Thinking about Easter...

Hello Everyone!

I'm so glad you've taken the time to pop by today!

Feel free to linger awhile, relax and enjoy this week's Heartfelt Creations inspiration!

As I schedule this blog post, I'm headed into a crazy busy week!

We have an ice fishing trip planned for Monday, I spend a day in Winnipeg teaching classes on Tuesday,

my dad has hip replacement surgery on Thursday, and both kids have field trips scheduled during this time and the oldest also has a youth retreat on the weekend!  Think I'm gonna take this one day at a time, and one laundry load at a time!  LOL

If you haven't started thinking Easter as of yet, you may want to give it a thought as it comes a little earlier this year....it's coming in March!  When I first saw the initial reveal of the Sunrise Lily Collection, my thoughts immediately turned to spring and the Easter season!  

For today's project I decided to do an egg shaped Easter gift box...or even a centerpiece if you would desire!

Here's how the project turned out...

  

...and a little bit more of a close up...

...and one last quick peek at the floral cluster on top of the packaging...

What could be more spring like than lilies and butterflies?

Well, that's all for me today...so sorry to have hurried you through!

I sure hope you take time to visit the Heartfelt Creations blog to take in all of the other fantastic projects the rest of the design team have come up with!

I promise you won't be disappointed!

Until next time...

Project Supplies and Instructions

HCDP1-263  Sunrise Lily Paper Collection
HCPC-3720   Sunrise Lily Cling Stamp Set
HCPC-3722  Sunrise Lily Swirls Cling Stamp Set
HCD1-787  Sunrise Lily Die
HCD1-788  Sunrise Lily Swirls Die
HCPC-3650  Butterfly Medley Cling Stamp Set
HCD1-759  Butterfly Medley Die
HCST1-401  Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit
159723  Art Institute Glue - Dries Clean
352854  Metal Glue Tip - Art Institute
TSMP808  Memento Dye Ink Pad - Espresso Truffle
TSMP804  Memento Dye Ink Pad - Desert Sand
TSMP704  Memento Dye Ink Pad - New Sprout
TSMP602  Memento Dye Ink Pad - Teal Zeal
TSMP103  Memento Dye Ink Pad - Cantaloupe

Other Products Used:  white card stock, Stampin Up ink - Cameo Coral, VersaColor Pine Cone ink, Stickles - Rose Gold & Crystal, ribbon, Zutter Bow It All, scor tape, SVG Cuts Poplar Street Tulips SVG Cutting File, Silhouette Cameo electronic die cutting machine, BigShot manual die cutting machine, paper trimmer, scissors

For full instructions on how to shape the Sunrise Lily, please see this video.

Using electronic die cutting machine, cut out egg base using white card stock.  Assemble according to cutting file instructions.  Choose patterned paper from in the Sunrise Lily collection for decorative egg panels, and cut using electronic cutting machine.  Ink all edges using a brown colored ink.  Adhere to egg box top and bottom pieces.  Stamp 4-5 varying images of the lily sprays from the Sunrise Lily Swirls Cling Stamp Set onto white card stock using Espresso Truffle ink.  Color, die cut using coordinating dies, shape and adhere images to top of egg until the entire area around the top of the egg has been covered. Once again using Espresso Truffle ink and white card stock, stamp two of the lily flower images.  Color, die cut and shape two large flowers and two small flowers. Adhere to top of packaging as shown.  Shape leaves and add to floral cluster as desired.  Stamp the butterfly images from the Butterfly Medley Cling Stamp Set onto white card stock using a light brown ink, and die cut using coordinating die. Shape slightly, and adhere to packaging. Adhere ribbon and bow to bottom of gift box.  Using your finger tip, apply a liberal amount of Crystal Stickles to butterflies, and a small amount of Rose Gold Stickles to each petal of the lilies.       

Guest Designing for Crafty Boots

Hello!
  I'm so excited to say that Crafty Boots Challenge blog invited me to guest design for them in their current challenge "Things with Wings".

Now if you've been following me for the last little while, you know that I have jumped onto the Pocket Letter bandwagon....so I decided to do a pocket letter page showcasing some things with wings!

Here is how it turned out...

