Fragrance of Christ

Hi Friends!

This morning I am sharing the first card in a set of six using the lilac image from A True Friend (Divinity Designs LLC formerly Our Daily Bread Designs).   (FYI- this is not an affiliate link but I do love their images and one time was on their Design Team).  The set is now a Stamp/Die Duo but I chose to fussy-cut the iris image :-)

This card also incorporates a sentiment from the retired  Divinity Designs LLC set, Sweet As Perfume. 

I have not inked up either the iris or the sentiment in a while.  Most of you who follow my blog know that I am focusing on inking up my "unloved" stamps, but I am starting to realize that it most likely will take the rest of my life to do so, lol! 

Plus, so many new sets are being created everyday that I really have to restrain myself from purchasing any new stamps....

I love the iris image in A True Friend set- it is so realistic plus irises along with lilacs were my mother’s favorite spring flowers. 

We have had a mild winter so far so the flowering trees are starting to bloom as well as daffodils and crocuses.  I know that the lilacs and irises are soon to follow and when I see irises, I always think of my Mom. 

She went to be with the Lord in 1993 and died from complications due to Stage 4 endometrial cancer (it is hard to believe it has been that long since it seems like yesterday in many ways).  

I was fairly young when she was diagnosed and always so busy with work-  I regret many of the times that I did not take "time" for her while she was alive.  Also, I did not know the Lord as my Savior yet (I was saved in 1996) so my life was totally different than it is now.  I like to think that when my husband and I accepted Christ as our Savior that she was among those who were celebrating in heaven!! :-)

Creating this set of cards and coloring the irises, allowed me to focus on her and look forward to our heavenly reunion one day!  What a glorious day that will be when I see my Savior and all of my loved ones that are with Him now!!

Also, as I have mentioned in previous posts, I am slowly making my way through all of the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenges and used #SC232 for the layout on this card.  This sketch was from 2010 (thankfully the sketches at Splitcoaststampers do not expire:-) and I thought that the layout would work well for this card.

In addition to using the SCS Sketch, I am participating with The Flower Challenge #42 “Anything Goes” Challenge and the Double D 03/18 "Welcome Spring" Challenge (I was inspired by the spring flowers especially the purples).

To create this card:

Ink the iris image from A True Friend using Versamark™ Onyx Black, stamp onto a prepared piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Once the embossing cools, watercolor with water-based markers and fussy cut the image (the set from Divinity Designs, LLC now comes with a coordinating die).

Emboss a piece of white cardstock with the lace embossing folder, trim and mount onto black cardstock.  Add the layered textured gray horizontal strip and mount the entire panel onto a white card base.

Stamp and heat emboss the sentiment in the same manner as above.  Die cut with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto white cardstock and adhere to the card front.

Layer the square pieces of designer paper onto black cardstock and adhere to the card front using dimensional foam.

Die cut a piece of white cardstock with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto black cardstock and adhere to the card front with dimensional foam.

Add the looped silver cord before mounting the fussy-cut iris with dimensional foam.

Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the petals and finish off the card with a few rhinestones.

Stamp Sets: A True Friend , Sweet As Perfume (both Divinity Designs LLC)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Stampin’ Write Markers- Highland Heather, Gorgeuos Grape, Concord Crush, Granny Apple Green, So Saffron, Crushed Curry; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Textured Basic Gray (Stampin’ Up!); misc. designer paper from my stash

Accessories: Gemini, Jr.™, MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 1 & 2, Crafters Companion Ornate Lace 3D Embossing Folder, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™, Silver Twine, Rhinestones

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I am praying that the threat of the pandemic will subside soon and everyone will be safe!  Virtual hugs to all of you!

TCC131 Woodland Nursery

Hi Friends!

Welcome to The Card Concept #131 {Woodland Nursery} Challenge!   

I just love the sweet animal images on this inspiration photo, don’t you?  I do not have a need for many baby cards but I wanted to create a few for my “stash” (most of mine are now for the grandparents versus the parents since my age group is no longer having babies, lol!).

I had purchased this Bo Bunny set over a year ago and thought it would be perfect for this challenge.  I am still working on the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenges and used the SC777 Sketch for the layout.

