Yay it's Sunday and time for another challenge over at The Paper Players. This week it is the turn of the lovely Anne Marie, who has a light and bright colour challenge combo for us:

Laurie's challenge last week has put me firmly in the mood for spring and these colours immediately got me thinking along similar lines. I decided I would have some fun and create an Easter card with a difference - I made a slider card using the 'For Peep's Sake' Easter stamp set. So lots of photos for you today -here's the first one of the outside:

A Crumb Cake base decorated with eggs and a cute little trio of Easter characters stamped using my Stampin' Write markers on Whisper White and fussy cut out, adhered behind some Wild Wasabi grass cut using my fringe scissors - one of this week's Weekly Deals, in case you're thinking of picking up a pair - then you pull the ribbon top to reveal the 'Eggscellent' Easter message and the little chick: 

Here's a close up of the sentiment:

Followed by a close up of that cute little chick with his own message on the slide out portion above:

Isn't he so cute? This was such a fun card to make and I think looks lovely in this week's colours. So which stamp set will you reach for to create with these colours? Before you reach for your ink pads, do visit the other design team members to see what interesting ideas they've had this week:

I look forward to seeing how you interpret this colour combination in our gallery this week. 

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Wild Wasabi A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	For Peeps' Sake Clear Stamp Set	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad	Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock
Subtles Stampin' Write Markers	2013-2015 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	Crisp Cantaloupe Thick Baker's Twine	Wild Wasabi 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad
Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad	Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad	Fringe Scissors

I've been busy working with my 'Indescribable Gift' stamp set as it is the stamp set that I'll be using in my technique class this month so I decided to use it to create a card for this week's Mojo Monday challenge:

I thought the circle would make a great space for the apple blossom to peek through - take a look:

I used a base of Pink Pirouette and matted it with a piece of the 'Irresistibly Yours' embossed paper - free with an order of £45 or more before the end of March - that I had sponged with Pink Pirouette ink, to add a little interest but not detract from my flower branch. I used Wild Wasabi for the panel and having stamped the blossom onto Whisper White, I coloured it with my Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi and Crumb Cake Blendabilities and fussy cut it out. I then positioned it through the aperture and and finally added my sentiment panel across the bottom.

This card was not quick to create - the fussy cutting took a while! - but it was well worth it. I love the finished effect.

Back tomorrow with my card for this week's new Paper Player's challenge. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Indescribable Gift Clear Stamp Set	Irresistibly Yours Specialty Designer Series Paper	Pink Pirouette A4 Card Stock	Wild Wasabi A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Project Life Corner Punch	Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin' Pad

Aren't you all lucky - this is my second post of the day! I have another card to share with you that I would like to link up with this week's CAS(E) This Sketch challenge and The Color Throwdown:

I love that block-striped welly boot and I thought these colours would be perfect for a masculine birthday card that would totally work with the sketch and my 'Hello You' thinlit dies. Here's my card:

I used Crumb Cake for my base and the 'happy' thinlit, and inset the thinlit into a panel of Real Red and Night of Navy, with Tempting Turquoise centres. I then stamped the 'Birthday To You' on the red panel in Night of Navy. A couple of epoxy stars - love these! - one backed with turquoise, one backed with gold foil, and a Navy candy dot finished off my card. I love this card - I think I'm going to have to make a few more of these!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Crazy About You Photopolymer Bundle	Itty Bitty Accents Epoxy Stickers	Gold Foil Sheets	Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad
Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Tempting Turquoise A4 Card Stock	Regals Candy Dots

Today in addition to my card I have some exciting news for you! I was recently asked by the lovely Connie and Mary to join their Thursday Challenge Team so it's official - I am officially a Create With Connie and Mary Designer:

As my regular readers know, I often play along with the CCMC challenges, so I'm excited to be sharing my first card as designer with you for this week's new challenge, which is a sketch challenge using the following sketch as inspiration:

I decided with Spring on the way and since we are just about to officially embark on 'wedding season', I would break out my 'Something Borrowed' Designer Series Paper and create my first wedding card this year:

I used Sahara Sand for my card base and overlaid this with a piece of 'Something Borrowed' DSP which I cut at an angle, following the line of the sketch, and covered the join with a piece of Blushing Bride Chevron Ribbon. I punched the circles from Whisper White using a variety of circle punches, one of which I matted on circle of Blushing Bride, and I stamped a variety of stamps from the new 'Your Perfect Day' stamp set in Sahara Sand. I used a Blushing Bride marker to highlight the hearts on one of the circles and on the main circle, I also stamped the wreath shape in Pear Pizzazz around my sentiment in Sahara Sand, then added my Blushing Bride flowers punched out with the Itty Bitty Accents flower punch, finished with a pearl in the centre of each. To finish, I added a bow from Blushing Bride chevron ribbon and finished the centre of this with one of the gorgeous new Something Borrowed Embellishments - this really adds a touch of luxury to the finished card I think. I even stamped a co-ordinating envelope - of all the cards that I send, I like wedding cards to be special.

I hope you like today's card - do pop over to the Create With Connie And Mary website to check out the creations of the other members of the design team. There are a few other new designers joining the team too, so go take a look! we look forward to seeing your creations in the gallery this week.

I'll be back tomorrow with a new project; until then, happy stampin'!

Finally time for today's creative post! I was fortunate enough to be selected as the 'Top Pick' over at the As You See It Challenge last week - thank you ladies! - for this card here. Today I'm entering a card for this week's challenge which is another sketch-based one - you know how I love a good sketch:

I was keen to interpret the ring in the sketch as a wreath in some way and since I had some leftover burlap on my desk from another project that I am currently working on, I knew which direction I wanted to go. My thoughts are definitely on Spring this week - here is my interpretation of the sketch: 

I started with a base of Lost Lagoon then added a piece of All Abloom DSP down the side. I overlapped this with a piece of So Saffron and added a Pistachio Pudding panel across the horizontal, that I pierced around the edge to add interest. To create my spring wreath, I used a few strands of burlap that I stripped from a length and tied it together at three points around the edge to hold everything together. To decorate, I added a few springs of leaves in Mossy Meadow punched from my bird punch, then punched my bird itself in Lost Lagoon. I added an eye with a Basic Grey marker and I punched his wing out of a snippet of All Abloom paper in a different stack design. I added a sentiment banner that I stamped using the Crazy About You' stamp set and to finish a trio of flowers, one in So Saffron with a pearl centre, and two that I stamped in So Saffron on Whisper White with the flower stamp from the 'Something to Say' stamp set and punched out with the co-ordinating Itty Bitty Accents punch.

I love the look and feel of this card - it's so fresh and says that Spring is on the way. I haven't used my bird punch in ages but this little fella looks quite at home sat on his burlap wreath. This would also make a nice Easter or Birthday card, with a change of sentiment.

Back tomorrow with another double-post day and some exciting news too! Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack	Crazy About You Photopolymer Stamp Set	Bird Punch	Something To Say Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Paper-Piercing Tool
Stampin' Pierce Mat	Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack	Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad	Lost Lagoon A4 Cardstock	Mossy Meadow A4 Cardstock
Card Stock A4 Pistachio Pudding	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad	So Saffron A4 Card Stock	Basic Pearls Jewel Accents	1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon

Happy Monday everyone! I am here to start the week with a clean and simple card that I made with a few challenges in mind:

I love the pinks in the Color Throwdown palette this week and having seen many of my blog friends create the cutest 'mini' cards for CASology this week, I just couldn't resist having a go at my own. It is also my card for the 'Less is More' challenge this week, where the theme is 'This makes me happy'. Take a look at my card and I'll explain why:

Aren't that trio of mini flowerpots just the cutest? I used the 'Handpicked From the Garden' framelits that I used on yesterday's card and cut a trio of flowerpots out of kraft cardstock, along with a trio of flower heads, two in Strawberry Slush and one in Pink Pirouette. Before adhering these to the card, I partially inked the vine leaves in Pear Pizzazz and stamped these onto my white base first to give my flowers stems and leaves, before adhering the diecuts over the top. I finished with a simple stamped sentiment of 'Grown With Love' also stamped in Pear Pizzazz and a little bow on my central pot, made from some separated strands of Strawberry Slush thick baker's twine. Here's a little close up of the detail:

I'm not usually one to go for these teeny-tiny diecuts and I bought this set primarily for the plant tag framelits, which as a keen gardener I knew I would get lots of use for, but I'm loving these little diecuts - the set also includes a tiny trowel and a bow, perfect for adding finishing touches to gardening projects. With spring on the way, I am looking forward to be getting out into the garden more. My husband and children are keen vegetable gardeners and don't have much time for flowers, but I love nothing more than pottering around, planting tubs and hanging baskets to decorate the patio through the summer months. These little flowerpots remind me of this and it makes me happy to know that spring is on the way!

