Outlined Occasions valentine

If you are a regular reader of my blog you'll know that the St Lukes Charity Challenge is something I wholeheartedly support. It was set up to help raise money for the St Lukes Hospice in Sheffield which cares for terminally ill patients and their families. The hospice is only partially funded by the government and has to find a further £4 million a year to remain open. Here's how the Challenge works: Each month a new theme is set and you're invited to make cards for a chance to win a prize; the cards along with any others you can spare, can be sent in and sold to raise funds for the hospice. Do join in - you'll be doing something worthwhile as well as having fun!

This month's theme is 'love and lace' and I'm also joining in with the Paper Players where Nance wants to see flowers on our cards, and Make My Monday where the theme for February is Romance and this week's challenge is 'love letters - script or verse'. Here's what I've come up with:

The script background was made by stamping some Whisper White card stock in versamark with the En Français background stamp and embossing it with clear embossing powder. It's hard to see in the photo but has a lovely shiny finish in real life. I sewed a border (not very well I'm afraid!) and distressed the edges of the card stock, then stuck the panel to my card base. It was ready to be embellished!

I do like the lacy effect you get from embossing thick vellum! This flower has been made by die cutting vellum card stock that was previously embossed using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. I used the largest flower on the Fun Flowers Bigs L die. The centre is a vellum button made with the  Sweet Button embosslits folder layered over a punched circle and sewn with a piece of red embroidery floss. I tucked a Little Leaves die-cut under the petals to add a surprise touch of colour to the red and white colour scheme.

This ribbon-tailed strip was stamped with a sentiment from Outlined Occasions. There are six stamps in this lovely set and you can get them free as part of the current Sale-a-bration promotion - click here to find out how!

Supplies needed for this card:

Stamps: En Français, Outlined Occasions (free Sale-a-bration set)

Ink: Real Red and Crumb cake markers

Card stock: Whisper White, Vellum, scrap of Real Red

Other: Versamark, clear embossing powder, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Fun flowers Bigz L die, Big Shot, 1" circle punch, Sweet Buttons embosslits die, Little Leaves die

I'd be delighted to order any of these supplies for you and can have them delivered to your address in the UK. I am committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to help and advise. Just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593.

Click here to see all the free Sale-a-bration sets and don't forget to let me know which free Sale-a-bration set or sets you'd like - remember, you get one item for EVERY £45 spent!

When I picked my youngest son up from school yesterday I asked him how his day had been. "It was great!" he said enthusiastically. "Everyone made snowmen... except me. I made a snow chair!"

The snow has been melting away but causing some hazardous conditions as the wet roads and pavements freeze overnight. There was an accident on the way to school yesterday - not serious thank goodness - but do take care on the roads today wherever you are.

See you tomorrow,