simply stampin' challenge 79

Good morning folks! 

First off I want to apologise for being so pants at blogging! Life is just getting away from me at the moment. Anyway Monday is the start of a new month and a new start for me. I WILL be better at blogging etc starting now! (well I am going to try at least!)

So today is Simply Stampin' Challenge day again and its a sketch! 

Merry Medley 

Stamp Set: Mixed Medley

Ink: Whisper White

Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy

Punches: Scallop Circle

Accessories: Rhinestones

I wasn't very adventurous with this sketch, stamped and punch the scallop circles, popped up the sentiment on one of them and added rhinestones and just to just it a little edge I ran a dashed line around it. Definitely a card for mass production - it was so easy! 

I hope you will join in and look forward to seeing how you use the sketch! Thanks for stopping by! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xo

simply stampin' challenge 75

It's Saturday once again which means another Simply Stampin' Challenge! This week's challenge is a theme...

Baby, Baby ...

Bundle of Love Girl

Stamp Set: Bundle of Love

Ink: Crumb Cake, Daffodil Delight, Blushing Bride, Perfect Plum, Basic Black

Cardstock: Whisper White

DSP: Nursery Nest

Punch: Modern Label, 1" Circle

Ribbon: Whisper White Taffeta

So I stamped some of the accessories from the Bundle of Love stamp set on Whisper White cardstock and coloured them in using a blender pen for a watercolour finish. They were punched out with a 1" circle punch and layered on top of some DSP from he Nursery Nest. I added some taffeta ribbon to the card  and tied an additional piece of ribbon to the bow for a bit of a different look. A modern label punch with a sentiment just finishes it off! 

Hope you enjoyed this! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

simply stampin' challenge 72

Good morning folks! 

Well, I'm back in Wisconsin until Thursday when we fly home. Not looking forward to going home at all!! :( 

This week's Simply Stampin' Challenge is a theme...

Let's Hear It For The Boys!

Well the men in our lives need a bit of love as well don't they!?! So time to crack out your masculine stamps and get creating! Here's my creation...

Suit Up

Stamp Set: For My Family

Ink: Basic Black

Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Basic Grey

DSP: Everyday Elegance (SAB - no longer available - any DSP would work) 

This was one of the cards from my May card club which was all masculine cards seeing as Father's Day was in June it seemed like a good time but I hadn't got around to uploading it onto my blog yet. Seeing as I've had loads to do trying to get all my challenges sorted for while I'm away I didn't think that the other Simply Stampin' girls would mind if it was made a while ago.

I made up the template myself and drew and cut out a tie. It was just a case of stamping the sentiment and then filling in the rest of the rectangle with a dashed line, assembling the suit elements and there you have it. A clean and simple man card. I think men suit CAS, don't you?!

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge 71

Well its Saturday again! 

At this present moment in time I am somewhere in South Carolina! Such fun! 

This week's Simply Stampin' Challenge is a colour challenge and its a lovely bright and summer colour palette this week...

Regal Rose, Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Stamp Set: Creative Elements
Ink: Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, Regal Rose
Cardstock: Whisper White, Regal Rose, Daffodil delight, Baja Breeze
Big Shot: Stripes Emboss, Vintage Wallpaper Emboss, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Framelits
Accessories: Rhinestones

I got a little carried away with this week's colour combo and did and little set of cards using the colours. Its so lovely and fresh I couldn't help myself! Half are stripe embossed base and half are vintage wallpaper. On the little framelit I stamped the florish border, a sentiment and the 3 little butterflies from the beautiful wings embosslit! Final thing was a few rhinestones

Don't you think they've turned out super cute?! I hope you liked them. Head over to the Simply Stampin' blog for the other DT entries and then add your own creation! Can't wait to see them!

Have a great weekend!

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge 70

Hey there! 

So I have been organised enough to do my DT entries for Simply Stampin' in advance for the weeks I am away. At the moment I'm either in Wisconsin, North Carolina or South Carolina depending on when you're reading this. We have a fun and packed schedule! Love it!

This week is a sketch challenge...

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Soft Suede

Cardstock: Whisper White, Soft Suede

DSP: Attic Boutique

Big Shot: Framelits

Punch: 1 3/8" Circle

Accessories: Rhinestone Brads

Ribbon: Chantilly Crochet Trim

I just couldn't make this sketch work, eventually I got something down that I am mildly happy with. Its not great but its okay. I used the framelits with Attic Boutique DSP for the main focal point shapes and gave them a thin border of Soft Suede around the edge. I used another piece of the DSP in the background with more Soft  Suede - I used a circle punch for the scallop edge. My final addition was a crochet trim bow with a rhinestone brad in the centre! 

Go to Simply Stampin' to see the other DT entries and enter yourself! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

simply stampin' challenge 69

Hi there! 

School finished yesterday so now I get my lovely hubby for 6 whole weeks and whats more is there's only 3 days until our holiday! I cannot freakin' wait! I'm so excited to introduce Stu to the wonderful United States of America! I'm hope he loves it as much as I do! Do you all have lots of things planned over the summer break?!

Anyway onto the Simply Stampin' challenge for this week, we're on a theme this week. The theme is 

Vintage

Vintage Pens

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Creative Elements

Ink: Soft Suede

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

DSP: First Edition, Attic Boutique 

Punch: Scallop Edge

Accessories: Antique Brad

Baker's Twine: Calypso Coral

Extras: Color Spritzer

So I wanted to make the card this week different from last week's which was also really vintage style. Sometimes I find this hard to do when I've just made another one fairly similar! So when I saw the pens in the Attic Butique DSP I thought I'd use that! I stamped the flourish all over the background Crumb Cake and then spritzed it with Soft Suede for that speckled vintage feel. I added a peice of the First Edition paper behind the fountain pens DSP. I also added some bakers twine, sentiment and antique brad to the mix. Its a bit thrown together and little bit of a hash job but I think its turned out okay. I'm not 100% happy with it but there's always that fear that if you carry on playing around with a card sometimes you just end up ruining it completely! 

I hope you like my effort! Now head over to Simply Stampin' to see the other DT entries and create and share your own! 

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge 68

Back for another challenge over at Simply Stampin' today! This week is a colour challenge, its a beaut! 

Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

Vintage Eleanor Birthday 

Stamp Set: Everything Eleanor, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Rose Red, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

DSP: First Edition

Accessories: Pearls, Champagne Shimmer Paint& Mist

So I used the stamping off technique to create a second shade of red/pink for my flowers - I love this technique - its especially great if you don't have so many coloured inks and need more shades/colours! I stamped the block frame in Crumb Cake onto the DSP followed by the flourish in Soft Suede. And finally the fancy looking frame in the champagne shimmer paint, this is actually stamped about 3 times but the second two I didn't add any soft suede to the mixture so it can't really be seen in this photo but in real life its sparkly and subtle and beautiful! I added the sentiment and flowers and then lots of pretty pearls before finally spritzing with champagne shimmer mist for even more added sparkle! 

I hope you will hop of over to the Simply Stampin' blog to see the other DT entries and then get on to creating your own! I can't wait to see them, and don't forget if you don't have te exact colours, no matter just use the closest ones you do own! 

Happy Stampin', 

Amanda xo

simply stampin' challenge 67

Good morning! 

Simply Stampin' Challenge time again folks! This week is a sketch again and here we have it...

And my interpretation...

Birthday Cupcake

Stamp Set: Easy Events

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Basic Black

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Rose Red

Punch: Owl Builder

Ribbon: Blushing Bride Pleated Satin, Pretty in Pink Satin, Pretty in Pink Taffeta (Retired)

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds

So Deb did some beautiful CAS cards with the Easy Events stamp set last week which has made me want to get my set out for a play again! 

As you can see I rotated the sketch! 

I started by stamping the cupcake and colouring it in with a blender pen for a watercolour look, I mounted it on a some crumb cake for a border and help it stand out against all the pink I was about to throw at the card! I wanted to try something different for the strips in the background so I thought I'd raid my ribbons for pinks - hence the retired taffeta because the colours matched - it really showcases the ribbons and different textures. They were adhered/tied to the card and the cupcake popped up on top. To finish it off and add a small bit of pop to the card I punched the tiny heart from the owl punch and added it to the top of the cupcake and added glitter! That cupcake looks SO yummy!!!

I hope you will head over to the Simply Stampin' blog to check out the other amazingly talented DT entries, and enter yourself! Oh and don't forget to leave me a comment and let me know what you thought to this card! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

simply stampin' challenge 66

Back today with another Simply Stampin' Challenge. This week's challenge is a theme and the theme is 

Clean & Simple

Birthday Flower

Stamp Set: Apothecary Art

Ink: Night of Navy

Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight

Punches: Blossom, 5 Petal Flower, Boho Blossoms, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Corner Rounder

Accessories: Daffodil Delight Brad

So I'm not sure that the photo really does this card justice. The flower is really curvy and poofy! The tab just balances out the rest of the card and adds a place for the sentiment. 

