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Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas!


Wishing all of you in blog land a very Merry Christmas!

The design team at Stampin' Sisters in Christ is taking a break until January 8th, so you have until then to enter our current challenge to use inchies. Check out the main blog here.

The other design team sisters at Stampin' Sisters in Christ have Christmas cards to share with you all as well. You can visit their blogs as listed below. We look forward to a new year of spreading the love of Christ through papercrafting starting next month. You can find our challenges each Sunday starting January 9th. Wishing you all a blessed holiday and may you find true joy in the birth of Jesus Christ!

Chris Olsen: Twinkles Glow with Stamps
Grace Nyweming: Th-INK-ing of You
Miesje Flach: Craft Room with a View
Linda Lucas: Lovely Linda's Craft Central
Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow {on break}
Patti J Gilliam: Cherish Each Precious Day
Rebekka Reed: A Diamond in the Rough
Randi Barrett: Randi's A New Creation {on break}

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 7o . . . think small

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. You can find the main page here where you will find the lovely creations by the other design team sisters. This week I have the good fortune to be the hostess, and Our Daily Bread Designs is our sponsor. They are awarding a $15 gift card to one lucky, randomly selected winner on our blog so although it is a busy week, we hope you can play along.

The verse I selected for this week is from Micah 5:2 {NKJV} "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting."

Here are my thoughts on the verse I selected:
My husband loves adventures; he loves to explore. A few years ago at Christmas the kids got him a book entitled, 1,ooo Places to See Before You Die.

Two thousand years ago if there had been such a book, Bethlehem would not have been included on the list. And of all the places included in that thousand, my guess is that very few of us live in one of them. The world is dotted with small towns, villages, out of the way corners and even random streets within large cities where millions live and go about their business every day. We live ordinary lives in ordinary places completing ordinary tasks.

And that very ordinary life might cause you to feel a sense of defeat, of hopelessness, especially at this time of year. What significance do I have, what contribution am I making, in this very ordinary life of mine?

God's message to you from this verse is that there is no insignificant member of his family. He doesn't make mistakes. God has placed you in that ordinary place in your specific situation for a reason, for a purpose that fits into his eternal plan.

Feel the tenderness in that verse . . . 'though you are little among the thousands of Judah'. . . and let that tenderness wash over your soul. God feel the same way about you, He has his loving eyes upon you. Out of the thousands and millions of people on this earth, He notices you from among all of them. And just as God chose the small town of Bethlehem to bring forth the Savior of this world, He can use you for kingdom work, right where you are.

That's why this week's challenge is to use an inchie or inchies in your stamped creation, to remind us that no matter how small we might feel we have great beauty in God's eyes and a purpose in his plan.

There are many ways to incorporate the inchie concept in your creations. Some stamps are specifically designed as inchies, some images are small enough to fit inside an inch sized space, or you can do what I did with my card and punch out an inch worth of image to highlight. And though you can't see it, I stamped white on white on the back panel and then stamped a swirl of snowflakes and embossed them with irridescent ice embossing powder, so there is a lot of depth in the white, it just doesn't photograph well. Thank you for looking, we hope you can play along this week.

Stamps: Gina K, PTI, Inkadinkadoo, Verve

Paper: black and white

Ink: black, white craft

Other: pencils, gamsol, glitter, ribbon, impression plates, crystal effects, silver whatchamacallits, irridescent ice embossing powder, vintage corner die


"

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 69 . . .a way with words


Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ! Our lovely and talented hostess this week is Patti who has selected this verse from Ephesians 4:29, "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."
Her challenge is to create a card or project that will compliment, encourage or cheer someone in need of uplifting. Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp, check the home page to see which set one randomly selected winner will receive!
Ouch! Excellent verse from Patti. Especially for someone as blunt as I am. No matter how many times I tell myself to watch my words, there are days when I slip, and more than once.
But what if we woke up each day with that resolve? What if we thought about our words before we said them, or typed them, or texted them?
I believe our conversations might actually cease for a while, that there would be a period of quiet. What does quiet afford us? Time for reflection--and the best sort of reflection is to ponder God's word and its application in our lives. Then after that reflection, how would the bible be 'reflected' in our words? Imagine instead of complaining, offering someone a compliment. Instead of ennui, putting forth the effort to encourage. Instead of gossiping, cheering someone on in their walk. How uplifting that would be!!
For my card, I did a variation of the sketch challenge from this week on splitcoast. I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but I stamped the sentiment on a piece of patterned vellum, its sort of swirly. Thanks for looking and hope you can join along with us this week!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Mark's Finest Paper December Blog Hop . . . Take a Peek

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

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released: Hearts, Hearts, Hearts, Nature's Postage Due; Hello Sunshine and Take a Peek.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, (December 11, 2010), 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.


