Hearts & Flowers!

Hello!  With January rapidly coming to a close and Valentine's Day on the horizon I am sharing a few "hearts & flowers" projects I worked on this week using a variety of Stampin’ Up!® products - including the retiring Simply Zinnia dies (item 163479), which as one of the discounted Last Chance Products will continue to be available only while supplies last! I have really enjoyed using these dies and am definitely sorry they have been retired, however, the good news for anyone interested in these dies is that they have been substantially discounted to $27.00 CDN!

Just a quick run down of the basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming cardstock and Designer Series Paper - can also be used for scoring; 

• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) for scoring fold lines on cardstock;

•  Bone Folder (item 102300) for burnishing scored fold lines;

• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting and embossing;

• Paper Snips Scissors (item 103579) - these sharp little scissors are perfect for doing any necessary trimming of die cuts - i.e. dividing a foliage sprig into two pieces - and for making the cuts necessary to create a fringe strip;



• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the paper piercer, mini spatula, and tacky putty tips are definitely a great help for picking up and placing small die cuts and embellishments; and

• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).  When gluing DSP to a larger base surface, such as the 11 3/4" square cardboard backing panel and MDF hearts in my first project, I use the Stampin' Brayer (item 162936) to roll over the DSP immediately after gluing it to the base surface to ensure even coverage of the liquid glue and good even adhesion of the DSP to the base surface.

I used Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the dancing couple image on my first project; the fractured text image on the die cut heart on my Basic Black cardstock frame card; and the "from the garden of" sentiment on the balloon heart flower card.  *Good  news:  Stampin' Up! advises that the Stazon Jet Black Ink is finally now back in stock!*

To add shading to some of the cardstock die cuts I used Small Blending Brushes (package of three - item 160518) to apply Classic Stampin' inks to the cardstock die cuts, sometimes adding a little additional visual texture (slightly mottled effect) by lightly spritzing the shaded cardstock die cuts with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185) and blotting dry with paper towel - a favourite technique to use on foliage die cuts.

On with the projects!

For my first project I began with a just under 12" square black frame from Dollarama - glass removed, and two MDF heart plaques, also from Dollarama.  The large heart measures approximately 7 1/2" tall x 7 1/2" wide; the small heart approximately 5 1/2" tall x 5 1/2" wide.  Both hearts are 3/8" thick, and the small heart has two wood braces on the back.  For the project's back panel I glued a sheet of Lost Lagoon patterned paper from the Storybook Moments 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (item 164662) to an 11 3/4" square piece of medium weight cardboard.  To cover the slats on the large MDF heart I trimmed strips from a sheet of Real Red patterned paper from the Marbled Elegance 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (item 164919); and to cover the slats on the small MDF heart I trimmed strips from a sheet of Pecan Pie/Early Espresso wood grain patterned paper from the Country Woods 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163393).  I used a fine grit sandpaper to distress the edges of the trimmed DSP strips before I glued them to the MDF hearts.  After the glue had thoroughly dried I used my craft knife to trim the overhanging pieces of the DSP strips, and again used a fine grit sandpaper to distress the trimmed edges. After securing the DSP-covered back panel into the frame I glued the two hearts to the background panel and then added the matted image and the die cut flowers and foliage.

Additional supplies used to complete the project:

• watercolour paper coloured with a wash of Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029) mixed with water for the image square and the matting square - squares cut using the 1 15/16" square and 2 3/4" square dies from the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183);

• Dance With Me stamp set (item 164957) for the image - during Sale-A-Bration (on now until February 28, 2025), this photopolymer stamp set is one of the products that can be selected for FREE with a $75.00 CDN (before applicable taxes and shipping) purchase of Stampin’ Up!® products;
  

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the image square's 2 1/16" square matting panel - I scraped the edges with the blade of my craft knife;
• Poppy Parade cardstock (item 119793), Real Red cardstock (item 102482), and Cherry Cobbler cardstock (item 119685) for the three large flower petal layers cut using the Simply Zinnia dies - the Poppy Parade and Real Red cardstock petal layers shaded with Real Red ink (item 147084); the Cherry Cobbler cardstock petal layers shaded with Cherry Cobbler ink (item 147083).  I used Real Red and Cherry Cobbler cardstock for the Simply Zinnia blooms - one of each included on each of the two bloom stems - Real Red ink to shade the Real Red cardstock blooms, and Cherry Cobbler ink to shade the Cherry Cobbler cardstock blooms;
• Petal Pink cardstock (item 146985) - shaded with Real Red ink - for the zinnia flower base centers and the top (third) star circle rings;
• Calypso Coral cardstock (item 122925) - shaded with Real Red ink - for the two bottom star circle rings for each of the large flowers;
• Petal Pink cardstock for the five small flowers cut using the Country Birdhouse dies (item 163400) - petal tips very lightly shaded with Real Red ink;

• Old Olive cardstock (item 100702) and Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676) for the  two zinnia bloom stems (Simply Zinnia dies) - each shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111);
• Old Olive cardstock - shaded with Mossy Meadow ink - for the one spikey foliage die cut that was cut using the Simply Zinnia dies;
• Old Olive cardstock for the four leafy clumps cut using the Country Flowers dies (item 163410) - shaded with Mossy Meadow ink;

• Old Olive cardstock and Mossy Meadow cardstock for the four tall leafy sprigs cut using the Delicate Forest dies (item 162679) - all shaded with Mossy Meadow ink;

• Soft Seafoam cardstock (item 146988) for the trimmed leafy sprays cut using the Sophisticated Sled dies (item 164133) - shaded with Mossy Meadow ink.  I cut two complete sprays so that I had three trimmed sections (with one left over for another project!); and

• to the centers of each of the small Petal Pink cardstock flowers I added one of the small Very Vanilla dots from the retired Classic Matte Dots (item 158146).

Sometimes you just want a big flower . . .

Of course with a big flower you also need some big leaves!

For this project I began with a 5 1/2" square x 1 3/4" deep wood panel (or box) from Dollar Tree.  I trimmed panels from Early Espresso wood grain patterned paper from the Country Woods 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163393) to cover the front and sides of the panel - distressing the edges of the DSP panels with fine grit sandpaper.

I cut the petals out of watercolour paper using the large and small open balloon dies from the Hot Air Balloon dies (item 162754) - five large and five small petals.

I coloured the large petals with a wash of Berry Burst ink (item 147143) - I mixed quite a bit of water with the ink to get a lighter pink wash and I applied several wash layers.  While the watercolour paper petals were still quite damp from the water-heavy washes I crumpled the petals up with my fingers.  After the petals were dry I used one of the Small Blending Brushes to apply additional Berry Burst ink over the petals, and added additional Berry Burst ink splatters by flicking a paint brush loaded with a mixture of ink and water over the petals.  Using the largest circle die from the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) I cut a base circle from Berry Burst cardstock (item 144243) around which I arranged and glued the large petals - leaving a space in the center for the small petals.

The five small petals were coloured with washes of Blackberry Bliss ink (item 147092), with additional Blackberry Bliss ink shading added after the petals had dried, and then glued to the base circle in the opening left when the large petals had been glued to the cardstock circle.

For the flower's fringed center I cut two 8 1/2" by 3/4" wide strips of cardstock, using my Paper Snips Scissors to cut each strip at approximately 1/16" intervals along the length, cutting so as to allow a narrow border along the bottom edge.  For the center strip I used Daffodil Delight cardstock (item 119683), shading the cardstock strip with Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086) and Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), spritzing with water and blotting dry with paper towel.  I used my craft knife to scrape the top edge of the strip, then crumpled the strip up in my hands before finally making the cuts along the strip's length.  I curled the fringed strip around a toothpick, adding glue to the bottom edge of the strip as I continued to wind the strip around the toothpick.  Around the center strip I wound and glued the outer strip cut from Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686).  I had forgotten to crumple the Early Espresso cardstock strip before I made the cuts along the strip's length so after gluing the strip around the Daffodil Delight cardstock strip I used my fingers to scrunch up the fringe, doing more scrunching after I had glued the completed fringed center to the center of the layered petals.

Additional supplies used to complete the project:

• Garden Green cardstock (item 102584) for the three large five-leafed sprigs cut using the Changing Leaves dies (item 164138) - shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111);

• Garden Green cardstock and Old Olive cardstock (item 100702) for the six leafy clumps cut using the Country Flowers dies (item 163410) - all shaded with Mossy Meadow ink;
• Old Olive cardstock for the spikey foliage cut using the Simply Zinnia dies - shaded with Mossy Meadow ink; and
• Soft Seafoam cardstock (item 146988) for the two three-leafed sprigs cut using the Changing Leaves dies; the two berry sprigs cut using the Changing Leaves dies; the long curving leafy sprig cut using the Delicate Forest dies (item 162679); and the trimmed leafy sprays cut using the Sophisticated Sled dies (item 164133) - all shaded with Mossy Meadow ink.

Until there are actually flowers blooming in the garden this little project will be a nice reminder of summer blooms!

A few cards . . . 

