Flat Shaker Card - Happy Birthday

Hi crafters,

I have a flat shaker card for you today for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge which has a Happy Birthday theme this week.  This is only the second flat shaker card I've made and I've learned all the things not to do now!  

I started by cutting down some stamp packaging to create the pocket for the shaker elements.  I turned on my Spellbinders Glimmer Machine and hot foiled the frame in purple from the Spellbinders Geometric Floral Hot Foil Plates straight onto the plastic packaging.  For the inside of the card I used a piece of white cardstock and mopped up some leftover Cosmic Shimmer Pixie Powders from another project.  I embossed the panel using the Altenew Cupped Blossoms 3D Embossing Folder.  I adhered the plastic packaging around the embossed panel on three sides and then added sequins from Simon Says Stamp and Trimits in co-ordinating colours.  

I cut the sentiment using the Big Happy Birthday Wafer Dies from Simon Says Stamp in white cardstock and turquoise matte foil cardstock.  To finish the card I embellished using die cut butterflies in pearlescent vellum from the Butterfly Shimmer Wafer Dies by Simon Says Stamp.  

I would like to enter this card into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge:  Happy Birthday.

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

Happy Birthday Hummingbirds

Hi crafters,

I'm back to share a card for the Simon Says Stamp Monday and Wednesday challenges.  The SSS Monday Challenge for the week beginning 7 March is Add Some Green.  The theme for the SSS Wednesday Challenge posted on 2 March is Add a Die Cut.  My card incorporates both challenges.  

I created a card base using Hamilco heavy weight cardstock.  I hot foiled the Happy Birthday sentiment in purple using my Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System and the Spellbinders Stylish Script Happy Birthday hot foil plate.  I cut two of the Leafy Frame die from SSS in white cardstock and adhered to my foiled panel using liquid glue.  The hummingbirds are made using the Eclectic Garden die set from Concord & 9th, with Stampin' Up! cardstock in Granny Apple Green, Gorgeous Grape and Pool Party.  I coloured the eyes using a black marker and then added a layer of black glaze pen on top.  To finish I adhered jewels from Little Things by Lucy in Lime and Shimmering Pool with liquid glue.  My finished card measures 4.25" by 5.5".  

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

A New Beginning!

Hi crafters,

In case you've been wondering what I've been up to lately, I'm here to fill you in on a couple of changes.  I resigned from Stampin' Up! at the end of September 2021 and I'm no longer a Demonstrator.  There were a couple of reasons behind my decision.  Firstly, I really wanted to use and showcase products from multiple companies and this isn't allowed when you sign the Demonstrator Agreement.  Secondly, there were several SU! products that were reappearing catalogue after catalogue and I think I just needed a change.  I still love Stampin' Up! products and will continue to use them in my crafting.  However, I kept seeing and lusting after products from a range of other companies such as Simon Says Stamp, Hero Arts, Pinkfresh Studio, Honey Bee Stamps, Ranger and more so I made the decision to resign.  Now the crafty world is my oyster!  

So in honour of branching out, here are a few cards I've made with products from various companies, all named above.  

Happy crafting, 

Rachel x

Stampin' Dreams Blog Hop - Step It Up

Hi crafters,

I'm taking part in the Stampin' Dreams blog hop with the Crafty Collaborations team.  We are a group of international Stampin' Up! Demonstrators from all over the world.  Our theme is Step It Up and I can't wait to see what everyone has created.  There is a full list of of the blog hop participants in this post.  

I have two Christmas cards today using the Bright Bauble Bundle.  The first card is stamps, paper and ink but the second is stepped up using Specialty DSP, die cutting, ink blending and heat embossing.  

