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!

Draw Near to God...

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday!  This week's verse is Psalm 73:28, "But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works."  That first part of the verse is a place we can camp isn't it.  How wonderful it is to not only draw near to God but much more wonderful, mind-boggling, and amazing is that He allows us to draw near to Him.  He *wants* us close!  Wow!  I'm just so thankful that God loves me with all my failures and imperfections.  The rest of the verse is a great testimony, because we have put our trust in the Lord God, we have the ability/knowledge to be able to declare all the wonderful things He has done for us.  This would be a great verse to memorize and keep in the forefront of our minds.

I thought this week's WORDart had a more masculine feel to it so I decided to design a masculine notebook.  One of our generous sponsors this week is The Paper Temptress.  This site has some absolutely amazing papers that are very unique.  The owner sent the design team some papers to use.  While I used 3 of the papers she sent on this notebook project, I couldn't help but play a bit more with some of the others.  You can see what I made by scrolling down one post or clicking here.  I used two leather papers on this notebook.  The outside of the notebook has Navy Blue Leather and the interior is Ivory Leather.  I wish you could feel this paper.  It truly has a leather texture and feel to it.  I paper pierced a border around all four edges.  A plaid ribbon and some metallic brads complete the masculine design.

One thing with using digi stamps that I have missed is heat embossing.  I've always wanted a way to do this that made the heat embossing look like "the real thing."  When I read the description for the Opal Mica/Metallic paper this is what I learned:

TIP: DIGITAL EMBOSSING.....The mica/metallic paperline is perfect for Digital Embossing: print image with an ink jet printer, immediately pour embossing powder over the digital image and heat for an embossed finish.....Works perfectly for sentiments!!

 Now THAT was a paper I had to try.  I hope you can see the dimension in the above picture (click for a larger image) but it truly looks, and feels, like regular heat embossing.  One thing I learned with this paper is that even after zapping it with my heat gun, VersaFine ink smears.  So, I just re-stamped my image and covered it with clear embossing powder.  Perfect!!  I really like this paper and will have to get more for future projects.  Note:  Since I was running this paper thru my ink-jet printer for the digi stamps, I used the text weight paper.

For the inside of the notebook, I used a solid piece of the ivory leather paper.  I wanted to use a solid piece because I was trying a new notebook design.  Some of my repeat notebook customers have requested a notebook that will allow the notepad to be replaced without destroying the cover.  I was able to modify my original design to allow for that.  I cut a 1/4" wide slit in the leather on the right side and punched a hole at either end of the slit to prevent tearing.  When adhering the ivory panel to the base, I made sure to only put Scor-tape to the edges and above the slit.  I still put a pocket on the inside left cover and used scraps of the two leathers to embellish it a little.  Since the notepad is going to be replaced, and since this is for a man, I didn't decorate the top of the notepad.

Here is another look at the beautiful texture of the leather paper.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (Kraft)
Papers from The Paper Temptress:  Navy Blue Leather, Ivory Leather, Opal Mica/Metallic
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Psalm 73:28 digi), Flourish (In Nature clear stamp)
Ink: VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments:  ribbon (JoAnn's), brads (The Paper Studio), Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Large and Small), SU embossing powder (Crystal Clear), Tim Holtz Craft Pick, Workforce 5" x 8" Junior legal pad

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Paper Crafting Challenges - No Patterned Paper
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #32 - Anything Goes
Pile It On Challenge #16 - No Patterned Paper (or make your own)

I hope you'll go by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the Design Team projects and to pick up your free digi.  I also hope you'll link up your projects so that you have a chance to win one of our sponsors' prizes.  And please do go visit The Paper Temptress, you will find lots of unique papers that have to be seen and felt to be fully appreciated. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Your visit is truly appreciated!

Floral Hello

Tomorrow starts another challenge at the Word Art Wednesday Challenge blog. One of our generous sponsors for the next challenge is The Paper Temptress.  This site has some truly unique papers.  The owner sent the design team some fantastic papers to use on our projects. I used 3 of them on tomorrow's project but when I was done with it I still hadn't had a chance to play with a couple others. The main paper on today's card is called Laser White Glossy Lustre. Here's how this paper is described on the website:

  This Lustre line has a kind of holographic effect and the ink actually "slips below the surface and the gorgeous finish "floats" on the top and creates an almost 3D effect! There is a different effect depending on which angle you look at your design. Truly amazing cardstock which will change the way you stamp and design and alone it is absolutely stunning!

After reading that, I couldn't wait to get out my inks and stamps and see the results.  It is impossible to photograph exactly how cool this effect is.  Truly, the ink does seem to slip below the stripes and does have a holographic look to it.  

I used Memento inks and a stamp set that had flowers of various sizes.  I also used 2nd generation stamping to make it look like I used even more colors that I did.  The sentiment is from the same set and is stamped on Cryogen White.  This is an iridescent cardstock that is very Copic friendly.  I will try it with my Copics on another day.  :)  The shimmer from this cardstock goes so well with the holographic effect of the Glossy Lustre paper.  The ribbon also carries the shimmery theme a little further.  I kept this card simple (for me) and just added a few rhinestones to the flower centers.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill (purple), Georgia Pacific (card base)
Papers from The Paper Temptress:  Laser White Glossy Lustre , Cryogen White
Stamp set: Recollections (I can't find a name for the set)
Inks:  Memento (Lilac Posies, Grape Jelly, Lulu Lavender, Rose Bud, Bamboo Leaves)
Tools/Embellishments:  ribbon (Michael's), rhinestones (The Paper Studio), Spellbinders dies (Classic Oval Small, Lacey Ovals)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Eureka Stamps Challenge #86 - CAS
Pile It On Challenge #16 - No Patterned Paper (or make your own)
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #18 - Anything Goes (featured technique - create a background scene)
Crafty Ribbon Challenge #85 - Anything Goes with ribbon
Paper Crafting Challenges - No Patterned Paper
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #32 - Anything Goes
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #22 - Technique Challenge (I used 2nd generation stamping and using stamps to make your own background/patterned paper)

I hope you will stop by The Paper Temptress and see some of the fantastic papers she has available.  Many of them have to be seen (and/or felt) to be fully appreciated.  Please come back tomorrow when I use 3 of her papers on a masculine project.  One of the papers I used allows me to do a technique I've wanted to be able to do for a long time.  Have a good evening.

WAW - 2 Corinthians 1:5

This week's post for my Word Art Wednesday Challenge is going to be quick.  Our 4 year old grandson is spending a couple days with us and I'm busy with playdoh, toy trains, hide-and-seek, and space battles.  Life is good!!

Our challenge verse is 2 Corinthians 1:15, "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."  The old adage says, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."  The spiritual correlation is discernible in this verse by the Apostle Paul.  The believer discovers the fullness of the consolation (comfort, solace) of Christ in direct proportion to the sufferings of Christ abounding in him. 

One of our sponsors this week is Mark's Finest Papers.  I chose to paper piece one of the images from their Dogwood Blossoms clear stamp set for the focal image on this easel card. The embossed background has liquid pearl accents to the flower centers.  The flower is popped up over an embossed and matted panel. A button from my stash tied with embroidery thread.  

Some cut outs from the Sweet 'n Sassy Lacey Eyelet border die add a little extra interest to the pattern paper strips on the main panel and on the easel stopper strip.  Some distress stickles finish off these little flowers. 

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill, Georgia Pacific 
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Oh! Baby Girl)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (2 Corinthians 1:5), Mark's Finest Papers (Dogwood Blossoms)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics: (E33, 35, 37; 100)
Tools/Embellishments:  Cuttlebug embossing folder (D'vine Swirl), Spellbinders M'bossabilities embossing folder (Splended), Spellbinders dies (Standard Circle Large, Petite Scalloped Circle Large), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Lacey Eyelet Border die, Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), decorative trim (Michael's), Liquid Pearls (Opal White), Stickles (Distress - Spun Sugar), DMC floss, button from stash

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sunday Challenge #202 - Embossing 
Scrapbook Blessing Club Challenge #17 - Anything Goes
 
Thanks for stopping by for a visit today.  Please don't forget to pick up your free digi at the Word Art Wednesday blog and see the rest of the Design Team projects. 

Happy Birthday, to You!!

Today I'm honored to be a Guest Designer for the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge Blog.  I really have been enjoying this challenge blog and have learned several helpful things from the tips that have been shared there.  I was so delighted when they asked me to be a Guest designer for them.  When I heard that this week's challenge was paper piecing, I was excited because I love that technique.  The sponsor for this week is:

Stamp and Create.com

And an awesome prize of 

Stamp and Create is an online store based in the US. We ship worldwide with reasonable shipping prices. We specialize in Rubber Stamps and Scrapbook supplies. Some of the companies we carry are: Wags 'n Whiskers Rubber Stamps, High Hopes Rubber Stamps, Whiff of Joy, The Greeting Farm, Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, Stampavie, Whimsy Stamps, Emerald Faeries, Basic Grey, My Mind's Eye, Echo Park, Ribbon, Charms, embellishments, dies, and more!

For my card, the girl is completely paper pieced (her dress and hat with patterned paper - her body/hair with cardstock) and glued over the log.  Her skin, hair, the grass, log and sky are all colored with copics.  After paper piecing the hat, I also added shading and colored the hat with several copics.

White embroidery floss was added to her hat and dress.  The hat was coated with a Wink of Stella glitter brush marker.  The dandelion fluff and flowers have some stickles for accent.

This image is a digi from Digi Darla (sadly, this store is now closed).  For a tutorial on paper piecing with digi stamps see my tutorial here.  Obviously paper piecing is a fantastic way to use scraps but using other smaller pieces on your card is possible when you cover seams or where they don't join with other elements.  For instance:  All the patterned paper used for my card were scraps from other projects. The red background piece wasn't big enough for my card front.  I cut what I had in half and the floral strip covers the gap.  And the floral piece wasn't long enough to span the width of my card.  However, the image panel hides that gap.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Picadilly - 12 x 12 and 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps:   Digi Darla (Blowing Dandelions); Stampendous (Birthday Wish clear stamp)
Ink:  VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Copics: E00, 07, 08, 09, 11, 25, 31, 33, 35, 37, 50; BG000, 10; N1, 3; 100; R20, 27; YG03, 05; Colorless Blender
Tools/Embellishments: Sakura Micron .01 black pen, Quickie Glue Pen, Prima pearl flourish, DMC embroidery floss, Spellbinders dies (Petite Oval Large and Small, Floral Oval, Decorative Photo Corner), Sweet 'n Sassy die (Lacey Eyelet Border), Zig Wink of Stella glitter brush marker (clear), Stickles (Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Just Keep on Creating - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Blessing Club Challenge #17 - Anything Goes  
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #22 - Technique (I used paper piecing)
 
Please be sure to stop by the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge Blog to see the rest of the projects from the Design Team and to get additional tips from them.  I also hope you'll join in the challenge for a chance to win the fantastic prize from our sponsor.

Thanks for visiting with me today.  Please stop back tomorrow when I'll have another project using paper piecing (this time using clear stamps).

Masculine Card Inspiration

I don't know about you, but I find masculine cards to be an extra challenge.  Cindy from Cre8ive Cindy has a weekly Manly Monday feature.  I just "discovered" this weekly post last week.  I know I'll be visiting often for inspiration.

Today I'm honored to have two cards featured in her blog post. Please see all the details in this post:

Manly Monday - April 14, 2014

Thanks, Cindy for linking up my cards!!

An Easter Tulip

It's Wednesday and time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week we're focusing on another Easter Scripture, John 11:25, "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life:  he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."  Jesus paid our sin debt on the cross, was buried and rose again the third day.  By believing in Him and accepting His gift of salvation, we can live with Him forever in Heaven.  What a great and precious promise!

For my card today, I kept things pretty simple (for me anyway).  The background cardstock was embossed with a flower embossing folder and matted on black cardstock.  The flowers were accented with pearls and faux stitching finishes off the edges..  I thought the tulip image went well with the Easter/new life theme of this week's verse.  The tulip and background around it were colored with copics.  The background was accented with stickles and the tulip was coated with a Wink of Stella glitter pen.  The image panel was matted with black cardstock and popped up over the background layer.

The Scripture panel spans the card and is accented with black pearls and is then matted with black cardstock.  The finished card is a standard A2 size.

Supplies
Cardstock:  Neenah Solar white (image and Scripture panels), Georgia Pacific (card base), Recollections (black), blue cardstock unknown
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (John 11:25), Eureka (Tulip Frame - digi version)
Copics: BG000, 01, 10; Y000, 11,13,15,17; YG03, 05
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders M'bossabilities embossing folder (Splendid), black pearls (Want 2 Scrap), white pearls (The Paper Studio), Stickles (Star Dust), Staedtler Tri-Plus fine tip black marker, Zig Wink of Stella brush tip glitter pen

Challenges:
Papertake Weekly - Spring has Sprung
Clear it Out Challenge - Anything Goes plus real or faux stitching (I chose to use faux stitching)
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #30 - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #208 - No Patterned Paper
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Just Keep on Creating - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Blessing Club Challenge #17 - Anything Goes 

Please don't forget to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to pick up your free digi and to see the projects from the rest of the Design Team. Thanks for your visit today. 

Adoption is Another Word for Love

As I mentioned yesterday, my husband's coworker and her husband just finalized the adoption of their son last Friday.  We wanted to give them a card of congratulations so I used more of the sentiments in The Gift of You clear stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  Since I used Cocoa on the other card, I decided Rhubarb needed to make an appearance on this one.  After coloring Rhubarb and his heart with Copics, the sentiment was heat embossed in white. The sentiment was stamped, die cut and matted before being adhered flat onto the plaid panel.  Rhubarb was popped up over the sentiment.  A white get pen and fine tip marker add definition to Rhubarb's eyes.  Some glossy accents make his nose shiny.  Lots of faux stitching and some doodling complete the front of the card.

My tip for Top Tip Tuesday:  If you don't have the right size die for a mat, trace around the outside of the die you are using and then fussy cut it out.  I didn't have the right size die to mat the plaid panel so I traced the outside of the die and then fussy cut it.  A related tip would be to trace the die on the wrong side of the mat layer.  That way you won't have to erase your tracing.  I used the same technique for the interior decorating.

The verse on the inside is also from the same stamp set.  The Congratulations stamp is a wood mounted stamp by Inkadinkado.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White (image), Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (blue), DCWV (red)
Patterned Paper:  Echo Park (Little Boy)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (The Gift of You clear stamp set, Rhubarb's Heart digi stamp), Inkadinkado (Congratulations wood mount stamp)
Ink:  Versamark, Stazon (black)
Copic Markers:  E31, 33, 35, 37; R22, 27, 29; 100
Tools/Embellishments: Stampendous embossing powder (white opaque), Glossy Accents, Zig Wink of Stella glitter brush marker (clear), Spellbinders dies (Classic Ovals Large & Small, Grand Big Scalloped Ovals), Sakura Micron pen (black), Uni-ball White gel pen, Staedtler Tri-plus marker (red, blue)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything goes with stitching (real or faux)
Top Tip Tuesday - Cute
Cuttlebug Mania - Make Us Smile
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #315 - All Boy
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #188 - Color a stamped image (rubber or digi)
Paper Crafting Challenges #7 - Masculine
Just B Creative - Anything Goes
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  Please be sure to stop back tomorrow for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday.

Adoption: How God Made Us Family

My husband's co-worker, and her husband, finalized the adoption of their son this past Friday.  This is the card she asked me to make for him.  Their son is 3 and loves football.  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has the perfect adoption stamp set so I knew I would be using that for the sentiments.  I didn't want the football theme to be too grown-up, so who better to add a little fun than Cocoa?

Cocoa and his football were colored with Copics and then fussy cut.  A white gel pen was used on the football stitching.  I embossed and matted the white panel and then added Cocoa up on top of it. Cocoa's head and tail were left unattached to add dimension. Two gray brads bring in a little more gray. The entire image panel was popped up over the background football paper. The sentiment was stamped on banners and added to the top and bottom.  Lots of faux stitching completes the front.

My tip for Top Tip Tuesday is when you are fussy cutting intricate details (like the tail on a mouse), don't rush, turn the paper - not the scissors, and don't be afraid to cut small sections at a time and approach the cuts from different angles.  Rushing tends to lead to shorter mouse tails - just sayin'.  :)

The verse on the inside left panel was requested.  Countless prayers went into the adoption of this little guy.  Plenty of room was left on the right panel for them to write a message to their new son.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Neenah Solar White (image only)
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (The Gift of You clear stamp set, Cocoa Loves Football digi stamp), WORDart by Karen (2 Samuel 1:17 digi)
Ink:  Stazon (black)
Copic Markers:  N0, 1, 3, 5, 7; E11, 33, 35, 37; 100
Tools/Embellishments: embossing folder (The Paper Studio - Tiny Hearts), Uni-ball white gel pen, Sakura Micron black pen, Staedtler Tri-plus marker (brown), Spellbinders dies (Petite Oval Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Oval Large)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Paper Crafting Challenges #7 - Masculine
Just Keep on Creating - Anything Goes
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #188 - Color a stamped image (rubber or digi - mine is a digi)
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #315 - All Boy (any masculine card)
Top Tip Tuesday - Cute 

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Please come back for another visit soon.
 

Happy Birthday, Ian!

Our son's birthday was a couple weeks ago. This is the card I made to send to him.  Since he will be going on a fishing/camping trip in a couple months, I thought this image was truly appropriate.  After stamping the image with black Stazon ink onto watercolor paper, I used Distress markers and inks to water color the image.  Distress inks were also used to ink the edges of the die cuts and papers.  I've never tried this technique before and really had fun with it.  I think kraft paper is such an easy way to start a masculine card - especially one with an outdoorsy theme.  I started with a kraft card base for my A2 card and layered up from there.  I used a sketch from The Kraft Journal for the card design.

The matted image was popped up over the layered background.

I included interior decorating on both sides.

I love this definition stamp.  It's so perfect to use in cards for special people - and is definitely true of our son.  The image and mats were cut with Labels Four and Labels Four Small.  The top and bottom were trimmed to make them mimic the brackets in the stamped image. A great way to extend the use of your die cuts is to trim them to other shapes.  I'll be using this technique again.

Supplies:
Sketch:  The Kraft Journal Challenge 160
Cardstock: Recollections, Royal & Langnickel Watercolor Paper
Patterned Paper:  MME
Stamps:  Flourishes (In Nature), Stampendous (Birthday Wish)
Ink: Stazon (Jet Black), Distress Inks (Bundled Sage, Tea Dye, Antique Linen, Vintage photo, Walnut Stain, Crushed Olive, Peacock Feathers, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Barn Door)
Tools/Embellishments: Distress Markers (Shabby Shutters, Frayed Burlap, Weathered Wood), Spellbinders dies (Standard Circles Large & Small, Labels Four, Labels Four Small), Staedtler Tri-plus fine tip marker (brown)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:


The Kraft Journal Challenge #165 - Inside & Out
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tues Challenge #29 - Use Patterned Paper
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Birthday
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #315 - All Boy (any masculine card)
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #188 - Color a stamped image
Chocolate, Coffee Cards Challenge #62 - Stripes
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Challenges #7 - Masculine

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Butterfly Congratulations

This card says "Spring" to me.  Pretty flowers, a butterfly, beautiful colors....ahhhh spring!!  This gatefold card is 5.5" square when closed.  The butterfly was stamped on parchment paper with Versamark and then embossed with fine detail black embossing powder.  After fussy cutting it, I embellished it with Liquid Pearls and regular pearls.  The butterfly perches on an embossed circle that is matted with a doily die cut.  The embossed circle has a doodled border.  A pearl flourish "flight path" completes the butterfly panel.  The individual pearls that embellish the doily and make up the butterfly's body are cut from another piece of the flourish.

The patterned paper background flowers were embellished with liquid pearls and the small white flowers have stickles added to their centers.  There is a doodled border around the edges of the background paper.

Due to the direction of the flourish, the panel was attached to the right "gate" instead of the left.  Variety is the spice of life, right?  I glued two identical doilies with wrong sides together so that when the card is open the doily has a finished look on the inside as well.

The interior has two embossed panels and a little interior decorating on the writing panel.


Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill, Fiskars Parchment Paper
Patterned Paper:  Simple Stories (Vintage Bliss 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps:  Layers of Color (Joyful Noise - butterfly), Inkadinkado (Congratulations)
Ink:  VersaMark, Versafine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders Dies (Standard Circle Small), My Favorite Things Dies (Blueprints 1), Cherry Lynn Designs die (French Pastry), Ranger embossing powder (Super Fine Detail Black), Cuttle Bug embossing folder (Swiss Dots), M'Bossabilities folder (Splendid), Stickles (Star Dust), Liquid Pearls (Bisque, White Opal), Zig Wink of Stella glitter brush pen (Clear), Staedtler Tri-plus pen (black), Prima Say it in Crystals pearl flourish

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sunday #200 - Add a Doodle
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #16 - Anything Goes (I used a fancy fold)
Pile It On #13 - Floral Fantasy
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #29 - Use Patterned Paper
Just Keep On Creating April Challenge - Anything Goes
Just Be Creative Crazy April Challenge - Just Because
Inky Chicks #26 - Butterflies
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PWC304) - No Markers
Inky Impressions Challenge #153 - Fold it! (Fancy Folds)
Scrapbook Pal Share Your Project - Use Liquid Pearls
Sweet Stamps Challenge #163 - Dies
Delightful Challenges - Hip to be square (make a square card or have a square on it - my card is 5.5" square)

Thanks for stopping by.

Word Art Wednesday - 2 Corinthians 5:21

It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week our verse is 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."  As we anticipate celebrating Easter later this month, it's good to turn our thoughts to what we are really celebrating.  This verse reminds us that Christ took our sin debt, even though He had never sinned, so that we could be made righteous (just as if we'd never sinned).  While I've been taught this truth my whole life, I never cease to be amazed that Christ died for ME.  Why?  Because He loves me so much that He wants me to be in Heaven with Him someday.  And you know, He loves you that much too.  If you haven't accepted His gift of salvation, I hope you will today.

For my card today, I went with a black and gold color scheme.  The black represents my sin that Christ took on Himself.  The gold represents His royalty and the home in Heaven that He has provided for me.  I used this week's sketch by Mojo Monday (Mojo339).  I turned the sketch 90 degrees and the finished card is 3.5" x 5.5"

I popped up the verse panel with pop dots for some dimension and accented it with black pearls.

The black and gold theme was carried through to the inside of the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio (Simple Elegance 4.5" x 6.5" pad)
Stamp:  WORDart by Karen (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Large, Petite Scalloped Ovals Small), Want 2 Scrap (black pearls)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
MOJO Monday (MOJO339) - Sketch
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #29 - Use Patterned Paper
Just Keep On Creating April Challenge - Anything Goes
Just Be Creative Crazy April Challenge - Just Because

I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and see how the rest of the Design Team showcased this verse.  You can also pick up your free digi while you are there.  Thanks for visiting today.  I hope to have more to share with you later this week.