WordArt Wednesday -- Exciting News!!!

I have exciting news to share.  I have been asked to be a design team member for Word Art Wednesday.  I am so excited to be joining these ladies that, like me, enjoy sharing God's Word on their craft projects.  If you are a regular blog reader, you'll recognize that name as I enter their weekly challenge almost every week.   I also had the privilege of being a guest designer for them in May & December of last year.

The challenge at Word Art Wednesday is always anything goes combined with an encouraging Scripture or sentiment.  Each week, a free WordArt is available for you to download.  You don't have to use that freebie in the challenge but are certainly free to do so if you wish.

For my first project as an official Design Team member, I chose to make this card for a young military wife.  Her husband is stationed in Japan and she and their daughter recently returned to the states for medical treatment for their daughter.  The separation is hard on this young couple especially since they don't know exactly how long they'll be apart. 

This young wife loves bright colors (think tie-dye) and when I saw these ink pads they made me think of her.  I made my own patterned paper by using several different sized flower stamps from the same set and stamping them randomly on my cardstock.  Every girl needs some sparkle, so I added a bling flourish and bling flower centers. The purple panel was embossed with a Swiss Dots Cuttlebug flolder.  A ribbon with sparkly edges (it came as a sample with my order from Really Reasonable Ribbon) adds little more sparkle.  Some faux stitching sets off this week's Scripture WordArt and a small oval tag completes the card.

Supplies:
Sketch:  Mojo290
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Stamps:  Karen Murray for WordArt Wednesday (Isaiah 40:29), Indadinkado (Doodle Flowers), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Comforting Pines)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black, Rose Bud, Pear Tart, Lulu Lavender)
Embellishments/Tools:  bling flourish (Recollections), rhinestones (Best Occasions), ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), CM Fine Tip Pen, Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Large & Small), embossing folder (Cuttlebug Swiss Dot)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #147 - Smell the Roses (use flowers on your project)
Shopping our Stash #101 - Use only scraps (except for the card base) -- my cardstock was scraps left over from other projects
Craft Room Challenge - Stamp your own background/background paper
Crafty Ribbons #45 - No Designer Paper

Be sure to stop by the WordArt Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the design team has done and to pick up your WordArt freebie.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Date Night Thank You Card

I have a thank you card to share with you today that also includes the essentials for a date night.  Our daughter & son-in-law had a couple they wanted to give a special gift to as a thank you for all the time they invested in helping them get ready for the wedding.  I was asked to make a card that would hold a gift card to a restaurant and some type of "coupon" for free baby-sitting. The husband was the one that gave the most assistance (he did their pre-marital counseling) so I wanted the card to have a more masculine feel.  This is what I ended up making....

For the front, I thought the paisley paper and brown and blue color scheme gave it a masculine feel.  And while it does have ribbon, since it's sheer, I thought it was subtle enough to keep the masculine theme. A decorative brad helps anchor the ribbon.  I really like this digi stamp.  I got it from Daydream Designs {sadly they are no longer in business}.  Simple matting and photo corners complete the front.

When you open up the card, I made a double pocket card for the left side. It hold the restaurant gift card and a tag/coupon for free babysitting.  To make the double pocket panel, I started with a piece of cardstock that was 4" x 12".  I scored it at 4" & 8".  I lined up the score line at 8" with a spot on the left edge about 2" up from the bottom and cut a diagonal line.  Then when I folded mountain & valley style on the score lines, I ended up with 2 pockets (I hope I didn't make that sound as clear as mud -- here's a rough diagram to show what I mean.

I added patterned paper to each panel and then used Scor-Tape to secure the edges.  I used Scor-tape to adhere the entire panel to the left inside of the card.  Yes, this does make this a heavier/bulkier card.  It would definitely cost extra postage.  However, since I knew it was being hand delivered I didn't have to worry about that. :) I generated the message in the circle on the computer and die cut it with nesties.  I layered some patterned paper and cream cardstock to give a decorative space to write their thank you note.

For the tag/coupon, I generated the message on the computer and inked the edges of the paper.  I layered it on patterned paper and then mounted that on the tag. A Spellbinders Labels 22 die was used to add the edge on the top of the tag.  To do this, I cut the tag narrow enough to fit through the  biggest die and brought the end of the paper through the middle of the die so that only the top edge was being cut.  An eyelet and bakers twine finished off the tag.


Supplies
Cardstock: The Paper Studio (cream), Recollections (kraft), Bazzill (navy)
Patterned Paper - The Paper Studio
Ink:  Memento (Paris Dusk)
Digi Stamp - Daydream Designs
Embellishments/Tools:  ribbon (Offray), twine (The Twinery), brad (The Paper Studio), Spellbinders (Classic Squares Large & Small, Classic Circles Large & Small, Labels 22), eyelet (American Crafts)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Inky Chicks #4 - Blue & Brown
LEJ Designs Challenge #53 - Borders and/or Corners (I chose corners)
My Time to Craft #221 - Show us the inside (decorate the inside to coordinate with the outside)
Clear it Out Challenge - Anything Goes with at least two patterned papers
Cupcake Craft Challenge #242 - Lots of Layers

Thanks for visiting this evening.  Be sure to stop back tomorrow morning.  I have exciting news to share.

Wedding Projects

I wanted to share a couple of the non-card projects I did for our daughter's wedding.  I have a few cards I'll share in future blog posts.

Favors

Several times during Kendra's college years, I made sour cream containers and filled them with candy as gifts for some of her friends (you can see some of my past ones here, here, and here.  When we were thinking of what to do for favors, she requested I make them again.  When our daughter flew out to meet the rest of Sam's family on Christmas break 2011, they toured the Jelly Belly factory.  Remembering the fun she had on that visit, we decided to fill the containers with Jelly Bellies.  She picked two sets of papers and two stamps so that we could have two versions.

Grandparents Memorial

As I mentioned in my post about the album I made for her, Kendra had a display in memory of the grandparents who have already passed away.  I made signs to go in front of the picture frames to let the guests know what Sam & Kendra called their grandparents and what their names were.

I used the technique I learned on the tent cards to make sure the signs wouldn't flop over.

Kendra wanted me to make her some simple thank you cards that they could use for send in appreciate for wedding gifts they received.  I still have quite a few to make but here is a sampling of what I have done so far.  Kendra found a 6 x 6 paper pad that she liked and I'm using it as my starting point.

As promised here are a couple wedding day pics:

Kendra had my husband face the back of the auditorium and walked up behind him.  She then said, "OK, Dad, you can turn around now."  This is his first look at her in her wedding finery.  Yes, he did cry.  :)

The weather was unseasonably cool so we got Kendra a wrap to wear at the reception. 

The new Mr. & Mrs.

On their one week anniversary, a second reception was held for them in CA at Sam's home church.  Here's a pic of the newlyweds.  By the smiles, I'd say marriage agrees with them.

Thanks for stopping by.  

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a day we honor our moms and their influence in our lives.  I was blessed with a godly mom who not only taught me what it meant to love my husband and children but lived her life as an example of what she was teaching me.   She truly exemplified the Proverbs 31 woman.  Mom passed away in 1992.  Mother's Day is probably the day I miss her more than any other day of the year.

My mother-in-law is also a godly woman who models the Proverbs 31 woman.  The card I'm sharing with you today is one I made for her.  My mother-in-law likes my cards and that makes it even more enjoyable to make them for her.  We were able to go visit her today  -- she was able to be with both of her sons on Mother's Day.  That's a treat I no longer take for granted.

Details on the card:


I tried the starburst technique I found in the tutorial section on the Operation Write Home website.  It was an easy to follow tutorial and I think I'll be using this technique again.  I just layered some cardstock and patterned paper on the inside so that my husband would have plenty of room to write his message.

Supplies:
WordArt - Karen Murray for WordArt Wednesday
Cardstock - Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
DSP - Stampin' Up
Ink - Memento (Angel Pink)
Tools/Embellishments - Crocheted trim (Hobby Lobby), Sakura Micron .01 Black Pen, Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Large, Floral Ovals)

I'm entering this card in these challenges:
WordArt Wednesday  - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays #154 - For a Special Woman
Shopping Our Stash #100 - Mother's Day or Pink (the paper has been in my stash for a long time and used mostly scraps)
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Mother's Day
Chocolate Coffee & Cards Challenge #38 - Mother's Day
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes & Use 2 or more patterned papers
V's Sweet Ideas Blog VSC #11 - Mother's Day Challenge


Today, I'm also thankful for the privilege of being "Mom" to our son and daughter.  They are our two greatest blessings.  We are so thankful that they, along with their spouses, love the Lord and seek to follow Him.  And of course, I love being "Mimi" to our precious Sir Cuteness.

