A Happy Hello!

Hi, everyone!  This week's Inspiration Challenge over at Splitcoast is to find inspiration from the Oh So Beautiful Paper site.....I loved the color combo and cool die cut design of this ensemble.    For my card, the designer paper from ODBD 'Whimsical Wildflowers Paper Collection' and a white panel were both cut out with the ODBD Custom Pierced Rectangles Dies.  The white panel was then cut with the ODBD Custom Leafy Edged Borders Dies, sponge with yellow, then the image from 'A Happy Hello' was stamped in eggplant and highlighted with markers.  The sentiment was cut out with the ODBD Custom Ornate Ovals Dies and matted with the ODBD Custom Ovals Dies.  This card took about twenty minutes to create.....yay!!! I will also be submitting this to the ODBD Shining the Light Challenge, which is a color challenge this month.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Two Dress-Inspired Cards

Happy Saturday, everyone!  This week's Inspiration Challenge over at Splitcoast is to find inspiration from the 'I Don't Wear Dresses' tumblr site.  I chose two different dresses and made two cards.

I fell in love with the rich blackberry colors in this dress and it made me think of tulips for some reason....winter has just begun but I'm ready to see my spring flowers popping up!  For my card, I mixed an 'oldie but goodie' stamp, 'Tulip Corner', with a new die cut, the ODBD Custom 'Happy Birthday Script' Die, plus the ODBD Custom Double Stitched Rectangles Dies, and little hearts from ODBD Custom Umbrellas Dies (all items are from Our Daily Bread designs).  The image was stamped in Stazon Jet Black, then water-colored with Blackberry Bliss, dark at the base and gradient toward the tips of the petals. Once I was finished with the water-coloring, I flicked the wet paintbrush over the ivory panel.  The word die was cut in half so that it would work with this image. Instead of dotting the I, a tiny heart was placed there instead. I will also be submitting this to the Less Is More 'Ombre' Challenge and ODBD Shining the Light Color Challenge (I chose the three shades of purple on the left).

My second card is based on this blue floral dress......I cannot pass us royal blue flowers!!!!  For my card, I cut out a panel with the ODBD Custom Double Stitched Rectangles Dies, stamped it all over with the image from 'A Happy Hello', added a border cut with the ODBD Custom Deco Border Die plus thin satin ribbon.  The sentiment was cut out with the ODBD Custom Stitched Ovals Dies, matted with the ODBD Custom Ovals Dies.  Three tiny pearls and a bow were added for simple embellishments.

Thanks for visiting with me today!

Have a blessed weekend!

Life Is Better With Sisters!

Hi, everyone!  Thanks to an awesome Color Challenge (cantaloupe, coral, and saffron) plus a fabulous Sketch Challenge over at Splitcoast this week, I was able to easily put together this birthday card for my sister.  The saffron and cantaloupe led me right to the 'Sweet As Perfume' set from Our Daily Bread designs since most of the Plumeria (or Frangipani) blossoms I saw in Hawaii looked just like this (and smelled like heaven!!)  The white panels (cut out with the ODBD Custom Pierced Rectangles and ODBD Custom Pierced Squares Dies) were sponged in saffron and cantaloupe, plus the rectangle background was stamped with the image in saffron.  The sentiment is also from 'Sweet As Perfume' but I cut it apart to remove the word 'friends' and add the banner instead. The letters were stamped with the 'Pennant Swag Alphabet'; the pennant frame was cut out with the ODBD Custom Pennant Swag Die.  Since this card makes me long for another trip to Hawaii, I will submit it to this month's Fan Club Central Theme Challenge (This Land Is My Land). I will also be adding this to the link up for the ODBD Shining the Light Challenge which is 'Anything That Grows...with ODBD'.

Thanks for visiting!

Blessings,

In God's Hands

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I'm playing along with the monthly Our Daily Bread designs Shining the Light Challenge again....isn't this a great sketch?  I needed to make a get well card and this pattern from the ODBD Christian Faith Paper Collection was perfect for this layout.  The scripture is from the 'God's Hands' stamp set, on which this piece of pattern paper was originally designed. The scripture panel was cut out with the ODBD Custom Circles Dies and matted with the ODBD Custom Double Stitched Circles Dies set.  Since this is a masculine card, I used square silver brads instead of pearls, plus navy twill ribbon instead of frilly ribbon with a bow.

To see more samples of this sketch, please visit my designer sisters here:        * Chris * Robin *

There is still plenty of time to submit your own sketch card....head over to the ODBD blog today!

Thanks for stopping by!

God bless!

Precious Little Boy

Happy Saturday, everyone!  Today's Inspiration Challenge over at Splitcoast is to choose a photo from the Nail Art Pinterest board.  I was searching for inspiration to help me create a baby shower card and my 'Aha' moment came when I saw the blue and white polka dots in this photo.  Okay, I didn't go with the snowman theme, but I built the card around this blue polka dot (and coordinating light blue) designer paper from the ODBD Pastel Paper Pack.  Usually, I make baby cards (and name-frame gifts) to match the nursery theme, however, my brother and his wife just moved and haven't decided on a theme yet (or a name!), so I used the lamb image from 'The Shepherd', cut him out with the ODBD Custom 'Little Lamb' Die, and popped him up with foam tape over a background sponged using a template cut from the ODBD Custom 'Clouds and Raindrops' Dies. The sentiment is actually two stamps combined from the 'Little Boys' set...with three paper-pierced holes to connect one stamp to the next.  The little blue hearts were cut using the ODBD Custom 'Clouds and Raindrops' Dies set.  The basic layout of the card is from the ODBD Shining the Light Sketch Challenge.

Thanks for visiting with me today!

Blessings,

Vintage Deer

Hi, everyone!! It's tough finding time to stamp in the middle of the work week but I couldn't resist this week's ODBD Shining the Light Sketch Challenge!  Though I didn't use Our Daily Bread designs stamps, I did use the new 'Deer Silhouette Greetings' from North Coast Creations, which is ODBD's sister company.  Along with the awesome deer set, I used the ODBD 'Vintage Ephemera Paper Collection' and ODBD Custom 'Vintage Labels' Dies to create this monochromatic, masculine design.  For the image panel, I used the same die for all three layers.  Two were cut and embossed with white, one of which was hand-trimmed on the embossed line and used for the stamping and sponging.  The brown mat was hand-trimmed after tracing the outside of the same die....since the curves of this die were not dramatic, it was fairly easy to cut by hand....even if I did have to stick out my tongue while doing it! :)  I will also be submitting this to the Ways To Use It "Go West" challenge at Splitcoast....with the mercantile themed designer paper and brown tones, I think this will fit right in.

Speaking of ODBD, did you know that you can now purchase Our Daily Bread designs, North Coast Creations, and Artistic Outpost products all in one place?  Woo hoo!!  Get everything on your wish list and pay one shipping charge!!  Just visit Our Daily Bread designs and check it out!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Blessings,

The Steps of a Good Man

Hi, everyone!!!  This week's Shining the Light Challenge is to choose at least three colors from the swatch for your project....I went with the brown, rust, and gray for this card which I made for my hubby for our anniversary.  I have combined some new and previously released goodies from Our Daily Bread designs for this card:  ODBD Custom 'Pegboard and Hooks' Dies, ODBD Custom 'Workshop Tools' Dies, ODBD Custom 'Pennant Swag' Die, 'Pennant Swag Alphabet' stamps (to create your own sentiment!), scripture from the 'Good Man' stamp set, and the designer paper is from the ODBD 'Vintage Ephemera Paper Collection'.

Thanks for visiting with me!

Blessings,

Hello, Ladybugs!

Hi, everyone!!  I started this card weeks ago, but was nudged to finish it when I saw the Ways To Use It 'Red and White' Challenge, plus this week's Shining the Light Challenge is an inspiration challenge and the ladybugs fit right in there too!! The lattice squares were cut with the ODBD Custom 'Layered Lacey Squares' Dies, the ladybugs are from 'Butterfly and Bugs' and cut out with the ODBD Custom 'Butterfly and Bugs' Dies.  The sentiment is from 'Ornate Borders Sentiments'.  I was going for a clean and simple look, so I added score lines above and below with my Scor-buddy and added one gingham bow....haha, it didn't really need a bow, but I love gingham with ladybugs.  Also, the white squares looked a bit plain, so I added some doodling around the edges for a little extra character.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Have a blessed weekend!!

Shabby Showers

Hi, everyone!  Our cruise vacation was a blast (will share some photos soon), but now I've got some stamping to catch up on!  For this card, I've combined quite a few challenges from the past week at Splitcoast:
Inspiration Challenge: I chose the top postage stamp from this photo;
Technique Lover's 'Line Up' Challenge:  doodle by hand or draw lines around your image;
Clean and Simple 'April Showers' Challenge:  baby or bridal showers, rain showers, etc.;
Color Challenge of Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette, and Sahara Sand;
Featured Stamper Challenge: belated congrats to Mary Johnson aka maryj68....I chose this beautiful card from her gallery to recreate.
I will also submit this to the Shining the Light 'April Showers Inspiration' Challenge over at the Our Daily Bread designs Blog. 

Since I have no Wild Wasabi, I started off with some Prima papers from my stash which had both green and pink for the color challenge, for the background and the sections of the umbrella.  The sentiment is from 'Shower of Blessings'.  The umbrella and (lots of) pink hearts were cut out with the ODBD Custom Umbrellas Dies, the pink borders were cut out with the ODBD Custom Beautiful Borders Dies. The edges were sponged with Sahara Sand, then hand-doodled. Lining up the tiny pink hearts took a little while, and though they are a bit crooked, I just had to follow the theme from Mary's card.

My second card is also for the Inspiration Challenge......I chose this gorgeous Amethyst stamp for my inspiration.  The shaped card was cut out with the awesome new ODBD Custom 'Layered Lacey Squares' Dies, layered with the Romantic Floral Designs frame cut out with SB Labels 26 dies, stamped in lavender,  and lyric from 'How Great Thou Art' stamped in eggplant.  The floral spray was cut from the ODBD Custom 'Fancy Foliage' Dies and ODBD Custom 'Ornamental Crosses' Dies.  Note:  the three shades of purple did not photograph well.....they look much better in the real. 

Thanks for visiting!

Blessings,

Sing and Make Music

Hi again!  I was up early this morning and had a chance to play along with the Color Challenge over at Splitcoast.....I chose three of the five colors provided:  Hello Honey, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Brown Sugar to color and sponge the chickadee image from the Our Daily Bread designs set, 'You Will Find Refuge'.  The card base was stamped with the ODBD 'Wood Background' and the chickadee was cut out with the ODBD Custom 'Chickadee' Die.  This card needed to be flat for mailing, so I added a strip of cotton ribbon with no bow, plus three metallic dots.   

I will also be submitting this to the Our Daily Bread designs Shining the Light 'Inspiration' Challenge.....the inspiration photo had little red berries and reminded me that I had not used this little chickadee in a long time.

Thanks again for stopping by!

God bless!

Rainbow Balloons

Hello, everyone!! This week's Clean and Simple Challenge over at Splitcoast is to use rainbow colors....another fun opportunity to use the new balloon dies from the ODBD Custom 'Happy Birthday Dies' set!!! The sentiment from 'Sentiments Collection 2' has always been a fave of mine, but don't get the chance to use it often. The balloons were 'tied' to a portion of the ODBD Fence Die. Also, this week at the Our Daily Bread designs Blog, the Shining the Light Challenge is a sketch challenge.....my version is very CAS but it still fits!! :)

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Blessings,

Sparkle! Triple Challenge Combo

Hi, everyone!  I have used several challenges in the making of this card.  This week's 500th Color Challenge at Splitcoast is to use one of four color combos.....I chose the winter combo.  Also, the Clean and Simple Challenge is to use piercing, so I couldn't pass that up!!!  Also, the ODBD Shining the Light "Anything Goes with ODBD Stamps" Challenge is still underway, so I will be linking up to that as well.

I have combined the new "Christmas Pennant Row" set (sparkle pennant), cut out with the ODBD Custom "Pennant Row" Dies, along with the "Warm Wishes" set.  When I first saw the "sparkle" sentiment, I immediately thought of using it with a snow scene.  After stamping and coloring the scene, I added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter glue and irridescent gemstones for some sparkle.

Thanks again for stopping by!!

Blessings,

Inspirational ODBD Keychain

Hello!!  I bought a handful of keychains at JoAnn's several years ago, but put them into my "to-be-altered" stash and forgot about them.  My little brother is away at college and wanted to remind him that he is not alone even though he is far from family.....God is always there and is "good all the time"!  This new set from Our Daily Bread designs, 'God's Timing' was perfect for this project!! 

I cut a piece of white cardstock to fit the insert, stamped the clock image and hands in Stazon Midnight Blue (stamped off), then stamped the sentiment in Stazon Jet Black.  The edges were sponged in caramel and speckles were made with a marker.  I used Stazon so that the image and message wouldn't "run" if the keychain were to get wet.  The paper in the background for the photo is from the 'Blooming Garden Collection' from Our Daily Bread designs.

I will be submitting this to the ODBD Shining the Light "Anything Goes" Challenge....use any stamps from Our Daily Bread designs for a chance to win a gift certificate for $15 toward ODBD stamps (in the stamp column)!!

Thanks for visiting!!

Blessings,

My Lifeguard

Hi, everyone!!  Here is another sneak peek for the August release from Our Daily Bread designs.  The image and sentiment are from 'My Lifeguard', which will be available on August 1st.  For my card, I temporarily adhered two pieces of scratch paper to my white card, then stamped and sponged the scene before removing the masks.  I wanted to keep it simple as possible, so just added a button and linen thread.  I will be submitting this to the Our Daily Bread designs 'Shining the Light Challenge' which is to stencil or use sponging.

