The PaperPeasant

Perfect Sentiments ~ The Robin Sings

Welcome back to another week of challenge over at the Perfect Sentiments blog! This weeks challenge is a "Round Robin Die Cut Week." Each person on the design team sent another team member some of their own special die cuts to incorporate into their card this week. How amazing that I received a die cut of a bird and its cage from Abby! (get it?? "round robin"..."bird and bird cage"??) I find this incredibly coincidental and wonderful all at the same time!!

 

Abby sent me some pretty amazing die cuts to choose from. It's obvious that she's a Tim Holtz fan, as many of the items she sent me come from his line of products which I hope to purchase more of in the future! But for now....Abby has blessed me with a few special items to work with for this week's challenge!

 

When I decided to use the bird items I knew I was going to have to use this sentiment along with them as they all go so wonderfully together! I love this

sentiment and often read it over and over again, pondering its meaning. I did some digging and it seems this quote came from Maya Angelou which makes me all the more curious as to its original meaning. For me, it is saying that we should love life and enjoy it each and every day because we are blessed to have life. We shouldn't get wrapped up in always seeking out the answers to everything because if we do, we may find that we miss out on the experience of life altogether. We all read and interpret differently......I'd love to see your comments on what you feel this sentiment is saying!

 Did I mention that our own Perfect Sentiments blog is sponsoring the challenge this week with a

$5.00 Amazon gift card? Now that right there is as good a reason as any to join in on the challenge this week! Come visit us over at the Perfect Sentiments challenge blog and join in on the fun!

 Hope you enjoy! Until next time.

Theresa

  For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members

creations:

Abby

 Jan

Maggie

Jessica

Ashley

Sam

Sassy

Get Well in White

Welcome back to this weeks Perfect Sentiments challenge! This weeks challenge is to create a card with a "get well" sentiment. The "twist" is to use the inspiration picture which we'll take a look at in just a moment.

 

For my card this week I wanted to keep it simple with color but magnificent with its texture and one color as a focal point. I like creating get well cards because I know that they will be sent to someone as a means of encouragement so it's got to be something that will bring a smile to the heart.

 This card size is unique for me as I'm accustomed to regular A2 cards or squared cards. I really love the look of an all white card that has one piece of color on it, I chose to let the bow stand out on this and boy do I love how it shines!! I used my new bow maker provided courtesy of the hubby, along with my new Amenome Flower top die cut from Spellbinders. I ran the flowers as well as the scalloped circle die cut through my big shot using the dots folder to give some extra texture. I wanted a scalloped looking strip across the bottom and used a Martha Stewart stamp for that and placed the ribbon across

the top to pull it all together.

 Can you believe I only own 2 get well stamps? This simple stamp has come in handy on many occasions and its nicely on top of this card. I'll be adding this one to my "Maine Mom" box and know that Mom will get it to the person who needs the encouragement!

Here's the inspiration picture we're using for this weeks challenge. It's a simple sketch to follow....simple enough for others to play along with our challenge!

 

 I hope you come over to Perfect Sentiments challenge blog and join in the fun! This weeks prize is a free digital image being sponsored by Pattie's Creations

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoy! Until next time.

Theresa

  For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members

creations:

Abby

 Jan

Samantha

Maggie

Jessica

Ashley

Sam

Sassy

"Thinking of Spring....."

Our challenge  theme over at the Perfect Sentiments Blog this week is Create a card with a sentiment appropriate for any season/holiday. The "twist" is to use the technique of paper-piercing on your card.

Our sponsor this week is Bugaboo Stamps and they're providing Seven (7 ) free

digis or the equivalent of $21!! Can you believe that! Visit Bugaboo Stamps and take a look around!

 

On to the challenge.......

 

When I made this card I wanted something clean and simple

 which demonstrated the season of Spring. The soft pastel colors, lattice fencing, flowers are all about spring and combined toogether create a beautiful card! I used piercing in the corners of the card for our "Twist". How about that beautiful bow?.....thanks (once again!) to the hubster for coming through for me with a new bow maker....more to come on that one once I am more comfortable with it! 

This one will be placed into the box for "Maine Mom"...she is always sending out cards to people to let them know that she is thinking about them so it's definitely a good idea for this one to go to her!

Hope you enjoy! Until next time.

Theresa

  For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members

creations:

Abby

 Jan

Samantha

Maggie

Jessica

Ashley

Sam

Meeting God On Your Knees....

Ever notice how different phases of your life bring different levels of happiness, as well as different levels of struggles? Some days/weeks/months/years we sail through life, everything going as we anticipated it would and we feel totally blessed from all the goodness around us.

 

Then there are those "other times"....I'm sure you know what I'm talking about....

 Within a matter of days/weeks/months/years, life throws some major struggles your way and they seem to be hitting you at rapid speed one right after the other. Maybe you have a period of time where things are tough financially, followed by a relationship struggle, followed by the passing of a loved one or friend, followed by struggles with your children, the list could go on and on couldn't it? Right when you think that you can take on no more, it hits you right out of left field and knocks you down once again. Only this time, you're finding that your ability to get back up again just isn't there.

All those struggles within a matter of days/weeks/months/years has taken its toll and your faith is beginning to look more liquid than solid. Then someone says to you "God never gives you more than you can handle" and you realize that you are the worlds weakest Christian because you just can't handle anything anymore.

Been there? Are you there now?? I've certainly been there and can admit that I'm in the midst of that "other" place right now. It's tough having to juggle all of the responsibilities on our plates while maintaining a strong faith isn't it? I sometimes wonder if God's really watching the amount of

what's being dolled out to each person.....I think he put my name on someone elses list...or maybe a few peoples......it's all pretty heavy....

 

I visited a craft show this weekend and happened upon this stamp from Our Daily Bread. I've heard this quote before but can't say I've recalled it lately. I held the package in my hand and stared at its words...the author of this quote may be unknown, but he/she was certainly full of heavenly inspiration to have captured this one.

The act of prayer is often habitual for me....prayer at a meal, a short pray for another person in need because they mentioned needing it, a prayer to God for rescue (even though we remain in the drivers seat!) It's been a while since I've been knocked to my knees and remained there to cry out to the only rescuer I know....My only source of true strength, comfort, wisdom and guidance come from time spent with God on my knees.

I'm reminded once again of the need for prayer in my life and of total reliance on God in all of my situations. This is often tough for me to remember because I'm the one who often tells myself I can go it alone.....I'm not much help to myself right now and I'm glad God is available for prayer, even in our most difficult time.

Been knocked on your knees lately?? You know what to do.....God's waiting for you.....

Theresa

 

I Love You Forever......Plus A Day.......

I have a rule with cards that are made with a sentiment of "Love" on them.....they MUST be given away and not hoarded in the card collection box!!! If you're looking for something unique (and one of a kind!) for the love of your life, drop me a comment and let me know your story and you may be the recipient of this creation!!

Our challenge over at the Perfect Sentiments Blog this week was to create a card that lets

someone know that you love them. Our sponsor this week is Shelley's Creations and the prize is a free digital image.....don't miss out on the freebies, and be sure to sotp over and show Shelley some love!!

 

The "twist" is to use the following inspiration picture for the design of the card:

 

 

There is so much inspiration pouring out from this picture!!! Colors, designs, textures.....so many ideas spun around in my head until the time came to sit down and make something happen!! Here's my contribution for this weeks challenge:

 

 

As I kept returning to the inspiration photo for this weeks challenge I kept gravitating towards the colors that were present. The green of the elabes, the white wicker chairs, the red in the tablecloth and of course all those gorgeous shades of pink! My sentiment was computer generated. I love this quote and couldn't locate a stamp that used it so once again.....the computer became my stamp!!

If you'd like more detail on this one please leave me a message and I'll forward you the "how to."!!

Hope you enjoy! Until next time.

Theresa

 

 For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members

creations:

Abby

 Jennipher

Jan

Samantha

Maggie

Jessica

Sassy

Ashley

Sam

Each Time I Miss You.....

I don't know of many other feelings of the heart which affect a person as deeply as missing someone who is special to them. As I have "matured", I have also become more emotional about things that involve people whom I love and care about.....At times I just can't close the flood gates.....I've just got to shed some tears!!! Right now I miss several very special people in my life and just thinking about them brings on the tears.....(goodness, here I go again!!).... ......

Our challenge over at the Perfect Sentiments Blog this week was to create a card with

a sentiment of "Missing You". The "Twist": to use a button / buttons on the card. A great challenge this week I thought until I realized that I have just "ONE" stamp that has anything to do with missing someone, and the one I have just wasn't going to work.

 So what's a girl to do when in this situation you ask?......well go make her own of course!!

This week's creation had a special purpose for me......It's always a wonderful feeling to create something that will lift another persons spirits so this weeks card will be good for that. But this week, I did something I can't say I've ever done before in my crafting.....as I explained to a few people who are close to me, this weeks card came as a result of my willingness to "Get Naked"!!

Got your attention??? Well, let's eliminate the bad visual that resulted from this

for you......I didn't really get physically naked (I can't wait to see Dad and Moms comments on this one!!) When I say "naked" it's more of a analogy that I was going for.......I guess I better explain......

 I believe, as a crafter, I've held back in my creative world, I've not "stretched" my creative freedom, I've refrained from really making my creations speak to who I am as an artist. I remained "clothed" if you will, because I was afraid of letting things go and trusting in my abilities as a crafter (I obviously have NO problem with letting go as a  storyteller...hehe).

Things in my life are changing, and it's a lot of positive change....but it's not "all" it could be because I'm holding back, for various reasons which aren't important to this blog post. What's important is that I've decided to make a change and moving forward.....I'm getting creatively naked!! I'm trusting in my eyes, my hands, my

creative ability and letting it take me where it wants to go~~~~that's "getting naked!!"

 Now.....about that card...... (gotta love my ability to shift around right!!) I was all exposed on this one and I love it!!! Colors blending together, lots of layered elements, a spectacular quote and of course.....can we all just fall in love with these buttons??? I'm almost wanting to miss myself so I can send it to me!!! But that wouldn't be fair to our "Maine Mom" now would it?? She's getting this one and rest assured she'll find someone who is "card worthy"!!

Hope you enjoy! Until next time.

Theresa

Pin It

 For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members

creations:

Sarah

Abby

 Jennipher

 Jan

Samantha

Maggie

Jessica

Sassy

Ashley

Sam