Waterfront Almost One Layer CAS Card

by Joanne James19. June 2023 17:32

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:

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

Waves Of Inspiration Oceanfront One Layer Card PP645

by Joanne James18. June 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 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:

Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project - remember for this challenge your design should be clean and simple
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; 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: 

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

Abstract Beauty Congratulations Card

by Joanne James14. June 2023 09:00

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:

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

Oceanfront Sunset #GDP398

by Joanne James13. June 2023 08:00

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:

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

Celebrate With Labels Aglow FMS589

by Joanne James12. June 2023 12:00

Summer has finally arrived here in the UK and yes, you've guessed it - I'm sharing a Christmas card! I was intrigued by the layout that the lovely Linda Callaghan came up with for her Freshly Made Sketches design this week - check it out:

      

I managed to grab a little crafty time over the weekend so decided to have a go at creating something that made the most of her unique layering and this is what I came up with:

 

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

I almost went with a wreath for the circular element, but couldn't work out how to incorporate that vertical column effectively. I finally settled on using the fabulous circular die in the Labels Aglow set for the circular element and layering it with some (retired) Lights Aglow designer paper in festive Cherry Cobbler with a pattern of dots in vanilla and gold that tied nicely in with the gold dots of the circular element. I also lined my envelope with the same paper. I did take a liberty with the sentiment, in as much as whilst I retained the position I didn't have a skinny one that I liked. I thought I would try the 'Celebrate' diecut from the 'Wanted To Say' die set which never seems to leave my desk at the moment and I really liked the effect:

 

Whilst my card is designed for Christmas - I used a festive sentiment from the 'Brightest Glow' stamp set on the inside of my card - it occurs to me you wouldn't know from the outside that this card was designed with Christmas in mind. Hopefully the peeps over at Happy Little Stampers will appreciate my understated take on Christmas - which is perfect for their die challenge too (the only stamping is on the inside of today's card). For a card with 7 layers, the design is still clean and uncluttered - just how I like it! This isn't a layout that I would usually be drawn to, but I really love the finished effect - thanks Linda for a thought-provoking sketch!

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.
 

Lemon Lolly Cheerful Daisies Hello PP644

by Joanne James11. June 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 Anne Marie to host this week and she has a pretty colour challenge for us to work with:

       

Do you ever send a card 'just because'? 'Hello' cards are perfect for an anytime greeting and useful for a quick note or simply to keep in touch with a friend. For my card this week I started with the sketch layout over at TGIF Challenges and grabbed my Cheerful Daisies Dies as these colours seemed the perfect fit. Take a look at what I came up with:

 

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

Cheerful Daisies - I diecut the daisy trio in Basic White then split them apart, adding some Lemon Lolly to the centre of the main flower with a vellum top layer. I added a couple of pairs of diecut leaves and fronds that I watercoloured in Lost Lagoon, before piecing them back together.

Lots of Lemon Lolly - Lemon Lolly is such a lovely, fresh shade of citrus yellow that I knew this needed to be the focus colour of today's card. I used it for my base and added a piece of striped DSP to the centre of the scalloped panel too, as well as a trio of gems - so pretty!

And A Little Lost Lagoon - With white as my neutral this featured as my second colour and I used Lost Lagoon as my accent colour, for my watercolouring, stamped sentiment and a little ribbon detail too.

The only stamping on today's card is my 'hello' sentiment so I'm linking up this week's Just Us Girls challenge too, where that's their codeword. I'm also sharing with the ladies over at SUO Challenges where their current theme is flowers. 

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; yesterday was absolutely gorgeous here - summer has finally arrived! I am hoping for a repeat today and looking forward to spending a fairly lazy day in the 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.

Bright and Beautiful Starry Congratulations Card FF0136

by Joanne James9. June 2023 09:00

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 'International Fairy Day' which is on June 24th. 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 pink, sparkle, vellum and stars and the current layout over at Sunday Stamps and this is what I came up with:

 

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

No fairies or toadstools here today; instead a riot of colour for a starry congratulations card. I might be getting a little ahead of myself, but with both of the James Juniors and their friends taking major exams this year, I am hoping that lots of this kind of card will be in order, so I'm starting early! The Bright and Beautiful designer paper pack has some fabulous colours and patterns, but this all-over starry design screams celebration! I used a Bubble Bath pink card base and added mats in Basic White and Berry Burst, splitting my designer paper into three as per the sketch layout. I added a simple sentiment from the 'Charming Sentiments' stamp set in a Stylish Shapes stitched circle, and decorated this with punched stars, picking out the colours of the stars in the patterned paper. I also used some (retired) Fresh Freesia shimmer vellum for some added sparkle - hopefully you can see it on the close up below: 

I used a couple of retired star punches for my stars, but if you need a current equivalent, the Beautiful Balloons Dies have two star dies that are the same size and shape - I've included the link in the supplies list below.

The Bright and Beautiful Designer Series Paper is another of those that are available at 15% discount in this month's designer series paper sale - I would definitely recommend you stock up! 

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 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.

Oceanfront Fathers Day Card PP643

by Joanne James4. June 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 Ann to host this week and she has a fun theme challenge for us to work with:

       

I decided to use Jen M's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches and was also inspired by the masculine blues and browns of Laurel's Inspired By photo for my Father's Day card this week - take a look:

 

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

Oceanfront - I haven't used the Oceanfront stamp set in ages, so thought today's card was a good opportunity to rectify this! This is such a great stamp for making beautiful beach scenes and is so easy to use. I stamped my scene with a Boho Blue sky, Misty Moonlight ocean and Crumb Cake sand with Copper Clay grasses - done! I also added some birds in Pebble Path from the 'Beside Me' set that I had out on my desk for my sentiment and some retired pebble enamel shapes to add a little extra detail. I wanted to diecut my scene with a stitched rectangle, but since they are now retired I thought I would consider other current options first and what do you know - one of the scalloped rectangles in the Scalloped Contours Dies was the perfect size!

Fresh As A Daisy - I used two pieces of designer paper for my split panel background - do you recognise them? In addition to all of the lovely floral patterns, the Fresh As A Daisy papers have a beautiful wash reverse in each of the new in-colours. I used the Boho Blue and Copper Clay papers to echo the colours of my oceanfront scene, with the diagonal proving a useful way to combine the two.

A Sketch Liberty - Whilst I think it's clear to see how Jen's FMS sketch inspired my layout this week, you will notice I did take a few liberties with it to suit my finished design (I hope she doesn't mind!). The size of my final card is larger than usual (14.9cm x 21cm) as I wanted to be able to accommodate my scene and still have plenty of background on show. I also re-angled the diagonal of my background layer; I wanted the diagonal to follow the diagonal of the shoreline of my ocean scene, so instead of going corner to corner I cut across the the main panel. This way the design still looks cohesive and the diagonal works with my scene, rather than making everything look slightly out of kilter:

A simple heat-embossed sentiment cut out with the label (shortened to fit) from the Cheerful Daisies Dies and a fancy linen thread bow complete my Father's Day card. This one will be headed to my Dad in a couple of weeks time - hope he likes 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; after what has been a decidedly chilly week here in the UK, the sun is finally shining and temperatures are on the up - hurrah! I am looking forward to spending some time in the garden today, hopefully with a good book. I'll be back soon 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.

Wanted To Say Feel Better Soon PP642

by Joanne James28. 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 LeAnne to host this week and she has my favourite, a sketch challenge for us to work with:

    

I decided to take the bright trio of colours over at Just Add Ink and use them to make a cheerful get well soon card - take a look:

 

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

I initially considered using that vertical panel to showcase some designer paper, but decided instead it would be the perfect place to showcase a new die-only set from page 167 of the new annual catalogue, the Wanted to Say Dies. There are four sentiments in this set and each consists of two layers:

In place of the circle I added a layered flower and leaves, made using another new die-only set - Paper Florist Dies. These are so cool - you can make so many awesome dimensional flowers using these dies - they will be great for packaging and home decor too. These bright and cheery colours are perfect for a feel better soon greeting - I find yellow so uplifting, so it had to be the main colour focus on my card. And not a stamp in sight!

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 enjoying the sunshine and marvelling at the fact that we are having a fine weather Bank Holiday here in the UK - yay! I'll be back soon 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.

Beside Me Trio For Father's Day FF0135

by Joanne James26. May 2023 08:00

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

    May be an illustration of text

The challenge that we are celebrating this week is 'Father's Day' which is on 18th June. This time around we are also teaming up with Double Trouble: entering both challenges gives you double the chance of winning. Their Thing 1 challenge is to create a masculine card. Their Thing 2 challenge is to enter our Festive Friday Challenge. Their Thing 3 challenge is to include a plaid/check. Here's the link to enter their challenge: Double Trouble ChallengeRemember 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 blue, monochromatic, masculine, plaid/checks and diecuts and decided to create a Father's Day card - this is what I came up with:

 

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

Inked Botanicals - The plaid paper that I used for my background inspired the subtle colour scheme for today's card. You may be surprised to know that this soft plaid is one of the designs in the new Inked Botanicals designer paper pack. I though the soft Pool Party and Lost Lagoon tones would provide the perfect background for my coastal themed card which I'm also linking up with the lovely ladies over at SUO Challenges who are all about the blues and sea-inspired cards.

Nested Essentials - I framed my stamped scene using one of the new Nested Essentials Dies. These are one of those 'easily overlooked' products as they are a die-only set. Comprising 12 dies including 4 banners, 4 rounded corner rectangles and 4 nested diamonds with straight edges all of which have a neat stitched border detail, these are great for framing and layering and I know that they will become a new craft room staple. 

Beside Me - But Not As You Know It - The image on the front of my card is from the 'Beside Me' set - but the eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed that there is something missing! I love this image as it looks exactly like the James Juniors with their Dad, but I don't think they have ever been fishing together - so the fishing rods had to go! This was so easy to achieve: I simply inked the stamp in Lost Lagoon and masked off the fishing rods before inking, so that they weren't present when stamped - voila! I wanted to stick with my simple colour scheme, so chose not to colour the image itself, instead masking it before inking in a sky and sea using a blending brush. You can see the results of my handiwork more closely below:

This wasn't the only stamp I tweaked on today's card. I stamped a combination of sentiments from the set inside my card, but since the image on the front of the card had two children, I wanted the sentiment to read 'You've always been there for us' as opposed to 'me'. Again, this was simple enough to achieve: I stamped the sentiment having masked out the 'me', then added in a 'u' and 's' using my Stamp-a-ma-jig to line them up, having selectively inked them up on one of the other stamps in the set:

 

I think it works - don't you? I love that I can tailor my stamps to create something that is bespoke to my needs. Do you ever do that with your stamps? Do leave me a comment below - I would love to know about your 'stamp hacks' 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 Card Making and Paper Crafting Challenge

 Design team:

 

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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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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