Faith

Good Morning.  Today I decided to work with the A Way With Words "Faith" die cut.  With Easter not far away, I thought this die cut it would be beautiful on a card with pretty Lilies.  

 Faith was die cut in both pink and white card stock, then glued together, slightly offset.  Three of Susan's Garden Notes Lily and one Queen Ann's Lace flowers were used to fill the Basket which was die cut using Karen's Barrel Basket with Pop Up dies.  The Basket was die cut using Soft Finish Cardstock and light sponged around the edges with gray PanPastels.

For the frames behind the basket of flowers, I used Els van de Burgt Studio Stitched Rectangle and Fitted Frames 3 Curvy Rectangle dies. 

The die cut rectangles were layered then attached to pink card stock.  The basket was tucked  in at the bottom of the Curvy Rectangle die cut.   The Queen Ann's Lace was glued to the top of the basket, then the three lilies attached on top with dimensional glue dots. 

Supply List:

A Way With Words - Faith

Garden Notes Lily

Garden Notes Queen Ann's Lace

Barrel Basket with Pop Up

Stitched Rectangles

Fitted Frames 3 Curvy Rectangles 

Soft Finish Cardstock  

PanPastel

Blue Heron

Good Morning. This must be a bad photo day because I can not get a good photo of this card; it is much prettier in real life!

 Today I wanted to work with Susan's Blue Heron from the CountryScapes Critters 5 die set.  I always love to see these beautiful birds.  My granddaughter is away at college, but when she goes to the park and sees a blue heron, she always sends me a picture, because she remembers how much we used to love seeing them.  I have tried to duplicate one of these pictures.

I started with a piece of Soft Finish Cardstock, measuring 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches; the finished card is 6 x 6.   I love the texture in this card stock.   Susan's CountryScapes Cloud die was used to create a stencil for the cloudy sky. 

Two blue heron were die cut and colored with markers.  Blue heron are often found around cattails, so I used CountryScapes Country Flora 1 dies and die cut four cattails and two grass.  They were sponged with Distress Inks, then to create the fuzzy cattails, I add Susan's brown pollen.  Each blade of grass was cut down the center to make thinner blades.  Both the leaves on the cattails and the grass were colored on the back so some of them could be bent down to look realistic.

 Karen's Outdoor Edges dies were used to create the background across the lake.  The tree die was taped to green card stock, then the "hill" die taped below.  I wanted to have an uneven water line.  A second tree edge was die cut and alternated behind the first die cut trees, to give it more depth.  A brown marker was used to draw along the bottom of the "grass", to resemble dirt.

The bottom of the card was sponged blue.  The cattails/grass die cuts were glued in the water.  A white marker was used to create ripples in the water.  The two blue heron were glued on, then a black marker used to draw in water wave lines around the cattails and the blue heron's feet.

To finish the card, Joset Designs Rainbow Sky die set was used to die cut the sun and dimensional clouds.

The following products can be purchased from Elizabeth Craft Designs:

CountryScapes Critters 5
CountryScapes Cloud Grass
CountryScapes Country Flora 1
Outdoor Edges
Rainbow Sky
Soft Finish Cardstock

New Quietfire Stamp

Good Morning.  Today I am posting a card designed using one of the new Quietfire Creations stamps.  

 

This is a 6x6 inch card.  I used yellow polka dot design paper for the background.  Elizabeth Craft Designs  Stitched and Fitted Ovals dies were used to die cut different size oval openings for dimension.  The little flower was created using Susan's Garden Notes Rose 2 dies.  The butterfly, leafy branch, chain border and corner dies are also from Elizabeth Craft Designs. 

Be sure to check out the Quietfire Creations Blog, at this LINK,  for more inspiration using the two new stamps.

6044 - Just Living is Not Enough 

No Winter Lasts forever . .

I am looking forward to Spring and I think it is right around the corner.  Today I have designed a card with Susan's Garden Dogwood dies. These flowers are very easy to create.  For detailed instructions on how to create these beautiful flowers, you can watch Susan's  Garden YouTube video at this LINK.

The circle frame was created using three of  Els van de Burgt Studio Stitched Circle dies.  Susan's Seeds of Thoughts" Winter Spring" was stamped at the bottom.  The A Way With Words "Dream" was die cut, using glossy black card stock and glued above the stamped verse.  Els Small Butterfly was die cut and white pearls added to the body.  To complete the card, pearls were added to the upper left corner of the card.

Here are the links to the products used from Elizabeth Craft Designs:

1009 - Susan's Garden Dogwood

RS006 - Winter Spring

1116 - Stitched Circles

1158 - A Way With Words, Dream

1072 - Small Butterfly

PSF102 - Soft Finish Cardstock

In All Things of Nature

 Spring is a marvelous time of year as we can all enjoy the season of blooming flowers, butterflies, dragonflies, etc.  Today my card was designed around Susan's Seeds of Thought stamp  "All Things In Nature" rubber stamp.  It was stamped on Soft Finish Cardstock and die cut using Els van de Burgt Studio Stitched Rectangle die set.  It was framed with one of Els Fitted Frames 4 Curvy Ovals.  

The flowers were created with Susan's Garden Notes Hydrangea dies.  You can view Susan's YouTube video to see how to assemble this Hydrangea at this LINK.   Behind the flowers is Susan's CountryScapes Nantucket Picket Fence.  The butterflies and dragonfly were die cut using Susan's Garden Notes Bugs & Butterflies die set.  Along the top is one of Els Chains 1 die cuts.  The design paper used is from the Nature Garden Collection 6x6 Paper Stack by Prima.

The following products can be purchased from Elizabeth Craft Designs:

RS010 - All Things of Nature

1113 - Stitched Ovals

1112 - Fitted Frames 4 Curvy Ovals

994 - Garden Notes Hydrangea

1134 - CountryScapes Nantucket Arbor & Picket Fence

1011 - Garden Notes Bugs & Butterflies

1126 - Chains 1

PSF101 - Soft Finish Cardstock

I Wouldn't Have Missed Being Your Friend

Good Morning.  Today I have a card designed for my Quietfire Creations Design Team Blog post.  You can see all the information about this card at this LINK.

 

Nantucket Arbor

Good Morning.  Today I am sharing the card I designed for my Design Team Post on the Elizabeth Craft Designs Blog.  This card was designed using Susan Tierney-Cockburn's CountryScapes dies.  Susan has 31 different CountryScapes die sets making it so simple to create beautiful low-relief dimensional scenes for cards that are easy to make and suitable for mailing.


The top-fold card I created measures 5 1/2" by 7 1/2".  Start out by sponging the white background rectangle using stencils cut with CountryScapes Cloud Grass dies.  Using the clouds stencil, lightly sponge Broken China Distress Ink to create clouds across the top half of the background. Refer to the photo above. (Click HERE for a video tutorial on the Clouds & Grass die with Susan Tierney-Cockburn).  Use grass stencil and Mowed Lawn Distress Ink to sponge the area that will fit behind the picket fence.  Sponge Tea Dye Distress Ink across bottom of card then sponge Gathered Twigs Distress Ink to create darker spots on the ground
.
Die Cut CountryScapes Nantucket Arbor & Picket Fence using Soft Finish Card Stock.  Lightly shade using Paynes Grey Tint PanPastel.   Draw the gate handle using a fine line black marker.  Attach fence to each side with glue, then attach gate using foam tape for dimension. 

Die cut CountryScapes Garden Edges Hyacinth using white card stock.  Use markers to color flowers purple and leave/stems green. Die cut small flowers and color them purple (the same color used for the hyacinths in the long Garden Edges strip. Glue them in place.  Add the row of hyacinths to the left and right, along the bottom of the fence.

Die cut the climbing rose bush using the CountryScapes Flora 5 dies.  Tip: Die cut two branches for a fuller bush.  Die cut tiny flower pieces and roll to create the little roses.  Glue leaves and roses to the branches.  Attach along the right side of the Arbor.

Die cut the Birdhouse using the CountryScapes Woods 2 die.  Color with markers and attach on left side of Arbor.  Use CountryScapes Mini Botanicals - Hollyhock dies and die cut Hollyhock.  For shorter flowers, as shown, cut off the bottom of this die cut and use only 5 open flowers from the stem. Attach it to the left side of the card.

Use the CountryScapes Grass die to die cut several rows of grass.  For thinner blades, fussy cut a bit (as shown). Glue the rows together so the blades of grass are offset, giving it a fuller and more realistic effect. Use CountryScapes Critters 5 die set to die cut the Canadian Geese.  Color with markers and attach with dimensional glue dots at bottom of card.  Use CountryScapes Critters 2 die set to die cut birds.  I used one each of the bird dies from this set.  Attach two birds on the fence and position one so it looks like it is about to land on the birdhouse.

After finishing the card, I decided to add Susan's Seeds of Thought "Gardeners" rubber stamp for the sentiment, stamped on Els van de Burgt's Stitched Oval.  I think this is the perfect stamp for this Nantucket Arbor garden scene.

Products used from Elizabeth Craft Designs:

CountryScapes Nantucket Arbor & Picket Fence
CountryScapes Flora 5
CountryScapes Critters 5
CountryScapes Clouds & Grass
CountryScapes Mini Botanicals - Hollyhock
CountryScapes Garden Edges Hyacinth
CountryScapes Critters 2
CountryScapes Woods 2
Seeds of Thought - Gardeners
PSF102 - Soft Finish Cardstock
Susan's Garden Flower Coloring Kit No 3 (PanPastels)

 

Geraniums

 I always love to have geraniums in containers, around my front porch and deck during the summer.  Susan's Garden Geraniums are also very pretty when added to a card or craft project.  This is a 6x6" card. The Geraniums are very easy to assemble.  You can watch Susan's YouTube Video at this LINK to see how to create these pretty flowers.  

For the container for the Geraniums, I die cut Karen Burniston's Barrel Basket from her Barrel Basket Pop Up die set.  Susan's "The Butterfly is Proof" Seeds of Thought was stamped in the lower right side.  Els van de Burgt Fitted Frames 4 Curvy Ovals and Stitched Ovals dies were used to create the frame for the Butterfly die cut using the Small Butterfly dies.  One of the Corners 1 dies was used to die cut two black corners for the top of the card.

The following products can be purchased from Elizabeth Craft Designs:

1019 - Susan's Garden Geranium

RS007 - Seeds of Thought, The Butterfly is Proof

1113 - Stitched Ovals

1112 - Fitted Frames 4 Curvy Ovals

1072 - Small Butterfly 

1105 - Barrel Basket with Pop Up

Pop It Ups Designer Challenge

 Today I have a fun project for you.  Karen Burniston asked if I would like to guest design for her Pop It Ups Designer Challenge with a Theme of Glitter.  It is always fun to work with Karen's Pop Up dies so I was delighted to participate.  All the creative projects completed by the designers for this challenge, can be found Wednesday, February 10th on Karen Burniston's blog.

I chose to create a tag with a pop up surprise at the bottom.  I used the Els van de Burgt Tags & More 9 - Sparkle for the tag.  It was die cut using white card stock then a second time using red card stock for the overlay design at the top.  This tag is approximately 8 1/4" tall. 

There are two pieces to this tag.

For the lower half of the tag, cut a piece of red card stock 7 1/4 inches by approximately 4 1/4" (make it as wide as your tag).  Score across the middle creating a square piece.  It will measure approximately 4 1/4" x 3 3/4" when folded in half.  This piece will house the Pop Up which I will show you later.

Attach a piece of ECD Clear Double Sided Adhesive to one side of white card stock and die cut all the pieces (expect the large backing piece)  for Dutch the Fox.  Peel off the adhesive on the small die cuts (except legs/feet) and add Warm Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter.  Rub the glitter in with your fingers.  Peel the adhesive off the large overlay body piece and add Rust Silk Microfine Glitter.  Add Black Silk Microfine Glitter to the leg die cuts. Die cut the large backing of the fox, using black card stock, then glue glittered pieces to it. This will give you a black silhouette around the die cut fox.  Isn't he cute!

Use the fourth largest die from the Stitched Squares die set to die cut a white square to attach the fox to.  Use black card stock and the Fitted Frames 3 Curvy Squares to die cut square to fit under the white Stitched Square (it is the 4th square down).

To ground the fox, use the small grass die,  from the Props 7 die set ,and die cut 3 to fit across the bottom of the white Stitched Square.  The gold Star was die cut from the Happy Birthday Pop Up die set.  More about that later.

Assemble the white frame and fox as shown, on the front of the small red folded square.  Use the discarded dots from the top of the die cut tag, to decorate the edges of the black frame.

The red folded card will be attached to the bottom of the tag, but first decorate the top portion of the tag because you will need to add the Happy Birthday Pop Up inside this folded card.  Use the third square from the center of the Stitched Square die set to cut a white frame.  Once die cut, center the second smallest Stitched Square die in the center and die cut.  This will give you a cut out frame.  Attached this frame at the top of the red tag as shown.  Die cut the "a gift for you" using the die in the Gift Card Accordion die set.  Use white card stock that has Clear Double Sided Adhesive, then add Black Silk Microfine Glitter to it.  Use the Ribbons & Jewels die set to die cut the ribbon that is under the square on the top of the tag. 

 This is a side view to show how the Pop Up is inside, at the bottom of the tag.

This picture shows the pop up at the bottom of the card, which is inside the red card.

To complete the inside of the red square at the bottom of the card, cut a piece of white card stock slightly smaller to fit inside the red piece and score it across the middle.  This white piece will be used for the Pop Up  .Use the Happy Birthday Pop Up die to die cut the Birthday Pop Up.  You can see how to use this die in Karen's YouTube Video at this LINK. The Happy Birthday was die cut with Clear Double Sided Adhesive and True Red Silk Microfine Glitter added to the letters.  The large Stars were die cut twice and Solar Gold Silk Microfine Glitter added.  Five of the large stars were added to the inside and one was used on the outside  by the Fox.  A strip of white card stock, with adhesive, had Solar Gold Silk Microfine Glitter added and was glued behind the small star die cuts.  The Corners 1 die set was used for the four red corners.    In between the stars, the dots from the Corners 1 die cuts were added.  A red/white gingham ribbon was tied around the bottom of the white Pop Up before it was attached to the red card.  The red card was attached to the bottom of the tag using 3/8" Clear Double Sided Adhesive.

I hope you enjoyed my project.  Be sure to visit Karen's BLOG Wednesday to see all the Challenge Cards.

Supplies from Elizabeth Craft Designs:

947 - Happy Birthday Pop Up
1095 - Gift Card Accordion
946 - Dutch the Fox
1099 - Props 7
1118 - Stitched Squares
1064 - Fitted Frames 4 Curvy Squares
1070 - Ribbons & Jewels
1124 - Corners 1
611 - Rust Silk Microfine Glitter
614 - True Red Silk Microfine Glitter
638 - Solar Gold Silk Microfine Glitter
601 - Basic Black Silk Microfine Glitter
640 - Warm Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter
509 - Clear Double Sided Adhesive
507 - 3/8 inch Clear Double Sided Adhesive

Gentle Thoughts

 Good Morning.  This is the card I created for my Design Team post on the Quietfire Creations blog.  You can read about  it at this LINK.  Thanks for stopping by.

By The Sea Side

Good Morning.   Today I am sharing my Design Team Post on the  Elizabeth Craft Designs BLOG.   This card was created using the Joset Designs Lighthouse, Small Shells and Large Shells dies.  It is always a marvelous feeling to spend time walking along the coastline finding shells, discovering living things like starfish clinging to rocks in the water, seeing crabs, spotting a lighthouse off in the distance.  I hope this card brings back those memories.

Here is how I created this card:

1.  Die cut Lighthouse pieces using 100 lb White Soft Finish Cardstock.  Use Clear Double Sided Adhesive on the back of the cardstock for the overlay die cut for easy assembly.  Shade the solid piece with Susan's Paynes Grey Tint PanPastel.  Color the trim of the lighthouse using a black marker.
2. Die cut the clouds from the Joset Design Rainbow Sky die set.
3. Die cut the large fan-shaped shell and the crab from the (1146) Shells Large die set, using white Soft Finish Cardstock.  Die cut Starfish from (1147) Shells Small die set.  Sponge on colors of your choice and assemble layered crab and shells.
4. Use Susan's CountryScapes Country Flora 1 die set to die cut cattails and grass.  Color with markers and glue Brown Paper Flower Pollen to the cattail heads.
5. Die cut Els van de Burgt's second largest Stitched Circle from light gray cardstock.
6. Die cut Els van de Burgt's smallest Stitched Oval using White Soft Finish Cardstock.
7. Use Versafine Black ink to stamp Susan's "All Things In Nature" Seeds of Thought, centered on the white oval.
8. Assemble card as shown.
9. Use Karen Burniston's Partly Cloudy Stage it Stencil to sponge on a single black seagull silhouette above the clouds. Use very little ink to keep the silhouette sharp and crisp. Use sticky notes to block all openings in the stencil that surround the one you're adding to the card.

Elizabeth Craft Designs Supplies:

1145 - Lighthouse
508 - Clear Double Sided Adhesive
1151 - Rainbow Sky
1146 - Shells Large
1147 - Shells Small
1116 - Stitched Circles
1113 - Stitched Ovals
991 - CountryScapes Country Flora 1
RS010 - Seeds of Thoughts All Things of Nature
30117 - Susan's Garden Flower Coloring Kit No 3
S005 - Partly Cloudy Stencil
Through the Lens 6 x 6 paper of choice (shown: Wood Series)

Peonies

 Peonies are one of my favorite flowers.  Today I created this card using Susan's Garden Notes Peony dies.  For the Oval frame, I used Els van de Burgt's Oval Stitched and Fitted Frames.  Behind the Oval Frame I attached Karen Burniston's Pop It Ups Chicken Wire die cut.

The Garden Notes Peonies were die cut using white card stock.  The edges of the petals were lightly sponged with Spun Sugar and Squeezed Lemonade Distress Inks.  Behind the flowers are a few Elizabeth Craft Designs Leafy Branch.

One of Els Corners 1 dies was used to die cut the pink corners.  Butterflies love Peonies so I added one ECD Small Butterfly die cuts.  Both pieces of the butterfly were die cut using white card stock then the body was colored shading with Copic T3 and W00 markers.  The little dots in the center of each Chicken Wire opening  were the discards from the Corners 1 die cuts.

The products used from Elizabeth Craft Designs include:

996 - Garden Notes Peony
1033 - Leafy Branch
1113 - Stitched Ovals
1114 - Fitted Ovals
1124 - Corners 1 
1072 - Small Butterfly
PSF 101 - Soft Finish Cardstock