I am also playing along with the 2 Crafty Critters Crazies #36 “Anything Goes” Challenge and the Alphabet“Something for Youngsters” Challenge.

I had fun creating this card:

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool.  Position the animal stamp images into a MISTI™ stamping tool (or use an acrylic block), ink with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto the prepared cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. 

Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor the images using watercolor pencils and water-based markers.  Layer onto black cardstock, fussy-cut and set aside.

Die cut the square openings on a piece of gray cardstock and emboss with a woodgrain embossing folder.

Mount the embossed/die cut panel onto a piece of white cardstock.  Mount the entire panel onto a piece of black cardstock before adhering to the white card base.

Heat emboss the sentiments images (Baby Zoo- Altenew) onto black cardstock with white embossing powder, trim and mount onto the card front using dimensional foam (or, I prefer, scrap pieces of chipboard).

Add the animal images (also with chipboard or dimensional foam).

Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to their cheeks and finish off the card with a few silver sequins.

Stamp Sets:  Forest Friends (Bo Bunny), Baby Zoo (Altenew)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Smoky Slate Flirty Flamingo, Dusty Durango; Derwent™ Watercolor Pencils; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black (both Stampin’ Up!), misc. gray patterned paper from my stash

Tools/Accessories: Gemini, Jr™, MFT Stitched Square STAX Dies, Embossing Buddy®, Clear & White Embossing Powder, retired Woodgrain Embossing Folder (Stampin’ Up!), Heat Tool, Silver Sequins

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by!  I hope I have inspired you to create your own card based on our {Woodland Nursery} photo and link up to our gallery at The Card Concept- we would love to see what inspired you! The challenge is open until Monday, March 30^th  at noon EDT. 

By The Seashore- Thy Word

Hi Friends!

Here is another fairly quick and easy card!  This is the first time I have stamped the verse image for this card (although I have owned it for at least a year)!  I love the mixed fonts on this, don't you?  

I am so thankful that I had the time to pull out this verse stamp along with the seashore set and combine it with this retired paper!  I have been hoarding this paper and when I saw the inspiration photo at the Just Add Ink #436 Inspiration Challenge, I thought it would be perfect!  Obviously, I was inspired by the starfish, the beach and water, well all of it for my card :-) 

In addition to the Just Add Ink Challenge, I am playing along with the As You See It #221 “Preferences-My Fav Card to Make is …. ” Challenge.  My favorite card to make is any card using Scripture.  

I love to use a particular Scripture/Bible Verse on a card to encourage the recipient (even on birthday cards) and I know that some of the recipients have told me that they display the cards year round.   

This card uses the Typografia in Faith set, Thy Word is a Lamp (from STAMPlorations) for the sentiment and the retired By the Seashore (Stampin' Up!) for the seashell/starfish images and the splatter image from One Wild Ride (currently available from Stampin' Up!) around the sand and seashells.  

To create this card:

De-static the piece of designer paper (I used the retired Scenic Scenery Designer Series Pack from Stampin’ Up!).  I thought this piece of dsp looked just like the photo (or almost, lol!). 

Stamp the verse image, Thy Word is a Lamp directly onto the designer series paper (dsp) with archival black ink and heat emboss with clear embossing powder.

Stamp the shell/starfish images onto white cardstock with archival black ink, heat emboss with clear embossing powder and once cooled, watercolor with water-based markers and fussy cut.

Layer the background panel onto black cardstock, stamp the “sand” with the splatter stamp around the bottom and side of the panel with archival brown ink and adhere the seashells/starfish using dimensional foam (or chipboard, my preference lately).

Mount onto black cardstock, trim and mount onto the white card base.

Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the sand and shells and the card is finished!

Stamp Sets: By the Seashore, One Wild Ride (retired/current Stampin’ Up!), Thy Word is a Lamp (current STAMPLorations)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Stampin’ Write Markers- Crumb Cake, Flirty Flamingo; Tim Holtz® Distress Archival Vintage Photo; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black; retired Scenic Scenery DSP pack (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: AquaPainter™, Embossing Buddy®, Heat Tool

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope all of have a wonderful week staying healthy, sweet friends!

