Fancy Florets Pre-Release Is Now Underway

by Joanne James9. November 2022 21:00

I'm here with news of a new collection that was released at the start of this month, the Fitting Florets Collection. Suitable for any occasion, including Christmas and seasonal celebrations, the sweet Fitting Florets Collection is a great addition to your stamp collection. From colour schemes to sentiments and embellishments to dies, these unique products blend together so that your cards and crafts fit whatever occasion you might need. Send birthday wishes, express your gratitude, or spread Christmas cheer—with so many options to mix and match you’ll be set no matter the celebration all year! 

 

The Framed Florets bundle is a pre-release that will be included in the 2023 January-April Mini Catalogue. In addition to the bundle, for the duration of the pre-release only, you will also be able to order a number of additional exclusive products, that will be available only while supplies last - an additional festive sentiment stamp set, co-ordinating designer series paper and embellishments - you can see the detail below:

There's also a handy video from the Home Office that shows the product in more detail:

What do you think - pretty right? Also perfect for those of you that love frames and anyone who has been missing ovals since our layering oval dies retired. 

If any of these items appeal to you, click on the images below to go to the online store to purchase. Remember some of these items are whilst stocks last, so don't leave it too late. happy shopping!

 

Links to the Online Store:

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

Painted Christmas Pinecones

by Joanne James9. November 2022 14:55

I had a little extra crafty time yesterday in between completing some design team projects and made a quick card for the current challenge over at Inspired By that I wanted to share today:

Those pinecones totally made me think of the design in the Painted Christmas designer series papers - do you know the one? Check out my card below to see:

 

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

I also used the Inspired by sketch this week and paired my painted pinecone paper with an Evening Evergreen strip with a sentiment that was part heat-embossed with 'merry' from the 'Christmas Banners' stamp set and a 'Christmas' diecut from the now retired Merry Christmas Thinlits Dies. I added a couple of diecut pinecones as a simple embellishment to complete my card:

 

Quite a simple card but one that packs a big impact - and good to use up some designer series paper 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; I need to dash as it's time for the school run! I'll be back tomorrow with another post. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

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

Cottage Wreaths Grateful Gingham PP616

by Joanne James6. November 2022 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 seasonal theme challenge for us to work with:

       

Giving thanks! With the American holiday of Thanksgiving around the corner, giving thanks is perhaps even more at the forefront of our minds, however this is a theme that works all year round - we always have something to be thankful for, however small. I used Jen's split layout over at Freshly Made Sketches and the first three colours of the Sunday Stamps palette for my card - take a look:

 

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

I used the So Saffron Gingham Cottage designer paper for my split panel background and added my leafy stamped Cottage Wreath across the split. I inked my wreath in So Saffron and added Cajun Craze to it with a sponge dauber for a variegated effect, before adding the twig wreath in Soft Suede (I stamped this off twice first) and cutting it out with the Country Wreaths Dies. I added a simple stamped sentiment to the centre and decorated my wreath with a bow of (retired) Cajun Craze ribbon tied with linen thread, along with a couple of leaves cut from copper foil and a couple of copper metallic dots:

I could have used the diecut bow in the Country Wreaths Dies set to create a 'cleaner' bow detail, but I decided to change things up and use up some of the many rolls of ribbon I have and I must say I love it - it really brings out the autumnal colours. What are you thankful for - who would you give thanks to? Do leave me a comment below or better still, play along with this week's challenge - we would love to have you join us.

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 will be preparing for the departure of the eldest of the James Juniors on another trip - her second in three weeks! This time it's a Geography field trip though - muddy fields and rivers call, a far cry from the tourist sights of San Francisco. 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.

Hues of Happiness Birthday Card PP615

by Joanne James30. October 2022 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 Anne Marie to host this week and as it's the fifth Sunday of the month she has a bonus Tic Tac Toe challenge for us to work with:

    

I used Jen T's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches for my layout and went across the bottom of the grid with yellow, birthday and stitching for a fresh and vibrant birthday card this week - take a look:

 

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

Hues of Happiness - The Hues of Happiness designer series paper made light work of the decoration for today's card! I diecut a trio of flowers and some leaves and used them to accent a stitched circle that I had also partially diecut with one of the Blossoming Happiness Dies. 

Sending Birthday Wishes - I used the Sending Smiles Bundle to create my sentiment, layering my diecut 'sending' with a vellum base so that it doesn't obscure too much of the detail beneath:

I used Early Espresso for my sentiment as it picked up the brown tones in the flowers and was less harsh than black. 

