Hey, everyone!  I have struggle with the name for this blog since I started it earlier this year.  I have come to a decision and will gradually post only to my new blog.  My new blog address is:  http://inklingsartistry.blogspot.com.  Please go to my new blog and add your name to my followers.   You may also get an e-mail from me, too, advising you about the change over.

Thanks for reading & checking out my new blog.  It is still under construction so be patient as I get things up and running!

Baskets of Blessings,
Donna

Open Sleigh!

The sleigh is one of mine and my husband's favorite Christmas images. I love the way this stamp gives it sort of a rustic, distressed look. Here is what I used to make my card. • Open sleigh Stamp Set #126482 • Framelits: Labels Collection # 125598 & Apothecary Accents #127003 • Ink: Raspberry Ripple Classic Stamp Pad • Embossing Folders: Vintage Wallpaper & Polka Dots • Papers: Raspberry Ripple CS & Be of Good Cheer Designer Paper • Embellishments: Pearls The green/red paper was embossed with the Polka Dots folder & the larger Labels die in the Raspberry Ripple CS was embossed with the Vintage Wall Paper folder. The sleigh and sentiment were pop dotted up for added dimension!. This is an A2 size card and fits easily in the envelope even with the dimensional pop-ups. I also rounded the corners of the card to keep in line with the curves of the framelits used to mat the image and sentiment. Have a great day and happy stamping! Donna

Thanksgiving Card and Mojo Monday 257 Entry

Thanksgiving Card and Mojo Monday 257 Entry!

    

     I love the colors of fall.  They are so vibrant and deep.  They just make me happy.  For this 4.25" by 5.5" card, I used Early Espresso cardstock for the base and Raspberry Ripple (a.k.a. for me Dark Red CS) embossed for the center strip.  The Day of Gratitude stamp set "blossom" and sentiment were stamped with Early Espresso Classic Stamp Pad on More Mustard & Very Vanilla Cardstock respectfully.  The sentiment was matted with More Mustard CS.  Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper was used for the matting of the "flower", the striped "ribbon" and as an overall base for the card.  I used the Adorning Accents Edgelits die to create a scalloped border in Lucky Limeade CS.  The sentiment and its mat were cut out with Labels Collection Framelits dies.  Both the "flower" and sentiment were pop dotted up to add more dimension.  Everything used to make this card is available through me or other Stampin' Up Demonstrators.  You can visit my store at  http://donnaoates.stampinup.net.  

     By the way, don't forget our "Back to Spool" gift to you when you place an order of $40 or more.  Get a FREE package of 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon - an $8.95 value - for every $40 you spend!

Sunny Sunflowers for My Sunshine!

Our youngest daughter, Rebecca, turns 26 today but still gets mistaken for a high school student.  I've told her repeatedly that she will like that as she gets older.  I don't think she has really understood that yet - but she will one of these days.  Happy Birthday, Precious Daughter!

Sunflowers are Rebecca's favorite flower.  As soon as I saw this lovely Norhwoods Stamp, I knew that I had to have it for my  youngest Sunshine!  I have used Copic Markers to color the sunflowers.   Here is what I use to make this 6" by 7" card.

•  Northwood Rubber Stamp - Sunflowers in the Vase
•  Memento Tuxedo Black Stamp Pad
•  Chalk Ink in Chestnut Road
•  Stampin Up' Fabulous Phrases Stamp Set
•  Spellbinders Labels 8 & 10
•  Martha Stewart Flower Bunch Large Punch Around the Page Set
•  Martha Stewart Monarch Butterfly Punch
•  Copic Markers (YG 61, 63, G05, Y13, 15, 18, E00, 55, 57, 59, B000, Colorless Blender
•  Brown minibeads
•  Prima Sun Kiss Collection "Sweet Tea"
•  Bazzill Dotted Swiss Cardstock & Textured Cardstock
•  Stampin' Up Whisper White Cardstock - great for coloring with Copic Markers!
•  Pearl Accents
• Art Glitter Designer Adhesive

After coloring the stamped image, I began to assemble the card.  The stamped image was cut out with Labels 8's largest die.  This die was used again to cut out the mat of the darker green dotted swiss cardstock.  It was then cut in half on the longest axis. The brown beads were added to the matted image for sparkle and texture and set aside.

The patterned paper - with a sunflower theme was cut to 5.5 x 6 and then the punches were used on 3 sides then matted with yellow cardstock.  The sentiment and mat were cut out with Labels 10.  All edges were inked with the chestnut roan chalk ink.  The card was assembled.  The sentiment was popped up on its mat and so was the sunflower image on the patterned paper.  The butterfly was punched out (I forgot to ink its edges!).  The finishing touches of the pearls were added. 

I hope you like the card.  I gotta go!  Rebecca is on her way home for her birthday!  Can't wait to show her her card at dinner!  Do you think she will like it?

Blessings on you and all your loved ones!  Have a "Sunflower" kind of day!

Donna

 

Stampin' Up Demonstrator Blog Debut

I've been a Stampin' Up Demonstrator for about  month now but this will be my first Stampin' Up project I've made especially for my blog.  I love Christmas and some of my favorite cards I've made  have featured this simple theme.  I truly believe that less can be more.  I love the simplicity of a tree.  I hope you enjoy this creation.  It is in the running for my personal Christmas card that I'll send out this year!  This card is 5" x 7".  I have used some ribbon and a Spellbinders die as I am just starting our and using what I have in my stash.  I'm sure everyone understands that!  LOL

• Christmas Lodge, set of 6 stamps, #123769 clear set
• More Merry Messages, set of 10 stamps, #126402 clear set
• Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper, #126896
• Very Vanilla, Gumball Green, & Raspberry Ripple card stock
• Gumball Green & Raspberry Ripple Classic Stamping Pads
• Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies, set of 8 dies, #127816 (it is bundled with Ornament Keepsakes Stamp set in the Holiday Catalog for savings of 15%!!!!! Great Deal!)
• Perfect Polka Dots Folder, #117335
• Stampin' Glitter
• 2-Way Glue Pen, Glue Dots, & Stampin' Dimensionals
• Ribbon from my stash, but SU Seam Binding Ribbon in Cherry Cobbler should work
• Labels 8 by Spellbinders

Cut a 10" x 7" Gumball Green card stock, score & fold for base of the card.  Stamp the tree image on Very Vanilla card stock and cut with Spellbinders Labels 8 die.  Cut a piece of Raspberry Ripple card stock with the same size die and then cut in half for matting the tree.  Run the pieces through your Big Shot and Polka Dots folder.  Ink the edges of the Very Vanilla cards stock with Gumball Green ink.  I used sponge daubers.  Mount the tree on its mat and lay aside.

Stamp the sentiment using Raspberry Ripple ink and cut out with Holiday Ornaments Framelits Die.  Ink edges with matching ink.  Cut a piece of Gumball Green card stock using the same  Holiday Ornaments Framelits Die.  Cut the green ornament in half; use to mat the sentiment.

Using the 2-way glue pen, trace the curvy part of sentiment and put random dots of ink on the tree and add glitter.  Lay aside to dry.

Cut two pieces of the Be of Good Cheer Designer Paper as shown.  Emboss with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  Join together to make a singe piece of card stock 4 3/4" by 6 3/4 inches.  Place the ribbon on the mat and glue to the back.  Make bow with same ribbon and use a glue dot to place it on the ribbon.  Use dimensionals to pop-up sentiment tag.  Arrange elements according to picture or to your personal variation and secure to card base.

I hope you have enjoyed this card.  It is never to early to start your Christmas cards.  Please feel free to leave a comment.  I'd love to hear from you!

Be blessed!
Donna

Birthday Card from my heart!

 

Another card to add to my blog.  Birthdays seem to be a theme right now, so here is one I did for my husband for his birthday a few months ago.  I wanted a rustic look for a man's card and think this one worked out well.  It is a 6" x 6" card.

Supplies

Heartfelt Creations HCPC 3441 - Chateau Gatway Precut Set

Heartfelt Creations HCPC 3445 - Mystic Hideaway Precut Set

Heartfelt Creations HCPC 3363 - Inspie Me Sentiments Precut Set

Heartfelt Creations HCD 718 - Decorative Chateau Gate Die

Memento Ink Tuxedo Black

Distress Inks

Copic Markers

Copic Paper - Your choice of manufacturers

Bazzill Cardstock

Oval Punches - regular and scalloped

Cuttlebug's Kassie's Brocade

Ribbon & Buttons from the STASH! (gotta use it up to make room for more!  LOL)

 

Glad I didn't have to mail this one!  Lots of cardstock added to the weight!  It was hand delivered and sealed with a KISS!!!!

 



Sunflowers are such happy flowers

We have another family birthday this week.  Kelly is our flower breeder in the family - really, her job is to make new hybrids.  According to her graduate advisor, she will be known as the Black-Eyed Susan Lady!  But her favorite flower is:  drum roll please - The Sunflower so that's what I did.  I went back to one of my all time favorite stamps for sunflowers.

Materials used:

Stampin' Up's new In-Color Summer Starfruit cardstock

Bazzle Cardstock

Bo-Bunny The Shabby Princess Patterned Paper - an golden oldie from the STASH

Anna Griffin Patterned Paper - another golden oldie from the STASH

Heartfelt Creations HCPC Aztec Gold Sunflowers 1 & 2

Heartfelt Creations HCPC Inspire Me Sentiments

Memento Rich Cocoa

Cuttlebug Kassie's Brocade Embossing Folder

Brown Mini Beads

Mark Richard's Mosaic Tiles

Spellbinders Blossom Two, Foliage, Fancy Tags & Labels Ten

Inca Gold - Old Gold & Green

I hope that you enjoy the card.  Let me know what you think!  I'm feeling much better and should be hangin' out on my blog often.  You will be seeing a lot of Stampin' Up products as I just became a demonstrator.  I know, I know but I just love these HFC Sunflowers and you gotta go sometimes with what is in your stash.

Blessings to all!

Donna

PS:  My Stampin' Up website is:  http://donnaoates.stampinup.net!  Drop by when you are in the area!  We have lots of great new things in our new annual catalog!

For another man in my life!

     I have been scrappin' and making cards for a while now, but I am always challenged when it comes to making cards and pages for the men in my life.  I made this  5 x 7 inch card for my son-in-law for his birthday.  Since I am not a cardmaker who likes to stamp and color people, I am always looking for something with a natural feel to it!  I have loved this stamp of the chicadee from Heartfelt Creations for a long time and was delighted to add it to my growing collection from this wonderful company.  I have used it for winter and Christmas before, but leave off some snow, and it is perfect anytime here in the Carolina's with our abundance of pine trees.  I stamped the image and sentiment with Tuxedo Black Ink from Memento and colored it with Copic Markers.  I used punches to punch out the sentiment (Heartfelt Creations HCPC 3363 Inspire Me Sentiments Precu Set) and scalloped mat in a complementary color and distressed the edges.  The paper and frame were some papers in my collection - My Mind's Eye, Wild Asparagus.  The card base is "Cousins" Dots/Lime Paper.  The Frame is also MME Wild Asparagus "Dad" Frame - it has a nice sheen to it, too!  I hope you love this little guy as much as I do.  These chicadees are such "cheeky little fellows", aren't they?

That's all for now!  But can you believe it?  I might get 2 posts in the same week!  Hallelujah!  I'm back and my creative juices are flowing!

Baskets of Blessings, and thank you for stopping by to check out my blog!
Donna

My take on Cross & Lilies for him!

This is an anniversary card that I made for my husband for our 7th anniversary.  It is interesting how this card came together because of the importance of Easter in our meeting and getting married.  We also have  "the days of wine and roses" theme to our meeting and dating so the cross and lilies themes from Heartfelt Creations and the wine country theme from Creative Imaginations as designed by Marah Johnson were perfect.  Because after all this is for my husband, I did not want to go with a lot of pastel papers.  I used kraft paper from Stampin' Up and Bazzill for the brown and orange sherbert colors.  The flower was from my stash of many colors.  The images were stamped with Tuxedo Black from Memento.  The cross and lilies were colored with Copic Markers and then distressed as was the tag.  Here is a list of the stamps, dies and inks that I used.

• HCPC 3450 - Cross and Lilies Precut Set
• HCPC 3363 - Inspire Me Sentiments Precut Set
• Autumn Leavea Clear Stamps - Swirls
• Versamark Watermark Stamp Pad
• TH Distress Ink - Vintage Photo 
• HCD 719 - Cross and Lilies
• Spellbinders Fancy Tags
• Spellbinders Labels 8
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Mary Ann
• Mark Richards Gold Mosaid Tiles
• Brad from my stash with Glossy Accents to add some shine!

I hope you enjoy this card and that it will inspire you and get your creative juices flowing!

Until next time, Baskets of Blessings to you and your loved ones!

Donna 

PS:  I am looking for more followers as I have intentions of getting on some design teams, soooo please sign up at the top of the blog!  Bless you ever so much!

 

Getting back into my blog

I took on a challenge from the Beth Moore Bible Study that we were doing on the book of James(Mercy Triumphs - do it if you get a chance as it's awesome) and created these cards for my pastors.  I used the same image and rearranged the layout a bit to individualize them.  I used Stampendous rubber cling Botanical Magnolia and stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black on white cardstock and colored it with Copic markers.  I didn't write down which ones - a senior moment there - but you get the idea.  The sentiment came from Heartfelt Creations Book Frame 2 Precut set.  I also stamped it on white cardstock.  When I stamped and colored the magnolias, I hadn't decided how I was going to use them, or otherwise, I might have stamped them on cream cardstock since I ended up using them on men's cards.  I used punches for the oval and scalloped oval and Spellbinders Labels 8 for the flower.  I embossed the green cardstock with my Cuttlebug and then distressed them with Vintage Photo Distress ink.  I used a sponge and the same ink to distress the edges around the flower and the sentiment.  The trim was made with Martha Stewart's Pine Needle Trim Double Edge Punch.  I also distressed the trim with Vintage Photo.  The ideas was to make them look antiqued and not new.  The cards were mounted on Bazzill cardstock from my stash which I also distressed the texture in it with Vintage Photo.  I liked the way that the Labels 8 die was placed at an unusal angle to get the image within the cutting area.  That gave it a different feel to me than a completely horizontal or vertical placement.  The diagonal adds a bit of whimsy maybe????  Anyway, I hope you like my "male-ized" version of a flower stamp!  I have more cards photographed and look for some more in the next few days!

     Here's what's been happening the last few days - just wanted you all to know and be praying.  My dear husband, Thom, had a mild heart attack late Saturday night/early Sunday morning.  They did a heart cath on Monday at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center on Monday (yesterday) and found that one of his bypass grafts that already had 8 stents, had another 90% blockage.  They put a stent there and since everything went well, he was sent home today.  He is hoping to get an uninterrupted night's sleep tonight!  LOL
     I am also really excited about what I will be doing through our church's Connect Group that we call Scrap Pack.  We will be using part of our creative energy to make cards for a school that we are partnering with here in High Point.  Cards to encourage both students, staff and families.  I am excited about this outreach opportunity that paper crafters can do with our creative energy to make a difference and impact lives.  I have found a fellow believer and Stampin' Up demonstrator to come and do a stamping workshop for our Scrap Pack get togethers once per month.  That takes a lot of planning off of me, but I will probably do some teaching about using patterned paper and other things I have learned especially while working at the Enchanted Cottage in Lewisville, NC.  If any one of you live in the High Point, NC area, let me know if you would like to join us on the 4th Friday of each month!

MOJO Monday 227 - You are my Perfect Harmony

This is the card I have designed for my husband for Valentine's Day!  I hope he doesn't look at this blog before the BIG DAY!!!  I am so very last minute this year, but I did love this sketch and wanted to make a winter themed card for my Sweetheart that wasn't really too, too feminine, but of course I had to add some glitz!  What is a card without bling and glitter.  LOL

Here is what I used to make my card:

• HCPC 3350 Lg. Cardinal Pine Bough Precut Set
• HCD 706 Cardinal Family Die
• Spellbinders Labels 10
• Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles
• Bo Bunny Press White Love Thoughts Stickers
• The WoodStone Collection Simple Thoughts Love Stickers
• Canvas Corp Black & Ivory collection
• Bo Bunny Cardstock
• Bazzill Cardstock
• Extra Fine White Glitter and glitter pen
• EK Success Precious Finds Adhesive Gems
• Copic Markers:  R24, 27, 29; G28, 29; E25, 27, 29; Y13, 17; 100
• American Crafts Red Glitter Cardstock
• Creating Memories Oval Cutting Set & Blades
• Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black
• Ranger Distress Ink - antique linen
• Color Box Chalk Ink Ink - Blackbird
• Basic Grey's Basic Black Ribbon

I began by cutting the AC glitter cardstock to 8" by 7" and stamped the Heartfelt Creations Cardinal on Pine Bough twice using Memento Ink Tuxedo Black and colored the images with Copic Markers as noted above.  I cut the cardinal out using the Heartfelt Creation Die.  Antique Linen was used to distress the edges and "age" the background of the large stamped image after cutting out with Labels 10 die.  A glue pen was used on the pine branch and pine cones and glitter was applied to simulate snow.  The oval was cut and distressed with Blackbird Ink around the edges as was the stamped image after being "aged".  The sentiment was mounted on ivory cardstock and cut out with a circle punch.  Two Lattice Rectangles were cutout for the sentiments to be mounted on.  Before assembling the card, the placed the black ric rac ribbon on the left end of the oval and then mounted the oval onto the glitter cardstock.  The rectangles were mounted symmetrically to the top and bottom of the card at an angle and then the stamped image was centered on the black and cream oval.  The red cardinal was then popped up on top of the cardinal on the stamped image.  The sentiments were added onto the rectangles and the gems added as accents at the top left hand corner and below each sentiment.  The card front was mounted on cream cardstock and personal sentiments added on the inside of the card.

That's it for now.  I hope to be more active on my blog so look for future postings as things are winding down after a flurry of activity the past few weeks.  How can a retired woman stay so busy?  LOL

Baskets of Blessings to all of you who took the time to stop by, look at and read my blog!

Donna

Mojo Monday 224 Challenge

My brother has a 65th birthday coming up this week.  He was so kind to wish me "Happy Birthday" last year to me as "my oldest living blood relative".  That was a huge NO NO, so I designed this sympathy card using this week's sketch.  I of course wished him Happy Birthday on the inside of the card, but you know how "older brothers" can be - especially when we were growing up and little boys sometimes never grow up either!  LOL

I used basic creme colored cardstock for the base and used 3 different designs of Canvas Corp Black & Ivory collection.  I used a Heartfelt Creations Die - Decorative Lace Border - to make my ribbon and "Thinking of You also is from Heartfelt Creations Dutch Iris Oval Pre-Cut Set.  Used Spellbinders to cut out the circle shapes.  All of the edges were distressed with Black Chalk Ink.  The flower is from Paper Element's Rub-Ons Tart from my stash..  As you can see, I pretty much followed the sketch with own interpretations about the ribbon type embellishment!  I hope you like it!  I wish that I could see my brother's face when he opens up his card!

Winter is 'Snow' Much Fun

This is the third of 3 projects that I designed and submitted to Little Yellow Bicycle's Saturday Design Team aka, Biker Chicks!  Love it!  My husband and I enjoying riding our 24 speed bikes up in the NC mountains on trails that go downhill or are flat!  LOL  This new paper I got a peek of today while I was at Betty's Stamping and Scrapbooking Room in Greensboro has one page that really goes along sooooo well with our recreational activities!  Any way, here is the list of supplies that you will need to make this project!  No instructions today as I will be teaching a class with this layout soon at Betty's!

Little Yellow Bicycle "Winter Twig" 12 x 12, 2-page Layout

Products Used:

·         2 pieces 12x12  Little Yellow Bicycle Twig Collection Winter Blue (Base for Layout)

·         5 sheets from LYB Twig 11.75x 5.75  cardstock pad:  2 pieces pinecone cardstock; 1 piece snowflake  cardstock; 1 piece Winter Twig cardstock

·         Bazzill cardstock 8 ½ x 11in Parakeet

·         Twig Paper Snowflake Kit

·         Twig Journaling Cards

·         Twig Cardstock Stickers-Border

·         American Crafts Blue Glitter cardstock

·         American Crafts Blue Glitter ribbon

·         Cuttlebug Embossing folders snowflake & Polka Dots

·         Spellbinders Dies:  Labels 10 & Scalloped Ovals Large

·         Martha Stewart Glacial Snowflake punch

·         Quickutz Tags die

·         Glitter and Color Box Chalk Ink in Chestnut Road

·         Cricut with font of your choice to cut the letters for the Title

·         Slotted corner punch

2012: I Believe...

I Believe 2012: 12x12, 1 page layout

Products Used: 

·         3 pieces Little Yellow Bicycle Vita Bella Collection 12x12 DS cardstock in: Blue Diamond Motif, Dark Blue Tonal, and Green & Blue Stripes

·         Vita Bella Epoxy Words

·         Bazzill Dark Blue Cardstock

·         Papercut Gold metallic cardstock

·         Creamy Buttery yellow card from stash

·         Color Box Chalk Ink in Yellow Ochre

·         Recollections Rhinestones

·         Spellbinders Labels 8

·         Cuttlebug Embossing folder Cassie’s Brocade

·         Martha Stewart Flower Punch Large Punch Around the Page Set

·         Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot software to cut out the CK Believe font and 2012 for title and year.

I have kept back several pages of the Vita Bella collection – it is one of my all-time favorites from Little Yellow Bicycle.  I used the Dark Blue Tonal as the base cardstock for my project.  I used the MS Flower Punch Lg. Punch Around the Page Set to create the flower motif all around the page of LYB Blue Diamond Motif as the overlay.  I like the effect of the coordinating blue showing through the border punched out on all 4 sides of the Blue Diamond motif.  Since this is the beginning of a new year, there has been discussion in the media about New Year’s resolution; there was talk about this at church recently.  I wanted to do a page about myself and what I would like to see happen in my life for 2012.  2011 had been a year of change for our family and knowing that resolutions are rarely kept, I wanted to focus on what I believe which is where my strip journaling came from and why there is a picture of me only on this page.  I matted the picture after going around the edge with chalk ink on the creamy buttery yellow cardstock embossed and distressed with Yellow Ochre chalk ink and punched out the corners to match the border around the page.  I embossed the dark blue Bazzill CS under the picture and the 2012 Vita Bella Green & Blue Stripes with Cassie’s Brocade embossing folder.  The journaling strips were also distressed with the same chalk ink to make them pop off the page.  After placing all these elements on the page, I scattered Epoxy Words as embellishments around the page.  Three rhinestones were placed at the end of “I Remember” phrase.

Enjoy and celebrate with me about 2012!

MOJO Monday 223 and Little Yellow Bicycle

I designed this card for 2 purposed.  For MOJO Monday challenge and  for LYB Team call.  I really enjoyed makeing this card and think it turned out really nice.  Let me know what you think!

Joy in the Journey 6x6 Card

Products Used:

·         Little Yellow Bicycle Vita Bella Collection Feather & Scroll CS and Green & Blue Stripes CS

·         Bazzill Cardstock in Medium Blue, Green & Yellow

·         LYB Vita Bella Glitter Die-Cut Stickers

·         LYB Cardstock stickers

·         LYB Vita Bella Ribbon

·         American Crafts Blue Glitter Cardstock

·         Inka-Gold Old Gold (918) and Green (912)

·         Spellbinder Dies:  Labels 8, Foliage, Blossom Two

·         Quickutz  Nesting Flowers Die

·         Cuttlebug Embossing Folders Paper Lace II

The flowers were cut with the Blossom Two die and embossed with Cuttlebug Paper Lace II embossing folders.  They were distressed and highlighted with Old Gold from Inka-Gold to bring out the texture and add depth.  Blue glittered cardstock was used to cut out the centers for each flower with the Nesting Flowers Die.  Leaves were cut out in the green cardstock and distressed with Inka-Gold green to add sheen and depth.  Labels 8 die was used to cut out the Green & Blue Stripes paper with part of it cut off on one end to form the label for the cardstock base for the Joy in the Journey cardstock sticker.  The Feather & Scroll cardstock piece was cut to 4x6; a piece of green cardstock was cut to 3x4 inches and placed in the top left corner of the patterned CS; both were mounted to the 6x6 cardstock base after the ribbon was glued down to the top of patterned paper cardstock. The leaves and flowers were then layered slightly above center after the Labels 8 shape was added to the card.  A second larger flower was popped up to add dimension to the card.  LYB Vita Bella Glitter Die-Cut stickers were added to provide additional interest to the design.   I made a bow out of the same ribbon used earlier and placed on the ribbon.

My First MOJO Monday 222 Blog Contest Entry

This is my first post for MOJO Monday that I have ever done.  I love being retired from my post retirement parttime job!  LOL  I needed to make a sympathy card for a friend whose husband died unexpectedly at the age of 56.  Too young by far. I liked the sketch by Julee Tilman so I thought I could do something with the sketch and the blue flower that I had colored with Copics before I got the e-mail.  Sometimes things just seem to work out, don't they!  So here goes!

Here is my supply list:

• Hearffelt Creations 3433 - Book Frame 1 Precut Set
• Hearffelt Creations Innoscents Flowers 1 Precut Set
• Hearffelt Creations 3371 Dutch Iris Oval Precut Set
• Basic Grey Offbeat Collection - unexpected
• Bazzill Cardstock
• Vellum paper with gold flourishes & flowers from my stash
• Labels Seven Nestabilities
• Quickutz Nesting Tags Cookie Cutter Dies
• Cuttlebug Embossing folders:  Paper Lace II & Swiss Dots
• Mark Richards 5mm Gold Mosaic Tiles
• Copic Markers BG 02, 05 & 07
• Memento London Fog & Rich Cocoa & chalk inks for distressing the edges of the cardstock and stamping the book and verse.

The card size is 5" x 7".  I cut 2 pieces from the Basic Grey patterned paper; one was 5 x 7 and the other one was cut 4.5 x 6.5.  The darker blue cardstock was cut to 4.75 x 6.75.  I stamped the book frame and the Amazing Grace verses on the lighter blue cardstock and cut it out with the Labels Seven Nestabilities.  I matted all the basic cuts and placed a 1" strip of the vellum paper left of center.  I then placed the Amazing Grace bookframe on the card centered vertically to the left and the tag centered in the lower right corner.  I popped up the blue flower after placing a mosaic tile in the center.  Last I placed 3 gold mosaic tiles on the vellum paper above and below the Amazing Grace image.  I attached a piece of white cardstock with a sympathy sentiment to the back of the 5 x 7 card front.  This card could be made smaller with a smaller flower to stamp, but I used what I had already colored.

I hope you like this card.  Let me know what you think!  I would love to have more followers!  Have a blessed week and may everyone have a prosperous and creative New Year!