Papillon Potpourri Serene Spring

HAPPY EASTER! This morning I have an Easter card that I created for my grand daughter's 1st Easter. The adorable baby bunny in a basket image from the retired hostess set Serene Spring has long been a favorite of mine and I thought it was the perfect choice for a baby's first Easter card.

I stamped the image in Basic Black ink, but first masked off the little bird that sits on the basket handle because I wanted to use a butterfly from one of my favorite retiring sets instead. I've used the Papillon Potpourri set so often since it first came out. I just

love it! Especially for accents on cards. I'm sure you already have it...but if not, you need to add it to your collection before it retires!

I watercolored the image using my Aqua Painter and these inks: Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry, Sweet Sugarplum, Soft Sky, Mint Macaron & Tip Top Taupe. The last two inks listed are part of the In Color collection that is retiring this time around. Here's a closer look at the sweet bunny.

The flower and butterfly were both painted with Clear Wink of Stella for some sparkle. The DSP used here is from the Blooms & Bliss pack. The cute Lace Doily under the image and the Ruched Sweet Sugarplum Ribbon are also retiring...so be quick like a bunny and get yours before they're gone! Here are a few of my favorite past creations using the retiring Papillon Potpourri set where the beautiful butterflies were the main focus:

Easy Watercolor Background Papillon Potpourri Card

Hello In Colors Card

Butterfly Bookmark Pocket Card

Have a wonderful Easter Sunday!

Serene Spring Birthday Bunny

My Aunt's birthday fell during the Easter weekend this year so I made her a card that would cover both holidays.

I love this adorable little bunny image from the retired Hostess set Serene Spring. I used the same layout and products as I used here  on this Summer Afternoon card,  but I changed the colors & of course the stamp set.

I loved the color combo of Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party & Calypso Coral for a pretty Spring birthday card so much, that I created another one using Summer Afternoon.

Both cards also use En Francais, Tulip Frame EF and one of the new Needlepoint Border Embossing Folders. The greeting is from the Itty Bitty Banner set and cut with the coordinating Bitty Banner Framelits.

I have received a lot of nice comments and some questions regarding water coloring since I posted the Summer Afternoon trio of cards last week. I am working on a photo tutorial about water coloring I hope to have ready by the end of the week...so check back if you are interested.

New Catalog Preview Swap

Happy New Catalog Start Day! WOO HOO! I'll be ordering me a Big Shot later...along with lots of other good stuff from the new catalog!

I was invited to participate in a card swap with some other demos to making cards using the preview sets. This was my first time swapping with this group, and I was really happy with all the cards I received!

Serene Spring and Heard from the Heart were the only sets I pre-ordered, so that is what I used for my swap cards. (I'll make up for that later today when I place my new catalog order!) Here is what my swap cards looked like:
I choose colors and the rough texture of the Sanded background to show that just because this set is called Serene Spring doesn't mean you can't use it for other seasons. To me this card has more of an Autumn feel to it, don't you think?
Stamps: Serene Spring, Heard from the Heart & Sanded background
Card stock: Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Tangerine Tango & Very Vanilla
Ink: Black Stazon, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip & various to watercolor
Accessories: Photo Corner & Scallop Border punches, Vintage Brads & Chocolate wide grosgrain

Have a wonderful day!

Serene Spring Challenge Card

Still waiting for my boxes of new catalogs...still busy creating with the Serene Spring stamp set...still have the song "Big Shot" by Billy Joel* going through my head! Guess that means I'm crazy...or at least getting there. LOL! Anyways...here's a card I created to participate in two different challenges.

The first challenge was to stamp something with a "Thank You" theme at the Stamp Something blog. Then I came across a really cute sketch challenge at another blog called Our Creative Corner...if you haven't seen that blog before check it out...they are a talented group! So I figured I'd combine both challenges into one card.

Here's what the sketch looks like. Hopefully my use of the scallop punch to create the curvy portion on the left side of the sketch still qualifies. I just can't stop using that punch!

I used the Paisley background stamp inked in White Craft ink to stamp both the Plum & Tangerine layers. The card base and mat are Mellow Moss. I cut out the large wing of the butterfly and popped it up & I added some sparkle to the butterfly's wings and to the center of the flowers, using my stardust pen but unfortunately those details don't show up in my photo. I even went outside (in my jammies no less!) to take it hoping it would make a difference. Oh well.
*If you are wondering why I am plagued with hearing the song Big Shot in my head over & over...it is because Stampin' Up! recently announced that they are partnering with the Sizzix company and are now offering the Big Shot Die cut machine along with exclusive SU! dies! I have been want a die cut/embossing machine for a really long time and I am probably one of the few paper crafters left on the planet who never purchased one. So I am SUPER excited about this! I will be placing my order on August 11th when I can also order new catalog merchandise and qualify for new hostess sets. That's less than one week away!!! Sing it with me now...

Yes, yes, you had to have a Big Shot, didn't cha
You had to prove it to the crowd
You had to have a Big Shot, didn't cha
All your friends are so knocked out
You had to have the last cut, last night
You're so much fun to be around
You had to have the scrap page, bold type
You had to have a Big Shot last night,
Oh ohOh Oh whoa whoa oh,
Oh Oh whoa who-oo-oo-oo-ah,
Oh Oh Oh whoa whoa oh, Oh Oh whoa.

OK...now the song will be in your head too! hehehehe...sorry! ;-)

My Favorite New Hostess Set

While waiting for my boxes of new SU! catalogs to arrive, I've been keeping myself busy playing with my favorite new hostess set - Serene Spring. But...since I have not actually seen the new catalog yet, maybe I'll have another new favorite soon. While stamping a certain song by Billy Joel keeps going through my head..."You want to get a Big Shot , don't ya" Anyways...isn't this little bunny the cutest? I've been having so much fun water coloring the images in this set! You cannot really see the dimension on this card, but I cut out the bird and the flower and have them popped up. The scalloped border was of course created with the new border punch and then I dry embossed it using the crop-a-dile. If you've never tried that before, all you do is use the part that you would normally use to set a large eyelet, line it up where you want it on your card stock and squeeze. The key is just don't squeeze too hard or it will leave a small crease on your card stock. I forgot and grabbed my Flannel Plaid background stamp for this one. I love it, but that is one that is retiring, and I don't usually make new samples with retiring sets. Oh well.

Colors used: Barely Banana, Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose & Certainly Celery

Here's the little guy done with Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink & Pink Pirouette. See the little ric-rac border? That was also done with the new scallop border punch. I started with a piece of card stock that is 7/8" inch wide, punched my border, then took out the card stock and flipped it around to do the other edge. You will want to make sure you place it back in so that the scallops are off set and do not line up. Before you all start telling me what a genius I am for thinking up this brilliant trick, I saw it here first.

I used my Boho Backgrounds set for both the background and the little flower embellishment, which is punched out with the Boho Blossoms punch.

I'm hoping that my boxes of catalogs will show up soon...I'll let you know as soon as they do! Have a wonderful day!