Welcome back to everyone’s favorite time of the month, the Squirrelz Stash Bash hop where we break out those supplies we’ve had squirreled away forever and use them to create a project for the monthly theme. March is Spring in the northern hemisphere, so Spring was chosen as this month’s theme, to be interpreted as we each see fit 😉 Now, if you have been with us before you know there is also a technique or supply required for the project and this month it is “On the Edge” stamping or die cutting… also to be interpreted as we see fit, so I expect you will see quite the range of cards this month in our little hop! But I can assure you the rest of the Squirrel Squad will inspire you to bash some of those supplies in your stash too!!! If you are here from the amazing Anna Mahtani’s blog, I welcome you! And if you are already a subscriber, I thank you for sticking around!!! Here’s the full lineup for today’s hop:

• Lounon Riviere
• V Fairchild
• Anna Mahtani
• Karen Page – YOU ARE HERE
• Bory Yankova – NEXT STOP
• Marie Bingaman

Now, y’all know how I have to work on multiple projects at a time, right?!? Many never make the cut to be posted and this month was no exception. My trash can is full of failed attempts, but I managed to pull together a few of my ideas as I bounced back and forth between projects. Let’s take a look:

Let’s start off with my fav:

This card uses a golden oldie stamp from a 1996 release by Stampin’ Up! called Best Borders. This sweet garden image is 1 of 4 in the set. Since I started gardening a few years ago, Spring has meant its time to get out and play in the dirt, so this image was appropriate for how I have been spending my non-crafty time!!! I started by stamping the image on the top of the paper and fussy cutting the top of the image. Then I stamped again on masking paper and created a mask so I could ink blend Distress Oxide inks under the image. I heat set the ink and stamped the sentiment, from a set from Stampendous called Thoughtful Wishes. To finish off the card I colored the sweet image with Brutfuner pencils and added some additional grass lines to fill some of the open space. I mounted the card panel onto a top folding card base so the image extends above the fold by almost an inch. I really like how this came out and it was my first time using this set after having it sooooooo many years!

This card almost didn’t make the cut. The stamping is not up to my normal standards, but the idea was too good not to show. I used a set called Dandelions from Crafters Companion that I had in my stash for at least 5 years now without using. I really wish I had used it when I first got it because it stamps very poorly, and I would have taken it back to get a replacement if I had known. Now its retired and no longer available so I’m stuck with it. What is very cool about the set is that it comes with dies to cut both the left and right side of the image, so you could do just one side or both if you want to cut it out completely. I used the die for the right side and placed it on my card front where I wanted the image and ran it through. Then I ink blended the blank card front and inside panel that would be seen from the outside. I heat set the Distress Oxide inks, then stamped the dandelions and the sentiment, which is from a Hampton Arts set called Layer Words. I thought it was a great fit for a dandelion card. In your part of the world, do kids make wishes and blow on dandelions like we used to when I was young? For a final touch I added the the dandelion seeds blowing in the wind. Here is another look at it open so you can see how you could write a message in it:

By the way, did you know that dandelion plants are not only edible but nutritious and delicious? It makes me wonder who ever decided it was a “weed”! Think of all the kids with their manicured lawns that will never get to wish on a dandelion. *sigh* OH! And, the entire plant has medicinal uses!!! I’ll be growing them intentionally this year as a treat for my bunnies 🐰 and an occasional salad green. And if any of my neighbors every make me angry I will just sit in my front yard blowing my “wishes” all over the street! LOL

OK, last up is my cheeky “Spring” card! When I brainstorm for card ideas, I rely heavily on Evernote, a program I use for my crafty inventory. The program allows you to search for products by key words, so when I searched for spring, this set was included in my options. And as soon as I saw it I knew how I could stamp along the edge! With 2nd and 3rd generation stamping I was able to make it look like this little chick was moving her way across the card. Once again I colored the images with Brutfuner pencils, coloring the main image like I normally would, and then using the same colors with less pressure for the other images to obtain the time lapse look. The fun sentiment is from the same set, Spring Chicken by Art Impressions. I like how this 1 layer CAS card turned out, even if it was pushing the envelope on the theme a little! 😉😉

That’s it for me, but there is so much inspiration just ahead! Next up is oh so talented Bory Yankova of Bory’s Crafting Place!!! With only 6 stops on this hop, I hope you will continue on and see how we all interpreted this month’s theme! Thanks for dropping by my little home on the internet and leaving me a comment!