Birthday Stamps

One of my oldest friends had a birthday recently (waves to Jenny) and as always I was caught short and only remembered at the last minute.  You'd think after all these years I would be more organised *sigh*.  Anyway, I was inspired by this adorable card, especially the way she had punched the Postage Stamp out of coloured cardstock, and had to try my hand at something similar.

So one morning on my day off, after my daughter had left for school and before I started my chores for the day, I whipped this up.

As you can see, I've used a stamp from the Sale-A-Bration set Fresh Vintage (available FREE until the end of March with a purchase of $100 - contact me for more details) which coordinates beautifully with the 1" Square Punch from the Summer Mini (and of course the Postage Stamp punch, also in the Summer Mini).

And from start to finish, this took me around half an hour to make.  I have to admit to being quite proud of myself when I was done :-)

And look!  It's that framelit again (from my last post).  This time you can see it a little better;  in fact I sponged the edges just so it would stand out a little more.  The funny thing is I had stuck the card together then looked across the table and realised the Crumb Cake piece - my crowning glory, that was going to bring the whole thing together - was sitting there all by its lonesome.  Fortunately the "stamps" are stuck to the red border, not the layer underneath, and I managed to slide the finishing touch in *phew*.

Images © 1990-2012 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamps: Fresh Vintage
Ink: Basic Black, Crumb Cake
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler
Other: Lace Ribbon Border Punch, 1" Square Punch, Postage Stamp punch, Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Pretty Flowers

I love my Big Shot dies ... I find myself wondering how I ever managed without them, and can't seem to make a card without some sort of die cutting or dry embossing involved.  Here's a card inspired by this highly talented blogger - if only I could read French...!

I loved the white simplicity of the original, but found myself most inspired by the clever dimensional flowers - simply a die cut folded in half, but so effective!

In the absence of fancy brads, I simply used the circle from the Blossom Party die, cut in half and glued down for the flower centres.

And for the flower stem, the two step stamps from Awash With Flowers were perfect - one stamped "right way up" the other "upside down" so the stems bent in opposite directions.

mages © 1990-2012 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamps: Awash with Flowers
Ink: Old Olive
Cardstock: Pool Party, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Daffodil Delight
Other: Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Blossom Party Originals Die

I love butterflies :-)

I don't know what it is ... butterfly stamps and die cuts are just so pretty.  Here's a card I made recently which just makes me smile because a) it has butterflies and b) it was so, so easy to put together.

It's actually quite similar to cards I've made previously (see here and here, or just have a look at everything on this blog that I've made using this die), but if it ain't broke, why fix it?

Unfortunately the colours on this look a little duller than they are in real life - the weather wasn't cooperating and I just couldn't get the lighting I wanted.  The large butterfly is cut from Melon Mambo, a bright dark pink which has come out more of a red colour here.

As for the circle on the right, it kind of looks like it's supposed to be the sun, but it's really just because that corner needed something and this is what looked right.

I just realised what's missing.  Sparkles.  I might add some tomorrow - a rhinestone, perhaps, or a spritz of Shimmer Paint. I can't believe I forgot to add sparkles!

Images © 1990-2012 Stampin' Up!®


Supplies used:Cardstock: Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Other: Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch