Night Time Prayer with Teddy Bear

Sweet Sketch Wednesday Challenge 138 provided this sketch along with the request to use an image from ADayforDaisies.com. Last year I had seen several of their images with children praying, so I used Night Time Prayer for this card. Since it's a digital image I resized it in Photoshop down to 3" and colored it with a combination of copics, CTMH blender pen with ink, markers, and colored pencils (definitely not my best job of coloring an image). This sketch was perfect for using some of my Graphic45 "Playtimes Past" paper on Kraft CS.

I love the way the child is checking on his/her praying Teddy Bear during their prayer. I also made this for the Craft Your Passion Challenge 95 to use a Teddy Bear image. The simple sentiment from Verve seemed appropriate for this child's card.

5.5" square card:
Paper - Graphic45 "Playtimes Past" collection; CTMH Kraft, Moonstruck, Colonial White, Cranberry CS
Stamp - Verve "Joy for the Journey;" digital stamp A Day for Daisies "Night Time Prayer"
Ink - CTMH Black, Indian Corn Blue
Other - CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy "oval 3," Indian Corn Blue marker, Vanilla marker, Blender Pen, Cranberry brads, corrugated star, Bronze Glitz Glitter Gel; Copic markers, various colored pencils

Viva La Verve January 2012 Week 4

The last card for the January Viva La Verve challenge was supposed to be Clean and Simple in style. I overlooked that part and used a patterned paper background, but I really had fun making the card and imagining who I'd give it to, so that's what counts in my book. I may remake it if I have time, but this seems to be a busy week already!  I chose the papers to go along with the color challenge from CR84FN.

To make the pleated strip, I cut two pieces of Crystal Blue CS 1.75" wide and scored them alternating one half inch and one inch the entire length. I folded the pleats and put a small glue dot in the center of each fold that folded over. I attached the 2nd strip and continued until it was long enough for my card. The 1.5" pink gingham strip was punched with a 1" circle punch. I had put a dot in the center of that strip (after practicing on scrap paper and not getting it centered) so that I would get the hole centered. I pop dotted the pink strip with thin pop dots. I cut a .75" heart and stamped the tiny word "you" to signify "love you." I pop dotted that as well and tied a ribbon through that hole and around the edge. Playing with paper is so fun-giving the results to my friends - even more fun!

5" x 6.5" card:
Paper - My Mind's Eye Lost and Found "Blush;" CTMH Crystal Blue, Tulip
Stamp - CTMH "Card Word Puzzle"
Ink - CTMH Black
Other - 1" circle punch, Martha Stewart Scoring board, ribbon unknown, CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy (heart)

Viva La Verve Jan 2012 Week 3

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenged us to make a card that shows who you really are. Linda posted a devotion revolving around Philippians 4:8, one of my favorite verses. The interesting thing was that I had meditated on that verse before going to bed the night before, so I was thinking about it again Sunday morning. I've been sick, so it's easy to be discouraged, but if I think about the things that are true, honest, just,  pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy, I can more easily block out how I feel physically and experience the joy and compassion for others that I should have. The card I made symbolizes the fact that I have a heart for other people and want them to know I care and God cares.  I used this sketch for Week 3  and a stamp from Verve.

For technique junkies (like me), I dry embossed the chocolate background using a Cuttlebug folder and CTMH chocolate CS, which has a white core. I lightly sanded the raised portion, then sponged the white with Blush ink.  The heart was cut 3 times using Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. The blush heart in the background was 2.5" and had the edges lightly sanded to show the white border. Another blush heart was cut at 2.25" and pop dotted. A tulip cs heart was cut the same size using the decorative frame feature, then inked with chocolate on the edges.

6.5" x 5" card:

Paper - All CTMH patterned paper retired, Blush, Chocolate, Tulip, White Daisy CS

Stamp - Verve "Joy for the Journey"

Ink - CTMH Chocolate, Tulip

Other - CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy, Mini-pearl opaques; Cuttlebug embossing folder "Textile;" ribbon unknown

Viva La Verve January 2012 Sketches

On January 11th I posted the card for Verve's Challenge for Week 1 of January, 2012. It was called "Encouragement in Trouble." Here are samples for weeks 2 - 4 that I will put in my gallery on Splitcoast Stampers for the Verve challenge gallery there. Each week they give us a new sketch on Friday. All of the entries are due by the end of the four weeks.

Week 2 Sketch

I used the sketch to make a masculine card of encouragement. I love the way Verve has individual stamps of many different Bible verses. Psalm 46:1 has always meant a lot to me and it's a message I want to share with others, to lean on God's strength at those times. I recently needed a card for a guy who lost his mom and didn't have one ready, so that was my reminder to be ready!

This card is for Fashionable Stamping's Challenge to make it a "Guy Thing" and for Word Art Wednesday's Challenge.

Paper - Prima "Madeline", CTMH Desert Sand and Colonial White, Bazzil (dark brown)

Stamp - Verve Psalm 46:1

Ink - CTMH Black, Heavenly Blue, Chocolate

Other - Dark brown jute unknown, CTMH wooden buttons, Twilight waxy flax, Cricut Art Philosophy (white shape); Spellbinder's Nestability (oval)

Child's Birthday Card

Since I have eight grandchildren, I was happy to see the challenge at Stamps R Us to make cards for "Kids." My grandkids are finally old enough to appreciate such things. I used the sketch at the Cards & Things challenge #105 and some papers from the "Cupcake" collection from Basic Grey as my inspiration. I did the dry embossing for Sentimental Sunday's Challenge #87. I wish more embossing folders would fit a 5 x 7 card, but since most of them aren't, the easy solution is to mat them and put them on the larger card, leaving a wider border. That's why I modified the sketch below.

I had to use green brads for the grandson whose favorite color is green, like the Hulk! Thank you ladies for the simple inspiration!

5: x 6.5" card:

Paper - Basic Grey "Cupcake" (yellow, red, bright pattern); Close To My Heart (outdoor denim, White Daisy), Bazzil other blue mat

Stamps - both CTMH - Fanfare Workshop stamp set, "Happy Birthday

Ink - CTMH Brown Bag, Holiday Red, Outdoor Denim

Other - Cuttlebug embossing folder, CTMH brads, Martha Stewart border punch

We Can't Thank You Enough

I have a new stamp set from Close To My Heart that has wonderful sentiments that fit into shapes I can cut on my Cricut using the Art Philosophy cartridge. I made this thank you card using that February Stamp Of The Month. The stamp set's acrylic carrier sheet shows you the measurements for cutting that shape. That's a cinch! When I looked in my papers I had setting out to make cards, I found a strip I had used to practice with alcohol inks back in 2008. It was a combination of amethyst and pink colors, maybe with a little silver. It doesn't shine in the photo like it does in person. I'm entering this card in Papertake Weekly's challenge to Highlight using glitter, glossy accents, etc. I used a dot of glossy accents on each white flower dot along with amethyst sparkles to coordinate with the shiny homemade strip.

I used this sketch from Card Positioning System (CPS Sketch #252) to make this card and the top row of colors from Craft Your Passion's Color Bingo:

5.5" Square Card:

Paper - Basic Grey (aqua); Close To My Heart (Black, White Daisy, (Pink B&T,Glossy White retired)

Stamp - CTMH "Thoughtful Tidings" (Feb. Stamp of the Month)

Ink  - CTMH Black, Baby Pink

Other - CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge, 3/8" white organdy, Pink/Red Sparkles; corner rounder

Sweet Sunday Sketch #150 Valentine

I loved the color combination at ColourQ Challenge #121, but I didn't know how much until I combined the Basic Grey "June Bug" papers with a new stamp I got from Close To My Heart.

Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #150 provided the perfect design for these papers.

Except for the Kraft CS, which photographed rather dark, all of the papers were scraps, including the red embossed heart in the beak of the bird. It was part of a Christmas ornament that was embossed, but didn't turn out. I am definitely a scrapaholic, keeping all sorts in files, tubs, and on my scrap table. I need a 12 step program to make more cards!  Once again my Kraft circle and both parts of my flower are pop dotted for extra dimension as my favorite thing to use on cards or scrapbook pages for the Basic Grey Challenge #61. One of the easiest things to do on this card was to cut the white flower on my cricut, then stamp. The stamp set told me what size to make the flower. Love it!

5.5" x 4.25" card:

Paper - Basic Grey "June Bug," Close To My Heart Kraft and White Daisy CS

Stamp - CTMH "Life is Tweet" (not yet available)

Ink - CTMH Goldrush, Cranberry

Other - 2.5" circle punch; CTMH red embossing powder, White Daisy grosgrain ribbon, Art Philosophy Cartridge (flower)

An Archaic Dinosaur for the Boys

When I talked with my oldest grandson about coming down to help them make Valentines, he didn't want anything "pretty." He wanted monsters or dinosaurs. Such is the mind of a third grade boy. So here's one of the samples I made for him to consider. I used the theme from Here Come the Boys this week - dinosaurs.

I made a simple pattern using Basic Grey's "Archaic" papers and Bazzil (brown) and CTMH (white) CS.  I used chipboard dots that had been punched out of letters for embellishments. The white square shape is from CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge cut at 2.5." The ink is CTMH Garden Green, Juniper, and Cocoa and the CTMH stamp sets are "Dino-Mite" and the new "Keepsake Alphabet." (You're special" goes with the letter "y.") I'm letting Basic Grey Challenge #51 know that my favorite thing to use on layouts is pop dots. I love to add dimension! I tell the ladies in my scrapbook club that when I die, they're going to put on my headstone "Popdot Queen." I wanted to add ferns on the left side and maybe more, but I resisted, keeping it simple for reproduction by a first or third grade boy. (Although Grandma may have to cut out the dinos or have them simply stamped on the white.

Loveable - Card Patterns Sketch 149

I have so many friends that are totally loveable, so it would be hard to know which one should get this card. However, I want to be the kind of person that shares God's love with those who don't think they're so loveable. I am amazed that God loves each of us, every minute of every day, loveable by our definition or not, we are loveable to Him. That is the message of this card. The heart on this card is for Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #123. I hope I'll give it to a friend who needs that encouragement, to know she is loved.

The design for this card was inspired by this sketch made by Tracy Schultz for Card Patterns Sketch 149. I loved it the minute I saw it.

Using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge that has so many shape cards, I first cut a circle card that was 5.5" intending it to fit in my 6" x 6" envelopes. Then I cut a 5.75" scalloped circle using the layer feature that just makes a circle border. Using that feature made a scalloped circle type of frame. It was a little too thick for this card, so I cut the Graphic45 paper at 5.25" to fit over that. Everything was sponged with Chocolate ink. The heart was stamped on CTMH textured Blush cardstock. The edges were first sponged with Tulip, then just the edges sponged with Chocolate. I liked that effect for a shabby chic card. Instead of adding a 2nd flower like the pattern, I chose to make a bow from some net-type lace in my stash that has pink flowers lightly scattered throughout. I made a tiny tag stamped with the word "loveable" that comes from my newest alphabet stamp that has large cursive letters with a word for each letter. It doesn't go on sale until Wednesday, but I couldn't resist using that word. I hope that I show God's love to all of my loveable friends!

I'm also adding this card to Word Art Wednesday because of the theme. (Thank you, Karen.)

5.75" Card"
Paper - Graphic45 Playtime, CTMH Tulip, Colonial WhiteCS, Blush Textured(retired) CS, Black unknown
Stamps - CTMH "Soul Mates," "Keepsake Alphabet"
Ink - CTMH Tulip, Chocolate, Black
Other supplies - Martha Stewart "Lacey Hearts" punch, pink ribbons unknown, pink pin CTMH retired, Recollections red rose

Christmas Challenge Sketch #18 for a Child

Five of my grandchildren are boys, so I always appreciate challenges to make a card for a boy. Crimbo Crackers has a challenge to make a Christmas card for a boy. I used this sketch from Christmas Challenges (with sketches) #18 to make one for five-year-old Aidan, who looks like the boy in this image. I've been stamping (and collecting) for so many years that I really have a lot of clear acrylic stamps, mostly Close To My Heart, but I can't allow myself to get rid of any, hence the use of retired stamps not available anywhere. Besides, when that stamp was available, I didn't have this cute five-ear-old grandson.

The paper and snowflakes are actually glittery, even though the photo doesn't reveal much. I made the resolution to make Christmas cards all year so I'd be ready in November and December. Now I should also make the resolution to make more masculine cards!

5"x 5" card:
Paper - Recollections "Naughty or Nice" collection, CTMH Colonial White and Desert Sand CS, Bazzil dark brown CS
Stamp - CTMH retired "Christmas Memories"
Ink - CTMH Juniper, Chocolate (both sponged), Memento "Tuxedo Black"
Other - CTMH buttons "Red Collection,"Colonial White Waxy Flax, Glitz Glitter Gel, sponge; various circle punches, Martha Stewart snowflake punch; Copics E33, E35, RV29, Prismacolor pencil

Shabby Chic Friendship Card

I was intrigued by the color combination in The Shabby Tea Room and had to combine it with one of my stamp sets that says: "We are never alone when friends fill our lives." They suggested white or cream with silver and a splash of pink.

I also included the neutral, Bamboo, when I stamped the flowers and colored the leaves and stems. The Domi's sketch from the Simon Says Stamp challenge seemed like the perfect fit. I altered it slightly by including square sparkles in the lower left corner, hoping to balance the way my layout looked. I used lots of layers, but I know one of my friends will love that feature.

5.5" x 4.25" Card Materials:
Paper - Close To My Heart White Daisy and Textured Blush CS (reverse side was Baby Pink), retired metallic CS
Stamp - CTMH So Sweet
Ink - CTMH Blush, Bamboo
Other - Cuttlebug "Textile" and "Swiss Dots," Cricut cartridge "Hannah Montana"(flourished rectangle), 3" circle punch, CTMH Clear Sparkles, Recollections roses, Wilton doily, and pink organdy unknown, copic marker and blender, Prismacolor pencil

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #137 for Just Us Girls

One lady in our church, Lucille, has called me every birthday for 15 years to wish me Happy Birthday. In fact, she's done the same thing for everyone in our church. This year, I'm giving her this card this week for her birthday. The sketch for Sweet Sketch Wednesday #137 was perfect for her card. I used pink, red, and white (with a little chocolate) as suggested by Just Us Girls, hoping it would express the love I have for Lucille.

I used Martha Stewart and Close to my Heart patterned papers. The ribbon, stamps, inks, crocheted flowers, and butterfly are also from CTMH.

MOJO Monday 225 Valentine

Yesterday I was too sick to go upstairs to my craft room and stamp but I couldn't resist getting started doing something crafty, so I used supplies I had downstairs to cut out hearts and paper using the MOJO Monday sketch for this week.

I cut the hearts from a Martha Stewart mat pad called "Enchanted Woodland." I chose all of the hearts that had animals "kissing." They seem to be embossed on red metallic/foil cardstock. The text paper was from the Martha Stewart "Key and Heart" mat pad. The dotted paper and red cs was an old My Mind's Eye Tres Jolie paper I still had. I cut the x's and o's on my cricut using the Paisley cartridge at 1.25." I thought that sentiment fit the vertical space when I cut it in two and it fit the theme of my little hearts with animals kissing. My card is 5" x 6.5." the small squares are 1 7/8" x 2."

I always think it just wouldn't be a Valentine without ribbon or a bow. I'm adding this to the Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #40 to make a Valentine. I used bright pink organdy to match the embossing on two of the hearts. I'm also adding this valentine to There She Goes Clear Stamps Challenge #140 "Love is in the Air."

ABC Christmas Challenge in Non-traditional Colors

The first challenge this year for the letter "A" at ABC Christmas Challenge blog is "Anything Goes." I love this digital image. It's the same one I used Dec. 10, 2011, from (Free) Vintage Holiday Crafts. I used non-traditional colors for the challenge at the Ribbon Carousel. The papers are retired CTMH.

Masculine Valentines

I don't think I make nearly enough masculine cards for craft fairs. It seems to be women who shop at craft fairs. This time we'll be in a nice high school, so I created this card with older boys in mind, or even my hubby. I'm so glad I found the challenge blog Here Come the Boys. I used their sketch for this valentine.

Best Friends for Sketchbook Saturday

Of the five valentines I made last night, this was my favorite. Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #45 sketch  was great inspiration, along with Martha Stewart's paper and punch.

The Cranberry cardstock scalloped circle was actually a 4" decorative layer flower on the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge and the white stamped diecut was another Cricut image from the Hannah Montana cartridge that was inked with Old Paper. I'm also entering this card in the challenge by Designed2Delight to use a heart. My heart was stamped with a CTMH retired script and swirls heart image.

Valentine's Card Pattern and 52 Christmas Card Throwdown

Challenges are a great way for me to make more cards-especially for the Valentine's Craft Show this weekend. Both of these cards use the Card Patterns Sketch #148. The first one is for Valentine's Day, obviously. The colors for both of my cards are from the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown, so my second card is a Christmas card.

The 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge was to use black, white, and a splash of red.

Both cards are made with BoBunny paper, Close To My Heart cardstock and stamps.

MOJO Monday and CCEE - Truly, Madly, Deeply

I'm so busy making cards and crafts for a Valentine's Craft Fair this weekend that I will share two photos but not write much. These two cards use some of the same papers, the Bamboo floral, black and white dots, and black and white flowers are CTMH "Silhouette" (retired). I had tons of it and will soon run out. The red strip is from My Mind's Eye Lost and Found "Union Square." This first card is for MOJO Monday 224:

The 2nd card uses the sketch from CCEEStampers Sketch1202.  

The red sparkles and black floral ribbon that matches the paper barely show up in the photo.

Wonderland Layouts

Last week we finally got enough snow that it seemed like winter. That was timely, because I have a hard time scrapbooking snow photos when it's 60 degrees out. Thursday and Friday I made four layouts for my Saturday Close To My Heart Scrapbook Club.

 This first one requires stamping. Please note--I haven't added the journaling yet. If you see a large space, it's probably for journaling. Left page:

Journaling goes on the bottom right side. Right page:

Next layout also requires stamping. Left Page:

I embossed chipboard snowflakes for this layout. One of them from the right page is missing. Right Page:

This layout uses one of the Stickease sheets that goes with the Wonderland paper pack. Left page:

Right page:

Last layout is my favorite from last Christmas, a very snowy one. I loved the soft beauty outside that day and took photos all around the farm buildings, along with the time we spent with my mother-in-law, Virginia.  Left page:

Right page:

CTMH Materials:
Paper - Wonderland, White Daisy CS, Wonderland Stickease
Inks - Grey Flannel, Twilight, Chocolate
Stamps - Wonderland Workshops on the Go, Friendship alphabet
Other - Chipboard snowflakes, Pin Clips, Clear Sparkles, Shimmer brads, corner rounder; Martha Steward border punch

Christmas Shopping in a Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland has a fabulous challenge to create Christmas cards in a timely fashion throughout the year. I used a sketch from Card Patterns to make this fun card. I'll add more details later today.

6" x 6" Card: Paper Basic Grey; CTMH CS, stamps, button brads