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 make a square card with a focal sentiment and patterned background:

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

For my card today I chose monochromatic pinks with a touch of silver to create a simple stencilled background for a feminine birthday card for a discerning teenager - take a look:

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

I took my square card base and using some stencils I made with various circle punches and some window sheet, I added Melon Mambo and Bubble Bath ink using my blending brushes, varying the intensity to give some depth to the colour. I heat-embossed part of my sentiment in silver and used a diecut 'sending' in silver foil backed with vellum as my centrepiece:

A sprinkle of basic rhinestones added a final touch of sparkle. This is one of those cards that could work in lots of colours and is thoroughly inoffensive - so perfect for the discerning teenager! Since I went with pinks, I'm also playing along over at Addicted to CAS with my monochrome pinks and also celebrating with the team over at AAA Cards as they celebrate their 9th birthday with CAS pink birthday cards too - the balloons on the inspo board also inspired my bubbly background!

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. 

Please excuse today's photos - I struggled with that foil diecut and the lighting and didn't have time to retake. I have a super-short day today as the youngest of teh James Juniors has 2 exams and is on early pick up, so just time for a speedy lunch then I'm back in the car for the school run! Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

SENDING SMILES PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (21.00)	SENDING DIES (ENGLISH) (31.00)	MELON MAMBO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	BUBBLE BATH CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	VERSAMARK PAD (9.00)	METALLICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (17.00)
BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.50)	RHINESTONE BASIC JEWELS (5.75)	BLENDING BRUSHES (13.00)

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

I love Cecile's colour choices this week and since today is the official launch of the new annual catalogue, it seemed only right that my card features some new product! I took some inspiration from the sketch over at Inspired By (flipped as I need the boxes to be the other way around to suit my sentiment) and the idea of decorated boxes - although instead of white flowers on coloured boxes, I used my 'boxes' to house my sentiments and accented with coloured foliage - take a look:

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

My card features a new bundle called 'Timeless Arrangements' - a lovely set that allows you to build sentiments in one, two or three phrases and decorate them. The die set is truly fabulous - a set of labels with a pretty stitched detail and a selection of dies that both cut out some of the stamped images, and also contain some foliage on horizontal bands, that act as a guide to enable you to align them both with each other for layering and behind the sentiment label perfectly:

I used two sentiments on the front of my card and carried the detail to the inside of my card with a third sentiment and a little extra background stamping too:

This card is for all of you reading this that continue to support my Stampin' Up! business by shopping with me in person and in my online store and comment both here and elsewhere on my social media channels. It means a lot, so a big thank you to you all from the bottom of my heart!

I really love this bundle and know I am going to get so much use out of it, so be prepared to see lots more it over the next 12 months!

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 later this week with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

TIMELESS ARRANGEMENTS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (51.25)

FLIRTY FLAMINGO A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)

NIGHT OF NAVY A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)

POOL PARTY A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)

NIGHT OF NAVY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.50)

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 create a slimline card with a square feature and overlapping sentiment:

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card but remember to make it a slimline if you'd like to be considered for the winner's spot for this challenge. 

For my card today I ended up making two cards; I'll share the first one tomorrow as it was a little less clean and simple than I'd have liked. This is the card I settled on to share with you today:

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

This is actually a no-stamping card. I used a piece of the retiring black and white Perfectly Penciled designer series paper and coloured the negative space around the florals using my Mint Macaron Blends, before cutting it out using one of my square Stylish Shapes Dies. I added this to a base of thick Basix White cardstock, and then added a layered thanks sentiment cut with the Amazing Thanks Dies on dimensionals to complete my card:

The Perfectly Penciled papers are great for colouring with your Stampin' Blends markers and this 'reverse colouring' really allows the black and white design to stand out. This paper, along with Mint Macaron and all its accessories and those fabulous Amazing Thanks Dies are all retiring at the end of this month - add them to your shopping basket whilst you still can - or maybe wait until 11pm this evening when the 24 hour free shipping promotion starts - you can read more about the free shipping promotion here!

I'm also linking today's card to the black, white and one colour challenge over at Color Dare and the current 'anything goes' challenge at Less Is More.

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:

AMAZING THANKS DIES (ENGLISH) (10.40)

PERFECTLY PENCILED 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (7.87)

MINT MACARON STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (7.65)

STYLISH SHAPES DIES (28.00)

MINT MACARON A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. We are in April now; Valerie chose our challenges this month and our first challenge is a lovely bright colour challenge: 

For my card today I wanted to play along with the current challenge of 'Spring' over at Addicted to CAS who are back following their extended break and the layout over at Sunday Stamps was perfect for me to play with some of my favourite retired dies - take a look:

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

I had my 'Simply Fabulous' stamp set out on my desk and was originally going to stamp three squares, but instead used this set just for the sentiment and used a trio of Floral Squares Dies to add some bright pops of spring colour. I added some retired Crushed Curry baker's twine that I had in my stash; these flowers are so easy to layer and great for clean and simple cards:

This card measures 4 1/2" x 8" so is slightly larger than usual, so also needed a custom envelope - long-time retired in-colour designer paper to the rescue for that one too! Can you tell that we are about to transition between catalogues? Trying to have a clear-out always results in the discovery of old favourites - I'm still hanging on to these ones though, I love them and so wish we had more designs of these! Apart from the colours, everything is either retired or on the way - the 'Simply Fabulous' stamp set is on it's way to the retired shelf, although I have a space ready for it as I'm not letting go of mine just yet!

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:

SIMPLY FABULOUS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (17.00)

MELON MAMBO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)

MELON MAMBO A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)

CRUSHED CURRY A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)

SHADED SPRUCE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and YoonYoung has asked that we feature repeating verticals and a sentiment beneath. Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card.

For my card today I decided to go with a collection of diecut candles courtesy of the Sentiment Silhouette Dies and a simple birthday sentiment from the co-ordinating Charming Sentiments stamp set:

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

Today's card features the 2022-24 In Colours - I just love this set of colours, as a collection they work so well together, in addition to complimenting other colours too. I added in some Mango Melody for my flames and the diecut 'glow' behind - super simple and much cleaner this week too!

COLOUR REFRESH - Whilst I used the 2022-24 In Colours on today's card, today's post serves as another reminder that the 2021-23 In Colours will shortly retire, so now is the time to stock up on any supplies in those colours that you need or any co-ordinating products, such as designer papers that feature those colours. Since Stampin' Up! have confirmed that we are having a full colour refresh this year, you should apply the same principle to all of your favourite colours in the Stampin' up! range. many colours are already showing low inventory or are already out of stock, and as soon as the full details of the refresh have been announced to demonstrators on 29th March, this situation will undoubtedly be exacerbated and stocks will disappear long before the catalogues change over in May. The full retiring list will go live to customers on 4th April - but I strongly advise you to make sure you have placed any orders before then, as those bargains will be snapped up so quickly it is likely to lead to many disappointed customers. Public service announcement over - you are now fully informed!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

CHARMING SENTIMENTS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (49.50)

2022–2024 IN COLOR A4 CARDSTOCK (9.00)

MANGO MELODY A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)

STARRY SKY 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. YoonYoung is hosting this month and our first challenge is a colour challenge: 

I thought YoonYoung's chosen colours were fresh and summery and just right to finally break out my Sweet Citrus bundle. So I grabbed my supplies and used the sketch layout over at Just Add Ink where I haven't played along in ages, and this is what I came up with: 

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

I used a couple of stitched squares for the base, and a strip of (retired) Country Gingham designer paper in a bright white and yellow check, then proceeded to layer up my lemons, interspersed with a few green leaves and Heather-coloured flowers. The highlight of today's card is most definitely the lemons though; the Sweet Citrus bundle includes a hybrid embossing folder - this allows you to stamp your lemons and then diecut and emboss in one move. The die nestles inside the embossing folder and the lemons stamp as one and align perfectly, making this so easy. There are also multiple flower and leaf dies, to allow for multiple cuts at once. I hope the embossing is a little easier to see on the image below - it adds so much detail in real life:

This is such an awesome bundle! I must confess my card is not quite as CAS as it usual for this week's challenge; in hindsight I should have used a narrower strip of DSP to preserve more of my white space and maybe layered a little less fruit. I did get a little carried away - new product tends to do that to me lol! You should defintiely check out the rest of the design team - they did a much better job in keeping their cards clean and simple!

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:

SWEET CITRUS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (46.75)	STYLISH SHAPES DIES (28.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)	DAFFODIL DELIGHT A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	DAFFODIL DELIGHT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	HIGHLAND HEATHER CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)
PARAKEET PARTY 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 I've designed a sketch with a split horizontal panel that offers lots of possibilities:

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card. For my card today I wanted to try out an idea I've had brewing for a while - take a look:

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

You know how much I love these 'Love Cats' and here I've used the lounging feline again; this time not on a ledge of designer paper though - I though the the background stencil in the Loveliest Layers Decorative Masks could be made to look like a quilted bedspread; I'm sure there are plenty of cat-lovers out there who allow their pets to lounge on their beds, so this card is for them! I stamped my cat in Basic Grey, masking the hearts and stamping separately in pink, then masked the whole cat with masking paper and added my stencil detail, using Tahitian Tide first, then rotating the stencil and filling in the gaps with Starry Sky to create my quilted effect. I added a scrap of stitched white cardstock to one end to suggest a folded sheet and my sentiment to finish my card. Here's a closer look at the stencilling:

So the question is - did you see what I saw with these stencils? I'm wondering if I should have added a scallop-edged 'pillow' with my sentiment to further add to the effect - maybe next time! I am thoroughly enjoying exploring with stencils - I'm also linking up for a second entry over at Inkspirational where they are focusing on stencils for their current challenge. If like me you are discovering the delights of stencils, do check out their design team cards and gallery too - lots of lovely stencil inspiration. 

