Birthday Card

Here's a quick birthday card I made using four different stamp sets. I often like to combine more than one stamp set to achieve my final result :). It's amazing how many stamp sets compliment each other! This card is another 5x7 card. I seem to need the bigger size a lot more lately! I used the Petite Pennants punch for the smaller pennants and the Perfect Pennants Bigz die for the larger pennant. The punch and the die go nicely together, don't ya' think? To make the embellishment in the center of my larger pennant, I stamped the candy from Sweets for the Sweet and punched out the center using a 1/2" circle punch. Then I punched the outer part of the stamped candy with a 1" circle punch. I stamped my little 'wish big' sentiment onto Whisper White and punched it out with the 1" circle punch and layered them. I popped it up on a Dimensional as well.

The little sentiment banner on my card was made with the banner on the Petal Cone die. I simply die cut the banner and then trimmed it closer to the length I wanted my banner to be and laid it on top of the banner on the die and ran it through my Big Shot again. Easy Peasy! 

For the inside, I stamped more candies in matching colors to the card front and layered two of the candies in the corner. Tomorrow I'm going to share a card that my daughter made for me. She doesn't stamp often, but when she does, she comes up with cute ideas :). See you then! Have a GREAT weekend!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Paper: Old Olive, So Saffron, Whisper White, Melon Mambo,  Marina Mist, Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz DSP
Stamps: Sweets for the Sweet, Pennant Parade, Create a Cupcake, So Happy for You (retired)
Classic Stampin' Ink: Melon Mambo, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive
Punches: 1/2" Circle, 1" Circle, Petite Pennants
Dies: Petal Cone, Perfect Pennants
Other: Snow Burst Textured Impressions embossing folder, Stampin' Dimensionals, white crochet thread

Easter Egg Flower?

I love it when my daughter meanders into my stamping room. She sees things that I usually don't and the card below was her observation when she first saw the Easter Egg stamp in the Easter Blossoms stamp set. What she saw in the Easter Egg was a flower petal and she asked me if she could try to stamp one. "Sure!", I said 

:-). Her stamped little flower ended up on this card....

And then she made a couple of cards herself :-). I've been encouraging her here and there to make some cards or to scrap some pages, but she is a busy skater so she hasn't really shown any interest in doing so....until now :-). In the first card below, she used one of the flowers from Greenhouse Garden to make fireworks...

In her next card, she again used the egg from Easter Blossoms to create another flower, a tulip...

It was really nice to see her get back to my stamping room and do some stamping. It will probably be a while before she goes back there again though, so I have to enjoy and encourage those little moments when they come :-D.

My Happy Birthday card has been submitted as a challenge card on SUO Challenges this week. If you like to do challenges, then head on over :-). 

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Blessings!

Barb

Supplies:

Paper: Certainly Celery- 105125, So Saffron- 105118, Wild Wasabi- 108641, Whisper White- 100730

Classic Stampin' Ink: Tempting Turquoise- 100814

Stamps: Easter Blossoms- 122057 clear mount, retired sentiment used

Dies: Birds & Blooms- 113485, Sweet Buttons embosslit- 121813

Textured Impressions Embossing Folder: Framed Tulips- 121809

Happy Birthday!

I seriously need to work on building up my stash of cards. It is sooooo depleted! I like cards that are fast and easy to make and can be done in different colors easily for building up the stash. This one is done in Real Red and Whisper White with a touch of So Saffron. I'm planning to replicate this one in several colors and with different sentiments so I can fill up several areas in my stash box  rather quickly :-).

Don't you just love the Framed Tulips embossing around the edges of the card? I think this folder is soooo pretty!

I haven't stamped the inside yet because I'm not sure if I will want to hand write a message or not later. I did add a little butterfly to the corner though :-). I'm planning on doing this one next in Marina Mist and Daffodil Delight. I've always loved blue and yellow together- those two colors together just make me feel happy inside :-). Have a wonderful day and a GREAT weekend!

Blessings!

Barb

Supplies:

Paper: Real Red-102482, Whisper White-100730, So Saffron-105118

Classic Stampin' Ink: Real Red-103133

Stamps: Elements of Style-120045, Well Scripted-118601

Dies: Beautiful Wings-118138

Textured Impressions Embossing Folder: Framed Tulips-121809

I've used up a good part of my stash over the summer, so have to build it back up :). I made this card yesterday for my daughter's friend who had a birthday this week. Uh huh, you guessed it, she LOVES pink! To that end, I paired Pretty in Pink with Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, and Very Vanilla.

