H{Ippity} Hop Monday and My Monthly Challenge - 3/22/2010

Happy Monday!  It's time for the Ippity Blog Hop once again - don't forget to check out all the great Ippity inspiration on all the blogs listed HERE.

I have 2 cards to share with you today, both with a Spring/Easter theme, but very different cards as you will see! The first is using the gorgeous cross from the Ippity What Matters Most set:

I love how this cross fits in the Nestie Label 6 shape.  I cut both sizes out of white cardstock, and then used the larger nestie as a stencil to sponge the frame using Palette Burnt Umber ink.  I also used the Nestie Fancy Label set to cut out the brown scroll behind the cross.  The Martha Stewart Iron Gate punch was a perfect match, so I used it to add the detail at the top and bottom of the card, and topped it all off with three flowers punched out of yellow.  The patterned paper is from the SU Chocolate Chip Print Patterns.  This is a simple, yet elegant card to make, and the best part is I can make multiples to send out to friends and family for Easter very quickly!  (hey you friends and family who happen to be reading this... pretend you're surprised when you get this card, ok?)

My next card is one I made as part of a challenge I issued to myself earlier this year - once I month I pledged to get out a brand new supply or tool, something I "had to have" but has just been sitting here waiting for me to have time to use it.  So here is my challenge card for March:

The card uses 2 Ippity sets: Sweet Thoughts of Spring and What Matters Most .  The new supply I used on this card is Smooch Paint.  Now I have to admit, a large part of the reason I bought this paint was because it is just so darn cute in those little fingernail polish bottles...  what a way to make a buying decision, right?  But I'm sure glad I did , because I loved using it!  I used Taffy to color in the hearts on this cute little chick, and Taffy and Sugarplum on the flowers.  I also covered the body of the chick using moonlight to give the little guy an "all over" glow.  What I love about this paint is it is both shimmery and opaque - so even though I stamped the stem of the flowers using Burnt Umber, I was able to use Green Apple paint over it to turn the leaves shimmer green.  The brush applicators are great too - pointed tips so you can apply it to very small areas, and stiff enough that I could use the side to rub it across the chick very quickly.  I had loads of fun making this cute little springy card!  Other supplies:

Paper: SU Certainly Celery Cardstock and Print Patterns, SU Welcome Neighbor DP.  Ink: Palette Burnt Umber.  Other: Nesties and Martha Stewart grass punch, adhesive pearls.

Don't forget I have all Ippity sets in stock and ready to ship - just click on the Get Ippity Blinky or click HERE!  Happy Stamping Everyone!