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



 

 

 

Sending Blessings to a Friend

 

 

            A very good friend did a wonderful act of kindness for me last week and to thank her, I chose to do the first week’s sketch for the VLV October Sketch Challenge just for her!  Thank you so much dear friend!  I love this week’s sketch with its strong, clean lines so I decided to keep it that way with my choice of paper and embellishments.  KISS (Scrapper)!  I also decided to go with the fall colors for this week, too.  I just love Autumn!  I think it’s my favorite time of the year.  My husband and I are talking about planning our yearly day trip up to the NC mountains to see the leaves.  They think it’s going to be another wonderful year for fall color!

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Trust God

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Old Olive & Soft Suede

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Old Olive, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze & Very Vanilla CS; Bazzill – Gold??; The Paper Loft – Autumn Splendor Collection: Orchard & Candy Apple

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Spellbinders – Classic Ovals Large & Classic Scalloped Ovals Large; Stampin’ Up! – Woodgrain & Chevron EF

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up! – Basic Jewels Rhinestones; Paper Studio – Maple Leaf Punch

This card is 5½” square.  The striped paper is 3.25” by 4.25”; Old Olive CS is 5” by 2”; Soft Suede CS is cut 1.75” by 4.75”.  After the measuring and embossing, it was just a matter of layering the pieces thought I did alter the order and put the Soft Suede on top of the Old Olive to showcase the woodgrain embossing.  I wanted an outdoorsy, tree feeling to the card to reinforce the tree theme in the patterned paper.  All of the pieces were distressed with Soft Suede.

          Thanks for stopping by to take a look at my card creation.  If you are so inclined, please leave me a comment.  They really make my day!

Many Blessings,

Donna

 

90th Birthday & MOJO Monday 308

 

          My husband’s father was one of 22 children – 2 different mothers.  (It still makes me hurt to think about that!)  Out of all 22 children and their 22 spouses, only 2 of the siblings are living.  We are celebrating Uncle John’s 90^th birthday on Saturday.  He is a WWII veteran, too.  We have much to celebrate and be thankful for on Saturday!  So of course, I needed a guy type of card.  I immediately thought of my papers from the Paper Loft (www.paperloft.com) who I have worked for the last 3 years of CKC-Charlotte.  They have a really good niche that they have established for guy themed paper.  I think you’ll agree that these papers were perfect.  Please go by and visit their website or better yet get your favorite paper craft store to carry them.  Their papers are really thick cardstock – and double sided, too!  Tell them that Donna from CKC-Charlotte sent you!

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – The Open Sea(Inside), Memorable Moments, & Lovely as a Tree(Inside); Heartfelt Creations – Uplifting Scriptures

·       Ink(s):  Memento – Rich Cocoa; Stampin’ Up! – Early Espresso & Crumb Cake; chalk ink for distressed edges

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Core-dinations Early Espress CS, Always Artichoke & Very Vanilla CS; The Paper Loft – Scattered Pine Mountain’s Fawn Lake Forest & Scrub Oak Valley

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Spellbinders – Standard Circles Large; Stampin’ Up! – Framelits Labels Collection & Square Lattice EF

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Martha Stewart Pine Needles Trim Double Edged Punch 

 

 

My card is 5.5” by 5.5” square.  The Core’dinations CS is cut and scored to form the card base with the really handsome Paper Loft papers and the pine needles trim is cut from the Always Artichoke CS.  I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to place the sentiment for “Happy 90^th Birthday” but still found it difficult to line up.  I am going to get SU’s Clear-Mount Perfectly Placed Guides to go with my SU Clear-Mount Acrylic blocks.  I saw a YouTube video recently where guide lines were used to line up stamps, so note to self – try that idea!

I dressed up the inside of the card using the nautical themed SS – the Open Sea – and Lovely As A Tree SS on the inside with the Heartfelt Creations scripture sentiment.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my offering for MOJO Monday 308!  Please leave a comment to let me know that you’ve stopped by to see me!

Many Blessings,

Donna