Hi everyone - as promised I'm here with my second post today and some exciting news! Welcome to Join In with Joanne and Jan!

My friend and former Stampin' Up! Artisan Designer Jan Clothier, aka Thinking Stamping, and I are working together to reward our customers with some extra special perks. Every two months, Jan and I will be putting together a set of four tutorials featuring a bundle or suite. Simply purchase the suite or bundle from us and we’ll email you the tutorials in PDF format for you to make. If you already have the suite or bundle, simply purchase something else of equivalent value and we’ll email the tutorial package to you.

The four tutorials (two from each of us) will really show you different ways to make the most of your purchase because you’ll get the benefit of both our ways of thinking and both our styles. There will be a range of project levels, from casual to avid and you won’t find these projects in any of our other social media platforms. We’ve designed them just for our customers. In addition to the tutorials, you’ll also be offered access to an exclusive private Facebook Group where you’ll be able to share your projects, and ask us questions. You’ll also find little extras there from us like extra projects, tips or even the occasional video or Facebook Live. You just never know!

So there you have it. Two great reasons to shop with us: a package of four exclusive designs AND access to a private Facebook Group so you can pick our brains and share your work with us.

You can shop with me if you live in the UK and Europe. 

You can shop with Jan if you live in New Zealand.

We’re kicking off with the Cheerful Daisies bundle from the 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue.

The Fresh As A Daisy Suite Collection features the Cheerful Daisies stamp set and die bundle and includes beautiful designer series papers featuring loosely handpainted florals that also feature all of the new 2023-25 in-colours. If you would like to receive this tutorial, you can place your online order with me by clicking on the direct product links for the bundle and any other products in the suite below:

CHEERFUL DAISIES BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (50.25)

FRESH AS A DAISY 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (9.98)

ADHESIVE-BACKED SOLID GEMS (7.50)

Remember to add the current hostess code 2A6EXGJ4 to your order. 

Watch out for a new tutorial package for August-September at the end of July.

Today I'm sharing two cards, both inspired by Jen B's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week:

I thought this was the perfect layout to showcase a piece of the Countryside Inn designer series paper - the only question was which sheet to choose! Eventually I settled on a busy, dark blue floral - take a look:

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

I kept my card really simple with some layering to pick up on the colours in the paper and I finished with a diecut sentiment that I haven't yet used from the Wanted To Say Dies and a sprinkle of self-adhesive sequins:

This style of sketch is great if you have a 'busy' paper design as it really allows it to shine. Before I constructed my card though, as I worked out where I wanted to place my diagonal lines, I decided I couldn't allow the central section to be 'hidden' under my navy panel, so I snipped it out. This gave me an odd-shaped scrap, but one that was perfect to create a second card by layering it onto a navy panel:

For my second card I added a simple stamped sentiment from the 'Gorgeously Made' stamp set that I stamped in Night of Navy on a scrap of Basic White cardstock and again added a few blue sequins to highlight the pretty blue in the paper:

These sequins are supposed to be Balmy Blue but I think they look much more like Tahitian Tide, especially when paired with this paper. A great #simplestamping card - a couple of scraps and a few more sequins and an additional card, from just one piece of designer series paper. I'm linking my second post up over at Just Add Ink where they are looking for us to use two of scraps, strips and sequins; I went with scraps and sequins, although I had a strip of leftover DSP too which I added to the inside of my card - no need for wastage!

Here's one final photo of both cards together:

Which one do you prefer? I must say I like them both in their own way. That paper is so pretty - and all the better for being on offer this month as part of the designer series paper sale!

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. I'm spending mine doing some admin whilst the James Juniors delight in having a big tidying session, throwing away all of their notes and revision materials in a celebration of post-scholastic freedom! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

COUNTRYSIDE INN 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (9.98)	WANTED TO SAY DIES (37.00)	NIGHT OF NAVY A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	TAHITIAN TIDE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	MISTY MOONLIGHT A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (10.00)
NIGHT OF NAVY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	PASTEL ADHESIVE-BACKED SEQUINS (7.50)	GORGEOUSLY MADE CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (23.00)

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 my favourite, a sketch challenge for us to work with:

I decided to share another of the fun animals from the Zoo Crew designer paper on my card this week; this time it's the turn of the ballet-dancing hippo for a sweet birthday card for a little girl - take a look:

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

I used a base layered with some retired Country Floral Lane designer paper which picked up on the Petal Pink of the hippo's tutu, then inspired by the challenge over at SUO Challenges I decided I would delve into my ribbon stash and use the verticals for a double trim of beautiful Pool Party satin ribbon (the one I've used is retired but I've linked to a current equivalent below) and tied with a statement bow. I coloured my hippo with Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends then fussy cut her and added her to my card:

A diecut sentiment from the 'Charming Sentiments' stamp set completes my card. I just love this Zoo Crew paper for fussy cutting - you can create so many different cards with the characters featured.

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:

Enjoy your day; it's forecast to be super hot here in the UK today, so I will be taking it easy I think! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

ZOO CREW 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (9.98)	CHARMING SENTIMENTS PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (22.00)	SENTIMENT SILHOUETTES DIES (33.00)	POOL PARTY 3/8" (1 CM) GROSGRAIN RIBBON (7.50)	PETAL PINK A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	SMOKY SLATE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)
SMOKY SLATE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (9.50)

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 'Global Forgiveness Day' which is on 7th July. 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 green, blue, heart embellishment, background stamp and maps/globes from the list along with the layout over at Hand Stamped Sentiments and the colour palette over at Sunday Stamps (I used Cherry Cobbler, Soft Sea Foam and Boho Blue from the palette) and this is what I came up with:

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

The HSS layout is a great one to showcase that Watercolour World background stamp on that feature panel because although there is a large focal sentiment too, you still get to see plenty of the map detail. I decided to try something different with this stamp today: I stamped the map in Soft Sea Foam onto Basic White cardstock, then immediately clear embossed it. This both intensified the colour of the soft green and allowed me to add my Boho Blue ink with a blender brush to my image around the coastal outline, blending out to nothing, without discolouring the land. I love this effect! I used a Boho Blue card base and DSP layer to bring out the blue colour, and added a sentiment from the retired 'Begin With A Dream' stamp set that I embellished with a (retired) Cherry Cobbler heart: 

Having punched a couple of notches in either side of my map layer, I then added a length of Cherry Cobbler thick twine and tied it in a bow to finish my card. I would normally do this across a sentiment, but since the twine doesn't obscure the wording I went with it and I quite like the finished result.

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:

Enjoy your day; exams are officially over in the James household today so we are having lunch out and a trip to the farm to pick strawberries this afternoon to celebrate - we know how to live! I'll be back soon with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

WATERCOLOR WORLD CLING STAMP SET (22.00)	STYLISH SHAPES DIES (28.00)	2023–2025 IN COLOR 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (11.75)	BOHO BLUE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	BOHO BLUE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	BLENDING BRUSHES (13.00)
SOFT SEA FOAM CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	BASICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (17.00)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (6.25)

Today I'm sharing a card that was inspired by a new-to-me word that Time Out Challenges introduced me to:

I used the layout from Sketch Saturday to make my card that totally sums up the meaning of the word 'sportive' to me - take a look:

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

What could be more playful and lighthearted than a roller skating emu, I wonder?! Whilst I'm not sure roller skating is considered a 'sport', it's certainly fun. I fussy cut my emu from the Zoo Crew designer paper and paired him with some Lemon Lolly stripes and an oversize sentiment from the 'Sweetest Cherries' stamp set: 

A stitched frame and trio of Lemon Lolly solid gems complete today's card. This card makes me smile! I might even send it to one of my oldest friends, who one summer spent our entire summer vacation trying to teach me to roller skate. She was so good at it and even after 6 weeks of what felt like daily practice, I still had all the hallmarks of Bambi on wheels, but we had so much fun in the process it didn't matter. Happy childhood memories!

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. 

Remember - today is free shipping day! If you are looking for something to pop in your shopping basket, I would highly recommend a pack or two of the Bright & Beautiful designer series paper - it's so versatile and I've used lots of mine already!

Enjoy your day; I am out and about as both James Juniors have exams today. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (9.98)	ZOO CREW 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (9.98)	LEMON LOLLY A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	SWEETEST CHERRIES PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (17.00)	PEBBLED PATH CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	ADHESIVE-BACKED SOLID GEMS (7.50)
BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (10.00)

Today I've a second post to share a quick second card that I made yesterday pairing a little something old with something new for the following challenges:

I realised at the weekend that I was out of options for simple birthday cards suitable for teenage boys, so I decided to embrace those diagonals over at Just Add Ink and incorporate some rainbow colour for the peeps over at Addicted To CAS who are featuring rainbow colours  - take a look:

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

Whilst searching for something else the other day (isn't that always the way?!) I rediscovered my retired Happy Dies that I thought would make a great diagonal (with a score line top and bottom to be true to the sketch). I popped my top layer up on dimensionals and added a strip of the current Bright and Beautiful designer series paper behind, adding the remainder of my sentiment from the co-ordinating (retired) 'So Much Happy' stamp set in Blueberry Bushel below the diecut:

At the last moment I decided to add a trio of sparkly tinsel gems to finish. I added a happy birthday sentiment inside, but realised afterwards that without it this would make a good congratulations card too - and since I am still stocking up on exam congratulations cards as I'm hopefully going to need a fair few in August, I might go back and make another couple of these to add to my stash and the two birthday cards I made!

There is something so happy about a flash of rainbow stripes against all that white with just as hint of sparkle too, don't you think? Remember that paper is currently on sale too - and with free shipping tomorrow, there couldn't be a better time to stock up!

No visual summary of the key products used on today's project, but everything that is current and still available is listed in the supplies table below.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (9.98)

TINSEL GEMS FOUR-PACK (7.50)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.50)

BLUEBERRY BUSHEL CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)

Today I have a super quick post since I'm sneaking in a last minute entry over at Freshly Made Sketches - I couldn't resist Kim's fabulous sketch! 

I'm also playing over at Just Us Girls where you will see immediately how their photo inspired my clean and simple card - take a look:

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

When I saw Kim's sketch I was still in 'one layer card' mode and I decided to make a super simple beachfront scene using my retired 'Waterfront' stamp set, with each of the horizontal elements represented by the sea, sandy beach and the row of beach huts. I stamped the beach and sea and for each of my beach huts, used my Stampin' Write markers to colour and add each one individually:

I masked them off and added a hint of blue sky behind using my blending brush to complete my scene. I decided in the end to not make this a one layer card, and snipped my stamped 'HELLO' sentiment from the 'Gorgeously Made' stamp set and popped it up on dimensionals to complete my clean and simple card.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.50)

BLENDING BRUSHES (13.00)

BALMY BLUE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)

CRUMB CAKE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)

2022–2024 IN COLOR STAMPIN' WRITE MARKERS (17.50)

STAMPIN' WRITE MARKERS COLLECTION (126.00)

GORGEOUSLY MADE CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (23.00)

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 clean and simple challenge for us to work with:

I know they aren't everyone's cup of tea, but I do love a good one layer card! I decided to use the 'everything beach' inspiration from another of my favourite clean and simple challenges, AAA Cards, to create my one layer wonder for you today - take a look:

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

One of the challenges with a one layer card is the ability to create a scene with depth, without having actual layers to do it. This is where technique such as masking and stencilling can prove really useful. For my card today, I first stamped the pelican from the 'Waves of Inspiration' stamp set in Smoky Slate. I added a touch of colour to this image with my watercolour pencils; not generally my first choice of colouring medium, but super useful when creating a one layer card, as you won't get any bleeding of colour onto the reverse, something which is unavoidable if you are colouring with Stampin' Blends markers, for example. I then stamped the same image onto a post-it note and fussy cut it to create a mask; I positioned this over the stamped image on my card so that I could add my background. 

