Every Path Has It's Puddle

Good Morning and Happy Last week of February!  

This morning I wanted to share a little card design that was can be adapted to use your supplies easily and is generic enough 

to be switched to just about any type of card you might need also.

My cards are for a new Christian card mailing called Heart Lines Ministry on Christian Card Maker.  This group is very special to me as I believe we are being called to spread encouragement to those in need through our God given talents in card making. 

Here's my finished product and the sentiment that I put inside, 

then below are the instructions for making.

Choose any decorative embossing folder and run your card top through first.  Determine an appropriately sized circle for your small image (the mouse in my example) and then die cut out your circle.  Next determine your card base color and select coordinating ink and small embellishments.  Carefully highlight the raised images of the embossed piece, and around the edges, then add your sentiment and embellishments.

 For mine, I had already pre-colored several of the images, so I glued each of them to the back of the card front, then applied that piece to the card base.  Another option would be to have your image inside your card base, stamped and colored through the circle.  All sentiments can be from your stamp stash or could be added from your digital collection.  Don't forget to mat with coordinating card stock to help them stand out. 

Thank you for stopping by today.  I encourage you to mail a card or two out this week, I'm sure you have a few in your stash.  Share your talents and help someone feel so special by receiving a word of encouragement and love from you!

This posting will also appear on the following sites:

Christian Card Makers, Karle's Passion, Artsy Cards, Stampers Swap Shop

Less is More ~ Challenge #19

and my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps.

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

Ahhh... the Weekend is Almost Here

Today's blog card was done for a weekend challenge on Addicted to Card Making's weekend Bubble Bath Card. I've saved it's posting till a Friday - 

knowing that if you're like me... 

we are about ready for a relaxing weekend!

Sorry for the poor quality photo on this one ~ it was also done while I was traveling.  With limited supplies, I was grateful when I found the washi tape in the bottom of my bag that matched perfectly with the card base colors.  The image is copic colored and the purple heart flat backs are from Lori's Lovely Paper Crafts.

I hope you find time this weekend to rest and relax ~ 

enjoy the simple things in life and always be grateful.

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam

This posting will also appear on the following sites:

Addicted to Card Making, Artsy Cards, Karle's Passion, 

Stampers Swap Shop, 

Have a Heart ~ Challenge #5

and on my personal site, Not Just Scraps.

Kindness is on Her Tongue

Today's blog card is my new entry for Word Art Wednesday (270-271)  along with Christian Card Maker's Heart Line Ministry. 

The beauty of this random stamped image has really spoken to me

over the past few days, as I have search for the perfect scripture to compliment her.  She represents strength, yet gentleness, hospitality, gracefulness and so many more Godly characteristics we should seek to be like.

I don't know her name or manufacturer, but would love to if she is in your collection.  She is mounted on the Heartfelt Eyelet Oval die and a scrap of grass cloth wallpaper before mounting to the burnt orange card base and adding the paper strip and ladder threads.  Tiny 3mm black flat back beeds were also added (which are available at Lori's Lovely Paper Crafts).  

This posting will also appear on the following sites:

Artsy Cards, Karle's Passion, Stampers Shop Swap, 

Inspiration Destination #122 

The House that Stamps Built #F2217

and my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps. 

May your day be blessed and may you always be filled with the Holy Spirit!

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

What's In Your Coloring Book?

I'm wondering.... how many coloring books do you have?

If your answer is zero, I would ask you to seriously consider the purchase of one Adult coloring book and I would recommend that you pick something that is NOT repetitive.  Look for one that peaks your interest, like flowers, animals, scripture.  

Having a special needs daughter, coloring books have always been numerous in my house.  And while I enjoyed coloring randomly with her, it was always as an entertainment time for her, not for me.  Until... my retirement, single life, craft life, and lake life all came into perfect alignment and the time to sit back and enjoy the simple pleasure of adult coloring... 

What a blessing!

My crafting mind though won't leave those colored images asleep in the books, I'm constantly browsing them and pulling out pages to use in my scrapbooks and on my cards.  Today's card is my swap card for the Addicted to Card Making Fruit Card.  

I had packed several crafting projects for the month of January since I was going to be out of state visiting with my family.  This fruit card project was one of them ~ so I had the embossed 'orange' edged folder card base and I had my colored page with fruity drinks to pick from. 

Didn't take long to figure out the embossed folder was overpowering the larger drink images, so a few snips, add a little background contrast and washi tape to cover the seams and now things are in better proportion.  

How refreshing and enjoyable does that look?  I hope you can find time to sit back and enjoy some stress free time today.  Enjoy God's creations around you, listen for the birds singing, the sound of the wind blowing or the rain on your roof top.  

Be still and know that he is always present.

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

This posting will also appear on the following sites:

Addicted to Card Making, Artsy Cards, Karle's Passion, Stampers Swap Shop, 

The Crazy Challenge #242,

and on my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps.

A Product Like No Other

Before I started writing blogs, I wrote an article on my selling page about 
a stamp cleaning product 

that I had seen as a random posting on Youtube. 

It quickly turned into a 'rage' among all of my crafting friends 
and spread through many of my online friends. 

With several more recent requests to tell others, 
today's blog is a quick re-write about the Absorber... 

the stamp cleaning product like no other.  

Step one: You must purchase ONLY the ABSORBER, 

not a chamois cloth, or any other generic automotive drying product. 

 (Walmart, automotive section, comes in a plastic tube,
may be pink, yellow, blue...  ~$10-14)

It's a large piece - cut it into squares about 8" (or on the fold lines). 

One square will last you forever! 
So do a group purchase, use as gifts, or you can 
purchase individually through my selling site.

Step two: When you get ready to stamp, thoroughly wet the Absorber and wring it out.  Find a convenient location on your work table to leave it - it will remain damp for several hours. 

Step three: After using your inked stamp, gently rub the ink off the stamp with the Absorber.   The ink will be absorbed into the cloth.  It will not hurt the stamp to rub hard, especially if you are using red ink which tends to stain your stamp.

Your cleaning rag will quickly become very stained.  Just re-wet when it becomes dry if you are stamping all day.   While you can run it through the washing machine, it's still going to be stained.  It's not going to come off on your clothes, the ink remains in the cloth.

Step four: When you are finished for the day, leave the Absorber out to dry. Putting it away wet can cause a musky smell and/or mold to grow on it if sealed away in a tight container. 

Step 5: Once it is completely dry, it will fold easily and can be put just in a pocket of your project bag or into a small container for travel or for storage.

 Double bonus - works great and stores in a small space!

If you already have one or you get an Absorber, I'd love to hear your comments. 

What are you waiting for ~ let's go get you one!

This posting will appear on the following sites:

Addicted to Card Making, Artsy Cards, Christian Card Maker, Karle's Passion, Stampers Shop Swap, and my personal selling page, Not Just Scraps.

Thank you for stopping by and reading by blog. 

Serving a Risen  Savior ~ Pam 

Sketch Challenge ~ Party Animal

Back with the Monday Sketch Challenge from

Christian Card Maker and Ssshhhh..... 

the results are a surprise birthday card for a fellow card maker also.

Here's our challenge sketch for today

Since I wanted to use the Darcie Barnyard Buddies stamp set (POL267), I had to alter my card slightly and put the sentiment on the right side.

Images are stamped using the Hampton Arts stamping positioning Tool and colored with colored pencils.  The cow's hat is pop dotted as well as the sentiment.  The yellow flower flat backs came from Lori's Lovely Paper Crafts, available for purchase via Facebook.  

This card will also be posted and submitted to the following sites:

Artsy Cards, Karle's Passion, Stampers Shop Swap,

Sir Stamp A Lot ~ Animal Challenge

and on my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps. 

Thank you for stopping by and following my blog postings.

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

Tech Challenge ~ Joyfold Card

Today's card is my first Joyfold Card, which was the tech challenge

 for February on Addicted to Card Making.  

I got ready to make this card while away at the beach, with limited supplies, and realized I needed several sheets of patterned paper and a bit of coordinating colors too.  Since I'd focused on using my scraps this weekend I was about to push it to the side.  

But during the day, we of course had to hit a couple of thrift stores looking for our crafting bargains and I found a cute 25 cent gift bag with FROGS & LILY PADS... knowing I had stamps with me that would work with that ~ perfect. 

Here's the finished product: 

and the inside

One of the little details that made it extra fun, was finding just the right lily pad to pop dot on the front to hold the card closed.

It's an original for sure ~ 

not many gift bag cards like this one being sent to my swap partner in Florida. 

This posting will also appear on the following sites:

Artsy Cards, Karle's Passion, Stampers Swap Shop

International Art & Soul ~ Recycling

and on my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps.

Thank you for stopping by and following my blog.

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

Never Give Up!

This particular week has been full of numerous conversations with friends about life's current situations, why we are where we are today, what have we done wrong, self doubt, words of encouragement and thankfully always centered around the blessings and grace of God in our lives.  Between the 'winter woes' and the 'fear of change' we seem to especially need each other's friendships to just plain deal with everyday life.  

What a blessing the scripture selected on Word Art Wednesday this week happens to be.  As usual, God speaks to us through his word, with just the right words we need to hear! Ecclesiastes 3:1 is a very familiar verse to us, one I particularly like using with a butterfly which does represent change to me. 

To make this card, I used a 2" strip of multi colored distressed inking to represent the grass to the sky.  The scripture (below) was cut using Spellbiner Labels 23 and mounted on gold metalic cardstock.  The butterfly was also cut from the gold and is the smaller Stampin Up Thinlet.  A soft vellum overlay is sealed over the background and scripture before applying the right side of the butterfly to the top. 

Although this card design can be ordered through Not Just Scraps, the original will be sent as encouragement through Heart Lines Ministry via Christian Card Makers.  

This posting will also appear on the following sites:

Word Art Wednesday #270-271, Karle's Passion, Stampers Swap Shop, Artsy Cards, 

and on my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps.

My prayer for you today is never give up, no matter where you are for this is a season.  God's plan is perfect and ours is not.  

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

Happy BARK~day!

I'm getting my Addicted to Card Making weekend challenge card done early tonight 

as tomorrow is girlfriend time at the Stamp Scrap Tour in Columbia, SC!  Shhh.... you know I need a few more stamps.....

The challenge for this weekend is either a card with three hearts or 

a card with a dog in celebration of Walk Your Dog day on February 22nd. 

One of my 'finds' just yesterday at the local thrift store was a bag of tiny wooden birds and dogs. Since I love birds, I knew I'd find something to do with those, never dreaming that a 'dog challenge' would come up this weekend. 

My "Mosaic Designed" card is Pinterest inspired from a blog posting by Kersten's Creative Box.   I used Ground Espresso distress ink on the wooden dog pieces to match the chocolate brown border, mosaic strips and three little hearts. 

In addition to posting on Addicted to Card Making weekend challenge, 
this posting will also be on:
Artsy Cards, Karle's Passion, Stampers Swap Shop,
Brown Sugar Challenge Blog #238 ~ Birthday 
and on my personal selling page, Not Just Scraps. 

Thank you for stopping by and for following my blog postings. 
Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

Happy Weekend ~ Don't Whirrry

Today's card is just a fruity happy birthday card using

Lawn Fawn's So Smooth stamp set.  

I have admired the work of my friend Kristen, a true Lawn Fawn 

addict and expert for quite some time and finally took the 

plunge with my first set.  

This card was done using the Misti stamping tool, which allowed 

the perfect placement of each of the tiny little stamps.  The shades of pink and red distressed background were added after I colored the images with copic markers.  The sentiment was stamped separately and rounded with Seagull scissors. 

My prayer for you today as we enter the weekend is to be filled with the fruit of the spirit of God ~ 

This posting will also be linked to the following sites

where I invite you to visit to see other card creations:

Christian Card Makers,  Karle's Passion, Lawn Fawn Addicts

Creative Craft Cottage #81

One Crazy Stamper ~ February Birthday Challenge

Addicted to Stamps and More #229

and on my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps.

Thank you for stopping by and following my postings.  

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

There Is Nothing Too Hard For Thee

I am so excited at the work the Lord is doing through one of my card groups, 

Christian Card Makers on Facebook!  

With a new outline of activities for the week, a lot of new motivated Christian members, and so much desire to serve the Lord through our God given talents.... it is just contagious!

If this sounds like a place for YOU, 

I invite you to contact me for more information or search for the group

 through the links provided. 

One of the new activities, Christian Card Makers (CCM) has joined with Word Art Wednesday Blog challenge.  Each Wednesday, our challenge will be to follow the scripture posted on their blog (or to select a different scripture) and then post our cards into their challenge.  These cards are then sent out through our Heart Lines ministry mail as encouragement to others.   This is my card for this week, using Jeremiah 32:17.

What comfort we can find in knowing that there is NOTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD. 

Thank you for stopping by my blog and I pray that your day will be blessed by the Lord.  

This posting will also appear on the following sites

where I invite you to visit to see other card creations:

Christian Card Makers, Artsy Cards, Karle's Passion, 

Word Art Wednesday #270-271, 

Unity {Show & Tell}

Deep Ocean Challenge #148

and on my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps.

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam

Happy 29th Birthday!

Today's card is a cute birthday card that is sure to bring a smile and a chuckle to those of us that have had MORE than one 29th birthday!  Do you fit in that 'age grouping'?  

Inside....

The craft card base is scored 1/8" above the original fold to give the card the look of a box.  Rectangular Spellbinder nesting dies were used to cute the center out, 

followed by the next size to cut the acetate window, 

followed by the next size to cute the contrasting mat for the front cover.  

The doughnut is actually from one of my coloring books, printed and cut apart so that I could re-cut and paper piece the icing using a sprinkled paper.  The paper actually had a white background, so I just colored it aqua, the recipient's  favorite color.  

Although this card was especially designed for one of my special girlfriends, it is available for ordering on my selling site, Not Just Scraps.

This posting will also appear on the following sites

where I invite you to visit to see other card creations.

Karle's Passion, 

Artsy Cards, 

Little Patch of Crafty Friends #51

Thank you for stopping by and for following my postings.

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

Strong Enough to Live It

Today's card was made for a sketch challenge on the facebook group, 

Christian Card Maker and will be sent out as 'Heart Lines' mail to a special lady who needs a little note of encouragement. 

Using Unity's Constance Girl and copic coloring, the imaged was double matted then a yellow loopy bow added with the stamped sentiment~ 

You Were Given This Life Because You Were Strong Enough to Live It.  

This also reminds me of the song by Matthew West, Strong Enough.

I know I'm not strong enough to be

Everything that I'm supposed to be

I give up, I'm not strong enough

Hands of mercy won't You cover me?

Lord, right now I'm asking You to be

Strong enough, strong enough...

  

Today I hope that the words of this card and the following scripture touch your heart, and give you comfort knowing that with the Lord in your life, You Can Do This!

Thank you for stopping by and following my postings.  

This will also appear on the following sites,

where I invite you to visit to see other card creations.

Christian Card Makers, Karle's Passion, 

Word Art Wednesday 268-269

Coloring in Scrapland ~ February

Unity {Show & Tell}

and on my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps.

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

Multi Cut Peacock

Today's card is another mixed media card with the base being 

"THE FOLDER" , embossed both in a variegated light blue and again in navy blue.  The curve of the folder allows a great area to cut and match up for many variations and patterns.  

The peacock die was cut twice also with the light blue and navy.

Green and blue satin flowers were pop dotted to give the 3D effect and then the peacock was added to the top with a gold seed bead for her eye. Additionally 5mm flat back pearls were added to the swirl (from Lori's Lovely Paper Crafts).

The sentiment was left off at this point as the customer wanted to be able to add different sentiments, which I provided as an assortment of tags.   

Thank you for stopping by and following my postings.  

This will appear on the following sites also, where I

invite you to stop by to view other creative cards.

Artsy Cards, Karle's Passion, 

CAS on Sunday #101

and on my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps.

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

Wish BIG!

After Christmas I received and Art Impression Christmas stamp set that was both cute and funny (photo later in article).  But what a bummer to have to file it away for months.  I just happen to show it to one of my special online friends, who just loved the chickens immensely!   Ah.... let's see if we can turn these Christmas chickens into a winter non-Christmas card?!?!

After masking out the Christmas ornaments that were hanging from the branch, I used copic markers in shades of aqua's and tans to give these cute old chic's a look of winter.  And since my friend's birthday was just around the corner, 

I added a couple of birthday stamped sentiments. 

I cut the layers with one of the Spellbinder nesting dies, and cut a white card base with the die off set on the top to make the card a top fold, open upward card.   

Inside I softly distressed the background and used the Big Fat Chicken as the center point, making the eggs bright and sparkly for her winter birthday.

When it was all done, I had to chuckle, knowing my 'sister Pam' would appreciate a Christmas Chicken for her Birthday, that looked like she was hatching Easter Eggs!

I hope you'll have some fun taking a stamp set that is designed for one area and make it something different.  It can be quite a challenge!

Thank you for stopping by, for following my blog and for sharing with your friends. 

Serving a Risen Lord ~ Pam 

This posting will appear on the following sites

where I invite you to visit to see other creative cards. 

Artsy Cards, Karle's Passion, 

Simply Papercraft #43

Creative Moments #111

and on my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps

I Say Old Chap...

Tell a card maker ~ I need a Masculine card ~ and most will cringe!

"I don't have the right supplies. He won't like it. All I have is flowers and pearls, 

Guys don't like cards." 

Those were just a few of the reasons when the admin on Addicted to Card Making put up the monthly challenge of Masculine Cards.

  Yet some amazing cards were entered in for the secret voting.

For me, it was perfect timing as I had just started pulling some ideas together for my nephew's 32 birthday.  The problem was...too many ideas! You see, he isn't just any ordinary nephew. He's a talented guitar player (so here's a stack of music stamps), for many years he has been a single parent raising 2 small children, (Dad stamps), he served in the military both here and over seas and currently teaches as a contractor (another stack - military stamps). 

And yet his pride in his heritage and honoring our family name seems to stand out 

above all his daily accomplishments.  

So the vintage theme of days gone by, became the theme for his card, 

knowing HE will continue to be a gentleman, a man of his word,

 who serves His Lord and who honors his family name. Happy Birthday Aaron!

The supplies used in this card were cork board paper background paper wrapped with cream twine before being mounted onto a chocolate brown card base.  The vintage bike is a die cut from Memory Box.  After gluing the layers, three small bronze flat back pearls were added for the finishing touch. 

In addition to being posted on Addicted to Card Makers, this will appear on the following sites

where I invite you to visit to see other card creations:

Artsy Cards, Karle's Passion, 

Through the Craft Room Door 2/7/17

Crafty Sentiments ~ Anything Goes

and on my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps

Thank you for stopping by, following my blog and sharing with your friends.

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

Keep Your Faith in Beautiful Things

Having been born and raised in South Carolina, I always enjoy traveling to other states, but coming home is HOME.  My downsizing move last year to Lake Murray added the pleasure of  water and wildlife just outside my door (while taking away all fast food and close by shopping!) 

Last week I posted a photo of lunch by the water on a warm almost 70 degree day and a friend from Washington state, posted her view... a yard full of snow mounds.

  Though opposite, both the sun and the snow are beautiful creations and God's masterpieces. Today's card reminds us to keep our faith in beautiful things, all created by our God.

Not all of our days are filled with sunshine and happy thoughts.  Some days we aren't as strong as we want to be, we can't do the things we want to do, we just feel lost.  Those are the days we as Christians know that the devil does his best work.  We must be strong as we are reminded in 1 Corinthians 16:13

Thank you for stopping by and for following my blog postings. 

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam 

This posting will also appear on the following sites

where I invite you to visit to see other creative cards:

Christian Card Maker, Karle's Passion, 

Hand Stamped Sentiments #257

Lemon Shortbread #34

and on my personal site, Not Just Scraps. 

February Envelope Challenge

If you follow my blog, you already know that my favorite

card swap challenge is the Envelope Challenge on 

Addicted to Card Making.

Receiving an envelope of supplies and seeing the extreme varieties of what 

12 ladies come up with is just amazing.

Linda, our host this month supplied us with these random items.  We are allowed to added a inked/stamped image or sentiment and one embellishment.  

The card base is always free to add.

Most of the time, I think each of us just open the envelope and go.... 

Hmmmm.... what am I going to do with this?

With the cut of the chair paper, I only had one medium chair that wasn't cut off. So I began with flipping that paper over (solid Kraft on back) to go from there.  After placing several dies around and allowing random thoughts to grow a little.... 

I'm back to that single chair, determined to make it work.  With my sentiment in mind,

"I Chair-ish Our Friendship"

I started working backwards from there. 

Layered bases are cut from Spellbinders Labels 23 and the accent pieces are Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags and Accents.  To pull the eyes to the small rose design in the chair, I used Stampin Up Real Red to distress all the pieces of paper and the white lace. Each layer is raised with pop dots and the bling strip is cut apart and glued into the circles of the lace, onto the Kraft card base for my completed card. 

Now I just need about 200 of these, as this morning I am humbled by the outpouring of Happy Birthday wishes I received yesterday.  

I truly do CHERISH each one of YOU as a blessing from God. 

Thank you for stopping by and for following my blog. 

Serving a Risen Savior ~ Pam

This posting will also appear on the following sites

where I invite you to visit to see other creative cards.

Addicted to Card Making, Christian Card Makers, Artsy Cards, 

Karle's Passion, Tinker - Dream Challenge #49,

A Bit More Time To Craft - Challenge #37,

and on my personal selling site, Not Just Scraps.