I had some of these embossed card fronts left over from the note cards that I made On Tuesday and didn't photograph (rolls eyes :D ) and I didn't want them to go to waste. I stamped the three flowers, die cut three butterflies, and added pretty pink gems for just a touch of sparkle. Quick and easy card!

I hope everyone is staying nice and cool. We've been on heat advisory in our neck of the woods for about two weeks now. Summer will be coming to an end before too much longer :(. I can hardly believe how quickly the summer has been going by! I love summer, it's one of my favorite seasons, although each season has its own list of stuff that I love and look forward to. I am wanting to linger on summer colors, but my mind is already thinking ahead to the earthy colors of autumn, the crackling sound of leaves underfoot, the crispness of the air at night as the hot days of summer come to a close. Sigh.....

Blessings to you all today!!!

Barb

Supplies:

Stamps: Polka Dot Punches- retired SAB set, Punched Posies- 118535 (Level 1 Hostess Set in Summer Mini 2010

Paper: Pretty in Pink-100459, Certainly Celery-105125, Very Vanilla-101650

Classic Stampin' Ink: Pretty in Pink-101301, Certainly Celery-105217

Dies: Beautiful Wings embosslit-118138

Other: Square Lattice Textured Impressions embossing folder- 119976

Masculine Birthday Card!

Wow! I finally did it, lol! This is my hubby's birthday card and it has his 'official' stamp ;-) that this is a masculine card! Cracks me up because there is nothing to it! (Sigh) go figure.

Now on to the news ;-). It's that time of year again- the end of the Stampin' Up! year. We are 'one month' away from the debut of the 2010/2011 Idea Book & Catalog! Whoo hoo! This means though, that many products in the 2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalog are leaving us for good to make room for great new products. I will be posting the 'Last Chance Lists' in my side bar in a few minutes. I highly, highly recommend that if there is anything on the lists that you want, that you order it ASAP, because 'Last Chance' products often go out of stock fast. Really fast. You can click on the link in my side bar to head to my online store if you would like to order through me... and I would really appreciate your business :-D !! If you order through my online store, you can have your items delivered directly to your home- cool huh? And the online store never closes either, so you can shop in the middle of the night if you want :-). All righty, I have a few things I gotta get done around here, so I am off to get those lists posted! Have a really wonderful day today and I will see you tomorrow!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Whimsical Words- 119119 (Sale a Bration set)
Paper: Soft Suede- 115318, Kraft-102125, Very Vanilla-101650, Old Olive Designer Series Paper-112160
Classic Stampin' Ink: Old Olive-102277, Soft Suede-115657
Other: 3/4" Circle punch-107217, Crop-A-Dile-108362, hemp cord

Is it Memorex?

Or My Digital Studio :-)? The UPS man finally came with my order, but I was busy so I didn't get a chance to play until late. I'm burning the midnight oil just a bit ;-). I found My Digital Studio very easy to use and if I didn't like something I just deleted. I wasn't out any paper, plus I had no mess to clean up afterward. I am really tired though, so I am going to go to bed and get some sleep. But before I do, I thought I would post my very first MDS card creation :-D.

I really liked the fact that I could make the butterfly punch in MDS smaller. I wish I could do that with my butterfly punch in real life!

I usually like to do the inside of my cards to coordinate with the outside. In My Digital Studio I can still do that! All right off to bed with me now. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
My Digital Studio

Elements of Style Vintage

I'm not very happy with this card, so I will probably re-do it. I'm posting it though because there are elements of this card that I really like. I like the colors I used- Elegant Eggplant, Soft Suede, and Kraft. My images are stamped on Kraft with Soft Suede ink and then colored in with Watercolor Wonder Crayons and a blender pen. The edges are inked with Soft Suede and then run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder. I am pretty sure that the only thing I don't like about this card is the oval with the sentiment. I think I need to change that. It seems too bright for the rest of the card :-(.

I know I am late posting, but I am behind this week due to our trip over the weekend. I hope to get caught up sometime this week, but no guarantee that will happen. Hopefully, I will get caught up over the weekend if I don't get caught up this week. I'll see if I can fix this card later and post an updated version :-). Have a great day!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Elements of Style-120045 (wood mount- 118611), Vintage Labels-119112 (SAB)
Paper: Elegant Eggplant-105126, Soft Suede-115318, Kraft-102125, Very Vanilla-101650
Classic Stampin' Ink: Soft Suede
Watercolor Wonder Crayons: Elegant Eggplant, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie
Punches: Wide Oval-112082
Other: Square Lattice Textured Impressions embossing folder-119976, 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon-111367, Stampin' Dimensionals-104430, white pearls

Teen Birthday Card

I needed a birthday card for a teen girl on my daughter's skate team, but I also needed it to be suitable for her age (14). You know, not too youngish, but not too oldish either :-). I used Georgia Peach Designer Series Paper that I purchased recently in the Clearance Rack section on Stampin' Up!. It just looked like a good 'teen' type of paper. I must have accomplished my goal because when I showed it to my daughter she was really enthusiastic, lol!

On the inside, I stamped a simple sentiment that I think is a good sentiment for a teen, in Melon Mambo, and finished off with a couple of die cut butterflies in Melon Mambo. Easy card to make :-). Thanks for stopping by! Have a super great day today!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes- 115370, Very Versatile (retired)
Paper: Pretty in Pink- 100459, Old Olive- 100702, Whisper White- 100730, Melon Mambo- 115320, Georgia Peach Designer Series Paper- 112462
Classic Stampin' Ink: Melon Mambo- 115656
Dies: Beautiful Wings embosslit- 118138
Other: 1' square punch, pink gems, Mojo Monday Sketch 137

Mother's Day for Daughter

I have been working on my color swatch rings for the new Color Renovation palette coming in July 2010. I like to keep a ring of the colors handy so I can audition various colors together. While I was working on my swatches yesterday morning, I decided to play a bit and put together some different color combinations within each color collection and write them down for inspiration later. One of the combinations I came up with, I used on my card below. Bashful Blue and So Saffron look so great together- I love that combo :-). Since I was making this card for my daughter #2 and she loves green, I paired the two colors with Certainly Celery and Old Olive, with just a touch of Whisper White. I'll finish off the inside of the card with a "Happy Mother's Day" greeting.

This card could be used for many different occasions just by changing out the sentiment on the front, or leaving the sentiment on the front and adding a specific sentiment on the inside for birthday, Mother's Day, anniversary, thinking of you.... well, you get the point ;-).

Wow, I can't believe it's Thursday already! Where did the week go? It just flew by!

Our baby chicks are doing well. They have wing feathers now and are starting to grow their little tail feathers. It won't be too long now before they start to feather out on the rest of their bodies. They have gotten bigger in just one week, it's amazing how fast they grow.... and how much they can eat, lol! They really like my daughter. She climbs into their little area and sits down with them and they climb on her lap, snuggle down, and go to sleep. It's so cute. This is the first batch of baby chicks that have done that, but these are also the youngest baby chicks we have gotten. We special ordered this batch of chicks so they came straight from the egg practically. Not quite, but close enough :-). I hope everyone has had a great week so far and I wish you all a wonderful day! We have rain in our forecast for the day :-(.

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Wonderful Favorites- 115114, Well Scripted- 118601 (wood mount- 117072
Paper: Certainly Celery- 105125, Old Olive- 100702, Whisper White- 100730, So Saffron- 105118, Bashful Blue Designer Series Paper- 112151, So Saffron Designer Series Paper- 112152
Classic Stampin' Ink: So Saffron- 105213. Old Olive- 102277
Punches: Scallop Trim border- 118402, 3/4" Circle- 107217
Dies: Daisies #2- 114520
Other: Sponge daubers- 102892

Square Lattice Folder

Gosh, I really like the Square Lattice embossing folder coming out in the Summer 2010 mini on May 1st (just a few more days :-D ). For my card today, I used a scrap of the vellum that I stamped and used on yesterday's card, and picked up a hodgepodge of elements from my counter top in my crafting room to use as well. Might as well make good use of those bits and pieces laying around ;-).

