Relaxing By the Campfire

Yesterday I had a card on my blog that I made from a card kit I received in a Card Kit Swap group on SCS. It was a year-long swap with one of the members receiving kits from the others during one month of the year. I was the recipient in December.This is my last card from the card kits I received. Darlene HAND-DELIVERED it to me when we both went to a stamping event in Wisconsin not long ago. How fun is that?!?!?!?

I asked the ladies to make kits that reflected something that brought them joy. This is what Darlene said about her kit: "Raising my children gave me much joy and satisfaction. And camping with them, teaching them to fish, cook over a fire, hike and so on was even more joyful. I am grateful that my children appreciate our world and continue to enjoy our planet."

Darlene's kit was full of fun stuff, too...

SU "The Great Outdoors" images stamped on SU Very Vanilla stock with Memento Rich Cocoa Ink
SU "Wood Textures" pack of DP
Love Nicole Ribbons
Poppies and Paperie Paper Flowers
Eyelet Outlet Camping Brads
Gems from her stash

THANK YOU, Darlene!

Here is my card:

I colored the images with Copic Markers and Zig Wink of Stella Markers. I used my own sentiment (Hero Arts Hello stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa Ink). I layered with Recollections Black CS and used a piece of SU Creamy Caramel CS for my card base.

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Reading with Grandma

I love the card kit swap group I'm in on SCS. Each month one of us gets showered with kits from the other participants. December was my month and I received several amazing kits! I've had so much fun using them. The card on my blog was made with the kit items I received from Carol. THANK YOU, Carol!

The request I made was that they choose something for their kit that brings them JOY, since my word for the year in 2017 was Joy. This is what Carol says about her kit - What brings me joy is my grandsons. (I see them the most and they are so sweet). Carol, give those precious grandsons lots of snuggles and read them books regularly.

Carol sent a bulging kit with papers, ribbons, rhinestones, stickers, and so much more. She also had Mo Manning send me two digital images. The image I chose to use on the front of my card is called Bedtime Story. I chose to color it with colored pencils (since sometimes my printer ink doesn't like my Copics, causing them to bleed). I love the image!!!

I used the other image - Isaiah - uncolored on the inside of my card:

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Abide in God and Bear Fruit

I am in an online Bible Journaling group on SCS and each month we have a theme to focus on. The theme for our January Bible Art Journaling (BAJ) projects is "Abide".

Those who remain in me, and I in them, 

will produce much fruit. 

For apart from me you can do nothing. 

John 15:5b

Earlier in the passage we note that Jesus is talking about being the "true grapevine" and His Father (God) is the gardener. Unfortunately, I didn't have any grape/grapevine stamps to use. Instead I decided to go with a different kind of fruit - apples.

Because it's important to me not to cover the Scripture, I used a piece of vellum for the tip in. When the tip in is turned (like a page) I can easily read the verses.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamps/Dies: Stampin' UP! Thoughtful Branches
Inks: Memento Cottage Ivy and Lady Bug
Papers: Neenah Vellum, Stampin' UP! Early Espresso CS and other papers from my scrap file
Letters: Illustrated Faith
Baker's Twine: unknown vendor

It's a Color Challenge

I very VERY rarely choose to do a color challenge, but when I found out there was a challenge going on in conjunction with the stamping event I attended in Wisconsin, I couldn't resist playing along.

And oh what bright/cheerful - FUN!!! - colors they are!

I went with just three - the three on the top - Bermuda Bay, Berry Burst, and Lemon Lime Twist.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp Set: SU Beautiful You stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: Recollections White and SU Bermuda Bay, Berry Burst, and Lemon Lime Twist CS

Embellishments: SU Bermuda Bay Ribbon and Brads from an unknown vendor

Three Layers of DP

I love the Challenge Your Stash group on SCS because we are challenged to use what we have - no shopping allowed! - and we have fun themes to get our creative juices flowing

I own a ton - okay, a whole lot! - of DP! Even though I use it regularly, rarely making a card without DP on it, I could live a bunch of lifetimes and never use up all of the DP I have. Sooooo when it was my turn to choose the CYS theme, I challenged us to use at least 3 different designer papers on our cards/projects.

I hope the ladies have fun with the theme. I know I did.

This is the sketch I used to create my card (thanks to Sarah and Camp in Oga):

Here is the inside of my card:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp Set: SU Harvest Blessings stamped with MFT Extreme Black Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and SU Cherry Cobbler and Sahara Sand CS and 3 different DPs from my scrap file

Die: MFT Fishtail Banner Die

Embellishments: Brads from an unknown vendor

Friends Gather in Wisconsin

I had the most amazing time this past weekend. WOW! I'm still trying just giddy with excitement. A group of us stamping friends (from way back) gathered together for a few days of shopping, stamping, and fun! Barb was our awesome hostess, inviting us into her home, letting us play with her toys, crash in her family room, and hang out with each other. Then on Saturday we went to Winter Camp Stamp in Oga. The morning was filled with class - we made 5 cards. The afternoon was for creating with out own goodies (and a few games/activities thrown in). The 7 of us decided to do a shoebox swap - with the theme of Snow, in honor of Kelly, so we spent part of our time making those cards.

This is the card I designed for the Shoebox Swap:

And just look at this fun group...

(Left to Right): LJ, Darlene, Barb, Sarah (standing - she's the SU demonstrator who hosts Stamp Camp in Oga), Terry, Me, Carol, and Kelly

Oh the memories... memories for that will last a lifetime!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp Set: Newton's Nook Frozen Fellowship stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and White CS, Pebbles Yours Truly Polka Dot DP and Snowflake DP from an unknown vendor

Special Feature: Nuvo Embellishment Mousse

Embellishments: Snowflake Brad from an unknown vendor

Personal Challenge 2018 - Week 4

I hope you have been checking out my 50-week personal "State of the Union" challenge every Friday. So far I've been having a lot of fun with it.

Each week I research one of our states (in the order they attained statehood) and share some of the interesting bits of information I unearth about that state. Then I take one of the things I learn and use it as my inspiration to make a card.

This is the 4th week of 2018, which means I researched the fourth state to attain statehood....

Georgia

Date of Statehood: January 2, 1788

Here are some of the things I learned about Georgia...

It was named for King George II of England.

Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River.

These are some of the laws one should keep in mind while in Georgia, otherwise you might be breaking in trouble with the law... 

     ... Carrying ice cream in your back pocket on Sundays is against the law. 

     ... There is also a law stating you cannot spread a rumor if it is false. 

     ... You are not allowed to hook a giraffe to a pole or street lamp in Georgia.

     ... It is against the law to eat chicken with a fork in Gainesville Georgia, which just happens to be the chicken capital of the world.

     ... In Georgia, funeral directors can lose their licenses if they use obscene language in the company of a corpse. 

Marshall Forest, on the outskirts of Rome, Georgia, is the only natural forest located within city limits of any city in the United States.

The Great Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia is the biggest swamp in North America.

Georgia Tech once beat Cumberland University 222 - 0 in a football game, which is the worst defeat in the history of college football.

Stretching over two acres, the world’s largest drive-in restaurant (called "The Varsity") can be found in Atlanta. It can accommodate 600 vehicles, as well as hold 800 people inside the premises. On a busy day, 30,000 people visit The Varsity.


Georgia is the nation's #1 producer of the items beginning with the letter P - peanuts, pecans, and peaches.

Cordele, Georgia claims to be the watermelon capital of the world.

The largest wild hog ever discovered was found and killed in Alpha, Georgia. It weighed in at 1,000 pounds and measured 12 feet in length. It was nicknamed "Hogzilla."

Savannah, Georgia is believed to be the most haunted city in the United States.

The Cyclorama Building, in Atlanta, is the home of a 385 ft long painting, known to be the biggest mural in the world till 2004. The painting depicts a sweeping view of the Civil War battle of Atlanta.

Georgia has actually had three governors simultaneously - and they've done so twice.

I've decided to go with this bit of Georgia information for my card's inspiration... The popular drink Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta, Georgia! Originally devised as a medicinal drink it was first marketed and sold in a pharmacy on May 8, 1886. The price? Five cents per glass.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Stamps/Dies: MFT Soda Pop and Nestabilities

Ink: MFT Extreme Black

Papers: Recollections White and SU Early Espresso and Real Red CS

Embellishments: Your Next Stamp Gum Drops

My Friends Are My Estate

Emily Dickinson has many significant says but this is one of my favorites - "My friends are my estate." I'm so glad Denise decided to include it in her stamp set - The Project Bin #bff.

This card is quite a stretch from my normal style - bolder colors, geometric shapes, etc. But I do like it.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamp Set: The Project Bin #bff stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: SU Lemon Lime Twist, Purely Pomegranate, and Tempting Turquoise CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishments: Enamel Dots from unknown vendors

I Love You Very Very Much

There's a new challenge at Craftaholics R Us.... and the theme is an easy one.

RIBBON!

I hope you'll participate!

Craftaholics R Us

Theme: Ribbon

January 24 - 30

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Image/Sentiments: Unity ... so very much (Phyllis Harris) stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and White CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishments: SU Ribbon

Mystery Flowers

Tracie is the hostess of Round #43 of the Mystery Image group. These cards were due last week - the 18th - and I actually made my set and mailed them to Tracie on December 1st, BUT I didn't have a chance to put them on my blog until now. But here they are. ;)

Tracie chose a Whipper Snapper stamp for her image - it's called "For Mom." She stamped it on Neenah Classic CS with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and I colored it with Copic Markers.

Tracie, THANK YOU for being such a terrific hostess!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Images: WS For Mom (provided by Tracie and colored by me)

Papers: SU Rose Red and Taken with Teal CS and DP from thePebbles Garden Party Paper Pad

Embellishment: SU Ribbon

Time for Birthday Cake

The Creative Card Chicks group on SCS was hosted by Barb this month. She sent a Whipper Snapper image and see fun papers/embellishments for us to create with, noting that most of us can use birthday cards and she loves Whipper Snapper Designs stamps.

I do, too... and I hope Barb likes my card. (I had a lot of fun with her kit!)

THANK YOU, Barb!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Items Barb Sent

Image - Whipper Snapper Designs Stack O' Birthday Cakes stamped in Memento Black on Recollections 110# White cardstock

Papers - Stampin' UP! It's My Party Designer Series Paper

Various Ribbons - SU Crushed Curry Baker's Twine and 3/8" Stitched Satin, Whisper White 5/8" Grosgrain, Mint Macaroon Mini Striped, 3/8" Grosgrain, and Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain

Various Embellishments - Black Buttons and Melon Brads

The only thing of my own that I added to the card was some CS (Recollections Black and White and SU Pool Party)

Let's Go Digital

I am proud to say that I've finally (after more than a year) transitioned to solely using my Mac laptop. I'd been procrastinating figuring out how to edit/watermark photos, etc.... but my son helped me to figure that out when he was here for Christmas. THANK YOU,  Jeremy.

That being said, I do not have any digital images saved on my Mac (I truthfully have found that I never used them, instead preferring to actually stamp images so I didn't transfer them to my Mac.)

Soooooo when the International Art & Soul Challenge for this week popped up (the theme is "Do Something Digital"), I knew I was going to have to do one of two things - either dig out my old laptop that does have digital images stored on it OR find a freebie. I went with option #2. I found an adorable free snowman by doing a coloring book page search.

I hope you'll get digital and join the International Art & Soul Challenge, too!

January 21 - February 3

Theme: Do Something Digital

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Image: Freebie Coloring Book Page colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections White and Red CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishments: Dress It Up Snowflake Button and Stickles Glitter Glue

It's s Card Again

Sweet Stampin' Challenges has a new challenge - the theme is Men's Cards. So dust off your manly stamps and come join us!

I hope you'll join us at:

January 20 - 26

Theme: Men's Cards

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Supplies Used

Stamp Set: Unity Card Again stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Papers: Recollections Black and Kraft CS and DP from my scrap file

Embellishments: Washi Tape from an unknown vendor