Going “black tie” before April’s new releases

I just bought the latest SEI paper collection called White Elegance and let me tell you…they are GORGEOUS!!  Each paper has wonderful shimmering accents!

I used two of the designer papers, Pearl Strand and Fondant to create this card:

I’ve had a few readers ask me how I get my pearly swirls to fit so perfectly on my cards.  I usually buy the large swirl designs, those meant for 12x12 scrapbook pages.  I then cut them to fit my design.  I’m just very careful as to which swirls I purchase, looking at them to see where I can cut them but still be able to keep the beautiful flourishes. 

It’s no April Fool’s on the 1st…ODBD will again be releasing NEW SETS and you will not want to miss this grouping!!  Get ready to hop again!!

Card Recipe

Stamp: ODBD Tulip Corner and Eternity

Ink: Versamark

Paper: SEI White Elegance Collection

Accessories: super fine black detail embossing powder, super fine silver detail embossing powder, Zva Creative pearls, Martha Stewart Vintage Floral Punch Around The Page, diamond rhinestones

He Will Rise!

Today is already the Third Sunday of this Lent season.  How are you doing with your fasting?  Easter (April 24) is quickly approaching so hold strong and keep the faith!  Thanks to God I have been able to stay away from what I had given up and not take a break even on Sundays.  Trust me, if I can do it then you all can do it!

Calling to mind Easter I decided to create this card using the Mark 10:34 verse from the He Will Rise set from ODBD:

Even though it was cold and raining and really early, I was so happy to see my sons up and ready to attend 7:30am mass.  After mass they said “It feels good to start the day going to church!”.  Yes, I am one lucky mom!!

Card Recipe

Stamp: ODBD He Will Rise

Ink: Versamark, ODBD (Sunflower, Orange), Stampin’ Up! Brilliant Blue

Paper: Prima Sparkling Spring pad, Stampin Up! (Riding Hood Red, Bordering Blue), Canson watercolor paper

Accessories: Zva Creative Pearls, Martha Stewart Vintage Floral Punch Around, Cuttlebug Kassie’s Brocade embossing folder, tiny pastel green rhinestone, Spellbinders Petite Large Ovals

Spring getting rained on!

April showers have arrived early for May flowers.  We had a pretty big down pour on Sunday, it rained on and off yesterday and we’re expecting another big one tonight and a few more showers throughout the week.  So, that’s my weather girl impersonation for today . 

I actually LOVE the rain, especially the way it smells outside after.  I know beautiful flowers will be in bloom soon enough and that’s what inspired this card today:

I thought the paper from Prima’s Moulin Rouge was perfect for this scripture as the woman is gazing up above. 

I handcut the tag from the Tulip Tag Set, but you can save yourself time by using the custom ODBD Tag Die.

Make sure to check out the current Stamping In Time Challenge and submit, submit, submit!

Card Recipe

Stamp: ODBD Tulip Tag Set

Ink: Versamark, Stampin’ Up! Bordering Blue, Tim Holtz Antique Linen

Paper: Prima Moulin Rouge pad, Stampin’ Up! Bordering Blue

Accessories: ODBD Tag Die, Zva Creative Pearls, K & Company Layered Accents, blue silk ribbon, Bow-Easy

 

Healed

Many times I stop and reflect on how much Christ had to endure to heal each and every one of us. I’ve watched The Passion of the Christ and during the entire scene where Jesus was being led to his crucifixion I wept.  It wasn’t a silent weeping, but an all out painful cry and literally yelling at my television screen “STOP!”.  As painful as it was to watch it was also a strong reminder as to how deeply Jesus loved us.  No, I didn’t need a movie to tell me about His suffering.  I know God gave up his only Son so that I can be here on earth to follow His teachings. 

I woke up around 3:30 am and could not go back to sleep.  The He Will Rise set from ODBD was calling out to me and I thought of this crucifix charm I had and this just came together early this morning:

Take time to reflect on how Jesus has healed you.  I’m sure He has many times over. 

Card Recipe

Stamp: ODBD He Will Rise

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Prima Reflections pad, Stampin’ Up! (Creamy Caramel, Not Quite Navy)

Accessories: ODBD Elegant Ovals die,  Bow-Easy, brown embossing powder, Super Fine Gold embossing powder, brown grosgrain ribbon, gold cording, crucifix charm, Zva Creative pearls, gold flatback baubles,

Our Daily Bread designs’ THIRD ANNIVERSARY Blog Hop!