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" x 3"  top-fold card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base;
• Real Red cardstock (item 102482) for the base heart, cut using the Hot Air Balloon dies (item 162754) - shaded with Real Red ink (item 147084) and Cherry Cobbler ink (item 147083);
• Poppy Parade cardstock (item 119793) for the heart overlay, cut using the Hot Air Balloon dies, and also shaded with Real Red and Cherry Cobbler inks;
• Old Olive cardstock (item 100702) for the flower stem, cut using the Simply Zinnia dies, and shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111);
• small strips trimmed from two patterns of the Marbled Elegance 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (item 164919); and
• two small and two large of the Calypso Coral shaded dots from the Ombre Matte Decorative Dots (item 161448).

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" x 3 1/2" top-fold card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the frame cut using the Storybook Friends dies (item 164674);

• Berry Burst striped patterned paper from the 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments-Brights (item 163775) for the trimmed panel behind frame opening, and the inside panel's 3 1/2" x 3/4" strip;

• Berry Burst cardstock (item 144243) for the two small flowers cut using the Country Birdhouse dies (item 163400), shaded with Berry Burst ink (item 147143);
• Pool Party cardstock (item 122924) for the two leafy sprigs cut using the Grove dies (item 157844), shaded with Pool Party ink (item 147107);

• watercolour paper, stamped using the fractured text stamp from the retired Gorgeously Made stamp set (item 161193 - featured in the May 2023-April 2024 Annual Catalogue), for the heart cut using the Hot Air Balloon dies (item 162754) - shaded with Basic Gray ink (item 149165);
• a trimmed piece from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach and pop up the completed frame; and
• one of the small Basic Black dots from the retired Classic Matte Dots (item 158146) added to the center of each flower.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4 1/2" x 3 7/8" top-fold card:

• Petal Pink cardstock (item 146985) for the card base; frame cut using the Storybook Friends dies (item 164674); small flower cut using the Country Birdhouse dies (item 163400); and the embossed panel trimmed to fit behind frame opening - cardstock panel embossed using the Starstruck Embossing Folder (item 164972), which is another product that can be selected for FREE during Sale-A-Bration with a $75.00 CDN (before applicable taxes and shipping) purchase of Stampin’ Up!® products;

• Soft Seafoam cardstock (item 146988) for the trimmed leafy spray cut using the Sophisticated Sled dies (item 164133);
• Real Red cardstock (item 102482) for the heart cut using the Hot Air Balloon dies (item 162754) - shaded with Real Red ink (item 147084) and Cherry Cobbler ink (item 147083);
• Very Vanilla cardstock (item 101650) for the card's front and inside 4 1/8" x 3 1/2" panels;
• Poppy Parade/Petal Pink patterned paper from Marbled Elegance 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (item 164919) for the card front's 3 7/8" x 3 1/4" panel, and the inside panel's 3 1/2" x 1" strip;
• trimmed pieces from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach and pop up both the completed frame and heart; and
• two small and one large of the Very Vanilla dots from the retired Classic Matte Dots (item 158146) added to heart, including the large dot added to the flower center.

And finally . . .

Additional supplies used to complete this 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" top-fold card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base;
• Pool Party cardstock (item 122924) for the heart and heart overlay both cut using the Hot Air Balloon dies (item 162754); and the 4 1/4" x 1 3/4" embossed strip (embossed using the Sale-A-Bration Starstruck Embossing Folder - item 164972) - all shaded with Pool Party ink (item 147107).  Appling some ink over an embossed panel is a good way of highlighting portions of the embossed design;
• Old Olive cardstock (item 100702) for the stem cut using the Simply Zinnia dies - shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111);
• watercolour paper for the tag cut using the Greetings Of The Season dies (item 164112), and the trimmed and torn sentiment strip;

• Grow With Love stamp set (item 164797) for the sentiment - this cling stamp set was part of the January release of new Online Exclusives products;

• Pool Party ink to add splatters to large tag;
• Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) to shade the torn sentiment strip;
• Linen Thread (item 104199) for tag's bow - knotted ends secured with tiny dabs of Multipurpose Liquid Glue;
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) to attach and pop up the completed tag; and
• two of the small and two of the large Summer Splash dots from the 2024-2026 In Colour Resin Dots (item 163389).

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had lots of fun working on these "hearts & flowers" projects and getting into the Valentine's Day spirit!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin’ Up!® products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business and would be very pleased to be your demonstrator! If you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com) and I will try my best to help!  The digital versions of the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue, January-April 2025 Mini Catalogue, the companion (and digital-only) January 2025 Scrapbooking Brochure, and the Sale-A-Bration Brochure are all available for you to access at your convenience on my website (https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/).  If you are shopping during the Sale-A-Bration Promotion don't forget to check out the Last Chance Products - retiring products from both the September-December 2024 Mini Catalogue and the Online Exclusives line that will be available only while supplies last - there are some great bargains to be had - including the Simply Zinnia dies!

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

Enjoying sweet dreams!