For Unto Us a Child is Born

Hi!  I'm just popping in for a quick post to show you my project for this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge.

I made another notepad cover and pen set.  You can see my first set in this post. These have been quite popular as gift items and they've been selling quite well. My husband and I gave each of our co-workers a pad and matching pen for Christmas. 

Here's a peek at the interior.  I didn't make the post-it note cover for this set.

I'm working feverishly to get gifts ready to put in the mail {nothing like the last minute! ugh!!} but I'll try to come back later to edit this post with a supply list.

I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and see what the rest of the design team has made this week.  Thanks for stopping by!

{Rest} in the Lord

This week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday is Psalm 37:7a, "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him. Fret not thyself..."  Now the word "rest" is near and dear to my heart these days.  For the first time I'm working a seasonal retail job in addition to my regular job.  I really enjoy what I do, but usually come home ready to REST.  Just as we like to sink into our easy chair/sofa and just relax, we are to have the same attitude when waiting on the Lord.  Just be patient, wait on Him to act/answer and don't fret.  Patiently waiting and not fretting can be quite difficult.  But just think of yourself relaxing in your favorite spot and remember that should be our heart attitude.  Ouch!  I need to practice this more.

My project this week is a gift set.  It includes a standard A2 sized (4.25" x 5.5") birthday card, a corner bookmark and a post-it note pad.  All three use the same papers and techniques. The green floral paper was dry embossed and then inked to help bring out the embossing. I used faux stitching, a border punch and various sizes and styles of ovals to tie each item in the project together. 

The card holds the bookmark is a side fold so that the corner bookmark can be showcased inside.  I kept the bookmark embellishment free so that it can be used in a favorite book or Bible. 

The post-it note pad has the focus verse on the front.  I'm imagining this pad sitting on a desk or tucked into a purse.  The Scripture can be a frequent reminder to rest, be patient and don't fret.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (green), Recollections (cream)
Patterned Paper:  K & Company (Hannah 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps:  Card (exterior: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps - Feminine Birthday Greetings Digital Stamp; interior: Hero Arts - Special Birthday), Bookmark (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps - Across the Miles clear stamp set); Post-it Note Pad (WORDart by Karen - Psalms 37:7a)
Ink:  Versafine (Onyx Black), Memento (Toffee Crunch)
Tools/Embellishments:  Staedtler Fineliner pen (brown), Want2Scrap bling (Mother of Pearl), Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Large and Small, Lacey Ovals, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large and Small, Petite Ovals Small), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Victoria), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Pile It On Challenge #48 - P is for... (patterned paper, present (it's a gift set)
Timeless Tuesday #149 - Stitch it Up (use real or faux stitching)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes

I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog, pick up your free digi and see what the rest of the Design Team have come up with to inspire you.  And in this season of hectic hustle and bustle, don't forget to REST!

Be Thankful for the {Little} Things

As we think about Thanksgiving tomorrow, it's a time to be thankful for the Lord's blessings to us.  This week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday puts things into perspective, "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasures and trouble therewith." (Proverbs 15:16)  How much more enjoyable to have few material possessions and know that you are right with the Lord than have many "things" and experience the trouble that comes when you are not following the Lord.  As someone has said, "the most important things in life aren't things." So tomorrow (and every day), let's remember to be thankful for the little things.

This week I decided to use the emboss resist technique with my distress inks.  I stamped the flower images with VersaMark and embossed them with clear embossing powder.  Using an ink blending tool, I used 3 colors of distress inks to go over the image panel.  For the mat on the sentiment panel, I die cut it using white cardstock and then used one of the distress inks to help it coordinate.  A sheer ribbon and bow and some bling finish off the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen, Recollections (flower stamps)
Inks:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Peacock Feathers, Broken China, Tumbled Glass)
Tools/Embellishments:  ribbon (Michael's), rhinestones (Recollections), Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Small), My Favorite Things (Oval Open Scallop Doily die), Stampin' Up embossing powder (Crystal Clear)

Challenges:
 LEJ Designs Challenge #81 - Button, Bows or Beads (I chose to use a bow)
Aud Sentiments Challenge #94 - Any Sentiment

I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the rest of the projects from my fellow Design Team Members and to pick up your free digi.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I truly am thankful for those who visit and for those who leave comments.  You are greatly appreciated.

 I hope you enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with those you love.

Great Big World

Happy Wednesday!!  It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  As always, the challenge is Anything Goes as long as it includes an encouraging/uplifting sentiment and is family-friendly. 

