Monday, December 23, 2013

Pastel Birthday

All Christmas cards are mailed and delivered; time to move on to a different mode in today's post. 

Where I live, spring comes early. At the beginning of February we start planning for flowers and what we will plant in our veggie gardens. This was not so when we lived farther north, so I am grateful for early springs.

Today's card is done in pastels with flowers, a bow and a butterfly--a sure sign that warmer weather is just around the corner.

Starting out with white CS, I punched out several leaf borders in different colors with a Fiskars leaf punch, and layered them vertically. With an EK Success punch, the flowers were made in a double layer with a tiny colored brad in the center of each one. They were cut from some sparkly multicolored cardstock I had in my stash. A Cheery Lynn Mini Fanciful Flourish was tucked underneath the flowers. The green cardstock it was cut from was not dark enough to show enough contrast, so it is dabbed with some darker green ink. The sentiment was printed from my computer and cut with a rounded corner punch; a pink and white gingham bow was added at the top. The butterfly is punched from an EK Success punch that has three different layers; gold sparkly glitter glue was added to accentuate it.

Here is the card:



I am entering this card in the following challenges ending:

Dec 24 Word Art Wednesday - ATG 5E #4
Dec 25 Cute Card Thursday - Celebrations UE 
Dec 26 Sister Act CARDS ONLY UE
Dec 28 Creative Inspiration Paint ATG UE 
Dec 28 613 Avenue ATG UE
Dec 31 Ribbon Carousel ATG UE
Dec 31 DL ART THANKFUL Thursday Dec Linky Party ATG UE 
Jan 03 Challenges 4 Everybody - ATG
Jan 03 A Gem of A Challenge ATG UE
 

Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I always appreciate your visits. As always, God's highest and best to you today and every day.

Many rich blessings,

Ginny B.

Romans 10:9-11
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. NLT  

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Pink and Coral Birthday

Our neighbors who have lived across the street from us are moving in a few months to about a five hour drive from here. They want to be closer to their grandchildren, which is absolutely understandable. She had a birthday last week and I made her a card and took her to lunch. Good neighbors are something so valuable these days. We will be sorry to see them go.

Starting out with white CS, a coral scalloped piece was added, then a green polka dot piece, then a multicolored piece. I cut out a medallion (Spellbinders Medallion One) and spray painted it gold and added some liquid pearls to it and a very large green rhinestone in the middle. It is backed with the same green polka dot paper that is on the second layer. A green flourish was die cut (Spellbinders Jewel Flowers and Flourishes). The sentiment was printed out from my computer and framed with the same papers that were already on the card. I cut some white tulle and sponged it with some pink and orange inks to make it a coral color, then bunched it up a bit and put it beneath a double looped wire edged ribbon bow to finish the project.

Here is the card:



I am entering this card in the following challenges ending:

Dec 25 Word Art Wednesday - ATG 5E #3
Dec 25 Cute Card Thursday - Celebrations UE
Dec 26 Sister Act - CARDS ONLY UE
Dec 26 Brown Sugar Challenge Blog - ATG 2E #1 
Dec 28 Creative Inspiration Paint - ATG UE
Dec 31 Ribbon Carousel - ATG UE
Dec 31 DL ART THANKFUL Thursday Dec Linky Party - ATG UE
Jan 03 A Gem of A Challenge - ATG UE

Jan 04 Pile It On - P is for... Pearls UE

Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I always appreciate your visits. As always, God's highest and best to you today and every day.

Many rich blessings,

Ginny B.

Romans 10:9-11
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. NLT  


Thursday, December 19, 2013

December Birthday

With all the Christmas cards mailed and distributed, there is not such a mad rush to get any more seasonal cards made right now. I might make every fifth card a Christmas card to build up the supply for next December, but it is okay to put a hold on that for now. Is anyone else ready to make other cards yet?

I have a dear friend who was born the day after Christmas, so I wanted to make her a card that had absolutely NO red and green. (Well, okay; on this card there is a kind of an orangey red bird, but it is not CHRISTMAS RED.) I think her birthday gets overlooked pretty often. She wears a lot of earth tones, so that is the color scheme of this card. When making a winter birthday card, pastels with flowers and butterflies seem to be somewhat out of place (IMHO), and seem to be more for springtime and summer. I did make a card like that in a previous post this month for a cousin of mine who has a December birthday, but that was an exception. But I digress...

Starting with ivory CS, a pretty damask patterned paper was laid down next. For the sentiment, I got a neat JPG from the internet that I knew would come in handy some day, and the colors seemed to go well with the background paper. (She will love all these positive affirmations.) It is framed with brown paper, then ivory backing that, and is put on the background with pop dots. A Lorelai Leaf die cut is made with gold vellum, and a white swirly swirl is cut from a Cricut cartridge (Botanicals). A Spellbinders bird diecut is added for a pop of rusty orange color, and a copper and brown double looped wire edged bow is placed at the bottom.

Here is the card:


And this is a closeup of the text:
 

I am entering this card in the following challenges ending:
  
Dec 21 613 Avenue Create - ATG UE
Dec 24 Word Art Wednesday - ATG 5E #1  
Dec 25 Cute Card Thursday - ATG UE
Dec 31 Ribbon Carousel ATG UE
Dec 31 Scrapbooker PHD - ATG 3E #1
Dec 31 DL ART THANKFUL Thursday Dec Linky Party ATG UE
Jan 03 A Gem of A Challenge ATG UE


Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I always appreciate your visits. As always, God's highest and best to you today and every day.

Many rich blessings,

Ginny B.

Romans 10:9-11
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. NLT 

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

O Come, All Ye Faithful

There is nothing like an old Christmas carol to inspire one to celebrate our Savior's birth. The other day I scanned some from an old hymnal to have at my disposal when I needed a great Christmas background at a short notice. 

I chose that wonderful old standby, "O Come, All Ye Faithful" for the background of this Christmas card.  Starting out with white CS, I glued down a gold piece of textured paper that was in my stash, then the carol printed out on white CS. The pine needles are punched from a Martha Stewart punch from some dark green stash paper, and are added with some very thin gold ribbon. The creche is cut from the Cricut cartridge Teresa Collins December 25th using the same stash paper as the gold layer. A narrow gold bow accents the bottom row of pine needles. This was a CAS card, simple to make; I did not want to cover up very much of the background, so that people could actually read it and tell that it is a familiar Christmas carol.

Here is the card:


I am entering this card in the following challenges ending:

Dec 17 Word Art Wednesday - ATG 5E #4
Dec 31 DL ART THANKFUL Thursday Dec Linky Party ATG UE
Jan 03 A Gem of A Challenge ATG UE
Dec 31 CHNC - Extra Challenge Christmas UE
Dec 31 2 Creative Chicks #49 Christmas/Winter UE
Jan 04 Pile It On - P is for... Pine Needles UE
 
Dec 31 Just Be Creative ATG 1 a Day - Dec 17
Dec 20 Challenges 4 Everybody ATG UE
Dec 22 Craftin Desert Diva Linky Party #21 Christmas UE
Dec 22 Crafty Boots Christmas UE

Dec 18 Cute Card Thursday Christmas Catch up UE

Dec 21 Catch the Bug - Favorite Christmas Songs - O Come, All Ye Faithful 3E #1
Dec 26 The Squirrel & The Fox Christmas or Hanukkah 3E #1
Dec 21 Christmas Card Weekly Challenge ATG or Wording as Focus UE
Dec 28 Creative Inspiration Paint ATG UE

 Dec 22 Eureka Stamps Anything Christmas 3E #
Dec 28 Whoopsi Daisy Anything Christmas UE
Dec 31 Die Cutting Diva Happy Holidays 3E #
Dec 23 Loves Rubberstamp Chat ATG UE


Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I always appreciate your visits. As always, God's highest and best to you today and every day.

Many rich blessings,

Ginny B.

Romans 10:9-11
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. NLT

Monday, December 16, 2013

Metalic Noel

It seems that every card is an experiment, trying new things and mixing them with the older tried and true things. Today's post is no exception. Some things turn out nicely and some are a total disaster, but either way, they are all learning experiences. :o)

Starting out with white CS, a black piece was laid down. Then I ran four layers of heavy duty aluminum foil through a crimper. This was cut to size and layered on top of the black piece. The cutouts of the word "Noel" and the manger scene are from the Teresa Collins December 25th Cricut cartridge, and they are layered on top of the foil. Last of all, a gold wire-edged bow is placed on the lower left.

Here is the card:



I am entering this card in the following challenges ending:

Dec 31 DL ART THANKFUL Thursday Dec Linky Party ATG UE
Dec 31 CHNC - Extra Challenge Christmas UE
Dec 31 2 Creative Chicks #49 Christmas/Winter UE
Dec 31 Just Be Creative ATG 1 a Day - Dec 1
Dec 21 Exploring Cricut - Christmas 2E #1
Dec 22 Craftin Desert Diva Linky Party #21 Christmas UE
Dec 22 Crafty Boots Christmas UE
 
Dec 20 Challenges 4 Everybody ATG UE
Dec 16 Loves Rubberstamp Chat ATG Christmas UE
 
Dec 17 Word Art Wednesday 5E #4
Dec 18 Cute Card Thursday Christmas Catch up UE
Dec 19 Sister Act Cards Only UE
 
Dec 18 Crafty Ribbons ATG 5E
Dec 20 Jo's Scrap Shack Winter Theme 3E
Dec 20 HIMCR Super Scrap Saturday 3E #
 
Dec 21 Christmas Card Weekly Challenge ATG or Wording as Focus UE  
Dec 21 613 Avenue Create - ATG UE  
Dec 28 Creative Inspiration Paint ATG UE
Jan 03 A Gem of A Challenge ATG UE

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I always appreciate your visits. As always, God's highest and best to you today and every day.

Many rich blessings,

Ginny B.

Romans 10:9-11
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. NLT

Sunday, December 15, 2013

The Real Gift (4)

My fourth and final card using "Jesus, the real Gift is You" sentiment is posted today.  I loved this sentiment so much that I used it four times this year, each with a different twist. The sentiment says it all, and helps me to focus on the beauty and splendor of our wonderful Savior.

Starting out with white cardstock, a red piece is laid down, then a piece of kraft paper stamped in green ink, the names of Jesus. I used a Fiskars scallop punch for the sentiment and mounted it on a circle cut from my Plantin Schoolbook Cricut cartridge. Green rhinestones are placed at the top left and bottom right, and a bright red, silver and white striped double-looped bow complete the card.

Here it is:


I am entering this card in the following challenges ending:


Dec 16 Loves Rubberstamp Chat - ATG Christmas UE
Dec 17 Word Art Wednesday - ATG 5E #3
Dec 19 Sister Act - Cards Only UE
Dec 21 Glitter N Sparkle Challenge - Red and Green Christmas 3E #1
Dec 22 Craftin Desert Diva Linky Party #21 - Christmas UE
Dec 22 Crafty Boots - Christmas UE
Dec 31 DL ART THANKFUL Thursday Dec Linky Party - ATG UE
Dec 31 CHNC - Extra Challenge Christmas UE

Dec 31 2 Creative Chicks #49 - Christmas/Winter UE
Jan 03 A Gem of A Challenge - ATG UE Weekly Challenges 

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I always appreciate your visits. As always, God's highest and best to you today and every day.

Many rich blessings,

Ginny B.

Romans 10:9-11
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. NLT

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Noel with Angel

I am posting another Christmas card today using gold, silver, black and white.

Starting out with white card stock, a black paper was glued down, then on top of that is a textured gold piece. Layered on top of that is a silver mesh tulle ribbon. I used two Cricut cartridges on this card; to frame the Stampin' Up angel, which was done with gold embossing powder and a heat tool to set it the Cricut Elegant Edges (love this cartridge!) was used. And the "Noel" is from the Teresa Collins December 25th cartridge. I am using that cartridge a lot in my cards this Christmas. The phrase was cut out and spray painted with Krylon Silver Glitter Mist spray.

What does "Noel" mean? This is from Yahoo Answers:

"Noel" is the French word for Christmas. "Merry Christmas" in French is Joyeux Noel. Noel is a masculine French given name that means "Christmas". The feminine form is Noelle. It is derived from the Latin "natalis", referring to the Nativity of Christ, the right form is Noël and also Noëlle. 

Here is the card:


I am entering this card in the following challenges ending:

Dec 14 Creative Inspiration Paint - Merry Christmas UE 
Dec 15 Little Scraps of Heaven - Christmas 1E 
Dec 16 Loves Rubberstamp Chat - ATG Christmas UE
Dec 17 Word Art Wednesday - ATG 5E #3
Dec 19 Sister Act - Cards Only UE
Dec 15 Fanatabulous Criciut Challenge - Holiday Casrds UE
Dec 22 Craftin Desert Diva Linky Party #21 - Christmas UE
Dec 22 Crafty Boots - Christmas UE
Dec 31 DL ART THANKFUL Thursday Dec Linky Party - ATG UE
Dec 31 CHNC - Extra Challenge Christmas UE

Dec 31 2 Creative Chicks #49 - Christmas/Winter UE
Dec 31 Just Be Creative ATG 1 a Day - Dec 14
Jan 3 A Gem of A Challenge - ATG UE Weekly Challenges 

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I always appreciate your visits. As always, God's highest and best to you today and every day.

Many rich blessings,

Ginny B.

Romans 10:9-11
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. NLT 





 

Friday, December 13, 2013

Christ the Savior Is Born

Today I am posting a Christmas card made for a special friend who (like me) loves bling. When I gave it to her, she said, "This is not just a card; it is an ornament for my tree!" This card is gold upon gold, and that is how my friend is--truly golden!

Starting out with white cardstock, a black layer is laid down, then a gold embossed layer of paper I got from a discontinued wallpaper book. Then a gold ribbon is placed horizontally. The sentiment is printed out from my computer and is framed with the Cricut cartridge "Elegant Edges." (I love this cartridge, as it has so many beautiful ways to frame a sentiment, or anything else, for that matter. Very versatile.) Three gold liquid pearls are placed at the bottom of the sentiment, and a gold bow below the sentiment finishes the card.


Here is the card:



I am entering this card in the following challenges ending:

Dec 15 Fantabulous Cricut Challenge - Holiday Cards UE
Dec 16 Loves Rubberstamp Chat ATG Christmas UE
Dec 16 Sweet Stamps Simple Christmas 1E
Dec 17 Word Art Wednesday - ATG 5E #2
Dec 22 Craftin Desert Diva Linky Party #21 Christmas UE
Dec 22 Crafty Boots Christmas UE

Dec 31 CHNC - Extra Challenge Christmas UE
Dec 31 2 Creative Chicks #49 Christmas/Winter UE
Dec 31 Ribbon Carousel ATG UE
Dec 31 DL ART THANKFUL Thursday Dec Linky Party ATG UE

Jan 3 A Gem of A Challenge ATG UE


Thank you for stopping by my blog. I always appreciate your visits. As always, God's highest and best to you today and every day.

Many rich blessings,

Ginny B.

Romans 10:9-11
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. NLT

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Real Gift (3)

I am posting another Christmas card today with the same sentiment as two previous cards; this time I used a stamped background on kraft paper with torn edges laid on white cardstock. Brown is the color of Jesus' humanity; He humbled Himself and became a living, breathing human being just like us, but without sin. The words on the background depict some of His characteristics.

The sentiment is punched from a Fiskars scallop punch and mounted on a circle cut from a Cricut cartridge, Accent Essentials. It is finished with a humble little green and white polka dot grosgrain ribbon for a very CAS look.

Here is the card:




I am entering this card in the following challenges ending:

Dec 12 Sister Act - Cards Only UE
Dec 14 Create with TLC - ATG UE
Dec 14 The Ribbon Girl - Christmas UE
Dec 15 613 Avenue Create - ATG UE
Dec 16 Word Art Wednesday - ATG 5E #1
Dec 16 Addicted to Stamps - Photo Inspiration UE
Dec 22 Craftin Desert Diva Linky Party #21 - Christmas UE
Dec 31 One Crazy Stamper - Winter/Holiday 5E #3
Dec 31 Ribbon Carousel - ATG UE
Jan 03 Gem of a Challenge ATG UE



Thank you for stopping by my blog. I always appreciate your visits. As always, God's highest and best to you today and every day.

Many rich blessings,

Ginny B.

Romans 10:9-11
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. NLT



Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Butterfly Birthday

I made a birthday card for a cousin of mine whom I have not seen since high school. We reconnected a few years ago, and her birthday is in a couple of days, so I put on my thinking cap and came up with something I hope she likes.

Starting out with white cardstock, I embossed a piece of light blue paper (Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF), then laid a cutout from the Fiskars big AdvantEdge Floral Cartridge. It is spray painted with iridescent glitter mist for some extra sparkle. The label is a cutout from the Picturesque Cricut Cartridge, and stamped on it is "hope your day is as happy as happy gets (Stampin' Up)." The edge of it is lined with iridescent glitter. The butterfly is from Spellbinders Wonderful Wings. I put some blue liquid pearls on it to dress it up a bit. Last, but not least, a little gingham blue and white bow is attached to the sentiment.

Here is the card:


Glitter around the sentiment:


Closeup of the butterfly:



I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Dec 10 Word Art Wednesday - ATG 5E #5
Dec 10 Flutterby Wednesday - Anything with a Butterfly UE
Dec 11 4 Crafty Girls Challenge - ATG UE
Dec 11 Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge TT120513 - BINGO UE
Dec 14 Create with TLC - ATG UE
Dec 14 Robyn's Fetish - Must Have a Bow 3E #2
Dec 15 613 Avenue Create - ATG UE
Dec 15 Created with Love Challenges - ATG 3E 31
Dec 15 Artistic Inspirations Challenges - ATG 3E #1
Dec 16 Through the Craft Room Door - ATG 2E #1



Thank you for stopping by my blog. I always appreciate your visits. As always, God's highest and best to you today and every day.

Many rich blessings,

Ginny B.

Romans 10:9-11
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. NLT





Monday, December 9, 2013

Emmanuel

I made another Christmas card--almost done for this year! Hooray!

This was another Cricut project using the December 25th cartridge. I love this cartridge, as it has so many cuts that I will use.

Starting out with white cardstock, a gold piece was placed on top. The frame was cut from the Cricut cartridge. I really love the center point feature, which I used to cut around the sentiment which was printed out from my computer. I sprayed the poinsettias with red paint, then again with red glitter mist; then added liquid pearls to the centers. A bow at the bottom finishes the card.

Here is the card:



I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Dec 10 ABC Christmas Challenge - Christmas, No Squares UE
Dec 10 Divas by Design - ATG 2E #2
Dec 11 4 Crafty Girls Challenge - ATG UE
Dec 14 Create with TLC - ATG UE
Dec 14 Robyn's Fetish - Must Have a Bow 3E #2
Dec 14 The Ribbon Girl - Christmas UE
Dec 15 613 Avenue Create - ATG UE
Dec 15 Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog - Holiday Cards 1E
Dec 16 Stampin for the Weekend - Use Some Red 1E
Dec 31 Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - ATG as Long as It's Christmas UE
Dec 31 One Crazy Stamper - Winter/Holiday 5E #2

To enhance your Christmas experience, watch this YouTube video of the U.S. Air Force Band at the National Air and Space Museum:






Thank you for stopping by my blog. I always appreciate your visits. As always, God's highest and best to you today and every day.

Many rich blessings,

Ginny B.

Romans 10:9-11
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. NLT