Spring Bough

Good morning! No April Fool's pranks from me today, although I'm expecting my kids to come up with something clever at some point, lol! 

Thanks to the wonderful world of forums, I get to discover new stamps from around the world without ever leaving my chair. Recently there was a thread asking for people to share their latest discoveries in the the world of digital stamps, and the original poster shared Wee Stamps. I immediately fell in love! If you're a long time follower of my blog you know how much I love images of sweet children, so these gorgeous little angels hopped into my cart faster than a speeding bullet and I had this darling colored up in no time. Isn't she beautiful?!

Wanna know what my color inspiration was for this whole card? A couple of felt squares I had in an old shoe box! Before I discovered wool felt, I used a lot of the inexpensive synthetic felt used for crafting. I had purchased a sampler of many different colors a certain Etsy seller carried, so I had dozens and dozens of swatches that weren't really large enough to do anything with. However, there were these three colors right next to each other that caught my eye, and this card was born! I ended up using the small squares to die cut some flowers as embellishments. Aren't the colors just perfect?

It just so happens the colors worked perfectly with these pastel papers from the Prima Fairy Flora collection. I love them, and I have to get more of these paper pads before they disappear forever. I rarely buy duplicates of patterned papers, so when I really love a certain collection, I stock up.
The swirly die cuts behind the image are the beautiful Creatables dies from Marianne Designs. I cut them out of some Cryogen White paper I got from The Paper Temptress. It's an absolutely stunning subtle shimmer paper that's not too flashy, but has just a touch of glimmer to it. I've colored on this paper with Copics before too, and it's amazing how easily the colors blend on it.

Thanks for all the lovely comments everyone, and thanks for visiting!

Stamps: Digital image from Wee Stamps, PTI sentiment
Ink: Perfect Match
Paper: Prima, Cryogen White, Heavenly White, Memory Box, Hammermill Color Copy
Tools & Accessories: Creatables die, silk ribbon, SU tiny tag punch, Copics/ABS , Stickles, felt, pearls

Love Notes V-Day Card

I decided to enter this one in Sugar Nellie's Sugar Bowl contest! How did I not know about this blog sooner?!?

I just don't have that many Valentine's Day embellishments, so I decided to make my own. I have tons of wool felt, in gorgeous colors, some of which I dyed myself, so I wanted to use some of it. The little scalloped circle on the bottom right of this card is what I came up with. I simply stamped a heart image onto a pink piece of felt, cut it out and did a little running stitch around it. I sewed on a tiny little button, then glued the heart to a scalloped circle. Yes, you can cut wool felt with your Nestabilities! Came out beautifully! I did some French knots in pink embroidery floss all around, added some frosted Stickles to the heart, and voila! A cute wool embellishment!

Hope it inspires!

Stamps: Sugar Nellie, JustRite, Papertrey Ink, Studio G

Ink: Palette, Distress, Perfect Match

Paper: Hot press w/ c paper, Cosmo Cricket, Papertrey Ink

Accessories: PTI stitched ribbon, May Arts ribbon, Nestabilities, SU Designer Label Punch, crystal rhinestones, Stickles, Liquid Pearls, Button, embroidery floss, wool felt

Peaceful Autumn Scene

Be on the look out for all things felt in the near future! I dug up my old stash of wool felt and have all sorts of ideas for incorporating it into my stamping/papercrafting. You know those pretty felt flowers and embellishments you see everywhere? The cost can really add up. So, the solution, make your own! I've cut felt with dies through my Big Shot machine using the Cuttlebug flowers die, as well as Bosskutz dies. Works beautifully. Just experiment with the right 'sandwich'. Or, like I did with this card, I hand cut them with sharp scissors. I stamped the flowers from Verve Visual's Fancy Florals with Burnt Umber Palette ink, then simply cut them out. Yeah, it takes a bit of time and patience, but I think the result is well worth it! The buttons were colored with some Adirondack alcohol inks to coordinate with the flowers.

Stamps: Rubber Stamp Ave., Verve Visual, Papertrey Ink

Ink: Palette, Adirondack, Distress

Paper: Prism, Kraft, PTI

Accessories: White buttons, PTI twill ribbon, Cuttlebug Houndstooth EF, Sakura Glaze pen, Wool felt