DRS Challenge #154 Winter Wonderland

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Here is my Winter Wonderland card for this week's challenge.

DRS stamps: Christmas Village Church 107D, Christmas Village 4 in 1 accessories 119D, Pine Tree Snow Drift 320H, Christmas Blessings 646D, Woven Plaid 613P. 

My plaid was done with the cut apart plaid stamp which is available on cling foam. I used red, green and pink chalk inks.

My images looks a bit tilted but I think it is just the angle of the photo because it doesn't look that way in real life.  I used some Liquid Pearls and Stickles on the snow.  My ribbon is 1" White Satin.  The Christmas die is from Memory Box and the white dots in the corners are just enamel dots.

I hope that you will join in sometime this week for this Winter Wonderland challenge even though it is the Christmas week!  Have fun with it...maybe you'll win the prize!  Click HERE to join and to see the other designs samples.

I've made this post short and sweet because it IS Christmas Day after all!! 

Merry Christmas!!

Night Before Christmas Accordion Book

Merry Christmas everyone!

I re-wrote Twas The Night Before Christmas poem to go with the REAL reason for Christmas.  I did this a few years ago but just recently thought about putting it on my blog!  I may make this an annual post!  This book was also published in The Stamper's Sampler.

I discovered a very interesting effect when creating background paper for this book.  I wet a paper towel with bleach (which is nothing new) but then after dabbing my black linen stock or the Taupe stock, i heated the paper with my heat gun.  Only the bleached spots turned brown like toast!

cover: Stamp credits Toybox Stamps, Stampington & Co.  I did by own calligraphy in gold  acrylic ink and nib for the Title and Gold Calligraphy pen (poem inside).

1st and 2nd page stamp credits: Eureka, Stampington & Co., Stamper Anonymous.

Poem: "Twas the night before Christmas and on a donkey she rode, The journey was hard, the night was cold...No complaining was heard when a stable was given, she made up a bed and prayed to her Father in heaven."

3rd and 4th page stamp credits: No name on stamp for Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, Angels and Shepherds-Stamps Happen.

Poem: "And there she gave birth in that lowly stall, to the King of kings and the Lord of all....The shepherds were told as angels were singing, they went to see Him glad hearts they were bringing."

5th and 6th page stamp credits: Three wise men-Stamps Happen, Open book and writing on book-Stampington & Co., Renaissance Art Stamps.

Poem: "Wise men were traveling they followed the star, they came to bow down they came from afar...Mary kept these things in her heart others told and quilled, the miracle of God the prophecy fullfilled."

Back cover stamp credits: Toybox Stamps, Eureka Stamps-John 3:16, Stampington & Co.-music.

All images were stamped on taupe cardstock treated or streaked with bleach except front cover and angels.  They were stamped on black which had been treated (streaked or sponged with bleach).  Black strips on covers were also stippled with gold acrylic. Radiant Pearls was also used in places for color.  Rhinestones and acrylic paint were used to accent. Gold Leaf Pen was used on some edges.  Book Binding Tape was used to hold the accordion book together.  A real feather was used for the quill.  Gold cord and thread were used throughout. Gold corner stickers were used, rubbed with antiquing.

I hope you enjoy this Christmas book on Christmas Eve.

Remember WHY we celebrate Christmas...the birth of Christ our Savior.

Find out about this miracle by reading Matthew 1:8-2:18 and Luke 1:5-2:38

ODBDSLC220 Sketch week 2

Good morning to everyone!

Today we start week two of this lovely sketch challenge.  I've chosen to use it as pictured today (pretty much anyway!)

ODBD stamps used: Let it Snow
ODBD dies used: Mini Tags die set
ODBD paper used: Christmas Collection 2014
I did a bit of embossing and sewing on my card today.  I put some Liquid Applique on my fence post and rails then heated it enough to get it to rise a little as well.

This sled reminds me of day gone by when I was a little kid.  We (my sisters and I) all had sleds like this.  We got them for Christmas one year and then we went up to Big Bear that Christmas vacation to use them!!  I have some pictures of that!

This Christmas when you are with your family, spend a little time thinking about the real reason we celebrate Christmas.  The baby born in a manger, the wise men coming from very far to worship Him, the shepherds being told about Him from a host of angels and going to see Him. Mary, being faithful to do as God directed even though some would not believe and would think badly of her.  Joseph, being willing to start his married life with a wife who could not really be his for almost a year because he was also told by an angel that this was from God.

The baby who was the Messiah, the Christ, God made flesh, and would grow up only to die for the sins of the world.  Yes, He did this for you and me.  He loves us that much!  The virgin birth took more than just the Holy Spirit indwelling Mary, it took her being obedient, Joseph being obedient, Jesus being obedient (oh yes, we think sometimes that Jesus was not until He was born of Mary but no, Jesus was and is, and ever will be. He left the riches of heaven to be born in a manger (a stall with animals all around).  John 1:1-4, 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Me on my sled (left)
My mom and dad with the sleds Christmas Eve (right)






Please visit my design team sisters for more inspiration!

Cheryl Scrivens * Chris Olsen * Diana Nguyen
DJ Rants * Elizabeth Whisson * Linda Carson

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC220 or to join the challenge click here. You have until December 30, 2014 at 8:00pm EDT to join us. By participating in the challenge, you have a chance to win a  $15 ODBD Gift Certificate good towards the purchase of stamps in the “stamps column” on the ODBD website, or to be spotlighted on the ODBD Blog at our next challenge. The random prize winner will be posted on our next challenge post. Please do not post on Flicker as many of us do not have the ability to comment on your cards nor can we spotlight your cards on the blog.

Christmas At Our House

Good morning all!! 

Wanted to show a few photos of our usual Christmas decor (part of it anyway). We do garland and Sugar Pine Cones (16"-24" cones) on our windows. I put up my Tole painting (the very little I have left) and our Christmas tree with about 4000 lights and over 1000 ornaments.  Yes, they are 3 and 4 deep on each branch.  Lots of crystal, shiny ornaments that reflect the lights and clear ornaments.  Nothing dark.  It really sparkles at night!

Christmas at our house!
We sometimes have snow too!!! We love it when that happens. This is the front and back of my house.

 This is a Father Christmas I made a few years ago.  I painted the eyes and made his body and outfit.  My sister, Vicki, chalked and fired his face and hands.

I used real fur (from a thrift shop) for the fur trim on his vest, boots and real mink on his hat (Also from a thrift store).

I also glued on all the hair, beard, eyebrows, etc.

There is so much on this guy and part of his outfit it

is impossible to show it all in photos.

The watch is set for 10 minutes till midnight.
The vest is lined with brocade.  The cord, lace, trim etc. is extensive.  The jewelry is all found objects from my mother's jewelry chest or a thrift store except for the cross which was an ornament.

Of course we decorate the rest of the dining, living room too with garland and Pine cones.  We live very close to the large Sugar Pine trees so it is an annual thing to collect some. 

Merry Christmas every one!

DRS Challenge #153-Color Challenge

Good morning to you all and happy Thursday!

These are the colors for our color challenge this week.

DRS stamps used: Christmas Village Cabin 212G, Tree Line Border 981P

Christmas Village 4 in 1 accessories 119D, Snowflake Background 187H

My background is done on glossy white paper by stamping with VersaMark and heat embossing with white.  I then used a combination of China Blue, Stormy Blue, Chipped Sapphire distress inks and sponged the color over the embossing then wiped off any excess. My foreground was done on white matte paper and cut out on the border line.  I stamped the tree border onto the glossy as well and then lined them up.  I stamped the tree border once more on shimmer blue and punched out a circle for the moon.  I cut it off at the border line.  I added lots of Diamond Dust to make everything sparkle.  When dry, I cut the panels into one decorative panel (Spellbinders) and then lined it with Silver Leaf Pen.  The card base is also Spellbinders.  I used a word die by Elizabeth Craft Designs on the sheer white ribbon.
I hope you like this and I hope you will join in the fun of the challenge.  There is always a prize given to some lucky winner.  Find the challenge, the other samples from all the designers and how to upload your sample HERE.

ODBDSLC220 Sketch week 1

Good morning everyone!

This week we are doing a sketch at Our Daily Bread Designs.  I turned it 90 degrees and also turned it inside out.  My star is the tag in this case. 

ODBD stamps used: Christmas Mini, We Three Kings
ODBD dies used: Splendorus Star, Shining Star (Bonus die).
ODBD paper used: Christmas Collection 2014
I also used an embossing folder and little gold half balls on each cross section. My ribbon is a sheer white with gold trim.

To see more inspiration for this challenge, please visit my design team sisters:

Cheryl Scrivens * Chris Olsen * Diana Nguyen 

DJ Rants  * Elizabeth Whisson  * Linda Carson 

The 3 Wisemen

Talk about hardship, can you imagine traveling for months on a camel?  The three (?) wise men (kings), traveled from the east (probably orient) to the city of David or Bethlehem by camel to see a newborn?

Yes, they had heard of the prophecy that a King would be born of a virgin, a Savior, the Christ.  This event was so important to them that they left their homes and brought (what would have been fortunes in that day)their treasures to this newborn.  They were willing to suffer the hardship of travel for months over difficult terrain and conditions.  They were led by a star! They were warned in a dream by God, NOT to go back the same way (because of Herod), so there was definitely danger involved with this quest. But they were still willing.  How willing are we to seek Him? Read Matthew 2:1-15

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC220 or to join the challenge click here. You have until December 30, 2014 at 8:00pm EDT to join us. By participating in the challenge, you have a chance to win a  $15 ODBD Gift Certificate good towards the purchase of stamps in the “stamps column” on the ODBDwebsite, or to be spotlighted on the ODBD Blog at our next challenge. The random prize winner will be posted on our next challenge post. Please do not post on Flicker as many of us do not have the ability to comment on your cards nor can we spotlight your cards on the blog.

DRS Challenge #152 Sing It To Me

Good Thursday morning to you all!!

This week our challenge at DRS is to use music in your card.

DRS stamps used: 220L Bubble Candle Oval, 1004F Triple Holly , 526K Nativity Ornament, 506P Silent Night Sheet Music. I made a frame with purple and white card stock and the A2 rectangle nesties from Spellbinders.  The sheet music was embossed in white and then sponged with Distress inks, Peacock Feathers, Broken China, Grape Preserves and Chipped Sapphire.  I stamped the candle on white and then masked it off and carefully taped off Joseph then inked Mary and Jesus and stamped.  I cleaned the stamp and taped off Mary and Jesus then stamped Joseph (I tape it and then ink the remainder and then remove the tape before stamping).  I use Copic Markers to color. In this case I purposely added the opposite colors on bubbles as if they are reflected then I removed some of the color to make it a bit mottled as shine and other colors might make it look.  The stars are silver stickers. I added a white oval mat to the oval on the candle.  I added Wink of Stella to the melted wax and to the bubbles then I added Glossy Accents to the top of the melted wax.
Masking and using different stamps together or part of stamps is just another way to breathe new life into some older stamps you may have.  Makes you look at your stamps in a whole new way!
To find the other design team samples and/or join in the challenge (music on your card), click HERE.

ODBDSLC219 Christmas with ODBD week 2

Good morning everyone!

Hope it is winter in your neck of the woods...It is still NOT winter here.  Hard to feel like Christmastime when it is so warm. Starting to feel like my Aussie friends!

But I can still imagine...Here is my winter center step card. 

ODBD stamps used:Warm Wishes, Mini Tag Sentiments
ODBD dies used:Gilded Gate, Mini Tags
ODBD paper used: Christmas Collection 2014
My center has three steps.  The trees and snowman are cut out and glittered and stuck on the very back.  The next layer has the ground and snowman so in real life, he looks VERY 3-D. I punched snowflakes and also used an old Spellbinder snowflake die set.  I die cut the garden gate (Gilded Gate) with silver and subbed some gunmetal Rub-Ons through the openings of the die.  I die cut a heart charm to go with the sentiment and also die cut two of the mini tags for the sentiment and Merry Christmas sentiment, then tied them all together with silver thread.

Please visit my other design team sisters for more inspiration:

Cheryl Scrivens * Chris Olsen * Diana Nguyen

DJ Rants * Elizabeth Whisson * Linda Carson

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC219 or to join the challenge click here. You have until December 14, 2014 at 8:00pm EDT to join us. By participating in the challenge, you have a chance to win a  $15 ODBD Gift Certificate good towards the purchase of stamps in the “stamps column” on the ODBD website, or to be spotlighted on the ODBD Blog at our next challenge. The random prize winner will be posted on our next challenge post. Please do not post on Flicker as many of us do not have the ability to comment on your cards nor can we spotlight your cards on the blog.

Joy To The World

Be glad and rejoice with all your heart for the Lord is come! He is come as a baby in the manger, as the Savior of the world, as the King of kings and Lord of lords, as the One who would die on the Roman cross for us because He loves us so much!

If we are down cast for any reason, all we need to do is remember the One who holds our lives in His hands, the One who gives us breath to breathe, the One who created all things and holds them together by His might.  He is our everlasting joy.  If we are His, we can have joy even in our trials, even in our darkest hour! Not "yippee, I'm so happy I'm having difficulty!" No, it's just that inner joy, the peace that passes understanding, the joy of knowing we have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!  

Do YOU have Him as your Lord? You can, just tell Him you are sorry for all the times you've failed,  ask Him to forgive you of your sin and tell Him you want Him to come into your heart.  Do it right now.  Then go tell someone.  Tell a local pastor or a friend you KNOW is a Christian and can help you on your way to knowing Him.  Turn 180 degrees from dark to His light.  HE will give you a new heart, a clean spirit! You can email me if you have questions.

DRS Challenge # 151 Hot Trends-Glitter

Hello all, good morning to you!

Our challenge this week is Hot Trends-Glitter

My card is glittered from top to bottom.  Red and Green glitter covered paper, Star Dust Stickles, Snow Crystals, Distress Straw Stickles, Icicle Stickles.

Border die is from Spellbinders. I stamped the reindeer then masked him and stamped the fence.  I kept the mask on and stamped the two houses.  Masked the houses and stamped the background snow drift trees and bare trees.  Unlike painting, with stamping you have to start in the foreground and move backward.  It takes a bit of planning but nothing is very difficult to do.  I always stamp on a post it after I stamp on my image panel so that I can cut out the post it image and use it for a mask.

 DRS stamps used: 1027H Christmas Fence, 341H Christmas Multi Greeting, 215D Christmas Village Slope Roof Cottage, 212G Christmas Village Cabin, 210G Christmas Village 4 in 1 #2, 119D Christmas Village 4 in 1 accessories, 188F Feeding Reindeer, 320H Pine Tree Snow Drifts. 

This Reindeer is getting all geared up for his flight around the world, well, so the children's story goes.  Right now he is eating magic grain...(I think it has fairy dust in it!) This whole scene looks like it has fairy dust all over it! In real life, this card is VERY sparkly, glitter everywhere!

Hey, get out there and get crafty! Your turn to make a glittery card and show it to us, you never know, you might win the weekly prize!

To find the other design team samples and/or to join in the fun with your own creation, click HERE.

ODBDSLC219-Christmas with ODBD week 1

Good morning all!

Welcome to December and all the Christmas cheer to follow!

ODBD stamps used: Chickadee Ornament, Mini Tag Sentiments, Let It Snow

ODBD dies used: Doily, Peaceful Poinsettia, Fancy Foliage, Circle Ornament, Matting Circles, Mini Tags

ODBD paper used: Christmas Paper Collection 2014

I started by making a center step card in white.  Cut out my panels of red/pink Our Daily Bread Designs paper and glued them to all my card surfaces.  I die cut the Doily in white and added some Inka Gold to it randomly.  I also cute two shades of green pine from the Fancy Foliage die set to hang my ornament from.  Die cut two white scrolls from Fancy Foliage and then cut out a bunch of Poinsettia pieces from red and coral paper, formed the petals and added some Inka Gold to the petal and put them together.  I added some gold seed beads to the centers and white Liquid Pearls to the stamen.  I cut out a gold cross from the new Mini Tag set and also the little Merry Christmas is from the Mini Sentiment and Mini Tag sets.  I cut out a matting circle from gold and the ornament holder from gold then hung the little cross as a charm.  The Chickadees and Sing To The Lord sentiment come from the same Chickadee Ornament stamp set.  Finally, I used a sentiment "From our house to yours" from the new Let it Snow stamp set and die cut it with a Spellbinders label die with slots for ribbon or in this case, Gold floss.  My bow at the top of the ornament is gold metallic ribbon.

Please visit my other talented design team sisters for more inspiration:

Cheryl Scrivens * Chris Olsen * Diana Nguyen

DJ Rants * Elizabeth Whisson * Linda Carson

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC219 or to join the challenge click here. You have until December 14, 2014 at 8:00pm EDT to join us. By participating in the challenge, you have a chance to win a  $15 ODBD Gift Certificate good towards the purchase of stamps in the “stamps column” on the ODBD website, or to be spotlighted on the ODBD Blog at our next challenge. The random prize winner will be posted on our next challenge post. Please do not post on Flicker as many of us do not have the ability to comment on your cards nor can we spotlight your cards on the blog.

Sing to the Lord- Let heaven and nature sing- all the heavenly host sing to the Lord. I think that God loves voices of praise to Him don't you?  When we sing, whether we have angelic voices or not, God loves to hear us sing to Him. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song... We can make up our own songs to Him!! 
Today, be thankful for the breathe of life and sing praise to the One who holds the universe together my His Word!  He gives us breath, He keeps our heart beating, He gives us hope and a future!! If nothing else, praise Him for another day, for waking up this morning.  There is always a reason to be thankful.  Go read Psalms 145 to 150 and come away with a heart of praise!