Truly Grateful

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  Colossians 3:17

Last night was our weekly Community Group Bible Study class.  Rather than have Sunday School classes, our church focuses on building relationships and personal spiritual growth through community.  Fourteen to sixteen people meeting in homes once a week for an in depth study of the previous Sunday’s message.  Part of the meeting is devoted to sharing what is going on in our lives and prayer requests.  This gathering is the highlight of our week.  We have very special relationships with these fellow believers and I am always blessed when the evening comes to an end. And also very grateful. 

Last night my contribution to the prayer list was to pray for our leaders as they make difficult decisions this week and also thanking God for our group and how he has blessed us with honesty and integrity.  We do not deserve his blessing, but through his grace, I gratefully receive.

So, as I pondered just what to do for the Paper Craft Crew Sketch Challenge, I knew that Truly Grateful would be perfect as it aligned with the way I am feeling this week.  Visit this terrific challenge and check out the amazing creations of the designers and gallery participants.  Maybe you will want to join in too. 

You can reach this weeks challenge, PCCCS057 here. The first sketch is the original and the second is the same sketch rotated.  That is the one I used for my card.  I love that we can play with the sketch a bit to suit our design.

And here is my card.  I embossed the wheat with Early Espresso embossing powder to give it a little pop.  The burlap banners are hand cut from the gorgeous ribbon in the Holiday catalog.  I used a strip of Adhesive Sheet on the back to give it some stability.  It also helps with fraying.  I absolutely love, love the DSP embossed with the Pretty Print Embossing Folder because a little white shows through- pretty cool, I think. 

And the sentiment is stamped on the 7/8” Cotton Ribbon in the Annual Catalog.  Love this effect.



Recipe: (all product available 24/7 at Diane’s Demo Site)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Very Vanilla, Champagne Glimmer Paper, Sweater Weather DSP Stamps: Truly Grateful Inks: Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip Accessories and Tools: Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Versamark, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Pretty Print Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Brights Candy Dots, Designer Naturals Buttons, Linen Thread, 7/8” Cotton Ribbon, 1-1/4” Burlap Ribbon, Chalk Talk Framelits, Adhesive Sheets

Thanks for staying with me on this long post.  I leave you now with a sweet photo of Princess Bella.  I am working with a new photo program and blurred it a little.  I think I like the effect.  Of course, I had the perfect subject!


Blessings,
Diane

Christmas In August? Merry Monday # 72 and Just Add Ink # 179

It has been much too long since I participated in a card challenge.  A few years ago I would stay up at night waiting for the various challenges to be posted.  Then life (and Princess Isabella) and blog readers came along and unfortunately I spent more time reading blogs than creating.
So what motivated me today?  With September approaching, it is time for my favorite crafting time of the year- the holidays.  So I am beginning with Merry Monday and Just Add Ink sketches.  They were similar and a chance to use my new favorite element- WASHI TAPE!


Recipe: (all product available 24/7 at Diane’s Demo Site)
Paper: Whisper White Cherry Cobbler, Champagne Glimmer Paper Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge, Ornament Keepsakes, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Inks: Versamark, Gumball Green Accessories and Tools: Season of Style Washi Tape, Holiday Ornaments Framelits, Big Shot, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat tool, Modern Label and Word Window punches, Basic Rhinestones, Linen Thread, Dimensionals
 
Before I sign off, here is a sweet photo of the Princess brushing a llama at a Fun Fair event here.  We read a Llama, Llama book at bedtime when she is visting and she just squealed when she saw one in real life.

I hope your week is off to a great start.  Have fun and thanks for visiting.

Blessings,

Diane

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas……

and it isn’t even Thanksgiving!  But, as with most other parts of our life, we must plan ahead in order to be on time.  And nothing is more true than getting ready for Christmas.
In August I had a little Holiday Happenings workshop and we made four really cute Christmas projects using Stampin’ Up! paper, ribbon, die cuts, ink – all the good stuff.  And we made a gorgeous Fall Wreath (will be on another post). First up, a set of four 4”X4” ceramic coasters using Candlelight Christmas Designer Series Paper and fabric.  So very easy and inexpensive, but such a cute and useful gift.

Coaster supplies:  4”X4” ceramic tiles from big box store $.16 each- Hello!; Candlelight Christmas Designer Series Paper and coordinating fabric; Ornament Keepsakes Framelits, Scallop Oval Punch and Medium Oval Punch, Sentiment from retired stamp set, Gold Glimmer Paper, Linen Thread, Clear Acrylic spray; Real Red ink, Gumball Green, Whisper White and Real Red Cardstock, Big Shot.
Next, a Christmas Blessings Journal.  We covered a composition book with Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper, embellished with Silver Glimmer Paper Snowflakes and even embellished a pen to match.  Easy peasy and Oh, so useful.   A journal of blessings for the entire year.  I know that mine will be full.  God blesses me with his grace every minute of every day.
 Blessings Journal Supplies: Composition book from big box store; Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper, First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper; More Merry Messages Stamp Set; Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler , Whisper White cardstock; Silver Glimmer Paper; Early Espresso Stamp Pad; Snow Flurry Bigz Die, Large Basic Pearl, Tasteful Trims Die, Big Shot.
Another very quick and easy project – a set of four cute, cute, cute notecards.  They measure 4”X4” (loving that size today) with matching envelopes.  I completely copied (very legal in Stampin’ Up! world) the terrific creation by uber-demonstrator Mary Fish.  You just can’t improve on perfection, I say.  Don’t you agree?

Scentsational Scents Supplies: Scentasational Season, Sweet Essentials, Tiny Tags and Fabulous Phrases Stamp Sets; Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight Cardstock; Regals Paper Pack; Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Pacific Point Stamp Pads; Holiday Collection Framelit Dies; Gold and Cherry Cobbler brads; Real Red button; Basic Rhinestone; Tiny Tag Punch; Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine, Big Shot.
And finally, the prettiest Christmas Tree in the house!  It is a Rolled Christmas Tree using Be Of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper, assorted buttons and cardstock embellishment- a project to exercise your creativity!  And, again, not my original idea- got this one from Pinterest.  I could just kiss the folks that started that site….Anyway, easy peasy again.  Here are very quick instructions: Cut 17 strips of DSP 2” wide and starting at 5-1/2 long (your bottom strip), decrease length of each strip by 1/4  with the last strip being 1-1/2 long X 2” wide.  (i.e. 5-1/2, 5-1/4, 5, 4-3/4….) Then apply Sticky Strip to one long end, wrap around a dowel and glue making a tube. Add another piece of Sticky Strip to the seam.  Glue your handcut and embossed trunk to the bottom center and start building your tree.  Adhere with more sticky strip.  Embellish as you wish and Voila!  Gorgeous!!!

Rolled Christmas Tree supplies:  8”X10” white canvas from big box store (2 for $4- love it!); Gumball Green Core’dinations Paper, Cherry Cobbler Cardstock; Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper; Silver Glimmer Paper; Simply Scored (for rosettes); Various buttons; Woodgrain Embossing Folder; Various circle punches; Wooden Dowel, Sticky Strip.
Whew- this could be my longest post ever- but I hope you enjoyed.  We had a wonderful day making these cute projects.  In fact, I have made several more of each for Christmas gifts this year.  What fun!
Blessings and I pray you all have a wonderful and thankful Thanksgiving Holiday.
Diane