Mojo Monday 256 - Dakota Thanks

This week at Mojo Monday the challenge is to use the round or square pattern. I used this as a way to make a more masculine thank you card using Close To My Heart "Dakota" paper with burlap.  Here's their great pattern and the way I used it:

I used a stamp set I got in Texas this summer and paper pieced the star. I also used the Cricut Artiste to cut the shape for Thanks. My friends told me this summer that ladies from Texas like bling so I added a few clear sparkles on the sentiment shape. Hope y'all like it, I have to go now and pick up grandkids from a school far away, but I'll add details later, I hope.

Sunshine and Smiles

While New Orleans is being flooded with too much rain, here in Missouri we're praying that there will be some rain left as it heads our way--and soon. The county where I live has missed most of the meager rainfalls that surrounding counties have had. I think that's why I've been looking for the usual wild sunflowers that bloom here in August and I don't see any.  So I decided to make my own sunflowers this week with cards. The image and sentiment for this one comes from Clear Dollar Stamps. It's called Sunshine and Smiles. I chose the words that say, "Sunflowers are God's way of saying "Chin up!" They really do turn their "heads' to face the sun as it moves across the sky. So do my daffodils in the spring. I thought that was a great analogy.

 

I used this great sketch from Fetch a Sketch, making it rectangular.

 

I scissor distressed the edges of my image, added one row of stitching with embroidery thread on the left side of the mat. (Wow, I actually could see the hole in the needle to thread it!!) I tied organdy around the punched border and topped the bow with a wooden button tied with embroidery thread.

 

Now I'm turning my head up like the sunflowers and praying for some of that rain!

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Crafting for All Seasons  Challenge #34 - Stitching Real or Faux (mine are real)

Crafty Creations Challenge #185 - Summer Scene
Fetch a Sketch Challenge #31
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #154 - Punches, dies, or shapes

5.5" x 4.25" Encouragement Card Recipe:
Paper - The Paper Studio "Simple Elegance," Close To My Heart White Daisy, Olive, Honey cardstock
Image - Clear Dollar Stamps Digital "Sunshine and Smiles"
Markers - CopicsY17 (Golden Yellow), E33 (Sand), E25 (Caribe Cocoa), BG10 (Cool Shadow), N02; CTMH Alcohol markers Creme Brulee, Olive, Light Olive, Black
Accents - CTMH Goldrush organdy ribbon (retired), Chocolate wooden button; white embroidery thread
Tools - Martha Stewart border punch, CTMH ruler (with holes - to punch for sewing) needle for hand stitching, scissors for edge distressing


 

PSC47 Anything Goes with Bugaboo Stamps

This week at The Perfect Sentiments we're using Bugaboo Stamps for a great Anything Goes With a Sentiment (on front), Challenge #47.  I had a lot of fun using their Thoughts and Prayers Block. There seems to be an endless number of people who are in my thoughts and prayers each day. When I retired I decided that I would be instant in prayer as soon as God brings someone to mind, otherwise, at retirement age I tend to forget! I probably need to pray about that, too!

I loved the design of the flowers in this digital stamp. I used the colors from the CR84FN challenge this week and the sketch from Crazy 4 Challenges. I printed the digital stamp two times and colored both. Then I cut the large flowers out and adhered them in the center with pop dots, but curled the loose edges slightly for a little dimension. For more dimension, I embossed the background, pleated the ribbon and added a pin and bling button.

 

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

 CR84FN Color Challenge #61 - Aqua, Tan, Cream

Crazy 4 Challenges #151 - sketch

Craft Your Passion #125 - Embossing

Shopping Our Stash Weekly #66 - Use your favorite thing - mine is embossing

 

I hope you'll  join our Perfect Sentiments Challenge Anything Goes with a Sentiment - CREATE ANY TYPE OF PAPER-CRAFTED ITEM YOU LIKE, FOR ANY OCCASION YOU LIKE.  Bugaboo Stamps is offering a great prize: 7 FREE IMAGES OR $21 VALUE.

 

Get Well Gift with Scriptures that Encourage

I was trying out another of the Cricut Artiste "purses" when I realized it was large enough for a small mini-album like a tissue tube album. That's when I also decided that adding some encouraging scripture would make a great gift for someone recuperating or fighting a long illness.

