Coffee and Card Drop-in Sessions at Bell of Northampton

by Joanne James8. March 2016 09:30

I have an extra post today to share some of the detail around a new type of event that I've added to my calendar recently - Coffee and Card Drop-in Sessions. You can see the key details on my graphic below:

 

I am excited to share this new venture with you. It's the perfect opportunity for non-crafters and crafters alike who live in or around the Northampton area to 'dip their toe' into the world of papercrafting and experience Stampin' Up! products first hand with me, without having to commit to a class. And what better place to do it than in the luxurious surroundings of Bell of Northampton, whilst enjoying a drink and a delicious cookie prepared by the in-house baker Alex of Tea and Cake @ Bell. No booking, skills or expertise required - just pop in for a little 'time out' and leave with a beautiful handcrafted card to send to someone special. You can find directions to Bell's here - there is ample free customer parking with disabled access at both the front and rear of the store.

The full schedule for these sessions along with the rest of my classes and events can be found on my website here. The next of my sessions will be tomorrow, Wednesday 9th March - I'd love to see you there!

Back shortly with today's creative project; until then, happy stampin'!

Four Leaf Clover Pansy Punch Good Luck Card

by Joanne James7. March 2016 14:57

Yay it's Monday - where did that weekend go?! A hectic Mother's Day yesterday and today I'm back to it - with a card using this week's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches:

      

In addition to Rita's great sketch, I was also inspired by the photo images for the current challenges over at The Card Concept and Fusion, where luck, green and shamrocks are also the order of the day. I know a few young people about to sit their GCSEs and am in need of a few good luck cards, so these challenges gave me the perfect opportunity to make an appropriately-themed card:

I decided to contrast the bright Cucumber Crush green with kraft for my card today and made a feature of a few different elements to pull together my 'clean and layered' card:

Shine On Specialty Designer Series Paper - Great for boxes and bags, this sturdy kraft paper also adds a bright pop of colour to cards, especially when bordered with some Cucumber Crush cardstock to really make it stand out.

Larger Than Life Alphabet and Numbers - These letters and numbers really are larger than life and are great for a statement sentiment as I've done here with the word 'luck'. Alphabet sets are useful for so many different types of projects and since they cost a little more than the average stamp set, Sale-A-Bration is a great time to invest in one and get a free gift into the bargain!

Pansy Punch Four Leaf Clover/Shamrock - Everyone knows that the four leaf clovers are the ones that are supposed to bring you luck. No punch for that? No problem - you can use your five-petal Pansy Punch to create a four leaf clover with ease! Just cut away part of one of the petals to create a stem as in the photo below:

It's that easy! Inspired by The Card Concept photo, I stamped some spots using the spot stamp in the 'Celebrate Today' stamp set stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in clear to add pattern and shine to my lucky clover and tie it in with the rest of my card.

Envelope Punch Board - I altered the dimensions of the sketch and went for a more horizontal rather than vertical card to accommodate my sentiment. As such it gave me a finished card size of 6" x 6 3/4" - not a standard size. A sheet of 2015-17 In Color Envelope Paper in Cucumber Crush, my Envelope Punch Board and my handy Envelope Expert tool made light work of a solution though, and with a few clicks of the mouse and punches and scores and I had a beautifully co-ordinated envelope too - job done!

Here's today's visual summary for easy reference of the key supplies needed to make this card and today's top tip:

 

That's all from me today; 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.

 

 

Sunburst Sayings and Thinlits Shine It's Your Day

by Joanne James6. March 2016 09:00

Firstly, happy Mothering Sunday to all UK mothers reading this - today is most certainly our day! It's also Sunday and time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the talented Sandy to host our challenge this week and she has a great theme for you to play along with:

    PPA-290-Mar03

I was all set to make a rainy day card for today's challenge but I couldn't get the idea in my head to work on paper - so some other time for that card! Instead I decided to use my Sunburst Thinlits and create a bright sunshine card which came together much more like my vision:

 

I used this week's sketch over at Pals Paper Arts for my layout and created a fun fold card, where the second part of my sentiment acted as a clasp to hold the left-hand panel closed. I used a panel of Daffodil Delight spotted Schoolhouse Designer Series Paper on the right-hand panel and on the left I stamped some sunshines in Versamark and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder. This sunshine is from one of the early limited edition Sale-A-Bration sets, 'Hello' and the good news is that availability of this stamp set has been extended while stocks last. You've still time to snap it up, but you'd better be quick!

