Graduation Day

 A closer look.

 The inside of the card!

 A second card...

 The envelope and a peek inside.

These are two cards that I was commissioned to make. Graduation is such an exciting time, but it is also a big change in a families life. It seems time passes all to quickly and our children grow up so fast. I hope each of you will cherish you time with your children. I know I do. 

I went with the school colors for my cards. My first card I actually added a chain from the watch to the key, but I forgot  to take a picture after I added it....lol....I even decorated the outside of the envelopes. My images are SC . My Flowers are from WOC. I hope you have a wonderful week-end. 

Our God Reigns

Today has been a hard day for me, for my church family and for our community. At 4:00 AM this morning it was discovered that our church (First Baptist) and Community Bible Church (just two blocks away) were both on fire. Someone or several someones broke in and trashed areas and then set the church on fire. It was a senseless, cowardly, evil, crime that broke the hearts of many in our community. We are typical small town America. Things like this just don't happen in our community, but it did. Tonight I am praying for the individual(s) who committed this crime. I can't imagine the hurt and darkness in their lives that would have led them to do something like this. I also pray for our community that God will be the healer and we will all draw  closer to His love. 

My Song: Our God Reigns 

That our God reigns over the heavens

Over the earth our God reigns

Praise His name all still standing

All that was, all that remains

Our God reigns

All that was, all that remains

Our God reigns, our God reigns

Love Those Flowers!

This is one of my first Saturated Canary images. I think she is still one of my favorites. I am forcing myself to work more with my purples....yikes they are hard for me !  I think it helped me to work with a favorite image, but I still struggled. I do love the color combo and think it worked out well on this card. I also wanted to use these two flowers on my card. They were made by a good friend "Glenda" see more of her lovely work here ! She makes the most beautiful flowers and she sent me a lovely box of them that I have horded. I loved these beauties and have held back on using them. I know that is dumb but I just hated to let these little beauties go. But, I needed to make a card for a special friend and I thought this would be the perfect time to use them. My card has lots of sparkle that just can't be reflected in my picture. But in real life her dress and petticoat sparkles. I hope you enjoy this card and your week-end is a wonderful one. 

I am entering this card at the following challenges:

http://saturatedcanarychallenge.blogspot.com/

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/

My Song: Reba

If I had only known

It was the last walk in the rain

I'd keep you out for hours in the storm

I would hold your hand

Like a life line to my heart

Underneath the thunder we'd be warm

If I had only known

It was our last walk in the rain

How Does Your Garden Grow?

 A Closer Look...

 A view of the flowers

I needed to unwind so I colored an image just for fun. I didn't try to make it fit a challenge, just played. Do you ever have  a day that you need to lose yourself in creating and leave the stress of the day behind? That was how this card was made. I used a fun Hangler image and since it will soon be time to plant my garden, I thought she was perfect for this card. I framed her with a Spellbinders die and added a red scrap piece. After digging through my flower box I found a few odds and ends to add to the flower arrangement. My sentiment is a new set from Sweet and Sassy....I love these stamps. the paper is from a pad that I have had for a bit. I will keep this card for someone special that needs some encouragement. 

I will try and find a challenge that this card fits into. 

My Song: Mamma's & Papa's

Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singing in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me...
Say "nighty-night" and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me...

One for the Guys!

 A closer look...

 one more view!

As many of you know I struggle with 'guy' cards. I don't know why but they are so hard for me to do. This is one guy card that went together so fast for me. I think part of it is I love this fabulous image from The Paper Shelter. Isn't he just the cutest guy? Both of my grandsons are playing soccer and while we haven't got a chance to see them play yet, I know they are having so much fun with it. My blessings to the coaches and all the people involved in teaching them. Our challenge at THE PAPER SHELTER this week is One For The Guys. I hope you will grab one of our fabulous images (OK you don't have to use a Paper Shelter image, but why wouldn't you want to?) and play with us! I am going to make another card similar to this one so both of my grandsons will enjoy getting some mail from 'grammy'.  I colored my image with Copics, and framed it with a Spellbinders die. I added some red liquid pearls to each scallop. The stars are from SU punches that I have had for several years. The soccer ball is just a cheap foam  piece, but it does add so much to the card. The paper is from SU and the 'net' is self adhesive dry wall tape....stolen  borrowed from my husband. LOL! 

Please take a moment and check out my team mates lovely cards. I am in awe they are fantastic! Now get busy and make a card!

I am entering this card at the following challenges:

My Song: Chris Tomlin (May God send His Blessings to the USA)

Time for me to step out of the water

Time for me to just loose my hold

And it's time for me to leave here all that I've hoped for

Could You take me where I need to go

I am waiting for Your love

I am reaching for Your touch

Lost without You, 

God, reach down

I need You now, I need You now

Four from One

I finally filled my stash of sympathy cards. I do try and keep them simple but also I want them to look like some thought into them. Any way the image was a freebie off the Internet and I have had it for years. The paper I used on each of the cards came from a 'Only A Dollar' store that closed years ago. They always had these fun little packets of paper that I am just now using up. I colored the images with Copics and used various colors to make each card look different. What do you think? 

 A closer look at my burgundy flower 

 a peek inside...

 A pretty lace border

 A bit of Stickles.....

 another peek inside...

 A pretty bow and ...

 a dragonfly

 The end at last!

I hope our week is going well. 

The Card We Hate To Need!

I decided to restock my sympathy card box today. I had some free time to color and I had this lovely image that I thought would make a perfect Sympathy card. While this is not my favorite card to give. I like to make them special, so the person receiving them will know I put time and thought into them. The first card, I used black and pink combination. I was surprised at how pretty it turned out. I added a Doo Hickey  die cut dragonfly.  The card below is with and orange and black combination. You will notice I used the same back and white houndstooth check paper for both cards (a great way to use all those scraps up!

I used Copics to color both images and added a bit of Stickles to the center of the poppy. 

I am entering these cards in the following challenges:

http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/

http://www.drsdesignsblog.blogspot.com/

http://inthepinkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

My Song: Michael Jackson

You and I must make a pact,
We must bring salvation back
Where there is love,
I'll be there (I'll be there...)
I'll reach out my hand to you, I'll have faith in all you do
Just call my name and I'll be there

Have you heard the news????

The Paper Shelter now has 1000 followers! For those of us who have had the pleasure of using their fabulous images we are not surprised. But, to make it more fun The Paper Shelter is having a fabulous party.

We are celebrating with two prizes instead of our normal one.

The prizes up for grabs is

the normal $30 gift voucher

+ a gift voucher worth $20

Both of these prizes are up for grabs for everyone that plays along with us this week. Using TPS products or not. I hope you will check out all the new images as they are truly wonderful. The card featured below is one of those darling images!

I totally cased my friend Amanda's Blue and Yellow color combination. It made me feel like summer might be coming. I used my latest boarder die to add some lovely lace and a Spellbinders die to frame my image. I added some roses that have been in my stash for a long time and pearls which I colored with my Copics. 

I hope you will hop over to The Paper Shelter and check out all of their lovely images. There is something for  everyone. 

Lovely Lace

Are you ready to get frilly? Our letter at ABC's Challenge is "L" and the theme is 'Lovely Lace'.

Our fabulous sponsor is "My Favorite Things". I chose this cute little image for my card. As you can see I added loads of lace. Remember it is lace not ribbon.....it can be paper or the real stuff, but we want to see lace!

I am entering my card at the following challenges: 

http://cinspirations.blogspot.se/

http://7kidschallengeblog.blogspot.ca/2013/04/challenge-71-anything-goes.html

My Song: Sissy's Song

Why did she have to go
So young I just don't know why
Things happen half the time
Without reason without rhyme
Lovely, sweet young woman
Daughter, wife and mother
Makes no sense to me
I just have to believe
She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me

Something New and It's Free!

 My Card!

 A Closer look!

 Another look!

Another view!

First I would like to say that my heart and prayers are going out to all in Boston tonight. It breaks my heart that another cowardly act  has hurt so many innocents. 

I found the cutest images and they are free....yep...they are coloring pages...how great is that? 

You can find them here . I did use my print shop to play with some of them and clean them up to make them easier to color. But, I think this one is beautiful...How about you? Check out these free coloring pages. 

I used some of my favorite SU dp. This is a double sided paper and I think it is lovely. I had some lovely velvet roses that seemed to fit this image well. A few liquid pearls and some Stickles on the earrings  complete this card. I hope each of you will say a prayer for Boston and our country tonight. 

I am entering this card at the following challenges:

http://www.craftybloggersnetwork.blogspot.com/

http://papermakeupstamps.blogspot.com/

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/

http://www.memascrafts.blogspot.com/

http://craftspotbykimberly.blogspot.com/\

http://mygraficocrafts.blogspot.com/

My Song: Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom
And they can't take that away.
I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A.
From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas from sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston and New York to L.A.,
There's pride in every American heart
And it's time we stand and say:
I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free,
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me,
And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today,
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God Bless the U.S.A.

Bless the Lord

A close look!

A look at the card! 

I have to admit that purple is one of my least favorite Copic color to work with. It is one color that the  number system on the pens doesn't seem to apply. Also, this color always seems to bleed on me. Does anyone have this problem but me? This cute little image is a Wee stamp. They are always so sweet. The dp is from SU  (I think, it was all from the scrap box, including the card stock) . I added some liquid pearls and Spica pen  for added interest. A little sheer bow adds to soft look and feel of this card. I also added a paper lace  trim with  die cut (can't remember which company this comes from. 

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ (used Purple for Patty)

http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/ (love to use those scraps)

My Song: 

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comesBless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name