Have a Happy Day Card

I love the Color Dare this week at Color My Heart because it includes all the colors from the lovely Gimme Some Sugar paper pack.  I used the middle row down on this color chart (Tangerine, White Daisy, Heather) and also Bashful, Blossom, Peacock, and Juniper.

I used the lovely April sketch at Viva la Verve's challenge.  They share lots of inspiration and Julee Tilman has been adding the sizes of the pieces to cut if that helps you do your best.

I had cut a number of daisy-like flowers on the Cricut days ago and this one happened to be in the blossom color. I punched two Tangerrine circles, punched one with 1/8" holes and mounted it with the light side up over the other one with the dark side showing.

Thanks for visiting! I hope you, too, have a happy day and share the happy!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges;

Color My Heart Color Dare #290 - Tic Tac Toe
The Paper Players #391 - Tic Tac Toe top row across: flower, die cut, twine
Viva la Verve April Challenge sketch

Viva La Verve October Sketch 1 Thankfulness Cards

Is it obvious? I love fall colors, leaves, and the theme of giving thanks! I have a lot of fall leaves stamp sets. I used the rock and roll technique to color the edges of this retired one with different colors.

Here are the two cards I made using this sketch. I used one of the Verve Plain Janes, 1 Chronicles 16:34: "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever." Both cards use my old retired CTMH papers that have autumn colors, since I am determined to use it all up.   All six papers used are from different packets, different years. The bronze shimmer trim is the only current CTMH product.

I used a beautiful word art from Word Art Wednesday from November 2014, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20"  The words "always" and "all things" remind me that I need to be much more thankful and inclusive, thanking God for the big things, the little things, the good and the bad.

Thank you for visiting! I thank God for you and ask that He bless your creating that you, in turn, may bless others!

I'm sharing these cards with the following challenges:
All Sorts #333 - All sentimental
Alphabet Challenge - R for Ribbon
Crafty Friends #16 - use gems an/or pearls ( brown sparkles on my 1st card and black on my 2nd)
My Time to Craft #306- autumnal colours
Suzie Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #102 - anything goes with twist - autumn colors
Viva La Verve October 2015 Sketch 1
Word Art Wednesday #205 - anything uplifting (used their word art scripture verse)

Viva la Verve February Sketch 4

One of my friends is getting ready to have back surgery this week. She's never had surgery before, and I've had plenty, so I've tried to share the good things that help me get through it all. The best idea I've ever heard came from a pastor's wife. She said that we are all body, soul, and spirit and that our soul is made of mind, will, and emotions. If we focus on Scripture, it ministers to our mind and spirit. Music ministers to our emotions. So scripture songs and hymns can ease the nervousness and fears that plague us before surgery or any other serious event.

I was worried before the birth of my son because he was supposed to be breech and I'd need to deliver him by c-section. A week later I focused on a couple of scripture songs while I was in labor . With no pain medication, I delivered him in two hours, simply, without a c-section, with controllable discomfort and no pushing!

Another time I took a hymnal and my Bible to the hospital the night before I was to have serious surgery. I read through many hymns and Psalms that night. The next day after surgery, I could hear words and verses of assurance playing in my head while I slept off the anesthesia and initial pain.

Here's the card I made with this in mind. I used this sketch from the Viva la Verve challenge, February Week 4and a Verve stamp. I was able to use the following palette from The Color Sisters by using some of my old Basic Grey papers. The pearls, rosette ribbon, leaf zip strip, and sweet leaf ribbon are all from Close To My Heart.

