Happy Mother's Day Cards Featuring Heartfelt Creations Arianna Blooms

I decided to begin making some Mother's Day cards and went to the stash to see what supplies I could find there.  In the end, I found these muted gold frames in the stash. I figured I should put them to good use. I also found these flowers, previously stamped and die cut using my Heartfelt Creations Arianna Blooms stamps and dies.  

 Two different orientations and two different cards.  I like them both and enjoyed using the supplies from the stash.

Wall Hangings More Than a Year in the Making

In 2015, I spied a Pinterest idea and made some pastel paper flowers with  a thought to make some wall hangings for my office at work.  I shared the flowers that I made in this post.  I changed jobs since then and my new job moved our offices (1 mile closer to home!) recently.  I decided that getting this project done needed to be a priority.  So, I'm sharing the flowers with you today.

I die cut plain white cardstock with my Arianna Blooms die and then water colored the flowers with Worn Lipstick, Faded Lilac and Peacock Feathers Distress ink.  After shaping the flowers, I used a lollypop stick that I stuck through a hole cut in the center of the flower.  Using floral tape, I wrapped the bottom of the flower down the lollypop stick to create the stem.  I poured a fair bit of Crystal Accents in the center over the step and covered with the Heart of Gold prills.

The wood plaques were purchased on sale from Michaels and I stained them with some mahogany stain I had on hand to match the furniture in my office.  Here's what it looks like alongside a picture of the spot where my husband asked me to marry him almost 26 years ago...

This project was a long time finishing, but well worth the effort.  Maybe I can be an encouragement to get those projects completed.  I'm certainly glad that I get to look at these every day.  They make me smile and brighten my office.

I'm linking this project up with Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday challenge, Fantastic Florals and Word Art Wednesday's Weeks #270/271 - Anything Goes and since I took this "old" flowers and finally made them new, I'm going to link up to the City Crafter Challenge Blog's Old Stuff, New Look challenge.

A Shaker Card

I used this post as inspiration for today's card.  I had need of an encouraging card for a lady at work and thought that this vellum shaker card would be perfect.  The flowers were stamped with black Archival Ink and die cut with my Arianna Blooms stamp and die set.  The flowers were shipped and put together with Glue Dots.  I used the same technique for creating the vellum shaker element found in this video.  I used my WPLUS9 Hand Lettered Hello stamp set and Lilac Hybrid ink to stamp the hello onto white cardstock and fussy cut the sentiment out.  The same stamp set was used with white embossing powder onto black cardstock to create the sentiment flag.

On the inside, I adhered the inner rectangle cut from the white frame used to create the shaker element.  Since I wanted to write a sweet note to my coworker,  I left this space deliberately blank.

I am very pleased with how this card turned out.  It is a great technique and ultimately a stunning effect.

I hope your July is going well.  It's nearly half over and my daughter is beginning her senior year in high school in a little over a week.  To quote Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast.  If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

I plan to spend now until June next year when she graduates stopping once in a while to look around.  I don't want to miss a thing.

Come join the fun!

Arianna Blooms for the Bathroom Decorations

I was futzing around this weekend, attempting to decorate my extra bath.  I had purchased a wall hanging and the space just seemed to call out for something extra.  I decided to make up these flowers to decorate.  I used black Archival Ink and white pigment ink to stamp using my Heartfelt Creations Arianna Blooms stamp and then cut out using the coordinating die.  I used a deep purple and a light lilac cardstock base for each.  Some of the centers are a ball of Art Institue black glitter which is ever so sparkly and some are black die cut centers from the coordinating die set.

I then cut these swirls out of black, sticky backed vinyl with my Cricut.  I used a bit of transfer paper to position them onto the painted wall.  We then hung them on the wall and the plaque with some re-positionable glue dots.  As usual, I made a bunch extra that I didn't use.  Now the question is whether I save them assuming that the humidity natural to the bathroom will make them age prenaturally or do I use up those extras knowing I can always make more if the need arises.  It is such a tough decision!  Guess I'll keep them for a short time, judge the replacement timing and then use those extras up.

What home projects have you been working on lately?  Any way to incorporate your crafting into the decorations?

