My Sheri Crafts Challenge #107: Spring has Sprung!

Our current challenge @ My Sheri Crafts asks that you join us by creating a project that says spring to you!  It can be flowers, sunshine, birds, green grass -- whatever you feel says spring.  Considering what so many of you have recently encountered weather-wise, I'm very hopeful that as you read this spring is finally arriving!

I chose JustRite's "Showers bring Flowers" sentiment (Spring Words clear set) since we are blessed with beautiful wild flowers popping up all over the desert. Because they're totally dependent on late winter/early spring rains, they're infrequent here and always a joy to see.
My DP BG is My Mind's Eye's "In Bloom", soft, water-colored papers and their Miss Caroline's "Howdy Doody" was used for my flower and umbrella. The umbrella is from Papertrey Ink's "Scattered Showers" clear stamp set and hand cut as I don't own the dies. My flower was made with Cuttlebug's Quilled Daisy Kit, a recent purchase from Michaels. Embellishments include Spellbinders' A2 Polka Dots border die, which I LOVE, raindrops from Amuse and swirly gem flourish from Want2Scrap.
Think I've covered everything here, so now you can visit all My Sheri DT's projects and then please join us for this wide-open Spring challenge -- thanks for stopping by today!

JustRite Friday Challenge #67: Birthday Bash

The current challenge at JustRite Stampers is to create a Birthday card -- pretty simple, huh? I created a spring birthday card in pinks/greens using paper I've had in my stash for a long time!
I was thrilled to have the new JR Spring Words and With Sympathy clear stamps I won on the last challenge to help me create today. I just LOVE this sentiment and think it will work well for masculine birthdays also! I added a little decorative element from the Sympathy set below to compliment it and tie in my colors. Also LOVE Spellbinders' Edgeabilities and used those for my edging detail along with some decorative trim. Hand-colored crinkled seam binding and a pearl flourish complete this one.

Stamps:  JR's Spring Words and With Sympathy
Inks: VersaColor Opera Pink & Memento Pear Tart
Paper: Basic Grey's Sultry; PTI's White & Ripe Avocado CS
Embellishments: Want2Scrap Pearl/Flourish; Hobby Lobby trim; Hug Snug Winter White Seam Binding (colored with Copics)

Papertrey Ink March 2011 Blog Hop: Embroidery Floss and CR84FN20 Color Challenge

Papertrey Ink's Blog Hop challenge this month is to use embroidery floss in a fun and inventive way on
your project. I kept my spring project fairly CAS, but had fun creating a much-needed birthday card for my stash in the process.
I chose Lavender Moon CS, stamping Background Basics: Petal Power in VersaMark Ink on the right side and added Bitty Box Basics in Lavender Moon on the left. After punching small holes in the points of all my Beautiful Blooms II die-cut flower petals, I laced DMC Floss #3836 through the petals and added a floss star burst to the center. A tiny purple gem completes my flower. The stem and leaves are die cut with the rickrack border die and my Everyday Button Bits sentiment is stamped on a Spellbinders die and secured with embroidery floss.
Enjoy the hop -- I cannot wait to see what everyone else came up with for this fun challenge!
ETA:  Due to a couple sweet suggestions from friends/commenters (thanks, Ladies!), I am also entering this card in the following fabulous weekly challenge: CR84FN20 Color Challenge!

JustRite Friday Challenge 50: Spring or Birthday Gift or Envelope

As I was awaiting my first Grand Nestabilities' arrival with plans to submit for JustRite's challenge, I happened to find this adorable Pebbles "Birdies" double-sided paper, which is solid green on the back. I decided I just had to make a Spring gift basket, card and lined envie! I had sooo much fun that now I'm up late trying to get this posted!
I made the gift box first and knew I wanted to use Spellbinders' Grand Labels Four, one of my fav shapes. My Labels Four die #3 was cut/embossed and then scored from each scallop indention to meet in the center for added interest on the front. The handle also has 3 scored lines, though it was nearly impossible to photograph that. You can click on the photos, then click again to enlarge them to see the detail. I then cut along the top two scores of my Labels Four, added a Making Memories flower grommet and tucked a Labels Four tag under the grommet on which I stamped JustRite's sentiment, "Rebirth of Spring" from Nature's Nested Sentiments. A little brown felt bird die cut from Spellbinders' Nested Birds sits atop my little tab closure which tucks into a strip of CS behind the grommet for closure.
For my card and matching envelope, I used Grand Labels Four #4 to nearly completely cover the front of my 5" square card. Topping it off is another Nature's Nested Sentiment on a Labels 4 die and a red felt bird sitting atop it. I scored my card front twice at the top also. For my matching square envie, I again cut the Grand Labels Four die shapes to decorate the top flap and to line my envelope!
I love using double-sided paper for projects like this, as it's a sure match and makes everything so much easier! Thanks so much for stopping in today & let me know if you think staying up late was worth it -- LOL!

Woven Ribbon Easter Basket

I know it's been a long while since I posted, but here's what I've been up to: doing my best Becca Feeken impersonation -- LOL -- AS IF anyone could top her amazingly incredible creativity! I'm linking you to the directions for her breathtakingly gorgeous Valentine Basket, which I've made for a friend's 4-yr.-old. I sincerely thank Becca for her unending inspiration and willingness to share not only her gorgeous creations, but also detailed videos, drawings and photos of just how to re-create her gems. You'll be blown away when you visit her blog, if you've not yet had that pleasure! She truly tops my list of fav blogs I check daily.
Paper: PTI's Vintage Cream; Bazzill Bling
Stamps: Little Paper Shop's {All Occasion}
Ink: PTI's Raspberry Fizz
Tools: Spellbinders' Wizard & Scalloped Edge Frame, Nested Eggs, Easter Fun, Scalloped Cirlces Dies; MS Garden Trellis Punch
Embellishments: Michaels' Dashes, Dots & Checks Ribbon; green ribbon from stash; DCWV chipboard

Rhinestone Tulip Thank You

I'm on a crafting roll right now - just enjoying the ride! ;-) A sweet friend (who's often sassy!) loaned me her new Nesties to play with this week! Thanks so much Ilene! So here's a little thank you card I whipped up last evening using Labels 4 and a rhinestone tulip I got on sale @ Michaels awhile back. The fun part here was turning the Nestie on its side & cutting just the bottom front of my card and then running a pink marker along that edge - I think it's pretty cute! You can click on the photo for a better view.

It's already past spring here, but I see from many blog posts that most other places in the country are just beginning to enjoy the flowers finally bursting forth after a VERY long winter. Hope my little tulip keeps me in a spring mood while the 100-degree days rage on here in AZ! ;-)

Paper: DCWV's Nana's Kids DP Printed CS; pink metallic & white cs from stash

Stamps: PTI's Mixed Messages; Technique Tuesday's Inner Circle (msg. shadow)

Ink: PTI's Palette Noir

Embellishments: Nesties Labels Four; lg. rhinestones: Michaels $1 spot; Tombow marker

Easter Chickies!!!

Wow, cannot believe Easter is only a week away (even less really)! Don't usually send Easter cards & don't think I'd have enough made if I did this year, but maybe I'll surprise a couple people with one, after all! Had to make this, as my friend Ilene was here with all the goodies to do these on Friday. Who can resist sweet little chick, eggs, tulips? Not me!!! This little card is just too sweet, I think!!!

Paper: Purple Bazzill CS & Lavendar Handmade DP from Costco

Atamps: Great Impressions (see Sierra Enterprises here)

Ink: VersaFine Black

Embellishments: LePlume Markers, Nesties, EK Success Dotted Scallop Punch, Joann's Ribbon; DeNami Glitter

Simple Diamond Fold Card

This simple little diamond fold card is another I found the tutorial for on http://www.youtube.com/watch entitled Diamond Fold Card. The finished card is 4" x 4" except that mine's a bit smaller because I chose to finish it by using my Fiskars edge punch on each side. I've had this hand-crocheted flower for probably 6 years (yikes!), but I thought it was a cute embellishment for this card. I still have 2 left!!!
Paper: Lavendar cardstock from stash; DCWV Flower Names DP
Tools: Bone Folder; Fiskars Edge Punch; hand-crocheted flower

RAK from Julie SBS8

I received this adorable gardening apron card from my SBS8 Sister Julie from England! I love it and think it's such a clever creation!!! It also was quite a task to create because it includes stamping, hand cutting, shrinky dinks, eyelets and all the little hand-applied stitching around the edges.
She also included a plethora of goodies: two darling stamp sets, a molding mat, laser-cut butterflies and several sheets of stickers.
I've never had a sister in real life, but if this is what it would be like, I've really been missing out!!! ;-)
Thanks so much, Julie, and once my package to you arrives, I'll be an even happier Sister!

RUN -- don't WALK -- Bargain Tip of the Day!!!

I found these huge brightly-colored Clip-On daisy silk flowers for $.99 each today @ Michaels alongside their silk flowers displays!!! The package says they're for decorating pkgs., fashion accessories or wearing in your hair -- what about papercrafting???!!! ;-)

When I cut the first one apart, I discovered not only the bigger petals (3 are 4 1/2"; 1 is 3 1/2" & 1 is 2", but there are two white 1 3/4" silk flower pieces between the petals, a little hidden bonus!!! OMH, I wish I'd bought more!!! We could even use the centers too! The colors are just gorgeous -- red, orange, yellow, lime green, purple is just what I can recall. We all know how much the packaged silk flowers cost & these are just as lovely.

As Gwen (http://www.mycraftydaysoff.blogspot.com/) had so brilliantly pointed in a recent post, we can buy a garland of white silks flowers and color them ourselves. Between the 2 ideas, that should keep even a flower freak like me happy for quite a while!!! '-)

So I say, RUN, don't walk, to your nearest Michaels Arts & Crafts Store and check these out! Hopefully it will help all you needing Spring to finally arrive!!!

At the very least, it brightened my day, as well as my papercrafting stash, while saving me a few pennies to spend on more stashable items!!!

Now, I just NEED a few more of those darling felt flowers from Joann's & I'll be set . . . for a while . . . !!! ;-)

Felt Flower Spring All-Occasion Card

Another card using a felt flower from the Joann's $1 area and stamp from Michaels $1 bin. I used my COD to make a large hole in the center of the flower this time and wound Karen Foster's Scrapper's Floss around the blossom, as well as using it for the stem. I just love all the things you can do with these awesome thick felt flowers. My only regret -- there aren't more sizes, colors & styles! I so wish there were!!!
Paper: Pink & White Cardstock; My Minds Eye DP
Stamp: Studio G from Michaels $1 bin
Ink: Tsukineko's Lime Pigment Ink
Embellishments: Felt Flower & small flowers from stash, Scrapper's Floss, Lime Green Stickles

Spring Flowers for a Friend Diamond Card

First of all, I want to thank my BBGF (Best Blogging Girlfriend) Gwen (http://www.mycraftydaysoff.blogspot.com/) for this darling card & DP, which she so sweetly shared when we got together with our Stamp Group last Saturday. She's famous for these 5" diamond cards & had shared another one, but then said if we wanted an extra we could take it. Well, DUH, of course I wanted another - who wouldn't!!! ;-) I was playing with my 1/4" punch making the notched edge I'd seen on Barb's blog (www.barbstamps.com/ - under techniques) & decided it matched nicely with this DP! Then I decided to use my COD to punch holes in this sweet little felt flower I'd gotten @ Joann's in a pkg. of 24 for $1 -- what a bargain! They are quite thick & the COD punched the holes easily! I then added the large eyelet to the flower and fashioned Friend from some left-over letters on an old sheet of rub-ons -- a bit time-consuming, but it worked.
Paper: The Paper Company Mandarin Cardstock
Embellishments: Felt Flowers from Joann's $1 Spot; WeRMemory Keepers Eyelet; left-over rub-ons
Tools: 1/4" SU punch; Crop-a-Dile

Spring is Here card!

Here again is another of my current favorite simple cards which I shared yesterday with my stamp group! Just a 5 1/2" x 4/1/4" card with a 5" by 2 1/4" piece of DP. Punch out a portion of whatever corresponding shape fits your stamped image! (See my previous post under my Tutorials label to place the punch closer to punch edge.) I've made similar cards using round, oval scalloped and heart punches also. What could be simpler? Then embellish with whatever you've got handy to finish it off & you've got a simple/quick card ready to mail!

Paper: The Paper Company Mandarin Cardstock; DCWV DP

Stamp: Studio G $1 stamp from Michaels

Punch: Marvy Uchida 1 3/4" square

Embellishments: Dew Drops by The Robin's Nest; Fibers by Making Memories

Happy Easter Egg Wishblade Card

This paper-pieced Easter egg and greeting was created and uploaded to the Wishblade (personal diecutting machine) Yahoo Group by Kelly of the Wishblading Well: http://www.thewishbladingwell.com/. Isn't it the cutest? I wished I'd had more colors in this metallic paper, but I still like how it turned out! Hope it brings a smile to all who visit here!!!

Paper: Purple Cardstock & Lavender/Silver Handmade Papers from Costco; metallic text

Embellishments: Silver eyelets from my hoard

Spring Flowers Thank You Card

Here's my smaller, less-layered version of Lynda's card found here: http://stampact.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/01/page/3/ made with supplies I had on hand, including the $1 for 4 metallic flowers. Even though this is a small card it took me much longer than it should have! Guess I'm still tired! When I'm creatively blocked, I just like to look at others' blogs, new to me as well as old favorties, until I feel some inspiration (or find a card I can't help but case) as in this "case" -- pun intended!!! ;-)

Paper: White cardstock, orange DCWV textured cardstock; lime dotted text

Stamp: Artful Illusions

Embellishments: Target's $1 Store Metallic Flowers; Hero Arts Gemstones

Seattle or Bust -- I'm Baaaaaack!!! :-)

After an arduous 3,000+ mile trip to Seattle, WA & back by minivan, I'm home and anxious to get started catching up on all your blogs, as well as creating/posting on my own. We helped get our daughter and her co-worker/roommate moved/settled. We also were able to visit our son and meet his girlfriend, which was truly the highlight of our trip! They took us to Pike Place Market where we had lunch and roamed through the marketplace, enjoying the many shops and sights! Just before leaving Seattle our son pointed us down California Ave., where we could find Bakery Nouveau, a wonderful shop that has the most delicious croissants I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy, truly! That's probably because William Leaman, captain of the gold-medal U.S. team in the 2005 World Cup of Baking, opened his own bakery just minutes from our son's house. Now I need to start a diet more than ever; I'm just thankful it was our last day there before we found this bakery -- hee-hee!!! If you ever get to West Seattle, don't miss it!

I was also delighted to locate Friends and Company (Rubber Stamping and More) (http://friends-n-company.com/) nearby where I purchased my first Dew Drops by The Robin's Nest (http://robinsnest-scrap.com/), with which I'm anxious to create something new for spring very soon!!! As we were literally on our way out of town, I didn't have near enough time to spend shopping as I'd have liked, but Doris was nice to visit with and very helpful. Though I'd very hurriedly stamped a few business cards with my blog address right before we left and my pigment ink on glossy paper didn't dry, but instead smeared badly, I still gave Doris one, assuring her I really could stamp -- I hope she believed me! ;-)

I've missed being able to really keep up on my emails/blog/your blogs. Even though I always take my laptop when we travel, I'm not always so successful using internet connections at various motels. Often if I can connect, the connection is so slow & most emails will not successfully go though that I just shut down my computer and give up. I'm not thrilled having to operate without a firewall either, so maybe in the future I can remedy all that with my own WiFi subscription. My husband understands all that better than I, so that's a discussion for another time!

For now I'm just glad to be home and able to sleep in my own king-size bed! Amidst all the unpacking/laundry tomorrow, hopefully I can get my creative juices flowing again! Thanks for checking in with me and keep checking back. I'll also be checking in on all your blogs to see the wonderful creations I've been unable to enjoy this past 2 weeks!

Wish for Spring Pinwheel Card

I actually made this pinwheel card awhile back, but it makes me think of soft breezes, sunshine and a wish for spring so I thought I'd share it with all of you, knowing how much those of you suffering through a long cold winter are hoping for the arrival of spring! I hope it comes soon!!!
To create this card I used the tutorial found here: www.doodlesanddragonflies.blogspot.com/ which uses the Stampin'Up tag puch for the petals. I'm amazed at how ingenious some of you ladies are with these punches; your awesome ideas continue to amaze me!!!
Paper: Chatterbox's Scrapbook Walls Light Orchard Blossom front and back
Stamp: Stampin'Up's Small Script (Hostess set)
Punches: StampinUp's Tag Punch & Slit Punch
Bling: Making Memories' brads

Some Bunny Loves You!

Ever had one of those days where everything hits you wrong & you just want to cry because you feel like you can't cope & you're such a disappointment to everyone you really care about? That was my yesterday, but I talked to everyone I felt like I'd disappointed/failed and by the time I went to sleep, I knew it will all be okay. Just take each day one at a time & stop stressing over things in life that come up & you just cannot control/change -- seems so simple/logical now! Stuff happens & it always will -- all at once in a big lump too; never slow/easy/one thing at a time -- nope, not gonna happen that way! ;-) Thank God for sweet, understanding friends/family that make it all worth it & who are there for you when you truly feel like a failure. Crying sometimes helps, but mostly it just causes me sinus congestion & a headache, but that's just another one of those things I can't control.
Soooooo, my solution to getting over my headache was to papercraft, of course! Everything else got put on hold last night & I got out my new little $1 Studio G stamps and my bright, spring colors and Some Bunny Loves You is the result! Hope you like him because he made me feel brighter & more hopeful, just like spring does!!! I have to tell you this simple card layout is becoming an all-time favorite because it's so adaptable to so many punch shapes & so easy to dress up or down/make cutesy or elegant, as my friend Ilene just mentioned yesterday. It's the same basic layout I used for Simple Punched Thank You Card posted on January 9th and the Black & White Floral Rosette card posted on January 3rd! I'm lovin' it!!! Hmmmm, would maybe be a good one for an SBS8 Challenge!!!
Paper: DCWV Spring Easter DP; The Paper Company Color Connect Texture in Lilac
Stamp: Studio G
Punch: Marvy Uchida 1 3/4" Square
Embellishments: Colored Pencils/Chalks; Making Memories Funky Fibers in Watercolor Brite; $ Store small q-tips for nose & paws