Happiness Abounds Birthday Card AYSI281

by Joanne James12. August 2022 12:00

Today I'm sharing my design team card for our new challenge over at As you See It where it's time for a recipe challenge:

 

There were lots of things on this week's board that I loved - DSP, bright colours, dies and even florals - but I was slightly unnerved by the addition of watercolouring into the mix! I find watercolouring a little hit and miss (sometimes my attempts are a hot mess!) so I decided to play safe and watercolour my stamped florals and take it from there. Take a look at where I ended up:

 

 Here's the low-down on today's card:

I decided to use some of the brightly coloured Hues of Happiness DSP for my background and use this as the starting point for my card. I resisted the urge to use some of my florals diecut from another sheet in this pack and instead I stamped a whole bunch of flowers from the 'Happiness Abounds' stamp set onto Shimmery White cardstock and heat embossed them in black. Shimmery White cardstock is great for watercolouring as it's not too absorbent and so is very forgiving. I watercoloured my flowers in the same colours that featured on my background paper, and positioned them around a central diecut piece, also from the co-ordinating Blossoming Happiness Dies:

I heat embossed my sentiment onto a Stylish Shapes diecut banner, added a twine bow and my card is complete - all elements of the recipe included, phew!

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. 

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

  • Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D project or packaging project that fits the challenge.
  • Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we can leave you lots of lovely comments. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSIXXX when uploading to a public gallery.
  • If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines tab on the As You See It Challenge homepage.
We look forward to seeing your creations in the AYSI gallery.

Enjoy your day and I'll be back on Sunday with my project for 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.

Rings Of Love Welcome To Your New Home TTT174

by Joanne James11. August 2022 18:00

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at TicTacToe! It's the turn of Team X to host this week and I am the featured designer this week. This is the fun board that we are playing along with: 

    

I went down the middle column with house, patterned paper and tree/wood and using the sketch layout over at SUO Challenges decided to make a 'welcome to your new home' card - take a look:

 

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

I used one of the house pattern sheets from the Rings of Love designer series paper (free during Sale-A-Bration with a £45 purchase) and added a panel to my Mint Macaron cardbase, whilst fussy cutting another house to form the centre of my clustered focal point. I used the Label Me Lovely punch to punch a piece of white cardstock and added my welcome greeting, then tucked this behind a layered tree ring. You can't fully see the detail on this card, but I just love the new Tree Rings hybrid embossing folder and co-ordinated dies - so much texture and detail! I added some branches cut using other dies in this set that I watercoloured, along with some trees cut using the Tree Lot Dies which I watercoloured to mimic the loose colouring of the DSP and layered all of the elements together:

The papers in this pack are great and I think this is one of my favourite designs; it's just perfect for a 'new home' card. Oh, and did I mention it's FREE?! Gotta love Sale-A-Bration!

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 Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

A tictactoe board offers so many creative possibilities - how does this week's board inspire you? Why not have a go? We would love to see you in the gallery and who knows - you might be selected for Designer's Choice and be eligible to be a guest designer on a future challenge. 

Enjoy your day; I'll be back tomorrow with another project for our new challenge over at As You See It. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

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

Wonderful World Thinking Of You Card In Memory of Lindsey CCS482

by Joanne James9. August 2022 13:00

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & SketchesThis week's challenge is a sketch challenge and Nancy has asked that we use the following layout:

    

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card. For my card today I am also playing along with the new Color Hues challenge in memory of their team mate Lindsey who recently lost her battle with cancer. She chose the colour scheme of blue and purple and loved clean and simple cards, so I chose to add in flowers as one of her other favourite things and use all three to create a card in her honour today - take a look:

 

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

I masked off a rectangle and used my blending brushes to add a combination of blues and purple ink, before spalttering lightly with water to create some additional detail. Once dry, I stamped a sentiment from 'Rings of Love' and a single flower stem from the 'Wonderful World' Sale-A-Bration stamp set in Starry Sky ink along the edge of my blended panel:

 

A trio of clear faceted gems complete my one layer card in memory of Lindsey - I hope I've done her memory proud.

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 on Thursday 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.

New 2022 Sale-A-Bration Items Added

by Joanne James7. August 2022 15:58

Just a quick post with additional information out this week: you all know that this year's second Sale-A-Bration promotion will end on 31st August and in addition to hosting and joining benefits (you can read about those here) you also earn a free product for every £45/90 spend - you can see the existing items here. Now there's more good news: from now until the 31st August, you will also be able to choose from a number of other items (you must use the special code as detailed as opposed to the usual item code to get one of these items free with a £45/90 spend):

 

If you would like more information or to place an order, go here to purchase from my online store (don't forget to add this month's hostess code 6SQFH49A). 

Remember as with all items offered as part of the Sale-A-Bration promotion, they are only available whilst stocks last. Currently all items are still available, however current stock levels suggest that a number of the original items will have run out before the end of the month.