I cut out two of the purse shapes and used adhered them together, letting the pattern show on the outside and the solid color inside. I used matte Mod Podge to attach matching cardstock to the tissue tubes (after I flattened them really well with my ribbon iron).

I typed up some of my favorites, printed them on 4" x 6" cardstock and attached them to the covered tubes or the inserts. I have those in a Word Document. If anyone would like a copy, let me know how to email it to you. I also used verses from Our Daily Bread Designs that were the right size. I kept embellishments flat and simple - a few butterflies cut from Graphic 45 Botanicabella paper and some of the hearts from the same cardstock that I used for the purse and mini-album.

 

 

After punching a hole in the upper left corner with my Crop-a-dile, I tried a metal ring, but it stuck out of the purse at an odd angle. So I used Creme Brulee ribbon I've kept on hand for a long time. The dotted satin is wrapped around the purse and is the one I used to tie the pages together. I didn't tie it tightly, but kept it in the shape of a ring with a knot at the end. I used another stitched grosgrain from that same set to use as "pulls" for the inserts. The front cover of the album has a third ribbon, chocolate organdy that I got in 2006. It's subtle and goes well with the colors of the patterned paper.

I'm sharing this gift with tissue tube mini-album with the following challenges:
 All Sorts Weel #169 - A Gift
IDIC Robyn's Fetish Challenge #122 - Anything but a card
Make It Monday #104 - Anything Goes
The Stamp Man - Alter It
Use It Tuesday Challenge 38 - Use That Ribbon (hoarded supplies)

Materials used:
Paper - Close To My Heart "Florentine," Colonial White and Twilight cardstock; Graphic 45 "Botanicabella";  toilet tissue tubes
Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs "Get Well"
Inks - CTMH Black, Chocolate
Accents - CTMH Creme Brulee Ribbon Collection and CHocolate Organdy (all retired), Prima flower
Tools - Cricut Artiste p. 33, "3" key, 3-D Object 4" - cut two and adhere for sturdier purse
Spellbinders Nestabilities - ovals, scalloped ovals; ribbon iron


 

Freshly Made Back to School Card

Most of my life I was excited in August to get ready for the school year. I loved going to school as a child and teenager so it was natural for me to choose teaching as a career. This week my "old school district" started school. I had lunch with another retired teacher yesterday and we agreed- we didn't miss it enough to want to give up retirement!

When I feel those wistful yearnings to teach again, I either visit grandkids or remember that the 30 years I spent teaching reading laid a foundation for many young lives. I also remember that I need to pray for my grandkids to do well, pay attention, and work hard and for their teachers. It's an overwhelming but important job to meet every child's needs in our education environment today.  I chose a sentiment to remind myself and my retired friends of their teaching influence.  I used apples showing their seeds and some that aren't because that's the way our influence seems. You can't always see the results of what you've accomplished in young lives, but the seeds are always there, even if they're hidden for a time.

Freshly Made Sketch #49 was perfect for this card.

 

I modified the sketch from a square to 5.5" x 4.25."

 

 

I wanted to use my Quikutz embossing folder to make the apples. I brayered red ink on the raised side of the folder which debossed colored apples. (Since they're colored, it's hard to tell that the apples were debossed.) I colored between the thin lines of the "peel" on the four outlined apples using the Ruby alcohol marker. I cut them out and pop dotted the middle solid apple.

 

By the way, we all had teachers, too. I'm sending this card to my 6th grade teacher whose address I recently found. I want her to know she was the one who influenced me to teach.

 

And even as we age, their influence lives on in us. May we never stop learning!

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Crop Stop Challenge 86 - Back to School

Freshly Made Sketch #49

Fussy and Fancy Challenge #70 - Back to School

Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Back to School

Simon Says Stamp - Simon Says Back to School

Simply Create Too Challenge #20 - Back to School

Tuesday Alchemy Challenge #28 - Learn with Joy

 

5.5" x 4.25" Card Recipe:

Paper - The Paper Studio "Linen Closet"; Close To My Heart Cardstock

Stamp - My Favorite Things "Clearly Sentimental About Teaching"

Ink - CTMH Cranberry, Black

Markers - CTMH Alcohol Ruby, Ponderosa Pine

Accents - MME baker's twine

Tools - The Paper Studio "Notebook Paper" embossing folder, Quikutz embossing folder

 

Unscripted Sketch #172 for Joy

Tomorrow I'm having lunch with a "girl" that I've been friends with since 7th grade. She just moved into a new apartment after losing her husband this past year. Here is a fun card that I made for her housewarming. She's always been one of the most cheerful people I've ever known. I know her heart gets heavy with the loss of her husband and father this year, but she has that deep abiding love and joy that comes from knowing Christ.

I used the sketch and color suggestions from Unscripted Sketches Challenge 172. I flipped the sketch upside down so that I could try out a card pattern from Cricut Art Philosophy that had a row of four daisies on the bottom. However, I decided to cut the front off of that card and mount it with pop dots over a white card base so that the flowers would show through as white. I tried something new with the baker's twine. I wrapped it around the spaces between the flowers and taped it on back. Next time I think I'll wrap it maybe three times for an even different look.

The joyful verse from Word Art Wednesday this week was perfect for this card. I also stamped a Close To My Heart sentiment inside that is more of a prayer and blessing:

May joy fill your heart and home.

Challenges for this card:
No Matter Which Challenge #1 (since they started their new blog): I used both digital and acrylic stamping - Anything Goes
Ribbon Carousel Challenge 67 - Bump it up = embossing
Unscripted Sketches#172 - sketch and color challenge
Word Art Wednesday #42 - Joy (with a great link to explain this kind of joy)

5" x 6.25" Encouragement Card Recipe:
Paper - Close To My Heart Pear, White Daisy, Chocolate cardstock, Bazzill green cardstock
Stamps - CTMH one of the 2011 stamps of the month
Ink - CTMH Chocolate
Accents - CTMH retired buttons, Mocha pearls, butterfly; My Mind's Eye baker's twine
Tools - CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy, Sizzix Floral Flourishes embossing folder

 

PSC46 Missing You Card with Wings

When I was a "young thing," newly married to an airman, I remember how lonely it would be when he was assigned overseas near a war zone. I wrote a letter every day saying how much I missed him. I made this card with other service men and women in mind for our challenge this week at The Perfect Sentiment. I chose the wings of a plane for the card I'll send to Operation Write Home.

I used sketch #73 at Sketchbook Saturday:

I used two different embossing folders from The Paper Studio, stars for the tag behind the plane and hearts on the middle band. The sentiment is from a set called "4 My Friend" that I got this year from Close To My Heart. I really like using this paper with vintage foreign stamps to express the idea that "I miss you." I'll have to make another one of these to slip in my hubby's baggage when he travels on business. He knows I always miss him, but he loves that surprise. Luckily, he doesn't read my blog! 

Please join us at The Perfect Sentiment with your own card!

Other Challenges for this card:

 Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge - twine or ribbon (I used both)

Card Crafter's Circle Challenge  #36 - Rich and Earthy Colors

Chocolate, Coffee and Cards Challenge #19  - Emboss

Polka Doodles Week #33 - use Tags

The Cupboard Trilogy #2 - Embossing



Mojo Monday 255 Wedding Card

My grandchildren are back in school, so I'm back home and in my craft room instead of staying at my daughters and taking four kids on outings around Kansas City! It's been a busy summer!

At church yesterday the pastor introduced an older widow in our church and a new gentleman as husband and wife. I was so happy for the couple that I couldn't wait to make them a card. I thought the Mojo Monday sketch was perfect for such a card.

Inside I've written:

May God bless you both with many happy years! May He fill your moments with an abundance of love!

Challenges for this card:

Craft Your Passion #124 - Power of 3 - use 3 of something (I used flowers, sparkles, pearls)

Made Especially for You - use 3 pearls

Mojo Monday sketch #255

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop challenge #13 - Add some bling or sparkle (shiny ribbon and sparkles)

Sweet Stampin' - Weddings or Anniversaries

Unique Crafter's Challenge #6 - Sparkle and Shine (shiny ribbon and sparkles)

6.5" x 5" Wedding card recipe:

Paper - Martha Stewart (hearts); BoBunny Enchanted Collection ; Close To My Heart White Daisy and Black cardstock

Stamp - Verve "Hope Blooms"

Ink: CTMH Black

\Accents - Prima flowers; CTMH Clear Sparkles, Pearl Opaques; lace and satin trimmed organdy unknown

Tools - Cuttlebug 5" x 7"embossing folder; Spellbinders Nestabilities Lacey Circles; black Cricut shape (but I don't remember the cartridge)

Another August Digi Release from Clear Dollar Stamps

Here is my second post for the August Digi Release. I used the color challenge from The Crazy Challenge #126 - Black and White with one other color (pink) and from The Crafty Blogger's Challenge #2 - Pink and Black.

