Easter Cross Box

Today I'm going to share the Easter Cross Box, which could also be a gift box for a confirmation or dedication. This is a template that is available from the February 2011 issue of Paper Crafters Sampler.

I made a cross gift box ensemble last year, and I was looking around for a different idea. I remembered the beautiful headstones we saw when we visited Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah last year.

I absolutely love visiting cemeteries... I hope that isn't too morbid for some people. There is beautiful art there!

I did make the box, but then I glued it closed and onto a pedestal to make it into a Easter decor item. I used the above pictures as my inspiration photos.

To simulate the weathered headstone look, I dabbed Platinum Shimmer Paint on Sahara Sand and Basic Gray card stock with balled-up plastic wrap. There was some edge sponging too. I also used the Color Spritzer tool with the Basic Gray marker. The pedestal is created with the Petal Cone die.

The lilies were created with the Island Floral die.

It did take all day, but I love how it turned out!

Paper: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla; Ink: Basic Gray, River Rock, Basic Gray marker; Accessories: Daffodil Delight seam binding, Hat pin, Platinum shimmer paint, Color Spritzer, Sponges, Elegant Lines EF, Petal Cone die, Island Floral die, Big Shot, Floral wire, Floral tape, Plastic wrap, Paper plate.

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PCS March Issue: Orange Blossom Tearoom

The March issue of Paper Crafters Sampler, Orange Blossom Tearoom, is now available.

I am so pleased to be back designing with Melanie and her wonderful group of ladies! I love tea projects, and there are some wonderful samples in this issue! High-tea table settings, tea-time fabric flower hat, invitations and tea storage containers, to name a few. Here's a sneak peek at my project.

Don't forget the Tea Party I am hosting at my house on Thursday, April 19! You can RSVP on Meetup.

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FM49 A Tisket, A Tasket, A Springy Little Basket

Today on the Friday Mashup, Kim's challenge is to create a little basket or box, just in time for Easter or spring. I love 3-D's, so this challenge is totally up my alley!

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project using the "Colors Green & Yellow".
2. Or Make a "3-D project that's a Basket or a Treat Pouch".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Treat Basket/Pouch using the colors Green & Yellow".

In February's issue of Paper Crafters Sampler, there is an adorable template called Bentley Bunny. It is a little box that you can slip treats into.

I created the bunny box with So Saffron card stock. Then I hand-drew a pencil line on the template in order to create ~1/8" smaller bunny and ears on DSP to give my box a matted look. Some embellishments, and he is done. How cute is he? He is a perfect little decor item.

Paper: So Saffron, Delicate Dots DSP (retired); Ink: So Saffron, Certainly Celery; Accessories: Certainly Celery satin ribbon, Circle punches, Scallop Circle punch, Sponges, Little Leaves die, Big Shot.

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Sale-a-Bration is the Perfect Time for a Workshop

Today I'm going to share projects from my weekend workshop with you. For a warm-up make & take, I used the Workshop in a Bag kit that Stampin' Up gave out at Convention. But since the tree image is my favorite of the Easy Events stamp set, I added my own spin. These are clean & simple 3-1/2 x 5" notes cards. Here I illustrated an easy way to color line stamp images with a blender pen.

Stamps: Easy Events; Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White, Note Cards; Ink: Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip, Black Stazon; Accessories: Melon Mambo ribbon, Blender pen, Pinking Hearts border punch.

In between make & takes, I always do a demonstration. Here I illustrated Poppin' Pastels with Upsy Daisy.

Stamps: Upsy Daisy; Paper: Pool Party, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso, Naturals White, Everyday Enchantment DSP; Ink: Early Espresso, Versamark; Accessories: Wild Wasabi striped ribbon, Dotted Scalloped Ribbon border punch, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 2-1/2" Circle die, Big Shot.

I always put together two make & takes for the guests, and here is our stepped up project. This one is more difficult because it uses a lot more layers, some texture, sponging for shading, and the stamp-a-ma-jig.

For this card I used a fun sketch challenge #54 from Try Stampin' On Tuesday.

