Fluttery By with Thanks

This week at Flutter By Wednesday, we have a twist to our weekly challenge. We would like you to use a fairy or a butterfly (as usual), but we'd also like you to use the theme GIVE THANKS in honor of the upcoming US Thanksgiving which will be celebrated in just another week. Your card does not have to be Thanksgiving oriented, but it should express thanks in some way.

I have, once again, used an image from A Day for Daisies. I have colored her with my Copic markers in lovely, rich fall colors. Starting with a kraft colored card base, I've layered a darker brown and then a dry embossed rush to form the base for my lovely image. The embossing folder I used is called "Wicker Weave" by Cuttlebug. On top of the embossed panel, I've put a bit of magic mesh and a very thin strip of orange ribbon (you can see it just peeking out behind the image). I layered the image with the same colors I used for the card base.

I cut a brown flourish using a Doohickey flourish die and attached it beside the image, over the magic mesh and ribbon. At the base of the flourish, I attached two silk leaves and a bronze colored rose. The rose is actually a pretty bronze color and has a bit of a metal sheen to it -- very frustrating that I could not get the true color to show in a photo. The jewels are amber colored and are from a package containing four different colors (Michael's Crafts Recollection).

I printed "Thank you" from my computer using a caligraphy style font. I then matted the sentiment on the kraft colored paper, leaving enough on the right side to cut a triangle shape for a "banner" style appearance.

I hope you will have time this week to visit the Flutter By Wednesday blog and see the lovely work of the other DT members as well as create your own little thank you card to share with us.

Challenges:
http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/ - Color Challenge (brown, orange, yellow and 1 other color)
http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ - Thankfulness
http://scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ - Give Thanks
http://blog.ribboncarousel.com/ - Fall Spirit
http://simplychallengedchallenges.blogspot.com/ - Fall Colors
http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/ - Almost Anything Goes
http://tuesdayalchemy.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes
http://lollipopcrafts.blogspot.com/ - Thanks/Thankful

Hosanna on High

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11 KJV

 

Our sponsor this week at Twist of Faith is Clear Dollar Stamps! Our random prize winner will receive a $15 voucher for use at the Clear Dollar Stamps store. Our theme for you this week is

RELIGIOUS CHRISTMAS

 

We would like you to make a Christmas card using a religious image -- that means, NO Santas, NO snowmen, NO stockings or gifts -- and even though those are quite cute and festive and acceptable during this holiday time, we want you to concentrate on the images and symbols that depict that first Christmas and the religious aspect of this holiday.

 

For my card, I am using Clear Dollar Stamps angels set. This wonderful set provides you with several angel images and several sentiments to mix and match for a vast variety of cards. (You can see another image from the set if you visit the Twist of Faith blog as one of my team mates has used another image from this set.) I've colored it up with Copic markers and then I used light blue Pearl Ex powders to color around the image, giving the background a soft shimer (sadly that does not show up in the photo). I also used a Sakura sparkle jelly pen to color the "lace" on the dress and the halo (again, the sparkle doesn't show well in the photo). I then cut the image using a Spellbinder oval die.

 

The card base is white with a layer of  black. On top of the black, I've added a piece of DP from the Teresa Collins "Christmas Cottage" 6x6" pad. Under the oval image, I've placed a shape that I cut from the same pad using a Spellbinder Labels Fourteen die. The ribbon is burgundy velvet. The little pinecone and "berries" sprig is from Michael's Crafts. The sentiment is also matted with black card. Again, this is one of those cards that doesn't photograph to show off its fullest beauty. It is really quite stunning.

 

In just a little over a week, we American will be celebrating Thanksgiving by sharing meals with family and friends -- then literally over night we will be thrown into the Christmas season as stores open early to try to entice many of us to buy, buy, buy. It is, for me, one of the negative aspects of the season. I often feel like the Charlie Brown Christmas story (for those of you who have never seen this little movie, it is a classic example of the commercialism vs. religious -- sweetly done). For me, some of the most beautiful memories of Christmas are from Christmas Eve when we gathered as a family, singing, remembering, laughing and then trooping off to a crowded church for Midnight Mass. There was always something beautiful and magical about sharing the Christmas story with so many friends -- then hugging each other and wishing each other a "Merry Christmas" as we left.

 

There are an awful lot of Christmas presents that I cannot remember. However, I will never forget "for unto you a child is born . . .  a Saviour which is Christ the Lord."

Challenges:
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com.au/ - No red or green
http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com.au/ - Christmas
http://avadareschallengeblog.blogspot.ca/ - Christmas
http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - Things with Wings
http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes
http://kraftyhandschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - Christmas

 

Challenge 48 - We Remember

Many of us observe Remembrance Day/Armistice Day/Veteran's Day on November 11, taking time to remember all our service men and women who, through too many wars, have given the ultimate sacrifice to their country and for our freedom.

This week our challenge theme is...

Remembrance / Poppies

Your creation should follow our theme, Remembrance, and can be military minded, or in remembrance of someone close to you. The red poppy is a world recognized symbol of remembrance, so you could also create a card using red poppy flowers.

We don't have a digi sponsor this week, but our wonderful "boss lady" is offering a prize for you. She will send, anywhere in the world, a lovely selection of ribbons, all 1 metre lengths (picture shown on Card Crafter's Circle blog). Now who doesn't like ribbon? I have to admit that I DO, and I never seem to have enough (smile).

I come from a military background. Both my father and my father-in-law fought in World War II and Korea. I grew up in a military town, and I cried at the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington, DC as I found the names of classmates and friends who gave their lives during that conflict. It saddens me that different ideologies, faiths, economic greed, land disputes, and philosophies cause wars. Here in the US, many of us went to the polls on Tuesday to vote for men and women we wanted to fill government positions from the local level to the national level. I am reminded of how many people are not able to freely vote for people they want running their towns, cities, states or country. I am reminded of how our forefathers and our fathers fought to ensure we have that right, and while I grieve each and every life lost in war, I am thankful that there were brave men and women who were willing to make the sacrifice to give me that and other freedoms.

The verse on my card reads, "Remember, freedom is NOT free." Another sentiment which I really like and find very appropriate is, "All gave some; some gave all." Let us honor and remember our heroes, known and unknown, who keep us safe and who fight for the dignity of all people everywhere.

Challenges:
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/ - Poppies
http://critterchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - Veteran's Day/Remembrance Day
http://daisydoodlescreativechallenges.blogspot.com/ - Veteran's Day/Remembrance
http://ladyanneschallenges.weebly.com/stamp-challenge.html - Anything Goes



 

Fluttering with a Day for Daisies

I'm running a little slow this morning. I worked at my local voting precinct yesterday from sun up to sun down, so it was a LONG day. By the time I got home, I was beat and couldn't stay awake. This week at Flutter By Wednesday, we are being sponsored by A Day for Daisies. If you aren't familiar with ADFD images, then you are in for a real treat. The images are all delightful and a treat to colour up. If you are a regular follower of my blog, you might notice that I use ADFD quite often (smile).

The challenge this week is OPEN. Listed below are the details (We don't have a lot of "rules," but we do ask that you follow the requirements - PLEASE). (**The "rules" are copied and pasted from the Flutter By Wednesday blog, so any references to "below" apply to the FBW blog and not mine.)

**The nitty gritty details~

• Challenge this week is to Open-anything goes with a butterfly or fairy!


• Only one entry per person please as we have a prize


• Once you've created your NEW creation, please leave a direct link in the InLinkz below.


• I reserve the right to remove any links not linked properly or that I deem inappropriate!


• Enter your link before noon (PST) next Tuesday, November 13th, 2012.


• A winner will be chosen via random.org and will be posted next Wednesday, November 14th, 2012!


• Have fun

Now that I've taken up enough of your time with administrivia, on to my card. I've used Holly Berry Fairy for my image which I've colored with Copic markers. I paper pieced the ribbon/bow using gold paper, but everything else is colored. I layered red over the white card base and then on top of that, I added a dry embossed layer of white. The embossing folder I used is called Fireflies by Couture Creations (CO723067). My image, cut into a square shape is matted with green and then red. The white with gold trim ribbon is by Offray. The white poinsettia flower is from my stash. It has lovely "ice crystals" adhered to the petals. The gold glitter leaves are cut from a sprig that I bought last year at Michael's Crafts. The red gems are from my stash, and the sentiment is a chip board piece that I recently received as a free "gift" when I purchased a craft magazine.

We hope you will join in our challenge this week. We always enjoy seeing the wonderful talent of those who enter as well as visiting everyone's blog. There is so much imagination and creativity in this world, and I'm often awed as I "travel around" visiting the different blogs.

Have a blessed day. I think I'm going to go take a nap (grin)!

Challenges:
http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes
http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/ -  Use Stash/Red (almost everything on this card is from OLD stash)
http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ - Fantasy
http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/ - Anything Goes
http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes
http://squigglefly.blogspot.com/ - Ribbons and Bows
http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/ - Christmas
http://pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com/ - Photo Inspiration (I used the holly leaves)
http://pinandtack.blogspot.com/2012/11/spark-your-creativity-now-challenge-3.html - Anything Goes

Autumn Blessings

This week, we have a SKETCH CHALLENGE... please use this sketch as a map for your card creation. 

Feel free to stretch it or flip it as you see fit, as long as your end creation layout resembles this original sketch... (the colours used on the sketch are only for clarity, and the text used is only to identify the sketch!) Of course you're free to use any embellishments or images you wish. Have fun!

