Punched Windows

This is an interesting design which doesn't show up too well in a photo.  The Elegant Soirée Designer Series paper is stamped with three birds from the new Level 1 Hostess set, Punch Potpourri, in Night of Navy. The paper is then punched with the 1-3/8" circle punch, to create holes in the background. The coordinating Confetti Cream cardstock scrap is stamped with the bird, then punched out with the Two-Step Bird Extra-Large punch. The body of the bird is inserted BEHIND the punched circle, aligning the stamped image from the front of the card with the punched image, then glued under the designer paper.  The wing is added afterwards, using a Dimensional.  Leaves are punched and added to the greeting tag, which was stamped using the Level 3 Occasional Quotes Hostess set and tied on using 1/4" Early Espresso grossgrain ribbon. Cardstocks used are Crumb Cake, River Rock and Baja Breeze.

Wonderful Wheels

I volunteered to demonstrate the world of stamping wheels at a one-day stamping event in September and have been busy making related samples.  I've used the new Color Coach for coordinating the colour combinations as well.  Hope you like the outcome!

This first card is the Sweet Set combination of Baja Breeze, More Mustard and Cherry Cobbler. The sponged Glossy White paper was wheeled with Versamark ink first using the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel. The Daffodil Delight 1/8" ribbon and Elegant Soirée designer paper help to focus the eye on the brilliant hues of the sponged effect.  The greeting is from the Inspired by Nature stamp set.

The next card uses the Sweet Set combination for Cherry Cobbler, with corresponding Pumpkin Pie and Night of Navy. The Bear Tracks standard wheel is wheel on gold coloured polymer clay which is then baked before being mounted. The background has been stamped with the new Confetti background stamp in Cherry Cobbler.  The greeting is punched out using the Modern Label Extra Large punch, mounted with Navy brads.

The Build-a-Wheel is a new feature that was introduced in the Summer Mini Catalogue, which I've grown to LOVE!  This effect, which I call "Skewed Wheeling" was achieved using the stars and congratulations wheels, with a spacer filling out the last space for a 3rd wheel, Versamark ink loaded in the wheel cartridge, and gold and silver embossing.  The greeting was stamped from the Occasional Quotes hostess set and punched out with the scallop circle punch.  The cardstock is Nearly Navy, Baja Breeze and Whisper White.

Wheels are very versatile!  To the right, the envelope and stationery pages have been wheeled using the Whimsey Jumbo wheel, then coloured with coordinating markers to coordinate with the Creative Combination of River Rock, Not Quite Navy and Tangerine Tango. Colours don't look the same as in person!

Wrapping paper is easy to create in order to coordinate your card, the greeting, the scrapbook page and the greeting. The paper was wheeled with the Baby Tees Jumbo wheel in Night of Navy, the the band was wheeled using the Build-a-Wheel "Congratulations" wheel. A little white grossgrain ribbon finishes the effect. The same wheel is used on the 6"x6" scrapbook page with the baby's first photo, in Bashful Blue Sweet Set combo, with Certainly Celery and Chocolate Chip. The wheel is also used on a scrap of Whisper White, which is coloured with matching markers, then cut out and mounted using dimensionals, directly over the same wheeled image.

One of the great border effects you can achieve with wheels is a mitred corner. It looks like you never lifted the wheel!  This happy card uses the Getting Started Combination, with So Saffron replacing Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy and Old Olive. The stamp set is Just Buzzin' By, with the Bees and Blossoms Builder Wheel.

Place sticky notes in the upper and lower corners of the cardstock you wish to wheel at 45 degree angles.  These act as masks for the wheel. Using the Wheel Guide to guide the wheel with the desired space from the edge of the cardstock, wheel across the top and bottom of the card. Now switch the sticky notes to lay at 45 degrees, lining up the wheeled images you’ve already completed. Reset the Wheel Guide to the new location and wheel the remaining sides. Be careful to keep the wheeled images all going the same direction e.g. if you are wheeling snowmen, make sure their heads are either all to the outside of the card or all to the inside! Remove the sticky notes.

The card to the right in Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White uses the Wheeled Shadow effect.  Being aware of the exact place you are starting to wheel (use rubber seam), roll your primary colour. Clean wheel thoroughly. Use coordinating colour and the wheel set to just a fraction behind where you started before, wheel the second colour over the first for a shadow effect.  Don't be frustrated if you don't get it right the first time. This card took me 5 attempts before I got it right!  Curvy Verses greeting is stamped on the bottom right-hand corner for a lovely Wedding card effect.

Christmas isn't something we think about often in August, but I want to get a head start!  This box is die-cut using the Big Shot, then wheeled with the Whimsey Jumbo wheel using Whisper White craft ink. The greeting is stamped using the Perfect Punches set, then punched out using the scallop circle punch. Taffeta white ribbon and silver cording completes the look.

The final card uses the Sweet Set combination of Melon Mambo, River Rock (instead of Old Olive, to tone it down a little) and Elegant Eggplant. The Whimsey Jumbo wheel is stamped with Versamark Ink, then embossed with clear embossing powder. The Delightful Decorations and Tree Trimmings stamp sets are used, along with the coordinating punch and they are mounted with Dimensionals and embellished with gold cording for a great effect.  Thinking Christmas yet?

Beautiful Christian Sister

 I found this poem when looking for some encouraging words for a friend who didn't get the job she applied for closer to her family...I can't send it to her, but thought I'd share it with you!  It's from: http://howtoencourage.blogspot.com/

BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER

                  by Maya Angelou

                  'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
                  that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'


                  When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm
                  clean livin''
                  I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and
                  forgiven.'

                  When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this
                  with pride.
                  I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my
                  guide.

                  When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be
                  strong.
                  I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to
                  carry on.

                  When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of
                  success.
                  I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my
                  mess.

                  When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to
                  be perfect,
                  My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am
                  worth it.

                  When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the
                  sting of pain..
                  I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His
                  name.

                  When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than
                  thou,
                  I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good
                  grace, somehow!

          Pretty is as Pretty does... but beautiful is just
                  plain beautiful!

From another encourager:  

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning how to dance in the rain.