Summer Guest post: Carrie Elias

Hi Everybody! My name is Carrie Elias and I am so happy to be on Wilna's site today : )

My home has recently become Seattle, WA and the Pacific Northwest is the prettiest place I've ever visited, so right now I'm in heaven.  I've been married to my love for a quite a while and we have two of the cutest puppies (one who can meow like a cat, and the other who is probably the most polite dog I've ever met). We recently decided to take the big plunge and so now I'm almost 20 weeks pregnant and we are loving every second of it! Other loves of mine include taking pretty pictures, creating fun graphics on my computer, eating lots of fresh, sweet fruit, listening to the song "Happy" during summertime rainstorms, and enjoying nature (as long as it's not too hot, since I'm allergic to the sun).  Also, I've been known to say "it's a Christmas miracle year round" 

The idea for this fun project came about because a few of my friends and I decided to do an ATC (artist trading card) summertime swap! In order to make our ATCs easily fit into pocket scrapbooking we made them all sized to 3x4 inches. I so enjoy the thought of having little pieces of summer art from a bunch of my friends, and these ice cream shaker cards are my addition to the group.   An ice cream shaker combined with sequins, and pretty paper sounded just perfect to me!  Here's a process video sharing how I put these cute interactive cards together:

Some helpful notes/details about this project: 

• I created the "summer" cut using the Bebas font on my computer and cut it with my Silhouette Cameo.
• I purchased the actual Ice Cream cut file in the Silhouette Online Store.
• I resized all the elements of the ice cream cut file down to 84% so it fits perfectly onto a 3x4 inch card. 
• I used 110 lb plain white cardstock for some of the cuts to add the correct height so my sequins had room to shake. Becuase of this I only had to use 5 layers of this specific cut instead of the full number recommended using a thinner weight cardstock. Also, my Cameo cut thought this heavy cardstock just fine, using the slowest setting along with double cut. 
• The papers used in this project are from the Glitz Design Brightside collection.
• I used transparency film instead of clear acetate and really like how thin it is in comparison.

Related Products:

Color Shine 

Georgia Peach

3-D Shaker Embellishment:

Ice Cream Cone

Silhouette Bundle

Transparency Film

110 lb White Cardstock

Glitz Design 

Brightside Collection

Gold Foil Paper

3x4 Grid Cards

Sequins: Yes Peas

Sequins: Orange County

Sequins: Sunny Day

Sequins: Blush Crush

Carrie's Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | YouTube

Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

Speech Bubbles everywhere: Scrapbooking Process video

About this page:

I made these cut files for the LOVE workshop that is available on 2peas. So, if you are (or rather were) a student in the class, then you have these already. I love the speech bubbles and wanted to make a fun page with them. As you can see here, my family as a little goofy with snow so late in May and they played around and I snapped away.

I used chalkboard paint to paint the bubbles and I used the trusty watercolor paper to cut them from.

You can buy the cut files in my iheartstudio.ca shop: Love words and Speech bubbles.

This coming month I totally cleared my schedule to focus on a project I am very excited about. Don't worry, before you know it I will post it here for the world to see. I just wanted to provide some explanation if I am not around much. My photography business is also keeping me busy. I really wish there was more hours in the day. So i hope to ask some guest teachers to post a video on here every wednesday so you can have a bit of inspiration.

The video:

Related Products:

Talk soon!
Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

Scrapbook Process Video: Like a circus. What?

 About this page:

Dani van Steelandt took these beautiful photos of Kirstin for her 15th birthday. I wanted to do something with it that complimented the photo and decided to make a wreath that goes around the photo like a crown. :)
This page is very simple and was easy to make. I hope you enjoy the video where I show you how. Nothing dramatic happened here... except the background page was adhered already and I changed it.
You can find the cut file here.








The Video:




The related products:

Talk soon!
Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

Guest Designer: Nina Ostermann

Today I feature another page is by Nina Ostermann. Nina's Instagram. I "met" Nina through my art classes on 2peas. when she posted her pages in the class gallery, I immediately saw that special something. She is an amazing artist and I admire her work greatly.

What Nina said about this page:

Flowers are so beautifully, so individually and unique. There are thousand different shapes, sizes, colors and I think most of us can never get enough of them. Flowers can change a home into a cozy place. 
Next to my kids, husband and doggy they are one of my favorite photography subject and I love doing layouts with those pictures, of course.
For my first project as the "I Heart Studio" guest designer I decided to use one of my dearest last weeks flowers pictures in combination with a sentence and also some leaves Cut Files. 
Both are cutting on plain white cardstock. This is the way I mostly cut with my Silhouette Cameo because I can use those cuts untreated white (yes I´m a white lover ;-) and also painted in different colors who works best with my projects. 
For todays page I used the white word cut file onto a watercolor painted background and it pops restrained out of the page. I like the effect. The leaves are uneven painted with green watercolor. They are layered involuntarily together with the square picture and some layers of white silk paper. That´s a great keyword. Layering. To create different levels makes pages, mini albums or cards a little bit more interesting, I think. Therefore my pictures are mostly layered on the back. With this simple thing we can create a first layer without any complicated technique or anything like that. Easy, right?!


