Boutique Encouragement Card

I must apologize for being MIA for two months. I kept getting sick with autoimmune problems and viruses in October. By the 30th I came down with shingles, but didn't know what the severe pain was until I broke out with the rash five days later. It was much easier and less painful giving birth to children! Four weeks of pain wasn't all. It left me with other neurological problems requiring medication that makes me lethargic and tired all day.

I had never thought anything would keep me from creating and blogging, but found out I was wrong. So now with a return of some of my mojo I hope to return, at least somewhat, to my norm. I must admit that two months ignoring my usual craft room activities made it difficult to find some things. I think organizing will be at the top of my list of New Year's resolutions.

I have a lot of unused papers from the last quarter. Here's a card using Word Art Wednesday's newest scripture art, Atlantic Hearts latest sketch, and the soft colors of the soon to retire CTMH Boutique papers, Puffy Stickers, and Mink twine.

It's nearly time for the Blog Hop featuring the January Stamp of the Month! I hope you'll join us late tomorrow evening or Wednesday. You'll also see new papers available in the new catalog! 

Thank you for visiting! Have a Happy New Year!

365 Promises of God - Promise #365:
Hold fast to the hope you confess, for I am faithful to keep My promises.Hebrews 10:23 (WEB)
let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering;
for he who promised is faithful

Comfort, Strength, and Courage

I keep needing cards for people I care about who are fighting cancer or other difficult battles. I used a set of sentiments about courage and strength that can apply to a lot of serious trials someone might face. What I'm wondering about this card is whether it sounds final, like they're facing death. My feeling is that it's for the health battle someone is facing, but someone else might think it sounds like I believe they're dying. What do you think?

 I stippled the white panel with Sweet Leaf ink, then stamped the parsley with Juniper. For the Retro Rubber challenge, I've had the stamp set "Good Thymes" since December 2016.) The first part of the PTI sentiment was stamped with New England Ivy. I die cut three of the word "courage" with black cardstock and adhered them together.   I used CTMH Fresh Air papers plus this sketch from Sketch-Tanten (The Sketch-Aunts):

Inside:

On the left side I used the stipple brush again with Sweet Leaf ink to help set off the white scripture die cut: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13" I think it was from Word Art Wednesday a couple of years ago.

 I used scraps to enhance the inside sentiment: "When you don't have the strength, may you find the courage."

Thank you for visiting! May you, too, have courage and strength for the battles you face!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge #220 - use three of something (3 papers, 3 black enamel dots)

Crafting from the Heart challenge #209 - anything goes

Crafty Calendar June Challenge - three of something (3 papers, 3 black enamel dots)

heARTful Stamping challenge - anything goes 

Retro Rubber challenge #88 - anything goes (CTMH Good Thymes purchased 12/16)

Sketch-Tanten #44 sketch

Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #336-337 - anything uplifting

"You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing." Psalm 145:16 (WEB)

365 Promises (of God) - Promise #155:  When I open My hand, I provide for all that I have created.

Easter Blessings!

For many, Easter's blessings may be dressing up for church, decorating Easter eggs for an egg hunt, baskets of chocolate bunnies and eggs, and brunch or dinner with family or friends. These are lovely traditions! I especially like to think of this day as Resurrection Sunday when I focus my thoughts on what kind of amazing love God has for you and me . He knew that none of us could be sinless and since something had to shed it's blood and die to pay for our sins, He sent His own sinless Son to die on a cross to take our punishment for all of our sins. He didn't love me because I was sinless, but while I was sinful! That's the focus of the verse below that I used to make this Easter card: "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8" This verse is one of the free verses from Word Art Wednesday's February 28, 2018, post.

But His death wasn't all that He did for me. His second gift was that He rose from the dead like He'd said that He would to show us we also had the gift of eternal life when we believe in Him and what He did for us! His amazing love for us wasn't just words! What a blessing! I will forever be thankful!