Living Water- I Will Never Leave You

Hi Friends!

I am back to share another card that I had a chance to create recently using a few current stamp sets along with some of my retired papers.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am making a concentrated effort to ink up some of my stamps that have not seen ink in a while as well as use some of my other supplies.  At this point, I am concerned that I could stamp many cards every day for the rest of my life and possibly not use up all of my paper, lol! 

The problem is that the manufacturers keep making pretty papers and I need to stop buying!  Some women buy clothes, shoes and jewelry and some women buy art/craft supplies (I fall into the latter category for sure)!

Also, as mentioned before,  I am going to simplify my normal “step by step” process so I can post the numerous finished cards I have ready to share.  If you have a question on any of the steps taken to create this card, please ask in the comments and I will give you more details.

The main focal image on this card is from the current stamp set, Living Water from Divinity Designs LLC and the sentiment is from the current Stamp Simply set, Fear Not (one of my favorite stamp sets for sentiments lately).

I have not inked up the Living Water image in quite while and while I had the stamp set on my craft table,  I stamped several of this image for future cards. 

Many of you that follow my blog know that I am slowly working my way through the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenges (in my personal effort to create a card for each of their 790+ sketches ) and I used the SCS SC376 Sketch for the layout.

In addition to the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge, I am also participating with the Color My Heart Color Dare  # 384 “Greys + 2 Colors of Your Choice” Challenge (I chose Green and Light Aqua Blue) and the Word Art Wednesday #430-#431 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

To create this card:

The image and sentiment were both stamped with an archival black ink onto white cardstock and the Living Water scene was colored with watercolor pencils and water-based markers.

I had the embossed gray background in my stash ready to go and all of the layers were mounted onto black cardstock.

I did use a clear glitter pen over the water (but it is a bit difficult to see in the photo) and I have added all of the other supplies, etc. below.

Stamp Sets: Living Water (Divinity Designs LLC formerly Our Daily Bread Designs), Fear Not (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Stampin’ Write Coastal Cabana Marker; Derwent™ Watercolor Pencils- Silver Gray and various other grays, Emerald Green, Sap Green; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Smoky Slate (all Stampin’ Up!); misc. green plaid designer paper (not sure of manufacturer)

Accessories: Gemini, Jr™, Spellbinders™ Stately Circle Dies, Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (retired SU!), AquaPainter™, Heat Tool, Silver Cord, Rhinestones

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope all of have a great week, sweet friends!

Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord

Hi Friends!

I pray that all of you are staying safe and well with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  One benefit of being retired is that we stay home most days throughout the week unless we have an appointment, and of course, church activities primarily on Sunday. 

I am thankful that my husband and I have both accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, so we know the One Who holds the Future!  Therefore, we are being cautious but not fearful and I have peace knowing that "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain"  (Phil 1:21- one of my favorite verses).

As I hope all of you are doing, we are also taking precautions with being careful regarding hand shaking, and of course, washing our hands more frequently than normal!   

In the meantime, I am still trying to ink up some of my stamps that have not seen ink in a while as well as use some of my other supplies.   I have been stamping like crazy and am having fun, but unfortunately, I am not the quickest typist in the world and it seems to me that posting to my blog takes so much time, lol!  

I now have over fifty different cards photographed and ready to share, so I need to get busy posting!

So, in an effort to post the many cards that I need to post, I am going to try to simplify my normal “step by step” process.  

I originally started my blog ten years ago in an effort to help newcomers learn the techniques and steps needed to create a card, but I believe that most of you that visit my blog are now “experienced”.  If you have a question on any of the steps taken, please ask in the comments and I will give you more details.

Tonight I am sharing a card that I designed using the retired Stampin’ Up! sets, Countryside and Blessings from Heaven along with the SU! Warmth and Wonder designer series paper stack. 

I have not inked up either of these sets in a while and while I had them out, I stamped several of the truck images for future cards (I need to replenish my masculine card stash).

Many of you that follow my blog also know that I am also working my way through the Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenges (in my personal effort to create a card for each of their 790+ sketches ) and used the SC106 Sketch for the layout.

In addition to the SCS Sketch, I am participating with the SUO Challenges #244 “Coloring” Challenge, the Cards 4 Guyz #240 “Something that starts with an “F”” Challenge (“F”= Farm Truck, Farm Apples sign) and the Simon Says Wednesday “Use Some Green” Challenge.

To create this card:

The images were stamped with an archival black ink and the truck was water colored with pencils and markers.  The plaid background panel was embossed with an embossing folder and a few rhinestones were added to finish off the card (see all items used below).

Stamp Sets: Countryside, Blessings from Heaven  (both retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Stampin’ Write Markers- Granny Apple Green, Call Me Clover, Real Red, Smoky Slate; Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils- Real Red, Basic Black; Clear Wink of Stella™

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black, retired Warmth & Wonder Designer Series Paper Pack (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: AquaPainter™, Heat Tool, Big Shot™, retired Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Black Rhinestones

Thanks again for taking the time to visit my blog- I hope all of have a wonderful and healthy week, sweet friends!

RRCB130 Come To Me

Hi Friends!!

I am so thrilled to be a Guest Designer for The Retro Rubber Challenge Blog #130 Sketch Challenge!

As many of you know, I have a personal goal to ink up some of my "unloved" sets as well as older favs,  so since one of the requirements for The Retro Rubber Blog Challenge Blog is to use stamps that are at least one year old,  I love playing along with their challenge!  

They have a very versatile sketch for the #130 Challenge- I think that this sketch would work for a CAS card as well as an elaborate layered card (I was inspired to create a fairly simple Mixed Media card). 

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For this challenge, I pulled out one of my favorite retired Stampin’ Up! sets, By the Tide (circa 2013) and combined it with a current Divinity Designs, LLC (formerly Our Daily Bread Designs) stamp set, Scripture Collection 4 (circa 2010). 

I am also playing along with the Simon Says Monday “A Bit ‘O Green” Challenge and 2 Craft CritterCrazies #36 “Anything Goes (with a critter) sponsored by Donna Ellis” Challenge.

To create this card:

De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, ink the By the Tide images with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink and stamp onto the panel.  Apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool. 

Once the embossing has cooled, water color with Distress Oxide inks as well as water-based markers (see below for colors).  Fussy cut each image and set aside.

For the background panel and center squares,  tap Distress Oxide inks onto a silicone mat (I used a combination ofTumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers), spritz lightly with water, mix the inks together a bit, press the panels into the ink and lift up to move the ink around the panels.

Repeat the steps above using a heat tool between layers until you are satisfied with the results.

Randomly stamp the script image from By The Tide using Black Soot Distress ink onto the larger background panel and the coral image with Peacock Feathers towards the bottom of the panel.

Trim the smaller panel for the three rectangles for the sketch, mount each rectangle onto black cardstock and trim close to the edge.

De-static the background panel with an embossing powder tool, ink the sentiment from Scripture Collection 4 with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto the panel, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Trim the panel, mount onto black cardstock, trim close to the edge and mount onto a white card base.

Mount the outside rectangles (per the sketch) directly to the card front and use dimensional foam to mount the center rectangle.

Add the fussy cut images directly to the card front and use dimensional foam to “pop” up the main fish in the center as well as the shell/seahorse in the lower left hand corner.

Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the images as well as an extra fine white paint pen to add highlights to the eye of the center fish.

Finish off the card with a few clear Nuvo™ jewel drops.

Stamp Sets: By the Tide (retired Stampin’ Up!), Scripture Collection 4 (Divinity Designs, LLC)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Stampin’ Write Markers- Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Gumball Green; Tim Holtz™ Distress Oxide Inks- Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron, Black Soot; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie™ Extra Fine White Paint Pen, Nuvo™ Morning Dew Jewel Drops

Cardstock/Paper:  Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: MISTI™, Embossing Buddy®, Clear EP, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™, Silicone Mat

I hope I have inspired you to create something this week and if you have the time, I know that we would love to your creation using the #130 Sketch at The Retro Rubber Challenge Blog!  

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I hope all of you have a fabulous week!