Twist of Faith #48 - Children

Today our new challenge at Twist of Faith is:

CHILDREN

  And of course include a scripture, uplifting quote/sentiment, or positive verse for or about a child.

We have been blessed with AMAZING sponsors this year and this week we have another: 
Milk Coffee Digital Stamps.

I'm so thankful that God has blessed me with eight grandchildren! The oldest inspired my card today for our challenge at Twist of Faith. He's eleven, attends Christian School, and plays baseball. This summer I watched him playing hard, supporting the other boys on the game, trying really hard to make bases or catch balls, and not getting upset when his team lost. I kept thinking that he was playing the game to please the Lord and not worrying about wins, losses, or who got out.

I included a Bible verse I loved to teach children when I taught in Christian schools. You are welcome to save or use this verse that I typed as a jpg. Just click on it to get the larger size, then right click and "save as." The speech balloon is also my jpg you can save and use if you want.

 

 

 

I used the great card sketch at Here Come the Boys this week.

 

 

The image I used from MilkCoffee is called A Boy Plays Baseball. which I colored with Copics. The papers and embellishment I used were from a new paper pack called "Pro Player" coming out Thursday from Close To My Heart. All of the paper strips are from one sheet of 2-sided patterned paper and its zip strip on top. I specifically cut out words to use like HOME, BASE, and PLAYER. I added cardstock and glitter paper mats, also from CTMH. I love the coordinating embellishments, so I put two of them on top. There are other shapes, too, but it's all so very masculine - perfect for a grandmother with 5 grandsons!

 

I hope you'll join our challenge this week at Twist of Faith with your card for/about children!

 

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Catered Crop - Summer Lovin'

Created With Love #52 - Anything Goes

Dream Valley #62 - Summer Days

Here Come the Boys #57 - sketch

MilkCoffe Challenge - Emboss It (Cuttlebug "Diamond Plate" for gray mat)

Paper Playtime #15 - use patterned paper I used both sides of one sheet

Tammy's Scrappin' Corner #73 - use a digi

The Crafty Bloggers Network - Metal magic (pewter red and gray embellishments)

The Crazy Challenge #150 - Summertime (Summer means baseball to many in the US)

Word Art Wednesday #90 - Anything goes with uplifting or encouraging verse

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Music - Teaching Little Fingers Layout

My family was always very musical and so was my husband's family. I have a theory that children who grow up in church-going families have more exposure to singing and are more likely to be able to sing or play an instrument. My mother-in-law played the piano and organ until her eye-sight was compromised. She taught piano lessons for many years and was the choir director at church for 40 years. I had to scrapbook photos I took of her as she instructed two great-granddaughters who are just beginning to learn to play the piano.

It seems that all three of my granddaughters often wear purple and I don't often have purple scrapbook papers. In this layout I turned over some Halloween "Hooligans" paper to use the "Gypsy" purple back side, another one of my attempts to USE IT UP! I got 24 of this sheet just to use the purple?? What was I thinking? I combined it with some Crème Brulee "Veranda" strips and ric rac seemed to go well with the pattern. All of the supplies used are from Close To My Heart, although the papers have been long retired.

Here are close-ups:

I cut the black scalloped oval with Cricut Art Philosophy. I used Cricut Artiste to cut the blue circular shape (p. 42), it's Wildflower magenta mat (p. 35), and the butterfly (p. 58). I traced the butterfly and fussy cut it to make a mat-type shadow. The letter stickers are Glamour Glitter Alphabet.

The stamp set I used, Sweet Music, is retiring at the end of this month. I stamped the piano key border with 2nd generation black. I used all of the sentiments that were in the set, however, I plan to use the other instruments in the set for my son's photos taken when he played the trumpet and viola. He had two friends that played the sax so these images are perfect for scrapping our many concert and contest photos. Here are the other three that I stamped:

I'm sharing this layout with the following challenges:
A Little Bit Crafty - "Die-ing" for it - used lots of die cuts
Bloggers Challenge - Things with Wings
CCEE Stampers 1329 - Sing, Sing a Song - reminded me of "Dancin' in the Street" lyrics:

All we need is music, sweet music,
There'll be music everywhere

Creative Creations #15 - Anything goes
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything goes
Make It Monday #150 - Anything goes
My Craft Creations - Die cut shapes
Our Creative Corner - Captured Memories
Simply Create Too #42 - Anything but a Card
Sparkle and Sprinkle July Challenge - Anything But a Card
Use It Tuesday #60 - What was I thinking? (24 sheets of the same Hooligans pattern)


 

Twist of Faith #47 - Borders and Fancy Edges

Thank you for stopping by to see my card for this week's new challenge at Twist of Faith. I've been making cards for the children at Grandview Christian School. This week at Twist of Faith, we'd like to see you use:

BORDERS & FANCY EDGES

It's time to get out those punches, fancy scissors, dies, and/or cutting machines!  There are so many different edges and borders that can be created - here is your chance to experiment!  And of course includes a scripture, uplifting quote/sentiment, or positive verse.

We have been blessed with AMAZING sponsors this year and this week we have another:  Digi Darla Designs. 

I used the image called "Upside Down Clown." I specifically made this card for a boy in 1st or 2nd Grade at the Christian school where my grandchildren attend.

I printed the outside and inside sentiment on a 4" x 6" piece of paper and saved it as a jpg file in case you want to print it, too. Most of my digis seem large and may need to be resized to 4" x 6." I think that's because it changes to 72 dpi and will have better resolution when you print it smaller.  Just click on it to get the larger version, then right click to do a "save as" so you can put it in a folder of your choice. 

 

Here is the Scripture. I kept the fonts simple since they are for a 1st or 2nd grade boy.

 

 

I chose papers from an old package of CTMH "Zippedee" scraps that I have, still attempting to USE IT UP! The Indian Corn Blue card base was cut out with Cricut Art Philosophy at 6."  That made the width of the card about 5"  The Cranberry border was cut out using the new Cricut Artbooking that will be available on August 1st. It has great photo frames on nearly every page that I plan to use on cards as well as scrapbooks. I cut this border using the "Real Dial Size" feature and set the size at 4." that made the length just right for this card.

 

 

The last details I added to the birthday card were 3 masculine colored grosgrain ribbons that matched the papers and a spot of Christmas Red Stickles on each of the stars inside the border and on the clown's nose and buttons. Maybe the lighting is better on the sparkly stickles at this angle:

 

 

 

The clown was colored with Copic markers: E30, Y17, Y21, YR04; R29, R35; B45, B95, and B97.

 

Thank you for visiting! I hope you'll share a card with us at Twist of Faith this week. Borders can be so much fun and easy!

 

 



 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks #150 - Let's Hear It for the Boys

Crafty Creations - Sparkle

Creative Corner #28 - Let It Sparkle

Delightful Challenges - Celebrate with Glitter, Bling, and Sparkly things

Happy Campers #19 - Bling (#3)

Here Come the Boys #56 - Anything goes for boys

Nutcrafters #47 - for the Boys

Stampin' for the Weekend - Sparkle and Bling

Word Art Wednesday #89 - Anything Goes with Scripture or encouraging/uplifting sentiment

Word Play Saturday (July) - "Birthdays"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Challenge with "Christmas Love"

I was playing with leftover paper packs and came up with a surprising combination of papers that I liked. I've been emphasizing "USE IT UP" for my scrapbook friends to use up their leftover paper from our projects. Today's card uses paper from Avonlea (Olive), Dakota (woodgrain), and Claire (Sunset and Hollyhock chevron). The paper from Claire was the surprising addition.  I used this week's sketch #82 from  Christmas Challenges with Sketches and their lovely inspiration cards.

Most of the supplies are from CTMH.  I used the newer CTMH pink glitter gem sparkles on the tree and the long retired Hollyhock organdy ribbon. The pink buttons are also from the Pink Button Assortment about to retire at the end of the month.  I used the Martha Stewart leafy branch punch and the Spellbinders Nestabilities Fleur De Lis Rectangles for the white mat.  I stamped with Olive, Sunset, and Hollyhock inks, then did some quick and simple fussy cutting. The stamp set, "Christmas Love," is one of my favorites, but is retiring at the end of the month. It has many more images with sentiments that you can see here. 

