SSiC #159

Good morning friends!  May you be abundantly blessed today!

Today its time for a new challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  This week Marilynn is our lovely hostess.  She chose our challenge to go with this verse:

"speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Ephesians 5:19-20

My youngest child loves music.  LOVES MUSIC!  I remember when he was 2 and 3 years old.  I would be busy home schooling his older siblings and I always knew where he was because he was always singing.  ALWAYS!  Sometimes with great gusto and volume!  I would remind him to keep it a little quieter and he would.  For a short time.  Then it was full force all over again.  When he decided at age 4 that he wanted to do school too I readily agreed because it was quieter!  ;)  My little guy (now age 10) still loves to sing and listen to music.  And he loves worship songs.  What a blessing it is to my heart to hear him worshipping the Lord.  As I think about that I wonder what it must be like for our heavenly Father to hear us worshipping Him?  He is so worthy to receive all our praise and worship.  I love having a worship song flowing through my head.  I find it makes me think more about Jesus and less about me.  God has shown Himself faithful to me over and over and I have learned to rest in Him and allow Him to work in and through me.  He sent His Son to die for me.   He blessed me with a loving husband and 4 amazing children.  He has blessed me with other children who sleep on my couch and eat my food (and whack me with pillows and bring me diet coke).  He sent His angels to protect me in my sledding accident this year and allowed me to now only walk away from it, but (after several months) has healed me nearly 100%.  (a walking miracle is what my doctor called me this week)  How can I not praise Him?  He worthy of so much more than what I can humbly offer Him.

Marilynn is focusing on the music part of the verse this week and wants us to create anything that reflects music.  

This week I used this amazing image from Shabby Cottage Studio.  You can find the image here.  (And wowzers!!!  they have a sale going on right now!!!  I'm gonna scoot over there and get some more goodies!!)  My daughter's birthday was the 25th of this month and she loves anything with the Eiffel tower.  I covered a small composition book a couple weeks ago and she is still wanting it, so I decide to make her her own.  This is what I came up with:

 I used a piece of DP that looks like sheet music for the background.  I added some wide lace from my stash, inked all the edges and did some crazy sewing in the background.  I used a French script stamp from SU (an old one) for the paper on the spine.  The brads are all from The Paper Studio.  They have been in my stash for a while and they matched perfectly!  Yeah for me!!

 Here's the image a little closer.  Isn't the whole thing gorgeous?!?

 I used my Spellbinder die (Rose Creations) to make my flowers out of the same sheet music paper.  I inked the edges and curled them.  I love the feathers behind it.  I could add them to every card!

Here's another view where you can see the spine.

I think that's about it.  Check out the other Sister's blogs then get busy and join us this week.  We love to see what you create!  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Digi Garden Friday

Happy Friday!  I hope its a great day for you!

Today I have another card using another adorable image from The Digi Garden.  These little guys are all so cute!  I am making a good start on my Christmas cards with these images.

I chose a different color scheme this time, but it matches the fun paper from my K&Co stack called Secret Santa.  I don't think there is one color scheme for Christmas anymore.  Have you walked down the ornament aisle at Hobby Lobby the last couple of years?  (My enclosed porch gets decorated in bubblegum pink, electric blue and lime green....and it is so cute!! I'll share pictures when it's decorated!)  I colored my image with my Prismas and added tinsel glitter to her hat.

I decided to make this whole card look like a present.  I inked the edges of my paper and added lots of pearls to the corners.  The ribbon is from my stash and was just the right length.  It was meant to be! 

This paper from the stack is so much fun!  I've had it for a long time and could never figure out where to use it.  I think it looks great in here and makes it obvious what this card is for!

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

For the Little One

Hello again and welcome!

Today I have a card featuring the designs of one of my favorite artists.  I love everything that Mo Manning draws.  I just wish there were more hours in my day to work with her images!

 This sweetie is from the 3 Baby Fairies collection.  Look at that nose!!  I colored her with my Prismas of course!

I used the wonderful sketch at CLP.  The DP are all from my stash....actually everything has been around a while.  The lace, the doily, the flowers and beads.....all stash!

 The inside is simple but shows off the lovely papers.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Mo's Digital Challenge Blog - Buttons and Bows

CLP - Sketch

Creative Insprations - Bingo (Doily, White, Flowers)

Divas by Design - Fairies & Fantasies

The Paper Shelter - Anything

Paper Play - Flowers & Lace

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #70

Hello friends!  It's Tuesday so that means another challenge at Shopping Our Stash!  This week we want to see your furry or feathered friends!  Easy huh??  Take a look at what we've made then play along!

For my card I chose a cute image from a designer I have never used before.  I was zipping through some blogs and found her and I was smitten!  I'll be using more if her images I am sure!

 This sweet image is called Mistletoe Moon by Karen Middleton.  You can find it over at Cuddly Buddly.  There are some adorable images over there!  I colored this one with my Prismacolor pencils (of course!)

 I used the great sketch over at Mojo Monday.  It seemed to fit my image perfectly!  I added some stickles to the star.  I inked my edges and sewed the layers.  Since our goal is to use our stash I can tell you the papers, lace, ribbon (under the lace), the buttons and the brads all came from my stash.  The image is the only new thing on this card.

I used a MS PATP that I haven't really used in so long.  I think I over used them at first and got tired of them....all things in moderation  ;)  The sentiment is very old from SU.

I am entering my card in the challenge over at:

Mojo Monday - sketch

Now go take a peek at what the other ladies have for you then pull out your supplies and play along!

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

DDD Birthday Card

Good morning friends!  Welcome!  It's Monday but I hope its a good day for you!

I have another card for Daydream Designs.  There are some amazing new things in the shop!  You need to go check it out!!  But first take a look at the card I made!

 For my card I used this present from Time to Party.  I have never used a pre-colored image and it sort of felt like cheating  ;)  But it looks great I think!  I added some pearls and punched the papers with a die from MFT called "wonky scallop".  The ribbon is from my newly organized stash.

 Here's the inside.  I was having a polka dot day I guess!  I added "For the Birthday Girl" on the inside. I am realizing that my range of cards isn't so great so I need to make a plan to expand my range of what I have.  There will be some baby cards coming up, just wait and see  ;)

I am entering my card in the challenge at:

TotallyPaper Crafts - For a Child

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

SSiC #158

Hello lovely friends.  Thanks for stopping by today.  It's time for a new challenge over at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  This week the lovely Linda is our hostess.  She has chosen our verse and challenge.

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well."  Psalm 139:14

You were made by a loving Creator.  You didn't just happen.  You are here for a purpose.  You were wonderfully made.  There are no mistakes in who or where you are.  Isn't that comforting?  The God of the universe made you.  He knows all about you.  He loves you.  Our pastor was sharing about the size of the universe.  He told us the Hubble telescope has sent back enough information that scientists believe there are billions of galaxies out there.  Can you fathom that?  As I was sitting in Bible study last night and pondering the vastness of God's creation I began to feel small and insignificant.  But our pastor went on to share that the same God that created all that vastness also created me.  The Bible tells us the very hairs on our heads are numbered.  How crazy is that?  If you ponder that you realize that it shows just how intimately God knows us.  God has shown me over and over how He is concerned about the smallest details in my life.  (And the big ones too.)  Nothing is too small to be taken to our loving Heavenly Father.  The Bible says we are to cast all our cares upon Him for He cares for us.  Sometimes I need to remember that.  And maybe you need to be reminded too.  You are His marvelous creation and He loves you.  Praise Him today and draw closer to His loving arms.

Linda's inspiration is from the portion about being wonderfully made.  She wants us to add something that we made to our cards.  I have been thinking about crocheting some roses to add to my cards lately so this was perfect!!  (Thank you, Linda  ;)  )

Our fabulous sponsor this week is A Day for Daisies.  They have the most endearing images and they are adding new ones too!  They have offered our winner a $12 gift card to their store!  How great is that?  I hope you decide to join in the fun this week!

This week I used a wonderful image from Janet at By Digital Paper.  I love her stuff and really should use it more.  I chose an image from Belle Jardiniere.  I won this set a while back and have been waiting for the right inspiration to use it and do it justice.  I am pretty pleased with how this turned out.

Is that not gorgeous??  Oh my goodness!  You can see I stitched the edges, added pearls, gold micro beads and a black flourish.

 I used the beautiful sketch over at CLP.  I am always inspired by their sketches!  I hope I do them justice.  I added some wide antique lace I recently picked up at a flea market, some narrow antique lace from my stash and some ribbon also from my stash.  I inked the paper doily a bit as well as the cream embossed paper.  See my little crocheted rose?  I actually made 5 and intended to put them all on my creation but...well....that didn't happen  ;)  oh well.  I'll have them for next time  :)

 Here you can see the beautiful DP from Hobby Lobby.  I used some old stamps from SU for the writing panel.

 Here's the back.

And another view.  I love how this card turned out.  So does my daughter....she wants it....  I told her sorry Charlie  ;)

I am entering my card in the challenges at:

CLP - Sketch

Cupcake Craft Challenges - Script (on my DP) and gold (the micro beads)

I think that's about it.  Be sure to hop over to all my Sister's blogs and see what wonderful things they made for their cards this week.  Then get busy and join us!!  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle

Santa Elf

Hello friends!  This was supposed to post yesterday.  It hasn't been a tough week so I'm not sure how I got distracted and didn't get this card made.....

Anyway, I have another card for The Digi Garden.  I mentioned last week that I am on the design team over there (I still need to add everything to the sidebar...its coming.  promise.).  There are some really adorable images over there.  If you haven't looked through her images you really should!

 I chose Candy Cane Elf.  Isn't he a cutie?  I colored him with my Prismacolor pencils.  I added tinsel glitter to his hat, boots and stocking cuff.  I inked the edges and used a small snowflake stamp to add some interest.

 Here's the front.  It's a little plain for me, not many embellishments this time.  However, I really like how this turned out.  I added buttons down the side and added a paper "belt".  I'm hoping you can tell I wanted this to look like Santa!

Here's the inside.  The sentiment says "Happy Christmas".  The ornament on the writing panel is from the same set.  I lightly inked the edges of the writing panel and sentiment.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Christmas Card Challenges - A Christmas card

Creative Inspirations - Christmas

C.R.A.F.T. - Children

Paper Play - Choose a Holiday

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Autumn Thanks

Hello friends!  It's a beautiful autumn day here.  I hope it is beautiful where you are.

Today I have a fun card for the challenge over at Mo's Digital Challenge Blog.  If you have been here before you know that I love Mo's images and I try to play along with the challenges over there every week.  This week I was inspired by the autumnal weather starting to creep into town so I chose Punkin.  I used him about a year ago and he has patiently been waiting to appear on another card.  So here he is:

 I colored him with my Prismacolor pencils.  For some reason I love coloring pumpkins.  I think I used 9 colors.  So much fun!

 And here's my card.  I used the great sketch over at Sketchy Colors.  I simply turned it 180 degrees so my fence die would fit in there!  And as I am looking at my card I am realizing the only thing I used that came off a spool was the pearl cotton for sewing on the buttons.  Over at Ribbon Carousel they want to see fall colors this week.  Sheesh...you think I could have thrown some ribbon in there somewhere!  For my dies and punches I used the woodgrain fence from MFT, mushroom border from CC Designs and a scalloped border from Fiskars.

 Here's the inside.  I added a simple "thanks" from PTI.  My DP is from Basic Grey.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Mo's - Dies/Punches

Ribbon Carousel - Autumn Colors (I only used pearl cotton this week.  If that doesn't count for your challenge I certainly understand!)

Sketchy Colors - Sketch

Papertake - Autumn

Stamp n Doodle - Anything

I Brake for Challenges - Use a Digi (my 2nd entry for the month)

The Paper Shelter - Autumn/Fall

Divas by Design - Lovely Layers (I counted 14 just on the front!)

Inspired By - Photo Inspiration
My Heart Pieces - Anything
Frilly and Funky - Autumn Colors

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #69

Hello again friends!  It's Tuesday so that means there's another challenge over at Shopping Our Stash! Our challenge this week is "Embossing".  It can be wet or dry embossing, your choice.  I don't know about you, but I love digging into my stash and creating a lovely bit of something that doesn't look like it was mere "scraps" a couple hours before.  That's what I did this time!  The only thing not from my stash is the cream card stock for the base of the card.  So here it is:

 I embossed the top pink panel with my Sizzix Snow Flower folder.  The Sizzix folders emboss so deeply, I love that.  I love how it looks a bit distressed with the core coming through in places.  The DP is all Basic Grey ("Lemonade").  I used all scraps to piece the front.  I sewed a zig zag with heavy duty thread (LOVE how that looks!).  I'm pretty sure the pink grosgrain ribbon was in my grandma's stash.  Or someone's grandma!  Both laces and the button were in my stash.  I made the pink flower and the lace ruffle (note to self: do not use stiff grosgrain ribbon for this technique again...).

 This sweet sentiment is an old one from SU.   Not sure if I have ever actually used it!

 I followed the same sketch for the writing panel.

And the back.

Make sure you stop by everyone's blog from SOS and admire the lovely creations they have for you.  Then dig through your stash and join along!

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Daydream Designs Blog Hop

Hello friends and welcome!  Today is the first blog hop by the Design Team for Daydream Designs.  If you arrived here from Helen's blog then you are on the right track.  If not you might want to start at Diane's blog and follow along!  

Our theme is Owls or Fall.  We would love to have you hop along with us and if you do Diane has some great prizes for you!  If you hop to all the team member's blogs (and leave a comment) you will be in the draw for one set of images or papers from Daydream Designs.  If you choose to play along with our theme and enter your project with the link on Vicki's blog (she's the last one on the list at the bottom of this post) by Wednesday, you could win three sets of images or papers from the store!  There is new stuff in the store every week so I'm sure you will find something fun you would love to get!  Also, be sure to check the end of Diane's blog post because she has a free digi for you!

I decided to use a fun image from the set Owl Always Love You.

 I had such a good time putting this project together and using up a bunch of paper from my stash at the same time!  I colored this cutie with my Prismacolor pencils.  I added some of my favorite feathers to the top of her head.  (My Bekah and I finally decided this needed to be a girl.)  The "tree" was embossed with my wood grain folder and I inked the raised areas with Tim Holtz Walnut Stain to make the wood stand out a bit more.  I was doing a blog hop the other day and several of the team members made banners.  I decided then and there I needed to make one.  My hubby and Bekah share a birthday next week.  We will be having a big dinner for our families and I have started thinking what I want the theme to be.  I recently made some adorable owl pincushions for the quilt shop and ALL of my children have decided they need one.  So....I am hoping to get some made this week for them (we'll see how that goes).  Anyway...the banner.  I don't have a die for the banner shape so I cut my own.

 I used an old, old, old template to trace out my letters.  I cut them by hand and then decided what size to make each....flag (?) banner (?)  what should I call each one??  

 Several of my kids love candy corn, (I just bought a bag for my boy the other night.) so that was where I started for a color scheme.  I have had this bright yellow and bright orange paper in my stash for a long time.  I embossed each yellow piece with the swiss dots embossing folder and the letters with paisley.  I inked each layer with a slightly darker ink and used my free-motion quilting foot to sew all the layers together.  I added some cheesecloth behind the letters.   I used some ribbon from my stash for the loops at the top and sewed them on with pearl cotton and buttons.  I used raffia to hang the flags from and tied a know in between each one.  I tied bows from the raffia and glued them to the knots.  I had some flowers from Prima that matched the colors so I added them to each flag as well.

 The rest of the letters.  I think you can see the paisley real well here.

Here's the whole thing again.  I hung this on the wall in our barn.  We don't have many animals anymore and we have parties and lots of fun in this section that has a wood floor.  I'll try to take pictures of the festivities on Sunday and post so you can see it all.  I have some fun ideas and I hope I have time to get them made this week!

OK  enough about me!  Your next stop on the hop is Traci.  If you get lost you can always go back to the beginning, but everyone should have a linked list of where you are going.  Hop along, and if you have time play along too!!  The winners will be announced on Diane's blog on Thursday so be sure to check back and see if it was you!

Here is the full list of blogs to hop to:

Diane

Marilynn

Miesje

Amy

Helen

me  :)

Traci

Beth

Peggysue

Jerusha

Vicki

I will be entering my banner in the following challenges:
Fairytale Challenge Blog - Autumn
CRAFT Challenge Blog - Autumn
My Heart Pieces - Anything
Anything But a Card - Texture

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Stampin' Sister in Christ #157

Good morning dear friends.  Welcome to my little spot in blog land.  It's time for another challenge over at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

This week Kris is our lovely hostess.  She chose our verse and challenge this time.

"So let's not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up."  Galatians 6:9

I have always found such comfort in this verse.  I am a stay at home mom with 4 children.  We live in farm country (translated: nothing is close by) and we home school.  So, my children and my home are pretty much my life.  I wouldn't trade my life for anything, but it does have its challenges.  It gets lonely sometimes.  And frustrating.  Maybe not so much now that my children are getting older, but certainly when they were all little.  Nothing stays clean for longer than it took to clean it in the first place.  Meals take a while to prepare and are gone before you know it.  Laundry never ends.  Toys are everywhere.  And when you finally reach the end of the day you collapse on the couch and fall asleep. Only to wake up tomorrow and do it all again.  I know you know what I am talking about.  Whether you work outside the home or not its the same.  But we need to remember that in raising children we have to look at the finish line.  We don't keep our eyes focused on right now.  Because when we do we can get discouraged.  We need to look to the end.  We need to trust that as we walk with the Lord and keep our eyes on Him that He will reward us at the end of the journey.  We are far from the end of our child-raising journey.  We have many years to go (and I'm glad...I love my children more than I could ever say) but we are seeing fruit from our labors.  My boys are 13 and 10.  Just recently we spent the day at our state fair where they walked up to a booth from the US Army.  They were giving away something to the children.  I didn't follow my boys up there and as they walked away I realized the woman behind the table was speaking to my oldest daughter.  Bekah turned and indicated that I was "mom".  The woman came over to me and congratulated me on my boys' good manners.  They were the only ones all day that had said "thank you" at her table.  To me that seems like an obvious thing for them to do, but I guess it's not so common anymore.  Thats a really small example, but its an encouragement that all we pour into them eventually comes back.  It pays off.  We can't grow weary.  As wives, moms, daughters, friends, teachers, what ever you are, press on.  Don't give up.  The Lord will bless what you are doing.  Just keep your focus on Him and He will bless you abundantly.

Kris has asked us to create something that represents fall or a harvest this week.  To go along with our challenge, the kind people over at Sweet n Sassy Stamps are offering our winner 3 digis of their choice.  They have some great images, so won't you join us this week?

I saw these great little guys on Pinterest a while ago and was dying to make them.  I think this link will take you to the inspiration photo.  I was on her blog but couldn't find the post to go with the picture.

 I made my pumpkins in 3 sizes.  The middle one follows her size of 11 pieces 3/4" x 5 1/2"/  The smaller one is 1/2" x 4" and the big one 1" x 7 1/2".  I embossed all the strips after I cut them.  I also inked them with a deep orange ink.  The vines are 1/4" strips twirled around the handle of a small paint brush.  The leaves were a random stamp (closest I could get to a pumpkin leaf) and cut out.  I think these are so fun!

This little guy is certainly my favorite.  I used a paisley embossing folder and the paper seems to be just right.  Not too heavy, not too thin.  I may have to make more!

I think that's about it.  Be sure to stop by all my Sister's blogs to see what autumnal gorgeousness they have created for you!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Owl Always Love You

Hello dear friends!  It's Saturday and that means another card for Daydream Designs.  

This time I have picked a sweet little owl from the Owl Always Love You set.

 I colored this cutie with my Prismacolor pencils.  Coloring feathers is hard!!  I was having trouble figuring out which which way to make my strokes.  I hope he looks feather-y and not furry!

 The DP is from a stack in my stash from Basic Grey called Origins.  Lots of great paper in that stack.  The buttons are so old I'm not sure where they came from!  And the ribbon??  I haven't bought ribbon since before Christmas, so it's been around a while!  Still working on using up my stash! As always I sewed my layers, but this time with the corners punched I stopped short of the corners.  Took longer but it looks good I think.  I inked the edges and especially the corners with Tim Holtz walnut ink too.

 I used the same sketch inside.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

The Paper Shelter - Dies or Punches

Stamp n Doodle - Stitching

Use It Tuesday - Anything Goes 

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Pink & Green Elf

Hello friends!  Happy Friday to you!  Today I have some exciting news.  I have been asked to be on the design team over at a new digi shop called The Digi Garden.  There are some adorable images over there.  If you haven't stopped by, you need to!  

 I have used the sweet image called Holly's Stocking.  I colored her with my Prismacolor pencils.  I added some MS tinsel glitter to her hat and stocking.

I used the great sketch over at Sketch & Stash for my card.  The paper is from a stack by K&Co. called Secret Santa.  The paper, ribbon, button and brads are from my stash.  I've been working hard to whittle down my stash and I love when stuff matches so well...like they were meant to go together.  I sewed all my layers and inked them with a dark pink.

 I added a small stocking stamp to the writing panel.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Sketch & Stash - Sketch

City Crafter - Polk Dots (on my paper and the ribbon!)

Christmas Card Challenge Blog - Stars (my button)
Cute Card Thursday - Christmas

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle