It's catalogue launch week so a busy start to the week for me! Just time to squeeze in a quick post with my entry for Freshly Made Sketches this week:

I pondered Cecile's sketch and those odd shaped verticals, then inspiration struck - take a look:

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

One more opportunity to make a card using 'Outdoor Barbeque' before it retires tomorrow - this time having coloured and fussy cut each of the elements to make a fun BBQ invitation; with the easing of lockdown here in the UK from today, it might not be too much longer before I can safely send it out!

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 evening; I'm off for an evening bike ride to blow off the cobwebs. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

The brand new 2020–2021 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue is going live on 3 June 2020, and Stampin’ Up! is having a celebration!

Anyone who places an order of £200+ or holds a party with £200+ in sales during the month of June will receive £20 in extra Stampin’ Rewards!!  So that means that you’ll earn £44 at least in Stampin’ Rewards with any order or party of £200+ that is submitted between June 3 and June 30! Yay!!

Here are the details:

• Customer, workshop and online order types all qualify for this promotion.
• Starter Kit orders do not qualify for this promotion.  But you CAN use your host cash toward the purchase of your Starter Kit, ask me for details!
• The qualifying amount must be reached with merchandise prior to shipping and tax.
• The £20 additional Stampin’ Rewards for this promotion will only be awarded once per order/party.
• Order Deadline:  June 30, 2020; 10:50 PM (BST)

Here is a flyer with the details:

Want to host a catalogue party?

Just because we are still social distancing, doesn't mean you can't still host a Stampin' up! party! If you would like to gather virtually with some friends, I can set up a host code for you and you can have your stamping friends place orders with your host code online.  If your party reaches £250 in sales, you’ll get that extra £25 in host cash when we close out your party! If you’re interested, ask me for details!

Do You Need A Copy Of The New 2020-2021 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue?

If you have placed an order with me in the last 6 months, then your catalogue is on its way to you, if you haven't received it already. If you are not a current customer of mine but would like to be and you live in the UK, email your address to me at joanne@thecraftyowl.co.uk and I’ll get your copy of the new 2020-2021 Stampin’ Up! catalogue in the mail ASAP!

Join In The Fun!

I am having my own kickoff celebration this week to celebrate the launch of the new annual catalogue over on my Facebook Page. If you are a UK customer and don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like to join us, please click here to join in the fun! There is a 'Buy one, get one free' BOGOF sale of retired product happening, along with lots of info, fun, shares, quizzes and giveaways - you'd be mad to miss it!

Let me know if you have any questions.  Back soon with another project; until then, have fun making your shopping list!

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 fun tic-tac-toe challenge for you to work with:

I decided to go across the top row with Flowers/Girly/Birthday and wanted to share with you a card I made using one of my most favourite stamp sets of all time, Beautiful Friendship - take a look:

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

I ADORE the 'Beautiful Friendship' stamp set and have made a ton of cards with it recently, having held an online class using this set. In between  my online classes, I have been running a whole host of online demonstration sessions either sharing different ideas using the class stamp set, revisiting previously learned techniques, or sometimes a combination of both. This card was a result of one of those sessions, where I held I refresher session showing how to use your Stamparatus to create wreaths. The single rose in the 'Beautiful Friendship' set is perfect to create a simple wreath, so armed with my favourite of the retiring in-colors, Lovely Lipstick, and ringing the changes with a 6" x 6" square card, this was what I came up with. 

Have you ever used your Stamparatus to create a floral wreath? Here's a short speeded-up clip of my demonstration (without sound) that shows how easy it is to do:

https://youtu.be/1LgZ-ttfvIE

I then added a heat-embossed fussy cut sentiment from the soon-to-be-retired 'Seriously The Best' stamp set and a simple twine bow to the front of my card and added a little decoration to the inside too:

Did you find the above speeded up video clip useful? If you would like to take part in one of my online classes or attend my online demonstration sessions, do check out my class schedule on the events section of my Facebook page or on the 'Classes' tab on my website, or just drop me a line for more information.

I'm linking today's card up over at SUO Challenges where the current theme is Designer's Choice - this one is definitely one of mine!

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:

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

Enjoy your day; I'll be spending mine in and out of my 'By One Get One Free' party over on my Facebook page as I clear out my retiring stamps to make way for the new, whilst sitting in the garden enjoying the warm sunshine!nI'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (£20.00)	SERIOUSLY THE BEST CLING STAMP SET (£7.20)	STAMPARATUS (£46.00)	2018–2020 IN COLOR 12\" X 12\" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) CARDSTOCK (£11.75)	WHISPER WHITE 12\" X 12\" (30,5 X 30,5 CM) CARDSTOCK (£7.25)
GRANNY APPLE GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	BASIC BLACK A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	VERSAMARK PAD (£8.75)	WHITE STAMPIN’ EMBOSS POWDER (£5.50)	WHISPER WHITE SOLID BAKER'S TWINE (£3.25)

The new Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue goes live next Wednesday so it's time to announce my new Product Shares!

You know that feeling - you want it all, but your budget just doesn't stretch that far? Well shares are the perfect answer! You get a little bit of everything, without having to purchase a full pack. A share can also act as a 'try before you buy' - you get to see papers, ribbons, buttons and accessories 'up close and personal' before deciding which ones you like the most and would like to purchase as a full pack.

Shares work really easily: you decide which shares and how many you would like to take part in. You place your order by emailing me at joanne@thecraftyowl.co.uk and I will invoice you and arrange payment. Once the closing date for the first round of shares is reached, I collate the orders, place an order with Stampin' Up! for the product, then once I receive it, I package the papers and send them out to you. Simple!

So much to choose from! I am currently focusing on paper shares and have two different shares on offer:

New Annual Catalogue Designer Series Paper Share - all sheets measure 6" x 6" - £31 plus £3 P&P

• Artistry Blooms – 6
• Flowers For Every Season – 12
• Forever Greenery – 6
• In Good Taste – 12
• Ornate Garden Specialty – 6
• Peony Garden – 6
• Playing With Patterns – 12
• Playful Pets – 6
• Whale Of A Time – 12
• World Of Good Specialty – 6

In all you'll receive 84  6"x 6" sheets of Designer Series Paper!

New Colour Family Paper Share - all sheets measure 6" x 6" - £21.50 plus £3 P&P

• Brights – 20
• Neutrals – 20
• Regals – 20
• Subtles – 20 

In this share you will receive a total of 80 sheets of paper. 

Want It All? £55 - and you'll get shares of all the new Designer Series Papers and the new colour family Designer Series Paper Stacks, and that includes postage & packaging! If you choose this option, I will also include a sample of the new Rainbow Glimmer Paper for FREE!

If you would like double or more shares of any particular thing, then that's fine too. I will cut your paper shares into 6" x 12" sheets where possible to give you more crafting flexibility (for the DSP stacks you will simply get double the number of sheets since they are already pre-cut to 6" x 6").

All postage & packaging quoted is for UK only - if you would like a cost for shipping to Europe, then please email me for a separate quotation.

The deadline to sign up to the first round of shares is Tuesday 2nd June at 8pm GMT. 

If you live local to me and would like to save on postage and packaging costs, please email me with your requirements and I will happily place your order, to be ready for doorstep collection on delivery. If you have any questions, just email me at joanne@thecraftyowl.co.uk or give me a call!

With a new Stampin' Up! catalogue, new in-colours always feature on a new wish list - why wouldn't they? The new 2020-22 In Colors will be with us for the next 2 years and this year's in-colours are very on-trend and co-ordinate beautifully with each other and the other colours in the Stampin' Up! colour families:

To help you spread the cost and gradually grow your new in-colour collection, I am offering an in-colour club (UK customers only). It begins this month and runs for the next 5 months, up to and including October. Each month, you will receive a collection of  products for one of the colours, with each month featuring a different colour. You will be sent a reminder on the 15th of the month, and your in-color club invoice will need to be paid by the 29th of the month in order that items can be ordered in good time.

Each month, you will receive: 

• 1/2 pack of A4 cardstock (12 sheets)
• 1/2 roll of 1/4" (6.4mm) In Color Ribbon
• 1 ink pad
• 1 ink refill
• 1 Stampin' Write Marker
• 20 Enamel Dots
• Eight 6”X6” In-Color DSP sheets
• A hand stamped card featuring your in-colour of the month

Since all of the colours except Bumble Bee are also available as Stampin' Blends, there is the option to add on a Stampin' Up! Blends Marker Combo Pack each month for an additional £8.50. 

