All is Calm, All is Bright

It's a blessing to have you visit me here today.  Recently I've seen several pretty Christmas cards that were done in almost completely all light blue.  Something about this really caught my eye and sparked my creativity.  I knew that, as always, I could find the perfect stamps, dies and products at Stamp Simply to help me create my vision in light blue.  lol

I used black cardstock for the base, layered with white card, and then layered with a light blue patterned paper from the Carta Bella Winter Time 6x6 Paper Pad.  There are so many pretty papers in this pack.  I cut and layered the patterned paper and a white square (partially tucked underneath the border) using the Praying Hands Dies.  Next, I cut a strip of white cardstock where I stamped the pretty snowflake border using the Snowflake Blessings Border Stamp Set.  The sentiment is also found in this Snowflake Blessings Border Stamp Set.

I used the foliage found in the Floral Cluster & Sprigs Dies for the white branches.  They're dusted with glitter, and there are white floral prills in the corner.  The ornament string w/bow and the pretty ornament were stamped using the Christmas Joy Stamp Set.  The bulb was stamped onto a scrap of snowflake patterned paper also from the Carta Bella Winter Time 6x6 Paper Pad, and it was cut using the Christmas Joy Ornament Dies.  A few sequins were the finishing touch.

Given more time, I would have liked to do some machine stitching, and I'd have much preferred to figure out a way to stamp the pretty lines from the Snowflake Blessings Border Stamp Set as opposed to the jinky lines I ended up drawing.  Sorry, friends.  My time has been spread so thin lately.  I travel again this week to be with my aging parents, and I'm grateful that I am able to do so.  Happy crafting, everyone.  Be sure to visit the Stamp Simply Blog for lots of great inspiration and information about specials.  Thanks again for visiting me.

I'm sharing my blue Christmas card here:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says "Add Some Texture" - I added texture by using 3-D Foam Tabs to raise the ornament, and by adding layers of paper, sequins and gems.

Blessings,

Karen

Love Joy Peace w/Stamp Simply

This is an "extra" card that I whipped up to have on hand just in case I got stuck in Minnesota while visiting my parents.  While I did get "stuck" here for another week, I've still decided to go ahead and use this card because I should be home in plenty of time to create new cards for each of my upcoming Design Team assignments.  Besides that, this card is nothing special.  I'd really rather use it just for fun.

Black and green cardstocks made the base of this card.  The next layer is simple white cardstock where I die-cut the (absence of) tree using the Oh Christmas Tree Dies.  Behind the tree, I laid strips of cardstocks in various colors using up paper scraps to create my colorful tree.  The sentiment at the bottom was stamped using the Oh Christmas Tree Stamp Set.

I love the POP of color that you get from using scraps of cardstock to brightly color the absence of my tree.  While this is an incredibly simple card to make, it sure gives out a lot of great color.  That makes it FUN and more interesting to look at, while still keeping it very basic.  All the stamps at Stamp Simply are truly amazing.

Be sure to stop by Word Art Wednesday to play along in our FUN challenges where you can WIN awesome PRIZES.  We'd sure love to have you join us there.  Then make sure you stop by Stamp Simply to check out all their fabulous products and, of course, get some great inspiration on the Stamp Simply Blog.  Thanks so much for visiting me here today, friends.

I'm sharing my card in the following:

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers' Winter Linky Party - I'm having FUN entering when I can.  This is my 4th, and most likely my last, card to enter.  I'm thousands of miles away from my craft room for the next couple of weeks.

Colorful Options Challenge - October: I'm going with the rainbow color option

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Clean and Simple" - This is about as CAS as any card would ever get for me.  lol

Blessings,

Karen

A Humble Manger

Like so many of you, I've been a long-time fan of the gorgeous stamps, dies, stencils and products found at Creative Worship Stamps.  We all get excited when there's a NEW Release each month, of course.  But every now and then, there's a NEW Release that just really grabs your creative heart.  For me, that's this month's NEW Release at Creative Worship.  These are the sweetest NEW stamps ever.  Just in time for Christmas, you definitely won't want to miss this sweet stamp set.

I used black and a pretty peacock blue cardstock base.  The only other piece is a sheet of vintage sheet music that I cut using the lovely Stitched Rectangle Dies to create that background.  I love stamping onto the sheet music.  I used the super sweet NEW First Christmas Stamp Set for all the images you see.  There are multiple sentiments in this sweet set as well.  It contains everything you need to create a beautiful manger scene.

I stamped the stars onto a piece of white cardstock that I had rubbed with Fossilized Amber Oxide Ink.  I hand cut the stars and placed a little dab of silver Stickles in the center of each star to give it some glimmery glitz.  All the images in this (and every) stamp set are SO sweet, and they work well to accent the other stamps.  It's always nice to see how easy Creative Worship Stamps makes it for us to create pretty cards.  You can be a beginner or an expert, and your cards will always look amazing when you're using these awesome stamps.

You can find Tim Holtz Oxide Inks in pretty much every color desired as well as the sweetest stamps, dies, stencils and much more.  Creative Worship Stamps is there for YOU, so please stop by to take a look around.  You'll be pleasantly inspired and intrigued.  Go on ahead and treat yourself.  You've earned it.

I'm sharing my card here:

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers' Falling for the Holidays Linky Party - This is my third entry.  While I can't enter very many cards, I'm enjoying sharing what I can.  Mom is still hospitalized, so my time is being spread thin between their house (taking care of Dad) and the hospital.  Praise God that I'm able to be here!  Crafting can wait.  I've sure seen a lot of pretty cards being shared.

A Cut Above Challenge Blog - October: Anything Goes - This is my Entry #3/3.  The only die-cut I used on this card is the base that I cut from vintage sheet music using the Stitched Rectangle Dies from Creative Worship.  There is a die for the stars, but I hand cut mine for this card.

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge Blog - Challenge #629 - What Makes You Smile?  At first glance, the photo threw me a bit.  But it's not about the yellow smiley faces.  It's about "what makes you smile; and Jesus is what makes me smile.  The true meaning of Christmas (and life) is Jesus, and that should make us all smile.

Blessings to all,

Karen

Just a Note w/Stamp Simply

Hello, sweet crafty friends!  Welcome to my blog, and thanks so much for stopping by to take a peek at my card.  I found some quiet time to create this card, and when I started, I knew which stamp set I wanted to use; but I didn't have any vision as to what it would look like.  I just knew that I'd been wanting to use this cute stamp set for quite some time.  Here's what I came up with to share with you today using this (one) sweet stamp set from Stamp Simply.

I started with black cardstock and layered it with some adorable patterned papers from Echo Park's sweet Farmer's Market 6x6 Paper Pad.  Once I'd layered all the papers, I stamped several of the animals and images found in the Farmhouse Signage Stamp Set using various colors of Tim Holtz Inks.  I used the coordinating Farmhouse Signage Dies to cut each of the images.  The sentiment is also found in the Farmhouse Signage Stamp Set.

Some of the images are raised up with 3-D Foam Tabs.  It's always fun to come up with cards that require only stamp set.  Whether you have just one or two stamp sets from Stamp Simply or if you own many, you will find that they work well on their own as well as when combined with other sets.  They're all super versatile and help you expand your creativity.  Please let me know if you have any question about my card or the supplies I used. Also, I apologize for my wonky stitching.  I'm not loading my bobbin properly (something with which I've struggled since I got this machine).  Another of life's little frustrations.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and please visit again soon.  Your input is also super valuable to me, and I love hearing from you.  Stamp Simply has so much for you to explore.  You can also find lots of great inspiration on the Stamp Simply Blog.  Have a wonderfully creative week, everyone.

I'm playing along here:

Art Nudge Challenge Blog - October: Anything Goes - For this entry, I went with #1025A upper left with the cute chicken.

The Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge Blog - October: Anything Goes w/Dies - I used lots of dies on the project as listed above. 

A Cut Above Challenge - October: Anything Goes - I used lots of die-cuts on this card.  The postage stamp base dies and all the animals, etc. as linked above.

Farm Quest General Store Challenges - Anything Goes Farm/Country - Challenge #33

Blessings,

Karen

Happy Thanksgiving - Praying for You

The new release this month continues at Creative Worship Stamps, and it is truly one of my very favorites of 2025.  The sweet new manger stamp set will melt your heart, and the cool new Vintage Snippets Stamp Set is SO awesome.  I just can't imagine missing out on any of this FAB NEW release.  I've been having a blast making cards using these super sweet new products.

I started with two shades of kraft cardstock for the base, and I layered them with patterned papers using the sweet Stitched Rectangle Dies to cut them.  On the first layer, I used the cool NEW Vintage Snippets Stamp Set to stamp the fun (subtle) background.  It's stamped in Antique Linen Oxide Ink, so it's very faint.  I used the Scallop Border Dies and scraps of the ruler stamped paper to cut borders.

I used the sweet vintage background images found in the awesome NEW Vintage Snippets Stamp Set to create all the fun backgrounds on this card.  This card is a bit more masculine than most of my other cards, but this shows the versatility of the stamps and products from Creative Worship Stamps.  I say it a lot, but this month's release is my favorite of the year; and that's saying A LOT.  I truly love these products.

The sweet little piece of foliage (holly and berries) image can be found in the stunning NEW Lantern Light Stamp Set.  There are coordinating Lantern Light Dies to go with this set as well.  It's lovely to say the very least.  I colored the image with my Copics and placed it on my card; again, cutting the sentiment spot with the Stitched Rectangle Dies.  The sentiments were stamped using the fun NEW Wordfetti Mash-Up Stamp Set.  You'll always find plenty of AWESOME stamps, dies and products at Creative Worship Stamps.  Thanks for visiting!

I'm sharing my card in the following challenges:

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers' Fall/Winter Linky Party - This is my Entry #2 and I hope to be able to enter a few more cards, if possible.  Mom is still in the hospital so I'm going back and forth between the hospital to visit her and home (the home where I grew up) to take care of Dad.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Simon Says "Add Some Text" - I added text to this card by subtly stamping the entire background and also by adding text to my sentiment.

The Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge Blog - October: Anything Goes w/Dies - I used lots of dies on the project as listed above. 

Happy crafting, everyone!

Blessings,

Karen

Your Way. Your Will. Your Timing.

At Creative Worship Stamps, you're always sure to find the perfect sentiments to encourage and uplift, and the sweetest scriptures, images, and stamps, dies, stencils, etc.  In fact, there's rarely an occasion (if ever) that I can't find the perfect sentiments, background stamps, and all that I could ever need to help me create fun and interesting cards to let others know I'm thinking about them.  That's something I really LOVE💖about Creative Worship Stamps.  Each month when I'm making my selections at Creative Worship Stamps, it doesn't matter WHAT I end up ordering, I end up regretting not getting the things I didn't purchase.  This month, I had to go back and add another stamp set to my order for October.  I could not resist the Family of God Stamp Set and the NEW coordinating Family of God Dies.  How cute!

I used basic black cardstock layered with a white cardstock piece that I rubbed with Speckled Egg Oxide Ink and Spun Sugar Oxide Ink.  I splattered the background lightly with water and creamy white acrylic paint and cut it using the Stitched Rectangle Frame Dies.  I used some scraps from the background (pink/blue inks) and more of the vintage sheet music to cut some borders using the sweet Scallop Border Dies.  I also tied some Solid Ivory Baker's Twine around my card.  The churches were stamped using the adorable Family of God Stamp Set.  The wreaths were cut from vintage sheet music and cream cardstock using the Lovely Wreaths Die Set.

At the bottom of my card, all around the darling churches (which were stamped onto vintage sheet music and colored with my Copics) I used the darling NEW Wordfetti Mash-Up Stamp Set to lightly stamp several sweet and encouraging sentiments using Hickory Smoke Oxide Ink.  The sentiment that I stamped at the top of my card, inside the Lovely Wreaths is found in the Peaceful Botanicals Stamp Set.  I added some pink, white, yellow and green floral prills to my wreaths.  I think that covers everything I used on my card, but please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks so much for your visits to my blog.  I will always enjoy blogging and explaining my cards in detail.  Of course, it doesn't hurt that I'm able to type in excess of 100wpm so it doesn't take me long at all to type it out.  The links are the time-consuming part, but I truly want EVERYONE to be able to experience this gorgeous NEW Release at Creative Worship Stamps.  Have a wonderfully creative week.

I'm playing along and sharing my card here:

By Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers' Fall/Winter "Falling for the Holidays Linky Party - This is my first entry.  I won't be able to enter very many cards in this fun event.  I'm visiting my parents, and my Mom was just hospitalized today.

Blessings,

Karen

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Don't you just love that song?  I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas.  It took on a whole new meaning for me in 1989 when my husband and I (along with our then 3-year-old daughter) moved from Northern  Minnesota to the deserts of Nevada.  Unless I'm back "home" at my parents' for Christmas, I can literally only dream of having a white Christmas.  This year appears to be turning out that way, and I'm not going to complain.  When I decided to create this card, I knew that Really Reasonable Ribbon would have the perfect trims, and Bonnie Garby Designs would have the perfect sentiment.

I used a black cardstock base, and some older Crate Paper patterned papers to create my colorful background.  The darling sentiment is found in the Christmas Sentiments 2 Stamp Set at Bonnie Garby Designs.  Each layer adds more warmth and charm.  But I couldn't stop there.  Oh, no!  I had to add a pretty bow, of course.

I bundled up some Ivory Burlap String and used a small piece of Scor-Tape to attach the string and a bow tied with Bay Leaf Seam Binding.  I used another small piece of Scor-Tape to top my bow with a Small Pink Open Rose, and then I tucked in two pretty stick pins.  Three little sequins were the finishing touch to this card.   Really Reasonable Ribbon always has the perfect trims for every project.

Oh, wait!  Did I mention that there's a BIG SALE taking place NOW at Really Reasonable Ribbon?  Yes!  You can save using these codes.  The more you buy, the more you save.

Please use the codes below in the promotional code area on the first page of checkout.

The codes are good now through midnight eastern time on Tuesday 10/14/2025.

(Sale code is not valid on prior orders or special order items.)

Order subtotals from $20.00 to $49.99 SAVE 15% using code COLUMBUS15.

Order subtotals $50.00 and up SAVE 25% using code COLUMBUS25.

The sale code is good on everything including SALE items! 

There's always lots of great inspiration on the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog, and that's also where you'll stay up-to-date about special sales and promotions.  And don't forget to visit Bonnie Garby Designs for lots of great sentiments.  Thanks for visiting, and happy crafting.

I'm sharing my card in the following:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Simon Says "Bright and Colorful"

Jingle Belles Challenges - October: I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas

Blessings,

Karen