Mojo Monday Unicorn Birthday Card

Today I wanted a shiny birthday card for a little girl. The diagonal strip on the Mojo Monday sketch this week was just perfect (if flipped the other direction) to use with the CTMH Little Dreamer paper. The "shine sparkle" words on the pml card run diagonally so I used it for the background of the card. Here's the sketch:

Since the background says "sparkle shine" I used a white glitter paper strip with ribbon that has shiny gold hearts and x's to emphasize love. I also used a gold glitter paper panel behind the lagoon diagonal striped panel that has the unicorn.

To continue the sparkle shine idea, I embossed the sentiment with Ranger Princess Gold powder and added bitty sparkles on the sparkle designs that were printed on the unicorn panel. I cut out a matching unicorn from the 2nd pml card in the paper pack and popped it up on the one on the card. I used the shimmer brush to add sparkle to the top unicorn.

Here's the inside:

Thanks for visiting! May you be blessed as you bless others with your creations!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge #180 - anything goes + a sentiment

Craft Rocket Challenge #37 - Fantasy

Mojo Monday #497 sketch

Seize the Birthday - Birthday with topping or creature or animal

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Sparkle

Southern Girls #160 - Add Sparkle

5.5" x 4.25" Card Recipe (all supplies are CTMH):

Paper - Little Dreamer paper pack, White Glitter Paper, Gold Glitter Paper

Stamps - C1633 For Family (retired), C1631 Birthday Princess (inside)

Ink - Versark, Lagoon (inside)

Tools and Embellishments - Ranger Princess Gold Embossing Powder, Bitty Sparkles, Uptown Ribbon Pack, Clear Shimmer Brush, Heat Tool, Thin 3-D Foam Tape, Shimmer Trim

Mojo Monday Live Beautifully Mother's Day Card

I have been blessed to have a wonderful mother-in-law, Virginia! She's 92 years old now, but still has the loving, gracious personality she's had all these years. She was a teacher like me and always encouraged me.  On Virginia's birthday last month, I presented her two large scrapbooks that celebrated her life.  I've done this each year since her 90th birthday. I always have more layouts to add each year. She never seems to tire of the layouts, photos, and stories.  Her delight and comments make all this scrapbooking worthwhile.

With National Scrapbook Month coming May 1st, I thought I'd use the amazing paper pack and stamp set that CTMH has as a special treat for us in May.  The floral and gold foiled papers are elegant and perfect for Mother's Day. So was the sketch at Mojo Monday this week.

I wanted the beautiful papers in the background to show the most possible so I made the middle layer gold dotted vellum from the All  About Gold Fundamentals paper pack. I edged it with the gold shimmer brush but the lighting didn't show it very well.  The sentiment panel is backed with gold glitter paper. It was stamped with a sentiment from the CTMH retired "For Family." I had spent time practicing making bows thanks to Bonnie Darby's tutorial video's. on Really Reasonable Ribbon's blog! I used an old black organdy Ribbon Round to make this double layer double bow.

The rose was stamped first with Thistle ink then with Cotton Candy. I had tried several combinations to get colors that matched the paper and this one was the best. I used the Gold Shimmer Brush on the center of the rose. I added three gold glitter gems to complete the gold embellishments.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

CCEE Stampers #1717 - floral image for National Garden Month
Crafty Cardmakers #187 - pearls and/or gems
Fussy and Fancy #186 - anything goes
Mojo Monday #494 - sketch
Really Reasonable Ribbon #162 - Put a bow on it
The Ribbon Girls April Challenge - use any image with ribbon

Mojo Monday 493 - Scatter Kindness Like Confetti

 When I was a girl in 6th grade, our public school teacher, Mrs. Schrader, had a large copy of the "Golden Rule," which came from the Bible,  in front of our class. At the beginning of the year she had all of us write our own copy, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." She was a great influence on our class and probably for many others over the years. She would have loved the sentiment I used today. If only the whole world practiced the idea of KINDNESS, this world would be a much better place.

I loved this Verve sentiment and flower from "Kindness Matters." .They were perfect for my Mojo Monday card for this week. Here's Julie's lovely sketch:

I used CTMH Sugar Rush paper and a Hello Lovely PML card that both resembled confetti.

Thank you for visiting! I challenge you to scatter kindness everywhere and watch your world follow your example!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Mojo Monday #493 - Sketch
Sisterhood of Crafters - Stamped image, not digi
Try It On Tuesday - Add a Quote
Word Art Wednesday #278-279 - anything goes/family friendly

Mojo 491 Dream Big Card

I missed scrapbooking with friends yesterday due to the onslaught of auto-immune symptoms that have been flaring up the last three weeks. This afternoon my swollen fingers allowed me to finally create a little, but this post will be short. I always hate missing the Mojo Monday challenges. Julie's sketches work so well! My friends created with  CTMH Dreamin' Big yesterday so I used these and some leftover complements to make a bright, cheery card!

Thank you for visiting!

Mojo Monday Thinking of You

I've been MIA for a while thanks to computer issues. I've finally decided to use my old computer until I get those resolved. Today I combined the Mojo Monday sketch this week with the challenge at Crafting By Designs, Thinking of You.  I love to make cards that send the message of "thinking and praying for you," so I made several. Here I'm sharing one that is feminine and one that is masculine using this sketch. Both cards use long-retired papers from CTMH that I'm attempting to stop hoarding and use up! I'm also sharing this feminine card with Word Art Wednesday this week. If you've never visited them, you should check out their challenge with free inspiring word art each challenge.

I used an encouraging Verve Plain Jane sentiment on the MFT stitched circle die cut because it's an encouraging verse for someone you pray for. The inside ODBD verse (not pictured) says "You are in our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers." It was a perfect accompaniment for the outside sentiments.

The masculine card has some thin bamboo stars to embellish and a little more simple according to my hubby's tastes.

I'm also sharing this second card with The Crazy Challenge #244 and Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #111, both for "Masculine."



Thank you for visiting! May God bless you and the recipients of your crafts!

Mojo Monday #486 Sketch

This card has a story. Wednesday evening I had decided I hadn't used my scripture stamps as much lately, so I got out my box of ODBD and Verve stamps and considered what to use. Thursday I was deciding what paper to use, I organized  a stash of my very old retired spring-colored papers from CTMH, selecting some Black and White "Silhouette" and pastel colored "Paper Garden."  Then I needed to meet someone in town in the early evening. Just before I left I thought I should quickly check email since I hadn't checked it all day. I had an amazing email from someone who wanted me to make more scripture cards for our local store that sells my cards. She gives them to her friends and family but had just received one of my get well cards in her door from a neighbor as she was leaving for the doctor's. She wanted me to know how much my cards meant to her.

She said something that stuck in my mind that I think those of you who are cardmakers can also take to heart:  "Thank you for taking the time to do what you do for so many others that you will never know all the stories." I thought about that all the way to town and back. My goal is to bless others, not to get recognition, but hearing her story brought the blessing back to me!  After I returned home, I responded to her kindness with an email sharing how God had prompted me to get my scripture stamps ready even before she made her request for more. I love to see the way He works in our lives!

The Mojo Monday sketch this week:

My first card had the rectangle shapes matted on Colonial White cardstock and two Colonial White butterflies that I sponged with Black, Buttercup and Baby Pink inks. For the sake of translation, the beautiful verse from ODBD Scripture Collection 1 says: "When I pray YOU ANSWER ME! You encourage me by giving me the STRENGTH I NEED. Psalm 138:3"--something I pray frequently!!

Then I decided that Kraft cardstock would help the patterns stand out along with a couple of Recollections Kraft butterflies:

I used a Petaloo flower for my circle element of both and embossed the background of the card with a CTMH floral embossing folder.

Thank you for visiting! The inside message (from ODBD "Hope") is "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. Romans 15:13a" May God bless you and the recipients of your cards!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

CCEE Stampers #1709- Old stuff - My paper was from 2009 and this is my oldest Scripture Collection stamp I  from Our Daily Bread Designs

Mojo Monday #486 - sketch

That's Crafty - Just Words - words as the main focus

Word Art Wednesday #272-273 - anything family friendly

Side by Side Sweetheart Cards

I had the flu this week because my egg allergy doesn't allow me to take the flu shot. I had to spend a lot of time in bed instead of crafting, but I had picked up an old 2011 CTMH Idea Book that was in a stack. I was inspired to use any extra Sweetheart papers to make more valentines and anniversary cards to send to my friends. When I finally felt well enough to come to my craft room, I found a complete unused package of Sweetheart papers. (I used to order extra packs of paper since I often had customers who would show up at the last minute wanting to join our workshops.)

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch to make the first card, then I altered it a bit and made several more versions.

The words were stamped using CTMH Soul Mates Word Puzzle and the Cotton Candy hearts aned flourish were from Card Chatter-Love from 2011.  Here are the other slightly altered versions with the same paper but different embellishments. I didn't think the pink circle was as effective as the white so this was the only one with pink:

After making a double page scrapbook layout and 6 cards, I still have 15 1/2 patterned papers and  cardstock pages left of the 24 in this paper pack, (not counting my consultant pack with 7 more pieces of two patterns). More Sweetheart cards and pages to come!

Thank you for visiting. May God bless your crafting!

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

Crafting By Designs - Love and Romance

House of Cards February Challenge - Love Theme and/or colors

Little Red Wagon - Color Challenge #380 -  red and/or pink and black

Love to Scrap #94 - Who Loves You, Baby

Mojo Monday #483 - sketch

The Crazy Challenge #241 - Romance

The Paper Girls Challenge #121 - with heart

Use Your Stuff #250 - Love is in the air

Kraft, Gray, and Red Love

I'm sick today so I'm just making a quick card and post, which always helps me feel better! I thought last week's Color Throwdown with Kraft, Gray, and Red would be great for today's Mojo Monday!

 

I used the Hearts Thin Cuts, which makes a thin outline,  and XOXO, both from Close To My Heart. Thanks for visiting!

Mojo Monday Sweet Birthday Wishes

Today our oldest grand-daughter turned 12. It seems like only yesterday that we drove 50+ miles in an ice storm to see her the day she was born. (We were more adventurous 12 years ago!) We're always amazed at how sweet and thoughtful she is since she also tends to be silly and excited when we see her. As a retired teacher, I'm very thankful that she's intelligent, kind, and musically talented. Her sweetness inspired this card and CTMH Sugar Rush papers and complements were perfect for her birthday. I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch for the design.

I loved the new complements that came with this paper. I always have some left over but hadn't made my layouts yet with this paper so I went through the photos of the Sugar Rush Workshops Your Way and marked each one used on the suggestion sheet that comes with the complements. I put those away for later and decided to use the others on cards. I love the chipboard images that are highlighted with gold foil. They're great for cards as well as layouts. The sentiment was changed to pink and printed on the computer.

Thank you for visiting! God bless your sweet crafting!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

All Sorts #396 - Something New (chipboard complements)

Crafting Musketeers - Party Time

Crafty Friends Challenge #48 - anything goes

Hiding in My Craftroom #282 - anything goes/freestyle

Incy Wincy Designs - Celebrate

Mojo Monday #478 -  sketch

My Time to Craft #337 - something new (chipboard complements)

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Start Afresh - just opened Sugar Rush chipboard complements

 

Mojo Monday 477 - Second Card

For this second card using the Mojo Monday sketch I turned it on it's side.

I used silver embossing of the Our Daily Bread Designs "Joy to the World" stamp set as you can see in the second photo. The frame is a Cricut cut from Artbooking.

Thanks for visiting!


I'm also sharing this card with the Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge 281.

Mojo Monday 477 - First Card

This past week was a very busy week with a stomach bug, a couple of migraines and a computer virus thrown in for a little extra diversion. Today was a great time to relax by making a few cards. This first one I made earlier in the week for the challenge using the Mojo Monday sketch, but it wasn't a favorite of mine so later I'll post the one I made today.

The sentiment came from one of my favorite Verve Christmas stamp sets called Peace on Earth. I also liked the two coordinating starry papers from DCWV. The cardboard star and music embellishment are old CTMH. The cream colored "stitched" panel was a Cricut cut. I think that's the feature I don't really like about this card.  Thanks for visiting.

Mojo Monday 473 Christmas Joy

I've been absent too long creating for our community's craft fair, then recuperating afterwards! This was the 25th craft fair and so many craft-loving people came! Now I'm having to make Christmas cards like crazy because we had to fill our card rack four times. The second day I had to take cards I'd planned on keeping because we sold so many this year. This is the first year I wondered what to do at the end of the first day when our tables and racks looked half-empty. I'd prayed that God would bless the sales because the proceeds were going to Him and an area charity. Sales were beyond my imagination. I may show photos of our booth later.

Here is this week's Mojo Monday card using CTMH City Sidewalks paper. I usually find it more difficult to know how to use paper with a scene, but the square in this sketch gave me a chance to use it. The holly was cut using Cricut City Sidewalks. The "slit" was filled with green glitter glue and the berries were coated with a little Liquid Glass. I love using the Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder that CTMH sells!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Bitten By the Bug2 - Nature/Christmas - my holly from Cricut City Sidewalks.
Mojo Monday #473 - sketch

To make Christmas cards more quickly I've made several from each pack of paper using simple designs, duplicated stamped parts like the "JOY" on the first card assembly-line fashion, and printed multiple inside sentiments I keep on my computer or stamped the same sentiment inside multiple times.

 Here's another one using the same gold-embossed sentiment and some older CTMH White Pines paper begging to be used up!

Here's another using the same White Pines background with some strips of Frosted and a snowflake cut using Cricut Flower Market: I'm sharing it with Heart to Heart Challenge - Christmas but no Red or Green. How about blue, white and chocolate?

I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever use up the Christmas paper packs I've hoarded over the years!  May God bless you as you craft and bless others with your own cards!

Mojo Monday

I was enjoying "playing with paper" so much the last few days that I nearly forgot to post my Mojo Monday card this week. The sketch was so versatile I made several with different papers. This was my favorite.

I used papers from a new paper pack, Oh, Deer. The woodland theme is one I love, especially the birchbark!  The music strip is one of the zip strips off the top of one paper. The stamp on the cocoa leaves is from this month's Stamp of the Month. I stamped the sentiment on one of the PML cards that came with the paper pack and trimmed it to fit.

I'm sharing this card with
Addicted to Stamps Challenge #131 - trees, branches, and or leaves
Crafting with the Dragonflies #65 - music related
Just Us Girls #360 - use sequins
Mojo Monday 484 - sketch.

SeptemberSOTM Blog Hop - Blessed Beyond Measure

Welcome to our blog hop featuring the Close To My Heart September Stamp of the Month, Blessed Beyond Measure. If you just got here from Maureen OSullivan's blog you're in the right place. You can find a list of all the stampers at Melinda Everitt's blog.

I love fall colors and images from nature! I used New England Ivy and Saffron papers from the new CTMH Enchantment Fundamentals, the new CTMH papers from Rustic Home (glossy woodgrain and subtle pattern for sentiment) and Swan Lake (Poppy autumn pattern) for my card.  Leaves were cut using Cricut Artbooking, then stamped with Fern ink. The open patterns were colored with ShinHan alcohol ink markers. You can get a closer look at all the materials I used by checking out the links in my card recipe at the bottom of this post.

This month's stamp set is perfect for fall colors, but has sentiments that can be used all year! You can get this acrylic stamp for $17.95 or for only $5.00 with a $50.00 purchase.

Thank you for visiting! Now you're ready to go on to Michele Rowley's creation!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Mod Squad Challenge - Use Foliage
Mojo Monday #462 sketch

Moo Mania Challenge - Nature's Beauty
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - anything goes
Sisterhood of Crafters - use ribbon

Word Art Wednesday #246-247 - anything family friendly

6.5" x 5" Card Recipe (All supplies are from CTMH):
Papers - Enchantment Fundamentals (New England Ivy and Saffron) , Rustic Home (glossy woodgrain and subtle pattern for sentiment) and Swan Lake (Poppy autumn pattern), Cocoa and New England Ivy cardstock (mats-which can be found in the Basic and Enchantment cardstock packs or individually sold)
Stamps - Blessed Beyond Measure
Ink - Fern, Black
Markers - ShinHan Touch Twin: YR24 Marigold, R140 Light Orange
Tools - Cricut Artbooking cartridge
Embellishments - Rustic Home ribbon pack (crocheted), Uptown ribbon pack (gold), Gold Sequins

Mojo Monday #462 - His Presence

I was playing with some Christmas paper that had Santa and some presents. My favorite sentiment to use with that kind of paper is from Verve: "The Magic of Christmas is not in the presents but in HIS presence." I'm glad to have a sentiment that emphasizes the presence of Christ, my reason for Christmas.  Material gifts can never compare to Christ's presence, strength, and help in my life.
I stamped the sentiment on a gift shaped die cut using Cricut Art Philosophy. The Mojo Monday sketch was perfect for the paper scrap I had.

Thank you for visiting! May you also focus on Christ's presence as you create cards and gifts of encouragement for those you love. Have a lovely weekend!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks #313 - get sentimental
12 Months of Christmas #20 - anything Christmas
Addicted to Stamps and More #208 - Holiday
Crafting by Designs - get ready for Christmas
Mojo Monday #462 - sketch
The Crafty Addicts #22 - use die cuts
Word Art Wednesday #244-245 - anything family friendly

Mojo Monday #459 Happy Wishes Card

I turned over my August page on my birthday/anniversary calendar and was surprised to see how many of my friends have one of those occasions this month. I just finished a week of three birthday parties that weren't on the calendar and need to be added.  I need 11 cards, not counting the encouragement ones I'll need for those in our church. I recently found the blog of Pamela Kuhn,  Shelter: Postmarked. She is such an inspiration with her daily challenge to send cards of encouragement to someone every day. Her daybook is also a beautiful collection of uplifting thoughts.
This card is the result of playing with papers, flower, and stamps on my desktop that I hadn't put away yet. They were just the right size for the Mojo Monday sketch this past week:

I stamped several flower silhouettes (retired CTMH "Treasure Life") on the Theresa Collins script paper. I added the gold polka dots from the same paper pad and added them to the Paper Studio's Simple Elegance black flourish card background. All of the cardstock was CTMH. The sentiment is part of a large set of acrylic stamps that came with my new CTMH Cricut Flower Market cartridge.
There were still enough scraps to make a second card:

Thanks for visiting! May God bless you as you create your own artwork to encourage others!

I'm sharing this with the following challenges:

Mojo Monday #459 sketch
Word Art Wednesday #242-243- anything family friendly