April Showers Bring May Flowers

Well, that's usually what happens! But what does April snow bring?

Hopefully even more flowers!

Here is Tilda enjoying a warm Spring shower.

Ingredients:

Stamps-  Magnolia "Tilda in Spring Rain", CDStamps "Wistful Wishes"

Ink- Memento "Tuxedo Black"

Markers- TH Distress, Copic, MEPXY

Card stock- K&Co. "Julianne"

Dies- Spellbinders "Fair Isle", "Fancy RibbonThreader", "Stnd Circles Lg",

& "Lg Scalloped Circles"

Embellishments- Stickles "Crystal", Jolee's stickers "Water Drops", ribbon from my stash...and I used my Craft-deebowz bowmaker to make my bow!

Challenges:

https://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com - April Challenge AG w/bow

http://cropstop.blogspot.com - #38 April AG

http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com - #209 "Water"

http://magnolia-liciouschallengeblog.blogspot.com - April "Rain"

http://www.scrapyland-blog.com - #88 AG

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge - "Sparkle & Shine"

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #330-331 AG

Thanks for stopping by today and thanks so much for your kind comments!!

Much appreciated!

Spring Is In the Air!

Yes, Spring IS in the air! Especially today...the sun is shining and most of the snow has melted and even the mud has calmed down a bit! I took my car through the carwash today and it stayed clean all the way home...even on our gravel road! The neighbor children have been gleefully romping through the woods and the neighborhood. Its great to hear their happy voices again!

The children on my card are gleefully dancing together...I think it is because they, too, are so glad that Spring has arrived!

Ingredients

Spellbinders dies: Valiant Honor Card Creator

Digital image (children): FREE ViNTaGE DiGiTaL STaMPS

Ribbon: FSJ olive satin, and natural twine

Sentiment stamp: Clear Dollar Stamps 

Flower: StampingScrapping 

Cardstock: base- DCWV, green- Graphic 45, & my stash

Embellishments: Liquid Pearls "platinum", doily (my stash)

Challenges

http://digitallysweetchallenges.blogspot.ca - #148 Spring is in the Air

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #221 Anything Goes

http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com - March Anything Goes
http://imaginethatdigistamp.blogspot.com - March #2 Birthday
http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.ca - #136 Show me the Green
http://digitaldelightsbyloubylootips.blogspot.com - #7 Anything Goes
http://www.scrapyland-blog.com - #37 Anything Goes
http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com - March Anything Goes

Some Favorites

One of my favorite color combinations is pink and green and I use it quite often. It is feminine and has a touch of nature about it, don't you think? Especially this card...with the leaf patterns.

The tiny sentiment says "Time to Celebrate" which I figured could be used for a variety of occasions.

This card fits a few different challenges and one of them (Our Creative Corner) said to use a hoarded item...that would be the ruffley pink ribbon. I use it sparingly and only have a little bit left now! The gold button is another hoarded item...had a set of 3 of them for several years now and this is the 1st one I've used! I love it! Both of these special items were found at thrift stores really cheap!

 Ingredients:

stamps: "Medallion de Fleur" by Clear Dollar Stamps

"Kaleidoscope Medallions" by JustRite

"Fancy Accents" by StampingScrapping Design

ink: Memento "Bamboo"

dies: Spellbinders "Standard Circles Lg" + paper hole punch

colored pencils

cardstock -from my stash

ribbon, gold elastic twine, button...all from my stash

Challenges:

Wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #116 Anything Goes

Ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com - "No More Shopping Sins"

http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/ - #69 "For the Girls"

http://kgiron.blogspot.com/2014/01/sweet-sunday-sketch-challenge-203.html - #203 Sketch 

My First Ever Easel Card

At least I can't remember ever making an easel card before! But then my memory is NOT what it used to be! SweetStamps is having a challenge right now using an easel card. Anyway, I followed the directions (pretty closely) and here is my card!

Closed

Propped open

My list of ingredients:

Card stock- both solid aqua and print ("School Days") are TPC Studio

"Green Burlap" paper- Paper Studio

Stamps- "Happy Birthday" is Clear Dollar Stamps,

"Vertical Rose Border" is SweetStamps,

"Birthday Blessings" sentiment is Stampabilities

Ink- Memento "Bamboo" & TH Distress Ink "Antique Linen"

Flowers- "Gardenia" from StampingScrapping.com (old, hoarded item)

Die cut Leaves- Spellbinders "Foliage"

Die cut doily- Sizzix "Doily, Lace Medallion"

Baker's twine- SewEasy Fancy Floss "blue lagoon"

Glitter glue- Stickles "Icicle"

Challenges:

http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com - Monthly: "Easel Card"

OurCreativeCorner6.blogspot.com - "No More Shopping Sins"

Craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com - #68 "All Things Bright & Beautiful"

http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/ - #147 "Easel Card"

A Collage Frame...I Love it!

The stamp of the collage frame is another SweetStamps stamp...called "Scroll Shadow Box Frame". I stamped it in Memento "London Fog" (gray) on white cs and fussy-cut around it. That is mounted on a speckled gray and then its all mounted on a plain white background.

This card is supposed to be for a bridal shower...but I don't have a single stamp that says anything about a shower. At least one I can find today! What do you think...does it work for a bridal shower card?

Here's my list of the rest of the ingredients:

Stamps- CDS "Medallion de Fleur", Sandy Lion "Sentiments", Inkadinkadoo "Love & Friendship"

Flowers- StampingScrapping.com "Gardenia" & "Tiny"

Leaf die- Spellbinders "Foliage"

Ranger Liquid Pearls "Platinum"

Challenge:

SweetStampsblog.blogspot.com - #141 "Frames"

Masking Technique

Today I finally got busy and finished the "masking technique" card I've had on my craft table for over a week now. The SweetStamps challenge blog has weekly challenges and monthly challenges...the monthly ones are always a "technique" challenge. I really like that because I have tried several new things already! 

This month the technique is MASKING. I've done this before but this time I did it very carefully and precisely...and I like how it turned out! What  do you think?

This little girl is one of my favorite Bildmalarna stamps and I masked her and stamped the fence background twice...once on each side to make a long enough fence. I colored everything except the chicks with Memento, Spectrum Noir and ProMarker markers...the chicks I had to use colored pencil.

I recently won the great little Craft-Dee Bowz bow-maker so I used that to make my lovely little bow! And it works great! Very good instructions!

So here's my list of ingredients:

Spelbinders dies- "Standard Circles Lg", "Labels 4", "Fleur de Lis Squares"

Stamps- Bildmalarna "Mimosa-Chicken", CDS "Wistful Wishes", Stampcraft "Fence"

Craft-Dee Bowz bow-maker

Markers - ProMarkers "aquas", Memento "greens & tans", Spectrum Noir "flesh tones"

Ink- Memento "Tuxedo Black", Studio G "Lt Brown"

Tsukineko small dauber

Border punch- Martha Stewart  "Doily"

Card stock and ribbon...from my stash!

Challenges:

Sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com - August "Masking Technique"

Wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #97 Anything Goes
craft-deebowz.blogspot.com - Sept. Challenge: Anything Goes w/handmade bow

promarkerchallenge.blogspot.com - #215 Perfect Pets

sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com - #171 Something *Tweet*

SOS Challenge #87- A Choice!

Well, its Tuesday again...time for another Shopping Our Stash challenge!

This one is #87 and the challenge is: Valentine/Love/Hearts/Red- You Choose!

Lots of choices...this should be a fun challenge!

I chose RED.

I had already made a Valentine card for my only Valentine, my hubby, so I decided on a Get Well card for my sister in Wisconsin who had surgery a couple weeks ago. Now she has to do physical therapy so probably needs a bit of encouragement.

On both the outside and the inside I used doilies; the one on the front I cut and placed where it needed to fit, but on the inside I just mounted the whole thing and had it go "around the corner". The picture makes it look a little lop-sided but it really works well. Here is the list of items used for this one:

die cuts- Spellbinders Labels 20

matching stamp- JustRite "Fleur De Lis Labels 20"

"get well" stamp- Clear Dollar Stamps "Wistful Wishes"

dragonfly stamp- StampingScrappingDesign "Tab Basics 1" set

(the little heart on the inside is also SSD)

DP, and card stock are scraps from my stash 

as are the doilies, Red ribbon and Red flowers 

The Bible verse and the sentiment inside are computer-generated.

