A Walk With Faith

2 For 1

2011-11-02T20:27:00.000-06:00

Hello dear friends!

Can you believe it is November already? Where has this year gone?

Like any other year it has had happy times and sad times. This card is for one of those sad times. One of the ladies from the Teapot Tuesday Challenge on SCS recently lost her sister to cancer. Our challenge was to make a mosaic card. The base cardstock is elegant eggplant. I took a piece of designer paper and cut it up into pieces and then pasted them onto the elegant eggplant. Then I stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I did this twice to give it a shiny mosaic look. With the Cuttlebug I used a Nestibilities die-cut to make a frame on which I placed the image and sentiment. The image was colored with Copic markers. The image is a digi stamp from Bugaboo Stamps. Added rhinestone swirls and sheer, polka dot ribbon to finish it off. The frame and image are on dimensionals.

MMTPT170

Ingredients:

Paper: elegant eggplant, pure plum cardstock, unknown designer paper

Stamps: Digi from Bugaboo Stamps

Ink: Versamark, Copic markers

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestibilities die-cut, scissors, glue, heat tool, clear embossing powder, dimensionals, rhinestone swirls, polka dot sheer ribbon.

SC354, CC344

This card was made for a color challenge and a sketch challenge. The colors we were to use were tempting turquoise, elegant eggplant, pumpkin pie and I love these colors and sketch for a Halloween card.
The base is tempting turquoise run through the Cuttlebug using a swirly vine folder. The next layer is pumpkin pie on elegant eggplant and embossed with the pumpkin folder. Used a corner rounder punch on two corners. Next is a strip of elegant eggplant that I used a border punch on the one end. The image is a digi from Bugaboo Stamps on white and pumpkin pie. Image is on dimensionals. Added orange rhinestones and black metallic ribbon. Very simple to make.

Ingredients:
Paper: elegant eggplant, tempting turquoise, pumpkin pie, whisper white cardstock
Stamps: silhouette digi from Bugaboo Stamps
Ink: Computer
Accessories: Cuttlebug, swirly vine folder, pumpkin folder, corner rounder punch, scallop doily border punch, dimensionals, rhinestones, black metallic ribbon

Tomorrow I pack to go to Fairmount Resort for a week of rest and relaxation. Pray that the roads are good and not icy.

Blessings,

50 Years

2011-10-25T21:26:00.001-06:00

Wow! imagine celebrating 50 years of marriage. This past weekend friends of ours did just that. What a great time of celebration and thanking God for all of His wonderful blessings.
For the occasion I made this card.

The card is 5x5" so I used a piece of white cardstock 5"x10" and scored it at 5". The front is done using the Cuttlebug and a Spellbinders Medallion die-cut. Place the die-cut centered on the edge, set up the Cuttlebug to die-cut and run through to the half way point of the Medallion. Back up and reset it to emboss the rest of the Medallion. Trim in to the edge of the medallion on each side. Use the ScorPal to score diamond pattern on the remainder of the front of card. The flowers were made using mulberry paper and Stampin Up flower punches and layered on gold leaves. Added gold pearls to the centers and on each diamond point. The sentiment is computer generated and die-cut with a Verve tag and put on dimensionals. Added some gold flourishes and gold metallic ribbon and a square of gold cardstock to the inside so it would show through the cutouts.

Ingredients:
Paper: whisper white, gold cardstock
Ink: computer generated sentiment
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Medallion die-cut, Verve tag die-cut, Stampin Up flower punches, gold leaves, gold pearls, gold metallic ribbon, flourishes, dimensionals

Blessings to all,

August

2011-08-07T19:14:00.000-06:00

How can it be August already? The time is flying by way too quickly. Before we know it the snow and cold will be back. It would be so nice to have at least 6 months of summer. We have had a lot of thunderstorms and hail this year. My poor plants have really taken a beating, knocked a lot of cherries off the trees and leaves off the trees. Crazy weather!

Here is a cute little belated birthday card. Very simple, quick and easy to make. This is a stamp set from The Stamps of Life. This is a one layer card so is easy to mail out. Whisper white is the cardstock and the turtle is stamped with black Momento and colored with Copics markers. The grass is stamped with garden green and the balloons and sentiment are real red. I added diamond Stickles to the balloons after using the Cuttlebug to emboss with the Swiss Dots folder. Used a corner rounder punch on the corners to finish it. He is a cute little guy, hope you like it.

Ingredients:
Stamps: late4Bday
Paper: whisper white
Ink: black Momento, real red
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots folder, diamond Stickles, Copics markers

Have a wonderful Sunday!
Blessings,

Daisies

2011-07-16T16:00:00.000-06:00

Greetings! I can't believe it is the middle of July already. Time is flying by too quickly. Today is a gorgeous sunny day, of which we have not had an over abundance, so we must enjoy it while we have it.
The card I am going to show you today was made for the Teapotter Challenge on Splitcoast. This challenge is my absolute favorite. Sending out cards to those that need encouragement, a lift, some love, prayer, a word of cheer is so satisfying. This one went to a lady in Ontario who recently was diagnosed with lung cancer.

This is a Rubbernecker stamp I love. I stamped the image twice so I could cut out the largest blue and yellow flower. The base is white cardstock that has been embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. The image was colored with Copics markers and then cut out and put on dimensionals. The two extra flowers were colored and then I used a stylus and foam mat to gently mold the petals, then added a dimensional and positioned them on top of the matching flowers. This adds wonderful dimension and depth. I also stamped a bumblebee from Penny Black's set A Wonderful Day and the small hummingbird from Flourishes Humming Along. Colored, cut out, molded, added dimensional and positioned them on the card. Flower Soft was added to the flower centers for added texture. Diamond Stickles were added to the bumblebee wings and finally I used a variegated sheer ribbon along the bottom edge. I was quite happy how this turned out and I hope it brought some cheer and encouragement to the recipient.

Ingredients
Stamps: Rubbernecker Daisies, Penny Black Wonderful Day, Flourishes Humming Along
Paper: white cardstock
Ink: Copics markers, black momento
Accessories: Cuttlebug, embossing folder, scissors, dimensionals, Diamond Stickles, variegated sheer ribbon, Flower Soft

Have a wonderful day and thanks for visiting.

Blessings,

Green!

2011-06-17T19:59:00.000-06:00

It is wonderful to see all the green grass, trees and flowers. It seemed like summer was never going to arrive. I love this time of the year when everything is fresh and new. It reminds me of the new life we have in Christ as believers. The most precious gift we ever receive.

SC337 & CC327

Speaking of green this is a card I made for the sketch and color challenges on Splitcoaststampers. I love this image from Flourishes, the old sailing ships were so majestic.
The colors we were to use were chocolate chip, old olive and very vanilla. The base on each layer is chocolate chip, then old olive and then very vanilla. The panel under the image is Stampin Up designer paper layered on chocolate chip cardstock and the edge is punched with the Martha Stewart stars border punch.
The image is stamped with old olive and popped up on dimensionals. I punched a couple of old olive dots and covered them with Crystal Effects for my faux brads. One corner of the image panel has been punched with a corner rounder punch. Added old olive ribbon and a seaside piling to finish it off. I know green is an unusual color for an ocean scene but I really like how it turned out.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Flourishes A guiding Light
Paper: chocolate chip, old olive, very vanilla cardstock
Ink: old olive
Accessories: Martha Stewart stars border punch, corner rounder punch, faux brads, Crystal Effects, dimensionals, old olive ribbon, seaside piling

Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings,

Will & Kate

2011-05-05T19:48:00.000-06:00

Is there anyone that hasn't seen that beautiful Royal fairytale wedding? Kate was absolutely gorgeous in her beautiful Princess gown and Will was the handsome Prince. I sincerely hope they will have a happy marriage and that it will be a lasting one. They look so happy! God bless them.

Teapot Tuesday was all about finding a suitable cozy cottage for the newlyweds. I found this digi stamp on Make It Crafty that I fell in love with and thought it would do quite nicely for the Royals.

MMTPT143

The base is peach parfait that has been embossed with a folder I can't remember the name of. The bottom panel is Basic Grey Indian Summer layered on so saffron and also embossed with the same folder. Image is colored with Copics markers. The greenery and flowers are done with Flower Soft. I used yellow stickles in the windows and diamond stickles on the water. Unfortunately this does not show up in the picture. The flower is two layers of white daisy petals that I laid flat on the peach parfait and so saffron ink pads and rolled with a brayer until I got the effect I wanted. Added a button and bakers twine to the flower center and so dewdrops to finish off.
Will & Kate will be able to live there forever happily thereafter.
I appreciate your visits and comments.

Blessings,

Spring Has Arrived!

2011-04-27T21:08:00.000-06:00

I do believe Spring has sprung, finally! It seems like we have had winter forever, but God is blessing us with sunshine and warm breezes. It is so good to see the robins and all the other birds back. Soon it will be time to get some planting done. We have such a short growing season, I envy those who live in warmer areas. It really is very pretty here with the rolling hills and the Rocky Mountains to the west of us. We are only about an hour and a half's drive from the mountains. I don't know how anyone can go through the mountains and not be in awe of God's handiwork.

This one was made for this weeks Teapot Challenge and the color challenge. Our destination this week is to a fellow teapotter. This image was created by Leigh from Happileigh Scrapping specifically for the Teapot Challenge. It is so adorable. The colors for this weeks challenge are bashful blue, baja breeze and certainly celery, lovely spring colors. The image is colored with Copic markers and is on dimensionals. The base is bashful blue and then baja breeze is layered on top. The designer paper is from Stampin Up and is one of my favorites. I used my Cuttlebug and Nestibilities rectangle diecut for the image and layered it on certainly celery. Added some diamond Stickles to the butterfly, a pretty button, Basic Grey half pearls and certainly celery ribbon. A very simple, easy to make card.
Thank you for popping by. Please leave a comment so I know who has visited.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Digi
Papers: bashful blue, baja breeze, certainly celery, white, cardstock, Stampin Up designer paper
Ink: Copics markers
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestibilities rectangle, dimensionals, fancy brad, Basic Grey half pearls, certainly celery ribbon

Blessings,

Snow

2011-04-15T13:53:00.000-06:00

Yes, you read it right. We have more snow with the possibility of more. The one good thing is it doesn't stay for very long. Where or where is Spring? Some of my bulbs are coming up so that is a positive sign. And the moisture should help out the farmers, of course there is a lot of flooding going on in different parts of the country. So far we are okay.

SC328

What a classy lady this is! Rubbernecker stamps has some really lovely ladies and this is Greta. I made this card for this weeks sketch challenge on SCS.

Every layer has been embossed with the houndstooth folder. I added a strip of lace to the edge of one layer along with some pearls. The image was stamped on white, colored with Copics and then cut out and put on the top panel which is on dimensionals. Added a fancy button and sentiment.

Ingredients

Stamps: Rubbernecker

Paper: pear pizzazz, riding hood red, white cs, Basic Grey Boxer dp

Ink: Black momento, pear pizzazz, Copics markers

Accessories: Cuttlebug, houndstooth folder, dimensionals, white lace, button, Basic Grey pearls

Have a wonderful day!

Blessings,

April

2011-04-09T21:03:00.000-06:00

Welcome! It has been one whole week without snow. Yippee! The snow has been slowly melting, which is good, because we have so much we could very easily have flooding. It is so good to have the sunshine and not to have to wear all that heavy clothing. And soon there will be no ice. Ice and me do not have a good relationship. I fall very easily and have to walk on egg shells when it is icy. One of the perks of getting older!

Bad Puddy Tat!

This fun card was made for a lady in Idaho who had a bad fall a couple of years ago and as a result has had many surgeries on her back to the point of having nearly every vertebrae fused. She loves cats and needed a little cheering up so she will be receiving many cards in the next few days.
I love this image from Cornish Heritage Farms. Unfortunately they no longer are in business. He is colored with Copics markers, also the little bird peeking over the top is a digi. The image and bird are on dimensionals to pop them up. Added rhinestones to corners for a bit of glitz. Isn't he just the cutest! What a mischief maker!
Have a wonderful weekend and soak in the love of God.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Doodle Pantry Digi, Cornish Heritage Farms Naughty Kitty
Ink: black momento
Paper: rust, so saffron, white cardstock. Basic Grey Boxer designer paper
Accessories: Copics markers, dimensionals, rhinestones

Blessings,

Spring is in the Air!

