DRS Challenge #201 Color Challenge

Good morning all!

Today is a color challenge at DRS Designs.

 DRS stamps used: 704D Beauty of Autumn, 929L Harvest Bouquet
Dies are from Marianne Designs...I did the out of the box technique when cutting.
I died Linen seam binding for my ribbon with re-inkers.  Brilliance Pearlescent Orange ink was used for sponging.

It is getting closer to Thanksgiving but you can always bring a Thanksgiving card to family at family gatherings instead of mailing because of time.

To join in this fun color challenge, pleas click HERE.  You can also see all the designer's samples there too!

Thanks for visiting today!

Robin

ODBDSLC263-Christmas Inspiration

Good morning!

Welcome to my blog!  Today we start a new challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs.  It is always fun to look at a picture a find inspiration for a card creation and that is what this week's challenge is all about (Scroll down for the Inspiration Photo).  There are so many elements in the photo to make it possible for a wide variety of cards to come from it.  I can't wait to see what you create.

ODBD stamps used: Snowflake Border Background, O Christmas Tree

ODBD dies used: Lovely Leaves , Peaceful Poinsettia, Shining Star

I white embossed the snowflake border and then masked the bottom sides and stamped the Christmas tree and embossed in white.  I then sponged dye inks on the entire panel and wiped away the excess.  I colored in the ornaments with purple ink.  I then made a white frame with Spellbinders A2 Rectangles and popped it up.  I die cut the tiny star and placed it over the stamped star just for added interest.  The little spray at the bottom is done with the new Lovely Leaves and the Peaceful Poinsettia dies.  I inked the edges slightly with purple and formed the flowers with my large stylist and a foam pad.  I added white sheer ribbon underneath and red violet Prills to the center of my poinsettia.

My second card is in more traditional colors for Christmas.

I decided to do this card in both color combinations because I love it both ways!  Plus the Inspiration Photo is mostly in traditional colors. See below.

I used the same stamps and dies from ODBD for the second card.  The difference is mostly in the framing.  I used an oval frame embossing folder on the green tree panel and then oval Spellbinders nesting dies for the cut out window and gold frame.  The stamped snowflake frame is on the red framing.  I added gold Liquid Pearls to the ornaments.  For my poinsettias, I rubbed gold Delicata pigment ink on the leaves and then formed.  I then added gold micro beads to the centers.  I also added gold metallic ribbon in a bow  The gold paper I used for the framing is a mirror finish paper which is very metallic looking.

To see more inspiration please visit my design team sisters

Julie, Paula, Diana, Chris, Robin

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC263 or to join the challenge click here.  You have until Nov. 22, 2015, at 8:00 pm 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.

As we get closer to the Christmas season I start remembering more often, the real reason we even HAVE a Christmas season.  It is a real historical event, found not only in the Bible but in a lot of other historical documents.  This Jesus of the Bible really did live, He really did walk among us, teaching us God's ways, true love and giving of ourselves.  He really did die on the cross and He really did rise again from the dead by the power of God our heavenly Father.  There was a purpose for His coming to earth as a baby in a humble stable.  There was a purpose for EVERYTHING He did while on earth.  God had a plan and He set it in motion when He sent His ONLY Son, Jesus Christ, to earth.  He already knew that He would die...that was the purpose.  He sent His perfect lamb to die for all of us so that we could live forever with Him in heaven IF we accept His gift, IF we believe in our hearts and turn away from our sinful life, IF we give our hearts to Him.  

Jesus IS real, now, what are you going to decide?  Believe and be with Him forever or not believe and perish?  He has given everyone the choice.

Romans 3:23

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord".

Romans 10:9 "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved".

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The most well known verse in the Bible world wide is probably this:

John 3:16 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life".

Thank you for visiting today!

Robin

DRS Challenge #200 Thankful Thanks

Good morning!

  Time for a new DRS Thursday challenge.  Something thankful!

DRS Designs stamps used: Autumn Leaf Pile 575F, Happy Thankful People 612G.

I used Impression Obcession Dies-rake, falling leaves, trees and Taylored Expression stitched Frame (I actually cut the inside out of this frame to open it up more!).

This is one of my favorite sentiments about being thankful to go along with my favorite season.  I love fall with all the beautiful colors that go with it and the cool weather!!   The sky seems bluer and the reds, oranges and yellows seem brighter!

To make my card I stamped the leaf pile onto ivory cardstock and just kind of scribbled color on them.  I then decided where my horizon would be and torn the paper up to the leaf pile and then cut out the top portion.  I scribble color on more of the cardstock before die cutting the little falling leaves to make it more of a random coloring of leaves.  I die cut my trees from white and added some warm shadows to one side of them.  The rake is die cut from silver shimmer paper.  My frame and one tree is popped up with foam tape.  That's about it!

I hope you will join us for this week's challenge, just make a "thankful" card and link it HERE.  You can also see the other designer samples HERE.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend coming up!

Thanks for visiting!

Robin

ODBDSLC262-Sketch Challenge

Good morning!

today we have a fun sketch challenge!  Come join us!

ODBD stamps used: You Will Find Refuge, Perfect Light
ODBD dies used: Layered Lacey Squares, Leafy Edged Border
ODBD paper used: Christmas Collection 2015

I die cut my Layered Lacey Square and then ran a VersaMagic pad over the edge and gold embossed the edges.  I did that to the other two red panels as well.

For the sentiment, I stamped with VersaFine Red and heat set it then embossed it and the other white panel with a poinsettia design embossing folder.  The gold and red background paper is from Our Daily Bread Designs Christmas collection.

I die cut the Leafy Edged Border with red and again with gold (the gold layer was die cut on both sides by the plain [small zig zag pattern] curved border that comes in the set).

My image was stamped with Memento so that I could use my usual Copic Markers to color the image then cut it out with a Spellbinders square nesting die.

Slowly but surely Our Daily Bread Designs is making their own dies so keep an eye out, they are coming in most shapes and sizes...I especially like the stitched dies.  

Lastly, I added a shiny gold bow!

Please visit my design team sisters to see more inspiration

Julie, Robin (that's me), Paula, Diana, Chris

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC262 or to join the challenge click here.  You have until November 15th, at 8:00 pm 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.

Most of you probably don't know that my mom died from Alzheimer's Disease.  The reason I tell you this is because during the last year or so of her life she was in a vegetative state, like being in a cocoon.  It was such a hard thing to see happening to my mother and we actually started praying that God would take her home now.  When she did die, I went about  singing one of her favorite songs which was "His Eye Is On The Sparrow".  The chorus of that song goes like this, "I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free, His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me".  The reason I sang that  song was not because I was happy my mom was gone but because I knew that my mom was now released from her earthly body, her cocoon.  She was free like a butterfly and she was happy because she was in the arms of Jesus her savior, awakened from a long sleep-like existance.  How do I know that she was now resting in the arms of Jesus?  Because she put all her faith and trust in Jesus for her salvation, she knew that it was nothing in her or that she could do anything for salvation herself, it was all God!  I know that I will see my mom again because I have Jesus living inside my heart and I trust Him for my salvation too!  What a joy to know where I will be, to know where my mom is. You can have that assurance too.  God wrote everything you need to know for life in His word, the Bible.  Email me, I'll tell you how you can have eternal life in Jesus Christ.

DRS Challenge #199 Hot Trends-Pile It High!

Good morning!

DRS Designs stamps used: 572P World Map, 583F Hot Air Balloon, 951D Happy Thoughts
This card kind of reminds me of a State Fair or maybe "80 Days Around The World" It looks old time to say the least.  I decided to make layers for my balloon for this "Pile it Up" challenge My first layer is foam taped (the full balloon) then the next layer is foam taped again and the final layer (just the center) is popped up again.  I kept the map antique'ish and added a "token" with twine toward the bottom.  The Token is from 1945 or 43 I can't remember for sure.   Fun huh?   I hope you enjoy this one...I had fun making it!  To make your own card for this challenge, please click HERE to link it.  You can also see all the other designer samples by clicking on the the above link.

Thanks for visiting today.

Robin

ODBDSLC261 -Color Challenge

Good morning!

Our Daily Bread Desings has a new challenge up today!

Color Challenge.

ODBD stamps used: Flourished Merry Christmas
ODBD dies used: Peaceful Poinsettia, BoHo Background, Fancy Foliage, Decorative Corners, Flourished Star Pattern

I used mirror red, mirror green and mirror gold papers along with matte white.  My Merry Christmas is done with VersaFine Red and cut out along the flourishes.
The centers of my flowers are gold Prills.  My embossing in the background is actually done with the Boho Background die.
I added acrylic red baubles in the corners and a rhinestone holly leaf design in one corner to finish off my card design.

Please visit my design team sisters for more inspiration
Julie Gearinger, Chris Olsen, Robin Clendenning (that's me), Diana Nguyen, Paula Bigelow

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC261 or to join the challenge click here.  You have until November 8th, at 8:00 pm EST 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.

John 14:1-6
Jesus promise to us, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go  to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know."  Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Jesus IS coming back and for those who are faithful to the end, He has a beautiful place for us and will take us there.  This is His promise to all of us who believe.  But God is patient, He wants more to come to Him...thus His delay...or at least what WE think of as delay.  God's timing is perfect and we just need to trust HIM!  In the mean while, we can trust Him with our everyday lives.  He already knows the beginning and the end, He knows what is the best for us! Rest in Him!

DRS Challenge #198 That's Tasty!

Good morning!!

Time for a new challenge! Anything to eat!

DRS stamps used: 791L Bountiful Basket, Wood grain Background (new release)

I stamped the basket and cut it out with My Favorite Things stitched circle die.  I then cut out a mat with a larger stitched circle die.  I colored with Copic markers.  For the wood grain boards, I stamped with brown ink on tan paper and did not add to the color so the lines you see is basically what the stamp looks like.  It was stamped probably about 3 times across (as the stamp is 2 boards wide-about 1 5/8").  My "thanks" is a die from Elizabeth Craft Designs. I pierced the orange panel with a foam piece and piercer and used a scallop border punch for the bottom layers. After arranging the elements and gluing them together I added the threaded leaf button and orange dotted bow.  That's all folks!

To see all the designer's cards and/or to join the challenge, please click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Robin

ODBDSLC260- Heat & Dry Embossing

Good morning!
Seasons- Our lives have season too!

ODBD stamps used: Leaves Background,  Autumn Blessings, God's Timing

ODBD dies used: Leafy Edged Border, Elegant Ovals, Vintage Labels

This week's challenge is to heat emboss and dry emboss.  The easiest way to dry emboss is to use an embossing folder but if you don't have one you can dry emboss in other ways.  You can emboss with a die using the rubber impression pad and embossing plates instead of the die plates in your machine or you can use a method we used to use 10 or 15 years ago with a light source, a stylist and a brass template.  To heat emboss you need embossing fluid or a pigment pad and embossing powder with a heat source like a heat gun or a toaster? (That is what I used at first!!!).

Today I used the heat embossing as a resist technique.  I used the leaves background stamp with VersaMagic then added gold powder and used my Milwaukee heat gun to emboss.  I then rubbed color dye inks onto the cardstock and wiped off the excess from the embossed lines. I used the same embossing powder for my scripture as well.  The dry embossing was done with an embossing folder from Cuttlebug. 

I used my sewing machine to finish the top panel.

Please visit my design team sisters (breadsticks) for more inspiration

Julie, Diana, Paula, Robin, and Chris

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC260 or to join the challenge click here.  You have until November 1, 2015, at 8:00 pm 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.

Seasons of life.

We all have seasons in our lives, but God has a plan for our lives through all of our seasons.

When we are going through a season of loneliness, depression, or despair God is with us.  He said He will never leave us nor forsake us when our faith is in Him. 

When you don't know what to believe because of all that is in the media and social media, read His word to know what God say about everything, to know how you as His follower should believe and respond.  Yes, there is good and evil, right and wrong, light and dark but to KNOW what God thinks, you must read His word.

Make God's word your priority in EVERY season of your life.

Thanks for visiting!

Robin

The Misti review

1. A Tool for All Techniques
2. First things first, I would like to say how the MISTI lives up to its name...totally the best invention for stampers. I like using the MISTI to be able to make multiple impressions of the same image or sentiment because one impressions is NEVER black enough to look really good, especially on a background done with some technique already... To get good coverage you must stamp more than once and the MISTI makes it possible to do that without over-stamping smudges.
3. The MISTI helps me find a perfect alignment for sentiments or accent images. I can place my stamp on my project where I want it to be, close the lid of the MISTI, picking up the stamp on the acrylic surface and then because of the gridlines, I can see if it is straight. The gridlines help me make minor adjustments, as necessary.
4. I have also used the MISTI lately to do multiple colors for a solid stamp. I could do one color at a time and never have to worry about placement.
5. Another way that I have enjoyed my MISTI lately is to over-stamp an image that has been stamped once and colored. Yes, scary, but it looks fabulous! When I color, I first stamp with Memento black and color with Copic Markers, but Memento black is NOT black enough for my preference. After I color, I put my image cardstock back into the MISTI and use the same stamp inked with Versafine Black and repeat the impression. Wow, what a difference, and now the image looks so sharp and crisp
6. Finally, I use the MISTI for exact placement when I do a scene of some kind, like the Fairy Lights card I made above and the Fairy In the Moonlight below. I was able to pre-place all of my images on the card front without the burden and time of using a stamp aligner.
7.  For example, I was able to place my fairy toe exactly on top of the mushroom with no errors or open spacing.

The MISTI has been helpful to me in many stamping situations. Yes, it's the most important stamp tool invented.

(As seen on SplitcoastStampers Product Forum Review)

Another example of placement and the fairy was stamped probably 5 times to get it nice and black and complete in coverage.

This is the card where I stamped each color separately

This card was stamped with Memento black and colored with Copic Markers then after completely colored, re-stamped with VersaFine black to give the image some real pop and definition!  

I hope you have enjoyed this review of the Misti tool (Most Incredible Stamp Tool Invented).

Thanks for visiting!

Robin

DRS Challenge #197-Fall-ing For You

Good morning!

Isn't this a fun time of year?  Don't you just love the colors out there?

Today starts a new challenge at DRS...Fall!

DRS stamps used: 471F Fall Leaf w/Acorn, 584D Open Leaf, 1122G Changing Leaves, 176M Fall Fence, 613P Woven Plaid.

Looking from the top you get a better idea of the steps.

I also included stitched dies and twine in this card. I stamped the leaves and fussy cut them.  The sentiment was cut with a round stitched die and the fall fence with a rectangle stitched die.
This is a side step card.
To see all the designer's cards and/or to join in the challenge, click HERE.
Thanks for visiting today, come back soon!
Robin

ODBDSLC259-Inspiration Challenge

Good morning!

Time for a new challenge from Our Daily Bread Designs. 

 Below my card is the inspiration photo for this week's challenge.

ODBD stamps used: Silk Stars, Snowflake Stars

ODBD dies used: Leafy Edged Border, Splendorous Stars, Vintage Labels, Flourished Star Pattern

I stamped the Snowflake star (two sizes) with VersaMark and embossed with Sparkle Blue then used the Splendorous Star die set to cut them out. I also cut one of the sizes of stars out of white.  I cut the background with the Flourished Star Pattern outer die with pierce marks, cut it at an angle with the Leafy Edged Border and embossed it with an Embossing folder.  I left the bottom part plain so that Leafy border would show up better.  I cut the border in blue as well as white.  The white border and embossing in sponged with blue.  I used some epoxy to glue the blue sequins on the border and squeezed a little Stickles in the center of each.  

Next I stamped a sentiment from the Silk Stars stamp set with VersaMark and embossed it with Sparkle Blue then cut it out with a Vintage Label then sponged the edges with blue.   The sentiment as well as the star is popped up.  As a final touch, I added a sparkly blue pearl to the center of the star.

Please visit our design team for more inspiration:

Julie, Robin (that's me), Diana, Paula, Chris

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC259 or to join the challenge click here.  You have until October 25, 2015, at 8:00 pm 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.

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved".  John 3:17

That is so amazing!  We deserve to be judged but God wants to save us! Why? Because He loves us so much!!  I can trust Him with my life knowing how much He loves me.  I can trust Him with my kids too.  I know He loves them even more than I do!  When this life is done, I know I will be with Him forever!

Thanks for visiting today!
Robin

DRS Challenge #196-Color

Good morning!

It's time for a new color challenge!

DRS stamps used for this card: 1102G Pumpkin w/Fall Leaves, 637E Thanksgiving Blessings.

After stamping and coloring my fall scene I cut it out using a Spellbinders die, the framing is also Spellbinders. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder border for each side of the white base.  Everything is popped up and basically that is it, a very simple card..

To see all the designer's cards and to join in the fun please check out the DRS Designs Blog HERE.

I love the colors of fall, it is my favorite season because of the brilliant colors and the sun is at a different angle which makes  a more pleasing blue sky.  When you have that blue sky and the orange, red and yellow trees, well, that is why I love fall. My next favorite season is winter, lucky for me since it is right around the corner!

If you are ever in California in October, make sure you drive the 395 from Bishop to Bridgeport and while you are driving it, stop at Bodie State Historical Park. The old wood against that blue sky I was telling you about is outstanding.  It is a very large gold mining "ghost" town.  Everything was left behind and there is so much to see.  Also along the 395 are Aspen groves that have the most beautiful fall color!

Thanks for visiting!

Robin

ODBDSLC258-Sketch Challenge

Good morning!

Time for a new sketch challenge.

ODBD stamps used: Tree Trimming Trio, Christmas Pattern Ornaments

ODBD dies used: Doily, Tree Trimming Trio, Circle Ornaments, Leafy Edged Border, Flourished Star Pattern 

ODBD paper used: Christmas Collection 2015

I love these gold and burgundy colors in the new paper this year and decided to use the snowflake ornament stamp, in the Christmas Pattern Ornament set, in gold on burgundy to match it for my large circle.  My gold circles are both from the Doily die set and the holly leave with berry are from the Circle Ornament die set.

The lovely border is from the new Leafy Edged die set...So much variation with that one set!  The star of the show this week is the new Tree Trimming Trio set!! I did my shaped ornament AND my words from that set.  I used an embossing powder that was as close as I could find to the paper color and did my words in gold embossing powder.  I love this new paper and all the new stamps and dies for Christmas this year, don't you?

For more inspiration please visit my design team sisters:

Julie, Paula, Diana, Robin (that's me), Chris

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC258 or to join the challenge click here.  You have until October 18, 2015, at 8:00 pm 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.

Christmastime is my favorite time of year to be sure and probably most of you all feel similarly because of family gatherings, gifts and childhood memories but did you know that Christmas all started with the greatest gift of all?  God loves each one of us soooo much that He provided a way of redemption through His only son, Jesus.  Jesus was the greatest gift of all and what YOU and I do with that gift will last for eternity for each of us.

God gave us the free will choice to either accept Him and believe in Him ONLY for our salvation or...NOT to.

John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, That whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life"

The reason we need this salvation...Romans 3:23 says "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  And Romans 6:23 says " For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." But the GOOD NEWS, Romans 10:9 says "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Yes, it is easy and that is why so many miss it.  It IS a free gift from God.

Please, accept the gift and let your Christmas be the happiest one in your life because you will then know where you will spend eternity and you can rest in that fact!

Thanks for visiting today!

Robin