A masculine card and a sneak peek!

 Hello friends!  I made this card for a dear man at our church who is facing some health struggles, and lots of uncertainty right now.  I wanted to just remind him (although he already knows!) from whence comes our strength and assurance.  So I paired up a past release, Surging Sea and Smooth Sailing with this week's sketch from the  Shining the Light Challenge over at ODBD and came up with this card.   The base is Mark's Finest Papers Kraft, the dp is Basic Grey Periphery and K&Co's Blue Awning, and I used some scraps of real red for my papers.  I stamped with Memento and colored with Copics.  The compass was stamped from the Smooth Sailing set, punched out and popped up with a brad in the middle.  The grosgrain ribbon is something I have had in my stash forever, but it seemed to work for this.  The verse said just what I wanted to say... in God's own words, so I knew it would be perfect for my friend.  

As I thought about this wonderful man, I wanted to give a little something else.... perhaps something he can put in his Bible to keep his place as he finds his strength in God's Word.  It so happens that Our Daily Bread design's Aug. release is all about bookmarks!  WooHoo!  I found my "little something"!!!  So this is a sneak peek at just one of MANY fun things coming your way beginning on Wednesday!  I used the same papers and lightly stamped part of the ship/compass image in the background with bordering blue SU! ink, then over-stamped the verse with Black.  I just love this particular bookmark design, as it's just perfect for adding designer paper, and it's great for masculine bookmarks as well.  So.... here is my bookmark using two of the new sets, Bookmarks: Eagles, and Bookmark Verses.  The design of this bookmark and the matching Die Cut made exclusively for ODBD by Spellbinders, makes a "front" part, and a "back" part so that it stays put on your page and doesn't fall out!  Soooo cool!!! 

Here is the set that's in the mail now.  I hope it will be a reminder of the strength and support we have in our Lord and Savior, and we have that strength in good times and bad, in joyous times, but also in the uncertain times.   

I hope you'll be back to see the release on the ODBD Blog on Wed, and will join us for our Blog Hop and LOTS of chances to win!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

 Come and Get It Challenges - Anything BUT a Card 
  Amusing Challenges  Anything Goes 
Word Art Wednesday- use a Scripture or encouraging sentiment

 Fashionable Stamping Challenges  Anything goes

 Scrappy Frogs -Red, White, Blue

 

A bouqet for you!

 

Hello friends!  Sorry I have not been very active on my blog lately, but I had another busy weekend, and yes, I am also getting ready for the Aug. 1 release at Our Daily Bread designs, which I have to say is going to be one of my favorite releases ever I think!!!  However, today I did want to play along with the Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge this week, which was to create a CAS card.  It was to be free and easy.  I recently got this image from  Inky Antics  and finally got to play with it.  I am learning to use my new Tim Holtz Markers, and this was a watercolor technique using them.  The image itself has the oval frame around it so I just hand cut that out and mounted it on the cuttlebug embossed dp (DCWV Garden Party).  I adhered that to SU! Kraft and my only embellishments are the pearls.  (GASP!!)  If you know me, you know CAS is NOT in my comfort level, and while I love the work of others that are CAS, I rarely like my own CAS attempts, so in some ways this was a REAL challenge for me, but I did have fun creating a card so quickly!  I used a Scripture on the inside that would fit many needs and is another of my favorites, from Our Daily Bread designs Scripture Collection 3. 

The Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge is based on Matt. 11:30:

"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

This has long been a favorite passage of Scripture for me.  I love the verses that come before it as well .... beginning with vs. 28.  Jesus says "Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  

Is there any burden heavier than that of sin and it's consequences?  If you have lived under that burden for any time, you know how it weighs you down!  The word picture in these verses is one of a pair of oxen, bound together by a heavy wooden yoke.  The  yoke binds the two together for the purpose of doing the work at hand.  When a team of oxen pull together even the very difficult work is easier for two than for one.  Jesus is calling to us to yoke ourselves to Him.  He will teach us what it is to really be bound to Him.  It is not burdensome... it is freeing!  Not only are we forgiven and freed  from the penalty of our sin, but our lives can be lived free from the worries and anxieties of  uncertain times, illness, pain, heartbreak and an unknown future,.... all of these will no longer be unbearable for us, because of the assurance we have of His promises, His comfort, His guidance, and His presence right there beside us.  Ultimately, all the things we worry about are things Jesus is willing to help us bear!  Sometimes He frees us from the fears, the pain, the loss, and sometimes He just gently leads us through them, teaching us and supporting us.... helping us carry those burdens and learn from them.  If you've experienced His rest and His help, you know what I am talking about!  If you haven't, He is calling you to take His yoke upon you now!  You can have rest, peace and freedom if you simply trust in Him!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

 Can you dig it - inspiration photo->>>>>>>>>>>>;
 Crazy Amigo Challenge - Free Theme, Jackson's Digital Expressions -Anything Goes, Shopping Our Stash -Something New (my stamp... first time out of the package!), Stamp n Plus  - Anything Goes, Tuesday Testimonials Linking Party  Always anything goes with Scripture (Scripture on the inside, and the post) , 

 Make it Monday - always Anything Goes, Word Art Wednesday- use a Scripture or encouraging sentiment, or the free digi Scripture given on the site. ( My Scripture is on the inside and in the post rather than the front of the card.... I hope that's OK)

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you'll visit the Stampin Sisters in Christ blog to read the devotional on this Scripture this week!  It will surely bless you! 

 

For the Love of Embossing Plates Hop!

For the Love of  Embossing Plates Hop 

Welcome to Our Daily Bread Design's Alumni Team's bi-monthly For the Love Blog Hop.  This week the Alumni team along with some of the ODBD designers are featuring a hop For the Love of ODBD Embossing Plates! Check out each link and leave a comment. If you get lost along the way, check the ODBD blog for full list of links.  One of the posts is a hot spot and a name will be drawn from that list of comments to win a $15 ODBD store gift certificate.  So, all you have to do is hop along and see all the creations and leave a little love!  You have until Wednesday, August 1st at 6 pm eastern.   Enjoy all the  inspiration using ODBD Embossing Plates!

If you got here from Angie's Awesome Blog
  you are in the right place!  If not you might want to start at the ODBD Blog so you don't miss any stops along the way! 

Here is the gift set I created:

I am featuring the Fish Embossing Plate today... and I've tried to show it several different ways.    I made a gift set which includes a  Business Card Holder using a tutorial from SCS found HERE, and a little gift card to go with it.   I thought the Christian Fish Embossing Plate was just perfect for a holder for these Scripture cards I purchased at my local Christian Book Store.   I used SU! Kraft and inked  the raised part of the plate with Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Ink.  By inking the raised part of the plate, the ink gets in to the grooves of the non raised side of the card stock.  That is the technique I used for the card holder.  You might consider that the "back" side of the paper if you are used to seeing the raised part of the embossing on the front, but as you can see, having the ink in the grooves gives an interesting effect as well.

To decorate my card holder, I created a fish charm using the ODBD Wood Fish stamp and stamping on Shrinky Dink paper and baking.  I attached this to the bottom of the box with 1/8" satin ribbon, positioned as a "holder" for the cards.  I wrapped grossgrain ribbon around the base of the card holder and added a Spellbinders Parisian Motif die cut and bronze brad.  This little box was very easy to make, but it does not have a lot of extra room to decorate! LOL!  So I left the embellishments to a minimum!

Next, I created a gift card to enclose with the Scripture Cards and holder.  I used this month's Flowering Faith stamp as my focal point, stamping on Papertrey Cream with Memento Ink, and cutting out the frame.  I then matted that with a pice of Kraft embossed card stock, only this time I used the raised side of the paper, and I sponged ink onto the raised fish design.  I used two more of the Spellbinders Parisian Motifs that I cut from some of the extra embossed card stock from my card holder box and tucked them in as a frame for my focal point.  I then mounted that on an embossed cream layer, using the back side again, but this time NOT inking at all.... so you could see the effect you get that way.  More of the same grossgrain ribbon and a few Recollections pearls completed the little card.  Here is a close up of the three techniques used on this card:

 Here are the ODBD products I used today:

 Extra! Extra!  In case you missed it, ODBD is having a CHA Sale going on through July 20!  Read all about it Here! 

I hope you have been inspired by my project today!  Now I'll send you to the next stop for more inspiration from the amazing Julie!

Sharing in your sorrow and a Sale!

Hello my friends!  Did you think I fell off the face of the earth?  LOL!  I had my sweet granddaughter here for 8 days, and then the rest of the family came yesterday to play on the water... so I have just been occupied with other things!  It's all good!!!  My granddaughter has been reading a series of books about colonial American times, and with my husband's and grandson's interest in re-enacting the American Revolutionary war times, she too is becoming interested in that part of our history.  She still loves to play dress up, and so one of the things she wanted while staying with me was for me to make her a colonial outfit.  I worked every day on this... seeking just the right linen fabric, trying to look at authentic outfits and constructing my own patterns from the pictures.  She loves the finished product, and although I still have things to do to finish it.... she won't part with it for me to work on it, so I guess it's staying as is for a while. It has in fact gone home with her so she can play in it.  LOL! Anyway.... that's just one of many fun things we did this week together.  I did however miss having a little time to work on some cards.  So after church today, I finally had the quiet moment I needed to create a quick card.

I used today's Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS as my starting point, honoring Cynthia by casing THIS lovely CAS card.  I also wanted to play in this week's Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge, which is to add sparkle to our card.  Miesje gave a wonderful devotional this week on the verse "Matthew 5: 13 - "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."  I urge you to visit the challenge and read the devotion!  You'll be blessed.

As you most likely know, I really need help in the CAS department!  I really struggle with them, so I figured casing one as beautiful as Cynthia's would help a lot, and I must admit, I think it did!  I used her sketch, but changed most everything else.  I used this month's release from Our Daily Bread designs for my image (Loving Memories) and sentiment (Sharing your Sorrow).  I stamped with Memento ink, very lightly colored with Copics, cut out my image and adhered to my embossed panel with dimensionals.  The card base is Papertrey, dp is Martha Stewart, pearls are ZVA Creative, and the ribbon is from my stash... I've had it forever!

This week, Our Daily Bread designs is having a special CHA SALE!  You can read all about it HERE!  

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday - use the free Digi verse, or any Scripture or encouraging sentiment, Corrosive Challenges - Sentimentally Yours, One Stitch At A Time -Anything Goes, Stamptacular Sunday - Wings (on ef) and Bling,   That Craft Place - Anything Goes, Inspire Me Fridays – Always Anything Goes, Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday – Stamping, Crafty Creations - Free For All, Penny's Paper-Crafty - Anything Goes + Blog Hop, Ruby's Rainbow - Embossing

Thanks so much for visiting.... and have a wonderful week!!!
hugs,

Love and Prayers and a request of my winner!

 

 Hello sweet friends! I hope you all are doing well!!!  I am enjoying a week with my sweet little granddaughter who is staying with me as her mom and brother are on a mission trip.  We are having lots of fun and I'm not working on cards  this week, but I do have a card to share with you that I made last week for a  challenge on SCS.  It was a color challenge, and although I don't usually use these colors, I decided to give it a try.

I used this month's release from Our Daily Bread designs, Loving Memories and Sharing Your Sorrow for the sentiment.  I stamped with Memento and colored with Copics, then cut out with a Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles die, using the out of box technique for the parts of the image that were larger than the panel. My base is Kraft from SU!, the white is Whisper White (SU!) and the designer paper is Prima Fairy Flora.  The little corner die cuts are Spellbinders Doily Accents.  I did pierce around the card, though that is hard to see.  I added some pearls and same punched butterflies from my Martha Stewart punch, and more pearls in the corners.  The ribbon is just a snippet scrap of satin that I had in my stash forever.  Although it's always hard to make sympathy cards, these sets really make it easier to say just what your friend or loved one needs to hear.  Here are the sets I used:

 

As for my blog candy winner....Christine... if you read this post... I need your snail mail address!  I got your email of thanks but I need an address to send your goodies to!  :)  Please email me with that so I can get your package out to you!!!

May you all have a blessed week! Here's a verse that touched me in a special way this week:

Ps 29:11 "The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace."  Perhaps someone needed this verse today, or perhaps it's jut the right verse to add to a card of encouragement... but either way... be blessed!

hugs,

Blog Candy Winner Announced

If you are looking for my For The Love Blog Hop post, please click HERE.

Hello my stamping friends!

How you blessed me with your lovely comments on my little blog candy offering!  I loved reading each and every one!  I know from my stats that I often  have lots of visits, but I don't always hear from my visitors, and it's been very special to hear from you and get to know you a little bit!  I'll have to do this kind of surprise give-away again soon! 

I have drawn my winner, and it's Chris/Christine!  Here is the post, as there was more than one Christine:

 Chris said...
I read your blog everyday however I do not leave a comment. Love your work. Your work has blessed me so much. I pray that you and your family have a save 4th of July. You are so right when you say we need to pray for America. Thank You for being such a blessing to me.

Your Sister in Christ
Christine

July 3, 2012 9:11 AM

************

Christine... please email me at nywening@yahoo.com with your snail mail address and I will put my  package of goodies together for you!  If I have not had a response by July 8th, I'll draw another winner.

Thanks so much for entering my give-away!  Hopefully I can get another one together soon, and just pop it up as a surprise for my followers, because truly you do bless me so much!  

hugs and blessings,

For the Love of Christmas Sets Hop!

If you are looking for my blog candy post, please scroll down one post

For the Love of  Christmas Sets Hop 

Welcome to Our Daily Bread Design's Alumni Team's bi-monthly For the Love Blog Hop.  This week the Alumni team along with some of the ODBD designers are featuring a hop For the Love of ODBD Christmas sets! Check out each link and leave a comment. If you get lost along the way, check the ODBD blog for full list of links.  One of the posts is a hot spot and a name will be drawn from that list of comments to win a $15 ODBD store gift certificate.  So, all you have to do is hop along and see all the creations and leave a little love!  You have until Wednesday, July 18th at 6 pm eastern.   Enjoy all the festive inspiration using ODBD Christmas Sets!

If you got here from Rosemary's Wonderful Blog,  you are in the right place!  If not you might want to start at the ODBD Blog so you don't miss any stops along the way! 
 

  

Here is what I came up with.  I used Sweet Christmas Wishes, Christmas Door and the ODBD Custom Window Die by Spellbinders.  The card stock is Bazzill and the cream is Papertrey,  the designer paper is Websters Pages (Waiting for Santa/Sweet Season combo pack). The yellow layer is run through the CB with the Distressed Stripes folder.  I colored the image on ivory cs and colored with Copics, then cut out and adhered to my Websters pages background I had created to simulate wallpaper.  I then cut the window die twice so I could pop it up for some added depth, using tiny dimensionals.  I used my Score Buddy on the 1/8" lines to score my shutters.  I added a Memory Box Meridian Border as a curtain behind my window, and also as a border at the bottom, and I cut the Memory Box Flowering Tree out of green and red scraps, snipping off the red flower parts to add to the green tree and greenery I added around the window.  I finished off with some tiny gold Recollections pearls.  The sentiment is from Christmas Door and I matted that with more of the green scraps used for the tree.  Here are the ODBD sets I used:

 

 

And the custom die:

 

From here, you will hop to Lori's Inspiring Blog

Thanks so much for stopping! 

Blessings,

A little blog candy from me to you!

Hello my blogging friends! I do hope you are all well and if you are in the US, I hope you are staying cool in this HOT weather, and safe from all the terrible fires we've had across the west!

Today I have a card to share that is made with this month's release at Our Daily Bread designs.  This card is made using Flowering Faith.  The little corner flower works out perfectly for stamping off the edge of the paper to give a custom mat for your main panel, or any panel.  In this case, I stamped the image off the edge of both panels.  I inked the stamp with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Markers, coloring just the little flower pink, and the rest green.  The sentiment is also colored with markers.  The card shape is cut with a Spellbinders Label 23, and the sentiment panel is cut with a Spellbinders Label 16, and popped up with dimensionals.  The bling around the sentiment panel is from Want 2 Scrap.  The little butterfly is cut with a Cheery Lynn Exotic Butterfly Mini, and the ribbon is May Arts Sheer ribbon. I am entering this in this week's Shining the Light Challenge over on the ODBD Blog.  This week the challenge is Anything Goes with ODBD stamps!

So... how would you like to win this card and a little box of goodies from me to you?  All you have to do is leave me a comment below, and I will draw a winner on Friday July 6th, and announce it here on my blog.  I will send this card and some specially selected favorite goodies to the winner!  You do not have to be a follower to win, but of course if you like my work and would like to follow me, I'd love to have you!  To follow,  just click on the "Follow Me" button on my side bar.

Have a wonderful week, and for all my American friends..... Happy 4th of July!
Please PRAY for America!!!  Never before have we needed it more!  May God bless America!

Blessings,
Grace 

July Release Blog Hop!

Hello friends!!!
Welcome to the Our Daily Bread designs July Release Blog Hop!  If you got here from Angie's Awesome Blog, you are in the right place!  If not.... you might want to start at the ODBD Blog so you don't miss out on any chances to win!!!

This month's hop will run from 8am July 1 until 8pm July 2 EDT.  The winners will be announced July 3!  There will be THREE PRIZES of $20.00 Gift Certificates for stamps, and ONE GRAND PRIZE of the ENTIRE BREAD BASKET BUNDLE (The entire release!!!)!!!  Simply visit each of the links and leave a little love, and end at the ODBD Blog to tell us you completed the hop!  Easy peasy!!! 

So now.... on to my card. I decided to make a Tri-shutter card (instructions HERE) because it allowed me the space to use several of the great stamps in two of the six sets being released... Surging Sea and Smooth Sailing! 

 I was going for that "old wooden ship with  it's polished brass" look... I hope I achieved it!  I used K&Co Blue Awning design paper for the entire card, stamping the compass images directly on it,  and all the rest of the stamped sentiments and the ship  are stamped on the MME Bella Bella paper.  I added embossed panels that I sponged with distress ink and cut with a variety of dies, and added brass brads, tabs and the brass colored mirrored paper.

Here are the supplies used:
Papers: Bazzill cardstock, K&Co Blue Awning and My Mind's Eye Bella Bella designer paper, Mirrored paper
Ink: Versafine Sepia, THoltz Distress Ink - Walnut Stain, Stormy Sky
Accessories:  Spellbinders Double Ended Tags, Ribbon Tags Trio, Grommet Tags, Classic Circles Large & Small, Labels 22, 17 and 18.   Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes Embossing Folder.  Brass Brads, Tabs, Charms,  Grossgrain Ribbon and Twine
Stamps: Our Daily Bread designs Smooth Sailing and Surging Sea:

Thanks so much for stopping, and now I'll send you on to Debi's Delicious Blog
Blessings,