It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. First up - a confession! I got my dates mixed up and I actually used this sketch last week for my Tuesday post - you can see that card here if you missed it - but since this week is actually CAS Colours and Sketches week, I'm showing you another way to use it! This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and Rachel has asked that we use a trio of balanced shapes. Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card and remember the shapes you choose don't have to be squares. 

I paired Rachel's fun sketch with the 'take 5' challenge over at Color Dare this week (I ended up using all 5 colours) and created a simple notecard to say hello to a friend - take a look:

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

I tweaked Rachel's sketch slightly and balanced my stamped and diecut tortoise from 'Playing In The Rain' onto a stacked sentiment from the 'Biggest Wish' stamp set, stamped in Flirty Flamingo. In place of the sentiment on the sketch, I added some flowers - perhaps the meadow where my tortoise had picked his daisy? 

My colours do seem a little off today for some reason, with my pink letters looking almost coral; my sage greens are also looking a little darker than they are in real life; notwithstanding, I like this second take on the sketch and the stacked sentiment is a fun idea too. The 'Biggest Wish' stamp set is retiring at the end of this month, although its companion set 'More Wishes' is staying, so if you are wanting to take advantage of the full combination of greetings, be sure to pick up this set before it's too late.

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:

BIGGEST WISH PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (16.00)	PLAYING IN THE RAIN CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (25.00)	PLAYING IN THE RAIN DIES (33.00)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (6.25)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.50)	FLIRTY FLAMINGO CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)
SOFT SEA FOAM STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (9.50)	POOL PARTY STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (9.50)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and Rachel has asked that we use a trio of balanced shapes. Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card and remember the shapes you choose don't have to be squares. 

I paired Rachel's fun sketch with the bright colour combo over at Just Us Girls this week that was perfect for what I had in mind - take a look:

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

Those retiring lists I mentioned in yesterday's post are now well and truly live and so for today's card I just had to highlight one of my favourite retiring sets: Hey Chuck. As a previous chicken owner, I knew I'd never be able to resist these comical feathered friends! They are great for colouring, especially if you're a beginner as there is only a small area to focus on at a time. In addition to the chickens themselves, the dies contain a bunch of 'extras' in addition to those that cut out the chickens; on today's card I used the semi-circle sunshine to make a stencil so that I could stencil in my morning sun (this is something I've done previously here too) and the weather vane - so great for creating fun scenes, the possibilities are endless! The dies are also discounted as part of the retiring sale - so if you buy the stamps and the dies, you get a better deal if you purchase them separately than if you purchase them as a bundle. Here's my colourful poultry in close up:

A trio of sparkly Gorgeous Grape enamel dots complete my fun card (I've provided a link to one that is similar below). 

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 will be the perfect card to send to my daughter on her return to university - students in general are not known for being early risers so I suspect this will make her smile!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

HEY CHUCK DIES (21.00)	HEY CHUCK CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (24.00)	HEY CHUCK BUNDLE (48.50)	BLACKBERRY BLISS STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (9.50)	HIGHLAND HEATHER STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (9.50)	DAFFODIL DELIGHT STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (9.50)
PUMPKIN PIE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (9.50)	DAFFODIL DELIGHT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	GLOSSY DOTS ASSORTMENT (7.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.50)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (6.25)

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

For my card today I used the layout over at Sketch Saturday and used Rachel's fresh colour combination for a pretty floral thank you card - take a look:

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

I stamped my sentiment from the 'Timeless Arrangements' stamp set onto a label from the same set, and backed it with a selection of diecuts in the challenge colours. I also stamped and coloured a couple of flower stems and added them to the mix. I used diecuts that broadly followed the diagonal shape of the lines on the sketch and added seven scored lines with my scoring tool to my white cardbase - you can see the detail if you look closely below:

The scored lines add a real touch of elegance to the card and are a great way to incorporate the stripes in a more subtle way. A trio of pink pearls was all I needed to complete my card. 

I will so miss the Timeless Arrangements bundle when it retirees - it makes the prettiest thank you 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. 

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:

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.50)	TIMELESS ARRANGEMENTS BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (51.25)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (6.25)	GARDEN GREEN A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	GARDEN GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	SOFT SEA FOAM A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)
SOFT SEA FOAM STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (9.50)	FLIRTY FLAMINGO A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	FLIRTY FLAMINGO STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (9.50)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. I am hosting this month and this week's challenge is a sketch challenge:

The sketch features six elements and an overlapping sentiment. The six elements don't need to be circles, they can be any shape, and they don't all have to be identical, however there should be a common theme to your chosen images. Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when creating your card. Most of all, have fun! 

