You are Loved a Bunch

I made this card for the Project Reach Out Challenge.  The theme is sending love.  I use these heart-themed PTI dies for cards of all occasions, and I thought it was fun to add a sentiment from the Delightful Bunch collection.  I so enjoy seeing the samples prepared for this card campaign and have had fun sending the cards I have completed.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Ink to Paper Project Reach Out--Sending Love
Word Art Wednesday
SSS Wednesday Challenge A/G

Hippo Birdie To You

One of my favorite guys has a birthday coming up.  When I need to make a masculine card, I often turn to Lawn Fawn for cute images and even cuter puns.  The Tuesday Throwdown  Challenge is to add a doodle.....scary for me, so I  sketched in some little "excitement dashes" close to the birdie's wings.  That's about the extent of my doodling skills!

Thanks for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to:
Tuesday Throwdown--add a doodle
Word Art Wednesday A/G
SSS Wednesday Challenge A/G

A "scrappy" hello

Yesterday, I made a card featuring the other half of this striped panel and some yellow and white stitched flowers.  This little hello card was created from the leftovers. I like the way it turned out and am glad to use these bits and pieces rather than to leave them in the "leftover" basket on my craft desk.

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
SSS Wednesday Challenge (flowers)
Artsy Stamper (Spring Time)

Color Throwdown

This week's Color Throwdown swatch is such a great reminder of how pretty navy, lemon, and lime look together.  Such a refreshing spring feeling!  The striped panel was created using Altenew's watercolor stripes stencil and Evening in Paris ink.  The blooms were cut using MFT's Stitched Flowers die. 

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Color Throwdown
Word Art Wednesday

You are my......

The theme for the Ink to Paper Project Reach out is "You are my favorite".  I don't have a single sentiment with the word favorite.  Hubs suggested that "I love you more than donuts" is synonymous with "You are my favorite", but it didn't go well with the flowers.  I do call one of my favorite people "sunshine", so I went with that.  I used one of my favorite sets, "Farmer's Market" and a set of dies that I just adore....aren't those stitched scallops pretty?

Thanks so much for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to:
Ink to Paper Project Reach Out (You are my favorite/sunshine)
Word Art Wednesday
SSS Wednesday (florals)

Greetings from Gran's Garden--Project Reach Out

When I "got home from school" yesterday evening, I stamped flowers and leaves from Gran's Garden.  I love this set, and I even made a number of my Christmas cards featuring the blooms in red with wintery green leaves.

My cards are similar, and I used an array of sentiments, including birthday wishes for an upcoming special day.

I am so enjoying Project Reach Out at Ink to paper.


Take care,
Christine

Linking to:
Project Reach Out Mass Producing Flower Cards
SSS Wednesday Challenge --Flower Power
Word Art Wednesday--AG
PIP Challenge AG
TTCRD AG

Color Inspiration

Dawn McVey is such a rockstar with color!  She posted this lovely photo on Instagram with the challenge to use the colors in a decorating or crafting project.  I watercolored Reverse Confetti's Peony in a pretty teal and really struggled to incorporate the other colors.  This watercolor panel has been resting in my scrap bin for a while, and it seemed to work. While Dawn's colors are really vivid, mine are definitely pastel versions.  I like the finished look, even if it is a long way from the inspiration piece.

Hope you are safe and well!
Christine

Linking to:
SSS Wednesday Challenge --Flower Power
Word Art Wednesday--AG
PIP Challenge AG
TTCRD AG

Special Delivery

I have so enjoyed Melissa Phillips Friday Feature and Ink to Paper's Project Reach Out. Today, Melissa shared a gorgeous 'special delivery' tag attached to a packet of handmade cards. What  a thoughtful gift that will be paid forward!  Several days ago, I decided that I would bake my son some cookies even if I had to leave them on his porch.  We've not seen each other in five weeks as his wife is a nurse.  I miss them so and want to encourage them a little. Now, their plate of cookies will be just a bit prettier.

Thanks so much for taking a look,
Christine

Linking to Ink To Paper's Project Reach Out
Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge

Happy Bird Day

I wanted to play along with the Bird Themed Challenge on Mod Squad Blog, and this cute feathered fellow from Sweet N Sassy Stamps makes me smile.  I watercolored the image on Bristol paper and mounted it on an inverted scalloped circle die by Lawn Fawn.  A little cloud and cluster of hearts completed the grouping suggested by the Inspired By Challenge sketch.

Lots of crafting fun here! 

Praying for our world,
Christine

Linking to:
Mod Squad Challenge (Birds)
Inspired By Challenge (sketch and gingham)
Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge

Inspired By.....Stripes and Flowers

The Inspired By photo is certainly fabulous!  I have always loved a mix of florals and stripes, and have been itching to play along with this challenge!

I watercolored Reverse Confetti's Peony stamp with Arteza Real Brush markers and layered it over a striped panel created with Altenew's Watercolor Stripes stencil.  It will be shared with a friend who is celebrating during the current stay-at-home time.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Inspired By Challenge
PIP Challenge
Kat Scrappiness (Spring Flowers)
Through the Craft Room Door

Joyful in Hope; Patient in Affliction; Faithful in Prayer

While scrolling through Pinterest the other day, I came across this card by Lori Craig and the idea of CASEing it was firmly planted in my mind.  Fast forward to a need for an encouragement card for one of DH's friends, and this card was the result.  The background is watercolored with Windsor and Newton paints. and the stamped images are  from a Verve set (oh, so sadly retired).

Thanks for taking a look,
Christine

Lining to:
The Cat's Pajamas (Sharing Hope)
Word Art Wednesday A/G)
PIP Challenge (A/G)

Been Missing You

I have enjoyed the inspiration pieces and the themes of Ink to Paper's  Project Reach Out.  Melissa shared a beautiful floral card to kick off the Missing You challenge.  I stamped the solid images of PTI's Floral Sketches with Distress Oxides and followed with white embossing of the details.  Melissa has a wonderful video of the process here.

