Saturday, May 28, 2011

Bless the Lord!

Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me. Bless His holy name, Psalm 103:1



Crafted for the Fun on Friday Challenge to use butterflies and flowers and the Our Daily Bread Designs Stampin' in Time Challenge 35 "Frame it out in texture!" Aren't the tiny butterfly clothespins darling? If you really want to see them up close, just click on the photo!

Details
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 7
Card Stock: Bazill, SU Crumb Cake, Re-purposed bronze, Naturals Ivory
Designer Paper: None
Ink: Crumb Cake, VersaMark
Accessories: Bronze Embossing Powder, Michaels mini-clothespins, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 20 #3 and #4, SU Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Sizzix Dots EF, Flower, brad, piercing tool
Technique: Embossing, Piercing, Sponging
Challenges
Blessings!

    Wednesday, May 25, 2011

    Perfect Peace

    “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

    Grab a tall glass of sweet tea, pull up a chair on the porch and sit and stay a while. We're going to visit with this week’s Christian Paper Crafts Wednesday CASE Artist, our charming and Simply Southern Stampersandee, and check out her simply lovely gallery, as well!

    Sandee’s gallery is one of the hidden treasures at CPC. . .take a look and you’ll see just what I mean. It’s full of the most exquisite, rich and elegant designs that just warm your heart.  You may have seen some of her works at Our Daily Bread Designs, since she’s one of the “breadsticks”, as their design team members are known.

    Sandee is a native and lifelong resident of Georgia, where she and her husband (who is “THE most wonderful man,” according to Sandee) raised two children, and now have been blessed with grandchildren which they greatly enjoy. She’s worked at the same place for 30 years, almost as long as she’s been married.

    Sandee says, “ I have always enjoyed crafts.  Cross-stitching was my favorite until the mid-90’s when I discovered scrap booking.  Then in 1998, I was invited to a Stampin’Up! Party and I have been obsessed ever since! “

    CHALLENGE SPECIFICS
    Take a look through the gallery of Stampersandee and create a card or project inspired by what you see there. Be sure not to copy exactly: make it your own!  When uploading your card or project to the Christian Paper Crafts gallery, please use the keyword WCA105 (no spaces or commas and no commas between keywords, either!).  When posting anywhere else online, please use the keyword CPC-WCA105. Have a blessed day!
    StamperSandee’s gallery is so stunning and her cards are exquisitely crafted. I attempted to incorporate a few of the elements and techniques Sandee has recently used, including embedded embossing.

    DETAILS
    Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 7
    Card Stock: Sahara Sand, Buckaroo Blue
    Designer Paper: SU Paisley Petals
    Ink: Sahara Sand, VersaMark
    Accessories:  Embossing Powder, Zva Creative Gems, SU Beautiful Wings Embosslit, EK Flourish Border Punch, Seam Binding
    Technique:  Embedded Embossing
    Challenges: Christian Paper Crafts Wednesday Case Artist CPC-WCA105
    Christian Paper Crafts Color Monday 109 CPC-CM109

    Tuesday, May 24, 2011

    Call: He Will Answer

    Call to me and I will answer you. Jeremiah 33:3
    One of the sweet promises that those who are trusting in Christ have is that when they call on God, He will hear and He will answer! Not always in the way we think or ask, but always in the way that is best according to His most holy and wise counsel. Romans 8:28 tells us that He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are the called, and for the glory of His Name!
     Details:
    My father worked for “the phone company,” and for many years I thought I had two moms. . .mom and Ma Bell! :D So when I came across this paper, I didn’t pass it up.
    Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 5
    Cardstock: Bazzil, SU Black, Ivory
    Designer Paper: Graphic 45 Communique Party Line
    Ink: Versa Fine Onyx, Ranger Distress Tea Stain, Antique Linen
    Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities, rick rack, gingham ribbon, Industrial Chic charm, twine, SU Glassy Glaze, Embossing Powder
    Challenges
    • Christian Paper Crafts Sketch Tuesday Challenge #110
    • Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #61 Plaid or Gingham
    • Stampin’ Sisters in Christ #90, Encouragement and bit of silver (the bit of silver is in the charm, though it doesn't show up too well in this photo!)

    Monday, May 23, 2011

    Hop along with CPC

    "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9


    Crafted for the Christian Paper Craft’s May 2011 Blog Hop revolving around the theme of this month’s Design Team Delights Gallery “For the Man in Your Life.” The hop is open to members and non-members alike, but there are a few rules, so head on over to the Christian Paper Crafts Blog and check them out. . and check out all of the other beautiful projects that have been submitted! The blog hop ends Tuesday, May 24 at 11:59 p.m. EST

    Details
    This card was crafted using the bleach washing technique which was Marsha’s Clean and Simple Saturday challenge at Christian Paper Crafts. I stamped and embossed the image and then applied bleach using an aqua painter. I also brushed bleach on the stamp and then stamped. Allow to dry, cleaned brush and Viola! It was as if the images colored themselves!
    Stamps: SU Rustic Rooster, $1 Stamp from Michaels
    Card Stock: Basic Black, Dusty Durango, More Mustard
    Designer Paper: SU Botanical Gazette
    Ink: VersaMark, SU Dusty Durango, Soft Suede
    Accessories: Bleach, Embossing Powder, Spellbinders Nestabilities, EK Medallion Punch, EK Tulips Border Punch, Vintage button, twine
    Technique: Brushed Bleach
    Challenges: Christian Paper Crafts May Blog Hop, CPC CASS29

    Friday, May 20, 2011

    Treasures on the Straight Path

    Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

    Combining two Christian Paper Craft challenges into one card resulted in treasures along the straight path.  The twigs, twine, butterfly and Rolodex paper punch are all from my "MOTIF" bin (a jar is just too small for all of the treasures I collect.) The vintage rick rack is a treasure garnered from a neighbor's yard sale.

    Details:
    Stamps: Verve, SU Butterfly Accent and Charming
    Paper: Early Espresso, Naturals Ivory
    Designer Paper: SU Botantical Gazette
    Ink: Early Espresso, So Saffron
    Accessories: Vintage Rick Rack, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Rolodex Punch, Texturz Embossing Plate
    Twigs, Twine
    Challenges: 
    • Christian Paper Crafts
      • Fun on Friday 107 From your MOTIF jar (money and other things I find) (CPC-FOF107)
      • Clean and Simple Saturday 28 Straight Paths (CPC-CASS58)

    Wednesday, May 18, 2011

    Secured by God's Promises

    May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as our does for you.” 1 Thessalonians 3:12

    Christian Paper Crafts Wednesday Case Artist {05-18-11} Gloriadee 

    It’s time to turn on the lights, open up the curtain and see who is at center stage for this week’s Christian Paper Crafts Wednesday CASE Artist Challenge!  Why it’s our very own Gloriadee, sketch artist extraordinaire and much, much more. . .did I say, much, much more? Correction: make that much, much, MUCH more!

    Gloria Stengel is one busy lady, but does her work as unto the Lord, as you’ll see when you look through her outstanding gallery. Although she’s on the design team for a two major manufacturers, Spellbinders Paper Arts, Graphic 45 Paper and designs samples for Hampton Art, she still serves on the design team at Christian Paper Crafts. She is our Spellbinders specialist, and since December of 2009 has designed the Tuesday Sketch Challenge which she also hosted up until this month. She also teaches classes and prepares samples for a couple of paper crafting supply stores in the general area of her southern California home.

    And, if that doesn’t have you exhausted. . .Gloria homeschools two of her three children. The third has graduated and is attending college fulltime. She and her husband have been married for 23 years. And, she keeps us laughing over at Christian Paper Crafts with her very wry sense of humor.

    As for Gloria’s style, she says, “I seem to be the queen of mixing product lines and mediums into my projects, and I guess my style is quite eclectic, as I love everything from collage art to simple, graphic page layouts. I used to fuss that I did not have a ‘signature style’ but I now realize that I’d be bored with doing the same type of work day in and day out. I enjoy the creative process, the discovery, and the ‘happy accidents’ that sometimes arise during crafting time.”

    And when it comes to her motivation, Gloria says, “Well, I'll never get rich, and may not even break even! I may not become famous, but do I want to be? Not really. I will touch a lot of ordinary folks, I will share my faith, I will befriend the friendless, I will bring some joy and happiness to folks who need it. So, it's worth it. Plus, I get to PLAY with my TOYS every single day!"

    So, as Gloria ministers in the places where the Lord has directed her steps, our prayer is that the Lord would make her love increase and overflow and that the light of Christ would continue to shine brightly through all she does!

    CHALLENGE SPECIFICS
    Your challenge, if you choose to accept, is to take a look through Gloriadee’s amazing gallery and create a card or project inspired by what you see there. Be sure not to copy exactly: make it your own! When uploading your card or project to the Christian Paper Crafts gallery, please use the keyword WCA104 (no spaces or commas). When posting anywhere else online, please use the keyword CPC-WCA104. Have a blessed day!

    MY SAMPLE
    Eccentric was the word that stood out to me as Gloria described her style, so that’s the direction I went using one of her fab sketches, along with Graphic Arts and Spellbinders products (she's hit the big time, don't you know!). I also used a technique I learned while viewing videos on the Spellbinders site to combine the background papers before die cutting and embossing (thanks for the tip about those great videos, Gloria!)


    And with all of the scurrying here and there, I thought a couple of safety pins might come in handy to help hold things together (yeah, they are rather small, aren't they?) That's okay because Gloria is trusting in the Lord and His promises are far more secure than any device of man (or woman!)
    Card Inside
    SUPPLY LIST
    Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 6
    Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black
    Designer Paper: Graphic Arts Domestic Goddess, Botanicals Collection Eden's Symphony
    Ink: VersaFine Onyx, Ranger Distress Antique Linen, Aged Photo
    Accessories: SU Vintage Trinkets, Bias Tape, Zva Creative Pearls, Spellbinders Labels 17 Nestabilities, piece of corrugated box, Fiskars pinking blade
    Technique: Stamping, Sponging, Die Cutting

    Monday, May 16, 2011

    Friendship is Brewing

    “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Psalm 121: 2-4

    Thankfully, the Lord is ever vigilant and needs nothing, including things like tea and coffee which help to perk up our mornings. Still, it is a sweet blessing it is to sit down with a friend and enjoy a cup of warm tea. . .

    DETAILS
    The teacup has a slit at the top for the teabag, and the teabag can be removed without harming the card. The flower was made using an EK punch, sponged with Rose Red, crumpled and sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist.
    Stamps: Sweet and Sassy New Creature, Our Daily Bread Designs SC6, Unknown
    Card Stock: Buckaroo Blue, Very Vanilla, Bazzill Moss
    Designer Paper: SU Springtime Vintage Ink: Navy, VersaMark, Rose Red
    Accessories: Grandmas' Buttons, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Lace, Embossing Powder, EK medallion punch, brad, linen thread, teabag, foam dots, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, SU Tulip Frame Embossing Folder, Prismacolor markers
    Technique: Stamping, Diecutting, Coloring
    Challenges: Stampin Sisters in Christ #89

    Friday, May 13, 2011

    NOT geared for trouble!


    Are you geared up for this month's Christian Design Team Delights featuring Father's Day, Memorial Day & Men? It's stocked with all kinds of manly cards, projects and pages. . .stay tuned: opening day is Sunday, May 15!

    I found these fun Spellbinder's dies and just had to make a card with them and they fit perfectly with Gloria's Sketch #107 (CPC-ST107)
    Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 7
    Card Stock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla
    Designer Paper: Bo Bunny Back to Basics Timepiece Numbers
    Ink: VersaFine Onyx, Ranger Distress Antique Linen
    Accessories: Spellbinders Sprightly Sockets, Silver Smooch Spritz, Scallop Border Punch, Brad, Zva Creative Gem
     Close Up View
    Inside View

    Wednesday, May 11, 2011

    For Loretta

    Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 
     
    In all her interactions at Christian Paper Crafts, this week’s Wednesday CASE artist demonstrates a gentle, peaceful spirit and a heart filled with love for the Lord, anchored firmly by faith in the solid rock: our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. From her love of ballet to the soothing colors in her paper crafting works of art, the evidence of the grace in her life abounds. Take a look through the gallery of Lorettagrace and you will see just what I mean.

    Loreta Grace O’Neill also has a playful streak! She says her kids start laughing when she digs out her old LPs and does her dusting to a 1980’s dance beat! Though a relative newcomer to the world of blogs, boards, forums and galleries, she’s made her way around quite well to the delight and surprise of her tech savvy offspring!

    Loretta has “one son, one daughter, one husband and one Savior.” She says, “When I am not gluing bits of paper together, I enjoy cross-stitch, rose gardening and taking care of my home and family. I also like ballet.” Her parents and their families are Polish and were taken as Prisoners of War (POWs) in Europe during World War II. Loretta grew up in the United States hearing them reminisce about the homes they would never again see. She is thankful to the Lord for His mercies in bringing them all to the United States.

    CHALLENGE SPECIFICS

    Join with us in celebrating the Lord's gift of Lorettagrace to Christian Paper Crafts. Take a look through the her gallery and create a card or project inspired by what you see there. Be sure not to copy exactly: make it your own! When uploading your card or project to the Christian Paper Crafts gallery, please use the keyword WCA103 (no spaces or commas). When posting anywhere else online, please use the keyword CPC-WCA103. Have a blessed day!

    SAMPLE DESCRIPTION
    Created for the Wednesday, May 11 Christian Paper Crafts Case Artist Challenge featuring Lorettagrace. I just loved Loretta's soft, soothing style so wanted to be sure and capture that in the colors and feel of the card I crafted. Thought not as bright, it uses the same basic colors Jennipher selected for this week's CPC Color Monday Challenge 107 and is based on Gloria's CPC Sketch Tuesday 103 layout.
    Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 7
    Card Stock: Buckaroo Blue, Whisper White
    Designer Paper: SU Bella Birds
    Ink: Buckaroo Blue, Color Spot Dusty Blue
    Accessories: Embossing Powder, Sizzlit Scallop Oval Die, Spellbinders Nestability and Borderabilities, Paper Rose, Ribon, Smooch Spray, Memory Mates embelishment, SU Tulip Frames EF
    Technique: Stamping, Embossing, Die Cutting, Sponging
    Other Challenges: Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge #88

    Monday, May 9, 2011

    Rejoice in the Lord!

    "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Phillipians 4:4


    This is a digital image created for a dear sister who has been such a blessing to me. I am thankful for the Lord's gift of sisters in Christ who love us enough to encourage, admonish and speak God's truth that we might grow in grace to the glory of God!

    Stamps: SU Bliss, free WORDart by Karen (Papercraft Memories.com)
    Card Stock: Very Vanilla
    Designer Paper: Blueberry Crisp
    Ink: Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla
    Accessories: Antique Brad, Scallop Border Punch
    Technique: Digital Crafting using SU's My Digital Studio

    Saturday, May 7, 2011

    Repurposed

    Repurposed. . .isn't that the story of our lives once the Lord, by His grace, redeems us? This project is nowhere as dramatic, but it shows that even common everyday things can be transformed.

    This a DVD case that has been converted to a card case, along with one of the cards using the embedded embossing technique. The DVD/stamp cases are from Stampin' Up.

    The case and pre-embossed card were made an a Stampin' Up Workshop at my beloved demonstrator's home. I took both apart so that I could add scripture using a stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs, and die cut with a Spellbinders Nestability. I embossed the card (after removing the sentiment and ribbon) using the Stampin' Up! lattice folder.

    There are a total of five different cards the are enclosed in the case. . .I will show them soon. . .after I finish the inside and add scripture.
    DETAILS
    Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 6, SU Nature Walk
    Card Stock: Red, White, Black
    Designer Paper: SU Botanical Gazette
    Ink: Black, VersaFine Onyx
    Accessories: Ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder Scallop Oval Punch
    Technique: Stamping, Embossing,

    Friday, May 6, 2011

    Welcome Friends

    Welcome to my first attempt at a blog. . .please bear with me as I learn and as I update the links. I am working to get the blogs of all of my friends included, but haven't figured out a shortcut, so please don't feel left out if your blog isn't listed. Have a blessed day!

    Tuesday, May 3, 2011

    HBx2 Christian Paper Crafts!

    Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 46:3
    Since it is anniversary/birthday week at Christian Paper Crafts, who better to call to the front of the class for Wednesday CASE Artist Challenge than CPC founder and head servant Cindy Coutts!

    Cindy is a born-again, Bible-believing Christian and praises God for his Son and the forgiveness and eternal life that is found only through Him. Cindy recently relocated from Kentucky back to her hometown of Vacaville, California. She is married, has four great children and a daughter-in-law and considers herself, “beyond blessed.”

    Cindy says, “I love everything about paper crafting, stamping, and scrap booking.” She uses her blog as an avenue to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and reach others using the gift of paper crafting given to glorify the Lord. But she didn’t stop there . . . and for that we are grateful to the Lord! Cindy says, “The Lord laid upon my heart in March 2009 a way to use what I loved the most, which is paper crafting, and use it as avenue to reach out to others to share the Gospel of Jesus with them. Hence, Christian Paper Crafts was born!”

    CPC is an online community and gallery where we share our love of Jesus with each other to strengthen and encourage the body of Christ, as well as have some paper fun. We have Bible studies, devotions, challenges, and much more! If you aren't a member, why don't you consider joining today?
    You can find out more at www.cpcmag.com

    CHALLENGE SPECIFICS
    So join with us this week in celebrating the Lord’s gift of Cindy and giving her the desire to start up and maintain Christian Paper Crafts! Take a look through Cindy’s gallery and create a card or project inspired by what you see there (Warning: It’s not going to be easy!). Be sure not to copy exactly: make it your own!  When uploading your card or project to the Christian Paper Crafts gallery, please use the keyword WCA102 (no spaces or commas).  When posting anywhere else online, please use the keyword CPC-WCA102. Have a blessed day!


    SAMPLE DESCRIPTION
    I tried to copy Cindy’s style--she’s a gifted paper crafter and has an eye for balance and design, plus a knack for adding fun extra touches--and also make a birthday card for Christian Paper Crafts at two!

    Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 5
    Ink: VersaFine Onyx
    Paper: Basic Grey, Very Vanilla
    Designer Paper: SU Sweet Stitches
    Accessories: Pin, EK Medallion Punch, brads, pinking shears, plastic, ribbon scraps, button, linen thread
    Technique: Stamping, Sponging, Punching, Embossing

    Create in me a clean heart. . .

    Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
    We can work on improving our external appearance and even our behavior, but the Lord sees our hearts. Only He can change our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. . only He can create in us a clean heart.

    Created for several challenges
    • Christian Paper Crafts
    • CPC FOF102 Layers
    • Color Monday 106
    • Bible Verse Thursday 104
    • Our Daily Bread Designs
    • Shining the Light Challenge 58 Sketch

    This is a 6x6 card and the four larger flowers are handmade.

    Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 5
    Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Cool Caribbean
    Designer Paper: Prima Madeline
    Ink: Color Box, Versa Fine Sepia, Crumb Cake
    Accessories: Zva Creative Pearls, Spellbinders Nestabilites, Medallion Punch, Brads, tulle, linen thread, lace, paper roses, SU Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Polka Dot, Damask and Checkered Texturz plates, piercing, vanilla smooch spritz, clear embossing powder
    Technique: Stamping, embossing, punching