From the First glimpse

Here is a card I made to let my husband know he's my one and only. :) After all these years, I think it's good to remind him that I love him dearly. I designed the sentiment in Word and then printed it on vellum. Immediately after it came out of the printer, I sprinkled the sentiment with clear embossing powder and then used my heat gun to emboss it. The die cut inlay technique was used with the XOXO Border die from Simon Says Stamp. Some die cut hearts are featured on the front and inside the card. I wanted to play along with this month's challenge at Scrapbook Blessings Club. Their challenge is to use Christmas supplies to make a Valentine's or Love themed card. I used some of my favorite Basic Grey Christmas paper line, Figgy Pudding (retired), for this card.

He is extremely supportive of my cardmaking so I usually try to make him a card with a special fold or technique.When I saw the Peek-a-boo Hidden Message card by Dawn Griffith, I just had to give it a try.

As you open the card, a hidden message appears in the opening. I used a retired Studio G wood mount stamp for the hidden message. I used scraps of Bazzill cardstock for the oval frame and some of the hearts. After I took the pictures, I used the inside top flap to write a message.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Christmas Card Valentine
Craft Your Passion Challenge #300 - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps February Challenge - Anything Goes
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #103 - Anything Goes


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

Supplies used in today's card (affiliate links used when possible):

Simon Says Stamp XOXO BORDER Craft Die SSSD111331	Lawn Fawn HEARTS Lawn Cuts Dies	Spellbinders Standard Circles Dies - Large	Spellbinders Standard Circles Dies - Small
Bazzill 40 LB VELLUM 8.5 x 11 White 25 Sheets	Recollections Kraft Cardstock	Black 5mm Thick EVA Foam Sheet | Hobby Lobby | 330415	Tsukineko VersaFine ONYX BLACK Ink Pad VF-82
Stampin' Up Clear Embossing Powder	Double-Sided Adhesive Sheets for Foam | Hobby Lobby | 150144	ZIG Glue Pen FINE TIP Two Way Acid Free 00779	Scotch Advanced Tape Glider (ATG)
*03441 Fiskars PREMIUM CUT LINE Paper Trimmer 12 Inches	Dahle Self-Healing Cutting 18x12 Mat 10671	Cuttlebug Machine	*Ranger PAPER CREASER BONE FOLDER Fold Cardstock & Cards Easily BON10029
*Martha Stewart SCORING BOARD Score Craft Tool 42-05002

InLinkz.com

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.

Joy and Gladness

It's already time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week we are looking at Luke 1:14, And thou shalt have joy and gladness: and many shall rejoice at his birth. In the passage surrounding this week's verse, we learn that an angel is speaking to Zacharias and telling him that he and his wife would have a son and that they were to name him John (later to be known as John the Baptist). What was extra special about this child's birth was that Zacharias and his wife, Elisabeth were an elderly couple and had never been able to have children. Can you imagine the joy and excitement they felt? They had been praying for years and years for a baby. Now, when they probably felt all hope was gone, they were told they would have a son! Zacharias and Elisabeth had been faithful to the Lord and the angel was telling him he would have joy and gladness in the birth of his son and that many would rejoice with them. What exciting news! Be sure to read the remainder of the chapter for the "rest of the story." Another aspect of the story is that Elisabeth and Mary (Jesus' mother) were cousins. This chapter also tells how Elisabeth recognizes that Mary is carrying the Messiah and encourages her. I tell you, this chapter is full of miraculous ways the Lord worked in the lives of people who were faithful to Him. And He is still working in absolutely amazing ways in the lives of His faithful people today.

I have a circle card to share with you today. I really liked this pre-colored image from the Beauty of the Season digi set by Deedee's Digis. It had a circle shape to it so I layered this week's WORDart on it and then used the partial die-cutting technique to cut it out. After using the die on part of the circle and fussy cutting the rest, I ran a black Copic marker around the edges to get a solid black outline. The rest of the card came together quite easily. The image/sentiment panel is popped up over the card base which is topped by a layer of patterned paper.

Here is a peek at the interior decorating. You can also see where I accented the flowers and the sentiment panel with 3 colors of Stickles. Copic markers were used to add some shading to the flowers.

