Happy Birthday

One of the first flowers I created using Susan's new Spring Flora release was a Peony out of Foamiran.  I love to create roses using Foamiran so was excited to see if I could create a realistic peony using Foamiran.   I die cut the peony pieces out of white Foamiran.  Using light pink PanPastel, I colored the  center petals.  I was trying to create a 'cupped' peony but did not achieve it.  I decided to post it anyway - this peony looks better in real life but not the way I wanted it to look.  

The design paper I used for the background is from the P13-Four Seasons, Spring 6x6 paper pack.  I cut this paper on the diagonal, cutting off the design on the upper left corner.  I only wanted to use the design in this piece of design paper that is in the lower right corner.  It was attached to a piece of white card stock that was scored around the edges with a Score Board.

In the upper left corner, five sweet peas were created using Susan's Sweet Pea die set.  They were die cut using Susan's Specialty card stock.  The petals were brushed pink using Distress Spun Sugar.  

Across the cut diagonal, I created a greeting using the Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System.  The gold foiled sentiment is from the Spellbinders 'More Sentiments" glimmer plate set.  It was attached with dimensional foam squares.

I will continue practicing using Foamiran to create a peony with the petals more cupped up.  

Sweet Peas

A great new addition to Susan's Garden Club die sets is the Sweet Pea.  (Links to all  Susan's new Garden Club Spring release die sets are at the end of this post.)

For this card, ten bright pink Sweet Pea flowers were created.  Before arranging on the card, the background was created.

Using a piece of white card stock, Spellbinders Diamonetta Background Glimmer Plate was used to gold foil the design.  This is a narrow background Glimmer Plate, but very easy to repeat the design as many times as you want.  I used the Spellbinders Quick Trimmer for Foil to cut the gold foil to fit the Glimmer Plate.  Once it was hot on the Spellbinders Hot Glimmer Foil Machine, it was run through the Platinum 6 die cutting machine to press the foil into the card stock.  A piece of gold mirror card stock was cut to fit behind the foiled piece before attaching  to the card.  

Using Susan's Sweet Pea die set, all the pieces were die cut using her White Specialty Card Stock.  This card stock is the perfect weight for shaping the flowers.  I used the Picket Fence Blender Brushes to brush on the ink.  I love to use the Waffle Flower Water  Media Mat to place the die cut on because the mat holds the pieces in place while brushing on ink.  This mat cleans up easily between using different colors of ink.  The Sweet Pea die cuts were brushed with Distress Picked Raspberry Ink and the leaves and stems were brushed with Distress Mowed Lawn ink.  This die set does not come with stems, so I brushed a piece of white card stock with green ink, then using the Tim Holtz Trimmer, cut narrow strips.  Some of these strips were used for stems and some were used to create the curly vines. To create the curly vines, lightly spritz the narrow green strip with the mini mister and wrap around a pencil or other small item.  Gently pull the vine off and allow to dry before using, so it will hold its shape.   The branches were glued down on the left side of the card, the flowers attached, then the leaves and vines glued down.  

Susan's Foliage and Ladybugs dies set was used for the little ladybug you see on one of the bottom leaves.  It was die cut using white card stock, colored red with a marker, then a fine line black pen was used to add the center line and dots to her back.  Crystal Glaze was then added to give her a shine.

One the right side of the card, a Spellbinders Elegant Twist Circle was die cut.  One of Susan's Spring Quotes was stamped with VersaMark Ink and Gold Embossed.  This circle was attached to the right side of the card with dimensional squares. 

For final embellishment Spellbinders Fashion Gold Embellishments were added to the corners and under the gold embossed quote. 

Peony and other new Garden Notes die sets

 

Hello Paper Gardeners!  Today is a happy day because this week Susan's Design Team is now taking turns posting cards created with Susan's new Garden Notes Spellbinder's Spring Release.  I have included links to her new release at the end of this post.

For my first card I wanted to show you the new Peony, Lily of the Valley, Kerria Japonica, Ostrich Fern and Ivy.  Also used on this card is a quote from Susan's new Spring Quotes Stamp Set.  

  

For my background, I used the Spellbinders Elegant Twist Square die to create a frame.    I used a craft knife and cut the upper right corner so I could roll the corner down to expose a piece of card stock that I colored using Distress Inks.  I used Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry, and Scattered Straw to create a marbled background.  I used the same colors for this marbled piece as used to color the Peony. To get the corner to stay rolled, I used a mini mister to dampen the corner, then rolled it around a pencil.  

To create my peony, I found a picture on the Internet to use as a guide for coloring.  I attached the peony from the Internet below the one I created with Susan's die set.

Close-up of my Peony created with Peony die set

Picture of Peony from the Internet

I used Susan's new Garden Notes Peony die set and die cut all the pieces out of Susan's new Specialty White Card Stock from Spellbinders.  Laying the flower petals on the Waffle Flower Water Media Mat, I  brushed the Distress Inks on with Picket Fence Brushes.   The flower petals were shaped using Susan's new Flower Tool Kit and were assembled using Bearly Glue.  

Additional flowers added to this arrangement from Susan's new release include Lily of the Valley and yellow Kerria Japonica.

Susan's new Ferns & Ivy die set was used to die cut the Ostrich Fern and Ivy.  Sorry the Ivy is at the bottom of the arrangement and doesn't show up well in this picture.  Susan's Foliage & Ladybug die set from her Fall release was used for the ladybug.

The new die sets in Susan's Spring Release include:  Peony, Kerria Japonica, Hyacinth, Parrot Tulips, Sweet Peas, Lily of the Valley, Spirea and Ferns & Ivy.  Other items in Susan's Garden Club include:  Spring Quotes Clear Stamp Set,  White Specialty Cardstock, and Flower Tool Kit.    These items are linked below.

Blue Poppy Twisted Easel Card

This week on Susan's Garden Facebook Live video, she gave instructions on how to create a Twisted Easel card.  I really like this card and have made several.

To decorate the front of this card, I used a piece of design paper from the P13 Forest Tea Party pad.  

Along the diagonal fold, I added a die cut design from Spellbinders.  The name of the die is Candlewick Petticoats.  I believe this particular die has been discontinued, but I have linked a similar Spellbinders die at the end of this post.  This die cut was glued  along the edge of the lower diagonal fold, so it would stand up when the card was opened.  

Susan's Foliage & Ladybug die set was used to die cut the Rosemary, the berry branch, and ladybug.  I colored white pearls with a blue copic marker for the berries.

The Garden Notes Poppy die set was used to create 3 blue poppies. Susan's Spellbinders Specialty Cardstock was used. Two shades of Distress Inks were brushed on the petals. Susan's Flower Tool Kit was used to shape the flowers and foliage. The ladybug was added to one of the lower poppy leaves.

A butterfly from the 49 and Market embellishment sheet was added above the arrangement.

To help the card stand open, a scalloped rectangle was die cut and one of Susan's Quotes was stamped on it.  This was attached to a piece of tan card stock, using dimensional foam squares.  The quote was then attached as shown on the inside of the card.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Gaillardia - Twist & Pop Up Card

Good Morning.   This week on Susan's Garden Club Facebook Video Twist & Pop Up Card and creating Faux Wood, she demonstrated how to create the Twist & Pop Up Card.  I followed her easy instructions and created this card.  

I used a piece of Graphic 45, 12x12 inch, Blossom Collection design paper for the front and two inside panels. I liked this design paper because it has Gaillardia flowers in the design.  Since I was going to create Gaillardia flowers using Susan's die set, I used a yellow marker to color the tips of the flowers in the design paper, so they would match the flowers I was creating (the tips are white in the design paper). The white die cut circle is the Spellbinders, Brillante Rondelle (S4-991) die set. I didn't realize until I started writing this post that it is no longer available at Spellbinders.  I did link another beautiful circle die set you can use, below.  This die cut was attached with dimensional tape in the center of the front of the card.  

Susan's Foliage & Ladybug die set was used for the Rosemary, Berry Branch and little ladybug.  Small white pearls were used for the berries and they were colored using both an orange and a red Copic marker.  Using both colors on the pearls gave them a two tone appearance.  The Rosemary and berry branches were attached as shown.  The Ladybug was attached to one of the leaves and glaze added to it.

Three Gaillardia flowers were created using Susan's Garden Club Gaillardia die set.  They were arranged in the center of the Foliage.

On both the inside panels, I attached a piece of the same Graphic 45 design paper.  The Twist & Pop Up panel was create just like Susan's video instructions.  Yellow card stock was cut for each of the four panels and attached.  I have a box of previously stamp sentiments and I pulled out two about friendship and attached them on the two middle panels.  To decorate the two outside panels I used embellishments from a 49 Market, Vintage Artistry Wedgewood Layered Embellishment Sheet.  I used leaves for the side panels and a butterfly at the top of the card.  A die cut rectangle was added at the bottom to write a personal message.

This was an easy card to create.  Susan also has complete instructions on her blog, stierneyc.wordpress.com,   for the Twist & Pop Up Card. 

I have provided links below for your shopping convenience.  If you use these links, I will receive a small commission to help replenish my supplies, and there is no added expense to you.  Thank you for your support.

Oh Happy Day!

My friend Pat just retired and I made her a card.  She loves birds, so I ordered a Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil Plate called "Oh Happy Day" that has birds on a branch plus this set had the perfect words I wanted to use on a card to celebrate her retirement.  

This is a 6-inch easel card.  Using the Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System, the "Oh Happy Day" Hot Foil Plate with the birds, and Spellbinders Magenta Glimmer Hot Foil, the design was foiled on lavender card stock.  Using a Scoring Board, the edges were scored around all four sides.  The sentiment in this set was also foiled on a piece of lavender card stock then die cut using an oval die.  The oval was attached using foam squares, on the right side of the card.  Silver Metallic Twine was added to bottom of this panel and a bow tied on the left side.  This panel was then attached to the easel panel.  

Susan's Garden Club Button Chrysanthemum die set was used to create two white and one lavender chrysanthemum.  Susan's Foliage & Ladybug die set was used to die cut the eucalyptus, berry branch and lady bug.  The flowers and foliage were attached along the left side of the oval.  A ladybug was added to one of the leaves.  Small clear rhinestones were attached, as shown.

To create a piece on the bottom panel of the easel card, a piece of lavender card stock was used.  Using an alphabet die set, the letters for "RETIREMENT" were die cut using matching color metallic card stock.  Using a ruler to line up the letters, they were glued to the lavender panel.  A narrow piece of the metallic card stock was glued below the word.  This panel was attached to the bottom panel using dimensional tape. 

I decorated the top of a jewelry box using the Spellbinders Elegant Twist Oval die set.  The leafy sprig was die cut using Susan's Garden Club Foliage die set.  A dimensional bird element from my stash was used to attached over the die cut leaves.  A piece of the silver twine was used around the middle of the oval and her name added using more of the die cut letters.  This oval was attached to the top of the box using dimensional foam squares.

We are both looking forward to being able to spend time together doing many crafty projects.  

Thanks for visiting my blog today.  Stay safe!