2011-04-03T21:20:00.001-06:00

What a glorious Sunday this is! Started off with a fabulous church service where God's word was shared so wonderfully. The sun was shining, didn't even have to wear a jacket. Praise the Lord! God is good and is the Almighty Creator.
I believe the spring air has given me a boost.

I just had to share this card with you. I am so happy with how it turned out. This card is going to a young woman in the States whose home was flooded and everything in her basement was destroyed which included all of her crafting supplies, toys, etc. Mothermarks Tea Party took this challenge on and everyone was to make a girly card and send it off with ribbon. Well, it turns out that most people are sending ribbons, stamps, card making supplies, etc. The caring hearts of the women on Splitcoaststampers is overwhelming. I feel privileged to be part of this group.
The base is so saffron topped with certainly celery. Two triangle panels of so saffron and Basic Grey Lily Kate designer paper are layered on top. The next layer is also so saffron with a different Lily Kate paper. The image is on white cardstock layered on certainly celery. The image is a digi stamp that I colored with Copics markers. I used a corner rounder punch on all the corners. Added a panel of white lace, a green bow and some Zva pearl flourish. Hope you like it.

Ingredients:
Stamp: digi
Paper: Stamping Up so saffron, certainly celery and white cardstock, Basic Grey Lily Kate designer paper.
Accessories: Copic markers, corner rounder punch, dimensionals, ribbon, glue dots, white lace, Zva pearl flourishes

Have a wonderful day!
Blessings,

Spring!

2011-03-27T21:24:00.003-06:00

I am thinking positively. Spring is here, it just isn't showing its face yet. We have had 6 months of snow now and still have about 3 feet of it in our yard. Our walks had to be cleaned three times last week because of more snow. God tells us to give thanks in all things so I am thanking Him for the moisture that the farmers will be happy to have. Sorry it has taken me two months to post but I have been very busy the last while with Splitcoaststampers. I am on the Birthday Committee and am responsible for mentoring all the new volunteers. I have just done the Annual Spring Cleaning which is almost completed. For this I send out about 130 emails to all of our volunteers to check to see if they want to continue making cards and to make sure we have all the correct information. As the replies come in I have to keep updating the volunteer database and when it is completed I send it to our Co-ordinator Barb. I love doing this and being part of the Splitcoaststampers, I find everyone to be so supportive, caring and loving and a great place to learn all things to do with paper crafting.

Here is a card I did recently. It was made for one of the challenges and we were to make a card with smiles. I love Penny Black stamps, especially the Hedgies and thought this little guy had such a sweet smile.

The base is close to cocoa with a layer of cameo coral that has been embossed with a cuttlebug folder. The image is stamped with black Momento ink on white and die cut with a Nestibilities die. Mounted this on top of a close to cocoa circle cut out with a Coluzzle. Image is colored with Copics markers and popped up on dimensionals. The two corners are a cuttlebug die and added a couple of pearls. I really like the white lace down the side. A very simple, cute card that I am very happy with.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Penny Black Hedgie
Paper: close to cocoa, cameo coral, whisper white cardstock
Ink: black Momento, Copic markers
Accessories: Cuttlebug, embossing folder, corner die-cut, Nestibilities circle, Coluzzle, dimensionals, Basic Grey half pearls, white lace.

Thanks for dropping by. Please say hi, I love to know who has been by and from where.
Blessings,

Reach Out To Katie

2011-01-12T20:32:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is warmer where you are, it is about -30 Celsius with lots of snow.
It seems like everywhere you look people are getting buried under mounds of snow. I am so looking forward to Spring.
With this post I want to draw your attention to the badge in the left hand panel. Katie is a young woman with 3 boys, twins age 5 and a 10 year old and a husband who was diagnosed with level 4 stomach cancer just before Christmas. She is undergoing chemo treatments as that is the only thing they can try. She has such a strong spirit. Jak Heath in the UK has started a fundraiser to help with their finances and whatever else they may need. Just click on the badge and it will take you to Jak's site and all the info is there. Just imagine, if you donate you could win a prize!
Yesterday, on Splitcoast Stampers the weekly Teapot Challenge was for Katie. The cards are to go to Katie to give her a little encouragement and a lot of love.
This is the card I made.

MMTPT128, CC305
This also meets the requirements for the color challenge which was cherry cobbler, pretty in pink, and mambo melon.
The base is cherry cobbler as well as the punched border panel. Pretty in pink was stamped with Pretty Petals stamp using cherry cobbler ink. I then traced all the vines with a gold metallic pen. Then took a piece of vellum and embossed it with the Birds and Vines folder and glued this on top of the pink. The Nestibilities circle is mambo melon and is on dimensionals. Sentiment is stamped using black Momento ink. Added some pearl swirls and tiny roses to finish it off. I love these colors together and was quite happy how it turned out. I hope Katie enjoys it and feels the love and prayers that go with it.

Stamps: Stampin Up Pretty Petals, Sweet N Sassy Prayer
Papers: cherry cobbler, pretty in pink, mambo melon cardstock
Ink: cherry cobbler, black Momento
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Birds and Vines folder, Nestibilities die cut, Martha Steward border punch, gold metallic pen, pearl swirls, tiny roses, dimensionals

Blessings,

Sparkle Plenty

2011-01-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Joan Ervin challenged us to color with Stickles for the technique challenge. Now I love Stickles but had never thought of coloring with them. I will be doing more of this, it is so pretty.
Here is my effort for the challenge:

TLC306

The base is daffodil delight topped with certainly celery. Love Basic Grey Origins designer paper which is next. Then took a different sheet of Origins and used my new Martha Stewart border punch on it. This strip was then put on certainly celery.
The image was stamped on whisper white cardstock with black Momento ink. The entire image is colored using Stickles and blending the colors. Added some brads, a ribbon and button. This card went to Ireland for a birthday. Thought it was appropriate to send all that green to Ireland, home of some of my ancestors.
Today is a special day. God has granted me 49 years with my wonderful husband and what a blessing that has been.

Blessings to all,

Winnie Not Whinney!

2011-01-03T15:32:00.002-07:00

A New Year! and what better way to start it off than with the 'Mudder' and Teapot Tuesday! We have a bit of a problem. Seems there is some disagreement as to what the theme of a baby shower should be for the new grandson of Pat Smethers a SCS member. Now I don't dislike horses that whinney but I love Winnie the Pooh so I am going in the front door with Winnie and the color blue.

MMTPT127, CC303, SC313

I didn't have any Winnie the Pooh stamps so I went on the internet and found some free coloring pages and downloaded this happy picture. I cut it out and colored it with Copics and mounted it on dimensionals. This card also is for the color challenge which we had to use old olive, night of navy and daffodil delight and the sketch challenge. I reversed the sketch to accommodate Winnie. The sentiment is on dimensionals also and added a couple of little butterflies. I love this image of Winnie, it just makes me feel happy and free. It makes me think of the happiness and freedom we have in Christ. I hope you enjoy it.

Stamps:
Paper: Old Olive, Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight, white cardstock, designer paper
Accessories: Stampin Up border punch and flower punch, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Copics markers, dimensionals, flower gems, star buttons

Blessings,

Happy New Year!

2010-12-29T21:27:00.001-07:00

I really haven't completely lost it. I know it isn't New Years yet but I just wanted to be sure and get my wishes out to all of you special people. I hope your Christmas was merry and full of love, joy and peace. We had a wonderful Christmas. Christmas Eve was the time for the family to gather, and what a time it was. So much fun, lots of laughter. We had one empty spot, our granddaughter in Victoria was not able to come and she really was missed. Once all the fun and frolic was done everyone went home and on Christmas day there was just us and two daughters and one grandson. A wonderful day to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Here is a card I made for Teapot Tuesday. We had to start with a white canvas and paint, chalk, stamp and whatever we could think of. I am not an artist so I did use one stamp. This stamp is from DRS Designs and was stamped with versamark and then heat embossed with white embossing powder. First I masked off the area for the moon and then sponged all over with baja breeze and pacific point. Used a soft cloth to rub the excess color off the trees. Diamond stickles is used at the base of the trees and added a picket fence border punch. Quick and simple.

Stamps: DRS Designs Trees
Paper: whisper white cardstock
Ink: Versamark, baja breeze, pacific point, black
Accessories: paper mask, heat tool, white embossing powder, sponge, Martha Stewart picket fence border punch

Sweet Mouse

2010-11-10T21:23:00.001-07:00

I cannot believe it is November already! Where has the time gone? We have been having the most gorgeous weather the last month or so. God has been showering us with blessings through the beauty of His creation.
This card was made for SC305 at SplitCoast Stampers. Roxie always has such great challenges for us and I particularly like this one.

I ended up making 2 cards with the same image. I went to a Copics class with Loretta (lorettal) and these are my practice images. Still have a lot to learn and need lots of practice. I used different colors and papers.
The top card is done with peach parfait, pear pizzazz cardstock and Basic Grey Porcelain designer paper. Bottom card is dusty durango, river rock and Basic Grey Boxer designer paper. The images are cut out and popped up on dimensionals. Added a button and ribbon and a bit of stickles to the butterfly.

Recipe:
Stamps: Unfortunately I don't know who makes this image
Paper: peach parfait, pear pizzazz, white cs, Basic Grey Porcelain dp
dusty durango, river rock, white cs, Basic Grey Boxer dp
Ink: black Momento
Accessories: Cuttlebug, embossing folder, Nestibilities label diecut, Copics markers, dimensionals, buttons, ribbon, diamond stickles.

Snow

2010-10-25T15:23:00.000-06:00

I woke up to snow this morning! I am not a winter person, although I do enjoy the beauty of the snow. You can get some gorgeous pictures but I would prefer the picture to the reality of the snow. I think as a person gets older winter becomes more difficult. I must say that I do want snow at Christmas. Here is a Christmas card I made last week that I thought you might enjoy.

SC303

I made this for the Splitcoast sketch challenge. This is my favorite Santa image which I purchased at Michaels. The base is Real Red that I stamped using Stampin Up Snowflake stamp set and Versamark ink and heat embossed with Bridal embossing powder. The two panels are Basic Grey Figgy designer paper layered on always artichoke. Oval Coluzzle and oval scalloped Nestibilities show the image and a small circle Coluzzle and circle scalloped Nestibilities had the sentiment. Both the image and sentiment are on dimensionals. Image is stamped with black momento ink and was colored using Copics markers. I added frosted Stickles to the snowflakes and dots of snow and then added Crystal Effects to the lens on the glasses. Used a glitter brad on the sentiment to finish it off. I am very happy with how this turned out and hope you enjoy it too.

Recipe:

Stamps: Stampin Up Snowflakes

Ink: black momento, real red

Paper: real red, always artichoke, and whisper white cardstock, Basic Grey Figgy designer paper

Accessories: Cuttlebug, scalloped oval and circle Nestibilities, oval and circle Coluzzle, Versamark, Bridal embossing powder, frosted Stickles, Crystal Effects, Copics markers, glitter brad, dimensionals

Blessings to all

I'm Back!

