Happy Easter 2013 - Cards

Easter cards and baskets are so much fun to make and as I said in my previous post this year, since it will be my sunshine's first Easter Egg hunt, I thought it best I make something a little cute.  This post will feature the Easter cards made with punch art bunnies.

I made two cards, one for the family and one for our son Benjamin and his had to match his basket - I have a thing for matching and that is why I LOVE Stampin' Up!

The Card colour is Early Expresso which I embossed with Wood grain Embossing Folder 127821.  I did not stress the card but I think it would look good with a light sand...

The tag, I used Baja Breeze for the background (to match the basket) and rollergraphed image of easter eggs; and I used Whisper White with the greeting from Every Bunny (W124968 / C122707) and stamped in Early Expresso which is also used to sponge the edge of the Whisper White to again soften the edge.  The brad is the same used on the handle of the basket as is the Crumb Cake Seam Binding.

And there is the Easter Bunny's "bom" (as my son Benjamin says with a giggle) poking though a punched out 2 1/2" circle punch 120906.

Punch Art HINT and TIP  -  Use a paper piercer, tooth pick or similar to move smaller pieces into place and to dot glue onto smaller pieces.

To make the rabbit's bom you will need the following punches
                                             119850     1 3/4 Circle punch
                                             118074     Owl Builder punch
                                             119855     Large Oval punch
                                             120908     Small Oval punch
                                             119858     Boho Blossoms punch

Punch Art HINT and TIP  -  Make the rabbit in two pieces ie bom and face seperately and place one each side (you do not necessarily have to have the bom showing on the front of the card)

• I used the Circle for the "bom" and sponged the perimeter generously with Pink Pirouette
• The feet/rear paws are the Large Oval in Pink Pirouette but lightly sponged
• The pads were made from the  Small Oval and medium circle from the Owl Builder punch
• The little cotton tail is a Boho Blossom
  

To make the rabbit's head you will need the following punches

                                      119850     1 3/4 Circle punch
                                              OR
                                      119847    Ornament punch with the tip and hanging piece cut off
                                      118074     Owl Builder punch
                                      119855     Large Oval punch
                                      120908     Small Oval punch
                                      127526     Elegant Butterfly punch
                                      119858     Boho Blossoms punch  

• Once again I used the small oval punch for the cheeks, and drew on the whiskers and dots (what do you call those - still cannot remember)
• Owl punch's large circle for the nose, 
• Owl punch circles for the eyes (drew the pupils on, putting those on was hard enough) 
• Large Oval punch for the ears and cut the Elegant Butterfly down to fit in the ear (how I miss that retired oval punch that fits inside ever so neatly! but this is kinda cute).  
• The body peeps from behind but I added the cotton tail again ie Boho Blossom punch 

  

  I can almost hear him/her sniffing

The family card is made from Garden Green card embossed with the SAB Fine Street Embossing Folder set on Wild Wasabi.  The rest is as above but this time I changed the eyes for something different.

 and on the inside

Happy Easter to all of my precious friends and valued customers.  I hope you have a wonderful and safe break with a tickle of crafting.

Love

Happy Easter 2013 - Basket

Easter cards and baskets are so much fun to make and this year, since it will be my sunshine's first Easter Egg hunt, I thought it best I make something a little cute.  This post will feature the basket and the next will feature the cards. 

Family Easter cards and Ben's Easter Basket.



The basket is made from four (4) Scallop Envelope BigZ 113462 to give me a square sizable box.  Simply stick the side flaps of each envelope to the next, until you have four (4) in a line.  You will need to use Sticky Strip 104294 to ensure the basket stays together.  Then make a box, with the flaps on the inside of the box and tape together the fourth side.  The bottom flaps can be folded in which ever way you like, however I am a symmetrical person so I folded in the opposites and used sticky strip to ensure the basket bottom would hold.

Want to have a closer look ....


The colours used include Baja Breeze card stock for the basket, Whisper White and Pink Pirouette for the rabbit.  Note the brad I used to hold the Seam Binding and handle to the basket.  Oh ooops, I just realised the handle is supposed to be on the inside of the box!

I sponged the edges of each envelope with Early Expresso to soften and define the edges of the basket and to add a bit of masculinity to the project.  I decorated the basket and handle which measures 10 inches x 1 inch with Crumb Cake Seam binding 122332 to break all of that blue.  I tied a bow on the front of the basket between the rabbit's feet and a knot on the handle (figured a bow would not last in my gorgeous son's hand).   The knot was also a method of  holding the seam binding to the handle with out sticking the delicate ribbon to the cardboard.

The Crumb Cake seam binding is crisscrossed over the length of the handle to add texture and break the blue

The rabbit/bunny is fiddly, some love punch art, some can leave it, others hate it.  I don't love it, but I have to admit, once I've made something I find it very rewarding - though this is very hard on arthritic hands and fingers.  Ben helped me make the "bunnies mummy bunnies".  He watched me and of course wanted to help "mine fingers work, I do it, I do it mummy" LOL, bless his gorgeous soul.
To make the rabbit you will need the following punches
                                                  119850     1 3/4 Circle punch
                                                  118074     Owl Builder punch
                                                  119855     Large Oval punch
                                                  120908     Small Oval punch
                                                  117193     Small Heart punch

Punch Art HINT and TIP  -  Use a paper piercer, tooth pick or similar to move smaller pieces into place and to dot glue onto smaller pieces.

• I used the small oval punch for the cheeks, and drew on the whiskers and dots (what do you call those)
• Owl punch's large circle for the nose, 
• Owl punch circles for the eyes (drew the pupils on, putting those on was hard enough) 
• Large Oval punch for the ears and cut the pink down to fit in the ear (how I miss that retired oval punch that fits inside ever so neatly!).  
• The paws were made with the heart punch and medium circle from the Owl Builder punch
  

The feet/back paws were made from the Large Oval; the pads from the small oval and medium circle from the Owl Builder punch.  The greeting is from Every Bunny (W124968 / C122707) and stamped in Early Expresso which is also used to sponge the Modern Label 119849 punch out.

I very lightly sponged the rabbit with Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip.  I did this to soften and dirty up the edges of the sharp white punch-outs.



There is a bit of work in this little basket, I cannot wait to watch Ben fill it with his Lindt dark chocolate eggs...(the only chocolate he can have but in VERY small quantities) we will just have to monitor the consumption of said eggs LOL, I'm not up for several sleepless nights due to his indulgence!

Happy Easter to all of my precious friends and valued customers.  I hope you have a wonderful and safe break.

French Foliage Workshop Highlight

French Foliage was the the focus of a workshop I conducted sometime ago.  This is what the lovely ladies from PLR made at that workshop.

This one was made by Marion

This one was made by Norma...

and Kris made this one...

 

I am sure you will agree that these cards are beautiful and I must tell you the last two ladies have been card making for nearly a year!  I am so proud of their beautiful work.

If you are unsure about card making but would like to give it ago like Norma and Kris, please call me and you can come to a beginners class and see if you like the art of card making.  Have a wonderful day.

French Foliage & Hearts

Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits gives you a textured heart to use as a feature on your cards if you want a little more than the small heart from the Hearts Collection Framelits 125599.  This card was inspired from a card I made a few posts ago (details can be viewed HERE) in Wedding & Cards of Love...which also implements French Foliage on the diagonal of the background of the card and Embellished Events for the greeting...


Wisteria Wonder, Black and Whisper White are the colours used on this card.

This card, in Marina Mist, Whisper White and Crumb Cake, utilises the Framed Tulips EF 121809 and Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits 117332 as the features. I roughly sponged the edges of the Whisper White background card with Marina Mist and Crumb Cake ink. 

The ribbon is from the new seasons Catalogue 2013 (129292); gorgeous striped Organdy Ribbon.

I trailed the French Foliage splatter in Crumb Cake, diagonally but randomly, on the background, with little highlights of Marina Mist hearts from the stamp set Create a Cupcake (W123553 / C121982).

A close up of the embossing and sponging...

The greeting used is from Teeny Tiny Sentiments (W119185 / C120024), stamped in Crumb Cake on Whisper White and punched out using the Word Window Punch.  This is mounted on Marina Mist, punched out using the Modern Label Punch.  The greeting is then raised using SU Dimensionals.

Both the greeting and scallop heart are raised using SU Dimensionals



Time to step away from the blues and go the Raspberry Ripple and Melon Mambo on Whisper White.  Sponge the edges and this time I spritzed the diagonal instead of using the French Foliage...
I like the French Foliage a lot more, what do you think?

Hearts, hearts, hearts...

I hope you enjoyed today's post - I would love to read your comments, so please leave a comment and let me know if you love French Foliage as much as I do.
Love

French Foliage & Butterflies

French Foliage (W123557 / C121166) is a very versatile stamp and one of those, essentials for both scrapbooking and card making as it softens and adds texture to your backgrounds.  Coupled with Stampin' Up!'s new butterfly punches (Elegant Butterfly 127526 & Bitty Butterfly 129406) a simple yet stunning card can be created.


On a Crumb Cake base card I've matted the Whisper White on Perfect Plum. 

I've sponged the edge of the Whisper White card very lightly with Perfect Plum and then added the French Foliage splatters in Perfect Plum over the card with a highlight of crumb cake on the Left to Right diagonal.  The Butterflies were punched out of Vellum and Perfect Plum and lightly sponged in Perfect Plum and Crumb Cake respectively.

The sponging a little closer...

The Butterflies are adhered to the card with glue dots as they lift the butterflies slightly off the card.

Vellum is a great material to use on both your cards and scrapbooking pages.   I hope this card inspires you to not only use your butterfly punches that nestle so well onto each other, but to incorporate vellum into your projects.

The next card is one I've already posted but it shows you the same layout but with Butterflies from the Embosslit Beautiful Wings. Details for this card can be viewed HERE.


This time the butterflies from Beautiful Wings trail down the centre of the card.

This is a very simple layout and has different looks with different highlights - this card employs the Beautiful Wings Embosslits 118138 in Pink Pirouette with a Doily Background and the use of the script stamp from the French Foliage set.

The new in-colour Primrose Petals is just gorgeous, and works so well with pink pirouette, soft suede and the beautiful vintage lace from Stampin' Up!

Enjoy your butterflies and happy crafting on these wonderful sunny days and warm nights.
Happy crafting, Love

Brown bag transformation

A simple brown bag can be turned into a very beautiful gift bag with the following materials; Designer Series Paper, Stamps, Ink, Ribbon, Brad and a sponge.  I have blogged before how special Sherenne is,  and this is the beautiful gift bag she gave to me for no reason but to let me know she appreciates the effort I go to with my workshops and coffee, cake, craft and chocolate club - what was inside you are asking?...Chocolate ... Lindt Passionfruit chocolate (yuuuummmy). 

The beautiful gift bag...


The bag has 6 - 10 layers in total; Gold shimmer paper, DSP, Embossed Sarah Sand, Gold Shimmer, Very Vanilla stamped with a retired SU background stamp; on which Field Flowers is embossed upon.

Field Flowers - it looks great!

The Field Flowers is not only embossed, but Sherenne has also used a technique called Rock and Roll.

Rock and Roll is a technique where you ink up your image and roll the edges in a darker ink pad.  Stunning isn't it! 

A closer look at the Rock and Roll technique and the sponging on the background stamp along with the roughing of the edges softens the edges of the bag very nicely.

The Vintage Brads are a must and this piece of layering is just gorgeous with the Chocolate Chip Ribbon (retired) picking up the piece used on the handle.

The Vintage Brad off sets the Antique Embellishment very well, and that retired ribbon picks up the gold in the DSP. 

What a fantastic use for the Tag Punch and its coordinating stamps; combined with this retired ribbon, the handle is not forgotten but incorporated into the bag. 

Again the sentiment is embossed - a lot of work went into this gorgeous bag.

This is a bag I will hold onto and treasure forever.  I think it is truly stunning and certainly my taste.
Thank you Sherenne for the time, effort and thought you have put into this bag and thank you to Rachael for taking the photos and doing such a wonderful presentation, so I could share this with you.

