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