Butterfly postage stamp card

This card was inspired by a piece of butterfly patterned paper that I've had in my stash for a long time. I wasn't sure how to use it on either a card or a scrapbook layout so I took my Rectangular Postage punch and started chopping!

To cut the 'stamps' to the correct size, I first cut out the image on three sides, then I reinserted the paper into the punch to cut the fourth side out.

When I had enough images I adhered them to a piece of white cardstock.

Next I took a piece of Seaside Spray cardstock measuring 99x142mm and added a ribbon around the bottom, adhering with double sided sticky tape. I then stamped a Happy Birthday sentiment on scrap card using Crumb Cake ink and added some gems. This was adhered on top of the ribbon.

Finally I adhered the Seaside Spray cardstock onto a white card base, then added the butterfly panel using Dimensionals.

I also made one with a Terracotta Tile mat. Which colour do you prefer?

Thanks for reading!

Bec x

A Piece of Cake card

Like many crafters, I have an embarrassingly large collection of pretty paper, so I've been trying to use some of it up recently. Here I used the colours in the patterned paper to inspire the cake colours which tied the whole card together nicely.

To create this card, I started with a standard A6 white card base and added a mat of purple cardstock measuring 99x142mm and adhered it centrally to the card base. I cut a piece of patterned paper measuring 35x136mm and adhered it to the left of the purple panel allowing a 3mm border all around. Then added a panel of white cardstock measuring 55x136mm on the right hand side of the purple panel.

Next I took my Piece of Cake stamp set and stamped a plate, candles and two cakes using memento black ink onto a piece of scrap card. I punched the shapes out using the cake punch (fussy cut the candles) then coloured them all in using Stampin Blends to tone in with the patterned paper.

I carefully snipped apart the layers of the spotty/stripey cake and adhered all the pieces onto the white panel to create a four tiered cake.

This is an easy card to recreate and it could be done in any colour. Here is another colourway using the same technique.

Of course there is no limit to how many layers your cake could have - just keep piling them up and see how tall you can make it.

Thanks for reading!

Bec x

Simple Stamping - Perennial Birthday

I CASEd this card from a picture I saw on Pinterest a while ago. The original design was completely stamped with no layering but I decided to stamp and cut the sentiment out separately and mat it on a pink panel so it would stand out even more.

To make the card, start with a white A6 card base, followed by a pink mat measuring 99x142mm.

Take a piece of white cardstock measuring 93x136mm and using the stamps from the Perennial Birthday stamp set create a floral design diagonally across the page. The inks I used for this design were Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz and Pool Party. I also stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment on a piece of scrap white and cut it 93x24mm.

I adhered the white panel centrally onto the front of the card. Finally I adhered the sentiment piece onto a pink mat measuring 99x30mm and adhered it to the card in position.

As usual, when doing lots of stamping I managed to cover my hands in all the colours! But I had fun doing it.

Thanks for reading!

Bec x

A Good Luck card using a heart punch

I've said it before, but I love love love punches for quick and easy shape cutting. Here is a 'Good Luck' card made by using a heart punch in a slightly unusual way.

To make this card, I took an A6 card base in green, and layered a piece of silver cardstock 99x142mm centrally on the front. Before I adhered it to the card base I cut the silver label shape out of the middle, using the label die from the Lakeside die set.

Next I took a piece of white cardstock measuring 93x136mm and stamped a random pattern all over it using a stamp from the Perennial Birthday stamp set and Lemon Lime Twist ink. I also stamped a 'Good Luck' sentiment onto a piece of white scrap and cut it out using the smaller label die from the Lakeside die set.

To make the four leaf clover, I took a piece of green cardstock and punched out four heart shapes. I also cut a curved sliver of green cardstock to make the stem.

Finally I assembled the card by adhering the white cardstock onto the card front, then arranging the heart punch cuts to form a four leaf clover and adhering them. The sentiment was attached using dimensionals.

You could also use this design for St Patricks Day and use a different sentiment.

Thanks for reading!

Bec x

Color Me Happy project kit 'Celebrate' Card

I made this card using the products from a retired Stampin' Up! project kit. Unfortunately this kit is no longer available but you may still have one lurking in the cupboard like me so hopefully you'll find these instructions useful, or be able to use the card as inspiration!

To complete the kit according to the instructions, you also need to have the Color Me Happy stamp kit. The first step is to stamp the lanterns on the white card panel in black memento ink, using the picture as a guide. This took several goes to get it right; some of my lanterns were floating off in mid-air and had to have their string extended a bit with a black pen! Whilst you've got your ink out, stamp the celebrate sentiment on the small piece of Pool Party card.

Colour the lanterns in your colour choice, including the separate die cut. The suggested colours are Pool Party and Pumpkin Pie which I used. Adhere the die cut lantern over the top one with dimensional foam pads.

    Thread the tassel onto the string and wrap round panel. Adhere to the back of the panel with tape.

Fold the card base in half along score line and burnish crease. Adhere the gold tape to the card, then adhere the panel to the card, slightly overlapping the gold tape.

Adhere the sentiment and decorate with star sequins.

The Color Me Happy stamp set has some lovely images but I particularly love these lanterns, they would be great for Chinese New Year!

Thanks for reading!

Bec x

A Tiny Trio Card

I have quite a lot of stamps with standalone images that are really too small to stamp on a card. A great way to make sure you get some use out of these stamps is to combine them with other stamps as I have done on this card.

