Luck of the Irish Blog Hop

Are you looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Well, you’re in luck at this blog hop! We’ve got great projects from very creative designers today! So if you started at Janet's Creative World, then you’re in the right place. If not, please make sure you stop at all the blogs and leave a comment. Janet is giving away a Close To My Heart Cloud Nine Cardmaking kit valued at $45.00. (See a picture at the end of my post or on Janet's blog.) How’s that for blog candy?!

And now, on to my project:

Now while this may look like a card (and does happen to be 5"x7" size), this is NOT A CARD - it's a decor item!  I like that it goes flat for storage because I have enough holiday stuff taking up storage space as it is!

I started by creating the main background panel. I cut white cardstock to 4.75"x6.75" and random stamped the entire piece.  I used the Multi Step Shamrocks & Clover stamp set from Kitchen Sink Stamps with Exclusive Inks stamp pads in Sweet Leaf, Topiary, and Ponderosa Pine from Close To My Heart.  After stamping, I used a Sponge Dauber and the Sweet Leaf ink to edge the entire piece. I then adhered it to a piece of Topiary cardstock and trimmed it to a 1/8" border all around using the new Perfect Layers Mini and an X-acto knife on the Perfect Cutting Mat.

Next, I cut this white center panel to 3"x4" and stamped my sentiment in Topiary ink. The sentiment is a discontinued stamp from River City Rubber Works called May the Road Rise. If you can't find a similar stamp, you could always print the saying from your computer.  I again used the Sponge Dauber with Sweet Leaf ink along all of the edges. Using Liquid Glass, I adhered this panel to a scrap of Tan Glitter Paper from Close To My Heart (looks gold to me!). Once dry, I again used the Perfect Layers Mini to mat it at 3/16" on all sides. I then adhered that to a scrap of Ponderosa Pine cardstock and trimmed that at 1/16" on all sides. I adhered this entire piece to the main panel, centering it side to side and about the same distance from the top.

The next step was to create an easel so my piece would stand easily.  I cut this using the Fancy Frames cartridge with my Cricut, set at 6.5".  I still trimmed a tiny bit from one side, as it cut slightly wider than my piece and I did not want to make the backing any shorter. I adhered it to the back of my piece with adhesive on the top and both sides only.

Finally, I got to the fun part: adding all the "stuff"! First I made a double bow with a Bow Easy tool.  I adhered a length of ribbon across the front of the card using Scor Tape, and adhered the bow to the ribbon with a Glue Dot. Next, I pulled out my Epiphany Crafts Shape Studio Tool Heart 25 and Bubble Caps.  I created a shamrock shape by making 3 hearts from a scrap of paper from the Jubilee paper pack from Close To My Heart. I adhered that slightly behind the bow, using 3-D foam tape to pop it up.  Then I pulled out a big pile of small paper and plastic flowers from my stash of neutral colored flat flowers and assembled these using some mini and small green brads from my stash. I adhered them all around the shamrock and bow using some more Glue Dots. Finally, I stuck in a few Making Memories stick pins in green and I was done!

I really love the way this project turned out, and I hope you do too! I'm also linking this project up to the "Feeling Lucky" challenge over at Heart 2 Heart Challenges - be sure to check it out.

Now do an Irish jig over to Alicia's blog and see what she has in store for us - I can't wait to see!

Here’s the line-up should you get distracted by other Leprechaun trying to trick you! Thanks for joining us today and be sure to wear green March 17th so you don’t get pinched!!

Line-up

Janet Royer- http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/

Denise Soffa - http://www.craftconfectionery.com/

Beth~http://thecraftyscrapyard.blogspot.com/

Jessica http://craftinandstampin.blogspot.com

Gina http://californiascrappin-gcinderella21.blogspot.com/

Deb-http://debspaperpalooza.blogspot.com/

Lucy ~ http://love2createitall.com

Lori ~ http://scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com/

Lori - http://savingmine.blogspot.com/

Alicia http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com

Sarah ~ www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com

Debbie ~ http://craftydeb-ddscrafts.blogspot.com

Pam - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/

Tricia - http://mysticalcardcreations.blogspot.com/

Kathy - http://kathyand3kids.blogspot.com

Don't forget to visit and comment on ALL the blogs for a chance to win this great prize from Janet. Now there’s some gold you’ll want to have a chance on!