The vellum is backed with Pink Pirouette card stock, which is making a return as a core color in the new 2010/2011 Idea Book and Catalog. Whoo hoo! I loooooove Pink Pirouette! Lots of texture going on in this card- die cut/embossed butterflies, embossed card base, and the vellum was embossed too, just for good measure ;-). It's a beautiful sunny day here finally!! We've had lots of rain! I am going to enjoy this sunny day while I can because we have four more days of rain headed our way- boo hoo hoo!!!! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Flower Fancy- 111578
Paper: Whisper White- 100730, Rich Razzleberry- 115316, Melon Mambo- 115320, Pink Pirouette (coming in July), vellum
Classic Stampin' Ink: Regal Rose- 105211, Old Olive- 102277, Baja Breeze- coming in the 2010/2011 Idea Book and Catalog on July 1st
Other: Square Lattice Textured Impressions embossing folder- 119976 (Summer Mini 2010), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions embossing folder- 117335, Scallop Trim border punch, Beautiful Wings embosslit- 118138

Sweet Scoops

I made a card this morning with an upcoming stamp set from the Summer Mini debuting on May 1st. The new set is called 'Sweet Scoops' and it really is a cute, cute set!

For my card base, I used a returning color, Pink Pirouette. Pink Pirouette was an In Color from the 2008/2009 Idea Book and Catalog and will be coming back as one of the new core colors in the Color Renovation Palette. Pink Pirouette was one of my favorite In Colors, so I am happy its coming back :-) ! The inside of my card is simple, Whisper White mat with a cherry stamped from 'Tart & Tangy'. I'll add a sentiment later when I get ready to use it ;-).

We had some rain this morning, but the sun is shining brightly again. I don't mind rainy days, as long as it isn't every day, and I especially like the days when it just rains part of the day :-). I hope you are enjoying a sunny day today where you live. Have a great one!!!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Sweet Scoops- 120078 (wood mount- 117078), Tart & Tangy- 111514
Paper: Pink Pirouette (available in July 2010), Whisper White- 100730
Classic Stampin' Ink: Apricot Appeal- 105218, Gable Green- 101673, Pretty in Pink- 101301, Chocolate Chip- 100908
Stampin' Write Markers: Real Red- 100052, Garden Green- 100080
Punches: Scallop Border- 118402, Wide Oval- 112082
Other: Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions embossing folder- 117335, Stampin' Dimensionals- 104430, Score-it Board

Masculine (?) Happy Birthday

My new son- in- law has a birthday tomorrow, so this card is in the mail on the way to him now. I kept it really simple because apparently the men in my family don't like a lot of 'fancy' stuff. I once made my husband a card that I thought was quite masculine, which I asked him if it was a good guy card, but he informed me it was a little bit 'girly' (sigh). Don't get me wrong- he liked the card and he really does like even the 'girly' cards that I make. He was just giving me his opinion :-). Everyone else that I showed it to thought it was masculine and to this day I still don't know what on the card made it a little bit girly. Maybe it was the tire swing in the tree, who knows. So hopefully, this one counts as a masculine card and doesn't have anything that could be considered 'girly', lol! What do you think- girly or masculine?

I colored the stamped tree image with my Stampin' Pastels because I wanted it to look soft, (uh oh! Does that make it girly?) and not really bright. I love this tree image and I wanted it to convey the feeling of a peaceful, summer day and I just thought that soft was the way to go :-). Well, at least I know my son-in-law appreciates and likes the cards that I make for him, even if this one might be a little 'girly'. Really, the ONLY thing that I would think would make this card a little girly is the Designer Series Paper I used, but as I mentioned, once before I thought I had accomplished a good masculine card, only to find out differently. I am such a girl (rolling eyes), lol! Have a great day today and thanks for stopping by!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely As a Tree- 115026, Teeny Tiny Wishes- 115370
Paper: Rich Razzleberry- 115316, Old Olive-100702, Whisper White- 100730, Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper- 115671
Classic Stampin' Ink: Old Olive- 102277, Chocolate Chip- 100908
Stampin' Pastels: 105542- Bashful Blue, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss
Punches: Tag Corner-107215, Modern Label- 116630, Word Window- 105090

Happy Bearthday Boy

I've been working on building up my stash of cards this year and decided I should add some children's cards. Little boys seem to like bright colors, so I chose Tempting Turquoise and YoYo Yellow. When using very bright colors, it's always a good idea to break them up with a place for the eye to rest. To that end, I used Whisper White as a mat between my colors. I don't make many male cards so I really need to work on more of those :-).

The Build a Bear Workshop line of products, exclusive to Stampin' Up!, includes some adorable stamps, along with dies for making cute, cute bears. I thought these two stamp sets would be perfect for a little boy card.

