JOYFUL LAMB BAPTISM CARDS

We had baptisms in the afternoon at church this Sunday, so it was an extremely busy and tiring day with a service in the morning too and food etc to prepare, but I wouldn't miss a baptism at our church for anything even when I feel so weak and useless as I did yesterday. But at least I had a good reason to make some cards over the weekend LOL

My friend Angeline asked me to make 3 cards for her. The first one was for a male baptism candidate so no bling on this one! I like the texture on this card which was achieved using a Cuttlebug embossing folder...

I used an old rubber stamp by Stampendous (1994) of a very joyful leaping lamb for all three cards. I started with this image and the three cards kind of evolved from there! I cut a template for the clouds from scrap card and sponged the sky with china blue distress ink, the grass was created with a little grass stamp and distress inks, I used my Promarkers to colour the rest of the image and I used a Zig fine pen to create the flying birds.

For this one I used one of my my Marrianne Design Anja oval dies for the background and a punched cross which I added clear gems to, I was gonna add gems to the background but it just didn't look right. Each of the cards had the same computer generated sentiment.

I used my Martha Stewart lace border punch for this one and added some bling, think I will use this layout a lot in future its simple but effective. All three cards were based on a folded A5 white hammer card blank, 

I chose blues and aqua colours on each card (I had water on my mind LOL) 

I love the way each one turned out a little different but had the same image, that's a bit like the three people who were baptised, each of them were individual very different people but they had all found the same God, all filled with joy and so blessed at their baptism. I havent felt well for some time and struggled yesterday with a real lack of strength which to be honest really got to me. but I wouldn't have missed this baptism for anything, it was well worth the extra effort to see how God changes peoples lives.

CHALLENGES

I have entered these cards in the following challenges, although they are very simple cards some of them still meet the criteria, I will share the cards I made for kev and I to give in the next post

SOUTHERN GIRLS CHALLENGE  #56 Animal Crackers

BROWN SUGAR CHALLENGE  #13Anything Goes

FUSSY AND FANCY CHALLENGE  #74 Anything Goes

STAMPIN' FOR THE WEEKEND CHALLENGE  #20 Anything Goes

DO YA STACK UP CHALLENGE #95 Embossing (entering the first card which is embossed)

Psalm 91

Jesus loves me this I know for the bible tells me so.... my dad used to sing that little song to me when I was very young. The bible is the most encouraging, inspiring, amazing book that anyone could ever read. And on top of that, to know the God of the Bible in a living vibrant and personal way is beyond description.

 Sometimes God uses a scripture from the bible to speak deeply within our very spirit, to give us hope, faith and the trust we need to know that even though we are going through a rough time He will be our refuge, our source of strength and peace in the battles of life.

I made this centre step card for a special couple who are going through such a time. But they'rer facing it all with faith, turning to their God for strength and healing.

I am entering this card into some challenges..

'ABC' challenge (all beautiful cards)  New to You! 

well that little Marianne Design bird die is my newest die and my first use of it.

ALLSORTS challenge, they ask for Autumn Colours, well this copper and brown ticks that box!

CHALLENGES4EVERYBODY Anything Goes

The scripture on the front of the card is from a rubber stamp set by Our Daily Bread Designs, they in my opinion produce the best Scripture stamps available worldwide, 

I just wish I could afford more sets!

I wanted to show images of wings in the back ground to represent the feathers (echoing the verse inside the card...He will cover you with His feathers... computer generated)  

I stamped some wings from my psx bluebird and a small eagle stamps onto the front and back of vellum in cocoa brown ink, This allowed the wing image to reverse! then I attached the vellum to the card. 

I used my Spellbinders Parisian accent and motif dies for the copper coloured die cuts, and a scalloped circle for the stamped image.

To finish the card off I used my Marianne Design bird die, I cut it on cream card and used the die as a stencil with the cocoa brown ink, the leaves above are the same die turned round without the little bird.

Pretty Team Teddy Easel Card

I am really getting onto the flow with these easel cards! 

I needed to make a card for my friend Stephanie so here's the card I created for her and the Penny Black & Friends Saturday Challenge for the October challenge they have set a sketch which I have followed...

Embelishments and sentimenrts may be placed wherever I wish but I left it without a sentiment as I think my friend will want to leave this out on show for a while or even frame it!

I started to make this over a week ago but have been poorly and just not well enough to think straight!

I intended this card to be entered into a challenge that called for paper piecing, therefore I pieced the teddy arm, the gift, then the ribbon and bow and the tag on the gift then I used glossy accents on the bow to make the ribbon shine!

Here's the easel card opened up and showing the inside too. I wanted the sweet image of the teddy and the rose paper to really be the focal point of this card so kept embelishments to a minimum.

The image is a Penny Black stamp 3981K Team Teddy, 

I coloured  it with Promarkers. I have only used half of the image, masking off the other little creatures 

as there wasn't enough room for all of them to fit within the circle. 

I love the feminine feel of this card, it's just right for the friend it's intended for!

thanks for looking

I'm a Winner

YAY \o/ just found out that I have won a $10 gift certificate for the StampFairy.com (linked) my forever friends baby easel card was a winner on the  ABC CHALLENGE (linked) Y is for chromosome! male card. I am so pleased, I have been quite poorly this week and this was a nice surprise to cheer me up,  I have been over to the Stamp Fairy blog to take a look at their images, and to my delight they have a doggy that looks just like my Lulu (she is a West Highland Terrier) here's a link to the doggy images so I will choose the one with the ball as one of my purchases. this will make some fab cards to her friends!
Thank You to the ABC Challenge blog design team for choosing my card as one of the winners.

I have just signed up for Pinterest! I was a bit worried at first as it said I gave permission for it to post for me??? but then thought oh well if it gets me some sales in my Etsy shop then its worth it. If anyone has had a real good experience with Pinterest or Etsy I would value some advice please!
I have lowered the prices of most of my cards for a season just to see if it's the price that is stopping sales or that I am using the wrong place for my store. I am creating a very sweet easel card for a friend that will fit a few challenges so hope to be back soon when its finished and photographed
Have a good week everyone and remember don't just be blessed be a blessing too, what goes around comes around my mother used to say! what that really means is you reap what you sow!!!

thanks for popping by

House Mouse Strawberries Easel Card

Kev and I were invited to have a meal with friends from church a couple of weeks ago. Margaret is a fabulous cook and we really enjoyed the food and fellowship. 

When thinking of making a suitable thank you card I couldn't resist this House Mouse stamp as we had strawberries for dessert which were a sheer delight, strawberries are my absolute favourite fruit!

I had fun putting a little red on his lips to represent the strawberries he has eaten lol

I am entering this little easel card over at the  

PENNYBLACKATALLSORTS Challenge blog this months challenge is "AnimalMagic" 

they are asking for guest DT's so fingers crossed!

ANYTHING GOES challenge blog also have animals as their theme so entering this card there too

It's quite a simple card but sometimes less is more! it gave me the chance to try out my three new Promarkers which I bought to colour some robins!

unfortunately the photography isn't that good as it was photographed in very late light

I tried to fix it but it's still not as nice as in real life!

Thanks for looking xx

I am feeling so rough today, I have been having a lot of health issues which have been a real test for me. I have been off work since may and still no sign of returning ;o( Now on top of all that I have a poorly chest now and a cough that will not ease. I have only had just about 1 hours sleep in total in the last 24 hours.
But having said all that I am grateful for the way my God has brought me closer to Him. I'ts been a real storm for us, like a whirlwind disrupting everything and bringing chaos. Kev's arm is broken it's an old fracture that has not mended and needs an operation and because of it he lost his job! finances have been a struggle but we are trusting God in it all.  all I can say is "thank you God" for placing us in a good loving supporting church where we can be who we are and accepted and loved and encouraged to trust God in all circumstances! that reminds me... I heard a comment on UCB radio which really spoke into the situation. it went  something like this....
Through the storms of life God does one of two things.....He either calms the storm or He calms His child.
I can testify that this is true, sometimes I have felt so calm within at the centre of this storm but at other times the storm has become a place of peace when I struggled with receiving His peace myself! It's a season we must walk through but all seasons end! Thank You Lord for your grace and love and strength xx


Psalm 36:5-9 says

Your love, Lord reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord,preserve both people and animals.
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house
you give them drink from your river of delight
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

Cute Forever Friends Baby Easel Card

I am creating some new designs for my Etsy shop 
(to see items for sale use the link in the sidebar) 

I am real pleased with my progress. Here's my latest baby card design.....

The Forever Friends bear image is quite large and easy to colour with Promarkers. 
I was really surprised with its size when I bought it.I just wish I was quicker in designing new cards, I seem to pfaff around for ages, is everyone else like that?
I am entering this card into 2 challenge that are new to me...
I have just found a challenge blog called 
ANYTHING GOES CHALLENGE BLOG #77 animal
Well this cute bear is an animal!
ABC CHALLENGE BLOG y is for chromosome!
in other words a male card! well although this card is lemon coloured
that little baby bear is a male named Ethan Paul!

I can add a personal message or birth details as above to this card, 

which easily makes it into a wonderful keepsake.This easel card is also available as a Christening or adoption card or even a card for new grandparents!

and alernative colours of pink, blue, lilac, as well as this sample in lemon. 

Although the cradle hood and frill will be mainly white with a coloured bow.

I am thinking through how to make a similar card especially for the older sibling, I have seen "Big Sister"or "Big Brother" cards available on the internet and think this image would lend itself nicely 

I just don't know how popular they are?

so what do ya think?

PSX Botanicals Pansy

I used my PSX Botanicals Pansy stamp this afternoon to create another centre step card. I am so pleased with the finished card, it turned out even better than I imagined. so why don't I use this image more often I ask myself? I love my PSX Botanical stamps, most of them were a gift from mother,

I am entering this card into some challenges.....

CREATIVE CARD CREW Purple! errr yes theres plenty of purple ;o)

CUTE CARD THURSDAY Lotsa Ribbon! I have a large bow plus ribbon under the licalc braid ;o)

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY Anything Goes! Happy 5th Birthday Papertake \o/

CHARISMA CARDZ Badda bling! yes I have clear ab gems blinging on the image and the sentiment ;o)

click on the underlined title to go to the 

I layered the pansy image decoupage style once I had coloured it with Promarkers, the wonderful thing about this pansy image is the multitude of different ways to colour it as pansy's come in an array of colours. The photographs do nut display the purple coloured background as the actual colour it is! it seems a lot more blue than the mauvey purple it really is!

Centre Step Card Penny Black Primp Cat

Hello everyone from a cold and wet seaside town in North West England brrrrrrr. Well there's always something to be thankful for........I dont live near a flooded river and at least I have something to do when the weather is too yuk to go out :o)

I have been looking at different card shapes and having a go at my own take on them. So this week I made a centre step card. I found it quite easy to make, it just consists of two cuts and some measured scoring. Then its up to you how to decorate it with papers etc. I did however, make up my own measurements so that it fitted into a 6"x6" envelope and so that the framed image fitted nicely in the centre of the card. 

I am entering this card into the following challenges....

CHARISMA CARDZ Badda bling challenge

STAMPIN' FOR THE WEEKEND Feeling Floral challenge

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY Anything Goes 

(click on the pink challenge name to go to their blogs)

I needed to make a card anyway as I had been asked to make a card for the daughter of a friend.

The birthday girl is an excellent card maker so no pressure there then LOL.

 The stamp I used is by Penny Black, 3965k "Primp" I coloured it with Promarkers then 3D decoupaged some of the image, (paws, ribbon, mirror, perfume). I added some clear AB gems to the pin tops, mirror, perfume bottle and to the name on the sentiment to bling it up.

I love the colour combo of black and white with a touch of another colour like pink here or perhaps lime green. the lovely backing papers are by Papermania. The frame is by spellbinders, I had to cut off the heart at top and bottom so that it would fit into position. I finished off the card with flowers, ribbons and a couple of pale pink pearls. I have a sentiment stamped inside the card but didn't take a photo before I delivered it. duh!!!

Looking at the photo's now I wish I had added a couple more of the punched flowers to the sides or perhaps small butterflies but I am pleased with how this turned out and so was my friend!I think I may try a side step card next but I have to say it does look a lot more fiddly to cut/score! all advice appreciated!

Thanks for looking!

black and white cat easel card

A friend had a birthday this week, she loves black and white together and she adores cats so I decided it had to be a cat card!

I used my Papermania paper with black and white card and a penny black rubber stamp entitled "Primp" to create this easel card I used a spellbinders frame die but cut the bottom cut work off as it did not fit how I wanted it to! A Martha Stewart lace edge punch was used for the lacey edges and daisy punches were used to create the flowers which all had clear AB gem stones for the flower centres.

I think this is one of my better cards and will definitely use this as a template for other cards, 

but perhaps display the sentiment in the middle next time!

let me know what ya think

House Mouse Autumn Challenge

Here's my second House Mouse and Friends Challenge Guest Design Team card for the Autumn challenge.  If you would like to join in the fun then go to the challenge blog through this link

I must admit this was a bit of a stretch for me as I thought I didn't have anything suitable for an autumn card but yet again little Mudpie came to the rescue! this is such a versatile stamp...Mudpie Wonders 02 HMG1004

I used a stamp from my Our Daily Bread Designs set and used punched leaves to accent the scripture along with gold coloure leaf brads

I used my favourite Basic Grey papers and some coloured raffia to finish it off.

I wanted to create the sense of the mouse running through a pile of leaves 

and then realising its autumn again LOL.

Thank you to the House Mouse and Friends Challenge team for inviting me to play along for the month of september as a guest DT I have really enjoyed myself \o/

"Friendship" Guest DT for House Mouse Challenge

I am excited to show you my first card as September Guest Design Team Member for House Mouse & Friends Challenge. I am thrilled to be on a team of such talented papercrafters, thanks for inviting me \o/

I was told that the subject is "Friendship" When pondering what to do I remembered the first part of the scripture in Proverbs 17:17 "A friend Loves at all times" so here's my card....

This delightful little House Mouse image is "HMGR1006 Mouse Drops."  

This was one of the first House Mouse rubber stamps I bought back in 2007, it's a great image for get well cards. I coloured it with Promarkers and added gold stickles for the medicine in the bottle and dropper.

I also used the little "Mouse Feet HMA1002" stamp to create the impression that a mouse had walked over the card lol. This is only the second time I have made an easel card but I think I will be making a lot more as they are so easy to create. I think I will try a twisted easel card next!

I used my Nestablities Fleur De Lys pendant die to cut the square frame twice, once in gold then in burgundy and layered them on top of each other, then inside the card I used one of the small pendant dies that came with the square to make the gold fleur de lys accent on the label. The labels used for the scripture were from an x-cut label die set then the labels used for the sentiment were Nestablilities labels (not sure which set) I used scraps of scrapbooking papers and inked the edges of the cream card base and image with All My Memories paper stain ink pads in Chocolate and Caramel. I used a few gems to finish off the card

True friends go out of there way for each other and help them through their difficulties. When I made this card I was thinking of my friend Anne. She has always been there for me and shared the ups and downs of my life. 

She helped me when I was seriously ill, in and out of hospital for well over a year. She loved me through the worse time of my life. We laugh together and cry together sharing life as it really is! she is a wonderful friend. So I dedicate this little card as a "ThankYou" to Anne. 

2x Di's Digi Downloads Prizes

WHAT A SURPRISE!!!
Do You remember I told you last week that my House Mouse cards had won $10 worth of digi-stamps from Di'sDigi Downloads! well I won again on Dutch Dare Card Challenge with my Forever Friends Blingy card YAY!! if you 'mouse-over' the stamp titles below, you will see three of my chosen stamps!
I have spent over an hour going through Di's website, choosing from the many wonderful images. It was serious hard work lol as there were so many fabulous designs to choose from.

I chose four lovely bear images that will help me design some male cards think (I needed help after the panic at the weekend!!!) I especially like the one called "Mechanic Ted" he reminds me of my Kev tinkering with the cars. But two of the digi-stamps were absolutely top of my list..."Christening Bears" is a lovely image of a bear couple at the Christening font with their little baby, they are just adorable, I could see a card design for that image as soon as I saw it. Then the other which I feel is absolutely fabulous is the "Love Wedding Bears" I have chosen the outline rather than coloured image because I enjoy colouring my stamped images so much.
So now I am just waiting to recieve my images and get creative with them....thanks again Di \o/ I feel so blessed!

New Forever Friends Anniversary Cards

I've been working on some new designs for personalised wedding & anniversary cards. I try to sell my cards on Etsy and Folksy but not getting noticed really, just one sale! so any tips would be gratefully received! I need to at least fund my hobby! so I am is there a better place to sell handmade cards etc anywhere?

This week over at the Forever Friends Challenge they ask for "dry or heat embossing." Well there is plenty of embossing around the die cut circles and the heart edges too on this card. I hope you can see the dry embossing on the photo! its not as easy to see on the silver wedding design as the gold one

I am also entering this card into the Card Makin Mama's Challenge where they ask for "hearts" I've got that box ticked then LOL I have never entered this challenge before but hoping to make it a regular one  too!

I find it quite difficult to take photo's of cards that have shiny mirror or cracked ice card in the design, the glare seems to take over LOL but I do love the high shine on the silver of this card it is lovely in real life!

I have also made this design in Gold for a Golden Wedding Anniversary. 

The gold card I used is not as high gloss as that used on the silver one but it works well on the cream base, (although it looks quite white on my monitor!)

I think its nice getting a personalised special card for a special occasion. 

it says that someone has taken the trouble and effort to make you feel precious and loved!

I wonder what Kev will do for my 50th birthday next March? !!!

Talking of special occasions...I was asked to do a card for a friend for an 80 year old male! (scream!!!!!)

male cards are just not my specialty!!! it was a stretch but the word vintage came to mind and I remembered a stamp I have had for years of an old car, then hey presto... I created this...

after my cricut blade decided it was too blunt to cut I had to abandon the idea of his name at the bottom but I am please with how it turned out! now should I just specailise in what I do best ? oir be a general all rounder....hmmm thinking about that and leaning towards what I do best at the moment.....

Finally on Folksy!!!

Finally I have made a sale of Folksy...YAY...
I was beginning to wonder if anyone actually sold anything there? but I now have my first order for one of my personalized baby girl cards. Here's a sample of my pram design which can be made in blue, pink, lilac, lemon, with either dotty or gingham background and with ric rac instead of lace on the pram if desired...

I have been holding off putting lots of items on Folksy as I wasn't sure if it was gonna work for me but maybe now I should go for it? I also list items on Etsy but again I have no sales yet.
I have looked at many designs of personalized cards and they all seem so minimal like just a little square or two in the middle with very little work in them, so I think my designs are good and I'm thinking through some new ones too. Here's my baby bear design which is available in the same colours as the pram card...

I would love to hear from anyone who has had success with these sites and find out what the secret of success is? however, I am not trying to make a big business, I just want to fund my hobby really, so that I can buy a new stamp or dies here and there and pay for the card I use.
So what should I do? just make one off cards and sell them at a cheaper price? or specialize in personalized cards made to order? all constructive advice would be really appreciated. 
Now off to make that card! but having a peep at some challenges first......

The Greatest Step

I heard yesterday about Neil Armstrong's death at the age of 82. He was the first man to walk on the moon. His famous words have resonated ever since...."One small step for man ....one giant leap for mankind!" he achieved a lot in his lifetime, you can read his biography points HERE.  I am a lady who makes cards and walks the Christian life day by day with my God. Most of what he has achieved I will never understand, just like the moon it's way beyond my comprehension! But I have had one thought running through my mind for the last couple of days.....

did he also take the greatest personal step? did he give his heart to Jesus? He went somewhere very very few of us will ever go...far away beyond the sky that we can see! But will he be walking in heaven with God? I don't know anything about his personal life or beliefs.... but this I do know, no matter how we have lived our lives what great achievements we have made we all need to make that step of faith to receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour

want to know more? contact me, 
no debates, no politics or anything like that, just the simple truth of the greatest, best step we can ever take to change our lives here on earth and beyond

God bless you.

WOW WOW WOW

WOW

A very small word really but today I said it out loud three times as I read my mail! My first...WOW...I found out that I am one of the winners over at House Mouse and friends challenge this week. My second ...WOW...I have won $10 worth of digi-stamps from Di's Digi-downloads! I have never used digi stamps before so I am looking forward to collecting my prize and having fun playing with it!

My third ...WOW...was news that I have been invited to be a guest designer over at the House Mouse and friends challenge This is such a big WOW for me as I have always admired the superb work of the HM&F Design Team and found so much inspiration from the beautiful creations they produce. I feel so blessed and really honored to be invited and I hope that I can create something extra special for my time as guest design team member. 

Now time to gather my House Mouse and Gruffies stamps together.......

Blingy Forever Friends Tunnel Card

I found a Kanban Tunnel card blank at my local arty shop which was half price. there were two blanks in the pack. So I have used one of them to make a 50th birthday card for a lovely lady at church who is so young at heart.

The tunnel card blanks are so easy to use but just dont stick the two sides together till you know you have finished decorating it!
Over at the Forever Friends & Co Challenge blog there challenge #43 is "ANYTHING GOES" I am really pleased to be entering a Forever Friends challenge again as I was on the DT about 3 Years ago. I think my card fits the challenge LOL, I still love my Forever Friends bear stamps a very lot!
"ANYTHING GOES" on the Ready Teddy Go Challenge blog too so i am entering my cute birthday bear to that challenge too! I hope that's not against any rules?!

Over at Cute Card Thursday Challenge blog, their challenge #231 is "BLING IT UP" well I think my card is well blinged up LOL and coincidentally the Dutch Dare Card Challenge blog have also asked for bling in their challenge #179  "BLING IT ON" so I am sure theirs enough bling for both of these blingy challenges

The biggest challenge for me was taking a photograph I was pleased with! it was real hard to illiminate the shadows but still show it was a shoadow box type of card! think I got there in the end though!

So here's what I used for my card...
Kanban Tunnel Card Blank (but I would call this a shadow box card)
Forever Friends Stamp FFS9061012 H it may be called "For You" which I chopped from my image.
Nestabilities Scalloped Rectangles (stripey background is Renae's House scrapbook paper)
Cheery Lynn Die "Fanciful Flourish" which I cut and re-arranged to fit
prima flowers
basic grey bling on flowers, numbers and corners of the image.
number "50" cut with cuttlebug die (cant remember the name of the set sorry)
X-Cut labels die cut behind the number 
and a small amount of lilac ribbon

IN GODS HANDS

I am trying to find a stockist in the United Kingdom of the best Christian Rubber stamps I have ever seen. 
The company that makes them is Our Daily Bread Designs. The images and text on their stamp sets are superb and by far are the best on the market. below is the set that I am desperate for. I fill up with emotion every time I see this image of Jesus' Hand, not because I am sentimental as such but because I know the price He paid for my sin! and how much he loves me... 

The set is entitled "Gods Hands" and can be found HERE at ODBD. I already have so many cards in my minds eye that I could create with this set along with a scripture set or two. I just can't afford to buy the set and pay the import duty on top ;o( Well The Lord knows the desire of my heart and how He can bless others through the cards that I make so I will just have to be patient and hope someone stocks it here soon. One thing is for sure....

There really is no safer place to be 
than in Gods hands!

PRAISE IN THE PARK at Ashton Gardens, St Annes

Churches in the St Annes area (just down the road from Blackpool, England) are getting together on Sunday afternoon for "Praise in the Park" see poster below......

Come and join us, all ages welcome and there is some puppet and song fun for the children too!

So, whether you want to sing along or just listen, to know more about God or just enjoy a picnic in the park. Come along and have a great afternoon in Ashton Gardens with us.

House-Mouse & Friends Challenge Double Trouble

After blogging my card yesterday I popped over to the House-Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge  just to peep at my old Mousey friends! sigh! I love my House-Mouse stamps almost as much as my bears! I used to love entering their challenges when I lived in my previous house and had a craft room (another sigh). 

Well moving swiftly on... I noticed it's "Double Trouble" for the current challenge meaning more than one mouse in the image so I thought I would dust off this cutie stamp which I bought in a closing down sale over 2 years ago and never got to use it.

The stamp is named "Baby Shoes 02" (HMIR1006) I used my cuttlebug embossing border die for the embossed buttons down the side, the ovals and  gingham label background are all cut using my nesties and the heart is from a nellies set. buttons and gingham ribbon finish my card off.

I am so glad to be getting back in the flow of cardmaking again.