Dear Self - A little inspiration

I wanted to join in with a splitcoast challenge since it has been quite a while since the last time I did, so I went to my favourite challenge (inspiration challenge) and saw Tim Holtz Mania (IC551) and chose this pin from the inspiration board.

I have several 'Dear Self' sentiments from Create with TLC, and today I have a card using another of these fabulous digi stamps. I cut and embossed the sentiment using large petite ovals, sadly a discontinued die cut set. I used a silver paint pen to edge the sentiment and several other layers and accents.

We all need a reminder occasionally to be brave, to move forward, and that today we will win! I know I do. I really love the secret I'm showing in this photo - the underside of the pattern paper is ORANGE! The sage, grey and ivory print is one of my absolute favourite papers of all time, and I have rarely featured the orange print. Today, the flowers show the bright and happy flip side. While I could make all sorts of ethereal connections from this print to the sentiment,  I won't. I'll leave that for you to do, if you choose.

The little orange glow is highly appealing, I think. I couldn't find any pink anything I was willing to use like my inspiration piece for this card since I wanted to keep the focus on the sentiment.

I used Cinch and Go dies to create these flowers (since I couldn't find my tattered blossoms dies - it took me an hour of looking before I finally gave up and turned to this die set instead!!), and they are super simple to assemble. I used an awl to make the hole in the center larger so I could fit in this many pearl stamens, and I really love the effect.

stamp; dear self (create with tlc)
paper; everafter (cosmo cricket - discontinued); horizon, lily white, front porch (bazzill)
accessories; yellow pearl stamens (darice); stack and fan flowers, cinch and go flowers, make a wish, i'll never leaf you, labels 41, labels 41 decorative accents, lg petite ovals (spellbinders); silver paint pen (uchida)

Dear Self

I really love this card. I've faced job insecurity for 4 years now. Not knowing where I will be teaching from one year to the next, because of the way our system and union partnership is in my area, has been a real drain on me emotionally. It has been a significant area of faith weakness and an area I am trying to submit and grow.

I haven't used this layout in quite some time, but I love the subtle tension it adds to a balanced appearing card. Using brown and blue is a favourite combination for me, and I am really enjoying dipping into some old favourites.

I dyed the ribbon. The effect is all sorts of wonderful and I love that it coordinates so beautifully with the pattern papers. I used tea dye, stormy sky, and vintage photo distress ink reinkers with wide white ribbon.

I cut the sentiment and sponged ink, as with the other papers for the uppermost layers. I combined a key and the word faith as a subtle reminder to myself of the direction I must move toward. To provide a little antiquing to the charms, I have applied a little distress alcohol ink to them. It is very helpful having all the inks I've used identical in colour so creating the individual elements was simple.

stamp; digital sentiment (tlc creations)
paper; blue awning (k&co), white, java (bazzill)
ink; antique linen, tea dye, vintage photo distress inks (ranger)
accessories; 5x7 reflective moment (spellbinders), charms (blue moon), white ribbon (offray)

Motherhood

Mother's Day is coming. I love being a mom, but somedays, I could give my kids to the travelling gypsies if they would take my 4 gems. And then I think about everything I went through to not only get them into the world, but everything that I have sacrificed and the grief of getting them both close to, and into adulthood. I have really amazing kids, and I have been told this by the people closest to my family, so it isn't just my pride talking, although there is some of that too! And so, I come full circle to the truth that I love being a mom.

When I saw this sentiment from TLC Creations, I knew it was a must have. All these years later, Paulette of TLC Creations produces my very favourite digital sentiments. I am not on her design team. I am promoting TLC Creations because it is quality stuff!! And funny. And poignant. And simply one of my favourite paper crafting products.

The filigree background I have used here is created by overlapping 3 Gate Elements. It's a little inconspicuous die, but the finely cut intricacy is wonderful. I cut the sentiment using A2 Matting Basics B, and Matted it using A2 Matting Basics A, a couple of my favourite basic die sets.

Many thanks for stopping by today. Your comments are always such a blessing!

stamps; digi sentiment (tlc creations)
paper; script, coconut swirl (bazzill), lucille (basic grey)
accessories; gate elements, A2 matting basics a & b, tool-n-one (spellbinders), white ribbon, 1/4" & 5/8" (offray)

Courage, My Friend!

There has been so much going on behind the scenes. Teaching. Grad studies. Friends. Family. Paper Crafting. Foster dogs. Forgive me when I get behind in blogging.

 I have a close friend who is having such immense health struggles that it shakes me to the core. I want her to fight for life. I want a miraculous healing for her so she can leave the hospital for the first time since before Easter. I want my friend to be healthy and whole. I want to hear her magical voice ringing pure and true beside me during worship services and we sing praise to The Only One worthy of our praise. I want to have her whole and complete family over for our coveted family nights, laughing and playing games and talking until late.

I miss my friend. I had the incredible privilege to visit with her in ICU 2 weeks ago. She's tired of fighting. I want to fight for her - physically give her my strength and will to fight on, but it's not possible. I'm fighting for her the only way I can, and I believe the only way that will have the most effect - by lifting her constantly to the Throne of Grace. To the Father who loves her so much more than I ever could.

And as I write this, I know my motives are flawed. Selfishly motivated. I want things to be the way they were. I list my wants, but am completely ignorant of the larger, more loving will of Our Heavenly Father. And through all of this, I am uncomfortably growing way beyond my comfort zone. Again, I selfishly list my minimal discomforts in contrast to the significant pain my friend cannot escape from. God, give me the grace to grow!

Jody is never far from my thoughts. I am in constant prayer for her and her wonderful family. I am thankful for all the people globally God is bringing together to lift Jody to the throne of grace. I am thankful for her husband's willingness to share his journey - it's been incredibly difficult, but he has learned lessons he might not have learned otherwise and he is being purified in the fire of adversity. Oh! that I would come through as well as he has.

I humbly thank-you for dropping by today and I apologize for the weight of this blog post. It's just where I'm at.

sentiment: digital image (tlc creations)
ink: antique linen, tea dye, vintage photo, walnut stain, fired brick distress inks (ranger)
paper: timepiece (bo bunny), amsterdam, canvas white, cinder (bazzill), black (world win)
accessories: Celebra'tions Silk Luster Black, Feathers, Sm deckle Mega Rectangles (spellbinders), black twine (may arts) 

Inspired by Courage

Spring Break started in our school system, so I have a week off! I decided to not do any work or research this weekend. Instead, I grabbed a few card making supplies that I had laying around. It's a simple card, which is just what I needed today.

The digital sentiment is from tlc creations. I went and checked out today's inspiration challenge at splitcoast stampers. Today's challenge is a flickr album by a woman that makes some amazing hand made books. I was enthralled by the remarkable hand stitching on her books, so I decided to do some simple cross stitches to embellish my card.

Thanks for popping by!

stamps; sentiment (tlc creations)
paper; black & white timeless (kaiser), raven, white canvas, amsterdam (bazzill)
accessories; white satin ribbon (offray), white embroidery floss (dmc), adhesive rhinestones (zva)

Sealed with a Wish

A couple of years (yes, years!) ago, I printed off some digital images and sentiment I wanted to work with and I wanted them to be ready if I found I had some extra time and inclination to colour. So glad I did that!! I kept everything protected and safe and while everyone else in my house was busy, I indulged myself for a little bit of playtime. I can see where I need to brush up a bit on my skills, but overall I don't think this little cutie patootie is half bad.

I didn't get the folds in her dress quite the way I wanted them. In fact, they aren't what I was after at all, but the tye-dye effect is not too bad. The ground looks better and much softer irl because I'm having trouble getting the hang of the colour editing capability in my image editing software. Oy!! Shaking the cobwebs out! My camera took really dark pictures, and I'm not sure why. More cobwebs, I guess. As I was working on this, I discovered some of my copics were either dried up (didn't think that was supposed to happen!!!) or were leaking (ditto!!) so I ended up with a yellow drip on her face (*GACK*) as I was putting the last couple of touches on, and I could have spit fireballs!! Dried up or leaking?!! I thought copic markers were made better than that!!

This sentiment is from tlc creations and it's timeless and seasonless. A perfect sentiment!

stamps; image (tiddly inks), sentiment (tlc creations)
ink; tumbled glass distress ink (ranger)
paper; urban prairie (basic grey), daisy, canvas white (bazzill), blue cardstock (core'dinations)
accessories; white satin ribbon (SU!), bling it pink rhinestones (basic grey), rectangle, petite oval nesties (spellbinders), copic markers

abc challenge - colourful
digi galore - girly
natalie & amy - one for the girlies
pile it on - p is for - pink

Celebrate Your Inner Elf

I'm a week away from being done my latest grad course. I have a 50% paper due in 6 days and to blow off some steam and relax a little, I picked up my copics and some Christmas papers. Everything I've used here are oldies and, in my opinion, goodies. This sentiment is a favourite of mine and it is by the digital brilliance and wordsmith, Paulette at TLC Creations. No, I'm not on Paulette's design team, or any other design team during this season of my life, but I still want to link up when I can...

I really love this image. It's from an older Stampin' Up! set, Big Celebrations, that wasn't available very long. I coloured it by laying down a solid layer of colour on the tree and shading it using Prisma colour pencils, using Gamsol to blend it in. I tell you it felt so good to colour for awhile! I wanted the ornaments to look like glass balls, so I applied a coat of Glossy accents thickly, and the light is picking up the shine it makes! Delightful!!

I am trying to give more attention to the insides of my cards these days, so I used some Eskimo Kisses designer paper to coordinate the inside with the outside. I'm not convinced I made a good choice using the stamps I did on the inside because it has a very vintage feel, unlike the card front. Oh well! It's too late now...

Thanks for popping by and sticking with me during my long absences. I sincerely appreciate it!!

stamps; big celebrations (SU!), sentiment (tlc creations)
paper; eskimo kisses (basic grey), white canvas, coconut swirl, kraft (bazzill)
ink; Tuxedo Black (memento), antique linen, tea dye, vintage photo distress ink (ranger)
accessories; sm rectangle, lg long rectangles (spellbinders), pink brads (Q&Co), green rhinestones (kaiser), ribbon (SU!)

H.O.P.E.

I hope you are having a restful and rejuvenating summer. My daughter and I just got back from a humanitarian trip to an incredibly impoverished area of Mexico. It is my second trip to this same area and it again makes me marvel at the ingenuity of those people and the incredible luxury of my simple life in Canada.

I made this card from a wee pile of scraps that were on my desk.

I had the lattice cut out from a card I did more than a year ago, but rejected this element. It sat on my desk gathering dust (literally). As I am card making again, I have been using very safe and comfortable supplies because I haven't had the time to be adventurous or experimental with my crafting. I am sure that will come with time (unintentional pun there!), but for now I need to be careful how I spend my time.

This vellum butterfly was harvested from a project I did a few years ago for i {heart} papers. That was a favourite project, but had decorative purposes only, so I salvaged the pretty butterflies off 3 Asian inspired candle lanterns and they have been sitting protected in my desk drawer since. While the pale blue butterfly doesn't MATCH the designer paper on the card, it GOES with the light and airy feel of the card, so I used it as a lovely embellishment.

I am a huge fan of tlc Creations digital sentiments. Paulette does a fantastic job, and she is lovely and personable. And her digital sentiments are second to none. (P.S. this is not a sponsored endorsement. I'm no longer on any design teams.) I really love that I can re-size digital images to suit my purposes, and I have a real preference for digital sentiments over stamped sentiments. The sentiment I used here has been sitting in my little pile. I printed off a bunch of sentiments and some images just in case I had nothing to do and really wanted to make a card and they would be ready and available. I could make 3 cards a week for the remainder of the year and not use up my pile. I better get busy!!

I use sentiments more when I am short on time, because there is no colouring involved. This card took just less than 30 minutes to make. In the future, my designs will feature simpler layouts and techniques due to necessity. I hope you will enjoy it!!

stamps; hope (tlc creations)
paper; meadow (mme), flintstone, coconut swirl, powdered snow (bazzill), vellum (unknown)
ink; pumice stone (distress ink)
accessories; bigz lattice, beautiful butterflies (sizzix), labels 10, mega ovals lg (spellbinders), adhesive pearls (kaiser)