Hopping Again

Summertime! School's out, the days are long, and there's a new Stampin' Up catalog to dream about. This year the catalog has fewer pages than previous years but there are more things on my wish list - how is that possible? I don't think I'll be able to get everything on my list but I'm hoping that looking at all the other Llamas' creations will help me decide. Of course, it'll probably just make me want more! If you've been hopping along, you probably came here from Marsha's Here A Llama, There A Llama blog - doesn't that title just make you want to sing?

For my projects I was inspired by home. I will be staying with my parents for a little while this summer to help out after my dad's heart surgery and, of course, this is the home where I grew up. I just love my dad's garden - I'm a little nervous because I will be responsible for its upkeep while my dad is resting. Here are two pictures from his garden and the cards they inspired.

agapanthus

This first card uses the brand new stamp set Summer Silhouettes. There's another stamp that is made to go with this stem, but I thought these little flowers looked so much like the agapanthus flowers, I just couldn't resist. You can't see it in the photo, but my dad has a little white picket fence in front of his plants. The decorative stamp that comes with this set made a perfect "fence" to put in front of my aggies.

Supplies

Stamps: Summer Silhouettes, A Word For You

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party, Versamark

Paper: Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, Twitterpated DSP

Accessories: White Embossing Powder, White 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Wisteria Wonder 3/8" Designer Printed Brad, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Sponge Dauber

My second card was inspired by the colors of his orchids. I just love the orange, pink, and yellow of these tiny blossoms.

orchids

This card uses the set Fruit & Flowers. I love the strawberry, apple, and cherries in this set but since my inspiration was a flower garden, I kept to the flower stamps. I used the leaf part of the Bird Builder punch to accent my sentiment. I love the new Gumball Green - I guess I'm a "bright" girl at heart!

Supplies:

Stamps: Fruit & Flowers, Occasions Alphabet

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Gumball Green

Paper: Whisper White, Gumball Green, Polka Dot Parade DSP

Accessories: Top Note Die, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Bird Builder Punch, Gumball Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon, Pearl Basic Jewels, Stampin' DimensionalsMy final card is a nod to my mom's wonderful patchwork blankets. In Hawaii, we don't really need quilts or comforters, but sometimes it's nice to have a lightweight blanket to sleep with. My mom used scraps of fabric and flat sheets to make these blankets for everyone in the family. My aunties, uncles and cousins loved it when she was their secret Santa because it meant they would get a new blanket. I don't know about everyone else, but I used mine until there were holes in it. She isn't able to keep up this tradition anymore so I am hoarding the last two blankets she gave me. This blanket is a small one she made for my son when he was a baby. 

The card that arose from my favorite blankie is made with the Bright Blossoms stamp set. This is a new set that was released a month early in the Summer Smooches bundle. I also used the Summer Smooches DSP to make the alternating squares. Making a quilt pattern with paper is so easy using Stampin' Up's square punches. To make sure my layout was straight, I attached the squares with the Anywhere Glue Sticks - this gave me some wiggle room to make sure the edges were snug up against each other before the "stick" became permanent. The Razzleberry border was made with the Adorning Accents Edgelits - I just ran the paper through the Big Shot 4 times. Who knew the corners would line up so nicely?

Supplies:

Stamps: Bright Blossoms, A Word For You

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Real Red, Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry

Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Summer Smooches DSP

Accessories: 1" Square Punch, Adorning Accents Edgelits, Stamp-a-ma-jig, White Baker's Twine, Anywhere Glue Stick, Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this stop on your journey. Your next click will take you to Kathe's Adventures - have fun!

Stampin' Llamas