Wacky Watercooler "Spring Fever" Blog Hop

Welcome to our Wacky Watercooler Spring Fever Blog Hop.  It doesn't feel much like Spring here right now since we've had yet another snowfall and all the dingy snow has turned sparkling white.  The temperatures have gotten much colder as well so my dreams of not having to wear boots or my heavy winter jacket have been shattered.  Yes, it's still February but I'm so very ready for Spring.  My projects, therefore, are helping me to have an illusion of Spring coming.  I suppose that's better than nothing at all.

Our Blog Hops run in a circular manner.  What that means is that no matter where you begin, as you go from one participant to the next, you will inevitably wind up at the point where you began.  I hope you'll find time to check out all our blogs.

If you've been moving forward in the blog hop, you'll have joined me after  visiting the very talented Penny Hanuszak's blog.  Isn't she creative?

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For my first project, I drew Penny Hanuszak's name.  What that meant is that I had to go back through her blog posts to find my favourite among her Spring or Easter posts.  It wasn't an easy choice and, after waffling back and forth a few times, I decided to CASE her March 7th, 2012 post.  I knew I would be able to make my version into a Spring themed card and I loved her layout.

For my card I turned to the beautiful Irresistibly Yours Designer Series Paper that is free during Sale-a-bration with a purchase of $60.  I love that paper simply because it is so very versatile.  Since it has the appearance of white heat-embossed cardstock, you can sponge it, brayer it, or, as I chose to do, spritz it using the handy Stampin' Spritzer filled with a mixture of Isopropyl Alcohol and a few drops of Rose Red re-inker.   I think it looks wonderful with the white, Smoky Slate, and Basic Grey of the card.  

My image is from the World of Dreams stamp set while my sentiment is from the A Dozen Thoughts stamp set.  I finished up with some small, clear rhinestones and a piece of the lovely, retired Two-Tone Ribbon that is a mixture of Pink Pirouette and Rose Red. 

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For my next project I decided to create what is called a "Joy" fold.  I hadn't done a card with this fold for over a year and had an idea for a square version.  What I had in mind would let me use some of the stamp sets from the Occasions Catalogue that I hadn't yet gotten around to introducing to ink.  

What I like about the Joy fold is that it is like two cards put together:  a large one and a small one.  Of course one has to have an embellishment on the front of the card to help keep the smaller card closed, but that's part of the fun.

My card uses the Ray of Sunshine stamp set from the Annual Catalogue and a number of sets from the Occasions Catalogue.  For the main image I used the Sheltering Tree stamp set and then, for the inside, I used the Painted Petals stamp set.  The beauty of the Painted Petals set is that it complimented the Painted Blooms Designer Paper which I had used for the larger card as well as the Spring Flowers embossing folder which I had used on the Pacific Point panel (to help the design show up I sponged the embossed panel with a bit of Craft Whisper White ink).

Of course I had to do some fussy-cutting.  That wouldn't surprise anyone that knows me.  So, for the front image, I stamped and cut out the tiny bicycle so that it could appear to be leaning against the tree.  I love the finished effect but those handle bars were wicked to cut.  I also cut out the sun which holds the smaller card shut, but that was an easy piece of cutting.

I really love the way these stamp sets worked together so beautifully.

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I thought it would be fun to make a 3-D project and so my little Easter basket was "born".  I had fun using the new Berry Basket Bigz Die to cut out my basket.  I decided to use Cajun Craze and then, for the handle and the top border, added some Gold Foil and Silver Foil.  They just "pop" against the rich colour, don't they?

I could have left it at that, filling it with some candy and Easter "grass".  But I love the Simply Pressed clay and  wanted to add a few eggs to the basket.  Making the eggs was very simple and I put them aside for a few days to let them air dry.  Then my darling daughter came over for coffee and suggested that it would be adorable to add some ears or a beak to the eggs and have them "dressed up" like chicks or a bunny.  Of course I loved the idea!

My little chick wound up being attached to the front of the basket.

My little bunny wound up inside the basket.  His nose?  A tiny pearl coloured with my Blendabilities.

And then I just added googly eyes to my other two eggs and made up nine blossoms using the Spiral Flowers Original die and some of the Typeset Specialty Designer Series paper.  I sponged a bit of Crushed Cantaloupe to the edges of the flowers and added some black "stamens" cut using my Fringe Scissors.  I also added a few Typeset flowers around the basket and a butterfly cut from the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper using my Butterflies Thinlits.

The final touch is a little staked sign with Happy Easter heat embossed in White embossing powder.

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That's it for this month's Blog Hop projects.  I had such fun making everything and hope you enjoyed all my projects.  If you get a moment, please leave a comment.  I'd love to know what you thought of my projects.

Your next stop will be with the very talented Deborah Smart.  She always has such creative projects!