Floral Greetings- Sending Prayers

Hi Friends!

 I apologize for not posting any cards in over a month (although this was my first real "break" since I started my blog in August 2010 :-)).  I have been creating and will be sharing several cards in the next week or so.  

We have been so busy this past late spring/summer with doctors appointments, hubby's bladder cancer treatments and re-organization of my craft room!  

I wanted to share that we received some great news recently and are praising the Lord!  He answered our prayers and my hubby, Dave's bladder cancer biopsy showed that, at this present time, there are no remaining cancer cells!  

Dave will have to receive another cysto procedure in a few months to make sure that the bladder cancer chemo treatments remain successful, but for now, he is not undergoing any chemo or other treatments- yea!!  Also, we will know more about his WM status (non-Hodgkins lymphoma) in September.

In between all of the craziness, as I mentioned, I have been doing a massive re-organization of my craft room.  It still needs a lot of work- for me, this is a never ending process!  I had fun exploring and finding some "unloved" items- Dave mentioned that it must be like Christmas, finding things that I had forgotten about- lol!  He was right :-)

This card was designed using the Floral Greetings stamp set from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps and a few of those “found” items from my re-organization project :-) 

I also used the Splitcoaststampers SC686 Sketch Challenge and the SCS CC676 Color Challenge (opt. dessert- scallops, included with the lace :-)) and will be participating in the Dragonfly Journeys #124 Flower Power Challenge and the Word Art Wednesday #346-#347“Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or the SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the large floral image twice from Floral Greetings with archival black ink onto the panel, apply clear embossing and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor the flowers and leaves (see the colors used below) using water-based markers and fussy-cut.

2). Die cut a piece of white cardstock with a stitched oval die and a piece of designer paper (not sure of the manufacturer) with a stitched rectangle die.

3). Add a piece of white crochet lace horizontally to the die cut designer paper.  Add a piece of retired 5/8” Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon over the top edge of the lace and two pieces of ¼” Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain Ribbon for the vertical panels of the sketch.

4). Mount the layered ribbon/lace panel to the white card base.  Add the oval die cut with dimensional foam and layer the flowers over the die cut.

5). De-static a piece of black cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiment from Floral Greetings with Versamark™ ink, apply white embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Trim the panel and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

6). To finish off the card, add  a few pearls to the corners and use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the flowers.

Stamp Sets: Floral Greetings (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Versamark™, Stampin’ Write Markers- Rich Razzleberry, Sweet Sugarplum, Garden Green; Zig® Clean Color Markers- Green;  Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Designer Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, misc. designer paper- not sure of manufacturer

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, MFT Dies- Stitched A2 Rectangle Set 1, Stitched Oval; Embossing Buddy®, Clear and White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 5/8” Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon, ¼” Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain Ribbon, White Crochet Lace

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- I hope you all of you are having a fabulous summer and will visit again soon!

Refresh My Soul

Hi Friends!

I am sharing another card that I designed using the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps May release stamp sets, Refresh My Soul and May Stamp of the Month, Scripty Thoughts.

I love the cute cactus images as well as the sentiments in the Refresh My Soul stamp set- perfect for cards, scrapbook pages, Bible Art Journaling and so much more!  Also, the May Stamp of the Month, Scripty Thoughts has so many possibilities for sentiments- a wonderful set to add to your "stash" :-)

Also, don’t forget that you can receive the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps May Stamp of the Month, Scripty Thoughts free with a net $75 US$ order (after all discounts and before shipping) plus any net $75 US receives free shipping! 

Plus, if you love the new release as much as I do, you can order the Early Bird Pre-Order for $75 (US$) by May 9^th, save over $10 off the regular price plus receive the May Stamp of the Month, Scripty Thoughts free along with free shipping and handling- what a great deal!

I enjoy participating in online challenges- they help me stretch my creativity a bit and get out of my “box”, so to speak.  I used the Freshly Made Sketches FMS335 Sketch for the layout and am also participating with the Just Add Ink “Just Add ‘O’” (O= Oval) along with the Dragonfly Journeys #117 “Just Add Sequins” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge sites or the SNSS Blog/FB Page yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the various cactus images from Refresh My Soul with archival black ink onto the prepared cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Watercolor the images with water-based markers and fussy-cut each image.

