Good morning everyone on this typically wet Bank Holiday Monday! Today I'm sharing my card for this week's challenge over at The Paper Players, where the have the following sketch challenge to play along with:

When I saw this sketch, I initially wanted to create a Father's Day card with my 'Look up to Father' stamp, but having seen the great examples from Ginger and Diane, I decided to change tack totally and instead of trees, take the opportunity to use some of my High Tide DSP. Here's my card:

Whilst I loved the swirly pattern on this DSP, I've struggled to use it as it's so busy. I thought it would make a great base for this fishy-themed card though, with the cute fish bowl from Fishin' Around. The DSP gave me the colour scheme for my card, and I stamped the image twice in Pacific Point: once onto Soft Sky, which I fussy cut for my fish bowl, then a second time on Calypso Coral and fussy cut the fish and adhered them to my fish bowl. I added a little colour to the water, treasure chest and sand with my marker pens, then adhered some gold sequins to act as 'treasure' on the sand. To complete the look of my fishbowl, I cut a circle out of acetate window sheet using my Big Shot and Circles Framelits and adhered this to the bowl to look like glass. I mounted my completed fish bowl to a circle of Pacific Point and mounted this last, having first adhered the three strips of plain cardstock in Calypso Coral, Summer Starfruiit and Smoky Slate. I stamped my sentiment onto the Smoky Slate rectangle in Pacific Point ink and chose the 'You Make Me Happy' stamp from the 'Hello, Lovely' stamp set.

I bought the fishbowl set thinking it would make great children's cards, but as I put this card together it occurred to me it would make a fun anniversary/valentine card too when paired with this sentiment. Given the weather outside today, this card does seem somewhat appropriate! Back tomorrow with another card; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Fishin' Around	High Tide Designer Series Paper	Hello Lovely	Medium Window Sheets	Circles Collection Framelits Dies
Magnetic Platform	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad	Pacific Point A4 Card Stock	Card Stock A4 Smoky Slate
Smoky Slate Stampin' Write Marker	Summer Starfruit A4 Card Stock	2012-2014 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	Calypso Coral A4 Card Stock	Gold Sequin Trim

Sunday is always a good day, but it's doubly good when followed by a Bank Holiday - looking forward to tomorrow already! We've had a restful day today after yesterday's busy one and also managed our first BBQ of the year, albeit having brought everything inside to eat as it was rather breezy outside. Today's card uses the colours over at this week's Colour Me...! challenge and Jen Mitchell's clean rectangular sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches for my layout:

 I rotated the sketch through 90 degrees to create my card and took my inspiration directly from the photo alongside the colour palette. Here is my card:

I used Soft Sky for my base and layered with a mat of Early Espresso and then a further layer of Soft Sky that I stamped with the Hardwood stamp in the same colour. I created a trellis using two pieces of Early Espresso punched with my Chevron Border punch and made the focal point of my card the cherry blossom from the Morning Meadow hostess stamp set, which I inked up with my Early Espresso and Primrose Petals marker pens then stamped onto Whisper White. I punched some flowers out of Primrose Petals cardstock using one of my Itty Bitty punches, added pearls to the centres and added these onto the stamped image on the largest flowers to add dimension and interest. I then matted this panel onto Early Espresso and added an off-centre panel of Soft Sky - this goes against the grain from a design perspective for me, but I needed to have the Early Espresso mat onto the Hardwood layer, yet broken with some Soft Sky on the opposite side so that the panel didn't just merge into the trellis and it looks so much better with than without, so convention is out of the window! I also chose not to use a sentiment on the front of my card as I didn't want to add another layer; I decided to keep my sentiment on the inside of my card.

I hope you like today's card; back tomorrow with another card. until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Hardwood	Morning Meadow	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Chocolate Chip A4 Card Stock	Early Espresso Stampin Write Marker
Primrose Petals A4 Card Stock	2012-2014 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	Card Stock A4 Soft Sky	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad	Chevron Border Punch
Punch Pack	Basic Pearls Jewel Accents

I seem to be using a lot of my favourite brights this week and today I wanted to share a card that I made using the Colour Q challenge colours this week, one of my favourite colour palettes:

Aren't those trainers so cool?! You wouldn't get lost in the crowd wearing those, for sure! I took the inspiration for my card from their bold, vibrant pattern and this is what I came up with:

I decided to use one of the wave patterns from the Eye Catching Ikat photopolymer set to create a repeat pattern in the challenge colours (I subsitituted Kiwi Kiss with Old Olive as I don't have the former colour in my collection). I went with quite a simple layered layout, because I wanted the stamped pattern to be the focal point. I still can't quite believe just how easy the photopolymer stamps are to align without the need for a stamp-a-ma-jig - this pattern really didn't take long at all to create, so much so that I made two cards in record time, I just couldn't stop stamping! I mounted my patterned layer onto a strip of Tempting Turquoise. I inked my sentiment using my Brights Stampin' Write Markers, picking up the blue and the Melon Mambo of my card base to tie in with the overall design.

