Rejoice

We are to 'rejoice and be glad'...in all things - the good, the bad and the ugly. That's hard to do when life doesn't always make sense or look like you had imagined that it would. But nonetheless, we are to rejoice. So I ask the Lord daily to give me His joy so that I can 'rejoice'.
I wanted to use this cute Magnolia stamp, London Tilda, and send it to a sweet friend who is going through a really tough time. I had a couple of CAS challenges in mind, so I went in that direction. I colored the stamped image with Copic markers and added Glossy Accents to the falling rain and the puddle under Tilda's feet. I splattered Pumice Stone Distress Ink onto the background then cut the image with a stitched oval die. I printed the sentiment, matted it and added it with mounting tape. I finished the card by adding faux stitching around the edge.

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Mustard Seed Challenges            sketch
Crafty Friends                             Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers CAS       Rain
Simon Says                                A hint of pink
Clean and Simple Mix Up          Stamping, Splattering, Copic Markers

Wake Me for Breakfast

Good morning! I confess...I am not a morning person. Even though I get up and walk most mornings at 7:15, my mind doesn't start functioning for at least an hour. My sweet husband is the designated 'breakfast chef' now that we are both retired. He is definitely a morning person. If I happen not to get up to walk, I stay in bed until he tells me breakfast is ready.  So I totally relate to this card!

At first I created this just using the digital image of the Emu holding the sign from Limited Runs Digital stamps. Then I decided I wanted to use it for a couple of other challenges so I added some stamping to it. I really like the end-product!
I used a border punch along the bottom of the card base. I used another border punch to create the pink lace strip and backed the bottom piece with the same color. I added a strip of fabric lace as well. I wanted to give this 'masculine emu' a feminine look! Then I decided to add a tuft of lace to create a tutu. I stamped the flowers on the image and in the corner, masking the sign to add them. I added a few more flowers and a punched butterfly in the corner. I used a nestibilities die to cut out the image. All color was added with Copic markers. The sign reads, "Wake Me for Breakfast"

I have entered this card in the following challenges:


Addicted to Stamps         stamped image, butterfly, flowers
Crafty Friends                 anything goes
Alphabet Challenge        D for Decoupage
Whoopsi Daisy               TicTacToe   digi,diecut, flowers
Limited Runs                  Use the supplied digi

Not Good with Words

This card was a direct reflection of my inability to think fast on my feet. There have been so many times that something was said to me and instead of being ready with a comeback, I let it go. Then later I can think of what I should have said. But it seems that I'm often just not good with words! So I can empathize with Elmo the Emu!

This card was created with a digital image from Limited Runs Stamps for their Challenge #3. I added the sentiment on my computer. My stamp with the same saying was too big for the sign. I used Shimmerz Water Color for the emu and the colors behind him. I die cut the image and both backgrounds. I wrapped the front image with twine before mounting it. I then added brown sequins to finish off my card.

I'm also entering this in the following challenges....

Mustard Seed Challenges          Sketch #1
Come and Get It Challenges      Make it Square
Crafty Friends Challenge            Anything Goes

Nature Lover

I absolutely love God's beautiful and fascinating creation...especially birds! I'm sitting here working on cards and watching baby owlets on a live feed owl video cam.
I enjoy using both real looking bird images and whimsical birds on my cards. My favorite whimsical images are Tim Holtz Crazy Birds. Here is a birthday card using the TH mini set. I also used the TH accessory stamps and dies to add dimension and character.
First I added some distress ink splatter to the kraft cardstock base. I also punched a border and added it to the edge. I stamped the bird image on watercolor paper and colored it with Distress Inks. I stamped and colored a 2nd imaged to cut the eyes, beak and wing from. I stamped, colored and cut the hat and balloon as well. I popped up the eyes, beak, wing, hat and balloon, added twine to the balloon, and added the matted stamped and embossed sentiment. I stamped "Happy Birthday" inside. These little guys have so much character!

I'll be submitting this card to the following challenges:
A Perfect Time to Craft          Anything Goes
Brown Sugar Challenge Blog    Anything Goes
Crafty Friends Challenge Blog   'B'   bird, balloon
Crafty Gals Corner      Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps    stamped image and sentiment
Stamping Sensations     Anything Goes (stamped image)

He is Risen!!

Challenges inspire my creative juices and get me busy making another card!!
This week's  Easter card fits several challenges.  For this card, I used a stencil and distress inks to create the background using spring colors. I wanted to create the feeling of the palm leaf strewn path that Jesus rode the colt into Jerusalem on.  I used punches and dies to create all the elements...the lace border piece, the flowers, the cross, the leaves, and the background piece for the sentiment. 'He is risen' sentiment is from a Stephanie Bernard set and 'God is Love' is from an AC Bible Journaling set. I stamped the 'God is Love' in black Versafine ink then heat embossed it with clear EP to make it stand out from the background. I added platinum liquid pearl to the flower centers and to dot the 'i's in the sentiments. I stamped 'Easter Blessings' on the inside of the card.  Enjoy and Happy Easter!! 

 

Challenges entered:

Mustard Seed           Easter

Come and Get It      Easter

Addicted to Stamps   Anything Goes

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends   Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations       Anything Goes