Blue Skies and Sunshine

I made a card for a friend from church.  Arline is in her 90s and has been having some health issues.  She has been an avid gardener and especially loves roses.  I thought that the Verve Get Your Diva On challenge theme would be perfect to make a summery card for her.  Laurie challenged us to incorporate blue skies, sunshine, and summer in our projects.  I found my inspiration on the cover of the June 2011 issue Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine.  There was a card with a little white picket fence made out of popsicle sticks and crackle paint that I thought was so cute and summery, so I set out to make my own interpretation of a picket fence.

I made a 6" square gate fold card so I'd have enough room to make a little picket fence covered with roses. 

The center rose covers the card's opening.  I used Ranger Distress crackle paint in "Picket Fence" to paint my popsicle sticks.  I just directly painted the sticks as I thought that would look more realistic than putting down a brown base coat and then the crackle paint. 

 

In this closeup you can see the crackling a little more clearly.  The roses are made from bright pink felt using a Sizzix die.

Finally, here's the inside of the card.  This Irish Blessing is from Verve's set "Blessings."

Supply list:
DP:  K & Co.  "Watercolor Bouquet" (This is the 12" x 12" version of the paper.  I used the top of the sheet for the front of the card and the bottom of the sheet with all of its glittery floral beauty for the inside of the card.)
Stamps:  Verve "Blessings"
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Popsicle sticks, Ranger Distress crackle paint "Picket Fence," pink felt, craft glue, thin twine, pearl flourishes, Sizzix dies "Flowers, 3D" and "Branch with Leaves"


Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah

Graduation Cards

I needed some graduation cards for some of my graduating seniors, so I turned to the sketches from May for VLV.  I'm not sure where May went!  It was a pretty busy month with going back and forth as often as possible to see my Dad, getting the students ready for the AP Biology test, and just all of the business of the end of the school year.  Anyway.....
The first one uses a fun sketch from Amber.

Here's my card for McKenna.  I used dp from K & Co. called "Sweet Nectar."  The sentiment and big flower are both from Verve's "Dream Big" set.  I used SU! Real Red to stamp the big flower and Versafine Onyx Black to stamp the sentiment.  The chain was punched with a MS border punch called "Bangle Chain Trim," and then I just added some satin ribbon and a couple of roses to give it kind of a trellis look.  This card is 6" square.

I used Maureen's fab sketch to make Mercedes's card.

Here it is.  I have to apologize for the goofy angle on this one.  I was getting some glare from the glitter on the big rose.  It really is a regular A2 card!  In this picture, the top looks like it is an inch wider than the bottom.

I used more K & Co. "Sweet Nectar" dp along with a coordinating tag I made using a Nesties Label 4 die.  I added a worn brass eyelet to the tag along with some thin twine.  The sentiment is from Verve's "Dare to Be" set.    The doily is a MFT die.  I used my MS "Vintage Floral" punch to make a little border and accented it with pearls.  Then just a bit of satin ribbon and a big, glittery Prima rose, and this card was done.

Then for Tabby's card, I used Amy's beautiful sketch. 

Here's her card.  I kept going with the K & Co. "Sweet Nectar" dp and the MS "Vintage Floral" punch.  The sentiment on this one is perfect for Tabby and comes from Verve's "Blue Skies."  I have wanted that set for a looong time.  I stamped the adorable butterfly from "Chicks Rule" in white and used the coordinating "Flutterby" die with it.  I added a few pearls to the butterfly and the punched border, and then I curled the butterfly's wings around my finger to give it a little more dimension.

This card is also an A2 even though it looks a little wonky in the photo.  I was trying to reduce the glare on the glitter that's on the big flowers in the lower panel while still making the glitter visible in the photo.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah

Take Time to Pray

I'm finally back with a new project to share.  For ODBDSLC64, we were challenged to make a ribbon bookmark.  For SNTODBD36, we were challenged to make a project using our favorite ODBD stamp set.  I decided to combine the two challenges and made a ribbon bookmark using one of my current favorite ODBD stamps.

I used the sentiment from the ODBD set "Time" that just came out in the June release.  I just thought it would be very fitting for a Bible bookmark, just a gentle reminder to take time to pray.  I tied the bow using my Bow Easy and sponged the edges with SU! Old Olive ink.

I used some olive satin ribbon and attached some trim to the top using 1/4" scor-tape. 

The clock charm is from The Girls Paperie "Whimsy" collection, and then I just added some Recollection roses. 

Here's a last look at the whole bookmark.

I'm hoping to get back into more regular cardmaking.  I've been working on sorting through Mom's things, and that leaves me tired in a lot of different ways.  Sometimes it is physically tiring, and at other times, it's more of an emotional experience.  To those of you who left notes of thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers, thank you so much!  I truly appreciate your kindness.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings!
Sarah


ETA:  I'm so blessed that my entry was chosen as one of the Shining the Light Award recipients for this challenge!  Thank you ODBD!

http://ourdailybreaddesigns.com/

Life Is Still Good, Just Different

I'm back tonight after an unexpected twist in my life.  On Monday, April 11th, I got up, saw the Get Your Diva Challenge posted on Splitcoast, and posted a comment that I couldn't wait to play.  I got ready for work and was about halfway through my day when I got the news that my Mom suddenly and unexpectedly passed away at age 66.  After that, the days have been a big blur. 

My birthday was on April 10th, and I am so lucky that she and Dad called me that night just to wish me a happy birthday and chat for a few minutes.  I did get to tell her "I love you" one last time, not knowing at the time that it would be the last time I'd ever talk to her.  An autopsy was done, but we are still waiting for the results. 

One of the most bittersweet things for me is my dear little 7 year old.  I asked her how she was feeling on the day of the funeral, and she told me that she felt sad that Grandma had died and that she wished Grandma could have lived long enough to see her get married and have kids so she could be a Great-Grandma.  I was blessed to have such a wonderful mom, but it has been so hard to accept that she's gone.

When they visited last December for Ariel's Sunday School program, we made lefse.  I have always regretted that we never got pictures of my Grandma Vangen (Mom's mom) making lefse.  We decided kind of spur of the moment that we would make a batch and am I ever glad that we took some pictures.

Here's Ariel taking a turn at rolling.  Mom was always so patient and encouraging.

OK, I'm moving on to some cards now so that I can try to stop crying.  Tears are good though, right?

I couldn't even stamp or knit all of last week.  I shuffled through my papers, I sorted my yarns, and I just couldn't do anything.  I finally decided that I just had to push myself a little bit to do something, and it did help me feel a bit better as I worked on these cards.

The first VLV card for April is based on a great sketch by Amber.

Here's my card.  I used papers from K & Co.'s "Julianne" line.  The sentiment is from Verve's Plain Jane line "Proverbs 31:28."  This card is going to be going to my Dad.  It's not too flowery, the colors are soft, and Mom loved flowers, so it's fitting for him.

The second VLV card for April is based on a great sketch by Andrea.

Here's my card.  I used more "Julianne" papers along with another Plain Jane called "Every Season."  The sponging is in SU! Old Olive ink. 

The third VLV card for April is based on a great sketch by Teresa.  (OK, seriously, how do these lovely ladies keep these awesome sketches rolling out week after week?!)

Here's my card.  I used dp from The Girls' Paperie "Kitch" line along with a new Verve set "Love Deepens."  This set is sooooo lovely.  I'm just wishing my Mom was still here as there are so many cards I would have liked to have made for her with the different sentiments in this set.  This card is going to my cousin, Ann, who has just been a rock for me throughout these last weeks.  I used a MFT large scalloped border die along with a Prima flower and an old button I found in my buttons from Grandma.

The fourth VLV card for April is based on a great sketch by Shannan.

Here's my card.  I used dp from MME's "Quite Contrary" line, SU! scalloped border punch, another button from my stash, and the sentiment is another one from the new "Love Deepens" Verve set.

Thank you for stopping by my blog!  My posts are probably going to be somewhat sporadic for the time being, but I'm hoping that my faith can sustain me and help me to remember that Mom is in a better place.

Blessings,
Sarah

Life is Good

Today I'm sharing a card that I have worked on for several days.  It just wasn't coming together for the longest time, but I finally got it finished this morning.  I just couldn't decide on which of the dps I wanted to use and which embellishmentss.  I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch for my layout.  Check out this great sketch from Julee.

My colors were inspired from The Shabby Tea Room's inspiration photo.  Aren't these spring colors just lovely?  I was also inspired by the eggs themselves - more on that in a bit.

I'm also playing along with the Let's Get Shabby Challenge which is drawing inspiration from Beatrix Potter's illustrations.  I knew that the Graphic 45 "Once Upon a Springtime" paper had several different Beatrix Potter images in it.  I finally decided to use this little die cut tag with the rabbits.  As a child, I loved reading her stories about Peter Cottontail, singing "Here comes Peter Cottontail hopping down the bunny trail, hippity hoppity Easter's on its way!  Bringing every girl and boy baskets full of Easter joy, hippity hoppity Happy Easter Day!"  So with the dp and song in mind, the Easter egg inspiration photo from TSTR was just what I needed.

Here's my card.

Here's a closeup of the tag with Mother Rabbit, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Peter Cottontail.  The tag had a huge hole punched in it, so I added a big eyelet and some twine.  The bloom is from Webster's Pages.

Here's the inside of the card.  I used a different dp from the same collection with more of those delightful bunnies. 

Recipe:
Stamp:  Verve "Artful Elegance"
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black and Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Papers:  ivory, dp from Graphic 45 "Once Upon a Springtime"
Other:  ivory ribbon, Bow Easy, trim from stash, EK Success Abstract Flower border punch, Webster's Pages bloomer, Tim Holtz distressing tool, sewing machine, twine, eyelet, Recollections adhesive backed pearls

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

On Eagle's Wings

For the Shining the Light Challenge at ODBD, we were challenged to incorporate birds into our creations.  I decided to use the ODBD set "On Eagle's Wings" for both my image and sentiment.

If you are interested in seeing some real eagles, check out this link to see 24/7 coverage of a pair of eagles and their three hatched eaglets.  We have enjoyed watching them over the past few weeks.  Aren't they simply magnificent creatures?

Recipe:
Stamps:  ODBD "On Eagle's Wings"
Paper:  white, kraft, brown, Basic Grey "Capella" (The main background panel was a plain sheet in the 6 x 6 pad that I embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and then sponged the raised embossed areas with Vintage Photo Distress Ink).
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Other:  Copics, Nestabilities Labels 10, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Recollections adhesive backed gold balls

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Mini Cards

This week's color challenge for CR84FN was green, kraft, and brown.  I made a set of mini cards for the WMSC.  The green one is my CR84FN entry and as I looked at my pile of scraps, I decided to make 4 different colored cards so I could make at least a tiny dent in the scrap pile!

Here's the sketch from Waltzingmouse.

I used Waltzingmouse's "Victorian Frippery" for all four of my mini cards.  I just changed the sentiment.  I love the flexibility that this set gives you.

Here's the one for CR84FN:

The other 3 cards are just done in different spring colors.

Here's the entire group of mini cards I made.  They are 3.5" square.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps "Victorian Frippery"
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Vintage Photo Distress Ink (layered on to achieve kraft and brown colors)
Paper:  white, scraps of pink, yellow, purple, green
Other:  Seam binding in various colors, Bow Easy, Recollections mini roses, adhesive backed pearls, sponge, and Nestabilities dies:  circles, petite scalloped circles, labels 1

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah