Peek a Boo Best Birds

This great idea came from Lou Kitzelman. I love the Best Birds bundle and am so glad it is staying with us for another year. Here is my version on Lou's masterpiece:

I used retiring Soft Sky cardstock, 2pcs 4 5/8" x 5 1/2", scored at 3/8" on the longer side. (I do wish that I had added the 3/8" on to the short side, so that it opened on the side like Lou's.) You will also need 2 pcs of Whisper White, 4" x 5 1/4" for the cover and inside.

So where ever you want the fold to be, add 3/8". Crease the score with a crisp fold. Add Tear and Tape to both strips.

Using the aqua painter and retiring Marina Mist ink, I brushed across each of the white pieces for a watercolor effect. Then cut your favorite shape out of one of the Whisper White pieces. Position over the card base and cut a smaller version from the card base. Attach the other piece to the back card base. Stamp your sentiment onto the inside piece, through the window making sure it leaves room for the bird to peak through. The Stamparatus works GREAT for this!

Cut the acetate to the size of your card, (mine is 4 14 x 5 1/2.) and attach between the card base pieces onto the taped strips, lining up the edges for the card fold.

Using the Best Birds stamp set, color two branches, six flowers and opposite facing birds with Watercolor Pencils. I then brush over with an aqua painter to smooth out the pencil lines. Using the outline framelits, cut each item out.

With wet glue position the left facing bird on the acetate, so that it is visible through the cover window

Add the images and sentiment to the cover, sign the back and you are ready to send it to a lucky recipient!

Want to see Lou's version and instructions? Just click HERE

Have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by!!!

Stamparatus Case

It has been a long time since I have done much sewing, and even longer since I created a pattern. But I wanted a case for my Stamparatus, to protect and keep it all together. Here is what I created:

It even has a pocket on the inside for the extra plate and some of my templates that I use on it.

I am not the greatest at writing out the directions for someone else, but thought I would share what I did. If you do much sewing, I think you can decipher it. LOL

Inside and Outside of bag: (Cover)
Cut two pieces of fabric, 22"x 11"
(Pay attention to pattern direction, if needed)

Inside Pocket
Cut fabric at 9 ½" x 18"

Fuse fleece Pellon, 22" x 11" to line the outside piece.
Fuse fleece Pellon, 9 ½"x 9" to one end of the pocket piece.
NOTE: you could actually use quilted fabric, in which case, you would only need a single cover size and half of the pocket.)

Fold the pocket in half and sew coordinating large fold binding across the end raw edge.
(This will be the top of the pocket.)

Position the inside fabric to the outside fused fabric.
Sew the binding along the bottom of the cover piece. (This end will be the front of your case.)
Position the top of the pocket ½" up from the bottom of the cover.
Sew it in place down the two raw sides (twice to reinforce).

Fold the cover up over the pocket.
(The extra will be the closing flap)
(Round the corners of the flap, if desired)
Sew binding around the three raw edges.
(Back Stitch at the top where the front and back join to reinforce)

Add Velcro for closure.

If you have any questions, just let me know.

Have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by!!

Statement of My Heart easel

This card idea came from Jo Weedon. Someone shared her creation on Pinterest and I loved it. I couldn't find the original, so will include my measurements, which may or may not be the same, but I think they worked just fine. What do you think?

Again, I don't usually make replicas, but I am using cardstock that will only be available until May 31. So it was just as easy to cut out two at once.

The card base is Rose Red, 4 1/4 x 11, scored at 2 3/4 and 5 1/2. Crease both score lines to create the base of the easel. Cut another piece of Rose Red at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and glue to the bottom section below the 2 3/4" score line. This will create a flat card(left image) that can be displayed as an easel(right image).

Mount a 4 x 5 1/4 piece of Pink Pirouette to the top of the card. Stamp the Statement Of The Heart on a Whisper White, 2 1/4 x 3 1/4, mounted on a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 rose red. ( NOTE: This is a free stamp that is exclusive to the Gotta Have It All, Love What You Do Bundle, only available through May 31!!!) Attach this to the top of the pink mat. Stamp and color the image from Crafting Forever (not retiring!!!!). I used the Stamping Blends. (wait until you see all of the new colors!!) Cut out the image and attach to the bottom corner with dimensionals.

On the inside glue a 4 x 1, then a 4 x 1 1/2, and a 4 x 2 1/2, spaced approx. 1/8" apart. Stamp the sentiment on Whisper White, mounted on Rose Red. Attach to the inside panel corner with dimensionals. This will be the stopper so the easel card will stay up.

I hope that you enjoyed this and thanks so much for stopping by!!!

Thank you, sneak peek and retired easel

I don't usually do multiples of cards. I just don't like to, and I think I get a bit messy when I do, but when I saw the samples from Laura Fiorelli-Allen on Pinterest, I thought they would make great Thank you cards. And I had literally run out, so a quick way to add to my non-existing stock.

The DSP will be available on June 1 and is called Garden Impressions. Plus it is in my favorite size, 6x6!! I just went through the different designs and decided which ones I liked for the top, then again to the bottom pieces, sometimes it was just the reverse side and sometimes not.

The card is the standard 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, scored at 4 1/4. I chose colors that coordinated with the DSP. I LOVE that SU lists the colors on the package! The DSP pieces are all cut at 4" x 2 1/2".

The ribbon and sentiment are all retired items. I have quite a bit of ribbon and just never seem to use it, so this worked great. The sentiment is from Vintage Postcard and punched out with the 2" punch, mounted on the 2 3/8" scallop punched piece.

Attach the ribbon across the seam created by the two DSP. Loop a 9" piece behind the sentiment and attach with dimensionals. That is it!!!

This is a great design whether you need a quick thank you or any occasion, just change out the sentiment.



Have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by!

Pop-up Book Card

I have wanted to create this fold for such a long time, but just wasn't sure how I wanted to decorate one. That is until I came across Terri's sample, done with my favorite stamp set: Hold On To Hope!
Here is mine:

I think the only thing different that I did, was, I stamped the image onto the oval and she added the image onto hers for more dimension. I used wet glue to put down the right side of the banner. I just trust it to hold better than tape or glue dots.

She was so great to share hers AND the instructions on her blog, and if you scroll down, she has even shared a link to a PDF for you to download! Check it all out HERE

Have a great day and thanks so much for stopping by!! Off to create another Pop-Up Book card!

Sneak Peak

I want to share a card with you that uses some of the new products from the 2018-2019 catalog. I saw this style of a card on a card share, so had to figure it out.

The card base is Night of Navy, 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.
The center folded card is Melon Mambo, 2 7/8 x 11, scored at 5 1/2

Fold on the score line and position in the center of the card base.

Add DSP to the top, 2 5/8 x 5 1/4
Add DSP strips to the sides of the center card, 1/4" x 5 1/2"

For the "buckle", Night of Navy, 4 1/2 x 1", scored at 3/4" (this will glue to the back of the base.
Cut the flag on the opposite end or use the banner punch.

NOTE: When using the Banner Punch add 1/2" to the strip. This will allow for the piece that you cut off.

Buckle DSP: 3 7/8  x 3/4

Create your label and attach to the buckle piece. I used the Everyday and large oval punches.

The stamped images are from the new Hostess set called Very Vogue and the DSP is Garden Impressions.

Here is the inside:

Enjoy the day and thanks for stopping by!