Our focus verse this week is Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."  All we have to do is look at the sky and know that God is amazing.  We have been privileged to go to the planetarium show at the Creation Museum a couple times.  Seeing how the universe works and all the stars, galaxies, etc. is just mind boggling.  It definitely shows what a great God created it all.  Then when you look around at nature: the cycle of the trees, the beautiful landscapes, the plethora of colors and designs in flowers and plants....how can you not be amazed at God's handiwork?  What a mighty God we serve!!

One of our sponsors this week is Digi Darla.  I thought this Great Big World image was perfect for this week's verse.  I colored the image with copics, die cut it and then inked the panel.  It was matted on another die cut.  Some gems were added to the mat and the little girl's pony tail bow got a gem too.   I used Mojo Monday #320 for my card design inspiration.

A fish tail banner die was used for the verse.  I inked the verse, matted it and fussy cut the mat.  A brad finishes off the verse panel.  It is popped up off the card.  The background panel was embossed and the edges were inked.  A little interior decorating finishes off the card.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White, Recollections (cream), brown (unknown)
Patterned Paper:  MME
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Psalms 19:1), Digi Darla (Great Big World)
Ink:  Distress Ink (Tea Dye)
Copics: Skin (E00, 01, R20), Hair (E25, 29, 31, 50), Dress/Socks (B000, 21, 23, 26), Stool (E33, 35, 37), Globe (BG000, 01, YG03, 05, YR20, 21), Box (E11, 31, 33), Shadows (N0, 1, 3)
Tools/Embellishments:  The Paper Studio Bubble Jewel brad, Want2Scrap gems (Mother of Pearl), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Tropic Blooms), Spellbinders (Classic Square Large, Lacey Square), My Favorite Things die (Fishtail Flags Stax)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday #320 - sketch
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #17 - Color Challenge (use some or all of brown, red, sage green, golden yellow - I used brown and sage green with a touch of golden yellow)
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #154 - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiment Challenge #94 - Any Sentiment
Fab 'n Funky Challenge #194 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today.  I hope the next time you are outside that you will take the time to look around and admire the beautiful work God has done in nature.

Reindeer Gift Card Holder

Yes, this is the 2nd post for the day.  I had a chance to have a crafty day with a friend yesterday so I have a couple extra projects to show you.  :) The current challenge at the Scrapbook Blessing Club is to make a twisted gift card holder.  You can find a link to a video tutorial on their blog. I've made these before and, for me, the greatest challenge is cutting the pattern paper.  I make a template but then turn it the wrong way when cutting my good paper. grrr I finally got it turned the right way and all is well.  :)

This version has lots of glitter and sparkle.  The green background paper has lots of glitter and the deer and snowflakes are covered with glitter as well (so was my desk).  The pocket on the front is glued shut. I had a bit of a seam where the two papers met, so, I used a strip of pearls to cover the seam.  The reindeer is popped up over the pearls and off the card.

After stamping and die cutting the interior left sentiment, I traced the inside edge of the die with a gold gel pen.  This added just a bit of sparkle.  The mat was die cut and then the edges covered with Versamark ink.  I embossed it with gold embossing powder and then while it was still hot added glitter embossing powder and reheated it to set it all.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  DCWV (Heirloom Christmas stack)
Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers (Greetings of the Season), Studio G (Merry Christmas)
Ink:  Versafine (Onyx Black), Versamark
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders (Deckled Rectangles Large and Small), Michael's gold gel pen, Joee's Boutique dimensional stickers, pearls (The Paper Studio), StampCraft gold embossing powder, A La Mode Sparkle embossing powder

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #6 - Twisted Gift Card Holder
4 Crafty Chicks #168 - Snowflakes
Clear it Out Challenge:  Theme:  Anything Goes; Stash:  Put a Snowflake on your card
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Make it Sparkle

Thanks for visiting.   Please come back tomorrow for the newest Word Art Wednesday challenge.

Daniel's Tree - Digi of the Month

Today's card features the November "Digi of the Month" at Deedee's Digis.  Daniel's Tree is available here for only $1.25 (or you can get it for FREE when you make a $10 purchase in Deedee's store)!  What a great deal!!  Deedee has a monthly progressive challenge.  Use this digi by the deadline and you'll receive next month's Digi of the Month for free.  It's a great way to collect free digis.

I used the pre-colored version of this digi and one of the 5 included sentiments.  I went with a more country-Christmas theme and used lots of kraft cardstock, buttons and twine.

I popped up the image panel and then popped up the snowflakes from that.



Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Neenah Desert Storm, Neenah Solar White, Gray cardstock from stash
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamps:  Deedee's Digis (Daniel's Tree)
Tools/Embellishments:  Sakura Glaze pen (used on duck bill and sled runner), Atyou Spica Clear pen (used on snow), My Favorite Things (Fishtail Flags Stax), Spellbinders (Classic Circle Large, Scalloped Circle Large, Create-a-Flake 4), buttons from stash, baker's twine (The Twinery)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Clear It Out Challenge - Theme:  Anything Goes; Stash: Use a Snowflake
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #168 - Snowflakes
Craft Your Passion #189 - Buttons Galore
Tuesday Throwdown #174 - Snowbirds

I hope you'll stop by Deedee's Digis and and play along in the challenge.  Thanks for stopping by to visit today. 

Love in Deed and in Truth

This week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday is 1 John 3:18, "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."  This verse admonishes us to not just say we love others but to put our love into action.  When we get to do what we like to do, showing our love for others is easy to do.  However, when it costs us something, time, money, self-sacrifice, then it gets a bit harder.  However, that is the kind of "love in action" that the Apostle John is talking about.  For the perfect example of this principle, we need only look to what Christ did for us by dying on the cross.  Now THAT was love in action.

For my card this week, I chose to use the sunburst technique for my card design.  The trees were paper pieced.  I think the faux stitching gives it a sort of quilted look.  I masked the trees and inked the image panel with some distress and dye inks.  {Yes, I realize I could have done my inking before paper piecing the trees and then I wouldn't have needed a mask.  However, I didn't think that far ahead when planning out the card.}  I mounted the sunburst panel and verse panel on a square of dark brown cardstock before adhering it all to a white 5.5" square card base.

The verse is printed on patterned paper and a ribbon covers the seam between the sunburst panel and the verse panel. The image panel is popped up off the card and placed over the ribbon.  I also did a bit of interior decorating and included more faux stitching.

The verse panel is finished off with more faux stitching and some pearls.  The tree tops were given some stickles for a bit of shimmer.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill (Bitter Chocolate)
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Out of Print 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (1 John 3:18), Stampabilities (3 Simple Trees)
Inks:  Memento (Desert Sand, Rich Cocoa, New Sprout), Ranger Distress Inks (Broken China, Antique Linen, Peacock Feathers)
Tools/Embellishments:  ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon), Stickles (Star Dust), pearls (Queen & Co. - Grass Green), Spellbinders Classic Squares Large, Staedtler triplus Fineliner (brown)
Techniques:  Paper Piecing, Sunburst, Inking/Masking, Faux Stitching/Doodling

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #5:  Sunburst Technique
SCS Try a Technique #455 (TLC455) - Let's Revisit Paper Piecing
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Got Ink?
Craft Your Passion #188 - Add some doodling
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash #127 - Use something already out on your desk (I used white cardstock and some inks)
Twist of Faith #63 - Lots of Layers

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll also visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the design team have made this week and to pick up your free digi.  I hope the rest of your week goes well.

Coffee Themed Gift Set

I really like the coffee cups and cute sentiments in the Cuppa Love set at Deedee's Digis.  I decided to use it for this gift set.  I used one of the outline images and colored it with my copics.  There are 3 images (in 3 formats) and 6 digis in the set.

The main part of the gift set is a junior legal pad notebook.  The pad measures 5" x 8".  I cut a piece of red cardstock 10 3/4" x 8 1/4".  It is scored on the long size at 5 1/4" and 5 1/2". 

The front is decorated with an embossed strip of patterned paper and the sentiment and fussy cut cup are popped up.  SU! Crystal Effects was added to the coffee for some shine.

The top of the legal pad is covered with some patterned paper for a little extra decoration.  It was then attached to the cover with Score-Tape.  As you can see in the first picture, I made a coordinating RSVP pen to go with the set.

The final part of the gift set is a cover for a 3" x 3" pad of post-it notes.  The red cardstock was cut as 3 1/4" x 6 3/4" and scored on the long side at 3 1/4" and 3 1/2".  The front was decorated and the post-it note pad was added inside with Scor-Tape.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), The Paper Studio (red)
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamps:  Deedee's Digis (Cuppa Love)
Ink:  Memento Toffee Crunch
Copics: E07, 08, 25, 31; YR20, 21; N0, 1; W-1
Tools/Embellishments:  SU! Crystal Effects, Spellbinders (Classic Squares Small, Labels Four, Labels Four Small), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), Pentel RSVP pen

I'm entering this set into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge:  Anything Goes
Through the Craftroom Door:  Anything Goes
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #244:  Plaid or houndstooth
LEJ Designs Challenge #77:  Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp:  Anything Goes
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #17:  Color Challenge (use some or all of: brown, golden yellow, sage green, red)

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll check out all the great sets at Deedee's Digis.  The new Digi of the Month Challenge will begin on Nov. 4th.

