Hello - TESC#160

Good Morning Delightful Friends and Family! (or good afternoon or evening, whatever the case may be) Looks like another sunny day here on the north coast, yay!! However there is rain in the forecast for the weekend.  That is not good, we have our annual church barbecue planned for Sunday afternoon and on Saturday is our local Pony Express Days (parade, booths, etc) so rain would really not be a good thing.  Please pray that it will rain Saturday night, that would solve everything.

Here is the challenge sketch from Taylored Expressions (definitely a challenge for me)

TESC#160 (#3 for me for this challenge)

Here are the ingredients:  Paper-Echo Park Summer Days Collection Kit (the tabs on the right top corner are stickers from the kit); Stamp: Taylored Expressions (Love Grows Here set) Ink: Memento tuxedo black; The tree was colored with Copic Markers and the centers were embellished with Ranger Liquid Pearls; The green butterfly was paper pieced, can you tell it is flying off the Spellbinder Standard Circle die?

The base of the card is Bazzill (all card stock) and the second piece of white was embossed with the Polka Dot folder from ProvoCraft.  The zig zags were created by the EK Success border punch Zig Zag Stitching and I punched both sides of a 1" strip of paper from the Echo Park collection to create it. The button and the floss are from Making Memories. I've used my Cuttlebug to emboss and diecut.

Thanks for visiting and leaving a delightful comment, that is so nice of you!!

But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Matthew 6:3-4

You're the Best Dad! TESC#159

 Hello Delightful friends and family!

 Can you believe how fast this month has flown by! Tomorrow is the last day of May!  This morning, two of my grandkids (Jake & Addy) went with me to take my mom to have her cataract removed and while that was happening. the zoo is just a couple of blocks away so we headed over there. It was a gorgeous morning, the sun was out (a rarity in Eureka) and no wind. Perfect conditions! Well, almost... the zoo wasn't open when we got there so we headed over to Sequoia Park (walking distance) and as Addy (almost 3) got to the top of the slide, announced that she had to go potty, but alas, it was too late, she pee'd her pants! So we hiked back to the car and thankfully had a change of clothes in her bag. Did I mention she also stepped in dog doo? So I had that to contend with as well.... Just a perfect day, a normal day, a day that the Lord has made and I WILL rejoice in it, kind of day! Now we are back at home, Addy is napping, Jakob is "resting" and my mom is back at her home taking a nap (valium will do that to a person) and I'm here on the computer ready to share another card. Perhaps when I finish, I may take a little nap, too. But, what usually happens when I want to do that the phone rings or the kids are wide awake. So..... I'll be content with just folding the clothes and hanging out in cyberland.

Here is my card for the Taylored Expressions final sketch challenges (4 total) This is my second entry and I have two more to make before Friday to qualify for the grand prize! 

I used this Loyal (Authentique designer papers Bazzill card stock) Project Pantry Card Kit from Taylored Expressions.

 

 Boys Will Be Boys stamps

Other ingredients: Ink - Memento, Nautical blue; Mini Twinkles for the tie pin. I've paper pieced the ties and the finished card is A2.

Thanks so much for visiting! Have a sunny Spring day!

The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.  Psalm 34:7

Great Is Thy Faithfulness - PDCC#133 and TESC#158

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!

It's a beautiful day on the north coast, I love to wake up to the sun streaming into the room.  Hope you all had a safe and reflective Memorial Day (and a little fun as well!)  We had the family over for a barbecue and initiated the new grill.  The grandkids are getting so big and played together so well. Fun day (and the house is still clean minus my craft room, HA!)

Here is a card I made last night for two challenges. The sketch is from Taylored Expressions and the color challenge is Play Date Cafe #133 (light blue, denim and cherry)

 

Ingredients: Designer paper is the Christy Tomlinson line called She Art and I've used the Faith in Bloom stamp set from Taylored Expressions.  The bakers twine is WeR Memory Keepers, the card stock Bazzill,  the button from my stash.  I've used two punches  (small diamond scallop - EK Success and the Marvy Uchida scallop circle.  I've paper pieced the flower and the sentiment and flower was stamped with Memento nautical blue.

Thanks for visiting! Have a great day! 

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

 

Thanks Card - Key Ingredient Kit

Hello Delightful friends and family!

