2013 Heartfelt Creations Card Class- Delicate Asters

This class sold me on the whole Delicate Asters from Heartfelt creations.  These flowers didn't really WOW! on the website when they were first announced.  However, the card class at this year's CK Scrapbook Convention in Mesa, Arizona completely changed our minds.

Brandy and I took this class simply because we loved Heartfelt Creations product.  in the class pictures, the asters weren't really stunning.  I can tell you that the final product is even better than the pictures here.  The flowers are so delicate and the stamping on the flowers even adds dimension. 

 The background stamp and sentiment from the Delicate Asters collection was used.  Fantastiks were used to pick up ink from a stamp pad and brush onto the image to color in the stamped image and glitter added over the color. This card took very little time (we had the background image already stamped on the cardstock) and is basically finished.  I might add to the inside a bit of paper and some stamping when I decide where to use this card.  Until then, this goes in the done pile!

 One of the great aspects of the Heartfelt Creations products is their paper design.  The 12 x 12 papers are designed to work as 12 x 12 or to be cut down into 6 x 6 papers for use on cards.  This card is the perfect example- the background patterned paper is 1/4 of a 12 x 12 piece.  It is the perfect offset for these design details.  Glitter and ink applied with a Fantastik enhance the stamped images. 

This next card is another good example of the background paper and 1/4 of the 12 x 12 patterned paper to create the base.  I decided to wait to stamp the sentiment (which I will place in the upper right corner) until I knew what I wanted to use this card for.  The asters were stamped and then die cut and shaped before gluing together.  Some glitter on the patterned paper finishes this card to wait for it's sentiment.

Another great class from a great company whose designs are always stunning.  Brandy and I would both highly recommend this class to anyone attending a CK Scrapbook Convention this year.

Andie

2013 Heartfelt Creations Class- Heartfelt Layouts

 
Brandy and I typically do not take layout classes.  There's something in creating the exact same layout for your scrapbook as 40 never-before-met strangers.  Even though our lives don't overlap, there's something to think your pages are your own.  When we saw this lovely class, we decided to make an exception.

The layout uses the Vintage Floret paper for the background paper.  The layout is littered with Delicate Aster and Vintage Floret stamped die cuts. 

The asters were colored with a teal ink using a dauber.  I started with the dauber in the middle of the flower and "pulled" the dauber out to the edges of the aster repeating until all the petals are colored. 

The sentiments come from the Timeless Amour collection.  The LOVE sentiment was cut from the background stamp.  I think that is easy to do when you aren't paying for the stamp yourself. Still, this sentiment worked wonderfully on this layout.  The Decorative Blossom Corner die cut was then added to the layout.  Now, to identify those perfect pictures and get this layout in the book.

Andie

2013 Heartfelt Creations Class- Decorative 3-D Cards

It is that time of year again.  Brandy and I made our annual trek to the CK Scrapbook convention in Mesa, Az.  You may have read about our beginnings- Brandy and I became friends over scrapbooking.  This turned into a general love of papercrafting and this blog was born.

I thought I would try to get photos of the product of our classes posted.  We've talked before about our strategy for taking classes at the convention.  It bears mentioning, we're picky.  We feel like we've seen a lot of what's out there or can find a tutorial on the internet.  We tend to look at classes from the standpoint of value.  Heartfelt Creations provides the kind of value we're looking for- each class comes with a free $15.99 stamp set.

Our first lovely card utilizes acetate to create this beautiful window effect.  The window stamp comes with a full frame which we cut off to create the scroll worked window panes.  Simply bending the window at the frame and gluing down behind the die cut coordinating frame produces this lovely effect.  Some glue and glitter applied to the scenic stamped image behind the frame creates a little drama to draw interest.  The posy flowers were stamped and cut with the coordinating Posy dies.  You'll notice I've munched the sentiment stamp during class... proof I'm a more considered stamper and in the rushed atmosphere I blew it.  I'll have to do some kind of card repair 101 on this before using- I'm thinking patterned paper strip with a solid cardstock sentiment, maybe some ribbon.

This easel card came pre-cut.  We used glitter (usually Art Glitter's Autumn Leaves and Lichen) to embellish the pre-stamped, rose-entwined gate and the tiny little butterfly. We glued the pre-cut fence and gate to the front portion of the easel card.





Simply bending the gate once the glue dried created our 3-D effect on the card.   The paper small amount of paper on these cards is from the fabulous Timeless Amour paper collection.  The paper is beautiful enough to stand alone on the page.  The picture does not do it justice.

  The last card is relatively unfinished.  The style is more stunning in person.  The card base was pre-cut.  We simply glued the pre-cut Layered Elegant Swirl die cuts to the scalloped edged.  The flower design sold me on the Vintage Floret flower dies.  I have an ancient Sizzix Tag-a-long die cut machine.  This machine is limited to 2" widths.  However, I can make anything small work.  Most of this die set fits.
The flower was white embossed onto vellum and die cut.  We used a pink marker on the reverse side of the flower to color the edges of the flower before layering to create the focal point on this card. 

The leaves were glued to the opposite side of the card.  I see a very soft, white insert on this card.  I am going to keep the inside plain until I find the perfect use.

This card got a thumbs up from the hubby.  It's kinda rare for him to single out any one thing I create even though he is very positive and supportive. Must be an extra special design!

We had such a fun weekend at the convention.  This 3-D class started things off. Both Brandy and I just love the instruction, finished product and the gift of being to pick out a new stamp set.  We would both highly recommend any Heartfelt Creations class.

We concluded Friday night at the crop. I'm hoping to get the other class products photographed and blogged this week.  Having taken Friday off, this is going to be a busy week of catching up.  I'm going to give it a good 'ole college try.

Andie

Tattered Blossom Heaven

I told you Brandy had been at it again.  Heartfelt Creations has been on her mind for the past month.  We booked our annual convention fun mid-December by registering for classes at CK's Scrapbook Convention scheduled for April 12-13 right here in Mesa, Arizona.   Each year we have a classic debate.  Do we take classes?  Since we began our creative paper journey over a decade ago at the convention, we've taken a few (read *many*) classes.  Additionally, with all our friends online who blog and inspire us providing the techniques and guides, we find there are few techniques we actually need instruction on.  So, Brandy and I have agreed that taking classes is less a learning experience and more an inspiration experience.  As such, we've come to find that class projects that *by the picture alone*  do not inspire our creativity should not be taken.  Last year's Cool Closures (We thought we might actually learn some cool closures.  We were wrong!) and Digital Photography classes were good examples.  We picked these two because we thought we might learn something innovative and new.  We just learned there is really nothing new under the sun that can't be googled and figured out rather than paying somewhere between $20-$30 for the pleasure.

This year stands to be significantly different.  We've decided *by using their product* that Heartfelt Creations products and classes provide exactly what we're looking for in a class.  Their classes have value- for the $25 class fee you receive all project materials (usually to make 3-4 cards or a 2 page layout) and a voucher for a free $15.99 stamp at their convention booth.  That works out to $3 a card, the instructions (written so you can take them home) for the project, and a stamp set that is totally worth the price.  Bonus is the time spent enjoying a 1 1/2 hours with your best friend.  So this year we only signed up for Heartfelt Creations classes.  Our "class load" is heavy this year because of the wonderful timing of sign up- post birthday for me.  We decided to enjoy the Delicate Aster class, Decorative 3D Cards, Heartfelt Techniques, and Heartfelt Layouts.  I'm not sure whether we can take such heartfelt times, but we're going to give it the 'ole college try. 

Brandy will also tell you that she scraplifted the entire design for these two cards directly from Heartfelt Creations' Related Project Samples tab for the Tattered Blossoms stamp set.  The recipe can be found here.  I'll politely disagree and point out a few improvements/advantages to Brandy's design.  First and foremost to me, the use of the clear pink pearls softens Brandy's card making her design slightly more girly to me.  Also, by not using the die to cut out and emboss the sentiment, I think she's made the swirl stamp the cornerstone and star of this show.  Not that I don't love a 3D'ed sentiment, because I do.  Just that direct stamping the sentiment for me in this case makes the card more simple in one way and more sophisticated in another.  Also, the use of the die to cut out one of those tattered blossoms and 3D it off the page again, for me, draws the eye to the star of the show which is the swirl.  I also really love the soft.as.butter yellow paper used in the background layer.  Makes those flowers pop!

Brandy used her Copic markers to color in all stamps, otherwise she pretty much followed the recipe.  Here's the products she used:

Tattered Blossoms Swirl Stamp Set

Tattered Blossoms Stamp Set

Tattered Blossoms Die

I'm pretty sure the sentiment stamps come from the stash, though I don't know the maker.

Before I go, just a quick note to give the props to Kathy Roney (whom I don't know personally) who not only made the original creation but graciously shared it with us all to be copied.  By pointing out what I like in Brandy's card I don't want to imply I don't love Kathy's creation.  It is beautiful and not lost on me that she thought of it first, something I have not done.  As I continue in this disease though, I find that sometimes it helps me to think about why I love a particular card and contrasting two similar designs can really bring that out for my broken down, not so creative self.  It helps me understand what draws me in and ultimately is the only real way to release my not so inner critical, perfectionist. it.will.never.be.right old lady so that the I LOVE TO CREATE part of me can get out.  If you're secretly like me, try it.  It might help too.  If you are like Brandy, what are you doing here?  Go make something would ya, because you make great stuff!

Andie (for Brandy)