PSC #77 - Make it Feminine

This week at The Perfect Sentiments Challenge we are celebrating mothers and all the girls and ladies in our lives. We'd like you to

CREATE A CARD AND MAKE IT FEMININE. USE LACE, PEARLS, BLING, LACY DIE CUTS, DOILIES, ANYTHING THAT A GIRL LOVES. DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR SENTIMENT ON THE FRONT

Our sponsor is Robyn's Fetish who will provide one lucky winner with 5 free digis!

 

My card uses the Robyn's Fetish digi stamp called English Tea Cup. This was the perfect image for me. My family knows that I absolutely love to drink my tea every day the English way - with milk. My mom fixed it for me that way on snowy days when I was young and it "stuck" with me the rest of my life. My grandson got me an extra large pink teacup for Christmas and he's seen me use it many times!

 

 



 

To make my card feminine I used colors shown in the above inspiration from The Shabby Tea Room. I used soft papers with pink, green, and aqua blue from MME "Totally Girl."  I colored the teacup with copics using those soft colors plus light gray for shadows. I added pink lace and pink sparkles along with a shiny organdy ribbon bow and white and pink rosette ribbon flowers with pink sparkles in the center.  The teacup theme goes perfectly with the sentiment stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs, Proverbs 27:9, "A sweet friendship refreshes the soul."

 

I can't wait to see how you make your card feminine!

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

CCEE Stampers #1317 - In the Kitchen

Crafty Ribbons #44 - anything with ribbon

Creative Card Crew #35 - Bling

Dilly Beans - Think Pink

Robyn's Fetish #157 - Stripes or dots

The Hybrid Chick Card Caravan - use flowers

The Shabby Tea Room #164 - Beautiful Spring - using photo colors, flowers, lace, and ribbon

Totally Papercrafts #164 - flowers and lace

Word Art Wednesday #77 - anything with encouraging, uplifting verse

 

 

 

 

 



Twist of Faith #35 - Trees

This week's Twist of Faith #35 challenge theme is:

TREES!

We want to see trees in your creation.

Your creation should also include a scripture, uplifting verse or positive words/quote 

Our sponsor for this week is Eureka Stamps! Please check out some of their other tree sets used by our design team members at Twist of Faith this week.

I have been in love with trees as long as I can remember. I love their skeletal silhouettes in winter as well as their foliage during the growing season. In the fall my hubbie and I take photo trips to capture their brilliant colors in the landscape. My favorite verse about trees from Psalms 1:1-3 was a little long to put on the front of my card:

1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

That was the passage I was thinking about when I chose this image. It looks like a really strong tree. I placed it on a hillside at sunset, the best time of day to see black silhouettes of trees. I kept the rest of the card simple so it would highlight the scene and the sentiment, which came from Amy Carmichael, the author and missionary to India a century ago. She opened an orphanage and started a fellowship to help over 1,000 children in India, especially young girls who were enslaved in Hindu temples. Her life story is amazing and inspiring. Her quote on the front of my card is closely related to the passage in Psalms. Difficulties may come, but as Christians they should move us closer to God and His Word for help and respite. Ultimately, those difficulties only make us stronger like the tree.

I kept my card simple so it wouldn't detract from the tree or the message. I also hoped it could be masculine. All of the materials used are from Close To My Heart. I sponged Honey, Sunset, Slate, and Black inks  to make the background. I used torn paper placed over the lower half to ink first the sky, then used the other half of the torn paper to cover the boundary of the sky and ink the hillside with slate and black. The mats are Sunflower textured cs and Sunset Dotty For You. In the corners I put Sunset Button Brads which are recessed in the center, where I added Black Sparkles. I used Adobe Photoshop to add the tree and the text at the bottom after I inked the background. You could do the same with a Word document if you choose 4" x 6" for the size and insert a picture and text box.

I tried to make my sky look like storm clouds are gathering at sunset, like this photo from For Your Inspiration Challenge #44 that was my inspiration:

May God bless you through the stormy times of life and show you the path to strength in Him!  I'm looking forward to seeing

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Charisma Cardz #16 - Polka dots
Craft Your Passion #160- add text
For Your Inspiration #44 - photo and colors
Happy Campers #15 - use a mask or stencil (torn paper mask to sponge the sky and hill)
Papertake Weekly - weather (storm clouds gathering at sunset)
Pumpkin Spice #17 - nature
Word Art Wednesday #77 - anything goes with encouraging, uplifting sentiment
Word Play Saturday for April - weather ( I tried to make storm clouds gathering)


 

Bright Colored Happy Birthday

I'm not sure why I never noticed it before, but yesterday I found Verve's Diva Dare Challenge and knew it would make a great card. I'm not sure if I understand all the details but I think the "dare" was to make a card with bright colors like Charmaine's and butterflies and flowers like Marissa's and use something from Verve.