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

A Sea Of Thanks With A Fish And A Wish

by Joanne James2. August 2022 13:00

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

        

For my card today I decided to have another go at the nautical challenge over at Addicted to CAS and this time create an uber-CAS card - take a look:

 

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

A few stamped waves, a sentiment and a trio of fish all from the 'A Fish And A Wish' set, with one of the fish popped up on dimensionals with a trio of sparkly bubbles for good measure. I kept things really simple, using a Stampin' Write marker brushed lightly over my fish once I'd stamped them in Highland Heather, to give them a two-tone look:

 

I like the added detail that highlighting the fish pattern gives and it's a great way to tie them into the sentiment too. Super 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.

A super-quick post from me today - I am a busy, busy bee! 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.

Tree Lot Dies Christmas Home Decor And Festive Table Favour AYSI 280

by Joanne James29. July 2022 12:00

Today I'm sharing my design team card for our new challenge over at As you See It where it's time for a festive 'fill in the blank' challenge:

       

Today we are all about Christmas in July. I do like to get a start on Christmas cards at this time of year, but when it come to my favourite Christmas in July creation it has to be home decor and table favours; these always take longer to make than you think they will and in the busy run up to Christmas there is rarely time to devote large chunks of time to crafting, so I like to get a good headstart on these kinds of projects - it makes me feel organised! I have two projects for you today - a piece of home decor and a co-ordinating table favour. Both use the Tree Lot Dies, available free with a £90 purchase during the current Sale-A-Bration promotion - and I took the inspiration for my festive caravan and 'trees for sale' scene from the top right photo over at Hand Stamped Sentiments - what a great inspo board! First up - here's my home decoration piece:

 

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

I used a dome that I had in my office that I bought last year that was just waiting to be made into something, and built my little scene onto the base, having first covered the base with snowy white velvet paper (cut with a retired layering circles die). The string of lights, embellished with the pretty Festive Pearls, the trees and the 'trees for sale' sign are all one dimensional and stand with the aid of small supports behind them. The caravan is made by diecutting two of the diecut caravan pieces and adding a base (described in more detail with the table favour below) and a second curved piece of cardstock for the roof (the roof piece measures 3 1/2" x 1 1/2", scored at 1/2" on each side and 1/4" on each side respectively). I added some red ribbon to the top of my dome and red glimmer to the base of my dome for extra festive feel. Here's a close up of my little scene, with the dome removed so that you can see the detail more easily:

 

My finished dome measures 11cm wide by 19cm tall and that's not all - it lights up too! 

 

A little tricky to see since I photographed it in daylight, but a nice feature to give a cosy night time glow. In addition to my decoration, which could be used as a table centrepiece, I also created the first of a set of table favours made from the caravan die. These are quite easy to make: just cut two caravan sides, then take a piece of cardstock measuring 4 1/8" x 1 1/2", scored at 1" on each side and 1/4/" on each side respectively, to create the open box shape. They are just big enough to hold two Lindor chocolates or similar:

How cute is that?! Both of today's projects are quite easy to make, but I won't lie - there is a time-consuming element, since all of the little pieces need to be cut and glued in place. Worth it though I think - and if you start now, you will have them finished and ready to go when Christmas rolls around!

The key products used on today's project are included in the table below - no visual today. 

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

  • Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D project or packaging project that fits the challenge.
  • Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we can leave you lots of lovely comments. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSIXXX when uploading to a public gallery.
  • If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines tab on the As You See It Challenge homepage.
  • In a Fill in the Blank challenge, complete the sentence in the Challenge Banner with the phrase that is true for you and create your project using the words you used. Tell us what you said in your blog or on your site.
How will you fill in the blank? What are your favourite Christmas In July projects to create? We look forward to seeing your creations in the AYSI gallery.

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.

Hippest Hippos Snorkelling Birthday Shaker Card TTT 172

by Joanne James28. July 2022 16:00

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at TicTacToe! It's the turn of Team X to host this week and the lovely Betty is our featured designer. This is the fun board that we are playing along with: 

    

I went right across the middle this week with enamel dots/sequins, free and shaker and - surprise, surprise! - another card featuring my favourite Sale-A-Bration stamp set, Hippest Hippos - take a look:

 

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

I couldn't resist another outing with Hippest Hippos and today's challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to use up some (retired) Whale of A Time designer series paper to create an underwater paradise for my snorkelling hippo. I cut my frame and background out of the same piece of paper, so that my scene extends across the whole of the front of my card. I added my stamped and diecut hippo, complete with snorkel and mask - but there is one thing missing in the Hippo Dies set: everyone knows that to scuba or snorkel effectively, you need fins, right? So I made a pair for my hippo (nothing fancy - cut by hand) - what do you think?

I filled my shaker with a collection of green, silver and clear sequins and beads and added a custom birthday sentiment, courtesy of the 'Amazing Phrasing' and 'Sending Smiles' stamp sets - thank you to the talented Melody Hyde for this great Instagram tip. 

Not forgetting the inside, I used the 'Whale Done' stamp set for some co-ordinated stamping and a fun sentiment:

So what do you think of today's hippo-tastic creation? And using free stamp sets too - yippee!

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 Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

I'm also linking today's card up over at Sparkles Monthly Challenges where their theme this month is shaker cards and over at Just Add Ink where the theme is 'under the sea'.