Just Thinking of You

Stopping by with a very girly card, different from all the watercoloring I've been doing.  I wanted a quick notecard and decided to go to my stash for some pre-cut pieces.  The leaves had already been cut for other projects long ago.  So, too, were the Arianna Blooms flowers, stamped with white pigment ink onto vellum and die cut using the coordinating die.  I colored the flowers with Scattered Straw and Worn Lipstick Distress markers (on the backside of the vellum) and shaped them gluing TuTu Pink prills to the center of the flowers after placing on the card front.  The sentiment and frame were made using my WPlus9 Vintage Greetings stamp set.  I fussycut the frame as I didn't have an exact die to coordinate.  A few pearl swirls and individual accents on a patterned paper background punched using my corner punch and this little notecard was done.

So soft and very different from my recent endeavors.  It make me happy to look at this card.  I hope it made my recipient happy too.

I'm going to enter this card in the Simon Says Stamp'sMonday Challenge Create Something Beginning with the Letter "N" as this is a notecard.  I'm also entering it in Word Art Wednesday's Challenge #208 Anything Goes.  Come j oi n the fun.

A Thoughtful Gift for My Dear Coworkers

I thought it would be fun to give a little treat to a few of the ladies at my work.  A small group of ladies agreed to be  take a name and be a secret pal to encourage and strengthen one another.  I can't tell you how very timely the small kindnesses have been, making my day bright.

I purchased kraft treat bags from Hobby Lobby and printed a description of the sweet treat using my computer and printer.  I simply ran them through with the folded edge first and used the flip function in Word so that the printing was readable when done.

The last step was to search the stash for some beautiful decorations. In this case I found some acetate butterflies and and vellum flowers stamped with my Heartfelt Creations Arianna Blooms stamp and die cut.  I colored the clear vellum with my Faded Jeans Distress Marker and shaped them before gluing onto the package.  Super fun and I think it did brighten my day and probably my coworkers' day as well.

Floral Gift Bag Beauty

I found a picture of the gift bag that I gave my mom on Mother's day.  Pink is one of her favorite colors and so I thought to try my hand at decorating a plain white gift bag.  Here's the details:

• The floral swirls were die cut from multiple Spellbinders and Sizzix dies out of green cardstock.  I overlayed them to create the image you see.
• The butterfly has a layer of white embossed and then die cut image and a patterned paper image just die cut using my Heartfelt Creations Butterfly Medley stamp and die.

• The flowers were die cut from white cardstock using my Heartfelt Creations Arianna Blooms die.  I used Worn Lipstick Distress Ink to watercolor the flower petals and used Scattered Straw Distress Ink to color the centers of the flowers.  When the paper was still wet from the watercoloring, I spritzed them a bit more and accordion folded each petal.  After the accordion fold, I pinched the petal to get a good crease and then stretched them out a bit before leaving them to dry.  You can see a video here (about 8:45 into the video) on this technique.
• The centers of the flowers were completed with some I'm Amaized prills.  They provide such depth to the finished flowers.

A few pieces of pink tissue and a card and this present was fit for a mom on Mother's Day.  Look for interesting ways to use your papercrafting in your gift giving to send an "I love you" message too!

Heartfelt Creations Card Classes - A Review

Brandy and I attended the CK Scrapbook Convention in Phoenix last month.  The convention happened to be the day before my FIL's funeral service.  A somber time, but my husband encouraged me to go and enjoy the day with Brandy and so we made the best of the situation.  I was so heartened by our friendship and the bond of love that we have that I think it was the right thing to do.

These cards were made in the two different Heartfelt Creations Classes- Angel Kissed Vellum and Arianna Blooms cards.  We would have to say that the value for the money (the cost of the class has gone up) is still very positive.  You receive all the materials for three different cards in the class plus a coupon for a free stamp set (a $19.99 value).  We were very pleased and finished these cards to this level by the end of each class.  'Course we are veterans of the Heartfelt classes.  Enjoy.

The inking was done with a chalk ink on the backside of the vellum.  Beautiful result.  These pictures do not do the card justice.

If you get a chance, we both would highly recommend the classes.  We've not been disappointed and I think we've now been in around 10 or so classes.

My Misti- A Grateful Card Set

March was a rough month in the Miller household.  As previously mentioned, we lost my FIL at the beginning of the month.  Grief is a weird process.  I felt guilty for feeling blue because my husband and his family lost so much more than I did.    Rather than staying guilty, I decided I needed to keep my hands busy.  I decided to share my new toy with you- the MISTI- that I used to make these cards.  

