The Imperfect Card

Paper Pumpkin Kit Giftable Greetings used in this card

Do you ever make a card you are not really in love with?

Well, I do multiple times. This is one. The imperfect card.

Maybe the colors...I'm not sure.

I was trying to make a card with a wreath. 

Not too excited with this one after all.

What do you think? Does that EVER happens to you?

I love all the parts of it, but maybe not together.  It's ok,

Not everything needs to be perfect to carry the message.

Imagine if you had to be totally perfect to be you, or to be daughter, 

to be wife, to be Mom? Imagine if all the china in your kitchen had to be perfect in order to serve food on it. Many of my plates are chipped, stained, weird.... but I still like them.

If BEING PERFECT was a requirement to be a blessing, none of us would make the cut. 

But there is GRACE (unmerited favor) from heaven.

His Word, My Inspiration

…26Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,…

1 Corinthians 1:26-28

How refreshing to KNOW God chose me (and YOU), He made himself nothing so that we can be "something".

In HIS eyes we are perfect, full of humanity imperfections, but truly righteous in His sight.  Being perfect at His eyes is....enough.

Thanks Lord.

Be free to be you today, create imperfect cards and share them with love inside.

None but Him is perfect, but you should know you are perfectly loved.

Oh dear, if you wish to be loved by Him today go read this beautiful blog post by "the sweetest fragrance" today, it fits perfectly.

“Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault 

in His eyes…”

Ephesians 1:4

I am so thankful you stopped by today.

If you need any products please visit my store here and use current hostess code: MJF62CMQ

Creative Blessings,

Jessica Cruz de Urrutia

Stampin’Up! Independent Demonstrator since 2010

Lewisburg, PA (hablo Español)

Guest Designer Donna Wicks: Pocketful of Sunshine

A POCKETFUL OF SUNSHINE

A "pocketful of sunshine!"  Doesn't that sound like a great way to go through a day?!  I think of that phrase and then start singing that song (it's played in the movie "The Ugly Truth") and it makes me "happy!"

So today I started by working on a birthday card for my niece!  Her favorite color is yellow and this stamp set and framelits bundle immediately came to mind.

I think the sunglasses are the cutest thing and love the studs on the pocket (and all of the details, really)!

I always include a fun, coordinated treat package with any card that I give to someone, so created a 3D pocket treat holder.  I simply die cut two of the pockets (for the front and back sides) and made a side panel with a strip of paper which was scored and affixed directly to the tabs already on the pocket pieces.  It couldn't be easier to do.

Die cut:  2 of the pocket pieces

Paper Strip measures:  1" x 7   1/2"

Score long side at:  2 1/4", 3 3/4" and at 5 1/4"

To add a ribbon handle, punch a hole in each side of the container and knot your ribbon ends on the inside of it.

How about making a banner with little pockets to fill with treats??  Cute, right??  The center pocket mimics the card and the other two compliment the theme with cheerful daisies (DSP).  

I added treats in our 2" x 8" cello bags.  

TIP:  To help the candy pouch to stand tall in the pocket, I folded the bottom of the cello bag up behind the candy portion; it kind of gives the candy pouch "a leg to stand on."

I hope you've enjoyed this project!  Thank you for coming to visit me on dear Jessica's Stamp-A-Blessing blog!  I'll see you again next month!

Stamp happily!

Donna Wicks

The Art of Swapping Part 5: Sharing Mine

Last week I was a bit missing in action.

I think I underestimated the power of THE MESS. 

Yes, the mess formed after moving into a new home. :P

I need to make many decisions regarding things I do not need, but still occupy lots of space in my new home… still so much to do plus preparing for our new school year! Yay!

Is ok, the mess only means we are alive and well, being fruitful and moving forward, right? :)

Back to swaps here...
Swaps are all about sharing, really! I totally rejoice in receiving them and doing them. My Blessed Stampers team will be doing a swap soon with all the wonderful new stamps coming in the new Holiday Catalog. EeeK! 

Check one of the designs I created for the main catalog swap with the Sassy Stampers team from Colorado, US.

