My Favorites from 2015

Last year I did a Top 10 Favorites from 2014 and had so much fun with it I decided to try it again for 2015. They are listed in the date they appeared on my blog.

I Thought of You Today

Melody of Love

Sweet Happy Birthday

Smart Owl

 

He's Not Far Away

Strength and Honor

Belated Happy Birthday

Inspirational CAS

Meowy Christmas

Bought with a Price

I'm linking up my list of favorites at Debbie's Favorite Five of 2015 - just like last year, my favorite 5 expanded to favorite 10. :) If I HAVE to pick JUST a favorite 5...then it's the first four on this post and the last one.

With Effort Comes Success

Deedee's Digis is sponsoring the Fan-Tastic Tuesday challenge this week.  The challenge is to make a square or rectangular project that includes some texture.  For this card, an embossing folder, pearls, brad and floss tassel provide the texture requirement.  The finished card is a standard 4.25" x 5.5" so that satisfies the rectangular part.  I saw this card on Pinterest and had to try my hand at making one.  There was no tutorial so I made it up as I went along.  Classic Diamond Spellbinders dies were used to make the v-shaped collar of the graduation robe.  Copics were used for the skin tone and a pearl "necklace" provides a feminine touch.  The tassel was made with DMC embroidery floss and attached to the hat with a brad.  The entire hat was popped up over the robe.  A sentiment from the Congratulations Graduate set finishes off the front.

Congratulations Graduate - Non-EU Residents ONLY

Congratulations Graduate - EU Residents ONLY

Two more sentiments from the set were used on the card interior.  Both were double matted in the school colors.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (black), Strathmore Water Color paper (collar), Best Occasions (green), Georgia Pacific (white), Papertrey Ink (white for flesh toned area)
Stamps: Deedee's Digis (Congratulations Graduate)
Copics: E00, 01, 02, 11
Tools/Embellishments: DMC floss (white), brad from stash, pearls (Michael's), Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large and Small, Classic Diamonds), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Herringbone)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #246 - Anything Goes 
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Celebrations 
Inky Chicks Challenge #51 - Pearls 
Cuttlebug Mania - Bling (pearls or gems) 
Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes 
V's Sweet Ideas - Emboss It! 
Crop Stop Linky Party #4 - Use something available in the store (Cuttlebug Herringbone embossing folder)

I hope you'll be able to play along in the challenge.  You just might win a $15 gift code to spend in the Deedee's Digi store if you do.  Thanks for visiting with me today.

Perseverance - Graduation

This month, Deedee's Digis is sponsoring the challenge at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.  The theme this month is Perseverance.  Regular visitors to my blog know that I've really come to enjoy the Path of Positivity challenge and have even had the privilege of being a Guest Designer for them.  So I'm extra happy today to get to combine two things I really enjoy....Deedee's Digis and the Path of Positivity!

It's the time of year for graduations.  When I think of perseverance, graduating from school comes to mind. We personally know several graduates from all levels and types of schools this year...high school, home school, Christian school, college and even grad school. Each one has had to work hard to accomplish their work load and complete the course to earn their degree.  That takes perseverance. This shaker card will be going to one of those graduates.  I used a sentiment and one of the pre-colored images from the Congratulations Graduate set. 

For Non-EU Customers ONLY

For EU Customers ONLY

After matting the patterned paper, a circle die was used to make the shaker portion.  Star sequins are inside the shaker and provide accents on the card front. Two nesting circle dies were used to make a frame for the shaker window.  Several of these frames were stacked on top of each other for some added dimension.  A label die that reminds me of a book was used to mat the sentiment.  The mat for the sentiment panel was made by tracing the outside of the die on the cardstock and then hand cutting it.

Here is another view with the shaker pieces mid-shake.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Creativity Inc. (gray), Papertrey Ink (image and sentiment panels), Georgia Pacific (card base and interior panel), The Paper Temptress (acetate)
Patterned Paper:  Recollections
Stamps: Deedee's Digis (Congratulations Graduate)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Standard Circles Large, Labels 7), V's Sweet Ideas sequins (Holographic Stars 5mm), Stickles (Star Dust), Darice fun foam, Multi-Medium Matte

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #260 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #371 - Use a Sentiment
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #244 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today.  I hope you'll have time this month to play along in the Perseverance themed challenge at the Path of Positivity blog.  You will have a chance to win a $25 gift code to the Deedee's Digis store if you do!!

Strength and Honor

Last week my printer and computer were having a disagreement so I wasn't able to get a card ready for the Word Art Wednesday challenge.  I so enjoy this challenge and hated to miss posting.  Thankfully, my husband has my devices back on speaking terms so we're good to go for this week's challenge.  We're focusing on Proverbs 31:25 this week.  We traditionally think of Proverbs 31 as a Mother's Day type passage and it is good for that.  However, I got a new perspective on it tonight when I showed my card to my mother-in-law.  She said, "Oh, is that a card for {a female we both know}?"  I said, "I'm not sure."  She said, "It would make a good graduation card for her."  As I've looked at the card and thought about the verse, it truly would.  This particular graduate has persevered through great difficulties in order to reach this milestone.  She has also done it with grace, a dependance on the Lord and without advertising just how difficult things have been for her. We've seen such spiritual growth in her the last few years and I'm confident it's because she's exercised her faith in the Lord so much. She once told me the Lord has taught her things through all this that He couldn't have taught her any other way.  Trust me, there will be GREAT rejoicing on graduation day!!  She may be younger than I am but she is a true example and role model to me. 

I wanted this week's card to be feminine and sparkly.  Once of our wonderful sponsors, Fresh Brewed Designs, furnished the DT with some images to use.  I was able to play with the April image.  She was so fun to color with Copic markers.  I added some white gel pen details to her dress and umbrella and couldn't resist adding some Wink of Stella to her dress, shoes and lips.  The die cut image and sentiment panels were double matted and popped up over the background layers.  The patterned paper was also double matted.  A border punch, ribbon and pearls were used along the top of the card.  Some holographic clear sequins and some Peony Floral sequins were scattered over the card.  I used Multi-Medium Matte to adhere my sequins. The holographic sequins were topped with some Star Dust Stickles.

The card ending up having lots of shimmer and shine without too much of a glittery look.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (blue), Papertrey Ink (Stamper's Select White - image and sentiment), Georgia Pacific (card base and white mats)
Patterned Paper:  Recollections
Digi Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Proverbs 31:25), Fresh Brewed Designs (April)
Copics: N0,1; W1; BG000, 01, 05, 10, 15; E00, 11, 25, 31, 50; R20, 22, 24
Tools/Embellishments: ribbon (Offray), pearls (The Paper Studio), Zig Wink of Stella Brush marker (clear), Uni-Ball Signo (white gel pen), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large and Small), Darice sequins (Holographic), V's Sweet Ideas sequins (Peony Floral 5mm), Stickles (Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #33 - Anything Goes
Path of Positivity Challenge #25 - Growth
Crop Stop Linky Party #3 - Use items found in the Crop Stop Store (Cuttlebug machine, Star Dust Stickles, Multi-Medium Matte, and Fiskars replacement blades for my trimmer)
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
Eureka Stamps Challenge #138 - Add some bling
Party Time Tuesday Challenge #197 - Anything Goes
Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge - Anything Goes (must have sentiment on the front)

I hope you'll be able to play along with us this week.  Also, please be sure to pick up your free digi over on the Word Art Wednesday blog and see the projects by the rest of the DT.  Thank you so much for spending some time with me today.  I hope you'll come back often.

Smart Owl

Hello, I hope your week is going well.  I'm sorry my post is so late.  I've had some computer/internet problems and wasn't able to get my post It’s time for another challenge at Word ArtWednesday.This week’s focus verse is one of my all-time favorite Scriptures. Psalms 126:3, “The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad.”My brother sent me this verse after our son was in a car accident and only had minor injuries.Since that time, I’ve found that it is applicable in so many situations…good and bad. A wreck isn’t generally considered good news, but when the only un-crushed space in the car is the exact rectangle where your son is, yes, you can say, “The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad.” When someone shares good news, it’s a great way to rejoice in how the Lord has worked in their life.When someone has reached a milestone or major accomplishment, that’s also a good time to rejoice in the great things the Lord has done.  

Robyn’s Fetish is one of our fantastic sponsors this week and I was able to play with Smart Owl.I thought it was perfect for this verse. When someone reaches the point of graduating from a course of study, that is cause for great rejoicing!! 

Smart Owl was colored with Copic markers. His eyeglass lenses were coated with Glossy Accents for some shine. He takes center stage on this 5.5" square gate-fold card.  The left-over pieces from a corner bracket punch frame the four corners. 

On the back of the image panel, this week's focus verse has it's own showcase.  Some background stamping adds some interest to the solid kraft cardstock.  A bracket punch sets off the interior sentiment. 

 When sandwiching the image and sentiment panels for the gatefold, there was a gap because of all the layers.  A piece of fun foam helped keep things level.  I didn't want the white of the foam to show, so I used Copic marker E29 to color the edges.  

Supplies: 
Cardstock:  Paper Trey Ink (white for image), Georgia Pacific (all other white cardstock and card base), Bazzill (brown), Recollections (kraft) 
Patterned Paper:  Kaisercraft (Secret Bird Society Collection - Undercover) 
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Psalm 126:3), Robyn's Fetish digi (Smart Owl), Autumn Leaves clear stamps (Swirls), Inkadinkado wood mount (Congratulations) 
Ink:  VersaFine (Vintage Sepia, Onyx Black) 
Copics: (Y11, 13, 15, 17, 35, 38; E02, 04, 07, 08, 09, 11, 25, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37; N1, 3, 5, 7, 9; W1; B21, 23, 26; R24, BG000, 01; Colorless Blender) 
Tools/Embellishments: Staedtler fine tip marker (brown), Fiskars Decorative Corner Lever Punch (Bracket), Darice Fun Foam, Glossy Accents, Spellbinders dies (Class Squares Large) 

 I'm entering this card in the following challenges:  
Pile it On Challenge #64 - Die Cuts or Punches - I have both 
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #33 - Anything Goes  
ABC  Challenge - G is for Go Digital (must use something digital - the owl image and Scripture are digis) 
Crafty Creations Challenges #286 - Anything Goes 
CropStop Linky Party 3 - Anything Goes (I used my Cuttlebug, and some Glossy Accents,  which are available in the Crop Stop store) 
Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge #80 - Use a die or punch (I used both)  
Inky Chicks Challenge #49 - Stitching (Real or Faux - I used faux)  
DigiChoosday Week 14 - Use a die (I used a square Spellbinders die)
Fab 'n Funky Challenge #254  - Bingo (diagonal bottom left to top right - punches, digi image, faux stitching)  
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Use a punch 

I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday this week for more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team and to pick up your free digi.  Thanks for visiting today.