Wishing I Could Be There...

Our daughter had a birthday recently -- her first as a married lady.  :)  She lives 8 hours away so we had to wish her a happy birthday from a distance.  She really likes owls and I got this Simon Says Stamp owl set a long time ago to make cards for her.  I can't find it on the website now, so I'm guessing it's retired.  I saw this sentiment Banner Stamps clear stamp set recently on the SSS site and thought it would be perfect for either of our children's birthdays {they both live 8 hours from us and 8 hours from each other :( }

The owl and tree branch were colored with copics and then fussy cut.  The owl is popped up on the branch.  A white gel pen accents the eyes and there's some shimmer thanks to a Wink of Stella glitter marker.  The card is 4.25" square.  I kept to the woodsy theme by using a tree patterned paper, kraft cardstock, some jute twine and a natural colored button.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections, Georgia Pacific
Patterned paper:  scraps from my stash
Ink:  Memento
Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp clear stamps (Banner Greetings, Owls (retired))
Tools/Embellishments: Signo white gel pen, Wink of Stella glitter marker (clear), Staedtler fine tip marker (brown), Fiskars Border punch (Apron Lace), La Mode button, jute twine

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - Use Simon exclusive products
Inky Impressions Challenge #161 - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #196 - Crazy Egg Challenge (Anything Goes)
Sentimental Sunday Challenge #208 - Things with Wings
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #20 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you're having a good week - the weekend is almost in sight!!

Thou Art Lord Alone

I really like this week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday.  I know, I say that just about every week, don't I?  LOL  Our verse is Nehemiah 9:6, "Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee."  We are studying Genesis 1-11 on Wednesday nights at church.  We are still in chapter 1 and I think this verse is such a confirmation that God truly did create EVERYTHING.  Things did not just "happen" or evolve but God created them in six, literal, 24-hours days.  And as this verse reminds us, He preserves them as well.  Or as it says in Hebrews 1:3, He is, "...upholding all things by the word of his power..."  We truly serve an awesome God!!

This verse reminds me of how majestic God is and I wanted my card to reflect a little of that.  Black, red and cream say elegance and majesty to me.  I started with a deep red cardstock.  After embossing it and spraying it with shimmer mist, it was matted on black cardstock.

Several die cuts were layered on top of each other separated by pop dots.  I was even able to include on of my favorite doily dies (French Pastry Doily) by one of this week's sponsors, Cheery Lynn Designs.   A bow with a pearl button center finishes off the front of this 5.5" square card.

An embossed and misted strip of red cardstock also decorates the interior.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (red), Recollections (cream, black)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen digi Scripture
Tools/Embellishments: ribbon (Ribbon Trends), pearls (The Paper Studio), button (La Mode), Spellbinders dies (Labels One, Decorative Labels One, Adorning Squares), Cheery Lynn die (French Pastry doily), Tsukineko Sheer Shimmer spray (Frost), CuttleBug Embossing Folder (Moroccan Screen)

Challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #215 - Frame It
Sweet Stamps Challenge #171  - No Designer Paper
Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge #37 - Anything Goes
Faith Hope and Love Challenge #8 - Use Scripture
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #322 - Text Only
Scrapbook Blessings Club #20 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

I truly appreciate you stopping by to visit today.  I hope you'll also visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to pick up your free digi stamp and see the projects the rest of the Design Team have made. 

The Lord Liveth...

It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week's verse takes us back to the book of Psalms.  "The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted."  Psalm 18:46  This verse is all about praising the Lord.  When you think of all the things He has done for us, He deserves our un-ending praise.  The psalmist mentions just two of the many, many reasons to praise the Lord.  He's our Rock.  When we feel like our lives are a snow globe that someone keeps turning upside down, it's good to know that He is steady and unchanging. He provides our salvation.  This one alone is reason to praise Him for all eternity - and I believe that those of us who have accepted His gift of salvation will be doing just that forever and forever.

I kept the card design simple to keep the focus on the verse.  The Scrapbook Blessings Club currently has emboss resist as their featured technique.  I really enjoy this technique and chose to use it to make a frame for this verse.  A solid color frame, 3 rhinestones and some white dots made with a gel pen complete the card.  The frame is popped up over the verse and solid color mat.  I used a copic marker to go around the inside edge of the frame.  The finished card is 3.75" x 5".

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (purple)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Psalm 18:46); Recollections (clear floral stamp set - I can't find a specific name)
Inks:  Distress Ink (Shaded Lilac, Spun Sugar, Peacock Feathers), Versamark
Tools/Embellishments:  SU Crystal Clear Embossing Powder, Uniball Signo white gel pen, Copic (V09), Spellbinders (Petite Oval Small, Petite Scalloped Oval Large), rhinestones (The Paper Studio)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
The Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #20 - Anything Goes (Featured Technique:  emboss resist)
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #207 - Funky Flowers
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Botanical
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Here Comes Summer
Paper Crafting Challenges #10 - My Favorites (spellbinders, white gel pen, Scripture, matting, flowers, bling)
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #311 - Flowers
Divas by Design - Anything Goes

I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and pick up your free digi as well as see the projects the rest of the Design Team have made.  I do appreciate you taking the time to visit today.  Thank you.

For It is God Which Worketh in You...

I really like this week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday.  It's Philippians 2:13, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."  When things happen in my life, or in the lives of those I love, it's good to know that it is God that is working in my life.  He is controlling the events of my life and it is for my good and His pleasure.  He knows what is best.  A friend and I were recently discussing the struggles our children were having.  We both agreed that the road to spiritual growth is not an easy one.  As moms, we don't want to hinder our children's spiritual growth but we sure wish they didn't have to struggle so much.  We rest in the knowledge that God is working of them for their best.

Today's card is a bit different for me.  I use digi stamps all the time but rarely use digi papers.  However,  when I saw this cute Seashells digi set from Deedee's Digis, I decided to use some of the papers too.  I printed all the papers, images and sentiments on Neenah Solar White cardstock.

I have to tell you, using the digi papers sure made putting the card together so fast.  Using this week's great challenge sketch from The Kraft Journal made it even faster.  I think I'll be reaching for this sketch often!  Using Word I layered the brown swirl paper on the seashell paper.  After printing it out, I decided I just had to have a mat.  So I cut out the brown swirl paper, added the kraft mat and then adhered the panel back on top.  An added bonus to not printing them separately is that I saved some printer ink.

I added some faux stitching, enamel dots and some glitter from a Wink of Stella marker to finish off the front.  I ran an E25 Copic marker around the edges of my digi elements and kraft mats.  The E25 marker is almost an exact match for the brown swirl paper.

I added a sentiment, image and digi paper on the inside of the card too.  I did all the layering for the interior in Word too.  This also helped save that precious computer ink.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White, Recollections kraft
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Philippians 4:13), Deedee's Digis (Seashells)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large and Small), My Minds Eye Chalk Talk enamel dots, Uniball white gel pen, Staedtler Tri-plus fine tip black marker, Wink of Stella clear brush marker, Copic E25 marker

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
The Kraft Journal Challenge #171 - Sketch
Chocolate Coffee & Cards Challenge - Circles and Squares
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Just Keep on Creating - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Here Comes Summer
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use Dies

Thanks for visiting with me today.  Please be sure to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to pick up your free digi and for some special inspiration.  The design team for one of this week's sponsors, Flying Unicorn, have made projects to share with you.  I know you won't want to miss seeing them.  Have a good week - the weekend is in sight!

Butterfly Mother's Day Card

This is the result when I was asked to make a Mother's Day card for a mom of six that likes butterflies.  Her husband knows I make cards and contacted my husband to ask if I would make one for her.  I was happy to say yes.  I really enjoy helping a husband surprise his wife.  :)

The background butterflies and the large butterfly are accented with stickles.  The sentiments on the front were computer generated.  The husband didn't author the poem but from reading his FB posts about and to his wife, he could have.  I found the poem on the internet - I'm not sure of the author so I can't give proper credit.  :(

The interior sentiment is from a Sweet 'n Sassy digi stamp set.  A few more butterflies complete the interior decorating.

For this special card, I decided the envelope needed a little decoration.  More stickles accent these butterflies too.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamps:  Studio G (large butterfly wood mounted stamp), Clear Dollar Stamps (Blooming with Blessings clear stamp set), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Mother's Day Sentiments digi set)
Ink:  Memento (Rosebud)
Tools/Embellishments: Uniball Signo White gel pen, pearls (Recollection), ribbon (Offray), Simon Says Stamp die (Folded Banner), Round it All (1/2"), Ribbon Punch (The Paper Studio), Stickles (Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - "M" (Mother, mounted stamp)
Inky Impressions Challenge #158 (IIC158) - Mother's Day
Going Gray with Scrap-Creations - Mother's Day/Special Girl
Milk Coffee Challenge - Mother's Day/Special Lady
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes
Just Be Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - Use Patterned Paper

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope your week is off to a good start.

Happy First Mother's Day

This card is obviously designed for a brand new mom.  I wanted to make it very girly so I kept it pink and white.  I included the feminine touches of  a doily, pearls, scallops and ribbon.  The sentiment was computer generated.

I used this adorable Sweetie Bear from StampArt Design by Kathryne.  I colored the bear with Copics.  The bows were paper pieced and have tiny pearl centers. She was fussy cut and her nose and dress were accented with a white gel pen. She was adhered with pop dots to the card front.  Faux stitching finishes off the edges of the card and background paper.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (pink), Georgia Pacific (white), Neenah Solar White (image)
Patterned Paper:  American Crafts
Stamps:  StampArt Design by Kathryne (Sweetie Bear), computer generated sentiment
Copics:  R81, 83, 85; E29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40
Tools/ Embellishments:  Uniball Signo White gel pen, pearls/flourish (The Paper Studio), ribbon (American Crafts), Spellbinders dies (Petite Scalloped Circles Large), Cheery Lynn die (French Pastry), Staedtler black fine tip marker

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Digi Haven - Bear Hugs 
Divas by Design - In the Pink
Inky Impressions Challenge #158 - Mother's Day
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #194- For a Special Lady
Sweet Stamps Challenge #168 - For Mom
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Mother's Day/For a Girl
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #34 - Flourishes
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes

I hope the rest of your week goes well.  Thanks for visiting today.

Flowering Limb Lattice

It's Wednesday so that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week's verse is from the minor prophet Micah.  Micah 7:8, "...When I fall, I shall arise, when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me."  For me, this verse is a reminder that when I'm going thru a troublesome time, when things look dark, the Lord is my light.  When I look to Him, He shows me the way thru the darkness and walks along beside me.  What a comfort!!

One of our sponsors this week is Robyn's Fetish.  She generously provided the design team with some images to use.  I was able to use the Flowering Limb digi stamp.  I printed it out twice and colored it with  copics.  After fussy cutting it, I cut it apart to intertwine in my lattice die cut.  The verse was die cut and matted on a floral oval and the lattice and verse panel were accented with pearls. 

The fussy cut flowers are accented with stickles.

Some of the flowers and leaves are popped up on pop dots and some are unattached to allow for extra dimension.

I had an extra flower so I used it on the interior decorating.  It is also accented with stickles.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White (verse panel and flowers), Georgia Pacific (card base, trellis), Bazzell (purple)
Patterned Paper:  Recollections
Stamps:  Daydream Designs (Inside Outside Sentiment Set 1), Robyn's Fetish (Flowering Limb)
Copics: Y000, 11, 21; E31, 33, 35; V01, 04, 06, 09; YG03, 05
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Lattice Motifs, Floral Ovals, Classic Ovals Large), white pearls (Michael's), purple pearls (Oriental Trading), Stickles (Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Creating in Faith Hope and Love Challenge #7 - Use Scripture on your card
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Just Keep on Creating - Anything Goes
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #19 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Spring Flowers
Simon Says Work It Wednesday - Use Patterned Paper

Thanks for stopping by today.  Be sure to pick up your free digi, generously provided by Daydream Designs and see what the rest of the Design Team has made by visiting the Word Art Wednesday blog.  I hope to be back later this week with a couple more cards.