God Our Refuge

Hello, crafty friends! 

 A week or so ago I needed a sympathy card. It was not fun making one under pressure. Isn't it always that way? I decided to make a couple others so I could have them ready in my stash when needed.

I pulled out the stamps from The Greetery that I had bought just for this purpose and made two cards. They are just what I think a sympathy card should be: simple in design, light and airy, with peaceful soft colors and a meaningful sentiment.

I began with a partial inking of the Windowpane Plaid on the white panel, using the Caring Cross stamps, stencil and dies for the focal point. On the left, I sponged using the cross stencil, added stamped images and die cut the whole piece. On the right I included the die cut cross and greenery and a die cut palm branch.  A flower was added on each using a bloom from Fleur Impressions. 

I don't always like "with sympathy" for the sentiment,  I  prefer something more unique for the recipient. I chose this scripture verse from Papertrey Ink (called Inspired: God) and the coordinating die. Don't know if the picture shows it but the word was cut from Metallic gold card stock.

All my inking was done with Distress Oxides. 

It's the end of a week! I can't believe how fast the days are rolling by! I hope that you are staying warm and well, and that you've been inspired!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Countdown to Christmas!

 I can't imagine how it's December already, can you? I am keeping going with the Christmas cards and I'm really only getting started using up newly purchased Christmas stamps and stuff. Oh my goodness, those Black Friday sales, happy new things coming to me! 

Speaking of new, I'm using a brand new digital set from Power Poppy.  The pretty paperwhites (HERE) and Christmas ornaments (or is it an orange?) caught my eye and seem perfect for as a Christmas card, Christmas thank you, or a winter birthday. 

Using Copics to color, I snipped out the image and combined it with the Snowy Day papers from Lawnfawn.

I've been hesitant to use Power Poppy stamps because the design team colors them exquisitely and with such talent! For this card, I was absolutely inspired by THIS gorgeous card by Nancy. 

I am playing along on the last day of the challenge at CAS(E) This. It's a great simple sketch. Classic and clean! 

I am also linking up to The Paper Players. I used patterned paper, red and coloring tool. 

Hope you have a great day! See you soon as I have more to share. I so appreciate every one of you that spend  a bit of time encouraging my crafty journey. Thank you! 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Color Hues #7

Have you been enjoying the Color Hues card challenge? We are loving seeing the inspiration and creativity in the gallery! 

Two weeks have gone by and it's time for a new challenge at Color Hues! We'd like you to use Blue and Magenta. 

These rich jewel shades make me think of classic elegance and bling. I've loved the Christmas cards I've seen this year with blues, so that's my theme. 

I stamped images from the Winter Sketches stamps by The Greetery on white card stock and die cut them. I combined them with a simple sentiment and a Pretty Frame die cut in white and blue glimmer specialty paper.  Wink of Stella shimmer pen, Stickles and Iridescent sequins make this one sparkly card! We can't wait to see what you make. You can find all the details HERE. Hope you can find time to play along!

Thanks so very much for your visit and kind encouragement. 

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Winter Sketches stamps and dies, Christmas Eve

Paper: Neenah Solar White, Blue Glitter paper

INK: Altenew - Ultramarine, Artic, Puffy Heart, Purple Wine

Accessories: PTI Coverplate - Pretty Frame Die

Sending Holiday Cheer

 Hello friends, it's a holiday week in the US.  Thanksgiving! I will be cooking the turkey potatoes and gravy and the rest of the meal will be supplied by some of our family. I can't wait! 

I have a card wishing you holiday cheer for today. 

I combined some scraps of papers in my stash (PTI) and made a tag for this cute snowman. I think he looks kind of quirky. He's probable wondering why the owl is on his head? 

He's part of the "O Holy Night" stamp set from The Cat's Pajamas and as it's just the first time I've used it I can enter sweet Darnell's NBUS Challenge!

Coloring was done quickly with Copics. I added a clear glaze to his hat, enamel dots and a couple snowflakes.
The sentiment and die for the tab is from The Greetery. I use these Sentiment Suite Basics sets a ton! 

I am entering the Tag It challenge at TCP Tuesday too!
Signing out for the weekend, wishing all those in the states a very happy Thanksgiving! In the midst of difficulties the things we have to be thankful for mean even more.  

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

The More the Merrier

 Hello stamping friends! The more Christmas cards the merrier, that is! I am here with another one for you today as my pile of completed cards is growing! This idea of stamping many images and having them die cut and ready to go is really working for me. I had quite a few die cut holly leaves with berries leftover after THIS project and when I saw them on my desk the next morning I decided to make them into a wreath.

This is creativity at it's best! I began with a white die cut circle, and drew a light pencil line inside the circle to help me keep the shape as I filled in the die cut leaves and berries.  I added some stamped pine boughs behind the die cuts, and a few dots of different colors of Copics to help the eye see the circle.

 
Choosing to go for the bling, I used the Wink of Stella Shimmer pen on the berries, and added glitter here and there. And of course - sequins to go with the gold embossed sentiment. 

I am adding this to
the sketch at  Sunday Stamps, 

Tic Tac Toe Challenge where I chose the right row down.

and the Card Concept where I went with the Clean and Layered Style.

That's a lot of challenges in one post for me! Thanks for your visit today, and for sticking with me through this long post.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: The Greetery - Sentiment Suite: Christmas and dies, PTI- Seasonal Borders: Winter

Paper: Neenah Solar White, DSP from Rosy Cosy Christmas

Accessories: Sequins, Gold embossing Powder, Diamond Stickles, The Greetery - Nordic Frames Dies

The Merriest Ever

 Hello everyone! Here we are at mid-week again and I'm sharing from my latest rummage through my stash. I had time over the weekend to watch some card-making videos using card kits. You know how wonderful Vicky and Tina (and many others) are with whipping out the most amazing cards with paper and other bits from a kit? I marvel and learn something new about design each and every time. 

Whatever I made today just had to include elements from years past kits and lots of paper play! 

The "merriest" sentiment, the girl and the deer were die cuts from Papertrey Ink's Fairy Tale Christmas Kit.  I also used the pretty ribbon and papers from the kit and the stamped second part of the sentiment.
For the floral spray focal point I combined stamped and die cut images from The Greetery. 

In reflecting, I may have made this card too busy - I find the ten cards gals keep thing much simpler and I will keep that in mind for next time. But you know me - I had to add more than a few gold sequins and clear Nuvo drops to make it shine! 

If you are new to stamping, kits are a great value. I liked having a kit or two on hand when I was traveling for a month at a time. THAT seems like long ago! 

My fav part of this card is the "when we're together"  being the happiest of times. I hope you can find a way to be together with someone special in your life today!

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

ETA: Those cute circles with the pinked edges were from dies also included in the kit. It's retired now but shows that with some kits the items are useful long after. 

Color Hues #6 Pink for Christmas!

 Hi and welcome to Color Hues Challenge #6!  We are asking you to use pink and brown as your colors today, isn't that lovely? I have a confession. I've never used this combo. Ever. At all. That's what makes card challenges so fun!!

I was already thinking of Pink for Christmas, but when I saw the Pinkfresh Studio stamp and die called Pop Out Folk Christmas I was ready to go!

I can't tell you how delightful this creative and versatile set is to work with. I have plenty more ideas for using it! 

For today's card, I stamped using brown ink on several colors of card stock, then die cut the images and played with positioning them on the card. I added markings in white gel pen on the deer, and used Nuvo pink glitter drops to accent some of the berries. 

I die cut the deer also out of foam so the dimension helps them stand out. I added a shadow on the doves by layering a white image over the brown.

Please be sure to visit the challenge HERE to see inspiration from the fabulous team! You will not believe the gorgeous-ness! Can't wait to see what you make! 

Thanks so much for joining me today.

Be yourself

     Delight in your craft 

        Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Sentiment is from SSS - Holiday Hellos;

Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU - Pink Pirouette, Baked Brown Sugar, Melon Mambo

INK: SU - Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede

Accessories: Banner Die is from WPlus9