The Greetery {Spring Jardin Collection Day 2}

Hello and welcome back for day 2 of full reveals for the Spring Jardin Collection from The Greetery! I'm so excited for this beautiful new release and I have quite a bit to share today, but first, you'll want to head to The Greetery Blog for the official "meet and greet" and as always, make sure to leave a comment here, and on each of the designers' blogs for a chance to win one of two $50 gift certificates to the shop!

My first project for today is similar to one I created for the last release, but this time, I created little baskets rather than pouches! I love how these turned out and I can't wait to make a few more to add gifts and treats for Easter! You can see the pouches HERE and read about how I created them. I will explain the differences between the two, but I mostly want to focus on the new products I used on these!

Each of the baskets feature the beautiful new dies included in the Golden Egg Suite of products! I used the medium-sized egg die for these baskets along with the new filigree borders for the eggs! I cut the three eggs I used for the baskets from white cardstock and then I used blender brushes and dye ink, along with some ink splatter. I cut the filigree borders from gold cardstock and attached them with liquid glue.

These two baskets feature the frames that I showed yesterday on my windmill scene card. I had one leftover and decided to cut it to use on these two baskets. The other basket with the chocolate bunny  just has a solid frame with the Tangled Tulips embossing.

Each basket features one of the new Simple Easter Mini Sentiments heat embossed in gold along with the new Bigger Botanicals dies. I haven't used them all, but I've had fun with the ones I have used! I'll be sharing a few more ways to use those today as well.

This photo shows the basket upright; they flare out a bit because the handle stretches it out, but if you use a shorter handle, it might stay closed tighter. I actually like how it flares out because it looks more like a basket and I plan on adding treats and gifts in a cello bag to put inside.

This one features the new Chocolate Bunnies Die. This die has all of the pieces you need to create this bunny AND it has two so you can have the bunny face one direction or the other! I have another project showing the one facing the other direction so you can see.

One of my favorite things when I was a little girl was the beautiful and magical sugar eggs that people would have as part of their Easter decor. This card was made specifically with that in mind and I LOVE that all of the dies included in the Golden Egg Die make it possible to recreate that look! I chose to create a shaped card to really focus on that idea!

This Choclate Bunny is facing the other direction, but is identical to the other! Having both dies would also be handy if you're creating a tag or something so you could have it on both sides, or picks for cupcakes, etc. This little bunny is hiding in a nest of Tangled Tulips that were showcased yesterday!

I added glitter, pearls, and gold details {paper and embossing} to bring in the elegance of the sugar eggs. The sentiment is from the Tangled Tulips Stamp Set and is heat embossed in gold and then cut using the Tangled Tulips Die.

This was such a fun card to make and I can't wait to make more using different combinations of flowers, etc.

My last project for today using the Golden Egg suite of products is a 5 by 7 card featuring the Golden Egg Stencil collection! I'm obsessed with the beautiful results and it has an empty space for the largest egg included in the die set.

I used the color combination that was suggested on the back of the stencil package because it's so beautiful and not one I would have used on my own necessarily. 

I tucked a few of the new Bigger Botanicals behind the bow and another banner sentiment stamped using the Tangled Tulips Stamp Set. 

I'm switching gears from Easter to share a project using a few more of the Bigger Botanicals! I love this larger sentiment included in the Simple Spring Sentiments Stamp Set. I think this card could work well for all kinds of celebrations; new home, baby, new job, retirement, etc!

I made quite a few of these borders and I just love how it looks with the botanicals!

I used wood veneer cardstock for the sentiment and the card base. 

My final card for today is probably one of my favorites! It features the DARLING new Silly Goose suite of products! I was lamenting that I wanted to create with the goose theme, but didn't have anything in my stash! Cue this new collection! Yay! My wish came true and now I want to make all the geese things! I grew up when geese donned many a home, including my own childhood home, so it brings with it tenderness and nostalgia!

I used quite a few different products to bring this one to life! To begin, I created the frame with the Capsule Fixed Borders Large Die cut from a pretty blue cardstock. I embossed it with the new Tangled Tulips Embossing Folder and then rubbed a white pigment ink pad over the top. 

Next, I layered it onto the background that was cut using the Capsule Basics Die from woodgrain cardstock. I also used the Capsule Basics Embossing Folder and then layered the frame over the top. I wanted to add even more detail so I cut the smaller frame using the Capsule Fixed Borders Small Die from white cardstock and then stamped it using the Capsule Collection Valentine Border Stamp Set. This particular look goes perfectly with the geese theme from yesteryear and it makes my heart happy!

Up next is the thin embossed frame; this was created using the Sweetest Frames Capsule Edition Die and the Sweetest Frames Capsule Edition Stamp Set with gold embossing powder. I simply glued it over the other blue frame with liquid glue.

The mat for the cutie-patootie goose was cut from gingham cardstock with some hot foiling using the Capsule Borders 1 Hot Foil and champagne foil.

Once that was done, it was time to get started on the goose! There are a BUNCH of different options to create all kinds of different geese; I chose to use one with a bow around her neck and her cute wellies!

I'm planning on using this as a baby card, so I chose to use the "Mother Goose & Co. sentiment from the Silly Goose Sentiments Stamp Set. I added a few Bigger Botanicals here and there to finish off the card! This is my last project for today, but make sure to leave a comment here, and on each of the designers' blogs, for a chance to be one of the big winners! Thanks for fluttering by!

Caly Person

Dana Kirby

Kelly Lunceford {you are here}

Laura Bassen

Laurie Willison

Lea Lawson

Melissa Phillips

Wanda Guess

 

A Grand Adventure {Winnie the Pooh} Baby Boy Gift Ensemble

Hello friends! As promised, here is the BIG post with ALL of the baby things I've been working on for the last few weeks! There was a sweet new baby boy born in the neighborhood in December, so after the holidays were over, my daughter and I headed to our favorite fabric/quilt shop to look for fabric to make her some gifts. We were coming up empty, but then tucked in a random bottom shelf was this cute Winnie the Pooh fabric by Echo Park and manufactured by Riley Blake. It seems like it was either really popular or not very new, so there wasn't a huge selection left. I pulled the fabrics from the line I wanted to use and then we went around the shop to find some of the "filler" fabrics.

An unexpected delight is Echo Park is obviously a paper/stamp manufacturer more than fabric, so I was BEYOND THRILLED to discover there was matching pattern paper and stamps. I decided since there is so much to share, I will just put them in the order that I made them, which might not make a lot of sense, but it will for me! ha ha!

Now, I mentioned there was a sweet baby boy born and THAT is what took me to the fabric store, but not long after, I got invited to a baby shower for another cute new mom in the neighborhood so that meant I was making double of a few things! Keep that in mind when I show two of certain things....ha ha! If you're interested in reading about the cards I made, you can find that information HERE. The Winnie the Pooh dies are NOT from Echo Park, but you can read all about it on that post.

Up first are a pair of baby booties; unfortunately the baby shower baby got the shoes, because I didn't have enough time to make another pair. These were made using the ADORABLE Baby Bootie Die (unfortunately retired) using Classic Kraft Felt for the main shoe and then Dark Chocolate Felt for the details.

I went to look at other pairs I have made in the past to remember which combinations I like best and I came across a comment from someone asking about trouble-shooting on a few things. This commenter asked about not having the holes punch out cleanly. It is REALLY important to punch the holes out of the die after each use. I didn't realize this back when I was first making them so I have seen what happens if you do and if you DON'T! ha ha!

Another thing that I have found that ensures better results is to use the small end of a stylus to punch EVERY hole out of the felt once it's been cut. This will help you get even stitches and not miss any as you're going along.

