Charming Sentiments Clean and Simple Birthday Candles CCS 507

by Joanne James21. March 2023 13:00

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & SketchesThis week's challenge is a sketch challenge and YoonYoung has asked that we feature repeating verticals and a sentiment beneath. Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card.

 

For my card today I decided to go with a collection of diecut candles courtesy of the Sentiment Silhouette Dies and a simple birthday sentiment from the co-ordinating Charming Sentiments stamp set:

 

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

Today's card features the 2022-24 In Colours - I just love this set of colours, as a collection they work so well together, in addition to complimenting other colours too. I added in some Mango Melody for my flames and the diecut 'glow' behind - super simple and much cleaner this week too!

 

COLOUR REFRESH - Whilst I used the 2022-24 In Colours on today's card, today's post serves as another reminder that the 2021-23 In Colours will shortly retire, so now is the time to stock up on any supplies in those colours that you need or any co-ordinating products, such as designer papers that feature those colours. Since Stampin' Up! have confirmed that we are having a full colour refresh this year, you should apply the same principle to all of your favourite colours in the Stampin' up! range. many colours are already showing low inventory or are already out of stock, and as soon as the full details of the refresh have been announced to demonstrators on 29th March, this situation will undoubtedly be exacerbated and stocks will disappear long before the catalogues change over in May. The full retiring list will go live to customers on 4th April - but I strongly advise you to make sure you have placed any orders before then, as those bargains will be snapped up so quickly it is likely to lead to many disappointed customers. Public service announcement over - you are now fully informed!

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. 

As a reminder, for our colour challenges, you must use all of the stated challenge colours. You may also use neutral colours; however, the challenge colours should be the most noticeable ones featured on your card. We use Stampin' Up! color names for reference, but you are welcome to use any other companies' products as long as you match the challenge colours as closely as possible.

Enjoy your day and I'll hopefully 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.

Sweet Citrus Clean and Simple Thank You Card

by Joanne James20. March 2023 15:25

Happy Monday everyone! Today I've a quick post to share an even quicker clean and simple card that I made that was inspired by both the 'signs of spring' inspiration photo over at The Card Concept and uses Judy's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches:

   

When I saw Judy's sketch that trio of circles took me straight to my Sweet Citrus bundle again and the colours and lemons at The Card Concept, along with the pattern on the blue and white vase, I knew where I was headed - take a look:

 

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

I used a Night of Navy card base as I wanted my blue and white patterned paper as an accent border behind my lemons, and went hunting through my stash of retired papers for the patterned paper. It's a little more like a tile pattern rather than Delft pottery, but I think it works. I added a strip across the width of my card, added a trio of lemons, stamped and embossed and cut in one using my Sweet Citrus Hybrid Embossing Folder, tucked in a couple of pairs of leaves left over from another project and added a trio of enamel dots and a simple heat embossed sentiment from 'Sending Smiles' as I was in need of thank you cards:

That's all there is to it - so straightforward, yet the bright citrus colours against the navy and white and the dry embossed detailing make this an interesting clean and simple card. I had more of the designer paper left over, so I used it to decorate the envelope flap too - do you ever do that? It's a great way to add a pop of colour and pizzazz - I like to think it cheers up not just the recipient but the postman 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. 

I took a break from today's household chores to type this, so I think it's time to get back to it! 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.

Clean and Simple Flowering Tulips Thank You Card PP632

by Joanne James19. March 2023 08:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Ann to host this week and she has a seasonal theme challenge for us to work with:

    

It's clean and simple week and Ann has asked us to feature a spring flower on our card. here's a quick reminder of what we mean by 'clean and simple at The Paper Players:

We mean a card that:
  • Has minimal layers and embellishments
  • Has plenty of open space, aka "white" space
  • Is simple and uncluttered

After much deliberation, I decided to use my 'Flowering Tulips' stamp set as I haven't yet inked it up this spring. I chose the lovely bright colours palette over at Just Add Ink and created this really simple card - take a look:

 

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

I stamped a couple of tulips in the same colour as the cardstock, stamping off one of the layers to get a depth of colour and cut them out using the Tulips Dies and heat embossed the stamens in black for a little extra shine. I added my tulips to a matt layer onto which I'd stamped my sentiment and used one of the dies in the set to cut a pattern to reveal colour from the card base below:

I added a simple diecut silhouette border to the inside of my card to complete my design: 

 

Super simple and so bright and cheery, tulips, alongside daffodils, are one of my most favourite spring flowers.

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:

Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN!

Enjoy your day; 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.

By My Side for FF130

by Joanne James17. March 2023 09:00

Today I have my card for the new challenge over at Festive Friday Card Making and Paper Crafting Challenge. I used the great sketch below from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge for my layout and the theme of dots or stripes (I went with dots) over at AAA Birthdays for my birthday card - take a look:

       

The challenge that we are celebrating this week is 'International Children's Book Day' which is on 2nd April. Remember the fun thing is that at Festive Friday you do not need to actually celebrate the occasion; your goal is to simply use three or more items from the inspiration list on your project. This week I used children's sentiment, children (child), bright colours, patterned paper and square and this is what I came up with:

 

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

I promised you another card this week using the 'By My Side' stamp this week and this is it! This time I decided to use the little girl with her sweet bluebird friend to make a bright and colourful birthday card. I used one of the sentiments from the set on the front of my card and finished the inside with a 'Happy Birthday' greeting. I was initially going to use squares of coloured cardstock for my background, but in the spirit of using up my scraps as encouraged by my friends over at SUO Challenges this week, I grabbed some of my retired Brights Collection designer series paper and pulled out offcuts from previous projects and used my Stylish Shapes Dies to diecut a selection of squares, all with a playful, dotty design to create a harmonious background (I've included a link to the current pack of Brights DSP at the bottom of today's post in case you'd like to recreate this card):

 

I love the versatility of this stamp set: sweet images, great sentiments and fun for both the young and the young at heart!

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. 

How does our board inspire you? I can’t wait to see what YOU create! For more inspiration, be sure to visit the rest of the Festive Friday Card Making and Paper Crafting Challenge Design team:

 

Enjoy your day; I have my parents visiting at the moment for our delayed Christmas celebrations that didn't take place due to illness. At least we managed to fit it in before Easter - the James Juniors are very much looking forward to an influx of chocolate!! 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.

Loveliest Layers Double Stencilled Card TTT200

by Joanne James16. March 2023 16:00

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at TicTacToe! It's the turn of Team X to host this week and the lovely Vicky is our featured designer this week. This is the fun board that we are playing along with for our 200th (yes, 200th!) challenge: 

    

I went on the diagonal from bottom left to top right with stencil, flower, sentiment and took the opportunity to have another play with my Loveliest Layers Decorative Masks, this time using both the flower and background stencil and a little fussy cutting - take a look:

 

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

Double Decorative Masks - I wanted to play along with this month's challenge over at The Flower Challenge where they are using floral diecuts or stencils, so stencilled a flower and leaves using the floral stencil, but instead of stencilling directly onto my card base as I have previously, I fussy cut it and set it to one side whilst I created a background using the other stencil in the set. I created an ombre background using the same shade of pink and purple that I used for my flower using my blending brushes, then used my background stencil to apply shimmery white embossing paste over the top. This adds both a touch of sparkle and some textural interest; be sure to clean your stencil quickly though once you've used is with paste, to avoid it drying onto it and proving difficult to remove. You can see the detail of both stencils more clearly below:

Best Family Ever - The sentiment on my card comes from a stamp set called 'Best Family Ever' - so useful for customisable greetings and great value too. I stamped it in Highland Heather onto a white circle punched with my 1 3/4" circle punch.

Online Exclusives - Before you wonder where the word 'retired' was in front of the reference above to my 1 3/4" circle punch, fear not - it's not there because circle punches are back! Well a 1 3/4" and a 2" version at least, as part of the Online Exclusives range that launched at the start of the month. As you would expect, these items can be found under the 'Online Exclusives' section of my online store - they can be ordered online directly or by placing your order with me, but the important thing to note is that just like our range of craft and card kits, they will not appear in any catalogue publications. Purchase your circle punch and see the rest of the current Online Exclusives range in my online store here

I finished my card with some sparkly ribbon, twine and a collection of pearls, gems and enamel dots to compliment my colour scheme.

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. 

A tictactoe board offers so many creative possibilities - how does this week's board inspire you? Why not have a go? We would love to see you in the gallery and who knows - you might be selected for Designer's Choice and be eligible to be a guest designer on a future challenge. 

Enjoy your day; my day has been a busy one, but since I have a Parents' School Exchange Meeting at school this evening, I am being rewarded with dinner out with the youngest of the James Juniors in order that we can fit everything in - what a treat! 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.

By My Side CAS Friendship Card

by Joanne James15. March 2023 11:20

Today I'm sharing a card for the clean and simple challenge over at CAS On Friday which closes today where the theme is 'Friendship'. I also used the sketch over at Hand Stamped Sentiments for my layout:

I decided to use a set from the annual catalogue that I picked up ages ago on a stamp sale day, but still had yet to ink up: By My Side. This is the card that I came up with:

 

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

I love the innocent, child-like images in this set and it has some beautiful friendship sentiments that can be used for all kinds of occasions - thank you, congratulations, hello, thinking of you, birthday or simply to celebrate the friendship of someone you hold dear. I stamped the sweet little boy and his faithful puppy friend and coloured them both with my Stampin' Blends, adding in some ground and just a hint of colour applied with my blending brush and a cloud stencil above the first part of my sentiment. I added a second sentiment at the bottom of my card, masking off to stamp it in a straight line rather than two rows as per the set.

 

I was a little liberal with my interpretation of the HSS sketch, in that I used it in a horizontal rather than portrait format and didn't curve the top of my panel, as the straight lines suited my clean and simple design better. This layout is actually a really good one for CAS cards - the addition of the coloured strip behind the panel is a great way to add a little more colour and interest without cluttering that all important 'white space'. 

I have something different for you tomorrow, but if you like this card I've made another one featuring some of the other stamps in this set to share with you on Friday, so make sure you pop back then.

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; mine is going to be spent playing catch-up at my desk and trying to get organised for the crafting week ahead! 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.

Sweet Citrus Oranges For FMS576

by Joanne James13. March 2023 16:18

Here's today's second post as promised with the second of my cards using Amy's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week.

 

This time my interpretation was much more literal - take a look: 

 

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

The Sweet Citrus bundle was my first thought when I saw the sketch and clearly Amy had worked along similar lines using lemons for her DT card. I wanted to make my card look different to hers even though we used the same starting point, so I went with oranges instead of lemons, a super-bright colour scheme and a fully embossed background, as opposed to designer paper. I just love the texture that the Sweet Citrus embossing folder adds to both the background and the individual fruit segments and the fact that it's a hybrid folder and embosses and diecuts in one pass through the Big Shot is a total time-saving bonus! Check out the texture on the close-up below:

 

I also used a different sentiment for today's card to the one I've showcased on previous cards using this bundle, both on the outside and the inside:

 

This thank you card will be winging its way to one of my sweetest customers to thank her for a recent order.

Completely different to my previous card using this layout, but I love it just as much! I'm also linking today's card up over at The Alphabet Challenge where it's 'Y is for Yummy' - I know oranges are healthy, but they are also delicious! When I was pregnant with my first child, they were one of the things I craved and ate in vast quantities - bizarre, I know! A thank you shout-out to the Alphabet Blog team too for choosing my entry for 'X is for XOXO - hugs and kisses as their winner (if you missed it you can see that card here). 

