Die Cut Daisies Thank You Card

A thank you card for a friend made with die cut daisies and leaves.  I've had this square piece of leafy vellum in my stash for ages - years.  It has managed to escape my regular clear outs 'cos I just couldn't bring myself to get rid of it but I never quite got around to using it on a card.  I came across it a few days ago and decided the day had come, it was definitely going to be used on a card!

The 5 3/4" square card was made using Pink Pirouette CS.  I glued just the corners of the vellum to a piece of Whisper White CS cut to the exact same size as the vellum, added Rose Red photo corners and attached this white panel to a Wild Wasabi panel with the brads pushed through the photo corners.  I die cut 3 large Rose Red and 3 small Pink Pirouette daisies, plus 5 leaf shapes.  I embossed the leaves with the Victorian Fleur embossing folder.  The flower is attached to the panel with a luxurious SU! Antique brad.  I added the sentiment and then glued the whole piece to the pink card base.

I then decorated the inside of the card.  I embossed the bottom of the white panel with the Victorian Fleur folder and I brayered Wild Wasabi ink over the embossing.  I added thin Pink Pirouette and Rose Red strips and then stamped the sentiment over the pink flourish.  The gorgeous flourish is from an Inkadinkado clear set - called Flourishes - and the sentiment is from a Hero Arts cling set called Friends are Treasures.

I then stamped the flourish on the envelope flap in Wild Wasabi ink and added the little bird, which is also from the Inkadinkado Flourishes set, using Rose Red ink.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Curly Cute set, Inkadinkado Flourishes clear set, Hero Arts Friends are Treasures cling set
CS: SU! Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red & Whisper White
Patterned paper: square of leafy patterned vellum
Ink: SU! Rose Red & Wild Wasabi, Memento Angel Pink
Tools: SU! Sizzix Daisies Bigz die, Sizzix Leaf #3 die, SU! Photo Corners punch, Spellbinder's Labels Trio die
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Vintage & Antique brads

Two Stitches And Flowers Cards

I recently got the SU! In Stitches jumbo wheel stamp.  Now, I am completely and utterly hopeless with wheel stamps.  Joanne has showed me many times, given me help and advice, all to no avail - I am SO challenged by wheels!  So, I always unmount my wheel stamps, I slap Kling-On on the back of the rubber and then I use an acrylic block to stamp with.  With this stamp, not only did I unmount the rubber, I cut each line of stitches apart.  I've now got 6 unmounted stitch stamps - fab!  As I'm also needlework challenged, these faux stitches will be the closest I'll get to sewing LOL!

This first card was made with Crumb Cake CS and measures approx. 4 3/4" square.  I stamped 5 rows of stitches as a background using various colour inks.  Surprise, surprise I've made a flower using the Sweetheart, Printed Petals and Button, Button sets AGAIN!  I had to do some masking with the sentiment so I could have the words on two lines.  I've gone for a bright colour scheme (Melon Mambo, Marina Mist and Wild Wasabi) but the inks don't seem quite as vibrant when stamped on Crumb Cake CS, you get a more muted look which I like.  I attached the flower to the card by placing a large glue dot in the centre.  I've then placed 3d foam pads with the backing paper still on under each petal and leaf so they remain popped up.  To finish off the card front I rounded the top right corner.

 

Then I stamped inside the card and on the envelope flap.

For my second card I wanted to see if the leafy stitch stamp could be used as a flower stem - it seemed to work really well!  I also got to use the wonderful Elegant Bouquet embossing folder - I love it, it's gorgeous!  I stamped the leaf stems at different heights and then used Pear Pizzazz ink and a blender pen to add colour to the leaves.  Printed Petals flowers were stamped in Razzleberry ink, stamped off once, cut out and popped up.  I've added some rhinestones to add a touch of sparkle.  Petite Oval Nesties were used for my layers and I finished off the card with Razzleberry punched photo corners.



Supplies for Happy Birthday card:
Stamps: SU! In Stitches jumbo wheel stamp, SU! Printed Petals, Sweetheart, Button, Button & Curly Cute sets, inside sentiment from Penny Black
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Marina Mist & Melon Mambo
Ink: SU! Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist & Cherry Cobbler, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Petite Oval Nestabilities die, circle punches, Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper
Embellishments & accessories: glue dots, 3d foam pads

Supplies for To You From Me card:
Stamps: SU! In Stitches jumbo wheel stamp, SU! printed Petals & Best Yet sets
CS: Anita's A6 white card blank, SU! Pear Pizzazz, Rich Razzleberry & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Pear Pizzazz & Rich Razzleberry
Tools: Petite Oval Nestabilities dies, SU! Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, SU! Photo Corners punch, blender pen
Embellishments & accessories: clear rhinestones, 3d foam pads

Bloom & Buttons Birthday BRAK Card

More faux buttons - I absolutely love the Button, Button set and can't seem to stop playing with it!  This is a birthday RAK card I made using some fave SU! sets and some fave colours - Rich Razzleberry, Marina Mist, Old Olive and some Crumb Cake and Vanilla thrown in.  The card is a side opening landscape A6 size.   I had an idea before I started the card, I knew I wanted a row of buttons along a scalloped border.  My large QuicKutz scalloped border die was perfect for the buttons I chose.  I used two different buttons from the set for the border and a flower shaped button for the centre of my bloom.  I layered each stamped button onto punched 3/4" CS circles to add dimension, punched holes and added CS strips through the holes.  Hmmmm, it seemed a good idea at the time - maybe I'll embrace the concept of naked buttons yet LOL!  I would have to choose a button that had 4 holes!  I certainly wasn't going to punch the holes in the teeny, tiny buttons I added to the punched photo corner!  That tiny button is so sweet though and is easily punched out using a 1/4" circle punch.

To keep the leaves popped up I've placed half a dimensional with the backing paper still on behind each leaf.  The scalloped circle and flower button are also popped up.  I thought ric rac would make a great trim to go with the buttons so I used a Sizzix Decorative Strip die for that.  I was so chuffed to find that the Curly Cute happy birthday sentiment is the perfect size for the largest Spellbinder's Labels Trio die!  I punched a Marina Mist 1/16" circle as a dot for the i.

Then it was time to stamp the envelope and the inside of the card.  Even though I've popped up elements this card will still fit easily in an envelope for posting which it wouldn't have if I'd used real buttons!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Button, Button, Curly Cute, Printed Petals & Sweetheart sets, Hero Arts Fabulous Birthday
CS: SU! Rich Razzleberry, Marina Mist, Old Olive, Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla
Ink: SU! Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive & Marina Mist
Tools: SU! Scalloped Circle, 1/4" & 3/4" circle punches, SU! Photo Corners punch, 1/16" handheld circle punch, QuicKutz Scalloped Border die, Sizzix 'Ribbons' Decorative Strip die, Spellbinder's Labels Trio die
Embellishments & accessories: Dimensionals & glue dots

Two Flowery CAS Challenge Cards - Craft For Life Campaign

I've made two CAS cards today which I will donate to the Cancer Research UK Craft for Life campaign.  I took a bunch of cards into the shop last week so I need to build up a stash again.  The first card was for this weeks Less Is More 'Off Centre' challenge.  The flowery frame is from a Hero Arts clear set.  I stamped it twice, once direct to the card front and again on a piece of SU! Barely Banana CS.  I cut the banana piece out, stamped a doily background on it in banana ink and then stamped the sentiment.  I added three small punched flowers with gem centres.  I coloured the flowery frame elements with SU! marker pens.  To finish off, I rounded all the corners.  The stamped corner is quite busy in design but it's surrounded by lots of white space which contrasts with the busyness.  I think it still qualifies as a Less Is More, CAS design - doesn't it?!

Today's CAS116 challenge on Splitcoast Stampers is the Artist's Rule of 3.  I have 3 button blooms on my card, I added 3 leaves, I used 3 colours for my blooms and I added 3 gems to my punched Photo Corner.  I started off by stamping 3 flower stems at different heights and added the leaves.  I stamped the flower button in Marina Mist, Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry inks and cut them out.  I punched the button holes and threaded thin strips of CS through the holes.  Then to add some dimension I added 3 3/4" punched circles behind each flower shaped button.  The buttons are popped up on Dimensionals on top of 1 1/4 " punched circles.  The sentiment was stamped in Rich Razzleberry - I love this Hero Arts sentiment!  To finish off the card, I added Marina Mist and Melon Mambo punched photo corners and I popped on 3 clear gems.  It really doesn't look like I'm going to get tired of the fab Button, Button set any time soon, I LOVE it! 

I know I put effort into making the buttons look more realistic and dimensional so maybe this card isn't a truly 'Less Is More' design but it bothers me to have naked buttons!  This is ever since I took part in the online Simply Great Card Design class run by the wonderful CAS queen Julie Ebersole who had one rule - "no nekkid buttons!"

Supplies for Fabulous Birthday card:
Stamps: Hero Arts Thanks So Much clear set, Hero Arts Rectangle Doily & Fabulous Birthday
CS: Anita's A6 white card blank, SU! Barely Banana CS
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, SU! Barely Banana, various colour SU! marker pens
Tools:  XCut Mini Flower punch, Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper
Embellishments & accessories: PaperMania Adhesive Gems

Supplies for Everything Wonderful card:
Stamps: SU! Petal Pizzazz & Button, Button sets, Hero Arts Lots of Wonderful
CS: Anita's A6 white card blank, SU! Marina Mist, Melon Mambo & Rich Razzleberry
Ink: SU! Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, Melon Mambo & Rich Razzleberry
Tools: SU! Photo Corners, 3/4" circle & 1 1/4" circle punches, tiny hole punch for button holes
Embellishments & accessories: clear gems, SU! Dimensionals

Another Heartfelt Thanks Card

This is the card I sent to Kevin and Peter to thank them for my birthday gifts and flowers.  I used the Sweetheart set again, the little birdie is so sweet, this set is definitely one of my faves!  I made a shaped card using Labels Eight Nestabilities dies and my colour combo was Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White.

I embossed the card front with a polka dot folder and then brayered Baja Breeze ink over the embossing.  I punched the heart out of some old SU! patterned paper - from the Ski Slope pack - I'm so glad I kept this paper now we have Baja Breeze available in the UK!  The heart and birdie are both popped up.  I punched small dots of Baja Breeze CS to accent the Espresso panel and I punched a tiny Baja Breeze circle for the bird's eye.  I normally stamp inside my cards but I wanted to leave plenty of room for me to write my message so a birdie circle element on the envelope finished off the card.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Sweetheart set
CS: SU! Baja Breeze, Early Espresso & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! Ski Slope Designer Series Paper pack
Ink: SU! Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz & Baja Breeze
Tools: Labels Eight Nestabilities dies, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder, SU! Heart punch, circle punches,  brayer
Embellishments & accessories: 3d foam pads

Butterflies Bisque Pottery Birthday Card

I saw a video showing the Bisque Pottery technique on Diana Gibbs' blog, click here to go to the blog post.  You brayer the inside of an embossing folder with Crumb Cake ink and then emboss a piece of Whisper White CS.  It looks fab on Very Vanilla CS too.  Wow, I LOVE how it turns out and I couldn't wait to try it out.  I didn't have the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder at the time so I used the Cuttlebug 'Victoria' folder instead.  I didn't want to cover up the embossing too much with mat layers so I thought die cut butterflies would be ideal.  I do love the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die and I'm so happy I got it as a birthday gift.

I used striped glittered paper for the largest and smallest butterflies and for the middle one I used Razzleberry CS that I embossed with the Victoria folder.  I've added a pearly stamen doodad behind the large butterfly as antennae.  I then made a faux button for the centre of the butterfly using the Button, Button set and circle punches.  I pierced the button holes and threaded a strip of white CS through the holes.  I've popped Dimensionals under each layer of wings.  I love the new SU! Decorative Label punch and I decided to layer two part cut shapes for the sentiment.

I punched a Martha Stewart butterfly for the envelope flap and also decorated inside the card.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Wow Flowers & Button, Button sets, Hero Arts Fabulous Birthday
CS: SU! Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive & Whisper White
Patterned paper: BoBunny Jazmyne Mist
Ink: SU! Crumb Cake & Rich Razzleberry
Tools: Cuttlebug Victoria embossing folder, SU! Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, SU! Decorative Label punch, SU! Photo Corners punch, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, circle punches, brayer
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Old Olive satin ribbon, pearl stamen doodad, SU! Dimensionals

Oval Shaped Have A Wonderful Birthday Card - WT319

I checked out today's Ways To Use It WT319 challenge on Splitcoast Stampers to find the theme was ovals.  I like making shaped cards but I've not made a plain oval shaped card before so I decided to do that.  I combined two clear Inkadinkado sets and used a colour combo of Marina Mist, Rose Red, Wild Wasabi and white.

The card base was made with two Marina Mist ovals cut with the largest Petite Oval Nestability die glued together.  I cut a smidgen off the bottom of the back oval so the card stands up.  I stamped the flourish twice, stamped the sentiment and then stamped my flowers on a separate piece of CS and cut them out.  I stamped the flowers with Marina Mist ink, stamping off once first and then rock and rolling.  I attached them to the card with 3d glue dots and added blue gems to the centres.  I also added a smaller blue gem to the dot over the i in Birthday.  I stamped the butterfly circle from the Nostalgia set on the envelope flap as that stamp is just perfect for that!  It's a sweet little card, it fits in a 12 x 9.5 cms (4 3/4" x 3 3/4") envelope.

Supplies:
Stamps: Inkadinkado 'Flourishes' & 'Nostalgia' clear sets
CS: SU! Marina Mist, Rose Red & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Wild Wasabi, Rose Red & Marina Mist
Tools: Petite Oval Nestabilities dies
Embellishments & accessories: PaperMania Aqua adhesive stones, 3d glue dots

Easter Diorama Card Made By Jan

My friend Jan loved the diorama card we made at our card group a few months ago and she wanted to make an Easter version.   She came over to spend a crafty afternoon with me and this is the design we came up with.  It's such a sweet card!  The cute critter stamps are from Penny Black.  Jan coloured them, cut them out and arranged everything.  The sheep's face was stamped twice, cut out and is popped up.

She then decorated the back of the card.  Are Penny Black bunnies cute or what?!  Jan was delighted with how her card turned out.

Supplies:
Stamps: Penny Black Bunny Friends and Ewe, for you from SU! Fresh Cuts set, Happy Easter from Hero Arts
CS: SU! So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz & Whisper WhitePretty in Pink, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip & Old Olive
Patterned paper: SU! Bashful Blue Prints Designer Series Paper pack
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, various colours of SU! ink for watercolouring
Tools: Labels Eight Nestabilities dies, Martha Stewart Grass border punch, Nellie scalloped oval die, Scor-Pal, waterbrush & ceramic tile
Embellishments & accessories: green brads, 3d foam pads

Message For Diane (dmcgaw)

Hello Diane, you left a comment and asked me about the quilt thank you card.  Can you please email me by clicking here and I'll get in touch with you.  I tried to get your email address but when I click on your name it says your profile isn't available.  Thank you.

Two Potted Tulips Easter Cards

I decided to dust off my large Woodware flowerpot punch and use it with my tulip set to make another Easter card.  The first card is a shaped one made with Labels Ten Nestabilities dies.  This card has a colour combo of Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi and white.  The white oval was cut from White Shimmery CS.  I punched the flowerpot twice so I could have a contrasting pot rim.  I embossed the Pale Plum pot with the Square Lattice folder and then brayered Pale Plum ink over the embossing.  I attached a tag to the pot with a square rhinestone brad.  A Martha Stewart border punch was used for the grass.  My tulips are sparkly 'cos I added Star Dust Stickles.  An embossed butterfly managed to flitter onto the card and I added gems to the body.

I liked how the flowerpot card turned out so I decided to make another one.  This second card uses a colour combo of Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Regal Rose and Shimmery White CS.  I didn't make this a shaped card, my card base is an A6 card made with Melon Mambo CS.  For this card I stamped and cut out five tulips and I stamped a Hero Arts Easter sentiment on the pot rim.  My oval layers are mounted on a Wild Wasabi Labels Eight Nestie shape.  I embossed this with the Sizzix Regal Flourishes folder and brayered Wasabi ink over the embossing - recently my brayer has seen a lot of action LOL!  Star Dust Stickles was added to the tulips again to add sparkle.  But, wait - no butterfly on this card - it IS possible for me to make a card without adding a butterfly!

Then I stamped a white panel for the inside of the card and decorated the envelope.

Mini Tulips Easter Cards

These are two Easter cards I made with the sweet SU! Watercolor Minis stamp set.  The first card has a colour combo of Old Olive, Rose Red, Regal Rose and Whisper White.  I stamped the gorgeous flourish stamp from the Baroque Motifs set as a background using Old Olive ink.  I added pretty details of ribbon, a decorative punched border plus glitter on the tulips and butterfly.

This next card is a 4 1/4" square easel card.  The CS colours I used for this card are Pink Pirouette, Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso and Whisper White.  I used a piece of Cottage Wall patterned paper.  The stamping was done using Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum and Early Espresso inks.  I sprinkled glitter on the tulips and stamped butterfly.  The Pear Pizzazz panel was embossed with the Square Lattice folder.   The Early Espresso mat was cut with a Lacey Square Nestability die.  For the easel 'stop' I layered an embossed butterfly from the Beautiful Wings die over a butterfly from the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die - love how they work together!  I joined the two butterflies with a lovely Wild Rose Studio green polka dot brad.  I've placed dimensionals with the backing paper still on under the wings so the butterfly will stay popped up.

Tulip Easter Cards

Here are a few Easter cards I've made with the SU! Terrific Tulips two-step stamping set.  I'm really enjoying the two-step sets and this one is lovely to work with!  I've made another two Easter cards using the set and they'll be appearing on the blog soon.  The first card is a 4 3/4" square and the colour combo is So Saffron, Mellow Moss and Whisper White with an Early Espresso stamped sentiment.  I embossed the card front, envelope flap and the photo corner with the Square Lattice embossing folder.  I brayered Mellow Moss ink over the embossing on the envelope.  I added glitter to the tulips for a touch of sparkle.

The next card is a portrait oriented A6 size and the colour combo is Barely Banana, Certainly Celery and Whisper White with some black touches.  The butterfly is from another SU! two-step stamping set called Watercolor Minis.  I've added glitter to the tulips and to the butterfly.  I used a ticket corner punch on the white panel and then added silver nailheads.

The third card is another A6 size but this time landscape oriented.  The colour combo on this card is Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White.  The stamens and sentiment are stamped in black.  I stamped the Fern Lace background stamp on the Pear Pizzazz panel using the same colour of ink.  Oval Nestabilities dies were used for my image layer and mats.  I finished off the card front with punched photo corners and glitter on the tulips.  I stamped a row of tulips across the entire front of the envelope - it seemed a good idea to start with, not sure I'd do it again LOL!

Two Cards For The Less Is More Acetate Challenge

Today's Less Is More challenge was to use acetate.  I still had my black polka dot printed acetate out after having used it a few days ago so I reached for that.  There is something about bright colours with a touch of black on a crisp white card that I find really appealing.  I decided on bright butterflies with black polka dot acetate overlays with a black sentiment.

I wasn't sure the punch would go through the acetate, I was holding my breath when I punched the first one!  It worked fine so I punched the rest and punched my coloured CS butterflies.  I added texture to the CS butterflies by embossing them with the Square Lattice folder.  The CS and acetate butterflies were attached together with black brads and adhered to the card front with glue dots. 

I haven't stamped on acetate in ages so I decided to do that and make another card.  I love silhouette images for stamping on acetate and I chose the gorgeous leafy stamp from the Just Believe set.  I used a Sizzix frame die to cut out my acetate piece, the Baja Breeze panel and the black scalloped mat.  I got some unexpected texture on my stamped image, the die I used is an old Sizzix Originals die which has textured black rubbery material covering the die as opposed to the black foam that covers the dies nowadays.  I die cut the frame almost immediately after stamping and where the ink wasn't completely dry, the texture has transferred to the stamped image.  Totally unexpected but in a good way!

To attach the acetate to the Baja Breeze panel I ran a thin strip of tape across and then tied black ribbon around so the tape doesn't show.  I used silver brads to fix the acetate at the top.  I couldn't resist popping a Rose Red embossed butterfly on the image and this was also attached with a silver brad.

For the inside of the card I stamped another sentiment inside the leafy frame from the Just Believe set and then added a circle element to the envelope flap - with another embossed butterfly from the Beautiful Wings Embosslits die added on - that teeny tiny butterfly is SO sweet!

Supplies for Best Wishes card:
Stamps: PSX sentiment
CS: SU! Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise & Wild Wasabi, Craftwork Cards Softies Alabaster CS for card base
Patterned paper:  black polka dot acetate from SU! Night & Day paper pack
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: SU! Butterfly punch, SU! Square Lattice Embossing folder
Embellishments & accessories: black brads, glue dotsSupplies for thank you card:
Stamps: SU! Just Believe set
CS: SU! Baja Breeze, Rose Red & Basic Black, acetate
Ink: Jet Black StazOn
Tools: Sizzix Frame, Scallop die, , SU! Beautiful Wings Embosslits die, SU! Mat Pack, circle & scalloped circle punches
Embellishments & accessories: black grosgrain ribbon, silver brads

Quilted Thank You Card

I received a BRAK card for my birthday that had used the SU! Top Note die and patterned papers to make a quilt effect.  I really liked it and decided to make one myself even though I don't have the Top Note die.  Instead  I made my version using Labels Eight Nestabilities dies. 

First I cut 12 squares of patterned paper with a plain square Nestie die - using three different patterned papers.  My  squares measure a smidge over 1 1/4" (about 3.2 cms).  I glued them all to a piece of Whisper White CS, cut out my Labels Eight shape and embossed the quilt with the Victoria Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I then cut two larger Labels Eight shapes to form my card base.  I attached some Chocolate Chip ribbon to my quilt before gluing it to the card front and then attached a sentiment tag and Sweet Pea Stitched Felt flowers and leaves.  My faux stitches were made with a white gel pen.

I didn't want a Chocolate Chip card back so I die cut my back panel from Pretty in Pink CS so that I could write my message clearly.  I applied a strip of patterned paper and an oval sentiment.  For the envelope, I covered the flap with patterned paper.  This is the closest I will  ever get to quilting LOL!  It's a great technique for using up paper scraps and I'll definitely make more paper quilts.

Supplies:
Stamps:  thank you from Hero Arts Thank You Messages clear set, thanks so much from SU! Trendy Trees set
CS: SU! Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper pack
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip, white gel pen
Tools: Labels Eight, plain square & petite oval Nestabilities dies, Victoria Cuttlebug embossing folder
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Sweet Pea Stitched Felt accents, SU! Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, glue dots

Faux Wood Circle Thanks So Much Card

A while ago I came across a card where a stamper had stamped onto a thin wood panel and it looked fab.  I thought hmmmm, I have a woodgrain stamp - I can cheat and do it the faux way!  It's something I've had in the back of my mind to do and I finally got round to making it a reality.  I stamped the woodgrain on Creamy Caramel CS in Creamy Caramel ink and then stamped my butterflies image.  I used a Nestability die to cut the circle and I cut a couple of extra circles and glued them together to make the element a bit more chunky. 
I embossed my Old Olive background panel with a Texturz Plate and I added a circular thanks sentiment with a black brad centre.  I like how this turned out and will try it again soon - great for masculine cards I think!

Supplies:
Stamps: Inkadinkado Nostalgia clear set, Hero Arts Thank You Messages clear set
CS: SU! Creamy Caramel, Old Olive & Basic Black
Ink: SU! Creamy Caramel, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Circle Nestabilities dies, Sizzix Ivy Flourishes Texturz Plate
Embellishments & accessories: black brad, 3d foam pads

Two Butterfly Cards

I went to our SU! Make and Take evening last night and we played with the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die - which I'd already been playing with earlier in the day!  It's a lovely die, I'm SO glad I got it!  I was blog surfing a few days ago and I came across this butterfly easel card made with the die.  I decided to make one for my friend Jan who is poorly at the moment. 

Oh my word, this dinky little card is so sweet!  I used Pink Pirouette CS but sponged the edges with Pretty in Pink ink after embossing.  For the smaller butterfly I layered a Whisper White one behind a butterfly cut out from the black polka dot acetate window sheet that came with the Night and Day paper pack.  I attached the butterfly layers together with a pale pink polka dot brad.  A simple sentiment stamped in black finished off the card.  I then embossed the envelope flap with the Square Lattice folder and brayered Pink Pirouette ink over the embossing.  LOVE how that turned out!

This next card is the one we made with Joanne at the Make and Take last night.  Joanne also designed a gorgeous gift box made with the Mini Milk Carton die but I mucked mine up and didn't finish it.  I loved this card as soon as I set eyes on it on Joanne's table and I was so glad I've ordered the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder!  We brayered inside the folder with Pink Pirouette ink before embossing - with fab results, what a lovely look!  We embossed the Perfect Plum butterfly with the Square Lattice folder and the smaller butterfly was cut out of a piece of Springtime Vintage paper.  Silver elastic cord was used as antennae and we then added three tiny pearls to the body.  For the sentiment, we layered a Very Vanilla die cut shape from the Sizzlits 'Lots of Tags' set over a punched textured Perfect Plum Decorative Label.  The finishing touch for the card front was to add two pearls to the sentiment panel.

