I live near the Mississippi River and I like to create with odd and ends.(McGyver nickname)
Close up of big butterfly.
This is another Layers of Color butterfly from the Flutterescent set.
This is a sample of some of the butterflies I have. Can you tell I love butterflies?
The scripture for this week’s Stampin’ Sisters in Christ challenge is from:
Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.”
As I was meditating on this verse this past week, I noticed that TREASURE can be both a noun and a verb. When it is a noun, it means prized possession, usually precious metals, gems, wealth and riches. When it is a verb it means to cherish, to hold dear.
When it comes to the noun treasure, I am blessed. I have clothes, a car, and a home. None of them are outstanding though. My clothes all come from thrift stores, I drive an older car, and I have a moderate home filled with 1970’s furniture. A thief if he broke into my home wouldn’t find anything worth his while to steal. I have no gold, no jewelry. I have a 3 year old cell phone, and 6 year old computer. So does that mean I have no treasures?
No, I treasure (verb usage) a lot of things. The things that I hold dear, most people, other than fellow stampers, would laugh at. I treasure, ink pads, stamps, markers, colored pencils, paper, pieces of ribbon, pieces of lace, little pieces of plastic that look like pearls and jewels… There was a synonym to treasure (verb) that hit a little too close to home. It was HOARD. My kids were giving me a hard time last week saying that I hoard things. As hard as it was to admit it, they were right. I have a pile of cereal boxes that I have saved because I might use that cardboard someday. I keep the little plastic containers that my embellishments come in. I did use one this last week on a card, but I still have others in my stash. While I do treasure these things, I know these are just temporary to my real treasures, my salvation, and my relationships with God and those around me. I know that my ink pads will dry up, stamps get lost, markers dry out, colored pencils break, paper warps…but my salvation is FOREVER and my relationship with God is FOREVER, the impact of my relationships with others is everlasting.
The challenge for this week’s card was to use some of our treasures on a card. I have loved this dp from my DCWV Mariposa Stack since I got it at Christmas time. I also used some pinkish cardstock that I had been “Saving” I also added some pearls that were a treasure from my fellow Stampin’ Sister in Christ – Grace. I added some little gems too.
The biggest challenge for me this week is to remember where my true treasure is.
There were 2 hymns that I wanted to share parts of. The first one:
“Be Thou My Vision” By Dallan Forgaill says…
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine Inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my TREASURE, Thou art.
The second one is:
“Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand” by Jennie Wilson
Covet not this world’s vain riches that so rapidly decay, Seek to gain the heav’nly treasures, they will never pass away… Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
This is scripture that I plan on meditating this week:
Isaiah 33:6 “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”
My second card I posted Wednesday at SCS for the sketch challenge. I repurposed an embellishment container to be my fish tank. SEE THERE IS A REASON I HOARD!!!!
I took black fabric paint to add little buttons to the shoe.
The song ANCIENT WORDS, sung by Michael W. Smith is a song that my VIEW Group loves to sing. What is a VIEW group? At our church we break up into small groups that meet in members homes on Sunday nights. We Visit, Instruct, Encourage, and Worship. (VIEW). When my grandparents were young, they had a Sunday night worship service, but meeting in people's homes would have been so strange to them. I really love the fellowship of my VIEW group, so I guess SOME change can be good.
Ancient Words
Lynn DeShazo
Holy words, long preserved
For our walk in this world
They resound with God's own heart
Oh let the ancient words impart
Words of Life, Words of Hope
Give us Strength, help us cope
In this world where e'er we roam
Ancient words will guide us home
Holy words of our Faith
handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice
Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.
Ancient Words, ever true
Changing me and changing you.
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.
I used my computer to print the words to this song onto a piece of parchment. I then took a tea bag and stained it. I tore the edges and added chalk to the torn edges to distress it further. The cameo is sneek peek at a set that will be released next week by Mark's Finest Paper called Grandma's Boudior. I was blessed to have jewelry from my 4 great grandmothers. The actual cost of the jewelry would probably be less than $25, but to me it priceless. They didn't have carved cameos from Italy, but what they gave me means so much more, they gave me their FAITH.
Close up view of the cameo.
