Sugar and Spice

Today’s card started out as an Easter card but ended up as a baby card.  I had actually planned to use this on my Easter Lunch Bag Card, but after flocking the little bunny and the background stripes it just screamed out “BABY”, so I set it aside and started over.  While cleaning my table later, I found the two pieces under some papers and just had to finish it.

The striped background was created with strips of 1/8” Double Sided" Tear-ific" Tape covered with Sparkling Sea and Sun Dazzle Sparkle N Soft.  This is added to a square white card covered with a super adhesive sheet and the edges punched.  The remaining exposed adhesive was covered with Pink Spirit Sparkle N Soft.

The adorable little bunny is from the SNS Bunnies & Bows set.  I covered a piece of cardstock with 2 1/2" Double Sided "Tear-ific Tape" and Pink Spirit Sparkle N Soft.  I stamped the image directly on the Sparkle N Soft, added some shading with my alcohol markers, and cut it out.  This is popped up on the card front after adding the sweet sentiment from SNS’ Daddy’s Princess set.

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Anything Goes

Stampin For The Weekend Challenge 33 – Die Cuts and/or Punches

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C183 – Baby

MAWTT Challenge 177 – Baby

Oldie But Goodie Challenge – Make It Girly (used old Martha Stewart Modern Garland Punch)

Stamp and Create April Challenge: Use at least 1 die cut challenge (Spellbinders’ Classic Ovals Lg) 
Stamp With Fun Challenge #209 - Baby 

Silhouettes and Sunsets

Sparkle N Sprinkle has a new set called Silhouettes that just begs to be stamped on a sunset – so I did!! Twice!!

I created the background for these cards using the Sponging Color with Inks technique in SNS’ Tips and Techniques.  I added color around a die cut post-it and then removed it.  After adding a little more yellow to the remaining circle, I stamped the image in black. 

For the first card, I cut out the image from the center of the card, added layers, and added it back to the center of the outer frame.  I wrapped it with ribbon, added a sentiment, and layered it on a purple card base.

The second card is similar, but I added a resist shadow affect by stamping the image with VersaMark ink on the card before adding the background ink.  Then I simply stamped the image again in black, slightly offset.  I also used the flower only image to stamp around the edge of the background purple layer.

You can find more details about these cards in today’s post on the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog and the complete instructions for these cards in my SNS gallery here and here

Happy almost May!!

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge:  Color

CI Paint Inspired By: Anything Goes

Sweet Stampin’ Challenge – Anything but Birthday

Hello To You

After completing the card from my last post, I had a sudden inspiration for another card using the same sketch.  The Impression Obsession Blog has a new challenge - Flowers For You so I decided to use the IO stamp, Flower Wheelbarrow (D1312).

I stamped it in dark brown and colored it with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, cut it out with Spellbinders’ Oval Die, and layered it on a brown oval die cut.

For the card I used Basic Grey’s Fiction papers for the background and for the strips.  Here’s the fun part of this card – the strips are actually on a flap that opens up to reveal a sentiment, It's Just Me (C3760) from Impression Obsession.

 Thanks for visiting!!

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Impression Obsession Challenge - Flowers For You

Basic Grey Challenge 91 – Clean and Simple (Fiction)

Spectrum Noir March/April 2013 Challenge – Spring

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Monthly Challenge #35 – April Favorite Color Combo

CI Paint Inspired By: Spring Colors

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #216 (FTTC216) - Frame It

One Stop Crafts Color Challenge 224 - Pastels

Sweet Stampin’ Challenge – Pastels

Sketch Saturday Challenge Week #254 – Sketch   

April Showers With House Mouse

My favorite scrapbook store, Scrapbook Creations, held a fundraiser for the March Of Dimes on Saturday so several of us went to give our support.  It was a fun day of stamping with friends and door prizes.  I was actually able to get a good start on several projects.

House Mouse & Friends have a “Springtime” challenge this week and nothing says spring more than showers and flowers.  I colored this sweet little guy with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, cut it out with a Spellbinders’ circle die, and layered it on a Spellbinders’ Blossoms 3 die cut.

The background is created with a Darice Crackle embossing folder, which I lightly sanded.  I used a combination of an EK Success Garden Flower Chain Large Edger Punch, Cheery Lynn’s Miniature Rose, and yellow polka dot Shine On Basic Gray paper for the three floral strips in the background.

I used the following sketch from the Sketch Saturday challenge.

  

Well, we are definitely having April showers (along with lots of thunder) so I better finish up.  I’ll be back soon.

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Basic Grey Challenge 91 – Clean and Simple (Shine On Paper)

Crafter’s Companion April Challenge – Flowers (Darice Crackle Embossing Folder)

Spectrum Noir March/April 2013 Challenge – Spring

HM&F Challenge #HMFMC142 – Springtime

Allsorts Challenge Week 202 – Letter of Your Name (Marie/M for Mouse)

Craft Your Passion Challenge 158 – Adorable Animals

Delightful Sketches Weekly Challenge ~  Round Up

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Fur Or Feathers

Crafty Calendar April Challenge - "Sunshine and Showers"

Sweet Stampin’ Challenge – Pastels 
Sketch Saturday Challenge Week #254 – Sketch

Card and Notepad Tutorial

Remember this fun project?  I promised a tutorial on making the holder so here it is.  This is such a simple project and makes an amazing gift.

Here are the supplies you need:

12” x 12” Cardstock

Coordinating Cardstock for Trim (optional)

1 ½” x 5 ½” Cardboard

Brad/Embellishment for Top

Scoring Tool

Border Punch/Die (optional)

Hole Punch (optional)

The easiest way to create this cute holder is to use a piece of double sided cardstock and score using this template.  

 

I usually score the two shorter lines first and pre-fold to the inside.   

This way I can line up one side and easily score the remaining two lines 1 ½” apart and fold these to the outside. 

 

Then you will want to re-open and adhere the cardboard strip in the center between the score marks. 

If you want to add a border, adhere it on the inside along the edges of the two triangles.   

Now you can fold in both sides and then fold the opposite sides to the outside.

You will want to adhere the top corners together.  You can simply tape them together or you can punch a hole through both and use a brad to add an embellishment.   On this holder I taped the top together and added a flower on each side.

Now all you have to do is make a set of 5 ½” x 4 ¼” coordinating cards and decorate a small notepad to tuck in on both sides.  It is also fun to decorate a pen and tuck it in next to the notepad or attach it to the bottom section between the two sides.

For the notepad holder I shared in the blog hop, I used a solid green piece of cardstock for the holder base.  Then I used coordinating decorative paper to cover the triangular sections on both sides.  For the top I used Double Sided "Tear-ific Tape" to adhere the two top corners together and added my strawberry image on both sides.

This makes a great gift and you can use it to tuck other things in the sides besides cards and a notepad.  Try using a winter theme and tucking in hot chocolate packages (you can even decorate the packages).   

How about making a mini holder and tucking in tea bags?

Here is my version with a tea bag – I couldn’t resist trying this with a 7” square of cardstock.  The tea cup and sentiments are from Sparkle N Sprinkle's Zendoodle Tea set.

Have fun!!

E. Marie

This Tea Bag Holder is entered in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts April Challenge #35 – Favorite Color Challenge (I love soft blues and pinks)

Charisma Cardz Challenge #14 – Tags

Crafty Creations Challenge #217 -- No Squares

FlourishesTimeless Tuesday #215 (FTTC215) – Around The House (Tea Bag)

One Stop Craft Color Challenge #224 - Pastels

The Pink Elephant Challenge TPE194 – "Use SPRING Colors"

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #150:  Tag You’re It (plus a sentiment)

Stamp and Create April Challenge:  Use at least 1 die cut