Here's one of several cards I made to share that message with family and friends. 

The two background circles were both from Spellbinders, the sentiment is MFT's Wonky Stitched Rectangle,  and the silver-embossed cross is an older CTMH stamp that I fussy cut. The light gray flowered background paper is from the CTMH Basics Fundamentals paper pack.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Always Fun Challenge #51 - Easter
Deep Ocean Challenge #178 - Easter/spring
Die Cuttin' Divas #362 - Easter with die cuts
Fab 'n' Funky #387 - Easter
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #328 - 329 - anything goes with uplifting message

Mojo Monday #467 Scripture Album Page

I don't usually make square cards since they aren't easy to post in the U.S. mail. But this week's sketch was so perfect! I've started working on some new Scripture Display albums. I enjoy sharing scriptures that can be displayed on a desk, table, or shelf. God's word is so encouraging and the guidance is timeless. The page protectors hold 6" x 6" pages, so I used this week's sketch from Mojo Monday.  I used a verse from Word Art Wednesday from March 16 earlier this year. They share so many beautiful scripture word art verses that can be used for cards or display.  I chose one that would fit inside a circular shape.

The papers are from old Basic Grey Nook and Pantry that I used the other day and an older CTMH pattern. I gold embossed an Our Daily Bread word, "TRUST" on the little tag.  If you'd like to see the previous Scripture Display Albums I've made, you should be able to follow the link at the bottom using the labels feature. I'll also be posting quite a few between now and Christmas.

Thanks for visiting. May God bless you with the rich thoughts and promises of His Word!

I'm sharing this page with the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge #165 - anything goes with sentiment
Craft Your Passion #331 - anything goes
Crafting from the Heart #129 - anything goes
Crafts Galore Encore September- anything goes
Crafty Ribbons #169 - use lace or ribbon
Mojo Monday #467 - sketch
My Time to Craft #330 - anything but a card
The Crafty Addicts #25 - anything goes/patterned paper
Word Art Wednesday #250 - 251 - anything family friendly

Mojo Monday 453 - The Sweet Life

I wanted to combine the Mojo Monday sketch with the Bitten By the Bug 2 challenge to use 2 of something. I wanted to cut out two strawberries because I thought about a sweet incident that happened years ago in June. We were in the ministry and moving to a new home in the sandhills of Nebraska. Our moving truck pulled up to the parsonage some time after 7:00 in the evening. There were many of the church families waiting to unload our truck. The ladies even unpacked our kitchen boxes and put everything away. In a very short time we were done.

Then they brought out homemade ice cream and strawberries!  They told me the strawberries were from our garden, planted by the previous minister. That strawberry patch was filled with everbearing strawberry plants that kept producing some even later that summer.

Is it any wonder that we enjoyed our time serving the folks of that church! This sweet memory inspired the choice of my sentiment from the old CTMH July 2013 stamp of the month set, Sweet Life.

I used this Mojo Monday sketch with grosgrain and satin ribbons for the diagonal strips. I cut the Cricut strawberries (Paisley cartridge)and the scalloped rectangle (don't remember the cartridge).
I added some silver sequins and the satin ribbon for the Simon Says Stamp challenge to add some shimmer. (I'm always trying to use up my old B&T paper. This is Seafoam, I think.)

I'm also sharing this card with Word Art Wednesday Challenge #236-237. Their scripture word art and devotions always inspire me. May we be like those everbearing strawberries by serving the Lord and blessing others all throughout our lives!

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45"

Mojo 442 Amazing Grace Encouragement Card

This month at Path of Positivity the focus is on GRACE. This word has many different meanings, but I chose to focus on the Grace of God. I've been reading a book by John McArthur called, At the Throne of Grace. I had found it at the library and enjoyed it so much I ordered my own copy at Amazon. It has scriptures and prayers from 52 of his Sunday services. I like a definition of grace he has on his website: Common grace is a term theologians use to describe the goodness of God to all mankind universally.