To create this card, I took a white piece of cardstock measuring 93x136mm and stamped a floral border using Highland Heather ink. I matted this onto a purple piece of cardstock measuring 99x142mm and wrapped a thin piece of purple ribbon around the panel. I then adhered the whole piece onto a white A6 card base.

Next I stamped three small images onto a piece of white scrap cardstock using Rich Razzleberry ink, and punched them out using a 1 3/8" scallop circle punch. I punched three 1 1/2" circles out of the purple cardstock and mounted the images onto them.

Finally, I adhered the three circles onto the card using dimensionals, overlapping the floral border.

This card could be adapted for any occasion and to any colour scheme. I have plenty more tiny stamps so I am going to try it with hexagons next!

Thanks for reading!

Bec x

Thank You Teacher Gift

Like many families, we have been homeschooling since the end of March. My children have each got one day coming up at the end of term that they can go in to school and say goodbye to their teachers. They normally take a card and small gift on the last day to say thank you their teacher, so this week my daughter and I have been making these little post it note holders as teacher gifts. They were so easy to make and could be customised in any way you like. 

To make one, you first need to measure your post it pad, as they do vary in size. You also need to measure how tall it is.

Cut a piece of cardstock that is 6mm wider than your post its, plus a length of (2x depth plus height plus 6mm). In this case my card was 81mm wide and 162mm long. Score from each end the depth plus 3mm. Crease along the score lines with a bone folder.

Glue your post it notes firmly inside the cardstock, then cut a piece of patterned paper slightly smaller than your holder and adhere to the top.

Finally, stamp your chosen sentiment on a piece of white cardstock and cut out with a a punch or die. Here I have used a stamp from the Designer Tin of Cards stamp set and a die from Hippo Happiness dies.

Adhere your sentiment to the top of the post it note holder and you're done.

This is a great little gift for kids to get involved in, and can be adapted for all sorts of occasions.

Thanks for reading!

Bec x

Darling Label Punch hack and elegant card

I love the Darling Label Punch set from Stampin' Up! but the punch shape isn't that big and can often look a little bit insignificant when using it on a card. I came up with this easy hack to make a background mat for the punch, which makes it stand out a lot better on a card. I used it on this elegant birthday card. 

To make the card, I folded a white card base, and adhered a strip of designer paper backed by a Seaside Spray mat. Super simple.

Next I stamped the sentiment onto a piece of scrap card and punched it out. I then punched a further two shapes out of the Seaside Spray cardstock. I cut each of these in half diagonally creating four triangle shapes.

Next adhere two of the triangle shapes to the back of the sentiment, overlapping the edge evenly on each side.

Lastly add the remaining triangles on the other two corners. 

Add the sentiment to the card using dimensionals, stick on  a jaunty bow, and your card is finished!

I hope you find this little hack helpful, it often works on odd shapes so if you have any punches like this why not give it a go?

Thanks for reading!

Bec x

Oh So Eclectic Card

Today's card is another one that I designed for an online workshop. It's what is known as a 'Fun Fold' - in other words it's not a rectangle folded in half!

To make this card start with an A5 piece of Rococo Rose cardstock and score at 7.2cm from each end. Fold both sides in and crease with a bone folder. Add a piece of Whisper White cardstock measuring 9.9x14.2cm to the centre and put to one side for later.

Next prepare the two panels that will be attached to the front. You need two pieces of Seaside Spray cardstock measuring 9.9x7.3cm and two pieces of Whisper White cardstock measuring 9.3x6.7cm. Take one of the white rectangles and stamp 'Happy Birthday' towards the bottom using the Perennial Birthday stamp set and Pear Pizzazz ink. Adhere the Whisper White rectangles onto the the Seaside Spray rectangles.

Flip the panels over and apply double sided tape (or adhesive of choice) to half of each panel as shown, making sure the top panel has its adhesive behind the 'happy'.

Carefully line up the panels and stick the top one to the left hand flap, and the bottom one to the right hand flap.

Next we'll prepare the flowers. On a piece of scrap card stamp the flower shape twice from the Oh So Eclectic stamp set using Rococo Rose ink. Die cut around the shapes. Then, using the detail die insert, cut out two detail die cuts from Rococo Rose cardstock. Make sure the ink is dry then adhere the detailed die cuts over the stamped shapes. Finally cut two pieces of foliage from Pear Pizzazz cardstock. 

Arrange the leaves and flowers on the bottom panel and adhere. I used dimensionals to make the flowers stand out. Finally, take a piece of organza ribbon, tie a bow and adhere to the top panel using a glue dot.

I hope you enjoyed this card, if you have any questions please comment below.

Thanks for reading!

Bec x

Quick and Easy card ‘Thinking of You’

This quick and easy card can be adapted for any occasion depending on what image and sentiment you choose.

To begin, take a piece of white A5 cardstock, fold in half and crease with bone folder.

Cut a piece of coloured cardstock measuring 14.2x9.9cm, then carefully gut the middle. Don’t worry about the hole, this will be covered up. Take the middle piece and trim it to 9.9x7.cm.

Choose a co-ordinating piece of patterned paper and cut to 13.6x9.3cm. Layer the cardstock frame centrally onto the card base, and adhere the patterned paper on top. 

Take a piece of white cardstock 9.3x6.5cm and stamp your image and sentiment on it. Adhere to the small coloured triangle, then mount the whole panel onto the centre of the card using dimensionals.

This card can be made in under ten minutes so it's a great go-to design for those last minute emergencies. If you have a little more time you can bling it up with gems or wrap a ribbon around the lower panel before adhering it to the card. 

Thanks for reading!

Bec x