He Has Made Everything...

Happy Sunday!

I hope you've been having a wonderful weekend!

As I am scheduling this blog post today, the sun has decided to shine all day!  This week has been extremely cold and we've had snow and rain!  May is just around the corner and our family is looking forward to camping season so we are quite ready to be done with this crazy mix of weather...but it isn't up to us is it?  Nature has a way of reminding us that we're not in charge, doesn't it?  We know that God tells the wind where to blow, the rain where to fall and the sun when to shine.  I find that spending time in the great outdoors often leads me to praising and worshipping God.  To look around and take time to soak in His creation is a humbling experience.  God our creator has created everything....from light to darkness, water and land, animals and humans...to sit and ponder all that He has created makes you realized how big He really is!  And, what creativity!  

You can find the whole story of creation in the Bible in the first few chapters of Genesis.  I'm often amazed that people think that this could have all come together through an explosive bang, or that we evolved from monkeys...all has been planned out perfectly by our Creator.  To look around nature, to hold a new born baby really makes you realize that we are here on this earth for more than to just exist with no purpose.   

 This week on Mustard Seed Faith Challenges we want to meditate on God as our Creator. 

Jeanne came up with this idea through the praise and worship song by Big Daddy Weave called "Overwhelmed"...and that is exactly how I feel when I think of all that God has created and done for me when I wasn't deserving.  

Here's the link to the video of this song...we had a chance to see Big Daddy Weave live last summer at the praise and worship time with them was amazing!

So, take a few minutes to listen to this beautiful song...rest and allow your spirit to soak in the lyrics and reflect on all God has created...

While our theme this week for the challenge is God as Creator and creation, we have made it simple for you to create by including a sketch challenge!

Here's a peek at the sketch...


I've kept my project very simple this week!
I had a few images in my Silhouette library and thought they would be perfect for this challenge.
I love my Silhouette and it's print and cut features...it makes creating very quick and easy!

Here's how my project came out...

I've always loved Precious Moments and I just couldn't resist using one of the print and cut images from the Silhouette Design Store.  I'd owned these files for quite some time and just hadn't had the time to use them.  I printed the coordinating background from the Precious Moments collection as well.  I've popped it up off the card base.  I've adhered the sun and little girls image onto a simple oval die cut and popped the oval up off the card base as well.  Don't they just look like they are admiring God's creation of flowers!  I've stamped the sentiment (which comes from one of my Illustrated Faith stamps) onto white card stock, trimmed it and inked the edges with a light pink and adhered it to the card.  Not exactly as shown in the sketch...but that's the beauty of a sketch challenge...you don't have to follow it exactly!  Some glitter and a few yellow sequins and this little creation came together in about a half hour, including print and cut time with the Silhouette.

I do hope you'll join us in our new challenge!  Following a sketch allows for freedom of interpretation and also helps you out when your creativity has taken a hike!
We'd love to see your favorite project featuring some of your favorite creations God has blessed us with!

Until next time...

Tropical Watercolor...

Let me begin by welcoming you!

I so appreciate each and every one of you that pops in for a visit!

I always hope you've found some sort of inspiration or have just enjoyed browsing while you are here!

As you know, it's another Heartfelt Creations inspiration Wednesday...and we're still showcasing the fun and adventurous Tropical Paradise Collection!

It's such a brightly hued collection that brings a smile to your face!

This week however, I decided to try something new...I decided to see if I would make a water coloring type idea with this collection!  I hope you'll feel that I've accomplished it and still done the collection justice!  

Here's how this idea came out...

As usual, I had to photograph on a cloudy day and the colors are not exactly true to the original creation.  The water washed green on the watercolored panel is much darker than it appears here.

I've always loved flamingos and I was over the moon when I realized Heartfelt Creations had included two in this collection!  I just had to create a card using a flamingo!

 Here's a little closer look at that gorgeous bird...

