Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!!

Last Friday, Dec. 28th, my husband and I celebrated our 28th anniversary.  The Lord graciously gave me a husband that is my best friend and is a godly leader for our home.  I have been blessed FAR beyond what I deserve. 



I wanted to make him an anniversary card, and when I saw this digi sentiment from Clear Dollar Stamps in their Unity Candle digi set, I knew I was on the right track. In PSE, I layered the sentiment over a picture of our actual unity candle (I lowered the opacity to 50%) and let that be the focal point of the card.  Some Spellbinders dies helped with the accents, and textured/embossed Bazzill cardstock and brads added  masculine touches.

Supplies:
Card base:  The Paper Company
Cardstock:  Recollections, Copic, Core'dinations, Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Times & Seasons)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Unity Candle)
Ink:  Stampin' Up (Creamy Caramel)
Tools/Embellishments: brads (Paper Studio), Spellbinders (Deckled Rectangles Large & Small, Fancy Tags 3, Decorative Photo Corners), PSE7

And just because I'm feeling a bit nostalgic, here are a couple pics from our wedding day.







Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you've enjoyed the Christmas season.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

WAW #60 - Quick Bookmark

I hope each of you enjoyed your Christmas holiday and were able to spend time with those you love.  We were able to spend the day with our daughter and her fiance and were in contact with our son via text and phone call.  (He and his family came up a little over a week ago to celebrate with us since they couldn't be here on Christmas day.)

Today is my last post as a Guest Designer for Word Art Wednesday.  This has been a quick month!  I'd like to thank Karen for the honor of being asked to guest design for one of my favorite challenges.  She is fantastic to work with and she is one of the most encouraging people I have ever met!  What a blessing she is!



The focus sentiment this week is a quote by Helen Keller.  I chose to use it on a simple bookmark.  I printed the sentiment and matted it on kraft cardstock. I layered a piece of patterned paper on a kraft cardstock base.  The sentiment panel was layered on top and faux stitching was added to the sentiment and the patterned paper layers.  Three flowers were fussy cut from coordinating patterned paper and attached with glue dots.  I kept everything flat so that it would be functional.  The flower centers and the swirls in the background paper were accented with Stickles.  An eyelet and baker's twine finished off this easy-to-make bookmark.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Express-it, Recollections
Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny (Serenade Poppies)
Stamp:  Word Art Wednesday
Embellishments/Tools:  Round-it-All corner rounder, eyelet (American Crafts), baker's twine (The Twinery), Stickles (Christmas Red, Star Dust), Sharpie fine point marker (brown), Sakura Micron (black)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sunday #134 - Focus on the Sentiment
Spark Your Creativity Now Challenge #4 - Anything Goes


Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll play along with us this week.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Winter Wishes - SNSDC85

It's time for another Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Digi Challenge and for some added excitement the design team is showcasing the 3 new digi releases today.  The challenge this week is super-easy...use your favorite colors.  To allow the design team time to be with their families, this challenge will run for 2 weeks.  

I was able to play with Bundled Autumn and the Winter Wishes Sentiments set.





When I think of cards that have snow on them, blue & white is my favorite combination.  When I make a card for a girl, I like to have pink.  So, for my card today, I used all three colors, blue, white & pink.  Of course, with snow and girls, you need lots of sparkle!  Stickles & bling were a must!!



Autumn was colored with Copics and her flower, eyes and coat toggles were highlighted with metallic pens.  Her eyes also got a white highlight dot from an opaque white pen.  Her coat pockets & the flower on her hat received some "stickles" attention.  Autumn was fussy-cut and popped up on dimensionals.  The snowflake is double-layered and the top layer also received stickles as well as a button & baker's twine.  The bling "wind" flourish adds more sparkle.

The sentiment was cut out with the smaller frame in the Spellbinders Polka Dot Frames set.  The sentiment is on the center cut out. I'll use the actual frame on another project.  The pink mat was hand-cut. The heart was colored with a copic marker and then red was toned down with a metallic pen.  Then some stickles were added for the last touch of sparkle. The Edgeabilities die adds some "snow" interest along the bottom of the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Express-it, Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny (Snowfall)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Bundled Autumn, Winter Wishes Sentiments)
Embellishments/Tools:  Copics (R20, 27, 81, 83, 85; B000, 21, 23, 26, 32; E 00, 01, 31, 33, 35, 37; YG03, Y11), Sakura {Micron-black pen, Gelly Roll Metallic Pens (pink, green, red)}, Spellbinders (Polka Dot Frame, Create-a-Flake 4, Classic Edges 2, Classic Decorative Inserts 5), button (stash), baker's twine (The Twinery - denim), Stickles (Star Dust), Uni-ball white opaque pen

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #59 - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PWC237) - Glitter
Shopping Our Stash #82 - Winter but NOT holiday
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Out with the old, in with the NEW (New to me (early Christmas gifts) are the snowflake dies, metallic pen set, this set of bling flourishes and of course Autumn & the sentiment are brand new digis)


 Come play along with us this week and show us your favorite colors.  I hope each of you will enjoy the Christmas holiday with those you love.  Let's never forget that Jesus truly IS the reason for the season.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

WAW #59 - Christmas Door Sign

It's time for another Word Art Wednesday Challenge.  As always, these challenges are Anything Goes.  As long as your project is positive and uplifting, feel free to link up to 5 projects each week.  This week, our prize is sponsored by Daydream Designs.  Diane graciously provided digis stamps for us to use.  I chose to use the pre-colored Deck the Halls Digi Set.

