Birthday Bluebird

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch as the design inspiration for my card.  I kept things pretty simple as I was under a short deadline when making the card.  A little matting, a few pearls and a bow and the card is complete.  One thing that made assembling this card go even quicker is that I try to keep on hand a few images I've colored ahead of time.  This was one of those images.  Yes, paper selection can be a bit tricky but this time it worked out OK.  :)  And in case you haven't noticed, just like my flowers, my birds may not be colored "true to life."  I call it "artistic license."  LOL

I did a little bit of simple interior decorating but left a lot of room for a personal message.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (pink), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper:  MME (Lost & Found Two)
Ink:  Memento (Paris Dusk)
Stamps:  Impression Obsession (Happy Birth Day), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Bluebird digital stamp)
Embellishments/Tools:  ribbon (Morex Corp.), baker's twine (The Twinery), brads (The Paper Studio), pearls (Stampin' Up), Stampin' Up tag punch, Spellbinders (Circles Small & Large)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments #88 - Any Sentiment
Pile It On Challenge #34 - Patterned Paper
Cuttlebug Mania - Die Cuts
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday #284 - Things with wings
Mojo Monday #308 (MOJO308) - Sketch

Thanks for stopping by today.  I do appreciate your visit.

With Sympathy

You never want to need a sympathy card but sometimes they are necessary.  I used Sketch #79 from Papertake Weekly for the card design.  As usual I tweaked it a bit - turned it sideways and re-oriented the sentiment.

The background music paper was embossed and then the other layers were added to the top.  The image was colored with copics and matted before being popped up on the card.  The sentiment was also popped up.  Three pink rhinestones finish it off.

The interior was decorated a bit and a sentiment was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  One of my husband's co-workers had a death in the family.  This card will be signed by several other co-workers so I needed to leave plenty of room for signatures/short messages.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Gazzill
Patterned Paper:  Prima (Madeline)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Clear stamps: Peaceful Swans, Comforting Swans; Digi Stamp: Hummingbird with Scripture)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Tools/Embellishments:  Copic Markers, Spellbinders (Deckled Rectangles Large & Small, Petite Ovals Small, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Victoria), ribbon (Morex), rhinestones (The Paper Studio)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - Sketchie Free for All (I used sketch #79)
Aud Sentiments #88 - Any Sentiment
Pile It On Challenge #34 - Patterned Paper
Cuttlebug Mania - Die Cuts
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday #284 - Things with wings

I hope you are having a good week.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit today.  I hope you'll come back soon.

One Cup of Daisies

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week our focus verse is John 1:12, "But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."  This verse is such an encouragement because the first part says, "as many as received him."  This means God is no respecter of persons.  He doesn't just save the rich, famous, beautiful and powerful.  He saves the poor, lowly, and common people too.  What a relief to know He loves me even though I'm not rich & famous.  He allows me to be His child.  Wow!  What a mind-boggling honor!  Who am I, that the Creator of the Universe would love me and call me His child? And He loves you the same way. All you have to do to become His child is admit you are a sinner, believe He paid your sin debt on the cross and ask Him to save you.  If you need more information or have questions, please email me by clicking the "View My Complete Profile" in the sidebar and then click the email link. 

For today's card I took my inspiration from The Sweet Stop Sketch for this week. I switched out the bow for a cup of daisies and moved the daisies to the opposite side.  I colored the image with Copics and fussy cut them.  Some Crystal Effects were added to the flower centers.  The Scripture is matted on a scalloped oval and each scallop was pierced with my Tim Holtz craft pick.  Some faux stitching, pearls, brads and 2 ribbons finish it off. The sentiment panel and image are popped up over the ribbons.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Picadilly 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps:  WordArt by Karen, Digi Darla (One Cup a Daisies)
Copic Markers: B000, 21, 23; Y000, 11, 13, 21; E29, 35
Tools/Embellishments:  Sharpie fine tip marker (brown), ribbon (May Arts - cream, American Crafts - blue), brads and pearls (The Paper Studio), Spellbinders (Petite Ovals Large, Petite Scalloped Ovals Small, Big Border Scalloped Petites), SU Crystal Effects, Zutter Round-it-All (1/2")

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Pile It On Challenge #34 - Use Designer Paper
Sweet Stop Sketch #225 - sketch
Cuttlebug Mania - Anything Goes with Die Cuts (I used 3 different dies)
Crafty Ribbon Challenge #58 - Anything Goes with ribbon

Thanks for stopping by to visit today.  I hope your week is going well.  don't forget to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the design team has to show you and to pick up your free WordArt digi.

He Delivered Me

Deedee has this adorable bear frame as a FREEBIE on the Deedee's Digis blog.  I'm not sure if there's a time limit on it or not so you might want to hop over there and snag it soon.    I couldn't want to color this cutie.  Then when I saw Deedee had The Lord is Our Refuge available, I knew I wanted to combine the two of them. The Lord is Our Refuge is a set that holds special meaning for me.  It has several of my "go to" verses when times are tough and/or I need comfort.

Psalm 34:4 is an extra special verse because it's one I "discovered" when I was facing a difficult health crisis.  I had many worries & fears about what was ahead.  When I discovered this verse, I clung to it just like you would a trapeze bar and held on for dear life.  The Lord was faithful (as always).  He took away my fears and gave me peace.

The card is a 5" square.  In Word, I cropped the verse to separate out the Scripture reference so that I could move it down a bit.  That's one of the wonders of digis!  The bear & frame are colored with Copics and then fussy cut.  I matted the image panel on kraft cardstock.

A border punch helps set off a strip of patterned paper across the middle and a bow with a button middle accents the image panel.  A little faux stitching, some pearls in the corners and some pop dots later and the card is done.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (green), Recollections (kraft)
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Kioshi)
Stamps:  Deedee's Digis (Bear Frame, The Lord is Our Refuge)
Copics:  E11, 31, 33, 35, 37, YG03, BG000
Embellishments/Tools:  Sharpie Fine Point pen (brown), ribbon (Michael's), baker's twine (The Twinery), pearls (Queen & Company), button (La Mode), SU ticket punch, Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Penny's Paper-Crafty #141 - Use Dies/Punches (I used two different punches)
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #58 - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Crazy 4 Challenges #200 (C4C200)  - Animal
2 Sisters Challenge #158 - Square Cards
V's Sweet Challenge #14 - Use Twine
Pile It On Challenge #34 - Use Designer Paper

I'm glad you stopped by for a visit today, be sure to come back again tomorrow for a new Word Art Wednesday challenge.

Let Your Dreams Soar

I have my first project to share with you today as a design team member for the new re-opened Deedee's Digis.  I am using the Lifted Up set.  The set comes with 4 images (in 3 formats including colored and outline) and 4 sentiments.  I chose to use the outline and layering formats ad 2 of the sentiments.

It's funny how we get into crafting ruts. For a long time, 90% of my cards were 5.5" squares. Lately, I've been making mostly A2 or 5x7 cards. Today, I revisited an old friend and went back to a 5.5" square.

I paper pieced the kite and the bows on the kite tail using 4 different coordinating patterned papers.  I fussy cut and layered the kite and clouds.  I added a baker's twine tail before attaching the pieced bows.  I used a bit of copic markers around the edges of the clouds for a little dimension.

The sky background was made by using Memento Summer Sky (appropriate color name isn't it?) in a direct-to-paper technique and then embossing it with a Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls embossing folder.  The swirls reminded me of wind currents.

On the bottom sentiment panel, I layered the sentiment on red patterned paper and added two eyelets to run the twine thru. This panel was popped up on another piece of patterned paper.  I inked the edges of the papers with the same Memento ink used for the sky.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (blue)
Pattern Paper:  Unknown - it was a gift
Digi Stamps:  Deedee's Digis (Lifted Up set)
Ink:  Memento (Summer Sky)
Copics:  B000, N0, Colorless Blender
Tools/Embellishments:  Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (D'vine Swirl), baker's twine (The Twinery), Zutter Round-it-all (used inside)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Shopping Our Stash #115 - oldest hardware (my eyelets are from my early paper crafting years)
Craft Room Challenge - Something New (this stamp is from a new store, it's a new release, and it's a new sky technique for me)
4 Crafty Chicks #156 - Photo Inspiration (I used the colors as inspiration)
2 Sisters #158 - Square Card
V's Sweet Ideas #14 - Use Twine
Pile It On Challenge #34 - Use Designer Paper (I used 4)

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll stop by Deedee's Digis soon.  Deedee is adding more sets all the time.

Exciting Announcement

I've been sitting on some news for a little while that I can now share with you.

Deedee's Digis just re-opened her store and I am privileged to be on her design team again.  The store just opened this morning.  Deedee will be adding many more items in the near future but already has a great selection.  Be sure to click the link above as Deedee is celebrating the store opening with a digi freebie.

I'll have some projects to show you soon.  I just couldn't wait to share my good news with you.

Godliness with Contentment

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week's focus verse is 1 Timothy 6:6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."  Part of living a godly lifestyle is being content.  I don't know about you, but contentment in some areas is easier than others.  Contentment isn't just about things; it includes people, churches, jobs, season of life, etc.  It might be easy to be content with our material possessions but we may struggle with our season of life.  It's not easy!  (Understatement right?)  Even the Apostle Paul had to work at it.  He says in Philippians 4:11, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." [emphasis mine]  He had to learn to be content too.  Somehow, it makes me feel better to know that it didn't come naturally for him either.  :)

For my card, I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch (MOJO307) as inspiration.  I used Digi Darla's Blowing Dandelions digi stamp.  Digi Darla is one of our sponsors this week (be sure to link up a card this week for your chance to win a prize from her store).  I paper pieced the girl and fussy cut both the girl and the log/grass.  Since I was paper piecing her dress & hat, I took the opportunity to add a hat band and belt with white floss.  Tip:  When fussy cutting an image, I run a black copic along the cut edge to add a more finished look.  This helps it look like you cut right on the line. 

To make the sky background, I used a petite scalloped oval die cut as a mask to sponge clouds on a white piece of cardstock.  I moved the die cut around to vary the shape/size of the clouds.  Then I die cut the cardstock into a circle.  I added the log and trimmed the bottom to fit the circle.  Last I sat the girl on the log and popped her up off the cloud panel.

I used a border punch for some white trim along the edges of the purple paper but it is mostly covered up by the image & sentiment panels.  I moved the circles around from the sketch & traded the banners for a pearl flourish. Definitely took a lot of creative license with this sketch.  :)

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Stampin' Up
Stamps:  WordArt by Karen (1 Timothy 6:6), Digi Darla (Blowing Dandelions)
Ink:  Memento (Summer Sky)
Copics:  E000, 00, 01, 25, 31, 33, 35, 37, 50; R20, 81, 85; Y000; YG03, 05
Tools/Embellishments - Uni-ball Signo white pen, Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic Pen, DMC floss (white), Spellbinders (Circles Large & Small, Lacey Circles), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments #87 - Anything but a birthday card
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Girls want to have fun
Top Tip Tuesday #108 - Use at least 2 things that start with your initial(s) (I used stitching, spellbinders and white)
Mojo Monday (MOJO307) - sketch
Penny's Paper Crafty #141 - Use Dies or punches
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PWC272) - Girly Girl

Thanks for stopping by and visiting with me.  I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has for you, pick up your free digi and see what wonderful prizes are sponsors are offering this week.

Welcome Little Girl

I needed another baby card for a sweet little girl.  I used one of my new favorite teddy bear images, Baby Bear's Butterfly, from StampArt Design.  This is the bonus file that comes with the digi stamp (2 for the price of one!).

I used this week's sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches (#212).  I mirror imaged the sketch to accommodate the direction Teddy is facing.  Teddy is colored with copics, fussy cut and popped up on an embossed piece of cardstock.  I used lots of faux stitching on this card.  I was able to use lots of scraps as well.  The patterned paper, pink cardstock, white square and kraft banner are from scraps.

Paper Saving Tip:  One of my favorite ways to stretch my paper is to die cut smaller mats out of the larger ones.  For instance, the pink cardstock that is matting the banner is cut from the middle of the mat that is on top of the card base.  Since the larger mat has gingham paper (and other layers) on top of it, you can't tell that part of it was cut away.  

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (pink), Stampin' Up (kraft)
Patterned paper:  Frances Meyer
Stamps:   StampArt Design (Baby Bear's Butterfly), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Baby Blessings)
Tools/Embellishments:  Copic Markers, Sharpie fine point pen (brown), Uni-Ball Signo pen (white), ribbon (Offray), twine (Really Reasonable Ribbon), buttons from stash, Cuttlebug embossing folder (Swiss Dot), Spellbinders (Classic Squares Large & Small, Circles Large & Small)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketches (#212) - sketch
Crafty Ribbons #57- Use 3 of something (I have 3 buttons and 3 colors)
2 Sisters Challenge #157 - Use Pink, White & Kraft
Really Reasonable Ribbon #78 - Use pink & brown
Make It Monday #154 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #161 - Use scraps
Top Tip Tuesday #108 - Use at least 2 things that start with your initial(s) (I used stitching, spellbinders, squares & white)
Cute Card Thursday #282 - Use Buttons
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Use Scraps
Aud Sentiments Challenge #87 - Anything but a birthday card

Thanks for stopping by today.  Be sure to come back tomorrow when I'll have a card to show you for the new challenge at Word Art Wednesday.

Teach Me, O Lord

Hello, Friends!  I hope you're having a good week.  The headache fog of the past month or so has lifted so I feel like a new person.  :)

It's time for another Word Art Wednesday challenge.  This week our focus verse is Psalm 119:33, "Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes: and I shall keep it unto the end."  As I just read this verse again, it struck me that the Lord doesn't expect us to "just know" what He wants us to do.  He is willing to teach us if we are willing to learn.  As we think of this being "back to school" season, let's not forget that we should be in a constant state of learning spiritually.  The Lord is a willing Teacher; our responsibility is to listen, learn and apply what He teaches us.  That's where the "...I shall keep it unto the end" part of the verse comes into the picture.  We need to not only listen but we need to apply what we've been taught.  This is true "lifelong learning."

For my card this week, I chose to use this week's Sweet Stop Sketch.  It's a simple sketch that is perfect for making a sentiment the focus.

As usual, I did quite a bit of layering.  I would not normally think of this shade of blue/teal and orange going together but with this patterned paper it works.  I used several different die cuts

The button in the center of the triple loop bow is actually two buttons.  The bottom button is a two hole type that I attached with floss.  The top button had a sort of well in the bottom that fit perfectly over the floss.  I used Crystal Effects to glue them together.

I did a bit of interior decorating.  In this picture you can see a peek of it and also see how I popped up the sentiment panel layers.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (orange), Recollections (teal/blue), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper:  Recollections
Stamp: WordArt by Karen
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders (Classic Squares Large & Small, Lacey Squares, Classic Edges 2), ribbon (Offray), buttons (Making Memories)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sweet Stop Sketch #223 (SSS223) - sketch
SNS August Release Party Challenge #3 - Make the sentiment the focus
2 Sisters Challenge #156 - Favorite Embellishment (ribbon is about my all-time favorite embellishment)
Inky Impressions Challenge #121 - Anything with Wings
Crafty Ribbons #56 - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Make It Monday #153 - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges #140 - Use lace and/or ribbon
Aud Sentiments Challenge #87 - Anything But a Birthday Card


Thanks for stopping by to visit today.  I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the Design Team have to show you and to pick up your free digi.

Happy {Birth} Day

I wanted to join in the current Basic Grey challenge which is to use a Basic Grey product (I used 3 papers from the Picadilly line) and make a tag.  I also needed a birthday card.  So, I combined the two and came up with this:

I used a Labels 22 die in my Cuttlebug to make the top of the tag. I threaded the end of the tag thru the die so it only cut the top portion. I then made a rectangular card and attached the tag to the front of it.  I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment  and double matted it with spellbinders dies. A white pen was used for some faux stitching on the floral paper.  I used a couple more die cuts in the corners and LOTS of bling for sparkle.  Some twine finishes it off.

I used pop dots between some of the layers for added dimension.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Picadilly)
Ink:  Colorbox Pigment (Black)
Stamp:  Impression Obsession
Tools/Embellishments:  twine (The Twinery), rhinestones (Best Occasions), Uni-ball White Pen, Spellbinders (Circles Large & Small, Lacey Circles, Lattice Accents, Labels 22)

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
Basic Grey Challenge #99 - Make a tag
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Scrap Creations - Anything Goes
Cuttlebug Mania - Anything Girlie
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PWC270) - Use 2 or more patterned papers (I used 3)

Thanks for stopping by again today. 

Strength

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  As usual, our challenge is Anything Goes as long as it includes an encouraging sentiment and is family-friendly.  This week we have two sponsors so be sure to stop by the blog to get your free digi WordArt, see what prizes will be given away and see what the rest of the Design Team has to show you. 

Our focus verse is Isaiah 25:4.  This verse talks about how the Lord has been a strength to the poor and needy, a refuge during times of storm and a shadow from the heat.  Knowing that the Lord cares about ALL people, not just the rich and powerful, is such a comfort to me.  That means that He cares about ME and will comfort ME.  That can sure bring encouragement when you're in the middle of a trial and/or waiting on the Lord to show you the next step.

I'm keeping things a bit short today as I've been battling headaches for the past few days.  They just make stringing coherent sentences together a bit difficult.

I have a card to share using stamps from each of our sponsors.  Both cards are pretty simple and make use of pop dots, my Cuttlebug and layers.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I'll answer there. 

This card uses two digi stamps from Robyn's Fetish:  Ornate Frame and Sunflower 1

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill, Recollections
Patterned Paper:  Crate Paper (Farmhouse)
Stamps:  WordArt by Karen, Robyn's Fetish ( Ornate Frame and Sunflower 1)
Copics:  Y13, 15, 17, E25, 29, 37, YG03, 05
Embellishments/Tools:  ribbon (May Arts), Stickles (Cinnamon), Lacey Eyelet Border Die (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Deconstructed Sketch (DS112) - Sketch
The Kraft Journal - Layers + kraft
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PPWC270) - Use 2 or more patterned papers (my orange die cut is one paper and the background strips are the 2nd)


My second card uses a clear stamp from a set by Mark's Finest Papers:  Amaryllis Definition

Supplies: Recollections, Bazzill, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Out of Print)
Stamps: WordArt by Karen and Mark's Finest Papers (Amaryllis Definition)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics:  R81, 83, 85, Y15, 21, BG10
Embellishments/Tools:  Spellbinders (Circles Large & Small), CM Fine Tip Pen (black), pearl flourish (Recollections), Stickles (yellow)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Twist of Faith #49 - Sketch and Scripture sentiment
Cuttlebug Mania - Anything Girlie
Scrap Creations - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.