Susan Tierney Cockburn – crazyforpaper

Put A Bird on it!

Pink House H2O (2)

It’s a new month with new challenges! This week’s challenge is put a bird on it. There’s 3 on this card! I recently acquired Art Impression’s Holiday Mansion 4926 and HM Garden Set 5096: 4926 – Holiday Mansion 5096 – HM Garden Set

Ai Holiday House dies stamps

Both of these sets include the stamps and matching dies. Ai also has a “Holiday” themed stamp and die set, as well as a Valentines Day set too, giving you so many different looks.

4927 – HM Accessory Set: 4927 – HM Accessory Set

4977 – HM – Valentine Set: 4977 – Valentine Set

I am nuts for this set because it looks different depending on however you color it or decorate it. Here’s a picture of the same two sets but in a different color scheme:

Blue ai house H2O

Pink House H2O (2)

The blue one I made right away and gave it to my best girlfriend. The pink one I made for this challenge and went a little nuts with the decorating. I do have some tips that will help you get better results with stamping and cutting these adorable stamp and die sets.

The Steps:

Step 1: First stamp the “house” stamp on white cardstock. I knew I wanted to fussy cut the house to be adhered to a hand made background. Also, there is no die in the set that cuts out the outline of the house. This is what the house dies do:

House white template

They cut out the windows and doors. There are two shutter stamps and matching dies. So here’s TIP #1: If you look close at the stamped house on the right above, when I taped the dies to the stamped image and ran it through my cutting machine, I was off just a little bit. In particular, the arch on the door. You’ll see, at the top of the arch, I cut off part of the bottom of the stamped “porch cover”. So the tip is to tape these dies to a strip of white cardstock in order to make a template. This allows you to use this template to see exactly where to tape the dies. It’s hard to see when the die is upside down on your projects because you know longer can see the blade

Tip #2: You can stamp the house on white cardstock as well as the accessory stamps on this same layer and create a scene using only the stamps. Or, a combination of both, like only cutting out the house dies but not the accessory stamps in the scene. In this case you will REALLY want to use a template.

Step 2: I stamped the “flower pot” accessory stamp a bunch of times on white cardstock. This gives you lots of options for not only how many you’ll actually use, but what colors you like best with the rest of the scene. Any you don’t use you save for another project! I stamped colored and cut all the rest of the accessories once.

Step 3: This step is optional but I think is what makes it so fun, is to have a little surprise behind the two doors that open, and also that you see through the windows. For this I used Ai: 4745 – Talk Much Set

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I stamped this little tea scene and then cut the colored scene in pieces so I could place the table scene through the front door and the Chandelier through the top left window.

Then I put a couple of stamped, colored and cut flower pots in the other two.

Step 4: I used this set from Elizabeth Craft Designs:992 – CountryScapes – The Woods 1

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I only used the left side of the tree. I cut the trunk from brown cardstock and the leaves from green.

The fence was cut with an Elizabeth Craft Designs 1134 – CountryScapes Nantucket Arbor & Picket Fence. As of this day they didn’t show it available now. However, I cut two of the fences out of white cardstock.

Picket Fence die

The last thing is to cut two “grass edges” from this set that is also no longer available but is a set by Karen Burniston 914 – Outdoor Edges – 3 die set

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From green cardstock, I cut one edge with the wavy one and one with the Grass edge.

The last step is to assemble your little scene as shown below:

Pink House H2O (2)

Thanks so much for taking a look. I just think this set is adorable and I will be buying the other two decorator accessory sets because I can’t wait to use this set for Christmas, Halloween, and Valentines Day!

Other Products Used:

Michael’s Craft Store: All cardstock

Beacon’s Kid’s Choice Glue

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

CutterPillar Pro

C4C – Fall Themed Challenge

An October Birthday Card

My youngest daughter’s birthday is in October. I have never made her a card that represented her month of the year. So this weeks challenge theme gave me an opportunity to do just that.