I love the message of this stamp. We can spend so much time with the busyness of the holidays that we forget to share our love of just being together, which IS the BEST gift.  May God help you share that message with your friends and relations, not just at Christmas, but all year!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Card Mania #25 - Pearls and/or Gems
Christmas Challenges with Sketches #82 - sketch
Creative Corner #28 - Let it Sparkle
Cut It Up #23 - Christmas in July with a die cut
Fairy Tale #72 - Christmas in July
Merry Monday July Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas
Sarah Hurley Challenge Blog - Pink Sparkles
Shelly's Images - Christmas in July
Stampin' for the Weekend - Sparkle and Bling

 

Sweet Sketch Wednesday with Floral Jug

I've been looking out my kitchen window enjoying some "Brown-eyed Susans" that had self-seeded and came up volunteer in my garden. We didn't have them last year in the drought, so it was nice to see that some seeds must have still been viable. It's been many years since I planted them. Flowers are such a blessing from God. I'm amazed at the evidence that He loves color, design, variety,  and pattern even more than we crafters do!

The image I'm using today has such a nice selection of flowers that I wanted to share it with you today. It's called "Floral Jug" by Laurie Wilson from Clearly Digi Stamps. I chose to use the colored image for a fast card.

To start my card, I chose to use the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday and Bingo from Crafting for all Seasons.

 

 

 



This month I'm trying to show my friends how to "use it up." The pink paper on the bottom is from our CTMH "Flirty" workshop and the Crème Brulee is from "Veranda" from Spring 2010. I have so many brads I'm not sure that I'll ever use them up except for the corduroy brads. Close To My Heart also stopped making the organdy ribbons long ago and I still have plenty for cards like this one that is Pansy Purple like the brads.

The Cuttlebug embossing folder that I used is called "Textile." I used a Spellbinders Nestabilities called "Lattice Rectangles."

May God bless your heart as you see His creation around you each day!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Crafting for all Seasons #56 - Bingo (pink, digi, and lilac)
Created with Love #50 - anything goes
Kaboodle Doodles #180 - Embossing
Oldie but a Goodie - In the Garden (brads, flowers, all papers over 6 months old)
Songbird Challenge #24 - use ribbon
Sweet Sketch Wednesday #215 - Sketch
The Paper Nest Dolls #8 - Floral frenzy
Through the Craftroom Door - anything goes
Tuesday Throwdown #156 - anything goes

 

 



I hope you're having a great summer!

We, at The Perfect Sentiment, have decided to take the month of July off to give ourselves and you a little break for the summer. Our challenges will resume on Aug. 7th!

In the meantime, we are on the hunt for some new DT Members We are looking for full-time designers who are willing to commit to a term of 6 months beginning in either Aug or Sept. We do take a 2 week break during Thanksgiving and a 3 week break for Christmas, if that helps you to decide! Deadline to apply is July 23rd!  Here are the details...

Here is what we ask of you:

• Be willing to create 2-3 cards a month based on our challenge theme and twists. Basically it's two cards a month except for the month's where we have five Wed and then it's three cards. 
• A willingness to work with digital images is a plus but not required. 
• You must have a blog where you can post your challenge creations and promote our challenge and team by displaying our badges on your sidebar along with a link to each DT Member's Blog. 
• You will be assigned #'s to comment on for our challenge entries and you will be expected to keep up with the commitment which is very reasonable. 
• Challenges are pre-planned and posted in our private yahoo group 4-6 weeks in advance so you have plenty of time to choose which challenges you would like to play in. While you are only required to create twice a month you are welcome to create each week if you so desire.
• Your challenge projects are due by 6pm EST on the Monday prior to the challenge going live.
• Full time Designers are asked to commit to a term of 6 months. 

How to apply:
Just link up your name & blog at the link below and we will come check you out!