I made a shadowbox card. The idea here is you're walking through the woods and through the leaves you see this little guy peeking back at you. It really is a relatively simple card to make. Two sheets of 4.25x5.5 pieces of paper, score at a half-inch and an inch on both sides--folds flat for mailing. I really like the Indian Summer Basic Grey paper pack, the colors are so vivid! Thanks for looking, have a great hop!





Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Mark's Finest Paper December Introduction . . . Hello Sunshine



Hello Sunshine
For this card I used something I'm calling the suspension technique? I am absolutely sure there is another name for this, as I know I've seen it used before, but I cannot remember what it is called. Ever notice its a lot harder to look things up in google or in a database when you can't remember a name? LOL!

Anyway, when I saw the one sun, I pictured using it for a retirement card, so you could 'see' your retirement place through the sun as though through a window. Because at a retirement party you're almost there, but not quite! So I embossed the sun and cut out most of the image, then cut out the wee bird and glued it to a piece of thread that I attached to the top and bottom of the image, so the bird is suspended as though it is still flying. Helps carry out the illusion.
I used lots of layers of ruffled looking bright paper to mimic an island sundress. Again, it was fun to work with brighter colors in the middle of the foot of snow we have and the gray skies! Although I do like snow in December, it helps make it a more Merry Christmas!

I'm not in the hop officially today, my card is on the main blog, but here is the hop order if you get lost.
Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com
Vicky- http://www.villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com
Dawn L.- http://dawnanewday.blogspot.com/

Anne- http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/

Emily- http://mylittlesliceofbliss.blogspot.com

Karen- http://karenskreativekreations.blogspot.com

Patty- http://winnieswhimsandmycrafts.blogspot.com

Roxie- http://paperscaper.blogspot.com

Vicki- http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/
Liz: http://rightbrainmadness.blogspot.com

Claudine- http://cardsbyclaudine.blogspot.com

Dawn- http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com

Joanne T- http://sleepyinseattlestamps.blogspot.com

Nicole - http://nicolesbutterflyears.blogspot.com

Marilynn- http://mississippi-mcgyver.blogspot.com

Geri – http://geriscards.blogspot.com/

Lynn- http://confessionsofaleft-brainedstamper.blogspot.com/

Mark’s Finest Papers - http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com

Mark's Finest Papers December blog hop . . . Nature's Postage

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

And…LOOK for a NEW LINK LIST TOMORROW!!!

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released: Hearts, Hearts, Hearts, Nature's Postage Due; Hello Sunshine and Take a Peek.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, (December 11, 2010), 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.

When I saw the pretty floral images I immediately thought of glitter window. The one problem I didn't anticipate though, is that when you use that technique, to protect the glitter, you reverse the image, so my postage is now backwards, as you can see from the blurry closeup. Thanks for looking and happy hopping!






















Wednesday December 8: Nature's Postage

Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com
Vicky- http://www.villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com
Dawn L.- http://dawnanewday.blogspot.com/
Anne- http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com
Susan – http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com

Connie – http://sodakstamping.blogspot.com

Claudine- http://cardsbyclaudine.blogspot.com

Dawn- http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com

Joanne T- http://sleepyinseattlestamps.blogspot.com

Nicole - http://nicolesbutterflyears.blogspot.com

Marilynn- http://mississippi-mcgyver.blogspot.com

Geri – http://geriscards.blogspot.com/

Lynn- http://confessionsofaleft-brainedstamper.blogspot.com/

Emily N.- http://emmielouwho.blogspot.com/

Mark’s Finest Papers - http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Mark's Finest Papers December blog hop . . . Hearts!

