Dogwood Blossoms.....

How's that for making your heart sing?  Nothing says Spring like the Dogwood trees in blossom around here.  I have several in my yard and when they are in bloom I just want to sit out there and stare at them!  To me they signal the coming of Easter and warmer temps in the Lakeway area!  The centers of the flowers are covered with colored Flower Soft; I just swipe my ink pad of Ranger Distress Inks onto a surface and then drop the Flower Soft into it and rub it around until it takes on the color. Let it dry and apply glue to the center piece and then dip into the Flower Soft.  Easy Peasy! Susan Tierney Cockburn has aced these flowers.  The Susan's Garden dies are just amazing and her tool kit is like no other.  So it just makes sense that I use her tools to make flowers.  Problem is she is creating these dies faster than I can purchase them.  I promised myself everything in moderation this year! I promised myself I would use what I have...but that doesn't mean dies doe it?  Help me out here...I really didn't mean dies....did I?

OK that's it for me this morning.  Hope you have a great day. Remember it is Friday and you need to get ready cause tomorrow is the weekend!

Supplies:
Susan's Garden Dogwood Die
PanPastels
Spellbinders Fancy Lattice Die
Flower Soft
Ranger Distress Ink
Burgundy ProMarker (For ends of flower petals)
Design Paper
Purple Ribbon
Sentiment is a Flourishes stamp...Sorry I cannot remember the name of the set.

What's On Your Workdesk Wdnesday #243

Good morning everyone from a cold and snowy East Tennessee.  It snowed all day yesterday and I have to admit it was beautiful to see.  I love snow and this one is beautiful but the very cold temps coming along with the snow are difficult to deal with!  It is 5 degrees at my house this morning and that can be tough.  Some areas in the states below Tennessee are not equipped for this kind of weather and it can be very hard for them, so keep them in your prayers as they struggle through this cold.

I'm here this morning to share what my desk looks like as we speak!  I'm working on a card and making dogwood flowers to go on it and I will share it with you a little later in the week.  If you would like to join us on Wednesdays just head over to Julia's blog .  She has all the details listed so you can learn how to participate.  It's really easy and I get to visit so many desks all over the world and I love getting to see what everyone is doing.  There are all kinds of crafts and crafters and we are all passionate about what we do.  So come join us please!

I have out quite a bit of "stuff" on my desk and I am just now adding the elements to the card front.  I also need to choose a sentiment and get that ready for the front as well.  You can see the Flower Soft I colored with distress inks to achieve the color I wanted for the center of the dogwood petals.  I have some yellow and ivory Flower Soft that takes the color well and makes gorgeous centers.  Give it a try sometime.  Also the green and tan tool you see on the left is a tool used to draw veins in leaves and petals to give them a more lifelike appearance..(Susan's Gardens).

Well fellow snoopers there you have it.  I am off to visit as many of you as I can today as I sit looking out my window at the beautiful gift Mother Nature gave us yesterday.  I'm not sure how many inches arrived here but we weren't expecting anything so this is a beautiful surprise
.

Heartfelt Creations January Alumni Design Team Blog Hop

Good morning everyone and welcome to the January Heartfelt Creations Alumni Design Team Blog Hop!  As always I am so excited to be a part of this team and look forward to this time each month.  It is always so nice to get to spend a little time with you and to show you some of the things we have been working on.  I love working with Heartfelt Creations products and find almost every card I make has something from HC on it whether it is a die cut, a stamp or some of their gorgeous papers!

Be sure and leave a comment on as many of the blogs as you can because you never know which blog will be used to pick the winner of a $25 gift certificate for product on the Heartfelt Creations site.    So follow along and leave your comments and good luck to you all!

I love this sentiment; sorry for the uneven stamping; seems to be a trademark of mine!  My papers used are peach and green and I think the peach paper makes lovely flowers.  I will follow with a list of supplies used.  You should have come here by way of Mary Faus and your next step is to visit Alissa Wells.   Now remember leave a comment all along the way!

