All Things Beautiful

Many days I fail miserably. I suffer from that disease called not "seeing the forest for the trees." Have you ever found yourself not appreciating the beauty around you? Today was one of those days for me. We are having rain again and not just lovely showers but torrential, lightning zipping across the sky, hail the size of golf balls... rain! And as you can tell by the previous sentence... IT WAS DOING NOTHING FOR MY MOOD! lol... It has rained so much this spring, I swear I am in the state of Washington instead of Kentucky!

Dear hubby and I made a trip into town this afternoon after work to run a few errands. And it hit me like a golf ball or should I say hail... (yes, I am inserting some goofy humor...) The lawns, the fields, everything looks so LUSH. I don't remember the landscape here looking so well, beautiful! As I got out of the car, I realized how fresh the air felt after the most recent shower. And then I realized just how God provides. He sends showers to replenish, revitalize and cleanse the land. Wow! Isn't it awesome how the Creator reveals himself in the creation? Blessings to you and yours this day! I look forward to chatting with you again!

Lori

I am submitting today's card for a challenge over at Stampin Sisters in Christ

Card Recipe

Paper - Bazzill, K & Company Watercolor Bouquet
Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs Porch, Scripture Collection 6
Die - Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles, Scalloped Circles Large, Our Daily Bread Designs Vintage Lace
Ink - Close to My Heart Indian Corn Blue
Punch - EK Success / Martha Stewart
Fiber - unknown

Another Favorite

Hard to believe another Monday has rolled around! I've been trying to get some things organized around the craft room! **Good luck, there...** Hopefully, I will have everything back to normal soon and will be able to create some new stuff. In the meantime, I have a lovely card I created a few weeks ago. I attempted to throw myself a curve ball... literally... You will see this one is a little different from the normal layouts I do. Here's hoping you have a wonderful week and look forward to chatting with you soon!

Lori

And here is the curvy rascal...



Card Recipe

Paper - Bazzill, K & Company Julianne Paper Pad
Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 6
Ink - Memento - Summer Sky
Dies - Spellbinders Nestabilities - Lacey Circles, Standard Circles Large, Beaded Circles
Fiber - Satin White - unknown, Blue Seam Binding - Stampin' Up
Pearls - Unknown

Mighty To Save

This week has been eventful already. Our newest grandbaby, Emma Grace, had surgery yesterday to correct an abnormality in her urinary tract. Thankfully, all is well. She will be spending a few days in the hospital to recover. It was so hard to see her little four month body hooked up to tubes, catheters and the like. I know how I feel about medical stuff... I just can't imagine how she feels!

During the coming days I will be traveling on business. I have a few posts ahead to share. Blessings to you and I pray you are having a wonderful week!



Card Stock - Bazzill
Designer Paper - Basic Grey - Curio
Stamps - ODBD - Scripture Series 1
Ink - Memento - Rich Cocoa (Sentiment), Desert Sand, Angel Pink (sponged around sentiment)
Fiber - Seam Binding, Offray Satin Saddle
Dies - Spellbinders Nestabilities - Labels Seventeen, Fancy Tags

So Sorry - Sympathy Card ** Lengthy Post Alert

In July of 2005, hubby and I locked the door behind us and set out on an adventure. At that time we were buying St. Bernards to start our program. In order to find the best of the best we had to drive. And since we had to drive anyway, we decided to make a trip of it. I wanted to see Mt. Rushmore.

As the days leading up to our departure ticked away, I continued to find other destinations. I poured over the Atlas (yes, people still use those) to find new and exciting spots to tour. One morning as I prepared for work, I happily told hubby that Yellowstone was just a half days drive away. The next day I mentioned Glacier National Park in Montana. Oh, but don't forget the Battle of Little Big Horn in Wyoming... and did I mention all the cool Lewis and Clark stuff?

So on D - Day or in this case Friday, John and I loaded my little Pontiac, locked the door and left on our road trip. A little over 24 four hours later we arrived in Rapid City, South Dakota in the same clothes we put on in Kentucky and with ZERO sleep. Did I mention we had to visit the Corn Palace as we drove by???
:-P

We were so excited, we pitched our bags in the nearest hotel room we could find and set off to see Mt. Rushmore. Then we had to see the Geronimo monument. It was a crazy week! I kid you not when I say we traveled through 11 states, 4 national parks and 3 national monuments. It was interesting to say the least and we racked up the miles on my little Grand Am. Sometimes we got quite "testy." I'm amazed we both made it home in one piece!

I really didn't get to see a great deal in Glacier National Park. If you have ever gone up the Road to the Sun you can appreciate this fact! I was driving and with the fear of going thousands of feet off the edge of the road... well... I couldn't take my eyes off the road! John swears there were glaciers there but I'm still not sure... lol...

As we were heading back to North Dakota to pick up our beautiful fluffer Dakota (hence her name) we stopped at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Well the welcome center wasn't quite so welcome. You see on the counter in a large jar of furmaldehyde was a rattlesnake! It seems they have those in North Dakota. And park management felt people might want to know what they look like! Yikes! Let me tell ya... I'm not getting that close to ANY snake!

But here's the funny part of that stop... As we are driving through, hubby spots a wild mustang. John yells for me to stop the car so he can get out and take a photo of this true western sight. John steps out of the car and gingerly steps onto the pavement to take a photo. Picture this (no pun intended)... My hubby took professional photos for years so he is PARTICULAR about shots. I am a point and shoot gal... To my chagrin... he keeps stepping farther and farther out into the prairie... AND then I notice the BIG SIGN he walked by... BEWARE OF RATTLESNAKES! Yikes! John is just moving on toward the horse looking through the viewfinder determined to get the perfect shot! Now I am hyperventilating! I yell politely (maybe not so politely) at him to move back. And frantically yell out to him about the sign he just passed! Oh don't worry, he yells back! I will hear it long before I need to worry! ACK!!!! I am thinking... no way am I dragging you out of that potentially snake infested patch if you get bit!!!! lol... Well, John made it back safe and sound and to this day he reminds me of the day I just about left him in the middle of a North Dakota prairie!

So sorry to take so long to get to my point... but here it is. When we begin our Christian walk, our destination, our ultimate goal is Heaven. We close the door behind us (the old man) and put on the new one. And we begin that journey toward the other side. We don't know what might cross our paths. We most certainly have joyeous times (like seeing the mustang), we may fear (rattlesnakes) and we may have something in between. Ultimately we are trying to make it home.

After our adventure, we pulled into our little farm with a beautiful fluffy new St. Bernard in tow. We were tired! We were grumpy! But we had an amazing ride! It wasn't always easy and it wasn't always safe (John if you are reading this... I love you!) but it was an adventure. And boy was it nice to be back where we belonged. I imagine that when we get to Heaven it will be the same. Life here may be hard and it may be trying but we will be so relieved to be home with Jesus. I bet life on this side will be a distant memory.

I created this card for a wonderful lady who recently lost her father. The loss is very real but his reward is so great! Blessings to you and have a wonderful Lord's day!

Lori
Saintsrule!



Card Recipe

Card Stock - Bazzil; Designer Paper - Doodlebug - Black Divine
Image/Sentiment - Gina K. Designs - Framed Greetings
Ink - Memento - Summer Sky - sponged on dp flowers, Memento Tuxedo Black;
Copic - B32, B34, Y11, Y15, YG03, C3
Spellbinders Nestabilities - Labels Sixteen
Pearls - Silver - Jolee
Ribbon - Gina K. Designs

ODBDSLC56 No Ribbons

It's that time again! Don't you just love Our Daily Bread Designs? And their challenges are always "challenging!" This week the team was asked to NOT use ribbon! Talk about tough... But I know you guys are up to the task...

So here's the skinny...

You may use lace on your creation, hemp, cording or string...but no ribbons!!

To make the challenge even more fun, ODBD will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Thursday, April 7. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on or will they qualify for prizes.

While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, ODBD would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, ODBD will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by April 11 at 8 p.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC56. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

Here's my entry for the week...



Paper - Bazzill; K & Company Classic K Charlotte
Image - ODBD - Scripture Collection 7
Ink - Memento Bamboo Leaves
Dies - Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Eleven
Fiber - Offray Antiquity Lace
Embellies - pearls, rose, pins from my stash....

The "ribbon" you see woven in the lace is actually a thin strip of card stock!

Please check out what the challenge team has created and leave them some love! I know they appreciate your comments as much as I do! Blessings!

Chris
Fran
Sabrina
Pat
Silke

The Greatest Treasures

I'm doing something a little different today. A dear friend of mine recently had a stamp party at my house. Can you believe people do that? Oh my, I definitely need a twelve step program! :-) I had the opportunity to purchase a few sets. Naturally I couldn't wait to put them to good use! This particular sentiment really spoke to me.

The Bible says what we say reflects what our heart holds. The strongest Christians I have known in my life have had beautiful hearts. They care for people around them. They take time out of a hectic day to put someone at ease. They go out of their way to be kind to others. When they speak, you feel a sense of comfort and peace. This card is delightfully simple but complex all at the same time. It reflects the essence of those wonderful people. The greatest treasure we can give truly comes from the heart. Blessings to you! Give of your heart and it is bound to come back to you!

Lori



Card Recipe

Card Stock - Bazzill
Stamps - Close to My Heart - Heartfelt Treasures
Ink - CTMH - Garden Green, Indian Corn Blue, Moonstruck
Embossing Folder - Provocraft
Nestabilities - Lacey Circles, Standard Circles Large, Labels One
Embellies - Dew Drops Tundra by SMH
Fiber - Unknown

ODBDSLC55

Happy Saturday! I just LOVE saying that! And it is even better when we have Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge to look forward to, right? You are going to love this week's challenge. The challenge team had to spread their wings this week (sorry, I couldn't resist)...

This weeks challenge:

-Use a bird image, punched bird, or birds on your designer paper.

To make the challenge even more fun, ODBD will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Thursday, April 7. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on or will they qualify for prizes.

While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, the team would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, ODBD will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for the Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by April 7 at 8 p.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC55. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

My creation for the challenge this week...



Card Recipe

Paper - Bazzill, K & Company
Image - ODBD Fancy Labels & You Will Find Refuge
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Lady Bug, Desert Sand and Copics
Spellbinders - Standard Circles, Scalloped Circles, Labels Seventeen, Fancy Tags
Punch - EK Success
Pearls - unknown
Fiber - Simplicity Venice, Offray Old Gold Satin

Here's a closer look...



Please check out what my challenge team friends have been up to... They have some beautiful creations to inspire you... Blessings!

Chris
Fran
Sabrina
Pat
Silke

The Joy of the Lord

Happy Monday! I will be traveling the first few days of this week. I am going to an accounting meeting. I know... I just set myself up for some serious jokes... No pocket protector comments, OK? :-P

In the meantime I have a new creation to share. Thanks so much for all of your comments and feedback! I love hearing from my readers and I treasure your comments. I really have some great crafting friends out there! You guys always make me smile! And how about those Kentucky Wildcats? Sorry... I had to put a shameless plug in for the University of Kentucky... So excited my Cats are going to the Final Four! Woot, woot!!!!

Blessings and happy crafting...

Lori

Today's card...



Recipe

Card Stock - Bazzill
Designer Paper - Basic Grey - Hello Luscious
Stamps - ODBD Fancy Labels and Scripture Collection 6
Ink - Versamark
Embossing Powder - Stamp-n-Stuff White
Die - Spellbinders Labels Seventeen
Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
Punch - Fiskars (8 layers punched and put together with a brad to create the rose)
Glimmer Mist Dazzling Diamonds - (on the rose)
Fiber - Teal - unknown; White - Offray Sheer Floral Braid ($2 special at my local discount store)
Embellies - Pin - unknown; Leaves - Recollections

Faithfulness

I am the queen of excuses. I'm always overbooked and stressed. Can you relate? Taking on extra projects at work, helping friends out with commitments, taking care of my Mom... there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! And this scripture seems to sum it up nicely. I can always count on the Lord to be faithful even if I fail to give him my best!

Today's card is a little different for me. I normally stay away from vintage but this particular scripture seemed to need something soothing. There are quite a few details on this card that are easy to miss. I actually took the butterfly image from the ODBD Faith set and stamped it on the designer paper. Look closely behind the scripture panel (on the left) and you will see a faint image. I used Ranger Distress Ink. I also distressed the edges of the DP with chalk. All in all, this card has a different feel for me. I kinda like it! I hope you do as well! Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Lori



Card Recipe

Card Stock - Bazzill
Designer Paper - K & Company - Classic K Charlotte Paper Pack
Stamps - ODBD Faith
Ink - Memento Rhubard Stalk; Colorbox Creamy Brown Fluid Chalk (distressing); Ranger Distress Ink Tea Dye (butterfly image)
Dies - Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large, Eyelet Circles, Labels Sixteen
Embellies - Pearls & Mulberry Rose by Recollections
Fiber - Offray 5/8" Satin Oatmeal; Simplicity Flat Cluny Edge Lace

Easter Blessings

We survived another daylight savings change! Whoo hoo! I really wish we could just stop messing with the clock and leave it like this! I love getting up early and getting things done! Funny how I spring out of bed so much easier these days. I think it is because my mind thinks I will be done an hour earlier... Funny how your mind plays tricks on ya!

March is marching on and that means Easter will soon be here. I pulled out one of ODBD Easter sets to create today's card. It has a tad more "bling" that I usually go for. (I am more of a silver girl than gold...) Hope you are having a fabulous week and stay tuned as ODBD will be celebrating a BIG anniversary soon! Blessings!

Lori
Saintsrule!

Recipe

Card Stock - Georgia Pacific, Bazzill, American Craft
Stamps - ODBD Easter Blessings
Ink - Image - Memento - Tuxedo Black
Ink - Sentiment - Versamark
Embossing Powder - Ranger Queen's Gold
Ink - Image - Copic

Leaves - YG25, YG95, YG99
Flowers - C2 (just a hint on the petals where some shadowing might occur)

Embossing - Cuttlebug
Dies - Nestabilities - Beaded Ovals, Pendant Lattice
Dew Drops - Gold - unknown
Fiber - Offray - 5/8" Satin White

Faux Leather - Part 2

This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to show you a card created with faux leather for the ODBDSLC. Today's card was also created with that challenge in mind. But this technique for faux leather uses an ordinary paper bag! That's right, a paper bag! In this case I used a lunch sack I had lying around to create the area my image was stamped on.

Here's how...

1. Cut the paper bag into a size easy to work with (remove bottom, sides, etc)

2. Lightly mist with a water bottle (I use a Ranger Mini Mister)

3. Crumple the bag into a tight ball. Take out your frustrations! :-)

4. Gently open up bag and flatten to dry.

5. After drying, age it... I used Distress Ink by Ranger in Vintage Photo

6. I stamped my image from the ODBD set, Anchor on the faux leather.

7. Heat set your image.

8. Lightly coat the bag/image with Mod Podge.

9. Dry thoroughly.

10. Add additional ink for more vibrant distressing and cut as desired!

Try this technique! You will love it! Thanks for popping in!

Blessings

Lori
Saintsrule!


Card Recipe

Card Stock - Bazzill
Designer Paper - Bo Bunny - Chocolate Dot
Brown Paper Lunch Bag
Ranger Mini Mister
Stamps - ODBD Anchor
Ink - Image - Memento Rich Cocoa
Ink - Distressing - Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
Mod Podge
Chalk (for edging of die cut pieces) - ColorBox - Chestnut Roan
Die - Spellbinders Nestabilities - Labels Seventeen
Jute
Faux Stitching - Uni-ball Signo White Gel Pen

As long as the earth endures...

My heart is heavy today as I think about those in Japan who have suffered through such a cataclismic earthquake and subsequent flood. I can't imagine what they are going through. It's funny how the Father works. I created this card two days ago and promptly left it on a desk to be photographed at a later date. Last night after absorbing the news events of the day, I ventured to my scrap room. I found this card and re-read the verse from Genesis. God doesn't promise us a tomorrow but he promises us that as long as the earth remains we can count on the rhythms of life... night and day... summer and winter... and even though not mentioned here, I feel certain life and death. Isn't it wonderful that we can count on ETERNAL life if we trust in Him! No more sorrow and no more pain!

We have been dealing with life and death here on our farm. As many of you know we raise sheep in addition to our dogs. I came home a few days ago to find one of our ewes dead along with a beautiful white lamb. As difficult as it was to comprehend, hubby and I knew that this is the nature of the beast and we wrapped ourselves in other ewes and their lambs. As I type this post, we have another ewe down. And unfortunately, she is my husband's pick. I spent two hours early this morning watching him frantically medicate and work with her to save her life. Finally, dejected he came in to rest. I don't know how this story will end but I do know that with life there comes death. It is painful and not for us to understand. It is the result of a fallen world and of course man's sin. I rest in the assurance of the promise our Savior made for us that one day we will be free of pain and death. What a wonderful thought!

I certainly don't want to end this post on a negative note as many wonderful things are happening here at the farm. And if you scroll down after today's card, you will see what I mean. For as with any negative there is always a positive. You just have to look around you to see it. Blessings to you and yours!

Lori
Saintsrule!

Recipe

Card Stock - Bazzill
Designer Paper - K & Company - Cottage Garden
Stamps - ODBD - Noah's Ark
Die Cut - Paper Lace - Cricut Cartridge (lavender background with dp scrollwork)
Dies - Spellbinders Nestabilities - Fancy Tags, Standard Circles, Eyelet Circles
Ink - Memento - Grape Jelly (sentiment) Lulu Lavender (sponged on circle)
Punch - Martha Stewart by EK Success
Fiber - Martha Stewart 1 1/2" Woodgrain Hydrangea
Glimmer Mist - Dazzling Diamonds - misted on final project

Punches in a whole new light

Recently I spotted a layout in a magazine featuring a new use for punches. On the layout the designer had used seven different punches on various widths of card stock (the same color as the base card stock). After adhering the punched pieces to the base (varying up and down) the designer than finished the layout with designer paper and photos. I really liked the look and promptly marked the page for future reference. Sadly, I usually never go back and try the idea I took such pains to save. But today is an exception! If you look closely at the photo above you will notice four different punched pieces adhered with dimensional foam to the base. I used three Martha Stewart punches and one Fiskars punch. I used this "foundation creation" to build my card on. Kinda fun, huh? Perfect way to use up those leftover scraps you have after trimming card stock! Happy Friday to you!

Lori
Saintsrule!

Recipe

Card Stock - Black & White - Georgia Pacific
Designer Paper - Bo Bunny - Splendor Swirl
Stamp - ODBD - The Living Bread
Dies - Spellbinders Nestabilities - Labels Seventeen
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Pearls - Recollections
Fiber - Offray - Grosgrain 7/8" Black

ODBDSLC41 - Use 2 of blue, pink, yellow or ivory on your creation

It's time for ODBD Shining the Light Challenge! This week you need to use 2 colors from blue, pink, yellow or ivory on your creation. Other colors may be used but two of these must be the main colors! Go to Our Daily Bread Designs for all of the details! Blessings!

Card Recipe

5" x 5"

Card Stock - Bazzill
Designer Paper - K & Company - Tim Coffey Blossomwood Paper Pad
Stamp - ODBD - The Lord Has Risen
Ink - Sentiment - Close to My Heart - Hollyhock
Ink - Sun - Close To My Heart Sunflower, edged with Hollyhock
Paper Punch - Martha Stewart
Die Cuts - Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Circles Large, Petite Scalloped Circles Large, Lacey Circles
Fiber - 1st layer - Offray - Antique White Satin 7/8"; 2nd layer - Simplicity - Off White Flat Cluny Edge 7/8"
Flower - Recollections - Mulberry Roses

Clean and Simple - Part 2

Had to make a trip to the city today for a doctor's appointment. Thank you for all of your continued prayers! My follow up went well and I will not have to go back for a few months. Since the opportunity presented itself, I stopped at a large scrapbooking store. Since when do you need an opportunity, right? lol... I stocked up on pink, yellow, blue, lavender... basically I went nuts over anything that looked springy! It has been a LONG winter folks... I traveled over to another craft store and snapped up some fabulous bargains. I love days like that, don't you? All in all a pretty pleasant day!

