Joy and Gladness

It's already time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week we are looking at Luke 1:14, And thou shalt have joy and gladness: and many shall rejoice at his birth. In the passage surrounding this week's verse, we learn that an angel is speaking to Zacharias and telling him that he and his wife would have a son and that they were to name him John (later to be known as John the Baptist). What was extra special about this child's birth was that Zacharias and his wife, Elisabeth were an elderly couple and had never been able to have children. Can you imagine the joy and excitement they felt? They had been praying for years and years for a baby. Now, when they probably felt all hope was gone, they were told they would have a son! Zacharias and Elisabeth had been faithful to the Lord and the angel was telling him he would have joy and gladness in the birth of his son and that many would rejoice with them. What exciting news! Be sure to read the remainder of the chapter for the "rest of the story." Another aspect of the story is that Elisabeth and Mary (Jesus' mother) were cousins. This chapter also tells how Elisabeth recognizes that Mary is carrying the Messiah and encourages her. I tell you, this chapter is full of miraculous ways the Lord worked in the lives of people who were faithful to Him. And He is still working in absolutely amazing ways in the lives of His faithful people today.

I have a circle card to share with you today. I really liked this pre-colored image from the Beauty of the Season digi set by Deedee's Digis. It had a circle shape to it so I layered this week's WORDart on it and then used the partial die-cutting technique to cut it out. After using the die on part of the circle and fussy cutting the rest, I ran a black Copic marker around the edges to get a solid black outline. The rest of the card came together quite easily. The image/sentiment panel is popped up over the card base which is topped by a layer of patterned paper.

Here is a peek at the interior decorating. You can also see where I accented the flowers and the sentiment panel with 3 colors of Stickles. Copic markers were used to add some shading to the flowers.

Deedee's Digis is currently have a 75% off sale on the entire shop. The shop is permanently closing it's doors on Dec. 31st. The sale will last until the store closes so this is your last chance to stock up on all her fantastic sets.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (green)
Patterned Paper: Basic Gray (Figgy Pudding)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Luke 1:14), Deedee's Digis (Beauty of the Season)
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders Dies (Standard Circles Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Circles Large, Grand Circles), Copic Markers (C1, 3; 100), Stickles (Goldenrod, Christmas Red, Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Pile It On Challenge #98 - Anything Christmas/Winter
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Christmas
Craft Your Passion Challenge #291 - Anything Goes
Eureka Stamp Challenge #170 - Christmas is Coming
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps December Challenge - Anything Goes
Get Creative Challenge #29 - Holidays
Scrapbook Blessings Club 3rd Annual Christmas Party - Anything Christmas
ODBD Shining the Light Challenge #265 - Color Challenge (I used green, red and black)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit. A couple reminders: this is the last month for weekly challenges at Word Art Wednesday. Starting with the first challenge in 2016, each challenge will run two weeks. Also, don't forget to stop by Deedee's Digis to stock up before the shop closes Dec. 31st.

Blessed Be My Rock

This week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday is very similar to last week's.  2 Samuel 22:47 says, "The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation."  This verse also encourages us to exalted the Lord and emphasizes that He is our rock.  This past week has been one of change for our family as it became evident that my mother-in-law needs a bit more care.  We are researching assisted living facilities and giving her options so that she can make the best choice for her needs.  These are big changes and important decisions for her (and for the rest of us).  In times of uncertainty and change, it such a comfort to know that the Lord is our rock and that our foundation is sure.

Deedee's Digis is sponsoring our challenge this week.  I hope you'll play along with us for an opportunity to win a voucher for some free digis from her store.  My card today uses the current Digi of the Month set, Blooming Blessings.  You can find out how to play along in the Digi of the Month Challenge here.  I used the pre-colored frame for this card and layered the verse on top.  After fussy cutting the frame, the edges were trimmed with a black Copic marker to hide the white edges.  I was *finally* able to use my Classic Diamond Spellbinders dies and some Nestabling.   I added some lace trim and scattered some pearls in each corner.  The base panel and the inner diamond panel are highlighted with faux stitching.

