Christmas Card Club 2012

Good morning stampers! A group of friends decided to participate in a Christmas Card Club where each month one hostess send the rest of the group members materials to use to make a few Christmas cards. I was the first hostess. Talk about nervous! I haven't done one of these before and wanted to make sure the packet I sent would work for everyone!

The image I chose is from Waltzingmouse Stamps and Claire graciously gave us permission to make copies from a stamped image and send it to the group. I love the nutcrackers and other images in this set and am looking forward to seeing what everyone created with it! I think Meredith has a photo of the packet content mailed to each member. Meredith (craftymatchchick) is the organizer who organized the whole thing and she remembered to take a picture of this kit, I didn't. :)

Members could use as much or as little from the kit contents as they chose, but had to use the image.

I took a cue from a layout by Debby Hughes that I saw on pinterest and cut banners from my designer paper to lay on the left side of the layout, adding my image on the right lower end.

Make sure you stop by everyone's blog to see what they in turn, created! Hope they had fun with the kit and I'm looking forward to what we receive next month!

Kelli
Lee
Lydia
Meredith
Misti

Stamps: Waltzingmouse "Nutcracker Sweet"
Ink: black
Paper: white, Echo Park DP
Other: SU silver chunky glitter, Martha STewart glitter, snowflake die, PTI button, SU silver cord, copics, sakura gel pens

Stampin' Sisters in Christ . . . banners

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. This week's hostess is the uber-talented Kris, who has selected this verse from Psalm 46:10 "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." She challenges you to use flags or banners in your creation.

I am excited to read her thoughts on the verse this week and you will be challenged and inspired by the rest of the design team's creations, which you can find on our home page here.

Our sponsor this week is a grab bag of stamps donated by an anonymous stamper who wants to share her bounty with other stampers. They are individual stamps, a nice little package will make its way through the mail to one randomly selected stamper from our challenge this week.

I chose to use a banner die from My Favorite Things or MFT stamps, along with the telephone die and a stamp from Papertrey Ink. I also used a Waltzingmouse stamp to embellish the spellbinders die underneath the telephone.

I used sketch 145 from the Got Sketch blog found here. I turned it around a bit and have my sentiment running up the side of the card. I used the Hello stamp from the Papertrey Ink set using the telephone, printing one letter at a time on the colored banners. Its a bit difficult to see on the black, but I used a cuttlebug edge embosser and put a little row of flowers next to the Hello banners. The ricrac has black glitter to give the card a little bit of sparkle.

Thanks for looking and have a blessed week!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse (on spellbinders die), Papertrey Ink (sentiment)
Paper: white, black, variety of colors for banner
Ink: black
Other: spellbinders die, telephone  and ricrac die (PTI), cuttlebug embossing folders, silver cording, MFT banner die, button, glitter

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 118 . . . angels

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 a good friend Lisa, who has selected this verse from Matthew 1:20-22 ""But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' which means, 'God with us.'"

For her challenge, she would like you to use an angel on your project. Our lovely sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp. Please do visit the home page for Stampin' Sisters in Christ to see the creations by the rest of the design team and to read Lisa's devotional on her chosen verse.

My card is CAS as we have been traveling for the holidays and then just catching up on life after our return. Although it would be terrifying there are times when I wish an angel or someone would appear and tell me which direction to take in life, don't you? Not that those directions would suddenly make life easy. I know that just trying to live life the way the bible describes we ought to conduct ourselves is hard enough. Lately though I've listened to a series of sermons from our old church wherein the pastor tells us that we're not striving to live this Christian life on our own. Christ lives within us. He has the resurrection power. He who has begun a work in us will be faithful to complete it. That means the work is not our own, not all our own effort. I am glad to pass the baton on occasion and admit that I do not possess within myself to change a situation no matter how much I might desire to do so. I can rely on someone far more powerful than I to do the work.

I pray you find a way to rest a bit in this holiday season and think about the verse Lisa has selected and what it means in your own life. Thanks for looking, we hope you can play along this week.

Stamps: Hero Arts (angel), Papertrey Ink (verse or sentiment), Waltzingmouse (little star image)
Ink: Encore silver and SU ballet blue, black
Paper: white and silver
Other: ribbon, rhinestones, silver twinkle embossing powder, silver cord

Divas by Design . . . monochrome

Does anyone else get that Simon and Garfunkel song stuck in their heads when they see that word? "kodachrome gives us those nice bright colors . . ."

If you didn't before, you do now! Our challenge for Divas by Design this fortnight is to make a monochromatic card! Any color you please, I chose bluish-purple all based on the DP I had in my stash. Reminds me of a wintery night, but the cozy house and friendship help warm up even the coldest winter.

Hope you can hop in and play! We look forward to seeing your creations!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse
Ink: black, silver
Paper: random scraps, purple and blue CS
Other: ribbon, MS chunky glitter, oval punch, silver EP, snowflake punch, Fiskars corner punch/embosser

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 115 . . . Give Thanks

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. Our lovely and friendly hostess this week is Traci, who selected this verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Our sponsor is SImon Says Stamp. And Traci's challenge is to Create a card or project that depicts gratitude...it can be an image of something you are grateful for, a scripture that evokes your gratitude, or it can be a card made especially for a person you would like to thank this time of year!!

Be sure to check out the home page to see the rest of the creations by the SSIC design team and to read Traci's devotional on her chosen scripture.

I am so glad that November rolls around. Every year I make the commitment to keep a thankfulness journal and every year I start with fresh zeal only to have that idea fall by the wayside as life's problems start to mount and my vision of all my blessings grows dim. November, because of Thanksgiving, is always a jolt to the negative mindset and provides fresh perspectives. Each week it seems that the scripture verse one of my Stampin' Sisters selects is just what I needed to hear.

This week I am reminded again of all that I have in my life and I chose this cute house image from Waltzingmouse Stamps because in this blustery and cold time of year I am very thankful that God has provided us with a home. It has well sealed windows too, but that's just a bonus. We have a roof over our heads and that is not to be taken for granted. What are you thankful for today?

Stamps: Waltzingmouse (house), MFP (sentiment)
Ink: Memento black
Paper: Echo Park, PTI
Other: copics, glitter, ribbon

Operation Write Home Blog Hop for the Holidays

We're supposed to keep it short, so I just want to say thank you to the troops and their families for all the sacrifices they make to protect our country. Operation Write Home supports the entire family structure by making a way for those serving overseas to send a little piece of love back home and that's one of the reasons why its so great. There is an entire blog hop today dedicated to Christmas card ideas for Operation Write home, click on the hop symbol at the top to start at the beginning.

Thanks for looking, happy hopping and start stamping your holiday cards for Operation Write Home right now! (remember! no glitter! I used shimmery paint and rock candy crackle to add a bit of shine)

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Nutcracker Sweet
Ink: Memento black
CS: kraft, SU Spice Cake DP, aqua, pear tart, vanilla
Other: Champagne (SU) paint, rock candy crackle, oval punch, snowflake die, prismacolor pencils, gold gel pen, twine, satin aqua ribbon

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 107...Wings

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ, where our stamping challenges are based on scripture. This week's hostess is the uber-talented Chris, who selected this verse from Isaiah 40:31 "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles." Her challenge this week is for you to use something with wings and a biblical verse on your creation.

Our sponsor this week is Our Daily Bread Designs and one randomly selected winner will receive a $15 gift certificate to their store, so we're hoping you find a chance to play along!

Isaiah is a wonderful book in the bible and there are so many nuggets of wisdom hidden in its pages. I know Chris is going to have some great thoughts to share in her devotional on the home page at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

Waiting . . . that's something we do a lot in this life, isn't it? Especially when the economy slows down. We wait to see if we're going to get a job in response to that resume we sent out. We wait to see if any customers will buy our products if we own our own business. We wait for a paycheck to be able to pay those bills that are themselves, waiting on the desk.

We wait for test results, wait for the light to change, wait for the rain to stop, wait for the phone to ring with that special call that is going to change our lives . . . when what we're really waiting for is God. We pray and wait for Him to answer. Then we get impatient when that answer doesn't seem to come quickly enough. Then, in our impatience, we act--and when it isn't in God's timing, that action is often premature. When we act or move on our own, we're depending on our wisdom, our strength, our timing and our plan. I have done this often enough to know that God's plan is so much better than my plan, because when I get impatient--and that happens often--it doesn't work out so well.

This verse promises that when we wait on the Lord, we will renew our strength . . .why? Is it because during that time of waiting we've had a nice rest or perhaps a glass of lemonade? No, it is because we are relying on God's strength, not our own. God's strength and wisdom is inexhaustible and immeasurable. If we wait upon the Lord, He will give us the strength we need to meet the next day, conquer the challenges that face us. And in the meantime while waiting for an answer, do what is right in front of you. Clean house, bake bread, write a friend, play with the kids, weed the garden, tend sheep--do whatever it is that lies in front of you--waiting doesn't mean life stops, it just means we don't run ahead of the Shepherd.

What seems to take a lot longer than nine months is waiting for a baby. I made two baby cards for this challenge because I have two nieces who both had babies this summer, born one month apart . I changed up the design on the second card because my husband liked it better, which do you like better? Sorry the photo is a bit washed out.

We look forward to seeing your creations with wings and a bible verse in our gallery this week. Thanks for looking, hope you can play along.

Stamps: Crafty Secrets, Our Daily Bread Designs, Waltzingmouse

Paper: white and random DP

Ink: black, versamark, pink kaleidacolor pad

Other: silver gel pen, edge punch, nestabilities, prismacolor pencils, glitter, ribbon, prima roses, PTI impression folder

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 102 . . . music!

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ and this week's hostess is one of our guest designers, the ultra talented Teresa Kline, who has selected this verse from Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Her challenge is to use music in some form on your creation, sheet music, music notes, instruments, or singing.

I know she has some great thoughts to share in her devotional on our home page and you don't want to miss the beautiful creations by the rest of the design team.

I am guessing that I will be the only one to have a card with a sheep playing the bagpipes. :) I bought a set of stamps a few years ago that played off of the 12 Days of Christmas theme and that sheep just tickles my funny bone. I used a sideways sketch for this card that involved cutting off a portion of the top layer to show a segment on the bottom layer, in this case the sentiment, from Waltzing Mouse . . .and do you want to know why???? Because I goofed up the top layer and had to cut a piece off. In this case even an extra embellishment wouldn't work. Lucky for me that's a legitimate card sketch.

We will be enjoying conversation, music and sermons as we drive on a long trek west to get my son to Moody Bible Institute in Spokane, Washington. I have preposted this and will not be visiting blogs or available until late August, early September, but look forward to coming back to see everyone's creations upon my return. Happy stamping and we hope you can join Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week for our challenge!

Visit the other design team sisters for some fabulous inspiration, including:

Becky

Miesje

Linda

Kris

MariLynn

Teresa

Traci

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 85. . . Matthew 16:23

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. This week's sponsor is Designed to Delight and one randomly selected participant posting their card on the home page will win a $10 gift certificate to that store. I am the hostess this week and I selected this verse from Matthew 16:23 "Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me satan!'" My challenge is for you to create a background on your card using tone on tone, either versamark on cardstock or purple on purple, brown on brown, etc. Please go to the main page for Stampin Sisters in Christ to see the gorgeous creations by the rest of the design team. My devotional is as follows:


Get thee behind me Satan. . .

Interesting choice of words to use with a follower, with a friend. Yet these are the words Jesus used with Peter when Peter pulled Jesus aside to admonish him for in the previous passages laying out the plan of salvation. Now it is true that Jesus would have to suffer and die on the cross and we don’t know the level of Peter’s shock or denial when he heard of this future suffering. We do know the reason Jesus said those words to Peter because of the statement immediately following, “for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Peter was trying to stand in the way of God’s plans. Lately this passage has been much on my mind, not only because Easter is approaching, but also because of personal challenges to get out of the way and let God’s will work in my life and those of my family members.

As just one example, my son feels led to enter the mission field, specifically feeling called to go to a remote part of the globe to help spread the gospel. I love my son and I’m proud of him for following God’s call. My mother’s heart, however, keys in on the word “remote.” And my vivid imagination has no trouble at all conjuring up poisonous vipers laced in every tree branch just waiting to drop down and bite him. Not to mention wondering when I’d see him again.

That’s just one example of where my quivering jellyfish insides worries about the what ifs, where I’m thinking of my agenda, of “the things of men” rather than being mindful of the things of God.

So what do I need to do? Support him, pray, trust God, and not pluck at my son’s sleeve telling him what a mistake he’s making, the way Peter tried to do with Jesus.

How often do we do that, even just in our thought life? A friend announces their intention to try foster care, to adopt an older child, to start their own business, or to downsize so they can serve the Lord better and what is our response? How often is it negative or instantly filled with doubts, with what-if scenarios? If the Lord truly is calling them to do these things, then our response should be to remember Jesus’ words, “Get thee behind me Satan.” Get out of the way. Let God work. And better yet, get on our knees to pray for their endeavors and look for any ways we can help.

---------------------------------

Thanks for looking and hope you can play along this week.

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Turning a New Leaf, Waltzingmouse Stamps (sentiment), Layers of Color (flowers)
Paper: pink pirouette, cream
Ink: versamark, black
Other: ribbon, watercolor brush, reinkers

In the category of exciting news:
Lisa, our dear SSIC sister and owner of a brand new on line store, The Crafts Meow, just announced that the talented Nina Brackett will be designing stamps for The Crafts Meow, and that Alice Wertz and Sarah Martina Parker will be joining TCM as kit designers.

Lisa has created a Facebook Page! For every 100 fans by April 30th, she will be giving away a set of the four new stamp sets that were designed by Nina and will be released on May 1st! So click on over to facebook and become a fan! Thanks Lisa for your generosity!

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!

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 39 . . . Music or Joyful Praise

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. Our hostess this week is Grace, who selected the verse from Psalm 95:1-3a "O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our slavation, let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God . . . " Her challenge is to make a card or project that depicts music or joyful praise.

The sponsor for this week is Hambo Stamps which is donating a $15 gift certificate to their store. Their images are fun and whimsical; I have a few, but none that depicted music for this week's challenge.

You can read Grace's thoughts on our main blog here or visit her personal blog which you will find listed on my side bar, along with the other design team members. Keeping in mind Linda's thoughts from last week about true worship, I still do enjoy the 'worship' or song portion of our services at church. I do enjoy singing out loud to the Lord!

We hope you find the time to participate this week, the design team looks forward to seeing your beautiful creations.
Thanks for looking.

Stamps: random BG stamp, Stampin' Up set, Waltzingmouse labels five stamp set
Ink: white craft, black
Paper: PTI ocean tides, soft stone, white, DP
Other: white EP, ribbon