Just Open The Door

Some of you will appreciate this post, others will ignore it, some will even be offended by it (the latter being the reaction of our times) but I am thoroughly and completely thrilled for being on the launch team for a newly released book, Just Open The Door.

For the past few years I have been getting serious about listening and obeying the prompting of the Holy Spirit. (I told you some of you would be offended)  I am almost 70 and I have wasted so many years. I can't go back in time but I can go forward.  One of the things God is impressing upon my heart is to take care of the widows.  The other thing is to open my home, to be hospitable.  I'm very uncomfortable with both.  So I knew the Lord was getting my attention, once again, when I was offered the chance to promote a book, Just Open The Door.   I knew I needed this book.  Oh, boy, did I need this book!  And I must say, I am loving it.  Easy to read.  Practical help. The author is real - shares the good and bad.  A "yes you can" approach.
Would you like to read the first few chapters for free?
Jen Schmidt, the author, has provided a free sampler.  Go HERE now.  It will encourage you; it will inspire you.    You are going to LOVE it.
Come back and share with me your first impressions after reading the first chapter.

Green and Gold

Here is my second St. Patrick's Day Card.

Even after photographing this from several angles, in different light sources, I still could not capture some of the true greens.  The background pattern paper is really more green than the photo shows.  The edges are sponged with Green Pistachio distress ink.  All the cut outs were done with the Silhouette except for the gold circle.  It was cut out with one of the Die-namic Circle Stax dies.
The shamrock is two layers, the top lighter green popped up with dimensionals.  The beautiful gold trimmed sticker in the middles is from a package of puffy stickers I purchased at the dollar store.
Here is the inside of the card:

The colored shamrocks are digital images by Doodle Pantry.  The line drawn shamrocks from Vanilla Arts (coloring practice sheet).

Challenges:
Die Cuttin Divas - green
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Die Cut Divas - monochromatic
Work It Wednesday - green
Joy Clair - anything
Power Poppy - inspired by fabric

Going Green

It's that time of year again when I make two cards for St. Patrick's Day.  We aren't Irish so it is amusing to me that one of my daughters loves this day.  And now her hubby expects a St Patty's Day card too.  (He is my biggest fan of my card making so I make sure he gets plenty of cards! haha)

I love this leprechaun .  He is by Dearie Dolls.  There is an outline and a colored version but I love to color so I used the outline and colored him with Copics.
Those adorable shamrock stickers I found at the Dollar store.  Background paper is textured cardstock from my stash.
Sketch:

I usually put a humorous Irish blessing on the inside of the card.  This time I just went with "going green"

The shamrocks are digital images by Doodle Pantry.

Challenges:
Time Out - bold
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Work It Wednesday - green
Joy Clair - anything
Patties Creations - green
Power Poppy - inspired by fabric

MFT Sketch
MFT color challenge

 
Stamploration Theme - Spring

Several Fun Techniques

Every once in awhile a card comes together nicely . All the colors work together, the layout is proportioned right, the techniques turned out.  I am happy to report that I am happy with this card.  👧
It actually turned out better than I hoped for !

After embossing the white card stock, I sponged a little bit of Sahara Sand ink on the raised images.  Also sponged some on the edges of the sentiment oval.  The vertical strip is rubbed with Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide ink. The lovely ecru lace is from my mom's stash of lace.  I cut out the butterfly from Stampin'Up! Sahara Sand cardstock with a Birch Press die then rubbed a bit of distress ink in the center of the butterfly.  Card base is same cardstock.
Challenges:

Simon Wednesday - girly
All Sorts Challenge - ladies only
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Dies R Us - pastels
Stamploration Theme - spring

 
Power Poppy - fabric inspiration board

Joy Clair - anything
Deep Oceans - shabby/chic

More Spring Inspiration

For today's card I used the same Stamploration stamp, embossed with white and colored with Copics but with a different sketch.

I used the same M-bossabilities folder but this is the other side. (The Spellbinder M-bossabilites embossing folders have two designs in one folder.)
Sketch is MFT:

Challenges:
MFT sketch
Simon Wednesday - anything
All Sorts Challenge - Ladies only
Cuttlebug Mania - ribbon and bow
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Joy Clair - anything (photo inspiration)

Ready For Spring

Are you ready?  I am so ready for warmer temps and flowers. While making this card, I wasn't sure what sentiment I was going to use but after coloring these pretty daffodils, it had to be "spring".

The sketch is Tuesday Morning sketch:

The stamp which is Stamploration is stamped with VersaMark and then embossed with winter white EP. Flowers are colored with Copics.   The background is embossed with a Spellbinder M-bossabilities folder which I inked before embossing.
Yellow vine under the sentiment is a MFT vine.

Challenges:
Simon Monday - in my garden
Tuesday Morning Sketch 
Simon Wednesday - anything
House that Stamps Built - anything
Cuttlebug Mania - ribbon and bows
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Dies R Us - pastels
Die Cut Divas - monochromatic
Joy Clair - anything

Lil' Cowboy WannaBe

Now that I have all the birthday and anniversary cards made for March, I can take time to make some cards just for fun, some of those going to children's hospitals and the church.
Because I have been stamping for many years, I have a plethora of stamps that don't get used much.  The stamp I used on this card always makes me smile (I'm sorry I forget what company.  If you know, please put it in the comment section so I can label it and give credit when I use it. Thanks.)

After coloring this lil' cowboy with Copics, I cut the image out with one of the MFT Die-namic Circle Stax dies then backed it with another circle of dark brown.
The sketch:

 Challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketch
Simon Wednesday - anything goes
The House That Stamps Built - anything goes
Time Out - BOLD (red woodgrain)
Cuttlebug Mania - ribbon and bows (burlap ribbon, raffia bow)
Word Art Wednesday - anything 
Joy Clair - anything goes