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 Felicita is our featured designer this week. This is the fun board that we are playing along with: 

I have been having a lot of fun with my Cottage Wreaths bundle so decided to take the right hand column and use any shape die, wreath and gold foil/glitter for my card today - take a look:

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

I love the sketch over at TGIF Challenges this week and decided that it would be perfect for a little of 'something old, something new' - I layered a stamped and diecut wreath from the Cottage Wreaths bundle over a panel of Soft Sea Foam. embossed with the retired but gorgeous Seasonal Wreath embossing folder. This has so much detail and dimension yet makes a pretty, subtle background. I also added some stamped and diecut holly leaves, red rhinestones and an antique gold foiled bow to my Christmassy Cottage Wreath, along with a fussy cut sentiment:

All of this was against a background of the returning favourite, painted Christmas Designer Series Paper, with a couple of red glimmer borders thrown in. The prettiness doesn't stop there though - I also decorated both the inside of my card, and the envelope - no naked envelopes here:

I'll be sharing this with the lovely ladies over at Just Us Girls where it's trend week and this is the trend Lisa has chosen. I love to decorate an envelope and the inside of my card to co-ordinate with the card front; I think it's a great way to add a finishing detail and I like to think that a patterned envelope makes the recipient smile before they've even opened 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. 

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 heading out to Sixth Form Options Evening with the youngest of the James Juniors at school this evening; this does at least mean dinner out, due to the logistics of trying to get everywhere on time - what a treat! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

COTTAGE WREATHS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (49.50)	PAINTED CHRISTMAS 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	REAL RED & WHITE 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) GLIMMER PAPER (4.75)	MERRIEST MOMENTS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (21.00)	SOFT SEA FOAM A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	REAL RED CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)
SHADED SPRUCE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	EVENING EVERGREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	DISTRESSED GOLD 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY PAPER (4.75)	RED RHINESTONE BASIC JEWELS (6.75)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)

Create more by spending less during the Seasonal Sale! Between 15 and 18 November 2022, select products from the 2022–2023 Annual Catalogue will be on sale with the following discounts:

• 10% off all punches
• 15% of all stamps (Host stamp sets are not included in this sale)
• 20% off all dies
• 20% off all embossing folders
• 20% off all non-specialty and non-assortment Designer Series Paper

With the season of giving upon us, this is a great opportunity to buy gifts for your fellow crafting enthusiasts, or to stock up on supplies for all your upcoming handmade projects. Remember, this sale is for four days only so don’t miss out! You can order directly in my online store or alternatively if you live local to me, you are welcome to add to my order to save on postage - please get your orders to me by tomorrow evening ready to put through first thing Friday.

If you have a Stampin' Up! wish list, now is the ideal time to share it with me if you haven't already. I can then make sure that any friends or relatives that want to buy you a gift for Christmas purchase exactly what you'd like and yet you will still receive a surprise - a win-win! If you get it to me before the end of the week, you could get even more than you bargained for ;-)

I'll be back with a reminder on Friday - meanwhile, happy shopping!

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

I usually struggle with colour challenges, but Cecile has chosen some great ones this month - I love them all! For my card today I decided these colours were perfect for another Christmas card - take a look:

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

Masked Blending - I started by adding a couple of strips of masking tape to my white card base and using a blending brush, blended my Soft Succulent ink from the corner across my card, fading at the edges. I then removed the masking tape to give a nice border to frame my main focal image. 

Christmas Pinecones and A Blending Trick - I decided these colours would be perfect for some pine needles and pinecones, so I cut some using my Christmas Pinecone Dies and snipped out a section that could be used to fit my corner. I created two-tone colours by adding the same colour ink to deepen the colour on one of the layers - this is a useful trick to create two tones of the same colour easily. I added some puffy snow and some iridescent gems for a little extra detail:

Christmas To Remember - The sentiment on the front of my card comes from the 'Christmas To Remember' stamp set, and I used another from the same set on the inside of my card. I stamped it in Early Espresso to compliment my pinecone detail.

This card does have more detail than I usually choose for a CC&S card, however it is still clean and simple with some clean, white space. 

