Beloved Bouquet Birthday Card

Have you ever met someone new and discovered that you had a lot in common?  When I first met Pat I found out that she goes to the church where my husband had been the pastor almost 40 years ago. Then I found out she knew some of our friends who live in Colorado. Finally, I discovered she was the nurse when my grandson was born at KU Med Center eight years ago. There were other "coincidences" but the important thing I appreciate about getting to know her is that we share a love for Christ, for family, and for crafting. Here's the birthday card I've made for her.

I thought I'd try another card stamped with the January Stamp of the Month, Beloved Bouquet, using some bright, sunny colors.

I used the Floral Embossing folder to make the background.  I stamped the rose with Sunset Ink on an old scrap of Creme Brulee. (I was sad to see that color retire.) I used pieces of the Kaleidoscope paper pack for stamping the leaves and cutting the tag.  I stamped the sentiment with Sunset using a stamp  from Balloon Wishes.  A strip of Pink glitter paper and some pink glitter gems (on clearance!) added the bling I wanted to keep the card bright and cheery. I found some amazing deals on clearance today that you may want to check out HERE.

 I cut the Creme Brulee heart border with a Martha Stewart punch. I used a circle punch to shape the tag edges. The green ribbon, button and twine are all old, retired CTMH products that I still love to use.

I hope you'll come back tomorrow to check out our team's blog hop. I have several projects for Easter using the soft and subtle colors of the Charlotte paper pack. You can find it HERE.

Thank you for visiting! I hope God helps you discover new friendships that will be a blessing to you both!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

All Sorts Week 348 - Bring on the Bling
Aud Sentiments Challenge #147 - anything goes
Crafting with Friends #13 -  anything goes
Jade's Sparkling Butterflies #11 - anything goes/ add a tag

Simply Papercrafts #22 - anything goes

Charlotte Card and Scrapbook Workshop

 I'd like to invite you to our blog hop on Sunday showing lots of ideas for using the Charlotte paper pack and Easter themed projects. You can find my post here on Sunday.

In addition, Close To My Heart has a new type of workshop designed to help you use up most of your paper pack. It's called Workshops Your Way. I wanted my workshop ladies and blog visitors to know that the one we're doing in February is the Charlotte Workshop Your Way. After making 3 layouts and a double-page pocket layout I made 9 cards sampled here, 3 each of 3 designs:

The next two cards show how subtle the large whisper rose pattern was on the card on the right. I accidentally thought it was supposed to be left white when I made the first one on the left. 

Here are the three scrapbook layouts for this workshop. You can find the cutting guides and directions on line here.

If you do pocket scrapbooking, here is the sample layout. When I made mine, I chose photos first, then I chose the cards that fit my leftover pockets.

Thank you for visiting! Please come back tomorrow for a preview card for Sunday's blog hop!

Embossed Thinking of You

One of the dear ladies I know just lost her mother. My heart is breaking for her because I know how heart-wrenching it can be to lose your mother. It prompts me to pray continually that she'll sense God's loving arms comforting her. Here's the card I made for her.

I kept it relatively flat for mailing so I added embossing with inking to give a little extra dimension. I also stamped the rose three times on patterned paper so I could cut it apart in layers and used thin dimensional tape to attach the layers. The rose stamp is the January stamp of the month, Beloved Bouquet. All of the papers were retired CTMH. I cut the leaves using Cricut Artistry from a different older paper pack that had similar colors to those on the rose. The small mat under the sentiment was cut using a Spellbinders die.

Thank you for visiting. May you feel God's loving presence holding you close during the difficult times you face in life!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Crafty Cardmakers #156 - Punches and/or dies
Fan-Tastic Tuesday #121 - anything goes with twist of add a flower/s
House of Cards - Embossing (and/or colors)
Frilly and Funkie - Enjoy your embossing
Stamping Sensations January Challenge - anything goes with a die (Spellbinder's Romantic Rectangles)
Sweet Stampin' - vintage or shabby chic
Use Your Stuff - Sequins (and/or glitter)

Card for a Speedy Recovery

Perhaps because I'm an aging baby boomer I seem to know more people all the time who have surgeries, hospital stays, injuries, or physical therapy. Because they're not really ill a get well card doesn't often seem appropriate. So today I made one "for a speedy recovery." That sounds better.

I was inspired by the Tuesday Throwdown Theme of "under the weather," the Color Dare at Color My Heart and the sketch at Atlantic Hearts.

  

The budding stems and the jar were cut using p. 2 of Cricut Artistry and the Cricut Explore.  I unlocked the images in edit and made the heighth and width different proportionally to fit what I envisioned. I love that editing feature! I was thinking of pussy willows so I colored the buds on the branches white using a chalk marker. I embossed the Peacock mat then lightly rubbed the Peacock ink pad over the raised design. The background paper with the light Crystal Blue stripe is from the new Penelope paper pack. The diamond patterned paper used to make the vase is, too, but the pattern is harder to see in my photo. The stamp used is from the set called Kiss It Better. I love the get well sentiments in that set!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch #143

Color My Heart Color Dare #177 - White Daisy, Whisper, Peacock, Crystal Blue 

Creative Knockouts #125 - Embossing

House of Cards January Challenge - Embossing

Moving Along with the Times #12 - Embossing

PDE Linky Party #107 - anything goes

Tuesday Throwdown #277 - Under the weather

Word Art Wednesday #218 - anything uplifting

6.5" x 5" Card Recipe (All CTMH):
Paper - Penelope, Whisper CS, Peacock CS
Ink - Peacock
Stamp - Kiss It Better B1508
Accessories - White Shimmer Trim, Whisper Thick Twine, Cricut Artistry, Quatrefoil Embossing folder, White Chalk Marker

Winter Cheer for Mojo Monday

Today is a gray, snowy day where we live. With all the bad roads and icy conditions my friend who's had lots of knee pain lately had to drive quite a way to see a doctor.  She found out she'll have surgery in a few days. She called me when she made it home. She's never had surgery before and naturally feels some apprehension in not knowing what to expect. I shared with her that I felt that way before major surgery. My pastor's wife encouraged me to calm my fears with scripture songs. She said the scripture ministers to your spirit and the music ministers to your soul (your mind, will, and emotions). I took a hymnal to the hospital with me and she was definitely right. I've found it to work for me for the last 36 years and a number of surgeries and injuries.

I decided to make more cards for winter encouragement. I made this card today thinking about the gray day and my friend that I'm praying for. The color challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare #176 was to use White Daisy, Whisper, Slate, and Black.  I also used the Mojo Monday sketch for this week.

 



 I embossed the background, some designer paper from retired CTMH Nevermore paper pack using the 5" x 7" dots embossing folder. Then I lightly rubbed the raised dots with white pigment ink. The scalloped circles were  cut using Cricut Art Philosophy. The white doily behind the large Whisper gray circle was cut with Cricut Artiste. (I don't remember where the snowflake came from since I use Explore.) The deer was stamped with Slate along with White Daisy pigment snowflakes. The sentiment was stamped twice with Black ink on white, once on Whisper, then cut and layered. All of the stamps came from D1613 Best Christmas.  I used retired gray sparkles on the snowflake and in the corner. The white strip on the right is glitter paper from the Gold Glitter paper pack.  It shows up better here with the whisper thick twine:

I printed a verse I wrote using the word processor. I like to write handwritten messages that are more personal, more detailed, so I kept it short with room for my additional message.

Thank you for visiting. May God keep you warm and blessed during these cold winter months!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
A Snowflake's Promise Challenge #14 - anything goes -winter theme
Cards and More #150 - woodland animals
Clear It Out - Winter theme - stash item: snowflake
Color My Heart Color Dare #176
 
The Paper Girls Challenge #96 - Forest Friends
Fantabulous Cricut #268 - Snow + Cricut cuts (this has 4 Cricut cuts)
Incy Wincy Designs - Tic Tac Toe (top row across: embossing, sentiment, rhinestones)

Mojo Monday #431 - sketch
The Paper Girls Challenge #96 - Forest Friends
Try It on Tuesday - Silhouette

Something New from Something Old

I have a card "hospital" for cards that I've made and don't like. Some I made long ago when I knew nothing about elements that make a good card. Others I made more recently and didn't finish because I didn't like the way it was going. I was challenged by the latest challenges to make Something New and decided to add the twist from ODBD and made it from Something Old and not just using something old. I added new sparkles, a very old white flower, die cut leaves, and a white die cut with a new verse from a set of stamps I hadn't opened yet called Praying for a Cure. It says, "I sing in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to you; Your right hand right had upholds me. Psalm 63-6-8"

Now I'm happy with the result. I'll be glad to give it to a friend who needs encouragement.

Here is my "old" original card that I made last March. I couldn't decide what to do with the flower, so I hadn't attached it. I also didn't like the way I colored the outer part of the sentiment frame with a new alcohol ink marker.  Ugh!  Walking through  the dollar store last week provided a couple of packages of heart gems, My "NEW" item along with the stamp set.

The transformation encouraged me to doctor a couple of other cards in my "card hospital" today. Maybe next I'll work on a few unfinished scrapbook layouts!

Thank you for visiting!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Crafting When We Can #110 - Something New
Crafty Catz #307 - Word Art
Our Daily Bread Designs SLC #269 - Something New, Something Old
Stamping Sensations - Anything goes with a die
The Crafty Calendar - Something New

6.5" x 5" Card Recipe:
Papers - CTMH Brushed paper pack
Stamps -  ODBD "Praying for a Cure;" CTMH "Pretty Petals" (old sentiment 2015 March stamp of the month "Choose Happy"
Inks - Memento Tuxedo Black, CTMH Canary, Pixie (sponged in the center)
Accessories - Cricut (I don't remember the cartridge used in March), Spellbinders Scalloped Square and Foliage, Pixie Thicker Twine, Pink Heart sparkles from the dollar store

Loving Hands Anniversary Card

One of my dear friends is celebrating her anniversary this week. She deserves a lovely card to let her know how special the day is and, even more, to know that I pray for God's blessings in their relationship.

Here's the inside that I typed and printed before adding my handwritten best wishes. The top verse about love from the digi set, John 15:12, commands us to love one another the way Christ has love us. It's simply stated, but it's a tall order when you think of the sacrifice He made for each and every one of us when He died to atone for our own sins. The longer I think about that, the more I'd like to be like Him with His gentleness, kindness, love and encouragement that builds up others and strives to meet their needs.  I see that kind of love in my friend who is getting this card.  She's such a dear!

The main sentiment was inspired from some I found on a free website for card verses. I adapted the verse with a few changes of my own.

The image of hands came from a set of images and verses by Dee Dee Anderson from both her retired web store and that of retired Clear Dollar Stamps.  It was called Loving Hands in case you have that one. I printed it on peach colored cardstock. The background paper is CTMH Kaleidoscope. The chipboard Hearts are from CTMH Charlotte Complements and the banner was a Cricut set that I inked, I think from Cricut Artistry. The embossing folder for the white heart panel was also from CTMH. The stitched oval was cut using an MFT die and a Cricut scallopedoval was reproportioned and sized to fit behind it.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Craft Rocket Challenge #6 - Happy Anything
Crafty Girls Creations #12 - anything goes
In the Pink #85 - anything goes (with lots of pink)
Little Miss Muffett #129 - anything goes
Simply Papercraft #21 - anything goes
The Crafty Addicts #6 - Anything goes/Celebrations
Through the Purple Haze #93 - anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #217 - anything uplifting

Birthday Swing Card

I made this card while the wind was howling with single degree temperatures outside. I'm definitely in the mood for flowers and spring!

Cricut Artfully Sent has quite a few swing card patterns so I thought I'd try another with a flower cut-out using CTMH Blossom paper. I adjusted the size to 6.5" x 5" in Design Space.  If you unlock the lock next to the size you can make the proportions different than the original.  I liked the inside sentiment mat that was cut with "stitched" scalloped edges. I had a sheet of green vellum from eons ago so I cut leaves on the Cricut for the front and inside.

 I combined several small birthday sentiment stamps to get the one I wanted, making sure that they fit behind the top or showed on front like the Happy Birthday (see recipe below). I wanted a large sequins inside the flower center and added a few more by placing them under solid flower parts. Practicing first on a sample made from yellow paper from my scrap drawer helped.

 (Since I wasn't sure how it would turn out so I practiced with this Basic Grey double sided paper from my scrap drawer first and decided to keep it, too.) 

Thank you for visiting. 

I'm sharing the blue card with the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create #158 - anything goes with optional birthday/anniversary

Crafting from the Heart #94 - anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper January Challenge - anything goes with patterned paper

Fantasy Stampers #53 - Happy Birthday

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #6 - anything goes

Paper Minutes #417 - anything goes

Quirky Crafts Challenge #1 - Let's Quirky Celebrate

The Crazy Challenge #217 - celebrations

Winter Wonderland - Spring is in the air

6.5" x 5" Birthday Card Recipe:

Papers - CTMH Blossom (blue an sunset), White Daisy CS; Basic Grey Nook and Pantry (Yellow); very old green vellum from my stash

Stamps - Both retired CTMH: Happy Everything, Card Chatter-Birthday

Ink - Memento - Tuxedo Black

Other - CTMH Cricut Artfully Sent, gold sequins

Bling Sparkle Shine Birthday Card

I'm making cards using a CTMH Kaleidoscope paper pack and when I opened a pack of Complements that go with the paper I saw that there were some jewel shapes in the stickers, chipboard pieces, and transparent stickers. I'm not really into jewel shapes for cards, but they seem to be popular. They made me think about a verse I memorized as a teenager: Proverbs 31:10, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."

It was the first verse in an amazing list of attributes of the ideal godly woman I always strive to become.  You can read them here. A few qualities, like rising while it is still night to prepare food for her household, isn't as easy as having my candle not going out by night. If you read the list, the qualities definitely made this ideal woman an ambitious, successful crafter, listing all the things she made! As for me, despite having 50 years to practice, I know I'll always need His help living these qualities in such a way to honor Him.


My daughter suggested to me that jewels would be perfect for little girls' birthdays, so here's the birthday card I made for "her little jewel" who will turn eight next week.

I used this sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches #333:

 

I changed the angle of the lighting so you could see a little more of the sparkle.

 

 I traced the lines on the gem stickers and the white vertical lines on the top and bottom (which aren't showing) with a Sakura Gelly Roll clear glitter pen.  I also added little lines on the yellow circle. Both of the pink Cricut cuts were made out of CTMH Fundamentals cardstock using the glossy pattern side that slightly show here with tiny circles. The large gem, words, and circles were cut using Cricut Artistry.

I used a verse from Word Art Wednesday (from May 8, 2013) on the inside ("Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16) along with a birthday verse I made that includes "leave a little sparkle where ever you go." I adorned them with tiny strips of glitter cardstock and three of the jewel transparency stickers from the Complements.

Thank you for visiting and letting me share. May you seek to be a Proverbs 31 woman and may God bless your crafting as He did hers.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Dragonfly Journeys #38 - Birthday
Fantabulous Cricut #267 - Something new (birthday, paper and embellishments)
Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #169 - anything goes
Ooh-la-la Creations Challenge #195 - Girlie
 Quirky Crafts Challenge #1 - Let's Quirky Celebrate
The Crafty Addicts #6 - Celebrations
The Crazy Challenge #213 - Celebrations
Tuesday Morning Sketches #333 
 Word Art Wednesday #217 - anything uplifting

Beloved Bouquet - January Stamp of the Month

Happy New Year!

I was halfway finished addressing and writing notes in Christmas cards this year when I suddenly developed migraines that lasted two weeks. My stomach was too upset to take medication, so I spent a lot of time resting. At times like that I always drastically prioritize: this doesn't have to be done this year, this I can do in a few days, etc. (In teaching reading I called that "Monitor and Adjust.") Thankfully, I had finished shopping. The bottom line was that I had some very good friends who didn't get a Christmas card from me, so I decided I can send them a different type of card after the new year.

Here's my new start for a new year. I used this lovely stamp of the month to make three cards to say I love you!  I matched it up with the La Vie En Rose paper pack. The first one uses this week's sketch from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #140:

It's embossed with gold, has black and gold ribbon, gold glitter paper, and a gold epoxy heart. This next photo shows how glittery it is in certain light.

 

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

4 Crafty Chicks #279 - anything goes

Crafty Gals Corner #52 - anything goes
Creative Corner - anything goes

Inspiration Destnation #66 - always anything goes

This next one was stamped with sorbet ink, then overstamped with the black details. I used an alcohol ink marker (ShinHan Light Orange and Pastel Green) to add shading and the colorless blender to remove ink to add highlights. I had always known that alcohol would clean remnants of my dye ink off of my work area but had never tried this on paper so I was pleased to find out that it works on paper, too.

 I stamped the third card with Hollyhock ink and shaded some parts with Cherry Pink ShinHan Touch Twin alcohol marker.

I loved the sentiment on this card: "Love is not a matter of counting the years, it's a matter of making the years count!"

If you have this stamp set, I hope I've given you some ideas. If you'd like to get it you can find it on my website here.

The last two cards each use a pattern from an upcoming workshop I'm doing in February using the Charlotte paper pack that just became available today in the new CTMH Seasonal Expressions catalogue.  Here's a sneak peak: