Birthday Presents & Challenges

One of my co-workers, Terry,  had a birthday this week, and I couldn't wait to make her a pretty notebook to go with these great flower pens I found at Staples. I found these great little kraft coloured notebooks at the Dollar Tree awhile ago, and went back to get more for this project. Unfortunately, they only had three left; I sure hope they get more.

I pulled out my retired stamps, Pick A Petal, to make big beautiful daisies in the background. My new Larger Than Life Alphabet stamps that arrived this week, just in time to make this pretty book! I embossed the letters and the flower center in white EP. I felt that it needed just a little something more, so I went scrounging and found the cute little bee in a very old set, In Full Bloom. That was actually one of the first sets I ever purchased after discovering Stampin' Up! Unfortunately, it's difficult to see behind the light reflecting off the ripple in the plastic wrap. I cut the label section off the package the book came in, and slid my new pretty book back inside. I added ribbon, the pen, and the little matching daisy birthday card, and voila! -a pretty little gift! And even greater than my joy of making it, was seeing Terry's delight when she received it.

Thanks to the wonderful ladies who attend my card making classes each month, I have been placing orders quite regularly, and having a lot of fun with all of my new toys!

Along with the Larger Than Life Alphabet set, I've also recently purchased the new background stamp, Writing Notes, and the Bold Butterflies Framelits. I decided to try them out for two challenges this week. Unfortunately I don't seem to make enough time to participate in challenges as often as I'd like, but I actually had a couple days off work this week and had lots of time to play! One of my favourite challenges online is SU Only Challenges.  This week's challenge was to use butterflies. I actually did two cards today. The first one fits their criteria, and the second combines this challenge with another at Addicted to CAS, which was to use banners on a CAS card. I hope I'm allowed to submit two entires!

Ok, I am seriously in love with this alphabet! I thought it would look cute on the Writing Notes background, and I think I was right. I wish my 'F' had been a bit closer to the 'O', but I try to reign in my perfectionism from time to time, and let it be. (I lied- the more I look at it, the more it is really driving me nuts!) 

I stamped the background with Soft Suede ink on Crumb Cake CS, embossed the letters in white EP, just like the notebook, and added 'you' with chocolate chip ink. The 'you' is from the Endless Birthday Wishes stamp set. I just love being able to see through the photopolymer to place my stamps exactly where I want them. The butterfly is die cut from Crushed Curry, with rhinestones added to the body for some bling.

My entry for the Addicted to CAS challenge, uses the same background, but cut down to a small banner. I stamped the sentiment with the Endless Birthday Wishes photopolymer set. I layered the banner on top of our Tea Lace Paper Doilies, and added a butterfly cut from Tempting Turquoise. After adding the rhinestones to his body, I felt there was something missing, so I added three more in the bottom right corner.

Thanks for looking!
Chris