I printed a 2nd frame and fussy cut the flowers. They were popped up over the verse panel and this entire panel was popped up over the diamonds.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Patterned Papers:  We R Memory Keepers (Anthologie 6x6 pad)
Digi Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (2 Samuel 22:47); Deedee's Digis (Blooming Blessings)
Copic:  100 (for fussy cut image edges)
Tools/Embellishments:  Staedtler fine tip marker (brown), Offray lace, Stickles (Star Dust), individual pearls (The Paper Studio), Want2 Scrap Nestabling (Diamonds), Spellbinders dies (Classic Diamonds), My Favorite Things (Mini Scallop Edge)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #105 - Use a Faux technique (I used faux stitching)
Craft Your Passion Challenge #255 - Anything Goes
Digi Choosday Week 13 Challenge - Use an Oval
Outlawz Monday Greeting Card Challenge - Anything Goes (must have sentiment on the front)

Thanks for coming to visit today.  I hope you'll have time to play along with us this week.  You're sure to find more inspiration, and a free digi WORDart, on the Word Art Wednesday blog.

Praise Thee More and More

Here we are at the last Wednesday for January 2015.  It's hard to believe that we're already this far into the new year.  It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week we're focusing on Psalm 71:14, "But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more."   As we go thru life, there are many things that will try to pull our thoughts away from the Lord.  However, we must make it a matter of the will to trust in Him continually and praise Him more and more all the time.  No one can make us sin, it's a choice we make.  In the same way, no one can make us turn away from the Lord.  It's a choice we make.  Let's choose to trust and praise the Lord.

I chose to use this week's Mojo Monday (MOJO382) sketch for my card design.  It's tall and skinny week at Mojo Monday so my card this week is 4" x 8.5".  An unusual size to be sure, but it will easily fit in a regular business size envelope.  I also kept it fairly flat for easier mailing.  With increasing postage costs, that's something I'm thinking about more and more as I made cards.  One of our sponsor's this week is All Dressed Up Stamps.  They generously provided some of the DT with some images and papers to use.  I was able to play with Love Spring Time and Autumn Papers 1. I printed the image and digi papers on Georgia Pacific white cardstock.  I cropped them close to the finished size before printing in order to save ink.  What you can't see is that the horizontal strip covers a gap in the background floral paper.  Another ink saver when using digi papers.  It pays to take time to think about how you might want to use the papers before you print.

I colored the girl with Copic markers and then decorated her dress and bow with Enamel Accents polka dots.  The verse panel is also accented with Enamel Accents.  The background behind the girl was stamped with white pigment ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.

I used foam tape to pop up a the background panel, the girl and the verse panel.  I'm really liking foam tape over pop dots.  Things just feel so much more solid.  The above picture also gives a peek of the interior decorating. 

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (image), Recollections (kraft), Cor'dinations (Scarlet)
Patterned Paper: All Dressed Up Stamps Digi Paper (Autumn Papers 1)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Psalm 71:14), All Dressed Up Stamps (Love Spring Time), Stampin' Up wood mounted (Itty Bitty Backgrounds)
Ink: ColorBox pigment ink (Frost White)
Copics: R20; Y21; E00, 01, 07, 08, 09, 11, 33, 35, 37, 50; N3, 5; 100
Tools/Embellishments: Sakura Micron .01 marker (black), Sew-Ology seam binding, My Favorite Things die-namics (Mini Scallop Edge), Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Ovals Small), Stampin' Up embossing powder (Crystal Clear), Enamel Accents (white)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday (MOJO382) - sketch
Sentimental Sunday Challenge #243 - Anything Goes
PDE Linky Party - Kids
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #212 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you are having a good week and will have time to spend in your craft space.  The Word Art Wednesday blog is sure to have some inspiration for you and there's a free digi for you there as well.

Great Outdoors

When I first saw the Great Outdoors set from Deedee's Digis, it moved to the top of my wish list.  I love cats, my cat is gray and my husband and son are fishermen.  No brainer...I *had* to have it.  LOL  I used the pre-colored version of the cat fishing in the boat but added my own sponged clouds and added some sponging to the water to extend it a bit.

The emphasized technique for the current challenge at the Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge is to make a wiper card.  I'd never tried one of those but thought the time was right to change that.  If you've never made one, here is a good written tutorial for a Wiper Card on SCS and here is a YouTube video by Beate Johns.  They are really pretty easy.  I'll be making more of these!

My card is going to someone who loves fishing and has been looking for a different job for a long time.  Last week he was offered a position with a new company.  I used one of the sentiments from the Chalk Talk set for the wiper.  I thought this would make a fun "Congratulations on the new job" card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (kraft)
Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye Collectable (Remarkable 6 x 6 pad), Three Bugs in a Rug (Frisky 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps:  Deedee's Digis (Great Outdoors, Chalk Talk)
Inks:  Stampin' Up (Bliss Blue), Distress Ink (Peacock Feathers)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Large and Small), Creative Memories 1-1/4" and 1-1/2" square punch, Staedtler fine tip marker (brown), The Twinery baker's twine (cappuccino), buttons from my stash

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #29 - Anything Goes with an emphasis on Wiper Cards
The Kraft Journal Make It Monday Challenge #188 - Anything Goes
Inky Chicks Challenge #37 - Stitching (Real or Faux)
PDE Linky Party - Puns
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #120 - Sewing Real/Faux
Clear It Out Challenge - Theme:  Fancy Folds, Stash Item:  Punches or dies (I used both)
Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge #52 - Anything Goes - Twist add a button or buttons

Thanks for visiting with me tonight.  I hope you'll give the wiper card a try.  Please come visit again tomorrow when I'll have a new Word Art Wednesday challenge card to show you.

I'm Praying for You

I've had this little bunny colored for awhile (I can tell it's been awhile because I do skies and ground differently now).  Last night, when I needed an encouragement card for a friend, I decided it was his time to shine.  I used sketch #79 from PaperTake Weekly for the card design.  I flipped the sketch so the bunny would face toward the middle of the card.  The bunny's eye, nose, tail and flower are accented with a glaze pen. The gingham panel was bordered by thin scalloped strips of kraft cardstock.  A ribbon, pearl flourish and a few scattered pearls finish off the card.

I popped up the bunny and sentiment panels and did a little interior decorating.  The finished card is 5.5" square.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (kraft), Bazzill (pink)
Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline (Dolled Up 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy (Bunny 2 Digi Stamp, Comforting Pines (retired) clear stamp set)
Ink:  Versafine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Copic Markers, Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large and Small, Classic Ovals Large and Small), My Favorite Things die (Mini Scallop Edge), Sakura Glaze pen, Want2Scrap (Baby Bling White Pearl, Finesse Swirls Pearls White), ribbon (Offray)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Sketchie Free for All (I used sketch #79)
Delightful Challenges - Layer It
PDE Linky Party #17 - Use Metal Dies
Scrapbook Blessings Club #27 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #274 - Animal/Pet
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #336 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge #114 - Any Sentiment Other than a Birthday
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #209 - Something Old/Something New (Something Old - ribbon, dies; Something New - pearl flourish)
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #166 - ABCs (A-animal, B - blossoms, C-checkered paper)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

Picture Perfect Congratulations

Deedee's Digis released quite a few new sets last week.  This card uses the Picture Perfect set.  The camera, speech bubble and checked paper are just a few of the choices you have when you use this set.  I chose to use the pre-colored camera but an outline camera is also available for you to color.  I cropped one of the sentiments from the Stitchy Stars set to put in the speech bubble.  I used the sketch from the current Clear It Out Challenge but won't be entering this card in their challenge because I didn't use any die cuts.

The camera has gold and silver glitter accents courtesy of Wink of Stella brush markers.  The lens and the 2 hearts were also accented with Glossy Accents.  The camera flash has a small rhinestone for a little extra sparkle.

I didn't have red brads so I colored white ones with a Copic marker and then gave them two coats of clear embossing powder.  I just colored a brad, dunked it in embossing powder while it was still wet, heated the embossing powder until it melted and repeated the dunk/heat cycle one more time.  These last two pictures also show my interior decorating.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), DCWV (metallic blue/gray)
Patterned Paper & Stamps:  Deedee's Digis (Picture Perfect, Stitchy Stars)
Tools/Embellishments:  Copic marker (R29), Wink of Stella glitter brush markers (gold, silver), Making Memories brads, Recollections fine detail clear embossing powder, Staedtler fine tip black marker, Glossy Accents,  Gelly Roll white gel pen

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sunday Challenge #219 - Decorate Your Card Inside & Out
Scrapbook Blessings Club #26 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge #47 - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #271 - Well done/Congratulations

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

Monkey Business

I have a card to share with you today using the Monkey Business digi set from Deedee's Digis.  This is the current Digi of the Month and is available this month for a special price in the shop or Deedee will email it to you for free if you purchase $10 or more (after any discounts) in the shop.  You can see all the details here. 

This month we're celebrating the one year anniversary of Deedee's Digis being back in business.  So the Digi of the Month challenge has a couple twists:

Twist #1: FREE for all - participants from last month's Digi of the Month challenge received the entire set free.  However, one of the images is free to download from the blog this month.  If you make and link up a project using one of the images from the set, you receive the next month's featured set free.

Twist #2:  PRIZES!!  There will be weekly prizes and then a monthly winner.  Be sure to check out the blog post here for all the details.

Back to my card....I made a 5.5" square joy-fold card.  After die cutting the single monkey pre-colored image from the set, the background was sponged with light blue ink for a sky.  One of the sentiments was die cut and double matted.  Usually I have a brad or design element for the top layer to tuck under to keep a joy-fold card closed.  That didn't work on this card design but the extra weight from the sentiment keeps the top flap down.  Some glossy accents was applied to the banana and the heart on the top of the cupcake.

One of the digi papers was cropped down to a strip and then die cut to add a little interior decorating.  This is one of the benefits of digis - you can resize them for your project.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (kraft), Core'dinations (green)
Patterned Paper:  DCWV
Stamps:  Deedee's Digis (Monkey Business)
Ink:  Stampin' Up (Bliss Blue - retired)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large and Small, Standard Circles Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Circles Large), Staedtler brown fine tip marker, Glossy Accents

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #26 - Anything Goes - Focus technique is joy-fold cards
Pile It On Challenge #31 - Stitching (real or faux)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #47 - Anything Goes
PDE Linky Party #16 - Kids Theme
Penny's Paper Craty Challenge #189 - Anything Goes
MilkCoffee Challenges - 2 or more die cuts
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #26 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you'll have time to play along in the Digi of the Month challenge.  This little monkey sure is a cutie!  Deedee has also put lots of new sets in the store be sure to go check them out!

I Will Praise Thy Name

It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  As always, our challenges are Anything Goes (as long as it is family-friendly and has an uplifting sentiment).  Our focus verse comes from Isaiah 25:1 this week: "O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful  things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth."  How wonderful to have a God whose counsel is ALWAYS faithful and true.  The Lord deserves our praise and exaltation.  He truly is good....all the time.  This was brought home to me today when I read a CaringBridge entry from my husband's former student.  His student's teenage daughter, Jana, had a doctor's appointment today to find out if the radiation treatment she had completed had been effective.  The mom said, " I said I would give Him the glory no matter what the doctor said today."  This statement really struck home with me.  What a testimony of faith in God's goodness! {Thankfully, they received much encouraging news today.}  If you think of her, please remember Jana as she starts a chemo regimen on August 19th.

Today's 3.75" x 5.25" card has a school theme.  I think this little mouse from Deedee's Digis Chalk Talk set is just adorable.  I used several of the pre-colored images.  

There is a chalkboard that has the mouse in front of it but it wasn't the right shape.  After adding today's verse to the chalkboard and recoloring it to look like chalk, the mouse and eraser were layered on top.  After printing and fussy cutting, some shadowing was added with Copics. An apple button from my stash accents the upper left corner of the chalkboard.The image was popped up over the background papers with pop dots.

  The corner accents were made by cutting a 1" square diagonally and then die cutting the long edge.  After being adhered to opposite corners, they were coated with a glitter pen.  Glossy Accents was added to the corner pieces and the red part of the eraser.  The corner pieces ended up looking sort of coppery.  That was an experiment that turned out well.  :)

I did a small amount of interior decorating with a coordinating print from the collection.  I was using up some scraps and didn't have enough of either of the papers used on the front for the interior.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (image), Recollections (cream, kraft)
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Oxford collection)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Isaiah 25:1), Deedee's Digis (Chalk Talk)
Copics: N0, N1, E29
Tools/Embellishments:  My Favorite Things die (Mini Scallop Edge), button (stash), Glossy Accents, Gelly Roll Clear Star Pen, Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), Staedtler fine tip marker (brown)

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
Sketch 'n Dies Challenge #11 - Sketch + dies (scallop edge die on this card)
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #46 - Anything Goes 
Digi Choosday Challenge Week 30 - Lots of Layers
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #25 - Anything Goes
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #70 - Polka Dots
Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge #134 - Polka Dots
My Time to Craft Challenge #254 - Use Kraft
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Cover card front w/patterned paper
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #188 - Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today.  If you haven't already had a chance to check out the rest of the Design Team's projects, I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog soon to do so.  Don't forget to pick up your free WORDart digi while you are there.

Welcome Home!

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."  Galatians 5:1  This week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday, reminds us that true freedom is found in Christ.  Sin carries a yoke of bondage but salvation thru Christ sets us free.  Just as our spiritual freedom was provided to us by Christ's sacrifice, as Americans our political freedom is also provided for us by the sacrifice of our military men and women and their families.  For that reason, I chose a patriotic theme for this week's card.

I made this card with a specific military family in mind.  The soldier husband just returned home to his family after a very long absence while he was serving in Japan.  We are thrilled that he has now been reunited with his precious wife and their daughter.  The verse was set off by inking and a quartet of gold stars.  The red, white and blue striped paper and red paper with stars are from the same digi set as the large star and the sentiment used on the front and inside.  This fantastic patriotic set is from Deedee's Digis and is called Stitchy Stars.

It comes with a great assortment of sentiments, images (pre-colored and outline), and digi papers.  I used 2 of the sentiments, one of the pre-colored stars and two of the digi papers on this card.  One of the sample cards was used as the inspiration for this card design.  I changed up a few things but it's definitely a case of Deedee's card.

One of the things in my stash I haven't used often enough is my Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE).  I used it on the large star this week and really like the results.  I covered the star with versamark and then a layer of UTEE.  After heating with my heat gun, I repeated the process.  It really makes a nice clear coat on top of the star.  I'll be using this more often.

I really liked the subtle stars in the red patterned paper that came in the digi stamp set.  However, I wanted the stars to stand out a little more so I used a versamarker and some clear embossing powder.  It gave the extra pop I was wanting.  A striped embossing folder was used on the navy background cardstock.  It adds some great texture.  Some inking, brads, faux stitching, pop dots and black rhinestones finish off the front.

There's just a small amount of interior decorating.  The soldier's wife asked several of their friends to send them encouragement verses on cards to pin up around their apartment to help them as they make the transitions that they are facing in the days ahead.  I plan to include a couple cards before mailing this to them.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill (navy), Recollections (kraft), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Digi Papers: Deedee's Digis (Stitchy Stars)
Stamps:  Papercraft Memories (Galatians 5:1), Deedee's Digis (Stitchy Stars)
Ink:  Versamark, Distress (Tea Dye)
Tools/Embellishments: VersaMarker, Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen, brads (unknown), black rhinestones (Want2Scrap Baby Bling), Darice embossing folder (Stripe Background), Recollections fine detail embossing powder (Clear), Ranger Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (Clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #41 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - I Ought to Use This More (for me it's UTEE)
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #22 - Anything Goes
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - 4th of July (or that traditional color scheme)
PDE Linky Party #13 - Many Layers
Twisted Tuesday Challenges #79 (2TC79) - Red, White and Blue with stars
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #183 - Embossing - Heat or Dry (I have used both)
Paper Pretties Weekly Challenge #316 (PWC316) - Red, White and Blue



As usual, I'd like to remind you to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the projects from the rest of the design team and to pick up your free digi WORDart.  Have a great day and thanks for stopping by for a visit.

The Lord Liveth...

It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week's verse takes us back to the book of Psalms.  "The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted."  Psalm 18:46  This verse is all about praising the Lord.  When you think of all the things He has done for us, He deserves our un-ending praise.  The psalmist mentions just two of the many, many reasons to praise the Lord.  He's our Rock.  When we feel like our lives are a snow globe that someone keeps turning upside down, it's good to know that He is steady and unchanging. He provides our salvation.  This one alone is reason to praise Him for all eternity - and I believe that those of us who have accepted His gift of salvation will be doing just that forever and forever.

I kept the card design simple to keep the focus on the verse.  The Scrapbook Blessings Club currently has emboss resist as their featured technique.  I really enjoy this technique and chose to use it to make a frame for this verse.  A solid color frame, 3 rhinestones and some white dots made with a gel pen complete the card.  The frame is popped up over the verse and solid color mat.  I used a copic marker to go around the inside edge of the frame.  The finished card is 3.75" x 5".

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (purple)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Psalm 18:46); Recollections (clear floral stamp set - I can't find a specific name)
Inks:  Distress Ink (Shaded Lilac, Spun Sugar, Peacock Feathers), Versamark
Tools/Embellishments:  SU Crystal Clear Embossing Powder, Uniball Signo white gel pen, Copic (V09), Spellbinders (Petite Oval Small, Petite Scalloped Oval Large), rhinestones (The Paper Studio)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
The Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #20 - Anything Goes (Featured Technique:  emboss resist)
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #207 - Funky Flowers
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Botanical
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Here Comes Summer
Paper Crafting Challenges #10 - My Favorites (spellbinders, white gel pen, Scripture, matting, flowers, bling)
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #311 - Flowers
Divas by Design - Anything Goes

I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and pick up your free digi as well as see the projects the rest of the Design Team have made.  I do appreciate you taking the time to visit today.  Thank you.

For It is God Which Worketh in You...

I really like this week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday.  It's Philippians 2:13, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."  When things happen in my life, or in the lives of those I love, it's good to know that it is God that is working in my life.  He is controlling the events of my life and it is for my good and His pleasure.  He knows what is best.  A friend and I were recently discussing the struggles our children were having.  We both agreed that the road to spiritual growth is not an easy one.  As moms, we don't want to hinder our children's spiritual growth but we sure wish they didn't have to struggle so much.  We rest in the knowledge that God is working of them for their best.

Today's card is a bit different for me.  I use digi stamps all the time but rarely use digi papers.  However,  when I saw this cute Seashells digi set from Deedee's Digis, I decided to use some of the papers too.  I printed all the papers, images and sentiments on Neenah Solar White cardstock.

I have to tell you, using the digi papers sure made putting the card together so fast.  Using this week's great challenge sketch from The Kraft Journal made it even faster.  I think I'll be reaching for this sketch often!  Using Word I layered the brown swirl paper on the seashell paper.  After printing it out, I decided I just had to have a mat.  So I cut out the brown swirl paper, added the kraft mat and then adhered the panel back on top.  An added bonus to not printing them separately is that I saved some printer ink.

I added some faux stitching, enamel dots and some glitter from a Wink of Stella marker to finish off the front.  I ran an E25 Copic marker around the edges of my digi elements and kraft mats.  The E25 marker is almost an exact match for the brown swirl paper.

I added a sentiment, image and digi paper on the inside of the card too.  I did all the layering for the interior in Word too.  This also helped save that precious computer ink.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White, Recollections kraft
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Philippians 4:13), Deedee's Digis (Seashells)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large and Small), My Minds Eye Chalk Talk enamel dots, Uniball white gel pen, Staedtler Tri-plus fine tip black marker, Wink of Stella clear brush marker, Copic E25 marker

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
The Kraft Journal Challenge #171 - Sketch
Chocolate Coffee & Cards Challenge - Circles and Squares
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Just Keep on Creating - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Here Comes Summer
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use Dies

Thanks for visiting with me today.  Please be sure to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to pick up your free digi and for some special inspiration.  The design team for one of this week's sponsors, Flying Unicorn, have made projects to share with you.  I know you won't want to miss seeing them.  Have a good week - the weekend is in sight!

Draw Near to God...

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday!  This week's verse is Psalm 73:28, "But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works."  That first part of the verse is a place we can camp isn't it.  How wonderful it is to not only draw near to God but much more wonderful, mind-boggling, and amazing is that He allows us to draw near to Him.  He *wants* us close!  Wow!  I'm just so thankful that God loves me with all my failures and imperfections.  The rest of the verse is a great testimony, because we have put our trust in the Lord God, we have the ability/knowledge to be able to declare all the wonderful things He has done for us.  This would be a great verse to memorize and keep in the forefront of our minds.

I thought this week's WORDart had a more masculine feel to it so I decided to design a masculine notebook.  One of our generous sponsors this week is The Paper Temptress.  This site has some absolutely amazing papers that are very unique.  The owner sent the design team some papers to use.  While I used 3 of the papers she sent on this notebook project, I couldn't help but play a bit more with some of the others.  You can see what I made by scrolling down one post or clicking here.  I used two leather papers on this notebook.  The outside of the notebook has Navy Blue Leather and the interior is Ivory Leather.  I wish you could feel this paper.  It truly has a leather texture and feel to it.  I paper pierced a border around all four edges.  A plaid ribbon and some metallic brads complete the masculine design.

One thing with using digi stamps that I have missed is heat embossing.  I've always wanted a way to do this that made the heat embossing look like "the real thing."  When I read the description for the Opal Mica/Metallic paper this is what I learned:

TIP: DIGITAL EMBOSSING.....The mica/metallic paperline is perfect for Digital Embossing: print image with an ink jet printer, immediately pour embossing powder over the digital image and heat for an embossed finish.....Works perfectly for sentiments!!

 Now THAT was a paper I had to try.  I hope you can see the dimension in the above picture (click for a larger image) but it truly looks, and feels, like regular heat embossing.  One thing I learned with this paper is that even after zapping it with my heat gun, VersaFine ink smears.  So, I just re-stamped my image and covered it with clear embossing powder.  Perfect!!  I really like this paper and will have to get more for future projects.  Note:  Since I was running this paper thru my ink-jet printer for the digi stamps, I used the text weight paper.

For the inside of the notebook, I used a solid piece of the ivory leather paper.  I wanted to use a solid piece because I was trying a new notebook design.  Some of my repeat notebook customers have requested a notebook that will allow the notepad to be replaced without destroying the cover.  I was able to modify my original design to allow for that.  I cut a 1/4" wide slit in the leather on the right side and punched a hole at either end of the slit to prevent tearing.  When adhering the ivory panel to the base, I made sure to only put Scor-tape to the edges and above the slit.  I still put a pocket on the inside left cover and used scraps of the two leathers to embellish it a little.  Since the notepad is going to be replaced, and since this is for a man, I didn't decorate the top of the notepad.

Here is another look at the beautiful texture of the leather paper.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (Kraft)
Papers from The Paper Temptress:  Navy Blue Leather, Ivory Leather, Opal Mica/Metallic
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Psalm 73:28 digi), Flourish (In Nature clear stamp)
Ink: VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments:  ribbon (JoAnn's), brads (The Paper Studio), Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Large and Small), SU embossing powder (Crystal Clear), Tim Holtz Craft Pick, Workforce 5" x 8" Junior legal pad

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Paper Crafting Challenges - No Patterned Paper
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #32 - Anything Goes
Pile It On Challenge #16 - No Patterned Paper (or make your own)

I hope you'll go by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the Design Team projects and to pick up your free digi.  I also hope you'll link up your projects so that you have a chance to win one of our sponsors' prizes.  And please do go visit The Paper Temptress, you will find lots of unique papers that have to be seen and felt to be fully appreciated. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Your visit is truly appreciated!

Whooo's Counting

For our daughter's annual "countdown to the end of the semester" calendar, I chose the wonderful Fern Collection from Carolee's Adornit.  I made the calendar part and the title on the computer.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill, Georgia Pacific
Patterned paper:  Carollee's Adornit (Fern Collection)
Ink - SU (Creamy Caramel)
Embellishments: Eyelet (Oriental Trading), Nestabilities (Labels 4, Circle, Lacey Circle), jute

Some new Digi designs

Lately, I've been doing some design work for the website at Bible Truth Music (aka BTM). My husband works for BTM during the week and is an evangelist & we travel representing BTM on weekends. My husband is responsible for designing two weekly promotional emails & BTM has recently launched their new & improved website and I've been able to design some of their promotional graphics. I don't design the covers of the CDs/Books but I design the promotional materials that include those graphics. I try to challenge myself to do some new technique on each item. I am having so much fun and it helps my husband with his work on the website too. :)

Here are a couple of my favorite recent items (in case you're interested, clicking the pics will take you to the appropriate page on the BTM website):

This one was in the weekly promotional email (our daughter calls my husband the "Spam King" because the mailing list is over 12,000 emails - LOL) and is on the website:


This is only on the website.



This one, I originally designed as a promotional postcard that will be sent out to LOTS of people. :) It is also being used on the website.


And here is my new all-time favorite. For this one, I designed the digi paper behind the CD cover from scratch. I was so excited -- OK maybe I'm a bit of a dork but I've never designed my own digi paper before. What you can't see in the pic is that the speckles are tiny leaves. So many of the music items seem to have more masculine colors or the bright primary colors for the children. It was fun to design with a more feminine theme.


I hope this didn't sound too much like a commercial. I'm just enjoying my digi-designing and wanted to share. My friend that got me into digi just may have created a monster!! ;)

Freaky Friday Challenge 9-11

I am participating in the Freaky Friday Challenge for September 11 over at AC Bailey Designs. For this challenge we were to do a layout about a labor of love. It could be work, babies, anything that required work of some kind. I chose to do mine on all the work Tim puts into his piano arranging. He has sacrificed a lot of his time and given up a lot of good activities to practice. For each arrangement and each public "performance" (since he plays to minister performance gives the wrong impression but I can't think of a better word) many, many hours of private practice & work has gone into it.



Digi Supplies:
PSE7
Design inspired by TTS Sketch #75
Journal Paper - 1 Million Thank You's Part Two by Kim B
Music Note - Music Notes by Soxsational Scraps
Button - Dulie by Designs by Digheskie
Mask - Rubbed Off {Photo Masks} by Laura Bratcher Designs

Why not stop over at AC Bailey and join in the fun of this week’s challenge?

ETA - This layout won LOTW at AC Bailey. I was sooo excited.

Some Digi Desktops

I haven't had time to do much scrapping lately. We realized tonight that we haven't been home for an entire evening in well over a week. No wonder we're tired.

I have taken the time to do a couple digi desktops for myself and a couple friends. I love having a customized desktop with current favorite pics. Templates make it so easy to have a different one every month (or multiple ones each month! *smile*). I like having different ones to change out the scenery on my work desktop too.


I found all the templates on Creative Busy Hands Digital Scrapbooking Freebies Search. It's a great place for digi freebies and is very well organized. They makes finding exactly what you'd like to have so much easier. Once you find something you'd like, you click it and you're taken directly to the designer's website.

I did a few versions of this May desktop by Tinadell. You can find it here.


A friend's kitty:



My kitty:





Our children:




Our son & his girlfriend:


I used this template to make this desktop of our daughter. It's by Lizz Gasaway and can be found here.





I also made one more of our kiddos with a template made by Laurie's Scraps and can be found here.