Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's my turn to host - it's Clean and Simple Week and I've made it festive for you:

I am properly in festive card making mode now, so I chose CAS Christmas! Your project can be any kind of Christmas card, as long as it's clean and simple. What do we mean by clean and simple? Your project must:

• have minimal layers and embellishments
• have plenty of open space
• be simple and uncluttered

I used the lovely Kim's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches this week and in contrast to last week's card, today I'm using the Colour Hues palette of scarlet red and green for a traditional festive affair - take a look:

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

For the vertical element on my card, I stamped and diecut a candy cane using the Sweet Candy canes bundle, creating a two-tone effect by using my Stamparatus and inking first the red sections with sponge daubers, stamping then cleaning my stamp and adding the green stripes. For the horizontal elements, I used a combination of a heat-embossed white sentiment stamped onto my Garden Green card front and the word 'jolly', both from the 'Jingle Jingle Jingle' stamp set, which I stamped in red, outlined in green, and fussy cut and popped up on dimensionals overlapping my candy cane.

I added a couple of simple green sprigs and a flat jingle bell trinket tied with twine to complete my card:

Simple, colourful and fun - and I repeated the sentiment on the envelope too for a little extra pizzazz.

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:

Enjoy your day; today we are at home with both of the James Juniors spending the day catching up on homework, having spent most of yesterday out on the hockey pitch (one win 8-1, one loss 5-0 - I'll leave you to work out which score belongs to which!) I shll be cooking, ironing and hopefully fitting in a little crafting too (fingers crossed!) I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

SWEET CANDY CANES BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (48.50)	JINGLE JINGLE JINGLE PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (21.00)	FLAT JINGLE BELL TRINKETS (7.00)	GARDEN GREEN A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	GARDEN GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	REAL RED CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)
BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)	VERSAMARK PAD (9.00)	BASICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (17.00)

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

I thought the icy colours of blue, silver and white would make a pretty Christmas card so I grabbed my Leaves of Holly bundle and used Linda's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches for my layout (I flipped the main images to suit the shape of my main holly label die) and set to work - take a look at what I came up with:

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

I decided to layer a couple of the main holly labels from the Holly Berry Dies, one in dark metallic silver and one in white that I stamped my main greeting on and overlaid them having turned the bottom one through 180 degrees. I added in a selection of holly leaves and foliage behind each, cut from a combination of silver foil and white glimmer paper and interspersed with some blue ones. I created my own piece of variegated blue cardstock by adding three blue inks randomly to a sheet of whisper white cardstock and then diecut a selection of solid and outline leaves from this, overstamping some in Starry Sky ink too - I just love the effect! I added some silver twine and a selection of opal rounds and blue faceted enamel dots to my Starry Sky cardbase, that I had inked around the edges and added some white ink splatters to as a finishing touch:

Aren't those holly leaves just so pretty? I added a second smaller label towards the bottom of my card as per the sketch for the second part of my sentiment - this set has some great combination sentiments which work well with this layout. I also used a larger A5 card base to accommodate my design; I like having a few special, larger cards for close friends and family members at this time of year and this design works perfectly.

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. 

How do this week's colours inspire you? I'd love to know what you think of today's non-traditional holly leaves card - do leave me a comment below and share your thoughts.

Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

Enjoy your day; I spent all day yesterday at the side of the hockey pitch and this morning I'm taking the youngest of the James Juniors to participate in his school army cadets Remembrance Day parade and service - always a spectacular sight and such an important duty, 'lest we forget'. I'll be back tomorrow with another project using some of the leftover pieces from today, so stay tuned. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

LEAVES OF HOLLY BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (48.50)	REAL RED & WHITE 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) GLIMMER PAPER (4.75)	SIMPLY ELEGANT TRIM (7.00)	OPAL ROUNDS (7.00)	SILVER FOIL 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY PACK (9.50)	BLENDING BRUSHES (11.75)
STARRY SKY A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	STARRY SKY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	PACIFIC POINT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	BALMY BLUE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)

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

Giving thanks! With the American holiday of Thanksgiving around the corner, giving thanks is perhaps even more at the forefront of our minds, however this is a theme that works all year round - we always have something to be thankful for, however small. I used Jen's split layout over at Freshly Made Sketches and the first three colours of the Sunday Stamps palette for my card - take a look:

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

I used the So Saffron Gingham Cottage designer paper for my split panel background and added my leafy stamped Cottage Wreath across the split. I inked my wreath in So Saffron and added Cajun Craze to it with a sponge dauber for a variegated effect, before adding the twig wreath in Soft Suede (I stamped this off twice first) and cutting it out with the Country Wreaths Dies. I added a simple stamped sentiment to the centre and decorated my wreath with a bow of (retired) Cajun Craze ribbon tied with linen thread, along with a couple of leaves cut from copper foil and a couple of copper metallic dots:

I could have used the diecut bow in the Country Wreaths Dies set to create a 'cleaner' bow detail, but I decided to change things up and use up some of the many rolls of ribbon I have and I must say I love it - it really brings out the autumnal colours. What are you thankful for - who would you give thanks to? Do leave me a comment below or better still, play along with this week's challenge - we would love to have you join us.

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:

Enjoy your day; I will be preparing for the departure of the eldest of the James Juniors on another trip - her second in three weeks! This time it's a Geography field trip though - muddy fields and rivers call, a far cry from the tourist sights of San Francisco. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

COTTAGE WREATHS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (49.50)	GINGHAM COTTAGE 12" X 12" (30,5 X 30,5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (28.00)	COPPER FOIL SHEETS (4.75)	LINEN THREAD (4.75)	BRUSHED METALLIC ADHESIVE BACKED DOTS (8.50)	SO SAFFRON A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)
BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.75)	CAJUN CRAZE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	SO SAFFRON CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	SOFT SUEDE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Anne Marie to host this week and as it's the fifth Sunday of the month she has a bonus Tic Tac Toe challenge for us to work with:

I used Jen T's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches for my layout and went across the bottom of the grid with yellow, birthday and stitching for a fresh and vibrant birthday card this week - take a look:

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

Hues of Happiness - The Hues of Happiness designer series paper made light work of the decoration for today's card! I diecut a trio of flowers and some leaves and used them to accent a stitched circle that I had also partially diecut with one of the Blossoming Happiness Dies. 

Sending Birthday Wishes - I used the Sending Smiles Bundle to create my sentiment, layering my diecut 'sending' with a vellum base so that it doesn't obscure too much of the detail beneath:

I used Early Espresso for my sentiment as it picked up the brown tones in the flowers and was less harsh than black. 

Don't forget the inside - I added a sentiment from 'Happiness Abounds' and a little extra detail to finish off the inside 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:

Enjoy your day; we will be catching up on tales from the USA today as the prodigal daughter returned from her trip to SanFranciso last night. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

HUES OF HAPPINESS 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	HAPPINESS ABOUNDS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (46.75)	SENDING SMILES BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (46.75)	STYLISH SHAPES DIES (28.00)	DAFFODIL DELIGHT A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	BRIGHTS 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)
GLOSSY DOTS ASSORTMENT (7.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.75)	EARLY ESPRESSO A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	EARLY ESPRESSO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	VELLUM A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)

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 my favourite, a sketch challenge for us to work with:

I saw Ann's sketch and immediately knew what I wanted to do with it - I love it when that happens! I mirror-flipped the sketch on the vertical and this is what I came up with - take a look:

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

A Christmas Shaker - Who can resist a shaker, let alone one that is this colourful and festive?! I thought that central frame would be perfect for a feature shaker, filled with red, white and silver sequins. I made a frame using my Rectangle Stitched Framelits and used one of the patterned acetates from the Santa Express Memories and More Cards for my shaker front: 

I chose some complimentary papers from the Santa Express designer series paper pack in Poppy Parade and a colourful 'ho, ho, ho' design for my frame and central border element to tie in with my shaker frame.

Ho Ho Santa - I accented my shaker frame with a jolly santa that I fussy cut from one of the Santa Express Memories and More cards, to which I added one of the flat jingle bell trinkets using some co-ordinating (retired) festive baker's twine.

Don't Forget The Inside - I finished the inside of my card with another offcut of designer paper and a sentiment from the Sweet Candy Canes stamp set - I also used a narrow one from the same set on the front of my card:

I just love this card - so fun!! The Santa Express Memories & More cards are just fantastic - so useful for cards and scrapbooking alike! This is the first one of the included acetates that I've used; I also love the wood word diecuts too. An all-round, super useful set!

