Some Easter cards - using Nature Walk

I'm so excited today! The children break up for their Easter holidays and, although I completely understand that it doesn't mean I'm on holiday, it feels all holiday-ish and that's enough for me - especially when the sun is shining! In fact I feel so cheerful that I'm showing you two cards today!

I didn't used to send Easter cards but I rather like to send a few now. Really, it's an excuse to get in touch with family members I may not have seen since Christmas. It's great fun to make cards with a real spring feel too - especially when there's a brand new stamp set out with the prettiest little egg image ever! Yes, I'm talking about Nature Walk from the new mini catalogue. Come and have a look:

The eggs come in a strip of five and by colouring the stamp with markers and using the stamp-a-majig to stagger the image, it looks as if there are a lot of different eggs.

It's easy to go over-the-top feminine when using Easter fondant colours and I wanted to hold back a bit here, so I combined the soft colours with Crumb Cake card stock, roughed up the edges of the focal panel and added a really strong black sentiment.

The edges of the egg panel are pierced and the card is finished by threading linen thread through some of the pierced holes.

Here's how to make this card:

• Cut a 10.5cm x 7cm piece of Whisper White card stock.
• Colour the eggs stamp with Baja Breeze, Bashful Blue, Pretty In Pink and So Saffron markers and use the stamp-a-majig to stamp the image. Clean the stamp and repeat until the card stock is covered in eggs.
• Pierce round the edge of the card stock using the template in the mat pack and a paper piercer. Connect the holes with a Pink Pirouette marker. Distress the edges of the card stock and sponge with Pink Pirouette ink.
• Use a stamp-a-majig to add a sentiment.
• Use a paper piercer to enlarge some of the holes on the top left and weave linen thread through them.

Supplies
Stamps: Nature Walk, Occasional Greetings (sentiment)
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Basic Black
Card stock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Other: Subtles markers, linen thread

I had such fun making that card that I thought I'd come up with another design. My ribbon from the new mini catalogue had arrived and I really wanted to use some of the delicious Baja Breeze seam binding, so this is what I came up with:

More of those fabulous eggs, this time in their group of five. I mounted them onto a background panel stamped with the gorgeous plant image in the set. The seam binding threads under the egg panel and ties in a bow on the side. I was just about to say how marvellous this ribbon is for tying bows but I've just realised I've taken a terrible picture of the bow!

Ah! That's better! You may be wondering where my sentiment is - well okay, I forgot! But since I can't imagine anyone not being able to sleep at night wondering what on earth a card with eggs all over it is for, I won't worry about it and will stamp an Easter greeting inside the card instead!

Here's how to make this card:

• Cut a 5cm x 9cm piece of Whisper White card stock.
• Score 1/2cm in round all the edges of the card stock, then turn it over so that you get a nice raised embossed border. Colour the egg stamp with Baja Breeze, Pretty In Pink and So Saffron markers and use a stamp-a-majig to stamp the image in the centre of the border.
• Cut a 8.5cm x 11.5cm piece of Whisper White card stock. Colour the plant stamp with Wild Wasabi and So Saffron markers and stamp a background on the card stock. Sponge the edges with Crumb Cake ink.
• Mount the egg panel onto the background with dimensionals.
• Take an A5 piece of Crumb Cake card stock. Score and fold in half to make a card base.
• Thread a length of Baja Breeze under the egg panel and tie it round the background panel, finishing with a bow on the side. Glue to the card front.

Supplies

Stamps: Nature Walk

Ink: Crumb Cake

Card stock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Other: Subtles markers, Baja Breeze seam binding

If you'd like to make these cards to send out at Easter, you'll need to order soon! Just send me an email or give me a call on 01280 820593 and I'll be happy to help.

Thank you to all those who let me know that my blog dates and times were all wrong. The clocks in the UK are put forward an hour in March and the whole thing seems to have confused my poor computer! Apparently I've been operating on Pacific time - I knew I felt a bit strange! Anyway, hopefully I've got it all sorted now.

I do hope you can come and visit me next week. I have Masculine Monday at the start of the week and heaps of projects throughout the week using new goodies from the mini. Thank you for popping in today and enjoy your weekend!