Faith art created by Linda Lucas.

Her statement:

We have had many a conversation in our house about having a right heart – it is something we strive after and can only ever achieve it for fleeting moments – so it seems!  God’s word is very clear that He looks on the heart – what a complex thing – the heart of a man! I personally endeavor to ‘love my neighbor’ and treat people as I would like to be treated, desiring to make a difference in people’s lives – all of this is done with great intent of the heart, people that know me would say I had a ‘good heart’ and this is always pleasing to the ear  – but the real truth is that God is not looking for just a ‘good heart’ but for a RIGHT HEART!

What is the difference we ask – well, they both love, give and beat with others in mind, but the defining factor is that a right heart is just that, ‘right before God.’  We can live our lives as good people, loving our fellowman and being law abiding, but what goes on beneath the surface is what defines the ’state of our heart’ – my heart can be good and my actions loving, but if my heart isn’t right before God  (note I am not saying if I am not perfect), but if underneath the ‘doing good’  I have ‘attitude’ and unforgiveness, if I have resentment towards anyone, then I am having myself on – my heart is anything but right!!  I am so challenged by this – as for me – I just want a lovely heart for God to live in!!

{{{hugs}}}

I started with the idea of making a Joyful Party Dress from the inspiration of the Joyful Noise art stamp set. I’ve used every stamp in the set, although some are easier to spot than others.

The skirt and bodice  are stamped on one layer of a paper dinner napkin. What a perfect party dress, to be able to wipe your hands on your dress! LOL!  The belt has both layers, giving it a whiter background. I used the napkin for a light and airy feel and added a touch of green in the folds and barely defined Touch of Elegance stamps along the scalloped hem.

Her body is a printed copy of an old engraving of an eighteenth century woman. I adjusted the position of her arms, colored in her skin, colored over details I didn’t want, like her dress and necklace, and stamped Touch of Elegance stamps on her gloves. (see the book: “Women, a pictorial archive from 19th-century sources” by Dover Publications)

There are snippets of furry yarn around the belt and the flower at her waist is made of gathered and fringed dotted Swiss cotton.

Underneath her dress she wears a gathered metallic netted skirt to add the kick and flounce needed for joyful dancing.

Her party environment is made up of three layers of printed colorful papers. I fringed and bent the top layer and randomly stitched the layers together for movement. The rose stamps are Vintage Roses, musical notes, postal stamp and  G-clef are Joyful Noise. Words are Cavallini’s Paris collection. The blue scrolls are Touch of Elegance.

I added six metal eyelets tied with furry yarn over the paper layers and a stamp of the G-clef from Joyful Noise. I imagined this corset style closure to be on the backside of her dress giving it elegant details from every view.

I hope today’s couture close up dressed up your imagination and added joyful music to your creative ideas!

May God bless your day with layers of color,

And the lucky winner is… Randi Barrett!! congratulations, Randi you’ve won ALL 4 New Release art stamp sets!

Thank you all for playing! The answer to the question is 3!…Bird-day Party, Reindeer Waltz and Joyful Noise are all the stamp sets that have music notes.

For those of you who did not win, you can still have FREE Digis as party favors and you can join our Fan Club on SNR where you will get a 15% discount coupon for being a member!

I look foward to seeing all the new Layers of Color creations to inspire us all!

May God bless your week with layers of color,

Happy Spring everyone!

My Wee Little Spring Basket is the perfect size for wee little treats and small doses of love for your family and friends.

This isn’t a traditional tutorial but hopefully you can see where each supply was added or how it was used so you make your own.

Let’s get started! Yippee are you skipping with glee?

Here is what you will need:

• Small peet pots from your local nursery or garden shop (or an empty yogurt container)
• Robin egg blue crepe paper
• Opaque shrink plastic
• Mocha brown chalk ink
• Layers of Color Vintage Rose and Acanthus Leaves stamp sets
• Silver German Scrap
• Teal blue Binding tape
• 5″ of your favorite robin egg blue wired ribbon
• Embossed wallpaper
• Robin Egg blue paint
• Brown paint
• Teal blue watercolor pencil or other coloring medium
• Glue
• Teal glitter glue
• Small hole punch
• Something for the handle-I used bark covered wire- I know way cool stuff!

Step1: Stamp Vintage Roses image onto shrink plastic with brown chalk ink. At this step you could also color in the image as you please. I just left it plain Jane, pretty as it is. Then shrink according to shrink plastic directions.

Step2: Using your embossed wallpaper, cover the container. Do this to your liking. I lined my paper along the top of the container, then wrapped it around and glued it, letting it hang over the bottom edge. Then with scissors, I cut slits from the paper edge to the bottom of the container which made tabs to fold and glue to the bottom of the container. You can also lay it down on the paper, roll it along and trace a pattern.

Step3: Make a paint wash by using one part robin egg blue paint to 2 -3 parts water. Paint evenly over the paper-covered container, then with paper towel dab off the excess so that the paint stays in the crevices but not on the raised portions. Let dry. Do the same with a wee bit of brown paint but, water down even more, so it is more like a stain. Repeat this process to your liking.

Step4: Make a basket stand by taking several layers of crepe paper (I used 5) and cut a circle at least 3/4″  larger than the pot bottom. Staple the circles together in the center then fringe the edges by making 3/4″ cuts all around. Glue to the bottom of your basket. Ruffle and poof to your liking.

Step5: Make a rosette from your ribbon by pulling one side of ribbon wire tight, then glue seam to fully encircle. Glue shrink plastic roses to ribbon center.

Step6: Attach your Silver German scrap trim to the top edge of the basket and punch holes for handle.

Step7: Make a fringe fan with crepe paper and glue to the inside of pot where you want your rosette to go. Stamp Acanthus Leaves on card stock, color, glitter and cut out. Attach it on the diagonal as a back drop to your Rose vignette.

Step 8: Glue Rose vignette to front of your basket. Next attach handle and tie with binding tape.

Voila! A wonderful Wee Little Spring Basket to fill with goodies to give to a friend or to celebrate Easter!

Thank you, Heather! I hope this put a “wee little spring” in your step today…it did for me! See more of Heather’s lovely artwork in her gallery.

May God add gleeful layers of color to your day,

Layers of Color Spring 2010 new release is revealed here today!

You’ve seen some TOTALLY AMAZING sneak peeks this last week…and now you get to not only see the entire sets, but you can purchase them at the boutique! We’re expecting shipment any day now, so get your Early Bird Orders in today GREAT NEWS! Our New Release stamp shipment arrived early! Yea! God is SO GOOD! So go ahead and order today, I’ll mail them out ASAP! …and you’ll have these already popular stamp sets in your hands before anyone else! These stamp sets are designed to go together, so you’re going to love ALL of them!

“Vintage Roses”

“The rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart.” Proverb

“Joyful Noise”

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing!” Psalm 100

“Acanthus Leaves”

Acanthus leaves adorned illuminated manuscripts of the 15th century and were prominent in Roman & Greek architecture and decor. An enduring design element, they are still a favorite today in contemporary decoration.

“Fruitful Harvest”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

Please visit our New Release Stamp Galleries filled with gorgeous inspiration from our talented designers! You’ll find the new ideas so irresistible, you’ll have to have all of these beautiful clear art stamp sets! So for a limited time I will give you the chance to…

WIN ALL FOUR STAMP SETS FREE!!

1) Simply email me here (locnrspring2010.@gmail.com) with the answer to the following question, and I’ll enter your name in our drawing. (This email address is temporary for the drawing only and I cannot reply from it. If the link does not work on your computer, copy and paste the email address in your email program).

2) The Question: HOW MANY LAYERS OF COLOR ART STAMP SETS HAVE MUSICAL NOTES IN THEM? (Be sure to include the new release, “Joyful Noise.”) To find the answer, view all Layers of Color art stamps in our boutique.

3) Double your chances to WIN! Join Layers of Color Scrapbook News & Review Group and I’ll enter your name twice!

I will post the answer, and the winner, here on Wednesday, March 17, 2010.

Thank you for coming to our party today! While you’re at our boutique you’re welcome to grab a FREE DIGI as a party favor!

May God bless your life with layers of color,

Layers of Color Spring 2010 New Release!

That day we will also have party favors, 4 new art galleries brimming with fabulous new artwork hot out of our designer’s studios, and a drawing that will give you a chance to WIN all four new release clear art stamps! Actually, if you’d like to double your chance of winning, join our Fan Club. Besides meeting talented friends and seeing what everyone is doing with our art stamps, it’s also a great place to be the first to get all the latest news and freshest artwork from Layers of Color!

Please visit our designers as they show you the last day of sneak peeks:

Abby ~ Heather ~ Kristine ~ Linda ~ Patter

Enjoy this gallery with some of the gorgeous sneak peeks from the last four days of our countdown party:

Spring 2010 Designer Sneek Peeks

Show as slideshow or click a pick to zoom

Patter's card

Linda's card

Heather's basket

Abby's purse

Kristine's basket

Laura's Gothic Arch

Linda's card

Patter's card

12►

May God bless your day with layers of color,

Layers of Color Spring 2010 New Release, March 15th!

That’s the day we’ll reveal all four new clear art stamp sets and offer a drawing to WIN it all! Yes, every one of the 27 wonderful stamps in these four sets FREE!  And if you want to increase your chance to WIN, join us over at Layers of Color Scrapbook News & Review group. I’ll double the entries for every drawing participant that’s a member of our fan club! They’re a fun group of creative gals who will inspire you, tell you how to get stamp discounts, free digis and special sneak peeks of new releases! Speaking of sneak peeks, I have a tasty morsel for you to feast your eyes on today!…

Notice the tasty little gems on the fruit and Fleur de Lis. I combined the “Fruitful Harvest” stamp with one of our other new release sets, “Acanthus Leaves” and our popular “Her Majesty’s Urns” (available now in our boutique).

Still hungry for more? You’re invited to come enjoy our designer’s buffet of yummyness…

Abby * Heather * Kristine *  Linda *  Patter

May God bless your life with an abundance of color today,

Today is our third day of sneak peeks and three days to go until our

New Release March 15th!

Be sure to come back to enter into our drawing to WIN all four new release clear art stamp sets!

That’s a total of 27 FREE stamps!

Come join the fun at Layers of Color Scrapbook News & Review Group

and we’ll give you an extra entry in the drawing!

Today’s sneak peek reveals stamps on our charming new release set called, Acanthus Leaves. These stamps are perfect for making your own papers or creating an old world focal point. Pair them with our new release, Vintage Roses or Joyful Noise for an elegant vintage or shabby chic look. All new release stamp sets are available in our art stamp boutique March 15th!

“Royal Purple”

We have  fabulously talented designers who have created more inspirational sneak peeks for you, come see!…

Abby ~  Heather ~ Kristine ~   Linda ~   Patter

May you be colorfully blessed by God today,

What a wonderful party we’re having! We’re making new friends and sharing fabulously creative ideas! All great parties have music, so today for our sneak peek we’re showing you part of our exciting new stamp set, ” Joyful Noise!”

So put on your dancing shoes and get those feet tapping to the beat, you’re going to find this stamp set irresistible!

“My Joyful Party Dress”

Since the hostess sets the mood, I’m celebrating with joy! This is one of those dresses that makes you feel happy when you wear it! I stamped “Joyful Noise!” stamps onto paper dinner napkins and dressed up an etching of a woman from the nineteen hundreds.

What are you wearing to the party?

Come back tomorrow for more sneak peeks and put MARCH 15th on your calendar for our new release and a drawing to WIN all four clear art stamp sets!

Now let’s go visit the rest of the guests…Heather, Kristine, Linda and Patter!

May your heart be filled with a joyful noise making Praises to the Lord,

Layers of Color Spring 2010 New Release date is MARCH 15, 2010!

Mark your calendars! Get in line! These new stamp set designs get better and better! Four fabulous stamp sets are hot off the presses!

March 15th we will we reveal all the stamp sets that have been kept secret AND you will also get the chance to WIN ALL 4 SETS by entering in our drawing! We’ll have a special question posted that day. All you have to do is leave your answer as a comment. In fact, you can have TWO entries if you also join Layers of Color Scrapbook News & Review Group! You get to double your chances of winning, AND get all the benefits & meet new friends in our fan club! What a blessing!

I’m sure you’re so excited that you want some sneak peeks, don’t you? Okay, I can’t wait either! Each day until March 15th, we’ll let you have a taste of these delicious art stamps. Our SNR group will have more from our design team, so come join the fun! See you there! AND…

Today I’m thrilled to announce

that a very special and talented friend

will be our Guest Designer

for the next few months,

WELCOME  BACK ABBY!

What a joy to be creating with you again!

Thank you for sharing your gifts with us!

How wonderful to start  our Sneak Peek New Release Countdown with Abby’s gorgeous artwork! She is featuring our romantic new clear art stamp set, Vintage Roses. Breathe in every feminine detail….

Artwork Created by Abby

Don’t you LOVE it! ? You want more!? Then you simply must go visit Layers of Color designers and see what inspiration they have dreamed up for you!…Heather, Kristine, Linda, Patter, Designer Galleries and SNR Group.

May God richly bless your day with layers of color,