Sweet friends, blue skies, sunny day, a fresh cup of coffee – all is good. I’m ever mindful that so many times we concentrate on the one thing in life that bothers us while so much more around us is beautiful. Today gets to be an outside day for me and I get to see good friends – I’m blessed. I’m so grateful for the love of my family and for the kindness of people whose path I come across each day (that means you). With feelings of gratitude my mind turns to a time of Giving Thanks and it inspired my card today. It’s a bit on the shabby side but I was so stoked to pull out my embossing paste. Thank goodness for trends coming back – I’ve had this jar for more than 10 years – remember before die cut machines and we used this all the time with metal embossing templates? Yep, so I pulled it out today trusting it would still be spreadable :-)
My edge distressed 5-1/2″ x 7-1/2″ card consists of a ‘hinged‘ card base onto which I layered a white matted layer. I wanted a frilly bottom so I added one edge of Spellbinders Renaissance Vine. On top I added a kraft layer that I swished over with gesso and added my white embossing paste through an acetate Prima stencil. On top I added a hand cut pennant from a piece of burlap in my stash. Next, I added my Give Thanks stamp backed by the smaller frame from Renaissance Vine.
I finished up with a piece of lace, seam binding and a romantic flower! It was great to reach into my style bucket and pull out something I don’t do all the time, I call it a good creative stretch.
Rubber Stamps: Stampabilities – Give Thanks Subway Art
Craft Paper: Neenah Classic Crest – Solar White – Cover – 80lb smooth, Papertrey Ink – Kraft
Ink: Versafine – Onyx Black, Amuse Studio French Roast
Accessories: Spellbinders Renaissance Vine, lace from my stash, Prima Stencil, Dreamweaver Embossing Paste, Darice Pearls, The Paper Studio Burlap, Recollection Pearls, Recollection Flower.
So grateful to have a place to create and kind folks who stop through – thank you from the bottom of my heart!
What a charming card, Becca. I love it when you sort through the older stuff and come up with these wonderful ideas to use with the tools we’ve long forgotten. Thank you for the brilliant inspiration!
You are a lucky woman indeed! No blue skies here, it is raining and quite chilly, marking the beginning of fall. Leaves are falling but the colors are incredible. Your card is beautiful and more of a scrappy type which is my favorite. Soubds like you
B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l!
Hugs
Anne (UK) xx
Very nice Becca. I smiled about the Embossing Paste & how long you have had it. I have a few & in different colors & I think I only tried them a few times but had to have it. I should use it again also. I just love all the layers & textures you use.
Beautiful!! Your cards are for sure works of art.
Yes indeed….a very pretty card! Nice to stretch once in awhile isn’t it!
Paper Hugs,
Jan
Love the card. I will pull out my lace and paste that I haven’t used in a long time.
This is such an unusual collection of styles. I love it! I’ll call this card “Wedding Casual”, which is the style of the wedding I’ll be attending in November. My niece and her intended are Irish and I’m sure there will be some “wearin’ o’ the kilt”.
Becca, you do know how to bring out the best in people. As you say it is too easy to dwell on the not so good instead of the very good. I awakened this morning to the news that “5 dead in shooting at Cascade Mall in Burlington, WA”. My son and family live nearby and always do their shopping in Burlington. I have been to that Mall. So I was deep in prayer dwelling on the not so good until I heard that they were fine. With the Lord in my heart I believed they were alright, but prayed, too!
Yes. Becca I have to agree this is a little unusual of your style but very impressive. We tend to do what we like but I must say I like this!! And Lady, we all have to say thhat we are thankful for YOU!!!! and what you bring to us! Thank you!
Hugs,
Mstgane
Ann R.
A very different but lovely card. Good to see you out and about more.
Doreen R from Bournemouth UK
What a beautiful card, Becca. Thank you.
Also, I notice that the auto populate is working anymore. It used to be where it said name, email and website that all you had to do was put the letter beginning with each and it would bring it right up. Can this be fixed?
Am I the only one having problems with this? Anyone?
What soft and gentle tones you have used and a beautiful sentiment too.
Jennie xx
So many layers each one fitting in sublimely with the last!You never cease to amaze with your creativity Becca. Thank you for showing what can be achieved and brightening our day!
Beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration to pull out old supplies.
Oh my goodness….absolutely beautiful!!!
All of my favorite colors and love the sentiment block.
Can you imagine the feeling of surprise like when you see or get something beautiful you were not expecting and you breath a quick breath of amazement. Well honestly, when I opened your blog today that’s exactly what my reaction was when I saw this card. What can I say….I think it was the lace, or maybe the bow, or maybe the flower…I’m not sure but this is such a beautiful card. I want that lace.
Becca, thank you again for sharing. I truly enjoy reading your stories, I share in your happiness as well as your pain. I keep your web page open on my computer at all times. You are my greatest inspiration. Continued Blessings..
Beautiful card again Becca, you always inspire, Thank You
God Bless
Elaine H X
My reactions were the same….”this is different but still really pretty.” Shabby Chic is a surprise! I’m always amazed how well you use colors in same family! These neutrals are beautiful and work so well. When I try this somehow it doesn’t work as well. I wonder what I’m doing wrong?:)
Beautiful! I like the backgrounds in your photos, too.
Good morning Becca, well there’s nothing like a frilly bottom!!! I love this look and you do it so well!!! Thankyou!!!
I’ve been feeling sorry for myself lately : ( and moaning : ( but I’ve got so much to be grateful for!!! Tomorrow is another day : )
Have a good one!!!
Loopy Lyndaxxx
I like your shabby chic style card today. Lovely as the blue sky you were able to enjoy. Embossing paste, which I call texture paste, is so much fun to use and see the result after it dries. Thanks for sharing your idea with us here on your blog.
I am so happy and pleased to see this card yes it is a little out of your style but just as beautiful. Glad to her that your foot is doing much better, can’t wait to see the next card always look forward to all of them
Hi Becca just popped in to check just in case and a what a
lovely surprise !!!!!!!
This is a bit different to your usual style but very popular here ,
all the texture and layers plus using these colours so
natural but you smashed it .
Thank you for sharing ! happy your foot is going well and you are having a
blue sky sunny day with special people hugs Pamxxxxxxxx
Gorgeous work Becca, very pretty!
Another beautiful card. Love the lace that is on the top of your card
Kathleen
Beautiful card!
Love the shabby chic design ;))
Love the shabby chic look. Thankfully your paste still worked. Your work is always so beautiful and I admire all your talent.
Hi Becca, Burlap and lace. Who’d ever put those together but it works when you do it. Add to the excitement molding paste over stencils. More fun. Thanks for the unusual but lovely card creation. Barbara
I was so pleased to see the shabby side of you today Becca. I love it!
It is so much fun going back to old ideas, I always forget I have a stash of french lace and old millinery ribbon, once again you are kick starting my imagination. Thanks so much for helping my juices to flow too. Very grateful for new friends.
Lovely card Becca…..
Beautiful, I so love white and cream or kraft together, wonderful texture, Beautiful bow with the flower!
Becca another lovely card, you sure come up with all different ideas.
Hi Becca,
Beautiful card, so love this lace on top too gives it a nice vintage feel.
Hope you are having a great weekend
Love & hugs
Jacquie J xxx
Hi Becca. This is a work of art. Love it!
Hello Becca,
It’s so beautiful and very “Victorian” in style.
Maureen xx
Hi Becca, This card is gorgeous !! I love the lace and all the beautiful die-cuts and especially the flower – truly gorgeous !!
Lots of love from Patricia xx
When you see a card that is right up your alley it jumps out at you like this one did to me! So love the colors and shabby chic look. You hit it over the top on this one!
This is a gorgeous card with a poignant reminder to be thankful in all circumstances. Thank you {{{hugz}}}
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I do not mean to be Debby Downer. But I would like to ask for prayer and any encouragement anyone could give me since I am barely hanging on my a thread. Right now, I am in the most intense physical pain I have ever been in due to not getting the antibiotic I have neede3d for two full years now. It has traveled throughout my body and not is it situated in my chest and a Lymph node is pushing on a nerve in my neck and is causing pain and swelling in my left shoulder and arm. So please pray that doors will be opened for me to receive proper healthcare. otherw2ise, my Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis/ Spondylitis cannot be treated which would mean constant pain, and inflammation and joint deformation. Plus, on top of this I injured my right ankle and it may require surgery due to a possible bone chip cutting into a tendon on the back of my foot.
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I also need a new 23 inch HP IPS monitor due to my poor vision so I can try to run my new Online Business I am starting. I want it in White though to match my Desk :). They had it on sale last night at HP for $119 but I only had $80 since I had to buy other things for winter to keep me warm like some winter fleece lined boots and a sweater :) They said if I was able to clear up why my card was denied that they would still give it to me at this price today. But unless there is a miracle it will not happen. *Sigh*
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BUT–There is great news for me–I just bought a Spellbinders Platinum 6 and cannot wait to learn how to use it! It put me further into Debt but I figure with it I can also get out of that deep debt with God’s help. I was only able to buy one die and three Embossing Folders but still I will have fun :D
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Thank you for your inspiring life Story, Becca. You are an inspiration and an encouragement to me that is why I try to reach out to you so many times when I need that encouragement from you and the other wonderful ladies and gents( Are there Any? ) here that follow you. Right now is one of those times….
Oh, I so love this card, one of your most beautiful!
Lovely!!
Just gorgeous!!!!!
Very pretty card, Looks like your paste worked. Mine was hard as a rock. I am so thankfully that my daughter who was here visiting & got home ok. There was a deer that run across her path Thank you Jesus that it miss her car.
Beautiful card !