No stamping butterfly shaped card

I make very few shaped cards as my card-making ethos is to keep it as simple as possible! But when I saw that Chrissie and Mandi at Less is More have challenged LiMettes to make a card any shape except square or rectangle, I remembered a frivolous little number we made at a Stampin' Up training session once. Here's my simplified version of it using Marina Mist and Bashful Blue, the gorgeous tonal colours suggested by this week's Dynamic Duos challenge:

There's no stamping on this little shaped Easel card at all (except the sentiment inside) and it's made using Stampin' Up's Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die. I like the way the bottoms of the wings tuck into the indented bit of wing on the card base to keep the card open. The layered butterfly on the front  is made using dotty designer paper from the Patterns paper stack and is embellished using white bakers twine and self-adhesive pearls.

To make the card base I used a folded piece of card stock and positioned it on the die just under the top points of the wings so I didn't end up with two pieces! I scored and folded the top part (the card front) and glued a single die cut butterfly to it to form the easel.

This is what the card looks like when it's closed...

... and a glimpse at the inside where there's just room for a tiny message. I think these are sweet little thank you cards which would certainly be remembered by the recipient - and wouldn't they make cute little novelties to pop in girls' party favour bags?!

Here's what you'll need to make today's card:

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Marina Mist

Card stock: Marina Mist, Whisper White

Other: Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, Big shot, Patterns designer paper stack in Subtles, Basic Pearls, white bakers twine

I'd be delighted to order any of these items for you and can have them delivered to your address in the UK. I'm committed to providing excellent customer service and am always happy to offer help and advice. To place your order, just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593.

My desk, which is in a real cold spot in our living room, is a fantastic place to be in this weather. The fingerless gloves and hot water bottles of the winter are a thing of the past and I'm cool as a cucumber with the French doors flung wide open. The cat doesn't know what to do with herself though. She wanders in and flings herself down on the rug for a few moments and then hoists herself up and slinks back outside where she is teased mercilessly by aimless flies and chirpy birds. My daughter describes her as 'Tuppence with lashings of tail'!

I can't wait to see all the shapely inspiration this week. See you soon!

Hugs,

Birthday Best party favours and thank you cards

I could have used the stamp set One of a Kind for my son's birthday because he very definitely is! He adores school and I like to ask how his day was just for the pleasure of hearing him say: "It was BRILLIANT! We did maths!" And I remember getting some very strange looks when calling him in for his tea once; I said: "You'd better come in straight away young man or you'll get no cabbage for your tea!" and he scuttled in at once, not wanting to risk missing out on that treat.

On his birthday this year he got to go to school and he asked to have a few friends home for tea. Not a party at all but we thought we'd give them some tiny party favours anyway.

Here's a close-up of the labels.

I rustled up some thank you cards along the same lines.

I coloured the balloons using ink pads and my blender pen. I don't know if I've told you how much I absolutely ADORE my jumbo wheel (okay, I may have mentioned it in passing...) well my blender pens are up there with the jumbo wheel. I am not the world's greatest colourer but I am loving the effects I get using the blender pen. In fact, I may as well come clean: I didn't colour the balloons at all - my blender pen did it all!

Supplies (all Stampin' Up unless specified)
Stamps: Birthday Best (balloons), Trendy Trees (sentiment)
Ink: Summer Sun, Brilliant Blue, Real Red
Cardstock: Whisper White
Other: 1 3/4" circle punch, corner rounder, designer paper (retired), cellophane bags

I love how Stampin' Up stamp sets are so versatile. This gorgeous little set Birthday Best can be used for all sorts of occasions and I shall be showing some more projects made with it this week.
Until then - thank YOU so much for coming.