Note card using Bliss

I've really enjoyed using the Bliss stamp set this week and can highly recommend that you get your hands on it! But don't forget that this stamp set isn't available to buy - you can get it free! Click here to find out how.

I made today's card for a Stampin' Up colleague who is struggling with health issues.

The butterfly in this set fascinates me. It's an ornate shape which is surprisingly easy to cut out with sharp paper snips and holds firmly with a tiny piece of Sticky Strip on the body, allowing you to bend the wings any way you like and making the butterfly look as if it's really flying (well, quite lively at any rate!)

The bunting was made by drawing a line with the thin end of a Crumb Cake marker using a saucer as a guide. I made a hole at each end with a paper piercer, pushed linen thread through and tied them in tiny bows. The flags were cut out of the amazing Patterns designer series paper using the star punch. These papers come in every single Stampin' Up colour and are incredibly useful when you want to add a little texture or interest to your projects.

The butterfly panel is mounted on more of the Patterns paper - this time in Marina Mist. I like the way it coordinates with the pattern on the butterflies. And have you spotted the beautiful grasses image from Pocket Silhouettes? I love the way you can get a different look from all your sets by combining them.

Here's how to make this card:
(Please note: it isn't a standard size. I made it to fit a 14.5cm square envelope I had.)

• Cut a 9cm square of Whisper White card stock and curve the top lefthand corner with a corner rounder. Sponge the card stock roughly with Marina Mist ink.
• Stamp the grasses image at the bottom of the card stock using a variety of ink colours - I chose Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry and Elegant Eggplant, stamping off to get a variety of shades.
• Using a saucer as a guide, draw a line using the thin line of a Crumb Cake marker to create the string of the bunting. Pierce a hole at each end, about 0.5cm in from the edge of the card stock. Thread each hole with linen thread and tie into a bow. 
• Cut two stars from Rich Razzleberry Patterns designer paper and snip the arms from them to make flags. Glue seven of these to the 'string'. The paper is double-sided so turn some of the flags over to create a random pattern.
• Stamp the sentiment using a stamp-a-majig for accurate placement.
• Stamp the butterfly onto Whisper White card stock, using Elegant Eggplant, Rich Razzleberry and Perfect Plum inks. Colour the bodies with the thin end of a matching marker. Cut out with sharp paper snips and fix to the panel with tiny pieces of Sticky Strip.
• Mount the butterfly panel onto a 9.5cm square of Elegant Eggplant card stock.
• Mount this in turn onto a 12cm square of Marina Mist Patterns designer paper. Sponge the edges with Marina Mist ink first if you like. Fix to a Whisper White card base made from 28cm x 14cm card stock, scored and folded in half to make a square.

Supplies
Stamps: Bliss (free Sale-a-bration set), Pocket Silhouettes, Hopeful Thoughts (sentiment)
Ink: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum
Card stock: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant
Other: Markers, Patterns designer paper, star punch, linen thread, corner rounder

Well, it's Friday, and that means gearing up for the weekend! I'm excited because on Sunday, I'll be meeting up with lots of my crafting friends from Stampin' Up. I love it when we get together and make things and chat and laugh and share ideas. One of the best things about joining Stampin' Up is that I have met so many lovely people who share my passion for crafting.

If you've ever thought about joining but worry that you might not be able to meet your minimum orders or feel you don't have time to hold workshops, then you might like to think again! The minimums work out at £300 per quarter, which is really achievable, and it's worth knowing that if you only wanted the starter kit and didn't want to place any further orders that's fine too - there's no penalty and you get to keep your kit. You don't have to hold workshops either unless you choose to! If you'd like to find out more, do get in touch by email or by calling me on 01280 820593.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend whatever you're up to! Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you'll come back next week for Mail-friendly Monday when I'll be showing you a sympathy card that you can post using a standard letter postage stamp.