Stamps: Up, Up & Away; Paper: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Everyday Enchantment DSP; Ink: Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade, Soft Suede; Accessories: Dotted Scalloped Ribbon border punch, Circle punches, Build a Cupcake punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 3" Circle die, Scallop Circle #2 die, Big Shot.

And here is a couple items used for door prizes and hostess gifts.

If you would also like to stamp similar projects with your friends, don't hesitate to contact me so we can set up your workshop before the end of Sale-a-Bration (March 31)!

Thanks for stopping by!

SUOC40 The Color Green

Today's challenge on Stampin' Up Only Challenges, we are focusing on the color green. Today was my first quilled card. Easy and fun, especially when you have the right tools!

I used Clean&Simple sketch #179.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper: Garden Green, Whisper White; Ink: Garden Green; Accessories: Quilling tool, Simply Scored, Tombo multipurpose adhesive, Dimensionals.

I've told you before, I've turned my daughter into a decorating monster. As soon as Valentine's was over, she started bugging me for some "Saint Patrick's" decorations.

Me: How we were going to make it?
Little Missy: Just punch some paper with your Saint Patrick's punch, and put them on a string.
Me: We don't have a Saint Patrick's punch.
Little Missy: Oh.

While it was a snow day, and she was napping, i.e. it was quiet, I surprised her by making some St. Patrick's decor for her.

I folded some DSP twice so it was four layers thick, centered the point of a heart from the Hearts Collection framelits on the folded corner, and ran it through the Big Shot. Then I ran a bunch of them through the sewing machine.

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Scrappy Monday: Sharing Some Weekend Fun

I'm really enjoying playing with some digital scrapping challenges on the weekends. I bit the bullet this weekend and bought Photoshop Elements 10. At least I'll save some time on more advanced photo editing. The first challenge is DGC013, Converting a Background Page to an Overlay. Now a lot of the editing could have been done straightforwardly in MDS, but I suffered through the PSE instructions for the sake of learning.

MDS Elements: Botanical Gazette DSP, Vintage Overlay DSP; Color Palette: Dusty Durango; Font: Digs My Hart.

This challenge was to change the color saturation in the photo(s), DGC014. I turned up the green saturation to make Tinkerbell's outfit pop. This is a layout I've used before, although I changed the flower colors. I'm not sure if I am done with it or I will add some embellishments.

MDS Elements: Stamps: Simple Friendship, Petal Pizzazz, Vintage Overlays, Baroque Motifs, Cheep Talk, For All You Do; Papers: Summertime Splendor; Inks: Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Concord Crush, Certainly Celery; Font: CK Alis Handwriting.

Challenge DGC015 is Gallery Gazing, to "scraplift" a layout from the gallery. I didn't have to search to long to find Erica's beautiful page. Actually I've seen her page earlier on the Friday Mashup, and thank you Erica for sharing! I also used DGC02, Color Isolation on the cookies.

MDS Elements: Attic Boutique Kit; Color Palette: Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla; Font: Old English Text MT.

2012 Project 52 totals: Week 10, pages 12.

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FM48 Punching Out Saint Patrick

So this week at the Friday Mashup, Rita's challenge for us is to create a St. Patrick's Day project with some punches.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project for "St. Patrick's Day".
2. Or Make a project using "at least 2 Punches".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project for "St. Patrick's day using your Punches".

While I was out commenting on some blogs, I saw a nice punch art clover, and dang it if I could find it again. I did find one again, and I *think* it is this one. Anyway, if it isn't the original, it is certainly one of the best ones I have seen.

I've got some green minty M&M's, so I thought I would combine this with the clover punch art to create a Sweetly Dispensed 3-D container.

The template comes from the January 2012 issue of Paper Crafters Sampler. I love Melanie's templates! And I've got more over the next few weeks I'll be sharing with you.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes; Paper: Lucky Limeade, Whisper White, Everyday Enchantment DSP; Ink: Garden Green, Lucky Limeade, Certainly Celery, Wisteria Wonder; Accessories: Modern Label punch, Large Oval punch, Sponges, Adorning Accents embossing folder, Hearts Collection framelits, Adorning Accents edgelits, Big Shot, Dowel.

Thanks for stopping by!