Major Moments

Intentional Card Giving~Dayspring Cards!!

2012-01-30T13:14:00.002-07:00

I've been thinking about my intentions with hand stamped cards for some time now. As with many of you, I love the act of creating cards, especially with a special person and occasion in mind. But sometimes, in the art of card making, the intention of card sending becomes secondary. Not that I don't have good intentions...but I become behind and then the timing seems off (especially in the case of an encouragement card, or a recent hardship, sympathy, or even congratulations on your new baby! ) All of these are occasions that need a quick response and timing is everything!
So, when I saw this offer from Dayspring to receive a free pack of cards (of my choosing)...I was so excited! And when my box arrived in the mail, I practically squealed, as my package of cards also came with this organizer that fits right into my goal of not only being intentional, but organized. This organizer is brightly colored with a fun print, has a pretty latch, and inside are removable Monthly lined pages for recording birthdays and special dates.

I love sending out encouragement cards. These cards, a collection from Holley Gerth, are contemporary, fun die cut shapes, and feminine with words that speak to the heart of the issue. Sometimes while writing the inside of a card, I am at a loss for words. Each of these cards contain words that are so heartfelt and true to scripture.
Here is one of the special sentiments titled, "Never Alone."
"You're never alone.
God is with you.
He knows your name.
He numbers the hairs on your head.
He understands the cares in your heart.
Every morning,
He's by your side.
Every night, He watches over you as you sleep.
There's never a moment
you're not in His thoughts...
never a day you're not in His care.
You're never on your own.
He whispers to your heart,
'You're forever My own.'"
And the inside scripture, "God is love, Whoever lives in love lives in God." 1John 4:16

I am part of a life group at church. We are a group of couples, widows, divorced, a mixed group; all of us with our faults and frailties and yet God has brought us together to do "life." One woman in our group became widowed suddenly last year. I barely knew her at the time, yet my heart went out to her. In the past two weeks, she has been undergoing a trial watching a son slowly suffer from a long term illness. She has been doing bedside vigils at the nursing home as she waits for him to leave this life and enter his eternal one. I am sending her this card to let her know she is in my thoughts, but more importantly, she is in God's thoughts.
I know this may seem like such a small thing, sending a card, but to the receiver it can mean the difference between feeling alone, or feeling loved. Feeling isolated, or feeling a part of. Feeling no one cares, to knowing someone is intentionally reaching out to you.

Please visit the {In}-Courage page to read more about the beautiful card selections and be encouraged to begin your own card ministry.
I was so blessed by this gift of cards and am resolved to hand pick a card from this beautiful assortment and mail it off...just because I care.

SSIC~Love You!

2012-01-29T03:30:00.003-07:00

It's another beautiful sunny Sunday morning here in Colorado!! I am excited to introduce you to this week's scripture challenge...where you are inspired to stamp your heart! This week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge is hostessed by the beautiful and talented Linda from Lovely Linda's Crafting Central.
The scripture:

Phil. 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

The challenge: Create a card/project true to your style - show us who you really are!

The Prize: Inspired Stamps, a new sponsor, is awarding a $15.00 store credit to this week's winner!! Wow!!

This scripture is one that I committed to memory many years ago...and it is still sinking in!! It is not as easy to do as it is to memorize. I recall one of my favorite Bible teachers, Kay Arthur, giving us a word picture in class to help apply this verse. She said to picture every thought entering through the gate of your mind...and as it does, "frisk it." And to help remember there were eight qualities to think on, she would call it the "frisky eight."

Be sure to visit the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog to read this week's wonderful devotional based on the verse and to view all the Design Team's entries!

Okay, so a quick explanation of my card, the challenge was to make a project true to your style...so I love a lot of white space lately. It helps me to keep my thoughts clear if I don't muddle up a card too much...and my thoughts are busy enough lately! And embossed white is gorgeous to me, with a pop of color! So I used this new embossing folder from Marianne's Designs with hearts and roses. The embossing folder cuts out the hearts and embosses the roses...pretty fun!

Have a blessed week...can't wait to visit and see what you're stamping!!

2012-01-22T03:30:00.004-07:00

Good morning and thanks for peeking into my blog today! Today is the Stampin' Sisters in Christ weekly blog challenge to make a card using scripture as your inspiration. Kristine Breach from Ink Something is our oh-so-talented challenge hostess this week! I encourage you to take a look at the SSIC blog to read this week's devotions and take a look at all the wonderful DT cards!

Proverbs 3:33

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. "

The challenge: Make a heart stand out on your card or project this week.
The Prize: a choice of 3 digital images from Louby Lou stamps!!
My card details:
Stamps: Flourishes:Fanciful Flourishes
Ink: SU! Pixie Pink, PTI Fresh Snow
Paper: PTI Raspberry Fizz, PTI white, SU! Shimmer White
Accessories: PTI Filigree border, white embossing powder, dots embossing folder, rhinestones

I hope you can take some time to stamp to Scripture this week, it is so edifying to be able to do that. Have a great week and thanks so much for coming by!

SSIC 122~ Making All Things New

2012-01-15T03:30:00.001-07:00

Good Sunday morning! I am your hostess this week for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge blog. Thanks so much for joining us! You can see the gorgeous Design Team entries for this challenge and this week's devotional on the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog.
My verse was taken from the book of Revelation. With a new year already almost two weeks underway, I wonder, if you, like me, are floundering a bit on your "resolutions," or still deciding what you want the new year to look like? This verse seemed so appropriate and inspired my thoughts on God making all things new. Thank goodness, it is not up to me, or my current mood or the day I am having. If I have given my life to Christ, then I also need to trust Him and His resurrection power to bring newness to my life.

Revelation 21:5

“And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ And He said, ‘write for these words are faithful and true.’”

Who of us doesn’t like new beginnings? Since the beginning of a New Year, I have also begun a new Bible study, and just this week, celebrated a new birthday! All of these bring a bit of excitement, challenge, and fresh hope. I recently read this poem in a daily devotional, and my heart ached with the words the author conveyed.

Starting Over

I wish there were some wonderful place

Called the “Land of Beginning Again,”

Where all our mistakes and all our heartaches and all our selfish grief

Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door,

And never be put on again. (Louise Fletcher)

Ached, because I can empathize with her longings to be free from the past. Because, as with any new beginning, something old has to be discarded. I can’t expect to start out each day fresh and new if I am still entangled by the mistakes of my yesterday. Wrong thoughts, impure motives, selfish desires…all of these the Bible warns about. Yet, are you, like me, eager for something new? We want the blessings that the Lord has to offer; but we are not as willing to do what He requires of us. With the promise of a New Year, we are often so willing to boot the old one out the door like company that has overstayed their welcome, without ever pondering why some things went so awry. We had good intentions, after all. We prayed good prayers, we fought the good fight…and yet sometimes the trials remain. Trials: like The People that do not cooperate with our plans. Yes, I said it. How many times have I been disappointed because of someone else’s behavior? (Underline else.) Most of last year’s trials were of this variety. Don’t you love how the book of James refers to a “variety of trials?” I see the unrepentant child who rushes headlong into one long series of bad choices, and I shake my head and wonder. And yet, before Christ intervened in my life, isn’t that what I was, an unrepentant child?
So before I ask God to do anything new in my life this year, I want to first ask Him to make me new. Give me a renewed desire to please him, a renewed willingness to obey him. Give me new eyes to see my present circumstances…a new heart to praise Him for the simple joys of living. God has promised to renew my thinking, as I immerse myself in His word daily. So that is where I am starting. I want, more than anything, to see God’s newness of life as He pleasures to reveal it to me. But I know that to do that, He will also have to make some changes in me. And we all know change can be painful. I can entrust this process to Him. So I am letting go of some of the “to do’s” on my New Year’s list of goals, resolutions, or whatever you call them. And replacing them with, “ God, Please do…” Do a new work in me, create in me something, someone, worthy of you.

The challenge:
Let's use something new on our card/project this week. It can be a new stamp, paper, or embellishment...or even a new technique or an idea that is new to you! Just have fun with your creation!!
The Prize:
Nina Brackett Designs (2 stamps," Gleefully Yours, " and "Christ is Risen."

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes Snow Wonderful
Paper: PTI Vanilla, SU! Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey Origins DP
Access: Classic Keyhold Die (Flourishes), Ribbon, Copic Markers: E53, E42, E25, E29, E39, YG95. twig and twine glued with Allene's Tacky Glue, Chalk ink for Background

Thanks so much for taking part of your day by visitng here, and I would love to hear your thoughts, whatever they may be! Blessings on your day!

Surprise Blog Candy!!

2012-01-11T08:55:00.001-07:00

This is just a reminder that entries for my surprise blog candy will end this Sunday evening!! After that, I will choose a name to win from the entries on my initial post on blog candy (scroll down 2.)
I would really like it if you would tell me your New Year's Goal, plan, or dream...for this year!! If you have a "Word" for the Year, and want to share it, please do.
Just wanted to let anyone who might want to enter have the opportunity! I will customize the blog candy to the winner, so it will be a surprise to you and to me!!
Blessings on your day~

Stampin' Sisters in Christ~Wonderful Friend!

2012-01-08T03:30:00.001-07:00

Hi there, friends!! Today is Sunday, and the beginning of a new year of challenges at Stampin' Sisters in Christ! It feels like so long since we have had our time together, I have missed the challenges and am ready to get back to them and to you, our stamping friends!
So today's scripture challenge is by my friend and talented stamper, Peggysue from "Roses by my Window." This week's scripture choice is:
Phillippians 2:3-4

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

You can view the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog to view Peggysue's devotional and the Design Team cards for today's challenge.

The sponsor this week is The Cat's Meow!!

The challenge for your card is to make a "Thinking of You" card!

I used the Rosey Posey set for my card today, and decided on this friendship sentiment.I really liked the bold florals with this font. If you would like any card details, just leave me a comment and I will gladly get back to you.

So, I hope you join us in this week's challenges and have a wonderful, blessed week!! ~

Before We Move On...and a Surprise Blog Candy!

2012-01-05T12:38:00.001-07:00

So, before we move full speed ahead in the year 2012, or at least before I do...wanted to add a couple of more pictures to my blog...this is one of those wreaths made of paper and scored into the little accordian pleats, then added more accordian circles on top, lace, and buttons. It turned out so cute...using one of SU's Christmas paper packs, buttons, crochet lace. It added a lot of charm to my kitchen this year!

One of the "surprises" that always makes the Christmas season so bright was a plate of cookies left on my doorstep! I did not see a note attached, so had an afternoon to muse who they were from. Wouldn't you know, it was my friend, Cindy, also known as Mothermark on Splitcoast Stampers!! Of course, I don't have a single crumb of those delicious cookies to show here, they disappeared quickly at my house...but I did take a photo of her darling Santa card (on the right.) It matched a Santa cookie chef that has adorned my kitchen every year for quite some time. Love how their faces both seem to light up!! Thanks, Cindy, for the delicious treats! This came as a double blessing...one of those pass it on blessings. Cindy included a sampling of my Mom's old recipe of Christmas candy, called Martha Washington candy. I have fond memories of those little rolled up balls of coconut confections hand dipped in a mixture of chocolate and paraffin wax. I was in the process of making up a little care package to mail to my Mom at the nursing home...and added a few of these treats!! She called and said how much she enjoyed the candy and was sharing it with all the staff. Goodness, you never know how a kindness can be multiplied!!
Well, thanks for taking a quick peek into my blog. It has been too long, and I have lots to do to get ready for a New Year. One thing I am pondering this week is MY WORD for 2012. I decided this is the year I am going to have a word that sums up my hopes, dreams, and proddings for the coming year. I hope to share it with my next post!
Oh, and before I forget...next week I have a birthday coming up. So...in celebration of that, I am going to be giving away a surprise blog candy!! Surprise, because I honestly don't know what it will contain just yet...but you have a week to comment on my post here, or any of my following posts to enter. All you need to do is tell me your New Year's hope, goal, or dream...and what you plan to do to make it come true. I can't wait to read your thoughts!! I will have some stamping goodies since this is primarily a stamping blog...but I may just customize it to the winner since I know most of my friends and followers here. Have a great week!

A Savior is Born!

2011-12-18T03:30:00.001-07:00

This week's scripture challenge is brought to us by Miesje from Room with a View. Her beautiful scripture choice is so appropriate for this time of year:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14)

The challenge this week is :
A Christmas card or project that is Christian, image and/or sentiment must have the TRUE meaning of Christmas.
And our prize sponsor is Our Daily Bread Designs gift certificate for 15.00!!

So, my card is "simple," except when you consider the discard inked images of trees and all in my trash can! I attempted first on watercolor paper, but could not get a good impression. After a few trial and errors, I decided to cut out one of my discard trees and used that to add the inked verse in "Fired Brick" distress inks. The nestability shape was outlined in gold krylon pen, and popped up onto the main card image. I wanted to make the verse be the star for this card!
I will be back this week with a Christmas message, but at the time of this writing I'm at our winter condo putting back and finishing up the basement bedroom and bath after flooding; just in time for our daughters and all their friends to use it during Christmas break.
Hope to get more crafting and pictures to share this week!! Hope you are enjoying the beauty of this season and may this verse give you much comfort and joy!!

SSIC~Christmas Angel

2011-12-04T02:30:00.002-07:00

Hi and welcome to a new week of stamping inspired by scripture by the Stampin' Sisters in Christ!! We are so glad you are here and sure hope you can join in this week's scripture challenge!
This week's scripture chosen by the talented Lisa of The Craft's Meow:

Matthew 1:20-22

"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him 'Immanuel," which means "God with us.'"

Lisa's challenge: make a card or project with an angel on it...designer paper, stamp, charm, etc.
The prize this week is a 15.00 gift certificate from Clear Dollar Stamps!!
This angel is nothing like the angels we read of in Biblical accounts. Gabriel, a male angel, was the one God appointed as messenger for pronouncing the coming Messiah. Gabriel was said to be the strongest of the angels.
This is a sweet angel image from a PSX stamp, one of the first ones I purchased. I used her with a new to me product , a platinum colored metallic paint. I lightly sponged the paint on top of the embossed vanilla paper and sponged it around the edges of the framed images. The angel was silver embossed and colored in with copics. Her coloring is more on the pastel side, but due to lighting, I needed to add a bit more color contrast.
I am enjoying the last few days of delving in once again to the Christmas story. One of my favorite books I read daily beginning in December is "God's Gift of Christmas," by John MacArthur. To share an excerpt from his book:
"The name Immanuel is the heart of the Christmas story. It is a Hebrew name that means, literally, "God with us." It is a promise of incarnate deity, a promise that God Himself would appear as a human infant...If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words these would be the words. "God with us." We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ, but the greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in the manger is the truth that this promised baby is the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth!
Immanuel, infinitely rich, became poor. He assumed our nature, entered our sin-polluted world, took our guilt on Himself although He was sinless, bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. (Isaiah 53:5.) All of that is wrapped up in "God with us."

Join in the challenge with us and be blessed as you visit each of the design team member's card and other creations this week!! You can find the design team blogs on my side bar or by visiting the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog.
Thank you so much for your visit...enjoy this Sunday of Advent.

SSIC~117 Christmas Cardinal

2011-11-27T00:02:00.000-07:00

Good Sunday morning!! I hope you had a special time over this past Thanksgiving holiday if you were celebrating!! In my family, Thanksgiving is a matter of survival!! I really don't know how the pilgrims managed, as I have a challenge just getting a turkey on the table and the fixin's for my big crew...I can't imagine dealing with frigid temperatures or making friends with the natives!! I guess I don't have the fortitude the pilgrims did, that's for certain~!
So the day after Thanksgiving, full of gratitude as I was for my family and the blessings they are to me...I happily sat at my stamp desk and created this card!! Not a care in the world...just like the birds in this week's verse!!
You can read all of today's challenge and this week's devotional on the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog.
Our challenge hostess is the amazingly talented Linda from Lovely Linda's Craft Central. Linda chose this scripture:

Matthew 6:25-34

"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"

The challenge this week is to create a project that has a bird on it, as designer paper, image, or charm.
The Prize: A Sweet and Sassy gift card!! Go look on the Sweet and Sassy website!! They have so many wonderful products!!
My card uses Flourishes stamps and a sentiment also from Flourishes. The paper is Basic Grey's Jovial. The paper reminded me of warm flannel...which seemed an appropriate backdrop to this wintry scene!! I also added SU's striped grosgrain ribbon, a big 'ol button, and a "fancy tags" nesties for my sentiment. The cardinal was colored in with copics, and a little bit of snow added on the branches with liquid applique.
Thanks so much for stopping in...please visit all the talented design team to see what they've created this week. Sure hope you can join in the challenge!! Blessings on your week!

SSIC ~116 Little Festive Robins singin' Praise!!

2011-11-20T03:30:00.003-07:00

So happy to see you on this beautiful Sunday morning! We have a brand new challenge for you this week on Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog! Each week, a design team member chooses a challenge based on a verse of scripture that the Lord brings to our minds. This week, our challenge hostess is Rebekkah from Diamond in the Rough. I would encourage you to visit the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog to view her verse and accompanying devotional! I am sure it will be encouraging...and powerful!
The sponsor this week: Pizzazz Aplenty: Surprise Grab Bag valued at 15.00
The challenge: Make a card of praise, using music, stamp, design paper, or the word, "Praise."

My card was made using a stamp I just ordered from Lili of the Valley, "Little Festive Robins." Once I stamped and colored these tiny birdies, I noticed how well the SU! Christmas designer paper pack went with the holly and ribbons...so I used that and the red blinged up polka dot paper that is also in the pack. I colored with copics (boy am I out of practice with those)...and added liquid applique to the roof and base of the feeder, sprinkling some glitter on before drying with my heat gun...and dots of stickles in diamonds here and there to make it sparkle!!
I love this little card...the birds seem to be so happy and busy, and I can only imagine their "tweets of praise"... and I think the Father has a soft spot for them too, as he mentions them so many times in the Bible
I hope you take the opportunity to play along this week...can't wait to see what you create! Until then, blessings on your day!
My card is also being entered in Lili of the Valley's weekly challenge to make a card for someone special! I'll be sending this to a special friend this year! I just love the sweetness of these images!

SSIC~Thanks in All Circumstances

2011-11-13T02:30:00.002-07:00

Good Sunday morning!! Today I have the opportunity to share my devotional on the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge blog! I am so thankful for this place where anyone can come and read and be encouraged in scripture and share in their favorite stamping past time!! We are blessed as women and friends to be able to do this together.
This week's sponsor is Simon Says Stamps "We are Family Dolls." Such a cute set, I hope you will be able to participate.
My challenge this week is to make a card that either depicts an image of something you are grateful for, a scripture that evokes your gratitude, or make a thank you card for someone you would like to show gratitude for this special time of year!
Just as an aside, my card layout was based on a card that I loved on Karen Barber's blog. I am not good with geometry, so had a time of it trying to figure out how to fit those triangles back into squares...having a visual of one already finished really helped! The sentiment on my card fits this week's challenge verse so well, don't you think?
My chosen verse:

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

The day my mom made the decision to go to the nursing home to live is one I will always remember. This was was not a first choice nor a planned destination, but rather a last resort in the realm of diminished options. The entire year before had been a series of admittances and discharges from nursing homes as she waited patiently yet resolutely for my Dad to recover from surgery and resume his care giving role. On this particular visit to their home, I sat in a chair across from my mom, a bag of clothing between us and held up each piece as Mom sat in her wheelchair and surveyed each blouse, pair of trousers, or jacket and said either “yes” or “no.” These were not throw-away items, but each was a piece of my Grand mom’s wardrobe, all hand sewn and due to its polyester nature, wasn’t worn out. No frayed edges, missing stitches…each floral pattern as vibrant in color as the day the fabric was purchased so many years ago…the clothing remained but the body had worn out just a few weeks before. Mom was making decisions as to what would go to Goodwill and what would stay. She had the final say in the last small legacy of items handed down to her by her own Mother.

To say my heart was heavy would not even begin to encompass my emotions that day…I wanted so for her to stay in the house that she loved, with her doggies and my Dad and the familiarity of home. The words began to flow as we sat there together…not one to be overly sentimental and very much a pragmatist…my Mom began to utter words of thanks. It began like this “I am so… very thankful for…” and then she would complete the sentence. I don’t even remember what she was saying thanks for…I just remember how the words were like a balm to my troubled soul. At a time when the average person might want to cry or dig in their heels, complain, or at the very least become grumpy with those around her…my mom chose gratitude rather than discontent.

I can’t help but think the Father smiles on us …when we are faced with the difficulties in life whether it be the loss of a familiar home, a disappointment in a relationship that seems stuck in neutral, suffering a long term illness, or feeling lackluster in joy…we give thanks. How can we do this? Let’s look at Romans 8:28 “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” If we believe God, and take him at his word, then this verse is saying that God is at work for good for those of us who love him. He is sovereign…which means he rules over all things. The God who rules over all things is at work for our own good. That is an amazing promise!!

I have noticed this…when I am feeling a little down, a little distraught, a little unappreciated…I can easily become disgruntled…which breeds discontent…which breeds a critical spirit which breeds a lack of the Holy Spirit operating in my life, cycling into less joy, less of his presence…less of him and the abundant life he promises. But let’s turn that around…if instead, I choose first to accept the disappointments as first of all being filtered through God’s fingers of love and believe that nothing can touch me that He has not already given permission to do so…then I am choosing to believe God which sows contentment which leads to joy which leads to an overflowing of the Holy Spirit in my life which leads to more joy …Just a thought.

Mark Buchanan in his book “Spiritual Rhythm” writes this:

“Thankfulness is more than an act. It’s an orientation. It’s a re framing of reality-not in some whistling-in-the-dark way but in a fixing-our-eyes-on-what is-unseen way. Radical thankfulness makes sense only if behind our touch-and-see reality another reality is hard at work. If there’s one thing the Bible makes clear, cover to cover, it’s that what we see isn’t all there is. It’s not even half of all there is. It’s at best shadow and echo and rumor of what’s really going on. So radical thankfulness is a way of hailing things unseen…a declaration that the unseen God is very much on the job, not surprised or dismayed by a single thing, and able to work it all to good.”

In a world of sometimes diminishing options, we all have the opportunity of a choice… the legacy we wish to leave to those around us. I want to choose gratitude. How about you?

1 Peter 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade-kept in heaven for you…”

Dancing under the Stars

2011-11-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

Do you ever receive a wedding invitation from a friend you haven't seen in over a year? And not an invite to the actual wedding, but the reception? It's a little awkward showing up at a reception I think Miss Manners would be scolding me right about now...this card is late, and so therefore the only challenge I met was getting it done, and if I actually get it mailed off to the happy couple, then I will have accomplished my goal.
This silhouette reminds me of the scene in my favorite movie, The Sound of Music. The couple are dancing in the gazebo with the moonlight casting a soft glow through the windows. I actually was able to visit that gazebo with the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, Austria ...twice!! It was so much fun to learn the inside "scoop"...did you know Liesel fell off one of the gazebo benches while prancing around with Rolf and twisted her ankle? Well, my husband doesn't remember that...so don't quote me...I could have the scene mixed up! I love that scene...and this paper seemed to mimic the gazebo to me...just use your imagination! This was an easy card to make, and I really liked the outcome!
Thanks so much for stopping by...I always enjoy reading your comments! Have a blessed day!

SSIC 113~Christmas Tree

2011-10-30T01:30:00.008-06:00

Another week has flown by so quickly...and it's time for a new Stampin' Sisters in Christ card challenge!

This week our hostess is the wonderfully talented Lisa from The Craft's Meow. You can view the devotional on the SSIC blog and read along with the rest of the design team. It's always exciting to see each week's thoughts and applications.

Well, we had a "sneak peek" of winter here a couple of days ago as overnight the snow caught us by surprise, leaving a scene of winter wonderland along with many damaged trees in our town and neighborhoods. The beauty of the fist snowfall of the year sparked the creativity in today's card. This week's challenge was to use "fall colors like crimson, orange or golds."

Crimson it is...and this Christmas striped ribbon reminds me of today's verse:

Isaiah 1:18" Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

I stamped the tree and gave it a gold halo with Tim Holtz antique linen and tea dye inks...(my touch of gold) and added a bit more gold with stickles along the branches. The crimson was added with the back panel and the red and white striped ribbon tied in a big fat bow. These oversized bows seem to be my trademark!

I see this verse as such a "gift" from God...the one we as Christians can celebrate any day...and that is the complete wiping out of our sins by a completely Holy God. Some may ask, "What is sin? " Sin as used in scripture means to "miss the mark." God has set a perfect and holy standard in the Bible. Just reading the Ten Commandments, none of us has to go far to realize that we don't meet any of them perfectly. God is holy, which means he is completely without sin. In order to enter in to his presence and enjoy fellowship with him...we also need to have that holiness imparted to us. Thankfully, we don't have to wait until some distant day far off into the future. God provided a way...and that is by believing in His son, Jesus Christ and repenting (turning away from) our sin. If any of this is confusing or you would like to know more about how to have your sins completely removed (past , present, and future) now and forever...please leave me a comment and we can reason together through the scriptures.

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This week's prize sponsors are a 10 pound gift card from Lily of the Valley. I just received an order from them yesterday, and can't wait to make a card with one of these adorable images!

I hope you can join in our challenge this week...and be reminded of the weight that has been lifted as we rejoice over the promise of this scripture when we confess our sins and turn away from them...putting our trust in God's son as the perfect sacrifice for all of our sins.

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Today's card is also being submitted for this week's Flourishes

card challenge to use a tree or leaves on your card!

And one more submission for this month's Flourishes Christmas Card Challenge FLLCNOEL18!

First Snow

2011-10-27T13:57:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I woke up to an enchanted winter scene. Overnight, the snow had fallen, draping the trees still heavy laden with golden amber leaves. It was beautiful, and magical...and then a little night-marish. My husband warned me not to look, but outside our kitchen bay window over-looking our two story deck were two of our most beautiful and mature Purple Ash trees. One had a side that had been torn from it's trunk and lay stretched out covering the entire expanse of our lawn. The other tree, though not as severe, had lost about a fourth of it's branches. I was heartbroken. Of course, we did call the tree trimmers, but the entire town had been shrouded in the early wet snow, and apparently we will be on a long wait list. So we will have to wait and see what the plan is, the estimate for removal, and if at least one can be salvaged.
However, I still do love snow, and last night as I walked out our front door, the snow sparkled and glistened against the street lights.
This morning as I drove around, I marveled at the beauty of the aspen leaves peeking through the heavy snow. This is our first snow of the year, and because of the warm temperatures, it came down heavy and wet. In a few days, it will all be melted and I wouldn't be surprised if we have many more temperate days before winter arrives once more.
I made this card with Flourishes stamps, using the Basic Grey Jovial paper to mimic the starry night sky. The snowy panel was just drawn and cut out, then lots and lots of sparkly glitter added for the snow. I hope it brings you a smile!!
Thanks so much for your visit...I may take a picture and add it later when I am feeling less stunned by the scene of our fallen tree.

Stampin' Sisters in Christ~Seasonal Birds

2011-10-22T03:30:00.005-06:00

Good Sunday morning to you!! As you can see by my photo above...Colorado is gorgeous right now with all the leaves putting on their showy display!! You can see a peek of the gorgeous leaves in golden hues right behind my card. We have three huge trees that line that back of our deck, so our yard, our deck, the neighbors yard...etc...is covered with them!

Today's challenge hostess at Stampin' Sisters in Christ is the wonderfully talented MariLynn. You can read her devotional on the SSIC blog.
The verse:
Ecclesiastes 3:1
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."

The challenge: Use something that shows the passing of time in your card, exs: a calendar, a sun, a clock...be creative!!
My card today uses a set that is one of my favorites and yet I have only used one or two of these separately on a card. But combined, you can see spring, summer, and fall on the front of my card. I tried hard to fit all four seasons but the card was going to end up being over 6 inches square and they still wouldn't fit well...so this shape fit the images...and you get the idea of the seasons changing, I hope. I made a 3x7 inch card and used the SU! Seasonal Bird for my stamp set, SU! Brushed copper paper, and a flourished embellishment also cut in the copper paper. The pretty designer paper is one I have had for a long time, it has shades of copper, browns, greens, creams and has a glittery shimmer to it.

This week's prize sponsors are three free Digital Images by Louby Lou!! Such cute designs!!
As always, thank you so much for taking the time to visit here. I sure hope you will be inspired by this week's devotional and accompanying challenge. I look forward to seeing your creations! Have a wonderful week!

Stampin' Sisters in Christ~Doves and Holly

2011-10-16T03:30:00.005-06:00

Good morning my stamping friends! Today's challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ is a really unique one based on such an encouraging scripture selection. Miesje from Creative Craft Room with a View has chosen our verse and challenge this week. You can read her devotional on the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog or here. I hope you can join in the fun this week!!

The verse: Matthew 11: 28 – 30 "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

The challenge: Sharing. Use two of everything on your card. 2 Designer papers, 2 flowers, 2 stamps...etc...whatever you choose, double it!
The Prize Sponsors: This week's wonderful sponsors are Designed 2 Delight~a 10.00 gift certificate!

I don't have a devotional to add to this week's scripture, but am always so blessed reading this week's devotional along with you!

I purchased this stamp last Christmas, and it was still uninked! So I was happy to bring it out and use it for today's card challenge. As you can see, there are two doves on the image, two sizes of the same Labels 18 nestability, and two sets of three pearls. I also used two designer papers.
I am also submitting this for this month's Flourishes Christmas challenge to make your card shine! I used gold embossing powder for my stamped images, stickles for the holly berrys, and glimmer mist for the entire image.
Here are the card details:
Stamps: Doves and Holly, Christmas Classics (Flourishes)
Paper: PTI white, SU! Brushed Gold, Basic Grey Jovial
Ink: Tim Holtz Spun Sugar and Antique Linen, Memento Black
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 18, Copic markers, Pearls, Red twill ribbon and white crochet ribbon, Gold Embossing Powder, Diamond Stickles

Thanks so much for visiting today and hope you can join in on the challenge!!

Amazing Grace

2011-10-09T03:30:00.001-06:00

Today's card was made for Stampin' Sisters in Christ Sunday challenge! Today's verse and devotions were chosen by the beautifully talented Lovely Linda. You can visit the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog for the devotional , or Linda's blog here.

The verse:

Mark 10:27

"And Jesus looking upon them saith, with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."

The challenge from Linda : Anything Goes!!

This week's sponsor is Simon Says Stamp, and the winner will receive a special stamp set!!

I just received this stamp in the mail from Rubbernecker...and wanted to use it for today's card challenge. I love the words in this old hymn combined with this beautiful font! I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch to design the layout. You can barely see the sheer ribbon, but it is wrapped along the corner with the bow secured on top. The card looks like it is wrapped like a gift, which is what Grace is: unmerited favor from God!

Thanks so much for your visit today, now let's enjoy the Lord's day and I look forward to seeing your creation later this week!!

Stampin' Sisters in Christ ~Challenge #109

2011-10-02T04:30:00.001-06:00

It's another Sunday and another scripture verse challenge on Stampin' Sisters in Christ!! This week's challenge is brought to us by the fun and talented Kris Breach of "Ink Something." You can visit the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog and see the devotional as well as the design team's samples for your inspiration.
This week's Scripture:
Galatians 5:22
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."
The challenge:
Include FRUIT in your creation. (could be designer paper, digi paper, stamped image, charm, etc...)
*By definition, a pumpkin is a fruit, and so are other "harvest" produce such as gourds.*

I received a crate of peaches from a friend a couple of weeks ago; just before we were to leave on a trip. Not wanting to waste any, I went to work peeling, slicing , and freezing. So when I viewed this week's challenge, I was excited to bring out this Magnolia stamp featuring Tilda holding a peach! Isn't she sweet? I have long admired these stamps that have been water colored with distress inks, so this week, I challenged myself to try this technique. It is a different look than coloring with copics, and I like the softness the water coloring medium lends to this sweet image!

This verse is one I have not visited in awhile...and it was such a good reminder that when we have Christ in us; he enables us to live by the fruits of the Spirit. I did a little inventory of the fruits...not peaches, strawberries, and kiwis...but those fruits that Christ alone can accomplish in us. I know when I am short a fruit (or two or three)...it means I am not walking by the Spirit, but I am relying on my own strength.
This week I am concentrating on one of the fruits of the spirit listed in this verse, "peace." What I learned is that "our peace is an inner calm that is promised to those who believe who have a thankful attitude based on an unwavering confidence that God is able and willing to do what is best for his children." That perspective has really helped me this week...knowing that I can be thankful even in light of difficult circumstances...because I can know that God is doing what is best for me.
This past week I was given the "peace that passes all understanding..." that is promised in Philippians 4:6-8. " The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." There was a situation that would send any mother into a tailspin of worry and anxiety...and yet I experienced so much peace. I prayed a lot during the day, and slept really well at night. I was talking it over with my husband today and asked...so what was different? The situation remained, nothing changed on the outside...but I felt different on the inside. Could it have been the prayers of others, my own prayers...and then I realized...the difference was I could see a tiny window of God at work. It was as if the heavens were parted just enough to see something minuscule on a universal scale, yet so large in my life from a heavenly perspective. So then, the question I asked myself, So did that mean that God wasn't at work before? No...it just meant that God was really gracious in allowing me to see a speck of what he was doing in the grand scheme of things. And so I can only thank Him.
I hope you are encouraged by this week's verse and I look forward to see what you do for today's challenge.
Have a blessed Sunday!

A Picture speaks a Thousand Words!

2011-09-20T05:25:00.001-06:00

Good morning, blogging friends!! I could tell you where I am...but I imagine you can guess by the above photograph...which by the way, took forever to upload from my hotel room!! But here it is, and it is really beautiful!! Right now I am tucked away in a beautiful but secluded hotel outside of Chantilly, France. Since I have no car, I am relaxing in the room while my husband attends some planning meetings. Our room is surrounded by a miniature forest...so I think a walk exploring the grounds is in order. When I return home, I will upload more pictures from our trip.
The best thing about Paris...Rue de Cler...a quaint street with vendors and sidewalk cafes. If you walk to the end and around a corner, you'll have a great view of the above!!
The least favorite thing about Paris...shopping on the Champs de Lysse...(I think that is misspelled)...so crowded and people walk right through you...I had to get out of there without a single souvenir. I am thinking the streets of New York city may be similiar, at least that is what I've been told!
Missing: Starbucks coffee.

The Church Door~Stamin' Sisters in Christ 106

2011-09-11T00:01:00.002-06:00

Good morning! Today at Stampin' Sisters in Christ we have a new challenge!! This week, Rebekkah is our challenge host. You can read her devotional on the SSIC blog or on Rebekkah's blog, "A Diamond in the Rough." Rebekkah has chosen this verse:

Matthew 7:7-8

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks the door will be opened."

The challenge on your cards this week is : To us a door or window on your card!
One card will be chosen winner and receive a special stamp set from Simon Says Stamp!

I searched and searched for a stamp that had a door on it...and remembered this lovely Flourishes image from "Christmas Postcard," which had a small church in the background of this dreamy winter scene. I thought it appropriate for this challenge...you could use a door of a building, a door image, make a small door in your card, use designer paper with a door on it, whatever you wish!! And if you can't find a door, use a window!
I wanted to use my new fleur de lis rectangles to frame this image. I stamped this initially on some Jovial designer paper to give it more of an antique feel. (Leslie from Running with Scissors gave me that idea!) I then used frosted lace and diamond stickles to add snow, colored it in with various copics in soft colors, added a wrinkled distressed ribbon and gold cording...and have one Christmas card done!! Or this could be a winter birthday card, I used the "Warm winter wishes" so my card could be used for any winter occasion! Of course, today is a sunny day in Colorado, and this picture may be hard to capture the winter feel and all the sparkle, but it is there!
So...please jump in and join the challenge this week!! In my week the church is a door I enter through frequently...it is a place of worship, study of God's word, a place of renewal, friendships, encouragement, and a place to be real with others who are earnestly seeking God and want to know Him better!!
Thank you so much for coming by...have a blessed week!

A Quiet Life~ SSIC Challenge #105

2011-09-04T02:30:00.001-06:00

Welcome to today's Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge! This week's verse and devotional was chosen by the wonderfully talented Peggysue at Roses by my Window! Her devotional and all the design team cards will be featured on the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog also!

I will be traveling to the mountains over the weekend...which was part of the inspiration for today's card. I wanted a scene that depicts living a quiet life...so I combined two Flourishes stamps and did a distressed ink tutorial for my sky background. I have to say, I like the way it turned out...though a bit bright for the muted colors of today's challenge...I am pretending that this is a Seattle blue sky and anyone who has ever visited there knows that when the sun is shining, the sky will be blue!!

The verse:

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

"Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before. 12 In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need."

The challenge:Nothing bright. Use quiet colors in your card creation; either pastels or earth tones; soft muted shades of neutrals

The Prize: Clear Dollar Stamps GC

My card recipe:

Stamps: Flourishes Kids at Play, Forest of Trees

Paper: SU! Always Artichoke, SU! other, PTI Rustic

Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, Ranger Peeled Paint, Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade, Broken China

Accessories: Twill ribbon, Metal Nailheads colored with copic marker, Circle Nestabilites, Dimensional

Thanks so much for visiting today...and your kind comments! I can't wait to see what you create with today's challenge if you play along!! Have a wonderful weekend!

This is the Day the Lord Has Made!

2011-08-28T02:30:00.037-06:00

I can't believe it is already time for another Stampin' Sisters in Christ card challenge! Some days fly, and this week has been one of those weeks!

This week's challenge is brought to us by Miesje. You can find her verse along with accompanying devotional and the Design Team's challenge cards on the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog. I am always excited to visit and read the devotional and this week is no exception!

This week's verse:

1 Corinthians 10:17 "Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf."

The Challenge: Recipe challenge: Create a card choosing at least 3 of the following:

ribbon, button, swirl, hat pin, brad, charm, popped up image.

The Prize: Sweet and Sassy Gift Certificate!!

Today's card uses the verse from Psalm 118:24, one of my favorite verses! After checking, I think I have these elements on my card: ribbon, swirl (found in the labels die cut and the doily,) hat pins, and popped up image. The timepiece on the far corner is a cut out image that I took from a piece of the Webster's Pages designer paper and then adhered it to another paper from the same pack. Because the verse has to do with honoring this day, I wanted to use an element of time. Just don't look too hard...it may seem like my clock is turned on it's side, but I really wanted those florals facing that direction! I also used a new-to-me product, Allene's Paper glaze on my fancy labels. I wanted the image to pop, and this left a glassy glaze on the surface. I think I like it.

I hope you are inspired this week and would love to see your card or creation when you play along with this week's challenge!!

My card is also made with the Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge to use a doily.

This card was also meets this week's Flourishes challenge to make a card using a sentiment as the focal point.

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Flourishes Lenten Rose

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Antique Linen distress ink

Papers, Prima DP, SU! Cocoa, PTI Kraft, SU! Blush

Accessories: Crochet Lace, 1/4" satin ribbon, Making Memories Vintage Findings Gem Pins, Fancy Tags Two Nestabilities, Martha Stewart doilies, brown pearls, Allene's Paper Glaze

Stampin Sisters in Christ ~2 Timothy 1:7

2011-08-21T03:30:00.009-06:00

Good Sunday morning to you!! This week's Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge was challenging for sure. But as with any good challenge, the outcome can be so gratifying! Today's challenge was given by MariLynn from Mississippi McGyver.

You can view today's devotional and challenge in detail by visiting the Stampin Sisters in Christ blog. I'm sure you will be blessed!

The Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind."

The challenge:

Try something that you have been AFRAID to try before. Examples: A color combination, a different style than you would normally use (layers instead of CAS or CAS if you normally lay on the layers...) You get the idea!!

The Prize: A 15.00 gift voucher from the generous Paper Fashions Etc.!!

I really had to rack the recesses of my tired brain to figure out what to do for this challenge. I thought and I thought and I thought...and I could not think of what I was afraid to do. Most things I have wanted to do (stamping related,) I have attempted before. The reason I don't do it is either because it isn't my style, or I've discovered I don't do it well. And I have learned that over spending hours and hours on a card or project and wondered why I tortured myself? I call that a learning curve...and happily I have moved on to a style that reflects me and doesn't leave me frustrated. Except every once in awhile I see something one of you does and have to give it a try! It's always good to challenge yourself a bit!

When it comes to living life, I know I am not nearly as brave as I would like to be. In the past two years I have found my knees weak and thoughts rambling and my fingers trembling. The word that can evoke so much fear has touched all three of my family members...husband, oldest and youngest daughter. Each have required numerous surgeries to rid of tumors. I am afraid of cancer. I am afraid of surgery. While in this waiting mode of wondering if the cancer recurs in another suspect looking mole on one of my daughter's bodies...I find myself avoiding the sun and being fearful of the damaging rays. I still go outside, but I am not one to go uncovered...I have shade and a hat.

Those relationships that I have consistently relied on for strength have been slowly taken away. My mom recently made the decision to be permanently placed in a nursing home in the town where she and my Dad live and I grew up in. I am fearful for her physic well being as every day she loses weight and she is so frail to begin with. I am worried for her emotional well-being as she is such a lovely woman and yet she spends most of her time alone. But more than that, I am afraid at times of not being the daughter to her and my Dad and the support that I need to be when they live in a town that is many miles across several mountain passes. How do you flip family responsibilities and become the mother to the mother when you miss your mother? And how do you let go of being the daughter that could go to her mom when she was scared? I wrestle with this often and the role I now play. And am I able to meet the responsibilities of handling all the financial and health decisions when the time comes?

These are just a few of the ways the Lord has steered my life and those I love recently. And at times I feel I have lost my equilibrium.I have had the feeling of being suspended in the unknown rather than walking a steady path the Lord has set out for me. When feeling this way, the one thing that has helped is confessing my fears to the Lord...not that he doesn't already know them!! Reeling in those thoughts that tend to take me captive and down a side street of doom. Lately I am coming to the realization that whatever the Lord is doing...it is truly for my good. I am growing closer to Him. I am putting away the distractions and spending much more time in seeking him out. We have a lot of conversations on my bed at night. When I find myself unsteady, I think on his attributes and how he is unchanging...He is a rock. He is my rock.

We all need encouragement in this life...and I have found so much through God's continued grace and the ways he continues to reveal his care, his goodness, and provision over me and those I love...oftentimes through friends like you!!

2 Samuel 22

"As for God, his way is perfect, the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

(23) It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. (24) He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to stand on the heights. (37) You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn."

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One thing I am a little intimidated by is alterable items. They usually require more time than a card...but the results can be gratifying! This gift tin has been sitting in my closet for a long time. I went to work with paper, dies, stamps perfect for food gifts, spritzing roses, adding ribbon, etc...

I filled it with pretty gold foil wrapped candy. And for now it will sit in my stamp room or kitchen...until I find the perfect occasion for gift giving. You can click on the picture for a closer view. I love these stamps from Waltzingmouse work for the canister lids also!

Paper: Daisy D's designer, PTI rustic

Ink: Versafine Sepia, Always Artichoke

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Victorian Fripperie and Labels Four

Accessories: Spellbinder dies, prima roses, shimmer mist, satin ribbon

Thanks for visiting today! I hope this project encourages you to try something you've been afraid to attempt before. I just thought of something else I am afraid to do...digital!! Oh my goodness, I would need a class for that one!! But I need to learn, because that seems to be a trend here to stay!!

Have a blessed Sunday!

Reeling in Colorado's Beauty!!

2011-08-19T13:45:00.002-06:00

I rarely make male cards...but this Thomas Kinkade image combined with Flourishes "What a Catch" set had me swooning. My guy is a fly fisherman, and the combined images made a pretty handsome card, don't you think?
I copper embossed the background and colored a decorative brad with a copper copic marker to antique it...adding the cool "fly" in versamark to give the background some interest. A couple of weeks ago I actually went with my husband while he picked out to fish with. They were so tiny, all in these little bins, and really detailed...pretty cool art in and of itself. I added a simple handmade flag banner. The main focal image is so detailed, it doesn't need any color added. I kinda like that!

This card was a complete CASE because I love love love it. The blog, "Joyful Creations with Kim" caught my eye awhile back...Kim also lives in Colorado and she captured the beauty of a Colorado pine forest in her card here. She also gives a great tutorial for this one layer beauty. I can't say that I completely honored her card with mine, but I tried. Combined with the twine and a button, I am happy with this card's outcome. I made several using a masking technique and 3 colors for the sponging in background, Baja Breeze for the sky, Old Olive for the base, and So Saffron in the center going upwards to mimic sunlight filtering through the trees.
One thing that really helped me line the masking up is using a large lined post it note pad (I needed two pieces for each side and one for the top) combined with a grid paper underneath to match the lines. I used SU!'s large ruled sheets for this. I made that purchase a long time ago, and they are so handy to have!

Thanks so much for stopping in today!! I will be back on Sunday to share a project I am working on for Stampin' Sisters in Christ!
Hope you're having a wonderful end of summer!

Sing to the Lord!

2011-08-14T03:30:00.001-06:00

It's a new week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ!! Today's devotional is from the most talented Teresa Kline of Paperie Blooms. I am so looking forward to reading Teresa's thoughts this morning and hope you will join us in today's devotional and stamping challenge!

Teresa's chosen verse is:

Colossians 3:16

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

This is such a beautiful and encouraging scripture, don't you think? I think music speaks to all of us...whatever our tastes or genre might be! But there is something very unique and wonderful and transforming when we all combine our voices heavenward in praise to the Lord!

The challenge:

Use music in some form, sheet music, musical notes, instruments, or singing.

The Prize: Simon Says Stamp gift certificate!!

I love this stamp from Flourishes...it reminds me of my Mom singing our wake-up song when I was a little girl....The Red Red Robin! Do you know it? Anyway, this bird brings me a smile and combined with the sentiment from the same set, "Sing a New Song," is perfect for Teresa's challenge today!

Stamps: Flourishes Singin' Along, Country Charm Labels

Paper: Papertrey Ink white, Bazill blue

Ink: Memento Black, Versafine Sepia

Accessories: Nestabilities, pearls (colored blue with copic,) copic markers, Martha Stewart punch, prima roses, pink plaid ribbon, white crochet ribbon, twine

New Mercies

2011-08-07T03:30:00.098-06:00

This week the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge is from the (lovely) Linda Lucas! Her scripture verse is :

Lamentations 3:22-23
"The faithful love of the LORD never ends. His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. "

When you visit the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog, you will be able to read this week's wonderful devotional by Linda. I did this morning, and it was so uplifting!

This verse was the inspiration behind my card. When meditating on God's mercies being new every morning, God impressed something "new"to me this past few weeks. I have felt very hard-pressed on all sides by trials for over a year now. And the thing is, new trials keep coming into my life!! Sometimes we have seasons like that where so many concerns for family's health, fragmented relationships, those we love being far from the Lord...all these can bring a sense of despair and hopelessness. The feelings can come at night when you are alone and in the dark and most vulnerable, or in the day time when you are surrounded by people that seemingly have no cares or concerns weighing them down. While these feelings are not healthy, they are very human. They don't feel very spiritual...but I can attest that God is there in the midst of the trials and the dark times. I had been trying to deal with the difficult situations by either distraction, avoidance, or worry. Finally, out of desperation, I changed my direction... and I asked the Lord to bring something "new" into my life. My heart basically cried out from a feeling of such a low spirit, that I needed to see God's hand at work performing something new...and something I could perceive and say, "This is from God. God is working in my circumstances!" A new way to resolve an old issue, a new attitude for me, a new way to see my present difficult circumstances, a new light shed that might ease a difficult situation. I prayed this prayer over many nights..and God answered in a "new" way. Charles Spurgeon's commentary on this verse stated that sometimes God's mercy was a new mercy, something we had never experienced before. And sometimes his mercy was presented in a new way, by a new deliverer...in my case it was both!! I had a neighbor who I had not seen in almost five years come to my door one day shortly after these prayers... with a cheery bouquet of bright summery flowers. She said she had hosted an outdoor dinner and they were left over and she thought she'd share them with me. This woman had been pastoring a church for the past few years and was gone from home during the days. She had recently left her pastoral position, and for some reason had come knocking on my door. Later that week we enjoyed a special time of fellowship over lunch and catching up on each other's lives and it ended in a sweet time of prayer in the car in front of our homes. She was a "new" mercy, and God's perfect timing! While the trials remain, it is so true that burdens are lessened when shared, and this friend certainly did that.
When I made this card, I pictured the freedom, the innocence, the sweetness a new day brings when the Lord is part of it. We have fresh mercies available to us each morning. A new day unfurls like a gift, wrapped in ribbon, and if we have eyes to see, the hope it brings with it may be as close as a neighbor with a bouquet of flowers!

The challenge this week is to look deep into your stamp supply cupboards and find something you bought because you had to have it...but have not used it!

The prize: Clear Dollar Stamps is offering a generous 15.00 gift certificate this week!!

My "digging deep" produced these prima flowers...I stacked two on this card!! I bought these in every color and have only used a few as usually they are the wrong size or the wrong color. These shaped petal cards are a new purchase I recently bought on a trip to Victoria, B.C...and this challenge helped me to use one up!!

I hope you will visit the SSIC blog and read Linda's devotional and be challenged this week to see a fresh mercy the Lord has blessed you with!!

Supplies:
Paper: "The Papery Petal Cards", Papertrey Ink Vanilla, PTI white, SU! Pink Pirouette, Designer Paper
Stamps: Flourishes "Kid's at Play"

Accessories: Labels Nestabilities, Prima Flowers (layered), Pearls, Pearl Flourishes, PTI twine, EK Success punch, SU! Scalloped Punch, Iridescent Ribbon, Glimmer Mist, Charm

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Guest Designer!!

2011-07-31T03:30:00.005-06:00

Good morning!! I am excited to tell you I've been invited to be a guest for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge blog for the next few weeks! Since this is one of my favorite groups I love to visit each Sunday , I am so honored to be stampin' along with this wonderful group of gals!! The other wonderfully talented guest for the next six weeks along with myself is Teresa Kline of Paperie Blooms!
So this week, the scripture and devotional were chosen by my friend, Peggysue.

Psalm 148:7-10

Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds..."

The challenge issued was use any type of creature from tiny (like an ant or bug) to a very LARGE creature (like a whale or elephant) on your card or project.

The sponsor this week is a gift certificate to Doodle Pantry!!

Peggysue had asked us to share a praise song for this challenge. The song that was going through my head as I created my card was "All Creatures of our God and King" by the David Crowder band. I was able to find an inspirational video with music on Youtube here.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cObXwn-EgGY&feature=related

My card was created with this tiny hummingbird in mind...I love watching hummingbirds from our bird feeder up in the mountains!! The last time I was there, I actually spied one of the tiny hummers perched up in a large pine branch! I had never seen them still, and I was surprised at how tiny these are! My stamp is Flourishes "Humming Along" along with SU! designer papers in soft subtles, PTI white, Webster's sparklers, white satin ribbon, white crochet ribbon, and mosaic tiles.

So hope you can visit the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog and play along with this fun challenge. You may just be a winner of a darling Doodle Pantry gift certificate...but you are sure to be uplifted in spirit and may find a new song in your heart!

Keepin' it Simple!

2011-07-30T15:54:00.001-06:00

Simple is as simple does...not!! Hi friends! I am back to sharing a few creations in the next couple of days here. Every once in awhile I get tired of my same 'ol style and want to branch out...this time I tried a new card fold featured on the Papertrey Ink blog which worked well to showcase the focal botanical image. Basically you just cut away the card front approximately an inch and that way you have a narrow flap to add a decorative border or strip. I wanted to try some fresh summer colors, so teamed up PTI's Hawaiian shores ink with Enchanted Evening added just around the edges. The sentiment from Flourishes "Country Charm Labels" fit this set, so I inked it in the Enchanted Evening ink. As a side note, don't you think it would be fun to come up with all the names of inks? I would love to be on some Hawaiian shores with an enchanted evening, wouldn't you? The inside flap was stamped in a itty bitty flower stamp from the same "Country Charm Labels." The botanical are from Inkadinkado and were given to me by a friend, a "just because" gift, which is the best kind. Thank you, Joanne!! They are beautiful!
Thanks so much for stopping by! We are in a heat wave here in Colorado...high 90's and I am feelin' it for sure! If my teeth weren't so sensitive to cold, I'd like to be sucking on a Popsicle right now! Maybe I'll just listen for the ice cream truck, instead...

Flourishes Farm Fresh Challenge

2011-07-13T14:59:00.001-06:00

Today's card is for this month's Flourishes Farm Fresh Challenge! I combined two of the Flourishes sets, the "Seeds of Friendship" with the "Strawberries" for this card. The paper is from SU's designer papers in pure poppy and Papertrey Ink's white, and the pretty ceramic button was purchased awhile ago from an Etsy store online from "Tessa Ann."
I took this photograph outside, and as soon as the camera clicked, a bit of breeze blew my card off the upperstory deck railing into our lilac bushes. It rained last night. I was able to retrieve it with the help of a mop handle and hope it dries. Have you ever had one of those weeks?? I love this card and will be mailing it off soon, anyway!!
Edited: After an hour, the card looks fine, the waterspots have dried flat and you wouldn't even know it had gotten wet! I am relieved!

Happy Independence Day!!

2011-07-04T09:54:00.000-06:00

Happy Independence Day to the U.S.A! This is a simple embedded embossed card my stamp club made...I love the flag (S.U.) embossed in white and then a wash of reinkers over it. It is simple , but I like it!
We went to our first rodeo in years last night...and at the beginning, a beautiful horse galloped around the circle with the rider holding a large flag...it was so beautiful. This is the last of my three red white and blue cards...will be back later this week with something pretty, I hope!! Happy Fourth of July, and Canada Day!!

Red White and Blue Gratitude!

2011-06-30T02:39:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite places to visit, "Stampin' Sisters in Christ" has a challenge this week to make a red, white, and blue card that is a thank you! The scripture verse is :

Galatians 5:1

You can read this week's devotionals and view all the design team's cards by clicking on my SSIC blog banner on my sidebar!

My card uses a new Flourishes Set, "Country Charm labels" which also coordinates with the spellbinder dies. I used a small flower image to make the patterned paper under the label...it almost reminds me of fireworks! The sentiment on this set is one I was particularly drawn to...I do believe that the power of our words to speak gratitude makes such a difference to us, and to those we live with...or should I say those who have to live with us.

I am so grateful to live in my country, the good ol' U.S.A.!! This past few months we had the opportunity to travel to many other countries, and one of the most thrilling sights is seeing all the flags flown over a government building....and yet the red, white, and blue always stands out to me!

I am thankful for the many comforts I have, the daily dishes, laundry, and sweeping and dusting all made more convenient for me by these little maids called vacuums, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers. I am thankful for a warm soft bed to fall into at night, for covers to pull up to my nose and for the knowledge that an all Sovereign God is tucking me in and watching me sleep. He who never slumbers is more than able to watch over me. I am thankful for so many things...my faith, my family, my freedom that extends so many privileges and freedom to worship being one of the most important. I am thankful to the men and women who have fought to keep these rights for all Americans.

And I am thankful for my friends and stampers who stop by here! God bless you ! Have a wonderful Fourth of July! Ours will be spent in our mountain town home with family in and out. We will take the boat out on the water for a couple of days and maybe watch the fireworks if my husband can stay up that late!! What are your plans?

Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue!!!

2011-06-29T12:01:00.001-06:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I participated in a Teapot Tuesday Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers!! The tea-potters have a special place in my heart because not only is it managed by my wonderful friend, Cindy aka Mothermark, but I was blessed to be showered with cards by this caring group of friends last October when my parents were both in a nursing home facility. Well, this week is designated as "Tickle a Teapotter," a time when you can send your card along to a fellow stamper and tea potter...all a big surprise!!
The challenge can be found here if you care to participate! This week the story had something to do with "school" and having a number on your cad and at least two things you can count.This Pure Innocence image fit the school theme with an "A," don't you think? And the brads are something you can easily count!
I had so much fun making my card in school colors...paper pieced my little girl's skirt and cut her out and propped her up on this chalkboard.
This card reminds me so much of myself when I was a little girl. I loved to play school, and had a chalkboard similar to this one and always tried to wrangle my little brother into being my student!
So, true to my title, I have two more cards featuring these colors, more to come this week. Thanks for stopping in and visiting here today. Now let's start with the letter "A." Do you have your pencil ready?

Grandmom's Quilt

2011-06-18T12:42:00.001-06:00

Hi friends! I am here with a post today of something that has been on my mind...a patchwork of thoughts, actually, kind of like this old quilt. My last visit to my parents included going over to Grand mom's small house and with my parent's prodding, taking anything I wanted. Just to clarify, Grandmom passed away at the wonderful old age of 93...I don't usually go and take relative's belongings. Well, I am not much of a collector of anything, but I knew I wanted Grand mom's quilts. She had tried to sell these, believe it or not, at some craft type store and was only offered 20.00 for each. So at that time (about 12 years ago)...she took them over to my Mom's and offered my Mom and I each to choose one of the five she had. I am so glad she took three of them back home, although they sat in her closet unused... until now. This photograph is one of the more simple patchwork quilts. I have plans to keep this on our semi-covered porch over a wicker settee until I can decide what to do with it. I love looking at this quilt...and imagining if maybe one of these squares was a dress my mom wore as a little girl. I don't know too much about quilts, but am sure this was one either my Grand mom or her mom or maybe both sat around and quilted many years ago. I love the rumples and dimples of this homey quilt. I even love that some of the patches are identical right next to each other. It's as if they messed up and didn't realize it until later. Or maybe it was meant to be that way. I can relate to messing up on my cards and not seeing it until it was finished and the photo was taken.
This quilt inspired my card today. I have had this "Quilter's Sampler" set from Papertrey Ink and like many of my stamps, it has not been used enough! I found my complete inspiration on Mish Mash's blog...you can find her blog on my sidebar and click on it. I love the way she uses papers and mixes and matches them to make patchwork art. I used my 3/4 inch punch and punched away at a few designer paper stacks, then had fun just piecing them together. I made one in more greens/oranges/yellows and this one. It was fun and made me happy to see this all completed and ready to give.
Thank you for stopping in.. I will share with you my wicker set revamp I've been doing...all to make a place worthy of this quilt. I have the idea of making the quilt into pillows. If you have any thoughts on that, I would really enjoy hearing them. Have a blessed day!

Remember your way Home!

2011-06-04T15:58:00.002-06:00

This card was made for my niece who is graduating this month! I have two nieces, actually, one is graduating from college, and her little sister from high school! Every year around the first of May I try to tally up in my mind how many, if any, graduates I expect an announcement for. And every year, I receive at least two announcements in the mail that did not make it in my tally. Some are from friends who I haven't heard from in a few years, so it is always a surprise. I made a few easy graduation cards that I will be sharing soon, but this one was made using a sketch for Stampin' Sisters In Christ. I always enjoy visiting their blog and reading the devotionals. You can visit here. I am barely meeting the deadline in time...so check out the new challenge tomorrow! This was made using a new stamp I purchased through Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Ribbon store...and a new package of Kaisercraft paper, "Nine to Five" collection, also from Sharon's store. A few pearl flourishes and a rose in pink to meet the sketch challenge, and there you have it!
As a mom of two daughters who no longer live at home, the words in this sentiment really pulled on my heartstrings...especially the last part, remember your manners, and the way home. Good advice for any grad, don't you think?
Thanks so much for stopping in today!

Thinking of Dad

2011-06-02T23:55:00.000-06:00

This is one of those cards that rarely happens, it wasn't made for a specific challenge!
I received these silhouette stamps from Flourishes a few weeks ago...and recently have been drawn to these colors, so I combined them in a card for my Dad. I saved the sentiment for the inside...Dad is living alone at the house now...and I thought this might be something to cheer him up and give him fond memories. Thanks for stopping in today!! Blessings to you!

Making the Time

2011-05-31T11:35:00.000-06:00

Hi, friends of mine that take the time to visit me here! I have been absent from here, as you know. But my absence here means I have been more fully present somewhere else, and that is a good and sometimes necessary thing. As many of you are rounding the corner of a busy time of year with graduations, end of school year events, or preparing to send a college student on their way to a new and exciting adventure...this past week I have been doing something that I had hoped I would never have to do. But it is alright. I will write more about that at another time...but for today, I came across this quote on another blog and wanted to share it here as it sums up my thoughts on the subject of "time"so well. I am thankful that my family took the time to be with me and support me and my parents during this past very difficult week. I am thankful I have had the ability to take the time this past year to make the needed trips across our state to my parent's home at times which were not always convenient and many times rushed and had a feel of emergency. I am thankful I took the time to listen to my mom on what could be her last day living in her own home and hear her memories she shared. I am thankful.
The way I see time is we are all given 24 hours in a day. Each and every day. We make choices how we spend our time, and if we say we are always busy, or there is never enough of it...then I think it is time to reevaluate our time in light of what is truly important to us. Time is always moving, it is fluid, it does not wait for us. We are wise to wait on it, to seize it when the opportunity presents itself...and to let go when it has moved on. I am working on all of these in my life right now. How about you?

"As busy as we can make ourselves feel, or sometimes as busy as we want to seem to others, there is nothing more important than just making time. For a friend. For a daughter. For someone who wants you and needs you for something. There is always something else you can do, somewhere else you can be. We all get the same amount of time each day. If we say we don’t have the time, what we really mean is that we don’t want to make the time. Because if you can’t make it for one thing, it means you made it for something else. Something else took priority. Today, choose to make the time. Make time for yourself. Make time for someone else. Make the time for something you’ve been putting off. I doubt you’ll regret it. – Emily, Remodeling this Life "

Baby Card

2011-05-15T13:51:00.001-06:00

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon here! My great-nephew and his wife just had their first child, a baby boy last month~! This card was made using Flourishes stamps...the background was stamped with the baby rattle and I love this sentiment so much I wanted to use it on the front of the card. Since it is so overcast today, my card needed some editing. The colors are PTI lemon tart, and SU bashful blue. This was made for this week's Flourishes May sketch found here. Thanks for stopping in, enjoy your weekend!

Sing a New Song

2011-05-13T13:30:00.001-06:00

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things." ~Psalm 98:1

We've had a deluge of rain here for the past few days...more than I have seen in all the years of living here in Colorado. I think we came close to a record...but today, the sun came out and it is glorious with all the visible signs of spring following the rain!!
This card was made with the season of spring in mind...a season of renewal and flowers blooming, trees budding, birds singing, mallards quacking, geese ...well, what do geese do...hmmm?? We have a gaggle of geese that frequently visit the pond behind our house! Oh, yes, geese honking!!
Flourishes is issuing several challenges this week on their blog to welcome their new release for the month of May!! I chose this challenge, "Three in a Row." My card uses three elements: a die cut, lace, and pearls! There are actually two die cuts layered that my little singing bird is perched on! To view this challenge, visit here on the Flourishes blog.
Today's card is also being submitted to this week's Stampin' in Christ challenge to make a card using all things beautiful!
For my card, I used two nestabilities dies, the blossom and labels 4, Flourishes stamp set, prima papers, pearls, crochet lace, blue ribbon, and prima roses from the Flourishes store, and a bit of stardust stickles. The image was colored with copic markers!
Thanks for stopping in today!

A Wagon Full of Love

2011-05-08T18:37:00.001-06:00

Well, it's been quite a long while since I've picked up a stamp and I must admit that the process is a bit overwhelming! As much as I was inspired by our recent trip, I didn't have any stamps that matched the inspiration. So I found the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge and used it as a springboard to bring this sweet image to life. I have to say, I love paper piecing...where else could you have a red polka dotted wagon except in the world of paper and scissors? I also was excited to use this sweet paper I've had on my desk. I hope this little girl finds you enjoying your day and brings you a big smile!
Blessings on your day!

Mother's Day Poem

2011-05-08T16:49:00.000-06:00

This poem was written and shared by our pastor at church. It is based upon 2 Corinthians 4:7 and Phillippians 4:13. If you read it and share it, please be sure to give proper credit. Hope you find it an encouragment to you today!

Woman of weakness, woman of strength
Clothed in humanity, upheld by God's grace
Prone to get tired, discouraged, undone.
Yet able, in Christ to be joyful and strong.

You know as a Mom, as a vessel of clay
The weight of the burdens you shoulder each day
Pressed in your patience, laden with cares
Constantly tending to others' affairs
And though you're resourceful, still more help you seek
You know that you're lacking, you know that you're weak.

But weakness isn't a thing to be fought
Or something to stew on to make you distraught
For God is well-pleased, to take all of you
And bring Himself glory, while showing it's true
That when you are weak, you truly are strong
As you walk in dependence on Him all day long.

When you are perplexed, He's infinitely wise
When you are undone, He's never surprised
When you are exhuasted, He won't shut HIs eyes
All that you lack, He fully supplies
For He gives His grace, and He gives without measure
And shines forth the gospel, and displays it as treasure.

So when you are weary, when feeling dismayed
Don't be discouraged, and don't be afraid.
Don't be depressed, or lay down in despair
Don't look inside, to muster what's there.
Instead look to Jesus, who lives within you.
Whose Spirit empowers all that you do.

So declare it in faith, declare it as true.
Declare this great hope with each day when it's new.
Declare it each hour, again and again
That "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH JESUS!" Amen

Women of weakness, women of strength
Clothed in humanity, upheld by God's grace.
Prone to get tired, discouraged, undone
Yet able, in Christ, to be joyful and strong.

Just calling in...

2011-05-01T15:57:00.000-06:00

Hi there, blogging friends!
Or should I say, "Cheerio?" I've been on a fun trip through some of Europe. Our youngest daughter ended her semester study in Spain , and my husband, oldest daughter, and I met here there and then travelled on to several other countries. We were here on our last stop. Can you guess where this is?
I am catching up on rest and still haven't sorted our mail, but I'll be back in a day or so to catch up with you!
Have a blessed Sunday!

Thank You!

2011-04-02T11:32:00.002-06:00

Thank you so much, Our Daily Bread Designs, for choosing my card last week as one of your favorites! I am so pleased that you did!! What an honor to be featured among so many talented card makers!!
I love the ODBD blog and the stamp sets are so detailed in beauty and font...it makes it easy to create with!! You can view their stamps here.

Framing Your Image

2011-03-28T15:37:00.002-06:00

Our Daily Bread Designs has a challenge this week to "frame" your design. I love this paper collection, "Sparkling Spring" by Prima and used the design in the paper and a framed stamp image to frame this sentiment from ODBD "Lift Up Our Hands." I added a punched lattice border on the bottom to give it a bit more substance. The gorgeous flower is from Prima, and I added vellum leaves sponged with TH "Peeled Paint" (green) for the leaves.

I hope you enjoy this card creation.
I haven't been feeling well for a couple of weeks now...and would just ask for prayer from my friends as I don't know what the culprit is...though I am thinking hormones or thyroid. Dizziness, extreme lethargy, and just overall blech. I wouldn't be too concerned, except our entire family is due to take a vacation overseas in just two weeks, and I want to be feeling much better in order to make the most of that trip. I do have a dr. appointment coming up in a couple of days, so that should help. Not to cause anyone worry, but your prayers would be really appreciated.
Thanks so much for coming by.

Happy Birthday!

2011-03-24T17:10:00.000-06:00

I had fun coloring up this popular Pure Innocence little girl and adding a "jeweled" crown using this pretty paper and stickles for a bit of sparkle! These are colors I don't pick up very often, orange, greens, and of course, a dose of pink...otherwise it just wouldn't be "me."
I hope she gives you a smile today...thanks for popping in! Blessings on your day!

Charming Gardener

2011-03-15T16:06:00.003-06:00

A charming gardener, I am most definitely not. That is probably why I am so drawn to florals on cards, the vibrant colors and cascading blossoms on paper make me giddy!!
I attempted last year to dig up an unused space on the side of our lawn and went to top-notch nurseries with the idea of making a beautiful, bountiful, lush garden. I planted long stemmed daisies and gerberas, with the image of vases with fresh-cut flowers brightening the multiple spaces in our home. I waited expectantly and watched as the stalks reached dwarf length, flowers budded in tight gnarled knots, then withered away in the afternoon sun. Not one single bloom to show for the money and time spent!!
Anyway, this is a card for a Flourishes challenge , "A Cut Above the Rest." The challenge is to make a cut on your card. This sentiment was cut out using the deckled rectangles from Spellbinders, and circle nestabilities for the bird.
This card was also my first attempt at sewing...and was happy to say I only had the needle jammed once...yippee! This was one of those cards that was days in the making, I kept fiddling with the layout, then the origonal black base was too somber for the sentiment, so I cut it out and framed it with yellow and then mounted on a white base. At least with this card I have a single rose bud to show for my efforts!
What about you, do you enjoy gardening? And if so, do you have any tips?
Thanks for stopping by, and it's almost spring here in Colorado. Time to go plant some more stuff and hope for the best!

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge

2011-03-09T13:51:00.003-07:00

Isaiah 40:8
"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever."

We have a lovely spring day outside, so I took a chance with the wind and quickly snapped this photograph of my card for this week's SSIC challenge. You can see the challenge by clicking on the blinkie in my sidebar. This week we were to use flowers in our card...and they needed to be stamped. I used a Verve stamp for the verse and some Rubber Stamp Tapestry stamps ( a gift from a friend)...to frame the verse in a wreath. These were so fun to work with the different colors of inks and florals to adorn this verse.
I hope you enjoy this card today and your spirits are lifted as you trust in God's word.
Thank you so much for stopping by!

A Keepsake Letter

2011-03-04T12:42:00.001-07:00

There is a story behind this card today...one of those times when the story is much bigger than the card, actually.
As most of you know, my Grandmother, Odell Gray, passed away on February 7. I had the assignment of planning her memorial service, and part of that was providing an obituary. I realized how very little I knew of this woman who had lived for almost a century...and making a few phone calls to my Mom from the funeral home didn't help with any details. I went home that day thinking sadly to myself, that we have an entire legacy lost from this era...as no one in my family could recall any details of her life. I had only been around my grandmother as a young child, and then again in the last few years, and because of her being deaf and refusing to wear a hearing aid, communication with her was very limited.
Then there was the difficulty of Mom, being confined to the nursing home for the previous three months and declining health, as well as I am sure the shock and grief upon her...well, there just wasn't much information to go on.
A few days later, I was at my Grand mom's home, and helping my Dad find some important documents and pictures, we discovered three albums of pictures, and I took them back to my Dad's. Later that evening, as I was thumbing through an old album, this letter was creased between the pages. It was a letter my Mom had given her mother in 2002. And in the letter lie all the details of this woman's life, summed up in four handwritten pages penned by her daughter...from her beginnings with my Grandad starting up a small farm in East Texas to moves they had made necessitated by hardship, and woven throughout the words were a picture of my Grand mom and her life that I had not had before.
I was able to read the letter written by my Mom at Grand mom's memorial service, all four pages without tears. At the end though, my Mom praised her Mother for all of her character qualities, and listed them all...generous, kind, a heart that was so big and yet safe to keep secrets, and a treasured friend. And I am thankful to say my Mom has been all these to me, and more , since I was at the age of six and went with my brother to live permanently with my Dad and his new bride.
Over and over again since reading this letter, I have felt God's goodness toward our family to provide this at just the right time, and have been thanking Him for that. But it has also reminded me to send a letter to a loved one along with a card...especially at birthdays or Mother's or Father's Day...because even after the memory fades and confusion sets in, those words can be a balm of healing and restoration to the soul.
This card was made with a Flourishes image given to me by a sweet friend this year. I embossed the image in white and then outlined it with a copic marker just slightly darker than the paper. I made a vellum strip with the words, "Just Because."
This will be a card containing a letter to my Mom...
thanks for stopping in today...blessings on your day!

Pretty Posies

2011-02-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

I haven't attempted to make a post here in so long, let's see if I still remember how! Our youngest daughter is far far away in a distant land...but thank goodness for Skype I can still "see" her and have long chats every now and then. Some days I can even get our Corgi, Copper to get close enough to the monitor for a sniff and snort so Erin can see him!! Although not homesick, she did request a few items from the homeland that she can either not find there, or are expensive, or, maybe she just wants some mail!!
Anyway, I had received this little cloth drawstring purse from her for Christmas; it contained a beautiful bracelet and earrings from my favorite jeweler, Brighton. I was so taken with this purse, that it must have somehow subliminally seeped into my card as this blossom on the bottom of my card looks a lot like the one in the bag, don't you think? (I tried to add the photo of the entire bag but having difficulty, so see that little corner right by my posie? That is the bag. I decided to fill it with some sweet treat to go in her little package...and at this rate of my slow collecting of things, she may be home before she gets it in the mail!
This little girl is another image from "Pure Innocence," and since I paper pieced her dress green, I am entering her into this week's Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge here. This week's devotional was written by a dear friend of mine, Peggysue, and I would encourage you to go and read it for yourself. She has a way of putting pictures with words that stick in your brain...and for me, that is a good thing!!
I am going to post this weekend a little update of my visit to my parents and share something that has special meaning for me...so hope to see you again soon.

Framed!

2011-02-09T23:43:00.001-07:00

Well, since I am still away from home, and feeling rather out of my element lately, thought I would share with you a project I did for gifts this year.
These are the inexpensive wood frames from Michael's...all mod-podged and stained and adorned with those oh-so-pretty rhinestone flourishes and Prima flowers. Rather than leaving the inserts empty for a frame, I took the cardboard insert and covered them with contrasting designer paper. That way if the recipient wanted to, they could leave them as is, or add a favorite quote or inspirational verse, using the matting as another "frame." Make sense? I gave these to my daughters, and neither of them have added a picture or anything to the inside.
On the white/black frame I did not paint, instead, I chose a light wood base and it blended really nicely. The blue/brown frame I used a regular minwax wood stain product and antiqued the paper to blend with the darker stain.
On a personal note, I have been at my parent's home helping my Dad transition from the nursing home following knee surgery with the intent of him becoming stronger and building endurance. So right now I am in the caregiving role. In what I can only determine is the providential Lord's plan, my grandmother (mom's mom) passed away shortly after my arrival. So that has added to the length and also the breadth of this trip...now I am in the midst of funeral arrangements. Although a bit sad for my mom in losing her mother, at the age of 94, I am grateful that she had her as long as she did.
Thanks for stopping in today!

You've Been so Kind

2011-02-01T10:39:00.003-07:00

Lately life has consisted of nursing home visits and care conferences, doctor appointments, and dog sitting for my parents. While this has been a trying time, I am so thankful for the staff at the care center at Mantey Heights in my hometown. Especially the women in the rehab department working daily with Dad and so good-humored and caring at the same time. I will be there in a couple of days, and wanted to let them know how much I appreciate their hard work and heart...so made a few thank you notes. This was inspired by Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday sketch...which of course, was last week.
For me to keep up with challenges or be on time lately is too much, but I am enjoying my stamp time when I have it and hope the cheeriness of these notes gives you a dose of sunshine this wintry day!!

PS...Yes, the blog candy winner was notified. It was Kelly! I am tickled at all your inspiring comments, if you did not get a chance, scroll down two posts, there are some really wonderful ones!!
Thanks for popping in and to all my friends, for your continued support through a very difficult season in life. Blessings to you!

Time to Celebrate!

2011-01-18T22:42:00.005-07:00

Isn't this card the cutest?? I love these critters on this Stampavie image to color, and even though it takes me awhile to get it all paper pieced, glittered up, the shiney on the balloons, and the frosting with actual peaks...you get the idea...but this is for my special friend, Charlene's birthday next week! The Teapotters sent Charlene cards with her favorite candy, m&m's. We were asked to buy a bag of the candy and use it in our card. Well, I perused the aisle looking for purple, as that is my friend's fave color, and the side panel with the polks dots is the wrapper!!

Hope my card brings you a smile!!

First Blog Candy of the New Year!!

2011-01-16T14:44:00.005-07:00

I've been waiting to have a blog candy giveaway here, and this week is a perfect opportunity! To enter please:

1. Sign my guest book at the end of my blog.

2. In your comments, tell me your favorite inspirational quote or verse and be sure to give credit to the author!
3. You may enter as many days between now and next Sunday, but each post must contain a new inspirational thought or verse! I will draw a winner next Monday!

Here are the items:

My friend, Joyce, sent me this cute hand sewn bird pincushion for my birthday, and an extra for a friend! So I am giving one of these cuties away with my blog candy. There is so much detail on this, the wings are blanket stitched, a flower on each side has a button center with twine tied and pearl button eyes...so adorable!! If you visit Joyce's blog here, you will find her Etsy site link. You can view another bird pincushion and a matching bag by scrolling down a few posts on her main blog page also. Just leave a comment on her blog if you'd like her to make you one!
Also included:
My favorite things:

1. Basic Grey Curio Paper Pad
2. Basic Grey die-cut shapes to coordinate with paper pad
3. KaiserCraft Pearl Flourishes in Elegant Latte
4. KaiserCraft Rhinestone strips in black and gold/amber
5. KaiserCraft Pearl Strips in Brown/Cream
6. Prima Flowers pack of 6 large organza flowers with pearl stamen centers

There's a NEW store in my town...Fort Collins, Colorado has a new stamp store, Scrap2IT and with one stop I was able to find all these beautiful items!!

Thanks for stopping in and I look forward to reading your comments!

A card for Katie

2011-01-11T12:46:00.003-07:00

AS many of you in the stamping community have already heard, a fellow stamper and active member of Splitcoast Stampers, Katie Renz, was recently diagnosed with cancer. Katie is the wife and mother of small children and is battling for her life!!
This week's Teapot Tuesday challenge on Splitcoast is dedicated to Katie and their is also a place to donate to Katie's medical expenses and also receive some amazing digital stamps!! Just click on the Teapot in my sidebar for the link!

My card was water colored with reinkers, a challenge for me but one that I so enjoy!! The aura in the back is by watering down my paper slightly and adding barely banana ink as a little aura of light. The entire image was spritzed with pearl glimmer mist for some slight shimmer. I hope you enjoy your visit!!

My blog candy will be posted later this week...stay tuned!!

Winter Post Flourishes Christmas Card Challenge

2011-01-10T14:04:00.004-07:00

NOte: please click on my card image and tell me what you see!!
No, silly, I am not still making Christmas cards!! But this is made for a Christmas card challenge from Flourishes monthly challenges on SCS. This month we were to make a card using something we had received for Christmas. I had initially planned on a saphire blue silk ribbon, but after completing this card with silver embossed image, pastel copic colored and silver pearls, the blue ribbon appeared a little garish and overwhelmed the card.
Which brings me to my point...note to self. Do not exacerbate yourself making a card to fit a challenge if the challenge ruins the card. Challenges are meant to help our craft, not ruin our cards. So after many attempts and angles, the ribbon was tossed and instead, I found a border from a received Christmas card, trimmed it, and added to the inside of my card for a pretty silver pastel border that compliments my card rather than competes with it. Sigh...feeling better now.
This will be a winter birthday card wish for a friend.
I plan on having blog candy for my next entry, so hope to see you then!!

New Year's Resolve

2011-01-03T11:19:00.004-07:00

Yesterday was Featured stamper, Marisa,(WhiteRockMama) on Splitcoast Stampers.(SCS). Her layout is the one I chose to use for the inspiration of my cards today.
I have a few hopes for myself this year, as there are some big changes coming my way soon. One that I can share is our youngest daughter will be on a plane to Spain for a study abroad semester in two days! I know she has been so excited about this for months now...and due to other happenings in my life with parents, my head has not been able to get totally "on board" with this idea. I am hoping that as she gets on board the plane, my head cooperates and my heart will let her go. It will be some exciting times ahead for her and challenging as well.
So this card's sentiment really spoke to me, "Fear knocked on the door, Faith answered and there was nobody there." That is probably more for my benefit than hers, but I am sure she has some fears going far away also...so I intend to give this to her as her going away card.
The other card, changed by the ribbon color and sentiment, and an added little butterfly is for a friend's birthday that I missed..."It's never too late to become what you might have become."
These two words of wisdom are appropriate for my stage of life. I realize I need to overcome a few fears in order to embrace the stage of life I am in now and God's new plans for me.
Thanks for stopping by today, hope your new year is full of faith, hope, and promise!!

2010-12-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

I just ordered this from Dayspring Gifts...it is in the "Christmas sale" section at half-off! Just wanted you to know, in case you want one too!! I have been wanting a card display and think this could be used other times than Christmas!!
What do you think?

Here I Am

2010-12-27T11:41:00.004-07:00

I hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas and enjoying some time to relax and compose yourselves before beginning a New Year!
Here is a card I made recently for a friend undergoing surgery. Some day I will find the inside of this card and post it, but the sentiment inside says, "Pulling for you."
Thanks for stopping by...I appreciate your visit!

Cherry Cobbler makes A Debut

2010-12-18T14:44:00.003-07:00

My much anticipated Cherry Cobbler paper kept disappearing on me...so I finally ordered some "more"...although who knows maybe I just thought I had ordered it, and never did. I had the ink pad to match! Anyway, using Waltzingmouse Stamps, I made my first card, a "thank you" card for Christmas. The card base is Basic Grey's "Jovial" with red nailheads in the corners and accented with pretty paper flowers from my friend, Charlene. The second card is a cheery Christmas card using bold striped paper from my stamp store and pretty miniature prima roses and ribbon. The spellbinders tags and Waltzingmouse stamps nest perfectly together.
I am still very much in the Christmas stamping mode. This time of year is so special, I refuse to move on to any other holiday, just enjoying the beauty of this Christmas season.
Thanks for looking today. Hope you are staying warm and enjoying the coziness of hearth and home, the love of family and friends. Those are the most treasured gifts.

Chickadee Christmas

2010-12-12T12:08:00.004-07:00

Today's card was inspired by Lisa (LisaADD) on Splitcoast Stampers. I have had this chickadee on my shelf uninked and Lisa's card gave me the nudge I needed to Christmas up this chickadee~I made a lovely loopy bow to add in the corner, and colored some pearls with a red copic marker to add as little berries!

Well, everyone is gone this weekend doing their own thing. My youngest daughter is on an airplane right now from New York City to Boston. She called me from the plane saying she may not make the connecting flight and I could hear the pilot saying over the speaker that it was going to be "bumpy and miserable" flight. My husband is driving through snow covered passes and will stop in Denver and then meet her at the airport. Those connections are tricky, so I hope he doesn't have a late night of it. Our older daughter went for a weekend skiing for girls in Vail and will be driving back today. So this mama chickadee is in her nest, trying not to fret and staying busy doing a little "feathering of the nest" today!

Warm Winter Wishes

2010-12-10T12:07:00.003-07:00

Good Friday afternoon!! I wanted to take a break in my day and show you some of my favorite things this time of year. My card is a "window" card, using the "Sweets of the Season" stamp set from Flourishes! I love the gingerbread men (women in this case) in this set, and paired it with the sentiment "Friends warm the heart" to make two "girlfriends." I love how this turned out, and hope it brings a smile to your face. The red ruffled ribbon and red nailheads are from Flourishes also. I used scalloped square nestabilities to make my window frame and a Martha Stewart doily. Stacy (Twinshappy on SCS) gave a tutorial a few weeks ago on how to make these, and this was my attempt. The little girls are dressed up with coat buttons made all white and puffy and stickles! This is for this month's challenge to make a "Winter White" card, mostly white with a touch of another color. I think it is no surprise my touch of color is red today!!
The backdrop for this card was a decorated Christmas tree I have in my kitchen...I love this tree and decorated it with this wide checked gingham I found at a local florist along with some tiny utensil ornaments and sugar cookies! It sits on my kitchen table this time of year.
Just sharing a little of what I've been up to...how about you?

Making a List and Flourishes Challenge

2010-12-05T13:12:00.004-07:00

Hope you are having a blessed Sunday! I decided to share with you part of my planned small gifts to my ladies I am a "mentor Mom" to in our church. These are list makers, labeled "Holiday planners." The first is done in traditional red and golds with the candy cane striped twine on the buttons, and the second with non-traditional lavenders and aquas. The red and gold is stamped with sentiments from the Papertrey Ink set made just for these notebooks.
The mitten stamp is Flourishes, "Winter Wishes" colored in copics, then white shimmery ric rac is added along with aqua buttons topped with a snowflake and some bling. The doilies are Martha Stewart and are the perfect size to fit these Papertrey Ink notebooks. I used a template to cut the notebooks out and scor tape to glue the inserts of lined paper. They take a bit of time, but are so cute when finished!
Thank you for stopping by, I am still in the process of making Christmas cards and projects. They are my favorite to make, so mailing will still be awhile.
I am not in a hurry to get it all done, I would much rather take my time and enjoy the process. Life is hurried enough this time of year, don't you think??

Little Christmas Cardinal

2010-11-28T13:24:00.005-07:00

Today is "Featured Stamper" on Splitcoast Stampers and Kris, SCS name: Krischir, was the chosen stamper! I adored her gallery, and decided to CASE one of her cards for today's submission.
A friend of mine sent me this stamp set as blog candy, and I had yet to ink it up until I saw it on another friend's blog!! What would we do without our friends?
Thanks for popping in...this is a busy week for so many and I appreciate your taking a peek here.
Have a blessed day!

Less is More and Becoming Unglued

2010-11-20T14:08:00.008-07:00

Good Saturday afternoon!
I am in need of a few sympathy cards, and wanted to include this in this week's Sisters In Christ challenge: Less is More
here. My apologies for the darkness of these photos. I had a couple of mishaps with my camera and as of now, am surprised it is even working, as I dumped an entire glass of water on the camera and dock just prior to taking these.
Grace Nywening chose the scripture and has a really good and thought-provoking devotional this week. The scripture is John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease." I would ask that you would visit the link and read it, rather than my comments as I could not add anything to what she has alreay said so wonderfully!!
Anyway, the first card is showing the less, the second, with just the addition of the ribbon around the center panel, pearls on the main image and the added border along the bottom, is my more version. This card is one of my favorite color combinations, so soothing and peaceful. Please, since the photo is not well-lit, click on the picture for a larger view. The background is a paper that I love with aqua tones called "Soft Stone" by Papertrey Ink. I have not found any other color that works as well, in my opinion.
So what to do when you want to become unglued?! Every once in awhile, I need to take a card apart, even if it is just a panel that I forgot to add a ribbon to (as is the case with my second card...) do you risk ripping it apart and ruining the entire card? Heavens, no!! I use this product, Un-Du, and have for many years, it removes adhesive without damaging your inks in any way. I took a picture to share, it has saved many a card and scrapbook page for me! I have had a difficult time finding this in stores, but I know it is also available online. I hope this tidbit of information is helpful for someone reading this.
The stamps used for these cards is Waltzingmouse "Victorian Frippery" and SU!"Thoughts adn Prayers" for the sentiment. The center panel is SU!'s paper, "Presto Patterns;" you just add ink and have an immediate relief pattern.
Thanks for stopping by today and enjoy your weekend!

Snowman Love

2010-11-14T16:02:00.006-07:00

I had been waiting in happy expectancy for a stamp order to arrive this week...this precious image is Precious Innocence...isn't she sweet? Admittedly I had a bit of difficulty finding the right shade of paper to go with my copics to go with my designer paper...but I think the contrast looks pretty good. The pink background was stamped in versamark and white craft ink with random snowflakes to blend the colors a little more. I clipped off two pom poms from some pom pom lace to add to the little girl's hat and added some Flower Soft "Polar White" to the hat bands and more Polar White and Martha Stewart Holiday glitter to the base for "snow." We actually have the real stuff outside, but it's not this sparkly today!
Wishing you a very blessed Sunday and thanks for dropping by. Oh, this is for a "Musical Challenge" from Dani Dell on SCS...the first time I have participated. The song was "Chain of Love."

Teapot Tuesday and my Stamp a Stack Christmas Cards

2010-11-11T10:20:00.002-07:00

Is it Tuesday yet? I am late, as always, to the Teapot Tuesday party...but this week the destination is a hospice organization in Austin, Texas, and I couldn't miss sending a card to such a wonderful organization! You can view Cindy (Mothermark's) teapot Tuesday story by clicking on the black and white polka dotted teapot on my sidebar to read and laugh!!

The rest of the cards are from a Christmas card stamp-a-stack I attended over the weekend, at my demo, Carn's house. This was only 3 of the cards we made, I still have one more to make up! I don't have any of these stamps, so it is really nice to have a variety of cards to add to my small stash, and of course, I got home and had to add a silver pearl here, or some glitter there. The snowman was made of punches, and I am so punched challenged, I tell you, I had glue stuck everywhere. So if it were not for this class, I am sure my punches would be underused!
Tell me, which is your favorite of the Christmas designs? I'd really like to know!
We had snow last night, and this morning, a blanket of gentle peace covered the ground. So pretty!!
Thanks for stopping in, I've got French Roast on the menu, would you like a cup?

Hugs for a Friend

2010-11-05T16:25:00.002-06:00

This card is not for a challenge or a cause...just me stamping because I want to! I love this Mo's Digital image...the dog reminds me so much of my Corgi...who by the way, is lame in one leg today. I am hoping it will go away, as he has had it before and it does.
Anyway, I have several friends who are going through some tough times right now...so this hug is for them...you know who you are!
This image was copic colored and white fine tulle was added as the bow at the top. The flowers were "borrowed" off a card I received over a year ago from another friend...they were the perfect touch. Does anyone else remake cards? I do it all the time.
Wishing you a day of sunshine and a hug from someone close!
Thanks for stopping by today!

My little "Hope Tote"

2010-11-03T10:39:00.006-06:00

As many of you already know, I was just recently visiting my parents in Grand Junction as my Dad underwent knee replacement surgery and mom was transferred to a care center. Dad's surgery went well, and he was transferred to the care center a few days later to join mom. Although on different wings they are "together" and each can encourage the other while there. The plan is for Dad to finish up rehab to the point of being able to go back into the home and not only care for himself, but also do the wheelchair transfers needed for mom to return. That is the challenge ahead of him!
I am going to include the address where you may mail a card if you're moved to do so at the end of this post!
Thanks to my friend, Cindy, (Mothermark,) this week's Teapot Tuesday destination was none other than my home town to Grand Junction, Colorado!! My parents will be deluged with cards from all over the country encouraging them, lifting their spirits, brightening their days and I am sure the staff's and anyone who crosses their paths!! Thank you to all the "Tea Potters" who are sending cheery cards their way!!
My sample for this week did not follow Mothermark's story or sample, but I wanted to make this little tote and a set of cards to include. I saw this tote on Stacy (Twinshappy) blog found here. I loved the size of the cards this was intended to hold (4x4) and used my favorite SU! paper to make a set of cards. This tote is made from a clear acrylic box cut in half!! What a fun concept, then I used nestabilities four to cover the front and back.
Here's a silly thing I did though, after attaching the handle in brads and scor-tape, I wasn't able to take any of the note cards out!! So I had to remove the handle and make a new one, and this time I left it really long so the cards could be removed!
You can see this week's Teapot Tuesday challenge by my wonderful friend, Cindy here!
If you scroll down to the bottom of her post, you will be able to view the one-of-a-kind personalized card that Cindy is so good at making: it has a "picture" of me and our two daughters with our names on it!! How special is that!! The story and the cards can also be viewed on SCS's home page by looking under Tuesday's heading. I'll include a post later on my next visit to see my parents of all the cards!!

Ok, here is the address:

Joyce and Roy Cotton
C/O Mantey Heights Care Center
2825 Patterson Road
Grand Junction, CO 81506

Tags and Tots!!

2010-10-27T12:28:00.002-06:00

I have two quick projects I needed to get on here...the first one is a complete and shameless CASE from Sharon Johnson's No Time to Stamp blog! (Please click on my sidebar blog favorites). I needed a few baby cards for the women I am a "mentor mom" to in my church's support group for moms of preschoolers. This paperby Webster's Pages is beautiful and vintage, but has always perplexed me how to maximize it for a regular A2 size card. This has two prints on the front, and then the scraps decorating the inside. The ribbon is a beautiful drapey silk from Sharon's
Stamp Simply Ribbon store. She has a wonderful selection of ribbons that I just droole over, plus stamps, papers, and more!
The second project is a Christmas tag for Waltzingmouse's "Tag, You're It" challenge. I used a SU! set, embossed the cardinal in burgundy embossing powder, covered the tag with pretty Jovial papers by Basic Grey, added some Baker's twine and a button...this is a hodge podge of products and I love the way it turned out...but the recipient better not throw it out as this took as long as a card to make!!

Thank you for the encouraging words for my parents in my last post!! I so appreciate those and the prayers...thankfully Dad's surgery went well and he and my Mom will be at the Care Center for at least a month, so a long recovery ahead! I was so glad to be able to go and see them for a week and am sure I'll be back before long!

Hope you're having a great mid-week...and thanks so much for stopping by!!

Hope You Can Cling To

2010-10-16T14:00:00.006-06:00

Well, I am on my way over the mountains to take care of some "business" at home. My Dad is being admitted to the hospital on Tuesday for his second total knee replacement surgery. My Mom will be admitted tomorrow to the care center waiting for my Dad to join her. I am thankful that between my Dad, family, and local health services, my parents have been able to live at home. With Mom in a wheelchair, she has been helped tremendously with home health providing everyday care needs like showers...but now that Dad won't be there to help, she has opted to go there. The thing about my Mom is...she is a blessing wherever she goes. She is cheerful, sunny, encouraging, gentle...my only regret in this visit is I will be sharing her with the care staff instead of able to spend some one-on-one time which is very rare! (as in not once in the last 20 years. So I am feeling a bit sentimental right now.
Anyway, it will be good to be there and help out for a few days!
Today's card is for two challenges on Splitcoast Stampers (SCS)...one by my friend, Cindy, (Mothermark), for this month's Breast Cancer Awareness drive..."Hope you can cling to." What a fun challenge, "Let's Dabble in some Scrabble" make a square card with at least 4 squares and some letters...well I got some of that right! Oh, and of course pink...and today's inspiration to be inspired by this cookie site here.

My inspiration cookie is the top row, second from the left! And it is guilty, I tell ya, of making me hungry for one. Now, aren't you glad I identified the culprit?
Thanks for stopping in...until next time~

Emerging Leaves

2010-10-14T11:05:00.005-06:00

It's been a beautiful fall here...but the thing about this wonderful season in Colorado is it can all be over too soon! If we have a drenching rain, or a couple of very windy days...poof...it is over! So while I am thankful for the beauty inherent in this season, my gratitude is not based on the changing weather patterns, or the seasons, but on those things which do not shift with the changing winds, but are anchored deep in my soul. My faith, my love for family, my trust in a good God that sometimes allows bad things to happen for the purpose of growing me up and establishing my deeper in His word and His promises.
This card is for two challenges, the Flourishes October sketch challenge here, and Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge this week to make a thank you card. You can click on the SSC blog on my sidebar to view the entire challenge!
The stamped background in my oval is Flourishes "Thank You" set, the Leaf swag is SU! Country Blessings...and the technique is "emerging color" found on this week's Gina K's Stamp TV. I used Tim Holtz distress inks for the colors.
Thanks for stopping by, and wishing you a day full of blessings!

My Daughter

2010-10-12T21:19:00.001-06:00

I had a great time experimenting with my camera and trying to capture the changing seasons...and with a subject as pretty as this, it made my job much easier!
This is our daughter, Erin, who is in her junior year at college and living away from home. My time with her is pretty special!

Splendor in Steamboat

2010-10-11T23:03:00.001-06:00

Just wanted to share one of my photographs taken around Steamboat Springs...caught a close-up of one of the last of the Autumn leaves clinging to the branch on a crisp cool day!

Hopeful Daisies

2010-10-06T12:07:00.006-06:00

Today's card was made for two challenges. The Flourishes newsletter issued a challenge in conjunction with World Card Making Day to make a card any other size than a typical A2. This card is 4 1/4 x 6 1/2. There were extra entries given if the card had pink and also had a ribbon. I think I got the pink in, can you see it? You can find the challenge here.
The second challenge is this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge here.
For my card, I used the Flourishes stamp set, Gerber Daisies and SU! for the sentiment. The cute button is handmade from Tessa Ann's etsy shop. The image was colored with various shades of copics, and I used a different method for the flower centers, you just pounce the marker lightly, which I did with two shades of pink. I left some spots white and then also went over with a signo gel pen to add a few more white spots. I like the way this highlights the flower centers. Scoring was added to frame the image.
Thanks for stopping by...we have a cloudy day here and a bit cooler weather. A perfect day to be here visiting with you!

Sweet Sunday Sketch

2010-09-24T15:50:00.005-06:00

If this card looks familiar, scroll down to my previous post and card. I had these papers out and had just received a box of stamping tool goodies, meaning no new stamps, but lots of fun tools. Itching to try them out, I used my Tim Holtz embossing folders in large swirls and my Nestabilities new Blossoms die to frame this cute latte image from Stampin Up! I also used some crochet lace from the Flourishes store and Karen Giron's sketch on her blog, "The Sweetest Thing."
Just wanted to give a recommendation for stamp supplies like these on overstock.com...I have always ordered from them, but just recently discovered they carry the nestabilities by Spellbinders and a lot of other stamps and supplies...and best of all, their shipping is always only $2.95. Not that I am advertising for anyone, I just like to pass on a good deal when I see it!
Thanks for stopping by...I hope you like my card, I was still inspired by these colors and am happy with the way it translated to coffee and a cute little sentiment, "Sending warm thoughts your way."

Tilda Stamped and Revamped!

2010-09-23T10:43:00.004-06:00

Good morning!
This Tilda card has been shelved for a week now. You know how you go through your closet with the changing seasons and literally have nothing to wear? That was what my Tilda needed...she had been originally cast in a lacy number with those round white doilies and this big 'ol flower and just seemed dwarfed!! I had put her on the shelf wondering who I could send her to when I received some of this pretty crochet lace in the mail! So, as habit with me, I ripped Tilda off the doily and decided to try a diminutive ruffle with pearls to give her a bit more presence...and paired her with this background damask...and now I think she is ready to mail!! Sometimes our wardrobes and accessories just need a bit of revamping...mine needs a complete overhaul!
My card today is for the Just Magnolia Challenge to use lace on your card. This ruffle is so easy to do with a strip of scor-tape. I am glad I tried it out! The pearls have those Stampin' Up glue dots underneath to keep them anchored. I used my paper piercing tool (also Stampin' Up) to place them. It is sharp and dangerous, but really handy when it comes to placing small objects!
So I am off to Macy's today because Tilda is looking better than me! Thanks for your visit, have a blessed day!

September Stamp Club cards

2010-09-16T10:59:00.004-06:00

Good morning! I wanted to share two of the cards we made at my monthly Stamp Club last night. This first card was made in the prettiest blue, using a one inch square punch and each square was either stamped in blue or embossed on the blue in white detail powder. This is so striking with the ribbon treatment and I frayed my twine. (I added the frayed twine, it is the only thing on this card that is my own doing...) Ya know, usually the only addition that is mine to the card is the part that I cover up due to a major goof!!

This second card is a Fall Thanksgiving using the Cajun Craze cardstock (love that color!) with the leaves hand cut and double mounted on square punches, and then the green leaves from the two-step bird punch were interwoven to add a dash of color to the warm rich hues of Fall! So much detail, punches, cutting, embossing, and an easy to do border made the inside more interesting also!
Well, lots of fun last night...thanks so much to my demo, Carn, and the women there!!
I'll have another one to show you tomorrow...my favorite!!

Inspiration 24-7

2010-09-13T10:50:00.002-06:00

Good morning!
I wanted to share a card I made over the weekend. This was just for fun, (isn't all stamping?)...but here I mean there were no challenges or deadlines involved.
This large bag was purchased at Barnes & Noble last year around Christmas. I was drawn to the colors and design, and it inspired this card. Today's card was taken from the side of the bag, the beautiful crisp white damask print set against the rich cranberry...ooh love!!
I used the Friends 24-7 for my card, taking the damask and flower and white embossing over PTI's scarlet background paper. The bird was stamped in scarlet ink, and the SU! large Very Vintage wheel rolled across the bottom portion. A simple pearl and taffeta ribbon adornment, and there you have it!
I am always finding inspiration in different places, where do you find your stamping inspiration?

Teapot Tuesday on a Wednesday!

2010-09-08T11:51:00.002-06:00

This card was made for this week's Teapot Tuesday Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers! You can read about the challenge by clicking on the polka dot teapot on my sidebar and reading Cindy's (Mothermark on SCS) story and the destination station!
This week the cards are being mailed to a fellow SCS'er who is struggling with chemo therapy sessions.
Having had several family members who in the past year have undergone several surgeries for cancer, I feel a lot of empathy for people undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and special "diets."
I used the "polish stone" technique for the background, it is so pretty in person. The color combo I used was SU's! wild wasabi, ballet blue, and lovely lavender.
I decided to make two of these as I have lots of occasions for this particular stamp!
Thanks for popping in to see me...I always appreciate your visit and love reading your comments!

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge~by Me!

2010-08-30T21:21:00.010-06:00

I am so excited to be the guest designer this month for the Flourishes Timeless Tueaday challenge!! As the guest designer, I was asked to submit a fun challenge and make a card to accompany it.
For the challenge if you already have Flourishes stamps, by all means, use them...but if not, play along anyway!
You may visit the Flourishes Newsletter to read more about it, and submit your cards.

The Challenge:

Summer Sojourn

With the last days of summer, it is time to bid farewell to long languishing days and warm endless nights! The school bells are ringing and children are catching the bus (or mom's carpool) all over this land!
We stampers are always looking ahead to the next project, hailing in the next holiday...but this week before we wave our final good-byes to summer's end...let's take one last backward glance. This week's Tuesday Challenge is to capture a memory of this summer in your card. Was it canning the last fruits of the garden, berry picking, a summer trip to the ocean or mountains, family celebrations...whichever conjurs up a memory to you, put it in your card. Then along with your card, share your memory with the rest of us stampers so we can celebrate with you!!
Have fun creating!!

I just recently received this set, "Humming Along" from Flourishes, and knew right away it would get a lot of use. This spring, a family member unexpectedly sent me a one-of-a-kind patented hummingbird feeder made in Virginia. We took it to our mountain retreat in Colorado and I filled it and hung it on our small deck. It took a couple of days for the hummingbirds to find it, but once they did, it was so fun to watch. The birds were the smaller varieity, dipping and diving each other, but what really tickled me was they could perch on the edge and be still. Up until then, I had only seen them in flight, so it was a treat to view their full beauty and just how tiny they were! I was actually able to capture them in a photograph! So that was one of my many summer memories, just the simple joy of watching God's handiwork in nature!!

Stamps: Flourishes "Humming Along"
Paper: PTI white, SU! Presto Patterns, Bazill Pink, Basic Grey 6x6 pad (Lemonade)
Ink: Baja Breeze, Soft Sky
Accessories: White satin striped ribbon SU!, Labels 8 Nestabilities, Little Yellow School Bus stick pins, beads from SU! Pretties Kit, Basic Grey rhinestones,Circle Nestabilities

Thanks for stopping in, hope you will participate in the challenge!
Thanks so much Flourishes, for the opportunity to be guest designer this month!!

The balm of Friendship

2010-08-29T15:28:00.006-06:00

It is Sunday, and that means a new Stamping Sisters in Christ challenge! This week the Lovely Linda encouraged us with her words on friendship and the accompanying scripture. You can visit their blog here. Linda's verse was
Proverbs 27:17
"As iron sharpens iron, so a friends sharpens a friend."

I just recently received my first ever WaltzingMouse stamps order...these are "nestability friendly" stamps meaning they are designed to fit into the nestabilities perfectly. Using Webster's Pages paper and this wonderful pink silk wide ribbon, this card was very easy to fashion! This ribbon reminds me of first proms and white gazebos with pink roses, and all things pure and innocent! The sentiment is one that drew me to this stamp...friendship is indeed a balm to the soul!~! The challenge was to add metal to your card, this ribbon slider is from the Flourishes store.
Thanks for stopping in and I wish you a blessed Sunday!

Serene Christmas

2010-08-27T12:24:00.006-06:00

Today's card is my submission for this month's Christmas challenge by Flourishes Stamp Company! The challenge this month was to make a flat card, one that is mailable with one stamp. Now it didn't say the stamp had to be 44 cents postage, but that is what I think they are going for.
I have just recently received this set, Forest of Trees, and decided to create a circle mask using my nestabilities and sponging a soft sky ink around the inside perimeter. My image was inked and then a darker marker was thumped for color dimension, then spritzed and finally stamped on Flourishes watercolor paper.
I added some icicle stickles to the tree and some gingham ribbon around the corners attached with scor tape.
The sentiment was then added (holding my breath, I might add!)
I love the simplicity of this, although it took me a few tries to get the spritzing right on the paper.
Hope you enjoy! One card down...many more to go!!

Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens!!

2010-08-24T13:39:00.005-06:00

Yes, it is another Teapot Tuesday in stampland...over on SCS my friend, Cindy, (Mothermark) has a teapot this week without a head. Something about chickens too...so I went straight to my stamp shelf and pulled out this cutie image from Penny Black. How did she know I have been just waitin on the word, "chicken" so I could put these cute critters to ink!!
Anyway, to read the entire story, take a quick peek at the story, just click on the polkadotted teapot in my sidebar (scroll down) and you'll get there!!
Hoping everyone is having a great Tuesday!!

Double Rainbow

2010-08-23T22:57:00.003-06:00

Can you see it?? This picture was taken at Steamboat Lake this past summer when so typical of Colorado, we were caught unaware by a brief thundercloud and ensuing rain. We were huddled in the boat under the cover for about 20 minutes, teeth chattering and whipped by the rain while my husband calmly kept throwing his fishing line in off the back of the boat waiting out the storm.
But after the rain, the rainbow. Not only one, but two...which made the storm and the wait so worth it. Don't you just love rainbows?

Serigraph!! Seriously?

2010-08-19T13:16:00.006-06:00

Lately life seems to be one pit stop after another...the inbetweens are the little respites between big events. I would like to say that I handle all the changes in life with ease, that I glide through one transition after another...but that isn't the case. So in my effort to blog about the past two weeks, I have a little coaster I made using stazon inks, tissue paper, and modge podge. I still need to apply a coat of sealer to this, and it is not perfect, but if I wait for perfection, this blog will soon be a thing of the past! But I love the vibrancy of the colors and think is a project I want to try again using this technique!

The second is a card I made late last night...that should explain a lot!! I wanted to give this technique a whirl as I had seen it on my friend, Charlene's, blog (Where m&m's Gather here... and loved the look! So pulling out my inks and embossing powders, I went to town...thinking this would be quick and easy! Not so, but it was something different for me, and I think I might use this as a manly card. I used two different stamp sets and several distress inks for this. A simple sheer ribbon and the "HB" was stamped separately, punched and added last. I kind of like it...what do you think?
It is fun to take a break from your usual style and try something new...hope this inspires you as well!!
My word of caution: don't attempt this after midnight~!

Hide and Seek

2010-08-12T15:48:00.006-06:00

Good afternoon!
So happy to be home again and near my stamp room!
This card was made for two of this week's Flourishes Challenges: the sketch was given by Cindy Haffner and I chose this sketch to fashion my card.
The second was a challenge "Kid's Play"...don't you just love that picture? The challenge was to make a card that reminded you of a fun game you would play from your childhood.
My chosen game was "Hide and Seek," one of the few I recall playing with all the neighborhood kids in the summer until it was pitch black outside and our parents would call us inside for the night!
So what does this hummingbird set have to do with the game "hide and seek?" We hung a hummingbird feeder last week at our deck at our mountain condo and enjoyed watching the tiny birds flit in and out to feast on the nectar. Well, my neighbor had warned me that I should bring the feeder in at night, as bears were attracted to them. I know this is true, as we had one on our deck hanging from the feeder with its greedy paws all over it, a couple of years ago. So, anyway, I didn't heed her words, and the next day, I found the feeder torn out of the railing and laying desolate on the deck. I watched the birds that afternoon humming around where the feeder had been, looking for it, and just hovering as if they knew it was there somewhere. It tickled me to watch. Well, next time I'm there, I'll put the feeder back up and remember to take it down at night!!
This card was a bit time consuming as I haven't stamped in awhile, or colored with copics. I finished all the shading on the flowers and decided there needed to be a bit more pop of color, so added some shimmering h2O's at the end and was excited with the effect it gave!
Hope you like my card today and the story that goes with it!
You can find these challenges on the Flourishes blog here.

Last of the Lazy Days of Summer

2010-08-10T16:00:00.003-06:00

Good afternoon, sweet blogging friends!
I have been taking a break from here due to travel, but some have made inquiries as to my whereabouts...so thought maybe I should check in!
Late July, my husband, youngest daughter, and myself took a vacation to Portland and Seattle. Since I am away from my home computer, I can't show you any of those photographs, although I did upload them to Facebook about a week ago. We had such a nice time, driving around West Linn and Lake Oswego, Oregon, and driving by our first two homes we had while living there. The very first one is up this wriggly road that passes a creek and some strange looking homes. Our daughter, after seeing it and hearing of some of the things we did there called us hillbillies!! The nerve...I had to laugh. Well, we would take our canoe to the creek and row down it with our dog, we had a donkey friend that came to visit us in the backyard and would feed it apples and carrots, and I did some canning and made berry pie fillings. I guess that makes us hillbillies!!
Anyway, we got back and then turned around and drove up to Steamboat Springs, Colorado where we own a pretty condo tucked into a little patch of heaven with a creek running below it. When we get here, it is always tough to leave...so even though it is just me and the dog, I stayed. I am so enjoying it, don't know when I will come home!! There is so much to do here in the summer, even though it is known as a ski destination resort! There is hiking, a hot springs pool, fun shopping, furniture consignment stores, fishing, boating, gondola riding, lunch on the Yampa river, Fish Creek Falls, and a really nice botanical park where this photograph was taken. And a lot of amazing art galleries in the historical downtown area. Anyway, I have lots to do, including a quiet read on the deck and just plain ole relaxation!!
All except not being able to stamp, but I figure I can do that soon enough. Hope you are enjoying these last lazy days of summer!
Are there any things you have planned to do before the next season begins? I'd love to hear all about it!!

Fill your Day with Happy!

2010-07-24T18:46:00.003-06:00

I have always loved this stamp set from SU...the little critters with their banner...and today is Teapot Tuesday's challenge to make a card that is easy to make and flat to mail. I had already colored this image, so it didn't take any time at all to assemble this. It is for a fellow SCS'er who mails cards to kids who need some cheering up due to illness.

I am happy to make this card that will be mailed to children in a locall burn center to hopefully bring some cheer for them!! For the Teapot tuesday thread, click on the polka dotted teapot in my sidebar.

Thanks for looking, and make your day happy today by cheering someone else up. That is the best kind of happy there is!!

Two Challenge Cards

2010-07-20T17:02:00.008-06:00

Today's cards are two that are combined challenges. Why do I do this? I want to "play along," but with the time it takes me to decide on a layout, stamps, colors, accessories...the only way to participate is to combine!!

So the first one here is this pretty little SnowLady whom I love, this time with gold buttons and white puffy sleeves...she is for this week's Stamping Sisters in Christ challenge. This week is hosted by the gracious Grace, and her devotional regarding the verse along with the challenge can be found on the SSIC blog here. The challenge was to use a stamp as your focal point that requires some thought to construction. I thought of quilts, cabins, houses...etc...then decided what I really needed was an early start to Christmas cards. And this lil lady, just like me, needs some work everyday to look good!! Which reminds me I need to go find my blush...

And both cards are submissions for "Dare to Get Dirty" challenges hosted by the Dirty dozen design team on SCS...which I am not allowed to share specific challenges here, but you can look them up on the home page of SCS if you're a Fan Club member!!

The challenges were:

DTGD10CraftyCaro

DTGD10notimetostamp

DTGD10flowergal36

DTGD10sketch '

and one more I forget...

And last, but not least by any means....Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday challenge this week was to bring hearts to a little girl in need of a bit of cheer. The little girl has one heart to add to the collection this week~~You can see this week's Teapot Tuesday challenge by clicking on the button on my sidebar!! Such a wonderful group of teapotters and lots of fun too!

Whew, I think I did it...

Bless you for reading through this!! I so enjoy your comments and hope you are having a great day!!

Chocolate~Dipped Strawberry Recipe

2010-07-16T10:10:00.006-06:00

This month the Flourishes blog issued a recipe challenge. I made my 6x6 recipe card using a variety of designer papers, paper-pieced my Strawberry Tilda image by Magnolia and added another stamped Heading perfect for recipe cards.

You can view the challenge here on the Flourishes blog:
http://www.flourishes.org/blog/page/2/
I have really enjoyed seeing the variety of recipes and even tried one for dinner last night...it was delish!
Please remember you can click on the picture to see it in more detail and also view the recipe. I find chocolate dipped strawberries are easy to make with just a couple of helpful tips...make sure your berries are cleaned and totally dry before beginning...and use a wooden skewer through the top of the stem (leaves attached for pretty contrast)...to dip. Dip and twirl to keep the chocolate on, and lay on waxed paper lined cookie sheet to set. The coating stays on better if you don't refrigerate for too long. Serve same day. You can also drizzle white chocolate over the semisweet chocolate for a fancier look. Just melt a few chips in a freezer ziplock bag in the microwave. (About 45-60 seconds for 1/2 cup) and then snip the corner of the bag with scissors. A perfect little tool to drizzle the chocolate!!
Thanks for coming by , hope this Tilda gives you a smile and happy cooking!!

A Place of Rest

2010-07-14T13:01:00.004-06:00

First off I just want to thank you who visited my blog and left such encouraging comments last week!! I do not like to "complain" on my blog, but I have to be my authentic self, even if that means at times sharing the burdens of my heart...so thanks for understanding and the uplifting comments.
I value my friends so much!!
An update on our daughter's surgery and a little bit of "history" which might explain my anxiety over it. Our youngest daughter had a ruptured appendix about 7 years ago that due to the displacement of the appendix and her symptoms which came and went for SEVERAL weeks...was left undiagnosed and treated as an ulcer by our doctor even after repeated visits. By the time I took her to the emergency room, she had an infection raging in her system that was affecting all her organs. The surgeon informed us she had only hours left to live had we not brought her in when we did, she would not have survived. The result was a 10 day hospital stay and another 3 months of very slow recovery.
Now, I am so grateful to say, our daughter is the picture of health. She takes good care of herself, exercises, watches her diet...but she was left with a very unsightly scar that she had wanted to have "revised." While I am not a fan of her going in for another surgery, I could understand her desire to have a cleaner scar and hopefully little reminder of what was left from this difficult time in her life. She went in Friday and even though it was a more traumatic surgery than she had thought it would be, the scar looks clean and it should heal very well. She is recovering very nicely and I've enjoyed the past 4 days of taking care of her.

This card was made for the Stamping Sisters in Chirst challenge this week. The verse is from Matthew 11:28: "Come to me you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."

For me this week, the ease of my burdens, the rest in my soul, has come primarily through seeing my daughter's invigorated health and seeing her rest easily inspite of the pain. I have much comfort in just seeing her, having her here on this Earth, as in not losing her at an early age...I am grateful to God for giving her life and extending her days, and thus my joy!
This image reminds me of her in our garden. One year she planted sunflowers and they grew taller than her. And the sunflowers remind me of the sunshine she brings to my life!!

Hope you are enjoying your summer, and thanks again for your friendship!

Teapot Tuesday and Patented Bird Feeders

2010-07-08T14:56:00.003-06:00

Have you ever had a week/day/month/year that just seemed to be discombobulated? Definition: to throw into a state of confusion, upset.

My week has definitely been that way...I can not explain all the variables and factors that have entered in to make my normal world tilt off it's axis, but it is discomforting to me. So today, because I was home, because I had 2 dogs instead of one, because I had no car because my daughter was in a car accident and needed mine, because I am taking my other daughter into a surgery that I am not even sure is a good idea tomorrow, and because she is coming in on a plane this afternoon from a 3 day Las Vegas stint that I don't approve of for a girl her age, and because the exterminator called at the last minute and was in the area and could he spray the house, and because my tummy still hurts...I decided to stamp.

I wish I could say I feel all better now, but if nothing else, this card made me smile. It reminded me of simpler times when I could control at least a few of the circumstances life threw my way, and I could laugh at our kid's humor.

My card was made for my wonderful friend, Cindy's 101 Teapot Tuesday cards celebration. The assignment was to bring dots or spots...and so in an effort to add to this dotty card, I ran the sweet puppy image through the CB swiss dots folder. After I looked at this dog, now all covered with what looked to be a bad rash, I was reminded of my oldest daughter's run-in with a moderate case of chicken pox. She was covered in those dots, and her little sister, always the mischievous one...giggled with glee and demanded some "chicken pops" of her own. It made me laugh, and still makes me smile to think of it.

If you click on the first picture, you can see the hummingbird "in flight." I received this patented "Best Hummingbird Feeder" from a family member from Virginia as a hostess gift. We had talked a lot about our love of bird-watching, and living in Virginia, she has a wider variety of colorful songbirds than we do here in Colorado. I was so delighted to receive this in the mail, and hung it up immediately when we got to our mountain condo this past weekend. I must say, it is pretty cool to watch the hummers, they can actually "perch" on the lips edge which is flatter and wider than most hummingbird feeders. I just took this with my little Kodak camera, so was happy it came out so well.

So tomorrow I will be helping with my daughter's convalescing and hoping that the surgery goes well..

I wish you a happy, even though possibly, discombobulated day~~

Hello "Tweet" Friend!!

2010-06-27T13:42:00.005-06:00

Hi, and hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday!

Yesterday was my anniversary to my fairly wonderful husband of 28 years. It is odd even to see that in writing, as it doesn't seem possible it has been that long. I sometimes think the longer you stay married, the more interesting your bond becomes, as two people are always evolving. So ther person you are married to after 28 years may not seem like the person you married, but if we let God enter in, then what we are both becoming is more of what we were created to be...and my husband means even more to me now than when we were first wed. I don't think God could have chosen a better mate and lifelong partner for me!! We had a nice day and it felt good to have some time together to celebrate our marriage. We went to see the movie, Knight and Day, and out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants here, Carrabba's. Our youngest daughter works there, so she was able to be our server and as always, it did my heart good to see her on our special day!!

Today my card is a CASE for SCS's featured stamper on Sundays, Debbie. (debbiemom23cs).

I used her basic layout for this card, and changed pretty much everything else. Congratulations Debbie!

And on my favorite blog, Stamping Sisters in Christ, Randi challenged us to use stripes on our cards. This paper is a scrap piece and was just the one I was looking for, and of course, all that is left of this design, but it had stripes, and it had the exact colors I wanted for this sweet mailbox image. The lil bluebird perched on the top of the mailbox is a brad, I just colored the wing with a copic marker to blend it in to the papers.

I may be back to comment on this verse, but for now, just wanted to get this card posted.

Have a blessed Sunday!!

Ribbon, Shimmer, Bling...a little bit of Everything!!

2010-06-22T12:42:00.005-06:00

For today's Teapot Tuesday challenge...(click on the black and white teapot on my sidebar to read all about it!) ...and using this week's Flourishes sketch by Silke.

After I made the card, I looked again at the sketch and noticed the ribbon running through the lower panel with something on the side...thankfully was able to pry this oval up and added some ribbon under it and more bling!! So this card is a little blingy, but I still like it!

Wanted to join my friend, Cindy, and the Teapot Tuesday gang...but alas, today I am not having luck uploading my card...so hopefully they can bop on in here on the birdbrain train!

Thanks for looking!! Come join in the fun on today's Teapot Tuesday!!

Do you like my hat?

2010-06-21T20:10:00.008-06:00

This Strawberry Tilda from Magnolia caught my eye the minute I saw her...she has the cutest hat on, don't you think?? It reminds me of my online friends on SCS...the Travelin' Dork Sisters, who on many occasion, say silly things like, "Do you like my hat?" To which there will be some type of Dr. Seuss reply that makes us all giggle...

Anyhow...I hope you like my Tilda, her hat, and the strawberry center I made by cutting the strawberry out from the paper and adding crystal effects. Then I stuck my finger smack dab in the middle of it...and after trying so many other embellishment centers and removing them, I just stuck it on and thought, yes, I do, I do like this strawberry with the thumbprint in the middle. Hee..

The Just Magnolia challenge is "In the Garden," and I thought this image fit!

I spent way too long on this card, but it is summer, and no one is here to work on landscaping, or painting, or anything...and I just needed a day to relax and play for awhile.

The flower was made from some heavy cardboard packaging material that I ran through my CB with some Papertrey Ink flower dies (love those!!)

I am going to list the copics for you who like to know these things, this is the first time I have been able to keep track of them.

Copics Used:

E000, E00, E11

E53, E25, E59

G20, G40, G82

R00, R20,R22,R46

C1,C3,C5

Thanks for popping in, and hope Tilda brings a bit of summer your way...It is supposed to be high 80's here all week, so we are definitely getting our dose of sunshine after last week's rain!

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-17T14:27:00.005-06:00

Last night at my monthly stamp class, we made three cards...all of them fun and with totally different looks!
This was my favorite, it uses this set which I love but don't know the name and makes one really dramatic Father's Day card. I love the colors and the tree and the elk were stamped in Versamark ink and then embossed with black embossing powder. The moon was masked with a punched out circle and then blue ink was sponged on for the sky.
I am going to go ahead and enter this on the SSIC challenge this week to make a masculine card because I rarely make them...and maybe it will inspire someone else! I did not come up with this design, my SU demo, Carn, did! Thanks Carn, if you're reading this!!
And thanks for looking...I hope to have the final landscaping pictures updated here in a couple of days. They still need to finish the step and are waiting for the quarry to cut the slab for that. Then it will be done!
Thanks for stopping in...hope you are having a good day!

Two Little Chickadees Sitting in a Tree...

2010-06-13T12:00:00.005-06:00

The Shabby Tea Room is having a DT call and I am answering it!!

This ornament was made with the inspiration from the Victorian Teapot shown in the following post...I have two projects today, so please scroll down for the card.

I love Chickadees...and I love Christmas! When I saw the deep red and white from the teapot...I had two immediate thoughts, and one of them was Christmas!

The image of these adorable chickadees was an old note card I had and did not want to throw away. So I decoupaged it on to these glass ornaments. I followed up making a frosty scene with some TH crackle paint, flower soft for snow and white fluffy pom poms. I added a narrow line of glitter to finish off the edges and Pearl Glimmer mist to give it even more shimmer. The bow is three parts, white crochet lace formed into a bow, tied off with a button from PTI and crochet linen thread and hung with some pretty silk ribbon.

I am excited to submit this for The Shabby Tea Room challenge...and hope you will make a comment if you think I have a chance. Either way, I love these projects and have made something I truly enjoy and will use!!

Thanks so much for dropping in...have a blessed Sunday!!

Not Too Shabby!!

2010-06-13T11:40:00.001-06:00

Good morning!

One of my favorite places to visit, "The Shabby Tea Room," is having a Design Team challenge this month!! The inspiration is a photograph of this antique Victorian teapot featured in the first frame.

When I "see red," I visually hone in on toile, a favorite design element! This card was created using the floral image in the SU "Elements of Style." The image was stamped first in Cranberry Crisp dye ink, and then each line was traced with a blender pen to give it a very softened effect.

There is a wonderful tutorial on the Flourishes blog from Julie showing just how to do this technique!

The teapot had a centered focal point, so that was recreated using the Nestabilities Labels 9 die and a Verve stamped verse. My favorite shabby crochet ribbon was added with a strip of cranberry ribbon over it and then a simple pearl accent for Victorian embellishment.

I think this card captures the essence of the photograph...don't you?

Thank you so much for stopping in, and especially on such a rainy cool and cloudy afternoon. I have the teakettle on and some pretty cups to serve from, what's your preference?

Special Delivery

2010-06-08T13:53:00.006-06:00

I just received this stamp set from Flourishes using a gift certificate so graciously donated from the company. On release day, if you go to the Forums on SCS and play in the games, you just might win a prize!!

I received a card with this stamp set from my friend Dawn, (flowergal36 on SCS)...and I liked the layout so much, I copied it. Well, actually, I loved the entire card...but I didn't copy the card...The colors and overall "feel" are very different...this is using white, yellow and blue for the Flourishes month's challenge, "Sunshine and Blue Skies." And wouldn't you know it, today it is overcast and cloudy?!! Well, if you click on the picture, maybe you can get a better idea of the colors....one of my favorite combinations!!

And this week's challenge on the Stamping Sister's in Christ blog is taken from the verse Genesis 1:26. "And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the Earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth."

So for this card, I chose the "fowl of the air..." which I am very fond of. The Stamping Sisters In Christ Challenge blog is featured on my sidebar, click on that and you will be able to view all the DT cards!!

Thanks so much for your visit today...hope you are having a good summer.

Scroll down if you'd like to see the progress of our landscaping. Going on week 3 and looking good!!

Work In Progress...

2010-06-08T13:42:00.004-06:00

Good afternoon!

As promised, this is a photo update of our landscaping project. As you can see, the crew is working hard on the front porch and front walkways. Last week was pretty much taken up with just laying the stone and the grid, leveling, and the slate border of the front porch and step. The beginning of this week, they added grout to the porch and began the front walkway. Seeing the tediousness of the exactness used in laying out the front porch makes me think of stamping and the time we put into a layout and measuring. It makes me feel a little better about the time it takes me to get a card just right!

Thanks for coming by...I'll update again in a few days. They are supposed to be adding the plants, flowers, and trees later this week. I think that will make this all come together!!