Be Thankful for the {Little} Things

As we think about Thanksgiving tomorrow, it's a time to be thankful for the Lord's blessings to us.  This week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday puts things into perspective, "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasures and trouble therewith." (Proverbs 15:16)  How much more enjoyable to have few material possessions and know that you are right with the Lord than have many "things" and experience the trouble that comes when you are not following the Lord.  As someone has said, "the most important things in life aren't things." So tomorrow (and every day), let's remember to be thankful for the little things.

This week I decided to use the emboss resist technique with my distress inks.  I stamped the flower images with VersaMark and embossed them with clear embossing powder.  Using an ink blending tool, I used 3 colors of distress inks to go over the image panel.  For the mat on the sentiment panel, I die cut it using white cardstock and then used one of the distress inks to help it coordinate.  A sheer ribbon and bow and some bling finish off the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen, Recollections (flower stamps)
Inks:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Peacock Feathers, Broken China, Tumbled Glass)
Tools/Embellishments:  ribbon (Michael's), rhinestones (Recollections), Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Small), My Favorite Things (Oval Open Scallop Doily die), Stampin' Up embossing powder (Crystal Clear)

Challenges:
 LEJ Designs Challenge #81 - Button, Bows or Beads (I chose to use a bow)
Aud Sentiments Challenge #94 - Any Sentiment

I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the rest of the projects from my fellow Design Team Members and to pick up your free digi.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I truly am thankful for those who visit and for those who leave comments.  You are greatly appreciated.

 I hope you enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with those you love.

Great Big World

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  As always, the challenge is Anything Goes as long as it includes an encouraging/uplifting sentiment and is family-friendly. 

Our focus verse this week is Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."  All we have to do is look at the sky and know that God is amazing.  We have been privileged to go to the planetarium show at the Creation Museum a couple times.  Seeing how the universe works and all the stars, galaxies, etc. is just mind boggling.  It definitely shows what a great God created it all.  Then when you look around at nature: the cycle of the trees, the beautiful landscapes, the plethora of colors and designs in flowers and plants....how can you not be amazed at God's handiwork?  What a mighty God we serve!!

One of our sponsors this week is Digi Darla.  I thought this Great Big World image was perfect for this week's verse.  I colored the image with copics, die cut it and then inked the panel.  It was matted on another die cut.  Some gems were added to the mat and the little girl's pony tail bow got a gem too.   I used Mojo Monday #320 for my card design inspiration.

A fish tail banner die was used for the verse.  I inked the verse, matted it and fussy cut the mat.  A brad finishes off the verse panel.  It is popped up off the card.  The background panel was embossed and the edges were inked.  A little interior decorating finishes off the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White, Recollections (cream), brown (unknown)
Patterned Paper:  MME
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Psalms 19:1), Digi Darla (Great Big World)
Ink:  Distress Ink (Tea Dye)
Copics: Skin (E00, 01, R20), Hair (E25, 29, 31, 50), Dress/Socks (B000, 21, 23, 26), Stool (E33, 35, 37), Globe (BG000, 01, YG03, 05, YR20, 21), Box (E11, 31, 33), Shadows (N0, 1, 3)
Tools/Embellishments:  The Paper Studio Bubble Jewel brad, Want2Scrap gems (Mother of Pearl), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Tropic Blooms), Spellbinders (Classic Square Large, Lacey Square), My Favorite Things die (Fishtail Flags Stax)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday #320 - sketch
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #17 - Color Challenge (use some or all of brown, red, sage green, golden yellow - I used brown and sage green with a touch of golden yellow)
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #154 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiment Challenge #94 - Any Sentiment
Fab 'n Funky Challenge #194 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today.  I hope the next time you are outside that you will take the time to look around and admire the beautiful work God has done in nature.

Reindeer Gift Card Holder

Yes, this is the 2nd post for the day.  I had a chance to have a crafty day with a friend yesterday so I have a couple extra projects to show you.  :) The current challenge at the Scrapbook Blessing Club is to make a twisted gift card holder.  You can find a link to a video tutorial on their blog. I've made these before and, for me, the greatest challenge is cutting the pattern paper.  I make a template but then turn it the wrong way when cutting my good paper. grrr I finally got it turned the right way and all is well.  :)

This version has lots of glitter and sparkle.  The green background paper has lots of glitter and the deer and snowflakes are covered with glitter as well (so was my desk).  The pocket on the front is glued shut. I had a bit of a seam where the two papers met, so, I used a strip of pearls to cover the seam.  The reindeer is popped up over the pearls and off the card.

After stamping and die cutting the interior left sentiment, I traced the inside edge of the die with a gold gel pen.  This added just a bit of sparkle.  The mat was die cut and then the edges covered with Versamark ink.  I embossed it with gold embossing powder and then while it was still hot added glitter embossing powder and reheated it to set it all.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  DCWV (Heirloom Christmas stack)
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers (Greetings of the Season), Studio G (Merry Christmas)
Ink:  Versafine (Onyx Black), Versamark
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders (Deckled Rectangles Large and Small), Michael's gold gel pen, Joee's Boutique dimensional stickers, pearls (The Paper Studio), StampCraft gold embossing powder, A La Mode Sparkle embossing powder

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #6 - Twisted Gift Card Holder
4 Crafty Chicks #168 - Snowflakes
Clear it Out Challenge:  Theme:  Anything Goes; Stash:  Put a Snowflake on your card
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Make it Sparkle

Thanks for visiting.   Please come back tomorrow for the newest Word Art Wednesday challenge.

Daniel's Tree - Digi of the Month

Today's card features the November "Digi of the Month" at Deedee's Digis.  Daniel's Tree is available here for only $1.25 (or you can get it for FREE when you make a $10 purchase in Deedee's store)!  What a great deal!!  Deedee has a monthly progressive challenge.  Use this digi by the deadline and you'll receive next month's Digi of the Month for free.  It's a great way to collect free digis.

I used the pre-colored version of this digi and one of the 5 included sentiments.  I went with a more country-Christmas theme and used lots of kraft cardstock, buttons and twine.

I popped up the image panel and then popped up the snowflakes from that.



Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Neenah Desert Storm, Neenah Solar White, Gray cardstock from stash
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamps:  Deedee's Digis (Daniel's Tree)
Tools/Embellishments:  Sakura Glaze pen (used on duck bill and sled runner), Atyou Spica Clear pen (used on snow), My Favorite Things (Fishtail Flags Stax), Spellbinders (Classic Circle Large, Scalloped Circle Large, Create-a-Flake 4), buttons from stash, baker's twine (The Twinery)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Clear It Out Challenge - Theme:  Anything Goes; Stash: Use a Snowflake
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #168 - Snowflakes
Craft Your Passion #189 - Buttons Galore
Tuesday Throwdown #174 - Snowbirds

I hope you'll stop by Deedee's Digis and and play along in the challenge.  Thanks for stopping by to visit today. 

Love in Deed and in Truth

This week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday is 1 John 3:18, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."  This verse admonishes us to not just say we love others but to put our love into action.  When we get to do what we like to do, showing our love for others is easy to do.  However, when it costs us something, time, money, self-sacrifice, then it gets a bit harder.  However, that is the kind of "love in action" that the Apostle John is talking about.  For the perfect example of this principle, we need only look to what Christ did for us by dying on the cross.  Now THAT was love in action.

For my card this week, I chose to use the sunburst technique for my card design.  The trees were paper pieced.  I think the faux stitching gives it a sort of quilted look.  I masked the trees and inked the image panel with some distress and dye inks.  {Yes, I realize I could have done my inking before paper piecing the trees and then I wouldn't have needed a mask.  However, I didn't think that far ahead when planning out the card.}  I mounted the sunburst panel and verse panel on a square of dark brown cardstock before adhering it all to a white 5.5" square card base.

The verse is printed on patterned paper and a ribbon covers the seam between the sunburst panel and the verse panel. The image panel is popped up off the card and placed over the ribbon.  I also did a bit of interior decorating and included more faux stitching.

The verse panel is finished off with more faux stitching and some pearls.  The tree tops were given some stickles for a bit of shimmer.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill (Bitter Chocolate)
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Out of Print 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (1 John 3:18), Stampabilities (3 Simple Trees)
Inks:  Memento (Desert Sand, Rich Cocoa, New Sprout), Ranger Distress Inks (Broken China, Antique Linen, Peacock Feathers)
Tools/Embellishments:  ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), Stickles (Star Dust), pearls (Queen & Co. - Grass Green), Spellbinders Classic Squares Large, Staedtler triplus Fineliner (brown)
Techniques:  Paper Piecing, Sunburst, Inking/Masking, Faux Stitching/Doodling

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #5:  Sunburst Technique
SCS Try a Technique #455 (TLC455) - Let's Revisit Paper Piecing
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Got Ink?
Craft Your Passion #188 - Add some doodling
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash #127 - Use something already out on your desk (I used white cardstock and some inks)
Twist of Faith #63 - Lots of Layers

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll also visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the design team have made this week and to pick up your free digi.  I hope the rest of your week goes well.

Coffee Themed Gift Set

I really like the coffee cups and cute sentiments in the Cuppa Love set at Deedee's Digis.  I decided to use it for this gift set.  I used one of the outline images and colored it with my copics.  There are 3 images (in 3 formats) and 6 digis in the set.

The main part of the gift set is a junior legal pad notebook.  The pad measures 5" x 8".  I cut a piece of red cardstock 10 3/4" x 8 1/4".  It is scored on the long size at 5 1/4" and 5 1/2". 

The front is decorated with an embossed strip of patterned paper and the sentiment and fussy cut cup are popped up.  SU! Crystal Effects was added to the coffee for some shine.

The top of the legal pad is covered with some patterned paper for a little extra decoration.  It was then attached to the cover with Score-Tape.  As you can see in the first picture, I made a coordinating RSVP pen to go with the set.

The final part of the gift set is a cover for a 3" x 3" pad of post-it notes.  The red cardstock was cut as 3 1/4" x 6 3/4" and scored on the long side at 3 1/4" and 3 1/2".  The front was decorated and the post-it note pad was added inside with Scor-Tape.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), The Paper Studio (red)
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamps:  Deedee's Digis (Cuppa Love)
Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch
Copics: E07, 08, 25, 31; YR20, 21; N0, 1; W-1
Tools/Embellishments:  SU! Crystal Effects, Spellbinders (Classic Squares Small, Labels Four, Labels Four Small), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), Pentel RSVP pen

I'm entering this set into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge:  Anything Goes
Through the Craftroom Door:  Anything Goes
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #244:  Plaid or houndstooth
LEJ Designs Challenge #77:  Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp:  Anything Goes
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #17:  Color Challenge (use some or all of: brown, golden yellow, sage green, red)

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll check out all the great sets at Deedee's Digis.  The new Digi of the Month Challenge will begin on Nov. 4th.