It's a wet and miserable day here in the UK but I've been to the gym and am raring to go! Today I'm sharing a card that was inspired by a couple of challenges: 

That mood board at Just Us Girls looked so inviting and actually was just what I needed to help me with the current SUO Challenges CASE The Catalogue Challenge - take a look at what I came up with and I'll explain all:

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

I've had this Cable Knit embossing folder for ages, but I rarely use it - that inspo photo at Just Us Girls gave me the perfect opportunity though to make it the main base for my card - isn't it great? I inked up one of the leaves in the retired Gorgeous Leaves bundle with a mix of warm yellows and browns to tuck in behind my mug - and I even managed to find a stamp with a 'Boo' and a tiny ghost (from the retired Thinking Thanks & Peace stamp set) to decorate the aperture on the mug:

I also took the opportunity to CASE the card on the left of the SUO Challenge photo.  I focused on the layout and the various elements: an embossed background, a panel of DSP and a banner with ribbon trim, along with two elements and a sentiment on a circle tucked behind - I actually used one of the stamps in the retired 'Warm Hugs' stamp set which complements the overall theme of my card. Finally a sprinkle of enamel dots complete my cosy card.

Another of those cards that makes the most of retired bits and pieces and not quite my usual style, but it was fun to make for sure.

Enjoy your day; I am meeting one of my besties for coffee this afternoon - we haven't see each other for a few months, so have lots to catch up on - then I'm off to the theatre tonight to see the comedian Sir Lenny Henry, which will I'm sure be a show full of laughs! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Happy Monday everyone! Today I'm sharing a card that I made using Jen T's great sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches:

I actually made this card a couple of days ago, but it's taken me until now to get around to sharing with you. Firstly, take a look at my card:

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

This is a great layout from Jen that is wide open to interpretation. I kept things really simple though because I wanted to use it to showcase a new Press & Foil Glimmer plate that I got from  Spellbinders called 'Thanks in Bloom'. Yes, I have joined the hot foil fan club! And for anyone reading this who is also slow to the party like me, be warned - it's addictive! I foiled my plate in gold onto a Melon Mambo card base (my favourite pink) - it's so exciting when you peel back the foil sheet and see the foiled image beneath. I also decided to foil my sentiment in gold onto pink so that it would blend in; I trimmed it and popped it up on dimensionals to complete my card:

I do have a bonus second card to share with you today; I used my reverse hot foil plate to add the negative image on the foil sheet to another piece of cardstock (this time I used Berry Burst) to make a second card from the same print and added the sentiment in the same place:

This one is even more tricky to photograph due to all of that shiny gold - you can see some of the detail (along with the reflection of my lamp!) in the close up below:

I'm not sure I will do this every time, as in the words of my dear husband it is a 'little bit too gold' I think, but it was fun to try it out for the first time.

Right, I'm racing off to the FMS gallery and then I need to get a little more organised with my remaining blog posts for the week!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

UK/IE STAMPIN' HOT FOIL SYSTEM & CRAFT CLASS (£149.00)

REVERSE HOT FOIL DIE (£26.00)

GOLD STAMPIN' HOT FOIL ROLLS (£11.25)

MELON MAMBO A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)

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

Autumn - the season of turning leaves, pumpkins, acorns and more! I decided to feature a pumpkin on my clean and simple card today and took my inspiration from a number of other challenges too (I think 4 including our own must be a record!) - take a look:

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

I thought those patterned pumpkins in the Inspired By photo were really pretty, so I searched through my vast collection of patterned papers and came up with this pretty pattern from the Petals & Paisley DSP and grabbed my Pick A Pumpkin Dies for a little paper piecing - perfect for the challenge over at Just Add Ink this week. Since this is Clean and Simple Week - minimal layers and embellishments, uncluttered design, lots of white space - I added nothing more than a tiny leaf and twine bow, and a simple diecut sentiment (Blessings Dies from My Favourite Things) to complete my card:

Since I chose to feature a pumpkin on my card, I'm also linking up over at Addicted to CAS where the code word is 'pumpkin'. No traditional orange for me, but these warm colours definitely remind me of autumn. 

Another card that features lots of retired bits and pieces from my collection - it is fun to revisit old favourites!

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 the Mother-In-Law out for the day so will be wrapping up warm - winter temperatures arrived yesterday with a vengenace! I got lots of crafting done yesterday though, so I'll be back tomorrow with another project - I've lots to share this week. Until then, happy stampin'!