The focus verse this week is Luke 2:14, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."  While we think of this as a "Christmas" verse, and it is, what a great reminder all year 'round that we should be giving God the glory and striving to live in peace with goodwill towards all men/women.  If you really think about it, that's enough to keep you busy 365 days a year!




My husband and I have an apartment on the first floor of the men's dorm on the college campus where he teaches.  Because there are also guest rooms on our floor, we keep a sign on our interior hall door with our names on it to let visitors know who lives here.  At my daughter-in-law's suggestion, I decided to make a special one for the Christmas season.  Our printer ink is running out, so I touched up some of the leaves & petals on the poinsettia with a little copic coloring.  The candle flame, wax "drip" and the poinsettia received some attention from various colors of Stickles.  An organdy bow finishes off the sign.  I kept it pretty simple since it has to hang on the door.  I added four magnets to the back to attach it to the metal door.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Express-it, DCWV
Patterned paper:  DCWV (Heirloom Christmas)
Stamps:  Word Art Wednesday (scripture), Daydream Designs (Deck the Halls Digi Set - Color)
Embellishments/Tools:  Stickles (Star Dust, Yellow, Orange Peel), ribbon (Ribbon Trends), Copic Markers (R27, G07, G17), Spellbinders Grand Labels One

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge (PPMC70) - Christmas
Really Reasonable Ribbon #62 - Anything Goes + Ribbon
 

As the Lord brings it to your mind, please be in prayer for the family and friends of Word Art Wednesday Design Team member, Paula Pike.  Yesterday, the Lord delivered Paula from her battle with cancer by taking her Home to be with Him.  While Paula is enjoying the glories of Heaven, she will be greatly missed by her husband, four children and many friends.

Thanks for stopping by and hug those you love just a little closer today.

Peace & Joy

It's time for my final project as the December Guest Designer for Mark's Finest Papers Sketch with a Twist Challenge.  My month with them has gone quickly and I've enjoyed using their beautiful stamps.  I'm a bit late posting this today as our internet went out last night.  I am really pleased with our internet company though because they had a service tech out here after work tonight and he fixed the line & replaced the modem.  Most companies don't have "after work hours" techs still working let alone give you same day service.   Anyway....back to the important stuff -- I'll try to keep it short & sweet to get this posted ASAP.

Here is this week's sketch....



This week's twist is to make a Christmas card.



My version includes some die cutting on the background mat and sentiment panel.  I hand cut the music sheet & one spray of pine cones & evergreens.  The spray was accented with some stickles.  There are a few pearls scattered about and two ribbons layered together.  The words on the sentiment panel were traced with a glitter pen for a little added sparkle.




I did a little interior decorating.  I kept it fairly simple and just layered a few die cuts.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Core'dinations (pearls - card base), Recollections (cream), DCWV (Christmas & Winter Cardstock stack)
Patterned Paper:  DCWV (Heirloom Christmas)
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers (Greetings of the Season Mini Stamp Set, Christmas Music Stamp Set )
Ink/Markers:  Memento (Rich Cocoa), Bic Mark-it Markers (Woodsy Brown, Honey Brown, Tiki Hut Tan, Forest Green, Key Lime), Sharpie Brown Fine Point Marker
Embellishments/Tools:  pearls (Paper Studio, SU), Stickles (Star Dust), Sakura Gelly Roll pen (Clear Star), ribbon (Ribbon Trends Organdy, American Crafts satin) Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Large, Floral Ovals, Classic Squares Large & Small, Lacey Squares, Classic Decorative Inserts 5, Classic Decorative Edges 2)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday #194  - Christmas Card 
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge (PPMC70) - Christmas
Really Reasonable Ribbon #62 - Anything Goes + Ribbon

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit today.  I hope you'll play along in this week's challenge and use this versatile sketch to finish up those last minute Christmas cards.

Friday, December 14, 2012

SNSDC84 - Tag You're It!

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog is to make a tag.  You can add the tag to a gift, have it be a to/from tag or even have a tag on a card. Your tag doesn't even have to be Christmas themed.  One of the DT chose to make a Valentine's Day card. The choice is your's as long as there's a tag.



I chose to keep things simple and made two to/from tags that can also be bookmarks after the holidays.  I went with some of my favorites on this project.  I used Rhubarb {he's such a cute teddy bear}, my new floral oval and classic oval dies and traditional red & green papers.



For one tag I used Rhubarb and his candy cane and the other Rhubarb and his stocking.  I colored Rhubarb and his candy cane/stocking with Copics.  I accented the bow on the candy cane with star dust stickles and the fur on the stocking with frosted lace stickles.  I also added some stickles to the holly on the stocking.



After coloring, I die cut both the image panel and patterned paper mat from classic oval nesties.  Then they were layered on top of the next to largest floral oval die cut.  A jute string provides the hang tie.  VERY simple.  I didn't add pearls or other bumpy embellishments so that they could be used as bookmarkers after they finish their jobs as package tags.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Express-it, Bazzill
Patterned paper:  Echo Park (Season's Greetings)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Rhubarb's Stocking, Rhubarb's Candy Cane)
Copics: Rhubarb's Candy Cane (E01, 09, 31, 33, 35, 37, N0, W1, G14, 17, R27), Rhubarb's Stocking (E01, 09, 31, 33, 35, 37, N0, W1, G17, R27)
Embellishments/Tools:  Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Small & Large, Floral Ovals), jute (JoAnn's), Stickles (Star Dust, Frosted Lace, Christmas Red, Green)

I'm entering these tags in the following challenges:
Stamptacular Sunday #193 - Anything But a Card
Catered Crop - Gift Tags
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge #69 (PPMC69) - Red, Green & your choice (I chose brown)
Word Art Wednesday #58 - anything goes
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Christmas is in the Air!
Crafty Ribbon Challenge #34 - Tag
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #4 - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin' - Dies & Punches

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you have a good weekend.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

God Shall Supply... - WAW #58

It's Wednesday, so that means that it's time for another Word Art Wednesday Challenge.  WAW challenges are always "Anything Goes." Any type of art project is welcome as long as it has an encouraging or uplifting sentiment on it.  This week we have two generous sponsors:  Detailed 4 You will be providing a prize for one winner and Cynthia Millan of Stampin' Up has offered one winner TWO stamp sets (Come to Bethlehem AND Crosses of Hope). 

I really like this week's Word Art Wednesday focus verse.  It is Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  The phrase "My God" reminds me that He's someone I know personally and can enjoy a close relationship with Him. "Shall supply" reminds me that He WILL be faithful. "All your need" means He won't skip any of my needs, He'll meet all of them.  "According to His riches" means He's using His own resources to supply my needs.  Since He owns everything, no need is ever too great/expensive for Him to provide.  "In glory by Christ Jesus" means I can claim Him as my God because of Jesus' work at Calvary and to Him be the glory.

Be sure to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to pick up your beautiful FREE digi of this verse.  Even if you never use it on a project, print it out and put it where you can see it frequently.  It will be a great reminder that God is always faithful.



A couple week's ago, I saw a "new to me" card fold on Karin's blog.  I love different card folds and so this week I gave it a try.  She didn't give a name or dimensions to her card fold so I'm not sure what it's called nor what size she made her card.  ETA:  I've discovered it's called a "Z-fold" card.  Beate has a great tutorial on her blog here.  Completely folded, my card is 4.5" high by 6" wide.  The base cardstock is 4.5" x 12".  I scored it on the 12" side at 3" & 6".  I folded it as a normal card on the 6" score line and then folded the front backwards at the 3" score line.  This gives you a "hidden" panel on the inside that measures 3" wide by 4.5" high to decorate.



I combined this week's Scripture digi with an outline digi from the Morning Devotions digi set by Clear Dollar Stamps.  I colored the Bible & coffee cup with my copics.  After die-cutting the panel, I sponged it before removing it from the die.  I hand-cut the mat.  I layered this panel on the largest floral oval Spellbinders die.  I only attached the left side to the front panel and embellished it with 3 Prima flowers.  I used some Crystal Effects on the coffee in the cup.  A trio of pearls accent the front panel and another trio accent the inside panel.



Here is an over-head view of the card:



The inside panel was also sponged with the same pink ink and a coordinating rub-on was added to the bottom left corner.



I'm using the "hidden panel" as the spot to write a short message to the recipient.  It is a piece of the base cardstock die-cut & sponged and then layered over the next to largest floral oval Spellbinders.



Supplies:
Cardstock: Wassau, Express-it, Making Memories (aqua), Bazzill (pink)
Patterned Papers:  Prima (Madeline)
Stamps:  Word Art Wednesday (Philippians 4:19 digi), Clear Dollar Stamps (Morning Devotions Digi Set), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Praying for You Digi Set)
Inks:  Memento (Angel Pink), Copics (N0, 1, 3, 5, 9, E24, 50, R81, 83, 85)
Embellishments/Tools:  flowers (Prima), rub-on (Prima), pearls (Stampin' Up), SU Crystal Effects, Spellbinders (Labels 7, Classic Ovals Large, Floral Ovals)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #58 - Use Scripture/positive sentiment
Love to Create #45 - Anything Goes
Great Impressions - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin' - Dies & Punches
Pile it On #49 - Embellishments
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #4 - Anything Goes

I hope you'll join us this week and link up your current project(s).  Feel free to link up to 5 projects per week.

I appreciate you taking time out of your day to spend a few minutes with me.  I hope you'll come back soon.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Sketch with a Twist #24 - Celebrate Big!

This week's sketch at Mark's Finest Paper's Sketch with a Twist Challenge #24 is a fun and easy one.  The twist is to include a food or drink item on your card.

Here's sketch #24 designed by Karen Letchworth:





I made a standard A2 card and rounded the top right and lower left corners for a little something different.  Otherwise, I stayed pretty true to the sketch.  These colors are a little out of my comfort zone but I thought this paper with all the cakes & pies and was perfect for this challenge.




I used 4 stamps from the Celebrate Big set from Mark's Finest Papers.  I used two sentiments for the boxes on the left side of the sketch.  For the box on the right side, I paper pieced the cupcake and cherry.  I matted the cupcake panel and added some stickles to the icing.  I fussy cut the cherry and added it to the top of the cupcake.  The panel was popped up over the ribbon.


 
Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Express-it, Bazzill
Patterned paper:  Stampin' Up
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers (Celebrate Big)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Embellishments/Tools:  Copics (G14, 100), Stickles (Star Dust), ribbon from stash, Zutter Round-it-all

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #57 - Positive Sentiment
Eureka Stamps #18 - Sparkle & shine
Love to Create #45 - Anything Goes


I hope you'll play along with us this week using this fun & easy sketch.  Don't forget the twist of adding a food or drink item.  

Thanks for coming to visit today.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Fill Your Heart with Joy - SNSDC83

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog is an easy one.  We'd like to see you make a Christmas card.  The only requirement is that you have to use digi stamps.  If you use Sweet 'n Sassy digi stamps you may be chosen to be spotlighted on the blog during next week's challenge.



I chose to use this happy snowman on my card this week.  I used this week's sketch from SCS (SC414) for the card design.  It really came together quickly.  The finished card is 4.25" x 5.5" and the squares on the front are 2 3/8".  I embossed the background panel with the Cuttlebug embossing folder and matted it on a piece of dark blue cardstock.  I colored the Smiley Snowman with markers and fussy cut him.  I gave him a couple black pearls for buttons.  A few rhinestones were added to some of the snowflakes.  Even with the rhinestones and pearls, it is still pretty flat so it shouldn't require extra postage to mail.



For the interior, I used the Merry Christmas sentiment from the Christmas Sentiments set and added a couple punched hearts. 

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Express-it, Georgia Pacific, The Paper Company
Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny (Snowfall)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Smiley Snowman, Christmas Sentiments, Christmas Greetings)
Markers:  Copics (B000, B21, B23, B26, N0, 0), Bic Mark-it (Misty Blue)
Embellishments/Tools:  pearls (Queen & Co.), rhinestones (Recollections), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Snowflakes), heart punch (EK Success)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Wordart Wednesday #57 - Positive sentiment
Sentimental Sunday #131 - Non-traditional Christmas colors
Love to Create #44 - Holiday Cheer
Craft Your Passion #139 - Snow
Shopping Our Stash #80 - Snow/Winter Holiday
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #126 - White Christmas
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PWC235) - Christmas inspired
Simon Says Stamp - Snowflakes
Divas by Design #64 - Let it snow
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Christmas
4 Crafty Chicks #119 (4CCC-119) - Snowmen
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #4 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by and sharing part of your day with me.  I hope you'll come back soon.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Sketch With A Twist #23 - Happy Birthday

This is my 2nd post for today.  If you are looking for my Word Art Wednesday post, please scroll down or click here.

I am also excited to let you know that I have the honor of being the Guest Designer for this month's Sketch with a Twist Challenge at Mark's Finest Papers.   Each week a sketch is posted for you to use and a "twist" is given for a little extra challenge. This is more than just a double honor for being the Guest Designer for two different sites but it's also a double honor to get to work with my friend Karen on both sites as well.  What a treat!!

There have been some technical difficulties lately with posting the sketches so this is sort of a "catch-up" week.  You have your choice of 3 sketches to use.  You may choose to enter a card for each sketch or pick your favorite.  Each card is another entry to win a nice stamp set. You don't have to use Mark's Finest Papers stamps to enter so be sure to play along with us.

I was given sketch #23 to work this for this week.  This week's "twist" is to make a birthday card.  I chose to flip the sketch upside down and turn the card into a square.  That's the beauty of "artistic interpretation" at it's finest!!  :)



I stamped the Dogwood Blossoms branch in brown ink and then colored them with my copics.  The flowers and leaves ended up a bit too bright for my papers, so I used E31 over them to tone them down and give them a brownish cast.  I added brown pearls and cinnamon stickles to the centers and gave the rest of the petals a little attention from my favorite star dust stickles.  I inked the image panel before removing it from the die.  I used my paper piercer to add some interest to the scallops on the mat.

This card was completely made from scraps (except for the card base).  The beauty of this sketch is the horizontal band -- it covers where two smaller pieces of paper meet.  Gotta love that!

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections
Patterned paper:  Basic Grey (it's from my BG scrap stash so I'm not sure they are all from the same collection)
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers (Dogwood Blossoms, Celebrate Big)
Ink:  Memento (Rich Cocoa), Stampin' Up (Creamy Caramel)
Embellishments/Tools:  Stickles (Cinnamon, Star Dust), pearls (Recollections), ribbon (Ribbon Trends), WRMK craft mat, Tim Holtz craft pick, Spellbinders (Petite Ovals Small, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge (PPMC68) - Use Ribbon
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday #57 - Positive sentiment
Pile It On Challenge #49 - Embellishments
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #4 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  I do hope you'll play along with us this week.  You just might win a very pretty stamp set!


Deuteronomy 16:17 - WAW #57

I was so excited & honored to be asked to be the Guest Designer this month for Word Art Wednesday.  I love using Scripture on my cards so this has been one of my favorite challenge blogs ever since a friend introduced it to me shortly after it got started.  I am thrilled to get a 2nd chance to be a Guest Designer for them (May 2012 was my first time guest designing for WAW).

Word Art Wednesday is always an "Anything Goes" challenge as long as it has a positive, uplifting sentiment.  Each week a digi freebie is made available.  It's usually a Scripture digi but sometimes it's an encouraging quote.  You are free to use the freebie or just link up whatever you are working on at the time.



This week's free digi is Deuteronomy 16:17.  I chose to make it the focal point of my card and not use any other images with it.  The Lord has given each of us something that we can share with others.  It's not always a monetary thing.  Sometimes, it's our time or talents.  When we share what we have with others, God can receive the glory.  I thought this verse would be great used on a card thanking someone for giving of themselves in some sort of ministry to others.



After die-cutting and matting the verse, I arranged part of a pearl flourish around it before layering it on a floral oval die-cut with dimensionals.  Some individual pearls were added to the floral oval as accents.  Another part of a pearl flourish was attached under the flower.  A button and pearl were added to the center of the flower.  Some faux stitching was added to the patterned paper background and to the ovals.  A die cut strip and some ribbon add the finished touches.



Supplies:
Sketch:  Papertake Weekly sketch #74 (designed by Dawny P)
Cardstock:  Recollections, Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up
Stamp:  Digi Scripture from Word Art Wednesday
Embellishments & Tools:  Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Small & Large, Floral Ovals, Classic Decorative Inserts 5, Classic Edges 2), Sharpie Fine Tip Pen (brown), pearls (Recollections, Paper Studio), pearl flourish (Prima Say It in Pearls), ribbon (May Arts), flower (Studio G), button from my stash

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
The Crafty Pad #199 - Stitching (real or faux)
Pile It On #49 - Embellishments
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge #68 (PPMC68) - Use ribbon
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Delightful Challenges - Add a flower
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #4 - Anything Goes 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll play along with us at Word Art Wednesday.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Bundle of Joy - SNSDC81

This week's challenge at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog is to decorate the interior of your card (what I call "interior decorating").  I really enjoy decorating the inside and adding little touches to make it special too.


I matted the sentiment and popped it up over a bling flourish.  A little pink bling adds some interest under the sentiment.  A pretty bow adds another girly touch to the front. This card was made using the scraps left over from the baby album I made a couple weeks ago and was sent with it to Japan.  Precious Leah surprised everyone and arrived a couple weeks early.  Mama & baby are doing well.  {The cover of the album can be seen here.  I'm still working on editing the photos for the rest of the album and then I'll post them. }

For the interior decorating, I decorated both inside panels.  On the left side I matted Psalm 127:3.


For the right side, I added a punched border above the sentiment.  I added a little more bling between the scallops. 



Supplies:
Card base:  Bazzill
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Sweet Threads)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Baby Blessings)
Embellishments/Tools:  ribbon (Ribbon Trends), bling (Prima, Best Occasions), border punches (Fiskars - Apron Lace & Threading Water), Spellbinders (Petite Scalloped Ovals, Petite Ovals)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #56 - Anything Goes/encouraging sentiment
Paper Pretties Monday Challenges (PPMC67) - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PWC234) - Girly Cards
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Pile It On Challenge #48 - Anything BUT a Christmas Card
Tuesday Throwdown #125 - Lots of Layers
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #3 - Anything Goes
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Use Scraps


I'm so glad you visited today.  I hope you'll play along in this week's challenge and let us see your interior decorating.



Thursday, November 29, 2012

Friends of SNSS Blog Hop

This is my 2nd post for today.  Please scroll down one post to see my last guest design project for Daydream Designs.

Today I have the honor of participating in the Friends of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (SNSS) Blog Hop!  You'll want to visit as many blogs along the way as you can because one commenter on four of the blogs will be chosen to receive a $15 store credit.  To be included in the drawing, you must leave your comments by midnight EST, Friday, November 30th.  The winners will be announced on the SNSS blog on Sat., Dec. 1st.

I first became acquainted with SNSS shortly after the company first started 5 years ago.  What initially drew me to SNSS was that they had KJV Scripture stamps.  Those are hard to find and I was so excited to find so many in one place.  THEN I discovered digi stamps and Cocoa and Rhubarb and....  well, I was hooked pretty quickly!!  I was so honored in early 2011 when Korin asked me to help promote SNSS on what was then the Christian Paper Crafts site.  In May of that year, I was even more honored when she asked me to be a member of the SNS Digi Challenge design team.  Last month I became the DT Coordinator for that team and love using SNSS stamps & digis more than ever.

For my project for the hop, I wanted to show you a simple door sign I made for our daughter's college dorm door.  When she first saw this digi, she instantly asked, "Could you make me a Merry Christmas sign for my door and use that Cocoa?"  Of course, I said, "Yes."  I'm going to miss these requests after she gets married next spring.



Since it's for a door and needed to stay light so that sticky-tack will hold it up, I kept the design CAS.  Before printing, I separated the sentiment into two lines in Word to keep things more balanced.  Gotta love that about digis! I colored the image with copics and added some shading/texture with a colorless blender.   I used my Grand Big Scalloped Oval nesties for the layers.  I traced and hand-cut the solid red mat because I needed it that in-between size. The plaid layer is actually pieced together.  I was using scraps and didn't have a piece big enough so I put two pieces together and lined up the plaids.  I taped it together, placed the die strategically, then die-cut and embossed it.  Since it has layers on top of it, you really can't tell from the front unless you look at it very closely.  I don't even think our daughter noticed....shhh don't tell.  :)




I used some Crystal Effects on the candy cane and Cocoa's nose for dimension, added Frosted Lace Stickles to the marshmallows, and gave the snowflakes some sparkle with Star Dust Stickles. 

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Express-It, Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Season's Greetings)
Stamps:  SNSS Digis (Sweet Cocoa, Christmas Sentiments)
Inks:  Copics (N0, N1, N3, N5, N7, G14, G17, R27, E01, Colorless Blender)
Embellishments/Tools:  SU Crystal Effects, Stickles (Frosted Lace, Star Dust), Spellbinders Grand Big Scalloped Ovals

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #56 - Anything Goes
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #167 - Christmas
The Crafty Pad - Glitter
Craft Your Passion - Holiday Edibles (candy cane)
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge (PPMC67) - Anything Goes
Scrap Creations - Christmas
Whimsy Stamps #53 - Traditional Christmas Colors
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #3 - Anything Goes
Terrifically Thrilling Thursdays - Use Scraps

Thanks for hopping by today.  Don't forget to leave comments as you hop along so that you'll have the best chance to win one of the four $15 prizes hidden among all the participating blogs.  Be sure to stop by the SNSS blog on Sat., Dec. 1st, to see if you are the winner.

Please also come back tomorrow for the new SNS Digi Challenge.

Expressly for You

It's hard to believe that this is my last post as a Guest Designer for Daydream Designs.  Wow!  The month flew by.  I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Diane for allowing me the honor of being a Guest Designer this month. I have really enjoyed working with her digis and she is such an encourager.  What a blessing!!    Diane has such a great variety in the store -- if you haven't already visited there, I hope you will soon.  You are sure to find something (or a lot of somethings) that you will like.

With Christmas quickly approaching, and with gift cards an increasingly popular item to give, I thought I'd make a gift card holder this week.  I found this Tri-Fold Gift Card Holder tutorial on YouTube by Holly Krautkremer that was perfect for what I wanted to do.  It's quick, easy, versatile, and cute!  What's not to like?  I used her tutorial as a starting point and changed things up a little to suit me.  :) My biggest changes were that I didn't make the pocket as deep and used matted patterned paper instead of stamping on cardstock.  Closed, the holder measures 4" wide and 3" tall.  You can get two holders (not including any matting) out of one sheet of 8.5" x 11" cardstock.  It's also a great project to use up some of those scraps that are lurking around in your stash.





