Tree Rings Embossed Geode Card TTT210

by Joanne James25. May 2023 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 Vicky is our featured designer this week. This is the fun board that we are playing along with: 

       

I went across the bottom row with diecut, ombre and shapes to create a masculine card for this week's TGIF Challenge that gave me the opportunity to use some existing product in a whole new way - take a look:

 

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

I was captivated by the fabulous blues of the Just Us Girls mood board this week and I was excited to see the geode in the top right photo, as I've wanted to try and create one of these for a while. I saw a card by fellow demonstrator Carrie Button that used the Tree Rings Dies and co-ordinating embossing folder to create a geode and wanted to have a go (here's a link to her helpful video tutorial if you'd like to take a look at how she did it). I made my geode slightly differently so I've included step by step instructions in case you'd like to recreate:

  • Take a piece of Tahitian Tide cardstock and run through the Tree Rings Hybrid Embossing Folder, having inked the upper side of the EF with Versamark.
  • Heat emboss the embossed tree ring with metallic silver embossing powder and cut out with co-ordinating die.
  • Colour the geode: use a Basic Grey Stampin' Write marker for the outside, then use a combination of Tahitian tide, Azure Afternoon and Blueberry Bushel Blends to colour the inner rings.
  • Add fine line detail with Stampin' Write markers in the same colours.
  • Brush the ombre blue section with clear Wink of Stella, then add some loose (retired) Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to the centre.
  • Finish the centre by adhering a combination of blue and clear rhinestone basic jewels (colour them with your Stampin' Blends).

That's it! Check out the sparkly detail - I can't tell you just how awesome this is in real life:

 

I wanted my geode to take centre stage, so the only other decoration was a strip of (retired) Mercury Glass Acetate that I added to my Blueberry Bushel card base. I used a sentiment from the 'Waves of Inspiration' stamp set as I though this worked well - this geode is most definitely a thing of beauty as far as I'm concerned!

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; today is the last exam day for the James Juniors this side of half-term; we are looking forward to a brief, if revision-filled, respite for the next week, before we start again. The youngest of the James Juniors proudly announced this morning that he has passed the halfway point - ever the optimist, bless him! 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.

Bright & Beautiful Memories & More Easiest Birthday Card Ever PP641 CAS

by Joanne James21. May 2023 08:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's my turn to host this week and I have a fun theme for Clean And Simple challenge week:

 

I know they aren't everyone's cup of tea, but I love clean and simple (CAS) cards! Minimal layers, few embellishments and lots of white space all typify a clean and simple card. I often find it helpful if I'm designing a CAS card to choose a single image as my focal point - it's a great way to reduce clutter. With this in mind, my theme for our challenge this week is to choose one of something as the main feature of your card. 

For my card I made creating even easier by reaching for my new pack of Bright & Beautiful Memories and More cards that arrived this week - take a look:

 

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

These cards are perfect not just for memory keeping, but great for quick handcrafted cards too. I chose one of the small Memories & More cards featuring a single balloon in Bubble Bath, Azure Afternoon and Lemon Lime Twist that also has a pre-printed birthday sentiment, added this to a piece of white cardstock and then adhered this to a pre-printed Bright & Beautiful Memories & More card base:

 

The pre-printed card bases come with pre-printed coloured envelopes too - literally no stamping and you have a clean, simple and colourful card ready in under 5 minutes! What's more with 50 double-sided cards and 20 card bases and envelopes, you could make a whole ton of cards in next to no time and still have cards left over for scrapbooking 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!

Yesterday was a glorious day here in the UK and it was definitely a day for gardening as opposed to crafting, so it was the perfect week to making a quick card! Enjoy your day; the forecast is good again here so we are taking full advantage and having a BBQ lunch. If I can tear myself away from my garden, 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.

Crafting With You Embroidered Flowers In Blue AYSI 299

by Joanne James19. May 2023 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 chosen by Deborah who is back from her travels this week:

    

I sometimes struggle with recipe challenges, but I just received some new goodies so grabbed them along with the sketch over at Try Stamping on Tuesday and set to work - take a look:

 

 Here's the low-down on today's card:

Shades of Blue - I decided for today's card that I wanted to play with the new blue that is part of the Brights colour family, Azure Afternoon, so that's what I chose for my card base (I added some tone-on-tone stamping using a stamped-off flower to create a subtle pattern detail) and the piece of watercolour-effect designer paper from the Bright & Beautiful paper pack that runs across the centre of my card. This is such a lovely shade of blue: not as turquoise as Tahitian Tide, not as dark as the old Pacific Point. I also used this colour to stamp my flowers, adding in a second blue, the returning Blueberry Bushel, to highlight the flower leaves. I also added a strip of this darker blue behind my horizontal panel and added some ribbon and a bow in some retired Blueberry Bushel ribbon that I rescued from my retired box - yay! I love the way these two blue go together.

Diecuts and Frames - There are two sets of diecuts on today's card: the horizontal border and the scallop-edged square are both adapted from the Scalloped Contours Dies, but the dies that ultimately inspired today's card are those that contain this sweet embroidery hoop and centre - the Crafting With You Dies. I thought the embroidery hoop would be a clever 'frame' and perfect way to highlight the emboidered flowers that are part of the co-ordinating stamp set:

 

A Handmade Hug - I decided to leave the front of my card sentiment-free because it's always useful to have some more general cards to hand, but I couldn't resist adding one of the sweetest sentiments from the 'Crafting With You' stamp set to the inside of my card:

 

Isn't that just lovely?! I actually managed to tick off the recipe ingredients with relative ease for once. If you are a fan of blues, you should definitely check out the Design Team cards - they really are fabulous!

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.

I am rushing about today, running errands and feeling unusually tired - I definitely have that Friday feeling! Enjoy your day and I'll hopefully 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.

Sending Birthday Wishes In Pink CCS 511

by Joanne James16. May 2023 13:00

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & SketchesThis week's challenge is a sketch challenge and Cecile has asked that we make a square card with a focal sentiment and patterned background:

       

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card. 

For my card today I chose monochromatic pinks with a touch of silver to create a simple stencilled background for a feminine birthday card for a discerning teenager - take a look:

 

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

I took my square card base and using some stencils I made with various circle punches and some window sheet, I added Melon Mambo and Bubble Bath ink using my blending brushes, varying the intensity to give some depth to the colour. I heat-embossed part of my sentiment in silver and used a diecut 'sending' in silver foil backed with vellum as my centrepiece:

 

A sprinkle of basic rhinestones added a final touch of sparkle. This is one of those cards that could work in lots of colours and is thoroughly inoffensive - so perfect for the discerning teenager! Since I went with pinks, I'm also playing along over at Addicted to CAS with my monochrome pinks and also celebrating with the team over at AAA Cards as they celebrate their 9th birthday with CAS pink birthday cards too - the balloons on the inspo board also inspired my bubbly background!

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. 

Please excuse today's photos - I struggled with that foil diecut and the lighting and didn't have time to retake. I have a super-short day today as the youngest of teh James Juniors has 2 exams and is on early pick up, so just time for a speedy lunch then I'm back in the car for the school run! 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.

Dainty Delight Sympathy Card for Colour Hues #TCH64

by Joanne James16. May 2023 12:00

 

We are having a two-post Tuesday today since in addition to my regular CAS Colours & Sketches post, I am guesting with the team over at The Colour Hues Challenge following my win for challenge #62 with my purple and green card - you can see that card here if you missed it.

So their new challenge is an interesting one for this time of year - take a look:

 

Yes, orange and slate grey - a combination I rarely consider outside of Halloween season, so I found this one a challenge in the true sense of the word! I love the slate grey, but what to do with the orange? Having had a little play, I finally came up with something that I think works - take a look:

 

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

I decided to use the slate grey for my card base, adding some tone-on-tone splatter with a grey marker, and added a double sprig of flowers from Dainty Delight with a trio of white daisies. I used retired Pale Papaya for my stems, that I added Pumpkin pie ink to with a blending brush to bring out the orange tones, and used the true Pumpkin Pie Orange sparingly for small flower heads and daisy centres: 

A sprinkling of gems and a white embossed sentiment complete my card. So what do you think? Did I successfully manage to use the orange to add a pop of colour to my otherwise sombre sympathy card? I hope so, but I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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.

Hello To The New In Colours With Around The Bend Dies

by Joanne James15. May 2023 11:30

Happy Monday everyone! Today I'm sharing a card using Judy's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches that is also my card for the current Colour Inkspiration Facebook challenge:

   May be an image of boots, leather and text that says "Copper Clay #143 COLOUR k NKSPIRATION CHALLENGES In Wild 023-2 Wheat ofthe Boho Blue 3 least at Moody Mauve 100 Pebbled Path"

I thought those 5 stripes would be perfect for another card featuring the new 2023-25 In Colours, so take a look at what I came up with:

 

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

I wanted to use one of the curvy dies from the Around The Bend Dies for my stripes, so my card ended up being more of a slimline when finished to give me enough height to fit in all of the layers (I hope Judy is OK with that!) I cut the layers in each of the in colours, then layered them so that each colour is visible through the diecut detail of the layer above. A simple 'hello' sentiment and a white card base allows the diecut detail and colours to take centre stage:

 

I added a single layered diecut daisy from the Dainty Delight Dies to each stripe, finishing with a single large in colour dot for a little extra shine.

So what do you think - do you have a favourite in-colour from this set yet? I do think it's tricky to use all 5 on one card, but I like how this one worked out. I think Boho Blue is m favourite - let me know yours 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.

 

Around The Bend in Bright Pinks PP640

by Joanne James14. May 2023 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 pretty colour challenge for us to work with:

    

Isn't that a great colour combo? I used the layout over at Sketch Saturday and went with some Around The Bend Dies florals with a focus on the pink - take a look:

 

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

I decided to use my favourite pink form the Brights family, Melon Mambo, as the focus of my card, adding a couple of strips of retired Brights designer paper and a heat-embossed white-on-black sentiment from 'Something Fancy', before embellishing with hearts and flowers from the Around The Bend Dies set, some silver thread and rhinestones for a little sparkle:

 

I added another sentiment and a little extra detail inside my card:

 

I liked this card so much I made another one, this time using Flirty Flamingo and I switched out the rhinestones for pearls and sequins:

 

Here's a close up:

 

I used an alternative sentiment inside this card:

 

I'm linking this second version of my card up over at the Paper Craft Crew where I went down the first column of the tic tac toe board (flowers, sequins, hearts).

Here's one last photo of both cards together - which one do you prefer? My favourite is the Melon Mambo version, but the Flirty Flamingo version is fun too. Very girly and feminine!

 

Here is the visual summaries 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'm hoping to fit in a little crafting but otherwise it should be a fairly uneventful 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.

Silly Goose Pop-Up Congratulations Card FF0134

by Joanne James12. May 2023 08:00

Today I have my card for the new challenge over at Festive Friday Card Making and Paper Crafting Challenge

    

The challenge that we are celebrating this week is 'National Smile Day' which is on 31st May. Remember the fun thing is that at Festive Friday you do not need to actually celebrate the occasion; your goal is to simply use three or more items from the inspiration list on your project. This week I used yellow, joke and pop-up/surprise element and this is what I came up with:

 

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

Silly Goose - With two children taking major exams this year, there will (hopefully!) be the need for lots of congratulations cards, so I thought I'd use today's challenge to get started! This stamp from the 'Silly Goose' stamp set, with its punny joke 'goosebumps' play-on-words, is perfect for the youngest of the James Juniors, who is a master of the fist-bump and will definitely appreciate the sentiment! I went for a simple stamped image, backed with some retired Sunshine & Rainbows spots and stripes designer paper to add a subtle pop of colour (which also enables me to play along with the team over at Color Dare for their rainbow challenge):

 

Easiest Ever Pop-Up Surprise - I decided I would create a fun little pop-up surprise inside my card, featuring the banner-carrying duck that is another of the stamps in the 'Silly Goose' set:

 

 This style of pop-up is so easy to make: I just found the centre of my card fold, then cut two lines measuring 4cm long either side of the mid-point, 1.5cm apart. This section then folds the opposite way to the card fold and your image, in this case the stamped, fussy cut goose, can be attached to the lower portion so he stands up when the card is opened.

