16 February 2021

Goals: Reading Monthly- January's book and thoughts

OH friends!!! It's so nice to be back and sharing my life with you ❤️

Today I want to share some of my goal updates so that you can help me stay accountable! I mentioned in THIS post that I create lots of goals each year- goals with subgoals and rewards when I complete them! One of my goals in 2021 is to read at least one book* monthly (*Christian books/studies)

SAVfact: I didn't really learn how to read until the 6th grade. I tend to not have the right words at times because my vocabulary is low, and I am awful at spelling. I wish I had learned how to read (reading for knowledge) or that I would have built up my reading skills sooner. It's really hard to do this at this age! I pray that my efforts to read a book a month will grow my skills, vocabulary, and even my spelling 😊

January 2021: I know I'm a bit behind in updating you on my goals and achievements... hopefully I will be more on track starting now! LOL! I picked a book for January that I had been wanting to read for awhile. I didn't realize how BIG of a book it was until I picked it up at a sale! I wasn't sure I would finish it but I did 😂 LOL! 

I was blown away by the research and questions asked in the book, "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. I am a Christ follower, and I don't question who Christ is or what he's done for me or the world. I believe because the Bible says so. I guess that's how I read it so quickly (finished it with two days to spare in January)- I was intrigued with the questions and evidence given by each interviewee. 
I guess since I don't have higher reading skills... I don't really question my faith. As I read each chapter, I was taken by the questions, and it really opened my eyes. 

I have thought about many of the topics/chapters: rising from the dead, performing miracles, fulfilling prophecy, and dying on the cross. But I don't go into depth when thinking about these things; I just believed what the Bible says. Now my eyes are open to even more evidence of Christ! And I have to say that one chapter broke my heart because of the graphic details and evidence of Christ dying on the cross. I don't like to think about it because of the pain, my sin that caused him to be on the cross, etc. Chapter 11 blows my mind of how Christ could have carried the cross AFTER being beaten and punished... and then how he endured being nailed to the cross with gravity and how he even had breath or strength to muster out the words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." HOW!??! Jesus was the Messiah. And even though it was excruciating, painful, and all because of sin, Christ still endured it all for ME! This chapter makes Christ's death that much more real. It also makes the payment of my sin more understandable- I know what Christ had to go through but I never knew the details of the cross. The details in that chapter will forever be etched in my mind (kind of like the images from The Passion of the Christ movie). 

I also picked this book because I heard that our town (the BIG town next to my hometown) was mentioned somewhere in this book. I enjoyed finding the story about a case tried in Winamac, IN on the first page and in the first paragraph of chapter 3. I had never heard of the Ford case before. Interesting. I also find it funny that he called Winamac TINY--- it's big to me! LOL! 
Overall thoughts: I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to share it with someone who questions faith, Christ, or events in the Bible. I highly recommend you check out this book!!! 

Another reading goal I have is to read a book each month with Trav. Each year we get an Advent devotional from Revive Our Hearts, as we are supporters of this ministry. I absolutely LOVE Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth ❤️ And EACH year for the last three years it has taken us about 2 months to finish the little devotional. 🤦🏼‍♀️ The good news is that we finish the book!
Overall thoughts: If you can get your hands on these books, DO!!!! It doesn't even have to be Advent to read through it. I highly recommend anything written and published by Nancy!!! 

That's it for me today- you might not have expected me to write so much about books, and I didn't either! I thought this would be a quick post. Hopefully in the future that will hold to be true! LOL! 

I have MORE creations to share with you this week! I cannot wait to show you what I've been doing with my alcohol inks!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! THANKS for your friendship, love, support, and encouragement. 
Be blessed ❤️
Sav

14 February 2021

ONE More (and a mini)

Hellllllllllo, again! 

I'm really enjoying blogging again. I hope you are enjoying my creations! 

I'm back today with my last two (for now) alcohol ink cards. I said it before but I will say it again- I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE these inks! I can't believe it took me this long to try them out 🤦🏼‍♀️🙃
These cards were made using just the blue alcohol inks and the new Etc. Papers Synthetic EVO Papers. I didn't do anything fancy other than drop the ink and watch it blend, move around. I did add some gold shimmer and then let the inks dry overnight. I had a beautiful larger piece but had to cut it down to create my first design. It's simple and perfect for just about anyone ❤️
I thought I was done with all my samples but I saw this little blue scrap and knew I had to create a mini card:) I really liked the right side of this alcohol ink background- the way it dried and left the white is so pretty. I die cut a heart with a sentiment inside and added a vellum strip with another sentiment. The card size was a bit wonky- too skinny and long however I didn't want to cut the pretty design off; so I added one more sentiment under the heart die cut. I know it doesn't really balance this card design... but I think it looks good enough to say "DONE"! **I even know who I will be giving this mini card to today:) #TROG
THANKS so much for stopping by! I hope to get into the studio this weekend while Trav works. I've got about a thousand card designs I want to make... just need to find the time!   

Be blessed ❤️
Sav




Supplies
Paper: Etc. Papers Synthetic EVO Papers, vellum and gold cardstock
Inks: Ranger alcohol inks; Heidi Swapp Gold Shine


ps... if you are interested in purchasing this card, you can check it out on my Facebook PageSavannahland2ForSale!!! Click HERE for the photo album of the cards for sale:) 

13 February 2021

Alcohol Inks... my favorite

Hellllllllllo! 
I'm back, and I'm super excited to share this card with you because it's my FAVORITE design! It's actually really simple too! LOVE LOVE LOVE

Like the last few cards that I posted, I was playing around with the new Etc. Papers Synthetic EVO Papers. For this round I was playing with green and blue hues. I just kept adding inks and blending them with 91% alcohol, as well as some The Stamp Market Shimmer ink (you can see that shine in the photo above). I walked away for about a day to let it dry and to think of a card design (for some unknown reason I can't think of a design right away for cards using alcohol ink backgrounds! LOL! I think it's because I don't want to cover up the beautiful inks! LOL!).
I knew this card had to be simple- so I die cut a sentiment from gold and vellum, layered them together, and finished the card by layering the center panel on a gold and white card base. DONE! Well... that was until I thought it needed more- you can't go wrong with a green heart (die cut from the alcohol ink background scraps). FUN! SIMPLE! And now it was DONE! 

THANKS so much for stopping by! I said I only had one more card left, but I forgot I've had two cards laying on my photo station/cabinet for a week! LOL! I will be sharing those cards next week. And I hope to get into the studio again this weekend--- MORE to come:)  

Be blessed ❤️
Sav




Supplies
Paper: Etc. Papers Synthetic EVO Papers, white and gold cardstock
Inks: Ranger alcohol inks; The Stamp Market Shimmer
Stamps/dies: The Stamp Market Lots of Thanks Words dies, Lots of Thanks Stamp dies; Paper Smooches Tiny Hearts 


ps... if you are interested in purchasing this card, you can check it out on my Facebook PageSavannahland2ForSale!!! Click HERE for the photo album of the cards for sale:) 

11 February 2021

Alcohol Inks and the WRONG black ink

Hello again-- I'm back with ANOTHER alcohol ink creation! 


I am in LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE with the Etc. Papers Synthetic EVO Papers. I love the smooth texture and how it holds the alcohol ink so beautifully. I need to purchase more papers because I'm running out! LOL! 

I've had to learn a lesson (or two) as I've started to use alcohol inks more. Today's lesson has to do with the correct black ink. For this card, I created the background and sat on the design for at least three days! I just thought that beautiful plumb, pink, and teal (not the original color names) needed something special to make it pop. 
Well... the idea hit me and I didn't think about what I was doing! 🤦🏼‍♀️ I started stamping a gorgeous flower from The Stamp Market on the inked EVO Paper using my favorite TSM Black ink. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! This paper needs a solvent ink like ICT Stazon Jet Black. OH MAN! But it all worked out because I sprayed some Workable Fixatif to the papers and it helped the image "set". #lessonlearned
I really do love how this card turned out. I doubt I could recreate it... but I might try:) 

THANKS so much for stopping by! I've got one more card to share using alcohol inks... but I'll be making more this week!!! I can't wait to share them with you! 

Be blessed ❤️
Sav




Supplies
Inks: Ranger alcohol inks; The Stamp Market Black, Shimmer


ps... if you are interested in purchasing this card, you can check it out on my Facebook PageSavannahland2ForSale!!! Click HERE for the photo album of the cards for sale:) 

09 February 2021

Alcohol Inks... the darker side

Hello, friends! 

I'm back sharing another alcohol ink card that I created a few weeks ago using Etc. Papers Synthetic EVO Papers
This card was NOT my favorite... until I took the photos! I love the papers by Etc. Papers Synthetic EVO Papers ... just not the alcohol inks. 
I used some Brea Reese alcohol inks and they were awful. They puddled and got muddy/black. OY! I was so disappointed. And I kept adding more and more and more of the inks but it was just a messy puddle (you can see it in the photo). But then I added some alcohol drops (91%) on the darker spots and they started to clear up, creating a beautiful color below. I really do like the dark green with the pink and blue and hint of orange... but get this! I only used the following colors: coral, magenta, blue! I don't know where these colors came from but they sure turned out pretty! LOL! 

That's it for me today BUT I have MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE alcohol ink backgrounds to share! I will be posting more this week. 

THANKS so much for stopping by and for all of your love and support! You know how to make my heart smile and full ❤️ 

Be blessed! 
Sav



Supplies
Paper: Etc. Papers Synthetic EVO Papers, Gold metallic, white cardstock 
Inks: Brea Reese alcohol inks


ps... if you are interested in purchasing this card, you can check it out on my Facebook PageSavannahland2ForSale!!! Click HERE for the photo album of the cards for sale:) 

07 February 2021

Rainbow Hugs🌈

Hello and welcome back, sweet friends ❤️

I've been having so much fun getting back into the studio!! I recently discovered alcohol inks and have made over 10 cards with all the backgrounds that I created. It was fun and easy to do. I hope to share most of my creations this week:) 

This card was created last in the bunch but I wanted to share it first. LOL! 
I worked with a rainbow set of colors (listed below) and used a straw to blow the inks around/to dry them. I am really liking this rainbow design 🌈 I also added some gold shimmer to the inks, as well as some gold foil as the inks were drying. You can see some of the shine in the photo below. 
To be honest, I wasn't sure of this background design at first. I had to think about what I wanted to make for about a day. Then it hit me- a vellum rainbow with a sentiment and gold hearts. 🙃 I stamped the sentiment right on the die cut rainbow and then added it to the card. I finished this card with a few gold hearts, another sentiment, and a white thread/bow. EASY! And sooooooooooooo pretty! 
The only thing I don't like about this card... the clear foam behind the vellum. There isn't anything I can do about that. It's CLEAR foam but you can still see it. Eh. That's a minor detail! LOL! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! And thank you for leaving me some love on my posts!!! You make my day! THANK YOU

I hope you will stop back by later this week for more inspiration and alcohol ink creations! Be blessed ❤️
Sav





Supplies
Paper: Vellum, HP Photo paper (but I prefer Etc. Papers Synthetic EVO Papers) 
Inks: Ranger Alcohol Ink: Poppyfield, Watermelon, Dandelion, Sunshine Yellow, Citrus, Limeade, Laguna, Turquoise, Coral, Wild Plumb, Purple Twilight; Heidi Swapp: Color Shine- Gold; ICT: Stazon Jet Black
Stamps/dies: The Stamp Market Tons of Type, Most Wonderful, Mod Rainbow Cover die; Paper Smooches Tiny Hearts (retired)


ps... if you are interested in purchasing this card, you can check it out on my Facebook Page: Savannahland2ForSale!!! Click HERE for the photo album of the cards for sale:)  

01 February 2021

SCT Publication Reject... but there's a reason why :)

Hello, sweet friends! 

THANK YOU for leaving me some love on my last post! I really appreciate it ❤️

As you know, it's been several years since I have submitted any cards or really had time in my studio (I barely get an hour or two a week now). Well, I'm trying to change that! It's my goal to submit creations per quarter in 2021. I don't care if they get picked up or showcased in a magazine. I just want to challenge myself to create again. 

My first opportunity to submit for a magazine was in January for the Scrapbook and Cards Today magazine!!! That was until I missed the deadline 🤦🏼‍♀️ GOOD NEWS!!!! SCT extended their deadline by a week or so--- HOOOOORAY

I had a few ideas of what I wanted to do for this submission, and I was able to create one project- haven't heard back so it's probably a reject as well. Oh well! LOL! The following card was also for this submission call and I already know it's a reject because...
I missed the second deadline! 🤦🏼‍♀️ Oh well. I had so much fun getting crafty. 

This card was inspired by a graphic design image I saw on Pinterest for an app, Pixo??? I've never heard of it and I can't click the graphic because it pulls up random stuff. Either way, I found inspiration in this photo. 

I used the sentiment and heart as my inspiration. I used all The Stamp Market dies, stamps, inks, and papers for this card (supply list below). I absolutely love love love it! 
I know rejection is hard. But I'm not looking at it the way I used to- it's more of a WIN-WIN for me. I have a goal to submit each quarter. I completed this goal once already- WIN  And if the cards are rejected then I have an extra card to sell or give away- WIN 

That's it for me today. MORE is coming!!! I have a few more projects using the Etc. Papers Synthetic EVO Papers and alcohol inks, as well as the other reject card!!! 

THANKS so much for stopping by! I can't wait to share more of my creations with you each week. #itsgoodtobeback 

Be blessed ❤️
Sav




Supplies