Happy Easter!

Well, it’s an Easter unlike any other, and with its disappointments as well as its eternal promises. I will miss our annual Easter egg hunt, usually here in Rochester with the three little girls, but on occasion in Illinois or Wisconsin with Caleb and Hannah. And I will miss our in-person worship service. Our sanctuary is always beautifully decorated and the music with full choir and trumpets truly inspirational. On the bright side, it’s sunny (for awhile at least) and warmer, so we’ll get out for a walk. I splurged and bought a small leg of lamb for dinner. I don’t think I’ve prepared one since my father died in 1998. It was always his menu choice for Easter, and I’ll use the same recipe from The New York Times Cookbook. The leftovers won’t go to waste as one of Tracy’s favorite dishes is Shepherd’s Pie, so that’s on the menu for this week, too.

All the Easter cards have reached their recipients, so it’s safe to share them now, although I’m quite sure none of the grandchildren ever see my blog! First off the cards for the little girls–three here in Rochester, and one in Wisconsin.

I fell in love with this bunny from Waffleflower the minute I saw it! It’s called Rejoice Rabbit which is such a perfect name. I stamped it on watercolor paper and cut it with my Cameo. Then watercolored it with Altenew’s 36 pan watercolor set. I die cut a piece of paper from My Favorite Things paper pack, “Watercolor Wash,” with Reverse Confetti’s Pierced Round Top die. Then added that to a piece of white cardstock die cut with the “Pierced Plaid Cover” die by The Stamp Market. Finally it was all added to a Lovely Lady card (Papertrey Ink.)

The next card is exactly the same except for the color choice–purple instead of pink.

That darling bunny was clearly too feminine for a boy, so Caleb got a shaker card.

I love this “Peeking Rabbit” from Simon Says. I die cut it three times and inset the colored cardstock for the eyes, ears, and nose. I found the patterned paper in my stash from a long-ago Simon Says card kit and have no idea who manufactured it. It’s perfect, though with Easter sayings, and it determined the color choice for the card—Sea Glass by The Stamp Market. The greeting is from an older Papertrey Ink set, “Bunny Basket.”

When I got ready to mail the Easter cards to Wisconsin, I began to worry that Hannah would find her card lacking when Caleb got a shaker card. I called  Sarah to ask, and her answer was so sweet. “Hannah will love her Easter card, and Caleb will share, so don’t worry about it!” In fact, Caleb is a wonderful big brother and most likely will share. Hannah always loves her handmade cards, so hopefully she won’t be disappointed. 

There are still a couple of challenges open for Spring-themed cards so I’m posting one of the bunnies on the CAS Watercolor Challenge for Spring Flowers. With it’s layers, it may not qualify as CAS–but I saw a couple entries that made me believe it might be OK.

I’m posting the shaker card in the Inspired By “Spring is Here” challenge. I wish spring was really here, but I think we have a few more weeks to go. We alternate between somewhat warmer temperatures and downright cold!

Hopefully by next Easter, the pandemic will be a thing of the past, and we can go back to celebrating with our traditions. If you celebrate Easter, I hope you have a wonderful day–home though you probably must be!