I think I'll send this card to my son for Easter. Nothing fancy -- just a chicken and a big ol' Easter Egg.
This is one of my new Whipper Snapper stamps called Hen's Easter Egg. I colored it with Copics on Flourishes Classic White Cardstock. The sentiment is from one of Flourishes' older Easter sets called Easter Bunnies. It fit perfectly in my Stampin' Up! Modern Label punch.
The white is layered on SU! Cool Caribbean and Memory Box Key Lime. There was some space left over on the opening side, so I trimmed it with pinking shears, added a border of green underneath and pinked that, too. When the card is closed, the inside layers add a little more trim to the border -- see the photo at the end of this post.
Just a note: Ordinarily I like to keep my cards easily mailable. I don't mind adding extra postage for weight, but a button tied with linen thread and glued atop three layers of ric rac is pretty bulky and could step this up to parcel status. In this case, it will be mailed in a package, so I'm not concerned about it. I love to embellish, but I forego a lot of the really fun stuff in favor of making cards I'm more likely to use...sigh...
In regard to a card I posted the other day, I was asked how I made the Swiss Dot border while leaving the inside area emboss-free. I'll try to explain...
I scored the outer edges of the cardstock first, to help define the frame and act as a guide for placement of my embossing folder. I then embossed one edge at a time. I hope this photo helps to illustrate:
There were certain areas where the folder edge overlapped previous embossing, and subsequent passes through the Cuttlebug flattened those embossed areas a little bit. The score lines were slightly flattened, as well:
For a quick fix of the score lines I simply scored again. To pop up the flattened Swiss Dots I turned the panel face down on craft foam and pressed into the flattened dots lightly with one end of a tapestry needle. Any small, blunt point would work, such as a stylus:
Here she is again! You can see how the inside edge of the card plays with the card front in the border design:
I'm so glad you could drop in and spend a moment today. I'll be back tomorrow with something pretty for Ruby Tuesday. See you then, I hope!
Stamps: Whipper Snapper Hen's Easter Egg, Flourishes Easter Bunnies Paper: Classic White, Cool Caribbean, Key Lime Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Only Orange, Copics for coloring Accessories: Ric rack, button, linen thread, Modern Label punch, Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder, pinking shears, Scotch brand foam mounting tape
Adorable!! And thanks for the added info on giving back life to those smashed dots. You are so talented with Copics. Love, love, love what you do!!
Posted by: Peggy | 03/15/2010 at 04:03 AM
Your son will love this...Love the colors you used and thank you for the tut on how to!!!
Posted by: Velta | 03/15/2010 at 04:36 AM
I'm sure your son will love this ole hen! She's a beauty and very festive! Great card.
Posted by: Beth Greco | 03/15/2010 at 05:08 AM
So adorable Leslie!! I hope he doesn't throw cards like this away...maybe you can ask for it back like one of my friends does..lol! That border looks great...I would still probably goof it up but thanks for the tip and maybe I'll get brave and try it one day!! Love ya!! Cynthia
Posted by: Cynthia | 03/15/2010 at 06:13 AM
This is so cute, Leslie. I love the happy colors in this, and that little hen has character! Thanks for the how-to on the swiss dot border. Love the look of that. TFS this very cute card!
Posted by: Karen | 03/15/2010 at 06:27 AM
Hee hee Cute, your DS will love it. I like the ric rak ribbon you used with the button. Creative edge too! Lots of white space.... LOVE that you know. :0)
Posted by: Stacy SCS Twinshappy | 03/15/2010 at 06:39 AM
What an adorable (and exquisitely colored) card! Your son is going to love it. I do believe you've just inspired me to buy this stamp. Your Easter card is fabulous, Leslie. I love the way you colored it and blended it so perfectly.
Posted by: Gabi With An Eye | 03/15/2010 at 07:08 AM
fun easter card :) thanks for the explanation on how you did the border!
Posted by: Conniecrafter | 03/15/2010 at 08:13 AM
What a great card! Love how you did the ribbons.
Posted by: doris | 03/15/2010 at 08:20 AM
what a fun card. So nice and cheerful and bright.
Since my cards are larger than my embossing machine, I can't put mine in sideways. So instead I use a RUBBER mallet to lightly tap on my embossed designs. I put my work where there is a table leg (less bounce when tapping), hold the folder firmly closed and tap away. I lift the folder corner to see if I need to tap more. Note, to heavy a tap can cut the embossed image, too light a tap and you don't get an image. Experiment to get the feel for it. And don't be afraid, the amount of pressure used going through the rollers of the machine is way more than some tapping pressure.
A 2nd option is cut a frame the size of your card from some mat board, place on card and run through the machine (depending on the machine you use, you may need to add some plastic pages to make the sandwich, I've always got some of those handy). It will only emboss where the mat board touches your card, leaving the center portion un-embossed.
Posted by: yogi | 03/15/2010 at 08:37 AM
What a fun card! I really love the button and ric rac ribbons you added! Thank you so much for sharing tutorial about embossing, Leslie! :)
Posted by: Elena | 03/15/2010 at 08:46 AM
Great card, Leslie. Thanks for the embossing tips. Can't wait to try it!
Posted by: Linda E | 03/15/2010 at 10:34 AM
Especially love the button and ric-rac trim embellishment!
Posted by: Carolen | 03/15/2010 at 10:34 AM
That is one sweet bird!!! Love the fresh colors you used on your card - it's perfect!
Posted by: Lorraine M. | 03/15/2010 at 10:46 AM
Very cute card Leslie!
Posted by: Susan | 03/15/2010 at 10:46 AM
Oh Leslie.....did you hear my "cluckle" ???? So, so cute, colorful and creative. I just love your copic coloring, button and ric rac, and swiss dot border. TFS the tutorial too. Isaac will just love his card from his talented mom.
Posted by: nancy littrell | 03/15/2010 at 10:55 AM
So cute, and always, so well-colored. A perfect Easter card for your son.
Posted by: Lynette | 03/15/2010 at 11:57 AM
What a hoot! Love the colors! Thanks for the embossing details!
Posted by: Linda C. | 03/15/2010 at 12:15 PM
Super cute card, Leslie! I love the image and wonderful coloring! The swiss dots frame and button/ric rak accents are perfect. Your son will love it, I'm sure!
Posted by: Sue (suen) | 03/16/2010 at 08:02 AM
This is awesome, thanks for the tutorial... I learned something new.
Posted by: bluemoon | 03/16/2010 at 08:49 AM
Oh my gosh...this is too cute, Leslie!! I love your frame and splashes of color with the bits of rick rack and button!! Thanks for the frame tutorial!!
Posted by: Rose Ann | 03/16/2010 at 10:15 AM
Oh I love this! I love WSD and this chicken is so stinkin' cute! Love the swiss dot border and pinked edges-simple elegant details to this fun card!
Posted by: Danielle | 03/16/2010 at 12:47 PM
Very cute. Thanks for the tip too.
Ter ;)
Posted by: Terri | 03/16/2010 at 05:16 PM
Love this!! It is so bright and beautiful!!
Posted by: Latisha | 03/19/2010 at 07:12 AM
This is priceless! Love it...made me giggle! Love your post title too. :)
Posted by: Nancy | 03/21/2010 at 08:00 AM
Heehee.
Love it, fresh, bright and funny!
Posted by: Heather T | 03/21/2010 at 03:43 PM
Love love love this! I just got re-subscribed to your blog in my Google Reader since your move. :)
Posted by: Jami | 03/21/2010 at 08:51 PM