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

And…LOOK for a NEW LINK LIST TOMORROW!!!

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released: Hearts, Hearts, Hearts, Nature's Postage Due; Hello Sunshine and Take a Peek. 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, (December 11, 2010), 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.

Who doesn't like nice, lacy, delicate hearts? I chose to emboss mine in black on some basic grey pink background DP, then cut it out. When you mount it on pink paper it looks like lace. The card next to it in white I made and posted on my blog about a week ago, but I've imported the image to this post so you can see another idea for this set. There is more description of the techniques I used on that card in the post just below. Thanks for looking, happy hopping!

















DECEMBER 7, 2010- Hearts, Hearts, Hearts:

Nancyruth
Lois
Vicky-
Dawn L.

Anne
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com -- That's me!
Susan

Connie

Emily

Karen

Patty

Roxie

Vicki
Liz:

Geri

Lynn

Emily N.

Mark’s Finest Papers

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 67 . . . encouragement


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Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ!

This week's hostess is our very own Lisa Hjulberg, who I pray is having a blessed time visiting with family. She has selected this verse for the week from Phillippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." {NJKV}

Her challenge is to make a card of encouragement. And our sponsor this week is Scor Pal! For a chance to win a Scor Pal all you need to do is play along this week and enter your card or project on the home page at http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.com.

Most of my stamping supplies are packed away yet, but I dug through the boxes at the top of the heap so I could play along this week. We don't have internet yet, but I found if I park in the lot near the local library I can get onto their system.

This has been a very stressful season of life, we've had job loss, loss of a loved one and changed locations--and the transition was anything but smooth. If God is collecting all of our tears in a bottle, I think I'm up to a large jug. That's why the verse for this week is so encouraging; it doesn't say that we can do all things with the help of our friends, or do all things through our own strength and willpower, or even say that we can do all things while smiling broadly the entire time and skipping through the daisies. This verse can be applied every day, but particularly encourages us during the hard times. It tells us when we lean on Jesus, we can do all things through His strength.

That has been especially important as we haven't had phone or internet and I've been cut off from all of my friends, who are always a huge source of encouragement for me. They support me and cheer me on and give me a good place to go when I need a shoulder to cry upon. Even when we think we're relying on Jesus it isn't until we're cut off from other forms of support that we discover maybe we haven't been leaning on Him as much as we thought. I've spent a lot of time on my knees this week and it is a good place to be.

Thanks for looking and have a great week, we hope you can play along.

The stamp set I chose gives you a sneak peek of a set being introduced by Mark's Finest Papers in December called Hearts, Hearts, Hearts. I embossed the paper first, then embossed the heart wreath in white. I painted lightly with watercolor crayons, sponged a bit of chalk around the outside to help emphasize the image, and cut out the center for a view of the sentiment inside.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

We have moved

Hi everyone!

Just a quick post that I'm typing here from my new local library.

We have moved to another state. My email has disappeared, address has changed and everything is yet in boxes.

I also will not have internet until Nov. 30th, but hope to be back posting soon!!

Mwah!!! Hope everyone who reads this is doing well.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 65 . . increase or decrease?




Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ!
This week's hostess is the talented and lovely Grace, who selected this verse from John 3:3o "He must increase and I must decrease."

Her challenge is to make a CAS card if you need to decrease and a more embellished card if Christ in your life needs to increase, or, you can do both. Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp! And you can read Grace's thoughts on her chosen verse on the home page for Stampin' Sisters in Christ right here.

I am sorry to have missed last week's challenge. We had a death in the family and were out of town for over a week. Then, just this week a dear friend of mine lost her husband. Every day this week all I could think about were the families I know who have lost loved ones and will sorely miss their presence in the days, weeks and years to come.

Yet each of these people who have gone home had expressed firm belief in the sovereignty of Jesus Christ and their families have no doubts that they will see them again. There is much comfort in that knowledge.

Before I started working on Grace's challenge, because of the events of the past two weeks, my thoughts already were turning to. . .how am I helping others? Am I reaching out as effectively as I can or could I do more? I can if I decrease and allow Christ to increase in my life.