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:

LOVE CATS CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (20.00)	LOVELIEST LAYERS DECORATIVE MASKS (10.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)	BLENDING BRUSHES (11.75)	BASIC GRAY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	TAHITIAN TIDE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)
STARRY SKY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	POLISHED PINK CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (5.75)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. We are into the second month of the year and I am your hostess for February! Our first challenge is a colour challenge: 

For my card today I took the opportunity to have another play with my Around the Bend Dies and create a clean and simple thank you card - take a look:

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

Today's card features the detailed corner die. I added a piece of Country Gingham Balmy Blue check to my Balmy Blue card base, then overlaid a piece of white featuring the corner diecut on top. Onto this white panel, I stamped a simple 'thanks' from the 'Biggest Wish' stamp set and added a diecut flower with leaves using other dies in the set:

 I love the embossed detail on the diecuts in this set - it adds interest and allows a single flower to take centre stage, with nothing else needed to compliment that pretty corner detail.

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 looking forward to catching up on some crafting before a super-late school run this evening; the youngest of the James Juniors is having to forgo his weekly club hockey practice in order to participate in a whole school House Singing competition. Apparently his house is singing 'I Will Survive' by Gloria Gaynor - having listened to the practice, I'm not sure the audience will, but there we are!!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

AROUND THE BEND DIES (31.00)	BIGGEST WISH PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (16.00)	COUNTRY GINGHAM 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)	BALMY BLUE A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	BALMY BLUE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)
MINT MACARON A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)	SWEET SORBET A4 CARDSTOCK (8.75)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. Since we have a fifth Tuesday in January (where did this month go?!), we have a retro double challenge for you!  As a reminder, this is where we pair one of our previous colour combinations with an old sketch and you have to use both to make your card. You don't have to use an old set too (although you are welcome to!) - I decided these colours and the layout were perfect for 'This Birthday Piggy' which also means I can play along with my friends over at Just Us Girls this week where they are celebrating with clean and simple birthday cards.

As a point of note, the Just Us Girls badge this week has a great reminder of the definition of 'clean and simple' - one point of interest, lots of open space, minimal layers and few embellishments. These are the same criteria we use at CAS Colours & Sketches too so players, take note!  

I repeated my 'It's Your Birthday!' sentiment, stamped in Tuxedo Black, in the corner of my white panel and for my focal point I used that super-sweet piggy celebrating his birthday, complete with cake and balloon:

I coloured my image with my Stampin' Blends (colours substituted with the closest ones in my collection: Pink Pirouette (retired), Lovely Lipstick (retired) and So Saffron). I cut out my image using the Playful Piggy Dies - did you know these are still available here in Europe on the Clearance Rack, for the bargain price of £11.60 (reduced from £29)? This image could easily be fussy cut too, but there are so many great dies in this set in addition to those that cut out the images, they are definitely worth the purchase:

That's all there is to it - an easy, fun clean and simple birthday 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 and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Edited to add: My cute birthday piggy was Chic of The Week over at Just Us Girls - woohoo!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

https://www.stampinup.uk/products/playful-piggy-dies?demoid=5006714

THIS BIRTHDAY PIGGY CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (22.00)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. The lovely Michal is hosting this month and her second challenge is a sketch challenge: 

Michal has asked that we use a trio of repeating shapes with a sentiment beneath. Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card.

For my card today I went super simple! I grabbed my Country Bouquet bundle and Country Floral Lane paper and this is what I came up with:

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

I punched a trio of heart-shaped flowers and leaves straight from the designer series paper, then added them to my blank white card base. I finished my card with a sentiment stamped just underneath:

And that was my card - done! #SimpleStamping at its best! The three hearts were the perfect width for my card. I didn't even finish the inside sentiment - I like the fact that I can use this card for any purpose as it is, so i will either add something when I come to send it or just leave it blank for my handwritten message. Just four items needed for today's card - and you could forgo the designer paper and just stamp your hearts and leaves to create this in different colours if you prefer.

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. I'm linking today's card up over at Just Us Girls where the code word is 'hearts' - might have another go with this theme tomorrow too!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

COUNTRY BOUQUET BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (36.00)

COUNTRY FLORAL LANE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.25)

SWEET SORBET CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (7.50)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.25)