Praying for You

I just glanced out the window only to discover it's raining.  Again.  Since the 5th, we've had at least 6" - 7" of rain, usually accompanied by violent thunderstorms.  On Friday I went to an appointment, and learned upon arriving at the building that the power was out.  I decided to go to the home improvement store before returning home, and they were on generators.  It turns out a large section of town was without power, most likely because of water getting into the underground electrical cables.  Enough already!

Most of the cards I make are inspired by ones I find on the Internet via Pinterest.  The original for this one - which I copied almost completely - is found here.

I started by stamping two of the designs from Stampin' Up's Flowering Flourishes set on off-white cardstock using black ink.  I adhered this on a black piece of cardstock along with decorative paper from the Mirabelle paper pack by The Paper Studio.  For the divider between the top and bottom of the card front, I punched a strip of black cardstock using the Eyelet Lace punch by Martha Stewart.  Also from the black cardstock I cut two small rectangles, adding a ribbon edge to one end of each.  From off-white cardstock, I cut a wavy banner; I stamped my sentiment in black ink, curving it to fit the banner.  The sentiment is from the Joy for the Journey stamp set from Verve (no longer available).  The brad I used to attach the banners is from Stampin' Up!  Finishing the card are the pearls in the upper right corner are by Recollections (Michael's).

Birthday Blessings

I started this card by running my cardstock through my Cuttlebug using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder from Stampin' Up.  It's no longer available, but you can probably find it on eBay.  I ran a white pigment ink pad lightly over the top of the embossing.

The sentiment is a single stamp by Verve (no longer available), that I stamped with Versamagic Perfect Plumeria ink.  I then cut it out with one of the Classic Oval dies by Spellbinders; before I removed it from the die, I sponged on some Versacolor Ash Rose ink.  I cut another oval, ran some Versamark ink (a clear, sticky ink) over the edge, then embossed it with some silver embossing powder.  I also cut one of the Spellbinders Labels One and layered a Spellbinders Decorative Labels One underneath. 

On the bottom of the card, I placed some lace underneath a white ribbon, then affixed a folded pink ribbon in the center using a brad from the Stampin' Up set Antique Brads.

The Mighty One Will Save

It's been so long since I've blogged that I'm having a difficult time matching the Post-It Notes I write out for each card I make to the cards, so rather than waste time combing through each one and trying to blog about each one in chronological order, I'll just see what I can easily match up and go from there.  You'll never know when I actually made the card, right?

First up is a card I believe I made as part of the widow's encouragement project at my church. It is 5" x 7".

This verse from Zephaniah 3:17 is one of my favorites, so when I saw the stamp over at Verve Stamps, I had to get it. 

I started by stamping the verse in Versafine Onyx Black ink on one of the ovals from Spellbinders Large Classic Ovals.  I sponged the oval with Memento Angel Pink ink.  I then cut one of the motifs from Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Accents four times, then arranging them around the oval. 

 

The background paper and sheer pink ribbon are from my stash.  The rhinestone spray is by Recollections (Michael's).  

I've Taken Up Quilting!

With paper, that is.

I became intrigued with quilt cards after seeing some on Pinterest.  (Take a look at my Quilt Cards board here.)  My mother-in-law is a quilter, so I thought for her 91st birthday I'd make her a quilt card.

I used paper from DCWV's Linen Closet Matstack. I cut each of the 25 squares with one of the dies from Spellbinders Classic Squares Small set, which was a lot of cutting.  (I since have purchased 3/4" and 1" square punches.)  I embossed the completed square with Spellbinders M-Bossabilities Mystic folder.

The quilt square is mounted on two pieces of cardstock, then affixed to the card base.

My sentiment is from Verve Stamps, and is cut out with an oval punch from Stampin' Up!, then layered on a larger size of oval, also from SU!  I mounted it on top of a brown ribbon using pop dots.

I have since made several other quilt blocks, which I will share soon.  These are fun and addictive!

As this post goes live (I've written it in advance), I am in my orthopedist's office, discussing knee replacement.  It's time.  And I hope the doctor will agree.  If he does, I will get the surgery as soon as possible.  Doesn't recovering from joint replacement seem like a great way to spend my summer?    (It sounds better to me than continuing in pain!)  I will let you know what happens.

Card for a Friend

I heart Pinterest.

I have had a lot of fun looking on various websites for card ideas.  Sometimes, when I follow a link, I'll end up exploring most of a blog and pinning multiple images.  This was the case with Poppy Paperie, where I found the original idea for this card, which I made for a friend who recently had surgery.

Here is the complicated recipe:

~ Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Rectangles
~ Spellbinders Rectangles Small

~ Cuttlebug embossing folder:  Swiss Dots

~ Verve stamps (verse)
~ Stem Silhouettes by Stampin' Up!
~ Oh, So Lovely by Stampin' Up!

~ Marvy LePlume II Markers:  #11 - Lt. Green, #17 - Steel Blue, #10 - Light Blue
~ Lightening Blue ink pad by Brilliance
~ Bamboo Leaves ink pad by Memento

~ Corner Rounder
~ Buttons
~ Glue Dots
~ Fibers

I was inspired by this video:

Encouragement Card

A woman at our church was recently diagnosed with the same cancer my husband has.  She's been having a difficult time because the cancer is eating away at her bones, a problem Phil hasn't had, and had surgery to deal with some of the damage right after Thanksgiving.  I finally sat down and made her a card to encourage her, which I sent shortly before Christmas.

The patterned paper is by K & Company.  I love the pink and green combination!  The Scripture verse is by Verve Stamps, which I stamped with Memento Bamboo Leaves ink ; I cut the two layers out with Spellbinders Classic Squares Small.  Here's where I started having fun:  I purchased Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Accents which I used elements of under the squares, around the circle medallion, and under the ribbon.  The medallion in the circle is from my go-to Go Baroque set by Stampin' Up!, which I stamped with clear embossing ink and embossed with gold powder.  The ribbon came from Stampin' Up!, which I purchased as part of a clearance sale.  Finally, the bling is some I picked up at A. C. Moore.