Happy 50th Birthday

Hi, everyone!  This week's Inspiration Challenge over at Splitcoast is to find inspiration from Washi Arts.....I chose these metallic papers since the colors reminded me of the designer paper I used to make this 50th birthday card for my brother-in-law.  I love when designer paper does most of the work....this Artistic Outpost 'Vagabond Treasures' Paper Collection is so perfect for guy cards!  The numbers were cut in black with the ODBD Custom Large Numbers Dies and popped up with foam tape over the designer paper panel which was cut out with the ODBD Custom Double Stitched Rectangles Dies.  The sentiments stamps from the ODBD 'Celebration' set were stamped in black, then cut out with the ODBD Custom Pennant Flags Dies set; the longest pennant die was used for each, but 're-sized' to fit the words perfectly.  Some black twine was used as the only embellishment so that the card would be mostly flat for mailing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Take Me Home Country Roads

Hi, everyone!  This week's Friday Free4All Challenge theme over at Splitcoast is 'The Wheels Go Round and Round'.  My 'wheels' are on this vintage truck from the Artistic Outpost set, 'Home'.  I picked up this awesome stamp set at the Our Daily Bread designs booth at the Indy stamp show last month.  'Vintage' is not my normal style, but there were a couple of AO sets on my wish list for a while.  I started out by cutting the ivory panel with the ODBD Custom Double Stitched Rectangles Dies set before stamping.  The sentiment is part of the truck stamp, so I used masking to stamp the truck alone and to stamp the sentiment on a separate piece in order to cut the words apart.  Using masking on the truck, the trees were stamped in the background.  The card base was swiped with rust and brown ink pads to create the 'faux wood' look.  Antique copper brads were used as accents.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Get ready for extra posts from me this weekend so that I may do some catching up on cards I've created recently!

Blessings,

A Look Back at the ODBD January New Release

Hi, everyone!  Today we are re-visiting this month's awesome releases from Our Daily Bread designs.  This has been a super fun release to work with all month!  Here are the new and previously released goodies which are featured in my two projects for today's post:

My first project for today is a card which features the new Bible Journaling stamp, 'His Timing'.  Since I do not have a journaling Bible yet, I'm enjoying creating bookmarks and cards from these awesome stamps!  I paired this stamp with the cool new ODBD Custom Steampunk Gears Dies since they fit the theme of the vintage clocks.  I cut several gears out of scratch paper, glued the edges together and made my own stencil in order to sponge the background panel (cut out with the ODBD Custom Pierced Rectangles Dies).  Then, more gears were cut out of black and copper to place inside the frame cut out with the ODBD Custom Lavish Layers Dies.  The gear dies were introduced last week along with the Artistic Outpost new releases.  (Psst.....some of you may not know, but Our Daily Bread designs, North Coast Creations, and Artistic Outpost are sister companies.  You can order from all three companies in one store, with only one shipping charge....check them out HERE!)

My second project is a "cookie basket" created with the ODBD Custom Bountiful Basket Dies.  These little baskets are so fun and easy to make.....you can stamp them, use designer paper, or leave them plain....there are so many ways to decorate them!!!  Since I had fresh toll-house cookies for my basket, I chose to use the 'Baking Tag Sentiments' (cut out with the ODBD Custom Pierced Ovals Dies), the Gingham Background stamp for the layers, and red brads to match the heart on the sentiment.

Please visit the ODBD Blog and my Designer Sisters' blogs for more inspiration:

* Cathy * Robin * Helen * Kathy * Angie (Me) * Julie * Sabrina *
                             * Sandee * Lori * Dawn * Diana *

Thanks for hanging out with us today!

God bless!

Sing From The Soul

Hi, everyone!  This week's Sketch Challenge 585 over at Splitcoast was pretty challenging for me.....it took me a long while to figure out my plan of action.  I finally settled on the 'Songbirds' set by Artistic Outpost, plus the 'Chalkboard Fan Background' by sister company, Our Daily Bread designs. The fancy frame was stamped in gray, fussy cut around the outside, then stamped the songbirds and sentiment in gray as well, then sponged the edges and birdies with cantaloupe.  I went way out of my comfort zone and distressed the edges of the background panels...eek!, then sponged them in gray before adhering them to a white mat which was then paper pierced.  I didn't have any ribbon that would work with these colors, so I created a banner for an additional sentiment instead.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Our Daily Bread designs December New Releases!

Hi, everyone!  Welcome to the Our Daily Bread designs December New Release party!!!!  Kelley has done it again....there are four amazing new stamps sets and three new "got-to-have" cutting die sets as well!!!  Check out the entire release HERE!  If you'd like a chance to win some ODBD stamps, please follow the instructions below:

Prize Information: 

Three randomly selected winners will each receive a $25 gift certificate to the ODBD Store, to be used toward the purchase of ODBD Stamps found in the "ODBD stamps column" of the website just for commenting on the Design Team cards!  You have until December 2, 2015 at 9:00 p.m. EST to leave your comments on the Designers Blogs for a chance to win!  The Winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on December 3rd, so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

* Julie * Dawn * Amy * Cathy * Lori * Sandee * Robin *                                     * America * Lisa * Grace * Sabrina * Chris * Silke *

My two samples today feature these new and previously released items:

My first card features the Saddle Up set, the new ODBD Custom Double Stitched Circles Dies, ODBD Custom Matting Circles Dies, and the ODBD Custom Happy Birthday Dies set.  The background is real denim from a pair of jeans which has been in my fabric stash for many years.  When I saw the Saddle Up set, I knew I wanted to create a "dapple gray" look.  The image was stamped onto the die cut circle (cut with the ODBD Custom Matting Circles Dies and matted with the ODBD Custom Double Stitched Circles Dies), plus again on scrap cardstock so that I could fussy cut them and pop them up with foam tape.  The white sections of the horses were highlighted with a clear glaze pen, then once dry, the gray was sponged on the bodies and the manes and tails were colored with a marker.  The glaze pen acted as a resist.  To create the dapple look, I dotted a white gel pen lightly plus added slight water marks all over with a paintbrush.  The 'Happy' was cut from the ODBD Custom Happy Birthday Dies set and the 'birthday' was cut by hand from the Happy Birthday sentiment in the Saddle Up set.

For my next card, the image from Plough the Fields was stamped in Stazon Jet Black, then watercolored.  Vintage is not normally my style, but I thought an old-fashioned tractor with faded paint would work well.  The ODBD Custom Rectangles Dies fit this image perfectly and it was matted with the ODBD Custom Double Stitched Rectangles Dies set.  The background panel was stamped with the Wood Background in kraft ink, then the sentiment was overstamped in black.  Since the image was partly water-colored with artichoke ink, I added artichoke denim ribbon for an accent before popping up the image panel with foam tape.

Thanks so much for hanging out with us!!

God bless!!

The Fragrance Of Christ

Hi, everyone!  This week's Inspiration Challenge is to find inspiration from this Free Printables Pinterest Board.....full of gorgeous vintage images.  I absolutely fell in love with this blue floral stationery....the colors really got to me!  For my card, I used the following items from Our Daily Bread designs: image and scripture from 'Fragrance', ODBD Custom 'Vintage Labels' Dies, ODBD Custom 'Pretty Posies' Dies, and ODBD Custom 'Beautiful Borders' Dies.

Thanks for visiting with me today!

God bless!

To The Lovebirds

Hi, everyone!!  This week's Featured Stamper is Penny Strawberry.....congrats, Penny!!  I chose this gorgeous CAS card to re-create.  I was originally going to do an all white card like Penny's but once I got to my room, I saw my pack of  ODBD 'Vintage Ephemera' Paper Collection and thought it would be elegant for an anniversary card.  The curved edges were cut with the ODBD Custom 'Leafy Edged Border' Dies; the flower was cut out with the ODBD Custom 'Pretty Posies' Dies; the sentiment is from the 'To The Lovebirds' set.

Thanks so much for visiting with me!

God bless!

40th Birthday Roses

Happy Saturday, everyone!!  My favorite challenge of the week over at Splitcoast is the Saturday Inspiration Challenge.....this week we are to choose a color palette from The Perfect Palette blog.....I loved the vintage colors of this beautiful color combo.  I needed to make a birthday card for my sister-in-law's 40th birthday, but wasn't sure which style to go with.  The Blushing Rose Collection designer paper pack from Our Daily Bread designs was just right! The pennant sentiments from Pennant Swag 2 was stamped in brown onto a lighter pattern from the Blushing Rose Collection, then cut out with the ODBD Custom Pennant Swag Die.  I traced some chipboard numbers onto the designer paper, fussy cut, sponged the edges, then popped up with foam tape.  The Butterfly Stamped-by Mini was fussy cut as well.  The Zva roses were adhered over a flourish from the ODBD Custom Fancy Foliage Die Set.

Since I'm off to an early start, I think I'll choose another color palette and head back to my stamp room.  See you later, alligator!!

Blessings,

ATC Inspiration x 2!

Hi, everyone!!  Happy Saturday!!  Saturday morning is my fave time to stamp and this week's Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast was just what I needed to get my gears turning.  There were so many interesting ATC's to choose from the gallery at the ATC's For All site, so I made two cards with two totally different styles.  First, I chose this beautiful vintage Iris ATC (Artist Trading Card) and re-created an ATC sized panel as close to the original as I could....I was lucky enough to have the same woven trim in my stash....yay!!  I didn't have a script-type background stamp so I used a partial piece of a pattern from the "Blushing Rose Designer Paper Collection" by Our Daily Bread designs, along with the sentiment and image from the "Iris" set.  The iris was stamped, colored with markers, then fussy cut and adhered to the script background.

