11/12/2016

     So nice of you to stop in today. Since all my art supplies are still in storage after our move and while my broken leg heals, I wanted to share this black and silver Christmas card from a prior year. That post was the most popular among all my blog followers.
     I hope this card inspires you to create one of your own. I would love to see what you create. You can share it in the comments of today's post.
     I'll be back in a couple of weeks with more brand new posts and cards.

* * * * * * * * * *

          I am so very honored to be among the Bright Shining Stars of 2014 chosen by Our Daily Bread Designs.


     ODBD chose my black and silver Christmas card to feature in their  awards post today.
Our Daily Bread Designs, Sparkling Snowflake, Snowflake
        I love ODBD and all they stand for. They make it so easy for me to share my faith and love of our Heavenly Father.  I am especially fond of their scripture stamps and dies.
     You can see the other Bright Shining Stars of 2014 here: http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/introducing-graciela-and-our-bright-and.html
     May God be glorified in my work,

Pamela

9/29/2016

Holiday Cards

     I'm super excited! CardMaker published two of my cards in their special Happy Holidays issue. I can't wait for you to see them! You can download the issue or buy a copy here: http://www.cardmakermagazine.com/shopping.php?mode=current_sip
     I'm still down with a broken leg for another month. All my card making supplies are in storage while our house is being finished and I heal. Thank each of you who has offered prayers and good thoughts on my behalf.
     Happy holiday-card making!
 

8/22/2016

A Break -- I Mean a Real Break

     Looks like I'll be down awhile. The good news is that we sold our house. The bad news, when we were moving the furniture out, a big heavy piece fell, and I didn't get out of the way quite quick enough. Broke both bones in my lower leg. The best news is that the doc was able to fix everything!
     It was a very bad break and the doc has me on strict bed rest for a few weeks. Our new house is not ready yet, so we are staying with relatives. They are very gracious to me.
     When I find my papers and inks probably in late September, I'll be making cards again. Until then, I'll enjoy seeing what you guys make for your blogs.
     This is the day the Lord has made and I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!
     Thanks for stopping in, Pamela


6/30/2016

Pop It Up Challenge - ODBDSLC275


     Thanks so much for stopping in! Today I have a card for the Shining the Light Challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs.
     If you are not familiar with these explosion boxes, you must give them a try. They are so much fun to make! This 'box' actually folds flat for mailing and storage. It pops right open when you take it out of the envelope.
     I used these two die-sets from Our Daily Bread that make the box so much easier to make than it looks.
          Surprise Box - CBD164
          Happy Birthday - CSBD77
     You have until July 3rd at 8:00pm EST to get something in for the challenge. Here's a link to the rules: http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2016/06/odbdslc275-pop-it-up-or-add-dimension.html 

6/24/2016

DCWV Stack-a-holic Challenge, June 2016

          Update: Excited to hear that my card is among this month's winners! 
 

     Today, I have a card for the Stack-a-holic Challenge at DCWV. I used the Homespun Cardstock Stack to create my card this month. I've been hoarding the last few sheets from this collection. It is one of my all-time favorites!!! The cardstock comes pre-scored as you see here.
     I used a combination of dies and punches to create my circles. The sentiment stamp is from Our Daily Bread Designs Friendship (B52) collection.
     There are still a few days left before the deadline. Come join in the fun! Here's a link to all the rules and a copy of this month's sketch.

http://www.dcwv.com/blog/post/stack-a-holic-challenge-for-june




6/16/2016

CardMaker & Clearsnap Blog Hop

   

     Welcome to the CardMaker and Clearsnap Blog Hop and giveaway!


 
 
     I've had so much fun this week playing with the new ColorBox chalk inkpads from Clearsnap! I love working with chalks, especially when I'm in a hurry. No waiting around for the ink to dry before you can work on the next element. They dry instantly once you've stamped your image.
     I love how this card turned out. I know just which friend to send this to. She'll love it! But, I digress.
     I love the look of just a touch of color on the edges of my cards. For the small squares and the edges of this card, I tamped the paper edges against the  chalk inkpad. I adhered the squares with foam tape. Then, I stamped and die-cut the flowers, butterfly and sentiment. I finished it off with a few pearls on the butterfly and adhered him with foam tape.


 
 
 
     This card has a completely different feel about it. To create the front panel, I started with a sheet of watercolor paper. I trimmed it to size, and then I took two of the chalk pads (Cheeky and Splash) and rubbed them lightly across the paper. I wanted them to overlap where they met to create a third color.
     I stamped the flourish with the same color (Cheeky) I used on the background. I created the sentiment and border edges with the background color (Splash). As you can see, you can get lots of shades from the same chalk ink pad. 
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Thanks for hoping with us today! Your next stop is Chana's blog. 
 
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     Make sure you stop in at all the blogs and leave a comment. We love hearing from you!
     Clearsnap is our host for today's blog hop and and very generous giveaway. They are giving $50 worth of ColorBox products to one lucky hopper. Good luck!
 
     If you get lost or find a broken link, you can go back to CardMaker's blog where there is a complete list of  participating hops. 
 
 
 
Materials List:
     chalk inks-   ColorBox by Clearsnap
                            Splash (16018)
                            Chive (15285)
                            Lipstick Red (16071)
                            Cheeky (15316)
     cardstock-   heavy-duty cream(the Paper Studio 667998)
                            heavy-duty white(the Paper Studio 227041)
     watercolor paper-   Canson
     stamps-        flowers & sentiment (Sizzix 657776)
                            flourish (Inkadinkado 97634)
                           sentiment (Fiskars, Forever Friends Quotes)
     adhesive-    double-sided and foam tape (3M)
     tools-            1/4" heart punch (Fiskars)
                           die cutter
 
 
 

6/02/2016

April Showers Bring May Flowers Challenge ODBDSLC274


     Today I have a card for the Shining the Light Challenge over at Our Daily Bread Designs. The theme this month was April showers bring May flowers.
     I sized my picture a little bigger than I normally do because I want you to see the texture of the flower petals.  Aren't they pretty!?! I created them by first rubbing distress inks heavily across watercolor paper. Then, I die cut the flowers and vine.
     Want to add your own card? You have only until June 5th at 8pm. Here's a link to the rules: http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2016/05/odbdslc274-april-showers-bring-odbd-may.html

     ODBD products used:
          Asters & Leaves dies CSBD57
          Fancy Foliage dies CSBD33

     Other products used:
          inks- distress inks by Tim Holtz, Broken China 112597, Shaded Lilac 112818
          cardstock-  purple, the Paper Studio
                                white, DCWV
          stamp- TPC Studio                     
                    

5/26/2016

CardMaker & Reverse Confetti Blog Hop & Giveaway

     Welcome to the  CardMaker and Reverse Confetti blog hop and giveaway!

 
      Those of you familiar with my work know that I love finding new and unexpected ways to use my stamps. Today's post is no different. I used 'The Buzz' stamps and matching dies from Reverse Confetti to create my two cards.
     For my first card, instead of using the hive as one might expect, I used it to add detail along the edge of my tag. I heat-embossed it in black then colored it in with a yellow alcohol marker.
     The bees are also heat-embossed and colored in with alcohol markers. I added foam tape behind the big bee, the sentiment tag and the little bee on the right.
     For my second card, I used the bee's wings to create flowers.  
 
     I began by stamping the large bee stamp several times on pink and yellow cardstock. I cut the pieces apart as shown here. I did later stamp the bee on green cardstock to use to attach the stem. I thought it looked better in green, but yellow, as in this photo, works too.
     Next, I arranged the petals into a flower shape and adhered them to each other. My pink flower has five sets of wings. My yellow flower has two sets of wings.
     I set aside the bee's bodies to use as balloons on another card.
 
     I used the same card base on both cards to show how versatile this stamp collection is. As you can see, I was able to really stretch this stamp set to get a completely different look.
 
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     Thanks so much for hopping with us today. Your next stop is Amy Rohl .
 
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     Make sure stop in at all the participating blogs today. We love hearing from you. And, don't forget the giveaway at Reverse Confetti
     If you get lost or find a broken link, pop back over to CardMaker and you'll find a complete list of the hops.
 
     Have fun hopping, Pamela
 
Materials used:
 
   stamps & dies-  The Buzz (Reverse Confetti)
 
   cardstock-         card base (DCWV CM-002-00008)
                               yellow, pink, green (the Paper Studio 449769)
 
   ink-                    black dye (Memories Direct)
                             dragonfly black pigment (ColorBox)
 
   powder-             clear embossing powder (JoAnn Essentials)
 
   markers-            alcohol markers (Spectrum Noir, CT3, IG6, IG8)

5/16/2016

Card Making Tip - Free Paper

 
 
     
Just a peek.
 
          Any guesses where I might have found these 'free' blue-patterned papers? Find out where I got them and how you can get some of them too in my post today on CardMaker magazine's blog. http://www.cardmakermagazine.com/blog/?p=13523

5/09/2016

CardMaker Magazine and the Notebook Queen

PH1
 
     Check out my storage-tips on the CardMaker Blog today! Find out why I'm the Notebook Queen. And, what's up with that cute raindrop holding court on my bookshelves?
     I'm emailing a copy of a card-log to keep track of your cards to everyone who asks for it. Make sure you leave an email address in your comments so I can get a copy to you.

4/27/2016

CardMaker and the Greeting Farm Blog Hop

 
    Welcome to the CardMaker and The Greeting Farm blog hop and giveaway! The Greeting Farm is giving away a great prize for one of you hoppers so keep reading.
     I chose to create my cards using the birthday cake stamps from The Greeting Farm. There are lots of possibilities for this collection. There are several size and design cake layers to mix and match.

     Since I needed a birthday card, I decided to start there. I created the trim on the left side by turning a bow meant for the cake top on it's end.
     On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped my chosen layers, cake stand and candles. I fussy-cut the whole cake and adhered it with foam tape.
     Then, I stamped and trimmed the sentiment tag.
     I used a chalk ink pad for the cake and trim, silver pigment for the stand and candles.



     For my second card, I heat-embossed the bow to use as a vase. I added a tiny punched link to the vase to give some dimension. Then, I heat-embossed the flowers. Like the bow-vase, the flowers were meant to be used as decorations on a cake. With a small paint brush, I picked up pigment from an ink pad and drew in the stems.  Finally, I heat-embossed the sentiment and adhered the white panel to the blue card base.

     Be sure and stop by my fellow CardMaker magazine blog team member's blogs and see all the inspiration they have to share with you today. We all love hearing from you and reading your comments.

     Your next stop is at Carisa's.

    Below is a full list of participating blogs just in case you started here or get lost along the way.

     Thanks so much for hopping along with us today! The Greeting Farm is giving away a $50 gift certificate to one lucky hopper!

Hope you have a great day. Good luck on winning the gift certificate, Pamela


Materials used:
    
     cardstock- heavy duty white (the Paper Studio 227041)
                          blue (the Paper Studio pack 449769)
     stamps-      The Greeting Farm
     punch-        double link trim (Martha Stewart 42-40086)
     chalk-          Arctic Deep (ColorBox 12052)
     pigment-    Orchid (ColorBox 15327)
                          Moss Green (ColorBox 15062)
                          Cyan (ColorBox 15019)
                          Citrus Splash (ColorBox 17022)
                           Silver (ColorBox)
     powder-      clear (JoAnn Essentials)
     adhesive-    double-stick and foam (Scotch 3M)




4/22/2016

Published in CardMaker Magazine, Summer 2016

Window Card
CardMaker Magazine
Summer 2016
       So excited to share my news with my faithful followers. CardMaker magazine published another of my cards!
     Want to make a card like mine? You can find all the details in the Summer 2016 issue which is on newsstands now. Or if you prefer, here's a link to CardMaker magazine's website where you can get a digital and/or print copy.
     Thanks for letting me share with you, Pamela
http://www.cardmakermagazine.com/inthisissue.php

4/21/2016

O-D-B-D Recipe Challenge (Card 2) ODBDSLC273




     Come on in and look around!
     I have a second card for this month's challenge over at Our Daily Bread Designs. I think it's amazing how differently two cards can turn out when you use the same design. Take a look at my post for April 19th, 2016. That's my first card for the challenge. I loved the design I came up with for that card. I needed another card quickly, so I used the same design. This one goes to Mom. She loves sparkles so I had to use a bunch. I can see her now opening the card and rubbing her fingers across the glitter. Then, she'll hold the card close to her face to read since she can't see very well these days. Oh, I'm making me sad ~~~

     Back to business! As a reminder, the point of this challenge was to take the letters O-D-B-D and use that for our design elements. Here's what I used:
          O-  ODBD stamps (details below)
          D-  designer papers
          B-   bling! bright, sparkly, glittery bling
          D-   dies, ODBD
      I heat-embossed the sentiment onto regular cardstock since the crinkle paper does not take stamping very well. Trust me, ink will bleed everywhere on it.

     TIP: I have found out through much trial and error and more error that glue dots are the best adhesive to adhere things to solid glitter sheets.

     There is still plenty of time to play along with us. Check out the rules here:
   
  Hope you have a great day,  Pamela

Materials used:
     cardstock-  heavy duty cream (the Paper Studio 667998)
                           crinkle turquoise (the Paper Studio 210633)
                           solid glitter (the Paper Studio, champagne 616755)
                           solid glitter (the Paper Studio, turquoise 879593)
                           glitter paper ( purple Core'dinations)
                           plain purple (Core'dinations, Brights GX-3000-04)
     stamps-       sentiment (ODBD, Friendship B52)
     dies-             heart (ODBD, Ornate hearts CSBD53)
                           flourish (Spellbinders, Parisian Accents S5-034)
      ink-             pigment (dragonfly black, ColorBox 13165)
      powder-     embossing powder (clear JoAnn Essentials)
                       


4/20/2016

DCWV Stack-a-holic Challenge, April 2016


UPDATE: So excited to hear that my card is on the winners list!

     Time for another challenge over at Die Cuts With a View!
     I used the Good Wood Stack for my card today. All the cardstock I used to create my card, including the sentiment tag that I cut from one sheet, was in this stack. I colored the poppies with alcohol markers, fussy cut them and adhered them with foam tape. The small bud on the left side is layered with foam tape on top of the other flowers to give my card even more depth and dimension.
    Here's a copy of the sketch we had to work with this month and a link to all the rules. There's still plenty of time to join in all the fun.
     Hope you have a wonderful day, Pamela

Materials used:
     cardstock-  the Good Wood Stack, DCWV, PS-005-00359
      markers-    Spectrum Noir alcohol markers
                               JG1
                               CT1
                               PP3
                               PP5
                               blender pen
     adhesive-        double stick tape
                              foam tape


4/19/2016

O-D-B-D Recipe Challenge ODBDSLC273




     Thanks so much for stopping in. Today, I have a card for the O-D-B-D Recipe Challenge over at Our Daily Bread Designs' Blog. The point of this challenge is to use the four letters to design the elements of your card. Here's what I used:
          O- ODBD stamp (details below)
          D- designer papers from ODBD
          B- button (cameo)
          D- dies from ODBD
     I love mixing prints. I know all my choices go together today because someone else has already figured that out. All the prints come from the same 6x6 pad.
     I die cut several layers of flowers to add dimension and a little elegance to my card. I heat-embossed the sentiment and used hot glue to adhere the cameo button.
     Here's a link to all the rules if you want to play along with us: http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2016/04/odbdslc273-o-d-b-d-recipe-challenge_19.html

     Hope you are having a great day, Pamela
    
Materials used:
     cardstock-         prints (ODBD Christian Faith Collection)
                                 heavy duty white (the Paper Studio 227041)
     stamps-             sentiment (ODBD Friendship B52)
     dies-                   flowers (ODBD Asters & Leaves CSBD57)
     button-              cameo (Dress It Up, Nostalgic Treasures 597930)
     ink-                    pigment (dragonfly black ColorBox 13165)
     powder-            embossing powder (clear JoAnn Essentials)

4/07/2016

CardMaker & Ranger Industries Blog Hop


     Welcome to the CardMaker and Ranger Industries Blog Hop!

     This week we, the members of the CardMaker Blog Team, have been playing with the new Tim Holtz water-reactive Distress Crayons. To be quite honest, I was really nervous about today's blog hop. I am more of a stamper than a painter-with-pigment kind of card maker. But, I surprised myself! I had so much fun with these Distress Crayons!
     To get the hang of working with these new crayons, I experimented on some scraps of cardstock first. After just a few tries, I found what worked best for me - work in small areas and smudge with a wet finger. I am really pleased with how my card turned out.
     To begin, I created a 4.25"x5.5" card base with heavy-duty cream cardstock. I heat-embossed a clear background onto another panel of heavy-duty cream cardstock.
     Then, I began coloring. I applied some of the crayon to my cardstock in a small area and with a wet finger smeared it out and over my background. With a wet paper towel, I gently wiped across the embossed areas to allow the embossing to show. I kept coloring little by little with different colors until my panel was all covered. I adhered it to my card with foam tape.
     I stamped over one of my practice-panels and trimmed it to use as the first piece of a freestyle-collage embellishment. I adhered the collage to my card with foam tape.
     I had so much fun learning to use these Distress Crayons! The colors are so vibrant. But, they can also be very soft depending upon how much water you use with them. It's all up to you. With a wet paintbrush, they also make an ombre look very easy to achieve.
     Thanks so much for hopping along with us today! Give these Tim Holtz Distress Crayons a try. I know I will be using my set often!

     Be sure and stop by my fellow Blog Team member's blogs and see all the inspiration they have to share with you today.

     Your next stop is at Carisa's blog.

    Below is a full list of participating blogs just in case you started here or get lost along the way.

   Have a wonderful day, Pamela

 
 
     Materials used:
          Distress Crayons-   (Ranger, Tim Holtz pack TDBK47919
                                               seedless preserves TDB49630
                                               chipped sapphire TDB49609
                                               festive berries TDB49586)
                                             
          cardstock-                heavy-duty cream (the Paper Studio 667998)
                                              navy, pink, purple (the Paper Studio 449769)
 
          stamps-                     background (Hero Arts, Line Dots CG316)
                                              butterfly (Unity Stamp Co, Butterfly Endearment UK-777A)
                                              sentiment (Hero Arts, CL342)
                                              dots (Fiskars, All Year Cheer 03-013370)
 
          ink-                            black dye (Memories BLACK-020MEMB)
                                              watermark pigment (VersaMark VM-001)
 
         embossing powder- clear (JoAnn Craft Essentials)
 
          dies-                           circles (Spellbinders GLD-005)
                                              confetti (Our Daily Bread Designs, CSBD15)
 
          brad-                         black (Recollections 356862)
 
          gems-                        purple (Studio G WM0161)
 
          paperclip-                mini (Tim Holtz, ideaology TH92791)

          adhesive-                  foam tape (Scotch 3M)