So far this month, we are right on track.  We have met our goal of a basket a week until Easter.  So, here is our second Easter basket.  As you can see from the photos below, we started with a disposable coffee cup.

After

The coffee cup was covered with DSP, given a handle, embellishments and filled with candy.  And, as simple as that, you have created an Easter basket.  Here are the supplies we used:

• Card Stock - Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Lovely Lilac 
• DSP - Shades of Spring (from the Occasions Mini catalog), Certainly Celery
• Punches - Scallop Trim Border, 3/4" circle
• Embellishments - Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon, buttons, wire, hemp twine, jumbo eyelet, Non-SU rick rack, disposable coffee cups from Wal-mart, Easter grass and chocolates
• Stamp Set - Country Morning (hostess set)
• Ink - Black Staz-On, marker

Here's how we did it.  First, we removed the band from around the coffee cup to use as a guide and pattern for the DSP.

Next, lay the paper "guide" on your DSP, trace, cut out and glue to your cup.

Then, use this coffee band ""pattern" to create any additional band-layers.  We used only one extra layer, but you could add as many as you like.  By using the actual band from the coffee cup as your pattern, you are able to keep the original curve of the cup thereby making the new piece fit nicely.  
 

We used card stock circles topped with buttons to create the "dots" on our basket.  We used heavy wire for our handle but you could also use pipe cleaners, ribbon - whatever you like.

And, there you have it - an inexpensive way to create your own Easter basket.  You could use any style or size of "cup."  These baskets would make a great party favor, treats for school, or table decorations. Use your imagination! 

Today I'd like to share the card I made for the Stampin' Connection Challenge for this week.

Here is a list of the ingredients used for my card:

• Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral and Whisper White Card Stock
• Sweet Pea DSP
• Inks - Stazon and Creamy Caramel
• Stamps are Happy Easter from Well Scripted and the little chick is from the Hostess Set Country Morning
• Punches: Extra Large Fancy Flower, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circles
• Button, thread and some paper piercing were added embellishments

This week, we created a mini album with this month's featured die, Bag w/Scallops.  Unlike last week's vase, this project uses only the large scallop piece from the die and not the side pieces.  Here is the list of supplies used for our project.

• Card Stock - Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
• DSP - Pumpkin Pie
• Ink - Bermuda Bay (for sponging)
• Punches - Scallop Trim Border, Extra Large Fancy Flower, Boho Blossoms
• Embellishments - 1/2" Pumpkin Pie Striped ribbon, Pumpkin Pie button (from the Sherbet collection), two jumbo eyelets, hemp twine, a magnet, a decorative brad, and a glue dot 

The album is made by adding an additional score line in between the two existing score lines.  The actual measurement is 4-5/8".  We have included four pages in our album but you can add more.  The measurements for the inside pages are 4-1/2" x 2-1/8" and then score these pages at 3/4". The entire album is held together, on the left side, with two jumbo eyelets and the striped ribbon.

The "scrunched" flower is made using both the Extra Large Fancy Flower punch and the Boho Blossoms punch - three of each.  The decorative brad is made with Pumpkin Pie DSP and a non-SU brad maker.

 

As you can see from the above photo, magnets are used for the album closure.  You are now ready to add your pictures, words of advice, words of wisdom or even a few of your favorite recipes.

We made these little baskets at club this week.  They are created from a 1-1/2" section cut from a paper towel roll - a toilet paper roll works, too!   These are covered and embellished with card stock, DSP, punches, brads, ribbon.....the possibilities are endless.

The top basket is made with Bermuda Bay and Whisper White card stock.  We know you can't see it very well, but the inside of the baskets are covered with card stock.  The bottom basket is made with Melon Mambo card stock and both baskets use the DSP, Welcome Neighbor, from the Sale-a-bration supplement.  The baskets are adhered to a Scallop Circle.  This gives the bottom a finished scalloped edge as well as sealing the basket to hold your goodies.

Here are two more close-up pictures of the individual baskets.

The Bermuda Bay basket is embellished with the Trio Flower punch around the edge.  The handle is punched with the Scallop Edge punch.  The edge on the Melon Mambo basket is trimmed with the Eyelet Border punch and embellished with the Melon Mambo ribbon and a button from the designer buttons, Sherbet.

These baskets are small enough to use as a place card setting at the Easter table, a bridal luncheon or how about May baskets.  

Our goal is to create a different style of basket on our blog every week until Easter.  Keep watching to see what we do and if we make that goal!  
  

I've been waiting to make this "Luck of the Irish" top hat for St. Patrick's Day and when I saw the MOJO Monday Challenge contest for this week, the idea to use their design to create the band on my hat was born.  Here's the challenge inspiration.

Here is my card. I used Certainly Celery card stock, DSP, 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon and a button.  Handsome Hunter card stock was used for the scallop, the hearts that were punched to create the 4 leaf clover, and for the layer under the Certainly Celery DSP on the band.  Two brads and a little rhinestone were added for some bling.  I've also been wanting to do a little stitching on a card.  I saw where someone had used the paper piercer to create the holes and then stitched it by hand using heavy duty thread.  So, that's what I did!  Maybe not as perfect as using a sewing machine but I can truly say it's totally handmade. :)

 

This month we are featuring the Bag w/Scallops die.

Is this not the cutest thing!!  It's even better in real life.  We know it's a little hard to see, but trust us, it makes the cutest vase for flowers!!  We loved the way the mini milk carton turned out using acetate so we thought why not try it with this die.  You are probably thinking that we forgot what die we were using this month.  That this doesn't look like the bag w/scallops.  Look closer.  We just used the two side pieces from the die.  While we were brain storming and trying to design all our ideas for the month, we just happened to hold these two pieces up at the right angle and there it was!

The vase is put together with sticky strip on the two scored sides and then adhered to a card stock scallop circle.  Another scallop circle was punched out of matching DSP, cut in half and adhered over the acetate - one on each side to cover the base and give it a finished look.

The vase is filled with clear "pebbles" so as to not take away from the acetate vase.  We created flowers with the Stampin' Up! exclusive die, Blossom Party.  We added buttons and attached wire stems.  The flowers were textured with the polka dot embossing folder.  The card stock and DSP is Bermuda Bay.

We included the picture using card stock, so you could get a better visual of what the vase looks like.

 

We decided we needed to use the Designer Series Paper, Pawsitively Prints, which can be found in the Occasions Mini catalog on page 40 - there isn't a picture.  It was one of those papers that we had bought but hadn't used yet.  The colors and prints are very "springy" - is that a word?

We made this note pad cover to hold our new 2-1/2" x 8" note pads.  If you would like to make your own note pad cover,  Download Note Pad pattern here.  The cover base is Pretty in Pink card stock and the DSP is Pawsitively Prints.  We also used Certainly Celery and Very Vanilla card stock.  "Notes" is made with the Big Shot alphabet die, Go Go Boots.

The note pad cover is embellished with the Extra Large Fancy Flower punch, ribbon, linen thread and buttons.  Of course, most everything has been sponged.

If you would like to see a couple of other ideas for these note pads, check out the Two Paper Divas site - here !

I decided if I was going to do a card for one challenge, why not make it work for two.....especially when one of them includes pink and brown.  Most of you know I LOVE pink and brown together.  If you've taken classes at my house or done a swap with me, you've probably made or received more than one pink and brown card.

This is my first time doing either of these challenges - Mojo Monday 127 and Color Throwdown 81.  My card is made with Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White card stock.  The packages are from the Happy Moments stamp set - one of the stamp sets you can get for free during Stampin' Up!'s Sale-a-bration.

The packages are colored with a blender pen and Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink and Old Olive ink.  The ribbon is Old Olive grosgrain.  Notice the 1/4" circles punched out of Chocolate Chip card stock?  I used some of the tiniest eyelets you could every imagine.  They are pink and you have to set them with a writing pen.  I've had them forever and just decided I needed to use all this fun stuff and quit collecting.