Trust in the Lord

This is going to be a quick post this week as I'm fighting an eye infection, feeling pretty lousy and am having trouble seeing very clearly.

This week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday is Psalm 37:3, "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed."  A New Testament parallel of this verse comes from the lips of our Savior Himself when He taught His disciples to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11). 

I used a die cut as the shape for this card and attached a plain card blank (approx 3.5 x 5) to the back.  I used my Score Buddy to emboss a piece of white cardstock for the front of the card.  The red "tablecloth" is a smaller stamp that I stamped twice and covered the join with the doily and sentiment die cuts.  The table cloth was fussy cut.  The strawberries were colored with copics and then fussy cut.  Please forgive the lack of shading and that some of the fussy-cutting on the strawberries isn't very close.  This eye infection makes seeing small details difficult.  Stickles were added to the strawberries and flowers for a little sparkle.  A few rhinestones and faux stitching finish things off.

Tip:  Whenever I get a new set of dies, I cut a sample of each size from scrap cardstock.  I label each sample with the name of the die and the size (I count the smallest die as #1).  If it's a decorative die and I have coordinating dies, I will also sometimes make notes of which one layers best on top of it.  I store these samples in the same CD case as the die.  When I'm designing a card, I can pull out the sample and have a better idea of what it will look like and which size I need to use.  This is also helpful when trying to decide if certain die cuts look well together.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen, Flourishes (Berry Sweet Frame)
Ink:  Versafine - Crimson Red; Memento - Tuxedo Black
Copics:  R20, 27, 29; Y11; YG03, 05, 100, Colorless Blender
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Timeless Rectangles, Classic Oval Small), My Favorite Things Doiley Die, Score Buddy, Stickles (Star Dust), rhinestones (Small - Recollections, Large - The Paper Studio)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
LEJ Designs Challenge #77- Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #113 - Seasons (I chose summer as my season)

Thanks for stopping by today.  I do appreciate your visit.  Don't forget to also visit the Word Art Wednesday blog in order to see what the rest of the Design Team have made and to pick up your free digi.

Paper Pieced Rosebud Frame {Galatians 6:14}

This week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday is Galatians 6:14, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."  Our world is so ME-focused that the first half of this verse is so foreign to us.  To glory (brag) about possessions, accomplishments and status is second-nature to some of us.  However, this verse tells us that we are only to glory (brag) about what Christ did for us on the cross.  Just as the world is spiritually dead to us, we are to be dead to the world.  If we are blessed with possessions, accomplishments and/or status, let's remember Who allowed us to receive them.  To God be the glory, great things HE has done.

I've been wanting to give a twisted easel card a try.  This week was the week.  The card's fold is on the left side and the twist faces to the right.  Due to the way I decorated the interior, the message to the recipient will have to be written on the left side of the interior or the back of the card.  This card is definitely made to display and will either have to be hand-delivered or included in a package.

I have been wanting to use this digi frame by Deedee's Digis. You can find it free here.  I paper pieced the frame and fussy cut both the frame and the verse panel.  {I went around the edges of the frame with a black copic.  However, in real life, the black outline is not quite as prominent as it is in the pictured}  I then layered it with pop dots onto two die cuts. The frame includes rosebuds and leaves.  However, I used some paper roses over them and a glitter pen accents the frame and sentiment panel.

The background panel was embossed and then layered under a border punched strip, more cardstock and a shimmery ribbon.  The sentiment panel & frame were then popped up over it.  Some bling finishes off the front.

The interior cardstock was embossed with the same embossing folder.  Another die cut, some bling and a sentiment finish off the interior.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), The Paper Studio (pink)
Patterned Paper:  Recollections (floral), The Paper Studio (dark pink)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Galatians 6:14), Deedee's Digis (Rosebud Frame), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Jesus Cares clear stamp set)
Ink:  Stazon (Jet Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders dies (Petite Scalloped Ovals Small, Floral Ovals, Fancy Tags 3), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Textile Texture), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), ribbon (Michael's), clear rhinestones (Recollections), pink rhinestones (The Paper Studio), Sakura Clear Star pen, Copic marker (100), paper flowers (The Paper Temptress)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club #4 - Twisted Easel Card
Craft Your Passion #185 - Think Pink
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge #115 - Paper Piecing
4 Crafty Chicks #164 - Multiple Layers
Cards Galore October Challenge - Flowers
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #243 - Fussy Cutting

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you will visit the Word Art Wednesday blog and join us this week.  Don't forget to get your free digi, visit our fabulous sponsors' sites and see what the rest of the Design Team has made this week.