I used the Verve set "Hope Blooms" for the sentiment and the red center of my flower. The design from The Paper Players' sketch seemed to work well with these bright papers. I used The Paper Studio's "The Linen Closet" floral paper for the background and some Basic Grey striped, red, and yellow papers and two wide ribbons. The butterfly is from a Martha Stewart punch. I traced it on black paper and adhered it, adding dots of red Stickles on the wings and black opaque pearls.

The challenge at Get Inky is "fabulous floral fun" so I had fun experimenting with the flower. The white flower is from CTMH and the blue one is from Petaloo. I stamped the smallest flower from Verve's "Hope Blooms" set with Cranberry ink on yellow Basic Grey and colored it with a Crimson copic marker.  I left tiny bits of the yellow showing and fussy cut along the lines. I wanted the flower to be bright like the rest of the card and jazzed up a little.

Thank you for visiting!

I'm sharing this card with these three challenges:
Get Inky #3 - Fabulous Floral Fun
The Paper Players Sketch Challenge #143
Verve's April Diva Dare

 

I Cherish God's Creation

Today it's finally sunny outside, a good day to enjoy God's creation. My husband and I like to visit national parks and photograph the amazing landscapes, wild flowers, and awesome trees. Seeing wildlife in their natural environment never ceases to amaze us. We even photographed a bear the last time we visited Yellowstone. Everywhere we go, we're serenaded by birds. That's why I chose a bird for this card. It seems they're always praising God in every outdoor cathedral He created. I was inspired by the challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #151 to show something of God's creation and Scripture/spiritual quote. I used Sketch 5 from the Viva La Verve April challenge:

The Verve design has three banners coming down from the ribbon element. I decided to use silk flowers that were still on the stem to represent more of God's creation. I added a CTMH black sparkle inside each one, like the three on the right side. I chose the black foliage paper from Graphic 45's "Botanicabella" and the green floral from some long retired Close To My Heart paper that I purchased in bulk. I placed the light green and red circles in the Sizzix embossing so that the pattern would match when they were placed on the card. The lovely bird image from "You Will Find Refuge" from Our Daily Bread Designs was colored with copics, fussy cut, and paired with a sentiment from the same set. He also has a very tiny light gray sparkle on his eye.

May God bless and astound you each time you go out to enjoy His creation!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Catered Crop - Embossing
Crafty Ribbon #44 - anything goes with ribbon
Dream Valley Challenges #55 - Things with Wings
Going Grey with Scrap Creations Challenge - Insects or Animals
Our Daily Bread Designs SLC #151 - Cherish God's Creation
Paper Crafting Journey - Use a sentiment
Pumpkin Spice #17 - Nature
Sweet Stamps #114 - Use 3 of any item
Viva La Verve April 2013 - sketch 5
Word Art Wednesday #77 - anything goes with Scripture or uplifting verse

Hymn and Faith Journaling - I Surrender All

God made each of us special and unique in some ways. As a scrapbooker, I believe I can tell the story of our family and of my growing up years so that it benefits the next generation(s). One story of my life I've definitely wanted to share has been the point in time when I received Jesus as my Savior and was baptized. Patter's (Triple the Scraps) Hymn and Scripture Challenge in 2012 included an "Invitation Hymn" that we sang many times in church, inviting people to come forward at the end of a service and receive Christ. I decided to use her hymn challenge for "I Surrender All" to share my own Invitation to Salvation.

I apologize for the photos. It has been dark and cloudy here for so many days lately. My photos aren't what they should be, so I may retake them and edit this post if we ever get a sunny day and I'm home! I used 12" x 12" pages for this layout since I wanted plenty of room for the hymn, Scriptures, my long story, and a photo.

I used the first page for the hymn and this handwritten verse that goes along with my journaling:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.

The right page has my personal story and my photo taken at that age along with this verse that the pastor shared with me:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

I used Basic Grey "Sugared" papers and stickers. The Paper Studio "Faith" paper is the gold one that has crosses. I punched borders with a Martha Stewart punch and added a few buttons. What had always seemed like a formidable task to make just right, was not so hard in the end. I hope it inspires you to share your own story. I'm sharing this "Faithbooking" layout with Word Art Wednesday where I've seen inspiring layouts every week and am now more inspired to do the same.

Here's how I shared the journaling. May God bless and inspire you to do the same!

I sang this invitation hymn many, many times as I was growing up. From the time I was a baby, my parents had taken me to a Baptist church. When we moved to the Hickman Mills area in 1955, we started going to Besonia Baptist Church at Bannister and Raytown Rd. We didn’t have children’s church there, so I sat in the church service Sunday mornings and evenings. At the end of every message, the minister, Rev. Richard Waltz, would give an invitation to anyone who wanted to come forward and accept Christ as their Saviour or join the church. One Sunday morning when I was six, almost seven, I heard him talking about how our sins would keep us from getting into heaven. I whispered to my mom that I wanted to go forward to ask Jesus to be my Saviour because I wanted to go to heaven when I died. My mom asked me to wait until the evening service. They invited the minister,  to come to our house that afternoon to talk to me about salvation. We sat on the sofa while he asked me questions to be sure I understood that I was a sinner and that Jesus died on the cross for me. It all seemed very clear to me. He led me in prayer and then I prayed, telling Jesus I was sorry for my sins and that I wanted Him to come into my heart and be my Saviour and Lord. I was really happy afterwards and told my parents, who had been in the other room, probably listening. That night at the evening service I went forward when the invitation was being sung. A week or two later Rev. Richard Waltz baptized me. I can still remember the entire experience, even the green and brown plaid dress I wore. I remember it as a happy experience that I’ve felt sure of all of my life, knowing that I did have forgiveness of sins and I did receive Jesus as my Saviour.


 

Hymn and Scripture Challenge - Trust Him When Thy Wants Are Many

Here is the latest challenge page I've made to  link up with Patter Cross's Hymn Challenge #7 for 2013 on her blog Triple the Scraps. I'm still going back and forth between the hymns I haven't done and the current ones I'm trying to keep up with. She has amazing information and scripture study for each hymn, so I'd invite you to visit her site for more. I'm sharing this faithbooking layout with Word Art Wednesday, also.

I was intrigued by the lyrics of this hymn. I don't believe I'd heard it before, but when I consider the many decades I've spent in church, it's possible I heard it sung by a choir and just don't remember it. The words invite the listener to trust in whatever situation they are in. There's something for everyone in any situation. I heard myself "singing in my head" two other songs about trust for several days. I'll probably make two more layouts using hymns of trust and additional verses. After I made the layout, I kept hearing Proverbs 3:5-6 in my mind, so I definitely have more to faithbook concerning trust.

I chose four Psalms that are meaningful to me to accompany this hymn. Now that I'm in my mid-60's and experience the accompanying forgetfulness, Psalm 71:1 is even more meaningful: "let me never be put to confusion!" The other verses I've quoted to my children or friends when they've asked for prayer and advice. As adults we are expected to be self-sufficient, self-reliant, but as children of God we have to learn to trust Him in difficult situations, like a small child taking His hand and letting Him lead us.

Here are the seven stanzas of the hymn in case you can't read them on my layout.

1. Trust Him when thy wants are many;

Trust Him when thy friends are few;

And the time of swift temptation

Is the time to trust Him, too.

 

2. Trust Him when thy soul is burdened

With the sense of all its sin;

He will speak the word of pardon,

He will make thee clean within.

 

3. Trust Him for the grace sufficient,

Ever equal to thy need;

Trust Him always for the answer,

When in His dear name you plead.

 

4. Trust Him for the grace to conquer,

He is able to subdue;

Trust Him for the power for service;

Trust Him for the blessing too.

 

5. Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,

Trust Him when thy strength is small,

Trust Him when to simply trust Him

Seems the hardest thing of all.

 

6. Trust Him; He is ever faithful;

Trust Him, for His will is best;

Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus

Is the only place of rest.

 

7. Trust Him, then, through cloud or sunshine,

All thy cares upon Him cast,

Till the storm of life is over,

And the trusting days are past.

 

 

 

 

 


 

Perfect Sentiment Challenge #76 - Mother's Day Blossoms

In less than three weeks it will be Mother's Day! So we have a timely challenge for you at The Perfect Sentiment Challenge:

CREATE A CARD WITH A MOTHER'S DAY THEME; DON'T FORGET TO INLCUDE YOUR SENTIMENT ON THE FRONT.

Our sponsor is Beccy's Place where you can find so many lovely images. Beccy will award one lucky winner 3 free images!

I especially love the floral images that Beccy has. I used to give my mom flowers on Mother's Day. She often put in a request for fresh ones from my garden. They were usually tulips, irises, or lilacs. We have also taken my mother-in-law to an iris farm near us on Mother's Day where thousands of irises are in bloom or ready to buy. So I definitely associate flowers with Mother's Day.

I chose one of Beccy's images from her blog, Bucket of Blossoms, that looks like a bucket of flowers from our farm. Although the sunflowers usually bloom later, I've had bluish purple salvia and blue forget-me-nots in the spring, so I colored them accordingly. I assembled the card using this sketch from Sketch Saturday:

I just recently found a large pad of My Mind's Eye Totally Girl paper that I had stashed away (out of sight, out of mind) for the last few years. I chose the three designer papers from that stack. The orangish paper has yellowish dots, so I embossed the white background panel with a medium polka dot embossing folder. Since the bucket is rather rustic, added some thin jute from Papertrey Ink and some older CTMH wooden buttons. My Mother's Day sentiment from My Favorite Things is stamped on an area of the dp that looks like it has white paint.

No matter how you celebrate, or whether your mom is still living or not, I hope you'll join us with your own Mother's Day card for any mom in your life.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
All Sorts #203 - Passion for flowers
Clear It Out - anything goes with 2 or more buttons from your stash
Critter Sketch #161 - Buttons
Cupcake Craftroom - Summer blooms (sunflowers are especially for the summer!)
Dilly Beans - flowers
Great Impressions - Pastel colors and/or polka dots
Shelly's Images - flowers
Sketch Saturday #255 - sketch
The Corrosive Challenge #172 - Life's Special Occasions
Totally Gorjuss #180 - embossing
Use It Tuesdays #54 - flowers for Mom (hoarded supply was the designer papers)


 

Twist of Faith Card Challenge #34 - Sketch Challenge

The challenge this week at Twist of Faith is to make a card using this sketch:

Feel free to stretch it, flip it, as you see fit, as long as your end creation layout resembles this original basic sketch... (the text used is only to identify the sketch!) And of course you're free to use an embellishments you wish! Have fun!

Your creation should also include a scripture,

uplifting verse or positive words/quote

 We are happy to welcome back our sponsor ... the fabulous Bugaboo Stamps!  This week our challenge prize for our random winner is a wonderful prize of SEVEN DIGITAL IMAGES... winner's choice!  I used their image "Block - For You From Me Flower" for my card:

It has been dark and cloudy here for too many days. When I took my photo, the limited lighting washed out the color of the yellow. It's actually a bright, sunny yellow. I used a border embossing folder on my card. Since only half of the design showed up on the top section of embossing, I placed the bottom of the card into the folder halfway. The Bugaboo image was colored with Copics, mixing a light Blue Violet with a Blue so that they resemble the hydrangeas that grow on the north side of my house. The verse is a beautiful blessing in Our Daily Bread Designs "Happy Birthday" stamp set. The patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye's "Totally Girl." The black cardstock mat for the image was die cut using Spellbinders Nestabilities Lattice Rectangles. Since my image was square, it gave me room to add some glittery white hydrangea blossoms.

 

Thank you for visiting. I'd love to see your artwork using this fun sketch.

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Catch the Bug - Bugaboo's April Bingo - pastel colors, Bugaboo image, embossing

Get Inky #2 - Bling (glittered flowers, silvery ribbon, sparkles)

Lexi's Creations #88 - add lace and/or ribbon

Love to Create #62 Bingo - middle across: flowers, die cut, ribbon

Stamp and Create April- Use at least one die cut

Word Art Wednesday #76 - anything goes with encouraging or uplifting verse

 

 

 

 

 

Perfect Peace in Trying Times

This week in Boston, the bombing not only took lives and limbs, it robbed many of their joy and peace. It threatened to affect marathons and other events all over the nation, as well. My heart was broken for those affected as I prayed for them. And yet, I was encouraged to hear so many leaders asking for prayer for those who were hurt or for the police as they sought the bombers - an acknowledgment that we as humans need God's help.

Today I wanted to share a verse that's meant a lot to me, especially over the last three decades. No matter how perfectly we may try to live our lives, problems will invariably sneak in to challenge us, robbing us of inner peace. I could write a biography full of unbelievable trials. Some of my acquaintances used to say, "You should write a book about this!" But I don't want to focus on those problems or trials. I think that what is most important is Who I had with me during those trials.

The card I'm sharing today has one of the verses I recited to myself when danger or the near death of a loved one threatened to rob me of God's Peace. Or, in the dark hours of the night I remember saying it to regain His peace so I could sleep. Remembering answered prayers and blessings keeps my mind on Him. Reading Scripture and hymns fills me with beautiful peace and joy.

I hope to pass this card on to someone else when they need to learn to trust God to see them through a difficulty, to praise Him for all He did before and what He'll do again. It says:

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3

I used the sketch from Mojo Monday 289:

The Scripture comes from Our Daily Bread Designs "Scripture Collection 7." I used dp from two different sets of Asian papers (lost the source) and a brown lacy piece from Basic Grey's "Curio." I used Scalloped Circles and Lacey Circles from Spellbinders Nestabilities to highlight the Scripture. The darkest brown mocha opaques (pearls) are from Close To My Heart. I tried something different - added extra brown mocha opaques on the top of the ribbon banner that dangles off the cardstock banner.

