Friday, April 29, 2011

CSS - StampTV Kit Blog Hop - 4/27/2011

It is another StampTV blog hop and this time it is a Treasure Hunt with the Stamp TV kits being the treasure!


My first card is from the most recent StampTV kit called Springtime Silhouettes. I love this set! I chose the butterfly and wet embossed it with black on GKD Pure Luxury Ivory, then cut it out. I took a panel of the ivory and "dirtied" it with some Black Soot and Pumice Stone Distress Inks. I used the Fleur De Lis Spellbinder Die and tossed a few pearls on it. I had some ivory lace and that little strip of DP from Graphics 45. I had the button and the ribbon. The small tag was a MS punch and the tiny butterfly was from the Sending Sunshine stamp set also from GKD.
 
My second card was a really quick last minute card. I have had the first Stamp TV set I purchased called Eclectic Summer and Eclectic Summer Sayings, sitting on my craft table for a week but inspiration did not strike until I opened my order from GinaK and one of her new paper packs was in there. It is from Echo Park and is called "A Walk in the Park". Aha, now I knew what I was going to make. I stamped and colored the hot air balloon and then used some clear embossing powder on it. Then I used the scalloped circle Spellbinder and sponged them a bit to look a little like clouds. I used a Cuttlebug folder on some of the DP and just kind of threw it together. I took the picture just an hour ago and now I am thinking it needed something else on it. But - too late. Here it is as it is.

You should have arrived from Sharri Seffens blog where you were undoubtedly very impressed! If you want to start at the beginning  or get lost along the way, just jump directly to the links for all of the wonderful creations on StampTV. Your next stop is bound to be impressive so hop over to visit Lori McAree.

Make sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs...Gina will randomly choose a winner who will get to choose ANY past StampTV stamp set of their own! Winner will be announced Tuesday morning! Thanks Gina, you are the best! 

As always, your comments really do mean a lot to me. Thank you for leaving them.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Birthday Dress

To see the Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge post please scroll down.

A simple birthday card. I had still not used this cute stamp from GinaK Designs called Celebrate in Style. This image just begged to be paper pieced! And with 2 daughters and 2 DIL and 6 granddaughters I am sure I will use this card! 


I had that polka dot paper in my scrap bin and no clue where it came from! I am usually pretty good about putting things back but that one escaped me! I used my Swiss Dot Cuttlebug folder and that yellow ribbon worked.



Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment!




Card Recipe:
Stamps: GKD Celebrate in Style
Paper: GinaK Pure Luxury White and Lemon Drop
DP: Scraps
Other: Ribbon, Cuttlebug folder, Spellbinder Dies


Challenges:
Stamp TV: Color - white, bubblegum pink, lemon drop
Card Patterns: Sketch
Stamping Scrapping Central Anything Goes
A Spoonful Of Sugar - All Things Royalty 
DDH Challenges - 2W - Paper Piecing
The Outlawz - Sentiment required - Anything Goes

Monday, April 25, 2011

Peaceful Swan

To see the Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge post please scroll down.

I made this card for the Release Party contest at StampTV. The contest challenge is to use 3 different DP on the card. All three of these papers were from one of the new Basic Grey paper packs called Sweet Threads. I love those colors and seemed perfect for the swan. 


I colored the swan and the water with Distress Inks and pen nubs. I really like this technique - fun and a different than coloring with Copics. I then embossed the image using UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) to make it look like water. 


The sketch is for the Mojo Monday Challenge.


Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment!




Card Recipe:
Stamps: GKD Warm With Love
Paper: GinaK Pure Luxury Ivory
DP: BG Sweet Threads
Other: Distress inks to color, UTEE, ribbon, leaf punch


Challenges:
Stamp TV: Release party challenge
Mojo Monday: Sketch
Crazy Challenge -3 different papers
I Did It Creations - Recipe: 1 Image, 2 papers, 3 Embellishments
Basic Grey Challenge - Spring



Sunday, April 24, 2011

He is Risen! - Luke 24:46-47

He is risen, Alleluia! Happy Easter dear friends. So glad you could join us for  another challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

This week sweet Rebekka chose the verse for this Easter challenge. The verse she chose is Luke 24:46-47.

... and (Jesus) said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem...
This week my reflection would be very redundant - the verse and the day says it all - He is risen.  Please read Rebekka's wonderful devotional on the main page.
 

The challenge this week is to create a round Easter card.

Our sponsor this week is Serendipity Stamps with a cling stamp set.

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters to see what they have to share this week:


Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You
Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow
Peggysue Turner: Roses By My Window
Rebekka Reed: Diamond in the Rough
Kristine Breach: Ink Something
MariLynn DeGroot - Mississippi McGyver
Sabrina Jackson - SJ Butterfly Dreams
Randi Barret: A New Creation (On break)

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

May you have a wonderful Easter Sunday and week to follow.
 




Recipe:
Stamps: Christ is Risen - GKD
Paper: SU - round cards
Designer Paper: none
Other: Ribbon, pears, wet embossing

Challenges: 
4 Crafty Chicks - Challenge #34: Easter
Paper Play - Easter or Spring
Simon Says Stamp - embossing
Crazy 4 Challenges - Easter Card
ECP Challenges - Easter
Ellephantastic - Anything But Square or Rectangle
Sweet Stampin - Easter
Delicious Doodles - Anything Goes
Sparkle's Forum - Anything Goes

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Frieda at the Gate



Have you heard that Lisa (co-founder of SSIC) has opened her own store? Did you know that Nina Bracket is now going to be designing for her? Were you aware that Little Frieda is just at her store? Oh Yeah! 

For this card I used 3 stamps sets from TCM (The Craft's Meow). First I stamped the gate and roses, then colored the image and distressed the entire pane. I sponged distress inks over the panel several times wetting in between sponging. Then I cut it out rather raggedly and curled over the edges to make it look REALLY old! Frieda was stamped, colored with Copics and cut out. I also fussy cut the flowers again and popped them up a bit. I left the background panel plain, other then distressing, and placed the embossed lace stamped image just behind Frieda. Added the sentiment and the buttons and there she is!


On May 1st TCM will have some new additions too - can't wait to see what she will have for us! I am so excited and you should be too.




Card Recipe:
Stamps: The Craft's Meow - Little Frieda's Flowers, TCM Just for You, Fence with Roses
Paper: TCM specialty for La Blanche stamps, GKD, Smokey Slate & Tan Leather
DP: None
Other: Copics to color, Distress inks, Distressing tool, buttons, embossing


Challenges:
Try It On Tuesday  - Something Recycled in Your Project (the buttons)
Make it Monday - Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show... - A Tim Holtz Technique
Mark's Finest Papers: Collage card  


Sunday, April 17, 2011

Baptism: Matthew 16:23

Palm Sunday - such a special day in the liturgical calendar. And another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

This week it is Peggysue who chose the verse for the challenge. The verse she chose is  Matthew 16:23 . Perfect for this season of Palm Sunday.

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!"
Temptation - we all face it daily in one form or another. Sometimes is is easy to resist, other times not so much. Satan is always so busy trying to get us to make bad choices, we have to work harder to resist. It is a good thing that we can call for help - Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane when He asked His father to let the cup pass from him. When we are in constant communication with Our Father we have help keeping Satan behind us more often.


Use Versamark for a tone on tone background somewhere on your card. 

Next Saturday night at the Easter Vigil service our 6 newest (through adoption this past year) grandchildren will be welcomed into the church through baptism, 1st Holy Communion, and Confirmation. We are so happy for them and for our family. I made each one of them a different card and posted them all on my blog in previous posts. This is the last card and it is for the youngest, 5 year old Victoria. 

Our sponsor this week is Designed2Delight with a $10 gift certificate.

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters to see what they have to share this week:


Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You
Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow
Peggysue Turner: Roses By My Window
Rebekka Reed: Diamond in the Rough
Kristine Breach: Ink Something
MariLynn DeGroot - Mississippi McGyver
Sabrina Jackson - SJ Butterfly Dreams
Randi Barret: A New Creation (On break)

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Have a wonderful Holy Week filled with blessings.
 




Recipe:
Stamps: Magnolia
Paper: GKD Pure Luxury White and Creme de Menthe
Designer Paper: none
Other: Spellbinder Dies, Versamark for the tone-on-tone, ribbon, charm

Challenges: 
Simon Says Stamp: Card for a child
2 Sisters Challenge: Bingo - swirls, glitter, ribbon
Gem of a Challenge: Swirls or Pearls - I have swirl
Paper Take Weekly - Dimension somewhere On Your Card
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything goes
Card Makin' Mamas -- embellish it
7 Kids College Fund: Easter/Spring
Flutterby Wednesday's: Pastel Colors 
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge: Use fav Magnolia 

Friday, April 15, 2011

More 1st Communion Cards



We have 5 grandchildren receiving their First Holy Communion and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil Mass next week. Another one is being baptized. For those of you who follow my blog these are the children that our oldest son and his wife adopted. We are lucky grandparents and I am a busy card maker! I am trying to make them all different. The first 2 cards (for the boys) was my previous blog post. These are for the three middle girls (9, 8, 7). Sunday morning I will post the last one on my Stampin Sisters in Christ post. 


I really like the way these turned out. There is nothing better than making a card for specific people (kids) who are very close to my heart.

Thank you for looking and for your comments.




Card Recipe:
Stamps: Whiff of Joy - confirmation
Paper: GinaK: White, LEmon Drop, Lovely Lavender, Bubblegum Pink
DP: From the GinaK StampTv Kit
Other: Copics to color, Spellbinder Dies, charms and various ribbons.


