Color Dare 49--God's timeless truths

I think this scripture from Romans offers up a great new year's resolution to us all. The colors for the color dare are bashful blue, cameo coral, and soft suede. I used the scripture from a Stampin' Up set and the swirl is from Verve. The flower punch is from Stampin' Up and the leaves from Martha Stewart.
I was excited to read that one of my cards for last week's color dare challenge was mentioned in the honorable mentions. I find these wonderful challenges to be very motivativing in getting my creative juices flowing. I am fortunate to have the time to do many of these and I thank the creative minds who come up with all the wonderful ideas. It takes away some of the work for me, and that saves me time to be able to make more cards. I hope you will find a new challenge of two to try this year and that you find your stamping time to be very theraputic for you as I find it to be for me. The only other thing I would add is to wait on the Lord! Trust Him in all things and claim the blessings that are yours in 2010, which are revealed to you in those faithful prayers.

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge #34

I just got this stamp today for half price and couldn't pass up the chance to use it for this challenge. I decided to chose soft colors that were determined by the design paper from Basic Grey that I used. I drew the lines for the rainbow with six of my copic markers. Love this Martha Stewart corner punch that I kind of reversed. The leaf punch is from Martha Stewart as well and the little flowers I bought at Hobby Lobby and they already had the rhinestones attached. I used my nestabilities for the ovals. You can find the Midnight Madness challenge here.

MOJO Monday #119

I thought this was a perfect sketch to highlight a scripture. This stamp is from Verve and the papers are from Paper Trey Ink and Stampin' Up. I also used some design papers from my scrapbox. My new year's resolution is to keep my scraps more organized and make use of all that I can. It will help me be GREEN and it will help me save money!!!
Keep the faith as spoken of in this message from Hebrews, and may your 2010 be full of HOPE!

Stampin' Sisters in Christ #19

The challenge for the Stampin'Sisters in Christ challenge is to make a new year's card. I've decided to make one that might bring an extra message of hope to someone who has had a rough 2009. The butterfly is from Kitchen Sink Stamps as is the sentiment.

Belli Challenge #81 Tags

I decided to make a wedding tag with my new lily of the valley multi-stepped stamp set from Kitchen Sink Stamps. Their challenge  this month is tags also, so I'm hitting 2 birds with one stone on this one!! I used new leaf, pear tart, and cottage ivy Memento ink pads on this. I corner punched the corners with two different punches, and I had a instant gift tag for the next wedding gift I give!!!

Family albums

These are my pages for the family albums we add to every Christmas. Each family does a dozen sets of pages for each family and grandchild to have a set. So I had a dozen spreads to make and it usually takes me a good part of a day.We have all year to work on it but I usually do my usual procrastination the week before I need them. We have done this for over 10 years and they have become quite a treasure.It is the only scrapbook effort I make for the year.  I have a daughter in law that complains about doing it, but the results are so worth the effort and it will be something to treasure as each year passes. We do this instead of giving gifts for that side of the family. I'm glad it has become a family tradition for us. Those wonderful traditions are what make Christmas so special. I hope you and yours are richly blessed this Christmas with togetherness, love, and joy, and comforted by rich memories of Christmases of the past.

FTTC 47_ATC

Wow, these are fun to make, quick to make, and uses up some valuable scraps. I'll have to make some more of these ATC projects. I had the poppy out from my SCS color challenge card, so it seemed to work with some scraps I had left over from my scrapbook pages I have to make 12 sets of for my family members. We do scrapbook pages for each other as our Christmas gift to each other and then add it to our wonderful family book of which we each have one. They have become quite an heirloom. My sister, Lynn, is the creative genius of this project that we have done for over 10 years now. You should see the elaborate year division pages Lynn makes to separate the years in the book. She takes each family member's picture to use on the page. It has ranged from being in snowglobes to jumping out of wrapped packages. It is always amazing what she comes up with on those pages. This year we had elf hats and was passing a toy through a window frame. Can't wait to see how that turns out. I'll have to take some photos and load them here on my blog to share.