I would love to know what makes you happy - please feel free to leave me a comment below to share your thoughts and do pop on over to the LIM gallery to see what's putting everyone else in a good mood this week. Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

From The Garden Photopolymer Bundle	Big Shot Magnetic Platform	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Card Stock A4 Strawberry Slush	Strawberry Slush Thick Baker's Twine
Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Pink Pirouette A4 Card Stock	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad	Kraft 12" X 12" Card Stock

It's Sunday and you know what that means - a new challenge over at The Paper Players. This week the lovely Laurie has a fun theme to help us shake off our Winter blues:

When I 'think Spring' I immediately think of spring pastels and flowers in bloom, so the obvious choice for my card today was one of my favourite pieces of DSP from the All Abloom DSP stack:

I love the pretty little flowers on this particular paper and wanted to showcase as much of the paper as possible. I decided it would make a great background layer for a shaker-style open window featuring some cute little die cut flowerpots that I cut from kraft and co-ordinating coloured cardstock using my Handpicked Framelit Dies. I finished one of the flowerpots with a tiny Blushing Bride baker's twine bow and used one of the Bitty Banner framelits to cut out the sentiment stamped from the 'From The Garden' stamp set and accented this with a couple of Daffodil Delight candy dots.

Before you reach for your ink pads, do visit the other design team members to see what interesting ideas they've had this week:

I look forward to seeing your visions of Springtime in our gallery this week. 

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack	From The Garden Photopolymer Bundle	Bitty Banners Framelits Die	Big Shot Magnetic Platform	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine
Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad	Mossy Meadow A4 Cardstock	Daffodil Delight A4 Card Stock	Card Stock A4 Pistachio Pudding	Brights Candy Dots
Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Card Stock A4 Strawberry Slush	Card Stock A4 Blushing Bride	Kraft 12" X 12" Card Stock	Blushing Bride Baker's Twine

Thank you for all the lovely comments I've received on my 'Guy Greetings' cards these past couple of days - I'm so glad you are enjoying them. I have more of these to share, some of which I made with my lovely stamp-a-stack ladies at our class earlier today, but instead I'm having a break to share one of the cards I designed for my recent technique class featuring the Butterfly Basics stamp set and co-ordinating framelits:

I stamped the lacy butterfly onto my Very Vanilla base in Bermuda Bay ink, then used the co-ordinating framelit to cut the shape out of the top mat layer. I then added some Crumb Cake, sponged through a stencil made with my Hexagon Hive thinlit, the border stamp, a simple sentiment and some linen thread and a scattering of pearls as a final simple embellishment. I love the versatility of thinlits and how they can be used in so many ways; using the negative space gives a different look to simply using the thinlit to cut out the butterfly and attach on top. 

I'm linking today's card up with this week's challenge over at Less Is More where the theme is 'wings', which suits my butterfly perfectly.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Butterfly Basics Photopolymer Bundle	Big Shot Magnetic Platform	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad
Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad	Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad	Linen Thread	Basic Pearls Jewel Accents

I have another monochromatic masculine card for you today - I still had the papers and stamp set out on my desk from yesterday's card and couldn't resist creating another sample using this week's sketch over at As You See It:

This is a great sketch for combining patterns or images and I had a few ideas as to how I was going to use it so don't be surprised if you see me use it again. For today though, it's all about the shoes - take a look at my card and you'll see what I mean:

I used Very Vanilla as my base and this time a piece of checked Typeset paper on black for my panels, then I narrowed the four square elements of the sketch so that I could fit in four pairs of shoes - you can never have too many pairs of shoes, right?! A stapled banner sentiment, some wide chevron ribbon and some funky shoe laces to highlight one of the pairs of shoes and done!

Making this card reminded me of the Robert Redford/Michelle Pfeiffer movie "Up Close & Personal" - such a great movie, but the scene where she sees his shoes with the red laces at the end ... if you haven't seen it, I won't spoil it for you, but if you're an old-fashioned romantic I can highly recommend it - just don't forget the tissues!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Guy Greetings Photopolymer Stamp Set	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Typeset Specialty Designer Series Paper	Basic Black A4 Card Stock
Basic Black Baker's Twine	Basic Black 3/4" Chevron Ribbon

I'm here today to share my card for this week's challenge over at Create With Connie and Mary where they have a rather interesting sketch to play along with this week:

I've been playing with my new 'Guy Greetings' stamp set this week, in preparation for my next stamp-a-stack class which is featuring masculine cards and I decided that this sketch would work perfectly with a trio of hats - take a look at my card to see what I mean:

I went for a monochromatic look for my card with a Very Vanilla base and a piece of striped Typeset paper, set beneath another layer of Very Vanilla cut at an angle. I masked the hat stamp and inked three of the six hats and stamped them above a piece of black cardstock cut at an angle, then stamped my greeting on the Vanilla base panel. I finished my black strip with a trio of Very Vanilla candy dots. Clean and simple and I like it! 

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Guy Greetings Photopolymer Stamp Set	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad	Typeset Specialty Designer Series Paper	Basic Black A4 Card Stock
Neutrals Candy Dots