Special Birthday Cards

Hello,
I hope this post finds you all well on this gloomy looking Tuesday.  The sun seems to be trying to make an appearance, but there's a definite feel of Autumn in the air.


At my card class last weekend, my most local crafty customer had a request for two cards for her niece's 1st birthday.  So while she set about tackling the 5 cards I'd designed for class, I started to pull together the cards for her niece.
I'd seen some gorgeous side-step teddy bear punch cards on the internet, so thought I'd try this for her.
She really wanted her nieces name and age on the cards, but I don't have any of the alphabet or number stamp sets yet, so I printed these bits from the computer and punched them out with the Decorative Label Punch and 1" Circle Punch, and then added the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Level 2 Hostess Set - Something to Celebrate.
The card base is Pink Pirouette and the drawers were made with the Modern Label Punch and then a Rose Red Designer Brad was added.
The teddy bear itself was made of various different circle punches and the Heart to Heart Punch and also the little heart from the Two-Step Owl Punch.
There was lots of daubing done on this card to give it some depth. 

The second card was again using Pink Pirouette as the card base, with a layer of Baja Breeze DSP which I thought kind of gave a sky backdrop.  The leaves were from the Two-Step Bird Punch.  The owl was punched from Crumb Cake card and we added a little ballerina outfit using Pink Pirouette card for the chest and Pink Pirouette DSP punched with one of the Itty Bitty Punch Pack for the skirt.  a little string of Basic Pearls were then added.  The balloons were punched with 1" Circle Punch and I again used the little heart from the Two-Step Owl Punch for the tie on each balloon and this gave me something to tie the Silver Elastic Cord to.  

While I realise a 1 year old might not be able to full appreciate these cards, at lot of work went into them and I know my card class lady, the lovely Joan, was very pleased with the results.

While these weren't the cards I actually designed for class, if you love these and would like to take part in a class and make 5 cards for yourself, then please check out my Saturday Card Class page.

There are details of the theme classes coming up over the next few months and the stamp sets we will be using.  Spaces are limited, so please contact me to book your space.

Happy Birthday Mum!

Yesterday it was my lovely mum's birthday, so I took the day off work and we spent it together..........

Whenever September comes around I always see sunflowers in the shops and I think they are simply gorgeous.  I case'd a card by Andrea Gideon to create a sunflower card for my mum.

I really hope it helped to brighten her day :o)

I used the Flower Daises #2 Die with my Big Shot to make the sunflowers, using Peach Parfait and So Saffron card for the petals, and textured Chocolate Chip card for the centres which was run through the Big Shot in the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.

The leaves are punched in Pear Pizzazz using the Two-Step Bird Punch.

The background is the flower image from Confetti stamp set - inked in Peach Parfait and So Saffron to match the sunflowers.

The card base is Pear Pizzazz layered with textured Chocolate Chip, and embellished with a couple of So Saffron Brads.

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Pear Pizzazz / Chocolate Chip textured / Peach Parfait textured and smooth / Whisper White / So Saffron

Stamps / Ink - Confetti / Peach Parfait / So Saffron

Embellishments - So Saffron Brads

Tools - Flower Daisies # 2 Die / Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder / Two-Step Bird Punch / 1" Circle Punch / 1/2" Circle Punch / Dimensionals / Big Shot / 2-Way Glue / Snail / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist / Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack

August Card Class - Pearly Owl

This is the final, and I think my favourite, card from my August Card Class.

There is only one small stamped image and the rest is all about punches!

The base is 4"x4" Certainly Celery card, layered with a piece of Whisper White and a piece of Pink Pirouette Designer Series Paper from the Subtles Stack.

The branches have been punched from Certainly Celery card with the 2-Step Bird Punch, and the flowers from Pink Pirouette card with the Itty Bitty Punch Pack Flower.

We have obviously used the 2-Step Owl Punch here, with Soft Suede card, some Whisper White for the eyes, and the same DSP as before for the chest section.

The sentiment is from Plane and Simple stamp set in Soft Suede ink, punched with the Word Window Punch and layered onto Certainly Celery card punched with the Modern Label Punch.  This was stuck down with Dimensionals.

The flowers have had a tiny Basic Pearl added to the center.

Very simple and very cute!

If you have liked the cards I made for my August Card Class and would like to come to the next class, it is being held at my house on Saturday 10th September.  Click onto the Classes tab at the top of the page for all of the details.  I'd love to see you there!

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Certainly Celery / Whisper White / Soft Suede / Pink Pirouette DSP Subtles Stack

Stamps / Ink - Plane and Simple / Soft Suede Marker

Embellishments - Basic Pearls

Tools - 2-Step Bird Punch / 2-Step Owl Punch / Word Window Punch / Modern Label Punch / Itty Bitty Punch Pack / Tombow / Dimensionals / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist

Happy Anniversary

This afternoon I am off to a family party to celebrate my Aunt and Uncles 30th Wedding Anniversary, so of course I had to come up with a card.  Well, two actually, one from me and my OH and one from my mum and dad :o)

The first one I made using the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit and 5 Petal Flower Punch to create some strawberries.  I used Poppy Parade and Pear Pizzazz, sponge daubed the edges with the same colour ink, and used the 2 Step Bird Punch for some leaves.  I popped on some little flowers as well, made by punching Very Vanilla card through the Boho Blossom Punch and sponge daubing the edges with Peach Parfait ink and popping a Daffodil Delight brad through the middle.

They were layered onto Confetti Cream card stock, which was layered on a Poppy Parade card base.  The sentiment is from the Hostess Level 2 set called Something to Celebrate which is in the mini catalogue.

The second card I made used Real Red, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White as the colour combo.

The stamp set I used is Stampin' Up!, but it's a set from the USA, called Valentine Defined.  I love it, and wish we had it over here!

The flamingos are inked in Versamark and then Real Red before stamping onto Whisper White and adding Clear Embossing Powder and heating.  The bottom Whisper White section was run through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.  The Real Red top section was stamped with the string of hearts image from the stamp set, ink Real Red ink to give a subtle background.  I added 1/8" Real Red Taffeta Ribbon across the middle and then layered everything together.

The weather seems to have decided to be nice for the party as the sun is currently shining.

I hope you have a wonderful Saturday xxx

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Poppy Parade / Pear Pizzazz / Very Vanilla / Confetti Cream / Chocolate Chip / Real Red / Whisper White

Stamps / Ink - Valentine Defined / Something to Celebrate (L2 Hostess) / Poppy Parade / Pear Pizzazz / Peach Parfait / Real Red / Versamark

Embellishments - 1/8" Real Red Taffeta Ribbon / Daffodil Delight Brads

Tools - Boho Blossom Punch / Clear Embossing Powder / 5 Petal Flower Punch / 2 Step Bird Punch / Scallop Heart of Hearts Embosslit / Sponge Daubers / Mat Pack / Paper Piercing Tool / Tombow / Dimensionals / Snail / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist / Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder / Heat Gun

My Workshop Birdie and Box

Oh my goodness,

I was about to write this post to show you the card and pillow box that we made at the workshop I did this past weekend, but first I thought I'd catch up on my favourite blogs and see what's been going on with everyone else.  How weird is it then that I clicked onto the lovely Amy Tidd's blog to find pretty much the exact same card on there as I did at workshop?  And Amy has scheduled her posts for most of this month as she's away on a school trip to Tanzania!  Well, her colours are So Saffron and Soft Suede, so take a look to see how great it looks in these colours too..............Amy Tidd

So I decided on using this card design for a workshop as it showcased the wonderful card stock, the beautiful Vintage Vogue stamp set, plus the 2 Step Bird Punch, as well as how wonderful the IDEAS BOOK and Catalogue is for getting IDEAS!!!!!  This card is CAS'd straight from page 16 of the main catty.

The ladies all loved this cute like bird and they had fun with the paper piercing too.

The card base is Blushing Bride with the two flower images from Vintage Vogue stamped over it also in Blushing Bride.  The we sponge daubed a piece of Crumb Cake card with Crumb Cake ink.  The Very Vanilla card had two lines of holes added, and the sentiment from Vintage Vogue added above in Crumb Cake ink.  The bird was punched out from Blushing Bride card and the leafy part from Old Olive.  We used the vine stamp to add a pattern to the main body of the bird in Blushing Bride ink, and then popped the wing on with a dimensional.  All the layers were then glued together.

The second make and take we did was using the Pillow Box Die and the Big Shot.

We used Baja Breeze card and cut the pillow box out, then popped it into the Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder.  The red sticky strip keeps this box stuck together brilliantly.

A strip of Elegant Soiree DSP was popped around the middle of the box and then we popped it open and pushed the ends into place.  Lastly we added some Silver Elastic Cord and a Designer Button.

So quick and cute.  Great for wedding favours, or table gifts for Christmas if done in different colours, or add some tissue paper and jewellery for a gift for a friend or family member, or yourself!

 

I had a thoroughly good time at the workshop on Saturday night.  Sam you had a beautiful home and wonderful friends and family.  I can't wait for the next one :o)

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Blushing Bride / Crumb Cake / Very Vanilla / Baja Breeze / Elegant Soiree DSP

Stamps / Ink - Vintage Vogue / Blushing Bride / Crumb Cake

Embellishments - Designer Button / Silver Elastic Cord

Tools - 2 Step Bird Punch / Sponge Dauber / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist / Snail / Dimensionals / Sticky Strip / Paper Piercing Tool / Mat Pack

Happy Birthday Rachel - card number two!

So today I'm going to show you the card I made for my brother, his girlfriend and little baby Ethan to give Rachel.  

I kept with the punch art theme!  I'm loving using punches in this way.

A few months back I purchased a punch art tutorial called In The Garden from a very talented lady called Kim Score.  If you love punch art, then check out her blog, she's come up with so many wonderful creations.

So I am going to work through all six of the tutorials I purchased, but I thought I'd start with the Bumble Bee.

Isn't he just the cutest little flower delivery guy you've ever seen?
This is mostly made from the 2-Step Bird Punch along with a few Circle Punches and the Itty Bitty Shapes Flower Punch.
Pretty quick and simple if you know how..........
I mounted the little guy on Melon Mambo card base, with Pumkin Pie backing to the sentiment.  This was stamped in Melon Mambo using the Curly Cute stamp set and the little cupcake is from Itty Bitty Bits.

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Melon Mambo / Pumpkin Pie / Whisper White

Stamps / Ink -Curly Cute / Itty Bitty Bits / Melon Mambo

Embellishments - None

Tools - Scallop Border Punch/ Decorative Label Punch / Circle Punches / 2-Step Bird Punch / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist / Dimensionals / 2-Way Glue

Monkey Madness!!!!

Hi everyone - I wanted to share with you a card I have made for the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge this week.

I went a bit monkey mad and ended up stamping some Fox and Friends monkeys in Rose Red and cutting them out.  A little fiddly, but fairly quick to do.  It's just the tail that gets in the way a bit, but thankfully I didn't accidentally chop any off!  

I used Pear Pizazz DSP (level 1 hostess reward) for a leafy backdrop, and also stamped onto some Crumb Cake card with the leaves from the Confetti stamp set, in Versamark.  The branches are cut in Pear Pizazz from the 2-Step Bird Punch.

They are definitely some playful little monkeys, hanging out in the trees!

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Rose Red / Crumb Cake / Whisper White / Pear Pizzazz DSP (L1 Hostess)

Stamps / Ink - Fox and Friends / Afterthoughts (L1 Hostess) / Plane and Simple / Confetti / Versamark / Rose Red

Embellishments -  1/2" Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon

Tools - 2-Step Bird Punch / 1 1/2" Scallop Square Punch / Sticky Strip / Stamp-a-ma-jig / Snail / Dimensionals

Anniversary - take two!

As well as the Anniversary card I made for my brother and his girlfriend from me, I was also asked to make one for my brother to receive from Alex.  I obviously wanted it to be completely different to the one I'd made for them both, so I used the Internet to search for ideas and ended up using the Two-Step Bird Punch for this one.

This punch is amazing!  Like the owl punch it has so many uses, though I stuck with it's primary function as a bird.

I decided to use the Springtime Vintage DSP from the mini catalogue, though I only used a small strip of it.  However, I did use the colours from this paper stack to form the basis of the card.  Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz and Crumb Cake, plus some Whisper White.

I punched out a couple of birds in Rose Red and dauber the edges with the same colour ink.  The hearts were punched from Rose Red card also with the Small Heart Punch, and again daubed with ink on the edges.

The sentiment is from a retired stamp set called Sealed with a Kiss.  I really love this script writing with the heart linking the words.  It's such a shame it was retired at the end of the last catalogue.

The hearts and the bird wings were all popped onto the card with Dimensionals to prevent the card looking to flat.  I think it's a really cute card and hope that Alex is pleased with ti as well.

What do you think? - let me know by leaving a comment below.........

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Whisper White / Rose Red / Crumb Cake textured / Pear Pizzazz smooth and textured / Springtime Vintage DSP

Stamps / Ink - Sealed with a Kiss (retired) / Rose Red

Embellishments - None

Tools - Word Window Punch / Two-Step Bird Punch / Small Heart Punch / Dimensionals / Trimmer / Daubers / 2-Way Glue / Stampin Scrub and Mist