STAMPIN' UP! QUITE CURVY MAGENTA BIRTHDAY CARD

I live in Melbourne, Australia, where we have just come out of what I believe is the longest and strictest lockdown in the world (in an effort to get COVID-19 under control).  I decided back in April that one way I could ensure I had structure in my days (I am retired, so have to create my own "purpose" each day) was to commit to blogging at least one card a day.  It was a lofty goal, given my somewhat sporadic blogging history, but I am proud to say that I have achieved, and surpassed it!  We have been (almost) "free" for over a week now, and I have continued with the commitment.

The next few days are going to be filled with Stampin' Up! OnStage@Home, which is the virtual event in place of our annual convention.  I, along with hundreds of my friends, so look forward to the 3-day events that we normally travel away from home for; it's such a special time to connect with fellow demonstrators.  This year, of course, travel and gathering is not possible, so Stampin' Up! has gone to great lengths to put together a 3-day online event for thousands of us around the world.  Whilst it will be very different, I'm sure it will be fun.  What it means, though, is that I will not be able to create cards over the next few days ... so my daily blogging run will be interrupted!  Life is already starting to get busier now that we are allowed to see friends and family (in limited numbers, and under certain restrictions, but a vast improvement on being kept apart for months on end). Perhaps this is the end of my daily shares.  I will find a "new normal" (one of our 2020 catchphrases) going forward, but intend to blog much more frequently than I had been prior to the pandemic.  

The card I have to share with you today is my second Magenta Madness card for the week.  If you've been following me over the last several months, each week I participate in a Colour Creations Showcase, in which a group of us are working our way alphabetically through Stampin' Up!'s 50+ colours.  I blog a card for the showcase on Wednesday nights, then normally share another card focussing on that week's colour, the following day.  This card was finished a little late at night, preventing me from photographing it properly, so I am a day later sharing.

I've had a play with the gorgeous Quite Curvy bundle, that is now available for everyone to purchase.  I'm a sucker for border dies, and decorative edges, so this was a "must have" die set for me.  Any stamps that co-ordinate with dies or punches also tend to make their way into my craft collection!  This card pairs the Quite Curvy bundle with the Birds & More bundle.

The cute bird was stamped first in Magenta Madness ink, that had been stamped off onto scrap paper before making a lighter impression on my piece of Whisper White card.  The top layer of the bird was stamped in full-strength Magenta Madness ink.  I used the Dark Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends marker to highlight the bird's eye, and Memento Tuxedo Black ink to stamp its feet.  The branch was stamped in Smoky Slate ink, and fussy cut (I do wish there was die for this!).  I wasn't happy with how light the ink was, so I added some colour to the branch with my Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends markers.  The little bird is perched on a piece of Whisper White card cut with a Field Tiles die (cropped straight across at the top).  A little bow made from Playful Pets twine adds a sweet finishing touch, don't you think?

All of the rhinestones I have added to my card have been coloured using Stampin' Blends markers.  I used Dark Magenta Madness on the three gems after the sentiment, and the two beneath the bird.  It's a little hard to tell in the photo, but there are two Smoky Slate-coloured rhinestones on the floral spray stems:

Listed below are the products I used to make this card.  They are available to purchase from my online store, which can be accessed by clicking on any of the thumbnail images below.  If you live in Australia, I would love for you to shop with me for your Stampin' Up! supplies.

Product List

Quite Curvy Bundle (English) [156228] $72.00	Birds & Branches Bundle [154107] $81.00	Clear Block B [117147] $10.00	Clear Block H [118490] $14.00	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490] $14.25
Magenta Madness A4 Cardstock [153085] $15.25	Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688] $15.25	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] $17.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $10.00	Magenta Madness Classic Stampin' Pad [153117] $13.00
Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad [147113] $13.00	Versamark Pad [102283] $16.50	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132] $10.50	Heat Tool [129056] $50.00	Magenta Madness Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [153106] $15.50
Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154904] $15.50	Basic Black Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154843] $15.50	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $209.00	Ornate Floral 3D Embossing Folder [152725] $15.75	Field Tiles Dies [152707] $59.00
Playful Pets Trim Combo Pack [152466] $13.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $8.75	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $7.00	Mini Glue Dots [103683] $8.00