Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 58 . . . peace

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. This week's hostess is the talented and devoted Miesje, who selected this verse from John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."

Her challenge is to use a Christian symbol of peace somewhere in your card. There are many! Or a card or project that shows or shares Peace.

Our lovely sponsor this week is Designed 2 Delight and you can read Miesje's devotional thoughts and more about the sponsor on our main blog here.

I selected this image because you can find a peaceful scene or try to create a peaceful spot or comfort zone in your life, but the only place I find true peace is when I drop to my knees in prayer. Prayer isn't dependent upon our surroundings or circumstances nor is it dictated by them. The urgency or tenor of our prayers certainly might change, but every season is appropriate for prayer and as Miesje's selected verse says, Jesus gives us peace in a unique way 'not as the world gives do I give to you.'

Jesus doesn't snatch our peace away from us or turn his back on us when we're facing difficulty, only we do that to ourselves. We destroy our own peace when we sin, when we worry, when we focus on the 'what ifs' instead of getting on our knees and focusing on the creator of the universe, the one who is always in control.

If you are troubled, if you are facing challenges or if you are just facing a normal humdrum day, pray about it! Pray for peace in the midst of trouble, pray for wisdom making choices, pray about the fact that you are more than fortunate to experience humdrum instead of being in a war torn conflict zone or a slum in India--and then pray that He might help you find a way to reach out to others that they might experience the gift of humdrum instead of chaos! That's where you will find peace, when you come to Jesus Christ with whatever your life situation. Thank for looking, have a great day. Hope you can play along this week.

Stamps: digi from Designed 2 Delight
Paper: some of my favorite scraps from SU
Other: edge punch, PTI buttons, ribbon

Papertrey Ink September Blog Hop

Is it possible another month has gone by already? Time for another PTI blog hop! This month's challenge is

One of the most fun things about this hobby is the people you meet, whether in person or online and the things you can learn from them. Now is your chance to show off any skills you might have learned from a fellow stamper, and perhaps even give them a little shout out to thank them for the inspiration they have provided. Create a project using one of your favorite learned skills and perhaps after a little blog hopping, we will ALL learn some new tips and tricks and continue to pass on the love of this hobby!

We are packing up our house to move and I had started packing away my stamping things. When I was going through a desktop though I found one set still wrapped in its tissue paper, I guess I had carried it to another room in the house and forgotten to pack it. Yay! I could play! And stamping makes me so happy!

Everything I know about stamping I learned from someone else! I exercise the left side of my brain for my work, so the right side is very slow and creaky! The list would go on for-evah thanking all the people who have taught me, inspired me, encouraged me. But since this is a PTI hop my hat today goes off to Nichole Heady. It was on her blog that I first saw the idea to take an ordinary pen and draw a shape with a ruler to highlight a word or image, as I drew the rectangle on the card above. And it was her idea to substitute a figure stamp for a letter in a word using the Outlines Alphabet set. I also have to thank my friend Joanne or Jojot on SCS because she uses black in the background as an accent better than anyone I know, so I have a touch of black on here to help the colors pop a bit better.



Your last task is to guess what word I'm trying to spell!!! I had sooo much fun making this card, hope you enjoy seeing it as much as I had enjoyed making it!

Stamps: random dollah stamp from Michael's, PTI Outlines Alphabet
Ink: black memento
Papuh: white, kraft, hawaiian shores, DeLovely DP
Other: Buttons!!!! and copics

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 57. . . Seasons

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. Today's hostess is the talented Chris Olsen, who selected this verse from Eccliastes 3:1 "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven."

Her challenge is to use Fall colors (green, yellow, melon mambo, red, orange, brown) or leaves on your creation. Ummm, can you tell I read her verse and not her challenge for this weekend? If you look closely, the sand I colored in is brown and one piece of paper is green. I had a button in there but changed it out to a leaf.

Our sponsor this week is Our Daily Bread Designs, which is donating a $15 gift certificate to one randomly selected participant in our challenge this week on the main blog, Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

Chris' verse is very appropriate for this week. There are a lot of 'seasonal' changes going on in our family. After living in a suburb of Chicago my entire life my husband and youngest daughter and I are moving to another state. That's why I haven't had time for much blog visiting. We were not expecting things to happen this quickly, but a buyer came along and we are scheduled to close on our house on October 1, less than a month after their offer came in. I am busy packing!!

My oldest daughter is getting married in June. My other two older children are in college in different states. And when we move, we're moving further away from them, not closer. It feels as if my family is scattering to the four winds and as a mom, I have to say, it makes me pensive. I've tiptoed into a new season of life with a mostly empty nest and I'm still getting used to it, finding my way.