The words come from the stamp set called "Faith." I wanted to use the quote about faith with the words "Have Faith" for a younger person, so I chose to case a simple design from the challenge at Crafting When We Can. I rotated and adapted this one from Crafting Vicky:

5" x 6.5" Encouragement Card Recipe:

Paper - Close To My Heart very old dp, Black and White Daisy cardstock

Digital Image - Clear Dollar Stamps "Faith"

Accents - Recollections flower collections; wide white grosgrain from my stash

Tools - printer, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Ten, sponge and black ink

August Digi Releases at Clear Dollar Stamps

I love to make cards of encouragement, so I chose these stamp sets for their wonderful verses and quotes.

I used Photoshop to make the 8.5 x 11 orange paper print to a 4x6 piece of cardstock. That made the design smaller for my card. The paper, black design, and sentiment come from Words of Sympathy.

I used the sketch from Seems a Little Sketchy for both of these cards.

I wanted to use the Clear Dollar Stamps elegant paper, but wanted it to match the colors in my Scarlet's Letter paper. So I used Photoshop to resize, recolor, combine and print images from the set "Christian Sympathy."  I resized the circular design, copied and pasted several times to print and cut out the tiny squares that are inked with brads in the middle.

6.5" x 5 " Sympathy card #1 Recipe:
Paper - Clear Dollar Stamps "Words of Sympathy" digi paper (orange pattern), Basic Grey "Ambrosia;" Close To My Heart Dotty for You (gray) and White Daisy and Black cardstock
Image and Sentiment - CDS "Words of Sympathy"
Accents - CTMH Petals Paper flowers, white brads, Sparkles Black Flourishes
Tools - printer

6.5" x 5" Sympathy card #2 Recipe:
Paper - Clear Dollar Stamps (geometric design);Basic Grey "Scarlet's Letter" (Ok, so I hoarded it); olive and white cardstock
Images and Sentiment CDS"Christian Sympathy"
Ink - Close To My Heart Barn Red
Accents - CTMH retired ribbon, clear button, Bitty Brads (antiqued copper); crochet thread
Tools - Adobe Photoshop, printer, sponge

PSC45 Polka Dotted Thank You

I'm one of those people who likes to encourage others. Yesterday as I shopped for grandkids school supplies, I tried to make eye contact and warmly thank each clerk. I think they need that. I really should make a million thank you cards to show friends and others how much I appreciate them and the things they do. My heart is probably filled with more gratitude than my words express, even though I try to be consciencious.

Today's challenge at The Perfect Sentiments is such a fun Thank You card because it uses Polka Dots. I love adding them to cards.

I couldn't resist cutting out this polka dotted flower from the dp. I also cut out a black dotted flower from the stickers and pop dotted it on the flower. The sketch I used was Pattern 26 from a new Close To My Heart pattern book, Make It from Your Heart.

I embossed the yellow layer with Swiss Dots. Then I brayered Cranberry ink on an embossing folder with larger dots, only on the side where the dots are raised. I put the red paper face down on the inked side and ran it through my Wizard. That debossed the red layer, slightly coloring the dots. I wanted both of those layers to have subtle polka dots since the patterned paper and flower had such bold dots. I had considered embossing the white background of the card but decided that would be just too much!

My sentiment stamp had two lines, so I covered the second line with Scotch tape, inked the stamp, pulled off the tape, and only one line was stamped- my favorite masking trick. The red glitter gel shows up on the flower, but not so well on the scalloped border in this photo.

Thank you for visiting! May God fill your heart with gratitude for the blessings you receive!

4.25" x 5.5" Thank You Card Recipe:
Paper - Basic Grey "June Bug," "Color Me Silly"
Stamp - Close To My Heart Pemberley workshop set (retired)
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Accents - CTMH retired Holiday Red organdy ribbon, Red Glitz Glitter Gel; old dotted ribbon from my stash, Cuttlebug embossing folders

Cricut Artiste Gift Box for Cards

There are so many different 3-D shapes on this new Cricut cartridge, I have to keep makig them! Here's a small gift box I made that holds 6 thank you cards and matching envelopes. I set my Cricut to cut the largest size using the Fit To Page feature button on the left. That made a box that is 3.5" tall and 4.5" wide. I wanted to use the bright fall colors of the new CTMH "Flirty" paper which was a perfect match to challenge at Sentimental Sundays this week. It has fall leaves on one side and bright flowers on the other.

I random stamped a "belly band" for the box using the leaf that matches the flowers in the Flirty collection.

Altogether, the box and the cards took one sheet of the double sided cardstock/dp. I didn't have any of the CTMH small velcro dots on hand to keep it closed so I put the ribbon a little higher to tuck the flap into it. (Gotta order some!)  I cut out two of the flowers on the flirty paper to attach to the front.  The paper had a lot of incomplete flowers along the edges after the box was cut, so I cut out those for the cards inside. I made the cards 3" x 4" but they could have been a little larger and still fit.

Using the colors in the papers, I chose 3 sheets of my old, lightweight patterned paper to make the envelopes. By cutting out the envelop 3 inches like my cards, it actually cuts a little larger than the card so that the card will fit. I think this makes a nice little gift box with cards for a friend!

Challenges for this gift box with cards:

Craft Your Passion Challenge #122 - Anything Goes

Dutch Dare Challenge #176 - Anything but a card (the box and envelopes)

Inspire Me Fridays #70 - Anything Goes

The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge #197 - Gifts

Simply Create Too #19 - Anything Goes

Sentimental Sundays - Fall and bonus challenge of colors (my fall leaves and fall paper plus colors)

Gift Box of Thank You Cards Recipe:

Paper - Close To My Heart "Flirty," White Daisy, Hollyhock, and Olive cardstock, (very old dp)

Stamps - CTMH "Love Blooms" (leaves), "A Friend Like You" (So Thankful for . . .), "Approved" (images behind the sentiment banner)

Ink - CTMH Black, Slate

Accents - CTMH clear sparkles, retired bubblegum organdy ribbon

Tools - CTMH Cricut Artiste p. 52 (box - <s>3D object) and 35 (scalloped envelopes- <5> shift, card)

PSC44 CAS Sympathy Card

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms . . ." Deuteronomy 33:27.

Quite often we have a difficult time knowing what to say when a friend has lost a loved one. I like to send a message to friends that God is their comfort and that I'm there for them, too.
This week the Perfect Sentiment Challenge #44 is to make a Sympathy card. The twist is to use a Clean and Simple design, which means there is lots of white space and limited layers or embellishments, yet still have a strong design.

We're being sponsored by Shelly's Images. One lucky participant will be selected to win one of their free digital images.

Clean and Simple is a great style for mailing cards since the embellishments are limited.

I chose to cut two roses from my designer paper and color empty sections with my alcohol markers - very quick. I stamped the sentiment, then ran the background through the embossing machine. The shiny, gray dotted ribbon that holds the roses gave me the inspiration to add the dotted background. I added gray sparkles, hoping to draw the eye from the roses to the sentiment and still be really simple. I was thinking of my friend whose father just died and added them for her, knowing that I'd hand deliver the card this week, so bulky sparkles wouldn't be a problem.

The stamp set I used had this sentiment that I used on the inside:

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - (use Close To My Heart supplies) With Deepest Sympathy

Lexi's Creations Challenge #71 - Sparkle and Shine

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #53 - Bling and Ribbon

6.5" x 5" Sympathy Card Recipe:

Paper - Close To My Heart "Flirty" (roses), White Daisy cardstock

Stamps - CTMH "Words of Comfort"

Ink - Black

Accents - CTMH Slate Satin Polka Dot Ribbon, Black and Gray Assortment Sparkles

Tools - Cuttlebug embossing folder



Mojo Monday 253 - Happy Birthday Card

They say every cloud has a silver lining. I'm a firm believer in that perspective. I'm recovering from stomach flu so I couldn't babysit four grandchildren like I usually do on Mondays and Tuesdays. The plus side--I actually got to do Mojo Monday challenge on Monday!!  Here's their great sketch:

I never have enough masculine birthday cards, so I used my new Close To My Heart "Dakota" paper pack for all of the elements along with a Verve birthday greeting from Hope Blooms.

