The Scoop... It's Release Day at North Coast Creations!

Welcome to North Coast Creations' July Blog Hop!  I bet most of  you know that July is National Ice Cream month and as the daughter of a dairy farmer...  Let's just say, I certainly keep demand up for the delicious treat.  So might I suggest, you scoop you up a big bowl of your favorite flavor and settle in for a delightful blog hop.  I know my fellow teamies have some amazing projects to share!  

But the best part?  You too can have the opportunity to treat yourself to some of these calorie free ice cream themed treats!  Just for commenting on the Design Team Blog Posts, you have a chance to win a $10 NCC Gift Certificate, good towards the purchase of NCC Stamps. You have until July 26, 2015 at 10:00 PM EDT to leave a comments on the participating designers blogs for a chance to win! Two random winners will be selected from the comments left on the designers blogs, the winners will be announced on the NCC Blog on July 27, 2015, be sure to check back there to see if you have won!

 

So now on to my first project using the new Ice Cream Shoppe set...

 

 I started with my favorite size card base, 5.5 x 4.25 inches and added a patriotic mat of white and blue.  I used some fun designer papers from our sister company, Our Daily Bread Designs' Patriotic Paper Collection.  I stamped my image (Ice Cream Shoppe) on Copic compatible paper, colored and fussy cut it.  I stamped my sentiment in a rich blue ink on white cardstock before using ODBD's Antique Labels and Borders Die to cut and emboss my sentiment panel.  I added the fussy cut shake (with dimensional foam) and found a few die cut posies (ODBD's Asters and Leaves Die).  I thought they looked like fireworks sparklers so I added a couple randomly to my card.  You might detect a bit of shine on the cherry.  A dab of glossy accents added a bit of depth.  

 

So here is the new set...

 

 

And now on to my next project....

 

 This time I started with an ecru base and added a Kraft mat before pulling out another paper collection from ODBD called Vintage Ephemera.  I stamped my image directly on ecru card stock with Memento's Espresso Truffle and colored the cherry with a colored pencil.  I added a bit of glaze to this one also because I like the look.  I stamped my sentiment on ecru with Memento's Love Letters ink and used a round paper punch to create the sentiment panel.  

And the new set used here...  Ice Cream Shoppe...

Don't forget to hop along with the rest of the "Coasters" to see what other calorie free creations they have for you!  And make sure to comment as you hop along!  Thanks for stopping by!

Some of the other items you saw today...

 

NCC Blog  (If you get turned around along the way...)

And the COASTERS....

 

 Lori  * Julie * Dawn 

* Sandee * Angie * Amy

SU ~ Thinking of You ~

Good morning!  Today's card features a stamp I purchased from Stampin' Up called Wetlands.  And if your neck of the woods is anything like mine...  it is WET!!!  We have had torrential rain in our area along with surrounding counties.  Please join me in praying for the needs of those struggling with loss this week due to extreme weather. 

 

This card will go to a friend...

 

I started with a black card stock base measuring 5.5 x 4.25 inches.  I scored the base diagonally at 1 inch intervals.  I stamped my image (multiple grass images along with the Canadian goose) on Copic compatible paper and lightly colored everything.  I sponged Bamboo ink on for grass and Summer Sky (along a torn piece of paper) to create my sky. 

 

I double matted the image with black and white card stock and stamped the sentiment on a scrap piece of white card stock.  I used a die from Our Daily Bread Designs (Pennant Dies) and glued it directly to the image panel.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

 

***Hugs***

A Look Back at Our Daily Bread Designs' July Release

Today we are taking a look back at Our Daily Bread Designs' July Release.  Here are a couple of cards I created using You Are My Angel, Blossom, Welcoming Window Die, Window Shutter and Awning Dies and Flower Box Fillers Die.  For more inspiration using the July Release be sure to visit the ODBD Blog.

I began with a white card stock base and added a shabby base using the Shabby Rose Paper Collection and a die from the Flourished Star Pattern 

set.  I added the window die and base (Welcoming Window Die) along with shutters and awning (Window Shutter and Awning Die).  I added greenery created with the Fancy Foliage Die and blossoms created with the new Flower Box Fillers Die set.  I stamped the sentiment (You Are My Angel) with black ink and finished it with a die from the Antique Labels and Borders set.  Did you notice the double awning?  I cut one layer out of the gingham DP and another out of white card stock and trimmed it peek out from the gingham panel.  So FUN!!

So here is a clean and simple card using some Washi tape and a fun image colored and fussy cut from ODBD's Blossom stamp set.  

This has a white 5.5 x 4.25 inch card stock base with Real red matting and white sentiment base.  I placed the coordinating fabric Washi tapes and added my colored blossom with dimensional foam.  I tucked a few springs of greenery and twigs die cut from the Fancy Foliage Die set.  I stamped the sentiment with black Versafine ink directly on the main panel.  So simple and easy!!!

SO here are the items from this month's collection....

and some old favorites...

Don't forget to visit my sister "sticks' to see all of the fun projects they have to share!  And if  you get lost along the way simply stop by the ODBD Blog.

The Bread Sticks

Cathy * Julie * Sandee * Dawn * Amy 

 Lori(ME) * Loretta * America * Sabrina

Thanks for spending a few moments of your day!  Blessings!

WAW192 ~ The Mountains and the Hills ~

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another fabulous, fun and inspirational challenge at Word Art Wednesday.

  

Be sure to check out the Word Art Wednesday site for all of the details including this week's digital scripture, how to link your creation AND info on some fabulous prizes! 

We appreciate our sponsors so very much!  Please take a few moments to thank those who generously provided our prizes this week!

Our scripture this week may be found in the book of Isaiah...

 I started with a white card stock base measuring 5.25 x 5.25 inches.  I cut a slightly smaller designer paper layer featuring a variety of trees.  I printed this week's Scripture on white card stock and cut it to fit slightly off center.  I stamped a focal image which complements this week's scripture with gray and olive inks before die cutting/embossing it with an oval die.  I added a bit of soft blue ink with a sponge to create the sky and added the panel with dimensional foam.  

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Don't forget to hop over to the WAW site and play along!  

Blessings...

Supplies

Digital Scripture - Word Art Wednesday;
 Image Stamp - Our Daily Bread Designs' - Keep Climbing
Ink -Memento - Summer Sky, Olive Grove, Gray Flannel
Die - Spellbinders - Ovals Large
Paper - Bazzill, Georgia Pacific, Pebbles - Homegrown

ODBD ~ Let Hope Blossom ~

Several people in my circle of friends and acquaintances are dealing with the loss of a love one this week.  Studies show that some of the most stressful events in life are traumatic events, including divorce, death, job loss and moving, just to name a few.  As staggering as these blows may be there is great comfort in knowing that there is hope.  I have known people who refused to allow hope to reside in their hearts.  And I must admit there have been times in my own life where I have refused to water the seed.  Sometimes it is just easier to shut yourself down and cower to the pain.  (Anyone else know what I mean???)  There are times when you feel as if there is so much darkness swallowing you up that absolutely no sunlight can get in.  I have found that I must have a willing heart to accomplish this goal. 
Maybe that is why I love this sentiment from Our Daily Bread Designs' recent release, Blossom.  When I first laid eyes on this set, I was immediately drawn to the rose image and beautiful scripts.  But the more I studied the sentiments, the more intrigued I became.  A bloom has to be nurtured so it can grow, develop, and eventually blossom into the beautiful flower it was meant to be.  It requires a great deal of watering, fertilizing and care before that rose can reach it's full potential.  And yes, it NEEDS sunlight!!!  And when the rose opens up and you can see just how beautiful the finished product is...  WOW!!!   I think hope starts out in a very similar way.  When you wrestle with challenges and disappointments it is difficult to see the end of the tunnel.  Eventually, there comes a point when you can actually see that little bit of light...  You have to nurture it.  You have to want hope!  You have to walk, crawl, run, whatever you can to get there!!!  And sometimes a good friend or two will drag you toward that light.  And you have sun and sometimes you have rain...  but both are needed for the greater good!  We need both to become stronger...  

Today's card featuring Blossom...

 I started with a red card stock base (5.5 x 4.25 inches).  I then added a slightly smaller white mat with designer paper from ODBD's Patriotic Paper Collection.  I cut a fun doily die from white card stock (Doily Die) and added the stamped sentiment panel (Patriotic Paper Collection. Circle Ornaments Die and Blossom stamp set) stamped in red.

I stamped the rose images on Copic compatible paper and colored those with copics before fussy cutting each.  I added twigs, vines and leaves using ODBD's Fancy Foliage Die.

So here are the items you see today...

and some old favorites...

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a wonderful Monday!  

MOJO405 ~ Be Blessed ~

How do you plan on being blessed today?  Will you take a few moments to stroll and admire the Lord's creation?  Will you attend a worship service and sing praises to His name?  Will you delve into His word and ask Him to speak to you?  Will you spend time with friends and/or family soaking up those precious moments and filing away memories?  Whatever, it may be, I challenge you to bless someone else in your words and deeds today.  I guarantee you will receive the bigger blessing!

Today's card featuring the MOJO405 sketch...

I started with a black card stock base measuring 5.5 x 4.25 inches.  I used an embossing folder (Cricut's Kitchen Weave) to emboss a white card stock base.  I found my bandanna and farm paper in a fun paper collection from American Crafts.  I wanted to pick up the black so I found a complementary dot print from Teresa Collins.  I cut two 1 inch wide blue card stock strips (for a total of 24 inches) and scored them at half inch intervals.  I then used the scoring lines to gate fold the strips and used a glue gun to adhere them to around base.  I stamped my sentiment on a white die cut circle and added it with the Blessed sentiment to my page.  When I think of farms this time of year, I think of county fairs...  

So here's the sketch I used this week...

and the products...

Paper - Georgia Pacific (white & black); Bazzill (red & blue); American Crafts - Heartland Farm (bandanna & farm print); Teresa Collins - Hello My Name Is (black & white dots)

Ink - Versafine Onyx Black

Embossing Folder - Cricut Kitchen Weave

Die - Spellbinders Standard Circles Small

Stamps - Verve - The Buzz

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time, 

Blessings...

NCC ~ A Shabby Thank You ~

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING!  Are you as excited as I am?  I love weekends!  I have a bit more time to visit my craft room and do a few projects around the house.  Most recently, I have been cleaning out closets for a garage sale.  And even though, it is hard to part with some things (I'm really not going to wear that...) you just have to do it!  But the best part of cleaning out my scrap space is finding items I can re purpose.  Today, I found an old box in my storage closet.  And instead of throwing it away...  I cut off a bit of the card board and ripped it apart to show the corrugation...  I really think the cardboard was waiting to be LIBERATED...  lol

I started with a 5.5 x 4.25 white card stock base and cut my corrugated card board slightly smaller to fit.  I added the lacy frame (Layered Lacey Squares) blinged up with some glimmer mist.  I also found a stash of tissue paper.  So I shredded it to bits...  (a great way to take out your frustrations) crinkled it and added it randomly to the base with glue.  I stamped my images (North Coast Creations' June release Floral Sentiments 7) on white card stock with a rich brown distress ink and fussy cut them to fit behind my sentiment panel.  I die cut my star (also treated with glimmer mist) with ODBD's Sparkling Stars Die.  I then stamped my sentiment (also from NCC's Floral Sentiment 7) on the die.  A bit of randomly glued seam binding and pearl flourishes found their way onto my project along with a fun Kraft die cut bird from Our Daily Bread Designs' Birds and Nest Die.  

So here are the items you see today including North Coast Creations' most recent

 June release, Floral Sentiments 7...

and some items from our sister company

 Our Daily Bread Designs.com...

Layered Lacey Squares

Sparkling Stars Die

Birds and Nest Die

See, a trip down organizational lane can be quite liberating AND productive!  Until next time,

hugs and blessings....

additional supplies

Distress Ink - Ranger Gathered Twigs

Paper - Georgia Pacific, The Paper Studio, Tissue Paper, Corrugated Card Board

Pearl Flourish - Recollections

White Seam Binding

Pearl Glimmer Mist (Star & Layered Frame)

ODBD ~ Have a Blooming Birthday ~

I LOVE the new die sets from Our Daily Bread Designs!  I love to create dimensional projects and when I saw the new die sets this month...  WOW!!!  I couldn't wait to break out the card stock and DP and go to work!  The awning die just screams stripes!  And of course a lovely window scene needs a picket fence right?  For today's project, I actually cut out two of the window dies and placed them side by side to create a larger window scene.  I used a couple of circle die cuts (Matting Circles Die) cut and run through a paper crimper to create my faux curtains...

Basically, I created doubles of everything...  the window box, a bevy of flowers and individual blossoms layered on top plus my fun picket fence popped out for dimension.  You can find the sentiment in the Home Sweet Home 
stamp set. 
 
Here's a close up of my little window world...

Isn't it fun?  So here are the items I used from this month's release to create it.

Home Sweet Home

Welcoming Window Die
2 die cuts - white card stock

Window Shutter and Awning Die
2 die cuts (umbrella stripe DP)

Flower Box Fillers Die
Multiple layers of green card stock & misc single blossoms...

and some old favorites...

Fence Die
1 die cut in white card stock fit across my card (5.25 x 5.25 inches)

Matting Circles Die
1 die cut white card stock, cut and crimped

Thanks as always for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!

additional supplies

Memento Tuxedo Black - Ink

Bazzill, Georgia Pacific, We R Memory Keepers Farmer's Market - Papers

Liquid Pearls - White Opal - flower centers

Stickles - Black Diamond - flower centers

NCC ~ I Miss You ~

Happy Tuesday!  I hope this post finds you rested after the July 4th holiday!  Or maybe it finds you beginning a well deserved vacation!  I will return to my job tomorrow after a 10 day vacation.  I wonder how many days it will take to get my mind back in the zone??  This year hubs and I elected to stay home.  I had a big test to prepare and take and a few health challenges kept us from traveling too far.  I did take one day to travel and visit a few of the covered bridges of Kentucky!  And I managed to take one day to visit my favorite Christian bookstore and stock up on some new books!  Now I just need the time to read them!  :-)  

PLUS I did get some time to craft.  For today's post I tried a new technique.  I created the background panel with a sheet of white card stock and black acrylic paint.  After the paint dried, I added my floral image North Coast Creations' (Floral Sentiments 8) with clear embossing powder and Versamark.  I heated them and after curing, added a bit of gold ink, bronze stain and a smidge of dark red distress ink.  I tried to add each as a layer and use a paper towel to lightly remove a bit of each layer before proceeding.  The final panel resembles a distressed leather...  kinda cool...  I embossed the floral image and sentiment on black card stock and used some Our Daily Bread Designs dies to cut and emboss each.  The base is black card stock measuring 5.5 x 4.25 inches with a layer of copper card stock beneath the faux leather/stamped panel.  I added a bit of black frayed hemp cord with a cork button after positioning my image and sentiment in the center.  The photo doesn't do this one justice.  It is so much better IRL!

So here are the items I used on today's project including the recent Floral Sentiments 8 release from North Coast Creations.

And a few items from our sister company Our Daily Bread Designs...

Vintage Labels Die

 

Vintage Flourish Pattern Die 

Pennant Die

Thanks as always for stopping by!  Come back later this week as I share a fun "double window" card featuring the new Welcoming Windows Die from Our Daily Bread Designs!  

Blessings...

CTMH ~ Land of the Free ~

For all of my friends in the United States, Happy 4th of July!  I hope this post finds you enjoying a day full of friends and fun!  I have a simple card to share today featuring an older Close To My Heart release.  I'm not sure if this was a special monthly set or just is no longer in the catalog.  I normally don't like to feature things that you can't purchase.  However, I REALLY wanted to use this stamp for a project this year!  So here it is!  It features Close To My Heart's Home of the Brave set.

I started with a 5.5 x 4.25 inch blue card stock base and added a red mat.  I stamped the Statue of Liberty image and added 3 inked images (red, blue and yellow) of my firecrackers.  I finished the card by stamping the sentiment in black ink in the corner.  

I took some time today to catch up on my daily Bible reading...  I have been studying for a HR re-certification course...  and sadly my Bible studies fell behind.  Today, I found myself in the book of Philippians...

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."

    Phillippians 3:20-21 NASB (New American Standard Bible)

I have always been a proud American.  The 4th of July always brings a surge of patriotism for me.    This scripture brought a powerful truth home to me.  I am just passing through.  This place...  isn't my home...  I might be a citizen of the US of A...  but that is temporary...  I hold a citizenship that trumps all others....  Do you???  

Blessings...

Lori  

A Blog Hop and New Release at Our Daily Bread Designs!

 Welcome to Release Day at Our Daily Bread Designs!  The first day of each month is a special time for ODBD and the "Bread Sticks."  We get to show you all of the new products ODBD has cooked up for you that month.  Plus you have the chance to win when you hop along!  

For complete deets on how you might win check out the bottom of today's post.  In the meantime, I have a couple of cards to share featuring a host of new stamps and dies from Our Daily Bread Designs.  

First off, I have a soft and shabby project featuring the new set, You Are My Angel...

I started with a white card stock base (5.5 x 4.25 inches) and added a soft pink mat.  I selected the gingham print from ODBD's Shabby Rose Paper Collection  and distressed the edges before adding it to the pink mat.  A bit of dimensional foam lifts the die cut Quatrefoil Pattern Die off of the gingham for an added bit of dimension.  I stamped the angel wings (from the new You Are My Angel

set) with silver ink on white card stock and carefully fussy cut it.  I nestled it on top of the wing dies (Angel Wings) and added some greenery from a favorite die, Fancy Foliage.  This montage including flowers from the Birds and Nest Die rest upon the Antique Labels and Borders Die also in white CS.  I stamped the sentiment (You Are My Angel) with pink ink on white card stock and used the Pennants Die to cut and emboss it.  A few flat backed pearls in the blossoms add just a bit of refinement.  And if  you look closely you will see the bit of glimmer mist on the die cut wings nestled above the pearl flourish.  Whew!  There is a whole lot going on with this project!  ;-)

And here is the new set you see here today...

So for my second project...  I decided to go with an Americana feel...  Fourth of July is coming ya know!  

I started with a rich navy CS base measuring 5.5 x 4.25 inches.  I added a white mat and a red card stock base, scoring every inch to create a "clapboard" effect.  The new dies made the rest of the project a breeze.  I created my window, shutters and window box with the new dies, Welcoming Window, Flower Box Fillers and Window Shutter and Awning.  I created the flowers with the Flower Box Fillers die and added a bit of greenery from Fancy Foliage. 

 The curtains are white card stock and Layered Lacey Squares Die cuts, positioned to resemble curtains.  The "wallpaper" and awning are prints from the Patriotic Paper Collection.  I chose a rich navy ink and stamped the sentiment (Home Sweet Home) on white CS before using the Mini Tags Die to cut and frame it.  A bit of baker's twine and Flower Soft adorn the box.  

 

So here are the new items you see here...

 

 

Didn't I tell you this was a fabulous release???  SO FUN!!!  

Would you like to have a chance to select some ODBD stamps of your very own? 

Here's all the deets....

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 July 2, 2015 at 9:00 p.m. EDT to leave your comments on the Designers Blogs for a chance to win!  The Winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on July 3rd, so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

  ODBD Blog 

 

and the Bread Sticks

  Cathy * Julie * Sandee * Silke * Dawn* Chris 

 * Grace * America * Lisa * Amy * Lori(ME) * Angie * Sabrina