Side by Side Sweetheart Cards

I had the flu this week because my egg allergy doesn't allow me to take the flu shot. I had to spend a lot of time in bed instead of crafting, but I had picked up an old 2011 CTMH Idea Book that was in a stack. I was inspired to use any extra Sweetheart papers to make more valentines and anniversary cards to send to my friends. When I finally felt well enough to come to my craft room, I found a complete unused package of Sweetheart papers. (I used to order extra packs of paper since I often had customers who would show up at the last minute wanting to join our workshops.)

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch to make the first card, then I altered it a bit and made several more versions.

The words were stamped using CTMH Soul Mates Word Puzzle and the Cotton Candy hearts aned flourish were from Card Chatter-Love from 2011.  Here are the other slightly altered versions with the same paper but different embellishments. I didn't think the pink circle was as effective as the white so this was the only one with pink:

After making a double page scrapbook layout and 6 cards, I still have 15 1/2 patterned papers and  cardstock pages left of the 24 in this paper pack, (not counting my consultant pack with 7 more pieces of two patterns). More Sweetheart cards and pages to come!

Thank you for visiting. May God bless your crafting!

I'm sharing the first card with the following challenges:

Crafting By Designs - Love and Romance

House of Cards February Challenge - Love Theme and/or colors

Little Red Wagon - Color Challenge #380 -  red and/or pink and black

Love to Scrap #94 - Who Loves You, Baby

Mojo Monday #483 - sketch

The Crazy Challenge #241 - Romance

The Paper Girls Challenge #121 - with heart

Use Your Stuff #250 - Love is in the air

Making the Years Count Anniversary Card

My hubby and I celebrate our anniversary this month and so do several of my friends. Our anniversary is on the same day as my grandparents' anniversary.  They set a beautiful example for us of two who loved each other until death.  Their love spilled over to the many other people in their lives.
I made several anniversay cards today for friends, focusing on the inside verse. I combined a sentiment from a past CTMH Stamp of the Month this year and one from Our Daily Bread Designs:

Love is not a matter of 

counting the years, it's a matter of 

making the years count!

May your love increase always!

Happy Anniversary!

I used bright colors and the sketch from the PDE Linky Party #132:

 

In my determination to USE IT UP (paper and embellishments), I enjoy combining some old with newer products. If you're a "collector" of older CTMH stamps, you may recognize the 2005 Elegant Floral on front. I hadn't used it for 11 years and wanted to experiment with an updated look. I traced over the center pistols and stamens with black and gold markers. Cricut Explore helped me make circles and hearts for the front and inside. The Bubblegum organdy ribbon is still around, too, after 11 years. No wonder CTMH quit selling 25 yards at a time! The Ocean textured cardstock is also some that they used to sell. My papers were leftovers and scraps, older and newer.  I'd rather use it all up making something beautiful to give to friends than to just discard it. If we could do garage sales in our rural area I might think differently. What do you do?

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you with love that grows year after year! May you pass His love on to those around you!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

A Bit More Time to Craft #25 - anything goes

Alphabet Challenge - L for Love 

Broken Fairy Challenge #8 - Use your stash

Just Add Ink #323- Just add "F" - flower

PDE Linky Party #132 - sketch

Watercolor Blog Hop

Enhancing projects with watercolors has been so popular! Welcome to our blog hop highlighting ways to use your watercolor paints and/or watercolor pencils!  If you came from Michelle's blog you're on the right track.

My first project is a simple birthday card with watercolor background over the white embossed sentiment. I see this technique used a lot.  I used the largest CTMH flat watercolor brush  and two paint colors closest to Crystal Blue and Thistle used in the Penelope paper pack. I wanted to make an arched shape. It's not a slow laborious process. I think it looks better if you simply go back and forth quickly leaving informal edges on the sides.

I wiped a little excess paint off the embossed sentiment. It's best to emboss first. If you do it afterward, the embossing powder can stick to any still-damp areas that were painted.

After I painted it I loaded a smaller rounded brush tip with water and flicked it on top of my painted arcs by tapping the brush, point down, over the intended area.



On my second card I gold embossed a leafy background stamp, then brushed the entire surface of the panel with water. With the wide flat brush I brushed on two colors of watercolor paint that were a pear green and turquoise. They blended with the water and each other. I let them almost dry before wiping excess paint off the gold embossed leaves.

I stamped the butterflies with black Stazon ink before the next watercolor technique.  I cut them out leaving a thin white border that I wanted to stay white. So I used the smallest round detail brush to paint the butterflies with three colors, light orange, darker orange, and bright pink. I dipped the brush in a little water to blend the colors.

If you'd like to use any of these stamps you should check out this month's Stampaganza special: Buy two stamp sets and get the third set free! See details here.

Thanks for visiting! Now you're ready to see the artsy example Tracey has for you.

6.5" x 5" Birthday Card Recipe:

Papers - CTMH Watercolor Paper, Penelope paper pack, CTMH Cardstocks: Crystal Blue, Thistle, Pixie

Stamps - Cricut Artiste stamp set

Ink - Versamark

Embellishments and Accessories - Ranger White Super fine and Silver Super Fine Embossing Powders, White Enamel Stars, Cricut Artiste Cartridge,  CTMH Watercolor Paints and Paint Brush Set, Craft Heater

4.25" x 5.5" Anniversary Card Recipe;

Papers - CTMH Watercolor Paper, Black Cardstock

Stamps - Botanical Backgrounds, Finding the Words, Your Own Kind of Wonderful (butterflies)

Inks - Versamark, Black Stazon

Embellishments and Accessories - Gold Bling Gems, Gold Shimmer Trim, Ranger Gold Princess Embossing Powder, CTMH Watercolor Paints, Paint Brush Set, Craft Heater

Mojo Monday 437 - Three Anniversary Cards

I started scrapbooking slowly, occasionally 20 years ago. I didn't realize how many "ancient" papers I still had until I began moving them to my new craftroom. Now I'm determined to use up as much as I can. This is one of my "Use It Up" projects.

I used this week's Mojo Monday challenge #437 and the Purple Haze color challenge at Moving Along with the Times:



I chose to make mine with a rectangular shape to make it easier to mail in the U.S.

I made two more versions of the card using small leftover pieces of the lavender patterned paper and the same sketch:

I'm sharing the first card with the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper  - anything goes with patterned paper

Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #294 - Love





Mojo Monday #437 - sketch

Moving Along with the Times #15 - Purple Haze

Nordsalten Hobbyklubb #134 - dies and/or punches

Simon Says Stamp - Touchy Feely (add texture)

Loving Hands Anniversary Card

One of my dear friends is celebrating her anniversary this week. She deserves a lovely card to let her know how special the day is and, even more, to know that I pray for God's blessings in their relationship.

Here's the inside that I typed and printed before adding my handwritten best wishes. The top verse about love from the digi set, John 15:12, commands us to love one another the way Christ has love us. It's simply stated, but it's a tall order when you think of the sacrifice He made for each and every one of us when He died to atone for our own sins. The longer I think about that, the more I'd like to be like Him with His gentleness, kindness, love and encouragement that builds up others and strives to meet their needs.  I see that kind of love in my friend who is getting this card.  She's such a dear!

The main sentiment was inspired from some I found on a free website for card verses. I adapted the verse with a few changes of my own.

The image of hands came from a set of images and verses by Dee Dee Anderson from both her retired web store and that of retired Clear Dollar Stamps.  It was called Loving Hands in case you have that one. I printed it on peach colored cardstock. The background paper is CTMH Kaleidoscope. The chipboard Hearts are from CTMH Charlotte Complements and the banner was a Cricut set that I inked, I think from Cricut Artistry. The embossing folder for the white heart panel was also from CTMH. The stitched oval was cut using an MFT die and a Cricut scallopedoval was reproportioned and sized to fit behind it.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Craft Rocket Challenge #6 - Happy Anything
Crafty Girls Creations #12 - anything goes
In the Pink #85 - anything goes (with lots of pink)
Little Miss Muffett #129 - anything goes
Simply Papercraft #21 - anything goes
The Crafty Addicts #6 - Anything goes/Celebrations
Through the Purple Haze #93 - anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #217 - anything uplifting

50th Anniversary Card

 A lot of us are making valentines right now. I believe it's a great time to tell others how much we love them. It also reminds me that I never have enough anniversary cards to tell couples how special their love is. I made a couple of cards for a 50th anniversary to help friends celebrate the longevity of their love and commitment.

The next one uses the same basic pattern and papers, but different ribbon and embellishments.

I stamped flowers and script behind the stamped frame using a retired CTMH stamp set. The sparkly card also has a bee from that stamp set. I used one of my newest CTMH sentiment stamps for the "Happy Anniversary" sentiment. All of the supplies are from CTMH except the gold ribbon and heart sparkles, and flowers from Michaels.

Thank you for visiting! May you be blessed with love overflowing to share with all those around you!


I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Clear It Out - valentine's/love and stash - flowers
Crafts 4 Eternity #210 - Numbers
Crafting from the Heart #43 - anything goes
Fairytale Stampers #50 - Flowers
Just Inspirational Challenge - Sparkle
Love to Scrap #46 - anything goes
Scrap and Craft #1 - anything goes
Sister Act Card Challenge #89 - anything goes
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #63 - anything goes with option - sparkle
The Pink Elephant #282 - Love

Happy to Be Friends stamp set:                                                 

 Chalk It Up Assortment (Hearts)


Retired: La Belle Vie paper pack, and Jardin stamp set from CTMH.

Cutie Pie Anniversary Card

For my friends that just bought the December Stamp of the Month, Cutie Pie, I wanted to post a couple of cards. Today is the last day it's available and it has so many more possibilities than I'm sharing.



The first is for an anniversary card for a young couple and the next is for my granddaughter whose birthday is this weekend, on the next post. I used the CTMH Heartstrings paper pack for both.

This anniversary card uses three of the stickers that go with the Heartstrings paper (hearts and arrow). I bent the banner squares acrylic stamp, cutting slightly between each one along the bottom and colored them with alcohol ink markers. I stamped two hearts on the title banner and added a white enamel heart and some puffy glittery hearts. I also included a heart and a bow tie on the two heart stickers.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:


Card Mania Challenge #63 - anything goes
Creative Card Crew #77 - anything goes
Fairytale Stampers #49 - everything goes
Jellypark Friends Challenge - ribbons and bows
PDE Linky Party - Celebrations
The Crazy Challenge #187 - anything goes
Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Red, White, and Blue Anniversary

When we came home from vacation this week we had two surprises. One was that our country road was lined on both sides with a really thick swath of blue chicory flowers. I've never seen so many, so thick. I used to pick them and put them in 4th of July flower arrangements for our cookouts and company. Since they bloom best in the morning, I went outside the next day intending to take photos, but sad to say, a county road crew had come by and mowed all of them on both sides of the road. (My next post will be about our second surprise.)


This card was stamped with some light blue chicory flowers from an Our Daily Bread Designs stamp set, "Don't Worry." You can now get just the chicory flowers as a single stamp set. I was inspired by the ODBD Shining the Light challenge to use red, white, and blue. I decided a soft blue would be nice. I used background paper from Basic Grey's "What's Up."



 I stamped the chicory with CTMH Heavenly Blue ink and colored them lightly with Copics B000 and B00. Since the photo came out even lighter, I should have used darker colors so you could see the details I can see. I used the scripture from ODBD's  "Scripture Collection 5" and the anniversary sentiment from their "All Occasion Sentiments."  The cranberry buttons are inside a CTMH Marquee Enamel Heart.  This is one of the retiring items that is only available until the end of July. The entire list can be found here.


I like to use the scripture on this card for anniversary and wedding cards, but I know that when it was written, the intention was for all of us to abound in love. My prayer for our world is that each of us will let God's love increase in our lives to bless those around us. May God fill your heart with His boundless love and bless you as you share it with your world.


I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
ColourQ #250 - use any of the colors ( I used the red, aqua, black, white)

Crafting for All Seasons #81 - Tic Tac Toe (I used blue, buttons, ribbon)

Feeling Sketchy Card sketch #96:



Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #209 - patriotic or red, white, and blue
Word Art Wednesday #141 - anything goes with uplifting message

White on White Wedding Blessing

I was inspired by Our Daily Bread Designs to create a "white on white" card. I think of white representing something pure, clean, fresh, and new. The first verse that always comes to my mind is "Create in me a clean heart, O Lord..." from Psalm 51. But I think of that verse in relation to my own life, my own prayer. I don't usually think of it as a card sentiment that I want to give to someone else. I don't want someone to think that I'm telling her she needs to pray for God to clean up the sin in her life, especially since it's not my place to judge.

My next thought about a white card was the making a baby or wedding card. The simple elegance of just white made me decide on making a wedding card. This verse from 1 Thes. 3:12 in ODBD Scripture Collection 5 seemed perfect for a new couple. It's a beautiful blessing to give them:


"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you."

I embossed the background with the Spellbinders M-Bossabilities folder "Reverence/Adoration" embossing folder. I loved the crosses in the flourished design. I added a Wilton doily, a heart border using the Martha Stewart punch, white satin ribbon, Recollections roses and a Prima flower.

I love the part of the verse that hopes their love will not only abound for each other, but for everyone else, too. Love is such an amazing thing that it can fill to overflowing and multiply! May you also share that kind of love with all those around you! Thank you for visiting!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Crafting at the Weekend #2 - anything goes 
My Time to Craft #250 - No Designer Paper
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #205 - white on white
Paper Creator's Crafts #25 - wedding/anniversary
Sentimental Sundays #210 - anything goes with sentiment
Totally Gorjuss #239 - embossing
Word Art Wednesday #135 - anything uplifting

Two Anniversary Cards

I saw the challenge theme at Incy Wincy Designs and Ooh La La Creations this week to make anniversary cards. After making valentines and love cards in February, I still wanted to use the loving images and sentiments I still had out. I also realized I should really make more anniversary cards. I've missed some anniversaries that I should have helped my friends and family celebrate. I thought for quite a while about an inside message that I wanted to write, so I'm sharing first the message I typed for the inside of these cards. I wanted to convey the truth that as we grow closer to the Lord together, we grow closer to each other.

Another challenge I saw was to use swirls and pearls which I thought was perfect for an anniversary card. This card has swirls in the stamped image:

My second card used a random stamped panel that I started long ago and set aside. I really procrastinated on this one, but I thought it would make a great anniversary card with some additions. I especially liked the swirly die cut using the gold glitter paper. The prima and ribbon flowers were the perfect addition to a stamped panel I didn't know how to finish.

Thank you for visiting. May God bless you as you share your cards and your love with friends and family.

I'm sharing these cards with the following challenges:

Creative Moments #37 - anything goes/swirls and pearls
Incy Wincy Designs - Anniversary
Inklings and Yarns #46 - anything goes
Love to Scrap #25 - make your own background (my 2nd card)
Ooh La La Creations #151 - Happy Anniversary
Whimsy Inspirations #68 - Love is in the Air
Word Art Wednesday #122 - anything goes with uplifting verse

Perfect Sentiments Challenge #72 - Brides or Babies

This week our challenge at The Perfect Sentiments is to

make a card with a wedding theme or a baby theme, including a sentiment on the front.

Our sponsor is 2 Cute Ink and will provide 3 digi images to one lucky winner. Check out our Perfect Sentiments Challenge blog for more details and samples using their stamps.

One of our daughters is planning her wedding which will be in November, so my mind was definitely on the wedding theme when I made this card.  The sentiment is

To Love, Honor, & Cherish

 



 

I love using sketches and this one came from Sunday Sketch & Stamp.

 

I used a new Close To My Heart paper pack, "For Always," a heart from the matching complements stickease, their slate satin polka-dot ribbon, pearl opaques, Black ink and 2 stamp sets: "Bliss" for the couple and script behind them and "Our Wedding Day" (retired) for the sentiment. The decorative die cut is Spellbinder's Nestabilities "Fleur de Lis Squares."

 

Thank you for visiting. I hope you'll join our challenge so we can enjoy your creations!

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

My Grafico #148 - Anything Goes

Paper Minutes #262 - text as a design element

Pause, Dream, Enjoy #6 - Anything Goes

Sunday Sketch & Stamp #149 - sketch

That Craft Place - Wedding

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

 



 

1 Corinthians 13 Anniversary Card

When my husband and I were married the minister used 1 Corinthians 13 as his text. I had memorized it when I was about 13 years old and always loved the guidance that it gives. Even though I'm a grandma now, I still need the truths in this chapter to keep me on course. I hope it will inspire someone as an anniversary Scripture. This card is for the challenge at Fashionista Challenge Week 3 is for a wedding, wedding shower or anniversary card.

I was inspired by the color combo at Just Add Ink. Their sample cards were so CAS, Clean and Simple, that I wanted to do the same. Today's challenge at Shopping Our Stash Weekly had an amazing BINGO chart with so many options. I chose to use the top row across to make my card. Here are the inspiration charts from both of those challenges

.
The pale yellow colors that I have are Buttercup and Creme Brulee. I rolled Buttercup ink on my embossing folder on the side that has the writing on the front. I lined up the front of the card on the other half, closed the folder carefully and embossed. Ink doesn't always stick perfectly to the folders, but I always think that adds to the character of the design. This embossing folder has been in my stash the longest - since it first came out.

I stamped a 3/4" strip of buttercup with a lace pattern. The verse is mounted on buttercup and a creme brulee patterned paper. The 4 year-old Buttercup buttons,  are topped with flower-shaped bling that I've had for several years. (The bitty sparkles are much newer.) I love combining old supplies from my stash with the new. This digital verse is the newest. It just came out today. I'm linking it with Little Birdie Blessings Scripture Thursday Linking Party.

I hope this verse blesses you as it does me.

Challenges:
Fashionista Challenge Week #3 - Wedding, Anniversary, Wedding Shower
Just Add Ink Challenge #117 - color challenge
Shopping Our Stash Weekly #52 - Bingo: yellow, bling, buttons, patterned paper, embossing

6.5" x 5" Anniversary Card Recipe:
Paper - Close To My Heart "Florentine" patterned paper, Buttercup, Colonial White cardstock
Digital Image - Clear Dollar Stamps "Value Verses"
Stamps - CTMH Florentine Workshop (lace border stamp)
Ink - CTMH Buttercup
Accessories - Cuttlebug Heart blocks embossing folder, CTMH buttons, sparkle flowers (both retired)
Bitty Sparkles