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...

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.  

The Lord's Unfailing Love...

Welcome!  

I hope wherever you are in the world life is good for you today!

I'm back this week with another Flowering Dogwood Collection project for Heartfelt Creations!

It's another wall hanging!

I saw this wooden cross for altering while shopping in Hobby Lobby during my little adventure to CHA and immediately thought of the Flowering Dogwood Collection!

Would you like to see how it turned out?

Well let's keep you waiting no longer...

I had not had a chance to use any of the faith based stamps released on Black Friday yet, so I thought one of them would surely be perfect to add a sentiment on this cross!  I really like how the sentiment turned out there in the center.  I've stamped it, fussy cut around it and then popped it up off the wall hanging with pop dots!

I've kept this creation more monochromatic keeping it with the greens and blues. 
Unfortunately we're in a stretch of cloud cover again and the photo really doesn't show off the floral colors clearly. 

I've included all of the instructions to recreate this wall hanging at the end of my blog post. 
It really wasn't a hard or labor intensive project at all!

I do hope you stop by the Heartfelt Creations blog as well to take in the amazing creations the rest of the design team have created!

Until next time...

Project Supplies and Instructions
Flowering Dogwood Paper Collection, HCDP1-275
Flowering Dogwood Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3773
Flowering Dogwood Branches Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3774
Flowering Dogwood & Doves Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3775
Flowering Dogwood Die, HCD1-7129
Flowering Dogwood Branches Die, HCD1-7130
Flowering Dogwood & Doves Die, HCD1-7131
Courage and Strength Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3763
Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit, HCST1-401
Memento Dye Ink Pad - Bamboo Leaves, TSMP707
Memento Dye Ink Pad - Olive Grove, TSMP708
Designer Dries Clear Adhesive, 159723
Metal Tip for Adhesive Bottles,  352854
Crystal Ultrafine Transparent Glitter, 85-glitter
Spring Bring Prills - Lettuce Entertain You, Heart of Gold, ANC850

Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI8RqHAt3vE to learn how to create the Flowering Dogwood with the Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit.

Other Products Used:  BigShot die cutting machine, wooden cross wall hanging, VersaFine Grey Ink, white card stock, Spellbinders Shapeabilities Die - Wreaths, sponge daubers, Memento Dye Ink Pad - Flannel Grey, nail file, pencil, scissors, paper trimmer, water, spritz bottle, glitter glass, pop dots

Select a light blue patterned paper from within the Flowering Dogwood Paper Collection.  Trace the wooden cross onto paper using pencil and cut.  Adhere paper to wooden cross with good adhesive and allow to dry.  Once dried, use nail file/emery board to smooth paper edges for a finished look around edges.  Using a grey ink, stamp one inking of each size of dogwood flowers, two of the flowering dogwood branches, several bunches of leaves, the sentiment as well as one dove image as shown.  Color flowers, leaves and branches using several green colored inks and sponge daubers.  Die cut all elements.  Assemble flowers, some as doubles and leaving some as single blossoms.  Trim sentiment and adhere to cross using pop dots.  Adhere wreath die cut to cross as shown.  Shape and adhere one flowering dogwood branch on top of cross, and one coming across center of cross under sentiment.  Create flower clusters as shown, one on the top, in center and bottom of cross.  Add in leaf accents where necessary.  Add a touch of color to dove using sponge dauber and adhere dove among flower cluster on top of cross.  Add prills to flower centers.  Lastly adhere glitter and glitter glass to flowers. 

Flowering Dogwood Easter Blessings...

Welcome!

I'm so glad you're able to join me today!

It's another exciting release day with us at Heartfelt Creations...and this month's is one that is sure to be on your list of purchases to make!

Allow me to share a little about the newest collection...

Heartfelt Creations invites you to usher in the spring season with the new Flowering Dogwood Collection!  Immerse yourself in this newest springtime assembling of designer papers, divinely detailed cling stamps and coordinating dies steeped with beautiful meanings and symbolism perfect for the Easter Season!  The dogwood tree is surrounded by a mesmerizing legend within the Christian faith…once the size of a mighty oak tree it was chosen to be used to construct the cross on which Jesus was to be crucified.  The tree became unhappy with its purpose and would never again grow large enough to ever build another cross.  Its branches would become narrow and crooked and no longer suitable for construction.  The delicate dogwood flower itself is a wonderful symbol of the Easter season…four petals that resemble the shape of a cross, the center laid as a crown of thorns, at the tip of each petal an indent resembling nail punctures, and a reddish hue around those indents resembling the blood of Jesus.  Soft and pastel in coloring, this newest paper collection reveals beautiful springtime shades of pinks, peaches, and greens which set stunning backdrops for scripted lettering and graceful swirls, while darker hints of blues and blacks bring out the gorgeous detail and coloring of the showy dogwood florals.  Bountiful blossom filled branches, peaceful white doves and hillside chapels are just a few of the beautiful illustrations found within the cling stamp sets!  Assemble the perfect dimensional dogwood flower using the varying sized petals within the Flowering Dogwood Cling Stamps Set and die cut using the coordinating dies.  The ideal collection to send out springtime and Easter wishes to friends and family! 

I'm sure you've already seen the beautiful sneak peeks that have been floating around online since CHA.  The colors, florals and gorgeous illustrations in this collection are breathtaking....and absolutely perfect for the spring and Easter Season!

For my first project, I chose to go with an Easter themed card.  

Here's how it turned out...

I had a cross ornament that I had purchased from the Michaels dollar bin awhile ago.  I decided it would be the perfect focal point for this elegant collection!

I chose a 6"x6" card panel from the paper collection, stamped the church image on the bottom corner and then cut out the oval shape from one of the oval dies from the All Glammed Up Collection.  I've then matted a pretty piece of coordinating paper from within the paper collection behind the opening.  I've inked all the edges of the pieces with a light brown ink, as well as a touch of gold.  I've also added some areas of gold accents onto the card front itself and have then used a blending tool and added some brown ink to the card front blending in a circular motion.  I've then matted the card front onto a white card base.  

Using a soft brown ink, I've stamped the cascading branch of dogwood flowers, added a touch of color with ink and sponge daubers, shaped and then adhered to the card base matching up with the oval opening.  I have then adhered the cross to the card front.  

Using several shades of pink ink, I've stamped the dogwood flowers onto white card stock, using a sponge dauber to color the edges of the petals and a soft yellow for the centers.  I've then die cut using the coordinating dies and shaped using my flower shaping tools.  

Here's picture of how these graceful flowers turned out...

  

This flower shapes so beautifully and and the stamen are fantastic!  As you can see I've added prills to the centers to give them an even more realistic look!  I've added a slight touch of brown ink over the flowers themselves so that they would blend in with the vintage feeling of the card as well.  

I hope you've enjoyed today's share!  I hope I've inspired you with this gorgeous collection!

It's not too early to get working on your special Easter greetings for the upcoming Easter Season!

Be sure to check out the Heartfelt Creations blog as well...the team has really outdone themselves!

You won't be disappointed!

Also...if you haven't already heard...Heartfelt Creations is running their annual design team call!

Are you interested in becoming one of our new designers?  

If you love card making, scrapbooking or creating altered art pieces, this call is for you!

We are looking for a variety of styles, from clean and simple, to vintage to shabby chic or girly grunge!  Find all of the details here!

We look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Until next time...

Project Instructions & Supplies

Flowering Dogwood Paper Collection, HCDP1-275
Flowering Dogwood Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3773
Flowering Dogwood and Doves, HCPC-3775
Dogwood Chapel Cling Stamp Set, HCPC-3776
Flowering Dogwood Die, HCD1-7129
Flowering Dogwood and Doves Die, HCD1-7131
Eyelet Oval Die, HCD1-776
Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit, HCST1-401
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Pad - Rose Coral, 71006
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Pad - Rouge, 71015
Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Pad - Creamy Brown, 71036
Memento Dye Ink Pad - Bamboo Leaves, TSMP707
Memento Dye Ink Pad - Olive Grove, TSMP708
Memento Dye Ink Pad - Cantaloupe, TSMP103
Designer Dries Clear Adhesive, 159723
Metal Tip for Adhesive Bottles, 352854
Crystal Ultrafine Transparent Glitter, 85-glitter
Spring Bling Prills - Heart of Gold, ANC850

 Other Products Used:  white card stock, sponge daubers, water, spritz bottle, Spellbinders Grand Calibur Die Cutting Machine, VersaColor Pine Cone Ink, Brilliance Galaxy Gold Ink, scissors, paper trimmer, pop dots, ink distress tool, plastic cross decoration

Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI8RqHAt3vE to learn how to create the Flowering Dogwood with the Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit.

Begin with a 6"x 6" white card base.  Trim premade card panel from paper collection shown just slightly smaller than card base to allow a white edge around card front.  Distress card front using gold and brown colored ink.  Ink all edges of card front panel as well with both gold and brown colored inks.  Using the oval die cut from the Eyelet Oval Die, die cut into card front as shown.  Ink edges of oval die cut are as well using brown and gold ink. Choose a coordinating decorative paper to mat behind the oval die cut.  Adhere card front to card base.  Next, stamp one inking of the draping dogwood flower branch with a light brown ink onto white card stock.  Using sponge daubers, apply color to branch, leaves and flowers.  Die cut using coordinating die and then shape using flower shaping tools.  Adhere to card as shown.  Adhere cross decoration over top draping dogwood flower branch using pop dots and a good adhesive.  Next stamp one inking of each of the sizes of dogwood flowers onto white card stock using a darker pink color.  Add a touch of lighter pink to the ends of each petal and a lighter yellow color to each center.  Go over entire flower lightly with a brown colored ink.  Die cut with coordinating die, spritz lightly with water and shape using flower shaping tools.  Choose the size flowers you wish to use and adhere to card front as shown.  Die cut stamen for each flower, ink both sides with a yellow ink and then shape.  Adhere to flower centers and then add a touch of glue to adhere prills to stamen.  Stamp one inking of each of the leaves from the cling stamp set onto white card stock with a darker green ink and then color with a sponge dauber with a lighter green ink.  Once again go over with a light sponging of light brown.  Shape leaves and adhere to card as shown.  Lastly, on the florals on the pre printed images, add a touch of glue and then glitter!