The Shabby Birthday Challenge and Giveways galore....

This month is party time at Lets get Shabby as we celebrate our first birthday and pop open the fizzy wine and divide the cake amongst our friends and faithful followers.

This month you need to make a birthday themed project that includes stamps. The challenge runs during July along with some fun, games and giveaways and we would love you to join us!

This months sponsors at Shabby are Purple Onion designs who kindly supplied the stamps used on my project.

I stamped the words with Distress Ink on a previously sprayed background using Glimmer Mist. For such a finely detailed stamp I am delighted with the quality and how the red on red looks so good!

My cupcake was inspired by Ingvild Bolme and I used a combination of her technique here and the original one from

U-Tube here.

I would recommend taking some shortcuts though.....

1) When forming the inner circle (Just after the rubber band stage) you could just use a row of double sided tape to bind it all together on the outside. I used a glue gun but looking back it might have easier to run tape around it.

2) My topping is made from white felt. I cut 2 semi circles and scalloped the edges. Once glued onto the polystyrene balls I added some dimensional paint to create the edges and peaky icing bits. Then I lathered it with glue and sprinkled the glitter all over.

3) My favourite trick at the moment is to use fine wire and thread it through cotton lace. It gives you more control over the size and amount of gather in flowers or circles and worked great around the ball.

These are such beautiful and versatile stamps and are perfect for card makers.

My car boot bargain cake stand and doiley!!

Please call back later in the month for the fun and games and giveaways....

Love and cupcakes

Ruth xxx