Daffodils for Easter

Isn't this an adorable little Easter set?!  

   I love daffodils this time of year.  It's one of the first signs of the changing of the season.  Warmer weather is just around the corner.  AND, daffodils are long lasting in a beautiful bouquet on the early spring table. 

   For the card: I used the Daffodil Daydream stamp set and VersaMark ink to give the Granny Apple Green layer some 'POP' and topped it off with a layer of Basic Black and a Stitched Rectangle Die cut in Basic White.  I stamped the single daffodil in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored it with Daffodil Delight, Pale Papaya, and Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends.  A white Crinkled Seam Binding ribbon bow and Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels finish off the card.

   The cute little pouch is simply made with a Basic White Medium Envelope and edged with the Scalloped Contours Die.  I used the Daffodil Daydream stamp set and the Daffodil Die cut daffodil in Daffodil Delight and Garden Green to decorate the pouch. The vibrant Parakeet Party Classic ink was used to stamp that gorgeous filigree strip at the bottom.  The butterflies were stamped in Tuxedo Black Memento and colored in using Balmy Blue and Basic Black Stampin' Blends. The tag was punched using the Lovely Labels Pick-a-punch and I tied on White Baker's Twine from the Baker's Twine Essentials pack.  Some Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels and a thick baker's twine for the handle finish off the pouch.

     

  Wanna know how this envelope was made? You can look it up online or you can join in my Monthly Stamp Club. This entire project is just the sort of thing I teach in my club. You can check out the details HERE.  If interested, give it a try.  Be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletter to get all the lastest Stampin' Up!® promotion news, club info, and my events schedule.

Easter

     I seem to have gotten stuck in trying all sorts of different colors with this layout/resist technique.  It really is a nice layout and a lovely technique…so, I guess it is okay.  I won’t bore you with the details today.  I’ll just let you know that, for the panel, I used Crumb Cake and Wisteria Wonder for the flowers and sponged over with Daffodil Delight.  Pretty Easter colors (I have a dress these exact same colors too).  The sentiment is from the Wacky Wishes hostess set. 

     Remember, Easter is next Sunday!  Get your cards in the mail :)  Thanks for stopping in today.  I’m so glad you did.

Hugs,

Leslee

Serene Watercolor

      I love to watercolor!  It is a very relaxing medium for me…although, I’m not very good at it.  So, I try to keep it simple.  This card is certainly an easy one and, literally, takes about 5 minutes to complete.  The most difficult part was making the decision as to which sentiment I wanted to place on it. 

     This is what is known as a watercolor wash.  You simply wet down your watercolor paper with a spray bottle.  Dip an aqua painter or watercolor brush in a puddle of ink.  I used Classic re-inkers in Marina Mist and Lucky Limeade to make my puddle.  Swipe the color across your paper and let it bleed and run…move it around with your brush…get the desired effect you are wanting.  Really, this was a reckless, swipe it on and be done with it kind of thought process.  Just Do It!!  Let it dry completely or hit it with the heat tool (which I did because it would have taken longer than 5 minutes if I didn’t).  The flowers, from Serene Silhouettes, were stamped in StazOn Jet Black.  I layered my image panel onto Basic Black and Lucky Limeade.  The DSP is a torn piece of First Edition Specialty paper (I’m really liking it).  The….I really don’t know what to call these….the black pieces on the opposite corners?  Anyway, they are punched using the Modern Label Punch and a silver mini brad secures them on the card.  The card base is Very Vanilla. 

     See?  Easy peasy!  Yet it looks like you would put a lot of time into it.  I’ll never tell :)  Thanks for stopping by.  I’m glad you did.  I hope you’ve been inspired to give this watercolor wash technique a try.  I promise…you don’t have to stay in the lines :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies may be purchased here.

Sympathy in Pink

      Sympathy cards are not easy cards to make.  They are even more difficult to make when it is for someone close to you.  My cousin lost his 18 year old daughter in a tragic accident.  She was a beautiful girl…inside and out.  She touched so many lives.   Mere words cannot convey our sorrow and I think that’s why it is so important to us crafters that the card is just right. 

     I had just completed the card, Serene Scene, for the PPA154 challenge.  I loved the look of the technique and wanted to try it in other colors and/or layouts (I’ll post those up later).  While talking with my mom about the arrangements for this beautiful young girl, she had mentioned that her favorite color was pink.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the sympathy card. 

     Same card, same layout…only the colors changed.  Again, I used the emboss resist technique.  This time adding Pretty In Pink and Sahara Sand flowers (Serene Silhouettes set) and sponging the panel with Pretty In Pink.  I ink distressed the edges of the panel and the Whisper White card base with Sahara Sand.  The sentiment from Loving Thoughts is stamped in Soft Suede.  I added the Pretty In Pink grosgrain ribbon along with the large scalloped edge (an edgelits die). 

     I love this card!  It’s soft and pretty and I hope that my cousin and his family know just how much I love them and wished I could be there in person.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Inspiration is everywhere.

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies can be purchased here.

PPA154 Serene Scene

     While perusing the internet recently for some much needed inspiration, I stumbled across the March 2013 Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge (PPA154).  The colors are Calypso Coral, Raspberry Ripple and Crumb Cake.  Inspiration struck immediately and I knew just what I was going to do.  Sometimes, inspiration strikes just like that!
     Having never inked my new Serene Silhouettes set yet, that’s the set I went for.  I used the Emboss Resist Technique…stamping the flowers in VersaMark and embossing with clear powder.  Then, stamping the same flowers in Calypso Coral and Crumb Cake and stamping off a time or two as well.  This simply creates some depth to the scene.  I then sponged over the entire piece of cardstock in Calypso Coral and sponged the edges in Raspberry Ripple.  The panel was then attached to a Crumb Cake card base that had been run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  A simple Large Scallop (Edgelits die) and 1/8” Very Vanilla Taffeta ribbon adorns the bottom edge of the panel. 
     Absolutely lovely colors together!  I am very impressed!  Not colors I would have normally chosen to work together…but that’s why they call it a “challenge”…right? 
     I’m so very glad you stopping in.  I hope you find inspiration…and it strikes you in the head and you go “WOW!  What hit me?!”  Enjoy your day :)
Hugs,

Leslee
All supplies can be purchased here.