Sweater Weather Seasonal Decor

Hello again! Today I have a little project to share with you. One that has me out of my card comfort zone and into the world of 3-D, paint, sandpaper, and glue guns. But it was worth it! These little guys are going to go with me to work and bring a little seasonal cheer to my office!

Aren't they FUN??

I found these cute little trees online here and I knew at once that they had to come live with me!

The wood pieces come unfinished and unassembled so I ran and picked up some generic craft paint and set right to work! After several coats of paint I sanded the edges of the trunks down to give them a rustic feel.

I then adhered Stampin' Up!'s Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper to the trees with Modge Podge and used my glue gun to glue the trunks to the tree tops. I sponged Chocolate Chip ink around the edges of the paper to add definition and then decorated with Linen Thread and buttons! EZ Peasy!

Here's a closer look at the sponging and details :)

I would love to hear what you think of my fall trees!

Stampin Supplies: 

Stamps: None

Paper: Sweater Weather (132184) Designer Series Paper

Ink: Chocolate Chip (126975) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Sponge Daubers (102892)

Embellishments: Naturals Designer Buttons (127554); Subtles Designer Buttons (130030); Natural Linen Thread (104199); Antique Brads (117273); 1 1/4" Burlap Ribbon

Other: Wood Trees, Craft Paint, Fine Sandpaper, Modge Podge, Glue Gun

Easter Blessings

Good Morning and Happy Saturday to you! I am delighted to participate in an Pals Easter Parade going on today over at Mary Fish's Stampin' Pretty website!

What do you think? I have to admit that when I saw the Secret Garden bundle of Framelit Dies and coordinating stamp set I was underwhelmed. I just passed right over it but over time as I saw projects created with it, it started to grow on me until one day this Easter card popped into my head so I finally broke down and placed an order! I think the only way to get card out of my head was to create it (!) and now that I have, I can see many possibilities for this set so look for more projects to come!

Do you just LOVE the color combination I used here? I have to give a big shout out to a fellow "Pal" Kerry Willard Bray over at Stamp Goodness for her Five on Friday post listing some fab color combinations! If you would like to see the full post, please click here. The colors used are Pink Pirouette, Wisteria Wonder, and Midnight Muse. I would NEVER have come up with this combination on my own but I think the colors together are just divine!

 

I enjoy the clean look of the white background, I believe it really allows the other elements to take center stage and shine. I love that the lattice pattern in embossed Whisper White cardstock adds to the spring'y' (is that a word?) feel of the card...and just a few pearls for jewelry. So easy with all the coordinating products that Stampin' Up offers!

Just a note on the embossing...I have found that with my particular Big Shot (and every one is slightly different) when I emboss Whisper White or Very Vanilla that the tension is so tight, frequently the embossing will crack. Flipping the tab from Tab 2 to Tab 1 reduces the tension just enough to give me a perfect embossed image. Experiment with your own Big Shot!

Of course Easter wouldn't be complete without treats so here's a idea for a little treat holder...

I ran a piece of Pink Pirouette DSP and the Clear Oval Accent Bigz Die through my Big Shot and then scored at 2 2 1/4" from each outside edge to create a 1" base. I 'imagine' it filled with a chocolate bunny...please 'imagine' that with me as the store is OUT of chocolate bunnies! You could also add a little box in there as well with a few chocolate eggs (mmm)...

I think these little treats would sit perfectly on an Easter dinner table as well as being wonderful treats for co-workers. They come together perfectly with the Secret Garden Bundle as well as the Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and coordinating Bitty Banners Framelits. And of course a pearl...

I hope you have enjoyed these projects and are inspired to pull out those supplies and get creative!

Please pop on over to Stampin' Pretty for more inspiration from the Pals!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Easter Blessings (129183), Secret Garden (129144), Itty Bitty Banners (126257)

Paper: Whisper White (100730) Cardstock, Pink Pirouette from the Subtles Designer Series Paper Pack (117152)

Ink: Midnight Muse (126860), Pink Pirouette (126956), Wsteria Wonder (126985) Classic Stampin' Pad 

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Ovals Collection (129381) Framelits Dies, Secret Garden Framelits Dies (129372), Square Lattice Embossing Folder (119976), Oval Accent Bigz Clear Die (127005), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309),   Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Stampin' Trimmer (126889)

Embellishments:  Pearl Basic Jewels (119247), 5/8" Organza Ribbon (114319), Wisteria Wonder Baker's Twine (125576)

Thanks for stopping by!

March Pals Blog Hop

Thank you for joining us for the March Pals Blog Hop! Today the Stampin' Pretty Pals are excited to share new ideas and projects to get you ready for spring.

You should have just left stop number 23 on the Pals Hop - Amy Williams at Stampin' on the Range. If so, you are in the right spot.  If you get off track, the full blog lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog so you see all of the amazing creations.

I just love how Stampin' Up! is constantly providing wonderfully simple ways to decorate our homes and our lives...

My project today is a My Digital Studio download available for only $1.95 (Item #129889). I simply downloaded this template, printed it at home, and found a pretty frame to put it in! It doesn't get much easier than that!

I can't wait to display this in my home and bring in a touch of spring as winter makes it's retreat. But really, the colors are so cheerful, I think it could stay up year round!

I decided that this print would make a wonderful hostess or thank you gift so I added a few notecards in coordinating colors. One can never have too many note cards!

The notecards are simple 3 x 3 cards with a layer of cardstock in colors chosen to coordinate with the framed print. I added a layer of emobssed white cardstock and topped off with the flower image. I chose a flower image from the Button Buddies stamp set because it is sooo easy to punch out with the 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch and then pop up with a Stampin' Dimensional for a bit of dimension. I couldn't resist (since the stamp set IS Button Buddies) adding a white button for a bit of jewelry. A tiny bit of cardstock threaded through the button holes provides a nice detail. Very simple but oh so cute!

I hope you have enjoyed my post today, simple and easy projects that you can do at home in an afternoon! And by the way...did you notice the Easter egg at the top of the post?? That's means I have blog candy to give away!!

My blog candy today is a sampler of items that you would normally only be able to earn with $100 purchase of Stampin' Up! product!

•  12 6" x 6" sheets of the Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper
• 6 buttons each in 3 colors: Pool Party, Tangerine Tango, and Rich Razzleberry
• 1 yard each of satiny ribbon in 3 colors: Island Indigo, Pool Party, and Tangerine Tango

Interested in receiving this blog candy? Please be sure to leave a comment by 6 PM CST on Thursday, March 14, 2013. One recipient will be chosen at random from the comments received. The blog candy recipient will be announced on Friday and the recipient will need to email me their mailing address within 24 hours. Blog candy can only be shipped to a US address -- thanks for understanding.}

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Button Buddies (1227374)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Baja Breeze (111352), Calypso Coral (122925), Lucky Limeade (122926), so Saffron (105118) Cardstock

Ink: Baja Breeze (126960), Calypso Coral (126983), Lucky Limeade (126984), so Saffron (126957) Classic Stampin' Pad 

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (117335), 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Stampin' Trimmer (126889)

Embellishments:  Neutral Designer Buttons (119743)

Thanks for stopping by!

The next stop is Amy L. Lazzell at Just a Thought...Cards by Amy, stop number 25 on the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting – and I hope to see you next month!

1. Dawn Tidd at tiddbitsfromdawn
2. Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty -
3. Nicole Picadura at Scraps & Stamps
4. Shannon Hokanson at Paper Works 
5. Debbie Mageed at Scrappin' & Stampin'
6. Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
7. Debbie Crowley at expressivelydeb...
8. Ann Schach at The Stampin' Schach
9. Katy McGloin at Just Fun Stamping
10. Nicole Watt at Impressions By Nicole
11. Kerry Willard Bray at stampgoodness
12. Brian King at Stamp with Brian
13. Maggie Mata at Maggie Made Cards
14. Jennifer Takacs at Stamped in Full 
15. Carmen Sublasky at The Creative Stamptuary
16. Debra Simonis at Deb's Stampin' Grounds
17. Linda Callahan at Stampin' Seasons 
18. Kim Czenszak at LiveLoveStamp
19. Susan Itell at Simple Stampin'
20. Julie Trevett-Smith at The Stampin' Affair
21. Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
22. Ginger Toivonvn at gingerstamps.com
23. Amy Williams at Stampin' on the Range
24. Shannon Jaramillo at ezpeasycards
25. Amy L. Lazzell at Just A Thought...Cards by Amy
26. Penny Nichols at Sierra Stampin!
27. Sherrie Gross at Stampin' Sunshine
28. Peggy Noe at prettypapercards.com 
29. Maxine Conrad at Stamp to the MAX!

Silly Mummy Treat Box

As promised, here is the companion project for my 'Silly Mummy' card because life is scary without chocolate! Wouldn't this make a great classroom treat bag? Or a Halloween party treat bag? It is so versatile and can easily be adapted to any occasion! My treat box is in fact adapted from a version that was introduced to Stampin' Up! demonstrators at a recent regional event.

 To create the box, use 2-7/8" x 6-3/4" cardstock; score horizontally at 2" and 4-3/4"; score vertically at 1/2" and 2-3/8". Crease the score lines using the Bone Folder. Where the score lines meet, create a "V"-shaped notch to facilitate folding and assembly. Die cut two tags in matching cardstock using the Two Tags Bigz Die and adhere them around the assembled box and decorate as desired! I stamped the sentiment and hand cut a banner and then adhered the banner to a toothpick. EZ Peasy!

Be warned though, choose another treat to put in your treat box. Mine is filled with white chocolate candy corn M&M's. They were chosen for their bright colors and I thought that they did not sound appetizing at all...sadly I was proven wrong. They are rediculously yummy and I would not reccomend bringing them into your home!!!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Googly Ghouls (128063), Spooky Bingo Bits (123946)

Paper: Elegant Eggplant (105126), Whisper White (100730) Cardstock; Color Collection 2011-2013 Designer Series Paper Stacks (122384)

Ink: Elegant Eggplant (126969) Classic Stampin' Pads

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Two Tags Bigz Die (115954), Delicate Doiles Sizzlits L (126999), 1-3/4" Circle Punch

Embellishments: Googlies Adhesive Backed Googly Eyes (127539), 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Pumpkin Pie, 1/2" Striped Satin Ribbon, 4" x 6" Cellophane Bag (102757)

Thanks for stopping by!

Thinking Outside the Card

I thought it would be nice to have gift bag to go with my Mother's Day card so I found this cute "Box in a Bag" tutorial here and recreated it in my own colors. I am pleased with how it came out but think it would be even better if I had run the scallop punch along the top edge before I assembled the bag. Oh well, next time! Thanks for stopping by! 

  Here are the gift bag and card together:

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: None

DSP: Twitterpated

Colors: Blushing Bride

Accessories: 3/8" striped grosgrain ribbon in Pink Pirouette (retired), 1/2" Scalloped Dots Ribbon in Marina Mist, Basic Pearls

Tools: Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folder, Fun Flowers Bigz L Die, Big Shot, Round Tab Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1/4" Handheld Circle Punch