Sunshine and Smiles

While New Orleans is being flooded with too much rain, here in Missouri we're praying that there will be some rain left as it heads our way--and soon. The county where I live has missed most of the meager rainfalls that surrounding counties have had. I think that's why I've been looking for the usual wild sunflowers that bloom here in August and I don't see any.  So I decided to make my own sunflowers this week with cards. The image and sentiment for this one comes from Clear Dollar Stamps. It's called Sunshine and Smiles. I chose the words that say, "Sunflowers are God's way of saying "Chin up!" They really do turn their "heads' to face the sun as it moves across the sky. So do my daffodils in the spring. I thought that was a great analogy.

 

I used this great sketch from Fetch a Sketch, making it rectangular.

 

I scissor distressed the edges of my image, added one row of stitching with embroidery thread on the left side of the mat. (Wow, I actually could see the hole in the needle to thread it!!) I tied organdy around the punched border and topped the bow with a wooden button tied with embroidery thread.

 

Now I'm turning my head up like the sunflowers and praying for some of that rain!

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Crafting for All Seasons  Challenge #34 - Stitching Real or Faux (mine are real)

Crafty Creations Challenge #185 - Summer Scene
Fetch a Sketch Challenge #31
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #154 - Punches, dies, or shapes

5.5" x 4.25" Encouragement Card Recipe:
Paper - The Paper Studio "Simple Elegance," Close To My Heart White Daisy, Olive, Honey cardstock
Image - Clear Dollar Stamps Digital "Sunshine and Smiles"
Markers - CopicsY17 (Golden Yellow), E33 (Sand), E25 (Caribe Cocoa), BG10 (Cool Shadow), N02; CTMH Alcohol markers Creme Brulee, Olive, Light Olive, Black
Accents - CTMH Goldrush organdy ribbon (retired), Chocolate wooden button; white embroidery thread
Tools - Martha Stewart border punch, CTMH ruler (with holes - to punch for sewing) needle for hand stitching, scissors for edge distressing


 

Mojo Monday 248 Birthday Card

I've been spending time at my daughter's house "watching" her four children, taking them on little trips. This week we visited Deana Rose Farmstead, panned for gold and "gems," visited an 1893 schoolhouse where they read books and wrote on slates with a teacher.  We had ice cream cones on the coolest day of the week - only 97 degrees. But when I looked at my birthday calendar when I got home I saw that so many days of playing grandma wasn't helping me catch up with my card-making.

Since every day has been so hot and sunny, it makes me want to create with bright, vivid colors. Here's a birthday card using the Mojo Monday sketch #248 and a simple greeting from Verve.

The papers were scraps laying on my table that I was starting to clear off. The flower outline paper has the green dots on the back of it. I colored the dimensional butterfly with inks, markers and a copic marker. I added pearls where the holes were on my punched border.  Once again the Mojo sketch maker gave me great inspiration.

May God bless you with "sunny" days even when it's cloudy and protect you from the extremes of weather.

I was inspired by the following challenges:
Crafty Creations challenge #176: Try AT LEAST 3 different embellishments: brads, pearls, ribbon, flowers, dew drops, punched elements,pins etc. (I added buttons, twine, and die cut, too)
Dream Valley challenge #35 - Things with Wings
Dutch Dare Card Challenge #171 - Flutterby Butterfly
Fashionista Challenge #4 - Winged Things
Mojo Monday Challenge #248 - sketch, contest week

4.25" x 5.5" Birthday Card Recipe:
Paper - Close To My Heart "Dotty for You," Buttercup and Tulip cardstock;  My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose "Gertie" (striped)
Stamp - Verve "Hope Blooms"
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, CTMH Cranberry, Tulip
Accents and Tools - CTMH "Flutter Paper Shapes," Pearl Opaques, Baker's Twine "Paradise Assortment," retired buttons; Prima flower; ribbon unknown