Friendship Cards

Today I am sharing with you some beautiful cards that my friend Ginny, from Maxam Made, created using my Friendship set.  I am so embarrassed to admit that she sent these to me quite a while ago; I took pictures of them and completely forgot about them.  They are totally worth the wait and I think you will enjoy them very much.

We all have people in our lives that matter to us, that make a difference in our lives. Sometimes we want to express just how much they mean to us or encourage them when they are down as they have done for us, but don’t have the right sentiments to share.  I created the Friendship set for that very reason…to have scriptures and sentiments to express how much we care.  I am so thankful for the people God has placed in my life.  I have felt for a long time, that God brings the right person, at the right time into our lives.  Each person plays a different role…the friend we go to for counsel, the friend that always knows how to lift our spirits, the friend we know will pray for us, the friend who believes in us no matter what.  I thank God for friends!

I love this black and white card.  It’s so classy and isn’t that lace ribbon so elegant?

I love the colors and sparkle on this card.

Love the image she used with this verse, and the little pops of color.

Lovely, elegant, simple card that draws your eye to the sentiment.

Love the masculine colors used in this card.  The fonts used in this set are simple and swirly and are appropriate for either a man or a woman as shown so beautifully here in this card.

All of the above sentiments are in the Friendship Scriptures & Sentiments set available in my Etsy shop.

I want to thank Ginny for taking the time to make these cards and for sending them to me so I can share them with you.  You can find her blog here if you would like to stop by and say Hi.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Christmas Scriptures & Sentiments

My friend, Ginny Maxam, was so kind to make cards for me using my Christmas Scriptures & Sentiments digital stamp set.  Cards this pretty just have to be displayed and I couldn’t wait to share them with you.

 

 

 

 

 

All of the scriptures and sentiments found on these cards are included in my Christmas Scriptures & Sentiments set available in my Etsy shop.

To see more of Ginny’s beautiful work visit her blog, Maxam Made.  Why not stop by and show her some love?

Thanks for stopping by,

Karen

An Anniversary Card and Some Special Memories

If you have been reading my blog recently, you know that my husband and I just celebrated our 24th anniversary.  I don’t think I could get away with not making my hubby a card, but I haven’t made a “real” card in quite a while so I kept it very simple. 

I started with Rustic White cardstock as the base and then die cut the tag in some blue Bazzill paper.  I used the heart border die to cut out the middle of the tag and the border.  I used a portion of the die cut border to replace the center of the tag and tied the end with some baker’s twine.  I used the blue heart portion of the tag on the inside of the card.  I stamped the sentiment from Think Big Favorites #11 in Charcoal ink.  I added the teensy heart from the Tiny Tags die.  Like I said, very simple.

My husband and I were blessed to receive a certificate to the Antrim 1844 Country House Hotel and Smokehouse Restaurant for Christmas and we saved it to use for our anniversary.  We had such a wonderful time together.  I thought I would share some memories with you courtesy of Instagram.   The Antrim 1844 was once a thriving plantation, and they have restored the mansion and estate buildings.  It is really beautiful.  We stayed in this building in the Grant suite.

The food was crazy good and started with hot appetizers served in the sitting rooms in the mansion.  We were then brought down into the dining area where we were served a six-course meal.  We snuck down to the dining room and took pictures before anyone was seated. This was the section of the restaurant we ate in.  I don’t think I have ever eaten so much!  The food was really interesting and tasty, even if I didn’t always know what I was eating. lol

We were surprised with a personal anniversary message from the chef on both our menu and our dessert.  Very nice touch!

And I just had to take a picture of the pink rose I found on our bed after dinner.  I love pink roses and I probably took a dozen pictures of it.  I also hung it up on my bulletin board over my desk when we came home.  Every time I see it, I think of our wonderful weekend together. 

Thanks for stopping by today!

As for me and my house sign

Some friends of ours were renewing their vows with a big wedding do-over so I wanted to make a personal gift for them.  I decided to make them a sign for their home.  I started with a board about 5 1/2 x 24 inches and painted and distressed it.  I painted their name, then used my Silhouette to cut vinyl to lay over the top.  I covered the whole thing with a couple coats of poly.  It’s a good thing it had their name on it or I might have been tempted to keep it for myself.  :)

I had just a few moments to whip together a card.  I used a silhouette shape I found here and added the “Congrats!”.  I designed the card in Photoshop and colored the bouquet to match their colors.  I had no time to pull out my “big” camera, so I snatched a quick pic with my iphone before tossing it in the envelope and heading out the door. 

I don’t know why I am such a procrastinator when it comes to card making.  Speaking of which, I have a card I need to go make right now.

Thanks for stopping by.

~Karen

Psalm 5:11 WORDart

 

Happy Thursday!

