It's Sunday and you know what that means: time for a new challenge over at The Paper Players! As you may well have already read on our home page, the lovely and so talented Ann Schach, one of our longest serving members, is stepping down; we will all miss her dreadfully but at the same time we wish her well for the future she both wants and deserves. Love you Ann!!

I am therefore hosting this week and I would like to share Ann's last great colour challenge with you:

I am loving the Lighthearted Leaves set and given the lovely comments I received on the card I made last week (if you missed it you can see it here), and inspired by the leaves on our badge this week, I thought I would use this set again for today's card:

I also used the sketch over at The Challenge (welcome back ladies!) for my layout. I used Tangelo Twist for my card base, and partially covered this with a piece of Into The Woods DSP with a bold leaf pattern - I've been longing to use this paper with the Lighthearted Leaves, the two seem made for each other, don't you think? I decided to use So Saffron for my main panel on a mat of Lost Lagoon. I stamped my sentiment in Lost Lagoon and stamped a zentangle-like border, also in Lost Lagoon, around the edge using one of the border stamps from the Tin Of Cards stamp set. I then stamped two if the leaf shapes in Versamark and heat embossed in white, onto one each of Lost Lagoon and Tangelo twist cardstock and using my Stampin' Write markers, I coloured in some of the pattern just to add a little more depth of colour before cutting them out with my Leaflets framelits. The orange leaf I adhered directly onto the top panel, and for my larger Lost Lagoon leaf I popped it up onto a double height of dimesionals, having tied a bow with some of the retired SAB thick baker's twine in Tangelo Twist and highlighting the spots with pearls (that's my nod to the lovely Ann this week :-))

This card took longer to come together in reality than it did in my head (does that ever happen to you?!) but now that it's finished I really rather like it. What do you think? 

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

I have a morning of sport to look forward to today followed by a family lunch in honour of my mother-in-law, who is celebrating her birthday this weekend. I look forward to seeing how you use my chosen challenge colours on your cards in the gallery this week.  

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Lighthearted Leaves Photopolymer Stamp Set	Leaflets Framelits Dies	Into The Woods Designer Series Paper	Tin Of Cards Photopolymer Stamp Set	So Saffron A4 Cardstock
Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad	Lost Lagoon A4 Cardstock	Tangelo Twist A4 Cardstock	Big Shot	Magnetic Platform
Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad	White Stampin' Emboss Powder	Heat Tool (Uk)	2014-2016 In Color Stampin' Write Markers
Pearl Basic Jewels

Today I have another Christmas card for you! I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch as my inspiration:

This is such a great sketch - I can see me using it for lots of cards. Today I combined it with the Merry Monday Challenge that I haven't played along with for a while - this week we are challenged to use holly on our card and I immediately reached for my favourite new Home For Christmas DSP. Holly is also the theme over at Happy Little Stampers, so I'm linking up there too. Here's my card:

I used Real Red for my base, with a piece of striped DSP across the horizontal. I then mounted a piece of the holly patterned DSP onto a mat of Mossy Meadow, then cut a striped banner with my Triple Banner Punch and popped it up on dimensionals in the centre of the holly panel. I then stamped my sentiment, from the super-useful sentiment set 'Oh What Fun', in Mossy Meadow on a piece of Very Vanilla, mounted this on a mat of Real Red and added some red berries (tiny pearls that I coloured red with a Sharpie) to add a little dimension. I rounded the corners of all my mats and panels using my Project Life corner rounder as per the sketch; this softens the sharp lines of the panels, which I rather like.

A rather simple layout, but a great way to use a combination of co-ordinating patterns and I love the added berry detail on the sentiment.

Back tomorrow with a new challenge over at The Paper Players; this week it's a colour challenge and I'm hosting, so come back then and check it out!

Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Home For Christmas Designer Series Paper	Oh, What Fun Photopolymer Stamp Set	Banner Triple Punch	Punch Corner Project Life	Real Red A4 Cardstock
Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad	Mossy Meadow A4 Cardstock	Very Vanilla A4 Cardstock	Pearl Basic Jewels

Yay it's Friday! This has been a busy week, but a good one nonetheless. Today I'm sharing a card that I made earlier this week for this week's Less Is More challenge but am only just getting the opportunity to share - how does that happen?! Anyway, the LIM girls have a challenge this week to use the colours green and gold on your card (with lots of white space!) and I just couldn't resist. Here's my card:

I decided to use Cucumber Crush as my green as I think it has a real vibrancy with the gold and white for a Christmas card. I heat embossed the pattern on my tree using the Festival of Trees stamp set in gold and combined this with a piece of Cherry on Top check DSP, my sentiment which is a combination of a gold foil 'merry' cut using the new Christmas Greetings thinlits and the stamped 'Christmas' from the Holly Jolly Greetings on a white banner. I added a couple of loops of gold corded trim and a sprinkle of gold star sequins - on offer on weekly deals this week and so easy to adhere with my new fine tip glue pen! - and that's my card done. 

A super modern CAS Christmas card that would be easy to mass-produce and in tradition colours. Maybe this will make the 'shortlist for mass production' pile this holiday season!

That's all from me today; my week has worn me out! Back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Holly Jolly Greetings Clear-Mount Bundle	Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder	Big Shot
Magnetic Platform	Heat Tool (Uk)	Banner Triple Punch	Cherry On Top Designer Series Paper Stack	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock
Cucumber Crush Classic Stampin' Pad	Cucumber Crush A4 Cardstock	Metallics Sequin Assortment	Gold Cording Trim	Fine-Tip Glue Pen

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

Delightful Dijon is probably the most under-utilised of my current in-colours, so today's card was a good opportunity to redress the balance a little. I thought these colours would work well for an Autumn/Fall card, so that's where I went with this combination. Here's my card: 

I am loving the new Lighthearted Leaves set, so perfect for colouring, and a doddle to cut out with the co-ordinating Leaflets Framelits! I was inspired to create a card with a rather geometric yet zentangle feel having been browsing on Pinterest (as you do ;-). For today's card, I used a Delightful Dijon base with a mat of Night of Navy then a further layer of So Saffron. I cut a strip of Delightful Dijon lengthways at half the width, then stamped three leaves in Night of Navy and cut them out using the Leaflets framelits. I coloured a couple of these with my blender pen and Night of Navy ink, then having positioned the negative die cut on top of the So Saffron layer, I stamped three additional leaves in Navy onto the So Saffron layer in the spaces. I coloured these leaves using a blender pen and my Night of Navy and Delightful Dijon markers. 

To complete the design, I adhered the negative die cut to my card base using dimensionals, then aligned two of the cut-out leaves to the right side top and bottom, again using dimensionals, then stamped the sentiment in navy directly onto the So Saffron layer in the centre of the card. 

Do visit the other Design Team members to see how they used this week's challenge 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:

It's Wednesday and you know what that means: a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! These offers are valid for one week only. As always, a new collection of deals will be announced next Wednesday.

If you want to take advantage of any of the deals on offer, you can support my business by placing your order online by clicking here or using the link to my store on the right hand side of my blog page where it says 'Shop Online' or with me in person. Don't forget to add the new Hostess Code for September HJQSKSW6 if your order is under £150 and be sure to make sure that you don't check the 'no contact' box if you'd like to be kept updated with the progress of you order and receive a little thank you in the post from me. 

Here's a summary of this week's one-week only Wednesday deals - click on each item to go to the online store to purchase:

Eclectic Paper-Piercing Pack	Flower Medallion Punch	Label Bracket Punch
Metallic Foil Doilies	Metallics Sequin Assortment	Stars Framelits Dies

This is a great week of deals for items that will look great on Christmas cards: Stars framelits and piercing templates, metallic foil doilies and sequins and the medallion flower punch which co-ordinates with one of the snowflake stamps in the new Flurry Of Wishes stampset. This is the perfect opportunity to pick one up at a reduced price if you don't already have it.  

Back later with today's creative project, featuring one of this week's weekly deals, no less; until then, happy shopping!

Happy Monday everyone! Today is an especially happy one for me as it's my birthday - yay! There has been lots going on today: the James Juniors are back at school today, I had the first of this month's technique stamp classes and there were lots of presents, flowers and birthday cake! Anyway, onto today's card! We are using 'Reason For the Season' stamp set in my technique classes this month and whilst I was making up some samples last week, I decided to use the set to make a card using last week's Mojo Monday sketch, although I didn't get a chance to link up. Here's my card:

I used a piece of the 'Season of Cheer' poinsettia patterned paper for my background, picking out the Mossy Meadow for my mat and Soft Sky for my card base. I stamped three flowers in Cherry Cobbler and Hello Honey on Whisper White and fussy cut them out, mounting each on a double-mounted circle and linking them together with a piece of retired Mossy Meadow satin ribbon. I stamped the sentiment in Mossy Meadow and mounted this on a panel in the centre of my card.

