The best sleep.... under a quilt!

Hi everyone!  I apologize for the past week's lack of blogging.  I have been with my sister and we've been enjoying happy moments together!  I have tried to work ahead on some things, so I do have something to share with you!  This is another sneak peek at the Aug 1 release from Our Daily Bread designs....Spool Tag Set and Pincushion Tag Set.  I used the sketch for this week's Shining the Light Challenge over at ODBD. This has long been one of my favorite go to sketches so I just had to play along.  I used Memento Cocoa ink and paperpieced my pincushion with the same dp from the card, which is K&Co Madeline and K&Co Marcella Lucy's Linen Deck.  The base is Papertrey dark chocolate, matted with SU! Blushing Bride.  I sewed each panel and sponged with Memento.  The pearls are ZVA Creative and the ribbon is May Arts Silk.

I hope you don't miss the release BLOG HOP on Aug 1-2, beginning on the ODBD Blog!!!  This is an absolutely fantastic release with LOTS of great sets, and lots of prizes!  You're gonna love them!

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Delicious Doodles - flourishes and bling, Inspire Me Fridays - always anything goes, Patties Creations - must include a stamped image - faux or real stitching, Phindy’s Place - diecuts, Polkadoodle -  anything you would find in an English garden, Sew Many Cards anything goes, Totally Papercrafts - bling, 4 Crafty Chicks - bling, Craft Us Crazy - anything goes, aper Shelter Challenge - #24 anything goes, All Sorts- Free and Easy,

Have a wonderful weekend~
Hugs,
 

Pop Up Gift Card Holder Tutorial

Hello everyone!  Today I am honored to have been asked by Joan Fricker of Joan's Gardens to share a project with you and the tutorial on how to make it.  She is posting this gift card holder this week on her Blog along with a challenge for you to play along!  I will share how to make this fun pop up gift card holder, and then you have two weeks to play along.  It's very easy to make,  and the prize you could win will be well worth the effort! Before I give the details of how to construct this, I want to show you different angles of what you will be making.  I have made my card 5.5" square.  When it's slightly open, the picture below is what you'll see of the pop up element on the inside when it's partly folded up.  It will fold totally flat and mail just fine!

The photos below show the pop up when the card is open.  It holds a gift card perfectly and makes such a pretty presentation!

So lets get started with the tutorial!

Card Base:
Create a top fold card 5.5" square.
Decide on designer paper you'll decorate the inside and front with. (I used Graphic 45 LeRomantique 8 x 8 Pack).


Pop Up:
Cut card stock 5.5" x 6"

Score and fold according to diagram above. Dotted lines are fold lines.
Fold like photo below:

Now you need to plan your decoration for the inside of the card.  You will want to either stamp on your card stock or adhere designer paper as I did.  You will also need to decorate the panels of the pop up that I have marked with an X in the picture below:

Below is what you will have when you add dp or stamping to these panels of the pop up, and you should add red line tacky tape or other strong adhesive to the inside of each end of the little groove that has been formed. This just keeps it neat and tight.
 

Below is what you have when you adhere those ends together: A nice tight slot to hold the gift card.

Next, you will adhere the pop up to the inside of your card.  Begin by lining up the lower 1 1/2" undecorated part of the pop up with the center fold of the card.  Adhere it just below that center fold of the card as shown below:

Now fold the pop up forward on the bottom of the card the way it will fold when card is closed as shown below:

Apply adhesive to the top of the pop up which will fold down and adhere to the back of the card.  Be sure to run enough adhesive to cover the panel. In case the picture is confusing... the top of the card below is on top, and the white where I'm adhering adhesive is the white panel you see above.... it's the back part of the pop up that will adhere to the back of the card.

Now, simply close the card down with the pop up in place, and press to adhere.

Now when you open the card, your pop up will do just that!  It will pop up!

I have tried to make this easy with step by step instructions but don't let the number of steps scare you... this is so easy and when you get into  it, you will totally understand it and be thrilled at how easy it is to create a gift card with such great impact!

Now you just need to decorate the front of your card, and add any message you want to add to the inside.

I added a sentiment inside using Heartfelt Creations HCPC3348 Cardinal Pinecone Border PreCut set, and Spellbinder's Fancy Tags Two.

My card front uses one large classic rose and three small classic roses from the Heartfelt Creation Bella Rose Collection HCPC3394, one Bella Rose Leaves Precut set HCPC3390, and the Bella Rose HCD17 Custom dies to cut them.  I colored them with Copics and used a piercing tool to curl my petals and leaves quite a bit, breaking down the fibers enough to give good dimension without tearing the paper.  I cut a Cheery Lynn Canadian Kaleidoscope Doily Die to cut the doily out of vintage cream card stock, and a Martha Stewart Double Loops Around the Page Punch set for my matting.  A shabby seam binding bow was my only embellishment because all the stamped images and lovely doily needed to take center stage.  Most all the products I used are available at Joan's Gardens! 

I also want to add that Cheery Lynn is having a Design Team Call and I love their dies, so I think it would be a great team to be on!  Check it out here!

I do hope you'll give this easy gift card holder a try!  I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have fun with it!!!

Sneak Peek! Sewn with Love, Measured with kindness

Hello everyone!

Just a quick post tonight to share a sneak peek with you of the Our Daily Bread designs stamps to be released Aug. 1.  OMGoodness!  This month is my most favorite yet of all the releases!!! I'm blown away at all the sets coming out and I love love love every one of them!  Tonight I'm sharing parts of three sets.  Sew Special, Spool & Tape, and Pin Cushion.  I used Bazzill for a base and The Paper Studio for most of my designer paper.  I stamped with Memento Ink and colored with Copics.  I used a cute Cuttlebug edge embossing folder that looks like zig zag stitches and sponged with distress inks.  The lace is a gift from a sweet friend, the crocheted flower was won in a challenge, and the buttons are from my button box.

I cannot wait to show you all the sets and what all the DT have been making with them!!! Please don't miss the Aug 1 Blog Hop beginning at the ODBD Blog!

My sister is here and we are leaving tomorrow for a short trip together but our time is short as she'll be going home Sat. :(  We've had a wonderful time!  I even got her to create a card and I will show it to you one day.... it came out gorgeous!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet comments!  They mean so much to me!

I am entering this in the following challenges:
rafty Cardmakers Spotlight Challenge - Sentimental, Crazy Challenge -  Ribbons, Kaboodle Doodles - Stitching - Faux or real, Make it Monday - Anything goes, Nettie G's Digital Gems -  1 solid paper, 2 patterned papers, 3 embellishments, Simon Says Stamp and Show... - Anything goes,

SSIS His Ways are not our ways!

Hello my friends!  It's Sunday and time for another Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge!  Today I am the hostess, and I have chosen the following Scripture and challenge:

Isaiah 55:8-9

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

My challenge is to create a card or project that depicts the 

sharp contrast of black and white or ivory.

Several years ago I received one of those forwarded emails that often we might not even have time to read.  This one spoke to me on many levels and I printed it off to read often. I have no idea where it had its origin.   It contrasted many of the thoughts and feelings that we often have and God’s answers to these thoughts and feelings.   Through the years, I have added several additional items to the list, and I’m sure I will continue to as God brings things to my heart.  Today, I thought I’d do something a little different and just list off some of these contrasting thoughts…. How we think, and what God says.  I hope some of these will encourage you as much as they have me!  Truly, His ways are not our ways…. And these verses are just a few examples of that!

We say “it’s impossible”.  God says:  ALL things are possible.  “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”(Luke 18:27)

We say “I’m too weary”.  God says:  “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  (Matt. 11:28-30)

We say “I’m too weak”.  God says:  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”. (2 Cor. 12:9)

We say “My sin is too great”.  God says:  Your sins are forgiven.   (“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Ps. 103:12) 

We say “No one really loves me”.  God says:  I love you!  (“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him shall be saved”. John 3:16)

We say “I CAN’T do it”.  God says: You can do all things.  (“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”. Phil. 4:13)  

We say “I don’t know how”.  God says: I will direct your steps.  (“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Prov. 3:5-6)

We say “I‘m not able”.  God says: I am able.  (“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything; you may have an abundance for every good deed.” 2 Cor. 9:8)

We say “It’s not worth it”.  God says: It will be worth it. (“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”. Rom. 8:28)

 We say “I can’t manage”.  God says: I will supply all your needs.  (“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19)

We say “I’m not smart enough”.  God says: I will give you wisdom.  (“If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5)

We say “I’m worried and anxious”.  God says: Cast all your cares on me. (“…Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Pet. 5:7)

We say “I feel so alone”.  God says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Heb. 13:5)

One of the things that jumped out at me about these negative feelings and thoughts that are common to all of us is that they could possibly keep us from moving forward in our relationship with the Lord, and might even cripple us for the rest of our lives if we don’t really first of all recognize where they are coming from (Satan himself), and then intentionally replace them with God’s thoughts and promises, which we are given in His Word.

Paul tells us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).   I do believe this includes all those little things we allow to nag us that do not come in line with His Word.  Satan is the great deceiver, and tells us lies all the time with the hope of keeping us defeated, doubtful, fearful and anxious.  If we listen to his lies, we will indeed be crippled in our Spiritual walk, but praise God, we are NOT slaves to sin any more if we have accepted Christ as our Savior!  We ALL struggle with these feelings… me included, but we don’t have to be enslaved to them!  That’s one of the many reasons why we need to be bathing our hearts and minds in God’s Word continually, so that we will have HIS thoughts and promises indelibly inscribed in our hearts when the evil one tries to fill us with negative feelings that come from negative thoughts!  I pray for all of us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ!

My card is made with Layers of Color Touch of Elegance and Gifts of Love clear art stamp sets.  I stamped with Versafine Onyx Black onto Gina K Pure Luxury Ivory.  I matted and cut my Spellbinders Fleur de Lis border from Basic Black, as well as the SB Fleur de Lis Accents and Motifs for my framing of the sentiment. I used a precut label from a Making Memories Black Tie pack for the sparkly matting of my sentiment.  My embellishments are a single silk rose with pearls (from the bridal dept of Michaels) and some single pearls on the Fleur de Lis border.  I embossed the lower edge with a Cuttlebug Fleur de Lis border ef as well.  The bow is May Arts.  I love the elegance of black and ivory... 

Our sponsor this week is Layers of Color... near and dear to my heart!  

Please be sure to stop by the Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge Blog  to see the GORGEOUS set Layers of Color is giving away this week and then play along!

For more inspiration please visit my DT Sisters:
Chris, Linda, Peggysue, Miesje, Rebecca, Lisa (on break), Kris, Sabrina, & MariLynn
Randi (on leave)

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments Challenge -  anything that will make someone smile/enjoy your day, CASE Study Challenge - backgrounds, Craft Us Crazy -  anything goes, Shelly's Images -  anything goes, Crafts and Me - #44 add a flower, Paper Pretties - embossing, Deep Ocean Challenge - Ribbons, Crafty Ann's - embossing or debossing or both, Crafty Catz - no pink or blue allowed, Inspire Me Fridays - always anything goes,  Stamp Something - include embellisment,

LOC Garden Border Strawberry Basket

Hello friends!
I hope where you are it's cooler than where I am!  In the middle of a record breaking heat wave, I am down with a cold turned sinus infection!  Oh well... this too will pass.

Today I wanted to share a project I made some time ago but never showed, as I was hoping a magazine might pick it up.  However... this is strawberry season and I decided to share it with you now.  I made my own template for this and some day if I can figure out how to do it, I will put it on line to share.  The pretty strawberry border is from Layers of Color and is called Garden Border.  Be sure to check out the other great borders in that set!  I colored with Copics and made four borders to wrap around the top of my basket.

The basket was cut from 12 x 12 card stock and sponged with distress inks.  The basic pattern is of the square bottom and the two pieces for each side.  Then there is a band that wraps around the top, giving rigidity and finishing off the inside nicely.  Then the garden border is adhered over that.  Very simple and I hope to figure out how to share the pattern.  I don't have PDF maker and I can't scan 12 x 12 so I'm not sure how to do it.  If I figure it out, it will be filed under my Tutorial Tab.


That's it for today.  Just got back from the Dr with lots of meds so I'm hoping I'll be feeling better tomorrow.  My sister and I have plans to go to the mountains so I really need to feel better! :)

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Little Miss Muffet Challenges -  summer,  Shelly's Images - anything goes
Have a wonderful weekend, and to all my east coast US friends.... stay cool!!!!
hugs,

Pop Up Bouquet

Hello my friends!  Happy Sunday!  With Sunday comes another Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge!  This week, our challenge hostess is the talented and sweet Kristine!  Kris has chosen 2 Samuel 6:14 "And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod." 

Her challenge is DANCING - Make a card that "moves" (ie. tilt card, slider, pop up, waterfall, etc. - LOTS on scs resources)

 

I decided to make a pop up card, and I put my main image inside instead of on the front.  I wanted it to feel like I am giving the recipient a bouquet of flowers, so that is why I wanted the image to pop up rather than a sentiment.  I used this month's release from Our Daily Bread designs, Hydrangea.  I love this image! I love coloring it in all different colors!  I also have mounted it on a Cheery Lynn Die, French Pastry Doily.  For the pop up itself, I used acetate because I didn't want colored card stock to show through the doily.  For the front of my card, I used Our Daily Bread designs Mini Tags 1 and the Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio 3 that it was custom made to fit.  I also used an MS Shell edge punch and a Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish and Lattice frame.  LOVE these dies!!!   On the inside I used a Sizzix embossing folder for the future message.

I do want to mention that Cheery Lynn is having a Design Team Call and if you love dies, this would be a great team to be on!  Check it out here!

My papers are: SU! Marina Mist, SU! Very Vanilla, SU! retired Certainly Celery dp, K&Co Cottage Garden dp.  I stamped the sentiment with Marian Mist, then the tag itself with Certainly Celery.  The image is stamped with Memento and colored with Copics: B37, B34, B32, G99, G82, G40.  The ribbon is SU! and the little rose buds are ZVA Creative.

Our Sponsor this week is  Designed2Delight

The prize is a $10.00 store credit!

Please be sure to stop by the Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge Blog for the full devotional and challenge details.I know Kris will bless you with her thoughts on today's verse.  I love thinking about the joy with which David expressed his love for the Lord.  He as all out for his Lord and wasn't ashamed to show it.  Perhaps that's just one of the reasons God said he was a man after His own heart! 

For more inspiration please visit my DT Sisters:
Chris, Linda, Peggysue, Miesje, Rebecca, Lisa (on break), Kris, Sabrina, & MariLynn
Randi (on leave)

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Allsorts - #110 July long Free & Easy, Craft Your Days Away  - Fancy Folds, Card and Scrap - Use Punches/Dies, Crafty Catz -  tag, Aud Sentiments Challenge -  Sentiment with at least two words, Delightful Challenges - fancy folds, Moving Along With The Times -  favourtie things (doily, hydrangeas),  Stamp Insanity - summer colors, Freshly Brewed -  #55 3 of anything (rose buds), Simon Says Stamp - anything goes, Creative Craft Challenges -  Pretty Blossoms, Going Grey With Scrap-Creations -  At least 2DP's & at least 2 Embellishments, Jac-Inks Papercraft Challenges -- Die-cuts Plus Texture, Crafty Catz - tag, Bling it on - anything goes, Paper Pal Arts - summer time and living is easy, Really Reasonable Ribbon- cool it ( I used cool blues)



Hope you like my pop up card!  Have a wonderful week!  Sorry my post is short today.  I am looking forward to my sister arriving and will probably not be a very good blogger while she is here.  I have not seen her in a year and we have lots of catching up to do! Thanks so much for stopping by~ and for your kind comments!  I love knowing you were here!

