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)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. It's November and time for a new hostess! The lovely Cecile is at the helm this month and our first challenge is a colour challenge: 

For my card today I broke out a set I've had since I did my seasonal catalogue pre-order but had yet to see ink - the Leaves of Holly Bundle. It was definitely time to change that - this is what I came up with:

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

I loved the detailing on the stamps and dies in the Leaves of Holly bundle and today's card showcases the layered label that is included in the set. I created a Mint Macaron blended background so that it would highlight the detail, adding some splatters of (retired) frosted white shimmer paint, and having added ink to the leaves and berries to deepen the colour, placed them behind the white diecut elements:

I also stamped my sentiment in Rich Razzleberry instead of black for an added pop of colour - TGIF Challenges are featuring non-black stamping this week but this really wasn't tricky for me - I think on a clean and simple card a coloured sentiment can work really well. How about you - do you often substitute a coloured inked sentiment in lieu of a black one? Do leave me a comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

LEAVES OF HOLLY BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (48.50)	PEAR PIZZAZZ A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	PEAR PIZZAZZ CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	RICH RAZZLEBERRY A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	RICH RAZZLEBERRY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	MINT MACARON CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)
BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)	BLENDING BRUSHES (11.75)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This is our last challenge of the month and Michal is ending with a great sketch: 

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card.

For my card today I thought I'd take the orange and green colours over at Color Hues and create a sunny and fresh clean and simple card using one of my all-time favourite stamp sets, 'Simply Fabulous' - take a look:

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

I masked off the corner of my white card front and used Pumpkin Pie, Pale Papaya and Granny Apple Green inks to stamp flowers and leaves randomly across the corner of my card. I then removed my masking paper, and using my Take Your Pick tool, scored three lines on the reverse following the contour of my stamped panel, before finishing with a greeting from the same set:

All done - easy as that,#SimpleStamping at its best! This card would work in lots of different colour combos and with other images too - I love the way the scored lines add a finishing detail to the panel. Apologies for the rather ropey quality of today's photos - the lighting was very strange yesterday and the images are more grainy than I'd like - I think a recently re-inked Granny Apple Green ink pad might have something to do with that (oops!)

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; it is half-term here and as one James Junior is visiting Alcatraz the other is revising a combination of Physics and 'An Inspector Calls' - delightful! It does mean that I managed to get a little extra creative time in yesterday so I have another card to share! I'll be back later with another post with that card. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

SIMPLY FABULOUS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£17.00)

TAKE YOUR PICK (£9.50)

GRANNY APPLE GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)

PUMPKIN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)

PALE PAPAYA CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£8.25)

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

 For my card today I used the sketch layout over at Try Stamping on Tuesday and used my Country Wreaths bundle to create a thank you card that is great for using up scraps - take a look:

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

A Colour Confession - First up - a colour confession! I was feeling totally pleased with myself for having made my card for this challenge much earlier than I usually do, until I went to upload it and realised I had used the wrong colours - I made a card using Pumpkin Pie instead of Michal's chosen Pale Papaya!! So I quickly went and made a duplicate in the correct colours. I had already worked up all my photos though, so I am sharing both with you here. On the upside - you get a two for one and we can have a debate on white card you like best!!

A Liberal Sketch Interpretation - I often get asked how I go about interpreting a sketch when I make a card and today's card is a good example of a less than literal one, so worthy of some explanation! I really liked the offset layers of the TSOT sketch but decided to make both my base and first mat white, so as not to detract from the clean and simple feel of my card. For the third 'layer', I added a selection of strips in the challenge colours and staggered their lengths to add interest; this is a great way to incorporate blocks of colour in a small area and it uses up scraps too, so win-win! I used this as the basis for my neutral-toned wreath, stamped with the 'Cottage Wreaths' set, with white diecut detail behind. I added some additional leaf sprigs and a gingham bow focal point. Finally, those three dots? I added three sequins on my initial card and a trio of gems on my remake but scattered them around my wreath.

This is a stretch from the sketch - but the elements of the sketch are all there. I love sketches - they are a great jumping-off point for a card.

