be of good courage

card was made for a good friend's young son to encourage him in his studies and at school .... and I wanted to share this encouraging verse from Joshua 1:9,  a verse that has brought me much comfort and strength when faced with challenges that seemed unsurmountable ... praise the Lord for His wonderful Word!

card design was based on this week's Mojo Monday #348

but the circle was replaced with the two cute crocodiles, courtesy of stamps from Paper Smooches - Zoo Crew collection and using the Zoo 2 dies

the verse (from King James Version) was printed using different fonts and in different colours onto a white card and thereafter cut using Spellbinders Nestabilities - Adorning Squares

a 1st birthday

An easel card made for a little one who will be celebrating his first birthday - the yellow, green and purple colours were inspired by Paper Smooches SPARKS: May 11-17 Picture Perfect Challenge

The numeric "1" was highlighted with the same green and purple colours in line with the embossed inked background, and 'glittered' up with glitter glue for added impact.
I also added a little picture window frame where the 'smooches' tag is currently placed, so that a mini-polaroid photo of the 1-year birthday boy can be inserted for memory-sake.

The stamps and die-cuts (frame and banner) are from Paper Smooches - Chubby Chums, Sentiment Sampler, Streamers and Duo Die 1 range.

The background of the front cover of the card was embossed using Cuttlebug's embossing folder.

Post Note (19 May 2014): so thrilled that this card was selected as one of the Featured Players' cards for the PS SPARKS challenge!

Gingerbread Christmas

A bit early for Christmas, I know, but if I try to make one a week, I will be less stressed when this Christmas comes around!

And it's good to get inspiration from these gals at Merry Monday Christmas Challenge #106 (Use a Gingerbread Man/Woman)

card design was taken off this week's Freshly Made Sketches #134

the cute gingerbread people are stamps from Paper Smooches - Giddy Gumdrops stamp set - such happy looking gingerbread yummies

mini-cards

This set of 3" x 4" mini cards were so much fun to make, quick and easy, and perfect as gift toppers. Thanks to Lawnscaping Challenge #80 : Mini theme for pushing me in this direction.

With less surface space, this set of small cute stamps from Lawn Fawn - Admit One stamp set and die-cut collection were perfect for taking the center-stage of the cards.

Can't wait to do more of these mini-explosion of colours!

POST NOTE (4 May 2014) - yippeeeee .... these set of cards were chosen as the winner of the Lawnscaping Mini Challenge... how cool is that!

dear santa

dear santa, a photo by eatzycath on Flickr.

made this cute card at my coloring class yesterday evening ... and the stamps and the red and green colors have now got me into the Christmas mood ... and it was a good reminder that it's time to start cracking on my Christmas cards!

The main image of that cute teddy bear comes from Crafter's Companion - Popcorn the Bear series - Dear Santa stamp set.

Background stamp (in grey with red highlights on the title) comes from Stampendous - First Christmas stamp.

And on the inside of the card - I added a small circle of a mini cute Popcorn on the upper right hand of the holiday sentiment!

Card was also entered into the Crafter's Companion August Challenge: Animals

enjoy the little things in life

enjoy the little things in life, a photo by eatzycath on Flickr.

coloring these cute girly images from Mo Manning is such a joy ... this particular one is the digital image "Make a Wish" - and for me, the simple act of blowing on dandelions has got to be one of those little things in life to enjoy just because you can!

Card was submitted for this week's Mo's Challenge #196 - Alphabet Challenge: G is for .... (in this case 'girly girl')

wishing ewe happiness

wishing ewe happiness, a photo by eatzycath on Flickr.

these 'sheep' stamps from Penny Black ("plimsoll pete" and "bah-quet") are so cute not just in their names but in their innocent expressions, that I had to use them as part of the card design for CAS(E) this Sketch #37.

* the images were stamped, water-colored and fussy-cut - in the case of 'plimsoll pete' (sheep with colored shoes), image was stamped 4 x

* the square green patterned paper was distressed at the edges and affixed to the card-base

* using a white-ink pen, a border was drawn around the inner edge of the green square

* the sentiment 'wishing ewe' from Penny Black was stamped at the bottom right corner in VersaMark and white embossed

* sheep images were added to the card with dimensional tape

Sunday Verse - Matthew 19:26

Matthew 19:26, a photo by eatzycath on Flickr.

I would dearly love to share this verse from the Bible with all of you - Matthew 19:26 '....With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.' There are many days when things seem so out of control and situations appear impossible - yet these are the precious days when we turn to our Lord, the almighty creator of all things, and remind ourselves that all is under His control!

The design of this card was inspired by the following Mojo Monday's sketch challenge - Mojo Monday 300 Challenge.

The circle element was replaced with a flower lei die-cut - from Memory Box's Lovely Lei - embossed with copper embossing powder.

The centre square is also a die-cut from QuicKutz' Nesting Square Doilies set.

Have a blessed week ahead!

arrows

arrows, a photo by eatzycath on Flickr.

a celebration card - to celebrate a special day or a special someone or just to celebrate the essence of life!

card was inspired by (i) CAS-ual Fridays: CFC107 challenge to feature an arrow or arrows;

and (ii) CAS(E) this sketch #34 design as shown below, with the arrows forming the main vertical design whilst the sentiment here ends up being the horizontal element of the card

* sentiment from Paper Smooches (Pretty Phrases stamp set) was stamped first, and then embossed in black

* the arrows were then separately stamped (using the arrow stamp from Hero Arts - Stamp Your Story - Brush stamp set) and embossed separately with green glitter embossing powder, green metallic embossing powder and black embossing powder

* at the top left hand corner of the striped paper, I tore down about an inch and distressed the edges before turning back and stapling the two torn sides

* in the exposed area of the tear - I placed a lace heart sticker for accent

green & yellow circles

green & yellow circles, a photo by eatzycath on Flickr.

I love these bright colors ..... and never get tired of them! Thanks to Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger challenge this week - Scene in Tangerine (photo inspiration below) - I get to play and create with these colors in mind.

image credit

With the objective of creating a simple card and using these three colors, yellow, tangerine and green:

* I cut out uneven circles from felt in these three colors in different sizes (though I must admit that my so-called tangerine felt was a shade too red)

* the felt circles were layered and affixed with a flower brad each, and glitter glue spread on the edge of the top circle

* edge of the background paper was punched using a Martha Stewart border punch, and the paper was then colored using Ranger Distress inks

* finally the circles were affixed to the colored card before going onto the white cardstock
* sentiment comes from Paper Smooches - Pretty Phrases stamp set

And I just discovered that this card design is perfect for the latest Muse Challenge #24 - inspired by this card from Laurie Willison

and so... my submission is in!

you color my life in zesty orange and green

you color my life in zesty orange and green, a photo by eatzycath on Flickr.

This is the 2nd card which I am entering for this week's Paper Smooches - Picture Perfect Challenge, the ink splotches and 'you add color to my life' sentiment were inspired by the picture below.

picture credit

And it so happens that Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger challenge this week is - Scene in Tangerine (look at picture below) - with colors in yellow, orange and green - which accounts for the color choice for my card - cheerful, bright and bound to bring on a smile!

picture credit

To make the card:

* the background was stamped with Hero Arts Chevron cling stamp, using Kaleidacolor's rainbow dye inkpad (Melon Melody) - I love how the colors are combined so well together and provide that smooth transition from one color to the next

* the notebook page was die-cut from white cardstock using Paper Smooches - Notebook Bracket die-cut

* the random ink splotches and sentiment comes also from Paper Smooches - I Heart Art stamp set

* the notebook page was then colored lightly using Pebbles Inc - chalks and edged-colored too for definition

* finally, the same was affixed to the chevron stamped paper at the right hand bottom corner with mounting tape, and the whole thing was then affixed with double-sided tape to the lime green cardstock

And finally, I just found out that Simon Says Stamp Challenge for this week is 'Anything Goes' - and so I'm submitting this card along to play as well.