I Always Thank God For You

Hello and welcome, friends! Happy Thanksgiving to all those who are celebrating it here in the USA with their families and friends! It's time for our newest challenge at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Challenge Blog and Suzz has a timely theme for us -- 'A Time to be Grateful'. Here's how she describes it:

"Around this time of the year when we start to get into the holidays and the rush of everything it is a good time to reflect on what we are grateful for. My challenge to you is to capture that in your art. Show what you are grateful for in any type of project, it could be a journal page,  a card, or anything else that expresses your gratitude. You choose how to show your thankfulness and share it with us."

As always, the winner will earn a chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date at The Funkie Junkie Boutique challenge blog, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the draw for the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team. Please see the blog for details, and while you are there, be sure to check out the wonderful inspiration by my talented teammates.

When reflecting on what I am most grateful for, what came to the forefront are my relationships -- whether it be with family, friends, on-line friends and most of all, my relationship with my Almighty Father in heaven. I decided to share those reflections on a simple card, featuring my beloved Sizzix Elegant Poinsettia (you can see it in action here  and here) and my newest (and a new favorite!) 3D embossing folder -- Sizzix Knitted.

Let's take a brief look at the details. I'll share a few highlights of the making, as I have no process shots this time. This card is so simple to make, it will be easy to build up either my Christmas card stash using this design along with a Christmas greeting or perhaps get a head start on those post-Christmas thank you cards.

Using all three of the Poinsettia dies that come with the set, I cut two of each from linen. One set was colored with Fired Brick Oxide Spray and Peeled Paint ink and the other set with with Candied Apple Oxide spray and ink. I just smooshed the ink pads on my glass mat and spritzed with enough water to make a puddle. After I sprayed the bracts with Oxide spray, I dipped them into the puddles. I crinkled the ones colored with Candied Apple and left both sets to dry on their own.   I cut some green leaves from scraps of old Kraft Core, sanded and blended them with Peeled Paint ink. I had gold leaves left over from this project, as well as flower centers and used them for shimmery accents.

More gold paper was used between a layer of old Tim Holtz paper stash colored with Peeled Paint ink and the plaid layer from his new Christmas Paper Stash to form the background. (Love, love, love the designs in this pad!) This was adhered to a 5 x 7 card blank.

I cut some foliage from scraps using the Sizzix Layered Winter Flower die set and tucked them in around the poinsettia. 

The poinsettia takes center stage over the Knitted panel and a Cathedral Window die cut. I love the homey and deep texture of the Knitted 3D embossing. Chunky knit is big in home design this year, and I love there is an embossing folder to bring it to the maker's world, too. To make this panel, I just embossed trimmed white card from my stash. Spritz the panel lightly before inserting it into the folder and run it through the die cutting machine 3 times. I sprayed it with Antique Linen Oxide spray, dried with my heat tool and then blended the raised texture and edges with Frayed Burlap ink. 

The Cathedral Window die cut actually came in the little gift bag Linda includes with your order from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. I just spritzed it with Walnut Stain Oxide spray, dried and blended with  Peeled Paint ink.

The sentiment is stamped in Black Soot Archival ink and heat embossed with gold powder on a scrap of card. I realized the card was too white after embossing, so I spritzed with Antique Linen Oxide spray and blended with Frayed Burlap ink. 

That's my take on the 'A Time to Be Grateful' challenge. You have two weeks to link up your project over at the blog to be in the running for some great prizes! I can't wait to see what you make! Happy Crafting! Sara Emily

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Christmas

These products were used and can be purchased at The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

Sizzix Chapter 3 Thinlits Dies - Elegant Poinsettia

Chapter 4 3D Textured Impressions Embossing Folder - Knitted

Sizzix Chapter 3 Thinlits Dies - Layered Winter Flower

Chapter 4 Tim Holtz Bigz Die - Cathedral Window

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mini Stash - Christmas

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads - Candied Apple, Frayed Burlap, Peeled Paint, Black Soot Archival

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Spray - Antique Linen, Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Walnut Stain

Ranger Embossing Powder - Gold

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Matte