It's a joyful day..the Lord bless and keep you.

The window is Jeart 1400043 -Window#5 cut out, I modified the window frame.

"Piggy bag"

"As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend." Proverbs 27:17

I've been waiting for this day - today when Jo finally broke a fantastic news to me that she has got her blog ready for posting her beautiful handmade cards! You can go to her blog under Friends (left column) - Josephine's Card.The above are only a fraction of what she has made. Her cards reflect her nature, elegant and sophisticated. I've been waiting for this day to introduce this darling girlfriend of mine cos we're more than just friends who share the passion of making cards and scrapbooking. We are, as Proverbs 27:17 says, "a friend sharpens a friend". We encourage each other in life and best of all in our faith. When you go through life with the comfort of knowing there's a friend who laughs when you laugh, cries when you cry, encourages you on when the days are hard and discourages you from growing negative attitudes, all you want to do is keep thanking God for friends that He puts on your path.

One of a Kind

This card is created to look like patchwork and paper pierced to look like it has been sewn. I embossed a brown paper cardstock before cutting it out with Sizzix tree shape die. I used pattern paper for the leaves. The card, leaves, cow and bag are cut outs from Sizzix die shapes. I treasure all the friends who come into my life at one point or the other and leave a mark of their unique character and personality in my heart - their smile, kind words, genuine concern, wonderful companionship, remarkable Christian faith, etc, etc. I thank God every time I think of each one of them and the friendship we still enjoy even though some are across the miles. Each one of them is indeed One of a Kind, created by God to bring much joy into my life.

Of flowers and hearts

Embossed dies such as this Jeart 3500188 Butterfly#22 make a defined statement of its own. You can leave it as it is or color it or even cut around it for its shape. I embossed the butterfly on tracing/vellum paper and make the concertina (fold to form a fan). Other die shapes used are Jeart 1200691 Bottle#1/Vase.

Embossed hearts - Jeart 3500159 and cut out Jeart 1710008 Hearts#1 make a nice combination for a "love" card. There are a lot of heart shapes in this card, a picture paints a thousand words, so they say. That's why there's no wording here! When I made this I was thinking of my mom - she has the most kind, loving, giving and gentle heart and no amount of words can describe my love for her so the more hearts the better. Other die used here is Jeart 1800007 Border Lace#6.

You Make Me Happy

I used baby blue corrugated cardstock as background. The die shapes are Jeart Dog, Spray and Sunflower. The kite is Accucut die shape.

I find this Dog shape die truly versatile, the body of the dog is turned into a dog's face looking up!

For the face, I snip off the legs and tail. Draw a happy face; use inner cut out of the dog's paw as nose and the small flag in the dog's body as tongue. Color the ears and outline the paws.

These cut butterflies are Jeart Spray die shapes. I color them pink and green and lightly outline with clear gloss.

Pieces of cut outs before assembling. The kite is cut out of foam. The sunflower is made from few daisies and small flowers in the middle.

This card makes a happy card :) The puppy is sniffing the butterflies and fresh summer air in the garden. You can tell by this card that I am in such a joyful mood when experiencing creativeness flowing through me.

Baby card

I tried out weaving with strips of paper to create the background for the card. Good way to recycle leftover papers. The die cut outs are from Jeart Baby Clothes and lace border.

Ephesians 2:10

Stretching myself in trying to memorize bible scriptures - this bookmark will definitely help. Week One memory verse from Ephesians 2:10
*The cut outs are Sizzix Cow, Jeart 1202033 Sheep, Quikutz Pig and Punch Chicken.*

Made Especially for You

Die shapes used are Jeart 1300011 Bottle and 1701085 Flower#12. Replace bottle with Jeart Vase shape die if you don't have Bottle shape die.

I colored the cut outs and put a layer of clear gloss. My son suggested nail vanish for the same glossy effect but I haven't tried that.

Clear gloss effect on bottle.

Decorate with ribbons and border sticker.

Thinking of you

Saying Hello to someone I haven't seen for awhile....

Cut out from shape dies, Jeart 1200030 Hummingbird and sizzix heart frame.

Jeart 1200030 - Hummingbird, cut and color - I used watercolor pencils.

Assemble.

D.I.Y. Get Well Card

When someone is sick or hospitalized it would be nice to let him or her know he/she is being thought of....

I can make a tag and send encouraging messages....

send my best wishes and hugs and kisses and lots of tender loving care.....

give a bouquet of flowers....

And then put all my thoughts together in a card. A little love goes a long way and God will do the rest.

I used Jeart tag die shape, Sizzix Get Well Set, border punch, ribbons and clear stamps.

D.I.Y. FRIENDSHIP CARD

Friends watching out for each other....This one's for you gals, Jo and Angel, thanks for a terrific time in Ningbo and Shanghai and for showing me what true friendship is all about.

Ah....!!!! Wrong "taxi" - next time be more alert!!

My fabulous girlfriend, Jo, came by yesterday and gave me a cardmaking magazine. I took this idea right out from the magazine. Draw and cut out figure, stamp and color handbag and use ribbon as skirt. Thanks, Jo. Hey, recognize the ribbon? It's from our Shanghai trip. Think I'll make a card to commemorate our Ningbo terrific encounter :)

D.I.Y. BABY CONGRATS

As with wedding cards I save all the cards received on every birth of our four boys, thankful that we have wonderful loved ones in our lives to share our joy on the arrival of our little gifts from God, our precious children. All new parents would gladly receive cards to welcome their little bundle of joy and celebrate with them.

Pastel colored papers go well with baby cards.

I used Jeart 1701086 balloon#3 die cut.

And Jeart 1710007 baby articles/pram.

Cut out backing, sandwich with foam tape and stick double tape to the back.

Cut out a Jeart 1701104-12 Gift tag for messages, touch up the sides with pink chalk and embellish the tag.

Finished card after assembling. Inside card reads Congratulations.

Different design but using same Jeart Baby Articles (Pram & Bottle) die shapes. The brown background paper is handmade paper. Wet the outline of the shape and slowly tear off to give that fiber effect.

Foam in its thickness gives that raised effect. Easy to adhere with double sticky
Another baby card design -for baby boys :) using Jeart 1301038 Giraffe, 1301035 Pin and 1710007 Baby Articles die shapes.

Color the giraffe, pin and bottle with acrylic or other paints. Cut another for backing. Sandwich with tiny bits of foam tapes and adhere to card.