What a lovely weekend! Today I spent the whole afternoon outside and enjoyed a lovely cycle ride with the rest of the family - I felt like we had to make the most of it; if it's like last weekend, it could be raining cats and dogs tomorrow! As promised yesterday, I have a couple of cards to share with you today featuring one of the stamps from this month's 25th anniversary 'Best of Flowers' stamp set.

In case you're wondering why I headed up this post 'Help the Heroes', these cards, along with two more that I will share tomorrow, were designed in answer to a request from a fellow crafter and member of my wider Stampin' Up! team, whose husband is serving in the RAF and will shortly be departing for another tour of duty to Afghanistan. Our brave serving forces have little or no access to nice cards to send whilst away and so she always sends a box or two so that they can have something a little different to plain paper to write their notes home and wondered if her fellow crafters would be prepared to help out too. All our forces do such a great job and events such as the recent killing of a soldier in Woolwich show just what a dangerous life they lead, both in battle and unfortunately sometimes at home too. I was happy to help, so set to work creating a selection of cards that I could make lots of, but also were post-friendly and didn't have glitter, gems or anything else that could transfer to the sender and potentially make them a target.

So, for the first design, I used the silhouetted daisy stamp from the 'Best of Flowers' set and created two identical cards in different colourways - one pink, one yellow. Here's the card in pink: 

I used the stamp to create a simple 'field of flowers' look by stamping in Melon Mambo and Pink Pirouette and stamping off to create degrees of colour and give the image a sense of depth of field. I then created a scored border and paper-pierced around the image for added interest. I then created a batch of the same card in yellow, using Daffodil Delight and So Saffron inks:

So which colour way do you prefer? I think I prefer the yellow one, just because it is so cheery and bright. I really love this little stamp and can think of lots more ways that I will be using it. I will be making other projects with the stamps in this set, so if the stamps in this set appeal to you, do pop back and see what else I make with them. If you would like to order this set, it costs £13.95 and you can check out the full set of stamps on the image in the side bar of my blog.

Tomorrow I will be sharing the other two cards I made for my Help For Heroes card bundle - two new designs, both using the Summer Silhouettes stamp set. Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Best of Flowers

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers: Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, So Saffron

Tools: Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Piercing Tool, Simply Scored

This week is turning out to be busy, busy, busy! Yesterday the list of retiring stamp sets and accessories were announced: these featured in yesterday's post and the lists can be found in the box on the right hand side of my page. I will be sad to see some of these sets go; I'll be sharing cards featuring some of these retiring sets in my posts this month and first up I want to share a card made with the Aviary stamp set:

So, bird cages but no birds?! Bird cages are very 'on trend' in home décor right now, and after seeing an amazing display at a recent wedding fair with a table centre made with a bird cage filled with flowers, I was keen to try and achieve the same effect on a card. This design is actually not where I started out at all, but after several iterations this is the design I settled on and am post happy with. Three simple bird cages, then using the flower stamp from the Create a Cupcake stamp set I used my marker pens to colour and stamp flowers randomly through the cages. I left this card sentiment-free, as I sometimes do until I'm ready to send.

A post about the Aviary stamp set really wouldn't be complete without a card that shows some birds too - here's a wedding invitation I designed a while ago, that would also make a lovely Valentine's or anniversary card:

Remember the sets on the retiring list are only available until 1st July or whilst stocks last, so if you don't own the Aviary stamp set and it's on your wish list, contact me to place your order before it's too late.

Back soon with more exciting news from the world of Stampin' Up! Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Aviary (card 1&2), Create a Cupcake (card 1)

Cardstock: Rose Red, Whisper White (card 1); Pool party, Island Indigo, Whisper White (card 2)

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers: Rose Red, Baja Breeze, Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi (card 1); Basic Grey, Pool Party, Night of Navy, Rose Red (card 2)

Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig

An earlier than usual post from me today, but busy day and evening planned so didn't want to miss the opportunity to share a quick card with you today. Or you could just assume I'm getting more organised - you choose! Today's card is a 'Fabulous You' shoe card that I made for a friend of mine who celebrated her birthday this week. She is someone who has a great collection of fabulous shoes, so this seemed like an appropriate choice. Also, the only woman in a house of men so I deliberately went with a very pink and girly colour scheme. Here it is:

This card needed to be post-friendly, so again light on the embellishments, but by using lots of shades of pink on the shoe itself and a variety of pink papers, it has plenty of detail. I also used the fine tip of my Melon Mambo marker pen to highlight the detail of the sentiment lettering.

Before I go today, I just wanted to remind you of a number of important promotion deadlines:

• Today is your last chance to take advantage of the bigger starter kit offer if you sign up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator - £155 worth of products of your choice for just £99. You have until 10pm this evening to sign up - just click on the link in my side bar to sign up and join my growing team!
• Tomorrow is your last chance to buy the This and That Journal bundle at the discounted price of £29.24 -that's a 15% discount on the price of the items when purchased individually. These items will be available after tomorrow, but the bundle will revert to its full price.
• Tomorrow also sees the launch of the Retiring Products List - all those items that will be retiring on 1st July to make way for lots of new and exciting products in the 2013-14 annual catalogue, which launches on 2nd July. I will post a copy on my blog as soon as it is available.