I'm back with another card showcasing the Key Ingredient kit for May from Taylored Expressions.  I do not use many dimensional flowers on my cards so this has been fun experimenting with some different styles.  Here is a flower made from the paper in the kit.  Very simple technique that I found on the Authentique Paper blog HERE.  The centerpiece of the flower was much easier than I thought it would be and if I can do this so can you!!  The tools you will need to make the flower are a paper trimmer (or ruler for measuring 1/2" width x 6" and 1/2" x 4 ), adhesive and scissors.

Other ingredients: Stamp set - Bugabee (Taylored Expressions) Ink: Memento tuxedo black; royal blue floss (Making Memories)

Thanks for looking and have a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend.

For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth.    Psalm 33:4

Pray...Hope...Trust - WAW#29 and Key Ingredient Kit challenge

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!

Here is another card featuring the Key Ingredient Kit from Taylor Expressions (minus the buttons which are from my stash).  When I viewed all of the DT's beautiful cards I really liked the white flower (no altering) on Lea's card and that is the main inspiration for this card and flower.  I will be adding this to the monthly KI challenge

I love the sentiment from Faith in Bloom (Taylored Expressions) it is three simple words of faith.  So often in our walk of faith we can be burdened with wondering if we are truly in God's will.  What I am learning more and more is if I will seek the Lord in His Word, pray and get to know Him, He will reveal His will to me and then confirm it many different ways. So, if we want to hear God's voice clearly, we need to immerse ourselves in the Word of God and as He begins to speak to us through the Word allow that  transformation to take place. It's a renewing of our minds and as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit we have that assurance we are walking according to His will. We pray, in praying we exhibit hope and in hoping we learn to trust.

This card is also participating in Word Art Wednesday #29 and although I'm not using the verse they've shared my post is ultimately about trusting the Lord to guide us daily.

Thanks for visiting! Have an excellent day.

It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  Philippians 2:13

Hello May Flowers - Key Ingredient Blog Hop & Challenge

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!

It's time for the Key Ingredients monthly blog hop and subscriber challenge! This month's theme is "May Flowers" and the Taylored Expressions KI Design Team is sharing their bloomin' beautiful projects HERE!

Here is my card for the challenge.  I've used Distress Stains (worn lipstick, fired brick, dried marigold and mustard seed) to color my flower. The yellow (Bazzill) card stock that looks orange has been sponged with Dried Marigold and Spice Marmalade Distress Ink (Ranger) all around the edges (so has the Scallop border - TE Medium Scallop border die)

The stamp set I've used is Bugabee (a TE set), I've stamped the image with Memento tuxedo black on the yellow Bazzill card stock supplied in the Key Ingredient kit.  The ribbon (center of flower) was threaded through all three flowers and a knot tied (faux french knot!). I used a crop-a-dile to punch the hole.  I used Stickles (gunmetal) to color the black on the bee for a little glam! 

For more information about the Key Ingredient Monthly Kit be sure and check out Taylored Expressions!

Thanks for looking!  I'm heading back to the craft room to play with some more flowers!

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? Luke 12:27-28

Be Still... PDCC#132 and more

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!

Hope you are having a restful Sunday.  I can hear my dear sweet hubby snoring on the recliner so I know he is!  My poor guy has a lot of shoulder pain which makes it difficult to sleep at night so he is trying to play catch up this afternoon inbetween church services.  If you would lift him up in prayer I'd be very grateful. 

I'm entering this card into three different challenges.  This will be my second entry for the Play Date Cafe (#132 Color Splash challenge). 

 I'm also adding it to Word Art Wednesday #28 and the Scripture Thursday Linky Party #29 at Abby's which is "A Heart For Prayer" I believe this verse on the card from Psalms 46 is perfect for prayer for we often forget to be still and listen after praying, our busy lifestyles can distract us from the clear, powerful voice of the Lord.  It is easier than we think to train ourselves not to hear Him.  We must purposely listen and be attentive through prayer, while reading His Word and by meditating on the Word we've read.  We sang a song this morning in our worship service "Let My Words Be Few"(by Matt Redmond) perhaps that is why the Lord created us with one mouth and two ears!!!

Here are the Ingredients:  Stamps from Taylored Expressions (Faith in Bloom); Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black; Viva Pearl Pen in black; Ribbon (stash) and Designer Paper (Authentique - Delightful Collection) Spellbinders Nestabilities Scallop Oval; Card stock: Bazzill and Neenah.

Thanks for visiting!! God bless.

Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.  Psalm 34:11

You Make Me Smile - PDCC#132

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!  Hope you are enjoying your Saturday.  We have a beautiful day here on the northcoast our son came over and helped do some major yardwork with his dad now that the rains have taken a hiatus for a while.  We have a big barbecue planned in our backyard in a couple of weeks for all the kids in our church that are graduating from the various schools in June.  The backyard really needed some TLC and today was a good start.  We will have to finish it up in the next couple of weekends.

In the meantime.... I thought I'd share a card that I've CASE'd from a StampTV video tutorial that Gina shared yesterday called One in a Million Card Sketch. I've changed it just a little bit with color, no pattern paper, I've embossed the yellow card stock and the size is different, too.   This is also to participate in the PLAY DATE CAFE COLOR CHALLENGE #132

Here's the challenge:

Black...White...and a splash of mustard Yellow - The 'splash' MUST be some shade of yellow all other colors will be deleted.

I was inspired by the photograph so my 'black' has a lot of white 'added' to it to make it more of a light black (aka gray)!  Okay, I'll probably have to make another one to qualify....

PDCC#132

I've added the last two pics to show what a difference just a little touch of color can make.  I've added the black Viva Pearl Pen to each of the flower centers shown on this last photo.  Just that simple little touch adds interest, dimension and texture to the card focal point.

Ingredients: Gina K Design Stamps (One in a Million);Memento Tuxedo Black ink;  Paper: Bazzill card stock, Neenah bright white card stock; Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Scallop Circle and Standard Circle; American Crafts ribbon; Copic Markers: Y26, Y35, W5; Viva Pearl Pen; Polka Dots Embossing folder and Cuttlebug, ProvoCraft.

Thanks for visiting!! 

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:4

A Blooming Faith card set

Happy Friday to my Delightful Friends and Family!

I made these cards that I will be donating to our local Teen Challenge Book Store/Coffee Shop and wanted to share them with you all before I take them over there today. 

This stamp set from Taylored Expressions has become a real favorite of mine.  It is called Faith in Bloom. The papers (Bazzill card stock and Simple Stories - Fabulous Collection) used are all from my Key Ingredient Kit (April 2012)  from Taylored Expressions.

 

Other ingredients (not from the Key Ingredient kit):  Bazzill card stock (gray and black) Neenah bright white card stock; Buttons: Doodle Bug Designs Inc; Memento, tuxedo black ink; Ribbon: American Crafts; Scallop border die (Taylored Expressions); Spellbinders Nestablilities Label One die;  Liquid Pearls (Flamingo, White Opal); Copic Marker, G43; Technique: Paper piecing. Finished card size A2.

Thanks for visiting today and hope you have an incredible weekend!!

"The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him." 2 Chronicles 16:9

A Little Moxie Spatter

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!

I'm sharing a tag using a less messy technique using water (the "etc." in the Moxie Fab description).  I'm sure most of the really cool samples of this technique will be with paint spatters, but to tell you the truth I just wasn't up to the creative mess tonight! 

Have you ever had one of those days where you just can't seem to keep things picked up or there is always some chore calling your name a little bit louder than usual??  This was my day.... thus the clean and simple spatter technique with water! Nevertheless, this is still a cool effect on the Distress Stains, I think so anyway!  I've used four different stains (Tumbled Glass, Stormy Skies, Peeled Paint and Shabby Shutters) for the background colors. After the tag (Paper Accents) was dry I "spattered" away, dried the tag again and then stamped the kite/tails (Taylored Expressions) and sentiment (Gina K Designs).  I then stamped again on designer paper from Simple Stories (Fabulous) the kites and one tail (for above the sentiment) fussy cut and applied.  The tails of the kites were glimmered up by Spica Pens.  I've stamped with Memento tuxedo black and the water came directly from my bathroom sink and applied by the quick flick of my fingers :-)

The camera picked up the glimmer of the Spica Pens and the dried water spatter, yay!!  The next time I use this technique I promise to use paint and a toothbrush!

Be sure and check out MOXIE FAB WORLD and all the delightful spatter technique samples and inspiration!

"O LORD, You have searched me and known me!  You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar.  You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways."  Psalm 139:1-3

Thanks for visiting, have a wonderful day!

Pray Hope Trust - Moxie Fab and CPS #265

Hello Delightful friends and family

It's a new week and new opportunities to pray, hope and trust the Lord.  One of my fav Scriptures is in Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path."   I don't know about you but there are too many times I don't see the big picture and I need the Lord's wisdom and direction.  Thankfully, He is faithful to honor His Word and help us when we call on Him! The above verse doesn't say He might direct us but "He shall direct" are you listening for His direction?  Lord, help us to have hearing ears!

My card today is inspired by a few things.  First, a sketch challenge at Card Positioning Systems and I was also delighted to see an opportunity to use my Mini Motiff stamps from Taylored Expressions for the challenge at Moxie Fab World (using Damask or Brocade).

When I saw this sketch I knew the exact stamp I was going to use and it's  from Gina K Designs called Lacy Borders (it's brand spankin' new this month!)

Well, I didn't follow the sketch exactly but you know these cards can have a mind of their own ;-)  I was attempting to keep it CAS.

This pic shows off this Lacy Border stamp and it's details a bit better.  So cool!! When I first saw this stamp I knew that I would want to try to emboss it and so this is my first attempt at embossing this longer stamp and I'm very pleased how it turned out.

I'm also sharing this card over at Word Art Wednesday #27. I didn't use the verse that was shared (it's not required to) but I thought the sentiment fit with the challenge verse well.

No designer paper was used on this card only card stock.  The base is Bazzill and so is the Dusk Gray.  The white card stock is Neenah bright white and I used it to stamp the mini motiff and then cut a larger piece to mat it. The ink I've used is Memento tuxedo black and I've used VersaMark watermark stamp pad and clear embossing powder from Ranger to stamp the lace.  The sentiment is from Taylored Expressions - Faith in Bloom set and the ribbon is from a TE Key Ingredient kit. 

Thanks for visiting today!  Have a great week.

Moxie Fab World - Country Gingham Card

Hello Delightful friends and family!

I just love gingham and I was so excited to see the Gingham Challenge at Moxie Fab World.  Here is my card all countri-fied with some delightful teal blue gingham, a pretty bouquet of flowers and a very sweet sentiment.  Be sure and head over the Moxie Fab World and see all the delightful gingham inspiration!!

Ingredients:  Stamp Set: Gina K Designs (One in a Million); Ink: Memento tuxedo black; Bazzill Card Stock, ribbon, pattern paper (Simple Stories, Fabulous) all from Taylored Expressions Key Ingredient Kit (April); Rhinestones, Hero Hues from Hero Arts; Liquid Pearls, Ranger (assortment) and Copic Markers.

Thanks for looking and I hope you all have a wonderful day and for all the moms out there "Happy Mother's Day" this card is for you!

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  James 4:8

Altered Manila folder Scrapbook - Part 4 The End!

 Hello Delightful friends and family
This is my last installment of the Altered Scrapbook from manila folders!  I hope I've inspired you to make one!

I like putting journaling tags on the pages so that Momma or Daddy could write to sweet baby girl.  I hope that they will, it would be a real treasure years down the road.
I've used a scallop eyelet die from Taylored Expressions for the border of the tag.  The frame is the Spellbinder Nestabilities die. I adhered 3 sides and left one side open to slide the picture in.  The alpha Stamp set is from Lawn Fawn.

The flower paper is double-sided and I've used the back side to embellish with the scallop eyelet border (Taylored Expressions) and the Spellbinder Nestabilities die to frame out a picture and make the journaling tag. The button is from Doodlebug and the ribbon American Crafts.

Stamp set is Lawn Fawn and Designer paper is from MMI; the card stock of the right is Bazzill.

This stamp set is from The Sweet Stamp Shop (Happy Bugs), lace (KaiserCraft)

LAST PAGE!!!!  I've used a vellum envelope, more pre-made journaling tags and a custom flower (Taylored Expressions KI kit, flower).  I've colored it with Memento cantaloupe ink and then added a button (Doodlebug) and some natural hemp (Darice).  Not pictured is another mini bag and tag with a personal note from me slipped inside this envelope.

Well....Th th th th that's ALL folks!  Thanks again for checking out the altered manila folder scrapbook!  It was a fun project.  I hope you'll give it a try!  God bless!

"Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of hosts.  Zechariah 4:6