Deedee's Digis is currently have a 75% off sale on the entire shop. The shop is permanently closing it's doors on Dec. 31st. The sale will last until the store closes so this is your last chance to stock up on all her fantastic sets.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (green)
Patterned Paper: Basic Gray (Figgy Pudding)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Luke 1:14), Deedee's Digis (Beauty of the Season)
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders Dies (Standard Circles Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Circles Large, Grand Circles), Copic Markers (C1, 3; 100), Stickles (Goldenrod, Christmas Red, Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Pile It On Challenge #98 - Anything Christmas/Winter
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Christmas
Craft Your Passion Challenge #291 - Anything Goes
Eureka Stamp Challenge #170 - Christmas is Coming
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps December Challenge - Anything Goes
Get Creative Challenge #29 - Holidays
Scrapbook Blessings Club 3rd Annual Christmas Party - Anything Christmas
ODBD Shining the Light Challenge #265 - Color Challenge (I used green, red and black)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit. A couple reminders: this is the last month for weekly challenges at Word Art Wednesday. Starting with the first challenge in 2016, each challenge will run two weeks. Also, don't forget to stop by Deedee's Digis to stock up before the shop closes Dec. 31st.

God is My Salvation

Another week has gone by and it's already time for another Word Art Wednesday challenge. This week we're looking at Isaiah 12:2 which says, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation." It only takes a small look around our society to see many things that could cause us to be fearful. However, when we remember that the Lord is our salvation, we don't need to be afraid. My husband (a pastor) often remarks that we're quick to trust the Lord for our salvation and eternal Home in Heaven and yet we don't trust Him to help us in the day-to-day struggles of life. When he puts it that way, our lack of trust sounds so silly. God is our Source of salvation. It's through Him that we can have eternal life. Therefore, we can trust Him and not be afraid. This will lead to our resting in Him for strength and being able to have a song in our hearts even when life is difficult. In this way, not only does He provide salvation to our souls for eternity but He also provides salvation (protection from harm) in our daily lives.

One of our fantastic sponsors this week is Lawn Fawn. After using Distress Inks for some ink blending on white cardstock, I used their Woodgrain Backdrops stamp with some brown dye ink to make the background panel of today's card. I then turned this background into a shaker card to showcase today's focus verse. An adorable little bird was colored with Copics and fussy cut before being popped up on the background panel. A few sequins finish it off.

This view shows a little peek at the interior decorating. I really like the way this woodgrain background turned out and wanted to carry the theme to the inside.

The shaker was filled with some great metallic sequins with a few white ones thrown into the mix for added interest.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Creativity Inc. (Mink)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Isaiah 12:2), Lawn Fawn (Woodgrain Backdrops clear stamp set), Deedee's Digis (Little Birdie digi set)
Inks: Distress Inks (Tea Dye, Antique Linen, Walnut Stain), Memento Dye Ink (Rich Cocoa)
Copics: E25, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37; YR07; YG03, 05; Y11, 13, 15, 17, 38; B21, 23, 26; N3; 100; Colorless Blender
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders dies (Circles Large), Sequins (The Paper Studio, Darice Iridescent, V's Sweet Ideas Hologram Star, Pretty Pink Posh Marshmallow)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Eureka Stamps Challenge #160 - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps Challenge - Anything Goes
Crop Stop Linky #8 - Use something found in the Crop Stop store (Memento ink, Distress Inks)
Papertake Weekly - Take Your Pick (I used the Product Theme of Distress Inks - I used 3)
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #38 - Favorite Technique (making my own backgrounds with inks and stamps)
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes w/Optional Twist of Your Favorite Technique (making my own backgrounds with stamps and inks)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

My husband and I are closing on a house today (our first in over 30 years of marriage - can you say excited?!). So, the next few weeks are going to be filled with packing, moving and getting settled. I'll be taking a few weeks off but my good friend, Tamara Dixon, is going to be filling in for me at Word Art Wednesday. On Splitcoaststampers she is lovesheltercats and you can find her gallery here. Please be sure to stop by and leave her some love.

I also wanted to let you know that Deedee's Digis will be celebrating World Card Making Day this Saturday, Oct. 3rd with a challenge (you'll have 2 weeks to participate). There are free digis to be won so why not play along?  See the blog on Saturday for full details.

Thanks for visiting with me today. I have a few cards I haven't shared with you yet that I'm hoping to post during my Moving Break. Thanks for visiting with me and I hope you'll come back soon.

Faith is...

It's hard to believe that Simon Says Stamp's STAMPtember celebration is coming to a close! My card today features a new die, Quadrangle Frames, that they generously sent me to play with. It was so fun to use the inlaid die cut technique for these frames. Those small pieces in the corners did present a bit of a challenge. They liked to wander around my craft desk. This set is also a great paper saver because the small die will fit inside the larger one when you are running them through your die cutting machine. You not only save paper but effort since you are able to cut both sizes at once.

I used foam squares to pop the frame panel over the sentiment and sunflowers. The sunflowers were colored with Copics and a couple coats from a Wink of Stella Glitter marker add some shimmer. Some black pearls finish off the card front.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), The Kraft Outlet (kraft)
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Remarkable 6x6 pad)
Stamps: Robyn's Fetish (Sunflower 2 digi image), Our Daily Bread Designs (Quote Collection 4 cling stamps)
Ink: Versafine (Onyx Black)
Copics: E25, 31, 35; YG03, 05; Y13, 15, 17
Tools/Embellishments: Simon Says Stamp die (Quadrangle Frames), Zig Wink of Stella brush glitter marker (clear), Queen & Co. pearls 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Outlawz Monday Greeting Challenge - Anything Goes (as long as it has a sentiment on the front)
Digi Chooseday Week #39 - Use Something New (these dies are new to me)
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes (Optional Twist - Use your favorite technique - one of my favorites is the inlaid die cutting technique)
Eureka Stamps Challenge #160 - Anything Goes
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #38 - Favorite Technique (I really like the inlaid die cutting technique and I like copic coloring)

Thanks again to Simon Says Stamp for their generosity in sending me this die set and allowing me to participate in their STAMPtember celebration!

Seek the Lord

Wow! There were over 300 entries in last week's Word Art Wednesday challenge!! That is fantastic. I would love it if one of my blog readers was one of the winners. That would be great!! This week's focus verse is 1 Chronicles 16:11, "Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually." I don't know what the last few weeks have been like for you, but ours have been a whirlwind. At my mother-in-law's suggestion, we're going to buy a house with her and have been going through the house-buying process (a first ever for us), we've had family illness, a work promotion and transition for my husband, and various other normal life odds and ends. Whew! We have definitely needed the Lord's strength and have been asking for His wisdom. I am so thankful that we can go to Him, the source of all wisdom, when we don't know what we should do. When we're tired and discouraged, He is there with His strength to uphold us and encourage us. As I look back over the last 5 weeks, I am so thankful again for the Lord and all He does for us.

I tried making a truly CAS card this week. I just couldn't bring myself to make it only one layer...I just had to add a mat (one of my friends teasingly refers to me as the "Mat Queen" because I feel the need to mat almost everything). However, I did settle for just one mat, a few sequins and some stickles for the interior of the sequins. This beautiful Autumn Jar image is from one of our awesome sponsors, Bugaboo Stamps. It was so fun to color with my Copics. I tried a new (to me) paper for my coloring this time. It's Neenah Bright White (bought at Walmart). Definitely not the same as Neenah Solar White. It's OK but I think it bleeds a little more than Georgia Pacific (also bought at Walmart) and definitely more than Neenah Solar White or Papertry Ink White Cardstock. I'll still use it as a basic white cardstock and will probably try it again with more Copic coloring for further testing, but so far it's not in my Top 3 Favorite Papers for Copics.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (card base), Neenah Bright White (image panel), Bazzill (yellow)
Image: WORDart by Karen, Bugaboo Stamps (Autumn Jar)
Copics: G03, 07, 09 14, 17; YG03, 05; Y000, 11, 13, 15, 17, 35, 38; BG10, 15; B000, E07, 08, 09, 31, 33, 35, 37; N0, 1; Colorless Blender
Tools/Embellishments: sequins (The Paper Studio), Stickles (Cinnamon), Zutter Round-it-All