Don't forget, if you would like to own the Eye Catching Ikat stamp set, it is available free with a £60 order until the end of May, so you still have a week to get your order placed. Today is a busy day for me - trampolining parties to attend (Rebecca, not me!!) and a swimming gala this evening. Hope you are all enjoying your weekends. I'll be back tomorrow with another card; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Eye-Catching Ikat Photopolymer Stamp Set	Yippee-Skippee!	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock	Tempting Turquoise A4 Card Stock
Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad	Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad

Yay it's Friday - it may be stormy here in the UK, but it can't dampen that Friday feeling! Especially as this weekend we have a Bank Holiday too - an extra day makes all the difference. Today's card uses the sketch layout over at Retrosketches this week:

I recently had the need the need to send two sympathy cards within a week and realised that it isn't something I keep a stock of, even though it's the type of card you often need without warning. I decided to make one using this week's sketch - here's my card:

I decided to use Real Red ink and a blender pen to colour my Simply Sketched poppy, which is stamped in black Stazon on Very Vanilla. Whilst red is often associated with love and romance, the Flanders poppies were also red and they are a traditional symbol of remembrance. I matted my poppy with a layer of Basic Black, then did the same with the circle element behind, cutting the top layer from a piece of Modern Medley designer paper using my Big Shot and Circles Framelits. To finish, I coloured some rhinestones black with a Sharpie marker pen and adhered them to the card.

A nice early post from me today; no sports fixtures this afternoon, so time for a trip to the hairdressers instead - I hope the weather is kind!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Simply Sketched	Modern Medley Designer Series Paper	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Basic Black A4 Card Stock
Jet Black Stazon Pad	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Blender Pens	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Magnetic Platform
Circles Collection Framelits Dies	Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents

I had a hugely productive creative day yesterday (I love days like that!) and decided to have another go at a card with the sketch layout from CAS(E) This Sketch (although I'm too late to link up to this challenge with this sketch). I am linking up with Addicted to CAS though as I have another 'over the edge' birdie and today's card features the zingy colour palette over at Color Throwdown:

So using the color throwdown photo for inspiration, I decided to create a 'new home' card. There is only one set is the annual catalogue that features a new home welcome - the hostess set 'Sweetly Framed' - so I decided to create something using some punch art with an idea that I've had swimming around in my head for a while. Here's my card:

I used Pear Pizzazz for my base, and popped my Soft Sky panel up on dimensionals and created a little bird house by punching a 1" square out and topping with a Tangerine Tango triangle cut from half a square for the roof. I punched a Tangerine Tango bird using the bird punch and highlighted the bird's wing by using a scrap of Retro Fresh DSP, adhering with rolled glue dots to give some height. I added some punched co-ordinating coloured hearts punched with my owl punch. Lastly, what to use as a sentiment? I eventually decided on 'Yippee-Skippee!' from the stamp set of the same name, stamped in Versamark and heat embossed in clear powder - not quite 'Welcome to your new home', but it's exactly how I felt when I bought a new house, both times, so it seemed more than appropriate! Another very clean and simple card, created with just a few punches and a sentiment.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

1" Square Punch	Bird Punch	Owl Punch	Yippee-Skippee!	Card Stock A4 Pear Pizzazz
Card Stock A4 Soft Sky	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock	Tangerine Tango A4 Card Stock	Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper	Embossing Buddy
Versamark Pad	Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder	Heat Tool - Uk Plug

Today's card is a last minute entry for this week's CAS Colours and Sketches colour challenge, which is to use the following colours:

I also used the above sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch as my starting point, although I would be the first to admit that my card isn't the most literal of interpretations; the card I've prepared for tomorrow's blog post is much better! Here is my card:

I decided to use the Morning Meadow hostess set for today's card - this set will only be available until the end of June, so if it's on your wishlist get in touch with me to book a party soon, otherwise you'll miss it. I inked the branch with my Basic Grey and Primrose Petals marker pens, then stamped the bird in Midnight Muse and fussy cut him and placed him on a dimensional, with a little rhinestone-centred punched flower for added interest. I allowed the tail of my bird to overhang the edge of the card - I think I'll join my card up to Addicted to CAS too, where the current challenge is 'off the edge'.

A quick post from me today; back tomorrow with another project. until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Morning Meadow	Midnight Muse Classic Stampin' Pad	Midnight Muse A4 Card Stock	Primrose Petals A4 Card Stock	2012-2014 In Color Stampin' Write Markers
Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers	Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents	Punch Pack	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Envelope Punch Board

Good evening blog readers! Well, I really feel like I'm in catch-up mode this week, but I guess I shouldn't be too hard on myself - it is only Tuesday after all! Today I'm sharing a card I made for this week's sketch challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary. I kept the flower as per the sketch so I will also be linking up with The Paper Players, where this week's challenge from Ann is a clean and simple floral card and Less is More where the challenge theme is flowers:

Having played around with various floral sets, eventually I decided to dust off my 'Too Kind' set, as I haven't used it in a while and set about creating my card - here it is:

I chose an unconventional floral colour scheme, using blues and greys, but I think it works! I love the flowers in this stamp set - the two-step stamping really adds an extra dimension, which is perfect when you're trying to create a clean and simple card. A stamp-a-ma-jig makes light work of aligning the images though - this little tool is so useful! I decided to create a banner from the banner shape in the sketch and use it to highlight my sentiment which I heat embossed in pewter embossing powder, finished with a pewter button threaded with retired Pool Party baker's twine - here's a close-up:

I also added Dazzling Diamonds to my flower petals to give a little sparkle and shimmer. A really clean and simple floral card; not where I started out at all, but I really like the end result.

