Our grandkids are involved in 4-H and raising market hogs. They brought home their new little pigs a couple weeks ago and so we went to meet them.
We have Amelia, Gwendolyn, and Penelope.  They’re so sweet, and aren’t they just too cute???

For those of you who haven’t spent time with pigs, you’re missing out! My kids raised pigs in 4-H also, and I remember being very surprised the first year we had them at how friendly and sociable they are. Their little grunts and squeals become quite endearing! County Fair time was always bittersweet, having to say goodbye to that year’s project after the livestock auction.  Lots of tears by boys and girls (and moms) alike as we said our goodbyes, but a healthy dose of real-life too.   The kids quickly bounced back and were happy to have a break from the twice daily pen cleaning, feeding, walking and training to get them ready for show-time at the county fair.  It didn’t take long and they were excited and planning for the next year’s project.  I’m so glad to see my grandkids getting the same opportunity; it’s such an incredible lesson in responsibility.  One proud Mom and Grammy here!!!

In honor of Miss Amelia, Miss Gwendolyn, and Miss Penelope, I pulled out my “This Little Piggy” stamp set for today’s project.

***Just a quick reminder

The new annual catalog will be released in June.  That means we’ll have some retiring colors, for starters, the 2019-2020 In-Colors:  Lovely Lipstick (featured in today’s card), Grapefruit Grove, Pineapple Punch, Call Me Clover, and Blueberry Bushel.  If you need/want refills of those colors: cardstock, ink pads, re-inkers….now’s the time to get your order in.  As soon as the “retiring list” comes out, these items sell out quick, so act now to ensure you’re able to get what you need!!

You’ll Always Be Our Grand Champion – This Little Piggy

 

Card Recipe:

Card Base in Lovely Lipstick cut at 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″, score in the center at 4 1/4″ and fold in half to create 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ card.

Use die from Ornate Borders dies, part of the Ornate Garden Suite to cut the detail on the right front.  (WOOHOO!!! THIS SUITE IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER TODAY – GET IT BEFORE IT’S GONE!!!)

 

The pretty designer series paper (DSP) is from Dressed To Impress in the January-June 2020 Mini Catalog and cut at 5 3/8″ x 3 1/8″.  Go ahead and adhere it to the front of your card.

You will need to cut the inside Whisper White mat at 5 1/4″ x 4 1/8″ and have it line up at the right-hand edge to create the white underlay for your floral die-cut front.

Next you will use the Layering Circles Dies, cutting the Basic Black scalloped mat with the 3″ scalloped circle, and then use the plain circle that measures 2 13/16″ (measured from the outside edges of the die) to cut your top-layer Whisper White circle.

Using the Hogs & Kisses stamp from the This Little Piggy stamp set and Memento Black Ink, stamp your image in the center of your white circle.

I used a sponge and Crumb Cake ink to dab the dirt on the ground, and a Crumb Cake Stampin’ Marker for a little extra detail, and then lined the grass with Garden Green Stampin’ Marker.

 

Use Stampin’ Markers and/or Stampin’ Blenders to color as you like.  Of course, I colored my little piggy to match our grandkids’ pigs which are Hampshire-cross, but if you prefer the classic Yorkshire “pink” pig, feel free to do that also! 🙂  I used the combo (dark/light) of Basic Black Stampin’ Blenders, and the Petal Pink Stampin’ Marker.

Next I cut two pieces of Lovely Lipstick CS at 2 1/2″ x 1″ and used the Banner Triple Punch to cut the notch in the ends of the “ribbons”.

I used the Dark Basic Black Stampin’ Blender, using the brush end, to outline the two “ribbon” tails and handwrote the “GRAND CHAMPION” on them.  Attach them to the back of your matted main image to simulate a “Grand Champion Ribbon” and attach the whole thing with Stampin’ Dimensionals to help it stand out.  A few Champagne gem stones in each corner for bling and there you have it!  Our grandkids will always be Grand Champions in our eyes, regardless of how their pigs place at fair, and I want them to always know that!!!

The ORNATE GARDEN SUITE can be dressed up or down and look wonderful as this card will attest to.  While on the “cutesy” side with the little piggy image, the floral border takes it up a couple notches to an “ornate cutesy”!!

 

I’m really loving this suite and all the possibilities within it!!  Check it out… I’m telling you, Stampin’ Up did it again with this one – so, so pretty; and finally available to y’all TODAY!!!!  I hope you order it, I’d love to see pictures of what you come up with too!

Thank you again for stopping by!

Janet

Product List

• 
• 
• 
• 
•