Red Wine Sip Sip Hooray Card

It was our dear friend Mike's birthday this week and as he is very partial to a glass of red wine I turned to the SU! 'Sip Sip Hooray' stamp set and 'Sip & Celebrate' die set to create his card.  Of course, I had to use Merry Merlot CS and ink!

I stamped the glass and 'Sip Sip' in Gray Granite ink and I popped up the glass on the Merry Merlot Stitched Rectangle shape.  I added three silver nailhead embellishments to finish the front.

  

Here's the inside and the envelope.  The 'Happy Hour' sentiment fit perfectly in the Oval Stitched Shape die and I loved how that layered with a label from the 'Stitched So Sweetly' die set.

 

I received a text from Mike saying "thanks for the great card.......you've still got it!" which really warmed my heart and made me smile!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Sip Sip Hooray' set
CS: SU! Merry Merlot & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Merry Merlot
Tools: SU! 'Sip & Celebrate', 'Stitched Rectangles' & 'Stitched So Sweetly' die sets
Embellishments & accessories: silver nailheads, SU! Dimensionals
Ruth

Butterflies Rainbow Card

Here is a card I made for a challenge set by Dena Rekow in her April 2020 Facebook class.  Dena asked us to make a card using a rainbow colour scheme.  That's guaranteed to result in a happy card - and we all need some happy during these Coronavirus lockdown times!

I used the 'smudge' stamp from the SU! 'Label Me Bold' stamp set and stamped that six times in a row using different colour inks - Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Granny Apple Green, Pacific Point and Gorgeous Grape.  It's very important to clean the stamp between inkings!  I then used a 'Stitched Rectangle' die to cut out the white panel, I added some black baker's twine tied in a bow and glued the white panel to a mat layer of black CS.  I stamped the butterfly in black ink on the six colours of CS, punched them out, shaped the wings and glued the butterflies in place.  After stamping the sentiment I added a Dena signature touch - I spritzed the card using a black marker.  To finish the front I embellished each butterfly with a small faceted gem - they're iridescent which carries on the rainbow theme nicely!

 

Here's the inside of the card and the envelope decorated with more colourful butterflies.

 

I really enjoyed spending time in my craft room creating this card.  The other ladies that took part in the challenge shared some lovely cards with the class group and it made me so happy to see such beautiful rainbow cards! 

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Label Me Bold', 'Butterfly Gala' & 'Rooted In Nature' sets
CS: SU! Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Granny Apple Green, Pacific Point, Gorgeous Grape & Whisper White (regular & thick)
Ink: SU! Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Granny Apple Green, Pacific Point & Gorgeous Grape, Basic Black marker, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: SU! 'Stitched Rectangles' die set, 'Butterfly Duet' punch
Embellishments & accessories: SU! black baker's twine & 'From My Heart' faceted gems
Ruth

Rosy Anniversary Card

It seems people are having a hard time getting greetings cards during the Coronavirus lockdown.  A colleague at work asked me to make a 3rd wedding anniversary card for him to give to his wife and I was very happy to fulfil the request!

I used my MFT 'Blueprints 14' die set and one of the suggested sketch layouts - the bottom left one.  Having a layout to use really makes a card come together quickly and easily. 

Pink and green is a much favoured colour combo of mine and I've used SU! Lovely Lipstick, Blushing Bride and Granny Apple Green colours.  The pretty rose stamps are from the Clearly Besotted 'English Rose' multi step stamping set.  For the flowers I used Blushing Bride ink for the solid layer, stamped off once Lovely Lipstick ink for the next layer and full strength Lovely Lipstick ink for the final detailed layer. For the leaves I used Soft Seafoam ink for the solid layer, stamped off once Granny Apple Green ink for the next layer and full strength Granny Apple Green ink for the final detailed layer.

