Thy Mother Shall Be Glad

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are doing well and surviving this time of social distancing and quarantine. It's time for a new challenge on Word Art Wednesday and this week our focus verse is very appropriate for the upcoming Mother's Day holiday. Proverbs 23:25, "Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice." Exodus 20:12 instructs us to, " Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." and Ephesians 6:2 states, "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;" There is instruction in both the Old and New Testaments about the importance of honoring our parents. What truly makes a parent glad and a mother rejoice? 3 John 4 says it best, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." Having your children following the Lord and seeking to please Him brings joy to a mom's (and dad's) heart. My heart is thrilled when our children share something with us and tell us how they saw the Lord was working in the situation. My heart is humbled when they say, "I've been praying for you, Mom." As children, let's live a life that will bring joy to our parents. For those of us that are parents, let's be a good example of godly living so our children will know how they ought to live.

Our sponsor this week is Pink & Main. I love their products so I couldn't stop at one card (product links are provided below). First up is a shaker card using this week's free WORDart digi. I used the Reverse Scalloped Rectangle dies for the frame of the card and for the verse. The larger frame was cut multiple times (approx 8) from white cardstock and the layers stacked and glued together to form the well for the seed beads. The beautiful spring papers are so bright and cheerful and the coordinating enamel shapes provide the finishing touch.

I used the Sunny Cover Dies for a set of 5 cards. Five different patterned papers were used for the die cut inlay. This first card uses a Pink & Main stamp and die bundle. The hot air balloons were stamped on patterned paper with embossing ink and white heat embossed. The stamp set includes layering dies for the balloons but I didn't have inks that went with the papers so I opted for heat embossing. The largest balloon was die cut from white card stock and the basket was stamped in black ink. The top of the balloon was stamped, embossed and fussy cut around the outside of the embossing before being glued to the top of the die cut balloon. It was popped up on the card front with foam squares. The smaller balloons were stamped and heat embossed before being die cut. They were adhered flat to the card front. An enamel heart was added to the basket to finish off the card.

I don't have any other Pink & Main sentiment stamps so I pulled a couple sentiments from other sets in my stash for the remaining four cards in the set. I kept them pretty simple so that they would mail easily. They also are embellished with the enamel shapes and two of them use the banner die in the Sunny Cover Die set.


Pink & Main Products used:
Enchanted Garden 6 x 6 paper Pad
Enchanted Garden Enamel Shapes
Reverse Scallop Rectangle Dies (first card only)
Sunny Cover Dies (card set)*
Hot Air Balloon Bundle - stamps & dies (card #2 only)*

*these two items are currently on sale. :)

Other supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections #110 (white for card base ), Pen & Gear (white), Green - source unknown
Stamps: WORDart by Karen digi stamp (Proverbs 23:25), Stamps of Life clear stamps (Anniversary 2 Celebrate), Divinity Designs cling stamps (Bon Voyage)
Ink: Versamark, Versafine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Fiskars heart punch, black fine tip marker, Simon Says Stamp fine detail embossing powder (white), MISTI stamping tool, Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine, The Paper Studio seed beads

I'm entering these cards in the following challenges:
Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Cuttlebug Mania - Celebrate Mums (the shaker card and the hot air balloon card are both Mother's Day cards - the Mother's Day sentiment is on the interior but not shown - I used the Cuttlebug machine and three different die sets)
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #419 - Mother's Day (the first two cards are Mother's Day cards but the Mother's Day sentiment is on the interior)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use Punches or Dies (I entered the hot air balloon card as it uses more dies)

I hope you'll be able to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and see the projects from the rest of the Design Team. I also hope you'll check out our sponsor, Pink & Main. Thanks for visiting today. Please stay safe.

Flowers and Butterflies

Happy Wednesday!! It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week we are looking at Isaiah 54:13, "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children." What a great goal it is for all those who are mothers or are in a place of influence over those that are younger to teach them of the Lord. Teach them how the Lord provides, teach them how the Lord wants us to live, teach them how the Lord wants us to treat others and most of all, teach them about the salvation the Lord provides through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Then no matter what is going on in their world, those children will be at peace because they will have the confident assurance that the Lord is in control. Of course, in order to teach the ways of the Lord, we must know Him ourselves. How about you? Do you know Jesus?

For my card today, I used the window design featured in this Fun Window Card video by Connie Stewart. While I didn't frame my window exactly like she did (her way is much easier and I want to try that next time), I really like this fun design. It adds an unexpected element to an otherwise pretty simple card.

I added some butterflies to two of the corners of my frame and a smaller butterfly on the sentiment. Some tiny pearls provide bodies for the butterflies and centers for some of the flowers.

For the interior, I added two more butterflies with pearl bodies. More patterned paper was used to provide decoration on the left interior panel. This card will be my mother-in-law's Mother's Day card. She has certainly lived out the truth of this verse. My husband can write his message to her above or below the verse panel or on the back.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (#110 white for card base, black), Bazzill (Aqua scraps for butterflies), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper: Pebblies 6 x 6 pad (Garden Party)
Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Isaiah 54:13)
Tools/Embellishments: Fiskars butterfly punches, Spellbinders dies (Classic Rectangles Large and Small), Gina Marie Designs (pearls), Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge - must use patterned paper
Daisy Chain Challenge #30  - Anything Goes
Cuttlebug Mania - For Mom or a special lady
Always Fun Challenges - Female or Mom
Tuesday Throwdown #431 - Frame It
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - For a Special Lady

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

Happy Mother's Day!

It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week we are focusing on Galatians 6:9, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." As those of us in the US anticipate celebrating Mother's Day this coming Sunday, I find this verse very appropriate. I think fatigue and wondering if anything we're doing is really making a difference are pretty universal. So much of mothering is repeating the same actions over and over such as being consistent in training, taking time to listen, and reinforcing hygiene routines ("yes, Sweetheart, you do need a bath," "Have you brushed your teeth today?", and my personal favorite, "take a shower and be sure to use soap." LOL). It takes a lot of energy to teach and practice Biblical principles. However, this verse is an encouragement that if we remain faithful, we will reap a reward. Just like all sowing and reaping, it takes time for what is planted to grow and reach maturity. So it is with our children. We sow good habits, Biblical principles and godly character traits in them and after a long growing season, then comes the harvest. I'm at the "empty nest" stage of life and can see this in our children. We certainly weren't perfect parents, no one is, and we made LOTS of mistakes. No, they are not perfect adults. However, by the Lord's grace to us, I do see the benefits of our years of training because they are responsible adults that seek to please the Lord. For those of you that still have littles at home, be encouraged. This stage won't last forever, and they really are absorbing more of what you are trying to teach than you think they are.

I've been seeing the "Impossible Card" floating around YouTube lately. With my love of fancy folds, I had to give it a try. What makes it impossible? The card base, including the stand up display area, is made from a single piece of 4.25" x 5.5" cardstock. It's actually very easy to make. I have two versions for you. Both use the tutorial I found on Dawn's Stamping Thoughts YouTube channel. Both started out with a base made from pearlized cardstock that was given to me several years ago.

This first card has this week's WORDart on the display panel and a sentiment from the Mother's Day Sentiments Digital Stamp Set from one of our sponsors, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. Some heart die cuts and bling embellish the card front.

My 2nd card uses two digis from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. I used the same "Happy Mother's Day" sentiment on the crossbar and use the Proverbs 31:30 Digital Stamp on the display panel. I used the same heart die cuts and bling.

These cards are so simple to make and give you a lot of bang for your buck. They are also a great way to use up some of those scraps you have piling up (or is that just me?).

Supplies:
Cardstock - base unknown brand, Georgia Pacific (white cardstock), Bazzill teal cardstock, Unknown brand pink cardstock
Patterned Paper - Card #1 - Recollections, Card #2 - The Paper Studio
Digi Stamps - WORDart by Karen, Sweet 'n Sassy Digital Stamps (Mother's Day Sentiments, Proverbs 31:30)
Tools and Embellishments - Gina Marie Designs (bling), Lawn Fawn dies (Heart), Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large and Small)

Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you'll come back soon. The Word Art Wednesday blog has lots more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team and a free digi.

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.

Butterfly Mother's Day Card

This is the result when I was asked to make a Mother's Day card for a mom of six that likes butterflies.  Her husband knows I make cards and contacted my husband to ask if I would make one for her.  I was happy to say yes.  I really enjoy helping a husband surprise his wife.  :)

The background butterflies and the large butterfly are accented with stickles.  The sentiments on the front were computer generated.  The husband didn't author the poem but from reading his FB posts about and to his wife, he could have.  I found the poem on the internet - I'm not sure of the author so I can't give proper credit.  :(

The interior sentiment is from a Sweet 'n Sassy digi stamp set.  A few more butterflies complete the interior decorating.

For this special card, I decided the envelope needed a little decoration.  More stickles accent these butterflies too.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamps:  Studio G (large butterfly wood mounted stamp), Clear Dollar Stamps (Blooming with Blessings clear stamp set), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Mother's Day Sentiments digi set)
Ink:  Memento (Rosebud)
Tools/Embellishments: Uniball Signo White gel pen, pearls (Recollection), ribbon (Offray), Simon Says Stamp die (Folded Banner), Round it All (1/2"), Ribbon Punch (The Paper Studio), Stickles (Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - "M" (Mother, mounted stamp)
Inky Impressions Challenge #158 (IIC158) - Mother's Day
Going Gray with Scrap-Creations - Mother's Day/Special Girl
Milk Coffee Challenge - Mother's Day/Special Lady
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes
Just Be Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - Use Patterned Paper

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope your week is off to a good start.

Happy First Mother's Day

This card is obviously designed for a brand new mom.  I wanted to make it very girly so I kept it pink and white.  I included the feminine touches of  a doily, pearls, scallops and ribbon.  The sentiment was computer generated.

I used this adorable Sweetie Bear from StampArt Design by Kathryne.  I colored the bear with Copics.  The bows were paper pieced and have tiny pearl centers. She was fussy cut and her nose and dress were accented with a white gel pen. She was adhered with pop dots to the card front.  Faux stitching finishes off the edges of the card and background paper.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (pink), Georgia Pacific (white), Neenah Solar White (image)
Patterned Paper:  American Crafts
Stamps:  StampArt Design by Kathryne (Sweetie Bear), computer generated sentiment
Copics:  R81, 83, 85; E29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40
Tools/ Embellishments:  Uniball Signo White gel pen, pearls/flourish (The Paper Studio), ribbon (American Crafts), Spellbinders dies (Petite Scalloped Circles Large), Cheery Lynn die (French Pastry), Staedtler black fine tip marker

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Digi Haven - Bear Hugs 
Divas by Design - In the Pink
Inky Impressions Challenge #158 - Mother's Day
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #194- For a Special Lady
Sweet Stamps Challenge #168 - For Mom
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Mother's Day/For a Girl
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #34 - Flourishes
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes

I hope the rest of your week goes well.  Thanks for visiting today.

Mom...You Are Loved

It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week's verse is Galatians 6:9, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."  As we are looking forward to Mother's Day in a little over a week, I thought how appropriate this verse is for moms.  Sometimes when you have little ones, it's easy to get tired of the training, teaching, correction, and discipline.  However, if we will stay consistent and just keep doing what's right, those lessons and life skills will take root and our children will be responsible and a joy to be around.  Hang in there, young moms and moms of teens.  The Lord is faithful and will give you the strength to keep training your children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

This week's card is a 5.5" square gatefold.  It has lots of layers but not too many bulky embellishments to make it easier to mail.  When I printed this digi (from A Day for Daisies), I accidentally printed it on bristol paper instead of watercolor paper.  I noticed a little pilling when I used my water brush the the Distress inks and markers but it actually did pretty well.  Wink of Stella clear glitter adds a little shimmer to the flowers in the image and to the background flowers.

This week's verse is on the inside.  When making gatefold cards, I usually like to put some sort of image, sentiment or at least patterned paper on the back of the panel that overlaps the "gate".  The middle panel allows plenty of room for writing a note.

Here is a close up of the verse panel.  Remember you can always click the picture for a closer look.  :)

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white except for image panel), Strathmore Bristol (image panel), Core'dinations (teal)
Patterned Paper:  Simple Stories (Vintage Bliss 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Galatians 6:9), A Day for Daisies (Favorite Flower Pot digi), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Mother's Day Sentiments digi set)
Tools/Embellishments:  Various Distress inks and markers, Spellbinders dies (Standard Circles Large and Small, Lacey Circles), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps die (Lacey Eyelet Border), Uniball Signo white gel pen, Wink of Stella glitter brush marker (clear), Want2 Scrap black pearls

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
A Day for Daisies - Cards for Mom
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #18 - Anything Goes
SweetStamps Blog Challenge #167 - Photo Inspiration (I was inspired by the flowers spilling out of their container)
Fantastic Tuesday Challenge #33 - Floral (use flowers)
Inky Chicks Challenge #28 - From the Heart
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #63 - Spring
Faith Hope & Love Scripture Challenge Week #6 - Use Scripture somewhere on a card
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #308 (PWC308)  - Mother's Day/Spring
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Inky Impressions Challenge #157 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  As usual, I want to remind you to visit the Word Art Wednesday Challenge blog to see more inspiration by the rest of the Design Team, to check out our fantastic sponsors and to pick up your free digi.  Have a wonderful day!

Happy Mother's Day

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

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

Details on the card:


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

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

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


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

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