Birthday Box

Yesterday was my husband's birthday, and I wasn't there to spend it with him........again!!!

It is a slight problem that Stampin' Up! schedule a catalogue and product release around Remembrance Day in November, every single year. Even last year, when the event was in Melbourne, my home town, I was away all day and too tired to have the family over till the next day. Poor man, and even worse for him this year as I have headed away to Orlando Florida to join 7000 other American and International demonstrators for the 30th Anniversary celebrations. I think I might even have been at Disneyland on his actual birthday!!!

I tried to go all-out with a card to take his breath away and tried out this fun-fold card using a piece of 12" X 12" card. It is strategically scored and sliced. and each of the square panels can be decorated - both sides.

 Many stamp sets were inked up to decorate this card, and funnily enough, I have practically made it under his nose. "You are the best" and the lovely brackets are from A Big Thank You. The signpost is from En Route and the other two panels stamped on this side of the card are Ribbon Of Courage.

This is the main side of the card, and it begins with the Happy Birthday Thinlit (#143700 - $35), a very effective and easy to use decoration, making a big statement. Large Numbers thinlits are no longer available unfortunately, but maybe there will be something to replace them soon?

Picture Perfect Birthday is a stamp set with some very useful sentiments in it, and I really like 'happiest of birthdays to you' and use it a lot. "You make me smile" is from Colorful Seasons and the 'every single day' is part of another sentiment from En Route.

Best Route suite has been a real winner for me and you can check out the full range on page 53 of the Annual Catalogue. I bought the Memories and More card pack to scrapbook my trip to the USA, but I have actually used some in birthday cards, a thank you card (and there are stickers for these included in the pack). There is a small card and two stickers on the belly band of the box I made to hold this card. The Best Route designer series paper is equally good for many types of card also, such bold, contrasting colours.

If you need supplies to keep your creating happening, you will find my online shop open 24/7. If your purchase is $250.00 or more , you will earn Host dollars to spend on your choice of products from current catalogues, including the exclusive Host stamp sets. If your order is less, you can use the Host Code below, and become a part of my online party, where we all share the bonus dollars. You will receive at least a pack of rhinestones for an order over $60, and go into the draw for an exclusive shopping bag for orders of $100.

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Ribbon of Courage

Ribbon of Courage is another of the stamp sets designed by a Million Dollar seller. Imagine that! I have no illusions that it would take a long and consistent effort to achieve that milestone, and this demonstrator is Patty Bennett. I'm sure many of you would know who she is.

I liked this stamp for the sentiments, the delicate artwork on the images and then the matching dies include these lacy flowers and leaves. I had a BIG session recently when I sorted card scraps, cut flowers etc from the pieces and put them into small containers for use on projects. That is what these flowers are from, so some of those colours are retired, and were in my scraps.

Patty Bennett

 Doesn't the fancy entry and exit on 'faith' look so pretty? There is another 'Sending Love and Hugs to you' which I'm enjoying using on a variety of cards too. There is a video on my Facebook page showing lots more of my scraps. Often there is a quick update there, a Stampin' Up! promotion or when a class is on. Like my Facebook page to keep in touch.

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 Any orders in my online shop with the Host code receive a gift from me in the post. Since November is my birthday month, I am adding a handmade birthday card as well, for you to send to someone else.