It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. Nancy is hosting this month and her final challenge is a sketch challenge, with a sentiment layered over a shaper that is layered over two horizontal elements: 

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card.

For my card today I wanted to use another of the cute turtles that I snipped from the Turtley Cute designer series paper - this really is the paper that just keeps on giving! Take a look:

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

I used two of the other sheets in the pack for my spots and stripes background strips and since today's turtle is baking a birthday cake, I used a diecut 'celebrate' sentiment from the retired Wanted to Say Dies for my sentiment: 

A trio of Darling Duckling enamel dots to pick up on the colour of the sentiment complete my card - the perfect simple birthday card that works for girls and boys alike. I added a couple of senitments to the inside of my card from the new 'The Right Words' set - it contains some lovely greetings that work for both the inside and outside of your cards:

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. 

This is a great sketch from Nance this week - I will definitely be using it again. 

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with news of hands-down the best offer we've had to join Stampin' Up! in a very long time, so stay tuned! Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

TURTLE-Y CUTE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.75)

THE RIGHT WORDS CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£25.00)

TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (£7.50)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£16.00)

DARLING DUCKLING A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)

2025–2027 IN COLOR™ FLAT PEARLS (£8.00)

Today I'm sharing a card that was inspired by the gorgeous mix of terracotta and blues over at The Color Throwdown and the current sketch layout over at CAS on Friday: 

I thought those colours would be perfect to break out an Online Exclusive set I've had a little while but not yet broken the seal on; perfect for a sausage dog, don't you think? Take a look at what I came up with:

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

OK, so how cute is the sausage dog in the 'Long Time, No See' stamp set?! The llama too, for that matter! So many fun creative possibilities with this set. I did get more creative than you might have expected with the CAS on Friday sketch, but bear with me; if you turn the sketch through 90 degrees, add a piece of Timeless Plaid paper to ground my sweet sweater-wearing pup, then the dog itself is the narrower horizontal element. It works, right? I coloured him with my Stampin' Blends, adding my punny sentiment in the same line to keep my card clean and simple:

Of course the front of that cute pup must be somewhere ... cue inside:

And voila - a clean and simple belated birthday card that is so cute it's sure to go some way to making up for its tardiness as far as the recipient is concerned!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Enjoy your day; mine is a day filled with household chores, but the sooner they're done, the sooner I get some time to craft later in the week, so time to crack on! I'll be back tomorrow with another project for our new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

LONG TIME NO SEE PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£19.00)	TIMELESS PLAID 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.75)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (£7.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£16.00)	NIGHT OF NAVY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)	NIGHT OF NAVY STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£10.25)
BLUEBERRY BUSHEL STAMPIN’ BLENDS COMBO PACK (£10.25)	CAJUN CRAZE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£10.25)	PECAN PIE STAMPIN’ BLENDS COMBO PACK (£10.25)

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

This is such a great sketch with so many creative options! Go simple, go layered and use any shape you like as a central focal point. I stuck with the circle, but decided to go big on the layering and create with some pretty florals that I had yet to break out of the packaging - time to put paid to that so take a look at what I came up with:

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

Floral Charm - Today's card is all about the Floral Charm Suite, one of the Online Exclusive Suites available in the online store. The beautiful Floral Charm designer series paper is full of bright colours and fabulous watercolour-style floral patterns and I chose the pink and brown patterned piece as the inspiration and basis for the colour scheme for my card. I don't usually feature a whole sheet with such a bold pattern as a background, but I decided today was a 'more is more' card and went with it!

Charming Day - I used a diecut circle for the central shape, stamped with a simple sentiment from the 'Charming Day' bundle from the suite, then added a combination of diecut leaves and a stamped and diecut floral accent that I coloured with my Stampin' Blends. I stamped my image in Early Espresso onto Basic Beige cardstock before colouring; this did cause the colours to bleed more than they would have if I'd stamped onto Basic White, however I wanted my image to be more in keeping with the DSP and to have a more vintage feel, so I didn't mind so much. You can see what I mean when you look at the close up below:

I even added a rather showy Crumb Cake ribbon bow, which I'm sure I'll regret when it comes to posting this card but I felt like it didn't look as out of place as it usually would on my card, so I'm sure I'll work something out!

Finishing Touches - I stamped a single flower on the flap of the envelope and the same floral cluster inside to complete my card; I don't always make time for these details, but I think these finishing touches ae what sometimes set a hand finished card apart, don't you?

I made this card for someone I haven't seen in a while who I know will appreciate the extra detail, so I can't wait to pop it in the post and hopefully brighten her day!

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; it has turned decidedly cold and grey here in the UK these last few days, so today I am going to make a fruit crumble - a sure sign that autumn has made itself known! The only question is whether to fill it with rhubarb or apples, both of which have been harvested this week. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

FLORAL CHARM 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.75)	CHARMING DAY BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (£49.50)	SPOTLIGHT ON NATURE DIES (£33.00)	BASIC BEIGE A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)	EARLY ESPRESSO A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)
EARLY ESPRESSO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)	BERRY BURST STAMPIN’ BLENDS COMBO PACK (£10.25)	PETUNIA POP STAMPIN’ BLENDS COMBO PACK (£10.25)	CRUMB CAKE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£10.25)	STAMPIN’ BLENDS DEEP COMBO PACK (£10.25)

Today I'm sharing a card using Narelle's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week:

I love things in threes so I knew I would have to play along with this sketch. I had so many ideas for this sketch but in the end I went super simple - take a look:

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

I used my retired Stitched rectangle dies to cut two rectangles of note patterned paper from the Turtle-y Cute designer series paper, then a third one from Basic White, to which I added my tongue-in-cheek sentiment (from the retired 'Music From The Heart ' stamp set), then added a fussy cut accordion-playing turtle as my focal point:

And that's all there is to it! I considered adding some extra embellishments, but honestly didn't think it needed it - a simple card that was ready in a jiffy! I am using a lot of notecards lately since the youngest of the James Juniors has left for university. Whilst he generally prefers a video chat, usually because he is after some cooking or laundry advice, I like to send him little notes and care packages just to let him know he's in my thoughts and these fun turtles always raise a smile. 

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:

TURTLE-Y CUTE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.75)

SOFT SEA FOAM A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)

BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)

TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK 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 my crafty friend Jan to host this week and she has an interesting clean and simple challenge for us to work with:

Watercolouring - hmm, not something I do often for sure. I deliberated over how to feature this technique on my card this week and ultimately took my inspiration from Michele's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches and those orange and yellow leaves against the grey of the Just Us Girls mood board this week - take a look:

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

Something Old - That cascade of circles on the FMS sketch this week reminded me of the now retired Leaf Fall 3D embossing folder so I decided that I cascade of embossed leaves would be the starting point for today's card. I embossed my folder onto a piece of watercoloured cardstock ready for the next stage. 

Watercoloured Leaves - I used my aquapainter to pick up a variety of oranges, along with a little yellow and brown (I squeezed a little ink into the ink pad lid) and used my aquapainter to watercolour the embossed leaves. Once my leaves dried, I added a light wash of Grey Granite ink around them.

Something New - I added an autumn sentiment diecut with my new Words For The Season Dies, popped up on foam and cut from Grey Granite cardstock to pick up the greys of the JUGS inspiration picture. I also added a few punched leaves for a little extra texture:

I'm not sure my watercolouring is going to win any awards on close inspection, but I do love the effect of the coloured cascading leaves and that diecut sentiment is going to get lots of use for sure in the coming months.

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 am paddleboarding today and aiming to make the most of the weather before it gets too cold. We are going to paddle to a restuarant boat on the river for lunch, so that should be fun! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

WORDS FOR THE SEASON DIES (ENGLISH) (£30.00)	WATER PAINTERS (£13.00)	GRAY GRANITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)	GRAY GRANITE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)	PUMPKIN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)	TIMID TIGER CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)
DARLING DUCKLING CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)	PEACH PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)	PECAN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)	FLUID 100 WATERCOLOR PAPER (£8.50)	FOAM ADHESIVE SHEETS (£7.75)

Today I'm sharing my design team card for our new challenge over at As you See It where it's time for a colour challenge chosen by me:

I chose this inspiration photo because it contained three of this year's new in-colours. I considered creating a similar night sky, but then decided to go in a completely different direction and actually create some off-the-wall florals using this week's Atlantic Hearts Challenge layout. I'm also playing at Festive Friday (I chose blue, ribbon and patterned paper) - take a look:

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

I've been wanting to use this background paper from the Florals In Bloom set for ages and since it features two of this week's colours, it as the perfect choice. I stamped the flower stems in Secret Sea and diecut my trio of Timid Tiger flowers using the Pretty Florals dies and mounted them on a Cloud Cover rectangle cut with a Nested Essentials Die:

I didn't have any ribbon that matched so used a clever trick to remedy that - I coloured some white linen ribbon with a Secret Sea Blends marker and hey presto - matching ribbon!. A simple stamped 'hello' and a trio of sparkly enamel dots in Pumpkin Pie complete 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. 

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

• Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D or packaging project that fits the challenge.
• For a Colour Challenge use all of the given colours and only those colours with these exceptions:
• White and Very Vanilla are free colours.
• In addition, you may use of ONE of these neutrals: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, Basic Beige.
• 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 soon with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

PRETTY FLORALS bundle (£47.50)	SWEET BLOOMS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£19.55)	FLORALS IN BLOOM 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.75)	NESTED ESSENTIALS DIES (£32.00)	SECRET SEA A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)	SECRET SEA CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)
CLOUD COVER A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)	TIMID TIGER A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)	TIMID TIGER CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)	PUMPKIN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)

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

These colours have a wintry/autumnal feel and for my card today I decided to try them on a Christmas card using a new set called 'Joyful Tidings' - take a look:

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

This stamp set contains two wreath images and some lovely sentiments - great for clean and simple Christmas cards. I stamped my wreath in Secret Sea, which might seem an odd choice, but some pines/firs have a distinctly blue tone, so I thought I'd give it a go! I coloured the pine cones in Pecan Pie, then used Mossy Meadow light and dark Blends markers for the remaining greenery and the citrus fruit - I used my colour lifter to create a much paler green, to give the impression of limes:

I added a few white dots to the berries with a white gel pen and added a couple of Mossy Meadow coloured brass enamel dots and simple sentiment to complete my card. 

This is not a colour combo I would ordinarily choose, and especially not for a Christmas card, but I actually like the finished effect - I guess that's why a challenge is just that, right?

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

As a reminder, for our colour challenges, you must use all of the stated challenge colours. You may also use neutral colours; however, the challenge colours should be the most noticeable ones featured on your card. We use Stampin' Up! 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 later in the week with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

JOYFUL TIDINGS CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£21.00)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£16.00)

SECRET SEA A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)

SECRET SEA CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)

MOSSY MEADOW STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£10.25)

PECAN PIE STAMPIN’ BLENDS COMBO PACK (£10.25)

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

Ann's trio of chosen colours is so fresh and pretty; they pulled me right back to spring/summer and some pastel florals, using this week's TGIF Challenges sketch for my layout - take a look:

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

I diecut a trio of flowers using the Delightful Wishes Dies and used one of my favourite tricks to create a variation of shades by colouring the cardstock with my Stampin' Blends markers. You could of course use two-tone cardstock for a quicker result, but by using markers you can get 3 different shades. I layered my flowers onto a trio of squares cut with my Stylish Shapes Dies: two squares were cut from Thoughtful Journey DSP (which I also used for the matting layer) and the central one which I stamped onto Lost Lagoon cardstock with one of the Elements of Text stamps for a tone-on-tone effect. There is a ton of detail in this small section of the card:

A simple sentiment from the same set and a tiny bee trinket complete my card.

I actually have a second card to share today too; these colours reminded me of some pretty floral paper I had in my retired stash that I thought I could use up in a quick card using the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge layout this week:

Patchwork strip layouts like this are so great for using up scraps. The floral paper features Lost Lagoon and the retired colours Pistachio Pudding and So Saffron, so I grabbed some co-ordinating papers and made this fun 'use it up' card:

 I just added lots of 2cm strips to a panel of cardstock, then trimmed to fit my cardbase, adding a banner greeting from 'Impressions Abloom' and embellished with a couple of enamel dots and a linen bow:

Pretty, right? Super quick and I used up more of my retired papers, so win-win!

