We're Going to the Zoo!

I love spending time with my grand nieces and nephews - and recently during school vacation - Landon, Mila, mum Katie and I went to the Stone Zoo together.  I took some photos of them and turned them into framed cards.  They love to get mail and to see themselves on cards!

The zoo had these fun penguins along the walk through the zoo - and of course, we had to get photos of them peeking their faces through the penguin's body!

 Here's Penguin Landon (age 7)

 I used another one of my favorite dies from Eileen Hull/Sizzix -  the Mailable Frame Die (curently on sale!)  The frame die has a cut out on the front panel to layer your photo behind - but it's smaller than my photos - so for these frame cards, I adhered the photo right over the opening and I adhered some of the patterned paper on the back side to cover the opening as well.

I added layered flowers from Eileen's sweet Stitchy Flowers and Leaf Thinlits die set -  the different sizes and petal shapes layer wonderfully!

Here's Penguin Mila (age 5)

I just happened to have this fun zoo stamp in my stash - I thought it was so fun when I purchased it many years ago - but I think this is the first time I've used it.  

And the reason I love this die - because you can stand up your card - and display it on shelf, bookcase or bureau!  AND it fits in a regular A2 envelope
(I usually give these to people at Birthday Parties etc -  but I did mail these to the kids -  it cost $3.50 for each one - as the matboard is stiff and thick so it was considered a parcel in the US)

It's good to have it weighed at the post office if mailing.  You could die cut this out of cardstock - it wouldn't be as sturdy - but it would be lighter if you are mailing.

So the Zoo stamp I used actually had two lines on it 

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo,

You can come too, too, too!

but I stamped it and then cut strips of each line - so I put the 2nd line on the inside of my frame card along with some sentiments I made with my Brother P-Touch Label maker to personalize it all!

It was an unusually warm day for Feb -  74 degrees F! So they were in t-shirts and shorts!

Of course, there were also live animals at the zoo......

a beautiful leopard enjoying the sun

and a soft furry Lynx with his oversized paws and black point feathery ears.

And then we went out to lunch at Friendlies and had ice cream sundaes for dessert!

I've used this wonderful frame die many times on projects here on the blog

Mila's 4th birthday frame card.  See here how I made it.

See here how I made this one.

See here how I made this Valentine for Kent.

And -   see here how I made this one using real shells from Sanibel Island! 

 (it really IS one of my favorite dies!)

Please check out Eileen Hull's blog all month to see what the rest of the Creative Team choose as their favorites of Eileen's dies!

I'm linking my card to:
Cute Card Thursday
Cute Critters

Penguin cards
Stamps:  Going to the Zoo - Simply Stamped
Paper:  Black Little Sizzles Mat Board - Sizzix, black and white cardstock, DP Text Style Black and White Designs - PTI
Ink:  Hero Arts Black
Accessories:  Mailable Frame Die and Stitchy Flowers and Leaf Dies - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Noted: Scalloped die - PTI, foam dots, black and grey half pearls.

Papertrey Ink - February Blog Hop

Today I'm participating in the Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop.   Here is the inspiration photo.

Happily, I received my order from the February release just in time and had the perfect stamps to create with!

I used Egg Stripes along with the Egg Die, cutting out a circle in the egg to make it look like one of those sugar eggs where you peek in and see a scene inside.  

Every Easter my sister and I would find one of these wonderful eggs in our Easter Baskets - we would just lap the outside of the eggs to get the sweetness - not wanting to destroy the cute scenes inside!  

 (the thought of eating that solid sugar egg now makes my teeth ache!)

I put a piece of clear cardstock (acetate) over the inside of the opening on the egg, adhered several rows of die cut green tissue grass onto the acetate with Scor Tape.  I stamped the bunny and eggs from A Bit More: Bunny Blessings onto the die cut circle I had left over from cutting it out of the egg figuring out where to stamp so it was just sitting in the grass (not covered by it!).  I die cut a scalloped circle and layered it over the opening on the egg. I sponged all the edges with Ranger Distress Tea Die. I adhered the stamped circle to the panel and the egg over the image with foam dots.

Now I'm off to see how this wonderful spring image inspired everyone else!

You'll find the PTI blog hop here.

Stamps:  A Bit More: Bunny Blessings, Egg Stripes - PTI
Paper:  Rustic Cream, Clear Card (Acetate) - PTI, green tissue paper from stash.
Ink:  Cocoa Bean, Spring Rain Lemon Tart - PTI, Ranger Distress Tea Dye
Accessories:  Egg Die - PTI, grass die - MFT, Circle and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities, foam dots, ScorTape.

Barnboard Hello

I make cards for a group at my church that send cards out to those who are unable to come to church. 

They want cards that just say 'hello' or 'thinking of you' and add a little note to the person.  

Here are some I just made this weekend -  all basically the same - I just used slightly different colors of barnwood patterened paper on each one.

I die cut the hello out of gold paper.

I die cut the foliage piece out of felt.

I added 3 Prima flowers to each card over the foliage piece.

Inside I simply stamped 'thinking of you'.

My card design was inspired by:

Inspired by All the Little Things Challenge

Paper:  Vintage Cream - PTI, Darkest barnboard on first card from Paper Stash Tidings and Kraft Stock Metallic Gold - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology,  barnboard paper with wider boards - Paper Pad Joann.
Accessories: hello die - Waltzingmouse, foliage die - Nestabilities, Prima Flowers, Tombow Glue, felt.

A Basket of Daffs

I have another Easter card to share -  with snow predicted for tonight (3-6"!) I'm going to just stare at my card and pretend it's spring!

I colored my image with Tombow markers and brushed over it with a Clear Glitter Wink of Stalla - so it looks really sparkly in the right light!

My card was inspired by two challenges.

The Inspiration Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers was a web site selling all kinds of gorgeous Iris - but not having any Iris - I used Daffodils!

And I used the Freshly Made Sketch for my design.

Also linking my card to:

Less is More

Stamps:  Spring Baskets - Waltzingmouse (retired)
Paper:  White - PTI
Ink:  Hero Arts Black
Accessories:  Tombow Markers, Clear Glitter Wink of Stella, foam dots, enamel dots - Stamplorations, circle Nestability, butterfly embossing strip - Tim Holtz/Alterations Springtime Background, chevron embossing strip - Cuttlebug.

Flowered Cross

Easter is coming fast upon us being on April 1st this year -  so I'm already making cards for it.

I die cut the cross out of Vintage Cream Linen card using a really old Nestability Cross die.  I layered it over this lovely floral patterned paper on foam dots and onto a Vintage Cream Linen card base.  I used dies from Noted: Scalloped A2 set by PTI to cut the paper and the card base.

I stamped an old foam stamp sentiment in black on Vintage Cream Linen and punched it with an oval punch.  I layered that in the center of the cross with foam dots and then layered these pretty Prima flowers around the cross using various thickness of foam dots.

I made this card today for the Splitcoaststampers Mixability Challenge where we are to use patterned paper background and NOT cover it all up!

I'm linking my card to:

The Card Concept -  Mine is clean and layered

Stamps:  unknown foam stamp 
Paper:  Vintage Cream Linen -PTI, DP Miss Caroline/My Minds Eye
Ink: Hero arts Black
Accessories: Cross Die - Nestabilities, Noted: Scalloped A2 - PTI, small oval punch - SU, foam dots, Prima Travelers Journal Flowers

Mid Month Reminder - Feb CAS Mix Up Challenge

Just a mid-month reminder from me today that there's still time to join in on the February CAS Mix Up Challenge!

For my reminder card I used both felt and cork, stamping and die cuts.  A day late for Valentine's day - but I made this ahead of time and it's already been mailed and received!

I die cut the thin cork and red felt using heart Nestabilities.  The background die cut is Mix and Mat Plaid Die set from PTI.  I stamped a sentiment from Distressed Hearts from MFT on a Sentiment Strip die cut from MFT.

I used ScorTape to adhere the cork heart to the background and I used Tombow Glue on the felt heart and sentiment strip.

We have until February 24th to link up our cards using felt, cork or canvas - there are several links to techniques in using all three over at the CAS Mix Up Blog.  Please join us!

***********
STOP THE PRESSES!!!   Loll and Bonnie are launching a new CAS Challenge on March 3rd!

You'll find it here
 Check out the new design team and all the details of the challenge.
We hope you'll play along and get all of your Christmas cards done early!!  I know I'll be joining in!!

I'm linking my card to:
Happy Little Stampers

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge
I used paper, die cuts, felt and cork

Stamps:  Distressed Hearts - MFT (retired)
Paper:  White - PTI
Ink:  Hero Arts Black
Accessories:  thin cork sheet - Staples, red felt, Sentiment Strip dies - MFT, heart dies - Nestabilities, Mix and Mat Plaid Die - PTI, ScorTape, Tombow Glue.

Surprise Pop Up

Last week the Technique Challenge over at Splitcoaststampers was to make a Surprise Pop Up Card.

I was so excited about it - I ended making 2 of them.

Here's how it looks closed

Then you pull the tab at the top and this happens!

How cute would this be sitting on a shelf or table? I colored little Hoppy Poppy with Tombow Markers - spreading the color around with Clear Glitter Wink of Stella so there's lots of sparkle 

(that you can't see in the photo!)

Then I needed a birthday card for a friend and had this King of the Grill stamp and die set that I have never used since purchase, probably 4 years ago??  I thought it was perfect for a male card.  This set is so fun with stamps for all the layers - burger, cheese, lettuce, ketchup and even an olive stuck in the bun!  I popped up the bun pieces on foam so it's quite dimensional!

And here's the surprise when you pull the tab.

You'll find the technique tutorial on YouTube here.

Thank You Card
Stamps:  Thank You Hoppy Poppy - Stamping Bella, "Pull" stamp from Jumping for Joy Set - PTI
Paper:  White, Pure Poppy, Spring Rain, DP Nostalgic Notions Collection - PTI, Bristol Smooth Surface
Ink: Hero Arts Black
Accessories:  Scor Pal, ScorTape, Cutter, circle punch foam dots, Pretty Panels #2 Die - WMS (retired)

King of the Grill card
Stamps:  King of the Grill - PTI, pull stamp from Jumping for Joy - PTI 
Paper: Dark Chocolate, Canyon Clay, DP Text Style Autumn Abundance - PT 
Ink:Simply Chartreuse, Classic Kraft, Canyon Clay, Cocoa bean - PTI 
Accessories:   foam dots, circle punch, Scor Pal, ScorTape, Cutter,    

Another Favorite Eillen Hull Sizzix Die - The Tool Box

I have another favorite Eileen Hull Sizzix die to share today!  All this month the Inspiration Team is posting projects using their favs - and they will be gathered on Eileen's Blog during the month of February.

I just LOVE being on Eileen's team as I also LOVE making 3D items - and Eileen has so many wonderful dies - you can see them here at the Sizzix site.

Today I've made a project using the cool Tool Box Die! 

It is a miniature tool box - measuring 4 1/4"w x 3"h x 2"d

but it has plenty of room to hold lots of trinkets, treats or little notes!  You just pull up on the handle and the top lifts up.  The edge tucks back into the box to hold it closed.

Here's a view from the back!

Here are some photos showing how I put this together.

To color the box, I used my new 12"x14" Gelli Plate (Thanks to Anne's demo done at Creativation!) putting drops of Golden Acrylic Paints in Teal, Diarylide Yellow and Quinacridone Magenta onto the plate and rolling them out to blend them

Then I pressed the pieces I die cut out of white Little Sizzles Mat Board onto the Gelli Plate and rubbed over all the areas so they would pick up the color.

You can see below some spots that didn't pick up the color - you can press the piece back onto the Gelli plate to try and pick up more color, leave it like it is, or you can rub some paint over the areas with your finger - depending on what look you want.

I folded the box on all the creases and assembled the box using ScorTape.  I glued the handle pieces together, slipped the handle through the slot in the top and adhered the base pieces on the inside of the cover.

 (see photo of handle inside cover in photo of opened box above)

The color of the board you use always shows up on the bent corners of your box - so I painted over all the edges, as well as the inside of the box, with London Fog Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic Paint from PaperArtsy.  I also touched up some of the white spots on the sides, rubbing over them with the London Fog paint on my finger and wiping it down with a baby wipe so it wasn't too dark.

I decorated the edges of my tool box using Tim's Design Tape and Industrious Stickers.  I added a Locket Key with two brads on the front, coloring inside the keyhole with a Black Sharpie

I frayed the edges of a piece of Linen Ribbon and layered a Quote Chip over it.  I drew lines around the Quote Chip with my Black Stabilo Pencil and rubbed it with a damp finger to distress it.

So there you have another of my favorite dies by Eileen Hull!   Remember to check out Eileen's blog so see more of the Inspiration Teams favorites

If you missed my Adirondack Chair post last week -  you can check it out here!

Paper:  White Little Sizzles Mat Board - Sizzix
Accessories:  Tool Box Die - Eileen Hull/Sizzix, Idea-ology - Locket Keys, Design Tape, Industiourrs Stickers, Quote Chips, Stabilo Black Pencil, Teal, Diarylide Yellow, Quinacridone Magenta Golden Acrylic Paints, Black Sharpie (to fill key hole), Linen Ribbon - Funkie Junkie Boutique