Happy Winter

OK, so I know that many of us are really tired of winter, especially shoveling snow, but for TSTR's challenge, our inspiration was this beautiful photo.  We have a few inches of snow in our forecast for the next coming days, too.

I used Mojo Monday 175 for my layout.  It was a fun sketch to use!

I had a hard time photographing this card due to the glitter, so the blue ribbon is appearing much darker than IRL.  I used the emboss resist technique, but then I covered up most of the embossing on the tree with Stickles crystal glitter.  I used MS tinsel glitter in crystal for the sparkly snow on the ground.

Here's a closeup.  You can see the differences in the two kinds of glitter a little better, and just a teeny tiny bit of the tree bark peeking through all of the snow.

Here's what I used:
Stamps:  SU! "Lovely as a Tree" and All That Scras "Itzie Inkies Stamp Set - Wintertime Fun" for the sentiment (I think this set has been retired).
Inks:  Versamark, SU! Bashful Blue (sponged), Vintage Photo Distress Ink (sponged)
Other:  Clear embossing powder, blue satin ribbon from stash, Bow Easy, recycled corsage pin, misc. beads, snowflake button, Cuttlebug emossing folder, Sizzix embossing folder
Technique:  emboss resist

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

ETA:  Thank you to Debbie and TSTR DT for choosing my card as one of the Honorable Mention Cups of Tea for this challenge!

Let Us Begin

I finally had time to work on a card that I've been wanting to make since Monday.  However, finalizing the semester grades needed to be finished first!  I was very glad to have them entered and proofed before school started this morning.

For the Basic Grey Challenge 36, we were to use flowers.  You know how I love flowers!  :)  I took my color combo from CR84FN 12 to use light pink, lavender, and kraft, and at ODBD, SLC 45 was a sketch based on Angie's fabulous card.

 

 Here's my card.

All of the dp I used were from Basic Grey's "Euphoria" line.  Each of them has a flower design.  I went further with the flower theme by adding mini Recollections roses along with one large Recollection rose.  The bow is seam binding tied with a Bow Easy.  I used the kraft paper as the mats which were cut with Nesties and a MS doily lace edge punch.  The sentiment is from ODBD's "Let Us Begin."

Here's one more look.  The edges of the sentiment are sponged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  This card is 6" square.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings,

Sarah

ETA:  My card was chosen to receive a Shining the Light Award!  Thank you, ODBD!

One Person VLV Week 4

For the VLV week 4 challenge, Sankari gave us this terrific sketch.

Here's my take on the sketch.

The sentiment is from Verve's "One Person."  I am in love with this new dp from Making Memories called "Je t'adore."  The two different prints are the front and back of a single sheet.   I also used a new doily lace die from My Favorite Things.  I have been dying to get this die ever since it was released last year, and I finally got one! 

The dark green trim is from Bo Bunny.  I also used some seam binding tied with a Bow Easy, Recollections mini roses, a MS border punch, and some adhesive backed pearls.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Happy Anniversary VLV week 3

For VLV week 3, Tosha gave us this great sketch.

I still had some scraps of the Graphic 45 paper that I'd used last week on my crafting table, so I decided to use them as the basis of my VLV week 3 card. 

I distressed the edges and added some machine stitching.  The center panel is cut from one of the dp in the "Le Romantique" paper pack.  I added a sentiment from Verve's "Love Story" that I stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  I cut it out with a Nesties label die and then sponged around it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

For the two strips in the sketch, I wanted to use ribbon, but the only peach ribbon I had was 1/8" wide, and it was just too narrow.   I used a MS border punch for the first strip, and for the second strip, I took the ribbon and made two little braids and covered the gap with a string of pearls.  In the closeup, you can see the interesting texture from the braid.  The bow is made out of seam binding, tied with a Bow Easy, and topped with a Recollections mini rose.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

White and Bright

This week's challenge at TSTR was to make a white or ivory card with one other color based on this inspiration photo.

I went with the white and yellow color scheme and used this week's Mojo Monday sketch for my layout.

I used 2 different embossing folders, one from Cuttlebug and the other from Sizzix and matted those panels on a soft yellow cardstock.  The sentiment is from Verve's "Just for You."  I made a tulle flower and added it to a bit of sheer gathered fabric from my stash that I topped with yellow ribbon and some mini roses. 

I added some beads to a corsage pin as the finishing touch.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Come to Me ODBDSLC44

For the current Shining the Light Challenge at ODBD, we were to use wings somewhere in our creation.

I have always loved this dp by Basic Grey from the "Urban Prairie" collection, but I never used it because I didn't want to cover up too much of the pretty flowers and butterflies.  Well, the time finally came to use it!  I stamped the sentiment from ODBD's "Scripture Collection 4" on white cardstock, dry embossed with my Cuttlebug using a Nesties label, and sponged around the edges with SU! Certainly Celery.  I added some mini roses to give it just a little more dimension.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah

I'm So Glad

For VLV week 2, Charmaine gave us this great sketch.

I used Verve's "Dad's Day" for the sentiment and paired it with some very pink and girlie K & Co. "Smitten" papers. 

The background paper is glittery, and I added some lace from my stash, pink gems, black satin ribbon, mini roses, and a pink heart button tied with some string.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Sketch This! TSTR44

This week at The Shabby Tea Room, Pattie has given us a fun sketch challenge.

I pulled out my Graphic 45 "Le Romantique" papers and started playing with the various shaped cuts that were included, and settled on this dancing couple.

I distressed the dp edges and machine stitched around them.  I added a bit of MS punched lace border which is edged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I added some beaded lace (from my stash), ribbon, roses, and a Prima tulle flower as embellishments.  This card will be going to my in-laws for their upcoming 57th anniversary in February.

Here is a closeup of the embellishments.  I think the tulle flower adds an interesting texture to the card. 

The only stamping I did on this card was my personalized label on the back.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

The Light that Guides

A couple of weeks ago, Betty Wright (THE Betty Wright!) contacted me and asked if I was interested in hosting an upcoming Stamping in Time challenge for the Our Daily Bread Designs blog.  I feel so honored and blessed to be asked.  Thank you, Betty! 

I wanted to pick a theme that hadn't been covered yet for either Stamping in Time or for the Shining the Light Challenge, so I suggested "All Creatures Great and Small."  There are a number of ODBD sets that include animals, so I hope that you will play along with this challenge!

I used SC314 for my layout and rotated it 90 degrees.

Here's my card.   The finished size is 6" square.



I stamped the butterfly in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it using Copics.  The dp are all from an older Basic Grey pad called "Archaic."  I stamped the sentiment from ODBD's "Full of Grace - Faith" in Versafine Onyx Black and then sponged some Vintage Photo Distress Ink along the edges.  I really love this sentiment.  It is just such a profound statement.  I think it is versatile as well.  I could see using it for a get well card, a thinking of you card, or even a sympathy card.

I chose to go with minimal embellishments on this card because it is going to be given to my beloved brother, and I really don't think that he likes lace or flowers that much!  He's been through some rough patches in the last few years but has remained strong in his faith that God will take care of him, provide guidance, and reveal His plan in His time. 

I used the coordinating butterfly die to cut out the butterfly and mounted it using foam tape.  I added gold glimmermist to the butterfly for just a hint of sparkle.  I shaped the wings by curving them around a pencil while they were still damp from the glimmermist. 

Please take a look at the sample cards from the ODBD designers and leave them some love. 

Randi

Grace

Angie

Chrissy

Fran

Lorelie

Betty

This card also meets the Basic Grey Challenge Dots and Spots to use Basic Grey paper (at least one) that has spots or dots on it. 

Stamps:  ODBD "Butterfly" and "Full of Grace - Faith"
Papers:  Black, white, and Basic Grey "Archaic"
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Other:  Martha Stewart border punch, foam tape, Copics, white gel pen, butterfly die from ODBD, gold glimmermist

Thank you for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah



Faith

For the current Shining the Light Challenge at ODBD, we were challenged to use something new and something old from our stash.

I opted to use my new ODBD stamp called "Butterfly Corner."  I tried to create a blue morpho butterfly with bright and tropical colored flowers.   The flowers are done with a combination of Copics and gamsol magic with prismacolor pencils.  I tried to lightly shade the upper corner with a light blue prismacolor pencil to make it look like the sky.  The piercing was done with something old, my Ornare piercing template. 

Here's a closeup of the butterfly.  I colored it with Copics, specifically B000, B24, and B29.  I was really wishing I had a B26 or B27, but I think the colors turned out OK.  I colored in some of the edge of the image with a black Copic so that I could add the little white dots to the wing edge using a white gel pen.

On the inside, I added a sentiment from ODBD's "Full of Grace - Faith" set.  I included some more paper piercing as a decorative edging element.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah

ETA:  My card was chosen as one of the Shining the Light spotlight cards for this challenge!  Thank you ODBD! 

http://ourdailybreaddesigns.com/

How Much I Love You

I finally had time to sit down and work with Julee's great sketch for Mojo Monday week 172. 

I decided to go shabby on this one with edge distressing, machine stitching, tulle, and seam binding.  I put the dp all the way to the edges of the A2 card base rather than leaving a small white border like I usually do.

Here are a few closeups.

The sentiment is from Verve's "One Person." 

I held the card at an angle to try to show the glimmermist better.  I just used it on the angels piece.

Stamps:  Verve - "One Person"
Ink:  Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Paper:  Graphic 45 - "Le Romantique" (angels were fussy cut from this paper)
Other:  Tim Holtz edge distressing tool, sewing machine, pearls, mini rose, seam binding (Martha Stewart), tulle, button, string, corsage pin, miscellaneous beads, earring back

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah

Always Possible

For the week 1 VLV challenge, Amber gave us this great sketch.

I made my card to fit one of the leftover envelopes I had from the photo card we sent at Christmas.  The finished size is 7" x 4".  I don't have all of the elements in the exact position as shown in the sketch, but I stayed pretty true to it.

Here's what I used:
Stamps:  Verve - The sentiment is from "Believe", and I used "Artful Elegance" for the patterned design on the panel that is second from the left.
Ink:  SU! Purely Pomegranate
DP:  K&Co. "Smitten"
Other:  3 black gems, Prima flower, scraps of black silk ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah

Swing by Sometime

I've combined three challenges on my latest card.  I started with the Beary Sweet Challenge 17 sketch layout.  Then I added TSTR #43 to use 11 items on the card and Cute Card Thursday #146 to use older items from our stashes.

I love this fairy image from Pink Cat Studio, and she has not been inked up in a while, so I decided to go really pink and girly for my card.

For the 11 items, here's my list:
1.  Cardstock:  black and white for mats, base of card (old)
2.  DP:  all from K&Co.'s "Smitten" collection, some of it has glitter on it - so fun! (old)
3.  Stamps:  Pink Cat Studio's "Enchanted Lily" set for image and sentiment (old)
4.  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black for the sentiment and Memento Tuxedo Black for the image (old)
5.  Copics (old)
6.  Specialty pens:  a white gel pen for her cheek dots and a gold glitter pen for the flower centers (old)
7.  Lace from stash (old)
8.  Crystal stickles glitter for the wings (old)
9.  Adhesive backed gems for the largest flower centers in headband (new - I go through the little packages pretty quickly!)
10.  Organza ribbon from JoAnn's, tied with Bow Easy (old)
11.  Mini roses:  Recollections from Michael's  (old)

Here's a closer look that shows the glitter on the paper a little better.

Thanks for "swinging by" today!
Blessings!
Sarah

SNTODBD25 and SFYTT for January

Today I want to share a card I made for ODBD's Stamping in Time Challenge 25 using the January 2011 Sketch for You to Try.

At ODBD, we were challenged to use something new, so I used a sentiment from ODBD's "Ask, Seek, Knock" set that I've had for a while but haven't inked up yet (gasp!).  I also used some new Zva Creative pearl flourishes that I got from ODBD and a new rhinestone piece that I picked up at Archiver's.

Stamps:  ODBD "Ask, Seek, Knock"
Paper:  Brown, white, "Wisteria" by Basic Grey
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Accessories:  Paper flowers from stash, rhinestone, sponge, Zva Creative pearl flourishes

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah

Kind Words for the New Year

Happy New Year!  First I want to say thank you to my followers and everyone who has taken the time to leave comments for me.  I'm so thankful for you!

Going with the theme of thankfulness, I made this card using the week 171 Mojo Monday sketch and the Cute Card Thursday challenge to make a thank you card. 


Here's my card.

I used a wired ribbon on this card.  It has a different texture to it, kind of a larger weave pattern.  I think you can see that a little better in the next picture.  It isn't glittered, but it has a sparkly feel to it. 

The recipe:
Stamps:  Verve "Kind Words"
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black and SU! Rose Red (stamped once on scrap paper before stamping the card to lighten it)
Paper:  dp from K&Co. "Evergreen" by Brenda Walton
Accessories:  ribbon from Hobby Lobby

Thanks for stopping by!
Wishing you all the best in 2011!
Blessings,
Sarah