Dies R Us - Quick and Easy Flower Tutorial

Happy Wednesday, friends!

It's time for a new project share for Dies R Us.

I've used the  Sizzix Tim Holtz - Small Tattered Florals die for my samples.
They were in stock when I began this project,
but I see now that they're out of stock.
These ideas will work well with many other flower dies too.
I follow the same steps for the Tim Holtz Bigz Tattered Florals die.

I like to cut multiples of these, and put them together in front of the tv.

I also like to make them from white cardstock.

Since I don't have a specific project in mind, 

I'm not sure what color I will need. 

Making them all white gives me any option of color,

with inking, spraying, or painting.

For the first flower, I cut two each of the three largest flowers.

I spritz them with a little bit of water,

and then roll them up into tight little buds.

Then I set them aside to dry completely.

Once they're dry, I carefully open the flowers out.

Then I use liquid glue to adhere the petals together,

from largest to smallest, off-setting the petals.

As you can see in the photo of my finished flower,

I actually re-rolled the final die-cut layer before adhering it into the center of the flower.

This flower has lovely texture and dimension.

It's ready to be sprayed any color.

It also looks really pretty with just the tips all inked up.

For my second flower sample,

I die-cut two each of a large, a medium, and a small.

I then use my stylus and my foam pad to shape the flowers.

First, I lay it face side down on the foam,

and run the stylus over the back of each petal.

Then I turn the flower over, 

and apply pressure to the center of the flower with the stylus.

This gives each flower petal a lovely shape.

Then I adhere my flowers together with wet glue, 

from largest to smallest, off-setting the petals. 

I decided that I wanted to use just one of each size for this flower.

So the layers I cut made two complete flowers.

These still have wonderful texture but not as much bulk as the first sample.

Again, they're ready to be colored any way you want. 

This flower also offers a lovely center to add a pearl, rhinestone, or bead.

There you have it...two different quick and easy flowers.
Great to have on-hand for whenever you need a flower.

* * *

Thanks so much for stopping in today!

I'll be back soon with another fun project!

* * * * *

Dies R Us Product Used:

  Sizzix Tim Holtz - Small Tattered Florals

* * * * *

Don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R s Challenge Blog. 

 There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month 

and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.  

For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.

click below for:

STORE 
 CHALLENGE BLOG
  FACEBOOK
  INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessed With Love Mini Album - Creative Inspirations DT Project #1

Hello, my dear friends!
I'm recovering from the flu, just like so many of you have been doing! Today I was finally able to finish and photograph my latest Mini Album. This is my Design Team project for Creative Inspirations! I've entitled my album "Blessed with Love". It's my version of a Valentine Album. It's filled with tags and pockets and many spots to fill with photos of those I love, as well as quotes about love! I can't wait to fill it! I don't think I need to tell you how much fun I had...you'll see it! I have LOTS of photos for you. I did fit two pages in each photo but because I wanted you to see the front and back of all the inserts...this post is loaded. I'll have a complete list of products used at the end of the post, and just tell you a bit about what I did as we go through!
I hope you can hang in to the end! lol
Let's start with the front cover:

The base of the album is a 7gypsies Portfolio in the medium size, and red in colour. 

I left the closure as it was with the black elastic. It holds it all together beautifully!

I made all the flowers in the album except the two little white ones on the cover. 

These flowers have been sprayed with Perfect Pearl Mists. 

I finally used my first Ornate Plate. Yup...took it out of the hoard vault! :o)

Close-up of the flowers. A little tuft of tulle under them.

The cover flips up. The first page was so pretty I only added a Tim Holtz Facet to the binding.

This is my first time using Carta Bella papers and I think they're fabulous!

Not only are they gorgeous but they're so thick and textured that there was no need for chipboard!

Here's a close-up of the Facet. I added a fussy cut bird to the back of it with Glossy Accents.

This picture shows you better how the portfolio actually opens up. 

The pages were cut, inked and then bound with my Bind-It-All.

The last page is covered chipboard, and that is what is adhered to the portfolio back.

A Cinch or several rings could be used just as well.

Mini Paper Clips by Tim Holtz hold little journaling tickets to the back of most of the inserts.

This pink page is an embossed Core'dination paper. 

Instead of doing any sanding I just inked it.

These are really fun papers to work with!

On this side of the pink page is a large pocket full of tags.

Another ticket on the back of the insert, and a smaller ticket in the Memo Pin that says "the best moments."

There's lots of room for lager photos on both of these pages.

I had fun with these pages. 

The "5 Reasons You Make Me Happy" tag was turned into a vertical pocket. 

Inside is a layered tag.

On the back of the pocket is clipped another tag. I added the stamped "a love story".

I can't do a book about love without including 1 Corinthians 13:13:

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love."

More fun with dies and stamps!

Last page! A fun quote that I love...and a band full of more diecut tags! This striped paper covers the chipboard base.

There it is, my friends! So many photos but I tried not to ramble too much! ;o)

If you have any questions about anything, please ask!

With the exception of the pearls, ribbons and lace, and the silk leaves;

all of the items can be found at Creative Inspirations. 

Not only can they be found but they can be found very easily! 

When you go to the store there is a category for "Design Team Projects" in the list. 

When you click on the "Blessed With Love" tab, you will be taken to a complete listing of everything I used that is available in the store. The 7gypsies Portfolios come 2/package. They show very bright red in the store but my colours are true...it's more a burhgandy red. These make fabulous album bases and I'll be doing some more with them for sure!

Also, when you purchase $60 worth of goodies from Creative Inspirations, 

you can choose a wonderful free gift!

If enough people are interested in making an album like this Sue will put together a kit containing: 

the paper, diecut labels, some of the diecut tags, and an assortment of the embellishments I've used.

Just leave a comment below, or email me, if that would be something you would like.

Okay, so I managed to get a bit of rambling in! lol 

I had the best time making this album...I hope you enjoyed seeing it!

* * * * *

Materials Used and Available at Creative Inspirations:

Papers: Carta Bella - Beautiful Moments by Carina Gardner,

Core'dinations Core Impressions - Cosmo Cricket;

Base: 7gypsies Portfolio - Medium - Red;

Inks: Ranger Distress Inks - Walnut Stain, Victorian Velvet,

Ranger Archival Ink - Black;

Stamps: Prima Cling Mounted Stamps - Londonerry, Printery;

Mists: Perfect Pearl Mists - Biscotti, Interference Red;

Bling: Prima Say It In Crystals;

Tim Holtz Embellishments: Jump Rings, Ornate Plate, Memo Pin,

Swivel Clasp, Tiny Attacher, Mini Paper Clips, Facets, Trimmings - Lavish;

Tim Holtz Alterations Dies: Elegant Flourishes, Tattered Florals, Baroque,

Ornamental, Tattered Pinecone, Hanging Sign, Caged Bird, Tag & Book Plates,

Base Tray, Movers & Shapers - Tickets. 

* * * * *

Linking Up To:

Word Art Wednesday - Challenge #63 - Anything Goes 

A Tribute to a Dear Friend

Can you believe I've managed to sneak a third post in this week! Maybe I've started something that won't end? Actually, I've really needed my creative therapy this week and maybe that's why I've been so productive! It's been a very reflective week for me, my friends, and I'd like to share a little bit with you about why.

There was a friend on facebook that I hadn't seen a new status from for a while, so I headed to her wall to check up on her. I was shocked and heartbroken to learn that she had passed away. Now, as you know, I don't usually share bad news on my blog. I like to be positive and encouraging. So please bear with me, and I'll get to that part as I tell you about my friend! (Who I will call Jane, although that's not her real name.)

I met Jane many years ago when she visited our Church Youth Group. Jane enjoyed it very much and continued to come for many years. Jane had a difficult life with many struggles. She was born with a disease that made her different than others. People were cruel...some people were very cruel! Jane's family sent her off to a boarding school. Jane made the best of the situation. Then Jane met the Lord, and what people thought of her just didn't matter. She lived her life to glorify God! When others were cruel, Jane was always kind in return! Jane was thankful and generous for everything! I went off to college and then got married and left the province. Jane and I lost touch. A few years ago, through the wonders of facebook, we were able to reconnect. Jane had built a wonderful life for herself! She had a great career, and a fabulous community of friends. She had become the kindest and most compassionate, giving woman I have ever known! Jane was a shining example of the love of Jesus! 

My goodness...it's really taken me FOREVER to write just that paragraph! lol Just as it took several days for me to finish this page that I made in memory of my friend. I kept having to leave it and come back to it. I took the photo without Jane's picture or name and dates on it. I've got the little envelope to include my journaling, Jane was "one of a kind", and she loved music! The picture...that you can't see lol...is one that was taken outside at Bible Camp, and is just perfect for this layout! :o)

Papers: K & Co - Julianne;

Cardstock - Recollections;

MM Slice Design Card: Grandma's Attic;

Flowers: Prima Fancies;

Ink: Stampin' Up - Soft Suede;

Sizzix Dies: Envelope w/ Ornate flap,

Sheet Music Decorative Strip,

Tim Holtz Tag & Bookplates;

Bling: Piece by Piece

* * *

I will miss my dear friend. I thank God that I knew her. 

She taught me much and I will always think of her when I read the following verse:

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to share this with you. 

It was important to me and I appreciate it!

Nancy :o)

Second Post This Week? A 12 X 12 Layout!

Aren't you surprised that I'm back again already? :o)

I know I am! lol The week isn't even over yet...who knows what else will happen! 

I have finally made another 12 X 12 layout, after being inspired by several of my very talented friends! I don't think I've ever made one this loaded up before. I had an idea of what I wanted to do and when I went to start on it I discovered I had nothing on hand. So I just had to be a little more creative but that's always where the fun comes in, right?  

I do want to share that this birdhouse is very special to us! It was made by my Father-In-Law, who we lost almost three years ago. It's one of those special treasures that meaningful layouts are made of! The quotes read:

"While it's true that...

A house is built with boards and beams...

A home is built with love and dreams...

It's also true that...

Every bird loves his own nest best!"

I thought that both quotes worked well together for this page...and with something that came up recently in life! :o)

Here's my layout:

The complete layout.

Here's a closeup of the top right corner.

For the large flowers I used the Tattered Floral die and just played with layers. 

Those are the ones I made outside in the yard. 

I placed them on my new Spellbinder die. The tiny roses are from Recollections. 

The Hanging Sign frame, Elegant Flourishes, and the bird house stand were all cut from chipboard. 

Then they were embossed with the Tim Holtz Woodgrain Texture Fade and inked to look like wood.

The one paper I used had a bird on the bottom corner. 

I cut the same bird out of a second page and popped it up on dimensionals. 

Then I built a little nest around it with a few feathers and my new Memory Box die.

Then the bottom corner, below, mimics the top corner. 

Supplies:

Paper: DCWV - Ciao Bella;

Sizzix Dies: Elegant Flourishes, Tattered Florals, Hanging Sign;

Spellbinders Dies: Curved Rectangles, Moroccan Motifs;

Memory Box Dies: Breezy Wreath;

Punches: Martha Stewart - Rose Leaf, Branch;

Embossing Folder: Tim Holtz Texture Fade - Woodgrain;

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut Stain;

Mini Roses: Recollection;

Yellow Sprigs: Art Angels Designs - Link in my Sidebar;

Wired Bead Sprigs: Unknown;

Jute, Burlap, Feathers: My Stash;

Crocheted Flowers: Nickel Nook;

I'm linking this page up to Scrapbooker's Paradise Playing In Paradise Challenge #80 - HERE.

 I haven't played with them in ages but I thought it would be fun to participate. 

There's a whole new crew of ladies over there and making new friends is always fun, right?

I'm also linking up to Artfull Crafts - August Challenge - Anything Goes - HERE

Okay, that's it for today...or is it? lol I'm off to see what else I can get accomplished this week. 

If you haven't seen my first post this week, please scroll down and take a peek! 

Sunshine and smiles to all of you, my friends! :o)

Yes, I Made Him A Card Of His Own! :o)

Hello, and happy Tuesday to you all!
Today is my sweet husband's birthday! You know that I just had to make him an actual birthday card of his own and I'm sharing it with you today. I couldn't believe it when I found a Bugaboo digi image in my files that looked EXACTLY like me! ;o) So I colored that up for the front  of the card. My intent was to have the "Happy Birthday" look like graffiti but my letter stamps were too big. This was the only sentiment I had that fit. Since the bricks were embossed the image didn't stamp solid, so it kind of worked the way I wanted! lol
Here's the front of the card:

And here's the inside:

C

Isn't that cute? It's a pop-up! I should have taken a side angle photo too. I will the next time I use it. I had to take this photo before I wrote in it or I'd be adding a lot more color to the face of my image! haha The rest of the writing was really funny and so cute! I had made the card for him yesterday. So last night I asked him what I should bake him for his birthday. His answer was..."Ice cream!" lol Have a happy day, my friends! :o)

Materials Used:

Papers: Recollections Cardstock;

Dies: MM Slice Design Card - Jungle;
Tim Holtz Alterations - Styled Labels,
Sizzix - Ice Cream Sundae;
Sizzix - Card, Scallop Circle 3D (Pop-Up);
Embossing Folder: Tim Holtz Texture Fade - Bricked;
Digital Image: Bugaboo Stamps Store HERE
Colored with Prismacolor Pencils and Odorless Mineral Spirits;
Ink: Stampin' Up - Pacific Point;
My Stash: Sentiment, Bling.