In The Meadow- Happy Birthday!

Hi Friends!

As we approach the New Year's Eve celebration here on the East Coast, I just want to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy New Year!!  

While 2015 has been a year of "testing" for my hubby and I, the Lord has been faithful and has answered many prayers!  We are so blessed and may the Lord richly bless you in 2016!

This past week, my hubby celebrated his birthday so I decided to create a card using the new stamp set, In the Meadow (from the upcoming Occasions Mini) :-)  

I also incorporated the Pals Paper Arts PPA281 Sketch Challenge in my design as well as the Tuesday Morning Sketches #332 "Anything Goes" Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above sites yet, I encourage you to do so- they both have very talented Design Teams and fabulous inspiration in their galleries as well!

To celebrate his special day, we were able to take a spontaneuos trip trip to Skyline Drive (if you know us, spontaneity is not a common thing- lol!)  and even though it was cloudy with a bit of rain, we still thoroughly enjoyed the vistas and scenery.   

We absolutely love the serenity of the park and were able to see a few deer- trust me, they blended in so well with the fallen leaves, we were lucky to see them at all :-)  We were disappointed that we did not see any bears but they were either staying out of the drizzling rain or could already be hibernating :-)

This is a fairly simple card to create:

Ink the deer image from In The Meadow using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock  (also stamp another image onto a piece of sticky note paper for a mask).

Mask the deer image and stamp the mountains and tree with Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink.

Use an AquaPainter™ with Tip Top Taupe and Soft Suede Classic Ink to color the deer, Smoky Slate Classic Ink for the mountains and Mossy Meadow Classic Ink for the grass, tree and mountains.

Add additional detail with Stampin’ Write Markers in the same colors and use the Sahara Sand marker for shadows.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Circle Framelits™ to cut out the image and cut out another circle the same size from Soft Suede cardstock, layering the cardstock circle behind the focal image and set aside.

Trim a piece of Going Places Designer Series Paper (DSP), emboss with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and mount onto a piece of Soft Suede cardstock.

Emboss a piece of Tip Top Taupe cardstock with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, trim and mount onto a piece of Mossy Meadow cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Soft Suede cardstock, trim and mount onto the Whisper White card base.

Trim the end off of the layered focal image and mount onto the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Stamp the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, trim and create the banner with the Banner Punch, mount onto Soft Suede cardstock (again creating the banner points with the Banner Punch).

Mount the sentiment using Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  In the Meadow, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black,  Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede, Tip Top Taupe; Stampin’ Write Markers- Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede, Tip Top Taupe, Sahara Sand

Paper: Whisper White, Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede, Tip Top Taupe; Going Places DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Circle Framelits™, Banner Punch, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you have a Happy New Year!

Christmas Wishes

Hi Friends!

I hope you are having a great week so far!  

I know that Christmas is over but I wanted to share a card that I created using the Sugar Pea Designs SPDSS34 Sketch along with the Power Poppy Dec15 “Rewind” Challenge (I chose “Shabby & Chic”).  I like to create Christmas cards all year long so I have them ready to mail at Christmas (although I am still always a bit late getting them in the mail- working on this for sure :-)).

If you have not had a chance to check out the above challenge sites, I hope you will find the time to do so- gorgeous Design Team samples and inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Stamp the titmouse image from Sweet ‘n Sassy (SNSS) Peace of God  stamp set using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock (stamping another image onto a piece of sticky note paper for a mask).

Color the titmouse image using an AquaPainter™ with Smoky Slate and Hello Honey Classic Ink (also using a Smoky Slate Stampin’ Write marker for shadows on the feathers) and Pear Pizzazz with Old Olive for the leaves.

Color the berries with a Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker and add highlights with Titanium White Acrylic Paint.

Once the ink and paint has dried, mask the bird image and use a Sponge Dauber with Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink to stencil the background.

Ink the snowflakes from the Winter Blessings (SNSS) stamp set with Smoky Slate Classic Ink, stamp off and stamp onto the background.

Use a 1 ¾” Circle Punch to round the corners and a sewing machine with a zig zag stitch to adhere the panel to a piece of Basic Gray cardstock (rounding the corners of the Basic Gray cardstock as well and distressing with the Distress Tool).

Use the Big Shot™ with the Boho Chic Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of retired Designer Series Paper, distress the edges with the Distressing Tool and lightly sand with the Sanding Block.

Use a zigzag stitch to adhere this background panel to the Basic Gray card front.

Stamp the sentiment from We Three Kings (SNSS) onto Whisper White cardstock, create the banner points with the Hexagon Punch and mount onto a piece of Basic Gray cardstock.

Create the horizontal panel from a scrap piece of Real Red cardstock (mounted onto scrap strips of Basic Gray cardstock) along with the Doily Borders Die (SNSS) Die cut from Whisper White cardstock.

Add the snowflake embellishment with the Silver Cord over the horizontal panel.

Add the titmouse focal image panel and mount the layered red strip at the top.

Add the sentiment with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Peace of God, We Three Kings, Winter Blessings (SNSS)

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Smoky Slate, Hello Honey, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Stampin’ Write Markers- Smoky Slate

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Real Red; retired Stampin’ Up! DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Doily Borders Dies (SNSS), Boho Chic Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, AquaPainter™, Sewing Machine, Snowflake Embellishment, Punches- 1 ¾” Round, Hexagon, Silver Cord

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and have a blessed day, my friends!

The Outpost- Live in the Sunshine :-)

Hi Friends!!

I hope all of you are having a great week leading up to New Year’s!  

I am working on re-arranging my stamping area and took a break to create a card using my new Artistic Outpost stamps (Christmas present to me :-)) for the December Artistic Outpost “Anything Goes” Challenge along with the Mojo Monday #428 Sketch Challenge and the Inkspirational #98 “Bah-Humbug- Anything but Christmas” Challenge.

If you have not already had a chance to visit the above sites,  I hope you will take the time to do so- fabulous inspiration  from all!

To create this card:

Stamp the Artistic Outpost (AO) The Outpost stamp images onto Very Vanilla cardstock using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink, sponge Ranger® Tim Holtz® Old Paper, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the images and add a bit of Titanium White Acrylic Paint to the foreground and clock face, trim the barn/windmill panel and mount onto Basic Black cardstock.

Color the edges of the clock with the Stampin’ Dazzle™ Gold Marker and add additional white highlights with Titanium White Acrylic Paint.  

Fussy-cut out the clock image, use a foam brush to apply Modge Podge™  to the entire clock (this will help stablize the clock and give it an appearance of glass) and add the Gold Trim to the fob.

Create the background panel using a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, distress the edges, sponge Ranger® Tim Holtz® Old Paper, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress Ink , emboss with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and add Picket Fence Distress Stain over the entire panel. 

***FYI- I stamped with the large tree and house image from the set using Steel Gray Dye Ink (My Favorite Things ™) onto the panel first,  but by the time I added all of the Distress Inks and Stain, embossed with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and added the layers, you can only see the shadows of the stamped image.***

Distress the edges of the embossed background panel and use a sewing machine with a zig zag stitch to adhere it to a piece of asic Black.

Distress the edges of the Basic Black panel, add the Ivory Crochet Lace along with the Dark Brown Satin Ribbon wrapping the edges behind the panel and mount onto a Whisper White card base (sponging Tea Dye Distress Ink over the white edges to “antique” the paper).

Card #2- View with Shimmer Paint 

Mount the focal image panel and clock to the card front using dimensional foam and add the sentiment to finish off the card.

Card #1 was finished at this point but I thought I needed to add one more thing so Card #2 shows the same card with Frost White Shimmer Paint added to the background and focal image panel.

Stamp Sets: The Outpost (Artistic Outpost)

Ink: Stāz-On Jet Black, MFT Steel Gray, Ranger® Tim Holtz® Old Paper, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Picket Fence Distress Satin, Titanium White Acrylic Paint, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Stampin’ Dazzle™ Gold Marker

Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black

Accessories: Big Shot™, Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Sewing Machine, Gold Trim, Sponge Daubers, Distressing Tool, Mod Podge™

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and have a wonderful New Year week!

O Holy Night - Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, sweet friends!