The Perfect Sentiment Design Team Call

Clearly Digi Stamps July Release - Time for School

This is my second post today introducing some of the new July Release digi stamp sets from Clearly Digi Stamps. Probably because I'm a retired teacher, I love to make school related cards for my grandkids and their teachers. Here are my first two using images from "Time for School" by Patrick Dunnigan.

This first card is for my oldest grandson. I picked him up after the first half day of school last year and I think he felt this way. His teacher had given them a reading list for the year that included the type of book, type of report presentation, and how many pages, beginning at 500 and increasing through the year. It didn't take long for him to see how manageable that was.

 

 

I plan to give the 2nd card to the new 1st grade teacher when I take her some book donations for her classroom (minus the worms!)

 

 

 

 

1st Card Recipe:

 

Image - CDS Time for School colored image
Sentiments - typed with Word processor
Paper - Close To My Heart "Scholastic" Collection, "Cruisin'," old Denim dp, red cardstock

Ink - Close To My Heart "Saddle"
Accents - CTMH Cranberry baker's twine and buttons
Tools - printer, word processor, large corner rounder, stipple brush, sponge

 

 

I'm sharing the 1st card with the following challenges:

 

Challenges 4 Everybody #24 - Anything Goes

Creative Corner Challenge #27 - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Here Come the Boys #56 - Anything goes for boys 

Sister Act Card Challenge #15 - Anything Goes

Sweet Pea Stampers - For the Men/Boys

The Crafter's Café #19 - Anything Goes

 

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2nd Card Recipe:

 

Image - CDS Time for School colored image

Sentiments - typed with Word processor
Paper - Close To My Heart "Scholastic" collection, Outdoor Denim and red cardstock
Tools - printer, word processor, The Paper Studio alphabet embossing folder, Spellbinders Nestabilities Ovals

 

 

I'm sharing the 2nd school card with the following challenges:

 

Creative Creations Challenge #14 - For the teacher 

 

Clearly Digi Stamps - July Release - Dinos Cards

 

It's that time I love when Clearly Digi Stamps reveals the new digi stamp sets for the month. These are my first two cards of four that I'm posting today. Since I have five grandsons, I'm always looking for cool dinosaurs! I made two cards with two of the new images from the set called Dinos by Patrick Dunnigan. You'll want to visit the Clearly iStamp blog to see the other image and more samples.

This T-Rex is definitely scary, perfect for fans of Jurassic Park!

This stegosaurus is especially cute and not quite so scary!

Card #1 recipe:
Image - CDSPDDinos
Sentiment - Cricut "Graphically Speaking"
Paper - Close To My Heart "Later Sk8tr," Black Cardstock
Accents - Close To My Heart New England Ivy Bigger brads; unknown ribbon from my stash
Tools - printer, Cricut & "Graphically Speaking" cartridge; Cuttlebug "Mesh" embossing folder

I'm sharing the 1st Dino card with the following challenges:
Cards for Men #14 -(my 1st card) - Bingo (die cut, metal brads, dry embossing)
Crafty Blogger's Network July Challenge - metal (brads)
Here Come the Boys #56 - Any thing goes for boys
Kaboodle Doodles #180 - any embossing
Red Carpet Studio #45 - Action movies = Jurassic Park (you know which scene I mean!)
Send a Smile 4 Kids - punches or Die Cuts
Squirrel and the Fox #48 - Use Something Spooled (plaid ribbon)
Card A Day Theme - Just For Men, masculine theme

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Birthday Card #2 recipe:
Image - Dinos
Sentiment - typed using Word
Paper - Close To My Heart "Later Sk8tr," black & white cardstock
Accents - Green Sparkles CTMH, blue-gray twill unknown from stash
Tools - printer, word processor, Spellbinders "Foliage 2" die, large corner rounder

I'm sharing the 2nd Dino card with the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create #28 - Anything Goes with option of Birthday
Crafty Cardmakers #96 - Birthday
Digi Makeover Challenge #97 - Tic Tac Toe = die cuts, ribbon, two patterned papers
Stamp with Fun #217 - Celebrate
TokBobok #2 - Animal Friends
Word Play Saturday (July) - Birthdays



 

Twist of Faith #46 - Gate Fold Christmas Card

This week at Twist of Faith we'd like to invite you to join us in making

GATE FOLD CARDS

You have the option to make your card any theme you would like - as long as it's a Gate Fold card.  And of course includes a scripture, uplifting quote/sentiment, or positive verse.