Welcome to the ODBD 3rd Anniversary Blog Hop!  Today marks the third year that Kelley and her incredible crew have been spreading His word through the stamping community and we’re celebrating it with this awesome hop that’s filled with LOTS of prizes so please read on!

If you arrived here from the ODBD Blog then you’re in the right place.  If not, please start from the ODBD Blog and continue from there so you won’t miss a single creation from The Breadsticks!

*Please read these IMPORTANT details:

The Hop will run from 8am EST Mar.17 until 8pm EST. Mar.18. The winners will be announced on the ODBD Blog on Sat. Mar 19 along with the Shining the Light winners and challenge.

For this special event, there will be SIX PRIZES of One Free Set,

and ONE GRAND PRIZE of the Bread Basket Bundle (All 3 Anniversary Sets)

**Here is what you need to do to be entered in the drawing:

• Leave comments for each designer on each blog
• Return to the ODBD Blog and leave a comment, telling us you completed the hop and noting any blogs you were unable to comment on.
• Answer the question on the ODBD blog

I am excited to be your first stop for this hop!  Each year that ODBD celebrates Kelley releases sets filled with each design team member’s selected scripture.  I chose Luke 12:34 which is in the Scripture Collection 7 set and here is my card using a stamp from the Fancy Labels set along with the compatible Spellbinders Label 17 die:

I love this passage because it reminds us that we should not store our wealth in material things, but to place it in God and in Heaven where it is safe.  You know the saying “Home is where the heart is”.  Well, in the end our home is with our Father in Heaven.

Did you notice I embedded the gorgeous Butterfly Single among the flowers?

Before I send you on your way, I want to tell you that we do have one more exciting way you can win during this Special Anniversary Celebration! It’s our Second Customer Favorites Contest!

We will be taking submissions of favorite verses (must not be lengthy) until Mar. 31, 11:59pm est. There is a special post on the ODBD Blog and a special link to it in the right side bar so you can easily find it through the rest of this month. Simply read and follow the rules, and submit the verse you’d most like to see on a card, scrapbook page or any project your little heart desires. If your verse is selected you will receive the set free and you will be invited to be a guest designer for the release of these new stamps when they are ready, by sending a photo of your card to Kelley to post on the ODBD blog. Please see THIS post for all the details!  We can’t wait to see your submissions!

I’m now going to direct you to the ever fabulous Connie McCotter’s blog to see her chosen scripture and creation.

Card Recipe

Stamp: ODBD Scripture Collection 7, Fancy Labels, Butterfly Single

Ink: Versarmark

Paper: Prima Sparkling Spring pad, Stampin’ Up! (Bordering Blue, Perfect Plum, Old Olive)

Accessories: Spellbinders (Label 17, Classic Ovals Small), K & Company Layered Accents, ribbons (silk, organza), gold cording, heart brass charm, rhinestones, Ranger Super Fine Gold embossing powder, Martha Stewart Optic Dots border punch, Glue Dots® (Craft, Pop-Up, Micro)

Three years later…the lady in Fuchsia

March is always a special month because on the 17th we get to celebrate another year of Our Daily Bread designs spreading His word through the stamping and crafting community.

This month’s ODBDLYLS3 challenge is:

* fuchsia flowers or the color fuchsia for the  anniversary flower OR
*crystal or glass for the anniversary modern gift (this can be faux crystal gems, a glass embellishment, etc.), AND

*ODBD stamps

I created this 12x12 layout for Kelley which I’ll be framing and sending to her as a gift:

The scripture is from the As You Graduate set which I thought summed up her third year in business:

Although the photo wasn’t the sharpest it was my favorite I have of Kelley.  I snapped this picture at last year’s CHA in Anaheim after she spotted this fuchsia hat in a store at Downtown Disney.  I thought it would be fun to just keep the color of the hat and black and white the rest of the photo. I snuck in the Butterfly Single, too.

I added paper fuchsia flowers to my butterfly vine and a few other flowers.  It wouldn’t have been complete without my Zva swirls…the “glass” rhinestones were the perfect touch!

Scrapbook Layout Recipe

Stamp: ODBD As You Graduate, Butterfly Single

Ink: Time Holtz Antique Linen, Versamark

Paper: K & Company Life’s Journey, DCWV La Crème, Stampin’ Up! Pixie Pink

Accessories: Cricut Plantin SchoolBook cartridge, Graphic 45 Botanical cut-out, Reflections Mulberry Butterfly Vine, paper fuchsia flowers, large gold brads, Zva Creative Pearls, black embossing powder

Four to five days a week…a new routine

There is a reason why I haven’t posting much on my blog lately (I will be doing some major catching up the next few days, by the way!).  Tae kwon do fever has hit the Kim household…and it’s become a surprisingly welcome new routine for our family.  We’ve enrolled them at a wonderful dojang called Sky Martial Arts Family Center in Murrieta, CA (the main school is located in Los Angeles). Both our sons have signed up for Black Belt Club which is a 3-year commitment towards earning their black belt.

Evan started in January and Marcus followed just recently. 

I was pleasantly surprised that Marcus wanted to continue because he’s my more “reserved, quiet, shy” son.  When Marcus told me he wanted to do the 3-year program I knew we were on to something!  The instruction and motivation from Master Jeon and the instructors as well as the support from other parents have really made a difference in just a few short months.

Evan was promoted to yellow belt on March 11(his best friend Brandon was promoted to Blue Stripe. He and his mom were the ones who introduced us to Sky Martial Arts Family Center). 

Evan asked Master Jeon to sign his board that he broke doing the hammer fist.  I was able to hold the board while my son broke it…pretty AWESOME!!

This is Evan and Brandon with Grandmaster Jin Hwan Kim after belt testing (no relation to us).

With all the belt testers

So this is what we’ve been up to and it’s been a joy!  I am a proud momma!  Daddy’s pretty excited, too .

Please come back and visit tomorrow as I’ll be posting a scrapbook page for this month’s ODBD Let Your Light Shine Challenge (ODBDLYLS3).

Flowers bloom even when it rains

We had another wet morning today and I’m not complaining because So. Cal needs it.  Besides, showers bring flowers, right?

Here’s a card I created using just the daffodil blooms from the Daffodil Corner stamp and the sentiment and frame from the Eternity set.  I accented with layered paper irises from K & Company:

I was out of my favorite Canson watercolor paper so I used my pencils and mineral spirits (a.k.a. gamsol) to color in my daffodils.

If you love mixing and matching ODBD sets for your creations, then check out the Bread Basket Bundle which gives you a 15% discount.  This awesome discount is only good until March 20 so hurry!

Thanks for stopping by today, and don’t forget…MARCH 17 IS THE 3RD ANNIVERSARY FOR OUR DAILY BREAD DESIGNS AND WE’RE HAVING A CELEBRATION!

Card Recipe

Stamp: ODBD Eternity, Daffodil Corner

Ink: Versamark

Paper: K & Company Portabello Road, Stampin’ Up! (Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Pretty In Pink)

Accessories: pink rhinestones, K & Company Cottage Garden Warm Mix Layered Accents, Cuttlebug Script Text embossing folder, pink decorative ribbon, black detail embossing powder, Glue Dots® adhesive (Craft, Pop-Up)

ODBD March New Release Blog Hop!

It’s time once again for a New Release Blog Hop from Our Daily Bread designs.  Today we are introducing brand new March sets and exclusive die!!

If you got here from the very talented Julie’s blog then you are in the right place! If not, you might want to start at the Our Daily Bread designs Blog and hop from there!

The Hop will run from 8am EST Mar. 1 until 8pm EST. Mar. 2. The winners will be announced on the ODBD Blog on Thurs. Mar 3.

This month, there will be Three prizes of a Flower Corner and Tag Set, and one grand prize of a Bread Basket Bundle! AWESOME!!Here is what you need to do to be entered in the drawing:

• Leave comments for each designer on each blog
• Return to the ODBD Blog and leave a comment, telling us you completed the hop and noting any blogs you were unable to comment on.
• Answer the question on the ODBD blog

On another fantastic note… March 17th is Our Daily Bread design’s Third Anniversary! We have MANY fun activities lined up, and ALL our teams will be participating! There will be special challenges, some lasting all month, some for 2 weeks, and some just for one week! There will be a BLOG HOP on the 17th and 18th to reveal the new Anniversary Sets! These are always HUGE sellers, so you don’t want to miss this! There will be MANY chances to win free sets! Be sure to check out the ODBD blog for the dates of all the festivities and chances to win LOTS of PRIZES!!!

Here’s my card using the Tulip Corner, Eternity set and the coordinating  Spellbinders die Labels One which is exclusive to Our Daily Bread designs:

I love layering my flowers!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  You’re next stop is at Debi’s blog for some yummy eye candy!

Card Recipe

Stamp: ODBD Tulip Corner, Eternity

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx

Paper: SEI Mimosa, K & Company Portabello Road, Stampin’ Up! (Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink), Canson watercolor paper

Accessories: ODBD Labels One, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, Zva Creative rhinestone swirls, black detail embossing powder, watercolor markers, Glue Dots® Pop-Ups