I want to share with you some beautiful things that I’ve received from some other creative people recently. The first is a wine bag made by Mary Davis using the Big Shot Scallop Square die. Mary doesn’t have a blog so we need to give her some love here!
Cute, cute! I love how she did the seams! And she included a card using the Simply Said set.
I am spoiled! And here’s another darling card that Valerie sent me for my b’day – 
Don’t you love the ribbon on the car? Thank you both for sharing your creative talents with me! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Category: Special Projects
Happy 16th Birthday
Today is my nephew’s 16th birthday – which deserves a very special card! And, of course, anyone turning 16 needs a card all about driving. I created a pop up card for this special guy using a few of my favorite ideas. You might recognize some of the pieces!
Here is the front which was done on mat board to give it a lot of strength. (After I photographed it I put clamps on the top to correct the binding that wanted to pull away!) 
The supplies for the front of the card
Stamp sets – Loads of Love, Loads of Love accessories, Word Play, Playful Pieces, It’s a Sign (retired)
card stock – Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Old Olive DSP, Basic Black, Brushed Silver
Ink and Stampin Write Markers – Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Old Olive, Pacific Point, Blush Blossom
Etc – Decorative Label punch, crimper, jewels, white gel pen, Create a Cupcake punch, cutter kit, Beary Girl Sizzlet die, Scallop Edge punch
Then you open it up and……..
It’s a cake! With car keys for the candles!
The car keys were hand cut with a double layer of card stock so they are sturdy.
The cake and inside use the Celebrations DSP and the Pop up Cake die. You can just barely see the brad set on the front of the card. There is one on the back that has a small clear rubber band (a Mary Jane band in the hair accessories department) that holds the card closed.
This card was definitely as much fun to make as it was to give! I hope he enjoys opening it. Enjoy- Hugs, Fran
Petal ConeBox
I needed a small-ish box that would hold a pair of earrings so I used the Petal Cone die to make a take out sort of looking package. Someone, somewhere showed me how to re-score the Petal Cone so that it sits flat. To do this you make score lines that line up with score line by the flaps. (clear as mud?) Line the score line up at 3″ and then flip it and cut the bottom off at 1.” 
This has to be the most versatile and easy to use die that SU offers (or at least my current favorite!) The tag is Tiny Tags and the flower is Fun Flowers. 
This was so fast to make it was shocking!
Supplies
Dies – Petal Cone, Fun Flowers
card stock – Baja Breeze textured, Very Vanilla, Old Olive
SWM – Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Old Olive
Etc – Vanilla brad, Linen thread, Tag punch, 1/2″ circle punch, sponge
This is the last weekend of spring break for us – so we’re going to make the most of it by taking a drive and looking at colleges. We’re doing this on a day that I know I have a big box of goodies coming – I might get ansty driving around! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and can find some time to stamp – I know I will! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Easter Bunny House
Here’s a little bunny house based on the Dasher House by Cristena. I used Bashful Blue and created the bunny like several I did last year – using punches. 
The eggs are from Easter Blossoms in the Occasions Mini. I stamped them in Rose Red on Regal Rose, Not Quite Navy on Bashful, Pretty in Pink on Pink Pirouette and So Saffron on So Saffron! 
Isn’t he cute?
Samantha is in a show this weekend – it started this morning! I’m spending most of my time in the dark, back stage! Hope to get caught up sometime soon –
Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Hydrangea Frame
This is closer to my original idea when I ended up with this frame. Kirsteen Gill made a hydrangea card that I love and I used a piece of her design to make this – 
The flower is a 2″ styrofoam ball sliced in half. I punched lots of little flowers with the Itty Bitty flower punch and sponged them with Marina Mist ink. Then I used pins to attach them to the ball. Note – keep wire cutters on hand in case the pins stick all the way through. You need the back to be flat! After the flowers are all attached, top the pins with pearls – so cute!
The stem is stamped directly on to the frame with Stazon and then colored with Classic Inks and a blender pen. The strip at the bottom is stamped on Whisper White and trimmed very close, sponged and glued down. Once all the flowers are sponged it goes together quickly! And it’s not quite as “shiny” in real life.
Supplies
Stamp Set – Friends 24/7
card stock – Whisper White
Ink – Marina Mist, Stazon
Stampin Write Markers – Old Olive, Marina Mist
Ect – 2″ styrofoam ball, pearls, Silver Hodepodge frame, Marina Mist taffeta, painted frame
Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Daisy Frame
This is a project that has a story behind it. 
While doing all my spring cleaning in my stamp room, I found some wooden frames that I purchased so long ago I have no idea what I had planned for them! Light bulb goes off and I paint one of them blue – okay, that blue is hideous so I try another shade. Hummmmm – maybe some crackle paint. Complete disaster! By this time I have 6 coats of paint and crackle on it so I just go to bed! So after sanding it a bit the next morning and painting it white with some Espresso reinker underneath – voila! I’m so glad no one can look underneath the paint to see the mess!
