My first post!

Hi everyone!

As this is my first time posting, this is going to be relatively simplistic as far as blog posts go! I've been busy making a card in a box for a gorgeous friend of mine as she has just had her first baby. I have never been quite as happy with the outcome of a card, so I figured this was the best time to start a blog! The majority of the materials and tools used were from Stampin' Up due to their quality and durability. Here it is: 

To make this card, I started with Soft Sky cardstock from the Subtles Collection and used the Scalloped Box die from Lawn Fawn to cut the base and interior panels. I am so glad I got this die set from the US as I really am TERRIBLE at the measuring/scoring/cutting involved in the base components and it takes me forever! You can get it here.

Then I used the base die to cut the car paper in the background. I needed a full base section for the outside, and then I cut one down for the back of the inside. I picked this paper up at Spotlight a couple of years ago when it was reduced to clear, and I am so glad I did as it was exactly what I wanted for this card. I know that the new daddy is a car enthusiast, so I wanted to incorporate that in somehow. 

I glued the car paper to the cardstock before I constructed the box. I mostly used the Tombow Multipurpose Liquid glue from Stampin' Up! for this, however I did use some Tear & Tape for the inside panels as I find that I can never get it quite right with glue alone. While it was drying, out came the stamps!

Using black archival ink, the Moon Baby stamp set and shimmery white paper from Stampin' Up! I stamped two umbrella babies and three of the groups of animals, as well as the two sentiments. I also used Basic Gray and a sentiment from the 'A Little Wild' set for the tab. I used Stampin' markers and the blender pen to colour them all in with the following colours:

• Real Red for the umbrella and bunnies;
• Bermuda Bay for the babies onesie and the teddy bear
• Dapper Denim and Peekaboo Peach for the lamb
• Peekaboo Peach and a touch of Powder Pink for the babies skin
• Basic Black for the hair 
• Daffodil Delight for the stars (with just the marker)

To do this, I scribbled with the marker on an acrylic stamp block and used my blender pen on that as I don't have many stamp pads yet, but I have almost every Stampin' Marker under the sun.

Then came the cutting. So much cutting!

I used the coordinating stitched shaped that came in the Lawn Fawn set to cut the front and side panels, as well as the little banner in the background. I put two little Glitter Enamel dots on the post tips to help them stick. The name and little banner were cut with Kaisercraft dies (from before I was a Stampin' Up! convert) on Soft Sky, Night of Navy, Real Red and So Saffron cardstock. There are three little So Saffron circles behind the cars at the back that were cut using a circle punch.

Assisted cutting ended there and fussy cutting began (only because I love the person I was making it for - usually I avoid it like the Bubonic Plague!). On a side note, my husband thought I had made that term up. I digress. Using my precision scissors, I fussy cut the following:

• The two babies with umbrellas;
• Two rabbits
• Two teddy bears
• Two lambs
• Eight tiny stars
• Three cars from the paper I mentioned.

I used Mini Stampin' Dimensionals to mount the pairs together, some needed a half mini dimensional. Regular size Stampin' Dimensionals were used on the front panel. I glued the side panels on with Multipurpose Liquid Glue and then used half mini dimensionals to attach the stars. The glue also stuck the cars to the circles, as well as sticking them to the inside panel.

Finally, I used pieces of dimensionals to attach the baby, bunny and lamb to inside panels, as well as the bear hanging on to the umbrella.

That was all (I think!) Darius helped the whole way through and I am certain there are a few of his hairs hidden in there!

I am usually hypercritical of my creations, but this is the first one that I am completely happy with and willing to share. If you have any questions, I am more that happy to answer them. As I am new to blogging, I am not sure how to link all the Stampin' Up! products for purchase through me as a demonstrator, but if you are interested I can help you out. 

Here's a list of the products I used from Stampin' Up:

"Moon Baby" and "A Little Wild" stamp sets.  

• Basic Black and Basic Grey archival stamp pads
• 2016-2018 In Color Markers
• 2017-2019 In Color Markers
• Many Marvelous Markers Set
• Multipurpose Liquid Glue
• Tear and Tape Adhesive
• Big Shot Die Cutting Machine with Magnetic Platform
• Clear blocks C and E
• Stampin' Scrub and Stampin' Mist to clean the stamps
• Paper Snips (for the fussy cutting - they're the best!)
• Enamel Shapes - Subtles
• Glitter Enamel Dots
• Subtles Collection A4 Cardstock

Thanks for coming! 

Sara and Darius