March 2014 ~ Rejoice in Easter

 

 

Celebrate the Easter season with the March 2014 Sampler, "Rejoice in Easter".  This Easter issue offers project ideas for a memorable Easter season.  The projects this month are 'eggcellent.  Inside you'll find Easter-themed greeting cards, a mini spring flip-flop album, an elegant Easter daffodil suite to stuff with goodies and much more.

 

This months template is the Bunny Weathervane.  A great idea for your Easter table centerpiece.

 

 

$12.99

 

 

 

Rejoicing With You

Here's a little something I put together with the anticipation of Easter arriving.  A little table-top free-standing cross.

The wedge-based cross is was designed for the Paper Crafters Sampler (PCS) and is available as a free download on the PCS website.

The template prints on an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of cardstock and has minimal scoring.  Here I've cut the inner guideline to add the additional embossed layer.  The grass was created with a paper crimper and the daffodils are from an older stamp set 'Abundant Hope'.

I'd love to see your Creative Take on this.  Here's a few more images for you:

Bunny Sachet

Is there anyone who HASN'T found Pinterest? I have to tell you, for visually stimulated people it's THE site to have!

Have you ever really sat and thought about how much more inspiration we've gained from just viewing the abundance of sites available online? The things you come across. The "Oh, what a great idea!".

Well, on my travels through Pinterest today I came across THE most adorable idea. Mini bunny sachets. So many possibilites...not just with bunnies, but other holidays as well. Such a sweet and simple idea. I think what draws me to it the most is the fact it's SO quick to create.

Now, I'm off to make a few of these cutie patooties!  Interested in trying your hand at them, go to to the Mini Bunny Sachet link.

Bunny Wore a Brooche

Spent the entire day Saturday cleaning the house so I'm enjoying some additional crafting time today.

Here's another project using the Bentley Bunny template from the February 2012 Paper Crafters Sampler.  The new Everyday Enchantment designer paper works so well for Easter projects.

This time I've incoporated the basket from the template.  It's really for decorative purposes.  There's also the option to turn the basket upside down to use it for a stand.  Bentley is sporting a floral brooche.  It seemed natural.  What bunny doesn't look cute with a little embellishment around the next?

The red 3x3 notecards were stamped with the Fresh Vintage stamp set with white craft ink and embossed with white embossing powder.  The base of the card was stamped in real red with the border image from the same set.

These beautiful flowers are from the Everyday Enchatment designer paper.  Butterfly is from another stamp set and dusted with diamond glitter.

Flowers from the same set were stamped on red and vanilla paper and cut.  Pearl centered in flower.

Easter Cross Box ~ Floral

Another variation of the Easter Cross Box.

Easter Wishes Up Close....

Requests for a closer look of what's in the February issue "Easter Wishes" has been granted.  As a reminder, the design team puts previews of their project contributions on their personal blogs.  Keep an eye out before the newest issues are released and you can get a sneak peek of what's in store.

There's been a great response to the Easter Cross Box, but don't forget that there are EIGHT additional projects in the sampler designed especially for Easter.  There's still time if you haven't gotten your issue yet.  Here's a closer look at what you can find inside:

Christening Cross Gift Box

I've been playing for the past week with the Easter Cross Gift Box.  I've got 4 more boxes prepped for design. 

Here I've modified the box for a Christening gift box.  What do you think of using the same box for a communion or confirmation???  This all white them would be just as good for a Wedding favor (which is one of the four boxes waiting in the wings).

Sixlets Easter Cross Box

Playing with the Easter Cross Box Template.   This little box was stuffed with some Easter colored Sixlets chocolates.  What was most difficult about this was trying not to eat the candy. 

Bloom'n Forget-me-nots

Having fun with watercolor paper and wax watercolor crayons.

Check out the swirls behind the egg on the green cardstock.  That's the "&" sign from the SU! Together Forever set.  That particular piece of cardstock needed a sudtule image since the main background was so busy.  It worked out great.

The egg was cut from 140lb watercolor paper.  Afterwards I applied various green and blues washes with my wax crayons.

HAD to pull out my faithful old Linen background stamp.  I think besides for the Cheescloth background, the Linen is my all-time favorite.  Here it was stamped in Basic Brown ink on both of the Celery cardstock.

Tour de Freaks ~ Spring.......

It's time for another Tour de Freaks blog hop.  Our theme this month is Spring!  If you've already been touring, then you've probably just left Lisa Martz's page.

I have really been in the mood for crafting, as I'm sure many have been now that the warm weather is arriving.  What better way to kick it all off with some great gardening projects.  Take a look at what I've created this month for you.

THIS is my favorite.  What a delightful way to present a gift of Spring bulbs to a friend.  I used some scrim to bundle up some bulbs.  Scrim is a lightweight fabric, very similar to cheesecloth.  During Fall I spotted the bolt at the fabric store.  The delicate, almost fragile threads were beckoning so I HAD to buy a few yards.  This is the first I used it but I have many more crafting ideas for incorporating it in my crafts. 

What makes this appealing (to me) is being able to see through the fabric catching a glimpse of what's inside. 

This project is SO easy.  I would love getting this as a gift.  The satin ribbon and the simple daffodil tag is the only thing needed to dress it up.

I'm not quite finished with my gardening ideas.  Take a look at this bulb box, yet another great way to deliver some spring cheer to a gardening friend.  The box was made with the Bag with Scallop Bigz die.  Yep!  Just turn it on the side and put the base in.  Walla!

Here's a close-up.  Look at the veining on that bulb.  Isn't it beautiful?

I hope you enjoyed my projects this month.  Now it's time to move on to the next featured stamper, Ms. LeeAnn Greff.  Select the image below and you'll be transported to her blog.  Thanks again for checking out my projects. 

Tour de Freaks ~ February

It's time for another fabulous Tour de Freaks blog hop.  All projects this month are created with products from the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini catalog.

I'm posting my creations early as I'm heading out for a workshop.  Remember, the blog will officially begin the 20th of the month, so make sure you come back Saturday in the morning to see the entire hop.

More than likely you have just come from the oh very talented Gretchen Barron's blog.  She does a fantastic job with all her projects.

This month, I've created something to focus on the awesome designer papers in the mini catalog.  My first project is an Easter dress using the Shades of Spring paper.  The large flowers in this paper series are so beautiful, to cover them up is not an option so I try to use them in a way that will best showcase their beauty.

Start by cutting a dress template from the paper, focusing on where you want your flowers on the dress.  Additional flowers were cut, jazzed up with glitter and applied to the dress with a dimensional.  

THANKS to everyone who enjoyed my Easter dress.  I've had multiple request for the pattern.  You can download your Free copy at Craftside.typepad.com. 

Here's the back of the dress.  I ran it through a texturz plate for a little added detail and sponged Saffron ink around the edges along with some Sahara Sand.

What do you think of my satin ribbon flower?  I took an interest in ribbon flowers during the holidays.  With a quick trip to the library, I checked out as many books as I could on the subject "Ribbon Art".  This rose worked perfect for the back of the dress as you can not see it when looking at the front of the dress.   

For the ruffle, (on the base), I used the new Scallop trim punch from the SAB catty and crimped it.  Then there's a layer of pink tissue under that I just HAD to add.  Maybe it's a Southern thing, LOL!  It made it so much more girlie!

Hard to see here, but all those white circle surronding the yellow flower have crystal effects added to them.

Next up I have an Easter card.  Again, the paper here is from the new Occasions Mini catalog (Sweet Pea Designer Paper).  The top of the card uses the new Perfect Polka dot embossing folder.   The ribbon is one of the several new Satin ribbons available in the catalog also. 

If you're wondering about the ivory and grey swirls on my images, they were created with My Digital Studio.  Just having some fun with the cool software.

I hope you've enjoyed my samples this month.  Next on the hop is LeeAnn Greff.  She's got some beautiful creations waiting for you.  Hop on over to LeeAnn's blog by selecting the button just below.

PCS Easter Bonnet Hop

Welcome to the Paper Crafters Sampler Easter Bonnet hop.  I hope you have been enjoying the hop.  You might have just arrived after viewing Virginia's beautiful bonnet sample.  I really like how creatively she used the punch on the edges of her flower.  If you're just starting the hop at my blog, make sure you select the button at the bottom of each post, as that will allow you to come full circle.

The Easter Bonnet hop came about when the PCS design team was given a little challenge for using the Easter Bonnet template offered is this months Paper Crafter Sampler.  The February sampler showcases "Baskets, Bunnies and Bonnets" for our Easter edition. 

The sampler is released the 10th of the month.  If you haven't signed up yet that's OK, just head on over before the 10th so you'll have a chance to win a $15.00 sampler buck reward.  Only those who subscribe or have purchased the current edition are eligible for the drawing on February 11th.

Let's move on to my bonnet.  The base of the hat usesere Sending Love DSP from SU! and the small leaf embosslit.

The white flower beneath the button is from the Birds and Blooms embosslits.  Tell me, what do you think of this handsome couple?

Below is a front view of the bonnet.  I think my model loves it, look at that smile on her face.

There you have it.  I'd like to take the time to thank Mr. and Mrs. Hare for being such good sports and not dashing off before I completed the photos.

Now, hop on over to Ms.  Lisa Hensley's blog to view her ADORABLE hats!  Just select the link below.

Shades of Easter

Today I've decided to participate in the Mojo Monday sketch challenge.  Yes, it's Saturday, but I've been preparing for this month's Paper Sampler and took a break to fit a Mojo Challenge in.  

For this challenge, I focused on using Easter colors, and what says Easter more than pastels?

Here I've paired Banana, Pretty in Pink and Sahara Sand.  I have had trouble using Sahara Sand in the past, but today discovered it pairs so nicely with pastels, especially these two.

Here's the sketch.....

Here's what I've come up with......

The main image is a cut-out from the Shades of Spring DSP from SU!  Aren't the colors pretty?  I like the white dots around the outer edge of the petals.  Great detail.

Barely Banana cardstock was covered with the Very Vintage wheel (in Saffron ink) to give it a bit more interest.  The scallop edge is simply the Eyelet border punch run through my paper crimper.

The Sahara Sand card stock just behind the flower is the Extra Large Fancy Flower punch wheeled with the Very Vintage image.  It was also distressed a bit to add more texture.

Add a dot of Crystal Effects in the center of each flower and you're done!