Spring is Here and Three Little Butterflies cards

Today I met my SIL for lunch at our local Sushi Restaurant (Minori's).  It was great to spend time with her, albeit only a short time, as lunch was over in about an hour and we headed our separate ways.  I got some take-out to bring home to hubby who is still recovering from a "cold" that just won't go away.  He calls it a cold, but I think it's a virus and that's why he's had it for over two weeks now.  Lots of coughing and choking with this nasty bug!  He's getting better, but still needs a little more rest time.

On to the cards for today ... yes, cards!!  I made two for this week's Color Challenge at SCS (CC366 - Daffodil Party Parade - Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Poppy Parade).  I don't have Pool Party and Poppy Parade inks or cardstock so I used the closest colors I had (Baja Breeze and Tangerine Tango).  The dessert option this week is ribbon and I made one card with dessert and one without :)

"Spring is Here"

Stamps:  none

Paper:  Whisper White, Early Espresso; Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade DP (SU!); Bazzil White

Ink:  Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, River Rock (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Small Grand Madison Window, Grove Branch, and Wildflower Patch die-cuts (Poppy Stamps), Brick Wall embossing folder (Tim Holtz), Big Shot, Itty Bitty flower punch, mat pack, stylus, sponges, rubber brayer, Tombow glue, adhesives and dimensionals

I used the rubber brayer to add Sahara Sand ink to the inside of the embossing folder.  I placed a large piece of Whisper White cardstock inside and ran through my Big Shot.

I ran the Window die-cut through my Big Shot with another piece of Whisper White cardstock.  I sponged around the outside edges of the window with River Rock to give some definition to the window.

I ran the Grove Branch die-cut through my Big Shot with Early Espresso cardstock.  I ran the Wildflower Patch die-cut through with Daffodil Delight cardstock.  I cut the flower heads off to use as the centers of my blossoms.

I punch three small flowers from Poppy Parade DP.  I used the mat pack and a stylus to shape the flowers.  I did the same with the Daffodil Delight center and then glued them on top of the Poppy Parade.

I sponge a piece of Whisper White cardstock with Baja Breeze.  I placed the branch on top of the sponging and added the flowers with Tombow Glue.

Now for assembly.  I cut the center out of the embossed brick wall.  I mounted branch and flowers panel onto a card base of Bazzil White, making sure the positioning lined up with the cut-out.  I mounted the window onto the embossed brick wall using Tombow Glue.

I placed the card front on top of the card base, popping it up with dimensionals.

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Here's the second card for this week's Color Challenge (CC366 - Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Poppy Parade).  This one has the dessert option - ribbon.  Again, I used the closest colors I had to the challenge, substituting in Baja Breeze and Tangerine Tango.

"Three Little Butterflies"

Stamps:  Happy Moments (SU!); butterfly (unknown)

Paper:  Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Tangerine Tango polka-dot DP (SU!)

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Baja Breeze (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig, 1/4" Daffodil Delight grosgrain ribbon, glue dots, sticky strips and adhesives

I stamped the three butterflies onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock and stamped the sentiment above in Tangerine Tango ink.  I mounted the stamped panel onto a frame of Tangerine Tango cardstock.  I wrapped the Daffodil Delight ribbon around the panel and tied a 1/2 knot in the center.  I secured the knot in place with a glue dot.

I mounted the polka-dot DP onto a card base of Tangerine Tango and then mounted the framed main panel at the top of the card.

I stamped the three butterflies a second time on scrap WW cardstock, this time embossing each one with clear embossing powder.  I cut out the embossed butterflies and bent them into shape.

I mounted the three embossed butterflies on top of the stamped butterflies, using a rolled glue dot down the center to hold them in place.

Spring Wreath and You Suit Me to a Tea cards

Update ... after seeing the CAS Challenge for tomorrow ... I just couldn't wait.  So here's my card for CAS161 - White with shades of blue.  Hope you like.

 "You Suit Me to a Tea"

 

Stamps:  The Tea Shoppe (SU!)

Paper:  Whisper White, Marina Mist striped DP, Bashful Blue (SU!)

Ink:  Marina Mist (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Small tag die (Memory Box), Big Shot, white Baker's twine, Marina Mist re-inker, 5/8" Marina Mist satin ribbon, White and silver ribbon (unknown), white pearl pin, paper piercing tool and template, sticky strips, adhesives, glue dot and dimensionals

I stamped the large teacup in Marina Mist ink onto Bashful Blue cardstock.  I cut the cup out and then sponged more Marina Mist onto the cup to darken it.

I mounted the striped DP onto the Whisper White cardstock and wrapped the satin ribbon around, tying a knot just above center.  I secured the knot in place with a glue dot.  I paper pierced the top right corner of the card front and then mounted it to a card base of Marina Mist cardstock.

I tied another bow from the White and silver ribbon and placed it on top of the blue knot, holding it in place with the pearl pin.

I ran the tag die through my Big Shot with a small piece of Whisper White cardstock.  I stamped the sentiment on the tag and added three small pearls below.

I cut a piece of white Baker's twine and dyed it using the Marina Mist re-inker.  Once it was dry I looped it through the tag and secured it to the back of the tea cup.  I mounted the teacup onto the front of the card using dimensionals to add depth.

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Today I'm in the studio with the Crafty Girls.  We had a great time creating, chatting, laughing ... and, of course, eating.  Fran brought Samosas for lunch and Deb brought Coconut buns for dessert - delicious - thanks to both of you!

I didn't organize a workshop for them today ... it was more just find cards that I've made the you like, and make your own version.  It was fun, relaxed and, in the end, they all went home with three lovely cards each.  We had fun experimenting with some more of my new Memory Box die-cuts.

Here's my card from today, using the Breezy Wreath die-cut ... decorated with flowers made from the Wildflower Patch die-cut and the Itty Bitty flower punch.  Hope you like.

"Spring Wreath"

Stamp:  A Word For You (SU!)

Paper:  Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi DP, Poppy Parade DP, Daffodil Delight (SU!)

Ink:  Wild Wasabi

Accessories & Tools:  Breezy Wreath and Wildflower Patch die-cuts (Poppy Stamps), Big Shot, Itty Bitty flower punch (SU!), mat pat, stylus, Tombow glue, adhesives and dimensionals

I ran the Wild Wasabi DP (polka-dot) through my Big Shot with the Breezy Wreath die-cut twice.  I used one as my base and cut the other into individual leaf sprigs.

I punched three itty bitty flowers from the Poppy Parade DP and shaped them using the mat pack and stylus; I set them aside.

I ran the Wildflower Patch die-cut through my Big Shot three times, twice with Daffodil Delight cardstock and once with Tangerine Tango cardstock (I would have used Poppy Parade cardstock but didn't have any).  I cut the flower heads from the stems of the wildflowers and shaped them using the mat pat and stylus.  I used three of the small flowers as centers for the Itty Bitty flowers.

I then just randomly glued the flowers and leaf sprigs around the wreath until I felt it was balanced.

I dry-fit the wreath onto my Whisper White card front to determine the placement for the sentiment.  I removed the wreath and stamped the sentiment in Wild Wasabi ink.  I mounted the card front onto a card base of Wild Wasabi cardstock.

I cut a dimensional into small pieces and added them to the back of the wreath and then mounted the wreath onto the card front.  

Layered Poppies

Today I'm in the studio playing with a few of my new Memory Box die-cuts.  My latest order arrived from Simon Says a week or so ago and I've been going through them slowly - just taking my time to figure out what I wanted to do.  I bought 22 new die-cut --- yes, I went a bit crazy, but I liked so many and couldn't just order a few.  Today's card uses the "Prim Poppy" die-cut.  It's so pretty!  When I pulled it out today and looked at it, I knew right away that I wanted to try it with the paper tole technique (click here to see my tutorial).  I used DP from the Everyday Enchantment series for the poppies and for the frame ... just a beautiful Poppy Parade pattern, but it's hard to tell in the photo.  Hope you like.

"Layered Poppies"

Stamp:  Field Flowers - sentiment (SU!)

Paper:  Whisper White, Old Olive, Poppy Parade DP (Everyday Enchantment) (SU!)

Ink:  Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Real Red (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Prim Poppy die-cut (Memory Box), Speedball rubber brayer, Stamp-a-ma-jig, small eye make-up applicator sponge, Tombow Glue, and adhesives

I ran Old Olive cardstock with the Prim Poppy die-cut through my Big Shot.  I ran the die-cut through two more times with the Poppy Parade DP.

I cut the heads from the DP poppies and sponged around the outside of the flower heads with Real Red ink to give them depth.

I placed the first layer of poppies heads directly on top of the Old Olive base, attaching the flower heads with small dots of glue.  For the second layer (again using flower heads that are sponged with Real Red ink), I placed two rolled glue dots on each side of the flower, near the top and a small amount of glue at the base of the flower head.  I placed them on top of the base.

I brayered the Whisper White card front on the diagonal with Daffodil Delight ink.  I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement of the sentiment and stamped it in Old Olive ink.

I used more Tombow glue (just a little) to mount the layered poppies onto the card front.  I mounted the main panel onto a frame of Poppy Parade DP and then mounted the whole card front onto a base of White.

Bamboo

Headed off to get groceries this morning without Hubby.  He's still not feeling great - 12 days and counting!  Bad cold, but the worst part is the coughing and so not much sleep which, I'm sure, is the reason this illness is been hanging on for so long.  Hopefully he'll be able to get some more sleep soon!

On to the card for today.  Quick and easy Asian-themed CAS card today!  Wanted to use my new bamboo stamp from Rubbernecker Stamps (KK Original Stamps).  Added some texture to the card by using the Square Lattice embossing folder for the dark green background of the square die-cuts.  Used the "thumping" technique to add some interest to the stamped image.  Hope you like.

"Bamboo"

Stamp:  Bamboo (KK Original Stamps - Rubbernecker)

Paper:  Whisper White, Old Olive, Always Artichoke (SU!)

Ink:  Old Olive; Stampin' Write marker Always Artichoke (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Corner die-cut (Cuttlebug), Square Lattice embossing folder (Sizzix), Tombow glue, adhesives and dimensionals

Inked the stamp with Old Olive and then used the Always Artichoke marker to "thump" some color along each of the leaves and along the indented part of the stalks - stamped onto Whisper White card front.

Ran the corner die-cut through my Big Shot with Old Olive cardstock three times.  Ran a piece of Always Artichoke cardstock through my Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder.  Cut the embossed cardstock to size and then used Tombow glue to add the square Old Olive die-cuts on top.

Add the embossed strip to the card front, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.

Mounted the card front onto a card base of Old Olive.