Happy Anniversary from Apothecary Arts

         

           I am in need of anniversary card for my brother and his wife who will be celebrating their 47^th wedding anniversary next week.  My brother has had some recent health issues that gave us all a scare so I wanted to really recognize their accomplishment and show my gratitude to the Lord for His Mercy towards my brother!  God is soooo GOOD!!!!!  This is also my first entry into the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club.  I love their stamps and dies; I have a few but would love to get some more with their gift certificates that they award to one lucky stamper each week.  What a blessing!  Here’s my list of what I used to make my card.  Once again, I got in a rush and forgot to emboss the yellow piece of CS before I put it all together.  I was trying to get this done before my husband got home from work.  Help me to remember!!!!  My card is 5.5’ by 4.25’.

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Memorable Moments & Apothecary Art

·       Ink(s):  Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin’ Up! – Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizazz

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Whisper White, Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizazz;  Karen Foster Designs Yellow Garden (2003) a golden oldie in my stash probably bought on sale at a store I used to work for where it was hard for the owner to let go of old stuff!  LOL  She’s a real paper hoarder!

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up! – Framelits Labels Collection   

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Sandy Lion Cream & Sugar Stickers, Big Shot, SU Blender Pens, Stamp-a-ma-jig

When I saw the sketch, I immediately thought about the Apothecary Art SS.  The shape of the stamp and coordinating die is very similar.  I made a few changes to the layout by making it horizontal and enlarging the shape to accommodate the stamp.  I stamped the design in Memento Tuxedo Black and used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to get the placement right for the sentient in the middle.  Someone deserves an award for thinking up this handy little tool!  I colored the flowers and leaves with Daffodil Delight and Pear Pizazz respectfully using my SU Blender Pens.  It’s so easy to do and you get great results.  Love this!  I popped the sentiment up with Stampin’ Dimensionals and added the flower to the lower right corner of the card.  I also rounded the corners of the card base and yellow mat to mimic the curves of the stamped image.

It really was a simple card to pull together – just wished I’d remember to emboss the yellow mat!  Oh, well next time.  I’ll start my card for this Wednesday’s Stamp Club earlier.  But I did get my card ready in plenty of time to get it to the happy couple in Georgia early next week!

Thanks for stopping by.  I’d love to have you leave a comment.  I was told about the crazy letter stuff that was on my blog if you leave a comment and took it off so that you can leave comments easier!  Please do and let me know what you think!

Many Blessings and Happy 4^th of July!  Celebrate Our Independence Day!

Donna

You Are My Sunshine!

 My take on the sketch!

 

 

          Hi, yes, I’ve been busy in my crafting room today.  My headaches are better so that has spurred my creativity!  This is the first time that I will be submitting my take on a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  When I saw the sketch, I knew immediately that I wanted to use a Stampin’ Up! stamp that I’ve had for awhile.  During one of their single stamp promotions, I saw this stamp and knew that I had to have it.  I was a single mom of two beautiful daughters – now grown up – and I used to sing this song to them.  They are still my sunshines and each of them will get a card handmade especially for them from their mama!  I love you, Rachel & Rebecca.  You light up my life every time I think of you!

·       Stamp set(s):  You Are My Sunshine (ret.) – Stampin’ Up! (single stamp promo)

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up!:  Gumball Green, Marina Mist & Daffodil Delight

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up!:  Gumball Green, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Floral District DSP (ret.) and a piece of delightful paper from my stash – no idea where it came from.  I am a self-confessed paper hoarder!

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up!:  Edgelits: Adorning Accents;  Spellbinders:  Classic Scalloped Squares

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  sponge and sponge dauber, Aleene’s Super Tacky Glue, Stampin’ Dimensionals, SU Basic Jewels Rhinestones, American Crafts Ribbon

Now onto the card!  It is 4.25’ by 5.5’ and folds down from the top and up from the bottom.  I cut a piece of Whisper White CS vertically and then scored each piece at 3’ and 8.5’ respectfully.  I attached a piece of Gumball Green CS cut to 4.25’ by 4’ to fold up from the bottom for my “green hill” for my “sun” to partially hide behind.  The “sun” was paper pieced from Daffodil Delight CS & Floral District DSP.  I inked the top piece of Whisper White CS with Marina Mist using a piece of sponge for my “sky”.  Lastly, I attached a piece of blue ribbon and added some sparkle on the sentiment and a string of sparkle across the ribbon to glitz things up a bit!  One thing I forgot – don’t tell my girls!  I meant to add some texture to the grass with an embossing folder – and would do so if I made this again but I’m not tearing it apart now!  Too much work!  It is Sunday after all!

Thank you so much for stopping by my corner of the digital world.  Let me know what you think if you are so inclined!  Be blest and be a blessing!

Many blessings,

Donna





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Summer Breezes Hello

 

         I was checking a few of the blogs that I follow where I know that the owner participates in color challenges (which I’ve never done before) and came across the Color Throwdown blog.  This week’s inspiration picture was flowers in a mason jar and the colors remind me of my mother’s peonies that bloom in late spring where I grew up.  One of the colors they used, I didn’t recognize, but the others were Stampin’ Up!’s colors.  I chose to substitute the new In Color Coastal Cabana for that one.  I also decided to use a jar like the photo inspiration because the new color reminded me of the older canning jars that my mother pulled out every summer when our garden started to produce lots of veggies to can and freeze.  You may remember those jars or find them now in antique stores.  They are sort of a blue/green color.  I’m also using the first week’s sketch from the Viva la Verve July Sketch Challenge.  I failed to do the last step for June’s challenge so I'm trying again.  I sure would like to win the gift certificate as there are a lot of stamps with matching dies that I’d love to get off my wish list and into my craft space!  Wish me lots of luck!  The card is 5.5” by 5.5” so that it fits easily in the 6” by 6” inch envelopes.

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up Perfectly Preserved (ret.) and Friendship Preserves (ret.)

·       Ink(s):  All from Stampin’ Up!:  Crumb Cake, Pretty in Pink (ret.), Regal Rose, Old Olive, & Coastal Cabana 

·       Paper:  All from Stampin’ Up! – Pretty in Pink (ret.), Crumb Cake, Coastal Cabana, & Very Vanilla; and from Prima Flights of Fancy Collection ‘tip toe”

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Cuttlebug:  Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; Stampin’ Up!:  Square Lattice Embossing Folder; Framelits – Ovals Collection, Window Frames, Cannery Set; Embosslits, Beautiful Wings

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Big Shot, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Aleene’s Super Thick Tacky Glue, sponge daubers

I liked the sketch from the Viva la Verve July 2013 Challenge, but I rotated the background 90° so that I had the oval going vertically instead of horizontally across the background papers.  The Prima paper has a nice distressed look with the browns and neutrals in the papers so all of the edges were inked with Crumb Cake ink.  I liked the way the Coastal Cabana pulls the colors from the butterflies out for an extra special accent and the Pretty in Pink brightens the Prima Paper a bit for some contrast in the pink family I used for this card.  The overall effect of the card does remind me of the colors of summers spent at home growing up and the canning Mom did every summer.  Pleasant memories of home come to mind, which at the time weren’t so pleasant spending summer afternoons stringing beans, shelling lima beans and black-eyes peas.  Not so fun doing it at the time, but the eats were good come winter!  Miss you both Mom & Dad!  I’ll be seeing you again when my race is finished here!

Thank you for stopping by my corner of the world and taking a look at my interpretation of these two challenges.

Many blessings,

Donna

Trust In The Lord & VLVJun2013, Week 4

I’m finally getting it together and doing week four’s card during week four – but just barely!  I do enjoy using sketches to start my design juices flowing.  This week’s offering is the result, plus one component came to be because I got ahead of myself.  Have you ever done that?  Tell the truth now!  This card is 5.5 x 5.5 inches.

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

·        Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Gumball Green, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple, & Summer Starfruit; Memento – Tuxedo Black

·       Paper:  All Stampin’ Up! – Very Vanilla CS, Gumball Green CS, Primrose Petals CS,  Print Poetry DSP (Retired), DSP Stack In Color 2012-2014 (Retired)

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up! - Sizzlits Clearlits Scalloped Rectangle, Embosslits Beautiful Wings, Bigz Top Note, Secret Garden Framelits, Ovals Collection Framelits

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Martha Stewart Doily Lace Trim Double Edge Punch; Stampin’ Up! – Sizzix Big Shot TIEF Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Gumball Green Satin Stitched Ribbon, Basic Jewels Rhinestones, Blender Pens, glitter, 2-Way Pen

Once I had the sketch, I then begin to think colors and patterned paper.  As a self-confessed paper hoarder I have much of the DSP from this past year’s Stampin’ Up! line.  One of my absolutely favorite – wish I had more than this one stack – is the Print Poetry papers.  Since its size is 4.5”x6.5”, it caused some changes in the design right out of the box – er, paper pad!  I selected the inks based upon the color flowers that I wanted to make.  I used SU blender pens to color the lower flower where I used Raspberry Ripple and Primrose Petals ink pads.  I love having matching dies to cut out flowers and other objects.  (Stampin’ Up! needs to do more of this!  Hint, hint!!!)  I embossed the Top Note Die after I cut it out to add some texture between the patterned paper and the Very Vanilla Oval.

With the colors and patterns taken care of, I began to assemble my card, but this is where I got ahead of myself.  I did not stamp my sentiment onto the oval before I added the dimensional pop-ups thus came along my green rectangle rescue.  I’m glad of this “accident” as I think the flowers and size of the oval would have overwhelmed the sentiment.  So it all came out for the good.  I also wanted to add a larger presence to the ribbon on the lower right hand corner so I backed it with a piece of the Doily Lace trim.  I would probably back it with a different color if I had to do it all over again, but all in all I like how my card turned out!  What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!  Please free to leave a comment to let me know what you think!

Many Blessings,

Donna

Viva la Verve SketchJune 2013 Challenge, Week 2 entry

 

         My previous post was also a sympathy card.  I needed one more for the same family.  I had put up on a shelf 4, 6x6 paper pads that I got at Archivers in Raleigh during my last visit down east to see our oldest daughter and her husband for graduation.  I found that the new Baked Brown Sugar In Color just released in the new Stampin’ Up! catalogue was a perfect match to the neutral I the Echo Park collection.  I wanted to go a bit vintage to go with the stamp that had a favorite old-time hymn, Amazing Grace.  Pistachio Pudding and Strawberry Slush also go well with this collection, in case you are out and about and run across this paper pad!

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! Simply Sketched; Heartfelt Creations:  Vintage Background, Book Frame I and Cross & Lilies

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up!:  Baked Brown Sugar & Pistachio Pudding(new In Color 2013-2015)

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up!:  Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White & White Tea Lace Paper Doilies; Echo Park Paper – Everyday Eclectic 6x6 Paper Pad

·       Dies & Embossing folders:   Spellbinders Labels 7; Stampin’ Up! Lacy Brocade EF

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  American Crafts Ribbon

The card went together easily and the layers and embossing add just enough depth to make the project look interesting without being too fussy.  I liked the effect of stamping the background and sentiment color on color, in this case, Baked Brown Sugar from Stampin’ Up!.  It turned out well and worked with the Echo Park paper’s sheet music theme!  The Viva la Verve Sketch Challenge sketch for the 2^nd week, came together easily for me.  Some sketches just work better for me, go figure!

Thank you for dropping by and taking a look at my offering for the Verve Sketch Challenge.  I sure would love to see a gift certificate for my efforts.  They have some great stamps & dies! 

Many Blessings,

Donna

PS:  Below are the detail picture of the front to see the color on color image of the background stamp and the sentiment and of the inside of the card.  I forgot to take a picture until after Thom & I had signed it!  Yes, it really is going to be used!

                                

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.

Viva la Verve & Father’s Day, 2013

 

        I have been meaning to enter Viva la Verve for a while now and found this month’s sketches in my inbox just prior to starting to work on Thom’s Fathers’ Day Card.  I wanted to let Thom know what a great father he is while keeping the card masculine.  I’m going to try to create cards with all of June’s sketches before the end of the month.  I sure would love to win one of their gift certificates to buy some dies and stamps!  J

·       Stamp set(s):  Heartfelt Creations – HCPC 3363, Inspire Me Sentiments & HCPC 3434 Book Frame 2;  Impressions Obsession – Happy Father’s Day; Stampin’ Up! Fabulous Phrases & Lovely as a Tree      

·       Ink(s):  Early Espresso (Stampin’ Up!) 

·       Paper:  The Paper Loft – Hooked on Fishing & Huckle Berry Pond; Stampin’ Up! – Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Blue Bayou (retired) & SU Core’dinations Early Espresso

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up – Apothecary Accents; Spellbinders Blossom Three; My Favorite Things Die-namics Washi Tape; Embossing Folders – Stampin’ Up! Chevron & Woodgrain

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Stampin’ Up – Antique Brads, Designer Buttons Spice Cake(retired), and Linen Thread; Fiskars Heart Punches

Since the front of the card would not have a lot of stamping to make for interest, I decided to emboss using embossing folders to add depth and to distress later with sanding and inking.  The button in the upper right corner was added in addition to the sketch elements to add some interest to an almost monochromatic color scheme.  The proof of a card is in the reaction of the recipient, in this case my husband.  He loved it!  I rest my case!

As always, thank you for stopping my blog and taking a look!  I would enjoy hearing your comments!

Many blessings,

Donna

PS:  Here is what the inside of my card looked like!