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!

Handmade Easter Cards and Tags

It's almost Easter weekend and I am so excited to not only celebrate Easter, but also to see my grandchildren again.  I always bring them an Easter basket filled with lots of treats and good things (check out THIS POST for ideas of what I put in their baskets), plus I made them each their own Easter Card.  Here are the cards and tags I made this year.

First up is Elisha's card.  Elisha is two years old so I thought he would like this big bunny card.  The image is from MFT and is not from a traditional Easter stamp set.  This card is a good example of how you don't need a stamp specifically designed for Easter to make a card for Easter.

To make the card I stamped the bunny image onto white card stock, colored it, and cut it out.  I used two sheets of coordinating designer paper for the background:  the green and white background and the dashed lines one behind the rabbit.  I cut the oval shapes using Spellbinder's Nestabilities.  I wrapped orange ribbon around the card and tied it with a bow.  The rabbit was popped up on dimensionals and the flowers were stamped twice, cut out, and also popped up on dimensionals.  The eggs are 3D stickers.  I stamped the sentiment onto white card stock, cut it with a tag die, and added an eyelet.

The large bunny tags that have all the children's names on them, were purchased already in the bunny shape but I added the detail myself, and glued google eyes and cotton balls on them.

Next up is Atticus' card.  Atticus is four years old.  For both boy cards, the one above and the one below I tried to use more earthy, neutral colors.

To make this card I stamped the bunny image and flowers onto a white base and colored it with Copic markers.  The Easter basket was stamped separately, colored, and cut out then popped up with dimensionals.  The butterflies were also stamped separately, colored, and popped up.  The bunny and flower vine are from retired Stampin' Up! "Tender Toile" set.  The Easter basket is from retired Stampin' Up! "Spring Gifts" set.  The sentiment is unknown.  The butterflies are from MFT "Adorable Elephants" set.  The "basket weave" background was made using an embossing folder and Cuttlebug machine.  I used and MFT die to make the white and green arch shapes.  Everything was adhered to a beige card base.

My last card is for Alethea, a six year old girl,  so I was able to use softer pastel colors.  Alethea's card is a combo Easter/spring card.

To make Alethea's card I used a floral stamp that has to be colored with water based markers before stamping.  I used Stampin' Up! water based markers.  Once I stamped the image, I added bunny die cuts which I cut with a die from "Memory Box" then I drew some detail on them.  The umbrella was cut with a Circuit machine and I tied on a sentiment tag.  The rain drops are epoxy stickers and the eggs are little buttons which I cut the back off and glued onto the card.  The main image panel was adhered to a blush card base.

The bunnies and umbrella were both popped up with dimensionals.

 Have A Great Day and Happy Easter!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

Handmade Easter Cards for Children

Easter is just a few weeks away so I thought I'd share some cute handmade Easter cards I made for my grandchildren.  All my cards were made using cute felt, foam, or stickers found in the seasonal aisle of any craft store.

I always search Pinterest for ideas before beginning a new project.  All three of my cards were "cased" from another card, but they always turn out looking very different because I use different supplies and bring in some of own ideas.  This first card was cased from THIS ONE.

To make this card, I first cut a 5x5 square out of a dark Kraft paper card stock.  Then I cut smaller, scalloped squares out of a lighter Kraft paper, then I cut lavender squares;  using a Cuttlebug machine and Spellbinder's Nestabilities.  After all the squares were glued together, I just glued on all my pretty felt stickers.  The sentiment and little chick were stamped on a separate piece of white card stock, colored in, cut out, and glued to the lavender square.  Finally I added some sequins for more bling.

My next card is my favorite of the three.  I just really love the CAS layout with the embossed white card stock background.  I cased this card HERE.

This card was the easiest of the three,  I simply glued all the felt stickers to the embossed white panel base, then added a sentiment banner and more sequins.   I cut the banner using an MFT die, and then I stamped and colored in the sentiment right on the banner.

For my last card, I created a background by gluing an assortment of foam eggs onto Kraft paper.  I got the idea from THIS CARD.    I bordered the Kraft background with Robins Egg card stock.  Next I added a scalloped oval and I glued a felt bunny to the oval adding sequins for embellishment.

The sentiment banner was cut with an MFT die and I stamped and colored in the sentiment directly onto the banner.  For a final touch, I added a pink ribbon and felt flower.

 I had so much fun making these cards, and I can't wait to give them to my grandchildren.

Next week I'll be back with a video showing you what I put into my grandchildren's Easter baskets this year.  Last years video was such a huge hit, I decided to do another one this year.  Apparently everyone is looking for ideas of what to put in their children's baskets.

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

What I Put In My Grandchildren's Easter Baskets

I get a few questions from other grandmothers about what I give my grandkids for Easter, so I thought I would share what I put in my grandchildren's Easter Baskets!  This post has both photos and videos, the videos offer the most thorough explanation of why I chose the items I did, but if you're like me and find videos to time consuming to watch, you can scroll through the photos.

These are my finished Easter baskets.  I have three grandchildren:  Alethea, age 4, Atticus, age 2, and Elisha 7 months.  The two bigger baskets are for the older grandkids and the baby gets the tiny basket sitting in front.

Now I will walk through all the items I chose for my grandchildren's Easter Baskets.

Clothing Item

I always put one clothing item in their basket, but I try to make it a fun clothing item that they would like and fits their personalities.... nothing practical like underwear or socks.

Atticus is into dinosaurs so I chose a cute Dino tee and soft shorts.  Alethea just started ballet so I picked up this cute and sparkly play outfit.

Craft Item

I always like to throw in a couple of craft items that I can do with the grandkids while visiting with them.  I picked these two items because I liked the religious element.  I always try to give them a few religious things, so that they learn and remember that the real meaning of Easter isn't the chocolate bunny but Jesus!

                            Chocolate Bunny

My daughter Ashley always prefers I give the kids dark chocolate if at all possible, as it has less sugar and is better for them.

Religious Books

To keep  the focus on the true meaning of Easter, I always include religious books.

Easter Candy

Most of this candy will go into those plastic Easter eggs for their Easter egg hunt on Sunday afternoon.  But I did tuck half the Reese's and Dove eggs inside their toilet paper roll bunnies too!

Toys

What would an Easter basket be without toys?  It's not Christmas, so no expensive toys here, but just a few fun things for them to enjoy.

Atticus enjoys re-enacting "David and Goliath" and tends to pick up any household item and pretends it is a sword.  He has come close to smacking someone accidentally multiple times, so I thought this Nerf Sword would be a little safer.

I thought Alethea would love creating her own bracelets and necklaces with this beading kit.

                              Healthy Treats

I always include a few "healthier" treats in their baskets so they are not just eating candy.

Handmade Items

Nothing shows Grandma's love more than a few handmade items.  I made these pretty bracelets for Alethea, plus some handmade cards, tags,  and Easter bunnies.

Handmade Easter Bunnies

Handmade Tags

For baby Elisha, I purchased two spinners for his basket.  He's a little young yet for candy. 

Baby Toys

I managed to get everything into their baskets no problem.  I then wrapped cellophane around each basket and secured it with a bow on top.  This keeps everything in place and prevents the items from falling out of the basket on the long car ride to their house.

I made sure to prominently display their personalized, handmade card at the front of the Easter basket.

I was worried about how I would fit Atticus' sword inside the basket, but it worked out very well.  I simply stood the sword straight up and tied the cellophane around the sword's handle.

The cellophane is secured with either a twist tie or rubber band, then I string a pretty ribbon through the name tag and tie a bow.  I fold the rest of the cellophane inside the basket, and secure it closed with invisible packaging tape.

For baby Elisha's basket, I simply stuffed the spinners inside the basket and tied the handles closed with a blue ribbon.

The basket is handmade by me also.

And now, here are a couple of videos which explains everything in much greater detail than photos can.  The first video shows everything I put into the baskets and I explain why I chose the items I did.  The second video shows the completed baskets.  Enjoy!

So what about you?  What do you put inside your children and/or grandchildren's Easter baskets.  I'd love to hear from you so I have some new ideas for next year!

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

Easter Cards Children Will Love

I make cards for my grandchildren for every birthday and holiday.   Sometimes I wonder why I bother because occasionally they barely look at them before they are off to the gift,  and other times, they seem to really appreciate the gesture.  I have found that the trick to making an appealing card for kids is to use an identifiable image (like a super hero, cartoon character, or an activity they enjoy).  Other types of cards kids love are just colorful, pretty or full of glitter, and lots of texture and interest.  In other words...the gaudier and busier the better.  When making cards for kids, throw all the latest card idea trends out the window, and simply make something you know they will love!

For my grandchildren's cards this year, I used lots of color, critters, and texture.

These adorable felt bunnies and eggs can be found in the Easter aisle of any craft store.  They have a fuzzy texture, and multiple layers of interest.  One of the eggs is covered in glitter.

The felt pieces have an adhesive back so I just peeled off the paper and stuck them to a blue card base.  I then hand cut some grass out of green card stock and glued it in front of the eggs.

The rainbow and clouds are made from an MFT die, but you could very easily hand cut your own rainbow and clouds too.  If I didn't have the die, I'd cut a rainbow out of white paper and use markers to create the different colors.

I finished the card with a sentiment stamp, but again, if you don't have stamps, just hand write it!

My next card is an example of how you can create a pretty card without stamps.  Tulips are the easiest flower to draw, so I just hand drew tulips onto white Cardstock, cut them out, and then glued the white flower panel to a blue card base.

Once again,  I added some felt critters I found in the Easter aisle of my local craft store.  I cut a circle for the sun out of yellow card stock.  The clouds were made with an MFT die.  I stamped the sentiment on a separate piece of paper, cut it out, and glued it to the card.  

The eggs are covered in glitter, making it appealing to any youngster.

I hope I have inspired to make some Easter cards for your own children or grandchildren this year.  I will put the cards I made for them into their Easter baskets.  Come back next week Tuesday to see what I else I made for their Easter Baskets.

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!