That's why I chose the lighthouse image from ODBD which one of my design team sisters kindly sent me. Thank you Rebekka!! God is our lighthouse when life's seasons change or the pathway seems uncertain. I know if I pray and stay in His word, He will lead me and never leave me. There are many lighthouses in the area we're planning to go and they stand there in every season in every weather, guiding ships safely around the coast and into port. He's my rock when everything else in life is shifting.

Thanks for looking and hope you find a chance to play along this week!

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge . . . Living out the dash

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. This week I am the hostess and have selected this verse from John 1o:1o "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp. They have a great variety of stamps and stamping supplies in their store, check it out here.

My challenge is as follows: Around your central image or around the edge of you card or project, use a series of hand drawn in dashes or lines, like faux stitching.

And here are my thoughts on today's verse . . .

While many view Christianty as restrictive, full of rules, the opposite is true. The Christian life is or should be a life of abundance, of freedom in Christ Jesus. This does not mean abundance in terms of physical possessions or the temporal. The abundance referred to is eternal but it starts the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. An abundance of love, joy, peace and other fruits of the spirit . . . Galatians 5:22-23 . . . will grow as we grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

So do we just sit around searching for abundance through some form of Christian transcendentalism? Because one bible verse supports another you know if you are a believer that life lived in Jesus Christ is a life also of service.

The reason I chose the challenge to use dashes or lines around your main image, either drawn in by hand or sewn, is because of the lyrics from this verse in Chris Rice's song Tick Tock.

"Got our heels dug in
But time is draggin’ us toward
The time when time won’t matter anymore
They say life is but a vapor
Just a blip on a radar screen
Not the dates on your tombstone
But the dash in between. . . "

One common denominator for all human beings is that the death rate is 1oo%. What we do with that dash on our tombstone is what makes all the difference. Think about all that is encompassed in that dash--your entire life. How are you going to spend it? In an abundant life, hand in hand with Christ Jesus, working to make a difference in whatever sphere of influence he has placed in front of you or spinning your wheels wasting time?

Choose to live the abundant life today. Make that dash count for something, make it count for Christ.

Thanks for looking and hope you get a chance to play along this week.

Stamps: Sweet n' Sassy
Ink: black
Paper: Enchanted Evening, cranberry, random patterned paper, gold and shimmer white
Other: fiskars edge punch, PTI scarlet jewel buttons, copics, ribbon, black marker

Mark's Finest Papers September Release . . . Thankful Mums and Pumpkins

Welcome to the MFP September Blog Hop! This month, we’ve added two new DT members and have shortened link lists!

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released today: Autumn Fun, Broom Rides, Stinky Situation, and Thankful Mums and Pumpkins. 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, (September 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 have to apologize that I'm not highlighting more of the set's images but I fell in love with that large mum image and had to see what I could do with it in different colors. I still have a blue one on my stamp table that isn't finished yet but that can wait for another day. I colored all of these in copics including the card on the kraft paper.

The top card is for my husband, our anniversary is approaching and I want to let him know how grateful I am to have him in my life. The sentiment from the set actually says 'forever thankful' but I thought you could make a romantic card just inking up the first word, 'forever.'

The second card is visual proof that I indeed cannot draw a straight line even with a ruler and can you tell its my first attempt at sponging in a bit of white craft ink around a stamped image? Saw it on a blog and couldn't wait to try it myself but i need a bit more practice. But I hope you get the general idea of the look I was trying to show here. It doesn't have to be bold and bright, softer colors work well with this image too.

For the third card I really just chose papers to complement the mum I colored in yellows and oranges. I'm still practicing with my copics and experimenting so I didn't keep careful track of the specific colors I used but I can tell you I used at least four shades on each blossom and three shades of green on each stem. Thanks for looking and happy hopping!

9/10 FRIDAY Thankful Mums & Pumpkins

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

Debbie- http://www.debbieseyer.com
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com
Susan – http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com

Judi – http://paper-rose-petals.blogspot.com

Connie – http://sodakstamping.blogspot.com

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

Mark's Finest Papers September Release . . . Stinky Situation

Hi stampers! This is another card for one of the newly released Mark's Finest Papers September release, Stinky Situation. My card for this set is on the main blog, I am not part of today's blog hop, but wanted to highlight this card on my blog today so if you don't go to the main blog today, you can still see it. Thanks for looking!

I haven't had as much time for blog visits myself lately . . . we had our house for sale and it sold this past holiday weekend . . . but the buyer wants to close on October 1 and we don't have a place to live yet! So we are scurrying around like crazy trying to pack and find a new home, leaving little time for blogland . . . after we move I will try to be more faithful in visiting everyone else's blogs to see your lovely creations!

