Crafters of Faith End of the Month Challenge

The end of May has so quickly arrived and Patti is our hostess this month for our Faith Blog group's challenge for May. . She reminded us of the wonderful custom of delivering May baskets to our friends or neighbors. I've made mine for a friend who had surgery this week. I stamped the paper for the basket with a basket weave background stamp that I just love from Flourishes. I loved the quote from Texas' fabulous Lady Bird Johnson, and I diecut some flowers and leaves to arrange in my basket. That was the REAL challenge, trying to arrange my one dimensional flowers to look more 3-D.

WAW#30 - Matthew 5:16

Another great scripture highlighted this week over on Word Art Wednesday. Made use of a few new toys in my stamproom. The diecut from Sizzix and the new embossing folder also by Sizzix. I used the edge of the stamp pad to stamp some sun rays across the scripture. I mounted this onto kraft cardstock.
Glorifying God are the most pleasurable ways I can spend my day.

Belli Challege #144-A wedding card

I finally got around to making a wedding card for the Belli Challenge today. The old embellishment that has been hoarded away is that corduroy brad I used for the center of my flower. This is a stamp set from Kitchen Sink Stamps. This is a six layered image and any multilayering over 4 steps is a big stretch for me.. I used rich cocoa and desert  sand for my ink colors. The very last layer I used tuxedo black stamped off once. The design paper is from Graphic 45. The punch is from EK and the diecut from MFT. The card base is chocolate chip cardstock.  I wanted to do something a little out of the ordinary for my wedding card, so I went for the vintage look.

Make My Monday #51

I found this color challenge over on Make My Monday. We are to use pink, green, and white. I tried out a new embossing folder I just purchased today for 30% off. Woowho!!The flower image is from Paper Trey Ink and the sentiment is from Verve. I made some little doilies by using one of my Martha Stewart corner punches. The coloring was done with copic markers and the stamping was done with tuxedo black.

House Mouse challenge

I think this meets the requirements for the challenge going on over at the House Mouse challenge blog site. I just got this cute stamp on a clearance rack!! How lucky was that. I added a sentiment from MFP and think I will be sending this to a friend who just recently retired. I used copic markers to color this.

MOJO Monday 243

I used the sketch for the MOJO Monday challenge today for my card. Most of the stamps are from Verve. The sentiment stamp is from Stampin' Up. I embossed the base cardstock and then added the gingham and plaid panels. I paper pieced the elephant with the gingham. I always have a good time making baby cards. There is just a sweetness about them. I should see about getting some more Verve stamps. I love doing the MOJO challenges, and I like using the stamps from the companies that sponsor the challenge.

Sensational Saturday #13

The Sensational Saturday sketch challenge was to use vintage fashions and shabby chic. I love this blog site:
Freevintagedigistamps@blogspot.com
They have such wonderful vintage images and seemed perfect for this challenge. I added some diecut  pieces up the side, added buttons and taffeta ribbon. My perfect little bow is a result of my fabulous Becca's Bowmaker which is  a great tool for any stamproom. I colored the image with copic markers.

JUGS 138

Baby cards are so fun to make. Inspired by this cute baby shower cake, I pulled out the blue and brown design papers I could find in my stash. I even added blue stripes to the brown and cream striped paper with a copic marker. That's kind of  fun to be in control of the colors you want like that!!! I paper pieced the little bear with the gingham. I also made use of a couple of my Spellbinder diecuts and a little taffeta ribbon. Here's the cake that inspired me over on Just Us Girls blog:

Word Art Wednesday #29

Trust is such a big issue for us, isn't it? Too often it is the very thing that seperates us from God. It is too often the thing that can block a blessing, and is the source of most of our stress and dispair. When we truely lay down our worries, and let our trust in the Lord take over, what a difference it makes. I read a wonderful devotional from my new favorite devotional book, "Sparkling Gems from the Greeks." by Rick Renner. It was from John 6:5,6. Remember when Jesus and his disciples had a day on the mountainside ministering to a mulitude of people. Jesus asked Phillip where the bread was coming from to feed all these people, knowing full well that He would be supplying it. But He asked Phillip to see how he would answer. After seeing all of Jesus' many miracles he had already witnessed himself many times, you would have thought Phillip would have answered it by saying "We trust you Lord to provide for all these people.." But no, he takes it upon himself to  search and frantically try to solve the problem himself. Wow, that really hit me today for a wonderful lesson about trust. Don't we trust the Lord enough to give him the little troubling things about our lives?
Maybe it is not our problem to solve alone!!!  Put your trust in the Lord and it will build your faith.

I have just loved finding the Word Art Wednesday challenges over on Daily Dare one day as I browsed the challenges listed there. What a blessing to find such an inspirational place to come each week! And then to read today, how the DT prays over all those  who submit cards there. Thank you, ladies! Through you God does great things!!!

FTTC170

Beate asked us to use flowers for the Flourishes Tuesday Technique Challenge this week.  My  floral stamps from Flourishes are my favorite of floral stamps. I have the wisteria, the poppies, the tulips, the rose, the violets, the sunflowers, the daisies, the sweetpeas, and a few others. I still have a wish list of the magnolias and the orchids. Marcella Hawley is just one of the masters at floral images and I'd love to own them all some day. Since my roses are the prettiest flowers I have growing now in my yard, I pulled out this rose that I have not used in quite some time. I love orange, so I did this like a tropicana rose.

MOJO 242

I actually did this card for the MOJO Monday challenge #242, and also for Joan's TLC challenge over on Splitcoaststampers. Joan challenged us to use some brayer techniques. I haven't used my brayer in quite some time so I also pulled out some glossy paper that I haven't worked with in a while either. I did some versamark resist on the glossy and I brayered over the embossed panel as well. I just had some fun with this one!!! The flower stamp is from Verve.

Backyard rose

I have rose bushes in my front yard and roses in my backyard. Here is one from a backyard bush. They seem to be the ones going crazy this week. I'm really not much of a gardener, but God is. I love these wonderful little bundles of joy He brings my way!!!

JUGS 137

This is for the JUGS 137 challenge to use yellow, blue, and white. The stamped image is from Flourishes, and colored with copics.

The sky is not falling

The sky is not falling, it's just time for a chick's night out for some fun!!! The challenge over at Less is More was to use yellow. I thought immediately of this little chick from Kitchen Sink Stamps. The little yellow sequin confetti just added a little fun and covered a few smudges (I have to admit). I always say that a few little mistakes simply means its time for a few embellishments!!!!!The chick was multi layered with so safron and more mustard inks. You can find the fun More is Less challenges here.

CR84FN 54

I've had time this afternoon just browsing for some fun challenges and then getting to make cards for them. I'll share a few with you! This one is for the CR84FN 54 challenge to use blue, mint, and neutral colors. I used newsprint from today's paper for my Tim Holtz diecut flower that I sponged with some night of navy ink. The scripture is from Sweet and Sassy. The embossing folder is one from Sizzix and the leaf diecuts are spellbinders as is the shape I used for the scripture. I added a few mint gemstones for the center of the flower. Here's where you can find this challenge:

ODBDSLC109

I used this verse and cross from Our Daily Bread Designs, and stamped the ODBD butterfly onto my design paper for the background. I kept it simple in embellishments because it is a Mother Teressa quote and she seemed to stay focused on the simpler and more important essentials of a servant's life.
What a woman of grace she was!!!

F4A117 Vellum and CCEE1220

I did this card for two challenges. For the Free for All challenge on Splitcoaststampers this week we were to use vellum. So I dry embossed the vellum to make it quallify for the CCEE1220 challenge as well. I also used my new cameo multilayered stamp from Kitchen Sink Stamps that arrived yesterday in the mail. All the embellishments are diecuts from Spellbinder and My Favorite Things. It was fun getting to start the morning in the stamproom for a change today!!!!

Queen for a day-Queen Mary

I love taking the photo of my card in front of my computer screen when I am doing a case card. Mary,who was selected Queen for the Day this week had this lovely card on the left in her gallery. Since I just got my new stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps today in the mail, I had to put some ink on this fabulous multi layered pear! My sister, Lynn is just the master of these Kitchen Sink stamps and does such wonderful layering in her perfect cards. I keep trying and have learned a lot of pointers from her. Maria, the creator of this fabulously unique way of stamping makes these images stamp like they are actual photographs. It is just amazing. If you have never worked with a Kitchen Sink Stamp, it's time to give it a try. You will be amazed at the spectacular images that you can create.

Work Art Wednesday 28

Green leaves of summer for this wonderful scripture from 2 Timothy 1:7. You can find all of the other terrific cards for this challenge here.  Isn't it just like humans to always think about what WE want instead of what GOD wants for us? This scripture reminds me fear is not of God, but our strength and sanity are from God as is our spirit to love. Embrace the powers given you, and quit trying to make fear  a power at all.

I have always loved that song "The Green Leaves of Summer" that was in "The Alamo" with John Wayne. I think some of the lyrics included scripture from Ecclesiates. Summer is just around the corner and  moms with kids home from school....may all of these three things be yours! Power, love, and a sound mind!!!!

FTTC169

What a fun challenge this week to use a letter from the alphabet for things on your card. I used the letter O for olive, orange, ocean, and outdoors. This stamp set is from Flourishes. You can find the FTTC 169 challenge here.

In the garden

I got to spend Mother's Day with my wonderful sister, Lynn, and got to play with some of her Kitchen Sink Stamps. I did her 10 minute challenge this week and it also fit the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge #139.

WAW 27

I just love going over to the Word Art Wednesday webiste every Wednesday to see what scripture is being featured for the day. I love this one from Isaiah. The stamp I bought in the $1 bin at Michael's earlier in the year, and thought if perfect for this scrpiture. I added the pretty white diecut mounted on a black strip and added black rhinestones (also a $1 deal from Michael's). I love the simplicity that the black and white gives this and what comforting words in times of need. I've been having some friends who are going through some rough times lately and think these words will lift their spirit. I read a cute quote on Pinterest once that said "fear not" is in the Bible 365 times, a reminder for every day! Trust in the Lord always!!

Multi-challenging card

I did this card for Splitcoaststampers' Sketch challenge this week. I also did it for the FTTC challenge using pink. The SOS challenge this week was to use 3 or more design papers. It also qualitfies for the Creative Belli challenge this week to make a baby card. The stamps are from Flourishes, the design papers are from Basic Grey, and the cardstock and ribbon is from Stampin' Up.

FTTC168

Pink-A-licious is the challenge this week for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge,  and I love doing this sunflower in pink. I used rose bud ink for the weave stamped background (one of my favorite Flourishes stamp). I used tuxedo black to stamp the sunflower and the sentiment. All stamps are from Flourishes. I colored the sunflower with copic markers. The cardbase is melon mambo and the flourished frame is done on pink pirouette.  I made the big pink bow with my Becca Bowmaker. On the center of the flower I added sparkle gel pen over the brown marker.

MOJO 240

NOthing gets Mondays going like a wonderful MOJO Monday sketch. I always love to try to find something fun and new to do with some of my Verve stamps. I guess this is an adventure in patterns. The papers are mostly Basic Grey design paper. I'm not sure of the source of the cardstock.

C4C135

I love checking over at the Crazy 4 Challenges blog every Saturday that I'm home. This Saturday was one of those rare Saturdays I was at home. Love the design team over there, good stamping friends, and talented ladies!!! Wish I had these strawberries in a garden at my house, but sure am enjoying all the fresh strawberries that are out in the stores now. This stamp is from Flourishes. I added some Spellbinder diecuts just to dress them up a bit. I stamped them with tuxedo black ink and colored the image with copics.

Belli Challenge 142

This is a quick and easy card for the Belli Challenge. I've had this little stamp for a long time and not sure I've ever used it. The ribbon was from my stash too.

A four layered Mother's Day card

I am enjoying this new stamp from Flourishes that arrived just in time for Mother's Day cards.

I sure am enjoying my Becca's Bowmaker too. This ribbon that I can't remember where I got it, worked fabulously with these colors. I stamped the background of the melon mambo paper with tuxedo black ink using the lacy background stamp from Flourishes. Many people have mistaken it for design paper. It is just that lovely and stamps so perfectly. I used melon mambo ink for the lacy circle frame and added the small circle with the silhouette into the center of it.

This is for the following challenges:

Just Add Ink - Mother's Day card

Stampin' for the Weekend - 4 layers

Friday Sketch Challenge #16

I visited the Friday Sketch Challenge blog today, and loved this sketch:

I used some certainly celery cardstock, some Basic Grey design paper, and a Martha Stewart punch.

I added some little primas and ribbon. The sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers.

I love finding new challenges to take part in because I never seem to lack any mojo when I have a starting point for my inspiration. Thanks all of you great gals out in blog land that do all the work of putting these great challenges together every week. You take so much of the work out of it for me. XOXO

FTTC167

For this week's Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday challenge, we were to use a butterfly. These little butterflies I used are a Creative Memories mini punch that is one of my favorite punches. I also used some of my newest spellbinder shapes and border to this card as well. The cherry blossom stamp is of course, from Flourishes. I always try to support the company whose challenge it is by using one of their stamps. The background cardstock is SU always artichoke. The white pieces are from my scrap pile.
I used some sparkle gel pen for the centers of the blossoms. The little sparkle doesn't show up in the photo so much, but I liked what it seem to add to the card.

Word Art Wednesday #26

I used this week's scripture over at Word Art Wednesday's Blog for my card today. I stamped over the computer generated scripture in rich cocoa ink using this bird image from Stampabilities. I also stamped the background onto the kraft cardstock using tuxedo black ink. The lace background stamp is from Flourishes. I used my Spellbinders for the diecut shapes and added a little black bow that I made with my Becca Bow maker. Love it! I mounted these all onto a black cardstock base.