Easter Cards with Watercolored Backgrounds and Sister Stamps

For my birthday my husband gave me a Gansai watercolor paint set.  (I guess I did a good job of hinting.)  I decide to just play around with the paints to see the intensity of the pigments and how well the colors blend  Once the watercolor sheets were dry, I noticed that one piece looked like it might be a good background for an Easter card.  Since I already had some Sister Stamp images colored and paper pieced from last year, it was a snap to put together these cards.

I used the fabulous Mama Elephant scalloped and stitched rectangle die set to cut the background and make the card base.  The fussy cut images were attached with foam squares and the sentiments were stamped in gold ink and heat embossed with gold powder.  (The wooden stamps are old G Studio products.) It probably would have been less risky to stamp and emboss the words first before watercoloring or die cutting the rectangle, but as usual I was just winging it.  I did have a back up plan to cover up the words with a banner if I messed up the embossing. (Hahaha!)

I tried adding paper punched grass but it detracted from the images so I used a Copic pen to draw in a few clumps.  (I saw Marie Gamber, Inky Creations doing this on her video.) I am pleased that I found a way to use my watercolor test sheets and actually incorporated some leftover colored images.  I feel very clever and thrifty. Yay me!  Have an egg-stremely egg-citing Easter!

Vintage Easter Egg Card

Whenever I have the chance to go antiquing, I often purchase antique cards and postcards.  I love the weathered look of these paper items and marvel at the details on the pieces.  The Easter paper ephemera usually have wonderful illustrations and delicate paper floral additions.  This card is my attempt to recreate the feeling I get whenever I discover one of the vintage cards.  Like the card on the previous post, I decided on a peek-a-boo format with a Spellbinders embossed front.

To add to the vintage feel, I die cut a smaller egg shape with the Spellbinder die (see previous post) from some Tim Holtz 12x12 card stock ( my stash).  I decided not to add any embellishments to the inside so there would be room for a message. The lighting made one side of the card seem lighter colored but they are from the same card stock and both have a bit of Distress Ink (tea dye) rubbed on.

I used a Spellbinders die (from HM Ben Franklin Crafts) to cut the delicate flowering vines underneath the Petaloo flowers.  The flowers and Darice ribbons were also from BFC.  For the sentiment I used an old (Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers) stamp but there are many Easter sentiment stamps which could be used.  I hand cut and distress dyed the banner.  I am pleased to be able to create a vintage-looking Easter card since the old ones are getting harder to find.  Maybe someday in the distant future someone will find my homemade card with its handwritten sentimental message inside and put it into their collection. That would please me very much.

Peek-a-Boo Bunny Egg Card

As a child, I was thrilled to receive a hollow peek-a-boo sugar egg for Easter.  Do you remember those confections with the candy bunny or chick inside a floral setting? This card is my paper interpretation of that much desired treat (that I only treasured and never ate).  I started by die cutting two of the largest egg from the Spellbinders die set.  Next I cut out a circle (used a Sizzix die from the circle set) from the card front.  I sprayed Elmer's Adhesive on the front and back of the paper eggs and sprinkled them with fine glitter. (Tip: Spray the eggs in a large plastic shopping bag to contain the excess glue.) 

I used the Paper Smooches (Borders 1) die to cut  the grassy printed hills.  The Art Impressions front and back bunny and the other images (Lawn Fawn from HM Ben Franklin Crafts) were stamped, colored with Copic pens and fussy cut before attaching them to the card.  Petaloo flowers and Darice ribbon (also from BFC) were added to embellish the card front.

Making this card helped me to relive some cherished childhood memories.  My family was not rich by any stretch of the imagination, but I never felt poor.  The little luxuries (like sugar Easter eggs) that my parents bestowed on me made me feel very special.  I hope you will always fill your family celebrations with wonder and memories.  That is what life is all about!

Recycled Card Lucky Frog Bag Tag

 When I receive store bought cards, I often save them to recycle into my projects.  The striped base for this tag was the front of a card that had a nice oval cut out with the 'thank you' printed on the inside.  The colors on the recycled card were pond-like and the impressed dots seemed to go with the frog. (Yeah, I know that toads have bumps not frogs.)  I still had my front back Art impression stamps and my Amy Tangerine 'lucky' die on my craft table. Somehow the card and the other supplies just inspired me to make a lucky bag tag for a friend going to Vegas.

 Some of you may know that Japanese feel that the frog is a lucky symbol and often take little frog charms to Las Vegas.  The humorous part of this tag is revealed when you see the back. The 'lucky' frog is the one that gets to see out of the peep hole because he is standing on the other frog. LOL!

Besides the Ai stamp set, I used the Memento 'greenhouse' pen set and a vinyl luggage tag made by Paper Accents which I purchased at HM Ben Franklin Craft store.  I hope that you will do some 'green crafting' and recycle paper products instead of throwing them in the trash.  It's creative fun and good for the planet too!

Lucky Ducky! BFC gift card winner is Niki G!

Yes, it's time to reward one of my faithful blog readers.  I randomly pulled a name from all the comments left on my blog for the month of February and Niki was chosen as the 'Lucky Ducky'!!! She wins a $25 gift card to HM Ben Franklin Crafts and a bunch of other fun prizes. Congrats Niki!

I wanted to make a special gift card holder for Niki and was inspired by the Pebbles printed bag pack and the Amy Tangerine die set. The polka dot bags (also available in pink) are made of a glassine paper which gives them a great feel and translucent look. Both the bags and die set can be purchased from HM Ben Franklin Crafts.

The cute little front and back duck is from an Art impression set which includes the 'lucky ducky' words and the sweetest front and back rabbit (perfect for Easter).

 After cutting the circle window with a die from a Sizzix set, I decided that I wanted to cover the hole with acetate so that I could put some extra large confetti in with the gift card.

The sweet duck image was colored with the 'Camp Fire ' Memento set (from BFC) which had just the right colors for this project.  I like having the blendable colors together and the fine tips which make coloring so easy.

If you want to be the next winner of a $25 BFC gift card all you need to do is leave a comment to one (or all) of my posts and you may be selected.  I randomly chose the winner from all the comments left during a randomly selected month so......the more comments you leave the better chance you have of being our next 'lucky ducky'! Visit here often and leave comments when you can spare the time. Thanks!

Seed Packet Thank You Tag

Here is another project using the Sizzix seed packet die shown in a previous post.  Rather than use it for a gift card or tea bag holder, I decided that the size of the packet made it appropriate for a gift bag tag.

I 'discovered' the rose printed kraft paper in my clearance purchased, 12x12 card stock pile.  I think it makes the perfect base for this garden themed tag.  With the images from the 'green thumb' Paper Smooches clear stamp set, I decorated the front and back of the tag. This set was purchased at HM Ben Franklin Crafts store.

 The inside of the packet is big enough to write a short thank you note and you can also use it to enclose some flower or vegetable seeds.....plant confetti!

The script thanks on the banner is from a Paper Smooches set called, "scripty sayings".  I hope this post gives you another idea of how to re-purpose a basic die. Thanks for visiting this site today. Please come again and leave a comment if you have the time.....I love them!

Enchanted Garden Tea Bag Holder

Yes I am still obsessed with the Bo Bunny Enchanted Garden line of paper crafting products.  After making my gift card holders (see last post), I still wanted to make something else.  As a big tea drinker and after seeing a project on the Little Paper Studio blog, I decided I would make a holder for a gift.

I started with a strip of card stock 4-1/4" x 12" long. The pretty design on this sheet required very little embellishment because it already had a pleasing collage look. Using the Sizzix die (see bottom photo) I cut off one end by only running the edge through the machine.  I also punched a hole for the ribbon and added a Bo Bunny brad and K&Co. butterfly sticker.

An accordion pleated strip of paper was added into the seam of the booklet and three 'seed packets' (see previous post for die) were taped in.

I love the fairy die cuts which came in the Bo Bunny pack so I added one and stamped a saying about tea (Hero Arts).

 Other packets were decorated simply with more die cuts.

As you can see the packets are the right size for tea bag envelopes but could also be used to give seeds to a gardener.

This top view give a better look at the accordion part of the holder.

 You could get more fancy with this project and add more embellishments.  Perhaps I'll add some stamped images of teapots and cups.  For now I like the pretty lavender print paper just the way it is....less is more....right?

Enchanted Garden Gift Card Holders

It was "love at first sight" when I spied the Bo Bunny Enchanted Garden 12x12 card stock papers at HM Ben Franklin Crafts.  I got a bunch of them and some matching embellishments too.  Once I got home I wondered what I would do with so many pretty supplies.  After looking at possible dies, I 'discovered' a Sizzix seed packet die. It seemed to be the perfect die to make gift card holders from the garden print card stock.

It was simple work to decorate the holders with ribbon/twine, Bo Bunny die cut images plus Little B/K and Co. stickers and other embellishments.

I even used the edge of the 12x12 that had the words ' Enchanted Garden" to make a tag.

The little brads were so beautiful but I wanted to use one without the prongs so I simply cut them off and stuck the brad head onto the banner with a foam dot.

There are lots of supplies which coordinate with this line products from Bo Bunny including a 6x6 printed pad just right for cards.  I think you should check out these beautiful paper products at BFC and I'm sure you'll be just as 'enchanted' with them as I am.

Window Cats Thank You Card

Recently, my son treated me to a lovely birthday dinner while we were in Tucson.  When we approached his house, his two cats were watching us from the 2nd story windows.  It was such a cute scene that I knew I had to recreate the image on my thank you card to him.

For a change I decided to make a card totally from dies and one that required no coloring or embellishments (aka 'super easy').  I started by making the card base (3-1/2"x 4-3/4") from some leftover Crate Paper Valentine card stock, cutting off a small 1/4" strip from the right side (to expose the pretty other side of the card stock).

Next I die cut the Sizzix window, cats and 'thanks'....all from scraps....love using up little bits.  I backed the window with some printed scrap paper and then glued on the 'thanks' and cats. Finally, I simply taped down the whole window unit.

This card was so simple that I decided to make a matching envelope using some cat printed tape (not washi) from Celebrations (next to the Mapunapuna BFC).  At first I was going to use the Taylored Expressions cat die but since my son has two cats I decided to go with the smaller cats from the 'io' set.  HM Ben Franklin Crafts has lots of really great Sizzix dies for windows, gates, etc. which make great backdrops for other die cuts and embellishments. Go check them out today!

Here is a 'not too clear' photo from my iphone of my son's cats in the window.  Cute yeah?

Girl's Day Post It Pad Holder

Since I don't have any daughters, I don't usually go overboard with GD creations.  This year I decided to make something for myself to celebrate the day and since I use a ton of Post It pads(bad old lady memory) making a pretty holder seemed perfect.  This year I didn't find a Girl's Day stamp so I went back to an old favorite set from Dandelion Designs. The Sizzix die for this project came from the clearance box at the Hilo Ben Franklin Craft store.....only $5 during the half off red tag sale..what a deal!

I used textured cherry blossom paper (outside) and smooth Asian design paper (inside) from Celebrations. Spray the chipboard with Elmer's Adhesive to adhere the paper before cutting with the die.

This is another version with textured paper inside and out.  The DD kimono clad girls were stamped and colored then cut out and glazed with Crystal Accents. After the images were completely dry they were glued to the front flap of the holder. I also added a calendar inside...'cuz I had a 'few' extra ones around...hahaha! The holder is held closed with Darice velcro dots....so useful and inexpensive for many projects.

It would have been nice if I had  two Post It pads that fit in the space of the holder but I opted to fill the empty spot with cherry blossoms...clever huh? For some reason this die was about a 1/4" longer than a 12x12 chipboard sheet so I had to cut off the last fold at the bottom but I don't think it detracted from the project.  This die was designed for notecards ....what? Did they mean the kind for studying or the thank you card kind...but they would fall out???? I had fun finding another use for it.  Hope you'll go to your nearest HM Ben Franklin Crafts to shop for craft supplies and don't forget to check out the clearance box.....lots of goodies in there if you think creatively!