Perfect Sentiment Challenge #89 - Goodbye Summer, Hello School

I've noticed when traveling that school starts at different times across the U.S. It usually starts in our area the 2nd week of August while a visit to Connecticut one September showed me that children were still off for summer until after Labor Day in September. I remember the mixed feelings I had as a child and as a teacher hating to see the end of summer freedom, but also anxious to get back to friends and the familiar routines of school.  That's the mix of possibilities for our challenge this week at The Perfect Sentiment Challenge. You can focus on either

Goodbye Summer or Hello School

LABOR DAY IS AROUND THE CORNER AND FOR MANY THAT MEANS THE END OF SUMMER AND BACK TO SCHOOL. CREATE A CARD WITH EITHER A SUMMER THEME OR A BACK TO SCHOOL THEME. DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR SENTIMENT ON THE FRONT.



Our sponsor this week is The Paper Shelter where you can find some really cute summer or school images. They will give one lucky winner a $20 gift certificate!!!  I used Copic markers and colored this fun  outline image called "Learning is Fun" to make my card today.

I used the "Scholastic" paper pack from CTMH. I found this sentiment quote that is great for a teacher and printed it on some of the graph paper in the Scholastic pack. I made this card for one of the teachers at the Christian school where four of my grandkids attend. They were so excited when I picked them up from school on the first day --two weeks ago - especially Michel who is starting Kindergarten.

We took my youngest grandson to lunch with this school bunch. Since he was starting afternoon kindergarten, he wasn't starting school until the next day, Aug. 15th (still so early, what a short summer). The biggest change I noticed from my teaching years was the color of boys' school shoes:

 

I believe that our children are our most precious "resource." We should focus on giving them the best education possible for the future depends on them. I'm trying to put more focus on praying for them and what they do at school each day. That includes asking God to help them pay attention, to make good friends and be kind to others, to obey their teachers, to work hard and do their best, and to do well with schoolwork, homework, and tests.  Thanks for letting me share. I hope you'll share in the fun at The Perfect Sentiment and let us enjoy your art.

 

I'm also sharing this card with the following challenges:

ABC Challenge #42 - No flowers

Card Mania #28 - Ribbon

Cuttlebug Mania - Anything Goes with Die cuts 

Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Back to School

Love to Create #80 - Back to School

Love to Scrap #12 - Bingo (Die Cuts, Sentiment, Buttons)

Melonheadz Friends Challenge - Back to School

 

 

 

Stamps & Fun = Creativity #166 - School

The Pink Elephant #214 - Back to School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twist of Faith #52 - Easel/Pop-up Cards



This week at Twist of Faith we are making easel or pop-up cards. I must admit I've always wanted to make an easel card and never took the time to find directions. Thanks to the resources at Splitcoast Stampers, I discovered how easy it can be. I wanted mine to be a 6.5" x 5" vertical card to go with the digi stamp I selected, so once I saw the directions, it was fairly easy to figure out the scoring positions for other cards.



I chose a great Hummingbird Birthday image with flowers digi from our sponsor this week, Eureka Stamps who is generously giving 5 digital images to one lucky winner!

The inside sentiment is a Scripture from "Birthday Blessings" from Our Daily Bread Designs:

I just discovered I had 2 packages of the long-retired Veranda papers from Close To My Heart. It includes hummingbird images, so it was a perfect choice (and definitely needs to be used up!) The image was colored with Copic markers to match the papers. I added taffy sorbet ribbon and Mocha pearls from CTMH. The flower is made from two different blossoms from Prima.

If you'd like to join our challenge, but don't know how to make an easel card, here's the tutorial I used from SplitcoastStampers.  I altered the size. I used a 5" x 12" base. I scored it at 6" and 3." Since I wanted it to fit my envelope for a 6.5" x 5" card, I made the top mat and image for that size. I folded the card down flat with the 3" section on top, glued and ready to adhere to my 6.5" x 5" mat. I simply laid that mat on top, matching it to the bottom of the card base and overhanging the top by half an inch. Easy Peasy!