And its those little two- and three-letter words that can really trip you up to prevent you from achieving this goal.

'if'-- If is conditional, it has strings attached, whereas Christ had no strings attached to his love--just accept His sacrifice on the cross and the gift of eternal life is yours.

'my' -- My is a possessive when nothing in this life is really mine. "My' time, 'my' possessions, 'my' next breath--they all belong to Him. How does God want me to use the gifts, talents, time and space that He has given?

'but' -- Just add water and you get instant selfishness . . . I'd forgive him but. . . I'd go visit her but . . .I'd donate that gift but . . . I'd volunteer for that but . . .

I'm sure you can think of more.

CAS . . . I must decrease. More elaborate . . . He must increase. More of Christ in my life means more of life lived more abundantly, because the life lived in Christ is abundant with eternal riches. Who wouldn't trade those eternal riches for a few small, short mys, but or ifs?

Wishing you a blessed week and hoping you can play along.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Mark's Finest Papers November Blog Hop Day 4

Welcome to the MFP November Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 6 NEW SETS!

We have 6 New Stamp Sets Released: Brick Wall, Bells on Bobtail, Christmas Postage Due, Bold & Free, Musical Holiday and Welcome Home. For your convenience, all 6 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, (November 13, 2010), 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.


I got the chance to do just one card with this set, as you can tell from a previous post I was having way too much fun with Bold & Free! Then we were called out of town for over a week with a family emergency and just returned back home.

I used Ranger gold tinsel embossing powder for the image and then lightly painted inside the holly berry and leaves with twinkling H2Os. This gives you ample opportunity to pull out the gorgeous Christmas paper scraps we all have lurking in our paper drawers, like the green flocked piece I used on the bottom.

Thanks for looking and happy hopping! Best of luck!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010: Musical Holiday
Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com/
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com/
Vicky-http://villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com/
Dawn L.- http://dawnanewday.blogspot.com/
Anne- http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com/ *** That's me!!!!
Susan – http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com/
Judi – http://paper-rose-petals.blogspot.com/
Connie – http://sodakstamping.blogspot.com/
Emily- http://mylittlesliceofbliss.blogspot.com/
Karen- http://karenskreativekreations.blogspot.com/
Patty- http://winnieswhimsandmycrafts.blogspot.com/
Roxie- http://paperscaper.blogspot.com/
Vicki- http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/
Liz: http://rightbrainmadness.blogspot.com/
Geri – http://geriscards.blogspot.com/
Lynn- http://confessionsofaleft-brainedstamper.blogspot.com/
Mark’s Finest Papers - http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Mark's Finest Papers November Blog Hop Day 3


Hi stampers! While I am not in the blog hop lineup for today, I wanted to show the card I made for today's set introduction, Welcome Home.

The sentiments are big and bold, the images are just plain comforting. Hope you're enjoying this month's introductions. Thanks for looking!

Mark's Finest Papers November Blog Hop Day 2

Welcome to the MFP November Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 6 NEW SETS!


And…LOOK for a NEW LINK LIST TOMORROW!!!



We have 6 New Stamp Sets Released: Brick Wall, Bells on Bobtail, Christmas Postage Due, Bold & Free, Muscial Holiday and Welcome Home. For your convenience, all 6 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, (November 13, 2010), 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.





Top card: Christmas Postage Due, silver metallic stamp pad, Ranger tinsel embossing powder, snowflake punch, pearl, Martha Stewart edge punch, random ribbon {The idea here was to use cooler colors as nutcrackers are usually red}

Holiday Greetings Nutcracker: Christmas Postage Due, Red and black inks, copic markers, gold stickles, random DP, gold embossing powder, gold cord {my idea here was the roll of stamps you used to be able to get from the post office, with the emphasis on just one image}

Pink Buffalo: Bold & Free, kraft and melon paper, watercolor crayons, lace from MFP, gold charm from MFP, Basic Grey Indian Summer paper pad MFP, ribbon, Fiskars edge punch {that Indian Summer paper just begs to be used and I know buffalo aren't really fluffy cuddly creatures, but the lace and such just seemed to fit}