Got some Paper bags? Hope this inspires you to dress them up and give a gift to someone who is special in your life.

Note Pad cover

The Heartfelt SU event in Brisbane was amazing.  I loved that the event was self paced.  I have chronic fatigue and being able to choose what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it, enabled me to enjoy the function.  There were demonstrations, play tables, product tables, lectures and project work stations.   This was my favourite take home...a note pad cover in colours and design that SU chose.  I think the layout, colours and products go very very well together.  I added a little bling to mine and stamped a little more randomly and just loved the finished product.


The finished project - nice design SU

The note pad focused on several products, the score board, the Fancy Flower punch and Twine, Clockworks Stamp Set WM127290 / CM127292 and embellishments - Vintage Faceted Designer Button 127555 and Rhinestones using the new In Colours for 2012-2013.


The Vintage Faceted Designer Button 127555 and Rhinestones just added that extra bling to make the pad a little more feminine.

The flower was punched with Fancy Flower 118073 out of pool party, moistened and scrunched up - 3 layers to this flower; with a Vintage Faceted Designer Button 127555 and twine (with a Calypso Coral twist 125573) to finish the centre.

This could be a card front and I think we often forget that our cards can be used as anything from a box lid to note pad cover as per above.  Enjoy your day, the sun is shining here, hope it is at your place too.

Puff Paint

You would not believe how easy it is to make your own puff paint with simple ingredients most have at home in their kitchen pantry.  It is heaps of fun not only in making it, but colouring it to any desired colour and shade.   Apply the paste and then heat it and watching it rise (the best fun for Ben and I).  For those who do not know what it is or what it looks like, here are some finished projects I made a couple of years ago...

Melon Mambo is so bright and begged for this to be done.  The cupcakes is from the cupcake rollergraph 113121



A little closer look so you can see I've added glitter for a little bling...love glitter

Another cake from an older retired set ...


Melon Mambo, Whisper White and Black, don't get better or more striking than that!




I love the way it puffs and cracks, just like a real cake!

So how does one make Puff Paint?
Equal amounts of fresh white Self Raising Flour and Salt (that is a ratio of 1:1) with a drop or two of reinker to colour the blend and three or five drops of water - until you have a runny but thick custard consistency.  I like to make up a couple of teaspoons of the mix and add blobs around the perimeter of a plate and then colour with one drop of reinker as to minimise waste.  I mix the mixture with a toothpick and add the mixture to my stamped image with a toothpick and fine paint brush.

Once the image is coloured, simply heat your card with your heat gun, from the underside first, to cook the mixture.  Move the heat around the card and from either side (top & bottom) of the card to ensure even cooking of the mix.  Once the mixture puffs and rises, and you have the aroma of cake or bread, you know you are done.

This layout featuring Crazy for Cupcakes, was cased from my up line Lisa.  I just loved it and by adding a little puff, even better...


Colours include Whisper White, Choc Chip and Blushing Bride.

 A little close so you can lick the cakes...well I want to LOL

And again but with Pumpkin Pie as a mat.

Crazy for Cupcakes.

This is so much fun to do with children and adults alike (LOL).  I've used this on Christmas cards for that extra depth on Santa's beard, lights, leaf fond and hair, but cakes are my favourite use.  Ignite that master chief in you and start cooking on your cards.

Love

Female Card - Betsy's Blossoms

Flowers make beautiful female cards for any occasion;  Birthday, Get Well, Thank You, and much more.  Betsy's Blossoms (W126004 / C126006) is one of those sets that is gorgeous and so very versatile.  I wanted to play with Stampin' Up's new In Colours, Primrose Petal and Raspberry Ripple and of course wanted to use the cute stamp set Betsy's Blossoms.  Here is my creation....


The bird is in Midnight Muse cut out and lifted with a SU dimensional.  The branch is stamped in Gumball Green.

How cool is this photo - great work Rach :-)   The photo clearly shows the subtle layering on the card.

I am very lucky to have a talented friend, willing to share her expertise to support this blog.  Thank you Rachael and thank you for looking.  Have a great day crafting!