 All of the dimensional embellishments have been watercolored as well, and I've applied various colored inks to the Aloha sentiment to give it a bit of an ombre look.  I added some dew drops to the creation to symbolize water and tie in with the oxidized water droplets!

Of course then there's that plumeria cluster in the upper corner!
Here's a closer look at that...

I think I kinda like how it came out...and I hope you do too!
You can find full instructions at the end of this blog post!

Lastly, it is a bit of a sad day as we say good bye to some of the existing design team members to make way to welcome our new designers.  I have been so blessed and honored to work with these creative ladies and have learned so much from them as well.  I know there are new crafty adventures awaiting them as they bring so much talent to the table.

So, do check out the Heartfelt Creations blog whether it be to browse or are seeking new ideas and inspirations!

Until next time...

Project Supplies and Instructions
HCDP1-277, Tropical Paradise Paper Collection
HCPC-3783, Tropical Paradise Cling Stamp Set
HCPC-3782, Tropical Plumeria Cling Stamp Set
HCPC-3781, Tropical Cockatoo Cling Stamp Set
HCD1-7137, Tropical Paradise Die
HCD1-7135, Tropical Plumeria Die
HCD1-7136, Tropical Cockatoo Die
HCD1-7138, Tropical Parrots Die
HCPC-3673, Heartfelt Sentiments Cling Stamp Set
HCST1-401, Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit
159723, Designer Dries Clear Adhesive
352854, Metal Tip for Adhesive Bottles

Other Products:  white card stock, watercolor paper, VersaFine Black Ink, Distress Oxide Inks - Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Broken China, Iced Spruce, Dylusions Spray Chopped Pesto, paint brush, water, paper trimmer, heat tool, pink and light blue dew drops, Papericious Crystal Clear Powder, Spellbinders Celebrations Pierced Rectangles, pop dots, Gemini electronic die cutting machine, clear stamp block

Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_ehd8QAPnI to learn how to shape the Tropical Plumeria.

Create 5" x 6.5" card base using white card stock.  Select background paper from paper collection for matting on card base.  Ink all edges using sponge dauber and pink ink.  Adhere to card base using pop dots.  Locate yellow patterned paper in paper collection and die cut using largest dies in Spellbinders Pierced Rectangles dies.  Adhere to card base using pop dots.  Die cut a piece of watercolor paper using the middle sized dies from within Pierced Rectangles.  Swipe blue oxide ink onto clear stamp block, stamp onto watercolor paper and then spread using water and paint brush.  Heat set using heat tool.  Repeat with the yellow and green colors brushing them slightly into one another with water and paint brush, drying between applications.  Using paint brush, splash some water droplets onto colored watercolor paper and heat set.  This will give the the illusion of oxide effect.  Splash a few droplets of Dylusion Spray onto watercolor paper.  Heat set from straight above the paper carefully so that droplets will dry but not run or set aside to air dry.  Stamp sentiment onto watercolor paper as shown.  Adhere to card base using pop dots.  Stamp one inking of a flamingo, four curly foliage illustrations, the set of three smaller leaves, one swirled leaf and each of the smallest and mid sized plumeria flower pieces onto watercolor paper using black ink.  Using oxide inks watercolor all embellishments.  Heat set and adhere color again to achieve some darker areas.  Die cut using coordinating dies. Shape and assemble two medium sized flowers and one small. Adhere to card front as shown and then shape and adhere leaf clusters and flamingo.  Die cut sentiment from a light turquoise paper from within the paper collection and add a touch of blue and yellow ink giving it an ombre look.  Apply to card front.  Adhere dew drops to card base and glitter to flower tips using a dries clear glue. 

Traveling Mercies...

Happy Sunday!

It's a very special Sunday at that...Easter Sunday!!

He Is Risen!!!  He is Risen Indeed!

As you share time with friends and loved ones this Easter weekend, remember to take time to thank our Lord and Saviour for the sacrifice He gave that we could be reconciled to God!