Our sponsor for the week is Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More, who has generously offered the winner of this weeks challenge 5 digital images of your choice! 

 

 

 

I loved the Gilded Christmas Dove image and decided to use it like a Scandinavian dove at Christmas. I've seen quite a few that were colored red and white or red, green, and white, so I chose the latter color scheme to show off the fancy details on this great image from Robyn's Fetish. In case you're not familiar with making gate fold cards, the embossed panel with the dove is only adhered on the left half. The sentiment circle is only attached at the bottom using brads, although you can use strong adhesive instead. The embossed panel tucks behind the circle to stay closed. You can find directions and a gallery at Splitcoaststampers in their Resource section. I made mine larger - 6" x 6," so I scored my 12" x 6" cardstock at 3" and 9." My red mats were 5-3/4" x 2-3/4" and my dp are 5-1/2" x 2-1/2."

 

 

The small sentiment on the front is from a Close To My Heart stamp set called "Blessings of Peace" that will be discontinued after July.

 

 

I saved the sentiment as a jpg. If you'd like to use it, click on the sentiment, when you get the larger view, right click on it to do a "save as." I keep several files on my computer for different types of sentiments so I can always find a suitable one when I need it.  You may need to resize it to fit your card. I printed mine on 4" x 6" cardstock, landscape orientation

 

Here's a close-up of the embossing and sparkles on the dove. I used an embossing folder called "Holly" from The Paper Studio. I added 4 Bitty Sparkles on some tiny circles on the wing.

 

 

 

Please check out the way our other design team members made their Gatefold cards. They show that there is more than one way to keep the gate closed! Thank you for joining us. I can't wait to see your gatefold card!

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Christmas Card  Challenge #33 - Embossing

Digi Sketch Challenge - Theme only: Lots of Layers

Eureka Stamps #48 - Christmas in July

Incy Wincy Designs - Things with Wings

Kaboodle Doodles #180 - Embossing

Melonheadz Friends - Embossing

Merry Monday - Anything Christmas

My Craft Spot #104 - Christmas in July

Robyn's Fetish #168 - Things with Wings

Stamp and Create - Christmas in July

 

 

 

 



CAS Card with Cricut Artbooking Overlay

I needed a special thank you card for a friend. Words from a song we had sung in church many times kept going through my mind - Give thanks...with a grateful heart...  You may know another song by Hezekiah Walker called "Grateful." I've been reading that GRATITUDE is a very healing practice. I was challenged this week to start a gratitude album, so you may see that in the near future.  This card is a simple beginning.

The new CTMH Cricut Artbooking cartridge has some amazing features. It can make mini-albums and two page 12" x 12" scrapbook pages with all the features sized appropriately to take out the guess work. It has great titles and words - I counted 124! Here's a quick, simple card I made using the polka dot background on p. 51.  I was inspired to use this feature after seeing the challenge at CAS-ual Fridays to use Polka Dots!

 I used the Overlay feature  of the "rR" key, (portrait orientation) cut with Real Dial Size at 5" to fit my 5.5" x 4.25" card. I attached the overlay using mini-glue dots in a few strategic places along the edges. I wanted the main part to stick up just a little, but not pop dotted.

The overlays and other images are pre-sized to fit the 8" x 6" baby album featured on that page. That's why you need to use the Real Dial Size key to change their sizes. If you are interested in pre-ordering this cartridge or getting it for half-price, with it's 3 stamp sets and matching chipboard sets, please email me and I'll explain my special discount: vodell2@aol.com

All of the supplies used on this card are from Close To My Heart. The dotted heart stamp is part of the Cricut Art Philosophy set. (Each cartridge has three sets of stamps that show what size to cut each image.) The gray satin polka dotted ribbon didn't reflect the light well in the first photo, so I turned it a little in the second photo.

