Today I have a quick card for that resulted from a combination of me seeing the current Inkspirational inspiration photo and my recent rummage through the retired Christmas stamp set pile:

I love the effect of that gold-on-black chair in the inspiration photo and thought it would be perfect for a card using the retired stamp 'The Newborn King' - take a look:

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

The main scene in this stamp is so effective when stamped in Versamark and heat membossed in metallic gold onto Basic Black cardstock. I stamped the main image, then added the star above the stable and mounted my stamped panel onto gold foil and a Basic Black cardbase. 

I added a combination of sentiments from the same stamp set to the inside of my card, along with a star stamped in encore metallic gold ink:

All done! I like to have a number of religious Christmas cards to send out and I definitely have my favourites in my retired stamp set stash to make them with - they set I used today (and the one I used on yesterday's card) are two of my favourites.

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've added a link to the basic supplies below, but obviously this doesn't include the stamp set as this is retired. 

I'm also linking today's card up over at SUO Challenges where they are all about Christmas for their next 3 challenges, so you should definitely check them out for some festive inspiration.

Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another two projects as it's time for Two-Post Friday. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

STAMPARATUS (£46.00)

VERSAMARK PAD (£8.75)

METALLICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (£17.00)

BASIC BLACK A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)

GOLD FOIL SHEETS (£4.75)

Today I'm sharing another card for the current challenges over at Less Is More and Time Out:

I still had my retired 'Joyful Nativity' stamp set out on my desk from having made my previous entry for these challenges (if you missed it, you can see that card here); I love the silhouette images in this set and couldn't resist making another card with it - take a look:

So this one has a little more detail on it: I used the same colour scheme of Night of Navy, gold and white, this time stamping the word 'JOY' in navy and stamping the silhouette of the holy family inside the 'O'. I used my Stamparatus to get the images lined up and to be able to reink several times to ensure full coverage as I didn't want a patchy silhouette to ruin the effect - the Stamparatus is invaluable for this! I then stamped a star in Versamark and heat embossed it in gold just inside the circle to complete my scene:

I originally made this as a one layer card, but decided to cut it down and add to a white base to allow a subtle white-on-white border for my central image. I added a sentiment from the same stamp set to the inside of my card and that was it - done! A little more technique involved than my last card, but still beautiful in its simplicity (even if I say so myself!)

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've added a link to the basic supplies below, but obviously this doesn't include the stamp set as this is retired. I have included the link to the Stamparatus too - if you don't own a stamping platform, the Stamparatus is in my view the best of its kind and definitely worth a look - it would make the ideal Christmas gift for a crafter at any level or experience. I hope today's card inspires you to create something, festive or otherwise, with a silhouette. 

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

STAMPARATUS (£46.00)

BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£7.75)

VERSAMARK PAD (£8.75)

METALLICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (£17.00)

NIGHT OF NAVY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and I designed the following sketch for us to work with:

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card. There are so many ways you can use a simple vertical panel; for my card today I decided to use the 'Amaryllis Abloom' stamp set, one of two host sets in the current mini catalogue, and use the vertical element to showcase a fabulous amaryllis bloom - take a look:

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

The 'Amaryllis Bloom' stamp set is a stamp set that is exclusively available to purchase using hostess rewards when you either host a Stampin' Up! party or place an order of £150 or more. It can be found on page 78 of the mini catalogue, along with the 'Seasons of Fun' stamp set, and is only available for the duration of this catalogue sales period, i.e. until 3rd January. The flowers in the 'Amaryllis Abloom' stamp set comprise a soft, almost watercoloured stamp element and a line drawn flower with leaves. It's not a two-step step stamp, in as much as the softer stamps don't fit the line drawn image to 'colour' it; each of the elements is a standalone. I decided to use the softer stamps from the bottom of my card upwards, and stamped both flowers and leaves, some of them stamped off directly onto my card base. I then stamped the lined image in Versamark onto vellum and heat embossed it with black embossing powder, then coloured the image on the reverse using my Stampin' Blends then fussy cut this piece and added this to the centre of my floral display. I heat embossed my sentiment, from the same set, and added a few clear sequins to complete my card.

Whilst my flower follows the contours of the vertical panel of the sketch, I stamped it directly onto my white card base and it extends beyond them; I used a double scored line to add additional detail without detracting from the flower - you can see them slightly better on the angled shot below:

This is quite an unusual style of card for me, but I quite like it - the vellum flower is so shiny in real life.