2010-08-17T16:35:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it has been almost 4 months since I last posted. There has been a lot happen in that time so I will try to give you all the news.
May 5th around 11 pm I was getting ready for bed and was walking out of my bedroom into the kitchen when all of a sudden I lost my balance and before I could do anything I was flat on the kitchen floor face first. The way I fell I hit my forehead with all my weight on the tile floor which kind of snapped my head back. Now, I have had two surgeries on my neck, one being a fusion, so all I could think was 'what have I done to my neck?' My husband came roaring up the stairs and there I was on the floor bleeding all over. Turns out the force of the blow cut my forehead, actually there is a dented spot there now. He and my nephew, who was staying with us, got me up off the floor. The cut had pretty well stopped bleeding and I was able to move okay and felt okay so I convinced them I did not need to go to emergency. My husband bandaged up my head and everyone went to bed. About 2 hours later I woke up and was having some trouble breathing so I got my husband up, told him I needed to go to emergency. By then my breathing was very labored, sounded like a bad asthma attack. We went to emergency which is only about a 5 minute drive from our house but by the time we got there I no longer was breathing and was blue.
DH ran into emergency hollering for help, people came flying from everywhere, he ran back out to the van and lifted me out by himself (I am not exactly a light weight) and put me in the wheelchair and they whisked me off, cut off my clothes, and put any airway down my throat with great difficulty. Once they got me stabilized off I went by ambulance to Calgary where I spent 2 weeks in the Foothills Hospital. 8 of those days were on life support in ICU. I was one happy puppy when all the tubes could be removed. Turns out that when I fell and my head snapped back it caused a bleed which over time formed a huge mass behind my airway and eventually pressed on it till it was closed off. One of those really weird things that you would have no way of knowing until you can't breath. I don't remember arriving at the hospital, in fact I don't remember anything until later the next day. God was so good and He was with me every step of the way. I had no fear, never panicked when I couldn't breathe and I know that was all by the grace of God.
It was so good to get home again. Only thing is a couple of days later I ended up back in emergency with a massive blood clot in my leg so spent 3 more days in hospital for them to get me on blood thinners. It has been a long haul but thanks be to God I am doing extremely well and slowly getting my strength back.
My family, the splitcoast members, and my church have been absolutely fantastic. I have been so blessed.
I would not recommend this experience to anyone. But I can give God all the glory for His watchfulness over me and for providing all the incredible Drs. and nurses that brought me back to health. I serve an amazing and wonderful God!
Tomorrow, I will post some pictures of cards I have made recently. Again, thank you for all the prayers and support.

Blessings,
Faith

Embarassed

2010-04-25T15:54:00.003-06:00

I really am embarrassed ! It has been soooo long since my last post, I am sure everyone has given up on me. Please forgive my absence, the last 4 months have been nuts! I have been trying to sort out the bookkeeping for my daughter's business and have also taken on responsibilities as the new BRAK Member Mentor on Splitcoaststampers. We have a whole new committee so it has been a real learning curve for everyone as well as trying to make sure all the info we have is accurate. For those that may not know BRAK stands for Birthday Random Acts of Kindness. We send out birthday cards to the RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) members as a way of thanking them for their thoughtfulness.

I haven't even been making cards. I am in withdrawal!! I am going to show you 2 cards that I have done in the last month.

This first card was made for the color and sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers.

The base is basic grey, then so saffron that was run through the Cuttlebug using one of the many embossing folders. The square panel is basic grey topped with Stampin Up designer paper. The narrow strip across the card is basic grey that I used a Martha Stewart border punch on one edge and then topped with embossed sage shadow. The image panel is basic grey with so saffron. I stamped the frog and lily pad with sage shadow and cut them out and the used dimensionals to mount on the panel. Added a couple of flowers, a bow and lots of Basic Grey half pearls. A pretty straight forward, simple card to make.

This next one I love. It is so bright and colorful and Sarah Kay stamps are some of my favorite.

This was a color challenge. The base is bermuda bay and then apricot appeal embossed using the Cuttlebug and a folder. The panel is basic grey with Stampin Up designer paper. We had to have basic grey in there somewhere so that's where it is. :)

Then I used the Lotus Pendant from Nestibilities to die cut some bermuda bay and put on dimensionals. The image is stamped on whisper white and was die cut with the Nesties scalloped oval and mounted on the pendant. I sponged some so saffron around the edges of the oval. The coloring is done using Prismacolor pencils, mineral spirits and a stub. Used some diamond stickles on the flowers and bow in her hair.

Added some ribbon and a flower and a glittery brad. Also rounded the corners on the base.

So, there we have it! Hopefully I will be able to get back making more cards once everything settles down to a normal pace again.

Thanks so much for dropping in, I hope you will come back often.

Blessings to all of you.

Faith

A New Year

2010-01-11T20:26:00.006-07:00

I can't believe it has been over a month since I last posted. The Christmas season is always so busy, but full of joy and hope as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. We were fortunate to have all of our kids and grandkids here for Christmas. We had a wonderful time. God has been so good to us and has blessed us with a very loving family.

God's Amazing Grace! This is one of my favorite hymns and I was so excited to see Our Daily Bread Designs come out with this beautiful stamp. This is my attempt to share His beauty

I made this for the monthly ODBD challenge. We were to use brown and any punches or die cuts. I love very vanilla and chocolate chip together so this was a happy challenge for me. The very vanilla has been Cuttlebugged with the Victorian folder. I used the Nestibilities labels for the book. The very vanilla page has been touched all around the edges with a gold metallic pen and all set up on dimensionals. I got to use my new Bow Easy and I love it. Added ribbon, flowers and Basic Grey Opaline Pearls. I love how this turned out. Thanks for spending some time with me.

Ingredients:

Paper: chocolate chip and very vanilla cardstock

Ink: chocolate chip

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Victorian folder, Nestibilities labels, gold metallic pen, dimensionals, Basic Grey Opaline Pearls, ribbon, Bow Easy

Have a wonderful evening!

Hugs,

Faith

Winter is Here!

2009-12-02T16:07:00.005-07:00

Brrrr!! it is cold outside. Supposed to go to 24 below tonight (celsius). I am not a fan of winter, I love the pretty pictures that you see of the snow on the trees, frost covering everything, but I would rather not go out in it. This is from someone that grew up on the Prairies and had to contend with winter all my life. Things like 10 ft. snowbanks, whiteout blizzards are not unknown to me. This may be why the two cards I have here are flowers, they remind me of

warmth.

This card was made for the color challenge. Betty has a wonderful knack of combining colors I would never think of. This week is very vanilla, basic black, suede and a dessert of sparkles. I just got this beautiful set of stamps from Our Daily Bread Designs and had to put it to use. The base is suede, topped by very vanilla that has been run through the Cuttlebug using the tapestry folder. The image is stamped on watercolor paper with Stazon black and then colored using Copic markers. The corners are diecuts done with the Cuttlebug. The picket fence is a Martha Stewart border punch. Diamond stickles was added to the flower centers, the butterfly and the corners for dessert (sparkle). The black polka dot ribbon finishes it off. The image is up on dimensionals. I love the way this turned out.

Ingredients:
Stamps: ODBD Happy Birthday!
Paper: very vanilla, basic black, suede cs, watercolor paper
Ink: Stazon black
Accessories: Cuttlebug, tapestry folder, corner die-cuts, Copic markers, Martha Stewart picket fence border punch, ribbon, diamond stickles, dimensionals.

The Inspiration Challenge is always interesting. The website this week is www.oliebollen.com and has all kinds of neat items. I chose a group of alphabet cards that have flowers on them for my inspiration.
The base is sage shadow, topped by a panel of pretty in pink that both edges have been punched and topped with a panel of hand made paper. The image is on another panel of sage shadow and pretty in pink. The image was stamped three times using versamark and heat embossing with copper embossing powder. These were colored with Copic markers and cut into three different layers that were put back together on dimensionals to give depth to the flower. I brushed diamond Stickles on the petals of the flower to give it some sparkle. Added a pretty in pink ribbon.
For some reason the colors are not showing up correctly, blame it on the photographer (me).
Ingredients:
Stamps: Riot of Petals
Paper: sage shadow, pretty in pink cs and hand made paper
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Copic markers, heat tool, copper ep, scissors, dimensionals, Martha Stewart border punch, ribbon, diamond stickles

Blessings to all,

Faith

Rejoice

2009-11-27T17:06:00.003-07:00

Today was not a very nice day. It snowed and turned the highways to ice. People were being told to stay off the main highways and there was at least one big accident. I pray that nobody was seriously injured.

The LSC challenge today was a fun one. We had to make two cards, using the same stamp, papers and colors but two completely different layouts. This is what I came up with.

The colors are very vanilla, pumpkin pie and whisper white and the designer paper is Basic Grey Wassail. The image is stamped with versamark and then heat embossed with copper embossing powder. Added Basic Grey Opaline half pearls and put the image and sentiment on dimensionals. These are different colors for a Christmas card but I really like them and the dp together.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Flourished Christmas
Paper: SU very vanilla, pumpkin pie, whisper white cs and Basic Grey Wassail dp
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: heat tool, copper ep, dimensionals, Basic Grey Opaline half pearls, Martha Stewart star border punch

This was made for the WT challenge where we were to make a card that had something sweet about it. So, I chose this sweet little bear with his sweet candy cane. I think this one is pretty self descriptive. I used liquid applique on the fur trim for the hat and glitter red gel pen on the hat and candy cane.

Ingredients:
Stamps: So Many Scallops, Stamp Oasis, Christmas Mini #3
Paper: SU real red, blue, whisper white cs
Ink: real red, creamy caramel
Accessories: Cuttlebug, snowflake folder, Martha Stewart star border punch, Nesties rectangles, scalloped circle punch, ribbon, dimensionals, brads

Hope you have a fantastic day!

Blessings,

Faith

Christmas Cards

2009-11-26T20:40:00.004-07:00

Only one month until Christmas! Yikes! And here I am with nothing bought, no baking done, and a few cards made. I hope everyone else is more organized than me.
Just wanted to share a couple of cards I made recently. They are two of my favorites. This first one actually was picked as one of the favorites of the week on Splitcoaststampers. That just made my day.

This was made for a sketch and color challenge. The base is always artichoke topped with whisper white that has been embossed with the snowflakes folder and then lightly sponged with chocolate chip. The next 2 panels are topped with Basic Grey Wassail designer paper. The image was stamped with versamark, then heat embossed with green glitter embossing powder. Lightly sponged with chocolate chip. Added Basic Grey Opaline half pearls for decorations on the tree. The final piece is the green bow.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Inkadinkado Christmas

Paper: SU always artichoke, whisper white cardstock and Basic Grey Wassail designer paper

Ink: Versamark, chocolate chip

Accessories: Cuttlebug, snowflake folder, heat tool, green glitter embossing powder, sponge, dimensionals, ribbon, Basic Grey Opaline half pearls

I love this image from Stamp Oasis! This was a color challenge using bermuda bay, old olive, pretty in pink and any neutral. Plus a plaid for dessert if we so desired. The plaid and old olive were punched with the stars border punch from Martha Stewart and layered. The image is stamped with Stazon black on whisper white and then watercolored usin an aqua painter and ink squished in the lids of the ink cartridges. The image panel is on dimensionals. The sentiment is SU's A Merry Little Christmas. Added an old olive bow with a rhinestone in the center. These are colors I would never thought of putting together but I absolutely love them.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Stamp Oasis Nativity, SU A Merry Little Christmas

Paper: bermuda bay, pretty in pink, old olive, whisper white cs, Doodlebug dp

Ink: stazon black, bermuda bay, pretty in pink, old olive, creamy caramel, pink pirouette, pumpkin pie, summer sun, real red

Accessories: Cuttlebug, snowflake folder, dimensionals, Martha Stewart border punch, ribbon, rhinestone

Wishing all my Amercan friends a Happy Thanksgiving! We really do have so much to be thankful for. God just continues to pour His blessings upon us.

Have a wonderful day.

Blessings,

Faith

Accessories:

Little Loud Stamps

2009-10-27T17:20:00.006-06:00

Well, I started this the end of October and here we are November 23rd. Oct. 31st we left for a week in Fairmont, BC for a nice quiet, restfull time. Half way through our stay I came down with the horrid flu. I ached all over, I was weak, vomiting, high fever (105) and generally felt horrid. Came home and it has taken till just recently to feel like I am getting back to normal. One of the worst things of this whole episode was the rash I developed basically all over my body. I was a nice bright red and blotchy. Then I started to peel. It was not a pretty sight! Thank goodness most of the peeling is done and I am not red anymore. I swear I glowed in the dark. lol

So now, it is time to get back on track. These cards are all made with the new release from PaperWorks Co. which has exclusive right to the Little Loud Stamps. They are so cute, I love them. I didn't order the whole set but when my order arrived Peggy had thrown in 2 more to give me the complete set. What a sweetie she is!

I love this image. The image is colored with Copics markers. I added frosted lace stickles for the snowfall. The designer paper is from Basic Grey.

Little snow angels. What fun that was when I was a little kid! Once again, used frosted lace Stickles for the snow, and colored with Copics. Added some bling ribbon and a candy cane.

Not sure who is more tangled in the lights! Used glitter gel pens for the lights and colored with Copics.

Christmas morning and all the presents! The trim on the hat is frosted lace Stickles and the balls and tree trim are done with glitter gel pens.

Christmas Eve and the plate of cookies for Santa. What a fun, exciting time Christmas is, especially when there a little children around. But, we really must remember that the birth of Jesus is the real reason for the season.

Thank you for bearing with me in my sporadic posting. I will post each time I make a new card.

Blessing to you all,

Faith

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-10-12T20:09:00.024-06:00

Today is Thanksgiving Day here in Canada. I do believe we have much to be thankful for and I also believe every day should be a day of giving thanks to God for all He blesses us with. We had our dinner yesterday with all except 2 of our family. What a blessing that was! There is nothing I enjoy more than being surrounded by my family.
All of these cards were made in September and yes, I know it is terrible, I am just now posting them. Please forgive me, but I have been quite busy.

This one was for a color challenge. We had to use spooky colors like purple, black, green. I love this set from Stampin Up.

This is a very simple card to make. The image is stamped on white and the edges are punched with a Martha Stewart border punch. Used Copics to color and added the snowflake, brad and ribbon.

I needed another Sympathy card, too many of them lately. The image is stamped with versamark and heat embossed with gold embossing powder and lightly colored. Nestibilities, Cuttlebug and swiss dots folder were used as well as a Fiskars corner punch.

This was for one of Stef's amazing inspiration challenges. I don't know how she keeps coming up with these amazing websites. I love the simplicity of this card. The colors are white and tango tangerine. The bird is cut out and popped up on dimensionals.

For a sketch challenge. The cardstock is from Bazzil and the designer paper is Basic Grey. Image is Stampin up and colored with watercolor crayons and blender pen. Added some dewdrops and twine.

Another inspiration challenge that gave me the opportunity to use my new Nestibilities Pendant. Base is gold metallic, topped with razzleberry cardstock that has been dry embossed. Added pearl halves to center of pendant and the hearts. The ribbon was off a package I received over a year ago and was a perfect match for the cardstock.

This was a case of a card done by the Featured Stamper of the week. The tree and spiders are made with the Cricut Expressions. The orange is dry embossed with the pumpkin folder. The 3" card is also made with my Cricut. It is black with an orange layer inside that highlights the cut out spider.

Peggy at Paperworks Co. in Edmonton has come out with the cutest stamp sets. These are from the Jungle Jesters set. They are colored with Copics, cut out and popped up on dimensionals. Found some fibre to use for the vines and added a couple of butterflies. Colors are razzleberry, crushed curry and black.

Another of the Jungle Jesters cuties.

There are 2 other sets: Safari Friends and Aqua Amigos, all just as cute as these.

This brings me up to date for September's cards. Next I will post what I have done so far in October. Be sure and check out the other blogs I have listed. These are some very talented ladies that love sharing their talents.
Blessings to all,
Faith

Ooodles of Cards

2009-09-10T14:38:00.009-06:00

Because I haven't posted in a long time I am doing all in this one post. I don't know where the time has gone. It seems like summer just started and here we are moving into fall and the kids back to school.

White and tangerine tango are the colors. The white layer has been run through the Cuttlebug using the houndstooth folder.

Monochromatic card using close to cocoa and creamy caramel. The large butterfly is stamped on velum with versamark and close to cocoa, then heat embossed and cut out.

This card is basically made using diecuts. I have Cricut Expression and all the flowers, wheelbarrow and leaves were cut out with it. The fence is a Martha Stewart border punch.

My sweet, sassy kitty! This stamp is from Cornish Heritage Farms and is colored using Copics markers.

A one layer card. You stamp the image in the center and use a Nesties to make a mask and sponge or stipple around the edge. Remove mask and you have a frame for your image.

Scrapples are those pieces that are left over from projects. Usually 1.5" x 5". They make great gift tags, small thank you cards, etc.

This card is made using some of the new In Colors from Stampin Up. They are so bold and bright. I love them. Melon Mango, Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry.

Color challenge and sketch challenge. Old olive, elegant eggplant, black.

This is one of my favorites. The image is a Thomas Kinkaid stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms. I colored with with watercolor crayons and a blender pen. The cardstock of razzleberry and white.

I think that has me pretty well up to date. I won't be making cards today or tomorrow as I go to Calgary to the Tom Baker Cancer Clinic for my twice a year check. God has been so good. I haven't had to have any treatments and I know it is because He is in control.

Have a super weekend and give thanks to God for His mercies!

Blessings,

Faith

Bellacor Red & Gold

2009-08-10T14:44:00.002-06:00

I am so thrilled with this card. It came out just like I pictured in my mind, which is a rare occurrence. This was for the Inspiration challenge. We had to visit the Bellacor Vases site and choose one vase that we were inspired by and I chose this one:

http://www.bellacor.com/productdetail/60233.htm

Isn't it gorgeous?

The base of the card is black. The next layer is whisper white which I then stamped using versamark ink and the French Flair bg and heat embossed with gold ep. Then I sponged all over with real red until I got the effect I wanted. Cut a strip of black, stamped with versamark and Baroque Motifs stamp and once again heat embossed with gold ep. Used Nestibilities die cuts to make 2 circles. The black I went around the edge with a gold metallic pen. Used the butterfly stamp from Embrace Life, gold embossed, sponged with real red and cut out. Added half pearls and a glue dot to attach to the circle. The circle is on dimensionals. I wish you could see it in real life, it has such a rich, elegant look.

Ingredients:

Stamps: French Flair, Baroque Motif, Embrace Life

Paper: basic black, whisper white

Ink: Versamark, real red

Accessories: heat tool, gold ep, Nestibilities die-cuts, Cuttlebug, dimensionals, sheer red ribbon

Well, I believe I once again am caught up. Hopefully I can keep it that way.

Blessings,

Faith

Sick Riley

2009-08-10T14:35:00.003-06:00

Riley is just the cutest little guy, but right now he isn't feeling so good, so hopefully this card will cheer him up. That and a little prayer.

The image is colored with Copic markers and then I added green gel glitter dots to the bedding. The circles were cut out with the coluzzle. Image is on dimensionals, added dewdrops and flower with green rhinestone brad. Do you think this will make him feel better?

Ingredients:

Stamps: Hanna stamps - Riley

Paper: barely banana, certainly celery, whisper white cs, SU designer paper.

Ink: Stazon black

Accessories: Copics markers, MS diamond border punch, Coluzzle circles, gel glitter pen, dewdrops, flower, rhinestone brad, dimensionals

Be Grateful

2009-08-10T14:19:00.002-06:00

The Featured Stamper was Teresa Kline (va sunshine) and this is the card I decided to case.
http://www.splitcoaststampe rs.com/gallery/photo/1325061?&cat=500&ppuser=141637
What am amazing gallery, so much to choose from. I changed the colors, the stamps, and the designer paper.
This card is pretty self-explanatory so I won't go into details. I love the warm fall feel and softness.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Flourishes - Autumn Leaves
Paper: SU chocolate chip, really rust, whisper white. Sprout designer paper
Ink: only orange, really rust
Accessories: SU scallop border punch
SU scallop circle punch, dimensionals, paper flower, brads, sponge

Oven Mitts

2009-08-10T14:02:00.002-06:00

Strange title for a card! This was for the Inspiration Challenge 191.

The inspiration came from a selection of aprons, oven mitts and towels. I took mine from an oven mitt that you can find by clicking this link:http://www.heavenlyhostess.com/pothold er_sole.html

I made the sunflower with alternating layers of summer sun and brilliant blue cs that was diecut with Nestibilities. Each layer is on dimensionals. Used yellow stickles around the center of the flower. The background is whisper white stamped with Basic Grey Poms in summer sun, pixie pink, really rust and old olive for the leaves. Added a polka dot sheer yellow ribbon. It is bright, colorful, and cheerful.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Basic Grey - Poms

Paper: SU summer sun, brilliant blue, whisper white

Ink: summer sun, pixie pink, really rust, old olive

Accessories: Nestibilities circles, Cuttlebug, yellow stickles, dimensionals, ribbon

Catch up Time Again

2009-08-10T13:44:00.002-06:00

Why am I always playing the catch-up game? I must get myself in hand and post as soon as I have finished a card.
This was a fun card to make for the Ways To Use It challenge. We had to use die-cuts and only one stamped image.
Out came the Cricut Expressions and the My World cartridge. I cut out the ship in choc. chip and then the layer for the sails in white. Tore a couple pieces of bashful blue for the ocean waves and put the ship in between the strips. Added some white liquid applique to the wave tops. The base is a piece of SU specialty designer paper, which I absolutely love. The cute whale is from the new Papworks Co. Aqua Amigos set. He is colored with Copics and on dimensionals. Very fun, easy card to make.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Paperworks Co. Aqua Amigos
Paper: bashful blue, whisper white, chocolate chip cs, SU specialty designer paper
Ink: Stazon black, Copics markers
Accessories: Cricut Expressions, My World cartridge, liquid applique, dimensionals, large brad

Four New Cards

2009-08-01T14:35:00.006-06:00

Happy Saturday! Today is the day I get all caught up posting my cards. Yippee!

This card was made for a color challenge, one that I found very difficult to do. We had to use
pretty in pink, really rust, and night of navy. The pink base was run through the Cuttlebug with the divine swirls folder. The navy strip is punched using the SU scallop border punch. The image is on whisper white and really rust that was die-cut with Nestibilities labels. Image is colored with Prismacolor pencils and mineral spirits and popped up on dimensionals. Added some tiny buttons, brads and ribbon. I still am not sure what I think of this.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Rubbernecker

Paper: pretty in pink, night of navy, really rust, white

Ink: Stazon black, night of navy

Accessories: Cuttlebug, divine swirls folder, scallop oval punch, Nestibilities labels, Prismacolor pencils, mineral spirits, paper stub, dimensionals, buttons, ribbon, brads.

Run for the Hills! For the WT227 we had to use doubles of stamps, or embellishments, ribbons, etc. I have had this set for over a year and never used it so decided this was the time to ink it up. First I versamarked the tall pines and heat embossed with green embossing powder.

I made a mask to create the hills and sky. Lots of sponging! The sky is sponged with yoyo yellow, only orange and really rust, the hills are sponged with creamy caramel and green. I used some of the grass blades from Kitties Kits to stamp on the ground. The bear, boot, weiner on a stick and camp fire were all stamped with basic black and colored with watercolor crayons and a blender pen, then cut out and put on dimensionals. Added some birds and sponged with close to cocoa all around the edges of the card. I had great fun making this card.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Stampin' Up Happy Camper, Lovely as a Tree, Kittie Kits: Cause a Scene

Paper: yoyo yellow, whisper white

Ink: basic black, yoyo yellow, only orange, really rust, creamy caramel, green

Accessories: dimensionals, versamark, heat gun, green embossing powder, sponges, dimensionals

CC229 and SC239

The colors are certainly celery, pixie pink,barely

banana. I think this is a wonderful color combo and is one I never would have thought of. Did a little paper piercing with an Ornare template in the corner, added dewdrops and brads. The image is stamped with certainly celery on whisper white using a bamboo background stamp. The flowers are Poms from Basic Grey. A very simple, quick card to make.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Bamboo bg, Basic Grey Poms

Paper: certainly celery, pixie pink, barely banana, whisper white. Doodlebug designer paper

Ink: barely banana, certainly celery, pixie pink

Accessories: dimensionals, ribbon, brads, dewdrops, Ornare piercing template, piercing tool.

IC189 I loved this inspiration challenge. I chose a handbag called Eco Chic as my inspiration.

The base is cream colored Bazzil cardstock stamped with Distress Tea Dye ink using the linen background stamp.

