There are loads techniques you can use when creating handmade cards. This one is a classic example of Simple Stamping! No layers, no die cutting, no masking, no patterned paper! 

Ok, so there is a teeny bit of blending using the Pool Party & Mint Macaron colour Stampin' Blends alcohol markers, but it was very simple and quick to do as I kept the colouring really light.

Just like the card I posted on Tuesday, I used the Forever Blossom Stamp Set and the Seriously the Best Stamp Set! I think it's great how there are many different ways you can use a stamp set to create totally different looking cards.

To embellish the card I stuck a few Basic Adhesive Backed Sequins (which are retiring from the catalogue next week) in the colour Soft Sea Foam. Then to add a bit of bling, I added a Rhinestone Basic Jewel in the centre of each sequin. I wish I'd thought of doing this sooner, such a pretty look!

Do you remember me mentioning last Saturday that we were set a creative challenge to complete a bingo card with 16 squares of different techniques? Well, this is the card I entered in the categories; 1) Single Layer and 2) Favourite Colour.

And in case you were wondering..... Pool Party is my favourite colour!

Seriously the Best Stamp Set

Have you heard of happy mail? Quite simply, it's sending something lovely in the mail to bring happiness to the recipient! It's even better when it's a total surprise. 

So that's what I did, I sent out some handmade cards to my fellow crafty friends to say hello and that I am looking forward to seeing them again when it's safe to do so! 

I am planning on sending out some more happy mail next month to friends I haven't seen in a while. I'd love to send some out to a few of my blog readers. To enter, leave a comment below and I will randomly pick a few people to send a card to next month! 

Each happy mail card I created was unique! They all followed the same template with varying colours and backgrounds. These are just a few examples.

I embossed the patterned paper with my fave embossing folder. It's called the Subtles embossing folder and it just gives the paper a linen paper look. I can't seem to stop using it, I love it that much! 

I then stamped the flower from the Forever Blossoms stamp set in memento ink and lightly coloured it in using my palest Stampin' Blends alcohol markers, I left random bits of white on the petals and the leaves to achieve the look I wanted before cutting them out with the coordinating Cherry Blossom die. 

I die cut a rectangle using the Rectangle Stitched Dies. The stitched effect around the edge is fab, you don't even have to get out the sewing machine! 

I used my stamping placement tool - called the Stampin' Up! Stamapartus! - to stamp the sentiment onto the bottom right corner of the rectangle.

Which of these cards is your favourite? The blue card using the colour Seaside Spray is my personal favourite!

Forever Blossom Bundle

Seriously the Best Stamp Set

Oh my goodness, these bees are just too cute!! Bee's have been so on trend this year, everywhere I look I see lovely items decorated with bees!

Over the next week and a half I'll be sharing the cards I created for a great challenge set by the Pinkies team leader, Michelle Last and fellow demonstrator Catherine Carroll. It was truly wonderful to see everyone in the team get involved. For me personally (and others too), it kick started my creativity.

For this challenge, we were given a 4 x 4 bingo grid, in each box was a different technique or challenge. We had 2 weeks to make cards featuring these techniques to win a variety of prizes. You could tick off 2 squares with each card so this card was my entry for 1) an inked background and 2) retiring product.

I must confess, inked / stenciled backgrounds are not really my cup of tea but I really love this effect on this card. To achieve this look, I die cut the honeycomb shape using the Detailed Bee Dies and then used it as a stencil. After a few attempts, I got the desired effect by using a dauber very lightly with So Saffron ink. It was definitely a case of less is more with this look! I moved the stencil several times to extend the size of the honeycomb shape and I wanted it to fade out from the middle so it was lighter on the edges. 

I stamped and die cut 3 bees, added the yellow stripes using a Stampin' Write marker and then popped them up onto the card using adhesive foam pads. After adding the sentiment, I felt the card was still missing something so I die cut the black hearts (also from the Detailed Bee Dies) and stuck these down with some liquid glue. Perfect! 

I'm so sad this set is retiring so soon. At the time I write this, it's still in stock in my Stampin' Up! shop. If you buy the bundle you get 10% off !