Back tomorrow with another project - until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Fabulous You

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Brights Designer Series Papers

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers:  Basic Grey, Melon Mambo, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi

Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Blender Pen

As promised, I'm back with the last of the current run of my patio Party birthday cards today, but first I thought I would share with you another somewhat unexpected challenge that found it's way into my craft room this week - half term homework! Both James juniors have had holiday homework this week - the youngest was tasked with making a sculpture (this is still 'work in progress' - I'll share a picture when complete!) whilst the eldest has this week to complete this term's geography project - an analysis of an African country of her choice.

With the bulk of the content complete, the important task of 'making it look pretty' came to the fore. Whilst working out the best way to draw/write 'South Africa' in big letters for the cover, I (possibly with too much haste!) suggested we could make light work of this by using Mummy's Alphabet typeset die and the Big Shot to knock these out in a jiffy. A few turns of the handle later and the cover was complete: 

I wish I could take the credit for the photograph here, but this is all Daddy's work, captured the last time we went on safari to Sabi Sands in South Africa. Thinking we were now done, Rebecca promptly announced that she wanted me to teach her how to make a giraffe like the ones I'd made in my last card class; oh and by the way, as she had written a piece about going on safari and the hunt for 'the big 5', if I could come up with an elephant, lion, rhino and buffalo too that would be great! I wasn't phased by the lion or elephant, having seen lots of examples of these on Pinterest, but a rhino ... and a buffalo?! Never one to shy away from a challenge, I set to it and by the time Rebecca had made her giraffe the other animals were complete. Here is my version of a punch art 'big 5': 

What do you think? Easy enough to work out which is which, but I'm not sure if you saw the buffalo out of context you would immediately recognise him as one!! Main thing is Rebecca loves them - and her project is finally complete. Who would have thought that Stampin' Up! punches would be so versatile?! I should just point out that I know technically these are not the safari 'big 5' rather Rebecca's personal interpretation - she substituted the leopard with the giraffe, because this was the animal she really wanted to make (that's 7 year olds for you!)

Lastly, for those of you who did check in today wanting to see the last Patio Party birthday card, here it is:

Same layout as yesterday's post-friendly card, but in the opposite orientation and picking up the butterflies in the paper pattern with a trio of co-ordinating ones flying around the sentiment.

Back tomorrow with another (non Patio Party!) project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies (for the card):

Stamps: Sassy Salutations

Cardstock: Primrose Petals, Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple, Baja Breeze, Summer Starfruit

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers: Midnight Muse

Tools: Large Scallop Edgelit, Beautiful Wings Embosslits

Finishing Touches: Basics Pearls

This evening I'm sat wrapped up against the elements, having taken my little ones to buy summer sandals today on another thoroughly wet day - I must be mad! Never mind, time to party on - as promised yesterday, I'm back today to share the second of my big 40 birthday cards this week, this time a post-friendly version:

I stayed with the same Patio Party background, but as I needed a design without buttons, I decided to make more of a feature of the number forty and cut it out of silver glimmer paper. I layered this with a circle and scallop circle and an alternative 'Happy Birthday' sentiment. So another take on the '40' theme.

Back tomorrow with another patio party card, but no numbers this time - until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Sassy Salutations

Cardstock: Primrose Petals, Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers: Midnight Muse

Tools: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Large Scallop Edgelit, Typeset Alphabet Die

Finishing Touches: Silver Glimmer Paper

Hope you have all enjoyed a restful bank holiday today; not as warm as yesterday, but still pleasant enough to eat lunch out in the garden and have a game of cricket afterwards. As many of you reading this will know, I celebrated my big 40 last year. I was always the oldest in my year group at school though, so since I celebrated my significant milestone birthday I've had many friends follow suit. Two of these friends celebrated their birthdays this month - one yesterday and one today. So today I am sharing with you the card I made for my friend who celebrated her birthday yesterday. I know I'm safe to do so, as I hand-delivered her card last week so I know she will have seen it before I write this! This is the card I made:

I used the lovely banner patterned paper from the Patio Party set as the background for this card, the design of which is carried through into my special birthday cake, complete with sparkly cake stand. Given that this card did not need to be post-friendly, I also added a double vintage button with a red centre to anchor my tailor-made 40th birthday greeting. You can just see in the foreground the envelope, which I decorated to match; I must confess I don't do this often enough, but it really does add to the presentation, so I should do it more often!

Tomorrow I'll be back to share the other 40th birthday card I made this week; this one had to be post-friendly, so no buttons allowed! Meanwhile, I have a hot date with my ironing basket (actually 2 baskets - lucky me!!)

