A Little Bit Festive Quick Christmas Tree Card AYSI 337

by Joanne James22. November 2024 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 speed challenge chosen by Jan:

 

Trees offer us so many options and feature on so many different types of cards. I am still making Christmas cards and found the perfect answer to a quick card - take a look:

 

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

A Little Bit Festive - It will no surprise to my regular readers that the time-saving hack for today's card was found in the A Little Bit Festive paper pack. The Christmas tree that is the focal point for today's card is a pre-printed panel that was ready to go - I just pushed it out of the paper sheet and done! I couldn't leave it there though! I picked out the red and green colours in the design and added a couple of panels behind to add a little more interest and robustness to my card.

Joyful Sayings - My Christmas tree has a gold foiled star and that led me to one of the pre-diecut sentiments in the Joyful Sayings Ephemera pack for an impactful overlaid sentiment. I added it to my card with some snippets of dimensionals for a little lift and completed my sentiment with the only stamping (apart from the inside) to feature on today's card with the word 'happy' from the 'Greetings of the Season' stamp set:

 

I considered adding some gems to my finished card, but decided it against it, not on the grounds of time but more that I didn't want to clutter my clean design.

Christmas on Speed - The festive season is always a great time to have some quick and easy card making ideas to hand - so this week's challenge is definitely a timely one. How long did my card take today?

 

Six minutes exactly - woohoo! There are lots of other panels in the A Little Bit Festive paper pack that can be used for similar quick and easy 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. 

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

  • Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D or packaging project that fits the challenge.
  • For a Speed Stamping Challenge you must tell us the time it took to make your project and it must be finished in under 10 min.
  • Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your post.
  • Make sure you link the specific post and not the whole blog to the Linky. Use AYSI#(insert challenge number) when uploading to a public gallery
  • Please turn off word verification so that we can send you lots of feedback.
  • You can combine our challenge with up to 3 other compatible challenges. 
  • We do reserve the right to delete, or not consider for Top Pick and Featured Artist, entries that do not comply with these guidelines.
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.

Penguin Pals Trio

by Joanne James21. November 2024 09:00

Today I'm sharing a super-quick card that I made for the current sketch challenge over at AAA Cards:

This card is a real 'scraps off the desk' card; I had lots of animals cut from retired Penguin Playmates designer paper in my scraps box and I thought they would make a fun trio peeking out of those diecut aperture windows:

 

I added a sentiment from the retired 'Penguin Place' stamp set that is also in triplicate and - job done!

 

This card is going into my box of cards ready to send to Ben when he hopefully heads off to uni next year - I think it makes for a fun, seasonal 'hello' card.

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

 

Joy To The World Christmas Delicate Bauble

by Joanne James20. November 2024 09:00

Happy hump day everyone! Yes it's midweek and freezing cold here in the UK, so I'm hiding away on the warmth of my craft room and have another Christmas make for you! I couldn't resist those deep, jewelled tones over at Colour Inkspiration which totally got me thinking about Christmas baubles! So I went hunting through my extensive stash of retired tree decorations and happened to find one that allowed me to play along with the team over at Just Us Girls where the code word is JOY:

 May be an image of text         

I decided to use the sketch over at Sunday Stamps for a second go (this is such a great layout!) and set to work - take a look at where I ended up:

 

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

I was so tempted to use my favourite JOY stamp from 'Joyful Nativity' for the Just US Girls Challenge, but when I rediscovered this bauble in the Delicate Baubles Dies set, I decided to use this instead. I added a strip of metallic gold vellum and a subtle splatter of gold Wink of Stella to my Pretty Peacock card base, then added my gold and blue ornament, picking out the berries with some Melon Mambo enamel dots - be warned, you need a lot!

 

I finished the sentiment by heat embossing some words from another retired stamp set, 'Peaceful Wreath', onto the card base and added a few gold gems to complete my card. Actually quite a straightforward card - I love these rich colours 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 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.

Season of Green and Gold Noel for CCS549

by Joanne James19. November 2024 13:00

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 add a horizontal sentiment with a couple of areas of detail top and bottom:

    

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card. For my card today I decided to create another Christmas card using my Golden Greenery bundle and coordinating products - take a look:

 

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

NOEL - The Noel sentiment that I've used on today's card is a diecut straight from the Joyful Sayings Mix & Match Ephemera pack. I added it to a piece of gold foil and cut around the diecut to add a shadow layer, to help my sentiment stand out from the strip of designer series paper. The Joyful Sayings diecuts are so useful for adding quick sentiments to cards - a great standby during the festive season.

Season of Green & Gold - I used a piece of Old Olive and Very Vanilla gingham from the Season of Green & Gold designer paper as the base to highlight my sentiment and bordered it with a thin gold foil border to tie in with my overall design. I love gingham; it works on all types of card.

Golden Greenery - For the other elements of the sketch, I added some greenery and foliage from the 'Golden Greenery' stamp set, just adding the tips of the foliage so that it appears to be 'peeking out' from beneath the sentiment strip:

A few gold faceted gems complete my card. I'm also linking today's card up over at Inspire.Create where the theme is 'Christmas'.

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:

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

A Little Bit Festive Blue Wreath PP716

by Joanne James17. November 2024 08:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Jaydee to host this week and she has a seasonal clean and simple challenge for us to work with:

    

With only 37 days to go until the big day, it certainly should be feeling a lot like Christmas about now! I used the sketch over at Sunday Stamps for the layout of my card this week and grabbed my A Little Bit Festive paper pack and set to work. Take a look at what I came up with:

 

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

I added a Night of Navy panel to my white cardbase, then added a strip of navy and white gingham and a co-ordinating diecut wreath. A diecut sentiment from the Joyful Sayings pack and a few gold enamel dots and a gold twine bow to pick up on the gold splatters on the wreath complete my card:

Adding a colourful wreath to my front door is one of the first things I do at the start of the festive season and I think this card captures the spirit of the season perfectly. No stamping on today's card either, apart from the sentiment inside my card. Clean and simple, quick and easy - so I'm linking up over at The Alphabet Challenge Blog where they are on 'Q for Quick and Easy' 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 Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

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

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 four challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN!

Enjoy your day; 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.

Yuletide Village Church In The Snow

by Joanne James16. November 2024 20:30

I have a quick post to share I card I made to day to play along with a few challenges using a stamp set that I have yet to break the seal on. I used Jen T's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches the colours at Hand Stamped Sentiments. I'm also playing along over at Addicted To CAS where the codeword is SNOW:

      

I've had the Yuletide Village stamp a little while but not had the opportunity to use it until now. I thought it would be perfect for this challenge - take a look:

 

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

I stamped the tree at the front, then masked it and stamped my brick wall, before then masking both and stamping my church. I then masked the church too and added a hint of Balmy Blue sky using ink and a blending brush, before adding just a hint of colour elsewhere with my Stampin' Blends. I added a few snowflakes to the sky with a white gel pen and covered the snowy areas with a liberal dose of clear Wink of Stella:

 

This is quite difficult to see in the photos, but is SO sparkly in real life! I added a thin Cherry Cobbler border and a two-tone sentiment from 'Sophisticated Sled' to complete my card. I had so much fun creating this card and can't wait to make a whole village next time! 

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; I'll be back tomorrow with another project for our 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.

Signs of Santa and Seasonal Sale Starts Today

by Joanne James13. November 2024 09:00

Today I have another Christmas card to share with you but firstly I need to remind you that the seasonal sale that I told you about yesterday is now LIVE:

  • 20% OFF ALL STAMP BUNDLES AND DESIGNER SERIES PAPERS
  • 10% OFF SELECT INKS AND CARDSTOCK (including Blends and ink refills)

I'll do a post tomorrow with some cards I've shared previously that highlight some of the great bargains to be had. Meanwhile, today I'm sharing a card that I made for a few challenges that caught my eye:

       

Color Hues are featuring red and black as their current colour combo, so I grabbed the sketch over at TGIF Challenges (which is a keeper - super versatile!) and added in some twine so that I could play along over at Festive Friday too and got nostalgic with an old favourite - take a look:

 

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

I decided that a red and black colour combo was made for Santa Claus - so I went into my retired box to find this cutie from the 'Signs of Santa' stamp set, coloured him with my Stampin' Blends and added a piece of  textured striped Santa's Workshop paper for him to sit on. I tied this with some white baker's twine and added a trio of white loose snowflakes from the current mini - love these!

 

Whilst I had the set out on my desk, I also made a second card, this time featuring Mrs Claus:

 

This card was more faithful to the sketch as I omitted the twine and added two separate DSP strips, along with a little extra colour for the holly in her hair. Here's both cards together - Santa is still my favourite of the pair -how about you?

It was fun to delve into the retired box for this pair of fun cards and pair them with something new to give a fresh look. Do you have a favourite retired Christmas set that you can't resist pulling out year after year? Do let me know in the comments 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. 

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.

New Online Exclusives Live and Two New Craft Kits Too

by Joanne James11. November 2024 13:00

I have another post for you today with the details of a whole range of new Online Exclusives that launched last week - and the new kits for November too! Firstly, Online Exclusives! A reminder that you won’t find these products in any catalogue; they are available whilst supplies last - all from the convenience of the online store. 

There are 2 new suites. First up - the Otterly Adorable Suite:

 

This suite collection has otters, otters everywhere: playful otters on stamps, otter-shaped dies, otters frolicking on patterned paper, plus fun embellishments. It’s what you need to create aww-some cards and scrapbook pages.

The Otterly Adorable Suite Collection includes:

OTTERLY AMAZING PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (10% off)
* 10 photopolymer stamps
* Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): b, c, d, e

OTTERLY AMAZING DIES (10% off)
* 15 dies
* Largest die: 3-1/2" x 1-1/2" (8.9 x 3.8 cm)
* Use with a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine
* Compatible with the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine

OTTERLY ADORABLE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER
* 12 sheets of patterned paper: 2 each of 6 double-sided designs
* Acid free
* Lignin free

LOST LAGOON SOFT CORDING
* Width: 1/8" (3.2 mm)
* Length: 10 yards (9.1 m)

RIVERSIDE IRREGULAR PEARLS
* 120 adhesive-backed pieces
* 40 each of 3 colours
* 5 mm, 6 mm
* Product colours: Gray Granite, Lost Lagoon, white

The second suite is the Marbled Elegance Suite:
 
 
 
Use the Marbled Elegance Suite Collection for all your love-themed craft projects for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, weddings, and birthdays. Also available in French and German.

The designs in this collection are perfect for card making and gift packaging. Colour your cards with marbled paper or heart stamps. Customise the gift bags for each recipient with the sentiment stamps and add the gold thread for a glamorous touch.

The Marbled Elegance Suite Collection includes:

HEARTS OF ELEGANCE PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (10% off)
* 11 photopolymer stamps
* Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): b, c, d

HEARTS OF ELEGANCE DIES (10% off)
* 10 dies
* Largest die: 4-1/2" x 4" (11.4 x 10.2 cm)
* Use with a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine

MARBLED ELEGANCE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER
* 12 sheets of patterned paper: 2 each of 6 double-sided designs
* Acid free
* Lignin free

GOLD TWISTED THREAD
* Length: 10 yards (9.1 m)

ADHESIVE-BACKED HEART SEQUINS
* 120 adhesive-backed pieces
* 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm
* Gold

GIFT BAGS COMBO PACK
* 16 stampable bags, 8 of each colour in 2 sizes
* Large bag: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4" (11.4 x 14.6 cm)
* Small bag: 3-5/16" x 3-11/16" (8.4 x 9.4 cm)
* Food safe

There are 4 new bundles: the Pretty Petals bundle:

 PRETTY PETALS BUNDLE

The Pretty Petals Bundle includes the Pretty Petals Stamp Set and the Pretty Petals Dies.

Stamp, then cut out flowers and more flowers! The Pretty Petals Bundle has stamps and dies for creating small bouquets, big bouquets, and entire landscapes!

PRETTY PETALS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET
How do you like your flowers? One delicate bunch? Or an entire blooming garden? With the Pretty Petals Stamp Set, you can create what you want! Make a mixed bouquet by stamping the greenery in one colour and large and small flowers in multiple colours. Or stamp images repeatedly to create a card background blooming with colour.
* 6 photopolymer stamps
* Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): b, d, e

PRETTY PETALS DIES
Cut out bunches of blooms without scissors! The Pretty Petals Dies cut out one large floral grouping. The smaller dies cut out individual greenery pieces and flower petals. Combine them to create a single flower, a small bouquet, or an entire floralscape.
* 6 dies
* Largest die: 2-5/16" x 3-1/16" (5.9 x 7.8 cm)
* Use with a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine
* Compatible with the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine

Our coordinated craft bundles save you time and money! Buy the bundle and save 10% off the price of buying the stamp and tool separately. Plus, bundles will help you quickly cut out stamped images for a single project or create multiples of the same project with ease.

The Umbrella Days Bundle:

UMBRELLA DAYS CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH)

Send sunny thoughts even on rainy days with the Umbrella Days Stamp Set. This stamp set features rain-themed images and thoughtful sentiments for condolences, thanks, and thinking-of-you cards. Lean into the rain theme and colour the line-art images with watercolours or use your favourite colouring technique.

* 7 cling stamps
* Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): b, d, e, h

Cling stamps from Stampin’ Up!
* Are premium rubber stamps.
* Have deeply etched images for excellent detail.
* Are pre-cut so you don’t have to trim them.
* Cling to clear blocks without slipping.
* Are repositionable—temporarily mount on clear blocks to stamp, then remove to store.
* Save space—one set of blocks (sold separately) works for all your cling and photopolymer stamps.
* Have images on the spine of the case for easy storage and quick reference.

The Cake Celebrations bundle:

CAKE CELEBRATIONS BUNDLE (ENGLISH)

The Cake Celebrations Bundle includes the Cake Celebrations Stamp Set and the Cake Celebrations Dies. Also available in German.

Celebrate any event in style with help from the Cake Celebrations Bundle! Stamp the glaze and floral decorations on your paper, then die cut using the cake tiers. Make the cake the background to your paper crafts and turn your sentiments into a centrepiece. Or stamp the whole cake on your card and add a banner to the top using the banner die. Whatever your decoration strategy, this bundle will help you make a decadent paper crafting dessert.

CAKE CELEBRATIONS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET
Create scrumptious cakes with the Cake Celebrations Stamp Set! Whether you go with a one-tier wonder for a birthday card or dress up a wedding invitation with a two-tiered cake, this stamp set helps you decorate your paper crafts with cakes fit for any celebration. Use the fabulous icing details and decorative flora to detail your cake for an anniversary card. Or turn the celebratory sentiments into the focal point of your crafts. However you use it, this stamp set will help you make a card anyone will love. Just don’t forget the candles!
* 23 photopolymer stamps
* Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): b, c, h

CAKE CELEBRATIONS DIES
The Cake Celebration Dies are a great way to get friends and loved ones excited about birthdays, anniversaries, life milestones, and more. Use these dies to make a sweet cake the focal point on your cards. Or build an epic multitier cake—complete with a frosting glaze!—for major event invitations. The banner, cake stand, and floral decorations can help you add that extra special touch for an extra special paper craft.
* 14 dies
* Largest die: 2-3/16" x 1" (5.6 x 2.5 cm)
* Use with a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine
* Compatible with the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine
 
The Classic Wedding bundle:
CLASSIC WEDDING BUNDLE (ENGLISH)
 
The Classic Wedding Bundle includes the Classic Wedding Stamp Set and the Classic Wedding Dies. Also available in French and German.

Create your own wedding scene for all the newlyweds in your life with the Classic Wedding Bundle! Stamp the fun vintage images, then precisely cut them out with the coordinating dies. Customise your cards with different colouring techniques or keep things simple by stamping in a single colour. Your recipients are going to love it!

CLASSIC WEDDING PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET
Celebrate the happy couple with the Classic Wedding Stamp Set! Create a paper craft that celebrates weddings and all other love occasions. Try new colouring techniques with the fun vintage images and then pair them with the coordinating sentiments. It’s the perfect set to have on hand for all your card making throughout the year.
* 14 photopolymer stamps
* Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): b, d, e

CLASSIC WEDDING DIES
Put together your own wedding send-off with the Classic Wedding Dies! In this set, one die cut will cut out multiple pieces, allowing more creativity and versatility. Easily put together your own scene to celebrate any love occasion with vintage paper cut-outs.
* 15 dies
* Largest die: 3-1/2" x 2-5/8" (8.9 x 6.7 cm)
* Use with a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine

Finally the Happy Hibiscus bundle:

 

The Happy Hibiscus Bundle includes the Happy Hibiscus Stamp Set and the Happy Hibiscus Hybrid Embossing Folder.

Head to paradise with the Happy Hibiscus Bundle! Try different crafting techniques with the coordinating stamp set and hybrid embossing folder. Stamp your image and precisely cut it out with the dies. Add a fun background to your card base and assemble your paper craft that recipients will love!

HAPPY HIBISCUS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET
Create a tropical, colourful paper craft with the Happy Hibiscus Stamp Set! This Two-Step Stampin’ set is perfect for trying out different colouring techniques. Multiple floral and leaf images can easily be layered for an exotic floral arrangement. Or keep things simple with a single stamp, highlighting the elegant line art. Add one of the included sentiments for the final touch!
* 12 photopolymer stamps
* Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): b, d, e

HAPPY HIBISCUS HYBRID EMBOSSING FOLDER
The Happy Hibiscus Hybrid Embossing Folder is an easy way to get tropical flowers into any paper craft. Emboss your card base for a special background or easily cut out individual flowers. Mix and match the paper you use for a vibrant card front that any recipient will love!
* 1 embossing folder
* Embossing folder size: 6" x 6-1/4" (15.2 x 15.9 cm)
* 11 dies
* Largest die: 4" x 2-1/2" (10.2 x 6.4 cm)
* Use with a Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine

Our coordinated craft bundles save you time and money! Buy the bundle and save 10% off the price of buying the stamp and tool separately. Plus, bundles will help you quickly cut out stamped images for a single project or create multiples of the same project with ease.
 
There are also a number of additional single stamps and accessories - click on 'Online Exclusives' in the online store for more details:
 
 
 
 
AMONG THE SWALLOWS CLING STAMP SET
 
SHARING LOVING CRAFTING PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH)
 
PERFECT PAIRS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH)
 
COLOR COACH™ (ENGLISH)
 
There are 2 new kits that have been added to the online collection for November too:
 
Layered Landscapes Kit
LAYERED LANDSCAPES KIT 
 
 Do you long for the great outdoors but don’t actually want to go outdoors? Then the Layered Landscapes Kit is perfect for you! DIY lovely home decor with this unique kit that includes four 7-1/8" x 7-1/8" x 3/4" (18.1 x 18.1 x 1.9 cm) frames and pre-cut paper pieces. You can either stand the frames up on their included easels or hang them on your wall. Either way, your houseguests are sure to love your new artwork!

Kit includes:
* Pre-designed projects
* Step-by-step instructions
* Pre-cut pieces (No prep work! Get right to crafting)
* 4 white frames
* Frame size: 7-1/8" x 7-1/8" x 3/4" (18.1 x 18.1 x 1.9 cm)
* Enough adhesive to complete projects
* A 9-7/8" x 6-1/2" x 2-3/4" (25.1 x 16.5 x 7 cm) printed designer box for storage or crafting on the go

Product colours: Balmy Blue, Basic Beige, Basic Gray, Berry Burst, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Gray Granite, Lemon Lime Twist, Misty Moonlight, Mossy Meadow, Night of Navy, Old Olive, Pecan Pie, Soft Sea Foam
 
The second kit is the Nature's Paintings Kit:
 
 
 
Embrace your creative side with the Nature’s Paintings Kit. This unique kit includes everything you need for a fun creative experience: a colouring book, Watercolor Pencils, and a Water Painter. All you need is some imagination and water! Create lovely, picturesque images using advanced colouring techniques with this craft kit. Or make something that’s never been seen before—like green flowers with purple leaves. Keep it realistic or colour outside the lines—it’s up to you. And once you’re done, you can use your finished artwork to create a one-of-a-kind card front!

Kit includes:
* Pre-designed projects
* Line art illustrations
* Step-by-step instructions
* 24 watercolour paper pages, 2 each of 12 designs
* 8 Watercolor Pencils
* 1 Water Painter
* Colouring book: 4-1/2" x 6" x 1/2" (11.4 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm)
* A 9-7/8" x 6-1/2" x 1-3/4" (25.1 x 16.5 x 4.4 cm) printed designer box for storage or crafting on the go

Product colours: Berry Burst, Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Flirty Flamingo, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie, Red
 
Lots to look over here! Check out my online store for more details and to purchase any of the items above.

A Christmas Twofer To Start The Week

by Joanne James11. November 2024 12:00

Happy Monday! I had a little extra crafting time between Onstage presentations on Saturday so had a little play with Jacqui's current layout over at Freshly Made Sketches:

   

I made a couple of cards with the sketch, each featuring some of the current Christmas papers with some additional retired product. Here's the first one:

 

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

I wanted to use this 'dancing deer' paper from the Reindeer Days paper pack so used that for the main panel. This type of pattern really needs a big space to work and I didn't want to mix it with any other pattern, so added some coordinating solid colour blocks for the other three elements. It looked a little plain though and I couldn't decided where best to add my sentiment. I played with a few ideas and finally settled on some of the large wooden diecut words from last year's Santa Express Memories & More card pack:

 

I decided to have another go using one of my favourite patterns from the Winter Meadow designer series paper packs. This paper is a carryover from last year's mini catalogue and still available online. This time I mirrored the sketch as I wanted to position the deer in the outer corner for a more balanced design:

 

This time I did leave my border square and rectangles plain, picking out shades of grey from the image, and I added a stamped and fussy-cut sentiment to the cross point:

 

I also added some silver twine and a few rhinestones for a little festive sparkle to complete my card. I'm also linking this card up over at Inspire.Create Challenge where their current challenge is 'many shades of grey'; I'm not sure there are 50 shades on this one, but it is a Christmas card after all!

I wasn't feeling in a particularly creative mood so struggled a little with the FMS sketch this week, but it was nice to have a play - sometimes you need to just have a little crafty fun, right?

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's projects 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.

Sophisticated Sled Ice Skates Wreath Quartet PP715

by Joanne James10. November 2024 08:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Claire to host this week and she has a fabulous bright colour challenge for us to work with:

 

Bright colours may not be considered traditional for a Christmas card, but I am on a roll and so that is my starting point for everything currently! I decided the best way to highlight each of these was to balance it with lots of white and a touch of festive silver - take a look:

 

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

I've chosen to feature the ice skates and wreath from the Sophisticated Sled bundle - one of my favourite Online Exclusives bundle for the festive season. I love both the sled and the ice skates in this set - both items that I've never owned in my craft collection previously. I've used the sled on a couple of cards previously (you can see those cards here and here) but for today's card I wanted to feature the ice skates.

These skates are so cute; they have separate diecuts for the blades and boots and a neat slit into which you can insert the separate diecut laces - so clever. I decided to add four pairs of skates, each with a different coloured pair of laces. In order to accommodate 4 pairs, I decided to use a slimline design. I created a mat layer comprising a panel of each of the 4 colours, then added a white panel embossed with the Snowflake Sky embossing folder (you can see this detail more clearly on the photo below). Whilst this is a narrow embossing folder, it's easy to emboss one half of the panel then move the cardstock along and emboss the other half to achieve a continuous background.

I hung each pair of skates from a silver-on-white heat-embossed wreath, decorated with clear basic rhinestones for a little added sparkle. I finished each wreath with a large co-ordinating bow (this is from the retired Pierced Blooms Dies). You can see the detail of the individual elements that make up the wreath and skates in the close-up below:

 

I added a simple sentiment, also from the 'Sophisticated Sled' stamp set to the bottom corner of my card base, to complete my card. The diecutting on this card took a little while, but I love the finished card - it was worth 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 Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

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

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 four challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN!

Enjoy your day; I'll be spending mine attending more of the virtual #Stampin' Up! Backstage@Home2024 event - a training event for leaders with lots to be learned. 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.

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