Challenge: Pastels

I absolutely love these Penny Black Flowers and this sweet, sweet Simon Says Stamp. This is my second go at this design and I used much softer colors on this one.

I will be entering it in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Pastels

Flowers: Penny Black ~ Petal Party

Sentiment: Simon Says Stamp Blessed

Die: Penny Black Petals

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me." ~ Erma Bombeck

Sizzix Tim Holtz Embossing Diffusers

I have had this Sizzix Tim Holtz Embossing Diffusers set for quite a while and had not used them. I decided to "google" it since I really didn't have a clue as to where to begin. Thank goodness for YouTube and Jennifer McGuire ! You can check out her other amazing creations on her blog here.

I fell in love with this Floral embossing folder by the Paper Studio that I purchased at Hobby Lobby.

It is really hard to tell from the photos but the one above was used with the smaller diffuser in the center and the Floral embossing folder so that when I ran it through only part of the Floral embossing folder was raised. I then ran it back through using the larger diffuser with a different embossing folder because the background looked too plain without some texture. (I know this sounds really confusing so watch Jennifer's YouTube on this.)

 For the one below I used a different embossing folder and the larger diffuser which left the center smooth. I stamped the flower from my new Technique Tuesday Cosmo Clear stamp ~ love those flowers! Kind of the same effect as the one above yet different.

Okay ~ too much technical information ~

Thank you ever so much for stopping by. Hope you are having a glorious day!

"Good friends are like stars. You don't always see them, but you know they are there."

You Are Amazing

I love this Lawn Fawn stamp set and Verve Sentiment. I was inspired by Debby Hughes.

Sentiment: Verve ~ So Fluttery
Flowers: Lawn Fawn Our Friendship Grows
Die: Lawn Cuts ~ "Our Friendship Grows Set"
Butterflies: Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch
Spellbinders: Scalloped Rectangles
Background: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Looks like we might be warming up here in South Georgia ~ Hallelujah. I actually saw a bloom on one of my azaleas. Spring ~ we have missed you ~ Welcome Home!

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content."

Philippians 4:11

Have Faith

I was totally inspired by this card from Judy Jung on Penny Black Blog.  So I totally cased it.

I used a combination of Tim Holtz Distress Inks for the background. I ran it through my Vagabond using Penny Black Petals die. The flowers are Penny Black Stamp: Petal Party.  I used my Cuttlebug folder with little tiny dots for the embossed background. (One of my "go to" embossing folders!)

And I LOVE my Simon Says Stamp set BLESSED. The sentiment is from that set.

Hope you are in a warm, dry place!

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

2 Timothy 2:15

Some Days Are Just Confusing

I don't know how many of you struggle occasionally with the design or colors or focus that you want your card to have. Some days it is easy for me and other days I really do a lot of web searching for inspiration. I was pleasantly surprised with this one.

I didn't have to do much stamping or cutting. The Designer Tag is The Paper Studio. I got several packages of the butterfly from Michael's. The Die Cut is K&COMPANY. I stamped the sentiment "Hi" on it and that was about the extent of it. One of my super simple cards. I loved how it turned out. 

I am not sure what most of you put on the inside of your cards but for me finding a sentiment or coming up with something other than "Thinking of You" can be challenging. I do a lot of searching on the internet for suggestions.

I found this "sentiment" and used it in this card. It fits me perfectly on some days:

"I was just sitting here thinking of you, 

and wondering if you were thinking of me, 

and if so, were you thinking of me thinking of you 

and I got so mixed up, I forgot why I'm sending you this card!"

My friend will get a chuckle out of it.

"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."

Colossians 2:6-7

Sunshine, Laughter, Love

I love butterflies! I especially love the Monarch Butterflies.

They remind me of spring and sunshine and we are overdue for some of that right about now. It won't be much longer. 

Here is a card I made using one of my favorite butterfly punches.

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug

Tag: Michaels

Butterfly: Martha Stewart Punch

Sentiment: Simon Says Stamp ~ Watts Up

In spite of all that is going on in this world, I pray that you will choose to be filled with sunshine, laughter, and love and be on the lookout for butterflies!

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way."

PSALM 37:23

You Brighten My Day

Hope all of you are having brighter days. We did down here in the southern part of Georgia. I have had lots of time to work on some cards with the weather being as nasty as it has been. It looks like brighter and warmer days are ahead for us. Hope that is the case for you too.

Love this sentiment from Simon Says Stamp Set ~ Watts Up. Used my Sizzix Heart Framelits set and added a few sequins. I always I forget about my sequins.

Thank you for stopping by.

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:13-14