Sparrow & Branches

Hello all!  Today's card I made as guest designer at Creative Worship Stamps focuses on a sweet sparrow, nestling in branches.  The background was inspired by the packaging that comes from CWS products!  It's white with tiny blue dots on it, and I put a piece to use here, pairing it with the Damask Pattern Stencil and shades of blue Distress Ink.  A bird from More Than Sparrows was stamped on white cardstock, fussy cut, and colored with alcohol markers.  Same goes for the leafy fronds from Beautiful Branches stamp set.  The sentiment is 3D, using the With Love Word Die set.  I die cut five of each word from black cardstock, and stacked them together.  Really pops off the card!

Supplies From Creative Worship Stamps:

Beautiful Branches stamps

Damask Pattern Stencil

More Than Sparrows stamps

With Love Word Die set

Matthew 10:29-31 NASB

Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Thanks for dropping by!

God bless you!

Googly Eye Cat

Hello there!  Doesn't this cat look funny with a googly eye?  LOL  He is the Memory Box Large Sitting Cat die.  I paired him with The Greetery Nordic Frames die, and beloved Martha Stewart Hydrangea Punch flowers.

Thanks for joining me!  God bless you!

Cute Animals

Hello again!  I enjoy a variety of styles for cardmaking.  I've got a selection of cute animals from companies like Paper Smooches, Avery Elle, Hello Bluebird, PinkFresh and Lawn Fawn, to name a few.  The little guys below are from Avery Elle and I loved how this patterned paper (can't remember which company it comes from) created spaces for them to sit in picture frames.  So adorable!

Avery Elle 'More Stories' animals, sentiment, banner; Recollections pink heart stickers

Psalm 36:6 NIV

Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,

    your justice like the great deep.

    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

Have a blessed weekend!

Copper Leaf Anniversary

Hey there!  Hope you remember me. 😉 I have a quick anniversary card to share with you, after my hiatus.  This was the card I gave my husband, and it's a shame you can't see how that copper leaf really gleams!

The Greetery Pretty Postmarks sentiments; Stampin' Up! copper leaf, En Francais background, Elements of Style flourish; twine 

Did not anticipate being out of the blogging habit for as long as I was.  The cancer experience left me a lot more exhausted than I realized.  After giving my energy to job and home and family, I had not much left at the end of the day.  I made time to create cards, but photographing/editing/blogging took a real back seat.  I feel so so so much better now and am really grateful for my healing!

I hope you all are doing well in your little corner of the world.

God bless you!

Cristabel - and Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue

Hello my friends.  I just haven't felt up to being here on the blog for a while.  We had to say a very, very difficult farewell to our beloved cat Cristabel on January 13th.  She had been an asthmatic cat for years, and we made sure she received the bimonthly medicine she needed to keep her airways clear.  In December, she seemed off, and that medicine did not help her.  After a visit to the vet on 1/4 with antibiotics that did not help, we took her to the hospital on 1/11 (same day I started radiation treatments), and discovered that her lungs had worsened badly, very rapidly.  The vets were not sure if it was pneumonia or cancer, or maybe both.  None of the treatments she received helped.  Oh how our hearts broke to watch her labor to breathe, and to know it was time to say goodbye.  She was a good friend and companion, and a special family member to us. 💔

Here's my card for today....

Precious Remembrance Happy Mail envelope, postage stamp; Flourishes Roses Are Red rose, sentiment; pearls

And a couple more of our precious Bel...

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

Planted In My Heart

When Papertrey Ink was discounting many of their stamps and dies months ago, I bought quite a few things.  Among my new goodies is Garden Variety stamps and dies.  I keep meaning to play more with the suite of items, because they are so charming!  I created just one card so far.  My intentions are good, I promise!

Papertrey Ink Garden Variety stamps and matching dies; crochet lace; Stampin' Up! ribbon; pearls; Market Street Stamps Gingham Background

I'm going to enter this at Word Art Wednesday, challenge #517-518.  "Anything Goes"!

While I was visiting over there at W.A.W., I noticed this card of mine made it into the Top 3!  That made my day much sweeter!  Thank you all at WAW!

Thanks for your visit today 😊

Pink Hydrangea

Hello Everyone!

Hopefully this reaches you via follow.it, the new email service I chose for my email subscribers.  You can opt out if you wish, of course, but I hope you will keep me company here.  😀  I had imported my active email subscribers from Feedburner before making the switch.  The only thing I have left to figure out is how to add the follow.it icon / link on my sidebar.  My old brain just couldn't figure this one out yet.  LOL  The help team at follow.it merely directed me to one of their articles on how to achieve this, so I'll need to read through it again.  

Just popping in with one card today, made for my daughter's 23rd birthday earlier this month.  I happen to love hydrangeas, and when I saw this die release from HoneyBee Stamps, I had to have it!

HoneyBee Stamps Lovely Layers: Hydrangea dies; Verve Small Phrases sentiment stamp; Ranger Glossy Accents; Stampin' Up! Artisan Textures distress stamp

I used three shades of pink cardstock from my scraps organizer.  The darkest pink is in the back, and then a mid-range but still bright...(I think Pink Passion from Stampin' Up!), and a paler version at the top layer.  Once I assembled them for practice, I thought it looked weird, until I added splatters on all of the petals.  I used a Stampin' Up! dotted/distressed stamp from Artisan Textures and used a darker red ink to create the splattered effect.  Do hydrangeas exist in nature this way?  Not sure.  LOL  I just happened to think it looked neat!  

There is one leaf die in this HoneyBee die set.  I cut it out three times from Old Olive cardstock, then used another distressed-type stamp from Artisan Textures in Always Artichoke to give those leaves a variegated look.

A black background, a Verve sentiment and some Glossy Accents 'dew drops' finished it off.

I hope you like it!  Can't wait to try different color combos for the hydrangeas.  Definitely blues and purples!

Hope you have a great day/evening, wherever you are!

God bless you!

Purple-Themed Floral Cards

Purple is one of my favorite colors and has been since at least middle school.  Who's with me? ✋  (Not my friend LeAnne, I know this for sure!)  All of the cards I'm sharing here are centered around this glorious color.

Stampin' Up! My Wonderful Family Paper Pumpkin (April 2020) flower, leaves, sentiment; purple and white twine; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags tag die; lavender and pink pearls

Flourishes Sweet Violets violet flowers; Papertrey Ink Words of Comfort sentiment; Hug Snug Periwinkle seam binding

Stampin' Up! (papers, stamped flowers and sentiment); rhinestones; EK Success Lattice border punch

Flourishes Lilac lilac and magnolia stamps; white crochet lace; pearls; Stampin' Up! Smooth Sailing banner die

Exodus 26:1 ESV

“Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them.

My daughter took this evening sky photo at Temple University last fall.  Isn't it gorgeous?  Blue, pink, purple.  A beautiful tapestry in the sky!

Easter, Mother's Day and more - Catching Up!

Hello there!  I'm on a mission to get the backlog of cards posted!  In today's assortment, you'll find Easter, Mother's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Love You, Miss You, Thank You, and a tiny frame that includes one of my favorite verses of Scripture, Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."  This is a source of great comfort and strength to me.  There are days that are hard, moments that are difficult, and I think on this verse to get me through.  I don't have to do things in my own strength; I lean on my Lord and He provides for me.  Amen.

Thank you for joining me today for another parade of cards!

K & Co. flower sticker; pearls; Papertrey Ink Keep It Simple: Easter sentiment; pink houndstooth digital paper

Papertrey Ink Keep It Simple: Easter sentiment stamp; Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch; pearls; vintage thread; Spellbinders Large Deckled Rectangles die; Stampin' Up! Ivy Background stamp

Papertrey Ink Keep It Simple: Easter sentiment; Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch; L'il Inker Designs Bunnies and Bows dies; K & Co. blue floral sticker; pearl; Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Rectangles Large die

Wplus9 Easter Blessings sheep, bunny, corner flower, sentiment stamps; Spellbinders Persian Motifs die; pearls; white gel pen

Papertrey Ink Mother sentiment, purple and green felt, Doodlie Do leaf die, flower die; silver embossing powder; My Favorite Things Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangles die; Stampin' Up! amethyst brads; Kat Scrappiness Stitched Postage Stamp Edge Rectangles die

Papertrey Ink Family Ties: For the Girls word die; Colorbok blue doily die cut, circle die cut; K & Co. blue flower sticker; pearls

Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags sentiment and tag die; Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch; Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Accents flower punch, Punch Potpourri heart stamp, Full Heart punch; white twine; pearls; Flourishes Lilac lilac sentiment stamps

