Do not be afraid.

Several weeks ago my friend Diane asked all the Dream Team designers to pick their favorite scripture. She the made 3 digital sets using those scriptures.You can find them in her store.

 Set 1

 Set 2

 Set 3

I can tell you now that I am going to be using them a lot. She did such an amazing job. I used today's SCS sketch challenge 409  It was a great sketch to showcase the scripture. I really like how this turned out. I will be sharing it with the Word Art Wednesday blog as well.

Harvest

So many challenges so little time...what is a girl to do? Combine them of course. I combined the TLC401 woven ribbon challenge, with the Mojo265, DRS48 (autumn) and Word art Wednesday challenges. I used the new cracked background from Mark's Finest Papers set called Cracked hello. I stamped it on each layer and then ink spray smashed the layers with blue, turquoise, browns, and reds. The sentiment is from MyDAYDREAM DESIGNS.   I stamped the leaf using cabin fever ink and Mark's Finest Papers set called Autumn glory.  To make the holes for the ribbon to be woven, I used my Martha Stewart ribbon punch. The ribbon is a sheer golden ribbon. I added a paper doily and two pearl stick pins. I used my sewing machine to sew all the different layers.



Yesterday my pastor was talking about how we harvest what we sow.  I live in farm country, and I am fully aware that when you plant corn you get corn, when you plant beans you get beans. All the farmers would be pretty upset if they got a harvest that was different from what they were expecting.

  Each day I have the choice which seeds I plant. If I plant seeds of hatred, anger, gossip, lies, jealousy... I will have a harvest of the fruit of the flesh, but on the other hand if want a harvest of the fruit of the spirit, I need to plant, love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

The other thought that I had was that some seeds take longer to get a harvest. Some seeds when planted can have a harvest in a month or two, but then I thought about an apple seed. I can plant a seed today and it will be years before I will see the harvest. I wonder if it is the same with spiritual seeds? If that is the case then endurance and waiting on the Lord will be required!

What are you planting today?

It's about TIME

This week it is my friend Sandie's turn to be the hostess. She picked  Eccl. 3: parts of 1-8 as the scripture to meditate on.

1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

² A time to be born,
    And a time to die;
A time to plant,
    And a time to pluck what is planted;
³ A time to kill,
    And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
    And a time to build up;
⁴ A time to weep,
    And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
    And a time to dance;
⁵ A time to cast away stones,
    And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
    And a time to refrain from embracing;
⁶ A time to gain,
    And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
    And a time to throw away;
⁷ A time to tear,
    And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
    And a time to speak;
⁸ A time to love,
    And a time to hate;
A time of war,
    And a time of peace.

Her challenge is about Time. Use clocks/watches, calendars, sundials, etc. OR black and white only (to represent night and day).

For my card I was thinking about the passage of time and wanted to go for a vintage look. I used my new Mark's Finest Papers crackled background, and butterfly from the newly released set called Cracked Hello. The car, clock and sentiment are from a Tim Holtz set. I added lace, pearls, jewels and roses to add to the vintage look. 

I wanted to share with you a poem about time that I read this week.

During all the years since time began,
Today has been the friend of man.
But in his blindness and his sorrow,
He looks to yesterday and tomorrow.
Forget past trials and your sorrow
There WAS, but is no yesterday
and there may be no tomorrow.
(Author unknown)

I'm praying that you are taking time to enjoy TODAY, praise God TODAY, share love TODAY.

The sponsor this week is Inspired Stamps.
Check out what my Stampin’ Sisters in Christ have created to share with you.
Candace
Diane
Helen
Jerusha
Kris
Linda
Michelle
Miesje
Peggysue
Sandie
Traci

I woke up the other day with this song on my mind. Thank you God for all the beautiful things that you have given us to enjoy in your wonderful world. 

Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop October-On The Fly

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

   October Blog

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

   October Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Christmas Selections Featured October 23

Poinsettia Blooms Featured October 24

Cracked Hello Featured October 25

On The Fly Featured October 26

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 October 27, 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 October 26, 2012.

If you didn't know it, October is Pastor appreciation month.All month long we have been encouraged to give a card of encouragement to our pastors. Pastor, Terry, the senior pastor of our church, has 2 passions, the gospel and fishing. If the weather is good or even if it isn't Terry and his twin brother Gary will go out in their boat on the Mississippi river to catch fish. When I saw this set, I knew I was going to use it to make a card for Pastor Terry. At first I tried to make a spinner card. It was cute, but after 15 or more tries to get the spinner balanced, I gave up. I decided to make an easel card with the fish hanging. both sides of the fish are matched up. I stamped the fish once. Then I photo copied him, scanned him into my computer and "flipped" him. The mirror image and original image were both cut out. I glued the fishing line (twine) between the two sides and glued the other end to the fishing pole. Notice the background? I used the crackle background stamp from CRACKED HELLO. I stamped it several times in 3 different shades of blue.  I think it made it look like water.

 I printed out Matthew 4:19 which says

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

This shows a side view of the
easel card.  

Here is a close up that shows the coloring that I

did on the fish. I randomly painted dots of purple,

green, teal, 3 shades of grey, blue,and dark blue.

I purposely left some of the fish white for highlights.

Mark's Finest Papers October Blog Hop- Cracked Hello

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

   October Blog

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

   October Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Christmas Selections Featured October 23
Poinsettia Blooms Featured October 24
Cracked Hello Featured October 25
On The Fly Featured October 26

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 October 27, 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 October 26, 2012.

This card uses this week's mojo sketch as the base. I love this crackle background stamp. It was one of those stamps that you fall in love with right away. I'll admit with all the butterfly stamps that I already own, when I saw this one I first thought... great just another butterfly, but after stamping it a couple of times I am in love with it too. It is one of the easiest butterfly stamps that I have to make it look like a real butterfly.

More crackle background on little squares with three more butterflies.

These cards are ones I made last week during the sneak peek week. Can you tell I love this set?

Mark's Finest Papers October Blog Hop- Poinsettia Blooms

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

   October Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Christmas Selections Featured October 23
Poinsettia Blooms Featured October 24
Cracked Hello Featured October 25
On The Fly Featured October 26

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 October 27, 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 October 26, 2012.
Lois
Vicky
Jane C
Pat G.
Karen k.
Patty P.
Angela B
MariLynn This is me
Pam
Debbie
Cathy C
Bonnie
Kathy
An'Jenic
Thrifty Stamper
Toni
Tangii
Tammylee
Janis L
Sue
Kelli
Janine
Mark's Finest Papers

I decided to make a little Christmas gift box with this set. I made a
simple origami box and I put a paper tole poinsettia on the lid of the box,
I would like to get some loose leaf tea to put in it. I think that a Christmas tea would be
a great gift to give as a quick little something for someone.

Mark's Finest Papers October Blog Hop -Christmas Selections

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

   October Blog

Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's 

   October Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Christmas Selections Featured October 23
 Poinsettia Blooms Featured October 24
Cracked Hello Featured October 25
On The Fly Featured October 26

I love little cardinals. I love seeing them in winter. The little touch of  red

as it contrasts to the snow is so cheery. Now my husband and sons like cardinals

but of a different type. They are all Cardinal baseball fans. They were so hoping to

see them in the world series this year. I was going to make a card saying way to go cardinals

and have it be a waterfall card, but after a few minutes of the game last night,

I knew that plan wouldn't work. I had these 4 little cardinals panels all stamped and assembled...

What to do with a change of plans? ...Well, I started by looking  in my embellishment drawer.

In the drawer were some gaudy red ribbons and bells with a puffy,satin Christmas tree. The were given to me as a gift and I thought, I will never use these... but at the same

time I am such a hoarder, I couldn't get rid of them, and I'm glad I didn't.

 They were the perfect finishing  touch to my little cardinal panels.

 

This shows the back side of two of the tags.I had a thought afterwards

that kinda tied into the Cardinals losing the game that these

could say "for whom the bell tolls." I may put a little note saying that

and give them to my guys.

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 October 27, 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 October 26, 2012.

Peace

The challenge hostess this week is my dear friend Peggysue. She has picked this verse for this week.:

John 16:33 (NIV) "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Her challenge is to make a card that to you represents peace or calm; with an image, color scheme, CAS layout or verse, something that speaks peace to you, but peace symbols themselves are excluded. The card has to speak peace through your own style.

The other day on facebook, one of my friends had posted a folk story about a painter who was asked by a wealthy client to paint a picture that depicted peace. He first painted a picture that showed a pastoral valley filled with flowers with mountains in the background. The client said. "No this isn't right, try again." So the painter went back to his studio and painted another painting. Each time he brought the painting of peace to the client, he was told "No, this isn't right, try again." He was getting frustrated and finally sat down and prayed. He then had the answer and went to work painting. The painting he presented to the client showed turbulent ocean crashing against the rocks, with storm clouds overhead with winds blowing. The client was confused at first, until he leaned in for a closer look at the painting. Then he smiled and said "YES, you did it." What was it that he saw? It was a little bird sitting on a nest peaceful and calm in spite of the storm.

I found another version of this folk story, with a painting called TRUE PEACE HERE.

So that along with the scripture was the inspiration for my card. Last week I was inspired by the colors of the storm outside my window to make some designer paper, with ink spray smash technique,  that looked to me like storm.I then printed the bird from My Daydream Designs - Birds and Bees Digi set. I printed the sentiment from My Daydream Designs - Birds and Bees Sentiments.

This challenge and scripture was extremely relevant to me this week.I have been going through several "Storms" of life. Trouble upon trouble. Just as soon as one storm clears, another is there. I am slowly learning that while I can't control the situations around me, the storms around me, I can find peace and shelter in the storm in Jesus. The song by Casting Crowns called "Praise you in the Storm" came to my mind this week. The other song that came to my mind was the song by Scott Krippayne called "Sometimes He calms the Storm"




There are so many days that I ask God to take away the storms and they are still there. Like the lyrics from the Casting Crown song...."I say amen, and it's still raining..." I know He can calm the storms but sometimes He doesn't. That is why I like the lyrics to the second song that  say..."Sometimes He holds us close and lets the winds and waves go wild."  What a comfort to know that if I have to go through the storm He is right there holding me and giving me peace.. 

Our sponsor this week is My Daydream Designs. You should go check out all the wonderful digital images there. I know you will find something that you will just love.

Check out what my Stampin’ Sisters in Christ have created to share with you.
Candace
Diane
Helen
Jerusha
Kris
Linda
Michelle
Miesje
Peggysue
Sandie
Traci

Don't give up

This is a card that I would say took a

quite a bit of practice to make. I wanted to try the

Splitcoast Stampers Technique Lovers Challenge

to do Acrylic Block Collage Technique. 

It looked like an easy one to do. And the

results in the TLC399 gallery  were amazing and

artistic. But I have to say this was one of the

hardest challenges for me.This photo below

shows the 17 failed tries. I had almost given up

and thought, well, this technique isn't for me, 

when my friend Pam encouraged me to give it 

another try.

This is the result of my 18th try. What I did

differently was I added raffia to cover up the rough 

edge on top, and I also just relaxed and said,

It is ok if it isn't perfect, just do it.

Then when I was done, I looked at it,  and

realized that I really liked it. It helped

that I used the new cracked background stamp

from MFP. It is going to be released next week.

It is called CRACKED HELLO.

Have you ever just seen a stamp and know

right away that it is going to be one of your favorites?

Well that is what has happened with this set. 

I looked at the butterfly and thought... yea another butterfly,

not like I don't have a million of those already. But, I

am really loving this one. It is really easy to color and make

it look like a real one.

The card below used the same set and I did crayon resist for the

 Ways to Use it challenge.

I am thankful for encouraging friends who don't let me give up!!!!

Trees

Summer

Fall

Winter

Spring

I love trees. God made them beautiful in any season.

 Psalm 52:10 - But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;

 I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.

That scripture is the one that my friend and sister in Christ, Miejse picked for this week's contemplation.

When reading it, I had a picture of God's house and his yard. Trees of every shape and kind. All flourishing and doing well. This summer where I live the heat and dry season was very hard on a lot of trees. They didn't look well. In fact some look like they died. People who cared about their trees took extra effort to make sure that they were watered.  Only time will tell if the trees in my yard will make it. The old oak trees don't look very good. That makes me sad because as I said above, I love trees. Perhaps one of my earliest memories is laying in bed looking out the window at the leaves on the tree, while I was supposed to be taking a nap. When I got a little older, my mom would have to look for me because I was always climbing the trees. I've climbed fig trees, orange trees, oak trees, pine trees... I loved being up off of the ground and hidden away.  

Miejse's challenge was to make a card or project with a tree on it.

My first card has a really close up look at the tree with just the pine branches and pincones with a little nuthatch. The sky was dark and rainy today and was the inspiration for the background. As I was making this card, I looked out my window, into the rain and saw the house sparrow that has been my companion all year. As I do my work, I look out the window and see him and his mate. The like to sit on the roof of a near by shed. I call them my little friends. I even talk to them through the window. To me they are a wonderful reminder that because God takes care of the sparrows, he will take care of me. I love the old hymn "His eye is on the Sparrow". I printed it twice. My card is a bifold card. I have the song on the card twice. Once as a background behind the circle and again on the inside flap. I wanted the words to be seen because they are such a comfort to me and I wanted the person who gets this card to be ale to read them. The person that I had in mind when making this card is my friend Michelle. She and her husband pastor the church that I go to. The past couple of months have brought life storms into their lives. First my pastor's grandpa died. He was a believer, so we know that he is with God, but it is still a hard time for the family, and then this last Sunday night, Michelle's brother Jesse was in a horrible motorcycle accident. That night the doctors didn't give the family any hope of him living beyond that night. But he is still alive. I believe that he is still alive because our God is a merciful God and is giving Jesse more time. He is not a believer. I am praying that God will heal him and that Jesse will choose Christ as his savior. What a testimony he will have when that happens. I would like to ask you to join me in praying for Jesse.  

Inside view of bifoldcard.

 

My second card shows a big tree with on of my favorite 

verses from Jeremiah 17:8

The stamps for both of these cards are from Mark's Finest Papers sets.

Our Sponsor for this week is: Whimsy Stamps.

Sometimes real life gets in the way of our hobbies. That was the case with several of my Stampin' Sisters. So if you need inspiration on making a card with a tree, make sure you check out what my sisters did at

Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenges.

Look to the Lord of the Harvest

This card is for the sketch challenge at Splitcoast Stampers.  SC406 When I saw the sketch I thought this little Mark's Finest Papers pumpkin from the set called Autumn Splendor would be the perfect image. I did paper tole on the pumpkin so it has dimension. Because the pumpkin is cut out and 3-d I had to cut the tendrils off. I replaced them with Want2Scrap bling. The sentiment is from My Daydream Designs - Harvest of Gratitude set. I have been hoarding this paper for so long. I loved the colors and texture. It was time to use it today because I think it makes a fabulous background for this sentiment and pumpkin. I am going to share this card at Word Art Wednesday where we were reminded to be kind. I was reminded that kindness is a fruit of the Spirit.I am praying that the Lord of the Harvest will find the fruit of Kindness in my life.

A big, big love

The Stampin' Sisters in Christ hostess this week is the talented Michelle.

She picked this scripture to mediate on:

Eph 3:17-19 "that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.

I read an explanation of this verse by David Wilkerson. He was saying that these verses  about being rooted and grounded was about building the foundation of our lives on the knowledge that Christ and God love us. To build that foundation we need to know how wide and how long and deep and how high that love is. When we know that we realize that God's love is enough. It made me think of a line from the song I shared last week. Grace greater than our sin. God's love is greater than our sin. It is greater than our hopes and dreams. It is greater than our short comings. It is greater than our wants or our needs. It is so hard to understand how great this love is. A love of a Father who gave his only Son to die for us, especially since it was while we were still sinners.

(Romans 5:8  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.) 

A love of Christ who while they were taking his life said.

(Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34)

I hope you know this love because

 a love this big, deep, tall, wide, high, long... is a love that will change your life.

Michelle's challenge is to make a box or have an image of a box on your card. I decided to make a little box.

My box is a little box to hold hot cocoa. I always struggle with backgrounds for snowmen.

I didn't want just white behind him, but how to make it look like it was snowing. I could either have white on blue, or blue on white. I choose the latter. I did ink spray smashand used 3 different colors of blue. I purposely let the colors puddle so it would be blotchy, not just one solid color.

I think it worked to look like it was snowing. I printed the little snowman. I cut the top of the

ear muffs off. I replaced that with a piece of wire. 

I colored the snowman with prisma colored pencils. I added glue and glitter to the pile of

snow that he is standing in. I am going to make a total of 4 of these boxes. My daughters are both away at college. I thought it would be neat to make  a box for each of them and one for their roommates as well. 

The little snowman on my box is from The Digi Garden. which happens to be our sponsor this week. Make sure you check them out, as well as what my wonderfully creative  Stampin’ Sisters in Christ have created to share with you.
October guest designer: Tina.
Candace
Diane
Helen
Jerusha
Kris
Linda
Michelle
Miesje
Peggysue
Sandie

4 Challenge card

This card was a combination of several challenges:
1. Word Art Wednesday. This was the scripture given last Wednesday.(WOW-47)
2. The woven part is for this week's Splitcoast Stampers Technique Lover's Challenge.(TL397)
3. The colors, although really hard to tell, because my camera just couldn't get them true, were today's
    Splitcoast Stampers Color Combo challenge ( CC395)
4. And even though it is a stretch, I did start out with Mojo261 as the sketch for this card. I had to tweak it
    a little bit. I hope that you can still see it.