I decided to stamp my sea in Lost Lagoon (I applied the ink to my stamp using a blending brush for a soft finish), using the sea stamp in the 'Oceanfront' stamp set. It isn't wide enough to cover the width of the card, but it was easy to extend the stamp by first stamping one side of the mask, then repositioning the card and stamping the other side, being careful to ink only the edge of the sea stamp and not overstamp the sea to the left of the mask. I then used a cloud stencil and some Pool Party ink and a blending brush to add in a hint of cloudy sky behind the pelican - you can see that better on the close up below:

Finally I added a trio of seagulls in Basic Grey and stamped my sentiment in black just above the horizon line. I didn't add any embellishments and by keeping my design to the bottom third of my card managed to preserve that all-important 'white space' of a clean and simple card 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:

Enjoy your day; It's Father's Day here in the UK today so whilst I might be looking forward to enjoying another day of sunshine and relaxation (fingers crossed!), I suspect it might be the DH who will have his feet up! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

WAVES OF INSPIRATION CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (22.00)	OCEANFRONT PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (21.00)	WATERCOLOR PENCILS ASSORTMENT 1 (15.00)	LOST LAGOON CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	POOL PARTY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	SMOKY SLATE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)
BASIC GRAY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	BLENDING BRUSHES (13.00)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (6.25)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.50)

Today I'm sharing a quick card I made using both the sketch and photo inspiration over at Inspired By Challenges:

When I saw the pretty abstract pattern on the pillows of Lauren's inspiration sketch I knew I had just the paper to make a quick no-stamping card - take a look:

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

The retired Abstract Beauty papers had a similar pattern so I cut out a stitched square, along with another from the pack for the offset layer, and paired them with a pre-coloured card base and diecut sentiment:

These 'Wanted to Say' Dies are so useful for a quick sentiment - the gold diecut stars that I added are also from this die set, one of a number of useful extra bits and pieces in this set in addition to the sentiment dies. Whilst the card bases are no longer available, the Abstract Beauty papers are still available - they are currently on the Clearance Rack for just £5.60 a pack - bargain! 

Another quick, no-stamping card to add to my exam congratulations stash!

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:

ABSTRACT BEAUTY 4" X 6" (10.2 X 15.2 CM) SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (5.60)

STYLISH SHAPES DIES (28.00)

WANTED TO SAY DIES (37.00)

GOLD FOIL SHEETS (4.75)

BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (10.00)

Today I'm sharing a card inspired by the photo over at Just Add Ink that also uses this week's Global Design Project #GDP398 sketch (rotated anti-clockwise 45 degrees):

The photo inspiration over at Just Add Ink this week is really beautiful and whilst I would usually make my sunset scenes with some ink blending or brayering, having had the 'Oceanfront' stamp set out on my desk for a few cards recently I decided to see if I could create a similar scene using these scenic stamps. I had a little play and this is what I came up with:

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

I stamped each of the elements - sky, sea and foreground - one at a time. My top tip is that your Stamparatus is a must for this kind of card: it makes aligning the stamps super easy, but also allows you to build up your colours gradually when you apply each one individually. I took card to not allow each colour to overlap too much as I wanted to avoid a 'muddy' line of colour. Other than that, it really was quite straightforward; once the background elements were in place, I stamped my foliage and grasses, going over each several times to get a strong black image. I used a back panel layer of Gorgeous Grape to bring out the purple of the water and having rotated the GDP sketch, I decided to use some diecut grasses (I used the retired Harvest Dies) for the final element and dispense with a sentiment: 

This card was the result of a few attempts until I achieved something I was happy with and I'm really pleased with the end result. If you have often looked at scene-building sets but have been put off by the need to 'put them together' to make something, the 'Oceanfront' stamp set is a really good set to start with: the pieces fit together to make a simple scene without too much imagination required, but this can be easily built on and by changing out colour schemes can be used to create a completely different look and feel. Why not find a photo of a favourite seascape and try and recreate it as I've done here?

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. 

Today is the penultimate GCSE exam for the youngest of the James Juniors - to say that he is beginning to feel demob-happy is an understatement! We have only just reached the halfway point as far as A Levels are concerned though, so the challenge for the next 2 weeks will be maintaining a state of equilibrium I feel! Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

OCEANFRONT PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (21.00)	GORGEOUS GRAPE A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)	GORGEOUS GRAPE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	PUMPKIN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	AZURE AFTERNOON CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)	BLUEBERRY BUSHEL CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (8.50)
TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (6.25)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (8.50)	BASIC BLACK A4 CARDSTOCK (9.50)