Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Winter Time


A friend gave me these little stamps to make a scene card and I've had more fun with them! (Thank you Lynn!)

Today starts the last Craft Rocket Challenge for 2016. We all agreed it would be good to take part of December off for Christmas with family and friends.

Today's theme is Winter Time. Living in Florida, this snow is completely fabricated, but I can use my imagination, ha!

These stamps have all been removed from their original wood backing so I can't give a company credit. My little deer in the foreground is a die cut.

The blue cardstock is from my handmade stock. Inside says Merry Christmas so I have another card for my collection.

Be sure to stop by CRC to get more ideas from the design team. And I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you again in 2017!

Blessings, Barbara










Thursday, November 10, 2016

White on White

Goodness, another challenging theme to work with! Craft Rocket Challenges starts a new theme today and it is White on White, with only the main image colored.

I searched for a picture of a poinsettia flower, sketched it and painted with watercolors. I die cut using a solid plate and cut out the diamond in the middle then tore a piece of white handmade card stock to use as the immediate frame.

I like to have a sentiment on the front so rather than use ink, I found love in a embossing folder and cut it out to mount in the corner. I used Stickles on the flower to add some sparkle and Perfect Pearl Mists on the entire card (after covering the center) for some shine. This will be used as another Christmas card.

Come and check out what all the design team did and play along!

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Snowflakes

When we left Yellowstone this year it had already snowed in the higher elevations twice. But back home in Florida, not so much, ha!

Unicorn Challenges has a new theme for November called Snowflakes or Snow Theme. I chose to make a few tags for Christmas gifts and this one fit the theme perfectly. Come and join in on the fun and check out the DT cards.

This was made using gold embossing powder with a Mark's Finest Papers Snowflake stamp on white cardstock. It's mounted on a piece of cut and pressed green handmade paper from my stash.

Have fun and think cool weather thoughts!

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Pink

Ok, so this is a true challenge for me. I'm not a  fan of pink (I know I've said that before!) but that is the new challenge for Craft Rocket.

My other passion right now is making Christmas cards...to catch up from not making any all year :)

So this is my pink Christmas card. I used my bright pink cardstock as a base and just kept pulling out other pinks to layer it up. Everything is from stash so several pieces used up. The end result in person is quite pretty.

Drop on over to Craft Rocket Challenges to see what the design team has produced for some inspiration and join us!

I will enter this with:
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Spooky Times

Fall is a favorite time of year because the heat of Florida has subsided and the family get-togethers with holiday time is creeping ever closer.

The Outlawz Sunday Challenges group has a new challenge for CAS Ombre. This is a new technique for me and I had fun doing it. I used my favorite color pallet to create the progression and Halloween stamps with a touch of coloring to complete. Super easy and love how it turned out.

I'll share this with
Outlawz Challenges - CAS Ombre
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Mark's Finest Papers - Anything Goes

Supplies used:
Adriondack Inks
Mark's Finest Paper Stamps
Handmade paper stock

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Howling at the Moon

While in Yellowstone, one has to adhere to the current culture. In other words, I use my wolf, elk, bear, moose or new beaver stamps to make cards. I'm trying to get my hands on an official Yellowstone National Park stamp but running into opposition there :) (I know the guy that runs the warehouse but not helping!)

For this card I used my animal paw prints embossing folder and inked my wolf howling in the moon's silhouette then pressed it on white card stock and cut out the round. I colored in the wolf and then decided he would be a lot more visible if I stamped another and popped it on top. Then I remembered that my wolf needed to be reversed again so I stamped him on my  mirror image stamp, put that on the white cardstock, colored him in and fussy cut it out. The sentiment is from a Mark's Finest Paper set and the background papers are more of my stash.

As always, the main card stock is my home made paper. Soo, this is the newest challenge from Craft Rocket Challenges. The theme is Happy Birthday. Hop over to our blog and see what the Design Team created and join in on the fun!



Monday, October 10, 2016

I Have a Reason!

The challenges are starting to turn to favor Christmas cards. I finally have a reason to jump in and get some done. Motivation on my own has been very low this year!

I have had a number of friends give me large bags of their old Christmas cards. I methodically go through them and pick out a few that might make a good background, any that have a feature I might be able to use and the rest are torn apart for the blank cardstock possibilities or go into the recycle bin.



 
This was super simple using the squares off of a card, backing with paper from JoAnne's Store, popping up the little star, topped with a bow and mounted on my green handmade cardstock after embossing the front with the Cuttlebug Forest folder.

The stamping was done inside for a finished look.

 I will enter this in:
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Outlawz Saturday Challenge / Paper Ala Mode - Christmas (I love their creative challenges!)

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Fun in Yellowstone

Even with the beauty surrounding the cabins we lived in for 2 months, I still feel the need to transport my card supplies out and manage to make a few cards. A fun time is always the ability to bring a few ladies to our cabin to make cards and share an evening.








Meredith's Card
This year Kathy, Meredith and Pattie came up. I made a small pot of veggie soup and a salad. Add in a little wine and a few cookies and the fun began.







Kathy's Card



This year I offered a few possible samples and then the creativity began. It's so fun to see how the ideas ebb and flow and how the final cards come out.




Pattie's Card









I get so caught up with helping that I can't remember to take many pictures but here are the few that I managed.




My Card






Stamps, papers and cardstock were all from my stash so I traveled home with less to pack up! My card was made using the new stamp set I received from Mark's Finest Papers before leaving in July. I inked and pressed Aspen leaves for the background.

This was another example of the fun we have!


















Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Frightful

Welcome once again to the next Unicorn Challenge. This month the theme is Pretty Pinks or Halloween.

I chose Halloween because I love the fall colors.

A friend gave me the stamp and I had the paper and sentiment in my stash. I stamped the witch on white card stock so she would look like she's in front of the moon, and popped it up. I love this paper with the stamp!

Super simple! The yellow cardstock is my homemade paper stash.

Come and join in on the fun and see the Design Team cards.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Come On Fall!


I am very conflicted :)  According to anyone on the east coast of the US it is summertime with rain, humidity and temps in the 90's.

In the Rocky Mountains (particularly Yellowstone area) it is fall...almost winter...with snow falling with the rain and wind and temps ranging from the low 30's to the upper 50's.

I prefer the heat of summer but love the 4 seasons also. I am still working with scraps and odds and ends and put this card together to bring in fall. Maybe the east coast will take the hint and mellow out to cooler climes before we get home in October.

Craft Rocket Challenges has a new Challenge that starts today and this is my Design Team card. The theme is Ribbon or Lace. Come join us and be sure to check out what the Design Team has to offer for suggestions!








Thursday, September 15, 2016

In The Mood

It has taken me this long to get 'in the mood' to start making Christmas cards. Hey, it's September, so plenty of time right?

I decided to use this new Challenge of Craft Rocket to create a different card that will stand out but remain Christmassy. (Is that a word?)

The Challenge this time is for Mostly Blue. I feel like I achieved that! This beautiful star is from a Mark's Finest Paper stamp set as is the sentiment. The papers are all from stock on hand and the card stock is my blue hand made paper.

Come and join in the fun at Craft Rocket Challenges. Let us know what you think of the DT cards too.

I will enter this in Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Birthday Celebration!

The Challenge site of Unicorn has a new theme this month. It is for a birthday. That is because it is the first birthday for the challenge site! How time flies when we are having fun :)

I apologize that this picture is a bit hard to see but the colors are so subtle I couldn't get a good shot of it.

At any rate, our daughter and son-in-law have been traveling more lately, so this is a sort of travel theme birthday card for her. All of the elements are pieces from my stash and the pink background is the cardstock I made and keep on hand.


Come and see the Design Team cards at Unicorn Challenges and join in the celebration!





Monday, August 22, 2016

Fire in Yellowstone



This is by far the smokiest year we've seen while residing in Yellowstone. The smoke is dangerous, not so much the fires.







There are a minimum of 8 fires burning in the park that we know of but 5 of those are in the same geographic location so managed as one large fire area to allow fire resources to be moved to the needed areas.



The fires are allowed to burn to promote new growth of trees and underbrush that require the intense heat to release the seeds.

The policy of the National Park Service (NPS) is to let the fires burn themselves out unless structures and people will be injured.





Bob and I drove from Gardiner to West Yellowstone (the west entrance into the park) to visit the little town there and see a play group that was recommended. (Next post :)






Along the way we took pictures of the fires in that area and of a helicopter that was dropping water above a ledge toward the town to prevent the spread in that direction.








