Belle Papier {pretty paper}

Happy Easter! I hope you’re having a special day and taking time to remember the true meaning of Easter. I’m back on-line and able to access most of my files now so I thought I’d share an inspirational design with you today. I just adore this Rejoice stamp. By simply stamping it in black and pairing it up with the Modern Cross image I have an Easter card. A couple quick notes before I go on…

• I still have NO e-mail files and therefore NO e-mail addresses. If you’re someone expecting a response, you’ll probably want to send me a new note or just send me your address so I can build my contact list back up again. Who knows WHEN I’ll be able to access these files!
• Cornish Heritage Farms is having a double points promotion this weekend until midnight Monday night. If you have wishlist…now’s a great time to get what you want.

Rejoice

This design is also a sneak peek at my new Ornamental Borders Scrapblock to be released on Tuesday. I designed it to go with the Ornamental Beauty set or just be used on its own. As you can see here it works with other lines or styles. On this project, I stamped it over some subtle patterned paper for a different look.

Have a blessed Easter!

Supply List:

Stamps: Ornamental Borders Scrapblock, Modern Cross, Rojoice by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink: Black Memento Ink by Tsukineko, Pool Adirondack Ink by Ranger

Paper: patterned paper by MME, Kraft & Simply Smooth White cardstock by Prism

Other: felt flower by Maya Road, ribbon by Prima, button by AUtumn Leaves, sewing machine, Nestability die by Spellbinders

I love this sentiment… It’s so true! It’s only from the valley that the mountains seem high. No matter who we are there are times that we spend in the valley. From the highs of joy to the lows of struggle or sadness. I’ve been reminded lately while doing a Bible study (Stepping Up by Beth Moore) that without the valleys, we don’t have as much appreciation for the mountains or high points of our experience. As I start this new year, I’m committed to stepping up on my journey and appreciating the blessings along the path. No matter where you are in your journey, take time to look up.

From the Valley

Quick Tip: Tear the top layer off the cardboard to reveal the corrogated inside to add texture to your design.

 Have a beautiful day!

Supply List:

Stamps: Mountains (Scene-it Line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Black Memento by Tsukineko, Vintage Photo and Antique Linen Distress ink by Ranger
Paper: Kraft and Natural Smooth by Prism, Thomas Kinkade Masculine series paper pack by Cornish Heritage Farms
Other: die by Spellbinders, brad by American Crafts, sewing machine, corrogated cardboard shape by Prima, markers by Copic

I just wanted to take the time this morning to wish you a very special Christmas. Amidst the  business of family and food and presents, I just wanted to sit down and think about the true meaning of Christmas, the greatest gift of all.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end Isaiah 9:6,7

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:30-33

Wishing you a very special Christmas

While cleaning and sorting my stamps a few weeks ago, a couple of my stamps just seemed to fall together. This card immediately popped into mind. The most important part of Christmas to me is celebrating its origin. And while the story starts in Bethlehem, I added the shadow of the cross as that is the rest of the story. The joy, peace and hope are found there. If you’ve ever heard the song…Lord I Lift Your Name on High, it was my inspiration.

From the Cradle to the Cross

Wishing you a blessed day,

Supply List:
Stamps:
-Modern Cross (Classic Collection by Cornish Heritage Farms
-Manger Scene (Classic Collection) by Cornish Heritage Farms
-Christmas Expressions (MLM line) by CHF

Ink:
-Ranger Adirondack ink
-Brushed Corduroy Distress ink by Ranger

Paper:
-Kraft cardstock by Prism
-Simply Smooth white cardstock by Prism
-Kim Hughes Mocha Chica paper pack by Cornish Heritage Farms

Other:
-sewing machine
-brads by Creative Impressions 

Happy Monday! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! Today my project combines two challenges and I also have a short tutorial for you. First of all…the CHF Challenge Chicks challenge this week is to use Glossy Cardstock. One of my favorite ways to use glossy cardstock is the faux linen technique. Actually, it seems like forever since I last used it. Having never tried it on an image as detailed as this, I wasn’t quite sure how well it would work. I was really pleased with the results. My Thomas Kinkade Open Gate image has a very antique photograph look with texture. If you’d like to join our glossy cardstock challenge…we’d love to see your designs! Check out the link here.

To see more great glossy cardstock ideas, check out the designs some of my friends have made…

Kristine

Dawn

Kim

Lisa Strahl

Sherrie

No Eye Has seen

Before I get to the tutorial…I’ll tell you briefly about my design. This year I’m working on a 12 month project…the Bible Verse Challenge and am making myself a beautiful chipboard book with some verses I’m memorizing and also mean something to me. Next week marks the first year anniversary of my mom’s passing and I’ve been thinking a lot about heaven lately. I love this verse from 1 Corinthians and while I miss my mom as much as ever, I know I’ll be with her again someday. What a wonderful place heaven must be. I always try and put a lot of thought into each of my designs in this book. I ordered this No Eye Has Seen stamp a week ago andI was a bit perplexed on what kind of an image I should add to go on this page. While searching through my rubber, I came across this Thomas Kinkade Open Gate stamp. It reminded me of how Jesus said…I am the door and also, I am the Way and I knew that it would be perfect for this design. If you’d like to see the rest of the pages I’ve created for this book to date…simply click on the Inspirational link at the top of this post.

Faux Linen Technique

I love the texture this Faux Linen technique. It’s perfect for masculine, vintage, shabby and rustic styles. The best thing about it is that is is so simple and only required two supplies….glossy cardstock and sandpaper. Note: Ran into a couple glitches this morning…the photos will be edited in ASAP!

1. Stamp your image or images onto white glossy cardstock.

2. Take a piece of sandpaper and sand in long smooth strokes across the cardstock in one direction. Turn 90% and then sand the other direction. Make sure all the gloss of the cardstock is removed.

3. Ink a sponge…I used Antique Linen Distress ink by Ranger…and wipe ink into the grooves the sandpaper has left.

4. Sponge edges if desired. For this design I used Vintage Photo Distress ink by Ranger.

Quick Tip: Add small touches of color to your Thomas Kinkade designs to get a hand-colored photo look. I simply added color to a few blossoms with a dye-based marker. You can also apply with a Cut ‘n Dry nib.

Wishing you a fabulous day!

Julia

Supply List: Stamps: No Eye Has Seen & The Open Gate (Thomas Kinkade line) by Cornish Heritage Farms, Ink: Black Palette Ink by Stewart Superior, Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress Ink by Ranger, Paper: Glossy Cardstock by Ranger, Journaling Pad and Priceless Chipboard Tag by Making Memories, Stella Ruby 6×6 paper pad by Basic Grey, Other: Flowers and lace by Prima, rhinestones by Me and My Big Ideas

Patterned paper, flowers and rhinestones from Jacksonbelle Embellishments

Today’s post combines a double challenge. Today’s Ways to Use it Challenge and also, a year long challenge I’m working on each month. This challenge is called the Divine Design Bible Verse Challenge and Lori Craig put out the challenge to anyone who wanted to jump in. I’ve been creating a Maya Road chipboard book. Each chipboard page is covered with patterned paper, has a passage that I’ve memorized and means something to me and I get to have fun embellishing it. I know this project will be one I’ll treasure always. So many times we make cards or projects that we send away. This one I’m making just for me and adding in as many shabby goodies as I like.

Today’s Ways to Use it Challenge is a rerun….finding ways to use chipboard. I had a request for some ideas and as I always love my chipboard… Pull yours out too and have some fun! Play along with the challenge at WT165.

Two Sparrows Page

I’ve been using patterned paper from the Basic Grey Stella Ruby 6×6 paper pad on each page of this album. I love the shabby look and beautiful colors and it all ties together so nicely when you use one line for a project. My verses are from Matthew 10:29-31 and I printed them out onto some Natural Smooth cardstock on my computer. To add subtle interest without taking away from the words, I added in some flowers from the Silhouette Blooms 1 stamp set by Cornish Heritage Farms.

As for chipboard…well, I love my chipboard! This album is a 6×6 Maya Road Chipboard album with a binder clip binding. I love how easy it is to take the pages in and out to alter. To add more chipboard to my design, I added a little chipboard arrow to highlight the verse that really means something to me. Another chipboard element is one you’ve probably seen lots of in my designs….the Maya road chipboard flourish. I LOVE these! This one is painted with Tim Hotlz Distress Crackle Paint in Antique Linen.

Now did you see the sparrow that ties into my verse? This sparrow is from Asela’s Bird Sampler set and I’ve stamped it right on the top left corner on my patterned paper. To tie my design together with the previous page, I used some the same elements and colors to make it flow. All those blue Autumn Leaves buttons carry through perfectly as well as the Prima flowers. While I didn’t use brown circles on this page like the last, I did anchor this side of the design with a layer of K I Memories dark brown die cut paper.

Lastly, a few thoughts on the verse I chose…these verses are precious to me. To know that God knows everything about me, even the number of hairs on my head… incredible! Some times in your life are difficult but how wonderful to know that God knows everything about me and will be with me for everything to come.

Blessings to you today!

Julia

Last month I started an album with a monthly Bible verse design. This project started off as a challenge by Lori Craig and all are welcome to join in. I’m still trying to find some time to catch up on the challenge I missed but I’d like to share with you the scripture and design I worked up for March. This month we have an early Easter and with that in mind…I chose a scripture that celebrated that.

He is Risen!

I incorporated two verses into this design. The new He is not Here stamp by Cornish Heritage Farms and another verse from 1 Peter 1:3 about the great mercy of God and the living hope I have in Jesus. The Rejoice and Lily stamps are also new to Cornish Heritage Farms and you can easily find them by using Easter or Inspirational as a search keyword on their site. To add stitching to my chipboard page I used a darling little rub-on tape by Daisy D’s.

To create this book I’ve been using a Maya Road chipboard album with a binder snap type system. I love how easy it is to take out the pages to work on them. To keep my book cohesive I decided to use a 6×6 Stella Ruby paper pad from Basic Grey and go with a shabby/vintage style look. If you’d like to join in or just check out the challenge…you can find it here.

Supply List:

Stamps: He is Not Here, Rejoice Circle, Modern Lily, Sophisticated Swirl Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms

Ink: Brushed Corduroy & Worn Lipstick Distress Inks - Ranger, Burnt Umber and Black Hybrid Palette Inks - Stewart Superior

Cardstock: Natural Smooth - Prism Papers

Patterned Paper: 6×6 paper pad Stella Ruby - Basic Grey

Other: flower - Prima Marketing, buttons - Autumn Leaves, ribbon - Creative Impressions, circle punch - Marvy, computer to generate verse

One challenge I really wanted to take up this year is Lori Craig’s Bible Verse challenge. The challenge was to create a project that would span the year and memorize the Bible verse each month. I’m kind of late to the challenge…it actually started last month but somehow in the business of the new year…I had totally not even heard about the challenge. Jami was so sweet to PM me and ask if I would like to join in. :)I’m jumping in now and I’ll either do two in one month to catch up or just make my challenge project go one month longer. I’m so excited about doing this. I always have good intentions but somehow the days slip away. I think part of getting things done is making a plan and sticking to it. This challenge is now on my calendar, the 8th of each month, and at the end of the year, I’ll have a beautiful book of my favorite verses. Better yet…I’ll have them hidden in my heart, {embracing} God’s Word. If you’d like to join in with the challenge…you can just start now too if you’d like. You can check it out here.

Psalm 139:7-10     (click on pic for closeup)

This whole chapter is one of my favorites. I know it very well to start with as I couldn’t begin to guess how many times I’ve read it. It has brought me so much comfort to know that I am held in the hand of the Almighty. Part of this chapter also talks about God knowing all about me and how he formed me in my mother’s womb. During pregnancies and illness and just through the trials of life, this chapter has been a blessing to me.

As for the design of this project…I decided I’d create a little book of all the verses, something to keep and treasure. I recently purchased this darling little 6×6 Maya Road chipboard album. The pages are so sturdy. A wonderful size and so easy to embellish. The binder clip binding works really well and I’ll be covering the outside in the coming months so stay tuned. I noticed the other day that I had a lot of Basic Grey Stella Ruby paper left and as I love the warm shades and floral look…thought it would be perfect for this project. To keep this project cohesive, I’ll be storing away the rest of my paper in a ziploc bag with other goodies that I might want to incorporate.

Quick Tip: When planning pages on a chipboard album…you’ll want to take into consideration that you’ll be decorating the back as well. If you add things like brads, add them on a layer and insert before adhering the paper to the chipboard.

{Wishing you a day of joy and peace.}

Supply List:

Cardstock: Natural Smooth - Prism

Patterned Paper: 6×6 paper pad Stella Ruby - Basic Grey

Stamps: Beautiful (flourishes) from The Rummage Bin line- Cornish Heritage Farms, Carte Postale (bird) - Stampin Up

Ink: Brushed Corduroy & Tea Dye Distress Inks, Shell Pink Adirondack ink - Ranger

Other: moss velvet ribbon - Flair Designs, ruffled ribbon - Making Memories, flower - Prima Marketing, Loopy Brad - Karen Foster Designs, Designer Brad - We R Memory Keepers

It is so busy this time of year. So much going on…so many preparations to make…so many gifts to buy. I just had to take the time today to share my favorite Christmas card that I have designed. I actually designed this last year working with a Thankful Theme. You may have seen it before but as it is special to me, I wanted to share it here on my blog. Why is this design special to me? Well, I’m really pleased with how the design and elements on this card all came together, but mostly…it means something to me as it reminds me of the real meaning of Christmas. Remembering God’s Gift to us…his son. This card is designed around a verse…

Thanks….Be to God for his indescribable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15

The thanks is stamped on the front and the rest of the verse, computer-generate on the inside.

Thanks Be to God

This card also reminds me of one of my favorite Christmas songs… Mary Did you Know by Mark Lowry…

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered
Will soon deliver youMary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little boy
You’ve kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Did you know
That your baby boy will one day rules the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding
Is the Great I Am

Supply List:

Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas!

It is such a dreary rainy day here, I just had to post this jumbo clothes peg note holder that I made recently. I had so much fun making it…so cute and sunny. I was going to give it away as a gift but my teenage daughter claimed it and so I’ll just have to make another. It was fun, quick and easy so I’m not too worried about it. I’m glad she at least takes an interest in a few of the things I make.

I have to tell you about something that touched my heart this morning… I drove my teenagers to school early this morning. It was See you at the Pole day. Just after 7:30 in the pouring rain. We were a couple minutes late and there standing on the front lawn of the school…that early in the morning in the cold pouring rain…there were already about 50 teenagers standing there praying for their school, teachers and fellow students. I was so touched at their dedication. It really made my morning. See you at the Pole started at a high school in Texas in the 90’s and now takes place across the US, Canada and Australia. It is totally student initiated and student led.

And now…back to the design…

Daisy Jumbo Clothespeg Note Holder

I bought this large white Clothes peg at Michael’s a while ago. I’d seen them altered before and wanted to jump in on the fun myself. To start I covered my paperclip with some beautiful Rhonna Farrer Autumn Leaves paper and sanded the edges. My new May Arts ribbon was a perfect match (I love this ribbon! I’ve gone through huge amounts in the past weeks!) and was easy to tie on the peg.

Edited to add… I used my favorite glue … Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive …. to adhere the patterned paper to the clothes peg clip.

For my daisy embellishment, I pulled out my Daisy Dots stamp set from Lizzie Anne Designs. The daisy was first stamped using my Canvas Palette Hybrid ink onto Soft Sky cardstock. I stamped it again with the black Palette pad and then cut out my daisy. For the daisy center, I stamped one of the dots onto the patterned paper and then punched it out with my circle punch. For the center, to add a little fun, I added one of my Doodlebug Designs gemstone stickers. They come in varying sizes and colors and are fabulous.

Quick Tip; My 7/8″ circle punch works perfectly with the Daisy Dots stamp set. The one inch circle punch works wonderfully to mat it if desired.

I decided when giving this as a gift, a little gift not tucked into the clip would be a perfect addition. I used a scrap of Kraft Cardstock and punched one edge with my Spiral punch from Stampin Up. The edges were then sponged with Close to Cocoa ink. I stamped the solid daisy again in my Canvas ink and pulled out my Simply Sentiments set…I just love this one! AFter stamping the friend sentiment in black, I quickly stapled on a little scrap of the May Arts stitched ribbon and voila… I was done!

Wishing you a bright happy day!