CAS-ual Fridays CFC 165

Hi there!  Today I am playing along with CAS-ual Fridays' Challenge called Everything Turns to Gold.  

I loved the look of Channin's card--the bright gold on a deep, rich jewel tone background--and it inspired my own design.

I started with a base of Papertrey Ink's Scarlet Jewel cardstock.  On the side of the card, I stamped the circle boarder image from CAS-ual Friday's RAD stamp set, and embossed it with gold.  For the sentiment, I die cut a stitched rectangle from Papertrey Ink's Noted: Scalloped A2 die collection, and gold-embossed it with a quote from CAS-ual Fridays' BREATHE set.  I popped it up with some foam adhesive to add some dimension.  

Happy Stamping!
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CAS(E) this Sketch #203

Hooray for Friday!  I was excited to see the new design over at CAS(E) this Sketch, because it's almost the exact design I had in mind for my MIL's birthday card!  Hooray!

She loves going to the beach so I went with that theme.  I stamped PTI's Sand Swatch in the pattern on the base of the card, then added a pair of flip flops and sentiment from PTI's Flipping Out.  I spritzed the sand a little with my Perfect Pearls just to add some shimmer.  Hope she likes it!  And glad she doesn't read this blog ;)

Inks: PTI's New Leaf; Distress Inks Antique Linen, Spiced Pumpkin

Stamps: PTI's Sand Swatch & Flipping Out

Other: white card stock, Ranger Perfect Pearls

CAS #204

Hi there!  One of my New Year's crafting resolutions is to learn more about colors and color combinations.  So I'm happy to have found the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge to aid my education!  Here is this week's color combo:

Since I don't have any Stampin' Up inks I searched my stash for the closest matches.  I ended up using Papertrey Inks' Pale Peony and Autumn Rose, as well as Close to My Heart's Sea Glass.  My stamp set was Lawn Fawn's Winter Alpaca...sooo cute!

CAS-ual Fridays CFC164

Hi!  I'm playing along with CAS-ual Fridays' weekly challenge today--my first with them!  The challenge is to create a card that celebrates something.  As some good friends recently had a baby, this is perfect timing.

My friends had a baby girl so I went with a pink and yellow color scheme.  Using Papertrey Ink's Bitty Baby Blessings I die cut and paper pieced some ducks and a bunny using scrapbook paper from my stash.  I lay them on top of a strip of May Arts' pink rosette ribbon and stamped a sentiment from Papertrey Ink's Inside & Out: Baby set.  To finish I set my white panel on a yellow card base.  Welcome to the world, little one!

CAS(E) this Sketch #202

Hello there!  As I continue to immerse myself in the relatively-new-to-me world of stamping and card-making, I find that one of the easiest ways to create something is by starting with a sketch.  I'm happy to have found CAS(E) this Sketch!  Today I am joining by playing along with Sketch #202.  Seeing the first flurries in the air today easily led me to make a winter themed card.

I began by blending Distress Inks to create my background, and then simply stamped a series of snowflakes in descending sizes.  I used Versamark Ink and heat embossed them with white, adding a sentiment at the bottom.  Love how it came out! 

Inks: Distress Ink Chipped Sapphire, Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass

Stamps: Papertrey Ink's What the Doodle: Snowflakes

Other: white card stock, Versamark Ink, Zing Embossing Powder (white)

Advent

I woke early the morning we left to spend Christmas with family.  Grateful for the chance at a quiet morning, I slipped downstairs, turned on the Christmas tree lights, and made a cup of coffee with Peppermint Mocha creamer--a new favorite holiday treat.  I settled on the couch to read the last of my Advent Devotional; it was the first time in 27 days I'd been able to read in silence and solitude, and I felt myself relax as the coffee wafted over the words from Matthew.

Not a second before I finished, another word came from on high..."mama!  Maaaama!"  I reluctantly left my coffee, hoping I could rock him back to sleep.  Alas, the wish was in vain.  So I gave myself up to my sweet, where-does-he-get-this-energy, almost three year old (!) little boy and carried him downstairs to play.  And finish my coffee.

As we walked down the stairs he noticed the tree lights on, and asked in his curious little voice "hey! Why you turn dis light off?"  Thinking he meant "on," I explained that I love to look at Christmas tree lights.  But he asked again, as I carried him past the overhead light switch.  Reaching out to grab it, he repeated "hey, why you turn dis light off?"  Instinctively I replied, "because it makes the tree more beautiful."

As long as I can remember, I have loved to sit in a dark room, in the quiet of a Christmas season morning or night, with nothing but the light of a Christmas tree.  There is just something about that shining cone that quiets my soul and fills me with peace and joy.  

Christmas lights are beautiful, especially when they are the only thing to light the darkness of a room or home.  Which is why we have Christmas in the first place.  Not to light the darkness that falls as winter begins, but to alighten our souls with God’s love.  The anger and selfishness and all manor of sin tucked away inside each of our hearts…this is the darkness we live in.  Until, wrapped in a blanket, Jesus brought light to Earth, to shine into the darkest corners of our souls.

We can look pretty on the outside, decorated with shiny ornaments and sitting atop stacks of material blessings, but without the love of God through the gift of Jesus, we will remain dark.  Let His love and forgiveness light our hearts and souls this Christmas.

PTI's Create Along With Us: December 2016

I love so many of the new products and designs revealed this month over at Papertrey Ink, but the To Have & To Hold set particularly caught my eye.  The delicate pastels and flowers it showcased are so pretty!  I especially liked Laurie Schmidlin's take on it. 

 For my card, I cut a heart-shaped hole from my panel using a die from Heart Prints, and added floral images around it.  I stamped leafy prints from Turning a New Leaf in New Leaf and Mint Julep, and die cut the flower and heart from Flipping Out in Amethyst Allure, Lovely Lady, and Pale Peony.  I adhered the panel to some amethyst card stock and added a white embossed sentiment from Heart Prints.  Feeling inspired to make some Valentines now!