When I was young I don't think I understood the far-reaching impact of this concept. Now its something I think about often, that God's loving kindness extends to us even when we don't deserve it;. That's why I chose the Verve sentiment I stamped today: Amazing grace will bring us through. I want this card to encourage someone with the realization that no matter what happens to us in life, God's care and loving kindness will comfort and sustain us.

I was inspired to make this card by several challenges. The sketch from Mojo Monday 442 and the color palette at Color Throwdown #387:

The sentiment phrase "Amazing Grace" made me think about the famous hymn of that name, so I chose the pale yellow paper with a musical theme for the stitched square die cut, although I don't know its source.  The background aqua paper and orange polka dot strip are from  My Mind's Eye "Bloom and Grow," and the red plaid is a Basic Grey "Lauderdale" paper. 

On the inside I added the beautiful truth the Lord told Paul, "'My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Thank you for visiting. May you grow and flourish in the beauty, knowledge, and comfort of God's grace.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

ABC Challenge - E is for Everything

Color Throwdown #387 - aqua, red, orange, yellow 

Crafting from the Heart #106 - Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper April challenge - anything goes with patterned paper

Mojo Monday #442 - sketch

Path of Positivity #37 - Grace 

Sisters of Craft - anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #224-225 - anything uplifting

ODBD Birthday Blessings

In the last two days there have been three birthdays to celebrate among my family and friends. I wanted each to know what a blessing they are to me and how I pray and wish God's blessings on them. Here's one of the cards I made to share a blessing with a friend. I've always noticed that she enjoys displaying cards on her mantle, so I made her an easel card.

I chose the scripture and inside sentiment from Our Daily Bread Designs  (stamps Birthday Blessings, All Occasion Sentiments). I used their Shining the Light Challenge today to include elements that started with the letters

O - Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, Organdy ribbon

D - Die cuts (Cricut butterfly from Florals Embellished, circle and mat from Artiste)

B - Butterfly, Bow, Birthday Blessings

D - Distressed by inking the edges

The scripture sentiment on front says:

"For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. Proverbs 9:11"

The vintage looking papers came from Graphic45 "Ladies' Diary." I chose this for her card because the first time I had ever seen Graphic45 papers we were shopping together, admiring it together.

Thank you for visiting!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Bitten by the Bug 2 - Tiny winged things - butterfly

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Lace and/or Pearls (pearls on flowers, butterfly, and 5 large pearls inside to help card stand up)

Creative Card Crew #110 - Die cuts

Dream Valley Challenge #128 - Girlie

Love to Scrap #75 - use a bow

Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #273 - ODBD Recipe

Stamps & Fun = Creativity #75 - butterfly

Try It On Tuesday - Add a quote (Proverbs 9:11)

Word Art Wednesday #224-225 - anything uplifting



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

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

Mojo Monday #425 - Come Let Us Adore Him

This week's sketch at Mojo Monday seemed perfect for combining two of my stamp sets using words of a Christmas carol and outline of Mary holding baby Jesus. I always want my Christmas cards to express some part of the real meaning of Christmas, the gift of Christ as our Lord and Savior, either on the front or the inside. Here's the sketch and my card:

For this card I used the CTMH White Pines paper pack, retired brown glitter cardstock, and retired stamp set "Mary and Babe." I gold embossed the large Christmas carol phrase from the current stamp set, "Christ is Born" and stamped the smaller phrase form that set in Cocoa ink over the image of Mary and Babe. I cut the two stitched circles using Cricut Mini-Monograms and Simply Sweet.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you with His joy as you prepare to celebrate Christmas!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge #158 - Inspired by a Christmas Song or Carol (Come All Ye Faithful)

Aud Sentiments #145 - anything goes with a sentiment 

Crafting by Designs - getting ready for Christmas

Crafting with Dragonflies Challenge #48 - Christmas/add ribbon

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #257 - use die cuts or punches

DL Art Thankful Thursday #169 - Christmas

Fantasy Stampers Challenge #50 -  Traditional Christmas

Mojo Monday #425 - sketch 

Word Art Wednesday #211 - anything uplifting



A Season to be Thankful

Since I was a little girl, I've had a great passion for history. I've always been inspired by the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. After many overwhelming hardships the first winter in America, they were assisted by Native Americans to successfully grow and harvest crops, fish, and game for a bountiful harvest the next fall. It wasn't until I was much older that I learned that my grandfather's Halstead family also settled in Massachusetts Bay Colony a couple of years after that first Thanksgiving. So now I feel a personal connection to the story of those early Pilgrims.

After going through any type of hardship, we may feel blessed when the difficulty is over, or even just better. But what if there are no obvious hardships? I see what is happening around the world and feel gratitude for things like safety, freedom, and living in a land of plenty.  I see someone with a terrible illness and my own ailments seem insignificant. Yet, I'm constantly aware of the fact that there is so much more for which I should be thankful than what I actually verbalize to others and to God. I love the scripture that says, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18." So I'm still working on giving thanks for "everything," good or bad, happy or sad. If you're still reading this, I thank you for your time and attention. May God bless you richly!

Here's another one of my Thanksgiving cards made with Sangria papers.

The inside has the lovely thankfulness word art from this week's Word Art Wednesday post.

6.5" x 5" Card Recipe:
Paper - CTMH Sangria paper pack
Stamps - CTMH "Blessings of Autumn" hostess stamp, CTMH Sangria Workshop on the Go stamps; retired CTMH spring leaves stamp
Inks - CTMH Champagne, Poppy, Pomegranate, Eggplant, Cocoa
Tools - Cricut  Art Philosophy (leaves, circle mat), Cricut New Arrival (stitched circle)
Embellishments - CTMH poppy thicker twine, Pink enamel gems

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Bitten by the Bug 2 - Thanksgiving with Fall Leaves (from Cricut Art Philosophy p.62)
Crafty Creations Challenge #302 - Give thanks
Die Cuttin Divas #242 - Thanksgiving with a die cut  (stitched circle and leaves)
DoubleClick Skittles #35 - Thank you or Thanksgiving
Freshly Brewed Designs Challenge - So thankful
Path of Positivity Challenge #32 - Gratefulness

 
Shopping Our Stash #228 - Thanks/Thanksgiving
Simon Says Stamp - Thanks/Thanksgiving
The Crafty Addicts #4 - anything goes/use die cuts (stitched circle and leaves)
Word Art Wednesday #210 - anything uplifting

Give Thanks Fall Card

I found out that a "church camp group" formed from several of our areas local churches were just awarded the bid to purchase Wilderness Camp near our home. A couple of families in our church were very instrumental in getting this camp when it went up for sale. It meant a lot to me because I was blessed to have gone to church camp nearly every summer from age 8 to 16. I think it's a great experience to draw young people closer to God, to each other, and to His creation.


Here's a card I made for the couple who will be able to continue living at the camp.  I simply used scraps and embellishments I had on my table to put away. The front of the card uses the scripture word art from Word Art Wednesday last week. It fit the space as well as the intended message.

Here's the inside message:

Both of  the stamped sentiments, "Give Thanks" and "May the Lord bless you" come from a CTMH Hostess Rewards stamp set, Blessings of Autumn. The other materials are retired CTMH, Recollections glittery leaves from Michaels, and brown velvet corduroy ribbon from my stash. The frame diecut was cut using Cricut Art Philosophy. It was in my stack to put away, too, because when I cut it a couple of weeks ago it didn't work out. I don't know about you, but I enjoy making something useful out of a stack of unrelated items instead of tossing them.