Thank you for visiting. I hope you'll find this verse meaningful and helpful in your own life. If so, pass it on!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Forever Friends #59 - Die Cuts and Punches
Hiding in my Craft Room #94 - banners
Mojo Monday #289 - sketch
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #150 - use Scripture or a Hymn
Paper Crafting Journey - Use a Sentiment
Pumpkin Spice #16 - Faithful or Meaningful sentiment
Tuesday Throwdown #143 - Focus on the Sentiment
Word Art Wednesday #76 - anything goes with encouraging or uplifting sentiment

 

Loving Hands of Friendship

Today I wanted to play with "Loving Hands," one of the new releases at Clear Dollar Stamps that was just introduced this week.  The sentiments and matching images are all so special. The first one I chose is about friendship, one of the most important aspects of life. God has blessed me with lifelong friends that I don't see often, but when we meet, it's like we've never been apart. I also carry the secure warmth of their friendships in my heart all the time. In the years that I lived in other states I believe those first friendships taught me how to begin friendships no matter where I lived.

Lawnscaping has a challenge this week to share what inspires your creation. I am often inspired by scraps of paper that I see together on my workspace. The MME floral paper was my main inspiration.This card started with three scraps of paper I had sitting out together (accidentally) on my workspace. The brown had been the inside cut-out of another shaped card's frame. The orange was the right size and color for a mat. The flowered piece gave me a color palette and an idea for making flowers. I punched three circles (1 1/4" and 1 1/8") out of Hollyhock and Indian Corn Blue cardstock. Then I cut wedges out, edged each "petal" with a matching Copic marker, topped it with a button tied with white crochet thread, and added some leaf sprigs cut using a Spellbinders die.

The image was colored with Copics and fussy cut. I mounted it on a white panel embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss dots embossing folder. That white panel was mounted on a Hollyhock panel, both cut using Cricut Art Philosophy, oval5.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you as you share the gift of friendship.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Creative Card Crew #34 - handmade flowers
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - lots of flowers (Flower Power)
Inky Impressions #105 - punches/dies
Love to Scrap #4- die cuts and/or punches
Paper Shelter #108 - Make it Bloom (at least 2 flowers)
Pause, Dream, Enjoy #8 - Friendship
Penny's Paper Crafty #123 - use a sentiment
Raise the Bar #140 - Friendship
Southern Girls - Buttons (badges or flair)
Stampin' for the Weekend - Friendship
Whimsical Designs - smell the flowers
Whoopsi Daisy - Not a square


 

PPA Sketch 157 Mother's Day Card

My mother is no longer living, so I've chosen a lot of other mothers as objects of my Mother's Day celebration. I know my mom and grandmothers would want me to do that. God blessed me with a Christian mother who loved me very much and I like to pass it on.

I chose a Saturated Canary image, Navaeh, for this card because I'm sure the artist used my youngest granddaughter as a model for this sweet image. She has long blond hair and loves to wear dresses. My sentiment comes from My Favorite Things and reads:

Flowers have the sun, children have their mothers.

This sketch from Pals Paper Arts was just perfect for my image and the papers and elements I'd chosen to use. I also chose my color palette from a new challenge blog, Kreativeinkauf-challenge: to use green, white, and one other color. I chose a springtime golden yellow to go with the green and white.

 

I wanted to add extra lace so I tied a piece in the center and used it to frame my bow from CTMH Crème Brulee ribbon. The green mat under the image was embossed using a Sizzix embossing folder. I used an ink roller with Sweet Leaf ink to roll across the "front" side of the folder before putting my paper in. It was close enough to the Kiwi cardstock color that it only shows up slightly. All of the papers were from Close To My Heart (including  except for the sentiment banner, which was a scrap of Bazzill. The Clover Meadow cardstock was used to die cut the tropical leaf flourish. I often cut that into two pieces to mold it around my design. I finished it with some pale yellow Prima flowers (I've had for over six years) and pearls.

Copic Markers used: DRESS YG03, YG23, YG63, G24, G85; HAIR YR21, YR31, E33; SKIN E00, E02, E21, R01, R21; OTHER N0, N2, N4, C3, C5, 0

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
ABC Challenge - L - Lovely Lace ( used Wilton)
Card Mania #18 - punches and/or die cuts (Spellbinders Nestabilities - Floral Ovals)
Crafty Sentiments - Lace and pearls (Wilton lace)
Creative Belli #167 - color challenge - Pastels (+ forgotten embellishments - old ribbon, flowers)
DRS Designs #66 - Bows
House of Gilli - Anything Goes with Lace and Pearls
Kreativeinkauf-challenge #2 - Green, white, plus another color (golden yellow)
Oozak - Anything Goes with Lace, ribbon, and pearls
Pals Paper Arts #157 - Sketch
Saturated Canary #41 - Anything Goes with Saturated Canary image (I used Navaeh)
Stamp and Create - Use at least one die cut (Spellbinders Nestabilties - Floral Ovals, Cheery Lynne Designs Tropical Flourish)


 

The Perfect Sentiments Challenge #75 - Coral Orange, Aqua Blue, and Latte

I always think color challenges are fun. This week at The Perfect Sentiment we are challenged to
CREATE A CARD FOR THE OCCASION OF YOUR CHOICE USING THE COLORS LISTED BELOW.  DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE A SENTIMENT ON THE FRONT. Please check with the Perfect Sentiments Challenge Blog for information on the prize.

