A Fond Farewell...

A second posting today...WooHoo!

I'm back for the last time here with Christmas Stampin' All Year Long!
I have loved working with these very talented and wonderful ladies and am sad to say goodbye!
It's been a pleasure!

This week we have a sketch challenge for you...

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAPb7xp1vMg_gMnZHI2ZgCwSwy8_6w5VqzJxb0GZ9qRZ22AcX5B-GDLwNRDAEtRMhKcii_xR3cfmJxyz7X7Cb7C7V1w0tLm_Li76vTHWZfNDjuWFCDWdZjE0VxYh63Hv9GpltVeSVVWXg/s1600/Mojo364Sketch.gif

We do not have a sponsor for this challenge, however one lucky winner will be awarded a Guest Designer spot in the month of November with CSAYL.
How fun!

I decided that I wouldn't stray from the sketch, but would keep it pretty much as simple as it is.

Here's my take...


I sat down and decided that I wanted to make one last simple card for my craft sale tomorrow.  I hauled out some of my Christmas papers and decided that I would like to use my Heartfelt Creations Christmas paper pack.
I love the picture panel.
The only embellishing I've done is to ink all of the edges with brown ink and to use some Glitter Ritz on the star!

It's not a hard challenge this week at CSAYL.  All you have to do is plan a card resembling the sketch!  Perfect to do a quick and easy creation...that's one less that you have to make when the busy holiday season starts!
I can hardly wait to see what you create!

Until next time...

This card has been shared in the following challenges...
Completely Christmas..."Anything Goes - Add a Sentiment"
Jingle Belles..."Not a Creature Was Stirring"

Holiday Confusion

Happy Friday...and Happy Halloween!

I'm back to share a card with you that I've created for the Scrapbooks by Design blog and online store!

Now I bet you're thinking I'm coming at you with a Halloween themed card...but no...I decided I was going to be like the local retailers and promote Christmas today!  Doesn't it seem strange to have the Halloween section and the Christmas section out in your local store at the same time?  LOL

I fell in love with Graphic 45's "Twas the Night Before Christmas" paper pack and think I actually had to wipe away a little drool!  I was so excited when it arrived in the mail!

Take a peek...

Twas The Night Before Christmas 12 x 12 Paper Pad 

Isn't it fantastic?
It's also available in several different sizes.  I've used the 12x12, and there are 8x8 and 6x6 paper packs as well.
Scrapbooks by Design also carries the coordinating decorative chipboard, stickers as well as tags and pockets.

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the paper pack and saw that there were templates for several elements included on the front and back covers.  I decided to use the small envelope and tag templates and incorporate them into my card design.

Here's a look at the templates I used in my creation...

 

Here's how it came out...


After I created the envelope I cut off the closure flap so it would remain open for the tag to be inserted.  I fussy cut the Santa image and adhered it to the front of the envelope.  I cut the tag from a piece of the decorative paper and tied some green and red ribbon to the end.

Here's a close look with the tag peeking out...


I've fussy cut most of the elements on this card from the paper pack itself. All of the pieces have been inked with a brown ink to make the card seem aged. The snowflakes have been cut with my Silhouette Cameo and have then been glittered.  The Santa and reindeer in flight is created with a metal die and The BigShot, however I'm not sure of the maker.
The sequins are Lawn Fawn brand...and I noticed that they are no longer available in the Scrapbooks by Design Store.

Well, I hope I haven't created too much holiday confusion for you!
It really is Halloween today...so please keep a watch out for those little trick or treaters tonight!
In between answering the door and handing out treats, take time to check out the Scrapbooks by Design store...you're sure to find something to inspire you!

Until next time...

This card has been entered in the following challenges...

Join Me for a Cup of Tea...

Welcome!
I'm so glad you could stop in today!
I'm about bursting at the seams...because I'm finally able to share some very exciting news with you!
So grab you favorite beverage, snuggle up in a big chair and make yourself comfortable...this post is bound to get a little long and hopefully has you doing a happy dance along with me by the time we're finished!

For those of you who have been following along with me for some time, you will remember that I sent in two submissions to the Heartfelt Creations design team call.  You will also recall that I had my dream come true being selected as a semi finalist. (You can read about that here!)   Just making it onto the short list was amazing to me!

