Grace and Mercy

This card is the same design as this one except I changed the colors and the verse.  What gleen from Hebrews 4:16 is that God wants us to call out to Him at all times with all our needs.  Even when we feel like we may have let Him down or like we are the worst of sinners, He is still there with open arms to ready and willing to receive us.  It is because of the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, we can come to the Father without fear or hesitancy to receive His mercy and grace.  This gives me hope especially in times when I feel like I have really messed up.  I am always loved and cared for by God!

Recipe:
Stamps:  Triple Treat Flower - SU, New Mercies - Verve
Paper:  Kraft, VV, Old Olive
Ink:  Gumball Green, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Pretty In Pink
Accessories:  SU Flower Punches, Twine, Cuttlebug, Stick on Pearls

Just Because You're You

My Water Lilyz table has been very blessed to meet at the same restaurant since we started almost 3 years ago.  The managers and the wait staff have always been so kind and attentive to us.  The staff always have our favorite table ready and waiting for us each Wednesday evening.  They even bring us our favorite beverages when they see us come in.  We regularly pray for the staff and ask them if they have any needs that we can help with or pray with them about.  So the sad news we got last week is that one of the managers is moving on to another job.  We are all so happy for her but we will definately miss her and her warm smile and greeting. 

This card is made for the manager whom we will dearly miss.  I used this stamp because of the waterlily and chose the DPs for the purple which is the Water Lilyz official color.  I used SCS Sketch Challenge 244 which was originally posted about 3 years ago.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Waterlily - My Favorite Things, Circular Sayings - Verve
Paper:  WW, Early Espresso, DP
Ink Memento Tuxedo Black, Calypso Coral
Accessories:  Spectrum Noir Markers, Nestabilities

Perfect Peace Comes From Above

I have been reading Isaiah 26:3-4  a lot lately and was happily surprised that I have this verse in my stash of stamps.  The lesson for me is that God is my steadfast rock no matter what circumstances I am in.  I will be starting school again to advance my nursing career and I am nervous about it.  I have prayed about it much and I believe the Lord is leading me in this direction to take my classes online.  With my learning style I would rather go to an actual classroom to hear lectures but my work schedule would make it difficult to attend every class.  I believe that by focusing on the Lord and His goodness first I can have peace in all the other situations in life.  This doesn't mean that life will be always rosy but that even in the tough trials of life I am deeply loved and cared for by my Heavenly Father.  The challenge for me is remembering to keep the Lord first and avoid distractions.

The colors for this card came from SCS Color Challenge 389 and also qualifies for SCS Clean and Simple Challenge 185.  I used the retired SU Triple Treat Flower and the verse is from ODBD.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Triple Treat Flower - SU, Isaiah 26:3 from Scripture Collection 7 - ODBD
Paper:  WW, Summer Starfruit
Ink:  Bravo Burgundy, Summer Starfruit, Regal Rose
Accessories:  SU Flower Punches, Twine, Cuttlebug, Stick on Pearls

A Snowy Hello

In my part of the world, this summer has been a real scorcher.  I originally colored this image in early July when the temps were over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and many people had power outages from a record breaking electrical storm.  I was fortunate enough that I never lost power but I empathized with all those that had.

I had been searching for a sketch for this image and I found this weeks Freshly Made Sketches 48.   I die cut the image to make it a little more interesting than a plain rectangle.  The image is colored with alcohol markers and I used long retired SU DP for accent.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Snow Much Fun, Elementary Elegance
Paper:  Real Red, WW, SU DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories:  Spectrum Noir Markers, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Buttons

Ornamental Christmas Tree

I got a chance to play around with the new SU Merry Minis bundle and this is the result.  I don't like the traditional red and green pairing for Christmas decorations so I being me, I used blue, pink and green.  I may use this as one of the projects for an upcoming beginner's card class as it was rather simple and quick to create especially since I used punches for everything.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Merry Minis, Come to Bethlehem
Paper:  WW, Marina Mist, Gumball Green
Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Primrose Petals, Marina Mist
Accessories:  Corner Rounder Punch, Merry Minis Punches, SU Dotted Ribbon Punch, 3/4 inch square punch, Rhinestone gems, Bic Permanent Mark - to color rhinestone

Flutter-By Birthday

These colors have been staring at me from the scrap file for over a week.  It is like they were just pleading with me to use them together to make something.  So this is the card I came up with.  I think these colors go very well together especially with this design.  I made it a birthday card as my stash is getting low.  This card also qualifies for the Flutter By Wednesday #201 Challenge.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wishes
Paper:  WW, Calypso Coral, Riding Hood Red, Concord Crush, Lovely Lilac
Ink:  Wisteria Wonder
Accessories:  Beautiful Wings Embossilit, Cuttlebug

Blue Essence

The colors of this card are from SCS Color Challenge 388.  I dusted off my retired SU Essence of Love set which I haven't used in probably 3 or 4 years.  The sketch is one I came up with on my own.  I left the sentiment off so I could use the card for whatever occasion comes up.

This card also qualifies for the Flutter By Wednesday #201 challenge.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Essence of Love
Ink:  Night of Navy
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Night of Navy
Accessories:  Cuttlebug, MS Punch, Twine, Paper Piercer

Gingy's Christmas Joy

I really like this little gingerbread man from SU's Scentsational Season stamp set.  I've decided his name is Gingy.  In this card Gingy is jumping for joy for he has learned the true meaning of Christmas which can be summed up in John 3:16 - 18

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  

So even though it is really August, it is like December to Gingy because he has now received the greatest gift all.

When I make "Christmas" cards, I want them to reflect the true mean of Christmas; that is the advent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   This is a conviction that I have.  I am not trying to judge those who make Christmas holiday cards with trees, snowmen, or just say "season's greetings".  For me to make a Christmas card, it must have the message of Christ's advent in the image or sentiment.  Cards that I make without that message I categorize as "winter" cards.

I was inspired to make this card after viewing Ceal Pritchett's gallery and seeing her Sweet Christmas card plus dozens of her faith-based and Bible verse cards.  Ceal is this week's SCS Featured Stamper #287.  I was reminded of my new little friend Gingy but also inspired to make a card that reflects my faith, so here it is.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Scentsational Season, Come to Bethlehem
Paper:  VV, Soft Suede, Real Red DP
Ink:  Real Red, Soft Suede Craft Ink
Accessories:  Clear EP, Heat Tool, Bakers Twine, Button, SU Border Punch, Brads, Holiday Collection Framelits

Elegant Artichoke Vines

I know what you are thinking, "I think I've seen this card before."  Well sort of.  This card is a masculine version of my Praying for You CAS, which was CASE'd from another card.  I wanted an easy and flexible masculine styled card for the class I am teaching later this month and this is what I came up with. I did a shadow technique where I stamped the image again with a lighter color slightly off the darker impression.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Elegant Vine - Fiskars, Beautiful Borders - SU
Paper:  WW, Always Artichoke, River Rock
Ink:  Always Artichoke, River Rock
Accessories:  Word Window Punch, SU Label Punches, Antique Brass Brads

Simply Preserved Flowers

I'm still on a card making roll from participating in the SCS Dare To Get Dirty 2012 Challenges.  However, this card is not for any particular challenge; it is just a quick sample card for a class I am holding at the end of the month.  There is no sentiment on it so it can be generic for my students to use for whatever they want.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Perfectly Preserved
Paper:  WW, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise DP
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Gumball Green, Basic Black
Accessories:  Circle Punch, Bakers Twine

Bridal Congrats

So, I had a little bit of time to make yet another card for the SCS Dare To Get Dirty 2012 Challenges.  To get all the info on the challenges, SCS Fan Club members may click on the codes below.
DTGD12cookiestamper
DTGD12Vdutchr
DTGD12jmasse

Recipe:
Stamps:  All Year Cheer I
Paper:  WW, Almost Amethyst, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, DP
Ink:  Almost Amethyst
Accessories:  Heart Punch, Ribbon

Preserved Apples

This is the 5th card I have made for the SCS Dare To Get Dirty 2012 challenges.  I had a blast playing along and wish I could have done all 37 challenges but work and real life get in the way of my creativity =-)  The colors are from the Color Throw Down 161 challenge.  I used the new Perfectly Preserved stamps and matching Cannery Framelits from the current SU mini catalog.  The pearls are colored with Sharpie markers to coordinate with the colors in the card.  For details on the DTGD12 challenges this card is for SCS Fan Club members may click on the codes below.
DTGD12rainy
DTGD12stampertammy

Recipe:
Stamps:  Perfectly Preserved
Paper:  WW, Poppy Parade, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, DP
Ink:  Early Espresso, Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade
Accessories:  Boho Blossoms Punch, Cannery Framelits, Twine, Paper Piercer, Pearls, Sharpies

Punch Bunch Posies

This is another card for the Split Coast Stampers Dare To Get Dirty 2012 challenges.  It also qualifies for SCS Color Challenge 386 using Primrose Petals, Baja Breeze and Summer Starfruit, and the SCS Clean and Simple 180 challenge.  SCS Fan Club members may click on the codes below to see the details for the DTGD12 challenge details.
DTGD12lisalara
dtgd12texasgrammy

Recipe:
Stamps:  Posy Punch, Punch Bunch
Paper:  VV, Summer Starfruit, Baja Breeze
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals
Accessories:  SU 5 Petal Punch, Circle Punches, Big Shot, SU Embossing Folder

Dirty Merry Gingy

This is another card for the SCS Dare To Get Dirty 2012 Challenges.  This card is a combination of 4 of the challenges.  SCS Fan Club members can click each of the following links to get info and participate in each challenge.
dtgd12edna15
DTGD12Twinshappy
DTGD12Bar
DTGD12blondie090277

Recipe:
Stamps:  Sensational Season, Warm Words
Paper:  VV, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, DP
Ink:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Accessories:  Cuttlebug, SU Punches, Buttons, Stickles, Holiday Collection Framelits

Dirty White Wedding

This card is the mother of all combined challenges for me.  It is the cumulative of 8 Dare to Get Dirty 2012 challenges on Splitcoast Stampers.  If you are a member of the SCS Fan Club you can get all the details on each of the challenges this card represents by clicking on the codes below.

DTGD12cookiestamper
DTGD12Understandblue
DTGD12Kittie747
DTGD12LilLuvsStampin
DTGD12AndreaEwen
dtgd12knightrone
DTGD12Westies
DTGD12va.sunshine

Most of the details for this card are secrets but I can share about some of the personal touches that I have added.  The stamped images on the scalloped hearts are done with Versamark and Biscotti Perfect Pearls.  The background and birds were done with embossing folders then sprayed with a little Shimmer Spritz.  I used Crumb Cake ink for the text in the window.

The challenges and the creation of this card came at the perfect time because some friends of mine just got married and are now off on their honeymoon.  This card is more fussy than what I usually do so now I am ready for a nap.  ;-)

Recipe:
Stamps:  Wedding - Inkadinkado
Paper:  WW
Ink:  Versamark, Crumb Cake
Accessories:  Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, SU Bird Punch, SU Little Leaves Sizzlits, Lace, Shimmer Spritz, Perfect Pearls, Pearls, Heat Tool