Supplies:
HCDP1-232 Balmy Breeze Paper Collection
HCD 722 Tattered Blossom Die
HCPC 3363 Inspire Me Sentiments Precut Set
HCPC 3468 Tattered Blossoms Precut Set
HCPC 3545 Open Leaf PreCut Set
HCPC 3546 Classic Leaf PreCut Set
Gold Gala Glitz
Sizzix Frame Ornate #2 Embossing Folder,Memento Ink,Shimmer spray, glue, Scor Tape,Tim Holtz distress tool, white watercolor paper

Giovana Smith
Cibelel Glazer
Amarilys Doria
Candy Slabaugh
Loretta Lock
Deneen Treble
Vicki Dutcher
Emila van den Heuvel
Lee Ann Barrett
Mary Faus
Glenda Brooks - You are here!
Alissa Wells
Linda Loew
Linda Payne
Caroline Duncan
Lisa Allen

Top Hat Birthday Card.......

Good morning everyone!  Hope you are all warm and toasty where you are.  So much of the country is experiencing bitter cold temps and snow on the ground and they are struggling to heat their homes.  The power company in our area ...TVA...asked that everyone conserve energy as last night was to be a terrible drain on the power system.  We are sitting at 5 degrees this morning with a wind chill so it's really terrible outside.  Check on the elderly (oh right...that's me...I'm fine!) and the animals.

This morning I am here to share a birthday card I have been working on.  You will notice there is not a flower in sight!  This is for a man; something I don't do very often and I usually try and configure some kind of flower to work with the card anyway.  Not today; so brace yourself!

I used Graphic 45 Le Romantique paper collection to make this card.  I have this pad and one more and that is all the Graphic 45 that I own. (Sad isn't it?)  The only craft store in my area doesn't ever have have any on it's shelves so I don't have easy access to these papers.  I need to find a good online source to purchase because I do love Graphic 45!

Now on to my card.  I actually did some stitching around the edges; something I seldom do because my machine is in the other end of the house.   I made a tag and stamped a birthday sentiment on the back and I left the inside blank.  I will write a personal message inside right before I mail.

Well that's it for me this morning.  Hope you have a good day and remember to "Breathe"!

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #242

I have to tell you....time is getting away from me.  I can't believe I just typed #242!  This little get together has grown and progressed and here we are!  The month of January is humming right along and will fade into February before we know it.  If you are wondering why I'm here this morning and getting ready to show you a picture of my desk, pay a visit to the lady who created this little monster!  (I say that with the utmost love and respect)  Julia is the lady I'm speaking of and you may visit by clicking on the link I just provided.  She has all the information about WOYWW there, so come join us and you might find a friend along the way.

Not too messy here this morning.  I have been working on flowers for a card I'm doing and in the upper left hand corner, just behind the bottle of shimmer spray there are petals cut out to make the dogwood flower you see in the Susan's Garden envelope.  I have not invented a new kind of drink either...it's a cup of water I used to wash out brushes and fingers because I was coloring some Flower Soft to make the centers of the flowers.  It just needs a quick rinse and more clean water and it will be ready to go.

Well this does it for me this morning.  I've shown you my mess, now show me yours!  Come join in and become one of us and we can go exploring each Wednesday as we try to visit as many desks as we can. I take a trip around the world each and every Wednesday and I love to visit.  I've seen all kinds of techniques and messes of different degrees and all kinds of places to craft.  I'm still amazed at those of you who just feel more comfortable playing in the floor!  We are so different from one another but at the same time, we are the same.

Heat up the kettle; I'm on my way!

Pink Roses

Good morning everyone.  I hope you all had a good weekend.  It's all good here this morning and I'm ready to face a brand new week.  I'm here to share a tag I made using homemade pink roses.

I used the Spellbinders Rose Creations for the flowers.  They are made from watercolor paper and I colored the edges of the petals with pink PanPastels.  I have to say it was a learning experience for me as when I wet the petals so I could shape them, the color ran a little.  I used Heartfelt Creations dies for the white elements on the tag and the sentiment.

I  know this is short and sweet this morning but I'm off to visit some of my blogging friends.  Also my Bio is being featured this morning over on the Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge blog.  Gloria is posting every one's story so you can get to know us.  So follow along and see who we are...we want to tell our story and have you become one of us and join  in the challenges that will be coming.  Help us make this a success because let's face it....we are all hoarders by nature even if we don't admit it.  Let this be the year to use it up!




Supplies:
Spellbinders Rose Creations, Foliage dies
HCPC 3544 All Seasons Sentiments PreCut Set
HCD 737 Ornate Gateway Die
HCD 712 Bella Rose Die
HCD 738 Ornamental Add On Die
HCD 736 Classic Leaf Die
HCDP1 Posy Patch Paper

I Have Some Exciting News!

Good morning everyone!  I'm so excited this morning I could almost spit!  I'm bursting at the seams and have had to keep a secret until this morning.  I have been asked to join the design team for Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog and I said Yes!  Make sure you follow this link and become a follower!  And don't miss out on any of the fun!

Here are the names and blogs addresses of the design team members.  Take a little time and go visit each designer's blog and get to know them.  I just know I am going to make eleven new friends and that prospect just makes me smile!

Tammi Bennett

Pam Bray

Glenda Brooks

Christy Butters

Kathy Clement

Jan Marie Ennenga

Donna Idlet

Amber Milone

Ginny Nemchak

Debbie Seyer

Gloria Stengel - Blog Owner

Karen Zueger

Twice a month we will be having challenges and you are all invited to participate!  It is going to  be so much fun and we welcome you all to come along and participate!  And let's face it, we are all hoarders of a sort.  As for me...I'm a hoarder from way back.  Those of you who know me, know that dies are my thing.  I can't seem to refuse them.  I just gotta have them! 

 Hello...my name is Glenda and I'm a Craft Hoarder!  

More Flowers....

Good morning everyone.  I'm here to share another card with you because I'm still making daisy flowers.  I don't think I still have it down pat but I think I have finally figured out what I need to do to make them look the way I want.  Sometimes it just takes time for new things to get into my thick skull and this seems to be one of those times.  But I do not intend to give up until I get this right so please bear with me.  I have made 5 more of the flowers and they all look the same and the all look not quite right.  A friend of mine, Selma Stevenson , has given me some pointers on these and she designs for Susan's Garden so she is the authority.  I have to say I bow to Selma and I strive to be just a little bit like her.  Her flower making skills are wonderful!

I kept this card pretty simple because I wanted to show off my flowers and the new chicken wire die I got from Cheery Lynn Designs.  Well I've not been practicing what I preach about using what I have...but you know me.  I'll use chewing gum for glue before I'll pass up a die that I love!  Well I didn't really use gum but I would if I had to.  I didn't use any designer papers because I wanted these elements to stand on their own and they really did...I like the clean looks of the card.  Hope you like it and I hope you don't get tired of looking at these daisies cause they are gonna keep coming until I get it right.  The sentiment is from Flourishes Life Lines set.

OK, that does it for me this morning.  Have a wonderful day and take a moment to Breathe!

Let's "Get in Shape" Challenge at Flourishes

Good morning everyone.  I have done a card for you this morning using the Flourishes Sweet Pea stamps.  I will be entering my card in the Let's "Get in Shape" Challenge over at Flourishes.  I have always been a huge supporter of Flourishes and am one of their biggest cheerleaders.  I always just love their flower stamps and have several.

The shape of the card is Gold Majesty Circles from Spellbinders.  I've been waiting for just the right time to use this die.  I just love it and of course the Standard Circles Large die fits perfectly behind for the remainder of the card.  I love the image and I watercolored with distress inks and Stampin Up Cameo Coral.  The sentiment is from the Life Lines set also from Flourishes.

So there you have it!  You can also play along if you go visit and make your own shaped card:  Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge

Love You Bunches.....

Now don't you just love the title?  I do and I use this sentiment a lot.  It is from Heartfelt Creations and It can go on a Valentine's Day Card, or even an all occasion card that is going to a family member or a dear friend.  The uses are limitless I think.

In this case it is bunches of daisies!  These are my first effort using the Susan's Gardens daisy dies and PanPastels and I can see I still need to practice for sure.  The petals of the daisies need more definition and I will work on that next.  I love using the PanPastels; they are so smooth and creamy and so easy to use.  I can see I'm going to be in a long love affair with them!    So what do you think about these daisies?  I think they are really cute and just need a little more work.  Stay tuned for more on this!

Well that's it for me this morning.  It's Friday and we are headed straight into the weekend. Our temps have moderated but we are expecting rain for the next few days.  Lots of brown and mud in these parts! Have a great weekend!

WOYWW #240

Good Wednesday Morning everyone!  We are having a heat wave here in East Tennessee!  7 degrees this morning as opposed to -1 yesterday!  So things are improving for sure!  So many of my neighbors have had snow and frigid temps as well so I guess with about an inch of snow on the ground we came out of this much better than they did.  We have been very fortunate not to have lost power as well so I really cannot complain except that I'm not able to be outdoors much!

So now onto WOYWW!

I have been working on a card that I will share on Friday and I used the Fancy Tags Two dies to cut out the sentiment portion for the card.  I also just purchased the tub of distress glitter and a new die from Cherry Lynn Designs...it's called : Chicken Wire Frame.  I can't wait to play with it.  I know, I know...I'm supposed to be purging my craft room but I just couldn't resist this die and a girl can always use more glitter so please don't fuss!

Now I'm off to visit Julia's blog and link up.  If you are curious about this Wednesday addiction I seem to have just tag along with me and Julia has all the information there.

That's it for me this morning.  Hope everyone has a safe and warm Wednesday!

Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge

Good evening everyone!  Hope you are warm and cozy wherever you are and that you are not having too much crazy weather.  Our biggest concern is the cold; record breaking temperatures.  January is definitely here.

This morning I'm here to share with you a card I made for the Cheery Lynn Designs .  They are giving away an eBosser!  It has been so long since I won anything....could I be lucky enough to win this?  I would probably faint dead away.


Someone will win this.  I could sure use one of these as my poor arm and shoulder give me fits when I crank the handle of my current die cutting machine.

I used the Sophia's Heart Doily Die.  I don't have many Cheery Lynn products but this was one I just had to have.  I made it into a Valentine's day card with pinks and white against a blue background.  Can you see my pink glittery butterfly?  I also added some glitter to the large rose and the rose buds.  While I was at it, I sprinkled some into my eyebrows just because that's how I roll!  Whenever I'm in a craft store I can always tell the true crafters because we all wear glitter...on our face, in our hair and in our eyebrows!

Winner of the December Blog Hop......

I need to begin by saying I'm so sorry to be so late posting this!  I find I have just been in a daze the last week or so.  I'm sort of befuddled with all the holidays and find, most of the time, I can't tell you what day it is.

The winner of the December blog hop was chosen from Giovana's blog.  Congratulations to Chris Hunley!

You have won a $25 gift certificate to Heartfelt Creations.

Please email EmmaLou@heartfeltcreations.us with "Winner of December Alumni Blog Hop" in the subject line.

Now I'm going back into my hole and continue purging my craft room!

Sweet Valentine.......

Good morning.  Hope you are well and getting ready to enjoy your weekend.  It is a cold 14 degrees here this morning, but then again it is January.  The wind has been whipping and snow flurries blowing by. There is just a dusting of snow outside but Baby it's cold outside! Brr...

I'm here to share with you another Valentine's Day card and I will be listing it on Etsy if you have an interest in purchasing it.

I used several different companies products on this one.  the embossing folder is Stampin Up, the die and leaves and flower petals are Heartfelt Creations, the sentiment is just words I typed and printed with my computer.  Lots of layers makes this one of my favorites.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed making it.  I just love the flower!

OK that is it for me this morning.  Hope your day is filled with joy and that you keep your toes nice and warm today.  If you are in a part of the country experiencing lots of snow and ice, please be careful and stay safe.

WOYWW 239

Good morning everyone and Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2014.  Can you believe it?  It seems like only yesterday I was ushering in another New Year....2013!  Where does the time go.  This morning I'm showing you my workspace because that is what we do on Wednesdays around here.  If you would like more information on this or you would like to join us, just head over to Julia's blog and she gives all the details on her blog.

Being an older lady I no longer party on New Years Eve so I'm bright eyed and ready to go this morning.  I wish the same for you!

I love making flowers and here are my three newest sets of dies all ready to go.  I can't wait to start playing with them!  Hopefully in the coming days you will see these lying on my desk or gracing the front of my next card.

That is it for me this morning.  I'm off to visit as many of the participating blogs as possible.  I can't wait to get a fresh cup of coffee and see what everyone is doing.