Mississippi McGyver

SSIC and WAW Valentine blog hop

2012-02-09T06:00:00.002-06:00

Welcome to the Valentine Blog Hop where "It is all about love... HIS love." The Stampin' Sisters in Christ and our sister site, Word Art Wednesday, are joining together for a hop in celebration of love. If you came to my blog from Karen L's blog then you are in the right order if you haven't you might want to head to the start of this hop at the Word Art Wednesday blog.

In celebration of Valentine's Day, this hop is all about love - God's love! Besides all the LOVE-ly eye candy you will see on this hop in the way of cards/projects, we'd like to share the love by offering prizes to our hoppers as well, so be sure to leave comments on each stop along the way!! There is a "Grand Prize" of this complete SU! Stamp set called "Cute by the Inch" donated by the lovely Vicki of The Stamping Room (you can also visit her Stampin' Up page.)

In order to qualify for the Grand Prize Drawing, you simply need to leave a comment on each blog on the hop list. We will announce the Grand Prize winner as well as the winner of our prize here on our blog the afternoon of Tuesday, February 14.

There are several other fun prizes to be won along the way on some of the Designers' blogs as you make your way through the Hop.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15:9
What stood out to me when I read this verse was the last part… REMAIN IN MY LOVE. The image that came to my mind was a big old tree with its roots going down deep into the ground. When I was young I moved quite a few times. I had hoped to settle down, but since my husband I got married we have moved 8 times. We have lived at our current location for 6 years now and it finally feels like we are putting down roots. For many years I would pack our Christmas ornaments as if I was packing them for moving (to save time having to pack them later). I remember the first year that I just put them back in a box with out the extra wrapping. In an ever changing world what a wonderful thought to be rooted, secure, hanging on, persisting, dwelling, waiting, surviving, continuing … REMAINING in Jesus’ love.

When I started making this card, I started with different paper and a different layout, but the card had a mind of it's own. The dogwood blossoms are a sneak peek at a Mark's Finest Papers set called DOGWOOD BLOSSOMS that will be released next week. Make sure you drop back by my blog next week for the Mark's Finest Papers blog hop. I did paper tole technique on the flowers and then I sprayed them with champagne paint spray. The centers of the flowers is drops of glue that were colored after the glue dried.

This song is one of my favorites. I know it will bless your heart as it does mine.

Now head off to Karen C 's Blog

Stampin' Sisters in Christ # 125

2012-02-05T02:00:00.001-06:00

It is my pleasure and honor to hostess this week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge. The following is what the Holy Spirit put on my heart. I hope it encourages you and blesses you.

I walked into the grocery store this week and saw all the heart balloons, and flowers, and heart shaped boxes of candy… all ready to be bought for Valentines’ Day. My thoughts went to all the people who won’t get anything for this day. Does that mean that they aren’t loved? I remember when I was in high school, and all of the girls with boyfriends got roses or candy delivered to their home room. I was one of those who didn’t get anything, and I remember feeling sad because no one “LOVED” me. I have a friend who went through a divorce and now she is a single mom, and I doubt if she will get anything this year. Will she feel like no one “LOVES” her? I also have a widowed friend, will she feel loved? Why do we feel like we need a gift to feel loved? I’ll be the first to admit that I feel this way sometimes. Do you know that someone loves you, and gave you a gift already? Not just any gift, but the best gift you could ever receive?

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he GAVE his one and only son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Once you accept that gift, NOTHING is going to take that love away.

Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I have 2 videos that I think you will enjoy. I know I did!

My challenge for you this week is to make a card/project that shows love. It could be a heart or the word love, or even something that you love using on your cards/projects.
My extra - bonus challenge is: give your card to someone who might need to be reminded that they are LOVED.

For my card I used a big LOVE sentiment from a Mark's Finest Papers set callled Love Remains. I took a piece of white cardstock and stamped flowers using 2 different shades of green. Then I took that piece of cardstock and cut it down the middle. Half I left plain. The other half I ink-spray-smashed with blues and greens. (A technique that I LOVE, with the colors that I LOVE.) I sewed on my card (I LOVE sewing on my cards.) I stamped the poppies and did paper tole. (Flower set that I LOVE and another technique that I LOVE.) I finished my card off with 2 butterflies. (Anyone who has seen my cards for any length of time, knows that I LOVE butterflies.)

This will also make my bonus challenge because I am giving this to a friend that I want to remind about God's love and my love for her. She loves butterflies too!!

Close up of butterfly and poppies.

Our sponsor this week is Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. Check them out.
Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created for your inspiration:

Kristine
Linda
Miesje
Peggysue
Traci

Word art Wed 2-1-12 The Joy of the Lord...

2012-02-03T09:31:00.002-06:00

I had the pieces for this interlocking folded card on my desk so yesterday they just were calling to be put together. I ink spray smashed the panels, I added this week's Word Art Wednesday chosen scripture : Nehemiah 8:10 "The Joy of the Lord is my strength." I also added coffee filter flowers and 3 butterflies. The butterflies all used the same stamp. I just cut two left sides for the left butterfly and I cut two right sides for the butterfly on the right. I layered the cut butterflies over the second layer. It gives variety to the one stamp. I am linking this to the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge as well, because when I made my card for this week, I forgot to put butterflies on it. All my stampin sisters will agree that Butterflies are part of "MY STYLE".

interlocking folded card

2012-01-30T17:38:00.004-06:00

I was inspired by Sonia Seller's Cascade Card. I altered her idea to fit on a regular sheet of cardstock. I also put my card on a rectangle base to add stability. Here is my tutorial on how I made this card.

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 124

2012-01-29T02:00:00.000-06:00

Sunday and another wonderful scripture picked by one of my wonderful friends and sister in Christ, Linda. The scripture she choose is: Phillipians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

What a wonderful challenge. I know that I am not alone in struggling with my thought life.The following scripture is what came to my mind when I read the other one.
2 Corinthians 10:5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

Lord, help me to take my thoughts and make them obedient to Christ, and to what you would will in my life. So that you will get the glory and I will be blessed. In Jesus's name amen!

Linda's challenge for us was to: Create a card/project true to your style - show us who you really are!

That was a challenge in and of itself. How would I describe my style? At first I thought I could describe my style as "Romantic, shabby, elegant, vintage, and a little off the wall". But that didn't seem to work, so I would describe my style as "Complicated Creative" But how to make a card that shows that? I choose to make my card with blues and greens my favorite color. It started out as white and I ink spray smashed the blues and greens and sprayed with with antique gold paint spray (My favorite technique). The I embossed it using my music embossing folder, because music is a big part of my life. I play piano and keyboard and sing on the worship team at my church. I added the lace because I love the vintage look. I love flowers, so I had to add the flowers. I added the 3-d paper tole rose because, I am going to share a tutorial on how I do paper tole. My friend Mary asked me about it this week and I thought showing her would help. I am also sharing because I am a teacher at heart. That is what my college degree is in, Elementary Education. So much description for one little card. Thanks for reading through it all. :)

My tutorial:

Our sponsor this week is: Inspired Stamps They are generously giving one blessed winner $15 store credit. Be sure to check them out this week.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created for your inspiration:

Kristine
Linda
Miesje
Peggysue
Traci

Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge #123

2012-01-22T02:00:00.001-06:00

The following is the scripture that my Stampin' Sister in Christ, Kris, choose for this week: Proverbs 3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

The first thought when I read this verse was about how many times I have been let down by others. I have had people close to me who didn't hold on to love and faithfulness. As a boy scout leader, I have the opportunity to work with boys of broken homes. I am saddened by all that they have to go through because love and faithfulness were not the priority in their parent's lives. My challenge is to be an example for them.

The second thought when I read this verse was about how many times I have let others down. How many times have I put my own needs, my own wants before truly loving those around me? I wish I could say that I am always a loving person and that I am not ever selfish, but sometimes that is not the case.I better get to work getting it around my neck and written on my heart.

The last thought I had was how thankful I am that God shows love and faithfulness that will never leave. These two scriptures came to my mind.

John 3:16 For God LOVED the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will NEVER leave you.

Kris's challenge this week is: Make a heart stand out in your card/project.
Our sponsor this week is Digital Delights by Louby Lou. One blessed winner will get 3 free images from her store.
Make sure you check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created for you to see, as well as read what my sister Kris has to say that will encourage your heart.

For my project I used a heart and sentiment from a newly released Mark's Finest Papers set called, YOU ARE CHERISHED. I was going for a Clean and Simple look. I think I achieved that, but I don't think simple or easy are words to describe this card. I fussy cut the flowers out. That wasn't hard I guess, just time consuming. The hard part was figuring out how to stamp the sentiment and leave enough space between the words to allow for it to slip inside the heart. I ended up masking the first two words in the sentiment with a post it note to get the spacing right.

I embossed a the white layer using my dotted swiss (ef). I zig zag stitched the panels in place. To finish the card off I add little drops of hot glue to the centers of the flowers. When I first put the glue on there were those annoying little strings and the drops of glue had points at the top. I took my heat gun and hit them with a quick blast of hot air and the strings dissapeared and the tops became really smooth and round. I then took a marker and added some brown color to the glue. Below is a close up view.

I love listening to this song by Third Day that starts out singing about God's Love and Faithfulness just like today's scripture.

I hope you have a blessed week.

Mark's Finest Papers January Blog Hop Day 4

2012-01-20T01:00:00.000-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!
This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn (This is me)
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

My favorite set of this Months release would have to be this one. I love the big Pansy Heart. I stamped it on heavy white cardstock. I then water colored the pansies. I took strips of white tissue paper and ink spray smashed it with blues and purples. When it was dry I accordian folded it and added it to the back of my heart. I stitched the heart to the tissue paper with my sewing machine. Then I took my deckle scissors and cut the edges. I printed the sheet music and flourish dp on my computer. I sewed them to the black cardstock and added the lace. Then I sprayed the whole surface with antique gold spray. I printed the scripture Joshua 1:9 on my computer because that is this week's scripture at WORD ART WEDNESDAY. I added a paper tole pansy from an older MFP set called Happy Pansies.

With this close up you can see the gold spray.

I used a different translation than Cassandra used because when my kids were little they learned this version in their VBS. Music has such a power to help memorize scripture. All I have to do is say Joshua 1:9 and all my kids can still say it word for word even though it was almost 8 years ago that they learned it. If you would like to hear it I placed it below.

Mark's Finest Papers January Blog hop day 3

2012-01-19T01:00:00.004-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!
This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn (This is me)
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

These postage stamp images, just made me want to go CAS. The rose stamp is stamped 2 times. I cut the square panel up and put cardstock in between the layers to give it dimension. I added a bow and the sentiment. I water colored the top rose stamp image.

Mark's Finest Papers January Blog Hop Day 2

2012-01-18T01:00:00.001-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn (This is me)
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

My inspiration for my bookmark came from my friend Cathy. Check out her card HERE.

