Numbered Card

Darkroom Door released a fabulous set of border stamps a few months ago. I was the lucky recipient of two of them, thanks to a "guess-the-new-release-theme" contest on their Instagram account. I waited until after the holidays to pull out the first one, because they are SO BIG (see last photo), and I wasn't sure my small cards would do them justice. But who doesn't love a crafty challenge, right? 

Birthdays are all about (eating cake) celebrating numbers - an excellent reason to put my new numbers border to use. Stamping the image only four times gave me a large background to work with, and then I found just the right sentiment stamps to go with all those fun numbers. 

I used Kaliedacolor ink pads and some fussy cutting with
the numbers border from Darkroom Door;
Happy Birthday is from Stampin' Up. 

Forever 29 is by Unity Stamp Co.
I stamped the cupcake (an older stamp from Artful Inkables)
on printed paper and adhered the bottom to the one I colored. 

Another apropos sentiment from the So Glad You Were Born
kit by Unity Stamp Co. The matching dots and color
on the washi tape and cupcake paper were just luck!

Look at the size of this border! So many possibilities!

I think sending birthday cards is a sweet way to make my numbered days count. 

Koi Fish Cards

Here is your fact/trivia lesson for the day. "Koi are a legendary fish. Graceful, vibrant, and one of the most recognizable fish in the world, koi are well-loved and respected. Often associated with Japan, koi actually originated from Central Asia in China. They were introduced to Japan by Chinese invaders. The koi got their name around 500 B.C, but the fish itself has been around for much longer. Fossils of ancient koi date back 20 million years." - from Koi Story

Koi fish stamp by Local King Rubber Stamp; hello stamp by W Plus 9
is embossed with gold powder on black ink.

I blended markers on the rubber stamps to color the images on these cards, and you can watch Lisa, the design artist for Local King Rubber Stamp demonstrate this on her YouTube video.

Koi fish and background stamps by Local King Rubber Stamp,
and hello by W Plus 9.

"The integrity and high sense of character koi are known for make them a popular tattoo choice both in Asia and America." This could explain why they are so popular with stampers, too. 

Snowflake Cards

As I type, the outdoor thermometer reads 68º, which is one degree warmer than our inside thermometer! It is January though, and that demands snowflake cards. Okay, "demands" is a strong word, but we did have snow and ice over the weekend, so my card crafting was inspired. Yes, I do appreciate the seasons and the holidays (and their color palettes) as creative muses. 

Stitched edges dies by Paper Smooches; polar bear by Memory Box;
sentiment by Simon Says Stamp; snowflake punch by Martha Stewart;
I used glossy paper for those. 

Snowflake embossing folder by Darice; fox by Hero Arts; sentiment by My Favorite Things.
I used a dauber to add color to the back side of the embossed snowflakes,
which makes the white stand out, and I heat embossed the fox with silver embossing powder.

Sentiment by Unity Stamps; snowman by Stampin' Up.
The snowman is a kit with many individual parts; this card took longer
than I expected, because I played around with whether he needed stick arms. 

I wonder what my January cards would look like if I lived in the Southern Hemisphere? 

Banner Cards

Happy 2017! With the new year I return to my weekly blog. August claimed my last post, because I was happily lost in my 2016 project of writing a letter a day. You can see how that progressed and many of my cards on Instagram @lettersarebetter. And speaking of progress: I changed the name of my blog from Letters Are Better-Handmade to A Handmade Prayer. Now the name and web address (and my purpose) match.

I have missed my blog, so the goal for me this year is to post cards once a week (and I will mail one, too). Each week I plan to show two or three cards using a stamp or a design aspect in different ways. I find this sort of challenge my favorite way to stir up creativity. 

Dog by Magenta Stamps; thanks by Paper Smooches.
What would you do with a dog head stamp?

Birthday stamp and banner dies by Stampin' Up.
Stitched border by Pretty Pink Posh.

The card is three inches wide, which shows off the banners better.
I can't identify the stamp or the circle die, but I can tell you
this will be my husband's Valentine card next month. <3

I hope 2017 has started out with a bang 

and ends up a banner year for you! 

Rabbit Cards

This is a rabbit, not a bunny. Bunnies are cute and fuzzy. This rabbit looks like the family pet of Hattori Hanzo the 16th century samurai (and who knows, maybe a distant relative?) He's one cool rabbit. 

No doubt I bought the stamp because the image on the wood block was already painted, and I really liked it as its own little work of art. The problem with buying a stamp complete with "suggested coloring" is I let that intimidate my creative process. It's only been in the last two years that I have taken to coloring, which, I am happy to say, has brought new life to many of my older stamps. 

Image by Hero Arts from 2000 colored with Prismacolor pencils on craft cardstock;
layered over mulberry and washi paper; highlighted with gold gel ink.

Rabbit by Hero Arts from many years ago; "hello" die by Simon Says Stamp.

Hattori Hanzo had such nicknames as "Hanzo the devil" or "Hanzo the ghost". I am adding "Hanzo the rabbit"!

BLM Card

Sadly I am beginning to understand what artist have always known, that their work can be a replacement for words. The conversation that was our sermon in church yesterday challenges me to acknowledge what has happened this week, even when (or maybe especially when) I am so far removed the events. Please listen to Skin In the Game for a frank discussion about race and faith. 

It seemed like a simple and heartfelt gesture when I made my Pray for Paris card. A card for Orlando was unexpectedly another handmade prayer. How could I not make a card for Dallas, Louisiana, and Minnesota?


Card Details: Initials by Inkadinkado; sentiment by Rubbernecker Stamps. 

Penguin Cards

Do penguins and summertime really go together? Yes! Absolutely! For two reasons. First, a stamp designer put penguins in a snorkel mask and an inner tube. What else are you going to do? One day I may figure out a snow scene for them, but in the meantime, it's summer themes all the way! 

Sentiment and waves by Simon Says Stamp; embossing folder by Darice;
penguin by River City Rubber Works. 

Penguin by River City Rubber Works; sentiment by Rosie's Roadshow. 

Inner tubes and sentiment by Stampin' Up; penguin by River City Rubber Works.

The second reason is because it's HOT outside, and it is refreshing to think of the cold climate they live in – the ice, the wind, the snow. Ahhh! I can almost forget about the humidity. Nah, that never happens.

Stamp Credits: I recently discovered that River City Rubber Works is no longer in business. I was sad to learn that, because their stamps are fun and unique. Good luck to the owners on their next venture.