We've got several birds and some butterflies as well!
I love this page from the Graphic 45 Collection "Botanical Tea".
I decided to just add some pearl corners, some Glitter Ritz to the rose and then let the picture be the beauty that it is.  My little RAK gifts will slip in behind the image on this one...because I just cannot bear to distract from this image!  (Or maybe I'll just keep this one for myself and make it the cover page for my binder!  LOL)

I do hope you'll head on over to the Crafty Boots Challenge blog for a peek at what the other guest designers have created for the mid posting of the current challenge.  Maybe you'll even be inspired to create something to enter as well...there's still a little time left!  You may be their next guest designer!

Until next time...

This creation has been shared in the following challenges...
All Crafts Challenge..."Anything But a Card"
Crafting from the Heart..."Anything Goes"
Not Just Cards Challenges..."Anything Goes"
Whoopsi Daisy Challenges..."Things with Wings"
613 Avenue Create..."Anything Goes with optional twist of Feminine"

Easter Wishes

Welcome!

Can you believe it's the first day of April today?

That means that Easter is just around the corner!

I wanted to do something special for Easter for today's Heartfelt Creations post.

While bunnies and Easter eggs are all fun and cute, I wanted to take some time out to acknowledge what the Easter season really means to me.  Easter is the time of year that we celebrate the cruxifiction and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He paid the price for our sins upon the cross many years ago that we might have a relationship with him and become His children.  The cross is such a powerful image for me, and when you really take the time to think about that first Good Friday and really allow yourself to think about Jesus' death you just cannot help but be moved and have your heart stirred with thankfullness.  

So, I decided to create a cross related creation....it is a cross shaped box...perfect for treats or as a piece of home decor!

Here's a peek...

...and a bit of a closer peek at the floral cluster...

I have to say that I really enjoyed creating all of the flowers on this creation...I always do have fun creating flowers...but this time I had time to reflect on the reason I was creating this piece and kind of turn it into an act of worship.  I found the colors soothing and I loved the sentiment that I used from the Posy Patch Paper Collection.  Sometimes projects don't always come out the way we want and it's a struggle.  I have to say that I was very happy with how this one turned out! I hope you have enjoyed the creation as well and have found some inspiration while you were here visiting!

That's all for me today!  I hope you have a wonderful Easter season celebrating with family and friends...and I hope you take a bit of time to reflect on the price that was paid for us so many years ago.   Also, be sure to visit the Heartfelt Creations blog for more wonderful inspiration!

Until next time...

Project Supplies and Instructions

HCDP1-231  Posy Patch Paper Collection
HCPC-3656  Delightful Daisies Cling Stamp Set
HCD1-760  Delightful Daisy Die
HPCC-3533  Sun Kissed Fleur Cling Stamp Set
HCD1-734  Sun Kissed Fleur Die
HCPC - 3608  Arianna Blooms Cling Stamp Set
 HCD1-748  Arianna Blooms Die
HCPC-3651  Botanical Rose Cling Stamp Set
HCD1-758  Botanical Wings Die
HCPC-3650  Butterfly Medley Cling Stamp Set
 HCD1-759  Butterfly Medley Die
HCPC-3545  Open Leaf Cling Stamp Set
HCD1-736  Classic Leaf Die
HCST1-401  Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit
TSMP708  Memento Dye Ink Pad - Olive Green
TSMP706  Memento Dye Ink Pad - Pistachio
TSMP400  Memento Dye Ink Pad - Rose Bud
TSMP103  Memento Dye Ink Pad - Cantaloupe
TSMP602  Memento Dye Ink Pad - Teal Zeal
TSMP704  Memento Dye Ink Pad - New Sprout
ANC852 Bright Ideas Prills - I Cannot Tell a Lilac
273900  Zip Dry Glue

Other Products Used:  Silhouette Design Store Design ID #39084, Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die Cutting Machine,  Star Dust Stickles, Memento Dye Ink Pads - Angel Pink, Dandelion, Gray Flannel, and Sweet Plum,  Big Shot manual die cutting machine, piece of lace, gold seed beads, water and mist bottle, scissors