Re-use, recycle, or in this case.... Finally, use it!

Hello my blogging friends! 

It is time for ODBD Stamping In Time Challenge (SNTODBD39)!  The assignment is to use Our Daily Bread Design stamps.  The challenge this rotation is to use something recycled on your cards or projects!   As far as recycling goes, it can be a part or piece of another card you made, but never quite liked, recycled papers, or whatever you can think to use or reuse again.  Remember, the more you play the more you increase your chance to win! We look forward to seeing what you create using ODBD stamps!   

My recycled item is my image.  Actually... I had made it for another project, then had taken it off to use something different.   It has been sitting on my desk for several months.  I decided this was the time!

 I made this card to honor Patter, who was chosen Featured Stamper on Splitcoast Stampers this week.  Patter is such an inspiration to so many not only for her talent but also she is one who lets her light shine for the Lord in so many ways.  She is my DT sister on the Our Daily Bread designs Scrapbook team and I'm thrilled to honor her in my small attempt at casing her lovely piece of artwork HERE.  I love this layout and it is so similar to what I call "my go to" sketch, I just knew it would be a perfect fit!    My image is Our Daily Bread designs Bird and Butterfly Labels and  Mini Tags 3 .   I airbrushed it with the Copics Airbrush system.  My card stock is Pear Pizazz and the designer paper is BasicGrey Kioshi. I used bits and pieces from my flower box and put together a little spray of flowers.  I used May Arts Silk ribbon and a Cheery Lane Fanciful Flourish behind it, and the CL Exotic Butterfly Mini die for the little butterfly.  I also used Spellbinders Labels 18 and Floral Doily Accents to make a frame for my main panel.

So how about you?  Do you have something you tore off another project, something you've been wanting to alter or use in a new way?  Let's see what you can recycle! 

 Here are the guidelines!

• You must use ODBD Stamps! Other stamps allowed, but ODBD images need to be the focus!
• Use keyword codes SNTODBD39 and ODBD when linking to SCS or public gallery.
• Be sure to use the LINK to be eligible for the gift certificate drawing!
• If you use either your blog link or online gallery, please give a link back to the challenge post.

The challenge runs from Thursday 9 am EST (June 30th) til Wednesday (July13th) at 6 pm EST. You have two weeks to enter. You can enter as many times as you like!

Thanks so much for stopping today!  I love knowing you were here and you bless me with your sweet comments! 

I am also entering this in the following challenges:
Divas by Design - #6 pastels, Freshly Brewed -  #55 3 of anything (I have 3 of each flower in the bouquet), Little Red Wagon - #89 lime, pink, white, Paper Shelter Challenge - #22 wings, Simon Says Stamp - anything goes, Anything Goes Challenge - #44 - The Letter 'D' (Die cuts), Clear It Out! - Wings, Craft Room Challenge  #4 Butterflies, Crazy Amigo Challenge -  Things that Fly, Going Grey With Scrap-Creations - 2E -  At least 2DP's & at least 2 Embellishments, The Stamping Boutique -  Summer scene, Stamps R Us -  Through the Garden Gate

ODBD Scrapbook Challenge

Hello friends!  Today I'm sharing a couple 8 x 8 scrapbook pages I made for this month's Our Daily Bread designs Let Your Light Shine Scrapbook Challenge 7!  The challenge is Circles, Circles, Circles.... plus play with your favorite colors!  Visit the ODBD Blog for the full details... play along, and YOU could be the winner of a $25.00 Gift Certificate for ODBD stamps!!! You can play as many times as you want, until Sun. July 31.  New posts of inspiration photos by our Scrapbook DT will be posted each Tues. on the ODBD Blog! 

My sweet granddaughter Lauren and my Daughter and I had so much fun making these  stepping stones for her Daddy and for Grandpa for Father's Day.  We  had been to Hiddenite earlier  and collected lots of beautiful stones, and we used lots of them in the stepping stones.

Since I have gone digital, one of the hardest things for me to get into scrapbooking is getting the photos selected and printed.  I finally bit the bullet and sent some to Walmart to get printed. Easy peasy!  What took me so long? LOL! Then I had to figure out how to get some garden pictures on these pages without overwhelming them!  I know the trends these days are to just spotlight one or two photos with tons of papers and embellishments, but the challenge is to use circles and your favorite colors!  Well... I had this idea that I'd cut circles  out of some of the garden photos and thereby show my favorite colors.  I wanted the photos to be meaningful to my DGD more than anything.... and she loves flowers! For the flourishes, I cut out one black and one from scraps of dp I had in my scrap box, then mounted them just slightly off for a shadow effect.

Here's what I used:
Stamps: ODBD Sweet William (Large~ for cover shown below), Sweet William Small, Large Scrapbook Words, Scripture Collection 6
Dies/Punches:  Spellbinders Blossom Three , Spellbinders Parisian Motifs, Spellbinders Lattice Rectangle, MS Lattice Punch Lg, Cheery Lane Flourish, SU! circle and scalloped circle punches
Fibers: Baker's Twine - Really Reasonable Ribbon
Ink: Stazon, Memento
Cardstock: Pear Pizazz, Basic Black, White, Scraps of green dp from Provocraft

Below is a picture of the cover of the album, which Lauren and I will be working on together.  I used a piece of upholstery fabric given to me by my friend Beverly at Terryfic Times.  I knew Lauren would love the bright funky flowers so I covered a chipboard album with it, and wrapped it with paper edges which I scored at 1/8" to make a neat wrap around the chipboard and heavy fabric.  I made the flower by stamping two of ALL the sizes of both Sweet William Sets with Stazon Ink on white satin fabric and cutting out with the coordinating Spellbinders Blossom Three,  plus a layer of pink organza for each layer.  It's so easy to cut organza or tulle along with your fabric or paper.... just place it under your die with the fabric already in it, add a paper shim for the die to grip into, and run through the Grand Caliber.

  I used an EK Success punch and some chip board letters on this cover, as well as a MS edge punch.  I sealed all the edges of my satin and organza by running over a candle flame.  I did singe a couple spots.... shhhh, don't look too close!  I think if you don't burn it, a little singe almost gives a realistic look to the edges of the petals, and what I love about the candle is that you can get the petals to curl a bit by how you hold them as you run them over the flame.  This was my first shot and I'm sure subsequent ones will be better, but I'm not unhappy with this one.  It really pops off the page in real life!

I have a couple more ideas up my sleeve for these blossoms.... hopefully soon I'll have something else to share with them! 

 I am entering this project in the following challenges:
C Shabby Tea Room - Photo Inspiration> 

Crazy Challenge - Sumemertime, Creative Stamp Friends - Summer, DDH Challenges - Summer, Karens Doodles - Summer Fun, Make it Monday - Anything goes, Ooh La La Creations - Tag it (my journaling is on a tag), Paper Playtime -  Summer, Pollycraft - The Great Outdoors, Stamps R Us -Through the Garden Gate, The Outlawz - Sentiment required - Things in the garden, There She Goes - Fabric (made the big flower with satin and the cover w/ upholstery sample), Dream Valley Challenges -Summer theme, I Did It Creations - Floral, Lollipop Crafts - July challenge - Anything goes, One Stitch At A Time - Anything Goes, Scrappy Frogs - Week - Summer flowers, 2 Sisters - #447 Summer Fun, Crazy 4 Challenges - #C4C95 Summer Themed, One Stop Craft - #139 Summertime, Totally Gorjuss -  #88 Summertime

Thanks so much for looking!  You bless me with your comments and I love knowing you were here!

hugs,