The Challenge Spark (gift packaging)

Jane from White Orchid challenged Tara from Country Girl Creates and me to do something different from cards this week. She wanted us to show her some gift packaging.

When I have a gift that is either too odd shaped, pretty or large to wrap, I like to use ribbons and just dress up the gift itself. In this case, I have this sign I painted for a gardener friend, and I used the Bouquet Bigz L Die to make a yellow flower in keeping with the garden theme as well as ribbon and I personally think it looks just fine to gift to my friend without wrapping it up!

I thought of making smaller flowers and giving away packages of seeds this same way....really anything would work!

(Since I had this post finished and scheduled for today before we decided to let the Challenge Spark rest for several months, I'll still post it.)

The Challenge Spark (Pop-up card)

Tara challenged Jane and me to do the absolute IMPOSSIBLE!!! She chose a pop-up card for our challenge spark this week. When I heard what she chose...well...my eyes got bigger and bigger and I yelled, "OH NO!!!" in my mind! (In case you're wondering just how animated I really am, well, not that much, anyway!) And so I googled it and this tutorial helped me tremendously with my pop-up box card.

Here it is! Hard to believe this summery bouquet full of butterflies and even a bird is a CARD!!! But yes, my friends, it is! And it was so much work I figured my dear MIL deserved it, since she's a marvelous lady and we love her! (Hi Mom!!)

I used DSP in coordinating design to make an envelope with SU's wonderful envelope punch board. (Tara and Jane, did you see that I actually used DSP TWICE for this card??? Did you SEE???!!!)

Now, my MIL is a smart lady, but I figured I'd pop a belly-band on my card to explain the why's and wherefore's of how to unfold this rather awkward looking package. Because if I got it in the mail, I just might say, "Hmmm, now WHAT is THIS and HOW do I unfold it?" And I'm smart, too...so....

 That's it for today folks. It's ready to pop in the mail as soon as I address it to my husband's dear mom!

simple watercolor focals {effortless}

One day when my Lupus kept me in my recliner, I surrounded myself with a few stamped images and my aqua painter and ink pads. These are very simple cards, really, but I prefer my watercolor cards to be that way. Basic. About nature. And restful.

Just vary the sizes of the pictures and use a different ribbon style for each and you've got a set of cards you can give away as a gift. Just stack them and tie a bit of twine around the package!