Simple sympathy: Bold & Free, black craft ink, Scor Pal, black ribbon, silver cord, sentiment from Thankful Mums set from MFP {sympathy cards are so hard to make, the grasses from Bold & Free make a fabulous border. Stamp in black, add an embellishment and a sentiment and you have a very clean look, easy and fast to make}


Notecards: Bold & Free, kaleidacolor ink pads in Fresh Green, Desert Heat and Cappuccino, Scor Pal, black craft ink, gray ink pad {I also thought that grass border made for a great set of CAS notecards . . . the only think I'm lacking is a kaleidacolor pad in blues and purples for a twilight card, but you've got green for Spring, the Desert Heat pad for summer and the Cappuccino pad for an autumn look. And I put the closeup there so you can see the paper, the paper just makes a very elegant looking notecard, I love it!}

Thanks for looking and happy hopping!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010: Christmas Postage Due, Bold & Free
Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com/
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com/
Vicky-http://villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com/
Dawn L.- http://dawnanewday.blogspot.com/
Anne- http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com/ *** That's me!!!!
Susan – http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com/
Judi – http://paper-rose-petals.blogspot.com/
Connie – http://sodakstamping.blogspot.com/
Emily- http://mylittlesliceofbliss.blogspot.com/
Karen- http://karenskreativekreations.blogspot.com/
Patty- http://winnieswhimsandmycrafts.blogspot.com/
Roxie- http://paperscaper.blogspot.com/
Vicki- http://allidoisstamp.blogspot.com/
Liz: http://rightbrainmadness.blogspot.com/
Geri – http://geriscards.blogspot.com/
Lynn- http://confessionsofaleft-brainedstamper.blogspot.com/
Mark’s Finest Papers - http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 63 . . . Whatever is Pure


Happy Sunday stampers! Today's hostess for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge is the lovely Linda from down under, with this verse from Php 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

This comes across the bow like a breath of fresh air! The national news is nothing if not depressing and personally the news on the home front reads like a soap opera. It is impossible to ignore when you have sick relatives or friends, your husband comes home to report that it was his turn to be downsized, the bills pile up and new ones appear like magic but not the income . . . and on and on and on.

Are we supposed to ignore those things? No, problems don't just disappear if you hide under a rock. But when you run to the rock and cling to the rock and build your hope, your foundation upon that rock, that's when these news reports take their proper place in the shuffle of your life. And in the midst of planning and doing what you can to help and to solve life's problems, it helps to turn your perspective to the refreshing thoughts that emerge from a verse like the one above.

What is true? God loves me. I know this because the entire bible is his love song to me and to the rest of the world about his great gift of salvation. The truth is He created me and has a purpose for my life even on those dark days when you feel like you're slogging through the mud.

What is honest? God is always honest, He cannot lie, whereas satan is the father of lies. Shoo him away!!! That's the voice inside of you telling you to give up hope. Never listen to that voice, listen instead to the voice that is true and honest and gives you eternal hope.

What is pure, what is lovely? God fits both of those descriptions and if you look around you can find in almost any environment those things that He created that are pure and lovely. Look at a seashell, a snowflake, a determined flower growing through the cracks of an urban sidewalk . . . a sunset glowing with color, the smile on a baby's face in the grocery store checkout line just ahead of you. It helps immensely to take a break, to spend time in prayer contemplating those aspects of God's character that fit that verse and those things that he created that refresh and renew our minds. The verses preceding and just following verse 8 talk about experiencing God's peace. Refreshing our mind in the Lord will help us find that peace in the midst of the turmoil of this world.

So this week's challenge is for you to create an all white or all cream card, a monochrome in pure tones. As you can see I had a bit of difficulty making mine completely pure. I tossed in cream with my white and then added some metallics and pink. A little bit of color is okay {I think, this isn't my turn to be challenge hostess so Linda has the final word on this}.

But I do know that we are greatly looking forward to seeing your lovely creations in our gallery, you can link up your card on the home page. And our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp which carries tons of things for papercrafting and a wide variety of the Magnolia Tildas, one of which I used on my card. Thanks for looking and have a great week.

I also am posting this card to the challenge this week at North Ridge Media's Create blog challenge for this week to put ruffles on your creations. I took a piece of pink ribbon for the background, threaded a needle and just made large basting stitches and gathered it all in. Then to emphasize it a bit more I added a ruffly sort of edge punch on swirled vellum on either side of the ribbon.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Shalom . . . for my friends


Some friends of mine have said it would be great to have new ideas for Hanukkah cards. I had a lot of fun sitting down to make these and enjoyed the soothing color palette. I read again the accounts of David collecting gold and jewels from the people so his son Solomon could build the temple and read the first and second book of Maccabees and I have a few other ideas in mind with different color schemes, for another day. They collected a lot of gold along with the silver and other metals and jewels, so there are lots of other colors you could use, but tempus fugit.

I used my copic markers starting with the lightest shade, Boooo moving up to Bo5. In the first card I did a gradient from the first letter to the last, in the second card I made the gradient slowly move its way down from the top of the letters to the bottom.

For the top card I then colored the rhinestones atop the letters with the same coordinating markers, they don't match exactly, but they're close. And I used a great twinkle embossing powder so the star of David, embossed in silver, really shines. In my opinion Outlines Rubber stamps has among the most beautiful stars and menorah stamps I have yet to see. The star I bought was encased in a frame, but I cut the frame away so it could stand in place of a letter, similar to a card I made about a month ago with a little duck.

Anyone who studies the bible knows that God's covenant with Abraham still stands, "I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you." God bless the nation of Israel.

And please pray for me, I have to go in for a repeat of my mammogram on Monday. The radiologist quote 'didn't like what he saw.' . . . . yay, just a second photo session, turned out all right they say, and now they don't need to see me for six months! I am relieved. . . .

I lift my eyes up, up to the heavens, where does my help come from?
My help comes from you, maker of heavens, maker of all the earth.

I have peace in my heart and the joy of the Lord, but prayer is always welcome. Shalom, peace out.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 62 . . . Think Pink!


Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. This week's sponsor is the Lollipop Shop by Lori Boyd. Many of the DT members used her images, you can view them on the home page, very cute! I couldn't get my ornery printer to cooperate and pulled out a different stamp instead.

And our hostess this week is the uber-talented Chris Olsen, who selected this verse from Psalm 73:6 "My health may fail, my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever." You can read her thoughts on the main page.

Her challenge is to use a pink ribbon and primarily pink on your card. I used pink and dusky rose in combination to match some pretty Basic Grey Indian Summer paper. I just wasn't feeling the brights, but more subtle shades of pink this week.

October is breast cancer awareness month. I am going in on Monday for the annual mammogram and doctor visit. If you have not scheduled yours yet this year, DO SO! Please.

My family has been touched more than once by breast cancer. My SIL is currently battling a recurrence of it and it takes many various and nasty forms when it returns. She is not doing well. My grandmother died of breast cancer when I was in high school and she was a dear person.

This verse that Chris selected is a great reminder that regardless of whether someone is battling breast cancer or some other dreadful disease, the Lord is our strength. I just love how the writer of that psalm phrased it, "God remains the strength of my heart." Our body can be sick and weak, but our hearts can hold comfort, strength and peace.

I know my SIL draws a lot of strength in this battle from her faith. One of our design team members, Randi Barrett, is a continual beacon of hope and thanksgiving in the midst of her many health concerns, cancer among them. Her faith never wavers. Although she has discouraging moments and faces a lot of fears she is continually leaning on God and recounting his blessings.

I know there are a lot of other blogs and challenges featuring pink this month, won't you join us as we raise awareness? We look forward to seeing your creations.

One of the fun things I enjoyed making my card is that I used papers and coloring materials from Basic Grey, PTI, SU and my prismacolor pencils yet it was one of those rare occasions when they matched up really easily. Don't you love it when that happens?

The Just Magnolia blogspot is also having a pink challenge this week, you can check it out here.
Stampin' Royalty challenge is to use ribbons .

Stamps: Magnolia Tilda, Mark's Finest Papers sentiment Autumn Fun, Rubber Stamp Tapestry vine images behind Tilda {I stamped them in versamark and used chalk to color them in to match the BG paper}
Ink: black, versamark, Ranger Distress Ink tea rose
Paper: lavender, scarlet, poppy, white, pink, silver, Basic Grey Indian Summer
Other: Martha Stewart edge punch, silver EP, silver gel pen, pink ribbon {light satin and hot pink organdy with stripes}, prismacolor pencils, oval punch, pins, chalks

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 61 . . . prayer


Happy Sunday stampers! Time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ! This week's hostess is Lisa, a person I am happy to call friend. She has some great thoughts to share about her chosen verse from Matthew 6: 9-13 "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'
Her challenge is to make a card/project that features prayer; either someone praying, or a verse about prayer, or a greeting that lets someone know you are praying for them.
Our sponsor this week is Layers of Color. You can visit them here: http://www.layersofcolor.com/blog/ or see on our home page the stamp set that one lucky winner from this week's participants will receive.
Before we get any further in this post I have to apologize for not doing any blog visiting, really, for almost a month. We are selling our home and trying to move to another state. Technically we were supposed to close last Friday but the date keeps floating . . .our buyer is doing an FHA loan and I'm told that's how it goes. It is a fortunate thing, because we in turn had a contract on a home which fell through when the appraisal came in too low. So we had to start the hunt all over again and nothing is finalized. We've been running back and forth between states on weekends, mid-week, and taking care of older relatives between times. I WILL get back to visiting other blogs and seeing all the lovely creations everyone else is making, but right now it just cannot happen between packing and house hunting and the rest of life.

Anyway, I know that I wouldn't be hanging onto my sanity if it were not for the prayers of those around me . . . my grown children, my husband and my Christian friends. I appreciate it, I covet it and I try to return the prayer favor as often as my mind turns to my friends and their needs. I believe God answers prayer. I have seen issues that melt away or problems resolve that never would have untangled on their own without divine intervention.

To me, when I think about prayer, it strikes me as the opposite of the poem Invictus. Basically its a very narcissistic piece written from the perspective of being in complete control of your own life. It ends with the lines "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul."

Raise your hand if you've ever been in a situation that was completely out of your control.

Ever been in a hospital room with a dying relative and the doctors themselves gently shake their heads . . . there is nothing they can do?

Ever been caught in the grocery store with a cart full of groceries and a toddler who decides to cut loose at that moment with a tantrum? Can you control a screaming toddler . . . can you really?

Ever have someone break up with you and walk away . . .nothing you do or say will change their minds?

Then there are the thousand and one little things that occur daily that are completely out of our control . . . the weather . . . the traffic . . . the economy . . . you very next breath.

So what does prayer do? It taps you into the source that does have the ultimate power, the authority as creator over all things. God is in control and when we pray we are handing over all of these concerns big and small, over which we have no control, and saying, Lord, you handle it. I know that your plan is so much bigger than anything I can conceive and I trust you. It doesn't necessarily give you the answer you think will work out best, but it means you place your trust in the Lord and bow your head to His will. Then you can take that next breath and sit back and relax. As it says in Isaiah 3o:15 "This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,"

You will find through prayer the rest that will quiet your soul.

There is so much more in the Lord's prayer, the verse that Lisa selected and I'm sure the rest of the design team have their own unique thoughts to share, but those are some of mine, just barely scratching the surface of the power and benefit of prayer. Hope to see your creations this week if you have a chance to play along. We hope you do!!!

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Autumn Abundance, Clear Dollar Stamps sentiment
Ink: black and chocolate
Paper: PTI DP and . . . terra cotta I think
Other: copics and buttons {Hawaiian Shores and Orange Zest} and twine

Friday, October 15, 2010

Mark's Finest Papers October Release! ... Snowman Country

Welcome to the MFP October Blog Hop! This month, we’ve added TWO MORE STAMP SETS!!!

We have 6 New Stamp Sets Released today: Seasonal Poinsettias, Time to Chill, A Walk in the Woods, Greetings of the Season, Thankful for You, Snowman Country
For your convenience, all 6 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, (October 16, 2010), 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!






















Emily
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Claudine
Dawn
Joanne T
Nicole
Marilynn
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com . . . This is me!
Susan
Judi
Connie
Mark’s Finest Papers