Cut the cross box cutting file and assemble.  Locate the sentiment panel in the Posy Patch Paper Collection, and fussy cut around the design portion of the sentiment as shown.  Attach to the box only adhering the first half with glue and leaving the second half to be shaped.  Bend the sentiment panel slightly and tuck the corner into the box giving it a bit of dimension.  Begin creating and shaping your flowers.  For the blue flower use the Arianna Blooms Cling Stamp set and Die.  Stamp the image using Gray Flannel ink once onto a piece of blue patterned paper from the Posy Patch Collection. Ink the centre and edge of each blossom using Zeal Teal ink.   Use all of the flower pieces to create one blossom with a tight centre.  Moving along to the yellow blooms.  Use the Delightful Daisies Cling Stamp Set and die to create these blooms.  Stamp the images once onto a yellow patterned paper from the paper collection using Pistachio ink.  Ink the centres of each bloom with the Cantaloupe color, and the tips of the petals ink with Dandelion colored ink.  Shape the largest flower pictured using the largest stamped image as well as the one a size smaller.  Create a second yellow flower using the mid sized image and the one the next size down.  Adhere gold seed beads to the centre of each of the yellow flowers.  For the purple flower, use the Sun Kissed Fleur Cling Stamp Set and coordinating die.  Ink and stamp the images once using Gray Flannel ink and a purple patterned paper from the paper collection.  Ink the centres and edges of the three mid sized flowers with purple ink.  Shape and adhere prills to the centre.  Lastly, for the roses  stamp three sets of the Botanical Rose Cling Stamp Set onto a patterned pink paper in the collection  and ink the centres with Memento Rose Bud ink, and the petal edges with Angel Pink.  Use two of each sized flower to create a large full rose with a tight centre. Begin with the smaller flowers to create a tight bud, and work your way out using the larger flowers.   Next, for the second rose, use the same technique until you have a small sized rose perfect to add to the bottom of the cluster.  For the leaves use one stamping of the Open Leaf Cling Stamp Set stamped in Olive Grove ink onto a green patterned paper in the paper collection.  Cut using the coordinating die and then ink the edges with the New Sprout colored ink.   Shape using shaping tools and water.  Lastly, stamp one stamping of the Delightful Daisies Cling Stamp Set leaves using New Sprout ink and a lighter green patterned paper from the Posy Patch paper collection.  Ink edges slightly with the same color, and proceed to shape.  You are now ready to create your flower cluster.  Once you are happy with the flower and leaf arrangement, adhere to box.  While drying, stamp and die cut several butterflies in Gray Flannel ink onto a pale yellow patterned paper from the same paper collection.  Using your finger, apply stickles to each butterfly.  Once dry, shape and apply to the flower cluster.  For the finishing step, drape a piece of lace around the cross, tucking it behind a few of the leaves and having it drape down through and behind the sentiment panel.  You are now ready to display as a piece of Easter decor, or use as a treat box to fill and surprise someone special!

This project has been shared in the following challenges...
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog..."Easter"
Crafting by Designs..."April Anything Goes Challenge"
Creative Moments Challenges..."Anything But a Card"
Decorate to Celebrate..."Anything Goes"
Word Art Wednesday..."Anything Goes"

Add a Little Dazzle Dazzling Diva Challenge..."Anything Goes/Spring"
Creative Card Crew..."Handmade Flowers"
Deep Ocean Challenge Blog..."Spring/Easter"
Die Cuttin' Divas..."Anything Goes"
Through the Craft Room Door..."Anything Goes"
Crafty Boots Challenges..."Easter"
Creative Cutting Challenge..."Easter"
Make My Monday..."Flowers"
Ohhh La La Challenges..."Easter"
Pile it On Challenge Blog..."Easter/Spring" 
DL Art..."Easter"
613 Avenue Create..."Anything Goes"
Sentimental Sundays..."Springtime Flowers"
That Craft Place..."Easter/Spring"
My Sheri Crafts..."Cross, Bunnies or Eggs"
Crafts 4 Eternity..."Easter"
Polkadoodles..."Use a Die"

Spread Your Wings And Fly...

Happy Wednesday!

Are you as excited as I am that today is a new collection release day at Heartfelt Creations?

Let me tell you .....you are going to love this one!

Birds, butterflies and blossoms in beautiful spring colors....oh my!

Here's a little about the collection...

"Does Old Man Winter have you firmly in his grip?  Chase the winter blues away with a breath of springtime!  Heartfelt Creations is pleased to present the "Birds and Blooms" collection:  a virtual spring garden that's lovely as a song! Shades of cherry blossom pink, robin's egg blue, and soft leafy green fill sunny garden scenes featuring bluebirds, blooming branches, picket fences, bird baths, bird houses, butterflies and frilly hydrangeas.  Dozens of stunning card fronts, pre-designed layouts, borders, sentiments and artwork are the perfect remedy for mid-winter doldrums. Six hand-drawn stamp sets feature blossom laden branches, nesting birds, garden scenes and an elegant collage.  Two sets of dies coordinate with papers and stamps allowing you to add realistic blossoms, branches and birds to your artwork.  Take a well-deserved break from the bleak landscape of winter and escape to a colorful springtime garden where birds chirp, flowers bloom, and soft breezes lift your spirit and inspire your creativity!"

This collection just speaks to my heart!  It so reminds me of my Grandma! 

She loved birds, and it's a love that I've inherited from her!  The beautiful patterns and colors in this collection remind me of her as well.  She passed away several years ago right after Christmas, and I began working with this collection just before the holiday season...she is always on my mind as we prepare for the holidays, and this collection just made her seem that much closer to my heart!  It's funny how God sends us little reminders of loved ones, isn't it?

 One of the other loves that I have that has inspired me in this creation is beautiful old china!
I love going to thrift stores and just gazing at beautiful old plates, tea pots, cups and saucers!
The soft colors, the floral patterns...and even the fine line cracks that give away their age!  I'm sure you'll see this love of "antique" in my card today!

How about a look see...

I'm so sorry that the lighting on this photo really doesn't do this card justice!
I wish you could see it in person!

Here's a closer look at the flower details...

So there you have it...my Wednesday inspiration for you!
Be sure to check out the Heartfelt Creations Blog to see the other gorgeous creations the design team have made with this stunning new release.  Then be sure to check out the Heartfelt Creations online store...I predict that this collection is going to be a popular one!  I think we're all ready to start designing with gorgeous spring colors and beautiful birds and butterflies...it will make what's left of winter pass so much more quickly!

I've also included the instructions for this card here on the blog as well...

Until next time...

Heartfelt Creations Products Used:
                HCDP1250 Birds and Blooms Paper Collection                
HCPC3644 Birds and Blooms PreCut Set
HCPC3645 Leafy Branch PreCut Set
HCPC3647 Hydrangea Bird Bath PreCut Set
HCD752 Cut Mat Create 2B Die Template
SMP001 Stamp Mat Pad
048749 McGill Paper Shaping Tools and Piercing Mat
159223 McGill Paper Blossoms Molding Mat
311070 Water Dew Drops
273900 Zip Dry Paper Glue

Other Products Used:  Lindy's Stamp Gang Spray - Frozen Jack Frost, Pistachio Memento Ink, Pearl Flourishes, Crystal Stickles, Scor Tape, ribbon, Gesso Primer, Distressing Tool, white card stock, chipboard frame, Antique Linen Distress Paint, Picket Fence Distress Paint, hot glue gun, 3D pop dots, BigShot Die Cutting Machine, mist bottle of water

