Sweet Citrus Oranges For FMS576

by Joanne James13. March 2023 16:18

Here's today's second post as promised with the second of my cards using Amy's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week.

 

This time my interpretation was much more literal - take a look: 

 

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

The Sweet Citrus bundle was my first thought when I saw the sketch and clearly Amy had worked along similar lines using lemons for her DT card. I wanted to make my card look different to hers even though we used the same starting point, so I went with oranges instead of lemons, a super-bright colour scheme and a fully embossed background, as opposed to designer paper. I just love the texture that the Sweet Citrus embossing folder adds to both the background and the individual fruit segments and the fact that it's a hybrid folder and embosses and diecuts in one pass through the Big Shot is a total time-saving bonus! Check out the texture on the close-up below:

 

I also used a different sentiment for today's card to the one I've showcased on previous cards using this bundle, both on the outside and the inside:

 

This thank you card will be winging its way to one of my sweetest customers to thank her for a recent order.

Completely different to my previous card using this layout, but I love it just as much! I'm also linking today's card up over at The Alphabet Challenge where it's 'Y is for Yummy' - I know oranges are healthy, but they are also delicious! When I was pregnant with my first child, they were one of the things I craved and ate in vast quantities - bizarre, I know! A thank you shout-out to the Alphabet Blog team too for choosing my entry for 'X is for XOXO - hugs and kisses as their winner (if you missed it you can see that card 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. 

Apologies for the lateness and brevity of both of today's posts; it took me 3 hours to complete my school run this morning due to a serious car accident that led to me being part of a road closure; fortunately I wasn't involved although my prayers are with the families of those who were. As for me, I'm running much later than usual for a Monday - but grateful to be here writing nonetheless!

Enjoy the rest of 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.

Awash In Beauty Bouquet FMS576

by Joanne James13. March 2023 15:58

Today will be a two post day as I managed to squeak in a little extra crafting time over the weekend and managed to make not one but two cards using Amy's layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week.

 

Here's the first one:

 

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

I don't normally gravitate towards this kind of layout, but I was so inspired by Jennifer Timko's FMS Design Team card, that I decided I would try something similar. So I grabbed my paper snips and fussy cut an entire bouquet of flowers from the oh-so-pretty Awash in Beauty designer series paper pack and used this as the centrepiece for my card, with the individual flowers representing those sketch circles. I backed this with a piece of pink paper from the same pack and a simple white lattice diecut from the Organic Beauty Dies, adding a few white opaque adhesive backed gems to decorate:

 

I finished with a simple sentiment from the 'Sending Smiles' stamp set - I thought this would make a nice card for someone who needed a little 'lift'. 

This card felt a little brave for me as I normally interpret the sketch more literally, but I really like the end 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. 

I'll be back shortly with my second take on Amy's sketch - a completely different take so stay tuned! Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

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

Silly Goose Belated Birthday Card PP631

by Joanne James12. March 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 a bold and bright colour challenge for us to work with:

    

I used the sketch over at Sunday Stamps for my layout and thought LeAnne's colours were perfect for a fun birthday card featuring one of the birds in the 'Silly Goose' stamp set - take a look:

 

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

I used some in-colour designer paper for my base, then stamped my partying goose onto a stitched rectangle and coloured it with my Stampin' Blends in the challenge colours. This is such a fun stamp set, with some great sentiments. I could have made this a straightforward birthday card, but instead decided to add this sentiment inside to send belated birthday wishes:

 

Fun, right?! I finished my card but decided that since I'd only used Granny Apple Green on my goose's party hat, I need to add a little extra, so I hunted through my stash and found these sparkly Granny Apple Green enamel dots so added these for a little extra celebratory sparkle:

That's all there is to 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; 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.

Bouquet of Hope Thank You Card AYSI294

by Joanne James10. March 2023 12:00

Today I'm sharing my design team card for our new challenge over at As you See It where it's time for a fun theme challenge from the lovely Heather Heroldt:

       +   

Our challenge is a little craft room spring cleaning this week as Heather would like us to use up our scraps - this is always so fun! I had a rummage through my scraps box and pulled out a few bits and pieces and put them into co-ordinating groups to see what I could make. There was lots to choose from - here are some of my favourite bits and pieces that I shortlisted:

 

I remembered the Inspired By inspiration photo this week so decided I would take the stamped bouquet, a leftover stamped image from an old Bouquet of Hope Paper Pumpkin kit, and the thank you sentiments, leftover from an old thank you card kit, grabbed my Stampin' Blends in the Color Dare colours (I went with my closest matches for periwinkle, sage and melon) and set to work - this is what I came up with:

 

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

I coloured my bouquet with my Stampin' Blends and broadly following the Inspired By sketch too (although not quite fitting in a third focal point along my diagonal), adding a piece of (retired) Highland Heather designer paper to a base of the same colour and a piece of white border edging that I also found in my scrap box. I decided to use 'merci' for my sentiment - I often keep these leftover diecuts in all languages because I figure everyone understands these basic words, right? A few added coloured pearls complete my scrap box card.

 

Who would have thought something so pretty could have been created with leftovers from other projects, consigned to the scrap box?

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Here's a summary of our challenge rules:

  • Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D project or packaging project that fits the challenge.
  • Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we can leave you lots of lovely comments. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSIXXX when uploading to a public gallery.
  • If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines tab on the As You See It Challenge homepage.
We look forward to seeing your creations in the AYSI gallery.

Enjoy your day; I am having lunch today with one of my best friends - a reward for a long week! 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.

Sending Another Squeeze With Sweet Citrus

by Joanne James9. March 2023 19:30

A late post today - I'm afraid it's been one of those days! So I've a quick post to share a card I made using this week's gorgeous colours over at Just Us Girls and embossing (heat and dry) and white as my 2 items from the Just Add Ink board too:

      

I couldn't resist another outing with my Sweet Citrus bundle and hybrid embossing folder - I love it with this bold colour scheme:

 

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

I also chose to CASE Kim's card over at Global Design Project #GDP384. I switched out the florals for lemons and changed up my colour scheme, but retained the diagonal patterned background and white base, stitched circle and white-on-black heat embossed sentiment. I just love the texture that the dry embossing gives these fruit segments - check it out on the close-up below:

 

I even used the embossing folder to add texture to the envelope flap - a quick way to add detail. And that sentiment - my favourite of the moment for sure!

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 evening 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.

Sending A Squeeze With Sweet Citrus CCS506

by Joanne James7. March 2023 13:00

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. YoonYoung is hosting this month and our first challenge is a colour challenge: 

     

I thought YoonYoung's chosen colours were fresh and summery and just right to finally break out my Sweet Citrus bundle. So I grabbed my supplies and used the sketch layout over at Just Add Ink where I haven't played along in ages, and this is what I came up with: 

 

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

I used a couple of stitched squares for the base, and a strip of (retired) Country Gingham designer paper in a bright white and yellow check, then proceeded to layer up my lemons, interspersed with a few green leaves and Heather-coloured flowers. The highlight of today's card is most definitely the lemons though; the Sweet Citrus bundle includes a hybrid embossing folder - this allows you to stamp your lemons and then diecut and emboss in one move. The die nestles inside the embossing folder and the lemons stamp as one and align perfectly, making this so easy. There are also multiple flower and leaf dies, to allow for multiple cuts at once. I hope the embossing is a little easier to see on the image below - it adds so much detail in real life:

 

This is such an awesome bundle! I must confess my card is not quite as CAS as it usual for this week's challenge; in hindsight I should have used a narrower strip of DSP to preserve more of my white space and maybe layered a little less fruit. I did get a little carried away - new product tends to do that to me lol! You should defintiely check out the rest of the design team - they did a much better job in keeping their cards clean and simple!

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. 

As a reminder, for our colour challenges, you must use all of the stated challenge colours. You may also use neutral colours; however, the challenge colours should be the most noticeable ones featured on your card. We use Stampin' Up! color names for reference, but you are welcome to use any other companies' products as long as you match the challenge colours as closely as possible.

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.

Easter Bunny Punch Easter Card PP630

by Joanne James5. March 2023 08:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's my turn to host this week I've a theme challenge for us to work with:

    

We are still some weeks away, but it's always good to be prepared so I thought we could get a start on our Easter cards. I used Karren's super-versatile layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week and set to work. I ended up making two cards - take a look at the first one:

 

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

Country Lane and a Punched Easter Bunny - I haven't used these papers for a while, but I knew that this pretty floral from the Country Lane designer series paper pack would be the perfect pattern to form the basis of the colour scheme for today's card. I wanted a clean white bunny as my focal point and the darker background sets it off perfectly:

I added a little punched flower to my bunny for a little extra decoration.

A Step Up - Having made my initial card, I decided to create a second one with an extra layer and some tied baker's twine - just a small extra detail but it does add a little something extra:

 The sentiment is from a retired set called 'Welcome Easter' - obviously, any of the current Easter sets could be substituted. Here's a photo of both cards together so that you can compare:

A Little Interior Decoration - Another sentiment and a border of leftover paper decorates the inside of my card:

 

That's all there is to it - nice and straightforward! I love the Easter Bunny Punch but wasn't so keen on the drawings in the coordinating stamp set but I think this card shows that it works without too.

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

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

Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN!

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

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

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

 

Friendly Gnomes Luck of The Irish FF129

by Joanne James3. March 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 'St Patrick's Day' which is on March 17th. 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. I used the sketch layout over at Try Stamping on Tuesday (and their option of stripes) and I used green, gold, clover, gnomes and luck from the inspo board to create my good luck card this week - take a look:

 

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

I used a mix of the sadly now retired Dandy Designs papers for my background and frame - Sale-A-Bration may be over again for another year but I love these papers so don't be surprised to still see me use them from time to time and stamped my girly gnome onto a stitched rectangle and coloured her with my Granny Apple Green and Shaded Spruce Stampin' Blends. I coloured her hair with Pumpkin Pie - I went for a stereotypically Irish look to compliment one of my favourite good luck sentiments, from the retired set 'A Wish For Everything'. An oversized punched four-leaf clover with a gem centre and two gold pearl shoe buckles complete my card:

I just love this cute gnomie and it will be perfect to wish the eldest of the James Juniors good luck when she starts her A Level exams. I am going to have to make another one using a boy gnome in this set since the youngest of the Juniors is also sitting GCSEs at the same time and couldn't possibly be left out, so watch this space!

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

I'm also linking today's card up with the lovely ladies over at SUO Challenges where they have the theme of shades of green/St Patrick's Day - and my card today has a touch of both!

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 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.

 

Friendly Gnomes Hugs and Kisses Clean and Simple

by Joanne James2. March 2023 20:00

I managed to squeeze in a little crafty time today to make a card just in time for this week's challenge over at Just Us Girls:

It's Clean and Simple Week and the theme of colouring - two of my favourite things, so I'm so glad I managed to find a little time for some mindful colouring today. I still had my Friendly Gnomes stamp set out on my desk from tomorrow's project (consider this one an 'extra'!) and stamped and cut out one of the gnomes out with the co-ordinating Gnomes Dies for my card - take a look:

 

I paired my gnome with an 'XOXO' sentiment, made with my Alphabet A La Mode Dies, replacing the last O with my heart-hugging gnome. I coloured my gnome with my Stampin' Blends (listed in the table below). These are my favourite medium to colour with; my top colouring tip is to use lots of colours and to work in small, circular motions, from the outside of the shape inwards, blending as you go. To get a smooth, blended look, be prepared to go over and over each layer of colour until you have achieved a look you are happy with. As a final touch, I added some clear Wink of Stella to the heart that the gnome is holding.

 

That's all there is to it! I finished the inside with the sentiment 'There's GNOME-ONE BETTER than you' - got to love a good pun! I'm also linking today's card up over at The Alphabet Challenge where they are on 'X is for XOXOXO'.

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.

Pretty Pop Up Dies Square Card PP629

by Joanne James26. February 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 sketch challenge for us to work with:

    May be an image of bird, nature and text that says '/sRATIN SPIRATION CHALLENGES #138 Daffodil Delight Granny Apple Green Tahitian Tide Highland Heather'

This is a great sketch from Jaydee this week and although we have the option to use any shape, I decided that the square format with a large central focal point would be a great opportunity to play with the largest of the Pretty Pop Up Dies which I haven't used for a while. So I grabbed the fresh colour palette over at Inkspirational and this is what I came up with:

 

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

Have you seen the Pretty Pop Up Dies? They are another of those 'hidden gems' in the annual catalogue. You can find them on page 173 and they are a set of standalone dies without a co-ordinating stamp set. They consist of a range of shaped panels and individual pieces that have this amazing pop-up detail. The panel dies cut in one run through the die cutting machine - so easy! I cut mine on a piece of Whisper White, then coloured the individual pieces with my Stampin' Blends. I added some clear Wink of stella to my butterfly and dragonfly wings and added some (retired) Daffodil Delight pearls to the small flower centres:

I used a (retired) large circle die to cut out the panel and cut a circular frame in Tahitian Tide to tie it in to the background. I added in some foliage around my centre, made up by cutting the corner foliage piece from the Around the Bend Dies and creating a square (-ish) shape, layering four cut from Granny Apple Green cardstock and another four in Whisper White that I coloured with my light Granny Apple Green Blends marker and offsetting them to allow the colours to blend.

This is a completely no-stamping card; I just couldn't bring myself to cover up any of that pretty diecut detail, so I will make up for that on the inside. 

So what do you think of today's card? Do leave me a comment below, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my 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 am catching up today following my 2 day visit to Newcastle. Hopefully 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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