Watercolor Rose

Today at craft group we had a woman come to teach us 3 different cards.  For this card, we learned how to use reinkers to create a "watercolor" effect which was used on the rose. First we stamped the rose in white and heat embossed it. Next we used 3 different colors of reinkers and blended them with an aqua pen. I was really amazed at how easy this was to do and how impressive it turned out!  Most of the items used to cut out the flower, leaves and shapes are from Stampin' Up.

Basket of Birthday Wishes

This is an "easel card" and it seems to be popping up all over craft blogs, so I thought I'd try it.  The basket  stamp, sentiment stamp and papers are from PTI.  The stamp is colored with Copics (of course!) and cut out with a nestability die (Inverted Square Scallop); the border was made with a Martha Stewart punch.  Here's the front view:

And the side view:

First Easter

A friend asked me to make her a card for her granddaughter's first Easter.  The basket is a Sizzix die, I used Sizzlets to cut out the rabbit, bow tie and eggs.  The grass was made with a Martha Stewart punch and the paper is cardstock/patterned from PTI.

Notepads

I bought notepads from PTI a while ago so thought I would make some Easter (saw them on Michelle Wooderson's blog) and Spring notepads.  I used kraft paper for the base and then added paper decorations, buttons and flowers. Won't these look cute in someone's Easter basket?

Easter Baskets & Boxes

I have been making things other than cards!  Here are some little baskets filled with Dove chocolates:

And little boxes filled with Hershey kisses:

Spring Is In the Air!

Today is the first day of Spring and after our long, snowy winter it seems hard to believe warm weather is finally here!  I chose another one of my green and purple combos for this card because the colors seem very soft and Spring-like to me.  I used some open stock paper I bought at Joann's a while ago, added an embossed Cuttlebug butterfly, ribbon and jewels (down the center of the butterfly).  The sentiment "Spring is in the air" and swirly things are Studio G $1 stamps!

Hawaiian Shores Birthday

I just received my March PTI order and this is their new cardstock and patterned paper called "Hawaiian Shores".  The paper is much prettier in person than in the photo....it is a gorgeous, bluish green color (which reminds me of the Caribbean)!  It's an absolute must have!  For this birthday card, I used the new papers and teamed it with a bit of PTI "New Leaf" paper.  I cut the circles out with nestabilities, added a couple of photo corners, ribbon and a button.

Easter Egg Grass

Yesterday at my craft group the ladies were making Easter cards using Martha Stewart's grass border punch and the PTI egg die.  I couldn't wait to make my own!  I ran my base cardstock through the Cuttlebug using the "birds & swirls" embossing folder.  I added 3 layers of green grass and my die cut eggs, putting a few extras on 2 of the eggs.  I added the "Happy Easter" sentiment, a butterfly and some polka dot ribbon. 

Rejoice

When I was in Michael's the other day I saw this stamp set and thought it might be nice to make a religious card for Easter.  The set is "Spiritual Sketches" by Inkadinkadoo and could be used for other occasions as well.  I used Copics to color the cross, cut it out using oval nestabilities, and then placed it on top of a fleur de lis nestability.....which I think really makes an impression!  I added a bit of glitter on top of the lilies, a few pearls and some ribbon.

Burn The Candle

Here's another Dolly Mama stamp called "Burn The Candle" (colored with Copics).  I'll use this as a birthday card; I'm sure we can all relate to this as we get older!  I used Papertrey Orange Zest and Summer Sunrise cardstocks and Orange Zest buttons and ribbon.  I set the stamp off to the side just for a little change and then added an orange flower to balance out the card.

ETA -- This card didn't look "right" to me so I added another flower and button.  I think it looks more balanced now.

Double Pocket Card

This card is called a "double pocket card" (I found the instructions on Splitcoaststampers) and could be used for any type of occasion.  It's one piece of folded, double-sided paper and then you add the "tags" with your sentiments.  The stamp on the front is "Cupcake Fluffles" cut out with Nestabilities 4.  You can see I used another one of my favorite color combos - blue and chocolate.  Happy Birthday Denis!

And the inside of the card:

Easter Pocket Sleeve

Many years ago I bought Anna Griffin templates from QVC and never used them.  As I was looking through some things the other day, I found them and thought I really should make something with them and picked the "pocket sleeve".  This was really easy to make and I used this beautiful and sparkly Easter paper a friend sent me.  The sentiment is a Studio G $1 stamp.  This is what the front of the card looks like:

And here's the inside "sleeve":

Happy Birthday Violets

Today is my friend Debbie's birthday and I wanted to give her a spring-like card. (Can you tell I can't wait for Spring?)  This is from the Year of  Flowers:  Violets stamp set from PTI, and similar to the Easter Violets card I made, but uses the smaller flowers and leaves from the set.  Again, the flowers are colored with Copics, I added glitter on the outer edges of the lighter part of the flower, some pearls and ribbon.  Hope you have a fabulous birthday Deb!

Basket of Flowers

This card really shouts Spring....the weather has been in the 60's here the past few days so Spring must really be on it's way!

The basket is cut from a Sizzix die (I inked around the basket edges and lines with brown) and the corners are punched with Fiskars.  The flowers are Prima "Got Flowers", I added a crystal in the middle of each one, and no basket would be complete without a bow!  Normally I would put the basket on 3d foamies, but this card is being sent out of the country and I didn't know what postal "concerns" that might cause.  (hehe) 

Easter Eggs

This is another card totally made from PTI products.  I used kraft paper that I stamped some polka dots onto and then attached some new patterned spring paper.  The eggs are cut out using their new egg die; I tied a bit of ribbon around the card, added a few purple jewels and stamped the Happy Easter sentiment.

Package Birthday Card

Today I'm taking a slight break from Easter cards.  This is another card idea I found in the March 2007 issue of CardMaker magazine.  This was really easy to do, just take a piece of double sided paper, cut to a package shape (I used the template from the magazine) and fold it in half.  Tie some ribbon around the front of the card like you would on a package and add your sentiment. Easy!

Bunny, Bunny, Bunny

The bunny is another image from PTI's Take Three: Spring stamp set.  I stamped all three different bunnies and added a mini pompom on the middle one for a cottontail.  The scalloped edge is a Martha Stewart border punch; the pretty patterned paper and purple cardstock base are also PTI.

Easter Patchwork Egg

I saw this card in the March 2010 issue of CardMaker magazine and just knew I had to make one.  The egg is 5 pieces that are cut out (some I embossed) and adhered to the white paper behind it.  Next I paper pierced the entire egg to make it look like stitching.  I put the layers together, added a few dew drops and some ribbon.  This was fun and easy to make and used up some scraps I had on hand.

Easter Violets

I can't wait to see Spring flowers - it's such a pretty time of year!  This is the new PTI stamp set called "Year of Flowers: Violet"; the cardstock and patterned paper is also from PTI.  I had a lot of fun coloring this with my Copics and can see me making this again with colors other than purple.  There is a little bit of glitter on the outer edges of the flower and pearls in the middle. 

Easter Surprise

Today is a nice Spring-like day which put me in the mood to make something with pastel colors.  Since Easter is not too far away, it's time to get started on some cards for the holiday.  This is "Easter Surprise" from House Mouse and there's Monica (colored with Copics) again looking all content in her cracked egg.

Happy, Happy Birthday

I'm still thinking Spring and wanted to make something with flowers and butterflies, but couldn't find any of that paper in my inventory.  So I decided to make my own and I pulled out my "Spiral Bouquet" stamp set from PTI.  I took cream cardstock and stamped the vines, flowers and butterflies and then edged around the card with a light beige color. 

The die cut and sentiment is from the new "Fillable Frames #1" from PTI.  The strip behind the happy birthday was made by my new Martha Stewart "Pinking Scallop" edge punch.  I added a few pearls and the card is done!

It's Your Birthday!!!

I noticed the last 3 cards I made were with blue cardstock, so I thought it was time for something completely different.  How about black, silver and a touch of pink for a change? 

This stamp is House Mouse's "Jumping for Joy" and she certainly is excited it's your birthday!  Monica is colored with Copics and cut out with Labels Nine nestabilities.  The pink polka dot ribbon and the pink background for the sentiment help bring out her pink ears and cheeks.