And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness
and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Bless Your Heart

Hello friends and happy Saturday!  Since I don't have to work this Saturday, I found myself with some stamping time this morning!  The card I made is a sneak peek of some beautiful new heart stamps, dies, and sentiments being released by Our Daily Bread Designs on February 1st. These stamp sets are perfect for Valentines, encouragement, wedding cards, or just to express your love any time of the year.  The best news is they are available now in the Our Daily Bread Designs Store as a Pre-Order!



Here is a card I made with the Bless Your Heart Stamp set and the Ornate Heart Dies:


Creative Nugget:  My card was inspired by this Prayer Journal Cover on the Integrity Graphics site.  The Deuteronomy 6:5 scripture verse, from the Scripture Series 3 stamp set, was embossed on the Fancy Pants designer paper.  This panel was stitched to Vintage Cream card stock and mounted on a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" Cherry Cobbler card base.  The top and bottom hearts were embossed on the same paper and cut with the Ornate Hearts Dies. The large heart in the middle was cut from coordinating papers also using the Ornate Hearts Dies.  The hearts were hung from the top of the card with twine.  A loopy bow and a pearl were aded to finish the card.

I just love this scripture verse.  It is only because the Lord loves us that we are able to love Him and others…We love Him because He first loved us! (1 John 4:19)

This card will be entered into the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday #116 - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Have a blessed day!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Joy in a Jar

Hello friends!  Wouldn't it be marvelous if you really could buy joy in a jar?  Unfortunately that's not possible, but there is a source of joy that is unspeakable, boundless, and no one in this world can take it away from you!  It is the joy that the Lord gives to us when we enter into a right relationship with Him!   Just knowing what the Lord has done for us puts joy in our hearts that circumstances cannot quench.


"Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."  (Nehemiah 8:10)

Here is my card:


Creative Nugget:  The card front was embossed with the ODBD Custom Quatrefoil Pattern Die and mounted on a Solar Crest card base.  Spellbinders Classic Scallop and Classic Petal Edgeabilities Dies were combined to form the lacy border down the front of the card.  The Apothecary Bottle was die cut, stamped and colored with Copic Markers.  Some Glossy Accents was added to the bottle to make it look more like glass.  The Joy in a Jar label was die cut, stamped and colored, and added while the Glossy Accents was still wet.  A bow and some pearls finish the card.

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





This card will be entered into the following challenges:
Splitcoaststampers: CAS256 (use scallops)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Lavender CASE

Good morning, everyone!  Happy Sunday to you all!  I had a chance to do some stamping this morning and thought I'd check out the Featured Stamper Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  So glad I did because Tina DeLong (AKA Garden Diva) has a wonderful gallery, AND I found THIS beautiful card using Our Daily Bread Designs gorgeous new Lavender stamp set.
  
Here is my Lavender CASE card:
Creative Nugget:  I just love these colors together!  When I went to grab a piece of mixed media paper, I saw this scrap made with distress inks that I had decided not to use on another project…it was perfect for this one!  The Vine Background was stamped on it with Bamboo Leaves ink.  This was stitched to some Elegant Eggplant card stock.  The white panel was cut and embossed using Spellbinders A2 Curved Borders 2.  The Lavender was stamped with Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic Markers.  It was cut with a SB Opulent Ovals Die and mounted to a Gold Labels Four die.  The little tag was hand cut and stamped with a sentiment from the Ornate Borders Sentiment set.  Pearls, ribbon, and twine finish off the card.

The sketch is from this week's 

These supplies from the Our Daily Bread Designs Store 
were used to make this card:


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Friday, January 17, 2014

Taking Another Look at the ODBD January Release

Today we're taking a look back at the Our Daily Bread Designs January Release.  The card sample I created uses the Apothecary Bottles, Joy in a Jar, and Lavender stamp sets as well as the Apothecary Bottles and Antique Labels & Border Dies.



Creative Nugget:  The background for this card was made with the Faux Silk technique.  The little sprigs of Lavender were randomly stamped on tissue paper.  The Tissue paper was then scrunched up in a ball, flattened out, and glued to Solar Crest card stock.  Copic Markers were used to color the lavender sprigs as well as the labels on the bottles.  Bo Bunny DP and the Faux Silk panels were stitched to lavender card stock and mounted on a Solar Crest card base.  The Apothecary Bottles were popped up with foam tape.  Jute was tied around the one bottle and beads were added to the other one.  Some lace and ribbon were added to complete the card.  

Here are the Our Daily Bread Designs supplies 
used on my sample:





For more inspiration using these gorgeous sets as well as the Canning Jars and Jar Fillers sets, visit the ODBD Blog!  More details about each card can be seen on the blogs of my talented Sister Sticks.  Be sure to check them out…the cards and projects made with this release are gorgeous!


Chris * Cathy * Lori * Grace * Julie * Dawn * Sabrina 
 Sandee * Wanda 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Monarch Dies

Hello, sweet friends!  If you like butterflies, you will love Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps final feature blog hop for the January release!


Welcome to Day 5


Today's feature is:


•Die set includes 6 dies
•Dies range from approximately 3/4" x 1" to approximately 2.25" x 2.75"
•Dies coordinate with the Majestic Monarchs Clear Stamp Set
•Designed by Korin Sutherland
•Die set - $14.75

I sponged a background to create a scene for the perfect setting for my butterflies.


Creative Nugget: The background was sponged with Memento inks, fading the sponging into the right side of the card to allow space to stamp the sentiment from the Majestic Monarch stamp set.  Several foliage stamps from Nature Silhouettes were double stamped in versa fine Onyx Black creating a shadow effect.  I saw a technique on Splitcoaststampers for making clouds with acrylic paint and your finger and thought I'd give it a try.  I really like how they turned out, and will probably use this technique a lot!  The Fence Die was added along with the Majestic Monarchs.   The new Monarch Dies were actually cut about five times and glued together to create depth.  Only the top layer was stamped and colored with Copic Markers...LOVE these new dies!  The card front was attached to True Black card stock and mounted to a Solar Crest card base.

Check out some of the fabulous samples made by our talented DT starting on our SNSS BLOG.

Be sure to leave a comment of each of the blogs along your journey because we're giving away (5) $15 store credits (1 winner will be chosen from each of the 5 blog hops). 

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Friday, January 17th. The list of winners will be announced on our website homepage by Monday, January, 20th

Thank you so much for joining us for the past five days!  I hope you've been inspired by each of the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Feature Blog Hops for the January Release.
Enjoy the hop today and have a blessed Wednesday!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

God is Bigger

Hello, Sweet 'n Sassy friends!  I hope you've been enjoying the January Release Feature Hops!  You're in for a real treat again today.  I love sentiment sets…especially those that remind us of God's ability to take care of any circumstance in which we happen to find ourselves.  This new stamp set does just that…and more!

Welcome to Day 4


Today's feature is

•Clear stamp set includes 24 sentiments
•Set measures approximately 4" x 6"
•Longest sentiment measures approximately 2/8" x 2.5"
•Designed by Korin Sutherland
•Stamp set - $15

Here is my clean and simple sample for this encouraging stamp set:


Creative Nugget: The inspiration for this card came from a sketch on the Freshly Made Sketches Blog.  Banners were cut from Bo Bunny and Cosmo Cricket designer papers and stitched to the card front.  The sentiment from the God is Bigger stamp set was stamped and attached above the DP banners.  I thought a butterfly was the perfect accent for this sentiment.  Two sizes of the Majestic Monarchs were stamped on sponged card stock, cut with the new Monarch Dies which we will be featuring tomorrow, and layered onto the card.

Check out more fabulous samples made by our talented DT starting on our SNSS Blog.

Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs along your journey because we're giving away (5) $15 store credits (1 winner will be chosen from each of the 5 blog hops). 

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Friday, January 17th. The list of winners will be announced on our website homepage by Monday, January, 20th

Thanks so much for joining us! 
Enjoy the hop!

Hugs,
Cathymac

Monday, January 13, 2014

Valentine Critters

Thanks so much for coming back to join us for more of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps January Feature Hops!

Welcome to Day 3


Today's feature is:
You will love all of the adorable critters included in this fun Valentine stamp set!

•Clear stamp set includes 6 images and 10 sentiments
•Set measures approximately 6" x 8"
•Bunny image measures approximately 2.25" x 2.5" 
•Elephant image measures approximately 2.75" x 2.25"
•Designed by Diane Zechman
•Stamp set - $26

I had so much fun with this set, I have two projects to share with you!


Creative Nugget:  By now you probably recognize that background…it's the Leafy Flourish Background stamped with Versafine Crimson Red ink on Solar Crest card stock.  The two panels across the top used the flourish border included in the set. They were attached by stitching them only at the sides so the magnetic bookmark could be slipped onto the card.


The bookmark was created with the Bookmark Die cut on a folded piece of Cherry Cobbler card stock so that edge of the die extended above the fold line.  A layer of Solar Crest card stock was added to the top layer of the bookmark on which the sentiment was stamped.  A Spellbinders Scalloped Heart was attached at the bottom, and the adorable puppy was colored with Copic Markers, fussy cut, and attached to the heart.  The hearts are from the Elephant's balloons and were colored, fussy cut, and covered with Glossy Accents.  Positive and negative magnets were glued to the inside of the bookmark at the bottom to help keep the bookmark on the right page of your book.

When I saw THIS tutorial on Splitcoaststampers, I knew that the new Valentine Critters stamp set would be perfect for creating this fun pop-up box!


Creative Nugget:  The panels of the box are layered with Graphic 45 designer papers and True Black card stock.  The bunny was colored with Copic Markers, fussy cut, and popped onto the box. His little heart was paper pieced.  The sentiment was stamped on a hand cut banner.  The ribbon holds the box together, so when you untie the ribbon….


the flaps fold down and out pops the cutest little teddy bear along with several layered hearts...some spellbinders and some Heart Dies by SNSS.  Two of the hearts are on strips of acetate so they wiggle!  LOL!


Check out some of the fabulous samples made by our talented DT starting on our SNSS Blog.

Be sure to leave a comment of each of the blogs along your journey because we're giving away (5) $15 store credits (1 winner will be chosen from each of the 5 blog hops). 

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Friday, January 17th. The list of winners will be announced on our website homepage by Monday, January, 20th

Thanks so much for joining us! 
Enjoy the hop!


Hugs,
Cathymac


Sunday, January 12, 2014

The Future

Hello again, sweet friends!  Didn't you just love the samples on yesterday's Blog Hop!  Get ready for more of the same today!


Welcome to Day 2 
of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps January Feature Blog Hops!


Today's feature is:
•Clear stamp set includes 10 sentiments
•Set measures approximately 4" x 6"
•Largest sentiment measures approximately 2" x 2"
•Designed by Korin Sutherland
•Stamp set - $15



Here is my sample using The Future AND 


Creative Nugget:  All of the panels on this card were made by coloring different colors of Gelatos right on the Leafy Flourish Background stamp.  Then the stamp was lightly spritzed with water and stamped onto Mixed Media paper.  Each panel was cut so that the design of the stamp would match up on each layer.  Each layer was then stitched to True Black card stock.  The sentiment from The Future was stamped in Jet Black Archival ink and cut with one of the Bookmarks & More Dies.  The little scalloped border is also from the same set of dies. Pearls were colored with Copics to match and scattered on the card.  A gingham bow finished off the card. 

Check out more fabulous samples made by our talented DT starting on our SNSS Blog.

Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs along your journey because we're giving away (5) $15 store credits (1 winner will be chosen from each of the 5 blog hops). 

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Friday, January 17th. The list of winners will be announced on our website homepage by Monday, January, 20th

Thanks so much for joining us! 
Enjoy the hop!


Hugs,
Cathymac

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Leafy Flourish

Hello friends!  I hope you've managed to survive the deep freeze that hit much of the country at the beginning of the week.  Things have thawed out dramatically here, and we're actually experiencing milder than average temperatures as we head into the weekend.  It's still a little chilly, so grab your favorite hot beverage and get ready for some awesome eye candy as we begin the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Feature Blog Hops for the January Release…

Welcome to DAY 1

Today's feature is:

This stamp set is perfect for adding a bit of elegance or whimsy to your card projects.  It's also perfect for so many gorgeous background techniques as you will see as you browse the fabulous projects on the hop today!


•Clear Stamp set includes 7 images
•Set measures approximately 6" x 8"
•Large Background image measures approximately 4.5" x 6"
•Designed by Korin Sutherland
•Stamp set - $26

Here is my sample using this beautiful new stamp set:


Creative Nugget: The Leafy Flourish Background was simply stamped right on the KaiserCraft designer paper using Versafine Onyx Black ink and stitched to some True Black card stock.  More of the DP was cut with one of the Bookmarks & More Dies and sponged around the edges.  The sentiment from Long Stem Silhouettes was stamped on Vintage Cream and punched out with an Oval Punch.  Some netting was tied in a bow and attached along with a few black pearls.  This panel was mounted on a Vintage Cream card base to finish the card.  Very easy, but elegant…don't you think?

Check out some of the fabulous samples made by our talented DT starting on our SNSS Blog.

Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs along your journey because we're giving away (5) $15 store credits (1 winner will be chosen from each of the 5 blog hops). 

The deadline to comment for a chance to win is midnight EST Friday, January 17th. The list of winners will be announced on our website homepage by Monday, January, 20th

Thanks so much for joining us! 
Enjoy the hop!


Hugs,
Cathymac

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

ODBD January 2014 Release

Happy New Year, everyone!  I'm not sure where 2013 went, but I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2014!  May you have a blessed new year as well!
  
To start off the new year, Our Daily Bread Designs has a gorgeous new release for you…five new stamp sets and one new die set perfect for gift giving and encouragement.  In addition, we are also featuring a stamp set and a die set previously released that coordinate with two of the new sets.
  
Once again, the design team has put together some gorgeous samples using the new sets.  To see these samples all in one place start at the Our Daily Bread Designs Blog.  Then to view the projects more closely and see more of the card details, click on each designer's blog link below. Leave comments as you visit each site because three winners will be randomly chosen from the comments left on the blogs to receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the ODBD Store to be used toward the purchase of ODBD stamps.  You have until January 2, 2014 at 9:00 p.m. EST to make your comments! The winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on January 3rd, so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

Here is my first card made with the Apothecary Bottles and Joy in a Jar stamp sets and the coordinating Apothecary Bottles Dies:  

Creative Nugget: The background on this card was created by inking up the Gingham Background with one color and stamping onto Solar Crest card stock.  The second color was stamped a little to the left and up to achieve the two-toned look.  The Spellbinder Heart Circle Die was cut out of this piece, then stitched back into place like the piece of a puzzle.  The label on the apothecary jar was cut with the Antique Labels & Border Dies which coordinate beautifully with these sets.  Some Fancy Foliage Dies and the corner from the Ornate Borders & Flower Dies were added to finish the card.

And here is my second sample made with the Lavender stamp set:

Creative Nugget:  The bottom of this card was cut and embossed with the Spellbinders A2 Scalloped Border Die.  The same die was used on the embossed Solar Crest layer and on the matching strip of Designer Paper.   Lace, pearls, and a layered bow were added to complete the vintage look.

Here are the stamp sets and dies from the ODBD Store used to make these samples:


Here are the blog links to all of my talented Sister Sticks!

Grace * Chris Cathy * Sandee * Dawn * Lori  
Julie * Sabrina * Wanda Lisa * Angie * Audrey

Thanks so much for stopping by…hope you've been inspired by your visit! 
Have a wonderful day!

Hugs,
Cathymac