Hello friends!
I've been busy with several projects around here.  Some of them involve testing out my new machine, a Sizzix eclips electronic cutting machine.  Samples of those efforts coming soon!

For now, I just have another card I made using my new Layers of Color stamps. 
This time I used the Merci Bouquet stamp set and this challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ for my inspiration.

 I think the card is a little 'off balance' so I'm going to add another flower in the upper left corner, but other than that, I'm pleased as punch with this one.

Thanks for stopping in.  Have a blessed day!


Credits 
SU!:  CS (Barely Banana, Old Olive), ink (Crumb Cake, Barely Banana, Pale Plum), punches (5-Petal Flower, Flower Trio)
Stash: white CS, pearls, jute, brad

SSIC #142: Isaiah 40:26

This week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ, Diane is the challenge hostess.  She has chosen Isaih 40:26 as her scripture.

Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, and that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

 

Stop on over at the SSIC blog to read Diane's devotional.  It's very encouraging.

 

The challenge guidelines are:  Create a card that depicts any element of heaven-angels, music, clouds, sun, stars, blue, glitter, bling, etc.

Here's my card.

I've used SU! Brocade Blue CS for my base and mats. (Unfortunately this is a retired color!)

The two DPs as well as the images are by Trina Clark at DigiScrapKits.com.  (No stamping for me this time.)  Trina's stuff is so so cute!  Especially her newest kits depicting several nursery rhymes.  This is from Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  Not only is it perfect for this challenge, but the sleeping bear reminds my of the Wee One who joined our family in March.

 

 

I popped the cluster of stars up with foam dots, added glitter glue to a few of the stars and some brads near the top of the card.  Easy to make.  Went together quick as a wink! And I'm ready for the next baby boy that needs to be welcomed into the world!

Thanks for stopping by.  Blessings to you and yours!

Challenges:

Stampin' Sisters in Christ: #142-Isaiah 40:26-Depict any element of heaven

Make it Monday: Always anything goes

SSIC #141: Psalm118:6

This project has quite a story to it.

Candace is the hostess this week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ and the scripture she chose is Psalm 118:6.

 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

The Challenge is to:

Do something on your card that you're "afraid" of!
(ie. something you wouldn't normally do, like if you’re a “CAS” girl, try to pile it on… or maybe it’s a technique you’re scared to try etc.)

Now here's my story.
I've spent a lot of time these last weeks on a big sewing project for hire, on top of having a new baby. (Ten weeks old now.) Which means I haven't had much scrappin' time.  Yet, when I go to my paper crafting area, there are all these usable scraps staring at me.  I have great ambitions to make them into pretty things because they are too good to just throw away.
The problem:  every time I sit down to make something 'using only my scraps', I don't like the way it turns out.

So here's what happened.
 I visited Lovely Linda's blog post here, and was encouraged to dig into my scraps---again!.  I was also feeling discouraged over all the big projects I have going that are moving slowly toward completion and wanted something to do that would be an accomplished project, done quickly.  And I have a little daughter who was wanting to stamp, and we hadn't done that together for a while.

I found a piece of SU! DP lying on the scrapping table and a piece of Cameo Coral CS, (which matched the DP!), already partially used.  I cut the card base to the best size I could.  Then I cut the DP to fit at the bottom of the card to make the front the proper size.  I  punched the scalloped trim on the DP for the outside edge, and then decided it would be cute to have that same edge on the inside, too.
I wanted to use my Spellbinders Label 14 so I cut out the second largest size for the front.  When I took it out of the die I noticed that the paper (another piece of scrap, just big enough for the die) had slipped and one curve was cut off the edge.  =(  Major NoNo in Nutty's book of doing things right!  But I decided to use it anyway.  Then guess what!!  It happened again on smaller die I cut for the inside! Argh!!
While my little Dinky was inking the Labels for the stencil effect, I went looking for a stamp set to use.  I found an old SU! set,  , that I haven't used in along time, and decided to make a bouquet with the flower and leaf stamps.  Lots of cutting out, but it went fairly quickly.  I had The Dinky girl stamp those, too, and it took us three tries to find the yellow we liked best! (Which just meant more stamping for her! =) )

As I was cutting, I wondered if I could possibly use this for the SSIC challenge for the week, but the chances of a card I was making on SATURDAY evening fitting in with the challenge that wouldn't be posted until the next morning were pretty slim.  Oh well, that just means more scrappin' for me! =)
I finished the card by gluing everything together, popping one of the pink flowers up with a dimensional, and adding pearls to the center of the flowers.
Voilá!  A finished card...made from only scraps.....And I LIKED it!  Done in one evening, and I stamped with my little girl.  A very pleasing accomplishment.

When I checked my blog reader for the SSIC challenge the next day, I found the above info.  I had a hard time thinking of something I'm afraid of, or haven't tried in stamping/scrapping.  Then I thought of my card of the night before.  And of the fact that it was the first time I had a 'scraps only' project turn out to be something I liked.  (Had to get over that 'fear of failing' to even try again.) And of how I used the two labels, even though they weren't perfect.  (A confessing perfectionist, here.)  I decided this card did fit in with this challenge.
I'm reminded of how we aren't perfect, but God accepts us when we are cleansed from our imperfections by the blood of His Son, and even though those imperfection still show.  He helped me conquer the dread of having it all come out wrong...again!  And of not having everything 'perfect' on the card.
I'm reminded of how God knows what we need, and won't let us have more than we can bear.  He knew I needed a 'pick-me-up' so the card came together quickly and beautifully!

And.....God knew I really wanted to start participating in the SSIC challenges again, but only have so much time while I'm still finishing these dresses I'm sewing.  So He orchestrated my time available, and the inspiration for this card to fit with the challenge.  Thanks, Lord!
God really does care about the littlest things in our lives.  And He does want to help us in every little battle we have to face, as well as the big ones.

Thanks for coming by!  Blessing to you! 

(If the SSIC team determines this does not fit the challenge, I'll gladly have it removed from consideration for the prize!)


Challenges:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #141: Do something you are 'afraid' of
Make it Monday # 91: Always anything goes

SSIC 121 - Phil 2:3-4

So far, so good! =)  I'm ready with my one challenge entry for this week!  Yea!

The ladies at Stampin' Sisters in Christ have a wonderful challenge that posts every Sunday.  One of the DT chooses a scripture, writes a bit of encouragement, and then selects a challenge for the week based on all of that.  I really enjoy reading through these encouraging words and the cards made by the DT and other challenge participants are so lovely!!

I have entered several of these over the past year, and I hope to enter every one of them this year!  A bit ambitious, probably, since my 'realistic' goal is to make a card for one challenge per week, and there are so many other inspiring challenges out there!  We'll see how it goes! =)

For this week, Challenge #121, the scripture chosen is Phillipians 2:3-4:

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

The challenge is to make a 'Thinking of You' card.

Here's mine.

This is made with the second half of the digi DP CS (from the City Slickers kit at Everyday Mom Ideas) I used for the last card I posted .  And again the photo was taken with the flash so there is a glare. (Sorry! =( )

I stamped the swirl from the SU! Friendship Blooms set right onto the DP with SU! Real Red ink.  The sentiment is from the SU! Three for You set, stamped in Basic Black on white CS (from my stash), matted on a piece of SU! Real Red.  The flower is also from the Friendship Blooms set, stamped with Basic Black onto white CS, cut out, accented with a Filigree flower from SU! and held on with a colored brad from my stash.  Then I popped it up with a dimensional.  The ribbon is a double faced satin left over from my 'crafting days' of years gone by.  I tied three knots in it, then glued it down with two sided sticky tape.  Et voila! 

These aren't colors I usually do well with, but I'm really pleased with this card.  I'll be sending it to a friend who's been having a tough time in life the last several months.  I hope it will be a ray of sunshine in the midst of the clouds.

Thanks for visiting! Have a blessed and beautiful day!!

Challenges:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ # 121

Blessings!

I'm squeeking in for The Color Throwdown Challenge #160, but nice and early (the first day of the challenge ~ Yea! =D ) for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #108.

The Color Throwdown combo:

SSIC scripture:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

SSIC Challenge:  Create a card that says 'blessings' or uses an encouraging scripture.

I didn't have any Very Vanilla, or any ivory card stock of any kind!  (I'll have to fix that very soon!)  So... I used white CS and softened it with some ink distressing using a nylon stocking.  Since I didn't have any Soft Suede ink (I know, I'm batting a thousand, here!) I used a combination of Crumb Cake and Close to Cocoa.  I used the same ink combo to stamp the image, and then colored the flowers with Regal Rose ink and the leaves with Crumb Cake ink using a blender pen.  The paper flowers were colored with Regal Rose ink applied with the nylon stocking.  I also highlighted the tips of the petals and the centers with Crumb Cake.

