In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

I have always liked the saying, "In like a Lion, out like a Lamb" when it comes to March. It reminds me that Spring will soon be here. When it is a snowy winter, I love the season, but when just dark and gray and the ground is brown, not so much. 

Way back in elementary school (first grade maybe?) Princess A made a lion face and a lamb face. Around the first of March these are hung; one on the door going in (the lion) and the other going out (lamb). These little guys always make me smile and are one of my absolute favorites of her art projects over the years.

Yesterday was been a mixed bag. Woke up to several inches of snow on the ground, but by school bus time it was sleeting. Changed to rain and freezing rain for a while, then suddenly snowing fast and furiously again. Two hours later what was covering the driveway from that second snowfall was gone. The lion is losing her roar. The lamb is edging her way in. 

I was not sure what to do with this weeks sketch(#190) over at Tuesday Morning Sketches until I saw the challenge this week at Twisted Tuesday Challenges(#46). The sketch could not have been any more perfect!

Therefore, I made two.

Where are the pearls on this first card, you are wondering? Look closely at the flowers behind Riley's and the lamb's ears, and also the one still growing on the left.

The lamb is made wooly with Liquid Applique. I don't think it is physically possible for me to make a sheep and not puff it out with that stuff.

While perusing Facebook last night, I discovered a lucky coincidence; this card also qualifies for the Riley and Company challenge(#0613) this week. Oh happy day!

On the second card, the little rim of 'metal' between the handle and bristles of the paintbrushes is colored with a Gelly Roll Stardust clear glitter pen. The pearls here follow the sketch more closely.



Happy First Day of Spring!    

Card Details:

Image: Riley & Co

Sentiment: N/A

Cardstock: SU, GP, unknown dp

Ink: Memento

Tools: SU square punch

Coloring: Prismacolor markers

Embellies: Viva Pearl Pen, Liquid Applique, SU buttons, SU bakers twine, Gelly Roll Stardust glitter pen

Critters Love Jellybeans

This week's challenge with the Crafty Hos is inspired by this prayer:

Jelly Bean Prayer
Red is for the blood He gave,
Green is for the grass He made.
Yellow is for the sun so bright,
Orange is for the edge of night.
Blue is for the sins we made,
White is for the grace He gave.
Purple is for His hour of sorrow,
Pink is for our new tomorrow!
A bag full of jelly beans,
So colorful and sweet.
Is a prayer, is a promise. . .
Is a special treat!

Is it any surprise that my card is all about jellybeans?  The sketch came from The Pink Elephant (#59) and the color scheme from Catch the Bug Challenge Blog. My card is a three-fer!

Every year on Easter, Main Squeeze and I set up an egg hunt for Princess A using plastic eggs filled with stickers, safe candy and pocket change. One year we thought we would be smart and set it up the night before. Most of the eggs were fine (I had to say that  up front so you would not worry that Princess A was disappointed), but there were a few that the critters had opened, and one or two that had bites taken out. I am talking about the plastic eggs; the inside candy was nowhere to be seen. I still wonder what they bought with the cash...

Perhaps this little fellow was there that day. Even if he missed it, he certainly looks happy with his latest stash of candy. I stamped the cascading jellybeans in the three colors on the yellow card stock, then again on white and cut some out. The extras are on generic dimensionals so they stand out . Then painted with Twinkling H2Os, just to give them another reason to feel special. The jellybeans in the mouse's hands (and the one between his feet) are coated with Crystal Effects; they look and feel more like jellybeans than paper.

This year will be the first Easter in our new house, with 4.3 acres of land to hide eggs. Princess A is going to need all the help the little critters are willing to offer.






Card Details:
Image: House Mouse Designs, SU
Sentiment: N/A
Cardstock: SU, GP, unknown designer paper
Ink: Memento, SU
Tools: N/A
Coloring: Prismacolor markers
Embellies: Twinkling H2Os, Crystal Effects, generic dimensionals, unknown ribbon

Diaper Fold Pouch and Tag

I am Miss April. Well, for Paola's Calendar Girls Diaper Fold Pouch and Tags swap, anyway.

I never thought I would find another tool I would love as much as my Cuttlebug, but WOW, my new Crop-a-dile II has really blown me away. I found the designer paper quickly and easily. Immediately I knew what I wanted to do and how I wanted my pouches to look, but I never gave a thought to the fact that once these babies are folded there are many, many layers of paper to punch through in order to set an eyelet. Crop-a-dile II to the rescue! Thanks to my Main Squeeze I received one of these amazing tools for Christmas. Popped out those corners with great ease and set those eyelets with just a wee squeeze. Considering my hand strength is nowhere near what it used to be, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. And no pain to my joints.

Basket was now ready, but what to do about those tags? I waited while others posted their creations. Still stumped. Finally I decided to spand some time in the basement with my stamps and see if something jumped out at me.

Princess A was a little distressed when she first saw the tag. She could not believe I have had this little bunny and never shown it to her before. Reminded her of the Velveteen Rabbit.

Bunny is from TAC, sentiment is SU and the eggs I am pretty sure are Hero Arts. I stamped the eggs with SU classic ink pads. The bunny is colored with my brand new Prismacolor markers that I got for my birthday (Again, thanks to my Main Sqeeze!). Obviously I am still learning exactly how to get the best results, but I thought they came out pretty cute. And Princess A was appeased when she learned that I had made an extra for her.




Here they are together.