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:

Enjoy your day; we are taking it easy following our early start; I think ironing and an afternoon movie might be required! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

SANTA EXPRESS MEMORIES & MORE CARD PACK (£11.25)	SANTA EXPRESS 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.25)	SWEET CANDY CANES CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£21.00)	POPPY PARADE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	STITCHED RECTANGLE DIES (£33.00)	SPARKLE & SHINE SEQUINS ASSORTMENT (£6.75)
FLAT JINGLE BELL TRINKETS (£7.00)	FOAM ADHESIVE STRIPS (£7.50)

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 fun clean and simple challenge for us to work with:

I used Judy's great sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches this week for my layout and found some wheels on Santa's Express train for my no-stamping clean and simple card - take a look:

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

Today's card really is so simple! I used a pair of Santa Express Memories & More cards to create my fun scene: I trimmed one down for the background then fussy cut my santa express train from another to create my snowy scene. I added a couple of borders, some (retired) Petal Pink ribbon to the bottom border and a few (retired) adhesive snowflakes to complete my scene:

I didn't even have to stamp a sentiment as there was already one printed onto the Memories & More card! These are great for quick cards and the acetates and wooden diecut words that are also included in the pack make this set great value for Christmas crafting. 

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:

Enjoy your day; we will be catching up on homework following another university open day visit yesterday for one of the James Juniors, whilst the other will be recovering from an army cadet sleepout under an improvised shelter and looking forward to a few home comforts! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

SANTA EXPRESS MEMORIES & MORE CARD PACK (£11.25)

PENNED FLOWERS DIES (£28.00)

BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.75)

PETAL PINK A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)

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

I say interesting because Laurie's colours immediately made me think of Halloween, but since I rarely send Halloween cards and I don't have much in the way of current Halloween product, I was determined to use these colours on anything but a Halloween card! So much so, I started creating and ended up with not one but two cards to share with you today - and neither remotely anything to do with October 31st! Here's the first one using Amy's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week - take a look:

Here's the low-down on my first card:

Staying faithful to Amy's sketch, I added a band of Brights designer series paper to my Gorgeous Grape card base and decided to create a nature-inspired watercolour as my focal point. I stamped the echinacea from the 'Nature's Harvest' stamp set in Stazon onto watercolour paper, then loosley watercoloured my image using the challenge colours and my aquapainters. Once I'd painted my image, I added some speckles by flicking my black Stampin' Blends marker across the image before cutting out with the largest circle in my Stylish Shapes Dies:

I added a white-on-black sentiment from 'Art Gallery' to complete my card. I liked this card so much, I thought I'd use one of the dies in the co-ordinating set to try out a watercolour print technique that I'd seen on Pinterest. My first attempt was a hot mess, but taking my learns and a different die from the Meadow Dies set I had a second attempt and like this one much better! Here's the card in question:

Have you ever tried the watercolour print technique using diecuts? It's actually quite straightforward: diecut your flower from watercolour paper and colour with Stampin' Write markers. Once coloured, place the flower onto a blank piece of watercolour paper and lightly spritz with water. The water 'spreads' the ink from the diecut one the blank piece - you can also 'stamp' this piece with the wet, coloured flower (but I didn't do that here). Allow both pieces to dry then add to your card; I cut a frame out of my spritzed piece and then added my diecut flower offset from the relief image on the frame. I added some clear faceted gems and a sentiment from the 'Charming Sentiments' stamp set that, when paired with the words 'faith over fear' stamped on the inside were the perfect words of encouragement needed for a card to send to a friend battling breast cancer right now:

What do you think? I quite like the effect and will definitely be trying this with other dies in other colours. I am also linking my second card up over at Time Out since the sentiment is perfect for their theme this week.

Here are the visual summary of the key products used on today's projects 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. 

So what do these colours say to you - Halloween, or something else completely? Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

Enjoy your day; I'll be back on Tuesday with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

NATURE'S HARVEST CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£20.00)	STYLISH SHAPES DIES (£28.00)	ART GALLERY PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£21.00)	GORGEOUS GRAPE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	BRIGHTS 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.25)	GORGEOUS GRAPE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	GRANNY APPLE GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)
PUMPKIN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	BASIC BLACK STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	FLUID 100 WATERCOLOR PAPER (£8.50)	WATER PAINTERS (£13.00)	JET BLACK STAZON PAD (£9.50)	STITCHED RECTANGLE DIES (£33.00)	MEADOW DIES (£36.00)
CHARMING SENTIMENTS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£22.00)	ELEGANT FACETED GEMS (£7.00)	MANY MARVELOUS MARKERS (£123.00)

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's my turn to host this week and I have a timely theme challenge for you to work with:

I chose Changing Seasons and the arrival of Autumn as my theme this week. With cooler temperatures and shorter days already making an appearance here in the UK, it seems appropriate. When I think of Autumn, I think of the changing colours of the leaves and that was the inspiration for my card today - take a look:

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

I went with a square card for a change and inspired by a similar layout I'd seen on Pinterest, I created a series of layered circles with my changing colours below and a circle of Crumb Cake above that had a leaf shape cut out with the oak leaf in the Country Wreaths die set, so that the colour showed through the negative space:

My ninth and final circle was  where I stamped my simple sentiment, adding one of the die cut leaves, along with a twine bow and enamel dot as a final embellishment.

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. 

I love the range of colours, from greens through to yellows, oranges red and rust - a great showcase of Stampin' Up! cardstock too! What do you think of today's card and what does Autumn mean to you? Do leave me a comment below, as always I'd love you to share your thoughts. Or you could even play along with this week's challenge!

Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

COTTAGE WREATHS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (£49.50)	STYLISH SHAPES DIES (£28.00)	GARDEN GREEN A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	OLD OLIVE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	CRUSHED CURRY A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	MANGO MELODY A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)
PUMPKIN PIE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	REAL RED A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	CHERRY COBBLER A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	CAJUN CRAZE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	CRUMB CAKE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	EARLY ESPRESSO A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)
EARLY ESPRESSO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	BRUSHED METALLIC ADHESIVE BACKED DOTS (£8.50)	VERY VANILLA A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.75)

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

I decided to go with another Christmas card today and spent some time fussy cutting a host of cute and cuddly animals, gnomes and toadstools from my Storybook Gnomes designer series paper to create a sweet festive scene - take a look:

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

If you don't mind a little fussy cutting, this card comes together really easily. I added a panel of patterned paper to my Balmy Blue card base, then built my little scene for the horizontal element. The gnome and toadstool can be cut out with the Gnomes Dies - only the remaining animals require fussy cutting. Here's my completed lineup:

 A sprinkling of (retired) adhesive snowflakes, a simple stamped sentiment from the 'Kindest Gnomes' stamp set and a little stamping on the inside completes my card:

I am also linking up today's card over at Alphabet Challenge Blog where they are currently on 'M is for Magic', so my magical gnome and friends should fit right in!

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:

Enjoy your day; we are having a day of catching up with homework, ready to start the new school week. I managed a little crafty time yesterday so I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

STORYBOOK GNOMES 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.25)

KINDEST GNOMES CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£23.00)

BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.75)

BALMY BLUE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)

PACIFIC POINT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)

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

Scarecrows and/or leaves! Well, I don't have any scarecrow stamps in my collection, so it was punch art (rarely a good choice for clean and simple cards!) or leaves! I have lots of leaf options and I thought the Stitched Greenery die would be perfect for a clean and simple card that celebrates leaves - take a look:

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

I used the neutral colour palette over at The Color Throwdown and made my Very Vanilla stitched leaves backplate the centrepiece of my card. I added a simple greeting from 'Season of Chic', anchored with a couple of leaves cut using the (retired) Stitched Leaves dies in kraft that I tied with a bow of (retired) thick Pool Party baker's twine. Check out that stitched detailing:

I love the simplicity of this card with the neutrals and the pop of aqua blue from the twine. A great seasonal notecard and so quick and easy to make 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:

Enjoy your day; nothing special planned here today - if I can find a little crafty time I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

STITCHED GREENERY DIE (£30.00)

KRAFT 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) PAPER PACK (£5.75)

VERY VANILLA A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£8.25)

SEASON OF CHIC PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£26.00)

SOFT SUEDE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)