I see this color combination in nearly every store where I shop. Jennipher listed them as Coral Orange, Aqua Blue, and Latte:

 

 

 

One of my friends at church lost her sister this week so I made this card for her using a sentiment from Our Daily Bread Designs, "With Heartfelt Sympathy."

 

I  used this sketch from Viva La Verve April Week 1:

 

 

 

 

I  used an older Juniper patterned paper from Close To My Heart. The front side of the paper is in the background and the back side of the paper made the banner. I cut and embossed the CTMH Sorbet cardstock using Spellbinders Nestabilities Lacey Circles and a medium polka dot embossing folder. The die cut that I stamped was from a set of shapes I had forgotten about, an "ancient" CTMH page of punch-out die cuts before the age of the Cricut. It was inked with Sorbet ink just like the  Bazzill "Peanut" cardstock which was embossed with the Cuttlebug "Poppy" embossing folder. I actually used the debossed side, which seemed interesting at the time. Simple embellishements seemed appropriate for a sympathy card, so I tied a sorbet ribbon on top and added two Petaloo flowers with pearls.

 

Please consider joining this lovely color challenge. I can't wait to see what you create!

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Alota Rubber Stamps - ribbon or lace plus a round element

Blogger's Challenge - Emboss Me

By the Cute and Girly - Vintage

Card Crafter's Circle - Die Cuts and/or Embossing

Card Mania #18 - die cuts and punches

Craft-room Challenge - So Sentimental, clearly showing the text/sentiment

Cuttlebug Mania - Sentiments only (+ Spellbinder's Lacey Circles die and Cuttlebug "Poppy" and The Paper Studio "Medium Dots" embossing folders)

LEJ Designs - Emboss It

Lexi's Creations - Lace or Ribbon (sorbet polka dotted ribbon to match the sorbet polka dotted circle)

Love to Scrap #4 - Cut it out (die cut lacey circle)

Pile It On #15 - Embossing

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Viva La Verve - Week 1 April 2013 Sketch

 



Clear Dollar Stamps - April New Release - Scrapbook Layouts

This is my second post today sharing what I made with some of the newly released digi stamps that you'll see on the Clearly iStamp blog today. You'll also be able to find them at the Clear Dollar Stamps store.

I had taken several pictures of my son and youngest grandson when he was in his "Thomas" train phase. I finally brought them out of the computer to scrapbook when I saw this adorable paper and images in the set called "Choo Choo."

The second page shows the railroad tracks I made on the red cardstock by embossing lines on the back side of the paper to resemble tracks. More details are listed in the recipe.

Images - CDS digi "ChooChoo"
Papers - CDS "ChooChoo" digital papers; CTMH Cranberry, Star Spangled Blue, Colonial White, Outdoor Denim cardstocks; WE R Memory Keepers red alpha paper
Ink - CTMH Outdoor Denim
Accents - CTMH Licorice Pearls (on train wheels); dark blue ribbon from stash
Tools - printer, Cricut "Art Philosophy" for 8.5" circle, Martha Stewart scoring board and bone knife, Stampin' Up ticket corner punch
Techniques - 1) Dotted paper was copied and pasted onto new document 8.5 x 11" for a longer piece. 2) One small 3-car train on the paper was copied and pasted into a new document then enlarged to make embellishment. 3) Used direct to paper inking on red and blue cardstock (using circular motions); 4)Scored train track on red cardstock by scoring two lines .5" apart to represent rails, then turned paper 90 degrees and scored small lines crossing over them every .25." Paper was turned over and sanded. 5)Lines were scored .5" from edges of backing cardstock and sanded also.


My son and his wife are also planning on moving in a few months, so I've started a layout that can show each of the places where my grandson has lived. One of the house images looks almost exactly like the house they have now, so I included it on the layout. I did lighten the color a little and flip it horizontally to look like their house.The hearts also come from that set.  When I was ready to mat their photo I chose to print one of the purple swirly papers from the same new release I used on my other post, Backgrounds2.

Images - CDS digi "Home Is Where The Heart Is"
Paper - CDS digi "Backgrounds2" (lilac photo mat); Basic Grey "Sugar Rush;" Close To My Heart White Daisy Cardstock
Copic Marker: BV04 "Blue Berry" to recolor title
Accents - CTMH Pearl Opaques, Pearl flourishes, Pearl Badge Buttons; white grosgrain ribbon from stash
Tools - printer, 2.5" circle punch (for corners), extra large corner rounder

I'm sharing these layouts with the following challenges:
Lasting Memories Scrapbook Challenge #135- Use Your Stash (my ancient blue/white dotted grosgrain ribbon  and blue background paper on the train layout, my BG Sugar Rush on the Home layout)
Eureka Stamps #35 - For the Boys (train layout)
Love to Create #61 - For the Guys (train layout)
Hotshot Crafts - Anything But a Card
Raise the Bar #139 - use Key/Door/House



 

Clear Dollar Stamps - April New Release - 3 Cards

Today on the Clearly iStamp Blog you will find the delightful new releases for April. I used three different sets of digi stamps and made 3 cards and 3 scrapbook layout pages. Here are the fun, quick cards I made using digi paper I printed from Backgrounds 2.

Since this first card uses the Magenta Tulips background wallpaper, I also used a Tulips digi set from last fall.

This next card uses the Orange tiny hearts and dots paper along with newly released"Tiny Fruits" images for the fruit and sentiment. I used a Spellbinders Nestabilities labels die and a scalloped oval punch to pop dot the images.

I used the same pattern in Salmon Pink and the same die cut shapes. This time I embossed Tiny Hearts on the red mat and added red sparkles to go with the verse from the set called "Light of His Love."

You can also check out my 2nd post today that has Scrapbook layouts using several other digi sets.

I'm sharing these cards with the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks #137 - Fruit
Crafting by Design - Spring Flowers (tulip card)
Digi Darla #58 - Garden/Flowers (tulip card)
Forever Friends #59 - Die cuts and punches
Victorine Originals #57 - Springtime Colors/Flowers (tulip card)

Tulip Card Recipe:
Images - CDS "Tulips"
Digital Paper - CDS "Backgrounds 2" (magenta tulips pattern)
Papers - CTMH Garden Green, Sunny Yellow, White Daisy cardstocks and unknown green dotted scrap
Copic Markers - Y11, Y13, YG03, G24
Accents - CTMH yellow buttons and Sweet Leaf wide grosgrain ribbon; yellow crochet thread
Tools - printer, Spellbinder's Nestabilities Scalloped Rectangles

Tiny Fruit Card Recipe:
Images - CDS "Tiny Fruit" colored
Papers - "Backgrounds 2" (orange flowered wallpaper); CTMH Cranberry and White Daisy Cardstock
Accents- CTMH Sweet Leaf wide grosgrain ribbon
Tools - printer; Spellbinder's Nestabilities Scalloped Ovals, Labels Nine

God's Love Card Recipe:
Digital Paper and Sentiment - CDS "Backgrounds 2," "Light of His Love"
Paper - CTMH Cranberry and White Daisy Cardstock
Accents - CTMH red sparkles; black satin-edged organdy ribbon from stash
Tools - printer Spellbinder's Nestabilities Scalloped Ovals and Labels Nine; The Paper Studio "Tiny Hearts" embossing folder



 

Twist of Faith #33 - Birthday Card

This week at Twist of Faith our challenge is:

BIRTHDAYS!

Your creation should also include a scripture,

uplifting verse or positive words/quote

Our sponsor, Beccy's Place, is offering our randomly drawn prize winner their choice of three images from the Beccy's Place collection!

 

I used one of Beccy's images called Daffodils in a Teapot. My yard is full of many varieties of daffodils blooming right now, scattered about in different places. When I was deciding what colors to use, I was looking outside my kitchen window and saw the bright pink and blue hyacinths and couldn't resist using the same palette. I also used a sketch from Viva La Verve for April, Week 2:

 

 

 

 

I used a sentiment from Close To My Heart on the outside and two sentiments from Our Daily Bread Designs "Happy Birthday" set that I like to use on the inside:

 

 

I made the two buttons a little different this time. I chose two that had a recessed center area. I took two tiny yellow flower embellishments form Close To My Heart and adhered them over the holes. 

 

Thank you for visiting. Please consider joining our Birthday Challenge this week. I'd love to see what you create!

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps #54 - Birthday card with Birthday Sentiment
Beccy's Place April Challenge - April Showers Bring May Flowers (using her images)

Crafting by Design - Spring Flowers

Digi Darla #58 - Garden/Flowers

Dream Valley #54 - Happy Birthday

Paper Pretties #253 - Buttons

Simon Says Stamp - April showers or Spring Flowers

Victorine Originals #57 - Springtime Flowers or Colors

 

Another Shaped Card with a Blessing

This week my yard is colorful with yellow daffodils and forsythia, lilac and pink hyacinths, and pink and white apricot tree blossoms. Spring is my favorite time of year to be outside in my yard. I am so blessed by the beauty of God's creations. I am so very thankful, as well, for the generous rain we've received lately in our drought-stricken area.

I made this shaped card with an image I printed to use last week for Twist of Faith's "New Life" challenge, but changed my mind. The girl with the watering can, "Mary, Mary," is from Michelle Perkett Studio. I combined her with the verse from Our Daily Bread Designs, Psalm 115:15:

"May you be Blessed by the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth."

Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge is to make a card shaped other than a rectangle or square. Twist of Faith, Crafty Creations, and 365 Cards Day 99 also have that same challenge. I used this card shape from the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. I sized it to fit a 5" x 7" envelope.

 

Sometimes I find it hard to know what size to cut something on the Cricut and have to try it out with scrap paper first. This time the card base was easier than the mat, which I precut with scrap paper after making a good guess. First I selected the Oval5 Card feature and cut the Buttercup cardstock at 7." The Basic Grey "Sugar Rush" floral mat was cut at 4.75." Sometimes I don't like the tiny slit made by the Cricut to show you where to fold, but this time I used the slit to thread the ribbon  and tie it all the way around the front of the card.

 

The edges of the card were lightly inked with Sunset ink. The rounded light green cardstock was embossed with the Sizzix Swirly Vines and Hearts embossing folder. I stamped the verse which came from Our Daily Bread Designs' set, "Happy Birthday."  The edges were inked with Petal ink and it was pop dotted on a Buttercup mat, inked with Sunset.

 

I added some tiny Prima spring blossoms for this girl to water. I inked white ones using an Amethyst stamp pad. CTMH Pink Glitter Gems were added to the centers of the blossoms.

 

Thanks for visiting and may you also be blessed by God's beautiful creations.



I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
365 Cards, Day 99 - Shapely
Clear It Out - Spring is Coming (stash to clear out - flowers - mine are at least 6 years old)
Crafting for All Seasons #49 - Floral Delight
Crafting by Designs - Spring Flowers
Crafty Creations #217 - No Squares
Creative Belli #167 - Pastel Colors (used forgotten flowers I'd bought in a big jar in 2007)
Die Cuttin' Divas #110 - Pastel Colors + die cuts
Fab 'n' Funky #166 - Spring Colors
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Flower Power
Happy Campers #14 - Flower Power
MilkCoffee - Welcome Spring
My Heart Pieces - Spring or Easter
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining The Light #145 - Other than a Classic Square or Rectangle
Simon Says Stamp - April showers and/or Spring Flowers
Word Art Wednesday #75 - anything goes with encouraging or uplifting verse


 

Perfect Sentiments Challenge #74 - Sweet Treats

Last week I had three birthday celebrations. I was actually supposed to go to a fourth one for a grandson until I got a bad migraine. I heard that 17 kids came to the skating party in a very crowded skating rink-definitely migraine atmosphere. My daughter was surprised because many of the kids weren't invited - the party was spread among kids on his baseball team. Obviously, birthdays are big events for kids! What warmed my heart the most was that my grandson asked after the party where I was. He missed me! That's really sweet for a shy seven-year old boy who was just overwhelmed by lots of friends. It didn't matter to him that I'd come down on his actual birthday to do things with him and to bring his gift. I made this card with his sweetness in mind.

Our challenge at The Perfect Sentiment this week is:

CREATE A CARD FOR THE OCCASION OF YOUR CHOICE USING SOMETHING SWEET...CUPCAKES, CANDY, ICECREAM, ETC. DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR SENTIMENT ON THE FRONT.

Our sponsor is Meljen's Designs who will have 4 free digis for one lucky winner.

I used one of Meljen's Designs birthday images that is just too cute! I thought this image was perfect for little boys with that mouse coming out of the cake! My color combination also had my grandsons in mind. The Close To My Heart sentiment that I used was perfect for our Sweet Treats challenge.

I placed Bitty Blue green sparkles on the dots that were on the digi image. Stars cut from silver glitter paper finished the sparkly effect.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
City Crafter #154 - Happy Birthday!
Digital Tuesday Challenge #205 - for Boys (using a digi)
Dream Valley #54 - Happy Birthday
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT - A card for a child or teen
Love to Scrap #2 - Recipe: 3 or more layers (5), 2 patterned papers (dots and stripes), 1 image
My Craft Spot Monday Challenge #94 - Cute Critters
One Stop Craft #223 - Birthdays
Stamp with Fun #206 - Birthdays
The Crafting Café - Let's Celebrate
Totally Gorjuss #178 - Anything goes with Sparkle