Precious and Few...

I've recently seen some cards with embossing on vellum or parchment and have wanted to give it a try.  When I saw the 3rd door in the Door Inspiration challenge at MFP SpeedyTV, I knew the time had come.  Here is my card inspired by that door.

I embossed the floral flourish on parchment paper with Versamark and opaque white embossing powder.  I cut black door frames using my paper trimmer and also cut rectangles in each side of the gatefold card base.  I used scortape to adhere the parchment panels to the black frames. 

I adhered these frames to the card front and used another set of black frames to cover the opening on the inside.  I added a pearl for the doorknob to each gatefold panel.

For the inside, I embossed sentiment and another flourish on white cardstock with black embossing powder and matted it with a floral oval.  A few pearls were added to the floral oval and one to the flower center.  Since there is not much room for a note to the recipient, I thought in this case, the message could be written on the back of the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (black), Fiskar's Parchment Paper
Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny (Enchanted 6 x 6 pad)
Ink:  Versamark
Stamps - Inkadinkado - Floral Flourishes & Expressions
Embellishments/Tools:  Spellbinders (Petite Ovals Large, Floral Ovals), Stampendous Embossing Powder (Opaque White & Midnight Black), Queen & Co Pearls (snowflake)



I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
MFP SpeedyTV Inspiration Challenge #17 - Doors
Catered Crop - So Shapely {Die Cuts/Punches/Shapes)
Inky Chicks #7 - Anything Goes
Crafting When We Can #47 - Keep It Simple
Divas By Design - Pearls

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope the rest of your weekend goes well.

Happy {Flowers} Birthday

This card started with a sketch from Papertake Weekly and I tweaked it a bit (rotated it 90 degrees and took out the small strip) to make it work for me.  I used papers from my stash that I bought from a yard sale so I don't know who made them. I did lots of layering and used two strips of diagonally striped paper to make my chevrons.  I covered the seam with ribbon.  The flower centers are black bling.  A little embossing, a little faux stitching and some photo corners complete the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock - Georgia Pacific
Patterned Papers - Unknown
Stamps - Sweet 'n Sassy Digi (Happy Flowers), Mark's Finest Papers (Celebrate Big)
Ink -  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics - YG03, 05; R81, 83, 85; BG10
Tools/Embellishments - Fiskars Decorative Corner Lever Punch (Bracket), M-bossabilities embossing folder (Splendid B), Morex ribbon, Want2Scrap bling (black), CM Fine Point Black pen

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Stampin for the Weekend - Anything Goes
Inky Impressions #114 (IIC114) - Anything Goes
Craft Lovin' Challenge #2 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - sketch #80 - rotated 90 degrees
Sister Act Challenge #12 - Anything Goes

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

Berry Happy Birthday

I made this little birthday card for a co-worker.  I was privileged to win some Flourish stamps recently and decided to use one of the stamps from the Berry Sweet Frames set for the front.  My card design was inspired by a card made by Flourishes designer, Stacy Morgan (in this challenge post the inspiration card I used is 3rd from the bottom).

I stamped the strawberries  and sentiment (from a set by Mark's Finest Papers) on a piece of cardstock and then colored the strawberries with my copics.  I used my Scor-Buddy to add the score lines 1/4" from each edge.  A ribbon, button and twine were added to this panel before I matted it on green cardstock and then adhered to the card base.  As a last touch I added stickles to the strawberries and flower center.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Stamps:  Flourishes (Berry Sweet Frames), Mark's Finest Papers (Celebrate Big)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics:  R27, 29; YR20, 21, YG03, 05, R20
Embellishments/Tools:  American Crafts Slick Writer, Jillibean Soup twine, Offray ribbon, button from stash, Stickles (Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Flouishes Designer Focus - make a card inspired by Stacy Morgan
Sister Act Card Challenge #12 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Crafting When We Can #47 - Keep It Simple
Friends of SpeedyTV - Let it Sparkle (I used stickles for my sparkle)

Thanks for stopping by today.

We Are His Workmanship

It's Wednesday, so that means it's time for another challenge over at WordArt Wednesday.  Be sure to stop by and pick up this week's free digi and please play along with us this week.  The more the merrier.  :)

I really like this week's verse because it's a great reminder to me that we were created to do good works for Christ.  Our good works do not get us into Heaven nor do they make us "more saved."  Instead, they are acts of obedience and gratitude for all Christ has done for us.  God created us to do good works for Him.  That is our purpose in life -- to bring honor and glory to Him.

I decided to keep the verse the focal point on this card.  I accented it with faux stitching, flowers and a pearl flourish.  Layered ribbons are the final accent on the card front.

Supplies:
Cardstock - Bazzill, Copic 
Patterned Paper - Basic Grey (Picadilly 6 x 6 pad)
WordArt by Karen Murray for WordArt Wednesday
Embellishments/Tools - Spellbinders (Petite Ovals Small, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large), Prima Say it in Crystal flourish, flowers (Making Memories), pearls (Queen & Co.), ribbon (organdy- Ribbons trends, green - May Arts), CM fine point black pen

I'm entering this card in the following Challenges:
Catered Crop - Die Cuts and/or Punches
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #49 - Flowers Galore
Craft Lovin' Challenge #2 - Anything Goes
Friends of Speedy TV #74 - Let's Sparkle (the sparkle on this card is provided by the rhinestone flourish)
Just us Girls Challenge #149 - Photo Inspiration (I took my inspiration from the yellow of the flowers and the layered plates)

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you will stop by the WordArt Wednesday blog to pick up your free digi, see what the rest of the Design Team made and then link up your project(s).  Have a good week!

Welcome Little One

As you have probably heard by now, Google Reader will be shut down as of July 1st.  If you follow/read my blog via Google Reader, I'd like to encourage you to follow me via Bloglovin'. There is a button on my sidebar that makes getting to the site quite easy.  One you sign up for Bloglovin', you'll be able to switch all your current Google Reader Blogs over to Bloglovin' in a few simple steps.

Recently I was privileged to win some digis by StampArt Design by Kathryne.  She has so many adorable designs that it was hard to choose.  Be sure to check out her stamps at the link above and also her page on Facebook.  Each week she offers free Scripture digis on Mondays and other free digis on Tuesday.  Did I mention yet that she's very generous?

One of my choices was the adorable Sweetie Bear.  Sweetie comes with two bonus files and my card today actually uses one of them.  I colored Sweetie with Copics and added some opaque white pen stitching along the edges of her hem, sleeves and bodice.  I gave her a little sparkle with some stickles on the heart on her dress and a tiny pearl center for her bow.

I used this week's Sweet Stop Sketch (SSS216) for my card design.  The ribbon I used has a little sparkle in it and I couldn't resist adding 3 more little pearls as an accent.  And, like I do on so many cards, I finished things off with some faux stitching.  The sentiment is part of Sweet 'n Sassy's Baby Blessings Digital stamp set.  I liked this easy-to-follow sketch and kept things pretty simple (for me anyway :) ).

Supplies:
Cardstock - Express-it (image and sentiment panels), Georgia Pacific (card base)
Patterned paper - American Crafts (The Goods - Booties), Frances Meyer, The Paper Studio
Stamps - StampArt Design by Kathryne (Sweetie Bear - bonus image), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Baby Blessing Digi set)
Copics - E11, 31, 33, 35, 50; W-1; C0; C-1; R81, 83, 85; Colorless Blender
Embellishments/Tools - SU tag punch, Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), SU pearls, The Twinery baker's twine, Uni-Ball Signo White pen, Stickles (Star Dust), Sakura Glaze Pen (on  Sweetie's nose), Sakura Gelly Roll pen (pink), button and ribbon from my stash

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sweet Stop Sketch #216 - sketch
Cupcake Craft - No flowers
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #212 - Recipe (Use Sentiment, Image, Pearls or Rhinestones and a Ribbon)
V's Sweet Challenge #12 - Baby Theme
Craft Lovin' Challenge #2 - Anything Goes
Inky Chicks Challenge #7 - Anything Goes

I hope you have a good day.  Please stop back by tomorrow when I'll have a new card for WordArt Wednesday.

Psalm 46:1 - God is Our Refuge

When I saw this card made by Gina K on StampTV, I knew I wanted to try her card layout. I really like the layered nestabilities.   I changed up a few things, colors, stamp, brad size, and I used patterend paper instead of stamping my background.  However, the card layout is totally Gina K.

This verse holds such a special meaning for me. The past few days, I've experienced God's strength and help once again during a very trying week.  He never fails and is always faithful to aid and protect us each and every time we need Him.  It doesn't matter if our need is big or small, God is always there. 

The patterned paper is cut into 3/4" strips and matted on the dark red cardstock.  Then a piece of ribbon was added across these layers.  I waited to mount this to the cream cardstock card base until after I'd added the brads.

I stamped the sentiment on cream cardstock and then die cut it with a circle nestabilities.  While it was still in the die, I inked it with distress ink.  I die cut the Fancy Tags 3 and Lacey Circles die cuts, layered them and matted the sentiment on top.  Then I added the pearl brads.

Supplies:
Cardstock - Recollections (cream), Bazzill (dark red), Cor'dinations (gray)
Patterned Paper - MME Miss Caroline (Dilly Dally 6 x 6 pad)
Stamp - Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Our Refuge)
Ink - Memento (Tuxedo Black), Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Peacock Feathers)
Embellishments/Tools - ribbon (Offray), brads (Spare Parts Bubble Jewel Brads), Spellbinders (Classic Circles Large, Lacey Circles, Fancy Tags 3)

I'm entering it in the following challenges:
Cupcake Craft Cupcake 247 - Sentiment is the focus
Crafty Ribbons #49 - Flowers galore
4 Crafty Chicks #147 (4CCC147) - Sentiment Only
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #225 (FTTC225) - Scallops

Thanks for stopping by this evening.  I hope you enjoy your weekend.

When a Man's Ways Please the Lord - Proverbs 16:7

It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  As usual, there's a free digi WordArt Scripture verse available on the Word Art Wednesday blog and the challenge is always anything goes (as long as it is family-friendly and has a positive/encouraging sentiment).  You do NOT have to use the free digi to play along in the challenge.

This week's Scripture digi is Proverbs 16:7, "When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him."  This verse assures us that when we live a life pleasing to the Lord, He can work in hearts so that we can even get along with our enemies.  That certainly is an encouragement when you are dealing with those some folks call "sandpaper people."  You know, those people that the Lord uses to rub off the rough edges in your life and make you more like Him.  There's nothing like someone a little difficult to get along with to make you realize how much of "self" is still in your life.

I recently won a gift certificate to Lili of the Valley Stamps.  I had long admired their stamps on the blogs of other crafters so I was quite excited to be able to choose a couple for myself.  The day they arrived in my mailbox, I just had to ink up and color the cutie below.  I thought it went great with our theme verse since the puppy and kitty are getting along.  :)

They were fun for even this novice Copic girl to color.  After coloring the image with copics, I hightlighted the animals' noses with a white pen.  I used N0, N1, and a colorless blender to add the highlights on the "table" in front of the girl and her pets.  I decided to showcase this cutie on a center-step card.  You can find an easy-to-follow tutorial on SplitCoast Stampers here.

I really like all the dimension that the center-step card gives and the fact that when open it's a 3D display. 

I also like that it gives plenty of space to keep the Scripture (the most important part of the card) in a prominent place.  I thought the side panels were looking a little plain so I added some punched hearts on thin pop dots.  The sentiment panel is popped up on thin pop dots and the image panel on thicker ones.

I did a bit of interior decorating this time.  I punched a row of hearts along bottom of the panel intended for the message to the recipient.  I then backed it with teal paper and outlined the hearts and the message panel with faux stitching.

Supplies:
Cardstock - Copic (image), Georgia Pacific (card base, sentiment)
Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline (Dilly Dally 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps - Karen Murray for Word Art Wednesday (Scripture digi), Lili of the Valley (Milly Cuddle Time)
Ink - Memento (Tuxedo Black, Toffee Crunch)
Copics - Skin (E000, 00, 01, R20), Hair (Y000, E31, E33), Dog (E31, 33, 35,37, N7), Cat (N1, 3, 5, 7, E11), Shirt (BG000, 05, 09, YR21, Y21), Highlights (N0, N1)
Embellishments/Tools - Spellbinders (Circles Large, Lacey Circle), EK Success heart punch, button (Basic Grey), baker's twine (The Twinery), Signo Uni-Ball white pen, CM Fine Tip black pen, Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Use a button
Digi Darla #66 (DDC66) - Fancy Fold or Not a Square
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday (FTTC224) - card that moves or opens in a non-traditional manner


Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and see how the rest of the Design Team have showcased this verse of Scripture and don't forget to pick up your free digi while you are there.

Happy Father's Day - Psalm 127:4-5

It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  As usual, the challenge is anything goes -- what could be easier?  We have two great sponsors this week {OK, you're right, we have great sponsors every week}.  This week JellyPark and Milk Coffee Stamps are sponsoring prizes for our winners.  Be sure to link up a project, or two or three (up to five) that has a family-friendly image and sentiment for your opportunity to win.  Also, please stop by the blog to get your free WordArt for this week.  You do NOT have to use the freebie to link up but feel free to download it as our gift to you.

I was able to play with an adorable Father and Son digi from Milk Coffee Stamps this week.  I really enjoyed working with this image and will be the first to admit that my coloring skills are still a work in progress. Our daughter-in-law likes when our son and grandson have matching outfits, so I colored this father/son duo to match each other.  I love working with sketches and chose to use this week's Mojo Monday (MOJO296) sketch as my starting point for the design. My finished card is 5" x 7".

I really like that this sketch allows the Scripture to be the main focus.  The world tells us that children are a bother, inconvenience, etc.  But the Word of God tells us that they are a great blessing.  Our job as parents is to train them to serve the Lord and then "shoot" them out into the world to be a witness and testimony for Him.  It's a big job, but it will reap eternal rewards.  

Since this is a masculine card, I wanted texture without using my usual bling and ribbon.  So I used pens for faux stitching, an embossing folder for the background paper, pop dots and brads for a little metal.  I like stripes for masculine cards so I used a striped paper and the Distressed Stripes embossing folder.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (card base), Paper Trey Ink (image and sentiment panel), Bazzill (gray matting)
Patterned paper:  Echo Park (Boy)
Stamps:  Milk Coffee Stamps (Father and Son), WordArt by Karen Murray for Word Art Wednesday, Impression Obsession (Happy Father's Day)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics: Hair (E25, 31, 33, 35, 37, 50), Skin (E000, E00, E01, R20), Boy's Clothes/shoes (B000, B26, YG03, YG05, N1, N3, W1), Dad's Clothes/shoes (N0, N3, N5, W1, B21, 23, 26, YG03, YG05) entire image highlighted with N0
Tools/Embellishments - Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Distressed Stripes), Spellbinders (Classic Circles Large and Small), Signo White Pen, CM Fine Point Pen (black), brads (unknown - they were part of a RAK)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday (MOJO296) - Sketch
Pile It On #22 - Stripes and/or plaids
Simon Stamp & Show - Inspired by the letter "S" (I have stripes, stitching, a son and Spellbinders)
Craft Your Passion #165 - Haberdashery Items (I used faux stitching)
Digi Darla #65 - Masculine
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #150 - Embossing
Clear it Out Challenge - Theme:  Male, Stash Item:  Metal (my brads are metal and have been hanging out in my stash for a few years)
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Father's Day
Twist of Faith #40- Use Templates or Die Cuts (I chose die cuts) and an Inspiring Scripture or sentiment
Paper Pretties (PWC261) - Fantastic Fathers
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Masculine/Father's Day

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