Oh Hoppy Day!

I've been seeing the cutest creations using different Stampin' Up! punches in the SCS Gallery lately. One idea that really stood out to me was the cute little frogs some made using the oval and circle punches. I have a friend who is crazy about frogs, so when it came time to make her birthday card, I knew I had to try one!

I used Celery card stock for most of the frog, Banana for the circle on his belly, and Olive & White for his eyes. After I punched out the Celery shapes, I sponged the edges with Olive and stamped the spots using the polka dot stamp from Polka Dots & Paisley. I used my Olive marker to draw his little smile and a bit of rose pastel to create his rosy cheeks. Can you tell which punch I used to make his little feet? It is one the flowers punched from the Spring Bouquet Flower punch and I just cut it to make toes. I think he looks awful cute sitting there on the lily pad background, don't you think?

To make the background, first I had to borrow the lily pad wheel! (Thanks Bea!) I wheeled across the bottom of the Caribbean card stock using VersaMark ink and then used the poppin' pastels technique to add color. I added some highlights to the flowers and pads with my white gel pen. Then I sponged some clouds using white craft ink.

I had a gift for my friend and now I had a card, but I forgot to get a gift bag while I was out. No problem! I just created one using a white catalog envelope and the lily pad wheel. To attach the handles I punched slots using the Horizontal Slot punch, and used a bit of hot glue to hold them in place. I like to use wired ribbon for the handles because it holds shape better than grosgrain does. The color was a bit off, but I still think it turned out cute. A gift bag just wouldn't be complete without a gift tag and matching tissue, would it? So I pulled out a couple more of my punches (I just LOVE my punches!) to create the tag and then rolled the tissue with the lily pad wheel and celery ink.

I can't wait to hear the little spring peepers peeping away in the pond by our house, but until then I guess I'll just have to be happy seeing a punched froggie. By my last few posts I think you can tell that I have Spring fever! I think I officially caught it when my Spring Mini order arrived last week...the stamp sets, paper (the backdrop in my photo is the new Petals & Paisly paper) and other goodies I got are so much fun! I'll have more to share soon. I hope you have a "hoppy" day! ;-)