Project Instructions:
Create your 6"x6" card base using white card stock.  Locate the premade "Spread Your Wings and Fly" card front measuring the same size in the paper collection.  Using Pistachio Memento ink, stamp the bird bath scene from the Hydrangea Bird Bath PreCut Set in the lower left hand corner.  Using your distressing tool, distress all edges of the panel, and then ink with the Pistachio ink on all of the distressed edges.  Set aside to dry.  Locate the smaller card panels within the paper collection and cut out the image with the butterflies and white florals.  Select a coordinating patterned paper from the collection to use as a mat for the smaller image panel, making sure that the backside of the patterned paper matches the image as the corners of the mat will be rolled back to reveal the back pattern.  Taking the patterned paper mat, wet a top corner with a mist bottle and roll back corner.  Do this a second time with the opposite bottom corner.  Allow to dry, and then use your distressing tool to distress the edges of the matting piece.  Adhere the image panel to the mat.  You are now ready to adhere the smaller image piece to the card front.  Once applied in place, spray lightly with Lindy's Stamp Gang Spray.  Allow to dry. Die cut two decorative corners from the Cut Mat Create 2B Set in a pink contrasting patterned paper in the paper pack collection and adhere to card as shown.  Stamp several inkings of the flowers in the Birds and Blooms PreCut Set with Summer Sky Memento ink, and several stampings of the various leaf bunches in the Leafy Branch PreCut Set with Pistachio Memento ink onto white card stock.  Die cut using the coordinating die and your manual die cutting machine.  Shape flowers and leaves, leaving some flowers flat to use as filler pieces within the floral cluster.  Apply Water Dew Drops to the centers of the shaped flowers. Moving along to the chipboard frame.  Cover it lightly with one coat of White Picket Fence distress paint, and once that is dry a light coat of Antique Linen distress paint allowing a small of the white to show through giving it a touch on an aged look.  Fussy cut one large and one small butterfly from the paper pack and shape so wings have a slight curl.  Apply chipboard frame as shown using 3D pop up dots.  Next hot glue the ribbon into place onto the frame.  Arrange you flower clusters and leaves as desired and once happy with placement affix to card.  Adhere large butterfly using paper glue and small butterfly using 3D pop dots.  Add pearl flourish giving the small butterfly the illusion of being in flight. Using a small amount of Gesso Primer on a brush, lightly brush butterflies and leaf tips. Lastly, add a touch of shimmer and shine to the shaped flowers using Crystal Stickles.  Add a handwritten message to the inside and send to a special friend or loved one!

This card has been shared in the following challenges...
Fab'n'Funky Challenges..."Something New" (new collection, stamps, dies, etc)
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges..."Anything Goes"
Inky Chicks..."Anything Goes" 
Paper Minutes..."Flower Power"

In the Garden

Welcome!

I'm so excited that you've been able to stop by today!

It's Sunday, which means there's another new challenge beginning at Pile it On!

Ready?

It's...

No Patterned or Designer Paper

Wow!

I have to admit that this was a tough one for me.  I don't usually make a card without any designer paper.  So, a challenge it was.  

I had the most beautiful digi to play with from our current sponsor.

My image is called "Tender Thoughts".  I just find it to be a peaceful and elegant image.  A beautiful young girl surrounded by budding flowers and butterflies.  It reminds me of spring!
When I saw this image I immediately had the words to a favorite hymn pop into my head...

"I come to the garden alone,
when the dew is still on the roses."

It then dawned on me that my daughter has a friend being baptized next month and thought I'd use this image to design that card.

Here's a look...

I printed out the image onto a floral frame with my Silhouette Cameo.   I then set about to water coloring it and matting it with the front portion of the floral frame.  I decided that I would do a white on white background with a navy mat behind that.  I decided to dry emboss the white mat with a floral embossing floral.  I then added some beaded swirls, a few white flowers and 2 white butterflies.  I colored the butterflies with my Wink of Stella clear glitter pen.  I then popped them up with pop up dots to give the card some dimension.

It's your turn now!  Push that designer paper off to the side on your craft table and get creative without it!  It's actually not so hard!  LOL
Be sure to check out the other DT members awesome projects for more inspiration!

Until next time...

This card has been shared in the following challenges...
4 Crafty Girls..."Anything Goes"
Delightful Challenges..."Bloom/Add a Flower"
Crafting By Designs..."Anything Goes April Challenge"
Crafty Creations Challenges..."White Plus One"
Creative Moments..."Anything Goes/Girly"
Word Art Wednesdays..."Anything Goes"
Natalie and Amy Challenges..."Embossing"
Sweet Stamps..."Embossing"
Crafty Sentiments Designs..."Use Lots of White"
Party Time Tuesdays..."Die Cuts"
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards..."Spring"
Craftitude..."Anything Goes Spring/Easter"
Crafty Catz..."B is for..."  (Butterflies, bling)
Crafty Hands Challenge Blog..."Anything Goes"
Fairy Tale Challenge Blog..."Butterflies"
Polkadoodles..."Springtime"
QKR Stampede..."Spring Celebrations"
Sister Act Card Challenges..."Anything Goes"
Stuck on U Sketches..."Anything Spring Die Cut Challenge" (butterflies & floral frame)
A Gem of a Challenge..."Spring is in the Air"
Paper Crafting Challenges..."No Patterned Paper"
Pumpkin Spice..."Coloring"
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenges..."Frame It" (digi has been framed with a floral frame)
Totally Gorgeous..."Die Cuts and Punches"