The sentiment is part of  the "Abundance" stamp set retiring at the end of this month. These are some of the stamps I'm featuring throughout this month.  The polka dotted paper is a sneak peak of paper that will soon be available!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays #109 - clean and simple with polka dots
Crafting by Designs -Anything goes with the twist "Thank You Cards"
Crafty Friends #7 - Inspired by a Song ( "Grateful" by Hezekiah Walker)
Creative Corner #27- Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays #111 - Anything Goes
Jellypark Challenges - Give Thanks
Sister Act #15 - Anything Goes


Thank you for visiting! May God fill your heart and mind with awareness of the many things you can be thankful for!

 

Use It Up - Avonlea Christmas Cards

It's time for Christmas in July! I've been trying to post this for three days and our internet finally cooperated today!

For my friends who want to use up their paper packs, I made four Christmas cards last night using my remnants of Close To My Heart Avonlea paper, a little extra cardstock, and the Christmas stamp sets that will be discontinued at the end of this month. The first two cards use "Blessings of Peace."  I masked the first line of the sentiment so that only the last two would show. The New England Ivy mat under the image and sentiment was cut using Cricut Artiste at 2.5" <3 key> Accent 3. The sparkles are Sweet Leaf, a pale green.

I was inspired by challenge #13 at Fusion, using both the sketch and the inspiration picture for this first card. I liked the Clean and Simple design of this one.

I'm sharing this first card with these challenges, too:
Card Makin' Mamas #72 - Monochromatic
CAS on Sunday #12 - Christmas in July (clean and simple)
Pattie's Creations #71 - Monochromatic ( include an image)

 

 



 

 

 

I used the card sketches from CTMH Make It From Your Heart Volume 1.  The first one is Pattern 22 and uses the other stamps from the "Blessings of Peace."  I also used the Basic Assortment of buttons and Chocolate Waxy Flax that are about to be discontinued at the end of July.

I'm sharing this 2nd card with Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #179 - Christmas in July.

The last two cards use sentiments from the Everlasting Life stamp set that will be discontinued. I made this 3rd card so it could be mailable!! There are no bulky embellishments, only the wonderful tan collection of glitter papers that I was able to cut on the Cricut with Art Philosophy. I used sketch 21 from Make It From Your Heart Vol. 1, and rotated it 90 degrees clockwise.

I'm sharing this 3rd card with the ABC Christmas challenge this week - N for NO embellishments.

 

 

This last card uses another one of the sentiments from Everlasting Life with one of the angels from Angelic Blessings. I added some flourishes on the edges using Instant Memories. All three stamp sets will be discontinued. I used the dark teal and Smoky Plum cardstocks with this card for a different look. I used sketch 25 from Make It From Your Heart Volume 1.  I cut the oval for the sentiment using Cricut Art Philosophy using the Oval 2 key at 1.5" and the Decorative layer using the same key at 2."

 



 I'm sharing this last card with the Totally Papercrafts Challenge #175 - All of a Flutter (wings) and with Crimbo Crackers Challenge to make it Girly.

 

I hope this gives you a few ideas for starting your Christmas cards. There will be more posted in the near future!
 

Twist of Faith #45 - End of the Day, Sunset Colors

Sunsets are the most amazing display of God's artwork! Sometimes on vacations, which are really photo trips for us, we will drive like crazy to get to an amazing photo opportunity, anticipating a gorgeous sunset. Less than half the time we get to see a colorful sky with mountain silhouettes or lake reflections in the foreground. I'm always telling my hubby that we get the best sunsets at home in the Kansas City area. I take photos to prove it, although we don't have mountain silhouettes or lake reflections.

Today's challenge at Twist of Faith is to use sunset colors. I chose mine from the image above. Our sponsor is Melonheadz Illustrations.



 

I chose to use her artistic display of this quote that I love by  Ralph Waldo Emerson:

 

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen."

