BOTANICAL BOX CARD FOR THE N.C. DEMOS' FEBRUARY BLOG HOP

The North Carolina Stampin' Up! demonstrators are having their second blog hop today, and I'm so happy to be a participant!  As you hop along from blog to blog, you'll find a lot of inspiring projects that feature Stampin' Up!'s In Colors and Sale-a-Bration and Occasions products.  Since I love the Botanicals line of products, I chose to use them in the creation of this box card:

Stampin' Up! products featured on my project include:
Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey, Pool Party, Tangelo Twist
Ink:  Mossy Meadow
Stamp Sets:  Suite Sayings, Botanical Blooms
Designer Paper:  Botanical Gardens
Sizzix:  Botanical Builder Framelits, Woodland embossing folder
Punch:  Decorative Label
Accessories:  Fringe Scissors, Basic Rhinestone Jewels

The blog hop participants are listed below,

and you can click on any of the names to continue.

Shavon Borders

YOU ARE HERE - Regina Andari

Tamra Davis

Kitty Helton

Jo Anne Hewins

Amy Ingram 

Michelle Irinyi
Melissa Kerman
Tracie Langley
Sharon Maranich
Laurie Meier

 Mary Robinette
Sue Root
Pam Staples
Lisa Tedder
Frances Wagner

COTTAGE GREETINGS - BONUS PROJECT AT CRAFT PROJECT CENTRAL

The six cards in this set are 3” x 3” cards, and are perfect to attach to any gift. They’re also perfect to leave a little note to those you care about. There is a cute purse-like box to keep them in, too. The cards and box feature the stamp set, Cottage Greetings, the designer series paper stack, Pretty Petals, and the Lots of Labels Framelits Dies. This card set would also make a great gift.

This lovely project, which was designed by Christy Fulk, is the February bonus project at Craft Project Central.  Qualifying for the bonus tutorial is easy . . . just subscribe to two or more months in a row, put the Craft Project Central badge on your blog, or refer a friend to the site.  When your friend subscribes, just let us know.

"GOING PLACES" MASCULINE CARD SET

Today I'm very pleased to share a sneak peek photo of the project ensemble that I designed this month for Craft Project Central.  Following is the introduction that I wrote for my project:

The Going Places Designer Series Paper Stack is perfect for masculine cards, and this tutorial will demonstrate a variety of masculine card designs that feature clever ways to use the gorgeous papers with punches and dies.  Taking the spotlight are two cards . . . one that features the Retiform technique and a fun star-shaped shaker card!  You’ll enjoy the fact that none of the cards are difficult to make, and the tutorial also includes a fun-to-make decorated box for storing your set of eight cards.

As usual, I will be giving a FREE Craft Project Central one-month subscription to a lucky winner!  Getting your name entered in the drawing is really easy . . . just follow this link to leave a comment in the post where you see the sneak peek photo of my project!  The winning name will be announced here on my blog on Friday, March 4th.  Be sure to visit my blog on that day to see if you are the winner.

WEDDING BOOK/ALBUM WITH BOOKMARK & GREETING CARD

Make this elegant mini wedding book that will be cherished for a lifetime. This little piece could serve as the guest book or as a scrapbook to hold pictures. Either way, it is the perfect addition to a DIY style wedding. It comes with a coordinating bookmark and greeting card. While you are having fun crafting, learn an easy book binding technique. No need for a wedding set? Change the colors and turn the project into a birthday gift, or perhaps a travel journal set! This would also make a great sketch book for a youngster. Great for a stamp camp, or as a class project.

The tutorial for this gorgeous project, which was designed by Monika Davis, can be found at Craft Project Central.

CREATING PRETTY CARDS - SKETCH CHALLENGE #56

There's always a fun sketch to try at Craft Project Central, and this month's Creating Pretty Cards - Sketch Challenge #56 is so easy!  This is the sketch:

And this is the card that I made:

As usual, there's a FREE tutorial for the sketch HERE and a chance to win a FREE one-month subscription to Craft Project Central if you make a card for Creating Pretty Cards - Sketch Challenge #56 and upload your card HERE.  I hope you'll play along! 

FLORAL CARDS & GIFT BOX SET

Anyone would love to get this gift box set of floral cards! The cards feature the Sale-A-Bration stamp set, What I Love, along with the Sale-A-Bration designer series paper, Perfectly Artistic. The coordinating gift box also has a big flower made with the Cotton Paper Assortment. The gift box holds six cards and six envelopes. This would make a great Sale-A-Bration card class, too.

The tutorial for this gorgeous project, which was designed by Christy Fulk, can be found at Craft Project Central.

EGG-CELLENT SPRING DIORAMA & CARD

If you’re ready to welcome spring, there’s no better way than with the Bloomin’ Love Bundle and Love Blossoms Designer Series Paper Stack and Embellishment Kit. You’ll create a diorama with a coordinating stand for your mantel, desk, or bookshelf. Or – use the egg to hold candy and gift it with the beautiful card you’ll make. It’s a perfect start to the season! This would also make a fun class or stamp camp.

The tutorial for this project, which was designed by Buffy, can be found at Craft Project Central.

BEAUTIFUL BOTANICAL BLOOMS GIFT ENSEMBLE

This simply sweet gift ensemble can be made for so many different occasions – a baby shower, bridal shower, tea party, any kind of party that you want that sweet and elegant impression! Or how about even just a sweet Home Décor gift to a friend? You’ll learn how to systematically turn the Botanical Builder framelits flowers into a Beautiful Topiary Flower Ball. Then you’ll see how to quickly make the coordinating Card and Tagged Treat Box that will “Wow!” the recipient!

The tutorial for this pretty ensemble, which was designed by Julie Beltramo, can be found at Craft Project Central.

BIRTHDAY BLOOMS FRAMED ART GIFT SET

Give someone this special gift of framed art handmade by you! With some fun water coloring, flowers, and beautiful lacy layers this is a perfect gift for a very special lady! The 5 x 7 framed art is beautiful and easy! The set comes complete with matching card and gift bag so you can present your gift in style!

The tutorial for this lovely project, which was designed by Amanda, can be found at Craft Project Central.

THANK YOU, KRISPY KREME!

Last week when I visited my parents, they shared Krispy Kreme doughnuts with me, which were in a box with an all-over black and white design for coloring.  How fun!  Of course, I couldn't just throw the box out, so I cut a section to fit on a card and used Sharpie markers for the coloring.  The photo isn't all that great, but this was one of the brightest cards that I've made in a long time--or ever.  I think it was a fun one for my parents to receive, and it was fun for me, too.  Thank you, Krispy Kreme, for delicious doughnuts and the opportunity to enjoy coloring and recycling at the same time.

EGG-CELLENT EASTER ENSEMBLE

Are the winter blues getting you down? Bring some spring into your home a little early and be ready to celebrate Easter with this Egg-cellent Easter Ensemble! These branches are already in bloom with soft pink paper flowers and tiny green leaves. The embellished egg ornaments add pretty, delicate accents that are perfect for the Easter Season. Make one for your own home and one to give away. The coordinating card and basket make this an ideal gift for someone special.

The tutorial for this project, which was designed by Julie, can be found at Craft Project Central.

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

Valentine's Day is fast-approaching, and this is the only card that I've managed to make.  I was thinking that I would send it to aunt Betty, even though she'll probably wonder why I'm sending such a plain card this time.  She's funny.  She really enjoys getting cards from me and usually tells my mother about them--and sometimes she'll mention that "it's not the prettiest card I've ever gotten from Regina, but it's real pretty".  I don't take offense to that at all because I know exactly what she means--some cards just have more frills, detail, fun or fancy fold than others.  I had actually tossed this one to the side thinking that I couldn't possibly send it to her but, unless I come up with something more exciting in the next 24 hours, this will be the card she gets.  It was a snap to make.  I used Stampin' Up!'s Archival Basic Black ink to stamp the image (Bird Crazy by Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous) and then used an Aqua Painter to color the image with Pink Pirouette and Always Artichoke ink.  Smoky Slate ink was used to dirty the ground beneath the bird's feet, but then it got muddied when I sponged the paper with Soft Suede ink while the Smoky Slate ink was still wet.  Oh well . . . I guess that's why the bird is looking like, "Really, Regina?  You had to ground me in mud?"  After taking the photo, I placed a small punched heart from Silver Glimmer paper on the bird's breast so it would look a little more festive.  And this, my friends, concludes this week's snappy Monday project.

 

ZOO BABIES LOVE NOTES SET

It's time to express your love!  These adorable Zoo Babies love note cards are a perfect way to share your love!  Hide them in a lunch bag, briefcase or drawer for your loved one to discover!  A highlight of this set is learning how to create sleek envelopes using a combination of the Simply Scored Board and the Gift Bag Punch Board.  This set includes four love notes, four envelopes, a gift tag, and an adorable gift bag to hold the set of love notes.  This set would be perfect for a stamp camp or as a simple gift!

The tutorial for this cute set of love notes, which is a project designed by Michelle Wecksler, is available at Craft Project Central.

BUNNY IN THE CARROT PATCH

You’re invited…to join bunny…in the carrot patch!  These projects feature the Friends & Flowers Stamp Set and the coordinating Festive Flower Builder Punch to create the star of the show…the adorable bunny.  And what does the bunny love the most?  Carrots, of course!  Bright and fun Pumpkin Pie and Cucumber Crush Cardstock are scored and folded to create 3-D carrots…in two sizes!  Larger carrots are strung on Linen Thread to create a garland of carrots…and the smaller carrot perfectly adorns a Tiny Treat Box.  The bunny faced card is designed to serve for Easter greetings…or an invitation…and a colorful place card rounds out the project line up.

The tutorial for this adorable ensemble, which was designed by Sue Plote, can be found at Craft Project Central.

SYMPATHY CARD . . . AND THE WINNER OF THE FREE CRAFT PROJECT CENTRAL SUBSCRIPTION

I needed two sympathy cards recently, and one of them needed a feminine flair.  It's not always easy to add dimension and texture while trying to keep a design simple, but I think this one was a winner.  Keeping a clean and fresh color palette gave emphasis to the message, which is exactly what was needed.

My card features the following Stampin' Up! products:
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Sahara Sand
Stamp Set:  Chalk it Up to Love (Aug 2015 My Paper Pumpkin)
Ink:  Sahara Sand
Sizzix:  Bold Butterfly Framelits, Squares Collection Framelits
Accessories:  Sahara Sand 7/8" Lace Trim, Rhinestone Jewels

 

WINNER! WINNER! WINNER!

Many thanks to those who took the time to leave a comment HERE on the project that I designed for Craft Project Central this month!!  Huge apologies for being late to announce the winner of the FREE one-month subscription!  Random.org was used to choose the winner, and she is . . . NANCY C.   Nancy, if you'll contact me at randari at Hotmail dot com, we'll get your FREE subscription started!

 

LEAP DAY FROGS

Leap Day comes only once every four years, so don’t let it pass by without some fun stamping projects! When I think of “leaping,” I think of frogs and these cute frog cards and treat holder will have you leaping with joy. This project includes a square card, a pop-up card, and a pyramid treat holder. Use them to celebrate Leap Day with friends and family, or create them for a club or class project. These versatile frogs will also be great for Passover and other spring celebrations.

The tutorial for this cute project, which was designed by Yapha Mason, can be found at Craft Project Central.