~ May the Lord Keep Watch ~

There are few things in my opinion that are more beautiful than a morning sunrise.  There is something about the first break of dawn and the promise of a new day that stirs my soul.  Maybe it is the fact that I have another opportunity to accomplish a long list of to dos.  Or maybe it is simply the perfect beauty of the Creator displayed in His creation.  

Today, I have a new card to share using a couple of Our Daily Bread Designs' recent releases, Wildflower Silhouette Background  and Miss You.

I started with a lemon yellow card stock base (5.5 x 4.25) and added a black CS mat.  

***Seeds of Inspiration***  I used ODBD's Circle Ornaments Die to create a stencil for my sun.  I placed the circle die cut in the middle of a white card stock panel and lightly sponged a soft yellow ink.  I then added some soft pink and finished the top edge with a soft teal.  I removed the circle die and lightly went back over the white circle with my yellow ink to soften it up a bit.  I also added a bit of soft gray ink at the bottom where I knew my image would be "grounded."  I inked up the background stamp (black) and added the image directly to my sponged panel.  After stamping the image, I went back in and added ink to any areas that might have been missed.  

I stamped my sentiment (also in black) on white card stock and used ODBD's Fancy Flourish Pattern Die to cut it out.  I then inked soft lemon and gray over the sentiment.  I added a bit of black and white baker's twine (with a fun bow) before placing the sentiment panel with dimensional foam.  

Here are the products you see today...

Thanks for stopping by today!  

Blessings 

Paper - Bazzill, Georgia Pacific, Neenah

Ink - Memento Dandelion, Rose Bud, Summer Sky, Bahama Blue, Tuxedo Black, London Fog

Baker's Twine 

Welcome to Release Day at North Coast Creations!

Welcome!  I can't believe we are smack dab in the middle of February!  That means spring flowers are just around the corner!  And with spring comes Easter!  AND North Coast Creations has more beautiful stamps to help you create the perfect Easter cards!  BUT if that's not enough to pique your creative interest, NCC's sister company, Our Daily Bread Designs also created some fabulous dies to help your creative pursuits.  

 Of course, a blog hop wouldn't be nearly as fun without a chance to win AND this month, just for commenting on the Design Team Blog Posts, you have a chance to win a $10 NCC Gift Certificate!  Your NCC Gift Certificate would be good towards the purchase of NCC Stamps. 

You have until February 17, 2015 at 10:00 PM EST to leave a comment on the participating designers' blogs for a chance to win! Two random winners will be selected from the comments left on the designers' blogs AND the winners will be announced on the NCC Blog on February 18, 2015.  SO be sure to check back there to see if you have won!

So let's hop right into today's creations...

My first card features the new Pansies set...

and the darling set that inspired it all...

I started with a simple 5.5 x 4.25 card stock base and added DP from Our Daily Bread Designs' Blooming Garden Paper Collection.  I colored the image with Copics after stamping it on Copic compatible paper.  This image is perfect for fussy cutting (exactly what I did) before placing on a doily die (Our Daily Bread Designs' Doily Die.)  Both layers have dimensional foam underneath for added dimension.  I added a simple white seam binding bow before placing the sentiment. 

And now for card number 2...

featuring the new stamp set Hippity Hoppity from North Coast Creations AND

a couple of new dies from Our Daily Bread Designs' 

Grass Border Die and Eggs Die...

I stamped my image and colored it lightly with a soft gray (basically to define the image.)  I stamped it again on some fun dotted paper from Our Daily Bread Designs' Blushing Rose Paper Collection.  I paper pieced Mr. Rabbit's ears, belly and paw pads.  I used a soft blue and gray ink to lightly sponge the sky background.  I used a coordinating design from the paper collection and ODBD's Vintage Labels Die to cut a window for my design from coordinating paper.  The grass and egg dies were so easy to use and were perfect for using up remaining paper scraps.  I decided to pull out another die from ODBD (Pennant Dies) to create a darling flag and flagpole to display my sentiment.  

Isn't this new image darling???

and here are some of the other items you see today from 

North Coast Creations' sister company Our Daily Bread Designs...

Thank you again for stopping by today.  I hope you found something to inspire you!  Please stop by and visit my fellow team members A.K.A "The Coasters" and leave them some love!  

Don't forget you could win a GC just by hopping along and leaving a comment!  Have a wonderful and blessed Sunday!  

{{hugs}}

NCC Blog **If you get lost along the way...  ;-) 

 Julie * Lisa * Dawn 

* Sandee * Patricia * Lori * Angie

Additional Supplies 

Inks - Memento Olive Grove, Tuxedo Black (Card #1)

Inks - Memento Tuxedo Black, Pistachio, Espresso Truffle 

May God Bless Your Life

Creating cards is very soothing for me.  There seems to be something about the process of putting ink to paper that puts me at ease.  The last few weeks have been a struggle.  There are some days when my physical self seems to be entirely disconnected from my emotional self.  It is frustrating to not be able to do the things you want to do.  Thankfully, the Lord does provide and over the last few days I have made a few tentative forays into the craft room.  

For this project, I decided to try working with watercolor paper and I must say it was a wonderful experience.  Something about all of the colors mixing and blending together reminded me of my walk with God.  Just like the ink, there are places in my life where my walk has been more vibrant and in some areas more muted.  Ultimately, it all comes together to create a beautiful tapestry representative of my walk.  Just like my card, my walk is not perfect, however, it is truly a reflection of me.  Enjoy!

 

*** Seeds of Inspiration *** The background was easy to make.  I started with a watercolor paper and saturated it with water using a mister.  I then stamped the desired distress ink colors (Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean & Tumbled Glass) on an acrylic block and lightly misted each with water strategically stamping each where desired.  I allowed the water to do all the work...  dripping, running, mixing together... It was so fun!  And messy!  :-)  After it dried, I stamped the image and sentiment with black ink and hand traced the outer black frame.  I finished it up with a few sequins.

And here's the Our Daily Bread Designs' 

stamp set you see today...  

Life is a Gift

Thank you so much for stopping by!  God Bless!

February Release at Our Daily Bread Designs

Welcome!  So glad you could stop by!  The first day of the month always means a wealth of beautiful new items added to the Our Daily Bread Designs fold.  And this month is no exception. Be sure to take a few moments to look at all of the new dies and stamps ODBD have added.  

And to make release day even more fun, three randomly selected winners will each receive a $25 gift certificate to the ODBD Store, to be used toward the purchase of ODBD Stamps found in the "stamps column" of the website just for commenting on the Design Team cards!  You have until February 2, 2015 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 February 3rd, so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

Now for the projects I have today...  The first features layers of rich spring colors and the new stamp, Miss You...

I started with a white card stock base (5.5 x 4.25 inches) and added a daffodil yellow mat.  

Seeds of Inspiration ***  The base layer you see peeking out from the die isn't designer paper.  It is a custom layer I created with white card stock, distress ink and water.  You actually see 6 inks here!  I took each ink pad individually and pressed it on my acrylic block.  I spritzed each with water and pressed it onto plain white card stock.  I did this with all 6 ink, 3 on one side and 3 on the other.  After drying, I trimmed it to fit under the die cut.***

I used coordinating dies from the Vintage Flourish Pattern Die set to create the filigree piece and sentiment panel.  After die cutting, I stamped the floral image (the new release, Missing You) with a soft taupe ink, lightly inking the edges and adding the sentiment with a rich cocoa.  Both are placed on the custom DP layer with thin dimensional foam.  I added a floral spray accented with taupe pearls and Kraft foliage from the Fancy Foliage Die set.  Look closely and  you will even see a tiny taupe and white Baker's Twine bow!  

And if your style is more clean and simple, take a look at this card using the new Wildflower Silhouette and Hello Die.

I chose a simple color palette for this card...  ecru and chocolate.  I started with an ecru base (5.5 x 4.25 inches) and added a slightly smaller chocolate textured mat.  

Seeds of Inspiration (Emboss / Resist Technique) ***I cut a smaller ecru panel for my focal panel and stamped the image with Versamark.  I then used a clear embossing powder to set the image.  I chose a soft pumice distress ink and sponged it over the image.  And for the final layer, I added a frayed burlap ink.  Once it was colored the way I wanted, I used a dry paper towel to blot off the excess ink on the image.***

  I die cut the sentiment with some extra chocolate card stock and added it to the corner.  On the opposite corner, I placed a few brown dew drops for interest.  

So here are the items you see today...

Card #1 

from the February Release

Miss You

and other favorites...

Vintage Flourish Pattern Die

Fancy Foliage Die

Card #2

from the February Release

Wildflower Silhouette

Hello Die

Thank you for stopping by!  Don't forget to visit my "Sister Sticks" to see what beautiful creations they have for you!  As you hop along, be sure to leave some love so you may have a chance to win!  Thanks again and have a wonderful Sabbath!

ODBD Blog (If you get lost along the way)

The Breadsticks

Cathy * Lori (ME) * Sandee * Dawn

 * Julie * Grace * Chris * Lisa *

 Angie * Silke * Wanda * Sabrina * Audrey

~ Music is an Outburst ~

It's hard to believe another month has past by.  Can you believe that February is almost here?  Today, I have one final card featuring the January release at Our Daily Bread Designs.  

I started with a black card stock base (5.5 x 4.25 inches) and added a white mat layer using the Vintage Labels Die set to cut out the middle.  The Chalkboard Paper Collection creates a wonderful overlay along with the Vintage Flourish Pattern Die.  I added a beautiful die cut red heart with ODBD's Ornate Hearts Die and dimensional foam.  The image and both sentiment may be found in the January release, Sing Thy Grace.  I nestled a bit of greenery behind the layers with the Fancy Foliage Die set.  

Here's the products you see including this month's Sing Thy Grace

and some older favorites...

The last day of the month, means a new Our Daily Bread Designs' Release is at hand.  Stop by tomorrow morning at 8AM EST to see what the new month brings.  I can't wait to share!

Blessings.

~ Welcome Baby ~

Good morning!  Today's card features a classic image from Our Daily Bread Designs called Noah's Ark.  I created this card for a recent baby shower.  Since the Momma-to-be is expecting a boy, I thought blue along with this image would be perfect!  

I started with a rich brown card stock base (5.25 x 5.25 inches) and added a soft blue card stock mat.  I stamped my image (Rich Cocoa by Memento) on Copic compatible paper and colored my image.  I sponged Memento’s Summer Sky and Flannel Gray Ink around the image to mimic a rainy day.  I used a decorative die to create the frame and cut out the focal image from my DP.  A few springs of die cut greenery (Fancy Foliage Die) behind the ribbon die panel and sentiment finish it off.  I hope the recipient will enjoy it!  Thanks for stopping by! 

Here’s the ODBD products you see here today…

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~ Tune My Heart ~

Good afternoon and thank you so very much for stopping by!  Today I have a quick post to share featuring a card with the new Sing Thy Grace set from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I chose to stamp the image and sentiment on plain white card stock, color the image and add some very simple DP layers and ribbon.  I really wanted my image and sentiment to say it all.

And the set that inspired it all...

Measurements for this card...  5.5 x 4.25 inch white card stock base...

Thanks for stopping by!