STAMPIN' UP! BLOG HOP : MASCULINE THEME

Today I'm taking part in a blog hop, with 7 other friends who are also Stampin' Up! demonstrators in Australia.  The theme of our blog hop this time is "masculine projects" - right up my alley!

You may have come from Sue Madex's blog, but if not, you can catch up with Sue's creation once you've 'hopped' around the circuit (list of participants is at the end of my post).

I've made a couple of cards using Stampin' Up!'s Frightful Sight Designer Series Papers.  I love the colours in these papers - Basic Black, Basic Grey, Cajun Craze and Old Olive.  They get me out of my usual habit of gravitating towards browns and blues for male cards.

First up is a card I made for hubby's nephew, whose birthday was last week.

To make the 'medallion' for around the sentiment, I used my Scallop Circle punch, rotated the punched shape and punched again (to 'sharpen' the rounded scalloped edges), then snipped the edges by hand to give the shape a less uniform look.

Stamps: Up,Up & Away

Card: Basic Gray, Cajun Craze, Whisper White, Basic Black, Old Olive

DSP: Frightful Sight Designer Series Paper

Ink: Cajun Craze and Old Olive stampin' pads, Basic Gray stampin' pad and marker, Sahara Sand stampin' pad and marker, Jet Black Staz-on inkpad

Other: Timeless Type Alphabet dies, 1/4" Circle punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Scallop Circle punch, paper snips, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, Color Spritzer tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig

My second card is perhaps suited to an older male - I think the background paper makes it look a bit conservative (despite my use of the ever-cool Extreme Elements stamp set!).

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Texture jumbo Stampin' Around wheel, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Basic Black, Whisper White

DSP: Cheerful Treat Designer Series Paper

Ink: Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Basic Black and Basic Gray stampin' pads, Jet Black Staz-on inkpad

Other: 2 1/2" Circle punch, Perfect Pennants Bigz die, Top Note die, Basics Glimmer brads, sponge daubers, Mat pack and Paper Piercing tool

Next on the blog hop today is Kathryn Mangelsdorf - you must check out what she has made, and continue on to visit all 8 of us.  We'd love some "comment love", so we know you've been to visit!

Here's a complete list of everyone taking part in the blog hop today:

Ros Davidson http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com

Sue Madex http://www.madexcreations.com

Christine Blain http://www.christineblain.blogspot.com (you're here!)

Kathryn Mangelsdorf: http://klm55.blogspot.com

Nikki Sadler http://www.inkyart.com.au

Di Dunk http://www.stampartbydi.typepad.com

Alisha Watson http://www.ratherbstamping.blogspot.com

Tina Gillespie http://scissorspapercard.blogspot.com

We hope you get some inspiration for cards for the boys and men in your life!

ATS "MAKE YOUR MARK" CHALLENGE 1

There is a new challenge blog happening over at Addicted to Stamps, and I am scraping in at the eleventh hour with an entry for the very first challenge - to use markers on a papercraft project.

I've had another play with my new Frightful Sight Designer Series Paper - it constitutes most of my card's design.  I have inked up the sentiment with my Stampin' Write Markers, in colours that match the patterns on the DSP.

Here it is - simple, but I think a pretty cool 'boy' card:

Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Cajun Craze, Basic Black, Old Olive

DSP: Frightful Sight Designer Series Paper

Ink: Cajun Craze, Basic Black, Old Olive and Basic Gray markers

Other: Glimmer Brads (Basics and In Color), Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, Mat Pack and paper piercing tool

I look forward to taking part in more of Kylie's challenges.  You should check out the challenge site, too!



BLOG HOP: STAMPIN UP! BAKER'S TWINE

Today I'm taking part in a little blog hop, with five other friends who are also Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  The theme of our blog hop is "baker's twine" ... hopefully once you've done the rounds of our blogs, you'll have lots of new ideas for using this great, versatile embellishment.  Stampin' Up! offers bakers twine in white, as well as 7 colours (and I'm hoping for even more in our new catalogue in a few months' time!).

You may have come to me via Ros Davidson's blog .... but if not, don't worry - you won't miss any of the stops if you just follow the link at the end of each participant's blog post.

As well as featuring baker's twine on my cards, I'm showcasing Stampin' Up!'s Reason to Smile stamp set, that is an exclusive set available only until the end of June.  It's FREE if you place a $125 order, or you can buy the set - but only until 30th June.

I've gone for "blues" on my first card today, teaming Island Indigo and Pool Party (two of Stampin' Up!'s gorgeous In Colors that we have in our range for another year) with my good-old-favourite Crumb Cake.

You have probably noticed that I love to add mini bows, made with baker's twine, to my cards.  Today I have a little variation on that theme, adding a little bow to the top of a circle that has baker's twine as a frame.  I love this subtle accent - take a look:

Stamps: Reason to Smile, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White

DSP: Crumb Cake, Island Indigo and Pool Party Patterns Designer Series Papers

Ink: Crumb Cake and Island Indigo stampin' pads

Other: Island Indigo baker's twine, In Color Designer Printed brad, 1 3/4" Circle punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Scallop Edge border punch, sponge daubers, Tombow liquid glue, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool



The second card I have to share with you today is using the colours Calypso Coral and Pear Pizzazz - two more of the colours that are in the range of baker's twine.

Stamps: Reason to Smile, Happiest Birthday Wishes
Card: Confetti White, Pear Pizzazz, Calypso Coral
DSP: Calypso Coral Patterns Designer Series Paper
Ink: Pear Pizzazz stampin' pad and marker, Calypso Coral stampin' pad and marker, Certainly Celery marker (for spritzing)
Other: In Color Designer brads, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Calypso Coral baker's twine, Pear Pizzazz baker's twine, needle, Labels Collection Framelits die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Color Spritzer tool, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, sponge dauber

It's now time to hop on over to Alisha Watson's blog, to see what fabulous ideas Alisha has come up with; I know she'll inspire you.

There are six of us taking part in the blog hop today.  Here's a full list, in case you lose your way, or need to come back later to visit us all!  Please leave some comment love, so we know you've been :)

Ros Davidson http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com


Christine Blain http://www.christineblain.blogspot.com  (you're here!)

Alisha Watson http://www.ratherbstamping.blogspot.com.au

Di Dunk http://www.stampartbydi.typepad.com

Kathryn Ruddick http://www.katlodesigns.com

Tina Gillespie http://scissorspapercard.blogspot.com

JAI #121: JUST ADD ...PEARLS

Hello, friends!  After a week's absence, I'm back with a card (that I was despairing wouldn't get made ... gee, Stampin' Up! Convention saps a girl's energy!).  Convention was a blast.  I got to spend time with a number of special friends, including several of my fellow Just Add Ink Design Team members; we had so much fun together.

Patrice has set this week's challenge at Just Add Ink, to add pearls to your papercraft project.

I have used one of the stamps from Reason to Smile, which is a new stamp set available exclusively in June.  It's a two-step floral stamp set, which I can see I'll have a lot of fun with.  The 'solid' flower stamp has very fine surface detail that yields a really subtle result.  I stamped this in Blushing Bride ink on Whisper White card, before over-stamping the outline flower in Basic Gray.

Stamps:  Reason to Smile, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Basic Gray, Blushing Bride, Whisper White textured and smooth

DSP: Twitterpated Designer Series Paper

Ink: Blushing Bride and Basic Gray stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: White embossing powder, Blushing Bride pleated satin ribbon and Stitched-Poly ribbon, Basic Pearls, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Scallop Circle punch, Basics Glimmer Brad, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Mini Glue dots, stampin' dimensionals, sponge daubers

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team's creations over at Just Add Ink - they are GORGEOUS!!

BLOG HOP: STAMPIN' UP! DESIGNER SERIES PAPER

Today I am taking part, with seven friends who are also Stampin' Up! demonstrators, in a little blog hop, showcasing the gorgeous Designer Series Papers that we have in our range.

You may have come here from Nikki Sadler's blog.  If you haven't yet seen Nikki's gorgeous work, you can catch up with it as you go around the circuit today.  A blog hop is a loop, so just follow the link at the end of each blog post, and you'll be taken on to the next blog - there are 8 all up to visit today.

I have made two cards using the gorgeous Attic Boutique papers from the current Autumn-Winter Mini catalogue.  This selection of Designer Series Paper contains such a wide variety of patterns and colours; I just love it.

First up is a card that my class attendees made in this month's classes.  They all promised not to post it on their blogs prior to my participation in the blog hop ..... actually, it wasn't a hard promise to keep, because none of my ladies have their own blogs (lucky!).  I designed this card with the paper as the starting point.  It contains the colours Poppy Parade, Pool Party and Early Espresso (with touches of Daffodil Delight).  The bird's wing is punched from another sheet of paper from this pack - beautiful, isn't it?

Stamps: Elegance stampin' around wheel, Bring On the Cake

Card: Pool Party, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Poppy Parade

DSP: Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper

Ink: Pool Party stampin' pad, Early Espresso marker, Versamark inkpad

Other: White embossing powder, XL Oval punch, Labels Collection Framelits die, Adorning Accents Edgelits die, Adorning Accents embossing folders, Bird Builder punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, sponge dauber, Tombow liquid glue

 

My second card uses a piece of Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper as the feature.  I've stamped some of the vine image from Vintage Vogue around the edges of the paper (using Crumb Cake ink), and just added some ribbon, brads and a sentiment label.  I spritzed a bit of Pretty in Pink ink over the bottom of the main panel, to finish it off.



Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

DSP: Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Pretty in Pink stampin' pads, Pretty in Pink marker

Other: Color Spritzer tool, Pretty in Pink satin ribbon, Brights brads, Itty Bitty shapes punch, Basic Pearl, Lots of Tags sizzlits die, sponge dauber, mini glue dots

The next stop on today's blog hop is the home of Amanda Hill, a Western Australian friend.  Go see what beautiful work Amanda does.  Please leave us all comments, so we know you've been to visit today!

In case you lose your way, here's a comprehensive list of all the participants in our little blog hop:

Ros Davidson http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com

Di Dunk http://www.stampartbydi.typepad.com

Nikki Sadler http://www.inkyart.com.au

Christine Blain www.christineblain.blogspot.com  (you're here!)

Amanda Hill http://amandasscrapandcraft.blogspot.com.au

Alisha Watson http://www.ratherbstamping.blogspot.com.au

Sue Madex http://www.madexcreations.com

Kathryn Mangelsdorf http://klm55.blogspot.com.au/

We hope you get lots of inspiration for using your Stampin' Up! papers.  This month Stampin' Up! has a Paper Party happening ..... until the end of May, if you buy 3 packs of DSP, you get one pack for FREE! 

An even more exciting initiative this month is that if you sign up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator (which now costs only $169, and you can choose EVERY item in your starter kit - how great's that?!), you will receive a FREE pack of Designer Series Paper every month, from June until December!  Contact me if you'd like to join my team, and get totally consumed by the excitement of Stampin' Up! with me!



DYNAMIC DUOS #1: STAMPIN' UP!'S GROWING GREEN

I am very excited to play along with a new challenge on the block - Dynamic Duos.  I do love a colour challenge, so I can see this site becoming a firm favourite.

Here's the very first challenge - a beautiful fresh colour combination:

I dug out my very neglected "Growing Green" stamp set, incorporated a bit of paper-piecing, and this is what I came up with:

Stamps: Growing Green, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Pool Party, Whisper White

DSP: Pool Party Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Lucky Limeade stampin' pad, Pool Party stampin' pad and marker, Versamark inkpad

Other: Lucky Limeade designer brads, Pool Party ruffled ribbon, white embossing powder, corner rounder punch, Simply Scored tool, mini glue dots, stampin' dimensionals

JAI #109: JUST ADD ...... BEACH

The challenge at Just Add Ink this week, is to create a  papercraft project with a  "beach" theme.   Bronwyn came up with this idea, before leaving the JAI Design Team.

This week's card is a departure for me, from using all Stampin' Up! products.  I don't have any SU! stamps that are "beachy", although I have used Stampin' Up! paper, card and colours.

Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes, CC Designs Mermaid Emma, shell border stamp from PSX

Card: Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, X-Press It blending card

DSP: Tempting Turquoise Patternss Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Memento Tuxedo Black inkpad, Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Tempting Turquoise stampin' pad

Other: Nestabilities, Fancy Favor Bigz die, Brights button, Linen thread, White embossing powder, sponge dauber, Prismacolor pencils & Odourless Mineral spirits, Scallop Edge border punch, Dazzling Details, mini glue dots

It's a bit hard to see in the photo, but here's a close-up of the 'waves' I created, with a bit of sparkle.  I used my Scallop Edge border punch on a scrap piece of card, and used it as a stencil, sponging turquoise ink along the edge to create waves.  I then used Dazzling Details to make the waves a little glittery.

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Teams' creations this week.  We hope you'll play along with us - we'd love to see your beach-themed card or scrapbook page!

SC 0025/12: PINK PIROUETTE & EARLY ESPRESSO

It's been a while since I've played along with Sunny Challenges.    I really enjoyed spending time in my craft room today; this is my second card for the day - woohoo!  The challenge this week is to use Stampin' Up!'s yummy Pink Pirouette and Early Espresso together, using this sketch as the basis for your project:

I have used Very Vanilla as the accompanying neutral; here's what I came up with:

I stamped the maidenhair fern image, from Growing Green, onto the long Early Espresso panel, and the two Pink Pirouette panels (as well as on the sentiment oval).  I wanted it to be subtle, and am really pleased with the outcome - although it's hardly visible in the photo!  Can you see the stamping in this closer shot?:

Do you like the desserty look of the paper flower??  I started off with a flower made with Very Vanilla cardstock.  It was sprayed lightly with Frost White shimmer mist (shimmer paint missed with Isocol), then spritzed with Pink Pirouette and Early Espresso markers (using my Color Spritzer tool).  To finish off, I lightly sponged the edges of the outer petals with Pink Pirouette ink.  A glimmer brad fastens all the layers together.

Stamps: Growing Green, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Pink Pirouette smooth and textured, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso

Ink: Pink Pirouette stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker

Other: Frost White shimmer paint mixed with Isocol, Basics Glimmer Brad, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, Nestabilities, Color Spritzer tool, Very Vanilla seam binding, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, sticky strip

JAI #102 : JUST ADD KATHY TANNER

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink, is to draw inspiration from the gorgeous creations of Kathy Tanner, a member of the Design Team.

I scrolled through Kathy's blog and found a number of cards that I wanted to CASE, but finally decided on this card.  If I'd read Kathy's 'recipe' before starting, I would've realised that her card base is Crumb Cake .... but, I thought it looked like Soft Suede, so that's what I started with!  After consulting my handy Color Coach from Stampin' Up!, I decided on the colour combo of Soft Suede, So Saffron and Riding Hood Red.  I thought Very Vanilla would be a little less stark than Whisper White with these colours.

Like Kathy, I used the Just Believe stamp set, but as a slight variation, after stamping the main image on Very Vanilla card using Versamark ink, I embossed it with Iridescent Ice embossing powder.  I then sponged So Saffron ink over the top.   Here's a close-up of the embossed image, so you can (hopefully) see the subtle sparkle:






...... and my card in its entirety:

Stamps: Just Believe, Kindness Matters, Happiest Birthday Wishes, Parlor Prints

Card: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Riding Hood Red

Ink: So Saffron, Soft Suede and Basic Black stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: Iridescent Ice embossing powder, 1 3/8" square punch, paper snips, Subtles brads, Paper Piercing tool and Mat Pack, sponge daubers

STAMPIN' UP! DOMESTIC GODDESS DSP

I really LOVE the cute, quirky, Domestic Goddess Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up!  Not least of all because it makes me feel slightly virtuous to own something with that title (seriously, I should employ a cleaning lady, because I am far from a goddess in that department!).

I encourage you to check out the 'flip-side' of all the papers in Stampin' Up!'s range, because the variety is fabulous, and patterns are often quite unexpected.  Even though this paper pack is quite whimsical, and "kitcheny", I came up with a card for a friend, that has a bit more of an elegant feel, I think.  I just love the yellow and grey (sorry, Daffodil Delight and Basic Gray) combination.  The colours are a bit 'off' in my photo, but you get the general idea :)

Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Very Vanilla, Basic Gray

DSP: Domestic Goddess Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Gray and Daffodil Delight stampin' pads

Other: Silver Glimmer Paper, Basic Gray satin ribbon, Basics Glimmer Brad, Fancy Flower punch, 5-Petal Flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, 2 1/2 " Circle punch, Perfect Pennants Bigz die, Itty Bitty Shapes punch, Basic Pearls, Fun Flowers Bigz die, sponge dauber, sticky strip, Tombow multi liquid glue

PENNANT PARADE BRIGHT AND CHEERY CARD

Tomorrow is my lovely sister-in-law's birthday.  (I'm actually blessed to have three lovely sisters-in-law; I am one lucky girl - love them all dearly.)

Despite living only a very short distance from the birthday girl, I am guilty of not always getting her birthday cards to her in time.  This year, however, I was very organised, and delivered it a day early - woohoo! 

Stamps: Pennant Parade, Happiest Birthday Wishes, Up, Up & Away

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Daffodil Delight

DSP:  Big Top Birthday Designer Series Paper

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Real Red stampin' pad

Other: Brights button, White baker's twine, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Petite Pennants Builder punch, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, paper snips, mini glue dots, stampin' dimensionals, Tombow multipurpose liquid glue, , Scallop Square Nestabilities

JAI #96: JUST ADD TANIA GOULD

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to CASE one of Tania Gould's gorgeous creations.  Tania is on the JAI Design Team, and has a beautiful style.  I scrolled back through Tania's blog and chose this card, as the use of the Top Notes really appealed to me - not something I'd think to do:

The starting point for my card was a Certainly Celery flower that I'd made, and not yet used.  After consulting my trusty Stampin' Up! Color Coach, I decided to pair Certainly Celery with Marina Mist, using some white on my card as Tania did.  It's only now that I've photographed the card, that I see I stamped the sentiment a bit crooked - oh well, it adds to the handmade charm, don't you think?!

Here's my version of Tania's card:

Stamps: En Francais, Always Elegant, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Certainly Celery

Ink: Certainly Celery stampin' pad, Whisper White craft stampin' pad

Other: Top Note die, sponge daubers, Marina Mist Scallop Dots ribbon, Certainly Celery taffeta ribbon, Subtles glimmer brad, Fancy Flower punch, 5-Petal Flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Eyelet border punch, sticky strip, mini glue dots

STAMPIN' UP!'S BROADSHEET ALPHABET FOR A VERY SPECIAL YOUNG MAN!

Today my eldest boy, Jack, turns 16.  He is such a beautiful young man, and I look forward to seeing what his exciting future holds.  So many opportunities await ..... oh, to be young again!  (I don't really wish for that, but it is great watching our kids grow and develop, isn't it?)

Jack lives and breathes cricket.  He is so passionate about it, and is striving to play at a high level (hoping to one day wear "the baggy green" for the Australian cricket team).  I was determined to not make a cricket-themed birthday card, as I thought after three years in a row the idea might grow a bit tired!  I did, however, manage to sneak a little cricket ball onto the tag, for a pop of colour against all the neutrals.  That, in turn, inspired me to highlight one of the "16s" in Cherry Cobbler (my original idea of all Crumb Cake numbers made for a bit of a bland background).

Here's the card that the birthday boy is receiving, along with a super-duper set of headphones that are apparently a "must have" item.

Stamps: Broadsheet Alphabet, Happiest Birthday Wishes, Just Cricket (retired)

Card: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler

Ink: Basic Black stampin' pad, Soft Suede stampin' pad and marker, Cherry Cobbler marker, Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker

Other: Timeless Type Junior Alphabet sizzlits die, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, Large Tag punch, sponge dauber, Silver Mini Brad, Tombow liquid glue, black adhesive dots (not SU!)

JUST ADD INK #87 COLOUR CHALLENGE

It is with a heavy heart that I relinquish my spot as a Guest Designer for Just Add Ink, I must say!  I've had a ball being part of the team for the past 5 weeks .... thank you, my JAI friends, for the honour.

My last submission for this month is based on this GORGEOUS colour scheme that Nikki has come up with:

Love, love, love these colours!!  Crumb Cake is my "go to" neutral, and I love all of the new In Colors that Stampin' Up! has introduced to our range.  Playing with these colours gave me the opportunity to use some of the adorable Designer Printed Brads that are new to us .... SO cute!!

Here's my card, that used a few new products:

Stamps: Flower Fancy, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Whisper White, Watercolour Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Crumb Cake, Pool Party and Calypso Coral stampin' pads

Other: Aquapainter, White embossing powder, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Basic Pearls, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Designer Printed Brads (Pool Party), Paper-Piercing tool, sponge dauber

SC008/11 : LANGUAGE OF FRIENDSHIP

This week's challenge at Sunny Challenges and Creations, is to use the following sketch, and specific colours (Marina Mist, Cajun Craze and Crumb Cake), on a card or scrapbook page.

One of my many new stamp sets that hadn't seen ink is "Language of Friendship".  It is a beautiful set, that co-ordinates with the Bird Builder punch, and Boho Blossoms punch.  Gotta love stamps that have complementary punches!

I had some time in my craft room last night, after preparing for this weekend's Christmas card class, and came up with a simple card (that I think is really quite sweet).  I stamped the flowers on the base card in Crumb cake ink, and sponged the edges.  I then stamped the flowers in Marina Mist ink on Whisper White card, punched them out using the Boho Blossoms punch, and adhered them to a panel of Crumb Cake card.  I put this card inside my Square Lattice embossing folder, and through the Big Shot, to creat the inlaid embossed panel.  The band across the middle of the card is two punched borders, one stacked above the other.

Stamps: Language of Friendship, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Cajun Craze

Ink: Crumb Cake, Marina Mist and Cajun Craze stampin' pads

Other: Marina Mist 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, Bird Builder punch, Boho Blossoms punch, white gel pen, sponge dauber

HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY WISHES FOR MY BOY

Ethan, my baby (even though he HATES me calling him that!) is 11 today.  He's almost as tall as his mother, but not too grown up for me to steal lots of cuddles ... even if his arms aren't involved.

The birthday boy requested a card that was "Crumb Cake, White and Blue".  "Blue" is pretty general, when it comes to Stampin' Up! colours, and I'm not sure if these are the blues Ethan had in mind, but here's the card I made for him.  The new hostess stamp set called Happiest Birthday Wishes features prominently - LOVE this set.

Here's a close-up of the sentiment.  Four Frames is one of my FAVOURITE new stamp sets; it can be customised in so many ways.  I stamped off some stars in Crumb Cake, overstamped the sentiment from Happiest Birthday Wishes, then used my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig to position the frame over the top.  I punched it out with the Decorative Label punch, sponged the edges, and mounted it with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Cool, yes?

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Happiest Birthday Wishes, Four Frames, Pennant Parade

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise textured

DSP: Crumb Cake Patterns Designer Series Paper, Good Morning Sunshine (retired)

Ink: Crumb Cake and Tempting Turquoise stampin' pads, Pacific Point stampin' pad and marker

Other: Mat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool, Decorative Label punch, Cupcake Builder punch, Petite Pennants Builder punch, Stripes embossing folder, sponge dauber

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my little man!!  Thanks to Renee Van Stralen for the idea for this card :)