Sweet And Sassy Hearts Trifold Card

by Joanne James19. June 2017 13:00

This is my second card for today (you can see my first one here if you missed it). Today's card uses Cecile's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches:

Before I share my card, I would like to take a moment to give a quick shout to Amy on the FMS team for choosing my card in last week's challenge as her pick for the 'Princess of Clean' (you can see that card here) - thanks Amy, so great to be recognised! This week's sketch was perfect for an idea I had in mind following a crafty conversation with one of my customers recently. Here's my card completely flat: 

 

This is not how I normally photograph my cards, but is necessary for you to properly see the similarity to the sketch because this is what it looks like when stood up - because it's a trifold card!

 

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

Ways With Nesting Dies - I had a recent conversation with a lovely customer of mine (hello Gill!) who shared with me a trifold card featuring a diamond aperture. I had been thinking about ways to use my range of Stampin' Up!'s shaped layering dies to create a similar effect when Cecile's sketch this week provided me with the perfect opportunity. Whatever your shape of choice, you can either layer them centrally or as I've done here to remian faithful to the sketch by offsetting them slightly, which I personally really like. This card is really simple to create once you've worked out the measurements: for the base, you need a piece of cardstock measuring 14.9cm (5 3/4") by 29.7cm (11 3/4") and scored on the long side at 10.5cm (4") and 21cm (8"), with 3 additional panels (one white) measuring 14.9cm (5 3/4") x 10.2cm (3 7/8"). Here are some other shots to show you what the card looks like when opened:

 

And this one completely opened:

 

Apertures are created in the outer flaps and the piece that lines the middle section, and the white lining piece, so that each layer of colour can be seen. 

A Purple Trio - I decided to go with purples as opposed to pinks for today's card - I think I've overdosed on Flirty Flamingo of late! - and kept my card pattern-free in order that the diecuts would have maximum impact. Here's my ombre colour palette should you wish to use it on your future projects:

 

Love And Sunshine Wishes - I finished my card with another diecut, the love from the Sunshine Wishes thinlits set, in white. I cut it from extra thick Whisper White three times, having first added some multipurpose adhesive sheets to the back of the top two pieces of cardstock, for mess-free adhesion - love these! I wanted it to be a little more sturdy as it was only attached to the cardbase on one side. There almost wasn't any stamping - I did add a 'you' on my white panel from Sunshine Sayings, but if you don't have this set or something similar I think it would work fine without. 

I actually really like this card and can see me making a few more using different shapes for other occasions, so thank you Cecile and Gill for the inspiration!

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. It's hot, hot, hot here in the UK so I am enjoying the nice weather from the confines of my office as I prepare for the first of this month's technique classes tomorrow. 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.

 

A Masculine Bookcase

by Joanne James19. June 2017 06:00

Today I'm sharing a couple of cards with you  - the first one for this week's challenge over at the Color Throwdown that also fits this week's masculine theme at TGIF Challenges (and I've used last week's TGIF challenge sketch again too!):

    

Lots of the Color Throwdown Design Team cards were inspired by the whale and nautical theme of the inspiration photo, however I decided that the bookshelf itself would be my starting point - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on this card:

Bookcase Builder - I used the Bookcase Builder stamp set to stamp a shelf full of objects in the challenge colours and finished with my sentiment stamped in Night of Navy on Lemon Lime Twist for some zing!  A little navy baker's twine and an enamel heart complete my card. 

This card is perfect for my husband in this colourway, although I'm sure when he reads the sentiment he'll be telling me it's one for me, given the quantity of stamps I own!!

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 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.

Mediterranean Moments #SIP103 #GDP091

by Joanne James18. June 2017 20:00

I had a little time to catch up with my crafting today whilst it was still cool in my craft room so I'm sharing another card with you that fits with the following challenges:

         

I don't usually combine so many challenges, but having decided on my design using the Stamps Ink Paper sketch that used the scene from the Mediterranean Moments stamp set to include my Vespa scooter 'wheels' for the Global Design Project, I changed my colour scheme at the last minute to one inspired by the photo over at Inspired By All The Little Things and did a little watercolouring - take a look:

 

Doesn't that vibrant Pacific Point blue really stand out against the pink? A warm, Mediterannean scene with a fun aqua scooter out front - the makings of a fun vacation, perhaps? I added my sentiment from the 'Layering Love' stamp set to finish 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. 

Do check out the various challenge galleries for lots of inspiration - especially the wheely great inspiration over at GDP this week!

I'll be back tomorrow with another couple of projects. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

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

Best Birds Go Clean and Simple For The Paper Players

by Joanne James18. June 2017 10:00

It's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the lovely Jaydee to host this week and she has a clean and simple challenge for us to work with:

    

This was a great week for a CAS challenge - I was short on time and the glorious weather we've been having here in the UK these last few days has meant that my south-facing craft room has been like a sauna and not conducive to extended periods of crafting. I needed something that was quick to create so I reached for my Best Birds stamp set and co-ordinating Birds and Blooms Framelits along with this week's sketch over at CAS Colours and Sketches and this is what I came up with:

 

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

Take One Stamp Set - My fellow Paper Player, the lovely LeAnne, has made so many fabulous cards with the Best Birds stamp set (you can see them via the link to her blog below), she finally convinced me that I had to add this set to my collection. This is the first time I've used this set and I'm not disappointed. A pair of birds, a branch, flowers, a great variety of sentiments and an interesting background stamp mean this set gives lots of options for layering and creating scenes, and all with a single stamp set. Thank you LeAnne for being such an enabler! I coloured my little bird to look like a blue tit with my inks and aquapainter - I love these birds!

Add Some DimensionI stamped the hatched background stamp directly onto my card base then cut out the branch and my bird with the co-ordinating Birds and Blooms Thinlits Dies, adhering the branch directly to the base and popping my bird up on dimensionals for a little lift without too many layers so that it still feels CAS.

Texture Without Depth - I added a strip of the photographic Wood Textures Designer Series Paper to the edge of my card which give the illusion of texture and a trio of glitter enamel dots for a little sparkle and interest without compromising the overall clean and simple feel of 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 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:

The Paper Players Design Team
 
 
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! 

 

I look forward to seeing your clean and simple creations in the gallery this week. It's Father's Day here in the UK so we shall be spoiling Mr James today and hopefully continuing to enjoy the glorious sunshine we have been experiencing recently. 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.

Happy Birthday Gorgeous!

by Joanne James15. June 2017 09:00

Today is a special day in the James household: the eldest of my juniors turns 12. I'm not sure where those years went by, although I do know that what was once my chubby little baby girl is now rapidly turning into a wonderful young woman with thoughts, hopes and dreams. So today I thoughts I would share the birthday card I made for Rebecca - take a look:

 

When I came to make Rebecca's card, I knew there were a number of things I needed to include: pink, sparkle and a big birthday wish and today's card is the result! Here's the low-down on my card:

Berry Burst: A Grown Up Pink - Whilst Rebecca isn't a girly-girl, she is most definitely a lover of pink! One of the new in-colours, Berry Burst, was my choice of pinks for her card; I think this pink is a rather grown-up pink and perfectly suited to a card for a discerning young lady. It also has some lovely co-ordinating accessories such as the 1/2" Finely Woven Ribbon, which ties beautiful bows.

Move Over Glimmer, There's A Foil Frenzy Going On! - So I had to include a small piece of silver glimmer paper on my card - Rebecca just loves the stuff! - but the real shimmer and shine comes from the new Berry Burst spotty Foil Frenzy kraft cardstock. With bright, colourful designs, this heavyweight foiled kraft cardstock will be perfect for boxes and I can't wait to start constructing, but for today it made a great base for the front of my card. 

Stacked Diecuts Made Easy - For my sentiment I used the new Happy Birthday Thinlit to create my focal point, cutting and stacking three diecut pieces and brushing with clear Wink of Stella for a subtle sparkle before heat embossing with clear embossing powder a further three times. Effort? Yes. Worth it? Totally!  There is a new adhesive that you may not have noticed in the new catalogue that makes light work of stacking and adhering die cuts - the new Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets (page 203 - you are welcome!) are such a timesaver. Simply stick your cardstock to an adhesive sheet before rolling your thinlit through the Big Shot, then you can peel away the backing and your diecut is ready to stick - no mess, no fuss. 

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'm pleased to report that Rebecca's card received the official 'thumbs up', which is really all you can ask for when you're making a card with a special someone in mind.

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.

Sorry For Everything And Confessions Of A Cardmaker

by Joanne James14. June 2017 20:00

Wednesday already - where is the week going?! I'm late posting my card today as whilst I had it made, I am behind with photographing and have had a busy day today getting ready for a special birthday in the James household - more on that tomorrow! Today I'm sharing a card that I made for the sketch challenge over at TGIF Challengestake a look:

 

This is one of those layouts that can be used in so many ways - I decided that it was the perfect sketch for me to send a message - take a look:

 

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

Sorry For... Everything - Today's sketch is perfect for a split sentiment, especially one that has an extra-large element such as the 'sorry' here. So here's the thing: I might be a cardmaker, but I am one of the world's worst at getting cards sent on time. It's not for a shortage of cards - I always have lots! - rather, it's because I never have the 'right' card and like to make something specifically with the recipient in mind. Trouble is, my cards then often arrive late or the special card never gets made and a belated card is in order. So this stamp set was made for me! I love the large 'sorry' greeting and then a whole range of additional sentiments that work on a wide range of cards when an apology or sympathy is required. I stamped my 'Sorry' in Cherry Cobbler, then inked up the second part of the greeting with my Cherry Cobbler and Pacific Point Stampin' Write markers and stamped it onto my Blushing Bride Banner. I also added the 'forgive me?' sentiment to the inside, that you can see above at the start of my post.

Birthday Memories - I chose the bold red and white birthday patterned paper from the Birthday Memories designer series paper pack for the background to my card. This paper is bright and has a busy pattern so is the perfect background for my white sentiment panel. 

Make Framelits Your Friend - I added a little birthday present instead of a bow to finish my card - take a close look at my and you'll see it's not stamped though. Fussy cut? No - I used my Birthday Friends Framelits to crop this adorable gift from a sheet of Birthday Memories designer series paper. I love how a number of the framelits cut out not only the images from the 'Birthday Delivery' stamp set but the painted image from the designer series paper. This is the ultimate in co-ordinating suites!

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. 

That's all from me - 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.

Glamper Greetings Meets Pick A Pattern

by Joanne James13. June 2017 07:00

 

I've a quick post today to share a card I made for a friend of mine using another of the Pick A Pattern papers take a look:

 

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

The Glamper Greetings cute caravan set was an annual catalogue carryover from the Autumn-Winter seasonal catalogue. I'm glad it made the cut as I hadn't inked mine up yet - and it pairs beautifully with the new Pick A Pattern designers series paper. I added a little sunshine and grass to my caravan scene, but this just scratches the surface of what can be done with this set - there are so many sweet little images: bunting, pies, flamingoes, bats and balloons with which to decorate your little caravan and a host of sentiments to boot - glamper greetings indeed!

As I went to write my post today I had an 'oops' moment; I had originally made this card with the sketch over at As You See It in mind - then realised I had stuck everything down minus the banner! Too late to rectify and since it's integral to the sketch I'm not going to link up but I'm sharing with you anyway - here's the link to the AYSI sketch so that you can see what I mean. On the upside, it means you get to see more of the patterned paper - yay!

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 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.

Pick A Pattern Floral Hello Card

by Joanne James12. June 2017 07:00

Happy Monday everyone - a fresh start to a new week! Today I'm sharing a card for this week's challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches:

 

I kept my card simple with a showcase of some new designer series paper - take a look:

 

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

Pick A Floral Pattern - There are some great patterns in the Pick A Pattern designer series paper pack - an eclectic mix of everything from dinosaurs to mushrooms, cameras to this lovely floral pattern. The thing I love most about this pattern is that the white flowers, with the accents of green and yellow, really balance the brightness of the Flirty Flamingo, which I sometimes find a little intense. Framing in white and Emerald Envy green also helps to tone down the pink too.

