Postage Stamps It's Your Day Card - Simply Stampin Challenge # 52

We have a sketch challenge for you this week at the Simply Stampin' blog and it's a fabulous layout so I hope you'll play along with us!

I decided to use some of the Everyday Enchantment papers - they are just SO gorgeous!  I used the lovely Limeade and Pool Party coloured papers and added some Soft Suede and Very Vanilla - what a luscious combo!  For my main image panel I stamped the border image in Pool Party ink and then I've stamped and punched out  4 postage stamps - I've popped up the two Limeade ones.  I thought it would be fun to use the post mark stamp from the French Foliage set along with the stamps and I stamped that in Soft Suede ink - I think it adds a sweet little touch!  My main panel and the sentiment got a sponged edging of Soft Suede ink. I added a scalloped border to the Soft Suede panel and I glued a Pool Party  Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border over the top.  I've blinged up my scalloped border - this seemed a good opportunity to use up some of my larger sized rhinestone jewels!

 
I punched the sentiment out with the Word Window punch - using the trick that lets you punch a longer size to fit a longer sentiment.  After stamping the sentiment I cut my CS into a 3/8" strip, fed it through one side of the punch and punched just one end, then fed the strip through again and punched the other end.   Here's a couple of photos that will show what I mean.

I used some more patterned paper for inside the card and the envelope - and yes, I added a postage stamp to the envelope again!  After I'd stamped the frame from the Elementary Elegance set inside the card I went to get the Happy Birthday stamp from the set - and I couldn't find it.  So there was a huge gap of time between me stamping the frame and stamping the Happy Birthday 'cos I had to turn my room upside down looking for the stamp!  In fact, I'd given up the search, grumpily resigned myself to having lost it and asked to borrow Jan's stamp when I realised I hadn't looked in the little drawer where I keep my acrylic blocks - much to my relief, there it was! I'll be more careful about keeping track of my cling stamps from now on!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Fresh Vintage, Elementary Elegance, French Foliage & Happiest Birthday Wishes sets
CS: SU! Pool Party Soft Suede & Very Vanilla
Patterned paper: SU! Everyday Enchantment DSP
Ink: SU! Pool Party, Lucky Limeade & Soft Suede
Tools: SU! Postage Stamp punch, SU! Scallop Edge Border & Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punches, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: SU! rhinestone jewels, SU! Dimensionals

Gift Card Holders With Crimped Pouch Envelopes

At the last Stamper's Ten Make and Take evening one of the projects Joanne shared with us was a cute gift card holder that went inside a crimped pouch - the pouch is made by altering an envelope.  I started mine there but have finished it off at home - and then I couldn't resist trying it with a larger sized envelope!

This first one uses an SU! Whisper White C6 size envelope.  You stick the envelope shut and apply a tiny bit of glue to the sides of the flap so that they will be firmly stuck down and not snag in the finished pouch.  Cut the envelope at 10.5 cms.  Punch the open side of the smaller envelope piece with the Scallop Edge punch.  Then run the larger envelope piece through the crimper - making sure you have the open side at the side as it goes through the crimper.  This ensures that the envelope shrinks widthwise which means the smaller piece can fit over the top of it as a lid for the pouch.  Rounding the top corners of the larger piece means it's easier to put the pouch lid on.  Here's my finished pouch which has been decorated with patterned paper, ribbon and punched Boho Blossom flowers.

To make the card to go inside the pouch, cut a piece of A4 Whisper White CS in half lengthways.  Score along the long side at 10.5 cms and 21 cms and then cut it off at 24.5 cms.  Punch along the short edge of the small section with the Scallop Edge punch. Apply Sticky Strip to the two short ends and fold to make a pouch inside the card for the gift card holder to slide into.  Fold on the other score line to make the card base.

For my card front I've added a patterned paper strip, a scalloped edge CS strip, a sentiment and I've popped up the Triple Treat flower.  At the centre of my flower is some contraband - that's what Joanne calls my eBay USA purchases LOL!  It's an SU! pewter Build a Brad.  In the tin you get  brad bases and clear epoxy dome stickers.  To build the brad, you punch out patterned paper or a stamped image with the 1/2" circle punch, stick that on the top of the brad and then cover that with the epoxy dome sticker.  Perfect - a brad to match your project every time!  I've used the yellow stripy paper from the Just Eat Cake DSP for this brad.

Here's the inside of the card with the scalloped pocket at the side where you can place a gift card, bank notes or tickets.  You can also see the pouch made from the two separate envelope pieces and you can see where I rounded the corners.  What a great project, I was so taken with it I had to make another one!

 

I thought I'd try with a different sized envelope and make a larger square card to go inside. I also took the opportunity of using another of Jan's PaperMania Designer Die Cuts as I thought the die cut shape would work really well as a pocket.  I've used an envelope that would be suitable for a 5" x 7" card.  The envelope measures 133 x 184 mms and I cut it at 13 cms.  This time I used the Eyelet Border punch to punch my pouch lid.  I sponged the edges with Pink Pirouette ink.  I cut the Designer Die Cut into 3 pieces so I had a narrow strip for the pouch lid, a wider strip for the card front and a shaped piece for my pocket on the inside of the card.  Here's my finished pouch with a Pretty in Pink Posy Punch flower on the bottom crimped part.

For my card base I used Pink Pirouette CS and I made a 12 cms square card.  To make my flower I punched two Pink Pirouette Fancy Flowers, spritzed them with water, scrunched them up a few times and dried them with my heat tool.  Once dry I added some Rose Red sponging and put another contraband Build a Brad in the centre.  I used a Spellbinder's Labels Trio die to cut out the sentiment.

Here's the inside showing the shaped die cut pocket.  To make the pocket I placed the paper die cut on a piece of Whisper White CS, traced the fancy edge, cut it out and glued the paper to the white CS.  I thought this would make a sturdier pocket, as the die cut is made of paper I didn't feel it was strong enough.  I then glued the pocket to the bottom of the card, making sure to apply adhesive at the bottom and sides only.  I stamped a sentiment and the card was finished.  I really like these crimped pouches, they make a lovely alternative to a plain envelope - and I get to use my new crimper LOL!

Supplies for white card & pouch:
Stamps: SU! Triple Treat Flower stamp, SU! Happiest Birthday Wishes set
CS: SU! Whisper White, So Saffron & Baja Breeze
Patterned paper: SU! Just Eat Cake DSP
Ink: SU! Early Espresso & Baja Breeze
Tools: SU! Scallop Edge punch, SU! Fancy Flower, 5 Petal Flower & Boho Blossoms punches, SU! crimper, SU! 1/2" circle punch, Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: SU! So Saffron grosgrain ribbon, SU! So Saffron brads, SU! pewter Build a Brad kit, SU! Dimensionals & glue dots


Supplies for pink card & pouch:
Stamps: SU! Posy Punch & Happiest Birthday Wishes sets, Hero Arts Yummy Treats clear set
CS: SU! Pink Pirouette, Old Olive & Whisper White
Patterned paper: PaperMania Parkstone Pink Designer Die Cut shape
Ink: SU! Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red & Old Olive
Tools: SU! Eyelet Border punch, SU! Fancy Flower punch, SU! 1/2" & 3/4" circle punches, Spellbinder's Labels Trio die, Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: SU! pewter Build a Brad kit, SU! Dimensionals & glue dots

A Bag Of Tags - Simply Stampin' Challenge #51

This week at Simply Stampin' the challenge is 'Totally Tags'.  I decided to make a collection of tags and package them up in a bag.  I wanted to make my tags identical in design but to be in different colours.  I chose my colours based on what 1/4" grosgrain ribbons I had in my stash - not counting white or vanilla.  I ended up with Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Tempting Turquoise.

I used the Two Tags die to cut the tags and the flower is from the Button Buddies set.  I kept each tag monochrome apart from adding a pop of colour with a contrasting button flower centre.  Each button has linen thread through the holes.  I punched the ribbon holes in the tags, threaded a length of ribbon through and tied some linen thread around the ribbon and tied a knot.  I then punched out the flowers and popped them up on the tags.   I've used 'Just for You' from the Ovals All set and the oval punches for my sentiment.  To finish the tags off, I've added punched, shaped Whisper White Boho Blossoms flowers and I placed a jewel in each flower centre.  

