Handmade Easter Bunny Cards

Easter is only two weeks away, are you ready yet?  I finally finished shopping for all my grandchildren's Easter Baskets, but I haven't put them together yet.  I did finish all their cards and tags though, and that is what I am going show you today!

Here are all the Easter cards I made.  I made three cards out of one stamp set, and the card in the foreground is a separate stamp.  I also used my Spellbinder's Stitching dies on all of them!  I used to belong to a Spellbinder's Die of the Month Club until I started accumulating too many dies that would take a  lifetime to use.  These border and background stitching dies have been sitting around unused in my craft room until last week when I created these cards.

Alethea's Card

Let's go through the cards one by one shall we, starting with Alethea's card.  Alethea's card uses the only female bunny from the retired set "Spring Gifts" by Stampin' Up! Although I have been informed that Alethea no longer likes the color the pink, I did it in pink anyway because, well, it's EASTER! 😆

I colored all the images on all the cards with Copic Markers.  I added flower sequins and gems on this card because it's for a girl, even if she doesn't like pink anymore. 😀

The stitching die used in this card is called "Cross Stitch Nesting Card".  Here I used the largest die to create a cross stitched border around the entire card.  Glittery floral paper by DCWV is in the background.  I cut the rest of the panels and sentiment panel with Spellbinder's dies.  

On the inside of all four cards I stamped the same sentiment plus some chickens from the same "Spring Gifts" set.

Atticus' Card

Atticus' card turned out to be my favorite.  I love the colors and all the texture.  I used a brown/blue floral for the background and then I pulled out the brown color from the designer floral paper for my side panel and dry embossed it with the Cuttlebug "Swiss Dots" embossing folder.  I added some burlap trim to the side panel.

This card uses a smaller die from the Spellbinder's "Cross Stitch Nesting Card" set.  Here I did the cross stitch stitching only around the image instead of the entire card.

Laz's Card

Laz's card turned out so sweet I thought it would be perfect for him.  This is one large image from "The Stamp Pad Company".  I simply stamped and colored the image, then I used another stitching die for the border.  This die is called "Stitched Scallop Card Front and Tag".

I put Stickles on the butterfly wings and in the center of some of the flowers.  The sentiment tag was adhered with brads. 

Elisha's Card

And finally for Elisha's Card I used a background stitching die called "Diamond Knit".  I remember when I received this die I was thinking "What is this and what in the world am I going to do with it?"  I decided to try it on this card and I ended up loving it?  Doesn't it make an interesting background, especially for a masculine card?

For the rest of the cad, I simply layered more die cuts before I added the main image panel.  

I also made tags for their Easter Baskets with the tag die from the "Stitched Scallop Card Front and Tag" die.  After I cut and stitched the tags, I stamped another image from the "Spring Gifts" set onto the cards, colored them in, and hand wrote their names.

 I hope you enjoyed my cute Easter cards and tags.  I'm so looking forward to seeing the grand babies in a couple of weeks.  Hopefully we will have good weather.

Have you started your kids/grandkids Easter Baskets yet?  I'd love to hear from you.

Have a Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

Spring Trends with Ageless Style

Ageless Style is a monthly style challenge and link up for women of all ages.   Each month we pick a different theme and style an outfit based on that theme.  This month's theme is "Spring Trends" and was picked by Bo!

Well it's that time of year again;  when we show off our spring fashion when it's still winter outside in Wisconsin.  Every year Ageless Style does a spring fashion post, and every year I have to photograph inside because it's too cold outside.  We are a group from all over the United States and Canada so some of us are definitely experiencing warmer weather, but not this gal 😢. In fact, on the exact day I did this photo shoot, we had a Historic Snowstorm of 21 inches!  The last time it snowed that much at one time was 1976.  My poor husband and son had to shovel our very long driveway by hand as we do not own any plows or snowblowers.  We never felt we needed them before and all the professional plowers were busy for days.  It took them all day to shovel us out, and they were sore, but they did it!

But the good news is spring will arrive this weekend as we are supposed to have temperatures in the 70's, but the bad news is with all this snow I'm worried about flooding or a complete mud bath now 😟.  

Anyway, onto Spring Fashion!  Warmer days will get here soon!

Bo researched the new Spring Trends and this was what she discovered:

Lace & Satin

Fringe

Colors: blush pink, buttery yellow, red, sage, blue & white

Peplum

Drop waist skirts

Polka dots

Silk scarves

Bright color blocking

Oversized bags

Black sunglasses

Asymmetrical looks

Now, with most fashion these days, there was nothing "new" on the list.  I've been realizing more and more that there isn't anything new in fashion any year, it's more "what's trending" that season.  I was actually very happy to see silk scarves on that list because I am a scarf girl.  The neck tie especially is trending, which is just a little scarf tied around your neck like jewelry.  These were really in-style back in 2015-2018 and I'm thrilled to see them again.  I love wearing scarves in the spring because they provide that extra warmth I need on our chilly spring days.  I also feel they really elevate an outfit.

I also picked another item off of Bo's list:  "shades of blue".  I bought these pants last year at THE DOLLAR STORE.  Yes, you heard me right, The Dollar Store.  I thought they were such a pretty shade of blue and were so comfy.  I ended up wearing them for Easter but never showed them on my blog before until now.  Originally they came with a built-in top but I have such a long torso, they didn't fit.  So I cut the top off, and wore them as pants instead!

I paired my blue pants with a white linen top from TJMaxx and white sandals.  I added the pink necktie to bring more color into the outfit and to also coordinate with the blue pants as the scarf has shades of blue in it too.

To style a necktie, you simply fold it in half to form a triangle then roll it up starting at the pointy end.  Then just tie it to your neck with a double knot.  Easy peasy!

These pants are so comfy I love to wear them when we travel.  The material is so light weight I can wear them even on the hottest days of summer.

Here are some more spring scarf ideas from my archives:

Going Nautical

Spring Shopping Outfit

Pom-Pom Jeans

I for one couldn't be happier spring scarves are back!  What about you?  Anything on the list catch your eye?  I'd love to hear from you.

And now be sure to check out what type of outerwear the other ladies in the group are wearing and link up with us as well.

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits

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Bo ~ Bo's Bodacious Blog

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Joanne ~ My Slice of Life

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Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style

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Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle

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Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom

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How to Style a Dough Bowl for Easter

I have been wanting a dough bowl for years, but found most of them way too expensive to my liking.  On average, a good solid wood dough bowl is around $100.  Well, recently Hobby Lobby came out with a "faux" dough bowl.  It is lightweight (it feels like Basswood), but that is ok as I will not be using it to make bread but only to decorate with.  This dough bowl was only $33 plus 40% as it was labeled "Spring Inspirations".  Now that is a more comfortable price for me to spend on a decorative item.

Now some of you may be asking "What is a dough bowl?"  Well years ago, during Colonial times down bowls (also known as trenchers, bread bowls, or kneading troughs) were used as vessels for mixing and kneading bread.  The long, shallow shape provided a snug, warm place for bread to rise prior to baking.   Now although some people might still use them to make bread, today they are the latest home decor trend.  People fill them with fruit and other objects, or they decorate them for the seasons.  You may remember the tiered trays that were hugely popular a few years ago, well, meet its replacement:  the dough bowl.  Although I still have and decorate my tiered tray as you shall soon see later in this post. 😀

During Christmas my dough bowl was filled with evergreens and Christmas ornaments (sorry, no picture).  After Christmas, I removed the ornaments and added candles.  It stayed that way throughout the winter until I finally decided to decorate for Easter since it is so early this year.  WITHOUT BUYING ONE NEW THING, I went through my stash and found a bunch of spring florals and simply started layering.

Now some people put foam into the bowl first and then stick everything inside.  I did not.  I began with a potted succulent plant (that's the tall one in the center) and just set in the middle.  Next, I simply laid down  faux floral bunches.  If you use bunches of florals rather than stems, you do not need the foam.  It is so easy!  

After putting the potted plant in the center, I laid down a bunch of tulips.  I only had one tulip bunch (wish I had two to make it symmetrical, but that's ok), then I filled the opposite end with a white succulent plant.  Next, I filled in the middle with a mix of Lamb's Ear and white florals.  Finally, I added a ceramic spring bird to one end, a ceramic white bunny on the other end, and a few fun colorful mushrooms for fun.  Easy Peasy!

I love little ceramic birds and collect them whenever I see one I really like for a good price.  I have enough for every season and occasion now!

The dough bowl really is the perfect centerpiece for a rectangular dining room table.

The rest of my Easter decor is the same as I've done it in the past, but in case I have any new readers, I will show you that too.

I still decorate my tiered tray.  They are not as popular as they once were, but they are still in style.  I just love them.  I like how fun and simple they are to decorate.  I like how you can decorate for all the seasons/holidays so quickly and easily with them.  

My tray is filled with more ceramic bunnies, faux grass, a bird's nest, eggs, mushrooms, carrots, pink coffee mug, and the real meaning of Easter:  Jesus!

I always have my tray set on top of the piano.  When I had a round table in the dining room, it sat in the middle of the round table as a centerpiece, but hubby never liked it there because it got in the way of conversation.  That is the nice thing about the dough bowl as a centerpiece;  it is low so it doesn't interfere with seeing people across the table.

Above the piano are spring plates and a spring picture.

On the other end of the piano is a bouquet of spring stems and more ceramic birdies among some pretty lace tins.

I put Easter themed or spring plates onto the plate rail all around the room.

On top of my dining room hutch I placed more spring grass, and I displayed some vintage spring dining items.  Above the hutch is one of my favorite spring plates of a goldfinch.

I have so many plates, I really do not need anymore, but every now and then I spot a new one I must add to my collection.  When I saw this Peter Rabbit plate, I knew he would be coming home with me.

In an awkward corner, I have another hutch where I display more vintage dining wares.  I change the pieces out with the seasons.  In the spring I love to display this Fire King Peach Lustre set.

On top of the hutch I added a tree of faux Easter Eggs and a spiritual wooden sign.  I placed a couple of cracked eggs in front of the sign to add balance.

And above the hutch are more Easter-themed and spring plates.

I hope you enjoyed my spring decor post.  Have you decorated for Easter yet?  Do you own a dough bowl?  I'd love to hear from you.

Have a Great Day!  Amy

Linking up with these fabulous blogs HERE!

For More Easter/Spring Decor Ideas, See These Posts:

Easter Metal Tier Tray

Decorating My Dining Room for Spring!

How to Freshen Up Your Home for Spring!