I found a partial sheet of this coffee themed paper in my scrap stash.  It's a perfect choice for a coffee gift card and goes well with the kraft cardstock base. I matted the patterned paper on a burgundy cardstock.  The cardstock had a white core that I didn't want to show so I inked the edges of the cardstock and the kraft base.



The holder is kept closed with a belly band.  For the belly band embellishment, I die cut and matted the pre-colored coffee cup with whipped cream from The Perfect Blend set and used them to cover where the ends of the belly band meet.  I don't like to have the "raw" ends visible when doing projects like this so I always try to cover them in some way.  I used Frosted Lace stickles for the whipped cream and added some Star Dust stickles for the steam.  I used a Sakura glaze pen to add a little shine for the coffee.  I also used another "odds & ends" find from my stash and used these tiny pearls around the outer edge.  I love pearls so I think these have been in my stash so long because they are so tiny.  They're all gone now though.  :(



When you open the holder, you have three panels.  In the top panel, I used the matching line art image as a watermark and used one of the sentiments from the Coffee with Friends Sentiments set over it.  The middle panel is where the gift card is attached.  In the bottom panel, there is a pocket for a tag or card to write a message to the recipient.  I used another of the pre-colored images from The Perfect Blend set as my card/tag front and matted it on kraft cardstock.  Below is a picture of the tag outside of the pocket.



I can see this gift holder being used for so many different types of gifts.  It could actually hold up to 3 gift cards.  I'm sure you can come up with lots of ideas on your own but here are some quick gift ideas I came up with as I thought about all the ways to use this holder for special gifts:

1.  Give someone a Girl's Day Out and include gift cards for a manicure/pedicure, a favorite shop and their favorite lunch spot.
2. I'm a firm believer in dating for married couples. :) Friday night is date night around here (after almost 28 years of marriage I must admit some dates consist of McDonald's and a trip to Walmart or a $5 pizza and DVD from Redbox, but the point is time spent together.)  So of course my mind ran towards date night gift cards.  You could include cards for dinner at a restaurant, frozen yogurt,  & coffee.  They could have one big "night on the town" or several smaller date nights.
3.  Give new parents gift cards for baby shops, grocery stores and a date night.
4.  Give newlyweds gift cards to places they've registered and/or a discount store (Target, Walmart, etc.) for items they might need but didn't receive.
5.  If most college students are like the ones from our house, give college students Walmart/Target/etc., coffee and food gift cards.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Paper Studio (kraft), Recollections (parchment), DCWV (burgundy), Express (white)
Patterned Paper:  Flair Designs (Coffee Talk)
Stamps:  Daydream Designs Digi Sets (Coffee With Friends Sentiments, The Perfect Blend)
Ink:  SU (Creamy Caramel)
Embellishments/Tools:  Spellbinders (Standard Circles Large & Small, Lacey Circles, Deckled Rectangle Small), Fiskars border punch (Threading Water), SU Slit punch, Sakura Glaze pen, Stickles (Frosted Lace, Star Dust), SU Jewels (Basic Pearls)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Pile It On Challenge #48 - Anything BUT Christmas card
Word Art Wednesday #56 - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties Monday #67 (PPMC67)  - Anything Goes
The Kraft Journal - Holiday Gift idea
Shopping Our Stash #79 - Use odds & ends from your stash (my paper and pearls)
Tuesday Throwdown #125 - Lots of Layers
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #3 - Anything Goes 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll give this little gift card holder a try.  More importantly, I hope you'll go shopping at Daydream Designs and pick up some fantastic digi stamps & papers.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Butterfly Gift Set - SNSDC81

I hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Our daughter and her fiance are here for the weekend.  They helped me cook (or maybe I helped them cook) dinner for us and for my husband's mom, brother & niece.  It was a nice day and the weather is fantastic.  I missed our son and his family.  He works retail in another state and works Thanksgiving Day and all weekend.  It was the first time in his life I haven't been with him on Thanksgiving (honestly, I'm sure it bothered me more than him).  I realized today what a privilege I've had to get to spend that many with him. I know the day will come when I won't have either one of our children with us on the holidays but I'm going to enjoy it and treasure it for as long as it lasts.  :)

In honor of Black Friday and the official start of the Christmas shopping season, The Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog is challenging us to make a card or project that has an image of a gift or is a gift.  I chose to make a gift set.




One of the companies where I used to work purchased black markers by the dozen.  They came in these cool plastic bins.  The company would just throw the bins away so I received permission to take them off their hands.  :)  They make great gift set boxes.  I've used them before for card sets here & here

For the cover of the box, I used one of the sentiments from the Everyday Miracles set and printed one of the butterflies from the set twice on patterned paper.  I then used copic markers to add some teal color.  Some pearls make up the butterflies' bodies and bling added their flight trail. I bent the wings a bit and only glued them down in the middle so they would have dimension. They are layered with a couple mats onto a lacey circle.  Some baker's twine finishes it all off.

This time I included a couple of notebooks with a set of 6 cards and envelopes.  Note:  The envelopes aren't pictured because they still need to be made or purchased. 

Here is a view of all the items in the box and what it looks like with the lid opened.  By adding paper to the inside of the lid, I didn't have to worry about any adhesive showing.  




Here are close-ups of the two notebooks.  They are approx. 4" x 6".  I thought the "Notes" book could either be used for sermon notes or just as a general note pad to keep in a purse.  I kept the covers pretty plain/flat so that embellishments would not get knocked off during use.





 This is the inside cover of the Prayer List notebook.  I thought this quote by John Bunyan was quite a good reminder.



The cards are also 4" x 6".  I also kept them flat so that the recipient of the gift would not have to use extra postage when she mails them.  As you can see, the basic design is the same while I used leftovers from all the other papers used in the project.  I used this sentiment because it is so generally appropriate -- whether you're just saying "hello" or lending support during a rough time. The insides of the cards are plain.






Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (Two Scoops -Moose Tracks), Recollections (cream)
Patterned Paper:  Prima (Madeline)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Everyday Miracles, Pray Without Ceasing, Praying for You, Rejoice in the Lord)
Embllishments/Tools:  brads (JoAnn's), baker's twine (The Twinery - Honeydew & Cappuccino), bling (Prima), pearls (Prima), Copics (BG01, BG000), Spellbinders (Petite Ovals Small, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large, Standard Circles Large & Small, Lacey Circles, Deckled Rectangles Large & Small), SU Corner Rounder

I'm entering this set in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #55:  Positive sentiment
Paper Pretties Monday Challenge (PPMC66):  Anything but a card
Stamptacular Sunday #190:  Recipe Challenge {ribbon or twine (twine), pearls or gems (both), punches or dies (both)}
Spark Your Creativity Now! Challenge #3 - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday #244 - Featuring a Girl or For a Girl (mine is for a girl)

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Be sure to stop by the Sweet 'n Sassy Store for their specials.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Let Your Light So Shine...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Today is the day, in America, that we set aside to remember all our blessings...and to eat a wonderful  meal with our friends and families.  We're enjoying having our daughter, her fiance, my mother-in-law, brother-in-law and niece join us at our house today. If you are visiting here on Thanksgiving, thank you for sharing part of your day with me.  I truly am thankful for my readers and am honored that you stop by to visit. For those of you that take the time to leave a comment, please know that I appreciate each and every one of them.  I understand the sacrifice of time it takes to leave a comment and it makes my heart smile to read your comments on my cards/projects.

When I saw this Scripture digi in the the new Scripture Digi sets by Daydream Design, I couldn't wait to use it as the focal image on a card. This verse is such a great reminder that we're to live so that our lives bring glory to our Heavenly Father who has truly given us so MUCH.

I recently "found" this double-sided patterned paper at my local scrapbook store (aka LSS) and thought it would showcase a Scripture focused card perfectly.  One side is this poppy pattern and the other a deep red pattern.  I also had a new set of Spellbinders dies that I'd gotten for my birthday and couldn't wait to use them either. :)





I used layered both sides of the patterned paper with a piece of parchment paper between.  After cutting out the Scripture, I matted it with the dark red side of the paper and layered it on a floral oval spellbinders panel.  All my edges were inked. A gold ribbon bow, a pearly button, pearls and liquid pearls finished it off. My finished card is 5" x 7".  I've been breaking out of my standard 5.5" square box a little lately.  No promises on this trend continuing.  :)

Supplies:
Card base: Paper Company
Cardstock: Recollections
Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny (Serenade Poppies)
Ink:  SU (Creamy Caramel)
Stamp:  Daydream Designs Digi (Dream Team Scripture Set 2)
Embellishments/Tools:  pearls (Recollections), button (misc. from my stash), ribbon (Michael's), Liquid Pearls (Platinum Pearl), Spellbinders (Labels 4, Labels 4 Small, Floral Ovals), SU ticket punch

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Spark Your Creativity Now Challenge #3 - Anything Goes
Stamptacular Sunday #190 - Recipe Challenge: Pearls or Bling (pearls), Ribbon or Twine (ribbon), Dies or Punches (both)
Papertake Weekly - Ribbon and/or Pearls (I have both)
Divas by Design #62 - Two or more patterned papers (2)
Word Art Wednesday #55 - Scripture/Sentiment


I wanted to mention a little more about these special Scripture sets.  Diane had each of her Dream Team submit their favorite Scripture verse.  She then turned each of them into a beautiful & unique digi stamp.  There are 3 sets in all.  If you enjoy using Scripture on your cards, scrapbook pages, and other projects, you will definitely want to check these out.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope each of you are enjoying the day with those you love.  Happy Thanksgiving!!




LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...