We also saw a few 'staging' areas of firefighters to fight on the ground if needed.

On this day the wind was not bad so the water drop appeared to be helping.

I thought I'd share some of the photos.















This is the day we drove back into the park. You can see the different locations along a ridge that are burning.






And this was the full moon that night, covered in a smoke filled haze!  We've had about 3 clear days since we arrived August 1. With the 100 year Anniversary Celebration on the 25th coming up, we're hoping the wind shifts away from us for at least one 24 hour period!


Thursday, August 18, 2016

Fly Away...


I got a gift...from a friend...last Christmas. It is the set of stamps and Die Cuts by Sizzex with a lovely bird and accessories. And I'm just getting around to using it. It's not because it isn't pretty or cool or useful, it's that I have a stack of new items I'm still working on from Christmas. It's getting smaller though, ha!

At any rate, there is a new Challenge at Craft Rocket called "Things With Wings." I used this new set and love the way it turned out! Visit the DT creations at Craft Rocket and show us your creations!

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

School of Hogwarts...


And here is my second card for the granddaughter starting a new high school this year. She is quite a writer in her own time and we can't wait to read her stories. She is also a Harry Potter lover, and identifies with Luna Lovegood. She is the perfect model with often eclectic style clothes combinations.

For this card I used the Mark's Finest Papers stamp set Owls 2014. In the second photo you can see I popped the bird's beak out and positioned a small envelope in it to deliver a letter to her. The message inside is simply "follow your path," which she is already doing.


Once again, this is using the MFP Tutorial "Beyond Borders." I was trying to indicate a full moon behind the owl with dusk or nighttime already in evidence.

The branches were cut using a free style method and the background papers are from my stash. The cardstock is my light brown homemade paper.

I will enter this in:

MFP #3 - Beyond Borders
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes












Back To School Time

Different states have different start times, as do the colleges and other countries. But there's no arguing that the time is here or near for all students.

I haven't played with entering any Challenges in quite a while and decided to look around with some stamps and themes in mind.

This week Mark's Finest Papers has three challenges and one of them provides just the interest and fun I needed. I am going to share this card and the next in the #3 Tutorial Challenge. I love this technique and always enjoy how the images turn out. It is called "Beyond Borders" by Jane Chambers, where you let the image go beyond parts of a die cut and cut it all out accordingly.

For this card I used the MFP stamp set called Buffalo Spring 2012.

This card is being sent to our grandson in Knoxville, TN. He is starting his senior year in high school. I created it with a hidden message. All the papers in the background are scrapes from my stash. I hope he gets as much of a charge from the card as I did making it!

I'm entering this in:
MFP #3 Beyond Borders
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes





Thursday, August 4, 2016

Who doesn't love glitter?

Containing glitter is an oxymoron. Even with my best efforts I wear it until the next shower or dip in the pool! So who doesn't love playing with it?!

The newest challenge for Craft Rocket is for Glitzy Glitter. This isn't very glitzy, but I did bring in the glitter to make the tree stand out. The background is simple watercoloring.

This die cut reminds me of a beautiful Weeping Willow tree in our yard in Georgia. It was always so healthy and even provided the occasional switch for wayward children, although not often at all.

Come over and view the Design Team creations and join in the fun!


Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Animal Kingdom

Here it is, August already. The heat is oppressive in Central Florida but not so much in Yellowstone! We have started our time out west again and I brought enough card crafting supplies with me to continue participating.

This month starts a new challenge at Unicorn. The challenge is to create a card using an animal.

Our daughter and son-in-law have returned from an amazing missions trip to Togo Africa and to commemorate it for him I made this circle of animals. The circle turns, so whichever one is his favorite, he can turn to it for the day.

Be sure to check out the great Design Team cards and play along!


Thursday, July 21, 2016

I'm Seeing Spots!

The new Challenge for Craft Rocket is for Spots and/or Stripes. I immediately chose this background paper and then sat staring at it. I don't know if any of you access Pinterest, but in times of mental blockages - it is my consummate friend!

To enter the Challenge and/or see the DT cards click on Craft Rocket Challenges.

This isn't close to the card I supposedly cased or I'd give that person credit, but her card sparked an idea and this is the results. It is for a 20+ year old.



The butterflies are a punch by Martha Stewart Designs and the sentiment is from Stampin' Up. Thanks for stopping by and have a Blessed Day!

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Fancy Folds

It's not often, actually almost never, that I create a card using all store card stock. However, this technique was just too fun to not complete. It was demonstrated at a Stamping In Florida group meeting in May and I completed it at home. This paper was purchased at a flea market and I love the colors.

The stamps used are from a tea/coffee group from JoAnn's and the cup on the tag is from MFP Stamp Shop - Java Time. I'm a tea drinker and so have added a tea bag for someone to enjoy.

This will be used for the 19th Challenge on Craft Rocket Challenges. Visit the website to see all the wonderful DT cards and play along!

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Unicorn's July Challenge

Unicorn Challenge's has a new challenge for July. The theme is Make It Pearly...Include Pearls. Here is another wedding card for friends. Come play with us!

Thursday, June 23, 2016

It's June!

And you know what that means...Weddings, and the parties and fun that go hand in hand.

I made this simple card using elements from the invitation and "save the date" card. This is obviously a personal card that is ready to attach to the present.

The background is a simple weave to provide a subtle message of how two lives are interwoven when they take this step. The stamp is from a generic set I've had forever.

This is being used for the Challenge #18 at Craft Rocket Challenges. Come and join us with the theme of: Weddings and Things including Wedding/Engagement/Anniversary.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

And He Scores!

We have a grandson (Kaleb) who just turned 10. As a result I'm no longer in possession of this card. I cased it from a Pinterest post by Sarah Kostusiak (I did a search for 'soccer cards' and hers was the first to come up).

I used the Cricut Cuttlebug Honeycomb embossing folder for the background and ball and the stamp is from the MFP Lighthouses 2012 stamp set. The cardstock is my hand made white paper...which isn't showing at all on this card. The grass was the biggest challenge to lay down. I used a tape runner very sparingly behind almost each 'piece' to keep it from ripping or folding.

Of course, he is 10, so I won't hear much about if he liked it, but I had fun creating it!

I will enter this in a new challenge site (for me anyway)...
QKR Stampede, Their DT did a great job and the theme is "For the Guys."

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Guy Card

I saw a tutorial recently, I think on http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/ (Mark's Finest Papers) but I can't find the link. At any rate, it involved masking off the sides and stamping colors and images that would set off the main image in the middle. This is my resulting card. I had so much fun with this that I made 3 cards. Two for my stash and one for my husband.

Since all we drive is a truck, this stamp was perfect. On the other two I used an old car. I loved the result. (He did too :)

Craft Rocket has a new challenge for us. It is to create a card ... For A Man ... I think this fits pretty well. Come along and play with us!

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

The Wise Old Owl

Hmmm, nursery rhymes, not my go to material for cards these days since I'm a grandmother with mostly grown grandkids. There are a few left, however, but they read Dr. Seuss and the old, old stories are long forgotten.

We have a new Unicorn Challenge that starts today with the theme being 'Inspired by a Nursery Rhyme or Fairytale, etc.' I didn't know where to start so I Googled nursery rhymes and up popped The Wise Old Owl. There was no credit for the poem given but it caught my eye and this is where I went.

Basically this poem would be told to children in an attempt to teach the child the virtue of being quiet. It is based on an owl's behavior of watching and patiently waiting when hunting it's prey. And of course, it led to the adage "Children should be seen and not heard."

We don't hold by that as a virtue so much today, but on occasion it can be helpful. At any rate, I found this little poem intriguing so used it on the card.

The Owl is from the stamp set 'Owls 2014' from Marks Stamp Shop, The poem was printed from online and the tree was cut free form for the background. The owl is double stamped and popped up to add dimension. The card stock is my light brown, hand made paper stock.

Come play with us at Unicorn Challenges!

Monday, June 6, 2016

Fire!

I trust that title got your attention, ha! I've been wanting to use my new MFP Stamp Shop set called Firefighter 2013 stamps. So, it has been combined with the Mark's Challenge from the May blog hop using the tutorial for faux wood to create the frame.

The DT cards for this blog hop were super and I have already used a few of their ideas on my own cards.

The background embossing is the barbed wire look by Lifestyle Crafts. All the stamps are from the Firefighter set and the red cardstock is my handmade stock.


I will enter this in:
MFP May Blog Hop - Faux wood
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Outlawz - Monday: Use Embossing

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Monochrome

I grew up in a Kodak home. My dad was an executive with Eastman Kodak for 40 years. Monochrome to me is more black and white but upon investigation, it is the same color used with different shades.

For this card I used a variety of stamps. Creative Impressions Mountain Cabin, Stampin' Up Fern, and PSX Mountain Range. The cabin and some trees are popped up to give a dimensional look. I tried a technique I read about lately in an older VSN (April 2008) magazine. Unfortunately, this magazine is obsolete. I've seen a tutorial about weaving for a background but the pictures on the magazine showed the weaving with stamped image. That's where I derived my idea for this card.

It was so much fun I think I have to try this different ways and see how the technique blossoms :)

Today starts Challenge #16 for Craft Rocket Challenges. It's a fun group with some super DT cards for inspiration. Come play with us!

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Flower Power



It's good to sit and concentrate on little bitty details now and then. This is one of those times. A friend stamped these roses out for me and I colored them but I wasn't happy with all the white inbetween so I cut it all out. It looks so much more alive like this. Part of me says I wish she had stamped more but the other part of me is quite happy she didn't!

Craft Rocket has a new challenge starting today. Since April showers bring May flowers...show us your Flower Power. Your card must include flowers! Come and check out the DT cards and join in the fun.







Tuesday, May 3, 2016

I'm Seeing Spots!

Welcome back to another Unicorn Challenge! For the month of May the challenge is to have polka dots on your project or card. Come and see the DT cards and play along with us.


I'd like to say I thought of this all by myself, but as usual, I took the idea of alternating the different papers from a member of my stamping group...(thanks Peggy!) And I took it a step further in bringing in earthy colors to make it a guy card. You may remember this car from another post. It is getting a lot of mileage this year (hee hee).

I made one card with the car and another with a truck and they will be the Father's Day encouragement cards for our son and son-in-law.

Aside from the stamped car, everything on this card is from my stash. I have to admit, it's beginning to shrink. I'm excited about that!

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Pink and Pearls


Pink is just not my color. And no shades of it appeal to me. That being said, I do have a love of pink flamingos...it started when we moved to Florida 27 years ago.

This cute bird is popped up so sideways it looks like it's really popping out of the flowers.



For this 2 week period Craft Rocket is hosting a challenge called "Pink and Pearlie." Your card must have both elements. Let us see what you can come up with!











Thursday, April 14, 2016

Favorite Colors

I have really enjoyed exploring the world of watercoloring the last few years. Watercolors can create pictures very intricate or something as simple as this. I used Sparkling H2O's for the background and it is stamped on watercolor paper.

The background paper is handmade and embossed with a Darice folder. The sentiment and bird are cling stamps and this card is perfect for all occasion use.

There is a new Challenge that starts today for Craft Rocket Challenges. The theme calls for using your favorite color combinations. Come over and play with us!




Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Spring is Here!

Who doesn't love this time of year? OK, I don't love the pollen and love bugs but we live close to Ocala, Florida and there are many horse ranches and ranges that we drive by. There are a few special paddocks that always house the newborn colts and mothers, or baby goats and moms. There are also calves that are running freely through some of the larger meadows. When I can, I stop by the road and just watch.

This is also the time of year to celebrate Easter, occasionally in March (as it was this year) but mostly in April.

Our newest Unicorn Challenge for April was to make a card for our favorite time of year. I saw a tutorial on making a Z-fold card and decided to use it for my family Easter cards. I like the 2 patterns of paper that compliment and the fact that my home made paper is visible when the card is opened. The butterfly is cut from a Cuttlebug Butterflies form, water-colored and embossed.









The butterfly is patterened after the American Painted Lady butterfly. The first picture shows the card as it will come out of the envelope. It really doesn't like staying closed :) The next 2 pictures show the Z-fold better.

Come and join in on the fun at Unicorn Challenges!





I'd like to give a shout out of thanks for the Z-Fold Pop Out Card to Sue Wisniewski. You can see the link for the tutorial by tapping on her name.