We hope to see your lovely examples at Twist of Faith. Just be sure to include an uplifting, encouraging sentiment or Scripture on your card.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Card Mania Challenge #28 - Ribbon
Crazy 4 Challenges #200 - Use animals
Creative Creations #17 - Bingo (Sentiment, Image, Pearls)
Eureka Stamps Weekly Challenge #54 - use a sentiment
Jellypark Challenges - Things that Fly
The Crazy Challenge #152 - Animals
Word Art Wednesday #94 - anything goes with Scripture or uplifting/encouraging verse







 

Artbooking in August - Blog Hop #4

 



 



Welcome to our 4th and last week of Artbooking in August Blog Hop! There are over 30 ladies participating, so there's lots of Artbooking to enjoy! You may have just come from Amy McVey's blog, Clearly Stamping. Each of us used the new Cricut Artbooking cartridge only sold by Close To My Heart consultants.  We each chose which order we would make each type of project. Here's the order I used and links to find them if you haven't visited before.

1. Card
2. Giftable Items #1 and #2 - Designed Décor Frames
3. Scrapbook 2-page layout
4. Mini-album today -

This album is a compact way for my grandkids to be able to view or take to school to share their vacation. I'm not showing all of the pages, but you'll get the idea of the possibilities. I will briefly point out a few features.

The cover page has one of the overlays. I used a thorough application of liquid adhesive to every little detail so it would be durable for kids to handle. The stamped image was colored with Alcohol Ink Markers - light Sky and light Whisper.

Inside cover: I included pockets on many of the pages. Here you can see three different pages, which all have pockets.

Accordian album inside the front cover pocket. It can hold eight photos that are almost 3" x 4."

 

I'm doing something similar with the two black mats by adding an additional pocket on the black mat.

I used one of the honeycomb overlay shapes as a stencil and sponged black ink over it. The "HUGS" mat is also one of the mats included in the cartridge, along with the arrow icon which was matted with white.


 The words on these pages were all cut with the cartridge, but I did mat some with other cardstock for contrast.

This next page is called a mat, but it folds up from the bottom to make a pocket.

There are more pages, but I think you have seen the possibilities of mixing Photo Mats, page shapes, Icons, and Borders to fit your own style or needs. (I can't seem to be able to maintain a connection most of today, so I may add the other details Monday or Tuesday if the connection problems improve. If you want more details, I'll include those on the bottom of this post after your link to the next.)
I hope you enjoyed the Artbooking Ideas. Now you are ready to join Jen Patrick at RoxyBonds
 

The Flowers of Tomorrow

When you've lived 60+ years like I have, it's easy to look back in life and see the cause and effect of many actions. I think that's one of the factors that leads to wisdom. On the other hand, when we're young, it's often difficult to see how something you do today could have long range effects on your life or the lives of others. I love the sentiment that I used on my card today. It's a beautiful symbol of this concept. Who would ever think that the very tiny insignificant looking seeds could become large, beautiful, adored flowers. To go one step farther, the flower reseeds, which has the potential of producing many more seeds. One tiny act of kindness can spread throughout a family or community to be replicated many times over.

This card has mocha pearls to represent seeds and a wooden flower that I was dying to use. I put a larger mocha pearl opaque inside the flower.

Thank you for visiting. May God open your eyes to see how the seeds you're planting today will become the flowers tomorrow!

Papers - The Paper Studio "The Linen Door;" Close To My Heart "Claire" (chevrons); cardstock
Stamp - Verve Plain Jane
Ink - CTMH Black
Accents - CTMH retired Goldrush organdy ribbon, Mocha Pearl Opaques, Wooden flower
Tools - Martha Stewart paper punch

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

An Inky Situation #5 - Scallops
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog - use sentiment that's not birthday
Crafty Ribbons #58 - anything goes with ribbon
Happy Campers #21 - Use a stamp (this acrylic one was from Verve)
Love to Scrap#12 - Bingo (ribbon, sentiment, flowers)
Paper Playtime #17 - Use pearls
Papertake Weekly - Flower Power
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #141 - dies/punches (Martha Stewart)
Through the Purple Haze - Bingo (and vote) flowers, pearls, sentiment row
Word Art Wednesday #94 - anything goes with Scripture or encouraging uplifting sentiment

 

Perfect Sentiment Challenge #88 - Christmas without Red or Green



This week at The Perfect Sentiment Challenge we want to see your

 Christmas card without using any red or green.

We have some delightful Christmas images on our challenge blog that you can see on the Christmas tab at the top of the PSC blog. One lucky winner will get to choose 3 of those Christmas digis. My card features one of those digis, "Mail Girl," which I colored with Copics (B000, BG72, BG 78, B99, E00,  W1, N2, N4, E35, E18).

I used this week's sketch for Mojo Monday #307.

 

I used Twilight ink to stamp this sentiment I love from CTMH "Flakey Friends:"

 

snowflakes are kisses sent from heaven

 

The snowflake papers are from Close To My Heart's new "Frosted" paper pack and two scraps used for a banner and a circle mat are from retired packs. The silver snowflakes are also older, from Stampendous. I added a lot of dots of White Opal Liquid Pearls from Ranger on top of the digi snowflakes. I added a few Pearl Opaques and snowflakes on the laces.

 

The inside is a great verse from Clearly Digi Stamps:

 

 

 

I hope you'll check out the Christmas cards from the other design team members and join in the fun at The Perfect Sentiments Challenge. I can't wait to see your creative ideas!

 

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Crafty Boots - Christmas in August

Cuttin' and Stampin' #33 - Monochromatic (shades of Twilight blue with a touch of neutrals)

Fashionista Challenge #19 - Christmas

Lexi's Creations #97 - sparkle and shine (liquid pearls, pearl opaque, silver snowflakes)

Marker Pop Challenge #29 - use colors in the blue or blue/green family

Mojo Monday #307 - sketch

Paper Playtime Challenge #17 - use pearls

 

 

 

 

 



 

Twist of Faith #51 - Animals



Welcome to a new challenge at Twist of Faith.  We promote making cards to encourage family and friends using Scripture, uplifting or encouraging quote somewhere on your card.

This week we want to see Animal(s) on your project.

The design team is using the cute animals from our sponsor, Meljen's Designs. She is donating 4 digi outline images to our lucky winner.

 

My card has MelJen's "Penpal Mouse" image. I thought it would be great for back to school cards for my grandsons in the Christian school.

Despite all the wonderful mouse stories I read to my kids and the first graders I taught for many years, I actually hate mice. Since we live on a farm, the country mice love my kitchen! But I couldn't resist this mouse with a pencil. He goes really well with this verse from Proverbs about writing LOVE and FAITHFULNESS on your heart. What we write with a pencil can be erased so easily, but I believe the intent of this verse was something much more permanent. I'd like to think the tablets are stone, like the ones Moses received with the Ten Commandments, with the LOVE and FAITHFULNESS permanently inscribed in our hearts. Love for God, Love for others, and habits of faithfulness to Him and His Word become positive habits so that others can see Jesus in us. They can see God at work in our lives. These are among the things I want to impress on my grandkids.

 



If you'd like to use this sentiment sometime, I saved it as a jpg file. You can click on it to get the larger image, then right click and do a "save as."  You can resize it to a smaller size and print it on a 4" x 6" piece of cardstock.  I keep a file of Word Art for special Scripture cards. You can also find more free word art at Word Art Wednesday and Word Art by Karen Murray at Papercraft Memories.

I hope you will find it easy to use an animal image and positive sentiment to share with us. We love to see your creativity! You can share it here at Twist of Faith!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

C is for Challenge - Animals
Cutie Pie Challenge #51 - Anything goes (cute)
Melonheadz Friends - Back to School
The Crazy Challenge #152 - Animals
There She Goes #221 - Fur Friends
Whoopsi Daisy - Back to School
 

Artbooking in August - Blog Hop #3

Welcome to the third week of Artbooking in August Blog Hop. You may have just come from the Clearly Stamping blog of Amy McVey.

Each week we are showing one of the following made with the newest Close To My Heart Cricut Artbooking cartridge in any order. Here's my order:

1. Card - (See it here)
2. Giftable items - (See them here and here.)
3. Scrapbook layout -  today!
4. Mini-album - next week

Most of the elements in this layout, except for the branch, were cut using the <L> key using the 11" measurement. The smaller tree and the word "adventure" were cut using 10" and the title mat was cut at real dial size 2.5"

I oriented the Barn Red wood grain horizontally to complement the orientation of the logs in the cabin. I mounted it on backgrounds of retired Sonoma because the fine lines more nearly resembled wood grain with the cut overlays. Also, I had saved a lot of Dakota paper knowing that we were taking the grandkids to Wyoming this summer, which explains the reason for the lighter wood grain mats from Dakota. I backed the Olive mat with smaller pieces of woodgrain, Barn Red and Black cardstock and used the Keyboard Kraft Alphabet to add extra words. The stamped words "Good Times" and the starry arrow are both stamps that are included in the Cricut Artbooking Cartridge set.

I had previously shared the following two layouts using the Artbooking cartridge. You can find details for this first one here.

 

 

(The second one, using older paper that wasn't CTMH,  was a Christmas heritage layout shown here.  I had started it some time previously and left it unfinished when I couldn't decide how to embellish it. I was inspired by the Artbooking images that seemed to finish the layout naturally.)


Thank you for visiting. I hope you're getting some ideas for your own layouts and Artbooking projects. Now you're ready to visit Maureen O'Sullivan's blog Something to Scrap About!

I'm sharing the log cabin layout with the following challenges:
Rochelle Spears Blog - August Travel Challenge
Craft Blogging Central - Anything goes
Crafty Calendar - August Anything goes
Mema's crafts - August - anything goes with vacation theme option

Clearly Digi Stamps August New Release - In Season

This is the second stamp set I'm showing today. You can find everyone's artwork for all of the new August release stamp sets at our blog, Clearly iStamp.

Here is the card I made using all four seasons of the stamp set In Season. I chose to use a Close To My Heart paper, Sarita, because it had colors appropriate for every season. I loved the variety of sentiments that came with this set, so you get a lot for a low price.

 



 

Images and Sentiment - CDS In Season

Copic Markers - B000, BG05, BG13, BG70, YG03, YG11, YG63, G24, G85, Y15, YR31, YR02, V04, N4. N6, E33, E43
Papers - CTMH Sarita paper pack, Outdoor Denim, Lagoon, Gypsy, and Bazzill (orange) cardstocks
Accents - CTMH goldrush button, lagoon baker's twine
Tools - printer

Crafting by Design - Anything Goes
Creative Card Crew #42 - (banner) / Pennant
Pollycraft Challenge #5 - Buttons and Bows
Word Art Wednesday #93 - anything goes with Scripture or encouraging/uplifting sentiment


 

Clearly Digi Stamps August New Release - Butterfly and Flowers

Today at Clearly Digi Stamps, you can find all of the latest newly released stamp sets and artwork using them.  You can see everyone's art at our blog, Clearly iStamp. I made two cards using Butterfly and Flowers. The first one has an image with a great sentiment that can benefit anyone. I kept my card simple so that I wouldn't detract from the sentiment of this pre-colored image. I colored three butterflies from this set to look like the earliest ones I see on our farm in the spring.  I rolled a glue dot to attach them under the body, leaving the wings free to "flutter."

Images/Sentiment - CDS Butterfly and Flowers
Copic Markers - Y11, Y13, Y21, YR31
Papers - CTMH Crème Brulee, Cocoa and white cardstock, Roxy patterned paper
Accents - Buttercup organdy, Sakura Gelly Roll glitter pen
Tools - printer; Adobe Photoshop
Technique - traced leaf flourishes with glitter pen. In Adobe Photoshop I did Adjustments/ Hue/ changed blue hue all the way to the right to make it green.

 

Here is the second card I made with this set of images. I used the outline images, not the pre-colored ones.

 

 



 

I printed two flowers, colored one and attached to the card. I only colored the central part of the image to cut out and pop dot on the first flower.

 

Digital Images and Sentiment - Butterfly and Flowers
Copic Markers - R81, R83, R85, R89, Y15, YG11, YG3, G24
Papers - CTMH Buttercup, White Daisy, and Hollyhock CS, Claire and Chantilly DP, unknown green polka dot dp
Accents - Baby Pink gingham ribbon
Tools - printer, Sizzix embossing folder

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

Crafting by Designs - Anything Goes
Designer's Choice Challenge #814/The House that Stamps Build - Things with Wings
Inklings and Yarns #26 - Anything Goes
Inky Impresions Challenge #121 - Anything with Wings
Nutcrafters #49 - Butterflies and bows
The Paper Shelter #124 - Ribbons
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #140 - lace or ribbon
Word Art Wednesday #93 - anything goes with Scripture or encouraging/uplifting verse


I'm sharing the 2nd card with Stampin' Royalty Challenge #189 - colors
and Cuttlbug Mania  -  Anything Goes with Embossing
 

 

 

 

Perfect Sentiments Challenge #87 - The Great Outdoors

Sometimes when I'm sick or not feeling well I like to envisage some picturesque vista that my husband and I visited on some vacation to a National Park. My hubby is a great photographer and always knows the best places to visit. Memories of these outdoor places are so soothing and inviting. This idea goes with my blog post today for The Perfect Sentiments Challenge #87:

The Great Outdoors

 

VACATION SEASON IS ABOUT TO COME TO A CLOSE AND IM SURE MANY OF YOU SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME OUTDOORS. CREATE A CARD WITH USING EITHER AN IMAGE OR SENTIMENT THAT HAS AN "OUTDOORSY" THEME. DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE A SENTIMENT ON THE FRONT!

