Sometimes a card idea hits you when you are in the middle of making a different card – and everything stops. You can hear the breaks screech and the tires slide as the car comes to a rapid and complete standstill. That’s what happened when I sat down with hot air balloons and a “love is in the air” sentiment to make this sweet Valentine’s Day card:
All the balloons were stamped and cut and ready-to-go, but this card was meant to showcase a sweet, sweet bunny. Here’s the banner for the Fab Friday color challenge that inspired my card:
The layout for my card was inspired by this week’s Freshly Made Sketches challenge:
Tips, Tricks and Reminders
- Fable Friends. Although the sweet animals and adorable sayings in Fable Friends are designed for a lovely Spring-themed or Easter project, I think this sweet, sweet bunny is perfect for Valentine’s Day – you can almost see the heart he’s not holding in his hands. I thought the sailor squirrel would be the first animal I played with, but I couldn’t resist the charms of this bunny. Here are the sentiments and images in Fable Friends stamp set:
How sweet are these guys? Had you seen them in the Occasions Catalog yet? - An Unexpected Combination. When I set out to make this card (after I had switched from balloons to bunny), I knew I wanted to include the sweet bunny with hearts and a loving sentiment. As I reached for the Forever Lovely stamp set, I was certain the romantic sentiments, flowers and hearts would be too formal for the bunny. Boy, was I wrong!
This gorgeous sentiment is perfectly sweet with the bunny – and the hearts that float from behind him add an adorable element and a little action to the card. I totally lifted that idea from this adorable card that Julie DiMatteo shared. - A Little Touch of Color. There are so many ways to add color to the bunny – but you really don’t have to add a lot. Once the black ink dried, I used a Blender Pen to add soft colors – each of the three colors is represented on the bunny – the coat is Grapefruit Grove, the buttons are Lovely Lipstick, and his ears have a touch of Blushing Bride.
It’s so easy to add a light layer of color with a Blender Pen and a stamp pad.
Stamp Sets: Fable Friends, Forever Lovely Papers: Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Lovely Lipstick, Grapefruit Grove, Thick Whisper White Inks: Blushing Bride, Grapefruit Grove, Lovely Lipstick, StazOn Jet Black Accessories: Blender Pen, Stampin’ Dimensionals
I hope you’ll pop over to the FabFriday site and to the Freshly Made Sketches site to see the cards by the design team members and to play along with this week’s challenge.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Brian
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What a sweet card! It brings a smile every time I look at it. Thanks for a bit of joy!
Yay! THAT makes me happy, Sharon! Thanks for your sweet comments!
This is now a favorite of your cards! I love the layout, but the bunny with the hearts behind is just perfect. Wow!
Thanks so much, Jackie! I am happy with how this card came together – glad you like it! The idea to put the hearts behind the animal came from a sweet card Julie made a couple of weeks ago! ♥
Adorable, Brian! Happy Friday!!
Hey, Judy! Thanks, my friend! Hope you are keeping warm! ♥
Ok, Mr. King…..this is seriously ADORABLE!!! The look on this bunny’s face truly melts your heart.
Love the beautiful hearts behind the bunny, what a sweet detail, the color combination and this sketch frame this image perfectly.
Thank you for sharing.
XO
Thank you , Maria! I had lots of fun with this sweet bunny. So happy you like the cards – thanks!
Absolutely precious . . . the placement of the hearts is perfectly placed and I hadn’t noticed that sentiment (also perfect). Diggin’ the contrast of Grapefruit Grove.
Thanks so much, Mary! The sentiment only makes the bunny sweeter, right? Always happy to hear from you! ♥
I love your take on the sketch. The hearts and sweet sentiment really make it special. Have a great Friday!
Thanks so much, my friend! It’s not always easy to combine two challenges, but these came together seamlessly for me. Glad you like the card! ♥
All of it…the rabbit, the stripes, the hearts, the sentiment….SWEETNESS!!!
Awww….thanks so much, Dawn! ♥
WOW, I’m like a little bunny – absolutely speechless! Gorg card.
Ha! Thanks so much, Dianne! You always know the right things to say!
First, great combo of both challenges! Second, I am in love with your bunny and those hearts! The sweetest like you!
Thanks so much, Windy! I’m so glad you like it – I was so happy when these two challenges came together for me. ♥
Those hearts are made for that sweet Bunny!
Aren’t they sweet?! Thanks, Katrina!
This card is an absolute delight!
Thanks so much, Stella! ♥
This card is fabulous Brian. The real draw to me was the bunny – look at his eyes – don’t they just melt your heart?
I was initially won over by the squirrel in this set, but I fell in love with this bunny as I worked with him. Thanks, Grace! ♥
ordinarily these colors would be a little much for me, but this is such an adorable and sweet card, I love the shadowing cast by the cutout bunny…just so perfect for both challenges.
Thanks so much, Kathy! I was happy to have both of these challenges as inspiration for my card. Thanks for your kind comments! ♥
could this card be any more perfect? hmmm… let me think…. NOT!!! the boldness of the color combo & placement lends itself perfectly to the whispering sweetness of the bunny & hearts. I’m glad you put the brakes on to do this card.
Thanks so much for such kind feedback, Dara! I’m so happy you like it! ♥
Precious!
♥ Thanks!
Oh Brian, such a lovely bunny, , love his little face and the coloring is so perfect, thanks my friend for sharing, I’m so glad we have a bunny for Easter this year , ♥️
Have a lovely weekend ♥️
Frenchie
Thanks so much for your sweet comments, Frenchie! So glad you like the card – I think this bunny is sweet, too. ♥
I have to tell you, I LOVE this card! But, I was trying to case it,the only thing I’m having trouble with are your three strips! How wide are they and PLEASE, what’s the best way you found to cut angled strips? I’ve never been able to get them equal at both ends? You’ve encouraged me to buy this stamp set with your card! I love it!
Hi Gloria! Each of the strips of cardstock is 3/4″ wide. I cut the strips and glue them to the base, starting with the middle strip. I allow them to hang over the edge of the base and then snip them along the edge of the base before adding the other colors. Hope that helps! ♥
Always beautiful cards, Brian. I love how you offering ideas on combining sentiments from other stamp sets having more illustrations. Great work!
Thanks, Leanne! I’m so glad you like it. I’m so appreciative of your kind comments! Thanks so much! ♥
Oh my goodness! Those hearts make that adorable bunny even cuter! How is that possible? So glad you joined us at Freshly Made Sketches again, Brian!
Thanks so much, Amy! Your opinion means so much to me – always lovely to hear from you! ♥
Thank you for your inspiration to us ‘newies’. I am in awe of your colour combination. I am not a pink or red person but ……you will learn to love with this combination. Could you help with the sizes for the card layers please. I am based in Australia. Thank you
Thanks so much for your comments, Chris! I am so glad you like the card, and I’m more than happy to share! The Crumb Cake panel is 3-1/2″ x 4-2/4″. Each of the bands is 3/4″, and the bunny panel is 2″ x 4″. Hope that helps!