Comforting Cards Featuring Heartfelt Creations Flowering Dogwood Stamps and Dies

I was inspired by Yana Smakula's video using Colorado Craft Company's stamps and decided to pull out my Heartfelt Creations Flowering Dogwood stamps and dies to see if I could recreate her look.  These two cards are the result of that effort and I really couldn't be more pleased.  I stamped the images onto Bristol cardstock and used my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers to color the die cut images.  So pretty!

 It is always difficult when you need a sympathy card.  One of these went out right away and the second card is in the stash for the day when sending some care and encouragement is needed.

Birthday Wishes

So, Brandy's birthday is in March.  I'm such a bad friend - or we're so busy with trips out of town for work, etc. - that we just recently got together to celebrate her birthday.  I had saved this card and the post showing the card off because Brandy checks in on my projects and I didn't want her to see this ahead of time.

Here's the details on the card:

• The frames were die cut using my Our Daily Bread Designs Vintage Borders dies.  I used coordinating patterned paper so that all the papers go together.
• The flowers were mad from white cardstock stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and edged with pink ink only at the tips.  I wet the cardstock before shaping and used the stylus to get this cool shape - love it!
• The leaves were stamped with Chartreuse Papertrey Ink onto white cardstock and then I sponged more green onto the leaves after.  They were shaped with dry paper.  
• Various white and pink cardstock die cuts fill in the background - most from my Our Daily Bread Designs Leaves and Branches dies.
• Patterned paper butterfly die cut using my Prickly Pear Mini Butterflies die.  

On the inside - a simple sentiment and a pretty little butterfly cut from coordinating patterned paper.  I'm over the moon how this turned out for my bestie.  Along with a small token of my esteem and though we were late to celebrate, I'm hoping she knows how very special she is.

We're right in the middle of celebrating and anticipating the graduation ceremony Wednesday this week.  My crafting time is now focused on packing for our vacation.  I intend to take some leisure watercolor projects with me on the trip - something to keep my hands busy in the early morning when I'm awake before anyone else.  I've a few photos of cards made that need to post, so I'm going to fill blank spaces this week with trying to post those and prepare to leave.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

SSS Little Critters because my card contains butterflies

Word Art Wednesday's Challenge 284/285: Anything Goes

and the new to me Creative Stamp Challenge Challenge 14: Flowers

Living Happily Ever After

My grandparents celebrated 71 years of wedded bliss last month.  We ended up going out for dinner to celebrate and I was rushing to finish a card to let them know I was thinking of them.  I snapped this picture in the car on the way to the restaurant.

Sorry that it is a bit blurry, but I really like how my Heartfelt Creations Flowering Dogwood stamp and die cut flowers turned out.  They are so adorable in person and a perfect focal point for this simple designed card - something to celebrate such a long marriage.  I'm looking forward to taking my time with these flowers on a project in the near future and ultimately taking a better photo of the card so you can see how lovely these flowers turn out.

I've always loved dogwood flowers.  My mom hung a picture in the bathroom that I grew up in that had this poem:

In Jesus' time, the dogwood grew 

To a stately size and a lovely hue. 'Twas strong and firm, its branches interwoven. For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen. Seeing the distress at this use of their wood Christ made a promise which still holds good: "Never again shall the dogwood grow Large enough to be used so. Slender and twisted, it shall be With blossoms like the cross for all to see. As blood stains the petals marked in brown, The blossom's center wears a thorny crown. All who see it will remember Me Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree. Cherished and protected, this tree shall be A reminder to all of My agony."

The author of the poem is unknown and the truth of its words are murky at best.  Still, I enjoyed the poem and the pretty picture with it.  These dogwood blooms are a reminder to me of this simple poem and the fact that I can recite the poem to this day.