Recycling!

I love today's challenge on SCS, to recycle a cardboard box. Thanks so much to Joan Ervin for hosting today's TLC. Here's a link if you'd like to play along!

I cut the flap off a cardboard box and put it through the Big Shot with the Butterfly die. Unfortunately, the thick card won't fit into a hand-held punch, so for the sentiment, I just peeled off the top piece of thin card (leaving the corrugated piece behind). That worked a treat in the punch so I attached it with dimensionals to make it tie in with the butterflies.

Recipe
Stamps : Fine Flourish, With all my Heart
Ink : Night of Navy
Cardstock : Crumb Cake, Night of Navy
Accessories : Cardboard Box, Vintage Lace Ribbon, Decorative Label Punch, Beautiful Butterflies Die, Big Shot, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, 1/2 Pearls

Here's a pic of our Friday night Club projects. I've got a great gang of girls who come along one Friday every month to try out all the new Stampin' Up goodies. We have such fun together.

Saturday was a very early start. My SCS "MI Mingler" group drove up to Kim's farm to have a stamping party in her husband Dan's new 'shed' ... that building is MASSIVE and quite amazing. We loved being there for the day. This is the gang standing in front of Dan's humungo bungo combine harvester :) Thanks to Kim and Dan for having us, your hospitality was greatly appreciated.

Musical Birthday!

Sarah was 15 last Monday. I made her a 'musical' card as flute playing is her #1 passion right now. This is so simple, but she loved it. She's not really a pretty/pretty girlie girl, so I couldn't use pink and flowery images ... she must be a throw-back, LOL. But those who know her would realise that this is perfect for my beautiful, fabulous daughter. We are so proud of everything she's accomplished in her short 15 year life. I have no doubt that this girl will make a difference to the world. We love you, Sarah!

Recipe
Stamps : Teahouse, Music Notes, Fabulous Phrases
Cardstock : Crumg Cake, Early Espresso
Ink : Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Accessories : Tasteful Trim Die, Big Shot, 1/2 Pearls, Decorative Label Punch, sponge

Thank You

I needed a thank you card so decided to use one of the new sets in the 2010/2011 Idea Book & Catalog called "Just Believe". There's quite a lot of work in this one, although it still looks relatively simple. The flowers are clear embossed on Very Vanilla cardstock and then brayered with Crumb Cake ink. I love the look of it. The 'thank you' frame was also clear embossed on vanilla and brayered. It's trimmed and popped up on dimensionals.

Recipe
Stamps : Just Believe
Ink : Versamark, Early Espresso
Cardstock : Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Not Quite Navy
Accessories : Taffeta Ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Buttons, twine

My Tea Drinking Buddy

Hilary and I go way back ... I mean WAY back! I interviewed her for a temp position when I worked in Derbyshire years ago and from the moment we sat in that office, we just became firm friends. I think it was around 1991 or 1992, around the time my niece Sophie was born. We've been through A LOT together, I even did my pregnancy test on our lunch break at her house (over a cup of tea of course!). So she was the very first person to know that Sarah was on the way. We are the original Yorkshire Tea drinking buddies and I miss seeing her and swapping daily news with her. BUT, I can't believe I didn't get her birthday card made and sent off in time. How awful is that? I promised her I'd make something special and post it asap ... and of course, the new SU Morning Cup set fits our friendship to a tea (to a tea ... get it? Tea Hee!). Hil ~ this is on its way to Duffield!

The card was made using a sketch from the blog, Clean & Simple, it's a really easy one to use and I love its simplicity.

Recipe
Stamps : Morning Cup, Occasional Quotes
Cardstock : Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black
Ink : Early Espresso
Accessories : Modern Label & Word Window Punch, 1/2 Crystals, Pear Pizzazz SU Marker, Pear Pizzazz Ribbon, Dimensionals

Scottie Dog

A friend of mine is facing some health challenges right now so I wanted a little card to let her know she's in my thoughts. I thought this little Scottie dog would hit the right note!

Recipe
Stamps : Friends Furever
Cardstock : WW, Riding Hood Red
Ink : Early Espresso
Accessories : Big Shot, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Modern Label and Word Window Punches, blender pen and chalks, Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon

Daddy's Birthday Card

It's my Dad's birthday next week so I made this card for him this morning. It's not going to make it by Wednesday, but at least he knows it's on its way! And thanks to my sister, Sarah, for talking to me on the phone the whole time I made it ~ it made the time pass wonderfully :)

Maybe Mum will show it to him on the 18th! Thanks, Mum!

Recipe
Stamps : Studio Sketches, Occasional Quotes, Wonderfully Worn BG
Cardstock : Naturals Ivory, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso
Ink : Early Espresso
Accessories : Big Shot, Lots of Tags Die, Tasteful Trim Die, Word Window and Modern Label Punches, Clear Embossing Powder, SU Markers, Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon.

More Aviary

This card is CASEd from the 2010/2011 Idea Book & Catalog and I love it! Sometimes it's hard to come up with an original idea, and CASEing (Copy and Share Everything) is the perfect solution. It certainly kick-started my creativity when I hit a brick wall last weekend!

Recipe
Stamps : Aviary, Fabulous Phrases
Cardstock : Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, WW, Greenhouse Gala
Ink : Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive
Accessories : Crystals, Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon, Paper Snips, Scallop Edge Punch

Aviary

I love this new set, Aviary, it's just adorable!!! I made a very simple card with just a few layers and some ribbon. Love how this turned out!

Recipe
Stamps : Aviary, Pretty Patterns BG
Ink : Night of Navy, Versamark
Cardstock : Old Olive, Whisper White,
Accessories : Gold EP, Night of Navy Taffeta Ribbon

More Paisley

Well, I couldn't resist one more quick card tonight :) Unfortunately it's for a sad occasion though, my friend Robin is leaving Michigan and tomorrow is her farewell dinner. I wanted a card she can keep to remind her what a lovely friend she is to me. Here's a close up of the scallops made from the new Bigz XL Die "Tasteful Trim" ... I love how chunky they are! A bit of faux stitching really finishes it off, I think :)

Good Luck starting afresh, Robin, I am going to miss you ...

Recipe
Stamps : Paisley Prints, Fabulous Phrases
Cardstock : Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette
Ink : Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink
Accessories : Big Shot, Bigz XL Tasteful Trim Die, Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon, 1/2 Pearls, white signo pen, heart punch

I love Paisley!

I received a pre-order shipment of goodies from the new Holiday Mini catalogue last night ~ my first 'go to' set was Paisley Prints. I love, love, love it! The background is made with the coordinating paisley wheel and the top and bottom borders were made using the 'almost available' Bigz XL Die 'Tasteful Trim'.

I almost forgot, look at that cool new punch, it's called 'Decorative Label' ... you need it!

Recipe
Stamps : Paisley Prints, Paisley Wheel
Ink : More Mustard, Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso
Cardstock : As Ink
Accessories : Big Shot, Tasteful Trim Die, Decorative Label Punch, Chantilly Ribbon, Buttons