 

 Thank you for visiting.!  May the Lord bless you through the hard times.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Bastel-Traum #26 - health, get well

C.R.A.F.T. #300 - get well, sympathy, sorry

Crafting Musketeers #23 - ribbon and pearls

Paper Creator's Crafts - ribbon, lace, pearls

Paperminutes #373 - Get Well soon 

The Color Sisters Palette #18

Try It On Tuesday - Pearls for girls

Viva la Verve February Sketch 4

Whoopsi Daisy - add a sentiment 

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

Sarita Viva La Verve July 2014 - Week 4

This is my second VLV post for today. You can scroll down for the other one if you missed it. Here is the card I made using sketch 4. I'm using Close To My Heart Sarita paper that will retire this Thursday. I had cut out several stencils, including this hexagon array using CTMH Cricut Artbooking. Then I sponged three colors of ink over the spaces, Goldrush, Lagoon, and Outdoor Denim, using sponge daubers. When I took off the stencil I also sponged a little Honey in the white spaces and Chocolate on the edges. I did two other sponging techniques, I sponged Chocolate ink lightly on the embossed lines of the Lagoon background cardstock and some Goldrush on the CTMH wood flower and bee which had clear embossed dots that resisted the ink. I should have used my honeycomb embossing folder, but couldn't readily find it.

This bright design is highlighting this wonderful scripture verse: "Give all your worries and cares to God for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7" It is from the ODBD Scripture Series 3. Another version of the Bible says to "Cast all your cares" on Him, so I usually envision something I must be remembering from Pilgrim's Progress. When I realize I'm carrying my own burden, I visualize taking a huge, overpowering backpack off my back and throwing it down at the feet of the Lord who is able to handle all of my burdens. How thankful I am that He loves each of us, individually, and wants to show us how much He loves us!

Here's the fun sketch I used:

May God bless you even more as you give Him every burden that weighs on your heart. May you also be aware of how very much He loves you!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Crafty Ribbons #99 - anything with ribbon
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #210 - sponging or stencils (I sponged a stencil)
Pile It On #30 - embossing
Simon Says Stamp - embossing
Sisterhood of Crafters - die cuts and/or punches (Cricut - honeycombs)
Viva La Verve - July 2014 Sketch Week 4
Word Art Wednesday #142 - anything goes with uplifting message

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You can get the Sarita paper pack through July 31st, 2014, on my shopping website. You can also see the entire list of retiring items and the sale priced items found in the list "While Supplies Last." My regular customers should also know that some of the prices will increase on August 1st when the new Annual Inspiration book arrives.

Sarita Viva La Verve July 2014 Sketch 3

They say confession is good for the soul. I think I agree, but it does give me an extra measure of humility when I feel really stupid. I must admit that I had lost track of the Viva La Verve sketch challenge I used to enjoy when I switched computers and no longer had it saved in favorite places. Yesterday I began looking for it on Splitcoast Stampers, but couldn't find it. I wanted to use one of their sketches for the Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge. (See sketch 4 post.) So I went to Mojo Monday, followed the link to the Verve store and voila - there was a link to their challenges, including Viva La Verve. So simple. Why didn't I figure that out before?!!

Here is a card of encouragement that uses a scripture stamp from Verve and Sarita Paper pack and embellishments from Close To My Heart (Outdoor Denim brads, Lagoon baker's twine, and Sarita Assortment wooden embellishments.  This is one of my favorite verses. It plays inside my head when circumstances start to overwhelm. I acknowledge that I don't have the wisdom or strength but God does.  We can run to him in prayer.  He is always there, ready to help us in any type of trouble.

Here is the sketch from Viva La Verve:

 May God bless you with His loving care and encourage you to give Him every problem.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create #82 - Anything goes with optional use of sentiment

Crafting at the Weekend #4 - Anything goes

Crafty Catz #241 - anything goes

Fussy & Fancy #119 - Words

Viva La Verve July 2014 Week 3 Sketch

Word Art Wednesday #102 - anything goes with uplifting message

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You can get the Sarita paper pack through July 31st, 2014, on my shopping website. You can also see the entire list of retiring items and the sale priced items found in the list "While Supplies Last." My regular customers should also know that some of the prices will increase on August 1st when the new Annual Inspiration book arrives.

I Cherish God's Creation

Today it's finally sunny outside, a good day to enjoy God's creation. My husband and I like to visit national parks and photograph the amazing landscapes, wild flowers, and awesome trees. Seeing wildlife in their natural environment never ceases to amaze us. We even photographed a bear the last time we visited Yellowstone. Everywhere we go, we're serenaded by birds. That's why I chose a bird for this card. It seems they're always praising God in every outdoor cathedral He created. I was inspired by the challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #151 to show something of God's creation and Scripture/spiritual quote. I used Sketch 5 from the Viva La Verve April challenge:

The Verve design has three banners coming down from the ribbon element. I decided to use silk flowers that were still on the stem to represent more of God's creation. I added a CTMH black sparkle inside each one, like the three on the right side. I chose the black foliage paper from Graphic 45's "Botanicabella" and the green floral from some long retired Close To My Heart paper that I purchased in bulk. I placed the light green and red circles in the Sizzix embossing so that the pattern would match when they were placed on the card. The lovely bird image from "You Will Find Refuge" from Our Daily Bread Designs was colored with copics, fussy cut, and paired with a sentiment from the same set. He also has a very tiny light gray sparkle on his eye.

May God bless and astound you each time you go out to enjoy His creation!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Catered Crop - Embossing
Crafty Ribbon #44 - anything goes with ribbon
Dream Valley Challenges #55 - Things with Wings
Going Grey with Scrap Creations Challenge - Insects or Animals
Our Daily Bread Designs SLC #151 - Cherish God's Creation
Paper Crafting Journey - Use a sentiment
Pumpkin Spice #17 - Nature
Sweet Stamps #114 - Use 3 of any item
Viva La Verve April 2013 - sketch 5
Word Art Wednesday #77 - anything goes with Scripture or uplifting verse

Miss You Like Crazy - Viva La Verve card

I was remembering our men and women who serve our country and all the sacrifices they make when I made a card for the Viva La Verve challenge for May, week 4. This will be one of the cards I give to Operation Write Home. They send the cards overseas and our service men and women can select cards free of charge to write home. I thought the Verve sentiment "Miss You Like Crazy" was a great one for expressing their feelings of love (and maybe loneliness). This week Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps Midweek Challenge is to make cards that express love. I'm thankful for the opportunity to make cards for them and to keep them in my prayers as well.

Here is the sketch from Verve:

Challenges:

Basic Grey Challenge #68 - Anything Goes using Basic Grey

Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps Midweek Challenge - Love You Theme

Viva La Verve - May 2012 Week 4 Sketch

5.5" x 4.25" Card Recipe:

Paper - Basic Grey "Hello Luscious" and "Ambrosia;" Close To My Heart White Daisy and Breeze (retired) cardstock

Stamp - Verve "Hope Blooms"

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Accents - 2" circle punch; Spellbinders Nestabilities Heart Circles; CTMH White Daisy grosgrain ribbon

The Lord Is Good

It seems I have more and more friends that need encouragement or sympathy cards. Here is one I made for a friend I've had since high school. She lost her mother a few days ago unexpectedly, but we know she's in a better place. We are planning our 45 year high school reunion this week. Most of my friends have been Christians like me for more years than that. God has brought us through many trials and we are stronger and better for it. We lean on each other, pray for each other, and share our trust in a loving God.

 Word Art Wednesday's verse is a wonderful verse of encouragement, as it usually is. I used the 2nd May sketch from Viva La Verve to make this card.  I included some stitching for the challenge at Little Red Wagon. and two types of ribbon for the challenge at Crafts 4 Eternity.

Challenges:

Crafts 4 Eternity - Recipe #70 - Maypole Ribbons

Little Red Wagon Challenge #131 - Stitch it up

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #26- Nahum 1:7 or other scripture 

Viva La Verve May 2012 - Week 2 sketch

6.5" x 5" Encouragement Card Recipe:

Paper - Graphic 45; Close To My Heart "Elemental"(background pattern), Sorbet, Juniper, White Daisy cardstock

Ink - CTMH Sorbet

Other - CTMH Juniper ribbon, Colonial White waxy flax; Sizzix embossing folder "Musical Flourish;" Spellbinder's Nestabilities "Lacey Circles;" Recollections floral embellishments; white trim unknown

Viva La Verve Card of Encouragement

I have two friends looking for office jobs right now. I love them dearly and pray for them regularly that God will open the right doors for the job He has planned for them. One of them is partial to pink, so this is her card, inspired by the Viva La Verve April sketch for week 3 and the lovely palette suggested by the ladies at CR84FN Color Challenge #52.

I used the office ledger paper because she works with accounting. The overhead light made a shadow on the sentiment which says, "All things are possible." I cut out a piece of the banner paper then cut matching flags from the remainder to make it more 3-D. Most of the banner pieces have hearts, just like the Kraft background circle. I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink to stamp the verse and the sentiment and used a stipple brush to brush Cotton Candy ink over the verse, making it darker near the edges of the circle. The mocha pearls and the felt rose were the final touches. The stamps were Verve's Jeremiah 29:11 Plain Jane and Joy for the Journey set.

Challenges:
Viva La Verve April 2012 - Week 3
CR84FN Color Challenge - Medium Pink, Tan, and Cream
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

Jeremiah 29:11 Card with Spring Coloured Stripes

Not too long after I met my friend, Kathy, she introduced me to this verse. She quoted it to me while we were discussing a prayer request for one of my kids. I'm sure I'd heard it before but I'd never memorized it. It soon became one of my favorites. It was the first stamp I ordered from Verve when I was looking for scripture stamps of encouragement. Here is the Viva La Verve April sketch for Week 4 using that stamp with bright, spring colors. I thought stripes in spring colors would be great for the chevron design.

This week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ, Challenge #136 has a devotional about God's Word being a light unto our path. The challenge is to use light pastel colors. I thought the design of the Verve challeng was perfect because the chevron/arrow shape looks like it's pointing the way to go and the verse I chose talks about God having the best plans for us. The challenge also said we could use black and white which I did for contrast and to make the verse "pop," which is also the challenge at Crazy 4 Challenges - use black to make it pop! 

Challenges:
Viva La Verve April 2012 - Week 4
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Challenge #136 Use soft pastels
Crazy 4 Challenges - add black to make it pop
DYSU #68 - Stripes
Basic Grey Challenges - #66 Spring Colours

5" x 6.25" Card Recipe:
Paper - Basic Grey Lauderdale (green) and Lollipop Shoppe (stripes), white and black cardstock
Stamp - Verve Jeremiah 29:11
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Other - Spellbinder's Nestabilities Lacey Circle; Cricut Art Philosophy (2.75" and 3" circles); K & Co felt flower; Michaels Ribbon

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.



Celebrate New Life with Verve

We have a ministry in our church called Baby Grace. It's designed to give prayer support and funnel donated items to young, new parents. We also try to send cards to them for different occassions. This is one I'm adding to my stash. I chose the theme from Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #114 - Celebrate New Life.  I just loved the digital image of the rabbit holding baby ducks.  I used the Viva La Verve Sketch for the 2nd week of April 2012.

I combined the  floral paper with flowers that are glittered along the edges to go with Sugar Creek Hollow's Challenge #6 - Floral.  It's definitely a shabby chic card.  I also chose the elements to go with Our Creative Corner's challenge "In Your Easter Bonnet" to include things you would have on your bonnet. I included the flowers, leaves, pearls, buttons, and organdy ribbon.

I made my tag a little differently than I would usually do. I left it long horizontally and clipped the top two corners. The twine that's tied to the button is also wrapped through the tag. I inked the edges of all of the papers with Cocoa ink.

6.5" x 5" Baby Card Recipe:

Paper - Graphic45 "Once Upon a Springtime ;" Close To My Heart Brown Bag, Colonial White, Kraft cardstock

Image - from Free Vintage Digital Stamps

Stamp - Verve "Hope Blooms"

Ink - CTMH Black, Cocoa

Other - Flowers & leaves -Petaloo Flora Doodles; CTMH button from Red Collection, Organdy; twine from Papertrey Ink

God Bless You Birthday Card

Here is the last Viva La Verve challenge card for the month of February. I wanted to use a floral branch of chipboard that reminds me that spring is on the way. The Little Red Wagon challenge to use chipboard this week really did the trick. I love adding dimension to cards. I wanted to do something different with this simple Verve sketch. I used more papers from Basic Grey's Boxer. There were three greens. So I added an aqua scalloped "circle 2" cut at 3" on Cricut Art Philosophy for contrast. Since the verse I'd chosen to use from Verve wouldn't take up much room on my three inch circle, I made my inner circle only two inches and planned to put the branch across the circle and the horizontal strip for cohesiveness. I tied a little natural jute around two stems of the branch as the simple finishing touch. Here's the simple sketch from Verve:

5" x 6.5" Card recipe:
Paper - Basic Grey "Boxer;" My Mind's Eye "Lost & Found" (aqua)
Stamp - Verve "Joy for the Journey"
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Other - Basic Grey "Curio" chipboard; Close To My Heart - Cricut Art Philosophy, jute

May You Prosper

Jeemiah 29:11 is such a beautiful verse to share with a friend. I keep using it again and again. Today I used it for the Viva La Verve Challenge for February, Week 3. I combined it with the Challenge from Craft Your Passion: This week's challenge is in honor of President's Day here in the USA,

RED, WHITE & BLUE

May God prosper and bless our nation as well as individuals as this verse says.

 

Because the sentiment on my card is fairly large, the three inch circle takes up a lot of room without a border in the back. So I chose to sponge Outdoor Denim ink around the edges for more definition.

6.5" x 5" Card Recipe:

Paper - Basic Grey "Boxer," "June Bug"and "Marekesh;" Close To My Heart White Daisy Cardstock

Stamp - Verve Jeremiah 29:11 Plain Jane

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; CTMH Outdoor Denim

Other - CTMH "Bohemian Assortment"(doily and button), Colonial White Waxy Flax, 3" and 2" circle punches

Masculine Card in Weathered Kraft, Red, White, and Blue

I'm celebrating and praising God that my son-in-law is getting a long-awaited promotion. God continually shows that He is working in his life, challenging, blessing, maturing. Phuilippians 1:8 is the perfect verse to share with him. Here's a card I made for him today that definitely has a masculine look. I used the sketch from Viva La Verve for February week 2 and the colors suggested bythe "Weathered" Ribbon Reel Challenge #22 - create a card /project that is WEATHERED/DISTRESSED using the colours KRAFT, WHITE, BLUE with touch of RED, NATURAL TWINE/TWILL and this inspiration photo

The different-sized blocks of paper in this sketch remind me of the beach houses in the inspiration photo. I used some blue patterned papers that I had from the Basic Grey "Boxer" collection, definitely masculine. I weathered the kraft and patterned papers by scissor distressing the edges then painting with white paint. 

I also used the challenge from The Kraft Journal Make it Monday to tell what your fabulous find is. Mine is the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge I used to make the white sentiment shape. I chose "Shape 7" and cut off one of the sides to make it fit the block of paper. I love using that cartridge because of the variety of shapes - over 700. Mine sits on a cabinet in my kitchen and I leave the cartridge in the machine, ready to go. I frequently turn it on, put in a scrap of paper, cut my shape, turn it off and go on to finish my card. I love how handy it is.

I stamped the bird with Desert Sand ink that is pretty close to the Kraft color. Then I lightly colored it and retraced some of the lines with the Desert Sand watercolor pencil. The directions from the ribbon reel were to use a touch of red, so I mounted the twill on Cranberry cardstock and colored 3 chipboard circles with Cranberry ink. Ordinarily I would have put brads or buttons there, but I thought this had a more masculine feel today.

6.5" x 5" Card recipe:

Paper - Basic Grey "Boxer;" Close To My Heart Cranberry, White Daisy CS, Kraft CS

Stamps - Verve "Philippians 1:6 Plain Jane; CTMH "Harmony" (bird and twig)

Other - twill from my stash, CTMH white paint, chipboard, Cricut Art Philosophy