Verse Cards

Tags

Bible Verse Cards, Boho Backgrounds, Lovely as a Tree, Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP, Pocket Silhouettes, Sanded, Tim, Trendy Trees, Unchartered Territory, Wanted

So … another funeral … another sad day! But … I guess everyone has times like this … life is just like that! I’m sure you have all had hard times to deal with …

Anyway … When Tim was in hospital (he was in ICU and no one was allowed to visit – apart from immediate family) … and everyone was asking what they could do to help … Tim requested that all his friends send in their favourite bible verses. I had started working on some cards for him … before I heard the sad news … but then his mum asked if we could still send them to her … as she was collating them all in a photo album as a keepsake. So … I managed to finish these off last night! One each for all my family to send … with their favourite verse. This is not an absolute favourite … but I chose this verse because it reminded me of Tim … and I know his mum will find comfort in these words. “I the Lord have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles.” Isa 42 v 6 I know Tim’s life is going to be a light to all those who knew him. So … here are my cards … ready for the verses to be chosen by my kids & hubby. I hope they are a comfort and help to Tim’s mum & dad.

Sorry about the photography … not sure what happened to the lighting … the colours look much better IRL. My card recipe has all the details.

Tomorrow … something a little more cheery … I have another “Hand Mailed” to share!!! So … keep watching! Am loving this image!!! Thanks Lee-Anne!!! (Will pop by your blog soon to say hi!)

Snow Swirled – Vellum Tree

Tags

Christmas Card, Embossing on Vellum, Embossing Technique, Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP, Snow Swirled

Hi everyone!

Now that I have broken open my Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP … I can’t resist using them. This is such a gorgeous colour combination … and one that is impossible to “stuff up” … that my hands keep reaching for them. Anything I have made with these yummy papers has turned out beautifully! So … if you are keen on these papers … you will need to ORDER today!!! The Spring Mini is disappearing on Monday … and these papers certainly won’t be offered again.

I love this sweet stamp set, too!!! It is just perfect for embossing … which is what I have done with the Vellum Tree. The snowflakes make a fool proof background on the white card. Two things that I have done on this card I had spotted when I was doing some “blog hopping” a little while ago. The first is the embossed Snow Swirled Tree … done on vellum cardstock with white embossing powder and then carefully trimmed around with snips … and the second is the scallop edges on the phrase … isn’t this just lovely! And … makes a rectangle phrase embellishment so much more interesting!!!

So … I wanted to apologise to all my blog friends! I just have had noooooo time (seriously) in the last few weeks to do ANY blurfing … but I am really hanging out to visit you all. Thanks to those who have continued to visit … and especially to those who have taken the time to say hi! I really do appreciate your encouragement … and I will do some blog hopping as soon as I am able! Still playing catch up … and until after the funeral on Monday (which in itself will eat a big hole in my newsletter prep time) … I will probably still be doing that for the next few days!!! So much to do … so little time!!! Oh … and to top off what has been a challenging week … my son-in-law’s uncle died yesterday after a long illness. So … whilst I didn’t know him … poor Jono & Stacey are dealing with a 3rd death in 2 weeks. Certainly makes you think, doesn’t it!

C U Soon …

Friends 24-7 … 3 fold card

Tags

Friends 24-7, Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP

Hi everyone!

Just a quickie … am desperate now to get to my launch prep … as I still have so much to do!!! This card was inspired by a design on my sis’ blog. I hadn’t done a fold like this before and when I saw it on her blog I was eager to try it out! Christine’s samples

I am soooooo loving these Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP. Love the colours … love the texture … love the combos!!! And … it was nice to have a play with my Friends 24-7 stamp set again! I love how well the images work together in this set!

So … you can see how this card opens more clearly in this pic … isn’t it a pretty and interesting way to open a card! And … here’s another idea … (courtesy of a demo friend Karen) … If you run the perforating blade of your cutter kit down along the left fold … you could turn this into a tear off bookmark! What a FAB idea … a card & a gift in one!!!  ”Thanks sis for sharing your layout idea! I am sure I will be doing more of these cards!

Gotta scoot … lots to do!!! C U tomorrow!

More Sadness

Tags

Christmas Card, Dry Embossing, The Snowflake Spot

Hi everyone!

Click on pic to go to a beautiful stamping blog!

