Wedding Season is Here

I have four wedding invitations on my bulletin board, so I think it is safe to say "wedding season is here!"  I have made a super simple and straight forward card based on the sketch by Hand Stamped Sentiments for one of those lucky couples.  I do have lots more of the "congrats" Wooden Elements and more of the Pretty Petals DSP so I think I will make three more.

I Have Made a Bunch

I have made a whole huge bunch of these Fan Fold basket bags.  All it takes is one sheet of 12" x 12" DSP, a series of scorelines/folds, and some Tear and Tape.  I will say for the heavier weight card stock you need to double up on the Tear and Tape and a bit of hot glue to hold the bottom pleats of the bag together.

My most used stamp set from the Occasions Catalog is Suite Sayings.  I love LOVE it.  It is so perfect for so many looks and styles; I think looks great on this tag.  Look close at the tag and you may notice some of the Glitter Tape from the Sale-a-bration brochure.  That stuff is super fun and adds such of simple splash of glimmer.

To Dara

To Julie

Homemade and Handmade

On Thursdays, my days off, I like to make a couple batches of homemade salsas and sauces.  This way I have fresh yumminess during the week.  One of my favorite flavor combos is tomatillo and avocado.  Here is how I make it.  In a blender, I have a Ninja, add the following fresh ingredients:

4 tomatillos
1 avocado
1 jalapeno pepper  (for heat keep the seeds)
a handful of cilantro
about 1/3-1/2 cup of crumbled cotija cheese
fresh ground pepper
kosher salt

Blend it all together and taste.  If it needs a little more salt or pepper add it.  If it is not creamy enough add another avocado.  It just depends on how big your tomatillos are.  You will not need any lime to keep the salsa a beautiful Old Olive/Kiwi Kiss green because of the acid from the tomatillos.  This is great on any street taco or with chips, but it is also tasty when used on a Mexican flavored pasta salad or a steak salad.

A couple weeks ago I made a double batch of tomatillo avocado salsa.  I knew I wanted to give some to a friend who was craving good Mexican food.  Being a paper crafter I had to make a great presentation for my salsa.  I used a piece of Pretty Petals DSP to liven up the Mason jar lid and then made a Calypso Coral tag decorated with lots of ribbons and twines.  I used the Creatively Yours stamp set and the Rotary Stamp along with Watermelon Wonder flowers punched with the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack to make the tag as flavorful as my salsa.

I hope you enjoy today's post and say "share some salsa with someone you love!"  Bring on the heat or keep it mild and come back soon to see my next 'day off salsa' recipe.

Global Design Pretty Project

This Global Design Project sketch is fabulous and was the perfect inspiration for the layout for my Circle of Spring card.  In person this is one of those cards that is to die for GORGEOUS!  The beauty lies in the sparkle and shine.   I pulled out my old friend Heat and Stick Powder to perfectly coat the watercolored wreath and bow with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter--yum yum.

It's a bit tricky to see that the panel behind the wreath is a layer of embossed Vellum Card Stock over a piece of Whisper White Card Stock.  The side pattern strips were made from the Everyday Chic Washi Tape and the metallic threads were pulled from the Pool Party 3/8" Glitter Ribbon.

Click over to the Global Design Project site.  They have a team of great stampers who are truly inspiring.

Product List

Circle Of Spring Photopolymer Stamp Set [138964] $16.00	Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101910] $8.00	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $7.00	Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad [138326] $6.50
Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad [133644] $6.50	Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad [133642] $6.50	Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00	Lost Lagoon 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133679] $7.00
Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101856] $6.50	Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [133739] $7.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $8.50	Everyday Chic Designer Washi Tape [138385] $8.00
Versamark Pad [102283] $7.50	Heat & Stick Powder [100625] $4.50	Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter [133751] $5.00	Pool Party 3/8" (1 Cm) Glitter Ribbon [140561] $5.50
Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00

Citrus Color Challenge Chick

We have an array of citrus colors for the latest challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  And I think these colors are perfect for a spring chicken, don't you?  A piece of Pretty Petals DSP on a Very Vanilla card base is how I got things rolling.  Then came the chick from the Honeycomb Happiness Sale-a-bration stamp set.  I stamped it with Soft Suede ink on more Very Vanilla and then I did a simple watercolor technique to fill in the image.  A few tiny flowers punched from the Tree Builder Punch help to anchor the ground and a Linen Thread shoestring bow add visual balance to the top of the card.  The very last touch was the So Saffrom scallop square.  I noticed it was the perfect size for my 4.25" square card, so I went for it--and love it! 

Sunburst Sayings

Hello Monday Montage hoppers.  I am mixing it up today and combining Monday Montage with the color challenge at TGIF.  I absolutely love the colors they have put together.  They are snuggly comfy colors to me and I had to play along.

to dani

to julie

Birthdays Birthdays Birthdays

Oh wow, I have lots to share for this month's birthday themed Creation Station Blog Hop.  I just kept making and making more and more with the Birthday Blooms stamp set and the Birthday Bouquet DSP.

This gift bag is made with one sheet of 12" x 12" DSP.  I found the pattern on You Tube.  It's called Fan Bag from Joyce Jones.  I added a handle which gives it a very Eastery look, so make it for any occasion.  

My second project is a birthday card tucked inside a Sketched Dots Tag a Bag.

The bags are the perfect size for a bulky card that you are hand delivering.

The card is based on Vellum Card Stock and if you look close the patterned hearts are sandwiched between the card base and the front Happy Heart TIEF embossed panel.

This next card is a simple and super quick 3" x 3" gift enclosure card with a matching envelope liner.

This card is my favorite, so I saved it for last!  The paper is so sweet and soft.  I love the twine bow.

I cut a piece of It's My Party Bakers Twine and separated the mint from the black--it's that easy.

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your stampin' experience.  I am going to send you over to Sara or back to Cindy, whichever way you are hoppin'.  They are both fabulous stampers and paper crafters!

Sara

Cindy