Mark's Finest Papers September Release . . . Broom Rides

Welcome to the MFP September Blog Hop! This month, we’ve added two new DT members and have shortened link lists! And…LOOK for a NEW LINK LIST TOMORROW!!!

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released today: Autumn Fun, Broom Rides, Stinky Situation, and Thankful Mums and Pumpkins. 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, (September 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!

The top card you might already have seen, I previewed this set during the VSN challenges on splitcoast, but I thought I'd pop it into this post to help highlight the variety of stamps in this set. And for the second one, isn't that the cutest sentiment? I laughed when I saw it, that so totally is NOT me . . . no, I never sneak candy from the kids' Halloween bags or 'test' my favorites! ha, ha. Thanks for stopping and happy hopping!

9/ 8 WEDNESDAY BROOM RIDES

Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com
Vicky- http://www.villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com
Jeanne - http://nannysroom.wordpress.com
Anne- http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/
Debbie- http://www.debbieseyer.com
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com
Susan – http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com

Judi – http://paper-rose-petals.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

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

Mark's Finest Papers September Release . . Autumn Fun

Welcome to the MFP September Blog Hop! This month, we’ve added two new DT members and have shortened link lists! And…LOOK for a NEW LINK LIST TOMORROW!!!

We have 4 New Stamp Sets Released today: Autumn Fun, Broom Rides, Stinky Situation, and Thankful Mums and Pumpkins. 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, (September 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 was so excited to try a bleaching technique with this stamp set, it was so easy it took almost no time at all. First I stamped the helicopters on brown paper. . . that's what we called them when I was a kid, I honestly don't know their official name . . . then I took a bit of bleach in a bowl, used my aquapainter and painted inside the stamped lines to bleach out the image inside the stamped area. The color came out amazingly well! Then I stamped some of the little oak leaves with gold craft ink and embossed them . . . this made a great background paper! I stamped the sentiment on the leaf image and cute it out, then just layered it on some complementary paper colors.

The images in this set lend themselves to this technique, you really need to give it a try! I also love the little squirrel in the set, but ran out of time to make anything with him for this release party, but I know many of the other design team members have, so have fun hopping and good luck!

9/7 TUESDAY: AUTUMN FUN

Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com
Vicky- http://www.villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com
Jeanne - http://nannysroom.wordpress.com
Anne- http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/
Debbie- http://www.debbieseyer.com
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com
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

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

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 55 . . . water

Happy Sunday stampers! Its time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. This week's hostess is Grace, who selected this verse from John 4:10, 13-14 (New International Version) 10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." 13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Her challenge is to create a card or project that refers to water in some way, whether in image or sentiment.

Our sponsor this week is a new one, and it is in the United Kingdom for our international visitors! It is Craft Brulee, and if you have some time, please pay her a visit.

I couldn't decide which I liked better so I posted a brace-and-a-half of ducks. One of these is for my daughter's friend at college who got herself a pet duck for one weekend to keep herself company in her dorm room. Yes, she did return it to the farm it came from . . . ducks and dorms don't go together for long.

On to the verse Grace selected. . . this is from one of the most beautiful stories in the bible--beautiful to me. The dialogue in Grace's selected verse comes from an encounter Jesus has with a Samaritan woman who came to the well in the middle of the day to draw water. She deliberately is avoiding the traditional time when the other women of the village come to draw their water . . . we can only imagine why but perhaps one clue comes from the conversation she has with Jesus.

During their talk Jesus reveals he knows the Samaritan woman has had five husbands and is now living with someone to whom she isn't married. Picture the culture of that time and the scandal that would have created . . .the gossip, the sidelong glances, perhaps even drawing back their garments so they wouldn't be contaminated by this woman's touch. Women gathered at the well in the village for far more than gathering water; they also exchanged news, visited, socialized and this Samaritan woman was excluded from their company. Yet Jesus reaches out to her, personally, as he did so many times in the New Testament to the outcasts in society.

I like to think she accepted his gift of living water . . . there are some cues in the text to tell us she might have. She couldn't contain her excitement but ran to tell everyone in her village about her meeting with Jesus. When you are filled with the living water Jesus offers to everyone who believes, you can't help but want to share it with others. When He reaches into your life and lets you know you have incalculable worth in the Father's eyes, regardless of what the people around you think . . . it erases that outcast image. The living water fills up your soul and even in the dry times ahead . . .and there will always be dry times in this life, there is a little reservoir inside that never quite is empty.

Hope you find time to play along with our challenge this week. Thanks for looking.

Stamps: duck is Hambo, sentiments from PTI