Peonies and Paper Chains

Berry Baskets for Pals Paper Arts!

You may have caught a glimpse of my project for the new Pals Paper Arts color challenge on Instagram earlier this week. My Instagram account is the go to spot for peeks at my projects...and a little of everyday life around here.

I loved used this week's color to put together today's design team project. I find the PPA 246  color combo to be quite spring like and dreamy:

I knew instantly that I wanted to make a couple little baskets using the Berry Baskets Bigz L die. They are so quick and easy to make and so very adorable! 

 

The basket bases were made using the 12 x 12 Kraft paper and embossed with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. This combo of paper and embossing creates a very natural looking basket. The edges done in Crisp Cantaloupe and Pistachio Pudding provide for a pretty contrast against the Kraft paper.

 

 

The embellishing of my Berry Baskets was kept clean and simple --

• initials stamped using the Larger Than Life Alphabet & Numbers stamp set and cut out with my 2-1/2" circle punch
• names added using the Alphabet Rotary stamp
• little paper ribbons/flags
• wooden clothespins to hold everything in place

As you may have noticed in the image above, Brooklyn's name was popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals and the edge of piece of card stock colored in Crumb Cake -- these details take just moments to do!

 

 

Hope that you are feeling inspired to pull out your Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, and Kraft! To see the inspiration from all of the design team members, click here!

And, please be sure to play along with us at Pals Paper Arts this week! The challenge closes at noon on Tuesday! 

 
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P.S. I was out of Pistachio Pudding card stock to use for this project. However, thanks to my Pistachio Pudding ink pad,  my brayer, and a strip Naturals White card stock, my dilemma was solved! 

 

Get Ready for Earth Day with the Pals!

Welcome to the Pals Blog Hop for April! To celebrate Earth Day,  this month we are showcasing projects that feature recycled, re-purposed, or earthy/recycling themed elements.

You may just be starting the blog hop or may have come from Amanda at Inkfair, #21, on the Pals Hop. If you get off track at any time, the full lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog so you see all of the amazing creations.

The project I'm sharing today is earthy and sweet. It is re-purposed and recyclable. It is even even a little bit magical...

Two paper fairy crowns! The base of each crown is a rolled down paper bag (bottom cut off first) and it is decorated with cuts from the Fun Flowers, Beautiful Butterflies, and Autumn Accents Bigz dies. A little green raffia forms a vine along the crown and I used hot glue to hold everything in place. They were easy to make and the girls absolutely love them!

Brooklyn was completely cool with modelling the crown for all of you. Britt on the other hand was not. She did, however, let me photograph her standing next to the crowns and some fairies in our play area. I just love the streaks of warm spring sun peeking through the fence panel.

The little fairy figurines came from my inlaws' home.  Brooklyn picked them to keep from their yard when they got ready to move last year...I think we have about seven in total!

We had a gorgeous sunny day on Sunday when I photographed these.

This project was inspired by one I saw on The Crafty Crow. It is a blog that showcases projects that you can make with (or for) kids -- projects from all across the internet. The original source is the blog Happy Hooligans and on that blog, "Jackie and the Hooligans" made the crowns using silk flowers -- thank you for the inspiration!

With our Earth Day theme, I felt that paper was the best choice for the flowers and leaves. This is also a great project for using up left over pieces of card stock...simply place where you want on the dies before cutting. And, trust, me this is an easy project! It does take a moment to get the hang of rolling down the bag, but once you do, you are set!

Know someone who'd love a fairy crown? Make one for them today or simply pass along this idea!

The next stop is Brian King, #23, on the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you again soon!

Earth Day Blog Hop Line-up:

1. Sue Becker at RnR Stamping
2. Debra Simonis at Deb's Stampin' Grounds
3. Nicole Watt at Pixel Maven's Retreat
4. Colleen Mollema at Uncanny Crafting
5. Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
6. Debbie Mageed at Secret Stamper
7. Rae Harper-Burnet at Wild West Paper Arts
8. Jackie Diediker at Stampin' Jackie
9. Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
10. Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty
11. Martie Pollard at Crafty Bandit
12. Shannon Hokanson at Paper Works by Shannon
13. Dawn Tidd at Tiddbits from Dawn
14. Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
15. Goldie Shaul at Punch and Stamp with Goldie
16. Susan Itell at Simple Stampin
17. Christie Crosby at Stampin' Creativity
18. Peggy Noe at prettypapercards.com
19. Katy McGloin at Just Fun Stamping
20. Natalie Bradley at Natalie Bradley Events
21. Amanda at Inkflair
22. Kerry Willard Bray at Peonies and Paper Chains
23. Brian King at Stamp with Brian

 Wishing you a creative day!

 

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Create Your Own Easter Grass

Hello friends! It dawned on me yesterday just how quickly Easter is approaching...just 2 weeks from today. I have a big project that I need to get started on for the girls -- converting some "house" shelves into fairy houses. Definitely time to get that done!

In the meantime, I also know that I need to make some cushioning for our Easter baskets. With just a couple supplies, you can easily make your own Easter grass. I love the idea of using a recyclable material rather than petroleum-based plastic Easter grass!

You'll need a cardstock in your choice of colors, your Stampin' Trimmer, and a paper crimper. If you don't have a crimper, you could use a bone folder to break down the fibers of the cardstock and will get "curled" grass.

The process is simple:

• Cut widest and longest possible piece of cardstock that will fit in your crimper;
• Run cardstock through the crimber 3 to 5 times to loosen the fibers and gets lots of crinkles;
• Trim cardstock into very thin strips on yuour Stampin' Trimmer;
• Repeat steps above until you have as miuch basket fill as you need.

You can use this same process to create fill to put in Tag a Bag box or other gift giving packaging...it is certainly not an Easter exclusive idea!

What material, other than plastic Easter grass, have you seen used in Easter baskets? Please do share!

Wishing you a creative day!

 

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The Stampin' Up! Sale-a-bration Stroll

Hello friends. Hope you've been having a fabulous weekend! With Sale-a-bration ending tomorrow (March 31), I thought it might be fun to stroll on through some of the projects I've shared this year that feature Sale-a-bration exclusive items. Enjoy!

Visit the original post for the Heartfelt Banner kit cards

 

Take a closer look at this project using the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder and Heartfelt Banner Kit 

 

Get the details behind this Decorative Dots card and coordinating box

 

Watch the video and download the free PDF tutorial for these Petal Parade boxes

 

See a series of cards by attendees at my monthly stamp class that feature 3 Sale-a-bration exclusives -- Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper, the Banner punch, and Petal Parade

 

Visit the original post to download a free PDF tutorial for this Sweet Sorbet framed art

 

Take a closer look at this card featuring the Banner punch, Decorative Dots embossing folder, and the Good as Gold card kit

 

One Paper Pumpkin Pretties makes use of 2 Sale-a-bration items...can you spy which one it is? Speaking of Paper Pumpkin, tomorrow is also the last day to get a free set of 2012-2014 In Color Markers when you subscribe -- don't miss out because these kits keep getting better and better!

 

Re-visit this framed Easter art that makes good use of the banner punch

 

Of all these projects you've seen today, which one is your favorite? Please sure sure to leave a comment...I'd love to know which one appeals to you most.

Tomorrow you will get to see my final Sale-a-bration project and I'm very excited to share it with you! Stay tuned!

 

Have a wonderful day and thanks so much for visiting!

 

 

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PPA197: A Very Bunny Project!

Perhaps I should call this the week of the bunny! And, while I promise not to share this sweet little bunny from the Baby, We've Grown stamp set every single day between now and Easter, you'll surely see it another time or two between now and then!

Today's bunny project has been inspired by:

the latest Pals Paper Arts Challenge (PPA197)

and

the current Dynamic Duos color challenge...which is really a three color "triple threat" challenge this week!

Before I reveal my full project, I want to share the challenge sketches with you and a teeny tiny secret about my project...

Two fabulous challenges! Loving the angled pieces for the PPA challenge and miraculously I found a single scrap of Pale Plum that measured about 4" x 5" in with the girls' crafting supplies! Had I not had that, I would have used Pink Pirouette.

The teeny tiny secret? Today's project is the sketch worked in the mini-scale for some Easter treat bags (aka the Stampin' Up! Mini Muslin bags). Oh, and, there are actually two tags!

This project is high on texture -- dry embossing, a heat embossed bunny and sentiments, and the texture of the Rich Razzleberry ribbon. They are tiny but pack a whole lot of punch!

 Ribbon ties rather than the stamped bow ties...what do you think?  

The tags are the identical except of course which color is featured most prominently. I think I like both options equally.

Just how tiny are the tags? They measure 2-1/2" x 3-1/4"...I do find it a little trickier to work in this size format but I think the end result is worth the added precision needed!

 

Do you love paper crafting as much as I do? Or do you simply want to give it try? Time is running out on an incredible offer on what I call the ultimate paper crafting kit -- you can select up to $150 in Stampin' Up! products for just $99 plus local tax. I'm talking about the Stampin' Up! starter kit -- there's no obligation to purchase anything else, but should you choose to purchase more, you'll receive a 20% discount. This offer ends on March 31 -- learn more today!

 

  

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A Sweet Bunny for Easter and Stampin' Up! News

Happy Tuesday, friends! We're a week out from St. Patrick's Day and all attention is on crafting up a storm for Easter! You've already seen some Easter egg holders and string eggs. Today it's time for a lil' framed art!

You may recognize this frame from my faux clover project...I recycle the contents of my frames regularly! And remember you can click any image in the post to see it larger.

This little bunny from the Baby, We've Grown stamp set is oh so sweet...don't you agree? It would actually be very fun to color in the bow tie -- I just may have to do that! The Wild Wasabi card stock was hand torn and then I embossed with the Woodgrain embossing folder and used the Decorative Dots to bring a little texture to the sky.

Wiping the edge of the flag along an Early Espresso ink pad really makes it pop! And  toothpick made an excellent pole...two quick little hole punches and I could just slip it into place.

The double-point flag banner adds a sweet finishing touch and pulls together all the colors in the project...right down to the Early Espresso Baker's Twine that coordinates with the ink. Each flag on the banner is actually two cuts from the Banner Punch and I used Mini Glue Dots to hold the pieces and twine together.

Want to replicate the project? Grab a frame (the opening for mine is 4" x 6"), some Mini Glue Dots, a little hole punch and the following:

Baby, We've Grown

$17.95

Teeny Tiny Wishes Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$26.95

Naturals White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$7.50

Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$6.95

Wild Wasabi 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$6.95

Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$7.95

Early Espresso Baker's Twine

$2.95

Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$0.00

Banner Punch

$0.00

 

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You can get both the Decorative Dots embossing folder and the Banner punch for FREE with a $100 order between now and March 31! Don't miss out on these Sale-a-bration items! Did you know when you make a $150 product purchase you receive 3 Sale-a-bration exclusive items PLUS $25 in Stampin' Rewards? You an choose from exclusive Stampin' Rewards products or apply that $25 to  any products of your choice!

 

When I showed the framed bunny art to the girls and asked what they thought, here is what they said:

"Not good." -- Britt

"So pretty, momma." -- Brooklyn

Clearly some split opinions around here! And now I pose that question to you, what do you think?

  

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Oh Bunny!

Here's a little peek for you at a project that I'll be sharing with you on Tuesday...

As you can very well tell, we're getting ready for Easter here!

Stop on back Tuesday afternoon for the full project!

Happy creating!

Kerry

Stampin' Up! String Art -- Easter Eggs!

Those supplies you saw yesterday? Many of them have been transformed into string Easter Eggs! Tha means that Connie out in California was correct with her guess! Banners were a popular here and on my Facebook page, but alas not a banner (though I do have one of those in the works).

Here are some more images for you...

 

Want to complete this project on your own?

 

 

• Assemble your supplies -- water ballons, Baker's Twine, liquid starch, gloves if you'd like, a bowl, and some cups for drying

• Blow up balloons and wrap with Baker's Twine as neatly as you can

• Roll balloons in liquid starch to thoroughly soak the twine

• Place balloons on small cups to dry for several hours...overnight is even better

• Deflate balloons and remove

• Place out on display and enjoy!

Be sure not to skimp on drying time...

Fortunately, I was able to re-shape the twine, however, definitely not the ideal!

 

This idea was inspired by a pin I found on Pinterest from thewoot.com.au -- they suggested placing little chocolates in the balloons before inflating. We tried this but our ballons just tore. A Pinterest fail? Not really...a fun result even without the chocolate!

How about a little Baker's Twine?

Calypso Coral Baker's Twine

$2.95

Island Indigo Baker's Twine

$2.95

Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine

$2.95

Early Espresso Baker's Twine

$2.95

White Baker's Twine

$2.95

 

 

 

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For every $35* in products that you order from my online store between March 23-31, 2014, I'll send a pack of Baker's Twine! To take advantage of this offer, you need to use the Hostess Code PF7UC7VF when placing the order. * Not including tax and shipping. When your product total reaches $50, you'll be eligible for a Sale-a-bration exclusive item from Stampin' Up! Baker's Twine will be sent to you in April. 

Wishing you a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by and happy creating!

 

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PPA 195: Peekin' Out of the Grass!

For the past few days there has been grass showing in our backyard...not a lot but some! Sun and warmer weather gave us the look at the green. Today the grass is blanketed in snow once again. Like so many people, I am so ready for winter to be over! In great anticipation of the arrival of spring, I decided to create a little green was in order for my Pals Paper Arts (PPA195) submission!

Yep, little grass and flower Easter egg holders! This week's color combo lent itself so well to this project:

The Rose Red, So Saffron, and Wild Wasabi provide such a hopeful array of colors while we wait for spring to arrive!

These egg holders are incredibly easy to make:

• Cut a strip of card stock (any color) that is 1" by 6.5".

• Shape it the strip into a circle and using an egg as your guide, use glue dots to secure into an appropriate size -- trim any excess cardstock away.

• Cut a piece of Wild Wasabi cardstock that measures anywhere from 1.5" to 2" by 6.5" (mine measure 1.5", 1.75", and 2" respectively).

• Use your Fringe Scissors or Paper Snips to cut grass.

• Take your Glue Dots and secure the grass to the originalk egg base that you formed and again, trim off excess grass.

• Embellish as you like!

The Flower Shop stamp set and coordinating Pansy Punch worked just fine for the embellishments and I do think the smaller scale of the Petite Petals bundle would be fabulous! 

The supoply list for today is pretty short and sweet:

Wild Wasabi 8-1/2X11 Card Stock

$6.95

Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Flower Shop Clear Bundle

$28.75

Fringe Scissors

$9.95

Mini Glue Dots

$4.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

 

Now that you know what you need to make them, here's a closer look at the egg holders:

For those of you celebrate Easter, perhaps you'll give these egg holders a try! 

Oh, and one more thing, I'd venture to guess that if you cut a toilet paper rolls into rings, that those rings were make a perfect foundation for this project and you could simply cut make the grass pieces and attach. Just a thought!

 

Remember that the new weekly deals are in full force! You can click the image below to go straight to my online store if you'd like to take advantage of these incredible offers!

Wishing you a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by and happy creating to you!

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P.S. A special thank you to Lisa Harlow for a bit of inspiration today. Lisa is a fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator and we follow each other on Instagram. Lisa sometimes adds a little text to the photos of her creative projects and I thought I'd give that idea a try! Thanks, Lisa! The lettering itself is from the Rhonna Designs app.