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'll be back soon with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

DELIGHTFUL WISHES PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£19.00)	DELIGHTFUL WISHES DIES (ENGLISH) (£33.00)	STYLISH SHAPES DIES (£28.00)	THOUGHTFUL JOURNEY 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.75)	TINY BEE TRINKETS (£8.50)	LEMON LOLLY A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)
LEMON LOLLY STAMPIN’ BLENDS COMBO PACK (£10.25)	SOFT SEA FOAM A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)	SOFT SEA FOAM STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£10.25)	LOST LAGOON A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)	LOST LAGOON CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£16.00)

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

Food and drink - I sense that the gallery is going to have us drooling this week! I don't have much in the way of food-related supplies currently - so I headed to one of my favourites, the Celebratory Sips designer series paper with my paper snips for some fussy cutting! This is what I came up with:

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

Today's card was all about that designer paper - and those refreshing looking drinks! I fussy cut a whole bunch of full size glasses and layered them onto my card. I had to go slimline, to fit them all in! Some simple layering with one of the glass patterns in the pack providing some border detail and a diecut sentiment courtesy of my retired Cheers Die:

A scattering of sparkly gems completed the front of my card. I couldn't resist adding a few extra offcuts to the inside for a little extra decoration too: 

That's all there is to it!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any.  

We have two reasons to celebrate today: the lovely Christy Stanford has agreed to join our design team at the Paper Players on a permanent basis. She has successfully guested with us a few years ago and we are delighted that she is now back for good! Do check out her blog, along with the other DT cards - we all appreciate some comment love! The second reason to celebrate today? Well, it's my birthday (cue "happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me ...") I know - any excuse for cake, right?!

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 soon with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

CELEBRATORY SIPS 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.75)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£16.00)

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Today I'm sharing my design team card for our new challenge over at As you See It where it's time for a fun sketch challenge:

I decided to have a play with some designer papers from the new mini catalogue for today's card and add another Christmas card to my stash - take a look:

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

Christmas Tags and More - The diecut strips of patterned paper on today's card are from the new Christmas Tags and More designer series paper pack. This is a 6"x6" pack that is exactly that: some great festive designs, with everything from the mistletoe pattern I used on today's card to plaid, some of which can be easily cut into tags, along with a few sheets of pre-diecut co-ordinating shapes. This is your go-to pack for speedy Christmas cards and packaging - I can see me using a lot of it!

Serene Greens - I used a Soft Sea Foam card base for today's card. This colour doesn't feature directly in the DSP, but it compliments the boldness of the Garden Green mistletoe perfectly.  I chose to feature three punched sprigs of mistletoe as the 'anchors' to my DSP panels. You can see them with their pearl berries better here:

In hindsight I might have added a little extra detail to those punched leaves with a gel pen, to help them stand out a little better. Regardless, I think they work!

A  Mix of Old and New - I paired my new papers with some existing - retired - items from my stash: the sprig punch I used for my mistletoe and the Tidings and Trimmings set for the 'Noel' and greeting on the inside of my card:

Now that I'm no longer running regular classes, this is something you should expect to see me do here on my blog more often. Whilst I am in the process of having a good clear out (expect to see a preloved sale here sometime in the near future!), and I will continue to showcase my favourite new products, there are lots of retired items that are firm favourites that co-ordinate too well with new things to not put them to good use! 

I'm linking today's card up over at Inspire.Create Challenges where their challenge is 'It's never too early for Christmas' - so true!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

• Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D or packaging project that fits the challenge.
• 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.

Finally, my trusty laptop unexpectedly 'died' with no warning earlier this week, so there may be some gaps with product details and links to the online store in this and my next few posts that will be added at a later date, since I am posting on the fly at the moment! My laptop is with the PC doctor so fingers crossed he works out whether resuscitation or replacement is the order of the day in short order, as I currently feel as if I've lost a limb lol! Enjoy your day and I'll be back on Sunday with my Paper Players project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

SOFT SEA FOAM A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)

GARDEN GREEN A4 CARDSTOCK (£14.00)

GARDEN GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£8.50)

IRIDESCENT PEARL BASIC JEWELS (£7.00)

CHRISTMAS TAGS & MORE 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) MIX & MATCH SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.75)