The Steps:

First cut a rectangle from white cardstock that measures 5.25″ x 6.75″ then using the stencil from Elizabeth Craft Designs called: S016 – Earth and Sky stencil clouds on the upper third of this rectangle. The picture shows me using this stencil on a different project. I forgot to take a picture of this one.

Earth & Sky - Stencil - ElizabethCraftDesigns.com

2018-05-23 13.26.28 Next, using Elizabeth Craft Designs: 1366 – CountryScapes – Land & Sea

2018-03-19 12.18.29 and the edge die that has the barn and trees, tape it to the top of a 2nd piece of white cardstock that measures 6.75′ x 5.25″. Color the barn and trees and the top edges with Copic Markers. Then I used PanPastels to color the rest of this layer. Adhere this layer to the stenciled clouds layer, matching up the two bottom corners.

Next, die cut all the elements from these die sets:

Cut all the pcs. that make up the scarecrow, and the bale of hay pc. I didn’t use the pumpkins from this set.

Instead, I used the pumpkins from this set that I just discovered may be no longer available.

Corn stock Flora 4 I cut the stalks out twice, the pumpkins several times to have enough and 3 times for the sunflower pcs. I also cut the vine pc. twice. All these pcs. were cut with white cardstock and colored with Copic Markers.

The last die set was also from Elizabeth Craft Designs: 1084 – CountryScapes – New England Stone Wall & Gate

Cut the little fence piece twice. The last element is the “happy birthday” sign. I stamped the sentiment on another pc. of wood grain cardstock and glued it to a leftover pc. that looked like a stake to me.

Now adhere all the cute little elements to make your “October” fall scene and adhere to a side fold base that measures 5.5 ” x 7″ Here’s another look:

That’s it!

Thanks again for spending some precious time over here! I hope you’ll take this week’s challenge and I’ll see you in October when I will host the blog and have a special guest designer planned.

Other Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs: Soft Finish Cardstock Dove Gray 12′ x 12″ (base card), Clear Double Sided Adhesive 10mm

Beacon’s Kids Choice Glue

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

A Holiday Front Door

If I don’t start Christmas in September, I don’t have time when the season begins!

Yes, I’m still making Christmas Cards! If I don’t get started in September, I don’t have enough for what I like to send out. Since my friends know I make greeting cards, they expect a handmade card. Once the season is here there is too much to do to be in the craft room. So here’s how I made this card.

The Steps:

Step 1: Die cut all the elements for your little holiday door scene. Cut one door from a light brown cardstock using: 1128 – CountryScapes Carolina Farmhouse Door

Step 2: Cut all 5 pcs. from green cardstock with the: 755 – 5 Part Pine

Add glitter dots to all the points of the 5 parts of the tree: Red/gold Glitter Dots

The little gold star for the top of the tree was in my stash.

Step 3: Cut the tiny wreath and tiny leaves from green cardstock and berries from red. : 1088 – Garden Notes – Holiday Holly & Berries

I used some dies from a few more die sets: 1010 – CountryScapes -Backyard 2 I die cut the mailbox from this set:

I cut the Holly Boarder out of white cardstock and colored with Copic Markers for the top of the card from this set: 925 – Holly Border

I stamped the curtains from a tiny little green plaid cardstock and cut them out with this set: 4749 – Window Deco Die

I cut the little bow for the door wreath from: 1460 – Spring Basket

The little grass pc. below the mail box is from a discontinued die set.

The last die cut is the “Happy Holidays” sentiment from: 1467 – Words 3 – Happy Holidays

Once you’ve cut, colored and assembled all the little elements for the door scene it’s time to assemble the card. Score a pc. of 8.5 x 11″ red cardstock at 5.5 “, fold over for a book fold and trim to 5.5 ‘ x 7”.

Cut a white rectangle from white cardstock that measures 5.25″ x 6.75″ and adhere to the red base. Cut a pc. of “brick” designer paper that measures 5″ x 6.5″ and adhere to the white layer.

Now add all your assembled elements as shown. Here’s another look:

That’s it!

Thank for taking the time to look at this project. I love to get comments and read every one!

Other Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs: Clear Double sided Adhesive 10mm

Beacons Kids Choice Glue

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

C4C -446 National Mountain Climbing Day!

Who knew we have a National Mountain Climbing Day?

2018-07-23 C4C446

Yep, It’s National Mountain Climbing Day! First, let me say you’ll will never get me to climb a mountain. But I do ride a tricycle! My dog rides in the back (pic. on right).

Here’s how I made this card:

Step 1: Cut a pc. of white cardstock in a rectangle that measures .25 x 7″. Using a stencil by Susan Tierney Cockburn called S016 – Earth and Sky stencil clouds with PanPastels 520.5 Ultramarine Blue on the top half of this rectangle.

Earth & Sky - Stencil - ElizabethCraftDesigns.com

Step 2: I used this die set from Elizabeth Craft Designs called Western Edges which is no longer available. It is a Karen Burniston die set. Cut both the mountain one and the horse one from white cardstock. The mountain one was cut by putting the die at the top of a 6 x 5.25″ white cardstock rectangle and colored with PanPastel’s 780.5 Raw Umber and 250.5 Diarylide Yellow. The horse die was cut from a white cardstock rectangle measuring 5.25 x 4″. I colored the horses with Copic Markers and the rest was colored with the same two PanPastels as the mountain layer but with less of the Raw Umber. The 3 grass pcs. were also cut from scrap white cardstock and colored lightly with the Raw Umber also. The barbed wire was cut from Silver Mirror cardstock.

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Step 3: Make a base card by scoring an 8.5 x 11″ at 5.5″ and fold over for a book fold card. Now start layering your 3 western edges as shown on top the stenciled “clouds” layer. Add the 3 grass pcs. and the barbed wire pc.

Step 4: I created the sentiment by using stamps from this set from Elizabeth Craft Designs: CS077 – Sentiments 2 – Just Because I love both the size and font in this set. Plus, it’s on SALE for 5.95!

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That’s it!

Thanks so much for taking a look. I love visitors and comments or questions. I hope you’ll take the challenge this week and show us you version of the “Mountain” challenge.

Other Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs: Clear Double Sided Adhesive 10mm

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

Walmart: Reflections 110lb. white cardstock

Beacon’s Kids Choice Glue

A Sunflower Tag Card

A Triple Duty “Tag die set”!

2018-06-26 DRU - Sunflower Tag card

2018-06-26 DRU Sunflower tag inside

I love to find either new or different ways to use my die sets. Let’s face it, they’re an investment. So our intention is that we’ll use it often. However, we live in the real world that often distracts us of our original intention. This die set was one of those purchases for me. I got them on sale or I probably wouldn’t have bought them. That would have been my loss! I just didn’t see how much I would actually use it. I stopped making a big deal out of wrapping presents when the grands were little because they only care what’s inside at that age. Now, they prefer gift cards or cash. Who doesn’t?

Here’s a photo of the “Tag” die used last Christmas as tags. I decorated an envelope and adhered it to the back for the $ or card.

2017-12-27 C4C-416 Tags Challeng

For this project I wanted to show you how to use this versatile die set to also create a book fold card.

I used Elizabeth Craft Designs: 960 – Tags & More 7 – Vine

The Steps:

Step 1: Make the base card by scoring a pc. of 8.5″ x 11″ at 4.25″ on the 8.5″. Fold over for a book fold that is 4.25″ x 11″. Using the die pc. that cuts the top and an inch down the sides and tape it to the closed base as below. Notice that I’ve positioned the die to hang over the fold so that it doesn’t cut on that side.:

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In the photo below, I flipped this step over so you can see the fold is taped right next to the blade but not over it.

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The next photo is the result of this run through the cutting machine:

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Step 2. Using the die in the photo below from this set, position the die on the front of the base card. Line up the hole in the die with the one in the front of the base. Run through a die cutting machine. Using these same two die pieces, cut one of the top edge pc. and two of the leafy pc. with Olive green cardstock but trim them where the die ends. Now adhere the leafy one to the inside matching all the leaves (start w/the tag hole) and the plain edger one to the other side. The second green leafy one I used on the back of the card.

This set comes with sooo many little dies to decorate and make edge cuts, that can be used with a lot of other projects. I love those corner dies:

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Step 3: I used the “loopy or scallop” edger for both the front and inside of the card. I also used all 3 of the corner dies. I wanted to use as many of the dies in this set as I could so you could see how many projects you could use these little décor pcs:

Step 4: I love Sunflowers and Susan Tierney Cockburn for Elizabeth Craft Designs created a die set that is my favorite 3D Sunflower to use on projects. I’ve used it so many times and it’s called: 999 – Garden Notes – Sunflower

Cut enough pieces to make 2 sunflowers. I recommend cut at least two of the petal die for a full flower, Here’s the link to Susan’s assembly video: Sunflower Video

After watching the video, start to assemble the sunflower directly to the card as shown.

Step 5: I used one of Susan Cannon’s dies for the sentiment: 1161 – Happy Birthday 2

Cut it out twice, once in yellow and once in green. Glue the yellow on top of the green, offsetting it then adhere to the card as shown. Tie some coordinating ribbon through both tag holes.

Step 6 is optional. I sometimes like to decorate the backs of the cards I make. This one needed it because I used a cardstock for the base that is only 65lb. Didn’t realize I had until I was too far into it. That weight would not have been a problem on a smaller card. But this card is 8.5″ long! So here’s a look at the back:

2018-06-26 DRU Sunflower tag frtbck

That’s it! I hope this project inspired you to re-think your tag dies. This die set is a fantastic value! I have another project tomorrow using a different tag die set. I hope you come back tomarrow for Chapter 2: Dies R Us Inspiration Blog

Kathleen (1)

Other Products Used:

Inside sentiment: Fiskars “Make a Wish” Stamp set

Beacon’s Kids Choice Glue

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

A Pretty Spring Bouquet of Tulips

Good Morning Crafters! For this project for the DiesRUsBlog I wanted to make a “almost any occasion” card. I love the realistic look of Susan Tierney Cockburn’s GardenNotes dies. Over at DiesRUs they carry a huge collection.

For this project I chose Elizabeth Craft Designs 1269 Garden Notes Tulip 2 for the star of this card.

There is a YouTube video showing how to create these cute tulips: Tulip assembly video

I cut enough of the petal pcs. white cardstock to make six tulips. Then with Copic Marker I “flick” colored from the bottom up to look like the real tulips that are sort of striped. Cut the pcs. for the stem and leaves from green cardstock and inked the edges with a darker green. I didn’t adhere them to the project as in the video but instead made each tulip and stuck them in a bud vase filled with toothpicks until I had all the other elements cut and colored’:

I also used: 1297 – Garden Notes Ivy Vine I cut both of the pcs. in this die set with white cardstock and then with a Copic Marker I colored green but left white areas to mimic variegated ivy.

To tuck into the bouquet, I used: ECD 1425 – Garden Notes – Maidenhair Fern

The Mats are as follows: The white was cut out of white cardstock using the largest die from this set: ECD 1173 – Dotted Scallop Circles

The pink mat was cut with pink cardstock with the second largest die from this set:

ECD 1113 – Stitched Ovals

The next element you’ll need is to cut the Tea Cup out of white cardstock from ECD 1375 – Garden Notes – Victorian Tea Cup & Saucer

This die also embosses the cup to show the rim and the curved stripe on the bottom that I colored pink with a Copic Marker. I stamped the pink flowers on the cup with a stick stamp.

These stick stamps are fun and are from a company called: Stamps by Judith Visit the site for all kinds of ideas and tutorials using these fun stamp sticks.

I have collected a few:

The “Hugs” sentiment was cut with white cardstock from this set: 1269 – Love Sentiments

To assemble the card: Create a base card by scoring a 8.5 x 11″ pc. of white cardstock. Fold to make a book fold and trim to 5.5 x 7″. Cut a rectangle from a designer paper that measures 5.25 x 6.75″ and adhere to the base card centered.

Adhere the pink oval to the white oval, then center this oval sandwich to the card.

Next, make a slightly barrel shape to the cup with your thumbs and put two foam dots down the center of the “tea cup” (top to bottom):

Apply glue to the very bottom underside edge of the cup and place it 1/2″ above the lower edge of the pink oval as shown. Don’t remove the backing paper from the dots yet. Next, play with the tulips and fern until you like it. Then glue the stems in place. Next, remove the backs off the foam dots and apply glue to the underside of the cup handle and all around the cup edges and the back lip of the cup. As you lift the cup back into place, gently push the sides in so that it accommodates the lift in the middle.

Next, add the “ivy” pcs. where you like them and the word “Hugs” as shown. Here’s one more look at the card in a shadow box frame:

That’s it!

Thanks so much for taking a look and I hope you will check in with the DiesRUs Inspiration Blog to see what the rest of the team has made for daily inspiration!

Other Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs: White Soft finish Cardstock, Clear Double sided Adhesive

Beacon’s Kids Choice Glue

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

C4C – 435 Sketch Week!

My DT card for this challenge is an homage to Romeo and Juliet!

The Steps:

Step 1: Make two of Elizabeth Craft Designs: Rose There is an Assembly Video from the designer Susan Tierney Cockburn.

Step 2: Make a base by scoring a pc. of 8.5 x 11″ black cardstock at 5.5″. Fold over and trim to 5.5x 7″. Cut a pc. of designer paper 3.5 x 7″ and adhere to the black base card using double sided adhesive as shown.

Step 3: On your computer create the two sentiments. Print on cream card stock and cut to 1″ x 3″. Distress the edges with Black Pan Pastel. Then I hand cut the fishtail. You could also use fishtail dies.

Step 4: Add the assembled roses and sentiments as shown.

That’s It!

I really appreciate the time you took to take a look.

Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs Rose 1

Elizabeth Craft Designs: Black 12 x 12 Soft Finish Cardstock, 10mm Double Sided Adhesive, Susan Tierney Cockburn’s Tool Kit (flower shaping tools)

Beacon’s Kids Choice Glue

JoAnn Fabrics and Craft: “I love you” designer paper

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

A Mother’s Day Card

2018-04-17 blog hop

I just love the floral dies by Susan Tierney Cockburn For Elizabeth Craft Designs.

I’m not going to mislead you. They all take some time to make but worth the effort! Here’s the link to Susan’s assembly video. I recommend you watch the videos before you attempt to make most of her floral die sets. It’s not always obvious how to put them together and it will save so much frustration!

The Steps:

Step 1: Die cut all the pieces out from the 1487 – Garden Notes – Lilac 2 die set and assemble the lilac.

2018-05-07 11.43.12

I cut both petal pc. dies from a dark lavender cardstock about 6 or 7 times because I like a full lilac. If I don’t use them all I put the leftovers into the die set envelope so I don’t have to cut as many times the next time I make it. I cut the leaves from green cardstock and distressed the edges and the center vein with a little purple ink.

Step 2: I used Susan’s 1375 Victorian Tea Cup and Saucer to put the lilac in:

2018-05-07 11.43.27

Cut the teacup and saucer pcs. I had tried a technique I learned from one of Els Van de Burg’s Technique Friday videos to put several different colors of ink on a craft mat and then spray water on it. You then take cardstock and start picking up color as you turn the cardstock. I used pretty intense colors because I wanted to stamp over it with a large background stamp in white. It didn’t work out for what I wanted to do but it made an interesting paper for this tea cup set. I wish I had taken a pic of the paper before I cut it out but didn’t. Here’s a pic of the rest of the paper after I cut it out. I cut the saucer from another lavender cardstock.

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Step 3: Using the 1064 – Fitted Frames 4 Curvy Squares, cut once with white cardstock and again with purple cardstock. You will use the largest white frame and the second to the largest in purple.

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Step 4: Cut a 4.75″ square from light lavender cardstock. Cut a 5.75 square from color coordinated cardstock. I chose a lavender polka dot cardstock from ModaScrap – “Thinking about Polinesia” also available at Elizabeth Craft Designs.

