This Little Light of Mine....

"This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine...." This is a happy song from childhood and Stampin' Sisters verse for inspiration to the challenge this week has brought back the memory. The verse is Luke 8:16 "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light." Dt

member Peggy Sue's challenge is to make a votive holder, or a card or project with a candle on it. I was pointed to a tutorial for a luminaria by Beate when I visited another DT member, Chris. Make your own light and share your creation with us! I plan to make many little lights with the gold pansies and let them shine at our anniversary party. Gold - yup! Pure Gold! It's our 50th this year.

Some details: Pansy stamp by Rubber Stampede, fine line gold ep on vellum, textured cardstock DCWV, nestabilities, copper tape, cuttlebug embossing folder, flowers, pearls, ribbon from stash, glass globs for feet (I thought this made it less "tipable.")

Casino Royale

I learned how to make paper medallions last week for the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge and it was so much fun that I made more than I needed. This week's movie "Casino Royale" (challenge 89) was a perfect follow up as I began to see poker chips in those medallions. The challenge, however is to use a silhouette. I've created my dapper 007 silhouette (Sean Connery in my mind's eye) from a Stamps Happen image of Fred Astaire! He is reveling in his Royal Flush which is indeed a lucky draw from my old gin deck. The edges of the poker chips were touched with Top Boss and dusted with JudiKins Black Diamonds ep. Thanks Cinema Saturday for another great challenge and a reminder of those great 007 flicks!

Other stamps and stuff: Art Impressions, gold gift wrap, Sizzix, EK Success border punch, pop dots, McGill and Marvy craft punches, MS metallic pen.

In my series, this is card trick Number 12 -- to see other card tricks: King for a Day,Drama Queen, Gogh have great Birthday, A Perfect Pair,Lucky Draw, Queen of Diamonds, Queen for a Day,High Handed, Make it a Royal, Friends, Mr. Personality.

Woof!

A new record for me! A daily post for 6 days running! -- I'm all out of breath. I am headed back home to my studio and my favorite pal, Mr. Lucky (a Weimaraner) tomorrow but before getting packed up, I revisit the Clean and Simple sketch this week. This time a traditional card size 5 1/2 x 4 1/4. This sketch is a real keeper as it works great for this size too. For details on the Clean and Simple sketch and to see my previous contribution -- go here. Mr. Lucky, here I come -- Woof!

Stuff I used: Sizzix, rose, gems, dp paper from my suitcase

Double Fun

Teddy Stampers' Challenge: my favorite kind of challenge -- create whatever you wish -- but you get double credit for doing "doubles" or adding the recipe of twos. I mention here in case there are readers only to this post, that I am on vacation and therefore have limited supplies to work with but I was still able to go down for double! My Mr. Teddy Fisherman was stamped twice and overlayed for dimension - there are two bees in the picture, two fish, two ribbons, and two words in the phrase. Now that's double talk!

Stuff I used: PSX, Michael's $ Stamp, paper -- Cloud 9 Design, watercolor pencils, crystal lacquer, pop dots, ribbon and scallop circle from my "suitcase."

Best Buddies

I am away from my studio and I am working out of my suitcase but was delighted to find that I had the tools for a new technique as a challenge from Cinema Saturday. The movie: "Best in Show" ; the technique: paper accordian medallions. (There are links for tutorials on the challenge posting or go here.) My answer to the challenge: these little dogs with their jeweled collars are best buddies and just for fun, can be removed from their basket. I didn't have any blue paper to make a first prize rosette for these "Best in Show" dogs, so I gave them their "blue ribbon" on the basket handle and made the polka flowers for them to gaze upon while they reside in their basket. Best buddies -- Best in Show!

Die cuts by Sizzix;E K Success flower punch, Michael's $ stamp "best wishes"; paper, ribbon, gems from my suitcase

Pop a top

Res-Q-Challenge54 asks for red and metal and I just happened to have what I needed in my suitcase to assemble exactly what is called for. I believe the animal is from a Stampin Up retired set -- the metal is -- you guessed it --it is a soda pop tab with a sticker and red fibers added! Leave me a comment and I'll pop on by your blog for a visit.

Plans

Something built with a set of plans, this is what the DT hostess, Grace, wants to see at Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week (Challenge #48). She draws her inspiration from Psalm 127:1a . "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it" I am away on vacation and had no idea what the challenge was going to be but I don't go anywhere without a "few" of my favorite things so I was able to find something in my "suitcase" to play along. This card not only fits the "built with plans" but will certainly bring some nostalgia with it (it certainly does that for me). I love it when a plan comes together!

Stuff I used: Stamp by Mostly Animals, "doodads" by Sizzix. I begged my DH to take me to a Michaels so I could add the little stars and gems. Isn't he a gem?

You are a Friend -- Clean and Simple!

Clean and Simple -- I am away from my studio, but I never travel without a few boxes of what I call "table scraps" (stamped images, punchies, paper cuts, panels etc) and tools, and coloring devices to see what I can conjure up. And, of course, my computer always comes along too so when I saw the latest Clean and Simple Challenge, I rummaged around to find the elements to make this card. I have followed the challenge size card -- (I made it a top fold) and I love it and plan to make more from this great sketch. The hardest part of being away from the studio is thinking about all the glitter and bling I have there -- but keeping it Clean and Simple is (as another internet Martha would say) "a good thing!"

FTL 99

-- To see an additional contribution for this sketch challenge, go here.

Stuff I used: "table scraps" - which includes the stamped images. I will try to credit these when I return home.

Find Peace

What image for you might symbolize peace or rest? That is the challenge proposed by Miesje, guest designer for Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week.

To me any outdoor quietness brings peace to me and brings me rest and a feeling of calm. The card I have created, and the Bible verse that inspired the challenge both bring that to me: Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." I can just envison this scene up in the northwoods on a lake with a loon floating across the moonlit water.

Stuff I used and a few details: Vellum Flower Kit by Cloud 9 Designs (red tag at JoAnns!); Stamps: Embossing Arts, PSX, The Pines (I think I bought this loon stamp in Wisconsin), Sizzix frame, Sizzlets corners, the Loon is dry embossed on the breast, painted with nail polish for sheen and dusted with Art Institute Glitter, and set atop it all with pop dots.

What image brings you peace? You have until this Saturday 7/17 to post an answer to this challenge.

Crazy

Yup! Who wouldn't be crazy for ice cream? --- Even Penny Black's frog knows the answer for a hot summer day! C.R.A.F.T challenge knows it is the answer for a hot summer day too -- that's their challenge. The best things about making the little ice cream cone with a sizzix die is that it didn't melt and it didn't put any weight on me! The "Crazy 4 you" is a sizzlet die cut. I'm crazy 4 your comments. Have an ice cream kind of day!

Stuff I used: Penny Black stamp, Cuttlebug embossing folders, craft punches, Sizzlets, prismacolor pencils, Art Institute Glitter and DeNami Glitter, pop dots

Little Boy Blue

The Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge is to produce a creation in the color blue and/or red. It is very plain to see my choice as everything is pretty much blue -- with four different pattern papers stitched together. The blue flowers are dry embossed for dimension and have liquid applique centers. The charming little boy colored with prismas, is peering with a toothless grin from out of a sizzix frame. I didn't want to make this one girly, girly so bugs are added -- ' cause boys like bugs right? I encourage you to visit Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge to see the fabulous design team creations and consider participating in their great challenges (one every week -- posted on Sundays along with a Bible verse and inspiring commentary). This little boy blue is in the mail to someone I think is very special -- my grandson.

Stuff I used: Stamps by Art Impression, Stampendous. Sizzix, Nestabilities, Emagniations punch, ribbons and bugs from stash.

Green & Purple & Gems

Green, Purple, and Gems. What could be a more fun challenge? This is C.R.A.F.T.'s request this week -- great colors and who doesn't like gems? It was also suggested to consider a medieval theme and I think the image fits for that too. Several layers are attached with pop dots for more well, "pop" -- the gold corner swirls are by Sizzix. My son, the artist, approves this post -- green, purple and gems too! Happy Birthday, Ryan!

Other details: Stamp created from one of my son's drawings, Cuttlebug embossing folders, metallic rub-ons, image colored with Prismamakers and OMS, DP DCWV,

ribbon, gems from stash.

Friends Make Everything Bearable

I've been watching the Teddy Bear Stampers for awhile and looking at all my lovely teddy bears sitting on my shelf begging to be inked. The first challenge card I made was for the Summer Bear challenge -- 'cept I missed the deadline - so this time I am posting earlier! This challenge card is for Love My Teddy -- and you can see that not only do I love my teddy, but he loves me!

The Wired Angel's inspired flower idea makes a great stopper for this easel card. Go have a look at her tutorial. And, if you visit Crafty Ann's, she has shape easel templates to download as well as some great examples of easel cards. In addition, Crafty Ann's challenge this week is to make an easel card -- so I've finally made a card that fits more than one challenge! The teddy bear was colored with prismas and OMS, hearts are embossed. Thanks for your comments -- they are always so uplifting and make everything bearable!

Other stuff I used: Stamps: PSX, Stampin' Up, Stampendous, DeNami;

Martha Stewart Border Punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder, gold pen, Emaginations punch, little foam hearts, gems.

Have a Sparkle kind of Day

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge inspired by Isaiah 53:5 is to use stripes and it couldn't have come at a more perfect time with America's birthday just around the corner -- since our flag has stripes! "Patriotic Emily" is a charming stamp from Embossing Arts that I always delight in coloring and sparkling. The background paper with more stripes than Emily's apron, is from "the other Martha" on the internet. Funny thing about that -- serendipity for sure: I had printed it out to make a fan for my granddaughter and it was just sitting on my work table when this challenge was presented. The rest, as they say, "is history." Having just completed my patchwork card, where I dry embossed the pieces, I embossed Emily's dress for more "poof" and dimension -- all attached with pop dots. Nuff said -- hope you have a sparkle kind of day!

Other stuff: wire ribbon, grosgrain pleated ribbon (thanks to Candace for posting her cards with this technique), gold pen, Art Institute Glitter for sparkle, colors by prismacolor and OMS, Inkpads - Marvy and Versa Magic (sounds like a law firm? - no -- just orange and Mango Madness), Metallic Rub-On - Copper, Cuttlebug and Sizzix.

Happy Birthday America -- Sarah -- and America (my blogging friend)