For the month you receive the BumbleBee colour kit, you will receive 1/2 pack of Flowers For Every Season Memories and More Cards & Envelopes and 1/2 pack of Flowers For Every Season Memories and More Card Pack in place of the Blends. Both of these products also feature all five in-colours.  

Details:

Basic Pack Cost: £24 plus postage and packaging (Royal Mail 2nd Class Signed For) every month June through October. If you are local, you can avoid the cost of shipping and arrange to collect. 

Enhanced Pack Cost: £32.50 plus postage and packaging (Royal Mail 2nd Class Signed For) every month June through October. If you are local, you can avoid the cost of shipping and arrange to collect. 

Payment can be made by Paypal or bank transfer (or cash/cheque for local customers).

If you would like to join my new colour club this month, then you can email me to sign up here.

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at TicTacToe! It's the turn of Team X to host this week and the lovely LeAnne is our featured designer this week. This is the fun board that we are playing along with: 

I went across the first row and down the middle column - which also means I can squeeze in an entry to TGIF Challenge's Travel theme this week -  and got a headstart on Father's Day cards - take a look:

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

Garage Gears - I used some retired vintage car patterned paper to create a trio of panels for a background, then created a collage-style collection of circles, gears and a badge before finishing with my black heat embossed car:

I added a little white pencil detail to  my windows and lights for a little contrast.

Did you spot it? - I used a new stamp on my card today - did you spot it? The grid pattern that I used on the white stitched circle is from a new set called 'Comfort and Hope'; great for simple stamping, it contains a number of texture stamps great for adding interest to backgrounds. It will be available in the new annual catalogue - not long to go now!

Don't forget the inside - I finished my card on the inside with an offcut of the paper I used on the front of my card and a sentiment:

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. 

A tictactoe board offers so many creative possibilities - how does this week's board inspire you? Why not have a go? We would love to see you in the gallery and who knows - you might be selected for Designer's Choice and be eligible to be a guest designer on a future challenge. 

Enjoy your day; I am off to the post office today with a mammoth amount of post and I am hoping to spend a little time in the garden. The James Juniors are going to pitch the tent later as they are looking to camp out for a couple of nights in the garden - a half-term staycation! Hubby will be out with them but I will be sticking with the comfort of my own bed; I'm not one for camping generally, but the lack of hands-on physio since the start of lockdown is taking its toll and I'm suffering with my shoulder again, especially at night, so there will be no hard ground for me - I actually have a bone fide excuse for once! I'll be the one with the tea and bacon rolls in the morning. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

GEARED UP GARAGE CLING STAMP SET (£20.00)	GARAGE GEARS DIES (£18.60)	MERRY MERLOT A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	WHISPER WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.00)	MERRY MERLOT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)
VERSAMARK PAD (£8.75)	BLACK STAMPIN' EMBOSS POWDER (£5.50)	STITCHED SHAPES DIES (£28.00)	GRAY GRANITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)

Today I'm sharing a card for the current challenges over at Less Is More and Addicted to CAS:

In looking for 'dotty' stamps that would work well for a one layer card, I found this great present stamp in the Bonanza Buddies stamp set that had a 'reverse' dotty pattern and used that as the basis for my card, creating a row of dotty rainbow gifts - this was my first attempt:

I ended up making two cards though as I thought this one looked a little too 'clean and simple' without a sentiment - I went for a large one that I found in my retired box - an old Sale-A-Bration set which despite its size still gives a CAS feel to my card I think with plenty of white space:

So which one do you prefer? I'm veering toward the one with the sentiment, so that's my link up today.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

BONANZA BUDDIES PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (£16.00)	WHISPER WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£7.75)	POPPY PARADE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	PUMPKIN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	DAFFODIL DELIGHT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)
GRANNY APPLE GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	BALMY BLUE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	HIGHLAND HEATHER CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	FLIRTY FLAMINGO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)

I've had a busy day so a quick post from me today! I'm sharing a card using this week's layout over at CAS(E) This Sketch:

This is a great sketch and just perfect for me to make another quick card using the retiring 'Outdoor Barbeque' set:

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

I decided to make the beef burger the feature of my card, and paired it with some check gingham in Poppy Parade - it reminded me of a picnic table cloth! Super simple and a perfectly punny card for another of the James family BBQ-lovers!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

OUTDOOR BARBECUE CLING STAMP SET (£18.00)	STITCHED SHAPES DIES (£28.00)	POPPY PARADE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	WHISPER WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.00)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (£5.50)
VERSAMARK PAD (£8.75)	WHITE STAMPIN’ EMBOSS POWDER (£5.50)

Happy Bank Holiday Monday to my UK readers and Happy Memorial Day to my USA readers! I'm sure like me you are spending your day differently since we are either still in lockdown or experiencing some form of social distancing, wherever you are. I actually have an online class today featuring the Birthday Jubilee bundle so my post needs to be a quick one. I do have a couple of cards to share with you though. So first up is a card using this week's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches: 

This layout is very similar to our Paper Players one this week, so I tried to do something different to yesterday's card and grabbed my Tropical Oasis Memories and More Cards for a colourful thank you card - take a look:

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

I paired one of the smaller colourful cards with a sheet of the Tropical Oasis paper with a rustic pattern that I embossed with the Coastal Weave Embossing Folder for added texture, then added a layered 'thanks' that I cut down from the word 'Thanksgiving' in the Word Wishes Dies. I stacked the diecut with three pieces in Early Espresso and them one in Whisper White that I offset slightly.

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

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

I also have another quick card, it's actually notelet size, that I made using a retired Crumb Cake notelet I found as I was clearing out, along with a discarded Highland Heather mat, for the current challenge over at CASology this week:

As I was sorting through my stamps I cam across this small image in the 'Garden Shed' stamp set that was just perfect both for the challenge and to use up the bits and pieces on my desk:

I simply stamped the image, coloured with my blends, and added some linen thread to finish. 

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

TROPICAL OASIS MEMORIES & MORE CARD PACK (£10.25)	TROPICAL OASIS DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£10.75)	COASTAL WEAVE 3D EMBOSSING FOLDER (£8.25)	WORD WISHES DIES (EN) (£33.00)	MANGO MELODY A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)
EARLY ESPRESSO A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	WHISPER WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.00)	GARDEN SHED CLING STAMP SET (£21.00)

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

I struggled a little with this week's sketch - so many possibilities I was spolied for choice! In the end, I went super simple. I love the rich colours of the inspiration photo over at Just Add Ink this week and they reminded me of one of the patterns in the Perennial Essence DSP pack, so that's where I ended up - take a look:

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

I mounted a piece of Perennial Essence paper onto a white mat and Pretty Peacock base, and framed it with a double-stitched rectangle frame before adding my sentiment banner. I heat embossed my sentiment, from the 'To A Wild Rose' stamp set, in gold onto the front of my card and finished with 'to call you my friend' inside my card. I added a few gold glittery enamel dots and my card was complete - I didn't want to do anything else to detract from that beautiful paper! I actually made two of these cards, and with the scrap of paper I had left over I made a third card that I added a gold foil Heirloom embossed frame to but no sentiment, but thought I would share with you as I still think it's rather a lovely goodbye to these two products:

I'm calling this one my 'Faux Monet' - up close you can see the canvas-effect detail of the paper and it's gorgeous.

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:

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

Enjoy your day; I am hoping for warmer temperatures and much less wind today, as I have some flowers to plant out in the garden. Yesterday was so windy it was impossible to do anything constructive outside, especially with my overgrown lockdown hair blowing into my eyes! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

TO A WILD ROSE PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (EN) (£24.00)	PERENNIAL ESSENCE DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£8.60)	RECTANGLE STITCHED DIES (£33.00)	PRETTY PEACOCK A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	BLACKBERRY BLISS A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)
TRIPLE BANNER PUNCH (£22.00)	EMBOSSING BUDDY (£5.50)	VERSAMARK PAD (£8.75)	GOLD STAMPIN’ EMBOSS POWDER (£5.50)