An Apple for Teacher...

Hey there... doing a quick post with a card I made for the My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge (MFTWSC69).    I recently got the MFT ala' Mode An Apple for Teacher set and had been wanting to make a card with it ever since.  When the new sketch came out last Wednesday I knew I was going to use that set for my card.  I also used the new MFT Die-namcis Fishtail Flag Stax set and one of the little doilies from the Die-namics Mini Doilies set.  How cute is that little doily???  I just love so many of the MFT Die-namics dies... my collection of them is growing by the month!

I used some yummy papers from the My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline Howdy Doody 6x6 pad.  I have used up almost all the papers in the pad, but thankfully I have a new pad on its way to me, along with some other My Mind's Eye goodies.  I did a bit a paper piecing with the apple and then colored the rest of the image with Copic markers.  I tried to pull out some of the colors from the patterned paper, but not sure I succeed completely. I trimmed her out and popped her up on fishtail flag die cut from cork.  I'm really liking the added texture that cork brings to a project.   Button tied with twine was added to the center of the mini doily die cut.  Was so thankful I found a button that was fairly close to the peachy color I used as a mat!   Finished off the inside of the card, as well.

Thanks for stopping by....

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white; Bazzill peach; PP:  My Mind's Eye; Stamps:  MFT; Dies:  MFT; Button:  PTI; Twine:  May Arts; Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers

Lovely as a Tree....

Hey there... I back with one more post before Saturday turns into Sunday in my part of the world.  I have not one, but two cards for this week's Less is More challenge.  Chrissie and Mandi provided us with a sketch that featured either a square or a circular main image.  I decided I would make a card using each idea.

Today I got some happy mail... a large package of cardstock, stamps, dies and ribbon from PaperTrey Ink.  One of the stamp sets in my package is the newly released Trendy Treetops.  And lucky for me... because when I was looking at the Trendy Treetops gallery I noticed that the set is now sold out!    So, first up is the card I made using Trendy Treetops.  I admit to not sticking strictly to the sketch, but the main idea is still there.  I stamped the trunk using Hero Arts Latte chalk ink and then one of the tree top images using Hero Arts Grass chalk ink.  If you have never had the opportunity to try the Hero Arts Chalk inks you really should.  Stamping with them is pure pleasure as they result in rich, vibrant images.   I added a few little buttons and the word "thanks" that is also in the set to finish off the card.

The second card uses a Hero Arts set called Trees for All Seasons and a sentiment from a Stamps of Life set Trees2Build.   For this card I used another Hero Arts chalk ink called Iris.  After stamping the tree image and trimming it out I noticed that the color of the ink is an almost exact match to the recently release PTI Autumn Rose double stitch ribbon!!   I'm pretty darn excited about that because the fewer inks I have to buy, the better!  Anywhoo... I backed the image with a little square of black cardstock and then added a piece of the Autumn Rose ribbon.  Super, super simple, but perfect for the Less is More challenge.   Both cards work for the current CAS-ual Fridays challenge, as well.

One final thing I have to share.  As I was editing my photos just a short time ago, my wee one, Gabriel, came up to see what I was doing.  He stopped and said "You make beautiful cards, mom!"  Now I ask you, how sweet is that?   Thanks for stopping by....

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white & black; Stamps:  PTI, The Stamps of Life & Hero Arts; Inks:  Hero Arts & Memento; Buttons:  PTI; Ribbon:  PTI

ODBDSLC106... No Designer Paper

Hey there!!!   Its Saturday and that means time for another ODBD Shining the Light Challenge... Yay!!!  This week we are asking you to make your card without using any designer paper.   So create your own background using stamps, embossing folders or just plain cardstock.

For my card I decided to create a background using a really lovely embossing fold from Stampin Up! called Elegant Lines.  I stamped the ODBD Bleeding Heart image on kraft cardstock using cream ink and then trimmed it out after it was dry.  It was then mounted on cream cardstock that was die cut using Spellbinders plain and scalloped circle dies.  Some cream double stitched ribbon, a charm from my sweet teamie, Sabrina, and some twine finished off the card.   I also finished off the interior of the card using the ODBD single stamp Each Minute.   Boy oh boy... when I decided to make a kraft & cream card I didn't think that it was going to be so hard to photograph, but it sure was!  Finally got a good picture when I put the card in my kitchen window.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, May 4th at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries that are made without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on nor will they qualify for prizes. While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, May 4th at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC106. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by... please take some time to check out the beautiful projects created by my fellow "sticks" Lori, Jan Marie, Jan, Debi, Kathy, Chris and Sabrina! To join in the fun, please click here.

Supplies: Cardstock:  PTI cream and kraft; Stamps:  ODBD; Ink:  PTI Vintage Cream & Memento Tuxedo Black; Ribbon:  PTI cream double stitch; Spellbinders plain & scallop circles; charm:  ebay; Twine:  May Arts; Embossing Folder:  Stampin Up!

Go Confidently...

Hey there!    Just a quick post with a little sneak peak of a new set (Dreams) that will be available from Our Daily Bread Designs on May 1st!!     The May ODBD release is fabulous (as always) with great sets that celebrate graduations, retirement and many other life occasions.

For my card I decided to go with a masculine retirement card.   In the Dreams set there are several great quotes, one of which I used here.  I have always loved this quote from Henry David Thoreau and now I have it in a fabulous stamp set!!  I used some papers from the My Mind's Eye Breeze 6x6 pad.  The layout is based on the current ISpy sketch.   The Dreams set was designed to work with the Elegant Ovals die set designed exclusively for ODBD by Spellbinders.  I used one of the ovals to die cut the sentiment.  I inked distressed the edges of the oval with Rangers Old Paper Distress ink.  A wee bit of distressing was done to the papers, as well to give it a bit more aged appearance.  A few buttons and some twine finished things off.  I also finished the interior of the card... something I have been doing more and more of lately.

Thanks for stopping by... and make sure you check out the ODBD blog hop on May 1st!  There are prizes to be had!!!

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI kraft; Bazzill cream and teal; PP:  My Mind's Eye Breeze; Buttons:  PTI; Ink:  VersaFine Vintage Sepia; Stamps:  ODBD

ODBD For the Love of ..... FLOWERS!!

Welcome to Our Daily Bread Design's Alumni Team's bi-monthly For the Love Blog Hop. This week the Alumni team along with some of the ODBD designers are featuring a hop for the For the Love of ODBD Flower sets! Check out each link and leave a comment. If you get lost along the way, go to the ODBD blog for the full link list. One of the post is a hop hot spot and a name will be drawn from that list of comments to win a $15 ODBD store gift certificate. So, all you have to do is hop along and see all the creations and leave a little love! You have until Wednesday,May, 9th at 6 pm. The winner will be announced May 10th! Enjoy all the awesome inspiration using For the Love of ODBD Flower sets!

Don't ya just love these "For the Love of Blog Hops"?   I know I do!!  If you got here from the uber talented Patter's blog, then you are on the right track.  If not, you will want to head back to the ODBD blog to start at the beginning.  This week I'm featuring stamps from the beautiful ODBD set Mother Teresa.   This set had long been on my wishlist and I finally got a chance to get it several months ago.  The waterlily image is so beautiful and the quotes from Mother Teresa are so very beautiful, as well.  I inked up the waterlily with Tuxedo Black ink, colored with Copic markers and then trimmed out.  All the papers are from The Scrap Cake 6x6 pad My Private Happiness.   Because I wanted the waterlily to really take center stage on the card I finished off the interior with some patterned paper and one of the sentiments from the sent.


Thanks for stopping by... your next stop on the hop is the equally uber talented Angie!  I know she is going to knock your socks off!!!


Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI white, SU! pink; Stamps:  ODBD; Ink: Tuxedo Black; Dies:  Spellbinders; Copic Markers; Pearl Flourishes:  Recollections; PP:  The Scrap Cake

Take Flight....

Hey there... long time no post!  Things have been a little crazy this week and I'm trying to get back in the swing of things.   So... I have a card for the current Taylored Expressions sketch challenge (TESC156).  

I recently started getting the TE Key Ingredients Kits and so I used this month's kit to make my card.  The stamps used are from the TE set Make It Amazing.  Love, love, love this set!  It is full of gorgeous butterflies, leafy branches and beautiful sentiments.  First chance I get I'm going to get the matching dies.   In the meantime I hand trimmed out the butterfly image I used on the card.  The papers are from the Simple Stories Fabulous 6x6 pad.  The pad came with the KI kit and it is the first time I have had an opportunity to use papers from this company.  I'm really likin' what I have seen and may have to pick up some more of their papers.   At the time of my last TE purchase I decided to pick up some sheets of cork.  I have seen others use them on cards and I was intrigued.  I used some cork on this project and I really like the bit of added texture it adds to your project.  The cork is super supple and easy to cut with your dies and paper cutter.  The leafy branch and banner dies are from TE (love them!) and the circle dies are Spellbinders.  I finished off the card with a few little flowers that also came with the KI kit.

Thanks for stopping by.....

Supplies:  Cardstock:  PTI Cream; Bazzill brown, teal and rust; PP:  Simple Stories Fabulous; Ink:  SU! Rose Red; paper flowers;  Dies:  TE Leafy Branch & Banner dies; Spellbinders Circle dies; Cork