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps Challenge #109 - Autumn image or Autumn Colors
Craft Your Passion Challenge #279 - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps September Challenge - Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs - Must use Digital Stamp (no rubber stamps - I used two digis)
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes
Crop Stop Linky #8 - Use something from the Crop Stop Store (I used Cinnamon Stickles)
Mod Squad Challenge - Flower as Focal Image


I so appreciate you stopping by for a visit today! Please don't forget to pic up your free digi and see if you were one of the winners from last week's challenge over on the Word Art Wednesday blog.

Warm Christmas Wishes

This month Simon Says Stamp is celebrating STAMPtember. I was privileged to receive a couple products from their new release to showcase. I received the Warm Christmas Wishes stamp set and the coordinating dies. When I saw the set, I knew I wanted to use the penguin and a pink and green color scheme. I started with a blue patterned paper that has a subtle ombre pattern. White pigment ink was sponged over a cloud stencil on the background paper and then embossed with sparkle embossing powder. The die cut sand dunes are actually from the same blue patterned paper. They are a light blue instead of white. The back sand dune is popped up over the background so that the various images could be on different layers. The image panel is matted with a pink patterned paper and then adhered directly to the card base. The sentiment was stamped directly onto the top sand dune.

After coloring the images with Copic markers and die cutting them, some were attached flat the background or sand dunes and others were popped up. The lights on the trees were given some sparkle with yellow and pink stickles. The surf board and beach ball have two coats of Wink of Stella clear glitter. The lens of the penguins glasses were coated with Glossy Accents and her hat was given polka dots with a white gel pen. Some iridescent sequins topped with stickles finish off the card. The picture above also gives a glimpse of the interior decorating that includes another surf board and two more beach balls.

Supplies (Items available in the SSS store are linked):
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (card base and interior writing panel), Neenah Bright White (images)
Patterned Paper: Glitz Design (Felicity 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp (Warm Christmas Wishes)
Copic Markers: Ball and Surfboards (YG03, 05; R81, 83, 85); Penguin (R81, 83, 85; N0, 3, 5; Y35, 38); Glasses (YG03, 05; BG10); Trees (G03, 07, 09, 14, 17; E31, 33, 35)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black), VersaFine (Onyx Black), ColorBox (Frost White)
Tools/Embellishments: Simon Says Stamp dies (Warm Christmas Wishes), My Favorite Things die-namics (Snow Drift, Blueprints 1), Stickles (Yellow, Cotton Candy, Star Dust), Hampton Arts (Sparkle embossing powder), Darice Iridescent Sequins, Want2Scrap stencil (Clouds), Glossy Accents, Zig Wink of Stella glitter brush marker (clear), Uniball Signo gel pen (white)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #279 - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps September Challenge - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Animal Magic (include a critter of some type)


Thanks so much to Simon Says Stamp for their generosity in providing me with these stamps and dies. I had so much fun playing with them and know I'll reach for them again and again.

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.

The Just Man

This week's verse at the Word Art Wednesday challenge is one that is person for a Father's Day card.  Proverbs 20:7, "The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him."  One of the definitions of integrity is "adherance to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty" (Dictionary.com). That is something that is missing in much of our society. If a child has a father who is also a man of integrity, then they are truly blessed. A man who keeps his word, is honest in his dealings and does his best to live a just (proper, right, righteous) life is truly a treasure. If you have a man like this in your life (father, husband, son, grandfather, uncle, etc.), then he needs to be celebrated and commended. It takes a lot of effort to live a life of integrity in the world today. Our men need to know we notice and appreciate their hard work.

One of our sponsors this week is Bugaboo stamps.  I was able to play with one of their Topper images called Hat Boy.  I think he is just adorable. I really like the way he's designed to hold things. It made it so easy to have him hold the verse "sign."

After coloring the boy with Copics, he was fussy cut and attached to his "sign." Then he was layered on top of an embossed circle.  This matted circle was popped up with some fun foam over the background paper.

The Happy Father's Day sentiment is bordered by two strips of washi tape and anchored by brads.  There is a little interior decorating as well.

Top Tip Tuesday Tip: When I add a new die set to my collection, I immediately cut out all the pieces.  If they are "nesting" types, I label them with the die name and assign a # with the smallest being #1. I store these samples with the dies.  When designing a card, having these samples makes it easier to know if a certain die will fit in the space available and/or if a stamp will fit on the die cut I'm wanting to use.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (image and verse panel), Georgia Pacific (all other white), Recollections (navy and kraft)
Patterned Paper: Recollections
Digi Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Proverbs 20:7); Bugaboo Digi Stamps (Hat Boy);  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Father's Day Sentiments Digital Stamp)
Copics: Skin (E00, 01, 11; R20); Hair (E31, 35; Y21); Shirt (N01, 1, 3; B21, 23, 26); Hat (R22, 24, 27, 29; N5)
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders dies (Classic Circle Large, Petite Scalloped Circle Large), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Mini Scallop Edge (used on the interior)), Cuttlebug embossing folder (wiss Dots), washi tape (Craft Essentials), brads (American Crafts - denim), Staedtler fine tip marker (black)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Sketch (option use washi tape)
Sweet Stamps Challenge #225 - Anything Goes
Pile it on Challenge #72 - For/Featuring a Father/Man
The Kraft Journal Challenge #227 - Take Your Pick (I chose make a masculine card using white and red)
Papertake Weekly - Something for the Boys
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Father's Day
Top Tip Tuesday - Cut it Out (I fussy cut and used dies)
Digi Choosday Challenge Week 23 - Father's Day/Male
Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge - Emboss It
Crop Stop Linky Party #5 - Use something that can be purchased at the Crop Stop store (I used the Swiss Dot Embossing Folder)

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope your week is going well and that you'll be able to visit again soon. Don't forget...there's more inspiration and a free digi at the Word Art Wednesday blog.

But in the Power of God

Hello!  I hope your week is going well. It's time for another Word Art Wednesday challenge. This week we're focusing on the verse in 1 Corinthians 2:5, "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." Have you ever had to step out in faith in a way that did not make sense to the wisdom of the day? Twice now my husband and I have turned in our resignations, knowing without a doubt that the Lord wanted us to move, but have not known WHERE we were to go. The first time, he had a job and we had a place to live before we finished working out our notice.  However, the second time required a bit more faith. We packed up our belongings and moved in with his mom (for a little less than a month) while the Lord was working out the details of our next ministries.  We knew the Lord had a plan for us that would work out in His timing, however, that didn't mean it was easy to take those steps of faith. I can honestly say, we were so glad we did. Watching the Lord work out all the details was fantastic!! Seeing His power at work was such an encouragement and helps us through the ups and downs that life inevitably brings. It's when we step out in faith, even when the wisdom of man tells us it doesn't make sense, that we truly see the power of God at work.

For my card this week, I used the current sketch at Sweet Sunday Sketches.  I really liked the simplicity of the design and the curved panel. I don't have a die that will make this curved edge (it's on my wish-list) so I used a piece of scrap paper cut to the size of my panel.  I measured up an equal distance on both sides and, using a pencil, sketched a curved edge.  I cut out my template and then traced it on the back of the patterned paper and cardstock.  After cutting along the traced lines, I held the patterned paper and cardstock together and trimmed them at the same time so that the curve on both pieces would match exactly.  I kept my template for future use.

The image from Deedee's Digis was colored with Copics, die cut, matted and popped up over the background. The flower centers were filled with Liquid Pearls and the flowers and leaves accented with Stickles. More Stickles accents both shades of purple flowers in the patterned paper. I'm not sure how well the Stickles on the background paper shows up but in real life it has such a pretty sparkle.  Stickles is my all time favorite way to use glitter and Star Dust Stickles is my favorite shade!! Some faux stitching and purple rhinestones complete the card front.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (purple)
Patterned Paper: Recollections (Blue Ditsy Floral)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (1 Corinthians 2:5); Deedee's Digis (Blooming Blessings)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics: Y13, 17; YG03, 05; G07; V01, 04, 06
Tools/Embellishments: Stickles (Star Dust), rhinestones (Studio G), My Favorite Things Die-Namics (Blueprints 1), Spellbinders dies (Standard Circle Small, Eyelet Circle), Liquid Pearls (Buttercup), Staedtler fine tip marker (black)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #270 - Sketch
Crafting When We Can Challenge #95 - Bling it Up
Cuttlebug Mania - Bling
Outlawz Greeings Challenge - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes

Thanks for taking the time to visit with me today.  I hope you'll be able to visit again soon.  Don't forget to pick up your free digi at the Word Art Wednesday blog.

Spring Cherries

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week we're focusing on Deuteronomy 30:14, "But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it." As Believers, God's Word is supposed to be so precious to us that we keep it close to us.  We're not just to read God's Word.  We're not just to talk about it or even just think about it.  Yes, we should do these things.  However, the emphasis on this verse is that we're to read, talk and think in order to DO what the Bible says.  It's kind of like reading directions to make a cake.  What good does it do to read the directions, or talk to others about the directions or even to think about the directions if you don't ever follow them and make the cake? God's Word is our instruction manual for life and practice. If we don't DO what it says then reading it, talking about it and thinking about it is really useless. Just this week I encountered a situation where I really needed to take action. I knew what the Bible said I should do. I talked about it with other wise Christians and I spent some time thinking about it (and praying about it). But, it wasn't until I took action and did what I knew was right that I pleased the Lord and felt His peace about the situation. I would encourage you to read God's Word, talk about with others, meditate upon it and also DO what His Word says to do. 

This week one of our wonderful sponsors is Gloria Shirr of Purpleglo Creations. I won this stamp set from Gloria a few months ago (Thanks again, Gloria!!) and was finally able to ink it up!  It was so fun to color and I'll be using it again soon.  After coloring the image with Copics, it was die cut and matted on another die cut.  The fishtail banner for the sentiment was handcut.  A few die cut hearts accent the sentiment.

An online friend blessed me with quite a few 6x6 sheets of patterned paper.  This cherry paper was part of that RAK and went perfectly with the image.  I thought it had a vintage-y look to it so I added some lace, faux stitching and kraft cardstock to go with the vintage theme. The cherries and hearts have a couple coats of Wink of Stella on them.

The interior has another layered heart and more faux stitching.  The interior hearts also received a coat of Wink of Stella for a little shimmer.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (kraft), DCWV (red), Papertrey Ink (image, sentiment), Georgia Pacific (white hearts, writing panel)
Patterned Paper:  I'm not sure because it was a RAK but I think Magnolia
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Deuteronomy 30:14); Close To My Heart (Sweet Life)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics: B000; N3; G03, 07, 09; E35, 37; R22, 24, 27
Tools/Embellishments: Offray lace, Lawn Fawn Lawn Cuts (Hearts), Spellbinders dies (Standard Circle Large, Picot Circle), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Mini Scallop Edge), Uni-ball Signo gel pen (white), Staedtler fine tip marker (brown), Zig Wink of Stella glitter brush marker (clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #262 - Anything Goes
The Kraft Journal Challenge #224 - Anything Goes - Vintage
2 Crafty Girls Challenge #3 - Vintage
Papertake Weekly - With a Heart (use a heart somewhere on your project)
Going Gray with Scrap-Creations - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes
Inky Impressions Challenge #210 - Faux Stitching/Doodling


I do appreciate your visit today.  Please don't forget to get your free digi at the Word Art Wednesday blog.

The Lord Taketh Pleasure in His People

I hope you are having a good week.  Here we are mid-week and it's time for a new challenge at the Word Art Wednesday blog.  This week we're focusing on Psalm 149:4, "For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation." The part that really jumped out at me was the first part: "For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people..."  Wow!  The King of King and Lord of Lords, Creator of the Universe and Savior of the World takes pleasure in those who belong to Him. Last weekend, my husband and I attended our daughter's college graduation where she received her Master's degree.  As we spent time with her and her husband, we just enjoyed being with them.  It didn't matter what we were doing, we just took pleasure in their company.  In a much greater way, that's the way the Lord feels about us.  He just wants to spend time with us, fellowship with us, and enjoy being together.  That is an amazing thing to me!

