Happy Birthday, Mom!

Stamps: Penny Black 'Lace Flower Trio', Hero Arts decorative square and sentiments. Ink: Kiwi Kiss. Carstock: Kiwi Kiss Pattern Designer Series Paper, Very Vanilla. Accessories: Nestabilities Labels One, vanilla grosgrain, Flower Soft, slot punch.

With Mom's birthday and Mother's Day both in May, it can be a little challenging to come up with two sets of special gifts so close together. Two lucky finds worked in my favor this year -- the first was unearthing this set of cards while relocating my craft area and the second was stumbling across the 'It's in the Bag' challenge over on PaperCrafts Planet.

This set of cards was created on a whim back when I was brand new to stamping. My stamping style has changed so much in the past 2 1/2 years that usually early projects are no longer that appealing. I think the reason these cards are still look good to me is that they are follow the 'Clean and Simple' theory of stamping:

Stamps: Hero Arts sentiments and decorative square. Ink: Old Olive. Cardstock: vanilla card bases and envelopes. Accessories: textured stickers, unknown manufacturer.

The Double-Pocket bag (tutorial HERE) is the perfect size to tuck four cards and envelopes in each side. It has a pleated bottom, so it stands alone:

Be sure to check out the challenge on PaperCraft Planet; the 3D Tuesday challenge gals posted a beautiful set of example bags. I would have loved to try the cute little bag templates that were created by Kelleigh Ratzlaff at Digichick used in the examples, but May is my spending freeze month (I try to have a spending moratorium at least once a year to force myself to use my in-house overflowing supplies).

Now I'm off to try the folder card technique featured on the Roses on Paper Challenge blog -- it's a Scor-pal kind of week!

Egg-cellent Edwin

Stamps: Magnolia 'Edwin -- Your Egg?' and 'Log', My Sentiment's Exactly 'Little Birdie', Weathered. Cardstock: Real Red, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Daisy D's 'Paisley Sugarplum' DP, chicken wire DP from unknown source. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Copics, white gel pen. Accessories: raffia, Basic Grey 'Wassail' rub on, oval Nestabilities, SU scallop border punch, copper .

This little Edwin is part of Magnolia's 2009 Easter collection, but I think he has even more potential! My very talented friend, Jacque (Jacque's Joie de Vivre), offered several suggestions for accompanying sentiments; be sure to check them out on today's KL Stampin' N Scrappin' blog post.

Several other helpful resources were used to create this card: Copic Creations has a wealth of tutorial links for coloring blue jeans and the sketch is this week's Just Magnolia challenge.

One difficulty I had making this card was trying to decide if this a hen or a rooster? At first I thought it was a rooster because of the tail plumage. Once I started coloring him/her, I wasn't so sure. We had the regular white chickens while growing up and they didn't have nearly the tail feathers this one does. Guess I'd better brush up on my chicken knowledge before I start up my own coop!

And I'll end on an appropriate quote, also provided by Jacque:

"If you were born lucky, even your rooster will lay eggs." Russian proverb

DRS Challenge #20: Favorite Techniques

I'm a technique junkie, or at least a technique junkie-wannabe, so today's DRS Blog challenge was right up my alley! And since I very recently attended Michelle Zindorf's Chicago Brayer Workshop in March, it wasn't too difficult to choose a specific technique:

Stamps: Praying Girl Silhouette, Amazing Grace sentiment. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Certainly Celery, Cool Caribbean. Cardstock: Textured white, black. Acessories: brayer, crocheted lace, black gemstones.

Doesn't brayering produce a gorgeous background? The workshop was loads of fun, full of useful tips with lots of hands-on practice. Here is a photo of our Chicago group:

We created three different cards and I basically learned that everything about my brayering technique was wrong. At least now I know the correct brayer technique; it's just down to lots of practice.

As a special bonus at the workshop, I won a brayered scene personally signed by Michelle. My plan is frame it and hang it in my craft area. Not only is it art, but it's also a great reference for all that practicing!

Check out Michelle Zindorf's worshop schedule to find when she is in your area so you can enjoy her fun and educational workshops.

The silhouette girl I used on my card is a brand-new stamp just released by DRS Designs; be sure to check out all the new releases, including Dustin Pike's line of animal images. Stop by the DRS blog to view all the Design Team's favorite techniques and link yours so we can admire them and you will be entered in the drawing for blog candy!

DRS Blog Hop Stop #1a

Welcome to the second DRS Blog Hop! If you missed the first post on the hop, the DRS Designs Blog, be sure to check back there to get started. Stop by all the Hops for a chance to win blog candy!!

DRS Designs just released several new stamps, including Dustin Pike's new line featuring his popular whimsical critters. Don't you think 'Jungle Jim the Elephant' is the perfect guy to deliver a glittery birthday balloon?

Stamps by DRS Designs: 'Jungle Jim the Elephant, Walk on the Wild Side sentiment, Dot Easy Background. Cardstock: Real Red, Basic Black, Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, PTI white. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, Ballet Blue. Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities, SU scallop border punch, red dotted grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

DRS is famous for their sentiments and they made sure to keep up the impressive work with an appropriate sentiment for the upcoming graduation season:

Stamp by DRS Designs: Tassel. Cardstock: Black, Textured white, Summer Sun. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black. Accessories: gold cording and brad.

Initially, I was searching for a tassel embellishment, but once I finally found one I thought 'I can do that myself' and I actually did! To make the tassel, I wrapped the cording several times around a thin piece of cardboard, tied around it at about a quarter length, then cut the ends. It brought back memories of my Girl Scout days -- easy crafting fun!

Be sure to stop by the DRS Designs web site to see all the new releases now available for purchase.

**Next stop on the DRS Blog Hop is:

Jennifer's blog/Ink 'N Scrap Habits.

Have fun and good luck!

Buzzy Tilda!

Stamps: Tilda with Bee, Beehive, smARTworks' ladybug trail, Stampendous bee sentiment. Cardstock: Buckaroo Blue, More Mustard, PTI white, black, Deja Views 'Honeycomb' and 'Summer Rain'. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, More Mustard, Copics, white gel pen. Accessories: Nestabilities Rectangles and Circles, circle punches, Mustard grosgrain ribbon, Stardust glitter pen, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Dress it Up bee buttons.

Warmer weather has finally arrived and let's hope the bees begin making their appearance, too. Has anyone else noticed how few honeybees are around the past few years? Although I don't think I'll ever be as friendly with bees as this Tilda, they are always welcome in my garden.

Here's a photo of my garden in 2007:

It's designed to be a butterfly/hummingbird garden with a bit of 'anything that strikes my fancy' thrown in for good measure. Maybe I need a Tilda around to encourage more bee visits?

If you need a few more Tildas, be sure to check out Lena (tackertwosome)'s Magnolia Card Kit swap over on Splitcoast Stampers. This 'Buzzy Tilda' card is a sample from one of the kits I sent in to the swap; 'Happy Moments' Ladybug Tilda is the other.

Using the card kit supplies, the shading jeans tutorials from Copic Creations's current challenge and the sketch from the Just Magnolia Sketch challenge, this card came together in no time. Now I have plenty of time to get out in my garden and start pulling up those weedlings!

NOTE: KL Scrappin' and Stampin has Stampavie stamps are now in the store!! Be sure to check out these cuties HERE and order before they are all gone. You still have a few days to get in on April's free shipping with a $50 order!

DRS Designs Sneak Peek

Stamps by DRS Designs: 'Jenny Giraffe', Creating Yourself sentiment, Easy Dot Background. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Summer Sun, Perfect Plum, Copics. Cardstock: Textured white, Summer Sun, Black, GP110 white. Accessories: Purple glitter, yellow primas.

Another round of new DRS Designs releases will be available on May 2nd and the Design Team is now allowed to start posting sneak peeks! Dustin Pike's adorable animal stamps are making their debut, along with several other fun images and sentiments.

When I first saw this little giraffe, I imagined a sweet baby card. Although very cute, Jenny Giraffe has more grown up options, too. I love her sparkly spots with this sentiment, but I was also thinking a rainbow of colors could be appropriate, too. It's all about creating yourself, right??

**DRS Designs is hosting their second blog hop on Thursday, April 30th. Stop by the DRS Blog to start hopping towards a chance to win some fun blog candy!

SheetLoad Design Team Try Out

Take one SheetLoads' issue, gather supplies listed, assemble cards with cutting guides and lots of amazing examples, then what do you have? Endless possibilities!

For my Design Team Submissions, I decided to use the current April issue of SheetLoads for inspiration. To add a little extra spin for myself, I also opted to use at least one item received either through WRAK, swaps, or blog candy on each card.

BASIC 'Worm Wishes' is a card straight from the April issue; the only addition is a thin mat around the image:

Stamps: Veggiebella (thanks, Lori!) and sentiment by Stamping Bella. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics. Cardstock: Stampin' Up Real Red, Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue. Creative Memories' red plaid. Georgia Pacific 110 white. Accessories: Spellbinder's Rectangle Nestabilities, Provocraft Cuttlebug 'Distressed Stripes' embossing folder, Martha Stewart tomato embellishments.

SLIGHTLY MODIFIED #1. For 'Take a Break', I rotated the sketch, added a few more mat layers, and used a Nestabilities Label to change the shape of the layer under the image.

Stamp: My Favorite Things 'Annie Lapoint Take a Break'(thanks, Shelly!). Ink: black, Copics. Cardstock: Stampin' Up Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant. My Mind's Eye 'Wild Asparagus'. Georgia Pacific 110 white. Accessories: Flower Soft, Bella Baubles, white organdy ribbon, Spellbinder's Label one Nestabilities, Prima flowers.

This was also my first time using Flower Soft -- what fun texture! Don't the lilacs look like perfect miniatures? Thanks again to Eileen (SCS leenk) for sharing this great embellishment with me.

SLIGHTLY MODIFIED #2. For the third card, I used an acetate base. Melyssa Connolly's card in the April issue was the inspiration, and since the clarity of acetate always reminds me of ice, I went for a winter theme using supplies from a swapped card kit created by Angela (SCS monkeymama):

Stamps: Pink Cat Studio's 'Lily and Tweet'. Cardstock: Stampin' Up DP, Georgia Pacific 110 white. Ink: Versafine black, Copics. Accessories: acetate, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, Hero Arts gems, blue organdy ribbon, white iridescent ribbon, Spellbinder's Nestabilities Ribbons Tag.

BEYOND THE CARD ITEM. With warm weather finally arriving, I can't stay with winter cards for long, so my 'Anything but a Card' project is this seed packet holder using cardstock and ribbon from a 2 Red Bananas blog candy prize:

Stamps: Stampin' Up 'Live Your Dream', Papertrey 'Mixed Messages'. Ink: Sage Shadow, Old Olive, Regal Rose, So Saffron. Cardstock: My Mind's Eye 'Bloom' DP. Accessories: May Arts orange ribbon, Primas, Stampin' Up buttons and tab punch, Martha Stewart border punch, Spellbinder's Rectangle and Label One Nestabilities, white lunch bags.

Sharon (notimetostamp) has a wonderful tutorial HERE on her blog that guided me through this fun project using white lunch bags. The holder fans out to allow 3 different seed packets to be included:

Hope you enjoyed this round of cards and more. Be sure to stop by the SheetLoads' archives for 'loads' of inspiration. Wish me luck with the Design Team try outs!