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! color 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. I am spending today with one of my dear crafty friends that I don't get to see often face-to-face and we have lots to catch up on, so I'm really looking forward to it! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

CHRISTMAS PINECONE DIES (42.00)	CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (22.00)	EARLY ESPRESSO A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	EARLY ESPRESSO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	OLD OLIVE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	OLD OLIVE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)
SOFT SUCCULENT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	BLENDING BRUSHES (11.75)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)	VERSAMARK PAD (9.00)	BASICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (17.00)	IRIDESCENT RHINESTONES BASIC JEWELS (7.00)

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

I thought the icy colours of blue, silver and white would make a pretty Christmas card so I grabbed my Leaves of Holly bundle and used Linda's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches for my layout (I flipped the main images to suit the shape of my main holly label die) and set to work - take a look at what I came up with:

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

I decided to layer a couple of the main holly labels from the Holly Berry Dies, one in dark metallic silver and one in white that I stamped my main greeting on and overlaid them having turned the bottom one through 180 degrees. I added in a selection of holly leaves and foliage behind each, cut from a combination of silver foil and white glimmer paper and interspersed with some blue ones. I created my own piece of variegated blue cardstock by adding three blue inks randomly to a sheet of whisper white cardstock and then diecut a selection of solid and outline leaves from this, overstamping some in Starry Sky ink too - I just love the effect! I added some silver twine and a selection of opal rounds and blue faceted enamel dots to my Starry Sky cardbase, that I had inked around the edges and added some white ink splatters to as a finishing touch:

Aren't those holly leaves just so pretty? I added a second smaller label towards the bottom of my card as per the sketch for the second part of my sentiment - this set has some great combination sentiments which work well with this layout. I also used a larger A5 card base to accommodate my design; I like having a few special, larger cards for close friends and family members at this time of year and this design 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. 

How do this week's colours inspire you? I'd love to know what you think of today's non-traditional holly leaves card - do leave me a comment below and share your thoughts.

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 spent all day yesterday at the side of the hockey pitch and this morning I'm taking the youngest of the James Juniors to participate in his school army cadets Remembrance Day parade and service - always a spectacular sight and such an important duty, 'lest we forget'. I'll be back tomorrow with another project using some of the leftover pieces from today, so stay tuned. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

LEAVES OF HOLLY BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (48.50)	REAL RED & WHITE 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) GLIMMER PAPER (4.75)	SIMPLY ELEGANT TRIM (7.00)	OPAL ROUNDS (7.00)	SILVER FOIL 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY PACK (9.50)	BLENDING BRUSHES (11.75)
STARRY SKY A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	STARRY SKY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	PACIFIC POINT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	BALMY BLUE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)

Today I have my card for the new challenge over at Festive Friday. 

The challenge that we are celebrating this week is 'National Cake Day' which is on 26th November. Remember the fun thing is that at Festive Friday you do not need to actually celebrate the occasion; your goal is to simply use three or more items from the inspiration list on your project. This week I used birthday sentiment, candle and patterned paper and using the current sketch layout over at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge this is what I came up with:

 Here's the low-down on today's card:

Charming Sentiments - For today's card I used both a sentiment and dies from the Charming Sentiments bundle. This is a great sentiment set with dies that cut out each of the sentiments exactly; but did you also know that the dieset has a number of very useful extras, including stars and candles for example? That's where I got the candles from that feature on my card today - so useful, everything you need in one bundle! 

Celebrate Everything - I took the colour scheme for my card today from the stripes in the paper that I featured on the bottom half of my card front, that comes from the 'Celebrate Everything' DSP pack - you know how much I love these papers, right?! I did take a little liberty with the sketch, as my stripes are diagonal rather than straight - but it's clear where the inspiration has come from:

A Surprise Inside - This is a birthday card that's something of a two-in-one - I added a pocket to the inside to hold some money too:

A little extra paper to the envelope flap completes this colourful card that is winging its way to my nephew whose birthday it is next week.

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. 

How does our board inspire you? I can’t wait to see what YOU create! For more inspiration, be sure to visit the rest of the Festive Friday Challenge Design team:

Ann Schach
Beth McCullough
Sharon Hashimoto Burkert
Melanie Hungerford
Helen Jennings
Melva Peters
Jaydee
Diane Evans
Joanne James

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

CHARMING SENTIMENTS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (49.50)	CELEBRATE EVERYTHING 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (16.50)	PACIFIC POINT A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	PACIFIC POINT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.75)	CRUSHED CURRY A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)
POPPY PARADE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	GRANNY APPLE GREEN A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	SHADED SPRUCE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	POLISHED PINK A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	POOL PARTY A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)

I'm here with news of a new collection that was released at the start of this month, the Fitting Florets Collection. Suitable for any occasion, including Christmas and seasonal celebrations, the sweet Fitting Florets Collection is a great addition to your stamp collection. From colour schemes to sentiments and embellishments to dies, these unique products blend together so that your cards and crafts fit whatever occasion you might need. Send birthday wishes, express your gratitude, or spread Christmas cheer—with so many options to mix and match you’ll be set no matter the celebration all year! 

The Framed Florets bundle is a pre-release that will be included in the 2023 January-April Mini Catalogue. In addition to the bundle, for the duration of the pre-release only, you will also be able to order a number of additional exclusive products, that will be available only while supplies last - an additional festive sentiment stamp set, co-ordinating designer series paper and embellishments - you can see the detail below:

There's also a handy video from the Home Office that shows the product in more detail:

What do you think - pretty right? Also perfect for those of you that love frames and anyone who has been missing ovals since our layering oval dies retired. 

If any of these items appeal to you, click on the images below to go to the online store to purchase. Remember some of these items are whilst stocks last, so don't leave it too late. happy shopping!

Links to the Online Store:

FITTING FLORETS COLLECTION (ENGLISH) (92.50)	FRAMED FLORETS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (51.25)	FRAMED FLORETS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (22.00)	FRAMED FLORETS DIES (35.00)
GOLD ADHESIVE-BACKED SWIRLS (8.00)	FRAMED & FESTIVE CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (22.00)	FITTING FLORETS 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)

I had a little extra crafty time yesterday in between completing some design team projects and made a quick card for the current challenge over at Inspired By that I wanted to share today:

Those pinecones totally made me think of the design in the Painted Christmas designer series papers - do you know the one? Check out my card below to see:

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

I also used the Inspired by sketch this week and paired my painted pinecone paper with an Evening Evergreen strip with a sentiment that was part heat-embossed with 'merry' from the 'Christmas Banners' stamp set and a 'Christmas' diecut from the now retired Merry Christmas Thinlits Dies. I added a couple of diecut pinecones as a simple embellishment to complete my card:

Quite a simple card but one that packs a big impact - and good to use up some designer series paper 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. 

Enjoy your day; I need to dash as it's time for the school run! I'll be back tomorrow with another post. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

PAINTED CHRISTMAS 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	CHRISTMAS BANNERS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (22.00)	CHRISTMAS PINECONE DIES (42.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.75)	EVENING EVERGREEN A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	EARLY ESPRESSO A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)
SOFT SUEDE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	SIMPLY ELEGANT TRIM (7.00)	VERSAMARK PAD (9.00)	BASICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (17.00)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and Cecile has asked that we overlap two inverted images on a square base:

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card - you are also free to use a rectangular base if you'd prefer.

For my card today I did just that as I wanted my triangles to be isosceles as opposed to equilateral (GCSE flashback there!!) in shape. I don't use triangles often and whilst I was sure I wanted to make a Christmas tree from one of them, what to do with the other one? This is where I ended up:

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

I used some bright Parakeet Party glimmer paper to create my simple graphic Christmas tree, layering triangles cut from different gradients of colour to add interest. After much internal wrangling, I decided to use a plain white stitched triangle for the mirrored image; I think it works! I added a star to the top of my tree and a wooden pre diecut sentiment, both of which came from the Santa Express Memories and More card pack - I coloured them gold with (retired) gold Encore ink but you could get them same effect by heat-embossing them (I was short on time!) I added some holly made from a couple of diecut leaves from my scrap box and a trio of red rhinestones to balance my design and add a further pop of colour:

A simple sentiment on the inside completes my card. I'm linking today's card up over at Less is More where the challenge is to use two or more colours from the colour wheel - I've used red, yellow-green and green. 

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

2022–2024 IN COLOR 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) GLIMMER PAPER (11.25)

SANTA EXPRESS MEMORIES & MORE CARD PACK (11.25)

RED RHINESTONE BASIC JEWELS (6.75)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)

SHADED SPRUCE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)

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

Giving thanks! With the American holiday of Thanksgiving around the corner, giving thanks is perhaps even more at the forefront of our minds, however this is a theme that works all year round - we always have something to be thankful for, however small. I used Jen's split layout over at Freshly Made Sketches and the first three colours of the Sunday Stamps palette for my card - take a look:

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

I used the So Saffron Gingham Cottage designer paper for my split panel background and added my leafy stamped Cottage Wreath across the split. I inked my wreath in So Saffron and added Cajun Craze to it with a sponge dauber for a variegated effect, before adding the twig wreath in Soft Suede (I stamped this off twice first) and cutting it out with the Country Wreaths Dies. I added a simple stamped sentiment to the centre and decorated my wreath with a bow of (retired) Cajun Craze ribbon tied with linen thread, along with a couple of leaves cut from copper foil and a couple of copper metallic dots:

I could have used the diecut bow in the Country Wreaths Dies set to create a 'cleaner' bow detail, but I decided to change things up and use up some of the many rolls of ribbon I have and I must say I love it - it really brings out the autumnal colours. What are you thankful for - who would you give thanks to? Do leave me a comment below or better still, play along with this week's challenge - we would love to have you join us.

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 will be preparing for the departure of the eldest of the James Juniors on another trip - her second in three weeks! This time it's a Geography field trip though - muddy fields and rivers call, a far cry from the tourist sights of San Francisco. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

COTTAGE WREATHS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (49.50)	GINGHAM COTTAGE 12" X 12" (30,5 X 30,5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (28.00)	COPPER FOIL SHEETS (4.75)	LINEN THREAD (4.75)	BRUSHED METALLIC ADHESIVE BACKED DOTS (8.50)	SO SAFFRON A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)
BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.75)	CAJUN CRAZE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	SO SAFFRON CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	SOFT SUEDE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)

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:

I normally struggle with recipe challenges, but this one came together really easily, especially with the layout over at Atlantic Hearts this week - take a look:

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

My starting point for today's card was the Storybook Gnomes designer series paper, and specifically the pattern that I used for the rectangular panels at the back that you can barely see on the finished card! It has a lovely mix of blues and earth tones, so ticked off two of my ingredients. Having layered these panels, I decided to build a scene using a combination of stamped diecut elements (my toadstool - check) and some other elements I'd already cut out from other patterns in this pack, namely the moose and the gnome. I added in a precut snowflake and some smaller snowflakes cut with the Chic Dies, to which I added some glittery gems - even a masculine card can have a little sparkle, right?!

I added a panel with my stamped sentiment and wrapped this in some (retired) white and Early Espresso baker's twine (check) to continue the earthy tones and tick off my final ingredient. 

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 one of those cards that just evolved with a mish-mash of bits and pieces until I felt like I had a cohesive scene. I think I'll send this to an old university friend who has an adorable little boy - I think Mr Gnome will be right up his street!

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

• Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D project or packaging project that fits the challenge.
• Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we can leave you lots of lovely comments. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSIXXX when uploading to a public gallery.
• If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines tab on the As You See It Challenge homepage.

Enjoy your day; I have a helper to complete my chores today as the oldest of the James Juniors is enjoying an extended half-term break. Keep your fingers crossed that the weather stays dry this evening please as we are off to a fireworks display at the school of James Junior number 2. It is usually a fantastic display and as it's within the school grounds, far enough away from residential housing to cause undue trauma to the neighbourhood cats and dogs. I'll be back on Sunday with my project for our new challenge over at The Paper Players. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

KINDEST GNOMES BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (46.75)	STITCHED RECTANGLE DIES (33.00)	CHIC DIES (35.00)	STORYBOOK GNOMES 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	FINE SPARKLE ADHESIVE BACKED GEMS (7.00)	WONDERFUL SNOWFLAKES (5.75)
ELEGANT FACETED GEMS (7.00)	BALMY BLUE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.75)	SOFT SUEDE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	NIGHT OF NAVY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)