MOJO225 & SSIC154 ~ With Heartfelt Sympathy

Blessings to you dear friends.  I must say this is the type of card I do not like to do.  Sympathy cards seem to be so hard for me.  I know that death is a going home celebration for those who die in Christ and the expressions of sympathy are simply for those left behind. 

 

With my Mother's accident and subsequent surgery, the fragility of life has become very clear.  We are not promised tomorrow.  We must live as if it were our last moment on earth.  So today, I plan to hug my loved ones and tell them how much I care.  What a blessing that we awoke to celebrate another day of life!  Who can  you share God's love with today?  Hugs and blessings...

 

Lori

 

Created for this week's Mojo sketch and die cut challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ...

and the Mojo sketch...

 

Card Recipe

 

Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs - With Heartfelt Sympathy

Papers - Glitz - French Kiss; Bo Bunny - Apple Cider; Simple Stories - Documented

Ink - Versafine - Onyx Black; Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Frayed Burlap (edges)

Dies - Spellbinders - Labels Eleven

Misc. - Seam Binding (custom dyed with Tuxedo Black - Memento Reinker); Pearl Flourish - Zva; Blossom; Lace; Distressing Tool

 

Challenges

 

Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge - MOJO255

Stampin' Sisters in Christ - SSIC154 - Dies, Punches or Shapes of Any Kind

FS282 ~ Enter His Gates ~

Ahhhh... A week of vacation!  There is nothing quite like it! Time to relax, reflect and clean the dust bunnies out from under the couch! OK, I guess that takes relaxation out of the picture, right? :-) So with a little R & R in mind I took to my craft table. Where else can a stamper, papercrafter get a little rest and relaxation, right?

I'm sharing a project I created for Splitcoast's Featured Stamper Challenge.

I used gray card stock scored at 1/2 inch intervals to mimic siding. The die (my new item) is by Memory Box. I cut two strips of tan card stock and dry embossed them with a brick embossing folder to create steps. I also added just a touch of distress ink to the edges with a sponge for definition. The flower pot is a black circle punch that I cut on opposite sides to make my pot. I added some paper punched leaves and tiny hydrangea punched blossoms which I molded lightly with a stylus. A bit of glue in the center along with some tiny gold microbeads finish them off. The doorknob is a simple silver flat backed pearl and the kickplate is a sliver of silver card stock I added. The sentiment (ODBD's Give Thanks set) was stamped on white card stock before hand trimming to mimic a sign for hanging above the door. Really not that complicated and fun to create!

Thanks for reading and until next time... blessings...

Lori

Card Recipe

Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs - Give Thanks
Paper - Bazzill, America Crafts
Ink - Versafine - Black Onyx; Ranger Distress Ink - Pumice Stone
Dies - Memory Box - Grand Madison Door
Punches - Circle Punch - Creative Memories; Embossing Folder - Sizzix Tim Holtz - Bricked; Flower & Leave Punches - Martha Stewart Crafts
Misc. - Microbeads - Gold - Recollections; Flat Back Silver Pearl - Mark Richards - Metal Stickers
Challenges

Splitcoast Stampers Featured Stamper - FS282
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Use Something New - SSIC146

F4A122 & SSIC145 ~ Bling It Up

Sometimes the simplest of ideas goes completely, utterly out of control. That is exactly what happened to me over the weekend as I decided to try out some new Distress Paint. As sometimes happens, I couldn't just settle on plan A. I had to jump head long into plan B. After cutting and gluing two cardboard die cuts together, painting them and watching them crackle up, I had a bright idea! I decided that some added bling would be JUST the ticket. And so I ran to my embellishment stash faster than you can say glitter. And glitter I did! After adding spray adhesive, I blinged it up with coarse crystal glitter. But oh, how my heart longed to do even more! So I sprayed yet again and added fine crystal glitter! And there, where shortly before a double layer of fleur de lis shaped cardboard had been was the most beautiful sight I had ever beheld! (OK, MAYBE I sniffed just a LITTLE too much spray adhesive during this undertaking...) lol... 

This card will go to a lovely couple getting married in a few days.  One half of the happy couple loves the New Orleans Saints.  (Henceforth the fleur de lis and color scheme...)  After said fleur de lis dried, I added it to the card stock base with dimensional foam. I paper pierced the edge of the white focal panel with my Stampin' Up paper piercer and template! And then I stamped my sentiment (Our Daily Bread Designs' Dreams set) on white CS, cut and embossed it with a die from Spellbinders Ribbon Banners set and added a few tiny paper pierced accents. The banner was placed on top with dimensional foam.  I added a couple of tiny baker's twine bows for interest. To keep with the Saints theme, I chose a white card stock base and then layered black card stock under a lovely gold card stock. Very regal!

So here she is...



And a close up of some of the details...



This one will go to a couple of challenges this week as well...

Splitcoaststampers - Free For All - Paper Piercing - F4A122
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Flags or Banners - SSIC145

Thanks as always for stopping by! Blessings...

Card Recipe

Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs - Dreams
Paper - Colorbok, American Crafts; card board
Ink - Versafine - Onyx Black
Dies - Sizzix - Fleur De Lis; Spellbinders - Ribbon Banners
Misc. - Ranger Distress Paint - Picket Fence; Glitter - Coarse Crystal & Fine Crystal Glitter; Spray Adhesive; Baker's Twine; Paper Piercer & Template - Stampin' Up

MOJO242, TSTR115 & SSIC140 ~ The Future

Happy Tuesday!  Can you believe the work week is almost half over?  I am looking forward to that nice long Memorial Day weekend, aren't you? 

Today I am popping in after a considerable dry spell to share a challenge card.  This time I actually was able to combine THREE challenges.  That is quite the feat since my creative energies have been at "low tide." 

So here it is...

This card is based on this week's Mojo Monday sketch...

And the inspiration photo "Garden Party" at The Shabby Tea Room...

The sentiment I selected is in Our Daily Bread Designs' Dreams set. I chose a soft blue Bazzill base and added a distressed floral print DP by Prima (Fairy Belle). I embossed/distressed a white panel of card stock adding soft touches of pink distress ink to the edges. Pinking shears added a bit of interest to the floral panel on top. The gingham sentiment panel was included in a lilybeedesign paper pad, Double Dutch. A bit of white lace and blue seam binding are tucked in behind the panel. A couple of pink pearl flourishes, white glittered rose and blue mulberry roses finish off the corner spray! So glad I finally came up with something I LIKE! It's been a while... lol... But aren't we always hard on ourselves? Have a wonderful and blessed day! Until next time...

Lori

Recipe

Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs Dreams
Paper - Bazzill, Georgia Pacific, lilybeedesigns - Double Dutch, Prima - Fairy Belle
Ink - Versafine - Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Ink - Tattered Rose
Embossing Folder - Provocraft - Juli's Garden
Pearl Flourishes - Recollections, White Blossom - Prima, Lace - Simplicity, Seam Binding, Paper Punch - MS Crafts, Mulberry Roses, Corner Rounder, Pinking Shears

Today's Challenges

Mojo Monday 242 - Sketch Challenge
The Shabby Tea Room Week #115 - Garden Party
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #140 - Build Up Your Card (lots of layers)

MOJO241, SSIC139 ~ Trust

Good afternoon and thanks for stopping by to visit. I have a card to share. I created this one for the Mojo Monday sketch Challenge along with the weekly challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

Here's the sketch...

And my interpretation... (yes, I did rotate the sketch...)

This week's challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ calls for participants to include an animal, bird or bug of some sort. This request brought me to a stash of brads (shaped like ants) hidden away. And as often happens, God revealed something to me. I came upon this scripture in the Bible...

Proverbs 30:25

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest."

Many of us have times of trials and suffering.  And this spring has been a brutal one physically and emotionally for me. The migraines I had every 6 months or so have now become almost a weekly occurrence. My creative energies have been at an all time low. Things have been stressful on many fronts and my doctor cautions me to reduce my stress load.  That can be a difficult thing to do with so many irons in the fire.  And I truly believe God wants us to be productive.  This scripture reveals so much!  You see, the ant works very hard... but the ant also works smarter!  It takes advantage of opportunity to provide for the future. She stays focused on her task and forges ahead.  She maintains the course.  The scripture I have on this card is included in Our Daily Bread's Scripture Collection 7 and I found it to be a great comfort.  Trust in the Lord. Stay focused on Him and forge ahead. And that perfect peace will come! Blessings...

Card Recipe

Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs - Scripture Collection 7
Paper - Paper Studio, Georgia Pacific, Prima Sun Kiss, lilybeedesign Double Dutch
Dies - Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large, Petite Scalloped Circles Large, Foliage, Sunflower Set Two
Embossing Folder - Provocraft - Wicker Weave
Ribbon - Offray
Brads, Jet Bead Flourish


Challenges


Stampin' Sisters in Christ - SSIC139 - Include an Animal, Bird or Bug (ant brads)
Mojo Monday - MOJO241 - Sketch Challenge

Fruit, News & a Challenge...

Today's card is for a challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. The ladies have asked participants to create something using a fruit theme! I must say that apples are one of my favs. There must be something to that old saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away. It seems like when I eat apples regularly, I feel better!

My card is a z fold card. The inner panel has some lovely DP showcasing my fruit of choice. The outside features a Cricut cut with one of Our Daily Bread Designs recent releases, Apple Seeds, embossed in gold. I had to put a few black pearls on the corner to kinda mimic seeds. And if you look real close you will see the leaf is crinkled! I had to run it through the crimper... lol...

And here is my apple for the day...



And if you love your Cricut hang on to your stylus! I have been asked to join a fabbo new blog called Exploring Cricut! Each week the ladies will have a challenge for you! But not a traditional challenge! The blog name says it all! We want you to use all those cartridges gathering dust! We will ask you to create projects with a specific cartridge and cut in mind. Sounds like fun huh? The inaugural challenge will begin Monday October 10th! Kinda fitting way to celebrate Columbus Day and his exploration of a new world! Come out and explore some new waters with us! Bookmark this site -

Exploring Cricut

Thanks as always for visiting! Blessings to you!

Card Recipe

Paper - Bazzill, K & Co Halloween & Fall Paper Pad; Stamps - ODBD - Apple Seeds; Ink - Versamark; Embossing Powder - Ranger Queen's Gold; Cricut Cartridge - Plantin Schoolbook; Ribbon, Pearls, Paper Crimper

Why Worry?

Wow! Is is Sunday morning already? The weekend has flown by! So thankful to be able to spend time with my friends and loved ones. That always makes for some special memories!

I took the opportunity Saturday to work on some cards. And this one will be for a few challenges including...

The Shabby Tea Room Challenge (Monochromatic)

Stampin' Sisters in Christ (Use Blessings or Encouraging Scripture)

And here it is...



This one is a true hodgepodge of supplies...

Paper - Bazzill, Prima Printery Collection; Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs - Don't Worry!; Ink - Versafine Onyx Black; Ink/Lace - Glimmer Mist Dazzling Diamonds, Memento Tuxedo Black; Dies - Spellbinders - Postage Stamps, Classic Squares Large, Cricut Celebrate with Flourish (clock); Lace; Gathered Ribbon; Mulberry Roses, Paper Punch - EK Success; Pearls - Zva

Thanks for reading and until next time!

SSIC107 - Wings & Scripture

I love the weekly devotions at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. If you haven't had a chance to check out their site, please do. This week Chris Olsen shared a wonderful poem that she found in her mother in law's Bible. Please take a few moments to check it out here. It is difficult sometimes to accept things in God's time and not ours... Thanks Chris for sharing what God has revealed to you.

The challenge this week is to create something with wings and scripture. My card has a butterfly die and image from Our Daily Bread Designs. The background is paper from Webster's Pages which I distressed and inked before applying to card stock. The lovely die cuts are from Cheery Lynn Designs and when put together the Cathedral Lace and Fanciful Flourish remind me of a trellis with vines climbing up it. I went with that idea and adhered some mulberry roses my friend Sabrina recently sent! She has an eye for beautiful flowers! ;-) Thanks so much for visiting! I'll see you next time!



Card Recipe

Paper - Colorbok, Webster's Pages Petite Papers Collection Triple Pack; Stamps - ODBD - Seed Packet, Butterfly; Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Antique Linen, Copic; Dies - Our Daily Bread Designs Butterfly, Spellbinders Ovals Large, Cheery Lynn Designs - Cathedral Lace, Fanciful Flourish; Mulberry Roses; Paper Piercer; Ranger Stickles Star Dust

Feathers, Thanksgiving and SSIC105

Happy Labor Day! Hope you are enjoying a day of rest and relaxation with your family!

You must be wondering how in the world the three items in my title can be related? Over the last few weeks, I have been experimenting with using unconventional items on my cards. Yesterday I used a rose embellie on my card made from a zipper. And today I used feathers in the corners to draw attention to my central design. I recently received this stamp set from Our Daily Bread Designs called Give Thanks. Even though Thanksgiving is still a few months away, we have had a few mornings with a "chill" in the air. So that brings me to number three, Stampin' Sisters In Christ. They have asked those playing along in this weeks challenge to use muted colors, nothing bright! And what says muted more than orange, mustard yellow and a fall plaid? And don't forget the feathers! Make it a great one... Blessings...



Paper - Bazzill, K & Company Tim Coffey Halloween & Fall Paper Pad; Stamps - ODBD - Give Thanks; Ink - Copics, Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa; Ribbon - Offray Verano Tan; Dies - Cheery Lynn Designs Italian Flourish; Dew Drops - Pebbles by SMH - Harvest; Feathers

SSIC103 - What are you afraid of?

The ladies at SSIC have asked challenge participants to try something new. But not just anything... Players are to use something they have been afraid to try. Well after thinking a couple of minutes **there are plenty of things I'm scared of** I came up with a list of things to do. Thankfully I narrowed it down to two...

1. Silhouettes - I love the look but have been TERRIFIED to try putting one on a card... I feel very inept in this department.... My dear friend, Barb recently sent me this beautiful paper by Stampin' Up...

2. Using absolutely NO stamping on the outside... only the inside... ***Oh, dear readers this one almost broke me out into a cold sweat***


Now for where the card will be going...

Our church has been going through some transitions as of late. Our beloved pastor of 22 years was called to leave our church and start a new ministry elsewhere. As you can imagine this has left a big hole in our church and heart. Our search committee has been working diligently and prayerfully to find the man God has prepared for us. Our long time Chair of Deacons also retired and this left us asking one of the other deacons to step up into this role. So his role has become quite time consuming not to mention stressful. I thought this stamp by ODBD would give him some encouragement during this challenging time. Thank you so much for stopping by! And until we meet again!

The outside...



And the inside...



Supplies

Paper - Bazzill, Colorbok, Stampin' Up; Stamps - ODBD Scrolly Borders, Serve the Lord; Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Dies - Cheery Lynn Designs
French Pastry, Cricut - A Child's Year (5 1/2 inch), Spellbinders Lacey Circles; Ribbon - Simplicity; Lace - Stampin' Up

I'm A Little Teapot

Do you remember that song from our childhood? I do. It brings back such happy memories like the tea parties I had with my stuffed animals and dolls. There is something so cheery about a beautiful tea set. Today's card was created for a challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. Please hop over and check it out. Chris Olsen shared a lovely devotion this week about a tea cup I think you will enjoy! Thanks as always for reading!



Recipe

Paper - Bazzill, My Little Shoe Box - Garden Party - Easy Breezy
Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs - Porch; Fleur De Lis Borders
Ink - Close to My Heart - Hollyhock;
Embossing Pen - Zig Emboss Writer
Embossing Powder - Ranger Queen's Gold
Lace - Simplicity - 1 1/4 Venice
Embossing Folders - Provocraft
Die Cuts - ODBD Vintage Die; Provocraft Cricut - Heritage Cartridge
Embossing Pen -