It has been a long long summer! I don’t remember ever having felt this way before, but this year has been very difficult, especially for my sweet husband, David. He lost his mother in June, and his father at the end of August. We also had a long (but wonderful!) trip overseas – and came home to find out that the pool man AND the lawn guys hadn’t come to our house for 3-1/2 weeks! The pool was greenish-brown, the lawn was a ragged little jungle, and we had jet lag! On top of all that, earlier in the summer, we had the (white privilege, I know) joy of getting our air conditioner replaced! So I did my best to prepare items for this blog before we left on our trip, but have fallen behind since coming home. . . .
The old saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder” certainly applies to crafting (and swimming!!) – but I’m back in the swing of it now. I was excited to see G45 have a Birthday challenge, as their founder celebrates a birthday this month. This card uses their Fairy Wings collection & some fomiron flowers I crafted.
I veered from my usual pink and purple themes (it is September) and aimed to match the pale orange/ coral color with my flowers – I edged the white flower with a Zig marker, as I have NO coral or apricot type color among my ink pads.
For the inside, I got lazy and used one of the cut-aparts. The sentiment is a Sue Wilson die from Creative Expressions.
Once again, I forgot to post my recent make on WP, but I did manage to put it on FB! (Twice) I must be getting old!! This is a little chocolate box using Graphic 45’s Cottage Life collection.
I used Fomiron to make the flowers and leaves, with exception of the thistle, which were found at a local craft store. I added some glitter to the precut butterfly in the ephemera pack, and the sentiment is one of their stickers.
The inside appears to be a typical card…….
Until you lift the flap, and see the chocolate, and another smaller card, with a sweet message. I’m sorry I do not know the manufacturers of all my dies used for each flower, and the honeycomb – I just got them off Amazon.
And below a short video. Thank you so much for stopping by, please let me know how you like it!
My favorite thing: same basic design, but slightly altered in this case, different size cards, different shaped shaker boxes, different paper companies, and of course different flower focus. But the general idea remains the same, and can be duplicated over and over – I guess most things are like that, come to think about it…….two girls (both human) different shaped bodies, different skin tone & hair color, but from the same neighborhood and with similar interests. God must’ve had fun with that, lol! I mean, really, look at all His creations – some are so so similar, but not quite the same, and each different in distinct an beautiful ways! But I’m rhapsodizing!
The first card is using Heartfelt Creations Cherry Blossom Retreat. The shaker box is handmade – meaning no kit, I just cut out multiple ovals, and used clear cardstock under the lattice.
This second card is using Graphic 45’s Cottage Life paper, and it does feature a shaker box, that came from a kit.
I think this card is my favorite of the two, because I just love how the flowers came out!!
Thanks so much for stopping by, and taking a peek at my creations!!
Well I am hooked on the idea of Lilies and Lace! Actually, I’m just hooked on these Scrapandme papers I’ve discovered!! This lovely card is also from the “Aquarelles” collection.
To make this card, I used the largest die from the Heartfelt Creations Teardrop Lattice Gateway dies, to make the shaped card. Then I cut the front panel with the same die, adhered it in place, cut the teardrop lattice gateway, and adhered it on top of the Scrapandme decorative paper. The inside panel was cut using the largest of the Heartfelt Creations Scalloped border gateway die for the right hand side, and for the left hand side, I cut this image first using my old Creative Memories circle cutter, and then used the largest scalloped circle die from inside Heartfelt Creations Decorative Circle Frames die set, to place behind the patterned paper – although both pieces came from the same paper pack as everything else.
On the front of the card, I took some fabric lace and glued it down, and then placed a ribbon in the center as shown – and I clamped it for quite a while before going back to decorate with the flowers, to make sure it had dried. In fact I made all my flowers after I glued the lace and ribbon down.
For the lilies, I actually used the HFC Daffodil, and narrowed the petals a smidgen, and then put in the lovely sparkly stem you see there – I did roll the wire of the stamen in some matching ink. The daffodil, again, was made from the same set. The small blossom were cut from the smallest Classic rose dies, and I just cupped the flowers, and glued in the stamens. The ferns are from a “no name” set, and I used the HFC Dahlia large leaves to tuck under the lilies.
I think even the “Thank you” sentiment came from HFC, probably the Butterfly Dreams set – its in the one with the lacy square, and small doily, as well as the Single smaller butterfly. I’m not sure this set is available anymore, but I find lots of great sentiments for die cutting from Creative Expressions on-line at various shops – Heartfelt Creations and Graphic 45 often have sentiments in their collections as well, whether stamps, or die cuts.
And that will finish your card! I do love creating these cards, but even more, I enjoy giving them to people. Mothers Day is coming up, and I have over 50, which I will be taking over on the Saturday before, so the nurses can sign and deliver them. Wouldn’t it be great it I could make 75 next year?……that’s a lot of crafting!!
Well, thanks for stopping by, and please leave me some feedback, and share my blog to others who might be interested!
It’s a rainy weekend – we’ll at least today & tomorrow – I am unashamedly enjoying the fact that I only work 4 days a week! Of course these are generally 10 hour days, but still….
So this weekend I’ve been focusing on Graphic 45’s “Bloom” paper, which I’ve had for quite a while – in fact I have an entire mini- album using this paper – (here) – but it was calling to me again!
As per usual, these are handmade flowers, using the delightful dies from Heartfelt Creations, and Momento & Ranger Ink pads. I think my favorite part of making cards, is making the flowers dimensional ones. In fact, I plan on doing a little you tube soon using the G45 flower dies that came with the long tag, just to show how easy it is.
The gold sentiments are also die cuts, and I’m sorry I don’t remember the brand names, possibly Creative Expressions.
I love to give “stuffed cards” as gifts. I like to “wow” my friends with my creations, and they know the card is a gift from the heart! This particular card is also an entry for the G45 brand ambassador application. #G45BACall2022
You will need: Two solid pieces of paper 8-1/2 x 11” Two or three 12 x 12” designer sheets to decorate the inside and outsides of your card One G45 square tag One G45 long tag Ribbon for tags Organza ribbon for card front A variety of flowers to embellish G45 Ephemera cards or cutouts to embellish your tags, also some of the stickers and/or chipboard pieces from your selected G45 paper collection A small hanger found in Hobby shops if desired Art Glitter Dries clear glue Glue gun
Select your card base paper 7-1/2” x 10”, and score in half to make a card base measuring 7-1/2” x 5”, this will open from the side. Reserve the paper you cut off, to use later. On the inside panels of the card, you may want to attach two thin magnets – do this now, before you forget! If you do use magnets, sometimes it is easiest to attach the inside decorative papers right away on top of them, so you will not have any difficulty opening up the card later.
Cut several layers of alternating solid, white and patterned paper in diminishing sizes for the front (reduce each paper mat by about 1/8-1/4” depending on which paper you might want to draw attention to). For the center focal piece, select a cut out or ephemera card. We will embellish with flowers at the end.
Open the card, and choose different designer papers for each side, 7-1/4” x 4-3/4” (sometimes it is nice to have a single paper, about 7-1/4 x 10”, cut it in half and mount them on opposite sides, but I chose different papers). Cut a piece of solid card stock which matches your card base, to 2-1/2” x 5”, cut another piece just slightly smaller, (2-1/4” x 4-3/4”) which will complement the paper for your background on the left side. Attach the decorative 2-1/4” x 4-3/4” to the solid piece, then take this, and apply glue to the two short sides, and one long side, and attach at the base of the left hand side, on top of the other decorative paper, to create a pocket. Select a cut out or sticker to additionally embellish this side of the card as well, if desired.
On the inner right hand side of your card, select a decorative strip from the cut apart page, mount on matching card stock again, and apply first the 7-1/4” x 4-3/4” paper, and then the decorative element at the top. The rest is left for a note, a photo or whatever you like.
For the back of the card, cut the back decorative paper to 7-1/4” x 4-3/4”. We will attach a gusseted pocket before attaching it to the card back.
To create the gusseted pocked, cut a piece of reserved card stock used for the base, measuring 8-1/2” x 4”. Put your decorative paper on this “pocket” piece in a perpendicular pattern, or like a “T”, and center it. Score on the solid paper, along the sides of the decorative 7-1/4” x 4-3/4” paper. Then score outside both of those score lines about 1/8-3/16” away. Remove the decorative paper, now turn the solid paper and score along the 8-1/2” long side, about 3/8” from the edge, and again 1/8-3/16” away from that first score line. Fold on all the score lines, all in the same direction. The outer”wings” of this will need trimmed. First place the decorative paper (the “right side” is facing down) onto the solid and push it right up to the outer score line – fold the little strip of paper over your card panel and glue down (the scored part, which creates the gusset will be on the “right” side of your paper. Now cut along the inner side score lines to the inner long score line of each wing and trim away a thin piece of excess paper at the base of each wing. Fold the wings to the back of the decorative paper, and use a couple of pieces of thick card stock to keep the gusset in place, as you glue the wings to the back of the decorative paper.
Whew! Almost done! Now cut some pretty paper to put on the outside of this pocket, measuring about 3-1/2” x 4-3/4” depending on how much of a border you want, and gently attach to the front of your pocket.
Take the reserved card stock from when you first cut the card base – fold and glue to make a double thick strip of paper measuring about 3/8” wide, and cut two 1-1/2” pieces to anchor the hanger in place at the top of the card. Loop these strips over he bottom of the hanger, glue them together, and anchor with a clip for a bit. Created a decorate strip to cover those hanger anchors, from your paper, and mount it on matching card stock, measuring about 1” x 4-3/4”, depending on what you choose for your decoration. Once the hanger anchors are dry, mount at the top of the card, and then glue the 1” x 4-3/4” strip on top of this.
Now to stuff! Create a couple of tags, both long and wide, and decorate! I used some card stock and ephemera cards, as well as stickers here. I also created little “books” of small cut apart in the paper pack. I also like to stick thin chocolate bars in this pocket, and sometimes, I have put in fancy Tea bags with a honey stick, and sometimes even fancy Hot Chocolate packets from Land-o-Lakes or Swiss Miss.
Lastly, we need to embellish the front of the card! I love to create my own flowers, but you can select pre-made flowers from various companies, or even use small silk flowers found at Hobby Shops. I glue down the leaves first, after fiddling around with where they need to go. Then I tuck in extra leaves as needed, small filler flowers, and finally an organza ribbon. At last I select a sentiment from the paper “cut-a-parts” page, put some puffy tape on the back for additional dimension, and attach to the right hand corner. Now step back, and admire your stuffed card!
This is a conglomeration of several things in my stash. Of course I hand shaped the Peonies this afternoon, using Heartfelt Creations dies. I also used some of the Peony leaves, but I also had some leaves from my Graphic 45 set of dies (came with that really long tag) and of course the sentiment is from Creative Expressions. The paper is seriously just some from my stash – no name brand.
The metal elements are from Tim Holtz and G45 (the little clock). I needed to include the key for a challenge from “A Place to Start” April ‘22 DT inspiration, so that inspired me to add the little wreath and clock – I love doing things in 3’s, 5’s and 7s – gives it symmetry I suppose.
I mixed in a little tulle, some thin gold strings, and stuffed a lot of stamens in the flower centers.
I had a lot of fun creating this card – probably should’ve been doing housework or something, but this was way more fun!
Design #3 for February, and then I’m done….gotta play with something other than red for a while!! The background paper is from G45 “Floral Shoppe”, the white die cut, swan and peonies & leaves from Hearfelt Creations dies (hand made by moi), and the lily of the valley are from an old generic punch. I’m sorry the gold embossing is catching the light there so much, couldn’t be helped!
Last one I swear – just kidding, I have a whole pack of G45’s Fairy Wings paper that my sweetie gave me for Christmas, and I plan on using every last sheet of it, one way or another!!
This is another combination of G45 products and Heartfelt Creations – by this time, you have already figured out the HFC flower dies are what I use almost exclusively for my flowers, and these are the Sweet Magnolias and Cherry Blossoms. The other HFC element is the light blue circle around the fairies – it is actually the “waste” from one of the Centerpiece dies – which I cut out of heavy white cardstock, AND some shiny blue paper to give dimension to it, and frame the fairies.
Just a close up of the fairies and flowers.
Aaaand the inside. G45 often will have a “collectors pack” or “deluxe pack” with their papers that includes bonus stickers which are fun little things – sometimes I pop them up on some chip board for dimension, sometimes not.
I was gifted with Graphic 45’s Fairy Wings paper, and two cute “Centerpiece” dies from Heartfelt Creations for Christmas this year – just had to have a go!
This first one actually has some paper from Fairy Dust, but he image is from the Fairy Wings. That white lacy piece is one of he dies from HFC. Flowers are by “moi” – lovingly hand shaped using HFC wild rose dies, and small clematis dies.
Here’s the inside.
This next card is 99% Heartfelt Creations, using their Peonies paper collection. I just had to add a bow, lol! Very very similar, but sometimes to post on certain FB pages, 90% of the project has to be using their products.
Here’s the inside.Isn’t she a beauty? I really like how the color turned out on this rose.
My Celestial Creations 