Thanks again for visiting with me!!

Blessings,

Cherry Blossom Clouds

Happy Friday, everyone!  This week's Friday Free4All Challenge at Splitcoast is to use clouds on your project....no problem!!!  Also, this week's Queen for the Day is Meisu4.....congrats!!!  I chose this beautiful card to case.  Also this week is the Our Daily Bread designs "Shining the Light" one layer challenge....create a one layer card or card base plus one layer....I chose the latter.  The image and scripture are from "Cherry Blossom", new this month from Our Daily Bread designs.  The image was stamped several times, colored with sponges and markers, the clouds were sponged in aqua over a scalloped circle.  Instead of my usual paper piercing, I sponged the edges and added three little pearls in the corner.

Oh, a here is a quick reminder:  today is the last day for free shipping over at Our Daily Bread designs.....please visit the ODBD Store for details.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a blessed weekend!!

Sweeter Than Honey

Hi, everyone!  I couldn't resist the CAS style Sketch Challenge over at Splitcoast today, especially since I had several die cuts already stenciled and ready to go......worked perfectly....yay!!!  Though this is a simple design, I did squeeze in quite a few ODBD products:  Sweeter than Honey (scripture), Bee Happy (bee), ODBD Custom Zinnia and Leaves Die Set (bee), Honeycomb Mini, Daisy Chain Background Die, Elegant Ovals Dies (sentiment panel), and ODBD Custom Beautiful Borders Die Set (2 flourishes on top and bottom of sentiment panel).  I will be submitting this for the ODBD Shining the Light Challenge, which is to use only ODBD stamps and dies.....no problem! :)

Thanks for stopping by!!

Blessings,

Serenity Birthday

Hi, everyone!  This is a birthday card for my brother, who loves to fish.  I have used three challenges in the making of this card.  This week's Shining the Light Challenge over at Our Daily Bread designs is the awesome sketch to the left of this paragraph....this was very fun....and pretty quick too!!  Also, over at Splitcoast Stampers, the Color Challenge this week was a buffet of aquas and gray....I chose to combine Smoky Slate with Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, and Island Indigo....my dessert option was "thumping" technique.....the background and image stamp were both inked with an ink pad, then "thumped" with colored markers to give a variation in color.  The background worked well, but the technique on the image was not very visible since the colors used were similar.  Today's Friday Free 4 All Challenge is to create a birthday card.....no problem, my brother's birthday is Sunday, so now I'm ahead of schedule....yay!!!

The background is the "Fishing Net Background" stamp and the image and sentiment are from "The Waves on the Sea", both sets are by Our Daily Bread designs.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a very blessed weekend!!

Sun and Shield

Hi, everyone!  This is a birthday card for my brother-in-law, which I created using the "oldie but goodie" stamp set "With Heartfelt Sympathy" (cattails and dragonfly) along with a scripture from the "Bookmarks - Scriptures" set, both from Our Daily Bread designs.  The card design was cased from this lovely card by this week's Queen For The Day, Phyllis aka Tater.....congrats, Phyllis!!  I am also using the ODBD Shining the Light Challenge, to create a masculine or Father's Day card.

The background was sponged, using scratch paper masks and sponge daubers.  After matting, paper piercing and grosgrain ribbon was added.  I love masculine cards......they like 'em plain and not too many "doo-dads", although I did use a glitter pen on the dragonfly! :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Blessings,

Girls Love Fishing Too!

Hi, everyone!  Happy Friday!!  This week's Shining the Light Challenge over at the Our Daily Bread designs Blog is "Sky or Water.....easy peasy with this month's Fishing theme! Today's Friday Free4All Challenge at Splitcoast is to repeat an item on your project.  Though I was not able to repeat my stamps here, I did use multiple strands of Baker's Twine, plus I added a second coral button at the top corner to match the other button.  This week's Clean and Simple Challenge is "That Smells Good" (ocean air!). This is a birthday card for a dear friend of mine who belongs to a ladies fishing club.  Who says outdoor stamps have to be for guy cards only?!  The image is from "The Waves on the Sea"; the sentiment is from "Fishing", both from Our Daily Bread designs.

I need to thank one of my dear sweet "Sistah Sticks", Diana Nguyen, who inspired me with a gorgeous card (which is not in her gallery as of yet).....the sponged strip with the image going above and below was ingenious....thanks, Diana!!!

Thanks for visiting today!  Tomorrow is the first day for sneak peek projects for Our Daily Bread designs June sets.....yay!!  I hope to have something ready for you!

Blessings,