Distress to Impress

Hi and thanks for visiting!!

Please don't be mislead by my title of todays blog. I'm not really out to impress (that sounds so bragadocious, whoa I sound like my mother!), it's the name of the class I took to learn some Tim Holtz techniques. I'm learning some new stuff! Whoo-hoo I am excited! Yes this is a tease of a post, I'm not posting any pictures yet because I'm not finished with my project(s) but I hope to by the end of the week (at least a couple of techniques anyway!) And I have some really, really exciting news to share (no we aren't expecting another grandbaby, at least I don't think we are!) but that news will have to wait a little bit longer as well. Wow... this is a teaser of a post!! Well, got to run (actually drive)... or I'll be late for work! Have a wonderful day and Happy Birthday to my son-in-law Ray! I'm sure he'll never read this but I thought I'd throw that out there anyway. We will be celebrating with him tonight at dinner!

Trust the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding and in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6

Simply Bloom!

Lazy days of summer!!

Yes, it's summer, late morning here in "sunny" Blue Lake, the temperature is a "scorching" 61 degrees according to my back porch thermometor! Is it a lazy day? Rarely! There is always something that needs to be done! Today is errand day, so I'll be in town for most of the afternoon. Where it will reach a scorching 57 degrees (on the bay) this afternoon maybe it will hit 60 degrees. My computer says the temp at the airport is 54 degrees. Of course this means we will be getting the inland "tanned" people flocking over to the coast to get out of their high 90s weather. I would love a little bit of that heat, perhaps they will bring it with them! I'm not bitter, I'd just want to see some blue skies! But to be real we don't get the higher temperatures (75-85 degrees) in Blue Lake until late July through early September, so I'll wait patiently for it.

Besides, this is the day the Lord has made and I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!

In the meantime over at Christian Paper Crafts (http://www.cpcmag.com/ ) today is Fun on Friday (FOF13) and the challenge is to make a card with flowers everywhere on it, from embellishments to paper.

So, here is my card! Very simple and easy.

I made my own pattern paper on the cardstock

Here are the paint colors and stamp pad I used

This is a sample of the stamps they are from Inkadinkadoo and the plain cardstock I used as the base. The rust color cardstock I used to mat the strip of coordinating stamped paper.

I titled this post "Simply Bloom" because that's what the Lord desires of us, just to bloom where we are planted. We are His field and He cultivates us to grow into a beautiful garden.
1 Corinthians 3:9 says that we are "God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building". I love to think of each of us being a beautiful flower in the field created by God, individual and precious, and as He cares for us we grow into a reflection of His workmanship. Are you allowing Him to tend to you? Or are you "self" sufficient? For me, I need Him to water, provide the right kind of soil, and provide the sun (Son) to shine down on me to help me grow into that creation He desires. He has His work cut for Him! The weeds of distraction try to keep me from Him but I'm so grateful He continually tends to my root system to keep me strong.

Thanks for visiting today and may you bloom for the Lord in all you do!

PS The sun is peaking through the overcast skies, I will see blue skies today, WHOO-HOO!!! See how much God loves me, I really wanted to see the sunshine today!! He knows the very desires of my heart!!

Altered Keepsake Box

Thanks for visiting and a special Happy 4th of July to you all, I hope your day is filled with lots of love!

I'm finally blogging, let me tell you I've had "blog block" lately! It's not like I've not been doing anything, it's just when I sit down to write, I get a big fat nothing!! I kinda still feel that way but at least I have something to share that I made for my new little granddaughter, Addyson. The ladies at church are giving her a shower next Saturday so I've been busy finishing up an altered keepsake box/birth scrapbook. I've had this planned for about 3 months and I've finally put it together at the crop last weekend.

Here are the ingredients and directions!

I used the Tim Holtz tin organizer for clear stamps (it's discontinued, so once it's gone that's it!) I used 4 Adirondack Alcohol Inks: Shell Pink, Cloudy Blue, Currant, and a Pearl (mixative) That's it for the tin. I applied Shell Pink all over with the applicator and then made a pattern on the foam piece (as best as I could) to form a flower (cloudy blue, currant) and then added the pearl mixative in the center. ( see the photo)

(silver tin box, originally for clear stamp organizing - blue flowers are not showing up well in the photo you may have to click on it to enlarge)

The tin has the d-ring binder section which comes with the plastic sheets for the stamps which I used for my scrapbook. The size I cut my base paper was 6.25 x 7.5 and that worked perfectly to fit and not cover the holes already punched. My pattern paper was from Daisy Bucket and my cardstock was Bazzill, I also used chipboard to make a top and back for the "scrapbook" then covered it with the pattern paper.

inside first page

For embellishments I used buttons and my punches to make flowers, a older stamp from my stash, a Thickers glitter letter A, I kept it simple and it's purpose is just for the hospital stay and memorabilia so I didn't want the scrapbook to be too thick, (it has 6 double-sided pages), it needs to leave room for the outfit from the hospital.

The two boxes were from my Heidi Swapp chipboard letters which I emptied out sanded, painted and decorated with paper and then used the "A" for Addy which I painted and distressed. I believe they can keep the hospital ID bracelet and perhaps the booties & cap that were given by the hospital and made by a volunteer.

two boxes (repurposed & altered)

(sample of two album pages)

Well that's it! I hope I've inspired you to be creative, although I know most that look at this blog are already so very creative and I'm in awe of you and your talents!
I pray you have a safe 4th of July and that it's a day of reflection of what our forefathers did for us and that we are indeed thankful for their sacrifices. Remember these words: "...and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all" God's richest blessings to you and your families.

All things "Sweet" and No Calories!

(sss09)

Isn't this a sweet sketch!! I love it. You can find samples of it by Korin's Design Team over at The Sweet Shop http://sweetstopsketches.blogspot.com/ If you play along you have a chance of winning a new digi set "Celebrate America" so please go visit!

Be sure and give Korin a big hello from me :-) She is one busy lady. Here is another sweet sketch by Korin but you will find it over at Christian Paper Crafts Magazine http://cpcmag.com be sure and check out the gallery of all the "Faith" based/Christ-centered papercrafts. There are some very talented ladies over there.

I've not been able to get to my craft table due to family responsibilites (new baby granddaughter!!!!)

(Addy isn't she SWEET!)

The fact that my craft table is overrun with supplies that desperately need to be put away is another reason that I can't get to my craft table and I think I lost my creativity in there somewhere!!! However, I'm attending a crop this weekend at Scrapper's Edge (our lss and where I work 2 days a week) and I hope to get my creative juices flowing again!! Hope everyone is having a delightful day and thanks for visiting!!

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up! Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Here is this weeks sketch from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!

If you are playing along be sure to label your creation SSS05. You can check out the other samples at http://sweetstopsketches.blogspot.com/ I'll post mine tomorrow night. I've Jakob spending the night here with Grammie so he's now tucked into bed and I think I need to head in that direction as well. I'm working on baby girl announcements and it just so happens to fit the sketch for this week! Can't wait to show and tell!

Here is a quote from C.H. Spurgeon:

"Happy is the man who feels that all he has, all he wants and all he expects are to be found in His God."

Jesus said, "If you will hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32

A Little bit of Creativity happened today...

Thanks for visiting, hope you'll leave a comment!

(Don't forget to check out the Taco Soup recipe on Thursdays post!)

Hooray it's the weekend! It's officially after 5p.m. on the west coast.

Of course that doesn't mean much to me. My weekends are probably more busy than my week! Nevertheless, I've enjoyed my day. I think the Lord knew I needed a little time to be creative!!

So inbetween the laundry, mopping, cleaning the bathroom ect., I got to spend some time in my craft room! I'm so thankful!!

Can't wait to get my pictures developed from the last post. I'm itchin' to get back to scrapbooking. I've taken a little break but have kept the creative juices flowing by cardmaking and trying new techniques, some successful, some not so successful! Ugh!! or should I say ugly!!

Here are the cards I made today. This one is inspired by a sketch from Korin over at The Sweet Shop (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps ) http://www.sweetshopsketches.blogspot.com/ originally it was to be a masculine card, which I did in an earlier post, this one is all feminine with a Scripture from the New Testament which I will post over at the Christian Paper Crafts Magazine site (http://www.cpcmag.com/), later this evening.

Romans 12:12

(the pattern paper is from DCWV Sweet Stack, stamp is SU!, ink: Stazon; Pink Sherbert Dabber, Adirondack; pearls : Creative Charms; Punches, Marvy Uchida)

The second card is a Clean & Simple design, super fast, super easy!

Pattern paper is also from DCWV. Brown cardstock, Paper Accents, buttons from Basic Grey Two Scoops; Punch: Marvy Uchida; Zig Pen for writing the Scripture, my handwriting and the stitch marks; Aqua Dabber (around verse), Adirondack.

This last one I made is a Father's Day card that I was inspired by something I saw at the Paper Wishes website using a folder.

The pattern paper is Basic Grey (Archaic line), eyelets Making Memories, Stamps: Inkadinkadoo, tag & cardstock: Paper Accents; ink: Ranger Aged Mahogany Distress Ink (inking edges) after distressing using Heidi Swapp Distresser; Color Box, dk brown for stamping.

.

(please excuse the shadows)

Thanks again for visiting and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Your power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

No Frills!

Hello and thanks for visiting Delightful Details. So blessed that you've stopped by. I've been having fun "blog surfing" and I of course, I have my favorites!

One of my favorite new sites is The Sweet Shop, the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps blog. You can find it at http://sweetshopsketches.blogspot.com/. Since this weekend was the 3rd Saturday of the month, this week's sketch (SSS04) is the "Sketch with a Spin" and if you play along, you could win a free stamp set! Stop by and leave a comment for Korin and check out the sketch and her design teams work, they have some wonderful creations!!

Here is my card for this weeks challenge (masculine, no frills)

Please don't call this card cute. I will be forced to do something drastic!

Such as give up cardmaking. Well, maybe the sentiment is kinda cute... and actually it's much cuter in person! I really need a new camera...seriously :-(

(click to enlarge)

Sketch: SSS04
Materials I used:

Basic Grey pattern paper, Paper Accents cardstock, Unity Stamp Co. #1 Dad, Inkadinkadoo sentiment, Distress ink (walnut stain for inking edges), StazOn Jet Black for stamping images, Zig pen, metallic gel pen, brads.

Tools: Heidi Swapp Edge distresser, We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-dile Big Bite

You are my help and my shield. In You my heart rejoices, for I trust in Your holy name. Psalm 33:20-21

Poppin' Pastels

Hello and thanks for stopping by I've been blogging like crazy, making up for lost time I guess, just lots to share, hope you'll take time to read the last few posts.

Hey it's Saturday and I'm looking forward to spending time with my family this afternoon and evening!! Get to love on the grandbabies :-) They are such a blessing.

Well, I learned a new technique this week!! I'm excited, it's probably old hat to most of y'all but I had fun with it. I used Ranger's Perfect Medium and EK Success chalk for the stamp effect on each square.

(click to enlarge)

The flower stamps are from Technique Tuesday and the Sentiment is from Inkadinkadoo. Pattern paper is one of my favorites, Fancy Pants! I used Bazzill cardstock and Andirondack Dabber pink sherbert was used to color the edges of the 1-1/2 inch squares. This was from the "New To You Wednesdays at www.cpcmag.com (WTYW05 - POPPIN' PASTELS)

Have a super excellent day!

I was once in darkness, but now I am light in You, Lord help me to live as a child of light.

(Ephesians 5:8)

Mom will you....

Kelly has asked me to design a baby announcement card! ( I did Jakob's two years ago) And I have found that Kelly has become kind of "picky".... so I've been busy the last couple of days especially since I realized she only has about 7-1/2 weeks before baby girl is due to arrive.
Here are three design choices and I hope that she will be happy with one of them, eventually!!!!

#1 (I really liked the design of this one but she said it's too "scrapbook-y - whatevah!) Back to the drawing board....

#2 She's leaning toward this one.

#3 I love this one, but she said the flowers and the "tickled pink" stuck out too far and I told her I can flatten it by not using the foam adhesive squares, no problem... but I like the 3-D dimension, I thought it added some interest & depth to the monochromatic look. (sigh...)

The inside I will probably do on the computer by printing out

the birth details on a piece of vellum.

The patterned paper and card stock will not be the same as shown but we haven't had time to go shopping. Hopefully this Saturday she can come into the store to see what is available (I happen to be working that day!) It's National Scrapbooking Day and I'm filling in for Marcie so that she can teach a couple of classes. Kelly's tentative due date is June 15 (it's a scheduled c-section, however it may be changed to the 8th, the little girl is already about 5 lbs.) Please note the Scripture at the end of this blog and I hope you catch the irony of it. (ouch!)

Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

Layout: Sketch 54 from Triple the Sketch

Thanks for stopping by!!

I'm taking a break from cardmaking tonight and I did a scrapbook layout of Jakob. I was inspired by the sketch at http://www.triplethesketch.blogspot.com/. I had a series of pictures that were so sweet of Jakob looking out the front room window waiting for Poppa to come home from working at the mill. He still has the rosy cheeks from his nap and is holding his best bud, Lambie.

The title is from a song called "Jesus Loves Me"

I took the bottom three pictures and reduced them 50% to fit the page better. This is a very simple layout and I just love the papers and colors.
Here are the "ingredients"
Bo Bunny: Abbey Road line, patterned paper
Bo Bunny: Abbey Road line: buttons & bling
Queen and Co.: green pearls
Bazzill: brown card stock
Pink Paisley: Alpha stickers - Enchanting line
Scrapbook Adhesive runner
Yes! Paste, all purpose glue (I love this stuff!)
Tools: EK Success: photo corner scallops; Fiskars, trimmer.

Hope everyone has a super excellent Tuesday!

We love Him because He first love us. 1 John 4:19

Unmerited Favor in a Card

Hello there! I hope your day is going well and thank you for visiting my blog!! I hope you'll leave a comment!

I found a stamp I hadn't used for a long time so I thought I'd use it for a "quick" card of encouragement for a friend. Well, let me tell you... Do you believe God can use card making to teach Biblical truths? Well, I found out that He can! To be perfectly honest, I know God can use anything to teach a lesson, but we must have willing hearts as students to learn.

I'll try to be brief (ha!) Here's the lesson, it's about grace, it's about God being the Potter, and I am the clay! Or in this case I am the flower on the card. This flower did not start out well, the paint I used (instead of ink) was not applied evenly(as I thought) so there was a lot of gaps and missing color. (kinda like my life before I received Jesus Christ as my Savior) What I thought would be an easy fix ended up not being easy and downright frustrating. So with a cry for help in the form of a prayer, I persevered and God delivered the patience I needed to continue on. I took small steps at first, afraid to make a total mess, and I didn't have the tools I needed to do the distressing, so I had to improvise. As I was finishing up the flower, what I had wanted to do was throw it away and start over but God impressed upon me to not give up. He hadn't given up on me and extended His grace (unmerited favor) to me. Thus the name on the card, it originally was going to be stamped, "A Friend Loves At All Times." Well the Lord definitely extended His grace to me so that I could finish the card and reminded me about His loving patience with this growing in grace "bloomster." I know bloomster isn't a word, matter a fact the spell check wanted me to use the word blister or bloomers but I like to think of myself as "blooming where I'm planted" and I definitely don't want to be thought of as a blister, (ha!) Well, this has gotten a bit too wordy, which seems to be the norm for me lately... but I hope you get the big picture of God's grace extended to us, what a Friend We Have In Jesus!

The supplies I used:
Pattern paper : Basic Grey; Bazzill cardstock; American Craft ribbon; Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber: Lettuce, Watermelon, Mountain Rose, Sunshine Yellow; Stamps: Hero Arts, Showy Blossom, unknown yellow painted flower center; Ink: Ranger, Peeled Paint; Cuddlebug: Embossing folder, Dotted Swiss; Grace: transparency from Staples brand, font: Wanda's Write; an emery board, my fingernail & water for distressing!

(I did paint on the back of the transparency with the Mountain Rose, then scratched some off and repainted with the Watermelon) if you click to enlarge I think you'll be able to see that.

The finished card is 5" x 5.75"

Quick post! (edited on 5/6/09)

Hi all,

Here are two cards I've been working on and I really need a need a better camera, sorry that the photos aren't the greatest. I've paper pieced the stamped image (Unity Stamp Co, Blessing From Him set)

(I'm using these cards for the new technique for CPCM NTYW04)

(really poor quality photo, sorry!)

(Close up of the corner) Love the blue on the "Peace" it's a new product for me called "Smooch" pearlized accent ink, Azure. It looks like a fingernail polish container and the brush is very small.

Here are the supplies I used.

Pattern Paper: KaiserCraft - Cocco line, doublesided (1.Periwinkle, 2. Mocha)
Bazzill Bling cardstock (brown)
Stamp: Unity Stamp Co "Blessings From Him" set
StazOn Jet Black Ink
Queen and Company "Winter Rhinestones"
Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink "Azure" (on the dove)
GelWriter (green) on the leaves in the doves mouth
EK Success corner rounder
Inside of card I used the font "Tracy" to type out the Scripture from Philippians 4:7
I printed it on white cardstock.
Finished card size: 4.75" x 7"

Eccl. 3:11 is the Scripture on the front.

Finished size 6"x 6"

I also used the "Smooch" pearlized accent ink on this card, it's the "pumpkin" color on the tree and the bird.

Here are the supplies I used.

Paper: Paper Accents Recycled Card Stock "Brown Bag" and white card stock;
Basic Grey - Eva Line "Decadent"
American Crafts Brown rick rack/ribbon, 6.75" long
Stamps: Unity Stamp Co. Something Within (Scripture); Unity Stamp Co. Owl Always Love You set, branch and flower; Inkadinkadoo, bird stamp from the All Occasion set
Inks: StazOn, Saddle Brown ; Ranger’s, Peeled Paint Distress Ink;
Clearsnap, Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink, pumpkin.
Adhesives: Scrapbook Adhesives, E-Z runner, 3-D foam Squares; Xyron create a sticker
Cuddlebug, Swirl Embossing Folder.

Have a wonderful evening!!

Natalie

Ranger University!

I'm so excited for my "boss" (she hates to be called that)Sondra Kirtley, she has been accepted to Ranger University. She just found out last night!! Whoo-hoo! It's going to be a party today!! I'm heading to "work" now and if you have a chance check out the store website, please do! We have the largest scrapbooking store in northern California http://www.scrappersedge.net/ We get so many "Scrapbookers" coming in who are traveling through from other states and othe countries (yes, other countries!) who are very impressed with how big and well stocked the store is. If you are in the area, stop by and say hello!

I'm only there on Mon. & Tue. but we have a friendly staff to help with all your papercraft needs!! Hope to hear from you and so glad you stopped by to check out my blog!

Challenge CPCM-BVT01

Well I did it!
I finally got into my craft room and made room on the table so that I could be "crafty!" I was playing around with my new alcohol inks from Adirondack and was "practicing" blending on a piece of glossy white cardstock. I felt pretty good about the blending so I decided to stamp on it. Well, needless to say my attempt was not too successful. I'm not sure what I did, may have over inked the stamp. Something went wrong! It smeared and didn't cover completely. I even did a practice stamp on regular cardstock. I admit, I'm still learning the fine art of stamping but this was ridiculous. But I try always to make "lemonade out of lemons" so I punched some scallop circles and re-stamped the salvageable paper and then cut out the flower shapes.

This is what I salvaged

The center scallop, if you look close can see the messed up bird!

Here are my flowers to be saved for another craft project, for another day!

Tonight I did finish a card for a Challenge from Christian Paper Crafts Magazine.

It was their first Challenge (I believe) CPCM-BVT01 and the challenge was to create a card with a Scripture on the front of it. And here is my take on the challenge:

The products I used:

Stamp: Unity Stamp Co. "Blessings from HIM" set
Patterned paper: Bo Bunny "Abbey Road Vine" (doublesided)

Cardstock: Bazzill (craft, aqua)

Paper Accents: White cardstock 8.5 x 11

Bling Flowers : Bo Bunny "Abbey Road"

Brads: Making Memories

Ribbon: American Crafts

Ink: Stazon (Saddle Brown) Distress Ink (Walnut Stain, Broken China)

Xyron to attach the ribbon, Scrapbook Adhesives E-Z runner
Finished Card size: 4.75" x 7"

The green strip is paper (backside of the main pattern paper I used) and the

ribbon is beneath it.

I forgot to mention in the above description that I used my Cuddlebug to emboss the aqua cardstock. I used the Dotted Swiss folder.

Oh my goodness, how time flies! I need to get to bed I've got that cute little grandson of mine coming over in the morning, who by the way is in the beginning stages of the "terrible-two's" Oh I remember those days well!!

Tomorrow I will post this on the CPCM blog, I'm waiting to be approved!

Have a super blessed and incredibly delightful Thursday!

I finished the accordian mini album for my friend Tina, finally!! I had so many interruptions, but that's just life here in the Houston home! I'm not completely happy with the finished product but I was trying some new things and used my Cricut to cut out the circle scallops.

The backside of the album I glimmer misted with Pink Taffy and Robin Egg Green.

I've decorated each circle only on one side with the thought that my friend should write little notes on the backside of the album for her new granddaughter. Tina is a precious woman of God and I thought it would be very special to write prayers or encouragement to the new baby Jaidyn (aka Princess Jaidyn!) and then pass it on to her when she becomes an adult.

The first circle has a scripture from Psalm 28:7

The last two lines say "give thanks to Him in song." Tina is

a worship leader so I thought this would be a good scripture to begin

this little "journey".

The stamp is from Unity Stamp Co. "Something Within" set.

All the patterned paper is from Graphic 45 "Baby2Bride Collection" I loved these soft colors.

The cardstock is Bazzill. I also should mention that the patterned paper is doublesided.

This second scallop I hole punched and added ribbon.

#3 Scallop you can really see the Glimmer mist. I stamped the edges with a decorative floral from Inkainkadoo and added photo corners that I punched using the Paper Shapers Scallop. (I did not mist the corners for contrast) #4 circle I used my Cricut to cut out the star (George cart). The tag with ribbon and "Baby" tag are from Graphic 45.

#5 Just added brackets and bling, # 6 distressed the brackets with paint and Glimmer mist added a star w/button on the top corner.

#7 This is one of my favorites! Glimmer misted the cardstock, distressed the edges with pink paint that added little white "doodles" with paint. Flower is a daisy punch from EK Success and the button from BG Two Scoops. The stamp is from Unity Stamp Co.

"Something from Within" set.

#8 I cut a circle using my Cricut to make a round frame. Distressed the frame with pink paint and white doodling! Punched the scallop circle with a Marvy Uchida punch and added the "You're Special" sentiment and bird stamp from Inkadinkadoo.
My little album is too fat for the tin it came in so I'lve got to come up with some kind of container to package it in. I want Tina to be able to take it around and show her girlfriends pictures of the new grandbaby!

This is going to be a busy week I've got a hair appt. after work tomorrow (Thank YOU, Jesus!!) I've had enough bad hair days this month already! Then Wednesday it's Bible Study in the a.m., then off to the blood bank for my quarterly blood letting! I have iron overload so I need to dump some of my blood! That takes me a day or two to recover my strength. Ugh! Thursday Bible Study p.m. and my little Jakob all day. Friday the kids are coming over for dinner. Saturday getting ready for Sunday and Sunday is Resurrection Sunday with dinner at my mom's, it's also her 71st birthday. We are going nontraditional with a Chinese menu. Should be an interesting week! Looking foward to the blessings and the challenges!

It's time to head to bed! Have a terrific Tuesday!

Natalie

The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the commandment of the Lord is radiant, makng the eyes light up. Psalm 19:8