Uniquely Creative Echoes of the Outback Female Birthday Card

 

Hi everyone,

I made a Birthday Card for my cousin - another August birthday - but at least my cousin is female so it gave me a break from doing masculine cards:

I used a sample card in Uniquely Creative's Echoes of the Outback Magazine as the basis for my card but changed it significantly so it does look quite alot different to the original one.

I trimmed a sheet of 12" x 12" designer paper down to slightly smaller than my card front and dry embossed it using my Big Shot and Uniquely Creative Foliage Embossing Folder.  I ran my Kaisercraft Sanding Block over it to highlight the foliage.  I really love this embossing folder - one of my favourites.

The brown wooden ring is from the matching Creative Cuts and I glued on some Brown Check Designer Paper underneath from one of the 12" x 12" designer papers, then popped it up on Uniquely Creative Foam Mounts.

I added the Cockatoo on Foam Mounts as well.  The foliage on the bottom RHS is from the Creative Cuts and is several layers thick so has loads of dimension which you can see here in this photo:

The foliage on the top LHS is also from the Creative Cuts.  I glued the leaves down but left the tips so I could bend them up for dimension.  The flowers and two more leaves were popped up on Foam Mounts.  

The sentiment is from the Creative Cuts and was popped on a some scraps of White Cardstock.

I glued the entire panel onto Chocolate Cardstock, then glued the card front to a White Card Base.

Final touches were adding some Kaisercraft Pale Green Rhinestones using Art Glitter Glue.  They did come with glue dots but as these rhinestones are quite old, the glue dots aren't overly sticky and I didn't want them to fall off in the mail.

Finished size is 4-5/16" x 6" or 109mm x 152mm.

I really love how my card turned out and it was so much fun to layer up all the different elements.  My cousin lives in rural northern Victoria so I thought making a very Australian card would be perfect for her.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe (all products by Uniquely Creative unless otherwise stated):

Stamps and Ink:  None

Designer Paper:  Echoes of the Outback 12" x 12" + Creative Cuts (April 2025)

Accessories:  Fussy-cutting Scissors, Foam Mounts, Foliage Embossing Folder UCE2024, Chocolate Cardstock, Big Shot, Kaisercraft Sanding Block, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Art Glitter Glue, Kaisercraft White Card Base, Scraps of White Cardstock, Koala 1mm Foam Mounts, Kaisercraft Pale Green Rhinestones

Uniquely Creative Echoes of the Outback Birthday Card

 

Hi blogging friends,

Today I am sharing another Masculine Card that I made for my brother-in-law's birthday:

I used a Uniquely Creative Echoes of the Outback Card Kit but made a few changes to the sample in the kit.  This kit was released in April 2025.  I love how Uniquely Creative has released lots of products over the years that celebrates everything Australian.  When I first started cardmaking many years ago, the most Australian image you could get was Santa on a surfboard and that was about it - and even then, he was wearing a Hawaiian shirt which isn't remotely Australian.....sigh....  It is so refreshing to see local creators crafting cardmaking and scrapbooking products that capture the soul of our unique flora and fauna and sweeping landscapes.

Anyway, I am digressing, so back to my card:  I specifically chose the images because my brother-in-law lives in rural Victoria and he regularly helps out a friend on their farm - and he just loves everything rural - so it was a no-brainer to choose a card design that encompasses his lifestyle.

I added a sheet of designer paper underneath the main image and used my Uniquely Creative Edge Distressing Tool to rough up the edges to make it look distressed.  I glued the paper to Uniquely Creative Chocolate Cardstock using Tombow Mono Multi Glue.

The main image was fussy-cut from one of the 6 x 6 inch designer papers and was popped up on Uniquely Creative Foam Mounts.  The original design in the card kit had more flowery images behind the main image - but I swapped them for gum blossoms and added extra gum leaves.  I also added kangaroo paw flowers (the red flowers) as I felt they were more masculine than the other flowers.  Some of the elements were fussy cut using my Uniquely Creative Fussy Cutting Scissors - others were from the matching Creative Cuts.  I also used Uniquely Creative Paperbark Blooms Creative Cuts - and this range was released in April 2026.

For the most part, I glued down the stems so I could bend up the leaves/flowers a little to add some dimension to them.

The barbed wire underneath the sentiment is from the Echoes of the Outback Creative Cuts.  The sentiment is also from the same pack and was popped up on 1mm mounts.

Once I had finished my card front, I glued it to a White Card Base using Tombow Mono Multi Glue.

Finished size is 5-15/16 x 4-1/4 inches or 151 x 108mm.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe (all Uniquely Creative unless stated otherwise):

Stamps and Ink:  None

Designer Paper:  Echoes of the Outback 6" x 6" + matching Creative Cuts, Paperbark Blooms Creative Cuts

Accessories:  Fussy-Cutting Scissors, 1mm Foam Mounts, Distressing Tool UCE1986, Chocolate Cardstock, White Card Base, Tombow Mono Multi Glue

Concord & 9th Greatest Hits Masculine Birthday Card

 

Hi everyone,

I still had my Concord & 9th Greatest Hits Dies (first released in 2023) out on my desk from making my husband's birthday card (see HERE) so thought I would use them again to make a card for my brother's birthday:

Challenges

This is also my card for the following challenges - click on the underlined link to take you to the challenge:

• A Perfect Time to Craft - #8 August - Anything Goes

• The Neglected Stuff Challenge - August - Old Crafting Products you have in your Stash (mine is the designer papers from 2015 and the sentiment is from 2010)

• Splitcoaststampers - Use it 2026 - Using Old Supplies

This die set comes with a separate metal circle that makes the grooves in the records which makes them look like real records.  Isn't that cool?!  The record on the far right was popped up on some scraps of cardstock.

The inner coloured circles were diecut from the designer papers - Simple Stories - So Rad - which was released in 2015 so quite old.  The designer paper on the card base is also from the So Rad Paper Pad which was layered onto Kaisercraft Shadow Cardstock with a 1/8" border.

I diecut the blue stars from Doodlebug Bubble Blue Glitter Cardstock.  I wanted orange stars as well but I didn't have quite the right shade in my stash so made my own glitter cardstock.  I coloured some white cardstock with Ranger Carved Pumpkin Distress Oxide Ink, dried it with my heat-gun, then added Versamark Watermark Ink over the top.  I poured on some Clear Polysparkle Embossing Powder and heat-set it: voila, your own glitter cardstock.  You can't really see the sparkle in my photo but it is there in real life.  Note that if you don't have any sparkly clear embossing powder, you can make your own by adding some glitter to clear embossing powder.  When you heat-set it, it seals the glitter in.

The sentiment is from a stamp set by Taylored Expressions - You're my Hero - which was first released back in 2010 - so 16 years ago.  I stamped it using Stampin' Up Night of Navy Ink, layered the panel onto designer paper and trimmed it to 1/16" using my We R Memory Keepers Perfect Layers Guides, then popped it up a little on 1mm Mounts.

Once I had finished my card front, I glued it to a Kaisercraft White Card Base.

Finished size is:  6-1/8" x 4-1/4" or 157mm x 118mm.

The card was nice and flat so went through the post with regular postage which was a bonus.  It costs $1.70 to post a letter nowadays in Australia - and if it is slightly thick, it costs $3.40 so if you post alot of cards, it really starts to add up.  Just over a year ago, it was still $1.50 - and the cost just seem to keep increasing and the postie only comes every 2nd day now as well.  Even parcels are very expensive to post now so I think twice before sending one.  I imagine it will all get privatised some day soon so who knows what it will cost then.........

Anyway, I did really enjoy having another play with this die set and I think it is such a great, well-thought-out set that you could use for any age or gender.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Taylored Expressions - You're my Hero (2010-retired)

Ink:  Stampin' Up Night of Navy, Ranger Distress Oxide Carved Pumpkin

Designer Paper:  Simple Stories - So Rad 6" x 6" Paper Pad #6522 (2015-retired)

Accessories:  Big Shot, Heat-gun, Polysparkle Embossing Powder, 1mm Mounts, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Art Glitter Glue, WRMK Perfect Layers Guides, Doodlebug Bubble Blue Glitter Cardstock, Kaisercraft White Card Base, Cardstock - Kaisercraft Shadow + Black + White

Dies:  Concord & 9th Greatest Hits #11785 (2023)

Concord & 9th Greatest Hits - Taylored Expressions You're My Hero Masculine Birthday Card

 

Hi blogging friends,

My Craft Room has been a hive of activity making masculine cards for all the August birthdays.  And today, I am sharing a Birthday Card that I made for my husband:

Challenges

This is also my card for the following challenges - click on the underlined link to take you to the challenge -

• A Perfect Time to Craft - #8 August - Anything Goes

• Tic Tac Toe - TTTC298 - I chose the diagonal top left to right bottom - Sparkle (my sparkly stars), Free, Markers (I used my Zig watercolour markers)

Because my husband is very musical and plays guitar in two bands, I wanted to make a card that celebrated his musicality.

Last year, I bought a die set by Concord and 9th called Greatest Hits and it is a fabulous set.  The record sleeve, records and stars are all from that set.  I love how the set has a die that embosses the rings on the record to make it look like a real one!  The record sleeve was diecut from a sheet of designer paper by Simple Stories - So Rad which was first released in 2015.   I used designer paper for the coloured circles on the records.

The sentiment is from an old Taylored Expressions Stamp Set called You're my Hero which was first released in 2010.  I stamped it using Stampin' Up Night of Navy Ink.  I glued on a strip of designer paper along the bottom of the sleeve because it looked a little bare.

The guitar is also from this same Taylored Expressions Set.  I stamped it onto Ranger Watercolour Cardstock using Versafine Onyx Black Ink and coloured it using Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and a Zig Blender Pen.  The guitar body and neck are separate stamps in the set so you have the option of mixing and matching the guitar body that you want as there are four different guitar bodies to choose from.  Once I had coloured my images, I diecut them using the matching dies which are called Rock On, then glued the neck to the guitar.  I added some Silver Posca Pen to the tuner pegs on the guitar neck, then added Glossy Accents to the entire guitar to make it look all shiny like a real guitar.  I did add 1mm mounts to the guitar to pop it up a little.

The designer paper on the card base is also from the So Rad Paper Pad and was layered onto Kaisercraft Shadow Cardstock.

The Gold Guitar Pick on the record sleeve was diecut using a Hunkdory Moonstone Rock 'n Roll Guitar Die.  I bought this die set last year but it was first released in 2023.  I love how it embossed the detail on the pick.  I popped it up on a 1.5 mm mount.

The Orange Glitter Stars were diecut from glittered foam using the 3 stars in the Concord and 9th Die Set.  I don't know where this orange glittered foam came from but found it in my stash of glittered cardstock when I was looking for something that matched the designer papers.

I had so much fun making this card and enjoyed co-ordinating elements from the different brands.  

Once I had finished my card front, I glued it to a Kaisercraft White Card Base using Tombow Mono Multi Glue.

Finished size is:  4-1/4" x 6-1/8" or 117mm x 156mm.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Taylored Expressions You're My Hero (2010 - retired)

Ink:  Stampin' Up Night of Navy, Versafine Onyx Black

Designer Paper:  Simple Stories So Rad 6 x 6 inch Pad #6522 (2015 - retired)

Accessories:   Big Shot, Orange Glitter Foam, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, Zig Blender Pen, Glossy Accents, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Art Glitter Glue, 1mm + 1.5mm Mounts, Silver Posca Pen, Stamping Platform, Ranger Watercolour Cardstock, Gold Foil Cardstock, Kaisercraft White Card Base, Cardstock - Kaisercraft Shadow + Black + White

Dies:  Taylored Expressions Rock On TE260 (2010 - retired), Concord and 9th Greatest Hits #11785, Hunkydory Moonstone Rock 'n Roll Guitar

Stampin' Up The Open Sea Masculine Birthday Card

 

Hi blogging friends,

I have a confession to make:  I really enjoy making Masculine Cards.  Alot of cardmakers say that is the hardest type of card to make, but due to the amount of men in my family/extended family, I have had to learn how to make them.  When you buy a card for a guy, it is really expensive, yet the cards are often just so simple - and I think that is the key - keeping it simple and not overthinking it or you might feel defeated before you even start.  

Start with a limited colour palette and choose a simple image.  You can even base your card around a sentiment - either stamped or diecut.  14 years ago, I made this card based around the sentiment for a cousin of my mother-in-law who lived in Wales and was turning 90:

I had no clue what this man's hobbies were or if he had any hobbies at all.  I had only met him once briefly when he came to Australia some years before so didn't really know him.  I opted for something simple and he loved the card so much, that he rang up to thank me personally - I mean, ringing from Wales to Australia wouldn't exactly be cheap - so I was especially chuffed.  I still think the card design works well for a masculine card and it is all based around the sentiment -  but the rest of the card elements work in harmony with each other which I think is important.  The only thing I would change now is the font on the sentiment because it is a little dated.

Some more ideas:  add some texture by using an embossing folder - or add some distressing.  Use a basic layout that you can replicate for multiple cards.  If you want to add ribbon, do a simple knot rather than a bow - or add string or twine.  I love to use grosgrain ribbon for it's texture.  If you like the layout, you don't need to reinvent the wheel - just use the same layout and your cards will all look different if you use different colours, stamps, designer papers, embossing folders etc.

I have four masculine birthdays coming up in August and here is one of the cards that I made:

Challenges

This is also my card for the following Challenges:

• Allsorts - Challenge #854 - At the Seaside

• Splitcoaststampers - Free for All Friday F4A857 - What makes you happy?  Mine is spending time in my Craft Room away from the world

• Tic Tac Toe - Challenge TTTC297 - I chose the line across the bottom: Any Shape Die, Layers, Embossing

I pulled out my all-time favourite masculine stamp set by Stampin' Up called The Open Sea which was first released in 2011.  It stayed in the catalogue for quite a few years because it was so popular and was eventually retired in 2016.  I would never be able to part with this set as it is just perfect for masculine cards.  You can do so much with the images in this stamp set.  Do a search on Pinterest and there are hundreds and hundreds of cards and you will get lost down a rabbit-hole as I often do on Pinterest............

First of all, I stamped the Ledger (the text image behind the ship) onto Cream Cardstock (from my stash) using Crumb Cake Ink but stamped off twice before stamping so it gave a faint impression.  Next, I stamped the ship using Night of Navy Ink.  The splotchy circles are from another retired set called Gorgeous Grunge which was first released in 2013.  I also stamped them in Crumb Cake Ink but stamped off twice.

I diecut the main image using a My Favorite Things Die-namics Pierced Circle STAX die and my Big Shot, then ink-blended around the edges using Crumb Cake Ink.

I diecut a circle from Crumb Cake Cardstock using a Lifestyle Nesting Circle Die, then ink-blended around the edges with Crumb Cake Ink.  I diecut another circle using a Pierced Circle STAX die from Kaisercraft Ink Cardstock and glued this underneath.

The designer papers are by Kaisercraft - High Tide - which was released in 2016.  You can still buy the 12 x 12 inch High Tide Paper Pads from Kaisercraft but not the smaller pad which is what I used for my card.  Kaisercraft has had some fantastic sea-beach-nautical themed releases over the years.  

The dry embossing was done using Crumb Cake Cardstock and a Kaisercraft Anchors Embossing Folder.  I ink-blended over the embossing using Crumb Cake Ink to make the anchors stand out more and to also tie in with the rest of the card.

The sentiment is from the back of the same Kaisercraft Paper Pad.  I added some Inque Boutique Brads which I thought matched the card really well.  Inque Boutique are no longer in business:  I think they closed around 2010.

The card base is Kaisercraft Ink Cardstock and the next layer up, Crumb Cake Cardstock - again ink blended with the same ink.

Once I had finished my card front, I glued it to a Kaisercraft White Card Base.

So, what do you think?  I was really pleased with how it turned out - and I am working hard on a few more designs using ship or beachy images.  Often, I like to stick to one theme for a few masculine cards until I am tired of it.  

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Stampin' Up The Open Sea #123032 (retired) + Gorgeous Grunge #130517 (retired)

Ink:  Stampin' Up Night of Navy + Crumb Cake

Designer Paper:  Kaisercraft High Tide 6-1/2" x 6-1/2" Pad (retired)

Accessories:  Inque Boutique Brads (retired), Big Shot, Kaisercraft Anchors Embossing Folder (retired), Ink Blending Tool with Domed Pad, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Kaisercraft White Card Base, Cardstock - Stampin' Up Crumb Cake + Kaisercraft Ink

Dies:  My Favorite Things Die-namics Pierced Circle STAX (retired), Lifestyle Nesting Circles L-CC-001 (retired)

Waffle Flower Inquisitive Seagulls 21st Birthday Card

 

Hi everyone,

I made a Birthday Card for my great-niece who is turning 21.  When I turned 21 (quite some decades ago), things were vastly different.  I don't know that it holds the same meaning as back then(?).  I remember getting a large cardboard key that my work colleagues signed but I doubt anyone does that these days.  I also remember getting cards with keys on them that said I had now become an adult,  but I would never put that on a card today because technically (and legally in Australia), you are an adult when you turn 18.  

Anyway, I wanted to make a fun, gender-neutral card that completely steered away from all that those old-fashioned traditions, and here is what I made:

Challenges:

This is also my card for the following challenges (click on the underlined link to take you to the challenge):

Crafty Catz - July Challenge #718 - Anything Goes

We Love Stamping - Summertime  What is more summery than seagulls on the beach!

Splitcoaststampers - Free for All Friday F4A857 - Me Time - What makes you happy?  What makes you want to create?  For me, it's spending time in my Craft Room away from the worries of the world and sharing a little piece of my heart in every card.  I think about the person I am creating the card for and tailor-make it to suit that person.

I have seen quite a few cards on Pinterest using the Waffle Flower Inquisitive Seagulls range so used those cards as inspiration for my card.

To do the sandy background, I used a piece of American Crafts Kraft Cardstock and stamped it with the dots stamp from the Waffle Flower Inquisitive Seagulls Stamp Set.  I used Stampin' Up Delightful Dijon Ink (sadly, retired) and did 2nd and 3rd generation stamping.  I ink-blended around the edges using the same ink but also added in some Stampin' Up Crumb Cake Ink to darken up the edges/corners.

The seagulls are from the matching Waffle Flower Inquisitive Seagulls Die Set which has two sizes of seagulls and the two beaks.  I diecut the seagulls using Ball & Doggett Knight White Cardstock, then diecut the eyes from a scrap of Black Cardstock.  The beaks were diecut from scraps of Pale Orange and a Darker Orange Cardstock - plus a scrap of Yellow Cardstock for the two smaller seagulls.  I glued the eyes and beaks on using Art Glitter Glue fitted with a fine nozzle.   I glued the seagulls to the card using Tombow Mono Multi Glue.  

I added some white highlights on the eyes and beaks using a White Gel Pen which really brought the seagulls to life.  Who hasn't had a seagull swoop down to steal your food?!  Or in the case of my card, they will be stealing the cake!

I used a Stamping Platform to stamp the sentiments in Versafine Onyx Black Ink so I could restamp several times to make them nice and dark.

I thought it would be fun to add another seagull on the inside of the card:

The sentiment is also from the Inquisitive Seagulls Stamp Set.

I was so pleased with how my card turned out - and I really hope it puts a smile on my great-niece's face.

Finished size is 4-1/2" x 6-1/8" or 114mm x 159mm.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Waffle Flower Inquisitive Seagulls 421701

Ink:    Stampin' Up Crumb Cake + Delightful Dijon (retired), Versafine Onyx Black

Designer Paper:  None

Accessories:  Big Shot, Ink Blending Tools with Domed Pads, Scraps of 2 Shades of Orange + Yellow + Black Cardstock, Ball and Doggett Knight White Cardstock, American Crafts Kraft Cardstock, Kaisercraft White Card Base, Stamping Platform, White Gel Pen, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Art Glitter Glue, 

Dies:  Waffle Flower Inquisitive Seagulls 421701

Uniquely Creative Peonies and Proteas Birthday Card

 

Hi everyone,

Today I am sharing a Birthday Card that I made for my sister-in-law:

I used a Uniquely Creative Card Kit called Peonies and Proteas which was released March 2024 - but I always change up things a little.

The Designer Papers were distressed using my Uniquely Creative Edge Distressing Tool.  I glued on scraps of White Cardstock behind each paper so I could add a little bit of height to them.

I fussy-cut some elements from the Designer Papers using my Uniquely Creative Fussy Cutting Scissors - other elements are from the co-ordinating Creative Cuts.  What I like to do is layer my elements together then take a photo so I have a reference for when I am adhering them.  Some elements are popped up on mounts and others are just glued.  I glued just the bases of the leaves so I could bend them up for more dimension.

I used a different sentiment than what was suggested in the card kit and chose a sentiment from the Creative Cuts instead.  This was also popped up.

I added some Kaisercraft Soft Pink Rhinestones but added a dot of Art Glitter Glue underneath to keep them from shifting.

The original card kit had a ribbon on it but I couldn't figure out where to put it after I had already added the rhinestones, so left it off because in the end, I didn't think the card really needed it.

As a final touch, I added Uniquely Creative Clear Sparkle Brush to the flower centres and various other parts of the design - alas, not captured by the camera but looks so pretty in real life.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps and Ink:  None

Designer Paper:  Uniquely Creative Peonies and Proteas 6" x 6" Pad UCP2700 + matching Creative Cuts UCP2701 (released 2024)

Uniquely Creative Accessories:  Edge Distressing Tool UCE1986, White Card Base, Foam Mounts, Fussy Cutting Scissors, Clear Sparkle Brush

Other Accessories:  Kaisercraft Rhinestones Soft Pink SB701 (retired), Art Glitter Glue, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, 1mm Foam Mounts, Scraps of White Cardstock

Stampin' Up Gift Tags Teddy Bear Birthday Card

 

Hi blogging friends,

EDITED TO ADD:  I just learned my card was picked by Anne from the Design Team as a favourite over at the Critter Crazy Challenge.  Thank you Anne!

******************

Today I am sharing a cute little Birthday Card that I made for a young lady who attends our monthly Stampin' Up Class:

This is also my card for the following challenges - click on the underlined link to take you to the challenge:

• Critter Crazy Challenge - #112 - Anything Goes with a Featured Critter Real or Fantasy

• Crafty Catz Challenge - #717 - Anything Goes

• Splitcoaststampers - Free for All Friday F4A854 - Nursery Rhymes/Children's Song - I chose Teddy Bear's Birthday Party Song.  You can find it on You-Tube HERE.  It goes like this:

It's a special day, a time for cheer,

Teddy bear's birthday is finally here!

Friends are coming from far and near,

With laughter, love, and joy sincere.

Happy birthday, Teddy Bear!

Let's cut the cake, and share.

Balloons and presents fall all around,

Let's celebrate with joy and sound!

A chocolate cake with candles bright,

Teddy bear blows them out tonight.

Wishes are made, the party's begun,

Dancing and games for everyone!

Happy birthday, Teddy Bear!

I thought I would bring out one of my VERY old Stampin' Up Sets called Gift Tags.  Technically, the stamps are meant just for gift tags, but I love this sweet little teddy bear and I think it is perfect for a quick and easy card.  This set was released in the year 2000 and I managed to pick it up second-hand over 10 years ago.  It is such a sweet little set which has seen plenty of use over the years.  Stampin' Up currently have their Silly Old Bear Suite - but it is frustratingly not available in Australia.  I would LOVE to have another Teddy Bear Stamp Set like Button Bear. which was released in 1995.  The last teddy bear stamp that I remember Stampin' Up releasing was Baby Bear from 2016 so it has been far too long between bear releases!

I stamped the image (which already includes the sentiment) using Versafine Onyx Black Ink onto Ranger Watercolour Cardstock.  It was coloured using Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and a Zig Blender Pen.

I pulled out some retired Stampin' Up Designer Series Papers called 'A Cherry on Top' which was first released in June 2015.  I paired them with two now-retired colours:  Watermelon Wonder and Bermuda Bay.  I wanted my card to look very bright and cheery.  I wish I had bought more of these Designer Series Papers and are now down to just a few sheets 😞

I diecut the main image panel using my Big Shot and Stampin' Up Stylish Shapes Circle Die, then layered that onto a Spellbinders Petite Nesting Scalloped Circle Die.  

I tied on some Caribbean Twine then added 3 x Uniquely Creative Enamel Dots from their Choose Your Own Adventure which was released May 2021.  I added a dot of Art Glitter Glue underneath the enamel dots so they were more secure.  I am posting this card so those dots ain't going anywhere!

I used my EK Success Arrows Border Punch to punch some tiny hearts from Watermelon Cardstock - they are the leftover punchies that look like tiny hearts to me - then glued one either side of the sentiment.  

I added some Glossy Accents to the bear's heart

Final touches were Uniquely Creative Clear Sparkle Brush to the hearts beside the sentiment, teddy's bow and the present.

Once I had finished my card front, I glued it to a White Card Base using Tombow Mono Multi Glue.  I added some scraps of white cardstock underneath so the panel had a little bit of height.  I find this easier (and cheaper) then using foam pads - plus the glue gives me a little bit of wriggle time so I can get the panel exactly where I want it.  I can never get things straight when I use foam pads!

Finished size is:  4-1/2" x 4-1/2" or 114mm x 114mm.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Stampin' Up Gift Tags (released 2000 - retired)

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Designer Paper:  Stampin' Up A Cherry on Top (released 2015 - retired)

Accessories:  Big Shot, Uniquely Creative Clear Sparkle Brush, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, Zig Blender Pen, Caribbean Twine by The Twinery, Uniquely Creative Enamel Shapes - Dots - UCE1821, Glossy Accents, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Art Glitter Glue, House of Paper - White Square Card Base, Cardstock - Stampin' Up Watermelon Wonder (retired) + Bermuda Bay (retired) + Scraps of White + Ranger Watercolor

Dies:  Stampin' Up Stylish Shapes #159183, Spellbinders Petite Nesting Scalloped Circles (retired)

Punches:   EK Success Arrows Border

Uniquely Creative Echoes of the Outback Birthday Card

 

Hi blogging friends,

Today I am sharing a Birthday Card that I made for my daughter's birthday:

I wanted to make a card with a Cockatoo on it because we have Cockatoos that visit our garden all the time.  We have a very friendly one that our daughter has called Kevin and he is very well-behaved and extremely gentle.  Kevin will hop on our daughter's arm and lets her pat him.  We have all done selfies with him and he doesn't mind a bit!

I am also popping my card into the Splitcoaststampers June Fan Club Challenge CT0626 of 'A Perfect Union' because Australian Flora and Fauna are perfect together:  you couldn't have one without the other.  Our resident Cockatoos nest in the hollows of gum trees and eat the gum blossoms.  I am also playing along with the WORDPLAY Challenge WORD0626 of FUSE.  I chose F for Flowers, U for Uniquely Creative, S for Sentiment and E for Embellishments (the rhinestones).

If you are a paid Fan Club Member of Splitcoaststampers, you can play along with their monthly challenges and get loads of inspiration + free tutorials - and the DT are very supportive and encouraging.  Even though my 6 month tenure finished in May, I intend to continue playing along each month because it really helps my creativity - plus having a paid membership keeps the website going.  It costs very little and I want to not lose this amazing resource.

In April 2025, Uniquely Creative released Echoes of the Outback and the Card Kit has lots of native birds and animals so I decided to use one of the sample cards from the Card Kit.  The main things that I changed were the sentiment plus I added an extra flower and leaves - and I added the little green tree frog on the far RHS above the sentiment because my daughter really likes frogs and I thought the frog looked really cute hiding under the leaves.

When I glued the leaves down, I only added glue to half of each leaf so that I could bend up the leaf tips for added dimension.

I used Uniquely Creative Foam Squares under all the layers - some are doubled up for extra height.

All the designer papers have been distressed using my Uniquely Creative Edge Distressing Tool.  I love this tool for distressing my projects.

Final touches were adding three Uniquely Creative Champagne Rhinestones.

This was such a fun card to make and I really enjoyed making a card that celebrates Australian Flora and Fauna.

Finished size is 4-1/8" x 5-3/4" or 105mm x 146mm.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps and Ink:  None

Designer Paper:  Uniquely Creative Echoes of the Outback 6" x 6" pad + Creative Cuts

Uniquely Creative Accessories:  Foam Mounts, Edge Distressing Tool UCE1986, Champagne Rhinestones, White Card Base

Other Accessories:  Tombow Mono Multi Glue

Simon Says Stamp Wildflowers Sunrise Card

 

Hi everyone,

I have been very busy in my craft room making some ink blended backgrounds which is one of my favourite things to create.  I thought I would create a Sunrise Card to fit the theme of the Splitcoaststampers Free for All Friday F4A844 Challenge of Yellow and Black.  You can use other colours but yellow and black should be your main two colours.  There are no time limits to play Splitcoaststampers Challenges - so play along anytime you wish.

When I was planning my card, I was thinking about that very first warm Summer's Day of the season and how you can just tell at sunrise, that it is going to be beautiful and warm:  you anticipate the joy that it give you to feel the heat of the sun's rays on your body after the cold - it just makes you happy and puts you in a good mood 😄 

So here is what I made:  

I used Bristol Smooth White Cardstock for my ink-blending which is my favourite cardstock to use because it blends so beautifully due to its smooth surface.  I masked the sun using a Lavinia Circle Mask and used repositionable tape underneath to hold it in place.  I ink blended Ranger Distress Inks in the colours:  Squeezed Lemonade, Scattered Straw, Dried Marigold, Wild Honey, Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber and Carved Pumpkin.  I splattered the panel with clean water to some texture which is a little hard to see in the photo.

I removed the circle mask then went over the sun with Squeezed Lemonade and Scattered Straw to take away the whiteness - then used Mont Marte Pastel Pencils in two yellow shades to add some more colour.  It still looks quite white in the photo but it is more of pale yellow in real life.

The silhouette stamp I have had since 2020 but is still available on the Simon Says Stamp website.  It comes in a set of 2 and is really HUGE!  I stamped it using Altenew Obsidian Black Ink with my Stamping Platform so I could re-stamp it several times to get good coverage - then went over a few small bits that didn't quite stamp properly using an Anko .05 Black Pigment Pen.  

The sentiment is by Unity Stamps and dates back to 2009, and was stamped using Versafine Onyx Black Ink.  I added a Kaisercraft Black Pearl to the RHS of the sentiment using Art Glitter Glue for good adhesion.

Final touches were adding Stampin' Up - Tiny Bee Trinkets - which were glued on using Art Glitter Glue.  These tiny bees were a very recent purchase and were on the Last Chance List but are no longer showing on their website so must have sold out.  Now I wish I had bought a second container......sigh.......

The main image panel was layered onto Stampin Up Daffodil Delight Cardstock then Black Cardstock - then finally an American Crafts White Card Base.  Finished size is:  6-3/8 x 4-11/16 inches or 162 x 119mm.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamps Wildflowers SSS201998, Unity Stamps Feel the Joy IB-254 by Lindsey Spencer

Ink:  Altenew Obsidian Black Pigment, Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress - Squeezed Lemonade, Scattered Straw, Dried Marigold, Wild Honey, Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber + Carved Pumpkin

Accessories:  Ink Blending Tools, Stamping Platform, Anko .05 Black Pigment Pen, Kaisercraft Black Pearl BR211, Stampin Up Tiny Bee Trinkets #164714 (retired), Mont Marte Yellow Pastel Pencils, Art Glitter Glue, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Repositionable Tape, Bristol Smooth White Cardstock, Stampin Up Daffodil Delight Cardstock + Black Cardstock, American Crafts White Card Base

Stencils:  Lavinia Acetate Circle Masks LAM001