FRIENDLY FRIDAY

Back a little while ago I told you I was working on a frame using the Sheltering Tree Stamp Set. This is what I came up with.  Today is the first day of Spring so a season's post is appropriate.

I found this frame on sale at Kohl's a month ago and had this idea for a gift for my secret sister.  I was toying with covering up the printed sentiment at the top and putting something of my own in there, but I think I will leave it as is.  I may add "friendship is a sheltering tree" words from the set on a small banner somewhere on the frame, but I have to play with that yet - not sure.
The second picture is just a close-up of the 4 stamped images.  Sure hope she likes it!  I don't think she looks at my blog - but, even so, she isn't supposed to know who I am so she won't know this is for her.

Have a great weekend.  I am writing this early, but, as of right now, we are supposed to be getting 3-5 inches of snow today.  What a bummer on the first day of Spring.  Just when almost all of our snow has melted here in the woods.  This better be the last.  I am ready for some golf.

WOW WEDNESDAY

I'm a little late, but I'm here.  It's already a busy day and it is only beginning.  Here is the Berry Basket Die post used as a gift card holder with easy directions:

Now for the directions:

Cut one Berry Basket.  Fold in half and score and then crease on score lines that are created when you cut it out.  Put Sticky Strip as shown on one side, flip over and put sticky strip as shown on the inside.  Remove red layer and push together to adhere.  This will make your pocket on the inside to hold the piece you are going to insert.

You can also use Fast Fuse, but I wanted you to be able to see where I put the adhesive, so I used Sticky Strip

Cut out one scalloped piece from the Die.  Score on the lines provided and glue together at end score.  




Wrap this around your above piece and center on the basket.  You can attach this with Fast Fuse, Sticky Strip or Tombow.

 Lay your gift card on the inside, bring the top down and the bottom up.  Decorate the flap and this will help to keep your inside gift card holder closed.  I used the Pansy Punch and the wing of the bird from the Bird Punch for leaves.  Then a little Dazzling Diamonds for the center.

TECHNIQUE TUESDAY

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

I know I told you I would be posting a Berry Basket project today, but then I remembered it was St. Patty's Day so I changed my mind. I can do that because I'm a woman, right?!

I found this cute, easy way to make a shamrock from Glenda Calkin's Pinterest post and here is the card I created using her technique:

To make the shamrock, punch out a green flower using your Pansy Punch.  Here I used Garden Green cardstock.  Then you are going to cut the stem from one of the petals.  I drew the lines on the flower with my White Gel Pen so you could see where to cut.  I would suggest you use a pencil so you can erase any left over pencil lines after cutting, if needed.

To make the glittery background, I punched out a 2 1/2" circle from the Dazzling Diamond Glimmer Paper and colored the edge by dipping my Aqua Painter into some Garden Green Ink.  You can let it dry on its own or use your Heat Tool, like me, if you are impatient.

Hope you have a Good Luck Day!  
I will come back tomorrow with the Berry Basket idea post.

MISCELLANEOUS MONDAY

Just a quick post today of one of the cards we will be making at stamp camp next week.  I used this for my swap at a meeting last week and it won for the best swap.  It's so easy to do with this beautiful Butterfly Basics Stamp Set.

I stamped on very vanilla and used the soon-to-be-retiring In Colors of Baked Brown Sugar and Pistachio Pudding.  I cut out two ovals from the Oval Thinlets and the Big Shot and then punched around the edge of the large oval using the Occasions Paper Piercing Pack.  Not sure if you can see it, but there are Dazzling Diamonds on the fern for a little bling and Rhinestones on the butterfly.

Come back tomorrow when I will be showing you another way to use the Berry Basket Die.

FRIENDLY FRIDAY

Another Berry Basket sample:  I'm LOVIN' this Die!

To make this basket I cut everything on the Die twice and used all the pieces.  The scalloped edge pieces went around the top of the basket and the straight edge pieces I used for a tall handle. The handle pieces have several score marks on them because you can use them around the top of the basket instead of the scalloped edge, but the scores don't really show so I used them.  If the score marks bother you, just cut 2- 8 x 1/2" pieces for your handle.  I made the basket out of cardstock so that it would be sturdy and then cut 4 pieces of matching DSP for the body of the basket.  Glue those pieces onto the basket for color before adding your stapled scalloped edge.

Have a lucky Friday the 13th and a great weekend.  We are off to celebrate the 90th birthday of a favorite aunt.  Guess I better get busy making a special card!  Also need one for my husband who turns 69 on Saturday!

THIS & THAT THURSDAY

Today's card is one we made at our Joyful Heart Stampers' Meeting on Saturday.  It is so elegant.  I'm not sure who created this one - possibly Cindy Fodor.











 This is a Single Stamp, Love is Kindness, on pg 32 of the Occasions Catalog.  The background is Typeset DSP on pg 184 of the  Annual Catalog. Stamp your stamp a second time so that you get the newspaper image of the stamp.  Cut it out and pop it up with Dimensionals on top of your flower stems.  The images are stamped on a piece of vanilla cardstock that is cut with the Big Shot and the Top Note Die.

The tulips are colored with Blendabilities.  Stampin' Up has pulled these markers as of now due to quality issues, but if you have some, it is a great way to color your images.  Our great Stamp n' Write Markers would also work and you can use any color you want.  You could also use your Blender Pen dipped in your ink (put a drop or two in the lid of your pad).  The little ribbon is from the FREE SAB Ribbons and Buttons, but, once again, use any ribbon that complements
the tulip flower color you choose.   I LOVE this little stamp!

WOW WEDNESDAY

For our Joyful Heart Stampers' Team Meeting on Saturday I was asked to demo the Berry Basket Bigz Die.  I loved getting a chance to "play" with it.  Here is a picture of the samples that I made, showing some of the diverse uses for the Die.  I LOVE when I am able to use a product in more than one way - More Bang for My Buck!

I have to say I did a lot of casing from Pinterest to get my ideas, but then did my own versions.  thanks to all those who helped me out.  I will be giving more details about some of these baskets in the next few weeks and will give credit where credit is due.