Birdhouse Thank You Card

I've been having a long overdue, major tidy up and clean of my craft room. I went to put this strip of Old Olive CS away into my scraps but got distracted wondering if I could turn it into a card! The strip was a full A4 length but only measured 3 3/8" wide but I decided to make a card that would fit in a C6 envelope by having an element extend off to one side.

I stamped the birdhouse on Very Vanilla CS and cut it out with a Labels Four Nestie die, added the sentiment and then sponged Old Olive ink around the shape. The vanilla shape is popped up over the Chocolate Chip Labels Four shape. For the background, I embossed a piece of Very Vanilla CS with the Flourish Blooms Sizzix Texture Plate and sponged Old Olive ink over the piece.

After adding the Choc Chip ribbon I decided I wanted a pop of another colour so I added a Pumpkin Pie decorative corner and a felt flower with an olive crystal centre. After making this, it was back to sorting out my craft room. Oh, how virtuous I feel now I have a super tidy room - but I'm sure it won't be long before I get it all messy again!



Supplies:
Stamps: Inkadinkado Birdhouse Flourish, sentiment from Hero Arts Clear Design Thank You Messages set
CS: SU! Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip & Pumpkin Pie
Ink: VersaMagic Jumbo Java chalk ink, SU! Old Olive
Tools: Labels Four Nestabilities dies, Sizzix Flourish Blooms Texture Plate from Texturz Plates Kit #19, decorative corner die from Cuttlebug Vintage set, sponge
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, SU! Felt Fusion felt flower, olive crystal, 3d foam pads, glue dots

Recipe CD Wallet for Debs

I've been following the GI diet to lose some weight and my good friend Debs has recently joined me. I typed up some low GI recipes and copied them onto a disk for her and then decided to make a wallet to present the disk in.

I took my colour scheme from the Daisy Bucket patterned paper I used. The wallet measures 5 1/2" square and was made with SU! Ruby Red CS. I matted the patterned paper onto a square of Tempting Turquoise CS and before attaching that to the front, I attached the turquoise ribbon so that the wallet could be tied closed.

The text was computer generated using the Bradley Hand ITC font and I printed it out onto Creamy Caramel CS. I stamped a frame and then used Labels Four Nestability dies to cut the shapes. I finished the front by adding Creamy Caramel photo corners.



Then I made the wallet insert piece for the inside by covering CS with patterned paper, trimming it to size and punching out a half circle. I attached it by sticking thin red liner tape just at the sides and bottom. Then I slipped in the disk and project finished. This was much nicer than just emailing the recipes I think and it could also be passed on to someone else.



Supplies:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps Very Vintage Labels no. 4 Set
CS: SU! Ruby Red, Tempting Turquoise and Creamy Caramel
Patterned paper: Poppy Petals from Daisy Bucket Garden Gate collection
Ink: VersaMagic Jumbo Java chalk ink
Tools: Labels Four Nestabilities dies, Sizzix Sizzlits Photo Corners #2 die, circle punch
Embellishments & accessories: Offray turquoise satin ribbon

Message for Kathleen

Kathleen, thanks so much for your kind comment, that was very sweet of you! I'm unable to email you so I thought it best to post a message on the blog and hope you see it. You asked about the butterfly punch I used. It's made by Craft Tonic and it's called the Multi Detail Butterfly punch (ref no 726e). Click here to visit the Craft Tonic website so you can see the punch - the page will open in a new window.

If you check out their range of punches you'll see they make a pop up butterfly punch too which I also have and love! Click here to see a card I made with that punch - the page will open in a new window. There are video demos on the web site so you can see how the punched shapes turn out.

I bought both of these punches online from Emerald Crafts in the UK. I know you're in Australia and they do ship overseas! Here's a link to Emerald Crafts - again the page will open in a new window.

Thanks again and happy crafting!

Sunshine Card for SSHP15

This card was made for the Let the Sunshine In! challenge at the Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential blog. Click here to visit the blog post - the page will open in a new window. I took the challenge literally and used my oldie but goodie sunshine stamps! I've had these stamps for years, it's so nice to get them inky again after being neglected for a while.

The card measures 5 3/4" square and I used So Saffron CS and textured Bazzill black CS for the mat. I stamped the sun face first in black ink on So Saffron CS and then stamped the whole sun on white CS in So Saffron ink. I cut the face out and have popped it up with 3d foam pads. The 'May your day be filled with sunshine' sentiment is just perfect to use with the sun stamp! I like it 'cos you can use it as a 'just because' card or for a birthday.

I attached the scalloped strip to the white panel and then glued the dots that came out of the holes alongside for a bit more interest. The scallop was made with the Sizzix Lace Edging Decorative Strip die. The ribbon is So Saffron grosgrain. I don't use yellow that often but I do like it with the dramatic black and white combo!