Since I seriously doubt anyone wants to copy the technique used for the frame 
I’ll just give you the supplies for the Daisy! The center of the Daisy was done by shredding Early Espresso cardstock with the distressing edge of the cutter kit onto a circle spread with Crystal Effects.
Supplies
Stamp set – Best Yet (retired)
card stock – Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, FIrst Edition DSP
Ink – Basic Black, Crumb Cake
Ect – Big Shot Daisy #2, Small Oval punch, Curly Label punch, Movers and Shapers die, Crystal Effects, cutter kit
Of course, the First Edition DSP will be covered up by a photo, but I couldn’t stand the look of the insert so I covered it up. While I really hope you enjoy this project, I would suggest you try it any other way than this! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Four Frames Fancy Favor
It’s a sneak peek of a set in the upcoming Idea Book and Catalog! But you can get this set and the new Paisley Petals Designer Series paper in April. Here’s how – spend $20 on any Stampin’ Up! products and you can purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper or host a $350 workshop and get them for free! Check my calendar to pick a date for your workshop!
I used one of the Four Frames images on a Big Shot Fancy Favor box. 
I cut the Fancy Favor box in Marina Mist and wheeled it with the Very VIntage wheel inked with Marina Mist. Then I cut just the top of the box in Soft Suede (2 x 12) to make a layer. The frame was stamped in Soft Suede and sponged with Marina Mist. I tied the Cherry Cobbler seam binding in a bow using the Antique brad to attach it, and just pulled a thread in the middle of each tail to make it gather.
Supplies
Stamp sets – Four Frames, You’re a Gem, Very Vintage wheel
card stock – Marina Mist, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Ink – Marina Mist, Soft Suede
Big Shot die – Fancy Favor
Ect – Decorative Label Punch, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, Antique brad, sponge
Have a great weekend! Hugs, Fran
Petal Cone B’day Hat
The Big Shot Petal Cone die is my favorite! It has so many uses. Today I’ve turned it into a party hat that can hold a gift or treats for a party. 
The base is two of the Scallop Circle die with the top layer snipped at each scallop to make it look fluffy. The Petal Cone is attached with elastic thread like this – 
The flap of the Petal Cone is attached with Sticky Strip. The fringe on top of the hat is just cut scraps of the Celebrations DSP attached to the inside.
Supplies
Stamp set – Bring on the Cake
card stock – Real Red, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Celebrations DSP
Ink – Basic Black
Big Shot Dies – Scallop Circle, Petal Cone
Ect – Scallop Circle Punch, 1″ circle punch, 3/4″ circle punch, elastic thread, rhinestone brad
Confession – I started this project wanting to use the piece of DSP with the numbers on it, but cut the paper upsidedown. Fortunately the paper has a design on both sides! Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Box Card
Here’s a card I did for a challenge on a demonstrator website (Sudsol). The card is a box card. It’s an 8 x 8 square that is scored at 4 and 4 ( 4 inches on both sides) and then one section is scored diagonally. You cut one score line to the middle and then glue it together to make a box. 
Here’s a few tips and tricks if you try this style of card. Make sure you put the inside sentiment low enough that it isn’t covered by the swinging portion when it’s open! (Ask me how I know.) The bird on the inside is from Punch Potpourri and was stamped twice. One punch is the bird’s body – just as it is suppose to be – and then I moved my punch on the second image and punched a wing out of the body.
I definitely have a hard time using just one stamp set on a card (this one uses 4 set!) I will try to get better.
Supplies
Stamp Sets – Just Believe, Cheep Talk, Punch Potpourri, FYI
card stock – Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink – Marina Mist, Old Olive, Basic Black, Bashful Blue
Ect – 5/8 White satin ribbon, Lattice Square embossing folder, pearls, Itty Bitty flower punch, 2 step bird punch, 2 1/2 circle punch
Enjoy! Hugs, Fran
Elements of Style Petal Cone Pouch
I saw these on Barb Mullikins blog and just had to case the butterfly pouch. (They are all pretty – I just am on a butterfly kick at the moment!) The Petal Cone die is SO easy to use and is SO versatile! There is nothing tricky about this one 
Supplies
Stamp set – Elements of Style
Card stock – Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler
Ink – Soft Suede,Rose Red, Always Artichoke
Dies – Petal Cone, Beautiful Butterflies, Scallop #2 (larger of the two) and the 3 inch circle die
Ect – Cherry Cobbler seam tape ribbon, gold string, Crop a dile, sponge, blender pen
I die cut the butterfly twice and only adhered it at the very center (with Tombow Multipurpose. Tie the gold string around it and adhere the bottom butterfly to the circle. To make the wings keep their shape, put a dimensional under each wing as close to the center as you can get it. Special note * – when you use a blender pen on Very Vanilla, go easy! You don’t want to make the card stock too wet.
Enjoy! Hugs, Fran