Paper Crafters Sampler Birdbath Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Paper Crafters Sampler Birdbath Blog Hop!  I hope that you enjoy these amazing little birdbaths.  With the exclusive template available in the April issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler, they are simple to put together and your imagination will know no bounds when it comes to decorating these little beauties!  

Since you are here at my blog, I'm assuming that you hopped on over from Melanie Schulenberg's lovely blog, Pockets of Inspiration.  Click on the button below to go to Heidi Baks' amazing creation on her blog, RunningwScissors.

I based my birdbath on the standard cement models that you see in many gardens.  I used Sahara Sand for the birdbath and quilled the "cement" embellishments around the base and the top rim of the birdbath.  Then I sponged everything with Sahara Sand, using a little Close to Cocoa and Always Artichoke in the deeper "crevices."

The climbing vine was made using the Little Leaves Sizzlit in both Always Artichoke and Pear Pizzazz.  The flowers were punched with the Flower Trio punch out of Pretty in Pink and Melon Mambo.  I used Cherie Franklin's tutorial to make these fab little miniature roses -- check it out!  You'll find her tutorial in the left column of her blog, Stamp Crave.  

The two little butterflies were cut out of Baja Breeze, using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit.  The smaller butterfly layer is vellum, to give the butterfly and "airy" look.  The body is suggested with Pearl Jewels.  The water in the birdbath is blue and green ultra-fine glitters.

Paper:  Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke, Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Vellum

Ink:  Sahara Sand, Melon Mambo, Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke

Accessories:  Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Little Leaves Sizzlit, SU ultra-fine glitters, Flower Trio punch, Basic Pearl Jewels, sponges, Aquapainter

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge 199

I worked this up for this weeks' Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge -- and a great challenge it is!  I had a lot of fun creating this card.  I love this set, too.  I hope that SU! has another set with these cute kids in the new catalog this summer!

Stamps:  Greeting Card Kids, You're a Gem

Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade, White, Sunny Garden dsp

Ink:  Black, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral, Tangerine Tango, Poppy Parade, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy

Accessories:  Scallop Border punch, Ticket-Corner punch, Modern Label punch, Basic Pearl Jewels, Daffodil Delight 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Poppy Parade twill ribbon, Daffodil Delight 1/8" taffeta ribbon, White 3/8" taffeta ribbon (dyed with Poppy Parade classic ink), Brights brads, Dimensionals, Aquapainter

Alice in Pearls

Ever since I bought this Crafty Secrets set, I knew that this card needed to be done.  I think that Alice looks fabulous in pearls!  Everything but the stamp is a Stampin' Up! product.

Stamps:  Greetings from Wonderland

Paper:  Bravo Burgundy, Not Quite Navy, Vanilla, Paisley Petals dsp

Ink:  Black, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, Bravo Burgundy, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Creamy Caramel, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Daffodil Delight

Accessories:  Pinking Hearts border/corner punches, Ticket-Corner punch, Double-Sided Ribbon punch, Basic Pearls, Bravo Burgundy 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Vanilla 1/8" taffeta ribbon, glitter, white gel pen, Dimensionals, Aquapainter

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge 198 redux

Here's another card using the great sketch from the Operators for this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge!  I was looking at this Melon Mambo/Wild Wasabi sheet from the new Beyond the Garden dsp and thinking that it was so like Lilly Pulitzer.  And what would be more Lilly than a green whale, a funky button and some hot pink pompom trim?  This card was pretty much of a no-brainer!

Stamps:  Pun Fun, Tiny Tags

Paper:  Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, White, Beyond the Garden dsp

Ink:  Black, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Pacific Point

Accessories:  Melon Mambo pompom trim, Melon Mambo Polka-Dot grosgrain ribbon, Scallop punch, Tiny Tag punch, linen thread, Regals brads, Sweet Stitches fabric brads, Dimensionals, Aquapainter

A little sunshine on a rainy day...

I love this new set, Fabulous Florets, from the summer Mini, but struggled with using it.  I knew that I would, because it's not the style I usually work with, but I had to try! Bright colors and line images don't usually lend themselves -- or me! -- to a vintage look.  I like the end result, though!

The Daffodil Delight was made with Melanie Schulenberg's gorgeous paper roses tutorial and the edges are sponged with Tangerine Tango.  The small "brads" in the corners of the main floral layer and accenting the sentiment are punched out using the 1/16" handheld round punch and glued one.  The leaves were stamped in Garden Green, then cut out -- this was the time that I really wished that I'd bought the Wild Wasabi ep!

Stamps:  Fabulous Florets

Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango, Beyond the Garden dsp

Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Versamark

Accessories:  Big Shot, Framed Tulips folder, Birds & Blooms Flower Pieces Sizzlit, 1/16" handheld circle punch, Ticket-Corner punch, Tangerine Tango ep, Wild Wasabi stitched poly ribbon, Daffodil Delight 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Tangerine Tango pompom trim, Dimensionals, sponges, Aleen's Tacky Glue

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge 198

I've been busy with family and other design obligations, so I've been absent from the Saturday Sketch Challenges over at Stamping 411 -- and I've missed the latest creations by the Operators!  I'm back this week for the Saturday Sketch Challenge 198.  It's a fabulous sketch and I hope that my card does justice to it!  Because of the watercoloring, this card fills the bill for the Splitcoast Stampers April Creative Crew gallery -- go play along if you haven't already!

Check the sketch out for yourselves and see what you can come up with, too.  By the way, did you all know that Stamping 411 is Stampin' Up! only now?  This is great -- let's promote our favorite products!

This card is done using both sides one sheet from the Nautical Expedition dsp.  I used the peeling wallpaper technique to "show through" the pattern on the left side of the large layer.  The scallop edge on the right and the sentiment are both using the same "ledger" pattern.

Stamps:  The Open Sea, You're a Gem

Paper:  Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, White, Nautical Expedition dsp

Ink:  Black, Baja Breeze, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories:  White gel pen, Metallic brads, Ticket-Corner punch, Modern Label punch,Scallop punch, 1/8" circle punch, White 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Antique brads, sponges, Aquapainter, Dimensionals

The Open Sea!

This is my first attempt with one of the new sets from the Summer Mini -- The Open Sea -- as well as one of the new packs of dsp, Nautical Expedition.  I think that this set has lots of vintage possibilities!  I really wanted to used the Cherry Cobbler/White bakers' twine, but couldn't find a place for it.  The twine is fabulous and I can't wait to play with it!

Because of the watercoloring, this also fits with the Creative Crew Holiday/Seasonal focus.

Stamps:  The Open Sea

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Sahara Sand, White, Nautical Expedition dsp

Ink:  Black, Baja Breeze, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories:  Big Shot, Framed Tulips Textured Impressions folder, Ticket-Corner punch, Metallic Brads, Dimensionals, Aquapainter, Night of Navy 5/8" satin ribbon, Real Red 1/8" taffeta ribbon, sponges, white gel pen

Paisley Petals dsp

I can't let go of Gnobbly Gnomes -- it's one of my all-time favorite SU sets. You can watercolor the gnomes anyway you want and the color selections totally change the look of the gnome. 

Btw, I added a tiny bit of gold glitter to the water droplet on the leaf for a bit of sparkle. It adds a little bit of life to all the earth tones!

Stamps: Gnobbly Gnomes

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, Vanilla, Paisley Petals dsp

Ink: Black, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze, Bravo Burgundy, Cameo Coral, Blush Blossom, Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzazz, Always Artichoke

Accessories: Ticket Corner punch, Metallic brads, Always Artichoke seam binding, Chocolate Chip 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Pearl Jewels, gold glitter, Dimensionals, sponges

Sneak Peek for the April issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler!

I'm so excited to give you all a preview of the April issue of the Paper Crafter Sampler!  This months' theme is Avian Art, celebrating the joy and beauty of Spring.   The Team has really outdone itself this month and come up with a gorgeous combination of cards and 3-D projects using only Stampin' Up! products.  To subscribe, please go HERE and use the code PCS-LH!

Another card for the Splitcoast Stampers April Creative Crew challenges!

Here is another submission for the April Creative Crew challenges over at Splitcoast Stampers.  Again, I combined both the watercolor (CCREW0411HF) and punches (CCREW0411CF) challenges into this card.  As watercoloring is my primary M.O., you can expect all this months' entries to be watercolored!

Please come over to Splitcoast Stampers and play along with us!  Just go to the gallery and enter creativecrew in the Search box!

Stamps:  Four Frames, You're a Gem

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke, Vanilla, Paisley Petals dsp

Inks:  Black, Crumb Cake, Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Night of Navy, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Big Shot, Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Folder, Scallop Edge punch, Large Fancy Label punch, Metallic brads, Trinket Keys, Pearl Jewels, Mini Library Clips, Always Artichoke seam binding, Burgundy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, sponges, Aquapainter, mini-glue dots, Dimensionals

Creative Crew challenge CCREW0411CF and CCREW0411HF

This is my first submission for the April Splitcoast Stampers Creative Crew!  I combined two challenges with this, watercoloring and using punches -- I interpreted "using punches" to also using my Big Shot.  

As always, the Creative Crew gallery is made up of Stampin' Up products.  Each project must be at least 95% SU! materials, so be prepared to be inspired!  

Please go to Splitcoast Stampers and join in with the Challenges -- they are terrific! Please come over to Splitcoast Stampers and play along with us.  Just go to the gallery and enter creativecrew in the Search box.

 Here are the April challenges:

CCREW0411CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Catalog Focus: * Punches * 

We all know that SU! punches rock, so this month punch us up some flowers, butterflies, birds, and bugs! You don't have to make actual punch art (unless of course you want to Jackie!), but show us what your punches can do!

CCREW0411DF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - DSP/Color Focus: 

When you see Bluebirds you know spring is here! So use this very blue color combo: Pacific Point, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand. Which also happens to be the colors of the Blueberry Crisp DSP! 

CCREW0411HF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Holiday/Seasonal Focus: * Mother Ocean *

The rain fills our Oceans with the lovely water that balances life here on earth. So in honor of Mother Ocean let's do some watercoloring! Break out your aquapainter and your inks, crayons, pencils, and blender pens! Show us watercoloring at it's best.

CCREW0411SF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - SB Inspiration Focus: * NO DSP! * 

Yep you have to use stamps and make your own background for your pages this month. Other than that, it's a free for all!

Stamps:  Four Frames, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper:  Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla, Paisley Petals dsp

Ink:  Black, Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip

Accessories:  Big Shot, Birds & Blooms Flower Pieces Sizzlit, Little Leaves Sizzlit, Ticket-Corner Punch, Large Fancy Label punch, Pearls Jewels, Victoria Crochet Trim, 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, Always Artichoke seam binding, Early Espresso 1/8" grosgrain trim, Vintage brads, sponges, Aquapainter, Dimensionals