Teach Us

Happy Wednesday!! I hope you are having a good week. It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week our verse comes from Psalms 90:12, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." This verse is telling us to keep in mind the brevity of life and the amount of work left to be done. Since we do not know how much time we have left, we need to make sure we don't waste the time we do have. We need the Lord's help to have the wisdom to spend our time on those things that are truly important.

I recently saw a video by Jennifer McGuire where she showed how to use Perfect Pearls with layering stamps. You can watch her Pearlized Stamp Layering video here. I have been wanting to try Perfect Pearls and this technique seemed like a great place to start. First I die cut a circle from a piece of burgundy card stock. I used a floral layering stamp that has 4 layers. The base layer of all the flowers was stamped with Versamark. Then I covered all the flowers with the Perfect Pearl color of Perfect Pearls. The second layer is stamped with Versamark which pulls up the Perfect Pearls in the stamped area. The third layer was stamped with the darkest color in a Pink to Red Hero Arts ombre ink pad. The fourth and final layer was stamped with a dark blue ink. If you watch Jennifer's video, her explanation makes much more sense than I probably just did.

I used foam dots to pop up this stamped panel over the Scripture verse. I used Liquid Pearls to accent the stamped panel as well as the verse panel. I really like the almost velvet look to the stamped panel. This is a technique I'll be re-visiting soon.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white for sentiment), Recollections (white heavy weight for card base, burgundy)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen, Hero Arts (Color Layering Hibiscus)
Inks: VersaMark, Hero Arts Ombre (Pink to Red), Memento (Paris Dusk)
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders Dies (Standard Circle Small), Liquid Pearls (Platinum Pearl), Perfect Pearls (Perfect Pearl)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Crop Stop Link Party #26- Use an item or a brand carried by the Crop Stop Store (I used VersaMark Ink, Platinum Liquid Pearls, and Cuttlebug, Spellbinders, Fiskars, Memento and Ranger brands)
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #152 - Anything Goes
Try It on Tuesday - Botanical (the layered flowers are my botanical elements)

Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you'll come back often. Please be sure to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog for your free digi and to see the rest of the projects by the Design Team.

Thoughts & Prayers

Just a quick card today so that I could play along in a couple challenges. I used the Monday sketch from the Christian Card Makers ~ Women's Fellowship Facebook for the card design. I am usually not a yellow fan but this combo of black, white, gray and yellow really jumped out at me. Some black half-pearls accent the doily, floral patterned paper and the end of the plaid strip. Otherwise, I kept pretty true to the sketch.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (card base), Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Authentique (Latest & Greatest 6x6)
Stamps: Dare 2B Artzy (Prayers stamp set)
Ink: Versafine (Onyx Black)
Dies: Spellbinders (Classic Squares), Cheery Lynn (doily) 
Pearls: Want2Scrap (black)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Christian Card Makers ~ Women's Fellowship - Monday Sketch Challenge
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #293 - Use 3 different patterned papers
Crop Stop March Challenge - Use brands found in the Crop Stop Store (I used Scotch, Cuttlebug, Tsukineko, and Spellbinders)

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a great week!

God Shall Wipe Away All Tears

It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week we are focusing on a very comforting verse found in Revelation 21:4, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; an there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things as passed away." What a wonderful day this will be! Can you imagine no sickness, no pain, no sadness, no death? Wow! I can't wait. There is so much sadness and pain in this world. It will be so wonderful when God wipes it all away and we can just spend eternity praising and glorifying Him. We'll have fellowship with our fellow Believers and get to talk with our heroes in the faith. The promise of this future time is such a comfort to those of us who have said an earthly goodbye to a loved one who has preceded us in death. Are you ready? I just heard of a man a couple years older than I am that suddenly passed away last weekend. He wasn't planning to leave this earth so soon but God called him Home unexpectedly. It's a good thing that he had planned ahead and accepted Christ's free gift of salvation. Some people think, well, I'll live how I want to and then right before I die I'll accept Christ. Sometimes, like this man, we don't know death is coming and there is no chance. It's not a matter of good works vs bad works whether we'll be let into Heaven. It's what we've done with Jesus here on this earth. So please don't delay, accept Christ's free gift of salvation today. If you have questions, please us the contact me link in the side bar or leave me a comment below.

