21st Birthday Square Flip Card

Here's the 21st birthday flip card I gave to Nicola from me.  I used the SU! 'Number of Years' stamp set which has the sweetest watercolour floral images along with the numbers and other elements in the set.  I die cut the square flip card from SU! Mint Macaron CS using a Sizzix die.  I stamped the white square panel with the leaves, flowers and sentiment and added the '21'.  I stacked several layers together so that the numbers were dimensional.  I glued patterned paper to the back panel, added Rose Red punched photo corners, adhered a Rose Red border die cut to the front panel of the flip card and sprinkled on some rhinestones.

Here's a closer look at the stamped panel.

Here's the reverse side of the flip panel which continues the "the number of years..." sentiment with "the world has been a better place because you're in it.".

Here's the back of the card.

Here's the envelope which I made from the same patterned paper I'd used on the card - I love how that ties everything together!  I popped up a name label to finish.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Number of Years' set, Hero Arts 'Yummy Treats' set
CS: SU! Mint Macaron, Rose Red & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! 'English Garden'  DSP
Ink: SU! Old Olive, Rose Red, Mint Macaron & Soft Suede
Tools: Sizzix 'Card, Square Flip Its' die, SU! 'Large Numbers' Framelits dies, MFT 'Delicate Lace Border' die, Envelope Punch Board, Sizzix 'Card, Fancy Frame Flip-Its #2' Framelits die set
Embellishments & accessories: SU! rhinestone jewels, Dimensionals 

Bright Butterfly 21st Birthday Concertina Card & 21 Badge

Nicola is a work colleague of mine and she has recently celebrated her 21st birthday.  Some fellow Wilko colleagues asked me to make a 21st birthday card large enough for everyone in the store to sign.  I love Nicola to bits, she is delightfully bubbly and full of fun so I chose to use bright colours for her card!  I got to use some new goodies and I resurrected some old, long neglected goodies too.  I made a concertina card by gluing two A5 sized card blanks together.  I adhered a sentiment banner to the second panel and then added three Very Vanilla panels decorated with patterned paper strips and a flower cluster so each person had space to write their personal message to Nicola.

Here's the first panel of the concertina card.  I embossed the Basic Gray banner and the Old Olive piece with a butterfly embossing folder, added ribbon to the Old Olive piece, attached both pieces to the Melon Mambo layer, separating them with a strip of Silver Glimmer Paper.  I dusted off my SU! Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die to make the layered butterfly element.  I've recently purchased the SU! Number of Years stamp set plus the matching number Framelits dies so I used those for the sentiments and numbers.  I die cut the 21 several times, glued the layers together, finishing with numbers cut from the sparkly Silver Glimmer Paper and glued the numbers and 'st' flag in place.  I popped up the sentiment banners and added punched flowers with rhinestone centres. 

Here's the second and third panels.  The lovely sentiment reads: " Wishing you many happy moments of discovering new things in life.  Have a wonderful birthday!"

Here's the last back panel and the back of the envelope which I decorated by gluing patterned paper to the flap.

Here's the front of the envelope with a die cut name label, more flowers and a tiny butterfly.  I re-used a lovely cream pearlescent envelope that I received my birthday card from my hubby in.  Owen never writes my name on envelopes for cards that he gives to me because he now knows I add them to my stash to be re-used!

Staff in Wilko stores are currently wearing badges to promote the Order and Collect service that Wilko offer.  I decided it would be fun to gussy up one of the spare badges for the birthday girl!  I die cut a circle of patterned paper and glued that to the front of the badge, I then added grey and pink circles - I embossed the pink circle with the butterfly embossing folder I'd used on the card and popped that layer up.  I then added layered 21 numbers, again finishing with a top layer of sparkly Silver Glimmer Paper.  I finished off the badge with a tiny die cut butterfly.  I thought I'd make something for the badge to be presented on and it just so happened that the Tonic Studios 'Boudoir Square' (diamond lattice shaped) die I've borrowed from my friend Wendy was perfect!  I cut the lattice from Basic Gray CS, popped that up on a square of Melon Mambo CS, glued a circle of Pacific Point CS over the centre of the lattice and attached the badge to the Pacific Point circle with 3D foam tape.  I sprinkled on a few rhinestones to finish. 

I had to decorate an envelope for the badge holder of course!  Here's the front.

Here's the back of the envelope.   I thoroughly enjoyed making this happy ensemble for Nicola, it was great fun!  I'll be back soon to share the card I made to give her just from me.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Number of Years' & 'Botanicals For You' sets, Stampendous 'Birthday Wish'
CS: SU! Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Basic Gray & Very Vanilla, SU! Silver Glimmer Paper
Patterned paper: SU! 'Sunshine & Sprinkles' DSP
Ink: SU! Pacific Point & Melon Mambo
Tools: SU! 'Beautiful Butterflies' Bigz die, SU! 'Large Numbers' Framelits dies, SU! 'Beautiful Wings' Embosslits die, Sizzix 'Banners' & 'Banners, Fancy' die sets, Tonic Studios Indulgence 'Boudoir Square' base die set, circle Nestabilities dies, EK Success small flower punch, XCut corner rounder punch, Crafts Concepts 'Butterfly Kisses' embossing folder
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Melon Mambo stitched satin ribbon, SU! rhinestone jewels, SU! Dimensionals, 3D foam tape

Bright Blooms & Butterfly Birthday Card For Lesley

This is the birthday card I made for my lovely friend Lesley using the SU! 'Kinda Eclectic' set which I know she really likes.  I really wasn't sure about the set when it first came out but I absolutely love it now and it works so well with other stamps!  I opted for a very bright combo of Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo and white.  I stamped first and second generation images to get some shade variation.  I popped up the Melon Mambo panel and the two blooms.  I shaped the flowers for dimension, added rhinestone jewels to the flower centres and sprinkled on a few Bermuda Bay sequins to finish the card front.

Here's the inside and the envelope.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Kinda Eclectic', 'Birthday Blossoms', 'Flower Shop', 'Petite Petals'  & 'Papillon Potpourri' sets
CS: SU! Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Bermuda Bay & Melon Mambo
Tools: Memory Box 'Cross Stitched Frame' rectangle die, rectangle Nestabilities die, SU! 'Pansy', 'Petite Petals' & 'Bitty Butterfly' punches
Embellishments & accessories:  SU! rhinestone jewels, Bermuda Bay sequin trim, Dimensionals

Flowers, Foliage & Butterflies Just For You Card

This is a card I made for a close friend following a sudden bereavement.  I'm not comfortable making 'with sympathy' cards and so I chose to make a 'Just for you' card.  I wanted to create an elegant card but without it being too sombre.  I like the splashes of Daffodil Delight alongside the Mossy Meadow.  I've used SU! 'Blooming with Kindness', 'Butterfly Basics' and 'Gorgeous Grunge' sets along with the 'Beautiful Wings' Embosslits die.  I placed a strip of ribbon on a die cut border and adhered a tied bow on top using a glue dot.  I inked the edges of the white panel and the butterflies with Daffodil Delight ink and added rhinestones to the butterfly bodies.

Here's the inside of the card and the envelope.  I'm always happy to do a spot of layered stamping!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Blooming with Kindness', 'Butterfly Basics' & 'Gorgeous Grunge' sets, Personal Impressions 'Everyday Messages' medium & large sets
CS: SU! Mossy Meadow, Daffodil Delight & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Mossy Meadow, Daffodil Delight & Soft Suede
Tools: SU! 'Beautiful Wings' Embosslits die, MFT Scallop Ribbon die, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Daffodil Delight stitched ribbon, SU! rhinestone jewels

Grungy Masculine Thank You Card

Here is a card I made for my supervisor at work to say how much I appreciated his patience, understanding and allowing me flexibility during Owen's illness and  ongoing recovery.  Hmmm, no girly flowers or butterflies allowed but I felt it was OK to use a flourish stamp along with grungy elements as David has a lovely flourish tattoo on his arm!  EDITED TO ADD: it turns out it isn't a flourish - it's the tail of a phoenix!  As the whole tattoo isn't visible I didn't know it was a phoenix and it looked like a vine flourish to me!