This card will be in the mail shortly.  There are so many special people that I miss!

Thanks for visiting,
Christine

Linking to:
Ink to Paper--Project Reach Out
Word Art Wednesday
Kat Scrappiness (Spring Flowers)

With Sympathy

When I saw the CTD swatch, I knew I had to play along,  At he same time, we wanted to send a sympathy card to a the family of a sweet elderly friend who passed away a few days ago.  I intended to dig through my card stash for a sympathy card, but loved this bouquet so much,  I decided to add a sympathy sentiment.  It really is fitting, because our friend was a dear, faithful believer who has been released from the pain of an aging body.  I am most sad, though, that the current stay-at-home order keeps us from comforting the family in person.  I hope this card will remind them of the joy their mom brought in life and is now enjoying in heaven.

Hope you have a blessed Easter weekend,
Christine

Linking to:
Color Throwdown
Word Art Wednesday

Sending Hugs

I am playing along with the Ink to Paper "Project Reach Out" challenge.  The theme is rainbow cheer.  I crated the rainbow by inking a watercolor panel with Distress Oxides, lightly spritzing them and cutting them with a Sunny Studios die.  I thought the sun looked a little plain, so I added a face.  I loved the child-like whimsy of a personified sun so much that I uploaded a photo to share with all my students via our virtual lesson platform.  I hope it lets them know how much I miss them.

Hope you are finding some bright spots in your day,
Christine

Linking to:
 Ink to Paper Project Reach Out
Word Art Wednesday
PIP Challenge

Blessings Today and Always

On-line teaching is keeping me busy, but we have been encouraged to step away from the computer.  I did that yesterday evening, creating this little encouragement card with the Atlantic Hearts Sketch. 

We painted and installed new flooring in my craft room right before the Covid epidemic began, so my everything is neatly organized, and it's fun to 'rediscover' some of my supplies.  This card is made of small scraps and two stems from PTI's Bitty Bouquets.  The sentiment was a thank-you tucked into a Verve order.

Have a blessed day,
Christine

Linking to:
Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge
Word Art Wednesday A/G
Mod Squad Challenge (Spring theme)

Floral Birthday

So thankful for a little time to craft.  I am also thankful to be able to work from home, sharing space and internet connection with my husband.  We are well and have what we need, but it seems like our days are filled to the brim. God knows best, and that might be what I need to keep from dwelling on the negative.

At any rate, I've done a bit of card and tag making this weekend, and it brings a bit of normalcy back to life.

This card was created by heat embossing Reverse Confetti's Pretty Peony and coloring it with Arteza markers and a water brush. I love the layering  suggested by the Sunday Stamps sketch!


Linking to:
Sunday Stamps (Sketch)
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Happy Birthday, SSS!)
Word Art Wednesday

Be Still and Know that I am God

I am joining Ink to Paper's Project Reach Out. Wanda's example tags were gorgeous and were attached to such thoughtful little gifts.  This tag was created with the Made With Love 2 Tag dies cut from some pale blue scraps of patterned paper, topped with a favorite scripture, and adorned with a stem from Bitty Bouquets.  I enjoy making setting up my Misti and creating multiples of these tiny, sweet florals to have on hand.  It's a fun way to craft when time is short.

This little bag is perfect for a small sanitizer, and I plan to leave it in the mailbox for our postal carrier.

Have a blessed day,
Christine

Linking to
Project Reach Out
Word Art Wednesday
Mod Squad (spring theme)

Hello

I love Melissa Phillips' Friday Feature on the Ink to Paper blog. This time she's provided a wonderful tutorial for creating a "thinking of you" card to send during this stay-at-home time.  I followed her steps by heat embossing the Loosely Woven background and sponging on pink and yellow inks.  A bunch of Bitty Bouquets  fill the adorable bucket from the Delightful Bunch die collection.  The hello sentiment is also from Bitty Bouquets and was stamped off once to soften the ink.

Prayers for the good health of all. Take care,
Christine

Linking to
Melissa's Fab Friday Feature
Word Art Wednesday
Mod Squad Challenge (spring theme)

A Big Slice of Happy (Birthday)

The abrupt transition to online teaching of my elementary students is keeping me extremely busy.  I am thankful for meaningful tasks during this time of stress and distraction.  We have an extremely significant family birthday this weekend, and it's disappointing to have called off the celebration in honor of this sweet senior citizen.  I know it's for the best, though. 

This fun set of dies and sentiments arrived from My Favorite Things late this afternoon.  It makes a cute birthday card for this important occasion, and I really enjoyed taking a break from planning and grading this evening.

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Word Art Wednesday
SSS Wednesday Challenge (Birthday)

Two-Sheet Wonder--Mojo Monday

I've not done much with OSW cards, but I do save every little scrap and try to use them in future cards.  It's a similar concept....just use all the pieces in one setting when doing either one-sheet- or two-sheet- wonders.

I bent the rules a little on these cards.  I have a gorgeous Authentique pad that includes pink, yellow, and blue patterned papers that mix and match.  The rest of the pad is black and white prints.  I used the last two yellow sheets remaining in the pad for the two card backgrounds.  The other pieces are from the backs of these two sheets and from scraps saved from previous projects. That left a problem with card made from the two "B" panels.  I solved this problem by making a 3 x 4 panel by gluing down strips of various widths. 

All the sentiments came from my beloved Verve Plain Jane collection. It was really fun to use the last bits of these pretty papers, and I am definitely pinning the instructions for this project!

Thanks for stopping by,
Christine

Linking to:
Mojo Monday
Word Art Wednesday