Heartspeak Blessings

Hi Friends!!

This card was designed using the retired Stampin’ Up! set, Heartspeak  (for the focal image) and the sentiment is from the retired Doily Blessings stamp set(Our Daily Bread Designs). 

I have always loved this little bird image with its ruffled appearance and I wanted to give this stamp set some "love" (I have not inked this stamp since 2015).  When I was re-organizing my craft room this summer,  I found the embossed lacy die cut along with the embossed blue and yellow panels in my stash .  Because most of the background had already been die cut and embossed, this was a fairly quick and easy card to create! 

I was inspired by the Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 October Sketch for the layout (I did modify the sketch  a bit with the addition of the circle sentiment) and am also participating with TheHouse That Stamps Built #0919 Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge (far left column down- Wildlife, Texture, Stencil) and the Word Art Wednesday #410-#411 “Anything Goes”Challenge.

If you have not had the opportunity, I hope you will visit the above challenge sites- great inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Ink the bird with the basket image with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, stamp onto a piece of prepared white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor with water-based markers (see colors below) and die cut with a stitched circle die.  Mount onto a circle die cut from espresso cardstock.

Repeat the steps above with the sentiment image. 

Use a stencil brush along with a flourish stencil to apply tumbled glass distress oxide ink over the sky area around the bird as well as the sentiment.  Carefully wipe off the excess ink from the sentiment.

Trim a piece of white cardstock to approx. 4 ⅛” x 5 ⅜” and mount onto a piece of espresso cardstock (4 ¼” x 5 ½”).  Mount the entire panel onto a white card base.

Trim two pieces of light blue cardstock and emboss both with a textured embossing folder.  Mount onto espresso cardstock and add directly to the card front.

Die cut and emboss a piece of espresso cardstock using the largest die from Layered Lacey Square Dies (Divinity Designs LLC).  Trim a piece of white cardstock to fit the interior of the die cut, trim a piece of saffron cardstock to fit the interior of the white square and emboss the saffron cardstock with the same textured embossing folder used for the light blue pieces in the step above.

Mount the entire layered square onto the card front with dimensional foam or chipboard.

Mount the focal image along with the sentiment onto the card front with dimensional foam or chipboard.

Use a clear glitter pen on the birds  along with a white gel pen for highlights for the flower centers to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Heartspeak (retired Stampin’ Up!), Doily Blessings (retired Our Daily Bread Designs)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim Hotlz™ Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide, Stampin’ Write Markers- Bashful Blue, Blushing Bride, Crushed Curry, Daffodil Delight, Elegant Eggplant, Smoky Slate, Wild Wasabi, Wink of Stella™ Clear Glitter Pen, White Gel Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Early Espresso, So Saffron

Accessories: Big Shot™, Lacy Brocade Textured Embossing Folder (retired Stampin’ Up!), Dies- MFT Stitched Circle STAX, Sizzix Circles, Divinity Designs LLC Layered Lacey Squares; Embossing Buddy®, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, AquaPainter, Clarity™ Stencil Brush, Memory Box™ Flourish Stencil

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- you are all such an encouragement to me!! 

May the blessings of the LORD be upon you this week :-)

The Blessings of the Lord

Hi Friends!!

While the roofing contractors replaced all our roof yesterday, I had a chance to spend time in my craft room and create a few cards.  I miss my stamping “therapy” and with the stress of all of the recent remodeling/construction lately, I definitely needed some time in my craft room, lol!

Today I am sharing a card that I designed yesterday using two stamp sets from Divinity Designs LLC- the Indian corn image is from the A-Maize-ing Stamp/Die Duo set and the sentiment from the retired set, Doily Blessings.  **FYI** I fussy-cut the image this time (versus using the die) since some of my watercolor bled over the stamped edges- oops!

I love participating with online challenges and incorporated the Sketch Saturday #584 SketchChallenge, the Simon Says Monday “Fall/Autumn” Challenge , the Addicted toStamps and More #362 “Make Your Mark” Challenge and the {PIN}spirational #249 InspirationChallenge (I was inspired by the theme as well as the colors).

If you have not had a chance to drop by the above challenge sites yet, I hope you do so- fabulous inspiration from all!

Stamp the Indian corn image using Staz-On® Black ink, watercolor with water-based markers and watercolor pencils and once satisfied, die cut (or in this case, fussy-cut) the image.  

Add a bit of shimmer over the corn with a clear glitter pen and a few white highlights to the berries with an extra fine white paint pen before mounting onto an oval die cut using dimensional foam.

Cut the two pieces of designer paper (from my stash), lightly stamp the background of the upper panel with a retired script stamp (Botanicals from Stampin’ Up!) using distress ink, dry emboss the lower panel with a quilt embossing folder and use a distressing tool to lightly distress all of the outside edges of both panels.  

Mount both panels  onto a piece of cream cardstock and adhere to a piece of berry cardstock, trimming to fit a 4 ¼” x 5 ½” card base.

Add a strip of berry satin ribbon to cover the edges of the panels on the card front (wrapping the ends behind the panel) before adhering the entire panel onto a white card base.

Die cut the doily oval from berry cardstock , adhere the Indian corn image to the center and add to the card front using dimensional foam (or lately, I prefer using my scraps of chipboard :-)).

Stamp the sentiment with Staz-On® Black ink , die cut with a stitched circle die and mount onto a circle die cut from berry cardstock.  Slip the upper end of the circle under the ribbon and adhere directly to the card front.

Add the wire clip to the ribbon to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: A-Maize-ing Stamp/Die Duo, Doily Blessings (Divinity Designs LLC), Botanicals (retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Staz-On® Black, Tim Holtz® Rusty Hinge Distress Ink, Stampin’ Write Markers- Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede; SU! Black Watercolor Pencil, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry; retired SU! Comfort Café Designer Series Paper, misc. DSP from my stash (upper panel)

Accessories: Big Shot™ , SU! Quilt Top Embossing Folder, MFT Dies- Stitched Circle STAX, Die-namics Open Oval Scallop Doily (retired); AquaPainter™,  5/8” Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon, Wire Clip

Thanks again for taking the time to visit-  I hope all of you have a blessed week/ weekend and stop by again soon!

Great is Thy Faithfulness- ODBD Randi's Song

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you are having a great week so far!  

It’s time for the new Splitcoaststampers’ SC614 Sketch Challenge and I decided to incorporate the Splitcoastampers’ Falliday Fest FF16UnderstandBlueA "Start Spreading the News" Challenge as well as the Happy Little Stampers October 2016 Mixed Media "Nature" Challenge into the design.

If you have not already visited the above challenge sites, I hope you will have a chance to do so- fabulous inspiration from my DT Sisters at the SCS Sketch Gallery as well as the other challenge galleries!

I am using the previously released  Randi's Song stamp set as well as  Doily Blessings from Our Daily Bread Designs- I have had the ODBD  Randi's Song stamp set on my wish list for so long!  

Randi's Song features sentiments from the wonderful hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness :-)  It is one of my all time favorite hymns and not only do I love the images and sentiments in this stamp set, but I also love the fact that was named after one of the former ODBD Design Team Members, Randi Barrett, who is now with the Lord.  

Here is the description about this set (taken from the ODBD website):  "This stamp set has been dedicated to one of our very own Breadsticks, Randi Barrett. In the past 26 years, Randi has survived four different bouts with cancer, with help from the Lord and the talented physicians He sent to her. Recently, the doctors are concerned about her yearly test results and she is undergoing more tests now. When Kelley revealed the new sets to the team a few weeks ago, this is what Randi had to say about one of the sets: "This set is so meaningful to me. My first cancer was 26 years ago and the song that always bubbled up from my heart is this song." (The song Randi is referring to is "Great is Thy Faithfulness".) " Here I am again....same cancer same song.....there are no mistakes in God's handiwork. I get blessed just thinking about it. Sorry guys but I am claiming these stamps as ones sent from heaven just for me." Randi is a true inspiration to all who are lucky enough to know her. She is a wonderful, witty, talented, and beautiful soul. Please pray for Randi as she walks down an unknown path, full of faith that her God is with her always.

***Sadly, Randi passed away in November of 2012. "

What a testimony of God's Faithfulness!

To create this card:

Ink the ODBD Randi’s Song leaf image with ground espresso distress ink and stamp onto a piece of white cardstock.

Die cut and emboss with the ODBD Pierced Square Dies, color the image using a water brush, distress inks along with watercolor pencils and mount onto a piece of espresso cardstock (trimming  close to the die cut edge).

Cut a piece of kraft corrugated cardstock, add a bit of ground espresso distress ink to darken the paper and mount onto a piece of espresso cardstock.

Layer the stamped leaf image panel over the corrugated panel (per the sketch) and set aside.

On a piece of soft yellow cardstock, use a water brush to apply orange, yellow and red distress inks- allow to dry and stamp the script image from ODBD Randi’s Song with ground espresso distress ink.

Soften the background with picket fence distress ink and use a distressing tool to distress the edges.

Stamp the sentiment from ODBD Doily Blessings stamp set with ground espresso and add the strip of dark brown satin ribbon.

Mount the distressed background panel onto a piece of espresso cardstock, distress the edges with a distressing tool and adhere the entire layered card front onto the white card base.

To finish off the card, mount the layered leaf panel with dimensional foam and use a glitter pen to add shimmer to the leaf image.

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I hope you can gather your supplies and join us for the SCS SC614 Sketch Challenge!  Hugs and have a blessed week, my friends!

ODBD Randi′s Song

ODBD Custom Pierced Squares Dies

Psalm 129:8- The Blessings of the Lord be upon you

Hi Again Friends!

Here is the second card that I designed this week using the Joseph’s Coat technique (see the Splitcoaststamperstutorial here)- what a fun, easy technique and great for any bold image stamp!  If you are interested, here is the post for my first card (a Clean and Simple version with a smaller stamp).

I decided to participate in the Splitcoaststampers’ SC591 Sketch Challengealong with the Mix-Ability MIX162 “What Time is It? Time for the Primaries” Challenge and the USEIT2016 Challenge (I have not inked the Sweet Floral retired background stamp image in a year or more) as well as my second entry into the Simon Says Monday "Summer Garden" Challenge.  

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge Splitcoaststampers’ galleries or the Simon Says Monday Challenge site yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful  inspiration from all!!

To create this card:

Use Sponge Daubers, apply Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point and Rose Red Classic Ink to a piece of Glossy White cardstock, blending the colors but leaving some of the true color as well.

Once the ink as dried, de-static with an Embossing Buddy® and stamp the Sweet Floral background stamp using Versamark™ ink onto the prepared panel.

Apply Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder, heat set with the Heat Tool and allow the embossed images to cool.

Once cooled, use a Sponge Dauber to apply Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink over the images, applying multiple coats to achieve the darkness desired (or you can use a brayer as mentioned in the tutorial).

Wipe off the excess ink with a paper towel and trim the panel, mount onto Whisper White cardstock , trim and mount onto the Basic Black card base.

Stamp the verse sentiment from the Our Daily Bread Designs Doily Blessings with Memento™ Tuxedo Black Ink onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock and cut out with MFT Stitched Circle STAX dies.

Add a scrap strip of Basic Black cardstock across the panel, adhere the Gold Cord and  mount the sentiment using dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Quick and easy!

Stamp Sets: Sweet Floral  (retired Stampin’ Up! SAB set), Doily Blessings (Our Daily Bread Designs)

Ink: Versamark™, Memento™ Tuxedo Black, Classic Ink- Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point and Rose Red

Paper: Glossy White, Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Circle STAX Dies, Gold Cord

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

Psalm 129:8- The Blessings of the Lord

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you had a fun Valentine’s Day weekend!  I was able to spend a bit of time designing cards this weekend for a few of my Design Team challenges (will be sharing these later this week) but I also was able to create a card using the Our Daily Bread Designs "Shining the Light" ODBDSLC270 Sketch Challenge along with the Splitcoaststampers’ (SCS) CC569 Color Challenge and the Just Add Ink  JAI298"Just Add V" Challenge (Verse for the sentiment).

If you have not done so already, I hope you will find the time to check out the Design Team samples and gorgeous gallery at Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) as well as the SCS and Just Add Ink galleries-  fabulous inspiration from all!

This card was very easy to create:

Ink the Quilts (ODBD) stamp image using Stāz-On® Jet Black ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.

Use an AquaPainter™ to apply ink from Stampin’ Write Markers- Lost Lagoon, Old Olive and Watermelon Wonder to the quilt square and once dry, apply Clear Wink of Stella® to a few areas (this is difficult to see in the photo), fussy-cut the quilt square and layer onto a piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock.

Use the Big Shot™ with the ODBD Double Stitched Circle Dies to cut out a circle and the ODBD Pennants Dies to cut out (and emboss the pennant) from Watermelon Wonder cardstock and the Layered Lacey Squares Die to cut out a piece from Whisper White cardstock.

Ink the ODBD Chalkboard Vine Background stamp with Watermelon Wonder Classic Ink and stamp off once before stamping onto the Double Stitched Circle die cut and Pennant Die Cut.

Emboss a piece of retired Old Olive Designer Series Paper with the retired Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, use a zig zag stitch with white thread to attach it to a piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock, trim and mount onto the Watermelon Wonder card base.

Cut the Pennant Die cut (to split the die) and mount the Pennant Die cut along with the Layered Lacey Square die cut onto the card front.

Mount the Quilts image on a diagonal onto the Double Stitched Circle die cut and add the layered image the card front using dimensional foam.

Stamp the verse from the ODBD Doily Blessings stamp set with Stāz-On® Jet Black ink, stamp onto Whisper White cardstock and die cut with the ODBD Double Stitched Circle Dies.

Layer the die cut sentiment onto a piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock (also die cut with the same size ODBD Double Stitched Circle Die) and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

Add the Lost Lagoon 3/8” Stitched Satin Triple Bow with Pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Quilts, Chalkboard Vine Background, Doily Blessings (all ODBD)

Ink: Stāz-On® Jet Black, Watermelon Wonder; Stampin’ Write Markers- Lost Lagoon, Old Olive, Watermelon Wonder

Paper: Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, Watermelon Wonder, retired Old Olive DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™,  ODBD Dies- Layered Lacey Squares, Double Stitched Circles, Pennant; retired Square Lattice Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, 3/8” Lost Lagoon Stitched Satin Ribbon, Pearls, Sewing Machine, White Thread, AquaPainter™, Clear Wink of Stella®

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

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!!

CC553 So Thankful For You

Hi Friends!!

This is the first of two cards created for the Splitcoaststampers’  CC553 Color Challenge with a dessert option of Pearls or Rhinestones (an easy dessert option for me- lol! :-)).

I wanted to create a non-floral card and chose this wonderful Boho Cross image from Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD). 

This card also incorporates the Splitcoaststampers F4A295 “Time to Loosen Up” Challenge as well.

Again, I hope you will take the time to visit both galleries to check out the wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Ink the Boho Cross  (ODBD) using Stāz-On® and stamp the image onto a piece of watercolor paper.

Color the cross with Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Elegant Eggplant and Old Olive Stampin’ Write Markers.

Carefully brush Mod Podge® over the colored cross and allow to dry (this acts as a mask).

Spritz the watercolor paper with water and using Bermuda Bay and Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink,  apply with an AquaPainter™ and allow the colors to blend (use a Heat Tool to dry the ink).

Ink the solid splatter stamp from Gorgeous Grunge using Calypso Coral Classic Ink and stamp over the background.

Ink the large splatter stamp using Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink and stamp onto the background.

Ink the retired Notable Notions script background stamp using Bermuda Bay Classic Ink and stamp over the background.

Use the Big Shot™ with the My Favorite Things ™ (MFT)  Stitched Rectangle Dies to cut out the image, mount onto Calypso Coral cardstock and trim.

Another view to show the dimension from the side

Stamp the sentiment from Doily Blessings (ODBD) using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto Vellum,  trim and add to the front of the cross image using Two-Way Glue.

Add the ¼” Calypso Coral Stitched Satin Ribbon to the corners (wrapping the ribbon around the corners to the back).

Cut a rectangle from Big Shot™ with the MFT Stitched Rectangle Die from Elegant Eggplant cardstock.

Use the Big Shot™ to emboss a piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock with the Boho Chic Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, trim and mount onto a piece of Calypso Coral cardstock, trim and mount onto the Elegant Eggplant card base.

Mount the Elegant Eggplant stitched rectangle onto the card front, mount the cross image onto the card front using dimensional foam.

Add Pearls to the ribbon to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Boho Cross, Doily Blessings (ODBD), Gorgeous Grunge, Notable Notions - both Stampin’ Up!

Ink: Stāz-On Jet Black, Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive; Stampin’ Write Markers- Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Sahara Sand

Paper: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: Big Shot™, Boho Chic Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, MFT Stitched Rectangle Dies,  Mod Podge®, Water Spritzer Bottle, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- I will be sharing the second card that I designed with this color combination shortly.