Behind the Design: Heartfelt Creations Papers and Digital Die Cuts

I have this real love for Heartfelt Creations papers when I'm working on my samples for Silhouette America's Design Store!  It's definitely my go-to paper when I'm looking for something more interesting than plain cardstock, yet doesn't overpower the focal point of the design.  What prompted me to do this blog post was that all three designs I submitted this week used Heartfelt's Burst of Splendor Collection as well as the little lantern I did last week.

Easter Bookmark Tags

Easter Critters Votive Wrap

Pansy Card

I love their subtlety embedded images and how the colour fades to a lighter shade.  And of course how the colours within a collection coordinate.  I add in some solid cardstock (usually American Crafts smooth cardstock and Core'dinations cardstock) and I get the effect I want.

My favourite collection is Daphne and I did carry it for a while on the Quietfire site and it sold right out.  Unfortunately with the Canadian dollar doing what it is, I can't see carrying it again for a while.  *sigh*

Here is an Easter Bunny Flip card using Daphne papers.

Easter and Bunny Flip Card

Using the Posy Patch Collection and some plain cardstock:

Faux Gatefold Card

Always Card

Sometimes there is a bold design along the edges of the paper (which is perfectly normal seeing these are scrapbooking sized papers!), so I will move away from the edge to make use of the gentle designs.

From the Delicate Asters Collection:

Hello card with a bracket closure

Many of these papers work very well when you need a duplex paper (double-sided) with contrasting colours like in this card design.  I was one happy camper when I flipped it over. The Bunny Flip Card above is another example of a duplex paper that is very striking.  I've designed quite a few of those flip cards and it's a real treat to find patterned paper that works well with them. 









 All the above designs are available on the Silhouette Design store under my profile.


Here is a sample using the new Quietfire Believe metal die and quote.  This paper is from their Balmy Breeze collection and I loved that it coordinated with both American Crafts cardstock and Coredinations cardstock.

I don't have any affiliation with Heartfelt Creations other than liking what they do, but I wouldn't complain if I did!  Their papers are awesome!  And they work well with the Silhouette Cameo - but I'll think you've already guessed that!
Thanks for stopping by!
Suzanne

Drop Shadow Tutorial - Using the New Quietfire Dies

I used this technique in a recent card and I just wanted to expand on it a bit.  Here is the card:

A drop shadow is a visual effect that gives the impression of a shadow behind an object. Use the Hello die and cut two coordinating cardstocks. The one which will be a shadow should be a darker colour.  Decide which direction you want the light to be "shining" and attach the shadow by slightly offsetting it from the "raised" Hello die cut.  Make sure it's showing equally around all letters and attach them together.  Don't offset it too much or it becomes a distraction!  Use a colour that will coordinate with some other element in your creation, but don't use something too wild and crazy.  After all, this is a shadow, something that ties the overall design together and accents the main word, not a feature element!

 Thanks for drop shadowing by!
Suzanne

Washi Tape Hello and Document Corners

This project started out with me wanting to utilize some of my washi tape stash....  It evolved into the need to design a  digital cutting embellishment!

Quietfire Hello Metal die

This card was very simple!  When I had just Hello on the card, it looked a bit too simple but I didn't want to overwhelm the card with too much embellishing.  Years ago, my Mom was cleaning out her
stash and found these things called Document Corners.  So I pulled one apart to see how it was made.  The template for it has been on my website (somewhere!) for years. It's the basic template and was crying out for embellishment.  Now that I have this incredibly cool and amazingly accurate tool called the Silhouette Cameo, I converted the template into a cutting file and added some pizzaz to the plain jane document corners!

I could have make these with the same cardstock as the card base if I wanted to be *really* subtle, but I don't think the turquoise corners overwhelmed the Hello.  Hope you think the same!



Supplies:
Quietfire Hello Die
Washi Tape
Quietfire Decorative Document cutting file
Co'ordinations Bermuda cardstock
American Crafts Blush cardstock
Recollections turquoise cardstock
Pop Dots
Kooltack 3D Clear Foam Tape

Decorative Corners - Quietfire at Silhouette Design Store

Instructions:

1. Cut a card base from Bermuda to 7 x 5".  Cut a panel of the same colour to 6 x 4".  Cut a Blush panel to 6.25 x 4.25". Adhere the 6 x4" panel on top.
2. Lay strips of washi tape side by side on a piece of white cardstock.  Diecut Hello through the strips of washi tape.
3. Cut decorative corners from turquoise and slide them on the Blush/Bermuda panel and adhere at the back.
4. Adhere die cut Hello to center of panel and use Pop Dots to adhere the panel to the card base.

Thanks for stopping by!
Suzanne

Believe in Magical Butterflies

I was looking to make something a bit more elegant this time, so to complement the new Quietfire Metal Die, I chose a Spellbinders die plus some of my favourite Kanban paper.

Once I made the hard choices, this card went together quickly!

 


Supply List:
Quietfire Metal Die: Believe
Kanban: Farfalla
Spellbinders: Grand Calibur, A2 Valiant Honor
Co'ordinations: French Roast cardstock
Fancy Pants: 12x12"Gold Foiled cardstock
Tombow: Stamp Runner and 3D Foam Tabs











Instructions:

1. Form a 7" x 5" card from French Roast cardstock.  Die cut Believe from gold paper. Die cut small Spellbinders' Valiant Honor panel from French Roast.
2. Cut three panels (bottom to top): Gold to 6-3/8" x 4-3/8":: French Roast to 1/8" smaller all around:: Kanban Farfalla to 1/8" smaller than the French Roast.
3. Attach Believe to Spellbinders panel with 3D Foam Tabs (you will have to cut the foam tabs to a smaller size) and Spellbinders panel to Kanban paper with 3D Foam Tabs. Use Stamp Runner to assemble other layers as shown.  Attach Gold panel to card base with 3D Foam Tabs.

 

Thanks for stopping by to have a look!

Happy creating, Suzanne

Hello - Springy Die Cut Inlay

I wanted a happy little Hello card in springy colours, so using the new Quietfire Hello Die, I cut and assembled this card!

Supplies:
Quietfire Hello Cutting Die
Michaels Recollections cardstock
Co'ordinations cardstock
Tombow Stamp Runner
Tombow Foam Squares

 

Instructions:

1. Form a 7" x 5" card base using Co'ordinations cardstock. Cut a turquoise panel to 6.5" x 4-3/8". Die cut Hello from light and dark turquoise cardstock.  Keep track of the counterspaces!  You'll use them.
2. Cut 2 panels measuring approximately 7 x 5" from light and dark purple smooth cardstocks. Die cut Hello from the center of both panels one at a time and stack the cut out panels so the die cuts line up exactly. Don't worry, these will be trimmed later so the outside edges don't need to line up. 
3. Hold or use removable tape to keep these two pieces together and cut with an xacto knife across where the middle of the word would be. Set the bottom of the light purple and the top of the dark purple aside. (You can make another card with these!)
4. Cut a piece of lightweight cardstock (any colour, as it will be hidden) to approximately 8" x 6" and apply adhesive across the middle portion where you will piece the word and counterspaces.
5. Lay down Hello in the middle of the adhesive and fit in the counterspaces from the dark turquoise Hello. (A pair of tweezers might help with the counterspace of the e.) Apply adhesive to the backs of the purple cardstock cuts and position them around the outside of Hello.
6. Trim this purple panel and backing to 6.25" x 4".  Mount with stamp runner to the turquoise panel and attach all layers to the card base with foam squares as shown.

Thanks for visiting!
Happy die cutting! Suzanne

Believe - Die Cut Inlay

Well, I had so much fun doing this!  The hardest part is choosing the colours - and knowing when enough is enough!

 
I used the new Quietfire Believe die and filled all the counterspaces with different coloured cardstock.  It's amazing how well they fit together.

Papers used in this project were:
Co'ordinations cardstock and
the patterned paper is Heartfelt Creations: Delicate Asters Collection.


Thanks for visiting!
Suzanne

Believe - In Flying Pigs

My very first card using the new Quietfire dies gave me a chance to use this Graphic 45 paper I've wanted to use for ages! We all believe in flying pigs, right?

This card was so easy to put together.  That's the joy of using coordinating paper!

Reagents (Supplies!):
Quietfire Believe cutting die
Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe 12x12 cardstock
Coordinations cardstock: Rustic and Montego Bay
3L Scrapbook Adhesives Black 3D foam squares

Synthesis (Instructions!):

1. Form a 7" x 5" card from Montego Bay cardstock. Die cut Believe from Rustic cardstock.
2. Cut a 2.25" x 6.25" strip of flying pigs paper and a panel of coordinating patterned paper to 6.75" x 4.75". 
3. Cut one more panel of Montego Bay measuring  6.5" x 4 3/8".  
4. Assemble as shown using double-sided tape and black foam squares.  I cut the foam squares even smaller than they come using scissors!

Here is another similar card I assembled using the new Quietfire Hello die. This is a guy card for someone with a quirky sense of humour!

I cut a second Hello and used it as a drop shadow.

Thanks for dropping by! Watch out for those flying pigs! Call me if you see one.
Smiles, Suzanne

Believe - It is Said - Die Cut & Stamp

I was looking for other-than-Christmas-y uses for the new Quietfire Believe metal die and realized that it could pair beautifully with this quote.

 

I love how this turned out.  At this point in time I'm particularly drawn to these two greens and I knew there was a VersaMagic ink that would match, so this ultimately turned into a very quick card to make. Although it doesn't hit you over the head with the message, it speaks of hope.

Reagents (Supplies!):

Quietfire Believe Metal die

Quietfire Rubber Stamp: It is Said

Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts: VersaMagic Oasis Green

Heartfelt Creations: Balmy Breeze Collection

American Crafts cardstock: Bayou and Bubbles

Co'ordinations cardstock: Cream n Sugar

Tombow: Stamp Runner, 3D Foam tabs

Synthesis:

1. Form 7" x 5" card base from Bayou cardstock.  Die cut Believe from Bayou cardstock. 
2. Cut a 6-1/2" x 4-1/8" panel from patterned paper.  Cut a Cream n Sugar panel 1/8" larger all around and a Bubbles panel 1/8" larger than the Cream n Sugar panel.
3. Stamp It is Said centered on the lower portion of patterned paper panel as shown.
4. Use Foam Tabs to attach Believe to the patterned paper above the sentiment. You will have to cut the tabs smaller!
5. Use the Stamp Runner to attached patterned paper to Cream n Sugar panel, then to Bubbles panel.  Use Foam Tabs to attach these to the card base.

Thanks for having a look!
Happy creating, Suzanne