I told you I had one more card to show from my new sets from Our Daily Bread Designs before I put them aside for a bit and returnto my trusted SU stamps. This card is made from the set called Sing to the Lord.  The image of the bird is actually cut out and adhered to the white card stock with dimensionals, but the angle of the shot makes it difficult to see.  I colored the bird with Prismacolor pencils and gamsol and used two different Cuttlebug embossing folders for added dimension.

This stamp set has several different sentiments with it, but none were appropriate for what I was using the card for.  Instead, I used the "thinking of you" sentiment in the rub on kit from Sale-a-bration.  It was the perfect size and color.

Thanks for stopping by.

Mary Ann

Just a quick post to let everyone know that Julie at Sonshine craft is having a sale on Cuttlebug embossing folders.  All folders are 30% off and that includes the new folders due out in July and August!  You can check them out here: (https://www.sonshinecraft.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=255&zenid=oq02egolf7573nkhcldnbqjf16 

There are some really cool folders coming out in the next couple of months so be sure to check them out soon.  Here's the catch...the sale ends on 6/25!  She is accepting all pre-orders through tomorrow and your credit card won't be billed until the merchandise ships.

I had the pleasure of meeting Julie personally at her store in Cocoa, FL.  She is a wonderful woman and is SO nice to work with.  I promise you won't be disappointed.  Check out the rest of Julie's online store for other great merchandise too.  www.sonshinecraft.com.  I'll put her link in the right side bar for future reference.  Tell her I sent you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mary Ann

Do I need to say it again?  I love my new sets from Our Daily Bread Designs.  They're all I've been playing with since they landed in my mailbox.  Whenever I get new stamps I seem to temporarily forget about all the sets I already own.  Not to worry though.  I still love my SU stamps and will return to them again soon.  We can all play nice together.  This playground is big enough for everyone.  I'm allowed a slight deviation every now and then.  In the meantime, I'm really enjoying these sets.

This set is On Eagles' Wings.  The image of the eagle is awesome.  I used my Prismacolor color pencils and gamsol to color it and then layered it with a sheet of vellum.  The sentiment is stamped on the vellum and adhered with brads to the card stock.  I kept the remainder of the card simple since the eagle is so detailed.  I added a bit of dimension with my Swirls Cuttlebug folder.  The final size of the card is 5.25 x 5.25.

I have at least one more card I want to post from my new sets before I give them a little rest.  I still have a few more details to finish on the card but will have it posted in the next day or so.

Hope you had a good weekend.

Mary Ann

I'm experiencing a little down time lately due to camera issues.  I had to mail my Nikon to New York for repairs and admittedly I'm a little lost without it.  I was able to locate another camera this morning so I could at least get a few more project uploaded over the next few days.  I hope my camera comes back soon so I can get back into the groove again.

Today's post showcases a new set from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I mentioned them before and how much I really enjoy the scripture-based sets.  This is a new set called Fishers of Men.  This took a bit of work due to the coloring involved but it was worth it.  I don't own the Copic markers that are so popular now and being used by so many stampers simply due to the cost, but I do own a large set of Prismacolor pencils and gamsol which is my favorite way to color images anyway.  So those are what I used to color the image.  The background image is the retired Cheesecloth stamp from Stampin' Up!  I like how the cheesecloth resembles a fishing net and thought it was perfect for this card.

Enjoy your weekend.  Thanks for stopping by.

Mary Ann

It's been an exciting few days for Stampin' Up! demonstrators!  On Sunday, SU! announced the retiring list for the 2008 Spring-Summer catalog which is always a big event for demonstrators and customers alike.  The opportunity to usher in new stamps and accessories is like turning a new leaf.  Out with the old and in with the new!  To view the retiring list click here or click the link on the right sidebar.  Retiring stamps are only available until August 10, 2008 so hurry and place your order with me while you can!  All orders can be sent to [email protected] .

Today's news from Stampin' Up! was even more exciting.  Stampin' Up! will be introducing a new line called Decor Elements.  It's a line of self-adhesive vinyl wall decorations.  There will be 100 images available for purchase in two different colors: chocolate and white.  One of the images will be available in Kraft (brownish-beige).  There will be art images, an alphabet and phrases.  There will be something for everyone!  Stay tuned for more information in the very near future.

Have a good one!

Mary Ann

After an emotional few days, I decided I was going to "stamp without a purpose" today - if that's possible.  I pulled out one of my many lighthouse stamps, not only because I love lighthouses but because they're so versatile.  I just wanted to make a card that I could have on hand for any person and for nearly any occasion.  This lighthouse is from the Stampin' Up! Winds of Grace set.

If you look closely you'll see that I used the vellum to mimic the water.  I lightly sponged it with Brocade Blue ink and added multiple layers fo the vellum for dimension.  I used Aqua painters and re-inkers to color the images.  The colors look a bit skewed in the photo but are much more subtle in person.  I also used the Canvas background stamp on the front of the card in Brocade Blue ink for a monochromatic look.

