Happy Easter

This is a quick post to wish you a Happy Easter and  to thank all of you who have sent get well wishes to my daughter.  She is doing well and I'm sure it is because of all the prayers and well wishes.  She has to stay laying down for two weeks and that is very hard for her to do.  She had major reconstructive surgery on her left foot and it must stay elevated above her heart.  She has seven incisions on her foot plus an incision on the inside of her leg where they had to get a ligament to replace one in her foot. The recovery will take three months.    

 I created a quick card today with a beautiful egg die cut by Die-Versions call "Spring Egg".   Isn't that a gorgeous egg!  Since I don't have a lot of crafting time,  the rest of the card was assembled using things I had die cut and completed in the past. 

Die-Versions "Spring Egg" Whispers  DVS-4x4-109

906968 

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge

 

It is time for a new challenge at Joan's Gardens  We are thinking flowers this week.  The challenge is to create some kind of container filled with flowers.  Go over to Joan's Gardens for all the challenge information and to see what the prize is this week.

For my card I used the new Nellie Snellen  "Retro Swirls 1" embossing folder for the embossed background.  The bottom piece is from the Echo Park "Dots & Strips" design paper pad.  The little "Rick Rack" border is from the Cheery Lynn  "Expandable Tiny Borders die set. In the upper corners I added the "French Lilly Corner".   The basket is the Cheery Lynn "Spring Basket 1" and was colored with Distress Inks.  

For the mixture of flowers I used the Memory Box "Prim Poppy" and "Fancy Blossoms" die. Stamens from the Cheery Lynn BAF "Embellishments #1" set were added to the center of the yellow flowers. The tall leaf is the Poppy Stamps "Meadow Leaf" and the Cheery Lynn "Flourish Leaf Strip"  and "Build A Flower #2" were used for additional leaves in the basket.  The sentiment and flourish by it are from the Penny Black "Gratitude" stamp set.  The pretty butterfly is the Memory Box "Kaleidoscope and Moonlight Butterflies" layered. 

We are looking forward to seeing your beautiful container of flowers in our challenge this week.  

Nellie Snellen Retro Swirls 1 embossing folder
Echo Park Dots & Stripes Design Paper Pad
Memory Box "Fancy Blossoms" 98312
Memory Box "Prim Poppy" 98310
Poppy Stamps "Meadow Leaf" 806
Memory Box "Kaleidoscope Butterfly" 98261
Memory Box "Moon Light Butterfly" 98260
Cherry Lynn Expandable Tiny Borders B215
Cheery Lynn Flourish Leaf Strip   B178

Cherry Lynn Expandable Tiny Borders B215
Cheery Lynn Flourish Leaf Strip   B178
Cheery Lynn Spring Basket 1   DL214

Cheery Lynn BAF "Embellishment 1" B181A
Penny Black "Gratitude" stamps   30-105

To let you know

 

 I want to let you know that I will not be available to answer emails for a little while.  My daughter is having  major surgery early this morning.  When she comes home from the hospital she will be staying at our home because she will not be allowed to get out of bed for two weeks.   As I have time, I will try to create some new cards and will answer your questions.

I have been so happy that so many of you have loved the Build A Flower tutorials and I will continue showing you how top create other flowers just as soon as I have more time. Thank you for all the comments. I love hearing from you - it lets me know you are using the tutorials.   I have had several requests to do a tutorial on how to create a pansy, so that will probably be next. 

The card above is a card I designed using the new Heartfelt Creations "Sweet Serenity" collection.  You can  purchase this collection from Joan's Gardens.

For a chance to win a $25 gift certificate from Heartfelt Creations, be sure to comment on the cards in the  Heartfelt Creations Alumni Blog Hop which is posted below this post.

I have designed a card for the new challenge at Joan's Gardens tomorrow, so be sure to stop by to see the fun challenge.  You are all creating amazing cards for our challenges,  and Joan and I love seeing all your creative work. 

Heartfelt Creations Alumni Designers Blog Hop

It is time to see more beautiful cards designed by the Heartfelt Creations Alumni Design Team.  I am first in the Blog Hop this month and the next designer's blog to visit is Dina Kowal.   As in the past, if you visit each designer's blog and leave a comment, you will have a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate to shop at Heartfelt Creations.  There are 6 designers participating in this hop.

Selma --  You Are Here

Dina Kowal          

Emilia van den Heuvel 

Alissa Well          

Sarah Miller         

Lisa Allen          

 For my card this month I used a combination of the Heartfelt Creations Posy Patch stamps and dies with the new design paper from the 'Sweet Serenity' collection.  As I have said before, I love collecting stamps from Heartfelt Creations because they continue to release additional new stamps and design papers that match/coordinate together with older stamp sets. 

I used the Heartfelt Creations "Hydrangea/Posy Branch PreCut Set" for the large flower on top of the design paper.  A lot of the smallest Posy Patch flowers from the 'Posy Patch Flowers PreCut Set' were stamped in different shades of purple card stock then die cut with the matching Posy Patch dies.  These little flowers were glued to the 'Hydrangea/Posy Branch.  In the center of most of the little posy flowers, I added some purple Stickles.  

The background is a piece of black card stock, layered on top of it is a piece of purple card stock that was distressed with the Zutter Distress It.  The design paper was attached on top and some of the flowers were darkened using Copic markers.  The sentiment is from the Heartfelt Creations 'Script Aster Background preCut Set'.  A purple silk bow and black Kaiser Craft pearls were added to complete the card.

Be sure to visit all the blogs in this hop, and leave a comment, for a chance to win that $25 Gift Certificate to shop at Heartfelt Creations.

Heartfelt Creations "Sweet Serenity" Design Paper

Heartfelt Creations "Hydrangea/Posy Branch PreCut Set" HCPC3301

Heartfelt Creations "Posy Patch Flowers PreCut Set" HCPC3303

Heartfelt Creations "Posy Patch Diecuts" HCD701

Heartfelt Creations "Script Aster Background PreCut Set" HCPC3497 

 902443

Cute Boxes

 My friend Pat and I worked on creating some cute little Martha Stewart "Treat Bags" (they are the little white box).   We designed the box around that cute little chicken stamp.  The stamp is by Stampendous and called "Hat Chick" (487620).  For the outdoor scene, we used the Cheery Lynn "Garden Gate" die (B124) on the front, and the Cheery Lynn "Victorian Picket Fence" (B123) to go around the box.  In front of it, we added the Cheery Lynn "Grass Border" (B126).   For the flowers we used the Memory Box "Blooming Violets" (98504) dies.  The little butterflies are from the Memory Box "Butterfly Delights" (98130).

 Here you can see the back of the box. It is so fun and easy to dress up a little box  to hold a little treat for someone special, using dies.  We put small chocolate eggs in our boxes.

You can purchase all the dies we used from Joan's Gardens.

900969

Red Flower Tutorial

 I have a request to do  tutorial for the red flower on the bottom row of flowers that I created below.

Someone wrote to me and said the red flower, on the bottom row, looks like a type of poppy that grows in their area and would like for me to show how to create it.  Below is a tutorial on how to "wrinkle" the petals.

 When I want to give a lot of shape to petals, I like to place them on the Teflon Craft Mat and spritz them with water to soften the fibers in the card stock.

For this flower I shaped the petals by wrapping them around the white flower tool that is in the Flower Tool Kit by Susan Tierney-Cockburn. Place the pointed end of the petal to the left on the tool and hold around the tool, then using your thumb and forefinger pinch the petal to create the "wrinkle" look.  I leave them very "wrinkled" and dry them with the heat gun.  It might have more wrinkles than you want, but once dry, you can pull some of the wrinkles out before creating the layers to build your flower.  If you leave the wrinkles in before drying, it helps keep the creases in for a natural look.

 Here you can see the red base I used, the black stamens and on the right enough petals for the completed flower.  I should have had two bases in this picture because you need to build two separate layers, each with four petals.

 Here you can see how I have glued the petals to the four point base.  You can see how the layer on the left has the petals glued a little farther out on the base which will  be the bottom layer.  The petals on the layer on the right are slightly over lapped in the center to make it a little smaller.

 Here the flower layers are glued together.  You want to stagger the petals so they are not stacked on top of each other.

 Use the black embossing mat and a medium stylus to shape the stamen.  Press it down far into the embossing mat to "cup" it.  Glue the three together, alternating the points so they are not stacked on top of each other.

 Glue the Stamen in the center of the flower.  You can add a large black Dew Drop embellishment in the center if you want.

Here is a picture of a frame that has the same flower done in yellow.

The same petals can be used for many different types of flowers and when you use different stamens, you can come up with even more varieties.  Hope you have fun creating your own flower garden.

 900642

Build A Flower Carnation Tutorial

I have two request for tutorials using the Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower #2 dies.  The first request was to do a tutorial on how to create a Carnation with the Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower #2" dies and the second request was for a Red Poppy.  I will be posting that tutorial tomorrow.    

In the above picture you can see two finished carnations created with the Cheery Lynn BAF #2 dies.

To create the carnation I used the pink petals shown on this BAF #2 die.

The carnation has many very ruffled layers. The yellow carnation above was completed using four layers and the red carnation was completed using five layers. There is no right or wrong - it just depends on the look that is pleasing to you.  I used the eight point base from the BAF #1 embellishment to build each layer; you can see it on the right side of the picture above. The eight petals above shows the first two petals as they look after being die cut.  The second two, on the top row, shows them after they were shaped with the white tool from the Tool Kit to soften the fibers in the card stock.  On the bottom row, you can see how I shaped the petals to give them the ruffled look of a carnation petal.  To shape them I just used my fingernails to kind of accordion pleat each one.  Do this to all the petals.  You will  have 8 petals for each row you want for your flower. 

 To assemble, start assembling the first layer by attaching four of the petals on every other point of the 8 point base.  I use the "Crafter's Pick" white glue because it is thick and holds well.  I find it easiest to put some glue on the Teflon Craft Mat and then just dip the tip of the petal in the glue.  

Next you add the other four petals to complete that layer.

 Create as many layers as you want for your flower.  Each row gets smaller as you work toward the center.  You start overlapping the tips as you glue them on the base, which will overlap the petals which makes the petals look fuller.  As you get to the center layers, you want to start pinching them up to make a closed center.  You can see the difference in the picture above as I glue the petals closer and closer for each row.  No two flowers are going to look exactly alike, so don't worry if they don't look exactly like mine.  When you start stacking the layers, you can start shaping your flower, pinching them up for very close layers.

This picture shows the first two layers glued together.  Try to alternate the petals, on each layer, so they are not stacked up in a row.  Continue to glue in each layer.

When you get all the layers glued together, your flower will look like this. Isn't it amazing how you can take card stock and create such realistic flowers.  The nice part is that it is very easy and so much fun.  I know someone is going to ask about the stem so I better tell you.  I used a skewer and wrapped floral tape around it.  The leaves were die cut using the green leaves on the left size of the BAF #2 die, shown above.

I hope this tutorial will help you create your carnations.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for another tutorial.

899599 

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge

It is time for a new challenge over at Joan's Gardens.  Here are the requirements:

• Use a square
• Alter something...even if it is a card
• Use flowered paper...you can make it

I have been having fun decorating those $1.00 wood frames from Michael's.  The flower design paper I used is from the Graphic 45 "Secret Garden" 8x8 pad.  I started by cutting the center out of the design paper where the photo can be placed.  I used the Tim Holtz Craft Knife and a ruler to do this.  The design paper was attached to the frame with Modge Podge.  Narrow strips of black card stock were cut and attached to the inside square and also on the outside of the frame with Modge Podge.  The center piece that was cut out was attached to a piece of black card stock and placed back in the opening.

You know how I love to duplicate flowers I see in design paper and that is what I did for this frame.  I die cut a bunch of the Memory Box "Fabulous Phlox" flowers and sponged them with peach ink before shaping them. Stamens from the Build A Flower #1 Embellishments" were die cut. I used a marker to create a darker tip, shaped and placed two in the center of each flower. Several Memory Box "Fresh Foliage" pieces were die cut that were placed behind the flowers.  The two little Impression Obsession birds were sponged and attached around the flowers with dimensional tape.  A few pearls were added to complete this frame.

Graphic 45 "Secret Garden" 8x8" design paper pad

Memory Box "Fabulous Phlox" 98511

Memory Box "Fresh Foliage" 98502

Cheery Lynn Build A Flower #1 (B181)

Impression Obsession 'Birds' 003-A  

898551

Tri Fold Card

 I apologize for being so late in posting this fun card.  I created it this morning, but had an early appointment and didn't have time to post it and had to be gone most of the day.   Joan, at Joan's Gardens, has posted some of these cute stamp sets from Art Impressions, that create a tri-fold card.  There is not much to tell you about the card because you stamp the designs, following the very easy and clear instructions that come with the stamps.  I stamped on watercolor paper and painted with Distress Inks.

 You stamp the main image, which was the cabin in this set, on what will be the inside of the card.  Next you turn the card over and stamp the other two images on the side panels.  The instructions give you measurements on how far to stamp down.  I really thought this was going to be hard, but it was so easy.  Next you color your design then cut out the portion above the design, from each side.
 

 I used the "Lakehouse" stamp set.  There is a verse in this set that I stamped on the inside.  I used the Martha Stewart "Double Loops" punch set to create a frame, but you don't need to do that.  You will have an A2 size card if you use it as directed. 

There are some really cute animal/bird sets you can use to further embellish these cards.  I didn't have these sets, but wouldn't some of the little "critters" below look really cute on this card.  Be sure to go over to Joan's Gardens and see all the different Art Impressions  "Try'folds" sets you can be creative with.

 

  

897085

Floral Card

Today I wanted to show you a card that I used the Liquitex modeling  paste and one of "The Crafters Workshop" stencils to create the background.   I have been using this technique on frames but it is a wonderful look on cards too.  I used glossy card stock and shaded the background with Distress Ink before applying the modeling paste.  It is an easy technique.  Place, or tape the stencil, over the card stock and spread the modeling paste over the stencil, making sure all the design is covered.  On this card I scrapped the paste even with the top of the stencil, but you can leave it uneven, if you want.  I used the Blending Tool and sponged on more Distress Ink over the dried paste.

I have a very sweet blogging friend, Rita, who sent me a box of "goodies" I have been anxious to use.  I used the purple flowers which are placed above the large flower, from her, and also one of the gorgeous ribbons she sent.  She has a fabulous blog I'm sure you will want to visit.  Thank you Rita for the fun things you sent.

The pretty corner on this card was die cut using the Heartfelt Creations "Decorative Blossom Corner".   I pulled the large purple flower from a stash of flowers I previously made.  The little white roses were created with the MFT Royal Rolled Rose.  The pretty flourish is the Heartfelt Creations "Bella Rose" die.   There are some Cheery Lynn "Wreath Strip" pieces tucked in this arrangement.  Before I took the second, close up picture, I added a few of the small flowers from the Cheery Lynn BAF#3 Embellishments" die.

All the products I used can be purchased from Joan's Gardens:

Liquitex "Modeling Paste"

The Crafters Workshop 6x6 Template

Glossy Card Stock

Blending Tool

Distress Inks

Heartfelt Creations "Decorative Blossom Corner" HCD729

Heartfelt Creations "Bella Rose Die" HCD712

Cheery Lynn BAF#3 Embellishments (B265)

Cheery Lynn "Wreath Strip" (B216)

MFT "Royal Rolled Rose"

896032

Special Moments with You

Today I created a masculine card using  the new Heartfelt Creations "Sweet Serenity" collection.  One of my favorite things to do is find a covered bridge when we go out for a ride in the countryside.  We always have to get out and take a lot of pictures.  This new collection from Heartfelt Creations has four beautiful scenic stamps I am sure you will enjoy working with.

For this card I used an older piece of Heartfelt Creations design paper for the background.  To distress it, I used the Zutter, Distrezz-it-All to rough up the edges of the paper.  To create the stitches around the edge of it, I used the Tim Holtz "Idea-ology" ruler which has little holes along one edge, and punched every other hole.  Next I used several Distress Inks to color the edges of the design paper, then used the Ranger "Perfect Medium" bullet marker to draw lines for the stitching.  Ranger bronze embossing powder was then sprinkled over the edge of each side.  Because I had used Distress Ink to shade the edges of the paper, some of the embossing powder stuck around the edges, which gave it a really cool look - like aging.  The Distress Inks stay "wet" for a while so if you don't want that added embossing, you must let it dry before creating the stitches and embossing them.

The stamped image is from the "Natural Beauty PreCut Set".  It was colored using Derwent Inktense pencils and Faber Castell Pastel Pencils.  The frame was created using the two largest Spellbinders "Labels Twenty" dies.  I just taped the smaller one down inside the larger die and ran it through the eBosser.   It was run back through with the embossing pad to get the embossing around the frame.  Tea Dye and Walnut Stain Distress Inks were sponged on it prior to placing it over the stamped design.  The larger die was used to cut out the stamped image, then it was glued to the back of the frame.  The sentiment is from the Heartfelt Creations "Sweet Serenity" design paper pad.

You can purchase all these products from Joan's Gardens:

Heartfelt Creations "Natural Beauty PreCut Set" HCPC 3526

Heartfelt Creations "Sweet Serenity" Design Paper

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ruler

Zutter Distrezz-it-All 

Spellbinders "Labels Twenty"

Distress Inks

eBosser

Ranger "Perfect Medium Bullet" marker

Ranger Bronze embossing powder  

  

895384

Violets and Leaf Tutorial

The new  Graphic 45 "Secret Garden" 8x8" paper pad has such gorgeous papers. You know how much I like purple so I really wanted to create something with the lavender paper and one of the little panels on one of these sheets.  The Graphic 45 paper was added to the background, then the Spellbinders A2- Filigree Delight" frame was added for the background to this arrangement. (The color of card stock is not coming out the true color in this photo - it is more lavender.) Violets were created using  Punch Bunch petals.  There is a Marianne Design "Garden Branch" and a Memory Box "Fresh Foliage"  leafy die cut behind the the violets.    

I received the following email:

 "I love the Memory Box dies well, but I notice on your flowers and leaves you always have them "come to life" with a tool I imagine, but what do you use? I am always finding myself tearing and I know I don't have the right tools, but I look and look and can't find what I think will work. Can you help me?"

I used the Memory Box Fresh Foliage Leaf die she was asking about and thought I would answer explaining here how I made the leaves come to life.  As most of you know, I always use the tools available from Joan's Gardens to shape all my flowers.  Here is a picture:

Flower Tool Kit

To shape the leaves, I use the self-closing tweezers, shown in the top left of this kit.  I place the tweezers on the tip of each leaf, right in the middle, and pinch the edges up to give it a dimensional look.  I think by doing this it creates a more realistic looking leaf.  On the little tiny leaves, I place the tweezers on one side and pinch up the other side.

Another Frame

I have a very busy day and don't have time to create something new,  so I am going to post a gift I made for one of the people who is helping me, so much, to recover from injuries from our car accident. She has spent so much time helping me feel better and even calls me at home to make sure I am doing ok.   This was just a small token of my appreciation.

I used a wooden frame and some stencils to create the background with "Modeling Paste".   Distress Inks were used to add color to the stenciled designs.  I bet you know where the large Iris is from.  I used the gorgeous Heartfelt Creations "Dutch Iris Oval" and "Dutch Iris Medley" Precut sets.  The pieces were black embossed and colored with colored pencils and OMS.  All the layers were put together with dimensional glue dots.  A Memory Box Butterfly and Cheery Lynn grass border were added to complete this frame.

Thank you Janelle for all you are doing to help me recover.