Parisian Postcard- Our Help is in the Name of the LORD Psalm 124:8

Hi Again Stampers!!

The entire world grieves with France this weekend as the details of the terrorist attacks unfold- our thoughts and prayers are with them during this time of tragedy.

“Our help is in the name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8 and we are praying that the victims of this tragedy will be comforted and have a peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7).

As I prayed for France, I wanted to create a card reflecting that prayer, so I decided to pull out the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps (SNSS) Parisian and Tender Thoughts stamp set along with the Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) Scripture Collection 3 stamp set and use the Freshly Made Sketches FMS212 Challenge.

To create this card:

Stamp the Eiffel Tower image from the SNSS Parisian Postcard stamp set using Versamark™ ink, stamp onto Whisper White cardstock, apply Stampin’ Emboss® Black Embossing Powder and heat set with the Heat Tool.

Once the embossing powder has cooled, carefully cut out the Eiffel Tower image.

Stamp the Psalm 124:8 verse from the ODBD Scripture Collection 3 images using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, use the Big Shot™ with the My Favorite Things (MFT) Stitched Square STAX die to cut out the image, mount onto Basic Black cardstock and trim to create the frame.

Cut a larger square with the MFT Stitched Square STAX die from Whisper White cardstock, ink the retired Stampin’ Up! (SU!) Script background stamp with Smoky Slate Classic Ink, lay the die cut square onto the inked background stamp and press the paper lightly into the ink, lift and mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock (trimming the edges to create a thin frame).

Ink the sentiment from SNSS Tender Thoughts using Stāz-On® Jet Black onto Whisper White cardstock, trim and punch the ends with the Hexagon Punch, mount onto Basic Black cardstock and punch the Basic Black cardstock ends with the Hexagon Punch.

Trim a piece of retired Moonlight Designer Series Paper (DSP), mount onto Whisper White cardstock, trim again and mount onto the Basic Black card base.

Add the Scripture layer directly onto the card front, overlap with the larger square using Stampin’ Dimensionah.

Trim a piece of retired Moonlight Designer Series Paper (DSP), mount onto Whisper White cardstock, trim again and mount onto the Basic Black card base.

Add the Scripture layer directly onto the card front, overlap with the larger square using dimensional foam.

Add the fussy cut Eiffel Tower using dimensional foam (adding additional foam for the top of the tower), adhere the Silver Metallic Thread in the area behind the sentiment banner and mount the sentiment banner using dimensional foam.

Add a few Rhinestones to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Parisian Postcard, Tender Thoughts (SNSS); Scripture Collection 3 (ODBD), Script (retired SU!)

Ink: Versamark™, Stāz-On® Jet Black, Smoky Slate

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, retired Moonlight DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Rectangle STAX Dies, Hexagon Punch, Silver Metallic Thread, Rhinestones

My prayer is that if you have not accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, that today would be the day of your salvation  "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). 

 "Believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31a). 

Thanks again for stopping by- hugs and I hope you have a blessed week, my friends!

CC551 When I Pray, You Answer Me!

Hi Friends!!

I am so excited to the Guest Designer for the Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers for the month of October!!  I love participating in the Splitcoaststampers weekly challenges and am honored to be part of this fabulous Design Team for October!

This Mixed Media card was created for this week’s CC551 Color Challenge (dessert option to use florals)- actually this was a panel that I thought I would have to trash but saved by adding a few layers of paint and distress ink.

I just love this Scripture and it has meant so much to me over the years and especially this past year.  

As many of you know, my husband is undergoing chemo for a rare non-Hodgkins lymphoma and this past week, his test results came back favorable!  We know that this is due to the prayers of many on our behalf and the Lord has answered us!  No, his cancer is not gone and no, there is  not a cure but yes, the Lord has allowed my husband to be on target and his blood numbers to be where the doctor would like them to be at this stage of the chemo- Praise the Lord!!

Again, I hope you will take the time to visit the CC551 gallery to check out the rest of the fabulous Design Team creations as well as wonderful entries in the challenge gallery- great inspiration from all!

To create this card:

Apply Gesso® using the serrated edge of a plastic knife to create texture on a piece of cardstock, and once the Gesso® dries, apply a few drops of Soft White along with Light Village Green Folk Art® Acrylic Paint over the panel.  Spread with a paint brush and allow to dry (I use a Heat Tool to speed up the drying process).

Once the panel is dry, apply Ranger® Tim Holtz® Peeled Paint Distress Stain, lightly spritz with water, spread a bit with your fingers and dry with the Heat Tool.

Lay the honeycomb stencil over

Another view to show dimension

the background panel and apply Wendy Vecchi® Crackled Texture Paste with a palette knife- carefully heat with the Heat Tool to dry.

Once dried, apply more Ranger® Tim Holtz® Peeled Paint Distress Stain along with Victorian Velvet Distress Stain over the stenciled area, dry with the Heat Tool.

Once this layer is dry, ink the retired Script background stamp from Stampin’ Up! using Stāz-On® Jet Black Ink and randomly stamp onto the background panel.

Trim the panel and stitch onto a piece of So Saffron cardstock.

Add the piece of retired Afternoon Tea DSP to the lower part of the card front and stitch to the card front.

Add the crochet lace and 1” So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon strip and mount the panel onto the card base.

Ink the Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) verse from Scripture Collection 2 onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Cut out using the Big Shot™ with the ODBD Stitched Ovals Die and add a bit of distressing with the large splatter stamp from Gorgeous

Close-up to show some of the texture :-)

Grunge using Ranger® Tim Holtz® Old Paper Distress Ink as well as a bit of Victorian Velvet Distress Stain.

Mount the sentiment oval onto the card front using dimensional foam.

Create the roses from Blushing Bride and So Saffron cardstock using My Favorite Things™ (MFT) Royal and Mini Royal Rose Dies, use the Crimper Tool to add distressing, roll the flowers up and adhere the centers with adhesive (I prefer Hot Glue). 

Create the leaves from Pear Pizzazz cardstock with the Martha Stewart Leaf Punch and add the roses with the leaves to the card front using Hot Glue.

To finish off the card, add a few Pearls to the corner as well as to the oval Scripture layer.

Stamp Sets: Scripture Collection 2 (ODBD), Gorgeous Grunge, Script background (retired)- both Stampin’ Up!

Ink: Stāz-On Jet Black, Ranger® Tim Holtz® Peeled Paint and Victorian Velvet Distress Stain, Ranger® Tim Holtz® Old Paper Distress Ink

Paper: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, retired Afternoon Tea DSP

Accessories: Big Shot™, ODBD Stitched Ovals Dies, MFT Royal and Mini Royal Rose Dies,  Martha Stewart Leaf Punch, Gesso®, Palette Knife, Folk Art® Acrylic Paint- Soft White and Light Village Green, Crackle Texture Paste, 1” So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon, Crochet Lace, Pearls

I hope all of you have a fantastic week and I will be sharing quite a few cards within the next few days- thanks again for taking the time to visit!  You are all such an encouragement to me!  

His Eye Is On The Sparrow- A Mixed Media Card for Two Challenges :-)

Hi Stampers!!

Sorry I have not posted in a few days – I have been creating cards for the upcoming 2015 Dare to Get Dirty Week at Splitcoaststampers!

This year I will be hosting one of the DTGD challenges for the very first time and only Fan Club Members are allowed to see all of the challenge particulars and participate (see details here on becoming a Fan Club Member).

The yearly membership fee helps to offset the cost of maintaining the Splitcoaststampers website, so if you are not already a Fan Club Member, I hope you will consider joining (no, I do not receive commission, but for all of the gallery inspiration, free tutorials, etc. that Splitcoaststampers provides to our art community, it is well worth less than a penny a day to become a Fan Club Member :-)).

In the meantime, while I had some of the Mixed Media supplies on my craft table, I decided to create a card for the Mixed Media Monthly Card Challenge #13 “Blue” along with the Splitcoaststampers Free For All F4A282 “Anything That Flies” Challenge (see details here and gallery here).

Again, I hope you will take the time to visit the above sites- fabulous Design Team creations as well as gorgeous galleries and inspiration from all! 

This card was created using Gesso® over a piece of Stampin’ Up! retired DSP as the background “base”, applying layers of Gelatos®, Ranger® Tim Holtz® Distress Stains and Adirondack® Alcohol Inks as well as Crackle Texture Paste with Stencils.  Keep applying layers until you are satisfied (I am a messy Mixed Media artist so if you are like me, you fingers will become "blue" as well as the background- lol!)...

Add the crochet lace, ribbon, stamped bird and digital sentiment along with a few Pearls and you are done :-)

Stamp Sets: Choose Happiness, Script (retired background stamp), Word Art Wednesday (digital sentiment)

Ink: Stāz-On Midnight Ink, Island Indigo; Gelatos®,  Ranger® Tim Holtz® Distress Stains and Adirondack® Alcohol Inks

Paper: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Island Indigo, Mossy Meadow, Perfect Plum; retired SU! DSP (patterned covered with Gesso®)

Accessories: Gesso®, Heat Tool, Big Shot™, MFT Royal Mini Rose Dies, Flourish Stencil, Crackle Texture Paste, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Crochet Lace, MS Leaf Punch, Hexagon Punch, 3/8” Perfect Plum Taffeta Ribbon, 5/8” Satin Ribbon, Pearls

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- it is such an encouragement to me!  Have a wonderful day, my friends!