new stamps....

If you are here for the Lily Pad Cards Blog Hop, that post is HERE. Thanks.

My Fab Five winnings arrived this week:

I'm having so much fun with these...the Basic Grey cling flowers were used on the card HERE. I used the Small Solid Flower and Large Open Flower to make the background on this card:

This also features Hero Hues patterned paper and some Tim Holtz Tissue Tape. The subtle blue background was done using a Faber-Castell Gelato to ink my HA Floral Brocade Cling, then misting it with water, this is a second generation stamping. The Bird Collage was stamped over the top using Coffee Archival ink.

I also got a special package from Jane in Croatia. I ordered a Jane's Doodles Jane's Bakery Stamp set and some of the delicious buttons from her Etsy shop "Plain Jane".  Jane is so sweet, she even threw in some freebies; green buttons and some fun SRM stickers.

I'm looking forward to having some quality crafting time with those!

I've got one last card to share. It's made with Unity stamps and coordinating Cosmo Cricket Upcycle papers.

I  added Cosmo Cricket Upcycle Butterflies and Doilies Lovely Bits and twine from the Twinery.

~ Psalm 23:1 ~

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I have all that I need."

blessings,

nancy

Hoppy Fun with Lily Pad Cards

Welcome to the fabulous new Lily Pad Cards Blog Hop! I'm so happy to finally spill the beans about being a member of the Lily Pad Cards Design Team! What a thrill to be associated with all these wonderfully talented people.

The Blog Hopping fun started on Monday and has traveled the world via 7 blogs each day. With any luck, you should have arrived here from the blog of the mega-talented Kristina Werner.  Okay, this is a little like saying, "Now I'd like to sing a little ditty I just wrote" right after Sarah Brightman has just sung Nessun Dorma to a rousing standing ovation, but....

I'd like to welcome Lily Pad Cards to the crafting neighborhood with a card I made just for this occasion: 

I used a combination of Papertrey Ink, Lawn Fawn and Hero Arts stamps with papers from Basic Grey's Hello Luscious and Life of the Party collections.

Although the Lily Pad Cards Blog doesn't officially open until April 1, 2011, you’ll be able to see a new sneak peek every day until then. And you’ll definitely want to drop by because there are three prize packages with a total retail value of over $800- including a $100 gift certificate to a very popular online store! Go HERE for specific prize details and contest rules. Make sure to send Lily Pad Cards a friend request on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

This is the last stop for today but you won't want to miss what we have for you tomorrow starting with my friend from across the pond, the lovely and talented Lucy Abrams. Be sure to head to Lucy's Cards first thing Thursday morning (9:00 am EST).  If you hit a bad link, while hopping you can always go back here and click on the next link in the hop. Please report any bad links to webmaster@inlinkz.com

~ Psalm 19:14 ~

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

blessings,

nancy

Keep Cool

My favorite weatherman says we are going to have a bit of hot weather this week so I thought I'd make a card to encourage us in Southern California to "Keep Cool". The idea for the panels came from THIS card, it's Kristina Werner's Make a Card Monday card. I used some brand new Hero Arts flower stamps, Luscious Bold Flowers and of course the wonderful Lawn Fawn set "Swimsuit Season".

I hope you are all enjoying the Lily Pad Cards Blog Hop, there will be more fun and sneak peeks tomorrow at Lily Pad Cards. Don't miss it!

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~

Always be joyful. Never stop praying.

Be thankful in all circumstances, 

for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

blessings,

nancy

Watercolor and Layered Stamping

I had an idea for this card to use some new papers I just got, but I just couldn't get it to work. I really wanted to use patterned paper though so I think I tried every paper in my stash but nothing good was happening. Things finally fell into place when I decided to channel my inner Jill Foster and play with ink and color.

The inky fun started with Hero Arts Silhouette Ivy (K5313), a stamp I use far too seldom, I'm afraid. I inked it with Versamark ink first, then I added some Distress inks to my craft sheet, spritzed them with water and used that to ink the stamp with color. I did this several times using Crushed Olive, Broken China, and Wild Honey inks separately. I heat set the watercolor elements then randomly over-stamped using Envelope Pattern (S5507) and Pumice Stone ink. The sentiment stamp (CRM163) from Stampendous was also stamped with Pumice Stone ink. The edges are distressed with Scattered Straw and Tea Dye Distress inks using an ink blending tool. I layered this panel to another inked panel. The only embellishing is some thin jute twine, an old HA flower from my stash and a pearly button. It probably could use a gem or two but I just couldn't bring myself to do it, so there you have it!

~ Psalm 9:1-2 ~

I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart;

I will tell of all Your wonders.

I will be glad and rejoice in You;

I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

blessings,

nancy

Happy Birthday Reece!

My sweet little great-niece is turning a year old so it was the perfect occasion to get out the new "Life of the Party" Basic Grey paper and Hero Arts stamps! I went bold, bright and cheerful with just a bit of girly-ness.

~ Psalm 100:1-3 ~

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His;

we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

blessings,

nancy

March Card Chain Challenge

I was on the ball this month and got my card done and mailed right away....and it stayed in California as I sent it my neighbor in the northern part of the state, Arlene.
Here's the color scheme and sketch from Deborah:

I loved the bright colors and had some fun with the sketch.....here's what Arlene received:

I used Hero Arts and Unity stamps and some bright colored paper scraps. The colorful tree has some Glossy Accents on it to make it special.

And now talking about being on the ball and getting a card in the mail...here is the card I received from Jie Ying all the way from Singapore, it's sweet and adorable and utterly charming!

I love those international postage stamps!

I am so addicted to these Card Chain Challenges. The idea of sending a card off to someone I don't know yet and receiving one from another new friend makes me so happy. I just need to give a woot woot to Deborah, the genius behind this wonderful monthly ritual. If you want to take part in a Card Chain Challenge, visit Deborah's blog, Society of Stamp & Scrap-aholics. She posts the new challenge at the end of the month.

~ Luke 16:15 ~

"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

blessings,

nancy

Basic Stamping Class

This Saturday I'll be starting my Rubber Stamping 101 series of classes at Stamp Fever. These classes are geared toward the total newbie to stamping who wants to get started on the right foot with our wonderful little arty-crafty hobby. It will also be great for seasoned stampers who want to get a refresher and learn some new techniques with new products. I promise there will be something for everyone, whatever your skill level.

Here are the samples for the first class:

If you are in the Southern California area and would like to learn about stamping starting with the basics, contact Stamp Fever at 714 974-3552.

~ Psalm 1:1-3 ~ 

Oh the joys of those who do not

follow the advice of the wicked,

or stand around with sinners,

or join in with mockers.

But they delight in the law of the Lord,

meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank,

bearing fruit each season.

Their leaves never wither,

and they prosper in all they do.

blessings,
nancy