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. 

Apologies for the lateness and brevity of both of today's posts; it took me 3 hours to complete my school run this morning due to a serious car accident that led to me being part of a road closure; fortunately I wasn't involved although my prayers are with the families of those who were. As for me, I'm running much later than usual for a Monday - but grateful to be here writing nonetheless!

Enjoy the rest of 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.

Awash In Beauty Bouquet FMS576

by Joanne James13. March 2023 15:58

Today will be a two post day as I managed to squeak in a little extra crafting time over the weekend and managed to make not one but two cards using Amy's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week.

 

Here's the first one:

 

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

I don't normally gravitate towards this kind of layout, but I was so inspired by Jennifer Timko's FMS Design Team card, that I decided I would try something similar. So I grabbed my paper snips and fussy cut an entire bouquet of flowers from the oh-so-pretty Awash in Beauty designer series paper pack and used this as the centrepiece for my card, with the individual flowers representing those sketch circles. I backed this with a piece of pink paper from the same pack and a simple white lattice diecut from the Organic Beauty Dies, adding a few white opaque adhesive backed gems to decorate:

 

I finished with a simple sentiment from the 'Sending Smiles' stamp set - I thought this would make a nice card for someone who needed a little 'lift'. 

This card felt a little brave for me as I normally interpret the sketch more literally, but I really like the end result!

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'll be back shortly with my second take on Amy's sketch - a completely different take so stay tuned! Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

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

Silly Goose Belated Birthday Card PP631

by Joanne James12. March 2023 08:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous LeAnne to host this week and she has a bold and bright colour challenge for us to work with:

    

I used the sketch over at Sunday Stamps for my layout and thought LeAnne's colours were perfect for a fun birthday card featuring one of the birds in the 'Silly Goose' stamp set - take a look:

 

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

I used some in-colour designer paper for my base, then stamped my partying goose onto a stitched rectangle and coloured it with my Stampin' Blends in the challenge colours. This is such a fun stamp set, with some great sentiments. I could have made this a straightforward birthday card, but instead decided to add this sentiment inside to send belated birthday wishes:

 

Fun, right?! I finished my card but decided that since I'd only used Granny Apple Green on my goose's party hat, I need to add a little extra, so I hunted through my stash and found these sparkly Granny Apple Green enamel dots so added these for a little extra celebratory sparkle:

That's all there is to 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 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:

Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN!

Enjoy your day; 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.

Bouquet of Hope Thank You Card AYSI294

by Joanne James10. March 2023 12:00

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 theme challenge from the lovely Heather Heroldt:

       +   

Our challenge is a little craft room spring cleaning this week as Heather would like us to use up our scraps - this is always so fun! I had a rummage through my scraps box and pulled out a few bits and pieces and put them into co-ordinating groups to see what I could make. There was lots to choose from - here are some of my favourite bits and pieces that I shortlisted:

 

I remembered the Inspired By inspiration photo this week so decided I would take the stamped bouquet, a leftover stamped image from an old Bouquet of Hope Paper Pumpkin kit, and the thank you sentiments, leftover from an old thank you card kit, grabbed my Stampin' Blends in the Color Dare colours (I went with my closest matches for periwinkle, sage and melon) and set to work - this is what I came up with:

 

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

I coloured my bouquet with my Stampin' Blends and broadly following the Inspired By sketch too (although not quite fitting in a third focal point along my diagonal), adding a piece of (retired) Highland Heather designer paper to a base of the same colour and a piece of white border edging that I also found in my scrap box. I decided to use 'merci' for my sentiment - I often keep these leftover diecuts in all languages because I figure everyone understands these basic words, right? A few added coloured pearls complete my scrap box card.

 

Who would have thought something so pretty could have been created with leftovers from other projects, consigned to the scrap box?

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. 

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

Enjoy your day; I am having lunch today with one of my best friends - a reward for a long week! 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.

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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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