For my main square, I used a background of Tempting Turquoise to which I added a Daffodil Delight sunburst, edged with Tangelo Twist. For my sunshine centre, I stamped 'Shine' from the 'Sunburst Sayings' stamp set onto some Daffodil Delight cardstock and fussy cut the outer elements of the sentiment before cutting the remainder with a circle framelit, which allowed my sentiment to overhang. I backed this circle with a mat cut from a 1 3/4" scalloped circle punch, that I punched once then rotated and punched again to create the starburst effect - this is a neat little trick and perfect for this kind of design. It's also a great way to get a second shape from one punch. I then framed the whole square with a Tangelo Twist frame cut using my square framelits. The second part of my sentiment was cut with the washi tape thinlit from the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits set and I adhered this with a dimensional to the right so that it could serve to hold the fold shut. I just love the bright sunshine colours of today's card and the layering of all the elements within the focal square - this will certainly brighten someone's day. The 'Sunburst Sayings' stamp set and Sunburst Thinlit die are another of the great 'bundle and save' offers in the current seasonal catalogue, giving you a saving of 15% when you purchase them together - bonus!

Here's today's visual summary for easy reference:

 

Thank you to everyone who has left me a sweet comment or feedback on these new graphics, which have been very well received; they make great Pins too!

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

The Paper Players Design Team
 
 
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! 

I look forward to seeing what you create with our theme this week. We are off to basketball this morning with time for a special Mother's Day lunch before venturing out to a birthday party this afternoon. Not quite the restful Mother's Day I had in mind, but life goes on today as always and as my family frequently tell me "Every day is Mother's Day in the James Household!". I have been treated to cards, flowers and gifts today so I am feeling perhaps a little more loved than usual :-) 

I hope you all have an enjoyable Mothering Sunday, whether you are celebrating or are focused on other things today. 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.

Color Me Irresistible Botanical Blooms Happy Birthday

by Joanne James3. March 2016 08:05

Today it's time for a new challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary and this week we have a colour combination for you:

 

I thought this colour combination was quite an unusual one and I did spend a lot of time working out what to do with it! Eventually there were two things that set me off on the path that led to today's card: one was the desire to use a piece of the coloured Color Me Irresistible Specialty Designer Series Paper and the other was this card by the lovely Connie Babbert! I loved the layout of Connie's card and knew when I saw it that it would be perfect for what I had in mind - here is the end result:

 

I decided to use Hello Honey for my card base and make a feature panel of the Color Me Irresistible paper - this paper is quite dramatic but the hint of pattern and combination with the other two challenge colours worked perfectly. A few layered Botanical Builder flowers and a happy birthday sentiment from the 'Tin of Cards' stamp set, finished with a black satin ribbon bow, finish my card. I just love the flower combinations that you can achieve with the Botanical Builder Framelit Dies - in addition by sponging the centres and edges and adding feathered lines using the tip of your Stampin' Write marker, as I did on the largest of the blooms on today's card, it's easy to create beautifully realistic and dimensional flowers. 

Here is today's visual summary for easy reference:

 

Do visit the other Design Team members to see what they did with this week's colours; there's lots of inspiration over on their blogs too!

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

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

  • Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
  • Botanical Builder Framelits Dies
  • Tin Of Cards Photopolymer Stamp Set
  • Color Me Irresistible Specialty Designer Series Paper
  • Very Vanilla A4 Cardstock
  • Hello Honey A4 Cardstock
  • Hello Honey Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad
  • Cajun Craze A4 Cardstock
  • Basic Black 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon
  • Neutrals Candy Dots
  • Project Life Corner Rounder

Welcome Words - Welcome To Our Street

by Joanne James2. March 2016 19:15

Today I have a card to share for the current challenge over at Fab Friday, where they have a great sketch to play along with:

I decided to use a set that I haven't previously inked up for my card today - the lovely 'Welcome Words' - to make a card that I've always wanted a sentiment for. Take a look and you'll see what I mean:

 

This stamp can be used for all kinds of welcomes - new homes, new team members, new babies, new year - and also to welcome new neighbours to your street, an idea that I just love! For my card I decided to use the horizontal panel for my 'welcome' and create a custom background by repeat stamping the little trio of houses across my background panel in Memento Black and then colouring them with my Stampin' Write markers. I was somewhat inspired by the colourful houses of Tobermory in Scotland - here's a photo of them, image courtesy of the Cafe Fish that you can see on the right of the picture:

Image courtesy of: www.thecafefish.com

I love those houses painted in bright, primary colours and whilst it's nothing like the houses in my street, decided that this would make a bright and cheerful welcome card for a new neighbour. I added a retired speech bubble paperclip for my embellishment with a little red heart punched from my Confetti Border Punch in the centre. Similarly, I used some retired scraps of Brights designer series paper for the banner flags and I used a metallic doily for the semi-circular element. The colourful outside is then continued onto the inside of my card to complete the sentiment:

 

This stamp set is one that could be easily overlooked in the current seasonal catalogue, but actually has lots of creative possibilities and is especially useful for clean and simple cards. I especially love the bright primary colours of this card - very me!

Here's today's visual summary for easy reference:

 

That's all from me today; I've had a day of housework and errands today so am having a quiet evening before getting back to it all again tomorrow. Back then with a card for this week's new challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary where we have a fun colour challenge in store for you. 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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He Is Risen Sunburst Easter Card

by Joanne James1. March 2016 21:00

Firstly, Happy Saint David's Day to any fellow Welsh bloggers or blog readers! I have had a busy day of classes today, with the first of my technique classes this month this morning and my Project Life memory keeping class this afternoon. I'm not so organised that I had an early blog post for you; my card was made,I just fell asleep at my laptop yesterday evening before I could schedule it! Today's card is for the 300th challenge over at Just Add Ink where they have this sketch as inspiration this week:

JAI #300

I saw this sketch and knew it would be perfect for a card that I've had in mind for a while using my Sunburst Thinlits Die - take a look: 

I wanted to create an Easter card with a sunburst behind a cross; how to make my cross though? I decided to try and make one using a sunburst, by squaring up the edges and cutting away the diagonal sections. Here's a work in progress picture that shows you how I cut it:

 

I hope that is helpful. I ran my cross through my Woodgrain embossing folder to add some texture and make it stand out against my super-CAS background of So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz. I allowed my sentiment strip to overhang the width of my paper slightly and made my own sentiment using the stamps in the 'Crazy For You' stamp set, masking off letters where not needed until I had my phrase. The Alphabet Rotary Stamp would also allow you to create something similar. I added a gold button, a twist of retired Tangelo Twist satin ribbon and a sprinkling of Pumpkin Pie sequins to finish my card. This is a great Easter card that can be made using entirely non Easter-specific supplies, which is always useful. What do you think of my cross idea? I'd love to know whether you think this works - do leave me a comment with your thoughts below. 

Here's today's visual summary for easy reference:

 

That's all from me today; 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.

 

 

Butterfly Basics Reverse Panel Card

by Joanne James29. February 2016 09:00

Another Monday, another week! I have a busy week in store and am looking forward to it already! Firstly, to all those celebrating a leap year birthday today - a very happy birthday to you! Today I am sharing a card using this week's sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and the colours over at Pals Paper Arts:

   Pals Paper Arts PPA289

I knew immediately how I wanted today's card to look and had a clear picture in my mind. My card did turn out as I hoped, save for the need to flip the sketch to its mirror image - take a look:

I turned to my 'Butterfly Basics' stamp set for my card today. I haven't used this set in ages and it's so easy to forget the great sets in the current annual catalogue when we have Sale-A-Bration and the current seasonal catalogue to keep us busy. I just knew that the long stemmed flower was going to be perfect for that long panel though. I stamped the image in Night Of Navy and coloured the flower with Blushing Bride and Pear Pizzazz inks and my blender pen. I matted this image on pink and navy, the reversed this matting for my sentiment, which I stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in white. I stamped my butterfly in Night of Navy on both sides of a piece of vellum and punched it out with my Itty Bitty Butterfly punch and adhered it to my sentiment panel. I also covered my butterfly liberally in Wink of Stella, which adds such a lovely sparkle in real life. I had to mirror-image the sketch because of the way the leaves fall on the stem - I'm hoping Jen isn't going to be too upset by this! Lastly, to finish I added a trio of Blushing Bride enamel dots from the Love Blossoms Embellishment kit. I just love these - they are so sparkly! This is one of those cards that makes great use of colour to accentuate the layers and by stamping the flower in Night of Navy instead of grey or black the whole thing really co-ordinates well. 

Here is today's visual summary for easy reference:

 

I have my piano lesson this morning then am off to London today for an appointment before returning in time for the school run. So a busy day in store! 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.

From Land To Sea Lighthouse

by Joanne James28. February 2016 21:17

I'm popping in with an extra post today to make up for my lack of one yesterday; my card was all ready, however by the time I returned from the swimming gala that the James Juniors were attending yesterday evening, I was truly good for nothing! This card is made with this week's CAS(E) This Sketch and the challenge over at CASology in mind:

   

I took a rather less obvious approach to the cue word 'distress' and instead of focusing on a technique went with the emotion - here's my card:

I went with a lighthouse - the beacon of safety for mariners in distress - from the 'From Land to Sea' stamp set as the focal image for my card and paired it with the sentiment from 'Best Thoughts', which seemed appropriate. I masked off a section of my card using post-it notes and using a sponge dauber and So Saffron ink, sponged in some light shining from the windows of the lighthouse too. I kept my card fairly monochromatic, apart from a splash of red on the lighthouse and a thin strip of retired patterned paper down the left side, and the beam of light. Some black and white baker's twine finishes my card.

Here's today's visual summary for easy reference:

 

That's all from me this evening; 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.

Gift From The Garden

by Joanne James28. February 2016 09:00

It's Sunday and time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of my sweet friend Claire to host our challenge this week and she has a great sketch for you to play along with:

    

 

For my card this week I was inspired to use the 'Gift From The Garden' stamp set and the colours and watering can and polka dots over at Color Throwdown provided just the additional inspiration I needed:

 

Claire's sketch has lots of layers so this gave plenty of opportunity to incorporate lots of elements. I used kraft cardstock for my base and stamped the flowerpot trio in Versamark all over the front to create a subtle tone on tone background design that was in keeping with the theme of my card. I then added a piece of Mint Macaron Birthday Bouquet designer series paper and strip of white seam binding ribbon and layered a piece of polka dot Pink Pirouette designer series paper from the Subtles stack before adding my stamped circles. I punched two circles of Whisper White and stamped a pair of Mint Macaron wellies on one and a Pink pirouette watering can on the other. I also stamped the watering can a second time on a piece of scrap so that I could fussy cut it out and overlap the spout when I layered the circles together. I stamped my sentiment in Soft Suede and then stamped the heart flower in a pot onto a piece of Whisper White, fussy cut it out then added a flowerpot cut from kraft coloured corrugated paper and a pink punched heart with added pearl. Lastly, I added a twine bow to my ribbon to finish my card.

I'm not sure that I would have chosen these pastel colours for a card using this set had I not seen the Color Throwdown photo, yet I think they make for a pretty card. The thing I love most about this card though is my custom patterned paper for my cardbase; it is subtle enough to not overpower and you don't even see that much of it, yet ties in so well with the theme of my card.I love the earthy tone of the kraft cardstock too - I really must use this more often I think! This card is headed to a wonderful green-fingered friend of mine; I'm not sure she owns a pink watering can or green wellies but I just know she will love this card.

Here's today's visual summary for easy reference:

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

The Paper Players Design Team
 
 
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! 

I look forward to seeing what you create with our sketch this week. We are off to basketball today and Rebecca is playing in a hockey tournament too, so another day of sport in store.

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.

Wildflower Fields Meets Suite Sayings

by Joanne James26. February 2016 23:08

Yay it's Friday! My day feels like it's been a long one and I am looking forward to the weekend for sure! Today I have a card for this week's challenge over at Retrosketches which also fits the bill for the new challenge over at As You See It:

   AYSIChallenge125

I decided to make another Easter card, this time using some of my Sale-A-Bration Wildflower Fields designer series paper and the lovely Easter sentiment in the 'Suite Sayings' stamp set:

I used extra-thick Whisper White for my card base and added alternating strips of the bold flower patterned papers for my background. I tweaked the sketch slightly in as much as I used the central panel to showcase my sentiment, which broke up the detail of the busy paper, and chose Blackberry Bliss and Hello Honey for my ink, mats and ribbon colours. I embellished with a few flowers punched with my Petite Petals and Blossom Bunch punches and a retired Hello Honey button. This is the first stamp I've used in my 'Suite Sayings' stamp set; this is such a versatile set with a great variety of sentiments - I think this Easter one is my favourite though.  

Here's today's visual reference showing the key supplies used to make today's card:

 

That's all from me today; 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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