Category: Brutus Monroe

Art Inspiration, Bible Journaling, Brutus Monroe, Catherine Pooler Designs, Faith Based Art, My Favorite Things

Pursue Shalom

Ruth Cooper

Hi Friends!

Today didn’t go quite as planned but that’s okay I still got a few things done including this Faithdex card.

I didn’t have any ideas for what I wanted to create so I looked through some of my newer supplies and decided I wanted to do something with the origami cranes from Catherine Pooler Designs Origami Cheers stamp set. In this design I have used them as doves of peace. I then searched out a Bible verse that would relate to my one little word ‘one another’. Hebrews 12:14

Pursue shalom with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. TLV

The “cathedral” window is created with Brutus Monroe Chapel stencil and a soft blend of Distress Oxides. I outlined the window, drew in the bricks using My Favorite Things Slimline English Brick Wall stencil and colored the “doves” with a Sakura Clear Stardust Pen which actually comes out a beautiful silver glitter. The verse is hand lettered.

Shalom, sweet peace my friends.

Art Inspiration, Brutus Monroe, Catherine Pooler Designs, home & holiday projects

2022 Calendar 3rd Quarter

Ruth Cooper

Hi Friends!

I got Christmas put away today. I purged a few things since I added a couple new items this year and eliminated one whole bucket. I’m hoping to do a lot of purging/organizing this year to fit our lives at this point in time.

Here is the 3rd quarter of my calendar design. This calendar is going to bring a whole lot of smiles this year.

I used stamp sets from Brutus Monroe and Catherine Pooler Designs.

I’m spending a quiet week in reflection of some of my plans & designs for the new year now that my guys are back to work. Starting to lay out some art projects and some things to work on around the house. I think January will be a good month for a slower pace of life while still accomplishing a bit on my lists.

Enjoy the simple joys of life & share a little kindness along the way.

Art Inspiration, Brutus Monroe, Cards, SCT Crop & Create Delivered

Tree of Kindness – Crop & Create Delivered Cardmaking

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

I finished my final class for the event, the Brutus Monroe Lunch & Learn from Sunday. There is a suggested community project from Hero Arts & Jennifer McGuire I may visit later but all my classes are complete. Yay!

These trees were fun to create with the stamp, die & stencil combo.

Both trees have their own fall charm but I like the ink blended tree the best. Brutus Monroe was very clever in designing the quad 6×6 paper with the blend of fall colors to use on card one. I substituted Taylored Expressions Simple Strips for the sentiments.

It’s an adventure weekend with our granddaughters so there may be some fun art to post. Stay tuned.

Art Inspiration, Brutus Monroe, Cards, My Favorite Things, Taylored Expressions

Joy Shared

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

I had a quiet day at home doing some clean up in the studio & preparing for Taylored Expressions Online Crafty Class tomorrow.

I grabbed a few things on hand after tidying up to create tonight’s bright summery card.

I had the ink blended background on hand from another project so it was really easy to die cut out the Hero Arts Butterfly Confetti Fancy Die, bonus I have a lot of rainbow colored butterflies to create a couple more cards with. I used My Favorite Things Sending Christmas Joy Die-namics for the large Joy diecut and Taylored Expressions/Brutus Monroe Crafty Simple Strips for the sentiment. This card is sure to bring a smile to the recipient.

Have a Fantastic Weekend!

Art Inspiration, Bible Journaling, Brutus Monroe, Faith Based Art, My Favorite Things

Bible Journaling Words Like Honey

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

I was planning to create & post yesterday but a migraine just zapped my energy to create. After all the rain we’ve had the mold counts are climbing & so are my allergies. I did get to spend a quiet day with my granddaughters and they even helped Grammy with some organization. So blessed.

I was thinking of working on some Christmas in July today but sidetracked with a Bible Journaling idea & the hunt for one of my honeycomb stencils which I did not locate but I did locate another for my page based on Proverbs 16:24.

“Pleasant words are honeycomb -sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” TLV

I used Distress Oxides in Fossilized Amber & Dried Marigold for the stenciled background, die cut some My Favorite Things Stitched Blooms from scraps of my mop up & hand colored backgrounds & hand lettered my sentiment. If you know me well, you know bees & I aren’t on friendly terms but I’m glad I have the Brutus Monroe Bee You stamp set to add in a couple of tiny bees. You can’t have honey without them.

I hope you are enjoying a blessed 4th of July weekend and are thankful for the freedoms our country offers.

Art Inspiration, Brutus Monroe, Cards, My Favorite Things, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

Sparkling Anniversary

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

I hope your weekend has been restful & fun!

Today we booked our anniversary trip for May. So excited.

It’s also our oldest son’s & his bride’s 1st anniversary. I delivered their card a couple of days ago.

As I may have mentioned, I am in a couple of virtual retreats this coming weekend. The Crop & Create Weekend sent a sponsors goody bag along with our class kits. Therm-O-Web included a fun heart toner card front that I used to create Matthew & April’s card.

The foiling came out fabulous! I used Brutus Monroe’s Purple Sketch foil created by Therm-O-Web. The Love is an older Die-namic from My Favorite Things and is cut from purple metallic paper and the vellum background is Grafix Platinum which also has a shimmer to it. The sentiment is from Sweet ‘n Sassy’s Anniversary Blessings stamp set and is embossed in WOW Sugared Almond which has glitter in it. Overall it is a very sparkly card.

When I get the chance, I need to spend some more time foiling, it is so fun.

Have a Fabulous week ahead.

Art Inspiration, Brutus Monroe, Cards, Elizabeth Craft Designs

Stencils with Grammy

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

Today’s busy is the fun kind, time with my granddaughters. Zoe had a playdate with Grammy & Papa then dad brought Nora over to spend the night & took Zoe home. Zoe is in the full zoom mode of a 2 year old so they are trying not to wear Grammy & Papa out too much, LOL!

Nora and I got busy in the studio after checking the mail and the new Brutus Monroe Stencil of the Month had arrived. She asked what is was so Grammy gave her a stencil lesson. She helped me with mine to learn how to blend in the colors then proceeded to make herself a rainbow card.

The beginning of Nora’s rainbow.
The finishing touches.
Card complete with die cut sentiments and some butterflies Grammy had leftover from another project.

She did a fabulous job!

So while Nora was busy watching a show, Grammy finished her card with an older flower die, some scraps and a recently purchased sentiment set from Elizabeth Craft Designs.

It’s been a busy day but oh, so much fun.

Enjoy your weekend!

Art Inspiration, Brutus Monroe, Cards, Creative Tips

Staycation ATC’s

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

I finished my ATC class today & turned the shaker one into a card.

Some may be wondering what an ATC is. It’s an Artist Trading Card, the artist’s equivalent to a collectible baseball card. Small individual works of art perfect for small gifts, day brighteners & thank-yous. Artists love to trade them at art shows & clubs.

These were lots of fun & incorporate a bit of mixed media too.

Now I have to confess the bee is a stretch for me & almost all the original design samples had bees on them. I don’t like them in any form, I have been stung by so many different bees & wasps over the years that ummm…. nope, not my thing. So I compromised and one honeycomb card has one small bee on it from the stamp set. I had a couple of wonderful art teachers early on that taught me there is always something to appreciate in art even if it is not your personal taste. Observe the colors, techniques, patterns, designs and see beyond the elements that are not your personal taste. They also were good at reminding you to step outside your box, create with something you normally wouldn’t. It expands your horizons, tool box of skills and enhances your designs.

Remember to step outside of your box once in a while & try different things. Keeps life interesting.

Art Inspiration, Brutus Monroe, Cards

Staycation Masking Class

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

I worked on yesterday’s classes but didn’t complete them as I was battling a sinus headache. I took my time and created what I could with each class.

Today I completed the Masking Class. I don’t mask very often but I must say both these cards are beautiful with the wreath being my favorite and the most work.

This wreath takes a lot of continuing to move 2 masks around the circle 2 times, once with the tulips and 2nd with the lilacs. I actually saved myself a wee bit of coloring time by stamping my lilacs in purple. I love how it came out.

This card was fun too. I actually stamped an extra daffodil on mine.

Operation Shower our Mail Carrier with thanks was a huge success. I added some extra sequins to the card I made Saturday & have posted the inside here as well.

Jessica told us this evening that if there were any misdeliveries, it’s because she was crying.

This month is National Craft Month. Plan some time to do something creative!

Have a Wonderful Week!

Art Inspiration, Brutus Monroe, Cards

Crafty Staycation Day 2

Ruth Cooper

Hi Angels!

It’s been a full day of creating. I took a short date break for dinner with hubby.

Our first class of the day featured the PinkFresh Hanging Garden Layering stencil set. I like the versatility of this set. The Thank-you card is for our mail carrier. The neighborhood is showering her with Thank-you’s after our recent snow storm. She always goes above and beyond.

I don’t have a picture yet for our 2nd class of the day. It’s a mini album and after the basic construction I went rogue since I am a veteran book maker. It’s almost ready for decorating so I hope I can finish it tomorrow during the 2nd half of the album class.

For the 3rd class we worked with Re-inkers and some Simon Hurley inks. Since we only had the red & blue that I used for the stenciled card and I wanted some other colors for my flowers, I simply pulled some more reinkers to color with.

Quite a day making 5 cards, some extra backgrounds and an almost complete mini album ready to decorate. There’s even more fun tomorrow.

Thanks for popping by.