Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Welcome New Year

 
 
This week our challenge theme for Twist of Faith is
 
WELCOME!

 
Your card creation could welcome in the New Year, or a New Baby, or a New Home... the interpretation is left to you.   Please remember to add our 'twist' to your creation. Your card must include a scripture, inspirational quote or uplifting message.... it doesn't have to be on front of the card, but do show that it's there!

Here are two scriptures that address our theme.

"Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have 
done this have entertained angels without realising it!" 
                           Hebrews 13:2 NLT

 
"So reach out and welcome one other to God's glory. Jesus did it, now you do it!" 
                           Romans 15:7 The Message

Our sponsor is the wonderful The Doodle Garden... and 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 digital  images from The Doodle Garden blog for new releases!

I went a bit outside my comfort zone with my DT sample. I do NOT use purple very often at all, AND I have a very hard time mixing a lot of different colors and patterns on my work. However, as you can see, I did both for my card. My base is solid purple card with a layer of  purple and white plaid DP. On top of that I've added another layer, this time of pink and white dotty paper matted with the solid purple. Wait, there's more! I then cut a piece of stripy DP and matted that. Lastly, I matted my image, which I cut into a rectangular shape using one of my Spellbinder dies, with the solid purple. Lots of layers going on this little card. To finish off, I added a narrow purple ribbon, some pink gems and a sentiment "ticket."

I've not used a scripture on this card, but my "ticket" does send a positive message in that it reads, "Sending you hugs, and OK, kisses too" Is there anything more welcoming than a hug or kiss from a loved one?

Please take a few minutes to visit the Twist of Faith blog and see the beautiful cards of my fellow DT members. We are a might short this week as a few of our designers have still been on holiday vacation; however, the cards that are featured are beauties. Thank you for stopping by, and

I wish all of you a blessed new year. May it be filled with health, happiness and prosperity, and may the Lord be your guide as this new year unfolds.
 
Challenges:
Ends 8 Jan - http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - Lots of Layers
Ends 6 Jan - http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.co.uk/ - Bright and Happy (Use Bright Colours)
Ends 8 Jan - http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/vickie-challenges.html - Anything Goes
Ends 3 Jan - http://pausedreamenjoychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/ - Anything Goes
 

Happy New Year

 
 
 
First off, I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year. It is my prayer that all of you will find health, happiness and prosperity in the coming days. I believe each and every day holds new promise, but there is something exciting about starting a whole new year -- twelve full months -- wonderment of what those new 365 days will hold for us.
 
I am starting the new year with a wonderful new DT position. I am looking forward to this new challenge and hope that my Muses are equally excited (grin). I have been asked to join the design team for Tuesday Morning Sketches. I have often participated in the TMS challenges, so when the call went out for a new team member, I set about getting my samples together. For a number of days, I held my breathe and eagerly checked my emails for news. I was thrilled (and relieved) when I found that I had, indeed, been selected to join the team.
 
This is my first DT submission. I hope you like it. The sketch we are using is:
 
 
Isn't it a great one? Very versatile, as you will see if you visit the TMS blog, and so easy to use. Our sponsor this week is Floppy Latte Designs who provided lovely images for the DT to use. My image is Rose Fairy which comes in a lovely silhouette format. Isn't she beautiful? Floppy Latte is offering a $10 gift voucher ($12 if you use a Floppy Latte image) to our weekly winner.
 
My card is a white base layered with a DP from DCWV. The image mat and the two pieces along the bottom are from my scrap bags. (This is a wonderful sketch for using some of those scraps we all save.) The three hearts along the side are metal and were part of a gift I received this very Christmas from a girlfriend. They are by Momenta. They have adhesive on the back and are a set of nine hearts (three of each of the patterns shown on my card).
 
I wanted to add a sentiment to the yellow strip (bottom), but I couldn't find a stamp in my vast stash that I felt met what I wanted, so I dug through my stash of rub-on stickers (yes, I still have some of those and still use them) and added the simple word "love" to finish off my card.

Challeges:

Ends Jan 7 Papertake Weekly  anything goes
Ends Jan 7 Wags & Whiskers  Anything Goes
Ends Jan 6  Pink Elephant - CH #127 anything goes
Ends Jan 5 - http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes




Friday, December 28, 2012

Last CCC Challenge of the Year

A new year is almost upon us. Yippy! I am always excited and interested in what a new year will bring. Perhaps there will be new beginnings, new opportunities, new friends or just renewed energy. It is, of course, up to us as to whether we embrace the new or stay stuck in the old. This is a time when we can let go of things in our heart, mind, life that may be holding us back and keeping us from fully living the life God intended for us to have.

This is the last challenge for the year at Card Crafter's Circle. Next year is lining up to be an equally fantastic one with great sponsors and fun challenges. However, before we can start those, we must "finish" the ones for 2012. This week our sponsor is KPM DOODLES! Our randomly drawn challenge winner will receive their choice of TWO SETS of images from the KPM DOODLES collection. KPM offers whimsical images in both color and black and white so you have the option of coloring them yourself or using a pre-colored one for your crafting.

I have used one of the pre-colored images from the Penguins on Ice set. (If you go to the CCC blog, you will also see one of the Penguins on Ice images hand colored by one of my team mates. This will give you an idea of the versatility of KPM's images.) I printed the image onto white card stock and cut it into a square shape. I then matted the image with blue card. My card base is white with a layer of blue. On top of the blue, I've used two pieces of DP from the cute 6x6" pade called Merry by MME. I cut the snowman piece slightly wider than the snowflake piece and placed them both on the blue card, leaving a small space between the two. After adhering the image square over the DP, I punched three snowflakes (Martha Stewart punch), adhered them and put a small rhinestone in the center of each. Lastly, I added my sentiment.

This card turned out quite cute and was fairly quick to make thanks to KPM's pre-colored image. The entire penguin set is adorable and makes for delightful winter cards that are not restricted to the Christmas theme.

Hope you will visit us at CCC and that you can carve out a little creating time for yourself. We would love for you to join our last challenge. Thank you for visiting me, and I wish all of you a very happy,  prosperous and super CREATIVE new year.

Challenges:
http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - Anything with a Sentiment
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes
http://littlemissmuffetchallenges.blogspot.com/ - Anything Goes
http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/stamp-challenge.html - Anything Goes
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ - Winter Wonderland (thru 15 Jan)
http://elphinehouse.blogspot.com/ - Snowflakes and Swirls
http://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/ - #93 Anything Goes (until 9 Jan)
http://digitaltuesdaychallenge.blogspot.ca/2012/12/191-layers.html - Layers

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Last 2012 Flutter By Challenge

 
Hello dear followers. Today I am presenting my DT card for Flutter By Wednesday. This is the last challenge for 2012, and as we've done all December, we are keeping it simple for you with an OPEN theme. Simply create a card of your choice with a butterfly or fairy somewhere on your card. How easy is that?

For my card, I've combined punches and stamps to create this lovely black and white card. My card base is white with a layer of black and then another layer of white. On top of the second layer of white, I have adhered another "short" piece of black which I first punched with a Fiskar's border punch. I added the checked ribbon and pretty bow across the black.

I then stamped three butterflies using black Momento ink and fussy cut each one of them. The butterfly stamp is an OLD one by Personal Stamp Exchange (PSX). I fussy cut the stamped images. I then used one of my butterfly dies (a Creatable die by Marianne) and cut three butterflies from black. I then adhered the stamped images on top of the die cut images.

I then used a scalloped square punch and a regular square punch to create the three blocks at the bottom of the card. After adhering the three layered squares to the card, I adhered the layered butterfly images to the squares. The overall effect is this lovely, elegant black and white creation that can be used for any occasion from birthday to sympathy.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Snowflakes are Kisses

Before I go into my card and the new challenge at Twist of Faith, I would like to wish each and every one of you a very merry and blessed Christmas. This is the date we Christians have chosen to represent the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the fulfillment of all the promises that await us who believe and follow. His love is unending and so we take time today to celebrate. My wish for you is for love and peace, surrounded by family, friends and God's Grace.

Our sponsor this week is Clear Dollar Stamps! Our random prize winner will receive a $15 voucher for use at the Clear Dollar Stamps store! We're thrilled to have Clear Dollar Stamps as a sponsor because the images are wonderful, and the sentiments fit the heart of our challenges here so perfectly!
 
This week we have a colour challenge for you.... your creations can be along any theme, as long you use 
 
GOLD AND WHITE
 
I have kept my card clean and simple (especially for me). I started with a white card base. I topped that with a layer of gold glitter paper and then a layer of white again, embossed with the Provo snowflake embossing folder. On top of the embossed piece, I've added my adorable image which has been matted with the gold glitter paper. Lastly, I added a sentiment, "Snowflakes are kisses from heaven" which I matted on the gold and adhered at a tilt to the top right hand corner of the image.
 
I kept feeling as if I should have added a bow or some flowers or at the least punched snowflakes, because I kept feeling as if my card is "naked" (smile), but in the end, I decided the crisp, clean lines best let the adorable image stand out. Anything I tried to add was a distraction, so I decided to just keep the CAS design and not do anything more.
 
If you find you have a little "down" time after the "big" day, do hop over to Twist of Faith and see what my fellow teamies have created for your inspiration. We would enjoy your visit.
 
 
For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.
Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 21, 2012

It's Christmas

It is getting very close to "the day" so don't know how many of you have a little extra time for crafting, but Card Crafter's Circle is continuing challenges just the same. We understand that participation may be a bit lower than norm, but we opted to just keep on keeping on. I have to be perfectly honest and tell you that if it wasn't for the fact that we DT members get our images a head of time, I might not make it this week (grin). I've gotten my shopping done, gifts wrapped and under the tree -- ready with those details for the day -- BUT, I'm now finishing up with the baking and house cleaning stuff, so not in my craft room very often.

We have kept things simple for you -- whether you are getting a head start for next year or finishing up for this year, our theme is simply

CHRISTMAS
 
Whatever you want to do is fine -- as long as it is for the Christmas holiday. We have two wonderful sponsors this week (double the chances of winning some really lovely images), so you may just want to carve out a little time and enter this week's challenge. We have our wonderful friend at Stamp Art Design by Kathryne, offering one prize winner their choice of 5 digital images from her collection. We also have the super cute Di's Digi Downloads, who offers one winner a $10 store credit (works out to be about 4 images, or you can use the credit off a larger purchase).  
 
Now, I'm going to quickly share my card with you so that you can get on into your craft room (or on with your Christmas prep). I have used one of Kathryne's beautiful images, Candle with Holly, for my card. I have colored the image with my trusty Copic markers on X-Press It brand card and cut the whole thing into a square shape. I've used Tim Holtz's honey colored distressing ink and inked around the edges of the square.
 
The rest of the card is made from things from my stash -- holiday paper, red and green card, some glittery leaves from a sprig I've had for a couple of years, a paper poinsettia from Wild Orchid Crafts, a pearl stick pin (gift from a friend), and my Christmas ribbon. Except for the stick pin and the image, all items have been in my "stash" for minimum over a year, so I'm unable to tell you brands that I've used.

The card actually went together rather quickly but is quite beautiful. For more inspiration (and more of Kathryne's images), hop on over to Card Crafter's Circle and have a look at the other DT cards for this week -- a definite eye-candy treat, for sure!

Have a great week, and a blessed holiday.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Fluttery By Wednesday #219

This is a busy week as everyone tries to tie up those last minute details to get ready for Christmas. Only five more days until Christmas Eve -- where has the time gone? Except for doing a little baking, I think I'm ready. How about you?

Because we know this is a busy time, we appreciate all of you who have been able to join our Flutter By Wednesday challenges. We've tried to keep them simple for you this month by having an "open" theme all month long. This means that you could/can do anything you want as long as you add a butterfly or fairy somewhere on your card, and that is the case again this week. No theme, no sketch, no color requirements -- just do your own thing and add a butterfly or fairy!

Despite being a wee bit tired of making Christmas cards and ready to "move on," my FBW card for this week is a darling little Christmas fairy image. I've colored her up using my Copic marker. I printed this image twice, coloring the fairy once and fussy cutting her out. I then colored the baubles on the second image (which I left intact and cut into a rectangle). I then glued my fairy to the flat panel, leaving one wing (the right one as you look at the card) dimensional by using a small foam dot under it.

My card base is red, but then I used non-traditional pastel colors for the rest of the card. My background and strip DP are from a small 6x6" pad by MME called Merry/Joyex/Alegre. My ribbon and bow is Ofray, and my pink beads are by Recollection. You can't tell, but I did use Stickles on her little wings.

I hope you will be able to carve out a little creative time for yourself during this busy, last minute count-down time and will join us in this week's challenge. If you visit the Flutter By Wednesday blog, you will notice that a number of our DT members have had to take this week off, but the ones who were able to participate have created some beautiful cards. Go take a look.

Challenges Entered:
http://eurekastamps.blogspot.com/ - Christmas Spirit
http://kaboodledoodles.blogspot.com/ - Christmas Holiday
http://theprettylittleribbonshop.blogspot.com/ - It's Christmas
http://cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com/ - Cute Christmas
http://craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/ - Christmas Anything Goes
http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/ - Snowman or Anything Christmas