Watermelon Hello

For my final project as a Guest Designer for The Kraft Journal Challenges, I let this week's Watermelon Challenge theme influence my choice of colors for this card and for the image I used. The card base for this Flip Card is a piece of Lunch Bag Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock. I first saw this fun fold on YouTube in this Flip Fold video by France Martin. The digi image was colored with Copic markers and die cut before being double matted on red and green cardstock.  Instead of using patterned paper, I stamped the red cardstock in a random pattern with red ink and then randomly  made lots of white dots all over this panel. The sentiment was stamped on a tag and tied with pieces of Red Baker's Twine and Dark Green Baker's Twine.

The black scalloped circle frame was accents with Enamel accents. As you open the card, the image panel rotates to flip through the front opening and be visible on the inside.

There is room inside for a message. This finished card is standard A2 size.

Supplies:
Cardstock: The Kraft Journal (Lunch Bag Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock), Bazzil (red, green), Georgia Pacific (white)
Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps digi (Kiwi Koala's Watermelon), Mark's Finest Papers clear stamps (Dogwood Blossoms), Flourishes clear stamps (Berry Sweet Frame)
Ink: Versafine (Onyx Black, Crimson Red)
Copics:
Tools/Embellishments: The Kraft Outlet ( Red Baker's Twine and Dark Green Baker's Twine), Stickles (Star Dust), Spellbinders dies (Standard Circles Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Oval Large), Stampin' Up tag punch, Uniball Signo white gel pen, Ranger Enamel Accents (white), Gelly Roll black gel pen

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #214 - Freestyle
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Pile it On Challenge #84 - Friends/Friendly Hello
Addicted to Stamps Challenge #108 - Use at least one die cut
Clear it Out Challenge - Fancy Fold + A Die Cut
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #98 - Use a Sentiment
Crazy 4 Challenges - Use a tag
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
Get Creative Challenge #22 - No Printed Paper
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Anything Goes
One Sweet Challenge - Use a New to You Technique (I've never made this card fold before nor have I made my own background my combining stamps and gel pens)

Thanks for visiting with me today.  I have really enjoyed my time as a Guest Designer at The Kraft Journal and am sorry to see it end. I would like to thank Babette for the opportunity and the rest of the team for making her feel so welcome.

Grace in the Middle

Today I'm taking off my crafter's hat to put on my book lover/reviewer's cap. I'm part of a blog tour promoting Wendy Duke's first book, Grace in the Middle. This book is about Scott and Wendy Duke and some incredible challenges they faced. Like many young couples, they met at college, fell in love and married. When the time came to start their family, things didn't go as smoothly as planned. After several miscarriages, the Dukes were cautiously optimistic when they discovered Wendy was once again carrying a child. Just when they thought the Lord had given them the green light and that all would be well, they learned at an early doctor's appointment that "baby has only one leg." Wendy is honest about the struggle she faced in her spiritual life when she learned this news. However a still small voice kept reassuring her that this was all part of His plan.

After their daughter was born, while they were breathing sighs of relief, they learned even more devasting news: their newborn daughter had cancer. Wendy is so transparent in her physical, emotional and spiritual struggles. I had to chuckle when she admitted that she "wasn't on speaking terms" with God for awhile. So often, even when writing about difficult times in their lives, Christians are afraid to admit that they "aren't on speaking terms" with God or that they are angry with Him. Wendy's honesty about her thoughts, feelings and struggles was quite refreshing.

Wendy reminds us that even when she didn't feel His presence, God was always there for her. He showed His love for her through the love and support of their family, friends and church family. The first few years of Savannah's life were very difficult and yet Wendy and Scott learned so many spiritual lessons and experienced the growth that only deep trials can bring. Their story hit much closer to home when I read that Savannah had surgery and treatment at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. Since we had also spent a lot of time there with our own children, I could see those halls, the cafeteria, etc. We even were there during the same time period. I wonder if we passed each other in the halls.

She shared how one evening in that hospital hall way, on her knees, she surrendered her will to the Lord. Just as she was transparent about her spiritual struggles, she is also so honest about the joy that comes with surrender.

The book includes a chapter written by Savannah. At almost 15, she is living a normal, active teenage life. She has a great outlook on the events of her life. As a parent, I had to rejoice when she said she didn't remember some of the worst episodes in her early years.

This book had me in tears and also literally laughing out loud. The story moves along at a good pace and Wendy doesn't get too "preach-y." We all struggle in our spiritual walk and it was such an encouragement to not only have the author admit she struggled but also take us through the process to eventual victory.This was one of those books I just couldn't put down and it occupied my thoughts for days after I finished it.

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

God's Faithfulness

Hello!! I hope your week is going well. It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week we're back in Psalms and looking at Psalm 119:90, "Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth and it abideth." Don't you just love that first part? Thy faithfulness is unto all generations. God and His promises are not limited to just those living in Bible times or in "the olden days." He is faithful to ALL generations and that means us too....and our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren.....and so on. One of my greatest joys as a parent is to have one of our children tell us how the Lord is working in their lives or to have them give Him credit for blessings in their lives. God is so faithful and so good!!

Today's card keeps the focus all on the verse. The verse panel is die cut and mounted over ribbons on an embossed panel of the same color. The lattice die cut is accented with small rhinestones and Stickles add sparkle to the background paper.

A ribbon slide and bow complete the front. The inside has a small amount of interior decorating as well.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (Teal), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper: Recollections (Aqua Paisley)
Stamp: WORDart by Karen
Tools/Embellishments: ribbons (Offray), Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Large and Small, Lattice Motifs), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Swiss Dots), Stickles (Star Dust), rhinestones (Queen & Co.), ribbon slide - unknown-RAK

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes with Glitter
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #37 - Anything Goes
CropStop Linky Party #7 - Use something that can be purchased in the Crop Stop Shop (I used Star Dust Stickles)
Craft Your Passion Challenge #276 - Anything Goes
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining Light Challenge #252 - Anything Goes with Scripture

I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday Blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done and to pick up your free digi. Thanks for visiting with me today.

Floral Thanks

For this week's CAS - Thank You challenge at The Kraft Journal, I chose to stamp my own background. I started with a piece of Buff Ivory Cover Weight Cardstock. The texture in this cardstock really adds a neat dimension to the finished design. After layering a hexagon mask over the cardstock, I did some ink blending with a sponge dauber. After removing the mask, I stamped flowers, leaves and swirls in various colors of ink. A white gel pen was used to add highlights to the flowers and leaves. A stacked die cut "thanks" was added to the front and topped with Glossy Accents.

The front panel was matted with purple cardstock. Dove Gray Hand Stained Bias Tape was tied around the panel before mounting it to a card base made from more of the Buff Ivory Cover Weight Cardstock. In the pic above you get a sneak peek of how the design was carried to the inside.

Supplies:
Cardstock: The Kraft Outlet (Buff Ivory Cover Weight Cardstock), Cor'dinations (Hydrangea)
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp (Always and Forever clear stamp set) 
Ink: Memento (Bamboo Leaves, New Sprout, Grape Jelly, Lulu Lavender, Sweet Plum) Distress Ink (Antique Linen)
Tools/Embellishments: Dove Gray Hand Stained Bias Tape (The Kraft Outlet), Simon Says Stamp die (Thanks), Studio Calico Huey's Mask (Hexagon Mask), Uniball Signo white gel pen, Glossy Accents

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #241 - Anything Goes
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #98 - Use a Sentiment
Crop Stop Linky Party #7 - Must use something found in the Crop Stop (Memento Inks, Distress Ink)
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #37 - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you'll have time to play along in this week's CAS-Thank You challenge!!

Joy and Peace

Happy Wednesday!! It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week we're looking at Romans 15:13, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." As Paul is nearing the end of his epistle to the Romans, he is reminding them of where joy and peace originates. Being a Christian in Rome during Paul's lifetime was quite a dangerous thing. This verse is an encouragement to them to remember that God is the source of their hope and that He can fill them with joy and peace as they believe in Him. Our week this week has felt like we're on a merry-go-round. This verse encourages me to remember that God has things in control and I can have peace and joy through the power of the Holy Ghost. I know these verses are chosen weeks (months?) in advance for us to use, however, so often they meet a current need in my life during the week we focus on them. God is so good like that!

Because this was such hectic week, I kept my card very simple. Sometimes, it's good to go back to the basics. The only tools I used on this card (other than the computer/printer for the verse) were a pair of scissors and my trusty paper trimmer. Each layer is matted because I think that just adds such a finished look. A ribbon was tied in a simple knot around the smaller panel. 

I cut a rhinestone flourish into two parts so that I could use it to fill the space above the ribbon. The sentiment panel is popped up to keep it level over the rhinestones.

It's still possible to keep things simple and still add interior decorating. Adding a strip of one of the papers used on the front of the card matted with one of the other cardstocks or papers is my favorite way to interior decorate my cards.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Stampin' Up! (pink)
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Dolled up 6x6 pad)
Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Romans 15:13)
Embellishments/Tools: ribbon (Stampin' Up), rhinestone flourish (Want2Scrap), Fiskars (paper trimmer, scissors)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #275 - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #215 - Layers
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #241 - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you'll come back often. 

Happy Birthday Loon

For this week's Anything Goes - Birds challenge at The Kraft Journal, I chose to feature my all-time favorite bird, the loon. I saw this Fancy Fold Corner Card Dawn Giffith's YouTube Channel. As with many new-to-me fancy folds, I wanted to give it a try. The card base was made with Brown Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock. After making the fancy corner fold and stamping it with various colors of distress ink, the Copic colored image was double matted and added to the card front. An Antique Silver Label Holder was added to the front and the sentiment was stamped on Buff Ivory Cover Weight cardstock and glued inside.

The interior has Buff Ivory Cover Weight cardstock layered over striped patterned paper.


Supplies:
Cardstock: The Kraft Outlet (Buff Ivory Cover Weight, Brown Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock)
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye
Stamps: Hero Arts (Special Day), Stampendous (Birthday Wish), Gina K (Masculine Tags), Stampin' Up (Itty Bitty Backgrounds - retired), Whimsy - StampArt Designs by Kathryne (Resting Loon - retired)
Ink: Versafine (Onyx Black), Distress Inks (Tea Dye, Walnut Stain)
Copics: N0, 1, 3; B000; BG000, 01, 10; Colorless Blender
Tools/Embellishments: Antique Silver Label Holders (The Kraft Outlet), brads (The Paper Studio), Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large and Small)

I'm entering this card in the following Challenges:
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #212 - Use Die Cuts
Papertake Weekly - Spots and Stripes (spots on the card base and stripes in the interior patterned paper)
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #386 - Anything Goes
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #97 - Frame It
Crop Stop Linky Party #7 - Use something that can be purchased at the Crop Stop Store (I used Distress Inks and Spellbinders dies)
Sweet Stamps Blog Challenge #235 - Masculine Card

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you'll come back often.

Beautiful Feet

Hello! I hope your week is going well. It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday and this week we're focusing on Isaiah 52:7, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace: that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God Reigneth!" I don't know about you, but except maybe for baby feet, there are not too many sets of feet that I would describe as beautiful. However, this verse tells us that those who spread the good news of Christ and His work of salvation have beautiful feet! When someone brings you good news, you are glad to see them and you look very favorably upon them. When you bring the good news of salvation and proclaim a peaceful message (be the one that has a positive outlook instead of always remarking on the negative), you will be a breath of fresh air in our negative world. This week, let's work on having beautiful feet.

This week's card is pretty simple. The finished card is 5"x7". I used scraps of patterned paper from an old Basic Grey line of paper and adhered them to the brown cardstock base. This panel was dry embossed with an embossing folder. Some photo corner die cuts frame the sentiment panel and Copic-colored image. The image is from one of our fantastic sponsors: Fresh Brewed Designs. The die cut mat behind the image panel was accented with a white gel pen. Stickles add some sparkle to the flowers and butterflies in the image. Some punched butterflies (with stickle bodies) and small gems finish off the card front. Yes, I realize I've used the same butterfly punch on my last 3 cards. I'll "step away from the punch" next week. *grin*

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Papertrey Ink (image), Recollections (brown)
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (Oh Baby Girl)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Isiah 52:7), Fresh Brewed Designs (Blossoms and Butterflies)
Copics: E11, 33, 35, 37; Y13, 15, 17; B000; YG03, 05; V01, 04, 06; G03, 07, 09, 14
Tools/Embellishments: Stickles (Star Dust), Want2Scrap baby bling, Spellbinders dies (Decorative Photo Corners, Petite Oval Large, Petite Scalloped Ovals), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Blueprints 1), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Basket Weave), Fiskars punch (Butterfly), Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Clear It Out Challenge: Use color brown and brown/kraft embellishments (I used brown cardstock and have large brown centers on my flowers. My photo corners are my brown embellishment)
Going Grey with Scrap Creations: Garden
Digi Choosday Week 32 - Punches/Die Cuts (I have both)
Outlawz Tuesday Colour Challenge - Use purple plus two colors from the photo (I chose yellow and green) and then use a twist and tell what the twist is (I dry embossed the patterned paper background)
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes -optional twist - glitter (I used stickles on the flowers and butterflies)

Thanks for visiting with me today. I do hope you'll come back again soon.

Countdown to Fun

My project for this week's Take Your Pick challenge at The Kraft Journal is a countdown calendar for our 5 year old grandson. It is designed to help him count down the days until my husband and I go to visit him on his birthday weekend. I was able to pack 4 (red, embossing, die cuts, and washi tape) of the 8 choices in the simple design of the front cover. I started with a base of Lunch Bag Kraft cardstock (my favorite The Kraft Outlet cardstock). The folded size of this project is 5" x 8". My cardstock base is in two sections. The first piece was cut to 8" x 10.5". It was scored on the long side at 5" & 10". The second piece was cut at 5" x 8". I added scrappy tape (like Scor-tape) to the 1/2" strip on the first panel and used that to adhere the smaller panel. This gave me a strip 15" long that was scored at 5" & 10" in mountain and valley folds. Since I only needed 3 places to put my calendars, I folded the last setion back and adhered the sides to make a pocket. {That is probably clear as mud since I forgot to take pics of the construction process. See the last picture in this post for a little clarification.}

For the cover red cardstock and patterned paper  was layered over the base kraft cardstock. Using a VersaMarker, all the cars  were embossed with clear embossing powder. The computer generated sentiment and a red mat were die cut. A piece of white cardstock was cut as a mat for the sentiment and then covered with Notebook Grid Paper Tape (aka washi tape).

I printed 3 monthly calendars that I found as free downloads on the internet. I then added the countdown numbers with a black sharpie.

The final month of the countdown calendar is on the back. Stickers to mark off each day are tucked into the pocket.

Supplies:
Cardstock: The Kraft Outlet (Lunch Bag Kraft), Georgia Pacific (white), Core'dinations (red)
Patterned Paper: Echo Park (Little Boy 12 x 12 collection)
Computer generated sentiment
Tools/Embellishments: Versamarker, Sharpie black marker, Stampin' Up! embossing powder (crystal clear),  Notebook Grid Paper Tape (The Kraft Outlet), Spellbinders dies (Classic Rectangles Large), Stickers from the Dollar Store

Thanks for visiting with me today.  I hope you'll be able to play along in this week's Take Your Pick Challenge.

Fulness of Joy

Happy Wednesday! It's time for a new challenge at the Word Art Wednesday blog. This week we're back in the book of Psalms and focusing on Psalm 16:11, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy: at thy right hand there are pleasure for evermore." I remember when I was a child and was spending time with my parents. When I was being obedient, I was happy to be with them and was lighthearted. I was able to fully enjoy all the activities we were doing together. It didn't matter if I was "helping" Mom make jello in the kitchen or running errands with Dad, it was fun just being with them. However, when I knew I was doing wrong and not obeying them, I didn't enjoy being around them and felt as if a cloud were hanging over my head. Sometimes, disobedience even brought physical pain. Like the time I ran with scissors, fell and the scissors embedded themselves in my leg above the knee. I still have a scar to remind me of that episode. Another time, I rocked back in my chair at the table - something Mom had repeatedly told me not to do. I fell backwards and broke the bottom pane of glass in our French glass door. That episode of disobedience earned me a trip to the ER to get stitches in my neck. My disobedience didn't just hurt me. Because they loved me, my disobedience hurt my parents too. It's the same type of thing in our relationship with the Lord. When we stay close to Him and are obedient, we can experience full joy. It doesn't matter what's going in our lives, it's all more enjoyable because of Him. However, when we stray and are disobedient, not only can we be hurt (physically, emotionally, financially, etc.) but we hurt Him as well. This verse celebrates that close relationship that only comes with walking in obedience to the Lord.

Since this verse is about joy and the pleasure found in walking close to the Lord, I wanted the colors in my card to reflect that. I've seen several cards lately in blogland that have a short front that shows pretty paper on the interior. This is my version. Three dies from the My Favorite Things Blueprint 1 set were used on the card front. This is truly such a versatile set. I think the Blueprint sets are such a great value and reach for my set over and over. {I only own this set but have others on my wish-list.} Small butterflies with Stickles for bodies and scattered bling add sparkle to the card.

The interior has a little decorating as well - I think I went faux stitching crazy. :)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (sentiment), Georgia Pacific (cardbase and interior), Bazzill
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Howdy Doody 6x6 pad)
Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Psalm 16:11)
Tools/Embellishments: Staedtler fine tip marker (black), Offray ribbon, Stickles (Star Dust), Want2 Scrap baby bling, Sweet 'n Sassy die (Lacey Border), My Favorite Things Die-Namics (Blueprints 1), Fiskars punch (Butterfly, Apron Lace)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion Challenge #273 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Frame It
All Sorts Challenge Week 322 - Use Pearls/Gems
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Tie It Up
Scrapbook Blessings Club August Challenge - Anything Goes (Glitter is an optional twist - I used Stickles)

I so appreciate your visit and your comments always brighten my day. I hope you'll be able to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog, see the rest of the projects from the Design Team and pick up your free digi. Please come back soon.

Back to School Book Worm

Note to my email subscribers: You might have gotten two emails about this blog post. One from my old provider and one from the new. I'm sorry for the duplicate but I wanted to make sure the new sender was up and running properly before discontinuing the old. Thanks for your patience.

For this week's Back to School Challenge at The Kraft Journal, I chose to make an extra large card (5.25" x 8.25") for our grandson. A large tag was cut from Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock for the inside of the bag. A piece of white cardstock was layered on top and embellished with Notebook Grid Paper Tape. This tape was also used to made a hole reinforcement for the top of the tag. To make the reinforcement, I lined up two short strips of tape side-by-side on a piece of white cardstock. Using a small circle die, I die cut a circle and then punched a hole in the middle with my Crop-o-Dile. White Twill Tape was threaded through the hole and tied off with baker's twine.

After inserting the tag into a  Large Notebook Merchandise Bag, I wrapped Red , Brown Kraft  and Dark Green Baker's Twine around it. A button from my stash was added to the twine before tying it off in a knot. I then adhered the bag to a base of Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock. The top of the base was trimmed to match the shape of the bag. I matted the Copic colored image and a piece of a Vintage Dictionary Page on cardstock from my scrap basket and layered them on the bag front. More scrap cardstock was cut into fishtail banners to add to the top of the bag. The computer generated sentiment was added to a die cut banner and popped up over the baker's twine. The worm's glasses and the highlights on the apple were accented with a glaze pen. Our grandson's name was written with a Sharpie near the top of the bag.

Supplies in addition to those listed above:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), scraps from my scrap basket
Stamps: Digi Stamps 4Joy (Book Worm)
Copics: Worm (G03, 07, 09; Y13, 17), Hat (N3, 5, 7, 9; Y35), Apple (R22, 24, 27; E25), Books (#1 - B21, 23, 26; E40, 50; #2 - E000, 02, 07, 08, 09; #3 - BG72, 73, 78; E40, 50; #4 - $22, 24, 27, 29; N0, 1, 3; #5  E31, 33, 35, 37, 40, 50; #6 - Y000, 32; YG03, 05; G14; E31)
Tools/Embellishments: Sakura glaze pen, Crop-o-dile, Spellbinders die (Standard Circle Small), Simon Says Stamp die (Folded Banner)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Eureka Stamps Challenge #152 -  Washi tape
Digi Choosday Crafting Challenge Week 30 - Animal (of any type)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #257 - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #273 - Anything Goes
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you'll play along in this week's Back to School challenge!!