This is for sure one of my favorite stamp sets in the new catalog.

Strength and Prayers 

As you can see, when you make beauty, in the rocess you also make a mess.

This is an ORGANIZED mess thou, haha!

I first create my design, then cut all the CS and a materials needed.

Then I do an assembly line and go step by step. Makes it easy and quick! 

DO YOU LIKE DOING SWAPS?

This sample shows many of the newest products like

The Fabulous Foil Designer Acetate

The Pool Party 3/8" Stitch Satin Ribbon

New In-Color Dapper Denim

The super cute Serene Scenery DSP pack

Did you get to see my other Art of Swapping  posts?
(click below and be inspired!)

Part 1: Color Coordination
Part 2: Cool Sketches
Part 3: Cuteness

Part 4: Big Shot Power

I love blogging and stamping. Leave me your love with your comments below. It blesses me tons and lets me know you are there! 

Thanks again for stopping by my web place!

Jessica Urrutia

Love being your Stampin'Up! Independent Demonstrator

The Art of Swapping: Part 4 Big Shot Power

O my dear,

There are so many ways to be inspired by a simple card.

Like when you see a Big Shot item you don't yet have and drool…ok, not literal, but almost! Hehe!

These cards were sent to me by my friends from Sassy Stampers. Both of them were made displaying particularly certain Big Shot items. 

I was surprised by their use of vellum in both these cards. Very clever! :)

Stamp set: Jars of Love Bundle

Designer: Amy Taylor

Stamp set: Sunshine saying bundle,

Big Shot Thinlit: Sunburst thin lit

Designer: Diana Tillery

I simply love both these swaps. 
They are both so different and refreshing.

Go make something beautiful today! Enrich someone's life this weekend.

Jessica Urrutia

Stampin'UP! You've Got This

This stamp set was the first one I got from the new catalog this year.

And what a blessing to have it.

Not just the flower is precious.

The sentiments are the best.

You've Got This

On this card I used my flower to create a background. 

I used Island Indigo and Smokey Slate. 

Precious colors that complement the Butterfly thinlits.

Materials:

You've Got This Stamp set

Smokey Slate and Island Indigo colors

Butterfly Thinlits Dies

Below is another idea with it…simple but elegant.

Materials:

You've Got This

Banner Banter (little sentiment)

Banner Punch

Typeset Designer Series Paper

Send a word of His unfailing love…. it is #playweek at my house.

While we play, lets encourage one another, lets spur each other onto love and good deeds, lets grow in the knowledge of Christ.

Creative Blessings,

Jessica Urrutia

She believed she could… Stampin'Up!

And this week thou fully scheduled has been a blessing!

Indeed having my #noslackingweek theme helped me to go through some "down" moments still focused and thankful for all that the Lord is doing in my life.

I may not have the full blueprints for the journey, but I don't need them. Jesus is enough. 

He will lead me gently.

Materials:

Dahlia Flower Background

Feels Good Stamp Set

Bitty Butterfly Punch

Fluttering Texture Embossing Folder

She believe she could so she did!

These cards are part of a set I gave a friend last month. 

On Monday I will show you the full package.

Giving is better than receiving.

Grace gives.

Hope you get inspired with these ideas to use your talent to empower others and lift their load a bit.

#noslackingweek

Keep your fire, keep your passion!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Jessica Urrutia

Check my current events on my previous post below. 

Simple Scraps Monday Week 3: Paper Piecing

Get Well, Smoky Slate, Real Red, retired DSP

Good Monday everyone,

I am looking for ways every week to actively use my scraps of paper and inspire YOU to do the same.

There are so many pretty papers and scraps of papers that retired and I never finished using, so every Monday I am posting ideas to use our scraps.

You can see my previous Simple Scraps Monday below:

Week one - Sketches
Week two - Blessing Notes and Bags

This is Week 3. Enjoy!

Check out today's simple scraps idea. Stamping on your DSP or paper Piecing. Neat!

I had some cute valentines paper…no one has to know. I simply stamped my Get Well Soup stamp image on it and matted with Real Red card stock. I added a punch heart from my Itty Bitty Accents punches. Done!

On this one I stamped the image on the Designer Series Paper and cut the cup, then adhered to my card base. I first stamped the Get Well Soup image with Memento Ink Tuxedo Black on the notecard. Then glued the pieces (hence the name, Paper Piecing) to the image. 

Cute…little tiny heart came from the Confetti Hearts punch. Lovely!

Uh oh. No, not everything is perfect in my craft room. Here i stamped my image and it went all wrong…. so I decided to covered it, make the the inside of the card pretty with more scraps and add some more love (hearts). 

See below

This was my first cup….interesting I  always need this type of cards and never have any Get Wells ready. Now I do…yippee! 

You can find this awesome stamp here!

Look what an awesome project idea. :)

Have a wonderful week!

Creative Blessings,

What makes me Smile

Today starts a new challenge at My Pumpkin Challenge!

You totally have to visit My Pumpkin Challenge today!

We have a new designer! yay!

Here is my project. And what makes me smile? When someone is blessed by something I made or taught or share, that makes me smile. I love encouraging others and helping them become all that God created them to be. Definitely, doing what I was called to do well, makes me smile. 

Hope this card makes you smile today!

Creative Blessings!

Loved playing with this new kit! Don't you think those little circles could be use for so much more?

We have only 7 more days to JOIN My Paper Pumpkin for only $9.98 for the first two months! It is the best time to join and try these awesome kits. Visit my Paper Pumpkin site and enter HALFOFF2 on the promo code box to get this awesome deal. You will love them!

Starburst Tutorial and Great Discounts!

I found (well she found me!) a beautiful friend who lives super close to me and inspires me so much to create beauty around me. I don't think she knows how much she blesses me when she sees something I made and she makes it her own and even PRETTIER! Thanks Cynthia C!

I made this card for her last week. She wasn't feeling well.  

I so want her to feel better so I made her a card and sent a prayer too!

Stamp set: Bootiful Occasions

Love how bright it looks. Somedays we just need to remember the sun will shine again.

Materials: Brights DSP, Gold Foil Sheets, Stampin'Trimmer, Stampin'Marker in Real Red, Gold sequins.
All my products are Stampin'Up! (love it!)

CHECK our My Store! Don't miss these discounts!

Weekly Deals 

(starting today till next Monday at midnight)

Clearance

New Arrivals

Starburst Tutorial

Note: I have seen these card technique out there for a long time. Always wanted to try it, so I followed SU demonstrator Dawn Olchefske to learn it. She did fantastic! Here is her post if you wish to leave her a comment. I will always give credit to those who bless me with their talent. :)

I made a picture tutorial for you to see and keep. Enjoy!

Click HERE to get PDF free

Come back tomorrow for some cool My Paper Pumpkin inspiration! Yay!

Creative Blessings,

Jessica Urrutia
Love being your Stampin'Up! Independent Demonstrator

Freshly Made Sketches and Vendor Event

Hello everyone,

Just came back from having an awesome time at MOPS Vendor's Blender Event. I was invited to participate together with an awesome group of ladies from different direct sales company united with the purpose of blessing and encouraging mothers of preschoolers as the beginning of the school year starts.

I met beautiful ladies who love to craft but find no time for it. I presented my favorite kit My Paper Pumpkin and also a bit of Project Life. It was a blessing indeed. Looking forward to meet with many of these ladies soon and explore the possibilities with Stampin'Up!

I also got a stamp set out this week that I haven't ink in "ages". It is the lovely Bootiful Stamp Set.
I found this super cute sketch at Freshly Made Sketches #151 and fell in love with it.
What do you think?
Check it out and try it here!

I am so glad this stamp set is in the catalog. I have a friend who has been in pain for several days now. I sent her a card with this set…I chose a different one, brighter! I will show you that one on Tuesday. 

Bootiful Occasions

I haven't been playing much with challenges, it was so refreshing to visit this site and be inspired. Thanks creative ladies at Freshly Made Sketches!

Creative Blessings!

Jessica Urrutia