Four Frames & Paisley Petals Sneak Peek (Part 1)

Hi there! 

This month's promotion from Stampin' Up! features a Sneak Peek from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog (release date planned for July 2011).  For the month of April, you have the opportunity to purchase one or both of these items with a minimum merchandise order of $20 OR (even better) if you host a workshop with total merchandise sales of $350 you can receive both of these items for FREE!  With only a couple of weeks left for this promotion, I thought I should share a couple of projects made with these products.

The first is an Easter card.  With the color palette and vivid prints of the Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper, it's pretty easy to just let the paper do the work for this card.

(click on card to see larger image)

Now you may be thinking that these colors aren't necessarily traditional Easter colors or even Spring-like and I'd be inclined to agree with you.  However, when I shared this card with my Mom at our weekly breakfast meeting on Saturday morning, she disagreed and pointed out that the colors on this card seemed very Easter to her.  They combine pastels associated with the new growth of Spring with the vibrancy and drama of the Easter Season.  Well, putting it that way, I guess I'd have to agree with Mom.  (Which, of course, is always a smart thing to do...)

This card begins with a base of River Rock (the edges sponged with River Rock ink).  Adhered to the center of the card front is a panel of Baja Breeze (the edges sponged with Baja Breeze ink).  The focal point of the card consists of a piece of Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper adhered to a piece of Bravo Burgundy cardstock.  Along the left edge of the Designer Series Paper a piece of Baja Breeze seam binding was gathered and pressed in place in a couple of spots (using just dots of SNAIL) and then the ends wrapped behind the Bravo Burgundy cardstock and adhered with SNAIL.  The Bravo Burgundy cardstock was adhered to the center of the Baja Breeze cardstock with SNAIL. 

You may be wondering how the Baja Breeze seam binding was gathered.  Well, there are a couple of ways to do this.  The first is to run a basting stitch along the center length of the seam binding (which should be at least double the length of the surface to be covered) and holding the basting thread in place, use your fingertips to bunch the seam binding together moving from each end toward the middle.  The second is to fold the end of the end of the seam binding together and gently pull a couple of the middle threads which will begin to create a gather in the seam binding.  Continue to pull the thread while gently pushing the seam binding against the thread until you reach the middle.  Then repeat the process with the other end of the seam binding.  It takes some practice, but it's a nice look that will lie generally flat for mailing; which is always a plus.  Once you have the ends adhered in place, you can snip off the long threads left from the gathering.

To continue the focal point, stamp the frame with the bird image from the Four Frames stamp set on Whisper White cardstock using Bravo Burgundy ink.  Make sure the ink is dry before punching the stamped image with the coordinating Decorative Label punch; red inks always take longest to dry.  Using Baja Breeze ink, stamp the "Happy Easter" sentiment from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  Using a Blender Pen, add a little River Rock ink to the belly of the bird to add some interest and then cover the bird with Crystal Effects to add dimension to the bird.  Next, create a mat for the punched frame by punching two more Decorative Labels from River Rock cardstock.  Sponge both labels and then cut one lengthwise and the other widthwise.  Cut the sharp nibs off the ends of the lengthwise cut label and the outer humps from the widthwise cut label.  Then adhere the lengthwise pieces to the corresponding lengths of the stamped Whisper White label followed by the widthwise pieces at each end of the Whisper White label.  Each label piece should extend from the edge of the Whisper White label by approximately 1/8 inch.  The focal point is adhered approximately 1/4 inch from the right edge and bottom edge of the Designer Series Paper.

To finish the focal point, stamp the three flower image from the Punch Potpourri Level 1 Hostess stamp set two times; the first time using River Rock ink and the second using Bravo Burgundy ink.  Punch out the flowers with the corresponding Boho Blossoms punch.  Place the small Bravo Burgundy flower at the center of the large River Rock flower, pierce a hole in the center of the flowers, and insert a gold brad into the center of the flowers to hold them together.  Adhere the flowers to the lower right corner of the Whisper White frame with a Stampin' Dimensional.

(click on card to see larger image)

The inside sentiment area of the card features a liner of Whisper White cardstock (the edges sponged with River Rock ink) with a strip of Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper adhered along the left edge.  The leftover River Rock and Bravo Burgundy flowers punched with the Boho Blossoms punch were adhered to the lower left and upper right corners of the Whisper White cardstock with SNAIL.

(click on envelope to see larger image)

The "Happy Easter" sentiment was stamped near the lower left front corner of the Medium Whisper White envelope with Bravo Burgundy ink.  The three flower image was stamped along the left edge of the envelope using Baja Breeze ink.

Easter is an important holiday in our family.  After we all left home, my parents were very happy to more actively participate in the prayer and pageantry of the Lenten Season in their church home.  As grandchildren began to arrive, the fun aspects of the holiday were added on Easter Sunday afternoon and some years later, they added a brunch to include their longtime friends.  The brunch was a pretty big deal for my parents, involving weeks of preparation and attention.  As a family, we all pitched in to help on Easter Sunday; arriving after church services and completing the last minute activities while all the guests arrived. 

After the brunch, held in the garden area of Mom & Dad's backyard, family and guests would sit for a while enjoying the Spring weather, watching the little ones play, and listening to the older children strategize for the Easter Egg Hunt.  After a while, we'd herd the children into the front part of the house so that the teens and young adults could hide the eggs.  Then we'd let the little ones out to hunt.  After the hunt, the little ones would bring their eggs to the tables and open them to find the pennies, nickels, and quarters (and sometimes fifty-cent pieces or dollar coins) hidden inside.  I have vivid memories of Dad sitting on the ground with my grandchildren, nieces, and nephews helping them to count their money and discuss with them what they might be able to buy with their change.

Easter Sunday will be very different this year.  I'm thankful for the memories of Easters past.  Over time, I'm sure we'll develop new traditions.  Maybe missing Dad won't be so painful then. 

Stamps:  Four Frames, Punch Potpourri, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Inks:  Baja Breeze, Bravo Burgundy, River Rock; Cardstock:  Baja Breeze, Bravo Burgundy, River Rock, Whisper White; Designer Series Paper:  Paisley Petals; Embellishments:  Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Gold Brad; Adhesives:  SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals; Tools:  Paper Cutter/Scorer, Paper Snips, Bone Folder, Sponge, Blender Pen, Crystal Effects, Boho Blossoms punch, Decorative Label punch; Other:  Medium Whisper White Envelope

Comments

[Yapha]

Gorgeous card!! I love that ruffled ribbon!!

[Joni Kelly]

As a fellow demonstrator I find myself thank God above for the simple joys of blogs and shared ideas! I received the stamps and DSP then sat here totally befuddled as to what I could do with them. Your card is a beautiful example and has helped spark my own imagination!!! Thanks for sharing.

[Heidi Baks]

Fabulous coordinating details, as always! You may inspire me to go that extra mile someday. I am happy to report I did decorate the inside of the card for club this month!

[Adriana Benitez]

Another beautiful card, Mickey. Big hugs for you and your mom and you make your way through the "firsts" without your dad. While my own father is still here, he has been ill and I am closer to understanding what your heart must be feeling. (hugs)

[Shelley]

So pretty! One of my favorites made with this paper!

[Holly/Rubber Redneck]

Beautiful card!

[Sara Mattson-Blume]

Love what you did with this paper and stamp! Non-traditional colors or not, it works!

[Diane Simpers]

This card is so gorgeous I just had to CASE it! My stampers loved it!