Stampin' Up! Butterfly Thinlits die; K & Co. blue floral sticker; pearls; pink plaid digital paper & Eiffel Tower element; Flourishes Spring Bouquets sentiment

Memory Box Lucky Leaves shamrock die; Papertrey Ink Irish Blessings sentiments, small shamrock stamps; crochet lace; pearls

K & Co. bird, flower stickers; pearls; white satin ribbon; Papertrey Ink Penned Elegance sentiment; corner rounder punch

My Favorite Things - Pierced Heart Stax dies, Slanted Sentiment Strips die; Stampin' Up! Flower Trio punch; gold sequins; Papertrey Ink Keep It Simple: Missing You sentiment

Stampin' Up! Butterfly Thinlits die, Flower Trio punch; gold sequins; sticker from The Greetery

Power Poppy Olive and Oak Expanded sentiment stamp; Stampin' Up! Touch of Nature fern stamp; Papertrey Ink Meadow Greens fern stamp; frame

Altenew Label Love sentiment; gold embossing powder; My Favorite Things Mini Delicate Doilies die, Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle die; Stampin' Up! Irish Blessing Background stamp; DCWV Mariposa patterned paper

Friends, I hope you have a wonderful day, wherever you are, and despite any negative circumstances that may surround you.  💖

God bless you!

Guesting with Inlovearts

Hello friends!  I have the pleasure of doing a guest post today, with a craft company called Inlovearts.  They asked me to try some of their products, and I chose some really cool dies from their collection.  I am excited to show you what I created with them!

The first card features Hollow Scissors Heart dies.  Love, love, love!  The fancy scissors and half-trimmed heart remind me of old-fashioned Valentine cards that feature handmade hearts and doilies.  I also think of that impressive paper crafting technique of scherenschnitte, a centuries-old art of paper cutting into intricate designs.  I did an internet search of examples of scherenschnitte to show you, and just take a quick peek at some of the beauties out there!  

Back to the Hollow Scissors Heart die set.  They cut absolutely beautifully.  I use a Sizzix Big Shot with all of my dies, and since these dies are more intricate, a Sizzix Chrome Precision Base Plate helps get the best cut possible.  

Inlovearts Hollow Scissors Heart dies; The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Love sentiment stamp; pearls; Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Accents flower punch; My Favorite Things Pierced Traditional Tags tag die

The shot below shows better the silvery paper I used for the scissors.  Love how they turned out!  I used a mauve-pink shimmery paper for the heart, and I think it has such a romantic feel.  When I made the choice to use a pink heart, with silver scissors, that's when I knew this needed to be a Valentine's Day card. 😀

The next card has me dreaming of our next season:  autumn!  It's my favorite season. 💗  I used the Multiple Leaves die set. Although there are five beautiful leaves in the set, I chose only three to showcase in wheat, deep rusty orange, and mossy green cardstocks.  I set them against a deep espresso background to make those colors really pop! 

Inlovearts Multiple Leaves dies ; Stampin' Up! So Many Shells sentiment stamp; Gina Marie Designs Big and Little Chain Rectangles die

The Pattern Tie die set contains three men's ties and I like how bold they are!  This card is an A2 design, so it's 4.25" wide by 5.5" high.  The tie takes center stage (well, left stage!  LOL) and it only needed a sentiment to complement it.  I used a plaid patterned paper as a background base as well as the 'fabric' for the tie.  It's a little hard to see in the picture, but the tie has a stitched look all around.  It's a subtle but nice touch.

Inlovearts Pattern Tie die; Inspired By Stamping Guy Sentiments sentiment stamp

My last card showcases Stackable Hearts Nesting Dies and again, I found myself using the color orange!  I noticed this common thread after I made all four cards; so funny.  There are six hearts in the set, and used half of them on my size A2 card.  The smallest heart was die cut with ivory cardstock and stamped with a sentiment.  Each heart has pretty scallops all the way around.  So feminine!  And with pearls being one of my favorite accessories, they seemed a natural match for these dainty, girly hearts. 

Inlovearts Stackable Hearts Nesting dies; Hug Snug Mottle Brown seam binding; pearls; The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Birthday sentiment stamp 

The kind folks at Inlovearts are offering a 15% discount to you!

 

Discount code:   G-20398   

Thank you all so much for your visit today!

God bless you. 😃