Related products:






Remember, when you buy any product from http://iheartstudio.ca/shop then you will receive a free set of hashtag cuts. :) Offer till end of June.
Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

A teen's life: Scrapbook process video

About this page:

Tia's whole life was all about studying and making notes for her upcoming exams... the last few weeks of Grade 11. sniff sniff. She would camp out in the dining room the whole afternoon and evening making notes and studying. I love her there. I just love her presence and the fact that the dining room almost became her office for the few weeks. Maybe it's becuase I know that they will only be in the home a few more years... but I cherish every day and moment with them here. So, I decided to make a cut file collection describing her life the last few weeks of June. :)
I am using watercolors and rub ons in this page... and again, it's a beautiful combination and I loved the end result.
You can find the cut files here.


The video:




The related products:

In other news, I bought a letterpress kit from Studio Calico and I can't wait to wrap my head around it and show you. But first... SUMMER!
Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

Guest page: Jen Kinkade

Jen design some pretty cut files for my little shop and she is sharing a page with us today that used one of those beautiful cut files. Follow Jen on Instagram.

What Jen said about the page:

I was immediately inspired to do a page about my middle daughter when I made this cut file since she is my Summer baby. I try to do photo shoots with each of my girls on their birthdays and just loved this photos of her from last summer in the beautiful flower gardens. I chose 3 main colors from the photo to accent my page with a watercolor effect--pink, yellow, and purple. I used a combination of gelatos and my watercolor palette to achieve my desired effect. I wanted the main cut file to be both large and bold, so I spray painted the whole cut with metallic gold spray paint and gold glitter, while keeping the cuts layered behind my photo white. I added tulle and sequins behind my main cut file to add dreaminess. In the end, I wanted my page to be beautiful and magical all in one! 

Related products:




Remember, when you buy any product from http://iheartstudio.ca/shop then you will receive a free set of hashtag cuts. :) Offer till end of June.

Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

Guest Artist: Nina Ostermann

Today's page is by Nina Ostermann. Nina's Instagram. I "met" Nina through my art classes on 2peas. when she posted her pages in the class gallery, I immediately saw that special something. She is an amazing artist and I admire her work greatly.

Here's what she said about the page:

For todays pages I used a photo from our daughter Jonna (she´s 9 years old) and doggy Emma (2 years old). It is so great to know that they have an extraordinary friendship. They keep on each other like one one else does, it´s like a huge girl thing. 

Jonna is a typical girl and she loves to take lots and lots of pictures, what´s a great fact for a mommy who loves scrapbooking *yay* One of her favorite partner, of course, is Emma. Emma is always happy doing crazy things with her round the clock. She don´t have to do homework like her brother or doing laundry like me, so she´s the number 1. And this makes us smile every. single. day.

To focus the picture of both on this layout, I decided to center it up in the middle of the page, layered with a chipboard and wooden frame. I colored the deer cut with my loved Gelatos in pink and orange tones. It´s placed with a paper doilie directly behind the picture. I love the way it turns out in the background of this simple page...

Related products:







Remember, when you buy any product from http://iheartstudio.ca/shop then you will receive a free set of hashtag cuts. :) Offer till end of June.

Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

How to make a scrapbook page with no mojo.

Oh my... did I ever had a bout of low/no mojo for this week's page. I think I am just so ready for summer that I want to sip soda and lemon on the deck and not work at all. Or read. So, in this video I will take you through those times when you want to or HAVE to make a page but the inspiration is gone. Sometimes you just have to work it until you are happy. 

<---------- THEN... I have a little surprise for you... these HASHTAG cut files are FREE with any purchase on www.iheartstudio.ca till end of June. You will get it in your downloads once you check out! 

Next week is my birthday and I might take the next week off. So this is my little birthday gift to you to say thank you for supporting my little shop. 

The video:

The related products:

Winner of the challenge:
Scrappymama! Please email me your address and I will send you the already-cut-out-files. :)

Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

Guest Designer: Kim Stewart

Kim is the guest designer today. She makes beautiful pages and products (for iheartstudio.ca). I am a little (okay, a LOT) speechless of this incredible page she made with the cut files she designed for my little shop and the butterfly printables. Swoooon. Here's what she said about this page:

I love gelatos and can't seem to ever get enough of them!  Most of the time I use the pretty peach and coral colors combined with white and gold but for this layout I wanted to try a different combination like blue and purple, and I love how some of them blended.  Just like watercolors I love seeing the small areas where the colors blend.  I add a little white next to the blues and purple just to see the lighter blue and the pale lavenders appear.  I squeal just a little every time I add a little coloring on a page.  Then from there I like to layer my embellishments and papers.  I kept this one rather simple and just used a few butterflies and some cut files.  I like seeing the color show through the love cut file.  That makes me really happy! 

Related products:





Happy weekend!
Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

How to not make a scrapbook page :)

For the longest time I wondered how to create a bouquet of flowers on a page! So I decided to make flower and flourish cut files and cut them out on Canson watercolor paper with my Silhouette Cameo. I then painted them with acrylic paint all impasto style and viola. I love this page so much! :)

I have a little challenge for you to make some Acrylic flower embellishments and use them on a page or a card! Enter with the gallery below (Click here to watch a little video how this little gallery works and how to upload a page) Make sure your name is also in the description box. :)

I will pick a random winner that will win a little box filled with already cut out cut files. The challenge ends next wednesday June 11.



The video:



The related products:





Thank you for watching. In the end it's really just you who makes it worth it to me.

Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog


The Challenge Gallery

An InLinkz Link-up

New cut files... :)

Just a quick update on new things added to my little shop at www.iheartstudio.ca/shop. I do get days where I just want to create and paint things... and sometimes it turns out like yesterday where I spent the whole day playing and planning new digital products. Then I am too excited to wait to share it and add it right away. So, click over there and have a look at the new cut files. My aim with this shop is to keep adding creative and artistic products that will inspire you to create. I am also in the planning stage of a new workshop... and I have asked it before but I if you have any thoughts on what you would like to see, now is your chance to let me know! My thoughts is going towards a Minimalist Mixed Media workshop. But since I am still just planning and brain storming, I can still change my mind. :)

Anyway... here's the new products that I added to the shop. :) I cut them all out... and they are SO pretty! My Silhouette Cameo works overtime.








Happy Weekend!
Wilna Furstenberg
xoxo

iheartblog

Painting tutorial...

640

Hi there! Today we are doing something different! I am going to show you how to make this painting! When I brainstormed about the Wednesday videos, I knew I wanted to include some art tutorials as well... even though the main focus will be scrapbook pages. You can find the background text as a download on www.iheartstudio.ca but just remember that if you want to print it big like this painting here, you will either have it printed or use a wide format printer. :) The download has 2 sizes: 12x12 and 12x16. I also used the Butterflies from last week and used the cut file as a stencil and the butterflies as a pretty element.

Kim made some new (and SUPER pretty) cut files for the shop and you can find them here. I combines these 3 cut files into a bundle (save $1) I can't wait to scrapbook with these. Sigh. The are simply perfect.

Here's the video:



Related products:
The brush is from Michaels. It's a Royal & Langnickel round brush #6.
Till next week! xoxo

Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

Butterflies everywhere.

This did not happen intentionally. I was watching Veronica Mars on Netflix and drew some butterflies to cut out. Once they were cut out of lovely thick watercolor paper, I wanted to paint them. And after I painted them with watercolors, I wanted to make them into printables. Six Veronica Mars episodes later, they were done!
You can find them on http://iheartstudio.ca/shop and this is all included in the download:
1. Printables *pdf,png and jpg* in 8.5x11 and 12x12 so you can print them with a wide format printer or a normal printer.
2. Cut Files: *png, svg and dxf* in 8x5 and 12x12 sizes.

In this video, I will show you how to make the page and the print and cut feature of the silhouette.

The video:

Related products:

Have an awesome week. I will see you on the inter webs!
Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

Introducing 2 new designers to my little shop.

I am so happy (!!!!) to introduce two wonderful artists that will be designing some cuts for www.iheartstudio.ca. Let me introduce Kim Stewart (Fresh Cut Illustrations) and Jen Kinkade (She Makes Stuff), Kim created the beautiful roses and florals for me. She actually do all her cuts by hand but now you can get them on www.iheartstudio.ca! There are 3 sets of her cuts available and a bundle where  you can buy the 3 sets together for a $1 less.

Kim's Blog| Kim's Instagram | Kim's Pinterest

Jen's   Blog| Jen's    Instagram | Jen'Pinterest

Also, I have a page up on Webster's Pages today (or sometime today) and I created a free cut file (the one with the kazillion hearts in the related products below) for that page that you can download on www.iheartstudio.ca. :) Happy creating!

This week's video is a simple and fun page. I use the lovely cut files (even though it was super hard to decide which ones to use)! I also used some acrylic paint, rub ons and watercolors. I hope you like the video and also THANK YOU again for supporting my small and beautiful shop. I cannot thank you enough. (said in my best south african accent). I refer to this page by Danielle Flamders in my video.

Here's the video:

And here's the related products:

Thanks again for stopping by. Today I am going to go shopping a bit with a friend. I love going to Saskatoon and having lazy lunches. I am actually not a big shopper but it's always more fun with a friend. And especially if this particular friend has a very keen eye for fashion. The only thing I am really good at shopping-wise is online shopping for technology. Sigh. There is always room for improvement right??

Sending you much love!

Wilna Furstenberg

iheartblog

Worthy of love and belonging.

About this page:

You can buy this cut file here. I love Brene Brown's books. I think she is one of those authors that you have to read in this day and age. I love her approach to creativity. But most of all I want this message of love and belonging to resonate in my girls' hearts all the time. If there is one thing that they should know and learn from me,  it will be this. This cut file includes the words as well as 4 little frames. The frames are meant to be small but you can make them bigger. I used gold spray paint on the little frames. The image that inspired this page is this one on Pinterest.

Thank you for supporting my little shop! I am working on bringing you some more creative and super beautiful things! So excited about it.




The Video:

Related Products:

Love till next Wednesday!
Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

ETA: winner of the give away is ~Kate~ that said: Love watching your videos. I don't have this type of cutter so would love to win a box of cuts so I can play with some Wilna style layouts.
Please email me your address!

Relax... nothing is under control!

About this page:

 I am a little short tempered sometimes when it comes to my girls and dance competitions. There's always a head piece missing, or the music for the solo was left at home or one shoe has gone m.i.a. (true stories). So when I get rallied up, my husband will dryly say: Relax! Nothing is under control.  This has become a standard saying in our household. After a whole week of dance competitions where I heard it so many times, I decided to eternalize it in a die cut.  Hence the new cuts (relax Phrases and Oh NO! phrases)  available on www.iheartstudio.ca today.

As I explain in my video, I can sometimes do the same thing again and again until I feel that I have explored it to it's fullest. This is one of those pages. I use a bunch of techniques that I have done before (as you can see in this page here) but the result is different and also new in some ways!  I mix acrylic paint and white glue and I am not sure that the glue makes a difference but  I felt that even if it hardens  the paint a little bit it will be worth it.

This page turned out so soft and sweet and I think the message is really fun. Thanks so much for watching the video! Your kind comments and support to my new approach to making weekly videos inspires me to keep doing it. It REALLY is becuase of you.

Today, I am giving away some extra cuts! If you want a little box filled with cuts (some you see here and some are from other files I created), Please leave me a comment! I will pick a name next week. Please tell me what you want to see more of in my weekly videos. My aim is to make art and make it in the most fun way possible!

The Video:

Related Products:

Love till next Wednesday!
Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

ETA: winner of this give away is ~Kate~ that said: Love watching your videos. I don't have this type of cutter so would love to win a box of cuts so I can play with some Wilna style layouts.
Please email me your address!

Sweet and simple page

Today's page and video is super simple. I made this page a while ago for a challenge blog and filmed my process and thought it would be a great video to post while I am away this week.  This week we are on a little adventure with my family to the last dance competition of the year. I love times where you can't do anything BUT connect, have meals together, joke and share laughs.

This page is also a great page to use some of those 6x6 papers on... and yes, I have way to many of those around here. Please share your pages with me! If you make a page/project inspired by my videos, please upload it to my April blog gallery here. I would love to see what you do!

The video:

Related products:

Thanks so much for watching and stopping by.

Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

Text type and texture.

About this page:

You can buy this text cut file here. I love this song by Eva Cassidy and felt that the words can fit any person you want to make a scrapbook page about. I used this cut file as a double stencil on this page... you have to watch the video to see why and how! Becuase I used it as a stencil, I made the cut from thick watercolor paper. (see related products below).

I am so excited to take a little break over Easter with my family but I scheduled a video for next week already. If you have any questions about this page, please leave me a comment. Your support means the world to me and are the VERY reason I am doing a video every week. Please share your pages with me! If you make a page/project inspired by my videos, please upload it to my April blog gallery here. I would love to see what you do!

The Video:

Related Products:

Love till next Wednesday!
Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

April Blog Gallery

It does not take much to make me happy and seeing the beautiful pages here and there that have been created with some of the products I made makes me really really happy. Please share your pages with this inlinkz tool... I would Love to see!

Here's a one minute video on how to upload to the blog gallery:

An InLinkz Link-up

Smiles... till wednesday!
Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog

You color my life!

Free cut file alert! 
You can get this cut file for free on iheartstudio! 

This is the second page I made using the paint stroke cut files.  This time I used gouache and it has a bit softer look than the acrylic paint. I decided to match the paint strokes with patterned paper and chipboard embellishments. This was really fun to make. Also, you will see in the video how I covered up a part that did not really work for me. 

Today's Video:

Related products

Thanks again for watching! If you have any questions... leave me a comment.
Wilna Furstenberg
iheartblog