I wasn't sure about the busy background paper, but this is one of those cards that has really grown on me the more I look at it and I actually quite like. The 'tall and skinny' 6"x4" layout also means that it is a little different from the norm.

That's all from me today; back tomorrow with another festive project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Season Of Cheer Designer Series Paper	Reason For The Season Photopolymer Stamp Set	1-3/4" Circle Punch	2" Circle Punch	Soft Sky A4 Cardstock
Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad	Mossy Meadow A4 Cardstock	Hello Honey Classic Stampin' Pad	Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad	Whisper White A4 Cardstock

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

I'm linking up with the talented peeps over at Stamps Ink Paper (I'm hoping they are going to allow Vanilla as my white!) and I decided to go with a Halloween theme today and as today's blog title suggests, if your arachnophobic you should look away now - there are lots of spiders! Here's my card:

This card is a total showcase of this fabby spiderweb patterned paper from the Happy Haunting designer series paper pack - like I said, not one for those that are not a fan of the creepy crawlies, but at least they are on paper and not in the bathtub!

I stamped s bunch of extra spiders from the Cheer All Year set and fussy cut them, before adhering beneath my sentiment banner. I like how they are mostly obscured, but look like they are crawling out from underneath! They took a while to cut out, but so worth it as they are quite realistic-looking I think. To add just a splash of colour to my rather monochromatic card, I stamped my sentiment in Rich Razzleberry onto a banner, having flagged the end with my hexagon punch. I added a fussy-cut bat also from the Cheer All Year set which I allowed to overhang my card and finished him with one of the lovely new Iced Rhinestone embellishments, the centre of which I coloured with a purple Sharpie to add another spot of colour.

I hope you like today's card. Do visit the other Design Team members to see how they used this week's challenge sketch; there's lots of inspiration over on their blogs too!

Enjoy your day; my Juniors are at Granny's house today, so you can be sure my day will be a jam-packed one, full of chores and errands. You know what they say - no rest for the wicked! Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

It's Wednesday and you know what that means: a new collection of Wednesday Weekly Deals! These offers are valid for one week only. As always, a new collection of deals will be announced next Wednesday.

If you want to take advantage of any of the deals on offer, you can support my business by placing your order online by clicking here or using the link to my store on the right hand side of my blog page where it says 'Shop Online' or with me in person. Don't forget to add the new Hostess Code for September HJQSKSW6 if your order is under £150 and be sure to make sure that you don't check the 'no contact' box if you'd like to be kept updated with the progress of you order and receive a little thank you in the post from me. 

Here's a summary of this week's one-week only Wednesday deals - click on each item to go to the online store to purchase:

Boys Will Be Boys Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Brights Candy Dots	Build A Banner Kit
Circle Card Thinlits Dies	Fun Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folders	Rhinestone Basic Jewels
Whisper White 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon

I'm stocking up on rhinestones and candy dots this week - perfect for accents and a touch of sparkle on Christmas projects. Lots of other great offers too!

Back later with today's creative project; until then, happy shopping!

Happy 1st September everyone! Yes, this day has finally arrived! The new Autumn-Winter Seasonal Catalogue is here - you can download an electronic copy by clicking on the image below:

There will of course be a permanent link to the catalogue in the box on the right side of my blog page until 4th January when it ends. I've already shared lots of sneak peeks and there is so much more to come! For today, put your feet up and browse the new catalogue in all its glory. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or queries - I am working my way through my outstanding emails and catching up now that I am back and fully connected! Oh and don't forget to check out my new Seasonal Product Shares - full details here.

Back tomorrow with this week's Wednesday Weekly Deals and more creative inspiration for you. Until then, happy browsing and get writing that wish list!

New Season Paper and Accessory Shares are here!

The new Stampin' Up! Seasonal Autumn/Winter Catalogue goes live tomorrow so it's time to announce my new Product Shares!