Challenges:
7 Kids College Fund: Easter/Spring
Simon Says Stamp: Card for a child
Midnight Madness: Sketch
Card Making Mama: Spring Colors
Fussy and Fancy: Card for a child
Flutterby Wednesday's: Pastel Colors

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

1st Communion

To see the Stampin Sisters in Christ and Craft's Meow post please scroll down.

We have 5 grandchildren receiving their First Holy Communion and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil Mass next week. Another one is being baptized. For those of you who follow my blog these are the children that our oldest son and his wife adopted. We are lucky grandparents and I am a busy card maker! I am trying to make them all different. Here are the first 2 cards. 


I used the stamp set from Our Daily Bread Stamps called First Holy Communion. I love the way the cards look so different.




Card Recipe:
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Stamps called First Holy Communion
Paper: GinaK Sweet Corn, Fresh Asparagus, Ivory, White, Silver 
DP: None
Other: Copics to color, Spellbinder Dies, Dew Drops


Challenges:
ODBD - No Ribbon
Papertake Weekly - Dimensions - both cards have it. The silver chalice and the cross on the other one.
Woodware USA - anything goes

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Iris Thoughts: Mark 15:17

Another busy week. Sadly work is really interfering with my stamping! Very ready for a vacation! Another Super Special Sunday with a challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

This week the wonderful Kristine chose the verse for this week's challenge. The verse she chose is Mark 15:17. Perfect for this season of Lent.
"They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him."
Oh how He loves us! That is in a song by The David Crowder Band (contemporary Christian) and this verse made me think of that song. The sacrifice Jesus made for us is almost beyond what I can imagine. I was talking to my husband about this verse and wondering how I was going to relate it in a now way. He told me that it reminds him of my dad. My father (86) takes care of my mother (84) 24 hours a day. She has had several strokes and needs  around the clock care. He changes her diapers and bathes her and tries to meet all of her physical and emotional needs. My brother and sister and I do come by and help as do the wonderful people from Hospice. But my dad really is giving his "quality" of life to the love of his life - my mom!

This week the challenge is to use shades of purple as your main color AND/OR use wood paper or elements on your card.

I am always amazed at how many shades of purple there are! My card has several and none of them seemed to match - however - they did not clash either! The iris is really purples although it photographed a little more blue than it is IRL. I used the baby white technique to create the panel behind the image and rather than a circle for the main image I put the circle behind it using vellum after sponging the edges a bit. The sentiment is a rub on in white. Some lace and pearls and a ribbon and the card is done!

Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamps with the "Why do Birds Fall in Love" stamp set.

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters to see what they have to share this week:


Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You
Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow
Peggysue Turner: Roses By My Window
Rebekka Reed: Diamond in the Rough
Kristine Breach: Ink Something
MariLynn DeGroot - Mississippi McGyver
Sabrina Jackson - SJ Butterfly Dreams
Randi Barret: A New Creation (On break)

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Have a wonderful week filled with blessings.
 




Recipe:
Stamps: Warm with Love - GinaKDesigns
Paper: GKD Pure Luxury White SU Vintage Violet
Designer Paper:Created with inkers
Other: Spellbinder Dies, lace, ribbon, pearls and Copics to color

Challenges: 

Simon Says Stamps - Spring Colors - purple Iris
JUGS - Baby Wipe technique used on the strip behind the flower
Card Patterns - Sketch
2 Sisters - Spring
Crafty Calendar -  April Showers Bring Forth May Flowers
Wags 'n Whiskers Ribbons & Pearls
CCEE Stampers - Add a doily die and/or lace 

Friday, April 8, 2011

CSS - Inspiration Blog Hop - 4/8/2011

It is another StampTV blog hop and this time it is an Inspiration challenge. 


There were so many options with this inspiration, all of them lovely and fun. The first card was based on Premier 6 and I went with the colors of pink, black and white. I had still not had a chance to play with the newest StampTV kit and really wanted to use that. I love the bird cage and decided to emboss it in black and cut it out. On the background I took out Melanie's Wild at Heart and stamped it with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink. Then highlighted it a little with my Sakura pen. A black bow and some silver cord to look like a chain. The sentiment was from a rub on. 



The second card was from the Premier 9 and I followed the sketch and the monochromatic white. I stuck with the StampTV kit and used one of the butterflies. I stamped it on velum four times and used some pearl ex to make them sparkle 2 in a blue and two in white. I then carefully cut them out and popped them up. I added some of the flowers and put some pearls around it.  


You should have arrived from Melissa Cash blog where you were undoubtedly very impressed! If you want to start at the beginning  or get lost along the way, just jump directly to the links for all of the wonderful creations on StampTV.

I am the last stop on this hop. Thank you for joining us and be sure to come back soon. 

****Make sure to leave a comment as you hop along because on Tuesday morning (April 12), we will randomly choose one of the comments from all the blogs who will get a stamp set of their choice valued up to $24.95!

As always, your comments really do mean a lot to me. Thank you for leaving them.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Birthday Basket

To see the Stampin Sisters in Christ and Craft's Meow post please scroll down.

A birthday basket of flowers. I stamped the basket on Tan Leather and the flowers on white. Then cut and colored. I cut up some yarn that I had and glued that into the middle of the flowers. I also popped up the flowers. I used an Impressibility for the green background and a MS border punch for the little bit of peach.  

A quick and easy put together card since I already had the flowers colored and the basket stamped. They were just waiting to be used. Now they are home and on their way to a birthday of a friend.

Thanks for looking and for the comments!






Card Recipe:
Stamps: Spring Basket (Melanie) - GinaK Designs
Paper:GinaK Pure Luxury Fresh Asparagus, Tan Leather for the basket
DP: The scrap was in my basket and I cannot remember where it came from.
Other: ribbon, Copics to color, MS border punch and some cut up yarn for the center of the flowers.


Challenges:
StampTV - Sketch
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Crazy Challenge - Just Add Flowers
Make it Monday - Anything goes
Paper Playtime -Anything Goes
Mojo Monday - Sketch
I Did It Creations - Anything Goes

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Well Wishes: Luke 18:17

I did not get a lot of other cards made this week. Some weeks are just busier than others. But I did get my card done for my favorite day of the week; Sunday's challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

This week it was my turn to choose the verse for this week's challenge. The verse I chose is from the book of Luke chapter 18 verse 17.

"Amen I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."
About an hour before Mass tonight my phone rang. It was one of the ladies from church who was scheduled to do tonight's readings. She had broken a hip and after a somewhat lengthy recovery (at age 89) she was back in the rotation. Well, Martha asked me to cover for her saying that she felt a little uncertain, so I said I would. Normally when it is my turn to do the readings I practice several times during the week so I was a bit nervous myself. When we arrived at church I was surprised to see  Martha. She felt better and was still going to do the reading but wanted me to sit with her and take over if she could not finish. She just needed a little support - she did great too. Trust - she placed her trust in me and together we placed our trust in God.

Please see my full devotion at the home page of Stampin Sisters in Christ.

This week the challenge is to create a card or project for a child.

I made this card for my granddaughter who had to have her tonsils out this week. It is scary for an 8 year old to go through a surgery and I wanted to send her a little comfort. I stamped the image, colored it and cut it out. Then I used several pages from the BG Olivia DP. I found the charm in my stash and placed a few dew drops on it. The seam binding ribbon was a gift!

Our sponsor this week is Clear Dollar Stamps with a $15 gift certificate.

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters to see what they have to share this week:


Grace Nywening: Th-INK-ing of You
Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow
Peggysue Turner: Roses By My Window
Rebekka Reed: Diamond in the Rough
Kristine Breach: Ink Something
MariLynn DeGroot - Mississippi McGyver
Sabrina Jackson - SJ Butterfly Dreams
Randi Barret: A New Creation (On break)

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Have a wonderful week filled with blessings.
 




Recipe:
Stamps: Better Get Better from My Favorite Things
Paper: GKD Pure Luxury White and black
Designer Paper: BG - Olivia
Other: Heart punch, charm, binding ribbon, dew drops, Copics to color

Challenges: 
Creative Card Crew - for a child
Aud Sentiments Challenge  -A sentiment/card for a child
One Stop Craft -  Spots and Dots   
Crafty Emma - Children
2 Sisters -  Get Well/Thinking of You

Saturday, April 2, 2011

He is the Lamb



Oh my, I love it when a mistake turns out well! I had made the lamb a few weeks ago not sure how I was going to use it. Then I found some of my flocking which I do not use very often. So I decided to make the lamb look a little wooly. I then found the sketch challenge over at CPS and was going to use this lamb in that sketch. Okay so far. I really liked the kraft card stock with this and was so pleased to find the DP from DCWV that matched it so perfectly. 
My mistake was when I stamped the sentiment at the very end it totally smeared. After growling for a bit I decided to stamp it on some of the solid paper and just cut around the words. Loved how it turned out! 
Thanks for looking and for the comments!






Card Recipe:
Stamps: He is the Lamb - MFP
Paper:GinaK Pure Luxury white, Kraft
DP: DCWV - Linen Closet
Other: Making Memories Lace ribbon, Recollections circle sticker, Gold beads, Spellbinders dies


Challenges

CPS - Sketch
Frosted Designs - Use Bling
Paper Cutz - Easter Card
FuzzyWuzzy - include an animal
Southern Girls - add an animal
MFT - spotlight an animal
Crazy for Challenges - sketch