I've had a busy couple of days preparing swaps and finishing my preparations for the Stampin' Up! event at Telford on Saturday and I've still got more to do! Today I'm sharing my card for this week's challenge over at Less is More, where Chrissie and the team are looking for one layer thank you cards. I decided to try something something a little different, using my retired but never-to-be parted with Expressions Thinlits. Here is my card:

I decided to make a thank you card that would be suitable for a male, or at the very least gender neutral - so I went for a nice bright blue. Now I know the eagle-eyed amongst you are thinking - but the framelit says 'thankful', right? Well that's true - as I only wanted the 'thank' part, I positioned it over the edge of the card and cut it to the edge so that it looks as if the writing is going off the edge of the card. I adhered the cut-out pieces from the middle of the word to the inside of the card, to maintain the definition of the lettering - you can see it more clearly on the photo below:

To finish my sentiment, I inked up the 'you' from the 'thank you' sentiment in the 'Simply Celebrate' set and heat embossed it with silver embossing powder. A clean and simple thank you card that's just a little bit different! I'm also linking my card up to 'Addicted to CAS', where the current challenge is appropriately 'off the edge'. Right, I'm off to get my nails done!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Simply Celebrate	Pacific Point A4 Card Stock	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Magnetic Platform
Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad	Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder

I'm having a love affair with my heat gun this week as this is my second card that features heat embossing and I've another cued up for tomorrow too! Today's card is my entry for this week's challenge over at The Paper Players where Sandy has chosen some lovely subtle spring colours to work with; I've also used this week's layout over at Retrosketches as the basis for my card:

I thought that The Paper Players colours were just asking to be used on a floral card - this is what I came up with:

I stamped the corner flower image twice in Versamark onto my vellum panel then heat embossed in white and coloured the reverse of the images with my So Saffron, Calypso Coral and Pear Pizzazz markers. I then adhered this to a panel of Calypso Coral and heat embossed my 'thank you' sentiment in white onto a panel of So Saffron and placed this across the middle on dimensionals.

This card came together quite quickly and I love the subtle effect of the colouring behind the vellum.

That's all from me today - I have to go and get on with my swaps in readiness for Stampin' Up!'s UK regional training event in Telford on Saturday, in order to be finished in time to go and watch Rebecca's first rounders match of the season later on this afternoon!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

So Very Grateful	Subtles Stampin' Write Markers	Calypso Coral A4 Card Stock	So Saffron A4 Card Stock	Embossing Buddy
Versamark Pad	White Stampin' Emboss Powder	Heat Tool - Uk Plug	White Vellum A4 Card Stock

It's Wednesday again and they're here: today's 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 May (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:

2012-2014 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack	Bbq Blitz Ensemble - Digital Download	Coastal Cabana 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim	Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper	Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape
Pistachio Pudding 3/8" Ruffle Stretch Trim	Soho Subway Designer Series Paper

More great offers on Designer Series Paper this week - including one of my personal favourites, Gingham Garden, now just £7.46 a stack; a great time to stock up I think! 

Back shortly with today's creative post; until then, happy shopping!

Today I'm sharing a card I made for this week's challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary, where they have a lovely vibrant colour palette to play with; I also used the layout over at CAS(E) This Sketch:

This card gave me the perfect opportunity to make a feature of a lovely piece of Watercolour Wonder paper that I've had in my box for a while and also to try something different with the tab panel. Here is my card:

I used Calypso Coral for the base of my card, topped with a piece of Watercolour Wonder DSP. Now I know that, strictly speaking, the paper pack says that Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango are the feature colours in the Watercolour Wonder papers, however the watercolour effects mean that on some of the sheets the blending means that there are also opportunities to match with other colours, such as Calypso Coral for example - I just chose an area of paper that avoided the darkest orange tones so it fits perfectly with the rest of my card. I cut my inverted banner from a piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock and used a 1 1/4" circle and the Label Bracket punch to create the Daffodil Delight aperture to showcase my Petite Petals flower - I've been wanting to use this framing idea ever since I saw it on one of Connie Babbert's cards a while ago (you can see Connie's original card here). I also stamped my 'hello' sentiment in Versamark and heat embossed in Whisper White. Lastly, I stamped my flower in Calypso Coral on some Whisper White cardstock and finished it with a Bermuda Bay candy dot.

I really like how this card turned out; I almost stamped a sentiment onto the DSP instead of the banner, but in hindsight I'm really glad I didn't - I love that the watercoloured panel is on show and uninterrupted by any other stamping or design.

Back tomorrow with another project and this week's new Wednesday weekly deals; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper	Petite Petals Clear-Mount Bundle	Bracket Label Punch	1-1/4 Inch Circle Punch	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad
Calypso Coral A4 Card Stock	Daffodil Delight A4 Card Stock	Card Stock A4 Bermuda Bay	Brights Candy Dots	Embossing Buddy
Versamark Pad	White Stampin' Emboss Powder	Heat Tool - Uk Plug

Good evening everyone! Firstly, can I say a big than you to Helen, Dotty and Granny for your lovely comments on Rebecca's blog post yesterday - it's always nice to get comments and she was very touched by your kind words and asked me to say thank you to you all today.

On to today's post! I wanted to play with my new photopolymer stamps that arrived last week (free with each order of £60 or more - read all about the May offer here) and am just managing to squeeze in my entry to this week's Pals Paper Arts challenge, where this week there is a colour challenge. I also loosely based my card on the sketch over at Fab Friday:

Whilst the PPA design team came up with a great variety of cards suitable for both men and women this week, this colour scheme led me to make a masculine card. As I mentioned, I wanted to use my photopolymer stamps to try out an idea inspired by a printed card I saw recently on Pinterest (you can see that card here) - here is my card:

Clearly without the absolute pinpoint accuracy of the printed medium, yet this alphabet was relatively easy to stamp and align using the Sans and Stripes photopolymer stamps without the need for a stamp-a-ma-jig. I cut the word bubble by hand (another reason to add to my list of 'Why I need an e-cutter'!) and backed this with a contrasting coloured panel that I embossed with the Chevron embossing folder, rounding the corners to echo the shape of the word bubble. Lastly, I punched a contrasting heart and popped it on a dimensional. I liked this card so much, I also made one in the reverse colourway:

I think I like my Cajun Craze base the most, but this alternative version comes a close second. What about you - which one appeals to you most? I made this card with Father's Day in mind - still a good month away, but it pays to be organised! It would equally make a good birthday card for a special Dad.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Sans And Stripes Photopolymer Stamp Set	Cajun Craze A4 Card Stock	Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad
Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock	Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	Small Heart Punch	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Envelope Punch Board

Today I have a special blog post for you - a guest blogger, none other than my 8 year old daughter! As I was eating my breakfast and minding my own business one day, she was reading over my shoulder and fell in love with the card featured - this fabulous card featuring the fox from the Life in The Forest set, by the talented Erica Cerwin.  She promptly announced she just HAD to copy the card and as Rebecca has always fancied the idea of writing her own blog, I asked if she would like to write the blog post for it and she jumped at the chance! So here is her CASE of Erica's card and a few words about how and why she made it:

"I really liked this card when I saw it and decided it would make a perfect card for my singing teacher, to say thank you for her help in enabling me to get a distinction in my recent grade one singing exam. I stamped lots of foxes on the card base, and coloured in the white bits with a chalk marker. I love how you can see them through the vellum. I then stamped another fox and cut him out and stuck him on the front behind the grass, which I cut with fringe scissors. I made the banner with 'You're one in a million' but added a row of gold sequins to mine too, for extra sparkle. I also stamped a fox on the card envelope and coloured him in with a Cajun Craze marker pen. my singing teacher loved her card!"

I hope you like Rebecca's card - normal blog service resumes tomorrow! until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Jet Black Stazon Pad	Life In The Forest	Fringe Scissors	White Stampin Chalk Marker	White Vellum A4 Card Stock
Scallop Edge Border Punch	Cajun Craze A4 Card Stock	Garden Green A4 Card Stock	Regals Designer Series Paper Stack	Oh, Hello Clear-Mount Stamp Set
One In A Million Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Regals Stampin' Write Markers	Gold Baker's Twine	Gold Sequin Trim

A quick post from me this evening as I sit with my feet up relaxing following today's all day workshop. We had a lovely time and everyone left with lots of completed projects and plenty of leftover bits and pieces to make lots more things at home. The following card, designed by Monica Gale, was one of my favourite projects:

The feature of the card is a Stippled Blossoms rose that is stamped partially off the tag; this is backed with a couple of strips of Fresh Prints DSP and then finished with a red grosgrain ribbon bow and a sentiment cut with the word window punch. A simple enough card but a great way to use the Stippled Blossoms stamps and great practice for getting to grips with your stamp-a-ma-jig. I'm on a mission to make sure all my ladies can use theirs and truly reap the benefits (much to their dismay at times, I'm sure!) of this amazing little plastic sheet and its accompanying t-piece. Thanks ladies for your patience!

My next monthly card class is on Monday 2nd June and will be featuring the 'Springtime Hello' stamp set. If you live in or around Northampton and would like to come along, please do get in touch for more details - experienced and non-experienced crafters welcome.

Back tomorrow hopefully with a special blog post for you; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Stippled Blossoms Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Scalloped Tag Topper Punch	Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack	Lots Of Thanks	Real Red 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon
Word Window Punch	Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad	Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad
Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock

Good evening lovely blog readers! I've had a busy day today with lots of household chores and last minute preparations for an all day class that I'm running tomorrow with some of my favourite crafting ladies. Today I thought I would share with you one of the projects that we are making at our class tomorrow - a cute little tote made using the Envelope Punch Board:

This project was designed by Monica Gale and is one that I made at our last team quarterly training day. It's made using the papers from the Fresh Prints DSP stack and decorated with a tag stamped from the 'Hello Lovely' stamp set. I just love the colours and patterns in this paper stack and as a card maker these papers offer such great value for money at just £6.25 for 48 sheets. We are also making a set of thank you notelets to go inside - this would make such a nice little gift for someone. I'm looking forward to making this and lots of other projects with my ladies tomorrow; if you live in or around Northampton and would be interested in attending any of my cardmaking or project classes, you can find my current class schedule here or just contact me for more information.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Envelope Punch Board	Hardwood	Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack	Hello Lovely
Lots Of Thanks	1-3/4 Inch Scallop Circle Punch	Pansy Punch	1-1/4" Scallop Circle Punch	Decorative Label Punch
Real Red 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon	Basics Glimmer Brads	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Word Window Punch
Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

Hello everyone - my second video in a week! I'm cheating slightly, as I actually shot this video weeks ago but haven't got around to editing it until now. I made a lovely concertina fold Mother's Day card a while ago using the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch - you can see my original card here - which was based on a similar card made by Julie Kettlewell (you can see Julie's original card here). Having just gone to update my original post with the link to today's video, I realise I didn't mention her in my original post, which was very remiss of me and a complete oversight on my part, as I even mentioned her in today's video. Needless to say, I have now updated the original post!

I love this concertina fold card style - it's great if you need a card that's just a little different. I made another card based on my original one, this time adapting it to a birthday card for a friend of mine who always puts so much thought into cards for others, I thought she deserved something special for her birthday too; here's my latest scalloped tag topper punch concertina fold card:

The dimensions are exactly the same as my original card - there is still enough space to stamp 'happy' on one panel, with 'birthday' spelled out on the subsequent panels leaving the last panel blank for your message (I also stamped a little 'to you!' on this panel, just to complete my message). I also decorated one of the Stampin' Up! Kraft gift boxes with some co-ordinating Gingham Garden DSP to make some pretty packaging for my accompanying gift - finished with a tag made with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch - well, what else?! Here's a picture of both pieces together:

So, if you would like to make a Scalloped Tag Topper Concertina Fold Card - either for the forthcoming international Mother's Day or a birthday card, here's my video tutorial showing you everything you need to know:

If you would like to purchase any of the Stampin' Up! supplies featured in today's project, just contact me or click on the links in the table below to go straight to my online store.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Scalloped Tag Topper Punch	Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper	Petite Petals Clear-Mount Bundle	Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die	Stippled Blossoms Clear-Mount Stamp Set
Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad	Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock
Daffodil Delight A4 Card Stock	Island Indigo A4 Card Stock	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Punch Pack	Beautiful Wings Stampin' Up! Embosslits Die
Fabulous Phrases - Clear-Mount Stamp	Simply Celebrate

Good evening all! I had an unexpected uninterrupted day at home today and with the exception of a large basket of ironing, I've spent pretty much the whole day crafting - bliss! I had lots of partially finished projects on my desk and am glad to have been able to complete a fair few of these and cleared some space. I also had some new goodies arrive today and when I saw this week's Colour Me ...! challenge colours and photo inspiration, I just knew I was going to have to ink one of them up to complete a card for this challenge! I also used this week's sketch over at Retrosketches for my layout and tied it in with Jaydee's theme of 'Mother' over at The Paper Players this week:

I always think of Cherry Cobbler as a Christmas colour, so it's nice to use it for something that isn't seasonal. Here is my card:

This card was the perfect excuse to ink up my new Stippled Blossoms stamp set. I've much admired this set for some time as I love the effect of the two-step stamping on the flowers, which look so typical of old English roses, but only recently purchased it. It's essential to use a stamp-a-ma-jig to get the images perfectly aligned - and there is no matching framelit, so the blossoms all need to be fussy cut by hand - but it is so worth it. I used my flowers to frame my central panel, a sheet of Watercolour Wonder DSP in White/Smoky Slate, onto which I heat-embossed the sentiment 'A Million and One Thanks' in Pewter. I matted this onto a square of Cherry Cobbler and used a Smoky Slate base. We've already celebrated Mothering Sunday here in the UK, but I decided to stay with this theme for my card. I thought this sentiment was quite appropriate; I know I don't thank my own Mother or Mother-in-law enough for everything they do for me and my family. I added a label (punched with the edge of the Decorative Label Punch) to incorporate 'to my delightful Mother' too and I finished off my card with a simple chevron ribbon trim and some rhinestones to add some sparkle.

Do check out the links to the challenges above for more design inspiration, especially Colour Me ...! where my long-distance Stampin' Up! buddy LeAnne Pugliese is the guest designer this month; you can check out her card on her Wee Inklings blog here.

Back tomorrow with another project (maybe even another video!); until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Stippled Blossoms Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Delightful Dozen - Clear-Mount Stamp	Million & One	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig	Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper
Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Card Stock A4 Smoky Slate	Cherry Cobbler A4 Card Stock	Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad
Cherry Cobbler 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Decorative Label Punch	Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents	Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad
Pewter Stampin' Emboss Powder	Heat Tool - Uk Plug