This week I just can’t seem to shake the overwhelming feeling of thankfulness for a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful that I don’t need to make an appointment with His secretary to speak with Him, or wait my turn in a long line to see Him.  I can speak to Him whenever I desire, I can cry out to Him when I am feeling pain or despair.  He is always there, waiting on me to come to Him.  I know I can safely put my trust in Him and that He will defend me.  I can rejoice in Him because I know and love His name….JESUS.  He is the one who makes all things possible.  He is the one who gives joy and peace.  He is the one who orders my steps and guides my way.  I need Him every minute of every day.

(click on the image above to download)

I made a quick card. I just changed the color of the WORDart and printed it onto Soft Stone cardstock.  I haven’t used patterned paper in so long.  I have an overwhelming amount of it and still fall for beautiful paper every time.  I really should use it more, it makes card making so easy!  This paper is from the Argyle Socks paper pack by Papertrey. 

I am loving the weather we have been having lately.  I am so ready for spring.  I can’t wait to get a paintbrush in my hand and start painting some signs I have been wanting to make…and my daughter’s desk. 

I pray your week is happy and blessed.

~Karen

Habakkuk 3:18 WORDart

Happy Thursday!  I can’t believe it is March 1st already!

Our family has been faced with some rather stressful situations in the past couple of weeks.  We are still dealing with them, but I know that God is in control and He will take care of it if we leave it in his very capable hands.  I like how this scripture says, “YET I will rejoice in the Lord, I WILL joy in the God of my salvation.”  We have to make a decision to rejoice and take joy in the knowledge that He is in control and He is our salvation.  Sometimes it’s so much easier to just feel sorry for myself, but that is always a downward spiral.  When I chose to rejoice in Him and trust Him to bring me through it, the situation may not change but my attitude sure does. There are so many times in my life that I can look back and see God’s hand.  When the situation felt impossible to me, God was right there beside me and it only made me stronger in the end.  God has a purpose for everything.  Through the good and the bad, I will rejoice in Him. 

(click the image to download)

I made a card with the WORDart this week.  It felt really good to get my hands dirty!

Have a blessed day!

~Karen

 

linking to Scripture Thursday Linky Party

Romans 8:38,39 WORDart and a printable

Life is so uncertain.  We make plans, have dreams and set goals, but we are never promised tomorrow.  Just when it seems I get the most comfortable with my life something happens to remind me of just how uncertain life is.  There is one thing of which I can be absolutely certain and that is the love of Christ.  I desperately need His love in my life and I am so very thankful that nothing can separate me from Him.

Here is the WORDart for this week.  I have been admiring Subway Art for so long.  I decided to try my hand at it.  Just click on the image to take you to the download.

(click image above to download)

Here is a card I made using the WORDart.  It is sized at 4 x 5.25 so all I had to do was print, trim and mat and my card was finished.  I matted it onto red cardstock and then onto silver metallic before adhering it to the white card base.

I also have free printable for you as well.  I wanted to make it “official” Subway Art so I added a black background and grunged it up a bit.  It is 8 1/2 x 11.  Just click on the image to download.

(click image above to download)

I am linking to Little Birdie Blessings Scripture Thursday Linky Party.  Feel free to play along.

I have started a board on Pinterest for items made with my WORDart, so if you are looking for inspiration feel free to check it out.  If you need an invite to join Pinterest, send me an email and I would be happy to send you one.

If you would like to see your project pinned on this board, I would LOVE to add it.  Please leave me a link or shoot me an email with a link to your project and I will pin it.

Have a very blessed day!

~Karen

1 John 4:19 WORDart and printable for you

Hello!  Here is this week’s WORDart for you to use. 

{click on image above to download}

I have also created a printable for you.

{click on image above to download}

Digital paper & graphics - Star Sunflower Studio

…and I actually made a card using the printable image. 

I resized it to fit an A2 card.  I’ll be honest, it messed with the polka dots just a little but I decided to just go with it anyways.  You can download that file here.   I printed it onto Vintage Cream cardstock, trimmed it and distressed the edges.  I then matted it onto Raspberry Fizz and adhered it to the kraft card base.  I just added some lace and a raspberry fizz heart border (made using the heart border die) and some gems to finish it off. 

Paper & die – Papertrey Ink

 

Thanks for stopping by!

~Karen

A Family Sign and a Card

 

Our family had several friends get married recently and this is one of the gifts I made.  I have been admiring signs for so long I thought I would give it a try.  I had so much fun making this, I know I am going to be making many more.   

I made their wedding card very simple.  I started with a card base of Cryogen White cardstock.  Cryogen White is a white shimmer paper, it has just the right amount of shimmer…and I love it.  I stamped the Background Basics: Houndstooth in Encore Silver.  Check out that shimmer!  I then stamped Congrats from Think Big Favorites #5 in Hawaiian Shores ink.  I added three gems that I colored with an R05 Copic marker to the bottom left hand side.

On the inside I stamped the sentiment from Verve’s Anniversary Birds stamp set in Melon Berry ink and the flourish from PTI’s Fancy Flourishes in Hawaiian Shores ink.  I love the way that flourish mimics the font on the front of the card.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog.  Have a blessed day!

~Karen

My “Washi Tape” Card

 

This is my first time doing the Make It Monday challenge from Papertrey.  I saw the video on making your own washi tape and I had to give it a try.  I have been admiring washi tape from afar now for quite some time and just could not resist.  I didn’t have Scor-Tape in the correct size so I decided to improvise.  I did have some medical tape left over from the hazards of summer, so I thought that might work.  I am happy with the results, but I did notice that the ink really absorbs into the tape and would probably work better with more vibrant colors.  I stamped the polka dots from BB: Polka Dot Basics II in Aqua Mist ink.  It looks much more vibrant in real life, but I had a hard time conveying that in my photo.  I stamped the pitcher in Hawaiian Shores ink.  The leaves and flowers are stamped in Jenni Bowlin Seed Packet and  PTI Raspberry Fizz.  After stamping those images from Iconic Images, I wanted to soften the edges.  I used a sponge to go around the edges with Fresh Snow ink and then to add more dimension went around the edges only with Antique Linen distress ink.  I also stamped some swirls from Fancy Flourishes in Antique Linen at the corners.  The birthday sentiment is from Damask Designs and is stamped in Raspberry Fizz.  I had so much fun making my own washi tape and will definitely be using this technique in the future. 

I am so excited about this three day weekend.  I just wish my must-do list would stop outnumbering my want-to-do list.

Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

~Karen

A Birthday Card

Sorry for the long break from my blog.  I have been busy moving into my new craft room.  It is coming along nicely…now I just have to clean up the mess I made in the old one and turn it into the school room.  It turned out to be a much bigger project than I had counted on.  Why do I always do that to myself?  My husband thinks I’m crazy, I say I am determined.

This is a card I made several weeks ago (months, actually).  I have several cards on my computer that I haven’t been able to post yet.   Speaking of computer, I had the biggest scare of my life.  I set up all of my computer stuff and hooked up my external hard drives. (I have two-one for school stuff and one for craft stuff.)  Well, when I went to post this morning it appeared that almost all of the stuff on my craft hard drive was missing.  I know I had a small heart attack!  After spending way too much time trying to figure out what was wrong and hyperventilating, I realized I was using the wrong hard drive! I was using the new larger size one that I bought to transfer my files to but haven’t quite finished doing that yet hard drive.  SO thankful that it was not messed up like a originally thought.  My heart is still racing!

Anyways, back to the card.  I used the Dot Spot stamp by Papertrey as well as the Big Birthday Wishes stamp set.  I also used the Background Basics Gingham stamp on the Lemon Tart strip at the bottom of the card.  I stamped it in Versamark and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  It is hard to see in the picture but it really adds a nice texture and depth to the card.  The dot spots were stamped in Jenni Bowlin Chewing Gum ink and the smaller dots and sentiment in Raspberry  Fizz.  I stamped “birthday girl” from Enjoy the Ride in Momento Dandelion ink.  I die cut the “5” in Lemon Tart using the By the Numbers dies and stamped and embossed it like I did the strip on the bottom, tied some pink baker’s twine around it and adhered it with foam tape. The By the Numbers paper was die cut with the medium Scalloped die and a strip of Score-tape over the top covered in glitter was added to the bottom of the card.

Some exciting news---I just found out that my Copic  marker storage has been featured on the iCopic blog!  Check it out here.  Thanks so much, Samantha!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

~Karen

Hebrews 11:1 WORDart

I kept this card very simple keeping the scripture the focal point.   I printed the WORDart onto a piece of 5 1/8” x 3 7/8” white cardstock.  I then scored three lines under the scripture (hard to see in this photo) keeping the top two lines wide enough to frame my ribbon.  I wrapped my ribbon around it then attached the bow I made with my Bow-Easy using Scor-tape.  I attached this t0 my white card base that I had embossed using the Cane Print impression plate and added some little gems for some sparkle.

 

You can download this WORDart here.

 

Thank you to those of you who have taken the time to share your creations with my WORDart.  I LOVE seeing what you create with it.  You inspire me!!!!

 

My craft room-to-be is has had several different paint swatches painted on the walls the past few weeks and I think I have finally made a decision.  I am so excited about it, but I wish I could just wave a wand and it would be done.  The journey from here to having what I picture in my mind is long. haha  I guess all good things take time and it will be an adventure.  I am putting the finishing touches on the kid’s school portfolios and then I can really get started.  Yeah!!

Have a wonderful day!

~Karen

Psalm 4:7 WORDart

Just a very simple card with a great message.  The perfect card to give someone to let them know how you feel about them…or as a thank you card.

I used the In Bloom impression plate on shimmery white paper and matted it onto black cardstock and then onto the Raspberry Fizz card base.  The WORDart was printed onto the same shimmery white paper.  I die cut it with a Labels Four die, trimmed it down, then adhered it.  The little heart raspberry fizz button tied with twine was the perfect finishing touch.

You can download the WORDart here for your own use.

Thanks for stopping by today!

~Karen

Congrats!…and Scrap Storage

Hello!  Just thought I would share this anniversary card I made using “For My Tweetie” by The Angel Company.  I love these little birds, they are just too cute.  I colored them with prismacolor pencils and gamsol.

I always try to use my scraps whenever possible, so this card with the exception of the card base uses all scraps.  

Speaking of scraps, I thought I would share with you how I store mine.I think I purchased these at Staples or Walmart.  I store all of my Papertrey paper scraps that are smaller than a card base in these.  I have two of them.   They close up to a nice compact size that I can easily store by my desk.

I separate all the colors with an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cheap white cardstock so I can fit more in them.  I always check my scraps first to see if I have the color that I need, which really cuts down on the amount of scraps I have to store.  I have found this to really work well for me.   For my other scraps, I throw them in drawers marked Textured Scraps, Metallic Scraps, Patterned Paper, TAC Scraps.  Since I mostly use Papertrey, the drawers work well for everything else.

Thanks for stopping by my little blog today.  I plan to be back on Thursday with new WORDart.  I hope to “see” you then.

~Karen

 

Supplies used for card~

Stamps- For my Tweetie (The Angel Company), Tiny Tags (Papertrey)

Paper- Hawaiian Shores, White (PTI), green (Bazzill), pp (MME Magnolia)

Ink- Noir (Palette), Pure Poppy (PTI)

Dies- Eyelet Lace border die, Angled Labels die, Tiny Tags die (PTI), Rectangle Nestibilities die (Spellbinders)

Other- Orange and Green Apple Divine Twine, prismacolor pencils

Grunged Up Birthday

I made this card for my son’s birthday.  I was so excited to use my new Papertrey stamps.  They came at the perfect time.   For this card, I used Grunge Me, My Hero, My Dad, Star Prints, Ad Sense, and Polka Dot Basics II.

I used Versamark and Weathered Wood, Fired Brick, Antique Linen and Brushed Corduroy distress inks.  I love using these inks any time I want that distressed look.  I also really like the way they look on kraft cardstock.

I have been spending a lot of time in my craft room lately, but cleaning and organizing instead of stamping.  It has turned into a much bigger project than I wanted it to be and now I am just ready to stamp.  I am so ready to make something!

Have a fantastic day!

~Karen

Mother’s Day and 31 Days to Clean update

This is a last minute Mother’s Day card I made for my daughter-in-law.  I used Background Basics: Twinkle, Label Basics, Delightful Dahlia and Flower Fusion #3 stamp sets from Papertrey.

I got the sweetest gift from my kids this year.  They all got together and made me a basket of my favorite things.  It really touched me that they took the time to do that for me, not to mention how special it was that they knew so many of my favorite things.  They did a really great job!  I received my very first Grandma card this year.  That was a new experience.  My granddaughter saw me at church on Sunday and yelled down the hallway, “Happy Mother’s Day, Grandma!”….so sweet, talk about melting my heart.

I am finding I am not able to keep up with the really big jobs, but I am very happy with the progress I am making.  I definitely wouldn’t be this far along in my cleaning without this challenge.  So far, I have accomplished…

My refrigerator and freezer are cleaned out and organized.

All of the tops of my cabinets (which includes cleaning all of the glass “untouchables” I keep up there), the top of my refrigerator and my ceiling fan are clean.

My oven and microwave are gleaming.

My kitchen windows are spotless (for now) and the vertical blinds and window treatments are all clean.

All of my cabinets are clean and shiny.

I have one cabinet all cleaned out and organized and have made really good progress on cleaning and organizing my pantry.

My favorite part of this challenge are the Mary challenges, and I have really enjoyed  just reading the book on its own.  I have found it to be so inspiring and thought provoking.  I think I will find myself reading it over and over again.  You can find more info on this book here and on the challenge here.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. 

~Karen

Happy Anniversary

An anniversary card I made with the Sending You stamp set from Papertrey.

I stamped some flowers on Rustic Cream cardstock for the inside.

I am really looking forward to spending some time with my family this weekend.

I hope your weekend is fabulous!

~Karen