New Life for a Happy Easter!

My spring flowers, bushes, and fruit trees are in bloom with these colors! It's so uplifting to see them come to life after a barren, colorless winter! My card uses Graphic45 paper and unknown ribbon and flowers from my stash.

Today I'm celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many people are focusing on bunnies, chicks, Easter eggs, and family dinners. My view of eggs and chicks are that they represent new life and the new life we receive by placing our faith in Jesus Christ, making Him the Lord of our life. In the Old Testament of the Bible, something had to die to take the punishment for one's sin, a sheep, goat, or cow. When Christ, God in flesh like us, came to earth as the sinless Savior, his plan was to die in our place as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice. What's more amazing was that He didn't remain dead, but rose again after three days to show us that as believers in His death, we, too, can have new life both on earth and after death in heaven with Him. I hope and pray that you have received the gift of new life by believing in Christ's death on the cross for you. I also hope you've found that close relationship with Him, letting Him direct your life through His Word and His Spirit. If you haven't yet, I hope you'll check out this information for a better understanding.

May God bless and keep you as you celebrate Easter!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks - Easter
All Sorts week 305 - Easter
Kitty Bee Designs Aloha Friday #44 - Easter
Luna Girl Moonbeams Creative Challenge - spring chickens
Polka Doodles - use a die (Spellbinders scalloped rectangle)
Really Reasonable Ribbon #115 - things with wings
Word Art Wednesday #177 - anything uplifting

Light in the Soul Asian Card

I love the simplicity of Asian cards. I've also always enjoyed the wisdom of Chinese proverbs. Today I combined the sketch from Mark's Finest Papers Speedy TV Oriental Card Challenge #67 with a CTMH stamp I have about light in the soul which is the beginning of this Chinese proverb:

If there is light in the soul,
There will be beauty in the person.

If there is beauty in the person,
There will be harmony in the house.

If there is harmony in the house,
There will be order in the nation.

If there is order in the nation,
There will be peace in the world. 

 

The paper lanterns paper is from the Graphic45 "Bird Song" collection. The gold glitter paper and retired stamp are from Close To My Heart.

Thank you for visiting! May your light shine for all to see and your world be blessed with peace!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Crafting By Designs March - anything goes
Craft Your Passion #251 - anything goes
Cuttin and Stampin #9 - gold
Inspiration Destination #23 - anything goes
MFP Speedy TV Oriental Sketch Challenge #67
Papertake Weekly - -anything goes
Scrapper's Delights #42 - anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #173 - anything uplifting

Viva la Verve February Sketch 3

My Sheri Crafts had the right idea for a challenge this week - "Think Spring!!" Our ground is covered with more white stuff today and those of us with snow are so very ready for warmer weather and the buds of spring. Here's another card with spring colors and seed packet images from Graphic45. The wonderful sentiment is a Plain Jane from Verve, "All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today." It's not just talking about flowers, but refers to all the good things in life. I hope I can help teach this concept to my grandchildren. Simply, the little things they do now will make a difference in their lives tomorrow.

I used this sketch from Viva la Verve and Bingo (sentiment plus ribbon, flowers, embossing) from Aud Sentiments Challenge:

Thank you for visiting! May you be blessed with the fruits of good seeds planted earlier in life!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments Challenge #126 - Bingo (ribbon, flowers, embossing) plus sentiment
Crafter's Cafe #105 - lots of layers
My Sheri Crafts #151 - Think Spring
Really Reasonable Ribbon #112 - ribbon plus purple and green
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #69 - anything goes with twist - embossing
The Stamping Boutique - more than one layer
Viva la Verve February Week 3 sketch
Word Art Wednesday #172 -  anything uplifting

Viva La Verve February Sketch 2

In my younger gardening days I would start planning what flowers, trees, and vegetables I would grow as early as January. I would begin growing flats of annual and perennial flowers under ultraviolet lights. Stores and garden centers would usually start selling seed packets in January.

Perhaps that will explain why I chose these Graphic45 papers with flowers and seed packets to go with this scripture stamp from Verve. Most of us make plans of some type. Sometimes life's details upset our best plans, but our loving God can direct our steps along the path that is best for us. When I had an accident that tore three tendons and injured my back, my consuming hobby changed from gardening to papercrafting. May God direct your steps along life's way!

 The background was embossed with a CTMH Scallops embossing folder. Here's the sketch I used from the Viva la Verve challenge:

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Craft-Dee BowZ February Challenge - anything goes with a handmade bow
Crafting from the Heart #48 - anything goes
Craft It Up Link It Up (Craftin' Desert Diva's) - use ribbon
Crafty Boots Challenge - use a sentiment
Get Creative Challenge #9 - embossing
Loves Rubber Stamps #140 - use ribbon and/or lace
Love to Scrap #48 - anything goes
Monday Morning Challenge #4 - Spring
Vintage Stamping Challenge #29 - Spring colors
Viva la Verve February Sketch 2

Viva la Verve February Sketch 1

I'm still playing with spring-inspired papers to make these Viva La Verve encouragement cards. This one uses the sketch from week 1 for February.

On this card I used circle punch, Cricut Art Philosophy  for additional circle, and the Spellbinder's Nestabilities die, Lacey Circles. The butterfly was hand cut and has three black gems on the body and head. The first one above had soft spring colors, so I used more of my scraps and made one with slightly bolder accent colors.  The scalloped circle die cut was from Cricut Art Philosophy.

I used this fun sketch:

The Verve butterfly goes well with the butterflies on the Graphic45 paper.

I'm sharing these cards with the following challenges:
Crafting for All Seasons #96 - dies and/or punches (I used both.)
Crafts 4 Eternity R#214 - circles
Die Cut Divas February Challenge - words, quotes, sentiments (my die cut from Cricut Art Philosophy)
Mod Squad Challenge - Spring
Monday Morning Challenge #4 - Spring
The Corrosive Challenge #218 - things with wings
Viva la Verve February Sketch 1

Violet Birthday Blessing

Tomorrow is my oldest daughter's birthday celebration. It will be the warmest day this week, above freezing! We're taking her out to her favorite place for lunch near her work, Sweet Tomatoes. Her birthday is actually Thursday when we're expecting another snow storm, too far for driving 100 miles in the snow to see her.

I know she won't see this card on my blog because with end-of-the-month accounting duties at her job, four children, basketball practice in the evenings, she has very little personal time. I chose these shades of lilac and purple for her card since her February birthstone is the amethyst.

I used CTMH cardstock and diamond embossing folder, Graphic 45 paper, and a stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs. I die cut a Spellbinder's label, but cut off the top portion.

Winter will soon be over! I'm so tired of seeing white, gray, and shades of brown outside. I can't wait for spring when we have wild violets growing in our yard!

Thank you for visiting. May God bless you and your family.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create #112 - anything goes with optional twist - birthday
addicted to stamps #98- embossing dry or heat
Allsorts Challenge #299 - the color purple
Crafty Catz #267 - for a special lady
One Stitch at a Time #231 - anything goes with birthdays
Really Reasonable Ribbon #112 - purple and green with ribbon
Scrap & Craft Challenge #3 - Birthday

Mojo Monday 385 Asian Peace Card

With Chinese New Year celebrations lasting two weeks, I'm making more Asian cards for the families from China whose children attend school with my grandchildren. I loved this Graphic 45 image of the young lady and her dog. I thought it looked so peaceful, so I chose the theme of "Peace."

The background paper is very old CTMH called "Asian Chic." The diagonal piece and the mats from DCWV and the  pink print and image are from Graphic 45 "Bird Song." The stamp is from a retired CTMH stamp, "Wisdom." I stamped it with Versamark and embossed it with CTMH gold embossing powder and dry embossed the lower portion of that pink panel using a Spellbinder's M-Bossibilities "Asian" embossing folder. The inside is stamped with this verse stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 7:

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 25:3"

I used this week's lovely sketch from Mojo Monday. Check out my second card below and how I used this sketch.

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

Blogger's Challenge - Metal - gold metallic embossing powder

Love to Scrap #48 - anything goes

Fantasy Stampers Challenge #30 - pretty in pink

Fussy and Fancy #133 - Tic Tac Toe (bottom row - sentiment, wet emboss, sparkle in center of flower)

Mojo Monday #385 - sketch

Simply Create Too #79 - anything goes

Sister Act Card Challenge #94 anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #171 - anything uplifting

When I finished the first card, I decided to flip the sketch and modify it a little, using additional Bird Song images and papers. Here's the result:

I used another set of stamps from my retired CTMH "Wisdom" stamp set. This one I embossed with black embossing powder and used a larger card size. The papers came from the same sets as those above.

Thank you for visiting. May God bless you this year with His peace and loving friendships!



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

Shabby Chic G45 Journal

I love to make altered composition books as gifts, gratitude or prayer journals. Here's one  I made with the vintage Graphic45 papers from the "Couture" collection. This paper would seem too busy for some projects, but I think it's perfect for a journal. I used to add flowers and such. Now I try to make them as flat as I can so that it's not difficult for the recipient to write on the left page.

I like to put pockets inside the covers. I kept the insides fairly simple. Here's a quote I stamped inside the front:

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them FEEL."

Inside the back cover I made a double pocket by adhering a black envelope just around the sides and bottom so things can be filed behind the envelope as well as inside. So that the envelope flap won't accidentally get "stuck," I adhered a piece of red cardstock inside the envelope to cover the adhesive. Here's the back quote that I stamped:

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson"





The back is covered with the black patterned paper that's on the left of the front cover. (Sorry I didn't take a photo!)

I'm sharing this book with the following challenges:

All Crafts Challenge April/May - anything but a card
Card and Scrap #76 - shabby chic
Crafting at the Weekend #1 - anything goes
Divas by Design - anything goes
Feeling Crafty #28 - one for the girls/ladies
Pile It On #20 - shabby chic
Simply Create Too #61 - anything but a card
SunflowerField May challenge - Vintage, shabby chic, rustic
That Craft Place - alter a can or alter it





Mother's Day Bookmarks with G45 Ladies' Diary

I was looking at a bookmark I had in a devotional book I read before bed at night. It made me think of making bookmarks for Mother's Day that we celebrate this Sunday. I decided to make some that are feminine and some that are nature related. Here's my first set. I wanted them to have a special scripture verse on the back, so I chose Philippians 4:8, which I've often quoted to my kids, myself, and friends when negative thoughts trouble the mind. Here's the version I stamped using an Our Daily Bread Designs stamp:


"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." Philippians 4:8


This is the back of each bookmark:



I cut out the tag shape using Cricut Artiste and very heavy cardstock. For the stampers visiting my blog, I used 2nd generation Bamboo ink to random stamp a design onto the backs of the bookmarks. I used a CTMH stamp from the set "In the Moment." It added a definite vintage feel.  Then I stamped the verse with black ink and inked the edges with Saddle Ink.


I cut out the same tag shape using the heavy graphic45 paper. I glued the top to the stamped cardstock. Because I was using the Cricut Explore Design Space, I was able to set the width at 3". I love the way you can control the dimensions in Design Space. I cut the three tags from one sheet of paper and mixed which side showed according to which set of images I cut out. I inked the edges to maintain the vintage look.

I used approximately the same design on all three with minor variations. Here's a close-up of each one:

I added some bronze glitter gel to the center of the flower and a gold trimmed organdy ribbon on this one.

Thank you for looking. May God bless you as you focus your thoughts on things that are noble, pure, right, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy!

I'm sharing these bookmarks with the following challenges:

Artistic Inspirations #90 - all for mom, anything goes

Crafter's Café #62 - for special mom or lady

Crafty Creations #262 - anything but a card

Creating in Faith, Hope, and Love - anything goes with Scripture

Creative Moments #42 - anything goes and bingo - flower, punch and die cut, ribbons

D.L.Art Thankful Thursday #132 - anything feminine

It's All About the Vintage - anything goes

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #176 - two or more patterned papers (I used one for background and three others for ladies and stamps, plus borders)

Tuesday Throwdown #194 - Special Lady

Word Art Wednesday #131 - anything goes with uplifting message







Much Happiness Card with Chinese Lanterns

(We're having heavy snow today. Being snowed in is a great time for papercrafting. But it also gives me a headache making it hard to think what to write. It's amazing that brain fog can allow creativity, but not words. I believe it has to do with my headache being on the left side, language side of the brain.)

Here is an Asian card using a sketch from Mark's Finest Paper SpeedyTV Oriental Sketch Challenge, paper lanterns from Graphic 45 "Bird Song" paper, and a long-retired CTMH stamp called "Kanji Phrases." The glitter gems are also from CTMH. I loved using the Marvelous Squares and Splendid Circles Spellbinders dies. The background designer paper is from an old DCWV paper pad, "Far East."

Thank you for visiting! May you be blessed as you craft and share your blessings with others!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Cards Galore Encore #2 - add gems/bling
Crafting from the Heart #6 - Anything goes/Use Red
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper challenge - anything goes with patterned paper
Crafts 4 Eternity #161 - Oriental Theme
Cuttlebug Mania - A Touch of Red
MFP SpeedyTV Oriental Sketch Challenge #22 - sketch
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Penny Black and More February Challenge - Make It Sparkle
Polkadoodles wk. 5 - Anything Goes/Oriental

Bird Song Love and Honor Valentine Card

Chinese New Year is later this week. This is another chance for me to make an Asian card using Graphic 45's Bird Song collection. I think the papers are beautiful and easy to use. The two birds in the picture I chose remind me of LOVE BIRDS, so I stamped the words "Love" and "Honor" to go with the illustration. I designed this card to be a masculine valentine (no pink, lace or hearts).

I used the design I found at Mark's Finest Papers Oriental Sketch Challenge #21:

I used a 3" circle punch to cut the bird picture. I have a few Asian stamps that I've collected since my son and his wife like to decorate with all things Chinese. I stamped the two squares with words from the Technique Tuesday Far East stamp set. I tied black crochet thread around the striped panel. The black doily is glittery, so I matted the two words on black and then gold metallic cardstock. You might be able to see the black glitter and gold shine in this photo:

You can find many Chinese card sentiments with a google search. Here is the Valentine sentiment I chose from a set that included the English translation. This is from Chinese Phrases for Greeting Cards by Hongyang in this pdf file.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Hiding in My Craft Room #134 - For a loved one
Oriental Sketch Challenge #21 (mfpspeedytv) - Sketch used
Pile It On #4 - Animals
Ruby's Rainbow #71- use a Doily (black Wilton doily)
Sentimental Sundays #191 - Lovey Dovey
Simply Create Too #53 - Valentines or hearts
Stamplorations January Challenge - Feathers (bird pictures) and stamping (Chinese & English words)
Word Art Wednesday #116 - anything goes with uplifting verse

Bird Song Birthday Card

I spent Martin Luther King Day with my three oldest grandsons. We had a great adventure visiting our planetarium and the Imax theater in our old Union Station. We had a lot of time to talk about the history of Civil Rights in our country and Martin Luther King Jr.'s contribution. It also made me realize I needed to make more multi-cultural cards which I hope to start this week.

I saw Time 4 Scrap that it's time for the Chinese New Year. That inspired me to make some Asian cards. My son, his wife, and I have always had a fascination with all things Asian, so when Our Daily Bread Designs had an inspiration photo of cherry blossoms in a blue jar, I knew that my Graphic 45 Bird Song paper would be perfect for this challenge. My grandchildren go to school with many Asian children. I hope this card will be enjoyed by one of their mothers.

The left side is CTMH Crystal Blue cs embossed with bamboo. The black sparkle flourish is also from CTMH.

Here is the inspiration from Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #187. I used the colors and flowers on the right as my inspiration.

The sketch from Everybody Art Challenge #262 gave me more inspiration:

I used three stamp sets from Our Daily Bread Designs. The pink flowers were fussy cut from an image from "Grow in Grace" and matted on black. The outside "Blessings" banner is from "Sweet William-Small." The inside sentiment is from "Birthday Blessings."

Thank you for visiting. May God strengthen you with wisdom and bless your days in this new year!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks #178 - Bling (black sparkle flourishes and gold flower centers)
Crafting By Designs - Girly Girl
Crafting for All Seasons #69 - Girly
Crafty Sentiments - Birthdays
Deep Ocean #69 - Birthday
Everybody Art Challenge #262 - sketch
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #187 - photo inspiration
Time 4 Scrap #32 - Chinese New Year
Word Art Wednesday #116 - anything goes with uplifting verse

The Final Flutter By Wednesdays Card

I was sad to see that this would be the last challenge at Flutter By Wednesdays. I have a passion for butterflies. So I decided to make this last card special with my favorite butterfly stamp. They provided a great sketch for us to use this last time. I also used the challenge at The Paper Players for additional creative ideas.

I used the first row going down for the Tic Tac Toe - flowers, blue colors, and spring. The chick hatching is definitely for spring along with flowers that look like primroses. Little Red Wagon's challenge to use at least 3 flowers helped me with the finishing touches. I used 8 flowers.

I stamped the butterfly twice with Twilight ink- once on Twilight cardstock (bottom layer) and again on Crystal Blue patterned paper so that the pattern would show more. I inked the edges with Chocolate ink like I did all of the other papers.  In real life, my stamped butterfly matches the color of the one in the patterned paper, but lighting in my house changes things! I used an unusual piece of ribbon I'd been saving for something special. After wrapping it around the card there was a small piece left for a knotted-type bow. In the upper right corner I stamped "best wishes" for the Flutter By Team whose challenges and samples I've enjoyed.

May God bless you as you Fly on to New Pursuits!

Challenges:
Flutter By Wednesdays Challenge #200 Sketch
Little Red Wagon - Use at least 3 flowers
The Paper Players - Challenge #93 Tic Tac Toe

5" x 6.5" Card Recipe:
Paper - Graphic 45 - Once Upon a Springtime; Close To My Heart New England Ivy, Twilight, Colonial White Cardstock, Twitterpated patterned paper
Stamps - CTMH "Find Your Style" (butterfly), "A Little Buzz" (best wishes)
Inks - CTMH Chocolate, New England Ivy, Twilight
Other - Cuttlebug embossing folder, Recollections floral embellishments, Prima (small flowers), CTMH Mocha pearls, ribbon unknown

April Viva La Verve Sketch for Mother's Day

This month I'm making some Mother's Day cards for Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge - cards that kids in the hospital can give to their moms. They are due by April 30th. You can find the details on their blog. I used the Viva La Verve April sketch for Week 1. 

The front of the card base was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The layers were added. The flower/sentiment was first stamped with Sunflower ink, then colored with a Y13 Copic marker, then stamped with stamps from two CTMH sets. I made an identical card with a sentiment stamped with Verve sentiment plus the letters M-o-m. Send a Smile 4 Kids requests that you don't send religious cards since the nursing staff wouldn't know a family's beliefs.

Besides the papers used, I used three embellishments for the challenge1215 at CCEE Stampers -- velvet ribbon, a button, thin twine.  I folded a piece of red velvet ribbon, adhering it together with two small glue dots. I threaded the yellow button with the fine natural twine with the ends protruding from the back of the button. I used a glue dot to attach the threaded button to the ribbon then tied a bow with the twine on the back of the ribbon. I usually like to leave it a little loopy so it shows up behind the ribbon bow. This type of bow lays a little flatter than a tied bow when you're using thick ribbon like this velvet ribbon.

I hope you'll consider sending some Mother's Day cards to Send a Smile 4 Kids this month. And may God bless You!

5.5" x 4.25" Mother's Day Card Recipe:

Paper - Basic Grey "June Bug," (floral); Graphic45 "Fashionista" (blue/yellow dots), Close To My Heart cardstock

Stamps - retired CTMH (1st card); Verve Hope Blooms and Joy for the Journey

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; CTMH Sunflower

Other - Cuttlebug 5x7 embossing folder; Copics Y13; Martha Stewart border punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities "Lacey Circle;" 2" circle punch; Papertrey Ink natural jute twine; CTMH red collection ribbon and button from my stash.