Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 138 . . . natural

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ, where all of our challenges are based on scripture. This week's hostess is sweet Miesje, who has selected this verse from 1 John 2:4-6 - 'Whoever says, “I know him”, but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him.'

Her challenge is to create a card or project that uses something real or natural on it - twine - burlap - shell - sand - etc. And our sponsor this week is Our Daily Bread Designs! You can fine Miesje's devotional and see the creations from the members of our design team . . . welcoming SIX new design team sisters this week . . . on the home page right here. And we just want to say also that all of our design team sisters from the past are still our sisters in Christ and we don't forget them, we miss them and love having served alongside them. All together forever in heaven one day, hurray!!

On to my card. I chose to use just a touch twine along with a 'natural' image, of the tree. I have been in need of many thank you cards lately and honestly haven't made as many as I need to be sending out. I had the flu for about five days and you know how being sick can just put you so far behind! I used a new technique I discovered on JJ Bolton's blog right here. Isn't it a great idea? I recreated it for this challenge but embossed the cardstock first using the woodgrain impression plate. Tied a bit of twine on the end letter to fit the challenge requirements; sometimes you 'see' something in your head and it turns out exactly like you wanted it to, this was one of those rare instances!

If you're the type of person who doesn't like to click another link, I'll explain how this technique is accomplished, although please remember JJ created this technique, not me.

1. Stamp your image on two separate pieces of cardstock. Try to place your image in almost the same spot on both pieces of paper. One of these images is going to be used on your finished card, while the other image is going to be your working image that you use to cut out your letters.

2. Decide where you want your word to be and draw a thin pencil line using a ruler so you can lay out the letters nice and straight.

3. Place your letter dies along the pencil line and space them as evenly as possible.

4. I put a strip of tape on the back side of the letter dies, taping them down to the cardstock on either side so the letters wouldn't shift out of place when I ran them through my die cutting machine.

5. Cut out the letters, then place them onto your stamped, UNCUT image.

6. Use tiny bits of dimensional foam to pop up your letters. I used tweezers to help place them onto the cardstock, because the idea here is to have their inked up bits match the image below and you don't want to glue them in the wrong spot. That's it! I'm looking forward to reading Miesje's thoughts. Thanks for looking and have a blessed week!

Stamps: Papertrey Ink "Through the Trees"
Paper: vanilla cardstock
Inks: Fresh Green kaleidacolor pad (leaves), dark chocolate for the trunk
Other: woodgrain impression plate (PTI), twine, block letter alphabet die set (PTI)