Build A Cake 3D Washi Birthday Card

by Joanne James16. June 2015 15:28

As promised, I'm back today to share with you the birthday card I made for Rebecca to celebrate her tenth birthday yesterday. I used this week's sketch layout at TGIF Challenges as my inspiration:

Whilst most of her birthday cards had a distinctly 'pink' theme, Rebecca loves bright colours and patterns and I wanted to create something based around the colours of the new Cherry On Top DSP stack and the co-ordinating washi tape - here's what I came up with: 

Bright, right?! I used Watermelon Wonder as my base and Bermuda Bay for my mat layers, then created a panel of stripes using each of the Cherry On Top washi tapes. On my central panel, I stamped the sentiment and cake stand directly onto the base, then created a 3D cake by stamping each of the 'Build A Birthday' cake layers onto a separate piece of Whisper White and curving with my bone folder before adhering to my card. I topped my cake with a trio of washi tape flags and added a Cucumber Crush blossom accent, complete with rhinestone, to finish. Check out my cute little flags below - so easy to make by wrapping a piece of washi tape around the end of a cocktail stick and snipping to create flag shapes: 

I used the positioning of the stars on the sketch to hold a handcrafted birthday badge that could be removed - when your birthday is on a school day, a badge is most definitely a part of birthday uniform! I simply stamped a 1 3/4" circle with age, sentiment and a birthday balloon and popped it into a badge kit - here's a close up: 

The verdict? Rebecca loved it, so mission accomplished! She had a lovely day at school and the we all went out for dinner with grandparents before coming home to open yet more presents. Oh to be ten again!

Back tomorrow with this week's Wednesday Deals and another card for the TGIF Challenge, only this time the Monthly Throwdown. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

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

 

 

Irresistibly Yours Stars and Stripes Patriotic Card

by Joanne James15. June 2015 13:27

Happy Monday everyone! It is a happy one here in the James Household as the oldest of my James Juniors is 10 years old today! I will share her birthday card tomorrow, but for today I have another rather patriotic-themed card for this week's challenge over at Colour Me where they have the following striking colour combination: 

This was definitely calling for an all-out stars and stripes combo - so I dug out my SAB Irresistibly Yours paper and got sponging! I am also linking up with SUO Challenges again today as this card fits their theme of stars and stripes perfectly. Here's my card:

I just love how this card turned out! Some simply sponged panels in the challenge colours and the paper really does all the work - I'm so glad we now have the Colour Me Irresistible paper in the annual catalogue too. The stripes in the pack are diagonal so I cut the paper at an angle to straighten them up, added a 'Bravo!' stamp from the set of the same name and some stars cut with my Big Shot and star framelits to finish. Simply but I hope you agree, rather effective! 

That's all from me today - lots to do! Back tomorrow with a rather special birthday card to share; until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' up! Supplies Used:

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

 

Congrats! Star Card

by Joanne James14. June 2015 10:00

It's Sunday and time for a new challenge over at the Paper Players. Thank you to everyone who played along with my challenge last week - your entries were awesome! This week it is the turn of the super talented Sandy and she has a fun colour challenge for us:

 

With the 4th of July not far away, there are lots of patriotic themed cards floating about the internet. Thought of American independence and the stars on this week's badge inspired me to create my card this week:

I chose to use the Congrats! stamp from the 'Bravo!' stamp set as my focal sentiment, stamped in Island Indigo onto my Pool Party base, and die cut some stars around it using my Big shot and Stars framelits to decorate. I used a couple of snippets of retired DSP behind the negative space (the indigo stripes are from the 'All Abloom' pack and the red stripes from the 'Fresh Prints' DSP stack) and popped some stars up on dimensionals for a little extra lift. A red glimmer star punched with my Itty Bitty star punch and a single rhinestone finish my card. 

This card is ready for one of my lovely team who is close to promoting this month; I am willing her to get there so am thinking positively and I know I'll be sending this out real soon. I'm also linking up to SUO Challenges where the challenge is appropriately 'stars and stripes'. Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

The Paper Players Design Team
 
 
Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than three challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN! 

I look forward to seeing your colourful creations in the gallery this week. I'm off to begin a couple of days of birthday celebrations - we are starting early and making the most of it - after all, you're only 10 once!

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.