I cut the 2.5" circular image out of the patterned paper and mounted it on a 3" die cut from the Cricut Artiste cartridge, Accent 4 on the "5" key. The stamped star from CTMH "Stars Shine Bright" was just the right size for the circle.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Come and Get It Challenge - Adult Birthday Card
Dream Valley Challenge #38 - Die Cuts and punches
Mojo Monday Challenge #253 - sketch
The Corrosive Challenge #155 - Birthday card

Thank you for visiting and may God bless you!

Clearly Inspired Challenge #57 - Things with Wings

Today's challenge at Clearly i Stamp, Things with Wings, has so many possibilities - birds, butterflies, bugs, angels, or fairies! I chose one of our cute owl images to make a card of encouragement. I used the sentiment - owl be praying for you - because, to me, that's the most helpful thing I can do for someone in need. A hospital in our area did a study a few years ago and found that patients who were prayed for recovered much faster, more completely, even if they didn't know there were others praying for them! I believe in taking every need to God in prayer because I've seen him provide marvelous answers over the years.

I used the design from Freshly Made Sketch #46 and the new Moonlight paper with owls from Close To My Heart. I cut the honey and green shapes using the new Cricut Artiste cartridge.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketch #46

5" x 6.5" Encouragement Card Recipe:

Paper - Close To My Heart "Moonlight," Bamboo, Sweet Leaf, Honey, Colonial White cardstock

Image and sentiment - Clear Dollar Stamps

Inks - Honey, Olive

Markers - Copics E25 Caribe Cocoa, E18 Copper, N4 Neutral Gray; YG03 Yellow Green; E13 Lemon Yellow mixed with E11 Barely Beige; V09 Violet; 0 Colorless Blender

Tools - CTMH Cricut Artiste cartridge, scallop border punch; Sizzix and Cuttlebug embossing folders

Cricut Artiste Appreciation Party Favor Tutorial

Over the years I used to be amazed by the creativity of some of my leaders when I'd attend a meeting where lovely little gift favors were sitting at each persons place. Other times, the parent-teacher organization would show teacher appreciation by having a cute token given to each of us. I always wondered where these ladies got their fabulous ideas.

My new Cricut Artiste cartridge is so full of small containers that are perfect for party favors or small tokens of appreciation. I can't wait to try them all.  Here's my first one that was really quick once I figured out measurements. I'm sharing those measurements with you so you can quickly duplicate if desired. I used a two-sided paper from CTMH Avonlea paper pack.

It takes 1 sheet of cardstock to make one of these party favors. I cut the purse-shaped container using the Fit to Page feature on the Cricut Expression, which made it 4.5" tall when complete, 4.5" Accent 3 <3> (p. 33)  The front is decorated with a 2" black doily shaped element cut from the same cartridge which matches one of the Brocade Assortment pieces - 2" Accent 4 <h> (p. 56) . I cut the two bottom design elements from Chocolate cardstock, also 2" shift Accent3 <R> (p. 44). The edges are distressed with Chocolate ink sponged lightly on the scallops. The top is tied with black tulle ribbon that has been folded in half.

You can see through the side that it has an inner section that folds up and attaches so that whatever you put inside doesn't easily fall out.

I tied the tag on the back so that side isn't plain, but it could easily go on the front.

I cut the tag from black cardstock at 1.75" shift Accent 4 <3> (p. 33).  I used one of the Casual Expressions stamps and stamped it twice on the Avonlea off white cardstock. I colored the outer part and cut it out, then I colored the ring around the circle on the second one and punched out just that circle using a 1.25" circle punch. That circle was pop-dotted on the whole piece. I added pewter mini-brads and attached it to the black tag.

Now it's up to your imagination what you could put in a cute little purse of this design! Mmmm, chocolate sounds good right about now!

4.5" Party Favor Recipe:

Paper - Close To My Heart "Avonlea" paper pack, Black, Chocolate cardstock

Stamp -CTMH D1525 Casual Expressions

Ink - Black

Markers - CTMH water-based Chocolate, Olive, (dried up Lagoon which was lighter, more like Juniper)

Accents - All CTMH: Brocade Assortment, Black Tulle Ribbon, Black Hemp, bitty pewter brads, 1.25" circle punch, Cricut Artiste cartridge.

I'm entering this item in the following challenges:

Come and Get It - Anything but a card

Dutch Dare Card Challenge #176 - anything but a card

Hand Stamped Sentiments Anything But a Card Challenge #129 - party favor

Mojo Monday #252 with Cricut Artiste and Clementine

I love to make cards to say the important things to friends in a memorable way. Maybe because I was a teacher or the fact that I'm a Christian, I've always believed we should see the best in a person and encourage them to be the best they can be. The sentiment I chose to say this comes with the new Cricut Artiste cartridge. It has three D-sized stamp sets and 3 sets of matching chipboard shapes. You can cut an image - the stamp set tells which page and what size to cut it. Then you can stamp it and even mount it on the chipboard for added dimension if desired. Of course, with 700 images, there's not chipboard for every shape. But I used three shapes - the star and two different kinds of circles for this week's Mojo Monday challenge sketch.

I thought the Clementine paper reminded me of the County Fair my daughter would enter each summer, so I chose the burlap ribbon and the circle elements she used to get on her blue ribbons. I distressed some of the papers with my new Saddle ink and left the star and larger circle with their light edge for contrast. The large flower was cut from the patterned paper. I used

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday #252 Round or Square challenge - 5" Square
Paper Playtime Challenge #80 - Anything Goes
The Paper Players Challenge #105 - Tic Tac Toe - I did circles, blue, floral (but also did dry embossing, scalloped punch, and ribbon)

5" Square Card Recipe:
Paper - Close To My Heart - "Clementine" paper pack, Twilight, Colonial White cardstock
Stamps - Cricut Artiste set
Inks - CTMH Saddle, Creme Brulee, Sorbet
Accents - CTMH retired button, Sorbet waxy flax, Burlap Ribbon
Tools - CTMH Cricut Artiste,  scalloped punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder, pop dots

 

Encouragement from Psalm 37:3-5

Some days I have big plans regarding things I want to accomplish that day. Now that I'm older and slower, that's really not very much. But on those days, it seems I get a lot of phone calls that take me away from those plans. I had two phone calls during breakfast that slowed the start of my day. There were two phone calls during the evening news. I seem to miss it every night. One of those was a long political survey. Yuck! Then there was another long call in the middle of supper. I had difficulty all day trying to open emails. Some I never could open or maybe I just didn't wait long enough. Living on a farm in the country doesn't give me the best connection with broadband.

So I found this scripture tonight that I've always loved. I truly delight in His Word and the faithful way He's always worked in my life. It speaks to me that even though the unexpected can seem to take over the day, I know I committed it to Him and thanked Him for guiding my life when I got up this morning. So I'm going to trust Him that He will help me do what I need to in His time and I have to think that each call was important (even the political one, Lord?) to someone else. I will keep on trusting His faithfulness to lead my life each day in the way He desires.

The verse is from Clear Dollar Stamps, "Value Verses 1" digital image. Because it was tall and narrow I thought the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches #157 was perfect. Since Clear Dollar Stamps is sponsoring their challenge this week, I'm not wanting to be a winner, just a "player." I used ColourQ Challenge #148 for my color inspiration for this card.

I pray that you will also delight in the Lord and see how He works in your life as you commit each day to His leading. The promise is that He will give you the desires of your heart, and He shall bring it to pass. May God richly bless you.

Challenges for this card:

ColourQ #148

Craft-room Challenge - Buttons and Bows

Divas by Design #46 - Flowers

Tuesday Morning Sketch #157

6.5" x 5" Encouragement Card Recipe:

Paper - Close To My Heart Baby Pink, Holiday Red, White Daisy Cardstock and retired sunset orange dotted dp

Image - Clear Dollar Stamps "Value Verses 1" digital (also comes as a clear stamp)

Accents - Recollections orange and pink flowers, Michaels ribbon; CTMH wide ribbon and sorbet waxy flax; unknown buttons from my stash

Tools - Cuttlebug 5x7 embossing folder