Keep it Simple Sunday

Today's tip - Use patterned paper, simple images, and single layers for quick and easy card creation. This is a card I created for Mother's Day, a day I needed four cards for two Grandmothers, a MIL, and a step-Mom. I was able to quickly cut patterned paper for the bottom of the cards, leaving the top plain. Next a ribbon, tied in a knot vs. a bow (which for some of us takes a lot more time) around the card front added an extra pop of color. The leaf image, from a new Stampin' Up! set, was stamped on each of my pieces of pre-cut white card stock before stamping the floral image. I quickly colored the flower with watercolors and then mounted the image on one layer of color coordinating cardstock. My last step was to stamp the sentiment four times on white cardstock and then to punch them out with a 1 3/4" SU! punch. The fun scalloped circle is also a punch from SU! so it was super fast to punch out four circles and finish up my cards! Enjoy this week's simple card!

Happy Birthday Johanna!

Today is Johanna's, creator of Odd Bird Planet stamps, and I'm sending along heartfelt wishes for a very joyful and happy birthday!

SALT Challenge - The Work of the Holy Spirit

This week it was my turn to set the challenge for the SALT team and I chose a topic that I've been thinking about lately, the Holy Spirit and how He works in the life of believers. My primary reason for thinking about this topic is my own struggle with remaining sin and how often I face these struggles, unnecessarily, on my own because I fail to ask for help from the One Jesus promised to send after He ascended into heaven – the Holy Spirit. My Reformation Study Bible notes the following, “The work of the Spirit is to glorify Jesus Christ by showing His disciples who He is (John 16:7-15) and what He means to them (Rom. 8:15-17). The Spirit enlightens (Eph. 1:17, 18), regenerates (John 3:5-8), sanctifies (Gal. 5:16-18), and transforms (2 Cor. 3:18, Gal. 5:22, 23). He gives God’s people what they need to serve Him (1 Cor. 12:4-11)." I'm encouraged by the idea of being transformed from who I was outside of Christ. Galatians 5 tells us that the works of the flesh are well known to us; jealousy, envy, selfish ambitions, etc. However, as a Christian we have the Spirit that works within us to change us into those that are filled with joy, peace, love, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. How exciting to know that God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, not only brings about lasting and dramatic change in the life of a believer, but ultimately gives us victory over our remaining sins! We hope you enjoy the beautiful work the design team has created for you this week on the SALT blog. Please, if you're inspired by this week's topic, leave us a comment. And if you create something based on the topic, leave us a link back to your blog or gallery...we'd love to see your creations! Scrapbook page notes - Since we just finished the move into our new house, all of my stamping goodies were still packed when it was time for me to create something for this week's challenge. Therefore, I went digital! I'm still learning all the ins and outs of digital scrapbooking so there's a part of me that's itching to add more to my page, like stitching around those small squares, but I have no idea how to create that look yet! :-) I decided to use a picture of a cocoon and butterfly for a visual of the idea of transforming. It's an amazing part of creation to see a not so attractive caterpillar turn into a beautiful butterfly. In the same way, the Holy Spirit works within us to transform us into God-loving individuals!

May Issue of SNR - Just Ducky!

The May issue of Scrapbook News & Reviews was released just a few days ago and it's chock full of amazing samples and informative product reviews, techniques, articles, and videos! If you haven't poked around on the SNR site, now is the time! You're going to love what you find! I have a few cards published in this month's pub, most have been posted on my blog over the past few months, but I've been waiting to post this card, sporting an adorable A*Muse duck image. I created the blue circle paper using a retired Stampin' Up! set. The ducky was colored with Copics and I stamped the "just ducky" sentiment four times on the tag, highlighting one of them in a bright blue. The ribbon and brads are also Stampin' Up! Be sure to check out this month's issue of SNR! Did you know that you can sign up for an entire year's subscription for only $49.99? And that's not all...you can even sign up for just a two month subscription for a mere $7.99! There are so many options...head on over and check things out! Enjoy!

Keep it Simple Sunday

Has anyone noticed that I have a thing for American Crafts foam letters? Good gracious, I love those things! And they make for quick and easy card making! My favorite thing when working with a packed schedule! Here's another graduation card, seeing as it's that time of year. This super easy card was creating using my favorite Papertreyink set, Life, my favorite patterned paper from Crate and my favorite foam letters! The frame was created using two square Nestibilities dies. I cut a larger square out with my Cuttlebug and then used the next smaller square to cut a square out of the larger square, leaving behind a frame (does that make any sense? LOL!) The floral images were stamped inside the frame and the letters were added on top. Easy peasy! Oh, and a couple of fun notes: -I'm going to summer CHA!!! I'm so excited! Julie Masse and I are going together and we can't wait!! -The June issue of Scrapbook News and Reviews will be out shortly...I have a card published in the June issue and a product overview article on Odd Bird Planet stamps. -I finally have Internet service at the new house! That is just about the most exciting thing yet! hee hee How did we ever live without the Internet? ;-) Have a wonderful evening!!

Back to Normal...Almost

We're in our new home!! Although it's not technically ours yet...confused? Yeah, we were yesterday at our closing as well. Turns out our sellers failed to get part of the deed from our land settled with the town. Translation - we didn't actually buy our house yesterday! Talk about a tense three hour meeting...Thankfully, the sellers allowed us to move into the house anyway with the understanding that we'll close in another week. So right now we're calling ourselves squatters since we're living in a house that doesn't belong to us! LOL! It's been an interesting couple of days! After two days at two different hotels our boys are now snug in their beds...Our youngest kept asking where our house was and why someone else was in our (old) house. He spent the first hour in our new house playing in his firetruck bed. I think they're both relieved to see their belongings again and finally have life almost back to normal... Stamping will be on hold for a bit as it will take me some time to unpack all of my goodies, however, I managed to get a bunch of cards created before we moved so I'm looking forward to sharing! And it's my turn to set the SALT challenge next week so keep an eye out for the wonderful work of our design team! Well it's 9:30 pm here and I'm ready for sleep...Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Today is the Big Day!

Today we load the moving truck!! (Well, to be honest my husband and some big burly men will load the moving truck...I'll be tucked away at a cozy B&B with the kids!) Since we're "graduating" to another house, I thought I'd leave you with a graduation card. I thought this would be super cute for a child graduating from kindergarten, which my son will do in a few weeks (humm...maybe I should have made this a boy card!!) I can't believe five years have gone by already and he's on the verge of first grade...amazing! I'll be MIA for a few days while we get settled and before cable is hooked up so enjoy this card for a short season and I'll be back asap! (PS - I really miss stamping...can't wait to unpack some goodies!!) Happy Wednesday!