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Too Kind	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad
Pool Party A4 Card Stock	Card Stock A4 Bermuda Bay	Basic Metal Buttons	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig	2-Way Glue Pen
Stampin' Dimensionals	Pewter Stampin' Emboss Powder	Versamark Pad	Embossing Buddy	Heat Tool - Uk Plug
Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter

I haven't had any time for crafting today, so I'm going to share with you a simple pop up card designed by Monica Gale that I made at our quarterly training session last month and that I made with my ladies at our recent Fresh Prints All Day Craft Event - here is the outside of the card:

I added a few layers of Fresh Prints papers onto a Coastal Cabana card base, then stamped the 'Make a Wish' stamp from the Perfect Pennants set in Crumb Cake and punched out with a 2 3/8" Scalloped Circle punch layered onto a 2 1/2" circle out of Real Red cardstock, The banner was cut from a scrap of DSP and the 'a' stamped on red card and punched out and popped on a dimensional for added dimension. To decorate, I stamped a star from 'Simply Stars' in Real Red on Whisper White cardstock, added a DSP star using the Merry Minis star punch and secured with a gold glimmer brad with a twist of gold threaded baker's twine behind for a little added sparkle.

Inside the card there is a really simple little pop up made by cutting two short horizontal slits in the liner, which is made out of a notelet:

A few more stars and a simple birthday greeting and it's done - a fun little pop card suitable for either gender. I'm hoping to get into my craft room tomorrow and catch up on my crafting, although there is a big basket of ironing competing for my attention, so might need to get that out of the way first!

Either way, back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack	Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes	Perfect Pennants	Simply Stars	Card Stock A4 Coastal Cabana
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad	2-3/8 Inch Scallop Circle Punch	2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch
1/2 Inch Circle Punch	Gold Baker's Twine	Basics Glimmer Brads

I have had the busiest day today - last minute preparations for the Stampin' Up! UK Regional Training Event in Telford tomorrow coupled with lots of little jobs. Best part of my day though was getting to spend an hour in the sunshine watching Rebecca's team win their second rounders match of the week (go girls!) and I'm even managing to squeeze in a quick blog post, which I thought might be touch and go today!

I have had a few baby cards to make lately, all of them girls, but I know someone who is due a baby boy anytime soon so thought I would get ahead for once and make my card ready. I decided to make a monochrome boy card to pair with the monochrome girl card I designed a couple of weeks ago for the Pals Paper Arts 200th anniversary challenge (you can see my original baby girl card here). Here is today's card:

Using a Soft Sky base, I matted both of my cardstock layers on Whisper White and used a piece of Polka Dot DSP from the Subtles DSP stack for panel 2, whilst for panel 3 I stamped the 'sweet baby' stamp repeatedly in Whisper White onto Soft Sky cardstock - a stamp-a-ma-jig is essential for this - and coloured the word 'baby' with my chalk marker to give it a powdery look. Lastly, my focal point is the cute little boy shoes that I fussy cut and decorated with my chalk marker; to finish I layered this circle on a blue starburst mat and a further white circle.

Another pastel monochrome creation - not quite as fussy as the little girl one, but then in my experience boys never are!

Back tomorrow with another card and news of what's been happening at the regional event; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Baby, We've Grown	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad	Card Stock A4 Soft Sky	Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Magnetic Platform	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad	Starburst Framelits Dies
Circles Collection Framelits Dies	1-3/4 Inch Circle Punch

I've had a busy couple of days preparing swaps and finishing my preparations for the Stampin' Up! event at Telford on Saturday and I've still got more to do! Today I'm sharing my card for this week's challenge over at Less is More, where Chrissie and the team are looking for one layer thank you cards. I decided to try something something a little different, using my retired but never-to-be parted with Expressions Thinlits. Here is my card:

I decided to make a thank you card that would be suitable for a male, or at the very least gender neutral - so I went for a nice bright blue. Now I know the eagle-eyed amongst you are thinking - but the framelit says 'thankful', right? Well that's true - as I only wanted the 'thank' part, I positioned it over the edge of the card and cut it to the edge so that it looks as if the writing is going off the edge of the card. I adhered the cut-out pieces from the middle of the word to the inside of the card, to maintain the definition of the lettering - you can see it more clearly on the photo below:

To finish my sentiment, I inked up the 'you' from the 'thank you' sentiment in the 'Simply Celebrate' set and heat embossed it with silver embossing powder. A clean and simple thank you card that's just a little bit different! I'm also linking my card up to 'Addicted to CAS', where the current challenge is appropriately 'off the edge'. Right, I'm off to get my nails done!

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

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Simply Celebrate	Pacific Point A4 Card Stock	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Magnetic Platform
Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Embossing Buddy	Versamark Pad	Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder