Friday, May 26, 2017

~ A Salute to Teachers ~

Many of us are approaching the end of another school year.  And that means a host of graduation parties, awards dinners and backyard cookouts.  This time of year, has such a wonderful feeling of possibilities!  I am proud to share a couple of cards designed to celebrate a favorite school teacher and Sunday School Teacher. Here is the first project showcasing Our Daily Bread Designs' Class Act stamp set, Notebook Paper Stamp Die Duo, Clipboard Set Dies and A+ Apples Die.

 I started with a rich navy card stock and used ODBD's Side Step Card Die to create my base.  I trimmed patterned paper a bit smaller for each section from the Americana Quilt Paper Collection.  I stamped the sentiment (ODBD's Class Act) with a coordinating navy die on white card stock before framing with the Pierced Ovals Die and Ovals Die.   I stamped the book image on Neenah Solar Crest with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  I then colored the image and fussy cut them before adding the to the card.  I added a few die cut props from the Notebook Paper Stamp Die Duo, Clipboard Set Dies and A+ Apples Die.  I even added a bit of baker's twine (looped around the clipboard) to the faux whistle.  It looks like coach just left it there for a minute...  Here's a side view of the card... 

Not to be outdone, I needed a little something, something for a fellow Sunday School teacher.  So I pulled out the new Sunday School Teacher  stamp set and coordinating Crosses Die.
So I chose papers from the Whimsical Wildflowers Collection  and Plum Pizzazz Paper Pad.  I stamped the image with a soft plum ink on white card stock before using a coordinating die to cut it.  (Sunday School Teacher , Crosses Die)  I added a base layer of white card stocking using the Lattice Background Die.  I also used the Circles Die and coordinating Pierced Circle Dies to frame the cross.  I also used Pennant Flags Die to frame the sentiment panel and coordinating Double Stitched Pennant Flags Die to frame it along with the faux banners.  I double up on the banners behind the cross to make them longer, hiding the seam with the circle dies. 

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







and a few old favorites too...












And inks for these projects...

Copics (Card 1) - R24, R27, R29, B21, B23, B26, YG16, E37, C3
Memento Tuxedo Black (image), Memento Danube Blue (notebook paper lines) 
Stampin' Up - Night of Navy (sentiment)

Card 2 
Memento Grape Jelly

Thanks for stopping by!  
Blessings...

Friday, May 19, 2017

A Look Back at Our Daily Bread Designs' May Release

Welcome to a special look back at this month's release from Our Daily Bread Designs'.  Today, I have a card using Seeds of Knowledge, Clipboard Set DiesNotebook Paper Stamp Die Duo and A+ Apples Die.  

I started with a white card stock base (4.25 x 11 inches, scored and gate folded at 5.5 inches).  I cut a smaller layer of DP using the Americana Quilt Paper Collection  and offset it to show some of the white base.  I added another slightly smaller white layer...  again offset and a final polka dot design.  (Also found in the Americana Quilt Paper Collection ...)  
I stamped the paper image (using red and blue ink to define the lines) on white card stock and used the die from the set to finish it off. (Notebook Paper Stamp Die Duo)
I inked up my sentiment stamp with black ink (Seeds of Knowledge) and stamped it on the bottom right corner of the "faux" notebook paper page.  I added a die cut magnifying glass (Clipboard Set Dies) and a the perfect die cut grade (A+ Apples Die).  I finished off the card with a fun die cut apple ( A+ Apples Die & red DP from the Old Glory Paper Pad set)  
The ensemble wouldn't be complete without the mini glue bottle to literally hold it all together...  ( Clipboard Set Dies).  
Here are the May release items you see here today...





and a few old favorites...



Be sure to stop by and visit my design team sisters.  They have some fun projects up their sleeve as well.  And if you should get lost along the way, stop by HERE to get your bearings.  Thanks so much and have a blessed day!

Dawn * Cathy * Robin * Lisa * Sandee
  * Helen * Julie * Lori (ME) * Diana

Thursday, May 11, 2017

~ Pearls of Wisdom ~

Teachers impact lives each and every day across our great country.  Some of my fondest childhood memories involve places and events involving special teachers.  I spent countless hours with a tiny easel chalkboard playing school.  The hapless victims...   were rows of stuffed animals...  meticulously placed in what I deemed their proper "seating chart."  I loved school.  So much so, in fact, that I imagined spending my life as an educator.  A few semesters in, I heeded to the call of practicality and chose to pursue a degree in business.  And seventeen years later, I chose to return to school to complete a teaching certificate simply because I needed to prove I could do it.  I love the process of learning.  In fact, I would call myself a lifelong learner...  someone who seeks new learning opportunities.  I admire those who use their God given talents to shape young minds.  It is a difficult and often thankless task.  Scores and standards often take priority over what skills or knowledge a child might need.  Teachers are pushed to educate with little to any originality...  there is only one way...  depending on the current method of the moment.  I say all of that to say...  GOD BLESS THOSE WHO TEACH...  We entrust our children to them each and every day.  And they give EVERYTHING they have.  Sometimes they hurt, sometimes they cry and many times they rejoice!  It is a difficult road and I would encourage you to take a moment...  pray for our teachers...  bless them with words of encouragement and support!  And be willing to donate to help them.  Many of our teachers pay for supplies out of their own pockets because children do not have the means to bring their own.  Offer a gift certificate to a box store for supplies, a special gift card...  or a simple gesture of gratitude.  It goes a long way!  Blessings... 


So in honor of my favorite childhood "chalkboard" I designed a 4.25 x 5.5 inch card stock base and used ODBD's Rectangles Die to cut out the "base" and create legs.  I embossed the sentiment (white embossing powder on black cardstock using the new Seeds of Knowledge stamp set.  ODBD's Squares Die cut the faux chalkboard out perfectly.  I added a simple strip of brown card stock to create a chalk rail.  The image (also from Seeds of Knowledge) colored and die cut with the coordinating Teacher's Apples Die adorns the side.  I also took some time to play with the new A+ Apples Die.  After die cutting several layers, I scored and folded each, gluing similar sides together at a 90 degree angle.  For my dimensional apple, I used 8 of the larger die cut apples.  I glued on the die cut stem and leaves.  Won't this look cute stationed on someone's desk?

Here are the new items  you see...



 and some old favorites...



Monday, May 1, 2017

Welcome to Our Daily Bread Designs' May Release and Blog Hop

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Bread Designs' May Release and Blog Hop!  I have a couple of projects to share today featuring stamp sets and coordinating dies perfect for teacher appreciation cards and gifts!  One of the sets has a beautiful cross design and sentiments perfect for creating projects with your favorite Sunday School teacher in mind!  I can't wait to share these fun projects and hope you have as much fun looking at them as I did creating them!  Don't forget to check the end of today's post for details on this month's blog hop!  So here is the first project featuring the Sunday School Teacher stamp set and coordinating Crosses Die.


I started with an ecru card stock base measuring 4.25 by 10 inches, scored and folded at 5 inches.  I cut a slightly smaller gold textured card stock and added an ecru lattice die cut using last month's release, Lattice Background Die.  I stamped the image from the NEW Sunday School Teacher stamp set with a watermark ink and heat embossed the image with gold embossing powder.  I die cut the image using the coordinating Crosses Die.  I added it to an oval die cut base (ODBD's Ovals Die) with dimensional foam and placed it on the card front.  I stamped and embossed the sentiment (also from the Sunday School Teacher set on ecru and used ODBD's Pennant Flags Die and Double Stitched Pennant Flags Die to mat it.  I opted to finish the image off with a bit of greenery and flowers using the Lovely Leaves Die and Bitty Blossoms Dies.  

And here are the new items from this month's release you see above...


  
And here is another project I whipped up featuring the new Seeds of KnowledgeClipboard Set Die AND Notebook Paper Stamp Die Duo!


I started with a Kraft card stock base (4.25 x 11 inches, folded at 5.5) and added a white card stock mat.  I used ODBD's Pierced Rectangles Die and Old Glory Paper Pad to create the designer paper base.  I used a ruler die (from the NEW Clipboard Set Die to create the yellow border.  The Clipboard Set Die also helped me create the clipboard, pencil, scissors and paperclip.  I cut the pencil using white card stock but added a bit of Copic Ink (C7, R22 and R29) to color it up.  A bit of white card stock, blue ink and the NEW Notebook Paper Stamp Die Duo helped with create a perfect miniature piece of notebook paper.  I added a sentiment (in black) from the NEW Seeds of Knowledge stamp set.  

So here are the new items featured in this project...




Aren't they fun?  

So know here are the details on the blog hop...

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 May 2, 2017 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 May 3rd so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

ODBD Blog  (if you should get lost along the way..._

And the Bread Sticks

Cathy * Kathy * Dawn *SandeeAngie * Julie * Lisa * Chris * Diana * Robin * Sabrina * Helen * Lori

Before we go, here are a few of the other items I used on these projects...









Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time...

Blessings!

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