Apologies for my couple of blog-free days: I have had a combination of classes, preparation for a big team event at the weekend and new catalogue preparations that have simply left no time to share with you! Back to it today though with a card for this week's challenges over at As You See It and TGIF Challenge:

I took the AYSI sketch quite literally today and for my 'three of something' went with balloons and the retiring Balloon Pop-Up Thinlits Die to create a shaker, rather than a pop-up card, on this occasion using the bright colours of the TGIF palette this week:

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

Balloon Adventures - Today's card is all about balloons of the party kind. The Balloon Pop-up thinlits make a great pop-up for the inside of a card, yet also work as a flat panel which, when backed with a piece of window sheet, can be transformed into a fun party shaker card. I stamped the balloons with the co-ordinating Balloon Adventures stamp set in each of the challenge colours then overlaid the corresponding diecuts. I also brushed the stamped area with my clear Wink of Stella for extra sparkle. The Balloon Adventures bundle has been very popular and I'm sad it's retiring; if you haven't got yours yet, get in quick before it's gone for good!

Shake, Shake, Shake - I filled my shaker with a combination of Emerald Envy mica flakes leftover from my Christmas projects (still available on the clearance rack), some gold sequins and a few retired in-colour sequins in Strawberry Slush for a hint of pink. 

Spots and Stripes - I decided to use some in-colour Emerald Envy designer series paper for my background striped panel, to tie in with the spots and stripes theme of my balloons. I find it easier to major in on two colours to maintain a co-ordinated look with such bold colours, as I've done here with the pink and green, with the Crushed Curry sparingly on a single balloon and to decorate my envelope and the inside of my card for a pop of sunny yellow.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Balloon Pop-Up Thinlits Dies	Balloon Adventures Photopolymer Stamp Set	Mica Flakes Trio Pack	2016-2018 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack	Flirty Flamingo A4 Cardstock
Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad	Emerald Envy A4 Cardstock	Emerald Envy Classic Stampin' Pad	Crushed Curry A4 Cardstock	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad
Window Sheets	Whisper White A4 Cardstock	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

It's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! The awesomely talented Sandy is the hostess this week and she has a great sketch for us to work with:

I took the opportunity to use up some of my retiring designer series paper and create a fun birthday card using products from the Party Animal Suite - take a look:

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

Be A Party Animal - I chose to feature the paper covered in a quirky animal print, complete with party hats, on my central panel. This is such a fun design with unisex appeal. Such fun for a birthday card, and even better value now that it's reduced in price to only £7 a pack!

Add A Party Hat - I added a fun party hat embellishment, tied with an Emerald Envy Taffeta bow, above my sentiment banner for my focal point. I backed it with a plain stitched square in Crushed Curry for an added pop of colour. 

A Party Bright Colour Combo - The Party Animal Suite is full of bright, bold colours for wild adventures and birthday celebrations and my card today features four of the main ones:

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. 

This sketch is a real keeper - I can think of so many ways to use it! Thanks Sandy for the inspiration.

Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

I am looking forward to spending time pottering in the garden today, making the most of the lovely weekend weather. I can't wait to see what you create with our sketch this week. Enjoy the rest of your weekend as it will be over all too quickly; I'm looking forward to I'll be back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Party Animal Designer Series Paper	Balloon Adventures Photopolymer Stamp Set	Party Animal Embellishments	Ribbon Taffeta 1/8" (3.2 Mm) Emerald Envy	Party Animal A4 Cardstock Pack
Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies	Pacific Point A4 Cardstock	Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad	White Stampin' Emboss Powder

I had a busy day yesterday, part of which was spent kicking off a new project that I will be sharing with you soon, but alas no time to blog. I'm back nice and early today though to share a card inspired by the sketch over at TGIF Challenges:

 The moment I saw the sketch I saw a present! Can you see it too? I rotated the sketch anti-clockwise and this is what I came up with:

Fun, right? This is a card with a surprise though - read on to find out more!

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

Be A Party Animal - My card today was inspired by the bright colours and patterns of the Party Animal Suite of products - bright and fun, just perfect for a birthday celebration.

A Hidden Message - I added an 'open me already!' tag to my parcel as there is more to my gift than meets the eye: I used the tag topper pieces of the Balloon Pop-Up Thinlits Dies to create a parcel-shaped tag that fits inside a gift sleeve and reveals a hidden birthday greeting - take a look:

Here's my greeting tag, stamped with a sentiment from the 'Big On Birthdays' stamp set, completely removed:

Adventures On The Inside - I also added a little birthday fun to the inside of my card too:

I love this kind of card - a truly universal birthday greeting that can't fail to raise a smile!

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:

Balloon Adventures Photopolymer Bundle	Party Animal Designer Series Paper	Big On Birthdays Photopolymer Stamp Set	Emerald Envy Classic Stampin' Pad	Pacific Point A4 Cardstock
Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad	Tangerine Tango A4 Cardstock	Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin' Pad	Crushed Curry A4 Cardstock