The Stamp Review Crew: Zoo Babies Edition

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It’s time for another round of inspiration from The Stamp Review Crew. If this is your very first visit, we are a group of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators whose mission is to do a blog hop on the first and third Mondays of each month. Our hops are unique because each of us features the same stamp set. The result is you see the versatility of the set and the amazing things you can create with it. This week we are featuring Zoo Babies. I am Stop #1 on the hop. You may have just left Stop #14: the talented Wendy Weixler.  Her work always blows me away. As for me…I designed a baby card, the first of several that I will need for the mini-Muffins.   Each one of the puppies will receive one when he or she leaves me…complete with a gift card to Petco and a gift bag filled with goodies tailored for a baby Boxer’s needs.  Enjoy today’s hop!

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The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips
This folded card measures 5″ square.

  • Score! This beautiful background is created with the Simply Scored Tool and the Diagonal Plate.   Across the top, score at the inch mark and then the 1/8″ mark next to it.   For example, 1″, 1-1/8″, 2″, 2-1/8″ and so one.  Down the side, score at the 7/8″ mark, 1″, 1-7/8″, 2″ and so on.  Rotate the paper 90 degrees, and repeat.   Pearls at the intersections add elegance. I scored my background first, then cut out the square in the middle using the 2-3/8″ square framelit.

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  • “B” is for Boxer Baby! The Sophisticated Serif alphabet set is the perfect size for the 2″ square which occupies the center of this card.  Wild Wasabi ink was used to stamp the floral flourishes. The smallest flower die from the Flower Fair framelit collection was the perfect size for creating Blushing Bride cardstock blossoms.

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  • Giraffe! The Giraffe image from Zoo Babies was inked in Blushing Bride and stamped onto Whisper White cardstock.  It was then snipped out, and popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.  A Whisper White Baker’s Twine bow adorns the neck, while a Pearl accents the eye.

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I hope you enjoyed today’s card.  I can’t wait to design one in blue for the baby Boxer boys who will be leaving.  And believe me when I say, I wish I could keep them all!   Your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one.  Of course, if you ever have a question about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away.  Now hop along to Stop #2,  Shana Gaff.  Her work never ceases to amaze me. And if you get lost along the way, you can find a list of all the hoppers at The Stamp Review Crew.  Until next time…

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A Watercolor Challenge

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Wow!  It’s hard to believe I missed the last two Paper Players challenges due to PUPPIES!!!  It feels good to once again say…it’s Sunday, and time to play with The Paper Players! This week the ever-so-talented Nance has a fun Clean and Simple Watercolor challenge for us. I pulled out the aqua painters, watercolor paper, and my favorite set from the Occasions Catalog, Butterfly Basics, and created this quick and easy card.  Enjoy!

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This completed card measures 4-1/4″ wide by 5-1/2″ long when folded.

  • Watercolor! The image was stamped in VersaMark onto watercolor paper and heat embossed with Black Stampin’ Emboss Powder. The blossoms were watercolored with Aqua Painters and Daffodil Delight ink, followed with Tangelo Twist ink.  The leaves were colored with Aqua Painters and Always Artichoke ink.  The blue background is simply a wash of Soft Sky.

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  • Grunge! A few Tuxedo Black speckles were added using the Speckles image from Gorgeous Grunge.

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  • Bow! A triple bow, created from Tangelo Twist Stitched Satin Ribbon adds a splash of color!

IMG_1985-003A person never realizes how much they miss something until it’s gone…and that’s how it was with my stamping.   These past few weeks have been a labor of love, but it felt great to ink up the stamps.  My husband, Kim, took up residence in the “pup-artment” and puppy-sat while I created. Of course, when I looked in on him, he was holding Cash, who was sleeping soundly in his arms. I am sure the pups will be completely pre-spoiled when they head off to their new homes.

I hope you enjoyed today’s card.  I find it fun to watercolor.  I purposely left off the sentiment, so I can use it for a variety of occasions.  I can just stamp an appropriate sentiment inside when needed. What about you? Do you add the sentiment later? Won’t you let me know in your comment today? You comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one.  I have especially enjoyed your comments about the babies.  As always, if you have any questions about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach
Anne Marie Hile
Claire Broadwater
Jaydee
Joanne James
Laurie Schmidt
LeAnne Pugliese
Nance Leedy
Sandy Mathis
Debbie Mageed
Karren Johnson
Shannon Jaramillo

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Meet the Mini-Muffins

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The Mini-Muffins will be two weeks old tomorrow, Saturday, April 18th…and with age emerge personalities.  Each one is precious in his or her own way.  Here they are, in birth order, to brighten your day:

Bunny Collage April 16Meet Miss Bunny! Bunny is one sassy lassie…and is quite vocal.  She is the only fawn in the litter, and already thinks she is something special.  Bunny weighed in today at a whopping 2 lbs. 14.3 oz.  Her favorite activities are snuggling with her mother, and hanging out at the Milk Bar, where she prefers to lay on her back.

Flash 1 CollageThis dapper young man is Flash the Cash…Cash…the first of the Flash Brothers to make our acquaintance.  Flash is a talker already, who makes his opinion known readily and often.  He tops out at 3 lbs. 1.2 oz. and throws his weight around at the Milk Bar…along with his flashy brother.

Chunker CollageMy man Chunker gained his name at birth.  He greeted the world 1 lb. 1.6 oz.  Although the other boys have more than caught up, Chunker is 3 lbs. 1.3 oz.  A gentle giant, Mr. Chunk-Man is a lover and snuggler, and likes nothing better than to cuddle in your arms…unless it’s bellying up to the Milk Bar for a midnight snack.

Jack CollageJumpin’ Jack Flash is the other half of the Dynamic Flash Brother Duo.  He’s the biggest brother of the pack at 3 lbs. 5.3 oz.  When he is not exploring the whelping box, Jack loves to hang out with Cash.

Kia CollageMeet Princess Kia! Our dark brindle beauty has suffered no ill effects from being stuck in the birth canal.  She ended up saying hello to the world in the back seat of my husband’s Kia as we pulled into the vet’s office. Although she looks petite in these pictures, Kia is a little piggy, and is the first of the girls to reach the 3 lb. mark…quite a feat for 2 weeks old.  She tops the scales at 3 lbs. 0.8 oz.  and actually walked three steps this morning.  She is quite the fighter, and causes her share of scuffles at the Milk Bar, where she has been known to hold her own against the Flash Brothers.

Mira CollageAnd finally, our Miracle Baby! Twelve hours after Bunny introduced herself, Mira arrived via C-section.   Unable to stay latched on, I stayed up the first night to make certain Mira received special privileges at the Milk Bar.  Following nights, I would set my alarm to wake up and make certain she nursed every two hours.  I also worked to make sure the other mini-muffins accepted her.  I am so happy to say, today Mira weighs 2 lbs. 9.0 oz.

And there you have it…a half-dozen mini-Muffins!

I will be back with The Paper Players on Sunday…and I will also be taking part in the Stamp Review Crew Blog Hop Sunday evening.  Until next time…
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