Be Joyful

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

These are verses I memorized years ago and they are written on my heart. There are times when I still need to remember not to be anxious, but I eventually listen to my heart saying these verses. I didn't really understand what the "peace of God" was until I experienced it. It's having peace inside you, even when you're going through heartbreaking situations and trials. It does "surpass ALL understanding" and you know it comes from GOD alone. Praise the Lord for His wonderful promises!


I love, love, love what I do. I am passionate about the things I create and the talents God has placed in me. I SO appreciate the time you take to look at my things and the comments you all leave me!

Blessings to you!

Kathy

Friday, July 24, 2015

Sparkling Poinsettia Step by Step Coloring and Shaping Tutorial


Happy Friday!

I'm so excited today to have a tutorial I've written featured on the  Heartfelt Creations Blog.

This is the project I created for the tutorial.




I've been using this coloring technique for a while now and love the soft look it gives and how easy it is to do!

For my tutorial I'm using the Sparkling Poinsettia, but you can use almost any flower for this technique. Here's a little close-up of the beautiful poinsettia flower.




Now, for the tutorial!

Sparkling Poinsettia Step by Step Coloring and Shaping Tutorial




Step 1) Stamp flowers and leaves on Natural White Cardstock with VersaMark Ink and heat emboss with Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel. Apply heat from underneath so that the little gold specks don’t blow away.

Note: Click on the photos to see a closer view.



Step 2) Using make-up applicators and chalk inks, color the flowers. Start with a light application of color from the center of the flower petal and fading to the outside of the petal. Depending on how “juicy” my ink pad is, I usually dab off a lot of the color on paper towel first so I can get a light application. You can always add more color, but you can't take it away. I'll then go back and add a little more color to create more of a shadow. You can see here how one petal is a little darker than the others.



Step 3) For the leaves, I apply the color down the center and fade to the outside. For the berry clusters, I apply a little bit of both colors.



Step 4) Die cut the flowers and leaves with the matching dies.



Step 5) Clip between the flower petals with scissors.



Step 6) Spritz lightly on backs of flowers, leaves and center clusters with water before shaping. (Note: do this process of spritzing and shaping one piece at a time.)



Step 7) Shape flower petals with curler tool by pressing the tool down the center of each petal on the embossing mat.



Step 8) Shape leaves down the center using your fingernail. (Or a stylus tool if you don’t have any!)



Step 9) Shape flower center cluster by cupping each on the back with a stylus tool, then turn over and press stylus tool in the center so the cluster pops up.



Step 10) This is how your flowers, leaves and clusters should look when done.



Step 11) Using Art Institute Glue Dries Clear, glue flower together offsetting petals. Glue leaves to back of flower.



Step 12) Cut Natural White cardstock 4 1/2” x 6”. Stamp sentiment on lower right using VersaMark Ink and heat embossing with Brown Sugar Embossing Powder.




Step 13) Die cut Decorative Lace Border with Natural White and glue to mat. It’s best to used the Metal Glue Tip with the glue although it’s not in the picture here.




Step 14) Add Jute Ribbon over die cut using Scor-Tape. Make a multi-loop bow with fibers using a bow making tool and add to mat using Aleenes Tacky Glue. Add mat to a 4 3/4” x 6 1/4” blue card base using Scotch Mounting tape.

(You can find a basic tutorial here on using the Bow-Easy Tool like did here if you need it. My bow was made wrapping it 9 times...I usually always make it an odd number. The thinner the ribbon/fiber is, the more times I will wrap it.)



Step 15) Add flower to card using Aleene's Tacky Glue.



Step 16) To decorate the inside of the card, cut a 4 1/2” x 6” mat with Natural White. Stamp the sentiment with VersaMark and heat emboss with Brown Sugar Embossing Powder. Using the Sparkling Poinsettia Swirl Set, stamp the poinsettia swirl on the top left with VersaMark Ink and heat emboss from underneath with Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel. Color image with chalk inks using same method as you did with the flowers, leaves and clusters. Add mat to inside of card.

