Our Help...is in the Name of the Lord

This week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday is Psalm 124:8, "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."  It is such a comfort to know that the Creator of the universe, is willing to help me.  He is so powerful that just His name is all that is needed.  Hebrews 1:3 says that He is, "...upholding all things by the word of His power..."  He spoke the world into being and is upholding them with His word.  Wow!  As the songs says, "What a mighty God we serve!"

My card this week has very soft & subdued colors.  I used cream to go with the lighter aqua and salmon colors.  My card design came from this week's The Sweet Stop Sketch (SSS221).

I paper pieced the flowers and added pearls in their centers.  I used one of the Black Bold Borders from Milk N Coffee Digital Stamps to accent the row of flowers.  The border was colored with copics.  Milk N Coffee Digital Stamps is one of our sponsors this week.  The salmon colors squares behind the flowers were embossed with an embossing folder.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections
Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up 
Stamps:  WordArt by Karen, Inkadinkado (Doodle Flowers), Milk Coffee Stamps (Black Bold Borders)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders (Deckled Rectangles Large & Small), Copics (R22, BG01, 10), Queen & Co. pearls, Cuttlebug embossing folder (Swiss Dots)

I hope you're having a good week.  It's been unseasonably cool here.  We're truly enjoying it!

Know Therefore....

It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week's focus verse is Deuteronomy 7:9.  I love that first part, "Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God..."  The word "know" tells us it is a certainty.  "Thy" is personal.  He's my God, not just my parents', my pastor's, etc. but mine.  "Is" is another certainty.  He IS God - not an imposter, not a good person but God.  "The faithful God" tells me that He will keep His promises and always do what is best for me.  He IS faithful.  We could go on with each phrase in this verse but thinking about those first two lines are enough to keep you busy for a long time.

I used this week's Mojo Monday (MOJO303) sketch for my card design.  As usual I tweaked the sketch a bit.  :)  I used some of my Dilly Dally paper pack (love these papers).  I'll be sad when they're all gone.  I kept it pretty simple this week (for me this is CAS) and just did a little inking, a few pearls, a button, ribbon and faux stitching.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye - Miss Caroline (Dilly Dally)
Ink:  Memento (Desert Sand)
Stamp:  WordArt by Karen
Tools/Embellishments:  ribbon (Sew-ology hem tape), baker's twine (The Twinery), button (Basic Grey), Spellbinders (Labels Four, Labels Four Small), pearls (Recollections), Uni-ball white pen

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash #111 - Use current weakness (I have a weakness for pretty papers, spellbinders and lately, faux stitching.  This card uses all 3.  It seems like almost every card I've made lately has faux stitching and almost every project I make uses dies somewhere on it.)
Papertake Weekly - Die-ing for a Punch (use dies or punches)

Your visit today is greatly appreciated.  I hope you are having a good week.  ;)  Be sure to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to not only get your free digi stamp of this week's Scripture, but also to see what my fellow Design Team members have to share with you today.

For the Man I Love

For my husband's birthday, I wanted to make him a special card.  He's a big supporter of my card-making and even helps give some design advice.  Did I mention he's a patient man?  LOL  This year, I decided to make him a Never Ending Card.  They are definitely easier to make than they look and I will definitely be making more.  There are lots of great tutorials on YouTube.  My card is 6" square.  I tweaked the directions I found a bit to make it work better for me and this is my final result.

This is the card front.  I used two digis from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps for the focal points and some die cuts for the accents.  One thing that made decorating the card challenges is that I had to make sure things were pretty flat so that it would fold properly.  I added lots of faux stitching throughout the whole card to help things look a little more finished.

This is the 2nd "page."  I used Echo Park's Times and Seasons collection for the card and used several of their stickers.

For the 3 page, I wrote several memories of his past birthdays.  I've blurred out the writing to spare you mushiness.

For the last page, I included more stickers, a digi stamps (top left & bottom right corners) and two proverbs from a box of proverb cards I've had for years.  I included a note on each to personalize it a bit more.  I also have a block where I wrote my birthday message to him.  Again I removed it for you.  :)  I'm note sure what happened in the picture but the polka dot trim at the top of the journaling block matches what was used on pages 2-3.

Here's a short video of how the card works.  Surprisingly, there was no feline assistance. 