I then placed my tags in a bag and made a bag topper.  Here they are, all bagged up.  I used Marina Mist CS for the bag topper, added an Elegant Eggplant punched Eyelet Border and tied Marina Mist ribbon around in a knot.  I computer generated the 'Bag of Tags' using the 2Peas Raspberry font.  I've popped up a Marina Mist flower to finish off the bag topper.

I very rarely make multiples of anything - but there is something very satisfying about seeing a group of items together and I really had fun making this project!  I hope you'll play along with us at Simply Stampin' this week, I'd love to know how you'll interpret the challenge and come and see your terrific tags!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Button Buddies & Ovals All sets
CS: SU! Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise & Whisper White
 Ink: SU! Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip, Real Red & Tempting Turquoise
Tools: SU! Two Tags die, 1 3/4" scalloped circle punch, plain & scalloped oval punches, Boho Blossoms punch, Crop-A-Dile
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip, Real Red & Tempting Turquoise 1/4" grosgrain ribbons, Brights & Subtles Designer Buttons, linen thread, rhinestone jewels, Dimensionals, glue dots

Shabby Top Note Easel Birthday Card

It was my lovely SU! demo Joanne's birthday yesterday and this is the card I made for her.  I have a thing for easel cards and I wanted to try one made with the Top Note die.  I took my colour combo from the Spice Cake DSP I used.  When I tried the plain Pool Party CS on the bottom half I didn't like it just plain but then I wasn't sure I wanted to emboss it with a folder.  So to just add some texture I crumpled the CS and then lightly brayered Soft Suede ink over it.  It produces a very shabby effect but I have to say I liked it!  I did wonder what a non card maker would think of it though  - a dirty crumpled up piece of paper for goodness sake!?

I've inked the edges of almost everything with Soft Suede ink and a sponge dauber.  I added a glimmer brad to the centre of the flower.  I punched a Soft Suede Eyelet Border and added that to the Pool Party sentiment strip.  I've added 3 tiny More Mustard flowers with jewel centres and I popped the sentiment strip up.

I glued a Very Vanilla panel to the bottom of the card.  I decorated the front of the envelope with that sweet postage stamp image from the Fresh Vintage set and a strip of Spice Cake paper.  

I then decorated the envelope flap with more Spice Cake paper and another Posy Punch flower.  This card is definitely more shabby than the look I usually go for but I was really chuffed how this turned out!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Posy Punch, Happiest Birthday Wishes & Fresh Vintage sets
CS: SU! Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Soft Suede & Very Vanilla
Patterned paper: SU! Spice Cake DSP
Ink: SU! Pool Party, More Mustard, Pear Pizzazz & Soft Suede
Tools: SU! Top Note Bigz die, SU! Little Leaves Sizzlits die, SU! Fancy Flower punch, SU! Eyelet Border punch, SU! Itty Bitty Punch pack, SU! 1" circle punch, brayer, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon, SU! Glimmer Brad, SU! rhinestone jewels, SU! Dimensionals

Bloom & Bird Hello Card

This card came about due to playing with some of my new goodies - the Posy Punch stamp set, a crimper and the Memory Box Charlotte border die.  I loved the Posy Punch stamp set as soon as I saw it and I knew it would work well with another fave set of mine - Sweetheart. I used Pool Party CS for my card base, crimped a strip of Lucky Limeade CS and used Melon Mambo for my rounded tag mat.  The flower, hello circle and birdie are all popped up.  I added rhinestone jewels to the birdie's eye and the die cut border strip to finish off the card front.

Here's the inside and the envelope showing the gorgeous Love Blossoms wheel.  I die cut another Charlotte border for inside the card, this time in Melon Mambo CS.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Posy Punch & Sweetheart sets, SU! Love Blossoms wheel
CS: SU! Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Pool Party, Lucky Limeade & Early Espresso
Tools: SU! Fancy Flower punch, SU! 1" circle punch, SU! crimper, Memory Box Charlotte border die
Embellishments & accessories: SU! rhinestone jewels, SU! Dimensionals

Flourishy It's Your Day Card - Simply Stampin' Challenge #49

It's Saturday so time for a new Simply Stampin' challenge - plus we have a new feature starting today. A guest designer will be joining us once a month and the first guest is the lovely, oh so talented, Monica Gale!  I've been inspired by Monica time and time again, it's always a pleasure looking at the fabulous creations on her blog!  It's sketch week and I LOVE this layout I'll be coming back to this one again! I hope you'll play along with us this week, I'd love to come and see your creations!

I've broken out my Mocha Morning papers, I haven't used them before because I think the brown/black combo was putting me off.  Typically, I go for brighter colours rather than sombre ones.  However, I love the look (and feel!) of these Mocha Morning papers so I took the plunge - and I am so glad I did!  I started off by making a Crumb Cake 5 3/4" square card base and I attached my matted patterned paper layers.  Whilst this card was a work in progress, Joanne, my fab demo, delivered my SU! order, so naturally I had to use some of my new goodies!  I used a sentiment from my new Happiest Birthday Wishes set, stamping in black.

Then I worked on my Very Vanilla panel, starting off by stamping French Filigree in Crumb Cake ink, followed by the Baroque Motifs swirl in black.  Doesn't that baroque swirl go beautifully with that lush flocked paper?!  I've added some sparkly shimmer with Champagne Mist alcohol spritz.  Using black and Soft Suede inks I stamped 3 flowers from my new Fresh Vintage set and punched them out with the 1 1/4" circle punch.  I've popped them up and added a rhinestone jewel in each flower centre.

Here's a close up of the sparkly shimmer.

Time to move onto the inside of the card and I used another sentiment from the Happiest Birthday Wishes set, stamping and punching to get a layered look to the sentiment circle.  I stamped a Top Note shape with French Filigree in Crumb Cake ink and stamped the baroque swirl over the top in Soft Suede ink and attached the sentiment circle.

Lastly, here's my stamped envelope.  Yeah - once I started I couldn't stop LOL!  I adore that postage stamp from the Fresh Vintage set, as I always decorate my envelopes I'm going to have a hard time not using it on every one!  I love having a fancy frame to write the recipients name in and the frame from Elementary Elegance is just gorgeous! 

I mentioned earlier that I had new goodies delivered whilst I was making this card.  I have to tell you I got myself  in a right tizzy, I was so excited I didn't know what to look at or play with first!  Rather like 'road rage' describes drivers in an angry state, I decided there should be a name for the giddy state us stampers experience when we get new goodies - so I've decided on 'rubber rapture' LOL!  OK, maybe not all stampers, just us over excitable ones!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Baroque Motifs, Happiest Birthday Wishes, Fresh Vintage & Elementary Elegance sets, French Filigree background stamp
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Basic Black & Very Vanilla
Patterned paper: SU! Mocha Morning DSP
Ink: SU! Crumb Cake, Soft Suede & Basic Black
Tools: SU! Top Note & Circles #2 dies, SU! 1/2", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" circle punches, SU! 1 3/4" Scalloped Circle punch, SU! Postage Stamp punch
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint in an alcohol spritz spray, SU! rhinestone jewels, SU! Dimensionals

March 2012 Card Group Projects

Today was our March card group get together and these are the cards we made. I really thought I'd amass quite a few brownie points last month - I mean, come on, 3 masculine cards?!  But no, I was told last month that the majority of my masculine cards featured leaves or trees and that I needed to do something different.  That was absolutely right of course - and hey, who am I to argue against getting new supplies?  So I've used my new 'Lighthouse' set of stamps from Kanban for this first card - and look, there's that window die again!

I stamped the scene onto white CS, coloured with inks and a water brush and trimmed it to fit behind the window.  After I'd done it I wished I hadn't used plain white CS so I took watercolour paper to card group for the ladies to use.  Watercolour paper is so much nicer to colour onto as it doesn't pill, much more forgiving!  The window frame is cut from Crumb Cake CS and was stamped with the woodgrain using Soft Suede ink.  I glued the scene panel flat to the card and popped the window up.  The sentiment finished off the card front.

The Kanban set has a lovely compass image in - but it's only a quarter of the whole circle and I really wanted a full compass image.  I found one in a Tim Holtz cling set which I managed to snap up from eBay at a great price  So I've stamped the compass inside a few times and added a sentiment.

Here's the front of the second card.

Ta-da - inside is a pop up cupcake!

The cupcake was made with a set of Sizzix medium Sizzlits dies.  It gives a good size cupcake for a surprise pop up card.  The cupcake liners were cut from a sheet of SU! Springtime Vintage patterned paper - I thought it was the perfect choice!  I embossed the icing with a dotty embossing folder and added a cherry on top.  I stamped a lace doily for the sentiment circle to sit on.

A nice simple card to finish off as we needed to make one that wasn't too time consuming.  This card features a flower made with punched out hearts.  I saw this idea used on a card at the Glitter Pot - on their card they'd used a small heart punch for several flowers on a card.  I wanted to use my large SU! Full Heart punch to make a bigger flower.  The hearts were punched from some gorgeous My Mind's Eye double sided paper and each shape was edged with Broken China Distress Ink.  To assemble the flower I  punched a 2" CS circle and glued the hearts onto that.  I placed a small pop up foam dot at the top of one side of each heart to give a bit of dimension.  Whilst looking in my stash for a suitable centre for my flower I found a few of these gorgeous blue flower buttons but I didn't have enough for card group.  I had to get a few more from the shop - luckily I got the last few they had left, phew!  The bottom of the card was stamped with an elegant Penny Black background stamp.  A Regal Rose strip and a sentiment finished off the card.

Supplies for seascape window card:
Stamps: Kanban Lighthouse clear set, Hero Arts Designer Woodgrain bg stamp, SU! Cheer & Wishes set, compass from Tim Holtz 'The Journey' cling set, inside sentiment from Stampendous
CS: PaperMania A6 white card blank, SU! Crumb Cake, watercolour paper
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, SU! Soft Suede, Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, So Saffron, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, Crumb Cake & Early Espresso
Tools: Poppystamps Grand Madison Window die
Embellishments & accessories: water brush, 3d foam pads

Supplies for pop up cupcake card:
Stamps: Hero Arts Birthday Messages & Yummy Treats clear sets, Hero Arts Rectangle Doily
CS: PaperMania cream A6 card blank, SU! Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz, Chocolate Chip & Very Vanilla
Patterned paper: SU! Springtime Vintage DSP
Ink: SU! Rose Red
Tools: Sizzix Pop Ups Bigz die, Sizzix medium Sizzlits 'Cupcake' die set, Memory Box Woven Circle die, MFT Die-namics Dainty Lace Border die, circle punches, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder
Embellishments & accessories: 3d foam pads

Supplies for heart flower hello card:
Stamps:  Hero Arts Luscious Frames set,  Penny Black Majestic Composition cling bg stamp
CS:  PaperMania cream A6 card blank, SU! Regal Rose
Patterned paper: My Mind's Eye Tickled Pink 'Delicate' paper
Ink: Broken China Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Tools: SU! Full Heart punch
Embellishments & accessories: blue flower button, 3d foam pads

Lace 'A' Monogram Card - Simply Stampin' Challenge #48

It's a theme challenge at Simply Stampin' this week - and the theme is 'lace'.  I've been inspired by my fab demo Joanne for my card.  I saw this lovely card months ago she made that showcases the new 2012 In Colors and I've wanted to make a version of it ever since.  This lace challenge was the perfect opportunity!  Yellow is not a 'go to' colour for me but I seem to be warming up to it these days and I do like it paired with blue.  I've used So Saffron, Marina Mist, Night of Navy with Whisper White as my combo - and I threw in some Flirtatious DSP for the inside and envelope.

First I made a Marina Mist side opening landscape A6 size card and then cut my white lace strips using the Lace Ribbon Border punch.  I then punched 1" circles of So Saffron and Night of Navy CS, glued those behind the lace borders and glued the three strips to the card front.  I debated about adding a sentiment or not  and then decided to add a monogram instead.  So I stamped the A from the Broadsheet Alphabet set and used plain and scalloped circle punches to mat and layer.  I tied Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon around the card in a knot before attaching the monogram element.  The Saffron and Navy circles are both popped up.  I then punched So Saffron and Night of Navy itty bitty flowers, gave them some shaping (more influence from Joanne there!), glued a flower to each lace circle centre and gave each one a rhinestone jewel.  I also added a jewel to the monogram A letter.

For the inside, I cut a Whisper White panel, added a strip of patterned paper and just part of a punched Night of Navy Lace Ribbon Border.  I could end up using this as a birthday card and if so I'll add a birthday sentiment at the time - from my eagerly awaited Happiest Birthday Wishes set!  A 3/4" circle punch is the perfect size to cut out the flower at the centre of the lace circle border.  After punching a flower out I tidied up the edges with a sanding block, matted and layered onto plain and scalloped punched circles and added a 1/4" Marina Mist circle to the flower centre.  I glued a strip of paper to the front of the envelope and glued the scalloped circle over the top to finish off.