I have a real soft spot for amaryllis, especially at this time of year. My grandfather was an amazing gardener and he had a wonderful collection of amaryllis. I loved finding new varieties in unusual colours to gift him at Christmas time as he was always thrilled to have a new addition to his collection. My personal favourite is still a traditional bold red one though - whilst my grandfather is long gone, every time I see one of these flowers they bring back wonderful memories of him. 

I am also linking today's card up over at The Flower Challenge where they are asking for 'flowers with leaves' and at Global Design Project where the theme is 'Christmas'.

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:

AMARYLLIS ABLOOM HOST PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£9.00)	VELLUM A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.25)	VERSAMARK PAD (£8.75)	BASICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (£17.00)	POPPY PARADE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)	OLD OLIVE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD (£7.00)
POPPY PARADE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	OLD OLIVE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	SUBTLE SHIMMER SEQUINS (£6.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£7.75)

I have a late post today, having spent the day catching up with an old friend who I haven't seen in too long - we had such a lovely day! Today I'm sharing a card that uses both the sketch and photo inspiration over at Fusion:

I love the red/white/grey colour palette in the inspiration photo and decided that I would use the sketch to create a card that highlights one of the Delicate Baubles Dies that I've yet to share with you here on my blog - take a look at what I created:

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

I added a piece of Peaceful Place designer paper with a subtle pattern to the edge of my card, then added a trio of offset baubles, with my 'joy' layered bauble cut with the Delicate Baubles Dies as my centrepiece. The two red diecut baubles were using retired baubles dies as I wanted them to be smaller in size. I added a silver twine bow and some red rhinestone berries to the holly on my 'joy' bauble and finished my sentiment with a sentiment from the retired set 'Peace and Joy':

Once I'd figured out how to size and balance the baubles in a way that I was happy with, the card came together pretty quickly. I do seem to be on a bit of a grey/white/black/red thing lately - this is my second card with this colour combo in two days!

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:

DELICATE BAUBLES DIES (£33.00)	PEACEFUL PLACE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£14.00)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£7.75)	BASIC GRAY A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	REAL RED A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	SIMPLY ELEGANT TRIM (£7.00)
RED RHINESTONE BASIC JEWELS (£6.50)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (£5.50)

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Laurie to host this week and she has a fun Clean and Simple challenge for you to work with:

I couldn't resist another crack at Kim's fabulous layout over at Freshly Made Sketches this week and paired with the colours over at Color Dare (I added Cherry Cobbler red as my fourth colour) for today's card - take a look:

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

I started out planning today's card with some trepidation; whilst I still have my retired 'Gnome for the Holidays' stamp set, I have no other current gnome stamp sets. I decided though that I would rise to the challenge and embark on trying to create one using some current supplies to fashion some gnome punch art. A quick perusal of Pinterest, I chose a cute cuddly gnome to base my design on, grabbed some current supplies and tools and set to work! I used the largest of the skinny Christmas trees from the Christmas Tree Dies and my Strawberry Builder Punch to make my gnome. I used some offcuts of Peaceful Place designer paper for my gnome body and the top horizontal strip above my sentiment, along with some Snowy White Velvet Paper for his beard and moustache for some subtle texture and a matt dot for his nose. A piece of snowflake behind and a tiny one on his hat, along with a sentiment from 'Penguin Place' complete my clean and simple gnome card:

I created a basic crib sheet so that you can see the main elements of my gnome and how I trimmed them, in case you fancy having a go at making one yourself - feel free to save this for future use:

I based the design of my punch art gnome on one of the ones in the retired 'Gnome For The Holidays' stamp set, which I stamped on the inside of my card for added decoration:

 As you can see, I decided I liked this card so much I made another - I think these little gnomes are rather cute, even if I say so myself!

I think I did a pretty good job of meeting the 'clean and simple' brief too - remember in addition to featuring a gnome (or elf, or fairy!) on your card it should also be clean and simple:

• minimal layers
• little/no embellishments
• lots of clean white space (no pattern)

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:

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; mine is shaping up to be a rather uneventful one - here's hoping anyway! I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

CHRISTMAS TREES DIES (£33.00)	STRAWBERRY BUILDER PUNCH (£17.00)	PEACEFUL PLACE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£14.00)	DECORATIVE MATTE DOTS (£7.50)	SNOWY WHITE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) VELVET SHEETS (£4.75)	PENGUIN PLACE PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£16.00)
WONDERFUL SNOWFLAKES (£5.50)	BASIC GRAY A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	CHERRY COBBLER A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£9.00)	TUXEDO BLACK MEMENTO INK PAD (£5.50)

A very late post from me today but I wanted to share a couple of cards with you that I made with a few challenges in mind. My first card was inspired by the following:

It is unusual for me to get my inspiration from so many sources, but I couldn't resist those colours at Color Throwdown - navy, gold and white is one of my favourite colour combinations. I had already decided that navy would be perfect for a silhouette for Less Is More this week and I found the perfect image that enabled me to fulfil the brief over at AAA Cards of 'One Inchie' - take a look:

My silhouette angel from the retired 'Joyful Nativity' stamp set was perfect to fit into a slightly less than one inch square, just enough to allow for a gold foil scalloped square mat beneath it:

I left the whole of the remainder of my white cardbase blank - as the da Vinci quote over at Time Out states, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophisitcation' - hence my link up there too. So what do you think? Is my simple inchie silhouette too simple or seriously sophisticated? Do let me know in the comments below - I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I had a little extra time this morning and made another card that was totally inspired by Kim's fabulous sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches this week and the wonderful photo at The Card Concept:

I took my inspiration in the photo from the deep red and vanilla gingham chair, the large rustic snowflake in the background and overall country feel for my clean and layered card:

I used some retired Farmhouse Christmas designer paper for the base and the sentiment strip and added some Cherry Cobbler twine and a wooden snowflake embellishment to finish:

This card came together really easily and I love the rustic feel. I also love Kim's sketch - I've another card using this layout to share tomorrow.

No supplies list as I was on a 'use it up' day - hope they still inspire you to create something similar with your supplies, old or new. I'll be back tomorrow with my card for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players. Until then, happy stampin'!

It's Thursday and time for a new challenge over at TicTacToe! It's the turn of Team X to host this week and the lovely Vicky is our featured designer this week. This is the fun board that we are playing along with: 

I used the sketch over at TGIF Challenges for my layout today - I thought that circle would be the perfect spot for a festive wreath to frame my colourful robin - and went across our tictactoe grid with layers/wreath/bird for my card today. Take a look:

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

I used one of my favourite patterns from the Painted Christmas paper pack for the base of my card, added a couple of diecut wreaths, along with a few extra pieces of diecut holly leaves, a bow of glittered organdy ribbon and my sentiment, which I anchored with a robin from the Happy Holly Days stamp set, stamped and coloured with my Stampin' Blends. I added a few garden gems for a little extra sparkle to finish my card:

When it comes to colouring, I'm no expert but I do love it - so theraputic! A little extra stamping on the inside completes my card:

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

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

A tictactoe board offers so many creative possibilities - how does this week's board inspire you? Why not have a go? We would love to see you in the gallery and who knows - you might be selected for Designer's Choice and be eligible to be a guest designer on a future challenge. 

Enjoy your day; a slightly earlier post from me today as I'm going to watch one of the James Juniors play hockey at school this afternoon; not something I get the opportunity to do often, but definitely a benefit of working for yourself that you can flex your hours to enjoy life's simple pleasures! Then the other of my charges is on a late pickup, as he has swim squad training after school. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

HAPPY HOLLY-DAYS CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£20.00)	SEASONAL SWIRLS DIES (£32.00)	WHITE 3/8'' (1 CM) GLITTERED ORGANDY RIBBON (£8.00)	PAINTED CHRISTMAS 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£10.75)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.10)	EVENING EVERGREEN A4 CARDSTOCK (£7.42)
GARDEN GEMS (£6.50)	SOFT SUEDE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	SMOKY SLATE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	CRUMB CAKE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	BRONZE & IVORY STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	CALYPSO CORAL STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)
POPPY PARADE STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	BASIC BLACK STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)

It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. I am your host for the month of November and this week I have another colour challenge for you: 

 I am also playing along with Sue's challenge over at Addicted To CAS where the code word is 'circle' as I've used circles on my card today as part of my layout and design - take a look:

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

The colour scheme for my challenge this week was taken straight from the oh-so-pretty Whimsy and Wonder designer paper. Mossy Meadow and Polished Pink is not a colour combination that shouts 'festive' particularly, but I do rather like it - especially with the addition of metallic silver. I chose one of the non-foiled patterns that has a tiny holly pattern on it and diecut a bunch of circles and added them in a vertically aligned column on my cardfront. I used a solid colour card base as I wanted them to blend in more than stand out against a brighter white, then overlaid them with a contrasting pink banner with my silver heat embossed sentiment, that I anchored with a piece of holly that I stamped, heat embossed, coloured and diecut with a stamp that is rather overlooked in the Whimsical Trees bundle I think:

I also added a simple silver twine bow (maybe a bit too blingy for a CAS card but it's Christmas - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!), before finishing off the inside of my card with a sentiment greeting from the same set and a leftover partial circle- waste not, want not and all that!

