Hi everyone! I've been recovering from Stampin' Up!'s Onstage event and making the most of the Easter vacation with the James Juniors this week, so crafting time has been non-existent and blogging opportunities even less so! Today though the sun is shining and I am spending a glorious afternoon in the garden, so thought I would take the opportunity to share with you a card that I actually made as a second one that I made for the challenge set by my fellow Paper Players teamie the lovely LeAnne last week to use plaid or check on your card. Here's my card:

 Here's the low-down on today's card:

Christmas Plaid - Ok, so the irony of sharing a Christmas card on Good Friday isn't lost on me! However given that Stampin' Up!'s retiring lists were announced earlier this week (if you missed my post you can read all about it here) this is actually a great time to share this card as it showcases 2 products that are on that list and will be going away for good. The first of these is this fabulous plaid designer series paper that is from the 'Under the Mistletoe' pack. As is always the way, all of the designer series papers in the annual catalogue will be leaving us to make way for the new, so if you have a favourite then now is the time to stock up. If you're the type of person that 'does Christmas' all year round or likes to get ahead and work on Christmas projects during the summer months, then you should seriously consider stocking up on this paper as I can tell you that the new annual catalogue doesn't contain any festive Christmas-themed designer series paper designs, so it will be September before we have the new seasonal range on sale. You have been warned! 

Large Letters - The second retiring item on today's card are those fabulous Large Letter Framelits, which along with the co-ordinating 'Letters For You' stamp set are retiring with this catalogue. I know that the old has to make way for the new, but I will be so sad to see these go! They have been a staple in my craft collection and whilst they might leave the catalogue, they will always have a space in my die collection - they are SO useful! These will most definitely not be going into my retiring products BOGOF sale in July, so if you want a set, you need to order them now! 

A Festive Colour Combination - The paper really does do all the hard work on this card and sets the colours for each of the other elements with a can't-go-wrong festive colour combination. If this is a colour combination that appeals to you, feel free to save the image below for your future 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. I'm off for a James family gathering for dinner. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Large Letters Framelits Dies (£92.00)	Under The Mistletoe Designer Series Paper (£10.25)	Under The Mistletoe A4 Cardstock Pack (£8.00)	Embossing Buddy (£5.50)	Versamark Pad (£8.25)
White Stampin' Emboss Powder (£4.75)

Happy Monday everyone! I've had a busy start to my week with deliveries and appointments but did manage to catch up with a couple of friends for a festive afternoon tea, which was lovely. I have a quick card to share with you today  - this one is from one of last month's classes where we were using the Santa's Sleigh bundle. This was our warm up card and features the traditional colours that the Paper Craft Crew are challenging us to use this week:

I got out the washi tape and set to work - here's my card:

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

O Christmas Tree -  The tree framelit in the Santa's Sleigh Thinlits set makes for an elegant Christmas tree, and does double duty when the negative space is used creatively too. On this card the focal point is the absence of the actual tree, as opposed to the tree itself. 

Warmth and Cheer Washi - Here the tree is decorated with Warmth and Cheer washi tape, simple strips of colour onto the Crumb Cake card base. Perfect within the Garden Green top layer, to add to the feeling of foliage.

And A Star - I finished my card with a stamped sentiment, tied twine bow and a metallic gold star.

A great simple card, easy for mass production - and don't we all need those at this time of year!

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. 

That's all from me; I'll be back soon with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Santa's Sleigh Dies Thinlits	Santa's Sleigh Photopolymer Stamp Set	Warmth & Cheer Designer Washi Tape	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Baker's Twine Trio Pack
Crumb Cake A4 Cardstock	Garden Green A4 Cardstock	Metallic Enamel Shapes

I'm popping my today with a quick card I made for this week's Mojo Monday challenge:

It's 'tall and skinny' week and I had the perfect idea for this week's layout - here's my card:

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

Santa's Sleigh Tree - The long, skinny panel on the front of this card is perfect to showcase the Christmas tree in the Santa's Sleigh stamp set - a modern take on a traditional Nordic fir. I stamped mine as a simple outline in Emerald Envy onto extra thick Whisper White cardstock, and added my partially stamped sentiment from the same set, heat embossed in white onto Real Red cardstock, across the bottom.

Presents and Pinecones - I used a small panel of the new Presents and Pinecones designer series paper behind the tree, to tie the colours and panels of my cards together. It adds just enough interest to my otherwise clean and layered card.

Touches of Red - I used Real Red as the accent colour on my card today: the background banner, the sentiment strip, the berries on the DSP and the enamel star on top of my tree. I think it really adds to the festive feel. What's more, the enamel shapes are one of this week's special offers - so a great time to stock up!

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. 

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Presents & Pinecones A4 Cardstock Pack	Mint Macaron A4 Cardstock	Presents & Pinecones Designer Series Paper	Banner Triple Punch	Santa's Sleigh Photopolymer Stamp Set
Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad	White Stampin' Emboss Powder	Heat Tool (Uk)	Brights Enamel Shapes