Summer Lovin' Challenge CFC133

    Thanks so much for stopping in today. I so enjoy your visits and comments.

     Today, I have a card for CAS-ual Fridays' challenge. The point of this challenge is to create a clean and simple card using hearts and summery colors. Except for the stem, I made all parts of my flower with hearts.

     Using the medium and large That's Amore heart punches from Fiskars, I punched four large hearts from the beautiful, dark coral, water-colored cardstock in The Solstice Stack from DCWV. I also punched one large green heart and a medium green heart. To make the flower, I overlapped one heart onto another using all four hearts. I used the small green heart at the bottom of the petals. I cut and adhered a stem to the blossom. I cut the large green heart in half and added them as leaves. I used foam tape to adhere the blossom to my card. The sentiment is a vellum quote(ColorBok) which I ran through my Xyron sticker maker.

     There is still plenty of time if you want to play along with us. Check out the details here: http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/2014/06/cfc133.html The deadline is noon on July 18th. So, jump in and start creating.

     I pray that you are having a wonderful, blessed day.

Win a Copy of "Max, the Boy Raindrop" from Darice

     Just popping in to let you know that Darice, a leading company in the craft industry, is giving away an autographed copy of my newest book, Max, the Boy Raindrop, on their Facebook page. Darice generously supplied the embossing folders to help me tell Max's story. Be sure to check them out. They have lots of fun products.

 

     Max is available as a soft-bound book as well as an e-book. Order through your local bookseller or preferred on-line retailer.

          978-1-4908-2866-4 (soft cover ISBN)

          978-1-4908-2867-1 (e-book ISBN)



Max and Core'dinations

     Always so nice to have you stopping in. Today, I want to share a detail-image from my new book, Max, the Boy Raindrop and some fun news.

     The folks over at Core'dinations are working on a fun Max-giveaway and more. Core' generously supplied all the cardstock for my illustrations. If you don't know them or are not a follower of their blog yet, you should be. Check them out here: http://www.coredinations.com/. I do love their products! Not sure when the giveaway will go live, but keep an eye on their blog and their Facebook page. I'll post again here and on my Facebook page too so you don't miss it.

     Thanks so much for all your support and encouragement of Max's story. He has more adventures coming up. 

            You can order a copy of Max, the Boy Raindrop through your local bookseller or preferred on-line retailer. Max is available in softbound and e-book format.

   978-1-4908-2866-4 (SC ISBN)

   978-1-4908-2867-1 (EBOOK ISBN)

     If you want an autographed copy, email me at phaskin@hotmail.com for the details. Have a wonderful day, Pamela

One Layer Card Challenge ODBDSLC207

UPDATE: Excited to find out that my card was a winner in the challenge! Thanks so much to the folks at Our Daily Bread Designs.
    One layer!?! Only one layer? Okay, I have to admit this was a tough challenge for me. I love layers and layers and layers. I almost always have to put two postage stamps on my cards when I mail them.     

     This is a f-l-a-t card. But, I love it how it turned out.

     First, I used a Spellbinders' label die to cut a masking-label out of thin copy paper. I temporarily taped it to the front of the blue card base. (I cut two pieces of double-stick tape and taped them first to the back of my hand to take some of the stickiness away. Then, I removed them and used them to hold the masking-label in place.) Next, using ODBD's Birch Background #D213, I stamped the birch trees. Afterward, I removed the masking-label and discarded it. I stamped the sentiment in the blank spot left by the label. The sentiment is also ODBD. It's from the Earth Verses collection #F494.

     There you go. A flat card from me. I might have to make more flat, one-layer cards. There is still time to join us if you have your own one-layer card idea. Check out the details here: http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/odbdslc207-one-layer-cards.html



Max is Here at Last!

     Max, is here at last! I got my copies this morning and am excited to share him with you.



     If you want a copy, you can order a printed book or an e-book anywhere you normally buy books. Some of you have been asking for autographed copies. You can email me privately at phaskin@hotmail.com and I will send you the info you need to get one.
     Thanks so much to all of you who have encouraged me and kept me believing in myself throughout this endeavor. I woke up every morning wanting to work - play - create. Your support means a great deal to me.

DCWV June Stack-a-holic Card Challenge

UPDATE: Just found out that my card was among the winners at DCWV! Thanks so much to DCWV for another great challenge. You can see the other winners here:   http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/07/dear-crafty-friendsjune-stack-holic.html


   Hello, my sweet friends! So nice of you to pop in. Today, I have a card for the June Stack-a-holic challenge at DCWV.

     I used DCWV's The Coral Couture Stack to create my card. DCWV provided a great sketch(below) to work with this month. I did not have the die to make my rings, so I made my own. Using Fiskars 1.5" circle punch and Spellbinders 1" circle die, I created 12 rings. I ran them through my Xyron sticker maker and adhered them to the front of 12 more 1.5" circles. I used foam tape to attach them to my card. I stamped the sentiment (ODBD Friendship collection), and then added pearls and other embellishments.
     Here's a close-up of the circles.

     There is still plenty of time to join in the fun. Check out the details here:



http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/06/june-stackaholic-challenge.html

Introducing "Max, the Boy Raindrop"

    Max is ready to meet the world! I'm so excited to let you know that my new book is available for purchase. Max lives in e-book and softcover printed-book formats so you may have whichever is your preference.
     Max, the Boy Raindrop is an adventurous, fast-paced story about a scared raindrop who must overcome his fear of raining. He learns that oftentimes just grabbing hold of a friend's hand can be the beginning of courage.
      For those friends of mine in the card-making and scrapbooking world, you will be pleased to know that I created all the illustrations myself using only cardstock and paper-crafting tools. A big thanks goes to Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock, Darice, and Fiskars who so generously supplied cardstock and paper-crafting tools to help me tell Max's story. They will all have copies to give away on their blogs.
     As time goes by, I will be sharing some specific techniques I used for Max's story like punching, dry-embossing, tearing, design, color choice and cutting the tiniest pieces of paper. Every eyebrow, every eyelash even, I created from cardstock.
     Thanks so much for sharing in my excitement today! I will be looking forward to Max living in your home. Here is the info to order if you are interested. You may order an autographed copy directly from me. Email me at phaskin@hotmail.com for info.
     You may also order it through your local bookseller or preferred online retailer like www.amazon.com or www.bn.com. You may also order directly from my publisher (A division of Thomas Nelson) at:
softcover - http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/Products/SKU-000700312/Max-the-Boy-Raindrop.aspx 
e-book http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/Products/SKU-000700313/Max-the-Boy-Raindrop.aspx .
          softcover ISBN:  978-1-4908-2866-4
          e-book ISBN:  978-1-4908-2867-1          
A really big thanks goes to the bravest man I know, my husband Jeff. And, a big thanks to Belan, Jan, Sherri, and Glenda, my writer's group who believed in my talent and prodded me along all the way.

White on White Challenge ODBDSLC205

     I love working with tone-on-tone and monochromatic colors like this white-on-white card for the weekly challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs.
     I used Our Daily Bread Designs Friendship stamp collection to heat-emboss my sentiment. I also used Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage die. The other die cuts are Spellbinders Persian Motifs, Card Creator and EK Success Lattice Chain. There is still time if you want to join in the fun. Check out all the details here:  http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/odbdslc205-white-on-white.html
     Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Inspiration Challenge - ODBDSLC204

     Hope you are having a great day! Wish I could share the wonderful sunshine we have today with all of you.
     This morning, I have a card for the Inspiration Challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs.

     This time ODBD gave us two photos to use as inspiration in creating a card. I chose the one below because I was so drawn to the gold-taupe-tan color scheme. This is not my usual color preferences, but this room was so beautiful.

     I used ODBD's Fancy Foliage die cut and also their Earth Verses stamp collection.

     There is still plenty of time to join in the fun. You can get the details and the other inspiration photo here: http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/odbdslc204-inspiration-challenge.html

   

DCWV May Stack-a-holic Card Challenge

     Thanks so much for stopping by. Makes my heart happy to know you are popping in from time to time. Today, I have a card for the Stack-a-holic challenge at DCWV.

     I created this card using The Home Spun Stack - one of my favorite stacks! I'm going to have to get another one soon as this one is getting all used up. That calls for a shopping trip, don't you think? I can't run out of cardstock!

     I love this stack because it already has score lines. I really like how it looks when I emboss over the top of it. Makes me look so talented, no!?! I used two different embossing folders. The smallest dark pink panel has smaller details that fit it better than the larger one. I used foam tape to adhere the larger panel to the card.

     The sketch (below) had buttons on it. Most of my buttons are darker colors and I wanted something light and summery, so I made my own buttons using this same stack. When I got the circles made, I put them upside down on a mouse pad and used the back end of a paint brush to lightly emboss (?) them to give them the look of real buttons. Then, I punched two holes in each and threaded them with ribbon. I adhered them to my small panel with foam tape.

     There is still plenty of time if you want to join in all the fun. Here's a copy of the sketch to work with and the address to get all the details: http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/05/may-stackaholic-challenge.html



F-L-O-W-E-R Word Challenge ODBDSLC202

     UPDATE: Excited to learn my card won the challenge. Thanks so much to ODBD for such fun challenges.
     Hope you are having a wonderful day! Thanks so much for taking a minute to visit my blog. Today I have a card for Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge.

 

     The goal of this week's challenge is to use at least four of the letters of the word 'flower' as a recipe for our cards. Here is what I came up with.

     F - Fancy Foliage and leaves die cuts from ODBD

     L - layers

     O - oval

     W - words from Earth Verses stamps collection from ODBD

     E - easel card

     R - rhinestones

     This easel-card was a fun card to make. I really enjoy making my own embellishments like I did here with the flower. And, I made color-matching 'diamonds' by coloring clear gemstones with one of my Copic markers.

     I created the other die cuts using Spellbinders dies that I recently won in a blog hop. Beautiful dies and they make me look so talented. 

     There is still time to join in on the fun. Check out all the details here: http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/odbdslc202-f-l-o-w-e-r-word-challenge.html

Our Daily Bread Sketch Challenge ODBDSLC199

  

     I created this card for the weekly challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs. This week we had to use a sketch to make our cards. I began by making the stamped background on white cardstock using Paper Inspirations Floral Flourish stamp and seafoam pigment from ColorBox. I matted each layer with seafoam cardstock from DCWV's Home Spun Stack, then stamped the sentiment using Our Daily Bread's Friendship stamp collection.
     Thanks so much for taking time to visit my blog. It means so much to me. If you want to play with us, there is still a little time left. The deadline is Sunday the 27th at 8pm EST. Here's a copy of the sketch and the address where you can get all the details about playing.
http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/odbdslc199-sketch.html

DCWV April Stack-a-holic Card Challenge

UPDATE: Just found out my card made the TOP-10! This really is my favorite challenge each month. I highly recommend joining in on all the fun. You can see the other TOP-10 here: http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/04/aprils-stackaholic-challenge-top-10s.html
 Thanks so much for stopping in. Hope you are having a fun day.

     Today, I have a card for the April Stack-a-holic challenge over at DCWV. I used The Coral Couture Stack to make my card. I just love the colors in it. It is one of my favorite stacks from them. I save every little scrap of it. And, a good thing too -- look at these tiny little flags. Scraps worked perfectly for this card.

     I created the flower-embellishment by fussy-cutting three of them from one of the pages in the stack. I layered them using foam tape to give the flower dimension and colored the center with a yellow marker.

     I love the sentiment too! I recently won a stamp collection (I Blank You A1S208) from Paper Smooches, and it has quickly become one of my favs.

     There is still plenty of time to get your own card in if you want to join in the fun. Here is the sketch and address where you can get all the rules and other details: http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/04/aprils-stackaholic-challenge.html



DCWV April Stack-a-holic Scrapbook Challenge

          So nice of you to stop in. Today, I have a scrapbook layout for you - for Glenda. Glenda, one of my most precious friends, recently broke free of her earthly body. It was such a peaceful passing, and she was looking forward to the next part of 'living'. 

     I know the text box is hard to read in this picture. Here is what it says:

         

          Chicamiga, you go ahead of me now to the next part of living. May you rest there in peace -- well, maybe you won't rest. I can see you exploring and adventuring. My precious friend, your journey has just begun.

     Chicamiga is a word we made up by combining chica and amiga and always called each other by that. I really miss her. 

    I'm sending this layout over to DCWV's April Stack-a-holic challenge. I used The Handy-Dandy Stack to create my page. I printed all the text on white cardstock using my computer. I almost always use stamps for sentiments/text, but in this case I wanted a certain look that fit with Glenda's personality.

     There is still time if you want to submit a layout of your own. Here is the sketch we had to use and the address where you can get all the details.  http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/04/aprils-stackaholic-challenge.html

    



He is Risen with Pastels Challenge ODBDSLC198

UPDATE: I want to thank Our Daily Bread Designs for featuring my card. Lots of fun things going on over on their blog. Check out it here: http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/

 

     So nice of you to drop in today. I am having a quiet, reflective day as I think about my Savior and His sacrifice. My latest card fits my mood today.

     I'm sending this card over to Our Daily Bread Designs challenge. The point of this week's challenge is to create a card using pastel colors that depicts the true meaning of Easter. As you can see, I used pastel greens and purples. I heat-embossed the sentiment (OBDB Earth Verses F494) that is a reflection of my own personal faith. I KNOW my Redeemer lives!

    Okay, great. Now I have the song stuck in my head - I know my Redeemer lives and ever prays for me . . . . I guess there are worse things that could be stuck in my head.

     Want to join us in the challenge? There is still plenty of time. Check out the details here: http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/odbdslc198-he-is-risen-with-pastels.html

Shining the Light, Have Fun with ODBD Stamps Challenge

     Today I have a card for Our Daily Bread Design's Shining the Light challenge.

     The challenge here was a fun one- use only your favorite ODBD stamps! I love pottery so I knew right away I wanted to use the Pottery (#B121) stamp. The sentiment stamp is from the Friendship (#B52) stamp collection.
     I stamped the pottery using ColorBox's Red Barn chalk then fussy-cut the image. Using a very light hand, I colored just a touch on each pot with a marker that matched the card base. I used foam tape to adhere the pots to my textured panel. I used the same chalk to stamp the sentiment.
     There are just a few hours left to get your card in if you want to play with us. Check out the details here: http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/anniversary-challenge-4-have-with-odbd.html
     Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope you have a great day.

A Deliberate Life: A Journey into the Alaskan Wilderness

     My book, A Deliberate Life: A Journey into the Alaskan Wilderness, is being featured on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at eBookSoda, a new readers' site where they'll send you ebook recommendations tailored to your taste. www.ebooksoda.com. They have great deals on e-books in all genres. Some are free downloads!
     My children's picture book, Max, the Boy Raindrop, will be out any day now. I'll keep you posted. Thanks so much for stopping in today!

Creative Paper Quilling by Ann Martin

      Just popping in for a quick minute today to tell you about a great book I discovered. 

     I love the look of paper quilling, but I've never tried it. Whether you are new to quilling like me or have been doing it a long time, this book by Ann Martin is for all of us. With projects including cards, jewelry, ornaments and home décor, you're sure to find something fun to quill. Ann has included a long list of the various quilling shapes and clear, precise and easy-to-understand directions for each project.

     You can find her book at Annie's and Amazon as well as most other places you can buy books. You should also check out her blog. Tell her I sent you over to take a look. You will see the most amazing paper projects you've ever seen.   http://www.allthingspaper.net/
     Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you have a wonderful day, Pam

Shining the Light, Six of Something Challenge

    UPDATE: I just found out my card was one of the three winners in its challenge. Thanks so much to ODBD and all my followers who are always so supportive. You can see the other two winners here: http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/anniversary-challenge-4-have-with-odbd.html  Have a wonderful, blessed day!

     Thanks so much for stopping in today. It feels so good to be working on cards again. I've been so busy working on my children's picture book that I've had little time for anything else. I'm done with that now and want to play. So, I made this card for Our Daily Bread Designs' Shining the Light Anniversary Challenge (ODBDSLC195).

        This challenge here is to use six of something, six of anything on a card. I used six shades of teal/turquoise - my favorite color to work with. I won the cardstock recently from Carta Bella. It's always so much fun to win! This cardstock is from their Hello Again collection.
     The sentiment stamp is from ODBD's Friendship collection. The leafy branch and the vine are also from ODBD. The vine is bigger than you see here. I tore it - a happy accident because I think it looks better this size on this card.
     You have until Sunday, March 23 at 8pm EST to get a card in if you want to play with us. Check out the details here: http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shining%20the%20Light%20Challenge
    Hope you have a wonderful day, Pam
 

DCWV March Stack-a-holic Card Challenge

UPDATE:  So excited to  find out that my card made the TOP-10 in DCWV's March challenge. This was such a fun card to create. You can see the others in the TOP-10 here: http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/03/marchs-top-10-stackaholic-challenge.html
     Hard to believe it is the middle of March already! I love the warmer temps and the longer days. I know some of you are still buried in snow. I hope you thaw out soon.     

    I used DCWV's Tres Chic Cardstock Stack to make my card for March's Stack-a-holic Challenge. I pulled several coordinating sheets including a glittery one and dry embossed them with a variety of embossing folders. I cut strips and adhered them in a random order that I worked a long time planning. LOL~ The perfectionist side of me drives me crazy sometimes.

     The vine die-cut is one of Our Daily Bread Designs that I love! I use it a lot. The butterflies are Recollections and the sentiment is a vellum quote from Colorbok. I ran the vellum quote through my Xyron and adhered it to a strip of cardstock. I hid the edges of the vellum under the butterfly wings.

     There is still lots of time to play along with us. Here's the sketch we have to work with this time and the address to get all the details. http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/03/march-stackaholic-challenge.html

DCWV February Stack-a-holic Card Challenge - Updated

   UPDATE: Just found out I mad the TOP-10! So excited to see my card among the other beautiful cards. You can see the other Top-10 here: http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/02/february-stackaholic-challenge-top-10.html

     Thanks so much for popping in today. Hope you are having a great day.
     Today, I have a card for DCWV's Stack-a-holic Challenge.

     I used DCWV's The Home Spun Cardstock Stack to create my card this month. This cardstock comes textured like you see on the sentiment tag above. I created the two other textures-on-textures using Spellbinders M-Bossabilities folder EL-002. I love that these folders have two different coordinating designs. The sentiment stamp is from Our Daily Bread Designs (Friendship #B52). I've recently come across this company and their blog, and I'm loving their stamps. You should check them out.

     There is still a little bit of time if you want to play along with us. Here's the sketch we had to work with and a link to get all the details.



http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/02/february-stackaholic-challenge.html

DCWV January Stack-a-holic Card Challenge

     Thanks so much for stopping in! Today I have a card for DCWV's January Stack-a-holic Challenge.

     I used DCWV's Floral Foliage Stack for my card this month. I just love the deep purples and blues in the stack. I made the layered flowers with one of Spellbinders' cut-fold-tuck die sets, and the vine which is my newest and now favorite die comes from Our Daily Bread.
     There is still some time left if you want to create with us. But, don't wait too long. I did not see a deadline for entry, but it will be soon. Check out the challenge here: http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2014/01/january-stack-holic-challenge.html
      Here's a copy of the sketch we had to use.