CardMaker Hop with Ellison/Sizzix

Hello, and welcome to your next stop on the CardMaker and Sizzix Blog Hop!

I hope you've been following along.   The CardMaker  and Sizzix blog teams have joined up for more than a week of cardmaking fun.   Sizzix is hosting an incredible giveaway on their blog, so you won't want to miss a stop along the way. 

I couldn't believe it when this huge box of goodies from Ellison/Sizzix arrived at my door.  Thank you, thank you!!!  I've been saying those words every day as I use my new Big Shot.   And I LOVE that Extended Mulitpurpose Platform.  No more hunting around for something to add a little extra thickness to my "sandwich."   Everything glides though so easily, I think there's no way it could have cut, but there it is--all the perfect little pieces I need, trimmed beautifully.  

We were given our choice of Stephanie Barnard designs to work with.  I picked Triplits Spring Birds.

http://www.ellison.com/product/660136/sizzix-triplits-die-set-15pk-spring-birds

Dusty Pink Card Duo

I made these two cards with basically the same supplies, just switching out the base card color, using a different branch (cut at the same time!) from the Spring Greenery set, etc.

Supplies:  brown cardstock from Little Yellow Bicycle; white cardstock from Bazzil Basics; Botanical stack from Prima Marketing Inc.; pink patterned paper from My Mind's Eye; Single Iris stamp from Penny Black; Chestnut Roan chalk ink from Clearsnap: Quickie glue pen from Sakura; calligraphy pen, fine nib and brown ink from Sheaffer: deckle scissors from Fiskars; Nestabilities classic large ovals and scalloped ovals from Spellbinders; Triplits Spring Birds die set #660136 (die 1) and Jim Holtz Spring Greenery die set from Sizzix

Hello, Birdie
When I opened up this set of dies, first thing I pictured was somehow making a tree with my bird.  I tried several different methods, but none of them pleased me.  Then suddenly this came to me.  I covered the whole card front with the brown patterned paper from my favorite Tattered and Worn stack, and then I cut this Apron Dots paper slightly smaller with an angle on the left side.  Pairing it with a die cut branch from the same patterned brown, it looks like the tree I wanted!

Supplies:  cardstock from Little Yellow Bicycle; Paper Studio patterned paper from Hobby Lobby; Apron Dots patterned paper from My Mind's Eye; Triplits Spring Birds die set #660136 (die 2) and Jim Holtz Spring Greenery die set from Sizzix; chocolate Zig pen from Kuretake

Barn Door Bouquet
You know me.  I can't resist doing one of these with my watercolor pencils.

Supplies:  cardstock from Little Yellow Bicycle; Paper studio patterned paper and brads from Hobby Lobby; agapanthus cluster stamp from Stampendous;  yellow, orange, red and olive green watercolor pencils from Derwent; watercolor paper from Strathmore; Triplits Spring Birds die set #660136 (die 2) and Jim Holtz Spring Greenery die set from Sizzix

Tweet, Tweet!

I woke up yesterday morning with this idea in my head.  I love polka dots!  

Supplies: Paper Studio white cardstock and foam adhesive squares from Hobby Lobby;  polka dot cardstock and white grosgrain ribbon from American Crafts;  Triplits Springs Birds die set #660136  (dies 2,12 and 13) from Sizzix;  Stitched Banner duo die set from Pretty Pink Posh

June 7th, hop on over to Aida Haron's blog.  Her designs are absolutely mouth-watering!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Reverse Stamping

Hello!

Look for me on the CardMaker blog today

http://www.cardmakermagazine.com/blog/

then come back tomorrow

for two new looks for this same card.

U Inspire Me

I'm back on the CardMaker blog today with a creation inspired by "a piece of art, fashion, home decor, photograph, etc."

I'd been looking forward to this blog, but suddenly it was very hard.  One of my closest cousins, Kenneth Andrew Osburn, died suddenly of a heart attack February 25th.  He was only 57. 

 I was stunned.   Still am.  I couldn't even think of creating anything for several days, but I knew I had to get back to work.  

He loved cards and letters we sent.  I know.  Everybody loves getting cards and letters.  But Kenny always seemed so extra-appreciative.  He always made a point of calling to thank us for the birthday cards.  I got a big kick out of making them special for him.  One year I found a sticker set with a golf bag/ball, etc., and I used that to make one birthday card have a golfing scene.  A couple of years ago I got an airplane stamp.  I loved it anyway, but it was perfect for him.  Sometimes I’d see special paper with airplanes or something on it, and I’d say, “This would make a good card for Kenny.”  Last December, I found this die-cut set I really liked.  Among other things, it had a couple of patterns for airplanes, and I planned to use one on this year’s birthday card in July.  It doesn’t bear thinking…I can’t send them to him any more. 

Kenny was always giving to me--giving of himself, giving laughter, comfort and so much more.  He made this blog and so much more possible with the gift of his own old laptop almost four years ago.  I was thinking of Kenny, wondering what I could use for my "U Inspire Me" blog, when I saw the answer right in front of me.  

 Kenny brought this little magnet back to me when he went to Cozumel in 2009.  I keep it on the side of my little metal scrap box, right here on my desk.  

So I dedicate this blog...and all those to come... to my dear, funny, wonderful cousin Kenny.

https://soundcloud.com/denny-osburn/nyd93kenden

.......With love.......

Outside the Box

Look for me on today's CardMaker blog, where I'll be sharing a card I've created based on a design from a past issue.  Then come back tomorrow to see my next card.