Hope you liked this fun CAS card! I look forward to seeing your CAS creations over on the Simply Stampin' blog.

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xo

simply stampin' challenge 65

Good morning folks! Back today with a Simply Stampin' Challenge today. We're back on a colour challenge today and its a beaut! I am actually in love! 

Tea for Two

Stamp Set: Tea Shoppe

Ink: Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, Lucky Limeade

Cardstock: Wisper White, Lucky Limeade, Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake

Punch: Decorative Label

Accessories: Pearls

Baker's Twine: Lucky Limeade 

Other: Simply Scored Board

So I colour and stamped the tea cup using my stampin' write markers. Then cut it out and layered it on top of some Bashful Blue and Lucky Limeade cardstock - this provides a background and gives an added pop of colour to the rather subtle tea cup! I then added some score lines using the Simply Scored board - my goodness, EVERYONE needs one of these - they're fantastic!! I stamped the sentiment below the score lines and embellished with a few pearls! On the inside I coloured and stamped the Tea for Two image and punched it out with the decorative label punch - for another pop of colour I added a little frame of Limeade using the decorative label punch again.

I hope you enjoyed this CAS card. There's some stunning design team entries over at the Simply Stampin' blog so please go and check them out, oh and leave me a comment? :) I love reading them. 

Have a wonderful and sunny weekend! 

Amanda xx

simply stampin' challenge 62

Simply Stampin' Challenge time again guys! This week is a colour challenge, are you ready to see the colours we have for you this week?

Hello Blossoms

Stamp Set: Bright Blossoms, Pennant Parade

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise 

Punch: Decorative Label, Modern Label

Accessories: Pearls, Cherry Cobbler Button

I decided that I wanted to use the Bright Blossoms stamp set so I had to add the tiniest bit of Limeade for the stalks and leaves! I used the 3 colours in the flowers and vase and then I wanted to emphasise these colours so used the modern label punch as strips behind the decorative label punch. For the Tempting Turquoise I just added a thin border around the edge! 

Hope you enjoyed this really simple little card! 

Have a fantastic Jubilee weekend!! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda xo

simply stampin' challenge 61

Saturday again and another challenge over at the Simply Stampin' blog. This week is a sketch, here it is...

Woven Ribbon

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Crumb Cake 

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand

Ribbon: Crumb Cake Taffeta 

Right so I was just not inspired what so ever with this sketch. I didn't want to just follow it exactly because well I'm not really sure why to be honest. I just knew I was running out of time and hadn't done anything! So I'd had the idea of doing some sort of weaving thing and as it developed in my head I thought I could weave bits of ribbon together! Now granted this is quite a plain card but I've been enjoying the monochrome cards everyone's been making last week and decided to just run with the theme. Also, I decided that the taffeta ribbon was what I wanted to use and Crumb Cake was the only colour I had! So I've VERY loosly followed the sketch to be honest and I brought the strips that were behind to the front and the centre panel moved back. The ribbon was cut into strips and adhered to the back, it just weaves up and down through the crossing ribbons. I added a bow to finish it off! Oh and a little bit of faux stitching too! 

So what do you think? Its a bit of a different card right!? I hope you like it and will play along with us over at Simply Stampin' Challenge! 

Have a fantastic weekend! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xo

Oh P.S. Simply Stampin' have a Design Team feature on me this week so if you'd like to know more about me and why I'm so crazy about paper check it out! x

simply stampin' challenge 58

Good morning! 

Simply Stampin' time again. This week's challenge is a a sketch, you ready to see it?!

And now on to my creation...

Boutique Thanks

Stamp Set: Tea Shoppe

Ink: Soft Suede

Cardstock: Crumb Cake

DSP: Attic Boutique

Big Shot: Fun Flowers, Adorning Accents Edgelit & Impressions

Punches: 5 Petal Flower, Boho Blossoms, Corner Rounder

Accessories: Pool Party Designer Printed Brad

Thread: Pool Party Baker's Twine

Extras: Simply Scored

So first off I kind of flipped the sketch around a bit. It wasn't that I couldn't make it work how it was but I wanted to use a piece of crumb cake that had a random score line in it and I thought I'd incorporate it into my design - especially that's what I'd intended to do for the vertical strip anyway! And if it meant I could use one of the MANY scraps I have then al the better! woohoo! Anyway, back to the card, I scored a couple more lines using the new Simply Scored scoring board by SU! (didn't realise how exciting this thing was til it came and I started playing with it - its freakin' wonderful!!!!) So I used the adorning accents to cut and emboss my horizontal strips for the bottom. I kept them in crumb cake because I wanted to make a real feature of the dsp! I'd decided I wanted to use some of the new Attic Boutique paper - love that pool party pattern at the back so I cut out and layered quite a few flowers and a pool party brad to match. I've kind of deviated from the sketch here as its not a boxy shape like on the sketch but it just didn't fit for me and hey a sketch is just a spring board really isn't it!?! So I finishd off this card with some pool party bakers twine at the bottom and the thanks from Tea Shoppe.

