A Fishy Birthday Card! (STB and SACC)

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!

My daughter asked me to make a card for her boss who likes to fish and I only had this paper and these little fish stickers (which I have been hoarding for a very long time!!) So I thought that this cabin from Taylored Expressions (Cozy Cabin) would tie them all together.  What do you think?

 Love this paper, I have it in both 12x12 and the 6x6 paper pad.  It's the collection from Simple Stories called I{Heart} Summer.  I used a card stock base called Desert Storm, the local scrapbook store (where I work, see the sidebar) makes packages up with matching envelopes and it's very masculine and so convenient.  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches (Sentiment Sampler).  I've colored the cabin with Copic Markers after stamping it on Neenah white card stock using Memento Rich Cocoa ink. The die is a Spellbinder Nestabilities Label 1, I've inked the edge with Distress ink (Frayed Burlap). The button is from my stash and I've added Glossy Accents to the windows, one of the fish I've cut out from the designer paper and added the glossy accents to it, too. Can you see the shiny/scaly fish? What I wanted to put there was a piece of tackle, a tied fly but it was too late to go through all my dh's fishing gear in the shed! It would have been perfect.... oh well next fishy card!
 

I'll be entering this card at:

Seize the Birthday Challenge (anything goes birthday)

Sister Act Card Challenge #46

  We are expecting rain all weekend which we really need here in California, perfect excuse to stay in but our oldest grandson is celebrating his 7th birthday on Saturday so we will be heading out to be with him at Flips for Kids.  Should be a fun birthday party.  Can't wait to show the card I'm making for him!

Thanks for visiting!

The works of the LORD are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.  Psalm 111:3

His Mercies - CTD 281 and WAW 121

Hello Delightful friends and family!

Pulled out my Distress Inks and water color paper to play along with the Color Throwdown #281 and Word Art Wednesday #121 Anything Goes

Ingredients: Distress Inks (Spiced Marmalade Squeezed Lemon, Black Soot, Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold); Archival Jet Black ink;  Stamps:  Taylored Expressions (Posh Posie) and Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Be Encouraged set); Paper: Bazzill card stock and water color paper; Mini Mister and water pen; EK Success corner rounder, rhinestones, white gel pen and Spica clear pen.

This card is going to friends who are having a rough time with guilt and regret due to their past. Have you ever felt that way? The wrong choices that perhaps you made in the past that effected future decisions made by your children.  And now the adult children are experiencing the consequences of their own choices, while the parents are experiencing guilt and regret.  It is so difficult to see our loved ones making decisions that could affect their eternal destination.  Addictions, bitterness and hardness of heart are very difficult to break through.  Wow, this sounds like a real downer of a post but I just want to say that there is HOPE.  God is faithful.  He is sovereign.  We have to learn to trust and serve Him faithfully no matter what. Is that easy? Not always easy, but possible. Discouragement is a powerful weapon of the enemy that we have to learn to recognize so that we can overcome it. We can overcome it through prayer and praise, but the best way is through reading the Word of God and taking time to really meditate on it and allow God to work in our hearts (couple that with the prayer and praise and it's a great recipe for a spiritual victory!).  I have found that when talking with friends who are discouraged that they are no longer reading their Bibles and spending time with the Lord.  You see, when we get our eyes off of Jesus and get them turned on ourselves and our circumstances we are playing right into the adversary's hand.  Does this sound like you? God's mercies truly are new every morning (He cannot lie).  He is waiting with open arms to love, comfort and extend His mercies to you.  

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  1 John 4:4

Thanks for visiting!!

Birthday Wishes

Hello Delightful friends and family,
Hooray it's Friday, right??  Hope you have a great weekend. I will be busy on Saturday at the church preparing for an event that I will be speaking at in March and also for our Ladies Bible Study on March 3.  So it's doubtful that I'll be spending much time in my craft room this weekend.  I did have a little time before Jake and Addy came over this morning to make a birthday card for my great niece who is turning two.  She lives in New York but is in Oregon to visit her grandparents (my sister). My mom and my other sister will be heading up there this weekend to celebrate with little Miss Laurel, so the card and gift will be making it to her in time for her party. Happy Birthday Laurel!!!

I'll be entering this card in the following challenges:
Seize the Sketch #14
Seize the Birthday (Time for a little love - hearts)
Word Art Wednesday (Anything Goes #120)
Sister Act Card Challenge #45

INSIDE 

Ingredients:  Digital image: Lori Boyd (Puddle Jumper Suzy); Colored with Copics: BG11,09,13,34,78; E000, 00, 02, 35, 50; R20; YR23, 24.  Smooch pearlized acrylic paint (lime tart on necklace).

Designer Paper WR Memory Keepers Hip Hip Hooray and Sentiment (Taylored Expressions Key Ingredient Kit - February '14 - Birthday Bash)

Inks: Memento (Morocco and Pistachio) Bazzill and Neenah Card Stock, Spica Pens: Garnet (shoes) and Melon: heart on bow; Hearts: Taylored Expressions; Spellbinder Nestabilities, Scallop Circle; Inside Sentiment (Hero Arts) and Balloon (T.E. Key Ingredient Kit), Jenni Bowlin Sticker (#2)

Thanks for visiting!! 

It is written, "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."  Matthew 4:4

Our Strength is in Him!

Hello Delightful friends and family!

Another late night here at the Houston home.  I got a late start on this card but really wanted to finish it and get it posted before heading to a warm bed, I already hear hubby sawing logs! (mercy!!)

This card I made for friends that are really going through a tough time physically, it's been one thing after another since they came back from a quick ministry trip to Kenya in December.  Trusting this will encourage them as well as our prayers.  (Please pray for my friends Darrell and Tiffany in Nebraska) Hopefully they will get it in the mail before seeing it here.

I will be entering this in the Crafter Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog #2 (It's a color challenge, pictured below) and Word Art Wednesday (#120 Anything Goes)

Inside of card (isn't that a great sentiment from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps)

 This is the inspiration picture and colors for CHACB#2

I dug deep into my hoard and found some of the blue card stocks I needed, DCWV designer paper (Linen Closet collection 8x8), not sure about the paper I've used for the leaves, it was in my scraps that I'm "holding on to". The dies I've used are from Taylored Expressions (leaves, vase, frame) This is the first time I've used the vase and I've had it for a year!  I guess it's confession time.... (tee-hee). Embossing Folder - ProvoCraft Cuttlebug; Martha Stewart Border Punch.  Flowers are from Taylored Expressions - Faith in Bloom stamp set (one of my favorites!) I've fussy cut them to fit into the vase.

Other ingredients: Copic Markers, Liquid Pearls; Distress Ink, Faded Jeans; Memento Ink, Nautical Blue.

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps - Be Encouraged (front) and Future (inside)

Thanks for visiting!!  Hope you're having a great week!

The works of the LORD are great.  Studied by all who have pleasure in them.  Psalm 111:2

Bear Hugs for Addy!

Happy Valentines Day to all my Delightful friends and family!

Here is a card I made for my #2 granddaughter, the others have already been given and since Addy is still here this evening I took a quick picture of the card and envelope. I was up really, really late finishing the girls' cards and my craft table is still in the same state as I left it. (messy pics at the end of this post)

 

This card is 3x3 and my stamp is from Taylored Expressions which I've colored with Copic Markers.  I tried a different technique to add texture to the bear's fur coat by making x's with 3 different markers. 

It's not exactly what I wanted but at midnight and a card for a 4 year old, for my first attempt... I'm happy with it.  I made the envelope using the WeR Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board.

I'm entering this in:

 Word Art Wednesday Challenge #119

  Sister Act Card Challenge

 Here is the mess I left...

Don't judge me (lol) I know if you are a crafter you are understanding the "creative mess"!

Thanks for visiting!!

Hoo loves ya, baby?

Hi there Delightful friends and family!
We are heading into the middle of the week and I hope you all are doing well.  I've been a bit busier because I've been working at the lss a few more hours than norm to help fill in this month, it's good to be able to help but it takes its toll on me in the evening and I don't want to do anything (and that includes spending time in my delightful craft room).  But I'm glad I can help out.

 I did manage to make a card for the new Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge blog's first challenge!!  (Congrats Gloria and Team!!)
The challenge is to make something that showcases your signature style.  I think this qualifies. I'm still trying to define my style (lol) I like the kinda cutesy look, sometimes CAS other times lots of layers, usually with either paper piecing (not this time) or colored with Copic markers or usually both techniques.  See I'm not only a hoarder but a confused crafter, too!  My daughter thinks I need intervention just because I have over 60 stamp pads. Silly girl went to college, too....

Do you think this qualifies as a kinda masculine cutie?  DO NOT tell the guys I said cute though, okay?

 I've been inspired by a lot of wood grain papers lately and thought I'd try something a bit different and make my own wood grain paper tree trunk.  I've been hoarding this Happy Camper paper (background), the Sizzix wood grain embossing folder and the fun sentiment (Unity - inside of the card) so I thought I'd pull them out and make a masculine Valentine card. Let me tell I might have broke out in a sweat when I cut into this cute paper by Imaginisce (love the trees!)  Shhhh don't tell anyone I bought two sheets of it.


I've colored this fun owl (Paper Smooches - Chubby Chums set includes the woohooo!) with my Copics (E18, E25, E27, E51, E79: Y11, Y17).

Other Ingredients:
Ink: Memento, rich cocoa; Distress Ink: frayed burlap; Card Stock: Neenah bright white and Bazzill; Spellbinders Nestabilities Circle Die, EK Success corner rounder, very old heart punch and Paper Smooches Stamp (stitched heart from Needle Little Loving) and my much loved Cuttlebug.

I'm also entering this card in the challenge at
  Cardz 4 Guyz (#4 Truly, Madly, Deeply)
Sister Act Card Challenge #43

Thanks for visiting!  Enjoy the rest of the week.

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 1 John 2:3

Warm Thoughts - CTS 63

Hello Delightful friends and family!

I've been MIA this week due to a lot of extra stuff going on at home and church.  Hope you've all had a good week.  I'm sitting here getting my mind wrapped around that I have to go to work tomorrow.  I worked Saturday at the lss and then picked up my oldest granddaughter Riley after work and we got all of her school valentines made.  We made some special ones for her teacher and the teacher's assistant.  But I completely forgot to take a picture!  I do have one to share but it's a birthday card I made for my boss.  Hope she'll like it.

I've used my Copics (R46, R56, R59, E55, E53, W0, W1) to color this and the stamp is from Paper Smooches (Warm Hearts and Sentiment Sampler).  I've stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black.  Card stock: Neenah and Bazzill; Spica Pen and Glossy Accents to embellish.

I'm entering this card at CAS(E) this sketch! #63 and Word Art Wednesday #118

Thanks for looking!!  

My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.  Psalm 84:2

Pinwheel Birthday Card - Seize the Birthday and Seize the Sketch #12

Hello Delightful friends and family!

Just getting this in under the wire for the challenge at Seize the Birthday (use Chevrons) and I was too late for the  Seize the Sketch #12.  But I want to give credit where credit is do.

Got to make this really brief, it's past my bedtime and I've got to work at the lss in the morning plus tomorrow evening I'm teaching our ladies Bible study.  Busy, busy...

Stamps : Pinwheel is from Taylored Expressions (Delightful Day) and the sentiment is Paper Smooches (Sentiment Sampler set)

The Designer Paper is My Minds Eye (My Girl - 6x6 pad); Card Stock: Bazzill and DCWV.

Ink: Memento, Tuxedo Black; 

I used lots of Liquid Pearls (Ranger) to embellish the pinwheel and flags.  I gave the pinwheel more dimension by stamping it twice, paper piecing and fussy cutting them out and then used 3D Dots (EK tools) to pop it up.  The flags were created by taking a 3/4" x 2" strip, folding it over adhering them with Zots and punching each with the Envelope Punch Board (WR Memory Keepers).

Darice Natural Hemp Cord finishes the banner.

I must be honest this is not my favorite card and the first one ended up in the trash/recycling! Not sure why I had such a difficult time with the sketch, maybe if the pinwheel was positioned lower??  I was trying to make it for a little girls birthday party that Addy is going to and thought the pinwheel would be a cute idea.  Oh well....

Thanks for visiting and have a great week!  Congrats to the Seahawks and their fans, they were very impressive!!  (Personally I'm a Niner's fan living here in northern California!) Condolences to the Bronco's and their fans - they had an awesome season though.

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge;  Proverbs 22:17