Thank You {Wolf}

I was asked to make a thank you card with a wolf on it. Since I didn't have a wolf digi or stamp, I got to go shopping. :) What a shame, right? Anyway, I found some really nice wolf digis at Stamp 'n Doodle. I ordered the wolf digi you see on today's card and they sent me a bonus digi of a trio of wolves. Great value for the price!!  The image was colored with Copics. I added clear Wink of Stella to his eyes for a little shimmer and Glossy Accents to his nose to help give him the wet nose look. I used a Mojo Monday sketch (MOJO414) for the card design. I was recently gifted a great outdoors 12 x 12 paper pack and used 4 of the papers in the stack on this card. The sentiment was heat embossed onto the fishtail banner. Some faux stitching, dry embossing and a twill ribbon finish it off.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white- image), Recollections (kraft)
Patterned Paper: GCD Studios (The Great Outdoors 12 x 12 pad) 
Stamps: Stamp 'n Doodle (Wolf Portrait digital stamp), Inkadinkado (Chelsea Sentiments clear stamp set)
Ink: VersaFine (Onyx Black), Distress Ink (Tea Dye)
Copic Markers: W1, 3, 5, 7; YG0000; Y17, 32; B0000
Tools/Embellishments: Wink of Stella (clear), Glossy Accents, Cuttlebug embossing folder (Forest Branches), Stampin Up (Crystal Clear embossing powder, corner rounder), The Kraft Outlet (seam binding ribbon), Staedtler Triplus fine tip marker (brown)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #296 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #278 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

I'd like to encourage you to participate in Kathy Rac's 4th 30 Day Coloring Challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to encourage you to do a little coloring every day, even if just for 5 min. If you can't color every day that's OK too. Jump in and out of the challenge as you are able. You can use any coloring medium and images you choose. I've participated in the past challenges (not every day) and really had a lot of fun. It also has helped me build up my stash of colored images and given me the necessary push to try new coloring mediums. See the details on Kathy's blog, The Daily Marker.

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

I Thought of You Today Version 2

I have a friend that sometimes "shops" for cards on my blog. She will give me the title of a card and ask me to re-create it for her. After my recent, My Favorites from 2015 post, I received a request from her for several cards. This is one of them and I think it is my favorite of 2015. There's a challenge at Scrapbook Blessings Club this month (hurry you still have time to participate - it closes at 11PM EST Jan 31st) that asks you to take your favorite card of 2015 and use it as inspiration for a new card. You can do a direct re-creation or just use it as a jumping off point. As long as the original card can be identified, you are good to go. I thought this challenge sounded fun so I'm linking up my card there.

This is my original card.

As you can see I changed out the papers and colors a bit. I also changed the rhinestones for pearls. I put the vellum in front of the shaker materials instead of on top of the background patterned paper. Truthfully, the only reason I did that is because I forgot exactly how I made the original. :) However, I think the pink sequins in the shaker sort of look like rose petals.

 I still used sequins on the card front though I changed up the color and size of them. I also left off the faux stitching.

Star Dust Stickles add some sparkle to the flowers and to the white sequins on the card front. All in all, very close to the original but slightly updated. The finished card is 5.5" square.

Supplies used on the new version:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (pink, vellum), Recollections (black)
Patterned Paper: Authentique (Classique Pretty 6 x 6 pad)
Ink: VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders Dies (Standard Circles Small, Picot Edge Circles), Prima Say It in Pearls swirls, flowers (gift item from my stash - I think they are Recollections), Stickles (Star Dust), Pretty Pink Posh 4mm Marshmallow sequins, Pink Sequins in shaker (The Paper Studio)

I'm also linking this new version up at the Fun Cuts Alphabet Challenge - J is for Jewels.
  
Thanks for visiting with me today. Please come back tomorrow when I'll have a brand new card to share with you.

Birthday Wishes

My mother-in-law's birthday was this week and she loves flowers. So I used an old MOJO Monday sketch (MOJO415) for the card layout and one of my favorite Mark's Finest Papers clear stamp images to make a card for her. The flowers were colored with Copic markers and the centers were accented with Stickles. I heat embossed the sentiment on the tag.

For the interior decorating, I heat embossed the sentiment and used a Deco Corner Chomper on the corners.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (kraft), Bazzill (pink), Georgia Pacific (image)
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Dolled Up 6x6 pad)
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers clear stamp set (Dogwood Blossoms), Inkadinkado clear stamp set (Chelsea Sentiments), Stampabilities wood mount stamp (May Your Birthday Be Filled)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black), VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Copic Markers, WRMK Corner Chomper, Offray Lace, The Twinery Baker's Twine (pink), Studio G Baker's Twine (brown), Spellbinders dies (Classic Rectangles Large, Labels Four), Stickles (Star Dust), Stampin Up! embossing powder (Crystal Clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #234 - Embossing
Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #177 - Make Your Mark (I used Copics)
Outlawz Paper A La Mode Challenge - Birthdays
Craft Your Passion Challenge #295 - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #235 - 3, 2, 1 (3 stamp sets/companies, 2 colors of baker's twine, 1 patterned paper)
Fab 'n Funky Challenge #288 - Buttons or bow or both (I chose bows)
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #133  - Show Me the Pink (with ribbon or trim)

Thanks for stopping by to visit with me today. I hope you'll come back soon.

I Will Go Before Thee

I'm quite tardy with this post since the new Word Art Wednesday challenge started yesterday. I've been under the weather and haven't been able to be on the computer. I'm still in the "no energy" phase of recovery but definitely better. Anyway, this week the challenge focus verse is Isaiah 45:2, "I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron." This is a wonderful promise from the Lord that He will go before us to straighten out the path. That means that He knows what lies before us and will help us with our journey. The rest of this verse indicates that this not only involves preparing the pathway before us but also breaking through the obstacles that would hinder our progress. So, when it seems like the Lord has asked us to do a difficult or even impossible task, just remember this verse. If He has asked you to do something, He'll prepare the way for you and help you get through those hindrances to accomplishing the task. This doesn't mean there will be no problems along the way, but it does mean He's there, He knows the best way through/around/over the obstacles and He will help you navigate the journey.

For my card design this week, I used an old Mojo Monday sketch (MOJO406). I kept to a masculine theme this week with the colors and designs on my patterned papers. The background cardstock was embossed with an embossing folder and then, using a direct to paper technique, inked with distress ink to bring out the embossed pattern. The edges of all the other papers were inked as well.

I went back to a technique I used a lot in my scrapbooking days: covering chipboard with patterned paper. After adhering the stars to the back of the patterned paper, I used my new fingertip craft knife to cut them out. It works so much better for me than a traditional straight craft knife. The edges of the stars were inked with distress ink. After adhering the stars to the card front, they were given a coat of Glossy Accents.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (cream, kraft)
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Remarkable 6x6 pad)
Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Isaiah 45:2)
Ink: Distress Ink (Tea Dye)
Tools/Embellishments: Heidi Swapp Chipboard Stars, The Paper Studio embossing folder (Caning), Nicole 5mm Adhesive Nail Heads, Glossy Accents, The Paper Studio Burlap Ribbon

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #409 - Just Boys (use a masculine theme)
Aud Sentiments Challenge #147 - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #295 - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #235 - 3, 2, 1 (3 stars, 2 patterned papers, 2 cardstocks, 1 ribbon, 1 embossing folder)
Crop Stop Linky Party #12 - Anything Goes using something from Crop Stop Store (I used Glossy Accents & Tea Dye Distress Ink)
Pile It On Challenge #99 - Use Something with your first initial (I used "S" for Stars)
Eureka Stamps Challenge #176 - Pile It On
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #234 - Embossing

I hope you'll visit the Word Art Wednesday blog for lots of inspiration using this week's FREE digi WORDart. We'd love to have you play along with us. Remember you have 2 weeks to link up your projects.

Texting

As promised, I'm back with two more cards using the fantastic Texting stamp set from the new You Have My Heart release at Simon Says Stamp. I've been working on stretching my comfort zone in my card-making. That means attempting to make to flatter cards that are easier (cheaper) to mail and also try to figure out the CAS style. Both of my cards for today are a result of that.

I do a lot of texting. Since both of our children live long distances away from us (8 hours each), texting is truly a blessing in our communication with them. My husband and I also text during the work day on breaks to just say "Hi! I'm thinking of you" or just share some thoughts via emoticons. Because of my love of texting, when I saw this set, I know I wanted to make a card with a bunch of different emoticons stamped randomly in the background. When I saw this sentiment, I knew it was perfect for a card for my hubby. He also happens to be my best friend.  I stamped the images with black ink and then colored them with Copic Markers. Each image was given a coat of clear Wink of Stella. The background around them was also colored with Copics. The sentiment was stamped, fussy cut and then popped up over the images. The image panel was double matted before being adhered to a 4.25" square card base.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), DCWV (blue)
Stamp set: Simon Says Stamp (Texting)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black), VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Copics: Y13, 15, 17, 38; YR16, 18; YG0000, 00; B000, 23, 26, 29; BV0000, 000, 00; BG11, 13, 15; R22, 24, 27, 29
Other: Wink of Stella (clear)

My second card for today is also 4.25" square. For this one I stamped the smiley face image randomly with VersaFine Onyx Black ink and then clear heat embossed it. Afterwards, I used a rainbow of colors to make a blended background. I then heat embossed a sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Banner Sayings stamp set on top of a banner cut from the Simon Says Stamp Folded Banner die (I think both of these items must be retired because I can't find them on the website). The two right corners were rounded for a playful touch.

Supplies: 
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (black)
Stamp sets: Simon Says Stamp (Texting, Banner Sayings)
Ink: VersaFine (Black Onyx), Distress Ink (Barn Door, Squeezed Lamonade, Tumbled Glass, Peeled Paint, Shaded Lilac)
Other: Simon Says Stamp Folded Banner die, Stampin' Up! embossing powder (Crystal Clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Something New (new stamp set from a new release)
Fab 'n Funky Challenge #286 - Something New (new stamp set)
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #407 - Something New (new stamp set)
Aud Sentiments Challenge #146 - Thank You Sentiment
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crop Stop Linky Party #11 - Something found in the Crop Stop Store (I used Memento Ink,  and Distress Ink)

Thanks for visiting with me today and a very special thanks to Simon Says Stamp for the happy mail.

I Will {Praise} Thee

Happy New Year!! I hope your year is off to a good (and healthy) start. With the start of the new year come a little change to the Word Art Wednesday challenges. Starting with today's challenge, each challenge will run two weeks. This will give you extra time to play along and give those of us on the Design Team extra time to comment on all your beautiful projects. This week we are going to the book of Psalms and turning our focus on Psalm 139:14, "I will praise thee: for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works: and that my soul knoweth right well." This time of year, many people make resolutions to improve their bodies and minds. These are all very good. It's important to make sure we're taking care of our physical body. As this verse states, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Part of taking care of our bodies is to keep our minds sharp and keep learning.  My favorite author, K. D. Winchester, has a great blog post about ways to exercise your mind and direct your reading this year. You can read her post here. It's also important to keep growing spiritually. One way is to make sure we're spending daily time reading our Bibles. This year I'm reading through the Bible chronologically. I've never done that before and, so far, am really enjoying it. Here is the one I'm using: Daily Chronological Bible.  A free downloadable reading plan I've used for a several years can be found here. I like it because it's so versatile. We need to be good stewards of our bodies and minds and take care of the "marvellous work" that the Lord created.

One of our new sponsors this year is Simon Says Stamp. If you haven't shopped with them before, I can tell you that you are really missing out! They strive to be a one-stop-shop and I think they do a pretty good job. They carry all the popular brands of stamps and supplies as well as have their own stamps, dies, inks, cardstock, etc. I was able to play with one of their new You Have My Heart release stamp sets called Texting. This set is full of emoticons and cute sayings in speech bubbles.  I started with a watercolor paper base and used various Distress inks to blend a rainbow of colors diagonally across the panel. Laura Bassen, the Queen of ink blending, I am not but I think it's a happy effect. I then used the smiley emoticon stamp to stamp happy faces all over the panel. I deliberately faced them different directions. I thought they went well with today's verse because the happy faces illustrate an attitude of praise. :)

I kept the rest of the card pretty simple (my version of CAS) to keep the focus on the verse and on the happy faces. Some double matting, a trio of gems and a small baker's twine bow finish off the card front. Another strip of happy faces adds a little interior decorating. This card is already in the mail going to a couple that are awaiting the birth of another one of God's marvelous creations. That last week or two of waiting is so hard and I hope this is an encouragement to them (and the mama loves smiley faces and rainbow colors).

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (black), Bazzill (yellow), watercolor paper of unknown brand
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Psalm 139:14), Simon Says Stamp (Texting clear stamp set)
Inks: Distress Inks (Barn Door, Squeezed Lemonade, Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers, Peeled Paint, Broken China), Versafine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders dies (Standard Circles Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Circles Large), The Twinery baker's twine (Charcoal), The Paper Studio gems

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sweet Stamps Blog January Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Something New (new stamp set and going to a couple expecting a new baby)
Craft Your Passion Challenge #293 - Anything Goes
Outlawz Paper A La Mode Challenge - Something New (new stamp set)
Crop Stop Linky Party #11 - Use something from the Crop Stop Store (I used several Distress Inks)

Thanks so much for stopping by today. If you come back later this week, I'll have more cards to share with you using this new Texting stamp set. It's just soooo fun!! I hope you'll visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the list of exciting sponsors we have for this year. While you're there you can also see what the rest of the Design Team have made and pick up your free digi. Also, please visit Simon Says Stamp. You will find LOTS to love!!

My Favorites from 2015

Last year I did a Top 10 Favorites from 2014 and had so much fun with it I decided to try it again for 2015. They are listed in the date they appeared on my blog.

I Thought of You Today

Melody of Love

Sweet Happy Birthday

Smart Owl

 

He's Not Far Away

Strength and Honor

Belated Happy Birthday

Inspirational CAS

Meowy Christmas

Bought with a Price

I'm linking up my list of favorites at Debbie's Favorite Five of 2015 - just like last year, my favorite 5 expanded to favorite 10. :) If I HAVE to pick JUST a favorite 5...then it's the first four on this post and the last one.