Be strong in the Lord

For this week's Mojo Monday Sketch, I pulled out one of my favorite stamp sets: Each Day by Verve and a new to me die:  Gingko Leaf by Impression Obsession.  I had been hoarding the paper Watercolor Chevron by Recollections for a while - it was time to bite the bullet and cut it up!  

The gingko leaves were cut on yellow card stock and then lightly colored with some yellow-green Copics.  The verse was stamped in pigment Versafine ink and then clear embossed.

Challenges I am playing in:

MojoMonday 455

Scrapyland Challenge 45: Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday

ODBD September Mid-month Reminder

Today we are taking a look back at Our Daily Bread Designs September Mid Month Release.  Here is the project I created using the  Leafy Edged Borders dies, Pretty Posies dies and the Grateful stamp set. 

I've been in a box making mode and I thought it would be a perfect place to put a nice big flower on top.  I die cut the Pretty Posies dies several times out of pink card stock and then sponged the edges with a darker pink.  I glued all the layers together and added a curved border using the Leafy Edged Borders dies on top of a sheet from the Rustic Beauty Paper Collection. 

 I also tucked in a bit of Fancy Foliage under the flower.  My sentiment from the Grateful stamp set was cut using a cute little die from the Mini Tag Dies.

For more inspiration using the September Mid Month Release be sure to visit the ODBD Blog  and my fellow DT sisters:

Sandee * Lori * Grace * Julie * Cathy * Amy * Paula * 

Chris  * Robin T. * Angie * America * Dawn * Robin C. 

Monogrammed Card Box

So I've been very busy making lots of cards - more than I send out.  What do you do with the cards you make and don't send?  I either save mine up to use as gifts, send to Operation Write Home, or wait until October for the HYCCT challenge at SCS and send some along with those challege cards.  I've found a way to package up the ones I use as gifts - these card boxes are fun and easy to make, especially since I discovered these velcro tabs.  Here I made one for this sweet lady at church.  However, I think the design would work just as well for a set of personalized note cards.  Monogramming is always so lovely and elegant.

To make my box card, I used a 9x9 sheet and used the We are Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board at 3.5 and 4.5.  There are lots of videos out there so I won't go into details here but this one is where I learned how to do my box.  To decorate the front of my box, I really layered up the dies:  Spellbinders A2 Filigree Delight, Standard Ovals, and then a tag from Fancy Tags Two - all popped up with large foam tabs.  The center E was cut from my dusty Cricut and then I added a Memory Box Pennington Rose to the side.  Finally, lots and lots of pearls using the ice white Viva Decor Pearl Pen... there is just a hint of an oval embossing line from the filigree die which really helped the placements of the liquid pearls.

Instead using the ribbon as suggested in the video, I added a Fastener Adhesive Tab by Tombow- it opens and closes so easily!  It's perfect for something that will be open repeatedly and SOOO easy!

Thanks for looking!

Challenges I am playing in:

Simon Says Die Crazy

Word Art Wednesday

Memory Keeper Envelope Punch Board and Ornaments

It's the time of year to make teacher's gifts.  Besides gift cards, I also like to give them cards.  (Duh, right?)  I must admit I resisted buying this Memory Keeper Envelope Punch Board since I already had a score board but then I watched this  video by Jennifer McGuire on how to make gift boxes.  LOVE this tool - quick and easy and love the finishing touches of the corner rounders.

I have a lot of Christmas patterned papers with big bold images on them - which is really hard for me to use on cards.  So I used them to make my boxes instead.

But what I really wanted to show you was another use for your stamps.  If you look closely, you will see a little ornament attached to the bow.  It's made using Sculpey clay and stamps!  After rolling it out, the kids and I used some snowflake stamps (this one is from Verve's Merry and Bright) and trimming with a palette knife.  Remember to poke a hole with a toothpick so you can thread some twine or ribbon through.  I baked in the toaster oven at 275 degrees for 15 minutes.  It's a wonderful personal touch and the kids really enjoyed making it.

Since I had the punch board out, I decided to go ahead and make some envelopes for some recent cards I made that were not the standard A2 size.  Sometimes square cards are just called for!  But when I used the recommended sizes, it didn't quite work.

I place my PEACE card  which is 5"x 5" on top of the envelope I made using 8 1/8"x 8 1/8", scoring at 4 1/8".  You can see that it would be very tight and with the embellishments, it wouldn't really work.  And it really bugged me that the envelope wasn't square!

In this next picture, I cut my paper a little larger to 8 1/2" by 8 1/2" and used the score line at 4 1/4".  Much better!  There's a 1/4" around which is perfect for this thicker card and the envelope is square.

And if you make envelopes as part of a gift, I found that using Scor-tape and leaving the sticker on one side is handy if your recipient does not have adhesives.  Also put a note that square cards require extra postage.  ;)

Long post!  Thanks for making it to the end.  I hope you found it helpful.