this week's sketch challenge over at Just Add Ink:

I was intrigued with the angled lines of this sketch, and whilst my instinct was to reach for my beloved designer series papers and start layering, I resisted and instead reached for another new Christmas stamp set and continued with my clean and simple streak - take a look:

 Here's the low-down on today's card:

Snow Front - If you are a lover of the 'Waterfront' set that features in the annual catalogue, then the 'Snow Front' set in the new Autumn-Winter catalogue will most certainly make it onto your wish list. With similar brushstroke designs and lots of scenic motifs, this set offers great creative possibilities. The stamp set I used for my snow is actually from the Waterfront set - go figure!

A Clean And Simple Scene - I decided to use the angular lines of the sketch as the basis for the structure of my scene. I used a row of trees for the back point, then a combination of a large pine tree and a path in the snow for the point at the front. I decided to make a feature of my log cabin and stamp it on a stitched circle to accentuate it, before adding in to my scene. I really let the stamps do the talking on today's card - I did add some clear Wink of Stella to the tops of my trees, the falling snow, the roof of my log cabin and snowman, but whilst it looks very pretty in real life, is nigh on impossible to see in the photo so you'll have to take my word for it.

A Pop of Red - I used a predominantly neutral palette for my card with the exception of Shaded Spruce and even after stamping my sentiment I still felt it needed something else. I settled for a red bird balanced on the word 'Christmas' and a thin red mat border for a pop of additional festive colour.

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 a day of errands today combined with pre-season rugby practice for the youngest of the James Juniors who is back to school tomorrow. Whatever you have planned, I hope you enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project and the launch of the new Stampin' Up! 2019 Autumn-Winter catalogue - woohoo! Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Snow Front Photopolymer Stamp Set (£20.00)	Shaded Spruce A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Real Red A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Whisper White A4 Cardstock (£9.00)
Stitched Shapes Dies (£28.00)	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Gray Granite Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush (£7.50)	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad (£5.50)	Perfectly Plaid Photopolymer Stamp Set (En) (£16.00)

It's Monday and I'm starting the week with some of my favourite bright colours as I share a card for the current challenges over at Color Throwdown and the Paper Craft Crew: 

I love those colourful florals on the CTD badge so thought it was high time I made another card using my current favourite floral stamp set - take a look:

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

Beautiful Blooms - I just love the 'Beautiful Friendship' stamp set - I can't believe I overlooked it on my first pass through the catalogue. I think it is actually up there as one of my most favourite floral stamp sets of all time. It's just so easy to use. I love yellow flowers, so decided to choose yellow blooms with a side of hot pink for the buddleia-type flowers, with some bright green leaves for good measure. 

And A Butterfly - I 'saved' my orange for my little butterfly, which I stamped in black then coloured with a blender pen and some Grapefruit Grove ink. I have to say I'm not sure about the butterfly having added it to my card - what do you think - better with or without? 

Birthday Wishes - I heat-embossed my sentiment in white on black for a little extra contrast, using one of my current go-to birthday sentiments from the 'Varied Vases' set. It's perfect for cards with a floral theme so is getting a lot of use at the moment. I bordered my sentiment with a thin sliver of Lovely Lipstick ribbon just to tie the whole thing in with my card a little better. 

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. 

We have a day of getting ready to return to school this week! The first of the James Juniors is in tomorrow afternoon for pre-season rugby training - a sure fire way to see it start to rain!! Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Beautiful Friendship Photopolymer Stamp Set (£20.00)	Butterfly Gala Photopolymer Stamp Set (£20.00)	Varied Vases Photopolymer Stamp Set (£24.00)	Daffodil Delight A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Melon Mambo A4 Cardstock (£8.25)	Basic Black A4 Cardstock (£8.25)
Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Grapefruit Grove Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad (£5.50)	Embossing Buddy (£5.50)
Versamark Pad (£8.75)	White Stampin' Emboss Powder (£5.50)	Whisper White Solid Baker's Twine (£3.25)	Lovely Lipstick 1/8" (3.2 Mm) Grosgrain Ribbon (£5.50)

Today I've a short post to share a clean and simple Christmas card using this week's sketch over at CAS Colours & Sketches:

I had my Dashing Deer Dies out on my desk for another project I had been working on and it suddenly occurred to me that the two smallest deer would work perfectly for the shapes on the sketch:

I stamped one on the cardbase and then added a top layer with the diecut overlay (a process made much easier with the use of my trusty Stamparatus), then stamped the second one and popped it in front on a dimensional. I added a stamped sentiment with a diecut floral embellishment, finished with a faceted dot and I was done. It took longer to think about the design of this card than to make it!

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. 

We started today with our very first family 5k parkrun, then had an afternoon where the boys and girls of the James household divided and conquered: the boys went to watch the local football match and the girls did a little shopping and music making. A fun day!

Remember today is your last chance to spend your bonus coupons or take advantage of the current 'Extra, Extra' joining promotion that is happening this month. 

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Dashing Deer Cling-Mount Stamp Set (£20.00)	Detailed Deer Dies (£32.00)	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock (£7.75)	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad (£7.00)	Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad (£7.00)
2019-2021 In Color Faceted Dots (£6.00)	Cherry Cobbler A4 Cardstock (£8.25)