Thank you for visiting and may the Lord also bless you!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges;
Crafty Cardmakers #150 - autumn colors
Crafty Gals Corner #43 - anything goes
House of Cards -  I chose Add texture (burlap, leaves, brass button, velvet corduroy ribbon)

Stampavie and More #248 - Autumn Leaves
Suzie Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #103 - anything with twist-add leaves
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Fall
The Crafty Addicts #3 - anything goes and this autumn colored palette

Use Your Stuff #197 - Diecuts and/or punches
Word Art Wednesday #207 - anything uplifting

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)

A Thankful Heart with Sangria

I love autumn! Our weather has been sunny and pleasant. Only a few trees and my burning bushes have changed color in our yard. Most things are still green. But I'm anticipating beautiful autumn colors soon. Before the cold, gray days of winter arrive, this is a time for which to be thankful!

Here's my first card using CTMH Sangria paper with its lovely leaves. The vellum leaves are from Sangria Complements, and the Pomegranate colored flower is from the Sangria Assortment. The stamp is from the CTMH set Thankful Heart.  I colored the word "thankful" using the ShinHan Sap Green marker.

The inside has a verse that is beautifully scripted from Word Art Wednesday from November 12, 2014:  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20. 

What a challenge for us all to remember to be thankful for all things, the obvious blessings and the smallest details that we take for granted as well as the difficult or even heart-breaking trials that come our way. Thankfulness helps us grow closer to God and lets Him help us through the trials.

Thank you for visiting! May God richly bless you and help you recall all you have to be thankful for!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
2 Crafty Girls - Oct. Inspiration board - I used "Fall" and die cut machine
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #262 -Autumn (used "Artistry" cartridge for die cut frame and mats)
Fan-tastic Tuesday #107 - anything goes (square/rectangle) with twist - autumn colors
My Time to Craft #306 - Autumnal colors
Robin's Fetish #285 - use lots of orange
Stamping Sensations October challenge - colours of autumn
The Crafty Addicts Challenge #3 - Anything goes with Autumn Colored Pallette
Word Art Wednesday #205 - anything uplifting

Use It Up! - Mojo 417 Tinkerin' Card

I was inspired by the current and previous sketches from Mojo Monday and used the Tinkerin' paper I was trying to use up today. The first one I interpreted the gear circles as flower circles instead. I used this week's Mojo Monday 417 sketch:

I chose the Verve sentiment, a Scripture for a friend I've been praying for. She was nursing her husband who had a serious emergency surgery when her mother also became sick, then passed away. The verse says:
Be strong and take heart all you who HOPE in the Lord. Psalm 31:24.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Come and Get It - Clear it Out - use an old stash item (2009 Tinkerin' background paper and white daisies (9 years old-why do I save things so long??)
Eclectic Ellapu September Challenge - Purple team - use something in stash 6 mo. old or more (6+ years)
Mojo Monday #417 - sketch
Word Art Wednesday #202 - anything uplifting

Here's the other card I made using the front side of the paper showing the circle gears. I used last week's Mojo Monday sketch which was perfect for gears. I was inspired yesterday by the challenge at Addicted to CAS to make a card with the word DREAMS. My card isn't CAS so I didn't share it in their challenge, but I have a grandson who was in Robotics and two that should become architects or engineers, so I thought gears and robots would go along with the idea of them following their dreams.

 

 I used the shiny side of the Cranberry, Sunset, Canary, and Slate Paper Fundamentals. They have a shiny pattern that doesn't show up unless the light reveals it. Here's a close-up turned toward the light: 

It's a little distracting in this photo, but compare it to the photo above it and maybe you get the idea. All of these shiny papers are the retired patterns. CTMH released some new patterns this year. The sentiment stamp is retired from National Stamping Month set several years ago. The inside, which I forgot to photograph while it was still light,  has a message for one of my grandsons:

"for as you dream you shall become."

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Daring Cardmakers - Creative Kids (for my grandson)

For more ideas using up the Tinkerin' paper see these two posts:

-- a card and layout made today

-- a Christmas card made with the back side of the paper