I'm submitting this to the Word Art Wednesday Challenge #193 - Anything Goes/Family Friendly

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial! I love coloring with pencils, but it's a lot of work sometimes. This technique to so easy to do and I love how it comes out! Hope you like it too!

Blessings!

Kathy


Heartfelt Creation Products:

HCPC 3679 - Large Sparkling Poinsettia Cling
HCPC 3680 - Sparkling Poinsettia Cling
HCPC 3681 - Sparkling Poinsettia Candle Cling
HCPC 3682 - Sparkling Poinsettia Swirl Cling
HCD1 765 - Large Sparkling Poinsettia Die
HCD1 766 - Sparkling Poinsettia Die
HCD 713 - Decorative Lace Border Die
368770 - Scor-Pal
Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit
159723 - Art Institute Glue - Dries Clear

Other Products: Neenah Natural White cardstock, Coredinations Waterspout cardstock, VersaMark Watermark Pad, VersaMagic Aegean Blue and Tea Leaves, Spanish Olive Inks, Bow-Easy Tool, Ivory Jute 1.5” ribbon, ivory cotton fibers, Brown Sugar Zing Embossing Powder, Stampendous Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel, heat gun tool, scor-tape, Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue, Scotch Mounting Tape, make-up applicators, Embossing Buddy, water spritzer.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Poinsettia Christmas Dinner Place Card


Happy Wednesday!

Today I have a quick little project to make for your Christmas dinner this year, a place card for your guests.



To make the place card I used Spellbinders Decorative Labels 8 largest die to cut Natural White cardstock. Then I scored it down the center.



Fold in half on crease to create place card.



Then just decorate with flowers and write your guest names on each card. Here's a close up of the pretty poinsettia flower.



Be sure to visit the HC Blog to see all the beautiful creations by the designers this week!

I'm submitting this to the following challenge:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #192 - Anything Goes/Family Friendly

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit!

Blessings!

Kathy


Poinsettia Christmas Dinner Place Card

Heartfelt Creations Products and Products Carried by HC:

HCPC 3680 - Sparkling Poinsettia Cling
HCPC 3679 - Large Sparkling Poinsettia Cling
HCD1 765 - Large Sparkling Poinsettia Die
HCD1 766 - Sparkling Poinsettia Die
368770 - Scor-Pal
Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit
159723 - Art Institute Glue - Dries Clear
Other Products:

Paper: Neenah Natural White
Ink: VersaMark Watermark, Red Magic, Tea Leaves (VersaMagic)
Accessories: Spellbinders Decorative Labels 8, Zig Calligraphy Pen, make-up applicators, Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel (Stampendous), embossing buddy, heat gun.

Instructions: Place card measures 4" x 3". Die cut Natural White cardstock with Decorative Labels 8 largest die. Score down center and fold crease to make place card. (You could also use most any rectangular die for this or just cut cardstock into a 4" x 5 1/2" rectangle, score at 2 3/4" and fold in half.)

Stamp flowers and leaves on Natural White with VersaMark and heat emboss with Aged Ivory Embossing Enamel applying heat from underneath. Color 3 smallest flowers, 1 small and 1 large berry cluster and 3 leaves using chalk inks and make-up applicators. Cut all with matching dies. Shape with Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit. Glue flowers together offsetting petals. Glue berry clusters to flower center. Glue flower to place card on top left corner. Add leaves, trimming as needed, under flower. Use a calligraphy pen to add names of your guests to the place card.

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Blue Sparkling Poinsettia

Happy Wednesday!

It's time for the release of the new Sparkling Poinsettia Collection from Heartfelt Creations!

Rediscover the majesty, serenity and pageantry of Christmas with Heartfelt Creations' Sparkling Poinsettia Collection. This glorious ensemble of stamps, dies and papers captures the stately splendor of Christmas with a regal color palette of burgundy, evergreen, taupe and cream. Radiant poinsettias take center stage amidst a host of traditional Nativity scenes, twinkling candles, drifting snowflakes, lacy flourishes, exuberant banners and Heartfelt greetings that are worthy of the King of Kings. Six detailed stamp sets echo the glorious images found in the paper collection and two coordinating die sets can be used to create sparkling poinsettias that will never wilt or fade. Chronicle sweet memories of the season, share holiday joy with family and friends, hail the holy babe born in the manger and deck the halls with Sparkling Poinsettia!

Here is my first card with this Christmas collection.





I used silver embossing powder on white cardstock for the background image and the additional flowers and leaves. Coloring was done with chalk inks and make-up applicators for a soft look. Here's a close-up of the flower for you.




Be sure to visit the HC Blog and see all the beautiful Christmas projects by the designers this week. Also, check out a new video by Emma Lou here showing you how to create a stunning poinsettia using vellum!

I'm submitting this to the following challenge:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #191 - Anything Goes/Family Friendly

Thanks for stopping by to visit!

Blessings!

Kathy


Blue Sparkling Poinsettia

Heartfelt Creations Products and Products Carried by HC:

HCPC 3680 - Sparkling Poinsettia Cling
HCPC 3684 - Sparkling Poinsettia Notes Cling
HCPC 3551 - Holly Berry Cling
HCPC 3561 - Christmas Sentiment Circles Cling
HCD 766 - Sparkling Poinsettia Die
HCD 738 - Ornamental Add-On Die
368770 - Scor-Pal
Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit
159723 - Art Institute Glue - Dries Clear
Other Products:

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), White (Recollections), Weathered Wood Distressed (Coredinations); Ink: VersaMark Watermark, Tea Leaves, Aegean Blue (VersaMagic)
Accessories: Bow-Easy Tool, silver sheer ribbon, Blender Pen (Stampin Up), make-up applicators, Spellbinders Standard Circles Small Dies, Metallic Silver Opaque Embossing Powder (Recollections), white half pearl, distressing tool, heat gun, water spritzer, glue dots, Scotch Mounting Tape, Aleenes Fast Grab Tacky Glue.

Instructions: Card measures 4 1/2" x 5 3/8". Make 4 1/2" x 5 3/8" top-fold card base with white card stock. Cut mat measuring 4 3/8" x 5 1/4" with Weathered Wood card stock. Stamp Sparkling Poinsettia Notes image on Solar White with VersaMark and heat emboss with Metallic Silver Embossing Powder. Trim image down to 4 3/16" x 5 1/16", distress edges with tool, ink edges with VersaMark and heat emboss with Metallic Silver. Color flowers, berries and leaves with inks using make-up applicators and Blender Pen, then glue to blue mat. Wrap ribbon around mat as pictured, secure in back and add to card base with Mounting Tape.

Stamp Sparkling Poinsettia flowers, Christmas Sentiment Circles "Season Greetings" sentiment and Holly Berry 3-leaf and small leaf/berry images on Solar White with VersaMark Ink and heat emboss with Metallic Silver Embossing Powder. Color 3 smallest flowers, 1 small berry cluster and leaves/berries in the same manner as the background image. Die cut all with matching dies. Shape flowers and leaves by spritzing lightly on back with water and then pressing down top center of each petal using the curler tool from the Deluxe Flower Shaping Kit. Shape berry cluster by spritzing lightly on back with water, cupping berries on back with balling tool, turning over and pressing down center to small balling tool. Set all aside to dry.

Die cut sentiment using Standard Circles Small Die, ink edges with VersaMark Ink and heat emboss with Metallic Silver Embossing Powder. Add sentiment to top right on card using Mounting Tape. Glue flower together off-setting petals as pictured, add berry cluster to center, then add to card. Glue leaves and berries around flower clipping into pieces to fit. Make 5-loop bow with Bow-Easy Tool and add to card using Aleenes Fast Grab Glue. Add half pearl to bow center using glue dots.