Divine Design- July

Due to demanding schedules, the Scripture Chicks are a little late this month. So much so, we decided to just postpone the Bible Verse Challenge exactly one week. I hope you'll consider joining me and scripture chicks Lori Craig, Jami Bova, Nancy Morgan and Taylor VanBruggen. It's very straightforward and the "rules" are few. Just choose a scripture that has impacted you...perhaps one you wish to memorize... and make a project with it. My projects are 6x6 pages which have already filled one little album. Luckily it's a set of 3. I love looking through the album and meditating on these verses.

I had planned on using a completely different Bible passage, but when I ran across this verse in my reading, it just jumped out at me. "Keep on Praying!" Wow! Translated, I think that means "Don't ever stop! Keep talking to God." I have to admit, my prayer time can too often be rushed and even sometimes non-existent. This scripture is a powerful reminder and something God is definitely trying to remind me of. Hmmm....if memory serves me right, my last month's Divine Design scripture was pertaining to prayer. NOT a coincidence, I am sure.
Here is a close-up of the layered flower.On a personal note, blogging has been taking a back seat to "life" these days, but I do have a few projects to show you. I'll be blogging again VERY soon!
Have a blessed day, friends!
~Angel

Recipe:
Stamps~ One of a Kind (SU)
Paper~ Night of Navy, SU Whisper White, Rust, Chatterbox Doublesided DP- Sky Rodeo Paisley
Ink~ Night of Navy, Rust
Accessories~ Computer generated scripture, dimensionals, crystal effects, CB Folder- Floral Fantasy, small square punch, mini brads

A Sad Day

I am so sad as I write this post. June is rolling to a close and that marks the end of my time on the Our Daily Bread design team. I have greatly enjoyed working with Kelley and all of the other "Breadsticks" and am truly blessed to have made some wonderful friendships. AND another plus.... I have a gorgeous collection of ODBD stamps.
I will never forget this last year.
My decision to "retire" from the Bread Basket was not an easy one. Although I'm sure I will still find time to stamp...my real focus at this time needs to be on finding a job.
I did hear it through the grapevine that ODBD has five gorgeous stamp sets premiering tomorrow. I hope when I find a job, I don't end up shooting myself in the foot and spending the entire check at the ODBD store. LOL

For my project today, I've used the June release "Quiet Waters". I adore this tranquil scene of a doe and her fawn by the stream. And although "coloring" is not high in my skill set, I do enjoy it from time to time. Believe me if I can watercolor, anyone can! My old standby is my blender pen and ink pad lids and that's what I colored this image with. When I finished with the coloring, I masked the scene and sponged the sunset behind. The "Blessings" sentiment comes from another ODBD set- "The Cross of Christ".
Thank you for stopping by. I'm glad you did!
Blessings~
Angel

Card Recipe:
Stamps~ Quiet Waters, Cross of Christ (ODBD)
Ink~ Palette Black and an assortment of inks to watercolor
Paper~ Black, Old Olive, Marigold Morning, Watercolor paper
Accessories~ Nestabilities, SU Oval & Scalloped Oval punches, Blender pen, EK Success Dotted Wave punch

Above My Desk

I moved things around in my stamp room a bit recently. To make room for my new Clip It-Up Ribbon Organizer!!!!! It's so cool to have ribbon right at my fingertips! I know I'll be using it more now.
At first I had the ribbon lengths clipped up right onto the clips, but it left teeth marks in most of the ribbons, so Katie helped me make some ribbon holders out of chipboard. We cut the cardboard into 2" x 4" pieces and used a tag punch to make indentations where the ribbon could be wrapped. It took a little time, but it saved my satin rbbons especially.
Look, there is even a place for my ribbon/fabric scissors!

Do you see my framed name above the Clip it Up? A while back my sweet friend Kelly made this for me! I felt so incredibly loved when it arrived in the mail from Canada! Kelly is incredibly talented. Her expert area of creativity is "art journaling". I wish, wish, wish I had even a little ounce of the artistic ability Kelly has. Her art work is incredible and you can tell it has heart and soul... hers! Thank you again, Kelly!
The difference between try and triumph is just a little UMPH!"
I liked this motivational saying so much I made a little plaque if it to hang above my desk to inspire me!

We enjoyed a long weekend here in the Wilde house. It was great timing since Katie just got home from Kansas. Sporting a new look that I love, I might add!

But... back to life! I've got stamping and crafting projects lined up! Time to get to it!
Thanks for stopping by today!
~Angel

"Hinged" Card

I made some cool diecut hinges on my friend's Cricut a long time ago. They've been in a box of odds and ends that's been really accumulating. You know those things you start and then decide to go another direction altogether? Punches, diecuts, stamped images, cardfronts and embossed panels..... I don't want to throw them away. But, what do you do with them? Obviously, I am not good at going back and using these half-made creations. There are SO many at this point that I am going to need a fresh start! Maybe trade? That's an idea.
Okay.... enough thinking while I am typing.... Sorry about that. Back to the hinges.....

I remembered them as soon as I saw this awesome door stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs. I decided to pull them out and use them on this card.

I'm going to have to be short and sweet today. My "To-Do" List is so very long. And tomorrow I go to pick up my daughter from the airport! I'm looking forward to seeing my baby girl again!
Have a fabulous day, friends!
~Angel

Card Recipe:
Larger Card Size is 6 1/4" x 4 1/2"
Stamps~ Ask, Seek, Knock (ODBD)
Ink~ Cocoa, Not Quite Navy, Versamark
Paper~Not Quite Navy, Kraft, Vanilla, SU Bella Bleu & Basic Grey DP
Accessories~Clear EP, Cricut diecut hinges, Paper distressing tool

Water Bottle Pouches

I love giving little gifts away to my friends. And as soon as I saw these Flavor Pouch Holders that Rose Ann posted for Lizzie Anne Designs, I knew I wanted to do something similar for my TOPS girls. I rummaged through my DP scraps and followed Rose Ann's directions pretty much to the letter. But instead of stamping an image for the center of my scalloped circle, I printed motivational quotes and punched them out. Each one is different... kinda like fortune cookies. hehehe
Here is my favorite quote:
The difference between Try and Triumph is just a little UMPH!
OH.. and FYI...water is on sale this week at Walgreen's for $3.99 a case (with coupon) and the boxes of Wyler's powdered drink packets are only $1 at Family Dollar. That makes these pretty cheap to make for a group! I think I'll be making them for my Bunco friends too.
If you have any other cool inexpensive gift ideas like this to share, I'd love to hear them!
Blessings~
Angel

Yep...No Layers

I think no layer (or one layer) cards are a real challenge. Yet, if you think about it....how many Hallmark cards have more than one layer of cardstock? Some do, but most are just one flat card. In my opinion, the trick is to make it appear as if the card has more layers by using your ink creatively.
That is what I tried doing with this simple Father's Day card. The first thing I did was cut an oval out of a sheet of copy paper. (I used the Creative Memories Circle/Oval Cutting System.) Then I positioned the paper with the oval cut out on top of my card where I wanted my focal image to be. I then stippled ink into the oval. Here I used Creamy Caramel, Old Olive and a bit of Close to Cocoa for dimension. Next I inked up my scene from "Quiet Waters"- a gorgeous new Our Daily Bread Designs stamp that is perfect for a masculine card.

With my paper still placed on top of my card I stamped the scene inside the oval. Next, I took the oval I had cut out of the paper and used it as a mask stamping the background stamp in Caramel over the entire card front. The sentiment and embellishments finished the card.
That's one of 3 Father's Day cards finished! They may all get into the mail in time too.
That's all for me today, but I've got more stamping stuff to share this week. I'll be back!
Blessings~
Angel

Card Recipe:
Stamps~ Quiet Waters (ODBD), Sanded & All Year Cheer (SU)
Ink~ Palette Black Noir, Creamy Caramel, Olive, Cocoa
Paper~ PTI White
Accessories~ Stipple Brush, Martha Stewart Branch Punch, Button (Stash) and Twill Thread

A Little Birdie Told Me....

...It's Taylor's birthday!
Happy Birthday, Taylor!
Something tells me there are probably lots of birthday wishes floating around Blogland for Taylor today! There may even be a few cards using her weekly Cupcake sketch!
Here is mine:

I wish I would have had some cupcake stamps on hand,
but all girls like flowers too, right?
Now, if the messiness of my stamp area after the card is finished is ANY indication of how pretty the card turned out, than this card would be a masterpiece. Too bad that is not a true gauge! Man, did I ever make a mess!
It's all cleaned up now though and I plan on stamping most of the day today. Frankly, my couch and I have been way too close the last few days.
The stamps are calling my name!
Be sure to stop by Taylored Expressions and wish Taylor a Happy Cupcake Birthday! She deserves it!
Blessings~
Angel

Card Recipe:
Sketch TECC72
Stamps~ Nature Silhouettes (CHF) Short & Sweet (SU)
Paper~ Pink Pirouette, Gable Green, Shimmery White, Melissa Frances DP
Ink~ Palette Black, Gable Green, Apricot, Bashful Blue, Pixie Pink
Accessories~ Floral Fantasy CB Folder; SU Fancy Fibers; Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware; White Silk Flowers painted w/ Shimmerz: Golden Wheat, Bubblegum, Sky Blue; Martha Stewart branch punch; SU Spring Bouquet Flower punch; Hero Arts green half pearls