Quiet Waters!

This card is for today's Inspiration Challenge at SCS (IC182)! Thanks, Stef for a great challenge!!! I chose this picture as my inspiration.

I am giving you a sneak peek at another new to be releases ODBD stamp set called Quiet Waters. I colored my image using Ranger inks and an aquapainter. I did use some soft sky ink for the blues. I sponged my sky with barely banana and soft sky inks.

I am using one of the solid pieces of the basicgray dp Marrakech paper pad. I layered a SU scallop border with a Martha Stewart border punch. I finished my card with some stitched rub ons and some gold domes.

STAMPS

ODBD Quiet Waters

INK

Palette Noir, Ranger Inks, SU Soft Sky and Barely Banana

PAPER

PTI dark chocolate, gp white, Basicgray

ACCESSORIES

MS border punch, SU border punch, foam tape, sponges, gold domes, rub ons, aquapainter, versamark, nestabilities

ODBD Sneak Peek!

This card is for today's SCS Ways to Use It Challenge(WT220)!!! We are to use buttons!!! Thanks for a great challenge, Julia!!! I am using a large button as a ribbon slide because the holes on the inside were large enough to get the ribbon through. I also used a small button in the top corner as an accent.

I am giving you a sneak peek of one of ODBD new June 1st stamp releases called Ask, Seek, Knock! I colored the door with some Ranger inks and an aquapainter. I enhanced the coloring once it was dried with some copic markers. I added a fiskars punch border detailing. I only show a portion of the punch, though. Love this look.

I kept the background dp and layers sort of in the monochromatic look eventhough the dp comes embossed with the flourishy leaves. I used some Prism by Prismatics cardstock in Birchtone Bark. This cardstock comes in every color under the sun and I am convinced will match any dp that is impossible to match. I finished my card with my button as ribbon slider and corner punch detailing.

STAMPS

ODBD Ask, Seek, Knock

CARDSTOCK

Prism by Prismatics, PTI vintage cream, strathmore watercolor paper, Studio D dp

INK

Palette Noir, Ranger inks in antique linen, vintage photo, tea dyed, walnut stain

ACCESSORIES

Nestabilities, photo corner punch, fiskars border punch, PTI dark chocolate buttons, sponges, foam tape, aquapainter, copics

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC17)!

It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC17)! This week we are introducing our first Flourishes Guest Challenge Host Connie McCotter(cmc2stamp)! Thanks so much Connie for hosting this week!! Connie is challenging us to sponging on our cards. Sponge coloring, sponge distressing, sponge shading, and sponge stenciling to name a few are some of the hottest techniques in stamping. So, grab you ink pad and sponges and add a little sponging to your card. We would love to see what you create!

I am using Flourishes Thinking Of You and the Vintage Wallpaper stamp sets. I stamped my background and focal image using versamark. I embossed both in black. I sponged colored and shaded the background in verying shades of yellow inks with just a touch of some pumpkin pin ink to create the different hues of light to dark. I stenciled the focal image using the oval nestabilities as a stencil and sponging on the inside. I love the dramatic effect of these colors and sponge techniques. I finished my card with some facet buttons that I colored with a permanent marker. I used one of the cuttlebug embossing squares to dry embossed the white border. I decided to leave this border white with no sponging so the focal background and image would pop. I finished my card some black satin ribbon.

Be sure to check out the other Friends of Flourishes Blog team
designers to see what they created for you this week.

Connie

Kimberly Crawford

Silke Ledlow

Cindy Haffner

STAMPS Flourishes Vintage Wallpaper and Thinking of You sets

INK Versamark, summer sun, barely banana, so saffron, pumpkin pie

CARDSTOCK GP White, PTI pure black

ACCESSORIES sponges, Nestabilities, cuttlebug square, button, permanent marker, foam tape, black satin ribbon, glue dots

Sing!

This card is for today's sketch challenge(SC2259)! Thanks, Roxie for another fun sketch!!! I decided to go bold and bright with the colors today. I am using an ODBD set called Sing to the Lord. This set has some wonderful scriptures and sentiments with a gorgeous font. I am also using some Memory Box dp for the background panel. I colored my flower with copics. I used two different cuttlebug ef for the solid colored background panels. I also added an EK Success border punchededge to both panels.

I purchased some iron on rhinestones and studs from Walmart. I was more interested in the studs. They are flatter than a standard brad. They come with three sizes of studs in two colors. I used two of the largest brass color ones today, but colored them and the silver tiny pearl domes that I used with a permanent black marker.

STAMPS

ODBD Sing to the Lord

PAPER

PTI Pure Black, Leaf Green, Raspberry Fizz, gp white, Memory Box dp

INK

Paletter Noir, Copics

ACCESSORIES

Cuttlebug ef, EK Success border punch, foam tape, glue dots, studs and tiny pearls both painted with permanent black marker

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge!

It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC16)! This week Silke Ledlow is hosting the challenge!!! It is all about shapes this week. Silke is challenging us to go square with our cards. A square has four right angles and fours sides the same length. We are stepping away from the standard A2 card and going square!!! Go square with us this week!!! We would love to see what you create!!!

Since I generally make most of my cards square, I chose to go smaller. This card is only 4.25 squared. A big difference to me from my normal 5.5 square. I am using the newly released DIY Topiaries and Many Sentiments sets. Instead of using one of the topiaries as my focal point, I opted for one of the smaller groupings of topiaries in the set to create a stamped background. It was super easy and fast to do with clear images to see where I stamped. I outlined each of the mini topiaries with a copic shadow marker(C1) to give the topiaries some definition.

I inked a spanish script background image in dark chocolate. I stamped off twice then stamped over the whole background. I sponged the background with Ranger antique linen and the edge with vintage photo to create an aged look. I wanted to use the sentiment as the focal image, yet have some topiaries in the background. I stamped off image once so the topiaries behind the sentiment are very subtle. Again, I sponged the the sides and edges. I finished with some gold pearls and tiny butterfly punches. I love the way it turned out!!!

Be sure to check out the other Friends of Flourishes Blog team

designers to see what they created for you this week.

Silke Ledlow

Cindy Haffner

Kimberly Crawford

Stamps

Flourishes DIY Topiaries and Many Sentiments, CHF spanish script backgrounder

PAPER

dark chocolate, raspberry fizz, ripe avocado, and gp white

INK

ripe avocado, raspberry fizz, antique linen, vintage photo

ACCESSORIES

Nestabilities, MS butterflies punch, gold pearls, sponges, foam tape, liquid glue pen

Thank You!!!!

This card is for today's feature stamper challenge (FS119) at SCS!!! Congratulations, Joan!!! When I read it was you, I thought...what?!?!? I thought Joan had already been a feature stamper!!! Joan has a wonderful gallery and I had a tough time choosing. Here is the card I chose. I am alittle late getting this in, but I had a big craftroom cleaning day. It was either clean it or call enviromental services!! It was really piling up!!! It looks a lot better now, though. Still not picture worthy, yet!!!

I am using Flourishes Damask background for the top background piece, Birds and Vine for the center panel and cut out bird detailing, and Many Sentiments for the sentiment.

I changed the stamp choices, the embellishment choices, and the ribbon detailing. I created all the background papers using stamps.

For the top panel, I used Flourishes Damask background in Paletter Noir. I also sponged this panel with Ranger antique linen. For the bottom panel, I stamped the striped background with CHF fine lines backgrounder. I used Palette dark chocolate ink to stamp the CHF spanish script backgrounder. I sponged the edges with Ranger antique linen.

I stamped the main image and sentiment oval in Paletter Noir, cut out and embossed with the nestabilities, then sponged the edges with the antique linen. I went lighter on the sponging of the edges.

For my ribbon treatment, I punched the fleur de lis border punch from EK Success back to back on a strip of cardstock. I layered with a piece of velvet ribbon. I create a bowtie look with black satin.

I stamped one of the birds in the Birds and Vine set. I cut it out and finished the white edges with a permanent marker. I added a tiny gold pearl for the eye and popped him up next to the sentiment instead of the flowers that Joan used. I finished my card with a pop of some gold dome pearls in all of the corners.

STAMPS

Flourishes Damask, Birds and Vines, Many Sentiments, CHF fine lines and spanish script backgrounders

INK

Palette Noir, Ranger Antique Linen

PAPER

PTI pure black, vintage cream, Prism blush red dark

ACCESSORIES

Nestabilities, satin and velvet ribbon, EK success punch, foam tape, foam dots, glue dots, gold pearl domes, sponges

Bless the Nation!

This card is for this month's Devine Design Bible Verse Challenge! I am using newly release sets by ODBD called God Bless America and In God We Trust. I am also using one of my ODBD favorites called The Cross of Christ. I am using some memory box dp and ranger ink. I use the top note die cut to cut a shape into some scripted font dp from Scenic Route. I stamped the American flag image on this dp using Ranger antique linen ink. I did the same image and color on the scripture oval. I stamped the eagle in some Palette dark chocolate just in the corner. I stamped the Cross in the left corner. I finished my card with some layered flowers and a flourish shape. Can you guess which flourish shape I used behind the flower? It is a little tricky. I finished my card with some layered prima flowers and gold domes.

STAMPS

ODBD God Bless America, In God We Trust, and The Cross of Christ.

PAPER

SU riding hood red, PTI dark chocolate and vintage cream, Memory Box dp and Scenic Route dp

INK

Palette dark chocolate, Ranger Antique Linen

ACCESSORIES

Nestabilities, Top Note, Sizzix die, prima flowers, button, gold domes, foam dots

Freedom! and a Blog Award!

This card is for SCS sketch challenge( SC228)! Thanks, Roxie for a wonderful sketch!!! I am using one of our ODBD newly released sets this month called I Pledge Allegiance.With Memorial Day around the corner followed by July 4th and Labor Day to name a few, the Patriotic themed sets this month are must haves. I am also using some festive Moxie dp that continues with the American theme. I actually used one of the pieces of dp to cut the Freedom. Stars and Stripes tag from. I love how it looks. I used some Ranger antique linen to soften the lines of all the white. I am also using some Prism by Prismatics cardstock in intense cobalt. This blue is the perfect color with the dp. I cuttlebugged with the swiss dots the panel behind the Pledge of Allegiance to offer some texture. I finished my card with a few festive buttons I had in my stash and some red and white thread to finish off the look. What do you think?

STAMPS

ODBD I Pledge Allegiance

PAPER

Prism by Prismatics, gp white, Moxie dp

INK

Real Red, Ranger Antique Linen

ACCESSORIES

Nestabilities, buttons, MS red and white thread, foam tape, sponges, glue dots, cuttlebug ef.

************************************

I have been honored with a wonderful award!!!!

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!

A few months ago I joined this wonderful Christian website called Women to Women Sharing Jesus!( WTWSJ). It is a terrific Christian website and I recommend you check it out. I was notified by Barb Gault (bsgstamps4fun) that she had honor me with this wonderful award. A day or so later, Jami Bova (Stamp Happy with Sgt Stamper!) honored me with the same award. I truly feel honored as well as humbled to receive this particular award because it really is about proudly sharing Jesus Christ on my website. Thanks, ladies!!!!! Blessings to you!!

Rules:

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

1. Name five people to whom you want to offer this award and link to their blogs. The blogs need to obviously exalt Christ in some manner.

2. Contact the bloggers you have named to let them know they can pick up their blog award from you.

3. 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 5 dear sisters in Christ:

The five sisters in Christ that I am honoring with this award are

Jane

Judy

Kim

Loretta

Tosh

Timeless Tuesday Challenge!

It its time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday (FTTC15)! This week Dee Jackson is hosting the challenge. It is Dee's Birthday today!!! WooHoo!!! Happy Birthday, Dee!!! As many of you know Dee is having some health issues. We are continuing to keep her in our prayers and we miss her very much!!!! Dee is challenging us to create Birthday cards!!!! We are celebrating life, health, and happiness!!!! So, whether your Birthday card is for a newborn or someone celebrating over 100 years, we would love to see what you create!!!

I am using the Poppy Patch and Many Sentiments sets. I stamped all of my images on European Watercolor paper using Palette Noir ink. I watercolored the entire background using so saffron, an aquapainter and reinker. I then water colored all the flowers and cut them out and popped them up for added dimension. I shrinky dinked the sentiment tag. I finished with some black gingham and button detailing. I love how this turned out. I did use a Fiskars border punch for some detailing along with some pearl domes to finish my look.

Be sure to check out the other Friends of Flourishes Blog team
designers to see what Birthday cards they created.

Cindy Haffner
Kimberly Crawford
Silke Ledlow
Becca Feeken

Please hop over to Dee Jackson's blog and wish her a

Happy Birthday!!! I am sure she will love it!!!

Friendly Gratitude!

This card is for two challenges. The first one is for SCS Inspiration Challenge (IC179). Thanks so much Stef for the wonderful pillow choices. I chose this pillow as my inspiration.

This card is also for Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge - Week 5

I am using PTI raspberry fizz, hibiscus burst, smokey shadow, and vintage cream. I am really loving this smokey shadow. I think it is a great neutral. It is truly a smokey hue, too. Love that. I am using a couple of PTI sets for this card. I am using Spiral Bouquet and Out on a Limb(pre revision edition).

For my card to look more like the inspiration picture pillow, I chose to use the larger scripty words in the Spiral Bouqet set. I stamped random themed words and a mini sentiment for the background. I sponged the edges to give it a little age look to look more like the inspiration picture. I chose the little dotted flower blooms in the Out on the Limb set to mimic the pink dots in the inspiration picture. I love how it came out. I used the wonderful quote by Josephine Billings.

I finished my card with a few little hibiscus burst buttons that Silke Ledlow sent me in the mail. Isn't she so sweet!!! Love them, girl!!! Thanks a bunch!!!

STAMPS

PTI Out On a Limb, Spiral Bouquet

INK

Palette Noir, Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz

CARDSTOCK

PTI Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz, Smokey Shadow, Vintage Cream

ACCESSORIES

Nestabilities, Sponges, Hibiscus burst buttons, foam tape, sponges

America! America!

This card is for SCS Limited Supplies Challenge(LSC219). We were to choose one of the many popular or obscured holidays that occur in the month of May! Thanks, Judy for a terrific challenge. I played it safe and went with Memorial Day!!!

I am using ODBD, In God We Trust newly release set. I chose some K & C dp that actually has a map of the US in the background. The other layer of dp shows a newspaper script look with words defined and the memory definition in the bottom right corner was perfect for this challenge.

My sentiment is using Nestabilities curve rectangle. I actually move the template to get this size. It is a technnique I call "cheating the nesties"...lol!!!

I am also recycling a tag I got from my dd converse sneakers box. Can you believe converse are back in style and more expensive than ever? At least I got a reusable craft item from the deal...love that. I thought the weather star tag with the trademark star chipboard was perfect.I colored my Eagle using Ranger inks and some SU soft sky. I sponged the edges with the ranger ink antique linen.

I finished my card with some faux brads. I did use C1 copic to outline my eagle to give him some depth.

STAMPS ODBD In God We Trust

CARDSTOCK PTI dark chocolate, gp white, K & C dp

Ink Ranger Antique Linen, Tea Dyed, Vintage Photo, SU soft sky, PTI Dark chocolate, Palette Noir

ACCESSORIES Recycled Converse tag, Nestabilities, foam dots, foam tape, sponges, 1/4" circle punch, CE (for faux brads)

Hope!

I have just recently started using kraft cardstock more myself. So, when Julia said to use kraft, I knew I had to play. Thanks, Julia for a fabulous challenge.

I am using ODBD Cross of Christ set. I stamped a background image in vintage cream craft ink and let dry....no embossing. I also layered the Spellbinders Label 4 images. The label 4 kraft layer I ran through my crimper and then through the big kick to flatten the crimp look some. I sponged the edges in vintage craft ink. I finished my card with some organdy ribbon and pearl domes in the corners.

I thought my use of kraft cardstock with the cream lends itself to a more elegant look with this card. I would never have thought to use kraft for an elegant look, but it works for me.

Stamps ODBD Cross of Christ, CHF Leaves 3 backgrounder

Cardstock PTI Vintage Cream, Kraft

Ink Palette Vintage Cream, dark chocolate

Accessories Nestabilities, circle punches, pearl domes, organdy ribbon, foam tape, foam dots, sponges

Just Because!

This card is for today's sketch challenge at SCS (SC227). Thanks so much Roxie for another fabulous sketch!!! Roxie gave us an option as to what to do with the oval on the sketch. I chose to make mine bigger to fit this wonderful quote by George Washington.

I am using ODBD God Bless America set. I chose an interesting color combo for me. I combined deep gray, yellow, and vanilla for this card. I love how it turned out. I am also using some basicgray dp on one of the panels. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the horizontal layer. I used a Fiskars border punch for the vertical layer. I also colored the flourished die cuts with some coal shimmerz. I love this little pop of sheen. The shimmerz dries fast, too, which is very good for me.

STAMPS ODBD God Bless America

PAPER PTI smokey shadow, lemon tart, vintage cream, basicgray

INK Palette Noir

ACCESSORIES Nestabilities, Martha Stewart border punch, Fiskars Border punch, MM brads, cross charm, altered silver ribbon, sizzix flourished die cut, cuttlebug ef, foam tape, glue dots

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge!

It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC14)! This week I am hosting the challenge. I am challenging everyone to use beads. There are all kinds of shapes and sizes as well as materials that beads come in. You can choose from the tiniest microbeads to the largest you can find to add to your card. Halfback beads count, too!!! There are glass beads, plastic beads, wooden beads, clay beads, and paper beads to name a few. So, bead it, girls!!! I cannot wait to see what you do with this one!!!

I am using the Flourishes Signs of Spring and Siberian Iris sets. I needed another Mother's Day card and this sentiment in the Siberian Iris set is perfect. I chose these bold colors because today is Cinco de Mayo and my son's 10th birthday!!!! I was thinking Mexican Fiesta with an elegant twist of sorts. I am using some kiwi kiss, tangerine tango, and riding hood red. I did throw in a pop of some yellows for the flower coloring. I watercolored the daffodil using my aquapainter and barely banana, summer sun, and pumpkin pie reinkers.

I used European Watercolor paper for my paper of choice. This is amazing watercolor paper. I also used some Memory Box dp which goes fabulously with the colors. I sponged all of my cardstock layers and frames with versamark. I do not own all of the colors and versamark creates a rich deeper hue of the cardstock. I added some Making Memories adhesive square gems in green and orange for some fun detailing which actually has some elegant flair with the ornate hardwared framing. I love these and the look.

For my bead detailing, I used a stickpin with clear beads from the pretties kit. I do not use these nearly enough. I stuck it through the ribbon coming from the tag. I really love how this card turned out considering it took me three tries. Me and inky fingers do NOT get along. Smudges drive me nuts.

Be sure to check out the other Friends of Flourishes Blog team

designers to see what they created using beads.

Cindy Haffner

Kimberly Crawford

Silke Ledlow

Becca Feeken

Stamps

Flourishes Signs of Spring and Siberian Iris

Paper

kiwi kiss, tangerine tango, riding hood red cardstocks, European Watercolor paper, and Memory Box dp

Ink

Palette Noir, barely banana, summer sun, pumpkin pie, and aqua mist reinkers, versamark

Accessories

aquapainter, MM gem squares, Nestabilities, ribbon, pretties kit, foam tape, sponges

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!!!!

Someone Special

This card is for the Papertrey Inspiration Spring Fling Challenge going on at the PTI blog. Each designer chose an inspiration picture to inspire us to create a card. I chose Becky Oehler's picture. I just love some reds, greens, and blacks!!! Here is the link to the inspiration picture.

I am using two PTI sets. The flowers are from Flower Garden and the sentiment is from Mailbox Greetings. I stamped all the flowers in Palette Noir ink and then did the two step stamping with PTI pure poppy, hibiscus, spring moss, and ripe avocado. I also used some SU yoyo yellow and only orange. To create the look of the bedding I sponged all the spring moss cardstock with spring moss ink to make it richer. I stamped the lines using a CHF fine lines backgrounder in versamark to create the striped sheets. I kept my card pretty simple in kepting with the bright clean colors of the inspiration picture. I used a small long scalloped frame for my sentiment to give the look of the scalloped edged pillow in the center of the bed. I finished my card with some black double stitched ribbon and assorted colored buttons since buttons were used in the picture as well.

STAMPS PTI Flower Garden and Mailbox Greetings, and CHF Fine Lines backgrounder PAPER PTI Pure Black, Spring Moss, and GP white, INK Versamark, Palette NOIR, PTI Spring Moss, Pure Poppy, Hibiscus, Ripe Avocado, SU only orange and yoyo yellow, ACCESSORIES Nestabilities, foam tape, ribbon, buttons

ODBD NEW releases and a sketch challenge!!!!

Happy May Day!!!! It is release day at Our Daily Bread Designs!!! I am showcasing two of the new sets today God Bless America and I Pledge Allegiance! The flag in the set looks so real when colored with the deep shadowed markings that I thought it needed to be showcased to look like a real flag on a pole for this card.

Not only is ODBD releasing new stamps, but there's also a sketch challenge for May! If you choose to play, please watch the ODBD blog for details. The info you need will be posted on Saturday, May 2nd. I have included a picture of the sketch in case you want to get started. Remember to use the ODBDSC03 keyword when posting to online galleries!!!

I decided to use one of the rolling plains scene images from the Memory Box dp. I thought it looked like a scene from anywhere in America. The flag stamp in this set looks just like a flag billowing in the breeze with wonderful shadow detailing and movement.

I decided to color the flag with copic markers, distress the edges with the Ranger distressing tool, and adhere to a wooden skewer to attach to my card. I chose the Pledge of Allegiance as the accompany focal image. I stamped it directly to a more subtle pattern from the Memory Box dp. I used the new released label four Spellbinders to frame the Pledge behind the oval. I also am using some Ranger antique linen to soften the lines.

I finished my card with some Hero Arts textured flowers and button detailing.










STAMPS
ODBD One Nation Under God
INK
Palette Noir, copics, Ranger antique linen
PAPER
GP white, smokey shadow, memory box dp
ACCESSORIES
Sizzix flower, Hero Arts flowers, Spellbinders, Ranger distressing tool, sponges, wooden skewer, buttons, foam tape