2). Die cut a stitched oval from a piece of white cardstock. Die cut another oval from the next largest die from black cardstock. 

3). Die cut another piece of white cardstock with a stitched rectangle die.  Emboss the rectangle panel and oval with a woodgrain embossing folder.  Mount the die ovals together and mount the stitched rectangle panel onto the black card front.  Adhere both to the white card base.

4). De-static a scrap piece of black cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the sentiments from Scripty Thoughts with embossing ink onto the prepared cardstock, apply white embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Trim the sentiment apart.

5). Loop a bit of metallic gold thread onto the card front, adhere the fussy cut cacti images along with the sentiment to the card front with dimensional foam.

6). Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the images and finish off the card with a few blue sequins.

Stamp Sets:  Refresh My Soul, Scripty Thoughts (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Versamark™, Zig® Clean Color Markers- Green, Lt. Green, Pink, Purple, Blue, Lt. Blue; Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black (both Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Dies- Stitched Oval STAX, A2 Rectangle Dies Set #1 &2; Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Folder,  Embossing Buddy®, Clear and White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™, Blue Sequins, Gold Metallic Thread

 Thanks again for taking the time to stop by and visit! Hugs and I hope you have a wonderful week!

TTC91 Trust in the Lord

Hi Friends!

Woohoo! It’s time for the new #91 {Blossoms in Blue} Challenge at The Card Concept! Isn’t that a gorgeous dress?  I was inspired by the overall feminine feel, the beautiful blue and pink as well as the sheerness of the fabric to create a vintage Mixed Media card.

I decided to pull out a few retired Stampin’ Up! Stamp sets and am also linking to the Dragonfly Journey's #116 "April Showers Bring May Flowers" Challenge, the Word ArtWednesday #330-#331 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

Just a reminder that the Card Concept is a bi-weekly challenge that has an inspiration photo along with a number of design styles that you can choose from to create your card- Clean and Simple, Clean and Graphic, Clean and Layered, Shabby Chic, Freestyle Collage, Classy and Elegant and Mixed Media (or you can combine several styles for your own style).

If you have not had a chance to visit us at The Card Concept or visit the other challenge sites yet, I hope you will find time to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Ink the vintage girl image from Friendship's Journey with archival black ink, stamp onto a piece of white cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, color the image using ink from markers along with a water brush.  Die cut the image with a stitched rectangle die.

2). Stamp the verse sentiment from Trust God with archival black ink, stamp onto a piece of vellum, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, trim and gently distress the lower edge.

3). For the panel on the background, use a stencil brush with distress oxide ink to lightly stencil the area before die cutting with a stitched rectangle die and mounting onto stitched die cut rectangle panel from white cardstock.

4). Add the sentiment to the card front using a strip of 5/8" black satin ribbon to hide the seam (wrapping the ends behind the panel).

5).  Mount the layered vintage girl panel onto the card front with dimensional foam.

6). Add the single floral image from Flower Shop (retiring this month) along with punched leaves from green cardstock.   ***FYI- I had this image already stamped, colored and punched out in my stash from a project a few years ago (I am such a hoarder :-))***. 

7). Use an extra fine white paint pen to add highlights to the flower centers and a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to all of the petals. Use a gold marker to add metallic highlights to the cord and locket type image under the Eiffel Tower. 

8).  Add pearls to the corners to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Friendship's Journey, Trust God, Flower Shop (all retired Stampin' Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim Holtz® Distress Markers- Salty Ocean; TH Distress Oxide Salty Ocean Ink,  SU! Markers- Blush Blossom, Berry Burst, Flirty Flamingo, Hello Honey, Baked Brown Sugar, Early Espresso; Spectrum Noir® Clear Glitter Pen, Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen, Faber-Castell® Gold Pitt Pen Marker

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Vellum

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot™, My Favorite Things™ Dies- A2 Stitched Rectangles STAX Set 1 & 2, Embossing Buddy®, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Claritystamps™ Stencil Brush, Memory Box™ Distressed Tula Stencil, 5/8” Black Satin Ribbon, SU! Flower Punch Pearls

Thanks again for stopping by! I had fun designing this card and hope you will have a chance to come play along with us at The Card Concept!!

SUO193 Love You

Hi Friends!

It’s time for the #193 “Hearts A Plenty” Challenge at SU-Only Challenges!  I decided to use a resist technique with the Bloomin’ Love stamp set and the new Brilliant Red Brusho® Crystal Colour Watercolor Ink Crystals.

I am also incorporating the Tic-Tac-Toe #032 Challenge (bottom row across Sparkle-Love and Free) along with the Dragonfly Journeys #110 “The Power of Red” Challenge and the Simon Says Monday "Resist It" Challenge into the design. 

If you have not had a chance to stop by the SU-Only Challengesite to check out the rest of the Design Team’s samples or the other challenge sites yet, I encourage you to do so- wonderful inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of Whisper White cardstock with an Embossing Buddy®, ink the floral heart image from Bloomin’ Love with Versamark™ ink, stamp onto the prepared panel, apply Stampin’ Emboss® White Embossing Powder and heat with the Heat Tool.  Repeat the steps for two additional heart images.

2). Once the embossing has cooled, sprinkle a bit of the Brilliant Red Brusho® Crystal Colour onto the panel, lightly spritz with water and continue to add color as needed.  Dry carefully with the Heat Tool.

3). Ink the “XOXO” , “Be Mine” and small open heart images from Bloomin’ Love along with the small splatter stamp image from Timeless Textures with Stampin’ Archival Basic Black Ink, stamp onto the panel and heat set with the Heat Tool.

4). Trim the panel and mount onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock before mounting onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock.  Adhere the entire panel to an Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

5). Heat emboss the sentiment onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock using Stampin’ Emboss® White Embossing Powder, trim and mount onto the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals®.

6). Apply shimmer to all of the hearts with Clear Wink of Stella® and add a few Pearls to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Bloomin’ Love

Ink/Mediums: Versamark™, Clear Wink of Stella®, Brilliant Red Brusho® Crystal Colour

Paper: Whisper White, Extra Thick Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories/Tools: Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by and I hope that you will create your own Stampin’ Up! Only project and join us for our “Hearts A Plenty” challenge!  

SC672 Frosted Medallion Thanksgiving

Hi Friends!

It’s Wednesday and time again for the weekly sketch at Splitcoaststampers! Allison is our sketch artist this week and I thought this sketch would be perfect for a holiday card!

Since we are celebrating Thanksgiving this week in the United States, I decided to create a non-traditional Thanksgiving card using Stampin’ Up! stamp sets- retired Frosted Medallions for the main image and the current Painted Harvest for the sentiment. 

I also incorporated the Just Us Girls #420 Color Challenge along with the Dragonfly Journeys #105 Glamorous Gold Challenge and the TGIF! Challenge #134 “Gratitude”Challenge into the design.

If you have not had a chance to visit the SC672 Splitcoaststampers’ Sketch gallery or the other challenge sites yet, I hope you will do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Embossing Buddy®, stamp the medallion image with Versamark™ ink onto the prepared panel, apply Gold Embossing Powder and heat set with the heat tool.  Once the powder has cooled, color with Stampin’ Write Tempting Turquoise and Chocolate Chip markers.

2). Die cut the image with a stitched circle die. Die cut a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock with a nesting circle die (just a bit larger than the stitched die) and die cut a piece of Tempting Turquoise cardstock with the same size nesting circle die.  Layer the Chocolate Chip die cut circle behind the embossed image and split the Tempting Turquoise die cut in half before layering one half behind the upper part of the Chocolate Chip circle.

3). Emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, trim and mount onto a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Tempting Turquoise cardstock.  Mount the entire background panel onto the white card base.

4). Trim off a bit of the Frosted Medallion circle before adding to the card front with dimensional foam.

5). Stamp the sentiment from Painted Harvest with Chocolate Chip Classic Ink onto a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Create the fishtail banner points (I used the retired Hexagon Punch), mount onto Chocolate Chip cardstock, trim to match and mount onto Tempting Turquoise cardstock (trimming again to match the layers).

6). Mount the sentiment with dimensional foam and add a Pearl to the center of the medallion image to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Frosted Medallions, Painted Harvest (Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versamark™; Chocolate Chip Classic Ink, Stampin’ Write Markers- Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise

Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™, MFT Pierced Circle STAX Dies, retired SU! Circle Framelits™, retired Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Pearl, Embossing Buddy®, Gold EP, Heat Tool, retired Hexagon Punch

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- if you have time, come join us at Splitcoaststampers for thisweek’s sketch challenge!  Hugs and I hope all of you have a blessed Thanksgiving week, sweet friends!

SC610 Give Thanks for Unknown Blessings

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you are having a great week so far!  It’s time for the new Splitcoaststampers’ SC610 Sketch Challenge and I decided to create another card with the September 2016 Our Daily Bread Designs Release Stamp Set, A-Maize-ing along with the coordinating ODBD Indian Corn Die.

In addition to the SC610 Sketch, I incorporated the Word Art Wednesday #246-#247“Anything Goes” Challenge, Dragonfly Journeys #74 "Passion for Plaid"  Challenge and LeAnne's PP312 Color Challenge at The Paper Players .

If you have not already visited the above challenge sites, I hope you will have a chance to do so- fabulous inspiration from my Design Team "Sisters" at the SCS Sketch Gallery as well as the wonderful Word Art Wednesday and The Paper Players challenge sites!

To create this card:

Emboss a piece of rust colored cardstock with the Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) Vintage Flourish  Pattern Die, trim a bit on the edges and mount onto a piece of pear cardstock.

Die cut and emboss a piece of pear cardstock with the ODBD Pierced Rectangle Dies, cut the panel in half (the cut area will be covered by the vertical strips), mount onto the card front in the center (per the sketch) and add a strip of rust satin ribbon (wrapping the ends of the ribbon behind the panel).

Mount the layered background panel onto the card base.

Die cut and emboss a piece of white cardstock with the ODBD Trellis Die and mount onto the card front centering the ribbon in the middle of the die.

Ink the ODBD A-Maize-ing Stamp Set image with archival black ink and stamp onto a piece of white cardstock , die cut and emboss with the coordinating ODBD Indian Corn Die.

Color the stamped image with colored pencils and add white highlights with an extra fine white paint pen.

Stamp the sentiment from the ODBD A-Maize-ing Stamp Set with archival black ink, die cut and emboss with the ODBD Double Stitched Rectangle Dies, then re-insert the die cut along one edge back into the die (matching up the stitching on the top and bottom) to die cut and emboss once more.  FYI- this allows you to create a narrow rectangle (again, per the sketch).

Mount the sentiment onto a piece of rust cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of pear cardstock.

 Per the sketch, trim and create the two additional rectangles, each a bit longer than the sentiment panel- the plaid and polka dot pattern from the ODBD Birthday Brights 6x6 Paper Pad.

Mount the polka dot layer onto rust cardstock, trim and layer onto pear cardstock.

Mount the plaid layer onto pear cardstock, trim and adhere this layer to the card front.

Mount the layered sentiment panel directly onto the polka dot layer, add dimensional foam behind the polka dot layer and adhere the entire panel to the card front.

Mount the stamped/die cut Indian Corn image with dimensional foam onto the sentiment layer and add the pearls to the corners to finish off the card.

This was a fun sketch to work with this week- I hope I have inspired you to pull out your supplies and come join in on the fun with us at Splitcoaststampers :-)

Thanks again for visiting- hugs and have a blessed week, my friends!

ODBD A-Maize-ing	ODBD Indian Corn Die	ODBD Birthday Brights Paper Collection	Double Stitched Rectangles Dies	Vintage Flourish Pattern Die
Pierced Rectangles Dies	ODBD Custom Die - Trellis Strip