Step 5: Make a card base by cutting an 12 x 12″ piece of white cardstock in half. Score one half at 6″ and fold over.

You should have all the elements now to make this card. 2018-04-16 21.04.37

Step 6: Assemble the card. Adhere the lavender ModaScrap square to the base card. Adhere the 4.75″ lavender sq. centered next. Then adhere the white curvy square over the lavender one. (it also measures 4.75″) Next adhere the purple curvy sq. inside the white one matching up the curves.

Step 7: Adhere the saucer, teacup, lilac and leaves as shown.

Step: 8: Using this die from Die-Versions cut mom from purple cardstock.

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Cut a little tag from this set from white cardstock and ink the edges with lavender ink:

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Adhere the “Mom” to the little tag. Cut a little pc. of Bakers Twine and attach the tag to the handle of the tea cup.

That’s It!

Thanks so much for stopping by for a look.

Other Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs: White Soft Finish cardstock, Clear Double Sided Adhesive

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

Beacons Kid Choice Glue

A ‘Summer” theme card

A sweet card for any occasion!

2018-04-21 DRU Geranium

I can’t wait to be able to count on warm weather! So my card today is a nod to Summer! What screams summer more that blue gingham and red Geraniums. This card could be used for any occasion by just using a different sentiment.

Here’s the steps:

Step 1: Cut all the petal pcs. 3 times for each flower. (run these pcs. 3 times through your machine with two layers of red cardstock. Cut the leaf pcs. 3 times with two layers of green cardstock. Add a little of 340.5 Permanent Red PanPastel to the edges of the leaves. Assemble the 3 Geraniums by shaping and gluing.

The die set: 1019 – Susan’s Garden Geranium

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Geranium Assembly Video

This video shows the geranium being assembled directly on your project which is great but not for this project. Assemble each flower and you will slide them into and onto the Gathering basket.

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Step 2: Cut one Gathering Basket from light brown cardstock and lightly add some 780.5 Raw Umber PanPastel to bring out the basket weave embossing that happens when you cut this die: 1483 – Garden Notes – Gathering Basket

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Step 3: Cut two Oval mats. One using the 2nd largest die from this die set and white cardstock: 1113 – Stitched Ovals :

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Cut one using the largest die in red cardstock from this die set: 1173 – Dotted Scallop Ovals

Step 4: Create a base card by scoring a 12 x 12″ pc. of white cardstock at 6″. Fold at score line and trim to 6 x 6.5″. Cut a rectangle that measures 5.75″ x 6.25″ from blue gingham cardstock. Adhere, centered, to white base card. Now adhere the red scallop oval, centered onto the blue gingham layer.

Step 5: Sort of shape the gathering basket by holding it with both thumbs on the underside of the pc. and your two pointer fingers together on the right side of the pc. and centered. Now keeping your thumbs together on the wrong side, slide your pointer to curve the pc. over your thumbs. Glue only the lower edge of the basket to white oval as shown in the photo below. You will glue the sides down by adding glue to the undersides and push the sides towards the center very slightly to keep it’s 3D shape:

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Next start auditioning your flowers, petals and little blooms into and onto the basket until you like what you see and glue in place.

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Create a sentiment on your computer and cut out with the smallest die from this set:

1116 – Stitched Circles

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Ink the edges with light blue ink and adhere to basket. You could also use a small tag and bakers twine and attach to the handle.

2018-04-21 DRU Geranium 2018-04-22 00.20.49

Thanks so much for taking a look! I hope you’ve been inspired and will check in with the Inspiration Design Team daily: Dies R Us Inspiration Blog

Other products used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs: Stamp (sentiment inside) RS010 – All Things of Nature

Michael’s: Blue Gingham paper

Beacon’s Kids Choice Glue

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

Tag: Susan Tierney Cockburn

Put A Bird on it!

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C4C – Fall Themed Challenge

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A Holiday Front Door

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C4C -446 National Mountain Climbing Day!

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A Sunflower Tag Card

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A Pretty Spring Bouquet of Tulips

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C4C – 435 Sketch Week!

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A Mother’s Day Card

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A ‘Summer” theme card

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