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

I'm also playing along with the 'anything goes' CAS challenge over at AAA Cards but since I thought these colours would be perfect for a Christmas card, I'm not going with the optional twist of Halloween. I decided to use an old favourite for my card today that would allow me to indulge in some inlaid diecutting - take a look:

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

Shy Shamrock is one of this year's new in-colours but I haven't used it much to date. The retired Christmas Classics bundle is a seasonal favourite of mine and the dies were perfect to showcase both shades of green:

I think Shy Shamrock adds a real freshness to this card - I love the colour combo this week and can't wait to see what our challenge entrants make of them too. 

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

SHY SHAMROCK A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)

SHADED SPRUCE A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)

SHADED SPRUCE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)

REAL RED A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (10.50)

Happy Monday everyone - another week rolls around! Today I'm sharing a card that I made using Judy's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week:

I don't often use ovals as the focal point on a card, but I was inspired by Judy's sketch as I had some diecut foliage in the A Little Bit Festive Christmas designer series paper pack that I knew would work perfectly for that element at the bottom of the frame - take a look:

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

I started with that foliage swag, which might seem a little backward, but I had been wanting to use it to decorate something, so that was the first bit. I then decided to feature one of the large sentiments from the 'Greetings Of The Season' stamp set in my oval. This has to be my favourite sentiment stamp set this season - you can make all kinds of greetings by combining the words in this set and the two larger sentiments are great as a framed feature or on the inside of your card too. Finally, with decoration and sentiment sorted, I had to decide how to 'frame' it and what background to use. Turns out this step took ages; I tried all kinds of embossed and patterned paper finishes, but nothing seemed to work. Then, as I looked at Judy's sketch, the ornate detail she used to decorate her oval reminded me of my old retired Heirloom Frames 3D Embossing Folders - and the retired one fit my sentiment perfectly:

A plain Garden Green background to allow the plaster-like embossed detail of my frame to shine, and my card was complete!

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:

GREETINGS OF THE SEASON PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (24.00)

A LITTLE BIT FESTIVE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) MIX & MATCH SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (9.50)

GARDEN GREEN A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (10.50)

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 the fabulous Elizabeth to host this week and she has a timely theme challenge for us to work with:

I used some old favourites with some current ones to make a card for Elizabeth's theme of 'giving thanks' this week - take a look:

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

As a lover of designer paper, I couldn't resist this oxidised copper paper, but I find myself in a love-hate relationship with it; I have such great ideas of how to use it, but they never quite turn out as planned! I thought that the Leaf Fall Embossing Folder would make for a lovely embossed finish with this paper and whilst in real life, my card looks really pretty, I'm not sure the photograph does it justice - it's quite difficult to see the embossed detail against the shine of the paper. You can see it better on the close-up below:

I paired my shiny embossed background with one of my favourite thankful sentiments from the retired stamp set 'Lighthearted Leaves' that I heat embossed in copper and added a couple of retired copper metallic leaf embellishments to complete my card. I made a second card with the same design but in the Pecan Pie colour of oxidised copper paper too:

 Again, the embossed detail shows up better on the close-up below:

Two pretty cards that are perfect to send some seasonal thanks - even if the detail was tricky to capture in a photo!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

LEAF FALL 3D EMBOSSING FOLDER (10.25)	OXIDIZED COPPER 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (7.50)	STYLISH SHAPES DIES (28.00)	VERSAMARK PAD (9.00)	METALLICS WOW! EMBOSSING POWDER (20.00)	PRETTY PEACOCK A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)
PECAN PIE A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)

Happy Friday everyone! Today I'm sharing a card that uses the layout over at Try A Sketch on Tuesday as my starting point:

I'm still making Christmas cards and when I saw that large open oval I thought the double poinsettia in the A Little Bit Festive Mix & Match designer series paper pack would make the perfect centrepiece for my card - take a look:

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

Isn't that double flower great? I paired it with some (retired) striped paper from Around The World, and overlaid my flowers with a diecut 'Joy' from the Joyful Sayings pack and added in some gold twine and enamel dots as accents:

This card is big on impact with those larger-than-life elements, yet was relatively quick and easy to put together; the combination of A Little Bit Festive Mix & match papers and the Joyful Sayings diecut sentiments are great for speedy Christmas 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. 