Don't forget the inside - I added a sentiment from 'Happiness Abounds' and a little extra detail to finish off the inside of my 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 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; we will be catching up on tales from the USA today as the prodigal daughter returned from her trip to SanFranciso last night. 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.

 

Nothing's Better Than Cookies FF121

by Joanne James28. October 2022 08:00

Today I have my card for the new challenge over at Festive Friday. 

    

The challenge that we are celebrating this week is 'National Family PJ Day' which is on November 14th - who knew?! 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 hot chocolate, cookies and circles along with the sketch over at Sunday Stamps for my layout and this is what I came up with:

 

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

To The Rescue - I almost struggled to combine enough of the elements this week - I had most of them in one form or another, but not that could be used together. Then I remembered I had some of this retired 'Night Before Christmas' designer series paper from a few years ago in my stash and bingo - it gave me cookies and hot chocolate in one! All I needed to do was combine with the 'Nothing's Better Than' stamp set for my sentiment and the Love You More Than co-ordinating dies for my diecut circle-shaped cookies and I had a trio!

A Cookie Trio - I stamped and diecut a trio of cookies to compliment my greeting on the front of my card, which I carried over to the inside too:

This set really is so much fun - you can create all kinds of greetings and messages with it! This card will be perfect to go with a home-baked gift in the run up to the festive season and is sure to make someone smile!

A Stacked Sentiment - I diecut the word 'cookies' in my greeting and triple-stacked it to add height, using Poppy Parade to pick up the colour of the mugs on the paper - I used this for my banner topper too. 

 

Whilst this isn't a Christmas card, I think the red gives it a fun, festive feel. I also added some of the Early Espresso suede effect ribbon to the topper - this feels so luxurious and makes nice flat bows 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. 

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 Challenge Design team:

Ann Schach
Beth McCullough
Sharon Hashimoto Burkert
Melanie Hungerford
Helen Jennings
Melva Peters
Jaydee
Diane Evans
Joanne James

Like many families, the James' have a long-standing tradition of family pyjamas at Christmas time. My husband jokes that he has more Christmas PJs than ones he can wear all year around! Here's a Christmas selfie of us sporting ours from last Christmas:

 

These were actually quite tasteful considering some of the designs we've sported over the years - I guess that's what happens when you have discerning teenagers in the house! 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.

Country Wreath Season's Greetings Memories and More Christmas Card

by Joanne James25. October 2022 11:15

I had a little extra crafty time yesterday so thought I'd pop by to share an extra card that I made with the current Fusion sketch:

When I had my Santa Express Memories and More Cards out on my desk to make this card that I shared with you on Sunday, it occurred to me that one of the large cards would be a great jumping-off point for the Fusion sketch and with just a few extra bits and pieces I could make another quick Christmas card to add to my stash - take a look:

 

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

This is another of those cards where the Memories and More cards take the strain - you can see the 'undressed' card in the corner of the photo at the bottom of this post - I added a simple banner and a wreath cut in Shaded Spruce cardstock using the Country Wreaths Dies, decorated with a bow cut from white velvet paper for a little added texture and some glittery (retired) enamel dot berries (the sequins listed below would make a good current substitute):

 

I didn't need to do any stamping, as the card had a sentiment already printed onto it - I simply picked out some key colours and shapes (the wreath detail echoes the berry detail on the M&M card) and used those for my banner detail. This is a great way to dress up a simple card base - perfect for a quick card.

Also - did you know that Stampin' Up! sells Basic White Assorted Memories and More Cards and Envelopes in packs of 20, that are sized perfectly to fit memories and More cards? You don't even need to cut anything down to size; bonus! You can find them on page 136 of the Annual Catalogue and they are the perfect addition to your Christmas craft supplies for quick and easy cardmaking. 

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 more news. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

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

Santa Express Memories and More Christmas Shaker Card PP614

by Joanne James23. October 2022 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 Ann to host this week and she has my favourite, a sketch challenge for us to work with:

 

I saw Ann's sketch and immediately knew what I wanted to do with it - I love it when that happens! I mirror-flipped the sketch on the vertical and this is what I came up with - take a look:

 

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

A Christmas Shaker - Who can resist a shaker, let alone one that is this colourful and festive?! I thought that central frame would be perfect for a feature shaker, filled with red, white and silver sequins. I made a frame using my Rectangle Stitched Framelits and used one of the patterned acetates from the Santa Express Memories and More Cards for my shaker front: 

I chose some complimentary papers from the Santa Express designer series paper pack in Poppy Parade and a colourful 'ho, ho, ho' design for my frame and central border element to tie in with my shaker frame.

Ho Ho Santa - I accented my shaker frame with a jolly santa that I fussy cut from one of the Santa Express Memories and More cards, to which I added one of the flat jingle bell trinkets using some co-ordinating (retired) festive baker's twine.

Don't Forget The Inside - I finished the inside of my card with another offcut of designer paper and a sentiment from the Sweet Candy Canes stamp set - I also used a narrow one from the same set on the front of my card:

I just love this card - so fun!! The Santa Express Memories & More cards are just fantastic - so useful for cards and scrapbooking alike! This is the first one of the included acetates that I've used; I also love the wood word diecuts too. An all-round, super useful set!

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; we are taking it easy following our early start; I think ironing and an afternoon movie might be required! 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.

Rainbow Cottage Wreaths Christmas Card #GDP364

by Joanne James16. October 2022 12:59

Today I'm sharing an extra card that I made earlier this week that was inspired by the fun challenge over at Global Design Project #GDP364 this week:

It's CASE The Designer week featuring the talented Madeleine Mrotzek, who makes the most beautiful cards! Madeleine's cards often feature rainbows of colour, small images and lots of white space. I couldn't resist the opportunity to play along - take a look:

 

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

I kept with the white slimline basic layout and followed her rainbow of colour, but instead of stamped balloons opted for a sprinkling of tiny stamped snowflakes (from the retired 'Snowflake Wishes' stamp set overlaid with a row of rainbow Cottage Wreaths diecuts. I finished with a silver heat-embossed sentiment from 'Christmas Banners' and a sprinkling of iridescent rhinestones - don't you just love how they pick up the colours of everything they reflect:

 

The larger wreaths fill this Christmas card with a rainbow of festive colour and the slimline design is a great way to showcase these pretty dies.

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.

Santa Express Memories and More Card PP613 CAS

by Joanne James16. October 2022 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 LeAnne to host this week and she has a fun clean and simple challenge for us to work with:

    

I used Judy's great sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches this week for my layout and found some wheels on Santa's Express train for my no-stamping clean and simple card - take a look:

 

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

Today's card really is so simple! I used a pair of Santa Express Memories & More cards to create my fun scene: I trimmed one down for the background then fussy cut my santa express train from another to create my snowy scene. I added a couple of borders, some (retired) Petal Pink ribbon to the bottom border and a few (retired) adhesive snowflakes to complete my scene:

I didn't even have to stamp a sentiment as there was already one printed onto the Memories & More card! These are great for quick cards and the acetates and wooden diecut words that are also included in the pack make this set great value for Christmas crafting. 

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; we will be catching up on homework following another university open day visit yesterday for one of the James Juniors, whilst the other will be recovering from an army cadet sleepout under an improvised shelter and looking forward to a few home comforts! 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.

Halloween Boo To You FF120

by Joanne James14. October 2022 08:00

Today I have my card for the new challenge over at Festive Friday. 

    

The challenge that we are celebrating this week is 'Halloween' which is on October 31st. 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 bowed to the theme and used pumpkin, orange, stars, black and ghost and using the sketch layout over at Try Stamping on Tuesday this is what I came up with:

 

 Here's the low-down on today's card:

My card started out with the starry and pumpkin/ghost patterned paper from the 'Celebrate Everything' hostess designer series paper pack - these papers really are the pack that keeps on giving with a pattern for every occasion! Normally I wouldn't mix two such bold papers, but the yellow stars on the pumpkin/ghost sheet mean the two work together perfectly. I used my Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends markers to colour the pumpkins on the designer paper instead of leaving the whole design white - I love that you can do this! - and I added these papers to my cardbase, then used a strip of black glimmer paper and a collection of diecuts (all retired - Boo to You, Harvest Hellos, Apple Punch and Stitched Stars Dies) to create a focal point that picked out the detail of the papers:

 

Cute, right?! I really wanted to stamp 'trick or treat' on the orange banner, but could I find a retired stamp anywhere in my collection with those words? Nope. I'm sure there's one here somewhere ... I just have to find it!

I am also linking this card up with the lovely ladies over at SUO Challenges where their theme is 'Halloween' currently 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. 

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 Challenge Design team:

Ann Schach
Beth McCullough
Sharon Hashimoto Burkert - off this week
Melanie Hungerford
Helen Jennings
Melva Peters
Jaydee
Diane Evans
Joanne James

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.

 

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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.