Apothecary Art and Peaceful Petals

The first card has a faux patina background. I've done this before, but this time I really wanted to try to get the lighter look that Michelle Reynolds did on a recent card. I got a little carried away with the sponging, next time I'll leave more white. Look at Michelle's here.

Project Details
Stamps	Apothecary Art
Card Stock & Papers	Marina Mist, Always Artichoke, Brushed Gold, Whisper White
Ink	Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Ultimate Metallic Gold
Accessories	Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools	Labels Framelits, Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folder, Copic Alcohol ink markersMarkers

Project Details
Stamps	Hardwood, Peaceful Petals
Card Stock & Papers	Whisper White, Primrose Petals, Smoky Slate
Ink	Primrose Petals, Smoky Slate
Accessories	Stampin Dimensionals
Tools	Banners Framelits, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Copic markers

Happy Watercolor and Pleasant Poppies

I just LOVE flowers! Don't you? I love this part of the country, because it feels like flower central to me, especially this time of year. I can not get enough of these two stamp sets. they are so versatile.

Project Details
Stamps	Pleasant Poppies
Card Stock & Papers	Real Red Basic Black Whisper White
Ink	Black Stazon, Wild Wasabi, Real Red
Accessories	Black Chevron Ribbon
Tools	Blender Pen, Circle Framelit, Window Framelit

Project Details
Stamps	Happy Watercolor, From My Heart
Card Stock & Papers	Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black, Crushed Curry
Ink	Black, Crisp Cantaloupe, Crushed Curry
Accessories	Basic Black Chevron Ribbon
Tools	Chalk Talk Framelits, Scalloped Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder

Happy Watercolor By The Tide

Sounds like I've been painting at the beach huh? Although that does sound heavenly, I've been here at home this week creating away, catching up on housework and grousing about the high pollen count and how it wreaks havoc with my respiratory system. It's the price you pay for living in this area, paradise though it is:)
Oh, good news on the rodent front. Well, good news for me, not for the mouse. He no longer resides in my pretty little SUV. RIP Mickey.

Project Details
Stamps	By The Tide, Gorgeous Grunge
Card Stock & Papers	Midnight Muse, Island Indigo, Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Ink	Old Olive, Night of Navy, Island Indigo, Marina Mist
Accessories	Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Tools	Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Chalk Talk Framelits, ¾” Circle Punch,  Sponge Daubers

 

Colored With Copic Markers

Project Details
Stamps	Happy Watercolor
Card Stock & Papers	Whisper White
Ink	Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories	Glimmer Brad
Tools	Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

Colored With Copic Markers

Project Details
Stamps	Happy Watercolor, Gorgeous Grunge
Card Stock & Papers	Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White
Ink	Soft Sky, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories	Strawberry Slush Ruffled Ribbon
Tools	Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

Who Needs Stienbeck?

Of Mice and Men Woman

Dear Universe,
Please tell all the mice that live on our property that my car is not the place they should be. It is a pristinely clean car. There is no food in there for them, not even crumbs. They couldn't even use dust, because it is vacuumed so often dust never has a chance to light. There is nothing for them to tear up for a nest. The only things in this car are an umbrella and a CD case. Food? There is a whole 20 acres for them to forage on, with plenty of corn in the woods that I'm sure the deer and raccoons wouldn't mind sharing. There's plenty of bird seed in the bird area in front of the house. Indoor space? Yep, we've got that too. There is perfectly nice shed which boasts a warm cozy interior with a couple bags of bird seed and corn inside. If they prefer more upscale living, I'd suggest the shop. It is spacious, with high ceilings, climate control, food and paper towel for nesting. It's a virtual paradise for mice.

My car, dear mice, is not a safe place for you. Two of your brethren have met their demise in my car. You see, call me prejudice, but I simply do not want your kind in my car. Therefore it is up to Mr. Wonderful to dispose of any of you who make their way into my vehicle.  Mr. Wonderful is extremely adept at setting mice traps, and not the humane ones either. These are neck breakers. He doesn't fool around when something upsets his wife. He has one in there now jaws wide open, with mouth-watering peanut butter inside. It's just waiting for some poor unsuspecting mouse to try and steal a bite.

Seriously, why would they want to abide in a mobile home which is a known death trap, when they could lively happily in a shop?

Hardwood, Gotta Love It!

The more I use this stamp, the more I love if! At first I thought of horses and then flowers against a barn wall... And it keeps evolving!

Project Details
Stamps	Hardwood
Card Stock & Papers	Very Vanilla, Smoky Slate, Pear Pizzazz, Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo
Ink	Basic Gray
Accessories	Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools	Pansy, Petite Petals,  Boho Blossoms, Itty Bitty Shapes Pack, Bird Builder Punches

Project Details
Stamps	Hardwood
Card Stock & Papers	Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry
Ink	Soft Suede
Accessories	Pearls Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools	Pansy, Boho Blossoms, Itty Bitty Shapes Pack, Bird Builder Punches

This is how I gave the flowers some dimension. This is a pad from the old paper piercing pack. I have the larger mat that we sell now, but this little one is so convenient for things like this. You could use a piece of fun foam as well. For this size flower, I needed a larger surface than an embossing tool, so I used the rounded end of a pen. I placed it in the center of the smaller flowers and twisted a bit, while pushing in. For the larger flower, I did the same thing in the center, and in each of the petals too.

Design from Patti Bennett

Project Details
Stamps	Trust God, Petite Petals, Papillion Potpourri, Hardwood
Card Stock & Papers	Crumb Cake: fence Cajun Craze: flower pot 2 x 5/8 angle  sides w/scissors top rim of pot 2 ½ x 1 ½ Old Olive for leaves
Ink	Soft Suede, Night of Navy, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Elegant Eggplant, Rich Razzleberry, Raspberry Ripple
Accessories	Sponge Dauber, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Stampin Dimensionals, Glimmer Brad
Tools	Petite Petals Punch, Bird Builder Punch

 

Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

You know this Tag Topper Punch is the coolest thing!! I was going to use this in Card Ministry, but now I'm thinking that having to untie the bow would be a bit problematic for the Church's use.

Project Details
Stamps	Flowering Flourishes, Trust God
Card Stock & Papers	Pistachio Pudding 8 ½ x 5 ½  card base Midnight Muse 5 ¼ x 2 ¼ base layer Venetian Romance 5 x 2 DSP layer Very Vanilla 1 ½ x 4 ½ stamped layer Venetian Romance inside background (didn't intend for the left side to have DSP - I had to cover up an ink smudge!)
Ink	Pistachio Pudding, Midnight Muse
Accessories	Midnight Muse Satin Stitched Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Tools	Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

This card design was done by Josee Smuck, a Stampin' Up! Demo from Canada. I loved it sooo much, I just had to copy it. So now, I'm thinking this card shape would be cool with other stamps and colors....

Project Details
Stamps	Petite Petals, Blooming With Kindness, Gorgeous Grunge
Card Stock & Papers	Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White
Ink	Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush
Accessories	Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, White Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools	Petite Petals Punch, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

Envelope Punch Board - Basket

I thought this basket was such a great thing to make for spring and I wanted to do something else with it. I saw this flower basket that Pip Todman, a demo fron the UK, filled with flowers made from the Spiral Flower Die. I just used the basket we made in class. I filled it with green tissue paper and glued the flowers on the paper. Here is a picture of the basket Pip made. Below is my version.

You thought I was done? Nooooo  I made this butterfly chain to hang in my craft room. You punch out five butterflies of each color. Fold all five in half and glue them together back to back. Just before gluing the last side, insert the ribbon in the middle.

Those are two Dahlias hot glued together.

Aren't these the cutest things?

You can order a box of the dalhias here.
Now I want to make one with green ribbon and flowers. I thought about using the Pansy punch, but then one of the ladies in class, said those flowers made with the spiral flower die would be pretty.

Stamp Your Art Out! Envelope Punch Board Basket

We had such fun at class today! The NICEST bunch of ladies to spend a morning with and I just love meeting new people:)  I told them I'd have this tutorial put up today. I thought since I had it in Word that it would be quick and easy to put on my blog. Uh, that would be a big NO!  Ha Ha took me a little while longer than I thought. I had to stop and fix dinner for my husband. Silly man thought he had to eat! lol

This envelope punch board is a pretty cool little tool for only 19.95. Not only can you make envelopes, but boxes and baskets too! You can order one online at my store here. The basket design belongs to Caroline Hallett from the United Kingdom.

Project Details
Stamps	Postage Due
Card Stock & Papers	Crumb Cake: ·     card base 5 ½ x 8 ¼ - score at 4 ¼ ·     layer under collage stamp 4 ¼ x 3 ¾ Very Vanilla: ·     postage stamps 1 ¾ x 3 ·     collage stamp 4 x 3 ½ ·     embossed layer 4 x 5 ¼
Ink	Stamp in Soft Suede, sponge with Crumb Cake
Accessories	Soft Suede Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Tools	Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, Postage Stamp Punch, 1" Square Punch,  Sponge Dauber

Envelope Punch Board Easter Basket

1.   Cut a piece of cardstock 8” x 8” and another at 1” x 8 ½” for the handle.

2.   Line up at 2 inches, punch and score as far as you can on the board, rotate and repeat on the three other sides.

3.  Flip the cardstock over, line it up at 2 inches again and punch and score, rotate and repeat on the three other sides.

4.  Place the punched notch on the right side and line up the pointer to the score line and the punched notch on the right side with the score mark on the board. Score only, don’t punch. Rotate and repeat on the three other sides.

  5.  Cut two slits on the top and bottom of the center square as shown in the photo below. Be sure to cut away a sliver of cardstock so that you basket will fold and form neatly. You do this by cutting the slit on each side of the score line.

6.  Fold all the score lines and sharpen the folds with a bone folder.  
 
7.  Cross the triangles over until you get a basket shape. If you look at the bottom, you can see I’ve formed a triangle.

8.  You can just fold the flaps down and crease with your fingers before gluing.

   9.  Glue handle, and the two triangle corners.

Bunny Punch Art

Whisper White Cardstock:

Ornament Punch for the head
(2) Extra Large Oval punch for the ears

(2) Small Oval Punch ¾ " x ¹⁵/₁₆" for the cheeks

(2) Small Oval Punch ¾ " x ^15/₁₆" for the arms

(2) Large Oval Punch for the feet (cut to square off insides)
(2) Bird Builder Punch wings for the eyes
Owl Punch for the body

Pink Pirouette:

(2) Large Oval Punch for the inner ear

Itty Bitty Punch Pack (use the circle for the nose)

Teardrop Punch for tongue

Basic Black:

Standard hole punch for the iris

• When positioning the cheeks, put them on a slanting "V" position, like a smile.
• Cut off the owl’s ears and feet. Cut the other piece in the opposite direction, so your bunny won’t have 2 left feet.
• Highlight your bunny with black and white gel pens. Your punch art will look more dimensional.
• Sponge white cheeks and Pink Pirouette inner ears, and nose with Pink Pirouette or Blushing Bride.
• TIP: Use your ¾ x ¹⁵/₁₆ oval to make an egg for your bunny to hold. Use Dazzling Diamonds to glitter the eggs.