Rejoice (MOJO325)

          I know that it has been a while since my last post.  My husband was back in the hospital earlier this month – the 5^th time this year with heart related issues, our son and his dog just moved out – much dog hair to find and banish and then Christmas, and then Christmas baking.  I was tired but recovering!  God is good!  Even with all of these hospitalizations – one was a mild heart attack; there has been no change in his EKG that indicates further damage to his heart.  Praise God!  So when it came time to do a birthday card for Thom’s Aunt Dot who will be 85 on January 2^nd, this scripture from my brand spanking new stamp set came to mind!  (A shout out to Verve:  I ordered 2 stamp sets on Thursday morning the day after Christmas, and got them on Saturday.  Great customer service!) 

·       Stamp set(s):  Verve – Scripture Medley 1 and Lean On Me

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Real Red; Stampin’ Write Real Red and Crushed Curry markers

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Real Red, Very Vanilla, and Vellum; My Mind’s Eye – Lost & Found 3

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Verve – Pointed Flower Die; Papertrey Ink – XL Rickrack Border Die; Stampin’ Up! – Chalk Talk Framelits and Fancy Fan Embossing Folder

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up! – Basic Jewels Pearls Large; Recollections - Pearls

I used one of my favorite techniques on this card – stained glass.  I embossed the flower image onto vellum using white embossing powder and then colored the back side with my SU markers.  It gives a really soft effect.  I loved the patterned paper from MME, and used the read in it to pull for my accent colors.  I chose to use flowers instead of a heart since I’m still not quite ready to do Valentine cards yet even though my colors SHOUT Valentine.  I liked this week’s sketch!  It’s always nice to have some basic ideas as to how the card is laid out as you think about the colors, patterns and texture!  The pearls are a nice finishing touch for a really wonderful woman.  They are so classic and classy!

         I hope and pray that you have a wonderful New Year ahead.  I am anticipating this New Year with joy in my heart for all of the Lord’s blessings on you and yours, and me and mine!

Many Blessings,
Donna

Dynamic Duos Honorable Mention

          This card won me an Honorable Mention over at the Dynamic Duos Challenge Blog last week.  Thank you so much for choosing this card!  It has gotten a lot of attention and positive comments for which I am grateful!  I am honored by your selection!  You can check out their wonderful blog and weekly challenges by clicking here!

Many Blessings,
Donna

O Holy Night Sparkles

 

 

           As promised, here is the "rest of the story"!  As soon as I saw Dynamic Duos’ colors for this week (ending today), I knew that I would be going back to the colors that I used for the last week of Verve’s November challenge!  It looks like the Christmas cards for this year are taking on a theme, but what a beautiful theme it is if I do say so myself.  Just a few changes and viola here is a new gorgeous card!  I really love how the Shabby Chic Lace stamp from Heartfelt Creations reminds me of the arch of a cathedral stained glass windows.  It pairs well with the Shepherd Scene stamped image.

·       Stamp set(s):  Heartfelt Creations Shabby Chic Lace & Shepherd Scene 

·       Ink(s):  Versamark – Watermark Stamp Pad; Viva 3D Stamp Paint – Silver

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Glimmer Paper Silver & Midnight Muse CS 

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Lifestyle Crafts – Nesting Ovals; Provocraft – Kassie’s Brocade Embossing Folder

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up! – Jewels Basic Rhinestones and Jewels Basic Rhinestones Large;  Zing – Silver Metallic Finish embossing powder; Hobby Lobby – Silver Ribbon

My card this time is a bit on the odd size – 6½” by 4¾” so that the card front would be completely embossed by the Kassie’s Brocade EF.  It’s really frustrating that some of my old EF are not a true 5” by 7”.  But that is one thing I will be looking for in the future.  With the size of my focal image and the MOJO 322 sketch, I upsized the card originally to 5” by 7” until I tried embossing the card front.  But, it turned out beautifully.  I love the way that Viva 3D Stamp-Paint shows up on the embossed card front to add depth and dimension to my card.

 Thank you for stopping by my blog to take a look at this card and my thoughts about it.  I really appreciate your time.  Please leave me a comment to let me know what you think and if you are so inclined, please join my sight and become a member so that you’ll be notified of new posts!

Many Blessings,

Donna

  

Are You Wise?

 



           I absolutely love it when I catch a mental lapse before it’s too late.  I meant to emboss the card front and forgot to do it as I often do, but I was able to pop off the top layers of the card and emboss the card front and then add some silver 3D Stamp Paint to bring out the patterned created.  It really does step up the card’s design.  It also adds to the silver theme I have in the elements of each design piece!  I added an extra layer to the sketch to make the stamped lace layer really pop!  I also decided against ribbon or silver thread from the sketch.  I didn’t want to overdo it!  I added a few rhinestones here and there for accent and to draw the viewer’s eye across the card front.

·       Stamp set(s):  Heartfelt Creations Shabby Chic Lace & Wisemen Ornament

·       Ink(s):  Versamark – Watermark Stamp Pad; Viva 3D Stamp Paint – Silver

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Glimmer Paper Silver & Midnight Muse CS 

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Spellbinders – 2011 Heirloom Ornaments, Classic Ovals Large, Classic Scalloped Ovals Large; Stampin’ Up! – Vintage Wallpaper EF

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Zing – Silver Metallic Finish embossing powder

All together the simple elements of this design, really came together well.  It’s simple with its two colors, but the silver really makes the card stand out.  I love the zing the Glimmer Paper adds to the card while also adding texture.  I added the John 3:16 scripture stamp from the same stamp set on the inside – silver ink pad with clear embossing powder to fix the ink.  I now have a special Christmas card to send to a loved one this year.  Be safe where ever your travels take you this Thanksgiving and Christmas season.  I hope that you are wise, too, and take the sentiment to heart this year as well if you don’t already know Him!

Many Blessings,

Donna

Prayer and VLVNov2013

 

          I’m getting close to completing and posting another months Viva la Verve Challenge with this and my next card.  I decided that the 3 background panels were to be a stamped image.  I chose Stampin’ Up!’s Wild Flower Meadow bundle.  The biggest trick was figuring out the dimensions of the background panel which I finally did and then making it straight.  I’ve got to find a better way to get my card image centered and level when I photograph them.  Any tips will be appreciated.

          My card is 4¼” by 5½” with a left side fold.  Please note I had a bit of a mental flight of fancy when I chose Cherry Cobbler paper and Raspberry Ripple Ink.  It wasn’t my intention, and I’d already finished when I realized my error.  I still think the colors work!

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Thoughts & Prayers, Wildflower Meadow, & Secret Garden

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Basic Gray & Raspberry Ripple

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Basic Gray, Whisper White, & Core’dinations Cherry Cobbler CS

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up! – Secret Garden Framelits, Beautiful Wings Embosslits & Wildflower Meadow EF; Spellbinders – Classic Ovals Large & Classic Scalloped Ovals Large; Paper Studio – Script EF

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up!  - Jewels Basic Rhinestones & Jewels Basic Rhinestones Large; Ribbon – my own stash; McGill – Craft Molding mat & tools

I finally decided that the background panels would be 1½” by 3½” each and then spaced evenly on the embossed and distressed Core’dinations mat.  The sentiment was popped up with the ribbon added before placement of the sentiment.  It was not difficult at all to place and layer the elements of the card after figuring out the dimensions.  I liked the dark red and will probably use this over the next month or so for my church card ministry as the red color is perfect for this time of the year.  By the way, it was difficult to get the stamped Wildflower Meadow image lined up with the embossing folder.  I’m still not sure if it’s lined up well.  It’s a pain in the posterior so be careful if you plan to purchase this bundle.

As always, it is a pleasure to have you stop by my blog for a visit.  Please feel free to leave a comment so that I know who has stopped by to see me!  Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family as we thank God for this country He placed His Blessing on so many years ago.

Many Blessings,

Donna



Celebrate A Special Birthday with Viva la Verve

          I’m still hoping to get all 4 cards done for November for the Viva la Verve Master Challenge.  It has been such a stressful month with my husband’s mild heart attack.  I’m grateful to God’s sustaining hand upon him.  His vein graft from his triple bypass in 1991 was completely blocked in one place and partially blocked in another.  With his 11^th and 12^th stent and new medication, he is back on his feet and resuming his normal activities.  God is soooooo GOOD!!!!

          Thanksgiving is upon us so quickly, but I still have all the usual day to day activities going on around my house.  I am a tutor/mentor to a young lady at a local school whose birthday is this week and needed to make her a special card.  I wanted it to be young and youthful, yet sweet so I went looking through my paper stash and found this delightful paper hidden carefully away.  It said youthful to me!  One of the great things about Stampin’ Up! cardstock is that it comes in so many delightful colors and takes ink beautifully.  It was so easy to find some good coordinating cs for my creation.  My card is 5½” by 4¼” with a top fold.  I also got to use my new ODBD’s Gingham Background stamp.  Gingham background is now available in ANY color.  What’s not to love????

·       Stamp set(s):  Papertrey Ink – Delightful Dahlia Additions; Our Daily Bread Designs – Gingham Background

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Very Vanilla, Melon Mambo, Coastal Cabana, & Daffodil Delight CS; Prima – Fairy Floral Collection Garden Party

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up! – Chalk Talk Framelits; Spellbinders – Becky Fleck’s Tags & Flags   

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Verve - Truly Madly Deeply Ribbon Collection; Jolee’s – Sunflowers Dimensional Stickers

The card came together easily following the layout for week 2’s Viva la Verve Sketch.  It was super to realize that one of the Verve ribbons from the Truly Madly Deeply Ribbon Collection was a perfect match for SU!’s Melon Mambo.  I tried some pretty cream colored ribbon; it was OK but the Verve ribbon just made the whole card come alive.  I also reversed the scalloped border from the Becky Fleck dies to make a bit of a whimsical border – perfect for an almost teenager!

          I hope that you’ve enjoyed my card for the 2^nd week’s challenge.  Don’t you just love a happy card – especially for a birthday girl?  Until next time you visit, be safe and have a blessed week!  Thanks for stopping by!

Many Blessings,

Donna

Winter Frost

 

          Well, this is a first for me.  I’m submitting this card in 3 challenges this time.  I’m doing the usual MOJO 319 weekly challenge, but I’m adding Dynamics Duo #78 weekly challenge (check them out at: http://thedynamicduoschallenge.blogspot.com/), and my first Verve’s Diva Dare (http://vervestamps.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-diva-dare-day-1.html).  The theme this month is “Shape Up” using common shapes.  I agree with one of the Divas that the MOJO 319 sketch was perfect.

          When I saw the Dynamic Duos Challenge colors for this week, I immediately thought of SU’s “Lovely as a Tree”.  Those colors are perfect for a tree with a rustic or distressed feel.  I played around a little with it and used stamping off to add some depth to the trees but I also wanted to give it a misty & glimmer effect like a winter’s morning when the sun is burning off the frost on the trees.  I sponged some Crumb Cake ink around the sun (Inka Gold) that I had masked off and added the 3D Paint in silver.  The picture (that I had to take at night) doesn’t do the card’s shimmery effects justice.  I think it turned out really well for what I was trying to do.

·       Stamp set(s):  Verve – Lean On Me; Stampin’ Up! – Lovely As A Tree

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla CS; VIVA Décor – Inka Gold, gold (sun) & 3D Stamp Paint, silver (frost)

·       Paper:  The Paper Loft – Scattered Pine Mountain’s Fawn Lake Forest, Cedar Run & Scrub Oak Valley papers; Stampin’ Up! – Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke & Very Vanilla CS

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  MFT – Die-namics Washi Tape; Spellbinders – Standard Circles Large & Classic Scalloped Circles Large;  ProvoCraft – Polka Dot EF; Stampin’ Up! – Square Lattice EF

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up! – Jewels Basic Rhinestones

          My card is 4¼” by 5½” with a top fold this time.  I embossed the card front and background rectangle with the Lattice Square EF & used the Polka Dot EF on the scalloped mats for the focal image and the sentiment.  All of the raised elements on the card were sponged with the 3D Stamp Paint to reinforce the shimmery effects of my “frosty morning”.  My final touches were the rhinestones on the sentiment and the 3 corners of the rectangle background.

          Thanks so much for stopping by to get the details on my card.  I really appreciate you, my readers.  Please feel free to leave me a message!  I love hearing from you!

Many Blessings,

Donna



 



It Is Well With My Soul

 

          Ah, what a beautiful hymn.  It always reminds me that the man who wrote this hymn wrote it over the place in the Atlantic Ocean where his daughters were lost at sea during a storm, yet he could say that “it is well with my soul”.  This is also one of my husband’s favorite hymns.  Help me Lord to say that it is well with my soul even during the storms of this life.  Help me to continue to build a strong foundation where I can turn to You as my loving Poppa in every situation.

          Enough said!  I finished this card yesterday, but wanted to get my MOJO 318 card posted and saved this one for today.  Two cards in 2 days – a little bit of a personal miracle!  I have been busy working trade shows and taking a class at my local store, the Enchanted Cottage which is where I picked up this background stamp and scripture.  Our Daily Bread Designs taught classes there on October 26 that a good friend Nancy & I took together.  When I saw this hymn in a stamp, I knew I would be getting it – a true no brainer for my card ministry!  I still haven’t told Thom the amount of my purchase yet!  The scripture sentiment is part of the scriptures that Pastor Jim Reklis of Grace Church in Chapel Hill, NC used in our wedding ceremony in 2005.  The Lord’s mercies are new every morning.  Thank you Lord for Thom!

          I used the Viva la Verve November, Week 1 sketch.  You can see it below.  I did modify the sketch.  It didn’t want to cover up the name of the hymn with my ribbon so I switched sides.  I made the horizontal strip wider so that the fall trees and leaf paper were more visible.  I’m so enjoying the cooler fall weather.  My card is 4¼” by 5½”.  

·       Stamp set(s):  Our Daily Bread Designs – It Is Well With My Soul & Scripture Collection 1;  Heartfelt Creations – Open Fall Leaves

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Early Espresso & Cajun Craze; Glimmer Mist – Iridescent Gold

·       Paper:  The Paper Loft – Autumn Splendor’s Orchard; Stampin’ Up! – Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Cajun Craze & Crushed Curry CS

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Spellbinders – Labels 1; Heartfelt Creations – Falling Leaves Die;

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up! – Antique Brads; Martha Stewart – Doily Lace Edge Punch; American Crafts - Ribbon

My card is straight forward after getting the cardstock and patterned paper the way I wanted them.  I also added the Glimmer Mist to the card after I had it all together.  The shimmer makes me think of those fall mornings when the frost makes everything just shimmer in the sunshine.  The wetness made the paper roll slightly but it just helps give my card a weathered feel that paper can get over time from moisture.  I might have gotten carried away with the Glimmer Mist – LOL – it’s been a while since I used it!

I so appreciate your stopping by my blog.  I was long-winded today but I had so much I wanted to share with you, my reader.  Please join my sight and become one of my followers.  I’m thinking about looking into some design teams next year and know that some companies look at followers when deciding about design team finalists.

Many Blessings,

Donna



 

 

 

His Loving-Kindness

           It’s been a cold, cloudy day here in Central North Carolina; maybe that’s why both cards got “blinged” up today as I tackled 2 challenges.  This card is for MOJO Monday 318.  I’ve had that lovely gray ribbon from Stampin’ Up! for quite some time, but never got around to using it.  When I saw the sketch for MOJO, I know that I wanted to use this lovely gray ribbon and some of my new stamp paint that I got a couple of Fridays back at the Heartfelt Creations booth at Charlotte’s Stitch, Craft, Create, Life Convention.   So the bling was on!  I made a 4¼” by 5½” card.

·       Stamp set(s):  Verve – Plain Jane Psalm 63:3-4

·       Ink(s):  Tsukineko – Memento Tuxedo Black;  VIVA Décor – 3D Stamp Paint, Silver

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Basic Gray & Strawberry Slush CS; 7 Gypsies – patterned paper from my stash

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up! – Chalk Talk Framelits   

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up! – Two-Tone Ribbon, Basic Gray (ret.), silver star from my stash, rhinestone ribbon from CKC-Charlotte, NC vendor

I chose the Verve scripture because I thought it would go well with the hearts in the sketch.  I tried and tried to get the hearts to work for me, but they just didn’t look right with the layout, so I found some more bling in my stash (No idea from whence it came, LOL!), and used that to anchor the tag.  I distressed the edges of my tag and then used the stamp paint to add texture and sheen to it.  I also added some more bling to the gray ribbon by running a piece of “rhinestone ribbon” I got from a vendor at CKC-Charlotte in August.  It came together nicely I thought.  I think that gray and pink is a great color combo and dressing it up with some bling really makes it pop!

Thanks for taking a moment to drop by my blog and take a look.  Please sign up to follow me.  I’m really trying to get some more followers before I try out for some design teams next year!

Many Blessings,

Donna

Delightful MOJO316

 

           I just knew that I had to use the Burlap Ribbon that I picked up at our new Hobby Lobby – it’s less than 2.5 miles from our home.  That’s a dangerous location for me!  LOL!  Because the ribbon is so wide I played with the sketch and decided to square it up!  It’s 5.5” squared so it will fit inside a 6x6 envelope.

·       Stamp set(s):  Verve – Plain Jane Psalm 37:4

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! - Soft Suede

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Venetian Romance DSP, Tangerine Tango, Soft Suede & Pistachio Pudding CS

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up! – Lacy Brocade EF; Spellbinders – Beaded Circles & Classic Scalloped Squares   

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Robert Stanley Collection for Hobby Lobby – Burlap Wire Edged Ribbon; Prima Flowers from stash; American Crafts - Ribbon

This is a straight forward design once I figured out the elements on the “page”.  I played with the size here and there and ended up with the circle and square about the same size so I beefed it up with an embossed mat for the sentiment.  I did not have ribbon that really made a statement so I looked first to a large round button to sub for the bow.  I ended up using the Prima Flower that I dug out of my stash.  This is ready to go whenever I need a card to encourage a friend.  When we delight in Him, He does give us the desires of our heart because our focus is so much on Him that what we want lines up with His best for us!

Many Blessings,

Donna



For You On Your Birthday with MOJO 315

 

           Why is it when it’s a really important card, and you’ve got a really good idea how to use the MOJO sketch that things just are more difficult than usual?  It is our daughter’s 30^th birthday day tomorrow.  I wanted a really special card for her and this one was just a struggle.  In fact, there will be pictures of 2 cards because I did one and still wasn’t satisfied with it, so I started another one.  Both cards are 4¼” by 5½” with a left hand fold.  I knew I wanted to do the Eiffel Tower this year since our daughter & her husband had loved being in Paris while they were in Europe at the end of the summer, so I set forth to create!!!!

For You Card

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Artistic Etching, Apothecary Art & Vintage Verses (SAB2013, retired)

·       Ink(s):  Versamark Watermark Stamp Pad

·       Paper:  Best Creations – unknown name; Stampin’ Up! – River Rock (retired) & Very Vanilla CS

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up! – Labels Framelits; Spellbinders – Classic Ovals Large & Classic Scalloped Ovals Large; Heartfelt Creations – Decorative Lace Border

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Zing – Glitter Finish Black EP; Basic Grey – Black velvet ric rac; Kaiser Craft – Sparklets Ebony

As I began work on this card, I went to my Scrap Rack to look for some fall themed papers for this card and ran across these Best Creations papers. I liked the black in them and the stripes had a rich touch to it with the black velvet stripes.  I wanted a more sophisticated look as my little girl is not a little girl anymore at 30.  Black is so classy and elegant so I selected these papers and went about the process of pulling it all together from items that I had on hand.  I did have to borrow the Eiffel Tower ss from a good friend and paper crafter co-conspirator!  (Thank you, Sandi!)  I just wasn’t satisfied with my effort last night – maybe I was just too tired to think straight!

When I went back to my craft room this morning, I started on the 2^nd card below using Perfect Pearls Medium.  It’s the same size as the first.  I did go by our new Hobby Lobby – just a bit over 2 miles from our home – and found on clearance no less, the Tim Holtz Eiffel Tower Bigz Die which I snapped right up and ran home and began to work on the 2^nd card also using the MOJO 315 sketch.  I took a few more liberties with the sketch on this one.

Happiest Birthday Card

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Apothecary Art; Heartfelt Creations – Bold Falling Leaves

·       Ink(s):  Versamark Watermark Pad – Ranger – Perfect Pearls & Perfect Medium

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Basic Black, Crushed Curry & Very Vanilla CS

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  LifestyleCrafts – Nesting Ovals; Stampin’ Up! – Fancy Fans EF; Sizzix – Tim Holtz Fleur de lis & Eiffel Tower    

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Zing – Glitter Finish Black EP; Kaiser Craft – Sparklets Ebony; Stampin’ Up! – Jewels Basic Rhinestones

Rachel’s birthday always makes me think of clear, crisp, cool nights and beautiful fall leave colors.  It’s usually about peak time for fall color up in the mountains so I wanted to do fall leaves with a bit of shimmer.  I actually haven’t used Perfect Pearls before on any project so I followed directions and off we went.  While I liked the effect of the leaves metallic shine, I think I chose too bold of a color for the background paper with the Crushed Curry cs, but it was a fun experiment.  I like Perfect Pearls and will play with them again soon!

                Thanks for stopping by!  Oh, I chose the first card to give to Rachel.  It just looked more like my beautiful girl!

Many Blessings,

Donna