Be Joyful

Happy Wednesday!! Thanks for coming to visit me on my blog today. It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday and this time our sponsor is Simon Says Stamp. Be sure to check out the Word Art Wednesday blog for all the details on how you could win a $25 Gift Certificate to spend in the Simon Says Stamp store. This week our focus verse is Psalm 5:11, "But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee." Once we trust the Lord as our personal Savior, one of the blessings we receive is that the Lord will defend and protect us. In a world that sometime looks so scary and chaotic, this is invaluable. As a Christian, we are never alone and we always have the Lord protecting and caring for us. This should cause us to shout for joy! Literally and quietly in our hearts. The second part of the verse says that those that love the Lord should be joyful. We should not go around with a "Woe is Me!" expression or a sour "nothing pleases me" look on our face. No! We should remember all the riches we have in Christ and be joyful! Be sure to let that joy show on your face! When we go through tough times, the world is watching us. If we are "Negative Nellies" and "Debbie Downers," then why would they want what we have? However, if we can show the joy and peace of the Lord in the midst of our struggles, then they will notice the difference and may just ask how they too can have this joy and peace.

For my card this week I started with a base of Simon Says Stamp Soft Navy Cardstock. SSS cardstock is such a nice heavy-weight and perfect for card bases. I made a basic gate-fold card by scoring my 8.5 x 5.5 piece of cardstock on the long side 2.75" in from each end. I matted some of the beautiful papers in the Echo Park Just Be You 6x6 pad on white cardstock.  Spellbinders dies were used for the sentiment panel and mats. The flowers were die cut using Designer Flower dies from scraps of the patterned paper and the coordinating stamp Artful Flowers were stamped using my MISTI in VersaFine ink before being embossed with Fine Detail Clear embossing powder. Glue dots were used to attach them to the card front and then Stickles were used on the flower centers.

More patterned paper decorates the inside. One of the sentiments from the Artful Flowers stamp set was stamped as a greeting.

Simon Says Stamp supplies
100# Cardstock (Soft Navy)
Artful Flowers clear stamp set
Designer Flowers die set
Artful Flowers stamp set & Designer Flowers die set bundle 
Embossing Powder - Fine Detail Clear

Supplies available in the Simon Says Stamp store:
Echo Park (Just Be You 6 x 6 Pad)
VersaFine Ink (Onyx Black) 
Ranger Stickles (Star Dust)
Spellbinders Dies (Standard Large, Standard Small)
MISTI Original Size

Other Supplies:
Georgia Pacific cardstock (white)
Ranger Distress Stickles (Spun Sugar, Chipped Sapphire)
Ranger Stickles (Eucalyptus)
Spellbinders Dies (Petite Scalloped Circles Large)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Dare 2B Artzy - Anything Goes
CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - must use patterned paper
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #340 - Use embossing - heat or dry (I heat embossed the flowers)
Come and Get It Challenges - Circle Challenge
Outlawz Paper a la Mode Challenge - Sparkle and Shine

Thanks again for visiting with me today. Please be sure to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog and see what the rest of Design Team has made as well as pick up your free digi. I also hope you visit our wonderful sponsor, Simon Says Stamp. They truly are a "one stop shop."