I used a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to accurately position the stamped sentiment, fussy cut the leaves and roses and popped the roses up.  I added Granny Apple Green ribbon to the Lovely Lipstick mat layer before adhering that to the Blushing Bride layer which I adhered to a 5 1/2" square white card base.  To complete the front I added three Glitter Enamel Dots.

 

Here's the inside of the card and the envelope.  The three Blushing Bride hearts were cut out using the retired SU! 'Owl Builder' punch. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Clearly Besotted 'English Rose' set, SU! 'Memorable Moments' set, Apple Blossom 'Wavy Sentiments' set
CS: SU! Blushing Bride, Lovely Lipstick & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Blushing Bride, Granny Apple Green, Lovely Lipstick & Soft Seafoam
Tools: MFT 'Blueprints 14' die set,  SU! 'Owl Builder' punch
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Granny Apple Green ribbon, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Glitter Enamel Dots, Dimensionals
Ruth

Best Dressed Step Panel Birthday Card & Money Envelope

Fun with fussy cutting for this birthday card for my lovely friend Lesley!  I knew I wanted to use images cut out of some SU! 'Best Dressed' DSP so firstly I just sat and did a heap of fussy cutting. I roughly cut out the images and adhered them to Whisper White regular CS before fussy cutting the images.  Secondly I made a step panel card and then it was assembly time.  It took ages to decide on where to place the images!  After making the card and decorating the envelope I made a small square envelope to hold some money.  Here's everything together.

 

Here's the step panel card.   I used a gold shimmer pen to add some shine to the purse clasp and the 'Parfum' bottle.  Some pieces are glued flat but I popped up a few images and the sentiment banner.  I added a champagne rhinestone jewel to the bow on the handbag to finish the front.

 

Here's a side view of the card to show the construction.  I love these fancy fold cards as they fold flat to go inside an envelope.

 

Here's the back of the card and envelope.

 

Here's the front of the envelope and the small square money envelope.

 

The papers in the SU! 'Best Dressed' DSP pack are some of the prettiest I've seen and it was a total joy to be in my craft room creating this birthday ensemble for a special friend!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Perennial Birthday' set
CS: SU! Lovely Lipstick, Mint Macaron & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! 'Best Dressed' 6" x 6" DSP pack
Ink: SU! Lovely Lipstick
Tools: SU! 'Decorative Label', 'Banner' & 'Label Me Fancy' punches, 'Stitched So Sweetly' die set, Simply Scored, Envelope Punch Board, Sizzix  'Card, Square Flip Its' die set,
Embellishments & accessories: SU! champagne rhinestone jewels, Dimensionals, Tonic Studios Nuvo 'Midas Touch' Aqua Shimmer Pen
Ruth

Friend Gate Fold Card & Gift Bag Happy Mail

This is a little happy mail I sent to a friend recently - a card and a tag attached to a cello gift bag.  The card layout is a Dena Rekow design and I've used some oh, so pretty papers from the SU! 'Best Dressed' 6" x 6" DSP   Here's the card and gift bag together.

 

Here's the card - it's a fancy fold - sort of an asymmetric gate fold.  The gorgeous colour combo is Lovely Lipstick, Old Olive and Daffodil Delight.  I popped up the flagged banner and the Whisper White sentiment label.

 

Here's a view of the slightly opened card.

 

Here's the card fully opened showing the inside.

 

Here's a closer look at the sentiment inside the card.  'Sending positive thoughts and feel good wishes' is such a lovely sentiment and perfect during these coronavirus pandemic days!

 

Here's the envelope front decorated with a strip of the prettiest paper (in my view!) from the 'Best Dressed' pack and bordered with lines made using an Old Olive marker.

 

Here's a close up of the pretty tag which I tied to the cello bag with some Daffodil Delight stitched ribbon.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Layered With Kindness' & 'Positive Thoughts set
CS: SU! Lovely Lipstick, Old Olive & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! 'Best Dressed' 6" x 6" DSP
Ink: SU! Lovely Lipstick & Old Olive
Tools: Sizzix 'Banners' die set, SU! 'Label Me Lovely' & 'Label Me Fancy' punches, SU! 'Stitched Rectangles' die set, Creative Expressions Sue Wilson 'Pierced Tags' die set
Embellishments & accessories: SU! gusseted cello bag, Daffodil Delight stitched ribbon, Dimensionals
Ruth

100th Birthday Card For Captain Tom

What an absolute beacon of hope Captain Tom Moore is during these uncertain times of the coronavirus pandemic.  I have been so buoyed by Captain Tom's positive messages and cheerfulness and I was so emotional watching him complete his 100th lap!  What an amazing fundraising achievement from a truly inspirational man.  When I became aware there was an address where we could send cards to I knew I had to make and send Tom a handmade 100th birthday card. 

I've used a mixture of brand new and very old supplies to create the card and I based the design on a card layout and sample created by Dena Rekow.  Captain Tom looked so dapper in his navy blazer and claret and light blue tie on the day he completed his 100th lap and I used his sartorial elegance to influence my colour choices - opting for SU! Night of Navy, Merry Merlot and Balmy Blue as my combo.  I used my envelope punch board to make a patterned paper envelope as well.  Here's the card and envelope together.

 

Here's the card.  I popped up the top left and bottom right panels and I fussy cut and popped up the hat.  I added a dash of style with some silver nailheads to complete the card front.

 

Here's the inside of the card.  I think the 'May your Birthday be as special as you are!' is very apt and it was fun to stamp the keys so it looks like they're suspended from the sentiment!  I stamped the shoe on a separate piece of card, fussy cut it and glued it over the umbrella.

 

Here's a closer look at the envelope.  I used stamps and punches to create a name label which I popped up over the top of the Merry Merlot CS strip. 

I so enjoyed making this card for Captain Tom and I am so touched by how all of us have taken this extraordinary gentleman to our hearts.  Truly remarkable!   

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Well Dressed', 'Memorable Moments', 'Happiest Birthday Wishes' and 'Layered With Kindness' sets, Hero Arts 'Special Birthday'
CS: SU! Balmy Blue, Merry Merlot, Night of Navy & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! ''Floral Boutique' DSP
Ink: SU! Balmy Blue, Merry Merlot & Night of Navy
Tools: SU! 'Label Me Lovely' & 'Label Me Fancy' punches, envelope punch board, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
Embellishments & accessories:silver nailheads, SU! dimensionals
Ruth

Floral Embroidery Hoop Decor Item

Towards the back of the Stampin' Up! 2020 mini catalogue on page 66 there is a 'One Concept Four Ways' article, it's great.  The article has five different projects and shows how to make a card, gift package, decor item and a scrapbook page within each project using a variety of SU! products. One of the items on the page is a decorated embroidery hoop made using gorgeous papers from the 'See a Silhouette' pack of DSP.  It really caught my eye and I've wanted to have a go at making one myself for ages.  As I'm on holiday from work this week I had some time to get in the craft room.

I was on a video call with my friend Lesley and I told her I was going to make it and she suggested adding bees to it, well what a great idea!  After fussy cutting flowers and leaves I placed them on the hoop using glue dots.  I then sandwiched clear monofilament thread between stamped and die cut bees and adhered the thread behind the flowers.

 

Here's a closer look at the bees.  I coloured the stripes with a dark Mango Melody Stampin' Blends pen and added shimmer to the wings with some clear Wink of Stella.

 

What a happy project to work on and a very cheerful item to have hanging up in our living room!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Honey Bee' set
CS: none
Patterned paper: SU! 'See a Silhouette' DSP pack
Ink: SU! Dark Mango Melody Stampin' Blends marker
Tools: SU! Paper Snips for fussy cutting
Embellishments & accessories: embroidery hoop clear monofilament thread, SU! glue dots, clear Wink of Stella pen
Ruth