Remarkable You

I've got autumn on my mind.  It's definitely my favorite season.  We've had a hot summer, so I am dreaming of what is to come!

Here's a simple card with a feel of fall, featuring a pretty copper maple leaf accent (from Stampin' Up!).  I paired it with a marbled handmade paper scrap sample that came with an envelope order loooong ago.  There's a bold sentiment from Simon Says Stamp, and a little bit of 'distressing' with a stamp in the background.  At first, I put a yellow strip of cardstock above the marbled paper, and it did not look right.  So I took a Krylon 24kt Gold Pen and wiped it down.  It's a shame you can't see the metallic gleam of that, and of the leaf. 

Simon Says Stamp Hand Lettered Encouragement sentiment; Stampin' Up! Artisan Textures distressed dot stamp, copper leaf accent; twine; handmade paper (marble, not by me!); Krylon 24kt Gold Pen

Thanks so much for joining me! God bless you!

Wild About You

I have been blessed this year by a few friends who gave me crafting supplies they no longer needed.  One of the items was a sticker pack of happy animals.  I gave some of them to my church's Sunday school craft leader, but I kept a few and made some quick cards with them.

Not my usual style, but it was fun to try something different.

Unity Stamps Wild About You sentiment; burlap fringe; elephant sticker

Unity Stamps Wild About You sentiment; zebra sticker; rhinestones; Kat Scrappiness Stitched Postage Stamp Edge Rectangles die; My Favorite Things - Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle STAX

Papertrey Ink Barnyard Sentiments sentiment, On The Farm circle sentiment; cow sticker

Thanks for taking a peek at these critters! 😊

Frosty Skating

Hi!  I received this sweet little My Favorite Things stamp from a friend who was de-stashing not too long ago.  I've never had one a stamp from their Pure Innocence line before.  Typically I do not gravitate toward stamps of people, but this one was free, so I gave it a try. 😀

My Favorite Things Ice Skater stamp; Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles die; aqua ribbon; pearls

I used Copic markers to color the image, and a white pencil for the skates.  I drew a line behind the skates to fill in for ice, stamped some tiny snowflakes in silver, and added a pearl hem to the little girl's sweater.  I am pleased with how it came out, as I have just about no experience coloring skin.

Thanks so much for joining me here today!

Sending Hugs from the Cat

One more for today. 😀  Believe it or not, that first girly card was for my husband's birthday...from our cat, Cristabel.  She always 'makes' him a card.  I start running out of ideas, honestly.  I had an idea to feature a kitty that kind of looks like her (she's all black, but I had to color gray or you would not see the face!) along with a tumble of flowers.  It's cute, but definitely not masculine.  LOL

Stampin' Up! Nine Lives cat, ball of yarn, little hearts, Punch Potpourri flowers, Boho Blossoms coordinating punch

The second creation is a simple encouragement card using stamps I rarely play with.  I also used a piece of patterned paper from Stampin' Up! - and I think it might be Kiwi Kiss, so that shows you how old it is.  I am entering this in Word Art Wednesday's challenge #505-506, where we are to use an uplifting sentiment.

Papertrey Ink Graceful Greetings II sentiment; Stampin' Up! Garden Silhouettes solid flower stamp, Organic Grace dragonfly; ivory dots 

Our world is full of sorrowful news, and I am saddened by it.  I place my concerns in my Lord's hands, and ask Him for help.     

John 16:33 NIV

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

More Mother's Day Cards

Hello friends!  As the weather is so very hot outside, and gardening is more of a chore than a pleasure, I'll turn to paper flowers and insects instead!  Looking forward to lower humidity and lower temperatures, hope they come soon.

These are from my batch of cards that went to the shop this past Mother's Day.  Hope you enjoy.

Papertrey Ink Spiral Notebook Page die; Stampin' Up! Sentimental Rose sentiment; pink ribbon, lace, pearls; Anna Griffin rose sticker

Inkadinkado Butterfly; Papertrey Ink Daily Designs Sentiments sentiment; Anna Griffin rose cluster stamp; Gina Marie Designs Frilly Lace Rectangles die; pearls; Stampin' Up! Sentimental Rose (in background)

Pink Paislee Queen Bee sentiment, bees; Inspired By Stamping Fancy Labels 2 stamp and frame die; yellow gems, yellow ribbon; Stampin' Up! Country Floral embossing folder

Gina Marie Designs Medium Butterfly die; pearl; Stampin' Up! Avant Garden sentiment; Papertrey Ink Fillable Frames # 5 stamp & die; Flourishes Lilacs stamp (in background); K & Co. corner stickers

I'm entering the card below in Word Art Wednesday's current challenge # 505-506: use an uplifting sentiment.  Letting someone know they are a blessing is truly uplifting.

