Birthday Collage

Hello friends!  Hope you all had a very merry Christmas!  It is my wish that the spirit of Christmas lives on throughout the new year.  After all…once we know the Savior, He changes our lives and leads us each and every day.

One of the first celebrations of the new year for my family is the birthday of my DH and his twin brother the day after New Year's.  I found inspiration for my brother-in-law's birthday card in the gallery of Nancy Stislow (Stiz2003), who always encourages me with her sweet comments on Splitcoaststampers.  So my card for today is a CASE of THIS ONE made by Nancy.

Creative Nugget:  Seedless Preserves, Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers Distress inks were smeared on a craft sheet and spritzed with water.  These colors were smeared on a piece of mixed media paper and spritzed some more to create the background for my collage card.   Out came lots of Our Daily Bread Designs stamp sets to add to the collage…Admit Three, one of the new sets released in December, God's Timing, Time, Faithful Friend (Retired), Ornate Borders and Flowers, Bee Happy, Lattice Chalkboard Background, and Grunge Butterfly.  The dragonfly image was stamped again, coated with Wink of Stella and Glossy Accents, and popped up for dimension.  This panel was stitched to True Black card stock and adhered to a black mat and a Neenah Solar Crest card base.  Some black metallic thread was strung through the eyelets from which two charms cut with the new Mini Tags Dies were hung.  The sentiment was stamped along the side and a few splatters of acrylic paint finish the card.  Hope my BIL likes his card!

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Splitcoaststampers Free 4 All - F4A253

Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes Challenge # 163

Thanks so much for stopping by…have a wonderful Lord's Day!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Honey of a Bear

Hello Blogger friends!  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has been reviewing some of the stamp sets released during 2014, so I have two cards to share with you made from stamp sets that have been featured so far this week.  The first was made with Beary Bountiful Autumn, the feature for today.

Creative Nugget: The colors for today's Color Challenge on Splitcoaststampers were perfect for my card…Hello Honey, Black, and White.  I also used the MOJO Monday Sketch for this week to help with the design.  The hexagon from the Shape Up stamp set was inked in So Saffron and Hello Honey and spritzed with water before stamping on Mixed Media Paper.  Modeling Paste and a Heidi Swapp stencil  were used to add texture to the background. The Skeleton Leaf Background was clear embossed on Hello Honey card stock for the second panel.  Apple picking Rhubarb was colored with Copics and cut with a Circle Nestie.  A sentiment from the Beary Bountiful Autumn set, a Doily Border die cut, and some seam binding finish the card.  Here is the MOJO377 sketch that was used:

My second card was made with From Cocoa's Kitchen which was featured yesterday on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog.

Creative Nugget:  The apron from the Baked for You Die Set was used for the apron shape on the front of this card.  The pockets were made with a corner rounder, a circle punch, and a Doily Border die cut.  Chef Cocoa was colored three times with Copic Markers and different parts of him were fussy cut and popped up for dimension.

Here are the featured stamp sets that were used for my cards today: 

Be sure to check out all of the featured stamp sets and dies on SALE at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store until the end of the year…now that is coming faster than I like to think!

Thanks so much for stopping by…only two days until Christmas!  Have a wonderful day!

Hugs,
Cathymac

From Our House to Yours

Hello crafty friends!  Christmas is drawing ever nearer and there is still so much to do, but I have a quick card to share with you today.

What do you get when you combine a Splitcoaststampers Ways to Use It Challenge, a Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps feature, and a Mojo Monday Sketch?  This snowy ornament card with a merry Christmas wish from our house to yours!

Creative Nugget: The snowy backgrounds on this card were made by sponging Cool Caribbean and Marina Mist inks on pieces of Neenah Solar crest card stock and then splattering the panels with watered down white acrylic paint.  The new Hillside Edges Dies by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps were used to create the snowy drifts.  The little houses on the dies coordinate perfectly with the houses in the Happy Home stamp set which was featured on Thursday on the Sweet 'n Sassy Blog.  The ornament was made with circle dies by Our Daily Bread Designs.  A little Copic coloring, seam binding, and metallic thread were added to finish the card which was designed using this week's Mojo Monday Sketch!

These supplies from Sweet'n Sassy Stamps were used to make this card:

Here is the Mojo Monday sketch:

Thanks so much for stopping by…I'm off to wrap some gifts!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Taking a Look Back at the ODBD December 2014 Release

Welcome, my friends!  Today we are taking a look back at Our Daily Bread Designs December 2014 Release.  The small tags and tickets released this month are perfect for adding just the right little sentiment to all of your card projects!  

I have been wanting to try a Pop-Up Book Card as seen on THIS tutorial on Splitcoaststampers for a while, so decided to take this opportunity to make one using the new Patriotic Paper Collection as a theme for my birthday card.

Creative Nugget:  After making the card fold,  the fun of using the Patriotic Collection papers began!  Two of the patterns were stitched together to form the front of the card.  These papers were the perfect base for adding so many of the new Mini Tag Sentiments,  Patriotic Pennants, and Shine On stars!  Love the Pennant Dies and the Pennant Row Dies…these were used to make the swag across the top of the card.  Couldn't resist adding a few gems for a little sparkle and shine!

Creative Nugget:  When you open the card, the book inside pops up!  A sentiment from the Reach for the Stars stamp set was stamped on a Vintage Label for one side of the book.  The eagle from the Some Gave All stamp set is bringing lots of hugs to the recipient and was added to the other side of the book.  The Mini Tags Dies were perfect for adding Admit One and Admit Three tickets with little messages from the Mini Tag Sentiments set!  A scattering of Sparkling Stars die cuts were added to finish the card which will be for my DH who is a United States Veteran.  I was amazed to see how many products were used to make this card, but everything coordinated so beautifully…(it's all still on my desk and now the task of putting it all away begins!  LOL)

Here are the December Release products available at the Our Daily Bread Designs Store that were used on my Pop-Up Box card:

Other ODBD products used:

Be sure to check the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog for more beautiful cards created by the talented Breadsticks!  To see the details of each project, click on the blog links below. 

Julie * Chris * Lori * Dawn * Sandee * Paula 

Cathy (ME) * Wanda * Stacy * Sabrina  

Gracie (Guest Designer)

Thanks so much for stopping by..have a blessed day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Christmas Gate

Hello friends!  I have a simple but elegant Christmas card to share with you today!  This may be my last Christmas card for 2014!  Now…to begin working on next year!

On Saturday, Audrie sent us to the Pendleton site for the Inspiration Challenge! I found an elegant black and white sweater with gold buttons and that inspired my card.

Creative Nugget:  This card is pretty straight forward…The Gate and the sentiments from the Let It Snow stamp sets were embossed with clear and gold embossing powders.  A VersaMark pad was used to ink up the edges of the Vintage Cream layers so they could also be gold embossed.  To get the gold on the ODBD Custom Beautiful Border to match, a piece of card stock was gold embossed before cutting it with the die. REMEMBER to use wax paper when cutting embossed card stock so the die cut does not stick to the die…ask me how I know!  A little gold pearl on the gate and some metallic gold thread finish the card.  The design of the card follows the Freshly Made Sketch for this week.

Here are the supplies from the Our Daily Bread Designs Store used to make this card:

Here is Freshly Made Sketches 166:

Thanks so much for stopping by…have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Remember This!

Hello friends!  Today on the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Blog, the What's Up? stamp set and coordinating Arrow Dies are being featured.  The arrows and the sentiments in the stamp set are perfect for making a point or drawing attention to an element on the card.  I thought it would be important in this busy season to take time to remember what the hustle and bustle is really all about.

Creative Nugget: I wanted to use the colors from the Color Challenge on Splitcoaststampers for today and this little manger scene from the Born this Day stamp set was perfect.  The image was colored with Copic Markers and framed with a panel impressed with a wood grain texture.  The Tim Holtz Faded Dots stencil was used to sponge some Pool Party and Crumb Cake ink on a half panel.  A few splatters of Chocolate Chip and some of the arrow images from the What's Up? stamp set were stamped onto this panel.  The popped up arrows were cut with the matching Arrow Dies and point to the scene which reminds us that the birth of Jesus is what we are celebrating at Christmas time!  
The Mojo Monday sketch for this week was used for the design of the card.

Here are the supplies from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store that were used to make this card:

Here is the Mojo Monday sketch that was used for the design:

Thanks so much for stopping by…have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

ODBDSCL219 Color Block Sled

Hello friends...hope you had a wonderful weekend.  One of my favorite challenges is the Featured Stamper Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  I learn so much from CASE-ing all of the talented stampers that are chosen for this honor. Yesterday's featured stamper was Sara Hoogendoorn and I found her Sympathy card to CASE.  Since the Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge was to create a Christmas card using ODBD stamps, her sympathy card was turned into this Christmas card:

Creative Nugget: The beautiful sled image from the new Let It Snow stamp set released by Our Daily Bread Designs earlier this month was simply stamped on a panel of Neehah Solar Crest card stock.  The graduated color block panel was sponged with different hues of blue and purple Memento inks before stamping the sled again to match up with the sled stamped on the Neenah panel thus highlighting only a portion of the sled.  Acrylic paint splatters and Shimmer Mist create a snowy background for the sled.  The gold jingle bells were embossed to make them white and were hung from the greenery on the sled image along with a metallic thread bow.  I found a pretty Christmas sentiment in the Poinsettia Wreath stamp set that fit the small space on my card.  A bow and some rhinestones finish the card for a CAS look.

This card will be entered into the following challenges:
Splitcoaststampers - FS409
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge - ODBDSLC219 
     Christmas With ODBD Stamps
Word Art Wednesday - Challenge #161 Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge #86

Thanks so much for stopping by…only 17 more days until Christmas!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Puppy Love

Hello friends!  I have just a quick card to share with you today which came together quickly as a result of combining two challenges.  On Friday, Jeanne, on Splitcoaststampers asked us to take a break from Christmas and make a holiday card…but not a Christmas one.  Right away I thought of Valentine's Day so out came Valentine Critters, the Sweet Perks Club Bundle on sale right now by Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  Then I saw the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches, and got the idea to turn it into a shaker card.

Creative Nugget:  A few splatters from Grunge Elements and acrylic paint made a super quick and easy background for this card.  A heart embossed panel and seed beads were used for the inside of the shaker.  The adorable pup from Valentine Critters was colored with Copic Markers and popped onto the acetate.  Finally, the sentiment was make and stamped in one line rather than two to fit the hand cut banner.  I paws-itively love how this card turned out and hope you do, too!

The following stamp sets from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store were used:

This card is entered in the following challenges:

FMS #165
Splitcoaststampers - F4A Holiday Twist

Thanks for stopping by…have a wonderfully blessed day!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Shape Up for Christmas

Hello friends!  Aaaaack…it's getting too close to Christmas and I have so much to do!  I just heard from a friend that she has already sent out her Christmas cards. Eeeeek..where does the time go?  I was able to get another quick card done this morning with a little help from several challenges.

Creative Nugget:  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is featuring the Shape Up clear stamp set today on their Blog which inspired the background for my card.  The hexagon was inked with a variety of colors and spritzed with water to achieve a watercolor effect. Some black paint splatters were added for a bit of grunge.  The Splitcoaststampers' Way To Use It Challenge for today was to use postal marks or postage stamps, so out came the Vintage Post Card stamp set.  Since I wanted to get another Christmas card finished, out came the Christmas Silhouettes and Christmas Silhouettes Dies.  The design was my sketch from yesterday's Sketch Challenge also at Splitcoaststampers.  I do like the way this all came together and hope that you do, too!

Here are the supplies used from the 

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store that were used:

My card will be entered for the following challenges:

Splitcoaststampers - SC517

Splitcoaststampers - WT508

Weekly Christmas Card Challenge - #53 Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by…have a wonderful day!

Hugs, 

Cathymac

ODBD December 2014 Release

Hello friends!  WOW…what a Release Our Daily Bread Designs has for you this month...Tags and tickets perfect for sending messages for any occasion throughout the year, beautiful gates, and even an old vintage sleigh for last minute Christmas cards!  The Design Team has some awe inspiring samples to share, so be sure to visit all of their blogs!

Three randomly selected winners will each receive a $25 gift certificate to the ODBD Store, to be used toward the purchase of ODBD Stamps found in the "stamps column" of the website just for commenting on the Design Team cards!  You have until December, 2014 at 9:00 p.m. EDT to leave your comments on the Designers' Blogs for a chance to win!  The Winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on December 3rd, so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

Here are two samples using the new release products.

Creative Nugget:  The snowflakes from the Sparkling Snowflakes stamp set and the sled image from the beautiful new Let It Snow stamp set were both stamped in VersaMark ink and embossed with Seafoam White embossing powder on a Kraft panel cut with the Flourished Star Pattern Die.  This panel was matted in Vintage Cream and mounted on a Kraft card base.  The gold jingle bells were rolled in VersaMark ink, embossed with Seafoam White to match, and while still hot, embossed with Clear Sparkle Embossing Glitter for some shimmer.  White metallic thread was used to hang the bells and a bow added.  The sentiment was embossed in Kraft on a ticket which was  cut with the new Mini Tags Dies and mounted to a Kraft postage stamp die cut.  Some cheesecloth was tucked behind the sentiment and a popped up snowflake cut with the Snowflake Die was added to finish the card.

Creative Nugget:  The little snowman scene from the Warm Wishes stamp set was colored with Copic markers and the panel mounted to a Neenah Solar Crest card base.  A frame was created on another panel of Neenah and some True Black card stock by cutting circles with the Circle Ornament Die and the Matting Circle Die.  The sentiment from Let It Snow was embossed along with some Swiss Dots on the frame panel which was popped onto the card with foam tape.  Now the fun of adding the Gilded Gate!  A little wreath was made to hang on the gate using the pine bough from the Fancy Foliage Dies The little heart charms and the little tag were cut with the Mini Tags Dies.  The heart charms were glittered, a Mini Tag Sentiment stamped, and both were hung on the gate to finish the card.

Here are the new supplies available at the 
Our Daily Bread Designs Store that were used to make these samples...

… and some old favorites:

Be sure to head on over to the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog to see all of the fabulous new release inspiration.  To see the projects up close and the details for each amazing creation, click on the links below which will take you to the designers' blogs where you can also leave your comments to be eligible for the prize.

Julie * Chris * Cathy (me) * Lori * Dawn * Sandee 

Paula * Angie * Lisa * Audrey * Silke 

 Wanda * Grace * Gracie (Guest Designer)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Enjoy your day!

Hugs,

Cathymac