Summertime Stamping

Ah, it's the lazy days of summer are here in upstate NY.  One of my fondest memories of summer as a girl is when I used to sit out in my backyard relaxing under the big maple tree and reading a book.  Those were the carefree days...

This week I made some cards with a summer theme. 

I used an old favorite stamp set, Sheltering Tree for my card.  It kind of reminds me of the tree in my backyard when I was a girl. 

I added the new gingham in-color paper paired with the Butterfly Gala punch and new Rose Rococco cardstock to give it an updated look.  It's hard to see in the photo, but the green tree just looks very summery to me.  :)

Next up is the Daisy Delight stamp with its coordinating punch.  Daisies happen to be my favorite flower.  Although I've never actually seen a daisy in Rose Rococco, I like the soft look of these on my card.  I used the new Birch background stamp for the base of my card.  Seriously, I want this on every one of my cards! 

The cut out words and the little bird are framelits from the Well Written dies.  Cute, right?

How are you spending the lazy days of your summer? 

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?