Just get it done! - help needed

Happy December everyone. It's been a week, I can tell you. Work has been manic and this darned cold is like a boomerang (going and coming back again like a bad game of pass the parcel!) A good friend requested birthday cards for her girls and I had all sorts of plans for getting the first one done this week. Hmmm, best laid plans. Thursday evening arrived, and mild panic set in as it needed finishing by Friday evening. Some of us find it nye on impossible to craft at speed (OCD/procrastination/general crafting mishaps could account for this:) and Mr Mojo was blowing his nose too hard to work, so I thumbed through a back issue of the Craft Stamper magazine to get some inspiration. That helped a lot.

I decided to use some paper and cardstock rather than going for a bespoke inky background. They did get extra stamping/embossing added and all the edges were thoroughly distressed so it's not complete sacrilege.

I'm loving Sheena's WOW pearl embossing powders, and a touch of Distress Clear Rock Candy Crackle was added to each corner for that extra vintage touch.

The only thing with cards to order is that you often have to add basic sentiments rather than some of those more artsy thoughtful phrases. So here comes the first request for help... could anyone recommend any good, reasonably large 'happy birthday' stamps?

Those of you who were kind enough to drop by last Wednesday will have seen my little collection of buttons:) - love that so many of you thought the large brown ones at the front were donuts!!! - well I went mad and used a really nice one for this. Handy hint time. You can use snips (raid the garage/shed/toolbox) to remove the shank at the back so it will sit flat against the surface/ribbon with strong glue.

Stringing sead beads onto thin wire means they are less likely to work loose from the embellishment after initially being glued into place. Well I'm glad to report my friend was pleased with it (one more to go but I should have more time with that one!) And now I'm gonna enter it for the latest Artful Times Challenge - Anything Goes to join the fab entries that have also been posted.

Now for request for help number two. As mentioned during my Q&A for Our Creative Corner I got into this crafty lark in order to start scrapbooking my extensive family history tree research. Hmmm, a couple of layouts got done, but 12"x12" feels such a huge space to fill and then I find out new bits of info which could do with adding to completed pages. A little while ago I saw Anna Dabrowska's album and realised that a journal/smashbook which could have stuff added/updated would be the best way forward. Have you seen anything like this out there that could provide further inspiration? You guys are bound to have seen some amazing ideas on your electronic travels. Looking forward to hearing about them.

So now it's time to pull on an extra pair of woolly socks and get ready to settle down for Strictly. Here's hoping you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Hugs, Buttons x