He Will Sustain You

Hi Friends!                                      

        

I hope all of you are having a great week so far!  We are still receiving quite a bit of rain in our area and I am praying for all of those who have been affected by flooding and hurricanes.  I know that we have received over 300% of our average rainfall so far this year and additional local flooding is anticipated this weekend.

I wanted to take a break from housework, etc. and create a quick card,  I decided to use an image from a retired Stampin’ Up! set (isn’t it amazing what you can find when you decide to organize- lol!) and paired it with a current image from Stamp Simply for a simple one layer card.

I will be linking this card to the Less Is More #380 “One Layer Floral” Challenge along with the Simon Wednesday “Anything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge galleries yet, I encourage you to do so- gorgeous ideas and projects by all!

To create this card:

1). De-static a piece of white cardstock (FYI- I used a piece I had in my stash that I had obtained free from my previous job at a printing company- it has a bit of a matte gloss finish and is quite heavy).  Ink the floral image from the retired Stampin’ Up! Sunflower Serenade stamp set with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  

2). Once the embossing has cooled, use a water brush and watercolor the image with  Tim Holtz® Distress Inks and Stampin’ Write Markers (see colors listed below).  Use a soft gray marker to add a few shadows.

3). De-static the lower right hand area for the sentiment, ink the verse image from Fear Not (Stamp Simply) with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

The card is finished- quick and easy and no additional postage required :-)  

Stamp Sets: Sunflower Serenade (retired Stampin’ Up!), Fear Not (Stamp Simply)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim  Holtz® Distress Ink- Tumbled Glass, TH Distress Markers- Mowed Lawn, Squeezed Lemonade, Stampin’ Write Markers- Pear Pizzazz, Hello Honey, Early Espresso, Smoky Slate

Paper: White Heavy Duty Cardstock (not sure of manufacturer- from my stash)

Accessories: AquaPainter™, Embossing Buddy™, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

I love the fonts used in the Stamp Simply Fear Not set, don't you?  Such a versatile stamp set with verses that can comfort during times of stress, loss and illness.  I received this set as a gift from a very precious friend and absolutely love it!

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and I hope all of you have a blessed weekend, my friends!

Give Thanks

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you had a wonderful week/weekend!  We are celebrating and  giving "thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever" 1 Chron 16:34!!   

This past week, we received answer to prayer- my hubby Dave’s recent CT scan did not reveal any new tumors, Praise the Lord! At this point, he does not have to undergo any chemo treatments or other medications :-)  Of course, he will be monitored every three months for his bladder cancer (and every six months for his non-Hodgkins lymphoma) but the Lord has definitely answered our prayers :-)  We are so thankful for His faithfulness to us!

In between doctor appointments, organizing my craft room (still working on this "never-ending" project- are you ever really done?) as well as our other weekly activities, I took some time to create a quick and easy monochromatic Mixed Media card. 

I needed a few more masculine cards for my stash so I am playing along with The Male Room Challenge #94 “Geometric”  and also incorporated the JustAdd Ink #427 “Just Add K” Challenge (K= Kraft) and the Simon Monday “Monochrome” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge galleries yet, I encourage you to do so- fabulous ideas and projects by all!

To create this card:

1). Using a Word Processing or Photo Editing program (I am still using the retired My Digital Studio™ from Stampin’ Up!), import the truck image from Countryside and print out onto Whisper White cardstock.  Using Stampin’ Write markers (I used Crumb Cake and Sahara Sand) watercolor the image. 

2). Die cut the image with the MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 2 Dies, mount onto black cardstock and trim close to the edge.

3). Die cut a piece of Kraft cardstock using the largest rectangle from the MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 2 Dies.  De-static the lower corner with an embossing powder tool, ink the verse sentiment from Scripture Medley 3 (retired Verve Stamps) with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

Another view - trying to capture the faint shimmer :-)

4). Once the embossing has cooled, stencil the chevron pattern using a stencil brush with Tim Holtz® Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and the Memory Box Modern Chic Chevron Stencil.  Keep the stencil in place and use a clear glitter pen to add a bit of shimmer to the chevron and add a bit of shimmer to the truck image as well (guys can like shimmer, right?).

5). Use a 1/16” Handheld Punch to create the holes for the square brads, add the brads, mount the panel onto a piece of black cardstock, trim and mount onto a white card base.

6). Mount the layered truck image with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Countryside (digital stamp- Stampin’ Up!), Scripture Medley 3 (retired Verve Stamps)

Ink: Printer Ink- Black; Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim  Holtz® Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, Stampin’ Write Markers- Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Printer, My Digital Studio™, AquaPainter™, Memory Box Modern Chic Chevron Stencil, Embossing Buddy™, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1/16” Handheld Punch (SU!), Square Black Brads (from my stash)

Thanks again for taking the time to visit- hugs and I hope you have a fabulous week, my friends!