I made my turquoise using a piece of turquoise colored paper. I took a black pen and drew the veins on the paper. I then covered the paper with hot glue. I glued tinfoil to cardstock and used the die cut to make the "Silver".

I stamped the sentiment from Cowgirls Rule on the bookmark. I took a pen and doodled the edges and added twine.

Close up view of my turquoise!!

Day 1 January MFP Blog Hop

2012-01-17T01:00:00.000-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

For this set, I used a little paper mache box. I painted it white and hot glued lace to the edges. I use the paper tole technique with the big rose and glued it to the top.

Stampin Sisters in Christ 122

2012-01-15T03:00:00.000-06:00

Rev 21:5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He [!] said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."

Don't you love new things? New clothes, new shoes, new car, new babies...I know I do. I love the scripture that Traci choose because, I love the fact that I am new in Christ!! The old me was a sinner and had no hope. I think God likes new things too. King David wrote this:

Psalm 96:1 Oh, sing to the LORD a NEW song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

Everyday I get the opportunity to tell God anew how much I love him.

Traci's challenge is: Let's use something new on our card/project this week. It can be a new stamp, paper, or embellishment...or even a new technique or an idea that is new to you! Just have fun with your creation!!

The new on my card is the New stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers called YOU ARE CHERISHED. Also NEW on my card is the antique gold spray. I saw on a blog this last week how to make gold spray at a fraction of the cost of "Glimmer Mist" It only cost me about $.50 to make my own gold spray. I may have gotten carried away with it on my card. Also new on my card is the digital paper that I won from Shabby Cottage Studio.

Check out what my stampin' sisters in Christ have created this week.

Coffee Filter Roses Tutorial

2012-01-14T11:18:00.002-06:00

I was asked the other day how I made my coffee filter roses, and if I had a tutorial for them. I made this tutorial on how I make these roses. When you see how it is done, you wont believe how super easy they are.

Give me Roses While I live inspired card

2012-01-12T11:42:00.003-06:00

Wonderful things of folks are said
When they have passed away
Roses adorn the narrow bed
Over the sleeping clay

Give me the roses while I live
Trying to cheer me on
Useless are flowers that you give
After the soul is gone

Kind words are useless when folks lie
Cold in a narrow bed
Don't wait till death to speak kind words
Now should the words be said

Let us not wait to do good deeds
Till they have passed away
Now is the time to sow good seeds
While here on earth we stay

This song was partially the inspiration for this card. I am part of a women's fellowship group that meets at our church to help encourage eachother with life's issues, but especially losing weight. One of the older ladies in my group lost her mother and husband at the same time, about a week apart over a year ago. I got to thinking how lonely she must feel and I wondered how often someone told her that she was loved. I am going to send her this card, because I do love her and she is a special lady to me.

I used the Love sentiment from a Mark's Finest Papers set that will be released this month called, Love Remains.

The challenge at SCS for ways to use it was to use a sticker on our card/project. Below is the picture of the sticker before I added the coffee filter flowers.

Close up view of the coffee filter flowers.

Here is the song sung by The Carter Family:

21 Years and counting

2012-01-11T18:09:00.003-06:00

21 Years ago, January 12,1991, I married my husband, my best friend, and father of my 4 children, my partner and soul mate. This is the anniversary card that I made for him. It was made with a Mark's Finest Papers set that will be released this month called LOVE REMAINS. Love has remained with me and my husband and it has helped us through some really difficult years. I knew when I saw this set that I would use it for our anniversary card. The sentiment "Lean on me" was like it was made for me and my husband. We met in college, at a Wednesday night chapel service. One of the songs they sang that night was "Lean on me" there were motions where when the words "lean on me" were sung, you leaned back to back with the person next to you. Little did I know that night that I leaned on my future husband, that I would lean on him for a lot of things to come. I thought it was really cool when I saw that this week' Word Art Wednesday was about marriage. What better way to finish an anniversary card with this scripture:

Genesis 2:24. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother

and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

Happy Anniversary Derek!!

I used the sketch challenge from SCS. I used paper tole technique on the rose. If you look really closely you will see little flecks of gold paint sprayed over the whole card. The little embellishments were orange to begin with and I didn't think they matched so I painted them with antique gold paint.

This is a close up of the paper tole rose.

The inside of the card has Genesis 2:24

You are in my thoughts telescoping card

2012-01-09T13:46:00.004-06:00

The technique challege for today was to go back over all the TLC's from 2011 and pick our favorite one. My favorite one had to be the stacked (telescoping) card. I made this for my friend who has been having a lot of health issues. She has been to the doctors, but they don't know for sure why she is feeling so ill. I just wanted to make this card for her to let her know that I am thinking about her.

Stamping Sisters in Christ 121

2012-01-08T03:00:00.000-06:00

Phillippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

That is the scripture that my sister Peggysue picked for this week. She also challenged us to make a THINKING OF YOU card.

The start of a new year should have meant happy, easy times for my friends at my church. That was not the case for my friends Dean and Becky. They lost their 6 month old granddaughter in a fire this last week. Sometimes there are no words to say. No words will bring them peace, or healing, only God can give them that. It is all I can do to come along side and tell them that I am thinking of them, that I love them, and that I am praying for them.

When Peggysue, picked her challenge to make a THINKING OF YOU card, I had no idea that I would be making a sympathy - thinking of you card. This life is short and it is unpredictable. Let the people you love know that you love them and that you are thinking of them. You may not get another chance.

I am so bad about making cards and them sitting on my desk until the moment has passed. My challenge to myself is to mail the cards this week as the Holy Spirit brings those people to my mind, and to not procrastinate.

Check out our sponsor this week The Craft's Meow. Be sure to check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created this week.

I have decided to Follow Jesus

2012-01-05T10:08:00.004-06:00

This week's WAW - Word Art Wednesday, was a paraphrase of Ruth 1:16 "Where you lead I will follow." My first thoughts were to the old song

"I have decided to Follow Jesus."

"Though I may wonder, still I will follow.

The world behind me the cross before me.

Though none go with me, still I will follow.

No turning back, no turning back"

I also really like the words to the hymn that I have as the second panel. It is called "I will follow thee" by James L. Elginburg. It was written in 1886. It says

" I will follow thee, my savior, whersoe'er my lot may be; where thou goest I will follow, yes my Lord, I'll follow thee.

Though the road be rough and stormy, trackless as the foaming sea; thou hast trod this way before me, and I gladly follow thee.

Though 'tis lone and dark and dreary, cheerless though my path may be, if thy voice I hear before me, fearlessly I'll follow thee.

Though I meet with tribulation, sorely tempted though I be; I remember thou wast tempted and rejoice to follow thee.

Though thou leadest through afflictions, poor, forsaken though I be; thou wast destitute, afflicted and I only follow thee.

I will follow thee my Savior, thou didst shed thy blood for me;

and though all men should forsake thee, by thy grace I'll follow thee.

God has set up a specific path for each one of us to follow. My path isn't the same as yours. But one thing I have learned is that each path has smooth areas, and difficult areas. I have friends this week who are going through one of the roughest areas on their path. They lost their 6 month old granddaughter in an apartment fire. The aunt of the little baby was saying yesterday how no one knows how she feels. My first thought was that she is right. We each have our own problems. We can sympathize with eachother, and we may go through similar things, but when it comes down to it, each of us has our own cross to pick up and follow Jesus. The comforting thought to me is that while no one knows what I am feeling or going through, God does. I thought of the old poem about the footprints. Where there were two sets of footprints and then one set of footprints, and it was during the one set of footprints that God was carrying them. I am thankful that God goes with me down my path and that He carrys me when I am too weak to make it on my own. My last thought was that each of our paths may be different but for Christians our paths all have the same destination... heaven.

My card uses this weeks scs sketch challenge, and scs ways to use it challenge. If you look at the paper behind the hymn, you will see something new for me. It is the digital paper that I won from last week's WAW sponsor Gail from Shabby Cottage Studio. It was a black and white cream background, but I made it green with my ink spray smash technique. I had so much fun making these coffee filter flowers. I also had fun using a stamp in a different way. I used the icicle stamp from Mark's Finest Papers set called Ice and snow. I turned the icicles upside down and stamped them on the top panel with light green ink. I then ink spray smashed the panel. I think it kinda looks like grass.

Special possession

2012-01-05T08:58:00.002-06:00

Do you own something that is really special to you? For my husband it would be his tools. For my boys it would by their gaming systems. For me it is my craft supplies. I would be sad if anything happened to my craft tools or supplies. I try to take really good care of them. Some of my possessions are important to me because of sentimental value, but most of my special possessions were expensive. That made me think of the cost that God spent for me. He gave His only son for me. That is the highest expense. I am encouraged to know that I am God's special possession. I have worth. I like how my senior pastor puts it. "I am not a mistake, I am not an "oops" I am God's child."
I used layers of color - flourish on the background of the scripture. I used Mojo222 sketch. I used the colors for this week's SCS color combo challenge.

Peaceful Nuthatch in the snow

2012-01-02T14:32:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year. I am thank for the blessings that God gave me and my family last year. I am looking forward to seeing what He is going to do this coming year.

I love this little bird sitting on this snowcovered fence. I have often noticed the little birds in winter and said a quick thankful prayer that I'm not having to be out in the cold all the time like they are. I'm spoiled. I like my warm house, my warm clothes, my warm bed... There are several scriptures that come to my mind about God caring for the little birds. Psalm 50:11 says "I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine." To me it is a great reminder that I too am God's and He is going to take care of me this New Year.

The little bird is a Mark's Finest Papers set called - Peaceful Nuthatch. The technique lovers challeng at SCS was to make a wet card. My wet "snow" was made using glitter and styrofoam.

Joy through Sorrow

2011-12-30T14:28:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was just a blue day for me. I woke up feeling sad and then several things happened that added to that sadness. I was thankful when the Holy Spirit directed me to Psalm43:5 The cure for my depression, my sadness was to put my Hope in HIM!!! I WILL PRAISE HIM!!!!! After making this I was encouraged. I am thinking of sending this to a friend who is struggling with a lot of issues right now. I am also uploading it to Word Art Wednesday.

His Strength

2011-12-30T14:02:00.004-06:00

This card was made for this week's Word Art Wednesday. I choose to focus on this sentence. "I love you O Lord my strength." There are so many days when I am not strong. I am barely surviving. If I was having to rely on my own strength, I would be a failure. I was encouraged by 2 Corinthians 12:9... "My grace is sufficient for thee;for my strength is made perfect in weakness." What a paradox. I am strongest, when I am weak and let God use His strength. I choose to use this crocus image. A flower isn't the first image in my thoughts when I think of something strong, but any flower that can push up through the ice and snow and bloom when there is a chill in the air is a Strong flower. I made this card for a single mom in my church. She is a strong lady in a lot of ways. It takes a special person to be both mom and dad to her two kids. She doesn't ever complain. This week she was struggling with overwhelming sadness. I hope this card will encourage her. The inside of the card reads... I see better days ahead.

Joy! It might be closer than you think.

2011-12-23T15:37:00.004-06:00

On Tuesday of this week, I woke up to a grey, drizzly, foggy day. My husband, a long haul truck driver, had been gone for 4 weeks. I woke up just feeling sad and sorry for myself. Happy and Joyful were not words to describe me as I was driving my youngest to school so that he could be there by 7:00 a.m. for a science club meeting.The rain was coming down and I had the windshield wipers on as I was driving around the corner of my house. A little blue bird who had been sitting on the road flew up right by my window as I drove by. The thought that struck me as I saw him, was I had almost missed seeing this little bird who was right in front of me because I was distracted by the rain and my own thoughts. Sometimes Joy is like that little blue bird. It is there in front of me, but I don't see it because I let other, unimportant things distract me. The scripture that I used on this card is one of my favorites. I have it on my bulletin board to remind me that joy is coming if I don't feel it now. I experimented on the background. I printed the sheetmusic on tissue paper, by taping the tissue paper to a piece of printer paper, and running it through the printer. I then ink spray smashed the tissue paper. I then crinkled the tissue paper up and glued it to a piece of cardstock. It is hard to see in the photo, but there is a crinkly texture.I then printed the verse and ink spray smashed it as well as a scrap of lace. The little bird is a Mark's Finest Papers bird. I think he is a chickadee on pussy willows. But for my card he is a little blue bird on a branch with leaves. I stamped the pussy willows twice to add some depth. Some are glued straight to the tissue and some are curved and not attached to the background. It is also hard to see, but the scripture strips are also curved. The center parts are up about 1/4 of an inch and are only touching at the ends. I am sharing this card with Word Art Wednesday.

Merry Christmas to everyone! I pray that you have a wonderful blessed day celebrating our Savior's birth!

Joy to the World

2011-12-18T02:00:00.000-06:00

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

292 Christmas have come and gone since Isaac Watts wrote this song in 1719. The words still move hearts. In a world with no hope, no peace and no joy, a little baby was born. That little baby was Jesus, Emanuel, God with us. I love the part that says "let every heart prepare Him room". There are so many things that we prepare at Christmas time. We prepare the gifts, we prepare the food, we prepare the decorations... do we stop to prepare our hearts? The stamp I used on my card for today, I bought many years ago. Not your typical Christmas sentiment, but I really like it.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14) This is the scripture that Miesje, picked for us this week. Her challenge is to make a Christmas card/project that shows the true meaning of Christmas. Our sponsor this week is Our Daily Bread Designs.

Check out what my wonderful Stampin Sisters have created at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

MFP -Blog hop NEW PINES

2011-12-15T02:00:00.000-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's December Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Pucker Up Featured December 13

Pussy Willows Featured December 14
Ice and Snow Featured December 14

New Pines Featured December 15

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! We will announce all four winners on December 16, 2011 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Thursday December 15, 2011.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn (This is Me)
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Tammylee
Silvia
Mark's Finest Papers

Here is my project using this set. I made a simple bookmark. I stamped the sentiment and trees with versamark then heat embossed gold ep. Added a white base and gold ribbon. It went together really quickly, but I had so much fun making it. I forget how much fun it is to heat emboss.

MFP blog hop - Pussy Willows and Ice and Snow

2011-12-14T02:00:00.000-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's December Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Pucker Up Featured December 13

Pussy Willows Featured December 14
Ice and Snow Featured December 14

New Pines Featured December 15

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn This is me :)
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Tammylee
Silvia
Mark's Finest Papers

Tiny little pussy willow. Softer than a baby's pillow. Sometimes when I stroke your fur. I almost hear you purr.

I thought that was such a sweet little poem about pussy willows that I wanted to share it with you. For my card I decided to do burned glue technique on the pussy willow blossoms to add texture. I love the sentiment. I know I will use it alot.

I was inspired by this cover to Jennifer Haines Piano Solo album called Christmas Magic.

I love this song called Winter Snow Song. It is my new favorite Christmas song.

MFP December blog hop - Pucker up

2011-12-13T02:00:00.001-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's December Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Pucker Up Featured December 13

Pussy Willows Featured December 14
Ice and Snow Featured December 14

New Pines Featured December 15

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn This is me :)
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Tammylee
Silvia
Mark's Finest Papers

For my project I made a topper for a bag of lemon jelly beans. I used yellow gingham and the lovely lemon.

Growing up in Arizona, my grandparents had citrus trees in their yard and we had a lemon tree in ours. I loved getting fresh fruit off of the trees. We made what we called "battery acid". It was a combination of all the citrus fruits that we had picked, grapefruit, oranges, lemons... My folks have a lime tree in their yard now. I loved that juice mixture chilled over ice. I also have fond memories of when the lemons and orange trees would be in bloom. That is one of my favorites smells. When I saw this set the song "Lemon Tree" Sung by Peter Paul and Mary was going through my head. I was listening to it as I was making my project and thought I would share a link to it on youtube.

Oh and Happy 20th birthday to my daughter Johanna!!!!! I made this little candy bag for her, for her birthday.

Happy Birthday Jesus

2011-12-11T02:00:00.000-06:00

It is my priviledge to be the hostess this week for Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

On Tuesday, my oldest daughter Johanna turns 20 and on the next Tuesday my other daughter, Kristina turns 18. Since they were little girls I have tried to make their birthdays special. A friend of mine who also has a December birthday told me to never wrap their presents in Christmas paper, but to use birthday paper to make sure they felt special. One year I saw a cartoon on a bulletin board at a church that we were visiting. It had two scenes the first portrayed a little boy sitting on the ground with a sad face while all his family was by the Christmas tree. The next scene showed that same little boy with Jesus kneeling by him and saying “I know how you feel, people forget about my birthday too.”

Parties, trees, shopping, lights, presents, food, snowmen, cookies, movies, candy canes, reindeer, elves, Santa… the list could go on and on of all the things we add to Christmas. Those things are all fun. I am guilty of being caught up in some of these traditions. But I love being reminded about the real reason to celebrate. The other day, my daughter Johanna and I were on a road trip and the two of us were listening to Christmas music on the radio. The song “Happy Birthday Jesus” came on.
Happy Birthday Jesus
I'm So Glad Its Christmas
all The Tinsel And Lights
and The Presents Are Nice
but The Real Gift Is You.

Happy Birthday Jesus
I’m So Glad Its Christmas
all The Carols And Bells
make The Holiday Swell
and it's All About You
Happy Birthday Jesus
Jesus I Love You!
I pray that in all the busy crazy days ahead that you don’t forget what Christmas is all about. It is about the Lord of all creation coming to earth to be born as a tiny little helpless baby. To live a simple, but sinless life and then die a horrible death on a cross for you and for me because he loves us.

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

My challenge for everyone is to make a birthday card in honor of Christ's birthday. Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp. Make sure to check out what all my Stampin Sisters have created this week. I know you will be blessed.

Angels among us

2011-12-04T02:00:00.000-06:00

My wonderful sister and friend in Christ, Lisa chose these verses this week:

Matthew 1:20-22, "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' which means, 'God with us.'"

Here is Lisa's challenge:
Make a card/project depicting an angel

I made mine a pocket card with an angel on a bookmark. It was really hard to photo with rain outside but it is super sparkly.

Yesterday my oldest daughter and I left home at 3:00 am to drive 4 hours so that we could see my other daughter compete at the Iowa State dance competition in Des Moines IA. As we were driving home last night we were both very tired, and I know that God sent his angels to watch over 2 tired drivers. This song "Angel's among us" by Alabama came on the radio and I knew I had to incorporate it into this week's project.

This week's sponsor is Clear Dollar Stamps. Check out what my other STAMPIN' SISTERS IN CHRIST have done this week.

His Eye is on the Sparrow

2011-11-27T02:00:00.002-06:00

This is the scripture that my loved sister in Christ, Linda picked for this week:

Matthew 6:25-34 ".... Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?...."

This verse also spoke to me this week:

Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and on of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father... Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Both of these scriptures together show how much God cares for all of His creation, but He cares the most for people, for YOU, for ME...

I love the old hymn His Eye is on the Sparrow. I have posted 2 versions of these words. The first one is by the group Selah and is the traditional song. The second one is a newer version sung by Audrey Assad. I have listened to both of these songs over and over this last week and they blessed my heart so much. I hope you enjoy them too.

Linda's challenge was to make a card with a bird on it... dp, stamp, charm....etc.
I used my little nuthatch sitting on the fence from the newly released set by Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich company, called "PEACEFUL NUTHATCH" . I ink spray smashed the sky, and watercolored the trees and bird. I added glitter-styrofoam ball snow to the trees and fence. I made my card an easel card.

This week's sponsor is Sweet and Sassy. Make sure you check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created.

2011-11-23T01:00:00.000-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's November Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Peaceful Nuthatch

A Trip to Lancaster

What a Fox

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day! We will announce all three winners on Thanksgiving Day. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Wednesday November 23, 2011.

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Mark's Finest Papers

With this wonderful quote by F. Kessler, I had to make a paper box to hold chocolates. I made a bellyband to go around the box.

Nov 2011 Blog hop for MFP day 2

2011-11-22T01:00:00.000-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's November Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Peaceful Nuthatch

A Trip to Lancaster

What a Fox

Lois
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn This is me *****
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Mark's Finest Papers

Clean and Simple (CAS) is not my usual style, but I felt like I really needed to make a CAS card using this set. I really admire the Amish society in their goal for shutting out the distractions of the world so that they can focus on God. I know I have way too many distractions. I make life more difficult than it needs to be. So this card was a reminder to myself to take time to enjoy the simple things and be thankful for them. This card has no layers. I stamped the buggy image on white cardstock. I took a ruler and a black pen and drew the lines. I made a matching envelope using the watermark image with Speedy driving the buggy! :)

The card at the top of this post was done last week for a SCS challenge. I was thinking amish quilts when I made it.

2011-11-21T08:02:00.004-06:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's November Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Peaceful Nuthatch

A Trip to Lancaster

What a Fox

Lois

Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Mark's Finest Papers

2011-11-20T03:00:00.001-06:00

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.
This is the scripture that Rebekkah, my wonderful stampin' sister in Christ choose for this week.
This verse, to live out, takes tremendous faith. My kids were at a youth retreat this weekend where they were talking and learning about the persecuted church. The leaders had toy guns that they used to "kill" the students because they were Christians. They would grab the students at random and question them and when the students would say that they were Christians, they would put the gun to their head or to their friends head and say renounce Christ or die. To my kids and the other kids from our church it was just an exercise, but there are Christians throughout this world who on a daily basis have the possibility of being killed for their faith. What is my excuse for not sharing Christ more, praising God more, giving more?... I am challenged to not take my freedom to express my faith in God casually, but to thank God everyday for that freedom and I am also challenged to pray for those who don't have that freedom.

Rebekkah's challenge is to : make a card of praise,using music, stamp, or design paper or just the word praise.

I used the sheet music for this old hymn, and a soon to be released Mark's Finest Papers set called Peaceful Nuthatch. I also used Layers of Color "Joyful noise" set in the background.

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,
From the heavens praise His name;
Praise Jehovah in the highest,
All His angels praise proclaim.
All His hosts together praise Him,
Sun, and moon, and stars on high;
Praise Him, O ye heav’n of heavens,
And ye floods above the sky.

Let them praises give Jehovah,
They were made at His command,
Them forever He established;
His decree shall ever stand.
From the earth, oh, praise Jehovah,
All ye floods, ye dragons all;
Fire, and hail, and snow, and vapors,
Stormy winds that hear His call.

All ye fruitful trees and cedars,
All ye hills and mountains high,
Creeping things, and beasts, and cattle,
Birds that in the heavens fly.
Kings of earth, and all ye people,
Princes great, earth’s judges all,
Praise His name, young men and maidens,
Aged men and children small.

Let them praises give Jehovah,
For His name alone is high,
And His glory is exalted,
And His glory is exalted,
And His glory is exalted,
Far above the earth and sky.

Check out what my stampin' sisters have created and read Rebekkah's devotion on the STAMPIN' SISTERS IN CHRIST challenge blog.

Our sponsor this week is :Pizzazz Aplenty.

2011-11-13T02:00:00.000-06:00

The scripture that my sister Traci picked for this week is:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

I don't now if anyone else struggles with this, but I do. This last week, we had sickness in our house. To add to that there is a coach who has had it in for my daughter since the school year started. There was a lot of drama on Friday, becuase my daughter was home sick. I can deal with people doing a lot of things to me personally, but I struggle when my kids are attacked.
After I prayed and shared my anger with God, I sat down to write this post. The Holy Spirit started speaking to me.
I give thanks in good circumstances, and I give thanks in kinda good circumstance, but when I have bad circumstances, I pout and have a pity party. I even get a little angry. The bad thing is when I feel that way, the only one who suffers is me. If I can only learn this lesson to be thankful in ALL circumstances how much better off I will be.
Satan whispers"Why would you give thanks for bad circumstances?" I even asked God that question today. This was His answer to me.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

I don't have to know why I have bad times. I don't have to understand how God will work it for my good (Romans 8:28). I do have to Trust and give Thanks.

Traci's challenge:
Create a card or project that depicts gratitude...it can be an image of something you are grateful for, a scripture that evokes your gratitude, or it can be a card made especially for a person you would like to thank this time of year!!

One of the things that I am thankful for are all the birds that are in my area. Just the other day I saw two bald eagles soaring on an air current. It really made my day. My card has a little red breasted nuthatch on it. I am going to give this card to a friend at church who I am grateful for her support. The nuthatch is a sneak peek at a Mark's Finest Papers set called peaceful nuthatch.

The sponsor for this week is Simon Says Stamp.
Check out Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge to see Traci's devotion and to see what my other Stampin' Sisters have created.

Words of encouragement

2011-11-06T02:00:00.001-06:00

The following is the verse that Peggysue picked for this week:

Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.

At first I really struggled with this verse. I had no idea how God was going to speak to me about this scripture. I prayed about it for several days. I don't know if you are like me but sometimes when I read about things that people have done in the Bible, I get a feeling of superiority. I think... "I wouldn't have done that." My first inclination was to think, I wouldn't have been like Eve. I wouldn't have been tempted by that fruit. Then God began to show me where I am tempted in very similar ways when it comes to my eating habits. I resisted and wanted to say, "Well, Eve had been warned not to eat it and she did anyway." That wouldn't be me... then God reminded me about times I have known that foods with high fat, salt and sugar content are bad for me and I eat them anyway.
I am praying that God helps me make better decisions about my food and that He helps me with facing temptations.

Peggysue challenged us to dig deep into our stash and find old stamps that we hadn't used in awhile. I choose this really old SU set. I made a matching set of 5 cards to give to my daughter and her friends. They competed yesterday for small school state color guard competition. I wanted each girl to know that I was supporting them, and that I was proud of all the hard work they had done to prepare. One of the girls, Ericka had a costume for her program that was sparkly white and she had a flower in her hair. She was the inspiration for the cards.

Please check out our sponsor this week Clear Dollar Stamps

Also check out Peggysue's devotion and see what my wonderful sisters have created for this challenge. Stampin Sisters in Christ.

Side note: Congratulations to the colorguard girls. 5 # 1 division ratings. I'm so proud of you all.

O happy day...

2011-10-30T02:00:00.001-05:00

Here is the scripture that, my stampin' sister in Christ, Lisa picked for this week:

Isaiah 1:18 "'Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’”

Yesterday, we helped our new youth pastors move into their new home. They came from Texas to Iowa. I am sure that it will be a big change for them. They left family to come to our little town. There was a big group from our Church there to unload the truck. The ladies took the small things, like clothes and small boxes, while the guys took the couches and piano... The ladies had just moved the kitchen chairs in and we were commenting on how new they looked. We laughed and said let them get kids and see how they look. As a mom of 4 kids, I know how easily things can get stained. Something about the color white, seems to just draw stains from ketchup, mustard, grape juice... You can use cleaners to clean the stains, and sometimes it works, but in my experience, there seems to be some stains that just won't completely come clean.

Our lives are like that. We have been stained by our sins. We can try to "clean" our stained lives by going to church,or doing good deeds. But try as we will those things will not make us clean. There is nothing that we can do on our own to become clean. That is why God had to send Jesus to live the perfect life, and die for our sins. He is the only way that our sins can be washed away.

I love this worship song. We sing it a lot with the youth at church. I love the chorus where it says... O happy day when you washed my sin away...

The challenge this week is to use scarlet or fall colors on our card. I used fall colors and a Mark's Finest Papers image of a country church.

Our sponsor this week is Lilyof the Valley. Check out Lisa's devotion here at the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog. Also check out what my stampin' sisters have created...

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Traci Grace

Layers of Color- Vintage butterfly orb

2011-10-28T11:24:00.004-05:00

I was inspired by the Layers of Color ornament blog hop. Laura shared a template for this ornament on her blog. I used dp that made me think of vintage wall paper. I used beads and gold cording to hang my ornament. I took a gold leaf pen and drew on the beads as well as little dots and squiggles on the dp. I then stamped and heat embossed with gold ep several butterflies using Layers of Color Flutterescent Set.

Stampin' Sisters in Christ and 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop Combined to save TIME

2011-10-23T03:00:00.000-05:00

(For Mark's Finest Papers 12 days of Christmas blog hop keep scrolling down to about 1/2 way through this post.)

Time
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

If there is a time for everything, why do I struggle so much with the issue of time? I start each day rushed and have so much to do that I always run out of time by the end of the day when I collapse into bed, with things left undone. I find myself wishing I had MORE TIME.
There are several questions about time that have been on my heart lately.

HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE LEFT? In the past several months, several times, death has touched people I know. In several of the cases the people were really young. 2 were still in their teens.

DID THEY KNOW THAT THEIR TIME WAS ALMOST UP? No, because none of us really know when our time is up.

IF TODAY WAS MY LAST DAY, HOW WOULD I SPEND IT? WOULD I WASTE EVEN A MINUTE OF IT? There are so many time wasters that I find in my day. Waiting in line, watching tv, getting on facebook( just being honest and transparent here). If today were my last, I hope I would spend it with my kids, my husband, my family, my friends, my church… making memories in the relationships that I treasure.

Lord, help me to get my priorities straight today and not waste my time.

IF I KNEW THAT TODAY WAS YOUR LAST WOULD I TREAT YOU DIFFERENTLY?
WOULD I TELL YOU THAT I LOVE YOU?
WOULD I MAKE SURE YOU KNEW THAT HEAVEN WAS YOUR DESTINATION?
WOULD I TREAT YOU WITH KINDNESS AND FORGIVENESS?

Lord help me to interact with those around me as if today were their last day. Don’t let me live with the regret of things undone, unsaid.

My challenge is for you to make a card or project that shows time. Examples: clock (minutes/hours), sun or stars (days), calendar (years), seasons...etc.

Here is my project. It is a calendar that I made for the 12 days of Christmas blog hop for Mark's Finest Papers. Kind of ironic that my post today is about time and this project is one that has taken a lot of time to complete.(Don't ask how many hours...) I saw it in my head but putting it together has taken hours.(Change that to days.) I printed my calendar using Microsoft Excel. I cut the calendar pages out and glued them at the top. When they were done, I made a base for my calendar out of an old cereal box. The toppers were printed using Microsoft Excel as well. I made 12 toppers each with a different blessing. I then stamped images from all of my Mark's Finest Papers sets to go along with those blessings. I then cut and matted them onto dp and cardstock. I taped a giant paper clip to the back of the toppers leaving about half of the paper clip hanging down. All of the toppers fit nicely inside the calendar. There is a slit cut at the top of the calendar for the toppers to fit into.

Our Sponsor this week is: Digital Delights by Louby Lou

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created...

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Traci Grace

Now on to ...

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BLOG HOP

Speedy the Cat at Mark's Finest Papers likes to get a head start on special Christmas gifts and memories for friends and family. He gathered the design team at Mark's Finest Papers to bring you 12 days of exciting paper crafting gift ideas to get that holiday mojo flowing. The hop runs for 12 consecutive days, starting October 17th! Begin your holiday hop at Speedy's home base, the Mark's Finest Papers blog and relax with a cup of eggnog (or sprig of catnip, your choice) as Speedy leads you though a short, daily hop. You'll find your holiday paper crafting ideas and supplies at Mark's Finest Papers.

Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop! We have four samples each day for our hop! Please visit each of the following blogs for holiday inspiration!
Peggysue

Connie

Anne

MariLynn

This shows the back side of a topper. See how I just taped the paper clip to the back.

See how the toppers fit inside the calendar.

I love this song about time by Chris Rice and thought I would share it with you!!!

Thank you for taking the TIME to read this really long post!!

2011-10-21T01:00:00.000-05:00

Speedy the Cat at Mark's Finest Papers likes to get a head start on special Christmas gifts and memories for friends and family. He gathered the design team at Mark's Finest Papers to bring you 12 days of exciting paper crafting gift ideas to get that holiday mojo flowing. The hop runs for 12 consecutive days, starting October 17th! Begin your holiday hop at Speedy's home base, the Mark's Finest Papers blog and relax with a cup of eggnog (or sprig of catnip, your choice) as Speedy leads you though a short, daily hop. You'll find your holiday paper crafting ideas and supplies at Mark's Finest Papers.
Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop! We have four samples each day for our hop! Please visit each of the following blogs for holiday inspiration! Start off tomorrow on the MFP Blog for more inspiration!
Day 5 Acetate Box Oct 21
Lois
Joanne
Patty
MariLynn (This is me)

My gingerbread men were made out of an old cereal box. I stamped each gingerbread man three times. I cut them all out and glued the 3 layers together with Aleene's tacky glue. I glued buttons and tied ribbons around thier necks. I added red cheeks with prisma colored pencils. I used a white prisma colored pencil for the frosting. The eyes and nose are dimensional. I added drops of Aleene's tacky glue for each eye and nose. It really makes them shine in real life. I made the lid and base of my box with plain white to make the gingerbread men stand out more.

#1 of 12 Days of Christmas blog hop

2011-10-17T01:00:00.000-05:00

If you are in need of inspiration to help you prepare for Christmas you should check out the 12 days of Christmas blog hop at Mark's Finest Papers.

Come to Jesus

2011-10-16T02:00:00.000-05:00

My friend and sister in Christ, Miesje choose this scripture passage for this week:

Matthew 11: 28 – 30 - Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

What is a burden? One definition is...something that is exacting, oppressive, or difficult to bear. When I think of burdens I think of life altering, stressful situations... like losing a loved one, dealing with a life threatening illness or losing your job. Those are definitely burdensome and by bringing them to Jesus, he will give rest for those burdens.

For me it is easier to give the really heavy burdens to God because I know I can't even begin to carry them. Where I struggle and get tripped up is with little burdens. I was thinking about a real life example to share. The other day I was bringing in the groceries. I had a 50 lb bag of dog food and some cans of soup. I knew I would struggle with the 50 lb bag, so I had my teenaged son carry it in. I took the smaller bag of cans. Definitely more managable for me. But then I got to thinking... if I held one can of soup straight out in one hand for a little while I could do it no problem, but the longer I would hold on to it the heavier it would become. It wouldn't take very long before I would no longer be able to hold the can up with just the one arm. Fatigue would set in.

So often I take the little problems and hold on to them, and before long, the stress and fatigue overwhelm me. What a great reminder this scripture is to come to Jesus and he will give us rest for even the smallest of burdens.

This is one of my favorite songs... called the UNTITLED HYMN.

Miesje gave us this challenge:
(Sharing) Use 2 of everything you use. For example: 2 Dp - 2 flowers - 2 stamps - whatever you use must be doubled.

The 2's on my card are... 2 scraps of lace (coffee stained), 2 little butterflies (Thanks Peggysue), 2 different sides of same sheet of dp, 2 sentiments, 2 long horizontal strips, 2 rectangles... and the least noticable... 2 types of adhesives (glue stick and sewing).

I made this card for someone who is carrying a big burden right now. One of the drivers that works for us was driving in a separate vehicle this week from his long time girlfriend. He noticed that she was no longer behind him and he turned around only to find that she had been in a horrific crash. He held her until she died. This man is a big man and I have seen him lift things with his one hand that most men would struggle to lift. Right now he is struggling under the weight of grief. I can only pray for him and pray that he will turn to Jesus for relief from that burden.

Our Sponsor this week is: Designed 2 Delight

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created...

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Traci Grace

Run run as fast as you can to Mark's Finest Papers October blog hop last day

2011-10-14T07:45:00.000-05:00

Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Ginger Cookies? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Ginger Cookies. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Markie
Carol
Mark’s Finest Papers

I think this set would be fun to use with a gingerbread cookie mix in a jar with an attached cookie cutter, the Mark's Finest Papers gingerbread man and baking supplies... sprinkle, spatula, pot holder, cookie sheet....

October blog hop for Mark's Finest Papers day 3

2011-10-13T09:35:00.000-05:00

Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Sets: Country Thanksgiving and Cardinals in Winter? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Country Thanksgiving and Cardinals in Winter. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Dawn
Marilynn YOU ARE HERE*****
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Markie
Carol
Mark’s Finest Papers

2011-10-12T01:00:00.001-05:00

Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Sets: Christmas in the Country and Snowball? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Christmas in the Country and Snowball?. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Some music to make your day... feel a lot more like Christmas!!!

Lois
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP October Blog hop day 1

2011-10-11T07:56:00.004-05:00

Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Holly Greetings? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Holly Greetings. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Lois
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Claudine
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

A little Christmas music to get you in the mood!!

No more having to imagine

2011-10-09T03:00:00.000-05:00

The scripture that my Stampin' sisters in Christ, Linda picked for this week is:

Mar 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

It was a little over a month ago that I found out that my dear friend Bonnie was dying as a result of breast cancer. This week she passed from this life into glory. I love the song by Mercy Me called I can only imagine. No more having to imagine for my friend Bonnie.

There are so many things that are impossible for me to do that aren't with God. I am so limited, and so are you compared to the awesome Creator of the Universe.

I had 2 thoughts on God's power this week. The first one for me this week is comforting my friend Lori. She has been caring for our friend Bonnie and is feeling the loss and hurt. I can't bring peace, I can't bring comfort, and I can't bring healing to her hurting heart, but God can. All I can do is send a card letting her know that I care.

The second thought was the beauty of the fall season. I can't make trees change the color of their leaves. I can't control the temperature or the length of days. But God can. I don't know if the leaves have started changing where you are, but where I live, I am in awe of God's handiwork. So many different colors, shades and hues. I went out last Sunday afternoon with my daughter and we tried to capture some of that beauty with our cameras, but they can't even begin to compare to the real thing.

This week's challenge was anything goes. I tried to combine the two impossible things on my card. I made a card for my friend Lori with hints of pink in honor of the memory of my friend Bonnie. I made leaves with pinks, reds and greens.

The sponsor for this week is: Simon Says Stamp.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created...

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Traci Grace

2011-10-02T03:00:00.002-05:00

...Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness. Gentleness and Self-Control... these are the fruit of the Spirit. These are the fruit of the Spirit!

Insert little music notes here... because as I was typing the verse that my wonderful sister in Christ, Kris, chose for this week, Gal. 5:22-23a I was singing it. When my kids were little I used to memorize scripture with them set to music. It was a very effective way to not only memorize but retain scripture. They did this when they participated in AWANAS and Pathseekers, two great programs to help kids grow spiritually. This one was especially effective because all I have to do is start humming the melody and my kids will sing the scripture.

When working on this week's challenge, the question that came up is- What is fruit? I don't have a lot of traditional fruit images. I looked up the definition of fruit and found that it means the part of a tree or plant that can be eaten that has seeds.

When my kids were little, they loved taking the seeds from their apples and trying to plant them. We never were successful in growing an apple tree that could produce more apples, despite our trying. But that is the purpose of the seeds, to be planted to produce new fruit. How could this apply to this week's scripture?
The Holy Spirit produces Love in our lives... we need to plant those seeds of love in the life of someone who may not feel loved.
The Holy Spirit produces Joy in our lives... we need to plant those seeds of joy in the life of someone who is overwhelmed by sadness.
The Holy Spirit produces Peace in our lives... we need to plant those seeds of peace in the lives of people who are stressed and troubled.
The Holy Spirit produces Patience in our lives... we need to plant those seeds of patience in the lives of people who want what the want and the want it NOW.
The Holy Spirit produces Kindness in our lives... we need to plant those seeds of kindness in the lives of those who need to hear a kind word or need to see what kindness looks like because all they have known is abuse.
The Holy Spirit produces Goodness in our lives... we need to plant the seeds of goodness in a world that glorifies sinful living.
The Holy Spirit produces Faithfulness in our lives... we need to plant seeds of faithfulness to people who have been let down by the people they trusted, who were unfaithful to them.
The Holy Spirit produces Gentleness in our lives... we need to plant seeds of gentleness in the lives of people who have only known how hard this sinful world can be.
The Holy Spirit produces Self-control in our lives... we need to plant the seeds of self-control in the lives of those who have been told by society... do what you want... when you want... it is your life.

Dear God, thank you for the fruits of your holy spirit that you are bringing to harvest in my life. I pray that you will increase your harvest by helping me be aware of the opportunities to share the seeds of your fruits in the lives of those I come in contact with. In Jesus name, amen!

Here is Kris' challenge for this week.you...
Include FRUIT in your creation (stamp, digi, paper, charms, etc.). *By definition, a pumpkin is a fruit, and so are other “Harvest” produce such as gourds :)

The pumpkins on my card are stamped several times and layered with craft foam for dimension. This card was inspired by my stampin' sister in Christ, Traci. She sent me a card with embossed dp. It was gorgeous. I never would have thought to emboss dp before that.

This video has some jazz music as it shares some scripture and ideas on the fruit of the Spirit! I enjoyed it and thought you might too.

The sponsor for this week is: Clear Dollar Stamps.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created...

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Traci Grace

Blessings

2011-09-25T03:00:00.000-05:00

(For my post today, first scroll to the bottom of my blog and turn of radio worship.)

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Grace picked this wonderful, encouraging scripture this week for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge. I like to notice what this verse doesn't say. It doesn't say "IF" you have tribulation. Are you like me? There are times that I wish that being a Christian would mean that there would be no problems in my life. However, that isn't what we have been promised. It is enough to know that I can have peace because of Christ, and I can be of good cheer. He has overcome the world. Praise be to God.

The challenge this week from Grace is: create a card / project that either says "Blessings" or uses an encouraging Scripture.

My first thought went to this song by Laura Story.

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know you’re here?
What if trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?

The sponsor this week is Pink Cat Studio.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created:

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Traci Grace

Aleene's Burned Paper Bag Leaves Tutorial

2011-09-22T11:58:00.020-05:00

It has been a long time since I did a tutorial. I thought I would share with you how burned paper bag technique looks. I remember doing burned paper bag technique more than 20 years ago. I used a candle to heat the glue then. Now I use my heat gun and it goes a lot quicker and makes less mess.

Start with putting a puddle of Aleene's Tacky Glue, onto the paper bag.

I use a scrap piece of cardstock to smear the glue in a thin layer

I take my heat gun and I heat the glue. It will bubble and pop. I heat it until the glue is transparent.

When it cools it looks like this. It is shiny and has texture. It feels a little like leather.

Using black stazon ink, I stamped the leaf over the layer of dried glue. I used the leaf from Mark's Finest Papers set called AUTUMN GLORY.

To add color to my leaves, I took an acetate report folder and I scribbled with "Fall" colored markers onto the folder.

I dipped my paint brush into water and picked up color from the scribbled markers.

I then painted over the glue. Since I was going to cut the leaves out, I wasn't very careful about painting in the lines. I just put down the color.

This is how the leaves look when the leaves are dry.

I cut the leaves out.

I shaped the cut out leaves by folding the leaf in half lengthwise.

I further shaped the leaf by folding the sides backwards.

Here is the card that I made with these burned paper bag leaves.

Petal card with LOC gold butterfly

2011-09-19T12:28:00.003-05:00

The technique lovers challenge at SCS today was to make a petal card. I saw this technique when Beate released it as the Wednesday tutorial. I was hesitant to try it at first because I don't have any circle dies. I ended up using labels four and love how easy this card was to make. I used 2 sided dp. I gold heat embossed my Layers of Color butterfly. The scripture on the inside was Karen's WORDart. I think it still fits the SSIC challenge this week to have wings and a scripture.

2011-09-18T03:00:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 40: 29-31

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

I love this scripture that Chris choose for this week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. It is one of my favorites. There are so many days that I feel weary. (Mostly because I don't surrender my burdens to Christ, and I try to carry them all myself) I love the promise of these verses. I love to personalize this scripture... I, who hope in the Lord will renew my strength. I will soar on wings like eagles, I will run and not grow weary. I will walk and not be faint.

It is getting closer to eagle season for me. Where I live along the Mississippi river, bald eagles come to fish in the winter. I love to take my camera and try and capture them. These are some of the eagle photos I have taken in past years. The first one was taken at sunrise. The other two were taken in the evening time.

The challenge this week was to make a scripture card with wings. I used this scripture from Karen's Word Art

The butterfly is a Layers of Color butterfly embossed with gold.

The sponsor this week is Our Daily Bread Designs.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created:

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Traci Grace

Get your Broom On - Wicked witches- MFP Sept 2011 blog hop

2011-09-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! Welcome to the September 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are:Autumn Glory, Boo To You, Covered Bridges, Get Your Broom On .For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set:Get Your Broom On? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Get Your Broom On. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Markie
Carol
Mark’s Finest Papers

I shared a photo a couple of days ago of my daughter with other cast members from this summer's production of The Wiz. As soon as I saw this quote, I knew I was going to use it on a picture frame. My daughter was the wicked witch of the west. She had a wig and fat suit on. The photo I used in the frame is of her and the other two wicked witches. When she was "melting" she ran behind a box and Jojo the middle sized witch ran out and then ran behind the box. Finally they held up the barbie wicked witch. Each time they performed it, this scene got tremendous applause.

Covered Bridges- MFP September 2011- blog hop day 3

2011-09-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

I was going for a collage look with this card. I tried using common elements, like the staples, notebook paper, and paper clip and newspaper cliping. I also hand wrote the list on the notebook paper. I listed things I like about Autumn: Football games, marching band, hayrides, cool nights, hot chocolate... I added lace, vellum, and raffia and leaves made using AUTUMN GLORY. I stamped the ticket and covered bridge image using black stazon ink. I watercolored the image and adhered it to the card with photo corners and sewing. I made this card for my good friend Carol. Our kids are in a lot of the same activities. My favorite time of year is when Carol and I can sit by eachother at football games and at marching band competitions. Our schedules are usually so busy, it is nice to just get to sit and visit and watch our kids perform.

Boo to You- MFP September 2011 blog hop day 2

2011-09-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

This little guy with a flair for dramatic clothing was stamped using BOO TO YOU. I paper pieced his outfit.

My kids are very active in drama. They are in several productions each year. There is a lady named Daisy who makes the costumes. She really works hard for the kids and does a fantastic job. I am always needing thank you cards for her. That is what I was thinking when I made this card. This photo below shows some of the costuming from the youth production of THE WIZ. My daughter was the wicked witch of the west (Far left in red dress)

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Boo To You? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Boo To You. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Lois
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

Autumn Glory - Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop day 1

2011-09-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

Hello! Welcome to the September 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are:Autumn Glory. Boo To You, Covered Bridges, and Get Your Broom On.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Autumn Glory? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Autumn Glory. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Lois
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

This set is so much fun to use. I have lots of samples for you to see.

Autumn Glory combined with Autumn Fun

2011-09-11T03:00:00.000-05:00

Rebekkah chose these verses this week.

Mt. 7:7-8 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

The thought that came to me for these verses is a childlike persistance. When my kids were little and were were at the store and they wanted something, they didn't just ASK once. NO... they ASKED and they ASKED until they got what they wanted. When they were looking for their presents around Christmas time, they didn't just look casually, they searched the house top to bottom to find where I had hidden the packages. When they KNOCKED on the locked bathroom door(my only quiet time when they were little), they didn't just KNOCK once and let it go at that, they would stand there KNOCKING until I opened the door. I believe God wants us to have that same persistance when it comes to seeking Him.

The challenge this week was to make a card with a door. My "Door" is more like a gate, but it is what I had. I used the sheet music for "In the Garden" my kids when they were little called it the Minier song. We lived in a very small village in Illinois called Minier. There is a line in the song where it says "and the voice I hear falling on mine ear." It sounded like they were saying the name of our town. So this song has special meaning to me. I just found out recently that a dear sister in Christ from that area, named Bonnie, has breast cancer that has spread. She may be going to see the Lord sooner, rather than later. I wanted to make a special card for her, letting her know I was thinking about her.
When my kids were little and my husband was driving trucks over the road, there were lots of times that I felt lonely and sometimes overwhelmed as the task of raising the kids fell to me. My sister Bonnie helped plan a ladies night out where several of the ladies from our Church showered me with love. One lady, Kathy baby sat my kids, Bonnie, who was a hairstylist, did my hair. Rhonda was my kidnapper and took me to Olive Garden where the rest of the ladies met me for dinner(a total suprise party) and they showered me with gifts. I can't ever begin to express what wonderful friends these ladies are to me. Even though it has been over 6 years since I have seen them in person, I know that the love is still just as strong. God has since blessed me with another group of Christian sisters, who also shower me with love. It is my Stampin' Sisters in Christ. I thank God every day for their friendship.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created:

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Traci Grace

2011-09-04T03:00:00.000-05:00

Peggysue is this week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge hostess. She picked the following words.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 "Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before.12 In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need."

What good advice. I struggle with the quiet life. With working full time and raising 4 kids there is always noise and busyness. This afternoon, my daughter and I went to the lake to take some photos. We had fun being together. After we took the photos, we sat on a bench and listened to "NOTHINGNESS" which was really quite a lot. We could hear birds singins, the wing blowing through the trees, the water lapping on the rocks, and in the distance we could hear thunder. I really enjoyed this quiet time. I would encourage everyone to find some quiet time today to go spend it with God.

The challenge this week was - Nothing bright. Use 'quiet' colors in your creation, either pastels, or low key earthtones, soft, muted shades of beige or neutrals.

This is my card. I used WORDart by Karen on my card.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created:

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Traci Grace

Something missing... Prayer

2011-08-28T03:00:00.000-05:00

1 Corinthians 10:17 – Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

This is the verse that my Stampin' Sister in Christ, Miesje choose for this week.

I love the fall because that is when I start making home baked bread. I love the smell of the bread a it is rising and especially as it comes out of the oven. A lot of ingredients go into making the bread: water, flour, milk, butter, salt, yeast, eggs... too much or too little of the ingredients and you get either a mass of dough or something that resembles a rock.

Jesus said in John 6:48
I am the bread of life.

I love communion. A time when we as believers come together to remember what Christ has done for us. To me it is also a reminder that I am not alone. I have brothers and sisters walking beside me.

The other day I was feeling particularly discouraged. Satan kept telling me that I was all alone. Now we know that Satan is the father of lies, and what he was telling me was a lie, but it started to really feel true. I reached out on facebook asking for prayers, and within minutes, I had Christian friends from all around the world praying for me and lifting my needs before the Father. Some of the problems that I had were still there, but I didn't feel alone anymore. What a blessing to live life with our Christian family. That is the number one reason I love being a part of Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenges. I know that I have family that is praying for me. If there is ever a time that you need prayer, you can leave me a comment and I will definitely pray for you.

Our Sponsor this week is Sweet and Sassy. Go check them out.

Miesje's challenge is a Recipe Challenge - choose at least 3 of the following for one card. (ribbon, button, a swirl, hat pin, brad, charm, popped up image)

My card has ... ribbon, button, charm and popped up image. I thought I would share how I did my popped up flower.

First I stamped the flower three times. On the first flower I crossed out every other petal. I reveresed the crossed out petals on the second flower and on the third flower I colored all the petals in. I cut the flowers out, cutting off the un-colored crossed out petals. I took the handle of a paint brush to curl the petals.

Here are my cut out flowers with their curled petals.

Next I cut small pieces of craft foam.

Really small pieces.

I glued the first one to the bottom flower and then one to the middle flower.

I added glue and stacked the middle flower on the bottom flower.

Finally I glued the top flower on top.

I added a button center.

This is how the card looked when I finished it. I kept looking at it and something just seemed to be missing.

I added a simple tag with the sentiment... I'm praying... Then I knew it was complete.

You should go check out Miesje's devotion at Stampin' Sister in Christ Challenge.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created:

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Teresa Traci

2011-08-27T15:26:00.002-05:00

I made this card for the color combo challenge at SCS this week. Red, yellow and blue. I had so much fun doing the resist technique, I had to try it some more.

2011-08-21T03:00:00.000-05:00

I am blessed to have the opportunity to be the hostess for this week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge.
One of the songs that I have been listening to lately is by JJ Heller called HAVE MERCY ON ME. There is a line in the song that says… “I’m tired of being afraid…” It made me think about the topic of fear. Last week my daughters and I experienced FEAR as we tried to get a possum out of our garage. I had just gone to bed when I heard a terrifying scream. I jumped out of bed when I heard the scream and went to see what was wrong. My daughters had been going outside to my oldest daughter’s truck. They had opened the door between the garage and the house and turned on the light. There inches away from their feet was a possum that hissed at them. I armed myself with a broom, while my daughters grabbed a stick and a golf club and we went into the garage to make sure our unwanted guest left. When that was done, the adrenaline was rushing through my body and it was hard to fall back to sleep.
What are you afraid of?
Some fears come from our past experiences. When I was little we lived in an apartment that had tarantula spiders that climbed over the doorways and they would drop on you when you opened the door. When I was in high school I had a black widow spider in my hair. I was also bit by a brown recluse spider. When I see spiders, I know in my mind that I am bigger than they are, I am stronger than they are and I can kill them, but I am still afraid of them. Note to self don’t watch the old movie Arachnaphobia.
What happens when little ordinary fears become so big that they become the focus of our lives? Fear in the extreme we call phobias. I looked on the internet at a list of phobias. The list was too long to even count. Some of them sounded kind of funny to me. Neophobia – fear of something new. Koniophobia – fear of dust (if any of you have this fear don’t visit my house) and the one I thought I might try with my family is Mageirocophobia – the fear of cooking. (I can just see it now… I think we will have to go out to eat I have Mageirocophobia!) I am sure to those who suffer from these phobias it is not a laughing matter.
I did a computer search (King James Version) and the phrase “FEAR NOT” was used 68 times.

This is the verse that I picked to share with you today:

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind

I can’t even find the words to describe what an awesome gift this is. I often say this verse at night when I am struggling with my fears. It seems like the middle of the night is when Satan like to wage battle, using my fears against me.

There are a few more verses that go along with the one I picked.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends, all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

My challenge to you this week is to try something that you may have been afraid to do before…a new technique, a new color combo, a new sketch, a new style…

Our sponsor this week is Paper Fashions Etc.

For my card I tried a new technique, (inspired by my sister in Christ, Linda) called resist. I also went with a CAS style.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created:

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Teresa Traci

Butterfly garden

2011-08-16T12:34:00.008-05:00

I tried my hand at another telescoping card. I made a veritable stamped garden for my butterfly to visit. I used several Mark's Finest Papers sets. I used: Just Dandy, Poppies poppies poppies, Greet the day with Gerber, Butterflies and wisteria, Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement. I love the photo of this little brown and orange butterfly that I took on Sunday. It was the inspiration for the butterfly on this card.

Stacked butterfly

2011-08-15T21:19:00.007-05:00

This is the telescoping card I made for the Technique lovers challenge at SCS. I used my two new Mark's Finest Papers sets. BUTTERFLIES AND WISTERIA and BLACK EYED SUSANS FOR ENCOURAGEMENT. I was inspired by this photo that I took yesterday at the park. I hope you enjoy. I used more sheet music for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge to use music on our cards.

Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge MUSIC

2011-08-14T03:00:00.000-05:00

This is the scripture that Teresa picked for this week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ devotion:

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

When reading this scripture. What was interesting to me was that we are encouraged to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. I doesn't matter what type of song we sing as much as how we sing them. We need to sing them "with grace in your hearts to the Lord,"

The world is watching us and listening to us. Will they hear songs sung together with harmony or will they hear us each singing a different song at the same time. A game that my kids and I have played before is where we each pick a different song and we all try to outsing eachother. While it is fun for us to do, anyone listening would quickly cover their ears. But there are other times, like when we did the special music at church for Father's day. We sang "Daddy's Hands" and we sang it with close harmonies. (We didn't sound the same, my one daughter is an alto, the other a high soprano, and one boy sings tenor, the other sings alto for now and I sing soprano.) What made it sound good is we were working together.

Have you ever been part of a big group of people singing the same song? Maybe at a concert? There is something powerful about singing together. I get chills when I go to the football games in the fall and all the crowd sings the National anthem. I can only imagine what it is going to be like when we get to heaven and we are singing praises to God with all the saved. I am thankful that I get a taste of what that will be like when I sing praises to God at church during worship.

Teresa's challege was to make a card with a music theme. Make sure you check out Teresa's devotional at Stampin' Sisters in Christ

Our wonderful sponsor is Simon Says Stamp.

I made mine a joy fold card. A group of ladies at my church are forming a weight loss support group. I wanted to make some cards that we can use to encourage eachother. I used my new favorite flower from Mark's Finest Papers set called Black eyed susans for encouragement. The sentiment is from that set as well.

Check out what my

Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created:

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Teresa Traci

August Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop- Day 4

2011-08-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

When, my daughter, Kristina, saw this set she squealed and jumped up and down. She said it was the cutest set she had ever seen. She had to stamp the little piggy onto her hand. She wore it to the band party that she went to last week, and showed it off to her friends.

Since today's featured set is called Fun on the Farm, I decided to really have FUN with this set. The first card is very whimsical. I stamped the little piggy and then I masked him. I then stamped the butterfly -(my favorite one) from Mark's Finest Papers set called Daffodil and Anise. I then cut the image out, glued a rhinestone to center of wings and added cotton candy stickles to the wings. The rest of the card was fairly simple. I embossed with the dotted swiss folder, added pearls for the pig's flight trail. The sentiment I printed on my computer. I don't know if you can see it or not in the photo, but the pink paper behind the dotted swiss is really sparkly.

I didn't have any red cardstock that was stiff enough for this next card so I made it out of white cardstock and glued the red to the top and then cut it out barn shaped. I got the barn shape by stamping the barn image from the set and scanning it into my computer. I then enlarged it and used that as my pattern. I placed the top of the barn on the fold. I scored the barn to make it look like wood. I took a red marker and outlined the barn and the doors. I then took a white prisma colored pencil and drew in the white lines.

The inside of my card is a pop up card. The sentiment and animals each have their own pop up mechanism. The sentiment panel pops up sideways, while the animals pop up vertically.

Each animal also has additional dimension. The tip of the horses' nose was stamped twice and cut out. I have craft foam behind his nose. The cow has the whole head stamped twice and cut out with craft foam behind the head. The pig has his head and his nose dimensional with craft foam.

I hope you had as much FUN looking at my cards as I did making them. Have a blessed day!

Mark's Finest Papers Blog hop day 3

2011-08-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

Hello! Welcome to the August 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are:Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement, Butterflies and Wisteria, Forest Gifts, Fun on the Farm .For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set:Forest Gifts? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Forest Gifts. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Claudine
Dawn
Marilynn ****This is me****
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Kittie
Markie
Mark’s Finest Papers

This set shows the picture of a few of my neighbors. I live on a bluff above the Mississippi river in Iowa. I can see the river from my kitchen, and familyroom windows. Living that close to the river means that a lot of wild life comes by my windows too. Last week at the crack of dawn, a doe and her two fawns were less than 5 feet from my kitchen window. The fawns were frolicking while mother ate. It is that last part that makes them kinda a nuisance. I can't grow any garden or flowers without the deer eating them. I had roses planted and they ate even the branches of the bushes. Within the last month, we have had a raccoon and a possum in our garage at night. When I go on my evening walks with my husband Derek, we often see owls in the trees right by our house.

Mark's Finest Paper August Blog Hop Day 2

2011-08-10T00:00:00.000-05:00

I stamped the butterfly twice and cut one of them out. I curved the wings of the top butterfly and glued it to the bottom butterfly.

Mark's Finest Papers August blog hop day 1

2011-08-09T00:00:00.001-05:00

There are just some sets that become favorites the minute you see them. This black eyed susan set is one of those sets. You can see from my examples how awesome it is. I know you are going to want this set too.

This last card combined the flowers from other "FAVORITE" sets. I made it for a co-worker's wedding card. I used these other Mark's Finest Papers sets: Just Dandy, Poppies,poppies, poppies, and my favorite butterfly from Daffodil and Anise. For this card. I used burnt glue for the centers of the poppies and I added glitter and ground up styrofoam for the dandylions, and the black eyed susans have several layers. The petals are cut out everyother one and curled. I placed piece of craft foam between the layers to add to the dimension.

2011-08-07T03:00:00.000-05:00

Linda choose this scripture for this week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge.

Lam 3:22 -23 The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning

Don't you just love NEW things? NEW car smell, NEW hairstyle, NEW clothes... How about new craft supplies? I do. I love getting new things, but after awhile they aren't new anymore. NEW babies grow up to be teenagers. NEW cars get old. NEW clothes go out of fashion. The amazing thing about this passage that Linda choose is that God's mercies are new every morning. His love, his compassion, his care for us doesn't get old.

Thank you God for renewing your mercies to me every day!!!

Clear Dollar Stamps is our wonderful sponsor this week.

Here is Linda's Challenge:

Dig deep into your craft cupboard and use something from your stash that you 'just had to have' cause you would use it everyday....but have forgotten about...

I struggled with this challenge because, I don't have a lot from my stash that I just had to have... I have been on a very limited craft budget, so I usually only buy what I will use. I ended up choosing to use this dp. I was going to make a card using my craft chalks, then after several attempts, I remembered why I don't use them much anymore. I had two cards done and smeared the chalk... This flower is from a set that will be released this week during the Mark's Finest Papers blog hop. It is called BLACK EYED SUSANS FOR ENCOURAGEMENT.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created:

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Teresa Traci

Praise the Lord

2011-07-31T03:00:00.002-05:00

***********For this week's post, I have shared some songs. To listen to them, scroll to the bottom and pause or turn of radio worship.********

Psalm 148:7-10
Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds.

That is the wonderful scripture that my Sister in Christ, Peggysue picked for this week. Just because my name wasn't specifically mentioned, doesn't mean that I'm not included, and the same goes for you. We ALL must Praise the Lord. In good times and in bad times! Last week my boys and I were having to work outside in one of our trailers, cleaning up a mess. It was extremely hot and boring work. To get their minds off of the "Trouble" I started singing praise songs at the top of my lungs. This song was one that I was having fun singing:

The funny thing about singing praises, it not only lifted our spirits, but it made the work go faster.

This song came to my mind this week as I was studying this scripture. (I really like how David Crowder does this song.)

This scripture in Luke 19:38-40 also came to my mind.

“BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”

This song goes along with the second scripture:

Peggysue's challenge to the Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week was to make a card with a creature on it. It could be as SMALL as an ant or as LARGE as a whale. I went with ants. This adorable ant digi is from Doodle Pantry, this week's sponsor.

These digi's of the falling ants made me think of this old song.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created.

Several of the Design Team Sisters are taking a short break. While they are gone, we have Teresa and Traci to fill in as guest Designers.

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Teresa Traci

Sing to the Lord

2011-07-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

This is the wonderful scripture that my Stampin' Sister in Christ, Grace choose for this week.

When my kids were little they went through the "WHY" stage. Where every couple of minutes they would ask WHY? At first it was cute then it got a little annoying having to explain WHY all the time. I wonder if that is how God feels when we ask why.

It seems to me I ask WHY? more when bad things happen then when good things happen. When I see bad circumstances, I think "Why did God allow that to happen?" Are you like me? I think the verse Grace picks explains the reasons I can't understand. His thoughts and his ways are so different from mine.

I love this song by Laura Story called Blessings. This scripture goes along so well with this song. I hope you will go listen to it.

Blessings

The challenge for Stampin' Sisters in Christ was to make a card that shows contrast of black and white. Our Sponsor this week is Layers of Color. I just love Layers of Color images. I used a Layers of Color set to make my card. This music set called Joyful Noise, from the moment I saw it, made me happy. I have a very musical family and this is one of my all time favorite sets.
This card is very CAS for me, but I felt that the musical flourish needed nothing more. I printed the scripture on my computer.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created.

Chris Grace Kris Linda Lisa Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Sabrina

Color block MOJO 200 cards

2011-07-18T20:00:00.002-05:00

2011-07-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

This is the scripture that my Christian Sister Kris picked for today's Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge.
2 Samuel 6:14 And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod.

David was dancing to celebrate the Ark of God coming to his city. There were sacrifices and trumpet music and shouting. The really interesting part to me is what happens next. Michal, King David's wife see's him dancing and gets really embarrased and angry at him. She says to him...

" How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” 2 Samuel 6:20.

She was critical of the way David was worshiping God. When he was dancing, I don't think he even took notice of those around him, it was just God and him. He told her...

"It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD." 2 Samuel 6:21

When it comes to dancing, I'll admit that I am not the most graceful person. I never had dance lessons, and the congregation that I grew up in didn't even say the "D" word. Dancing was of the devil. Now, I know that there are some suggestive types of dancing and I don't think they are appropriate, but I have experienced seeing pure joy expressed in dancing. I have a teenaged daughter, to whom dancing is just a natural part of her. When she was little and was happy, she would just dance around the room. When she and her friends would meet, she would do a happy dance and clap her hands. She is a senior in High School now, and still will have moments of joy dancing. She will be walking along and all of a sudden do a grand jete, which is a jump in the air with the splits. My sister has a little girl who is physcially challenged, however she expresses her happiness by dancing as well. I think it was this kind of joy dancing that David was doing.

It made me think of this quote...

Dance like no one is watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like no one is listening, Live like it's heaven on earth.

Wouldn't it be great if we all worshipped God without caring about what others around us were thinking?

The challenge from Kris was to make a "Dancing" card: a card that moves. I chose to make a waterfall card.

This week's sponsor is Designed2Delight. One winner will win $10 to use at her store.

Check out what other dancing cards that my Stampin' Sisters have made...

Chris Grace Kris Linda Lisa Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Sabrina

MFP July hop day 4

2011-07-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

I added the sheet music In the garden with this adorable set. I added the two flowers and lace. The image was stamped with black stazon and colored with prisma colored pencils.

Mark's Finest Papers July hop day 3 LILACS IN THE SUMMER

2011-07-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

Mark's Finest Papers July blog hop day 2

2011-07-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

I made a card last week with this set and tried using the ink-spray-smash technique to make the background look like the outside of the watermelon. I think this one turned out even better. Usually when I do that technique I try to smash the colors together so that there aren't stripes or blotches of one color, but this time I tried to be extra careful so that there would be distinct stripes. I also embossed some vertical lines on the base.

I love the title of this set... planted with love. So many times we need to plant love to see it grow and bloom. It may start out as a little seed and with care and nuturing grow to a big love.

This set made me think of my first time planting a garden. My family had just moved to Illinois and we had the opportunity to start a garden. My kids were all giving input to what we should grow. Pumpkins and watermelons were on their list. In my inexperience I did't know that pumpkins and watermelons shouldn't be planted near eachother because the cross pollinate. We ended up with watery pumpkins and really gross tasting watermelons.

July MFP blog hop day 1

2011-07-12T00:00:00.001-05:00

Hello! Welcome to the July 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Little Birds With Big Mouths, Planted with Love, Lilacs in the Summer, and Adirondack Summer.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Little Birds With Big Mouths? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Little Birds With Big Mouths. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's blog post.

Lois
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Emily
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Mark’s Finest Papers

The office building where my husband and I run our trucking company has a hole in the siding that some little birds had gone through the siding to the attic to build their nest. This last week one of the baby birds fell out of the nest and was sitting on the dropped ceiling of the office. On Friday, it was calling so loudly to it's mom that I swear it had a BIG MOUTH. My oldest son went to the shop and put on hearing protectors to block out the bird. As I was finishing this card for the hop, the baby bird dropped through the ceiling and started trying to fly around the office. I was screaming while trying to shoo it out the door. Too bad I didn't have anyone video tapping it so I could show you.

2011-07-10T00:00:00.001-05:00

Check out this week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge.

James 2:18,19 But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble.

What a great reminder to not just SAY you have faith, but to back up what we SAY with what we DO. It made me think of David. I can imagine that if we could ask the Isrealite army if they believed in God, they would have said "Of course we do!" But when the giant Goliath came, they were afraid and trembled and let it go on for 40 days. Then along came David, who backed up his faith, by taking stones, and a sling (not really battle equipment) and went out to battle the trained, giant warrior. He knew that God would defend him and that he would be victorious.

I think is was interesting that King Saul tried to PROTECT David by giving him his bronze helmet, shield and sword (more along the lines of what I would call battle equipment) But David turned him down and put his whole trust in God. What might have happened if David had tried to put that trust in his own abilities and that armor? I don't think he would have had the victory.

Another thing that I find interesting about this story is that after David put works to his faith, that it encouraged the Isrealite army, who picked up their equipment and went to battle with the Philistines.

I am praying that this week as I come up against the GIANTS in my life, that I will put my whole trust in God, and that I will put works to my faith, so that when others look at me they will be encouraged like the Isrealite army.

This is Rebekka's challenge:

"What works for you use your favorite item for stamping, it could be a stamp, embossing folder, favorite spellbinder shape."

I choose to go with my favorite technique... Ink-Spray-Smash, my favorite colors blue and green, my favorite butterfly (Mark's Finest Papers).

Simon Says Stamp is our sponsor this week.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created.

Chris Grace Kris Linda Lisa Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Sabrina

Sneak Peek - Watermelon card.

2011-07-08T15:13:00.011-05:00

This is for Splitcoast Free for all challenge to make a card that represented SUMMER to us. When I was little I remember eating watermelon at my grandma's house in the summer. She would cut us pieces and give us knives to eat the watermelons with. My great grandma, who lived to be 99 years old would always cut out the heart of the watermelon. She always said, when you have lived as long as I have you can do what you want. This watermelon stamp is a sneak peek at a set that will be released next week, by Mark's Finest Papers, called Planted with Love. I combined it with the checkerboard strip from another Mark's Finest Papers set called Snowman Country. The green panel, I ink spray smashed. I tried to get it to look like the outside of a watermelon. The checked paper I made using Excel. I made the cells square and colored them in a checkerboard pattern.

1" circle punch. Red and Green

Star punch for "BITE"

I put glue on back of red piece and glued off center to green piece.

I used a MS border punch as a mask for the seeds.

See how the leaves of the flowers kinda look like seeds?

I placed the mask over the watermelon.

I colored in the leaf area with black colored pencil.

What is missing?

2011-07-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

What a great reminder to be still and spend time with God. I know that my summer has been BUSY! Some of that business is just wasted time, and some of it is doing good things, but even good things if they keep me too busy to spend time with God are not good. Lord help me to make spending time with you this week a priority!

Outside

Inside

The challenge this week was to make a CAS card. I really struggled with this. I tend to make life more complicated than it needs to be. I used my Layers of Color creative flourish stamp on some ink spray and smashed paper and used my puzzle die cut to make the card. The sentiments were made using my computer.
This last week we had VBS at our Church. We shared the gospel simply with the kids.

1. We are all sinners.

2.We deserved death.

3. God loves us.

4.God sent Jesus to live a perfect life.

5. Jesus took our punishment by dying for us.

6. God brought Jesus back to life.

7. We can have salvation by asking Jesus to be our Savior.

8. Live for God.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created.

Chris Grace Kris Linda Lisa Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Sabrina

Great Spangled Fritillary- I think

2011-06-30T12:38:00.004-05:00

The butterfly at the top of this post, was dead when it fluttered next to my daughter's feet. She was fueling her truck up at the gas station when she noticed it. She picked it up and brought it home to me. It is gorgeous with it's little spots of silver on the wing. Wow, what a wonderful creation that God made. I spent a lot of time looking at butterfly images trying to determine what kind of butterfly. I narrowed it down to a couple of choices and my son Joshua and I thought it most resembled the Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly. I really wish I knew an entemologist so I could know for sure. I made two cards using my Mark's Finest Papers butterfly from the set DAFFODIL AND ANISE. I tried to mimic the real thing. I really like how both of these cards turned out. The top card used SC339 sketch and the second one used MOJO197.

Thank you Sunflowers

2011-06-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

Miesje picked this verse for this week’s devotional.

Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. "

What a wonderful blessing to be free. I love THIS song by the Newsboys. We sing it often at our church. What an admonition to stand firm and not become slaves again. I spent sometime thinking about ways that we can be slaves.
To me it seems that as a society we prefer the word addiction to slavery. I have a friend and coworker who is a slave to smoking. Just this last week we had a conversation about how she would like to quit, but how her addiction controls her life. I have another friend who is a slave to alcohol. She knows that it is bad for her, but she still drinks. I’ll admit it is easier to see other’s slavery than it is to see my own. It made me think of the following scripture from Matthew 7:1-5 1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
So I asked God to show me my plank. What are my addictions? As hard as it is to admit it, I struggle with my slavery to food and my slavery to my computer. As soon as I wake up I think about food. I think about food all day long. This slavery to food has added extra weight and health problems like high blood pressure.
My addiction to my computer became evident to me the other day when we lost internet all day because a cable was cut. I found myself going to the computer to check several times to see if it was back.
It seems that I justify my addictions by comparing them to others. I want to think that mine aren’t as bad as others, because:
1. I have to eat, everyone has to eat.
2. I need my computer to get my work done.
When does something that we need become our master? When it takes priority in our lives to the will of God. My prayer this week is that Christ will take first place in my life, and that the Holy Spirit is the controlling force for my days.

The challenge this week is to make a red white and blue thank you card. The winner will get 3 digis from Ginger Loft. Tami gave me this digi to make my card. I love butterflies and sunflowers so I had a lot of fun making this card. Last year my kids and I saw some red sunflowers growing by a barn.

This is a close up of one of the sunflowers.

I used burnt Aleene's tacky glue technique for the center of my flowers.
Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created.

2011-06-19T00:00:00.002-05:00

Happy Father's Day! I hope everyone has said... "I love you." and "Thank you." to their dads if they still have them around.

“You’ve got to see it to believe it.” Have you ever heard that expression? I have a story to share with you. When I was little I was blessed to live near my grandparents and my cousins. One day my sister, my brother and I were playing ball with our cousins in my grandparent’s big back yard. Our game got interrupted when the ball rolled near my grandparent’s Airstream trailer that they stored in their yard for when they went camping. My cousin Alissa touched the trailer as she was reaching for the ball. As soon as she did that, she got a shocking jolt. She jumped back and screamed “I’ve just been shocked!” We gathered around her and taunted “Did not!”, “Did too!” was her response. One by one we ALL had to touch that trailer and get shocked because we had to SEE FOR OURSELVES.

My daughters and I love watching crime tv shows, like CSI. (Probably because my dad is a forensic pathologist and my brother works as a tech in a crime lab.) In all these shows there is a common theme. The police have an idea who committed the crime, but it is their job to collect enough EVIDENCE that the jury will SEE and BELIEVE them.

The scripture I choose to share with you this week is:

Hebrews 11:1 Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things unseen. (KJV)

How do we get the kind of Faith that is so strong that it is our evidence? The Bible says in Romans 10:17 “So then Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” That is how it starts. We can read the Bible. We can then ask the Lord to help our Faith to grow. Like the apostles did (Luke 17:5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our Faith.”) and like the father of the possessed child did ( Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do BELIEVE; help my unbelief.”)

My prayer is that God will strengthen your faith this week. My challenge for you is to make a card that shows the “EVIDENCE” that you were the creator by doodling on your card. Here are a few suggestions to get you started: dots, swirls, lines, and faux stitching… I look forward to seeing what you create.

I stamped Mark's Finest Papers- Poppies,poppies,poppies and did paper tole with Aleene's burnt glue for the centers. My doodling is very subtle. I doodled with a black pen around the edges of the lighter brown dp. I used my scalloped border punch along the blue panel and around the circle for the Stampin B's challenge to use a border punch.

Here is a close up on a piece of gray cardstock so that you could see what the doodle looks like. It is a dot with a line that I call the ER Life line machine. It is a straight line with a squiggle and a straight line. I really like this kind of doodle because you don't have to be exact. If your straight line isn't exactly straight that is ok and if the squiggle is different from the other squiggles that is ok too.

Our wonderful sponsor this week is Our Daily Bread Designs.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created.