Bloom! TESC157 and PDCC#129

Hello Delightful friends and family!
I've entered two challenges with the card I'm sharing today.
Here is a link to the sketch by Jen Schults for Taylored Expressions #157 and the second challenge is a color challenge for Play Date Cafe #129

Dusk, Magenta & Seedlings

 And here is my card: 

I really struggled with the three colors, but while I was at work today I picked up a piece of "dusk" Bazzill card stock for the base.  If I had waited until morning to take the photo it would probably turn out much better but I need to be to work by 9a.m. and there is no way I can get a good shot taken, cropped and get it uploaded before I need to leave the house! By the time I get home in the evening the PDC Challenge would be closed! So I apologize for the dark and shadowy picture. It is what it is!

The designer paper is called Playground by Echo Park.  The pieces used for the banners needed a color enhancement so I took my Copic Marker RV17 Deep Magenta and "enhanced" away.  The stamp set is Taylored Expressions "Garden Party Blooms" and I also used the coordinating die to cut the flower.  It was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and the leaves were colored with Copic G43 (Pistachio), a button and ribbon from my stash was added to embellish. I used the Spellbinder Circle Die to frame out the flower and the paper is a piece of leftover manila folder from a mini scrapbook I'm making for my great niece. The finished card is A2.  Well, it is late and I already hear the hubs snoring so I'd best be getting myself tucked into my cozy bed.  Have an excellent day and thanks for visiting!

If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15

(It's not "What would Jesus do?" it is "do what Jesus says!")

You Simply Shine - CPS#262 and SSIC #136

Welcome to the Delightful Weekend!!  Hope your day is starting off well.  I'm getting a card in quickly for two challenges, the deadline is today so I'm just getting it in under the wire!

 1. Card Positioning Systems Sketch #262

2. Stampin' Sister's in Christ #136 - Soft pastel colors

 

 I  moved up the middle section just a bit to make room for the sentiment (compare to sketch).  I kept the embellishments at a minimum because I want to mail this without a lot of bulkiness (only a little rhinestone was added to the "i" in shine) and I popped up the image with dimensionals.

Ingredients: Unity Stamp Co (Shine On); Designer Paper: Authentique (Delightful Collection - how appropriate for my blog) Card Stock: DCWV - Pastel Stack, Bazzill (white base); Ink: Memento, rich cocoa:  American Crafts ribbon; Rhinestone (on sentiment); EK Success corner rounder: Marvy Uchida, scallop circle; Prismacolor pencil (Rose Deco);  Finished size: A2

Speaking of "shining" here are some of the little gems that brought some shine into my life this week!

 I babysat last night at my son and daughter-in-love's home for my two little granddaughters.  This pic is of Riley Ann. She is a cutie!  Unfortunately Tucker Lynn was all tuckered out and in bed before I could get the camera out.  They are ages 4 and 1 so I thought it was great I could get one to slow down for a picture!

T-Ball is in full swing (no pun intended!) and here is Jake swinging the bat and hitting off the tee. He had his first game this week!

Ready to "play" the field.

Another little "gem" our little Miss Addy-tude. This is what I got when I said "smile for grammie" Oh my she is full of passion and has quite a sense of humor!! She is going through a real naughty stage right now (almost three years old). Not a lot of fun with the training, but she is learning and she is remorseful and willing to apologize when in the wrong (usually to her brother).  Speaking of learning she just learned to make faces not too long ago from Poppa and big brother.  Nice.   Shall I save this one for when she turns 16?

 Last post I shared some spring pictures from my backyard and here are a few more:

One of the gazillion bees loving my Wisteria.

The mock cherry tree loosing it's blossoms in exchange for the green leaves.

Not snow or hail but blossoms from the above tree.

Well that's it for me today.  Hope you all have a blessed week.  Thank you for visiting!

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold to those who walk uprightly.  O LORD of Hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!"

Spring is in Full Bloom!

Hello Delightful friends and family!

I'm sharing another tag!  Love this color combination of the greens and blues.  I've used Distress Stains (Ranger) again to create the background.  I also used them (stains) to add a bit of color to the flower and the beaks and feathers of these funny long legged birdies! I've used a Q-Tip to apply the stains to the images and I wasn't overly careful, I wanted to keep with a watercolor look.

cute little trio!

Just need to add the ribbon and this one is ready to give away!

First day of Spring 2012, can you see the dew about to drip from the blossom?  This tree is right out my back door.

Same tree two weeks later, look close and you'll see a honey bee feeding off the blossom. The tree just hums as we walk by. Today that same tree is full of green leaves and only a few blossoms are on the tree, most of them have taken flight or have covered the grass beneath the tree! I just love how the Lord's handiwork is so magnificently shown and declared in nature. What an awe-inspiring Creator we have!

Abby shared a lot about the changing seasons on her blog Little Birdie Blessings (Scripture Thursday challenge). We all go through seasons of life, some good and some not so good but we can be sure that our Lord Jesus will be by our side and has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  I think that is why the verse I used on the tag is so important to memorize "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding"  if you keep reading in Proverbs 3, it continues on to say "in all your way acknowledge Him and He will direct your path."  So no matter what season you are in the Lord is there to keep you on the right path, IF you will trust and obey Him. He is always faithful.

My tag today is entered into two challenges: 

Word of Art Wednesday #25  and Scripture Thursday #26.

Ingredients - Stamps: Ranger Dylusions (birds); Unity Ippity line (Devoted set), Taylored Expressions (Faith in Bloom -flower); Ink: Stazon, jet black; Distress Inks: Weathered Wood, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Mustard Seed and Ranger Craft Tags (Manila #8).

Thanks for looking and have a blessed day!

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.    2 Corinthians 4:6

Play Date Cafe Challenge #128

Hello again!  Hope you are enjoying the weekend.  I have to work this afternoon/evening at our local scrapbook store at a crop(I know, poor me!!ha!) unfortunately my boss is under the weather, so I'm filling in for her.  So, I thought I'd best get this posted before the weekend got completely away from me!

I've been playing around a lot with Distress Stains, inks and paint and love how this turned out. I need to get just the perfect ribbon for the tag and it will be ready to give away!  Love the sentiment from an older Stampendous stamp called Hugs and Laugh.  The border stamp is from Dylusions (Ranger). 

So here is my tag for the challenge at the Play Date Cafe 

Here are the inspiration colors for the challenge:

Aren't these fun colors!! Talk about vibrant -  Flamingo Pink and Bright Orange with Bright White.

Other supplies:  Ranger Craft Tags #8 (manila) Making Memories Paint and Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paint (I did a lot of mixing to get just the right colors for the tag). Distress Stains: Warm Lipstick, Dried Marigold and Fired Brick. Stazon Jet Black ink.  These tags have been perfect to try out new techniques and get comfortable using the stains and paint!

Thanks for visiting and hope your day is filled with lots of hugs and laughter!

A merry heart does good, like medicine,  But a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Key Ingredient: Tag You're It! Subscriber Blog Hop

Hello delightful friends and family!

Just a quick post to share a card for the Taylored Expressions April Key Ingredient Kit Blog Hop for subscribers.  Here is my card and you can see I do have a little "tag" that I've sponged around the edges and stamped "A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17 from the Faith Blooms Stamp Set released last month.

I kept the design very simple and the kit comes with the cutest papers and tags!  Be sure and check it out, you can find all the details to subscribe HERE.

Other ingredients used are:  Memento Tuxedo Black ink and Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, EK Success border punch, Darice Hemp cording

Thanks so much for visiting and be sure and check out the Key Ingredient DT samples for the hop.  Super cute tags, cards and projects!!

He that follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor.  Proverbs 21:21

Butterfly Inspiration - Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!

Hope you are having an incredible day!  I'm excited to share a couple of tags for Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World.  Aren't these gorgeous colors, I love the jeweled tones and the butterflies! The picture reminds me of rainbow sherbert (yum!)

 

This is actually the second tag I made because after revisiting the inspiration photo I realized there was no purple in my original tag!  That will teach me to get crafty away from my craft room! (ha!) I "had" to watch the baseball game with the hubs so I pulled out the card table and relocated to the living room for the evening and watched a nail biter of a game, it's a wonder I was able to even concentrate on my projects!  S.F. Giants won in the 11th inning!

Ingredients: Ranger Craft Tags #8 (manila); Distress Stains: Worn Lipstick, Dried Marigold, Mustard Seed, Fired Brick, Peeled Paint;  Distress Inks: Dusty Concord, Milled Lavendar; Inks: Stazon, Jet Black and Vibrant Violet;  Making Memories, Purple Potion Acrylic Paint; Sharpie Fine tip marker; Stamps: Hero Arts Butterflies; Unity (Ippity series)  Devoted; Taylored Expressions, Faith Blooms set (sentiment); paint brush, Q-tips, Mini Mister

This is the first tag I did and I really love the white space showing throughout the tag, that was also one of the "triggers" that I loved about the photo.

This photo really shows off the Perfect Pearls and the glimmer it gives that I added to the wings, not so noticable in the first shot. Ranger Liquid Pearls also added a little dimension.

Here is a list of ingredients: Ranger Craft Tags #8; Stamps: Hero Arts Butterflies; Ranger Dylusions (ribbon border) Taylored Expressions (Faith Blooms); Distress Stains: Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick, Dried Marigold, Mustard Seed; Memento tuxedo black ink; Distress Inks: Worn Lipstick; Liquid Pearls (Ranger) Cantaloupe, Flamingo; Perfect Pearls (pearl); Mini Mister

O give thanks to the Lord; For He is good: For His mercy endures forever"    Psalm 118:29

Well, that's all for me for now, be sure and come back soon and visit, I have some more tags to share!

Rusted Enamel Tag technique - Word Art Wednesday #24

 Hello Delightful friends and family,
I've been having fun experimenting with different techniques (while watching the SF Giants play on TV!) and I love the look of this one called Rusted Enamel (Tim Holtz technique).  It's a cool technique and pretty easy to do and I love this color combo.  The only thing is I think my Stazon Ink pad is needing to be refilled so the stamped images are not as pronounced as I would have liked. I've been using tags (this particular one is from Ranger, #8 size : 6-1/2" x 3-1/8" Manila colored) which is perfect for tryout the distress and mixed media techniques.  I want to eventually use a canvas but I'd like to play around on a smaller less expensive medium first.

Here are the steps to create the background on the tag before stamping.

You'll need 2 Ranger Distress Inks, I've used Broken China and Frayed Burlap and clear embossing powder (I've used Ranger Clear Embossing Powder)  for this tag.  You will want to use a Non Stick Craft Sheet (Ranger) on your craft table surface.

Step 1: Cover the tag in the Broken China color using the stamp pad itself.

Step 2: Immediately cover the tag with embossing powder and then flick the back of the tag to remove the excess. 

Step 2: Heat emboss the tag with your heat gun.  Be careful the embossing powder melts and is hot to touch. Let it cool

Step 3:  Using a blending tool go over the entire tag with the brown ink

Step 4: Wipe off excess ink with cloth or paper towel.

Step 5: Stamp your design

This close up really shows the texture of the embossed technique and the the brown color in the grooves.

Same technique using Distress Ink, Peeled Paint and I tried using Aged Mahogany Distress Stain (instead of the stamp pad)and it worked just fine. I put a little puddle of the stain on my craft sheet and worked it onto the tag using a Blending Tool (Ranger). 

Other supplies used:  Stamps from Taylored Expressions, Ranger Dylusions and Our Daily Bread; Stazon jet black ink pad; Black Sharpie pen; Claudine Helmuth Studio Paint (color: Dab of Yellow) Distress Ink, Pine Needles (shading of leaves on tree and trunk) and Q-tips.

I've entered this tag at the Word Art Wednesday Challenge #24
I learned this technique at our local scrapbook store, Scrapper's Edge a couple of years ago at the Distress to Impress Class #1.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path."  Proverbs 3:6

Thanks for visiting!

Rest in God - Word Art Wednesday & Scripture Thursday

Greetings to my delightful friends and family!

I've been having a good time playing/experimenting with the Distress Stains (Ranger) here lately and I've been making double sided tags.  I've used two tags and adhered them together. Today's tag was made for a friend at church battling cancer.  She's a woman of faith and prayer but I just felt led to make this for her.  As I'm in the process of making the tags the Lord impresses upon me to pray for the recipient, so I get blessed in the creative department as well as having a wonderful time in talking with the Lord.

I forgot to write down all the Distress Stains I used (3 or 4 different colors) and I used two Ranger Paint Dabbers (Mountain Rose and Citrus to add more color to the stamped border)  The border stamps are from the Dylusion line (Ranger)  and the Scripture is from Taylored Expressions Faith in Bloom.(both sides)  The tags are from Paper Accents.  I've used Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

I've entered this tag into two challenges:

 Scripture Thursday (Cast Your Burdens #24) 

 Word Art Wednesday Challenge #23.

front of tag

backside of tag

Thanks so much for visiting and I look forward to your delightful comments!

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with Me."   Revelation 3:20

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Hello Delightful friends and family!

Here is a card I made my mom for her birthday, which is today but we are celebrating with a birthday dinner tomorrow (Friday) night.  I paper pieced the stamp (Taylored Expressions - Faith in Bloom) using the So Sophie Collection from My Minds Eye.  The card stock is Bazzill  from my Key Ingredient kit (Taylored Expressions) and so is the ribbon. I've used the Liquid Pearls (Ranger, flamingo) to accent the flower.  The inks used are Memento Tuxedo black and Distress Ink, Frayed Burlap.

 

Inside stamp is from Taylored Expressions (Make a Wish set) and the diecut flower base is from a Key Ingredient kit.

Here is a picture of my mom teaching the girls (two of her great granddaughters Riley and Tucker - my son's girls) a little "hand jive" this past Sunday.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.  Ephesians 1:3

Have a blessed day!!

Cards for a Friend

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!

I finally finished the cards I wanted to make for my friends in Nebraska, now I just need to get them into the mail today.  Aren't these images by Mo Manning just so sweet!  I hope Tiffany enjoys them.  The pattern paper, card stock base (Bazzill), ribbon and buttons come from my Key Ingredient kits (Taylored Expressions).  I've colored the images with Copic Markers and the "Bear Hugs" sentiment is from Taylored Expressions (Buddy Bear stamp set) and the medium scallop border die is also from TE.

This is Zola (Mo Manning, digi)

   Digi: "You're My Best"

Well, that's it for me for now, I'll have a card later to post for my mom.  It's her birthday today, she is 74 years young! 

"O taste and see that the Lord is good:  Blessed is the man that trusts in Him"  Psalm 34:8

He is Mighty to Save (Scripture Thursday #23)

Hello Delightful friends and family,

Just a quick post to share two tags I made for a young woman in our church who is going through some deep trials both physically and in her family.  After reading my dear friend Abby's post at Little Birdie Blessings about trials and tribulations featured this week at her Scripture Thursday Linky Party, I thought it might be encouraging to share these verses and tags with you. 

The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save." Zephaniah 3:17 and "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10.

God is so faithful when we call on Him and trust Him to see us through difficulties.  Sometimes He delivers us out of those trials and sometimes it's through them but we can have the assurance that He is with us.  That is a promise that you can hang on to.

Front of tags with Scriptures.

back side of the tags.

Ingredients:

I've used the Faith in Bloom stamp set from Taylored Expressions for the Scriptures and sentiments.  The flower, ribbon and stitch stamps are from Dylusions stamps from Ranger (How Does Your Garden Grow set and Inbetweenies set)  I've used an assortment of Ranger Distress Stains for the background work.  The Inks used are Memento tuxedo black and Archival aquamarine. I've also used stencils from: Pink Paislee (She Art line) called Mask Vintage Doily and Crafter's Workshop Balzer Designs. The ribbon is American Crafts and I've also used Prismacolor pencils to do a little filling in on the flowers. The button is from my stash.  

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a blessed week!  Be sure and visit Abby's blog she lots of vintage digital freebies!