Feminine Birthday Card

I remember many years ago starting a new teaching job in Dodge City, Kansas, far away from home. There was a pay raise and it was encouraging to know they wanted me as their reading specialist out of all the applicants. (They had asked me to apply!) But the move was difficult and we couldn't find good housing. (We seemed to have moved to a bad neighborhood.) I was serving two schools, but had to walk to the 2nd school and walk the students to our main building. I had no friends yet and my daughter seemed to be sick all the time, a really tough thing for a working mom. On my birthday I came home and found a birthday card from my younger sister Jan and it changed everything!  Knowing someone remembered and cared lifted my spirits and made the burdens lighter. I set that card in a prominent spot and glanced at it often to remind myself that things aren't really so bad when you know you are loved. I knew that God loved me, but it was definitely a great encouragement to have Him use someone to relay the same. This is why I believe in sending cards!

Saturday is Jan's birthday so I'm sending my love across the miles by making this card, hoping that she'll feel that same assurance.

I made the background by embossing my CTMH Blush cardstock with my new CTMH Damask folder, sanding the raised pattern lightly to reveal the white core. I cut the frame using Cricut Artbooking cartiridge, p. 47, then stamping with vineyard berry ink. The stamped design has three perfect spots for adding pearls.

Thank you for visiting. May God bless you with the awareness of His constant love for you and may you share His love with those around you!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Craft-Dee BowZ January challenge - anything goes with handmade bow
Crafting from the Heart #44 - anything goes
Crafty Creations #281 - something old (patterned paper banner strip from 2012)/Something new (CTMH Damask embossing folder)
Cut It Up Challenge #63 - die cut and embossing
In the Pink #61 - pink and pearlie
Loves Rubber Stamps #136 - pink and girly
Scrapbook Stamp Society #58 - anything goes with birthday option
Seize the Birthday - anything goes

 

The Crafters Cafe #101 - make your own background

The Stamping Boutique #51 - make your own background

Stamps used:

In the Moment: 
Happy to be Friends:

Birthday Blessings Card

I was organizing some scraps of paper this week and chose several that I thought would make lovely cards.  One of them was this vintage rose pattern from Graphic 45's "Little Darlings" collection. It seemed to be the perfect one for the #28 challenge at Creative Colors, to use pink, green, patterned paper and laces, inspired by this feminine photo:

I also wanted to combine this card with this week's Mojo Monday sketch and the Shining the Light Challenge #224 at Our Daily Bread Designs to use one of their stamps. I used two of the Birthday Blessings stamps, inside and out.  The birthday blessing stamped inside is from 3 John 1:2 : "Dear Friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even your soul is getting along well."

I stacked two pink laces and cut the oval and its frame using Cricut Art Philosophy. Thank you for visiting! May God bless you and your crafting that you may be a blessing to others as well!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Creative Colors #28 - pink, green, patterned paper, laces

Deep Ocean Challenge #96 - laces and pearls

Loves Rubber Stamps #136 - pink and girly

Mojo Monday #382 - sketch

Our Daily Bread Designs SLC #224 - use an ODBD stamp

Word Art Wednesday #167- anything uplifting

With Heartfelt Sympathy

I never have enough sympathy cards. I was glad to see the challenge from Bitten By the Bug2 today to make them with the Cricut. Sympathy cards seem to be hard to make sometimes. I've been on the receiving end enough to realize how much it means to know that someone cares, that someone is praying for you when you've lost a loved one. Here are two I made ahead, hoping I won't need them yet.

I chose a swirly frame stamp that uses a shape from Cricut Artfully Sent, sized 1.75." I cut two larger mats by adding an eighth and a fourth of an inch more to the heighth.  I used some old, retired scraps I had sitting out. All of the papers and embellishments are from Close To My Heart (except the flower and pink ribbon).

Thank you for visiting. May God bless your crafting for those you love!

I'm sharing them with the following challenges:
Bitten by the Bug 2 - Sympathy Card
Come and Get It - Ribbon and bows
Crafting for All Seasons #94 - Things with wings
Fussy and Fancy #131 - things with wings
Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #121 - both pearls (mine are black) and swirls (design in paper, frame, and pearl flourish)
Kitty Bee Designs #39 - use scraps
Sunday Stamper #342 - Wind beneath my Wings
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #64  - add layers  (5 layers on my sentiment on last card)
Word Art Wednesday #167 - anything uplifting

Stamps used:
Sincere Expressions  and   Cricut Artfully Sent Curlicue Tags  and retired set

50th Anniversary Card

 A lot of us are making valentines right now. I believe it's a great time to tell others how much we love them. It also reminds me that I never have enough anniversary cards to tell couples how special their love is. I made a couple of cards for a 50th anniversary to help friends celebrate the longevity of their love and commitment.

The next one uses the same basic pattern and papers, but different ribbon and embellishments.

I stamped flowers and script behind the stamped frame using a retired CTMH stamp set. The sparkly card also has a bee from that stamp set. I used one of my newest CTMH sentiment stamps for the "Happy Anniversary" sentiment. All of the supplies are from CTMH except the gold ribbon and heart sparkles, and flowers from Michaels.

Thank you for visiting! May you be blessed with love overflowing to share with all those around you!


I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Clear It Out - valentine's/love and stash - flowers
Crafts 4 Eternity #210 - Numbers
Crafting from the Heart #43 - anything goes
Fairytale Stampers #50 - Flowers
Just Inspirational Challenge - Sparkle
Love to Scrap #46 - anything goes
Scrap and Craft #1 - anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge #89 - anything goes
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #63 - anything goes with option - sparkle
The Pink Elephant #282 - Love

Happy to Be Friends stamp set:                                                 

 Chalk It Up Assortment (Hearts)


Retired: La Belle Vie paper pack, and Jardin stamp set from CTMH.

Trusting His Lovingkindness in the Morning Card

I have to admit it, I truly hate mornings. I try to avoid morning appointments.  I seem to be more alive in the afternoons and evenings. One time my doctor was going over my lab tests and said that according to my epinephrine/norepinephrine ratio, it looked like I was creative and felt more alert in the evening. Wow! So there's medical evidence for creativity and being a night owl?!!  Yet I still have to join the rest of the world in the morning sometimes, so this Psalm from Word Art Wednesday is my new plea. "Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning. . ." That little voice inside my head has been repeating those words a lot the last couple of weeks. My role is to TRUST that He will. Thinking about God's love inspired the heart shape I used on this card:

The entire beautiful verse says, "Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning, FOR IN THEE DO I TRUST; Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, FOR I LIFT MY SOUL UNTO THEE." Psalm 143:8. I'm convinced that as we follow the second part, lifting our souls toward Him, looking for His guidance, so that He'll show us the way to go, what to do through the day, that following His will leads us in the paths that will naturally bring us to a place of more blessings.


I used this week's sketch from Mojo Monday and the colors turquoise and red from Sketchy Colors:

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you with His lovingkindness and may you learn to trust Him more!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Bunny Zoe's Crafts January Challenge - Hearts
Jellypark Friends - Bling it up
Mojo Monday #381 - Sketch
Sketchy Colors #240 - mainly turquoise and red
The Crazy Challenge #189 - embossing
Tuesday Throwdown #228 - embossing
Word Art Wednesday #167 - anything uplifting

6.5" x 5" Card CTMH supplies:
Paper - CTMH Heartstrings Paper and Lagoon, White daisy, and Black Cardstock

CTMH Heart Embossing Folder for Cranberry dp and White cs background panels (The Paper Studio Tiny Hearts for Lagoon CS:

CTMH Teal Shimmer Trim and retired Blue/Green Sparkles

God's Love Scripture Card

Here is what came to mind when I saw the color challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs this week. It revolves around the shades of purple and lavender.

 

When I was a girl, shades of purple and lavender were my favorite colors. By the time I was 11, my family moved to a larger house and I was given a bedroom all my own. My dad painted and hung wallpaper trim that was lavender and my mom bought bedspread, curtains, and pillows in various purples. Since it was my own room (not shared with any of my three younger sisters) I was allowed to stay up later and read in bed before going to sleep. I was very active in church and I was working on reading through the books of Luke and Acts when I was 11 and 12. I look back at those purple years as significant in defining who I am. Also, after all these years I've continued to read the Bible and other devotional books before bed. I learned that no matter what trials life would bring my way, God's word had answers and God's love would give me solace.

I chose to use a verse from Our Daily Bread Designs, Scripture Collection 5, 2 Thessalonians 3:5 : "May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." This is my hope for each of you!

I stacked two purple flowers from CTMH (retired) and The Paper Studio Spare Parts. The ribbon is fuzzy and embedded with sparkly beads. The two glitter hearts are from CTMH.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you with more and more of His love!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks #229 - flowers
Aud Sentiments Challenge #123 - anything goes
Jo's Scrap Shack Fun-day Friday Challenge #71 - Anything Goes
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #222 - colors
Paper Creator's Crafts #34 - Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge #89 - anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #166 - anything uplifting

Music, Soul Deep - Layout

The other day I was cleaning up and found three snapshots of my aunt and uncle with my brother and I in 1969. They're not great photos, but I was excited to find them. My dad took these simple snapshots of my aunt and uncle, but these were special because I had been thinking about them for a couple of weeks, telling my hubby how amazing they were. This is a rare set of captured moments with people I loved who always lived out of state.


My uncle was a minister and I spent a month with them each summer when I was 13 and 14. Aunt Millie was always singing hymns while she worked or cooked. Uncle Kenneth surprised me at church when he played the piano a few times. He played with such energy and flourish. He was playing the hymns elaborately his own way rather than what was simply written on the page, so my idea was that it came from his soul to praise God. That's why I included Psalm 28:7 from Word Art Wednesday, dated April 11, 2012.




Here's the layout (left page) that I made inspired by the sketch at Scrapping Everyday Miracles last week. For my friends and family, the occasion was my brother's 7th birthday on Christmas Eve. I was 20. I'm still writing the 8.5" x 11" two column page of journaling memories that will go on the right page. This layout will go in my personal heritage album.


Here's the sketch  that inspired me:

The verse I chose expresses their perspective on life and influence on me, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. Psalm 28:7"


I'm sharing this layout with the following challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #293 - not a card
Crafting from the Heart Challenge #42 -anything goes
Lasting Memories January # 224 - Captured Moments
Not Just Cards  Challenge #10- anything goes
Scrapping Everyday Miracles - sketch
Sisters of Craft January Challenge - anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #165 - anything uplifting


12" x 12" Layout Supplies:
Papers - Close To My Heart retired"Flirty," "Sarita," "Laughing Lola;" Thistle Cardstock, unknown music paper
Stamp - CTMH "Geometric Background"
Ink - CTMH Thistle, Champagne Pigment Ink (soul deep letters and cork)
Embellishments and tools - CTMH retired Color Ready Cork shapes, letter stickers. black ink marker to color "MUSIC," Cricut Art Philosophy to cut music hearts for cork hearts, printer for scripture verse

Mojo Monday Heartstrings Psalm

I meant to post this a couple of days ago when I made it, but the below-freezing temperatures had other plans for me. First there was the frozen water line. The next day super strong winds with below-zero wind chills made the house feel like windows were open. Northern Missouri is definitely in a deep freeze for quite a few days. When I hear about Minnesota, though, where my hubby occasionally has to work, I feel thankful it's not worse here. I'm even more thankful that I retired and no longer have to make the 30 mile drive to school during bad weather!

I found myself focusing on my scripture stamps this week that keep my thoughts on the positive things. I know God wants me to think about His love and care and to be thankful for His provision in my life. No matter how extreme the weather or circumstances, He is always the same - always wise, loving and in control. Here's one of His promises I love:

Here's the fun sketch I used from Mojo Monday this week:

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Clear It Out - anything goes/any stash item (glitter ribbon several years old)
Crafting By Designs January challenge - anything goes
Crafty Gals Corner #1 - anything goes
Inspiration Destination #15 - anything goes
Little Red Wagon #271 - sparkle and shine
Mojo Monday #379- sketch
Shopping Our Stash #183 - use something new (epoxy glitter hearts)
Stampavie and more #228 - ribbon
Word Art Wednesday #165 - anything uplifting

5.5" x 4.25" Card Supplies:
Paper - CTMH Heartstrings, Pink Glitter Cardstock,
Stamp - Verve ( mine is a retired Plain Jane) now available in Scripture Medley 1
Ink - CTMH Black
Ebmbellishments - Heartstrings Picture My Life Card, Stuck on You Puffies, Red Glitter Ribbon (Michaels)

Remember This Moment Layout

Many years ago, I graduated from college in December, so I began my teaching career as a substitute teacher in Kansas City, a very large district. I only taught older students. I remember the first time I had to teach first graders. The principal had requested me to teach 5th grade and when I arrived he admitted he had tricked me to come teach first graders. I had no idea what to do with that age. A couple of years later I had a contract to teach first grade in a Christian school. I fell in love with those lovely six-year-olds.  In fact, I spent most of my 30 years teaching first and second graders how to read. Now my two youngest grandchildren are in first grade and I love to spend time with them. I'd like to keep them that sweet age forever!

My hubby and kids know that one of my greatest simple pleasures is simply spending time with grandchildren. I took the photos on this layout when we took a lovely walk through the Overland Park Arboretum this fall. This layout will help me remember how lovely and adorable our six-year-old granddaughter is, even when she's grown past this sweet innocence.

I used the layout pattern from Magic, "Levitate," on page 40. The great words in this January Stamp of the Month were perfect for this layout made with CTMH Heartstrings paper and stickers. (The grouping of three words on the left page were cut from one of the zip strips at the top of one of the papers.) I cut the heart on that page using Cricut Artbooking. I stamped it on the back side by turning the stamp upside down on the block so the words wouldn't show. I stamped all the images with either Cranberry or Black ink. I used red enamel hearts and Pixie extra thick twine to embellish the pages. I tried something new with the Hollyhock panel on the left page. I wanted the bottom of the 4" x 12" panel to be embossed with hearts but it couldn't fit into the Heart embossing folder the right direction. So I embossed a piece of Hollyhock cardstock that was 3.75" x 5" and attached it to the longer Hollyhock panel.

I wanted the Love Note to say something she can understand now and something to ponder in the future. The journaling block says: "God has blessed you with a loving, cheerful disposition. May you always grow in His grace. I'm glad you could be here on my birthday, October 4, 2014."



If you'd like more ideas using this paper and stamp set you can see the cards I made by visiting my blog here and here.

Thank you for visiting. May God inspire you to share and celebrate your love by making memorable layouts and inspiring cards!
I'm sharing this layout with the following challenges:
2 Creative Chicks #22 - anything goes, not cards
Crafting When We Can #85 - anything but a card
Lasting Memories #123 - Simple pleasures
Word Art Wednesday #164 - anything uplifting
Your Scrapbook Place - anything goes

Truly Best Friends Card Using January Stamp of the Month

Temperatures are well below freezing here, single digits on the Fahrenheit temperature scale.  Australia and South Africa sound like nice places to visit during winter! Instead, I'm planning on staying inside and creating like many of you are doing! Like Philippians 4:8 says ; ; ;"whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things," making cards or gifts for friends is definitely more lovely!
Here's another card using the January Stamp of the Month and the Heartstrings paper. I also used two PML scrapbooking cards from the Heartstrings set. I matted the red heart on black glitter cardstock and added a strip of teal

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create #105 - anything goes (optional matching envelope)
Crafting Musketeers #21 - hats and/or valentine
Crafty Catz #260 - anything goes
Creative Corner - Be Mine
Polka Doodles Challenge - diagonal: sentiment, ribbon, polka dots

The Crafting Café January Challenge - lots of layers
The Sisters of Craft January Challenge - anything goes
The Paper Shelter - anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #164 - anything uplifting

Hugs and Kisses Mojo Monday Card

Now that it's January, we're having frigid weather with ice and snow on the way tonight. With everything gray outside, I love to work with bright, happy papers.  I think it's better to think of lovely things to make for friends than to focus on bad weather, a perfect example of Philippians 4:8: 
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
For the next couple of days I'll be posting cards and a layout I'm making using the new CTMH Heartstrings paper pack and the January Stamp of the Month, "This Moment." The red background is a 4" x 6" PML card from the Heartstrings set.  I love the color combo in this set.

The banners were cut from some of the Paper Fundamentals to add a little variety to these papers. The sketch is the tall and skinny sketch from MOJO Monday #378 this week:

I heat embossed the hugs and kisses sentiment from the Heartstrings Cardmaking workshop stamp set.  The Pixie colored extra thick twine is one of my new playthings.  I used the first column down in this Polka Doodles Challenge.



Thank you for visiting. May God bless your crafting with lovely thoughts and things to share that will bless others in turn!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
ABC Challenge - A=anything goes
Crafty Catz #260 - anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper January Challenge
Creative Corner - Be Mine
Divas By Design - anything goes
Mojo Monday #378 - sketch
Polka Doodles Challenge - bingo down - sentiment, more than 2 layers, wet embossing
Word Art Wednesday #164 - anything uplifting