We then embossed a Pink Pirouette panel for the inside of the card, again having inked inside the folder first.  I added a sentiment to my card this morning and was delighted to find another of my stamps that fits the Decorative Label punch!

Supplies for butterfly easel card:
Stamps: SU! Sweet Little Sentiments set
CS: SU! Pink Pirouette & Whisper White
Patterned paper: black polka dot acetate from SU! Night & Day Designer Series Paper pack
Ink: SU! Pretty in Pink, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
Embellishments & accessories: Wild Rose Studio polka dot brad

Supplies for butterfly Birthday Wishes card:
Stamps: SU! Sincere Salutations set, inside sentiment from Hero Arts
CS: SU! Perfect Plum, Pink Pirouette & Very Vanilla
Patterned paper: SU! Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper pack
Ink: SU! Pink Pirouette & Perfect Plum
Tools: Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, die from Sizzlits 'Lots of Tags' set, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, SU! Decorative Label punch
Embellishments & accessories: SU! silver elastic cord, SU! Basic Pearls, SU! Dimensionals

A Trio Of Bright & Cheery Heartfelt Thanks Cards

These are some of the cards I've made to thank friends for my birthday gifts.  I've used some new SU! goodies - the Printed Petals, Sweetheart and Button, Button stamp sets, the Square Lattice embossing folder and some cute butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslits die.  I am so very chuffed at how these stamp sets work so well together * happy sigh *

The first card was for Debbie and Mike and uses a Wild Wasabi, Melon Mambo, Marina Mist and Early Espresso colour combo.  I started off with a Wild Wasabi A6 card and I added embossed Melon Mambo CS at the bottom of the card.  I stamped the stem from the Sweetheart set onto Whisper White CS and die cut an oval.  I stamped the large flower from the Printed Petals set in Melon Mambo ink and cut it out.  For my flower centre I stamped a button, punched it out and then I glued it on top of a few more punched circles so it is dimensional, like a real button.  To add further authenticity I pierced the button holes and threaded a thin strip of Melon Mambo CS through the holes.   I placed torn Wild Wasabi CS as grass to the bottom of my ovals and then I added two of the sweet birdies.  The birdies have gem eyes and are popped up.  The finishing touch to the card front was some Marina Mist ribbon.

Then I stamped a panel for inside the card and decorated the envelope flap.  I LOVE that textured punched heart on the envelope!  It's not a good photo, it isn't showing the true colour - the hearts were punched using Melon Mambo CS.

The next card was for Gill and Brett.  Part of my gift from them was the most gorgeous pair of turquoise diamante heart earrings which I've included in the photo.  So I thought it would be fun to have a turquoise heart on their card. This time I made a tent topper card using Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise and Early Espresso as my colour combo.  It tickled me no end to emphasise the 'heartfelt' aspect of the sentiment on this card with a heart shape plus a 'felt' flower LOL!  I included another popped up birdie with a gem eye and popped another gem in the centre of the felt flower.

Gill and Brett got a textured turquoise heart on the envelope and I then stamped a panel for inside the tent topper card.  The line of flowers image is from the Printed Petals set.  I needed to add one flower so each line was the same length, it lined up perfectly!  I am loving my clear mount sets, they are easy to use and fab to store. I'd still buy wood mounted two-step stamping sets so that I could stamp vellum Stamp-A-Ma-Jig imaging sheets but I've decided I'll be mostly sticking with clear mount sets.



The third card is a twisted easel card for Jan and Alan using a Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, Rose Red and Early Espresso combo.  Plus some My Mind's Eye patterned paper - which is GORGEOUS!  I love it when I can match a non SU! patterned paper with SU! colours.  Jan and Alan gave me the Sweetheart stamp set plus the heart punch as my birthday gift so I definitely had to use those for their thank you card.  More Square Lattice embossing, another big flower with a button centre, another birdie but this time a few embossed butterflies have fluttered onto the card.  I added blue gems to the bird's eye and the butterfly bodies.

This is how I decorated the envelope front and the bottom of the easel card.  Oooh, another new toy used here - the Decorative Label punch - which seems perfect for the 'Elegant Thank You' stamp don't you think?