Now would be a great time to get that Valentine card made for your special someone! Why not join in the fun at Shopping Our Stash...link up your creation so we can all enjoy it! For some inspiration check out my fellow DT memebers' blogs (see sidebar) and/or the SOS blog!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Shopping Our Stash #85 "Suits Me to a T"

Happy Tuesday!
It is time for another challenge at Shopping Our Stash!
Challenge #85:  "Suits Me to a T"- use at least two items that start with "T"- for example: tag, tape, twine, trees, tinsel, tattered angels products, tin foil, tin cans, trim, tea bag, tea cup, tomahawk, tangerine, tigers, turtle,  etc.  Be sure to list what they are in your post!
At first I was a little stumped and could only find one or two things to use so I let my project sit overnight and when I came back the next day....voila! several other items came to mind!

Thinking of You card

"T" ingredients + other stuff:

Teal card stock- Paper Studio

Teal Prima roses

Twine- Sew Easy "Fancy Floss"*

Tea-dyed Bias Tape

Texture plate- Fiskar "Filigree"
Tim Holtz Distress Ink- "Evergreen"*
 "Tattered Sparrow" stamp- Tim Holtz*
"Thinking of You" stamp- Clear Dollar Stamps
"Tacky Glue"- Aleene's*
Flatback pearls- Pizzazz Aplenty "Lt. Coffee"
Brown Dye Ink- Vivid/Clearsnap
Sponge Daubers- Imagine Crafts*
Dot Card Stock- Imaginisce
Glue Dots*
Spellbinders Dies- "Fleur de Lis Accents"* &
"Card Creator/Fancy Ribbon Threader"* &
"Card Creator/A2 Matting Basics A/B"*
Button is from my stash
* All the starred items can be purchased at www.stampingscrapping.com 


The oldest items used are the bias tape and the button (they are both 20+ years!) but all of the other stuff has been in my stash for at least a year or two. All the smaller paper/cs pieces are from scraps I saved from other projects.
As always, I hope you are inspired to join in this challenge! Please visit our main blog and post your project there so we can see all of your "T" craft items too!


I am entering this card in a few challenges too!
Hiding in My Craft Room - #80 "Super Scrap Saturday"
Our Creative Corner- "Shabby Chic Style"
Sketchbook Saturday- #87 "Sketch by Iwona Palamountain"

Birthday Card for Mom

This morning I am posting a new birthday card which I made for my mom. On October 31 she will celebrate her 87th birthday! So I made a Fall themed card:

I am entering this card in 3 challenges:

http://Perfectsentimentschallenge.blogspot.com - "Birthday or Anniversary", blog hop Day 1

http://thedutchmagnoliachickies.blogspot.com - #30 "Bingo" (Swirls, Charm, Ribbon)

http://magnoliastamplovers.blogspot.com - "At least 2 Spellbinders dies"

Here is a close-up of my little ribbon bow and charm!

Ingredients:

Magnolia stamp*- "Fall Tilda" (??)

JustRite stamp* - "Birthday Wishes"

Clear Dollar Stamps - Little Leaves

Tilda is colored with a combination of Noir Markers, Memento markers and colored pencils!

And i used just colored pencils on the tiny leaves.

Sizzix -Tim Holtz dies* - Elegant Flourishes

Spellbinders dies* - Standard Circles Lg, Fleur de Lis Pendant & Accents, Labels 15 

Pizzaz Aplenty Flatback Pearls - Ivory, Dark Chocolate

S.E.I. Cardstock - "Alpine Frost"

Western Crafts - heart charm

Scrapbook Adhesive* - 1/4" and 1/2" foam squares

Smooch Spritz* - green, rust

Everything except the background has a fine coating if shimmery Smooch.

*ALLof these items can be purchased at my favorite online store, www.StampingScrapping.com

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #71

Hello! Yes, its Tuesday already! Time for the next Shopping Our Stash challenge!

Here are the details:

Challenge #71 "Go Green", either use the color green or RECYCLE something!

You have until 11:59 pm on October 8 to enter your project in this challenge.

With the cooler temps lately I'm starting to mentally prepare for winter...

 so I came up with a snowflake card.

Obviously I didn't use the color green so can you guess what recycled item I used?

In the picture below you can see a couple seals taken from Jif peanutbutter jars.

I used a couple "Fleur de Lis" Spellbinders dies to cut out the pieces of my snowflake & glued it together with Glue Dots (minis).

The medallion stamp is a CDS that I purchased last year and stamped in several colors 'cause I was so excited to get  it...then forgot about it! I found this gray-stamped one while hunting for something else and decided it would go well with the silver snowflake. I did add little "extenders" around the stamp with a tiny stamp from the "Frou Frou" set from StampingScrapping.com. Also added lots of Stickles to the stamped image, then clear rhinestones. The "Merry Christmas" stamp is a Stampabilities.

The background was embossed with a Sizzix folder, "Dots, Circles, & Stars".

All the cardstock is from my stash and/or scrap box.
I hope you can join us this week at Shopping Our Stash!

Check out the other DT members' blog for more inspiration...they are all listed in my sidebar.

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #70: Fur & Feathers

Welcome to the new challenge at Shopping Our Stash! This week we have been asked to created something that includes our "Furry or Feathered Friends"- anything that features furry or feathered friends! Any animal, bird or animal/bird print paper -No Insects or spiders, please! You have until Oct. 2  to enter your creation in this challenge!

Here is the card I came up with:

The polkadot cardstock (DCWV) and the striped paper (My Mind's Eye) have both been in my stash for over a year now. The little rooster stamp is one I bought last year and never used yet. It is a CDS stamp. The buttons are probably the oldest...I collect them wherever I find them, even removing them from old clothes before discarding. Anyone else do that? The sentiment is computer generated.

I am entering this in one other challenge:

http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com - "Photo Inspiration" + buttons + polkadots

Here's the inspiring photo:

Yum!

SOS Challenge #67- "Wooden It Be Nice"

If you are looking for the SSiC Birthday Blog Hop

scroll down to the post below!

Today the new challenge (#67) at Shopping Our Stash is:

 Wooden It Be Nice -- Use anything that reflects wood, such as woodgrain, wood embellies, trees, log cabin, etc.

For my "wood" card I used trees! I have been in the mood for some sparkle lately so I used several colors of Stickles (and a couple JAS, too). There is a hint of fall in the air already so my fall colors just sort of "happened"! The trees stamp is from Stampin' Up, "Thinking of you" is from CDS, and the olive rhinestones are from Pizzazz Aplenty. Cardstock, from my stash. (The off-white is Cryogen).

The other girls on the DT did some amazing cards this week! We'd love it if you'd visit their blogs for some inspiration and join the challenge! Just click on their names in my sidebar.

Thanks for stopping by!

New Challenge at SSiC...My Turn!

Hello friends! Yes, this week it is my turn to host the challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ!

For the theme this time I chose two things: "Something Baby" or "Use ALL Pastels"

Our very generous sponsor for this challenge is: DeNami Design who is offering to one blessed winner a $30 Gift Certificate to their online store! They have adorable stamps!!

The Bible verses that inspired this challenge are:

I Peter 2:2&3 “...as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

I decided to use both challenge ideas for my card:

It is also, of course, my turn to write a short devotional about these verses. The following is what you will find posted at the main blog, Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

In these verses from God’s Word, the Apostle Peter is giving instruction to the young churches that have been scattered by persecution…and to all believers of all time! The verse just before these two states, “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, all hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking…” in other words, “Put off the old man with his {wicked} deeds” (Col. 3:9). The new believers are reminded that they are now new creatures, given a new life, a new identity and a new purpose: to live for Christ, not for self.  They (and we!!) have been regenerated by the Living Word of God; once reborn, we must begin living as the new creatures we are! How?? By feeding on “the pure milk of the word”…just like newborn babies yearn for nourishment, even crying out for it and demanding it…we too are to eagerly seek after spiritual “milk”, realizing that without the life-giving nourishment that comes from God alone our faith will surely fade, become unhealthy and eventually die. Jesus said that He is the Bread of Life; we are told to “eat” His word, consume it, make it part of us.  Spend time in God’s word, meditate on it, learn it, apply it.

The third verse is kind of like a rhetorical question: Have you not indeed tasted that the Lord is gracious? Of course, each of His followers can answer ‘Yes” emphatically! I love the imagery of “tasting” or “eating” the Bread of Life….so satisfying, filling, nourishing!

One last thought, the apostle Paul says “Be not children in mind, but in malice.” 1 Cor. 14:20, which follows perfectly the instruction presented by Peter. We are to leave behind malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, etc. and seek spiritual food. But we don’t want to stay infants in our knowledge, doctrine, and faith! We want to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”! 2 Peter 3:18.

That is my prayer for each of you!

 

Just a few details about what went into my card:

The large pink ribbon I have had for ages and always wanted to try a large bow on one of my cards. I love it when other people have them on their cards but when I do it, it seems a bit overwhelming. Oh well.

Dies used: Spellbinders- "Anglaise Lace Circles"*, "Labels 15"*

Punched Border used: Martha Stewart- "Doily Lace"

Stamps used: Clear Dollar Stamps- "Little Lamb",  "Wistful Wishes"

Bling used: Pizzazz Aplenty- 4mm White Flatback Pearls

(the pink & white lace is a new item coming soon at StampingScrapping.com called Washi "Lace")*

* Items purchased at www.stampingscrapping.com

I hope you will join us this week for our "Something Baby or ALL Pastels" challenge at SSiC!

For even more inspiration please stop by my SSiC sisters' blogs...each of them is listed in my sidebar and each one has a work of art to inspire you and often words of encouragement too!

Have a blessed week, my friends!

SSiC Challenge #144 "You are God's Masterpiece"

         

 Greetings, on this glorious Sunday!

This week we, the "sisters" at SSiC, have another very interesting challenge for you! And it will reveal something about you to all who see your creation/craft/card. Sure hope you decide to participate! For more info and to read a little devotional about this week's challenge verse go to the main blog: Stampin' Sisters in Christ. Our hostess this week, Jerusha, wants us to be aware that each one of us is a masterpiece created by God to do His good works! Each of us is unique and uniquely talented. As you think about what makes you YOU, think about how God has gifted you with your own likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, preferences, personality traits, talents....even looks....all for the purpose of glorifying Him by your actions & words....by your very life!

This week, make a card or project that reveals YOU...tells others something important about who you are.

Happy Hostess: Jerusha

 Theme Bible Verse:

  For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10

Challenge: Create something that reflects you - you are God's masterpiece! 

Sponsor: Clear Dollar Stamps

Prize: $15 in digital images, for one randomly selected entry 

The two pictures above are my "backyard"...we live in a woods and the trees are about 90 feet tall or more! I absolutely love trees! Always have! I love all the things associated with them too: their leaves and how they change color with the seasons, their branches and trunks that contrast with the snow each winter, the coolness/shade they provide all summer, the fresh smell after a rain, the way sunlight filters through the leaves, and the many, many birds that enjoy life in their branches, singing and chirping throughout the day.

Whenever I look at my woods...or ANY trees, for that matter!...I am always amazed at the variety, beauty, and the perfect, intricate design of each one. As Ogden Nash once said in a poem, "Only God could make a tree." Trees point my heart to the Creator, as they lift their branches upward toward the sun they remind me that is what I need to do: seek Light and Life from above. As they grow their roots deep in the earth I am reminded that I too need to dig deep into God's Word for sustenance and Living Water.

  

So the card I made HAD to include something about trees! Or leaves! And since our sponsor is Clear Dollar Stamps, and I actually have just a few little leaf stamps of theirs, I decided to use them! They are perfect for this project. I made a background paper out of them, stamping them in 4 different colors and lightly "smudging" the same colors in a few spots so I didn't have just a white background. This card shows several of my very favorite things: 

• the color green
• leaves
• embossing
• die cuts
• sheer ribbon
• a clean design
• Stickles (!)
• Plus, the card is for my best friend, by hubby, for Father's Day!

Ingredients:

Clear Dollar Stamps- "Leaf Trio, clear acrylic"

StampingScrapping Design Stamps- ('With Love') "Lacey Circles" set

Spellbinders Die Cut- Shapeabilities "Fleur de Lis Accents"

Cuttlebug- Embossing Folder "D'vine Swirls"

Pizzazz Aplenty- Twine "Dream String, Olive"

Michaels flat brads- "Stud Embellishments"

Cardstock, Ribbon, Button- from my stash

 Well, that's about wraps it up! Thanks so much for visiting my blog today!

For more inspiration check out all my Design Team Sisters' blogs. They are all listed on my sidebar: just click on their names!