Happy 33rd Anniversary Sweetheart!

Hi Friends!

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend so far!  Today my husband and I are celebrating our 33^rd Anniversary and I am thankful every day that he is my best friend and we are still so much in love!! 

I have owned the retired Stampin’ Up! Wolf set ever since I purchased it as a current set from the catalog in 2002 or so (it retired in 2004) and I have never created a card with the main image yet.   

I recall trying to stamp with this image years ago but the older linen pads were not moist enough to bring out all of the detail but the new foam pads and Stāz-On® do such a great job!  I knew that this was the set I wanted to use since my husband loves all wildlife, especially wolves :-)

I also incorporated a few of my favorite online challenges into the design- the layout is from the Mojo Monday 429 Sketch along with the colors and wildlife theme from the HSSIC228 Inspiration Photo (I know the photo has sweet little deer but the wildlife and colors are what inspired me :-)) and the Splitcoaststampers WT565 “Lose Weight, Feel Great!” Challenge (to use up some of your embellishments, paper, etc.).  

If you have not had a chance to do, I hope that you will take a moment to visit each of the galleries linked above – great designs by all!

To create this card:

Ink the main wolf image from the retired Wolf stamp set using Stāz-On® Stone Gray Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, color using Faber-Castell™ Polychromos Pencils and blending with Gamsol® (I did add a bit of black ink around the eyes along with Titanium White Acrylic Paint for highlights).

Cut the image out with the Big Shot™ and the My Favorite Things™ (MFT) Stitched Circle STAX and mount onto a Basic Black and Early Espresso cardstock circle (split the cardstock circles in half and adhere behind the main image).

Use a Sponge Dauber to apply Ranger® Tim Holtz® Old Paper Distress Ink to antique the paper.

Use a Distressing Tool to distress the edges of the layered focal image as well as the edges of the pieces of retired Outlaw Designer Paper (DP)

 *** FYI ***  I did not use up all of my stash of this paper but finally used a bit for the WT565 Challenge :-)

Use a sewing machine to adhere the distressed DP onto Early Espresso cardstock, layer per the Mojo Sketch onto the retired Really Rust (or it may be Dusty Durango- not sure) card base. 

Stamp the additional wolf image onto the DP using Stāz-On® Stone Gray Ink (stamping off once before stamping onto the paper).

Stamp the sentiment from the Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) Scripture Collection 2 onto Whisper White cardstock using Stāz-On® Stone Gray Ink, trim and mount onto a piece of Basic Black cardstock, distress the edges and mount onto Early Espresso cardstock (distressing the edges with the Distressing Tool). 

A side view to show the dimension

Ink the wolf paw prints with Stāz-On® Stone Gray Ink, stamp off and stamp onto the sentiment.

Use a 1 ⅜” Square Punch to create the photo corners, attach to the sentiment corners using Mini Copper Brads as well as the corner of the background layer to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Wolf (retired), Scripture Collection 2 (ODBD)

Ink: Stāz-On® Stone Gray Ink, Faber-Castell™ Polychromos Pencils, Ranger® Tim Holtz® Old Paper Distress Ink

Paper/Cardstock:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Early Espresso, Really Rust (retired), Outlaw DP (retired)

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT™ Stitched Circle STAX, Sewing Machine, Gamsol®, Distressing Tool, Sewing Machine, Sponge Dauber, 1 ⅜” Square Punch, Mini Copper Brads

Thanks again for visiting- I hope you have a fantastic weekend, 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!