Happy Spring

I am so glad Spring is here.  Even though this winter seemed to fly by and wasn't that bad, I am still loving the bit longer days, warmer and sunnier weather where you can get out and walk around.  I couldn't think of a better Spring card than this one using my new favorite stamp company's - There She Goes - stamp set called "Tweeterpated". 

This is a perfect set for paper piecing which is what I did here using current and retired DP from Stampin' Up.  I thought the combination of these papers were perfect and interesting together even though they weren't released together.  The image panel was cut out using Spellbinders large scallop oval dies. I also thought the Tangerine and Saffron cardstock were perky together - just how I'm feeling these first days of Spring!

I used Stampin' Up's new scallop edge punch which I just love.  This was my first crack (pun intended) at using this punch with the matching corner punch and having it turn out decent.  I learned some tricks from following a video tutorial on creating perfect scallop edge rectangles by Julie Buhler on her blog Paper Pleasing Ideas.  This is a really helpful tutorial - thanks Julie!

Here's wishing you a Happy Spring and thanks for stopping by.

Easter Blessings

Just a quick post today with two of my favorite Easter cards that I made for my family.  The first one uses this wonderful rabbit image that I got nearly a year ago from a stamp show.  It's from Stacy Stamps and was new to their line last summer.  I colored the image using my Prismacolor pencils and gamsol to blend them.  I paired this with the beautiful DP called Old Fashioned Eggs from Karen Foster papers. 

The rabbit image was mounted on the vanilla cardstock that was cut out using the Top Note die from Stampin' Up that I first stamped with a script stamp and then distressed using Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Tea Dye and Antique Linen.  I also used a bit of Regal Rose in the distressing to pick up the subtle pink tones in the DP.  The background and accent cardstock is SU True Thyme.  SU and EK Success punches were used on the Thyme bands that run across the card and the greeting panel.  Papertrey Ink Melon Berry ribbon and buttons were also used.


The second Easter card uses the adorable "Chocolate Bunny" stamp from Stampin' Up.  I made this card for my niece Olivia who is a choco-holic to the max.  I knew she'd get a kick out of the stamp - she's a little stamper herself and of course I endorse and promote that with stamps, inkpads and cardstock as gifts to her.

The chocolate bunny was stamped in Chocolate on Close to Cocoa cardstock and distressed a little with Caramel and Cocoa ink (which is hard to see in this photo).  It was mounted onto paper where I had stamped the grass from SU "Inspired by Nature" in Celery and Mellow Moss.  The rest of the background was lightly sponged with Bashful Blue.  The eggs were cut from an older DP from It Takes Two.  I framed the image using Spellbinders Classic Frame die cut from Basic Grey's Green at Heart paper.  The other cardstock used is Celery, embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder and PTI's Plum Pudding cardstock.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter and I thank you for stopping by my blog.

Backwoods Birthday

Well to start off I've been surfing lots of blogs lately, looking at card photos and layout styles in an effort to improve the interest of the photos I take for my blog.  There is a fabulous tutorial of sorts on photo taking at Becky Oehlers blog that I ran across and learned a few things there.  At least it got me thinking about spicing up my card photos - not sure my new photos here are the best example but at least it's a wholehearted try!  One thing she mentioned was that she touched up every photo she used for her blog.  So that's what I tried with this card photo - not just composition but retouching to max the quality of the image.  Let me know what you think.

Now about the card... This is a High Hopes Stamps image that I colored using my copic markers.  I used the Cosmo Cricket DP "Want S'More?" again.  I thought it was perfect for this back-woodsy image.  I used Stampin' Up paper in Soft Suede, Ruby Red and Mustard which match pretty perfectly with the DP.  A bit of distressing on all the edges and the addition of a few buttons (buttons perk up everything) seems to make the card work for me -- and I hope my coworker who is going to get this for his birthday!  He's sort of the outdoorsy type and should like it just fine.

I'd also like to call your attention to my new photo watermark design.  I ordered this online for $2 at Karen Giron's beautiful blogsite (The Sweetest Thing...).  She has a great selection -- different designs and colors available.  She creates them and emails them to you and I have to tell you she is very quick at processing your order and getting them off.  They are really cute designs and easy to order off her site through Paypal.  She even provides great step-by-step instruction on how to import the image with your photo imaging software.  It was easy peasy to do and I love my new design.  I'll tell you it's a lot faster than typing it in every time - that's my favorite part of it!  You can access the Watermark post on her site by clicking here.  I also have a link in my right side bar to that post. 

Thanks so much for visiting me today.  Please take a few minutes to check out the links to my other creations and to the other blog links where those talented women will inspire you as much as they do me.