What do you think to this card? Aren't you just LOVING all the new stuff?!! Look forward to reading your comments.

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge week 57

Hi there everyone! Well I've had a rubish cold this week and therefore just about managed to do the housework nd general bits and bobs that I NEED to do so no energy for blogging this week. Sorry, I do have mountains of stuff to show you all, honestly!

Anyway its Simply Stampin' time again. This week's challenge is a theme, which is...

Perfect Pairs

I've got to say when I sat down pretty late on Thursday night to try and put something together, I was really NOT at all inspired! I didn't know what I was going to do, so I hope you like what I ended up with.

Me & You Hearts

Stamp Set: I {heart} Hearts, Tea Shoppe

Ink: Real Red, Regal Rose

Cardstock: Whisper White, Real Red

Punch: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border

Accessories: Real Red Button

Thread: Whisper White Baker's Twine

So as I said, I wasn't inspired but I had the Tea Shoppe set out (in the new Summer mini releases May 1st!) and I saw the stamp set that says tea for two, me and you and I thought the me and you kind of links in with the pairs - thought it would make a cute anniversary card. So I stamped that portion on the stamp and cut it out, stamped a few hearts and assembled. I added a little bit of the scallop dot border punch to just fill in the area a bit and "ground" the hearts a tad. Finally I chopped off some of the bottom of the card and added a button. 

Hope you like this and it fits in with the theme enough. I know its a pretty loose interpretation of the theme!  Look forward to reading your comments! Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda xx

simply stampin' challenge week 56

Hi there! 

Okay I'm afraid this is going to be a super speedy post today as its gone 1am and I am shattered and need my beauty sleep so I can make sense at my class tomorrow morning. 

Its Simply Stampin' Challenge time again and this week is a colour challenge - 

Marina Mist, Pink Pirouette, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Soft Suede, Pink Pirouette, Marina Mist

Carstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Marina Mist, Pink Pirouette

Punch: Doily Triple Layer

Ribbon: Chantilly Crochet Trim, Marina Mist Taffeta

Accessories: Pearls

Extras: Color Spritzer

So I spritzed the background with the color spritzer and markers and then 

added some doilies over the top - covering a mistake I made. I added lots of pearls and some crochet trim and taffeta ribbon. 

I hope you liked it, I must say I not totally sold on it but I thought I'd just leave it as if I did any more to it I think I would like it even less. So its a bit different from cards I usually make. What do you think? 

I hope to see your creations over on the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog this week! Thanks for stopping by, sorry I'm so brief this week!

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge week 55

Simply Stampin' Challenge time again! This week is a sketch challenge. 

Deliciously For You

Stamp Set: Creatively Yours, I {heart} Hearts

Ink: Pool Party, Calypso Coral

Cardstock: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Basic Grey

DSP: Domestic Goddess

Punch: Scallop Edge, Crop a dile

Accessories: White Emboss Powder

Well as usual with the sketch challenge I ended up doing some jiggling around to make it work. This whole card came about because I wanted to use the Deliciously Made For You sentiment which I was borrowing from my downline. I hought it would make a lovely card paired for the domestic goddess paper. I cut strips of the paper and punched some scallop border to edge the middle panel and adhered it all down. I white embossed the sentiment on some basic grey cardstock and added hearts to fill in the blank space. But when I added it to the card it just didn't really stand out and work. so I thought I'd try making some scallop edge and add it and while I was punching away the thought came to me that I could use the crop a dile to make holes in each scallop which would then match the scallop trim in the dsp! Brilliant idea I thought! And doesn't it work well?! I added some daffodil delight underneath to help the detail show up more as its quite a busy dsp and I wanted my trim to stand out!

I hope you liked this card! Let me know what you think and leave me a comment! Then head over to the SSC blog to see the other DT entries and get creating yourself! Can't wait to see what you come up with! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xox 

simply stampin' challenge week 54

This week is a themed week folks! And the theme is...

Easter

Seeing as Easter is tomorrow you probably already have Easter projects/decorations/gifts/cards made so what could be easier than taking a quick pic and posting it on your blog. And for those of you who don't have a blog you can always email your creation to simplystampinchallenge@hotmail.co.uk! We all can't wait to see what you've created! 