I used a set from Mark's Finest Papers called Amaryllis Definition on today's card.  It's a fun one to color.  I also used this week's free digi from WORDart by Karen.  You can pick up this digi on the Word Art Wednesday blog. This week's Mojo Monday card sketch was used for the card design. The finished card is 5x7.  I changed up the sketch a bit by removing the banners on the top left.

  After coloring the image with Copics, I fussy cut it and used it to accent the verse panel.  A white gel pen adds highlighting to the flower and leaves.  Stickles and a Wink of Stella marker add some sparkle. The navy circle and white cardstock strip were dry embossed for added interest.  The scallops on the border punched edging has been accented with small rhinestones. 

The layered circles are popped up off the card base. A little interior decorating finishes off the card but still leave plenty of room for a note.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (navy), Coredinations (yellow)
Patterned Paper:  Pebbles (Family Ties 6x6 pad)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Psalm 149:4), Mark's Finest Papers (Amaryllis Definition)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics: B21, 23, 26; Y11, 13, 15, 17, 35, 38; YR07; YG03, 05
Tools/Embellishments: Uniball Signo gel pen (white), Stickles (Star Dust), Zig Wink of Stella glitter brush marker (clear), Spellbinders dies (Circles Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Circles Large), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lae), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Swiss Dot, Baby's Breath border), Want2Scrap baby bling (silver rhinestone)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday (MOJO397) - sketch
Scrapbook Blessing Club - Anything Goes with a focus on border punches
Mema's Craft May 2015 Challenge - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #261 - Anything Goes
Eureka Stamps Challenge #140 - Flowers
Papertake Weekly - In the Garden
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Anything Goes
Digi Choosday Week 19 - Flower Power
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #90 - Spring Has Sprung
Mod Squad Challenge - Mix It Up (use stamps from at least 2 different sets)

Thanks so much for visiting with me today.  Hopefully, you'll also have time to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the other DT projects and pick up your free digi.  I hope you'll come back soon.

Kitty Birthday Pop Up

If you are a regular visitor here at my blog, you know I love fancy fold cards.  I recently came across this Box Stand Fun Fold Card by Dawn O on YouTube.  Here is her blog post that has all the measurements for making this landscape version and another portrait version that she talks about in the video. It's so easy to make and if you don't allow your die cut to go above the panel like I did, it will fit in an A2 envelope!!  Easy to make, easy to mail, and an extra surprise for the recipient.  This will NOT be the last one I make.  You can put a panel on the back up the pop up panel to write a message. 

To make it fold properly, you need to keep the pop up panel flat.  So no pearls or gems....however, I was able to squeak by with adding stickles to the flower centers. 

I did my best to get a picture of it folded flat.  It will do OK in an envelope but was a bit un-cooperative for photos.  As I mentioned earlier, if my oval for the kitty did not extend beyond the rectangular panel it would still be an A2 size.  I'll make a custom envelope on my envelope punch board.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (green), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamp:  I borrowed a friend's stamp for the kitty.  I forgot to write down the name.  If I find it, I'll come back and edit it.  The sentiment is from the Stampendous (Birthday Wish) clear stamp set.
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black (kitty image), Versafine Onyx Black (sentiment)
Copics: N1,3,5,7; YG03, 05; W1, R02, 81, 83, 85; Y11, 15,17
Tools/Embellishments:  Sakura Gelly Roll pen (black), Stickles (Star Dust), The Twinery baker's twine, button from stash, Spellbinders dies (Classic Ovals Large & Small), Bazzill flower (pink), Memory Makers flower (green)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Use Pink, Green, White
Sentimental Sunday Challenge #256 - Color Inspiration Board (I chose to use light and dark pink and the yellow/gold colors)
Cuttlebug Mania - Use Stamps
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #225 - Anything But Square
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #371 - Use a Sentiment
Chocolate, Coffe & Cards Challenges #90 - Spring Has Sprung
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #244 - Anything Goes
ABC Challenges - "I" for Inspire (show your style - my style is layers, fancy folds, and if I color an image it's usually with Copics)

Thanks for stopping by to visit today.  I hope you're having a great weekend.