Well today is the day!
If you are a follower of the Heartfelt Creations blog, you will know that today the finalists have been announced...and I am so flattered and excited to say that I am lucky and blessed to be among them!
(Insert happy dance here!) 

I have always loved Heartfelt Creations ...the papers, the dies, the beautiful projects that their design team create.  However, the one thing that I admire most about the owners of Heartfelt Creations is their faith.  They are open, never afraid to share about it and even incorporate it into their products.  
I am honored to work with a company who shares so openly about our Lord and Saviour. 
God is good!

Now, you will all remember that I was required to submit two projects as a semi finalist to send directly to Heartfelt.  I've been sitting on posting these creations and am so happy to finally be able to share them with you today.  

I was sent some products from the "Classic Sunflower Collection".  
This collection is absolutely breathtaking!
And, it was just so fitting as I love sunflowers and country/vintage type papers, etc.
When I looked at the collection, I was immediately struck by the idea of cooler autumn days...and along with that cozy sweaters and warm beverages.  With that inspiration, my first creation was born!

Let's have a tea party!
Please join me for a warm and soothing beverage...

 *cutting files purchased from SVG Cuts

How about I take you on a bit of a closer tour!
Let's start with the tea pot...

*cutting files purchased from SVG Cuts

...each of these flowers has been hand colored and hand shaped!
The entire tea pot has been covered with designer paper from the "Classic Sunflower Collection".

Moving along...you can't have tea without a cup and saucer...

*cutting files purchased from SVG Cuts

...and what good would a tea bag be without a specially created matching tag?
Again, all designer papers are from this stunning collection.  Even the tag is included in the paper pack and was just begging to be fussy cut!

And how will we display the tea bags and keep them all collected in one place?
Don't worry, I have you covered with that as well!

*cutting files purchased from SVG Cuts

The image on the tea bag dispenser has been hand stamped and hand colored with one of the stamps included in the "Classic Sunflower Collection".  I've colored it with my Spectrum Noir pencils.

I had so much fun making these projects. 
Here are some detailed instructions for you should you be wanting to try your hand at this beautiful tea setting...

Classic Sunflowers Collection Tea Party Setting

Products Used:

Project Instructions:

Other Products: tan colored cardstock, deep yellow colored cardstock, white cardstock, distress markers (mustard seed, wild honey, vintage photo, tea dye, rusty hinge), watercolor pencils, brown ink, black ink, embossing powder, heat gun, Tombow glue, raffia ribbon, clear acrylic stamp block, BigShot die cutting machine, Silhouette Cameo, Tea Pot 3D SVG cutting file template, cup & saucer 3D SVG cutting file template, tea bag dispenser 3D SVG cutting file template, tea bags, 4 gold colored brads

Instructions: 
Begin with cutting out the base pieces of the tea pot with the tea pot SVG cutting file and your electronic cutting machine using white cardstock.  Build tea pot according to the file directions allowing time for the pieces to dry.  Select the matching patterned paper that you wish to work with from the Classic Sunflowers Paper Collection, and begin cutting the decorative coverings for the altered art project.  Ink all of the edges on each piece with brown ink.  Adhere to 3D tea pot base shape as per file instructions, allowing pieces to dry.  Locate the rooster image panel in the paper collection and fussy cut and adhere to the centre of the tea pot.

Stamp the Classic Sunflower PreCut background set several times on tan, and deep yellow cardstock depending on how embellished you’d like the altered art to be.  While still wet, cover the image with embossing powder.  Remove excess powder and set with the embossing powder on the images with heat gun.  Do this until all images you have stamped are completed.  Next, proceed to coloring with distress markers and shaping flowers.  For an excellent instructional video on how to shape the flowers in this collection, please go here.  Set them aside and allow them to dry. *Please note that you may have to repeat this step several times until you are happy with the flower arrangement on your altered art*

Once flowers are dry and you are ready to design, begin with tying a raffia ribbon around the knob of the tea pot and begin adhering flowers one by one to the lid.  Once you are happy with the design, and have decided the flow of the floral cascade begin working down the tea pot layering flowers of all sizes and repeating the process to create more if necessary. 

