Words of Wisdom for my Graduate!



 

          We are getting ready to do some celebration this weekend!  A year ago our oldest daughter Rachel received her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Carolina University, and this weekend, our other and younger daughter receives her Master of Science in Nursing – Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – from UNC-Chapel Hill.  Both were strenuous programs, but Rebecca’s program was part-time while she worked full time as a nurse at UNC Children’s Hospital while battling migraines and sleep disturbances made worse by shift work.

I had to do this card in pinks and greens after Rebecca and I spent some time together last week.  We had a fun time looking for some things at Michael’s (in pink and green, of course) for her to do some jewelry making so here is my offering.  My card is 5” by 6” and I used the MOJO344 Sketch.  I’ll also be posting this at May Diva Dare “Petals and Wings” as well as the Font Focus May 2014 Inspiration Challenge over at the Verve blog!

·       Stamp set(s):  Verve – Lean on Me & Faith Medley; Heartfelt Creations – Door to my Heart

·         Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Rose Red & Pear Pizazz(edges)

·       Paper:  Primrose Petals, Rose Red & Pear Pizazz; Basic Grey – Inviting & Raspberry Syrup from the Hello Luscious Collection 

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Verve – Pointed Flower Dies; Spellbinders – Becky Fleck Page Maps Tags & Flags; Stampin’ Up! – Bitty Banner Framelits, Beautiful Wings Embosslits, Little Leaves Sizzlets and Elegant Lines embossig folder;

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Copic Sketch – Y18 (coloring pearls); Martha Stewart – Flower Bunch Corner Punch & Flower Bunch Large Punch Around the Page;  Recollections – Faux Pearls; Artful Minds – Sequins; Stampin’ Up! – Basic Jewels Pearls Large and Pear Pizazz seam binding ribbon

         I really liked this sketch by Julee!  It really worked well with the elements I wanted to use for Rebecca’s card.  I punched around 2 sides of the solid cardstock in the Basic Grey paper and inked the edges with Pear Pizazz ink.  The patterned paper square was embossed with the Elegant Lines EF to add some texture behind my focal sentiment.  The sentiment was stamped with Rose Red ink onto Primrose petals cardstock.  This sentiment is one of my favorite scriptures and fit really well for my graduate’s graduation.  I also used Rose Red ink for the “Congratulations” and the pretty flowers from the Lean on Me stamp set (and coordinating die to cut them out) at the bottom of the tag.  Scatter a few sequins for the bling my daughter loves, a pearl here and there with a few pretty butterflies in green, and the card was done!

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit my blog today.  I haven’t been as active lately but still hoping to get back here more regularly as time allows!
 

Donna

PS:  I just noticed that I missed using some sequins at the bottom of the punched border flowers.  I fixed those.  Not enough time to go back and retake the pics with a busy weekend ahead.  J

Doing the Polka Birthday Bash!

 

          We are having a busy week in our family this week.  Our son-in-law’s birthday is on March 26^th and our 9^th wedding anniversary is also on the 26^th.  We also have bought a new car to replace a relative new but unreliable 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee!  Left the Chrysler products and went for a RAV4!  I am using this card in 2 Verve Challenges for this month.  One is “Do the Polka Diva Dare” and I used the Viva la Verve March 2014 sketch for week 1.  This was a fun sketch and really enjoyed going a bit outside my box creating a card that isn’t feminine – well for me anyway!  LOL  But I did go “dottie” with the dots on the patterned paper and both embossing folders.

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Word Play, Oh, Hello, & From My Heart; Heartfelt Creations – Tattered Background

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Early Espresso & Coastal Cabana

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Coastal Cabana, Very Vanilla, DSP Pattern Stack 2012-2013(ret.); Basic Grey – Serenade Half Penny & 50 Pence; The Paper Studio – Solid Glitter Champagne

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up! – Oval Framelits; Marianne – Cupcake Creatables; My Favorite Things – Washi Tape Die-Namics; Provocraft – Cuttlebug Poka Dots & Swiss Dots Embossing Folder 

The card came together easily.  All the images were edged in Early Espresso to go with the shabby look I was going for to coordinate with the Basic Grey paper.  The oval was stamped with the oval shape from Oh, Hello, cut out with the Framelits and then run through the Swiss Dots EF.  The yellow dotted patterned paper was embossed with the Polka Dot EF.  I cut out the “Washi Tape” from one stamped image and 2 papers (see above).  I used the candle die from the Marianne die to add some bling to the card – after all, the candle does need to sparkle a bit!

Thanks for taking the time to drop by my part of the blogging world!  Please feel free to leave me a comment.  I love hearing what you think!

Many Blessings,

Donna

Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much with Viva la Verve

 

           As soon as I saw this sketch and saw the inspiration photo, I immediately thought fall.  I love the banner at the bottom of the sketch brought to mind my Hearts A Flutter stamps and dies from Stampin’ Up!  I knew they would be a perfect.  My husband and I drove up to the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia yesterday – yes it was misty and a bit too early for the best colors.  But it was pretty and mostly sunny by the time we had lunch in Blowing Rock, NC.  This was the best time for us to go since the rest of the month is super busy, so I was really in the mood to create a fall themed card.  The stamped sentiment goes well with my thoughts of my marriage to my husband.  It pretty much sums up our marriage!  He is my blessing, and my life is so special with him in it!

·       Stamp set(s):  Verve – Lean On Me; Stampin’ Up! – Hearts A Flutter; Papertrey Ink – Summer Hills

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, & Marina Mist;  Memento – Rich Cocoa 

·       Paper:  Basic Grey – Pyrus “Callery”; Stampin’ Up! – Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie & More Mustard (retired) CS

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Verve – Pointed Flower Die; Spellbinders – Classic Ovals Large & Classic Scalloped Ovals Large; Stampin’ Up! – Hearts A Flutter Framelits & Chevron EF

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up! – Antique Brads & Jewels Basic Rhinestones; American Craft Ribbon

The colors from the inspiration photo just yelled FALL to me!  So I went back a ways to my stash of Basic Grey in my craft room!  Yes, I know it’s from the distant past, but what can I say?  Once it’s gone, it’s gone so I hoard it!  But I knew that these colors were good matches to the inspiration picture with a Basic Grey twist!  Once I had the papers all mapped out, the rest of the card came together.  I choose to go square at 5.5” rather than rectangle shape due to the large size of my pennants.  After stamping the pennants and flowers and die cutting them out, it was pretty much assembly time.  I like my Basic Grey Magnetic Precision mat for lining up items to make sure that they are straight when there are different items that need to be lined up!  I do wish that more of the BG patterned paper was visible, but take my word for it, the colors were there from the inspiration photo!  LOL!  One thing I did notice AFTER the pennants were pinned to the back of the embossed Always Artichoke CS, that the rounded corners were flipped from the sketch, but just take that as my “creative license”!

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a look.  If you like what you see, please sign up to follow my blog so that you are notified when I post a new project!

Many Blessings,

Donna



God is Love & MOJO Monday 305

 

          I’m back doing another MOJO Monday sketch!  I love this weekly sketch and get so many good ideas from the sketch itself and the other cards!  As soon as I saw this sketch, I knew that I wanted to replace the two smaller rectangles with the ferns from the PTI Meadow Greens Collection.  I had also wanted to try doing the Stained Glass effect so I added flowers to my card.

          I also want to recommend using SU’s Color Coach for selecting cardstock to go with your non-Stampin’ Up Patterned papers.  It was really easy to go to this really neat tool and select the right color cs.  I did have to improvise on the color markers as I didn’t have matching markers to go with the cardstock, but I like the way the card turned out.  I hope that you agree!  My card is 4.25” by 5.5” with a left side fold.

·       Stamp set(s):  Papertrey Ink – Meadow Greens; Stampin’ Up! – Oh, Hello, Secret Garden, & Trust God

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant & Summer Starfruit; Versamark

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Perfect Plum, Old Olive & Whisper White CS;  SU Vellum Paper; Basic Grey Kioshi Collection

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Papertrey Ink – Meadow Greens; Stampin’ Up! Framelits – Secret Garden & Ovals Collection & EF – Fancy Fans; Cuttlebug – Kassie’s Brocade EF

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up! – Markers in Rich Razzleberry, Summer Starfruit, & Marina Mist and Basic Jewels Pearls and Rhinestones; Archivers’ – Shabby White Embossing Powder

Once the cardstock decisions are made, it’s easy to start with the stamping!  I stamped and cut out the ferns with SU Old Olive ink from the Meadow Greens Collection and laid them aside.  I stamped and heat embossed the flowers from the Secret Garden Collection.  I love the Shabby White embossing powder.  It has a lot of sparkle to it and really makes the flowers pop even before they were colored.  I cut the flowers out with the matching die and then colored the back side of the flowers for the stained glass effect.  The oval was stamped with the chevron pattern from the Oh, Hello ss.  To make it more of a soft background, I stamped the image first on scrap paper and then stamped the chevron pattern.  I cut it out with the matching Oval Framelit.  The papers were edged with Elegant Eggplant for color and contrast.  The God is Love sentiment was also stamped with Elegant Eggplant ink.  It was an easy assemble with the MOJO 305 sketch as a guide.  I decided against the ribbon thinking that it would overload the card design.

          Thank you for stopping by my part of the digital universe!  Below are the pictures of the details and peak at the inside of the card, and the original MOJO sketch!

Many Blessings,

Donna

Simply Sketched Sympathy & VLVJun2013, Week 3

 

         It is never a happy day when you need a sympathy card to send to a friend or relative, but that is where I found myself earlier this week.  I know that the colors I chose are not the usual for a sympathy card, but as a Christian and as I heard more about how my friend’s 16 year old grandson died, I didn’t feel that a somber sympathy card would be appropriate.  This wonderful young man is now home with his Heavenly Father and the girl he went into the surf to save is alive.  We rejoice with her family while feeling the pain and loss of our friend’s family.  It just didn’t feel right to make a somber card to me, so this is what I chose - a sunny yellow and green to symbolize the Son of Man and green for my friend’s grandson’s new life in Heaven.  The card is 5” x 7” with a top fold.

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Simply Sketched(new); Heartfelt Creations Cross & Lilies

·       Ink(s):  SU Pear Pizazz    

·      Paper:  Prima, Sun Kiss Collection “Sweet Tea”;  Stampin’ Up! – Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizazz, Core’dinations Early Espresso, Whisper White, Floral District DSP(retired)

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Scalloped Circles & Ovals Large; Stampin’ Up! Embossing Folder Fancy Fan

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  White Velvet Ribbon – Basic Grey; SU Seam Binding Ribbon – Pear Pizazz; SU Basic Jewels Pearls, Large; Martha Stewart Doily Lace Border Punch

The card design is of course from Viva la Verve’s June Sketch Challenge.  The layout is straight forward, although I did move the circle – pieced with Daffodil Delight and Floral District paper – to the middle of the layout.  The yellow circle is a deliberate allusion to the sun, and I just wanted it centered.  I liked the sunflowers on the Prima paper and wanted the viewer to be able to see them as well. 

Thank you for taking a look at my card today!  I hope that you enjoyed your time here.  Please feel free to leave me a comment.  I’d love your feedback!

Many Blessings,

Donna

PS:  Below is the inside of the card.

Thank you from the Floral District

          I recently was in need of a Thank You card for some very dear friends of ours who brought us a meal so that they could see my husband after his stays in the hospital last month.  My girlfriend is such a bright and cheerful person that I had to pull in some yellow as we all are longing for Spring’s late arrival despite what the calendar says.

          You may notice that not all the items listed are from Stampin’ Up!  I am letting my business go to spend more time with my beloved!  I don’t have a website anymore through the company so I don’t need to use all SU items.  It is a freeing experience!  I’m going to have to do some paper shopping next month to get some new Basic Grey and Graphic 45!  They have it going on right now!  J  So here’s the item list:

·        Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up!(SU)’s Perfectly Preserved (love this one and it is on trend!)

·        Ink(s):  SU’s Daffodil Delight and Early Espresso

·        Paper:  SU’s Very Vanilla & Pear Pizazz CS, and SU’s Designer Series Paper(DSP) Floral District (discontinued but still in my stash as I love anything floral)

·        Dies & Embossing folders:  SU Framelits Cannery Set(another on trend offering; Spellbinders Classic Large Ovals & Classic Scalloped Ovals;  SU’s Square Lattice Embossing Folder

·        Embellishments/Other things of note:  SU Designer Buttons, Brights Collection and SU Linen Thread

The card is 4.25” by 5.5”, left fold and right side open.  Thanks so much for taking a look!  Let me know what you think, and please sign up to follow my blog and leave me your blog address, too.  I have several that I follow and would love to see your designs, too!

Have a great Sunday!  Many Blessings,

Donna

You're In My Thoughts

 You're In My Thoughts Card was made for a dear friend and brave woman who is battling ALS.  Catherine is a real prayer warrior and is facing this awful disease with such grace and faith.  She inspires me!  Here is my supply list for this card!

• Heartfelt Creations HCPC  3301 Hydrangea/Posy Branch PC Set & HCPC 3450 Cross & Lilies PC Set (Inside verse)
• Stampin' Up! Word Play #120651
• Dies:  Stampin' Up! Edgelits Large Scallop, Framelits Labels Collection & Framelits Window Frames Collection
• Sizzix Framelits Frames, Decorative #2
• Cassie's Brocade Embossing Folder from Cuttlebug
• Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black & Stampin' Up! Old Olive
• Twinkling H2Os
• Papers:  Bazzill Dotted Swiss (green), Core'dinations Marine Blue, & Basic Grey's LilyKate which were all in my stash, and water color paper from Stampin' Up!
• Misc.: SU sanding block, SU Basic Jewels and gold ribbon also from my stash!

This is a 6" x 6" card and was easy to put together after the painting was done.  It is a bit hard to see, but in the center of some of the hydrangea blooms, I added some bling to add some extra sparkle to the card. 

It has been awhile since my last post.  Home renovations, my husband's health issues, and life in general seem to have gotten between me and my new craft room.  Stay tuned for more posts as time goes by!

Blessings and thanks for stopping by my blog!
Donna