Happi(ness) Birthday card for the Stamp With Us challenge

This week's challenge on Stamp With Us is a theme challenge - to create a Birthday card.

Everything used is Stampin' Up! supplies. I decided to do a little colouring for this one. Using the flower strip from the Little Bit of Happiness (a Level 1 hostess gift with four different strips) I stamped with Basic Grey ink (for a softer look) onto Whisper White card and coloured with markers. I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to extend the Happiness strip to the full width of the card. This was matted onto paper from the new Tea Party Designer Series Paper collection and then onto Almost Amethyst card, punched with the scallop edge punch. The Fabulous Friend sentiment from the Oval All set was stamped onto Whisper White card, coloured with markers and punched with the small oval punch. It was then matted onto Almost Amethyst card punched with the scallop oval punch. It was added to the front of the card with dimensionals. Interest was added to the top of the card by adding a couple of silver eyelets, threaded with Moss gingham ribbon.

The inside of the card was stamped with the Birthday Wishes sentiment from the Sincere Salutations set. Using Apricot Appeal ink the flower strip was stamped across the bottom inside of the card. I think of the text, front and inside, as telling a little story.

Hope you're having a good Easter.

Keep Stampin'

Sara xx

Does anybody know what a Moo card is?

Have you heard of Moo cards? I'd never heard of these little things until I joined the Stamping Mad Craft Forum which runs a Moo card swap which I decided to have go at. They're pretty much like ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) but even smaller. They measure just 2.8cm x 7cm (approx 1.1" x 2.8"). This is about the size of a microscope slide, so pretty restrictive in terms of what you can get on them.

I found though that the stamps from A Little Bit of Happiness (Level 1 free hostess set) fit quite well if some of the image is trimmed off the sides. I used the Love and the Thank You stamps from this set, stamped them with Versamark and heat embossed with silver embossing powder onto paper vellum. I then coloured behind the vellum (for more subtle colouring) using markers and stuck to Whisper White cardstock. To hide the glue, I stuck a  couple of narrow strips of Pretty in Pink (for Love) and Old Olive (for Thank You) card onto the edges. I hope that my swapee likes them.

Keep Stampin'

Sara xx

Simple Valentine card - low fuss, man's valentine card

Well that's Christmas done, so I'm thinking now about Valentine's Day. I know that some men aren't keen on fussy cards and so this quick and easy card may fit the bill for them. 

I've used Ruby Red cardstock for the base card and also to mat the large heart onto. I used Ruby Red ink to stamp the love panel from the A Little Bit of Happiness stamp set (a Level 1 hostess gift). The same ink was used to stamp the heart from the Polka Dot Punches stamp set. This is one of the fab freebie sets available in the Sale-a-bration that starts on 1 January (see yesterday's post for more info). I've layered the love panel onto Regal Rose cardstock and Holiday Treasures designer series paper. Dimensionals (foam pads) were used to raise the large heart (apologies - the photo doesn't really show the 3-d effect, it's really dismal and gloomy here today).

Note - photo edited on 29 December, once I had better light.

The only techniques used in this card are stamping (single colour), cutting and sticking so this is a great card for a beginner to try. 

Happy stampin'.

Sara xx

Thank you card using A Little Bit of Happiness stamp set

Having been so rushed in the run up to Christmas I'm now trying to get ahead a little by starting my thank you cards now.

For this one I've used the thank you strip from the Little Bit of Happiness stamp set. This is a Level 1 hostess set. I stamped it with Chocolate Chip ink (to keep the overall look soft and autumnal) and coloured with markers. I matted it onto Old Olive cardstock and Designer Series Paper. The base card is Really Rust cardstock.

The flower was made using Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust and Summer Sun and the scallop circle and boho blossoms punches. The flower was secured in place using an Old Olive brad.

Keep stampin'

Sara xx