I stamped this cute little bear with Black Staz-on and colored him in with my Watercolor Wonder Crayons and a blender pen on watercolor paper. If I am going to color with my Watercolor Crayons directly on my card stock, I will normally use Whisper White or Very Vanilla. Both of these card stocks have a coating on them, making them perfect for coloring. Simply outline only the edges of your image with the Watercolor Wonder Crayon, and in a tight, tiny circular motion, pull the color into the center with the blender pen. Use gentle pressure so as not to pill your card stock. If I am going to color in my image by picking up the color directly from the crayons, I use watercolor paper. Watercolor paper is much more sturdy so it doesn't pill very easily. With picking color up directly from the crayon, you would use the same method of pulling in color into the center of the image, by starting your coloring on the outside edges of your image. To finish off my image, I used Bashful Blue chalk to color in the sky around the bear. I added just a bit of texture on the YoYo Yellow with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions folder. Easy peasy card :-)
Have a great day! Thanks for stopping by- see ya' tomorrow!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Beary Nice Wishes- 118050, Beary Best Friends- 118052
Paper: Tempting Turquoise- 102067, YoYo Yellow- 102824, Real Red- 102482, Whisper White- 100730, Watercolor paper- 105019
Classic Stampin' Ink: Real Red- 103133. Black Staz-on-101406. Blender pens- 102845
Watercolor Wonder Crayons: Bold Brights- 106695 (Brilliant Blue, YoYo Yellow, Glorious Green)
Earth Elements- 106696 (Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Old Olive)
Neutrals- 106746 ( Sahara Sand, Going Gray, Basic Black)
Dies: Stars #2- 113461
Other: Bashful Blue Stampin' Pastels- 105542, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions embossing folder- 117335

Vintage Birthday Card

My daughter #3 has a birthday coming up very soon, so I needed to make her a birthday card. She loves pink and she loves vintage, so the Vintage Vogue stamp set was the one I reached for. I had one idea in mind when I started and as I worked, the card took on a life of its own. I love it when that happens, cause you never know what you will end up with :-). I really aged this card as I worked! I first stamped the En Francais background stamp on Very Vanilla card stock with Bordering Blue ink. Added some Bashful Blue inking around the edges and here and there on the front. Next I crunched it up several times and distressed the edges. Flattened it out with my hands and lightly inked Creamy Caramel over the wrinkles. I chose not to age the elements on the card to give it some interest. Here is my finished card front....

The inside of the card really designed itself, lol! I decided that it would be kind of cool if it looked like the pages of an old book when you opened it. I stamped and then distressed the Very Vanilla card stock on the inside the same as the front of the card. The only element I chose to age is the inside of the heart. I also added some flowers and a butterfly to make the inside consistent with the front of the card.

Now I suspect, that this particular card is the kind of card that you will either love or hate, lol! I hope my daughter loves it :-). Have a great day!!! See ya' tomorrow!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Vintage Vogue- 118598, Teeny Tiny Wishes- 115370 (wood mount- 117690), Well Scripted- 118601 (wood mount- 117072), En Francais- 109521
Paper: Regal Rose- 105130, Old Olive- 100702, Very Vanilla- 101650, Bordering Blue- 102630
Classic Stampin' Ink: Bordering Blue- 102265, Bashful Blue- 105209, Creamy Caramel- 103220, Old Olive- 102277, Regal Rose- 105211, Summer Sun- 100537
Punches: Scallop Oval- 114889, Large Oval- 107305, Full Heart- 113693
Dies: Beautiful Wings embosslit- 118138, Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit- 117322, Little Leaves Sizzlit- 114511, Buttons #5 Sizzlit- 113440
Other: Stampin' Dimensionals- 104430, Very Vanilla 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Crystal Effects- 101055, white pearls, pink gems

Thank You

Each month demonstrators receive a great magazine, Stampin' Success. Each month there are wonderful projects showcased and a card sketch. I chose to use the card sketch from the April Stampin' Success for my thank you cards. For my first card I used Rich Razzleberry as the base and as the darker color in the daisy flower. If you click on the photos to make them bigger, you will notice that I covered the flowers in Iridescent Ice embossing powder to make them sparkly. It's a cloudy day here today so my camera didn't quite pick up the true colors :-(.

This second card is done in Elegant Eggplant for the base only. The flower is Orchid Opulence and Pale Plum.

The leaves are punched out with the Small Oval punch and then inked on the edges with Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Ink. The centers of the daisies have a flower punched from the Boho Blossoms punch and inked with Crushed Curry. The small flowers to the right are from the Trio Flower punch, also inked with Crushed Curry. I chose to use rich jewel tone colors for my cards today, but I plan to make more in pastel colors. Have a wonderful day today! See ya' tomorrow!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes- 115370
Paper: Whisper White- 100730, Pale Plum- 101658, Barely Banana- 102701, Old Olive- 100702, Elegant Eggplant- 105126, Rich Razzleberry- 115316, Orchid Opulence- 100969, Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper- 115671
Classic Stampin' Ink: Elegant Eggplant- 105210, Rich Razzleberry- 115658, Crushed Curry- 115659, Always Artichoke- 105219, Versamark- 102283
Punches: Small Oval- 107304, Boho Blossoms- 110711, Flower Trio- 109183, 1/8" circle
Dies: Daisies #2- 114520
Other: Iridescent Ice embossing powder- 101930, April 2010 'Stampin' Success' card sketch

Ahoy Matey!

My grandson is turning eight years old on Friday (where did that time go? I swear, he was just a baby a few days ago!) and he is having a pirate party this year. Grandma (aka me) is baking him a pirate ship cake with some pirate cupcakes to go with it. You know I had to make him a pirate card ;-) ! To make the pirate, I turned to the Build a Bear Workshop dies. They are great dies to have on hand because you can make more than just bears with them. I used the Ornament punch for the pirate's head and head scarf. The little tie on his head scarf is the little heart from the Heart to Heart punch. The white polka dots were done with my gel pen.

His pirate clothes are indeed the little bear clothes die, but I cut his clothes on the sleeves and the pant's legs to make them raggedy and more like a pirate. His little neck scarf was once upon a time little bear shoes and a little bear shirt cuff :-). His ship is also made with the Ornament punch and the Small Oval punch. And you thought you could just make ornaments with the Ornament punch :-D.

Awwww! He even has a pirate earring and an eye patch! The earring was made by punching an 1/8" circle punch into a scrap of Crushed Curry and then I used a 1/4" circle punch to punch around the first hole. I cut a little slit near the top of the earring so I could layer it front and back, creating his little ear. Highlights on his eye patch and his eye were done with a white gel pen. This cute little pirate was so much fun to make and my daughter (mommy to grandson) assures me that he will love it ;-). I hope he does! I will be making him a pirate birthday banner with my Pennant die that I got for Christmas from one of my other daughters and I haven't even used it yet. This is a great time to use it- can't wait to make that banner!

If you don't own the Build a Bear dies yet, you really do need them!!! They are not 'just' for bears, lol! Wishing you a wonderful week and hope you are having pretty Spring weather where you live. Thanks for stopping by! See you tomorrow!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Paper: Blush Blossom- 103318, Real Red- 102482, Close to Cocoa- 101341, Chocolate Chip- 102128, Soft Suede- 115318, Apricot Appeal- 105124, Barely Banana- 102701, Crushed Curry- 115319, Old Olive- 100702, Whisper White- 100730, Very Vanilla- 101650, Basic Black- 102851, Ballet Blue- 100613
Classic Stampin' Ink: Apricot Appeal- 105218, Creamy Caramel- 103220, Bashful Blue- 105209, Barely Banana- 101170, Chocolate Chip- 100908
Stampin' Pastels: Cameo Coral (color on pirate's cheeks)
Punches: 1" Circle- 109046, 1/4" Circle, 1/8" Circle, Ornament- 116794, 1" Square, Heart to Heart- 113694, Scallop Circle- 109043 (to make clouds), Small Oval- 107304
Dies: Build a Bear Workshop Bear- 117977, Beary Essentials- 117978 (bear clothes), Birds & Blooms Sizzlits- 113485
Other: Black Journal Marker- 105394, White gel pen- 105021

Fold Up Scrapbook for Spring Part 1

I have seen these fold up mini scrapbooks around on different blogs and have always loved them. Of course, I have always wanted to make one, but didn't want to spend a ton of cash on a tutorial. I found a blogger that had instructions for making these on her blog for only $3.97! What a deal! I jumped on that 'Buy Now' button, lol! This post is going to be in two parts because I have a ton of photos for this book so you can see all the parts. It is such a cool book- all the little pages that open up are like going on a treasure hunt. I did use a retired Sale-a-Bration 2009 Designer Series Paper for this 6x6 scrapbook. I love this DSP and wish they had added it to the 2009/2010 Idea Book and Catalog. Since it didn't make it to the big catalog, I use it only for special projects ;-). I just put together the book- there are no photos or embellishments in it yet. I am pretty sure I am going to use this one for Spring photos, so will get to the finishing touches later :-). OK, let's look at this cool little scrapbook...

