Saturday, May 12, 2012

On The Farm

I joke that I went to college to learn how to milk a cow. It's true, I actually had a lab class about it. That's what you do when you are going for a BS in Animal Science. Seriously, a lot of fun. But I haven't used my degree in years. This is probably the closest I'll get, stamping with the new farm themed products from Papertrey Ink. Bringing back the good old days, let me tell ya. At least I don't have to castrate a piglet in front of my instructor this time out and get graded on it, this time out:).


Remember the PTI Egg Boxes? Perfect pairing for all the new stuff. Using one and making a Mother's Day gift set was my jumping off point.



First we've got a card to match. This is for my mother. She has four little chicks of her own (although we have long since flown the coop) and they were fun to stamp while thinking of her. Sentiments from On the Farm and Mother on the Double Ended Banner die. The very first Framed Out makes a nice frame for my "country fresh" seal. I swear I am so tempted to add cancellation stamps (from Postmarks) to everything to give it a  stamp look. Always seems to work. The background is stamped with the rustic board border stamp from Background Basics: Farm & Barn stamped in Pure Poppy on Pure Poppy cardstock for a subtle look. 




Here's a close up of the egg box. The chicken wire stamp is from Background Basics: Farm & Barn too. New Little Bitty Birdie Addition dies came in handy here as well. One Mama Hen and her chick keep the theme alive. 


Now, the box is full of marigolds. Sometimes I enjoy some inside jokes just for myself, kwim? Doesn't Perdue feed their chickens marigolds to make the chicken skin a nice golden color? Just makes me chuckle. I didn't do it on purpose, marigolds were just one of the few flowers I could find at Lowe's that could fit in some special packaging....






...eggshells! I cracked the tops of a half dozen brown eggs, kept the yolks and eggs for veggie omelets, and stuffed the shells with the flowers. All apart of the theme. Mom can just crush the shells and plant the flowers. Excellent fertilizer. 


Now, I got this idea rather late. I think it would be better to use seeds and let them grow in the egg shells for a few weeks. Just a little tip. I'm sure the marigolds will be fine, but I did have to get rid of a lot of soil. And you get more options if you start with seeds. All depends on how much forethought and time you have, I suppose. 




I have a couple flags out of the Doubled Ended Banner die on lolli sticks. Just for some flair. And the new Shape Up Series: Barn die is in the background for interest. It's stamped with Background Basics: Farm & Barn as well. Framed Out #1 comes into play again as the top window of the barn. In my experience, those roosters are always showing off. Eye roll. 




Next, a few cards. Just for ducks. I have a friend who has a little farmette and loves her ducks. She's also entering her third trimester of pregnancy this week. Could this be more perfect to pop in the mail for her? The question is, which one? 




Should we go blue with the use of the new Striped Impression Plate and Little Birdie Addition dies? I cut some of the boards off to make shorter fence sections and cut the middle one out of Fine Linen Bitty Dot Patterned Paper to help create a focal point. 




Or should we go grey and yellow, with the  yellow duck sticking out from the flock? Who knows. It will be a game day call. Just couldn't help myself in creating both. The ducks are so so so cute and love the punny saying. 


Thanks for stopping by. For more "On the Farm" fun, hop on over to the blogs of my esteemed colleagues. Inspiration abounds! 




Supplies

Gift Set
Stamps: On the Farm, Framed Out #1, Mother, Little Bitty Birdie Additions, Background Basics: Farm & Barn, Postmarks
Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Canyon Clay, Kraft, Stamper's Select White, Aqua Mist
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy, Canyon Clay, Kraft
Patterned Paper: Aqua Mist Simple Stripe and Summer Sunrise Bitty Dot
Dies: Little Bitty Birdie Additions, Framed Out #1, Ad Sense, Double Ended Banners, On the Farm, Shape Up Series: Barn Die
Egg box

Blue Duckie Card
Stamps: On the Farm, Little Bitty Birdie Additions
Dies: On the Farm, Little Bitty Birdie Additions, On the Farm
Impression Plate: Simple Stripes
Cardstock: Fine Linen, Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky
Patterned Paper: Fine Linen Bitty Dot
Ink: Dark Chocolate and Blueberry Sky

Grey Duckie Card
Stamps: On the Farm
Dies: On the Farm, Card Base-ics 2
Cardstock: Soft Stone, Harvest Gold, Stamper's Select White
Non PTI Supplies: American Crafts paper, EK Success Corner punch, dark grey paper, Memento London Fog ink

11 comments:

  1. OMG ....... I had to put down my tea to tell you this is FLIPPIN AMAZING :) I love it all ........ and the LBB dies YIKES ........ FANTASTIC post today Erin and so so creative. Egg box egg shells card ........... just LOVE LOVE LOVE it all!!!!

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  2. I've never even seen the PTI egg boxes! Only you, Erin would come up with this delightful gift set! Your "ducky" cards are precious, too. I hope YOU are feeling just ducky, yourself. You will let us know when your new bundle of joy arrives? Happy Mother's Day!

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  3. Ummm..holy smokes am I ever in LOVE with your post!! That Mothers Day gift is amazing!! Pure genius! Love it, love it, love it!!

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  4. Oh my goodness!!! What an awesome post!!! I love your red barn and I didn't even know PTI carried an Egg Box!! The flowers planted in the egg shells....what a fun idea!! You totally rocked today's post!!

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  5. I saw that idea somewhere (Pinterest?) of flowers in eggs shells...
    never really "got it"...
    now I do!! :)
    And what an incredible gift ensemble...
    my mom would die!!
    I grew up on a farm...
    she still lives there though I left farm life behind when I married a "Yankee-city-guy"...
    though we are in process of researching starting an orchard (that still counts as "farmish" right?) so maybe we'll get there yet...
    just no animals!!
    This is just fabulously creative...
    I could name so many people in my life who would love this...
    how can this set NOT come to my house?!
    Love, love, love what you did here today! :)

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  6. Absolutely the most darling idea ever...especially putting the plants in the egg shell! Just love all your projects today!!

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  7. I love it all! Especually the cracked egg shells, what a great idea! Your mom is super lucky! Happy Momma's Day!

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  8. What a beautiful and fun gift set you created filling the box with marigolds in cracked egg shells! Your ducky cards are also adorable and a fun take "on the farm."

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  9. Your gift set is AMAZING!!!!!!! love it!

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  10. Eeek, what an absolutely fabulous gift idea - can't believe how excited I am get these dies :)

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