A Tree Firmly Planted

The challenge at Words 2 Craft By is to make a card inspired by this quote:
"Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth." When looking at the key words, liberty, root, plant, growth, I was reminded of the verses in Psalms 1: 1-3:
" Blessed is the one who does walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His (God's) law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season.  Its leaves never wither.  In all that he does, he prospers. "

For my card I used two digital stamps.  I started with the tree, faded it out, then put the verse on top.  After printing, I added just a touch of green to the tree which normally prints black and white.
For the main panel under the oval I played with my one and only oxide ink pad, rubbing it on a piece of white cardstock then sprayed it with water and lastly stamped leaves (from a GKD set).  It isn't very clear, but the button in the middle of the twine is a maple leaf.  Recently I started supplying cards to a lady at my church who loves to send out cards.  I hope she likes this one.  (I do - heehee)
Thanks for looking.

Challenges:
Words 2 Craft By - quote
Simon Wednesday - anything
Joy Clair - anything
7 Kids - anything
Cardz TV - anything
Stamploration CAS

Just for the Pun of It

Sometimes it is fun to make a silly card, hoping to bring a smile to the recipient.  I made this card with a digital image and sentiment that Ginny Maxam offered on her blog some time ago.  Thanks Ginny.

Materials used:
Elizabeth Craft Stitched Ovals die
Cuttlebug embossing folder
Washi tape
Olive pearls
Sequins
Sketch used:

Thanks for looking.  I hope it made you smile.

Challenges:
MFT - sketch 
Simon Wednesday - anything
Simon Monday - edges
Work it Wednesday - bling
Joy Clair - anything
7 Kids - anything
Cardz TV - anything
Stamploration CAS

Double Layered Sunflower

Sure having fun with this digital stamp by Power Poppy and the challenge to CASE a Bloomie.

This card was inspired by Stacy Morgan.  I changed only a few things because I love it so much - can't improve perfection.   Here is Stacy's card:

The flower is Sunflower Power.  The sentiment is from the digital set Roses and Chamomile.  For her card she printed the sunflower twice, cut out the bloom and then added it on top of the first printed flower.  I really like that dimension so I did the same.

Thanks for looking. 


Challenges:
Power Poppy - CASE
Simon Wednesday - anything
Time Out - good thoughts, sunbeams
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Work It Wednesday - bling
Joy Clair - anything
7 Kids - anything

More Balloons

Using the same patterned paper as the last card but this time as the background, I made another card with balloons using two dies, an Elizabeth Crafts Stitched Oval and Paper Sweeties balloon die.

After the balloons were stamped and cut, I colored them with Copics.  I used a Prisma pencil to go over the stitch lines on the oval.  I think I like this card better than the one yesterday but both are fun and will send both cards to Send A Smile 4 Kids.

Challenges:
CASology - balloons
Stamplorataion - warm colors
Stamploration CAS

Joy Clair - anything
7 Kids - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything

Party Balloons

Balloons and parties just go together.  I used some old patterned paper to make these balloons with the Stamploration dies, cutting out some of the fun words.

Between the base piece of patterned paper and the frame, I inserted a piece of window sheet that I cut with the base die. 

Challenges:
CASology - balloons
Scrapyland - anything with dies
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Stamploration CAS

 Joy Clair - anything
7 Kids - anything
Crop Stop - anything
Stamploration Never ending challenge 

Another CASEd card

Here is another card I CASED, again from Cindy Lawrence.

Here is Cindy's card:

I loved how she did the bow on the side and the strip of stripes.
The image I used is a Poppy Power digital stamp which I colored with Copics.
Oval die is Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Ovals. 

Thanks for looking.

Challenges:
Power Poppy - CASE a Bloomie
Crop Stop - anything
Joy Clair - anything
7 Kids - anything
Yes, Virginia - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Cardz TV - anything
Mailbox Smiles - anything
Scrapyland - anything with die

Love to CASE

One of the challenges this month (Power Poppy) is to CASE one of the members of the design team.  Do you have a file of cards to be CASEd?  Mine is quite large.  It is very seldom that I come up with an idea for a card on my own; I need a sketch,  or colors, or similar stamps to get my creative juices flowing. 
My card is a CASE of the very talented Cindy Lawrence.  Here is her card:

And here is my take :

The roses are a  Power Poppy digital stamp, printed, colored with Copics, fussy cut.  The left one is popped up with dimension tape over the right one. 
The sentiment is from an Altenew set, Fresh Freesia.

Thanks for looking.

Challenges:
Power Poppy - CASE a Bloomie
Crop Stop - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Joy Clair - anything
7 Kids - anything
Mailbox Smiles - anything
Cardz TV - anything
Time Out - good thoughts 

Last July Birthday Card

Finally finished with all the birthday and anniversary cards for July.  This is the last one.

I have been wanting to make window/shaker cards for a while now so here was my first attempt after receiving these dies from Stamplorations.
I tried cutting the balloons with fun foam but the sequins would get stuck to the adhesive between the layers.  Next I cut three balloons out of cardstock, glued  them together but it isn't quite enough space for the sequins to move freely.  I will keep experimenting; probably buy a filler other than sequins and a thicker foam.  But the balloons are cute even if they don't shake.
Sentiment die is by Memory Box.  Embossing folder - Darice.

Suggestions are very welcome!

Challenges:
Work It Wednesday - bling
Joy Clair - anything
7 Kids - anything
Cardz TV - anything
Mailbox Smiles - anything
Scrapyland - dies
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Stamploration Sketch 

Stamploration Never Ending Challenge

Fun With New Dies

I took a few minutes to play with a new set of dies that I won this past week.  I love all these pretty wild flowers.

Dies are Sizzix by Tim Holtz.  I received these from 7 Kids so here is the site if you are interested.
Sentiment is Power Poppy (digital).

Challenges:
Scrapyland - anything with die
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Stamploration - warm colors
Stamploration CAS

Joy Clair - anything
7 Kids - anything
Cardz TV- anything 
Mailbox Smiles - anything

Liberty

A new challenge begins today at Words 2 Craft By and it is my privilege to be a guest this week.  The quote for this month's challenge is:
"Liberty when it begins to take root,  is a plant of rapid growth."  George Washington
This is my interpretation:

For the main panel I used a digital print offered by Crafting With Jack.  It is pictured below.

I love this print but I wanted the flowers to stand out a bit more so I used Copics to color in the flower as if the image were a no line image, darkening most of the flower and adding a bit of gray on the leaves and stem.
Before printing the poppies, I added the verse which was offered at Word Art Wednesday.
Final touches - black liquid pearls in the center of the flowers and a few sequins.
After backing the print with black, the card base is Stampin Up's Sahara Sand.

Thanks for looking.  Head over to Words 2 Craft By and enter the challenge.

Challenges:
Joy Clair - anything
Crop Stop - anything
Virginia's Summer Challenge
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Stamploration CAS

 

Flowery Heart

Here with another heart die cut by Die-Namites.  Last Monday I showcased a card and used the  Love Heart 2 Die that contained stars.  This die, Fancy Hearts, includes beautiful flowers, leaves and the word Love all in one die.  Once again I used Copics to color the different parts of the die cut.

I started with a piece of glossy paper.  Then using the ink pad to paper technique with  pink distress ink onto the paper.  I tried quite a few angles to capture how beautiful the background turned out but never could get an accurate photo of it.  You will just have to try it - it is lovely!

The word "you" is a Simon Says Die.  The centers of the flowers are filled in with Liquid Pearls. 
Thanks for looking.

Challenges:
Scrapyland - anything
Double D - pastels
Stamploration - CAS

 Joy Clair - anything
7 Kids - anything
Crop Stop - anything

Happy Birthday Surprise Box

When I was wrapping up a birthday gift, I realized I had not posted one of the birthday cards I made a while back - before summer and grandkids descended in force!  It took a bit of time so it is a good thing I made it when I did!

The pop up box is made to fit into an A2 envelop.  All the inserts are made with die cuts.   The cake, candles and balloons are stamped and then cut with Paper Sweeties.   Happy Birthday is an Elizabeth Crafts die cut.  The banner is a die that I received in a prize package so I am not sure of the company.
Here is one more view

Thanks for looking.

Challenges:
Scrapyland - anything
Time Out - celebration (optional layers)
Deep Oceans - lots of layers
ScorPal - more than one fold and die cuts
7 Kids - anything
Joy Clair - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Send a Smile 4 Kids - birthday fun for kids

Put a Little Love In Your Heart

Tomorrow is the 4th of July so while I was playing with some of my dies, I decided to make a Valentine in red, white, and blue.  I always make a Valentine for each family member (26: hubby,  children and grandchildren) so it is good to make a few before February!

This one will go to my dear husband.  I love both the Die-namites Love Heart 2 and the Unity sentiment.  This die is currently out of stock at Dies R Us but there are other similar heart dies available.  In fact, I will be featuring another Die-namites Heart die right here next Monday.
After cutting out the die cut,  I used Copics to color the red swirls and blue stars then added some Stickles to the stars for sparkle.
Here is the second half of the sentiment on the  inside of the card:

 Thanks for stopping by.  Have a fun, safe 4th of July as you celebrate our wonderful country.

Challenges:
Simon Monday - red, white, blue
Words 2 Craft By - keep love in your heart
Joy Clair - anything
7 Kids - anything
Simon Wednesday - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Cut It Up - red, white, blue