Since I'm feeling nostalgic today (aka missing our children), I'm closing with one of my favorite (and rare) pics of me with our children when they were 3 and 7. {Moms, don't forget to have someone else be the photographer sometimes.  When you're at my stage of life, you'll be glad you did.}

Preserving Family Memories

When Spellbinders Paper Arts reaches a new 1000 "likes" on their Facebook page, they sometimes pick one of their followers to do a guest blog post on their Spellbinders Paper Arts Blog.  I was thrilled (what an understatement!!) to be asked to be a guest blogger for today.  What an honor!!   

When I was told that this week’s theme is Preserving Family Memories, I was pretty excited.  Our daughter, Kendra, is getting married this Saturday and this sentimental mama has lots of memories on her mind. To make getting to share on the blog even more special, my project is for our daughter and today is her birthday.  Our sweet baby girl is now a beautiful young woman and on Saturday, will become "her Samuel's" wife.  Truly....

At the wedding, Kendra is having a memorial table displaying pictures of the grandparents of the bridal couple that have already passed away.  After the wedding, I’m guessing she’ll want to use the frames from the display table to showcase wedding pictures.  I decided to make her an album to hold the pictures from the memorial table as well as pictures of those grandparents that are still living.

Here are a couple pictures of the album.  You can find more pictures and full how-to details on the Spellbinders Blog.

Supplies:

Cardstock:  The Paper Studio (black, cream), Wassau (green marbled), Recollections (cream)
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio (Gold Vintage Damask, Old Postcards)
Stamp:  Momenta
Ink: Memento (Rich Cocoa, Toffee Crunch)
Embellishments/Tools: ribbon (KaiserKraft), trim (Hobby Lobby), rub-on (Stemma), Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Small, Classic Circles Large & Small, Classic Squares Small, Lacey Squares, Lacey Circles, Decorative Photo Corners, Fancy Tags 3, Classic Edges 2, Classic Decorative Edges 5, Labels Four, Labels Four Small), pearls (Want2Scrap)

I'm linking this project up at WordArt Wednesday  and at the Spark Your Creativity Challenge #9 this week.

Thanks for stopping by today.  If you think of us, please pray that we have nice weather Saturday (the reception is outdoors) and that everyone stays well for the wedding (if you know our family, you know that is not something taken for granted).

It's Been Quiet

I know I've been quiet lately.  Our daughter is getting married next week and I'm up to my ears in wedding projects.  After the wedding, I'll share pictures of my projects but until then, I can be found in my craft room surrounded by paper, ink, glue, ribbon and a bit of bling.

I'm sure I'll have to share a picture or two of the happy couple.  :)

Many Thanks - SNSDC100

I'm sorry for my absence.  I have been side-lined by a nasty cold/virus/ear infection.  I'm on the mend but what a way to step into spring!  Ugh!

It's hard to believe that this is the 100th Challenge on the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog.  This week, we get to go back and pick our favorite challenge and use it for our card/project.  There is also a prize to be won for participating, so be sure to stop by the SNS Digi Challenge Blog for all the details.

For my card, I chose to go back to Challenge #62 which was to make a Fun Fold card.  I love fancy/fun folds so this was a fun one to do.  I really like the Cherry Blossom Branch digi, so I combine it with a couple of the sentiments in the Many Thanks sentiment set and made a Z-fold card.

The branch and flowers are colored with Copics and the flower centers are accented with tiny pearls. The rosy-tan mat was embossed and a ribbon was stretched across it.  The image panel was adhered and topped with the matted sentiment panel.  Faux stitching, pearls, rhinestones, and another flower finish it off.

The interior has another sentiment from the set, more faux stitching and just a few rhinestones.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill, Georgia Pacific, Copic, The Paper Studio
Patterned Paper:  NRN Designs
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Cherry Blossom Branch, Many Thanks)
Copics: E35, 37, R20, 22
Embellishments/Tools:  pearls (Stampin' Up), flower (Prima), ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), rhinestone flourish (Recollections), rhinestones (Best Occasions), Sharpie Fine Point pen (brown), CuttleBug Embossing Folder (Victoria), Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Large & Small, Floral Ovals)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #75 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Bingo (I used the bottom row - Bloom, ribbon, gems)
Tuesday Throwdown #142 - Fancy Fold
Scrap Creations  - Flower Power (image and/or papers must have flowers)
Simon Says Stamp! - April Showers and/or Spring Flowers (I chose just the flowers)

I hope you'll stop by the challenge blog and see what the rest of the Design Team has to show you.  And please do participate and help us celebrate the 100th challenge.  Sadly, it is also the last challenge.  The clear stamps and dies side of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is really booming.  So Korin has had to make the difficult decision to devote her time and attention to that and let some other things go.  She will continue to have the digis on the website and may have a digi release from time to time, but will no longer have regular monthly digi releases.  I will truly miss being on the Digi Challenge Design Team but you can be sure you'll still be seeing SNS Digis here for a long time.  I can't go too long without Cocoa & Rhubarb.  :)

Have a good day and I hope you're enjoying spring weather in your corner of the world.  Thanks for stopping by!

Think Spring!! - SNSDC98

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog is to make a Spring card.  Nothing says spring to me more than Easter.  I think in my mind, that's the "official" start to spring.  I love Rhubarb and hadn't made a card with him in awhile. I thought this image and the accompanying greeting were perfect for a card for our daughter.  The Rhubarb's Easter image comes with 2 sentiments.  What a great value!!

I really liked this week's Mojo Monday sketch so I used it for the design of the card.  The card measures 5.5" square.  I using scraps to make the card so I embossed a piece of cardstock to use for the banner on the sketch. Rhubarb was colored with Copics and cut out.  I traced some of the swirls and flowers in the patterned paper with a glitter pen but of course, it doesn't show up well in the picture.  :(  A little bling, a button topped bow and the card is done. 

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Copic, Georgia Pacific, The Paper Company
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Easter Rhubarb)
Copic Markers:  R81, 83, B23, V04, E01, 07, 08, 09, 31, 33 ,35, 37
Tools/Embellishments:  Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Swiss Dots), rhinestones (The Paper Studio),  Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Large & Small, Floral Ovals), ribbon (Ribbon Trends), baker's twine (The Twinery - honeydew), button from stash, Sakura Pens (Glaze Pen, Gelly Roll Clear Star), washi tape (Freckled Fawn), CM square punch, Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday #286 - Sketch
Word Art Wednesday #73 - Anything Goes
Stamptacular Sunday #208 - Fuzzy Friends
Catered Crop - Flowers
Craft Your Passion #155 - Make it Cute
Digi Darla #55 (DDC#55) - Flowers
Scrap Creations (GGSC149) - Easter
Delightful Challenges - Bunny/Rabbit/Spring (obviously, I chose Spring)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Spark Your Creativity Now #7 Challenge - Anything Goes
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #42 - Anything Goes with Ribbon
4 Crafty Chicks #135 - Easter
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #200 - Mother's Day or For a Female
MFP Speedy Fox & Friends Challenge #152 - Easter or bunnies
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #35 - Bring on Spring


Thanks for stopping by today.  Sir Cuteness (our 3 year old grandson) is bringing his parents for a visit this weekend.  Can't wait!! 

Happy Easter!

Jesus Is Risen!

I've been seeing some pretty cards lately that have used vellum and/or parchment paper.  This type of paper is something I find challenging to use.  However, when I saw this Stained Glass Cross digi stamp I decided to give it a try.  I remembered the fun I had with a tent card (you can see mine here and find a great tutorial here) and thought a parchment stained glass window would work well for that type of card.

The image was printed on the parchment and then colored with copics.  I mounted the image, colored side down, on plain white cardstock to help it show up better.  The window in the card was made with nestabilities dies and framed with pearlized paper and a floral oval die cut.  The sentiment was given the same layering and some faux stitching was added.  Faux stitching was also added to the background panel.  I added lots of pearls, an organdy bow and a Prima flower to finish things off.  The finished card is 4.25" x 5.5".

I really like this sentiment from the Easter Blessings set.   It's such a great reminder of why we celebrate Resurrection Sunday.  Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin.  {He was sinless so He could pay the price that we could not.}  However, He didn't remain dead.  On the third day, He gloriously rose from the dead.  That's why we serve a Risen Saviour.  Christ died on the cross, paying the penalty for our sin, so that He could provide the way for us to one day live with Him in Heaven. Accepting Christ as Saviour is the THE most important decision you will ever make.  It determines where you will spend eternity. If you have not already done so, I'd encourage you to accept this free gift of salvation and ask Him to be your Lord and Saviour.  Not sure how to do that? It's as simple as A - B - C:

A - Admit that you are a sinner.
Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

B - Believe that Christ died on the cross for your sins. 
1 Corinthians 15:3b-4 says, "...Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

C - Confess your sin and ask Christ to save you.
Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." 

