Chocolate Bunny

I cannot begin to tell how ready I am for Spring to get here! I am tired of snow and cold and am eagerly awaiting new life on the trees and the color of green!

And, of course, with Spring comes Easter. Who doesn't love a holiday devoted to candy :) One of my all-time favorite things to get on Easter morning when I was a kid was the coveted "Chocolate Bunny." Stampin' Up has the most fun stamp for under $10 to fulfill my wish without the calories :) You can earn the Chocolate Bunny for FREE during Sale-a-Bration, too.

I decided to put him to good use on a fun Easter card and this is what I came up with:

The supplies I used are:

Stamp Set: Chocolate Bunny, Well Scripted (Occasions Mini), Inspired by Nature

Cardstock: Naturals White, Glorious Green, Chocolate Chip, Pawsitively Prints DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Glorious Green

Accessories: Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Big Shot with Scallop Oval Frame die, Small Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Designer Label Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

I love the way it turned out! I punched out the eggs and just stuck them down under the edge of the frame and DSP with glue dots and attached the bunny with dimensionals. In person, he looks good enough to eat. Here is a close-up:

I apologize for the blurred appearance - it is difficult to get close up sometimes with my camera. But, I wanted you to be able to see the detail of the stamp. I simply stamped him in Chocolate Chip ink onto Chocolate Chip paper and then cut him out. The tone-on-tone makes him look just the ones I used to get in my Easter basket!!! He is just tooo cute!

I hope you all enjoyed the card and keep checking back for more creations. Til then.....

Happy Stamping,

Laurie

Remember to get your mammogram!

Ribbon of Hope

Many of us know someone whose life has been affected in some way by breast cancer, whether it be as a survivor, current patient, caregiver, or someone who lost someone they know to this disease. My life was touched in a huge way this past December. I will spare you the details, but suffice it to say, my outlook on some things have changed. No, this is not going to be a totally somber post :)

I think it is important to show the people we love that we support them and are here for them always. When we can really put that specific form of support into a hand-made card, I feel very blessed. That said, Stampin' Up has a wonderful stamp on the "under $10" page of the regular catalog entitled "Ribbon of Hope". It is a single stamp and can also be earned FREE during Sale-a-Bration. This is the card I will be sending now and in the future to anyone I know who has been affected by breast cancer:

I used the Ribbon of Hope stamp to create a background by just randomly stamping it with Pretty in Pink ink on Whisper White Cardstock. I created my own Ribbon of Hope using the Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Fortunately, right now I actually only have a handful of people to send this card to and I hope the number does not grow. But, I just want to bless them by letting them know someone is thinking of them :) Just a simple thought going their way.

On a much more upbeat note, the supplies I used are:

Stamp Set: Ribbon of Hope, Vintage Vogue

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry

Accessories: Big Shot with Movers & Shapers, Punch Window die set, Modern Label Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Pretty in Pink 5/8-inch Satin Ribbon, Mini glue dots

I hope you all have a very blessed day. Until next time.....

Happy Stamping,

Laurie

Remember to get your mammogram!

Not Your Everyday Milk Carton

So, everyone has been making these adorable little birdhouses out of the new Mini Milk Carton die from the Occasions Mini catalog. Well, I decided I would try my hand at it and this is what I came up with:

I tried to do something a bit different, so after I cut them out with my Big Shot (I know you want one!), I ran it through my crimper before putting it all together. I really like the way it turned out. I also did my roofs a little different than most people and put the bird on the side with the peak. It gave the opportunity to add some fancy scallops with the Scallop Border Punch. I ran the chocolate chip roof throught the crimper, too. The bird and branch are cut with the new XL 2-step Bird Punch in the Occasions Mini - but, it is back order right now...probably because everyone is making birdhouses. As I was putting these together, I started wondering how one would look using the wood sheets for the Big Shot ---- so wahlah:

Don't you just love it?!!! I do! It came out so cool. This time I put the bird on a different side so I could showcase the broad part of the roof - and isn't that little red-winged blackbird just the cutest?? :) One of my favorite kinds of birds! I used the Pinking Hearts Border Punch from the Occasions Mini to put the edge on the basic gray roof and then added a strip of certainly celery patterned strip from the Egg-cellent Egg Kit in the mini. Too cute!! You can cut one of those strips in half and use for both sides of the roof or just put it one side for two roofs. And you get like 20 of these altogether in one package!!! How sweet is that!

So, all of the supplies I used on these are:

Cardstock: Naturals White, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Garden Green, Bashful Blue DSP, Chocolate Chip, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Real Red - (You need a piece 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 for the birdhouse, 2 x 4 for the roof and the rest can come from your scrap bucket)

Accessories: Crimper, Egg-cellent Egg Kit, mini glue dots, sticky strip, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, XL 2-step Bird Punch, Scallop Border Punch, 1 1/4 inch Circle Punch, Big Shot with Mini Milk Carton die

These are so fun to make and would be adorable strung together and hung as a banner (oooh - I must try that!!). Wow, don't know where that idea came from but keep watch for the outcome :)

Well, I haven't been plowed out yet so it is back to stamping - Thanks for visiting today.

Happy Stamping,

Laurie

Remember to get your mammorgram!

Dreams du Jour

Well, you probably have been thinking that I fell off the face of the earth :) But, I just have been a bit busy lately with some other things. But, I am back and really looking forward to my monthly card class next week. Here is one of the cards we will be making:

The supplies I used are:

Stamp Set: Dreams du Jour (don't know exactly what it means which is kinda sad since one of my grandmothers was born in France)

Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Naturals White, Tea Party Designer Series Paper

Ink: Almost Amethyst

Accessories: Big Shot (do you want one yet?), Daisies #2 die, Stampin' Sponges, 1/2 and 1 inch circle punches, Build-a-Brad, Stampin' Dimensionals

I have wanted this stamp set for a long time and finally broke down and purchased it. It makes a simple card just look elegant. And the Daisies #2 die is one of my faves!!! Love the way these look on a card. And you can honestly do three different sized flowers with it for some added versatility.

Well, back to the design room to get finished up on this month's agenda. We will be making 6 cards and 2 small 3-D projects. Hope you can join us - contact me at gibby@cmsinter.net to reserve your spot.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Stamping,

Laurie

Remember to get your mammorgram!

Scallop Envelope

Have I told you lately that I absolutely LOVE my Big Shot?!! Well, I do! And the card I created today for my card class this month is just one more reason to love it........

I used the envelope on the front of the card to hold a tag also made with the Scallop Envelope die. You simply pull the tag out to reveal a message:




This card was so simple to make using these supplies:


Stamp Set: Messages For Mom (Occasions Mini) and Whimsical Words (Sale-a-Bration)

Cardstock: Naturals White, Regal Rose, Gable Green, Whisper White

Ink: Basic Gray

Accessories: Big Shot (lovin' it!!!!), Scallop Envelope die, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Regal Rose and Gable Green Markers, Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals, Scallop Border Punch


I used the sticky strip to attach the envelope to the front of the card and then folded the flap back and stuck it down with a stampin' dimensional. It just gave it some dimension and allowed the tag to stick above and be easily pulled out to reveal the message. This card was so quick and easy and really shows the versatility of the Scallop Envelope - it can be used for more than packaging a gift tag! I love playing around with different layouts and I love cards that have dimension :) This fit the bill for both!


We will be making this card on February 18th at my monthly card class. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by noon on the 18th or you can arrange for me to make your cards and send them to you. Contact me today at gibby@cmsinter.net to reserve your spot.


Well, back to the design table - until tomorrow....

Happy Stamping,


Laurie


Remember to get your mammogram!

Extreme Birthday

Birthday cards for kids are always so fun to make - at least if the kids are young. You can always put birthday cakes, cupcakes, and cute little animals and stuff like that on them. But, what do you add when those kids grow up? Well, Stampin' Up has a wonderful variety of "extreme" stamps that you can purchase separately. So, if your kids are into snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding, or in my nephew's case, playing the guitar - look no further.......

My nephew, Dominic, is turning 15 this month and he got a guitar for Christmas. He loves playing it and my son, Danny, who also has a guitar helps him out whenever they get together. I wanted to make Dominic a card that was a little more grown up and yet still let him know that he is special. To make this card I used:

Stamp Set: Extreme Guitar, Just Jawing

Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Gable Green, Naturals White

Ink: Jet Black Stazon

Accessories: Markers (Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Gable Green), Color Spritzer Tool, 1/2" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

I love using the Color Spritzer Tool to make backgrounds. You simply put the wide tip end of your marker through the tube, tighten down the screw, and squeeze the ball in quick spurts. It splashes the color onto the paper to create backgrounds that coordinate will the rest of the card.

You can purchase your own Color Spritzer Tool in my Online Store. It is so much fun to play with!!! But, just make sure you have your working area well covered so you don't splatter your whole world :)

Well, I must take the brownies out of the oven. I am meeting Danny for lunch today and he said it would be nice if some brownies could catch a ride with me - nice to know I am still needed for something :) 'Til tomorrow....

Happy Stamping,

Laurie

Remember to get your mammogram!