I’m branching out….not very far, but a wee bit, to explore other decorative paper companies. This past week I received the Birds & Booms from Little Birdie Crafts, I had been wait listed for so long, I almost forgot about it!
This paper is thick, very thick. Think cover of a paperback book thick, and add some weight to it. It is also very glossy, on both sides, both the white & decorative side. That being said, I used a lighter weight paper for my card base, about 60#.
This first card measures 5”x7”. As you can see, I have used some hand made roses and blossom, and borrowed the sentiment from a different paper pack.This is the inside, aren’t these little birds adorable!! The right side (white background) features a circular punch out from the collection, and a strip from the embellishment page. On the left (pink background) the sentiment was fussy cut from the collection, and the white lace piece is a die cut from, guess where? Heartfelt Creations.This is actually the first card I made from the collection, measuring 6”x6”. I used a white die cut bird cage, and a hand colored butterfly for the upper corner, and an organza lavender ribbon with two handmade purple petunias, and a bright pink flower in the center.The inside of this card has a pocket (right above the wood slats) which I tucked a little ephemera card in to. Perfect for a sweet message of friendship.
This entire card probably took a mere 90 minutes to put together, since I already had the flowers made, and in my stash for “emergencies “!
Once again, it is time to visit the ladies in the neighborhood, and see how they have been faring with the Pandemic/CoVid-19. I leave these on the doorstep with some homemade cookies or quick bread to let them know I’ve been thinking about them! (I haven’t had any complaints yet!)
These cards use the Sweet Peony paper from Heartfelt Creations, and some flowers (peonies) that I created out of vellum, and a rose out of paper, which was colored with Prisma water-color pencils.
This first card features the vellum flowers I made. It is important to select high quality vellum, ink and powder, or the powder will just flake off the paper and get everywhere!It is a simple z-fold card, which basically means this: take a piece of paper (this one is 6″ x 12″), and place it long side against the edge of your score-pal, score at 3″ and 6″. Fold along the score lines, the two 3″ wide sections create the front.This particular card has a paper rose that I made. The center scene is only glued on the left side, and has a lace border to emphasize it.The middle part is left alone, or sometimes I will put a pocket and insert a tag. Then select a pretty flower (mine are hand crafted, of course) and secure to the left lower edge of the decorative center panel. Also I shellac the flowers with “Glossy Accent” or something similar, when I make them out of paper, to give them that shine.
Another sweet fold out card that I’ve created. I love organza ribbons and lavender flowers! This is a special card, which required a bit of thinking to get it all put together, and took most of my afternoon, so the recipient will be most deserving!!
This is the front of the card, that the recipient will first see. I used the vines with the collection for the edge – it worked perfectly, and then used some open wisteria blossom with a tiny blue stamen for the center.This is the back side of the card, plenty of room to include a photo if you like.And this is the inside. The bird with the more yellow belly, is one that I water-colored (I am really having fun with that!) and the one with the all pink belly was die cut from the paper.Just a little bit more of a close up.And again, more of a close up – you can see the cute little blue birds better!The final touch was the lace bit that I added at the top. The worst part of these dimensional cards is the expense of mailing them. There will be NO envelope to fit this, other than a big manila envelope, and it would require padding for sure. These flowers would probably survive getting mashed at the post office, but most others would not. So this card will be handdelivered!
This is a very simple slim line card, measuring about 8” long, and 3-1/2” tall. The Calla Lilies are made from vellum, as are the leaves. The swans are die cut out from the Heartfelt Creations paper, and lifted up with some thick tape, to add a bit of dimension. The bows of course just add to the feminine appeal.
Inside the card
This was fairly simple in construction, but I feel like it’s clean lines are actually very pleasing.
I’m branching out, and have used Stamperia “Microcosms” paper for these beautiful cards. It is lovely to work with, sturdy, and has a good feel to it. These are all occasion cards, with no sentiment inside yet.
Wild Cherry Blossom (HFC) colored blue, Lilacs, and pink Blossom, with fern and leafy accents help frame this Dragonfly! The lacy edge is a HFC oval die, and there is a wee bit of light blue ribbon woven in between the blue flowers and their leaves.Pink and purple pansies with a grosgrain ribbon finish out this card. Shiny gold cardstock is a nice accent to showcase the center panel of flowers.Both cards together, kind of like “it’s the same, but different”! flowers in opposite corner, opposite spectrums on the color wheel, but both are 5”x7” cards with the same oval die in the center, showcasing an oval picture. I was pleased with the results, and hope you like them as well.
This is a repeat of one I made before, with improvements to my wisteria, and a more elaborate inside.
So I figured out how to make my wisteria look a bit more lush, and again, I had fun water/coloring the bluebirds. Plus, the organza ribbon bows in each corner give it a nice touch, I think! The little bit of shiny gold cardstock beneath the sentiment is a subtle eye catching element as well.I just love adding a little bit of lace to the inside, a half circle which helps set off both inside panels. I felt very clever figuring out the panel with the hearts, and I really like the way it looks. I almost had trouble giving this card away!The last panel is simple, unless you lay the lacy part on top, and then it’s rather striking!
Totally enjoy working with this paper, and also enjoy playing with my Zig Clear Color markers, as well as the beautiful lacy dies created by Heartfelt Creations! No I don’t work for them, but it almost seems like I’m doing a commercial for them, doesn’t it!
This was the first time I had used one of those precut fold out cards that has the curvy edges. They are very cute, but a little bit of work, as you have to cover both sides of each little “page”. All in all, if you do it right, you could simply use two 12 x 12” pieces of decorative paper for your base papers, but I wanted to make things difficult for myself!
This is a Hodgepodge of 3-4 different collections. For starters, I always use Heartfelt Creations dies for my flowers & lace, that’s basically all I have! But some of this paper is from Stamperia “Microcosms”, some from G45 “Flutter”, and there may even be some scraps from a Mintay collection. Mad at myself, because of flower placement (once it’s Hot-Glued down, there it stays, lol!) I couldn’t flip the front piece to prop it like a pedestal, hurumph! Live and learn I guess, I thought I had it all planned out so perfectly! Hahaha! No. I guess not. 😕
The flowers were not just hand shaped, but I water colored them as well, using my Zig Clear Color Brush Markers, and then I added some Glossy Accent to make them pop. The white blossom are actually from a Heartfelt Creations paper pack, I think called “Wild Cherry Blossom”.I LOVE this clock face!! And you can still see the gossamer ribbon here.This white lace overlay is from Heartfelt creations, so this bottom page has three collections right there, as the tag is from G45, and the paper is from Stamperia!You could put a gift card under the white trim. The trim was cut with a Martha Stewart edge punch, you might be able to find that at Michaels.I love how I am able to use bits and pieces from different paper collections and companies to create a thing of beauty!
This was a pretty card using my water colors to do the bluebird and the butterfly.
I added a little lace to the side at the last moment, and I really like it, although it does make for a rather large card.
The bird cage is made with shiny silver cardstock, and the flowers are open wisteria, or so the Heartfelt Creations people have named it! The background paper comes from the “Butterfly Dreams collection. I just thought that birds and butterflies belonged together!
Here is the inside, with another butterfly that I watercolored. Having a lot of fun with those Zig Clear Color brush markers!
So this was a bad idea, a very very very bad idea! I was actually surprised by my restraint, in that I only ate two straight away!
I actually wasn’t sure that I could modify the recipe enough to make it work, but like most recipes with cocoa powder, it just requires a little bit more oil. Theoretically this makes 6 muffins. Personally I’d prefer to say just 4, but that would up my carb intake a bit, lol!
As with all keto baked goods, these taste best, pretty quick out of the oven — 20-30 minutes or so. But you could probably suffer, and have any left over, the next day, (and just microwave them for 10-15 seconds). One thing I know for sure, if there are more than 2-3 people in the house, there won’t be any left to eat tomorrow!
Take a look at the texture!
Here is the recipe:
4 EB XL eggs 3/4 cup almond flour & 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1/2 cup Monk Fruit 3 Tablespoons Coconut Oil 1 tsp Xanthen Gum 1 tsp Baking Powder 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp real vanilla extract, about 1/2 cup sugarfree chocolate chips
Mix the dry ingredients together while the eggs come to room temperature, add in the coconut oil and eggs all at once, and blend in well – the dough will seem gummy or extra sticky, this is normal. Now add in the vanilla & mix again. Finally with a large spoon gently stir in the chocolate chips. Spoon into 12 regular cup cake wells, or 6 extra large ones (my preference, as I plan on eating 2 regular size ones anyway!). Bake 25 -30 minutes at 350.
These beauties only have 11 grams of carbohydrates for each regular size muffin, or 22 grams for the large one I’m going to eat. YUM!
My Celestial Creations 