I started both cards by making a card base from Thick Basic White cardstock.  I placed the first card base into my Stamparatus and lined up the big bauble stamp from the Bright Bauble stamp set before inking in Polished Pink ink.  I also stamped the bow in the same colour.  I drew the string with a Polished Pink Stampin' Write Marker.  I added clusters of stars around the main image with Misty Moonlight ink.  I stamped the sentiment in Polished Pink and trimmed this out before adding with Stampin' Dimensionals to my card base.  I finished off by placing three 2021-2023 In Color Jewels onto the centre of the bauble.  

The second card has the same stamped background in Misty Moonlight but this time I added a strip of the Whimsy & Wonder Specialty Designer Series Paper behind the bauble.  To create the bauble I stamped in Versamark ink and then added silver embossing powder, before heat setting with the my heat tool.  I used the co-ordinating dies to cut out the bauble and ink blended onto the white cardstock with Polished Pink ink using a Blending Brush.  I used Stampin' Dimensionals to pop the bauble up.  I added a silver bow to the top of the bauble with some of the Simply Elegant Trim.  I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment also in silver and then mounted this onto some Misty Moonlight cardstock.  

I hope you are enjoying the Step It Up blog hop.  To keep hopping simply click below to the next person on the hop.  We love to hear what you think of our creations, so don't forget to leave a comment.  

Happy crafting, Rachel x

Product List

Bright Baubles Bundle [156384]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]	Stamparatus [148187]	Whimsy & Wonder 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [156329]	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230]
Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228]	Misty Moonlight A4 Cardstock [153086]	Polished Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [155712]	Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad [153118]	Versamark Pad [102283]
Metallics Embossing Powders [155555]	Heat Tool - Uk Plug [129054]	Blending Brushes [153611]	2021–2023 In Color Jewels [155571]	Simply Elegant Trim [155766]
Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]

Crafty Collaborations Punch Techniques Blog Hop

Hi crafters,

I am taking part in another blog hop today with the Crafty Collaborations team.  Our theme for Technique Tuesday is Punch Techniques.  This was a fun one to create and I can't wait to see what everyone else has come up with for the challenge.  

I used the Holly Border Punch from the July - December 2021 Mini Catalogue to create a background panel and I also used the Label Me Lovely Punch for my sentiment topper.  

I made a card base from Crumb Cake cardstock and then used a Basic White cardstock panel for my background.  I took a piece of scrap cardstock and created a border pattern using the Holly Border Punch.  I placed this over my background panel and using a Shaded Spruce Stampin' Write Marker I traced the holly leaves onto the background.  I used a Real Red Stampin' Write Marker for the berries.  I repeated this two more times to cover the background panel.  I trimmed the panel to size and adhered to my card base using Multipurpose Liquid Glue.  I punched out the label shape using the Label Me Lovely Punch and then placed this inside my Stamparatus before stamping my sentiment.  I did some stamp surgery on the Happy Christmas stamp by cutting the words apart so I could stack them on to the punched shape.  I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink, positioning the words individually so I could achieve a closer placement.  I also punched out a label from Real Red cardstock and cut this in half before adhering to the reverse of my white label to have a red layer on the top and bottom of my topper.  Finally I added some holly accents in Shaded Spruce cardstock and berries in Real Red cardstock.  I layered the holly by folding the second piece in half and only gluing the centre so that the leaves have dimension.  I added Shimmery Crystal Effects to the berries for a small pop of shine and sparkle.  

I hope you are feeling inspired to get your punches out and start creating.  The full list of participants for this blog hop is below and I hope you keep hopping.  Don't forget to leave us a comment - we love to hear what you think of our projects.  

Happy crafting, Rachel x

Product List

Happy Holly Days Bundle (English) [156777]	Holly Border Punch [156379]	Happy Holly Days Cling Stamp Set (English) [156342]	Label Me Lovely Punch [151296]	Stamparatus [148187]
Paper Trimmer [152392]	Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock [121685]	Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228]	Real Red A4 Card Stock [106578]	Shaded Spruce A4 Cardstock [147006]
Regals Stampin' Write Markers [147155]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Shimmery Crystal Effects [150892]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]