Silent Night and a Thank You

I have another card today designed using one of the new Marianne Design stamp sets, but before I tell you about the card I want to thank all of you who sent my friend Helen a get well card.  She has been so sick and was just able to start reading all your cards yesterday.  Linda told me she received a big stack of cards and Helen was so happy to hear from each of you.  Both Linda and Helen want me to thank you too.  Helen is improving but they do not know when she will be able to go home from the hospital.

The background for this Christmas card was embossed with the new Anna Griffin "Foulard" embossing folder.  The card is 5.5" by 6" so had to embossed it twice to cover the entire card.  The embossing folder was placed over the area not embossed the first time, and run through a second time.  The two stamps are from the Marianne Design "Silent Night" stamp set.  They were both stamped with VersaFine black ink and clear embossed.  The carolers were cut out and attached with dimensional tape.  The doily around the sentiment is the Joy Crafts Doily 6002/0258.  It was die cut using white card stock then  die cut again using black card stock so I could use the center section of the doily as a black background behind the scalloped oval piece.  The oval was also attached with dimensional tape.  Fine gold trim was used to thread three gold jingle bells on, each a different length.  They were taped behind the sentiment, then a bow made out of the same trim was added on top.  

You can purchase these products from Joan's Gardens. 

Marianne Design "Silent Night" stamp set (CS0874)

Anna Griffin "Foulard" embossing folder

Joy Crafts doily (6002/0258)

993246

A Susan's Garden Pan Pastels Technique with Daffodil Die Flower Tutorial

I received a beautiful new JustRite Background stamp called "Secret Garden".   When you stamp this background the "background" is what stamps leaving the design the same color as your card stock.  I wanted to find a way to get various colors on this background.  I decided to stamp with VersaMark on white card stock and to add color used the Susan's Garden PanPastels. Before I show you how I did this, I will tell you about the other products used to create this card.  

On the background behind the stamped image, I used the eBosser "Delicate Dots" embossing folder.  The pretty die behind the flower is the Joy Crafts 6002/0258 doily.  I created a flower to somewhat match the one in the stamped background by using the Susan's Garden "Daffodil" die for the flower and the leaves from the Susan's Garden "Rose" die set. 

TUTORIAL USING PAN PASTELS ON STAMPED IMAGE

First I have to tell you it was so easy and very fun blending the Pan Pastels over the VersaMark to color this pretty background.  I used one the blending tools that comes with the PanPastels and started rubbing the bright yellow over the design.

Next I used a little Orange Pan Pastel and ended by blending in the Rust PanPastel.  When you pick up the color, you want to lightly go around in circles to pick up just a small amount.  It takes much less than using traditional pastels (chalks).  The colors blended together so well.  Once I was happy with the color combination, I used a soft cloth to rub over the entire design.  This actually left a slight sheen that is beautiful.

The next thing I wanted to do was create a flower that was similar to the one in the stamped background.  I found the perfect dies.  I used the Susan's Garden "Daffodil" dies.  I die cut all the flower petals four times, each time with a double piece of card stock.   Many times I die cut my flower petals using white or vanilla card stock and color them with the Pan Pastels to achieve a specialized color to match my project.

I wanted to pick up the same colors as in the background, so I used the yellow Pan Pastels at the base of each petal.  I am working on a Newsprint Pad and I am sorry it looks so messy. 

Next I used the rust Pan Pastel over the rest of each petal blending down into the yellow. I did add the rust to the back of each petal because I knew some of the petals would be formed up and show the back.

Once the petals were all colored, I used the tools in the Susan's Garden Flower Tool Kit to shape them. I started by using the pointed tool in the Kit to draw lines, using the leaf pad, then used one of the stylus to "cup" each one.  After that I used the self-closing tweezers in the kit to pinch the base of each petal for further shaping.

You can see the lines drawn on each petal in this picture.   I created three layers of petals for this flower.  There are 5 sizes of petals in the Daffodil set and I used the largest ones for the bottom layer.  They were attached to the 6-point calyx that is in the daffodil set.  I created two more layers; for the middle layer I used the medium sized petals and for the top layer used the longer, more narrow petals.

The lower petals were shaped down and the narrow petals were shaped up.  For the center of the flower you can use the stamen from the Susan's Garden "Lily" die set. 

The leaves were dies cut using the Susan's Garden "Rose" leaf dies.  They were also shaped and colored with the Pan Pastels.

I hope this tutorial helps give you additional ideas for using the Susan's Garden Pan Pastels.  Also don't be afraid to use those flower dies to create many different types of flowers.  It is always fun to try and create flowers that are in design paper or in a stamped image such as this pretty JustRite "Secret Garden" Background Stamp.

Products used:

JustRite "Secret Garden Background Stamp" (CL-04490)

Joy Crafts Doily (6002/0258)

eBosser "Delicate Dots" embossing folder

Susan's Garden Pan Pastels

Susan's Garden "Daffodil" die set  (658414)

Susan's Garden "Rose" die set (658411)

Susan's Garden "Lily" die set (658275)

Susan's Garden Flower Tool Kit

990557

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge

 It is time for a new challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This week we would like to have you create a floral card:

• Have three dimensional flowers with greenery
• Use a Floral Design Paper
• Use A doily
• Use a product from Joan's Gardens

I hope you like this card as much as I do.  My card base is 5.5" square.  I used the largest Cheery Lynn "Horizon Square Boutique Stacker Frame" and layered it with a piece of glittered floral design paper from the Best Creation, Inc 6x6" Glitter Paper Pad.  A corner rounder was used to round the corners to fit inside the Stacker Frame.  The pretty doily is the MFT "Dizzy Doily".  On the top portion of the doily, I used one of the stamps from the Penny Black "Gratitude" stamp set.  It was stamped using VersaFine black ink then clear embossed.

The pretty roses were created with the MFT "Large Rolled Rose".  These roses are so easy to create because you just use your tweezers and roll them up.  I wanted a two shaded rose so used the Susan's Garden bright pink PanPastel down on the bottom portion of the petals.  After shading them, I shaped the petals with the largest stylus in the Susan's Garden Flower Tool Kit.  By shaping each petal, it made the rose more realistic.  Once rolled, I place some "Crafter Pick Ultimate Glue" on the circle at the base of the flower to hold the shape of the flower in place.

To decorate around the roses, I added some MFT "Royal Leaves".  I sponged on a little larger green after shaping the leaves.  Around these larger leaves, I added some Cheery Lynn leaves from the "Flourish Leaf Strip".  To finish off the arrangement, I die cut the Marianne Design "Decorative Elegance" die using three different shades of lavender card stock.  I added Ranger "Distress Stickles Clear Rock Candy dry glitter" to match the glitter in the background design paper.

 I hope you will join us in our challenge this week.



MFT Large Rolled Rose
MFT Dizzy Doily
MFT Royal Leaves
Best Creation, Inc 6x6 Glitter Paper Pad
Cheery Lynn Horizon Square Boutique Stacker Frames (DL253)
Cheery Lynn "Flourish Leaf Strip" (B178)
Susan's Gardens Pan Pastels
Susan's Gardens "Flower Tool Kit"
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Stickles Dry Glitter, Clear Rock Candy
Crafter's Pick Ultimate Glue
Black VersaFine Ink
Ranger ultra fine clear embossing powder

989901

Step Card with Susan's Garden Hibiscus

 

 I have some exciting news for those of you who like to make step cards.  Cheery Lynn came out with a "to die for" die that cuts the basic step card plus it die cuts all the pieces to decorate both the front and the inside of the card. No more measuring for anything to make this card!!!   You must continue reading because I have another "to die for" product shown below that is called the We R Memory Keepers "Envelope Punch Board".  Oh what fun I have had today!!!

I made two steps cards and the second one I made an envelope for.  The first card I die cut the basic card with a solid card stock and die cut a piece of design paper for the center and bottom of it.  On the sides, I used the side panel dies and die cut white card stock and embossed them with the MPress "Retro Swirls 1" embossing folder.  I did not use the die cut that can be used on the inside of this card.   

To decorate this card, I used the Marianne Design "LR0272" doily and used a sentiment from the JustRite "Vintage Oval Labels" stamp set.  It was stamped with VersaMark and clear embossed. On the top corners, I added the Marianne Design "Ivy Corners" (CR1253).

 The pretty flower was created with the Susan's Garden "Hibiscus" dies.  It was shaped with the Susan's Garden Flower tool Kit.  

I want to show you another card that was super quick and easy but yet so elegant.  A piece of design paper from my stash was used to decorate this lavender step card.  All the dies were used to decorate both the inside and outside.  A Cheery Lynn "Expandable Tiny Border" was added along the bottom panel to add to the lacy look, then a simple organdy bow added with a glue dot.  How fast was that.  You are going to love working with this die.  

 Now for more fun. This picture shows the Envelope Punch Board and the envelope made for the purple card above.  This envelope is 6" square to accommodate the bow on the card.   It literally took only a few minutes to create this envelope. It makes dozens of sizes of envelopes and the price is less than many dies.

Here is the completed card with matching envelope. 

Products Used:

Cheery Lynn "Step Card #1" (B348)

Marianne Design "Doily" (LR0272)

Marianne Design "Ivy Corners" (CR1253)

Susan's Garden "Hibiscus" (658415)

Susan's Garden Flower Tool Kit

Susan's Garden PanPastels

Susan's Garden Yellow Pollen

MPress "Retro Swirls 1" embossing folder

Cheery Lynn "Expandable Tiny Borders" B215

We R Memory Keepers "Envelope Punch Board"

989353

Cute Snowman

I am so excited to post this card.  I LOVE to create cute snowman cards.  I hope you love this card as much as I do.  All these cute dies and the snowman stamp are available from Joan's Gardens.

This is a 5.5" x 6" card.  I embossed the "snowy" background by using the eBosser "Delicate Dots" embossing folder.  Next I die cut the new Joy "Oval Frames" dies to frame this adorable snowman.  I used all pieces in this die set.  The outer delicate frame has Ranger Distress Stickles "Clear Rock Candy" glued to it.  The inside portion of this frame is cut when when die cut so it was easy to use "Weathered Wood" Distress Ink to shade it.  The scalloped part of the die cut is what I stamped the snowman on.  I stamped the snowman twice so I could cut him out to make him dimensional.  I cut off the broom so it appears to be behind the snowman.  Copic markers were used to color him.  Along the bottom of this stamped image, I cut around the scalloped edge so I could add white Liquid Applique.  Before I heat set the Liquid Applique, I sprinkled on the Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles glitter.  On the image stamped on the scalloped oval, I sponged on Weathered Wood Distress Ink up close to the image to help make the snowman stand out.   The scalloped oval and the cut out snowman were added with dimensional tape.  (Add the Liquid Applique after you sponge and attach the snowman to the oval.)

The snowman is from the Marianne "Vintage Christmas Stamps (CS0878).   In this set is also the sentiment which has a frame around it.  This was stamped on blue card stock using VersaMark and white embossed.  I used scissors to cut around the design.  The little flourishes you see on the card are included in the Joy "Oval Frame Set.  I added two sets of these flourishes to the card.  The beautiful snowflake are from the Joy Crafts 6002/2021 and 6002/2019 dies.  The larger snowflake has micro fine blue glitter added to it and layered on top is the smaller snowflake which has the Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles dry glitter added.  In the center is a Kaiser Craft blue pearl.  The snowflake as attached with a small piece of dimensional tape.

 I seldom show you the inside of my cards, but I just have to show you this one.  I love it.  Along the top I added the Joy Crafts "Snowflake Border".  Isn't it beautiful.  I folded the card in half before I started, and sponged on "Weathered Wood" Distress Ink.  I used a baby wipe to soften out the lower edges, then glued on the snowflake border along the fold of the card.  I added the Marianne Design "Ski's and Poles".  The skis were die cut using blue card stock and then I used a Sharpie Silver Paint Pen to color the embossed areas.  The poles were die cut using black card stock.  The sentiment is from the JustRite "Christmas Inner Thoughts" stamp set.

I know a lot of you like to create cards to similar to mine.  I would love it if you would link back your cards on this post, if you create one similar to this.  I would love to see your card.

All these products can be purchased from Joan's Gardens:

eBosser "Delicate Dots" embossing folder
Joy Crafts "Snowflakes 6002/2021 
Joy Crafts "Snowflakes 6002/2019
Joy Crafts "Snowflake Border 6002/2021
Marianne Design "Vintage Christmas Stamp set" CS0878
Joy Crafts "Oval Frame" set (6002/0258)
Marianne Design Skis and Poles dies (CR1252)
JustRite "Christmas Inner Thoughts" stamp set (CL-4625)
Weathered Wood Distress Ink
Liquid Applique
Ranger Distress Stickles Clear Rock Candy Glitter
Kaiser Craft blue pearls

988500 

Boo

I have been showing you a lot of new Christmas dies and stamps from Joan's Gardens, but today I wanted to let you know that Joan also has many very cute dies for Halloween.

This is a 5.5" x 6" card.  I used a piece of the design paper from the Bazzill Basics Paper pad called "All Hallows Eve".  The spooky house is the Memory Box "Manor House".  I had a sheet of Glittery Sticky Back Foam I decided to use to die cut the house.  It cut very easily with this Memory Box die.  The house was backed with a piece of yellow card stock.  The old tree is the Cheery Lynn "Spooky Tree".  In front of the house I added the new Memory Box "Weathered Fence" and placed the MFT "Fresh Cut Grass" along the bottom of it.  The cute little kids are the Memory Box "Trick or Treaters".  They were both die cut out of white card stock and the "witch" colored with markers.  The broom and jack-o-lantern the witch holds are also in this set.  To create a spooky sky, I added the Memory Box "Ghost Trio" and "Swooping Bats".  

I'm sure one of my grandkids will get a kick out of this card!

You can purchase all the products listed below from Joan's Gardens.

Memory Box "Manor House" (98705)

Memory Box "Weathered Fence" (98644)

Memory Box "Trick or Treaters" (98696)

Memory Box "Ghost Trio" (98376)

Memory Box "Swooping Bats" (98409)

MFT "Fresh Cut Grass"

Cheery Lynn "Spooky Tree" (B191)

Bazzill Basics Paper Pad "All Hallows Eve"

987830

A Special Request

I have a very special request for one of my best friends; her name is Helen.   Helen is going to be 95 in a few months but has had some very bad luck this year.  She has always been a very active person, but earlier this year she fell and had a severe broken leg that kept her in the hospital/therapy for months.  She was just getting around and planning to go back to her volunteer work at her Senior Center when a few days ago had a ruptured appendix.  She is now out of ICU but sure it will be a while before she is back on her feet.   Helen loves sending cards herself and I know would love to receive some from my blogging friends.   If you would like to help make her feel better by sending her some get well wishes,  I would love to have you send her a get well card.  I'm not sure how long she will be in the hospital,  so will give you her daughter's address so she can deliver the cards to her.  Thank you so much.

Here is the address:

Helen Zalar
c/o Linda Mulcahey
590 Carlsbad Trail

Roselle, IL    60172

Thank you blogging friends, I know this will mean so much to her.

Susan's Garden Mini Poinsettias

 

I love all the new Christmas dies and stamps that you can now purchase. This gives us lots of time to get all our holiday cards made in advance of the busy season.  One of the new dies is the Memory Box "Fabulous Holiday Wreath".  I love to create holiday cards with a pretty wreath.   The leaves on the wreath are small holly leaves.  I die cut three wreaths, then used the leaf shaping tool from Susan's Flower Tool Kit to draw a line down the center of each leaf.  I used two of the wreaths that were face up and one wreath I used the back side of it, for the front, because the petals would face the opposite direction to make a very full wreath; this wreath was placed between the two others.  To shape the petals, on the top side of each petal, I used the smallest stylus in the tool kit and pushed down on the tip to put a little curl in it for additional shaping.  The three layered wreaths made a very pretty "full" looking wreath.  

This is a 5" x 7" red card.  I used all three of the Cheery Lynn new "Horizon Oval Boutique Stacker Frames" for the frame behind the wreath.  On the smallest frame, I used one of the stamps from the new JustRite "Christmas Inner Thoughts" stamp set.  Isn't it a pretty stamp.  Each layer was attached with dimensional tape.   On the corners, I used one of the snowflake stamps from the same JustRite stamp set and white embossed one on each corner.

The wreath needed some pretty little poinsettias so I created poinsettias from the Susan's Garden "Lily" dies.  I just added two rows of petals to the calyx (base) piece for each flower.  Each petal was shaded with a burgundy marker at the base, then shaped with the smallest loop tool, in the Susan's Garden Tool Kit.  In the center I added some clear glue and poured on some micro gold beads.  Aren't they cute little poinsettias!  To finish off the wreath, I added a red silk bow made with the Bow Easy.

I love this card -- I hope you do too.

Products used:

Memory Box "Fabulous Holiday Wreath" die (98723)

Cheery Lynn "Horizon Oval Boutique Stacker Frames" (DL 252)

JustRite "Christmas Inner Thoughts" stamp set (CL-04625)

Susan's Garden "Mini Lilies" (658275)

Susan's Garden "Flower Tool Kit" (658437)

Red Silk Ribbon

Bow Easy

987142  

Susan's Garden Ladybug Tutorial

 Today I have another tutorial for you.  One of the new products in the Susan's Garden flower collection is the Susan's Garden Ladybug Kit, which is available from Joan's Gardens. There is a ladybug on the leaf of this flower plus a trail of them along the bottom.  The card was designed using the new Cheery Lynn "Horizon Square Boutique Stacker Frames.  I used all three frames on this card.  The pretty dogwood was created using the Susan's Garden "Dogwood" dies.  A red silk bow was added to complete the card.

Tutorial for creating ladybugs with the 

Susan's Garden Ladybug Kit

Here are the products you receive in the Ladybug Kit.  You will have a Viva Black Pearl Pen and a Viva Red Pearl Pen.  Also included is a special very fine point that you will need to use on the black pen.  In the top of the picture you can see the lid and stopper I removed from the black pen.  The picture shows the black pen with the fine needle point with cap on it.  The needle point, cap and a tiny little wire, that is hard to see at first, are in the plastic bag.  The fine wire is used to unclog the needle point.  Be sure you don't throw the bag away with this wire.  I store the cap with the fine wire in this bag so I know the wire is in there because it is so hard to see.

 Here is a closeup of a lady bug created with this kit.

 To create your ladybug you first want to squeeze the red paint, away from the surface you are going to apply it to, until you get a drop about the size you want for your ladybug.  You then lightly touch it to a surface.  You can do this directly on a leaf, on your card, or even on the Teflon Craft Mat. They will peel off the Craft Mat when dry. 

 Next you are going to squeeze a small drop of black out of the fine tip and push it into the end of your red drop.  This will be the head of the ladybug.  The two colors will blend together where they are joined.

 The next step can be done while the ladybug is still "wet" or you can wait until it is completely dry.  You work with the black, again with the very fine point, and get a teeny tiny drop of paint on the tip then lightly touch it to the back of the ladybug.  It really does take a very tiny drop.  Add as many as you want to get all the spots to make it look like a ladybug.

Here is a closeup to show the spots.  The number of spots will depend on the size of your red body.  You can make small or large ladybugs.  I know you will have fun creating these cute little ladybugs.  This ladybug was created on a Craft Mat and dried before adding the black dots on the back.  The black dots stand out a little because they cannot soak into the red.  All the other ladybugs I created had the tiny black dots added while the red paint was wet.

I hope this tutorial will inspire you to make these cute little ladybugs for your projects. 

Products Used:

Cheery Lynn, Horizon Square boutique Stacker frames  (DL2530
Susan's Garden "Dogwood" (658405) on back order until Aug 1
Susan's Garden Flower Tool Kit
Susan's Garden "Ladybug Kit"
Red Silk Ribbon

986400

Create your own Pine Cones with Susan's Garden Dies

  

 As I promised you yesterday, I am posting my tutorial for creating pine cones using the Susan's Gardens "Mini Petals".   Before I begin my tutorial, I will tell you about the products used on this card.  The pretty frame is a new Marianne Design Frame die (LR0276) and the candles are a new Memory Box die "Glowing Candles".  I used pearlized card stock to cut out the candles then colored the leaves with Inka Gold Metallic Rub (Green/Yellow).  The frame was die cut using white card stock then sponged with Tea Dye Distress Ink.

The pine cones were created using the Susan's Garden Mini Petals" die.  These little petals can be used for so many things, and I was very excited to be able to create realistic pine cones for my holiday cards/projects.  Behind the pine cones I added some ferns from Susan's Garden "Fern and Ivy Leaves" dies (which are a little hard to see in this picture), then Cheery Lynn "Holly Leaves" and "Wreath Strip" greenery.

MY TUTORIAL FOR CREATING PINE CONES WITH SUSAN'S GARDEN DIES

As I stated in my post yesterday, I learned to create pine cones by using the instructions in the  "Paper Bouquet Book" by Susan Tierney-Cockburn.  I am using different petals but the steps are the same.  You start out by using "YES" glue.  This is a very thick glue that you are able to some what shape.  I used a chop stick to get a small amount to shape in a cone shape.  The glue is very sticky so you will probably need to keep the baby wipes close by to clean you hands from time to time.  Since the glue is very sticky, I find it best to start this project by getting the glue pieces ready before I get to work on the petals so that it dries out a little and is easier to handle.  I don't know how many times I cut out the mini petals because I was  making a lot of pine cones, but you will probably need to die cut the mini petals die 4 to 6 times for one pine cone.  You can probably run two pieces of card stock through for each cut and have enough by running it through 3 times.  You will only be using the largest of the mini petals for this size pine cone.  If you want, you can make very small pine cones with the smallest petals.  I wanted to give the tips of the pine cone petals some definition, so I used a brown marker and colored the top edge of each petal on both sides.  You don't need to do this, but it makes each petals show up better.

After I get all the petal tops colored, I use the small loop tool from the Susan's Garden Tool Kit.  Just run it from base to top.  You probably only need to do this once but possibly twice to get it curled a little.  Now you are ready to create your pine cone.

Be sure you are working on the Teflon Craft Mat because this is a little messy.  If you create the pine cone on the Craft Mat in the Flower Tool Kit, it is very easy to turn the pine cone as you add petals - just twist the mat around as you go.  Begin by pushing the petals in at the base of the glue, overlapping each petal.  Go all the way around the base.

 I worked around going in a spiral all the way to the top.  Don't worry if you have gaps between petals, as you can see in this picture because you can go back and add more petals if needed. I do try to get them very close, but sometimes you don't see the gaps until you are about finished. 

 Work your way around the glue up to the top.

 You will be using petals that are very curled as you get to the top because you want to create a point on the pine cone. You might need to shape them around the tweezers a little.

 To get the very center petal for the point, use your tweezers and roll the petal around the point and press it tightly around the tweezers so it will stay.  You don't need glue on the petal like you do with the rose.  You now have a pine cone made out of mini petals.

 As you can see in this photo, every pine cone will be a little different.  The pine cone on the lower left is very spread out.  You can still go back and add more petals in the center to make it more closed.  You can press the petals together after they are all added to make a very closed pine cone.  You can use the tweezers to slightly bend some of the petals back if you want an open pine cone.  If you want to go a step further, you can add Flower Soft or other products to create snow on them.  You will have so much fun playing with different ways to create the pine cone that you love.

My next post will be a tutorial on how to create a ladybug with the Susan's Garden Kit.  This is another easy and fun project. 

I hope you have time for some fun crafting this weekend.  I going out this morning to pick blackberries, raspberries, and cherries -- Yum. 

Products used for this card:

Marianne Design Frame (LR0276)
Memory Box "Glowing Candles" (98661)
Cheery Lynn "Wreath Strip" (B216) 
Cheery Lynn "Holly Leaves" (B183)
Susan's Gardens "Mini Petals" (658409)
Susan's Gardens "Fern and Ivy Leaves" (658 412)
Susan's Gardens Flower  Tool Kit (658437)
Paper Bouquet Book by Susan Tierney-Cockburn LB-59059
YES Glue
Viva Inka Gold Metallic Rub (Green/Yellow) 30095
Kaiser Craft Pearls
 

985626

Susan's Garden Mini Lily Dies

It is time for a new challenge at Joan's Gardens.  There are so many new Christmas products out we thought it would be fun to get started on Christmas cards. For this challenge create a card with the following:

• A Christmas theme
• Use the traditional red and green colors
• Have something from nature (pine cones, birds, flowers, etc)

For my project I created a card and decided to attach it to one of the $1.00 wood frames from Michaels.   I used a piece of  design paper from an older Kaiser Craft pad.  The beautiful cardinal is a new background stamp from the JustRite "Christmas Cardinal Background" stamp.  The image was stamped once with VersaMark and Gold Embossed.  It was stamped again using black ink.  The image that was gold embossed was trimmed down around the gold frame and the cardinal was cut out from the one stamped in black.  It was colored using markers and attached over the gold embossed cardinal with pop dots.

The tiny poinsettias were created with the dies in the Susan's Gardens "Mini Lily" set.  Gold Stickles was added to the center of each flower.  Can you see the three little pine cones?  They were created with the Susan Gardens "Mini Petals".  I love to create pine cones for my holiday cards.   I learned to make pine cones from the "Paper Bouquet Book" by Susan Tierney-Cockburn.  She uses "YES" Glue to form the pine cones.  I am going to do a separate post, with a tutorial, on how I created the pine cones.  The greenery behind the flowers were die cut with the Cheery Lynn "Holly Flourish" die.  The completed pine cones were added under the flowers.

 The Christmas sentiment was die cut with the Cheery Lynn "Merry Christmas Set" die.  I used Viva "Inka-Gold" to color it.  Inka Gold is a paste and I just rubbed it over the sentiment then polished it with a soft rag to bring out the shine.  The snowflakes were die cut using the Cheery Lynn "Snow Flowers #1" and Snow Flowers #2" dies.  The set contains both "Merry" and "Christmas". 

Products used:

Design Paper from KaiserCraft "December 25th" 6 1/2" Paper Pad

JustRite Christmas Cardinal Background Stamp (CL-04645)

Susan's Garden "Mini Lily" (658408)

Susan's Garden "Mini Petals" (658409) (On back order until Aug 1)

Susan's Garden Flower Tool Kit ( 658437)

Susan's Garden Lady Bug Kit 

Paper Bouquet Book by Susan Tierney-Cockburn LB-59059

YES Glue

Cheery Lynn "Snow Flowers #1" (DL 225)

Cheery Lynn "Snow Flowers #2 (DL226)

Cheery Lynn "Merry Christmas Set" (B186)

Cheery Lynn "Holly Flourish" (B148)

Gold Stickles

Viva "Inka-Gold"

Ranger Detail Gold Embossing Powder

985010

More Dahlias

 

Today I have another card created with the new Heartfelt Creations Dahlias from the "Burst of Splendor" Collection.  I love working with the design paper that matches the stamps and dies.  Each collection has twenty four sheets of double sided paper.  I used the corner of one of these sheets for the background for this card.  Another thing I love about having the design paper is that you get many coloring ideas for the stamped images.  

In the lower corner, I stamped the large flower cluster from the "Dahlia Bouquet Precut Set" and colored it with markers as shown on the design paper.  It was cut out with scissors to make it dimensional.  This collection has three "leaf" stamp sets that also have matching dies.  This is really cool because you can stamp the leaf outline, die cut them with matching dies, then actually color them with the "Bold Leaf" stamps.  On the upper left side of the dahlias, I used the open leaf stamp from the "Classic Leaf PreCut Set", then die cut it with the matching die.  I tried something new; I then used the bold leaf stamp from the same set and colored the stamp with two shades of green markers.  To blend the colors I used a very fine mister and sprayed it in the air and let it fall on the stamp to blend the colors; then I pressed the die cut leaf on top of this stamp to color it.   I then touched up the leaves with the lighter maker to blend the color even more.  It was a fun technique.  I did this again using several of the leaves from the "Open Leaf PreCut Set" and the "Bold Leaf PreCut Set".  The leaves were shaped with tools from the flower tool kit. 

Do you see that pretty "wispy"  flower behind the dahlias.  This is a stamp from the "Dahlia Bouquet PreCut Set".  I arranged the flowers and leaves on the design paper then figured out where I wanted these wispy flowers to be, then stamped them on the design paper.  I used a white Inksentials pen to add white to each of the little circles.   The dahlias were attached with dimensional tape and the leaves glued under them.  To complete the card I added the pretty Heartfelt Creations "Decorative Butterfly Corner".   

You can purchase this beautiful Heartfelt Creations "Burst of Splendor" Collection from Joan's Gardens.  As always, Joan offers a great discount on the "I Want It All" collection; her price is $125.99 for all these products.

 

Products used:

Heartfelt Creations "Dahlia Bouquet PreCut Set" (HCPC 3550)

Heartfelt Creations "Classic Leaf PreCut Set" (HCPC 3546)

Heartfelt Creations "Bold Leaf PreCut Set" (HCPC 3547)

Heartfelt Creations "Open Leaf PreCut Set" (HCPC 3545)

Heartfelt Creations "Decorative Butterfly Corner" (HCD 730)

984468