Stampin Friends 2021 April Blog Hop--All About the Flowers

Welcome! 

Once a month my Stampin Friends and I create cards and 3-D projects following a theme and share them in a Blog Hop. I am so glad you are here! If you are following the blog list, you may have come from Maureen's blog.  Click on Stephanie's name below to continue "hopping."

     This month's theme focuses on a passion of mine:  All About the Flowers!  I thought this would be easy.  Not so!!!  I have many flower stamps (iris, sunflowers, roses, daisies, Queen Anne's lace, etc.).  Because I love them all, choosing one was a dilemma until I saw the Pansy Patch Bundle in the new Stampin' Up! 2021-2022 Annual Catalog. (As a demonstrator, I am able to preorder and create projects before the actual date the catalog goes into effect.) Products in the new catalog will be available for sale May 4, 2021.  The stamps and dies can be used in many different ways to create pansies.  I have shown three ways to make them in my projects.  

     Pansies have always been a favorite flower. When I was five, I saw some pretty flowers (pansies) in my mom's garden.  I picked all of them and took the bouquet to her.  She was a little surprised to see her pansies in my hand. She was more than a little surprised to see how few were left in the pansy patch!  Luckily, they quickly flowered again.  

     Pansy pots are always the first burst of spring color on my deck.  Here in Montana we never know when spring is really here.  Two days ago we woke to two inches of snow on the ground.  Even in cold conditions, pansies are tough--they can freeze solid overnight and be as perky as ever by noon! Here's a pot I planted a couple of days ago:

I can't wait until they fill the pot!

I have a customer whose mother loves to send out cards to family and friends.  Because the mother is home bound, she can't shop for cards.  For her mother's birthday, my friend wants to give her mother a gift box containing cards, envelopes, and stamps. She asked for my help.

With some inspiration from fellow demonstrator Connie Stewart, here's what I came up with: 

a greeting card "book box" filled with ready-to-send cards. The box opens like a book and has two pockets inside for stamps, cards, and envelopes.  

Front of greeting card box.  

These pansies were made using only the die cuts that came in the Pansy Bundle.

Two inside pockets 

Theses pansies were were double stamped with images from the stamp set.  The greetings are from the Hello Dear Friend Card Kit.

I enclosed four pansy cards and decorated envelopes.  Here are closeups of the four cards:

These pansies and leaves were die cut  from images found on the Designer Series Paper that coordinates with the Pansy Bundle.

Greeting Card Box 

Measurements:

Cover:  6" x 10-5/8" Score 4-3/4" from each end.

1. Trim the cardstock to the size indicated.  

2. Score.  

3. Set aside.

Inside Pockets:  6-1/2" x 11"  

With the 11" side at the top, score  at 1/2", 5", 6", 10-1/2"

With the 6-1/2" side at the top, score at 3" and 3-1/2"

Cut in half at 5-1/2" to make two pockets that are 

5-1/2" x 6-1/2"

1. Cut and score according to the directions.

2. Miter the middle tabs (red in the template).

3. Adhere double sided adhesive to flaps (blue in the template). 

4.  To put the box together, make sure the little mitered tabs are sandwiched between the sides of the pocket.  (Hint:  Slide an ink pad into the pocket to make the pocket more secure during the construction.

5.  Leave the ink pad in the pocket, add adhesive to the back of the pocket, and place it in the cover so that box is flush with the score line and the bottom.  DO NOT GLUE THE SIDE OF THE POCKET TO THE SPINE OF THE "BOOK" COVER, ONLY THE BACK OF THE POCKET. 

In addition to the four cards in the box, I also made this card:

I made these pansies by cutting out white card stock petals with the die cuts and then sponging them.  The color combinations and techniques for creating pretty pansies are endless! In your comments below tell me which pansies you like best. 

These are the names and links for my talented Stampin' Friends.  Click on their links to see their wonderful flower projects.  Please feel free to comment at the bottom of each blog.  We love to see what people think of our creations!

1. Kirsty Patrick
2. Katja Ettig
3. Jo Blackman
4. Teri Pocock
5. Maureen Rauchfuss
6. Jean Beaulieu You are here.
7. Stephanie Jandrow
8. Melissa Thomas