Proceed to the second project in the collection which is the tea cup and saucer.  As you did with the tea pot, begin cutting out the base pieces using white cardstock and assemble. Allow time to dry between pieces.  Once again choose the decorative paper you wish to use and begin cutting the decorative covering pieces, ink all edges with brown ink, and adhere them to the 3D base of the altered art piece.  Using flowers that are left over from the tea pot project, choose two and adhere them to the saucer alongside the tea cup.  Take two tea bags and create paper tags for the end of them by fussy cutting two sentiment ticket stub images from the paper collection for each tea bag. Ink all edges with brown ink and proceed to glue them onto the end of the tea bag.

Lastly, move onto creating the tea bag dispenser.  Choose the designer paper you wish to work with and cut out the 3D tea bag dispenser template with you electronic die cutting machine.  Assemble according to the file instructions. Take a piece of matching designer paper and stamp the butterfly and flower image from the Summers Day PreCut set.  Size to the front of the dispenser and then stamp the image onto the paper.  Once the image has dried, proceed to coloring with watercolor pencils and adhere to the front of the dispenser. 

Set up display as a centerpiece, and invite friends and loved ones to a special tea party! 

********
 
Well, I just couldn't stop there and kept on playing with this gorgeous floral collection.  There were so many more elements I wanted to use and explore.  

I decided I just had to create several cards as well.  Card making is my passion after all!
I loved the rooster image I had fussy cut and used on the tea pot, and had also been sent this image in a rubber stamp.  I decided it would be so much fun to color....so I got busy creating a card based on that image as well.

Here's how it turned out!


...and a bit of a closer peek...


Here are the project instructions for this card...

Birthday Blessings Rooster Card

Products Used:

Project Instructions:

Other Products: tan colored cardstock, deep yellow colored cardstock, white cardstock, Ranger distress markers (mustard seed, wild honey, vintage photo, tea dye, rusty hinge), watercolor pencils, brown ink, black ink, embossing powder, heat gun, Tombow glue, double sided tape, 5”x7” pre folded card base, 3D foam dots, raffia ribbon, clear acrylic stamp block, BigShot die cutting machine, chipboard swirls

Instructions: 
Begin with a 5”x7” pre folded card base.  Select a smaller decorator panel from the Sunflower Paper Collection page which could be used as a photo mounting scrapbook background. Mount the rooster stamp on your acrylic stamp block and stamp image onto card panel using black ink.  Allow to dry.  Locate your Classic Sunflower PreCut background stamp and stamp in black ink several times onto tan colored card stock as well as a darker yellow colored card stock covering with embossing powder while still wet.  Heat with heat gun to set embossing powder. (You will need enough images to create a large 3 layered sunflower, a large 2 layered sunflower, a mid sized 2 layer flower and a small 2 layered flower.  Keep the tiny single flowers handy as you will use them for layering as single images later on).

Once all stamped images are dry, you are ready to proceed with cutting and coloring.  Returning to the handstamped rooster image, proceed to coloring with watercolor pencils.  I opted to blend the colors while just coloring with the pencils rather than watercoloring.  Moving along to your Sunflower PreCut set images, using a manual die cutting machine cut the flower images using the Classic Sunflower Die.  Once all elements you are wanting to use have been die cut, proceed to coloring with distress markers.
It is now time to begin shaping you flowers.  For an excellent instructional video on how to shape the flowers in this collection, please go here.  Set them aside and allow them to dry. 

Returning once again to the rooster panel, choose two coordinating papers to use as matting backgrounds.  One to cover the 5”x7” card front, and the second slightly larger than the stamped image panel itself.  Ink all of the edges of the pieces with a brown ink.  Assemble and adhere to front panel of pre folded 5”x7” card.  On the same scrapbook page you cut the blank photo panel from, fussy cut the large corner sunflower image and ink the edges with brown ink as well.  Adhere this cut out piece to a white piece of cardstock.  This will allow the back of the card to look completely finished as it will now match the white cardstock.  Allow to dry, then position on the corner of the card. Once happy with the layout adhere to the card being careful to not put glue on the portions of the fussy cut image that will extend beyond the card. 

Locate the paper embellishments, sentiments, leaves, etc. you wish to use on the card in the paper pad.  Fussy cut them and once again ink all edges with brown ink.  Create your raffia bow and ink your chip board flourishes. Begin working with the flowers to determine positioning.  Glue to card, starting with your larger 3D flowers, being sure to use a strong paper glue. Adhere small one dimensional flowers as needed in areas needing filling.  Adhere corner image (sentiment) and bow now as well.   Curl several of the leaf images you fussy cut so that once glued down they will look like they are curling up from behind flowers.  Determine placement for chip board swirls. Once you’ve determined all of the placements for all of the elements, proceed to securing them down.   Select sentiment strip and adhere to bottom portion of card.  Lastly, adhere the main focal sentiment fussy cut image (ticket stub) with 3D pop up dots. 

Send your special birthday creation to a friend or loved one!

********

 Are you still with me?  LOL
I told you this would be an intense post!
We're just about to the end though...you won't want to miss this last card either...so keep forging ahead!

Here it is...

 
 ...let's have a closer peek...


 Interested in creating something similar?  
Here's the project instructions...


Butterfly Dreams Any Occasion Card

Products Used:

Project Instructions:

Other Products: tan colored cardstock, deep yellow colored cardstock, white cardstock, Ranger distress markers (mustard seed, wild honey, vintage photo, tea dye, rusty hinge, fired brick, dried marigold and spiced marmalade), brown ink, black ink, embossing powder, heat gun, Tombow glue, double sided tape, 5x7 pre folded card base, 3D foam dots, raffia ribbon, clear acrylic stamp block, BigShot die cutting machine, thin gold cording, scissors

Instructions:
Begin with a pre folded 5”x7” card base.  Select a large 5”x7” blank decorator panel from the Sunflower Paper Collection pack.  Select a smaller sunflower and butterfly image panel as well as a piece of designer paper to use as matting behind the sunflower image panel.  Lastly, choose a tag image that you wish to incorporate into the design as well as a sunflower strip and several leaves from a panel that you will fussy cut to use along the bottom of the creation and a sentiment.  Proceed with inking all of the edges of these pieces with a brown ink.  Put pieces aside and move on to stamping the large Classic Sunflower PreCut background.  Cover it with embossing powder, remove excess and then heat with heat gun.  Use distress markers to color flowers.  You will need one midsized double layer flower, two midsized single flowers and 2 small single sunflowers.   Shape flowers.  For an excellent instructional video on how to shape the flowers in this collection, please go here.  Set them aside and allow them to dry.  Shape the leaves you have fussy cut at this time as well.  Take two of the small ladybug images that have been die cut when you die cut the flowers from the background stamp, color them red and set them aside.  Stamp butterfly image twice and set aside to dry. 

Going back to the base card panels, take the sunflower image you have fussy cut and adhere to the bottom of the card background panel as pictured.  Then adhere the background to the 5”x7” card base. Taking the image panel and the matting designer paper which is just slightly larger than the image panel, proceed to adhere them together.  Measure out some thin gold cording by looping it around the image panel you have just matted approximately 4 times.  Tie tag on with cording.  Position the sentiment you have chosen above the sunflower image and adhere to panel.  Adhere the decorator panel to the card front with 3D pop up dots. 

Arrange shaped and dried flowers loosely on the card until you are happy with the arrangement, adding in several leaves you have fussy cut and shaped as well.  Adhere them to the card.  Adhere the two ladybug die cuts tucked in among the flowers and leaves.

Returning to the two stamped butterfly images, color them exactly the same with distress markers.  Attach one on top of the other by gluing only the body of the butterfly, allowing wings to bend up so the butterfly becomes 3D and resembles the insect in flight.  Place in the top corner of the card above the tag with 3D pop up dots as pictured. 

Send to a friend or loved one to enjoy!


 ********
 Well, thanks so much for sticking with me to the end of this post....and a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me in this adventure of a life time.  Your words of encouragement, your votes during the semi finalist announcement...they all mean more to me than you will ever know.  
Be sure to check out the HC blog to see the full list of very talented and creative new design team members.  You are sure to find some wonderful inspiration.  

Until next time...

These creations have been shared in the following challenges...

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