Seize The Birthday - Make Your Own Snowflake Background

Hello, and welcome to the first Seize The Birthday challenge of 2026!  Barbara is hosting, and she's asking us to make our own snowflake backgrounds.

I rollered an embossing folder with Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide then added my card panel and sent it through my Big Shot.  The cat and his accessories are by Tim Holtz, and the Happy Birthday is from The Stamp Market.

Pop along to the Seize The Birthday blog for some more fabulous snowflake inspiration from the rest of the team, and our Surprise Party Guests, Helen and Stephanie, and join in the fun. If you don't want to play along with the snowflakes theme you can still play along with our Anything Goes them as long as it's birthday-related.

STAMPlorations Card Fronts - Artsy Abstract 2

Hello, we've got some fab new products for you at STAMPlorations - sets of 4 pre-printed US-sized card fronts in loads of designs, from nostalgic to funky to retro to floral, there's something to suit all tastes.  They're great for those last-minute cards, and combining with what's already in your stash.

I've used the Artsy Abstract 2 set to make 4 cards, and combined them with coloured envelopes for an extra pop of colour.  

Two of the fronts have a good space for adding a sentiment, so for the first one I've added the big Congrats Word Art die cut in deep red.

For my second card, I've added 'thanks' from the Skinny Sentiments die set (one of my favourite die sets), which I cut from white with a silver mirri background.

For my third card I've used the Skinny Sentiments die set again, but this time I've used the negative of 'Celebrate" (keep your negatives, girls!), and added two die-cut balloons (Shaker Balloons No. 3 Oval).

My final card uses the Coffee Cup Large stamp, to which I added a touch of colour, and a sentiment from The Bee's Knees - Classic Shoes.

You can see all the Card Fronts in more detail here, and if you like what you see, you can either buy a selection or get all of them on a subscription plan.  Check here for this and other great plans.

If you use my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY you can get 20% discount on your purchases (not available on subscriptions).

Happy stamping!

Visible Image - Make It Count

Hello and Happy New Year!  For my first Visible Image post of 2026 I've made a mini flip book of inspirational and motivational quotes using the Present Times stamp set, which has so many great words of wisdom in it.

I started by preparing two master boards on A5 lightweight card and distress inks (originally I was going to make a wish jar and thought lightweight card would work best, and it's an A5 pad).  I started by sponging two colours, then stamped the numbers using the same colours, and also watermarking with the numbers stamp.

For contrast, I used the Atmospheric stencil with Weathered Wood distress ink.

Once I'd added all my stencilling I cut the card into eight 3x4 inch pieces.

Then I stamped each of the six quotes onto separate cards.  I used the arrow stamps for the first and last cards.

To make my book cover I punched the tops of the cards with my Bind-It-All machine.

I punched two clear Acrylic covers then spiral-bound the whole thing with the bind-It-All.

The numbers were cut from Birthday Balloons dies, and after running them through my Xyron Create-a-sticker, I adhered them to the front acrylic cover.

Now I have a desk-based flip book, and I can choose a random quote to inspire me!  Here are the Visible Image products I used, which can be found here.

I've made a video flip through, which will be on my Instagram feed, shirleybeeuk.

STAMPlorations Anything Goes January Challenge!

Hellooo!  After a hiatus while Shery was going through cancer treatment, STAMPlorations is back!  Baby steps at first, while we all get back into the swing of things, so we're starting off with a monthly Anything Goes Challenge.

I've used The Bee's Knees Groovy Platform Shoes, watercoloured with Distress Inks, and the smaller version from Groovy Shoes stamped in grey for the background.  I paired that with the CUTplorations Birthday word die, which I cut once in white and watercoloured to match, and once in black for a drop shadow.

We do hope you'll play along with us - there are prizes!

- winner of $25 prize code chosen by a STAMPgirl from entries that use STAMPlorations products

- winner of $10 prize code randomly chosen from entries (need not feature a STAMP product)

Simple rules:

- Anything goes, any type of project, any style

- use of STAMPlorations products not a requirement

- link back to the challenge post (if blog entry) or tag @stamplorations if joining via IG

- multiple entries per crafter allowed

- challenge ends 31 January.

Please do check the updated full challenge rules, particularly in relation to what images can and can't be used, and we hope to see you in the gallery!

When you're shopping in the store, you can get 20% off by using my code STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY (doesn't apply to subscriptions).

Happy stamping!