Two More Birthday Cards

This card is for an 11 year old young man who only has one kidney and cannot play contacts sports. However, since he was 5 years of age he has had a tremendous love for music and he plays the piano.

Sorry, I cannot remember where the digital images came from. I had thought to use a silhouette of a grand piano but decided that the keyboard I used was more appropriate for an 11 year old -- a little more fun!!

This card uses another image from Beccy's Place that I colored. I love the tulips and fancied up the border and the sentiment with some rhinestone bling. Along with Spellbinders dies I used a Martha Stewart punch; I think the name of the punch is Arched Lattice.

We've had a beautiful sunshiny day today. Had a late lunch at Tony's Restaurant; we both had barbeque ribs, baked potato and vegetables so a light supper is in order tonight! Yay--no cooking!

Bye for now,
Betty

Two Cards -- Two Challenges

I have two more cards to share with you. Both are made with digital images from Beccy's Place. Click on the link to find out more about her September challenge.

This pre-colored image from Beccy inspired my fall looking birthday card. From reading blogs, it sounds as though some of you are beginning to experience some welcomed cooler weather. Yay! The sentiment stamp is from Taylored Expressions' set, Rest and Renewal.  The sketch is from Card Positioning Systems, #282.

I decided to give the Repeat Impressions Sketch S512 at The House That Stamps Built blog another chance. I managed to get in all the required elements this time!

Both of these cards will be donated to my church. We give out birthday cards to church folks each month. I think that especially the fall card will be perfect for an October birthday but I don't think anyone would turn away a birthday peony either!

Betty

Wings Like Eagles

Another special order birthday card for my friend's brother who is a pastor. I found the free eagle picture on the internet, cropped it, lightened it, and added the shadow border around the edges. Next, I added the sentiment and then printed it out. Next step was to stamp the scripture verse from a Taylored Expressions set, Rest and Renewal. Finished off the card with paper from a black and white paper pack and a wide black and gray ribbon from my stash. I really like the simple lines of it for a guy's card.

I'll be linking this up to Word Art Wednesday since it has an inspirational scripture. Oh, to just let go of striving in our own power, spread our wings, and be uplifted by the strength of the Lord.

Betty

Welcome Back to the USA!

No, I'm not moving back -- I am sharing a card today that I made for a friend to send to her grandson who is back in the States from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. The colored image is from Dearie Dolls Digis and I think it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen! He looks a little bit like Charlie Brown, I'm thinking!

Hope you all have wonderful plans for the weekend -- today we will be having lunch with a friend at a lakeside restaurant.

Betty

Christmas is Coming!

Flourishes is releasing their Christmas stamp sets a month early so that we'll all have plenty of time to get our cards made!! This card is for their Any Which Way Sketch Challenge -- take a look....

Now, this sketch challenge will appeal to just about anyone!! Simply choose the orientation that appeals most to you and join in to win the entire release of FIVE new stamp sets!! I'm sure there will be lots more activities on the Flourishes blog next week leading up to the release but this is a chance to win BIG for the early bird.

My card is made with two Flourishes sets, All That Glitters and Christmas Music. I stamped the ornament on cardstock from a Shimmer Matstack by DCWV. I used my glitter pen to add some contrasting sparkle and then cut it out and popped it up to "hang" it on the branch. The pieces of patterned paper I used were scraps and the taffeta ribbon is from Stampin' Up.

Hope you'll join in on the challenge -- deadline is September 14 at 5 pm EST. And be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the activities next week. I haven't been able to play along for a couple of months but am looking forward to the upcoming fun!!

Betty

A Vase of Flowers

My card below started out with this Repeat Impressions sketch. Unfortunately, the paper I chose did not work with the sets of three on either side at the bottom of the card so I won't be entering it into the challenge but I am grateful for the sketch!

The image I used is from Beccy's Place. My last post used one of her colored images but I did the coloring on this one with Stampin' Up watercolor crayons and a blender pen and then cut it out and popped up on the oval mats. The white was embossed with Swiss Dots ef, but don't know if you can see it in the picture. Beccy's September challenge is to make a card using any one of her images and you can enter as often as you like, so this one will be entered in that challenge, along with the card in my previous post.

Hope you all have a weekend full of crafting time!

Betty

A Floral Birthday

Making cards for my friend at church again. This one features a colored digi from Beccy's Place. Isn't it beautiful? I could have probably done okay coloring the flower but what really caught my eye about Beccy's coloring is the gorgeous watercolored effect around the flower. I could never do that and it adds so much to the image!! Beccy's September Challenge at her blog is to make a card using any of her images so I'll enter this card in that challenge.

I'd also like to enter this card into the challenge at the  Repeat Impressions Stamps blog, The House That Stamps Built. The Designer's Choice Challenge is to use flowers.

The sky is a little overcast in my part of the world today. Hope the sun decides to stick its head out before too long!

Betty