Secret Garden

 

Today I have a quick and easy card for you.  This card was designed with a  new Marianne Design die (CR1265) that I received from my dear friend Eva.  I used it with a sheet of design paper from the Graphic 45, Sweet Sentiment 8x8 pad.  I used a spray adhesive on the back of the die cut and arranged it with the little girl in the center.  To give the card some dimension, I die cut some Susan's Garden Quince flowers, which match the flowers in the design paper. I have posted a tutorial on how to create these flowers in an earlier post.   Flowers were added on both sides of the sentiment.

 

 

Here is a little closer view of the flowers.

Thank you for stopping by.  Hope you are having a great weekend.

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Get Well Card

 Today I tried to dream up something different to show you.  I designed a "see through window" card.  The card size is 6"x6".  Below I have a tutorial to show you how I created the window with a piece of clear card stock; you could recycle acetate from some of your craft supplies or use a transparency, for the window.  The embossed frame was created using the Embossalicious embossing folder.   The green frame was die cut using the Memory Box "Twirling Vine Frame" die.  The pretty little pink and blue flowers were created using Susan's Garden Quince dies. I love having these small quince dies because I can create so many different little flowers with them.  They were die cut using white card stock and I sponged ink on the edges of the petals.  Yellow Flower Soft was added for the stamens.  The yellow flowers are Susan's Garden Forsythia.  They were glued to a folded piece of brown wired Sisal Rope. I am sure you will want to watch Susan's video for creating these pretty flowers at this LINK.  You can add extra leaves, pearls and a bow to complete the card.

Here is a view of the card from the side.  A piece of design paper was attached to the inside of the card and shows through the clear card stock window for a background to the flowers.

 You can see the reflection in the clear card stock window.

 Inside of the card.

Tutorial on creating the die cut window and inserting the clear card stock and die cut frame.

 I first centered the Memory Box Twirling Vine Frame on the front of the 6"x6" card.  I use the Sizzix Magnetic Platform to hold the die cut in place.  This platform is great because you do not have to use tape to hold your dies in place. I only need the outline of the Twirling Vine Frame for this step, so will save the actual white Twirling Vine Frame die cut for another use.

 Next I attach the clear card stock (slightly smaller than the front of the card) to the inside of the card, using double sided tape.

The Memory Box, Twirling Vine Frame is die cut using green card stock.

 Place the green Twirling Vine Frame, over the clear card stock, inside the white card stock frame, and tape it down along the edges using regular clear (Scotch) tape.  Make sure you don't get the tape into the inside of the frame, or it will show on the front -- just catch the edges of the frame with the tape. 

 To cover up the tape and make the inside of the card look nice use another piece card stock and die cut the frame.  If your machine will die cut two thickness of card stock, it is easiest to die cut this at the same time you do step no 1.  If not, you can place the die cut frame over the opening, matching it perfectly, and draw lines out the outside edge to create a "cover" for the inside of the card  - it should be approximately 6"x6".   It will look like the picture above.  Using double sided tape attach this piece over the acetate. This will give you a nice finished look to the inside of your card.

You can purchase the following products from Ellen Hutson, LLC:

 Susan's Garden Quince dies
Susan's Garden Forsythia dies
 Memory Box Twirling Vine Frame die
Sizzix Magnetic Platform
Glue Glider Pro Tool

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Whimiscal Susan's Garden Mini Dasies

I think we all love daisies.  If you are like me, you like to be creative with your flower dies to create more than just one style flower. Today I thought I would show you another way to use your Susan's Garden Mini Daisy dies.   I had some polka dot embellishments I thought made cute stamens for these daisies.  These were purchased from  Michaels.  

I have a tutorial below, to show you how I created the daisies but first I'll give you info on the die cuts used to create this scene.  The fence is the Poppy Stamps Picket Fence, the stems for the daisies is the Impression Obsession tall grass, Clouds are the Memory Box Puffy Clouds, Memory Box Gold Finch,  and butterflies were cut from the Memory Box Butterfly vine.  The sentiment is from a Paper Smooches Scripty Sayings stamp set.

Here is a little tutorial on how I created the daisies.

 Use the calyx from the Susan's Garden Mini Daisy die set.  Use the leaf tool from the Susan's Garden Flower Tool Kit to score a line across the middle (on the leaf pad from the kit) leaving four legs on each side of the score line.

 Use the bone folder to crease the calyx in half.  You can see the open calyx on the left and the folded one in the middle.  I used eight daisy petals that were colored with Susan's Garden Pan Pastels at the base then shaped with the small loop tool on the thick shaping pad.

 This picture shows the daisy upside down with the bottom four petals glued to the four bottom calyx points.

 This picture shows the top petals added to the top calyx points.

 This is what the finished flower petal base will look like.  Press down on the fold of the calyx so it is just slightly open.  

You can then add whatever you want to create the center of the flower such as: pearls, rhinestones, Susan's Garden Pollen, etc.

You can purchase the following items from Ellen Hutson, LLC:

Susan's Garden, Mini Daisy dies

Susan's Garden Flower Tool Kit

Susan's Garden Pan Pastels

Susan's Garden Pollen

Ultimate Glue

Teflon Bone Folder

Poppy Stamps, Picket Fence

Impression Obsession Grass die

Impression Obsession Grass Border

Memory Box Puffy Clouds 

Memory Box Gold Finch die

Memory Box Butterfly Vine die

Paper Smooches, Scripty Sayings, stamp set

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White Poppies

I love poppies!   This is the top of a box decorated with white poppies I created using Susan's Garden Poppy Dies.  Seems like wrapping paper, boxes and bows are so expensive any more.  You can create a beautiful box, using your flower dies, that may be cherished as much as the gift inside.  These boxes could also be used in your home decor.

 This box was purchased from Michaels.  They are on sale a lot or you can use your Michaels coupon; there are so many beautiful boxes to choose from.    I fell in love the white poppies on the brown/gold background on this box. I decided to create a cluster of white poppies to decorate the top.  The top of the box actually had one giant poppy, but I like having the dimensional cluster of flowers on it, to make it special.  I tried to duplicate the poppies on the side of the box.  . 

I created nine poppies for this box.  You can watch Susan's VIDEO at this LINK to see how to create the poppies using the Susan's Garden Poppy Dies. To shade the base of each petal, I used the Faber Castell, Warm Gray III, Pitt Big Brush Artist Pen.   When I first get my dies, I always create the flowers exactly the way Susan's shows us on her videos, but sometimes later,  I experiment and do things a little different.  I am always happy to share these ideas with you.  Below I have a little tutorial on how I create the yellow stamen for the poppy.

In the center of the box I added a piece of Styrofoam to give the flowers more dimension.  It was attached with double sided tape.  A straight pen was used to attach about three poppies to the Styrofoam, then additional poppies were added around the center with Pop Dots.  The poppy leaves that come in the Susan's Garden Poppy die set were die cut using white card stock, and sponged two shades of green, after drawing a line down the center of them with the leaf tool from the Susan's Garden Tool Kit.  They were then shaped and tucked in around the poppies.  The little filler greenery was die cut using the Poppy Stamps, Leafy Sprig die.  A piece Hemp Cord was used to create a bow. I used Susan's Garden Lady Bug Kit to create the ladybugs on some of the leaves.   Bees, a butterfly and a dragonfly were pulled from my stash. To complete the box, I added a large gold flat bead to each corner.

I think this is a much prettier gift box than one just wrapped in paper with a bow.  I hope you will give this idea a try.

My Tutorial for Creating the stamen for the Poppy

Your poppies will be beautiful using the method Susan uses on her video, but I thought I would share how I created the stamens I used today.  I used two of the largest stamen pieces from the Susan's Garden Poppy die set die, cut in both yellow and black.  I like to cut each "leg" on this piece into three to create very thin stamens, for a frilly look.  After they are cut, I pick them up with the self-closing tweezers from the Susan's Garden Tool Kit and add glue to the tips of each one.  The "legs" don't necessarily need to be spread far apart in this step.

Next, still holding the stamen with the tweezers, I dip the tips in the Susan's Garden Yellow Pollen, making sure each tip is coated.  (I store my pollen in a plastic divided box that has dividers that come all the way up to lid.  This is important because you don't want your pollen spilling into the divided area next to it.  I purchased this box at Joann's.)

Next, take a pick and separate each of the legs.  I try to just push down on the center leg and that will separate them.  Do that all the way around.  It is easiest to do this while holding the stamen with the tweezers.

To make a very full stamen for the poppy, I glued two stamens together, alternating legs, to make it full.  In this picture you can see three completed stamens on the left.  In the center you can see four single ones with a dot of glue, and on the right the other four that will be attached on the center ones.  Two black stamens, that were cut the same, were glued together and all of them shaped by pushing them down in the center on the molding mat to cup them.  The black stamens were glued on top of the yellow stamens.  For these poppies I used the Lisa Pavelka "Daisy Chain Border Mold" and Makin's Clay to create the center of the stamen. Makin's Clay is a no bake clay and is easy to color with Susan's Garden Pan Pastels or markers. These products were purchased from Michaels. The clay center was glued in the center of the stamen with Ultimate Glue, and push up around the clay center.

Isn't this box more beautiful than one just wrapped in gift wrap paper and a bow added.  I hope you will give this a try.  It is truly a gift box that will be loved.

You can purchase all the items below from Ellen Hutson, LLC.

 Susan's Garden, Poppy Dies
Susan's Garden, Pollen
 Susan's Garden, Tool Kit
Susan's Garden, Ladybug Kit
Susan's Garden, Pan Pastels
 Hemp Cord
Pop Dots
Poppy Stamps, Leafy Sprig
Hi Tack Double Sided Tape
Ultimate Glue

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Basket of Violets and a Ladybug Tutorial

 Today I have created a basket of Violets for an Easter card.  The violets were created using Susan's Garden Pansy/Violet dies.  The violets were created as shown on Susan's Video at this Link.  In the center of each flower I added a dot of the yellow Paper Pen from the Susan's Garden Viva Decor Paper Pen Set.

The gorgeous die cut at the top of the card is a new Marianne Design Anja's Border, which is now in stock at  Ellen Hutson, LLC. There are two dies in this set.   The basket is also a Marianne Design die (CR1207). The small leaves behind the violets is the Impression Obsession, Leafy Branch.   The little bunny is one of the three bunnies from the Impression Obsession Bunny die.  I added a tiny black pearl to its eye and a small white pom pom to the tail.

Did you notice the cute little ladybugs on some of the leaves and in the grass? I have had some of you ask me how to create these  ladybugs.   They were made with the Susan's Garden Lady Bug Kit.  I just received my Ellen Hutson, LLC  Newsletter and in it is the following statement: "Have you noticed the ladybugs Susan adds to each of her flowers?  We are so happy to share that we have a very special Viva Decor Susan's Garden Ladybug kit now available.  Don't delay... get your kit now because we are not certain how long it will be available!"

 Below is a tutorial on how I created the ladybugs for my card:

When you receive your Susan's Garden Ladybug Kit, be sure to watch for the thin wire that will be in the package.  This wire is used to unclog the narrow tip after you finish using the black Viva Decor Pearl Pen.  In is shown at the bottom between the two bottles of Pearl Pens.  The fine tip should be used with the Black Pearl Pen to create the small dots on the back of the ladybug.

Work on your Non Stick Craft Mat and first add a dot of the Red Pearl Pen the size you want your ladybug to be.  Try to get a nice round circle.  Next use the Black Pearl Pen with the fine tip on it and add a dot of black to one end of the red dot, kind of pressing in so it "melts" into the red body.  I like to make a lot of these at one time.  It is not necessary for you to wait for these to dry, but I like to continue once they are dry, because I think I get better looking black dots.  Susan does this step while the red is still wet.   If you are using your Craft Mat from the Susan's Garden Tool Kit, it is easy to set your ladybugs aside until they are dry.  Don't leave them right where you are working, because I found out the hard way, you may end up laying something on them and it will totally mess them up if they are touched while wet!

 Once they are dry, I go back with the fine tip and add the black dots to the back.

 You can make very tiny ladybugs or larger ones, it is going to depend on the amount of red Paper Pearl that you use.  if the ladybug is large enough, you can add a very thin black line right down the center of the back, then add your black dots.  I have created a variety of sizes and save them in a little plastic box so I always have them ready to use.  (The truth is that they are so fun to make I can't stop!!!!)

 Aren't these little guys cute!

I have had some questions about my sister in law.  She had a pretty rough time of getting through the double mastectomy surgery.  She ended up with two surgeries - the first one was seven hours long, and the next day had to go back for a second surgery because something was left inside.  She has been in a lot of pain but doing much better. We thank you for all your prayers and well wishes. If you would like to send her a card to cheer her up through her recovery, here is her address:

Judy Blackmore

1529 Sandpiper Place

Pueblo, CO  81006

USA

You can purchase the following products from Ellen Hutson, LLC:

 Susan's Garden, Pansy/Violet Dies

 Marianne Design, Anja's Border

Susan's Garden, Viva Decor Paper Pen Set 

Susan's Garden, Ladybug Kit 

Susan's Garden, Flower Tool Kit

Ultimate Glue

Non Stick Craft Mat

Marianne Design, Anja's Border die

Impression Obsession, Leafy Branch

Impression Obsession, Bunny Dies

Poppy Stamps Grass

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Get Well Card with Poppies

I love to have Oriental Poppies in my flower garden.  Poppies come in a variety of colors such as orange, red, pink and salmon.  Today I created a get well card with pretty orange Poppies. The flowers were created using Susan's Garden Poppy dies.  Here is a link to Susan Tierney Cockburn's Video showing you how to create the poppy.   The base of each petal was colored using the Susan's Garden Black Pan Pastel.  The larger leaves behind the top of the poppies was die cut using the Poppy Stamps "Meadow Leaf" die.

To create the brick wall behind the flowers, I used gray card stock and the Crafter's Workshop "Mini Bricks" 6x6 template.    Embossing Paste was used over the stencil and once dry,  five different Distress Inks (Tea Dye, Walnut Stain, Pumice Stone, Black, and Scattered Straw) were sponged over the bricks for color.  I cut around the bricks and mounted them to a piece of black card stock.  The sentiment was stamped on a Marianne Design tag (CR1211) and sponged around the edges with Tea Dye Distress Ink.  I used a piercing tool to punch holes in each scallop.  The black border was created with the Martha Stewart, Double Arches punches. 

My sister-in-law Judy was diagnosed with breast cancer and is having surgery for a double mastectomy today.  Your prayers would be appreciated for a successful surgery.

The following products used to create this card can be purchased from Ellen Hutson, LLC:

Susan's Garden, Poppy Dies

Susan's Garden, Pan Pastels

Susan's Garden, Flower Tool Kit

Ultimate Glue

Crafter's Workshop Brick Template

PanPastel Sofft Knives and Covers

Black Card stock

Gray Card Stock

White Card Stock

Dreamweaver Embossing Paste

Black Soot Distress Ink Pad

Pumice Stone Distress Ink Pad

Walnut Stain Distress Ink Pad

Scattered Straw Distress Ink Pad

Tea Dye Distress Ink Pad

Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool 

Poppy Stamps, Meadow Leaf

Tim Holtz Die Pick

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Cherry Blossom Branch Home Decor

 

 I think it is fun to see how many different ways you can use the paper flowers we create.  Last time I posted, I told you that I was working on a project using Susan's Garden Cherry Blossoms.  I finally have all the Cheery Blossoms finished and this is the home decor piece I created to go in a guest bedroom.  

I purchased the branch at Joann's Fabric.  It was around $7 and I used a 40% off coupon.  It actually had two birds nests in it. I removed one and added a bird with a couple of small eggs in the nest.  For additional interest,  I added some butterflies to the branches. I created the Cheery Blossoms using the Susan's Garden Quince dies.  The Cherry Blossom is created the same as the Quince except you add the little die cut "double" petals to the flower to turn it into a Cherry Blossom. 

To create the Cherry Blossom, I die cut them using light pink card stock then use the bright pink Susan's Garden Pan Pastel at the base of each petal.  Each petal was shaped using the small loop tool from the Susan's Garden Flower Tool Kit. I usually use the Susan's Garden pink pollen on the tips of the stamens,  but today I tried something different; I used tiny micro pink beads instead of the pollen.   I like the Cherry Blossoms both ways.  It is always fun to experiment!  To attach the blossoms to the branches, I used medium size glue dots, rolled up,  or you could use hot glue.

We have had a long, cold winter but hopefully all the flowering trees will be in bloom soon. 

Here are the products  from Ellen Hutson, LLC for creating your Cherry Blossoms:

Susan's Garden Quince dies

Susan's Garden, Pan Pastels

Susan's Garden,  Pink Pollen

Susan's Garden, Flower Tool Kit

Glue Dots

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Susan's Garden Quince with Marianne Design Dies

 I have been working with the Susan's Garden Quince dies to create both Quince and Cherry Blossoms. This is a great die to have in your flower collection for creating small flowers.  You can see my tutorial for creating these flowers at this LINK. The card I created for you today has a branch of Quince and two different Marianne Design dies.  I thought I would show you how to create the border along the bottom of the card, using three of the Marianne Design Anja's Delicate Corner dies. 

 The Marianne Anja's Delicate Corner is one of  my favorite corner dies.  It always gives the feel of "elegance" to your work.   There are so many different things you can create with it.  To create the border along the bottom of my card today, I started with a 6 inch square and die cut two corners.  I have two Anja's Delicate Corners so could tape them down and cut both at one time.  If you only have one corner, you can tape it down and run it through your machine to die cut then use the embossing pad and run it through one more time, to bring out the embossed design.  For the second corner, you cannot run it all the way through again because it will flatten the first one.  You need to only run it through half way, then back it out.  Do that to both die cut and to embossed the second corner.

To create that third corner, I die cut and embossed just one corner of card stock then cut across the bottom of the embossed design, as shown in the picture above. 

 You could use that second die cut corner without a backing as shown here and center the corner between the two other corners.

 I wanted the aqua color behind the third corner I die cut so I cut a piece of card stock to fit behind the openings and attached it to the back.

A piece of polka dot design paper was added to the top of the card.  I used the Marianne Design Frame and Swirls frame for the Penny Black Sentiment.  The Quince were added across the middle of the card.

 

The Susan's Garden Quince dies can also be used to create Cherry Blossoms.  In this package of dies there is a die cut petal that has two little petals attached; this is the extra piece you add in the center of the completed Quince flower to create a Cherry Blossom.  I am working on a large project that requires a lot of Cherry Blossoms.  Here are the Cherry Blossoms I am working on.

You can purchase the following products from Ellen Hutson, LLC:

Susan's Garden, Quince dies

Marianne Design, Anja's Delicate Corner

Marianne Design, Frame and Swirls 

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Susan's Garden Jumping Jacks

I always smile when I see Jumping Jacks.  Today I have designed a card using the crepe paper Jumping Jacks I posted yesterday, using Susan's Garden Pansy/Violet dies.   To show off these cute little flowers, I have used Marianne Design dies for the background.  I always love to design using Marianne Design dies and wanted to let you know you can purchase them from  Ellen Hutson, LLC.

 

This is a 6"x6" card.  I embossed a slightly smaller piece of card stock and over it placed two die cut Marianne Design, Anja's Delicate Corners. These corner die cut so the corner is attached to a larger piece of card stock, but I cut around the bottom edge  of the corner (which is embossed so it is easy to cut off) to place it over the embossed background.  Along the bottom of the card I added the die cut Marianne Design, Anja's Edge.  To bring out the purple, I backed the delicate openings with a piece of the purple crepe paper.   For stems for the Jumping Jacks, I used two Impression Obsession grass die cuts.  The grass on this die cut is very tall and works great for flower stems.  The bottom of the grass was tucked down under the  Anja's Edge then the Jumping Jacks attached to the grass with small glue dots.  The leaves were glued under the flowers.   Along the bottom I added a piece of Webster's Pages green trim. 

The following products can be purchased from Ellen Hutson, LLC:

Susan's Garden, Pansy/Violet dies

Marianne Design, Anja's Delicate Corner

Marianne Design, Anja's Edge

Impression Obsession, Grass die

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