Play Date Cafe Challenge #27

It's time for some fun with the Play Date Cafe Challenge #27. The colors this week are light blue, light green and off-white.

I had a great time trying a new technique and using a new clear set from Hero Arts.

I used the Spellbinders Impressabilities- Butterfly template to deboss with a letterpress effect. I inked up the template with blue and green chalk ink before running it through my Cuttlebug. Then I added more color to  the cream panel with Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass and Crushed Olive. I stamped the panel with the Flourish Grid in VersaMark ink and white embossed. Some layering, punched butterflies, ribbon and Zva pearls finish it off.
Thought for the Day: 2 John 1:6 ~ "Love means doing what God has commanded us, and He has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning."
Bless you,
nancy

Mostly Digital Tag....and a Stamp Fever class with Kathy!

While clicking through my downloads I've saved from all the wonderful free collage image sites I got the idea to do a mostly digital tag for Louise's Tag Tuesday Challenge.  The this week is Glitter and after a few monumental collage failures, trust me they were really bad, I finally finished a tag that I'm happy with.

I put this together in my favorite program: Microsoft Office-Publisher. I started with the heart shape and filled it with the image of the woman (I'm not sure where I found that one).[Edited: The image of the woman is from Art Creations Friday. Thank you Louise and Lin! ]  I resized it then I added the gold-toned shadow. The sheet music is from Antique Images, which is layered behind the heart. I used WordArt to type Romance using a font called Scriptina. Then I grouped all the images, sized them to the tag size and printed. The floral image is from Vintage Catnip, and it was printed separately and cut out. I added some Ultra Fine glitter in New Penny to the leaves in the woman's hair and the outlines of the roses. The flower was made with lace seam binding gathered with gold thread.
Last night I went to a stamp class at Stamp Fever taught by the ever-ebullient Kathy Ethington. We used stamps from April in Paris by Oxford Impressions to make collage cards. Here's one of the fun cards I made...

Stamp Fever is growing and adding more classes with some really wonderful teachers. If you are in the Orange County area I invite you to stop in for some inspiration and to browse the wonderful selection of rubber, clear and cling stamps.
Thought for the Day: This verse is from the devotion by Greg Laurie for today....
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
— Ephesians 4:15
 We can't compromise when it comes to speaking the truth, but who will listen if we don't speak and act with love. Jesus is my example and becoming more and more like Him is my goal.
blessings to you all,
nancy

Cards for my next class.....and some news!

I have been having so much fun playing with the sewing themed stamps from Hero Arts. Today I downloaded the Hero Arts Digikit "Sew Crazy". I used the digi images for a sentiment and to make a fun little detail on one of the cards. If you happen to live in the Orange County area of So. Cal. I'd love to have you join my next class on May 8th. It's the day before Mother's Day so you can look at it two ways. It could be your family allotted "me time", or you can come and make those last minute Mother's Day cards you've been putting off. Each card will work perfectly for moms and I'll have plenty of Mom's Days sentiments to swap with the sample ones.
Here's the 3 Sewing Themed cards for May 8th.....

Give Linda a call at Stamp Fever to reserve your spot: 714 974-3552

Saturday there was a fun Make n Take at Stamp Fever and we had a really fun visit with a local stamp designer. Who is that you ask?....None other than Kelly Marie Alvarez of Lawn Fawn. She is such a sweetheart and we became fast friends. Now for the news...Stamp Fever will begin stocking Lawn Fawn stamp sets!!! Check out the Lawn Fawn site to see the current sets and there are fabulous new stamp designs arriving in May! So we couldn't have fun at Stamp Fever without snapping a few photos, so here's Kelly at work making some samples for the store....

Well I just had to get in on the fun and smile for the camera too! If you look real close at the card just to the left of me you'll get a preview of one of the new Lawn Fawn stamp designs.

Thought for the Day: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

bless you,

nancy

Remembering Fun Times with my Sis

My sister and I have many memories together involving sewing. She is 6 years older than me and we shared  a bedroom. Her every day routine was to stop by the fabric store on the way home from school to buy material to make a dress for school the next day. She'd come home, do her homework then set about cutting out and sewing her dress. I was about 7 or 8 at the time and in need of every minute of sleep; but the sewing machine was on a stand between our 2 beds. I got to where I couldn't sleep without the noise of the sewing machine to lull me to dream land. But the best was when she would wake me up at 1 or 2 am to help her pin the hem. She'd stand on a stool and I'd pin up the bottom while wiping sleep from my eyes. I was always so proud the next morning when she'd get ready for school and put on the new dress, because I knew I had a part in making it.
For Mother's Day I used the new Hero Arts clear set Simple Handmade CL429 to make a special card for my wonderful sister.

The inside has a little remembrance of those days long ago.....

The folded pattern is stamped on a scrap of gold tissue paper as is the main image. The background paper is from the K&Company collection "Handmade". The beautiful buttons are Papertrey Ink and were a gift from sweet Tiffany Ervin.
Thought for the Day: Psalm 18:1-2 "I love you, Lord; You are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior; my God is my rock in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety."
Have a wonderful weekend; blessings to you,
nancy

Another Week, Another Play Date Cafe Challenge!

I'm pretty excited that for 2 weeks in a row now I've been among those chosen as the "cream" in the Play Date Cafe coffee. It's really surprising for me since I am not usually that great with color challenges. The color combo this week really had me stumped....

Clay, Cream, Aqua-blue, and Silver. But then I looked at the shelf above my work area and saw the perfect stamp. Then I rooted around in my paper bins for the 15 year old double-sided metallic gold and silver cardstock. A little bit of paper from Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl and a design emerged.....

I used Hero Arts CL416 What's Perking for the sentiment stamped with Distress Ink in Rusty Hinge. The background is HA CG139 Cling Dots clear embossed on cream cardstock, then Distress Ink in Broken China is blended over the whole card front. The coffee pot stamp is an oldie from Museum of Modern Rubber, #M888. A little floss and a clay colored button finish it up.
Thought for the Day: Ephesians 2:8-10 "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
Have a wonderful day; blessings to you all,
nancy

Tag Tuesday #48

Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse...that's the theme for Tag Tuesday this week. Louise has made a fabulous tag with recycled packaging. Check it out HERE. I started thinking about my tag but I had some cards to finish first. As I was adding ribbon to the last of my cards I conveniently ran out and there on my work-counter was this....

hmm...maybe a 2-sided tag. Usually I would have tossed this in the recycling bin as I was cleaning up. Instead, I used a piece of Webster's Pages paper, some distress ink, a few stamps and beads and here is the result.....

I used my circle and scallop circle nesties, a leaf punch from EK Success and the MS butterfly punch. The second side has more of the same paper torn and pieced......

I stamped a really old Stampin Up sentiment- "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year" quoted from Ralph Waldo Emerson. I added some velvet ribbon to cover the spool on the inside....

and I used a really long needle and crochet thread to create the hanger and beaded tails.

Thought for the Day: Studying a bit in Romans lately...verse 8:28 ~ "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them."  So not only can you say, "This too shall pass" but you can be certain that the lessons learned in adversity will be used by God for your good. So in all things, rejoice!
blessings upon blessings to you,
nancy

April Card Chain Challenge

This month I participated once more in Deborah's Card Chain Challenge. I love the challenge of creating a card following either the Sketch, Color Scheme or Theme for the month (and making a card worthy of sending to a talented card maker). This month I followed Deborah's sketch and the Earth Day theme (sort of) and sent my card to Hilde in Norway.  I discovered a fun coincidence with Hilde...she lives very close to Kristiansund which is where my Great-Grandmother Johannah, was born. Hilde will be vacationing there soon, I'm hoping she will post lots of photos.

I used Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety paper and elements for my Earth Day theme.  The stamped sentiment on the top and bottom is from Hero Arts clear set "Live Simply" CL230.
The best part of the Card Chain Challenge, though, is receiving a gorgeous work of art in the mail, usually from far away. This month my card came from Nova Scotia and the lovely and talented Dallas. She really hit a favorite theme for me.

I grew up at the beach and it's still one of my favorite places. This card is so peaceful and serene, with a lovely blended background. Thank you again, Dallas for sending this gem.

Thought for the Day: Romans 5:3-5 ~ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.
Have a blessed day,
nancy

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #25 ~ "Colour Splash"

Well, I had some beginner's luck with the previous challenge at The Play Date Cafe , I got a "Cream in Our Coffee" nod; I was one of a group of nine that were just out of the running for the Fab 4. Make sure to check out the post because the winning card is amazing! The challenge this week is to use only black and white with a "splash" of orange. Okay, black and white I can do, but I struggled with that little bit of orange for the better part of 2 days trying to keep my card from suggesting a halloween theme. Instead I was shooting for a summery look.  When I was done I had 2 cards completed and a work table filled with discarded scraps.

This first one uses Hero Arts Silhouette Corner and the Flourish Background. The flowers have some black Stickles for the centers.

This card uses Hero Arts Silhouette Flower along with the Flourish Background. Black Stickles finish the flower centers again.
Make sure you check out this challenge, the Guest Designer and Sponsor is Kelly Marie Alvarez of Lawn Fawn Designs.
Thought for the Day: Reminding myself to keep my focus on God. There are many distractions and difficult circumstances I'm facing at the moment but what I need to remember is Luke 12:31 "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need."
blessings,
nancy

Inlinkz and Vicky's Paper Crafts Blog Hop

If you've ever visited Vicky's blog- Clips -n-Cuts, watched her fun videos and been charmed by the upbeat musical accompaniment then you will want to help her celebrate her 100th post!  By the way, this just happens to be my 100th post also!! Vicky has a great system to link all our blogs~ Inlinkz~ which is like Mr. Linky only a whole lot better.
Join the Blog Hop and help Vicky reach 1000 linked blogs:




Blessings to you,
nancy

Inspired by a Quote

This week's tag theme at Kard Krazy is.....Inspire Me. We are to find a quote or a word that inspires us and create a tag based on that theme. I found an old Stampin Up set with a quote that I find so perfect.

I haven't used this set in almost ten years so it was a pleasure to ink it up and color it with Copics. The background is stamped with Hero Arts Dandelion Frame and white embossed. I added color with Distress inks in Bundled Sage and Scattered Straw. The butterfly, from Hero Arts clear set Antique Engravings, is colored with Copics and clear embossed several times to give it a glossy finish. I wanted the tag to be longer than the 4 3/4" size so I tied the herb stamped portion to the bottom with jute threaded through white eyelets. I'm still really loving the octagonal Nesties, they are so versatile.
Thought for the Day: Psalm 73:28 "But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do."
blessings to you,
nancy

Sharing the Beauty!

Just a quick post today to share some gorgeous cards I've received recently. I am so grateful for all my blog buddies...you've helped me through a really rough patch lately with your cards and sincere sympathies.

Please click on the image to see these beauties in all their loveliness.

Thought for the Day:  I was doing some spring cleaning yesterday and came across a little snippet of paper with this verse jotted on it ~ "for the joy of the Lord is your strength..." Nehemiah 8:10.

God knew I would need to remember this today....

blessings to you,

nancy

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #24

I'm trying a new challenge site this week....The Play Date Cafe Challenge! This week is challenge #24 to use Plum, Lavender and Cream.
I am using the Nestabilities dies I received from Vanessa at wings of a butterfly as a blog candy prize. Thank you again Vanessa!

So here is my card in all it's plummy, lavender-y, and creamy goodness. It is winging it's way to a special blog buddy.

Thought for the day: Galatians 1:3-5 "Grace to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen!"

Have a blessed day,
nancy

Tag Tuesday ~ Sketch Challenge

I have been enjoying some sketch challenges lately so I was happy to see that Louise had a fun tag sketch for us this week in the Tag Tuesday Challenge. Check out the Kard Krazy blog to see the original sketch and Louise's lovely card.

I thought it would be fun to play with a glamorous theme and the Hero Arts Small Chandelier was the perfect focal image. I dressed it up with some gold and silver Stickles. I die cut the vellum panel, stamped Old Letter Writing in Hero Hues chalk ink in Snow then distressed the back side with Black Soot Distress Ink. The chandelier was over stamped on the front. (The vellum panel is attached to the tag with matte gel medium- I covered the whole piece with the gel which dries clear). I used some Hero Arts Digital Images and layered everything on a Webster's Pages patterned paper.
Thought for the Day: 1 Peter 1:6-9 ~ "So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls."

Today is my son Ben's 23rd birthday. He was in Iraq last year on his birthday and I am so grateful that he made it home and that we can celebrate this day with him. My heart goes out to all the military moms whose children are still in harm's way and especially to those Gold Star moms who have lost their dear children.

blessings,
nancy

A Good Friday Message

This is a picture of my little collection of Ukrainian Pysanky eggs. I love the intricate detail and the beautiful symbolism for the designs.

The two vertical eggs on stands are from the collection of Al's Aunt Marge. When she passed away several years ago I was fortunate to add these to my collection of beautifully painted matryoska dolls. The pink and red egg was a gift from friends, Doug and Marina Landro, who are missionaries in Ukraine. Check THIS site for an explanation of the symbols.
Thought for the Day: God is love, God is just, God is righteous. Sin separates us from God. In old testament times the people would have to sacrifice a perfect lamb to atone for their sins and they had to do it over and over because the lamb was merely a shadow of the Perfect Sacrifice.
In the heavenly courtroom:
God is the holy, righteous judge
The charge is sin
The verdict is guilty
The penalty is death (separation from God)
But God had a plan to reconcile the world to Himself, the first installment took place on Christmas morning; this weekend we celebrate the fulfillment of God's promise.
Picture yourself in traffic court. You've just plead guilty to speeding and the judge declares your penalty to be a $500.00 fine according to the law. The judge slams down the gavel then he does something remarkable. He stands up, removes his black robe, steps down from the bench and comes to stand beside you. Then he takes out his checkbook and pays your fine, because he's your dad and you are his child.
This is essentially what took place in heaven. On Christmas morning when we celebrate the birth of Christ- that is the day when the Righteous Judge removed His royal robe, stepped down from His eternal throne to come and stand beside us.
Today, Good Friday, is the day we recognize the crucifixion of the Prince of Peace, The Perfect Lamb of God. This is God, the Father, taking out His checkbook, so to speak, and paying the fine for our sin. Jesus died in our place. But there is more....Jesus finished the sacrifice on Resurrection morning when He rose from the dead. What the sacrificial lamb of the old covenant couldn't do, Jesus did by living again and conquering sin and death once and for all! Praise God for this most perfect gift~ John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Remember the traffic court scenario? Well imagine that you have a habit of speeding on occasion. The next time you find yourself in traffic court and you plead guilty (confess), the judge will declare you forgiven and there will be no penalty. 1 John 1:9-But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness.
Here are some verses for further meditation:
Romans 3:22-24 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

This Easter may you ponder the glorious fulfillment of God's plan for salvation.
Blessings in Christ,
nancy