On Good Friday we watched "The Son of God" on Netflix...it's always so powerful to watch the crucifixion story at the movies or on tv as it brings the story to life and we are drawn back to remember how awful it must have been!  And then comes Sunday...He is no longer in the tomb...He has conquered death and now we may have eternal life through Him!  Amen!

Today brings a new challenge at Mustard Seed Faith Challenges!

 Jeanne has a short devotional about traveling mercies up on the blog...and it gets us thinking about where we place our trust!  My husband spends many hours on the road as we own a SnapOn Tools franchise and he's out with the truck all day.  I always ask God to keep him safe, to have His angels surround that truck....just as I do for the bus that takes our children to school and as I cart the kids from activity to activity!  

  Asking and praying though is not a guarantee that something will not happen.  Things do go wrong on the road...my hubby and I learned that very well on the way back from a missions trip so many years ago.  We were in a terrible car crash and were very lucky to have walked away with just minor injuries and our lives.  Trusting in God means that we will trust Him no matter what the situation...believing that His hand is in every situation...trusting that He is in every situation with us even if it turns out differently than we were hoping or expecting.

...this brings us to our new challenge...

For the next two weeks our challenge for you is to include a mode of transportation on your card, scrapbook page or mixed media project!  Easy peasy!  That could be a bike, car, truck, boat, hot air balloon, motorcyle...I could go on and on....but for me and my creation it's a rocket ship!  LOL

I wanted to do something a little out of the ordinary and chose space travel!

Here's a peek at my creation...

I knew in the back of my mind now for weeks that I had been wanting to use this cute stamp and die set for this challenge.  I found the cute background papers in a boys paper pack by DCWV in my stash and paired it up with the stamps and dies.  A quick bit of coloring, some pop dots and some addition of glitter and this card came together super fast...you can see there is nothing complicated about it!  I hope you'll find a little inspiration in it's simplicity!

So the next time you travel, think about the traveling mercies you have been given and often take for granted!  As Jeanne has pointed out in her devotional on the Mustard Seed Faith Challenge blog, our circumstances may not always turn out as we expected and yet we are to pray without ceasing and to be thankful in all situations...that calls us to trust in someone larger than ourselves!

Who are you trusting in the journey of life?

I do hope you have found encouragement here today and I hope that you join us in our travel themed challenge!  I can't wait to see what you create!

I also wanted to let you know that for this challenge we have a wonderful prize up for grabs...

...it's a custom string art piece created in the version of any state of your choice!
Unfortunately due to postage and shipping costs, this prize is only eligible for United States entries.

Until next time...

Come Away with me to a Tropical Paradise...

Hello!

Good morning, afternoon or evening to you all depending on where you are visiting from!

It's Wednesday which means it's a Heartfelt Creations day here on the blog..and it's a special one because it is also new collection release day!

Today we bring to you the Tropical Paradise Collection

Escape to an exotic paradise where the air is warm, lush rainforests are filled with the calls of outlandish birds of paradise, and the day begins and ends with the most spectacular array of colors!  Heartfelt Creations invites you to slip away to utopia with the new Tropical Paradise Collection!  Filled with bright and vibrant colors, the exquisitely designed paper collection will transport you to a tropical island with its fiery sunset reds, dazzling sunny yellows, deep ocean blues and rich leafy greens!  Discover the unique and breathtaking birds that call this exotic place home, from toucans to parrots, flamingos and cockatoos which have all been beautifully illustrated and assembled into three dynamic cling stamp sets and coordinating dies!  Further your equatorial escape with realistically shaped plumeria flowers most commonly known for their inclusion in traditional Hawaiian leis boasting blossoms in pinks, whites, reds and yellows amid their large, leafy foliage.  Join us as we walk the warm, sandy beaches and the glistening ocean laps at the shoreline and help us bid a warm Aloha to the new Tropical Paradise Collection!

Allow me to share with you my first creation using this glorious collection!

I chose to keep this card fairly simple!

I had never used my floral Tudor Rose die from Spellbinders and thought it would compliment the tropical theme to the creation perfectly!  I didn't want to cover it up completely, so I kept most of my dimensional design to the top of the card.  

The Thank You sentiment is from the Heartfelt Wishes Cling Stamp Set in the Under the Sea Collection.  I've embossed it with a pretty Verdigis embossing powder that has flecks of greens, golds, and blacks.  

The leaves have all been colored in different color combinations of green inks so that there is a tad more variety and appeal to the eye.  Those gorgeous birds have been colored very quickly using sponge daubers...I can hardly wait for my new Heartfelt Creations Precision Sponge Daubers to arrive...I know they will make adding color to die cuts quickly so much easier and more precise!

Lastly I've added three large plumeria flowers...I won't even try to tell you that these came out perfectly the first time...I threw away at least three before I was happy with how they were coming together.  They are definitely a bit more of a tricky flower to learn, but once you get accustomed to how much overlap there should be on the petals they do come together easily enough!  I definitely do recommend watching Emma Lou's video on how to assemble them...you will find that link listed in my instructions below.  

I do hope you've enjoyed what I've shared with you today!

The Tropical Paradise Collection is so much fun and full of such vivid and happy colors!  You really will feel like you've on a tropical vacation while playing with this collection!

To see the other inspiring and jaw dropping creations by the rest of the design team, be sure to take a visit to the Heartfelt Creations blog!

Until next time...

Project Supplies & Instructions

Tropical Cockatoo Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3781
Tropical Paradise Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3783 
Tropical Plumeria Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3782
Heartfelt Wishes Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3740 
Tropical Cockatoo Die, HCD1-7136
Tropical Paradise Die, HCD1-7137
Tropical Plumeria Die, HCD1-7135
Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit, HCST1-401
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink – Rouge, 71015
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink - Lime Pastel, 71026
Memento Dye Ink Pad - Bamboo Leaves, TSMP707
Memento Dye Ink Pad - Cottage Ivy, TSMP701
Memento Dye Ink Pad - Tangelo, TSMP200
Memento Dye Ink Pad - New Sprout, TSMP704
Memento Dye Ink Pad - Olive Grove, TSMP708
Designer Dries Clear Adhesive, 159723
Metal Tip for Adhesive Bottles, 352854
Crystal Ultrafine Transparent Glitter, 85-glitter
Lichen Ultrafine Transparent Glitter, 237
Bright Ideas Prills - You Had Me at Yellow, ANC852

Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_ehd8QAPnI to learn how to shape the Tropical Plumeria.

Other Products Used:  white card stock, Grand Calibur die cutting machine, Spellbinders Tudor Rose Die, Memento Dye Ink Pads - Dandelion and Gray Flannel, ColorBox Chalk Ink Pads - Lipstick Red, Blue Lagoon and Cheeky, VersaFine Black Ink, sponge daubers, Embossing Powder - Verdigis, heat tool, paper trimmer, Spellbinders Label One Small Dies, pop dots, hot glue gun, glue sticks

Create a 5" x 7" card base using white card stock.  Locate a patterned paper with tropical foliage and a light blue pattern from within Tropical Paradise Paper Collection.  Cut a background mat just slightly smaller than the card front to allow for a white border around the edges.  Die cut the Spellbinders floral die cut using white paper, and then cut a mat slightly larger from the decorative paper you've chosen for the background layer to pair with floral die cut.  Ink all edges of decorative paper with a pink colored ink.  Adhere background mat to card base, floral die cut to coordinating mat and pop up off center of card base using pop dots. Die cut sentiment label using white card stock.  Stamp sentiment, add embossing powder while ink is wet and set with heat tool.  Ink edges of sentiment label with pink colored ink and apply to card front using pop dots.  Stamp cockatoo image along with parrot image and multiple inkings of tropical leaves onto white card stock using black ink.  Using sponge daubers color birds and leaves.  Die cut using coordinating dies.  Shape birds and leaves slightly and then adhere to card front as shown.  Stamp one inking of plumeria flowers onto white card stock using pink colored ink.  Die cut using coordinating dies and then add yellow color to center of leaves and a darker pink color to outer edges.  Shape three larger sized plumeria flowers following instructions in video link listed above.  Adhere to card front as shown.  Add green transparent glitter to all leaves using dries clear adhesive. Allow to dry.  Adhere crystal transparent glitter to all petals on plumeria flowers and prills to flower centers. 

Monkeying Around Shaker Card...

Happy Wednesday!
Are you ready for a fun, monkey themed creation today?
This is the final day to be showcasing the Monkeying Around Collection by Heartfelt Creations before we move on to another new release next week!
Have you seen the sneak peeks of the upcoming Tropical Paradise Collection?  The tropical theme will fit in perfectly with the Monkeying Around Collection if you've already purchased it!  It's so great to be able to combine collections!

For this weeks project I decided to create a shaker card!  I had visions of crazed monkeys jumping around in the shaker trying to catch the banana!  LOL  Perhaps I need some sleep!
Anyway, this is what started off the crazy creation...and let me tell you, hours later it morphed into a totally different design than what I'd had in my head!  LOL

Enough chit chat...here's how the card came together...

...how about a close look at the elements I've put in the shaker...

Now I will admit that I had a terrible time trying to get this shaker to come together.  The dries clear glue would not work on the foam I had...so I used Glossy Accents.  Well we all know that Glossy Accents takes forever to dry...and part of the foam just kept wanting to flip up so I literally had to create a seal around the outer edges of the foam.  As you can see, some of the microbeads have found themselves stuck to the Glossy Accents as it squished ever so slightly into the inside of the shaker.
I was tempted to give up...but you know when you've come so far into a project you just try to find solutions to make things work.

...here's a closer look at the corner cluster I've created with the palm fronds and the playful monkeys...

As much frustration as they card caused me, I do think that it turned out kinda cute!

I do hope you take time to stop by the Heartfelt Creations blog today...there's such a great assortment of projects there featuring so many different collections this week!

Until next time...

Project Supplies & Instructions
Monkeying Around Paper Collection, HCDP1-276
Monkey Antics Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3779
Monkeying Around Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3778
Palm Tree and Monkeys Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3777
Monkey Antics Die, HCD1-7134
Monkeying Around Die, HCD1-7133
Palm Tree and Monkeys Die, HCD1-7132
Delicate Border Basics Die, HCD1-7118
Classic Border Basics Die, HCD1-7119
Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit, HCST1-401
Memento Dye Ink Pad - Bamboo Leaves, TSMP707
Memento Dye Ink Pad - Cottage Ivy, TSMP701
Designer Dries Clear Adhesive, 159723
Metal Tip for Adhesive Bottles, 352854
Lichen Ultrafine Transparent Glitter, 237

Other Products Used:  Grand Calibur Die Cutting Machine, white card stock, Stickles - Tickled Pink, clear card stock, Glossy Accents, microbeads, sequins, foam sheet, sponge daubers, Spectrum Noir Gamasol Solution, blending stumps, Spectrum Noir Blendable Pencils, Spellbinders Circles (Lg) Dies, VersaColor Pine Cone Ink, VersaFine Black Ink, scissors, paper trimmer, pencil

Create a 6" x 6" card base using white card stock.  Locate card panel with circular center and coconut image.  Die cut circular coconut image using Spellbinders die.  Next die cut a circular piece from foam (I've cut two and adhered them together as my foam was quite thin), as well as a piece of clear cardstock using the largest and next size down in the Spellbinders die collection.  Locate the polka dotted paper and die cut a coordinating circular front for the shaker portion you've just die cut.  Cut the pre made card panels pictured for the front of the card as shown, with monkey card panel being cut smaller to mat onto polka dot background.  Ink all edges using a light brown ink. Die cut the edge of the smaller mat using the leaf border from the Delicate Border Basics Die.  Adhere to background mat, and then adhere to card base.  Die cut opening side of card base using Classic Border Basics Die and die cut center of card front as shown to reveal shaker portion. Leaving circle die in place, trace around outer edge.  Remove die and then carefully trim to enlarge circle cut to give shaker more room.   Choose 6" x 6" card panel to adhere to inside.  Ink with a light brown colored ink and apply to inside of card.  Using black ink and white card stock, stamp an assortment of palm fronds, the corner monkey image, the monkeys swinging on vines, one banana, one coconut and several inkings of plumeria flowers.  Die cut with coordinating dies and color using inks and sponge daubers.  Shape all elements using Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit.  Create a palm frond cluster on upper corner of card and then adhere corner monkey embellishment as shown.  Create coconut and palm frond cluster on opposite corner on bottom of card as shown.  Trim out sentiment from paper collection, ink all edges with a brown colored ink, shape slightly and adhere to card as shown.  Trim apart monkeys playing on vines and flowers.  Adhere one monkey to sentiment cluster as shown along with one shaped flower.  Adhere remaining shaped flowers to card front as shown.  Build shaker portion of card starting with preprinted coconut image, adding foam cut out on top using Glossy Accents.  Add banana, two flowers, two monkeys, microbeads and sequins and adhere clear card stock over top using Glossy Accents.  Adhere polka dotted designer paper circular die cut to top of clear card stock using Glossy Accents.  Allow to fully dry, and then add to card base as shown.  Add glitter to all palm fronds.  Apply Stickles to flowers using fingertip and then apply a sparkly flower center. 

Easter Greetings...

Welcome Back and Happy Sunday!

I'm so glad that you're here!  

Spring has finally started here in Manitoba, Canada!

The Canadian geese have arrived, there are huge puddles everywhere with no shortage of mud anywhere, and I'm waiting to see the first robin red breast on the yard!

Spring however, also brings with it a very important holiday for Christians...that would be Easter of course!  While Christmas is important to our faith...it would be nothing without Easter!  The sacrifice that our Lord and Saviour made to reconcile us to Himself is nothing short of amazing! 

Amazing Grace!

While the bunny images, spring flowers and little chicks are very cute around this time of year...please, let's not forget the reason we have Easter!  Jesus took our sins upon himself while on the cross that we could experience forgiveness and have a relationship with Him...as well as defeating the enemy!  We know how the story ends and while things may seem mixed up in this world, and it may seem that the evil one has taken over...as Christians we know that God's word stands and one day our Lord and Saviour will return!  We know that if we confess God as our Lord and Saviour, believe on His name, confess our sins and follow His word, He has promised us eternal life with Him in paradise!

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.  Do you believe this?"

John 11:25-26  

Did you read that?  Jesus is the resurrection and the life!  If we believe in Him, we will live even after we die...that's eternal life with God forever...all He requires of us is to believe in Him!  

We have a new challenge starting today at Mustard Seed Faith Challenge Blog, and the theme of the challenge for the next two weeks if you haven't guessed already is Easter!  

I wanted to portray the real meaning for the holiday in my creation...so I chose to work with the Flowering Dogwood Collection by Heartfelt Creations which has some beautiful imagery of the cross, delicate doves as well as a lovely church...and of course the dogwood flower which has a lovely Easter legend tied to it!  If you've never heard the legend, be sure to google it!

Allow me to share with you my Easter creation...

I've also used the beautiful decorative window die also created by Heartfelt Creations.  

I thought it worked so well with that lovely church image!

So now it's your turn!

I do hope you will share your Easter themed projects with us at Mustard Seed Faith Challenges!

I also hope that during this Easter season you set aside some time to think about the real meaning of the holiday and take time to thank our Heavenly Father for His sacrifice!

Until next time...