A tictactoe board offers so many creative possibilities - how does this week's board inspire you? Why not have a go? We would love to see you in the gallery and who knows - you might be selected for Designer's Choice and be eligible to be a guest designer on a future challenge. 

Enjoy your day; nothing much to report in the James household - all told, a pretty unremarkable week! 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.
 

Breaking News Graduation Card

by Joanne James28. July 2022 11:00

Today I have an extra quick post to share a card that uses the Sunday Stamps sketch layout that uses a new stamp set called 'Breaking News' from the annual catalogue:

I made for my niece who celebrated her university graduation last week - my monochromatic colour scheme was influenced by the colour of her university gown hood. Here's my card:

 

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

I added a tone-on-tone background using the scroll image to create a custom DSP (a simple way to add interest to a background and also perfect for SUO Challenges who have some great examples of how to create custom DSP too this week - do check them out), then stamped and fussy cut two newspapers with two different sentiment collections. I decided to create a mortar board using some black cardstock, twine and a brad for the additional sketch element:

 

The sentiment inside is courtesy of Amazing Phrasing - such a great Sale-A-Bration set!

 

I like this set and think it offers lots of fun options and I love the way you can tailor the newspaper with different stamps and sentiments - I think it will look better in a less monochromatic colour scheme too!

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 later with my card for this week's TicTaToe challenge. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

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

Snowflake Specialty Vellum CAS Christmas Card CCS480

by Joanne James26. July 2022 12:00

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & SketchesThis week's challenge is a sketch challenge and Patricia has asked that we incorporate an angled element overlaid with a sentiment. Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card.

 

This is an interesting sketch with so many possibilities for that angled section. For my card today I decided to use it to highlight some new speciality paper and create a clean and simple Christmas card - take a look:

 

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

Snowflake Vellum - I cut a strip of one of the patterns of the new Snowflake Speciality Vellum and tucked it behind the triangle 'v' shape that I cut out of my top white card layer. The vellums in this pack are gorgeous - a variety of snow patterns, some of which are fuzzy white velvet and some of which are silver holographic foil, one of which I used here. They are so pretty - difficult to photograph, but so shiny in real life! I used the remainder of the vellum strip to decorate the flap of my envelope - you can see that on the photo at the bottom of the post.

A Hidden Gem - I love a good word diecut and was disappointed to not find any new ones in the new seasonal catalogue. But wait - there is a hidden gem! In the Santa Express Memories and More card pack, there are two - yes two! - sheets of wooden diecut sentiments - score! These are great for adding dimension and detail to all kinds of projects. They are naturally the colour of whitewashed wood, but I coloured mine silver with a retired silver encore ink pad before adding to my card:

 

The Santa Express Memories and More pack has some great cards for both both memory keeping and card making, but I have to say I think the pack is worth it for the diecut sentiments alone - such a great way to create an impact!

Sparkle and Shine - I finished my card with a sprinkle of Sparkle and Shine Sequins to highlight my sentiment and bring out the sparkle of the vellum. Not too many - today is clean and simple day, after all! 

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.

Hippest Hippos Cooling Off - WooHoo!

by Joanne James20. July 2022 08:00

Today I'm sharing a card inspired by the colour palette over at Colour Inkspiration that used the Try Stamping On Tuesday sketch layout:

 May be an image of furniture and text that says "COLOUR nSPIRATION SPIRATION CHALLENGES #125 Sweet Sorbet Pacific Point Starry Sky Basic Gray"   

We are hoping for slightly cooler temperatures here in the UK today, but as the weather has been hotting up, I thought it was the perfect time for one of my 'Hippest Hippos' to cool off in the tub - take a look:

 

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

Hippest Hippos - Yes I have another hippo for you - my third this week! This time my hippo is complete with snorkel and mask and ready to dive into his shiny foil bathtub to cool off! I love the cute accessories that come with the Hippo Dies - you really can have your hippo your way! 

Amazing Phrasing - Another sentiment from the 'Amazing Phrasing' stamp set; I didn't stamp the inside of my card as I'm not sure which of the sentiments in the set I'm going to use, as I haven't yet decided who will be the recipient of this card and it can be tailored to suit. This is another Sale-A-Bration stamp set (free with a £90 purchase) that is so versatile and a definite keeper - yay for free product!

Bathtub Blues - I wasn't sure about the combination of Pacific Point and Starry Sky on this colour palette, but as it turns out they were the perfect pairing for a blended background for my cute bathing hippo. I combined both colours with my blending brushes, flicked the surface with my aquapainter and then layered my diecuts on top, including some Pacific Point water splashes, which I brushed with Wink of Stella for a sparkly shine:

This hippo definitely knows how to cool down the fun way! I took a delivery yesterday that came in a large polystyrene box. I promptly filled the empty container with cold water and sat with my feet in it for a much-needed cool down - it was glorious and the perfect way to recycle my packaging too!

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; my niece has her graduation day today so will be thankful for the slightly cooler temperatures as she dons her cap and gown I'm sure. 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.

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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.