Spring Easter Basket

What fun I am having with these springy baskets.  This new die is entitled Berry Basket Bigz L Die.  It requires your normal cutting pads and 2 pieces of 8 1/2 X 5 1/2 cs – or 1 piece of 8 1/2 X 11 cut in half.  Although there are score marks for folding, no other pads are needed.  However, because of the score lines, you are advised to only cut one piece of card stock at a time.  The die cuts your basket and trim and is so easy to use.  For the Melon Mambo basket, I also die cut DSP trim and adhered it to the mambo trim with snail.  The trim is actually attached to the basket. with 8 staples.  I embellished the two baskets shown above with the new butterfly Butterfly Basics stamp set and new Butterfly dies.  I love the laser-type cut of these new dies.  I also embellished with rhinestones, Baker’s Twine, and the tried and true Papillion Potpourri butterfly stamps and coordinating punches.  On my craft desk, I currently have baskets in Pistachio Pudding, Daffodil Delight, Bridal Pink, Wisteria Wonder and Crisp Cantaloupe – all in varying stages of completion.  But seriously – aren’t these just too cute?  And so easy to put together.  Wouldn’t this be beautiful in oranges and browns for fall – or red and green filled with cookies for Christmas?  I can think of soooooooooooo occasions for this basket!

This is our final project for the March Stamp Camp.  I hope you can make it.  A reminder of dates and times – March 5th (2 – 9 PM), 6th (2 – 9 PM) and March 7th (9 AM – 4 PM). You can come whenever it is most convenient for you. As always, all materials and supplies are covered in the $12.00 charge and we will be doing the 4 projects you have seen on the blog posts.  I am more than happy to set up an alternate time or provide a kit for you if you are unable to make it to Stamp Camp.  Don’t forget about Sale-A-Bration and your ability to choose one of the free items with a $50 purchase. 

Please give me a call or drop me an e-mail if you have any questions or concerns.  Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com

Lotus Blossom–or St. Patrick’s Day?

The third card for March Stamp Camp can be done either as the Lotus Blossom, or as St. Patrick’s Day .  The basic layout remains the same.

The original layout for the Lotus Blossom/St. Patrick’s Day card is quite different from what we will actually be doing. 

My original thought had been to create a subdued Z card which we see here.  It is a lovely card, but by the time we make 4 lotus blossoms, it can be time-consuming.  Stamping the blossom images is not difficult, but it takes time to ensure you are stamping each color over the proper area of the image.  There are arrows on the stamps to align so that all go in the same direction, but I am hesitant to make a mark on my cs to align the arrows.  So, I decided to go with a simpler (and brighter) version for our card…

and here it is.  Note how we use a single lotus blossom on the card and have added colorful DSP while staying with our original color scheme.  I did choose to add a lotus blossom to my envelope, and on one card, I added a blossom inside my card, but only 1 image is really needed.  I did change up the stamping order.  SU suggests you start with the darkest shade, then stamp the medium, and finally the lightest shade.  I found it difficult to align the top of the stem with the bottom of the flower when I followed their suggestion.  So after stamping the two-part stem, I recommend stamping the lightest image first, then the medium, and finally the darkest shade.  What is nice about this set is that you can re-stamp any of the 3 colors.  I used either Crisp Cantaloupe/Calypso Coral/Tangerine Tango, or So Saffron/Daffodil Delight/Crushed Curry.  Tiny butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslits folder embellish the card as do several colored rhinestones.  Although I stamped Easter Blessings on my cards, any larger message image would work.  This would make a great birthday or thinking of you card. 

Now if you prefer making a card for your Irish friends, this version of our card is perfect.  The DSP, scalloped edge and ribbon treatment are the same – just different colors.   The message is stamped in Garden Green and die cut with the oval framelits.  A frame of Champagne Glimmer Paper is also die cut and placed around the message.  Small rhinestones, punched green shamrocks, and green shamrock gems embellish the card and provide some bling.

What will you choose – lotus blossoms or green shamrocks?

Don’t forget – March 5th (2 – 9 PM), 6th (2 – 9 PM) and March 7th (9 AM – 4 PM). Only the spring/Easter basket remains to be posted. Check back soon and don’t forget to let me know if you will be coming.  If you know which day, that is great but not necessary. 

Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com