From My Heart - FMH04 - Sweet Nectar Society

Hi Friends!!!

Welcome to Sundays at my blog where I share a little bit "from my heart" and hope to inspire you to encourage others this week. And this week I have a challenge for ALL of you. Stamper or not.

Romans 12:8-10
"If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with passion. The one showing mercy should be cheerful. Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. Love each other like members of your family. Be the best at showing each other honor."

At our church back in Tulare, there is a sweet, young momma who felt called to start a ministry that takes professional photos of ill children. Her little act of obedience has turned into a wonderful organization called SWEET NECTAR SOCIETY. And her contagious love for sick children (that she refers to as "sweeties") has gone beyond just taking pictures of them. She also provides food and meals for the children's families while they are at the hospital. (Please take a minute to visit their website and see the amazing good they are doing in the lives of these beautiful children and their families.)

She leads with passion, cheerfully shows mercy, shows honor, and loves BIG. She is the ultimate encourager.

Last week on Facebook, Brittany posted that the Sweet Nectar Society is in need of hundreds of handmade Christmas cards to include in their Christmas meal bags. Well of course I jumped on that right away!! So I've been busy the last couple of days getting some cards together to send. The sweeties could use your help too. 

Here are the details:

So this is my challenge to you... Gather up some supplies. Set aside a little time. Grab some friends and family member and make some Christmas cards to help brighten the day of a child who will be in the hospital on Christmas.

Here is one of the cards I made:

Stamps: Snow Place

Ink: Basic Black, Real Red

Paper: Whisper White, various retired DSP

Accessories: Snow Friends Framelits, Perfect Pines Framelits, retired ribbon

I wanted to send "kid-friendly" cards that were fun and colorful. I searched through all of my cards and found a few more that would work. Here are some of the cards I'm going to send:

My son Trent made the "plaid" cards with the three Christmas trees on the front. I have a few more cards to add and hopefully I'll be able to send 30 cards. If I can find any more time, I will gladly make some more. I love a good reason to have to stamp. :)

I also wanted to send a card along to Brittany and her volunteers and encourage them on the awesome thing they are doing by sharing the light of Jesus all over Valley Children's Hospital. And to also tell her what an inspiration she is to so many.

Stamp: Garden in Bloom

Ink: Hello Honey, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Whisper White, Hello Honey, Vellum

Accessories: Large Polka Dots EF, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Burlap Ribbon, Linen Thread

I had wanted to use a hummingbird stamp because that is the Sweet Nectar Society logo, but apparently I don't have one. So I figured a bee and a flower would be close. 

Thanks for sharing your Sunday with me!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

Krystal

Stampin' Up! Pretty Petals Garden in Bloom

Hi Stampin' Friends!!

Today I am sharing the last two cards from my Garden in Bloom Online Card Class. I love how all four of these cards turned out.

All of my ideas, layouts, and pretty much everything was CASEd off of cards I spotted on the web. I never CASE exact replicas, as I always add my own style, but they are definitely inspired by other fabulous stampers.

Pretty Garden #3

Stamps: Garden in Bloom

Paper: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Pretty Petals DSP

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Old Olive, Calypso Coral

Accessories: Elegant Dots EF, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Banner Triple Punch, Itty Bitty Flower Punch, Candy Dots, Linen Thread, Black Lace (retired)

Kit Includes:

1- Very Vanilla card base

1 - Crumb Cake embossed card front

1 - Pretty Petals coral tag

1 - Pretty Petals olive strip

1 - Pretty Petals banner

3 - Basic Black flowers

1 - Black Lace

1 - Linen Thread

3 - Vanilla Candy Dots

1- Black Candy Dots

1 - Very Vanilla circle (Which is not in the picture. Which makes me think I forgot to include it in the kit. So if you did not get a 2 1/2" vanilla circle in your kit and you need one, let me know and I will mail it to you.)

Instructions:

Adhere the embossed Crumb Cake card front to the Very Vanilla card base using Liquid Glue.

Adhere the long, olive strip to the left hand side of the card front.

Tie the black lace to the top of the tag. Adhere near the middle of the card front.

Stamp your sentiment using Tuxedo Black ink (or any black ink you have) on the bottom of the vanilla circle.

Stamp the large outline flower using black ink. Stamp the small outline flower with black ink. Stamp the outline leaf stamp with black ink.

Stamp the large solid flower using Calypso Coral ink. Do the same for the smaller flower.

Stamp the solid leaf images with Old Olive ink.

Stamp the center of the large flower with black ink.

Adhere the stamped circle to your card front using Dimensionals.

Add black flowers around circle using Dimensionals you have cut to fit.

Add vanilla Candy Dots to center of black flowers. Add black Candy Dot to center of small stamped flower.

Tie a loop with the Linen Thread. Attach it under the circle using Glue Dots.

Adhere the Pretty Petals banner under the circle. Trim if necessary.

And now our last card!

Pretty Petals Garden #4

Stamps: Garden in Bloom, Endless Birthday Wishes

Paper: Old Olive, Pretty Petals DSP, Vellum Cardstock

Ink: Staz-On Black Ink (You MUST use this ink on vellum. All other ink will smear.)

Accessories: Calypso Coral marker, Old Olive marker, Rhinestone Jewels, Retired Ribbon

Kit Includes:

1 - Old Olive card base

1 - Pretty Petals DSP card front

1 - Vellum card front

1 - Vellum for stamping

5 - Rhinestone Jewels

1 - Olive Ribbon

Instructions:

Adhere the Pretty Petals DSP card front to the Old Olive card base.

Stamp your sentiment onto the Vellum card front using Staz-On Black ink (You MUST use Staz-On ink on vellum or it will smear!).

Stamp the outline butterflies onto your Vellum card front.

Attach your Vellum to the card front using Glue Dots. I used four dots. Glue Dots practically disappear under vellum so you don't need to be too fussy about placement. I did place mine where I thought the ribbon would hide them. I also placed them under the butterflies. 

Stamp another outline butterfly and the small outline flower and leaves onto the extra piece of vellum. Cut out with scissors.

Attach the cut-out butterfly using Dimensionals.

Color the small flowers with the coral and olive markers. Attach with Dimensionals.

Add the Rhinestone Jewels to the butterflies and flower.

Tie the ribbon around the top.

And you are done!!! I hope you enjoyed your cards. I know I enjoyed designing them for you.

Next up on the agenda (after I finish 30 thank you cards) is to start designing my Watercolor Wings card kits. Never a dull moment in the stamping loft!!

On Monday I will be announcing the Hostess Code for my September Online Card Class. Here is a sneak peek of the set I will be featuring called: Howl-o-ween Treats. 

What I love about this set is it comes with matching Framelits. And it's super cute too!! So stay tuned...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp something!!

Krystal

Stampin' Up! Delightful Garden in Bloom

Hey Stampin' Friends!!

I FINALLY sent my JULY Garden in Bloom card kits out yesterday. I can't believe it took me THIS long to get them done!! This summer was just too crazy busy to do much stamping. Now that school has started, I'm hoping to get back into my regular stamping groove.

These are all four of the cards in the kit. Today I will be sharing the two made with Delightful Dijon. I had wanted to make them using Hello Honey because I thought it would be cute with the whole bee theme going on. But then I grabbed the wrong paper and stamped with the wrong ink and just decided to "let it go". ;)

Both of these cards use the new In-Color Delightful Dijon. If you do not have that ink color yet, you could also use Crushed Curry or Hello Honey. If you change the ink color, you might want to change your card base color as well.

I also used Memento Tuxedo Black ink but you could use our regular Basic Black ink. I like the Memento ink better as it tends to stamp darker. There is a new Archival Basic Black ink available in the Holiday Catalog that I'm looking forward to trying out.

And don't forget that when stamping with Photopolymer stamps, you get a better stamped image if you stamp on something "soft". I place one of the Stampin' Up! piercing mats under my Grid Paper and stamp on that.

And now to the cards!!!

Delightful Garden #1

Stamps: Garden in Bloom, Endless Birthday Wishes (sentiment)

Paper: Delightful Dijon, Basic Black, Whisper White, Crumb Cake

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Delightful Dijon

Accessories: Hexagon Hive Thinlit, Burlap Ribbon, Gold Sequins, Washi Label Punch, Linen Thread, Retired Button, Retired Black Grograin Ribbon

Kit Includes:

1 - Whisper White sheet for stamping

1 - Delightful Dijon card base

1 - Basic Black card front

1 - Whisper White card front

1 - Whisper White sheet cut using the Hexagon Hive Thinlit

1 - Crumb Cake piece for stamping

1 - Whisper White piece punched out using Washi Label punch

1 - Burlap Ribbon

1 - Gold Sequins

1 - Black Grosgrain ribbon

1 - Button

2 - Linen Thread: 1 short and 1 long

Instructions:

Place the cut out hexagon piece over your Whisper White card front. You will be using it like a stencil. Using Delightful Dijon ink, sponge ink onto your card front. Move the "stencil" around to get as much ink on as you would like as there are some "blank spots" on the stencil.

Adhere the Basic Black card front onto the Delightful Dijon card base.

Adhere the Whisper White card front (with the sponged on "honeycomb") onto the Basic Black card front.

Stamp your Endless Birthday Wishes sentiment using Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto the Whisper White Washi Label.

Adhere the Burlap Ribbon to your card front using Liquid Glue or Glue Dots.

Attach the Washi Label sentiment to the top of the Burlap Ribbon using Liquid Glue or Glue Dots.

Stamp the flower outline (big and small) using Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Whisper White cardstock.

Cut out both flowers.

Stamp the center of the flower using Delightful Dijon ink.

Stamp the outline leaves and bee stamp onto Crumb Cake cardstock.

Cut out both images.

Glue the leaves underneath the large flower image.

Attach large and small flower and bee image to card front using Dimensionals.

Using the small piece of Linen Thread, tie a bow on your button.

Adhere button onto top corner of Burlap Ribbon using Glue Dots.

Tie a sort of "loose" lasso with the longer Linen Thread. I wrapped it around two of my fingers and then tied a knot around it to keep it together.

Attach your "lasso" under your large flower using Glue Dots.

Separate the Gold Sequins from their thread.

Attach the single sequins randomly on your card front using Glue Dots.

Tie the black grosgrain ribbon on the top of your card.

Lots of little bits and pieces on this card!! :)

Delightful Garden #2

Stamps: Garden in Bloom

Paper: Delightful Dijon, Whisper White, Dijon Envelope Paper, Pretty Petals DSP, Vellum

Ink: Staz-On Jet Black (for stamping on vellum), Delightful Dijon, Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Honeycomb EF, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Delightful Dijon Marker, Paper Lace Doily, Black Candy Dot, Gold Organdy Ribbon (Retired)

Kit Includes:

1 - Delightful Dijon card base

1 - Whisper White sheet for stamping

1 - Whisper White card front embossed with the Honeycomb EF

1 - Delightful Dijon Envelope Paper with stripes

1 - Pretty Petals DSP black strip

1 - Vellum square for stamping

1 - Whisper White 2 1/2" circle

1 - Paper Lace Doily

1 - Delightful Dijon small strip

1 - Candy Dot black

1 - White Baker's Twine

1 - Vintage Faceted Button

1 - Gold Organdy ribbon

Instructions:

Adhere the embossed Whisper White card front to the Delightful Dijon card base. I use liquid glue when gluing down embossed cardstock. 

Adhere the Dijon striped piece to the bottom of the card.

Adhere the black Pretty Petals strip slightly over the Dijon stripes.

Stamp the sentiment onto the lower portion of the Whisper White circle using using the Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

Adhere the Paper Lace Doily under the Whisper White circle.

Cut a "tail" on the Dijon small strip. Glue it under the sentiment.

Attach the Whisper White circle to your card front using Dimensionals.

Stamp the flower outline using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

Stamp the solid flower color using Delightful Dijon ink.

Cut out the flower and adhere underneath the circle. Cut off any unnecessary petals.

Add the Black Candy Dot to the center of the flower.

Stamp the bee image onto the vellum using Black Staz-On ink. If you do not have Staz-On ink you will have to stamp your bee on Whisper White cardstock as regular black ink will smear on vellum.

Color the center of the bee with the Delight Dijon marker.

Attach bee to top of circle using Dimensionals.

Tie white baker's twine in Vintage Button. Attach with Glue Dots.

Tie Gold Organdy ribbon around card and trim.

Yay!! Now you have your first two cards completed!!

Stop back by on Thursday to see details and instructions for the other two Garden in Bloom cards.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp Something!

Krystal

July Online Stamp Class: Garden in Bloom

Hi Stampin' Friends!!

Just wanted to pop in real quick and let you know the details about my July Online Stamp Class:

Joining is easy.

Just go to my website and order:

Garden in Bloom stamp set #139433

AND

Endless Birthday Wishes stamp set #140273

Do NOT forget to use Hostess Code: VRW33DG6

Place your order before July 25th and I will mail you a FREE card kit using both of these stamp sets.

If you already own either of these sets but still want to join, just place an order using the above Hostess Code for a minimum of $41 and I will mail you the card kit as well.

See. Super easy!!

If you have any questions just email me at krystalscards(at)sbcglobal(dot)net.

Sorry to be MIA lately. Last week I was in Iowa. My good friend's daughter got married and I was the personal attendant. What an amazing day!! Here we are looking all pretty:

And even though I'm not posting much, I am stamping. Right now I'm stamping my monthly thank you cards for all of our supporters. I'm also working on cards for my daughter's water polo Junior Olympics fundraiser.

So stay tuned. When I'm all done I'll have plenty to blog about.

Until then... STAMP SOMETHING!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Krystal