The Lord is my provider

This is for the Technique Lover's Challenge to heat emboss on top of dry embossing. I heat embossed gold over the dry embossed border on the panel behind the dragonfly. It didn't turn out exactly how it was supposed to, but I like how it looks. I used Mark's Finest Papers NATURE'S POSTAGE and IN THE FOREST. I colored the image with prisma colored pencils and added glamour dust.
The Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge was to make a blue and green card to remind us of the 23 Psalm. As our shepherd and provider he finds us lovely green grass and blue water to rest by.

Psalm 23
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.


(I posted the King James version because that is what I memorized as a child, and it brings me comfort to read it in this version.)

I made this for a friend of mine from church who has been suffering from seizures. The only way the doctors can control the seizures is to heavily medicate her, which only gives her a couple of hours a day that she is even awake. I just wanted to send her a card to encourage her.

Words....

Proud Mama moment... I wanted to share with you a painting done by my teenage daughter Kristina. She has entered it into an art competion. The theme for this competition is: WORDS.

Sunlight, sunlight in my soul today....

The Friday free for all challenge was to use warm and fuzzy on our card. The warm on my card is the colors orange and yellow and also the hymn... Sunlight by Judson W. Vand De Venter. The fuzzy was the orange fibers that came in a big box, of blog candy, from my friend Grace. This hymn was a favorite of my youngest sister when she was really little. I would sing it to her at nap time and bedtime.

Sunlight

I wandered in the shades of night 'till Jesus came to me, and with the sunlight of His love bid all my darkness flee.

Though clouds may gather in the sky, and billows 'round me roll, however dark the world may be I've sunlight in my soul.

I cross thew ide extednded fields, I journey o'er the plain, and in the sunlight of His love, I reap the golden grain.

Soon I shall see Him as He is, The Light that came to me; behold the brightness of His face, throughout eternity.

Sunlight, sunlight, in my soul today, sunlight, sunlight all along the way; since the Savior found me, took away my sin, I have had the sunlight of His love within.

I Trace the Rainbow through the rain...

Close up of butterfly.

The ways to use it challenge today at SCS was to make a card with a rainbow. The StampinB's challenge was to make a card inspired by a song. This is the result of both of those challenges. I made my rainbow by taking acetate and scribbling markers side by side. I then took a coffee filter and sprayed it with water. I then carefully laid the filter on top of the acetate. The markers slowly mixed giving me this great rainbow. When it was dried I printed this hymn onto it. I picked this hymn because of the line "I trace the rainbow through the rain".

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go (George Mattheson pub 1882.)

O LOVE that will not let me go, I rest my weary sould in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer fuller be.

O LIGHT that followest all my way I yield my flickering torch to thee; my heart restores its borrowed ray, that in thy sunshine's blaze its day may brighter, fairer be.

O JOY that seekest me through pain, I cannot clos my heart to thee. I TRACE THE RAINBOW THROUGH THE RAIN, and feel the promise is not vain, that morn shall tearless be.

O CROSS that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee. I lay in dust life's glory dead, and from the ground ther blossoms red Life that shall endless be.

George Mattheson the author was engaged to be married and at the age of 20 started going blind. His fiance left him because she didn't want to spend her life with a blind man. After he was completely blind his sister took care of him. He wrote this song in 5 mins the night before his sister was to get married. This hymn was based on the following scripture:

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalm 13:5

Hold to God's Unchanging Hand

For this card I used the sketch challenge at SCS. I love how it turned out. I lowered the butterfly panel just a smidge so that you could see the title of the hymn. I made this for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge to make a vintage style card. I used colors and papers that look vintage to me. I think the lace and the pearls also add to the vintage look. The butterflies are from the Mark's Finest Papers set called DAFFODILS and ANISE. The sentiment is from another Mark's Finest Papers set called A WALK IN THE WOODS. I made this for friends of mine from church. Their house was broken into last Saturday. The theives took their car, tvs, computers, money, camera with the sd cards still inside with photos that hadn't been downloaded yet.... but what the theives took that made me feel sad was their peace. They have been very anxious. That is why I wish them Peace. This hymn HOLD TO GOD'S UNCHANGING HAND has a line that says..."Covet not this world's vain riches... that so rapidly decay. Seek to gain the heav'nly treasures. They will never pass away." I hope this thought will encourage them. (side note... I usually edit my photos using Picasa 3. There is a new feature that connects to Picnic. It allowed me to frame my photo in picnic then send it back to picasa. I really like how it looks)

Grace Greater than Our Sin

The Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge this week was to make a vintage card to remind us of God's unchanging love for us. I used the VINTAGE hymn GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN. This may not be the first song or thought that might come to you when you think of a love song, but what shows love more than a God who loved us while we were still sinners. He loved us so much that he gave his only son for us. I have 4 kids that I love, and I can't imagine "Giving" them for someone who didn't know me or care about me, but that is what God did. Before I knew him, HE LOVED ME. Before I wanted a relationship with him, HE LOVED ME. Before I repented of my sins, HE LOVED ME. HE LOVES ME STILL AND ALWAYS WILL.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord. Grace that exceed our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
Sin adn despair like the seawaves cold. Threaten the soul with infinite loss. Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold, points to the refuge the mighty cross.
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can we do to wash it away? Look! There is flowing a crimson tide. Brighter than snow you may be today.
Marvelous infinite matchless grace, freely bestowed on ALL who believe! You that are longing to see His face, will you this moment His grace receive?
Grace, Grace, God's Grace, Grace that will pardon and clease within. Grace, Grace, God's Grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!

This card was also for the Technique Lovers Challenge at SCS. We were to make faux tiles. I made my faux tiles with the hymn page that I printed on dp. I added lace, pearls, and ribbons for the vintage look. I stitched the panels on to the card. I used the butterfly from Mark's Finest Papers TAKE A PEEK set and the sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers HAPPY PANSIES.

Mariposa Flying

Layers of Color is the sponsor for Card Patterns Sketch Challenge. What a fun sketch. I used cardstock from DCMV The Mariposa Stack. I love this paper. It looks especially great with my Layers of Color FLUTTERESCENT butterfly. I love all the sparkle and gold in the papers. I embossed the Layers of Color butterfly with gold ep to coordinate. I watercolored the butterfly after it was embossed. I cut it out and gave it dimension by rolling it over my fingers. I stitched a lace panel at the bottom. I used a stampin' up border punch at the top. Instead of a ribbon at the top, I used a piece of decorative trim. I used the sentiment from Mark's Finest Papers HAPPY PANSIES set.

Does Jesus Care?

Does Jesus Care?

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained too deep for mirth or song

as the burdens press, and the cares distress and the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark witha nameless dread and fear?

As the daylight fades into deep night shaes, does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care when I've tried and failed to resist some temptation strong?

When for my deep grief there is no relief, though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I've said "goodbye" to the dearest on earth to me;

And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks. Is it aught to Him? Does he see?

OH YES HE CARES I KNOW HE CARES! HIS HEART IS TOUCHED WITH MY GRIEF!

WHEN THE DAYS ARE WEARY, THE LONG NIGHTS DREARY, I KNOW MY SAVIOR CARES!!!!!!

I made this card for the free for all challenge to have a word or phrase repeated over and over as part of the background of the card. I used my computer to print, OH YES HE CARES over and over. I printed this old hymn on blue cardstock. I added a photo cut from a calendar that my aunt gave me. (It was from last month's picture) I stamped the lighthouse from Mark's Finest Papers set called WELCOME HOME. I added twine and brads and sewed around the edges. I made this for an older friend from church. He hurt his back this week and had to go to the emergency room today because he couldn't move at all. I hope that it will encourage him and remind him that JESUS does indeed care, and so do I.

Brighten the corner...

Brighten the Corner Where You Are

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do. Do not wait to shed your light afar. To the many duties ever near you, now be true. Brighten the corner where you are. Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear. Let not narrow self your way debar. Though into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer. Brighten the corner where you are. Home for all your talent you may find a need, Here reflect the bright and Morning Star. Even from your humble hand, The Bread of Life my feed. Brighten the corner where you are. Brighten the corner where you are, Brighten the corner where you are. Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar; brighten the corner where you are.

The words to this old hymn were going through my head this morning after a friend posted the title as her status on Facebook. I looked up the hymn and was really touched by the part of the verse that I have in bold letters. It so describes my desire to use my talents to praise God and to encourage others. So many times Satans whispers to me that I can't do anything... I can not cure diseases, fix world hunger, manage the economy... so many things I can't do. Then I am reminded that what I can do is... make a card, write a note... send some mail so that someone has a happy moment at their mailbox.

Today's challenge was to use a gradient ink pad. I didn't have one so I stamped several colors of ink onto a sheet of acetate. I then stamped my heart onto the acetate and then onto the paper. The result was a little softer and faded than if I had inked it directly. I stamped over the top with versamark and heat embossed UTEE. I printed the hymn onto green cardstock. I added lace, ribbon, buttons, and a quilled heart. The base of the card was embossed with my cuttlebug using the dotted swiss folder. I wanted the dots to compliment the dots on the ribbon.

It is well with my Soul

I made this card for a friend who is suffering from depression, and struggling with financial difficulties. I wanted to remind her that no matter what the circumstances, that God is with her and that it IS WELL with her soul. It was also a reminder to me as well. I wanted this card to look "RICH". I used Gold ribbon, gold ep on the butterfly, the hymn was printed on gold tissue paper. You can't see it from the photo, and I tried taking several photos, there is a gold sparkle and shimmer to the tissue paper. I also used gold foil from a candy bar. I glued the foil to cardstock and embossed. My sons were selling candy bars to raise money for boy scout camp. I bought one and gave it to my daughter. I told her she could eat all the chocolate, but had to give me the wrapper. She thought she made out better on that deal. I used dp from DCWV the mariposa stack. I added lace and pearls. I stitched the card together with my sewing machine. The butterfly was a LAYERS of COLOR butterfly.

Close up of the butterfly.

Great is Thy Faithfulnes

This card is for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge to make a NEW card. A card that represents New to us.
We all love something NEW. New baby, New car, New clothes, New stamps, New designer paper.... but to me the BEST new is the mercy of God. I love the song Great is thy Faithfulness. My favorite part is...MORNING BY MORNING NEW MERCIES I SEE. Everything in this world that is new gets old. Little babies become teenagers, adults, middle-agers, seniors... new cars become old cars, new clothes become old-out of fashion clothes (unless you keep them long enough then they become new again, just ask my daughter who says my clothes from the 80's are "IN" now) new stamps and paper are fun until we see the new releases, then our "new stamps and paper" don't satisfy anymore and we need to get new toys. Isn't is wonderful that we can have a new start with God each and everyday? I think it is!! He suprises me all the time with the New things He is doing in my life.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou for ever will be
Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
Great is thy faithfulness

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
Great is thy faithfulness

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me


The new for me on this card was a new sketch #316 and new dp. I got the DCWV mariposa stack for Christmas from a dear friend. I just had to use some of this gorgeous paper. I can see me wanting to hoard this paper and that wouldn't do anyone any good, so I forced myself to cut it up for this card. I printed sheet music for the classic hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" onto the floral cardstock. I also printed the sentiment using microsoft word art. The dimensional butterflies are from LAYERS OF COLOR. I stamped them on peach colored paper and embossed with gold ep. I added lace and pearls and stitched the card together to finish it.

Close up of big Layers of Color butterfly.

Close up of little Layers of Color butterfly.

Welcome to the final day of the MFP January Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS!


And…LOOK for the WINNERS of the Blog Hop TOMORROW!!!

Our New Sets are: In the Forest, Happy Pansies, Sew What, and Floral Tea.For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

For your chance to win BLOG CANDY, (a set that will be released NEXT month), visit and comment on each of the following design team members' blogs TODAY. On Saturday, January 15, 2011, a winner will be chosen from those participants who visited all the blogs listed for today. (There will be four different winners, one winner for each day of the blog hop. You DO NOT have to comment every day. However, the more days you comment, the more chances you have to win!) If you miss a day, you can go back and comment on each day's blogs, as the winners will be chosen Saturday morning.



FRIDAY, January 14, 2011-Floral Tea

Emily-

Karen-

Patty-

Roxie-

Vicki-

Liz:

Claudine-

Dawn-

Joanne T-

Nicole -

Marilynn-

I knew I wanted to make a tea box for the hop. I tried to find one at 2 different craft stores last week and had given up finding one. Then this week, my oldest daughter decided to clean my craft closet at home and found it. I had totally forgotten about it. It was the perfect little paper mache box for this project. It measures 3"x3"x1 1/2". I painted the box with acrylic paints. I glued lace trim around the edges. The teapot was stamped, colored and cut out. The sentiment tea time was stamped with black stazon randomly on the lid and sides.

Just the right size for holding teabags. Peppermint tea... my favorite...yummmmm!!!!

Now on to the rest of the hop...

Peggysue-

Susan –

Connie –

Emily N.-

Neva

Mark’s Finest Papers

Day 3 of Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop for January

Welcome to the MFP January Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS!


And…LOOK for the WINNERS of the Blog Hop Saturday!

Our New Sets are: In the Forest, Happy Pansies, Sew What, and Floral Tea.For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

For your chance to win BLOG CANDY, (a set that will be released NEXT month), visit and comment on each of the following design team members' blogs TODAY. On Saturday, January 15, 2011, a winner will be chosen from those participants who visited all the blogs listed for today. (There will be four different winners, one winner for each day of the blog hop. You DO NOT have to comment every day. However, the more days you comment, the more chances you have to win!) If you miss a day, you can go back and comment on each day's blogs, as the winners will be chosen Saturday morning.



Thursday, January 13, 2011-Sew What?

Nancyruth

Lois

Vicky

Dawn L.

Anne

Emily

Karen

Patty

Roxie

Vicki

Liz

Claudine

Dawn M

Joanne T

Nicole

Marilynn

Geri

Lynn

Neva

Mark’s Finest Papers

I think this set is simply adorable. I knew first thing when I saw it, that I would make a little sewing kit. I used THIS TEMPLATE from Mirkwood Designs.

Front view of sewing kit.

Back side of sewing kit. I sewed buttons to the sides and attached black thread to wrap around the buttons to close the kit. Doesn't that stamped zig zag stitching look real?

Outside of needle pack. I stamped the thimble with versamark and heat embossed silver ep.

Inside of needle pack. I cut the top off of a needle pack and glued the back to the inside of my pack.



Thread holder. I stamped the spool from the set twice. I cut them out and glued them together and when that was dry I wrapped the thread around it. I cut two little slots on either end to hold the thread.

Button pack. I used a small ziplock baggie. I filled it with black and white buttons. I stapled the topper to it.

Day 2 of Mark's Finest Papers's Blog Hop for January

Welcome to the MFP January Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS!


And…LOOK for the WINNERS of the Blog Hop on Saturday!

Our New Sets are: In the Forest, Happy Pansies, Sew What, and Floral Tea.For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

For your chance to win BLOG CANDY, (a set that will be released NEXT month), visit and comment on each of the following design team members' blogs TODAY. On Saturday, January 15, 2011, a winner will be chosen from those participants who visited all the blogs listed for today. (There will be four different winners, one winner for each day of the blog hop. You DO NOT have to comment every day. However, the more days you comment, the more chances you have to win!) If you miss a day, you can go back and comment on each day's blogs, as the winners will be chosen Saturday morning.



WEDNESDAY, January 12, 2011- Happy Pansies

Nancyruth

Lois

Vicky

Dawn L.

Anne

Peggysue

Susan

Connie

Claudine

Dawn

Joanne T

Nicole

Marilynn (You are here now)

Geri

Lynn

Emily N.

Mark’s Finest Papers

I remember my grandmother's garden. She loved pansies. I remember going with her in the early morning to cut flowers from her garden to bring inside the house. She had little bud vases throughout her house. In memory of my grandma, I wanted to make this card with a vintage feel. That is why I added lace and pearls. I W.I.S.H-ed the background with green, blue and purple markers. I watercolored the pansies. I cut them out added brads for the centers and popped them up with craft foam.

Welcome to the MFP January Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS!


And…LOOK for the WINNERS of the Blog Hop Saturday!

Our New Sets are: In the Forest, Happy Pansies, Sew What, and Floral Tea.For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

For your chance to win BLOG CANDY, (a set that will be released NEXT month), visit and comment on each of the following design team members' blogs TODAY. On Saturday, January 15, 2011, a winner will be chosen from those participants who visited all the blogs listed for today. (There will be four different winners, one winner for each day of the blog hop. You DO NOT have to comment every day. However, the more days you comment, the more chances you have to win!) If you miss a day, you can go back and comment on each day's blogs, as the winners will be chosen Saturday morning.



TUESDAY Jauary 11, 2011- In the Forest

Nancyruth

Lois

Vicky

Dawn L.

Anne

Peggysue

Susan

Connie

Emily

Karen

Patty

Roxie

Vicki

Liz

Geri

Lynn

Emily N.

Neva

Mark’s Finest Papers



Here is what I created using this set. I made this for the lead pastor of our church. I think this set is fabulous for making masculine cards. I used another Mark's Finest Papers set called A WALK IN THE WOODS for the envelope for this card.

Mark's Finest Papers sneak peek

For today's technique lovers challenge at SCS, we were to combine a recent technique challenge, color challenge and sketch challenge. This is what I came up with. I used a set called FLORAL TEA by Mark's Finest Papers. It will be released tomorrow along with 3 other fabulous sets. Make sure you come back tomorrow to see what I created for the Mark's Finest Papers January Blog Hop.

Tea Time

This is what I had in mind when I made my card yesterday for the sketch challenge. I wanted a pocket to slide a little tea bag into. This card was a remake and I love how this one turned out. I liked yesterdays card but I love today's card. So similar yet different.

Sketch challenge

I loved the sketch for this weeks SCS sketch challenge. The top card used Layers of Color butterfly from the set called "JOYFUL NOISE" and the bottom card used a little teapot from Mark's Finest Papers set to be released next week called "FLORAL TEA".