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

Crafty Collaborations Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop

Hi crafters,

I'm back with another great blog hop today from the Crafty Collaborations team.  We are a group of international Stampin' Up! Demonstrators who love to share our passion for creativity through our blog hops.  Our theme for this blog hop is Sale-A-Bration (SAB).  Stampin' Up! is now offering two SABs every year.  You have August and September to earn free products and they are all amazing.  I had a hard time choosing which to showcase.  You can earn free product for every £45 spend for Level 1 and a £90 for Level 2 products.  There is a full list of participants further down in this post.  

I created a card using the Counting Sheep stamp set and co-ordinating Sheep Dies.  This is a really simple card but I've added a wobble feature to make it super fun.  

I used Thick Basic White A4 cardstock for the card base.  I cut a panel of Basic White cardstock and started ink blending the bottom with Garden Green ink using a Blending Brush.  I cut a cloud template from the Basic Borders Dies and used this with Balmy Blue ink to form the clouds.  I stamped the sheep image from the Counting Sheep stamp set in Grey Granite ink and then cut this out with the co-ordinating Sheep Dies.  I used a small scrap of Window Sheet to make the sheep wobble.  I simply scored a thin strip of the Window Sheet every 1/2 inch and then concertina folded it.  The fence was made from four die cuts of Soft Suede cardstock and attached with Multipurpose Glue.  Finally, I stamped the sentiment in Grey Granite ink using my Stamparatus for placement.  

I hope you can see the wobble feature from this photo.  

Now it's time to head to your next inspiration point and keep hopping. 

Don't forget to add your SAB items to your shopping basket today.  Let us know your favourites too. 

Happy crafting, Rachel x

Product List

Counting Sheep Cling Stamp Set (English) [156591]	Sheep Dies [156600]	Basic Borders Dies [155558]	Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [150673]	Stamparatus [148187]
Simply Scored [122334]	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230]	Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228]	Soft Suede A4 Card Stock [119982]	Window Sheets [142314]
Gray Granite Classic Stampin' Pad [147118]	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [147089]	Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [147105]	Blending Brushes [153611]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]

Vine Design Thanks from Stampin' Up!

Hi crafters,

It's been a hot minute since I last posted!  I have been creating but haven't got around to sharing all that much.  I have a die cut card to share today using the Flowering Vine Dies which are part of the Vine Design bundle.  Each bundle in any of the Stampin' Up! catalogues offer a 10% saving.  The stamps and dies are also available individually too.  

I love the intricate dies in this bundle and the sentiment stamps are great for a variety of occasions.  I just used the dies today but I have plans for a stamped project soon so stay tuned.  

I made a side-folding card base using Thick Basic White A4 cardstock.  I cut the main rectangle die from Night of Navy cardstock and then I used Petal Pink cardstock to fill in the design for a die cut inlay look.  I used the thanks die from the Well Written Dies and cut this four times - three from Basic White cardstock and once from Silver Foil Paper.  It doesn't show up well in the photo however.  I used Liquid Multipurpose Glue to adhere all these die cut pieces.  You could also add some bling but I decided to leave it off this time. 

It's an exciting time to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator as this week is the pre-order for the new Annual Catalogue opens on Thursday 1 April.  If you would like to join the Stampin' Up! family, all the details are over at my store under the Join tab.  

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

Product List

Vine Design Bundle [156266]	Dies Flowering Vine [154332]	Well Written Dies [151816]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]
Simply Scored [122334]	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230]	Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228]	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock [106577]
Petal Pink A4 Cardstock [147009]	Silver Foil Sheets [132178]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]

Friendly Flamingo from Stampin' Up!

Hi crafters,

I've always been fascinated by flamingos and the new Friendly Flamingo bundle in the Stampin' Up January-June Mini Catalogue had my heart at first glance!  The Friendly Flamingo stamp set features 12 photopolymer stamps and there are 10 co-ordinating dies in the Flamingo Dies.  

You can use the dies to build a flamingo just from cardstock or you can stamp the image and then die cut.  I have a card featuring each of these techniques.  

For this first card, I ink blended the background using the Blender Brushes and inks in Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry.  I stamped the water ripples from the Friendly Flamingo stamp set in Pumpkin Pie for a tone on tone look.  I created the flamingo entirely from Basic Black cardstock to create a silhouette.  I used the co-ordinating Stampin' Write Markers to colour the small floral image for the sentiment accent and then die cut with the Flamingo Dies.  I stamped the sentiment in Versamark ink onto Basic Black cardstock and then poured on white embossing powder on top.  After tapping off the excess I heat set the powder with my heat tool.  I cut the sentiment into banner shape using a die from the Tasteful Labels Dies and adhered to my card using Multipurpose Liquid Glue.  

The second card is fairly simple.  I used the main flamingo image from the Friendly Flamingo stamp set in Flirty Flamingo ink.  I coloured the beak black using the Basic Black Stampin Write Marker by following the shape of the stamped image.  I die cut using the co-ordinating Flamingo Dies.  To create the background I used a piece of Basic White cardstock and ran this through one of the Greenery Embossing Folders.  I placed this onto a card base made with Basic White Thick cardstock.  I attached two small strips of cardstock on each side to ground the panel and add a pop of colour.  Finally I stamped the sentiment in Flirty Flamingo ink and adhered the flamingo with Stampin' Dimensionals.  You could also add some bling but for once I've left it off.  

Happy crafting,

Rachel x

Product List for Card 1 (Just For You)

Friendly Flamingo Bundle [156212]	Tasteful Labels Dies [152886]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230]	Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228]
Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688]	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [147086]	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad [147051]	Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin' Pad [147091]	Blending Brushes [153611]
Brights Stampin' Write Markers [147157]	Regals Stampin' Write Markers [147155]	Versamark Pad [102283]	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]	Heat Tool - Uk Plug [129054]
Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]

Product List for Card 2 (Just Be You)

Friendly Flamingo Bundle [156212]	Greenery Embossing Folders [152716]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230]	Basic White A4 Cardstock [159228]
Flirty Flamingo A4 Cardstock [141421]	Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad [147052]	Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker [100082]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]