Always artichoke is the base for the image. The image is stamped with always artichoke on very vanilla. I ran a gold metallic around the edges for a little elegance. The picket fence is a Martha Stewart border punch. The butterfly was stamped with the tea dye ink and colored with an always artichoke marker. Diamond stickles added to the butterfly which was then cut out and popped up on a dimensional. Added some half pearls and this gorgeous sheer green ribbon. I think this is one of my favorite cards.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Embrace Life, Linen background

Paper: Bazzil cream, SU very vanilla, always artichoke

Ink: always artichoke, Distress tea dye

Accessories: dimensionals, marker, gold metallic pen, Martha Stewart picket fence border punch, Basic Grey half pearls, ribbon

Now I can go and make my card for the Limited Supplies challenge. Have a wonderful day in the sunshine!

Blessings,

Faith

Pretty Pansies

2009-07-31T14:19:00.004-06:00

Another beautiful sun shiny day in Alberta. The best part is that it isn't extremely hot.

This card was made for a sketch challenge 237 and the color challenge 227. Colors we had to use were Lavender Lace, Barely Banana, Going Grey, Basic black and whisper white. Lavender lace is layered on top of barely banana. The center vertical panel is designer paper layered on barely banana cs. The horizontal strip is barely banana stamped with lavender lace and a border of going grey added along the bottom.

The image is stamped with Stazon black and colored with watercolor crayons and a blender pen. The image is layered on barely banana and lavender lace and popped up on dimensionals. Added some dewdrops.

I love the colors on this card, I think they give a very classy, elegant look to it.

Ingredients:
Stamps: Local King Rubber Stamps
Ink: Stazon black, watercolor crayons
Paper: barely banana, lavender lace, going grey, whisper white cs, designer paper
Accessories: Martha Stewart border punch, blender pen, dewdrops, dimensionals

I hope you are enjoying the sunshine.
Blessings,
Faith

Sympathy

2009-07-30T21:16:00.003-06:00

Boy, has it been hot! At least today we have had a break from it. I don't get along with extreme heat so have been like a wrung out dishrag. I really hate to complain because it is so nice to have the sun shining, the flowers and trees blossoming and everything looking so beautiful. This is the time of year that I am in awe of God's beautiful creation.

Along with the good there always comes a little sadness. I made this Sympathy card for my sister-in-law who just lost her father. I am just so thankful that she was home at this time and could be with the family. Donna and my brother are missionaries in Pakistan and were home for a couple of months. They return to Pakistan Aug. 5th.

This card was a real labor of love. All cardstock is from Stampin' Up and the designer paper is from Basic Grey.

The base is elegant eggplant. Orchid opulence was run through the Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots folder. I used Nestibilities labels for the image. The image was stamped with wasabi green, then used Flower Soft to add texture to the bouquet. Also used dots of Opal Pearl Drops and some purple Stickles to fill in the bouquet. Eucalyptus stickles is on the vase. The strip of designer paper and white cardstock were punched using a Martha Stewart border punch. The sentiment was stamped in elegant eggplant on white and layered on eggplant cardstock. Used the corner rounder punch to soften the look. The sentiment and image are popped up on dimensionals. Added some of those gorgeous Basic Grey half pearls. Absolutely love them! I have to say I am very pleased with how this turned out.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Flourishes - Thinking of You

Papers: Stampin' Up elegant eggplant, orchid opulence, whisper white cardstock, Basic Grey designer paper.

Ink: wasabi green, elegant eggplant

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots folder, Nestibilities Labels, Martha Stewart border punch,

Flower Soft, Opal Pearl Drops, eucalyptus and purple Stickles, dimensionals, Basic Grey half pearls

Enjoy your day.

Blessings,

Faith

Sage Harmony

2009-07-18T21:17:00.002-06:00

My oh my! I have been very lax doing my posting so am way behind. I better pull up my socks and get my rear in gear. lol It is summer time though and often the outside calls so strongly, I just can't ignore it. Also my 11 year old grandson is here every day now that school is out, but that still is not a good enough excuse. He has been spending most of the time in Poppa's shop learning how to make a knife and is doing a super job! He is so excited, can't believe he actually has done this by himself.

This card was made for a sketch challenge. The base is white but the top and bottom sections have been sponged with pretty in pink and sage shadow. The striped panel is a piece of SU designer paper with a piece of pretty in pink cardstock on the top and bottom that I used a Martha Stewart border punch on. On top of that is sage shadow cs and pink dp with a sentiment stamped in sage shadow. The top layer is white on sage shadow and has been stamped several times with pretty in pink. Image is from SU's Happy Harmony.

Added some Basic Grey Opalescence Pearls to finish it. I love these pearls and they come in such beautiful colors.

Ingredients:

Stamps: Happy Harmony

Ink: pretty in pink. sage shadow

Accessories: Basic Grey Opalescent Pearls, Martha Stewart border punch, sponge, dimensionals.

I hope you are having a wonderful, fun filled summer.

Blessings,

Faith

New Bathroom

2009-07-09T16:02:00.005-06:00

This is my new bathroom so lovingly built by my DH. This was the last room to be renovated. Yippee! He has done the whole house, plus finished the basement. What a talented guy!
This is a small old house and this bathroom is very tiny, which makes it very difficult to get decent pictures of it. This one shows the wall color, amber sun, and the accessories are rust and white and chrome.

This shows the beautiful tile and glass tile work around the tub and shower and the new medicine chest.

The next one is the sink and cabinet which he built. This is such a wonderful addition to our little home. You wouldn't believe the amount of work he has done over the years, but when you look around there is such a sense of accomplishment and a job well done.

Thank you my love!!!

Blessings to all,

Faith

Pretty Butterflies

2009-07-09T15:29:00.003-06:00

I am continually amazed at the beauty of God's creation. Butterflies are a favorite of mine. They are so light, come in a rainbow of beautiful colors, and I get a sense of softness and gentleness from them. To me they are peace, grace and love.

Today's card is a butterfly extravaganza! Wow, that sounds impressive. :)

The Splitcoast color challenge this week was to use tempting turquoise, baja breeze, apricot appeal, and creamy caramel. I have to admit I was not too sure about this combination to start with but now I love it. The base and butterflies are tempting turquoise, the scalloped circles are baja breeze, the plain circles are apricot appeal and the pierced layer is the closest I good get to creamy caramel. (note to self; order creamy caramel). My daughter Yvonne, diamondangelfish, on Splitcoast, introduced me to the Ornare piercing templates so I just had to use one on this card. And it fit perfectly between the circles. The butterflies are all made using the Martha Stewart butterfly punch. Each butterfly is brushed with diamond stickles and clear rhinestones added to the body. Opal pearl drops have been dotted on the scalloped circle edges. Tiny blue rhinestones are added to the center dot of each piercing. I love the sparkle and simplicity of this card. Now for the ingredients.

Ingredients:

Paper: tempting turquoise, baja breeze, apricot appeal, creamy caramel

Ink: none

Accessories: Martha Stewart butterfly punch, SU circle and scalloped circle punch, diamond Stickles, opal Pearl drops, clear and blue self-adhesive rhinestones, dimensionals, Ornare piercing template, piercing tool

Blessings,

Faith

Holidays are Over!

2009-07-03T13:30:00.010-06:00

Hello everyone! Yes, I am back after having a wonderful time attending my Nephew's wedding in Kelowna and visiting family and friends in Victoria. Went to Bellingham where my DH went wild in the Grizzly tool shop. We came home with our van loaded with tools! He is one happy camper.
God richly blessed us with great weather and a safe trip. We are so thankful!

The Newlyweds

Beautiful Victoria All gussied up

This is the card I made for the wedding. House Mouse to the rescue!! Aren't they adorable? The base is purely pomegranate, then whisper white that has been put through the Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots folder. I die cut whisper white using Nestibilities Labels in two different sizes. The top one is sponged around the edges with purely pomegranate and the image was stamped with Stazon black and the colored with SU watercolor crayons and a blender pen. These were put on dimensionals. The ribbon is purely pomegranate run through a Pretties ribbon slide. The flowers and brads also are from the SU Pretties set. I sponged some purely pomegranate on the white flowers and attached with the clear rhinestone brads. The sentiment is from the Anniversary Birds set by Verve Stamps. This also is on dimensionals. I am very happy with the way this turned out.

Ingredients:
Stamps: House Mouse
Verve - Anniversary Birds
Paper: Whisper white, Purely pomegranate
Ink: Stazon black, Purely pomegranate
Accessories: SU watercolor crayons, blender pen, Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots folder, Nestibilities Labels, dimensionals, SU Pretties flowers and rhinestone brads and ribbon slide. sponge.

Enjoy Gods' Creation and have a wonderful day.
Blessings,
Faith

Inspiration

2009-06-16T21:13:00.004-06:00

No more complaining from me about the cold weather. It is hot!! This will most likely be my last post for a couple of weeks because we leave on Thursday to attend a wedding and have a bit of a holiday. We will be back the end of June. Tomorrow will be that fun thing called 'packing'.

I am so excited though, our bathroom is completed and I love it. My DH nearly did himself in on this one. We both agree that this is the last project, now he will just do his fun stuff making knives and walking sticks. When I get back I will post some pictures so you can see what a talented guy he is.

IC184
I had so much fun making this card. We had to go to the Lovely Package website and choose an inspiration piece and I chose this package .http://lovelypackage.com/category/confectionery/

Chocolates!! Yummy!! To try and replicate it I went a little wild but I love it for its uniqueness. The base is basic black. Riot of Petals is stamped using Versamark, on whisper white cardstock and then heat embossed with silver embossing powder. Then using a sponge dauber I started working in the four colors I chose. Kiwi Kiss, Only Orange, Real Red and Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black. Once that was done a stamped a small section of the stamp and did the same process, then punched it out with the SU circle scallop punch. Also punched one in whisper white so I could do the spotlight technique. This was put on dimensionals. Added pearls and a sheer varigated ribbon.

Ingredients: Basic black, whisper white cardstock, Versamark ink, silver embossing powder, heat tool, basic black, kiwi kiss, only orange, real red and elegant eggplant ink, sponge dauber, dimensionals, Basic Grey Opaline pearls, variegated sheer ribbon.

I pray that everyone will have a beautiful time over the next two weeks and I will be back to bug everyone once again.

Blessings to all,

Faith

Wedding Explosion Box

2009-06-11T19:58:00.006-06:00

THE SUN IS SHINING!!! This year in Alberta that is something to get excited about. Right now it is gorgeous out and everything looks so bright and happy.

This time next week we will be on our way to Kelowna, BC to attend my nephew's wedding on June 20th. With help from his sister I found out the colors and got some recent pictures and started to make my box. I had one partly made and decided it wasn't turning out so started all over from scratch. This one I am happy with.I used white embossed (with hearts) cardstock for all the compenents of the box. Used my Cricut Expressions to cut out the designer paper to make star flowers which then were centered with self-adhesive pearls.

The above picture shows the lid looking down on it. I stuck a piece of styrofoam in the center of the lid and started to add flowers to it. There are 50 small ribbon roses stuck on the sides of the styrofoam and then 8 larger roses and the white flowers with fancy pearl stems. I also made a few stems using sweetpea Flower Soft and added them. I used the Martha Stewart butterfly punch to make butterflies out of some of the designer paper. Tiny pink rhinestones are attached to each butterfly. Small crystal hearts are on each corner. The sides of the lid I used pink glitter cardstock that was punched on both edges with Martha Stewart diamond border punch. Then adhered a pink ribbon rose to the centre.

Above is the inside of the box which when opened up displays 2 layers of 4 pockets in each layer. I used a circle punch to make an opening at the top of each pocket and then used a scallop circle punch for the black accent. On each piece of designer paper there is a piece of white glitter cardstock that has been cut out with the Cricut. Added a pink sheer knotted ribbon to each pocket. The picture in the center is from their wedding invitation. The bottom layer of pockets had different designer paper and wedding rubons. The corners that fold in are 2 different designer papers attached to the cardstock.

Inside each pocket is a card cut out of pink cardstock that has a piece of the lighter designer paper attached and then on top of that there is a picture. There is a different picture in each pocket with one pocket having all of the info regarding their wedding. At the top of each card I attached a jewelled butterfly that makes a great pull out.

To make one of these boxes you would need the templates of which there are four. One for the box, one for the lid, and two for the pockets. This is a project that takes several hours to make but is well worth the time and effort.