Supplies:
Stamps: Stampendous Soleil Points & Stampendous Sunshine Wave
CS: SU! So Saffron & Whisper White, Bazzill Raven
Ink: SU! So Saffron, VersaFine Onyx Black
Tools: Sizzix Lace Edging Decorative Strip die
Embellishments & accessories: SU! So Saffron grosgrain ribbon, 3d foam pads

Cupcake Birthday Wishes for SSC135

This is the card I made for the Saturday Sketch Challenge #135 at the Stamping 411 blog. What a great sketch, I really enjoyed this one. Click here to visit the blog post - the page will open in a new window. Here's the sketch:



This is an A6 size card made with SU! Regal Rose CS. I coloured the cupcake with Watercolor Wonder crayons and a blender pen and used a Marvy pen to colour the chocolate sprinkles. When I trimmed the image I cut the candle off and covered the bottom part of the candle with a punched flower. I used the smallest flower from the Boho Blossoms punch, snipped the petals a little deeper and circled an embossing stylus in the centre on a mouse mat to add some shaping. I added a pink crystal to the centre for a touch of sparkle. I embossed the white square with the D'vine Swirl CB folder before popping up the cupcake over the top.

For my circle element I used a piece of SU! Spring Fling patterned paper. There are a couple of sheets in the pack that have a ton of small patterned circles and they're great for punching out and layering. After stamping the sentiment I added three chocolate candy dots.



Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Crazy for Cupcakes & Sincere Salutations sets
CS: SU! Regal Rose, Whisper White & Chocolate Chip
Patterned paper: SU! Sweet Always & Spring Fling Designer Series Paper packs
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip & VersaFine Vintage Sepia, Marvy Le Plume II Dark Brown marker pen
Tools: Square Nestabilities dies, D'vine Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder, SU! Boho Blossoms punch, circle punches, SU! Watercolor Wonder crayons, embossing stylus & mouse mat
Embellishments & accessories: Pebbles Inc. Chocolate Candy Dots, 3d foam pads

Playing with SU! Vintage Frames Set

I didn't choose the Vintage Frames set as my free Sale-A-Bration set last month 'cos the UK catty doesn't have all the matching punches which would make using these stamps so much easier. I know the circle stamp fits the SU! Scalloped Circle punch so that's not a problem but that leaves the two other frames and I wasn't sure how I'd get on cutting them out. I really wanted to play with this stamp set before I made my decision as to whether to get this set or not. Thank goodness for my very kind crafty friend Jan - she has lent me her set to have a play with!

As it was the oval and square frames I was most concerned about I decided to make a couple of quick cards to show Jan the results of my experiments. I'm very happy to report that the oval frame can be cut out using the oval Coluzzle cutting templates and the square frame can be cut out with a Labels One Nestie die - it's not ideal, it's not exactly the same shape and there's a lot of space around the stamped frame, but it's something!

For the first card, I had the Old Olive medallion stamped already so I just grabbed that to work with. I added a Choc Chip circle which I embossed with the Victoria CB folder and then I popped up the oval piece over the top. I added Rose Red photo corners and added the whole panel to the front of an Old Olive card that measures just a tad under 5".



For this card I used a Kraft base measuring 4 1/4" square and added a panel of Rose Red prints patterned paper. I used Labels One Nestie dies for the sentiment layer and mat and added felt flowers with a brad centre.

I'm much happier about owning this set now I've had a play and will choose this SAB set this month.



Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Vintage Frames set, SU! Medallion
CS: SU! Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip & Rose Red
Patterned paper: SU! Rose Red Prints Designer Series Paper pack
Ink: SU! Old Olive, Rose Red & Chocolate Chip
Tools: Sizzix Sizzlits Photo Corners # 2 die, Coluzzle Oval and Oval Companion cutting templates, Victoria Cuttlebug embossing folder, Labels One Nestabilities dies, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Felt Fusion felt flowers, brown brad, 3d foam pads

Happy Butterfly Stamper's Ten Challenge Card

Wow, this is a bright card! This is my card for Joanne's Stamper's Ten challenge this month. She gave us CS in Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink and Green Galore and a piece of Kaleidoscope patterned paper. I'm afraid Green Galore is NOT a fave of mine so it didn't make it onto my card!

I layered the patterned paper onto the front of my Tempting Turquoise A6 size card. I stamped the sentiment trail first followed by the butterfly direct to the white CS. Then I stamped the butterfly again on a separate piece of white CS and punched it out with the butterfly punch. I stamped the butterfly using Pixie Pink ink - stamping off once first before stamping the solid shape. I placed the butterfly on a mouse mat and ran an embossing stylus down both sides of the body to pop the wings up. I then placed half a dimensional under each wing with the backing paper intact so the wings will remain popped up. I then stamped the tiny flower at the end of the sentiment.

At the bottom of the card, I added a strip of Pixie Pink CS with some turquoise ribbon wrapped around. I then added a bright pink Prima flower. To finish off the card I added a pale pink pearl to the centre of the flower and six darker pink pearls to the white panel.



Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Flight of the Butterfly set
CS: SU! Tempting Turquoise, Pixie Pink & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper pack
Ink: SU! Pixie Pink & Tempting Turquoise
Tools: Plain & scalloped rectangle Nestabilities dies, SU! Butterfly punch
Embellishments & accessories: Offray turquoise satin ribbon, Prima flower, Prima pearls, SU! Dimensionals