You've Gotta Try This!

I found this tutorial by Dawn Olchefske on how to make a gingham background using your Stripes embossing folder and it is too cute!  I love how it takes on the look of fabric when your run it through the second time.  I basically copied Dawn's card except for a couple of minor changes--I used the label framelits instead of a rectangle for the duck and I paper pieced my duck's body--other than that....EXACTLY the same!

I used bashful blue and certainly celery ink and cardstock.  Ribbon is certainly celery 1/4 " grosgrain soon to be retired.  The stamp set is Easy Events which is a great all occasion set!    Next on my radar....a different gingham card.  I have a picture in my mind the question is can I pull it off!  =-)

Cheap--and Cute!

I've always loved the stamp set Upsy Daisy--it's the perfect silhouette stamp set, great for making a "shadow image" and always seems to make a striking card.  Well--Pinterest struck again!  I saw this card made from a paint chip---well more like a paint card (from Home Depot) and just had to try it!  My SIL and I were in Hutchinson checking out the Dillards that is closing and THERE was the Home Depot right behind the mall.  We cruised in--grabbed 8 - 10 paint chips and then hightailed it out of there.  Why do you feel guilty taking paint chips?  Aren't they there for people to take as samples?  Anyway....I still felt guilty.  When I got home most of my paint chips could be matched up to one of our SU cardstock colors.  I made one with Poppy Parade, but one of our stamping group gals wanted to buy that one so I didn't get a picture of it (thanks, Jan!).
The card I demonstrated used Regal Rose--

Just stamp the daisies in versamark and emboss with white embossing powder.  Very striking!

See you later....alligator

We had our monthly meeting up our stamping group and it was my turn to demonstrate.  In light of the retirement lists coming out my theme was saying goodbye to retiring sets.  The first card I demonstrated was this twisted easel card.  I've been wanting to try one for awhile, but the new diagonal score board insert really makes it easy!  The stamp set in the spotlight:  Friends Never Fade.

                              
Here it is closed--the embossing folder I used for the calypso coral piece is "Snowburst" also retiring, as is the set that I got the sentiment from--"You're a Gem."

And...open.  We had this big discussion on sending this type of card--"Do the people who receive them know how to set them up?"  or do they just get them, open them like a regular card and say--"hmm, Dawn put this inside part in here really, really crooked."  =-)  We decided maybe you need to include directions!  Ha!  

After I got this done (original sample) I decided I didn't like the little ribbon on the card front--so on my card that I demonstrated I used the same whisper white satin ribbon as on the side to just add a band across the front.  I left my camera at school so I'll get a photo of that up as soon as I go to check the chicks this morning (Sat.) 

P.S.  The "Thanks" is from Kindness Matters

Colors--Pool Party, Calypso Coral and Whisper White

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

I'm not sure where I first heard that, but it makes me laugh!  Especially this time of year....I'm hatching chicks in my room and am the proud "mother" of 14 chicks right now (and 15 hyper first graders because of it)!  Pure joy!

Anyway--I offered the set "Lighthearted" as blog candy for people who commented during last weekend's blog hop AND left an e-mail so I could contact them if drawn out!  I put all the names in my bunny pot and drew out......Lori W.  (I had 2 Lori's and had to use a last initial).  I'll be getting in touch Lori so I can get this in the mail to her--congrats!  I'll be back tomorrow evening or Friday sometime with some pictures of the cards created for my monthly Stampin' Up group.  See you then!

SU Stars Spring Has Sprung Blog Hop!

Welcome to my stop on the blog hop--stop # 7.  You should be arriving from Angie's blog Paper Luxuries.   I'm excited to be able to participate in this hop with the theme of Spring!  I don't know about you, but spring is all about flowers for me and the color they bring to our world.

I'm just a tad bit addicted to Pinterest and this is an idea I saw there and decided to recreate--I think the original was from the super-talented Heather Summers.  I used the Hostess paper Cheerful Treat from IBC and the colors Melon Mambo, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz and Bashful Blue for my flowers.  The majority of my flowers were created using the die Fun Flowers, a few circle punches and the blossom punch from the occasions mini. My leaves were made from the Island Floral die.

I covered my $1.25 clay pot with the designer series paper cut into strips and attached with Mod-Podge.  The ribbon is concord crush stitched ribbon.  I bought some floral wire and the foamy stuff to stick the flower into when I bought the pot.  The filler is leftover filler paper from Easter. =-)

Here's the little 4 x 4 card I made to go with the pot--I used the Cottage Garden set for the sentiment and more of the Cheerful Treat paper and concord crush ribbon.

I have some blog candy today---if you leave a comment you'll be entered to win this stamp set:  Lighthearted.
I ordered this set....twice....so someone will be the lucky recipient. Please leave your e-mail address with your comment so I can get in touch with you if you are the WINNER!

Happy Spring to you--enjoy the colors of the season!  Now hop along to Angela Walter's Life with a Wiener Dog and see what fabulous spring surprises she has in store for you!

I'm going to admit that I'm photo challenged so I'm adding a few more that I took after I posted this initially!

Plus some close-ups of the flowers:

Easter Blessings!

Here's the card I made for my son and daughter in law--I'm hoping to get one made for my daughter and son also, but I'm going to need some time!  Aren't these adorable??  I saw the idea here on Valita's blog and had to buy her pattern.  Here my slippers are empty:

And here they are with some goodies in them!

Hope your Easter was filled with the joy and hope that Jesus' resurrection brings!

Another Edgelit Idea....

I found this adorable card here and of course had to make it!  Love the idea that one of our new edgelit dies can be used this way!  This is an easy card to make and it will definitely get added to my all occasions card selection.

I just noticed that my rhinestone fell off of my heart--so just pretend one is there!  This used the Packed for Baby stamp and Friendly Phrases. 

So Pretty.....IRL

I just have to start this post by saying--Go Jayhawks!  I'm sure the fact that I finished my post and started cheering--louder--for them last night is why they are in the Championship Game!

Here's a CASE of a card that I saw on Pinterest and fell in love with.....I thought--Hey I can make that card--it looks easy!  Hmm...but I didn't have the ribbon so had to change the color scheme and I didn't have the paper.....so mine looks quite different, but the same.  =-)

I've had the Flower Folds die for quite some time, but this is the first that I've used it--I've got a couple of other ideas for it in the future--we'll see.  You can barely see the tiny pearls in the middle of each of the tiny punched flowers that make up the center of the larger flower.  If I had it to do over, I'd do a bit less sponging around the edges of the flower layers.  And--it IS prettier in real life!  I promise.