Hello Spring...

Welcome to another Heartfelt Creations Inspiration Wednesday!
How is the weather where you are today?
Spring is slowly trying to arrive here in Manitoba, Canada...and since I am really tired of snow I thought perhaps I would create a happy, spring themed project for this week's inspiration!
While attending CHA, my friend Liz asked me if I ever create any scrapbook layouts?  I had to admit that really I don't...I tend to shy away from them as a 12x12 page looks so large to fill and complete!  LOL  Well...Liz gave me the challenge of creating a layout when we returned home...so Liz, here's your layout!  LOL

Let's take a peek....

I have always loved these photos of my daughter...they were taken in spring many years ago at a local park just before her dance recital!  I thought they would be the perfect photographs to showcase the gorgeous Flowering Dogwood Collection and to welcome the spring season!

...and here's a closer peek at the Flowering Dogwoods...

Well, that's all from me today!
I hope you've enjoyed today's project...something different than the usual cards you're used to!
I do hope you pop by the Heartfelt Creations blog to take in the other stunning inspiration pieces the rest of the design team have created this week!

Until next time...

Project Supplies & Instructions
Flowering Dogwood Paper Collection, HCDP1-275
Flowering Dogwood Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3773
Flowering Dogwood Branches Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3774
Dogwood Chapel Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3776
Flowering Dogwood Die, HCD1-7129
Flowering Dogwood Branches Die, HCD1-7130
Deluxe Flower Shaping Tool Kit, HCST1-401
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink - Berrylicious, 71053
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink - Olive Pastel, 71012
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink - Lime Pastel, 71026
Crystal Ultrafine Transparent Glitter, 85-glitter
Prills - Ribbit, ANC852
Designer Dries Clear Adhesive, 159723
Metal Tip for Adhesive Bottles, 352854

Other Products Used:  white card stock, BigShot Die Cutting Machine, ColorBox Fluid Ink Pad - Pink Pastel, VersaColor Pine Cone Ink, VersaFine Grey Ink, large doily, small doily, glitter glass, paper trimmer, pop dots, Scor Tape, sponge daubers, water, spritz bottle

Watch this video https://youtu.be/gI8RqHAt3vE to learn different shaping techniques using the dogwood flowers.

Locate patterned papers shown in example.  Trim pink diamond patterned paper to fit layout page as shown.  Ink all edges of both papers using a soft brown colored ink.  Adhere pink diamond patterned paper to layout as shown using pop dots.  Locate a blue colored paper from within the paper collection.  Trim to mat photos, ink all edges using a soft brown color and adhere photos to photo mats.  Adhere to layout as shown using pop dots.  Trim sentiment strips from patterned paper, ink all edges using a soft brown colored ink and adhere to layout as shown.  Adhere large doily as background for photos as shown, as well as small doily in the bottom corner as per example.  Stamp two inkings of the Flowering Dogwood Branches frame illustration, and one Flowering Dogwood Cluster illustration from the Dogwood Chapel Cling Stamp Set onto white card stock using VersaFine Grey ink.  Die cut frames using coordinating die and fussy cut dogwood cluster.  Trim frames so that you can have the branches running down the side of the photos as shown.  Add a touch of color to all die cut elements using pink and green inks using sponge daubers and shape using Flower Shaping Tools.  Adhere to layout with dogwood cluster illustration centered in corner where two photos meet.  Stamp several flowering dogwood images in all sizes onto white card stock using pink ink.  Die cut and color using a variety of pink inks.  Shape several double blossoms in varying sizes and leave some blossoms single.  Adhere to scrapbook layout.  Stamp several inkings of leaves using green ink onto white card stock.  Die cut using coordinating dies, color with sponge daubers and shape.  Adhere to scrapbook layout as desired.  Trim Hello Spring sentiment from paper collection, ink all edges with a soft brown colored ink, shaped slightly and adhere to layout. Apply prills to all flower centers as well as to blossoms with stamen.  Adhere glitter to flowers using a dries clear adhesive and fine glue tip, as well as the dogwood flower images on all of the patterned papers.  Lastly, adhere chunky glitter glass to all flowers using a dries clear adhesive.  

Mustard Seed Faith...

Hello and Welcome!

I have a special surprise for you today!

Several months ago I was approached and asked if I would like to be involved in a new faith based challenge blog that was in the works!  It seems like so many moons ago that I used to do any work with challenge blogs, and my favorite by far was the faith based one I was part of early on in my crafting/blogging adventures.  I met the most wonderful ladies through that challenge blog...and I know that this will hold true now as well!

I accepted a design team position with Mustard Seed Faith Challenges, and we are so happy and excited to bring to you our first challenge today!  In a world that is so very mixed up, full of tough choices, and frankly just needing some heavenly sunshine, I am excited to unite card makers and paper crafters and to share the love of Jesus!

This is something that has been on my heart constantly the last year of so...how can God use my crafty talents for His Kingdom?  Many days it felt like I was just pumping out card after card without it having any meaning.  I yearned to connect with other Christians who were crafty, wanted to have my creations bring a blessing to someone and for God to use them to show people around the world His love.

Anyhow...moving along...

Let's explore this week's challenge!

We are focusing on the verse Matthew 17:20...a fitting place to start since the mustard seed theme ties in with the name of the challenge blog.  

"He replied, because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain 'Move from here to there', and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matt. 17:20 NIV

Are you familiar with the size of a mustard seed?  It's tiny...and often that is how my faith feels to me...very tiny!  But look...God promises us that even with our smallest faith, nothing is impossible for us through Him!  Isn't that amazing!  There are times I beat myself up for not thinking my faith will be enough for God to work with...I think perhaps my needs are too small or too large and choose to not even ask anything from Him! I think that we are living in a day where we need to cling onto that promise that faith the size of a mustard seed allows God to do great things through us...we need to become bolder, deeper in our faith and allow our faith to grow larger than that mustard seed day by day, showing God's great love to a world that is lost and falling apart!

What do you think?

Back to the paper crafting challenge at hand...

For this challenge, we are asking that you use any shade of yellow..from bright to golden mustard somewhere on your creation!

Here's the card I created...

It's not often I get to sit and just and make a simple card...and I really like how this one turned out!

I was going to use a different sentiment on this card...I had it on my table...I put it down and could not find it when I needed it to complete the card! Gotta love those clear stamps!

As I started browsing for a new sentiment to use, I came across this one immediately and knew that this was the sentiment I was to use on the card! 

Faith does involve closing one's eyes...coming to God and opening your heart to Him and what He has in store for you!  Faith is knowing that no matter what type of situation we are going through...that God's got us and is in control of that situation!  Faith is knowing that in the long run, no matter how awful the world around us seems...we know how the story ends!

God's got this!

I hope you're leaving here encouraged and ready to join in with us on some inky fun!

You will find all of the "rules" for the challenges on the Mustard Seed Faith Challenges blog!

Link up your creations, perhaps leave a comment and I cannot wait to come pay your blog a visit to see how this challenge inspired you!

Until next time...

Flowering Dogwood Card Classes Now Available....

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick post today to let you know that I have finally been able to put together my first card class for 2017 with both locations of  The Scrapbook Cottage!

Registration is now open for this "any occasion" card class featuring the gorgeous Flowering Dogwood Collection which is perfect for the Easter Season, Mother's Day, the upcoming wedding season or Just Because!

Soft and super feminine, along with a fresh spring time color palette, I know that this card assembling will be perfect to build up your stash of those cards that are needed last minute.

Here's a close up of each of the cards you'll create and take home with you when you attend any of the four classes scheduled between the two stores located in Steinbach or Winnipeg, Manitoba!

For more information or to register, please feel free to call either of The Scrapbook Cottage locations - you can find the numbers listed on the side bar of my blog!  

Do hurry as seating is limited and these classes do sell out quickly!

Can't wait to see you there!

Until next time...

Monkeying Around...

Welcome!

It's another Heartfelt Creations new release Wednesday!

Have you already seen the sneak peeks of the Monkeying Around Collection?

If not, you're in for a real treat!

Here's a little about the newest collection...

Are you ready for an adventure?  Grab your water bottle, sunscreen, and safari hat and join us as we explore exotic jungles taking in the lively and entertaining antics of the new Monkeying Around Collection by Heartfelt Creations!  Filled with amusing illustrations of ever so charming monkeys, this newest collection is sure to have you “going bananas” with excitement!  Four entertaining cling stamp sets supply you with an assortment of fun filled, mix and match monkey images to create just the right amount of monkey mayhem for any of your paper crafting project needs, while various sized palm tree fronds, floral accents, bananas, coconuts along with lush palm tree die cuts add a dimensional tropical feeling to your projects with ease!  Trek through a paper collection filled with deep jungle greens, sunlit yellows and ocean like blues, accented with balmy breeze teals, pretty floral pinks and a hint of sunset reds creating just the right tropical color palette to showcase these adorable apes on cards, scrapbook layouts or altered art pieces.  So, come along with us as we join in with the monkey chatter, swing from vine to vine and take part in the shenanigans of the new Monkeying Around Collection! 

I'll be quite honest...I had no idea what kind of project I was going to make with this collection...until I spotted something I could alter while on a crafty shopping trip with Liz to Hobby Lobby while we were on our little CHA adventure in Phoenix!  I saw a tropical tiki style hut windchime set that I thought had some potential for being inhabited by monkeys! 

Want to see how it turned out?

I will admit that trying to photograph these windchimes was a tad difficult, so I apologize for the poor photography!  It was hard to prop them up, I had no nice place to hang them and the sun refused to cooperate by coming out so the picture would be well lit!  LOL

As you can see I've covered the roof with palm frond die cuts from the collection.  I stamped the images in various shades of greens and then used different combinations of green inks to color them to try to give them each a bit of a different coloring.  (Doesn't show up very well in the photo!)  I've used palm trees for the top of the chimes and the adorable relaxin' monkey for the main focal point at the door.  I've added a floral touch to the project using the pretty floral border stamp also found within the collection.  

Here's a close up of this fun loving relaxin' monkey...

I've colored the image using a Dove Blender Pen and ColorBox Fluid Chalk Inks (you can find all the color details in the instructions following this blog post.)  I've used different shades of browns to color the monkey image to try and give him the look of being hairy!  LOL  I've popped him up off the base of the windchime using 3D pop dots and kind of curved him around the hut!  I think he looks pretty awesome sitting out on his front porch enjoying a cold drink!

...and of course there are always some shenanigans when monkeys are involved, so I decided to have some playful primates added to to the top of the project swinging from palm tree to palm tree using vines...

Again, I apologize for the poor photography...the colors look so much nicer on the real project!

For the finishing touch, I've added Stickle centers to all of the flowers, and daubed some stickles onto each of the palm fronds to give the project some sparkle and shine.

I do hope you've stopped by the Heartfelt Creations blog to check out the fun and creative projects the rest of the team has created for your viewing pleasure and inspiration with this fun collection!  

I'm sure there are a project or two you'll go "bananas" over and want to try yourself!

As for me, that's all for today!

I do hope you come for a visit again soon!

Until next time...

Project Supplies and Instructions

Palm Tree and Monkeys Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3777
Monkeying Around Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3778
Relaxin' Monkeys Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3780
Palm Tree and Monkeys Die, HCD1-7132
Monkeying Around Cling Stamp Set, HCD1-7133
Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit, HCST1-401
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink Pad - Dark Brown, 71035
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink Pad - Harvest, 71082
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink Pad - Lime Pastel, 71026
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink Pad - Rouge, 71015
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink Pad - Creamy Brown, 71036
Dove Blender Kit, 241159

Other Products Used: BigShot die cutting machine, white card stock, VersaFine Black Ink, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Pad - Mint, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Pad - Chive, Stickles - Patina, Glossy Accents, Stickles - Tickled Pink, tiki hut windchimes, pop dots, sponge daubers

Stamp one relaxin' monkey image onto white card stock with black ink and color using inks and Dove Blender Pen.  Shape and adhere to windchimes as shown using pop dots and glossy accents.  Stamp multiple images of palm tree fronds  to cover top of tiki hut roof.  Color using several different combinations of green ink and then die cut with coordinating die.  Shape and begin layering leaves on  top of roof.  Stamp two palm tree images and one of the monkeys swinging on vines.  Die cut using coordinating dies, color and shape.  Adhere first palm tree to windchimes using glossy accents.  Trim down second palm tree and adhere to windchimes as shown.  Position monkeys to appear as swinging in the trees and adhere using glossy accents.  Stamp several inkings of vining flowers onto white card stock, color and die cut using coordinating dies.  Shape slightly and adhere around tiki hut roof as shown using glossy accents.  Adhere three cut apart flowers to the base of the palm trees as well.  Adhere several palm tree fronds and flowers behind relaxin' monkey and one in front of monkey image.  Lastly, apply pink Stickle centers to flowers and using fingertip apply patina stickles to all palm tree fronds.