MFP Blog Hop Day 1 - Columns and Topiaries

April Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are:

 Featured April 16 - Columns & Topiaries

Featured April 17 - Be a Showoff 

Featured April 18 - Honor & Glory

Featured April 19 - Birds & Trees

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the blogs listed below (don't forget this one) each day for more chances to win!  (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All four winners will be announced on April 20, 2013, on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win; and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11 PM EST on Friday April 19, 2013.

 The special stamp set we have for you this month is:

"Zoo Friends"

 The mini stamp set we have for you this month is

"You May Bow"
                                                         

I'm starting off the hop this month with three cards.  I was hoping that some of the rest of the design team used the columns for their cards today because  the first two cards I made use the topiaries.  I did eventually make the third card, using the columns.  My first card uses three topiaries -- two with flowers, one just foliage.  It fits into a legal-sized envelope.

For my second card I popped up the flowers to give a little depth to the topiary on an otherwise pretty clean and simple card.

This next card was an afterthought.  As I was looking through the Just Cards 3D magazine I bought last month, I came across a combination Z-fold/gatefold card.  I thought I would give it a try.   It's not exactly the same as the one in the magazine, but I like the way it turned out.

Here it is opened up.

Be sure to check out the rest of the DT members' blogs to see their creativity with today's set.  Remember, you have a chance to win a free set if you comment.  
Patty,  Lois (that's me), Vicky,  Jane,  Debbie,  Pam,  Pat,  Thrifty Stamper,  MariLynn,  Karen,  Bonnie,  Kathy,  Angela,  Cathy,  Toni,  Sue,  Janine,  An'jenic,  
Kate,  Shirley,  Marks Finest Papers, a Heinrich Co 

Card 1
Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers - Columns & Topiaries
Paper:  MFP Spring Leaf, Snow Storm Smooth, Lemon Slice, Ripened Tomato, Licorice Whips
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Copic Markers, Oval punches, Paper-piercing tool, Pop dots

Card 2
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers - Columns & Topiaries
Paper:  MFP Groovin' Grape, August Greens, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Bamboo Leaves
Accessories:  Copic markers, Circle punch, Brads

Card 3
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers - Columns & Topiaries
Paper:  MFP Lily Pad, Snow Storm Smooth; Colorbok Sage Stripe
Accessories:  Copic markers, Circle punches, Ribbon