PCS April ~ The Potting Shed

Springtime and the flowering season is upon us.  It's time for getting down in the dirt to weed the gardens and plant fresh petaled pretties.  What a great time to beautify your home indoors and out.

This month the Paper Crafters Sampler celebrates the flowering season with 'The Potting Shed".   In this issue you'll find beautiful paper floral creations.

The template of the month is a Garden Trowel, with a triptych design.  Embellish the inside and outside, securing the closure of the flaps with the trowel handle. 

$12.99

Here's a few sneak peeks:

Le Jardin

Le Jardin (The Garden)

Old man winter seems to be taken his sweet time moving out. We've had some of the coldest weather here in the South, nothing compared to those record breaking snow-storms the NE has had. Brrrrrrr.

Now that March has arrived, it's almost time for the next issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler. We've created the prefect theme for this month. Le Jardin, (The Garden).  What better way to get your mind off the frigid weather than to think of the day you can sit outside without 27,000 blankets covering you (a random number I assure you). 

The video below shares images of projects offered in this month's issue, ideas for all gardening lovers (including the birds).

For more details about the sampler, be sure to check out the PCS website.




I'd like to thank all of those who posted a comment to the Adorning Aprons blog hop.  As mentioned, one lucky person will be receiving a free copy to the March Paper Crafters Sampler.

.....and, the winner is:

Stampindragon ~ Cynthia Ferenz

Congratulations Cynthia!!!

Adorning Apron Hop

One of the hottest trends today is Aprons.  They're no longer worn just for chores, but used as fashion accessory also.

The design team members of the Paper Crafters Sampler have now taken those fabulous aprons into the world of paper crafting.  We've created another special blog hop for you this month featuring "Adorning Aprons".  The aprons are designed using the apron template available in the upcoming March issue "Le Jardin" (The Garden).

This month we have something extra for viewers.  Each design team member will have a drawing for a FREE copy of the March Paper Crafters Sampler.  Just leave your comments on our Adorning Aprons by March 3rd.   The winners will be posted on March 4th.  Now, let's move on to my Adorning Apron samples.


Well, if you're going to dig in the dirt you might as well do it in style, right?   The frilly lace and shapely heart pocket will keep my spirits up if I come across half of a worm will digging.

The Apron template wraps around to use as a card and is designed to fit into an A2 envelope.

I'm a large fan of Mary Engelbreit.  This next sample was designed trying to mimic her famous cherry image and bright color schemes.

The leaves tucked into the pocker are from the new SU! Two step bird punch.  The cherries were embossed, cut out and lifted with dimensionals. 

I hope you've enjoyed Adoring Apron samples.   Don't forget to leave a comment to have your name entered for a Free March issue of Paper Crafters Sampler.

Hop on over to Lisa Hensley blog to view her fabulous take on our apron template. 

The simple things

I'd like a show of hands of how many of you have more than 5 items on your daily list of "things to-do"?  If this is you, then I would like to request you cross off all but three.  That's right.  You are to select only three things you'd like to achieve today and get them done.

I'm have grown to dis-like my to-do list.  What once was a challenge has become one big stress ball of ink on paper.  No more. Why?  It's simple really.

While I'm busy running errands and checking-off that list, I'm missing out on the simple things each day.  The things that I love most, like being outdoors in the fresh air and watching/listening to things in the backyard.  It's important to get things done, but it's just as equally important to ENJOY your day.

This all came into the light when I walked out to the yard the other day and noticed my Camelia bush blooming.  I've been so busy doing my list, I missed that it was in full bloom.  Isn't she beautiful?

Here are some green lacewing eggs on the underside of a leaf.   I'm always excited when I find these eggs, because the green lacewing bug eats pesky bugs.

Here she is  full length.  There is Jack, right in the middle of my flower bed.  Oh, no flowers you say?  Well, no there isn't, that's because Jack can not tell the difference between grass and a flower bed.

Not to outshine Ms. Camelia, but here is another lovely bush, or rather small tree.  It's my Sweet Olive.

While this is not as showy as the Camelia, it makes up for it with the sweet smell of it's flowers.  Again, , something I would have missed if I hadn't taken the time to just stop and walk outside.

Once I held a yard sale and while this Sweet Olive was in bloom.  Several visitors commented on how lovely the scent was.

I'm just saying, fit in those simple things that make you happy.  Whether it's reading 3 chapters of a book, or baking cookies, maybe just sitting in the park listening to the birds.  It doesn't have to be all day, maybe just an hour.  You'd be amazed at what that one hour can do for your spirit.

I can't go until I share a little art with you.  Here are some extra personalized note cards I created for the market last week.  I have a few left.  They'll be up on Esty soon.   If you're interested in purchasing these as a gift (great for the upcoming holiday); simply email me with the monogram you'd like on your box.

You can find the listing HERE.

Melanie