Good morning friends, just a short note to say that I’m back. I went to Virginia for Ben’s funeral and to help put his affairs in order. It’s been a long last couple of weeks and I’m mindful of many lessons learns and reminders to live every precious moment. All that to say, I’m present, I’m current and love you all; you lifted me and now we move forward.
How refreshing it was to sit down and tinker with a Christmas card. I picked a lovely sentiment by Quietfire Design that resonates the sweetness of home. I’ve had this die on my radar for many months, it is Spellbinders 6 x 6 Holly Frame. Many will wonder how I was able to get two tones within the die and the border surrounding the sentiment – I explain that in my Creating Borders on Die Cuts with the Minc Machine Tutorial. If you don’t have a Minc Machine, you can achieve a similar look by die cutting foil. I have to admit that I originally cut the holly frame and interior border with Solar White paper and wished that I had cut it from cream paper. No worries, Antique Linen Distress Ink to the rescue :-) I so wanted to put a bow on the card but instead opted for a button/pearl accent on thin ribbon instead.
Rubber Stamps: Quietfire Design – Christmas is a Piece of Home
Craft Paper: Neenah Classic Crest 80lb Smooth Solar White, Die Cuts with a View, Authentique, Gold Poster Board (Hobby Lobby)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Antique Linen Distress Ink
Accessories: Spellbinders 6 x 6 Holly Frame, Gold Trim – Hobby Lobby, Pearl Button from my stash, Heidi Swapp Minc Machine, Gold Foil, Red Foil
Thank you so much for stopping by. Bless you and thank you for all the sweet words of encouragement I’ve received.
Good to see you back Becca, missed you and been thinking of you and your family.
This is a quite stunning card …..take care ,
XxxRuth
beautiful card becca. praying for you and family to be at peace.
Sorry for your loss, Becca. Take care.
Beautiful card! God bless you.
Thank You for sharing the beauty that you create….My condolences for the loss of your brother….praying your memories and the Lord will comfort you.
ALWAYS, SO LOVELY BECCA!!! ;) LOOOOVE that foiling!!! ;) I’m sorry to hear of your brother’s passing. Glad you are home & safe. MANY COMFORTING BLESSINGS TO YOU DEAR LADY!!!!!!!!!!
What a beautiful card, Becca. It really “speaks” Christmas! You a such an inspiration.
Like all of your blog fans, my love and prayers are with you and your family during this sad time.
Becca……….So very sorry to hear of your loss. May God be with you. And yes a death does put a lot of things in perspective.
Hugs
NancyR
Dover, DE
My sincere sympathy to you and your family. May God bless you and give you peace and comfort.
Praying for you and yours. Take comfort in the ordinary. Beautiful card.
Heartfelt sympathy to you, Becca. I’m reminded of a Winnie the Pooh sentiment that says, “If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart…I’ll stay there forever.” May your heart be lifted by your precious memories of Ben.
Becca, I am so sorry for the loss of your brother. I hope it will give you comfort, if not today, maybe later to know he won’t have to suffer any longer. Kidney failure is not painless, nor is the loss of a loved one. Blessings to you in the continuation of your journey.
Well your back with a vengeance. Fabulous card and I love love love the foiling. Sending you my condolences and best wishes.
I absolutely love this card here Becca, and the look of the foil is just fabulous on this. As usual you´ve managed to make everything fit just perfect together, and anyone would feel sooooooo proud to recieve such a beauty here.
I hope, you can now relax a bit and just think of doing something nice just for YOU, and what you want. Take good care of yourself sweet lady.
Sending sympathies your way, Becca. So tough to lose a precious sibling, no matter how prepared you might have been. May your crafting bring you comfort in the days to come. This Christmas card is absolutely stunning!
Becca, I am so sorry for your family’s loss and send prayers and hugs across the pond. I hope that sweet memories will ease the pain of parting and that your family will know the peace which passeth understanding.
God bless you all.
Hugs
Anne (UK) x
PS Beautiful card.
What a breathtakinly-beautiful card! It’s good to “see” you again! Still thinking of you…
Just bought that die. Love it. Now I know what to do with it. Thanks a million. Yours is beautiful.
Hi Becca,
So sad about Ben, hope you are okay.
Rene from OZ xx
Becca,
So sorry for your loss. May God’s presence give you comfort as you and your family grieve over the holiday season.
Your card is absolutely stunning! I love it–need to buy that stamp and die.
A beautiful card as always Becca,
God Bless .
Elaine H X
Hi Becca, Welcome back. I knew that you must have been dealing with family matters when new posts stopped coming. I pray you and the family are able to move forward without Ben and appreciate the time you had with him. Your talent displayed in the ‘Piece of Home’ card is as vibrant and fresh as ever and a joy to see. I don’t have these dies but all your new ones arrived at my door so I look forward to seeing you in action with those. Take care and know that you are loved via cyber technology. Barbara
Hi Becca,
Such a beautiful card from a beautiful woman! I am so sorry to hear of your brother Ben’s passing. My condolences to you & your family. Sending you lot’s of hugs & prayers from Australia. Good to see your back.
Take care x
So sorry to read of your brother’s death. Peace to you and your entire family.
Dearest Becca,
I send you gentle hugs to you and your poor family, my love and prayers that you will fine a time to look back at Ben through the eyes that only a sister can have especially for their beloved wee brother. The sun will shine once more but you will have a lot of things to overcome first and that takes time, so just know that i’m thinking off you.
Your card is stunning Becca and i too have had my eye on the holly frame die from SB for a wee while as it is just so pretty. You softening down the white background so that it had a more natural colour to it is just right. I just can’t seem to put white with gold either as it looks odd to me as i think the crispness of the white lends it’s self to silver and Ivory or Cream to gold some how. The red that you have used in the frame has a lovely depth to it so shouts out elegance. Thank you Becca for your beautiful card,
Love and crafty hugs
Norah (Glenochil Village, Scotland)
So sorry for your loss Becca. Praying for peace for you and your family.
Hi Becca, It is with a very heavy heart that I write this !! My heart goes out to you all at this very sad time. You are in my prayers and in my heart.
Put your head on the Angel’s wings, Ben, and they will take you to Heaven.
Your card is stunning, Becca, I couldn’t believe this was Holly Frame, I have this die, will have to try and make mine look like this.
Take care, my Friend.
Lots of love from Patricia xx
Becca my sympathy to you and the family, its very hard when you loose a member of your family.
Your card is lovely and just love the gold on it.
Hugs Trish.
So very sorry for your loss.
Oh my goodness – this is an amazing creation Becca – love the richness of the foils!!
Yes life is fragile, hugs and prayers as you grieve Ben’s passing.
Blessings
Maxine
Welcome back….so sorry to hear of bens passing….will contue to uplift your families in prayer…awesome card as always..take it one day at a time…much love from all of us…
Another stunning card! Words always seem so very inadequate at times like this. Hugs to you.
I am sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
This card is amazing. No other words come to mind. You are talented and I am thankful to have found your blog years ago and follow you everyday. You are an inspiration to many.
Glad you’re back. If you’re not familiar with Carrie Underwood’s song “I’ll see you again” it is a message of a christian knowing that they’ll see their loved one again. Praise the Lord for that.
Beautiful card.
Beautiful card and I can well imagine this was soothing to your soul to work on. Blessings as you travel this new journey of grief…be gentle with yourself, mind the fatigue, and know you are surrounded by the saints, by grace, and by the love and prayers of so many around you.
Joni
Beautiful card as always. My love and prayers to you and your family on the loss of your brother.
Becca, I am so sorry for your loss. I know this has been a difficult journey for you. Your card is beautiful. I have the holly frame, but haven’t had a chance to play with it yet. This truly inspires me to get it out.
So sorry for your loss. No words can say. I pray that each day some of the pain in your heart is replaced by loving memories you think you may have forgotten.
Hello Becca so happy to have you back been so worried about you and your family!
Your card is so warm and uplifting something we can all do with at the moment thank you so much for sharing.
We are all aware that we have to live each precious moment to the fullest we just have to make it happen !!!
You are so inspiring to so many people take care and look after yourself love
Pam xxxxx
So sorry for your loss. Admire your creativity greatly. Beautiful card. I am thinking of getting a Minc machine but need to invest in a good toner printer also. What do you recommend?
Becca,
Much love to you, my dear. Condolences to you and your family. Your loves will sustain you during this difficult time. Trust GOD and continue on. Do what you love and be with those you love as often as possible. Above all take care of yourself. This card is gorgeous. I’ll have to re-evaluate not having bought it. I’ve tended to shy away from holly dies. Silly me!
Hi Becca,
So sorry for your loss, it’s been such a horrible time for your family.
Love your card, take care. Xx
Hi Becca. So very sorry to hear of your loss – thinking of you and your family at this sad time.
I love your card today, it’s stunning. Thankyou for sharing :-)
Take care. Hugs xxx
I am so sorry for your loss. I know how you must be feeling I lost my brother and I still feel it every day, but am glad that I have a sense of him watching over me
So sorry to hear about your loss. Another lovely card. I just received the beautiful card that I won so fitting since I love birds. Thanks again for sharing yore amazing talent Christine
So glad you’re back and so very sorry for your loss. Your card is just beautiful!!! I love the gold and red and that die is amazing!!
So sorry for your loss! The card is beautiful!
Welcome back home Becca. My heartfelt sympathy to you and your family on the loss of your brother Ben. May it give you some peace to know you have been in your blog family’s heart and prayers; and that each of us here wishes you comfort. Your card today is lovely. Got to get my laser printer fixed so I can Minc! Thanks for the videos on making such beautiful bits and pieces using the Minc machine.
Becca, I am so very sorry for your loss, my heart goes out to you and your family.
Your card is breath taking and is such an inspiration, as usual. I visit your blog alot and learn from your tutorials. Thank you for the inspiration!
Hugs
Samra
This is stunning Becca. Prayers for you and your family, too.
Becca, It is never easy to lose a sibling. May God continue to bless you as you bless others.
Welcome home Becca. Sending lots of hugs and for you and your family. May Ben rest in peace. I love this beautiful card…it’s good to see another of your magnificent creations!
Becca, the card is beautiful as always with your creations. I’m sorry for your great loss of your brother. I will be thinking of you during the holidays–may God give you comfort.
Dear Becca,
Strange it’s like we are dear friends. The family of God is like that though. I cling to our Heavenly Father and rely on him to comfort you. I’m too am grateful for card crafting. It’s an opportunity to preserve both the written word and thoughtfulness. Thank you for persevering in these areas. May you find much needed refreshment in your studio. For me, creating is a sign of healing whether it’s physical or emotional. I hope it’s that way for you too.
Deepest Sympathies to you Becca and your family. I know hard decisions had to be made and how difficult they are to make. Just know that he is at peace.
Your Christmas card is warm and charming. I love it.
Hugs,
Marcie
Deepest Sympathies to you and your family during this difficult time. I hope you continue to find strength, support and comfort in the friends and love ones around you. Your thoughts regarding reminders to live every precious moment really resonates.
It’s great to have you back. Really love the combo of the gold and red for the card. Makes things pop and just looks wonderful.
Our thoughts are with you. A dear friend loss her husband recently. You both are strong women with good family and friends. Hugs and prayers.
I am so sorry to hear that Ben passed away. After not hearing from
you, I thought that this might be the case. I prayed for Ben, you and your
family. So glad you are a child of the King and so I know you can find
strength and comfort in him.
The card is lovely!
Oh, hun, I am so sorry for your loss {{{{hugz}}}}.
If you ever need to talk I am here for you.
Will be praying for your Family.
—
This card looks so lovely. I love the colors and the Pearl Button. Most of all I love your heart.
—
Take care and give yourself some grace to grieve hun <3 Karen
Hi Becca, a gorgeous card and deepest sympathy on the loss of your beloved brother my thoughts go out to you and your family.
Nancyd xx
Hi Becca
This is such a lovely card, thank you
I am so sorry to hear your news, God be with you
Pat x
This card is like all your cards…STUNNING.
So sorry to hear you lost Ben. Thank him for the precious gift he left behind, your treasured memories! Take care sweet lady xx
Hi Becca,
Oh I am so sorry for your loss, haven’t been visiting your blog for a while and were therefore oblivious of what you and your family, not least your brother Ben, must have been going through. We really are a bit lax generally when it comes to making a will etc, so your advice is good advice indeed.
It’ll be a Christmas filled with memories for you, it is so good that you and your family are there for one another. I’m hoping that your faith will give you comfort and strength, your brother is now free from pain and his soul is free.
Heartfelt hugs, Rose
Welcome home Becca. I’m sure those are the words the Lord said to Ben when he took him to rest. Welcome home Ben.
The card is amazing Becca will have to play around with some foil and see what happens.
God Bless you!
Oh Wow! What an absolutely stunning card! Love the little bow with the bells, and your colours are beautiful! Glad you’re back safely. Know that you are still being upheld xx
BECCA, I am sorry to hear about your brother’s passing.May God comfort you, and your family.
Hi Becca I’m sorry for your loss my prayers are with you and your family. Beautiful card.
Becca, thinking of you during this difficult time. The card , of course, is a stunner!
Dear Becca, I am so sorry to hear of Bens passing. Prayers to you and your family to carry you and sustain you as you move forward. If you have a chance, Google: Joey Feek’s “When I’m Gone” a beautiful song. Your card is beautiful! I always believe it is your beauty that shines in your cards, reflecting you and all your many talents. Much love and hugs.
Dear Becca – I’d like to extend my deepest sympathies on the loss of your brother, Ben. May your memories sustain you in this difficult time and may God grant you peace and the strength to live with your loss.
Absolutely stunning and elegant!!
Becca, so sorry to hear of the sad loss of your dear brother Ben. We expect them to always be there and it’so difficult when they are not. My sympathies to you and your family at this sad time.
Hugs Wendyxx
Becca sorry to hear about your brother, my prayers are with you and your family. Another beautiful card. Glad to have you back.
Dear Becca, my deepest sympathy to you and your family on Ben’s passing. He knows how much he was loved by family and friends even those who did not know him. May the Lord embrace you and your family at this sad time. Big Hugs! The card is beautiful and thank you for it.
Absolutely gorgeous! I love the sentiment.I am so sorry your brother has passed away. He will always be with you and your family, and the memories will lift you up. God Bless.
Hi Becca glad to see you back and a great card , such a sad time for you and your family hopfully you can now look forward to better times hugs and gods love linda
I am very sorry to hear of Ben’s passing, but at least he is now free of pain and in heaven.
Your card is beautiful thank you for sharing with us in your time of sorrow.
Dear Becca my deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Your card is absolutely stunning as usual!!!
God Bless you and your family!!!
Have a good one!!!
Loopy Lynda xxx
I’m so sorry for the loss of your brother. My sweet memories comfort you.
Super gorgeous card! I am so sorry for your loss.
Hello Becca,
Please accept my condolences on the loss of Ben, RIP +
May the angels gather him in their arms, and my the Lord bring peace to you and his family.
Maureen xx
Oh Becca, so sorry to hear about Ben. Remember to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. I pray for peace and comfort that only the Lord can supply to you and the rest of your family. Soon we will celebrate the birth of our Lord who brings eternal life. It is our promise. Love the card, the gold sets it off. Blessings, and hugs, Lisa
OH my goodness! This is so elegant!
So very sorry for your loss, Becca.
But it is good to have you back, and your card is so beautiful and elegant!
Love the die you have used :))
Take care!
So beautiful… That is your norm that you give to the world; beauty in thought and words, and color and texture. You add texture to my life. Thank you!
Becca, Such talent God gifted to you.
Just ordered the book “the light between us”. You may want to investigate its contents. Welcome back and hope making your beautiful cards help you to heal. Prayers are still coming to ease your heartache. This card took my breath away. I have just ordered some Spellbinders Die Cuts and hope to use them for Christmas Cards. Again, thank you for taking my breath away with your beautiful cards. So many ideas with so little time! Hugs