Surprise!!! It's Best Bunny!

There is something about Granny Apple Green that just brings a smile to my face!  When the first signs of Spring appear you are sure to see that lovely yellow green shade.  Today's card features not only Granny Apple Green...  oh, how I wish I could wear that lovely color...  :-(  and another fav...  gingham!  

I just adore these bunnies and the coordinating punch from Stampin' Up!  I did do some fussy cutting to create their perfectly white tummies and lovely pink inner ears.  I also cut out the fun carrots.  Did you notice that wonderful wink on bunny number three?  He got all the carrots after all!  I guess the other two bunny friends were surprised by that!  ;-)  They really don't look TOO annoyed with him.  

So here are some of the items I used...

Stampin' Up - Best Bunny stamp and coordinating punch, Buffalo Check stamp

Stampin' Up - Granny Apple Green, Watermelon Wonder Card Stocks

Recollections - White Cardstock

Spellbinders - Oval Die

Copics - Y38, YR68, YG05,YG45

Dew Drops

Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up - Granny Apple Green (sentiment)

Stampin' Up - Rectangles Stitched Framelits

Mass Producing a Merry Christmas

We have all been there.  You need a bunch of cards and in a hurry!  That usually happens to me every Christmas season.  You would think someone who blogs about card making...  has cards!  Wrong!  I am always procrastinating until you guessed it...  I have 10 days til the day and zero cards!  :-(  I am totally a bad card influence!  #cardloser

And just in case you think I have it together for 2019 I must confess I created these cards before last Christmas.  I never mailed them.  Sigh...  #doublecardloser  

So if you do not want to be like me...  you can start early and pick a pattern that is fast, easy and can be changed up easily.  Here's a design I did in three different versions that literally took a few hours.  

 Gray and White

 Black and White

Red and Black

 

You can see I mixed up the design colors using red and black, gray and black along with black and white.  I also chose to mask the sentiment and use different colors on occasion.  You can really take a simple design and make it your own.  I made 5 of these in no time and I used a new toy for me...  the Stamparatus.  I'm not a Stampin' Up demonstrator so I can tell you that gizmo is super handy!  LOVE!  

Here's the details for the cards you see!  Thanks as always and have a great day!

Stampin' Up - Buffalo Check Stamp, Farmhouse Christmas Stamp

Stampin' Up - Real Red, Always Artichoke, Gray Granite Card Stocks

Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Real Red Ink

Spellbinders - Jolly Holly Die

Our Daily Bread Designs - Circles Die, Stitched Circles Die 

PP434 - Together is a Wonderful Place to Be

You know that feeling when you and your best friend get together after several week or months?  It seems like you never really left off.  They finish your sentences, laugh at your zany jokes and just make you smile!  Togetherness really does make the world go round.  How many civic organizations build their culture around weekly or monthly meetings?  Churches (and the Bible) encourage believers to come together.  Family reunions, block parties and holiday events provide that sense of completeness.  It is just plain fun to be with other like minded people.  We relate on a personal level and being with a special person or group just makes everything seem better!  And this card celebrates just that!

Items you see -

Stampin' Up - Wonderful Floral Framelits Die

Stampin' Up - Wonderful Romance Stamp Set

Stampin' Up - Country Floral Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Stampin' Up - Rectangle Stitched Framelits 

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Stampin' Up - Peek A Boo Peach Card Stock and Ink

Stickles - Crystal

Copics - G21,YG03, YG11, YG61, YR000, YR00, Y04 

I'm playing along with Paper Players PP434

Thanks for looking!

When Life Gives You Lemons

I have taken some much needed time away from crafting to focus on the important things in life like my health and family.  I finally feel like I am enjoying the process again.  :-)  For those who stop by, I would encourage you to follow me on Instagram.  You can search for saintsrule71 to locate me there.  I also would suggest you look me up on Pinterest.  I post almost all of my cards on Pinterest because it is SO MUCH easier!  You can find my cards on my board entitled Saintsrule!.  I will do my best to bring my cards here.  But honestly, I find the whole art of blogging is a time drainer and I simply hashtag the items I use on both Pinterest and Instagram.  So that makes it easier for me and you!  As a result...  I can enjoy the process.  

Here is today's card featuring a Stampin' Up set from the 2015 Sale-A-Bration.  I found mine via Etsy...  I believe they are still around on Ebay and the like...

The lemon is a single image so it was necessary to mask the first stamping before doing the second.  I love the black and white check along with a crisp yellow.  I'm seeing this trend so much in home decor and I have even incorporated a few snippets of this into my home.  Don't you love it when inspiration strikes in an unexpected way?  

Thanks so much and as always have a wonderful day!

Stampin' Up - Daffodil Delight CS, A Happy Thing Stamp, Buffalo Check Stamp, Rectangle Stitched Framelits 

Our Daily Bread Designs - Circle Die, Pierced Circles Die

Dew Drops - Harvest

Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics - Y000, Y13, Y15, YG03, YG63, YG67

Recollections - Black and Yellow Card Stock

Word Art Wednesday #376- #377 Anything Goes Challenge

It is hard to believe the month of March is just around the bend.  In our neck of the woods it has been cold and WET!  I am looking forward to seeing the crocus, daffodils and muscari that mark the beginnings of warmer weather.  In the meantime, I have a fun card to share featuring a few items from my ever growing stash.  I am pleased as punch to have been a part of the Word Art Wednesday crew this month.  I know I am looking forward to what they have to share next month.

And the items you see -

Carta Bella - Welcome Home paper pad
Stampin Up - Poppy Parade, Old Olive and Sahara Sand Card Stock
Recollections - White & Black Card Stock
Gina K. Designs - Card Stock (Dog Image)
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black and Copics
Stampin Up - Rectangle Stitched and Be Mine Stitched Framelits
SU Happy Tails stamp set and coordinating punch
Flower - Unknown
Punches - Martha Stewart

Thanks for stopping by!

Word Art Wednesday - God is Love

How many of you have Valentine's Day shopping on your list of things to do today?  We often spend unlimited time and boundless money on finding just the perfect gift to impress that special someone.  But that kind of love can be fleeting.  I have been known to say I "love" a blouse or I "love" my dogs.  **OK...  I really do LOVE my dogs**  But seriously, love is a word that suffers from being used too loosely.  If you look at today's scripture from the 1st book of John, it plainly says that God is love.  So that is definitely a high standard to adhere to.  He loved us so much that he sent his only son to die a painful, torturous and humiliating death.  Jesus was the Son of God and was pinned to a cross like a common thief!  He died a hideous death because of his LOVE for us.  He wanted to save us from eternal separation from God the Father.  That kind of love is worth more than any card or box of chocolates!  I pray you have a wonderful and blessed Valentine's Day!

Blessings...

Items used today

Stampin' Up - Be Mine Stitched Framelits Dies
Stampin' Up - Tufted Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Stampin' Up - Real Red, Blushing Bride, Old Olive Card Stocks
Martha Stewart - Paper Punches
The Paper Studio - Silver Poster Board
Our Daily Bread Designs - Rectangles Die
Sentiment - Word Art Wednesday

I'm BACK!!!

For better or worse....  after a lengthy sabbatical, I am finally back home.  When preparing today's post, I realized it has been nearly 7 months since my last entry!  I thought it was only fair to share a bit of what I have been up to over the spring, summer and now fall.  I have checked quite a few things of my to do list, including organizing my kitchen.  I have actually cooked in said kitchen.  (And my hubs IS SO happy about that!)  And I have spent almost zero time in my craft room....  and I do mean ZERO.  I was a bit worn out...  physically and emotionally.  It was time for a break... a chance to get the creative juices flowing again.  I needed time for me!  And I took it!  I highly encourage everyone to recognize when they are burned out and need to refuel.   

For the foreseeable future, I will be posting things I have on my crafting table.  I will give credit but will not be providing links.  I hope you understand.  I really want to simplify the crafting process for ME and make it enjoyable again.  

Here is my first project using a few items I picked up from Stampin' Up...

Thanks for popping in!  And have a wonderful day!

Stamps - Stampin' Up - Country Home
Card Stock - SU - Early Espresso, Crushed Curry, Galvanized Metal Paper
Embossing Folder - SU - Tin Tile Dynamic Textured Impressions
Dies - Our Daily Bread Designs - Double Stitched Rectangles, Rectangles, Double Stitched Pennant Flags
Copics - CO, C1, C2, C3, C5, 0, YR09, YR14, YG91, YG93, Y17, E37, E57
Yellow Stickles
Hemp String

Blessings, Lori

Happy 10th Anniversary to Our Daily Bread Designs!

Good morning!  This week marks a very special milestone for Our Daily Bread Designs.  Many years ago, when I first encountered ODBD, I was searching for scripture stamps.  The options, unfortunately, were very limited.  I was so excited to stumble upon ODBD.  Over the years, I played along with challenges and eventually was honored to join their challenge team, serve as a guest designer and join their design team, the Breadsticks.  I am grateful for the opportunity I had to showcase my Lord and Savior, through their work.  So this week to celebrate their 10th anniversary, Kelley and company released a few new stamps and dies.  I am honored and excited to join the celebration as part of their alum.  Here's the new release items you see here today including God Verses 2 and Filigree Circles Die.

My first card started with a white card stock base measuring 4.5 x 4.5 inches.  I added a slightly smaller mat using ODBD's Shabby Pastels Paper Pad.  The second layer consists of designer paper from ODBD's Shabby Rose Paper Collection die cut with ODBD's Pierced Squares.  The sentiment panel consists of white card stock and two layers from the Anniversary release Filigree Circles Die.  I chose this beautiful sentiment from the new God Verses 2 stamping it with a soft coral ink on white card stock.  For the final touch, I die cut the sentiment panel with ODBD's Filigree Frames placing it on top and adding a custom coral rose created with ODBD's Roses Die and Rose Leaves Die.  A soft mint green bow tops it off.

I couldn't just leave it at one project.  These dies and stamps are super versatile.  I opted this time to create a traditional 4.25 x 5.5 inch card using the new God Verses 2 stamp set and Filigree Circles Die set.

For this project I chose a soft lavender DP from ODBD's Shabby Pastel Paper Pad and distress the edges before adding to the card stock base.  I cut a slightly smaller silver CS layer before adding a spring plaid from the Shabby Pastels Paper Pad.  I used the ecru DP from the same paper pad along with ODBD's Scalloped Chain Die for my overlay.  The sentiment layers, a soft lavender, ecru and sky blue are also in the same paper pad.  It makes my life SO much easier when I can pull coordinating papers from one pad!  The bottom two layers on the sentiment panel came from the new Filigree Circles Die set.  I pulled in ODBD's Circles Die and Double Stitched Circles die (in that order) to fill up the panel.  The sentiment (found in the new God Verses 2) was stamped in a soft purple.  The rose (created by inking card stock after cutting and then shaping) were made with ODBD's Roses and Rose Leaves Dies.  I finished the spray off with sprigs created with ODBD's Lovely Leaves Die.

This was a super fun project to work on.  It is always fun to celebrate a special day!  Thanks again to all of those who have supported Our Daily Bread Designs.  And a special thank you to Kelley and company who made my time at ODBD so special!

Blessings!

Praise God

Good morning!  And as always, thank you for taking a few moments to visit.  With Christmas just a few short days away, it seems everything in my house has gone into hyper mode.  I am working through today.  Our family dinner is tomorrow.  So, I doubt I will be getting much rest tonight!  lol  Even with all of the craziness, I love this time of year.  And I certainly enjoy all of the crafting that goes with is!  Today, I have a card to share featuring Our Daily Bread Designs' December stamp release, Praise the Lord.

I used two coordinating papers from the Holly Jolly Paper Collection. I trimmed the plaid piece down to use in the middle but both were die cut using ODBD's Majestic Medallion Dies.  I cut a slightly larger gold poster board mat to nestle between the die cut designer papers and the red card stock base.  My image (colored with Copics) was stamped on Copic compatible paper and framed with the new Double Stitched Ovals Die.  I used the Ovals Die and gold poster board to create the second layer and finally the new Ovals Stitched Rows with green card stock.  I nestled a green ribbon and bow under it and added a final sentiment panel created with the new Praise the Lord stamp set and Oval Stitched Rows die.  So here are the new items you see on today's project.

and a few old favorites...

Thank you again to all of those at Our Daily Bread Designs and especially Kelley Holland.  I have designed with them for several years.  I will be taking a break from designing to deal with some medical issues.  I will still be around and creating, just not on a regular schedule.  I appreciate all of your love and support and be sure to stay tuned.  When things settle down, I will be back up and creating!  Hugs to you all and a very Merry Christmas!

 

A Look Back at Our Daily Bread Designs' December Release

Good morning and welcome to a special look back at Our Daily Bread Designs' December release.  I have a couple of projects featuring a special 3D die along with some fun stamp sets, perfect for Christmas crafting.  Here is the first item, featuring the Card Caddy & Gift Bag Dies.

The sentiment is from the White as Snow stamp die duo.  I framed the sentiment using the Mini Tags Die and attached it with a key ring created with gold card stock and ODBD's Keys Die set.  I used two cuts (in white card stock and gold, overlapped) to create my edging.  This die can be found in the Gift Bag Handles & Topper Die.  The poinsettia design is a special inset that can be used with the Card Caddy & Gift Bag Die to create this special bag.  The poinsettia design is known as the Poinsettia Inset Die.

So now for a fun card featuring the new Holly Leaves Die.

I love this split panel.  I used a deep green card stock base with a bit of red CS matting.  I used ODBD's Pierced Rectangles Die to create the designer paper base with coordinating papers from  ODBD's Holly Jolly Collection.  I used the Curvy Slopes Die to delineate the two and added my focal layer on top.  I stamped two sets of holly, colored each, added a sentiment and finished it off with the Rectangles Die.  I added a bit of glitter ink and Glossy Accents over each holly berry and let dry.  Once the panel was set, I added a bit of red ribbon.  

Here are the December items you see here today...

Don't forget to visit all of my design team sisters to see what they have up their sleeves!  I hope you have a wonderful day!

Cathy * Sandee * Dawn * Diana * Kathy * Helen * Lori

Seeing Jesus in the Rear View Mirror

My day had been a particularly tough one, physically and emotionally.  I spent most of my day in the car traveling from one work project to another.  And there were countless other things spinning in my head.  You've been there too...  changed plans, rescheduled meetings, regrets for a missed event... and burdens...  oh, how many burdens.  It had become a heavy load.  And so, as I found myself sitting at a stoplight somewhere near the end of the day, I casually looked in my rear view mirror and saw an unexpected sight.  There sitting in an older model car immediately behind me and sporting an Under Armour zip up jacket was Jesus.  Or should I say, a young man who was a dead ringer for all of the paintings of Jesus I have seen.  He had long flowing locks, slim build, beard and gentle features.    Now before someone gets excited and thinks I have lost my mind or have uttered something sacrilegious let me just say...  I needed to see Jesus.  And on that particular afternoon, after a 24 hour period of disappointments and defeat, oh, how I needed Him!  And so what did I do?  I bawled like a baby for that minute and several others after.  And yes, I know that wasn't really Jesus.  But for a few brief moments, I was reminded he is with me always.  Isn't it nice to know he is always with us when we need him?  If you look carefully, you might just see him in the most unexpected places!  

Blessings...

Today's project is a luminary featuring Our Daily Bread Designs' new White as Snow Stamp Die Duo, Card Caddy & Gift Bag Die for the luminary itself, Gift Bag Handles & Topper Die for the striped edging.

and a few old favorites as well...

Curvy Slopes Die 

Christmas Paper Collection 2013 

Have a wonderful day!

A Special Release and Blog Hop at Our Daily Bread Designs'

Good morning and welcome to this month's new release.  As you browse through today's projects, remember that three randomly selected winners will each receive a $25 Gift Code to the ODBD Website  just for commenting on the Design Team cards!  You have until December 2, 2017 at 9:00 p.m. EST to leave your comments on the Designers Blogs for a chance to win!  The Winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on December 3rd so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

Here are my projects.  The first features the new Holly Leaves stamp set, Double Stitched Ovals Die,  Oval Stitched Rows Die and Card Caddy & Gift Bag Die.

This is the perfect set for creating your own little gift bags!  And if you check out the other designers today, you will see a fun insert  you can add to make it even more beautiful!  For this project, I stamped the image on paper and colored the sweet holly.  I framed it with a couple of special dies from an earlier release (Rounded Rectangles and Double Stitched Rounded Rectangles Die.  

Now here is a fun card featuring the new Praise the Lord stamp set and Ovals Stitched Rows Die.

  I stamped my image with a soft brown ink on white card stock and framed it with brown DP with the new Ovals Stitched Rows Die.  I also worked in the new insert that you can use in the Card Caddy die but adapted it for the background here.  Poinsettia Panel Die  I nestled it over DP from ODBD's Christmas Colletion 2017 Paper Pad.

Here are the new items you see today...

Be sure to hop along today and check out all of the other creations from the team and don't forget to comment!  You could win!  Blessings

And if you get lost along the way...

ODBD Blog

Sandee * Lisa * Angie * Cathy 

* Grace * Dawn * Chris * Diana 

* Helen * Kathy * Lori

A Look Back at ODBD's November Release

This has been a challenging week on many levels.  It started with some unexpected news and ends with waiting and waiting some more...  One thing that soothes the savage and impatient beast...  bird watching!  And today's card reminds me of the importance of slowing down and appreciating the 
 moment.

 Today we are taking a look back at Our Daily Bread Designs' November Release.  Here is the card I created using the Winter Chickadee stamp set, Christmas Collection 2017 Paper Pad and Trees & Deer Die.  For more inspiration using the November Release be sure to visit the ODBD Blog.

There is nothing more peaceful than a walk in the woods.  Everyone needs a few moments to recharge and refresh.  This darling little image from the Winter Chickadee stamp set seems to be nestled happily in the forest.  I started with a soft moss green card stock base adding a green DP from the new Christmas Collection 2017 Paper Pad.  I cute a slightly larger mat with a dark brown paper also from the same paper pad.  I cut several sizes of the trees using a dark and light paper from the paper pad.  The artichoke colored trees are from a separate card stock I had in my stash.  I layered the trees (Trees & Deer Die) so some would appear to be be larger than others.  I fussy cut my image and then placed it in the desired spot.  I chose this wonderful sentiment and stamped it on coordinating DP and cut out my mat panel.  

So here are a few of the November release items you see...

 and a few old favorites...

Circles Die

Double Stitched Circles Die

Pierced Rectangles Die

 

and the Copic combos for my image

C2, C3, C5, C7 (Chickadee)

 E37, E57, E79, (Branch)

 E00, E43 (Chickadee) 

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

As we look back today, be sure to visit my design team sisters to see what they have dreamed up for this month's release.  They are a talented group of ladies and I know you will be blessed by their talents.  Have a wonderful weekend!

ODBD Blog - if you get lost along the way!

Cathy * Dawn * Sandee * Kathy * Helen * Diana * Lori

How A Sepia Card Makes A Girl Feel a Bit Shady

Does anyone else remember when we all wanted to know what "season" we were?  The season determined what colors we looked good in.  My mom was an Autumn, which explained her tendency to buy anything brown.  And my season was Winter.  Winters were supposed to look good in jewel tones and were the only season that could pull off a true black or white.  It's funny, because my Mom says I always had a very distinct voice in what I wore..  even as a small child.  Apparently from an early age certain colors would not make the cut.  When the whole "season" fad came out, it became quite clear that the colors I naturally gravitated toward were the ones this trend said I should wear.  And ironically enough, to this day, I find myself gravitating toward certain colors in my home and yes, even in my cards.  

So remember that my Mom LOVES brown?  It turns out that is one of the colors that legitimately makes me nervous.  I can't even remember wearing anything brown until I was well into my fourth decade.  That is why you rarely see me try anything like that in my card making.  But today is different!  I have vowed to try something that makes me a bit nervous and color outside the box...  sort of!  Here is my sepia card using Our Daily Bread Designs' Winter Cardinal stamp set, Pine Branches Die and Pinecones Die.

 I created a center step base with a rich brown card stock and cut the Designer Paper and soft Bark DP slightly smaller than each panel.  The Papers can be found in ODBD's Vintage Ephemera Paper Collection and Ephemera Essentials Paper Pad.  I stamped the image with Espresso Truffle ink on Copic compatible paper.  (The stamp set is the November release, Winter Cardinal.  I colored the image with Copics E30, E33, E35 and E37 before die cutting with ODBD's Double Stitched Circles Die.  After embossing and before removing the die, I inked the edges of the image with a tea dye distress ink.  The mat was created with ODBD's Circles Die.  I stamped the sentiment (also with Espresso Truffle ink) and then after die cutting (ODBD's Ovals Die added a bit of distress ink.  A spray of pine branches and cones finish it off.  (ODBD's Pine Branches Die and Pinecones Die.) 

So here are a few of the items you see today featuring November release items.

and a few old favorites as well...

Thanks as always for stopping by and I hope this post inspires you to liberate your coloring!  Try something bold and new my friends...  it just might make you smile!  Blessings!