Happy New Year and Blessings from Me to You!!!

I wanted to just wish you all , my blogging friends a most Happy and Blessed New Year!

As we look back at 2013, we all probably have different highlights and low times and lots of hopes and dreams for the year ahead! 2013 has for the USA in my opinion been one of the worst for moral degeneration, financial irresponsibility,  and anything BUT peace!    

2013 started off with a jolt at our own home, when on Jan 3 my husband was rushed to the hospital with both lungs full of blood clots.  Five days in ICU, then a regular room,  and we eventually came home!  It wasn't how we were expecting to start off the new year... but it's what we were to face last January.

We have so much to be thankful for!!!  This was a major event and even our own Dr. when he took over the case remarked how lucky he was to pull through this!  We just smiled, because we knew it wasn't luck at all.  It was God's grace and mercy, and answered prayer!  HE chose to pull him through and to give us more time together, for which we are eternally grateful! 

 

Nov. 2013 Alan's  "self shot" at Gatlinburg, TN

The year has been full with blessings of family, friends, spiritual growth, and deepening love for each other and for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  It's also set our hearts and minds more on the things that really matter in this life!  If nothing else... we learned that this life is indeed short!  We need to be about the Father's business... being salt and light to this dark world!   Our prayer is that our lives will matter!  That we will touch other people's lives with  love and the lasting message of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

 His message is so simple. Jesus said  "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No man comes to the Father but by me" (Jn 14:6).  He was the only one who could pay the price for our sin, so The Creator of all things left His throne in glory, came to earth as a little baby, born in the most lowly of circumstances, lived a human life, yet without sin!  Only that perfect life could take the weight of sin upon Himself.  He died in the most humiliating and painful way possible, hated and rejected, beaten and spat upon.  He could have come down off that cross and just said... sorry Father... I just can't do this!  But He didn't!  He said "not my will but yours be done".  He went to the grave to settle a big problem that all humanity has!  It's a SIN problem!  The Bible says "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"(Rom 3:23).  It also says "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord"(Rom 6:23).  So only this perfect sacrifice could pay the price for our sin!  However, He did not stay in that grave!  He rose three days later, victorious over death, and He will come again for those who know Him!  We do not need to fear death!  Physical death for the Christian is just the beginning of eternal life with our Savior!!!  Paul said "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord"!(2 Cor 5:8)  All we need to do to have this gift of eternal life that Jesus bought for us is to place our faith and trust in HIM... we could never do enough good works to pay our way in to heaven!  It's only Jesus who could do that,with His perfect shed blood on Calvary,  and He did!  However, not everyone will receive that gift!  Some will refuse to believe and receive Him as their own Savior!  My heart aches for them!  Our future is secure, our present is joyous and full of meaning... why wouldn't anyone want that for themselves?

Right now, our family is once again facing the loss of a loved one, and yet we are comforted with the knowledge that this is not the end... it's the beginning!  The beginning of an eternity in heaven where there will be no more sickness, no more pain, no more evil!  Even as I write this, my dear Mother in Law is in the final stages of leaving this world, where Alzheimers has ravaged her mind and now it is even shutting down her body. We look at her life with grateful hearts for the life she lived and the many good gifts she is leaving behind.... gifts of love, high standards, and  a Godly example of a wife and mother who took her jobs seriously and did her absolute best to do it as unto the Lord.  We also are so thankful that we know that having accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior, she is ready to go to meet Him face to face, and we will see her again one day! 

So, it's with sadness that we say goodbye here on this earth... but it's with gladness that we celebrate her life, and know that this is not "goodbye".... it's "see you soon!"  

If you have read through my ramblings this far... thank you!  I felt the need to write this for whatever reason!  I don't know what 2014 holds for any of us... but I do know WHO holds MY future, and I hope YOU know Him too!!!

I thought I would share my prayer for you via this link to a beautiful song of blessings... one of the best gifts we can give to one another!  Happy and Blessed New Year!!!

A Prayer of BLESSINGS From Me to You

Happy New Year!  I hope you'll be back tomorrow morning to see the Jan. release from Our Daily Bread designs!