My second card was inspired by this rainbow colored ATC.  The sentiment panel was cut to ATC size (2-1/2 x 3-1/2) then was colored with sponge daubers and ink pads, stamped with the sentiment from the ODBD "Sentiments Collection 2" set, matted, paper pierced, then I sprayed Pearl Glimmer Mist point blank in order to create a splotchy, mottled look.....hard to see in the photo. It was then popped up with foam tape and some "Rain Dots" were added on the corners. (The Rain Dots have been in my stash for about five years....bought them in Pigeon Forge at the Scrapbook Superstore when I was on vacation.)

Thanks for visiting with me today!

Have a blessed weekend!!

Art Journal Inspired / Roses for Mom

Happy Saturday, everyone!!  It's going to be a beautiful, cool day here in Indiana, so I'm stamping early so that I can spend some time outside later!  This week's Inspiration Challenge is to find inspiration from Audrie's Art of Journaling Pinterest Board.......I loved the elegance and lacy look of this journal, so I tried to re-create the same look with my card, using the "Smell the Roses" set by Our Daily Bread designs, a doily die cut, plus a book plate and some mulberry paper (both of which haven't seen the light of day for a long time!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a blessed weekend!!

ODBD Steampunk Wedding Card

Hi, everyone! Today I would like to share a Steampunk style wedding card I made for my step-brother and his new wife.  This may not be 100% Steampunk, but it's as close as I could get with the supplies I had on hand!  I will be submitting this to today's "Charm City Cakes" Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoast Stampers......I chose the "Bohemian" cake fourth row down, far right....sorry, no way to link it directly.  I will also submit this to the Our Creative Corner Challenge, which is Steampunk TicTacToe...I used the gears/texture/transport (birds) option. The Word Art Wednesday blog has an "Anything Goes" Challenge this week, plus Stampin' Royalty has an "Anything Goes" Challenge, so I will gladly submit to those as well!

The birdcage from the Our Daily Bread designs "To The Lovebirds" set and the banner from "Banner Sentiments" were both heat embossed in copper, then cut out with the ODBD Custom "Birdcage and Banner Dies" Set.  (Two sets of the little birds were cut from the same die set.) I made two of the birdcages also....since the hinge opens, I wanted the same view from the inside (as shown in the 3rd photo).  The red mats for the birdcage and banner were cut by hand.

I used the same birdcage die to cut out the scripture panel, which was lined up directly with the closed birdcage.  The scripture is from the ODBD "Love Scriptures" set.  The gears on the right are by Tim Holtz, but the rest of hardware is from various companies.....stuff I've had in my stash for a long time.  Some of the items did not match, so I colored them with a copper metallic pen.  The designer paper is Basic Grey "Curio", the rose ribbon is Stampin Up and the crocheted lace was an RAK from my Design Team Sister, Sabrina.....Mwaaah to you, Sabrina girl!!!

I had one gear left, so I decided to use it on the inside, with two little punched hearts inside it.  The sentiment is from the ODBD set, "Love One Another".

Thanks for visiting with me today!

Have a blessed weekend!!

The Fairest Blossom

Hi, everyone!  I'm so happy that it's Saturday.....time for more stamping!!!!  I will be submitting this project for several Dare To Get Dirty Challenges at Splitcoast Stampers, along with today's Inspiration Challenge #400......I LOVE coffee and would drink it all day if I could, so I chose this inspirational piece, from National Geographic, which I would love to have for my stamp room!!

For my project, I used the Tote-All Package template from My Time Made Easy...this was very fun and pretty simple to make....and extra fun to decorate!!! The sentiment is from the Bold Botanicals Digital Stamp Set and the pattern paper is Botanical Beauties 'Sunflower Sprinkles'.

Here are some additional views.....a close up of the front and one of the back which has the cutest pocket!  The cardstock I used is espresso brown, although it looks like black in the photos.

The flower is by Prima, the ribbon by May Arts, the pearls are from Zva Creative, and the sentiment panel and mat were cut out with Spellbinders Labels Four which matched the design of the tote flap.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Have a blessed weekend!!

Praise the Lord!

Hi, everyone! This week's Sketch Challenge over at Splitcoast is a clean and simple sketch....yay!  I needed some creative help to make a quick birthday card for my Father In Law.  The scripture verse is from Our Daily Bread designs' Scripture Collection 10 and the designer paper is Bo Bunny (Weekend Market). The twill ribbon is recycled.....it was wrapped around a package of wash cloths......I have used it on several cards, but this one took the last of it....so sad!


I will also be submitting this card to this week's Shining the Light "Scripture or Hymn Challenge over at the Our Daily Bread designs Blog.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Blessings,