This is the cover. As you can see it ties closed and has a little bit of an overlap on the front cover. The ribbon is added at the beginning of making this book, so no worries about it coming out.

When you open up the cover, you will see the front right flap, the first page in the middle, and the inside of the front cover. All great places to add journaling, stamped images, and other embellishments of your choice. The center section is where I plan to add my title.

The photo above is the middle section with the right flap opened up.

The middle page opens up to the left and this is the next middle page. You can still see the right flap from the previous page and then a peek of the new flap to the left. This book is just so fun! Please go to post number two to see the rest of the book and for the supplies list :-).

Barb

Good Neighbor Basket

I had so much fun making my Barely Banana Easter Basket, that I decided to make another basket. I've had my 'Good Neighbor' Sale-a-Bration stamp set for a while now, but wasn't sure what I was going to do with it first. I had pink in mind for this basket and thought it would be cute to make one to put home baked cookies in to share with a neighbor. I would put more cookies in my basket than what I have in my photo though, lol!

This is the front of my cookie basket. The Good Neighbor stamp set is just too perfect for this little cookie basket, don't ya' think? ;-)

I layered Bashful Blue card stock onto Regal Rose before I stuck the panels down on my basket sides. I don't think you can really tell in the photos, but I inked the edges of the Bashful Blue card stock with Bashful Blue ink to give the sky some depth. If you look closely at the photo above you will see the little white picket fence I drew in with my gel pen.

I made little buttons by punching out three 3/4"circles and gluing them together. After gluing, punch two holes with the smallest setting on the Crop-a-dile. Ink the edges to finish off the buttons. This is the opposite side of my basket. The two sides with the buttons where the handle attaches, both have trees only on the panels.

I layered some Bashful Blue and Barely Banana Trio Flowers on the Old Olive leaves to the handle of my basket to complete.

I put together a collage of three of the side panels on my cookie basket so you can see them all together. I only put one of the tree panels because both panels are basically the same, except that one has two trees instead of three.

If you would like to make this basket, please refer to this post for instructions and materials needed.

I have more projects to post this week that are quick and easy and cute! Please check back in to see those :-). Have a wonderful week everyone and thanks for visiting!!!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: Good Neighbor- 119116, To You and Yours- 111706 {sentiment (retired)} you can substitute with Teeny Tiny Wishes- 115370
Paper: Pretty in Pink- 100459, Regal Rose- 105130, Bashful Blue- 105120, Barely Banana- 102701, Old Olive- 100702, Whisper White- 100730
Classic Stampin' Ink: Brocade Blue- 101102, Regal Rose- 105211, Old Olive- 102277, Bashful Blue- 105209, Apricot Appeal- 105218
Stampin' Write Markers: Always Artichoke- 105113, Certainly Celery- 105106, Barely Banana- 100039, Regal Rose- 105108, Old Olive- 100079
Punches: Eyelet Border- 113692, 3/4" Circle- 107217, Modern Label- 116630, Word Window- 105090, Trio Flower- 109183, 1/4" Circle
Dies: Little Leaves- 114511, Scallop Square- 115950
Big Shot machine: 113439
Other: Crop-a-dile- 108362, Brads- 106954, sponges- 101610, white gel pen- 105021, hemp cord, blue and yellow gems

Beautiful Wings Butterflies

This card is one that I made for one of my aunts. Her birthday is today, so can you guess? Yep, this is her birthday card! I started out with a Certainly Celery base for my card and added a layer of Barely Banana. I embossed Very Vanilla in my Big Shot and inked my piece with a sponge dauber. I used Pretty in Pink for the flowers and used my Barely Banana marker to do the centers. Sponge daubered on some Old Olive for the swirls and leaves, Barely Banana for the background behind the flowers. I used a scallop circle punch out as a mask to create the soft clouds with Bashful Blue ink and my sponge dauber. I finished it off with three of the Beautiful Wings embosslit butterflies available now in the Occasions Mini. This was a really easy and quick card to make. It took me about 15 minutes from start to finish, so a great card to whip out when you need one fast.

