CTD227

 I don't always have the colors that are used in the Color Throw Down weekly challenge, but  this week I did, although my nightime photograph using artificial lighting is not giving it much justice. The colors were cake crumb (okay I didn't have that one but used kraft), regal rose, pretty in pink, and old olive.

CAS valentine

This CAS card is for two challenges for this week. One is the Creative Bellie Challenge which was to use rhinestones. I've had these border rhinestones in my stash for a couple of months now and the stamp is an old retired Stampin' Up stamp from when I once was a demonstrator.The sketch for this card is for the sketch challenge for Sketch #8 over on Less is More. Hope you get on over and take part in both of these yourself if you are up to a good challenge!

COF January Challenge

The challenge for this month for my Crafters of Faith Blog group was to try a new technique, while also making use of some old things in your stash and making use of something new. I had never tried this technique before, and I have to admit, I had to dig around to find those old colored pencils I had put somewhere in my stamproom. I also made use of an old stamp from a retired Stampin' Up set. Lydia had a great tutorial over on Splitcoaststampers for this blended pencils technique. First you stamp in a light neutral color (I used sahara sand), then you outline with the darker of the colors you are going to use. Then you color in with a lighter shade of that color the remainder of the image. After that I used my copic blender pen over it. Finally, you outline the image with a fine point pen. I used a new embossing folder I had gotten recently and used some new bling. I hope this little bluebird of happiness will brighten someone's day!!! Check out the others in my group and leave a little love on their blogs too:

1. Carolina -Cardolina Scrapolina
2. LizW - Right Brained Madness
3. Mary Rose Mary Rose Cafe
4. Jackie - Kreatewithme2
5. LizD - crafts4thesoul
6. Sharon - ScrappingMum
7. Jeanette CreativePlay
8. Darlene According to Bijou
9. Lorie Thinkinspot
10. Carol Lost in my craft room
11. Kadie InMyMindsEye
12. Tami Blueinksdesign
13. Barb - Inkinintoretirement
14. April - April'sAlley
15. Marsha Stamping Down South
16. Kelly - Sandcastle Stamper

WAW65

I can't believe it's been a whole two weeks since I've posted anything here on my blog. But I have to say that most of my time has been spent the past two weeks  reading the Bible. Over 500 members of my church have made a commitment to read "The Bible in 90 Days." I have been in yearly Bible studies for years, but this is my first attempt to read the Bible cover to cover, 12 pages a day. It has meant giving up some times I use in other ways, like making cards, keeping up with my blog, and giving up all the time I waste on my computer and the television.It is great that this is butting up against Lent. Instead of giving something up, and doing without it, I have replaced that with an action that is the greatest thing I could do for my Lord. Read His word, learn His history, and begin to incorporate it into my life. I haven't really given anything up, I have simply prioritized my time in putting the Lord first. Learning about my heritage as a servant of the Lord is the best thing I have done in a very long time. His righteousness is what I long for.

WAW63

Using this week's scripture over at WAW 63 was my inspiration for this card. I sponged some wavy lines in blue and stamped the flower from papertrey inks  in tuxedo black and colored it with copic markers.

 Jesus is the living water that sustains all life.

SOS Challenge 85

Always into a challenge that can help deplete the stash in my craft room. The theme was to use two t's on the card. So, I guess I went a little overboard. I used tan, turquoise, texture, torn paper, and treble clefs on my card. The primas were dug out of my stash as was the jeweled brad for the flower center. The stamps are from Layers of Color, a set I have had for a while.

FTTC 203

I did this for one of my favorite Tuesday challenges, Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge. The card is mounted on a chocolate chip cardstock although it is hard to see in the picture. The dotted dp is from My Mind's Eye. The stamp is from Flourishes.

January Penny Black challenge

January Blues is the theme for this month's challenge over at Penny Black's challenge blog. I used this flower stamp from Peny Black and put it together with some light blue cardstock and a soft blue and green plaid design paper.

WAW63

This is the scripture featured this week at Wordart Wednesday. Valentines are my favorite cards to make and seeking from God the help of creating a clean heart and a renewed spirit is wonderful little prayer for everyday. It is my resolution this year to abide in the Lord. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the background, nestabilities to diecut the hearts, and diecuts for the flower (I am still trying to attempt to make those successfully). The leaf punch is from Martha Stewart.

Less is More 101 and C4C 167

The Less is More challenge was to use black and white and a splash of color. The stamps are from Flourishes, Stampin' Up, and Verve. The rose was stamped on red and white gingham paper and then the shadows were shaded with a red copic marker. I also am working to keep a new year's resolution to use up scraps from my scrap pile. That is the same resolution for my stamproom that I had last year, and I did a good job, it's only that I have 5 years of scraps to use up!!LOL I also am using this card for the C4C challenge #167 to use ribbon and bows.

JUGS 170 and F4A150

I used this sketch from the JUGS challenge this week:

I also used this card for the Free for All challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I used stamps from Stampin' Up, and a Martha Stewart snowflake punch. Added a few rhinestones, and had a great thank you card for my Christmas thank you notes that I need to get done this week.

FTTC202

 The challenge I choice to repeat is one that I didn't have time to do the week it was going: THINK PINK
#189. I used this lace stamp from Flourishes to stamp in ladybug red ink and Flourishes beautiful rose stamp that I colored with copic markers. The design paper is from Basic Grey. FTTC is one of my favorite of my weekly challenges and this year I plan to take part in more of them. I just love all of my Flourish stamps, especially my floral one designed by Marcella Hawley.

CBC160

Got out an old stamp set for this one and some stashed  rhinestones. Stamped in 4 different shades of blue ink: Baja Breeze, taken with teal, pacific point, and not quite navy. I punched some MS large and small snowflakes from scraps and designed paper. A quick and easy thank you card, so I made a few more to take care of some Christmas thank yous. The snowflake stamps are from Stampin' Up as is the sentiment.

CTD223

One of my new year's resolutions is to take part in more challenges this year. Last year I did not get to take part in as many, but hopefully this year I can. This one today is for this week's Color Throw Down challenge #223. I love the work of that Design team over there, and they always put such inspiring samples up for the week. This week's colors are soft suede, kiwi kiss, cake crumb, and ivory. I embossed my soft suede and then rubbed my ivory ink pad over it. I used soft suede ink and kiwi kiss. The stamps I used are from Verve. This is a window card with the images on the circle inside the card. I have a few get well cards to get sent this week, so making this one of them. Happy 2013 to all of my blog followers. I am always so excited about your visits to my blog.