Joy in the Journey

Wow, the summer has flown by, and now school is in session again. I thought I would get to do so much more cardmaking than I did, but with my son home for the first time in nearly two years, a family reunion to help plan activities for, getting my youngest ready for college, and catching up on everything I didn't do during my 39 credit school year ... it just didn't leave a lot of time! But, I did get a few cards made, including a bunch for Christmas that I'll post later (actually, they still need actual assembly, lol, gluing is the boring part of cardmaking I tend to avoid!).

I liked the idea of doing a monochromatic card with these stamps, and the ribbon I had was the inspiration. :-)

Peacock dreams

Wow, my first card this YEAR!!!

I tried pigment powders first on this image, but was not satisfied. But the gold leaf worked beautifully! I didn't have a specific goal for a card, but when I finished this, I knew it was meant for a young friend of mine. Hope I was right!

Eureka Blog Hop

Just in case anyone still pops in to see if I'm still alive, yes, I am, just have had no stamping time! I went back to college this fall, online full time, and have not made a single card since before Christmas! I also spend no time looking at blogs, but I've had an online connection with Eureka stamps for close to a decade, I think, and they've just launched their first blog hop! So, if you'd like to check it out, head over here!

This is a card I made years ago; background and scripture both from Eureka.

smARTword challenge

This is the last of the smARTword challenges, so take advantage of this last opportunity for free stamps!

The word for this month is "merry"!

The adorable vintage image is available in two sizes at smARTworks. :-)

Sympathy

I chose this card from my unposted file as I pray for a friend who lost her husband in an accident yesterday. I'm so glad that she has the comfort of the Lord, and a wonderful church family to help her and her children get through it, but although a distant friend, I ache for her in her loss. I love the scripture on this card, "blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." What a picture of the precious comfort of the Lord!

Tiger, tiger...

As I started to post, I remembered vaguely some poem about a tiger. Of course, googling provided the source. The Poem is by William Blake:

TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

smARTword challenge

The theme for this month's smARTword challenge is simple.I inked the stamp with butterscotch, then lightly tapped the sides of it in rust before stamping onto the panel. I then lightly chalked some green. I wish it had photographed better, I used bronze mica which looks really elegant, and the stamped image and panel behind the bronze are actually more rust colored, and not so orange.

Make a simple card, and get a chance to win free stamps!