Mojo Monday Challenge #118

This was a quick card that I made for the MOJO Monday Challenge #118.I used papers from the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses collection and Stampin' Up cardstock: pretty in pink, soft sky (my stash is dwindling--sniff, sniff) and riding hood red. The poinsettia is a premade embellishment. The border punch is a Martha Stewart, the queen of crafts. The stamp is from Stampin' Up. I'm down to those last minute cards and this being a wonderful sketch for the quick and pretty, I gave it my ten minute limit on my time schedule today. Hope everyone is welcoming Christmas into their hearts and that the world can see the difference that makes!!! God bless you and yours this Christmas season.

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #18

This sketch is provided by SSCC for this week's challenge. The scripture was from Luke describing the night Christ was born. I used this as the theme of my card. I love this design paper because of the black and soft shade of blue so I used that as my color scheme for this card. The stamp is from Stampin' Up and I used various nestabilities and oval punches for my shapes. I hope everyone experiences God's peace and joy in this season. May the light of that star and the light of our world send a glow of warmth from our hearts as we spread His love around the world.

Stamp Simpply 119 - snow

I did this for Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Challenge 118 to make a CAS with snow. This is a one layered card that I masked and sponged the snow and sky. The deer is from Layers of Colors stamped in versamark and then embossed with silver powder. The sponged colors are soft sky and baja breeze. The snowflakes are from Stampin' Up.

Color Dare #47

This week's colors for the Color Dare Challenge are green galore, real red, and chocolate chip. I was organizing my scraps from the pile that had accumulated by the paper cutter and I found this red dp so I made use of these panels for this challenge.

KSS Crew Challenge card

The challenge for December is to do a tag, or bag, or wrap! I did this tag, not using the usual Christmas look. This tag could go for any special gift for the most special lady of our lives. I love Kitchen Sink's rose. It has always been one of my "go to" stamps. It is just instant beauty at your fingertips. I used angel pink, rose petal, and rhubarb stalk Memento inks for the layers. Unfortunately I have somehow lost one or two layers of my leaves that go with this set, so I punched some out. That is the only disadvantage I have found about clear stamps---they become invisible to me at times, and I have lost a few!! Not that my messy stamp table has a thing to do with that!!!

MMSC32

I love this Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper. The card base is sweet blush from Paper Trey Ink.

The rose is from Kitchen Sink Stamps. It is one of my favorites. KSS are such unique stamps with the multistepped layers. It looks like a photograph! Maria is a fabulous graphic artist and her experience in this art field are a real strong point in her stamps. If you haven't tried them, it's time you do!!

MOJO Monday #117

It's Monday and it's MOJO time. I loved this simple sketch and decided to take a little break from the Christmas card route I've been in. This little turtle is a stamp from Inkadinkadoo. The Dr. Seuss quote is a Verve stamp and the border punch is from Martha Stewart. The scallop, inverted scallop, and circle are Nestabilities. The paper is sweet blush from Paper Trey Ink. The design paper is Basic Grey and the pink and green is from Stampin' Up.

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #17

Scripture:

Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

This is for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge to give up some of the treasures I have been hoarding for a while now. I thought these rhinestone flowers would be beautiful on Christmas cards, but have not parted with very many of them. After reading this scripture, I was also reminded of the treasures laid before the Christ Child by the Wise Men of the East. How very precious God's gift through Christ is to us. So, while I am looking over the tiny treasures I've stored in my craft room, I know that this scripture speaks volumes to me. Christ is the treasure of my heart  and how I rejoice that nothing of this earth can take it away. If I practice His ways and His truths I truely will be blessed with those things that are not of this earth and are certainly the wonders of the Lord working in me. Be Christ's instrument this blessed season and show the world who your heart does belong to!!

MMSC#31 and Color Dare #46

I decided I better double up on some of these challenges so I can get them all done!! The colors for the color dare challenge are taken with teal, rich razzleberry, and kraft. The sketch is from MMSC #31 and the extra was to do a little project to match. So, this is a card and a matching candle. I bought a bunch of these calendars at Michael's in their dollar bins. The design papers are from Stampin' Up and Basic Grey.

House Mouse Challenge #58

The challenge was to use non-traditional colors on a Christmas card. I used sweet blush cardstock from Paper Trey Ink and a piece of Basic Grey dp. Copic markers were used to color in this precious House Mouse image. I added snowflakes and pineneedles on the side with rhinestone flowers.

Banana Split Sunday_staying warm

This is for Sunday's Banana Split Sunday Challenge to stay warm!! I used the steaming coffee mug from Flourishes to warm up with. It is paper pieced with a lovely piece of Basic Grey design paper.I used really red SU cardstock for the cardbase and stamped some SU snowflakes in platinum planet and rich cocoa inks. I used my pine punch to make the pineneedles and a red rhinestone flower.

Stampin' Sisters in Christ

I was so glad to see the challenge for today on Stampin' Sisters in Christ to make a card telling someone you are praying for them. I have a very dear friend who just found out very recently that her sister has a brain tumor, surgery was done immediately, but the doctors were not able to remove all of the cancer they found. These women as children lost their own father many years ago on Christmas Day, after what was to be a non-life threatening procedure. My friend struggles to find a joy about Christmas because of this sad event and now this Christmas she is faced with the news about her sister. I am sending this card as an alternative Christmas card to her and I ask for prayers from all of you wonderful Christian Sisters for peace and a spirit of grace for this Christmas season as my friend and her sister and their families face this difficult situation at this Christmas season. My friend is a faithful Christian, and totally believes in the power of prayer. I know she will feel your prayers as God helds my friend and her loved ones close to Him this Christmas.

Friday Sketchers #81

I decided that the really fun way to make the rest of my Christmas cards is to find every challenge I can and make it a Christmas card theme. I loved this one that I found over on the Daily Dare today called Friday Sketchers. The stamp I used is from Penny Black, the papers are various design papers from my pink scrap bag. I used my nestabilities for the center scallops, inverted scallops and circle. Martha Stewart punches provided the snowflake. I used copic markers to color in my tuxedo black Memento inked image. Half pearls surround the snowman. I have to tell you, it has been snowing at my house since this morning and this is such a rare thing for those of us who have been raised on the Texas Gulf Coast area. This is a record for the earliest snow we have ever received. In my liftime I think I've only seen falling snow around 8 times and I am over a half of a century old!!! LOL I am just loving the peacefulness of the snow softly coming down. Most of it is melting on the ground but some of it is accumulating. God sends us unexpected surprises sometimes, just so we can be in awe of who He is!!!

Color Throw Down #71

The colors for the color throw down this week are olive, red, pink, and brown. I used a piece of Basic Grey design paper that featured red and pink and then I added real red and chocolate chip cardstock to the old olive card base. The wreath was made with the leaves from the Carte Postale set from Stampin' Up's retired collection. The sentiment is a Studio G stamp. I punched out the flowers and the pine needles. The flower centers are chocolate pearls. I was very honored to see my CTD card from last week's challenge recognized in the top three. Wow! I've been a fairly faithful follower of this challenge for quite some time, so it was nice to get the "nod."

MMSC #30

I cuttlebugged the snowflake background on the gold panels. I also cuttlebugged the white label shape with the Victorian folder. This angel is from the Reneissance Angel set, which was retired by Stampin' UP. I used my spellbinders to cute my shapes. The image was stamped in Versamark and embossed with gold embossing powder. Angels are one of the things I collect, so I just had to pick one for my winged image.

Dollar Snowflake

I loved this snowflake that I found in the $1 bin at Joann's today. This is my absolute favorite shade of blue and so perfect for a lovely snowflake. I outlined the image with my sparkle gel pen.

MOJO Monday 115

I let this pretty design paper from Basic Grey lead me in the colors and image to use for this challenge. Sometimes I start with the image, but this time I let the paper lead the way. I love this little set from Verve, and I think the thank you stamp was a thank you gift with a Verve order. I love those companies that send a little stamp as a way of saying thanks for the order!! Pretty in pink and old olive cardstock was used along with the design papers.

Color Throw Down Challenge #70

The colors for the Color Throwdown Challenge this week were dusty durango, old olive, and elegant eggplant. I couldn't find a piece of dusty durango in my papers, but of course, I had the ink. So, I just stamped a houndstooth background to give me the color I needed. The cross is from Layers of Colors' Gothic Cross collection and the scripture is from Sweet and Sassy. The two background stamps used are from Stampin' Up. I used this wonderful green leafy ribbon up the side and added purple primas.
An easy layout, great colors, and a quick card. Just what I needed on this very busy day before Thanksgiving. Wishing all my followers a very Happy Thanksgiving, safe travels, and a blessed day with loved ones!!!!

MMSC 29

I altered this a bit and only did six small shapes instead of eight. It's late and I have lots of cooking and packing to do, so I don't have time to redo this. I really liked the way it turned out though!! I pulled out an old retired Stampin' Up set when I was looking for a long narrow stamp to use for this layout. This gold cardstock I ordered from Clear Bags. It is really pretty. The leaf punch is from Martha Stewart, the queen of crafting!!! I added some small primas and rhinestone centers.

FTTC#43

I love this set from Flourishes that have ornaments that remind me of the ornaments like we had when I was a child. We would always spend Christmas morning over at my aunt and uncle's where my aunt and grandmother had layed out all the goodies and candies they had started making weeks in advance (or so it seemed to me as we were not allowed to have any of these goodies lying around until Christmas)! The best part of Christmas for me is looking back at those 50 plus years of the past Christmases with very fond memories reflecting on the love of family! As this very special season approaches, it is my prayer that you are surrounded by those you love and if you have lost some of those close to you, that the wonderful memories of past Christmases will bring you a sense of peace and joy even in the tears!

2S4u challenge 40

I just love this Figgy Pudding Basic Grey paper so paired it with a piece of Stampin' Up's dp. The background card is aqua mist (Paper Trey ink). I stamped the Marshmallow Santa from Stampabilities for the image and the sentiment I'm sorry to say I have lost the packaging for so I don't remember who makes it.

I added silver chording for a loopy bow and added a little Christmas light bulb to it. I colored the image with copics and the stamping was done in Tuxedo black Memento pad. I would be so excited if I won 2 Sketches for You's prize this week. I've longed to own a Just Write stamp. It just hasn't fit in my budget lately.

Winter Wonderland on Penny Black's Saturday Challenge

This is my only winter stamp from Penny Black, and I think it is my cutest of snowmen stamps. I punched a few large snowflakes with my Martha Stewart punch, and cuttlebugged the background with my snowflake folder. The dp is some baja breeze dp from SU. The image was colored with my copic markers and bling added to the snowflake and prima gave it a glimmer!

Color Dare Challenge #43

I'm making use of many of my old favorite stamps this season, as I make hundreds of Christmas cards to sell at a craft show this weekend. Loved these bright colors for the Color Dare Challenge this week. I used my copics to color in and my new cuttlebug folder to emboss the green panel. The punch I used is from EK.
I added a little sparkle gel pen to the centers of the flowers and in the greenery. Hope you are getting your Christmas mojo working and you are busy into those holiday cards!!!

MMSC#28

This is a fabulous new set from Kitchen Sink. It can be used for any season of giving. Since I loved the colors in this piece of Basic Grey design paper, it is great to stamp just the colors you need. I used Memento inks : rose bud, angel pink, pear tart, and bamboo leaves. Back in September I got to meet Maria, the wonderful artist who creates these fabulous stamps. Her background in graphic arts certainly is obvious in these well thought out images. They look like actual photographs instead of stamped images. They are so unique and like no other stamps that are out there. If you do not own a kitchen sink stamp, it's time you did. Put it on your Christmas list right now!!! I don't work for Kitchen Sink, I'm merely a fan and satisfied customer.

FTTC #42

I seldom use this glorious green, as it is my least favorite color of all greens, but pulled it out for a traditional Christmas card. I stamped the pine needles with cottage ivy (Memento) and the ornament in Versamark and then covered it with gold embossing powder. I embossed the green card base with one of the new larger cuttlebug folders. I used some ribbon and a flock covered tree brad for my embellishments. A Martha Stewart punch was used on the real red panel, with green rhinestones to add a little sparkle.

VLVNov03

I love this verse from Verve and thought it would be wonderful to use primas with the snowflakes. I love this wonderful shade of blue especially with white. The card base is cuttlebugged and I made use of some retired design paper from Stampin' Up.

CAS40 with my LOC freebie digi

I used this card for the CAS challenge over on Splitcoaststampers. This is a free digi that is available to those who want to participate in the fun challenges going on over at Layers of Color's website. There are four great ones to choose from and all are wonderful designs. I needed a few more Christmas cards, so made this one for the color challenge of white and another color for the CAS challenge for this week. I decided to add a plaid ribbon to this mix for an interesting twist!!

LOC Reindeer Waltz

I love this deer from the Reindeer Waltz set from Layers of Color. I stamped it in Memento's Rhubarb Stalk ink. The design paper is from Paper Studio and the soft suede card stock is from Stampin' Up. I used my Martha Stewart holly punch and some red rhinestones for the berries. The sentiment is from Inkadinkadoo.
I'm looking forward to the release party happening next weekend over on Layers of Color.
It's been fun doing some guest design work for them! Hope you enjoy all the fun and contests.

Bird of wonder!

Go check out the free digis at Layers of Color!!Wanted to try this in other colors. I used my herringbone folder for my cuttlebug for the soft suede background. I sure am having fun stamping this weekend, getting ready for the big release party new weekend. I won't want to miss that fun.

Free Digital images at Layers of Color

Isn't this a beautiful image available to you free from Layers of Color? Laura's art is amazing and she is making this image along with 3 others free so that you might try some of her great art on cards and projects of your own. Next weekend she will be releasing 9 more sets to add to her already wonderful collection of stamps available at such reasonable prices. Come join in the fun over on the Layers of Color Challenges to use these images in a card or project to share on Mr. Linky. It could win you some prizes! The bird is Laura's digital image and the sentiment is a Stampabilities stamp. I cuttlebugged soft sky paper, colored the image with my copic markers, and added some organdy ribbon that I used the heat gun on for a few seconds. The little heart I found in the jewelry supplies at Hobby Lobby.

Layers of Color's Gothic Crosses

I stamped the background of this card with a stamp from Layers of Color's Architectural Blocks and the cross is from their Gothic Cross set. I used soft suede (SU) card stock for the card base and used riding hood red behind the cross. The images were stamped using Memento's tuxedo black ink. The other dark papers are from Basic Grey and I punched the edge with a Martha Stewart punch. I added rhinestones and some gold spica pen on the diamond patterns on the cross. If you have not checked out all the fun that is about to begin over on Layers of Color's website, head over to check it out here.

Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge #19

I loved all these Christmas goodies in the new Multi Step Build a Garland by Kitchen Sink. Lisa had a great sketch to use. I decided to go with riding hood red and soft suede for the card stock colors because of the gingerbread men and the peppermint. The candy striped paper from Basic Grey help repeat the striped pattern for the card.
Ink colors used were all Memento inks: ladybug, rich cocoa, dessert sand. I used my new Martha Stewart punch for the edge of the red panel. Frosted lace Stickles add the little touch of icing trim for the gingerbread men, and the little reddish beads make great buttons and eyes. The rhinestone squares give it a finishing touch. Check out those new Kitchen Sink Christmas stamps. They will bring merriment to your season!!!

Color Dare #41

I love this Gothic Cross set from Layers of Color. The scripture is from Sweet and Sassy. The rhinestone cross just fits perfectly in the center of this cross stamp. I cuttlebugged the soft suede with the paisley folder and sponged the edges of the vanilla with soft suede ink. I used by bermuda bay ribbon for the first time today. I really love these colors.

Color Throw Down #67

I could not find any of my Dusty Durango except for the ink, so here's what I came up with!!!!!

I think it strange that the color challenges keep using up my hoarded stash of some of the past "in colors (just goes to show how popular they still are--this week the soft sky, one week it was purely pomegrante, and one week it was baja breeze.) I have never understood why they get rid of colors that are still so marketable!!! Doesn't make sense to me!!! Luckily, I still have a limited amount of them.