TCC98 Rejoice in the Lord

Hi Friends!

Welcome to The Card Concept #98 {Pastel Party} Challenge!!  What a fun inspiration photo and we can not wait to see what will inspire you!!

I was inspired by the pastel rainbow colors as well as the black and white graphic background and banners to create a quick Mixed Media card. 

 I am also participating with the Try Stampin’ on Tuesday #5 Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge (diagonal Green-Die Cut-Dimension) along with the Simon Says Work It Wednesday “Celebrate Stamping” Challenge and the Word Art Wednesday #352-#353 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

Just a reminder that The Card Concept is a bi-weekly challenge that has an inspiration photo along with a suggestion 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- fabulous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). On a piece of white cardstock, sponge Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks (colors used noted below in the card recipe).  Spritz with water, dry with a heat tool and re-apply additional ink until you are satisfied with the results.

2). Apply strips of washi tape, tearing for different heights. 

3). Ink the floral image from Unity Stamp Co. using Hickory Smoke Distress Ink and stamp repeatedly onto the background panel (masking the washi tape to avoid stamping onto the tape).  Trim the panel and add the three black square brads to the corner.

4). Mount the background panel onto white cardstock, trim again and mount onto a piece of black cardstock.  Trim once more before mounting onto a white card base.

5). De-static a piece of white cardstock with an Embossing Buddy®, ink the sentiment from Scripture Medley 1 (retired Verve Stamps) with Versafine™ Onyx Black, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto black cardstock and trim close to the die cut edge.  Add a black square brad to opposite corners.

6). Add strips of washi tape to pastel cardstock and cut the small banners using a punch (or die- I used the retired Banner Punch from Stampin’ Up!).  Adhere the banners behind the sentiment panel and mount onto the card front using dimensional foam.

Stamp Sets: Scripture Medley 1 (retired Verve Stamps), Faith & Hope - Gracielle Designs (Unity Stamp Co)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, TH Distress Oxide- Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Spun Sugar, Tumbled Glass, Twisted Citron; TH Distress- Hickory Smoke

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Balmy Blue, Blushing Bride, Lemon Lime Twist (Stampin’ Up!)

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot™, MFT Stitched A2 Rectangle Set 2 Dies;  Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sponge Daubers, retired Banner Punch (SU!), Washi Tape (Kovano), Square Black Brads (from my stash)

Thanks again for taking the time to drop by!  I hope I have inspired you to create your own card based on our {Pastel Party} photo and link up to our gallery at TheCard Concept- we would love to see your interpretation!!

The Card Concept #97- Colorful Basics

Hi Friends!

Welcome back to The Card Concept Challenge!!  We had the summer off and are so excited to be back. 

We are starting off our new challenge season with this fun photo for our #97 {Colorful Basics} Challenge! Our blog challenge creator, Lesley always seems to find the most inspirational photos.  This scene has so many things that could inspire you.- the stripes, the colors, the dresser , the chair, the curtains in the reflection, the award trophies ...and if you pop over to The Card Concept blog post, just wait until you see how our talented Design Team was inspired!! 

This scene is so crisp and clean (not like my house- lol!)  so I decided to create a Clean and Simple (CAS) Mixed Media card.  I was inspired by the rainbow colored stripes as well as the white/light background.   

Since I love participating in online challenges, I will also be linking this card to the Retro Rubber #94 “Anything Goes” Challenge (both stamp sets used for this card are several years old) and the Simon Says Monday “Stamp It On” Challenge.

Just a reminder that The Card Concept is a bi-weekly challenge that has an inspiration photo along with a suggestion 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- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Using ink from Zig® Clean Color FB Markers, color the markers directly onto the Watercolor Wash (retired Stampin’ Up!) background stamp, spritz with water and press a piece of watercolor paper onto the stamp.  FYI- I lay the background stamp face up, color (or ink, in this case color), spritz with water and press the paper onto the stamp.  This seems to work best for me when dealing with background stamps.  You can stamp a second piece of watercolor paper for another card as well :-)

2). Spritz the background panel with additional water (if needed) to allow the colors to blend a bit and use a water brush (if needed).  Dry the panel thoroughly with a heat tool.  

***Note- if the paper starts to curl too much, lightly spritz a bit of water on the back of the watercolor panel and it should straighten out. ***

3). Once the panel is dry, de-static the panel with an embossing powder tool, ink the main image from Postage Due (retired Stampin’ Up!) with archival black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.

4). Die cut a panel of white cardstock with the MFT Stitched A2 Set 2 Rectangle Die (use the largest die), mount onto a piece of black cardstock, trim close to the edge and mount onto a white card base.

5). Die cut the watercolor/embossed Postage Due panel with a smaller MFT Stitched A2 Set 2 Rectangle Die, mount onto black cardstock, trim and mount onto the card front with dimensional foam.

Wow, that was quick and easy! A refreshing change from my Shabby Chic Mixed Media cards that can take a few hours- lol!

Stamp Sets: Postage Due, Watercolor Wash background  (both retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versamark™, Zig® Clean Color FB Brushes- Red, Yellow, Orange, Light Green and Light Blue

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black (Stampin’ Up!); Watercolor (Canson)

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot™, MFT Stitched A2 Rectangle Set 2 Dies;  Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for taking the time to drop by! I hope I have inspired you to create your own card based on our {Colorful Basics } photo and link up to our gallery at TheCard Concept- we would love to see your interpretation!!

Created to Create

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you enjoyed the final day of August- where has the summer gone?  It sure seems to fly by faster with each passing year- at least for me :-) My mom used to say that time flies faster as you get older, now I know she was right....

Today I am sharing a  quick and simple Mixed Media card designed with the Created to Create digital stamp from Power Poppy by Marcella Hawley.  I wanted to participate with the Power Poppy August Power & Spark “Home Sweet Home”Challenge (getting this link at the last moment :-)). 

I love this image by Marcella and it reminds me that God created us in His image and He is the Ultimate Creator!!  Just look around at His Imagination with all of the created things in the universe- the universe itself, trees, plants, birds, animals, clouds, people- you name it and He created it!!  It is so amazing and I love to just look out at His creation ,don't you?

The challenge was to create a card that was inspired by your home- a color combination, sytle, etc. so I was inspired by my craft room (which is where I tend to spend most of my time).  I love to watercolor and have not had a chance recently to create a painting but do watercolor quite a bit on my cards. 

I am also linking this card to the Simon Says Wednesday “Anything Goes”Challenge and the Addicted to Stamps and More #307 "Make Your Mark" Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to visit the above challenge galleries yet, I encourage you to do so- fabulous ideas and projects by all!

To create this card:

1). Using a Word Processing or Photo Editing program (I am still using the retired My Digital Studio™ from Stampin’ Up!), import the Power Poppy “Created to Create” digital image and re-size to fit the front of a 4 ¼” x 5 ½” card front.  Print out onto Whisper White cardstock and watercolor with watercolor pencils and markers (see supplies used below in the card recipe).

2). Add a bit of splatter with the small splatter stamp from Timeless Textures (SU!) using Rich Razzleberry ink and a few white highlights to the center of the daffodil with an Extra Fine White Sharpie® Paint Pen.

3). Die cut the panel with MFT Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Set 2 Die, mount onto a piece of Sahara Sand cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Garden Green cardstock trim and mount onto the white card base.

4). Finish off the card by adding shimmer to the flowers with a clear glitter pen.

Stamp Sets: Created to Create (digital stamp- Power Poppy), Timeless Textures (Stampin’ Up!)

Ink: Printer Ink- Black; Rich Razzleberry, Derwent® Watercolor Pencils and Water Soluble Graphite Pencil (for shadows), Stampin' Write Markers- Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry; Sharpie® Extra Fine White Paint Pen, Spectrum Noir™ Clear Glitter Pen

Paper: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Garden Green, Extra Thick Whisper White

Accessories: Printer, My Digital Studio™, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by- hugs and I hope you have a great weekend and stop by again soon, my friends!

Beautiful In His Time

Hi Friends!

I hope all of you are having a great week so far! I am still working on organizing my craft/stamp studio and had a chance to create a card in between working on my never-ending (or at least it seems to be :-)) process.

This card was designed using the New Creature and Texture Tiles I stamp sets from Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps  using the Just Us Girls #454 Color Week Challenge along with the Addicted to Stamps and More #306 “Anything Goes” Challenge and the Splitcoaststampers’SC692 Sketch 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 two pieces of white cardstock with an embossing powder tool, stamp the verse sentiment from New Creature  onto one panel and the butterflies/moths onto the other with archival black ink, apply clear embossing and heat set with a heat tool.  Once the embossing has cooled, watercolor the butterfly/moth images with water-based markers and fussy-cut.

2). Die cut the verse sentiment with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto a piece of black cardstock, trim close to the edge and lightly stencil distress ink over the verse.

3). On a piece of designer paper, ink the crosshatch and splatter stamp from the Texture Tiles I stamp set using distress ink and stamp repeatedly over the panel.  Die cut with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto a piece of black cardstock and trim close to the edge.  Mount the panel onto the white card base.

4). Mount the verse sentiment panel onto the card front with dimensional foam and adhere the butterfly/moths.   

5). Finish off the card with a few pearls and a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the wings of the butterfly/moths.

Stamp Sets: New Creature , Texture Tiles I (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black, Stampin’ Write Markers-So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Pool Party, Smoky Slate; Tim Holtz™ Broken China Distress Ink; Zig® Clean Color Lt. Green Marker;  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; Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Pearls, Memory Box™ Distressed Tula Stencil

Thanks again for taking the time to visit and stop back again soon!

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!