My WORD for 2013: PERSEVERE - (8 x 10 Frame)

Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, PESEVERE in prayer.

Romans 12:12

⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

 ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always PERSEVERES

⁸ Love never fails.

I Corinthians 13:6-8

You need to PESEVERE so that when you have done the will of God,

 you will receive what he has promised.

Hebrews 10:36

Blessed is the one who PERSEVERES under trial because, having stood the test,

 that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12

As you know, we count as blessed those who have PERSEVERED. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.

 The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

James 5:11

Welcome to our 2013 Die Cut Tuesday New Release and Link UP over at MyPaperCrafting.com!  Be sure and pop over there and see what Melin has set up for this Showcase – and the New Release.

For today, I chose to make something for ME! – which is quite unusual for me to do, as I’m always making projects of one kind or another with Someone Else in mind to give or send it to.  I heard last year - about mid-way through – about choosing a WORD for the Year – and have heard much more about it since.  I decided to choose one for myself for this year and I thought long and hard about it before deciding on one.  I have had some extremely difficult years recently and things have been even worse I the past several months.  It seemed that wherever I looked or read, I was being ‘told’ to keep going no matter what…something I’d really rather NOT do many days, although I do keep trying…  SO.  I decided to choose the word, ‘Persevere.’  I looked up the several verses above and decided to use them in this week’s project.

I watched an online video recently on how to use various techniques to make a large tag.  I really liked the techniques and the outcome – and decided to use the techniques to make a framed piece for ME to look at daily as an encouragement.  I’ve also spent Lots of time learning how to use my ‘new Silhouette CAMEO’ – that I’ve had since Summer, but haven’t actually used until this week, as it was quicker/easier to use my trusty ol’ Cricut/SCAL2 for all the many things I’ve done the past few months ‘in a hurry.’  I will use the SCAL3 program with my CAMEO and although they are both different in many ways, I have been quite pleased with how the CAMEO has cut the delicate cuts I’ve done this week!  ;-]  Treats to ME - for the Project – and for using my CAMEO!

I used these two cutting files from MyPaperCrafts.com –

Here are some instructions and photos of how I did it –

*  I began with an 8 x 10 Silver-gray frame (glass now taken out)from the $$Store and an 8 x 10 canvas from Michaels.  It truly is Silver-gray and not Gold as it looks in the photos - because of the lighting here...  8-{

*  I applied Gesso to the canvas – and let it dry.

*  I ripped a page from a $$Store (poorly printed) paperback Bible that I bought to use for Projects.  I ripped it into strips and applied them diagonally to the left side of the canvas with my Homemade Mod-Podge.

*  I applied lavender acrylic paint lightly to the right side of the canvas.

*  I stamped several places with a ‘Sheet Music’ stamp and a ‘Leafy Background’ stamp in black.  (The Sheet Music stamp didn’t show well, as it’s too fine to use on the canvas I discovered…)

*  I dry-brushed with black and then white lightly here and there.  I roughed the edges of the dried paper edges.

*  I used the Brick template and Gesso to make the brick wall on the right side.

*  When that was dry, I inked the bricks with black and then purple lightly.

*  I cut one of the Baroque Flourishes and also the word, Persevere, and its Shadow.  (Quill Perpendicular Wide font)

*  I printed the Verses in WORD (Papyrus font), then cut them in sections and adhered them.

*  I made a half circle ruffled lace flourish from silver-gray hem tape as a base for a spray of flowers from the blossoms from $$Store picks.  All are applied with hot glue, then centers of flowers (gems) are applied with the Homemade Sticky Dots I make using ‘Aleene’s Tack It Over and Over.’

*  I placed the finished canvas into the frame – and there it is!

I did something else Nice for ME recently...  After spending Christmas Up North with Dear Family and Friends, I decided to drive back down to here on Highway #1 - right on the Edge of the World as we know it here in CA!!  It's a magnificent drive and I've not done it in a while, so I treated myself to go that slower way rather than all the way on the expressway #101.  I stopped several times and took photos and will include them in another blog this week along with the Thank You Notes I made for things I received for Christmas...  *smile*

Thanks for stopping by and visiting here!  I’d love to know if YOU have chosen a WORD for 2013 and if you’ve done Something Special to keep it ‘in front of You’ during the year -  Let me know!    Come back soon!  Also, remember that I do Vintage Photo Restorations as well as PaperCrafting, should you have need of that -  Check in my ‘Services for You’ tab above -

Be sure to check out Melin’s post for the FREEBIE File for today and then make something and link up there.  I look forward to seeing YOUR creations!

Altered Shadowbox 'Write-on Frame' - and Card

A new command I give you: Love one another.

 As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:34

Welcome to Digi Desserts Fridaze in connection with My Paper Crafting !    We, on the Design Team, are to create a project using a Digital File from the vast selection at MyPaperCrafting.com every Friday, share them with You and encourage You to visit over there, get the FREE Digi File for today, make a project with it and link it for all to see.  It’s an easy and fun thing to do on the weekend!

Here are the two projects I made for today.  I used the ‘Roses Double DS’ for both projects and will explain how I made them look so different.  One is a Write-on Frame - a 5 x 7" Shadowbox from the $$Store and which I altered - that one can use to leave little Love Notes for a Loved One by using a Dry-Erase marker.   

The other project is a card which can be used as a Valentine – or just a note of thanks or encouragement.

Several weeks ago, I discovered a Free program Online to use for enhancing photos.  It’s ‘Perfect Effects Free’ by onOnesoftware.com.  They also offer many Free online Tutorials.  The stand-alone program is easy to use, in addition to my Photoshop Elements 10 that I Love! I’ve enjoyed playing with all of the effects offered and seeing what it does to various photos.  I do have colored pencils and various markers to use in coloring items, but I don’t feel that my ‘talents’ lie in that area so much, so I use my printer for Digi files.  Here is the original file, made by Melin – and I’ll show several of the ‘possible alternatives’ I came up with while designing for this project so that you can get a better idea of what the program can do.  There are many more options and combinations that can be produced with just the click of your Mouse!

I used this combination for the Frame decor -

I printed this combination on Vellum for the card -

 Here is the FREE digi-file for this week at My Paper Crafting.  Be sure to stop over there, if you haven’t already, see all of the other creative projects, get the file, make a project of your own using a digi-file from My Paper Crafting and then link it there so we can see it, too!

I'm so excited to tell you about a new twist this term.  We invite YOU to participate in our Digi Dessert Fridaze weekly posts.  Just create something using a digital image and link up at the end of the post. If you use a Paper Crafting World image, you will receive 2 chances to win.  That's right!  One lucky project will be selected each week to receive a digital image from Paper Crafting World.  If you use a PCW file, please add PCW after your name.   And, it will be so much easier to participate with our Link Up because there's a tab on the home page that will bring you directly to this DDF page.  You'll have until Thursday 12 noon (EST) to link up.  The lucky winner will be announced in the next PCW post on Friday.

Be sure to come back here often as I showcase other Paper Crafted Projects and Photo Digital Restorations that I make – several days each week.  Sign up to receive my Posts so you’ll know when I’ve posted something – usually 3 to 4 times weekly.  Check out my Tabs in the Header above to see what else I do and can do for you!  Let me know if you have questions on anything here – or if I can do anything for You!  Have a Great Week!  See you again soon!

'100% Loveable' Tag Card

May your unfailing LOVE be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 33:22

Welcome to Digi Desserts Fridaze in connection with My Paper Crafting !    We, on the Design Team, are to create a project using a Digital File from the vast selection at MyPaperCrafting.com every Friday, share them with You and encourage You to visit over there, get the FREE Digi File for today, make a project with it and link it for all to see.  It’s an easy and fun thing to do on the weekend!  Here is the Tag Card I made for today –

Tag Card - front

Tag partially out

Tag out

Card and Tag

Card and Back side of Tag -

*  I began with Lavender cardstock – an 8.5 x 11” piece, cut in half, to make 4 ¼ x 5.5” piece.  I folded this in half, then cut a wedge (top left corner to 3” on right edge) out of the front side to make a pocket for the Tag. 

*  I cut a piece of Black cardstock to fit the front of the card. 

*  I adhered a Flourish from the ‘Flourished Baroque Elements cf2’ – and a Heart from the ‘I Heart U’ cutting files.

*  I made a tag to fit into the pocket.  I printed the ‘100% Loveable’ DS on it.  I used a MS ‘Heart Corner’ punch on the 2 top corners and also in the middle.  I printed, “That would be YOU!” on the back of the Tag.

*  I added Lavender Gems (Recollections) and Hand Faux-stitching in silver and black to the Tag and the Card.  I added a piece of Silver ribbon to the Tag.

*  I glued the sides and bottom of the Card and then inserted the Tag.

Here are the files I used on this project –

Here is the FREE digi-file for this week at My Paper Crafting.  Be sure to stop over there, if you haven’t already, see all of the other creative projects, get the file, make a project of your own using a digi-file from My Paper Crafting and then link it there so we can see it, too!

I'm so excited to tell you about a new twist this term.  We invite YOU to participate in our Digi Dessert Fridaze weekly posts.  Just create something using a digital image and link up at the end of the post. If you use a Paper Crafting World image, you will receive 2 chances to win.  That's right!  One lucky project will be selected each week to receive a digital image from Paper Crafting World.  If you use a PCW file, please add PCW after your name.   And, it will be so much easier to participate with our Link Up because there's a tab on the home page that will bring you directly to this DDF page.  You'll have until Thursday 12 noon (EST) to link up.  The lucky winner will be announced in the next PCW post on Friday.

 Be sure to come back here often as I showcase other Paper Crafted Projects and Photo Digital Restorations that I make – several days each week.  Sign up to receive my Posts so you’ll know when I’ve posted something – usually 3 to 4 times weekly.  Check out my Tabs in the Header above to see what else I do and can do for you!  Let me know if you have questions on anything here – or if I can do anything for You!  Have a Great Week!  See you again soon!