Enjoy your day: I'm out for dinner this evening since the young James Junior is staying at a friends for fireworks and a sleepover - what a treat. and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

A LITTLE BIT FESTIVE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) MIX & MATCH SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (9.50)	JOYFUL SAYINGS MIX & MATCH EPHEMERA PACK (ENGLISH) (9.00)	GREETINGS OF THE SEASON PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (24.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (10.50)	REAL RED A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)	VERSAMARK PAD (9.00)
METALLICS WOW! EMBOSSING POWDER (20.00)	ADHESIVE-BACKED METALLIC GEMS (8.50)

Happy Halloween everyone! First up: this is your final day to take advantage both of the current enhanced joining offer and the 30% off kits sale - two great ways to get more for your money, so consider this your final reminder!

Secondly, I do have a quick card to share that I made using the layout over at Sketch Saturday:

This is such a versatile sketch and I had the perfect 'cheat' in mind for that striped panel - take a look:

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

I needed a card to welcome someone to their new home, so had my 'Humble Home' bundle out on my desk and I decided that this sketch was perfect to highlight a little punched house in that circle. I punched my house twice out of Country Woods designer series paper, and trimmed the roof from the darker piece and paper-pieced it to my base. I also used another pattern in the pack to punch out the heart, and yet another pattern for my striped panel - yes, my 'cheat' is that the paper is already striped in a variety of coloured wood, so all I had to do was choose a piece with the colours I wanted and cut out a strip - quick and easy! I added a sentiment from 'Humble Home' to my cardbase, and sat my punched house onto a circle cut with one of the Spotlight on Nature Dies, that I threaded with navy twine - I love this effect for a simple added detail:

This card is winging its way to a dear friend who loves a simple card and is in the throes of moving house - so I hope she likes this one!

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:

HUMBLE HOME BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (37.75)

COUNTRY WOODS 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.75)

SPOTLIGHT ON NATURE DIES (33.00)

EARLY ESPRESSO A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)

NIGHT OF NAVY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (10.50)

I had a super crafty day yesterday so I have a quick extra post with a couple of cards I made using some sketch challenges that are closing today:

The first is a Christmas card that uses the sketch over at Tuesday Morning Sketches and is a no-stamping-at-all card - take a look:

I used a diecut wreath from the A LIttle Bit Festive speciality paper pack (I used the offcut to decorate the envelope) and a foiled diecut sentiment from the Joyful Sayings pack. A few metallic gems and a simple gold twine bow were the finishing touches that complete my card:

My second card is for the challenge over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge; I haven't managed to play along there in a while but since they are celebrating their 600th challenge sketch I had to play along. Not only that, the sketch was perfect for another zentangled circle creation featuring the Full Of Life designer series paper - take a look:

I added a panel of paper and a birthday sentiment from the 'Friends For Life' stamp set, separating the two with a black and white gingham ribbon bow:

A few black enamel dots complete my card. This card is heading to my nephew for his upcoming birthday - I think he will appreciate the modern design (the bow maybe less so!)

Here are the visual summaries of the key products used on today's projects 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:

A LITTLE BIT FESTIVE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) MIX & MATCH SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (9.50)	JOYFUL SAYINGS MIX & MATCH EPHEMERA PACK (ENGLISH) (9.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (10.50)	NIGHT OF NAVY A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)	ADHESIVE-BACKED METALLIC GEMS (8.50)
FULL OF LIFE 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.75)	FRIENDS FOR LIFE PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (24.00)	BASIC BLACK A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (7.50)

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! If you live in the UK I hope you enjoyed an extra hour in bed this morning as the clocks changed! It's the turn of the fabulous Ann to host this week and she has my favourite, a sketch challenge for us to work with:

I have another Christmas card to share with you today, which I'm also sharing with the team over at Inkspirational where they are all about seasonal cards, and this one is full-on traditional festive - take a look:

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

A Little Bit Festive - The A Little Bit Festive specialty designer series paper is the big hitter on today's card: I used a sheet of the red and white striped candy cane panels for the base and one of the diecut wreaths as the backing for my sentiment. This paper is so great for 'one and done' cards, with pre-diecut pieces making light work of decoration. I couldn't stop there today though; in addition to adding in some extra diecut foliage and berries, I added a few other pieces too; for more information, read on!

Greetings Of The Season - I added a heat-embossed sentiment from the 'Greetings of the Season' stamp set to the centre of my wreath, in two parts in order to fit the whole sentiment without obscuring too much of the foliage:

Joyful Sayings - Since the sentiment on the sketch was actually at the bottom of the left panel, not inside the shape, I chose some words that would allow me an extra element instead of substituting something else here; I actually used one of the pre-printed Joyful Sayings elements - it works perfectly.

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. 

I love the traditional festive look of today's card; what's your favourite kind of Christmas card design? Do let me know in the comments below.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

A LITTLE BIT FESTIVE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) MIX & MATCH SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (9.50)	JOYFUL SAYINGS MIX & MATCH EPHEMERA PACK (ENGLISH) (9.00)	STYLISH SHAPES DIES (28.00)	GREETINGS OF THE SEASON PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (24.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (10.50)	VERSAMARK PAD (9.00)
BASICS WOW! EMBOSSING POWDER (20.00)	GARDEN GREEN A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)	REAL RED A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)

Today I'm sharing a quick card I made a couple of nights ago for the current challenge over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown where the theme this week is 'Nutcracker':

I still have my long retired 'Santa Stache' stamp set so paired him with a layout that gave me the opportunity to use up some retired nutcracker-patterned paper I had in my stash too - take a look:

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

A quick stamp of my Nutcracker and coloured with my Blends. I diecut his moustache and popped it up on dimensionals for a little extra lift because, well, why not?

I used an offcut of patterned paper to decorate both the inside of my card and the edge of my envelope - and done.

No visual summary today - this card was simply for fun and to show some love to old Nutcrackers! 

Enjoy the rest of your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. 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 recipe challenge from the fabulous Heather C:

I don't mind admitting, I struggled with this one! I tried a few things but found combining all of the elements a challenge - but I guess that's kind of the point, right?! In the end it was the inspo photo over at Inspired By that unlocked things for me - take a look:

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

Oxidised Copper - I used a panel of Oxidised Copper paper, a gorgeous warm metallic, for my card base. Although I've mostly covered it with my embossed strips, its beauty still shines through. This ticked off both warm tones and metallics. 

Leaf Fall - I decided to make a feature of my dry embossing, so embossed a panel of Early Espresso with the Leaf Fall 3D embossing folder and then cut it into strips, over my oxidised copper panel. I chose this darker brown as I liked the contrast and warmth of those blankets in the Inspired By photo and wanted to evoke that in my fall card. I love the detail of those embossed leaves! Embossed texture - tick.

 Final Copper Touches - I added my sentiment from the 'Friends For Life' stamp set to a tag diecut using one of the Greetings of The Season Dies - these are so useful! - and heat embossed it in copper. A snippet of retired copper ribbon tied with some dark brown baker's twine and a blink-and-you'll-miss-it tiny retired copper pinecone that I found in my stash completed my card and allowed another nod to that Inspired By photo:

Tag and thinking of you sentiment - tick and tick. Recipe complete! So what will you cook up with this week's challenge ingredients? Do share your projects in our gallery and show us your makes!

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 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; I'm off to tick off some chores in the hope of a little crafty time over the weekend. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

LEAF FALL 3D EMBOSSING FOLDER (10.25)	GREETINGS OF THE SEASON DIES (30.00)	OXIDIZED COPPER 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (7.50)	FRIENDS FOR LIFE PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (24.00)	VERSAMARK PAD (9.00)	METALLICS WOW! EMBOSSING POWDER (20.00)
VERY VANILLA A4 CARDSTOCK (13.00)	EARLY ESPRESSO A4 CARDSTOCK (10.75)

Today I'm sharing a card that I made for the current clean and simple challenge over at Addicted to CAS where the code word is WOOD:

So many ways to interpret this code word; as I'm still very much in the festive cardmaking zone, I decided to make another one, this time featuring the stamped sled from 'Sophisticated Sled', one of my current favourite Online Exclusives - take a look:

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

I used the diecut sled previously on these cards, but thought that I would use the stamped sled for today's clean and simple version and use my Blends markers to achieve a realistic wooden effect on the slats - here's a close look:

I decorated my sled with a simple ribbon-tied bunch of berries for a little added festive colour and stamped my sentiment directly onto my white cardbase. I love the look of this traditional sled - so many of those you see today are made from brightly coloured plastic, this sled is a real touch of festive nostalgia for the way things used to be.

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:

SOPHISTICATED SLED BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (50.25)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (7.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (10.50)	POPPY PARADE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (10.25)	REAL RED STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (10.25)	SUMMER SPLASH STAMPIN’ BLENDS COMBO PACK (10.25)
STAMPIN’ BLENDS MEDIUM DEEP COMBO (10.25)	STAMPIN’ BLENDS DEEP COMBO PACK (10.25)