I also like to use Fray Check on the knots so they will be secure as they are taken on and off the baby!  I like to use three strands of DMC floss to achieve this look. You can do more if you like, but I wouldn't recommend less.

I like to package up the booties in clear cube boxes. For this particular pair, I added a red gingham ribbon and a sticker that is included in the Echo Park Winnie the Pooh Collection 12 by 12 Kit. I love the sentiment; Let's wander together to accent the shoes! If you want to see other booties I have made in the past, you can check those out HERE.

Next up is the bib! This is one of my go-t0 handmade baby items and you can see some of the different ones I've made over the years HERE 

I had a bit of fun with the tag since I had the matching Echo Park Winnie the Pooh Stamp Set. It actually came in VERY handy for a few different things that I will be sharing.

Super simple stamping, but it kept the whole ensemble cohesive and had that cute boutique feel to it!

Next up are the ties and the quilt! I started cutting the pieces for the quilt after I made the bib and got to work sewing, while also working on the ties. I have either thrown away or misplaced my FAVORITE tie pattern, so I had to make-shift a new one and I'm just so sad!

I forgot how wonky pictures of fabric turn out; particularly the stripes! This is the main portion of the quilt, but I will show the yellow border and binding a little further on!

The Winnie the Pooh sentiment came in SO handy for making these ties look boutique-y! 

I made two binky clips and added them to the capsule die that was leftover from the card I made! ha ha!

I ended up liking the gingham paper better to package the binky clip. I also added some additional stitches to this one to see if I like it.

Next up are the two "Baby's First Year" mini-albums that are always a nice addition to any baby gift! Normally I have been making this on a ring, like I featured in THIS post, but I decided to make one of these cute (and actually easy to make) tiny albums.

I used the pattern paper and the heavy-weight stickers that are included with the paper pack that were just the perfect touch! Both of these things made this project so much faster and easier. If this was the ONLY gift I was giving, I definitely would have made it more detailed.

To make these books, I use the backer that used to come in the SU! 12 by 12 paper packs. I still have quite a few of those, so I dug through the stash and trimmed it down to suit my needs. For scale, this is about 4 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches; just the right size for a picture or two and then the information about baby that particular month. I use my guillotine trimmer to cut the heavy cardboard and then score it and fold it with my bone folder. Once that's done, I add the paper over the top using adhesive in strategic places so it won't gum up my sewing machine needle. I add eyelets through the pages (double-sided paper is the perfect thing so both sides have a pattern, but different designs) and the spine of the album and then secure with ribbon.

The opening page has a place to write statistics.

Each month has a page like this to keep quick and easy track of baby's milestones. I have a file for this is you're interested!!

You can see the machine stitching around the perimeter with some zig-zag stitching down the side.

Even though the stickers are sturdy, I did add some liquid glue behind each one to ensure security.

I had so much fun working on the quilt in between the other projects. I know I keep saying it, but i just love how I had the paper and fabric to match! 

I was hoping my friend could do the quilting, but her long-arm is in the shop, so it was up to me to add some quick stippling. In the end, it actually looks like dripping honey, so I thought it was very fitting! ha ha!

My daughter was holding up the quilt for me so I could snap a few quick pictures....I was literally working on this the day of the shower! eek! Anyway, she told me not to have "any of HER showing", so I used my editing removal tool and it made the left hand side of the quilt/photo look wonky with it's "fill-in tool" so just ignore that! ha ha!

I think I've mentioned it before, but my latest favorite way to package up a baby gift is in a small suitcase. I chose a red one as I'm sure you noticed in the photos at the beginning of today's post!

This suitcase is bursting at the seams and then I wrapped it all up in cellophane and attached the card to the outside. If I had more time, I definitely would have enjoyed making a tag with those cute dies I used on the cards! 

Whew! That was a lot! Thanks for fluttering by!

P.S. I've been having the best time working on some other non-card projects that I'll be sharing soon, too! My sewing machine is feeling the love! ha ha!