Love Covereth All Sins

It's Wednesday so that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week our focus verse is Proverbs 10:12, "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but Love covereth all sins."  Last week we talked about how our actions are to be governed by love and how the world would be a different place if we were able to do so.  This week, our verse shows how our heart attitude towards someone changes the outcome.  If we approach someone with ill feelings or hatred, then we are looking for things that make us feel angry and negative towards that person.  It will be hard to find a positive in anything they do.  However, if we feel love in our heart for someone, we're going to be looking for the best in them and be willing to overlook a lot of hurtful and irritating things that they do.  Which attitude do you think will make us happier and which will cause a dark cloud to feel like it is hanging over our heads?  If someone irritates you, the best thing you can do is to pray for them.  It may be the hardest thing to do but it is the most beneficial....to them and to you.  It's hard to be angry with someone for whom you are consistently praying.  A second thing you can do is to LOOK for something positive.  Some days it might be hard to find and it might be something small but gradually, it will help your heart attitude to change.  I'm not suggesting that you have to be "best buddies" with everyone.  But as Romans 12:8 says, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."

I have two cards to share with you today.  Word Art Wednesday has some fantastic sponsors and I was able to make a card using images from each of this week's sponsors.  My first card uses a clear stamp from Mark's Finest Papers.  I used the largest single flower from the Amaryllis Definition set for my resist background technique.

I stamped the flower multiple times in Versamark and then embossed it with white embossing powder.  Two colors of Distress Ink were used to create the ombre background.  The verse and background were matted with dark blue cardstock and the sentiment panel was backed with a die cut. I cut the die cut in half horizontally and attached each half behind the sentiment.  A ribbon and blue rhinestones finish off the card front.

I carried the ombre color to the inside but only used one color of distress ink this time.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), dark blue cardstock is from my stash and is an unknown brand
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Proverbs 10:12), Mark's Finest Papers (Amaryllis Definition clear stamp set)
Ink:  Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass, Broken China), Versamark
Tools/Embellishments: ribbon (May Arts), embossing powder (Stampendous opaque white), Spellbinders dies (Fancy Tags 3), rhinestones (Studio G)

I'm entering this card in the following challenge:
Scrapbook Blessings Club February Challenge - Ombre Technique
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #214 - Embossing (heat or dry - on this card I used heat)

My second card using one of the flowers from a printable sheet by Crafty Secrets.  I used Flowers Printable Sheet (DPS-11.  This sheet has 9 beautiful vintage images.  It was easy to crop, re-size and then print just the image I wanted to use in Microsoft Word.  Vintage is not my usual style so it was a step out of my comfort zone.  I used a die to make a frame for the image.  Then the frame was dry embossed, spritzed with shimmer spray and embellished with pearls.  The edges of the frame were lightly inked as was the patterned paper panel. The background layer was also embossed and spritzed with shimmer spray. It was matted on a piece of Bazzill Vanilla cardstock that covers the entire 5"x7" card front.

The sentiment was printed on vellum and accented with more pearls.  If you click on this picture to enlarge it, you can see the shimmer spray a little better.


Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin' Up (Primrose Petals - I think), Bazzill (Vanilla), Georgia Pacific (for the image), Recollections (cream card base - not visible in the pictures, The Paper Studio (vellum)
Patterned Paper:  My Minds Eye (All Dolled Up 6x6 pad)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Proverbs 10:12), Crafty Secrets (Flowers Printable Sheet DPS-11)
Ink:  Distresss (Antique Linen)
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders die (Polka Dot Frame), Cuttlebug embossing Folders (Wicker Weave, Victoria), Tsukineko Shimmer Spray (Frost), Want 2Scrap (Pearl Strips), Prima Say It In Pearl (Siip Center Asst 1)

I'm entering this card in the following challenge:
Papertake Weekly - Hearts and/or Flowers (I just used flowers)
Crafty Secrets Challenge - All You Need Is Love (use Crafty Secrets image)

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you'll have a chance to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the projects the rest of the Design Team made and to pick up your free digi.  I hope the rest of your week goes well.