I opted for a safe blue, grey and white masculine colour combo, distressed the edges of the white panel with a distress tool and inking and added a selection of silver brads.  I did sneak a bit of ribbon in but as it was only to embellish a small label tag I thought that was acceptable!

Here's the inside of the card.  The sentiment is from the fab SU! 'Perfect Pairings' set.

Here's the envelope.  I stamped the name using the AlteNew 'Invisible Alpha' set.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Gorgeous Grunge' & 'Perfect Pairings' sets, IndigoBlu 'Vintage Flourish' , Inkadinkado 'Nostalgia' set, Penny Black 'Embellishments' set, AlteNew 'Invisible Alpha' set
CS: SU! Pacific Point & Whisper White
Ink: Memento London Fog & Gray Flannel, SU! Pacific Point
Tools: paper piercer, edge distresser tool, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: brads, SU! Marina Mist ribbon, Dimensionals 

April 2016 Card Group Projects

Thursday 7th April was my birthday and the date for our monthly card group meeting.  What a great way to spend a birthday - crafting with a bunch of friends plus hand made cards, tea, cake and pressies!

Back in February I used the SU! Rose Wonder stamp set and matching dies for two of the card group projects and I told my ladies they'd be seeing them again for sure!  This time I've opted to use a die cut rose shape as a stencil.  I placed the stencil on the card front and kept it in place with a couple of pieces of low tack tape.  I used ink blending sponges to apply Peeled Paint and Worn Lipstick Distress Inks through the stencil and to the whole card front.  I adjusted the dabbing pressure to get some shading.  I completed the card front with a stamped sentiment and a liberal spritzing of Champagne Shimmer Mist - although that doesn't show up in the photo at all, in real life the card has a lovely sparkle!  A very rare one layer card from me!

I stamped a sentiment and used only part of the die cut stencil to decorate the inside of the card and the envelope.

So - what to do with that leftover inked rose die cut stencil?  Use it to make another card of course - the ladies got a bonus fourth card this month!  I made a 5 1/2" square Pink Pirouette card base, glued the die cut rose in place, added the Old Olive dotty paper strip and popped up the sentiment label.  The sentiment label is a Spellbinders Grommet Tag die cut shape and I wanted to place something over the holes in the tag.  I have a Sizzix Sizzlits gift die that has dots the perfect size - just a few passes through my Big Shot and I had enough dots for everyone at card group!

Inside I stamped an old sentiment stamp that has been in my stash for ever and used the very pretty rose image from the retired SU! 'Elements of Style' set.

For the next card I've used the large SU! 'Definitely Dahlia' background stamp - what a beautiful, bold bloom image!  I stamped part of the image at the bottom left of the white panel, added the die cut 'Best Wishes' sentiment at the top and separated the two elements with a narrow strip of silver ribbon over the top of an Elegant Eggplant CS strip.  I attched the white panel to the front of an Elegant Eggplant A6 card base.  It doesn't show up in the photo but I added a touch of sparkle to the dahlia by painting the white areas of the flower with the clear Wink of Stella pen.  More sparkle was supplied by the addition of a few rhinestones.

Here's the inside and the envelope.

For the final card I CASEd this fab card I came across made by Lisa Folley at Crafting Cottage.  This card really caught my eye and I was very happy when I realised I owned all the necessary stuff for me to make my own version!  I'm also happy to dig out long neglected items like my SU! Lattice Bigz die and my Craft Tonic butterfly punch - new crafty goodies are great but it's fun to show some love to old stash items too!  I used Bermuda Bay along with the white for my colour combo - I cannot seem to get a decent photo showing the correct greeny/blue Bermuda Bay colour, hey ho!  I popped up the die cut doily and the lattice shape and added aqua gems to the punched butterflies.

