Back at the end of March our daughter sent her Dad a birthday gift through the mail. Although she was posting from the UK she left plenty of time for it to arrive. However her plans were scuppered by COVID and mail issues on both sides of the Atlantic. The parcel finally arrived nine weeks later, after we’d all but given up hope. As well as the birthday gifts, there were treats for me too. A book she’d enjoyed reading, and chocolate. My regular readers will know I’m rather partial to chocolate but I’ve been saving it. However today’s the day. Once I’ve conquered today’s to do list, I shall reward myself. Better late then never. Although with me when it comes to chocolate, never isn’t really an option.

LOVE YOU MORE THAN

This project actually started with the new Love You More Than Dies. I’ve had these for a few days and was itching to play with them. The set coordinates with the Nothing’s Better Than Stamp Set, with some that cut out stamped images and others that are words.

Something else I’ve been dying to try out is the Colored Velveteen Paper. The pack contains three 12″ x 12″ sheets, one each in Cinnamon Cider, Highland Heather and Soft Sea Foam. So I thought I’d start by die-cutting the word “chocolate” from the Cinnamon Cider Velveteen Paper. Then I cut out two more from Cinnamon Cider Card.

Using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I stacked the three die-cut words on top of each other with the velveteen one on the top. Then I set the assembled piece aside while I got on with the next stage of the project.

NOTHING’S BETTER THAN

Turning to the Nothing’s Better Than Stamp Set I pulled out the two images for the chocolates. I started with the solid image and inked it up with Soft Suede ink. Then I stamped the image onto some scrap paper before stamping it a second time onto Thick Whisper White Card. This ‘stamping-off technique’ gave me a lighter image than my juicy ink pad would otherwise have allowed.

Nothing’s Better Than is a ‘two-step’ stamp set, which means that you can layer images on top of each other to add detail. That’s what I needed to do next using the chocolates outline stamp. This time I inked it up using Early Espresso ink and stamped over the solid image.

Next, it was back to the Love You More Than Dies for the coordinating die. Once I’d cut out the chocolates image I set that aside with the velveteen word.

I still had a little more stamping to do before I was ready to start assembling my project. So on a layer of Whisper White Card I stamped the solid and outline images for the chocolate in the bottom right corner. Then I added the “and I’m pretty sure tomorrow will be too.” sentiment.

Next I stamped the chocolates in the centre of the flap on a Whisper White Medium Envelope.

Finally using Early Espresso ink I stamped “Today is a” and “kind of day” onto some narrow strips of Thick Whisper White Card.

At last I was ready to start putting everything together.

IN GOOD TASTE

Using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored a piece of Gray Granite Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create my card base. Using liquid glue I then fixed the stamped Whisper White layer on the inside.

For my background layer it seemed rather apt that I found what I needed in the 12″ x 12″ In Good Taste Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack. I chose the hexagonal tile pattern as it would complement my assembled sentiment without distracting from it.

First, using liquid glue, I mounted the DSP onto a layer of Cinnamon Cider Card. Then I attached that directly onto the front of my card base.

Next, using liquid glue I attached the die-cut chocolates to the beginning of the “Today is a ” strip. Then I glued the “Chocolate” die-cut piece to the bottom of the strip. I love that the two parts nested together so perfectly. Then I glued the second sentiment strip to the bottom of the die-cut “Chocolate”.

To complete the card I flipped over the assembled sentiment piece and fixed Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back. Then it was a simple task to fix it onto the card front.

I’m really pleased how this project came out. There are so many fun images and sentiments in the Nothing’s Better Than Stamp Set. You can be sure you’ll see more projects using this and the coordinating Love You More Than Dies.

I can’t say the same for the chocolate bar!

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Nothing’s Better Than Stamp Set and Love You More Than Dies using a single ‘bundle’ item number. This meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. I’ve included both options in my product list so you can compare these for yourself.

FREE BUNDLE ANYONE? – You can get this (or one of the other stamp set and tool bundles in the catalogue) for free simply by joining Stampin’ Up! in June. See my Join Stampin’ Up! page for more details or contact me for a chat.