I Love the Succulents

I found out this week that these wonderful succulent stamps are retiring and won't be around for another year in the Stampin Up catalog.  How sad!  I think they are so versatile.  I just want to put them everywhere.  :)

I found this card idea on Pinterest (from Painted Orange blog) using the basket framelit from the Basket Builder dies and I just loved it.  Of course, I had to buy the Basket Builder framelits to make this card!  Ha ha. 

Anyway, I just love how it came out.  It looks like the basket of succulents are sitting on a shelf with a lace doily or tablecloth underneath.  So pretty!

The second time that I made the card I used a green designer paper for the background.  It gives more of a monochromatic look, whereas the first card looks a bit more country.

And how about his look?  I used a striped peach and it makes the card look more playful.  I just love them all.  I'd even like to try making this card using some different color schemes.

Here are all three of them side by side.  Which one do you like the best?  The ladies who came to my stamping class this week loved making this card. 

Succulents are Everywhere!

When I first looked at the new Occasions catalog that Stampin Up puts out in January, my eye was immediately drawn to the Succulent Garden page!  I've seen succulents in the stores, and they are everywhere!  To think that I could make some myself was very exciting to me.  (This may not seem too exciting for you, but for a crafter, it's like paper-crafting heaven!)

Here I am using the Succulent Frame dies that I cut out with my Big Shot.  I have to admit, making them is a bit time consuming.  But the reward is worth it! 

My friend, Kathy, making succulents with me, was loving it just as much as I was. 

I picked up this frame, it's about 10" square, at one of the craft stores last week.  I think I was at Hobby Lobby but I'm not sure.  I just knew that this is what the succulents would look good in.  Another friend, Cindy, suggested that I put the lace in it and I finished it off using an image from the Layering Love stamp set.

I just love how it came out!  Now to just find something else to put succulents onto!  :)

Hope You're Feeling Special Today

This week I made some projects using one of last year's stamp sets that I never got to use, A Nice Cuppa.  

I started with this cute tea pot card and took out the saying,"I hope you're feeling Special today... because that's just what you are!"  I made this card last year at a fellow SU demonstrator friend's house.  I modified it just a bit to coordinate with the Succulent Garden designer paper colors.

Next, I made a square tea cup card to match that says, "You are totally awesome.  And I am totally grateful."  I was feeling quite positive and I wanted to use some sayings that would make the recipient feel loved.

The tea-bag holder made with the envelope punch board was a quick and easy envelope that you can put in a tea bag, a small gift or a note to someone.   It says, "You are Tea-riffic."  Cute, huh?  I got my ideas from Belinda Blom and Pootles.com.  

Then I finished it all up with a large clothespin that I made into a magnet for the fridge that says, "It's a good day."  When I was all done with the projects, I couldn't even decide which one that I liked best. 

I guess I just liked them all.  :)

Craftin' in the New Year!

Over the holidays I ordered some little calendars for paper crafting on a website called Taylored Expressions.  I added them to a sweet little desk calendar that I made using the new designer paper called Succulent Garden.  I love how the Sugar Plum and the Tip Top Taupe colors work so well together.

Then I added some flowers from Grateful Bunch.  The flowers are stamped in groups of three and then punched out with a coordinating punch, my favorite kind!

I loved working with these colors.  They're so refreshing.  Check out my next post to see more of what I made to coordinate with my calendars.

I found the idea on Pinterest from Erica Cerwin.