Here's the inside and the envelope, simply decorated with a lace border stamp.  I decided to leave this card without a sentiment for now.  I can always add a suitable sentiment later on when I know what I'll be using the card for.

Supplies for stencilled rose Happy Birthday card:
Stamps: SU! 'Rose Wonder' set, Hero Arts 'Messages with Flourish' set
CS: PaperMania A6 white card blank
Ink: Tim Holtz Peeled Paint & Worn Lipstick Distress Inks, SU! Mossy Meadow
Tools: SU! 'Rose Garden' Thinlits die set, Smoothies ink blending sponges
Embellishments & accessories: Champagne Shimmer Mist 

Supplies for die cut rose Birthday cheer and wishes card:
Stamps: SU! 'Cheer & Wishes' & 'Elements of Style' sets, inside sentiment from Hero Arts
CS: SU! Pink Pirouette & Whisper White 
Patterned paper: SU! Old Olive Polka Dot Parade DSP
Ink: Tim Holtz Peeled Paint & Worn Lipstick Distress Inks
Tools: SU! 'Rose Garden' Thinlits die set, Spellbinders 'Grommet Tags' die, Sizzix Sizzlits gift die
Embellishments & accessories: Woodware self adhesive white lace ribbon, Prima flowers, PaperMania black brad, SU! pearl jewels, Dimensionals

Supplies for dahlia Best Wishes card:
Stamps: SU! 'Definitely Dahlia' background stamp, SU! 'Beautiful Birthday'
CS: SU! Elegant Eggplant & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Elegant Eggplant
Tools: Sue Wilson 'Best Wishes' die, 1/4" circle punch
Embellishments & accessories: Wink of Stella clear pen, narrow silver ribbon, rhinestone jewels

Supplies for doily, lattice & butterflies card:
Stamps: SU! 'Viola's Lace' stamp (unmounted from wheel)
CS: SU! Bermuda Bay & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Bermuda Bay
Tools: SU! 'Lattice' Bigz die, Cheery Lynn 'French Pastry' doily die, Craft Tonic multi detail butterfly punch, Crafts Too 5" x 5" 'Dots' embossing folder
Embellishments & accessories: PaperMania aqua gems, 3D foam tape & pads

Chick Hang In There Card

Love at first sight - that adorable chick in the SU! 'Honeycomb Happiness' Sale-A-Bration stamp set!  I wanted to make an encouraging card for a friend going through a tough time and I thought the 'Hang In There' sentiment was perfect for this.

I sponged a sky, stamped grass and stamped the chick and balloon onto a piece of watercolour paper.  I stamped the chick and balloon again so I could watercolour them, fussy cut them and pop them up.  I added a hint of sparkle to the balloon with a clear Wink of Stella pen.  I made a Bermuda Bay A6 sized card base and glued the chick panel to a piece of Early Espresso CS. I added the ribbon, button and brads to the Early Espresso piece and then glued the entire panel to the card front.

Here's the inside and the envelope decorated with more sparkly balloons. Rare precious time spent in my craft room is reason enough to smile - throw in an adorable stamped image and well, let's say there was a big ol' goofy grin on my face the whole time I was making this card!  

Owen's recovery is slow and is going to take a long time.  With working and keeping things going at home my opportunities to get inky are few and far between and my energy levels are depleted.  I'm finding it hard going at the moment to be truthful.  Just when I really need my crafty therapy I don't have the time or energy for it.  It's very frustrating - fingers crossed the situation will improve soon! 

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Honeycomb Happiness' & 'In the Meadow' sets
CS: SU! Bermuda Bay, Early Espresso & Whisper White, watercolour paper
Ink:  VersaFine Vintage Sepia, SU! Soft Sky, Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi, Clear Wink of Stella pen
Tools: water brush
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Bermuda Bay ribbon, Daffodil Delight button, brad bases & Daffodil Delight Candy Dots, Dimensionals