So today's card is pretty clean and simple. I did little embellishments and let the image speak for itself! Here's to the first signs of spring! Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Hugs ~

Lori - Saintsrule

Recipe

Card Stock - Bazzill
Card Stock - Gina K. Pure Luxury (image)
Designer Paper - Bo Bunny Peacock Lane Ivy
Ink - Image - Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Ink - Frame - Memento Grape Jelly
Stamp - Image - Justrite - Breath of Spring Set
Spellbinders Nestabilities - Ovals Large, Classic Ovals Small
Fiber - Unknown - Satin 5/8"
Ranger Diamond Stickles - Bow

Copics

Crocus - V1, V04, V09
Greenery - YG95, YG99
Bow - CO, C1

ODBDSLC49

The ladies at Our Daily Bread Designs have issued another challenge. This time, to play along, you must use overstamping. In this example, I stamped the image in light gray ink and then embossed the sentiment over it. I love how this technique looks but I don't use it often. The Copic nut in me says "never stamp over something you can color..." lol...

I definitely had fun doing something a little different and the sentiment says it all... Why worry? So I didn't! Nothing to color? Less can be more, right? Have a blessed day!

Lori
Saintsrule!



Card Stock - Bazzill
Designer Paper - Pebbles, Inc. Legacy Floral / Dot
Ink - Image - Stampin Up - Going Gray
Ink - Sentiment - Versamark Watermark Ink
Embossing Powder (sentiment) - Ranger - Super Fine Detail - Black
Stamps - Image and Sentiment - Our Daily Bread Designs - Don't Worry!
Corner Punch (white card stock) EK Success
Punch - (black card stock) Martha Stewart
Dies - Spellbinders - Nestabilities - Labels One
Fibers - Offray's - Brides Mother Trim - White; Fiber - black ribbon unknown
Pop Dots

Coming Home

I'm blessed! There are many blessings that I can count on any given day. However, there is always one that comes immediately to mind. I'm home. Let me clarify for a moment. I have lived several places in my life but at this moment I live 15 minutes from where I grew up and spent my formative years. Many people long to get away from those roots and early in life I too decided I had to spread my wings. But after a few wing clippings (some deserved and some not so deserved) I managed to come home. As hard as I tried to deny my roots, I am a country girl! I love being able to walk out my door any given day and hear the bleating of sheep. I love being able to turn my Saint Bernards loose on our 10 acres of fenced in land and watch them play. I love being able to go to work and drive by the cemetery where my dad was laid to rest. I love working across the street from the high school I attended so long ago. It warms my heart to take an afternoon stroll and hear the laughter of teens coming out of those school doors. Kentucky is a beautiful place and my home is just a small part of that beauty. This image from Stampendous reminds me of my home county. You see, they are considered the covered bridge capital of Kentucky. There is a great deal of history there. The cemetery my father was laid in contains the remains of one of the Iwo Jima flag raisers immortalized in Rosenberg's famous photo. It's a beautiful place and if you are ever in this part of the world, take it in. I promise you won't be disappointed! I have included a few links at the end so you can check it out yourself! Blessings!

Lori
Saintsrule!

Card Stock - Bazzill
Designer Paper - The Paper Loft - Back Country - Fly Fishing; Daisy D's - Deb Strain - Rooster
Stamp - Image - Stampendous - Covered Bridge
Stamp - Sentiment - Hero Arts
Ink - Image - Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Ink - Sentiment - Close to My Heart - Outdoor Denim
Distressing Ink - Tim Holtz - Antique Linen - Applied to Image after coloring with Copics
Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large, Petite Scalloped Circles Large, Pendant Lattice
Fibers - Offray Verano Tan 1 1/2", Offray Satin Leaf 5/8"
Pinking Shears
3D Crystal Lacquer - Sakura Hobby Craft - (applied to water)



Copics -

Greenery - YG03, YG13, YG17
Sky - B0000
Water - B21, B23, B26
Bridge - C2, C3, C5, E55
Wood - E13, E18, E37, E57

Check out these links for more information about our area!

Fleming County Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Blue Licks State Park
Maysville Kentucky Tourism

The Season of Singing...

Here I go again! I had to pull out a harbinger of spring! Today's card features the dogwood, those fabulous tree blossoms that signal spring is near. They also bring to mind the legend of the dogwood. It is a beautiful story and goes something like this...

