My job is being outsourced and I decided to turn down the opportunity to join the outsourcing company. I am very grateful for all the people who have reached out to me and told me that I’ll be missed and that they believe I’ll easily find something else. This makes it easy to decide on the theme of today’s card.

This is a SEVEN layer card which is definitely a record for me. This was also my first use of DSP (Designer Series Paper). I have a lot of DSP but I struggle to use it; I feel that I’m colour challenged and so matching plain is easier than pattern. SU! make matching easy by telling you which colours are in the patterns, but I still have to make it feel balanced. You don’t grow if you don’t push yourself, right?! I CASEd this one from Susan Itell. I love this paper – it’s from the All Abloom stack which is full of really pretty patterns and at $6.95 for 48 pieces of 4.5″ by 6.5″ paper, a good value.

Base: Daffodil Delight 8.5″ by 5.5″ scored and folded

Mat: Daffodil Delight 4″ by 5.25″ scored using the stampin’ trimmer every quarter of an inch.

All Abloom paper – 1.75″ by 5.25″

After assembling the first few layers, I turned to the banner. I don’t have the banner framelits (yet!) nor a square of hexagon punch so I had to cut the end of the banner by hand. Easy to do with a ruler to find the centre. I used lost lagoon (since that’s in the paper) and more daffodil delight. The sentiment is from Sassy Salutations and stamped in the lost lagoon ink. I wanted to mimic the flower in the dsp and used the itty bitty accents punch pack to make the flower shape. I could not find anything to make the small flower centre and I had to wait (impatiently) for a new SU! order containing the cupcake punch. My sister was fairly convinced that the cupcake punch would have limited use in her crafting since she wasn’t expecting to make a lot of cupcake cards. I could see her point. But we’ve come to realise that the punch is really useful because it creates quite a number of shapes. BTW, I did get a cupcake stamp set too. 🙂

I decided to make my own envelope using the envelope punch board and daffodil delight. I completely messed up the liner, forgetting that the framelit envelope liners won’t be the right shape for this kind of envelope. I instead glued a strip of the DSP to the front. I think it works well.

I’m also thankful for Stampin’ Up!’s Paper Pumpkin promotion which ends on Wednesday. Paper Pumpkin is a kit in a box which is sent to you monthly (whilst you’re a subscriber) and contains everything that you need to make the project(s) with the possible exception of glue. Until Wednesday, they are offering 50% off for the first two months. I’m going to join up because at $10 for the first two months, how can I lose? 🙂 If any of you decide to join, please put me in as your demonstrator. Thanks.

Here are the details:

Offer Details: Use the code HALFOFF2 to join Paper Pumpkin before September 10, 2014, and get 50% off the first two months! After that, keep the creativity coming for only $19.95 + tax per month (shipping included)

The Fine Print:

• For new subscribers only.
• Available for month-to-month subscriptions, not prepaid subscriptions.
• Discount applied to one kit per month for the first two months of a new subscription. After the first two months, the price for each month’s kit will go to the regular price: $19.95.
• You need to visit MyPaperPumpkin.com to join.
• Enter the Promo Code, “HALFOFF2” when you sign up.
• New subscribers must join by Wednesday, September 10, 2014; 11:50 PM (MT).