Customise Your Sentiment - The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that the message on the original stamped image is 'thanks' but mine says 'woo hoo', which was more appropriate for a congratulations card. I simply masked out the original words before stamping the image on Pool Party cardstock, then stamped in my alternative greeting from the 'Charming Sentiments' set and fussy cut the banner before attaching to another image stamped on white cardstock. You can see it more closely below: 

 

This card is so fun - and so easy to make too! I'm sure there are lots of other stamped images you could use in this way - feel free to share your ideas in the comments section 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. 

How does our board inspire you? I can’t wait to see what YOU create! For more inspiration, be sure to visit the rest of the Festive Friday Card Making and Paper Crafting Challenge Design team:

 

I have a busy day planned but the most significant aspect has to be that it is the last day of school for the oldest of the James Juniors - it is officially the end of an era! Where did that time go?! 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.

He's The Man Cheers To The Years TTT208

by Joanne James11. May 2023 17:00

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 Felicita is our featured designer. This is the fun board that we are playing along with: 

    

I was a little stuck for current sets that fit the bill so decided to dig into my recently retired stash and use up some of my designer series paper. I decided to go across the top row of the board with masculine, diecut and beer or drink and this is what I came up with, using the current sketch over at Sunday Stamps for my layout:

 

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

I used two panels of retired He's The Man designer series paper, rotating the pattern on the smaller one to follow the same diagonal lines as the base one (rather than the horizontal/vertical), added a banner of Mango Melody to pick up on the yellow in the diecut that I used as my focal point. This diecut was one on a pre-printed sheet in the paper pack, and I backed it with a scalloped diecut circle in Sahara Sand to neaten the edge:

I added a trio of Mango Melody resin dots to complete the front of my card and added the only stamping with a sentiment from the current 'Charming Sentiments' stamp set to the inside to finish my card:

No visual summary of the key products used on today's project or supplies list as almost everything I used on today's card - except for the Early Espresso ink and cardstock and the stamp set I used inside - is retired. I hope that it inspires you regardless to keep creating with your retired product or gives you an idea of how you can adapt it to work with the new.

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 am heading out to a champagne reception this evening to celebrate the eldest of the James Juniors final formal week of school - something of a milestone! I'll be back tomorrow with another project for the new challenge over at Festive Friday. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Cheerful Daisies In The Pink

by Joanne James11. May 2023 14:00

Today I'm sharing a card that I made for this week's Just Us Girls Challenge - I may no longer be guest designer, but who can resist playing along with this fresh colour combo of pink and yellow that Nancy chose this week? Not me (waves excitedly to all my new JUGS friends!) I used the sketch over at Hand Stamped Sentiments for my layout and having chosen two new pastel shades for my florals I am also linking up with the current Flower Challenge:

       

To my card! Lots of new things on today's card - take a look:

 

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

Another Cheerful Daisies card - I am loving exploring the ways that these stamps and dies can be used together. For today's card I didn't stamp the daisies, instead opting to diecut them in 3 layers: the middle layer is the trio of daisies stuck together (leaves snipped away), which I inked with Lemon Lolly in the centres and Bubble Bath on the petal edges, the base layer consists of the three individual outlines in Basic White and adhered behind the middle layer, and this is finished with a top layer of individual pieces cut from vellum. By using all three layers, it creates a beautiful dimensional daisy - add in some texture from some diecut fronds, leaves and a scrap embossed with the timber embossing folder, along with a trio of Lemon Lolly faceted gems and you have a visual feast! 

 

A stitched square for the diamond, along with a sentiment on the diecut label that comes with the Cheerful Daisies Dies completes my card. This sentiment isn't supposed to fit the label, since it's the wrong shape, however given that I wanted to tuck my label into my arrangement and needed a blank portion, it worked perfectly. I adore this duet of new colours that joined the Subtles family following the colour refresh, so much so I even stamped my sentiment in Bubble Bath pink - I just didn't want black to intrude onto my otherwise wholly pastel card.

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 am not generally a big fan of pastels, but I must say these two new colours are delightful additions to the Subtles family and I know I'll be using them lots more! Do you have a favourite colour family? Do leave me a comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Enjoy your day and I'll be back shortly with a quick post for this week's TicTacToe Challenge. 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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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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