Did I mention that our ducks have created a nest? We have two females and one male so we are hoping for baby quackers soon. They have been faithfully tending their nest so we will see. If we end up with some little quackers, I'll be sure to get some photos and post them so you can see how cute they are :-). Have a great day everyone! I'll be posting an Easter Basket tomorrow that I made a couple of days ago with the Scallop Envelope die. And you thought it was just for envelopes ;-)

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Paper: Certainly Celery- 105125, Barely Banana- 102701, Almost Amethyst- 102158, Very Vanilla- 101650
Ink: (All Classic Stampin' Ink) Pretty in Pink- 101301, Old Olive- 102277, Barely Banana- 101170, Bashful Blue- 105209
Dies: Beautiful Wings- 118138
Punches: Scallop Circle- 109043
Other: Elegant Bouquet embossing folder- 115964, sponge daubers- 102892, Lavender Stickles

Vintage Type Birthday Card

I am finally back. We took some time to grieve the sudden death of our very loved horse (see two previous posts below) and then my husband got sick with a nasty virus. I got it next and still don't feel 100%, but working my way there :-). The snow here is beginning to melt a little at a time, so I am hoping that the snow is done now for this winter and that spring is just on the horizon. We have had such extended winters for the last few years here that an early spring would be awesome! I know that the groundhog says no to an early spring, but I don't know, he isn't always right, lol! My horse, Starlight, is already shedding her winter coat in droves. She and Sadie got their winter coats early in the autumn of 2009, so I knew that the cold was coming early and sure enough, it did. God has equipped animals so well :-). If I want to know when the rain is coming I just have to look out of my kitchen window to see if the horses are down by the barn. Once they get to the barn it will rain within 30 minutes, like clockwork. They know. So, since Starlight is shedding her heavy winter coat as much as she is right now, I am thinking that maybe, just maybe, spring is just around the corner. I hope so. I am sooooo ready for winter to be over and to see some green again.

I made a card before I got to feeling droopy, but with all that has transpired I didn't get around to posting it. I LOVE the Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper by Stampin' Up! I think it has to be my most favorite. This paper lends itself easily to a vintage look, so that was where I took it for this card. I inked the edges of the Top Note die cut and the Small Tag punch with Creamy Caramel to give it a bit of an aged look. I have seen a lot of flowers recently made by stamping tissue paper and then punching out flower shapes. The flowers look great! I ran out of white tissue paper at Christmas time though, and haven't had a chance to replenish my supply yet. I wanted to try these flowers so I used what I had- vellum! It does take a while for stamped vellum to dry, but you can speed up the drying process by using your heat tool. Just don't get too close to the vellum while heating the ink dry because you could burn it or cause it to warp.

I used one of my favorite birthday sentiments on the inside of this card and added three butterflies from the new Beautiful Wings embosslit in the Occasions Mini. The stamped swirl I used for the butterflies is from Snow Buddies, a hostess set from the 2009 Holiday Mini, but you could use any swirl stamp that you have on hand or draw the swirl yourself. I inked the edges of the inside of my card with Creamy Caramel so it would be consistent with the aged look of the outside, then added a touch of Old Olive.

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful week so far and that you are all staying warm and cozy. I'll be back tomorrow! Have a great day!

Blessings!
Barb

Supplies:
Stamps: En Francais- 109521, Teeny Tiny Wishes- 115370, Snow Buddies- 116505 (hostess-2009 Holiday Mini)
Paper: Bordering Blue- 102630, Very Vanilla- 101650, Old Olive- 100702, Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper- 113974
Ink: All Classic Ink used: Bordering Blue- 102265, Creamy Caramel- 103220, Bordering Blue Stampin' Write marker- 100070
Dies: Little Leaves- 114511, Swirls Scribbles- 113441, Beautiful Wings embosslit- 118138, Top Note- 113463
Punches: Tag- 105934, Small Tag- 108264, Trio Flower- 109183, 5 Petal Flower- 109041, Double Rectangle- 105088
Other: Very Vanilla 1/4" grosgrain ribbon- 109026, vellum