Lake Scene Pet Sympathy

Hi, everyone!  My card today will be sent to a dear friend and her family who lost their beloved fur-baby last week.  He loved to go swimming in a nearby lake and did so right up until he passed, so I chose the 'With Deepest Sympathy' set as a tribute to him.  The scene was stamped onto watercolor paper with Stazon Jet Black, then both water-colored and colored with markers.  The heart and sentiment on the side are from the 'Dog Sympathy' set. (Both stamp sets are from Divinity Designs, formerly Our Daily Bread designs.)  The 'Faux Wood' Technique was used on the card base: a blue ink pad was swiped in downward lines onto the card base and I used the pad to ink up the edges of the card for extra dimension. The scene was cut out with the Double Stitched Squares Dies.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Blessings,

Stenciled Pansies

Hi, everyone!  This week's Featured Stamper over at Splitcoast is Lori aka ArtzadoniaStudio...congrats, Lori!!  I chose this gorgeous card to case from Lori's gallery (flipped the layout to horizontal).  My intention was to use the same shaved pencil technique but I could not find my pencil sharpener ANYWHERE! (Grrr!)  So, I used ink and sponges instead.  The stencil I used is one I bought over 22 years ago to decorate/paint my new mailbox when we moved.   The stencil was taped down to watercolor paper; a yellow marker was used to color the pansy centers then a clear glaze pen sealed the yellow in to protect it from the purples.  Olive, lavender and razzleberry inks were sponged. Once the stencil was lifted, yellow was sponged in the center (which unfortunately smeared some of the razzleberry.)  The panel was cut out with the DD Custom Pierced Rectangles Dies and the sentiment from 'My Friend' (also from Divinity Designs) was stamped in Stazon Gothic Purple.  Since I used three different mediums and one of the oldest craft items in my stash, I will also submit this to the MIX311 challenge from Friday.  Since the stencil used was re-purpsed for paper-crafting instead of a painting stencil for home decor, I will also submit this to the December Fan Club 'Flea Market Flip' Challenge.

Thanks for visiting!

Blessings,

Quiet Beauty

Hi, everyone!  Today's Clean and Simple Challenge over at Splitcoast is to feature stitching on your CAS cards, so I chose to use the ODBD Custom Double Stitched Rectangles Dies set to cut out the image from a 2003 SU set, 'A Beautiful Season'.  Both stamps were colored with markers, spritzed with water, then stamped onto white cardstock.  I will also be submitting this to the December 'Flea Market Flip' Fan Club Challenge since I used one of the oldest stamp sets I own and haven't used in over ten years.  The last time I used this set, I didn't even own a digital camera!

Thanks for visiting with me!

Blessings,

Tropical Dream

Hi, everyone!  This week's Color Challenge over at Splitcoast is to use Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz, and Blushing Bride with the 'dessert' option of foliage.  For my card, I used the following ODBD Custom Dies: Frangipani, Bitty Borders, Inspiration Words, and Pierced Rectangles.  The light pink panel was dry embossed with striped embossing folder so that I may also submit this to the Fan Club Central Theme Challenge for November.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

The Heart's Prayer

Hi, everyone!  Today I would like to share a quick CAS card created with the 'Marvelous Things' stamp set, ODBD Custom Musical Notes Dies, ODBD 'Notable Notes' Paper Collection, and the ODBD Custom Big Balloon Die.  To give the white card base a bit of character, I used an Air-art tool with a gray marker to create a few light splatters.  After cutting the balloon from the designer paper and sponging the edges, it was layered on black cardstock then the mat was fussy cut.  Due to the fussy cutting, I will be submitting this to the SCS Fan Club Central Theme for September.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Then Sings My Soul

Hi, everyone! My card today combines three challenges from Splitcoast this week: the Clean and Simple 'Frame It' Challenge , Color Challenge of Soft Suede, Berry Burst, and Pool Party, and Featured Stamper Challenge (I chose this gorgeous card from Preethi's amazing gallery).  I thought that this saxophone image from 'Marvelous Things' would look cool with all three colors, so I colored it with markers before stamping.  I also used the three colors to create a panel using the Wrinkle Free Distress Technique; once the panel was dry, I cut a frame using the ODBD Custom Pierced Rectangles Dies.  The tiny notes were stamped using the same image, then fussy cut with paper snips....this tiny detail qualifies my card for the September Fan Club Central Theme.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Blessings,

Our Daily Bread designs September New Release

Hi, everyone!  Another new month means that there is another awesome new release from Our Daily Bread designs!  This month's theme is music.....check out the amazing stamps, dies, gorgeous paper pack, and blog hop prize info HERE!

Here are the new and previously released items featured in my two cards for today:

My first card is pretty straight-forward.  I chose a beautiful pattern from the ODBD Notable Notes Paper Collection, stamped the 'Old Rugged Cross' Background directly to the designer paper, distressed and inked the edges, then adhered to a lavender card base.  The layered music notes were cut with the ODBD Custom Musical Notes Dies from the same paper pack.  The layered cross in the corner was cut with the ODBD Custom Ornamental Crosses Dies set.

My second card features the drum set image from the 'Jesus Rocks' set which was stamped onto white vellum.  The vellum panel was cut at an angle to look like a spotlight and adhered to the lavender background. The banner was created with the ODBD Custom Alphabet Flags Dies. The valance was created by cutting three ovals with the ODBD Custom Ovals Dies (shaped with the ODBD Custom Double Stitched Rectangles Dies set); the curtains were cut from the ODBD Custom Curtains and Valance Dies set.  The tiny stars were cut with the ODBD Custom Sparkling Stars Dies set.  All of the papers (except the black) are from the ODBD Notable Notes Paper Collection.

Thanks for hanging out with us!

Blessings,

Paint Chip Eclipse

Hi, everyone!  This week's Clean and Simple Challenge is to create a CAS design by using only 1/3 of the card space.  I recently picked up this paint chip at the hardware store and thought it would work great for this challenge.  (Please note that handling these paint chips too much will cause the paint to chip off.....I was nearly finished with this card when I noticed that some of the paint had cracked at the top.  I was too far in to give up so I finished it with the imperfection.) Here are the items used for this card: 'Celebrating You' stamp set and ODBD Custom Dies: Celebrate and Wish, Balloons and Streamers.  A white pen highlighted the balloon and baker's twine was added.  The Eclipse Technique was used on both the balloon and 'Celebrate', so I will also be submitting this to the August Fan Club Central Theme Challenge. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Blessings,

My Lifeguard

Happy Friday, everyone!  Today I would like to share a bookmark which was made to cover three challenges over at Splitcoast: the Friday Free4All Challenge is to use Crumb Cake (kraft); Jean's VSN 'Scavenger Hunt' Challenge : bookmark, beach, lifesaver (Jesus); and the Fan Club July 'Sun, Sand, and Surf' Central Theme Challenge.  The image and sentiment are from an ODBD set called 'My Lifeguard', stamped on a white panel which was cut out with the largest die from the ODBD Custom Bookmarks Dies set.  Once the panel was colored with sponges and markers, it was adhered to a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock....the curves were fussy cut and the straight lines trimmed with a paper cutter.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Have a blessed weekend!

Summertime Cocktail

Hi, everyone! What a happy, summer-y Color Challenge at Splitcoast this week...pineapple, coral, and pear....yummy! For my card today, I have combined the Color Challenge, Misti's 'Pool Party' VSN challenge, and the July Fan Club Central Theme Challenge since I used watercoloring on the summertime cocktail image.  The image has been in my stash for at least five years....it's from Inkadinkado and I picked it up either at JoAnn's or Michael's.  The image was stamped in Stazon Jet Black; a clear glaze pen was used on the clear parts of the glass and the air bubbles to act as a resist against the watercoloring.  The shaped card and layers were cut out with the ODBD Custom Large Banners Dies and the image panel was cut with the ODBD Custom Pierced Circles Dies and sponged with yellow. Baker's twine and three green gems were added for simple embellishments. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Blessings,

Tropical Smile

Happy Monday, everyone!  This week's Clean and Simple Challenge over at Splitcoast is to create something tropical.  Since the 'Less is More' Challenge Blog theme is to use tangerine and olive, I decided to create an orange hibiscus card so that I could submit to both.  The following dies from ODBD were used to create this quick card: Inspiration Words, Hibiscus, and Tropical Leaves.  The white card base was scored with my Scor-buddy.  Since I used scoring, I will also submit to the Fan Club Central Theme challenge for July.

Thanks for visiting today!

Have a blessed week!

Play Ball!

Hi, everyone!  This week's Ways To Use It Challenge theme is 'summertime fun'.  My Buford card from yesterday would have fit this perfectly!  Another fave summer past-time is baseball.  This card is a belated birthday card for my friend's son, Zach.  When asked what type of uniform would he design for himself, he was very creative with the parameters: black and gold, the team name would be the Tornadoes and his fave number is 16.  I had a blast customizing this card for him.  Here are the items from ODBD used in Zach's card:  All-Star Jersey stamps, Pennant Swag Solid Alphabet, and these ODBD Custom Dies: Sports Jerseys Dies, Pennant Swag Die, Alphabet Dies, Double Stitched Rectangles Dies, Double Stitched Pennant Flags Dies, Pennant Flags Dies, and Sparkling Stars Dies. Some leftover strips of the gold metallic cardstock were adhered to the sleeves so that it would look more realistic.  I will also be submitting this to the June Fan Club Central Theme Challenge due to the sports theme, plus the white panel was scored using my Scor-buddy.

Thanks for stopping by today!

God bless!

Happy Mother's Day!

Hi, everyone!  Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there!!!  Today I would like to share two different Mother's Day cards created with the same set from Our Daily Bread designs, 'The Greatest Gift' Stamp/Die Duo.  For the first card I am using the Splitcoast April Fan Club sketch with a 'Perfect Blend' of purple and yellow to match the floral designer paper from the Whimsical Wildflowers Paper Collection. The designer paper was shaped with the ODBD Custom Leafy Edged Borders Dies and ODBD Custom Pierced Rectangles Dies.  The butterflies were stamped on white with Stazon Jet black, cut out with the custom dies, then sponged with yellow and purple using a reverse mask.

The second version uses the same stamps, designer paper and border die, but the sentiment was stamped onto a panel cut out with the ODBD Custom Pierced Circles Dies set.  Baker's twine and sequins were used as a contrast to the lavender card base.

Thanks for visiting today!

Blessings,

Blast Off!

Hi, everyone!  This week's Featured Stamper over at Splitcoast is Tracy Freeman aka Tracy_inkyfingers....congrats, Tracy!  I LOVE this awesome space card and have attempted to re-create it (minus the spinners) for a birthday card for my nephew, using the 'Rocket Man' set and Space Man Dies from North Coast Creations. The background was created with the Outer Space Technique using watercolor paper and multiple layers of black and navy ink.  Once the panel was dry, it was cut out with the ODBD Custom Double Stitched Rectangles, dotted with a glitter pen, then three stars cut from the ODBD Custom Sparkling Stars Dies.  The sentiment was cut out with the ODBD Custom Double Stitched Pennant Flags Dies.  The moon, ship, and sentiment panel were popped up with foam tape for dimension.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Blessings,

Love the Lord.....

Happy Saturday, everyone!  This week's Inspiration Challenge over at Splitcoast is to find inspiration from the Department 56 site......I fell in love with this lighthouse with the purple background.  I bought an assortment pack of Webster's Pages designer paper many years ago and am finally getting some use for it......this lighthouse design is absolutely perfect for my inspiration pick!  Since I wanted to make an A2 size card with a 6x6 piece of dsp, I fussy cut the opposite corner and adhered it to the panel for balance.  The scripture verse from the ODBD 'Scripture Series 3' set was stamped in black, the panel was cut out with the ODBD Custom Pierced Rectangles Dies, matted in red, then added metallic dots and red baker's twine.  Since there is piercing, sponging on the edges, and the color of sand, I will also be submitting this to the Fan Club 'Snow, Sand, and Stars' Central Theme and to the Fan Club Inspiration Challenge since I am using a lighthouse.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,

Let's Roll!

Hi, everyone!  Today I would like to share a birthday card for one of my nephews...his fave toy is a red truck so I chose the 'Special Boy' set from Our Daily Bread designs.  For the embossed background, I ran a cardstock panel through my Xyron, adhered a piece of aluminum foil to it, used a diamond-plate embossing folder on it, then cut it out with the ODBD Custom Pierced Rectangles Dies set. The image panel was cut out with the ODBD Custom Pierced Squares Dies.  The image was colored with SU markers and the sky was sponged over a template cut with the ODBD Custom Clouds and Raindrops Dies.  Silver brads and black gingham ribbon were used for finishing touches. I will be submitting this to the Falliday Fest Forest Ranger 'recycling' challenge and for the October Fan Club theme since I used my Xyron machine.

Thanks for visiting with me today!

Blessings,

Inspired Tropical Birthday

Happy Saturday, everyone! This week's Inspiration Challenge is to find inspiration from the Cuaros Pinterest Board.....I just about fell outta my chair when I saw this amazing piece!!  I was hoping to find some inspiration to help me with my brother in law's birthday card and this was absolutely perfect!  The silhouettes and sentiment from 'Bon Voyage' were stamped in Stazon Jet Black (plus extra sponging in black at the bottom), a die from the ODBD Custom Circles Dies set was used for the mask and reverse mask for sponging the scene, then the panels were cut out with the ODBD Custom Pierced Rectangles Dies.  I did not add any embellishments so that it would look like framed art.  I will also be submitting this to the July 'Time To Relax' Fan Club challenge....what's more relaxing than a tropical sunset?!

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,