Our sponsor at Twist of Faith  is The Doodle Garden... Jennifer has a wonderful selection of whimsical hand-drawn images for all occasions in her Doodle Garden etsy shop. The prize offered to our randomly drawn prize winner, consists of two newly released images that our Twist of Faith Design Team has showcased for you.  The images are named Autumn Blessings, (the one I've used) and Winter Bird. 

 

 Last night I made an apple crisp for our desert. Apples grow in north Georgia and many little towns in the area celebrate apple festivals/craft fairs to promote the harvest. It is one of the delightful "bounties" we celebrate in the fall. As I sat in my warm home enjoying my dessert, I was thankful of a loving God who has blessed me with goodness. There is a roof over my head, warm clothing on my body and food for my stomach. It saddens me to watch on the news pictures of families whose homes were destroyed in the recent storm that hit the northeastern part of the United States. Even in the wake of such destruction, we know that God is good. Complete strangers have rallied to help those who have lost much. Goodness and love for fellow man is being demonstrated in various ways as people pass out food, free blankets, services and just simple comfort.

The suggested verse this week posted on tje Twist of Faith blog is:

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as as sweet as perfume and incense.
Proverbs 27:9

 

 It is a lovely verse, and I've had the blessings of having good friends who have been with me in times I've needed advice and comfort. But, as I watched scenes of complete strangers reaching out to help complete strangers simply because they are in need, I was struck by and touched by the  the good in people.

 

Silent Night

Today I'm sharing a little card that I made this past Wednesday while visiting one of my crafting friends. Dottie has one of those wonderful Silhouette cutters and a vast library of SVG cutting files. The black silhouette image of the manger is one of those lovely SVG files. We cut the image slightly smaller than 3" and were able to fill a whole 8.5 x 11" piece of black paper for a total of six images.

For this card, I combined the simplicity of the cut silhouette image with a bit of glitz. The background paper (DCWV) is silver and black glitter -- quite elegant looking! I matted that onto black card. The green patterned paper is from a little 6 x 6" Echo Park pad called Very Merry Christmas. The cranberry card (circle) is from my scrap bin (as is the bit of yellow I tucked behind the star opening on the image). The sentiment is part of a clear acrylic stamp that belongs to Dottie (sorry, don't know the manufacturer as it was not in a package). The stamp included a dove, but I covered that portion and only inked the word.

This was just a matter of layering the various pieces (circles cut with Spellbinder circle die), but it turned out oh so lovely. I was very impressed with the quality of the cutting using the Cameo Silhouette machine. There were no jagged edges nor rips.

Challenges:
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ - Glitter and Bling
http://glitternsparklechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - Glitter and Sparkle
http://greatimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com/ - Celebrating the Seasons
http://joannasheenchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/silhouettes.html - Silhouettes
http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/ - Make It Sparkle
http://scrappers-delights-challenge-blog.blogspot.co.uk/ - Anything Goes
http://ribbongirls.blogspot.com/ - Add Sparkle
http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/ - Silhouette

Use the Pattern!

 

This week, for the Card Crafter's Circle challenge, we want you to Show us your hot creations using PATTERNED PAPER!

Our sponsor this week is the wonderful Bugaboo Stamps! Our randomly drawn challenge winner will receive their choice of 7 Bugaboo images... what a fantastic prize!

 My card is made using Bugaboo's Little Stocking Brat. Isn't he cute? I've colored him up in Christmas colors using my Copic markers. I added Stickles to the "fur" portions on his way long Santa cap and when dry, I fussy cut the little fellow.

For my card, I started with a white base, then layered green card and then the bauble DP. Across the center, I used a strip of DP with numbers that I matted with the green. I cut a lacy circle from the green card and a smaller circle (center) from dotty paper. All of the designer papers are from a 6x6" pad called Christmas Cottage by Teresa Collins. The green card is from Bazzill. The circles (to include the one used to mat the sentiment) are by Spellbinders (Lacy Circles S4-293 and Standard Circles Large S4-114).

The ribbon is from Offray, and the glitter domes are from Mark Richards (small ones) and Dress It Up holiday dots (large one). The package charm is one that I've had in my stash for more years than I want to admit (smile), so I can no longer remember where I purchased it.

Have fun making your patterned paper design and then remember to post it to this week's challenge. This should be an easy challenge for all you creative people; after all, we do so like our colors and patterns during the holidays, right?

Challenges:
http://pictureandscrap.blogspot.com/ - Christmas
http://abcchristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/ - Vibrant Colors
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/ - Christmas
http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/ - Lots of Layers
http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.com/ - Sparkles
http://citycrafter.blogspot.com/ - 3+1 challeng
http://raisethebarchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/11/challenge-118.html - Anything Goes