Design Team Challenge - Floral Card

It is time for the November Design Team Challenge at Elizabeth Craft Designs.  This month we are to create a card or project that features either flowers, foliage, etc to create something Christmas related.  I chose to create a Christmas card.  You can be inspired by all the projects created by the design team at this LINK.

As in the past, you will be eligible to win a prize by commenting on the Elizabeth Craft Designs challenge post.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For today's challenge, Elizabeth Craft Designs is giving away a $20 Gift Card to use on their website to 3 winners. 

To enter simply leave a comment on the Elizabeth Craft Designs Challenge post and tell us Which Elizabeth Craft Designs flower or foliage die or stamp set would you chose to create a Christmas card or decoration.  

Three lucky winners  will be selected in a random drawing and will be announced on Friday, November 23rd on the Elizabeth Craft Designs blog.

Good Luck in the drawing.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A small square frame was die cut using the Fitted Frames 2 die set.  Behind it is a piece of watercolor paper that was dipped in Brusho powders that was sprayed with water.  

Use the Classic Christmas stamp set and stamp the sentiment in the lower right corner, using black ink.

Use the Garden Notes Trevi Urn die set to die cut the urn.  Use Cafe au Lait Soft Finish Cardstock to die cut the urn and use a darker brown ink and sponge lightly over it to bring out the embossed areas.  Attach to the bottom of the card.

Use the Leafy Berry Branch die set and die cut three branches.  Add berries with Autumn Red Nuvo Crystal Drops.  

Use the Garden Notes  Whitepine Bough die set and die cut 6 pine branches, using green card stock.

Use the Garden Notes Whitepine Bough die set and create two pine cones.

Use the Garden Notes Poinsettia die set and create three poinsettias.  Shape with the Flower Tool Kit and assemble with the Kids Choice Glue.  Add green and yellow prills to the center of each poinsettia.

Assemble the Leafy Berry Branch, Whitepine Boughs and Poinsettias inside the Urn.  Add the pine cones.

Use the Garden Notes Hydrangea die set and die cut 16 small white flowers.  Glue them around the edges of the arrangement.  Add yellow Nuvo Crystal drops in the center of each white flower.

Vintage Tin Milk Can with Wheat Arrangement

I have another Fall card using Susan's new Garden Notes Wheat Sheath and Hawthorne Berries die sets.  

This is a 5x7 inch card.  Use a piece of Mustard cardstock and emboss in your favorite embossing folder.

Use the Garden Notes  Vintage Tin Milk Can die set and die cut the milk can, using gray card stock.  Use a Pewter metallic rub-on to shade the edges.

Use the Garden Notes Wheat Sheath Die set and die cut 5.  For instructions on how I colored these die cuts, refer to a previous post on my blog at this LINK.  

Use the Garden Notes Hawthorne Berries die set and die cut 2, using white card stock.  Color the leaves with yellow marker.  Use PanPastels to shade orange, red, and green over the yellow leaves.  The PanPastels blend very well.  Use Autumn Red Nuvo Crystal Drops to create the berries.  Let the berries dry before using this piece in your arrangement.  One of the branches will be cut in half to fit in the lower right corner.

Use the Spring Basket die set and die cut 3 grass.  Sponge brown ink on 2 and green then brown ink on the third one.  Use the Elizabeth Craft Designs Fine Pointed Scissors and cut down each blade of grass to make it the blades of grass thin.

Use a piece of gunny sack material to create a rectangle to go behind the Milk Can.  Fray the edges before attaching to the card.  Use 6mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive on the back of the rectangle to attach to the card.

Attach the Milk Can using dimensional tape in down the center of the can and 6mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive around the sides and bottom. Do not add adhesive along the top of the milk can because you will be adding the grass, wheat, and Hawthorne Berries inside the top opening. Press down over the gunny sack rectangle.

Use Joset Designs Pumpkins die set and die cut one pumpkin.  

Add the Wheat Sheaths, one Hawthorne Berries branch, and the 2 brown grass die cuts down inside the top of the Milk Can.  Add the pumpkin and the one green grass die cut on the left side of the milk can.  Attach the Hawthorne Berries die cut on the right side of the milk can.  The Hawthorne branch was cut in half to make it shorter to fit on the corner of the card.

As a finishing touch, use the pieces of gunny sack strings pulled from the rectangle and some fine gold cording to create a bow to go on the neck of the milk can.

Cornucopia

Susan has four new  Garden Notes die sets now available at Elizabeth Craft Designs.  Today I used the Cornucopia, Hawthorne Berries, and Wheat Sheath die sets.

This is a 6-inch card.  The front was covered with a piece of the ModaScrap Manly Man design paper.

The A Way With Words 4-Seasons die set was used for the Sentiment.

Use the Cornucopia die set and die cut one, using Cafe au Lait Soft Finish Cardstock.  Use Walnut Distress Ink and sponge over the die cut to bring out the embossed design.  Save the center of the cornucopia and sponge it lightly with brown ink.  Add the cornucopia and the inside piece to the bottom of the card.

Use the Garden Notes Hawthorne Berry die set and die cut one branch.  Color then add Autumn Red Nuvo Crystal Drops for the berries.  Allow berries to dry before adding to card.

Use the Garden Notes Wheat Sheath die set and die cut two.  Refer to my post yesterday for how I colored these die cuts.

Use the Garden Notes Lily 2 die set and die cut pieces to create two lilies.  Color with markers and shape with the Flower Tool Kit.  Assemble using Kids Choice Glue. Use the Elizabeth Craft Designs Fine Point Scissors and cut down the center each stamen. Add Pollen to the end of each stamen, roll, glue and attach to the center of the lily.

Use the Garden Notes Helenium die set and create one flower.  

Use the Garden Notes Ladder Fern Die set and die cut 4 ferns.  

Use the Leafy Branch die set and die cut two branches.  These will be cut in half and used behind the other elements in the bouquet.

Arrange the Leafy Branches, Ladder Fern, Hawthorne Berries, and Wheat Sheaths in the Cornucopia.  Add the flowers.

To finish the card, add Gold Corner Peel Off Stickers.

This card can be mailed in one of the Clear Acrylic Boxes linked below.

New Garden Notes Wheat Sheaths and Sunflowers

There are four new Garden Notes die sets:  Garden Wheelbarrow, Cornucopia, Wheat Sheath, and Hawthorne Berries.  Today I created a card using the Wheat Sheath, which coordinates really well with the Garden Notes Sunflowers.

This is a 6 inch square card.  The front was covered using a piece of the ModaScrap Wood Effects design paper.

Use the Garden Notes Square Grapevine Wreath die set and die cut two wreaths using brown card stock.  Attach the wreaths to the center of the card, alternating the wreaths for fullness.

Use the new Garden Notes Wheat Sheath die set and die cut 7 wheat sheaths, using a Buttercream Soft Finish Cardstock.  Sponge the back of each die cut with light yellow ink.  To really create very realistic wheat sheaths, use a dark yellow fine point marker and draw in the wheat pods (there are score lines to use to do this).  Use a dark yellow orange marker to shade at the bottom of each pod, for depth.  Sponge black ink on the bristles.  Use a fine point black marker to draw a couple of  thin lines at the base of each bristle.  This helps to accentuate it from the wheat.  Use the Elizabeth Craft Designs Fine Pointed Scissors to cut each of the bristles in half.  This will cause each bristle to curl slightly and will be fuller.  Use Scattered Straw Distress Ink to sponge over the entire die cut wheat sheath to blend the shading.  

Use the Garden Notes Sunflower die set to create two sunflowers.  Shape the flowers using the Flower Tool Kit and assemble using Kids Choice  Glue.   Add pollen to the center of each flower.  Die cut the Sunflower leaves, color and shape with the Flower tool Kit.

Use the Garden Notes Feverfew die set and die cut 5 flowers.  Shape and assemble.

Attach the Wheat Sheaths on the upper left corner and lower right corner of the Grapevine wreath.  Attach only at the base of the wheat to give it dimension.

Attach the Sunflowers and leaves in the lower left corner.

Attach the white Feverfew flowers around the sunflowers.

Use the Sentiments 2 - Just Because stamp set and stamp hello.  Die cut with the matching die.  Attach in the center of the wreath.

Use a brown polka dot ribbon to make a small bow for the lower left corner, under the flowers.

This card can be mailed in one of the clear acrylic boxes, linked below.

Winter Blessings

This new poinsettia stamp set by Krista Schneider is so beautiful.  

This is a 6-inch card.  Cut a piece of white card stock 6 inches square, score around the edges and attach to the front of the card.

Use the Fitted Square die set and die cut the a solid piece of card stock, using the largest die.  In the center of this square, use the Garden Notes Frame It/Stitched Square die set and die cut an opening.  This piece should be attached to the front of the card using dimensional tape.

Use the Fitted Squares and  the same Garden Notes Frame It/ Stitched Square die used above, to die cut the narrow frame for the front of the card.  Glue the narrow frame over the opening in the piece created with the die cut opening in the center.

Use the Classic Xmas Sentiments stamp set and stamp the sentiment in the upper left Corner, using black ink.

Use the Poinsettia Stamp Set and stamp one poinsettia, three berry branches, and four pine branches.  Color with markers and die cut using the matching dies to cut the pieces out.  Before adding the arrangement, use a sponge and light sponge pale yellow PanPastel inside the square frame to give a little highlight behind the flower.  Arrange the die cut pieces inside the frame.  Add yellow and green Prills to the center of the Poinsettia.

This card is flat enough to be mailed in a regular 6 inch square envelope.  

White & Purple Cymbidium Orchid

Orchid are such beautiful flowers.  We can now create them for our cards by using Susan's Garden Notes die sets.  This is a Cymbidium Orchid.

This is a 6-inch square card.  The front is covered with a piece of the ModaScrap Happy Travels card stock.

The Gate Fold Elegant Roses die set was used to die cut the white doily.   Attach it to the bottom of the card.

The Garden Notes Gathering Basket die set was used to die cut the basket out of Cafe au Lait Soft Finish Cardstock.  Brown ink was lightly sponged over the embossed design.  Attach the basket over the doily, as shown.

Use the Garden Notes Cymbidium Orchid die set and create 5 flowers.  For instructions on how to create this flower, you can watch Susan's Facebook Susan's Garden Club Video at this LINK.  The Flower Tool Kit was used to shape the flowers and they were assembled using Kids Choice Glue.  Die cut a lot of the leaves using green card stock.  Glue two flower stems in the basket.  Attach the flowers at the top of the stems them add the leaves.  You can add Spanish Moss along the top of the basket.  

This card can be mailed in one of the Clear Acrylic boxes from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

Joy

I have a friend who loves vintage type cards.  With the help of the ModaScrap  Xmas Vintage Collection design paper I created this card.  The design paper has a collection of vintage Christmas ornaments and goes perfect with this beautiful A Way With Words Christmas ornament.

This is a 6-inch square card.  The front is covered with the ModaScrap Xmas Vintage Collection Design paper.  

Use the Dotted Scallop die set to die cut two different size squares using True Green and Silver Gray Soft Finish Cardstock.  Attach the squares to the front of the card.

Use the A Way With Words Love, Joy, Peace Christmas Ornament,  die set for the ornament.  Use a piece of white Soft Finish Cardstock covered with a piece of Clear  Double Sided Adhesive to die cut the ornament.  Peel off the adhesive covering and sprinkle Light Gold Silk Microfine Glitter on both the die cut circle and the flourish.  Polish well with your fingers to bring out the sparkle.  Attach the ornament in the center of the green die cut square.

Use the same die set and die cut the 'Joy' using a piece of white card stock that has Clear Double Sided Adhesive on the top.  Sprinkle on Cool Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter.  Use a piece of Fun Foam and die cut the sentiment again - this will give the sentiment dimension.  Glue the glittered sentiment to the top of the Fun Foam then attach to the center of the ornament.

Use the Garden Notes Poinsettia die set and create a red poinsettia. For this flower, I combined the petals of the large Poinsettia with the petals from the small Poinsettia.  Shape the poinsettia using the Flower Tool Kit and assemble using Kids Choice Glue.  Add Yellow and Green Prills to the center.

Use the Beautiful Baubles die set and die cut two pine branches.  Use the fine pointed scissors to cut some of the pine needles in half; this will give them some fullness.  Sponge a little white pigment ink on the branches and use a brown maker to color the center (branch) of the pine bough.   Attach the boughs to the upper left corner, then attach the poinsettia on the corner.  

For a final touch, use the Gold Corners, Peel Off Stickers, on the other three corners.

This card can be mailed in one of the clear acrylic boxes which is linked below.

Let It Snow Slider

This is a 6-inch square slider card.  There are many videos on YouTube on how to create a slider card.  I watched Jennifer McGuires video at this link to figure out how to create this slider card.

For the front of the card I used a piece of the ModaScrap Relax in the Garden design paper.  The edges were covered with black Line Peel Off Stickers.

Use the Snowflake die set and die cut the largest snowflake.  For the backing (solid) snowflake, use a piece of the Clear Double Sided Adhesive on the front so you can add glitter.  Add silver Silk Microfine Glitter to the adhesive, then attach the top die cut on top.  If you die cut this snowflake with the clear double sided adhesive on the back, it is easy to attach, or you can use glue on the back of the snowflake. Press the snowflake firmly down so it sticks to the glittered background.   Attach this snowflake to the front of the slider piece - which is explained in the video.  

The Garden Notes Poinsettia die set was used to create the poinsettia.  The petals were colored using a bright pink marker.  The poinsettia was shaped using the Flower Tool Kit and assembled using Kids Choice Glue.  It was attached in the center of the snowflake.

The Garden Notes Holly die set was used to create the Holly under the poinsettia.  The leaves were die cut using white card stock and colored by sponging on green ink.  The leaves were shaped with the Flower Tool Kit.  Nuvo Crystal Glaze was brushed over the leaves for the shiny finish.  Attach the Holly leaves under the Poinsettia.

Use the Winter Sentiments stamp set for the sentiment.  With the Pull Tab pushed down in place, stamp 'let it snow' in the upper left corner.  With the Pull Tab pulled up, stamp 'Stay Warm' at the bottom of the snowflake.  The sentiment needs to be underneath the snowflake when the pull tab is down in place.  

Write or stamp 'Pull' on the top of the slider tab.

Use the Reindeer die set and die cut a bunch of small snowflakes.  Attach around the sides of the card, as shown.

You can add a stamped sentiment and your personal message on the inside of the card.

This card can be mailed in one of the clear acrylic boxes linked below.

Pink Amaryllis

There are so many beautiful colors of Amaryllis.  Today I used Garden Notes Amaryllis die set to create pink Amaryllis.  

This is a 6-inch square card.  A second piece of white card stock was cut 6-inches square and embossed with an embossing folder from my stash.

Use the Garden Notes Galvanized Bucket die set and die cut one bucket using Buttercream Soft Finish Cardstock.  Draw lines in the embossed areas of the bucket with a rust color marker.  Press VersaMark Ink over the front of the bucket and clear emboss to give it a shiny appearance.  Attach to the bottom of the card using dimensional tape in the center of the bucket and kids choice glue around the edges.  Leave the top of the bucket open so you can tuck in the flowers.

Use the Garden Notes Amaryllis die set and create 5 pink flowers.  Use white 100 lb Soft Finish cardstock.  Color the petals pink using a marker.  Shade the base of the petals using the bright pink PanPastel.  Use a bright pink, small tip, marker and draw lines from the base of the petals toward the tips.  Assemble using Kids  Choice Glue.  Use the Find Pointed Scissors to cut each of the stamens in half.  Add yellow pollen to the tips  Glue in the center of the flower.  Die cut the leaves using green card stock.  Shape the leaves with the Flower Tool Kit and use the light yellow green PanPastel to color the center line down the leaf.  Attach the stems inside the bucket.  Attach the flowers as shown.  Attach the leaves as shown.  You can add Spanish Moss along the top edge of the bucket.

This card can be mailed in one of the Clear Acrylic Boxes.

Baby It's Cold Outside

I really love this moose.  He was created with the Joset Designs Moose die set.  Suzanne Cannon's stamp was used for the perfect sentiment for this card.

This is a 6-inch card.  A piece of white card stock was cut 6-inches square and scored around the edges, which is used for the front of the card.  

Use Susan's Earth & Sky Stencil and the light blue PanPastel to create a cloudy sky, approximately half way down, on the 6-inch square piece of cardstock.

Use the Reindeer die set to create the pine trees.  Use a scrap piece of card stock and die the tree in the center of it to make a stencil.  Use a sponge and green ink to sponge inside the tree stencil.  Stencil the tree on the left; move the stencil over and sponge on a second tree, making it slightly darker green.  Move the stencil between the two trees and lightly sponge on green ink.  If the trees are colored different shades of green, it gives them dimension when sponged on the card.

Use a white opaque pen and create snowflakes in the sky and on the trees.

Use the Christmas Collection stamp set and stamp the sentiment, using VersaFine Black Ink, in the lower left corner.

Use the Moose die set and create one Moose.  I die cut the pieces using white Soft Finish Cardstock and sponged on tan and brown inks.  He was assembled using Kids Choice Glue.  Attach the moose using dimensional tape in the lower right corner.

For extra dimension and sparkle, use Nuvo Glitter Crystal Drops and draw in snow lines below the trees and under the hooves of the moose.

This card is flat enough to be mailed in a regular 6-inch square envelope.

Warm Thoughts Card and Pine Cone Tutorial

The A Way With Words die sets are perfect for creating an elegant Holiday card.  This is Selma Stevenson today and I designed a card using Suzanne Cannon's Warm Thoughts and Flourish Candle die sets.  For additional embellishment, Garden Notes die sets were used.


Begin with a 6-inch square card  Cover the front with gold metallic card stock.  Add a piece of white card stock cut 5 3/4 inches square.  Layer a piece of the ModaScrap Wood Effects design paper on top for the rustic background.

Use the A Way With Words Warm Thoughts die set and die cut the sentiment using gold metallic card stock.  Attach to the top of the card, as shown.

Use the A Way With Words Flourish Candle die set and die cut the candle once using gold metallic card stock.  Use the same die and die cut the candle, and extra flame and melting wax, using ivory card stock.  Color the flame using yellow and orange markers.  Add a small amount of Kids Choice glue to the flame with your finger, then sprinkle on Warm Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter.  Attach the ivory candle and flame on top of the gold metallic candle.  Use a clear glaze and spread over the candle to give it a waxy appearance.

Use the Garden Notes Whitepine Bough & Pine Cone die set to die cut 8 green pine branches.

Use the Garden Notes Whitepine Bough & Pine Cone die set to die cut pieces to create two pine cones. Die cut 4 oval pieces and 6 plates of the pine cone petals.   To assemble, shape the oval pieces with the large ball stylus.  Glue two oval pieces together, adding glue to only the edges of the oval.  By using two oval pieces it will help hold the rounded shape of the pine cone.

Use the small loop tool and shape all the pine cone petals - pull down from one end to the next and it will slightly cup each one.

There are two ways you can create the pine cone.  Susan shows in her Facebook Susan's Garden Club video to glue the petals on the oval with the cupped side down and you will have a pinecone that hasn't yet opened.  She pulls the tips of the petals back once they are glued, for a more open pinecone.

For a more open pinecone I prefer to add the petals with the curved sides facing up.  Add the first couple of petals at the tip of the oval with the curved petals down, then start gluing the petals with the curve facing up.  Alternate all the petals going across in rows.

Use the Garden Notes Leafy Berry Branch die set and die cut two branches, using a very light brown card stock.  Shape the leaves using the Elizabeth Craft Designs Fine Pointed Tweezers.  Place the point of the tweezers on the end of the leaf and pinch up.  This will give the leaves dimension.  Add red Nuvo Crystal Drops for the berries.  Allow to dry before assembling the centerpiece.

Glue four pine boughs on the lower left side of the card and four boughs on the left.  Glue the longest branch from the Leafy Berry Branches on each side, over the pine boughs.

Attach the assembled Candle Flourish, with dimensional tape, in the center between the pine boughs and berries.

Use the Garden Notes Poinsettia die set and assemble one white poinsettia.  Use the very pale yellow PanPastel from Set #3 to shade the lower half of each petal then use the light yellow green PanPastel from Set #1 to shade over the the light yellow just at the base.   Shape the poinsettia using the Flower Tool Kit.  Attach the poinsettia at the base of the candle.  Use yellow green Nuvo Crystal Drops to make 5 dots in the center of the poinsettia.  While the Nuvo Drops are still we, drop in a few yellow Prills.

Add the pine cones on each side of the poinsettia, as shown.

This card will mail nicely in one of the large clear acrylic boxes.