Without even realizing it, the layout of the card is suitable for this week's card sketch challenge on Poetic Artistry.  I love when things come together without having to think too much.

Life Update:

Thank you to all of you who are praying for my friend and cousin.  Both are home today after having their surgery yesterday (can you believe it?).  Please continue to keep them in your thoughts - the process has just begun.

Thanks for stopping by.

Mary Ann

We've all heard that saying before, right?  How many times can we look back on our life and define certain moments or circumstances as unfair?  We all can, and the truth is, bad things do happen to good people.

Where am I going with this you ask?  Yesterday I posted a card I made for a friend diagnosed with breast cancer.  Less than 24 hours later, I get a call from a relative telling me my 39 year old cousin has also been diagnosed with breast cancer.  I was speechless.  Here's where things get creepy.  My friend and my cousin are scheduled for the same type of surgery, on the same day, at the same hospital by the same doctor.  I'm not kidding.  The irony of this mind-boggling.  

I actually made this card a few weeks ago for a completely different occasion, but it all of a sudden became very appropriate for my cousin.  I recently purchased new stamps from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I really like the various scripture based sets they offer.  Kelley, the owner of Our Daily Bread, designed this beautiful card so I cased it (copied it) and just made a few modifications with the card stock, coloring and embellishments.  I'm so glad to have the card on hand so it can go into the mail first thing in the morning.

If you happen to be the praying type, I would be so grateful for prayers for Zane and Cathy.  My guess is that both of these women would define this part of their life as a little unfair.  I happen to agree.

Mary Ann

I really enjoy making cards...at least most of the time.  There are two types of cards I don't enjoy creating: sympathy cards and cards for friends and family that are seriously ill.  While I prefer the happy, "feel-good" cards, I recognize the aforementioned cards are just as important, if not more important, than those with a lighter message. 

 We recently received news that a family friend was diagnosed with breast cancer.  My heart just broke.  All I could say was, "Damn it!".  I feel so powerless.  Our friend is scheduled for surgery on Friday and I wanted to get a card to her with a brief message of hope and encouragement.  This card was so difficult to make, but I needed her to know she is not fighting this disease alone.

Every week I print off Julee's card sketch from her Poetic Artistry blog.  This week's sketch seemed to lend itself well to the stamps I was using to make this card.  I resurrected two retired Stampin' Up! sets: Hope and Hope Is.  I also used the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder for the background.  Having the sketch as a guide definitely made it easy to pull this together. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Mary Ann

I was browsing through the Stampin' Up!  Spring-Summer Catalog recently and came across a card on page 177 that caught my eye.  I loved the colors and how it incorporated the Flower Fusion felt flowers.  The Old Olive paper with the Bali Breeze designer paper was such a nice compliment to the card, a gift set soon evolved.  I added a couple of white cards to break up all of the green and stamped a variety of sentiments (in fact that was the only stamping!)

Here are a few close-ups:

I made the box to accomodate the 4 cards.  The dimensions can be adjusted depending how many cards are included - don't forget the envelopes like I almost did!

I'll post the dimensions for the box a little later.

Thanks for stopping by.

Mary Ann

**Edited to add box dimensions**

Card box Dimensions

Cut card stock 6.5"x11"

From right to left, score @ 5" and 6" along the 11" side of the card stock

Rotate card stock 90* and score @ 1" on both sides.  Fold and assemble to create box.

Lid Dimensions

Cut card stock 6.625" x 4"

Along the short side of the card stock, score at 1.5" and 2.5"

Rotate 90* and score 1"and 5.625" along the long side of card stock (this creates a 1" tab on both sides of the card stock).

Fold and assemble to create box lid.

Please email me if you have trouble with these directions.

Groovy Guava, that is.  I needed a quick card to put in the mail today so I opted to pull out some of my neglected stamping supplies.  The color Groovy Guava has definitely been neglected.  I thought I had better start using it since it is about to retire in mid August with the rest of Stampin' Up!'s In Colors.

The other neglected supplies on this card are the flowers from the Pretties Kit and my trusted rub-ons.  I dyed the fabric flowers with Ruby Red and Groovy Guava ink and they came out a little darker than I hoped, but I think they'll lighten over the next couple of hours.  Why I haven't used my rub-ons in so long is a mystery.  I have SO many of them it's time to start using them up.  I suspect Stampin' Up! will be releasing new rub-ons in the new catalog so I need to make room for some fresh supplies.

I made this card for my mom.  Some of you are aware from previous posts that my parents were in the process of moving.  The moving truck arrived yesterday and my folks are busy getting settled into their new abode.  It has been a long week, but I'm glad they are safe and sound.  I will miss having them close by and having the ability to see them essentially whenever I wanted, but I know this move was for the best.  This will give me an excuse to make them a lot of cards.

Have a great Thursday.  Thanks for stopping by.

Mary Ann