I hope that you are able to spend time with family and friends celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!

I wanted to share a card that I created for the Splitcoaststampers’ Free For All F4A305 “Traditionally Speaking” Challenge using the Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light "ODBDSLC267 Winter Inspiration" Challenge (love the greens, reds, white of the snow in this photo) along with The Glory of Christmas #74 “Anything Goes” Challenge.  

Again, if you have not already visited the above challenge sites, I hope you will take a moment to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

My husband and I love attending the Christmas Eve candlelight service each year and O Holy Night is one of our favorite Christmas hymns, so when I saw this new stamp at Our Daily Bread Designs, it was a "must-have" for me :-)

One of our “winter tradition” for the last few years has been to leave our little Christmas tree up all year long...I know that may sound strange to some of you, but we rarely have company over and a few years ago (after Christmas was over) we found a pre-lit 6 ft. tree with a diameter of 36” (tall and narrow) for a ridiculously low price of less than $7 (orig. close to $70) :-)

We had not put up a Christmas tree in years (our one “boy” kitty used to climb our larger artificial tree and lay on the branches), so once we found this bargain tree, we decided to put the tree up in a small corner of our living room (after Christmas) and decorated it with soft Boyd’s Bears ornaments and smaller bears sitting in the branches.   If our "girls" (kitties) were to climb it and knock it over, nothing would break- lol!

Our living room has very poor lighting in the evening, so we liked the lights so much that around February, I suggested we may want to take the tree down but my hubby wanted to leave it up (this was two years ago) :-).

When we had our larger tree each year, one of our other traditions would be that we would shop for Christmas ornaments the week after Christmas (they are usually 50-70% off at that time- again, this is how we found the little bargain tree).  

So in the past two years, our two “girls” have been very well behaved around the little tree :-)  Next year, I am hoping that I can change up the decorations at Christmas and put my beautiful fragile ornaments on the tree and truly decorate in style. 

This is a very simple card to create:

Ink the Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) O Holy Night stamp using Mossy Meadow Classic Ink, stamp onto Whisper White cardstock and trim the edges.

Color the bulbs and candlelight with markers, add the strip of white crochet lace trim with the ½” Cherry Grosgrain Ribbon strip and mount onto a scrap piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock.

Mount onto a piece of Mossy Meadow cardstock and adhere to the Whisper White card base.

Add the Cherry Grosgrain Double Ribbon Bow with the Frosted Finishes Embellishment along with a Rhinestone to the star at the top of the tree to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  O Holy Night (ODBD)

Ink:  Mossy Meadow, Spectrum Noir™ DR7 and GB5 Alcohol Markers

Paper: Whisper White, Mossy Meadow, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: White Crochet Lace, ½” Cherry Grosgrain Ribbon, Frosted Finishes Embellishments, Rhinestone

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. " Luke 2:11

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!! The Sky's the Limit :-)

Hello Friends!   

Woohoo- it’s time for the new SUO138 “Into the New Year” Challenge!

Since I do not own any of the traditional New Year's "celebration" type stamps (at least not current ones), I decided to create a “sneak peek” card using some of the new items from the upcoming Occasions Mini Catalog as well as the 2016 Sale-A-Bration Catalog.

I have also incorporated the Paper Craft Crew PCCCS174 Sketch Challenge in my design- my thoughts were that the plane could be spelling out the “Happy New Year”- lol!!

 I hope you will have a chance to check out my sister Design Team member samples at the SU-Only Challenge site as well as the fantastic Design Team samples at the Paper Craft Crew site- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Use the Big Shot™ with the new World Traveler Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Sahara Sand cardstock (inking the embossing folder with Sahara Sand Classic Ink before inserting the cardstock and embossing).

Trim the embossed panel and mount onto the Basic Black card base.

Ink the plane image from the Limited Edition Sale-A-Bration (SAB) set, Sky is the Limit using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, color with Stampin’ Write Markers (I used Sahara Sand and Crumb Cake), add some distressing with Crumb Cake Classic Ink and the splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge, trim and mount onto Gold Foil cardstock.

Stamp the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes with Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, distress with Crumb Cake Classic Ink and the splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge, create the banner ends with the Banner Punch, mount onto Basic Black cardstock and punch the ends to match.

Add the Gold Foil Banner Punch pieces to the ends of the sentiment, adhere Gold Trim looped behind the sentiment and mount the sentiment with Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

Adhere a piece of the Going Places Designer Series Paper (DSP) onto Basic Black cardstock, add the embossed Basic Black pieces (with the Chevron Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, mount the embossed black strips onto Gold Foil scrap pieces, add the strips to the embossed Sahara Sand card front and mount the Going Places DSP panel.

Add the plane focal image with Stampin’ Dimensionals® to finish off the card.

After I posted my first design (without the numbers to the SUO Challenges site), I decided to cut some numbers with the retired GoGo Boots Sizzlits™ Alphabet Die Set and added to the card front ...I think the numbers make it look more festive, don’t you?

Stamp Sets:  Sky is the Limit, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink:  Stāz-On® Jet Black, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand; Stampin’ Write Markers- Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Sahara Sand; Gold Foil, Going Places DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, Chevron and World Traveler Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, Banner Punch, Gold Trim, retired GoGo Boots Sizzlits™ Alphabet Dies (2nd card)

Thanks again for stopping by and we hope to see your Stampin’ Up! Only project in our “Into the New Year” Challenge gallery!

ODBDSLC266 Living Water Blessings

Hi Friends!

I had a chance to stamp this weekend and decided to create a card for the Our Daily Bread DesignsODBDSLC266 Sketch Challenge using the Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) stamp set, Living Water along with Doily Blessings. 

Since this card seems a bit vintage to me, I am also linking this card to the Alphabet Challenge “V for Vintage” Challenge.

If you have not visited the above sites yet, I encourage you to do so- the Design Team samples at both challenge sites are wonderful as well as their gallery entries!

On another note, I have been struggling with severe osteoarthritis for years and injured my right shoulder months ago (when I lifted my Big Shot over my shoulder from behind me-duh!!)...I re-injured the shoulder recently and typing puts a strain on the muscle, so I will be blogging but with limited instructions...  I hope you understand and thank those of you who I know have been praying for me­ -you are a blessing to me for sure!

 To create this card:

Ink the Living Water grist mill image from using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink, stamp onto Whisper White cardstock  and color with Stampin’ Write Markers.

Cut the image out with the new ODBD Rectangle Dies , mount onto a rectangle cut from the ODBD Double Stitched Rectangle Dies from Soft Suede cardstock  and mount onto a trimmed piece of Mossy Meadow cardstock.

Layer the Christmas Card Collection 2015 background paper onto a piece of Soft Suede cardstock and add the 5/8” Satin Ribbon strip.

Mount the background panel onto the Mossy Meadow card base, add the White Tea Lace Doily to the back of the focal image and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

Add the layered sentiment from the ODBD Doily Blessings set along with the Pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Living Water, Doily Blessings (Our Daily Bread Designs)

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Old Olive, Soft Sky, Pool Party, Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede, Tip Top Taupe, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Smoky Slate

Paper: Whisper White, Mossy Meadow, Soft Suede; ODBD Christmas Card Collection 2015

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Our Daily Bread Designs Dies- Double Stitched Rectangle, Double Stitched Circles, Rectangle ; White Tea Lace Paper Doily, 5/8” Green Satin Ribbon, Pearls, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for stopping by and may the blessings of the Lord be upon you this Christmas week, my friends-hugs!!

Pick Me Up- I Just Want To Espresso My Thanks

Hello Friends!

I had a moment to create a fun card using Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps, Pick Me Up and Grunge Elements for the 2015 Winter/Holiday Coffee Lovers Blog Hop as well as the Splitcoaststampers’ Virtual Stamp Night DEC15VSNH “Scotland” Challenge and the Simon Says Monday “Just A Pinch” Challenge (pinch of distressing with Grunge Elements :-)).

If you have not already visited the above challenge sites, I hope you will do so- fabulous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Use the Big Shot™ with the Sweet ‘nSassy Stamps (SNSS) Pick Me Up Dies to cut out the mug, steam and heart images from Very Vanilla cardstock.

Ink the mug and steam images from the coordinating Pick Me Up stamp set (SNSS)  using Early Espresso Classic Ink and stamp onto the die cut pieces (I used my MISTI® Tool for alignment and repeated stamping).

Ink the heart image using Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink and stamp over the heart die cut.

Use the Big Shot™ with the My Favorite Things™ (MFT) Stitched Rectangle Die to cut out a rectangle from Very Vanilla cardstock.

Create a mask for the heart stencil using the Sweetheart Punch, place the die cut rectangle and use a Sponge Dauber to lightly sponge Soft Suede Classic Ink into the heart opening.

Stamp the sentiment from Pick Me Up (SNSS) – fyi...I cut the sentiment apart to make it easier to line up plus now I can use the sentiment in different layouts :-)

Add just a bit of splatter using a small splatter stamp from Grunge Elements (SNSS) and Early Espresso Classic Ink.

Cut off the lower part of the rectangle and layer the die cut panel onto a piece of Early Espresso cardstock.

Add the Ivory Crochet Lace to the bottom of the die cut panel along with the 5/8” Darl Brown Satin Triple Ribbon Bow (from my massive ribbon stash) and the brown button to the bow center with Natural Linen Thread in the center.

Use a sewing machine with the zig zag stitch to attach the retired Season of Style Designer Series Paper (DSP) to a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, mount onto the Early Espresso card base and add the die cut sentiment panel to the card front using dimensional foam.

Finish off the card by adding the mug of coffee with dimensional foam.

Stamp Sets:  Pick Me Up, Grunge Elements (SNSS)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Soft Suede

Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, retired Season of Style DSP

Accessories:  Big Shot™,  Pick Me Up Dies (SNSS), MFT Stitched Rectangle Dies, MISTI®, Sweetheart Punch (Stampin’ Up!), Sewing Machine, Thread, Sponge Dauber, 5/8” Dark Brown Satin Ribbon (from my stash), Ivory Crochet Lace (HL), Brown Wooden Button (OT), Natural Linen Thread

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- hugs and have a blessed week, my friends!

CAS The Mighty God

Hello Friends!

I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend! 

I am still working on my Christmas cards and created a group of Clean and Simple (CAS) Christmas cards using the Freshly Made Sketches FMS216Sketch along with the 4 Crafty Chicks “Non-Traditional Christmas Colors” Challenge.

 Again, if you have not already visited the above sites, I hope you will take a moment to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

A few weeks ago in our Awana club, I taught a two-week lesson on the Names of Christ and Isaiah 9:6 is one of the verses we focused on for the lesson.  

I just love this stamp and created Christmas cards for each of "my girls" using their favorite colors (in addition to the Elegant Eggplant, I also used Melon Mambo and Old Olive).  These cards will accompany a coordinating  Post-It® Note Holder along with a matching covered notebook as their Christmas gift this year (will share more of the project later this week) :-) 

To create this CAS card:

Ink the Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) The Mighty God stamp using Versamark™ and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Silver Embossing Powder, heat set with the Heat Tool and once the image has cooled, carefully cut around the frame.

Use the Big Shot™ along with the ODBD Layered Lacey Squares Die (largest square) and cut as well as emboss the die cut from Brushed Silver cardstock.  Hand-cut this square in half and adhere one half behind the focal image. 

***FYI- I also cut a square of miscellaneous white cardstock to layer behind the embossed image and die so when this layer is added to the card front with dimensional foam, you would not be able to see shadows through the Whisper White cardstock :-) ****

Emboss a piece of Elegant Eggplant cardstock using the Big Shot™ with the Boho Chic Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, trim and mount onto a piece of Brushed Silver cardstock.

Add the polka dot embossed Whisper White panel to the Elegant Eggplant card base, add the Elegant Eggplant embossed panel and mount the focal image with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  The Mighty God (ODBD)

Ink:  Versamark™

Paper: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Brushed Silver

Accessories: Big Shot™, Layered Lacy Squares Die (ODBD), Boho Chic and retired Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks again for visiting- I hope you have a fabulous week, my friends!