Praise God

Good morning!  And as always, thank you for taking a few moments to visit.  With Christmas just a few short days away, it seems everything in my house has gone into hyper mode.  I am working through today.  Our family dinner is tomorrow.  So, I doubt I will be getting much rest tonight!  lol  Even with all of the craziness, I love this time of year.  And I certainly enjoy all of the crafting that goes with is!  Today, I have a card to share featuring Our Daily Bread Designs' December stamp release, Praise the Lord.

I used two coordinating papers from the Holly Jolly Paper Collection. I trimmed the plaid piece down to use in the middle but both were die cut using ODBD's Majestic Medallion Dies.  I cut a slightly larger gold poster board mat to nestle between the die cut designer papers and the red card stock base.  My image (colored with Copics) was stamped on Copic compatible paper and framed with the new Double Stitched Ovals Die.  I used the Ovals Die and gold poster board to create the second layer and finally the new Ovals Stitched Rows with green card stock.  I nestled a green ribbon and bow under it and added a final sentiment panel created with the new Praise the Lord stamp set and Oval Stitched Rows die.  So here are the new items you see on today's project.

and a few old favorites...

Thank you again to all of those at Our Daily Bread Designs and especially Kelley Holland.  I have designed with them for several years.  I will be taking a break from designing to deal with some medical issues.  I will still be around and creating, just not on a regular schedule.  I appreciate all of your love and support and be sure to stay tuned.  When things settle down, I will be back up and creating!  Hugs to you all and a very Merry Christmas!

 

A Look Back at Our Daily Bread Designs' December Release

Good morning and welcome to a special look back at Our Daily Bread Designs' December release.  I have a couple of projects featuring a special 3D die along with some fun stamp sets, perfect for Christmas crafting.  Here is the first item, featuring the Card Caddy & Gift Bag Dies.

The sentiment is from the White as Snow stamp die duo.  I framed the sentiment using the Mini Tags Die and attached it with a key ring created with gold card stock and ODBD's Keys Die set.  I used two cuts (in white card stock and gold, overlapped) to create my edging.  This die can be found in the Gift Bag Handles & Topper Die.  The poinsettia design is a special inset that can be used with the Card Caddy & Gift Bag Die to create this special bag.  The poinsettia design is known as the Poinsettia Inset Die.

So now for a fun card featuring the new Holly Leaves Die.

I love this split panel.  I used a deep green card stock base with a bit of red CS matting.  I used ODBD's Pierced Rectangles Die to create the designer paper base with coordinating papers from  ODBD's Holly Jolly Collection.  I used the Curvy Slopes Die to delineate the two and added my focal layer on top.  I stamped two sets of holly, colored each, added a sentiment and finished it off with the Rectangles Die.  I added a bit of glitter ink and Glossy Accents over each holly berry and let dry.  Once the panel was set, I added a bit of red ribbon.  

Here are the December items you see here today...

Don't forget to visit all of my design team sisters to see what they have up their sleeves!  I hope you have a wonderful day!

Cathy * Sandee * Dawn * Diana * Kathy * Helen * Lori

Seeing Jesus in the Rear View Mirror

My day had been a particularly tough one, physically and emotionally.  I spent most of my day in the car traveling from one work project to another.  And there were countless other things spinning in my head.  You've been there too...  changed plans, rescheduled meetings, regrets for a missed event... and burdens...  oh, how many burdens.  It had become a heavy load.  And so, as I found myself sitting at a stoplight somewhere near the end of the day, I casually looked in my rear view mirror and saw an unexpected sight.  There sitting in an older model car immediately behind me and sporting an Under Armour zip up jacket was Jesus.  Or should I say, a young man who was a dead ringer for all of the paintings of Jesus I have seen.  He had long flowing locks, slim build, beard and gentle features.    Now before someone gets excited and thinks I have lost my mind or have uttered something sacrilegious let me just say...  I needed to see Jesus.  And on that particular afternoon, after a 24 hour period of disappointments and defeat, oh, how I needed Him!  And so what did I do?  I bawled like a baby for that minute and several others after.  And yes, I know that wasn't really Jesus.  But for a few brief moments, I was reminded he is with me always.  Isn't it nice to know he is always with us when we need him?  If you look carefully, you might just see him in the most unexpected places!  

Blessings...

Today's project is a luminary featuring Our Daily Bread Designs' new White as Snow Stamp Die Duo, Card Caddy & Gift Bag Die for the luminary itself, Gift Bag Handles & Topper Die for the striped edging.

and a few old favorites as well...

Curvy Slopes Die 

Christmas Paper Collection 2013 

Have a wonderful day!

A Special Release and Blog Hop at Our Daily Bread Designs'

Good morning and welcome to this month's new release.  As you browse through today's projects, remember that three randomly selected winners will each receive a $25 Gift Code to the ODBD Website  just for commenting on the Design Team cards!  You have until December 2, 2017 at 9:00 p.m. EST to leave your comments on the Designers Blogs for a chance to win!  The Winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on December 3rd so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

Here are my projects.  The first features the new Holly Leaves stamp set, Double Stitched Ovals Die,  Oval Stitched Rows Die and Card Caddy & Gift Bag Die.

This is the perfect set for creating your own little gift bags!  And if you check out the other designers today, you will see a fun insert  you can add to make it even more beautiful!  For this project, I stamped the image on paper and colored the sweet holly.  I framed it with a couple of special dies from an earlier release (Rounded Rectangles and Double Stitched Rounded Rectangles Die.  

Now here is a fun card featuring the new Praise the Lord stamp set and Ovals Stitched Rows Die.

  I stamped my image with a soft brown ink on white card stock and framed it with brown DP with the new Ovals Stitched Rows Die.  I also worked in the new insert that you can use in the Card Caddy die but adapted it for the background here.  Poinsettia Panel Die  I nestled it over DP from ODBD's Christmas Colletion 2017 Paper Pad.

Here are the new items you see today...

Be sure to hop along today and check out all of the other creations from the team and don't forget to comment!  You could win!  Blessings

And if you get lost along the way...

ODBD Blog

Sandee * Lisa * Angie * Cathy 

* Grace * Dawn * Chris * Diana 

* Helen * Kathy * Lori

A Look Back at ODBD's November Release

This has been a challenging week on many levels.  It started with some unexpected news and ends with waiting and waiting some more...  One thing that soothes the savage and impatient beast...  bird watching!  And today's card reminds me of the importance of slowing down and appreciating the 
 moment.

 Today we are taking a look back at Our Daily Bread Designs' November Release.  Here is the card I created using the Winter Chickadee stamp set, Christmas Collection 2017 Paper Pad and Trees & Deer Die.  For more inspiration using the November Release be sure to visit the ODBD Blog.

There is nothing more peaceful than a walk in the woods.  Everyone needs a few moments to recharge and refresh.  This darling little image from the Winter Chickadee stamp set seems to be nestled happily in the forest.  I started with a soft moss green card stock base adding a green DP from the new Christmas Collection 2017 Paper Pad.  I cute a slightly larger mat with a dark brown paper also from the same paper pad.  I cut several sizes of the trees using a dark and light paper from the paper pad.  The artichoke colored trees are from a separate card stock I had in my stash.  I layered the trees (Trees & Deer Die) so some would appear to be be larger than others.  I fussy cut my image and then placed it in the desired spot.  I chose this wonderful sentiment and stamped it on coordinating DP and cut out my mat panel.  

So here are a few of the November release items you see...

 and a few old favorites...

Circles Die

Double Stitched Circles Die

Pierced Rectangles Die

 

and the Copic combos for my image

C2, C3, C5, C7 (Chickadee)

 E37, E57, E79, (Branch)

 E00, E43 (Chickadee) 

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

As we look back today, be sure to visit my design team sisters to see what they have dreamed up for this month's release.  They are a talented group of ladies and I know you will be blessed by their talents.  Have a wonderful weekend!

ODBD Blog - if you get lost along the way!

Cathy * Dawn * Sandee * Kathy * Helen * Diana * Lori

How A Sepia Card Makes A Girl Feel a Bit Shady

Does anyone else remember when we all wanted to know what "season" we were?  The season determined what colors we looked good in.  My mom was an Autumn, which explained her tendency to buy anything brown.  And my season was Winter.  Winters were supposed to look good in jewel tones and were the only season that could pull off a true black or white.  It's funny, because my Mom says I always had a very distinct voice in what I wore..  even as a small child.  Apparently from an early age certain colors would not make the cut.  When the whole "season" fad came out, it became quite clear that the colors I naturally gravitated toward were the ones this trend said I should wear.  And ironically enough, to this day, I find myself gravitating toward certain colors in my home and yes, even in my cards.  

So remember that my Mom LOVES brown?  It turns out that is one of the colors that legitimately makes me nervous.  I can't even remember wearing anything brown until I was well into my fourth decade.  That is why you rarely see me try anything like that in my card making.  But today is different!  I have vowed to try something that makes me a bit nervous and color outside the box...  sort of!  Here is my sepia card using Our Daily Bread Designs' Winter Cardinal stamp set, Pine Branches Die and Pinecones Die.

 I created a center step base with a rich brown card stock and cut the Designer Paper and soft Bark DP slightly smaller than each panel.  The Papers can be found in ODBD's Vintage Ephemera Paper Collection and Ephemera Essentials Paper Pad.  I stamped the image with Espresso Truffle ink on Copic compatible paper.  (The stamp set is the November release, Winter Cardinal.  I colored the image with Copics E30, E33, E35 and E37 before die cutting with ODBD's Double Stitched Circles Die.  After embossing and before removing the die, I inked the edges of the image with a tea dye distress ink.  The mat was created with ODBD's Circles Die.  I stamped the sentiment (also with Espresso Truffle ink) and then after die cutting (ODBD's Ovals Die added a bit of distress ink.  A spray of pine branches and cones finish it off.  (ODBD's Pine Branches Die and Pinecones Die.) 

So here are a few of the items you see today featuring November release items.

and a few old favorites as well...

Thanks as always for stopping by and I hope this post inspires you to liberate your coloring!  Try something bold and new my friends...  it just might make you smile!  Blessings!

November Release and Blog Hop at Our Daily Bread Designs

Good morning and welcome to the November Release and Blog Hop at Our Daily Bread Designs!  I can't believe it is already November!  I really, really, REALLY do not know where the year went!  I must admit it is fun to start making holiday cards.  However, it is terrifying when I think of how many weekends I have to prepare for Thanksgiving and then Christmas!  Does anyone else feel my pain?  **gnashing of teeth**  I have found the best therapy is to just give in and let go!  So I did just that when working on this month's cards.  Here is my first project using the new Winter Chickadee stamp set and the new Christmas Paper Collection 2017.

Layer by Layer -

1.  Soft Gray Card Stock - 5.5 inches x 8.5 inches; scored and folded at 4.25 inches

2.  Snowflake DP - Christmas Collection 2017 Paper Pad with burgundy matting from same 

     collection

3.  Image - Winter Chickadee stamp set, stamped with Black Ink on Copic Compatible Paper; colored

     with Copics 

4.  Image - Die Cut, embossed and inked (soft gray ink) with ODBD's Circles Die; mat gray card

     stock - ODBD's Double Stitched Circles Die

5.  Poinsettia Spray - Peaceful Poinsettia Dies, Pine Branches Die; Seed Pearls in Crystal Accent

6.  White Card Stock - Sentiment - Winter Chickadee stamp set, gray ink, die cut and embossed with

     ODBD's Double Stitched Pennant Flags Die

Copics - C3, C5, C7, E31, E35, E37, E41 

Now for my second project featuring the new Christmas Collection 2017, Trees & Deer Die,Snow Globe Die, and We've Moved stamp set.

Layer by Layer...

1.  All DP (green card base, pinecone DP can be found in the new Christmas Collection 2017

2.  The deer diecut (Trees & Deer Die) and sky (Snow Globe Die) were white CS, inked with desired

     color

3.  The sentiment (We've Moved stamp set) was stamped with brown ink and die cut with

     ODBD's Pennant Flags Die

The new items you see this month...

Three randomly selected winners will each receive a $25 Gift Code to the ODBD Website  just for commenting on the Design Team cards!  You have until November 2, 2017 at 9:00 p.m. EDT to leave your comments on the Designers Blogs for a chance to win!  The Winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on November 3rd so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

If you get lost along the way check out the ODBD Blog to find your way back.  Thanks for looking!

Cathy * Lisa * Dawn * Sandee * Chris 

* Angie * Kathy * Grace * Lori * Helen * Diana