Happy Monday everyone! It might be raining outside but I guarantee today's card will cheer you up! It's a Halloween card with a difference using this week's sketch over at The Paper Craft Crew:

This sketch is quite similar to the sketch from a couple of weeks ago (you can see my card for that sketch here - and this card earned me a Featured Artisan spot too, so thank you Paper Craft Crew!) and whilst I did choose to use the word bubbles literally, the layout of this sketch was perfect for something that I've been wanting to create for a while - a Halloween joke card! Take a look: 

Fun, eh?! Every time I've looked at using the witch and cat from 'Freaky Friends' together, the witch just looks to me like she is saying something to the cat - so I decided a suitably-themed joke was in order! I made my card 6" square and used a Whisper White card base, covering the entire front section with a piece of Motley Monsters DSP and matting my central Whisper White panel with a mat of Bermuda Bay.

I stamped the witch and cat in Memento Black ink and coloured in the open spaces with my Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand and Tangerine Tango Stampin' Write marker pens. My joke is computer-generated, which I printed out on Whisper White then inked the borders of the Just Sayin' stamps that co-ordinate with the Word Bubble framelits with my markers and stamped these over the top using my stamp-a-ma-jig for placement before rolling out with my Big Shot. I stamped the alphabet letters from the 'Tap Tap Tap' stamp in the background, colouring the individual letters with my markers, before positioning my word bubbles on top and adhering with dimensionals. To finish, I added a trio of candy dots in the corner.

I think this card is really fun; I made it to give to my 7 year old son, who is and always has been joke-mad. When he saw it he proclaimed it 'definitely funny', so I guess it passed the test. His first and favourite joke of all time is still this one:

Why did the banana go to the doctors?

Because he wasn't peeling very well!

This still sends him into fits of giggles every time he tells it!

Ok enough jokes from me today - before I go, just a reminder that today is the last day to take advantage of 'stamp, stock and save' - selected ink pads, paper, envelopes, and adhesive are available at a 15% discount! There are also a number of select stamps that are 20%! Full details of the products included in this offer can be found in the offer flyer here or you can go straight to my online store here to place your order - don't forget to include October's hostess code SFEXF44E.

That's all from me today - back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Freaky Friends Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Motlley Monsters Designer Series Paper	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Big Shot Magnetic Platform	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
Just Sayin'	Word Bubbles Framelits Dies	Tap Tap Tap Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Many Marvelous Markers	Card Stock A4 Bermuda Bay
Whisper White A4 Card Stock

It's Sunday and time for this week's challenge over at The Paper Players, where Jaydee has a fun Halloween theme challenge for us this week:

I used the layout over at Freshly Made Sketches again this week for my card (although I'm not sure my card is as 'clean' as is required; the layout was too good to pass up) as I thought it would be perfect to highlight my first Halloween pumpkin - here's my card:

I used a piece of Motley Monsters DSP on a base of Tangerine Tango for the front of my card; I love this paper and the little eyes that peek through between the trees, although I must confess this looks so much better on a sheet of 12 x 12" and it was difficult to take my scissors to it! I used the Halloween sentiment from 'Mingle All The Way', colouring the letters with a Tangerine Tango Stampin' Write marker and mounted this on a circle of Basic Black. This circle was mounted on top of a piece of chevron-embossed Crushed Curry and black chevron ribbon and the card finished with a cute little pumpkin from the Fall Fest stamp set and cut out with the matching framelit. It's tricky to see from the photo, but the pumpkin was then covered in Crystal Effects and allowed to dry, so it has a lovely dimension and shine.

That's my simple Halloween card for today; why not pop over to The Paper Players challenge blog and check out this week's inspiration from the other designers? As always, there are some great cards on show.

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Fall Fest Photopolymer Bundle	Motlley Monsters Designer Series Paper	Mingle All The Way Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Tangerine Tango A4 Card Stock	Basic Black A4 Card Stock
Card Stock A4 Crushed Curry	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Big Shot Magnetic Platform	Circles Collection Framelits Dies	2" Circle Punch
Crystal Effects	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Basic Black 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

I've had such a busy day today however I did manage to squeeze in a couple of hours this afternoon for some cardmaking. I'm only just back from a swimming gala this evening and I almost didn't get time to blog, but as it's World Card Making Day this really is one day that I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to share with you the cards that I made.

The first card I made was a case of a fun card by Miranda Mols-Heidenrath that appeared on the Stampin' Up! UK Facebook page earlier this week, which I thought was such a fun card to celebrate WCMD: 

I love the use of the negative space of the die cut and the partial stamp to make this card, so I decided to use the same layout to make another card in an alternative colourway for someone special whose birthday it is today - take a look:

Yes, today it's my dear hubby's birthday, although you'd almost never know it given that he's hardly had a look in, although we did manage to squeeze in a special birthday lunch and a birthday cake. This was the card from the James juniors, which of course more than met with their seal of approval due to the presence of the gold glimmer star (isn't everything better with glimmer?!)

I also made my card for tomorrow's new challenge over at The Paper Players, but you're going to have to wait until the morning to see that one!

I hope you all had fun days too and managed to squeeze in a little crafting; don't forget if you need to stock up on inks, cardstock or adhesives there are some great offers on this weekend, including 20% off selected stamp sets. Get the full details in my earlier post here and hop on over to my online store to purchase (don't forget to use this month's hostess code which can be found on the right hand side of this page).

Back tomorrow with my Paper Players Design Team card - until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Really Good Greetings	Little Letters Thinlits Die	Stars Framelits Dies	Something To Say Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
Tempting Turquoise A4 Card Stock	Old Olive A4 Card Stock	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad	Gold Glimmer Paper	Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents
White & Tangerine Tango Two-Tone Trim	Big Shot Magnetic Platform	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine

A quick post from me today with one of the cards we made at my card class earlier this week. This month's class featured the Festival of Trees stamp set and co-ordinating punch - without further ado, here's today's card:

I started with a base of Crumb Cake with a mat of Cherry Cobbler, then an additional mat of Crumb Cake which was embossed with the Decorative Dots embossing folder and lightly sponged with white kraft ink to look like snow. I added two Whisper White snow drifts, edged with Dazzling Diamonds, and then stamped and punched three trees in Garden Green on Whisper White and interspersed them between the snow drifts. The tree at the front is also over-stamped with the bauble stamp in Cherry Cobbler and a few pearls coloured with Cherry Cobbler Blendabilities added to give extra dimension. A sentiment added inside and out, and finished!

All of the cards in this month's class were quite different as I was aiming to show my ladies just how versatile this stamp set and punch can be. If you live local to me in Northampton and would like to join me for a future class, do get in touch - newcomes, whether experienced or novice papercrafters, are always welcome!

That's all from me today; back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Festival Of Trees Photopolymer Bundle	Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Cherry Cobbler Assortment
Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock	Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad	Cherry Cobbler A4 Card Stock	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad	Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter
Basic Pearls Jewel Accents	2-Way Glue Pen	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad

Yes, if you read the title of this post and wondered if you were seeing things - it's true! A new set of Wednesday Weekly Deals is nothing compared to the two big deals of the day today: Stamp Stock & Save and Free Designer Series Paper for 6 months when you join Stampin' Up!

So the scoop on each of these amazing deals is as follows:

Stampin' Up! is so excited about this year's World Cardmaking Day, which is this coming Saturday 4th October, that we're having an amazing 15% off sale on some of your favourite products! From 1-6 October, you'll be able to purchase selected ink pads, paper, envelopes, and adhesive—all at a 15% discount! There are also a number of select stamps that are 20%! Full details of the products included in this offer can be found in the offer flyer here.

The second of today's deals is an amazing 'Pick up a Pack of Paper' deal:

If you join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator between 1-24 October, you will receive a free pack of designer series paper each month for your first six months as a demonstrator (Specialty Designer Series Paper and Designer Series Paper Stacks not included). That's six packs of designer series paper, worth a whopping £59.75 ABSOLUTELY FREE! In addition to the £31 worth of additional goodies you receive in your £99 starter kit.

In addition, if you join my team you will also receive an exclusive welcome pack and demonstrator handbook to help you build your new Stampin' Up! business, along with a free copy of my exclusive Product Table Builder Software worth £35 that is a must for any blogger who wishes to maximise their online sales. Not to mention the FUN! We are a close-knit team that has members far and wide and in addition to our face-to-face get-togethers and training meets, we are also part of a vibrant online community of fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators who are always on hand with advice, encouragement and support.

So whether you just want to be a hobby demonstrator and take advantage of quality Stampin' Up! products at permanently reduced prices, or whether you would like to earn an income doing something you love, please give me a call on 07773 421446 to talk about what joining my team can do for you - I would love to hear from you! of course if you've been 'on the fence' and the opportunity to get your hands on even more free goodies is for you, then click here to sign up today - I look forward to you joining my team!

It's Wednesday so that means a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! This week's deals are included below - they will be available for one week only, before a new collection of deals is announced.

As always, if you want to take advantage of any of the deals on offer, you can support my business by placing your order online by clicking here or using the link to my store on the right hand side of my blog page where it says 'Shop Online' or with me in person. Don't forget to add the Hostess Code for October (you can find this under the 'Shop Online' section on the right). 

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

Cherry Cobbler 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Chocolate Chip 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Extra-Large Gift Box	Simply Scored™ Metric Scoring Plate
Soft Sky 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon	Sweet Details Photobook Template - Digital Download	Very Vintage Designer Buttons

Lots of lovely ribbons this week, vintage buttons and even the metric scoring plate - not to mention those extra large gift boxes, which are perfect for Christmas - or any other type of - presents!

Back shortly with news of the two new big deals of the day - you're not going to want to miss these!

Until then, happy shopping!

It's Wednesday and time for another challenge over at Colour Me...! where this week we have a monochromatic colour scheme for you:

I also used this week's sketch over at Retrosketches for my layout. Now I have to confess, Calypso Coral is a colour I don't use often (I don't know why) but this is particularly unfortunate, given that the last time I ordered a pack I ordered two by mistake and now I have Calypso Coral cardstock coming out of my ears! So today's challenge was the perfect excuse to make a dent in the pile. After much deliberation, this is what I came up with:

I used a piece of the Gold Soiree Speciality DSP as the main feature of my card. This paper has a very luxurious feel and definitely needed to be used where it could be seen! I matted this on a piece of gold foil and a Calypso Coral base. For my sentiment, I stamped 'Hello There' from the hostess stamp set of the same name in Calypso Coral on Whisper White, along with a flower from the same set stamped in Gold Encore ink finished with a candy dot and matted this onto a piece of Calypso Coral edged with the scallop edge punch.

I added a couple of flags of Calypso Coral chevron ribbon and some strings of gold sequins and a gold button threaded with baker's twine as per the sketch and finished the corner with three flowers: two in gold foil punched with the retired flower Itty Bitty Punch and one stamped in Coral on Whisper White where I added detail with my gold pen and this was punched with the Petite Petals punch.

That's my Colour Me...! card for this week - why not visit the other Colour Me...! designers and check out their takes on this week's colour combination:

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Gold Soiree Specialty Designer Series Paper	Hello There Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Gold Foil Sheets	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad	Calypso Coral A4 Card Stock
Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Calypso Coral 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Gold Sequin Trim	Subtles Candy Dots	Petite Petals
Petite Petals Punch	Gold Stampin' Dazzle Marker

Happy Monday everyone! Today I'm sharing another autumn-inspired card using this week's sketch over at Pals Paper Arts and this week's colours at Colour Q as my inspiration:

I love this colour palette and resisted the urge to recreate that check shirt, which is adorable! Instead I decided to use my Fall Fest framelits to recereate the layout of the sketch and make a bright Autumnal card - here it is:

I used Kraft cardstock for the body of my card, which has a lovely texture and thickness to it. I matted a square panel of Night of Navy onto the base, then stamped some leaves in orange and yellow onto Whisper White cardstock and overlaid this with another piece of kraft attached with dimensionals with the same leaf shapes cut out so that you can see the stamped leaves beneath. The leaves are edged in white, which just helps add to their definition. In space of the fourth square, I didn't cut out - instead I tied an acorn and leaf wooden embellishment together with a piece of Daffodil Delight seam binding ribbon and some linen thread and attached them to my card. A little bulky for mailing, but a nice statement for a hand delivered card.

I added the sentiment to a banner on the bottom, using another of the stamps from the Good Greetings set (available as a hostess exclusive until the end of October) and mounted this on a piece of Night of navy wrapped with linen thread.

That's all for today; I have a Christmas card class to look forward to later using Festival of Trees, which should be fun! Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Good Greetings Wood-Mount Stamp Set	Fall Fest Photopolymer Bundle	Autumn Wooden Elements	Kraft 12" X 12" Card Stock	Linen Thread
Daffodil Delight 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin' Pad	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad
Whisper White A4 Card Stock

It's Sunday which means one thing - it's time for our weekly challenge over at The Paper Players! This week Sandy has a great sketch for us:

Sketches are my absolute favourite challenges - so many possibilities, and this sketch is no exception! So much so, I actually made two cards using this sketch already which I thought I would share with you today. If you've come from The Paper Players blog, this is the card that you will have seen there:

My first take on the sketch was this fall-inspired card, where I layered a combination of 1" punched circles and little leaves cut out using the Big Shot and the Fall Fest framelits, in Hello Honey, Mossy Meadow and Tangelo Twist on a base of Baked Brown Sugar, and finished with a simple knotted bow of Hello Honey satin ribbon and a sentiment from the 'Good Greetings' hostess set. I haven't used this colour combination before but thought it would make a nice fall colour scheme; I prefer these colours in cardstock rather than stamped on Whisper White, as I find the inks too intense somehow. I am linking this card up with the challenge over at SUO Challenges this week as they are looking for cards using autumnal colours, so this totally fits the bill.

I liked this sketch so much, I couldn't stop at one card though; the card below is the very first thing that came to me when I looked at the sketch and it was so simple I just had to make it and share it with you:

I stamped the 3 pairs of eyes from 'Freaky Friends' twice each in Versamark onto Basic Black cardstock and heat embossed in Crushed Curry, then did the same with the sentiment and heat embossed that in white. I then matted this panel onto a panel of Crushed Curry and a Basic Black card base. Simple, but so effective in real life - the eyes have a real shine as if they are looking out of the card at you!

I had to stop there for today, but I know I will use this sketch again - it is a keeper! Do pop by The Paper Players site and check out the blogs of the rest of the design team - there are some awesome cards this week, as always!

Right, we have a morning of sport in the James household today - Rebecca and I are going to explore a new hockey club and the boys are off to check out a rugby club, before reconvening for lunch and hopefully a restful afternoon.

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Fun Fall Framelits Dies	Good Greetings Wood-Mount Stamp Set	Hello Honey 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon	Baked Brown Sugar Classic Stampin' Pad	Card Stock A4 Baked Brown Sugar
Hello Honey A4 Cardstock	Mossy Meadow A4 Cardstock	Tangelo Twist A4 Cardstock	1 Inch Circle Punch	Freaky Friends Clear-Mount Stamp Set
Ghoulish Greetings Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad	Heat Tool - Uk Plug	White Stampin' Emboss Powder
Crushed Curry Stampin' Emboss Powder	Card Stock A4 Crushed Curry	Basic Black A4 Card Stock

Hello lovely blog readers! I hope you're having a good weekend. I've spent my day preparing for my cardmaking class on Monday (more on that later in the week). I had a lovely day yesterday, the highlight of which was spending the morning at a fundraiser coffee morning held by my sister-in-law; wonderful cakes and tea in vintage china and a balloon release in memory of those we have known and loved who passed away as a result of cancer. We raised £323 in total which will go towards the charity MacMillan Cancer Support, to fund nurses to support those suffering this terrible disease, so a fantastic effort for a worthwhile cause.

Today I'm sharing my entry for this week's Merry Monday challenge, where Kathy is hosting a fun game of Christmas Bingo:

I decided to use the diagonal - red, ribbon or twine and emboss - for my card, which you can see below:

I decided to make a square card and wanted to try another sentiment-based card using the 'What's Your Type?' stamp set, this time using the word 'Noel' and more traditional Christmas colours of Real Red, Garden Green and gold. I stamped my sentiment onto Very Vanilla, with the lined elements of each letter stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in gold. I finished the 'O' with  gold button threaded with Real Red 1/4" cotton ribbon and tied in a bow.

These cards are quite fun and not at all tricky when you get the hang of aligning the various stamps to make the letters. That's all from me today; back tomorrow with my Design Team card for The Paper Players - and a bonus card!

Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

What's Your Type? Photopolymer Stamp Set	Real Red 1/4" Cotton Ribbon	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad	Garden Green A4 Card Stock	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
Real Red A4 Card Stock	Brushed Gold A4 Card Stock	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock	Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad
Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder	Heat Tool - Uk Plug	Gold Basic Metal Buttons