Looking Forward

Hello friends and happy Friday!  Are you ready to say good-bye to 2016?  I can say that I am ready to welcome in a new year.  I do not have a New Year's card to share today, but I do have a couple of new challenge cards to share and a sneak peek of something new that will be released on the first by Our Daily Bread Designs.

First…something new:

Creative Nugget:  Yesterday's Ways To Use It Challenge on Splitcoaststampers was to use a moon on your card because it was the last New Moon of 2016.  I remembered an old email with something similar and was inspired to use this new whimsical wildflower from the A Happy Hello stamp  set being released on the first of the year.  The sky and ocean were masked and sponged with distress inks and the flower stamped.  Copic Markers were used to add a little color and the image was mounted to some new papers also being released.  The sentiment with its mat were cut with Pennant Flags Dies and Double Stitched Pennant Flags Dies.

Sketch Challenge 625 inspired my second card.

Creative Nugget:  Neocolor 2 crayons were colored directly on the Rope Background, spritzed with water, and stamped onto a piece of mixed media paper.  This panel was cut with a Pierced Rectangle Die, cut into two pieces, and stitched back together to create the background.  The Beatitudes was then stamped on the panel.  The hands from Handle With Prayer were white embossed on vellum and cut with the coordinating Praying Hands Die.  The sentiment from Pennant Flag Verses was white embossed on black card stock and cut with a Pennant Flags Die.  A bow of metallic threads and some Nuvo Crystal Drops were added to finish the card.  Thankfully, I do not need a sympathy card at this time, but now have one when needed.

In addition to the challenges mentioned these cards will be submitted for the following challenges:

CAS-ual Fridays CFC164 - Celebrations
Love to Scrap Challenge Blog #92 - Anything Goes
ODBD Shining the Light Challenge #281 - Let's Be Sentimental
Pile It On #123 - Celebrations
The ABC Challenge - V is for Varied
Word Art Wednesday Challenge Week 263 - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by…have a very Happy New Year!
See you in 2017!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Merry Christmas!

Hello friends!  Just wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas, and to thank all of you for your kind comments and support.  I hope you've been inspired and blessed by all of the cards and projects posted this year and I look forward to keeping in touch with you in 2017!

Now…one last Christmas card for 2016 using Scripture Tree, one of my favorite Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Christmas sets.

Creative Nugget:  It was hard to capture the shimmer of the gold and silver embossing powders used on both the Scripture Tree and the Music to My Ears background.  Black acrylic paint was splattered on the background, and silver and gold pearls were added to the tree.  Some gold and silver metallic threads were used to finish the card.  I love how this scripture verse from Matthew expresses the true meaning of Christmas.

This card will be submitted for the following challenges:

A Gem of A Challenge #184 - Anything Christmas Goes

CAS-ual Friday Challenge 163 - Christmas & Hanukkah

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round December Challenge - Anything Christmas/Holiday

Pile It On Challenge #123 - Any Holiday/Celebration

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a wonderful and blessed day celebrating the birth of our Savior!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Take Another Look at the ODBD December 2016 Release

Hello, friends! Today we are taking another look at the Our Daily Bread Designs December 2016 Release.  This beautiful release was all about prayer, blessings, and pennants. The Breadstick Designers have made some beautiful samples using the new December products for your inspiration. 

My sample was made using The Beatitudes and the new Pennant Flag Dies.

Creative Nugget:  The Beatitudes was embossed on Neenah card stock, cut with a Pierced Rectangles Die, and the edges sponged while still in the die.  The papers used for the background, pennants, and floral embellishments are from the Easter Card Collection 2016 and the Pastels Paper Pad.  Pennant Flag Dies and Double Stitched Pennant Flag Dies were used to cut the pennants.  Pretty Posies Dies and Fancy Foliage Dies were used for the floral arrangements.  The card was finished with an organdy bow and some white Nuvo Crystal Drops.

Here are the fabulous new products being released by 

Our Daily Bread Designs this month that were used to make these projects…

…and some old favorites previously released:

To see all of the wonderful projects created with the December Release, hop on over to the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. Then click the links below to see the details for each project. While at each blog, be sure to leave a comment to be eligible to win one of the three fabulous prizes!

Dawn * Kathy * Cathy (ME) * Lisa * Robin * Sandee 

 Julie * Helen * Anita * Diana * Lori * Sabrina 

This card will be entered for the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Week #261 - Anything Goes
Crafting From the Heart Challenge #140 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #323 - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by…Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Cathymac

SaveSave

Look Who's B-a-a-a-ack!

Hello dear friends!  Just had to take a break from creating Christmas cards…(yes, I am still finishing up some last minute cards), to use a new, OLD friend from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  Cocoa is back and is featured in a new stamp set being released tomorrow.  Cocoa Sends Love includes tons of mix and match sentiments perfect for any occasion all through the year.  (Shhhhh!  Even though this set is being released tomorrow, you will find that it is already available at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store!)

Creative Nugget:  The Cocoa image was colored with Copic Markers, fussy cut, and popped in the oval frame with part of the image out-of-the-frame.  The little heart image was repeatedly white embossed on the right side of the card, and the sentiment was split onto the two different panels.  A few Nuvo Crystal Drops were added to finish the card.  The Splitcoaststampers sketch from yesterday was used for the design.  This card could be sent for any occasion, but I will be using it to send to my Valentine!

Be sure to check out the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Face Book page to see more samples using this darling stamp set.

This card will be submitted for the following challenges:

Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge - SC623
Alphabet Challenge - U for Use Something Red
Addicted To Stamps and More Challenge #224 - CAS
Pile It On Challenge #123 - Any Holiday/Celebration (Valentine's Day)

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

Hugs,
Cathymac

Aaaaaa-Choo!

Hello, friends!  'Tis the Season…not only for Christmas, but also colds and allergies!  Some how I've managed to catch one, a cold that is...first one in a lo-o-o-o-ong time.  What to do when you're feeling under the weather...Pray to get over it soon of course…and create!  

Creative Nugget:  The Freshly Made Sketch for this week made this card come together quickly.  The beautiful Blushing Rose papers are from Our Daily Bread Designs as well as all of the stamps and dies.  The praying hands are from Handle With Prayer and were colored with Copic Markers and cut with the coordinating Praying Hands Die.  A new Pennant Flag Die was used to cut the white embossed sentiment and the Praying Border die cut was added.  Pretty Posies Dies and a Fancy Foliage Die were used to make the floral accent to finish the card.

This card will be entered for the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches - FMS265  (Too late)

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Week #259 - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - TTCRD Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - December

Thanks so much for stopping by..stay healthy!

Hugs,

Cathymac

All About Alphas

Hello friends, stampers, and Bible Journalers…happy Friday! Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is releasing three new fabulous alphabet stamps today that are ideal for card making and Bible Journaling.  Alphabet stamps are perfect for customizing a greeting on your cards…just take a look:

Creative Nugget:  The big chunky letters in the new Shake It Off Caps Alpha were kissed onto the Music to My Ears background to give this joyous message some texture.  The center of the letter "O" was masked so the little heart could be stamped inside.  The adorable snowman and sentiment from the Holiday Hugs stamp set were used to complete this clean and layered card.

All three of the new alphabet stamp sets were used to create this Bible Journal page in the book of Psalms.

Creative Nugget:  The page was prepped with two coats of Dina Wakley clear gesso.  A graduated wash of color was added using Neocolor 2 watercolor crayons.  Distress inks were sponged through three different circle stencils.  The Script Alpha, the Shake It Off Caps Alpha, and the Shake It Off Lowercase Alpha, as well as some hand lettering was added to the page.  The photo frame and the little cameras are from the Capture This Moment stamp set. No matter what we are going through, God is on our side!

Now to make this release even better, the new alphabets as well as all of the other alphabet stamp sets at the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Store, are on sale for the next two weeks…simply add three alphas to your cart and the lowest price alpha will be free.

This page was made with some hand drawing and the Chunky Alpha and the Classy Script Alpha.

The card above will be entered into the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge #183 - Snowmen/Women

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #222 - Make Your Mark

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round December Challenge - Anything Christmas/Holiday

The Card Concept #63 - November 30 -Love & Joy (Clean and Layered)

Thanks so much for joining me today!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Welcome to the ODBD December 2016 Release

Hello friends, and Welcome to the Our Daily Bread Designs Release.  The December 2016 release is all about prayer, blessings, and pennants. The Breadstick Designers have made some beautiful samples using the new products to inspire you!

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 2, 2016 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!

My first sample was made using the new Pennant Flag Verses, the new Pennant Flag Dies, and the Blessings Border Die.

Creative Nugget:  Distress inks were used to water color a background to which the Majestic Medallion die cut was adhered after being cut with a Pierced Rectangle Die.  Paper from the Shabby Rose Collection was stitched to the top and other papers from the same collection were cut with the new Pennant Flag Dies. The larger pennants were matted with card stock cut with the Double Stitched Pennant Flag Dies.  Both sentiments from the Pennant Flag Verses stamp set were white embossed.  The Blessings Border Die was cut, sponged, and popped onto the card along with some little pearls and an organdy bow to finish the card.

My second sample was made using the Handle With Prayer and The Beatitudes stamp sets, and the Praying Border Die on a Lever Card.

Creative Nugget:  The panels of a pre-cut and scored Lever Card were lined with papers from the Christian Faith Collection.  The Beatitudes single was white embossed on a piece of mixed media paper and water colored with distress inks.  The praying hands from the Handle With Prayer stamp set were colored with Copic Markers, cut with the Praying Hands Die and popped onto The Beatitudes panel.  When opened, three other panels are displayed.

One of the sentiments from the Handle With Prayer stamp set was stamped onto a water colored panel, cut with a Squares Die, and matted with blue card stock cut with a Pierced Squares Die.  The Praying Border die cut was sponged while still in the die to add dimension and mounted to the last panel.  Pearls and a bow were added to finish the card.

Here are the fabulous new products being released by 

Our Daily Bread Designs this month that were used to make these projects…

…and some old favorites previously released:

To see all of the wonderful projects created with the December Release, hop on over to the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. Then click the links below to see the details for each project. While at each blog, be sure to leave a comment to be eligible to win one of the three fabulous prizes!

Cathy (ME) * Grace * Kathy * Robin * Lisa * Dawn

 Sandee * Angie * Julie * Sabrina * Chris 

 Diana * Lori * Anita * Helen 

Thanks so much for stopping by…hope you are inspired by the hop and have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Cathymac

Jesus is the Reason

Hello, friends!  I Hope all those in the U.S. had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Now that the count down to Christmas can begin in earnest, it's important to remember the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place.  I have just a quick card to illustrate the real reason for the season.

Creative Nugget:  All papers stamps and dies used to create this Christmas card are from Our Daily Bread Designs.  Papers from the Christmas 2013 Collection were used to create the background for The Babe image that was colored with Copic Markers.  Each paper layer was cut with Pierced Rectangles Dies and matted with black card stock.  The new Jesus Loves You Stamp & Die Duo was used to create the sentiment and the star.  A gold glitter pen and Wink of Stella were used to add some shimmer and finish the card.

This card will be submitted for the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Week #258 - Anything Goes
Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #221 - Anything Goes
Try it on Tuesday - Layer it Up
Time Out Challenges # 71 - Christmas with an Optional Twist of Glitter/Shimmer

Thanks so much for joining me today...have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Looking Back at the ODBD November 2016 Release

Hello friends!  Today we are taking another look at the Our Daily Bread Designs November 2016 Release.  Christmas is creeping up on us and today we have some more beautiful Christmas inspiration for you made with the new products released this month by ODBD.

Here is my card using Jingle Bell Time, Christmas Ornament, and the Holly Jolly Paper Collection:

Creative Nugget:  The pre-cut and scored Lever Card base was layered with red card stock and papers from the Holly Jolly Collection.  The bells from the Jingle Bell Time stamp set were colored with Copic Markers and some gold glimmer glaze was splattered on for some shimmer.  The sentiment was cut with a Pierced Rectangle Die.

The Merry Christmas Border Die was cut and layered three times and adhered to the third panel.  Sentiments from the Christmas Ornament stamp set were cut with Rectangles Dies and one of the Snow Crystals die cuts was added to finish the fourth panel.

Here are the stamps and dies from the ODBD November release used to make this card: 

To see all of the wonderful Christmas creations stop by the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog.  Then click on the links below to see all the details for each project.

Sandee * Helen * Cathy * Kathy* Julie 

 Dawn * Lori * Robin * Sabrina * Anita * Diana

This card will be submitted for the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Week #257 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #320 - Add Gems/Pearls
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
The Paper Players #321 - Colour Challenge
Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #220 - Photo Inspiration

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

Hugs,
Cathymac