The Lord is my strength

Let us begin at the beginning.
A purple card base.

Next layer - white card stock
in an embossing folder, lightly
sponged with a lavender ink, cut
to 5.25 x 4 inches.

Die cut the label, sponge the edges
with that lavender ink and glue
something to the back for a 3-D look.
(I prefer the flat part of paper egg cartons, inexpensive
and I am reusing those egg cartons)

Place a purple oval in the center of the die cut.

Use a rectangular die cut on the computer
generated scripture.
Sponge the edges with the lavender ink.
3-D it with pieces of paper egg carton or foam and
attach to the purple oval.

Place punched or die cut flowers
and flourishes as desired.

The flourishes at the top and
bottom of the first die cut layer are
a Spellbinders Fancy tag that I cut in half
and attached. It has
been sponged with the lavender ink too.

I do like the combination two colors and sizes
of flowers. I used a medium lavender
and cream for my flowers.

Another Bucking Bronc

Another cowboy atop a bucking bronc.
The computer generated phrase really fits the stamped
image. This card was made using the same
design and construction techniques as yesterdays post.

Cowboy Wisdom

There are a number of phrases that come
from the cowboy, cowgirl and western experience.
Life on a ranch leads to a very practical blunt wisdom
that sometimes has to lived to be understood fully.
It's a lot like living the Christian life. You
just can't completely comprehend it until you have lived it.

This phrase is very appropriate for any new venture.
Once you are on that bronc the are only two final
results. You are either eating dirt or you
tough it out until the bronc is no longer bucking.
So when you mount up, you had better
be real sure it's worth the effort, cause
comin' down is not going to be a painless thing.
Is it worth it?

The background on this card is faux snakeskin.
For a basic tutorial go to Stampers Quest and do
a search for faux snakeskin. The edges
of the card have been sponged with black ink.

The bucking bronc image is from Bear Rubber.
It is stamped on ivory card stock and metallic fleck rust
embossing powder makes the image stand out.
Tearing out the image and "burning" the edges
with brown and then black ink adds to the
worn western look.

I cut closely around the PSP X computer generated
phrase and burned the edges on it as well.

The "ribbon" an EK Success punch layered over
light kraft card stock. The edges of the light
layer have been sponged with dark brown ink.

Cowboy card

Fourth of July in western Nebraska means the
Morrill County Fourth of July rodeo.
The Morrill County Farm and Ranch Association
has been putting on a 4th of July rodeo
for as long as I can remember.
The volunteer fire department always
puts on a tremendous fireworks display
at half time each night.
The Boy Scouts have always had
a concessions stand.
AND the bugs attack everyone that
is in the stands, practically eating one alive.

This card is my tribute to the dedicated men and
women of Morrill County that have consistently
put on a wonderful show for the entire
Nebraska Panhandle for many years.

The bucking bronc image is from a company
called Bear Rubber. I do not know if they are still
in business. This image has a kind of Russell feel to it.
It was stamped on a light colored kraft card stock
and embossed with a metallic flecked rust embossing
powder. It was then torn around and the edged
"burned" by sponging first dark brown and then
black ink around the outer edge.

The phrase has been computer generated in
Paint Shop Pro X. It was cut out in a rectangle
and the edges of it was also "burned".

The punched "ribbon" is from and EK Success punch.
It definitely has a western look to it.
I also sponged the edges of the card base.
The sponging really pulls the whole card together
and adds depth.