TOUCAN BIRTHDAY TOO

A few days ago, Stampin' Up! released their annual Retiring List. I was quite horrified, to be honest, to find a few of my favorite sets/bundles on the list. But, none on the list horrified me more than the adorable Bonanza Buddies Bundle. Both the stamp set and the dies are RETIRING! 

I don't care. It is the perfect combo to use for so many celebratory celebrations. I will carry on. I will keep on using it! 

After all, if I've invested in something, I don't plan on discontinuing use of it. I've purchased it because I love it and see a lot of possibilities. My Stamp-In girls don't mind if I use retired product.

This is a card that my Stamp-In girls made at the February workshop. I had had so much fun with the set for my grandson, Enzo's, birthday card that I wanted my girls to enjoy the experience of working with this cute set too. I'd spent an entire afternoon creating Enzo's card, and realized that the girls would not be up to that at a workshop. So I simplified it somewhat, making it much less time consuming.

For the card at the workshop, the girls got to make a few choices. I had my entire stash of 6X6 Designer Series Papers available for them to go through to find a paper that would go well with their vision using the cute toucan guy. 

After choosing their DSP, they went through scraps of retired cardstock in search of a couple colors for the banners that would complement their DSP.

Don't you love how you can build most of the card onto the darling tag 

made from the die that comes with the set?

Following are the supplies and directions for making a card similar to this one. But hurry, if you don't have the bundle, you can find it on page 34 of the Mini Catalog. And it's only $38.50!! How many times have you had so much fun for less than 40 bucks?!? 

Please keep in mind that several of the products used in this project are retiring in just a few weeks! I've noted in the Supplies list if they are retiring. Get 'em while they last!

SUPPLIES:

Whisper White cardstock

Granny Apple Green cardstock

Choice of Designer Series Paper

Scraps of cardstock to complement the DSP chosen

Bonanza Buddies Bundle (page 34 of the Mini Catalog -- HURRY! It's retiring!!)

Smoky Slate ink

Granny Apple Green ink

Grapefruit Grove ink (retiring!)

Pineapple Punch (retiring!)

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blend

Grapefruit Grove Stampin' Blend

Pineapple Punch Stampin' Blend

Big Shot

Stampin' Dimensionals

Green/White ribbon

Whisper White Solid Baker's Twine (retiring!)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Fold a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of Whisper White cardstock in half, creasing it well with a bone folder.

Add to this card base a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Granny Apple Green cardstock.

Choose a piece of Designer Series Paper that will work well with the colors used in the project, Granny Apple Green, Pineapple Punch and Grapefruit Grove. Trim this piece to 3 3/4" x 5". Add it to the card front.

Choose two pieces of scrap cardstock that would work well with the DSP you've chosen to use. Cut one of each of the banners for your card. You can run both through the Big Shot at the same time. Adhere the banners at a criss cross angle behind where you will be placing the tag.

On a scrap of Whisper White cardstock, stamp the toucan in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Use the matching die to cut out the bird. Use Stampin' Blends to color in the toucan as you desire.

From Whisper White cardstock, die cut a tag with the tag die.

In Smoky Slate ink, stamp the balloon strings about 3/4" from the bottom of the tag and about 1/4" from the left edge.

Stamp the balloons at the top of the strings, cleaning the stamp with each color change.

In black ink, stamp Happy Birthday at an angle near the balloons.

Use two Stampin' Dimensionals to add the toucan to the tag so it looks like his beak is holding the cluster of balloons.

Loop a 4" piece of green/white ribbon through the hole in the top of the tag. Tie a bow of white baker's twine to finish off the ribbon. Trim the ribbon ends to angles.

With Stampin' Dimensionals, add the tag to the card front.

Bonanza

Smiles.