Another sad day. My family are all feeling very distressed today. Another of our friends from church has died and this time it seems a bit harder to bear. Perhaps it is because it is so soon after the previous loss … but I think it is more that this friend was soooo young. Only 29 and so sudden. Tim was a very special person. I don’t think I have ever heard him ever speak badly of anyone. He was a lovely, gentle & kind friend and my kids looked up to him and were very fond of him. We all were. He has been sick with “bronchiolitis” for a couple of weeks … but his parents took him to hospital on Sunday because he was having trouble breathing. The docs thought at first it was pneumonia … but then they discovered blood clots in his lungs … and later the same day he was diagnosed with leukemia! Within 3 days he was gone! Anyway, I don’t want to depress you all … but sometimes it is hard to blog and pretend everything is ok. Tim has left a wonderful witness behind. He was a lovely godly young man … and we all take comfort in the knowledge that he is now in heaven. I know that all my blog readers may not understand … and I hope you don’t mind … but I do feel that I have to take this opportunity to mention Tim’s witness. Just before he became unconscious … his main concern was for his two brothers who do not know Christ. He was begging them to consider their state before God … and asking that his death might make both of them realise that life is short and they need to give their lives to Christ. I am so amazed at his grace, strength, peace and courage! What a wonderful testimony!  I know we have all been blessed for knowing him. Please pray for his family – His mum & dad know that God will give them stength to get through this … and have a real peace in knowing that he is with his Heavenly Father. Tim’s uncle is my b-i-law … so we have that family connection and need to be a support to Gav’s sister & her hubby & their 4 kids who are all deeply affected. Anyway, thanks for allowing me a little self-indulgence in rabbiting on a bit. But … we all know that God has a purpose through this sad event and we all take comfort in that thought.

So … life goes on …

I was going to share another of the sympathy cards I made last week. But … I just didn’t feel like a sympathy card today! So … here is another Chrissy Card that I worked on recently. Which reminds me … I really need to count how many cards I have done … and spend some time making some more. Christmas is now less than 1 month away!!!

I love that Christmas cards don’t have to be the traditional colours anymore … and enjoy being a little more creative with colour choices. This is back to my favourite white themed cards … I really love cards with lots of white … and find this really highlights the contrast colours. I must visit Silke’s blog again for some more inspiration. She is my favourite “white themed” card artist! The inspiration for this card came from SCS – I was checking out some “Snow Swirled” samples in the SU! gallery and came across this design. The creator is “LaLatty” … and her blog address is on my card recipe.

So … I really need to try and focus … for some reason I still haven’t got started on my catty launch projects … so that is my task today! Oh … and if you would like to come along and see the new circle cutter … and all the other lovely products from the summer mini … then email me to book your spot. I only have 2 seats left at my table … and I know you will enjoy the night. I am planning 3 m&t’s … so you will get your hands on as many new products as possible!

Hope you have a lovely day! It is a little overcast here … but no sign of rain. A little like how I am feeling today! But … creating M&T’s will be good therapy!!!

Sympathy – Great Friend

Tags

God's Blessings, Great Friend, Sympathy Card, Three Little Words

Hi again!

Man! It was such a big day yesterday! We left home at 7.30am and got home at 8.00pm after a FULL (& successful) day of Christmas shopping at Miranda! Stacey had been notified that it was Myers’ VIP shopping night … so even when the main shops were closing at 5.30pm … we just moved on into Myers!!! But … by 6.30 pm we had had enough … and still had an 1 1/2 hr drive home including a stop at Stace’s to drop her home. Needless to say … I was too “pooped” to do a post for you last night!!! Sorry! You should see my desk!!! I just haven’t had time to scratch myself & stuff has gradually piled higher and higher!!! I haven’t even unpacked my supplies from regionals!!! And … I haven’t even managed to find time to get to the dentist yet!!!

Anyway … time for a card! Here is one of the sympathy cards I made recently …

I love this Great Friend stamp set … and know it is going to be a favourite for a long time to come! It is only available for another couple of days before the Spring Mini Catalogue finishes on Nov 30. So … if you like this one … don’t miss out … send me an email order NOW!!!

Sometimes I also take the time to “dress up” the inside of a card … especially if it is a really special card. (What card isn’t really special??? ) I usually put a white copy paper folded insert in the centre … with stamped images … but sometimes I use cardstock inside to make it a little more special! And … it is always nice to decorate your envelope as well. (And SU! has the most beautifully smooth envelopes that are perfect for stamping!) I’m not sure if you can quite see the soft sponging around the edge of the card in Bashful Blue?

I was going to give you a run down on regionals … but have to get moving (again)! Will life ever get any quieter??? I don’t have any pics of regionals as one of the family members at the funeral on Friday asked to borrow my camera … and forgot to give it back! So … off to regionals I went without my camera!!! Oh no!!! You really DON’T want to go to regionals without a camera! I am hoping Tracey will send me some of hers on a disc … she is such a hunny to offer!

Anyway … gotta fly …

Wedding Cards

Tags

Big on Spring, Embossing Technique, Sprinkles, Watercolouring with stamp pads, Wedding Cards, Whiff of Joy - Bridal Carriage

Hi my friends! Thanks for your patience!!!

Here is another of the wedding cards that I made recently! Oh … that just reminded me … I need to go shopping for some gifts to go with the cards … will I ever get over the feeling of playing catch up???

I know this is NOT Stampin’ Up! … but just very occasionally I drag out my non SU! stamps and have a play! So … you can see that this was done in the same colour theme as my previous “Bridal Swing” card. Lotsa white … plus touches of gold, pink & green. The image is embossed with gold and then very softly watercoloured. All the details including technique instructions are in the card recipe at the end of this post.

I thought I might spoil you a little … seeing you have been so patient … and give you a second card today! Aren’t I kind!

Another pretty wedding card … also in the same colour theme … but this time using SU! stamps! The “Bride” is actually from the “Big on Spring” set from the Spring 2008 mini catty … and the background is done with “Sprinkles” which is a newbie for me! (I only just bought it about a month ago!) It has the sweetest little background stamps in this set. And … sooooo reasonably priced! The pretty pink rhinestones are from my pre-SU! days … and I think they really finished off the card.

So … I am off to Miranda tomorrow! Yes … my annual Christmas shopping trip … to try and wipe out the bulk of my Chrissy shopping! I’m not sure I will get it all done … but at least it will be a start. Stacey & Sheree are both coming with me … so it will be a nice girls’ day out! Skye is begging to come too … but I can’t justify another day off school after she had Friday off for the funeral. So … we do need to leave early … around 7.30ish … to get to Sydney just in time for the shops to open. Believe me … if you don’t plan to do this … you drive around for an hour looking for a space in the car park. I have had years of experience!!! If I don’t get here tomorrow with another card … you will know it is because I am “pooped” and just can’t do another thing!!!

Hello!

Hi everyone!

I am here … and BIG apologies that I didn’t get time to do a scheduled post for the weekend!!! Friday was a “write-off”! I am a little snowed with a big “to do ” list today. Unfortunately … I can’t seem to prioritise my items on the list … because they all seem as important as the next!!!! So … just wanted to let you know that I am around … but I am a little busy at the moment! I also need to get into the dentist asap … I think I have lost a filling … so I do have  to get to work on the school newsletter (That does have a deadline!!!) in case I can get a cancellation at the dentist. I will be back as soon as I can with something creative … to respond to your latest comments … and to tell you all about regionals! This Christmas Gift Sack is a creation from last year! Click on the pic if you would like to see more details!

Please hang in there …

Soft Snow Swirled

Tags

Embossing Technique, Lovely as a Tree, Snow Swirled

Hi again!

So … today is a bit of a downer … funerals are never nice, are they??? But … I do think it is important to support our friends when they need us most. Then … I have a hair appt this afternoon … and I am more than desperate to get my hair done after having an extra 2 weeks wait this time! So … what great timing … a little bit of pampering will go a long way!!! I wanted to share my swap card for regionals … cos I am rather pleased with it! (Can I say that???)

I have another favourite inspiration … a blog called “butternutsagedesigns”. I must be drawn to Donna’s designs. The last few times I have popped over to Splitcoaststampers … it is her card that I have noticed … clicked on … and been surprised to see her blog name each time. It is just random choices … but I keep being drawn back to her cards! So … I have been “lurking” on her blog (haven’t introduced myself yet) … and I find another blog friend has already beaten me to it!!! Debbie … why didn’t you tell me about Donna SOONER??? LOL!!!

Donna does a “Papercut” – card layout each week and this was her Papercuts #40. My swap card was inspired by this FAB card of Donna’s! And I can tell you … it took me several attempts to get an effect that I was happy with. I actually think Donna has used Pastels on her card & has embossed with gold (?) … but no matter how many times I tried … I just couldn’t get mine to look like hers!!! Some of my attempts were not even worth showing you!!!

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So … I ditched the pastels … and decided to try stamping (& embossing) onto glossy card … and sponge ink on instead. And … here is what finally came together … after several attempts to get it right!  …

So … like I said … in the end I was rather taken with this one. And … so much so … that I decided to CASE this as my swap for regionals. I didn’t actually add the gorgeous corduroy button to my swaps … I just didn’t have enough of the right colour … so the swaps just ended up with a bow instead. They still looked rather elegant!

So … off to face the day … I probably won’t get back tomorrow as we have to leave at 6ish to go to Sydney (YAY!!! REGIONALS!!!) … but (I’m not making any promises) … I will try and get back later today to do a scheduled post for tomorrow! My heart is willing … but I am feeling a little tired … so you might need to be patient!

Have a great weekend … I know I am going to enjoy mine!!! ONLY 1 SLEEP!!! giggle!