Joy and Peace

Hello, it's me again.  I'm here to share a festive Christmas creation. 😊

This week at Topflight Stamps, we are focusing on AALL and Create dies.  I used AALL and Create ATC Festive dies to create a pretty frame for the sentiments (they're included too!).

It might be hard in a photo to see the glamourous shimmer on this card, with the soft gold and silver glitter papers.  In real life, they shine beautifully!  I used the gold glitter paper for the fancy little flourish die, cutting out four of them to grace each corner of the black panel.  I added shiny little silver balls on them, as well.  They are from Hunkydory's Diamond Sparkle Gemstones. They have adhesive backings so they're easy to add to a paper project.

There are three sentiments included in this ATC Festive die set:  Joy, Jingle and Peace.  The script font is easy to read and has a pretty flourish.

Topflight Stamps Products Used Today:

AALL & Create - Die Set - 61 - ATC Festive

Hunkydory - Diamond Sparkles Gemstones 3mm - Silver Metallic

Thanks so much for joining me today!

God bless you!

Love Birds

Hello friends!  I have a simple love / Valentine card to share with you today.  It's clean and simple, but with a little bit of detail.  Does that make it "simple", or no? 

The birdcage is from Inspired By Stamping "Sweet Aviary" set, with a tiny red heart added from a Stampin' Up! "Heart to Heart" punch.  There's a pearl too, and some little wooden birds.  The sentiment is from Verve Stamps "Heart to Heart" (isn't that funny, both the punch and stamp set go by the same name.) 

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Joyful Robins

Hello all!  I am here to share with you a card created for the Topflight Stamps Design Team as we highlight AALL & Create products this week!   I used the ATC Festive die set for my sentiment.  It looks pretty with a subtle silver glitter paper, and lives up to the 'festive' name!  I also used the Crafty Individuals - Jolly Holly Robins to coordinate with the 'joy' die cut.  Those little birds are singing amidst holly branches... definitely a joyful scene!  These were mounted on a panel of deep red patterned paper, to make both the image and the die cut pop.

Be sure to check out all of the AALL & Create items in the Topflight Stamps store.  So, so many AALL options - over 1,000 items!

Items used from the Topflight Stamps store:

AALL & Create - Die Set - ATC Festive

Crafty Individuals - Jolly Holly Robins

Thank you so much for joining me today!  

So Kind

It's me again!  There's a card I have yet to share here, full of tulips and a bouquet of flowers.  There's nothing like 'old' K & Co. beautiful patterned papers.  That's where these are from.  I still have many of those paper pads and am grateful they are in my stash!  Besides the patterned paper, there's a K & Co. pretty sticker with the bouquet on it.  I mounted it on a die cut circle from Colorbok, added clear sequins and a twine bow.  The Inspired By Stamping tag stamp is tucked under the bouquet, with a "so kind" sentiment.

Thanks for taking a peek today!

Hope you have a beautiful day full of blessings!

Design Team news!

Hellooo everyone!  I've got some fun news:  I have joined the Topflight Stamps design team!! Thank you to Donna and the rest of the team for having me. 😊  This week, we're featuring Anything Goes.

Since Christmas is not far in the rearview mirror, I am still in a holiday mood for cardmaking.  At the end of this post, I've linked to the products I used today.

The first card uses several items from the Topflight Stamps store.  I started with a black cardstock panel to mount on a wine-colored card base.  Before mounting it, I used a PaperArtsy Stencil, PS317 with Spectrum Noir Glitter Paste, Candlelight Gold.  Oh.My.Goodness.  That glitter paste is amazing!!  It spread so easily through the stencil, and gave such an elegant boost to the card.  In real life, it is so sparkly.  Gorgeous product.  (Now I want more colors, lol)

While that dried, I started on the rest of the card.  Using matte gold cardstock, I die cut a stitched rectangle with Crealies Rectangle Dies.  Behind it, I added a layer of fun foam to lift it up from the card.  On top of the rectangle, I used a pretty Eiffel Tower stamp from Katzelkraft - KTZ252 - Ephemera.  I stamped it with Lavinia Graphite Dye Ink Pad - and trimmed it out with scissors, then glued onto the matte gold panel.  The holly leaves and berries from  Visible Image Christmas Robin stamp set were stamped with the same Graphite ink used above, trimmed with scissors, and colored with alcohol markers.

The second card also features PaperArtsy Stencil PS317 with Spectrum Noir - Glitter Paste - Candlelight Gold.  Since I had the products on my desk, I made two black panels with the stencil and paste.  I'm a little new to stencils, so I learned something.  On the first black panel, the images came up crisp once I pulled away the stencil.  I did not clean the stencil before using on the second panel.  Lightbulb moment!  The stenciled image was less crisp than the first.  Still gorgeous though!!  Since there were some areas that were not what I had hoped for, I found a Christmas gift tag in my craft stash and used it to cover some of the glittery paste.  I like it, but now I know for next time. 😉 

I've linked to everything I used below, with photos to help you visualize the gorgeous products used.  And my Christmas card stash just got a little bigger, yay!  

PaperArtsy - Large Stencil - Scrapcosy - PS317

Crealies - Crea-Nest-Lies XXL - Double Stitched Rectangle Dies

Visible Image - A6 - Clear Polymer Stamp Set - Christmas Robin

Katzelkraft - A5 - KTZ252 - Unmounted Red Rubber Stamp Set - Ephemera

Spectrum Noir - Glitter Paste - Candlelight Gold

Lavinia - Elements Premium Dye Ink Pad - Graphite

Thanks so much for joining me today!

God bless you!

Gray Cat Sympathy

I try to keep a stash of pet sympathy cards on hand.  It's so heartbreaking to lose a furry friend.  This is one simple cat sympathy card in somber tones, gray, white and black.  

Papertrey Ink 'Willow' sentiment, 'With Sympathy: Loss of a Pet' paw mark; Memory Box 'Large Sitting Cat' die 

Romans 12:15

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Hope your day is blessed,

Vintage Valentine

Just found another Valentine to share.  I played with some Authentique papers and tried to create a bit of a vintage collage look.  That little girl putting her valentine in a mailbox image also came from the Authentique paper pad.

Precious Remembrance 'Happy Mail' postmark; Kat Scrappiness 'Stitched Postage Stamp Edge Rectangles' die; Authentique papers; The Greetery 'Sentiment Suite: Love' sentiment; pearls

2 Corinthians 3:3

And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Prayers for the people of Maui; the destruction of Lahaina is just unreal.  My husband and I were there last fall and shopped at several of the stores, had dinner, and did a sunset cruise....all right there in Lahaina.  My heart is sad for them.  

Cute Animals

Hello again!  I enjoy a variety of styles for cardmaking.  I've got a selection of cute animals from companies like Paper Smooches, Avery Elle, Hello Bluebird, PinkFresh and Lawn Fawn, to name a few.  The little guys below are from Avery Elle and I loved how this patterned paper (can't remember which company it comes from) created spaces for them to sit in picture frames.  So adorable!

Avery Elle 'More Stories' animals, sentiment, banner; Recollections pink heart stickers

Psalm 36:6 NIV

Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,

    your justice like the great deep.

    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

Have a blessed weekend!

Valentine's Day Lineup

Valentine's Day in August?  Sure, why not!  I've had this line up to show you for a long time.  Without further ado....

Tim Holtz 'Flower Shop' rose and background script; The Greetery 'Sentiment Suite: Love'; vintage lace; pearls; Crafty Individuals 'Vintage Tickets & Ephemera' post mark

Tim Holtz 'Flower Shop' rose; Kat Scrappiness 'Wonky Wavy Stitched Rectangles' die; vintage thread; pearls; Stampin' Up! lace, 'Something To Celebrate' sentiment 

Stampin' Up! 'Bloomin' Love' sentiment, banner, floral cluster, Butterfly Thinlits die; pearls

Flourishes 'Roses Are Red' rose cluster; Hero Arts 'Manuscript Background'; Precious Remembrance 'Happy Mail' postmark; Stampin' Up! sentiment unknown set; pearls; vintage thread

Papertrey Ink 'Happy Hydrangea' oval frame die; Stampin' Up! 'Itty Bitty Accents' heart punch, denim ribbon (and sentiment, unknown set)

Stampin' Up! 'Bloomin' Love' sentiment, banner, floral cluster; gold sequins; MFT heart die

The Greetery 'Sentiment Suite: Love' sentiment; Stampin' Up! 'Heart of Hearts Embosslit'; Sizzix 'Branch With Leaves' die; pearls 

Stampin' Up! 'Bloomin' Love' sentiment, banner, floral cluster; MFT heart die

Papertrey Ink pink felt; The Greetery 'Sentiment Suite: Love' sentiment; Stampin' Up! 'Bloomin' Love' floral heart stamp; Websters Pages pink rhinestone border 

The Greetery 'Sentiment Suite: Love' sentiment; Stampin' Up! 'Elements of Style', 'Bella Toile'; MFT heart dies

The Greetery 'Sentiment Suite: Love'; Stampin' Up! 'Elements of Style' roses; MFT heart dies; rhinestones

Gina Marie Designs 'Eyelet Elegance' die; Papertrey Ink 'Keep It Simple' sentiment; Tim Holtz 'Flutter' butterfly; Martha Stewart 'Hydrangea Punch'; pink and purple gems; Sizzix 'Sugar' embossing folder

Let all that you do be done in love. - 1 Corinthians 16:14

Have a beautiful day!

Damask & Roses Wedding Wishes

Happy Friday!  I'm popping in with a couple of posts today.  This card is rather simple; the rosette ribbon and strip of pearls really carry the design.

I've hoarded this American Crafts rosette ribbon for years.  Why have I done this?  How does its beauty get shared, if it sits in a drawer?  Time for me to use all the beautiful, plentiful supplies I have.  😀
The only dilemma is the amount of hours I have available to craft! 😂

Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.

Thanks for joining me this day!  

Colleen

Two Dozen Cards to Share

Hello and happy Friday!  Thought I'd pop in today with a parade of cards for you.  This helps me with some of the backlog of things yet to post.  Hope you enjoy!

The Greetery - Pretty Postmarks sentiment; Gina Marie Designs - butterfly die; patterned paper - Tilda (a gift from Stella in the Netherlands); digital butterfly; pearl

Papertrey Ink - Tiny Tags sentiment & tag, Boards & Beams house, Topiary Trio bush die; burlap ribbon

Impression Obsession - Twig Wreath die; pearls; Stampin' Up! - Nature Walk bird; button; Papertrey Ink - Daily Design Sentiments 'home sweet home'

Flourishes - DIY Topiary topiary stamp; Hug Snug seam binding - Stampin' Up! lace trim; Hip Stamp Hooray - Occasions sentiment 

Stampin' Up! - Nature Walk bird; Papertrey Ink - Tiny Tags sentiment; Inkadinkado - Botanical Script Background stamp; pearls; Hug Snug white seam binding 

Stampin' Up! - Butterfly Basics freesia; Papertrey Ink - Daily Designs Sentiments 'with sympathy'; vintage thread; ivory dot; Webster's Pages patterned paper

Inkadinkado - Manuscript; Stampin' Up! - Avant-Garden freesia; pearls; potted plant from catalog; Wplus9 - Vintage Ephemera (in background); pearls

Stampin' Up! - The Open Sea globe & background stamps; Altenew - Sentiments & Quotes; braided jute ribbon ; Stampin' Up! - copper foil cardstock

Papertrey Ink - Love Lives Here sentiment; Impression Obsession - Twig Wreath die & pine sprigs; pearls; chipboard bird

PSX - Hydrangea; Hug Snug seam binding; pearls; Papertrey Ink - Tiny Tags sentiment; Stampin' Up! little tag punch; Copic markers in grays

Memory Box - Lucky Leaves, Lucky Charms dies; Stampin' Up! - Itty Bitty Accents flower punch; pearls; Papertrey Ink - Tiny Tags sentiment and die; vellum;  Ann-Ticipations - Irish Blessing stamp; vintage thread

Power Poppy - Lavender sprig; Copic markers; lavender soap packaging; pearls; Hip Stamp Hooray - Post Stamp (background images); vintage thread 

PSX - K-1593 Birdhouse Wreath; vintage twine; Papertrey Ink - Keep It Simple: Home sentiment; Copic markers 

PSX - F-467 Pansy Basket; Gina Marie Designs - butterfly die; Copic markers; Papertrey Ink - Keep It Simple: Thank You II

Gina Marie Designs - butterfly die; Hip Stamp Hooray - Noted (background stamps) & Occasions (sentiment); little pink flower; rhinestone gem 

Stampin' Up! - Avant-Garden flower bouquet; Papertrey Ink - Year of Psalms: April Mini; Market Street Stamps -  Grace background; pearls; Copic markers

Stampabilities - Psalm 112:7; matte gold cardstock; Gina Marie Designs - butterfly die; rhinestone

Inkadinkado - Chandeliers; Papertrey Ink - Light of Life verse/ sentiment; Glossy Accents on glass panels; Copic markers

My Favorite Things - Bold Greenery die; chipboard rose; pearl; vintage twine; Hip Stamp Hooray - Post Stamp (in background), Occasions - birthday sentiment 

Sentiment - unsure!; Martha Stewart Hydrangea punches; pearls; pink/white twine

Flourishes - DIY Topiary; Stampin' Up!- Itty Bitty Accents flower punch; pearls; Hug Snug seam binding; Papertrey Ink - Daily Designs Sentiments - 'with sympathy' 

What have I been up to?  Nothing exciting and I am ok with that!  And of course, I am always making cards, usually only on weekends.  That's when I have energy for a creative endeavor.

"What sweet delight a quiet life affords." 

- William Drummond 1585 - 1649

I am very fond of this quote above.  A quiet life is just my style. 😊

Also like this verse from James 1:19 --

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

I've heard it said that we have 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason.  I try to remember that daily.

Hope you are well, my friends!  Until next time!