Want to create some special handmade Easter cards this year? Read on!

I love creating handmade Easter cards because they are the kickoff to spring and are a nice way to mark the change of the season. This year I got to use one of my new Kittie Kraft by Rubbernecker dies and I am SO happy I thought of this when I was creating the new collection. You wouldn’t think a Half Tree Die would be so important, but being able to have a perfectly sized, detailed tree that can sit to the side of one card gives us endless possibilities when creating our nature scenes.  I paired the tree with the Nested Scallop with Holes, Bunnies, Tiny Flower Buds, Flower Stems, Tiny Leaves #2, Grass and the new Kittie Says Spring Time set.

The Tree

I used a wet baby wipe to apply color because of the twiggy branches.  The baby wipe dipped in brown ink makes it so much easier to apply the ink to the trunk and all the branches rather than trying to color them with a marker or painting with a brush.  

• Cut the trees using Kraft cardstock.  Note:  you can white or cream cardstock for the trees but I just happen to like the look of Kraft after color has been added.  It’s just my preference.
• Use a folded wet baby wipe to apply brown ink to the trunks and branches of the trees and dry with a heat gun.  Pro Tip:  I heat dried the trees to make it easier to attach the leaves.  Adhesives don’t stick well on damp cardstock.

• Cut the leaves using green cardstock and the tiny flowers using pink cardstock.
• Place the leaves face up on the molding pad and form each one by pushing down in the center using the leaf tool.  If you don’t have a leaf tool you can use your paper piercer.  
• Use glossy accents to attach the leaves to the tree branches.
• Place the tiny flowers face up on the molding pad and form them by pushing down in the center of each one using a small tipped stylus.
• Attach the tiny flowers to the leaves using glossy accents.

The Card Base, Grass and Frame

• Use pink cardstock to cut the card base.
• Use white cardstock to cut the frame and sentiment layer. 
• Line the frame up over the white layer to see where you want the sentiment to be and stamp it with black ink.
• Attach the sentiment layer to the card base using ATG adhesive.
• Cut two sections of grass using green cardstock and attach one to the sentiment layer using ATG adhesive.
• Apply strips of mounting tape to the back of the frame and attach it to the card base.
• Attach the second grass layer to the frame using ATG adhesive.

The Tree and Bunny

• Apply rolled up strings of rolled up double stick tape to the tree trunk and branches.
• Tuck the tree in behind the grass and frame and attach it to the card base.
• Cut the bunny using white cardstock.
• Apply shading to the bunny using light and brown ink and mini applicators.
• Attach tiny flowers to a foliage stem using glossy accents and attach it to the hands of the bunny using glossy accents.
• Apply a piece of mounting tape to the back of the bunny and attach it to the card base.

I posted the Shutter Card below a couple days ago and thought I should share it here again today to show another way I used the Half Tree.  

Spring and handmade Easter cards are perfectly timed to both celebrate the holiday and get spring on our minds. Make a few to send to your friends and family and help wash winter away!

5300D Nested Scallop with Holes [ RBB ] 5403D Half Tree Die [ RBB ] 5334-02D Tiny Leaves #2 Die [ RBB ] Tabed Grass Set Die Cut 5152-03D [ RBB ] Tiny Flower Buds Die Cut 5147-10D [ RBB ] Flower Stems Die 5147-05D [ RBB ] Bunnies Die 5142-01D [ RBB ] 3411 Kittie Says Spring time [ RBB ] Color Fuse Set #3 [ RBB ] Versafine Clair Nocturne Pad [ RBB ] Paper Blossom Tool Kit 4/Pkg [ RBB ] Paper Blossoms Molding Mat [ RBB ] Glossy Accents .5oz [ RBB ] Scotch Advanced Tape Glider & Tape [ RBB ] Scor-Tape .125″X27yd [ RBB ] Crossover II Fabric & Paper Cutting… [ RBB ]

Handmade Easter cards are the perfect way to share the holiday with family and friends.