Until next time, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Make a Cake, Memorable Moments

Cardstock: Primrose Petals, Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers:  Primrose Petals, Baja Breeze, Raspberry Ripple, Midnight Muse

Tools: Simply Scored, Stamp-a-ma-jig

Finishing Touches: Vintage Faceted Buttons, Basics Rhinestones

A change from owls today! I thought I would share with you one of the 'make and take' projects I made at the Stampin' Up! regional training event in Telford a couple of weeks ago, a little box made using the Two Tags die containing a set of mini notelets. So first, a close up of the box itself:

The box was decorated with a double-layered fancy flower, stamped with one of the stamps from the Clockworks stamp set and the centre and box front finished with some stamped First Edition designer series paper. An in-colour Gumball Green dahlia adds the accent colour that really makes this project 'pop'. The box contains a set of notelets, decorated with Clockworks and a sentiment from the One in a Million stamp set:

This would make a lovely gift set - it's always handy to have a set of notelets on hand. I like the flag detail on the box too; do you recognise the 'happiness' stamp? It's actually a section of the wedding sentiment stamp in the 'One in a Million' set - I've just trimmed away the first part that said 'Wishing you a lifetime of' - a neat trick to extend the versatility of your stamps.

That's all for today; back tomorrow with another project (assuming I can tear myself away from the lovely weather outside!) - until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: One in a Million, Clockworks

Cardstock: Calypso Coral, Whisper White, First Edition Designer Series Paper

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers: Calypso Coral, Gumball Green, Pool Party

Tools: Two Tags Bigz Die, Big Shot, Fancy Flower Punch

Finishing Touches: In Colour Dahlia

As promised, I'm back today with the last of the owl punch cards from this month's class. Our last card was another alternative use for this versatile punch; this time, to make a cute giraffe punch art card:

To make this card, the owl's body (minus his feet!) becomes the giraffe's head - clever, right?! We then used a variety of circle punches and the large oval punch to create the rest of him. The edges of the finished giraffe were sponged in So Saffron ink to add dimension and I placed him inside the card looking out, for added interest. The oval aperture was easy to make using an oval framelit and a few branches from the Bird Builder punch were added to give the giraffe something to munch on. I finished this card with embossed clouds and an 'Oh Hello' sentiment highlighted with a Cute Clip (love these!), but you could just as easily use a happy birthday greeting - I think this would make a lovely card for a little person.

I hope you like the finished card - there were a few interesting adaptations to this card by the ladies at my class: everything from hearts added to the sentiment banner to eyelashes on the giraffe. That's one of the things I love about teaching classes - whilst I scope out the original design, it can still be adapted or customised to make it individual to you. If you would like to attend my stamping classes, please do get in touch via joanne@thecraftyowl.co.uk for more details. Next month's class is a One Sheet Wonder class using the Secret Garden stamp set and framelits. 

Back tomorrow with another project - until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Oh Hello

Cardstock: Whisper White, Marina Mist, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, Certainly Celery

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers: Early Espresso

Tools: Owl Punch, Cloudy Day Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 1" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Bird Builder Punch, Oval Framelits, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch (circle), Large Oval Punch

Finishing Touches: Cute Clip

Busy day revolving around my little ones today with music recitals, class assemblies, ballet lessons and visiting friends for tea - I swear my two have a better social life than me! Anyway, finally sitting down to share another card from this month's class with you - today, a cute baby card, complete with washing line:

I used the lovely Twitterpated designer paper for the dresses and dungarees, as the largely pastel colours suit a new baby card. I must confess to using some now retired ribbon that was lurking at the back of my drawer to edge the dresses because the pleated edge was perfect for the dress edge. The dresses and dungarees are all made from the 'waistcoat' section of the owl punch, with a few nips and tucks here and there. My most favourite thing about this card is the mini-brad dungaree buttons - I love them!

I've added a pink 'oh baby' sentiment circle to this card, but in class we made two: one pink and one blue, so that they could be added at a later stage when the recipient was known; now that's what you call organised! Back tomorrow with my last class card - until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Ciao Baby!

Cardstock: Whisper White, Old Olive, Island Indigo, Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, Twitterpated DSP

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers: Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette

Tools: Owl Punch, Cloudy Day Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Simply Scored Borders Scoring Plate, 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch

Finishing Touches: 1/8" Mini Brads, Island Indigo Baker's Twine, Ruffled Ribbon (retired)

As promised, here's the second card from last week's Owl Punch card class - this time Nurse Owl coming to wish the recipient 'Get Well Soon':

I've seen these little nurse owls lots of times and think they make a great focal point for a 'get well soon' card. The nurses hat is made from an upside-down 'waistcoat' piece of the owl, whilst the cross is punched with one of the punches from the the Itty Bitty Punches set. This is the only card from our class that we made that wasn't an original design of mine. Jo Dumbleton shared this card on her Facebook page recently and as I was planning my class, with my owl punch, cloudy day embossing folder and 'sick' stamp at the ready, I knew her card would be perfect to showcase all three - and I didn't feel I could improve upon it. I hope you like it too.

Back tomorrow with another of our class cards - and it will be an owl, but not as you know it; you'll have to pop back tomorrow to see what I mean ... until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up Supplies:

Stamps: Word Play

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Brights DSP, Polka Dot Parade DSP

Ink/Stampin' Write Markers: Night of Navy

Tools: Owl Punch, Large Oval Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch, Cloudy Day Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 3/16" Corner Punch

Finishing Touches: 1/4" Night of Navy Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon