Dad's Birthday 2011

I'm sharing with you today, a card I made for my father-in-law, whose birthday is in December.  Since I'll be leaving for Georgia the first week of December, I had to make this before I left.  I cased this card from the wonderfully talented Teneale Williams.  Here is my version: (Click on any picture to see it larger)

Card Recipe: (all items SU)

Paper:     Pear Pizzaz, Pear Pizzaz DSP, First Edition Speciality, Very Vanilla, 

                 White, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede

Stamps:   Lovely as a Tree, French Filigree Bkgrd

Other:      Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, Antique brads, dimensionals,

                 edge distresser

 Technique Tips:
      -  Center layers.  All layers were distressed and sponged with soft suede.  There are three layers: 

                    Top layer: very vanilla

                    Middle layer: newsprint

                    Bottom layer: very vanilla.
     - On the center piece I used dimensionals.

     -  The inside sentiment was stamped and cut out with the SU small oval and edged in soft suede.  The reason I had to use another layer was because I had ink on the inside of the card and had to cover it up!  Just making lemonade out of lemons, lol!  I think it turned out alright.

As usual, when caseing someone else's card, I never have exactly the right ingredients, so you can see where I adjusted the look to make it mine.

I hope you have had a wonderful weekend.  Until next time....

Blessings,

Terri

Happy Thanksgiving!

I can hardly believe it is Thanksgiving the time is flying by.  This year, for family, I made cards that were labor intensive.  I thought it was going to take me forever to make them.  Of course, I waited until the last minute, lol! I cased a card made by Candice.  You can find her card HERE
Here is my card:

 

I changed only a couple of items from Candice's original.  I changed the sentiment and used traditional colors for my leaves.

Card Recipe: (all items SU except where noted)

Stamps:  Gently Falling, Always Thankful, En Francais, Sandy Speckles,

                Give Thanks (Our Daily Bread Designs - inside card sentiment

Paper:     White, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, watercolor paper

Ink:          Black Stazon, More Mustard, So Saffron, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, 

                Early Espresso, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Crumb Cake

Other:     Antique Brads, Victoria Lace Ribbon, Sticky Strip

Technique Tips:
    - En Francais is stamped on the background watercolor piece with Crumb Cake.
    - Sandy Speckles was stamped on the sentiment panel.  I used the crumb cake and stamped off once before stamping on the sentiment panel (I used very vanilla for this, not watercolor paper.
     - All the leaves were stamped with Brown Stazon and were watercolored using ink pads and an aqua painter.
             (While the ink pad is closed, squeeze the top and bottom together a few times so that the ink deposits onto the lid of the pad.  Open the pad and swirl your aqua painter in the ink to wet it just a little.  I find this makes the ink last longer and spread better on the paper.)
     - Cut out a 1/2" circle to attach your leaves to.  I placed my circle where I wanted it and then attached the leaves.
     -Four leaves were fussy cut and attached to the1/2" circle. I used sticky strip to attach each leaf.  I wanted to make sure they really stuck! I used the smaller of the leaves to place on top of the larger leaves to "hide" where they had been taped. 
     -  The ribbon is 3 3/4 inches folded in half and with trimmed ends.
     -  I punched  a hole through the card. I actually had to get out my old fashioned ice pick to make the hole big enough for the brad prongs to go through.
     -  Fold the ribbon in half, slightly "v"ing the ribbon.  Slip the brad through the ribbon and then into the card layers.
     -  Attach to the card base and you are done.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.  John and I are not able to go home this year, but we are going to have a wonderful Thanksgiving with a very special family.  Micah has a special home, called Micah Respite Home.  It is for our homeless who need to recuperate from  surgery or an illness.  We will be going there tomorrow to make Thanksgiving dinner for its current eight residents.  It will be an exciting time.  Pray that God will be with us and that our lights will shine!

Blessings,
Terri

Happy Birthday

Happy Saturday!  I wanted to share a birthday card with you that I made for my sister, Tammie.  Here is a photo of the two of us :)

And while I am at it (I'm sorry, I can't help myself!)  Here is one of me and my wonderful Mother!

So, now that you have met my mom and my sister.... on with the card.

I actually cased this card and unfortunately, I didn't save her web address.  All I have for you is her signature which is "Lin 2011".  Thanks Lin for sharing your creativity.  If I come by her website again, I'll be sure to share it.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:   Whole Family (Kitchen Sink Stamps), Great Friend (Verve)     

                 Easter Blooms (SU) Sentiments (Close to My Heart)

Paper:      Pretty in Pink, Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla (SU),

                 Pink Gingham (?),

Tools:       Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch,

                Itty Bitty Shapes Punch, (SU), Fleur De Lis Pendants Die

                (Spellbinders),  Elegant Leaves Die (Verve)

Other:     1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Old Olive (SU), 3/16" brads, Subtles (SU)

                Very Vanilla Craft Ink, Black Ink,  Flower Fantasy EF (Cuttlebug),

           Pearls, white, glue dots

Technique Tips:
     - The flowers on the front of the card were fussy cut.  I stamped the flower from the Verve collection on the wrong side of the paper, so that when I turned it over, there would be no ink showing.
     -  I used very vanilla white craft ink to stamp the center of the flower (green color) and then cut them out.
     -   A yellow brad was inserted into the center of the green cut out. I added a couple of glue dots to attach it to the card.
     -  I probably wouldn't have added the little flower on the inside of the card, but somehow.... yay me.... I got ink on the card stock, so I needed something to cover it up.  I hope it looks OK.
     -  I also used a pen and wrapped each petal around it to give them a curve and lift.  I know, by the time it gets there, they'll be flat again. But it does look good in the picture, lol!

That's it for me!

Blessings,

Terri

Halloween Treats

I was off and running this week so to speak .  I decided to make some Halloween treat bags for my fellow volunteers at Micah House.  I decided on one that was pretty simple.  I made an individual photo for the different Halloween papers I used.  I hope you like them.  Details will be at the end of the photos.

Recipe: (all items SU except where noted)

Stamps:  Wicked Cool

Paper:     Frightful Sight DSP, Wicked Fun (Ret'd), Rich Razzleberry,
                Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, black, & skull paper is misc paper

                bought at a local craft store

Ink:          Cajun Craze, black, old olive and pumpkin pie

Other:      Ribbon by Celebrate it, white paper bags, 3 1/2" wide

Punches:  Lrg Oval, scalloped oval, Decorative Label, Top Note Die

Construction:

     -  Each bag is made up of two solid color top notes.  One for the back and one for the front.

     -  Another top note is made using your patterned paper.  This is cut in half length ways.  Adhere one half of the patterned top note to the bottom half of your solid colored top note. 

    -  Cut your white paper bag so it will fit slightly below the tip of the top note.  

    -  Add tombow to one side of the white bag and then adhere it to one of the whole top notes.  Add tombow to the other side of the white bag and adhere the second whole top note. 

     - Use your large oval punch and punch through all three layers (the two solid colored top notes and the white bag)

     - Fill bag (I put in four of the mini sized Snickers)

     - Secure bag with ribbon.  (this is optional)  You could also use glue dots or velcro.   

And your done!  Eazy, Peazy!

I can hardly believe I only have three posts for this month.  I have been so busy.  That is not normal for me.  I usually have all kinds of time on my hands.  I'm not complaining mind you.  

The lack of entries to my blog may become the norm for me. I was asked by the person in charge of the Micah volunteers, if I would like to train to be an "In-Take" volunteer.  These are the people who screen and process new people who are coming into Micah.  I, of course, said yes.  So, for now, I will be working at Micah Ministries three days a week.  That leaves me even less time for card making and blogging.  However, since I am spending time serving the Lord, I know you will understand and I hope you stick with me and I'll try to have as many new cards and posts as possible.  I do have a couple already waiting in the wings.  And... since it is the Holidays, I'll be making Thanksgiving and Christmas cards!

Blessings to you all,

Terri


 

Morning by Morning

Happy Saturday everyone!  I'm sitting here waiting on "the call" as to when my delivery will be arriving.  You know how it works.  At least it affords me time to sit and blog or craft!  (I'm always trying to look for those silver linings!)  The card I'm showing you today was totally inspired.  I was fussing around the house and realized I needed to make a card.  Everything just fell into place.  The words on the front and in the inside are printed out using my computer.  They were God inspired.  I must have had something on my heart that morning and the Holy Spirit was speaking.  I know, these particular words are not original.  David used them many times in the Psalms.  But that is the wonderful thing about the Living, Breathing, Word of God.  The scripture comes back to us when we need it.  This is not one verse in particular, just some of the language of the day.  I hope it inspires you and reminds you that no matter what you are going through, God is there and in control!

Card Recipe: (All items are Stampin' Up except where noted)

Stamps:  None, words were computer generated
Paper:     Beau Chateau DSP, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Other:     Label punch, Spellbinders Oval nestibilities, dimensionals

Technique Tips:
     -  I sponged everything with Soft Suede.  The original DSP on the chicken wire sheet is made to look like it is sponged.  So, I decided to follow through and sponge everything else.

If you want to use Stampin' Up colors for printing or digis, here is a list of color values I found on SplitCoast Stampers.  Click HERE  Just scroll down  until you see the PDF attachment.  Thanks to Stephanie Williams for all her hard work.

That's it for me today.  As you go along, remember the words to the wonderful hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness..... "Morning by morning, new mercies I see.  All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Oh Lord unto me!

Blessings,

Terri

Happy 34th Anniversary

Hi everyone.  I hope all of you have been well.  Things here have been pretty busy.  I hope to share some of it with you on later postings.  The card I'm showing you today is one I made for my brother-in-law and my sister-in-law, Jim and Julie.  They just celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary.  Praise the Lord! I would say that is a huge milestone by today's standards!  Here is the card:

This card is definitely a simple one.  I know it lacks all the layers and doodads a lot of my cards have.  It just seems my mojo has been gone for awhile and I struggled just to get this done.  I keep telling myself that simple is good too!  Every card can't be grandiose even though I want them to be :)

Card Recipe: (all items SU except where noted)

Stamps:   Word Play

Paper:      Bea Chateau DSP, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla

Ink:          Black, Marina Mist

Other:      Spellbinders Circle, Parisian Accents

Technique Tips:
     - Sponging - I sponged the circle while it was still in the die.
     - The medallion under the circle is actually two die cuts glued to give it the four points.

I did make another card today..... the muse was soooo happening this morning.  I'll share it with you tomorrow, hopefully.  We're having a new refrigerator delivered tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes.  It's watch and wait!

Blessings,
Terri

SC349

Happy Wednesday everyone.  You may be wondering where I have been.  I'll give you the 411 after I show you my card.  That way, if you don't really want to read the personal stuff, you can skip it.   This is my submission for this week's splitcoast sketch challenge.  Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

Card Recipe: (All items SU unless noted)

Stamps:   Gently Falling (New to SU!)

Paper:     Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, DSP (name?)

Ink:          Cajun Craze, So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Lucky Limade

Other:      Square Lattice EF, Antique brads, dimensionals

Non-SU:   Gold metallic pen, raffia

Technique Tips:
     - The yellowish background is actually one I made by sponging the following colors:  Cajun Craze (lightly), So Saffron, Crushed Curry, and Lucky Limade.
     -  I used a metallic Gold pen to trace the leaf lines.  NOT a glitter pen, but an actual gold leaf pen.  It makes a big difference in appearance.  Here is a close up:

     -  I used dimensionals under the chocolate chip strip because of the thickness of the raffia taped down  underneath.
     -  I used dimensionals under the leaves and added a double stack under the leaf you see to the left where it looks like it is slightly flipping up to give it more of a 3D effect.
     -  I added the small touch of the antique brad just because I wanted to :)

That's it for the card, now on to the part where I tell you what I have been up to.  On August 23, I began my first day of Volunteering for Micah Ecumenical Ministries in Fredericksburg.   You can find their website HERE  Their mission scripture is Micah 6:8:  "Who has showed you, oh man, what is good?  And what does the Lord require of you?  To do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.
They  are a very busy organization and do so many things behind the scenes that no one really knows about.  I work on Tuesday and Thursday manning the reception desk.  This means I check in clients in the computer and schedule appts for them to see counselors.

Each "client" is prescreened by the counselors and have to be totally homeless.  Then they are given a Micah ID card.  They can come in any day or every day, Mon-Fri, for breakfast and lunch, to get a hot shower, to stock up on toiletries, to get clothes, to make medical appts at free clinics, to sign up for free dental work, free haircuts....... you get the picture.  However, it's not just those things.  Our counselors try to work with them so that their journey ends with them becoming a productive citizen again.    If they are eligible, the counselors help them fill out forms to be able to receive food stamps, disability, or VA benefits.  I actually experienced one of our clients getting keys to his new apartment yesterday.  That was an exciting day.

I am really liking and enjoying what I am doing.  It definitely fills a void in my life.  I believe that God puts a desire in our hearts to serve him and to  serve others.  He said, Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, `Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.'

I always consider how much God has done for me and my family and I know that it is only right to give back whenever possible. 

That's it for me today.  Tomorrow, I'll be at Micah serving the Lord and serving others!  I hope I'll get in a card over the weekend!

Blessings to you all,

Terri

Thank you for Julie

Happy late Tuesday evening.  I've been getting up ideas and materials for a card making session I'm having tomorrow, so this is the first time I've had available to sit down and add this post.  This is a card I made for my sister-in-love Julie and her husband Jim.  It is a heartfelt thank you card to say thank you for the wonderful time we had at their house and for the wonderful anniversary party they gave us.  Of course, thank you was not generous enough for all they did for us and I told her so.  Here is the card: (Click on any photo to see it larger)

I also have to say that this is another Becca Feekan card.  Also known as Amazing Paper Grace.  You can find her card HERE  I know hers looks so much better.  One of these days, I'm going to invest in the equipment (homemade of course) that makes the little photo tent that  helps you take better pictures.  As I was making the card, I didn't realize how many new Spellbinders dies she was using.  And of course they haven't been released yet.  She's one of the lucky ones who gets them in advance to promote them.  Ahhh, maybe one day!  Here is my recipe:

Stamps:  Because I care (thank you on front) (SU)

               French Foliage (SU)  Decor on inside

Paper:     Sahara Sand, Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink, 

               Newsprint DSP, the flower DSP is by Girls Paperie

Ink:         Black, Vintage photo distressing ink by Tim Holtz

Other:     Vanilla seam binding distressed with Regal Rose ink (all SU)

               Scalloped square and regular square nesties (Spellbinders
               Dimensionals, sponges, Big Shot

Technique Tips:
     -  The scalloped squares on Becca's card is an actual die by Spellbinders call postage stamp - soon to be released.  To make mine, I used scalloped square nesties.  Once cut out, I used the smaller regular square, placed it in the center of the scalloped square and cut.  I used them to focus on the words "thank" in the top square and "you" in the bottom square.
    -   If you look real close to the left of the newsprint DSP located underneath the pink cardstock, you will see a little square notched layer.  That is another new spellbinder's die in which I recreated by using a 1/4 inch circle punch and punched about half way in.  It was then distressed with the vintage photo distressing ink.
    -  The white scalloped squares were distressed with the vintage photo distressing ink. They were also propped up on dimensionals.
    -  The pink and flowered squares are propped up on dimensionals.

I must admit this card took me quite a while to make.  It's hard looking at a photo and trying to decipher the sizes of all the many layers.   But it was well worth it.   I hope you like it too.

To my sister-in-love, Julie (who I know looks at my blog) thanks again from the bottom of our hearts.  Words cannot express your thoughtfulness, your generosity, and the love you showed toward us!  You are the best!  I love you!

Blessings to all,

Terri

Thinking of You

I was going to share a different card with you today, but after completing this one this morning, I couldn't wait another day to show it to you.  I am loving the way it turned out. Here is my card:

I wish you could see it "in person" it is sooooo much prettier than the picture.  Here is the recipe:

Stamps:   All a Flutter, Flores Suaves, Teeny Tiny Wishes

                French Script, French Foliage (all SU)

Paper:     Deja Views Home Collection, Bashful Blue and brown.

Ink:          Black, various SU markers

Other:      Ribbon,dimensionals, eyelet lace punch (MS),
                Tiny Tags punch (SU), blue embroidery thread

I actually saw this design in a book I just purchased called Coloring Techniques for Card Making by Keri Lee Sereika.  The card design is by Debbie Olson.  I found the cover of the book on Debbie's website  HERE
Her's is the top card (naturally) and my inspiration.  

That's it for me.  I'll have another card ready for you tomorrow.
Until we meet again....

Blessings,

Terri

Mojo 203

It is unfortunate that the card I made using the MOJO Monday 203 sketch is a sympathy card.  However, I will say that I believe this card was totally God inspired.  While making this card not once did I get nervous, I never made a mistake (that is a miracle in itself) and the design flowed like water.  It definitely was "Living Water".  This card was made for a friend and fellow Sunday School classmate whose mother passed away this week.  Here is the Mojo Monday 203 sketch:

Here is my card: (Click on any picture to see it larger.)

 

Here is a close up of the details.  Here you can see that I have two or three layers of each punch or cut out.

 On the section below, I punched the border, then placed a pink strip under it and then I snipped away around the outer arches of the design so that only the background pink was showing through.  It wasn't hard at all. 

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Verve Psalm 46:1    

               Sentiment is from SU Teeny Tiny Wishes set

Paper:     Beau Chateau DSP (SU), Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede

Ink:         Black, soft Suede

Other:     Designer Punch (SU), Lacey Circles (Spellbinders)

               Circles Small (Spellbinders)

               Morocco Lace border punch (EK Success)

I hope you have enjoyed  this card because I certainly enjoyed making.

Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

(Irish Blessing)

Blessings,

Terri

Unmounting Stamp Wheels

Hi everyone.  Today, I am offering my organizational tip on unmounting and storing stamping wheels.  I think you will find this approach advantageous to storage and allows an easier use of the stamps. First, let me say that I have been trying to unmount all my wood block stamps to provide me with more storage space.  Here is a picture to show you why I am doing this:

These two boxes alone hold 92 envelopes. There is one stamp set to an envelope or many single stamps to an envelope.  You will soon be seeing my  madness behind this method.  But can you image how much space 92 stamp sets would take up if they were still in the original clam shells?  That is why I am unmounting mine.  I hope this tutorial is easy to follow and makes sense.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.  Also, remember to click on any picture to see it larger.  I hope you won't have a problem reading the text on the pictures.

 This is the stamp on a regular sized block.  You can see it hanging off the block because it is not big enough.  I just wanted you to see what it would look like on a regular block

This is how I mark the envelope for storage:

 Now you are probably asking yourself, how doe she know where the stamps are and how does she keep up with them.  Here is how.

I keep a xerox copy of my stamps in a big notebook.  Each xerox copy is placed in a document protector. I have  broken the notebook down into categories, i.e., backgrounds, borders, holidays, birthday.  I break it down the way I think of stamps.  Your way of thinking  may be different.  This is a look at how I categorize and  cross-reference my wheel stamps.

I think that is it.  As I said, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!  I hope this has helped!

Blessings,

Terri

Caseing Becca Feekan

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday.  John and I missed going to church this morning  because he has strep throat and he's not getting better, so he is going back to the doctor tomorrow.  Since I had so much time on my hands, I decided to make a card.  And I have to say it seemed to take me forever to make this.  It is a CASE of a  Becca Feekan card.  If you haven't seen her cards, you are in for a treat.  She is AMAZING.  No pun intended.  (Her blog is called Amazing Paper Grace.  You can find here blog  HERE. 
Becca's card I cased can be found HERE.  This is my take on it:

I have to say again.  Becca's cards are hard to recreate.  She is so remarkable, talented and has, I believe, an endless supply of resources.  She has been published numerous times and companies like Spellbinders, provide her with goods to use and to promote.   So, enough of my whining, lol!  Here is my recipe:

Paper:    Girls Paperie (Now defunct), Regal Rose,= (SU)

               Very Vanilla (SU), Music Notes

Stamps:  French Foliage (SU) (used only on the inside)

Ink:         Tim Holtz Distress Ink Vintage Photo

Other:     Pearls, dimensionals, Victoria Crochet Trim (SU)

               Vanilla Seam Binding (SU)

Technique Tips:
     - I distressed the edges of everything.
     - I lightly distressed the floral paper all over.  It was too bright to leave as is.
     -  The pink background under the floral strips is on dimensionals.
     -  The horizontal strip is on dimensionals.
     -   The rose in the middle was a creative mess.  I used a 1" circle, layered glue on it and tried to wrap the ribbon from the inside out.  It was a mess.  It wasn't quite what I was looking for and looked nothing like Becca's but it came out ok.
     - The bow is vanilla seam binding ribbon with Regal Rose ink distressed on it.  It also has five loops. 
     -  There is no sentiment on the outside.  I left it blank intentionally so I could use it for whatever I needed it for.
     -  The inside uses the French Foliage script and water drops.  I love, love, love the French Foliage Stamp Set.  Have I said that before?  Probably.  This is beginning to be my go to stamp for creating vintage cards.  And it seems lately that Vintage is my thing!

I have one more Becca Feekan card I cased, but I have to wait a few days before I put it on my blog.  It is a thank you card I made for my sister-in-love.  I have to wait until she gets it before I post it, since she is a reader of my blog.  Julie, you just have to wait!

So, for the next couple of posts, I have some organizational tips for you that I hope you will  find interesting.  I have been trying to do some consolidating organizing (does that make sense?)  I'm trying to take items that take up a lot of room and package them so they take up less room.  You'll see!

That's it for me, today.  I hope you had a great weekend.

Blessings,

Terri

Anniversary Thank You

Finally, I finished all 19 thank you cards I needed to send everyone who came to our 25th Wedding Anniversary.  There were two hard parts.  One was coming up with a card idea.  The second was redoing what I had already done due to not proofreading.  You'll see what I mean in a second.  Here is the front of the card.

 

I actually cased this card from Jo Hooper.  You can find her card HERE

I changed a couple of things to make mine easier for mass production and mailing.  Here is my recipe:

Stamps:   Medallion BG (SU), Hand Ink Letter BG (Dawn Houser

Ink:          Sahara Sand, Black

Paper:     Sahara Sand

You'll have to click on the picture to view it larger in order to see the handwritten background stamp.

Here is the inside:

The left side of the card is 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  I just typed this with my computer and printed it out.  I used the ticket corner punch for the corners.  Then I stamped over the verses with the filigree stamp from the stamp set Creative Elements (SU).  Here is a close up:

I also used Sahara Sand ink for this stamp.  Simple, but thought it turned out nice.  It is so much prettier in person.  I mentioned earlier about time consuming.  I had two typos in the verses.  I had to retype, reprint, recut, and repaste a few.  Which meant I had to take a few off.  That was nerve wracking. The inside right where individual personal messages went had a couple of typos too and those had to be redone.  Arghh.....  It was quite an ordeal.  Hopefully, next time, I'll be more diligent in the proofreading department.

That's it for me today.  I still have one special thank you card to make.  Hopefully, I'll get it done this weekend.

Blessings,
Terri