Heartfelt Creations Birds and Blooms birds, flowers, and matching dies; Stampin' Up! Rose Wonder sentiment, Artistic Textures (in background)

I do like these little birds and branches (from Heartfelt Creations), aren't they sweet?  The stamps and matching dies were a gift from my friend Susie.  She is good to me!  

Luke 12:27 ESV

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

God gives us a lesson each time we see flowers.  He created each plant and provides what they need to grow.  However, He treasures you and me far above these.  He gives us what we need to grow, too; we only have to ask Him.

Thanks for coming by, I appreciate you!

7 Baby Cards

Hello there!  I am popping in with some baby cards made earlier this year.  I think my basket at the store was short on this category, so I whipped up a small batch.  You will see similar stamps or dies used on a few of these, since my supplies were already out on the craft desk.

Hero Arts Precious Baby Boy boat, sentiment; Spellbinders Large Deckled Edge Rectangles die (to create frame); Gina Marie Designs Flower Pleated Lace Nested Rectangles die; turquoise mirror cardstock from Stampin' Up!; sequins

Penny Black Special Friends bunny, leaves; Stampin' Up! Praiseworthy Prose sentiment; Market Street Stamps Gingham Background (yellow); pearls

Stampin' Up! elephant, balloons, 'wild about you' sentiment (from scrap bag); Technique Tuesday Sweet Baby 'baby' sentiment; Penny Black Special Friends leaves; Gina Marie Designs Flower Pleated Lace Nested Rectangles die; string

Penny Black Special Friends leaves, bunny; Papertrey Ink Inside and Out: Baby sentiment

Hero Arts Precious Baby Boy lion; My Favorite Things Grassy Fields die, Jumbo Fishtail Stitched Banners die; Stampin' Up! Fable Friends sentiment

My Favorite Things Grassy Fields die; Gina Marie Designs Big and Little Chain Rectangles die; Stampin' Up! elephant, balloon & sentiment (scrap bag)

Hero Arts Precious Baby Boy rocking horse; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags sentiment and tag die; pink and white twine; Inspired By Stamping Whimsical Banners triangles; The Paper Studio Ornate Flourish damask embossing folder

I have not held a baby in my arms in so long!  My daughters are 23 and 19.  So, it has been quite a while. 😊

Thanks for coming by!  God bless you!

Happy Hydrangea

Hey!  I had a few minutes after work this evening to get out another post, a real quickie!  In fact, this card was pretty quick to put together, too.

Papertrey Ink Pen and Ink sentiment; K & Co. hydrangea sticker (love, love, love); clear dots

I'm going to enter this one in two challenges that offer easy challenge categories, and I'm grateful for that:

- NBUS Never Before Used Schtuff #29

- Word Art Wednesday 'Anything Goes'

So good to 'see' you again, and God bless!

Sing Praises

Hey everyone!  I am popping in to play in a challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  The theme is Anything Goes.  I like those kind. 😉 

I've got two very similar cards to share with you today.  Both began with a song sheet from church.  I die cut a piece, crinkled the paper with my hands, then inked the edges and well, kind of all over.  

Papertrey Ink Walk By Faith sentiment; Michael's lion; Spellbinders Large Deckled Rectangles dies; ivory dots

Papertrey Ink Walk By Faith sentiment; Blockhead Paper Arts Feeling Regal crown; gold embossing powder; Spellbinders Large Deckled Rectangles dies; ivory dots

Matthew 7: 24-27 ESV

Build Your House on the Rock

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

In this crazy world, I am building my house upon the Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ.  And it seems by the hour there is new craziness we hear about.  I have got to keep my eyes fixed on things above.

Sending you hugs and love,

Butterfly Blessings

A friend of mine graciously gave me some of her stamping supplies she no longer needed.  Among the goodies was this pretty butterfly stamp from Inkadinkado.  I paired it with butterfly patterned paper from Stampin' Up!, and added a Verve sentiment, to create this thank you card for her.

Verve Joy For The Journey sentiment stamp ; Inkadinkado Big Butterfly stamp; Nuvo Drops iridescent glitter glue; Stampin' Up! patterned papers

It was hard to capture the iridescent glitter I put on the butterfly, always a challenge to photograph!

The way I've colored it reminds me of the Adonis Blue butterfly (polyommatus bellargus). (credit) Only the males are this beautiful blue.  

Colossians 1:16

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Enjoy this day! 😊

Sympathy Cards: Simple, Easy - Before & After

Hello friends!  I've got a handful of sympathy cards to share today.  My customer had asked for cards that would require only one first class postage stamp.  Many of my cards are bumpy and bulky (and I love it that way!), but that requires an 'additional ounce' stamp too.  So, I needed to go with flat cards for my customer.  While I made the flatties, I also whipped up some others that do have gems for my own stash.

Here are some before and afters, plus a couple of flatties at the end of the post:

Inkadinkado Floral Damask; EK Success Botanical border punch; Papertrey Ink Garden Garland flower dies; Stampin' Up! Rose Wonder sentiment

Inkadinkado Floral Damask; EK Success Botanical border punch; Stampin' Up! Rose Wonder sentiment, Itty Bitty Accents flower punch; pearls; Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch

Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch; Hero Arts With Sympathy sentiment, solid flower stamps

Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch; Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Accents flower punch; Hero Arts With Sympathy sentiment, solid flower stamps; pearls; gold cardstock

Hero Arts With Sympathy sentiment, solid flower stamps; lace; gold cardstock; pearls; Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Accents flower punch

Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch; Hero Arts With Sympathy sentiment, solid flower stamps; My Favorite Things Dizzy Border die

Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch, Monarch Butterfly punch; La Blanche Spray Flower; Papertrey Ink Birds of a Feather sentiment; Nuvo drops iridescent

Hope you're doing well in your little corner of the world.  Sending hugs!

God bless,

Far Away, Missing You

Hello there. 😀 Did you have a nice weekend?  They are usually too short, at least that's been my experience. 😉 

I'm sharing a card I made for my mom, who lives far away from me, to let her know I miss her.  A friend gave me the set by Simon Says Stamp called Loving You From Afar, and it's perfectly sweet for my mom.

Simon Says Stamp Loving You From Afar houses and dotted heart stamps; Stampin' Up! sentiment (?); red and white twine; Kat Scrappiness Stitched Postage Stamp Edge Rectangles die

I paired with the houses and dotted heart image between them, a good sentiment from Stampin' Up!  This was in a scrap bag, already on this tag, so I am not sure which stamp set it came from.  I like how it coordinates with that dotted heart, though!

Since this is my first time using the SSS set, I am entering (again) at NBUS.

Hope your week is wonderful!

My Dad, My Anchor

Hello there!  Yesterday I shared cards for dad, and today, yet another to share.

This was for personal use, as well, and I'm happy with how it turned out.

Papertrey Ink For The Boys 'Dad' die; Stampin' Up! Smooth Sailing anchor & rope dies, Sailing Home compass; twine

In one of my Stampin' Up! scrap bags were these Paper Pumpkin pouches, or envelope sleeves.  Best way I can describe it.  The striped paper you see above was part of the bunch.  I cut it apart so all that was left was a panel, and - it was already slanted like you see, and with rounded corners.  From there, I built my card on a black cardstock panel (glued to a white card base).  I like to let cards 'speak' to me.  Often I've got no plan in mind, things just evolve.

Thanks so much for joining me again!

Irish Proverb

I cherish the Verve stamps I have, and rarely do I see any for sale on the internet.  So, I'm guessing I am not alone in my sentiment!  

I used a stamp from the Verve Blessings set, which is an Irish Proverb.  It's such a happy thing!

Verve Stamps Blessings sentiment; The Greetery Fleur Impressions flower stamps (on green panel), Nordic Frames die; fabric panel; sequins

I used an item for the first time that a friend gave to me a few years ago; it's an adhesive-backed piece of floral fabric.  It's pretty, so I did not want to cover up too much of it.  

Linking up to Darnell's NBUS challenge with this card.

"Live every day as if it were your last" is the last line of this Irish proverb on my card.  What a great reminder.  Some days I remember this, and other days the chaos of life makes me forget.

I hope your day is a beautiful one!