MOJO Monday on a Tuesday!

A day late with this challenge, but I loved this layout. This leopard print I've used on a few cards this past week and I still had some left so put it on this card. I love it with red. I used Verve's Dr. Suess quote on this for fun and the edges are made with a verve stamp as well.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Stamping Sisters in Christ

This is for challenge 11 for Stamping sisters in Christ. I had this stamp of the verse preceding the scripture that was mentioned from Deuteronomy 31:8. It also reflects that God is always with us!!! I had to make use of my newest toys, my new Martha Stewart punches that I used my coupons on!! The design paper is from Basic Grey's Indian Summer collection. I love the colors in it. I hope this challenge spreads some encouraging words of hope to many people who may be going through a tough time right now. God is with you and He will see you through. His peace in times of trouble is such a blessing.

Color Throw Down #66

The colors this week for the color throw down were elegant eggplant, bordering blue, and rich razzleberry. I stamped rich razzleberry on the bordering blue card base and it looked brown. In fact my razzleberry doesn't seem to appear quite the way it is on any part of the card. I stamped the back ground with bella toile and the wreath is from Flourishes. Isn't it a gorgeous one, and lots of fun to color? I put Ranger's glossy accent on the ornaments for added shine!

Reindeer Waltz from Layers of Color

This is such a beautiful stamp from Layers of Color. I found this dp on sale this week and thought of how great it would look with this stamp set. The punch used is one of the new Martha Stewart punches. I just love her punches.

FTTC#39 a day late!

Yesterday was really busy for me, so just got around to completing this challenge this afternoon. I loved this color combo that I came up with by looking at scraps left on my paper cutter table. This is my all time favorite ribbon that I've had stashed and is slowly being depleted. I hate that Stampin' Up takes away things I would still love to reorder. Oh, well, I guess it's their business loss, but boy, am I going to miss it when it's gone!!! I love Flourish stamps because they are so fun to color with my copics. Flowers are always something that bring joy to others, so I seem to stamp lots of them.

Color Dare #40

Love these colors of chocolate chip, bashful blue, and pumpkin pie. The scripture stamp is fromStampabilities.
I inked my cuttlebug folder with chocolate chip ink and ran my pumpkin pie paper through the cuttlebug.

My 25th MMSC card

I think I have done every one of these Midnight Madness Challenges every Tuesday. It's one of the reasons I love Tuesdays. Some of my favorite challenges are on Tuesdays. I used the Basic Grey Eskimo Kiss paper on this card along with another design paper and some of the SU colors. The reindeer stamp is from Layers of Color. I used these holiday brads again on this card. I'm making a point of trying to use up some of my stash from the drawers. The best way to do alittle house cleaning is to use them up on a card.

Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge #242

I love this stamp from the Layers of Color Architectural Blocks set. I punched my kraft paper with the new Martha Stewart bed of flowers punch then added a strip of black behind it. I cut black squares in 3 by 3 inch squares and the kraft squares were 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 squares. I found two matching primas in my box so used them for the inside flower and stuck gemstones as the center. I added the melon organdy ribbon and made a quick and very attractive card for a quick one, I think!

What do you think? Your comments are always welcomed.

I appears that I have been working hard on Christmas cards, doesn't it? I am doing a craft show in Angleton in November and want to have lots of Christmas choices. I also sell my cards at a shop in Brenham and it's just that time that Christmas is needing to be available. This card was made with a wonderful stamp from Layers of Color, a great Christian company who has invited me to do some guest design work for them. What an honor and privilege! I embossed this lovely deer in gold and the Happy Holidays are actually metal brads, but I thought they looked great with this gold metallic look. Martha Stewart just keeps coming out with sensational new paper punches and I can't seem to resist them either. Hope you are getting a start on all your holiday crafting so that when the season is really here, you will have time to enjoy some of the other wonderful things that make this such a blessed season of the year!

Don't forget to get by Layers of Colors blog on November 14-15 for their new Autumn release of lots of new images.