Flowers & Bugs (Part 2) 

And Something Green!

Hello!  Today I am sharing two decor projects - whimsical houses for part 2 of Flowers & Bugs, and, for St. Patrick's Day, a "green" paper quilt block project!  For bases I used a few items picked up at Dollar Tree and Dollarama - for the houses two MDF house shapes from Dollar Tree, and a 7 13/16" x 8" x 7/8" deep wood panel from Dollarama; and for the "green" project, two Dollarama wood panels (from a package of three) - smaller panel measures 5 1/8" x 5 1/8", and the larger panel 6" x 6", and both panels are just under 1" deep.

Just a quick summary of the basic tools and supplies I used to complete the projects:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for cutting cardstock and paper;
• Paper Snips Scissors (item 103579) - a nice sharp pair of scissors to help make "fussy" cutting a little more bearable!;
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the paper piercer and tacky putty tips are a great help in picking up and positioning small die cuts and embellishments;
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) for all die cutting;
• Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755) for the main adhesive; and
• for heat embossing the bee image (from the Queen Bee stamp set - item 160476) on the first project - an Embossing Buddy (included in the Embossing Additions Tool Kit - item 159971) to rub over the Basic White cardstock (item 159276) before stamping; VersaMark Ink (item 102283) and black embossing powder (Stampin' Emboss Powders - Basics - item 155554) to stamp and emboss the image; and, to activate the embossing powder, a heat gun (Heat Tool - item 129053).

On with the projects!

Queen Bee Whimsical Houses

The small MDF house measures 4 11/16" tall (from roof point to base) x 3 15/16" wide x 3/8" deep, and was hinged to a 5 7/8" x 5 7/8" MDF panel (which will make a great base for another project!).

I unscrewed the hinge connecting the house to the square panel, removed the decorative paper covering, and then painted the edges and back with black paint.  The tall house, a framed blackboard, measures 7 1/2" tall (from roof point to base) x 4 5/8" wide x 5/8" deep (with the "frame" removed).  I painted all edges with black paint - I did not bother with painting the back as it would be glued directly to the base panel.

Using a sheet of the black and white patterned Perfectly Penciled 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159244) I covered the front and all four sides of the base panel, sponging a little Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (item 132708) along the edges.  Over the Perfectly Penciled DSP front panel I glued a piece of "paint on canvas" textured Hues of Happiness 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 158822) and I tried to echo the Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight/Crushed Curry and Polished Pink/Melon Mambo colours in the background DSP with the DSP strips I used on the body of the houses.

In covering the front of each of the houses I began with a strip along the bottom cut from the All Together 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 160039 - currently available on the Clearance Rack) - I also used strips of this paper for each roof section.  The bottom All Together DSP strip on the small house is mostly covered by the strip cut from the Perfectly Penciled. DSP (the floral pattern is actually the revers side of the paper I used to cover the sides and front of the base panel, and I also added a strip of this floral pattern to the roof section of the large house).  I varied the width of the strips cut for the body and roof of each house - after cutting the strips for the body of each house (with the exception of the top strip on the small house) I added the pierced stitched leaf design to the strips using the Stitched Greenery die (item 155451).  For the small house I used Granny Apple Green and Old Olive patterned papers:  6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Brights (item 159258 - Granny Apple Green), Tea Boutique 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 158659 - vertical stripe), 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments -  Regals (item 159256 - Old Olive stripe), and Awash In Beauty 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 158973 - top strip).  For the large house I used Polished Pink and Crushed Curry patterned papers:  Tea Boutique DSP (Crushed Curry/white vertical stripes), 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Regals - Crushed Curry), and 2021-2023 In Colour 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments (item 159254 - Polished Pink).  After gluing on all DSP strips to the houses I lightly sanded the edges using a very fine grit sandpaper.  After sanding, to the large house I added the Polished Pink cardstock (item 155710) strip cut using the Basic Borders dies (item 155558) - starting with a 3/4" wide cardstock strip and lining the bottom points of the border die up with the bottom edge of the cardstock strip - and the 1/8" wide strip of Basic Black cardstock (item 121045).

I used the following additional dies:

• Stylish Shapes (item 159183) - to cut Basic Black cardstock small circle and circular frame;
• Queen Bee (item 160484) - to cut out the stamped and embossed bee (for the 10% Bundle Savings the Queen Bee dies and Queen Bee stamp set are also available together as the Queen Bee Bundle - item 160485); two Basic Black cardstock honeycomb pieces; Melon Mambo cardstock (item 115320) small heart on embossed bee; Melon Mambo, Polished Pink, and Crushed Curry cardstock (item 131199) flowers; and Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990) small leafy sprigs;

Queen Bee stamp set - 160476

(Bundle - 160485)

Queen Bee dies - 160484

(Bundle - 160485)

• Summer Shadows (item 156618) - to cut Melon Mambo and Polished Pink cardstock large flower; Basic Black cardstock large leafy sprig and Granny Apple Green cardstock large and medium leafy sprigs;
• Poppy Moments (item 151594) - to cut the Basic Black cardstock flower centers (2);
• Teacup (item 160186) - to cut the Polished Pink cardstock heart in the Basic Black cardstock circle; 
• Mini Pocket Envelope (item 159167) - to cut the Granny Apple Green cardstock oval for the large house; and
• Playing In The Rain (item 160550) - to cut the three clouds from Awash In Beauty DSP.

To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• eight of the Basic Black and one of the white dots from Classic Matte Dots (item 158146) - added to flower centers, and to the Polished Pink cardstock border on the large house; and
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) - to attach the medium cloud.

I used a strong white glue to attach the small house to the large house and then the large house to the base panel.  I think I will hang this panel in my craft room!  

Relish The Day Stacked Panels

I wanted another happy project so I combined the joyful bunny from the Playing In The Rain Bundle (item 160551 - which includes the Playing In The Rain stamp set [item 160542] and the co-ordinating Playing In The Rain dies [item 160550]) with the happy spring colour, Granny Apple Green!

Playing In The Rain stamp set - 160542

(Bundle - 160551)

Playing In The Rain dies - 160550

(Bundle - 160551)

The start of this project was the 3" x 3" "disappearing nine patch" paper quilt block.  For this block I used three 1" squares of three different Granny Apple Green patterned papers - the vertical stripe is from Tea Boutique 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 158659); the painterly paper - which I also used as a matting panel on the top panel and to cover all sides of both panels - is one of the patterns from Awash In Beauty 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 158973), and the large polka dot is from a retired 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Brights from several years ago (item 146964).  I am certainly not making any claim to be a knowledgeable quilter by any means but this is an easy and very fun block to do - at least in paper!  There are essentially three steps to constructing the block:  step one is to glue the nine 1" squares to a base to form one 3" x 3" block; step two is to cut this block in half twice - horizontally and vertically - to create four 1 1/2" squares; and step three is to assemble a new 3" x 3" block by gluing the four 1 1/2" squares to a base.  After doing this I gave the block a final trim (squaring up - to use the correct quilting term!) and then embossed the square using the Cane Weave 3D Embossing Folder (item 160580), then added the stitched leaf design using the Stitched Greenery die (item 155451).  I then matted the block with Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) [x 2], Basic White cardstock (item 159276), and Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990).  I "ruffled" the edges of the Basic White cardstock mat (and the large Basic Black cardstock panel mat) by scraping the blade of my craft knife along the edges.

To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the bunny image on watercolour paper;
• Soft Suede ink (item 147115) and Sweet Sorbet ink (item 159216) to colour the bunny;
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (item 132708) to stamp a partial bunny image (coat) onto a piece of Granny Apple Green patterned paper from the 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Brights (item 159258), which was then fussy cut and glued onto the watercolour paper image;
• watercolour paper - to cover the front of the smaller panel;
• Full Basket dies (item 158679) to cut the basket and handle from watercolour paper (which were coloured using Soft Suede ink and Basic Gray ink [item 149165]), and the napkin from a scrap of Daffodil Delight cardstock (item 119683);

Full Basket dies - 158679

• Soft Suede ink to sponge the edges of the Daffodil Delight cardstock napkin;
• Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 100082) to add splatters to the Daffodil Delight cardstock napkin by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid;
• Teacup dies (item 160186) to cut the large and small hearts from Granny Apple Green and Garden Green cardstock (item 102584);

Teacup dies - 160186

• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) - small piece used for the basket "lining";
• Granny Apple Green ink (item 147095) to stamp the good to remember "Relish the day" sentiment, from the Host stamp set, Sit Stay Relax (item 159152 - from the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue), on Basic White cardstock;

Host stamp set - Sit Stay Relax - 159152

• Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) to cut the sentiment circle;
• Pearl Basic Jewels (item 144219) for the two buttons on the bunny's coat; and
• for the smaller polka dot paper used to cover the front of the larger panel a sheet of Granny Apple Green patterned paper from the 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Brights (item 159258).

After covering the front and all edges of the two panels, and before adding the block, basket, bunny, hearts, and sentiment circle, I lightly sanded the edges using a very fine grit sandpaper.  Again I used a strong white glue to secure the smaller panel to the front of the larger panel.  I think I will hang this panel in my craft room too - the colours are right and the sentiment is certainly a good reminder too!

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog!  I certainly had a lot of fun working on these bright and happy projects!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin' Up! products I have used in my projects (or you want to stock up on supplies in your favourite colours before the colour refresh!), and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business! You can browse the PDF versions of the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue, and January-April 2023 Mini Catalogue, anytime on my website.  There are lots of good deals to be had on the Clearance Rack and don't forget to check out the selection of fun new Online Exclusives too! 

Have fun creating and Happy St. Patrick's Day!☘

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

Taking a break from supervisory duties for the onerous blanket inspection!