Make a Difference

This is a card that I worked on last week for VSN, and I never ended up photographing it. The roses from Flourishes are stamped in Sunshine Yellow Adirondack ink, and colored with Copic Marker YR31. I used a Spica glitter pen to accent the petals.

I used the Tulle Damask Scrapblock from Cornish Heritage Farms to finish off the bottom of the panel. A little ribbon and a few white Kaiser pearls finish this off. I’ll add a sentiment when I decide where I’m sending this. Thanks for looking. I’ll see you tomorrow.

And, what about the winner of the sketch challenge?

Here are your random numbers:

42

That would be Stephanie Kraft with a so pretty card with Verve stamps. Congrats, Stephanie! Thanks to all for playing along. I loved looking at all of your cards. I know I’ll be using that sketch again.

 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord ~ Luke 2:11

Several years ago, a friend gave me a baby food jar with a spiced tea mix and a sentiment about making Jesus my Priority. The idea was that we would make time for Him in our busy daily lives. I kept the empty jar, label facing out on my spice shelf long after the tea was gone. I was thinking about all of the special gifts that I need around Christmas, and thought this tea would be perfect for a few. Isn’t this the time of year that we get most lost in the shuffle and bustle and forget a few of our priorities?

I used the recipe that Sharon shared last year HERE, but if you google ’spiced orange tea recipe’ - you’re sure to find a recipe that suits your fancy. There are many. I put my tea mix in cello bags and then inside new kraft coffee bags. The coffee bags were stamped with the Fiery Floral Scrapblock from Cornish Heritage Farms. I used a Cranberry Pigment Ink Pad from Ranger. It gave such a rich, deep look.

Next, I stamped the sentiment with my JustRite Stampers, C41 Stamper and mini alphabet. Pssst, they are having a ‘buy one, get one free’ sale thru 11/30/08. Check it out HERE. The ‘Believe’ is a Rummage Bin sentiment that I love, created by the beautiful Lesley Langdon for Cornish Heritage Farms. It took a few minutes, so stamp several when you get it all set up! Don’t forget your Stamp-a-ma-jig.

I used Cranberry and Pesto Adirondack Dye Ink on the labels. It’s great that Ranger offers the colors in both dye and pigment ink. Make coordination a breeze with the proper ink for different mediums. Speaking of coordinating, the brads were colored with Copic Marker R59, it matches perfectly.

I cut the labels and the matted frames with Nestabilities. The tags are MayaRoad chipboard covered with Basic Grey Wassail patterned paper. I used Mod Podge to adhere the paper and dimensional dots to pop up the die-cut labels. Various ribbons from Webster’s Pages, Beaux Regards and May Arts (all available from the fabulous Cindy Lyles at StarLitStudio) finish it off.

This is the label on the back with a few suggested Christmas readings for a few stolen moments of quiet time. By the time I got here, I was getting lazy, so these are just printed on a clear label from the ole computer.

I’ve had a wonderful weekend full of crafting and getting ready for Christmas. More tea packaging, gift and Christmas ideas to follow this week. What’s up tomorrow? A challenge issued by Jami. She’s the bossy one! <wink> So, I wouldn’t dream of not following orders. See you in the morning.

In honor of my 12th wedding anniversary yesterday, here’s a card for my dear, sweet husband. While he’s not a ‘cowboy’ in true definition, he say’s “y’all” a lot, works in the agriculture field, drives a pick-up and lucky, lucky for me….I get to wash my fair share of Wranglers. Our first date was the 1992 Dodge City Round Up, so he’ll always be my cowboy.

This falls into play with the CHF Challenge Chicks today to create a masculine card. I used ‘For the Men’ from the Rummage Bin line and beautiful new paper and accents from Prima (I got mine from sweet Jacksonbelle). While masculine cards can be hard to wrap your mind around, my stand-by is clean lines and simple stamping. I’ve used a paper punch and distress inks to give it a western feel.

There is *SO* much going on this week with CHA departure in just 2 days! Make sure you stop by Mona Lisa’s blog for incredible new licensing agreement information…can you believe Saturday Evening Post?? Check out the other chicks for more masculine inspiration (and other exciting CHA pre-sneaks for product and new art!): -Kristine Reynolds, Dawn Lusk, Julia Stainton, Michele Boyer, Val Stangle, Kim Hughes, Lisa Silver and Sherrie Siemens

I’ve been working with the new Aimee Nugent Christmas line for several weeks. Today is release day and all of the Aimee images and coordinating Christmas sentiments that I have been using are available for purchase.

This main image panel started out as Cryogen White (shimmery). I used the Emerging Color technique found here at Splitcoast, so the words O Holy Night were actually the first image applied to the cardstock. I love this technique - it’s fun, not too messy and generally good for a few oohs and ahhhs.. I love the colors of this Christmas paper from Webster’s Pages.

Editted: Most of the CHF team has peaks of another fabulous new product that will be unveiled at CHA on their blogs, so almost any link from the team sidebar will get you a free shot at some hot stuff. The eye candy I’m posting is from sweet, sweet Kim Hughes. Look at this gorgeous CocoMocha paper that is being shown at CHA! Good stuff!

• Stamps: O Holy Night - Christmas Expressions & Three Wise Men - Aimee Nugent - both from Cornish Heritage Farms
• Cardstock: Cryogen White, Spring Willow Medium, Blush Red Medium and Webster’s Pages patterned paper
• Ink: Cranberry Adirondack - Ranger, VersaMark - Tsukineko
• Accs: Ribbon, Brads & Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities

I was putting some supplies away this morning, and I realized that I never shared this card and tutorial with you on my blog. This is a card I created for a tutorial at CHF a few months ago. I love the Ranger Paint Dabbers because you get a really thick color lay with them. This pearl is my favorite. You can see the entire tutorial for Paint Dabber Resist HERE.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

• Stamps: Large Polka Dot Backgrounder, Silhouette Blooms II - Kim Hughes Collection - all Cornish Heritage Farms
• Cardstock: Prism Cardstock in Frosted Teal & Black, Cryogen White
• Ink: Watermelon and Black Adirondack Dye Ink by Ranger
• Accessories: Pearl Adirondack Metallic Paint Dabber by Ranger, Nestabilities Scallop Circle and Classic Circle Dies by Spellbinders, Offray Ribbon and Paper Piercer

 Finally, a set for the folks (like me) who feel like they are spinning circles all the time! This set is called Round & Round We Go. This is my life….

• Stamps: Round & Round We Go - Rummage Bin from Cornish Heritage Farms

• Cardstock: Super Smooth White Prism, Striped notecards - Target

• Ink: Black StazON, Red Pepper, Citris, Peach Bellini, Pink Cloud Adirondack

• Accs: Dimensional Dots

I’ll get this back up as soon as I can!

Working with this Elvis is… Backgrounder is like having an entire hip sentiment collection on one backgrounder. I used the words ‘hunka burnin’ love’ and ‘dreamy’ and a marker to accent my shipping tag. Wouldn’t this be cute tied to a pair of flaming boxers for your man on Father’s Day!? Of course, I’m not going to post men’s flaming unders here on my blog, but you can imagine how fun that would be….right?

I started with a regular manilla shipping tag that I ‘rangerized’ using Distress Inks, cut and dry foam and a water mister. Then I overstamped with my new Vintage Ledger Scrapblock (TM) from CHF in Pitch Black Adirondack. These huge hunks (Scrapblocks (TM)) of rubbah (6×6) are being released next week. At 6×6, you are not confined to either portrait or landscape for your card design..either works! Added my Elvis, glitter with a Tsukineko Glue Pad (I use a stamp-a-ma-jig to over-stamp my glue), sentiment stamp and the backgrounder words ‘marked off’ with a black marker and a romantic swirly-do from the Rummage Bin Beautiful set,  heart shaped brads and ribbons. 

See you in the morning…

Both of my nephews have birthdays coming up. I’ll be sending this one to my littlest prince. Boys will be Boys (available Tuesday) compliments the sweet little girl in Cherish Every Moment. Now, moms with boys or moms with one or some of each will be happy. Lesley, the artist, does such a beautiful job with these images. (scroll for Poison Ivory winner details)

• Stamps: Boys will be Boys & Storybook - Rummage Bin for CHF
• Cardstock: Cryogen White, Mystic Dark & Suede Dark Brown Prism
• Ink: Shabby Shutters, Faded Jeans, Dark Walnut and Brushed Cordouroy Distress Inks from Tim Holtz
• Accs: Dew Drops, Key from www.starlitstudio.com, thread, Cut & Dry foam (Ranger)

WINNER! I loved reading about all that you have to be thankful for, and for the most part, you were thankful for ‘relationships’. That is a wonderful, wonderful thing!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

15

15! That would be Courtney, who said: “I need to thank all of the women who have been “Motherly” influences in my life. They have made a huge impact on me.”

Courtney, send me your address, and I’ll get these out today! Cards magazine recently sent me a goodie box with 2 issues of their beautiful March addition, so I’m throwing one f those in, too!

See you tomorrow with another card in the Divine Design project!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy  —think about such things.  ~ Philippians 4:8

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