For my card today, I kept the focus on the verse and the the beautiful papers do the "talking." Our sponsor for this week is Simon Says Stamp. I used their A2 Curved Edge die to cut the sentiment panel and the black patterned paper panel behind it. A retired border die from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps adds some interest along the top edge. The die cuts out these flower shapes. Since my paper is double sided, I turned over these little flowers and adhered them using the die cut inlay technique. I topped the flowers with a small rhinestone. For the bottom of the card, I embossed a sentiment from a retired Simon Says Stamp set with their Fine Detail White Embossing Powder. I cut it with a banner die and accented it with more bling. I inked the edges of the banner with charcoal ink. One of the flowers in the background paper was also embellished with a little bling.

Supplies (Links are to the SSS online store):
Cardstock: Recollections (white for card base, black), Georgia Pacific (sentiment panel)
Patterned Paper: Authentique (Latest & Greatest 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen, Simon Says Stamp (Always & Forever - retired)
Ink: Versamark, Hero Arts Mini Cubes Set (Field Notes Set)
Tools/Embellishments: Simon Says Stamp (A2 Curved Border Die, Fine Detail White Embossing Powder), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps border die (Lacey Eyelet Border - retired),  The Paper Studio (bling), Lawn Fawn (Everyday Sentiment Banner Dies)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Dare 2B Artzy - Lots of Layers 
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #150 - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenge #151 - Lots of Layers 

Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you'll come back often. Please be sure to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the Design Team have made and also be sure to visit Simon Says Stamp. They are truly a one-stop-shop.

A Turtle and Her Books

Last week for my Word Art Wednesday post, I used a Taylored Expressions image of a stack of books. You can see that card in this post. One of the sentiments in the set says, "There's no such thing as too many books." That got me thinking and this card is the result. I thought it would be so cute to have the stack of books on top of the shell of this Dare 2B Artzy turtle image.

I used some post it notes and washi tape to help with the masking. I colored my image with Copics. Using a craft knife, I cut along the edge of the books on the right side so that I could tuck the sentiment panel behind the books. The stamp image for the turtle has a button for her eye. I didn't think that worked well with my card so I filled in the inner portion of the eye with a white gel pen and then used a small black punched circle (the largest hole on the crop-a-dile) to make the eye. Faux stitching complete the image and sentiment panels. The only other embellishments are three small green gems. The card some Dare 2B Artzy patterned paper for the background. I love their paper! It has such a nice feel to it and both sides of the paper are pretty.

This card has already reached our daughter so it's now safe to show it to you. She works with books as a book reviewer, author, editor, Book-Tuber and book podcast co-host. This sentiment could  have had her in mind when the author penned it because it's definitely her mindset. If you love books, especially those by or about women, check out The Reading Women podcast and for all things book-ish check out her YouTube channel. As a bonus, you will probably get to see our adorable Corgi grand-dog, Dylan.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Dare 2B Artzy March Challenge - Lots of Layers
Crop Stop March Link Up - Use something/brand Crop Stop carries (I used Fiskars, Memento, Tsukineko)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - For a Special Girl/Lady (this card is for my daughter)
Deep Ocean Challenge #150 - Use Dots and/or Stripes (dots in my patterned paper and some stripes on the turtle's shell)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (White for image and sentiment), Paper Trey Ink (card base), Recollections (black), Green - unknown
Patterned Paper: Dare 2B Artzy (Fields in Bloom)
Stamps: Taylored Expressions (In Other Words - Read), Dare 2B Artzy (Quilted Turtle)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black), VersaFine (Onyx Black), Copic Markers
Tools/Embellishments: Fiskars finger tip craft knife, MISTI, Staedtler fine tip marker (black), The Paper Studio (green gems), Gelly Roll white gel pen, Uni-Ball Signo White gel pen, Crop-a-dile


I hope you'll check out Dare 2B Artzy's stamps, dies and papers. One of the things I love about their dies is that they frequently design several stamp sets to coordinate with them. For instance, this turtle stamp set is one of about 4 that go with the turtle dies. I love it that they keep our wallet in mind when planning these things. I was able to talk with the owners at a convention last summer and they were so nice and helpful.

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

Rejoice Evermore

Happy Wednesday!! It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week our theme verse is from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing." Obviously we cannot be praying 24/7. You have to sleep sometime. :) Seriously, I think the writer is talking about the attitudes of our heart. We should have a heart that is consistently rejoicing.We should have a prayerful attitude at all times. Prayer isn't something that you can only do in church. Nor do we have to be on our knees with our eyes closed and hands folded. Prayer, after all, is a conversation with God. We can (and should) slip in and out of that conversation all day long.

This week our sponsor is Taylored Expressions. They were extra generous with the Design Team and gave us some wonderful products to use. I have so many ideas running through my head on how to use the various stamp sets. I can't wait to get back to my craft room! You will definitely being seeing these sets again! I couldn't keep my projects to just one this week so I have four to share with you. Since there are so many, I'm just going to give a supply list after each card rather than linking all the supplies at the end of my post.

For my first card, I printed this week's free Word Art Wednesday WORDart digi directly only my patterned paper. On the background patterned paper, I repeatedly stamped the Graphic Greetings Redeemer stamp with Chocolate Truffle hybrid ink using the second generation stamping technique. I just wanted a subtle look and it turned out just like I hoped it would. I've been needing a good dark brown ink and this Chocolate Truffle ink is just what I needed. Since it's a hybrid ink, I will be able to use it with my Copics as well as watercolor techniques. Love it! I used some die cut borders to set off the sentiment panel. Before adhering this panel to the background, I wrapped light brown baker's twine around it several times and then tied a small bow. Faux stitching, a few pearls and some clear sequins finish off this card. This is a soft "quiet" card, but I really like letting the papers and the subtle stamping carry the design. The card is 5.5" square.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: Recollections (cream), Bazzill (kraft)
Patterned paper: WRMK Anthologie 6x6 (this is an old pad of paper and these were my last bits from it)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17), Taylored Expressions (Graphic Greetings Redeemer)
Ink: Taylored Expressions Premium Hybrid mini ink pad (Chocolate Truffle)
Dies: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Lacey Eyelet Border - retired)
Embellishments: The Paper Studio (pearls), Simon Says Stamp (Assorted Moonshine Sequins), Staedtler Fine Tip Marker (Brown), Studio G (brown baker's twine)

For my next card I went bold and bright. I repeatedly stamped the image from the Cherish Every Moment stamp set on my cardstock. After coloring the flowers and background with various Copic markers, I cut it to 4" square. I heat embossed the sentiment from this set on a strip of Premium Vellum and centered the greeting on the floral panel. After attaching the vellum on the back of the floral panel it was mounted on black cardstock and then adhered to a 4.25" square card base. A few turquoise and clear sequins were all the embellishment this bright, cheery card needed.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (black), Taylored Expressions (Premium Vellum)
Stamps: Taylored Expressions (Cherish Every Moment)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black), VersaMark
Embellishments: Copic Markers, The Paper Studio (turquoise sequins), Simon Says Stamp (White Fine Detail embossing powder, Assorted Moonshine sequins

I just love the Graphic Greetings Redeemer stamp. It has so many wonderful names of our Lord. I just had to do a card that let it really be the focal point. I started with a Z-fold card and then rotated it 90 degrees so that the card opens up vertically (maybe the picture below will help that make sense). Other than a die cut border and matting, there are no other embellishments to take to focus away from this great stamped image.

When you open the card, you can still see the focal image and there is a panel to allow you room to write a message to the recipient.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (black)
Patterned Paper: Basic Gray (Hillside 6x6 pad)
Stamp: Graphic Greetings Redeemer
Ink: VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Die: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Lacey Eyelet Border - retired)

For my last card, I used an Operation Write Home Sketch (#123) for my starting point. Our daughter works with books (Book Reviewer, Book Podcast co-host and Book 'Tuber) and I'd had been looking for a good book stack stamp for a long time. When I saw the In Other Words - Read set, I knew I had to have it. The image and sentiments are perfect for her. I have so many ideas for other projects but we'll have to get to them another time. :) After stamping and coloring the image with Copic markers, I fussy cut it out. This sentiment is such fun and has such a bold look. The stack of books is popped up on foam squares and enamel dots add the final embellishment.

Supplies Used:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (black)
Patterned Paper: Basic Gray (Hillside 6x6 pad)
Stamps: Taylored Expressions (In Other Words - Read)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black), VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Embellishments: Copic Markers, MME enamel dots

If you've made it this far, thanks for hanging in there with me. I thoroughly enjoyed using these Taylored Expressions stamps and products. I hope you'll stop by to visit their online store. I'm sure you'll find something there that you will love. They even have a great Loyalty Program. You can set up an account and check out the details here. I know I will be wanting more of their stamps and inks. The stamps stamp so well right out of the package. They are nice cling stamps and work well with the MISTI or an acrylic block. Thanks again to Taylor for her generosity.

Some of their Design Team has joined ours so there is lots of Taylored Expressions inspiration on the Word Art Wednesday blog today. Be sure to grab a cup of coffee/tea/cappuccino, sit back and enjoy all the fantastic projects. Be sure to pick up your free digi. Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you'll visit again soon.