Welcome Baby

This is perfect timing, because I just learned today about the arrival of the first of my friends' expected spring babies.  This means that Bambi and Thumper are going in the mail very soon (I don't think they're supposed to be Disney characters, but doesn't it look like them?)

The only "fancy" thing on this card is the tree--I inked it in Gable Green, then used my Chocolate Chip marker to color in the trunk and branches before stamping.  The deer is Close to Cocoa and the bunny is in Basic Grey, stamped off once.

I mounted the stamped piece of Whisper White onto Close to Coca, then used the corner rounder punch on its corners.  I chose Gable Green for the card base, so it would bring out those spring green leaves, and edged a piece of Brilliant Blue with the Scallop Trim Edge Punch.  The final touch is the sentiment, which was an easy addition from Chit Chat rub-ons.  As luck would have it, there are a number of "welcome baby" sentiments in that pack, and I'll be using those soon.

Happy Friday!
~Melanie

Stamps: Forest Friends
Ink: Gable Green, Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey, Close to Cocoa
Paper: Gable Green, Brilliant Blue, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Extras: Scallop Trim Edge Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Chit Chat Rub-Ons

Crazy Circle Circus

Ok, so maybe it isn't crazy, but I have a serious love-hate relationship with this stamp set.  I really liked it when I first got it, and had so many ideas for those different circles and whimsical cards.  But then I never quite liked how the cards turned out.

I've come back around to liking this set, and I think the right color combination makes all the difference.  Give it up once again for Summer Sun and Basic Grey!  (Note: apparently this color combo is HOT right now.  I don't think I could ever wear it, so it's strictly card colors for me.)  The beauty of a card like this is that you really can't go wrong, just stamp away and overlap the images and have fun.

To get a lighter shade of grey for the sentiment, I stamped it on scrap paper once before putting it on the card stock.  The little dots of solid grey and yellow are left over daisy centers from yesterday's card.  It's that easy!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Circle Circus, Thank You Kindly
Ink: Basic Grey, Summer Sun
Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Grey, Summer Sun

Hello Daisy

A color combination recently caught my eye on a quick shopping trip, and I had to try it for myself.  Bright yellow and deep grey became Summer Sun and Basic Grey...but there's no way to stamp Summer Sun onto Basic Grey.  Big Shot to the rescue!

With my Daisies #2 die (which must have been hibernating for the winter), I cut out three each of both the grey and yellow, so I'd be able to layer with abandon.  Using Dotto to hold everything together, and I offset the daisies slightly to get this very full petal look.  Then I grabbed a coordinating corduroy button in Basic Grey for the center, and my daisy was ready for a card.

This is a pretty large card: 5-1/4 by 5-1/4.  There's so much room to write!  I grabbed some designer series paper in Basic Grey (from a retired set) and mounted that on summer sun for the thinnest of borders.  However, I was then at a loss for a greeting--especially because you can't stamp onto such a dark color.  I also wanted a greeting that would be as bold as the daisy, so I turned again to the Big Shot.  With my Timeless Type sizzlits, I cut out a very bright hello...and added an exclamation point (a) for emphasis (b) because my word wasn't centered.  Which do you think is the right answer?

TIP: To save paper/reduce oddly shaped scraps when using the Timeless Type dies, punch out your paper with the 1-1/4" square punch first.  That way you get only the letter you want, and I was able to use my scraps from the daisies.

This card is ready to go in the mail, but it's more likely that I'll hand-deliver this one or stick it in a package.  The size and shape mean that this card requires extra postage, and that's an important detail!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Paper: Summer Sun, Basic Grey, Whisper White, Urban Oasis (retired)
Extras: Big Shot, Daisies #2, Timeless Type, Basic Grey Corduroy Buttons