This is my MISTI.  You can get your own here.  I'm going to front load this post- this is hands down one of the best stamping tools I own and I've only had it a month.  Let me share the genuis of the MISTI with you.  First, there is a video describing it's use here.  I created 36 of the cards you see above with my tool over the course of one evening.  The intention was to give sets of cards to my in-laws (Dan has six siblings).  It was also a way to put my hands to work.

The hinge allows the stamp to lay flat when stamping.    The flap on the left is clear so that you can place the stamp in the location on the card with accuracy.  The magnet in the upper right corner usually holds the paper down during stamping.  In less than 5 minutes I had 36 card faces stamped with the branch in the exact same location on each card.

Next, you just place the layering stamp in the location that you desire it and close the left hinge.  The stamp adheres to the acrylic "door" in exactly the right location.  Ink up your stamp and voila, layered stamped image!  The stamp set is Papertrey Ink's Out on a Limb stamp set.

I kid you not- I had all of the card fronts stamped in about 15 minutes.  I ran them through my Grand Calibur with a border die and used a Wink of Stella pen to add glitter to the leaves over the next 45 minutes.  I die cut the sentiment from white cardstock using my Penny Black word dies.  All told I spent about 2 hours on the card sets- including die cutting the sentiment and gluing the pieces down.

I am so grateful for Dan's large family and I think they genuinely were touched by my gift.  One set of 5 cards was given to each of the siblings wrapped in a kraft paper band and decorated with a small vellum flower colored with Peacook Feathers Distress Ink.

If you aren't convinced the the MISTI is the Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented, I say give me a call and stop by.  One time using this tool and I'm sure you'll be convinced.  Crisp edges, easy to use and a dream finished result.  Yes, I am truly Gratefully, Thankfully Blessed!

I'm going to link this card up with Word Art Wednesday's Challenge #178: Anything Goes.  Come join the fun!

Sneak Peek

I have an idea... not a fully formed idea.  Just an idea inspired by some flowers I made.  I die cut plain white cardstock with my Arianna Blooms die and then water colored the flowers with Worn Lipstick, Faded Lilac and Peacock Feathers Distress ink.  The centers of the flowers are Heart of Gold prills.  After shaping the flowers, I used a lollypop stick that I stuck through a hole cut in the center of the flower.  Using floral tape, I wrapped the bottom of the flower down the lollypop stick to create the stem.  I poured a fair bit of Crystal Accents in the center over the step and covered with the prills.

If I actually finish the project, I'll share with you all the results.  Wish me well.

Saying Goodbye Again

We've had a rash of retirements at my workplace.  This isn't because the place is so hard to work at- although we are growing greatly.  It is largely because there is a group of individuals who have been employed for decades and they now see that they can have a life outside of the workplace.  Once I made the first few cards, I was cornered as the card maker.  Darn!  (healthy sarcasm, if you can't hear it)

Here's the details on this lovely:

• The flowers were made using my Heartfelt Creations Arianna Blooms die on white cardstock.  I colored the flowers with Worn Lipstick and Scattered Straw Distress Ink and then spritzed with water to create this cool look.  The centers are Heart of Gold prills.  
• The leaves were cut using my Heartfelt Creations Classic Leaf die and colored with Peeled Paint Distress Ink spritzed with water as well.  
• The lace was cut out of white cardstock which I had colored with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink (also spritzed with water to blend the color) using my Our Daily Bread Designs Beautiful Borders die.  
• I printed the sentiment out on the computer and cut with my Timeless Rectangles die.  While the cut was still in the die, I used a dauber to color the edges of the frame with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink.
• A corner punch and some foam squares finish out the card front nicely.

Inside I couldn't resist the opportunity to place one final flower.  They are too precious.

I will hope that Flory enjoys her well-deserved retirement.  We'll miss her cheerful willingness, but know this is the next, best thing for her.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge: Pastels

Word Art Wednesday's Challenge #177: Family Friendly Challenge

Shabby Tea Room's Week #248: Beautiful Blooms

Come join the fun or just stop by to view some pretty inspiring projects!