Bottles of Lavender (a sneak peek)!

Hello my friends!  I do hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas!  I know that sometimes this season is very difficult for many, and I am thinking especially this year of several friends and loved ones who spent this holiday without a loved one, and I want you to know that I have been praying for you all!  May God be your All Sufficient One and may the greatness of His Gift give you joy in spite of sorrow, hope in spite of pain!

I enjoyed much treasured time with my family, for which I am always thankful!  However, before we left town, I did play a little with some fabulous new stamps to be released by Our Daily Bread designs on Jan. 1. I have a friend and neighbor who has a birthday just around the corner and I wanted to give a hand made gift along with some other things I'll tuck in.  These bottles give you a peek at two sets coming your way soon... Lavender (used on both bottles), and Joy in a Jar (the frame on the larger bottle).  Both were stamped with Memento, colored with Copics and Colored Pencils, and cut with the ODBD Custom Antique Labels and Border dies.  I aged the labels just a bit with Antique Linen Distress Ink.    I used burlap and lace to wrap around the bottles, and I tied a simple bow around the neck of each bottle with lavender seam binding.  On the larger bottle I added a charm and beads, and on the smaller, I added a heart from Websters Pages.
 

What's inside you might ask?  Well, the smaller bottle has lavender scented Epson Salt!  I had found a recipe on Pinterest on making my own, and intended to make my own, but then I went to CVS to buy plain Epsom Salt and lookie what I found!  Already done!  Let me just say... this stuff is wonderful!!! 

 If you just want to make your own, or you can't find this product near where you live, you can find a recipe for Lavender Bath Salts HERE.    You can find SEVERAL recipes for making Lavender Water for multiple purposes HERE.  

EDITED TO ADD:  The bottles were from Hobby Lobby.

I hope this has made you just  a little curious about what is being released Jan 1 and that you'll be back to see the full release then!  

Thanks so much for stopping by!  My next gift recipient will be chosen very soon... so please be sure if you stop by frequently, to leave me comments so I know you're here!!!  This is not advertised... I just decide to select one person from my regular commenters to bless with a little bundle of love from me to you! I will contact the winner via email (if you have your email listed on your blog or your public profile) or a blog comment if you have a blog.   If a winner does not have a blog or email address listed in their profile, or if their profile is not public, I will announce the winner's name here on my blog and you can contact me! God has blessed me with so much... and I want to pass a little along to you!

Blessings,

Taking a Look Back at the Dec. Release

Hello friends!  Today we are taking a look back at the Dec. release at Our Daily Bread designs!  If you would like to see all the awesome creations from the DT in one place, please stop by the ODBD Blog for fun and inspiration!

I have used Ornate Borders and Flowers Stamp Set and the  matching Ornate Borders and Flowers Dies, as well as Ornate Borders Sentiments.  


I stamped the flower from the Ornate Borders and Flowers set three times, cutting with the custom die, and I scored each and folded in half, adhereing back to back to create a 3 dimensional flower, which I mounted on the beautiful frame stamp from the same set.  The ink is Razzberry VersaFine ink.  I also stamped and die cut the two panels used for my sentiment from the same set of stamps and dies.  The corners are cut with the Ornate Flowers and Borders Die set, and the rectangular panel in white is a Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles.  I embossed the pink background with a Cuttlebug folder and sponged more of the same ink on it. The ribbon and pearls are from Michael's.

 I really have enjoyed this month's release!  I find the sentiments to be just what is needed for so many occasions, and I know these will be go to sets for me!  Here are the sets I used:

 

 Thanks so much for stopping by!  Please take a moment to visit my DT sisters for more inspiration!

Julie * Grace * Chris * Sabrina * Dawn * Lori * Cathy

Blessings,and a Merry CHRISTmas to all!!!

A Gift Card Holder just in time for Christmas!

Hello friends!  I hope you are all doing well!  

Today I want to share a gift card holder I designed for a couple challenges this week.  The challenge over at the ODBD Shining the Light Challenge is to create a different fold, or something 3-D.  While the front of this card might not look like it's a different fold, but when you see the inside, you can see that it is!  The SCS TLC this week was to create a  gift card holder, and I needed a couple, so this was my perfect opportunity!

The card itself is created by die cutting two strips of 4 1/4" wide vanilla card stock  with a Spellbinders A2 Scalloped Border die, then measuring from the top of the scallop to 5 1/4" in length, and cutting the opposite edge with your paper cutter, being sure to keep it  square.  Score each piece 3" from the squared off edge, and fold. 

I used score tape to adhere the outside edges of the scalloped folded pieces together, creating a pocket for my gift card.  Now all you have to do is embellish however you wish!  I used the December release Ornate Background stamp from ODBD, and ColorBox Harbor Pigment ink and stamped several pieces of background to adhere to the inside and outside of the gift card holder.  For the front of the card, I stamped the little sentiment "A Gift For You" from the Ornate Border Sentiments set, and the frame from Ornate Borders and Flowers set, and I die cut that frame from the Ornate Borders and Flowers Die set.  I adhered that to the center of a shimmery vanilla ornament I had die cut with the ODBD Fancy Ornaments die set.  This panel was designed by Michelle Laycock to perfectly fit in the center of the ornament and it does so beautifully!

I decided since this is a tiny card, not to over-embellish it, so I added a little piece of Washi tape and a silver hanger for my ornament, cut from the same Fancy Ornaments die set, and added a blue snowflake crystal stick on at the top.  It's simple, but still a personal and pretty presentation for a gift card.  I hope you might give it a try!

Are you feeling the "bustle" of the season yet?  I certainly have been getting busy with lots of things going on... but it's such a wonderful time of year!  I am determined to take more special time each day this season to thank my Lord for His indescribable gift, and to not let the busy preparations, the special programs, parties, gift buying, wrapping, baking, making and sending cards etc.  deter me from that!  I hope you'll join me in that commitment!  It's ALL about Jesus!  Emmanuel.... God with us!!!

A Valentine for someone special!

Hello friends!  I hope you are all well!!!

Today I wanted to show you a sweet way of using this month's release from Our Daily Bread designs to make a Valentine for that special one you love!  Valentines Day is not that far away and often creeps up on me after the busy Christmas season!  So.... when Splitcoast Stampers had a red and white color  Clean and Simple challenge, I decided to try a valentine.

I used Ornate Borders and Flowers, Ornate Frame Sentiments, and Ornate Borders and Flowers Dies to create this card.  It is 5.25" square on a real red base.  The white layer is embossed with a Nellie Snellen folder, and then I stamped the beautiful floral frame from the Ornate Borders and Flowers set, matted it with a Spellbinders Decorative Labels 22, and added a SB classic scalloped heart layer to mat my I love you sentiment on.  Both the frame and the sentiment panel were cut with the ODBD Custom Ornate Borders and Flowers Die, as was the little flower I added to the bow.  I stamped that with VersaMark, sprinkled clear embossing powder and glitter on it, heat embossed it, sponged on real red ink, and then wiped off the ink that was resisted by the embossed areas.  I then heated it again from the bottom to just reheat that embossing and make it pop.  By doing it from the bottom you are much less likely to over heat it.  The ribbon itself is May Arts Wrinkled Ribbon, ad I added a few pearls to embellish.

I am off to meet my daughter and grandkids for the day, so I will keep this short.... I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!

Thanks so much for looking! 

Get Well Soon!!!

Hello friends!  I hope you are all doing well!

Today I want to share something different for me. I know I usually do Our Daily Bread designs cards, but I have had this set for a while and just have not had time to use it.   This is a card I made for a Splitcoast Stampers color challenge a couple weeks ago, but have not had time to share here.  I used a new to me SU! set I have always wanted because I love the sentiments in the set.  Its called Thoughts and Prayers.  I am trying to keep a rack stocked at my church where people can take a card if they want, and if the wish, they can leave a donation in a locked box which totally goes to a missions fund... but they don't have to leave anything to take a card.  Certain categories of cards are hard to keep in stock... and this is one.... get well!  I bought this set because the images don't need to be colored.  I simply used my SU! markers to color the stamp before I stamped it, and that was all I did.  So between the easy images and fantastic sentiments, I think this set will be used a lot here.

I used white for my base, added a layer of My Mind's Eye Be Happy, then a mat of Crisp Cantelope, and the sentiment panel is matted in Old Olive.  The dies are SB Butterfly Corners and the embossing folder is an Anna Griffin folder by Cuttlebug.  The little butterfly is Prima. 

So... I'm in the process of going through my craft room and pulling out some things that I either have too much of or just don't need any more.  Soon I'll be writing to one of my faithful followers to get your address and send you a little love.  This IS the season of giving after all!  :)  Thank you all for the love and support you give me here... it really means a lot to me and I love hearing from you!

Today's thought:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.  Col. 3:23

Welcome to the ODBD December Release!

Hello friends!  Welcome to the December Our Daily Bread designs release!  If you have not seen the full release, be sure to stop by the ODBD blog to see it and lots of inspiration from the talented design team!    Be sure to leave a comment on each designer's blog so you don't miss a chance to win a prize! 

Three winners will be randomly chosen from one of the designers blog comments to receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the ODBD Store, to be used toward the purchase of ODBD Stamps.  You have until December 2, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. EST to make your comments!  The Winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on December 3rd, so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

Now... on to my cards.  My first card (above) was created on a base of Rich Razzleberry card stock.  I used the corner stamp four times to create my largest flower, by setting them points in.  I layered that on a SB Medallion 2  and layered that on a layer of the Ornate Borders and Flowers set frame which was stamped with Rich Razzleberry and die cut with the Custom Ornate Borders and Flower die.  On the top of my dimensional flower is the small flower from this same set.  My background is stamped using the Ornate Background, and the sentiment is from the Ornate Border Sentiments set and die cut with the custom Ornate Borders and Flowers die.  The white layer is embossed with a Sizzix folder, and the die cut border beneath the white layer is from the ODBD Custom Cathedral Window and Border Die set.   The only embellishments are white pearls.

 

My second card is much more shabby chic.  I used the frame from the Ornate Borders and Flower set, stamped with Memento London Fog ink and die cut with the Custom Ornate Borders and Flower die.  I stamped the sentiment from the No Words set, which is dear to my heart since I submitted those sentiments to Kelley as an idea for a set.  I find the need for these sentiments frequently, so I hope others will like them as well!   I created this different fold by cutting my front in half, and adding a Fancy Corner Die cut.  I also used the Crocheted Border stamp from the Serve The Lord set and the custom crocheted border die to cut it, stamping it on some of the MME design paper.  My papers are Baked Brown Sugar and the designer paper is My Mind's Eye.

Inside, I stamped two of the corner images from the Ornate Borders and Flower set.  I finished off with some wrinkled seam binding and tiny flowers, and a couple of the leaves images from the Fancy Foliage Dies

Here are the new sets and dies I used today:

 

Please be sure to visit my design team sisters and leave a comment so you don't miss a chance to win!

Dawn * Grace * Cathy * Lisa * Sabrina * Julie * Chris * Audrey * Angie * Silke * Tosh *

Lori * Sandee

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Blessings,

A Sneaky Peek!

Hello sweet friends!  I hope all my American friends had a happy Thanksgiving and that you didn't eat too much turkey! LOL!  I know all of us here did!!!

I wanted to share a quick sneak peek with you because I just love the new stamps from Our Daily Bread designs that will be releasing tomorrow and had to share some with you!  This card was made using a  set called Ornate Borders and Flowers, the ODBD Custom Ornate Borders and Flower Die, and also from a past release, Decorative Corners dies.  I also used a past release,  Mini Tags 3 for my sentiment.  Don't you just love how these new borders layer with eachother? The dies cut these borders beautifully and I know you will love these new sets.  I can't wait to show you more!!!


My ink for this card is VersaColor Pigment ink and I used this gorgeous designer paper from Prima called Meadow Lark on a base of white.  I added a little bling, some Wild Orchid flowers, and a white silk bow from May Arts. 

I will keep this short since I still have my family here and am on the run, but I hope you'll stop back tomorrow to see the entire release, as it is just beautiful!!!!  I also wanted to mention that ODBD is having a Thanksgiving
Weekend Sale and it's AWESOME!

  So check it out at THIS POST!  It's good through 11pm Dec. 2!!!

'Til then.... Blessings,

A Thanksgiving Day Proclamation!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends (and to all who are thankful)!

Last Saturday, my husband was at the Shiele Museum reenacting a Colonial Thanksgiving.  He will be a messenger (the means by which news was sent in the 1700''s)  sent to read the Proclamation of Thanksgiving given by then President George Washington.  I thought you might enjoy reading it because you won't find it in today's history books, nor will you hear it from our White House. 

Oh how far we have fallen!

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Issued by President George Washington, at the request of Congress, on October 3, 1789

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go. Washington

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!

Blessings,

A Beautiful Gift and more gifts to come!!!

 Hello sweet blogging friends!  Today I wanted to share a special gift that arrived at my house several days ago and I just have not had time to post it until now!  This beautiful package came from my sweet sister in Christ, and blogging friend, Sarah George!  It made it's way all the way from India to NC and I am just thrilled with the beautiful goodness in this gift!

I had decided some time ago to choose someone from my faithful visitors who leave me comments to gift with some fun goodies, and I chose Sarah.  She says she's still new to stamping but I think you'll agree that she does absolutely BEAUTIFUL work!  She made me two cards using some of the things I had sent her, and these AWESOME quilled tags!  These are very special to me because while I bought the supplies to try quilling a couple years ago, I really never got in to doing it and I sooooo love the beautiful work that can be done with strips of paper!  Sarah has made these tags and I just can't wait to use them!  Then in the back of the photo you can see the most gorgeous clutch bag with so much delicate stitching on it!  I just love it!!!

Sarah... thank you from the bottom of my heart!  I certainly did not send a gift to get a gift, but I do want you to know how very much I appreciate your thoughtfulness!!!  

I hope you'll stop by Sarah's blog and enjoy some of her beautiful work!

My idea is that every so often, I will be continuing to select one name from my regular commenters, and sending them a little  package of love, because who doesn't enjoy new toys to play with?  So you never know when I'll be contacting you for your mailing address... I didn't want it to be about getting new people to follow my blog to get blog candy,  and then never come back.... I wanted it to be about you, the ones who visit frequently, and leave the most amazingly encouraging comments!  It's also about passing on the blessings!  God has given me much, and I want to pass that along!  So... if you are reading this and leave comments along the way... you could be next!  :)

Thank you!!!

Blessings,

Taking A Look Back that's Sparkly, Elegant and Very Mailable!

Hello friends!  I hope you are having a wonderful week!

 Today we are taking a look back at Our Daily Bread Designs November Release. 

I'm sharing another Christmas card I made using this month's release from Our Daily Bread designs: Vintage Pattern Ornaments, and Vintage Pattern Mini 2.  I also used the Circle Ornament Dies. The card shape is Spellbinders Grand Labels 23, and the tag is cut with SB Grommet Tags.

For the white background, I stamped the Vintage Pattern Mini 2 with VersaMark and embossed with Diamonds and Pearls embossing powder.  The ornament itself was heat embossed with Kaleidoscope embossing powder, and I love how it reflects so many different colors! 

The holly leaves and bow are also from the Circle Ornaments Die set.  I cut the holly leaves from brushed gold paper, and for the bow, after cutting the out of black card stock with the die, I used my VersaMark pen to brush the embossing medium on to the whole bow, then I embossed it with Kaleidoscope powder.  The ornament hanger (also from the circle ornament die set) was cut from gold paper and then embossed with Kaleidoscope powder.  It's amazing how different the same embossing powder can look depending on the color of the paper you use it on!

For the sentiment panel, after stamping the sentiment (from the Vintage Ornament set) on ivory card stock, I used my VersaMark pen to ink around the edges of the Grommet die cut, and embossed with Diamonds and Pearls embossing powder.  Two little black gems were added to the tag.  

