Another Mother's Day Card

I made another Mother's Day card with my Authentique Grace paper collection.  This paper just goes together all on its own.  Here's the details:

• All papers are from the collection and they are all edged in Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The pink patterned paper was embossed with a Darice embossing folder.
• The swirls are cut from matching patterned paper using my Sizzix Decorative Swirls.

• The flower is store bought and has long since been separated from it's package.  I also rubbed on some Vintage Photo Distress Ink to tie this in.
• The crochet ribbon came from the stash.  
• On the inside, I used a sentiment from the collection.

I'm all set, a card for my grandma and one for my mom.  I'm even a little ahead of the game.

I decided to enter this card into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Not So Mellow Yellow.  Even though my yellow flower is a bit mellow, I think that it qualifies as yellow and wanted to join in the fun.  Come on over to see all the yellow-y inspiration.

Don't forget that I've posted a comment party for some blog candy.  Please click through the link, read about my great fortune that, in the end, I am hoping will result in a small fortunate event for you.  All you have to do is follow my blog and comment to win!

An Unexpected Windfall

I spent the better part of last week out of town on business.  We visited Washington D.C., but didn't have time to visit any of the landmarks or see the cherry blossoms which were in bloom.  We did spend a great deal of time on the freeways around the D.C. area.  I snapped this photo of a cherry tree as we whizzed by on the freeway!

Right before I left, I received a wonderful box from the folks over at Inspiration Emporium.  I first heard of their online store when I registered for Creative Chemistry 101 offered by Online Card Classes.  They have a great assortment of the Tim Holtz product line and are my go to store online for his stuff.  I do follow their blog as well, trying to join their monthly challenges when I can.

I had the great fortune to win their February monthly challenge.  Here's a picture of my winnings.  There's Game Pieces (wooden enumerated findings), black Tinsel Twine, Alphabet stickers, pink Sparkly Stuff, the spring colors set of Distress Inks and a overly generous amount of Distress Stains.









 





You might be wondering what this all has to do with you?  In fact, I find that I have a great deal of the Distress Stains in the stash.  I thought that my windfall should also be your gain.  I know that I don't get a large following in this blog, but if you happen to click through and start following my blog, I'm intended to give away two different sets of happy reward-

Reward #1- A set of seven Distress Stains

Reward #2- A set of Spring Seasonal Distress Ink pads and the matching Distress Stains

You have until midnight Arizona time on May 15, 2014 to enter.  I will chose from the comments/followers two random entries.  I will caution that the prize packages are only able to ship to US addresses.  Sorry- shipping prices have risen so high!  I thank you for the support.  I'll check back to announce the winners.

Check out the wonderful folks at Inspiration Emporium.  I can vouch for their customer service as well as their kind generosity.  Come join the fun in their monthly challenges, their April challenge, A Few of My Favorite Things, closes on the 30th.  

A Praying for You Card

This card was totally inspired by a Pinterest pin. Thinking of a patterned paper with a large floral led me straight to my Stampin' Up Attic Boutique collection in the stash.  I picked out patterned paper to coordinate.

The most interesting part of making this card was making the shadow for the framed sentiment.  I used another pin with these instructions to get me there.I cut the frame out of white card stock three times, slicing the pieces apart as shown.

I used four pieces to glue to the back of the die cut out of yellow patterned paper.  This is a fantastic technique for making matting behind metal dies that aren't nesting.  I think it really makes the front of this card. 

On the inside, I layered some matching patterned paper from the collection and colored card stock creating a small space to write a heartfelt note.

I've linked this up with Word Art Wednesday's Challenge #129: Anything Goes.  Come on over to join the fun or just gawk at some amazing art.

 

Grateful

Yep, I finished up that MME Ooh La La for Her paper pad.  This card was made with all the same elements as the card earlier in the week.  The grateful die cut came in my care package from Loly.  The flowers were cut using my Heartfelt Creations Tattered Blossoms dies.  The center is a bit of Peacock Feathers Distress Glitter applied with a little Crystal Accents glue. The pearl accent was a sale purchase from Hobby Lobby.  I've added a few nice cards to the stash.  I should be more thankful and grateful for the graces and gifts given to me by family and friends.  I intend to put these cards to good use!

He is Risen Indeed

Happy Easter!  Today is the day that we celebrate our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.  Today is the day we honor Him for His sacrifice on the cross where He did what I couldn't do for myself.  Now that is reason to celebrate.

I had seen this sentiment stamp in a craft magazine over a year ago.  I couldn't justify the purchase at the time (budget, shipping costs, etc.).  Almost a year later, a sale pretty much wiped out the shipping costs and I decided to take the plunge.  I almost couldn't wait to create a card for Easter with it.  Here's the detail on this card:

Patterned paper is Stampin' Up's Attic Boutique.  The paper doesn't have an ounce of glitter on it- that pattern simply creates a brightness that tricks the eye.  I found it perfect on this card.

The green cardstock was cut using my Heartfelt Creations Raindrops on Roses die.  

The flowers were first stamped with my Heartfelt Creations Sun Kissed Fleur stamps and then cut using the matching die.  I used a yellow Close to My Heart stamp pad.  I shaped the flowers, sometimes choosing to shape the center and other times using a pearl accent.  

I left the inside blank to hand write a sentiment on the inside before sending them out to family.  Ultimately, I made five of these cards.  I hope that you are celebrating with family and friends this day.  We will start our day at sunrise with friends in a intimate backyard celebration looking back at the dawning of that first Easter morning.  

He was despised and rejected by men;
    a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.

                                                          Isaiah 53:3-5

Praying the healing that can only come through the Son of God for all of you this Easter morning.