"I get by with a little help from my friends...."

I helped a friend the other day with card making. When going back to basics, you remember how far you yourselfe have come and how much there is to teach! I idn't know where to start!... We managedto produce this card though. All along I wanted to encourage her to make the decisions because it was her card, I was just there to give guidance, she was so pleased with the results. That lovely bird image was on some sheets that a neighbour gave her, which she kindly let me keep (beacuse she has more).
So I was able to use it on this thankyou card, based on the 2sketches4You design. This is winging it's way to canada to say thank you to a friend who kindly sent me a clear bible text stamp - thank you, you know who you are! Sorry if you see the card here first...
These cards are what I managed to produce using the gorgeous text stamp, with my new heidi swapp one- what a great match!

Making an impression

Heat embossing was the challenge this week for Cupcake craft Challenge blog, I made this card the other day and realised it fitted in nicely with the topic :) I used utee and embossing powder to create a layered effect of powder, and pushed the stamp in to make an impression. Used scraps of offcuts which I layered and stamped, and there you have it a simple masculine card.

Bright & Bold

OOh couldn't wait to get stuck into the DCM challenge of bright, I recently bought some floral chipboard and felt (from charity shop) and traced round it to get the shapes of the flowers, I had fun mixing and matching, kept trying to add more to the card,but just didnt look right- so I left it!

"We REST on thee, and in thy name we go"

I know I said this last time, but being on a design team you are made to realise how fast these weeks just fly by before the next challenge comes along!!!
Here is my contribution for this weeks SALT. 'This week the topic I have chosen is rest. Now I am not just talking about the physical act of rest (although that is something I do enjoy LOL!). Jesus talks about rest in Matthew 11:28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.... When I consciously walk through things with God, it is then that experience the REST he is talking about. It is a rest or peace in my heart, even amidst chaos.' (If you havent had a look at this blog please do, even if you dont want to take part it is always worth a look to see how the other design team have interpreted this and other topics). It may look like an ordinary ATC but I like to think there is symbolism behind it. The edging is to represent the storms of life, and the gems are representing tears, yet God stitches us together and where we can find rest in him and assurance of His promises. (thanks to my sisiter Ruth for the tip about using the perforating tool for faux stitching, though I did go a little wonky!). . The full verse is Psalm 62:5 Find rest, Oh my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him

Take Three

Long time no challenge.... well finally found a bit of time to do the DCM mid week challenge, this week follow a sketch, I just noticed there was no needto make 3 cards- buts thats what I did anyway.... I had purchased some new stash recently, hence the surge in mojo I think!

(note the bling on her finger!) (made one in each colour, love this cute giraffe stamp!)
(I kept getting black ink everywhere!)

Burgandy, Buttons & Bows

As I missed my friends wedding, I decided to make her a book to keep special memoried in, using the fuscia pink theme of her wedding. I enjoyed scratching the edges on all the pieces to give a white distressed look. It all begain with the rose photo that I took which I cut into a heart shape, and the rest as they say was history!

Living a Life of Love

Last sunday gone, I celebrated my 6th wedding anniversary, I was so shcked how quicklyit came round! So quick that I was a bit disorganised with making a card, but I managed to do it on time! 6 years is represented by Iron so I set about makingone from scratch! Using utee (ultra thick embossing enamel) I cut the shape of the iron from card and embossed it, the when embossing powderwas still hot i stuck a pen into it to make the holes.

Jar of Gems

I made this jar for my friends (postnatal) baby shower. Decorated this preserving jar with cosmo cricket paper and my goreous new Martha stewart punch! Sweet little ladybirds andprimas, added ribbon and a label on the top saying Preserved Pearls of Wisdom. Inside I made a good hand full of origami stars, which made my thumb and finger hurt after a while from all the squeezing and pinching that is involved! Then got her friends to right choose a bible text and write words or encouragement and advice, cut them up into little scrolls and added them to the jar. People wrote such lovely things- I wanted to keep the jar for myself!

Perpetual Prayer

I was very unprepared for this weeks SALT challenge 'Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.I Thessalonians 5:16-18 ', it really did creep up on me! I really wanted to do something that involved some sor or circle or spiral as a representation of contiuos (taken from the verse). I was tempted to cut a spiral from thepaper so it hung and spun, but with lack of time I didnt, instead I made a spinning disc with the verse, one side coloured in to represent when life is going well and the other side when life isnt going great... but in both those times we need to be praying continually!

Lorra Laura

The card was made using the 2sketches4you sketch, along with new butterfly stamp and new laura ashley papers (thanks ruth!). Also while buying in some bargains at the charity shop I sotted this lovely teddy in the window for only 50p- and yes it is Laura Ashley too! The card and teddy are going seperate ways, but thought they made a nice photo :)