This is another easily mailed card... pretty flat but still sparkly and elegant.  

 

Here are the ODBD products I used today:

 

Be sure to check out the ODBD Blog to see much more, and please stop by my DT Sisters for more inspiration! 

 Julie * Angie * Dawn * Chris * Cathy * Sabrina * Sandee * Lori

 Thanks so much for stopping by!  I love knowing you were here!  

Blessings,

An Elegant Merry Christmas Wish!

Hello friends!  I have another Christmas card done and ready to go!  Yay!  I hope you are all getting yours ready as well, because that season is almost here!!!

 

  I had fun with this one! I used ODBD's Vintage Pattern Mini 1 and 2, stamping both on ivory card and embossing with pearl ep. I cut the bottom with the ODBD Antique Labels and Border die. I also took a piece of brushed gold and just embossed the border on the bottom. For my ornament, I stamped the ODBD Vintage Ornament and heat embossed with gold ep, cut with the ODBD Custom Circles Ornament die, then I matted it with a brushed gold mat. I heat embossed the single poinsettia flower from the Poinsettia Wreath set on to water color paper, water colored it and cut it with the Poinsettia Wreath Die. I also cut 2 pine boughs from brushed gold using the ODBD Fancy Foliage Die. I popped the ornament up on foam dimensionals, and added the sentiment from the Poinsettia Wreath set and die cut that with the Recipe Card and Tags die. I simply added some ribbon and pearls for an elegant card that looks much more complicated than it really is. :)

 

I am entering this in this week's "Holiday" Challenge at the Shining the Light Challenge on ODBD,  Crafty Creations -  American Thanksgiving/Christmas, Divas by Design - Pretty, Paper Shelter Challenge - Christmas, Sisterhood of Crafters  -  Embossing, Stampavie and More - Christmas,  WordArt Wednesdays -  scriptural word art freebie offered each week - Anything goes

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I love hearing from you!  It really encourages me to keep trying to create inspiring samples!   Blessings to you!

A Center Easel Card and Basic Tutorial!

 Hello friends!  Today I have something fun to share with you!  I have never made one of these center easel cards before, but I have seen a couple on Pinterest, and decided to give it a try.  I love how it came out!

I could not find a tutorial for this fold, so I tried to describe below how I created this one.  I was not thinking of a "tutorial" when I created it, so I did not take photos along the way until near to the end.  So,  instead, I   drew a diagram and I hope that helps explain the process. 

 I started out with a 5 x 7" base of craft card stock. 

 Then I cut a piece of white card stock 9 1/2 x 6 3/4" and scored it to fold it in half (at 4 3/4").  On one half of the center fold, I cut to the center fold line at 1 7/16" in from each side.  On the center panel between those two cuts, I scored across the panel at the half way point.  This forms the easel to which I will adhere the center panel of my card.

Here is the diagram of the fold and cut lines.  Sorry the lighting is not the best, but I think you can get the idea.

After the two side panels of the white layer are adhered down on the bottom white half of the card, and the center panel is folded in half, you adhere the solid half (the 6 3/4" x 4 3/4" white panel to your 5 x 7 Craft base.

The following is what you will have after adhereing the two side panels of white card stock down on to the bottom, and adhering the white layer to your 5 x 7 base.  (I had decorated my side panels when I took this photo, but it gives you the idea what you should have after following the above directions.)

As you can see, your folded center panel is now going to form the easel that will hold up your main panel.  

Next you cut a main panel to adhere to that folded center part to create your pop up image. I used Craft card stock and  cut my panel a little bigger than the "easel" fold it's adhered to, but just enough to come to the edges of my base.  So my center panel measures 5" H x 3 7/8" W.  Yours could be the exact size as the center panel if you prefer. Decorate your main panel and the side panels however you wish.  I will give the details on how I decorated mine below.  Just one more step to assembling your card first:

To adhere your main center panel to the easel, I find it easiest to apply adhesive to the lower half of the folded white panel  (see photo above), and lining up the lower edge of your decorated panel where you want it, adhere.  You will then have the easel, which is only adhered to the bottom half of the main panel, which allows you to fold the card flat for mailing. See below how it looks from the side once adhered.  It's also a good idea to put either pearls, flowers or some other decoration on the lower edge of your base to form a "stop" for your main panel to rest against when it is open.  As you can see, I used a Spellbinders tag die cut and a stamped sentiment, which is all that's needed to hold the easel up, but not bulky when you want to fold it flat for mailing.

 Here are the products I used to decorate this:

Stamps:  ODBD Holly Pattern Mini, ODBD Christmas Blessings, ODBD Poinsettia Wreath, 

Dies:  ODBD Custom Poinsettia Die,  ODBD Custom Quatrefoil Pattern Die, ODBD Circle Ornament Dies, 

Spellbinders Fancy Tags

Other:  Craft, White and Real Red card stock, Real Red and Gumball Green Ink, Copics, AnnaGriffith Cuttlebug  embossing folder, Red pearls(Michaels), Red Ribbon (May Arts), Dimensionals.

I stamped the holly pattern with Gumball Green, matted with red and adhered to the two side panels.  I die cut the Quatrefoil Pattern from white, cut a craft panel the same size to back it with, and adhered them together, and then adhered the bottom half to the front fold of the center folded panel.  I stamped the Poinsettia Wreath with Gumball Green and then lightly colored with Copic G40.  I colored the poinsettias with Copics R24, R29, Y15), cutting one extra with the Poinsettia die cut so I could pop up the center flower.  I cut the green panel, embossed with the Anna Griffith folder and adhered to the bottom of my center panel, and added the pearls. I added a bow to the wreath, and die cut some holly leaves and berries from the Circle Ornament Die set I stamped the sentiment from Christmas Blessings with Real Red on white, and cut with a SB Fancy Tag. I hand cut along the embossed line so only the white inner part would be used.  I then cut another fancy tag from craft and mounted the white panel to it, and popped that up with 2mm dimensionals.  This gives a stopping point for the easel to rest against when open.  When it's ready to be mailed, it folds down flat.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you enjoyed my project and will give this a try!  You could use any dimensions you wanted!  You don't need to use the same size I did... just play with it and I think you'll love the result!  It's a fold that gives a little wow factor, displays beautifully, but is actually VERY easy to do and is very mailable!

Blessings,

Clean and Simple but still Elegant!

Hello blogging friends!

Today I'm sharing something different for me, but I do like the way this came out!  I wondered if I'd like this newly released ODBD Poinsettia Wreath embossed in gold on black, so I gave it a try!  I then cut it out with the Custom Poinsettia Wreath Die, and when I put it on this ivory base, I loved it!  So from there I decided to create ivory poinsettias, so I stamped three of the single poinsettias and the bow in the set on water color paper with Versamark, and embossed in gold, and cut out with the custom die.  Then I lightly water colored with markers to give just a hint of color, and I added them to the wreath with dimensionals.  The base is black and there is a brushed gold mat.  The sentiment from the newly released Christmas Pattern Ornament set is embossed in gold directly on the card stock.  So quick.... so easy.... but I think very elegant as well.  I will add a white layer inside for my message, but this one is an easy one to make in mass.  Guess I better get busy!!!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

• LEJ Designs  Seasons Greetings,
  Oldie But A Goodie Challenge must use something at least 6mts old  & state what is-(my pearls are probably 3 years old, and the black and cream card stock are at least a year old)-  CAS Christmas, Shopping Our Stash  Use something already out on your desk (the stamps and dies), Through The Craft Room Door - Alway's Anything Goes, 365 Cards - Raise 4 items up off the base of your card (3 flowers and 1 paper bow), Artistic Inspirations - Use a Sentiment/Anything Goes, Card Mania - Anything Goes,Crafty Bloggers Network - Christmas, Addicted to Stamps Challenge - Must use stamp-  Punches and dies, Fashionable Stamping Challenges -  Anything but Ink (I only used embossing, no ink),  That Craft Place -  Sentiment, Simon Says Stamp - CAS. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I do love knowing you were here!!!