The Beginning is Always Today

Hi, friends!  I was rummaging around in a drawer in the craft room, and came across some Stampin' Up rub-ons that I didn't know I had, so decided to use them.  That's the thing - I've got so much because my husband is generous and understands my passion for creating, but I know I've overdone it, and have way too much!  When you find things you don't remember buying or being given, then it's time to purge, so things can be used and enjoyed.  I guess my way of thinking is changing as I get older.  Physical things are just that, and having more is having less of the things in life that are most important.  How do you feel about it?

This is a multi-layered card, with five levels.  The base cardstock is white, then a patterned floral sheet, the teal stripe, then the green and teal floral paper.  The green flowers and swirls are the rub-on.  On top of the strip is a verse from a vellum verse pack that I mounted with teal rhinestone brads onto green striped cardstock.  This was adhered with foam dimensionals.  The letter "T" for "today" is from a package of alphabet charms, and was adhered with a foam dimensional after tying on some green ribbon which was taped to the back of the base floral paper, then applied to the white card.  I usually leave the inside of the card void of a sentiment so it can be tailored to a specific occasion, but I did put another flower rub-on inside.

Birthday Butterflies

Happy birthday, Julie!  (a few months behind in posting - ;))

This card is so cheery, and was left behind when she moved out a few months ago.  I had neglected to take a picture of it, so it's a good thing she did leave it.  The card shape is called a Double Display card.  I purchased them already cut and scored like this, but there are patterns for them online too.  It's a very fun card to make, and so many different colors, pattern and additions can be made to it!

This is the card opened, and so much can be added inside!  Surprise!  The verses are from Verve.

Thanks so much for checking in!  Have a great day!

Delight Yourself in the Lord

Having a fantastic weekend?  I am, just sitting inside in the coolness, not going outside in the 105 degree heat index sticky hot weather.  Sunburns and heatstroke are two things that really make me miserable, so I don't go out much in the summer.  Come on Autumn!

I love cutting out paper with new dies, and then piecing them together to see what I can come up with.  These die cuts are placed over a white piece of cardstock that was embossed.  The pearls were a light tan color, and I deepened the color to match the brown in the ribbon.  Copic markers are great for doing that with, then I added some stamp paint on top.  Psalm 37:4 is a clear stamp from Verve.  Card size is 5 x 5 1/2".

Brown and teal are two of my favorite colors together.  What are your favorites?

Rose of Encouragement

Hi!  I hope you're doing well, staying cool, and enjoying the summer!

The discipleship (student) classes being held at my church have really helped me grow in Christ.  One of the things we did was take a personal look at our strengths and weaknesses in many areas to determine what our spiritual gifts are.  Mine turned out to be hospitality and encouragement.  Whenever I hear of someone going through one of the dark valleys of life, I try to be an encouragement by sending them a card.  Even my husband has asked me for a card periodically for a co-worker. 

Speaking of encouragement, he has been my encourager!  Mike has referred my blog to some of his friends and co-workers, and this has resulted in many orders.  That is why I've been making so many pop-up box cards!  Well, sometimes we need to be encouraged also, and I was told by a very smart and insightful woman that I should make a card for myself!  That was an odd thing to think about, but the bible says we should love our neighbor as ourself, so if you need encouragement or cheering up for any reason, make yourself a card!  I know you know how it feels to get a card in the mail from someone unexpectedly, and what a surprise when you send yourself one!  I didn't recognize my own handwriting as first, so that gave me a laugh.  Love and encourage yourself, as you do others!

This card is one that was so easy, but looks so elegant.  I really liked how it turned out, so I'm going to have to go get some more of the Prima roses in varying colors to make more.  The sentiment is from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I added some fuchsia grosgrain ribbon, some vintage lace, and a little tan fancy trim.  The cardstock was given to me, so I'm sorry I don't know what pad it came from.

 

 

Thanks so much for checking in, and I hope you are happy and healthy!  Please leave a comment if you'd like.  Hugs!

"Surprise!"

Hello!  I just had to make another one!  The cheery, happy pop-up box cards!  If you haven't tried one, they are not difficult, and will cheer you as you assemble it!  You just can't help but smile as your put your own personal touch on it!

On this one, I used tan, burgundy, fuchsia, rose and a minty green cardstock over white.  I mixed and matched the die cut flowers on the different papers, and used the green for the leaves.  With the pearl centers, everything was brought together.  The sentiment if from Justrite's With Sympathy stamp set.

Halloween Early

Hello!  It's never too early to start stocking up on cards for specific holidays, so I've started my collection for Halloween.  Here are five recents.  Enjoy!

I used a spider web embossing folder for the purple background inked
with black ink, then matted the photo onto white, black sparkle
and orange cardstock.  The "h" and "g" are stickers. 
Some black sparkle was added to the witches hat and the fabulous
print is from a cd I ordered from Twisted Papers. 

A little different matting and a touch of ribbon change the
whole appearance of this card from the previous one. 
Don't you just love the print?

This little trick-or-treater is getting "tricked".  The ghost coming out from behind a scary, pointy gothic fence.  It looks like he's already been turned into the "Great Pumpkin!"  This is another print from the Twisted Papers cd.

A little more spider-webbing on a die cut background sets the stage
 for the "Great Pumpkin Boy" and his cat.

Another ghosty.  Love that black sparkle!

Paisley Thinking of You

Hi, y'all!  Using more of the cardstock a friend gave me that I've been bathing in (haha), this card is very cheery and colorful!  I love the paisley pattern.  The inside flowers are stamped with Heartfelt Creations Angel Trumpet Flower stamps, and hand-cut.  Love that hummer flitting around!  Very peachy!

The card is folded flat and ready to mail.

The card is open, with flowers and hummer mounted on strips of
clear poly-sumthin' (the stuff that static cling stamps come mounted
on when you purchase them).  The flowers have artificial stamins applied.
The mind is the first to go - I can't think of the name of it!  hehe

With Sympathy

Hello!  Welcome back, sweet friends!  It's so sad when we lose a loved one, and it seems like several of my friends are experiencing this.  Maybe it's a sign that we're getting older, but it's not something I like to go through.  No one does, but I hope my cards can give someone just a tiny moment of happiness or cheer.

I've been using a lot  of paper and cardstock that a friend gave me.  The same stuff I've been rolling around in since my last post.  It's so pretty, and it's making me want to not stop creating!  The floral printed paper on the front is from a tag pad, and I stamped the sentiment with brown ink.  This was mounted on a white mat with the edges sponged with the same brown.  Some little tan pearls were added.  This card opens is a double fold, so the sentiment, flower and flap are one panel, then the background patterned paper is a second panel.  Both open to reveal the inside.  The flower is from Prima with edges sponged in lavender.

Stitched Blessings

Hi, again!  Welcome back, and I think you'll like this new card!

I used to sew quite a bit, but haven't done so in a long time.  I've machine sewn on a few cards, but haven't done a lot of hand stitching like this.  I purchased a new die that punches all the little holes in oval shapes.  Only one strand of embroidery floss was used, and was easy and quick to stitch by hand.  Just put your needle in the next hole. 

The floral-patterned cardstock is retired Stampin' Up, and I only had two sheets!  I need more if anyone has any for sale!!!  The flowers were stamped and punched from Heartfelt Creations stamps and dies, with Stampin' Up ink, and two rhinestones.  The ribbon is from SU also.  These colors are so bright and happy! 

Enjoy your summer, and thanks for leaving a comment!

Thank You Rose for My Friends

I can't say enough about Prima's flowers!  These roses come 10 to a card, and in different shades.  They are just perfect!

Thank you for taking a little time out of your busy day to stop by and peek at my card.  This virtual "Thank You" is for you! 

A friend gave me the most exquisite pad of 12" x 12" cardstock.  I have been swimming in it, rolling in it, loving it!  This is just one little sheet of it!  The photo could have been better, but just so you know, the skeleton leaf is gold and the edges of the card elements were sponged with gold.  They look gray to me in this photo.  The white half-circle die cut is from the Spellbinders Grand Decorative Circles.

I hope you are well, and enjoying life!  Please come again soon!

Winged Sympathy

Bonjour!  How are you today?  I have been able to spend more time in the craft room, which I love.  With babysitting my grandsons, I didn't have much time to create, but since I'm not doing that now, I have been able to get quite a few cards done.  I went to dinner two weeks ago with my husband and his coworkers, and they ordered nine cards, so I've been busy.

I have a sympathy card to share with you today.  A friend gave me some beautiful cardstock and I just had to dig right in!  I haven't made too many "guy" cards, and need to.  This one fits the bill.  

The sentiment is from Stampin' Up, and the wing die is a new one for me from Spellbinders. 



The base of this card is white, with a striped piece as foundation.  I positioned a scalloped rectangle die on it, and sponged red ink around the outer edge.  Using the same die, I cut a rectangle from the red patterned paper.  I used the negative of another smaller rectangle from the same set of dies, and matted some gold cardstock behind it.  There is teal in the striped paper, and I think the base of the wings pull out that color well, although it's not really obvious in this photo.  The wings were sponged with gold ink, then I used a smaller die for the sentiment (stamped in black). Some tan ink was sponged around the sentiment before removing it
 from the die, then it was mounted on a mat of gold. 
The wings were adhered with sponge dimensionals.

Thanks for poppin' in! 

Happy Birthday Pop-up Box Card

Here's another cheery pop-up box card!  I can't keep them in stock, so to speak!  Stampin' Up's retired paper is so pretty, and I only had one or two sheets of each, so these boxes are truly one-of-a-kind!

I hope you're having a great and crafty summer!

I am running out of these fantastic die cut butterflies,
so I will have to talk to my friend, Donna, who provided them for me.  They are so pretty when the solid bases are covered in glitter!
Thanks for stoppin' by!

Faith Pop-Up Card

"Faith is the light that guides us through the darkness".  What a great sentiment!  Life contains periodical darkness, but my faith has pulled me through.  I'm still fascinated with the pop-up box cards, and have sold several recently.  Truly an amazing pattern for a surprise in a box, that one can't help by smile at when opened!  This one is particularly happy and encouraging!

How cheery when opened up!  The patterned paper is from Stampin' Up,
 and I was given just two sheets each of the double-sided paper. 
I wish I knew the name and could get more of it, but it's been discontinued.  Thanks so much for popping by!  Stay cool out there in the summer heat!

If I Settle on the Far Side of the Sea

Hi!  I have been so inspired by the pop-up box cards, that I can't seem to stop making them!  It was butterflies before - now it's seafaring and ocean that is popping up!  Thank you for taking a quick look!



I have taken stamps and sentiments from two different stamp companies, with similar themes, and put them together to create this card. 
The ocean scenes and sentiments are from Our Daily Bread Designs,
and are passages from the bible regarding God's love wherever we are,
and how He is the anchor of our lives. 
The crab, star fish and shell images are from Stampin' Up.