Ingredients: templates, 4, 12x12 white embossed sheets of cardstock, 1 small sheet of pink glitter cs, 1 small piece of white glitter cs, 3, 12x12 designer paper, sticky tape, Scorepal, 1 small sheet of black cs, small ribbon roses, medium ribbon roses, white wedding flowers, crystal hearts, pearls, jewelled butterflies, rubons, Cricut Expressions, Martha Stewart diamond border punch, SU circle punch, SU scallop circle punch

I must give a special word of thanks to Loretta (lorettal) for teaching me how to make these.
I have learned so much from Loretta, she is a very special friend.

Happy Stamping!

Faith

Bugs

2009-06-07T17:47:00.003-06:00

I hope everyone is having a blessed Sunday! I know the sun is shining somewhere, but I definitely know the Son is shining here.

Yesterday on Splitcoast Steffi had a beautiful inspiration challenge for us. We had to go to the Dazzle Design set and choose from the many beautiful items for our inspiration. The first one I chose was a boy's room with bugs and the second one was a bedding set with Lady bugs. I must have been on some kind of bug juice. :) Anyway the first one did not come up to my expectations but surprisingly enough some people thought it was great. The second one I am much happier with. Here are all the particulars.

IC183

The base is real red. The whisper white has been run through the Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dot folder and a flower edge folder. Then it was punched with the scallop border punch. The images were stamped on whisper white with Stazon black and heat set then colored with Copics. I cut them out and layered on real red squares popped up on dimensionals. The final touch was adding self-adhesive red rhinestones to the flower border. I think it makes a happy, bright, touch of summer card.

Ingredients: Real Red and Whisper white cardstock, Cuttlebug and folders, Copics markers, dimensionals, scallop border punch, self-adhesive red rhinestones.

IC183

First of all I made a magnifying glass by stamping the image in brilliant blue on vellum, then using the Coluzzle I cut the vellum in a circle and cut a piece of the white cs to use as backing, then a circle of only orange to make the rim of the glass. The vellum is turned face down and all layers adhered together. Made my own handle out of choc. chip cardstock. All of this was put on dimensionals. Added a few orange dewdrops and Basic Grey letters to spell the word Bugs. Used the corner rounder punch on three corners.

Ingredients: Basic Grey Dragonfly stamp set, Basic Grey self-adhesive letters, brilliant blue, only orange and whisper white cardstock, vellum, brilliant blue ink, circle Coluzzle, corner rounder punch, dewdrops, dimensionals

Riding Kiwi Tango

2009-06-05T19:40:00.002-06:00

Would you believe my furnace is running!!?? It is downright cold today. I am sure we will have frost tonight. Some areas actually had some snow today. I am beginning to think we aren't going to get much warm weather this year. Oh well, it is all according to God's plan, so give thanks.
This card was made for two challenges. I really like to combine the sketch challenge and the color challenge whenever I can. The color challenge is Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red and Tango Tangerine. This is the first card I have made using these colors that I really like. I finally am getting the hang of things and they will be gone in another month.

SC231 & CC221

The base is Kiwi Kiss. The two layers of cardstock for the panels are Riding Hood Red and Tango Tangerine. I stamped Riot of Petals background stamp with Versamark on whisper white cardstock and then heat embossed it with Copper embossing powder. Then, using a sponge I sponged all over white with the three challenge colors. Once I finished sponging I cut three strips and put them on the three panels. Wrapped the card with Tango Tangerine ribbon, made a bow and added a charm. Simple, simple, simple, but really like it.

Ingredients: Stampin'Up Riot of Petals background stamp, Versamark, SU Copper embossing powder, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Tango Tangerine cardstock and ink, sponge, heat tool, SU Tango Tangerine ribbon, silver charm. I just realized all supplies were Stampin'Up, except for the charm.

Hope it is warm wherever you are. If not, then soak in the warmth of God's love.

Happy Stamping!

Faith

Anniversary

2009-06-03T20:52:00.005-06:00

You know the harder I try to get ahead, the further behind I seem to get. lol I made this card a week ago and only now am getting it posted. Sheeesh!! I made this for dear friends for their 32nd Anniversary.

Talk about simple, this one goes to the top of the list. If you are in a hurry this is the baby to make. The base is basic black topped by whisper white. Anniversary Birds and sentiment were stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder. Used the corner rounder punch of the corners, put them on dimensionals, added the flowers and dewdrops.

Voila!! It is a done deed.

Ingredients: Anniversary Birds set from Verve Stamps, basic black and whisper white cardstock, Versamark ink, white embossing powder, heat tool, corner rounder punch, dimensionals, dewdrops by Robins Nest, Persimmon Daisy Dreams by Prima Flowers

Have a wonderful evening and enjoy God's wonderful creation. Happy Stamping!

Blessings, Faith

Masculine Birthday

2009-05-30T20:59:00.007-06:00

Today has been a busy day. Just got back from Calgary where I attended an Epicure Spice party hosted by my daughter Lynn. My daughter Shawna, has just become a demonstrator and this was her first party. It was a roaring success so everyone left happy.

For those who may not know, Epicure Spices is a Canadian company that has a whole line of the most amazing spices, dips, salsas, etc., that are all natural ingredients. They are so yummy!! This card was made for a friend's birthday. I am really pleased with how this came out and it was very simple to make. The image was stamped on whisper white with black ink and colored with watercolor crayons and a blender. I used Shimmerz for the light coming off the lighthouse. The ovals were cut with the coluzzle and the sentiment was stamped with really rust, trimmed with the paper cutter and the ends snipped with the corner rounder punch. Added some brads to complete the picture. I think it is the colors that give it that masculine feel. Both the brown and rust cardstock are textured and from Bazzill. The designer paper is Basic Grey.

Ingredients: Our Daily Bread 'Let Your Light Shine' stamp set, sentiment from Stampin' up Birthday Whimsey, Bazzill brown and rust textured cardstock, Basic Grey designer paper, oval coluzzle, corner rounder punch, watercolor crayons, blender pen, Shimmerz gold, dimensionals.

It is late, I am tired, so will say goodnight. Hope you all have a restful night.
Happy stamping!

Faith

Sweet Giraffe

2009-05-29T21:35:00.003-06:00

My goodness, it has been a while since I last posted. We have had gorgeous weather this last week and I have taken advantage of it to get all of my hanging baskets, barrels, and containers planted. Every day I can see growth happening. I just love this time of the year. I am a real lover of flowers so I have them everywhere in my yard.
God has been answering prayer. A dear friend has been very ill and finally had the surgery she needed and Praise God, is doing well.

SC230 & CC220

This little guy is from Imaginisce Snag 'em Stamps and was perfect size for the sketch challenge and for a birthday card for a little boy who is turning 2. The color challenge was to use so saffron, bashful blue, and pumpkin pie. The bottom layer is bashful blue, followed by a strip of so saffron that was punched with the diamond border punch from Martha Stewart. The third layer is pumpkin pie cardstock topped with designer paper from Stampin' Up and Basic Grey. Fourth layer is pumpkin pie once again punched with the border punch and 2 buttons and 2 star rhinestones added. The last layer is bashful blue and whisper white used for the image and sentiment. The image was colored with Copic markers and the sentiment was stamped with pumpkin pie ink and the edges sponged with the same. I used an Ornare piercing template in the right hand corner. I had fun with this one. Hope you enjoy it too.

Ingredients: Snag 'em Stamps Giraffe, Stampin' Up sentiment, black and pumpkin pie ink, bashful blue, so saffron, pumpkin pie, and whisper white cardstock. Basic Grey and Stampin' Up designer paper, Copic markers, Martha Steward diamond border punch, corner rounder punch, Ornare piercing template and piercing tool, buttons, rhinestone stars, dimensionals

By the Sea

2009-05-21T14:46:00.003-06:00

I am keeping my fingers crossed that we have seen the last of the cold weather. It was beautiful on Saturday, went out and bought all the bedding plants and it turned cold again. In fact it snowed all day on Monday. Good grief, it's May!
Hopefully this beach card will bring a touch of summer or at least the promise of summer. Oh to be sitting on the beach by the ocean.

The stamps used on this card are from Crafty Secrets and the set is called seaside. Love this set, there are so many ways to use it. This card has only two colors of cardstock, so saffron and whisper white. The base is stamped with the SU weathered background stamp and then stamped with the various seashells from the set, all in creamy caramel. I used Nestibilities scallop ovals for the image and scallop circle punch for the sentiment and sponged the edges with creamy caramel. The image is colored with watercolor crayons and a blender pen. Both are popped up on dimensionals. Added a bit of twine and a button seagull. In a month I will be on my way out to BC and the ocean. It will be heaven. God's creation is so awesome.

Keep smiling and happy stamping!

Faith

Blog Award

2009-05-14T13:29:00.005-06:00

I think I still am in shock. Somebody, pinch me! I have never received an Award like this before. I truly am honored and humbled to have been given this award by my special friend Loretta Lock. Thank you Loretta for this very undeserving award. The Lord is the light of my life and I just want everyone to share in the light.

Here are the details about this award:

"The Exalting Christ Blog Award" is given to bloggers who consistently exalt the name of Christ on their blogs. What a joy to see crafters blend their passion for Christ and paper crafting. This award is given to bloggers who share Christ through their posts or through the design of their artwork. We are commanded in Scripture to be 'salt and light' sharing the Good News of Jesus no matter where we are (Matthew 5:13-16). This award is just a way members of Women to Women: Sharing Jesus can say thanks for exalting Christ with us!

Rules:

1. Post the blog award in a regular post on your blog with the explanation, including the original link to WTW and the rules for passing the award along
2. Name five people (more or less) to whom you want to offer this award and link to their blogs. The blogs need to obviously exalt Christ in some manner.
3. Contact the bloggers you have named to let them know they can pick up their blog award from you.
4. Invite them to permanently display the WTW blog badge and/or the award on their blogs. The badge can be obtained on the WTW site.

"I am thrilled to pass this award on to the following dear sisters in Christ:

Judy http://jarfullofjoy.blogspot.com/

Amy http://picklepaperdesigns.blogspot.com

Patter http://triplethescraps.blogspot.com

Continue to uplift the name of the Lord and you will be blessed.

Make Music

2009-05-13T21:10:00.003-06:00

We don't always have to make a loud noise to the Lord. Scripture tells us to sing and make music in our hearts. Doing that keeps us in His presence and worship is uplifting to our souls. This is why I so love the Our Daily Bread Design stamps. They profess our faith and witness to the saving grace of our Lord and Savior. This card is made for the ODBD sketch challenge using the set 'Sing to the Lord'.

ODBDSC03

Sage shadow and blush blossom are two of my favorite colors. I find them to be very soft and peaceful so I felt they were appropriate for this verse. Singing and making music in our hearts fills us with joy and peace.

Sage shadow is the base and has been stamped with sage shadow ink using the Pretty Petals background stamp. Then used the Scorepal to score diagonally across the paper. A square of SU designer paper is layered on blush blossom and the corners have been punched with the corner rounder punch. The verse is stamped on whisper white with real red ink and layered on blush blossom that has been punched on both edges with the scallop border punch. I used the Coluzzle to make the ovals for the image and the image is colored with watercolor crayons and a blender pen. The verse and flowers are on dimensionals. Added some pearl dewdrops and a bow. This card makes me feel good and I know it is because my mind and heart have been centered on Jesus all the time.

Blessings to all and Happy Stamping!

Moving On!

2009-05-13T20:34:00.004-06:00

I am trying to get caught up on the posting of my cards, one more to go after this.

HM#37, CC218

I am sure you have guessed by now that I am a huge House Mouse fan. This was done to cover the House Mouse weekly challenge to do with moving. Also the color challenge to use summer sun, only orange and kiwi kiss. The base, summer sun was embossed with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder. The image, called Dragonfly-ing, was stamped with Stazon black on whisper white cs. Coloring was done using watercolor crayons and a blender pen. Sponged some clouds for a sky background and stamped trees along the bottom in kiwi kiss. Wanted to have the effect of flying over the treetops, moving on to a new home. The wings on the dragonfly were colored and then brushed with Lumiere acrylic paint for a bit of shimmer. Made my own sentiment on the computer. Added kiwi kiss ribbon. The corners on the image panel were punched with the ticket punch.

