Baby cards - using Punch Bunch

I've been having a wonderful time making baby cards today! I'm using the Sale-a-bration set Punch Bunch this week (free with orders of £45 - click here for details!) which contains a cute duckie mobile image. Here's one I made for a little girl:

I've never quite got over the excitement of working out that the Solid Stripes background stamp (just £9.95) is perfect for making gingham! It makes a great foundation for a baby card - as well as all sorts of other cards like this one or these.

I worked out that if I cut the ribbon into two parts it gave me much more control over what the bow was doing! So, to make the tails of the bow, I used one strip folded into a V and secured with Snail adhesive; to make the loops of the bow I made a piece of ribbon into a circle by fixing the ends together with Snail, then tied it tightly in the centre with linen thread. I threaded the ends of the linen thread through this gorgeous little flower-shaped button (from the brights assortment £7.75 for 72 buttons) and tied them in a bow.

The pretty duck mobile is surrounded  by tag-shaped dotted lines so it's easy to cut the shape out with the  small tag punch. I attached it to the card front with dimensionals to give it depth and added tiny pearls.

Here's how to make the card:

• Stamp a gingham background using the Solid Stripes background stamp, markers and a stamp-a-majig. TIP: You need to leave off two of the lines on the stamp to create a square image. I coloured alternate lines with Pink Pirouette and Pretty In Pink markers.
• Trim round the gingham and mount with dimensionals onto a 9cm square Very Vanilla card base.
• Colour the duck mobile image with markers and stamp onto Very Vanilla card stock. Cut out using the small tag punch and attach to the gingham panel using dimensionals.
• Make the ribbon embellishment as described above and fix above the tag

Supplies

Stamps: Solid Stripes, Punch Bunch (Free Sale-a-bration set)

Ink: Markers in Pink Pirouette, Pretty In Pink, Rose Red, Daffodil Delight

Card stock: Very Vanilla

Other: Pretty In Pink taffeta ribbon, linen thread, Daffodil Delight button, Basic pearls

And here's one I made to celebrate the birth of a special little boy who belongs to one of my Stampin' Up colleagues.

This time I used the duckie mobile on its own without the sentiment or the tag-shaped dotted line. I stamped three - always remember the rule of three! - between scalloped borders.

The little mobiles look as if they've been suspended by a dotted line! These were made with a paper piercer and the mat pack template. I think the tiny bows made from 1/8" taffeta ribbon add the finishing touch.

Here's how to make this card:

• Cut a 9cm x 13cm piece of Whisper White card stock.
• Ink up the duck mobile using Daffodil Delight and Marina Mist markers and stamp onto the card stock. Do this twice more.
• Use the template from the mat pack and a paper piercer to make a line from each mobile to the top of the card stock.
• Stamp a sentiment, using the stamp-a-majig for accurate positioning.
• Make three little bows from Marina Mist taffeta ribbon and attach to the tops of each mobile.
• Use the scallop border bunch to decorate strips of So Saffron card stock and glue to the top and bottom of the stamped and pierced panel.
• Attach to a Bashful Blue card base made by cutting a piece of A4 card stock in half vertically and scoring and folding in half.

Supplies

Stamps: Perfect Punches (sentiment), Punch Bunch (free Sale-a-bration set)

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Night of Navy markers

Card stock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, So Saffron

Other: Scallop border punch, Marina Mist 1/8" taffeta ribbon

Isn't it funny how, when you look at your hulking great teenagers, you remember as if it were yesterday the first moment you held them in your arms and fell utterly in love. My children continue to be a great joy to me and I feel very, very lucky to have them. (If my daughter were here now, she'd raise her eyes to the ceiling and say "Oh no - she's gone to Mumland again!")

Now, it's almost time for Three Minute Thursday again and I've just had a great idea for some super-fast cards using designer paper! I'll be showing you those tomorrow - hope to see you then!