"At the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood had reached the size of the mighty oak tree. So strong and firm was the wood that it was chosen as the timber for Jesus' cross.

To be used for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the dogwood. While nailed upon it, Jesus sensed this, and in his compassion said. "Because of your pity for my suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used for a cross. Henceforth, it shall be slender, bent, and twisted, and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross–two long and two short petals.

"In the center of the outer edge of each petal will be the print of nails. In the center of the flower, stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns so that all who see it will remember." Taken from THIS website, Apple Seeds.

Beautiful! Those nail scarred hands... How much he loved us, we who are so unworthy... Grace, grace, marvelous grace... Blessings to you and yours!

Lori
Saintsrule!

Card Stock - Bazzill,
Designer Paper - K & Company by Tim Coffey - Blossomwood
Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs - The Lord has Risen
Ink - Close to My Heart - Indian Corn Blue
Dies - Nestabilities - Labels One and Pendant Lattice
Flowers - Color Me Crazy - Petaloo - Hydrandeas (I cut a chunk out of each petal to mimic a dogwood)
Copic - E33 (color tips of "dogwood blossoms)
Dew Drops - Scrappers Must Haves - Easter Collection
Fiber - Stampin Up
Sticks - randomly cut pieces of card stock

Sending You Sunshine

Don't you just love yellow? I know I do! Especially this time of year when sunny days are few and far between. During the coming days we will have unusually warm temps in Kentucky and I am looking forward to them! I hope to see some SUNSHINE! It seems like the Ulrich household becomes very stir crazy this time of year. We have been known to work in the yard when the temps barely reach 40 degrees. Hubby and I simply have to get out! We love our togetherness but moderation is the key... lol...

Today's card reflects my love of yellow. When I pulled out my supplies I found an interesting trend. The ink is SUNflower. The sentiment is sending you SUNSHINE. The stamp set is called Sending SUNshine.... See a trend here???? lol.... I think I am craving longer days and warmer months... Daffodils fit that bill. My birthday is in March and I associate their bright little faces with the first harbingers of spring (not to mention my birthday...) Well here's hoping you have a little sun in your day and blessings until we talk again...

Lori
Saintsrule!



Card Stock - Bazzill
Designer Paper - Echo Park - Little Girl - Cupcake Casey
Stamps - Sentiment and Image - Gina K. Designs - Sending Sunshine by Theresa Momber
Ink - Sentiment - Close to My Heart - Sunflower; Image - Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers - Copic

Daffodils - Y04, Y08, Y17, 0 Colorless Blender
Foliage - YG03, YG17, YG67

Die Cuts - Spellbinders Nestabilities - Fancy Tags, Small Labels, Labels Eleven
Embossing - Provocraft - Cuttlebug - Polka Dots Folder (white layer)
Fiber - unknown (yellow/white gingham)

A Little Girl's Birthday - A Stair Step Card

A few days ago I asked For your prayers as I worked on a birthday card. A grandmother had asked me to create something special for her granddaughter's ninth birthday. I decided to use my Cricut and specifically the cartridge, A Child's Year. I absolutely love the images on this cartridge. They can be used for so many occasions.

I tried to reflect the changes in a young girl on this card. The first image is of a child celebrating it's first birthday. The second image is of a young girl playing at the beach. I picked this image because one of my friend's most prized photo is of her granddaughter at the beach. And finally, I picked a slightly older image of a girl holding a bird. My friend loves birds and I thought this image would remind her granddaughter how much she is loved! There are several great tutorials on the web. Just search for stair step cards! Thanks as always and I look forward to talking with you again soon!

Blessings

Lori
Saintsrule!



Card Stock - Bazzill
Designer Paper - Echo Park Paper - Little Girl - Gingham Gaby
Ink - Memento Angel Pink - inked around the edges of the DP
Ink - Sentiment - Close to My Heart - Hollyhock
Stamp - Sentiment - Gina K. Designs - Sending Sunshine by Theresa Momber
Die Cuts - Images - Cricut - A Child's Year (4 inches)
Die Cuts - Sentiment - Classic Ovals Small, Classic Scalloped Ovals Small
Fiber - Stampin Up
Punch - Martha Stewart