Challenges
The Color Throwdown #160 ~ Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
SSIC ~ 'blessings' or an encouraging verse

Credits

Stampin' Up ~ card stock (Soft Suede, Regal Rose); Ink (Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa, Crumb Cake); stamps (Herb Expressions); Vintage Wallpaper emboss folder; Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon.

Petaloo ~ paper flowers

Mark Richards ~ Pearls

Stash ~ white card stock

Friends

I've been learning a lot from various blogs that I visit, as well as some of the challenges I try to enter.  This week Our Daily Bread Designs is having their Shining the  Light Challenge 59.  The challenge is to use a technique I'd not heard of before, Embedded Embossing.

This technique is done by placing some elements onto a CS or DP and then embossing all those layers as one.  I layered a trim cut out of Sage Shadow (SU!) with my Cuttlebug Ornamental Iron die, and a Nestabilities Lable 14 cut out of a digital DP (polka dot), onto another digital DP (stripe), and then ran it all through my Big Shot using the Regal Flourishes emboss folder.  I so, so like the way this came out!!  I think I'll be using this technique a lot!  (Thanks, ODBD ladies!  Especially Sabrina - I took the embedded label inspiration from your sample!)  I inked the edges of this and wrapped lace and a Chocolate Chip ribbon around it before adhering to a Chocolate Chip textured card base.

The smaller Label 14 was cut out of handmade paper we make ourselves, here.   I stamped the Label 14 with the vine flourish from the Vintage Vogue set (SU!) using Creamy Caramel.  The 'F-friends', also from Vintage Vogue, was stamped with VersaMark and embossed using Stampendous Chocolate Brown emboss powder.  Then I hand cut it and popped it up on dimensionals.  The fabric flowers are from my stash, and the pink flowers are SU! Pretty in Pink DP punched with the Trio Flower punch.  I inked the edges with Chocolate Chip.  The layered flower was cut out of some more handmade paper with the Boho Blossoms punch.  I inked these with Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip, and then crumpled them a little to give them dimension.  I like the way this paper  holds a 'crumpled' distress job without using water.  I finished it off by putting a small pearl in the center of every flower.

Thanks for stopping by!!

CREDITS:  
The Digital DPs are from two kits sold by Rasperry Road Designs.  The stripe is from Away in a Manger Papers, and the polka dot from Baskets and Bunnies Paper Set.
Stampin' Up! - card stock, DSP, stamps, ink, satin ribbon, VersaMark, dimensionals, punches
Spellbinders - Nestabilities Label 14
Cuttlebug - Ornamental Iron die
Sizzix - Tim Holtz Regal Flourishes emboss folder
Stash - lace, pearls, handmade paper


Challenges:
ODBDSLC59 - Embedded Embossing
RRR Challenge #23 - Double Dutch (two ribbons, laces, or trims)
 ETA: Stampin' Sisters in Christ - put all things "beautiful" on your card

A Wedding!

We got some exciting news this week.  My eldest daughter's close friend called to tell us she is getting married.  This, of course is a great reason to make a card.....so I did!

I found a new challenge I wanted to try at CardPatterns, (I think I got there from Lovely Linda's blog.....I think!), so I used this challenge as well as this week's Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge #87 as the inspiration for this card.  

Marilynn is the hostess at SSIC this week, and she chose the verse Romans 8:28:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Marilynn's devotional and testimony are so amazing that I can't even begin to think of anything else to say.........so I won't.  But please, click over to her blog and read beautiful, encouraging, inspiring words from a heart that serves the King of Kings.  (There isn't a link available directly to her post so I've sent you to her blog.  At this time the post is at the top, but if you don't find it there, look for the date 'May 1, 2011')

Marilynn's challenge was to use no DP.  I chose white CS from my stash as my base, and then decided I wanted some color on this card.  I still had this piece of Sage Shadow that was used for the test run through my Cuttlebug Ornamental Iron emboss folder.  Although you can't see it in the picture, the half circle at the top of the card is bg stamped with a flower image in Blush Blossom and then I inked the edges with VersaMark and gold embossed. 

The flower in the center was stamped in Sage Shadow and the 'love' was embossed in gold.  I matted this on Blush Blossom and then popped it up on a dimensional inside the crocheted circle (no center to this) which was hand crocheted by......ME! =)

The white ribbon is from my stash and has a little sparkly flower pattern to it.  I thought that would be enough but then decided the gems from SU! were really necessary to finish this off.  All supplies and materials not already noted are from SU!

Challenges:
CardPatterns - sketch
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - No DP

Thanks for stopping!

Jesus Paid it All!! Hallelujah!