Ingredients: House Mouse 'Dragonfly-ing' stamp, Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots folder, oval punch, ticket punch, watercolor crayons, blender pen, Stazon black ink, soft sky ink, kiwi kiss ink, dimensionals, Lumiere acrylic paint, kiwi kiss ribbon.

Have a super evening. Blessings!

Cowboy Riley

2009-05-13T20:12:00.003-06:00

This is the day the Lord has made, be glad and rejoice in it! I have found that on the really tough days the more praise you give to God, the better the day gets. I know we all have those days. Isn't great to know we are never alone, our Savior walks alongside us, at times He carries us. Just had to share that thought.

TLC220

Isn't Riley the cutest, rootinest, cowboy you ever saw? Riley is put out by Hanna Stamps. Mondays technique challenge was to use the Bandana technique which to me just shouted out "Cowboy"! This is the first time I have used this technique and really wasn't too sure what I was doing so I really must try this again.

The base is night of navy, topped by real red which has been stamped in night of navy using the Stitches background stamp. Then you take a white gel pen and kind of follow along the lines to get that bandana effect. You might have to use your imagination here because like I said I need to practice. Riley was stamped with stazon black on whisper white cs and colored with Copics markers and a silver glitter gel pen for his buckle and arrow. Found a scrap piece of Boho SU designer paper, put it vertically and then added two parallel blue ribbons and a red ribbon on top. Added two red ribbon knots. I didn't have a stamp that had a suitable sentiment so I went to my trusty computer and made my own. The sentiment and image are on dimensionals. Added the blue star eyelets to complete the picture. This was a fun one to do.

Keep on praising and happy stamping!

Bonjour

2009-05-12T15:01:00.003-06:00

I am so far behind in posting my cards, so will try to get caught up today. This card was made for Saturday's Inspiration challenge. We had to go to the website called Bonjour Mon Coussin. They make pillows, and we were to pick one as our inspiration and I picked this one:
http://www.bonjourmoncoussin.com/en/index.php?act=1,1,31

I am really happy with how this turned out. I wanted it to look like a quilted collage of flowers like the pillow. There was a lot of work involved but I enjoyed every minute of it.

The base is Kraft cardstock. I stamped four images on whisper white and colored them with watercolor crayons and a blender pen. The stamps are from Local King Rubber, a company here in Canada. I used scraps of cardstock to back each image. Once they were assembled I placed them where I wanted them along with some Basic Grey designer paper.
Now comes the work. I used my piercing tool and pierced all around the card as well as between the panels to stitch them together. Did the same with the top panel and ran a white gel pen to connect all the little holes. The top panel is popped up on dimensionals. Added a ribbon and some dewdrops down the side and used a SU rub-on sentiment and butterfly to finish it off.
I love it when a plan comes together.
Here are the ingredients: Local King Rubber stamps, kraft cardstock, scraps of cs, Basic Grey designer paper, watercolor crayons, blender pen, ribbon, dewdrops, SU rubons, dimensionals, piercing tool, white gel pen.

Happy stamping!

National Strawberry Month

2009-05-11T20:56:00.003-06:00

I hope all the Mothers out there had a fantastic Mother's Day and received lots of pampering by their loved ones.

I bet you didn't know that May is National Strawberry Month, well I didn't either. See all the things you learn by taking part in the challenges on Splitcoast. The LSC challenge was to make a card celebrating any special day, week, month that is held in May. You wouldn't believe how many there are. I chose the strawberries, yummy! and combined it with the WT challenge in which we had to use Kraft cardstock. So this is what I came up with.

LSC219 & WT217

The base is Kraft and was run through the Cuttlebug using a folder that for the life of me I cannot remember the name of. I cut 3 square of garden green and 3 of Kraft cardstock. The Kraft was stamped with real red and then I stamped again on another piece of cs in garden green. Cut out the leaves and stem, put them on a dimensional and attached to the strawberry. The sparkle was added by covering with diamond stickles. Each of these layers was popped up on dimensionals after the strip of designer paper from Memory Box was added. The sentiment is on garden green punched with scallop oval and topped with Kraft punched with the word punch and stamped in real red using a Flourishes sentiment. The strawberries are from Tart and Tangy from SU. I can't believe I had this ribbon which was a perfect match color wise and even has strawberries on it. I've had it for a couple of years and had never used it. Once everything was assembled I then pierced all around the card and went over it with white gel pen which makes it look like stitching.

Here is a list of items used: SU Tart & Tangy, Flourishes sentiment, oval scallop punch, work punch, Kraft and Garden Green cardstock, designer paper from Memory Box, dimensionals, diamond stickles, rhinestones, ribbon, piercing tool, white gel pen.

Just wanted to add that as a mother I feel very blessed. God has gifted me with 4 beautiful, loving daughters. What more could I ask for?

Happy stamping!

What a Challenge!

2009-05-07T14:46:00.003-06:00

Did you ever have one of those days when things just would not do what you wanted? Well, mine was yesterday. It started out fine and then, horror of horrors, I started to work on this card for the color challenge and sketch challenge. Sketch, no problem. Color, now that was a whole different story. I don't think I have ever struggled with colors as much as I did with this. The only thing I am happy with is the poppy. I worked for hours changing colors around, moving things, scrapping others, until I just couldn't do any more. So, what you see is what you get. I am not happy with this at all.

SC227, CC217

The base is garden green, next layer is cameo coral which was run through the cuttlebug using the tapestry folder. The horizontal panel is cameo coral with a strip of Basic Grey designer paper and a scalloped border of ballet blue. The vertical panel is cameo coral that I used my new Impressibilities on. Just lay it on top of the cardstock and then using a sponge dauber I used cameo coral ink and sponged all over it. When you lift the Impressibilities you then have this pattern. Impressibilities are great, very versatile and are from Spellbinders. Another scallop border was added to this panel. I stamped the image with stazon black on watercolor paper and colored using my aqua painter and cameo coral ink for the poppy and garden green for the stem. The poppy was stamped again, colored and cut out and popped up on dimensionals. The sentiment was stamped on cameo coral with ballet blue and punched out with the SU oval punch and layered on top of a garden green oval. Popped up on dimensionals. Added some diamond stickles to the poppy and the scalloped borders for some bling. The last step was adding the brads. The stamps are from Flourishes.

There you have my tale of woe. Now on to a better day and hopefully better cards.

God bless and Happy Stamping!

News Flash

2009-05-06T20:03:00.004-06:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that Judy Rozema has blog candy to give away in celebration of her 3rd Blogaversay. Head on over to http://jarfullofjoy.blogspot.com and check out her blog. I think it is one of the best out there. You will not believe all the things she is involved in. As you may have figured out by now, I am a huge fan of hers. Best of all, she is a very nice lady!
Go check it out!!!
Happy Stamping!!

Spring is Here!!

2009-05-05T13:16:00.003-06:00

Hooray! I think Spring has finally arrived. The last few days have been beautiful. Hope you had a wonderful weekend. I sure did. My family gave me a wonderful 65th Birthday with all of us getting together on Saturday for a day of fun and food. Had a BBQ for supper and enjoyed the sunshine. Of course I was spoiled with lots of goodies, mostly stamping goodies. Made my day!
This card was made for the Color challenge and Sketch challenge. Love the sketch and really like the colors.

CC216 & SC226

The base is real red run through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder (one of my favorites). Cut out 2 strips of basic black and used the scalloped border punch on both edges. Had some of this great BoBunny 2 sided designer paper, which fit the old olive theme wonderfully. Used the two sides of the paper, one on each strip. The image was stamped with stazon black and heat set, then colored using the aqua painter and ink. I should mention that I used watercolor paper. Painted the image with real red, old olive and creamy caramel. The flower was stamped on vellum and colored with real red, then punched out with the scalloped circle punch. Punched out a white piece of cardstock and laid the vellum, colored side down on the white cs. Used a Nestibilities diecut scallop circle to cut the old olive cs which was then attached to the flower. Added glue dots to pop it up. Opal Pearl Drops were added to the scalloped edges of the black cs and a rub-on butterfly and sentiment finish it off. Ooops!, almost forgot, I used diamond stickles for the centre of the flower.

Thanks for spending some time with me. Have a wonderful day and Happy Stamping!

Wattle On Over

2009-04-28T15:46:00.003-06:00

Where or where is Spring? Here it is a few days away from May and we still are getting dreary, cool, sometimes downright cold weather. Enough already! Come on Spring!

Sunday was Featured Stamper day on Splitcoast and the FS of the day was Wattle from Australia. What a gorgeous gallery she has, so many wonderful cards to pick from. I chose her card titled 'A Bit of a Disaster'. All I can say I wish my disasters looked like this.

FS116

I changed the colors, the image, the Cuttlebug folder and added a flower and dewdrops. Love this card, it is so pretty and soft. The base is pale plum. Whisper white is embossed, using the Cuttlebug and embossing folder. The scalloped ovals are die cut with Nestibilities, paper pierced, and popped up on dimensionals. The top layer of the oval is vellum which has been stamped with versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder. This also is die cut and then layered with the stamped side facing down. The stamp I used is from Sing to the Lord, a set from Our Daily Bread Designs. Thanks to Wattle for such a beautiful inspiration.

Happy Stamping! God bless

Kleenex Boxes

2009-04-27T14:22:00.004-06:00

Saturdays are Inspiration Challenges on Splitcoast and Steffi always comes up with the most unique inspirations. This one blew me away. I never knew there were so many different designs on Kleenex boxes. This is what inspired me http://www.kleenex.com/NA/Products/Kleenex-Tissues.aspx Kleenex Expressions,
and this is my inspiration.

IC177

The base is regal rose cardstock as well as the scalloped border. Whisper white was run through the Cuttlebug using the Tapestry folder. I then took the basic black ink pad and swiped it across the embossed paper, trying to get that black and white background like the kleenex box. I stamped Bloomin Beautiful twice and the sprig from Embrace Life. All coloring was done using Copics markers. Once the coloring was completed I then proceeded to cut out everything. I cut the flowers away from the vases, stuck the vases on the background and added dimensionals to the flowers to raise them out from the vases. Then added diamond stickles to the centers of the flowers for a little sparkle. Punched the border with SU's scallop border punch and paper pierced. I am not totally happy with the background because it came out looking kind of messy so am thinking of trying something else.

Enjoy your day and Happy Stamping!

Spring Song

2009-04-24T21:51:00.003-06:00

Every Tuesday on Splitcoaststampers there is a color challenge and every Wednesday a sketch challenge. These challenges are a great way to learn new ways of creating cards and for me, have been a wonderful encouragement to step out of my comfort zone and try something totally out of my realm. This card "Spring Song" combines both challenges for this week.

For me, as a Christian, spring means new beginnings, new life, new opportunities to savour the beauty of God's creation. I love hummingbirds so when Stampin' Up came out with this set I just had to get it. When I look at a hummingbird, I know God is real, because only He could create such a wondrous creature.

The base is basic grey and the four panels are rose red. I used Basic Grey Sultry dp on each of the panels. The main image is stamped on whisper white with black Stazon ink. This image is actually one stamp, but I wanted the hummingbird to be out of the box so I cut them apart and cut out the hummingbird so I could pop it up on dimensionals. The coloring was done before I did any cutting. I used an aqua painter and re-inkers to color the image. The hummingbird is colored with rose red on the breast and throat, and the rest is creamy caramel with touches of garden green. The flowers are pink pirouette and old olive. There is just a touch of diamond stickles on the flowers and hummingbird. The flower square is also on dimensionals. To finish it off I added some pearl dewdrops.

Happy stamping! God bless

My Strength

2009-04-22T16:04:00.002-06:00

Happy Wednesday! We've hit the middle of the week and all is well. Although, believe it or not, we had some snow today. At least you know at this time of the year it isn't going to hang around.
I was so excited Monday when my order from Our Daily Bread Designs arrived, I just had to sit down and make a card with this gorgeous set. I really appreciate how this company puts the Lord first and witnesses in such a beautiful, positive way. Way to go Kelley! Check out www.ourdailybreaddesigns.com

My Strength

This card is my witness. God truly is my strength, my refuge and ever present help. I have had 4 surgeries in the past 4 years and He has been there with me every step of the way. Thank you ODBD for designing this beautiful set.

The base to this card is SU night of navy which is topped by Basic Grey designer paper. The sentiment is stamped on a piece of the same dp in night of navy. This really is a very simple card to make. Whisper white is stamped with stazon black for the image and then I used my trusty sponge and sponged night of navy for the night sky and sponged always artichoke along the base. The light coming from the lighthouse is Shimmerz candle which is also brushed over the sentiment. The image is on night of navy cs and popped up on dimensionals, ditto for the sentiment. Added a few blue dewdrops and that is it. I wanted the image to have a darkness to it so that the light would glow through. This is such a powerful image that testifies of the power of God's love and how He cares for us through all those rough spots. His light draws us to Him and at the same time reveals the dangers that are out there. He truly is an awesome God!

I just found out this card is going to be the Card of the Week, May 6th on the Our Daily Bread blog. I am so excited and honored. I think that maybe what I tried to portray came through. Check out http://kellrick.typepad.com/our_daily_bread_designs/ on May 6th. Thanks Lorelei, you have made me very happy.

Happy stamping! God bless.

Easter Mouse

2009-04-15T13:18:00.007-06:00

Oh boy, I can't believe this much time has gone by since I last posted. Been busy with Easter and family. As well, I am trying to sort out and re-arrange my craft area. I wish I could twitch my nose and it would be all done. But, that ain't goin' to happen. :)

SC223, Easter Mouse

I am such a fan of House Mouse Stamps and this one is so cute I couldn't resist it. This is such a wonderful sketch and I couldn't resist casing Roxie's card on SCS.

The base is bashful blue. The bottom panel is a piece of that gorgeous new SU textured designer paper that I then punched both sides with the SU scallop border punch. This is topped by bashful blue and then very vanilla cardstock. All were punched with the scallop border punch. The very vanilla was also scored with the Scorepal. The image is stamped on whisper white with stazon black and then colored with water color crayons and blender pen. Used a ticket punch on the image and sentiment. The sentiment is from Our Craft Lounge. Added dewdrops for the finishing touch. I liked this so much that I made three more using different colors for each one. I have 4 daughters so these were their Easter cards which can be seen at the top of this post.

Hope you had a wonderful and blessed Easter.

Frog Hoppy

2009-04-03T21:05:00.005-06:00

Can you believe it is Friday already? I don't know where the time goes? Tomorrow we are going to see my Dad who is 86 yrs. old and just moving into a Seniors Lodge. There is so much stuff to go through and get rid of. It always amazes me at how much 'stuff' we hang on to. I know whereof I speak, I have loads of 'stuff' too. But, I do believe my DH is the original pack rat. I am sure he has stuff from when we were first married 47 years ago. He always says "you never know when you might need it and it never fails when I finally get rid of something, then is when I need it."

LSC214

Well this little guy is perfectly happy as long as he has some flies to catch. I made this card for the Limited Supplies Challenge at SCS. A 1, 2, 3 challenge, meaning we had to use one color of cardstock, 2 designer paper patterns, and 3 embellishments. This was fun and simple and I am happy with the way this card turned out. The cardstock is SU Barely Banana and the designer paper is some of that beautiful textured paper from SU. The stamp set also is SU, Hoppy For You. Here are the details: the base is barely banana, then 2 pieces of designer paper. The images were stamped on whisper white. I used garden green for the frog and sentiment, black for the flies and chocolate chip for the log and this is layered on barely banana and popped up on dimensionals. The frog and 2 of the flies were stamped twice so I could cut out one set to pop up on dimensionals. Added the ribbon, flower and dewdrops for the embellishment. There you have it, "Frog Hoppy".

I am about to hop off to bed, it will be a long tiring day tomorrow. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Stamping!

Together

2009-03-31T20:40:00.004-06:00

Here is another card I made yesterday. I recently got this stamp from Stamp Oasis and I think it is so adorable. It is called Bears On A Fence.

Together

This card was not made for a challenge, this was for my own enjoyment. The base of this card is Bazill textured cardstock, sorry, but I don't know the name of the color. Also, this is a 6"x6" card. The image is colored using the Gamsol Magic technique. www.splitcoaststampers.com has an excellent tutorial for you to check out. Once the coloring was finished the image was stamped all over with Versamark Ink, then heat embossed with SU clear embossing powder. The layers under the image are Creamy Caramel and Wasabi Green cardstock which is topped by a piece of handmade mulberry paper that has grass and seeds in it. The image was cut out and popped up on dimensionals. Added a strip of Bazzil edging cardstock which was sponged with Baja Breeze ink. The panel at the top is cut out from a piece of SU designer paper which I then stamped with the Pretty Petals background stamp in Baja Breeze. Add small blue butterfly brads and there you have the finished product. AWE, they are so cute!

Happy Stamping!

Hoppy Easter

2009-03-31T20:11:00.002-06:00

What a messy day this has been! We live in a 62 year old house and have slowly been renovating it. Today was the day to start on the last room to be done, the main bathroom. My DH has been gutting it all day and I am sure there is dirt everywhere. I better get used to it cause it will be that way for a while. He is having to do some changes to the plumbing, tear out some of the walls, tile around the tub, build a new cabinet, put in a new sink and toilet, tile the floor and paint. I can hardly wait to see what it is going to look like when finished.

While DH has been destroying the bathroom I made this card for the Color Challenge on SCS today. The colors are SU Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red and Chocolate Chip. I made an Easter card cause chocolate and Easter just go together. :)

CC212

I recently got this adorable set from Our Craft Lounge so just had to use it. It is called Pea-Nut Bunny. The base is Riding Hood Red with a strip of SU dp 2"x4"running vertically. The image is stamped on whisper white cardstock with Stazon black ink. I used the Gamsol Magic technique to color it. This technique involves using Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits. There is an excellent tutorial on www.splitcoaststampers.com for you to refer to. Once I had everything colored I cut out the basket, little rabbit, border and eggs. Added the eggs on dimensionals to the main image panel. Used SU scalloped circle punch for the red and the SU circle punch for the pink and stamped Hoppy Easter in chocolate chip on the pink circle. This was popped up on dimensionals and then added the basket and little bunny on the sentiment. I love stickles so to give a little touch of bling I used diamond stickles in a few spots. This is a great color combination.

Happy Stamping!

Jewelled Pears

2009-03-29T13:18:00.007-06:00

Happy Sunday! What a glorious day it is. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and God is pouring out His blessings.
Yesterday I tried, notice I said tried, to post 2 cards at the same time and for the life of me could not get those pictures to move where I wanted them, so I finally gave up and just posted the one. Today is a new day so this time I will get it right.

IC173

It turns out that one of our Canadian stampers, Glenda Mosher, known as RobinRingTail on SCS, not only makes beautiful cards but also is a very gifted artist. The Inspiration Challenge was to check out her blog http://glendamosher.blogspot.com/ and use one of her paintings to inspire a card. I chose "Jewelled Pears" and am very happy with the results.

Once again, this is a very simple card to make. The size is not your normal 4.25"x5.5"; it is 3.5"x6". I needed a long card in order to fit 3 pears on the panel. The base is from Basic Grey's Stella Ruby. Love, love that paper! The center panel is SU Pumpkin Pie and Kiwi Kiss that has been distressed. Each pear was stamped twice so I could cut out one to pop up on dimensionals. The ink colors are Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron and More Mustard. The popped up pears have been painted with Ranger Cracked Glass which gives them a bit of a glow. Added some dewdrops and the sentiment to complete the picture.

Here is the recipe: Basic Grey - Stella Ruby; SU pumpkin pie, so saffron, more mustard, whisper white cardstock; SU Ageless Adornment stamp set; Robins Nest dewdrops; Ranger Crackle Accents.

Have a wonderful day, hug your loved ones and cherish your friends.

Black & White

2009-03-28T20:10:00.011-06:00

Hello everybody, hope you all are well and enjoying the nicer weather. Of course here in Alberta you never know how long that will last. We tend to have very changeable weather.

Today I have managed to make two cards! I know, for some of you that is a drop in the bucket, but for me that is fantastic. I had great fun making these cards and am happy with how they turned out.

The first one "Black & White" was made for the Limited Supplies Challenge on SCS yesterday.

We could only use black and white, no color at all, which was fine with me cause I love black and white cards. They are so clean and crisp and can be very elegant.

LSC213

The base is basic black cut to 4.25"x5.5". The white is 4"x5.25" and has been run through the Cuttlebug using the folder that has grass and a bird on it (I can never remember the names of the folders). I colored the bird with a black Copics marker. The image is from SU Nature Silhouette and was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with black embossing powder. The image is layered on basic black and popped up with dimensionals. Added black eyelets with my Crop-a-dile, a photo corner punched out with SU photo corner punch, attached a bow with a glue dot and Voila!, it is finished. Nice and simple but quite effective.

I will post the second card tomorrow as it is getting late and I am getting frustrated with my pictures. They won't do what I want them to do. Talk to you tomorrow.

Happy Anniversary!

2009-03-26T14:23:00.008-06:00

Well, here we are again. Hoping to get some response soon. But, you know what? even if I don't hear from anyone this is a great way to keep a record of my cards.

We had a huge dump of snow here on Sunday but it is much nicer now, so hopefully, Spring is just around the corner. I need to see green grass and flowers!!

If you haven't checked out splitcoaststampers.com yet, you really need to. Roxie posted a great challenge yesterday and this is the card I posted for it today.

This card also is for the CC211. Love the colors, they are very Spring-like. The card base is 4.25"x5.5". Baja Breeze cardstock has been stamped in the same color ink using the SU Paisley background stamp. The long panel is a layer of Kiwi Kiss and Pretty In Pink cardstock topped with Basic Grey LilyKate designer paper. I am in love with Basic Grey paper. The square is a layer of SU Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze and Pretty In Pink. The Pink as been stamped with Pretty In Pink ink using the SU Tres Chic background stamp. The image panel is Kiwi Kiss and Whisper White that has been stamped with Kiwi Kiss. The two sweet birds were stamped using Baja Breeze for one and Pretty In Pink for the other, then cut out, put on dimensionals and mounted on the branches. I loved the fact that the colors were pink and blue so I could have a girl and a boy. Oh, I know, I am a little weird, but that's okay. lol. The sentiment is stamped in Baja Breeze on Whisper White and layered on Kiwi Kiss. There are little dots of diamond stickles all over the card for a little bling. The final touch is the pearl dewdrops. I love the softness of this card.

Check out Verve Stamps at http://www.vervestamps.com/ for a look-see. They have wonderful, versatile stamps.

Have a wonderful day!

My First Post

2009-03-24T21:42:00.005-06:00

Woohoo!! I have my own blog. Now what do I do??? This is going to be a real learning curve for me, but I invite you along for the ride. I will try to share some of my thoughts and my love of stamping. I do not profess to have great artistic abilities but, I do have a love of making cards. I recently retired so this new love has come at the perfect time in my life. Due to some disabilities I am somewhat restricted as to what I can do physically so stamping is a real answer to prayer. I have found that God always opens doors for us as needed. I love and serve Him with all my heart, mind and soul.

I have found the stamping community to be one of the most loving, caring and supportive groups you will ever find. You need encouragement, you will get encouragement. You need advice on anything of concern, you will receive that advice wrapped in love. Everyone wants to share the knowledge they have regarding stamping and are more than happy to do so. All you have to do is ask, and someone will have the answer.

Enough rambling! I am going to share the most recent card I made.

SC220

This was made for the SCS sketch challenge put out by Roxie every week. The base of the card

is SU barely banana followed by a layer of SU pretty in pink. Four panels of SU wasabi green were cut and four panels of SU designer paper were layered on top of each panel.
The image is from SU Ageless Adornment set and is stamped on whisper white cardstock with Stazon black ink. The butterfly was colored using re-inkers and an aqua painter. I sponged all over with wasabi green, added a touch of diamond Stickles. The image is layered on pretty in pink cardstock and popped up with dimensionals. Added Prima flowers and brads which I then brushed with diamond Stickles. I love bling! The final touch was to add some dewdrops from Robins Nest. Loved making this card and it makes me feel like spring is around the corner.
Hope you all have a wonderful day.