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."

Happy Blog Anniversary

Well, it is a couple of days late, but that is just about right for me. It seems I'm always rushing and always running late. I have learned so much in the past year about blogging. It is hard to believe that I have been doing this for a year. I look forward to what this next year is going to bring.

TLC Pounded flowers

The technique lovers challenge at SCS was to use our cuttlebug to smoosh flowers and make this cool looking paper. I used little wildflowers, ok weeds from the yard of our trucking business to smoosh. I added the striped dp for ths Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge.

Alice In Wonderland

My youngest son has spent the past 2 months preparing for his first musical/play. He played the dodo bird in a production of Alice in Wonderland. Here he is with some of the cast. Here he is with Reva the music director.

Here he is with Chantel, the drama director.

Here he is with one of the Cheshire cats.

The whole cast.

Volunteering with the production, with costumes, props, and back stage help, took up most of my spare time, but to see the smile on my son's face was so worth it.

Ink Spray Smash Stencil tutorial

I felt in the mood to do a tutorial today since I hadn't done one in awhile. I am going to share one of my favorite techniques combined with the use of my new Layers of Color stencil.
Supplies:
Accetate Report Folder (cut on bottom and one side)
Ink pads
Markers
Water Spray Bottle
Makeup sponge
Layers of Color Natural Flourish Stencil

First I open the report folder and add the ink by pushing the ink pad onto the accetate folder.

Here is what it looks like with several times of adding green.

I added some blue to the other side, then I took cheap markers and scribbled in the blank spaces. I added several colors of green and blue and a little yellow.

Then I sprayed a light mist of water from the spray bottle.

Then I closed the report folder and I let the colors mix. (Try not to touch the folder too much because the colors will mix and you just get one solid color.)

I carefully opened the folder again and lay it down.

I placed a piece of white cardstock onto the folder. I used medium pressure. Then I carefully lifted it up.

This is what my paper looked like when I pulled it up from the folder. I let it dry before the next step.

I placed my Layers of Color stencil over the paper and used a makeup sponge to add the ink to the paper.

I added a little bit of blue to add some shading.

Finished designer paper.

CAS birthday card with my new stencil

I was so blessed to win the Layers of Color stencil that Grace gave away on her blog. I love it and now I want the rest of them. So hard to choose between great crafting materials and feeding my kids. I did the background on this card using acetate ink spray and smash technique. When it dried, I used the Layers of Color- Natural Flourish Stencil, to add the greenery at the bottom. I used my computer to add the sentiment. I needed a quick masquline card for a coworker. I loved how this turned out. This also qualifies for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ to not stamp but use a Sentiment as the focal point.

Johanna's book

My daughter Johanna, had to make a book of poems as a final project in her senior english class. This is the book that she made for me.

Lilly's Card

I made this card for our Pastor's little girl, Lilly. I found out yesterday that she is having an episode of Bell's Palsy. That must be tough for a little 10 year old. When I gave her this card, she tried to smile, but her face wasn't cooperating. I could see it in her eyes though. She gently touched the roses and butterfly, and I could see she was enjoying it. This is also for the Stampin' Sisters In Christ Challenge to have a critter on our card. Of course I had to use my Layers of Color butterfly.

Candy's card

My friend Candy has a birthday tomorrow. I made this card for her. I used my Layers of Color Joyful Noise set. I also made little paper roses.

Roses of Summer

I was listening to the LAST ROSE OF SUMMER while making this card. I made the handmade roses. I added gold heat embossing and little pearls. I added the heart to the card for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge. I used my Layers of Color butterfly.

Part of the reason my blog's been neglected

My oldest daughter Johanna, graduated from High School. I can brag a little about her. She graduated with a 4.0 and was tied for top student with 3 of her friends. She worked very hard and I'm proud of her. It has been crazy with graduation, end of school year, and getting ready for her graduation party.

Kaleb, Johanna, Joshua

I
It was awesome to have family come to visit for this special day. My folks came from Phoenix and, my in laws came from Georgia. We had a great time even though it was hot and muggy.