Starting the Year Off Right

Happy New Year!!  I hope you are all having a good start to 2015.  This week's Word Art Wednesday Challenge focus verse, Psalm 143:8, "Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee," has some clues on how to get our year off to a great start.  In the first phrase, the Psalmist requests that he hear the Lord's voice in the morning.  That means he's starting his day by spending time with the Lord.  He understands that this is a key to getting his day started off right. The second phrase lets us know that he has put his trust in the right thing, the Lord. In the third phrase, he's requesting the Lord's guidance on where he should go and what he should do.  And in the last phrase, he's putting his life (and soul) in the Lord's control.  This is a man that has his priorities in line.  What a great example for us to follow as we start a new year.  In our world today, this mindset of starting the day with the Lord, trusting Him in all things, allowing Him to guide us and putting our life in His hands, is a very unique and unusual concept.  So many people are all about control and "being in charge."  But when I remember that I'm human and makes many mistakes and that God knows all things and NEVER makes a mistake, it just seems like a no-brainer to let Him be in charge.  Now, this isn't to say that sometimes I don't mess us and try to "help" Him.  But, He is patient with me and I soon realize that truly His way is the best way.

For my card this week, I chose a new to me and rather unique card design.  It's called a cascade card and I followed Dawn's tutorial found in this video.  Not only is this a new card fold for me, but I'm also using some new papers my hubby bought me on our 30th anniversary trip and a new Spellbinders die and some flowers that I received for Christmas.  With all that was going on with the card fold, I wanted to make sure the Scripture remained a major focus.  It is die cut and layered on a Picot Edge circle and then accented with pearls, faux stitching, and paper roses.  Adhering the sentiment panel across the entire front provides some stability to the front of the card.

Another bunch of paper roses embellishes the upper left corner.  This small bouquet is tied with a baker's twine bow.

To add stability to the back and to have a place for writing a personal note, I adhered two cardstock panels across the back.  Some more faux stitching and a patterned paper strip complete the back.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (Admiral Blue)
Patterned Paper:  Jillibean Soup (Neopolitan Bean Bisque)
Wordart:  Diane Noble
Tools/Embellishments: Staedtler fine tip black marker, Spellbinders dies (Picot Edge Circle, Standard Circle Large), baker's twine (The Twinery), pearls (The Paper Studio), flowers (Mikie's Craft red and white roses)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club January Challenge - Cascade Card
Path of Positivity Challenge #22 - Uniqueness (Letting God have control of your life is a unique concept in today's world.  As a symbol of this, I chose a unique card design.)
Sweet Stamps Challenge #203 - Something New (papers, die, flowers, and card fold) 
ABC Challenge  - A is for Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #183 - Use Something New (papers, die, flowers, and card fold)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #226 - Favorite Embellishment (pearls are my favorite embellishment)
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - New (papers, die, flowers, and card fold) 
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #30 - Something New (papers, die, flowers, and card fold) 

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll be able to come back often.  As always, please remember to stop by the Word Art Wednesday Blog for your free digi and to see the projects from the rest of the Design Team.

In Everything Give Thanks

Hi!  I hope you are having a good week.  Can you believe it's November already?!?  It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just a couple short weeks away.  This month, at Word Art Wednesday, our focus verses are concentrating on thankfulness and gratitude.  Our word art this week comes from Diane's Daydream Designs.  You can pick up the free digi from the Word Art Wednesday blog and enter your project(s) for an opportunity to win some free digis of your choice.  Our verse this week reminds us that giving thanks in everything is what God wants us to do.  Notice that we're to give thanks *in* everything not *for* everything.  I've talked with two different people in the last two days who experienced great trials in their lives.  As we talked, both of them related to me various things for which they were thankful.  Being thankful doesn't mean we don't hurt or that things aren't difficult but it does mean we can look for positive things and thank the Lord for them.

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch for my card design.  The candle image is from Deedee's Digis (and is also available at Diane's Daydream Designs).  The background panel was dry embossed.  There are lots of layers and faux stitching.  Baker's twine and a button accent the banner and the candle image was given a coat of Wink of Stella clear marker before being covered with Glossy Accents.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (both shades of orange)
Patterned Paper: American Crafts - The Classics (Red Fern)
Stamps: Diane's Daydream Designs (1 Thess. 5:18), Deedee's Digis (Autumn Blessings)
Tools/Embellishments:  Staedtler fine tip marker (brown), Wink of Stella glitter marker (clear), Glossy Accents, Cuttlebug embossing folder (Victoria), The Twinery baker's twine (Cappuccino), La Mode button, My Favorite Things Die-namics (Mini Scallop Edge)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday Sketch #370 - Sketch
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #33 - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #231 - Anything Goes
Catered Crop - Gratitude Attitude
Eureka Stamps Challenge #113 - Count Your Blessings
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #176 - Leaf Me Alone (use leaves in your project)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
PDE Linky Party - Autumn Colors
Path of Positivity Challenge #20 - Gratitude

Thanks for stopping by today.  I truly am thankful for all those who visit and for those who leave comments.  Your comments are a great encouragement to me. 

Napkin Fold Card

Hello!  I hope your week is going well.  Since it's Wednesday that means it's time for a new challenge.  Psalm 119:160 is the focus verse for this week at Word Art Wednesday.  This verse states, "Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever."  Time as we know it doesn't exist for God.  He has always been and will always be.  As my husband frequently says it in his sermons, "God lives in the eternal present."  So when we read this verse, we have to try to wrap our finite human minds around the fact that there has never been nor will there ever be a time that God didn't exist.  Then to further boggle our minds, try to realize that His Word has been true from the very beginning (John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.") and His righteous judgments will never expire.  I love this aspect of God's character.  He is eternal (both past and future) and His righteousness never changes.  That is great security.

I saw the napkin fold card online a week or two ago so of course I had to give it a try.  It definitely looks harder than it is.  The ones I saw online would lay flat after you took off the belly band.  My card?  Well, no matter how many times I burnished the folds....nope, it didn't get the lay flat memo.  Tutorials for this card can be found on Dawn's YouTube, SplitCoastStampers (I didn't see this tutorial until writing this post), and the one I followed the most is found on Beccy's Place.

I liked the elegance of these papers and chose to embellish the belly band with pearls and lace.  I usually *have* to mat my patterned paper but am glad I skipped it this time.  The card would have had even more problems with closing properly with the extra bulk.

When the belly band is removed you can see the quilt like contrasts of the patterned paper. There is definitely room to play with pattern arrangement with this card.  Before placing my patterned paper and with the card closed, I made a small dot on each of the triangles that were showing when the card was closed.  This helped me plan the design and made sure that when I opened the card out completely, I had the papers just where I wanted them.

If you open the card completely, the base cardstock is an 11" square.  This allows for a large space to write a message.  Closed the card is 5.5" square.  

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (brown), Recollections (cream)
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio (Bohemia 12 x 12 pad)
Stamp: Diane's Daydream Designs
Tools/Embellishments:  pearl rope (Recollections - It was a double row rope that I cut into single ropes and individual pearls for the belly band and sentiment panel), Spellbinders dies (Classic Oval Large, Lacey Oval), lace from my stash

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Chocolate Coffee & Cards Challenge #72 - Bingo (Green, Die Cuts, Lace)
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #28 - Anything Goes (I used Challenge #13-Funky, Fancy, Fabulous Fold Cards & Challenge #21 - Digi Stamp)
 Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge #51 - Anything Goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon #102 - Autumn Colors + ribbon/trim
CraftyHazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge - Use Patterned Paper
Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #9 - Make a Card

Thanks for stopping by to visit today.  I hope you will make time to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog for inspiration from the rest of the Design Team and to pick up your free digi.

Be Still...

I find this week's Word Art Wednesday focus verse, "Be still and know that I AM God," Psalm 46:10, to be a real challenge at times.  So often when things are busy or we're going through a trial it's so easy to try to do everything on my own.  I want to "fix" things.  However, that's when I most need to "be still" and get out of the way so that God can work. When I do, things happen that ONLY He could do.  He does such wonderful things for me - from small (helping me find the store list I'd dropped on the floor at the store) to eternal (He gave me the free gift of salvation thru His Son).  I wonder how many more He would be able to do if I would just quit trying to do things on my own. 

This week's card does not have any patterned paper.  I revisited the "stamp your own background" technique and went with a floral/garden theme.  The flower deliberately overlap a bit and the panel was sprayed with shimmer spritz.  Some of the flowers were accented with rhinestone centers.  To keep the floral theme going, I also stamped some on the sentiment panel.  I used a small paintbrush and a distress ink pad to color in the words "I AM GOD."  I really like the way it accents what is most important.

Two ribbons were layered across the card and the sentiment panel was popped up over them.  A couple more rhinestones accent the verse panel.

More flowers and a sentiment decorate the interior.  I accidentally got some ink on the back of the card, so I covered it up with stamped flowers.  :)

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (green)
Stamps:  Daydream Designs (Dream Team Scripture Set 2), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Comforting Pines -retired clear stamp set), Inkadinkado (Doodle Flowers clear stamp set)
Ink:  Versafine (Onyx Black), Distress Ink Pads (Barn Door, Peacock Feathers, Bundled Sage)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Labels Four, Labels Four Small), rhinestones (The Paper Studio), ribbon (Offray - white, Michael's - red), Tsukineko Shimmer Spritz

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #23 - Anything Goes {focus on challenge techniques from April - June - I chose to use a stamped background scene (April) and a digi (June)}
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - White (use white in any of its shades on your project)
Craft Your Passion Challenge #220 - Ribbons (use at least one)
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #202 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Clear It Out Challenge - In the Garden (stash item:  ribbon)
Fan-tastic Tues Challenge #42 - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Two or more Ribbon/twine

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll pick up the free digi at the Word Art Wednesday blog and see how the rest of the design team used it.  Have a good day!

Espressly for You

I was asked to make a birthday card for a female coffee lover.  A coffee cup seemed like a good chance to use one of my favorite techniques....paper piecing.  I used the Cocoa's Coffee digi from Sweet 'n Sassy stamps and via Photoshop elements removed Cocoa. The cup was then paper pieced and the Feminine Birthday Greetings sentiment was printed right on the pink band.  For my tutorial on paper piecing with digi stamps click here.  Some copic markers provided a little shading for the cup. 

Dots from a white gel pen add interest to the scalloped mat.  It is popped up over the cardstock/patterned paper/ribbon strip.  A matted sentiment and some rhinestones finish off the front.

A little interior decorating with a stamped birthday wish and the card is complete.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (kraft)
Patterned Paper: Simple Stories (Vintage Bliss 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps:  Daydream Designs digi set (Coffee with Friends Sentiments), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps digi stamp (Cocoa's Latte), Stampendous (Birthday Wishes clear stamp set)
Ink:  Versafine (Onyx Black)
Copics: C0, C-1, 100
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Ovals Small), ribbon (Michael's), Uniball Signo White gel pen, Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), rhinestones (The Paper Studio)

Challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #23 - Anything Goes - focus on a challenge from April - June (I chose to focus on Challenge #21: use digi stamp)

Craft Your Passion Challenge #220 - ribbon (use at least one)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tues Challenge #42 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #202 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for the next Word Art Wednesday challenge.

Flowering Limb Lattice

It's Wednesday so that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week's verse is from the minor prophet Micah.  Micah 7:8, "...When I fall, I shall arise, when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me."  For me, this verse is a reminder that when I'm going thru a troublesome time, when things look dark, the Lord is my light.  When I look to Him, He shows me the way thru the darkness and walks along beside me.  What a comfort!!

One of our sponsors this week is Robyn's Fetish.  She generously provided the design team with some images to use.  I was able to use the Flowering Limb digi stamp.  I printed it out twice and colored it with  copics.  After fussy cutting it, I cut it apart to intertwine in my lattice die cut.  The verse was die cut and matted on a floral oval and the lattice and verse panel were accented with pearls. 

The fussy cut flowers are accented with stickles.

Some of the flowers and leaves are popped up on pop dots and some are unattached to allow for extra dimension.

I had an extra flower so I used it on the interior decorating.  It is also accented with stickles.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White (verse panel and flowers), Georgia Pacific (card base, trellis), Bazzell (purple)
Patterned Paper:  Recollections
Stamps:  Daydream Designs (Inside Outside Sentiment Set 1), Robyn's Fetish (Flowering Limb)
Copics: Y000, 11, 21; E31, 33, 35; V01, 04, 06, 09; YG03, 05
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Lattice Motifs, Floral Ovals, Classic Ovals Large), white pearls (Michael's), purple pearls (Oriental Trading), Stickles (Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Creating in Faith Hope and Love Challenge #7 - Use Scripture on your card
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Just Keep on Creating - Anything Goes
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #19 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Spring Flowers
Simon Says Work It Wednesday - Use Patterned Paper

Thanks for stopping by today.  Be sure to pick up your free digi, generously provided by Daydream Designs and see what the rest of the Design Team has made by visiting the Word Art Wednesday blog.  I hope to be back later this week with a couple more cards.

May God grant you....

This week we were given the choice to use one of two digis from Daydream Designs for our cards at Word Art Wednesday.  I chose to use this sentiment because I think it's so appropriate for those going thru a difficult time.  I know when I'm in a deep valley it's so easy to lose my focus and forget that the Lord IS there, that He IS able to take care of us and to have the patience (there's that word again!) to wait for Him.  Somehow, I don't think I'm the only one.  :)  I will definitely be reaching for this sentiment time and time again when making encouragement cards!!

I kept the design pretty simple so that the focus would be on the sentiment.  After printing and cutting the sentiment, the edges were inked to tone down the white cardstock.  A matting layer and then a beautiful rectangle die cut accented by two sizes of pearls finish off the sentiment panel.  A strip of patterned paper is edged with strips from my favorite border punch.  The corners of the background patterned paper were punch with a ticket punch and the flowers and leaves were accented with a Wink of Stella glitter brush pen.  Pearls were placed in each corner.  A ribbon and bow with a pearl center complete the front.

The sentiment panel is popped up over the background layers to keep things level.

For the interior decorating, a corner punch and embosser was used on the panel for writing a message and for the matting.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (orange, green)
Patterned paper:  Basic Grey (Picadilly)
Stamps:  Daydream Designs (Peace and Rest Scripture Set)
Ink:  Distress Ink (Antique Linen)
Tools/Embellishments:  ribbon (Michael's), pearl brad (The Paper Studio), individual pearls (The Paper Studio, Recollections), Spellbinders die (Timeless Rectangles), punches (Fiskars Apron Lace border punch, SU Ticket punch, Fiskars Emboss Plus corner punch), Wink of Stella glitter pen (clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #141 - 3-2-1 (I used three sizes of pearls, two patterned papers and one stamp)
Just B Crative Crazy -  Just Because (Anything Goes)
Paper Take Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - 3, 5 or 7 (I used 3 sizes of pearls and 3 punches and have 7 paper layers on top of the card base)
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #14 - Punches Galore (I used 2 corner punches and one border punch)
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #300 (PWC300) -  Lots of Layers
Delightful Challenges - Color Crazy (use a color you don't normally use - I rarely use orange.  On this card it is the background cardstock, in the paper and used as a border across the card.  For me, that's a lot of orange - and unless I'm making a pumpkin, I don't usually use orange and green together!)

