PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: Sweet Summer and the Very Best of Recent Pinterst Pins

I decided to go through some of my older and nearly forgotten stamp sets to make a few new cards. When I saw this card on Pinterst, I knew I had to use it for inspiration with my SWEET SUMMER SU set:

Original Pin HERE

 Version One

Inside View

 Version Two

Inside

Copics:

Border Punches by Martha Stewart

Bees by Jolee's

Check out a few more Sweet Summer cards HERE and check out all of the submissions for Paper Pal Arts 250 Color Challenge HERE....and wait...there's more...I made this Mother's Day card below for my dear MIL using inspiration from two card ideas I recently saw on Pinterest: 

Here are my inspirational pins:

Original Pin HERE

and

the letterpress technique pin:

Original Pin HERE

The pin above will take you to a terrific tutorial showing two ways to letterpress using a Cuttlebug or other similar device....and then I saw a wonderful butterfly treat stand on Inkin' Idaho's blog:

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

 ...and I knew I had to make one to go with my butterfly Mother's Day card and my cupcake box (described in a previous post HERE):

,

I just realized that I have to add a row of pearls to the butterfly body.

..and lastly...one of my favorite humorists, Erma Bombeck, once said, "The hardest part of being a mother is having to show up for the job EVERY day!" To the amazing women in my life who are mothers, I'm wishing you a Happy Mother's Day! 

PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: The Very Best of Recent Pins on Pinterest

Envelope Punch Board Easter Baskets

I needed a craft project to hold some Easter treats and here's what I created thanks to a few Pinterest pins and my envelope punch board:

A small and large version!

There is a 1/2" difference between the two sizes in all directions as shown in this picture below:

I used doilies from Martha Stewart. At first, I was folding them in half and using one per side, but then I made so many baskets that I had to cut the doilies in half so they'd last for all of the baskets I ended up making!...and here is the pin that started me on my journey to find measurements:

Original Pin HERE

The measurements and steps to make the small and large size baskets are listed at the very end of this post, and Linda Parker provides a terrific video tutorial with such a lovely accent at:

tinyurl.com/minibasket

I also made a few modifications to her instructions to make things easier and I also listed them with the instructions below....and here are the cards I made to go with these baskets after I saw this pin:

Original Pin HERE

INSIDE VIEW

I felt the card needed a little bit of a boost of color and interest so I added a border at the bottom:

Oops! I realized I left off a background element in the upper right corner!

I added it using Grape Jelly ink, but I like the color I used on my original card (shown right after the pin for this card above) where I used Crumb Cake!

INSIDE VIEW

Stamp Set: SU Butterfly Basics

Ink: SU Lucky Limeade and Crumb Cake,

Memento Grape Jelly and Basic Black

Copics: V17, 15, G29 and G24

Flower Center: Scribbles Bright Yellow

Dies: Rhone Butterfly Wings by Memory Box

and Nesties Labels Four

Large Basket:

1) Start with an 8" square piece of medium weight DSP

2) Place the upper left corner at the 2" point, punch and score

3) Repeat Step Two on the remaining the edges of the 8" square

4) Turn the paper over and repeat Steps Two and Three

5) Fold along all score lines with a bone folder

6) Make two cuts up to the first score line as shown in the video

7) Make the same two cuts on the opposite side

8) On the right and left sides where cuts were not made, score across the flap as shown in the video (NOTE: This step is not necessary with the small basket size as the flaps can be folded over without the score and speeds the process along if you are making multiples!)

9) On the flaps where cuts were made, fold the right and left flap over and secure with glue or a glue dot, then bring the middle flap up and mark with a pencil where the score line needs to be made to bring the flap up and over.

10) Cut a handle 1" x 8.5" out of the same or coordinated DSP and attach with glue dots to the inside of the basket AFTER embellishments - such as doilies - are applied.

Small Basket:

1) Start with a 6" square of medium weight DSP

2) Place the upper left corner at the 1.5" point, punch and score

3) Proceed with Steps Three through Nine listed above

4) Cut a handle 1" x 11.5" and follow direction in Step 10 above

OTHER MODIFICATIONS:

I like to cut off the right and left flaps (on the no cut flap sides) as it gives a nice clean look to the finished basket:

 3D Embellishments on the handle from K&Co.

I also used this technique to mark the score lines for the flaps in the center:

GET WELL CARD

 Here's a get well card I made for my dear MIL.

I LOVE this retired SU stamp set called Garden Collage!

FIRST VERSION

FINAL VERSION

MODIFIED WITH BLACK PHOTO CORNERS

CLOSE UP

showing added sparkles -

It really adds glitz to the overall look!

For a list of Copic markers used for this card

and more cards using this stamp set,

CLICK HERE

FREE TUTORIAL THURSDAY: Best on the Net

I recently took a class to become a Copic Designer and two of the most important things I learned were how to shade using 2 or more colors AND that coloring like a pro with Copic markers takes a lot of practice! If you'd like to see a Copic coloring pro in action, then check out this video tutorial HERE on coloring skin tones from Sherrie who is a Copic Design Team Member. On her website, you'll find several Copic video tutorials located on the right side of her blog HERE. Stamp Set: Fluffles the Cat

Variations on a Black and White Theme

Here are a few variations on my all black and white card posted HERE. I used SU's Garden Collage stamp set (retired), but you could try a black and white card with just a few parts of any stamp highlighted with color. It makes for a quick and easy card and spotlights the most important aspects of the stamped image. 

Color was added with the following Copic markers for the sunflower:

and for the butterfly:

...and finally...Crystal Stickles were added to the butterfly wings along the veins to add some bling to the final appearance.


Be sure to visit the Really Reasonable Ribbon blog and their current black and white challenge for more inspiration by clicking HERE or check out their current challenge at http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.com and click on the current challenge box in the upper left corner.

Nestibilities: Small Classic Scallop Rectangles, Small Classic Rectangles and Labels 4
Sizzix: Square Lattice Embossing Folder (A Stampin' Up exclusive)