A 4-Leaf Clover For 3 Challenges

Just when you think you’ve got enough stamps, a St. Patrick’s Day challenge comes along! I quickly realized that this in and of itself was indeed a challenge, as I have nothing that even remotely resembles St. Patrick’s Day. I even wondered if I had a witches cauldron that I could use as a pot of gold. But the best that I could come up with is making my own four leaf clover out of hearts.

It actually took five different stamp sets to make this card. Here is a picture of the three sets that I used to I make the clovers.

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge 670

Hi there stamping friends! Today's card was made especially for the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #670.  One really cool thing that they did over there is that their design team doesn't post their creations right away. That gives us time to think about what we'd like to create without having any outside influences. Brilliant! Many times I don't scroll down on challenges for that very reason.

I have to confess, this card really was a challenge for me. Not because of the sketch, but I really don't feel I have enough Easter supplies, and I really wanted to make an Easter card. I finally settled on this bunny, but it really wasn't perfect for this challenge because you're supposed to put a sentiment on the side and he's holding a sign that needs a sentiment as well. So, I did my best and put two sentiments on. Hopefully it doesn't look weird! 

Here's my complete supply list:

• 
  Close To My Heart Spring Critters
• Newton's Nook Springtime Patterned Paper Pack
• Doodlebug Yellow Dotted Paper
• Offray Ribbon
• Amazon Generic Tag Die
• Memento Black Ink
• Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight Card Stock
• SU! Cucumber Crush Card Stock
• SU! Hightland Heather Card Stock
• SU! Gorgeous Grape Card Stock
• Copics R81, E34, E11 & Y21
• Doodlebug Enamel Hearts
• Spellbinders Circle & Scallop Dies

I'm really pleased with how this turned out, and that's my biggest reason for doing challenges. I am always left with a card that I would have never made otherwise. Many thanks so everyone over at Atlantic Hearts who put this together. I'm sure they would love it if you headed on over and played along.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Posies For Two Challenges

I've been playing around in my craft room thinking about getting rid of some stamp sets that I don't totally love anymore. But one that doesn't make that list is this one from Stampin' Up! It's called Gorgeous Posies. I think I like it so much because it's a two-step stamp set that gives such a dimensional look with little effort. There's no die that goes with it, but I don't mind fussy cutting. 

I was inspired by the sketch over at Sunday Stamps (SSC380) to add the two lines at the bottom, and divide up the sentiment to be a bit on both lines. I'm also playing over at Triple B Challenge. There are definitely lots of blooms on this one. I have some brushed butterflies on order from Stampin' Up! and when they come I think I'll stick a few on this card. Until then the "blooms" will have to do.

Here's my complete supply list:

• Stampin’ Up! Gorgeous Posies Stamp Set
• SU! Perfect Peach Card Stock & Ink
• SU! Calypso Coral Card Stock & Ink'
• SU! Pumpkin Pie Ink
• SU! Baked Brown Sugar Ink
• Memento Cantaloupe Ink
• SU! Pear Pizzazz Ink
• SU! Garden Green Ink
• Memento Black Ink

This was also a fun card to make because it gave me a chance to experiment with all my orange inks. Sometimes it's easy to forget what they actually look like.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful and crafty day!

Word Art Wednesday with Not 2 Shabby

Welcome back, stamping friends! This time at Word Art Wednesday we have a returning sponsor. Not 2 Shabby has  graciously supplied us with a $25.00 gift certificate to spend at their wonderful online store. One thing I love about Not 2 Shabby Is that their products make creating wonderful cards so very easy. They have a wonderful assortment of coordinating ephemera, patterned papers and stamps. 

For my card, I used two of their products. The first one is called Serene Escape Ephemera. Adding to that, I used the Serene Escapes Patterned Paper. I finished off the card with a purple card stock base and frame from Michaels. The sentiment is from a Stampin’ Up! Set called Hello. Easy peasy!

Be sure to hop on over to Word Art Wednesday and play along with us. We have a lovely scripture that you can use, but it’s never required. Neither is using any of the products from our sponsor. Just play along and have fun!

A Simple Easter Wish

Today's card is a simple Happy Easter card that was made with several challenges in mind. First, over at Retro Rubber, they have a fun Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge (#rrcb265). The elements I chose were across the middle row - Kraft Paper, Your Choice, and Embossing (mine is a folder).  You always have to use a stamp that's older than a year, and both of my Stampin' Up! sets are.

And then over at Can You Handle The Pressure, you always have to use an embossing folder, but this time the optional twist is "die cutting." I used a Stampin' Up! Embossing Folder on the Kraft Paper and the eggs were die cut.

Then I thought about the NBUS Challenge #83 where you have to use a product that you've never used before. Mine in the main stamp set, Abstract Impressions. Although it's an older set, I've not used it until today! 

And that also qualifies me for The Neglected Stuff Challenge. In fact, both of my stamp sets are neglected. The flowers I've never used and really forgot I had. And the eggs are something that I love but don't pull out too often. I think that all those little dies actually intimidate me.

And lastly I'm entering over at Beautiful Blossoms Challenge where your main focus must be flowers. 

Wow, five challenges. I don't think I've ever done this many before. But I really appreciate all the challenges out there and the way they encourage our creativity to blossom!

U is For Uplifting

Today's card is made especially for The Alphabet Challenge Blog. Every other Friday they have a challenge that uses one letter of the alphabet and a theme corresponding to that letter. This round the letter is "U" for Uplifting. 

This card is really simple. There's no stamping, as I relied on pre-printed images from a Valentine's Day sheet of paper. It's made especially for a friend and her new husband in South Carolina.

Here's my complete supply list:

• Simple Stores "Kissing Booth" (Lovebirds & Saying)
• Bo Bunny "Back To Basics" Red Background Paper
• Papertrey Ink Ballet Slippers Card Stock
• Unbranded Arrows (Amazon)
  
• Stampin' Up! Self Adhesive Sequins

I wanted to put the arrows going in opposite directions, but I put the bottom one on first and then realized the top one had the heart, and I didn't want that to be upside down. Anyway, I think it looks good. Perhaps it can signify that they're both going in the same direction in life!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Word Art Wednesday with The Stamps of Life!

Welcome to my blog! Today's card is made for Word Art Wednesday's Weeks 738 & 739 Challenge. As many of you know, every two weeks (or fortnightly as they say in England, which sounds so much better) we have a new "Anything Goes" Challenge that features a giveaway from a sponsor. This round our sponsor is The Stamps of Life and they're giving away $25.00! So be sure to come over and join us!

My card this round is made using the scripture that Word Art Wednesday provided. It's a scripture about love-perfect for 10 days before Valentine's Day.

I make cards all year long of course, but every time I make a Valentine's Day card I feel like a little kid cutting and glueing everything. Definitely a throwback from my childhood days. And making this card was no exception.

I have a supply list, but when it comes to Valentine's Day, I'm always saving scraps and such and not keeping track of where everything comes from. I do know however, that 4 of the 5 patterned papers for this came from Stampin' Up! A few years ago they featured a DSP set that included golds, peaches, pinks and muted purples. I fell in love with that and so the few leftover scraps that I have here are from that pack. Here's my best shot at what I used:

• Bible Verse From Word Art Wednesday
• White Core Plum Colored Card Stock (Michaels?)
• Gold Card Stock (Michaels)
• Stampin' Up! DSP
• Stampin' Up! Bubble Bath Ink
• Heart Patterned Paper (Hobby Lobby?)
• Honeycomb Glitter Card Stock (Probably Joann, whom I miss so very much!)
• Stampin' Up! Berry Burst Card Stock
• Flat Plastic Enamel-like Hearts (gifted to me)
• Gold Bow (gifted to me)

Fun facts about this card:

It's a 5 x 7, which I've started making more of. It's fun to have a bit more "canvas" to work with sometimes.

After cutting out the scripture freehand, I thought it looked a little uneven which is why I shaded the edges with the Bubble Bath ink.

It was my hope that the placement of the papers in a haphazard fashion would resemble someone walking, thus tying in with the scripture about walking in love. 

Well that's all for today. I'm so glad you stopped by and we would love it if you stopped by Word Art Wednesday and played along with us!

Oh, and if you'd like to use the scripture feel free to snag it below! 

Valentine’s Phone Wallpaper & Cards

I wanted a new wallpaper for my phone that would reflect the Valentine’s Day season, but I wanted it to go even deeper than chocolates and hearts. Valentine’s Day can be difficult for many, especially if you’re alone in life. But the one thing that we can hold onto is that all of us have God‘s Love in our life.

Sometimes I struggle with feeling the love of God. Maybe it’s because of my current struggles in life. Or perhaps I’ve had too much condemnation in my life and think that He’s just like everyone else. I know from scripture that’s not true, but getting it from my head to my heart is often another story. But each day I try to understand and grasp it more and more.

The scripture that this inspiration comes from is Romans 8:35-37 which says…

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Here are three paper cards I made using this image.

So no matter what we’re facing today, let’s always remember that despite it all, God truly and deeply loves us. 

May this phone wallpaper be a blessing to you today.

And for more Phone Wallpapers, click HERE.