I hope you'll go by the Word Art Wednesday blog to get your free digis but also to see the rest of the projects made by the Design Team.  Don't forget, we love to see YOUR projects.  You may link up to 5 projects each week.  The challenge is always anything goes (as long as it is family-friendly).

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today.  I appreciate your visits and comments.  Have a good week!

I Will Look Unto the Lord

It's Wednesday again, so that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week's focus verse is found in Micah 7:7, "Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation:  my God will hear me."  I don't know about you, but I find it easier to look to the Lord for answers that it is to WAIT for Him to answer.  However, I know the Lord hears me, and He will answer me when the time is right.  God always answers us.  Sometimes it's "yes," sometimes "no" and sometimes "wait."  Most of the time, what helps me wait for the Lord's time table is wanting HIS best for me.  I know His way is best and if I wait on Him to work things out, I'll be much happier than if I work it out on my own.  While waiting is never easy, knowing you have the Lord's best is well worth it.

I thought this hot air balloon image was perfect for this week's verse.  It's a great reminder to keep looking up to the Lord.  I used the Love Lifts You Outline digi set by Daydream Designs.  This great set also comes in a color version which you can find here.  I used the balloon with the blank banner section and added this week's verse there.  I also removed the hearts on the top sections and made them solid panels.  Since I ended up fussy cutting the balloon, I made life easier for myself, and added a little texture, by using baker's twine for the ropes.  After coloring the balloon with Copics, I used a VersaMarker on the pink and purple parts of the balloon to add two coats of clear embossing powder.  I really like the shine and texture and gives the balloon and basket.  The balloon is popped up over the sky panel.

I made the sky background by sponging the edges of a petite scalloped oval.  I started with a 4.25" x 5.5" piece of white cardstock.  I started the sponging in the top left corner and worked my way across and down the page.  I just sponged along the edges of my scalloped oval and then moved it to a new area turning it so that all the "clouds" weren't going in the same direction (I see now I should have done a little more turning).  Then I die cut the panel and inked around the edge.  The card base is made from two scalloped ovals.  In the picture above, you can see where I cut a small piece off the bottom three scallops on the back panel so that the card will stand up on a flat surface.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (card base), Neenah Solar White (image)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Micah 7:7), Daydream Designs (Love Lifts You Outline Digi set)
Ink:  Memento (Paris Dusk)
Markers:  VersaMarker, Copics (V01, 04, 06, R81, 83, 85, 100)
Tools/Embellishments:  baker's twine (The Twinery - charcoal), SU embossing powder (Crystal Clear), Spellbinders (Petite Ovals Large, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sunday #195 - Make Your Own Background Paper
Tuesday Throwdown #184 - Anything Goes
Just B Creative Crazy - Just Because (anything goes)
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining Light Challenge #192 (ODBDSLC192) - Shaped Card

Thanks for stopping by today.  As usual, I would encourage you to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has made and to pick up your free digi.

Deedee's Digis One-Stop Hop

 

 

Winter blues got you down? What would lift your spirits? How about some crafty inspiration? A free digi? A chance to win more digis? You can find all of this today at the Deedee's Digis One-Stop Hop -- just the thing to chase those winter blues away! Need a bigger pick-me-up? Visit each of our designers' blogs (you'll find them listed on the Deedee's Digi blog) and leave them some love on their "hop" creations, and you'll be entered to win a digi set at each stop. Still feeling blue? Join our sister team at the DaydreamDesigns blog for MORE inspiration, MORE prize drawings, and MORE freebies. The fun starts today at the Deedee's Digis blog, and you have until 7pm EST Sunday (January 19th) to participate. Those winter blues don't stand a chance!

Here is my creation for the Deedee's Digis hop. I used the Pocket Pal Kitten set for my card.  This set includes: 2 color images, 1 outline image, 6 sentiments, 3 digi papers.

 

 

 

I paper pieced the pocket with some papers from my scrap pile (old SU papers I think?).  I could have used papers from the set but my printer needed ink. {For a tutorial on how to paper piece using digi stamps, please see my tutorial post here.}  The kitty was colored with copics.  The kitty's eyes were given some attention from my new Wink of Stella clear brush pen (LOVE this pen!!). The kitten's paws were cut out separately and added over the pocket for dimension.  I used some fairly new (to me) heart die cuts for the hearts on the pocket and sentiment panel.  I added faux stitching and then some SU! Crystal Effects to the hearts and the kitten's nose.  I learned a very important lesson by adding the Crystal Effects.  This product bleached the pattern paper (I used the same at the top edge of the pocket) and smeared my faux stitching.  *sigh*  Live and learn I suppose. Due to last week's illness and my work schedule I couldn't redo this, so, use it as an example of "what not to do."

The image panel was cut with a square die.  The image and sentiment panels were matted with dark gray cardstock and also given some faux stitching.  Some baker's twine was added to make the sentiment panel "hang" from the image.  They were popped up on top of the heart embossed panel and this was also popped up from the card base. 

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (for image), Georgia Pacific, DCWV
Patterned Paper:  Scraps (SU I think)
Stamp Set:  Deedee's Digis (Pocket Pal Kitten set)
Copics: N3, 5, 7, YG03
Tools/Embellishments:  Uni-ball Signo White pen, The Paper Studio embossing folder (Tiny Hearts), Dies (Lawn Fawn Hearts, Spellbinders Classic Squares Large & Small), Staedtler pen (black), The Twinery baker's twine (stone), Zig Wink of Stella brush glitter pen (clear), SU! Crystal Effects

Do you like the digi that I used on my project today? You could win it or any other set of your choice from Deedee's Digis just by leaving me a comment on this post. One winner will be selected by random draw when our hop closes Sunday evening. Thanks for joining our hop, and be sure to check the Deedee's Digis blog after 7pm EST Sunday evening (January 19th) to see if you've won!

Thanks for visiting today.  I'll be back soon on a more regular schedule.  :)

 

 

Owl Gift Tag

My Once in a While card was chosen as a Winning Recipe at Catered Crop this past Sunday.  As a result, I have the honor of being a guest designer for them during their current recipe challenge.   This time they want us to take a break from cards and feature gift packaging, tags, bows and/or treat holders.  I chose to make a tag.

One of this week's sponsors at Word Art Wednesday is Diane's Daydream Designs.  She has several adorable owl sets.  One of her newest ones is Falling For You Owls.  Diane generously provided digis for the Design Team to use this week so, of course, I had to choose this new owl set.

I printed out one of the digis from the owl digi set and fussy cut it.  I then inked the edges.  I used an embossing folder to emboss the burnt orange cardstock and then inked it with the direct-to-paper technique.  I finished this layer off with some faux stitching.  I used some brads to attach the owl digi to the burnt orange layer and then adhered them to a kraft tag.

Another piece of the burnt orange cardstock was used on the card back.  "To" and "From" stamps were heat embossed with white emobssing powder.  This layer was then attached to the tag base.  A few ribbons were added so that the tag can be tied onto a package.  An added bonus is that the tag can also be used by the recipient as a bookmark.  I really like making tag do double-duty.  It kind of makes them part of the gift.

This was a very simple project and Diane's pre-colored digi made it even easier. 

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill, Recollections
Ink:  Memento (Toffee Crunch)
Stamps:  Diane's Daydream Designs (Falling For You Owls), Studio G
Embellishments/Tools:  VersaMarker, Stampendous White Opaque embossing powder, Crop-o-dile, Uniball Signo White pen, Cuttlebug embossing folder (Distressed Stripes), Zutter Round-it-all (1/2"), Offray ribbon, Doodlebug Designs brads

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sunday #172 - Humorous
Crafting When We Can #53 - Seasons
Craft Your Passion #180 - Fall Colors
Digi Darla #80 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #165 - Something with Wings

Thanks for stopping by for a visit 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.

Let's Warm Up...

I have another Daydream Designs card to share with you today.  When I saw the Jan. 23rd sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers (SC420), I knew I wanted to play along.  Then I thought of the cute elements in the Sweet Warm Ups Color Digi Set and thought they'd be perfect for the sketch.  This set also has several coordinating sets:  Sweet Warm Ups Sentiments, Sweet Warm Ups Borders, Sweet Warm Ups (outline version), and Sweet Warm Ups Digi Paper Pack.

I chose to make an easel card so that the four circles could be the focus of the card front.  I've had this patterned paper for awhile and thought that it would match the colors in the digis well and look good with kraft cardstock.  There is some bling and sparkle to the front courtesy of stickles and rhinestones.  The bling, pearls and rhinestones have been in my stash for awhile.  I'm almost out of the brown pearls; guess that means I need to shop for more.  :)

I decorated the inside of the card a little but since I tend to be wordy (like you hadn't noticed -- ha!), I left a lot of space for writing.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Copic, Georgia Pacific, The Paper Studio, Bazzill
Patterned paper:  Echo Park (Dots & Stripes - Bubble Gum Large Dots)
Stamps:  Daydream Designs (Sweet Warm Ups Color Digi Set)
Embellishments/Tools:  Spellbinders (Circles Small, Lacey Circles), rhinestones (Best Occasions), Ticket Punch (Stampin' Up), pearls (Queen & Co. - white, Recollections  - brown), ribbon (Michael's), Sakura Gelly Roll pens (Clear Star, Copper Star), Stickles (Black Diamond, Frosted Lace, Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #64 - Anything Goes
Spark Your Creativity Now Challenge #5 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwndown #132 - Bling it On
Clear it Out Challenge - Circles

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today.  I hope you'll come back soon.

Pocket Calendar & Tutorial

Today I have a quick and easy project to share with you.  It's a calendar that is sized to go easily in your purse or desk.  The finished size is 3" x 6".  There is a calendar for each month and a place to write notes for 2014.  All the digis are from Daydream Designs.

Here's how I put my project together.  Start with a sheet of cardstock 6" x 12" (I didn't have the color I wanted in 12 x 12 paper so I had to piece it from an 8.5 x 11 sheet) and score it every 3 inches along the 12" side.  I rounded all the corners with my Round-it-All (this tool let me have the calendar closed and punched thru all layers with ease).  I layered each panel with patterned paper and rounded those corners as well.

I printed one of the sentiments from the Friendship Collection Sentiments set and also printed out "2013" on cream cardstock.  After cutting out and inking the edges, faux stitching was added; both panels were matted and adhered to the front panel. A glitter pen added some sparkle to the front cover.  I didn't want to use any bumpy embellishments because I didn't want to add bulk and I didn't want them to get knocked off due to wear & tear during the year.

The individual calendars from the 2013 Mini Calendars set were printed on cardstock (they are just over 2" wide), cut out and inked.  Two months were adhered to each panel.  The "extra" panel has room to make notes for future events in 2014.  If you look closely in the top picture, you'll see a date is circled.  This is a very special day in our lives and in the life of the recipient -- our children are getting married...to each other.  :)

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Stampin' Up, Recollections
Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up
Stamps:  Daydream Designs (2013 Mini Calendars, Friendship Collection Sentiments)
Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk (Maroon)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders (Classic Circles Large & Small, Floral Ovals), Zutter Round-it-All (1/2"), Sakura Gelly Roll pens (metallic, clear star)

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #64 - Anything Goes
Spark Your Creativity Now Challenge #5 - Anything Goes

Why don't you give a purse calendar a try?  They are so easy and made great gifts.  Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you'll come back soon.  I'll have a card using Daydream Designs pre-colored digis to show you in the next day or so.

Daydream Designs Blog Hop & FREE Digis

Today, I get to participate in my first ever Daydream Designs Blog Hop. You should have arrived here from Sandie's blog.   If you are a regular reader and started here, you'll want to go to Diane's blog to start at the beginning so that you don't miss a thing! 

In this hop, we are featuring the theme of HEARTS.  There are LOTS of new Valentine's digis in the Daydream Designs store and actually, there are plenty that could be used year-round.  After all, saying "I love you" is never out of season!

The blog hop will run from today (January 21st) until the 24th.  Be sure to visit and comment on each blog in the hop.  The prize for a randomly selected winner who leaves a comment on every participating blog is a $20 gift certificate to the Daydream Designs store.  Keep reading to the end to find out about the FREE digis being given away during the hop.

I have two heart-themed projects to share with you today.  The first is a Valentine's Day card featuring 3 sets from the Snowbaby Love collection.

I printed out the adorable puppy from the Snowbaby Love Color set and cut him out.  I paper-pieced the heart from the Snowbaby Love Outline set and also cut it out.  After cutting out the puppy & the heart, I ran a copic marker around the edge to darken it. I used one of the many sentiments in the Snowbaby Love Sentiments set and layered it in the negative space behind to oval cutouts.

The patterned papers I chose have hearts all over them and to keep with the theme, I also used a heart embossing folder on the image panel.  The image panel is popped up over the bling flourish and the puppy is popped up on the image panel.  Two more rhinestones set off the sentiment and this simple but sparkly Valentine's Day card is complete.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Copic (for the puppy), Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio (Love Stripe, Tiny Pink Hearts)
Stamps:  Daydream Designs (Snowbaby Love Color, Snowbaby Love Outline, Snowbaby Love Sentiments)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders (Classic Circles Large & Small, Petite Ovals Large & Small), The Paper Studio Embossing Folder (Tiny Hearts), flourish & rhinestones (Recollections), Copic marker (N9)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #63 - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sunday #138 - Negative Space
Spark Your Creativity Now Challenge #5 - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday #252 - Diamond are Forever (bling)
Pile it On Challenge #3 - Have a Heart
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Easy as 1-2-3 (1 sentiment, 2 pattern papers, 3 bling - 1 flourish plus 2 individual rhinestones)
Aud Sentiments - Bingo (I did the diagonal row Die cut, embossing, "Love")









 
For the second project....  A Countdown Calendar

In this project I am also showcasing the Snowbaby Love Color and the Snowbaby Love Sentiment sets.

Our daughter has requested "countdown calendars" for major events in her life ever since she started college.  Most of them were countdowns to Christmas vacation and Summer Vacation.  After she got engaged, she requested a countdown calendar to the wedding. We decided to have each month on a separate page.  Here is her calendar for February:

I designed the calendar itself in Word.  I layered the "Happy Valentine's Day" sentiment on the heart before printing.  Love that about digis!! I printed several of the images in the color set and cut them out. They were then popped up on the on the calendar.  I used a heart shaped punch to make a border along the bottom and doodled in the negative space.  A couple of the cut outs were used to highlight "February."  Stickles were added to all the cutout hearts along the bottom, the big heart on Valentine's Day, the two hearts highlighting "February", selected hearts on the sled and the puppies' heart.  I also used red stickles to mark the "3 months to go" day.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Stamps:  Daydream Designs (Snowbaby Love Color, Snowbaby Love Sentiments)
Tools/Embellishments:  Stickles (Star Dust, Christmas Red), EK Success Heart Punch, CM fine black pen

Now it's time to go back to hopping.  Your next stop is Traci's blog. I'm including the full hop list below, just in case you get lost or can't do the entire hop at one time.

Diane
Amy
Beth
Debbie
Helen
Jenn
Jerusha
Karen
Kris
MariLynn
Michelle
Miesje
Sandie
Stephanie - You are here!
Traci
Vicki

As a thank you for visiting and hopping with us, here is a small gift for you - 2 FREE digis.  Click on each one, then right click to save to your computer.

FREE Digis Have Expired

Thanks for coming by today.  I hope you'll come back soon.  Happy Hopping!!