Happy Birthday, Bro!

I made this birthday card for my brother!  It was another good reason to use the Stampin' Up set "The Open Sea", which I am IN. LOVE. WITH!!!!  I found the background paper from Imaginisce and loved the travel/vintage/masculine look.  I wrapped that with some Denim Twine from The Twinery, and layered it onto a SU Basic Gray base. 
Next, I cut Spellbinders Reverse Wonky Rectangles (S4-307) in three sizes, out of SU Crumb Cake, SU Marina Mist, and White.  I stamped the Crumb Cake layer with the captian's log, in Staz-on Black.  Next, I took the Marina Mist layer, and stamped the globe all over it in Black, also.  Finally, I took the white layer and stamped the ship on it in Staz-On Black.  I swiped the sizes of the layers on the ink pads to add dimension, then I got out my SU blender pen.  I used the blender pen to pick up ink from the ink pad lids, and shade/watercolor the ship and water.  I used Poppy Parade, Soft Suede, and Crumb Cake on the picture.  For the "stormy/cloudy" sky, I used a sponge with some SU Basic Gray. 
If you've never used the blender pen, they're SUPER easy!!!  I like to carefully squish the lid of my ink pads into the top before opening, then you have a palette of color to work with.  You cold also use a drop of reinker in the lid.  Carefully dip you pen into the color, and, Voila!  You essentially have a paintbrush, without all the mess!  Cleanup is easy, too!  Just use a scrap piece of paper and swipe your blender pen on it until it runs clean.  Easy-peasy, and look at the effect!  You'll look like a watercolor master!  :o)  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Baby Berkley

 New baby Berkley made her way into this world recently, and here's a crafty little banner I made for her room.  I used some Spellbinders die cuts for the banner, and the Cricut Cindy Loo cartridge for the letters.  The flowers are from a Tim Holtz flower die, and the gorgeous twine is from The Twinery.  Congrats to Berkley's parents and siblings! ~Hoppy Crafting!

Tea for Two!

 I have fallen head-over-heals in LOVE with Stampin' Up's "Tea Shoppe"!  This set contains this gorgeous tea cup stamp, and quite a few fun sayings!  It does not have a die cut, so if you want the cups cut out, you must do it "old school", but they really aren't that hard.  (Take it from someone who cut around 20 out!).  I used the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and slightly distressed it with some Early Espresso on a sponge.  I was trying to use up some lace and paper I had for the side.  The banner is from Spellbinders, and the mother's day stamp is a $ bin one from a local craft store.  ~Hoppy Crafting!