You and Bee Honey Card | Picket Fence Studios

Hello, and Happy Valentine's Day my friends!

Today's card is part of the new collection from Picket Fence's Nature's Wonderland Release, and I couldn't help but make it love-themed with a punny sentiment to celebrate the day😉 Join me and the design team over on Instagram for a fun Hop and chances to win prizes!

CARD RECIPE

Background - Garden Lattice A2 Cover Plate

Bees - Happy Bumble Bee Dies

Flowers - Layering Cherry Blossoms Dies

Sentiment - Wreath Building Greetings From Our Hive 

Ink - Black Hybrid Ink Pad

Tools - Pint-sized Paper Pouncers - Bright Rainbow

Besides, a little stamping and ink pouncing, the majority of the card was die-cutting and assembly. So I won't go into much detail.

For the bees, I cut out 3 different layers black, white, and yellow. I trimmed out and pieced what I needed. For the little heart, I just colored the white layer with a pink marker. Before gluing the layers together I added some color to the wings and the bee bellies with markers. Once they were glued together, I then linked the antennas and glued the Bees to the card front. Doesn't it look like their bodies are forming a heart?

For the cherry blossoms, I used a Paper Pouncer to add pink ink to the center of the flowers. I then cut an additional white layer that I kept together by affixing tape to the back of the die cuts and then glued the pink layer to it. To finish them off I added a pink gem to each center.

The sentiment was stamped out using the Black Hybrid Ink Pad and then fussy cut.

If you love to be inspired by Nature, make sure you check out the new Picket Fence's Nature's Wonderland Release. 

Thank you for stopping by and until next time... Happy Crafting!

Ilda 💗💖👋😊

SUPPLIES

Garden Lattice A2 Cover Plate Shop at: PFS	Happy Bumble Bee Dies Shop at: PFS	Layering Cherry Blossoms Dies Shop at: PFS	Wreath Building Greetings From Our Hive Shop at: PFS
Paper Inking Palette - 4x9 Shop at: SSS | SB | PFS	Pint-sized Paper Pouncers - Bright Rainbow Shop at: PFS	Stamp Pressure Tool Shop at: SSS | SB | PFS	Black Hybrid Ink Pad Shop at: PFS
The Stamp Scrubber Shop at: SSS | SB | PFS

To make supplies easy for you to find, I have linked them above. If something is no longer available I will link to a similar product. Affiliate links may be used depending on the product linked. Please help support my blog by using these links while shopping at no additional cost to you. For more information about the affiliates I use, please visit my disclaimer here. Thanks so much for all your support!

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A Nurses Farwell Retirement Party | Keep Calm and "Curry" On Theme

Hello friends, 

This post is long overdue, but I felt it was still worthwhile sharing for anyone interested in ideas for a nurse's retirement party. Recently a dear friend, colleague, and mentor of mine retired from Nursing after 42 years of service. Since I began my nursing career up until a few months ago Barb had been there. She has always been someone we all looked up to and learned so much from. So since this legend was about to retire we knew we had to throw her a party she would never forget. Lucky for her, but not so lucky for me I had time to plan and organize the event, since I was at home recovering from a broken ankle. Thankfully I have since recovered.

THEME

Barb's last name is Curry. Anyone who knows Barb knows the calm she brings when she's around even when under pressure. Over the years we had adapted the British phrase Keep Calm and Carry On to Keep Calm and "Curry" On, so the theme was not a hard one to come up with. Last year I made her a shirt just for fun that she actually wore on her last day to work and it was her wish for us all that she left behind.

 

Made using Silhouette Cameo and Black HTV 

NURSE'S CAP

 

Nowadays, nurses don't wear the Nursing Cap which is designed to recognize the expertise and excellence of a bedside registered nurse. But, when Bar was a new nurse she definitely did wear one and her's had a black stripe across the top of it. So of course I had to make her a "Retirement" Nurse's Cap.

Made using Silhouette Cameo and Glitter HTV. 

Nurses Cap (similar but not the same one I used)

CARD

Knowing that many people would want to sign the Farwell card, I decided to create an extra large one. For this, I again used the Silhouette Design Edition software to create the XL card. Finished it measured approximately 9.5x12 inches. For the card base, I used a white Posterboard and also added a couple extra inserts for people to write messages on. On a black piece of cardstock, I die-cut the nurse's cap and bottom letters. I then die-cut the same letters and cap to create 3 layers, which I then glued together and pieced back into the openings on the black piece of cardstock. For the top wording on the card I die-cut the letters using white vinyl and then used transfer tape to add them to the top half of the card. To the cap, I added a layer of glue and then sprinkled it with glitter just for a little sparkle.

On the inside, I printed the personalized greeting.

NAPKINS

I thought it would be fun to incorporate the theme by stamping it on Napkins. I had never done this before or seen it done, but I was determined to figure out to make my very own customized napkins. With no budget for ordering them online, DIY was the way to go.

To create my own customized stamp first once again used the same design I had previously and shrunk it down to fit onto a 3-inch acrylic block. I reversed (mirrored) the image so that the letters would stamp correctly and then die-cut the letters from thin craft foam. Once the letters were cut out I weeded the excess material. Next, I added double-sided adhesive to the acrylic block and picked up the letters from the cutting mat. It probably helped that my mat was not very sticky and for the most part, the transfer was easy. The "A" was crooked (see next stamped image) and I later repositioned it.  

Here is an image of my first stamped impression. I then had to test out all my black inks and see which one gave me the best impression. Some bled quite a bit, and some weren't dark enough. Because I was using a stamp block I only had one chance for stamping so I needed to find the best ink for the job. Also to make sure no one ended up with black ink all over their face I did test them by spraying water on them to see if the ink transferred. The inks that I got the best results with were Blackout Ink and Bee Creative Intense Black Ink. VersaFine ONYX BLACK Ink gave me the nicest black impression but after a few minutes it bled into the fibers which I only found out after stamping a bunch. Good thing I used napkins from the Dollar store so not a big loss 😆

BUTTONS

 

As a keepsake for the guests, thought it would be fun to make something that nurses love and could remember Barb by. We all or most of us wear lanyards at work and many of us decorate them with buttons, pins, and stickers that are given to us throughout the years. So I thought creating a button with the theme was a must. 

To make these I needed to find a button maker, which I ordered from Amazon and figured I could probably use in the future for other projects. So I looked at this as an investment. I then added the design to a circular background that I sized specifically for this 1-inch button and printed them and then used my ScanNCut Machine to cut them all out in minutes. There are punch tools you can get but this was so much easier especially since I already had the equipment.

Once I was done making the buttons, I  packaged them all up as shown above. On the back of the card, I did have my handmade logo also printed.

CAKE

For the Cake is used both my papercraft skills and cake decorating skills to create this beauty. The cake itself was 2, 9-inch vanilla and chocolate round cakes and 2, 10-inch vanilla and chocolate round cakes so that everyone got a little taste of both. I then used buttercream icing to cover the entire cake. It would have been a lot easier if I had just covered the entire cake in fondant but I guess it is no longer as popular to do as many people dislike the taste and peel it off anyway. I did however use Fondant to create all the details on the cake (stethoscope, nurse's cap, pill bottle, pills, bandages). On the big heart in the center, I used an old woodblock letter set I had which resulted in some cooked letters but I was totally OK with that as it added a playful look to it. I used black food coloring to ink up the letters.

I did also use paper pieces on the cake. The pill label and "of service" were printed and cut out. The ECG was also paper, which I cut using the Silhouette, and also made the cake topper for the cake using paper that I cut 3 layers, stacked and glued together, and added them to a couple of wooden dowels.

 Here is a closer look at the label. When wet fondant is sticky so it is very easy to glue things to it. Just make sure no one eats these pieces, lol!

Here is a photo of Barb and me with the cake, before I cut it all up!

And here is a photo of the cake table and backdrop using a Balloon Kit I ordered to match the theme colors.

Thank you for stopping by and until next time... Happy Crafting!

Ilda 💗

To make supplies easy for you to find, I have linked them above. If something is no longer available I will link to a similar product. Affiliate links may be used depending on the product linked. Please help support my blog by using these links while shopping at no additional cost to you. For more information about the affiliates I use, please visit my disclaimer here. Thanks so much for all your support!

Witch Please Halloween Card | Honey Bee Stamps

Happy Monday Friends!

Have you checked out the new Spooktacular Release from Honey Bee Stamps?! There are so many cute products for Fall and Halloween. 

For my card today I am using a couple of the new Halloween sets. So let's get started.

CARD RECIPE

• To begin I stamped out the broom from the If the Broom Fits stamp set using Bee Creative Intense Ink and at the same time created a mask which I then fussy cut and covered the broom. Leave the broom in the stamping tool for re stamping later.
• Using the Circle Spotlight Stencil I then blended out some clouds filling in the masked area also using the Outdoor Scene Builder Stencils.
• I then removed the mask from the broom and colored it using Copics.
• Because the mask lifted some of the ink, I then placed the panel back in the Misti and re-stamped it for a darker impression. 
• I then stamped out the Witch Please sentiment from Hocus Pocus.
• The cat from the If the Broom Fits stamp was then stamped onto the broom.
• Next, I did some partial die cutting using only the end of the broom and then sliced off the paper to the edge of the die-cut broom end. 
• I then popped some foam dots onto the backside of the panel and glued it to a card base that I had adhered a piece of pattern paper to from the new Spooktacular Paper Pad.
• To finish I added some Spooktacular Gem Stickers and white gel pen details.

I left the inside of this card blank as you could use it for so many occasions around Halloween tine.

Hope you enjoyed this simple Witch Please Halloween Card design. Stay tuned as I will be back again tomorrow for the Spooktacular Release Instagram hop and I will share it here too!

Thank you for stopping by and until next time... Happy Crafting!

Ilda 🐈

SUPPLIES

If the Broom Fits Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	If the Broom Fits Dies Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	Hocus Pocus Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS | SB	Circle Spotlight Stencils Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS
Outdoor Scene Builder Stencils Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	Spooktacular Paper Pad Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	Spooktacular Gem Stickers Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	Background Blender Brushes Shop at: SSS | HBS
Stamping Pressure Tool Shop at: HBS	Black Foam Dots 1/4" Shop at: HBS	Bee Creative Glue Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	Intense Black Ink Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS
New Mini Misti Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	Neenah Solar White 110lbs Shop at: SSS | AMZ | HBS	Copic Sketch Markers Shop at: SSS | AMZ	White Gelly Roller Pen Shop at: SSS | AMZ | SB | HBS

To make supplies easy for you to find, I have linked them above. If something is no longer available I will link to a similar product. Affiliate links may be used depending on the product linked. Please help support my blog by using these links while shopping at no additional cost to you. For more information about the affiliates I use, please visit my disclaimer here. Thanks so much for all your support!

Check Your Boo Bees Slimline Card | Honey Bee Stamps

Hello, my Crafty friends!

Today's card is kind of a Public Service Announcement as well as a punny not so funny card if you know what I mean. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month as well as the obvious Halloween Month. So I thought it would be fun to mash the two. 

As you may or may not know I don't just make cards, I also am an Oncology Nurse in my day or evening job (depending on what shift I'm working). Did you know breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women and is the second most common cancer overall! Also, it is rare but it can also happen in men. It's true I have had male breast cancer patients. So please, do your diligence and get your tata's checked, and while you are at it check everything else. I like to think of October as a reminder to look at when I have to book my next Mammogram and check-up. 

Ok enough serious talk, let's look at this slimline Boobee card! Get it, Boo Bees... LOL! I crack myself up sometimes and laugh at my one jokes 😂 life is too serious!!!

I began by adding white ink blending to the black slimline panel by using the top layer of the Scattered Leaves Stencils. Don't they kinda look like ghosts shapes? For a pop of color and some sparkle, I splattered some gold onto the background panel.

I then die-cut all the elements I needed to put it all together. The Ghosts, the Boo Buzz word, and the letters. See all the supplies linked below.

Finally, I stamped out the bees onto vellum, to give them a ghostly look and then stamped out the sentiments that were then heat embossed in gold. 

I hope no one takes offense to my card today. I love punny cards and hope you do too.  If time permits I will share an IG reel over on my Instagram feed. Hope to see you there.

In the meantime, ladies check your ladies and all your other parts, gents you can do the same (your own parts I mean), and thank you for stopping by! Until next time... Happy Crafting!

Ilda 💗

SUPPLIES

Boo Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	Boo Dies Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	BUSY BEE Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	BUSY BEE DIES Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	THE NAME'S JACK | HONEY CUTS Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS
TAILGATE ALPHABET DIES Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	SLIMLINE SENTIMENT STITCHED Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	Scattered Leaves Stencils Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	Background Blender Brushes Shop at: SSS | HBS	Intense Black Ink Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS
Bee Creative Glue Shop at: SSS | SB | HBS	GEMINI JR. DIE CUTTER Shop at: SSS | SB	Vellum Value Pack Shop at: SSS | AMZ	Shark Tooth White Atelier Ink Shop at: SSS | IO3	JUICY INK Shop at: SSS | HBS | IO3
GOLD RUSH EMB. PWD. Shop at: SSS | IO3	METALLIC WATERCOLORS Shop at: SSS | PIGM	GOOGLY EYES Shop at: SSS	Foam Squares Shop at: SSS | HBS

To make supplies easy for you to find, I have linked them above. If something is no longer available I will link to a similar product. Affiliate links may be used depending on the product linked. Please help support my blog by using these links while shopping at no additional cost to you. For more information about the affiliates I use, please visit my disclaimer here. Thanks so much for all your support!