For my card today I got out my paper snips once more and spent some time fussy cutting a variety of honey pots from the Bee Mine designer series paper - take a look:

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

There's so much value to be had in a pack of designer paper - especially if you have the patience to get your scissors out and start snipping! I arranged my pots across the centre of my card and then stamped my sentiment from the 'Bee My Valentine' stamp set in Tuxedo black ink, highlighting the word 'sweet' by inking it with my Sweet Sorbet in-colour marker, and after fussy cutting that too, popped it up on dimensionals and laid it over my honey pots::

Another clean and simple card - I'm sure Winnie the Pooh would approve!

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's raining here (again!) so I will be spending the day indoors, trying to distract myself from doing the housework by poring over the new Stampin' Up! annual catalogue that I received yesterday! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

BEE MINE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.75)

BEE MY VALENTINE PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (20.00)

2022–2024 IN COLOR STAMPIN' WRITE MARKERS (17.50)

TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (6.25)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.50)

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

For my colour palette today, I chose the most recent addition to my ink pad collection (Azure Afternoon), the very first ink pad I ever purchased (Old Olive) and Balmy Blue to balance the mix. Just like the lullaby that inspired the title of today's blog post, I thought these colours would be perfect for lavender, so I grabbed my 'Painted Lavender' stamp set and my Perennial Postage bundle and set to work. This is what I came up with: 

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

Painted Lavender - I chose the tiny lavender sprigs to feature on two of my three postage die pieces, repeat stamping them in Azure Afternoon and Old Olive to fill the space. 

Masked Perennial Postage - To give the appearance of a postage stamp, I masked off the edges of my diecut and then used a blending brush to add a Balmy Blue 'sky' to the centre of the rectangle, blending from top to bottom. I then removed the masking tape to reveal the crisp, white borders - lovely! 

Inked Embossing - I stamped my sentiment on the central diecut piece, off-centering it so that I could add an embossed postmark. This die is from the Perennial Postage Dies; to make it standout I added Balmy Blue ink to the die before embossing it onto the diecut, so that it leaves both and inked and embossed detail; you can see it more closely below:

I love the addition of the postmark - such a neat detail! I used a strip of Azure Afternoon cardstock to bring my 3 postage diecuts together and complete my 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! 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:

PERENNIAL POSTAGE BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (48.50)	PAINTED LAVENDER PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (19.00)	AZURE AFTERNOON A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	AZURE AFTERNOON CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	OLD OLIVE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)
BALMY BLUE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	BLENDING BRUSHES (13.00)	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 Michal has asked that we include a large focal sentiment on a bordered panel:

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card. For my card today I wanted to showcase more of the free Sale-A-Bration papers before they go away - so I paired them with one of my favourite large sentiment sets for a cheery card - take a look:

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

There is only a small area of designer series paper showing on my card (we are aiming for clean and simple, after all) but the bold and colourful flowers of the Sunny Days paper can still be seen. I paired them with sentiment from the Sending Dies and 'Sending Smiles' co-ordinating stamp set and added a trio of tiny diecut flowers for an added pop of colour to tie in with the paper:

That pattern is my absolute favourite in the Sunny Days pack so I had to show real restraint to use so little of it! If you would like some, you have another 9 days to place an order of £45 or more in order to receive a pack of this paper for FREE.

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; today I'm going out to lunch with hubby to celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary - where did those years go?! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

SENDING DIES (ENGLISH) (31.00)

SENDING SMILES PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (21.00)

POOL PARTY A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)

BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (10.00)

TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (6.25)

BASIC BLACK A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)

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

I don't mind admitting, this trio of colours properly threw me for a loop! I couldn't get past the fact that they would make a great Pixar ball image and struggled to use them to make a card featuring anything else! I made a few discarded cards for today's challenge, before finally going uber-simple and paring my card back to the basics - take a look: 

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

A simple red frame, a panel cut with one of the Everyday Details Dies for a little border interest, and a sentiment from the Thoughtful Moments hybrid embossing folder and die set. A diecut rainbow from the same set for a final pop of colour completes my card. There are some great little dies in this set in addition to those that cut out the embossed sentiments that are perfect for clean and simple cards or an extra embellishment. I decided to go with an all-white sentiment with no colour outline:

A little unusual, but I actually quite like 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 '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:

THOUGHTFUL MOMENTS HYBRID EMBOSSING FOLDER (ENGLISH) (36.00)

EVERYDAY DETAILS DIES (32.00)

BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (10.00)

POPPY PARADE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)

CRUSHED CURRY A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)

TAHITIAN TIDE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and Jeanne has asked that we use a diagonal along with a central focal point:

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card and the heart doesn't have to be a heart - you can choose an alternative shape too. For my card today I did that and I used a pair of birds that I fussy cut from the Flight & Airy designer series paper that is one of the gifts that can be yours FREE with an order of £45 during the current Sale-A-Bration promotion. Here's my card:

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

I spent ages trying to decide how best to use the diagonal. I wanted to avoid using a piece of designer paper for half of the panel so instead used a piece of Boho Blue watercolour, also from the Flight & Airy pack, as a layer beneath a piece of white card, across which I diecut a diagonal line using one of the new Essential Details Dies. It doesn't quite go corner-to-corner, as I wanted to preserve the horizontal/vertical aspects, but it follows the intent of the sketch and allows some of that lovely blue paper to peek through:

Fussy cutting the birds was a labour of love but so worth it as they make a lovely centrepiece. I added a few sequins and a sentiment from the 'Charming Sentiments' stamp set to finish. This card is a notecard to send to someone I've not spoken to in a while, to share news and let them know I'm thinking of them. Sometimes a card is better than a text, right?

I'm also playing along with my old teamies over at TicTacToe with my card today; I followed the diagonal diecut/patterned paper/pink.

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:

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.50)

EVERYDAY DETAILS DIES (32.00)

CHARMING SENTIMENTS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (22.00)

STARRY SKY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)

LOOSE SILVER SEQUINS (6.25)

It's Tuesday and time for our first challenge of the year over at CAS Colours & Sketches. We have some new designers so do check out the refreshed team. The lovely Jeanne is hosting this month and our first challenge is a colour challenge: 

For my card today I was so tempted to go with Perennial Lavender again for today's card with this colour palette, but decided instead to change tack and break out a new stamp set that I received at our Online launch event for the mini catalogue, called 'Planted Paradise' - take a look:

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

Planted Paradise - The 'Planted Paradise' stamp set is a reversible stamp set that contains lots of different pots and leaves that you can use to build your own plants, pots and hanging baskets - so fun! I actually intended to use an alternative pot in my design, until I remembered that the stamps are actually shown at 60% of size, so they are larger than I anticipated and I had to scale down my choices. I had originally intended to use the rounded flower-patterned pot - so I added a single punched flower to the one I eventually used in homage to that! These stamps are so easy to use and offer lots of creative options - if you like the ability to just stamp and see what you can create - this stamp set is for you. 

Glorious Gingham - Everything's better with gingham, right?! I used a square of Berry Burst gingham to back my pot, as a way to incorporate a pop of berry goodness and following the Try A Sketch on Tuesday that I included above (previously Try Stamping on Tuesday). The team are doubling up with Double Trouble where they want you to choose a background that reflects your introvert or extrovert personality. Well, since today is clean and simple day it's no surprise that I chose a clean white base, which I guess could fit either - which works for me, as I can be both introvert and extrovert!

Heartfelt Hellos - The 'Planted Paradise' stamp set is sentiment-free, so I needed to find one from elsewhere to complete my card. I wanted a 'Just For You' type set so that I could play along over at CAS on Friday this week as that is their theme, so I decided to ink up 'hello' from a new, FREE, set called 'Heartfelt Hellos' that can be yours too with a purchase of £45 or more. This is such a useful set with a mix of sentiments for a variety of occasions - I particularly love the font of the greeting I used on today's 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 later this week with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

PLANTED PARADISE PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (21.00)	GLORIOUS GINGHAM 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (10.00)	STYLISH SHAPES DIES (28.00)	PURPLE FINE SHIMMER GEMS (7.50)	HIGHLAND HEATHER CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	BERRY BURST CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)
SHADED SPRUCE 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 Nancy has asked that we include three elements overlaid with a sentiment. Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card.

For my card today I decided to embrace the interesting colour palette over at Hand Stamped Sentiments and create a simple Christmas card using my Alphabet A' La Mode Dies - take a look:

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

For today's card I used a dark Pebbled Path background, and having added some tone-on-tone ink around the edge of the base to add depth, I flicked the surface with some watered-down white ink for some snow splatters. I added a trio of letters to spell the word JOY for my 3 elements and cut these from white cardstock, then overlaid these with a sentiment stamped in Berry Burst from the retired 'Peace and Joy' stamp set (there is an equivalent one in the current 'Merry & Bright' stamp set).  so that they would stand out against my Pebbled Path background:

 Some diecut holly leaves and berries and a sprinkling of rhinestones complete my clean and simple card design. I wasn't sure about this colour palette when I saw it, but I ended up liking my card so much that I made two! Here;s another photo with my inside sentiment too:

I'm also linking this card up for a second entry over at Less Is More where the theme is 'Anything CAS Goes'. 

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:

ALPHABET À LA MODE DIES (40.00)	PEBBLED PATH A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	BERRY BURST A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	MOSSY MEADOW A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	BERRY BURST CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	PEBBLED PATH CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)
BLENDING BRUSHES (13.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (10.00)	FOAM ADHESIVE SHEETS (7.50)	WHITE CRAFT STAMPIN' INK REFILL (4.25)	RHINESTONE BASIC JEWELS (5.75)