Nature's Prints

I'll be honest, when I first saw the Nature's Print set in the new catalog, I didn't think that I needed it.  (Ha!)  I have a couple other sets that look very similar. 

But after seeing all of the pretty cards on Pinterest, I changed my mind.  I think it pairs so well with the Fern embossing folder, don't you?

I watched a video from Lisa Curcio to learn how to make this amazing cut out technique.  I just love the pretty green color (Just Jade) and how it turned out.

Originally I was going to make the card with some designer papers that had leaves on them.  But when I turned the paper over, I loved the Gray Granite brick wall.  It gives the card a very subtle look.  The papers are from last year's Bloom Where You Are Planted papers.  I saw this card made by Jan Musselman and changed the color to green.

For my next card, I kept with the green theme and added some stamped images to the front.  I used the Fern embossing folder and love how this card turned out.  I saw the idea for this from Beth Wainright.  The base of the card is Mint Macaron and the accent circle is Just Jade.

The second time that I made the card, I reversed the colors of the stamped images.  In the first card, the focal image is a light green and in the second card, it is the darker image.  Which one do you like better, the light or the darker?  

For the third card, I used Gray Granite for the base and added just a hint of Mint Macaron for the accent color.  I saw this idea from Akiko Sudano.  I added the brick paper to the front of the card and the pretty cut-out wreath from the Natural Prints die cuts.  I love the subtle look of this card along with the Fern embossing folder.

The three cards coordinate well together and I had fun making them.  I can imagine this set in another color scheme and it would be just as pretty.  :)

 

It's Another Wreath

I saw the idea for this card a while back. The wreath is made from the vine stamp in Foxy Friends set.  The vine is an arc that you can stamp two times to make a wreath.  Cute, right?  I saw this card from Julie T at stampingala.com.  I embossed the flowers that are from the Touches of Texture set and added some leaves using the bird punch.

During one of my classes, one of the ladies used the flower from the Texture set and I love how this changes the look of the card.  The flowers have Wink of Stella on them but it's hard to see in the photo.  There are some mini pearls also on the flowers and in the vine.

Here's another sample made using some yellow and an added bumble bee. What do you think of this?  The sayings are from Dragonfly Dreams.

Which one is one that you like the best?

Spring Wreath

I've had this Circle of Spring wreath stamp set for a couple of years and thought that I'd like to make some "spring-looking" cards this week.  I had a little bit of trouble getting the framelit to line up with the middle of the wreath, so I cut it out with scissors.  I love how this card turned out, especially with the mint lace around the edges of the hardwood banner in the center.  I got the idea while browsing on Painted Orange's blog.

Here is the same card, only with some flowers in the background and a generic "for you" greeting.  My Mom is gone so I won't be sending her a card this year.  Perhaps I can give it to someone else who is a mom. 

Three's a charm - here are all three.  They're pretty much the same card.  I enjoyed making them and just love the colors.  Have you used the spring wreath lately?

The Sheltering Tree

I've always liked images with trees or paths in them.  The other day I took a stamp set that I've had for quite a while and have just never used, The Sheltering Tree.  I made this card using mint macaron color for the leaves.  I just love how it came out.  I ended up making several of these cards, but quickly gave them away before taking a photo of them.  You can't see from the photo, but the green leaves have some Wink of Stella on them to give them a glitterly sheen.

I got the idea from the a card that I've seen on Pinterest by Lisa Pretto.  I changed the colors to reflect more of a spring-time look.  It's like a tree that is still bare from winter but hoping for the green leaves of spring to come quickly!

Next I made this thank you card using the same color, mint macaron.  It's definitely one of my favorite colors.  This card has more of an elegant look to it.  I like the stitched shapes framelits used on this card for the square cut-outs.  The edges of the squares look like they have stitching on them.  They don't really, it's just how they come out of the Big Shot.  It reminds me of sewing.  :)

The image is from the Avant Garden set that was featured in the Sale-a-bration catalog.  I also like the cut out leaves as accent pieces.  I found the idea on the Chase and Main page.

Here are the two cards.  Which one do you like best?

Botanical Blooms and Candy Box Favor (with Tutorial Link)

This week in my stamping class we made this card using the stamp set thinlits from Botanical Blooms.  The colors are Mint Macaron, Calypso Coral, Blushing Bride and Wild Wasabi for the leaves.  The flowers are embellished with rhinestones to give the card a sparkle.

The only stamping is the imprint on the leaf and the saying from the set, Bunch of Blossoms.  I just love how the colors work together!

Then we made a little box favor filled with Hershey's chocolates to coordinate with the card.  The flower is mounted on a little belly band that slips off to open the box.  For instructions on how to make the box, click here. 

It fits 4 little candies just perfectly! Great to give as a gift or to keep on your desk.  :)

They're so pretty, I'm off to make some more!  Let me know how your candy box turned out. 

More Fall, More Fall!

 It is such a beautiful morning here in upstate New York.  The sun is shining and the weather is perfect.  I thought that it was time to post some of my fall cards.  And what better place to photograph them than outside?  So I took them out in the back yard to get some photos.  It was so nice, I almost didn't want to come back in!

Most of the time I see cards and ideas for projects on Pinterest.  I pin them and then modify the designs to make them my own.  But when I saw this card from Connie Babbert, I loved the colors so much that I made it almost exactly like she did.  Who would think to put Mint Macaron and Pool Party with Tip Top Taupe and Chocolate Chip colors for fall? 

It has a matching party favor pillow box using Mint Macaron.  I saw this idea from Sue Plote.  Don't they look just beautiful together?  Would you use this color for your fall crafting?

Of course the stamp set is Lighthearted Leaves!