You know that feeling - you want it all, but your budget just doesn't stretch that far? Well shares are the perfect answer! You get a little bit of everything, without having to purchase a full pack. A share can also act as a 'try before you buy' - you get to see papers, ribbons, buttons and accessories 'up close and personal' before deciding which ones you like the most and would like to purchase as a full pack.

Shares work really easily: you decide which shares and how many you would like to take part in. You place your order by clicking on the button below, which takes you to my Paypal page to enable payment. Once the closing date for the first round of shares is reached, I collate the orders, place an order with Stampin' Up! for the product, then once I receive it, I package the papers and embellishments and send them out to you. Simple!

I have been running paper, ribbon and accessory shares with my local customers for a while and starting with the new seasonal Autumn-Winter Holiday catalogue I am going to be offering them to all my online customers too. Your paper, ribbon and embellishments will come beautifully packaged like this:

Here are my swatchbooks with a glimpse of all of the patterns included in the various shares:

So much to choose from! Here are the details of the various shares on offer:

New Christmas Designer Series Paper Share - all sheets measure 6" x 6" - £12 plus £3.90 P&P:

• Home for Christmas – 6 (one of each double-sided design)
• Winter Wonderland Specialty – 12 (two of each of 5 double-sided designs and one each of 2 single-sided designs)
• Winter Wonderland Designer Vellum Stack – 12
• Red Foil Sheets – 1
• Silver Foil Sheets - 1
• Gold Foil Sheets - 1
• Real Red Envelope Paper – 4
• Merry Moments Designer Series Paper Stack – 8 (4 of each design)
• Season of Cheer – 6
• Holiday Fancy Foil Designer Vellum – 6 (2 of each design)

In all you'll receive 57 6"x6" sheets of festive Designer Series Paper!

New Christmas Ribbon and Embellishment Share – £13 plus £3.90 P&P:

You will receive:

• Real Red Pompom Trim – approximately 50cm
• Home for Christmas Enamel Dots – 18 Dots (3 of each color and size)
• Very Vanilla 1-1/4” Subtle Stripes Satin Ribbon – approximately 1 metre
• Home for Christmas Designer Buttons – 6 (2 of each design)
• Snowflake Elements – 6 (2 of each design)
• Winter Wonderland Embellishments – 4
• Cording Trim - approximately 5.5m each of gold and silver
• Iced Rhinestone Embellishments – 6 (3 of each size)
• Reindeer Paper Clips – 3
• Gold & White 3/8” Glitter Ribbon – approximately 1.1m of each color
• 1/8” Striped Ribbon – approximately 1 metre of each color

With the Christmas Ribbon and Embellishment share you will receive approximately 16.7 metres of ribbon/trim and 43 new embellishments - everything you need to decorate your Christmas cards, tags and packaging!

Autumn Share - £3.60 plus £3.15 P&P:

• Into the Woods Designer Series Paper – 6
• Into the Woods 3/8” Cotton Ribbon – approximately 1 metre
• Into the Woods Elements – 6 (2 of each design)

Halloween Share - £3.40 plus £3.15 P&P:

• Happy Haunting Designer Series Paper – 6
• Black Glimmer Paper – 2
• Spider Web Doilies - 6

There are a number of bundles for further savings:

£22.50 Double Christmas Bundle for both the Christmas Designer Series Paper and Christmas Ribbon and Embellishment share - plus £3.90 postage and packaging

£6.50 Double Season Bundle for both Autumn and Halloween shares - plus £3.90 postage and packaging

Want It All? £32 - and you'll get shares of all the new Designer Series Papers, Designer Series Paper Stacks, ribbons and embellishments, and that includes postage & packaging! 

If you would like double or more shares of any particular thing, then that's fine too. I will cut your paper shares into 6" x 12" sheets where possible to give you more crafting flexibility (for the DSP stacks you will simply get double the number of sheets since they are already pre-cut to 6" x 6").

All postage & packaging quoted is for UK only - if you would like a cost for shipping to Europe, then please email me for a separate quotation.

The deadline to sign up to the first round of shares is Monday 14th September at 8pm GMT. 

If you live local to me and would like to save on postage and packaging costs, please email me with your requirements and I will happily place your order, to be collected on delivery. If you have any questions, just email me at joanne@thecraftyowl.co.uk or give me a call!