Back again for another great challenge over at the Perfect Sentiments challenge blog! This week we're going to create a card with a sentiment that let’s someone know you are thinking of them.
Our "Twist" this week is to use a monochromatic color scheme in the design of your card.
The digi I am using this week is from Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps (our sponsor!) and has many possibilities which I intend to explore over the upcoming weeks!
I chose to use tones of brown for my card this week because they are soft and there are so many shades that can be used. I would normally go with three tones of a color on a card but with browns, I bumped it up to 6 and feel pretty ok with that!
My bow is made with my new bow maker, courtersy of hubby (he has now named the maker the "bow maker 5000!) He made it so he has every right to name it something powerful I think!! lol!
Hope you enjoy! Until next time!
For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members
Back again for another great challenge over at the Perfect Sentiments challenge blog! This week we're going to create a card with a sentiment for Mother's Day.
Our "Twist" this week is to Use at least three of the five colors for the color story to create your card.
Here is the color story we're using this week:
Here's my contribution for this weeks challenge:
I decided to use the lattice technique on my card this week, not for any special reason....just because I love how this looks on a card. Add this technique to this weeks color combination and you've got yourself a beautiful creation! I have digi's from Shelley's Images and can tell you that I really enjoy including them in my creations!
Hope you enjoy! Until next time,
Theresa
For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members
Hello everyone and welcome to Thursday! I'm at home juggling multiple projects in preparation of some really big news that will be announced very soon!! Lots of "behind the scenes" work to get done before the news comes to life, but I do know that I need to occassionally create something to keep me focused and balanced!
This is one of those creations which is born from the "I have no clue what I'm doing here" file! lol! I stared down at the paper (isn't it beautiful?) and punches, die cuts and ribbon and had no idea what I wanted to do! I love that about creativity!!
The Butterfly is a new die I purchased recently from Memory Box.....they now have me hooked on their products! The dies cut easy in Bazzill paper and are so full of detail! This butterfly is two dies which provides so many opportunities to use them.
The layered white piece is punched with the Martha Stewart "punch around the page" square punch. It's a bit finicky with thicker paper but I pressed forward when it fought me and I won the battle!
How about that beautiful double bow?? Don't you know that was made using my new bow maker, courtesy of wonderful hubby o' mine!! It's a wonderful thing when I can make a bow look as good as this one does! He sure knows how to take care of me doesn't he?
One more for the "Maine Mom" box! This layout will also be used for the upcoming Missions Crop at our church in Brandon Florida....more details to come on this event when we get closer to the date!!
Back again for another great challenge over at the Perfect Sentiments challenge blog! This week we're going to create a card with a sentiment for Easter.
Our "Twist" this week is to add some bling to your card (rhinestones or pearls)
Our sponsor this week is Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More and the winner will receive five (5) free digital images!! Be sure to stop over and visit Robyns shop!
Here's my contribution for this weeks challenge. I colored the image with Copic markers and trimmed it with my gold pen. I rested the image on top of a background which was punched using a Martha Stewart punch. I used purple as an accent color as there should always be a little bit of putple in an Easter card don't you think? A little bling, some ribbon and an Easter sentiment complete this weeks challenge card for me!
There's not enough time to get this up to "Maine Mom" so I'll be looking for a "card worthy" person of my own to share this one with.
Hope you enjoy! Until next time.
Theresa
Challenges I am entering this card into this week:
Back again for another great challenge over at the Perfect Sentiments challenge blog! This week we're going to create a card with a sentiment of congratulations or any sentiment that acknowledges an accomplishment or encourages someone to pursue their dreams/goals.
Our sponsor this week is Pattie's Creations! The winner will receive a free digital image. Be sure to stop over to Pattie's Creations and have a look around!
Our "Twist" this week is to use this sketch as inspiration for your card design. Feel free to rotate or flip the sketch to make it work for you as long as we can still see the basic outline of the sketch in your design.
Here's the sketch:
Here's my contribution for this weeks challenge. I'll be adding this one to the "Maine Mom" box which is getting filled up! I know Mom will have many "card worthy" people that she'll consider for this one!
Hope you enjoy! Until next time.
Theresa
For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members
What began as a typical week with a typical challenge became not so typical when I sat down to write this weeks blog post.
I made this weeks card for the Perfect Sentiments challenge but didn't know that the two simple words used as my sentiment would create such a stirring reminder in my heart today. Please let me take a few moments to share with you the story of a mans life and the legacy he leaves behind.....
"Pastor Vondel Allen" is known by many who grew up in my old home town in Maine as a pastor who had an extra special heart. I remember Pastor Allen as I traveled through life as he played a key role in several of my life experiences.
The first time I walked down the aisle at church to accept Jesus into my heart, Pastor Allen was there at the front of the church, holding out his arms for me to welcome me into God's family. (Please know his patience when I came the 2nd & 3rd time as well!)
When I was 17 and pregnant and afraid to tell my parents, Pastor Allen was there with me to deliver the news and support me.
9 1/2 years later when I buried my son Anthony, again, Pastor Allen stood by my side, offering words of support and encouragement at a time when I felt all hope was lost.
I learned today that Pastor Allen was in the hospital and expected to soon journey home to be with our Lord. I took in the words when I heard them and let them settle on my heart. Could it be that this man of God would be gone from this earth soon? All the lives he and his family touched would be forever changed because his life would be ending. It was difficult to allow this thought to settle in my mind and my heart. God's perfect plan included Pastor Allen.
Then, for a moment, I sat back, reflecting on the times he was present in my life and wondered to myself "how many others were touched by him?" The tears came and my hands rested on my Bible, seeking to find something within its pages to bring peace to my aching heart. I remember back to my sons grave when Pastor Allen spoke gently to me about God's plan for each of our lives. He encouraged me in my grief by reminding me that one day all who believe would be called home to spend eternity with God and we would all celebrate the One who created us to walk through our lives here on earth.
10:20pm::: I've just learned that Pastor Allen has been lifted into his heavenly Fathers arms. I rejoice in the beauty of this mans heart, and of years of selfless dedication as a servant with a genuine love for his true Father. I am better to have known him and so are others who can call him husband, father, Pastor and friend.
I was listening to some music and this song came across my mind.....I like to think of it as God's way of reminding me of the importance of saying "thank you" to those who touch our lives. For Pastor Allen, his wife Paula and children......"Thank you......Mine is a life that was changed....."
Just think: Of stepping on shore and finding it heaven Of touching a hand and finding it God's Of breathing new air and finding it celestial Of waking up in glory and finding it HOME!(author unknown)
Theresa
Card details:::This weeks challenge card was to create a card with a sentiment of thanks on the front. The "twist" was to use some form of distressing on your card...paper tearing, wrinkling, inking, distressed edges etc. Our Sponsor for this weeks challenge at Perfect Sentiments is Stictchy Bear Digital Stamps with a $10.00 voucer to their store.
Back again for another great challenge over at the Perfect Sentiments challenge blog! I love how this team presses on me to step outside of my comfort zone and try enw things! This week, the colors used for this challenge are ssstttrrreeetttccchhhiiinnnggg me to go to the unnatural side!! lol!! But, I am obedient and will readily accept the challenge and I will love what I create!! lol!
This weeks challenge is to create a card with a sentiment for Easter. The "twist" is to use three or more of the colors from the attached color story in the design of your card. (Be sure to put your sentiment on the front of your card!)
Here's the color story:
Here's my card inspired by the color story:
I'm use to Easter cards being somewhat clean, elegant, and typically done in purples, creams or neutral colors.....pretty much everything that would be related to an image of a cross. That was the "unnatural" part of this challenge for me. I enjoyed creating this card, the colors are actually quite vibrant and joyful, they feel like the fun side of Easter....hey...even this ole girl can have fun every once and a while!!
Our sponsor this week is Shelly's Images with the prize being one free digi image!! Please do stop
over and check out Shelly's blog, she's been a consistent sponsor of the challenges at Perfect Sentiments and we love her for that!!
Hope you enjoy! Until next time.
For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members
"I think I can, I think I can".... Wally Piper's The Little Engine That Could is one of the greatest tales of motivation and the power of positive thinking ever told.
In this well-loved classic by Wally Piper, a little train carrying oodles of toys to all of the good boys and girls is confronted with a towering, seemingly impassable mountain. As nicely as they ask, the toys cannot convince the Shiny New Engine or the Big Strong Engine--far too impressed with themselves--to say anything but "I can not. I can not." It is left up to the Little Blue Engine to overcome insurmountable odds and pull the train to the other side
Fast forward to adulthood.......all grown up, feeding our intellect, maturing our social skills, forming families and chasing our dreams. I am consciously aware that although I may achieve these life successes, I struggle with growing into the person that God intended for me to be......does this resonate with you?
The little engine that could mentality takes a beating as we journey through life by way of lost relationships, hurt feelings, disappointments and fear. We become increasing fearful of taking the risk, realizing our passions and stepping fully into the life of an "on fire Christian". We convince ourselves that we aren't good enough, smart enough, capable enough of going after our passions in life because there always that chance that something will beat us down again and let's face it....that becomes a tough thing to face after a while doesn't it?
I went to Maine recently to spend time with my father and mother with dad being in the hospital
and very sick. I cried as I sat in the room with him, watching his weakened body muster up enough energy to sit on the side of the bed or take a few steps. I wanted to gently push him down into the bed and whisper in his ear, "stop pushing yourself...it's too painful to watch." I would have traded places with him in an instant but this was his struggle to bear and there was nothing I could do to make things better.
During my visit, a couple stopped by to see dad and brought him a card which had a magnet in it. This simple gesture brought tears to his eyes and as I read the magnet I began to understand why he was so touched. It simply said "Never never never give up." My dad understood this statement and from what I could see, he was living this statement with each painful move and each brief step.
I also began to understand that my father wasn't necessarily reading this and saying to himself "I think I can, I think I can". Rather, I knew that he believed that because of his relationship with his heavenly Father, he was able to look forward and "Never give up"....just as he had been doing all along. I have learned many life lessons from my dad and this one would be of great value to me when I returned home and continue to move forward in my own life.
Do I experience the faith that my father and mother do? Do I cling to Jesus even during those times of struggle? Can I firmly say that because of the promises given to me by my heavenly Father that I need not ever give up?
How about you? Are you able to never give up? Do you find restoration in the arms of your heavenly Father?
I think I can.......I know I can.....Never give up......how blessed are we to know that God has never given up on us, even during those times when we give up on ourselves!
Hello all! Welcome back to the world of creativity with another challenge by Perfect
Sentiments! Our host this week is the fabulous Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More and the prize is 5 Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps of the winner's choice!! Now there is a reason to jump in on this challenge!!
It's Christmas time over at Perfect Sentiments this week! No need to put your Christmas tree back up.... just create a card with a sentiment for Christmas! [Your sentiment must be on the front of the card.] The "Twist" this week is to use some ribbon, lace, baker's twine, seam binding, etc. on your card.
When I began designing this card, I had to chuckle as I remember my sister putting the counter up on her facebook which showed the count down to Christmas. The chuckle comes form her putting it up months in advance of the season....she finds this normal!! I do love creating Christmas cards and when the time comes around for them to be needed, it's always nice to have a little stash to pull from!
I had this beautiful stamp set called "A Cottage Christmas" and is from Waltzingmouse Stamps. I didn't get to use this set very much during the holidays which gave me the perfect reason to pull it out for this weeks challenge! I embossed the images onto watercolor paper using glitter gold embossing powder, and when heated up, it sparkles and shimmers and really defines the image. I used my Prisma pencils to color in the open areas of each image and then used my Gamsol to soften the colors.
For my sentiment, I couldn't get any of my dies to work with me and knew I had to come up with a solution because the image had to go at the top of the card [confession::: I did a little "too much" blending on the chimney stack and had to cover it
up!!] I used my Spellbinders Labels Five to put the sentiment on. You'll notice that it doesn't look like Labels Five but if you look closely, I cut the image with the entire die and then inverted the die on one of the ends to create this new shape! I got some creative mojo going on for this one!! woohoo!!
My bow is made with a simple gold ribbon on my new bow maker that Mark made me {aka....gifted hubby!!} This bow is a triple eight bow and is simple to make with my new toy! I mounted the top image onto a brown cardstock and then placed this on top of the watercolor card base. The finished card measures 5 3/4" x 5 3/4" and fits nicely into a 6" squared envelope.
One more card to add to the "Maine Mom" box....I know she'll enjoy sending this one out once the holiday season arrives!
Hope you enjoy! Until next time.
Theresa
For more inspiration check out my fellow design team members
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
