In All Things, Give Thanks

Hi Friends!

I had fun designing this Mixed Media card using a few digital stamps from Power Poppy by Marcella Hawley.  

I incorporated the Sketch Saturday #518 Sketch Challenge (flipped it a bit with the sentiment at the top) along with the Addicted to Stamps and More #297 “Make Your Mark” Challenge, the Global Design Project #143 Theme Challenge “Love It, Live It, Share It” and the Word Art Wednesday #340-#341 “Anything Goes” Challenge into the design.

I love designing and creating cards and being able to share with friends and family! I also enjoy sharing with other stampers through my blog and different social media platforms.  I have met so many friends online and even though we have not met in person, we have an instant bond due to our love for stamping and creating :-)

If you have not had a chance to visit any of the above challenge sites, I hope you will do so- wonderful Design Teams samples and entries from all!

To create this card:

1). Using either a software program or a word processing program, insert the Power Poppy Olive and Acorn image onto a 8 ½” x 11” document.  Re-size if needed to fit, insert the Bittersweet Wreath sentiment (re-sizing as well) and print out onto white cardstock.  FYI- I am still using the retired My Digital Studio™ (Stampin’ Up!) for inserting the images, re-sizing, etc. but you could use Word or other photo software programs.

2). Die cut the Olive and Acorn image with a pierced square die and die cut the sentiment with a stitched rectangle die.

3). Color the Olive and Acorn image using watercolor pencils, water-soluble graphite pencil, distress inks and glitter pens (see the colors used below in the card recipe). I did labor over the coloring for a while to try to achieve depth and rich color.

4). Use the water-soluble graphite pencil, a rust water color pencil and gold glitter marker for the sentiment.

5). Mount the sentiment and the main focal image onto gray cardstock and trim close to the edge.

6). For the card front- trim a piece of gray cardstock 5 ½” square.  Mount a piece of vanilla cardstock (approx. 3/8” square) onto the gray cardstock and mount a piece of gray designer paper onto the vanilla paper (approx. 5 ¼” square).  Add a piece of ivory crochet lace, 1 ½” gold satin ribbon and 7/8” copper satin ribbon onto the card front (wrapping the ends of the ribbon behind the panel).  Mount the entire card front onto a white 5 ½” square card base.

7).  Add the Olive and Acorn focal image on a diagonal along with the sentiment to the card front using dimensional foam. 

8). Finish off the card with a few pearls in the corner.

Stamp Sets: Olive and Oak, Bittersweet Wreath (both digital stamps- Power Poppy)

Ink: Printer Ink- Black; Tim Holtz® Distress Inks- Rusty Hinge, Hickory Smoke; Derwent® Watercolor Pencils- Copper Beech, Golden Brown, Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Venetian Red; Gold Wink of Stella®

Paper/Cardstock: Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Basic Gray; retired Lap of Luxury Designer Series Paper (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™, My Favorite Things™ Stitched A2 Rectangle STAX Set 1; Our Daily Bread Designs Pierced Squares Dies, AquaPainter™, Pearls; Ivory Crochet Lace, 1 ½” Gold Satin Ribbon, 7/8” Copper Satin Ribbon (all from my stash)

I had a great time creating this card and reflecting on this verse- "In All Things, Give Thanks" 1Thessalonians 5:18. 

 I am so thankful for all of the blessings that the Lord has given me and bring this verse to my mind when times are not generally what I would consider "thankful".   Sometimes it is difficult to focus on "thanks" when you find out about a loved one passing, a terrible tragedy or illness befalling someone you know (or yourself), or other stressful things in life,  but I am so thankful that Christ was willing to die on the cross for my sins (and yours) and rose again on the 3rd day! 

I am so thankful that by believing in Him and putting our trust in Him (and Him alone), we can have eternal life.  I am so thankful that it is the "gift of God, not of works" for our salvation.  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotton Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3:16 (NKJV).  Yes, I am so thankful....

I hope I have inspired you today to create something to share with others and that you will have a thankful, blessed week!