Supplies:
Cardstock, Recollections
Patterned Paper & stickers:  Echo Park (Times & Seasons)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digis (Masculine Birthday, Sentiments for Him), StampArt Design by Kathryne (Love to Think of You)
Tools/Embellishments:  SU Journal Writer (Close to Cocoa), Uni-Ball white pen, Spellbinders {Photo Corners (hearts), Classic Squares Large & Small, Proverbs to Go by K & Company

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges- Celebrate (Birthday or other celebration)
Craft Your Passion #172 - Happy Birthday
Paper Pretties Wed. Challenge #267 (PPWC267) - Sentiment as the focal point
4 Crafty Chicks Challenges #151 - Let's Hear It For the Boys (masculine card)

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

Hello Friend

I saw the Scrapping Everyday Miracles July Sketch Challenge and thought it looked so fun.  This weekend there was a challenge at Gina K Designs to use a floral stamp and a sentiment to make a card to encourage a friend.  I decided to do both challenges in one card.  I have a limited supply of GKD stamps but was able to use this fantastic dogwood flower   I love this little flower stamp - it's so fun {and easy} to color  I alternated the dogwood flowers with some of my Basic Grey papers.

Part of the sketch challenge was to use a pop dot on an embellishment. I cut out a trio of flowers from the patterned paper, colored the flowers with copics and popped them up on my tag.  I added black Want2Scrap bling to the centers of all the pink flowers.

The background panel was embossed with an M'bossabilities folder,a ribbon was added and a fancy brad covers the ribbon knot. The background panel is attached to the card base with pop dots. The dogwood flowers, patterned paper squares and their mats are cut out with Nestabilities.  I added a little faux stitching on the tag.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Express-It, Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Out of Print)
Stamps:  Gina K Designs (Vintage Chic, Dogwood and Butterfly)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics:  R81, 83, 85; YG03, 05
Embellishments/Tools:  Spellbinders (M'bossabilities-Splendid B, Classic Squares Large & Small), brads (The Paper Studio), CM Black pen, Want2Scrap bling, ribbon (The Ribbon Boutique)

I'm entering this card in the following additional challenges:
Basic Grey Challenges #98 - Flowers
Pile it on Challenge #29 - Thinking of You/Just Because
Milk Coffee Challenge - Emboss It
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog #136 - Use black somewhere on your card (I have black bling as my flower centers)

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I appreciate you taking time to visit.

You Are My Sunshine

I have had this kitty digi for awhile but have never colored him.  Tonight was the night.  I also got brave and decided to try masking the image to sponge clouds in the background.  It was a lot easier than I thought and I like how it turned out.  I will definitely be trying this technique again.  After I finished coloring and sponging, I die cut the image and a mat with spellbinders.

The sun was colored with copics and then fussy cut.  I added SU Crystal Effects to his shades.  He is popped up over the image panel.  The yellow background layer is embossed with an M'Bossabilities embossing folder.  I used PSE to alter the sentiment to make it fit on one line.  Some faux stitching completes the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Xpress-it (image panel), Georgia Pacific (cardbase, sun, sentiment), DCWV (yellow, blue)
Patterned Paper:  Unknown
Digi Stamps: Hambo (Cool Cat), StampArt Designs by Kathryne (Love to Think of You set), Daydream Designs (Sunshine and Rain set)
Ink: Memento (Summer Sky)
Copics: Sun (Y000, 11, 13, 15, 17; YR21; R22, 27; B000, 21, 23)  Cool Cat (B000, 21, 23, 26; BG01, 10; N5, 7; V04, 06, 09; R20, 22, 24, 27, 81, 83, 85; Y000, 11, 13, 15, 17; YR07, 20, 21; G14; YG03, 05)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders (Classic Squares Large and Small, M'Bossabilities Splendid side B), SU Crystal Effects, Uni-Ball White Opaque Pen, SU Stampin' Write marker (Night of Navy)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
MOJO Monday (MOJO302) - Sketch
SNSS July Release Challenge #1 - Use a sun or the color yellow
Pile It On Challenge #28 - Water
Tuesday Throwdown #156 - Anything Goes
V's Sweet Ideas #13 - Summer Fun
Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge #108 - Summer Fun
Cuttlebug Mania - Fun in the Sun
Southern Girls Challenge #73 - No Spoolin' (can't use anything that comes on a spool)
Milk Coffee Challenge - Emboss It (heat or dry)
Scrapper's Delights Challenge #3 - Summer Brights
Inky Impressions Challenge #117 - Summer
LEJ Designs Challenge #62 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by to visit today. 

Home of the Free...

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

I'm back with another card for the Scrapping Everyday Miracles 2nd Birthday Bash Card Challenges.  This time its Challenge #3 - a Patriotic Thank You Card.

I made the sentiment the focal point and added a gold embossed Thank You to the bottom of the card.  The dark blue panel is embossed with a Swiss Dot folder and Classic Square Nestabilities were used to cut out the sentiment panel.  Some faux stitching, a couple gold star brads and some gold ribbon complete this card. Yes, it's very simple for me but I think the gold packs a nice little punch.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections, DCWV, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Sassafras Lass (Dainty)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digi (Because of the Brave), Gina K Designs (Masculine Tags)
Ink:  Versamark
Tools/Embellishments:  Zig Ball pen (Red), Spellbinders (Labels 22, Squares Large & Small), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Swiss Dots), Misc. items from my stash (gold star brads, gold ribbon, gold embossing powder)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #171 - Thank You
The Kraft Journal - Pretty Papers

One more challenge and I'll have all five of the Birthday Bash Challenges completed.  :)  Not bad for me - especially since keeping them flat so the soldiers can easily mail them is a challenge all of its own for me.  LOL

Thanks for stopping by.  I truly do appreciate your visits.

Washi Tape Checkerboard

It's time for another challenge at the Word Art Wednesday Challenge Blog.  Our theme verse this week is Isaiah 12:3.  I looked up this verse in an online Matthew Henry commentary.  He says that Isaiah 12:1-3 is part of a hymn of praise.  I found what he had to say about verse 3 so encouraging, I'm including just a little bit here.  [source:  Bible Gateway]

They are taught to derive comfort to themselves from the love of God and all the tokens of that love (Isa. 12:3): “Therefore, because the Lord Jehovah is your strength and song and will be your salvation, you shall draw water with joy.” Note, The assurances God has given us of his love, and the experiences we have had of the benefit and comfort of his grace, should greatly encourage our faith in him and our expectations from him: “Out of the wells of salvation in God, who is the fountain of all good to his people, you shall draw water with joy. God’s favour shall flow forth to you, and you shall have the comfort of it and make use of the blessed fruits of it.”

This week's sponsor is Freckled Fawn.  Among other embellishments, they sell all kinds of washi tape.  I was privileged to win a prize sponsored by them a few months ago.  I got some washi tape but then didn't know what to do with it.  LOL  When I saw they were the sponsors this week, I challenged myself to use it.  I came up with using it to make a checkerboard pattern to use as the background for this week's verse panel.  I first adhered alternating strips the width of a piece of cardstock.  I then cut it lengthwise in strips the width of the tape.  Then I glued these strips to another piece of cardstock in the checkerboard pattern and cut it to size.  {clear as mud right?  I am at the end of a migraine so what makes sense in my head might not translate to what I type.  :(  }

The white background was embossed and then matted on black cardstock.  The checkerboard was also matted on black cardstock. The verse was printed and matted with a black lacey circle.  The bottom of the circle was cut off even with the bottom of the checkerboard.  A black lattice border die cut was added and then the card was finished off with a few pink rhinestones. 

I am entering this card in another of the Scrapping Everyday Miracles Second Birthday Bash Card Challenges (challenge #2).  This time the challenge was a sketch.  In my version, the lattice border replaces then pennant border. I really enjoyed this sketch and can see myself using it again.  :)  Another part of the challenge was that the card was to be a Birthday, Thinking of You, or Thank You card.  For me, cards with Scripture on the front are Thinking of You cards.  I like to send cards to let people know I'm thinking of them and I try to match the Scripture with the recipient.  I try to send something that will encourage them in their current situation.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, The Paper Studio
Stamp:  WordArt by Karen (Isaiah 12:3)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders (Circles Small, Lacey Circles, Lattice Accents), CuttleBug embossing folder (Swiss Dots), Freckled Fawn washi tape, The Paper Studio rhinestones (pink)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown #156 - Anything Goes
LEJ Designs #62 - Anything Goes
2 Sisters Challenge #152 - Make it Sparkle
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #267 (PWC267) - Tongue Tied (Make the sentiment the focus)
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #136 - Use black somewhere on your project

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you are having a good week and will come back soon.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

It was time to get reacquainted with another favorite....Rhubarb!  Scrapping Everyday Miracles 2nd Birthday Bash Card Challenge #4 is to make a Thanksgiving or Christmas card using a sketch they provided.  One of my favorite Rhubarb images is Rhubarb's Stocking so that's what I used.

I made a frame using Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles Large & Small.  After I backed it with some patterned paper I added Rhubarb to the center with some thin pop dots.  I used another die to make the snowflake and topped it with a flat metal dot.  The sentiment is a sticker from the Echo Park Season's Greetings paper collection.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Recollections, Bazzill, Core'dinations
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Season's Greetings)
Stamp:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digi (Rhubarb's Stocking)
Tools/Embellishments:  Copic Markers, Best Occasions Metal Dots, Offray ribbon, Spellbinders (Deckled Rectangles Large & Small, Create-a-Flake Four) Sakura pens (Glaze, Green Star, Clear Star)

I'm entering this card in these additional challenges:
Sentimental Sunday #163 - You've Been Framed (frame your image)
The Kraft Journal - Pretty Papers
Fab 'n Funky #179 - Christmas in July
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #215 - Christmas
Shelly's Images - Christmas
Crafty Ribbons #52 - Anything Goes (must use ribbon)

Thanks for stopping by today.  I'm not really ready to think about Christmas but....Rhubarb was fun to visit.  :)

Happy Birthday, Cocoa!

I haven't made a card with my old friend, Cocoa, in awhile.  I am taking part in a couple challenges and thought he would be perfect for them.

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps July Release Challenge #3 is to include a border on your card.  I used one of the Sweet 'n Sassy Lacey Eyelet Border dies to make a border between the patterned paper and the cardstock.  I also used this week's Sweet Stop Sketch (SSS219) for the card design.  Cocoa was colored with Copics and then die cut using the out-of-the-box technique. 

Scrapping Everyday Miracles is having a 2nd Birthday Celebration.  They have 5 card challenges as some of their celebration events.  All the cards made for the challenges are to be sent to Cards for Soldiers.  This is an organization that sends blank cards to soldiers for them to send to their loved ones back home.  This card is for Challenge #1 which is to make a birthday card using at least 3 patterned papers.  Since glitter and lumpy embellishments are to be avoided, I just used a glaze pen on Cocoa's nose and resisted the urge to add embellishments to the flower centers.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), DCWV (blue)
Patterned paper:  unknown (it's been in my stash for awhile and was part of a RAK)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Digi (Peek-a-Boo Cocoa), Mark's Finest Papers (Celebrate Big)
Ink:  Versamark
Tools/Embellishments:  Stampendous embossing powder (White Opaque), Uni-ball Signo (white pen), Sweet 'n Sassy die (Lacey Eyelet Border), Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Large & Small), Copic markers, Sakura glaze pen

Thanks for stopping by today.  I'll probably be back several times this week at there are other SNS July Release Challenges and Scrapping Everyday Memories Birthday challenges.  See you soon.

Butterfly Spotlight

I have a different type of card to share with you today.  I've seen a couple cards recently that were clear.  I really like them but haven't made one in a long time. When I saw this week's challenge at Flourishes to use acetate on your card, I decided now was the time.  I also was introduced to a great sketch challenge blog, Tuesday Morning Sketches.  They are having a birthday celebration (Happy Birthday, TMS) and have 4 different sketches to choose from this week.  I chose to use sketch #4 but added the bow element to help cover where the acetate is attached.  Sketches are for inspiration and don't have to be followed exactly...right?  :)

I also wanted to try a "new to me" technique I've seen around blog-land and decided to try the Spotlight Technique.  It was kind of fun and certainly adds a dramatic touch.  Beate has a great tutorial on the Spotlight Technique over on SCS.

I lined the interior of the card with a lavender dotted paper and added a place for a note.  The decorations on the front hide it from view.

I used the space behind the front decorations to add a Scripture verse.

Here's a view of the inside of the front panel of the card.  I learned that photographing a clear card with a white background can make cropping/editing it a challenge.  It's hard to see where the card ends.  Maybe I'll try a black background next time. 

Note to self:
When making clear cards in the future, and when using a thick transparency instead of clear "cardstock",  add patterned paper or cardstock to the bottom edge for stability.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Express-it, Creative Imaginations (Lavender)
Patterned Paper:  NRN Designs (Purple Floral), Art Impressions (Dotty Lavender)
Stamps:  Flourishes (Picking Wildflowers), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Our Refuge)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics:  V04, 06, 09; YG03, 05; R20; YR21; E29, 50; Y11, 13, 15, 17, 21
Tools/Embellishments:  Transparency (brand unknown), Spellbinders (Circles Large & Small, Lacey Circles), Doodlebug Stitched Grosgrain ribbon (Lilac), CM Fine Tip Black pen, Fiskar's Border punch (Apron Lace)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketches #206 (TMS206) - 4th Birthday Sketch Challenge
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC228) - Seeing Clearly (use acetate on card)
Tuesday Throwdown #155 - Use Spotlight Technique
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Use ribbon & bow
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #52 - Anything Goes with Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by today.