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. Suzy is hosting this month and our first challenge is a colour challenge: 

These colours are so perfect for fall and my card today is super simple and oh-so-quick to create - take a look:

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

I actually had the retired 'Cheer All Year' stamp set and these punched shapes out on my desk having completed another card and when I realised the shapes were in the challenge colours, I knew I had to use them up on today's card. When I saw the challenge prompt at Inspired By, it wasn't the mugs that caught my eye, but the piece of home decor on the top shelf. I stamped my autumn sentiment in Cajun Craze and added my leaves and acorn above on dimensionals:

And that was it - so simple! I used a Very Vanilla base instead of white for a change, as I think the warmer tone seems to suit fall cards better - what do you think? I didn't even add any embellishments - a real exercise in restraint today!!

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! colour 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 be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

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

I say 'interesting' ... I could not initially work out what to do with these colours! Then I decided they might work for a card I wanted to make to welcome a new puppy addition - take a look:

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

Puppy Love - My crafty friend Elizabeth is soon to welcome a new puppy: his name is Beau and he is adorable! He is already a couple of months old, but he won't be moving in with Elizabeth for another couple of months yet. I immediately wanted to include the puppies from 'Cutest Crew' on a card - Beau is almost white in colour and looks not unlike the first one in the row, so I coloured him accordingly. You can see that more closely on the image below.

What's In A Name? - I decided to include Beau's name on my card for a personalised welcome (the word 'welcome' is from the retired set 'Welcome Words') and diecut the letters in Azure Afternoon using the Party Alphabet Dies. I used a slimline design and overlaid the 'welcome' on top of the name (I might actually adjust this slightly as now I'm looking at the photo, I think it interferes with the 'B' of his name too much). I added the row of playful puppies to the bottom right hand corner of the card to balance the sentiment.

A Little Background Detail - I used a couple of layered panels in Azure Afternoon and Crumb Cake behind the main panel, but it looked a little bare so before I glued my letters in place I lightly stencilled the dot pattern in Crumb Cake using a decorative mask for a little extra detail. This mask comes in the set with the waves one, which I have used lots. I had actually forgotten about the dots one until Jan used it on a card last week and reminded me about it, and I really like the effect. You can see the detail more closely below, along with a close up of the colouring of the pupples:

On this closeup you can see the tiny amount of Granny Apple Green I've used on this card: just the flower leaves and the checked bandana that one of the pups is wearing. I often find one colour ends up being the 'poor relation' in a colour challenge, and this time it's green's turn!

It's not like me to be so organised to have a card ready long before I need to mail it, so I guess I have Jan and her unusual colour combo to thank for that. Now I just need to hope that Elizabeth doesn't read my blog post before she receives 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:

Enjoy your day; the James Junior is home from university for the weekend, as it was his annual Cricket Club awards dinner yesterday evening. Te event was followed by much celebrating with the team for the various accolades individuals achieved this year and the team's promotion to the next league for the fourth year running, so he is enjoying a lie-in this morning. Me - I'm still working my way through his laundry and a massive ironing pile, so that everything is ready to go back with him tomorrow! I'll be back soon with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

CUTEST CREW BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (£42.25)	PARTY ALPHABET DIES (£93.00)	WATER & DOTTED LINES 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DECORATIVE MASKS (£20.00)	BASIC BLACK HYBRID STAMPIN' PAD (£11.25)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)	BLENDING BRUSHES (£16.00)
AZURE AFTERNOON A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)	CRUMB CAKE A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)	AZURE AFTERNOON STAMPIN’ BLENDS COMBO PACK (£11.25)	CRUMB CAKE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£11.25)	GRANNY APPLE GREEN STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£11.25)	VERSAMARK PAD (£9.00)
BASICS WOW! EMBOSSING POWDER (£20.00)	BASIC BLACK A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)

Today I have a quick card to share that was inspired by the current challenge over at Inkspirational that uses the colour palette at Sunday Stamps:

When I saw the Inkspirational picture prompt, I was immediately inspired  - take a look:

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

Can you see which cupcakes inspired my card? Yes, it was those featuring the sunflower and toadstool; the Sunshine Gnomes set from My Favourite Things includes both, so this challenge was the perfect opportunity to ink it up.

I've had the images stamped and ready to colour for almost two weeks and didn't manage to find time to colour them until this afternoon, hence my quick post so that I can squeak my entry in just under the wire!

Hope you like this card as much as I do! It's always fun to sit and colour - therapy of sorts, in between dashing in and out to save my almost-dry washing from the rain showers we've been plagued with today.

Enjoy your evening - I'm off to watch the next instalment of Celebrity Traitors! I'll be back on Sunday with my project for The Paper Players. Until then, happy stampin'!

Today I'm sharing my design team card for our new challenge over at As you See It where it's time for a seasonal recipe challenge from the lovely LeAnne:

I went rooting through my stash for pumpkin-related bits and pieces and grabbed the layout over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge and set to work. Take a look at what I came up with:

 Here's the low-down on today's card:

I initially dismissed that Atlantic Hearts sketch, as I wasn't sure whether the diagonal lines needed to be diagonals or would work as something with a repeat pattern and I'm not a big fan of diagonals. However, when I came across this piece of retired Country Lane designer paper that had a diagonal (of sorts!) pattern, and pumpkins, I thought I'd give it a go! I used a banner to both incorporate my gingham/check, which also served to help my diecut pumpkin to stand out from the background (those retired Pick A Pumpkin Dies will forever be in my crafting collection!) - I added a simple Old Olive twine bow to decorate it and tick another item off my recipe list - and finished by overlaying a simple diecut sentiment (another recent My Favourite Things purchase) and a trio of sequins to tick off my final ingredient:

It was good to use up more of the retired stash and whilst my pumpkin and papers might not be new, I still love them both so was happy to still create with them. 

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

• Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D or packaging project that fits the challenge.
• For a Recipe Challenge use all elements of the recipe - the possibilities within those parameters are endless.
• Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your post.
• Make sure you link the specific post and not the whole blog to the Linky. Use AYSI#(insert challenge number) when uploading to a public gallery
• Please turn off word verification so that we can send you lots of feedback.
• You can combine our challenge with up to 3 other compatible challenges. 
• We do reserve the right to delete, or not consider for Top Pick and Featured Artist, entries that do not comply with these guidelines.

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

Today I'm sharing a card using the layout over at Try A Sketch on Tuesday:

I liked this layout and decided to dig out some tiny (retired) Christmas dies that I could use to accent the vertical panels - take a look at what I came up with:

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

I decided to add a selection of coloured strips that co-ordinated with my diecut images and then using a selection of Christmas shapes from the retired Ornamental Christmas Dies, I cut one each out of an arch cut with my Everyday Arches Dies and placed them over the coloured panels, so that the colour shows through the negative space. I then accented each one with a co-ordinating enamel shape:

Some twine and a festive sentiment complete my card. My card is slightly wider than a standard A6 card as I used the width of the arches to determine it, so will require a slightly longer envelope than usual to accommodate. 

I like the idea behind this sketch; it would work for all kinds of occasions that you have small dies for - seasons, Halloween, birthdays - time to go and dig through the die collection!

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

It has rained pretty much all day here in the UK today so I took the opportunity to escape to my craft room this afternoon and get my craft on! I wasn't intending to make any Halloween cards this year and I didn't buy an new seasonal products, but a couple of Halloween challenges at both Inspire.Create and the Die Week at Just Us Girls, combined with the daily midnight musings of my blog friend Christy (if you're a fan of all things spooky you should definitely check out her blog here too) for the month of October got me wanting to create something for the occasion. 

I thought that the kittens dies in the Cutest Crew die set would make cute witch's cats, so that was my starting point for today's card - take a look:

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

I diecut a number of kittens in black in various poses and combined with with some broomsticks and pumpkins from the retired Seasonal Swirls Dies and arranged them into a circular shape. I filled in the gaps with some stamped ghosts from the retired 'Holiday Home' stamp set (I fussy cut these - I didn't have any small ghost dies), popping all of the elements up on dimensionals, and some shiny black sequins:

I added a tiny Halloween-appropriate greeting from the retired stamp set 'Spooky Fun' to complete my card. 

I love how this card turned out; it took a while to position all of the elements until I was happy with them and fix them in place - spooky fun!

Right I need to get my card into the JUGS gallery before it closes so I'm signing off but I'll be back bright and early tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Happy Monday everyone! Today I'm sharing a card that was inspired by the colours over at Colour Inkspiration:

I wouldn't ordinarily be drawn to this colour palette, but I had a stamp that I had been gifted by my friend Elizabeth that had not yet seen ink and I decided that these colours would be perfect for it - take a look:

 Here's the low-down on today's card:

 The cute animals in the 'Right On Track' stamp set were ideal to colour with my Pecan Pie Blends (I used a neutral marker to just add an outline of colour to the one on the left), with black for my music notes and vinyl records and Real Read for the record player and the cuddly animal's headphones:

Some retired Pecan Pie gingham made a nice background and a few highlights with a white gel pen and a punny sentiment finished things off nicely. A quick post from me as I have a busy day today: I'm off to my Pilates class this morning, then I have a bunch of errands to run as well as a visit to the gym this afternoon to film some promotional video.

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