Be Hoppy!

Hello All!  I hope you had a lovely Mother's Day!  I got to spend some quality in my craft room and work on some cards that I have been thinking about.  I was able to have dinner with my step-daughter, Kayleigh, on Saturday night and my daughter, Jenna, had to work on Sunday so we switched our mom/daughter time to her day off so that left Sunday wide open for crafting :)

Last week, Doodle Pantry had their new release for May and this little frog (he's actually called "Little Frog") was part of it.  Isn't he just adorable!?  That big smile on his face puts one on mine!  I couldn't wait to use him on a card.  Now, I just kept picturing him in a lovely little pond (no mosquitoes or pond scum or other unpleasantness - ha!)...just a sweet and happy pond with pretty clear blue water and low-hanging branches and beautiful butterflies fluttering about without a care in the world (because Little Frog will not harm them *giggle*)  You are beginning to see why I create my own worlds, cards right?  LOL!  Anyway, using Bazzill cardstock in Blue Calypso, I created an easel card, modified with a "window" (using craft plastic) and framed with Bazzill cardstock in Rain Forest.  I sponged teal Staz On ink onto the square of craft plastic to create my pretty clear blue pond water and once my image was colored (using copics) I mounted it above the "pond."  I actually printed the image twice so I could pop up the frog a bit so I colored him a little differently - I used prismacolor pencils blended with Gamsol (odorless mineral spirits) - but after it dried, I added more color with copics.  Then I embossed him with the "bubbles" Cuttlebug embossing folder.  His yellow eyes are done with a yellow Glaze pen and a dollop of Glossy Accents was placed on both (they look pretty darn cool close up!).  I also used Glossy Accents to make the rings in the water.  The over-hanging branch are stickers by Sticko.  They are raised and glittered-glazed and I cut them and arranged them to create my branch.  The carefree butterflies are PrintWorks gossamer vellum stickers.  I layered them using two of each butterfly so I could pop up their wings.  The sentiment "Be Hoppy" was created using American Crafts rub-on letters (style "Jane" silver).  The little flower embellie is Making Memories looking glass stickers and I further embellished it with a Studio 18 green adhesive rhinestone.  The circle mat (under the sentiment) was cut from my Cricut Elegant Edges cartridge - I am so loving that cartridge!! And one final touch, I placed a 2" strip of blue glittered paper behind the window so that when the light shines in, my pond water sparkles :)

So there you have it - my little mosquito-free pond and happy little frog :) 

<3 Lisa