This or That? - Here's a photo of both of my cards - one slightly bolder than the other. Which one is your favourite?

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

COTTAGE WREATHS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (£49.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	SAHARA SAND CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	SAHARA SAND A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	PACIFIC POINT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	PACIFIC POINT A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)
PALE PAPAYA CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	PALE PAPAYA A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	PUMPKIN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	PUMPKIN PIE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	ADHESIVE BACKED SEASONAL SEQUINS (£6.75)	BRIGHTS 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.25)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and Michal has asked that we focus our design on opposing corners with a central sentiment.  Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card.

For my card today I decided to use the lovely autumnal browns, oranges and cream of the Sunday Stamps colour palette to give an autumnal feel to my clean and simple thank you card - and since that is the theme over at Just Us Girls I can link today's card up there too - how nice to be on-trend! I decided to go for off-the-edge sunflowers for my corner detail - take a look:

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

The large sunflower image in the 'Celebrate Sunflowers' stamp set is perfect for adding a partial image to decorate my opposing corners; it's clear what the image is, even though only part of it is shown. I coloured my sunflowers with my Stampin' Blends and used a thank you sentiment from the same set for ease:

I like the idea of these orange sunflowers; whilst the large, yellow ones are more common, they do come in lots of different colours from yellow and orange through to a dark red and these seem to evoke autumn and the changing seasons more so than a sunny, summery yellow I think.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

CELEBRATE SUNFLOWERS CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£23.00)	VERY VANILLA A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	EARLY ESPRESSO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	PUMPKIN PIE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	CALYPSO CORAL STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	STAMPIN’ BLENDS DEEP COMBO PACK (£8.50)
STAMPIN’ BLENDS MEDIUM DEEP COMBO (£8.50)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. We are starting a new month and the lovely Michal is our host for October. We are starting the month with a colour challenge: 

For my card today I decided to use the sketch design (but not the colours/inspo photo) over at Fusion for a bright and cheery card that has a distinctly summery feel - take a look:

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

I thought Michal's colour choices were perfect for a bold flower and sentiment, courtesy of my favourite 'Simply Fabulous' stamp set. I stamped them onto a diecut circle and used a sunny Daffodil Delight card base, with a piece of 'Celebrate Everything' gingham paper across the top of the panel. I resisted the urge to add some white baker's twine and finished my flower centre with nothing more than an enamel dot embellishment:

A co-ordinating flower on my envelope and inside complete this easy card. 

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'm having a desk day as there is lots of Stampin' Up! news to impart so I've quite a few posts to write - and of course there's shopping to take advantage of today's free shipping offer - yay! I'll be back on Thursday with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

SIMPLY FABULOUS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£17.00)

STYLISH SHAPES DIES (£28.00)

DAFFODIL DELIGHT A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)

PUMPKIN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)

SHADED SPRUCE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)

BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.75)

CELEBRATE EVERYTHING 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£16.50)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. Today we have Valerie's final sketch challenge: 

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card. I thought this was a great sketch and perfect to enable me to play along with a few other challenges too: the ladies over at Just Add Ink have a 'Choose 2' challenge this week, at Less is More the theme is 'friendship' and since over at CAS on Friday the theme is Christmas, I am playing there too! So - to my card:

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

Masked Merriest Moments - I decided to properly rise to the challenge over at Just Add Ink this week and would use not just two but all three of their options! For my foliage and masking, I used the Merriest Moments stamp set - one of my all-time Christmas festive favourites. I used a circle framelit to cut a circle of masking paper, then stamped a selection of festive foliage around the edge, masking the individual pieces too to create a sense of depth and dimension. Once the masking paper was removed, I stamped my sentiment in the clear circle in the centre and used a thin (retired) gold hoop embellishment to outline the edge of my masked circle, then added some diecut red berries and a poinsettia to the front of the hoop - I like the subtle depth that this gives and pop of additional colour amongst the greens of the foliage:

Words of Friendship - My festive friendship sentiment comes from the 'Christmas To Remember' stamp set - a set of sayings perfect for this time of year. I used another two to add detail to the inside of my card, along with a little more festive foliage decoration:

Simple as that! I wish in hindsight I'd taken step by step photos of the construction process for this card, because whilst easy to explain contained a fair number of steps to achieve the desired effect. I really like the finished card though and I know that when one of my oldest, dear friends who I don't see often, but is always in my thoughts, receives this card she will love it 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 and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£22.00)	MERRIEST MOMENTS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£21.00)	MERRIEST FRAMES HYBRID EMBOSSING FOLDER (£37.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	CHERRY COBBLER CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	REAL RED CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)
GARDEN GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	SHADED SPRUCE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	EVENING EVERGREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and Valerie has asked that we include a couple of panels on our card. Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card.

I was tempted to use both a tag and a panel of designer series paper on my card when I saw Valerie's sketch, but resisted the urge and decided to channel myself to create a card using the beautiful image and colours over at The Card Concept for my super clean and simple card today - take a look: 

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

I thought the butterfly on the inspiration photo was so striking! I so rarely use butterflies on my cards, even though I have lots of them in my collection. I masked a panel on my white cardstock and created a bokeh panel using Starry Sky and whisper white craft inks and my blending brushes and a circle stencil; to this I added a butterfly just like the one in the inspiration photo, that I cut using my Brilliant Wings Dies. I cut one in each of the colours and paper-pieced the coloured sections into the black outline. I backed each one with an adhesive sheet, so it was mess-free, if a little time consuming. So worth it though for the finished effect, don't you think? 

I added a generic sentiment from 'Charming Sentiments' as the set was still out on my desk from my previous card and I didn't have a specific occasion for this card. I love the finished effect - I think I should use these butterflies more often!

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:

BRILLIANT WINGS DIES (£41.00)	CHARMING SENTIMENTS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (£49.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	STARRY SKY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	BLENDING BRUSHES (£11.75)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (£5.75)
UNINKED STAMPIN’ PAD & WHISPER WHITE REFILL (£9.00)	STARRY SKY A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	BASIC BLACK A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	REAL RED A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	SO SAFFRON A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)

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

For my card today I decided to colour one of the fun birthday images in the 'This Birthday Piggy' stamp set - take a look:

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

I used a combination of Stampin' Blends and Stampin' Write markers to colour my image and added a strip of brights DSP to my card base for a pop of extra colour:

This pattern is retired, but I've added a link below to the current equivalent. Whilst I didn't use them on today's card, this is the perfect opportunity to mention that the 'This Birthday Piggy' stamp set also has a new set of co-ordinating dies that will be available this month only, as part of the Perfect Partners promotion. It is one of six stamp sets from the annual and June-December catalogues that feature - see the other sets below:

Stamp set and dies are available separately, but if you don't already have the stamp set you can purchase both and receive a 10% bundle saving - bonus! This promotion runs until 30th September, so grab your dies without delay.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

THIS BIRTHDAY PIGGY CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£22.00)	STITCHED RECTANGLE DIES (£33.00)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (£5.75)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	BRIGHTS 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£11.25)
POLISHED PINK STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	BRIGHTS STAMPIN' WRITE MARKERS (£30.00)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and Nancy has asked that we repeat an element and overlay a sentiment:

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card.

For my card today I went all autumnal and went for a quintet of leaves from the Season of Chic stamp set - take a look:

I stamped them in a selection of yellows and browns, then added my sentiment across the centre, having layered it onto a piece of Cajun Craze to tie in with the border:

I stamped today's card on Very Vanilla cardstock instead of my usual white; I often find I use Vanilla more that White for autumnal projects as I think it adds a nice warm tone that seems to fit with the season. And that's all there is to it - another example of #simplestamping with nothing more than stamps, ink and paper!

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:

SEASON OF CHIC PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£26.00)	VERY VANILLA A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	CAJUN CRAZE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.75)	CAJUN CRAZE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	PUMPKIN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)	MANGO MELODY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)
SOFT SUEDE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.50)