Christmas Sketch challenge

Hi everyone!

Well, forgive me for the long absence. To say that life was a little crazy here is a bit of an understatement. But I'm thankful to have some time again in my craft room tonight. I'm sharing a card I made for two different challenges. The first is the Pals Paper Arts challenge. They provided a sketch and I immediately knew what I was going to do with it. I love it when that happens!I'm also playing along with the "anything goes" challenge over at the Word Art Wednesday site, too. Here's my card and the sketch.

The sketch was super helpful in giving me the jump start to this card. I immediately saw a Christmas card. I used Echo Park papers and a Memory Box die for the poinsettias. I had initially die cut some pattern paper that was green polka dot--thinking that the pattern would add some interest. However, the color wasn't right. So, I used a copic marker and colored right on top of the pattern. Up close, you now have the deep green from the leaves with a nice pattern peaking through, too. The sentiment is from Stampendous and I heat embossed it in white. I added some faux stitching and the card was done.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Before I close, though, I want to ask those of you that pray to please keep the people from Venezuela in your prayers. The news here in the States haven't shared much of what's going on so many of you may not even be aware of the chaos happening in that country. But the government is abusing its citizens. Last count there was 13 or 15 people that have died and many hundreds injured. It's the country where I was born and I still have family there. My parents, thankfully, returned safely from there last week and have shared even more details of the horrors happening there. Please, if you believe in the power of prayer, please join me by praying for Venezuela.

Have a great weekend!
Pat

Wishing you lots of HAPPY/Card drive for Emma

Hi again!

I'm sharing a card that isn't just another card. I'm a mom of two boys and I'm grateful to God that they're healthy. However, I know many families have children that aren't that fortunate.

There's a little girl named Emma who is battling Leukemia. She's only 7 years old and I'm sure she's going through things that no 7 year old should ever have to go through. If you want more information on how to donate cards to this card drive, please go to the following site: Kelly's Place. Will there be prizes, yes. But that's not really the point for participating. I used to scrapbook and the main reason I switched to cardmaking was because I saw that I could use my cards to encourage others. This is one of those moments. It's a chance to encourage a family that is going through a hard time...and to bring a smile to a little girl's face. Here's my card:

I wanted a really happy and bright card. So, I chose to participate in the latest A Blog Named Hero challenge and use a rainbow. Also, the Simon Says Stamp! challenge was to use our favorite stamps and this set is a favorite of mine. I used the Happy stamp set from Simon Says Stamp! and stamped the word "happy" in different distress inks. I stamped the sentiment in black and then added some punched red hearts on the card. I added some faux stitching and the card was done.

Again, this is a chance for us to bring a smile to a whole family and, in particular, to Emma. Please join me in sending her some cards. I'm sure the family will be forever grateful.

Blessings,
Pat

Adore

Happy Sunday, everyone!

I'm popping in to share a card I made for Valentine's Day for my Valentine. I'm also entering it in the Simon Says Stamp! challenge where we showcase our stamps. Tons of fun! Here's my card:

I had so much fun with this card! First, we all know that stencils and masks are all the rage right now in the crafting world. Well, I only have a couple of stencils so I decided to make my own! I used some plain typing paper and traced a heart and cut it out. I placed the sheet with the heart cut out over my card and taped it down with some washi tape. I then took my heart stamp (Recollections brand from Michaels stores) and began stamping it in white pigment ink repeatedly on the card. The typing paper helped mask off the area I didn't want inked and I made sure to get the edges of the "stencil" so that I'd have a clear boundary when I removed the stencil. Once everything was stamped, I added some chunky white embossing enamel. This is another product I've had for years but never used. As you can see, it's a bright white color--which I loved! But, it didn't give the best coverage because of how chunky it is. So, after embossing everything, I added stickles to the empty spaces in the heart. What I got was a very bright white heart with some sparkle mixed in. LOVED it! The sentiment was also some the Recollections brand and I stamped that in Memento black ink. I then added some gems and the card was done.

Thanks for stopping by!
Pat

LOVE frantage-style

Hey everybody!

I have been making some time to play in my room. My most favorite product at the moment is the frantage embossing enamel. LOVE THIS STUFF! I had been making tons of Christmas cards with it and I knew I wanted to try my hand with some Valentine's Day cards, too. So, I'm entering the card in the latest Simon Says Stamp! challenge. Our challenge was to use stamps--easy! :) Here's my card:

LOVE the shine and glitz of frantage! I used a Recollections border stamp (from Michael's craft stores) and stamped it in a light pink pigment ink. (I made sure to use my embossing buddy first because if not, the glitter goes everywhere...I found this out the hard way!) Then, I sprinkled the frantage over the stamping and heat embossed it. I added a couple of black strips just to define the main area a bit. The sentiment is also from the Recollections line and I added the frantage there, too. Love how it pops against the black cardstock! Easy to make but it looks so elegant in real life.
Thanks for stopping by!
Pat

Playing with Frantage

Hi all!

I hope everyone is having a good week. Mine has been a little weird since my oldest is sick. But, since he's sleeping so much, I figured I'd play while I could in my room. The card I'm sharing is one that uses a new product--to me, anyway--called Frantage. It's an embossing enamel that has bits of mica in it with glitter, too. I've had it for at least a year--probably two--and tonight I was determined to use it. I'm entering the card in 2 different challenges. The first is the Festive Friday site. Their inspiration photo is what prompted me to use the frantage product. Then, the "anything goes" challenge at the Word Art Wednesday site is always a favorite of mine, too. Here's my card and the photo inspiration.

So, I knew I wanted to use this frantage shabby pink embossing enamel on vellum. It has touches of gold glitter, pink glitter and white mica. I stamped the Hero Arts Christmas tree with versamark ink and then embossed the vellum but heating it from the back. Then, I stamped the sentiment in gold pigment ink and clear embossed that, too. Although my card base is white, I covered the front of the card with a gold/copper metallic paper from DCWV. I then adhered the vellum but wrapping the vellum in back of the top fold. I didn't have pink pearls so I used my copic marker to add some color to the white pearls I did have and added those to the card.

I love the softness that the vellum added to the card and the really cool embossed tree. In real life, that tree looks amazing! The vellum is also slightly shorter than the gold cardstock underneath so when it's flat, it has a lovely bottom edge to the card, too. May have to play some more with this product and look into getting more of it...

Anyway, thanks for stopping by and have a great rest of the week!
Pat