If you have questions, need more information about salvation or if you've just asked Christ to save you, please let me know by either leaving a comment below or emailing me through the contact me link in the sidebar.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (green), Georgia Pacific (white),  Cor'dinations (pearlized), Fiskars (parchment)
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Picadilly)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Stained Glass Cross, Easter Blessings)
Embellishments/Tools:  Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Large & Small, Floral Ovals, Petite Ovals Large & Small, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large), Prima Flower, Ribbon Trends organdy ribbon, Stampin' Up pearls, CM fine point black pen

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday #73 - Anything Goes
Catered Crop - Flowers
Digi Darla #55 (DDC#55) - Flowers
Scrap Creations (GGSC149) - Easter
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sunday #147 - Stitching
Whimsy Inspires #57 - Stitching
Spark Your Creativity Now #7 Challenge - Anything Goes
2 Sisters Challenge #136 - Easter/Spring
Creatalicious Challenges #46 - Lovely Easter
MFP Speedy Fox & Friends Challenge #152 - Easter (or Bunny)
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks #135 - Easter

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you have a wonderful Resurrection Sunday (Easter) this coming weekend.

Happy Camper - SNSDC97

After a long week, it's always nice to see Friday arrive.  :)  This week is no exception.  Our weather has been absolutely crazy.  Last Saturday, we went about in shirt sleeves and no jackets, Sunday we were snowed in and by late afternoon couldn't get off our hill.  Monday brought LOTS of rain and today more snow.  Craziness!!  :)

This week's Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge is to make a masculine birthday card.  Since our son's birthday was yesterday (how can my first baby be 27?!?), I made mine with him in mind.  He loves to go to Ely, MN, camp on an island and fish.  So, I used the Campsite for the focal image and the campfire from Campfire Goodies to accent one of the sentiments from Masculine Birthday Greetings.

I knew I wanted to use kraft and for masculine cards, I really like brown & blue with kraft.  So, that influenced the mat color and the color of the tent. I found some old wood-grained paper in my stash.  A little embossing and direct-to-paper inking added to the woody look.  The tent scene was reverse-framed using nestabilities. The campfire and tent scene were colored with copics.  The sentiment and campfire were popped up for some dimension.  Stickles add some sparkle to the fire and a glitter pen adds some interest to the moon & stars.  Faux stitching and inking help the sentiment fit in with the theme.

I used lots of interior decorating. The interior sentiment was generated in Word using the Americana font.  More faux stitching and inking carry the rustic theme to the interior.

On the left side of the interior, I made a pocket to hold a gift card.  I used the same embossing/inking technique for the pocket. I mimicked the front sentiment by the computer generated label and the puppy from the Let's Go Fishing Puppy set.  The puppy was colored with copics.  A glitter pen adds metallic sparkle to the tag on his collar and a glaze pen makes his nose shiny.  The puppy and banner are also popped up on pop-dots.  You can see that a little better in the picture for the right side of the interior.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (kraft), Bazzill (navy), Copic (sentiments and images)
Patterned Paper:  Hot Off the Press
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Campsite, Campfire Goodies, Let's Go Fishing Puppy, Masculine Birthday Greetings)
Ink:  Memento (Toffee Crunch, Expresso Truffle)
Copics:  Tent (B21, 23, 26, G07, 09, 14, 17, YG05, BG10, Y11, 17, C-0, C-1, N0, N1), Fire (E33, 35, 37, Y11, 13, 15, R27, YR07, 21), Puppy (E24, 31, 29, 50, B21, 23, 26)
Tools and Embellishments: Sharpie fine point pen (brown), Sakura Gelly Roll pen (clear star), Sakura Glaze pen, Cuttlebug embossing folder (Distressed Stripes), Spellbinders (Deckled Rectangles Large & Small), Stickles (Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sunday #146 - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday #72 - Anything Goes
Spark Your Creativity #7 - Anything Goes
The Kraft Journal - Use favorite color with kraft
V's Sweet Ideas #9 - Masculine theme
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons #41 - One for the Boys  (masculine theme - doesn't have to have ribbons)
Whimsy Inspirations Challenge #57 - Stitching - real or faux

I hope you'll join us this week for our Masculine Birthday Challenge.  And I'd also like to wish Ian, the best son a mom could every hope for, a very Happy Birthday!!