Patterns and Pieces - I used the simple 'hello there' sentiment from the co-ordinating stamp set, Patterns and Pieces, for the centre of my floral accent, although I cropped it to a regular circle with my 1 3/8" circle punch rather than the slightly more fluid circle of the stamp itself.

May Flower - I decided that instead of a standard layered circle for my accent, i wanted to create something more in keeping with the flower pattern of the designer series paper. A quick sort through my framelits decided me on one of the framelits in the May Flowers set: whilst not an even-petalled flower, I think it still works to create a flower to ground my sentiment and tie in with my overall clean design. What do you think - does it work for you? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts - do leave me a comment below.

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 time at my desk and housework planned. 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.

Label Me Pretty Birthday Card For PP348

by Joanne James11. June 2017 10:00

It's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's my wonderful friend LeAnne's turn to host this week and she has a fun colour challenge for us to work with:

 

I love these summery colours this week! I almost went with something 'beachy' but instead cased a layout from page 18 of the new annual catalogue for my card and used the Pretty Label bundle - take a look:

 

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

Label Me Pretty - The detailed florals on my Label Me Pretty label were perfect for today's colour scheme; mostly bright yellows and greens, with a single stem of bluebells to tie in with my card base. i also inked the floral sections of my stamp with my Pool Party Stampin' Write Marker and stamped them directly onto my card base for a little tone-on-tone interest. 

Pretty Label Punch Trick - Did you know the Pretty Label Punch can also be used to create mat layers for your label? Here I punched a second label in Lemon Lime Twist cardstock, cut it in half horizontally and added it to the base edges of your label to give a mat border edge. Neat, right?

Ribbons and Pearls - I added lots of 'pretties' to my card today and couldn't resist a twist of new bright yellow double stitched ribbon; the Daffodil Delight seems to tone down the brightness of the Lemon Lime Twist on this 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 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:

The Paper Players Design Team
 
 
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! 

I look forward to seeing what you create with this week's colour palette. Enjoy the rest of your weekend as it will be over all too quickly; we are all out and about today, with one of the James Juniors singing in a choir performance all day and the other headed to his school summer fete, complete with classic car show and bouncy castles and hopefully time for a cream tea!

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.

Daisy Delight And The Daisy Punch Bundle - A No Brainer!

by Joanne James7. June 2017 07:00

Today I've a couple more daisy cards for you - both the same design, just using alternative colourways. Here's the first one, featuring Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Emerald Envy and Gold:

 

Here's the second card I created using exactly the same stamps and layout, simply changing the colour palette - this time Peekaboo Peach, Wisteria Wonder, Old Olive and Silver:

 

 Here's the low-down on today's card:

Take A Strip Of Paper - Believe it or not, today's cards started out as a few designer series paper offcuts; literally leftovers from another project! I had been busy creating a bunch of customer thank you cards with full size cardfronts featuring the gorgeous patterns in the Delightful Daisies designer series paper packs to go out with this month's customer orders, and had a whole bunch of narrow strips leftover. I could have thrown them away - instead I used them to create the horizontal lines for my punched flower to rest on and to inspire the colour combinations for the rest of my card. Waste not, want not and all that!

Buy The Bundle - As my blog post title suggests, you could but the Daisy Punch alone - why would you though when you can get the Daisy Delight stamp set with it as a bundle with 10% off into the bargain? For me the bundle really is a no brainer: it has this lovely daisy stamp that I've used here to add detail and colour to your daisy petals and centres and it also comes with a number of other pretty florals that can be coloured or used for a tone-on-tone look as I have here to create my background. There's a couple of thank you sentiment combinations too. So many more creative possibilities and a great price point at £27.75. 

Add A Gem - In addition to some ribbon, I've also added one of the new faceted gems to the centre of each of my daisies - I love the sparkle these add to a 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. 

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.

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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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