 

I stand amazed at the beauty, variety, and sheer magnitude of creation. It increases my awe and my faith. My simple card is nothing in comparison, just a simple endeavor to praise Him for the glory and majesty of all He's made and all that He's promised.

 

 

 

All of the papers are retired from Close To My Heart. For my friends who want to use their scraps, I used these paper collections:

 

Pacifica background = Dakota 6" x 4 3/4"

Raspberry = Flirty 5 5/8" x 3/4"

Sunset/sorbet = Clementine 5" x 1 1/4"

Crème brulee horizontal strip = Clementine 1/2" x 4 3/4"

Crème brulee dotted banner = Veranda 5 3/4" x 3/4"

Sunset (5/8" x 4 3/4"), Buttercup (the color is off on my photo), and Black cardstock

 

Other supplies include Sunset Baker's Twine from the Paradise Assortment, Sparkles in the middle of the CTMH buttons (soon to be retired) and down the side of the sentiment. The Spellbinders Nestabilities I used for the black frame is called Fleur de Lis Squares.

 

I hope you will join us with your own card with sunset colors and an encouraging verse or Scripture.

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

365 Cards - Day #185 - Overlapping Elements

Catered Crop - Button Up

Crazy 4 Challenges #193 - Let's Get Wordy

Digi Makeover #96 - Anything Goes

Happy Campers #19 - Bling

House of Gilli #53 - Bright Colors and Anything Goes

Love to Scrap #9 - Anything Goes

One Stop Craft #233 - Anything Goes

Scrapper's Delights #2 - Die cuts & punches

Word Art Wednesday #87 - anything goes with Scripture or encouraging verse

 

 

 

 

Use It Up!! . . . Claire for Mojo Monday 301

My friends who are in my scrapbook workshops are beginning to want to make cards with their scraps that are left over. This month I'm showing ways to use up paper packs that will no longer be available after July 31st. I also want to highlight stamp sets that are being retired at the end of this month because I know how it feels to plan to get a stamp set later only to discover it was "retired" and no longer available. (You can find the soon-to-be retired list on my previous post here.)

I'm also going to give you the measurements that I used at the end of the post in case it will help you use up your Claire paper pack. All of the pieces I used were from my Claire scraps that I left in the Claire bag, except for some of the cardstock mats. I keep most of my paper scraps filed by color in 8 drawers. It really helps when I need a small piece, like the Outdoor Denim for the oval.  I'll post other cards and projects using this set later this week.

This first card uses the Mojo Monday sketch for this week:

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Catered Crop - Buttons
Challenges 4 Everybody #24 - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays #110 - Anything Goes
Mojo Monday #301 - sketch
No Matter Which #11 - Anything Goes
Penny Black and More July challenge - punches and die cuts
Pile It On - Food
That Craft Place - Ribbons (and/or lace)
The Ribbon Girl - Add a bow
Wags 'n' Whiskers #107 - Cute as a Button



Here are the details and measurements I used for a 4.25" x 5.5" card:
The white background was embossed with hearts.
Flowered strip - 3 3/4" x 2 1/2"    Hollyhock mat - 4" x 2 3/4"
2 smaller panels   - 1 1/2" x 3 3/4"    Hollyhock mats - 1 5/8" x 3 7/8"
White circle for stamping - 1 3/4"
Outdoor Denim scalloped oval cut with Cricut Artiste - 3 3/4" Accent 1, Shift <2>
(The final piece is only about 2 5/8, but is sized to fit on a tag that is 3 3/4, so that is the size you enter. If I had been using my head, I would have used the real dial feature!)

I colored my image with Sorbet and Cotton Candy alcohol ink markers. The acrylic stamp set called "Pun Fun" is retiring. I'll make more cards with these throughout the week.

Also retiring is the set of 68 flowers in the Paradise paper flowers that I used. I stacked two of them and added the button. The flower looked even better when I pop dotted it onto a navy blue satin ribbon bow (not CTMH).

And last, most of the buttons are retiring, sob, sob! I used the Blue Assortment tied with Sunset baker's twine from the Paradise assortment.

I hope you'll use this to make lots of cards to give to those you hold dear and to encourage others!