White Painted Lavender Clean and Simple

by Joanne James15. January 2024 12:10

Today I'm sharing a clean and simple card that I made using the current Color Throwdown colour palette (which coincidentally is very similar to our colour palette over at CC&S this week) and the layout over at Freshly Made Sketches, where the lovely Cecile has provided the sketch:

    

Anyone who reads my blog regularly know how much I love a Freshly Made Sketch layout and especially when it's designed by Cecile - I just love her clean and simple style and always feel that her sketches really challenge me to hone my CAS skills. I was so tempted to go with one of the foliage branches in the Gorgeously Made die bundle, but instead thought I would 'go white' with my new Painted Lavender Dies - take a look:

 

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

Tackling The Sketch - The first thing I had to decide was what to do with the three straight elements in the sketch. There are so many ways these could be represented: designer paper offcuts, watercolour swooshes, stamps, stencils - so many possibilities! I decided to go with 'stamped swooshes' of colour to represent the petals and foliage of my lavender stems. I used a couple of retired stamp sets for my brushstrokes, as they really go where I want if I'm free forming and I like the finished effect. If you are interested in other alternatives, I would urge you to check out the FMS Design Team cards - they really have outdone themselves this week, with such a variety of takes on the sketch. 

White Lavender - Having laid down my colour, I decided to add a bunch of lavender stems cut from thick white cardstock. This really adds to the clean and simple feel and is a technique that Cecile often uses in her cardmaking. 

Finishing Touches - To finish, I added a couple of gems, a silver twine trim bow and a silver heat-embossed sentiment from the new 'Perennial Postage' set. This is slightly difficult to see on my main photo because of the lighting, but is clearer on the close-up below:

This is one of those cards that took much longer to make the first time than it would to make a second one, but I think sometimes that's the beauty of a good clean and simple card; just because a design is clean and simple, doesn't mean it is devoid of thought or care. And there endeth today's lesson!

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:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

White Painted Lavender Clean and Simple

by Joanne James15. January 2024 12:10

Today I'm sharing a clean and simple card that I made using the current Color Throwdown colour palette (which coincidentally is very similar to our colour palette over at CC&S this week) and the layout over at Freshly Made Sketches, where the lovely Cecile has provided the sketch:

    

Anyone who reads my blog regularly know how much I love a Freshly Made Sketch layout and especially when it's designed by Cecile - I just love her clean and simple style and always feel that her sketches really challenge me to hone my CAS skills. I was so tempted to go with one of the foliage branches in the Gorgeously Made die bundle, but instead thought I would 'go white' with my new Painted Lavender Dies - take a look:

 

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

Tackling The Sketch - The first thing I had to decide was what to do with the three straight elements in the sketch. There are so many ways these could be represented: designer paper offcuts, watercolour swooshes, stamps, stencils - so many possibilities! I decided to go with 'stamped swooshes' of colour to represent the petals and foliage of my lavender stems. I used a couple of retired stamp sets for my brushstrokes, as they really go where I want if I'm free forming and I like the finished effect. If you are interested in other alternatives, I would urge you to check out the FMS Design Team cards - they really have outdone themselves this week, with such a variety of takes on the sketch. 

White Lavender - Having laid down my colour, I decided to add a bunch of lavender stems cut from thick white cardstock. This really adds to the clean and simple feel and is a technique that Cecile often uses in her cardmaking. 

Finishing Touches - To finish, I added a couple of gems, a silver twine trim bow and a silver heat-embossed sentiment from the new 'Perennial Postage' set. This is slightly difficult to see on my main photo because of the lighting, but is clearer on the close-up below:

This is one of those cards that took much longer to make the first time than it would to make a second one, but I think sometimes that's the beauty of a good clean and simple card; just because a design is clean and simple, doesn't mean it is devoid of thought or care. And there endeth today's lesson!

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:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Let's Just Roll With It and Quarantini For #ShareSunshine

by Joanne James6. May 2020 10:30

Hi everyone! Wednesday already? Oh my! I've had a busy start to my week with online card classes which are really starting to take off as we get used to the technology. I had my main class on Monday using 'Beautiful Friendship' one of my most favourite sets (cards to follow). In order to stave off boredom for a lot of my regular crafty ladies, I've been following up each class with a couple of shorter 30 minute sessions that use the same set we used in our class but using different techniques. This is more like a Facebook live but we still use Zoom so that we are in a classroom format and can all see and talk to each other as I'm demonstrating. I don't do many Facebook lives and must confess I much prefer the classroom format. If anyone is reading this and thinking they would like to know more about online classes or these little demo sessions, then do check out my Facebook page or leave me a comment below and I can add you to my group.

Anyway - time for a blog post! I've had a few server issues with my hosting company earlier this week, so if you popped by and couldn't reach my blog, please accept my apologies - things should all be sorted now I'm told! So today I'm sharing another couple of cards using the #ShareSunshine product giveback download that Stampin' Up! has released to raise funds for Covid-19 related charities - you can read all about it and purchase the download if you are interested in my previous post here. For the first one I used the current Fusion sketch for my layout (great sketch!):

I used the fun loo roll image and once printed die cut it with a stitched circle, and paired it with some retired Bubbles & Fizz Sale-A-Bration papers - take a look:

 

I added some striped Bermuda Bay ribbon and another of the print out sentiments to the inside of my card:

 

That's pretty much all we can do right?!

One of my lovely customers, Jane, shared some fabulous cards using this download over on my Facebook page and I noticed that she had used some of these papers and they actually match quite a lot of the sentiments and images, so I got to use up some paper too. If you would like to see Jane's cards, you can see them here - thanks for the inspiration Jane!

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 also managed a quick second card this afternoon, using this week's CAS(E) This Sketch:

I used another or the retired Bubble and Fizz papers and paired it with the martini glass that I coloured with Blends and this fun sentiment:

 

It finishes inside the card like this:

 

Enjoy your evening. I spent my day editing and uploading some online class videos and enabling my oven repair man to do his job whilst social distancing - why do these things always break down at the most inconvenient times?! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

#ShareSunshine Digital Download: get yours here

Sheltering Tree Autumnal Thankful For You

by Joanne James27. October 2018 19:00

I've been enjoying a well-earned rest this week and some quality family time since the James Juniors are on their half-term break. Some time spent creating though so lots to share with you this next coming week - regular blogging may be about to make a comeback! Today I'm sharing a card using the current colours over at Global Design Project and the sketch over at CAS Colours and Sketches:

      

I'm also linking up with the Paper Craft Crew where the inspiration is trees and leaves. My card was a quick and easy card, using an old favourite - take a look:

 

I haven't used my Sheltering Tree stamp set in ages, but it is perfect for creating seasonal trees and great for clean and simple cards. I stamped the leaves twice, once in Pumpkin Pie and again, offsetting the image slightly, in Crushed Curry, to create my autumn leaves. I added a sprinkling of falling leaves and some leaves strewn across my swathe of Old Olive grass. I wanted the orange and yellow to be the dominant colours of my card today, so the only other place I've used green is to frame my central image, which I cropped quite tightly to accentuate those leaves and autumnal colours. 

Clean and simple autumn with just stamps, ink and paper - done!

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 evening and I'll be back tomorrow with a card (or two!) for the new challenge over at the Paper Players which begins tomorrow. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

This Week's Wednesday Weekly Deals!

by Joanne James3. February 2016 09:00

It's Wednesday and you know what that means: a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! These offers are valid for one week only. As always, a new collection of deals will be announced next Wednesday.

If you want to take advantage of any of the deals on offer, you can support my business by placing your order online by clicking here or using the link to my store on the right hand side of my blog page where it says 'Shop Online' or with me in person. Don't forget to add the new Hostess Code for February UYGWGF4W if your order is under £150 and be sure to make sure that you don't check the 'no contact' box if you'd like to be kept updated with the progress of you order and receive a little thank you in the post from me. 

Here's a summary of this week's one-week only Wednesday deals - click on each item to go to the online store to purchase:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

One of my favourite stamp sets, Sheltering Tree, on offer today and some great punch and framelit set offers too! 

Back later with today's creative project; until then, happy shopping!

Sheltering Tree Cherry Blossom Card

by Joanne James30. October 2015 09:00

Today I have a change from Christmas cards; I wanted to use this week's sketch over at Less is More and I am also playing along with the challenge over at The Card Concept:

   

I decided that the colours over at The Card Concept would make a pretty thank you card so here's my card for today:

I've been seeing some wonderful autumnal cards made with the Sheltering Tree stamp set so I thought I would use it on this card, although I think my card looks more Spring-like than autumnal! I used a base of Pink Pirouette with a mat of Early Espresso, and stamped my tree off the edge of the panel in Early Espresso onto Very Vanilla cardstock. I overstamped the blossom in Pink Pirouette with a little Cherry Cobbler, then for my sentiment used a combination of my 'thanks' Greeting thinlits die for the negative die cut in my Cherry Cobbler banner, with 'For Being You' stamped in Early Espresso using the 'Crazy About You' stamp set. 

Clean and simple with a hint of cherry blossom - a nice change from the autumnal, Halloween and Christmas cards of late!

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

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

 

Cacti Galore!

by Joanne James13. August 2015 08:05

Today it's time for a new challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary and this week we have a great colour challenge for you:

 

I actually have two cards for you today. I saw this colour combination and immediately thought of cacti and deserts - yes, really! Here's the first card - can you guess what stamp I used to create my cactus plant?

To create my cacti I used a neat little trick that I saw on Becky Cowley's blog here - using one of the Watercolour Wings butterflies to stamp the cactus shape - isn't that clever?!

I placed my cactus in a flowerpot cut out of kraft cardstock with the Handpicked Framelits and topped it with flowers punched from the Itty Bitty Accents punch, with candy dot centres. To finish my card, I added some Tangerine Tango bakers twine that I had leftover from an old Tag-a-Bag accessory kit (you could use white as an alternative). I'm not sure my cactus on this card is quite as convincing as Becky's version, but I love the idea all the same. It's great when a stamp set offers the flexibility to do more with it than intended - and this one certainly does! 

This colour combination appealed to me more than I first thought it would, so having created the above card I then created another - still with my cactus theme, although this card uses the cactus from the 'Yee Haw' set which I understand is now sold out (boo hoo - I love this set!):

I used Cucumber Crush for my base and two of the co-ordinating DSP patterns in the Cherry on Top stack on my card - one for the mat and the other for my paper-pieced cactus, which is stamped using the 'Yee Haw' stamp set. My sky is stamped using 'Work of Art' in Pacific Point, with the sand in Tangerine Tango using one of the stamps in the Sheltering Tree set. To finish I fussy-cut my bright orange sun from the lovely hostess set, Silhouettes and Script, and popped it up on dimensionals.

Do visit the other Design Team members to see how they used this week's challenge colours; there's lots of inspiration over on their blogs too!

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

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

  • Cherry On Top Designer Series Paper Stack
  • Cucumber Crush Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Cucumber Crush A4 Cardstock
  • Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Silhouettes & Script Wood-Mount Stamp
  • Whisper White A4 Cardstock
  • Sheltering Tree Photopolymer Stamp Set
  • Work Of Art Clear-Mount Stamp Set
  • A Dozen Thoughts Clear-Mount Stamp Set
  • Watercolor Wings Photopolymer Stamp Set
  • Punch Corner Project Life
  • Pacific Point A4 Cardstock
  • Handpicked Framelits Dies
  • Kraft 12" X 12" Cardstock

 

Friendship Is A Sheltering Tree

by Joanne James1. July 2015 09:30

It's Wednesday and today I have a card for this week's challenge over at Less is More. I always follow this great challenge site, although don't always find time to enter as often as I'd like (and even when I do things don't always go to plan - my attempt for last week's stencilling challenge was something of a disaster and ended up in the dustbin!) This week these lovely ladies have a sketch challenge though and never one to turn down a good sketch, this week's attempt was much more successful. Here's the sketch:

And here's my card:

 

I actually made this card to send to a friend who has been having a tough time of it recently and needed to know that it's ok to 'offload' once in a while - that's what friends are for. I so love this sentiment and it was the perfect message. I stamped the tree in a combination of Crumb Cake and Wild Wasabi with a sprinkle of purple flowers beneath it. I did add a border layer to my image and sentiment panels in Perfect Plum, but I was careful to leave my image uncluttered and as much 'white space' as possible around the panels to retain the clean and simple feel. The sentiment is one long stamp, but I split it here and inked the first word in a different colour, for emphasis and simply to fit it on the panel. I even remembered to add a little envelope decoration too - bonus!

I hope you like today's card; don't forget to check out this week's extended range of Wednesday Weekly Deals and the updated Clearance Rack - find full details on my earlier post here. I will be back tomorrow with my card for this week's new challenge over at create with Connie and Mary. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

 

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Cards | Stamping

Pink and Pretty Sheltering Tree Card

by Joanne James19. January 2015 10:45

It's Monday and I am filled with the enthusiasm of a new week! I managed to get some quality crafting time yesterday afternoon, so I'm hoping to tick off a few 'back burner' jobs this week. Today I'm sharing a card using this week's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches, where Jen Timko has this sketch for us (and a great interpretation of it - you should really check out both her card and those of the other FMS designers):

I stuck with the circle for my shape and decided to go with a pink and pretty card today using the fab 'Sheltering Tree' stamp set from the new Spring-Summer catalogue. Here is my card:

I used Crumb Cake for my base and adhered a layer of Crumb Cake DSP with polka dots from the Neutrals DSP stack to the front. I stamped my tree on Whisper White in Crumb Cake, and the leaves twice, once in Pink Pirouette and once in Blushing Bride, then added some tiny pink hearts punched with my Confetti Heart Border Punch. The swing and sentiment are stamped in Chocolate chip for a little contrast and I embossed the top layer with the large polka dot embossing folder before adhering to my card with dimensionals. A small punched heart and tiny pearl complete the look. This stamp set offers so many possibilities; it was one of those sets that I bought 'for me' as I know I will get lots of use out if it. It's also photopolymer, so aligning the images is a doddle - no stamp-a-ma-jig required.

I am also linking today's card up with SUO Challenges where the current theme is dots; mine are subtle, but they are definitely there! This card would make a lovely Valentine's card or even a birthday or other occasion for a special little girl - I know my daughter would love it, although her fascination with the little bicycle that comes with this stamp set may require me to change out the swing with a two-wheeler!

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, stay warm (it's cold in the UK today!) and happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

 

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About Me

Hi I'm Joanne and live in Northampton and when I'm not looking after my husband and two beautiful children, am an avid crafter with a passion for all things Stampin' Up!

I must confess that I have never been a big rubber stamper - until I discovered Stampin' Up! that is. I love the fact that I can get such great results with co-ordinating stamps, inks, papers and punches - the possibilities are endless! Join me on my stamping journey as I share the things I love and be inspired to create amazing things yourself!

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This is my personal blog and is not endorsed by Stampin’ Up! I hope you find it a plentiful source of ideas and personal inspiration but please don't copy my designs for contest submission or use for classes, publication or sale without express permission.