I rather like this simple card and I think these colours work surprisingly well together. What do you think? I'd love you to leave me a comment below with your thoughts, or better still play along - I can't wait to see what you create!  

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. I have one of the James Juniors home poorly today, so am juggling jobs with nurse duty. Not sure whether I'll manae a creative post tomorrow but will be back for sure on tursday with my TicTacToe post and a reminder that it will be the last day to save in the seasonal sale. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

WHIMSY & WONDER 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£14.00)	WHIMSICAL TREES BUNDLE (ENGLISH) (£47.50)	LAYERING CIRCLES DIES (£26.40)	MOSSY MEADOW A4 CARDSTOCK (£7.42)	POLISHED PINK A4 CARDSTOCK (£7.42)	BASIC WHITE A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.10)
VERSAMARK PAD (£8.75)	METALLICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (£17.00)	MOSSY MEADOW STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	POLISHED PINK STAMPIN' BLENDS COMBO PACK (£8.50)	SIMPLY ELEGANT TRIM (£7.00)

I'm here with a quick post this evening with news of this year's Seasonal Sale that begins this evening at 11pm! During the Seasonal Sale, you can stock up and save 10% on cardstock, 15% on ink pads, and 20% on dies. Build up your collection of crafting basics—and prepare for another year of top-tier projects—with a steal of a deal on paper-crafting products!

 

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 and I have a colour challenge for you to work with:

I made a couple of cards to share with you today, both variations on the same theme. Here's the first one - take a look:

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

Peaceful Place - So I had an ulterior motive in choosing today's colour combination. I've had a pack of Peaceful Place Specialty Designer Series Paper in my collection since I did my mini catalogue preorder in August, but had yet to use it. I had a feeling that would be the case; I love these papers, but didn't buy the bundle that features in the Peaceful Place Suite. I chose the colour combination that is found in these papers for this week's challenge because it would both force me to cut into these papers and also I am hoping the gallery will have lots of inspiration for me too! I used a combination of two paper patterns from the pack on each of my cards, one for the main panel and a contrasting or co-ordinating one to frame it. The papers are stunning, with beautiful silver foil detailing. Great for special cards!

Merry Snowflakes Seasonal Label - Fancy fold aside (more about that in a moment), today's cards really are a showcase of these beautiful papers. Apart from some sequins, rhinestones and a mesh ribbon bow, the only other element to my card is a heat-embossed sentiment from the Merry Snowflakes set, in silver on black or white respectively, and cut out with one of the Seasonal Labels Dies. The words of this sentiment seemed to be perfectly suited to the snowy scenes on my card:

 The only other stamping is on the reverses of the card, where I've stamped a further greeting and left space for a personal message:

A Fancy Fold - I thought for today's card I would ring the changes with a fancy fold. I decided on a double box fancy fold because I wanted something with a feature panel and this card is really quite straightforward to create. I had seen this design in an A6 card size on the internet, but adapted the basic principle to suit my own requirements. My finished card measures 6"x6" and easily folds flat for posting, which is a bonus! 

I struggled to photograph this one so well - I'm blaming the dark, winter days that we are experiencing here now - so here's another at an angle to try and capture the sentiment detail of the embossed silver against the white:

If anyone is interested in the measurements I sued to create my version of a double box fancy fold card, then do leave me a message below and I'll add them in to my post (I would write them in now but don't have them to hand). 

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

And here's the second one:

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. 

So what do you think? Which of today's cards do you prefer and what do you think of today's fancy fold? Please do leave me a comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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

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; Ben is on parade with the other army cadets from school at a Remembrance Day parade and service this morning, so this afternoon will be spent completing homework and the like. I'll be back soon with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

PEACEFUL PLACE 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER (£14.00)	MERRY SNOWFLAKES CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH) (£20.00)	SEASONAL LABELS DIES (£35.00)	SUBTLE SHIMMER SEQUINS (£6.00)	RHINESTONE BASIC JEWELS (£4.75)	1-1/2" (3.8 CM) METALLIC MESH RIBBON (£7.50)
BASIC BLACK A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	BASIC GRAY A4 CARDSTOCK (£8.25)	BASIC WHITE A4 THICK CARDSTOCK (£7.75)	VERSAMARK PAD (£8.75)	METALLICS EMBOSSING POWDERS (£17.00)