Independance Day Step Card

I'm sharing an Independence day card with you today....
Two weeks ago I was searching for a suitable balloon die for the new baby cards I will be selling soon. (all will be revealed lol), While searching I found a die set from Sizzix designed by Stephanie Barnard, I watched a youtube video to find out more

I bought this set which arrived last Thursday. There are 23 dies in the set. In comparison with buying just one balloon die I really have found myself a bargain. In the set are the main dies for creating the base and an L shaped layering piece for the front, then 3 different sized balloon dies and three shadows for them. also 3 different tails for the balloons, There are also 3 dies to cut patterns in the balloons and a die which cuts a tiny row of balloons too. The words "Happy, Birthday, For, You" and their shadows complete the set, such a versatile collection of dies.
So the first make with this set had to be a card for my American friends who will celebrate Independence day on July 4th

Stars stripes and plain scrapbooking papers were used to die cut the balloons and other pieces after cutting the main piece from plain white card, 

a star punch was used for the star embellishments and my Sizzix Alphabet Framelits set was used to cut the letters and numbers. The card came together very easily, I am very happy with the results

I am entering this card into some challenges as follows...

Crafty Creations: Red White and /or Blue #292
Pile It On: Flag Colours #75
Creative Craft Cottage: Spots or Stripes #42
Craftin Desert Diva's: Red White & Blue

Side Step Card & Cute Knitting Die Cuts

The Christmas cards are still a work in progress, to be honest I keep changing my mind on exactly what I wanna do so I'm still thinking that through especailly which papers to use so I wanted to try something totally different today... I browsed on Pinterest (a favourite armchair activity lol) and I found samples of side step cards I have only ever created centre step cards so I decided I really had to have a go! theres even one based on a semicircle but that's for another day LOL!

I needed to make a thank you card for my close friend Kath, she has been helping me to make some preemie baby hats for another friends littlle baby girl who was born very early. Kath has made the knitted ones while I have made some crochet ones. I love how realistic these Marianne Design die cuts have turned out. I embossed them then used a promarker to accent the embossing.

This is the front view of the side step card I made today. As well as the the Marianne Design die set I mentioned earlier I also used the Tattered Lace ornamental rose die. The thank you circle is a small clear stamp which was stamped then heat embossed in silver and cut with a circle die. I used a silver marker to colour the knitting needles, they look quite realistic!

I have wanted to participate in some card challenges for a while but I always seem to miss the deadlines or tiredness and my health problems get in the way, However, I am gonna break that cycle now and enter this card into a few challenges, kinda like getting back into what I really love to do...card making and scrapbooking! actually playing with all things pertaining to papercrafting.

CHALLENGES
Here's the challenges I'm entering this card into,
Select the name as this is linked to the relevent website
Inspiration Destination.....Anything Goes
Sisters Of Craft.....Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon.....Giving Thanks
Creative Knockouts.....Thankful
In The Pink.....Fancy Folds and Pink
Crafty Hazelnuts.....Use Patterned Papers All Over the Card
The Sisterhood of Crafters.....Think Pink (breast cancer awareness)

Im feeling really happy now that I have learned a new card shape
but even more so that I have been back into card challenges again
But mostly because I like this card (I am usually over critical) and the recipient will love it


thanks for stopping by , I hope you have a great week
please leave me a comment before you go!