Easter Basket

Cardstock: Early Espresso Textured

Accessories: Old Olive Brad

Non-SU: Green Tissue Shreddings, Baby Chicks, Chocolate Eggs

I basically used this template on Heather's blog and just made my own version. I filled it with the shredded tissue and eggs and chicks! Its just a nice little decoration for my home! 

Please head over to the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog for the other DT entries and to enter yourself! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xo

simply stampin' challenge week 53

This week's Simply Stampin' Challenge is a colour challenge. This week's colours are 

Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi

Spring Bunting

Stamp Set: Pennant Parade

Ink: Tangerine Tango

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight

DSP: Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight Paper Stack

Punches: Petite Pennants, Boho Blossoms, Itty Bitty, Curly Label

Accessories: Rhinestones

These colours are very bright and there wasn't a neutral colour in there so I added vanilla to the mix and made this card into a cute bunting card! The scallop pennants are plain cardstock and the triangle pennants are paper stack dsp. On each of the pennants are cute flowers made with the boho blossoms and the itty bitty punch pack and finished off with rhinestones. I stamped the sentiment and punched it out with the curly label punch because I stamped the seniment really badly the first time on my card so this is a cover up! To add just a tiny bit more colour to the curly label I ran my marker around the edge. I added a couple more rhinestones and there you go - done! 

Did you like this clean and crisp springtime card! Why not head over the the SSC blog to see the other DT entries and enter your own creation - if you don't have the exact colours that's fine just use the closest ones you do have! I look forward to seeing your creations!

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

simply stampin' challenge week 52

Its Saturday again and time for another Simply Stampin' Challenge. This week is a sketch! And here is what we had to work with...

And below is what I created with it! 

Birthday Car

Stamp Set: Need For Speed, Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess)

Ink: Pool Party, So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Certainly Celery, Pear Pizzazz, Lucky Limeade, Basic Black

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade

Punch: Corner Rounder, Scallop Edge

Ribbon: Pool Party Ruffled, Pear Pizzazz Stitched Poly, Linen Thread

I really didn't play around with this sketch too much - it was a simple one and it worked for me. I actually had lots of ideas but in the end I went with this car as it was floating around my craft room while I was doing my mammoth tidy this week, I really wanted to use it up before it got lost. 

I coloured in the stamped image and mounted it on some Pool Party cardstock. I then punched a scallop edge in Lucky Limeade and added it to the bottom, over the divide between the pool and limeade cardstock  I layered up some ribbon. Ribbon can be manly, right?! Well, that's what I was trying to go for anyway, let me know what you think! First ribbon layer was the Pool Party ruffled ribbon (I just wanted a thin layer of pool ruffled edge), then the Pear Pizzazz Stitched Poly Ribbon. Finally I tied a scrap of linen thread over the top. How lovely does this look? I'm so pleased with it. I popped the entire thing up in dimensionals and layered it on some Whisper White cardstock on a Pool Party card base. At the bottom I stamped the word  "birthday" - its part of a larger sentiment but I only chose to ink up the word birthday - this as mainly because I liked the font and the full sentiment was too large for the space I had. 

Now why don't you step over to the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog, check out what the other DT members have created for you and enter your own creation using this cute sketch! 

Thanks for popping by, please leave a comment, 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

simply stampin challenge week 51

Simply Stampin' Challenge time again folks - sorry I'm a few days late - such a busy weekend I didn't get the chance to photograph my project!! This week is a theme, and the theme is...

Totally Tags

I'm afraid due to a busy week and not feeling great I don't have anything massively spectacular for you today. Here are some sweet little tags that I made though. Hope you like them!

Stamp Set: n/a

Ink: n/a

Cardstock: Confetti Ivory, Confetti White

DSP: Everyday Elegance (SAB)

Punches: 5 Petal Flower, 3/4" Circle

Big Shot: Beautiful Wings, Two Tags

Accessories: Crystal Effects

I cut the tags out with the big shot and then decorated them with some flowers I punched with the 5 Petal Flower punch - great way to show off some of the gorgeous patterns! I further highlighted the pretty patterns by adding crystal effects to some of the detail areas! I also added a few little butterflies I had strewn around - great way to use up scraps is to turn them into tags! (Everything I used to make these tags were scraps from other projects!)

Hope you liked my really simple project today. Please check out the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog to see what other tagtastic creations the DT has come up with for you this week and then have a go at making and entering your own tags! I'd love to see what you create! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx