Water colored Variety SSIC 128

This is this week's scripture. James 1:2-3 "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." Be sure to check out what my Stampin' Sister Traci has to say about this verse I know you will be encouraged.

What stood out to me was the word endurance. I got to thinking about why endurance is so important. The older I get, and the more out of shape I get, I notice that my endurance to run or walk isn't like it use to be. When I was in High school and was running every day, I could run a mile like it was nothing. Now because I don't do it often, I would be huffing and puffing my way along. Faith needs constant testing to keep up the endurance. This testing isn't fun, and I would rather skip it sometimes, but God doesn't let us because he sees the end of the race. I hope someday I can say these words. (2 Timothy 4:7)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

The challenge is: Create a card with variegated colors. This can mean a monochromatic card with various shades of one color, or a card that shows variegated as in a variety of colors, or a pop of bright colors in unison as in a boquet of flowers. Be creative!!

I watercolored behind the little girl. I used three different blues to get a subtle variegated look.

Our Sponsor this week is: LA LA LAND CRAFTS
Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created for your inspiration:

Kristine
Linda
Miesje
Peggysue
Traci

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (The Message) In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.

The previous is the scripture that my Stampin' Sister in Christ Peggysue choose for this week. I used The Message version because it made it the most clear to me.

I kinda smiled to myself when I saw that the scripture that Peggysue choose was about fragrances. I consider myself to be an expert when it comes to smells. I am one of the unlucky people who has a super sensitive sense of smell. If smelling were a super power, I would have that super power! My family and close friends know not to wear perfumes or fragrances around me. Most perfumes or fragrances are chemically recreated, and something about smelling them gets me very sick and the smells trigger migranes for me. I inherited this sensitivity from my Dad and my dad's mom. One of the worst places for fragrances is when I go to church. I almost always end up with a headache on Sunday afternoons.

What some people may not realize is how long their "SMELL" lingers on things that they touch or have in their possession. I work with truck drivers. A lot of them smoke in their trucks and give me the paperwork to invoice. I sometimes have to set their paperwork aside and put it in front of a fan to try and diminish the smell of the smoke, just so I can work with it.

What kind of smell are you giving off spiritually? I thought it was interesting in the scripture for today, that the smell we give off is the same, but it is recieved differently. When we share Christ, those who are saved or being saved, say "Wow, That smells really good!" and at the same time to those who are lost, they say "Whoa, what died?"

Peggysue's challenge is to make a card/project with flowers on it. I used dogwood flowers. This set, DOGWOOD BLOSSOMS, was released this last week by Mark's Finest Papers. I have been having a lot of fun playing with this set. I needed to make a sympathy card for a friend who's mother died this last week.

This week's sponsor is VERSES.

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

Kristine
Linda
Miesje
Peggysue
Traci

When I think of fragrant flowers, the rose comes to my mind. I remember smelling the roses that were growing in my mom's garden.

February Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop- Last Day- DOGWOOD BLOSSOMS

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

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods Featured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

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!) All four winners will be announced on February 18, 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 and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday February 17, 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
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the February New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

I think you will be able, with the 4 projects that I am sharing today, to figure out that this set is my favorite one of this months released sets. I love dogwood flowers. When I lived in Georgia, springtime meant Magnolias, Azaleas and Dogwoods. I love doing paper tole with flower images. The first project on the origami box, shows how I would typically do paper tole with cutting out each petal and layering them. I thought when I saw the set that with only 4 petals a flower that it was going to be the easiest flowers yet that I have used the paper tole on... WRONG!!! This spray of flowers took me almost 2 hours and I still didn't really like the results. I added hot glue centers and colored the glue green. Don't get me wrong, I do like this project it just wasn't matching what I had in my head.

So my next attempts were to have 2 layers of the full flower with the top layer shaped. I added hot glue between the layers and shaped the top petals down over the glue. That gave the dimension that I was looking for with a lot less work. Still the flowers on this book mark took me about 45 mins each. I had this scrap of dp that was designed for a scrapbook where you didn't do anything but put the pictures in the provided squares. It sat in my stash forever because I hadn't found a way to use it... until this project.

The next two cards I love how they turned out. I love the sentiment. I am going to give these cards to my daughters. I want them to know I love them and support them. The flowers on these two cards were done like the bookmark, except I added a huge drop of hot glue to the centers and I took pearl fingernail polish and painted the centers.

This is one of my favorite sketches and just screamed out to me to be used as I was making my projects this week.

I love this song and thought I would share it with you today. Have a blessed day. I hope you have been inspired by my projects today!

February Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop day 4 BLESSINGS

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

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods Featured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

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!) All four winners will be announced on February 18, 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 and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday February 17, 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
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the February New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

Isn't this little bunny the cutest? It made me REMEMBER WHEN my sister and I were little we each had a bunny. Mine was "Bugs" and hers was "Bunny". The thing I REMEMBER about Bunny was that Bunny had bright orange pee, and when we had to clean out his cage it was really yucky!!! When we got our rabbits, I didn't know that rabbits scream when they are scared. We kept them in a hutch in our garage to protect them from the elements and one time our dog got into the garage and was barking at them, and we heard the most piercing scream come from their cages. They were fine, just letting us know they were upset. I REMEMBER WHEN my kids were little they had a bunny named Sundae, and my son Josh even had a wild bunny for awhile. When Sundae died we tried to get another rabbit. Sundae had been an extremely calm sweet rabbit and when we got Midnight, we expected the same thing. Midnight turned out to be an extremely anxious rabbit that bit all of us so we had to find her a new home.

I stamped the bunny from the blessings set 2 times. Once on the green dp and once on a piece of tan cardstock. I cut the tan bunny out and layered him on the green. I know that these are supposed to be Easter lillies and supposed to be white, but I REMEMBER WHEN we lived on our farm, there were day lillies that grew all along the roadside that were bright orange and pink, so that is why these are colored this way. I hope you are having fun on this blog hop.

I love this song by Alan Jackson called Remember When. It always makes me cry a little bit, but I love it!!

February Blog Hop - Mark's Finest Papers North American Woods

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

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods eatured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

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!) All four winners will be announced on February 18, 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 and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday February 17, 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
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the February New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

My favorite image from today's set is this little grizzly bear. My oldest son turns 16 this month. When he was little we were having a rummage sale at our church. He found a scruffy, rough (scratchy wool) teddy bear. I think I paid less than a dollar for that bear. He loved that bear and carried him everywhere. My son named the bear GRIZZLE FRIZZ. This grizzly bear made me think of the little boy that I used to have. I think I will slip this birthday card into his book bag.

The grizzly bear was colored and cut out. I used hot glue behind him to adhere him, but I let the glue cool a little to add dimension to the bear. He sticks up beyond the background about 1/4 inch.

I felt like sharing this happy feeling song. It makes me tap my feet, and makes me smile. I know you will enjoy! Have a blessed day!!!

February Blog hop for MFP day one Relax a Bit

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

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Relax A Bit Featured February 14
North American Woods Featured February 15
Blessings Featured February 16
Dogwood Blossoms Featured February 17

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!) All four winners will be announced on February 18, 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 and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST on Friday February 17, 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
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

Our new promotion begins this month! With the purchase of the February New Release Package, you will receive this stamp set for FREE!

Our February New Release Mini:

Spring Joy

Here is my project for today. I made an origami box with an 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of red dp and an 8" x 8" piece of white cardstock. I filled the box with tea bags. I think this will make a cute quick gift for someone who is going through a stressful time.

Happy Valentine's Day. Had to share my favorite Valentine's Day song with you.

SSIC Challenge 126

Note: If you are looking for the Valentine's Blog Hop hosted by the Stampin' Sisters in Christ and Word Art Wednesday scroll down to the next post.

Bleakness, cheerlessness, desolation, desperation, despondency, discouragement, downheartedness, dreariness, gloominess, hopelessness, misery, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness... DEPRESSION.

There are days that I struggle with depression. I just want to crawl back into bed and not face the world. Especially if the sun hasn't been shining for days. I have noticed that when I'm feeling depressed I get the feeling that I will NEVER be happy again and that I will ALWAYS be sad. I believe that Satan uses that lie, and people have committed suicide because they believed it. When I was in high school, there were 5 students that committed suicide in one year. That is a high rate for the small town that I lived in, high for any town. I was friends with two of the students. I have seen first hand the devestation that lie caused not only in their lives but in their friends and families lives as well. The only answer to being lost, hopeless, and discouraged is Jesus. John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and THE TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The TRUTH is in Jesus I have hope, the sun WILL shine again, I WILL be happy again, and the depression WILL pass.

Job had reasons enough to be depressed. He lost all his wealth, and all his children died, and his health was bad. These words are definitely the words of a discouraged, sorrowful person. “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas..."(Job 6:2-3)

In an attempt to encourage Job, his friend, Bildad the Shuhite tells Job "Once more will he fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with rejoicing."(Job 8:21)

Sometimes it takes a friend to remind us of that TRUTH. That is why I love that my friend Miesje choose that verse as our encouragment verse this week. Her challenge is an awesome one: Make me smile! Create a happy card - happy news - rejoicing in life. Who doesn't love happy mail?

When I made my card I was thinking about my friend Dee. There are people I know who use facebook to create drama and to complain... but my friend Dee is always trying to bring a smile to her friends. She is always finding fun, clean puns and jokes to share.

WHY IS TEA SO THERAPUTIC? .... BOILING THE WATER RAISES YOUR SELF OF STEAM.

I had a picture in my mind how I wanted this card to turn out, but struggled getting it to work. I finally had to walk away and let it sit overnight. Then when I came back to it, it came right together. The little pull out pocket with the pun on it has a tea bag inside. The teapot is a sneak peek at a Mark's Finest Papers set called RELAX A BIT that will be released this week. Make sure you come back on Tuesday (Feb 14) to check out the MFP blog hop.

In Christ Alone my HOPE is found...

SSIC and WAW Valentine blog hop

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

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...

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".