Precious and Rare Friends

How many Virtual Friendships do you have?

Do you ever stop and think about the blessings of 

these relationships? 

Why are their life's paths crossed with yours?

I, for one, believe that if I am part of your life, 

there is a reason, there is a plan and a purpose.

Today's card was created for one precious and rare 

virtual friend, Jennifer from Oklahoma.

She was one of my first online customers five years ago

 introduced me to Koala T Crafts, 

to Jennifer Evers YouTube Videos,

and to many hours of sharing of ups and downs of 

our lives daily twists and turns.

So please join me in wishing Jennifer a very Happy Birthday!

And take time today to tell YOUR virtual friends what a 

treasure they are in your life.

{Note: This Card Design will be available for purchase beginning in September.}

Thank you for stopping by ~ Pam 

Butterfly Birthday

The delicate beauty of this Memory box Butterfly

die is just amazing!  

For this example, I selected a medium shade of 

pink for the die, and glued it to a chocolate brown 

card base.  I added  several small burgundy flowers

 with multi colored bling centers.  

The mint green Happy Birthday matches the lace, 

although the photo doesn't quite show that.  

The little gold tag says 'God Bless'.  

I also cut off the top of the card base 3/4"

(down the right side) and added a 1 1/2" strip,

glued behind the front to add additional contrast

to the card design.  

Additional strips were also added to the inside

of the card around the sentiment.

This card was ordered for a sweet lady celebrating her 90th 

birthday this week.

{Note: This card design will be available for ordering beginning

in September.}

Thank you for stopping by ~ Pam  

Old World Challenge Card

This weekly challenge from Koala T Crafts included 

making a card with an old world look

which could include an antique map, 

old world tools, ships, antique paper etc. 

For my entry I selected a mauve solid card base. I took

an ivory card stock piece and used one of my

vintage collage stamps with stampin up chocolate

brown ink.  I also inked the edges of the card.  

This piece was then glued down to the card base and

vintage washi tape added diagonally across the corners.

The finally touch was a cloth butterfly that I trimmed and 

applied with pop dots to give the card some added dimension. 

And to my surprise, Random.org was my friend this afternoon 

and selected my number to win the weekly challenge.  

If you are looking for a fun and active site to join for card making challenges, 

check out Koala T Crafts.  

{Note: This card design will be available for purchase 

beginning in September.}

Thank you for stopping by ~ Pam 

ATCM Envelope Challenge ~ August

One of the most challenging monthly games

on Addicted to Card Making is the

Monthly Envelope Challenge.

The month of August was hosted by Sue 

and these are the supplies that each 

person was sent.  

The guidelines are you have to use some

of each supply included

and this month you were allowed 

to add two additional items.

For my card, I added the Red printed background

matting and the stamped tag. 

Feel free to save this image for your cards.

This card will be going to Alana,  a young lady that I have

watched grow up since birth and has recently

secured her first teaching job.  I'm so very proud

of her as she spreads her wings!  I know she is 

going to SOAR!

Thank you for stopping by ~ Pam 

My First Attempt at Water Coloring

One of my favorite vendors to watch

at the Scrapbooking Expo is the very talented

owner and artist, Bonnie Krebs, 

of Art Impressions.  

She makes it looks so easy doesn't she?

Like all crafts, with time and practice, 

I'm sure my water coloring would improve...

but for now, I met my signed up  

Water Color Card Challenge on 

Addicted to Card Making.

With my good friend Jennie holding my hand

for directional guidance, I stamped this rustic little

wagon and then filled it with tiny colorful

flowers, a small butterfly, and string bow.

The oval mat is a Heartfelt Creations die and

the matted pieces are on a Kraft card stock base.

It was fun to try something new, and I'm sure I'll give 

it another try one day soon.

What crafting challenge would you like to try as 

a card swap?  

We have a great Three Month Heads Up

listing on ATCM and are welcoming

new members that are committed to following the 

groups guidelines.  

Pop over and check out this growing group!

Thank you for stopping by ~ Pam

ATCM Masculine Weekend Challenge

What kind of card do you make???

The challenge.... 

Masculine, Recovering from surgery, Elderly

Likes Motorcycles, Old Cars, Fishing and Beer

I'd have to say for 'most' of the guys that I know 

who would fit in that category,

a FUNNY card would be the 

only thing appropriate....

So.... OH BABY!  Get Well Soon! 

P.S.  If you are interested in joining a small 

card swapping group check out 

Addicted to Card Making (2 words).  

We'd love to have you join us! 

{Note: This card design will be available for ordering beginning in September.}

Thank you for stopping by ~ Pam 

The Folder ~ Happy Birthday Pocket Card

Months and months after it's 

release in the UK Papercrafting magazines

"THE FOLDER" 

is still one of the hottest embossing folders 

and most versatile for card making

and other crafting. 

Today's card shows two separate papers

embossed with the folder then cut apart.

Cut each piece down to fit your card base,

this example is on a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" base.

Mount the solid top piece first, then

glue only the outside edges of the patterned

curved piece, leaving the top open for the pocket.

I added a die cut happy birthday and butterfly,

although any sentiment could be used.  

A Creative Memories tag with a Birthday sentiment and 

a little bling is stuck in the pocket.  

The pocket is also 

a great place to tuck a gift card. 

{NOTE:  This card design will be available for ordering beginning in September.}

Thank you for stopping by ~ Pam 

Removable Bookmark Card ~ Double Ribbon Challenge

Today I wanted to share 

another idea on using your long narrow stamps

which will also turn part of your card 

into a useful bookmark.

This 1 1/2" x 3" stamp of the birds singing

is just one example of using any vertical stamp,

coloring, matting to compliment your colors

 and adding a double ribbon 

to make a nice bookmark.  

Keep in mind the completed size should equal to 

or be less than the size you want your completed card. 

Since I wanted the birds to be the focal point,

the sentiment and additional banner additions 

were added in softer shades of blue.

Two mini glue dots were used to temporarily hold the 

bookmark to the card during mailing.

This card was also going to be sent as a thank you,

so I wanted to add something extra to the envelope.  

Do you ever do that?

Envelope Art is another growing craft  for sure.

I make a lot of my envelopes (Love my Stampin Up 

Envelope Maker) and 

I used a Unity stamp for this design 

with Copic coloring and metallic gel

pen highlights.  

The final touch ~ a little glossy accents~ what fun!

I also submitted this card for the 

Double Ribbon Challenge on 

Jennifer Evers site, Koala T Crafts.  

If you haven't been by there lately, 

please stop over and visit Jenn.

Her site is undergoing some new changes, with lots of 

new members, challenges, swaps and crafting videos!

Thank you for stopping by ~ Pam

Relax ~ Enjoy the Day

The assignment ...

"Avoiding stressful activities today is the rule."

Sounds simple enough, right? 

As Jennifer, the admin on Addicted to Card Making 

gave us our August Challenge Card assignment, 

I believe many would

agree how easy it is for Sunday to be just like 

any other busy day of the week.

Yet we are commanded, not asked, in Exodus 16:23

He said to them, "This is what the Lord commanded:

'Tomorrow is to be a DAY OF SABBATH REST,

a HOLY SABBATH to the LORD.'

My challenge card reflects the serenity of the beach, 

where I personally can walk and feel closer to my

Savior, Jesus Christ.

My prayer today is for you who are reading this, 

to be blessed by the Holy Spirit,

to take time to relax today and count your

many, many blessings,

and to give thanks to our Heavenly Father

for all things.

Thank you for stopping by ~ Pam

2016 Expo ~ It's Cheaper Than Therapy

This Fold-a-Long Thank You card

was present by

Its Cheaper Than Therapy

(~what a cool name!~)

during the Make n Take sessions 

at the 2016 Stamp and Scrapbook Expo 

in Duluth, Ga.

For those who have been following along - 

are you not yet amazed at ALL the projects

that we were given by these great vendors? 

We added the precut Thank You, which I elected to chalk
 to the pre-folded card and then 

carefully cut the letters along the fold line so they matched up

perfectly, without cutting the inside of the card. 
Think about any Gatefold card.... you could use this
same technique of cutting your die to match up!

The inside pieces are layered with foam dots and the banner 

tags are tucked in between the layers.  

The base die has small cut tabs 

at the top and bottom to slide the framed piece into.

Then add a ribbon to create a closure,

or belly band,

 making sure it's loose enough to slide off and on. 

This vendor also gave us a very nice surprise...

a Christmas embossing folder in our package! 

Now that's a cute project AND

a nice surprise! 

Thank you for stopping by ~ Pam 

Addicted to Card Making ~ Weekend Fun ~ Olympics

With the summer Olympics starting and all of us just sitting

around with nothing to do...

Several ladies joined in for a quick weekend challenge on

Addicted to Card Making

to focus on the events.

The card had to meet one or all of the following criteria:

1. Red,White,Blue; 2. Olympics;

3. Sports; 4. A country Flag; 4. Rio

For my quick card, I decided to use a wavy stencil and

Stamping Up Real Red ink for the waves of the flag,

a little scrap of blue for the top corner,

the smallest Creative Memories star punch

with a little glue and glitter,

and then found two sports metal ovals to add

TEAM VICTORY

to the bottom right of the card.

 And just to show you the versatility of stencils,

the background on this card was done with the

same stencil, just moved around using different

shades of blue ink.

So if you are looking for a fun group of card swapping ladies to join, check out Addicted to Card Making. It is a small group - perfect especially if you are new to posting your work online.

Thank you for stopping by ~ Pam

Word Art Wednesday #242-243

Today I wanted to share with you a sympathy card that I just finished up using Isaiah 64:8.

On one of my favorite card making sites, Christian Card Makers, this month's challenge is to find a stamp or die in your stash that has never been used, or not used in a long time, then find a scripture to go with it and make a card.

I have quite a collection of stamps...you know... all the ones that we are going to use one day - but when I pulled out the Jars of Clay that I had purchased from my friend Ginny, I knew the card I wanted to create.  

While this one will be sent on in celebration of a new angel in heaven, I made a second strip of the design also.  It will be the first page in my new scrapbook that started July 1, 2016. ... when I moved to my new home.  For today and every day, it is my desire to be the Clay, to be molded by the Potter by His Will and to His Glory. 

Be sure to check out other great Christian Card entries on Word Art Wednesday's blog. 

Thank you for stopping by ~ Pam 

2016 Expo Project ~ Scrap That

This cute little birthday card was

present by 

Scrap That

during the 2016 Stamp and Scrapbook Expo.

The new/free product used with this project was a Chalk Marker and there were pinks, greens and blues.  Mine happen to be green.  Coloring on the background of the first part was up to the individual.  The chalk could be blended with your finger and could 

also be used to color the wooden sticks used for the balloon strings.  Check out the fact that excess chalk wipes off easily with a wet wipe! How cool is that?  

Craft glue was used to attach the papers to the card base. Pop dots were used for the balloons and then craft glue was used to tuck the

wooden sticks under the bottom of each balloon. 

I loved the strip of multi colored bling that came in the package!  This card could easily be cut into two pieces for separate card fronts also.

Thanks SCRAP THAT for a super easy birthday card!