Sideswiped Waterfall

Today's Friday Free For All challenge was to make a card that accentuated the side of the card. I decided to make a waterfall that was off center to the side. I like how this one turned out, but I probably won't make one to the side again. It isn't as strong as when it is in the center.

My Rock and My Salvation

At SCS the queen for the day is Queen Francie. I loved her card with the one rose and scripture on it. I loved the little pearls and dew drops. I loved the colors in the dp that she used. I didn't have any dp that was even close, so I McGyvered some. I took some striped dp and I ink spray smashed it. That is the first time I tried it on dp. I usually only use it on plain white cardstock. I think I got pretty close to the dp she used. I also didn't have the dew drops that she used, so I used hot glue to make some more opaque drops. I quilled my rose and hand cut out my leaves. I don't have the scripture stamp that she used, so I computer generated my own. Here's my card in honor of Queen Francie.

Votive holder

The Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge this week was to make a votive holder. I made one to match my card that I made for the SCS sketch challenge. This last weekend, we had a storm come through our town that knocked out our electricity. It was a good reminder to be thankful for the little things that we take for granted. We spent some time in the evening at my office so that we could fix dinner and the kids played on the computer, but when it was time to go home, my youngest son, Kaleb was a little apprehensive because he was wondering how we would see in our house to be able to get ready for bed. To go into our house I used the light from my i-pod screen. Not a very bright light under normal circumstances, but in the total darkness we were able to see our way around. There are times that I feel like that little light, not very bright or strong, but all that God asks is that I let Him shine through me and that will be sufficient.

So that light would shine through the panels, I paper pierced them. I used a piece of toilet paper that had an embossed swirl as my template. What can I say, I get my inspiration in weird places. I used my Layers of Color butterflies. Some I left whole and two I cut in half and layered on top of eachother.

Change

I have several friends who are going through some pretty big life changes. One has a daughter leaving for college, one is quitting her full time job because she is following God's calling to stay at home and be with her two young boys, and one is getting ready for a big move from Iowa to Texas away from her folks. I'm not sure which one I will give this card to. I'm waiting on the Lord's leading. There are so many days that I wish things would just stay the same, but that never happens. This quote reminds me that I have a creator God who is in control of my life. He never changes, but the changes that cause me to go through, are for my good, and something beautiful will come from them.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Hippo Birdie 2 Moo

I drew these party animals and put scanned them into my computer and printed them then colored them. Very quick birthday cards once all the drawing work was done. I made these for Mothermark's teaparty this week.

I made this t-slider card for SCS technique lovers challenge. I like cards that have movement. They give that extra wow when the recipient gets them.

Relay for Life

Both of my sons are active in Troop 43. This last weekend, they both participated in a flag ceremony for our local Relay for Life event. My oldest son Josh is carrying the flag.

Impressionmistic background

I did the impressionistic technique on these flowers. I stamped them and sprayed them with water so that the colors ran a little. I then did ink spray smash technique on the background. Then when it was all dry I outlined the flowers and leaves with prisma colored pencils. I added glamour dust to the flowers. It was a very hard card to get a good photo of.

Tilt Card

The technique lovers challenge at SCS this week was to make a tilt card. The ways to use it challenge at SCS was to make a card that moved. This card is for both challenges. I used this tutorial at SCS to make my Layers of Color butterfly on the front of my card tilt. I added a spiral pop up to the center to make my inside Layers of Color butterflies pop up and fly. Here is the tutorial for the spiral pop up.

Waterfall card

I made this waterfall card for the Ways to Use it challenge to make a moving card. I love this video that Dawn made showing how to make a waterfall card. When I was learning how to make this type of card, I read several tutorials, but nothing made sense until I saw her video. I used Clearly Inspired Brushed Florals on the waterfall, and on the pull tab I used Layers of Color butterflies.

Butterfly and trio of flowers

This is the card I made for SCS sketch challenge this week. I really like how this turned out. I used my Layers of Color butterfly with embossed gold accents. I used my Layers of Color stencil at the bottom and I used an embossing pen to add more gold. The flowers are clearly inspired brushed florals colored with prisma colored pencils.

In His hands

I was listening to this song by JJ Heller yesterday. I love the lyrics that say... when my world is shaking, heaven stands. When my heart is breaking... I never leave your hands.
I decided to draw His hands holding a heart and made it into a stained glass design. I drew the hands and heart separately and added the cross and scanned it into my computer and used microsoft publisher to finish my stained glass design. When I printed it, I went over the lines with an embossing pen and added gold ep. I colored the images with watercolors. This card is also for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge to make a card with a house or bulding that showed planning in it's design. My card just is zooming in on a window!

Rest, Relaxation, and double embossing

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."

That is the verse that the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge is based on. We were to make a card that showed rest or relaxation. For me music is what helps me focus on Christ and that makes me feel relaxed and rested. I added little gold music notes from my Layers of Color Joyful Noise set.

This card is also for the TCL double embossing. I ink sprayed and smashed the base and ran it through my dotted swiss cuttlebug folder. I then layed my Layers of Color stencil over the paper. I used my versamark ink to cover the openings. I sprinkled gold ep and heat embossed it. I added the butterfly from the Layers of Color Joyful Noise. I watercolored it and added glamour dust.

This card is going to a special lady who is helping me get some rest this week. Her name is Ardy. She is spending the week at boyscout camp being MOM to 20 boys (2 of which are mine). She is cooking the meals and sacrificing her comfortable bed, so my boys can have a great time at camp. I hope to get this quickly in the mail so she can get it before camp is over.

Fireworks

My teenage daughter Johanna took some awesome firework photos. If you would like to see them Here is the link.

Mini Hymnal

Close up view of mini hymnal.

I saw this tutorial on Valita's blog on making a book-easel card. I just had to try it. My blue flower is the one that I made for Holly's challenge to make a flower not using a flower punch. I used 8 scalloped circle punches to make that flower. The two little red ones were also hand made but I made the using a flower punch so that would be cheating right!! LOL. They have two layers of red with a center made out of a fringed cut quilled strip. This is also for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge, in honor of the 4th of July, our nation's birthday, to use red and blue on our card. I chose these 2 hymns for my mini hymnal because in Fairest Lord Jesus the 5th verse says"... Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and Honor, Praise, Adoration, now and forevermore be Thine." He truly is Lord of all the nations. He blesses those who acknowledge his lordship. I used Faith of our Fathers because of verse 2. It says"...Faith of our fathers, we will strive, to win all nations unto thee; and through the truth that comes from God, we all shall then be truly free."

Happy Fourth of July

A few photos from last night's firework show.

My 11 year old son, Kaleb took the next one. He thought it looked like a cross.

My sons Joshua and Kaleb were part of a flag ceremony at Church

this morning.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord

As we get ready for the 4th of July, my prayer is that our nation will once again choose God as our Lord!

Cast All your anxiety

This scripture is so comforting to me. What a blessing to bring our cares to God. One of my favorite quotes is by Max Lucado it goes..."What matters to you, matters to God." I was talking with my mom about the idea of bringing even the little things before the throne of grace, and she told me about this Family Circus Cartoon that she had cut out and has on her refrigerator. It says "It's ok to pray for something little, Jeffy. Everything's little to God."