It seems I'm dropping my entry into the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenges at the very last minute, lately! Today is the last day for Challenge #85, and the verse for this week is Matthew 16:23:

"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."

The challenge is to use VersaMark or the same color ink ink on the same color of paper somewhere on your card.

 

I was clicking through various blogs today, including some challenges, and found the Timeless Tuesday Challenge #114.  The color challenge going on there right now is to use aqua, yellow and brown.  Then, I got my latest order from Mark's Finest Papers, which included the Cuttlebug Ornamental Iron cut and emboss.  I had one of my daughters test the cutting die, and she chose SU! Sage Shadow for the card stock.  Well, it's not aqua, but when I saw this lacy trim after the test cut, I knew I had to team it up with yellow and brown for this card.  The other colors of card stock are SU! Creamy Caramel (retired) and Daffodil Delight, and white from my stash.  I stamped the Weathered background on the yellow CS with SU! Summer Sun ink, (also retired).

The stamps I used are some new ones my lovely children gave me for my birthday a few weeks ago, and yes! this is the first time I've inked them.  They are from Blue Ridge Impressions.  I used SU! Creamy Caramel ink (retired) and colored with SU! chalks.  I also chalked the edges of the cross CS and then distressed with my scissors.

The flowers and pearls are from my stash.  I'm not sure I'll enter this in the Timeless Tuesday, we'll see. =)

(ETA) I just found another challenge into which I could enter this card.   Grace had a button for the Inspire Me Fridays challenge so I clicked over to check it out.  I decided to add this card to the challenge, and with enthusiastic encouragement coming from the same Grace, I'll enter the Timeless Tuesday, also!  Thanks, Grace!!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you all have a blessed weekend!

SSIC Challenge #84

Kris Breach was the hostes for Challenge #84 at Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week.  She chose Mark 15:16 as the focus verse.

"They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him."

The challenge rules were to use shades of purple and/or wood paper or elements on your project.

Credits:

Card Stock: SU! (Perfect Plum), from my stash (gold)

Stamps, Ink & Gold Emboss Powder: SU!

Ribbon & Pearls: stash 

Inspiration for this card came from the second card 
(on the right in the picture) in Susan's blog post.

I'm sneeking this very simple card in at the very last minute due to a bit of a trial in my life this week.  Right now sharing this with all of you is 'safer' for me than telling the 'flesh and blood' people in my life.  That's because I'm really raw and need to get past my initial reactions before I can deal with what others will say to me.  You see, we were expecting another child in November.  I say 'were' because I lost the baby this week.  I'm fine physically, and emotionally, too, just still in the middle of dealing with it. =)

For that reason, this verse, and especially the passage, Kris chose is very special to me.  When I read those parts of scripture I am reminded that there is nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, that I suffer on this earth that Jesus doesn't suffer through with me.  Yes, he never carried or lost a baby, but He did suffer the greatest loss anyone can suffer - the willful turning away of His Father.  But, Hallelujah!, the story doesn't end there!  He conquered death and the grave and now sits at the right hand of that very Father, having provided the means by which we can all join Him, if we choose to.   And neither does it end for me and my little one.  I know that there is a day when we will meet, not again, but for the very first time.  Thank You Jesus!

And Thanks to all of you for being my 'shoulders to cry on'. =))

I like these colors!

It's time for another Color Throwdown.  This week is Challenge #131, and these are the colors:

And the answer is Yes!  Blue and pink have been my favorite colors for as long as I can remember.  My group of likes has grown over the years, and I've gone through phases of being really into certain other colors, (right now that is purple! =) ), but I always come back to these for comfort.

'We', (the two daughters who scrapped with me, and myself), were honored to be chosen as the Featured Stampers on last week's Color Throwdown #130.  (The badge is in my right side bar!)  The girls had started scrapping some of these challenges with me when I came across one that really stumped me.  They offered to help me out by making their own interpretations, hoping that would thaw my brain freeze.  Then, it just kind of kept going, which isn't surprising since scrapping is one of the hobbies these girls and I share.  I had only entered my card in the challenge, but the girls' cards were in the same blog post, and as they say, 'the rest is history'!!  We are thrilled to have this honor, and have decided to keep scrapping the challenges together.  It's lots of fun and a great way to spend some time together.

So, now I will show you the cards we all made with this week's colors.

I found some fun tutorials on line this past week.  One of my favorites is Tracy's Paper Flower video, which means I've been making lots of flowers!  My favorite spring flower is the daffodil so I decided to try making some.  I don't like the one on this card as well as the first one I made, but I still think it looks as good as it can for a paper interpretation.  And, of course, it's that time of year when we all begin yearning for spring, so I have a fluffy little robin on my card.  I remember as little girls, my sister and I would eagerly scan the yard looking for the first robin.  I still do that, only the little girls with their noses pressed to the window next to me are my own precious gifts from God. 

Here's my card.

 

Credits: 

Card Stock: SU! (Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron), from my stash (white)

DP: SU! (Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze)

Stamps: SU! (Spring Song, Vintage Labels, Weathered BG)

Ink: Tsukineko (StazOn-Timber Brown, VersaMark), SU! (Choc. Chip, Stampin' Pastel chalks)

Punches: SU!  -  Die Cuts: SU!

Ribbon: SU! (Crumb Cake Taffeta), from my stash (blue sheer)

Pearls: Mark Richards  -  Buttons: from my stash

I'm also entering this in the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge #78: Psalm 9:10 - use at least three buttons.

Here is the one Sis made.

 

Credits:

Card Stock: SU! (Not Quite Navy, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla), from the stash (white)

Stamps: SU! (Of the Earth, Weathered BG)

Ink: SU! (Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake)

Emboss Folder: SU! (Vintae Wallpaper)  -  Ribbon: SU! (Very Vanilla)

And here is Cowgirl's.

Credits:

Card Stock: SU! (Crumb Cake, Choc. Chip, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla)

DP: SU! (Baja Breeze)  -  Stamp: SU! (No One Like You-ret, Three for You)

Ink: SU! (Not Quite Navy), Tsukineko (VersaMark)

Emboss Folder: SU! (Polka Dots)

Embellshments: SU! (gems), from the stash (sheer ribbon)

Thanks for stopping by!

1John 3:18

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and truth." (KJV)

This is the verse that inspired the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge #75.  The projects created for the challenge were to represent love, without using words.  (On the outside, if the project was a card.)

This is the card I made.  I'm pretty pleased that four of my daughters knew the meaning of the key/ heart symbolism.  Guess I wasn't being as vague as I thought! =)

Credits:

Card stock, stamps, ink, emboss powder, lace punch, 

linen thread, dimensionals - Stampin' Up!

Designer paper - My Mind's Eye

Vellum - Paper Wishes

Ribbon - from my stash

Challenge Card Four - Psalm 23:4

I'm a little later than I planned to be posting this card.  I didn't make it on Wednesday because that is my town day - 40 miles one way! (Yes, we live way out in the country!)  So....

I started my fourth card for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #74 last night, but wasn't able to finish it.  I sat myself down early this morning and got the job done!  I like this one, but I'm thinking it might be a little better if I had inked the edges of the Designer Paper.  (Oops!  Too late now!)

Credits:

Card stock, stamps, ink, journaling marker, 

grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals - Stampin' Up!

Designer papers - My Mind's Eye

Brad - Making Memories

Twill tape - from my stash

Sentiment - my personal handwriting

Challenge Card Two - Psalm 23:2

Here is my second card I have made for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge #74.

The passage of scripture used as inspiration for this challenge is....Psalm 23! =)  I decided to make one card for each verse in the Psalm, even though the only requirements for the challenge were to use blue (still waters) and green (green pastures) in your project. 

I think this will be a wonderful set when it is done, and I already know who I will give it to!  (But I'm not giving out any names!  Wouldn't want the surprise to be spoiled! )

Credits:

Card stock, stamp, ink, chalk, glitter, journaling marker, ribbon, 

lace punch, plain and scalloped oval punches - Stampin' Up!

Paper - My Mind's Eye

Brads - from my stash

Journaling - my personal handwriting

Challenge Card One - Psalm 23:1

I've been doing some hopping around on the web lately following links from scrapping blogs to other scrapping blogs.  I've found some wonderful inspiration and have even come across a few neat challenges.  Of course,  I couldn't tell you how I wound up at these sites I now call 'favorites', but I'm glad I got there!

One of my new favorites is the Scrappin Sisters in Christ blog.  Each week they have a challenge that is based in some way on a Bible verse or passage.  I was going to do a card last week as part of their challenge, but the days got away from me.  When I saw what this week's passage of scripture is, (Psalm 23), I decided I would make time to do this challenge!  I plan to make one card for each verse of the Psalm, which will result in a set of six cards.   And yes, I will enter each card in the challenge!

Here's the card for verse one.

Credits:

Card stock, stamps, ink and journaling marker - Stampin' Up!

Decorative paper - My Mind's Eye

Ribbon - from my stash

Journaling - my personal handwriting