April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to our April Blog Hop featuring a cute stamp set called Flower Pot. If you're ready for Spring then this set is for you. This is a set of 16 open stamps that includes flowers, flower pots, and a cute window with a window box and shutters. If you have come from Jen's Jewel Box you are on the right path.

I'm so lovin' those round cards and so ready for some fresh Spring colors so I made this set of 4 circle cards. I used my Big Shot and Large Circle Nestibilities to make the base of my cards with the scallops. The colors are Blush, Sweet Leaf, and Lilac Mist. Since we don't have any current BTPs with those colors I decided to random stamp on White Daisy using the smallest bunch of flowers. I'm not a fan of coloring in so I just used my markers to accentuate the center of the flowers. All card designs are from Wishes.

Set of 4 Flower Pot cards

Inner Court
Merry Go-Round

Merry Go-Round

Simply Secure

Now you can hop over to Kim's blog to check out her cute diorama card.

Tuesday's Tip

Color Your Ribbon Any Color
Need a ribbon to color coordinate with your project? Use this tip and your ribbon is ready in 15 minutes. Choose a white ribbon...Gross Grain. Ordandy, Ricrac, Twill, or Hemp.

Choose your coordinating color ink pad

Using a Foam Tool slide your ribbon between the the ink pad and the tool.

Slide your ribbon on both side to desired color. Ribbon will dry in approximately 15 minutes.

Note: When using this technique at a Home Gathering just ink your ribbon at the beginning of your demonstration and it will be ready to add to your project at the end your your presentation.

See post below for my finished project.

Color Cordinate Your Ribbon

Use the Tuesday's Tip to color cordinate your ribbon for any project. I used White Gross Grain Ribbon and colored it Blush to accent my card.

Saturday Sweets

Little Box of Kisses


I found this cute little box here. They are really easy and fast to make. I cut CS and BTP and adhered together with Bonding Memories Glue before I scored, cut and folded.

Fun Paper Flowers

Lately, I've been trying to make some paper flowers. I tried different tutorials but my hands just wouldn't do what my brain was telling them to do. All my flowers were really yucky until I tried Bren's paper flowers. They are really easy and they turn out nice every time.

You Rock Papers

Give them a try and let me know how you did.

Tuesday's Tip

Use your BTP for to make a Dimensional Element:

Choose your BTP image that you would like to make a dimensional element. On the back of the BTP completely cover the image with adhesive. Adhere a piece of cardstock to the adhesive. Turn your BTP over and carefully cut out your image. Add to your project with 3-D foam.

Suggested BTP Dimensional images:
Flowers - Boom Di Ada, Unforgettable, Bella, Silhouette, Grace
Stars - Your Rock, Stardust, Good Times
Nature - Twitterpated(Acorns), Back Country(Trees, Leaves), Blue Ribbon(Butterflies)
Journaling Words - Good Times, Notebook, Blue Ribbon, It's A Guy Thing
Children - Tinkerin'(Gears), Animal Cookies(Zoo Animals)
Numbers - Game On, Good Times, Animal Cookies
Fun Borders - Daydream, Boom Di Ada, Emporium, Bella, Animal Cookies, Jingle, Grace, Sweet Home

Saturday Sweets

Bunnies & Chicks

I found these cute little chicks here and just had to make one. Then I remembered the bunnies we made last year and made one for this year. The bunny ears are made with the large pink flowers with waxy flax wiskers. The chick candies are the yellow and orange Reeses Pieces with blue M & M's and the bunny candies are the pink & blue M & M's with the brown Reeses Pieces.

The Spring Challenge

I was really challenged with Jeanette's Color Me Monday this week. How to make a spring card with the autumn colors New England Ivy, Goldrush, Sweet Leaf and Chocolate.
What do you think?

Happy St. Patrick's Day

To all my Irish friends and to those who love green there's no pinching going on here. Since I was born with green eyes I didn't worry about the pinching on March 17th. It was like I had a free pass if I forgot to wear my green.


I was really challenged with Jeanette's Color Me Monday "Stamping for a New Season." I thought she had just skipped 2 seasons and went straight to Autumn. Then I read her tips and tried to make a "Spring" card with these Autumn Colors: New England Ivy, Sweet Leaf, Chocolate, & Goldrush. I love the way Jeanette inspires us to go out of the box.

Tuesday's Tip

Get more mileage from your cutting blade.

Did you put a new blade in your paper trimmer last week and now it seems to be shreading your cardstock? Or did you go to scrapbook class with a bad blade because you forgot to change it? Or are you just tired of having to change your blade every other week?
Here's my solution:

After you cut your piece of cardstock it will look like this.

Turn it over and on the back side sand all the edges smooth.

Voila! A nice piece with clean edges.

Now keep in mind this is a temporary fix. You will need to replace your blade eventually. Also, if you need to use this tip on a piece of colored cardstock you will need to ink the edges with the matching ink pad if you don't want the white core to show.

A Little Easter Bundle

Make this cute Easter basket and card using random stamping with Hershey Chocolate Eggs colors Watermellon, Crystal Blue, and Topiary(2nd generation).

Saturday Sweets

Celebrate with a box of Kisses

Use your random stamped white daisy CS to make a lid for your box. Cut a circle in the center of the lid. Cut a square clear piece from a page protector to fit over the circle opening. Make a box to hold your kisses and add your lid. My box is a 3" square. For directions on how to make a box and lid you can contact me at my website.

Quick & Easy

Turn your Simply Snapshot into quick cards:
Choose a Simply Snapshop 9 X 9 album page
Cut off the top edge
Cut the remaining 2 color section to 5 1/2 X 8 1/2 card base
Fold card base in half
Use the top edge as one element of your card design



















"Down the Middle" from Wishes




















"Simple Expression" from Wishes














"Cubes & Colors" from Originals

Easter Treat Box

M M Good......Easter M & M's in a clear box with a wrap around and cards made from Wishes: "Three in a Row" & "A Cut Above"


Supplies:
Random stamped white daisy CS with Blush, Buttercup, & Key Lime
Smiles (C1397)
Springtime (D1415)
Blush Ribbon Round (Z1138)
Key Lime Cardstock (1235)
Gingham Ribbon
Easter M & M's

Tuesday's Tip

Color coordinate your project with your Easter candies:
Choose three small stamps to coordinate with three colors of your Easter candies. Random stamp your cardstock. Make your project.





Easter M & M's
Buttercup, Blush, Key Lime















Easter Hershey Kisses
Blush, Crystal Blue, Topiary(2nd Generation)

Hershey Chocolate Eggs

Watermelon, Crystal Blue, Topiary(2nd Generation)

Check back later to view the finished projects.

Saturday Sweets

A Tropical Paradise with Coconut M&M's

Relax, grab your bag of coconut M & M's, and retreat to that feeling of paradise: a place of extreme happiness.

Tuesday's Tip

Stitching with Ease

Cut a strip of Cardstock 1 1/2 X 12. Run the strip through your sewing machine without thread.
This will give you an even stitch placement. Place your strip on the piece that will be stitched and punch the holes with your piercing tool. Thread your needle and stitch away.


Note: See the stitching on the cards below that I made for the March Blog Hop.