Wednesday, August 29, 2012

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


 

6 comments:

Karen said...

Beautiful card Vickie.

Lisa Carroll said...

This is gorgeous! Love how you colored your image and matted it onto the striped paper.. it really pops! Hope you get your rain soon. :) Thanks for playing along in our 'Anything Goes' challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp challenge blog! xx

Glimpses of My Heart said...

Wow! I love this. I love how you distressed it. Love the one row of hand stitching, Love the sentiment you used! And it is colored beautifully! Thanks for joining us at Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week.
Blessings,
Michelle

Traci M said...

This is so warm and classy...and I love that sentiment! Thanks for joining us this week at SSiC!

Jan said...

This is great thanks for joining us at CFAS xx Jan

Whimsey said...

Great image; love that striped paper - or is the actual card? Adorable. Thanks for joining us at Crafty Creations!!

~Michele