I hope you can join us at Simply Stampin' this week to take part in this lace challenge - I'd love to check out your lacy creations!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Broadsheet Alphabet set
CS: SU! Marina Mist, So Saffron, Night of Navy & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! Flirtatious DSP
Ink: SU! Marina Mist
Tools: SU! Lace Ribbon Border, itty bitty flower, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle, 1/4", 3/4", 1", 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle punches, Designer Sanding Block, large ended embossing tool & moulding mat for flower shaping
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Rhinestone Jewels, SU! Dimensionals

Triple Treat Flower Just For You Card - Simply Stampin' Challenge #47

This week at Simply Stampin' we have a colour combo for you.

It's a fab combo, if you want to give it a go but don't have the exact colours then you can always substitute, we'd love you to play along!  Just remember to use at least one SU! main product in your project - a stamp, punch, die, CS or patterned paper.

I wanted to use Wisteria Wonder patterned paper and as I went through the papers and realised there were 4 different patterns I decided I'd use use all 4 patterns on my card which led to the four squares grid design of my card.  The card measures 5 3/4" square, each Melon Mambo mat measures 2 1/2" square and each patterned paper mat measures 2 1/4" square.  On a side note, I was intrigued to know where the wording came from on the paper with the text on.  So I Googled and found out it's from Shakespeare's Sonnet 83.  Well, you can't beat a bit of Will Shakespeare to add a classy touch to a card!

I received some Melon Mambo embossing powder as part of a Christmas gift and I hadn't got round to using it so this colour challenge gave me the perfect opportunity to try it out.  I stamped the Triple Treat flowers in VersaMark ink firstly on Pink Pirouette CS and then again on Whisper White CS and I heat embossed with the Melon Mambo EP each time.  I have to say the Melon Mambo EP comes out a less vibrant colour than I was expecting, it's really lovely!  I die cut some Whisper White Little Leaves to tuck behind my flowers.  I punched out the flowers and I've popped up the 5 Petal flower shapes over the top of the Fancy Flower shapes and then popped those up also.  I really wanted to use the Fancy Flower shape with a circle centre featuring a sentiment for my 4th square.   I inked the Dot, Dot, Dot stamp with VersaMark ink, stamped onto Melon Mambo CS, heat embossed with Melon Mambo EP and punched out the Fancy Flower shape.  I needed to find a sentiment that would fit in a circle as the centre of my flower.  I inked only the 'Just For You' words on the stamp from the Ovals All set with a Melon Mambo marker and punched it out with the 1 1/4" circle punch - yay, perfect!  I layered that onto a Wisteria Wonder circle and popped that up on my Melon Mambo Fancy Flower. Some rhinestones finished off the card front.

Here's the inside and envelope - what no sentiment inside?!  Oh, I have plans for that Pink Pirouette square, don't you worry!  It will be stamped with the 'Happiest Wishes on your Birthday!' stamp from the Happiest Birthday Wishes Hostess set - I just need to wait a while before I can get my inky mitts on it!  I belong to a Stamper's Ten group and it's my turn for the hostess goodies this month.  Actually, our Stamper's Ten meeting should have been on the 14th but as it was Valentine's Day and Wendy had plans for that evening we've pushed it back to the 21st so I'm having to wait a whole week longer to place my order!  Honestly, as I said to my hubby, "get your priorities right, rubber before romance, that's what I say!"  Then we both burst out laughing as that saying could be taken in a whole other context LOL!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Triple Treat Flower a la carte stamp, SU! Dot, Dot, Dot background stamp, 'Just for You' from Ovals All set
CS: SU! Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Wisteria Wonder & Whisper White
Patterned paper: Wisteria Wonder papers from SU! In Color DSP Stack
Ink: VersaMark, SU! Melon Mambo & Wisteria Wonder
Tools: SU! Little Leaves Sizzlits die, SU! 5 Petal Flower, Fancy Flower, 1 1/4", 1 3/8" & 1/2" Circle punches
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Melon Mambo Stampin' Emboss Powder, SU! Basic Rhinestones & SU! Dimensionals

Sparkly Hearts Valentine's Day Card For Owen

Here is the Valentine's card I made for my hubby Owen using black, white and red which is a fave colour combo of his.  I also used the fabulous SU! You are Loved set and the sparkly red glimmer paper.  I LOVE that paper, I'm going to stock up with it so that I have lots to use for Christmas cards!

I started off by stamping the Hero Arts Starburst Lace stamp in Real Red ink and I covered the centre with a black circle and added a popped up sparkly heart.  I added the beautiful sentiment and more punched sparkly hearts.  I simply matted my panel onto a black layer and adhered it to the front of a 5 1/4" square white card base.

Here's the inside and envelope.  I used 'Hugs & Kisses' from the Hero Arts 'Sending You Love' set for the sentiment, I love that I can cut the sentiments out with a matching frame die! I coloured in the flower with a Real Red marker and a blender pen.  I added gold brads before gluing the red sparkly strip to the card.  A few more punched hearts finished off the inside and the envelope flap.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! You are Loved set, Hero Arts Starburst Lace stamp & Sending You Love clear set
CS: PaperMania square white card blank, SU! Basic Black & Whisper White, SU! red Glimmer Paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Real Red
Tools: Circle Nestabilities die, SU! Full Heart punch, Woodware heart punches, Hero Arts 'Small Tag Frame'  Frame Cuts die, blender pen
Embellishments & accessories: gold brads, 3d foam pads

Two Vanilla Spice Cake Birthday Cards

Mmmmm, Vanilla Spice Cake sounds rather nice!  These are two cards I made from a project pack my SU! demo Joanne put together for us for our last Stamper's Ten meeting.  I was chuffed to be using some new goodies from the Mini catty!  Oh my goodness, the Spice Cake papers are so gorgeous and I couldn't wait to try out the new Blossom Party die seeing as I'm such a flower lover! 

Both cards are side opening A6 size made with Very Vanilla CS.  For the first card I die cut the flower shapes, sponged the edges with Soft Suede ink, used the Paper-Piercing Tool to add some shaping and layered the bloom together with a Glimmer Brad.  Before attaching the blossom to the card I added Little Leaves die cuts that I'd also sponged.  The scallop border and Little Leaves are made with River Rock CS - the first time I've used this colour as it's not been a fave up to now.  It's taken 5 years for me to warm up to More Mustard so maybe I'll get to like River Rock at some point LOL!  I have to say it does go rather well with Very Vanilla and the Spice Cake papers.

I finished the insides and envelopes of both cards at home and as I was sitting down ready to do just that the doorbell rang.  It was the postie delivering some new Hero Arts stamps - so I just had to use those for my sentiments inside!  I added a strip of the yummy Spice Cake paper and another scalloped border.  For the envelope I stamped the leaves and then added a flower cut out from a piece of Spice Cake paper.

This second card really showcases the gorgeous Spice Cake papers - it really is hard to choose between all the patterns, each design is so lovely!  The More Mustard panel was embossed with the Polka Dots folder and cut at an angle so the circles could overlap the edge at a sloped angle.  Each circle was sponged with Soft Suede ink before being glued to the card.

Here's the inside and the envelope.  For my previous card I used a non SU! envelope with a diamond flap.  For this card I used an SU! envelope and they don't have diamond flaps so I usually decorate the front of the envelopes.  This time I glued a strip of patterned paper along the edge of the flap - and I rather like it! 

Supplies for blossom & leafy card:
Stamps: SU! Happiest Birthday Wishes set, Hero Arts Luscious Frames clear set, SU! Best Blossoms set
CS: SU! Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz, More Mustard, Pool Party & River Rock
Patterned paper: SU! Spice Cake DSP pack
Ink: SU! Soft Suede & Pear Pizzazz
Tools: SU! Blossom Party die, SU! Little Leaves die, SU! Scallop Border punch, SU! Paper-Piercing Tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Glimmer Brad, glue dots


Supplies for patterned circles card:
Stamps: SU! Happiest Birthday Wishes set, Hero Arts Luscious Frames clear set
CS: SU! Very Vanilla, More Mustard & Pool Party
Patterned paper: SU! Spice Cake DSP pack
Ink: SU! More Mustard & Soft Suede
Tools: SU! Circle punches in various sizes, SU! Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig