Cacti Galore!

by Joanne James13. August 2015 08:05

Today it's time for a new challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary and this week we have a great colour challenge for you:

 

I actually have two cards for you today. I saw this colour combination and immediately thought of cacti and deserts - yes, really! Here's the first card - can you guess what stamp I used to create my cactus plant?

To create my cacti I used a neat little trick that I saw on Becky Cowley's blog here - using one of the Watercolour Wings butterflies to stamp the cactus shape - isn't that clever?!

I placed my cactus in a flowerpot cut out of kraft cardstock with the Handpicked Framelits and topped it with flowers punched from the Itty Bitty Accents punch, with candy dot centres. To finish my card, I added some Tangerine Tango bakers twine that I had leftover from an old Tag-a-Bag accessory kit (you could use white as an alternative). I'm not sure my cactus on this card is quite as convincing as Becky's version, but I love the idea all the same. It's great when a stamp set offers the flexibility to do more with it than intended - and this one certainly does! 

This colour combination appealed to me more than I first thought it would, so having created the above card I then created another - still with my cactus theme, although this card uses the cactus from the 'Yee Haw' set which I understand is now sold out (boo hoo - I love this set!):

I used Cucumber Crush for my base and two of the co-ordinating DSP patterns in the Cherry on Top stack on my card - one for the mat and the other for my paper-pieced cactus, which is stamped using the 'Yee Haw' stamp set. My sky is stamped using 'Work of Art' in Pacific Point, with the sand in Tangerine Tango using one of the stamps in the Sheltering Tree set. To finish I fussy-cut my bright orange sun from the lovely hostess set, Silhouettes and Script, and popped it up on dimensionals.

Do visit the other Design Team members to see how they used this week's challenge colours; there's lots of inspiration over on their blogs too!

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

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

  • Cherry On Top Designer Series Paper Stack
  • Cucumber Crush Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Cucumber Crush A4 Cardstock
  • Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Silhouettes & Script Wood-Mount Stamp
  • Whisper White A4 Cardstock
  • Sheltering Tree Photopolymer Stamp Set
  • Work Of Art Clear-Mount Stamp Set
  • A Dozen Thoughts Clear-Mount Stamp Set
  • Watercolor Wings Photopolymer Stamp Set
  • Punch Corner Project Life
  • Pacific Point A4 Cardstock
  • Handpicked Framelits Dies
  • Kraft 12" X 12" Cardstock

 

New Wednesday Weekly Deals Are Here!

by Joanne James12. August 2015 09:00

It's Wednesday and you know what that means: a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! The same as last week there are more offers than usual, with increased reductions of up to 30% on Weekly Deals this month, although there are specific allocated quantities at the increased offer price; once they're gone, the price will revert to RRP, so don't delay in ordering if there is something on your wish list. Each week items are proving very popular and some are sold out within a couple of days of the offers being published. As always, a new collection of deals will be announced next Wednesday.

If you want to take advantage of any of the deals on offer, you can support my business by placing your order online by clicking here or using the link to my store on the right hand side of my blog page where it says 'Shop Online' or with me in person. Don't forget to add the new Hostess Code for August SCFAMEG2 if your order is under £150 and be sure to make sure that you don't check the 'no contact' box if you'd like to be kept updated with the progress of you order and receive a little thank you in the post from me. 

Here's a summary of this week's one-week only Wednesday deals - click on each item to go to the online store to purchase:

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

More great deals this week - the in-colour blossom accents and epoxy stickers are great deals for cute embellishments but my favourite weekly deal this week has to be the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch - this is my 'go to' tag punch and is perfect to get a headstart on Christmas gift tags, so at the reduced price of £15.75 it's one to snap up this week! 

That's all from me; back later with today's creative post. Until then, happy shopping!

Among The Branches Spooky Halloween One Layer Card

by Joanne James11. August 2015 09:00

Today is Ben's 8th birthday and after my technique class this morning, we will be celebrating for the rest of the day. I will share Ben's birthday card with you tomorrow; I didn't have much time for crafting yesterday, but having received my seasonal pre-order goodies the urge to play with new toys was strong, so I did manage to squeeze in a quick card for this week's one layer challenge over at Less Is More where they have a fun theme of 'the eyes have it' - here's my card:

My 'white space' today is Crushed Curry yellow as I really wanted the negative space for the eyes on my 'spooky' Halloween stamp from the new 'Among The Branches' stamp set to look like something fearsome - did it work?! I stamped my image on the inside of the card in Memento Black ink, then used my circle framelits and Big Shot to cut a hole in the front of my card, which I also embossed with the new Woodland textured Impressions Embossing Folder. I just love this embossing folder - this is one of those versatile items that I'm going to get lots of use from. I resisted the urge to add some ribbon or twine - I know how those lovely LIM ladies like their space - less, is after all more!

My box of pre-order goodies is just fantastic and has so many fabulous sets, for Autumn, Halloween and Christmas - I can hardly wait to get creating so that I can share more with you! I will be packaging my catalogues to be sent out to my local and online customers before the end of the month; if you don't already have a demonstrator and would like me to send you a seasonal catalogue get in touch with your contact details and I will add you to my mailing list.

Back tomorrow with Ben's birthday card and a peek at his birthday cake; until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

*Among The Branches - available September 1st

*Woodland TIEF - available September 1st

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

 

 

 

Sheltering Tree Swing Easel Card

by Joanne James9. August 2015 11:00

It's Sunday and you know what that means: time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players! This week it is the turn of my wonderful friend and talented crafter Claire, to host and she has a great colour challenge for you:

 

I immediately knew what stamp set I was going to use for my card this week - Sheltering Tree - and I wanted to have a go at making a swing easel card to showcase it. Here's my card:

 

The stamped panel is easy enough to create and uses all three of the challenge colours. I chose Old Olive as my main colour, with just a little Crumb Cake and Bermuda Bay to allow the latter to really stand out on the bicycle and border. I followed Amanda Bates tutorial here to make my swing easel card (there is a small correction required to the instructions - step 13 should say 'Line up at 5"' not 1"). She is a real whizz with fancy folds! I used two of the Old Olive patterns in the Pretty Petals DSP to decorate my card. The nice thing about this card is that it folds completely flat for mailing, so long as you keep the embellishments to a minimum as I have here:

 

I hope you like today's card. 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
Anne Marie Hile - on leave
 
 
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 three challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN! 

I look forward to seeing how you use Claire's chosen challenge colours on your cards in the gallery this week. This is a birthday weekend for us: the youngest of my James juniors will be 8 on Tuesday so following yesterday's birthday sleepover, today we will be continuing our birthday celebrations. 

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.
 

Lots Of Joy Christmas Card

by Joanne James8. August 2015 22:11

I'm here with a quick post featuring the next Christmas card I promised featuring the Lots of Joy stamp set that can be found in the annual catalogue. I used this week's sketch over at The Paper Craft Crew as my starting point for this card:

PCCCS105-159-018-2

Again I combined the stamp set with some of the Merry Moments DSP, this time choosing the lovely plaid pattern that echoes the pattern of the tree:

I used the fun postage stamp-style stamp for two of my three squares down the side, so easily punched out with the 1" square punch, with the final one featuring the second part of my sentiment - I selectively inked the sentiment twice and then banner-cut the other piece and layered it underneath. Lovely traditional Christmas colours on this card and I think the plaid gives it quite a modern feel.

That's all from me today - come back tomorrow when we will have a new challenge over at The Paper Players and the lovely Claire will be the hostess. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

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

 

Lots of Joy Bauble Christmas Card

by Joanne James6. August 2015 08:05

Today it's time for a new challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary and this week we have a great sketch challenge for you:

Having placed my pre-order for items from the forthcoming Autumn-Winter seasonal catalogue this week, I am totally in the Christmas groove. My new goodies haven't arrived yet, but luckily for me the annual catalogue now has a Christmas section again, so that's where I went for some supplies for today's card. Here's my card: 

 

I used the new set 'Lots of Joy' and combined this with the lovely 'Merry Moments' DSP. I took the three diagonal stripes as inspiration for my card rather than literally - this paper has a lovely stripe pattern of varying thicknesses, so I think it works quite well. I stamped my bauble twice, once in Real Red and once in Smoky Slate, then cut the bauble top from the Smoky Slate one and adhered it behind my red bauble, before adding a silver ribbon bow. I stamped my sentiment in Real Red, then decided to paper-piece the little Christmas tree over the top in Old Olive - here's a close up photo so that you can see it in more detail:

This was quite easy to do - I simply stamped the sentiment again on a scrap of green cardstock, snipped out the tree and reversed it before adhering to my card. The pencil-thin stripe in the DSP is Old Olive and this was a great way to bring a little green into my predominantly red and grey coloured card. I hope you like today's card - I have another Christmas card using the same set to share with you tomorrow! Do visit the other Design Team members to see how they used this week's sketch; there's lots of inspiration over on their blogs too!

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another Christmas project; until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

  • Lots Of Joy Wood-Mount Stamp Set
  • Merry Moments Designer Series Paper
  • 1" Circle Punch
  • Silver 1/8" Ribbon
  • Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Real Red A4 Cardstock
  • Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Smoky Slate A4 Cardstock
  • Whisper White A4 Cardstock
  • Old Olive A4 Cardstock

 

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Cards | Shop Online | Stamping

Amazing Birthday Clean And Simple Birthday Card

by Joanne James5. August 2015 21:49

Just time for a super-quick creative post today; I've had a busy week so far, with the first of my monthly technique classes and the school holidays keeping me busy, but I managed to squeeze in a half hour of crafting time this evening and came up with the following card for a couple of challenges:

CYCI#80   

I loved the colours over at Colour Q this week and whilst I was immediately inspired by that floral apron in the inspiration picture, when I saw the sketch at Can You Case It I ended up going in quite a different direction:

A CAS birthday card using the Amazing Birthday stamp set! I chose to use Bermuda Bay as my base colour, and added the other colours in (Hello Honey is not a favourite of mine, so I wanted to use it sparingly). I also substituted Peach Parfait (before my time, I'm afraid!) with Tangelo Twist. Some simple stamping, punching and snipping, along with a heat-embossed 'birthday' and some white baker's twine, and done! All accompanied by my dear husband and 10 year old attempting everything from 'She'll be coming 'round the mountain' to the Eastenders theme tune on the piano - an interesting melody when you're trying to be creative!

Back tomorrow with my card for this week's challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary; until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

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

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Cards | Stamping

New Wednesday Weekly Deals Are Here!

by Joanne James5. August 2015 21:06

It's Wednesday and you know what that means: a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! The same as last week there are more offers than usual, with increased reductions of up to 30% on Weekly Deals this month, although there are specific allocated quantities at the increased offer price; once they're gone, the price will revert to RRP, so don't delay in ordering if there is something on your wish list. Each week items are proving very popular and some are sold out within a couple of days of the offers being published. As always, a new collection of deals will be announced next Wednesday.

If you want to take advantage of any of the deals on offer, you can support my business by placing your order online by clicking here or using the link to my store on the right hand side of my blog page where it says 'Shop Online' or with me in person. Don't forget to add the new Hostess Code for August SCFAMEG2 if your order is under £150 and be sure to make sure that you don't check the 'no contact' box if you'd like to be kept updated with the progress of you order and receive a little thank you in the post from me. 

Here's a summary of this week's one-week only Wednesday deals - click on each item to go to the online store to purchase:

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

Not quite as many deals to be had this week, but those that are there are all good! The must-have has to be the Envelope Punch Board; I know they have been featured several times, but at £13.50 this truly is a bargain! The Metric Scoring Plate is a great deal too; it makes light work of scoring card blanks and is a great deal at only £8.25.

So what are you waiting for? Get clicking over to my online store!

I'll be back later with a quick creative post. Until then, happy shopping!

Age Awareness Meets Cherry On Top Square Birthday Card

by Joanne James2. August 2015 11:00

It's Sunday and you know what that means: time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players! This week it is the turn of my fellow Brit, the lovely Jaydee, to host and she has a fun theme challenge for you:

    

Yes - square cards! It's always fun to create a square card for a change - when I saw this week's challenge I knew exactly where I wanted to start: the striped paper in the Cherry On Top stack was calling my name! I'm also linking up with the Friday Mashup where the challenge this week is also square cards, although obviously given my paper choice I decided not to go for the 'mashup' and use the colours over there too. Here's my card:

 

Now the pattern I chose actually has an off-centre point (check out your paper stack to see what I mean!) so I chose to cut my square of DSP square so that the lines all came together in the centre. I chose to use the 'happy' and 'birthday' sentiments from the 'Age Awareness' set as the focal point for my card - I like the contrasting swirls combined with the lined detail, which I infilled with my Stampin' Write markers in the colours that co-ordinated with the striped paper. To balance my sentiment in the square I also included a couple of the swirls across the top, which I joined together using a Crushed Curry Candy Dot. I simply measured my mats and layers and cut them with my trimmer, but you could always use your Square Framelits to make it easier if you prefer. A great clean and layered card and I love the way the striped paper draws your eye to the sentiment. A colourful custom envelope in Watermelon Wonder completes my card!

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
Anne Marie Hile - on leave
 
 
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 three challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN! 

One of the reasons people avoid making a square card is that it often calls for a bespoke envelope. Don't forget about your Envelope Punch Board! Along with the gorgeous new Envelope Paper in the annual catalogue, and my Envelope Expert tool of course, there is no excuse to not make perfectly customised square envelopes (or rectangular for that matter!) every time. No fuss, no wastage, no guesswork required - if you're not already a fan, check out my free Envelope Expert tool today!

I look forward to seeing how you interpret Jaydee's fun challenge and seeing all your square creations in the gallery this week. As you read this I will be flying high somewhere above Europe, on my way back to the rather wetter climes of the UK. Don't worry - I'm doing my best to bring the sunshine back with me everyone! Enjoy the rest of your weekend, however you choose to spend it.

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.

5 Reasons To Buy The Perpetual Calendar Kit - You Know You Want To!

by Joanne James1. August 2015 15:00

Today I want to share one of the fabulous kits that was first introduced with the Spring Summer seasonal catalogue earlier this year and has since been carried over into the main catalogue: the Perpetual Birthday Calendar kit. Now I'm a big fan of kits for a number of reasons:

  1. I think they make great gifts, for crafters and non-crafters alike
  2. Combine with a stamp set, glue and an ink pad or two, they contain everything you need to complete your project - including step-by-step instructions
  3. They are great for travelling and 'crafting on the go'
  4. They are great for the time-strapped crafter - you can complete a whole project or significant number of cards in a short space of time
  5. For someone like me, who uses a lot of creative energy designing my own cards and classes for others, they can be truly relaxing - little thought required!

I spent a pleasurable afternoon with my good friend and downline Barbara recently and we made up our kits together. Here's a quick photograph of the front of my finished calendar:

And here are some great photos courtesy of Stampin' Up! that show firstly everything that you get in the box:

Perpetual Birthday Calendar Project Kit by Stampin' Up!

And secondly what some of the other months look like completed:

There are more than enough bits and pieces to make the kit (SU! kits are very generous and usually have plenty of spares leftover!) and the nice thing about this kit is that the box can be used as a giftbox, with ribbon to finish, so if you didnt want to gift the actual kit to someone to make, you could have all the fun of making it and then gift the finished article to someone - win, win! And who doesn't need a birthday calendar?? (Or are you all so much better at remembering birthdays than I am?!) The co-ordinating stamp set is also great for creating quick and easy cards and notelets too, either on its own of combined with other sets. 

If you needed further convincing, watch this great little video from Stampin' Up! that demonstrates just what a great kit this is:

I really recommend you watch the video before commencing this project as the written instructions are quite small and it also gives lots of hints and tips about putting the project together. Alternatively, you can contact me to express an interest in attending my next project class for this calendar kit or arrange for to hold a private class for you in your home with a group of friends - I'll bring the ink, stamps, adhesives and kits and we can spend a fun few hours putting them together!

That's all from me today - back tomorrow with a new challenge over at The Paper Players. 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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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.