 

I especially love summer trips to places with lakes, rivers, and tall pine tree forests. I continually marvel at the beauty of God's creations. Scenes in such places have given me memories that I carry in my mind and heart for those moments when you need an instant mental vacation.  I always tell my grown children the idea in Philippians 4:8 " Whatever things are . . .  lovely, think on these things." I chose an image and sentiment that express that idea quite well.

 

Our sponsor this week is Beccy's Place. Beccy Muir has so many lovely outdoor images. She is providing 3 of her digis to one lucky winner.

 

 

I used one of Beccy's free images that can be found on her blog, Pine Grove. I combined it with a sentiment from her store: Green..Tree..Heart. It especially reminded me of trips we took to the forests of Mt. Ranier in Washington. The silence was sometimes broken by the unique, loud call of their local Blue Jay, the inspiration for my card.

 

 

I kept this card simple. I used Basic Grey "Origins" dp as a background for the image. I edged distressed all of the papers just a little. I used some CTMH light green sparkles and hemp baker's twine that has two colors and is softer than most hemp. The blue bird and heart were cut using Cricut's Straight From the Nest cartridge. The background of the trees was lightly colored with light aqua BG00 and yellow green YG00 copics and W1, a warm neutral.

 

I hope you have some special memories of great outdoor places and that they will inspire you to celebrate those memories with a card to share with us.

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge #92 - Summer

A Little Bit Crafty - Summer
Try It on Tuesday - Create a Scene
Creative Craft Challenge #16 - Tic Tac Toe (3rd column down: twine, ivory, distress)

Fab 'n' Funky #181 - Anything that looks like summer

Heck of a Challenge - Summer Holidays

Pile It On #32 - Outdoors
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twist of Faith #50 - Women, Proverbs 31

 

 

This week at Twist of Faith we're celebrating Women and Proverbs 31.  My oldest daughter is in her mid 30's with four kids. She works full time, leads an Awanas group, is a "sports mom," and runs the concessions at the Christian School athletic events. We talked about Proverbs 31 today. We both love that passage. I told her I memorized it when I was a teenager and have loved being inspired by it ever since. She brought up an interesting point. She said she likes to combine that passage with "Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." She said busy young mothers need a lot of encouragement when they are trying to live up to the ideals of Proverbs 31. I know that I can do nothing in my own strength, but I can do all things that I need to do through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

Our lovely sponsor is Michelle Perkett Studio Digital Stamps. She has such positive images of women and girls they're great for this challenge!

 

My card shows mother and child with the reminder that when all is said and done, all those efforts, all that laundry, all those meals, refereeing arguments, teaching, guiding, etc., will have fruit in the end: your children will call you blessed, will thank you for those efforts. This may not seem likely if you've had children home from school all summer, maybe bickering, making messes, etc., but believe me, it will.

 

I used Basic Grey "Oh, Baby - Girl" papers, a pink mat from Close To My Heart "Chantilly" and their Crème Brulee ribbon. Pink flowers are Prima and the blue one is Recollections. The blue mat was embossed with the Sizzix Swirly Vines and Hearts folder. I used a Sakura Glitz pen to add glittery details to several of the design elements that you can see better in this closeup:

 

 

 

I used the image called "Thanks Mum" to illustrate this Proverb. The verse I printed is Wordart designed by Karen at Papercraft Memories. She has so many beautifully written, encouraging verses  that she freely shares. She even had one of the Proverbs 31 verses in French:

 



 

In the New International Version, the entire passage reads as follows:

 

The Wife of Noble Character

^10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;    
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

I hope you'll play along with us on this easy challenge illustrating any of the beautiful ideals of this passage in Proverbs. We're looking forward to see what you make!

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Eureka Stamps #52 - Blooms and blossoms

Get Inky - Ribbon
Sweet Pea Stampers - Embossing wet or dry

Word Art Wednesday #92 - anything goes with Scripture/encouraging positive sentiment