 

Awesomely Artistic Watercolour Card

by Joanne James13. June 2015 21:54

Saturday already - I just don't know where this week has gone! I've spent most of today baking in readiness for a very special young lady who is about to turn 'double digits' in the birthday stakes (more on that later in the week!) so just have time for a quick post today to share the 'make and take' card that I made recently at the Stampin' Up! event held in Telford recently, using a beautiful new set called 'Awesomely Artistic':

The base of the card is one of the new in-colours, Mint Macaron, decorated with a piece of burlap. The main panel is watercolour paper, stamped with a blossom in Mint Macaron and some grunge splatters from the same set in Delightful Dijon. The dragonfly was stamped and spritzed with water so that the colour would bleed into the paper. The sentiment is from another new set, 'One Big Meaning' and was stamped in Tip Top Taupe, firstly directly onto the watercolour paper and then again onto Very Vanilla and the bottom part cut out and popped up on a couple of dimensionals. A vintage faceted button and a sprinkle of pearls complete the card - I even remembered to decorate the envelope too!

There are some gorgeous images in the 'Awesomely Artistic' stamp set and you can be sure that you will be seeing more of this set from me. 

Back tomorrow with a new challenge over at The Paper Players; until, then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

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

 

Tap Tap Tap Teacher Thank You Card

by Joanne James11. June 2015 08:00

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary. Today we have a new sketch challenge for you:

 

When I made this card I was still waiting for my box of new catalogue goodies to arrive, so was rather restricted in terms of supplies - I was actually missing having a selection of DSP for all those layers! I decided to go with a rather loose interpretation of the sketch and build the layers using stamps; here's my card:

I decided to rotate the sketch through 90 degrees, although I stuck with the vertical shape, and use the 'tap tap tap' stamp set and create a teacher thank you card. I stamped the first two panels onto my Pool party base with the alphabet stamp in Island Indigo and the tap tap in Pool Party. I used a piece of Whisper White stamped with the notepaper stamp in Pool Party for my central panel, rounding the corners with my Project Life corner rounder. I also punched the top with my now retired spiral border punch, but you could just as easy leave this edge straight. I stamped 'TO MY TEACHER' using my Rotary Alphabet stamp - so useful for bespoke messages and sentiments - and added a bright Real Red typewriter that I stamped in Versamark then heat embossed in clear, then coloured the keys in with my black Stampin' Write marker.

There are two fun elements to my card that you might be wondering where they came from: the red apple and leaf is punched using my new Tree Builder punch and painted with Crystal Effects for added shine and secondly, the thank you sentiment on my paper pieced paper in the typewriter. This isn't one of the sentiments that comes with this set - I created it by using my stamp-a-ma-jig and inking a combination of parts of the other sentiments in the set to spell 'thank you'. The 'a' is from the word 'tap' - and I love how it stands out slightly from the others, it looks like a proper old typewriter font.

If you would like to see a more literal interpretation of this week's sketch, I also used it for yesterday's card which you can see here. Looking forward to seeing what you do with our sketch this week. As for me, I have a team meeting planned today and a bunch of household chores. I'll be back tomorrow with more creative inspiration for you. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

  • Tap Tap Tap Clear-Mount Stamp Set
  • Punch Corner Project Life
  • Tree Builder Punch
  • Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder
  • Embossing Buddy
  • Heat Tool (Uk)
  • Versamark Pad
  • Crystal Effects
  • Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Pool Party A4 Cardstock
  • Real Red A4 Cardstock
  • Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker
  • Whisper White A4 Cardstock
  • Alphabet Rotary Stamp
  • Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

 

New Wednesday Weekly Deals!

by Joanne James10. June 2015 12:04

It's Wednesday and you know what that means: a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! This week's deals are included below - they will be available for one week only, before a new collection of deals is announced. 

As always, 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 Hostess Code for June UPCSWX2C 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.
 
Lots of great products on offer this week: 'Be the Star' is a great stamp set with many uses, there is a great border punch and piercing templates (including stars - a great pairing for the stamp set!), ribbon, epoxy stickers, scoring plate and my absolute favourite the square framelits - useful for frames, shaker cards, Project Life - and so much more!
 
Back later with today's creative post; until then, happy stampin'!
 
 

Masculine Mini Treat Bag Thinlit Card and Self-Closing Gift Bag Punch Board Bag

by Joanne James7. June 2015 10:00

Yay it's Sunday and time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players - and this week I'm the hostess! With Father's Day approaching, I thought that masculine cards would make a great theme this week and it would at least encourage me to be organised!

I have lots of photos to share with you today, as I made not just one but two projects: a fun card using the mini treat bag thinlits and a matching gift bag using my new Gift Bag Punch Board - oh how I love this!

So first to my card: I've seen a few of these fun cards on Pinterest using the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Die to create a fancy shirt with a sliding insert (one of my favourites is this one by Julie Kettlewell) and have been wanting to have a go at creating my own version for a while. Here it is: 

I have used the now retired Adventure Bound DSP for my card - this paper is just so fabulous for masculine cards and I hope you all stocked up before it retired! The Mini Treat Bag Thinlits are great for making simple slider cards as well as treat bags; I added silver buttons, a pocket punched with my hexagon punch and with a snippet of Island Indigo chevron ribbon in for a handkerchief. For my insert, I cut it taller than my pocket, then snipped in a third of the way each side to create my turned down collar and added my bow tie. The picture below shows the insert with my stamped sentiment from the 'Guy Greetings' stamp set and a pair of shoes to finish off this dapper outfit:

Pleased as I was with this cute little card, I couldn't stop there; I had to create a matching gift bag using my new Gift Bag Punch Board. I think this is going to be one of my new favourite tools - it is so easy to use and offers so many creative possibilities that go beyond the constraints of the board. Here is my bag:

I made my bag using the 'L' measurements on the board and used a sheet of Whisper White cardstock measuring 9 1/2" x 12". Once I'd punched the bottom according to the board instructions, I flipped it around and did the same on the other end, cutting away all except the long flap on the back of the bag, which I then also punched in the middle to create my collar. I then used the collar as the close mechanism for my bag, by tucking it underneath the bow tie - the photo below of the open bag illustrates that more clearly:

I then added two pieces of DSP with co-ordinating lapels and a large silver button threaded with a piece of white jute ribbon trim to finish my bag. Here are both items together:

I'm really pleased with this project duo; the gift bag is large enough for a couple of pairs of socks, some toiletries, a sweet treat (or two!) - pretty much anything that might be on a Dad's wish list. I hope you like them too and they inspire you to create some fun masculine projects this week! Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week, including our three new guest designers:

The Paper Players Design Team
 
 
Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than three challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN! 

I look forward to seeing your masculine creations in the gallery this week. I'm off to finish preparations for this week's technique classes and tackle my mountain of ironing. How does the saying go - no rest for the wicked?!

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.

 

Bohemian Petite Cafe Gift Bag

by Joanne James6. June 2015 21:51

Just time to squeeze in a quick post from me today to share a really quick and easy packaging idea using the Stampin' Up! Petite Cafe gift bags and some lovely new product from the 2015-16 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue:

Isn't the little shopping trolley so cute?! This was a gift to me from my wonderful upline Monica recently and I wanted to share the lovely bag with you. It is decorated with the new Bohemian DSP and a stamped scallop circle with one of the stamps from the new 'Friendly Wishes' stamp set. The banners were punched in seconds using the new Triple Banner Punch and the bag was finished off with some Venetian Crochet Trim and Metallic Gold Baker's Twine. What was inside? Well, that would be telling...but it was yummy!

With packaging so quick and easy to recreate there really is no excuse not to add the handmade touch to your sweet treats!

Back tomorrow with a special project for the new challenge over at The Paper Players where I am the hostess this week. Come back then - I guarantee you won't want to miss it! Until then, happy stampin'! 

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

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

 

2015-16 Stampin' Up! Catalogue Is Here - Today You Really Can Have It All!

by Joanne James2. June 2015 09:00

The wait is over - it's June 2nd and the new 2015-16 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue is here! I have updated my links on the right hand side of my blog and you will find a permanent link to the new catalogue there, but for today you need look no further than the picture below which will take you straight to the new catalogue:

 

 

This is a day when you really can have it all though:

  • Today is the last day to order from the 2015 Spring-Summer Occasions Catalogue. There are lots of great products in the 2015 Occasions Catalogue that are going away after June 2.  Read my previous blog post here for the detail.
  • Today is the last day to order from the 2014-2015 Annual Catalogue.  Everything in that catalogue that isn’t carrying over to the 2015-2016 Annual Catalogue is to be found on the Retiring Lists and are available WHILE SUPPLIES LAST - today is the last day to order those items. Many of these items are discounted; there are still some bargains to be had. Check out the remaining retiring items here.
  • Today is the first day that you can order from the 2015-2016 Annual Catalogue. The new catalogue is posted above and will be permanently linked via my blog if you don’t have a paper copy. If you have your paper copy and just want to go straight to the shop to place your order, click here. Don't forget to add the hostess code for June UPCSWX2C if your order is less than £150 and ensure you are set to 'contactable' to receive a thank you in the post from me.
  • Earn Hostess Rewards under the “Old Plan”.  You may have noticed in the new catalogue that Stampin’ Up! has changed the customer rewards plan for purchases over £150.  In the new plan, now called Stampin’ Rewards, customers and hostesses can still earn free product for these larger orders.  While the total reward has decreased at each level (for example, the free product reward on a £150 order decreases from £25 to £15), the rewards are on a sliding scale that allow you to continue to earn for every £ you spend over and above £150. The aim is to make things more straight forward, but as the new plan doesn't take effect until June 3rd for today there is no change. An added benefit of Stampin' Rewards is that they can be used towards a starter kit if you choose to join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator - making the starter kit even better value! Which brings me on to the last 'big news' item for today:
  • Earn Free Stamps in June’s Promotion for New SU! Joiners.  June 2 also kicks off a new promotion for customers to become demonstrators.  As a demonstrator on my team, you will belong to a friendly team where you get to be the first to see and order products from upcoming catalogues. You also get to earn a discount on the products you already love – with no risks or penalties if you don't meet your quarterly minimum.  Starting today when you join, you also earn two free stamp sets of your choice (they’ll be added to your starter kit). These can be any stamps at all from the new catalogue - so if you choose wisely (think alphabets and large sentiment sets!) these two stamp sets alone could be worth £60 or more. The Starter Kit is £99 for £130 of free product of your choice. My team is a mix of both hobby stampers and business demonstrators and I love and appreciate them all.  If you would like to take to me about becoming a demonstrator and joining us, please do get in touch for a no obligation chat about the benefits or call in at either of my open house events this week. Alternatively if you know this is the deal for you, don't delay and click here to join today!

That's a lot of information for one post; if I were you I would put the kettle on, put your feet up and get comfy and settle down with your new catalogue for a browse and start creating that all-important wish list!

Back tomorrow with a new project; until then, happy shopping!

 

Hip Hip Hooray For The Paper Players

by Joanne James31. May 2015 10:00

It's Sunday and time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players. You totally rocked Anne-Marie's sketch last week; this week it's the turn of the lovely Laurie, who has a tic-tac-toe challenge to stretch our creative brains:

   

I normally struggle with these, yet I seem to be on a real creative roll this week as I had a ton of different ideas and combinations for today's grid. I settled on combining my card with this week's sketch over at Pals Paper Arts and challenging myself to use something that I have lots of but sometimes use for little more than decorating an envelope: washi tape. I decided the sketch was perfect for showcasing some of the new Bohemian washi tape that I received with my pre-order goodies - here's my card:

I used a base of Delightful Dijon and a mat of Island Indigo, then cut a piece of Very Vanilla to the shape of the zig zag on the sketch. Starting at the zig zag end, I then covered my whole piece in strips of washi tape, creating an open herringbone effect and alternating between each of the three designs. Once I had covered the entire piece of cardstock, I adhered it to the card base using dimensionals. For my sentiment panel, I cut a rectangle of Very Vanilla and rounded the corners using my Project Life corner rounder and stamped it with the 'Hip Hip Hooray' greeting from the 'Bravo' stamp set in Island Indigo. I added a scattering of Bermuda Bay sequins to finish before popping this up on dimensionals too. I'm sure you've worked it out, but just in case I was following the top line of the tic tac toe board: washi tape, any shade of blue and sequins. I really quite like this card - it seemed almost a shame to cover my lovely pattern with the sentiment panel!

Before you reach for your inks and stamps, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

The Paper Players Design Team
 
Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than three challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN! 

I look forward to seeing how many different combinations of the grid we see in the gallery this week. I'm off to prepare lunch as we have some friends visiting today and then I have to get two of the other three members of the James household ready for trips away this week - a busy, yet fun day ahead!

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

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

A4 Delightful Dijon -available 2nd June

Bohemian washi tape - available 2nd June

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.