Vintage Hymnal Card

I think it's best to stamp the image then trim
the page as I learned here!

Today's card seemed to be timed perfectly. Time Out Challenges has a great theme called Playing Music. And just last Sunday I was asked to make eight cards for our pastors at church. Usually Pastor Appreciation Day is in November, but in the United  Methodist Church, our pastors get new assignments on July 1. Even though we're only losing one pastor and gaining a replacement, I guess the board wants to give each of them a card. That's where I, the church card lady comes in!

I love doing this, but there is always so pressure when creating a card for someone you know. When you mail a card out, you do your best and hope they like it. But when it's someone I know, I always feel a little nervous.

After picking up this old hymnal a while back, I knew it would make a great background for a card, and today seemed like the perfect time to do just that, especially since it goes well for both pastors and for Time Out Challenges.

Here's my complete supply list:

• Garage Sale Vintage Hymnal Page
• Stampin' Up! Old Olive Card Stock
• SU! Secret Sea Card Stock
• SU! Curmb Cake C/S
• Papertrey Hibiscus Burst Card Stock
• Versa Mark Ink
• Memento Black Ink
• Memento Pistachio Ink
• Stampin’ Up! Embossing Folder
• Spellbinders Scallop Die
• Concord and 9th Filled In Florals Stamp Set
• Stamp Simply Pastor Appreciation Stamp
• Gifted Rhinestones
• Michaels Twine

After finishing the card I realize some changes I'll make on the next two. First of all, I cut off the hymn number. I think that's a classic part of the page and wished I had thought about that beforehand. Second, I think I'll make the leaves a bit darker. It's funny how ink changes when it dries. And lastly, I think I'd like the scalloped edge to not stand out so much. Anyhow, all things considered it's pretty close to what I had in mind.

This is only my first of three cards that I plan to make using this old hymnal. I wanted to get one uploaded to this challenge just to start. It was a good inspiration to play along over at Time Out Challenges and I'm thankful to everyone over there for putting this together!

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

Word Art Wednesday with Concord & 9th Prize!

Hi there stamping friends! Today's card is made especially for our newest challenge over at Word Art Wednesday. Our sponsor this round is Concord & 9th, and they're offering a $30.00 gift certificate to a randomly chosen winner! 

For my project I used their "Filled With Joy" Dies and Sentiments. I have the stencils too, but it was so very easy just to cut the flowers, centers and stems, give them a brushing of ink and glue them down.

Here's my complete supply list:

• Concord & 9th Filled With Joy Dies
• Concord & 9th Filled With Joy Sentiments
• Michaels Kraft Card Stock
• Stampin' Up! Lemon Lolly Card Stock & Ink
• SU! Soft Suede Card Stock
• SU! Pear Pizzazz Card Stock & Ink
• SU! Early Espresso Card Stock & Ink
• Copic E19
• SU! Falling Snow Embossing Folder
• Nuvo Crystal Drops in Dandelion Yellow

We would love it if you would join us! All of our challenges are always "anything goes" and you don't have to use the scripture of the sponsors product. Just play along and have fun. We love seeing the beautiful things that you all make!

Concord & 9th For Word Art Wednesday

Hello stamping friends and welcome to another round of fun over at Word Art Wednesday. This time our sponsor is none other than Concord & 9th!  I'm so excited about them because they're a company that I'm familiar with and I love their stuff. And we have a $30.00 Gift Certificate to their online store, which is really exciting!

I bought a few items from them back in the summer and have been having so much fun playing with them. One is this bundle called Make A Wish. And talk about a good deal, even if you buy them individually they're under $25.00. 

This set really captured me because I struggle making guy birthday cards. It's so easy to make a girl birthday card. Pretty much any flower goes and you can just stamp a sentiment on it. But for the guys, it's not that easy. This set makes it a snap to quickly create a guy, girl or little one card.

When I started out, I knew I wanted to make not only a masculine card, but a whimsical one too. Again, this set made it so easy.

Here's my complete supply list:

• Concord & 9th Make A Wish Bundle
• Stampin' Up! Blueberry Bushel Card Stock
• Big Box Dotted Gray and Blue Patterned Paper
• Stampin' Up! Marina Mist Card Stock
• Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight Card Stock
• Darice Star Embossing Folder
• Darice Striped Embossing Folder
• Recollections White Embossing Powder
• Doodlebug Yellow Enamel Dots

One note, hubby gave his approval for the "masculineness" of the card, but didn't approve the yellow enamel dots. I couldn't resist! I think they add a lot, especially since I wanted a really fun card, and I don't think that they're feminine at all. 

I'd like to also enter this in other challenges as well. First, over at NBUS this definitely qualifies because this is my first time playing with this bundle. Then at Can You Handle The Pressure I've used two embossing folders and one heat embossing product. 

We would love to have you join us over at Word Art Wednesday and remember that the theme is always anything goes. We have a lovely scripture that is one of my absolute favorites that you can use if you like, and if you have any Concord and 9th products we'd love to see your creations with them too. But neither are required. The only requirement is to have fun!

Red, White and Pool!

Today's card was made especially for the Shopping Our Stash Challenge, (#SOS551) which is Red, White and Blue, plus you have to use something that's currently in your stash. Well the products used in this card just made it. I got the set in the mail last week, just days before this challenge went live. So it's new to me, but still in my stash.

I first saw this set over at Caroline's KISS Blog and I fell in love. How stinkin' cute is this! My first thought was "you seriously don't need any more supplies," but when I went to the Concord & 9th website "just to look" the price blew me away. Currently the bundle is $38.75. I hit a sale a few weeks ago (the order did take over 2 weeks to arrive) and paid $15.50 for the same bundle. At that price, all common sense went out the window. I bought some other ridiculously priced items too. I think it really pays to follow these manufacturers and keep and eye out for bargains. They're certainly out there! 

Here's my complete supply list:

• Concord & 9th Poolside Dies & Stamps
• Authentique Red & White Patterned Paper
• White Card Stock
• Stampin' Up! Poppy Parade Card Stock
• SU! Blueberry Bushel Card Stock
• SU! Real Red Card Stock
• SU! Night of Navy Card Stock & Ink
• Die Cuts With A View Glitter Paper

One thing I knew but really realized with making this card is that die cutting isn't my favorite way to make cards. I love stamping and fussy cutting. I think it's interesting because I feel like there's something wrong with me. But this set is really worth it. I'm glad it's in my stash now too because I'm way too guilty of just making flowers, flowers and more flowers. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a "beautiful day!"

Concord & 9th Stencil Card

This week my package from Concord & 9th came! I got some really cool things, but what I'm most excited about is how little I paid for it all. They had a ridiculously good sale going so I treated myself to a few things I normally wouldn't buy. This stencil set is one such item.

It came at a perfect time, because over at Darnell's I.D.E.A.S. this week, the letter is "S" since it's the 5th week, which means use your stencils! And I'm also entering it over at NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) #76 because it's brand new. And since I'm venturing more into the world of stencils, I'm playing along with the Stencil Fun Challenge, which will really help me grow in this area. 

I love how this card looks, but sometimes I struggle with the idea of stenciling. It seems like, with whole picture stencils (as opposed to background stencils) that there's only one thing you can do with them and that is to make the given design. Having said that, this set is a little different in that it came with dies that you can cut out a few of the components and create a more stamped feel. I'll have to experiment a little more and perhaps watch a couple of YouTube videos. It's amazing what people come up with!

Looking at it now, one thing I think I could do is to add a couple different shades of pink and green rather than just use one. Or I could work on my skill of not stenciling the whole thing so solidly, but press less in some areas so that it's a lighter shade. I'm also wondering if hand drawing in some details in the leaves and flowers may make it better. Hmmm.....

It's not too noticeable in the picture above, but the vase is stenciled in gold and there are gold squiggles of Stickles in the center of the flowers. It just felt like it needed a little something extra after making this one.

Here's my complete supply list for this one:

• Concord & 9th Filled With Joy Stencil Set
• Concord & 9th Filled With Joy Stamps
• Papertrey Hibiscus Burst Card Stock
• Michael's Purple Card Stock
• Stampin' Up! Highland Heather Ink
• SU! Polished Pink Ink
• Dew Drops Brillance Galaxy God Ink
• Gold Stickles
• True White Speckletone Card Stock

I think I'll get more on the stenciling bandwagon as I use them more and more. One thing I found out is that I need more blending brushes. I only have four and I had to reuse one of them for this project. But for all my skepticism, this was a really fun card to make.

Be sure to stop over at NBUS and play along. Their challenges run all month long so there's plenty of time to get involved. And be sure to visit Darnell's blog. I love her chatty style and wonderfully witty humor! And Diane and Darlene have a wonderful array of all sorts of fun chalets play along with, so be sure to check them out too!

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

Poppies In Pink

This is a little set from Concord & 9th that really packs a punch. Here I used it to make my poppies pink and had a little fun by making the sky out of blue hearts. The grass is just the smaller leaf stamped many time.

Here's my complete supply list:

• Concord & 9th Petite Poppies
• Papertrey Hibiscus Burst Card Stock
• Stampin' Up! Light Blue DSP
• SU! Night of Navy Card Stock & Ink
• White Card Stock
• SU! Polished Pink Ink
• SU! Bashful Blue Ink
• SU! Cucumber Crush Ink
• Memento Black Ink

As of this writing, this little 3 x 4 set was on their website for $2.40. It's worth every penny! 

I have my eye on a sun die, and if I do pick it up, I hope to put it on the top of this card. I think Pineapple Punch will look so cheery. If not, it's still cute and will hopefully will put a smile on someone's face soon!

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